NHL On Tap: Flyers visit Islanders seeking redemption

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 10 games Thursday.

Flyers at crossroads of season
The Philadelphia Flyers visit the New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET; MSG+ 2, NBCSP, NHL.TV) with an immediate chance to erase the memory of a 9-0 loss at the New York Rangers on Wednesday and start trending upward before it's too late. They're 3-6-0 in March, allowing 42 goals against and 4.67 goals per game, tied with the Anaheim Ducks for most in the NHL this month. The stretch has dropped them to fifth place in the eight-team MassMutual East Division, three points behind the fourth-place Boston Bruins; the top four teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. How Philadelphia overcomes what players and coach Alain Vigneault said was embarrassing could determine its course prior to the 2021 NHL Trade Deadline on April 12. The first step is a major challenge: The Islanders have won nine of their past 10 games and are in a four-way tie with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals for the most points in the NHL (42). -- Jon Lane, staff writer
Winning streaks on line for Wild, Avalanche
A winning streak will end when the Colorado Avalanche host the Minnesota Wild (9 p.m. ET; ALT, FS-N, FS-WI, NHL.TV). Minnesota has won five straight and Colorado four in a row, and each is 7-2-1 in its past 10 games. The Wild are expected to start goalie Cam Talbot, who has won consecutive starts with one goal allowed over the two games, against a potent Avalanche offense that scored eight goals in a win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Colorado is expected to have top defenseman Cale Makar back in the lineup after he missed the past 10 games with an upper-body injury. -- Pete Jensen, senior fantasy editor
Barkov, Panthers eye fifth straight win
Aleksander Barkov continues to make a strong case to win either the Selke Trophy, voted as the best defensive forward in the NHL, or the Hart Trophy, voted as the most valuable player, with the Florida Panthers, who host the Nashville Predators (7 p.m. ET; FS-F, FS-TN, NHL.TV). The Panthers captain leads them in goals (12), face-off winning percentage (53.8 percent) and shot attempts differential (plus-136), and is tied with Jonathan Huberdeau in points (34) and Eetu Luostarinen in takeaways (22). Barkov, the center on a projected line with Mason Marchment and Carter Verhaeghe, has scored 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in his past 10 games for the Panthers, who have won four in a row and six of seven. The Predators won 4-1 at the Lightning on Monday for their first win in three games (0-2-1). -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
Thursday schedule
Pittsburgh Penguins at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m. ET (MSG+, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV)
The Penguins and Devils face off for the first time this season and the first of three consecutive games. Pittsburgh will be without Evgeni Malkin (lower body), and the center is being evaluated. Center Teddy Blueger (upper body) is out "longer term," coach Mike Sullivan said Tuesday.
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, NESN, ESPN+, NHL.TV)
Don Granato will make his debut as Sabres coach after replacing Ralph Krueger, who was fired Wednesday. Buffalo has lost 12 straight (0-10-2) and 16 of its past 18 (2-14-2). The Bruins come off a 2-1 win against the Penguins on Tuesday after going 1-3-1 in their previous five games. Boston forward Brad Marchand has six assists in the past five games but will be looking to end a six-game goal drought.
Philadelphia Flyers at New York Islanders, 7 p.m. ET (MSG+ 2, NBCSP, NHL.TV)
The Islanders will play their first game since announcing that forward Anders Lee is out for the season and will have surgery for an ACL injury. New York's nine-game winning streak and 12-game point streak ended with a 3-1 loss at the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET (FS-CR, FS-O, NHL.TV)
Defenseman Dougie Hamilton has scored 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in a nine-game point streak for the Hurricanes, whose eight-game winning streak ended with a 4-2 loss at the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets resume play after a three-day break.
Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+, SUN, NBCSCH, NHL.TV)
The Lightning are 10-2-1 in their past 13 games and tied with the Panthers for first place in the eight-team Discover Central Division. The Blackhawks are 3-5-1 in their past nine.
Nashville Predators at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. ET (FS-F, FS-TN, NHL.TV)
The Panthers, with five regulation losses, the fewest in the NHL, are first in the League standings beyond the second game of a season for the first time since Dec. 28, 1996. The Predators are 2-2-1 on an eight-game road trip.
Dallas Stars at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS-D, FS-SW, NHL.TV)

Red Wings center Dylan Larkin has scored four points (two goals, two assists) in four games since returning from an upper-body injury. The Stars are 3-5-3 in their past 11, with their past three being decided in overtime or the shootout.

Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m. ET (SNW, TSN3, NHL.TV)
The winner will move into a tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the seven-team Scotia North Division. The Jets are 5-3-1 since the beginning of March. Oilers center Leon Draisaitl is on an eight-game point streak (15 points; seven goals, eight assists). CenterConnor McDavid has points in seven straight (16 points; four goals, 12 assists) for Edmonton.
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m. ET (ALT, FS-N, FS-WI, NHL.TV)
The Avalanche have won four in a row and are 5-1-1 on their nine-game homestand. The Wild will be without defenseman Carson Soucy (suspended) and forward Marcus Foligno (lower body).
Arizona Coyotes at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. ET (PRIME, FS-SD, FS-A, NHL.TV)
The Coyotes are 1-3-1 on a seven-game road trip, have scored two goals in their past four games and were shut out twice by the Wild. The Ducks have been outscored 22-6 during a four-game losing streak.