NHL On Tap: Stutzle, Draisaitl face off when Senators, Oilers play
Blue Jackets looking to stay hot, Flyer-Islanders highlights of eight-game schedule
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NHL.com @NHLdotcom
Draisaitl, Stutzle face off
Tim Stutzle
, the No. 3 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, faces fellow Germany-born forward and reigning NHL MVP Leon Draisaitl for the first time when the Ottawa Senators play the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place (9 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN5, RDS, NHL.TV). Draisaitl is tied for third in the NHL in goals with six, one behind teammate Connor McDavid, and second with 15 points (six goals, nine assists), two behind McDavid (seven goals, 10 assists). Stutzle has one goal in five games and has missed three games due to injury. Ottawa is winless in its past seven games (0-6-1) and was swept in a three-game set by the Vancouver Canucks, getting outscored 16-3. -- William Douglas, staff writer
Flyers, Islanders could use rivalry motivation
Rivalry games are the best, and the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders have an intense rivalry in the MassMutual East Division. The Islanders defeated the Flyers in seven games in the Eastern Conference Second Round last season, and almost all the key players on each side are back for the renewal of hostilities this weekend, capped by their game at Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, NBCSP, MSG+, NHL.TV). The Islanders have lost four in a row, including a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Flyers on Saturday. The Flyers have won three in a row, but have a shots on goal per game differential of minus-10.4, the worst in the NHL (23 shots for, 33.4 shots against). -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor
Columbus looks to keep cooking
I can't say that I picked the Columbus Blue Jackets to be first in the Discover Central Division, but that's where they are right now, leading the way with 11 points, though that's partly because the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes have had games postponed due to COVID-19. Still, the Blue Jackets (4-2-3) are doing their best to pile up points, led by forward Oliver Bjorkstrand and an improved power play. Bjorkstrand scored two points (one goal, one assist) in a 2-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday. After losing its first two games, Columbus has picked up at least a point in each of its past seven (4-0-3). The Blue Jackets will try to stay on a roll in their second straight game against the Blackhawks at United Center (7 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, FS-O, NHL.TV).-- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
Sunday schedule
New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres, 1 p.m. ET (NHLN, SN, TVAS, MSG-B, MSG+, NHL.TV)
The Sabres have points in five straight games (3-0-2) with forward Victor Olofsson on a five-game point streak (two goals, three assists). The Devils have allowed 11 non-shootout goals in their 0-2-1 skid and are 1-for-10 on the power play in their past three games.
Dallas Stars at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m. ET (FS-CR, FS-SW, NHL.TV)
The Hurricanes gave the Stars their first loss of the season, 4-1 at PNC Arena on Saturday, while outshooting them 26-11. Goalie James Reimer will likely start for Carolina after replacing an injured Petr Mrazek in the first period.
Florida Panthers at Dallas Red Wings, 5 p.m. ET (NHLN, TVAS, FS-D, FS-F, NHL.TV)
The Panthers have earned points in all five of their games this season (4-0-1), the past four have gone to overtime. The Red Wings are 0-3-2 after starting 2-2-0.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Chicago Blackhawks, 7 p.m. ET (NBCSCH, FS-O, NHL.TV)
The Blue Jackets have scored eight goals in their past three games (2-0-1) and are led by Oliver Bjorkstrand's eight points (three goals, five assists). The Blackhawks have scored four goals in their past three (0-1-2) since a 6-2 win against the Red Wings on Jan. 24.
New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+, SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, NBCSP, NHL.TV)
The Flyers go for their fourth consecutive victory with Travis Konecny expected to play after the forward was a healthy scratch for a 3-2 overtime win against the Islanders at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday. New York has lost four in a row (0-3-1).
St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+, FS-W, FS-MW, NHL.TV)
The Blues look to sweep a three-game road trip with the second of a back to back against the Ducks after scoring three goals in the opening 2:06 on Saturday, the fastest in their history and fifth in NHL history. St. Louis scored on six shots to chase Anaheim goalie John Gibson.
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m. ET (NHLN, FS-N, FS-WI, ALT, NHL.TV)
The Avalanche have won three in a row despite missing forwards Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (leg) and Matt Calvert (upper body) and defenseman Devon Toews (foot), and losing defenseman Erik Johnson to an upper-body injury in the first period of a 5-1 win at the Wild on Saturday. Minnesota goalie Cam Talbot is expected to return after missing three games with a lower-body injury.
Ottawa Senators at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m. ET (SNW, TSN5, RDS, NHL.TV)
The Senators have lost seven in a row (0-6-1) by a combined 33-12 since a season-opening win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ottawa has won six straight against the Oilers in Edmonton, which comes off a 4-3 overtime victory against Toronto on Saturday led by two goals from Connor McDavid, the first on an end-to-end rush during a power play.
