NHL On Tap: Brown tries to extend goal streak when Senators host Jets

Welcome to the NHL On Tap. Three NHL.com writers will share what they are most looking forward to on the schedule each day. Today, their choices from the six games Wednesday.

Brown's goal streak on the line against Jets

The net must be looking the size of a soccer goal to Connor Brown these days. The Ottawa Senators forward looks to extend his team-record goal streak to nine games on Wednesday against the visiting Winnipeg Jets in the second of a two-game set (7 p.m. ET, TSN5, RDS2, TSN3, NHL.TV). Brown has scored nine points (eight goals, one assist) during his streak that began March 25. It's one of the feel-good stories recently for the Senators, who are last in the seven-team Scotia North Division. With the Stanley Cup Playoffs seemingly out of reach for Ottawa -- the top four teams will qualify for the postseason -- Brown is the biggest story in the nation's capital by far. The Jets, meanwhile, are second in the North, one point ahead of the third-place Edmonton Oilers. At 5-2-0 against the Senators this season, outscoring them 26-17, the Jets could argue that their 4-2 loss Monday was a hiccup. Winnipeg looks to rebound, having gone 11-1-2 this season after any kind of defeat, just once having lost two straight in regulation. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist

Avalanche, Blues try to solidify positions

The Colorado Avalanche visit the St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, ALT, NHL.TV), each in need of points to solidify their position in the eight-team Honda West Division. Colorado is first in the West, four points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights; St. Louis is fourth, one point ahead of the fifth-place Arizona Coyotes. The top four teams will qualify for the playoffs. The Avalanche have three regulation wins in the first four games against the Blues this season (3-1-0) and forward Nathan MacKinnon brings a 10-game point streak (seven goals, 10 assists) into the game, the longest active streak in the NHL. Colorado has won its past three games and is 16-1-2 in its past 19. The Blues have also won three in a row, a streak that followed seven straight losses (0-6-1). A victory against the Avalanche would be the 100th as Blues coach for Craig Berube, who is 99-54-22 since being hired Nov. 19, 2018. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer

Sharks, Marleau look to inch closer

Patrick Marleau will move one step closer to tying and eventually breaking Gordie Howe's long-standing NHL record for most regular season games played when the San Jose Sharks host the Anaheim Ducks (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, NBCSCA, BSSC, BSSD, NHL.TV). Marleau, the Sharks 41-year-old forward, will play his 1,765th game, which will put him two away from tying Howe, who has held the record since playing in his final NHL game on April 6, 1980. But this game is about more than just another step toward the record books for Marleau; the Sharks need a win to get back on track in the race for fourth in the West Division. San Jose, which has lost two games in a row, including 4-0 against the Ducks on Monday, is in sixth place, three points behind the Coyotes and four points behind the Blues. Each plays Wednesday. Maybe Marleau sparks the Sharks to a win as he moves closer to catching Howe. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

Wednesday's schedule

Arizona Coyotes at Minnesota Wild, 2 p.m. ET (NHLN, BSN+, BSAZ, NHL.TV)
The Wild expect to have forwards Marcus Foligno and Kevin Fiala back in the lineup. The Coyotes have lost four in a row and are fifth in the eight-team Honda West Division, one point behind the St. Louis Blues. The top four teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Calgary Flames at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET (SN, RDS, NHL.TV)
The Canadiens are fourth in the seven-team Scotia North Division, six points ahead of the fifth-place Flames. Montreal has played three fewer games. The top four teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There are five games remaining in the season series between Montreal and Calgary, which defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime Tuesday.
Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m. ET (TSN5, RDS2, TSN3, NHL.TV)
Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers has a three-game goal streak and has scored six points (three goals, three assists) in a four-game point streak. Ehlers needs one point for 300 in the NHL.
Colorado Avalanche at St. Louis Blues, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, ALT, NHL.TV)
Blues center Ryan O'Reilly has scored five points (four goals, one assist) in the past two games and is one point shy of 600 in the NHL.
Vegas Golden Knights at Los Angeles Kings, 10 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN1, NHL.TV)
Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury needs one win to pass Ed Belfour (484) for fourth all-time in NHL history. Forward Mattias Janmark could make his Golden Knights debut after being traded from the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
Anaheim Ducks at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+, NBCSCA, BSSC, BSSD, NHL.TV)
The Sharks finish a five-game homestand (1-3-0) looking for their fifth win this season against the Ducks (4-2-1). Anaheim forward Max Comtois has scored five goals and six points in seven games against San Jose this season.