NHL On Tap: Rangers, Penguins conclude Hockey Day in America

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 eight games Sunday celebrating Hockey Day in America with a quadrupleheader on NBC and NBCSN featuring United States-based teams.

Rangers, Penguins wrap up Hockey Day in America
The New York Rangers visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (7:30 pm ET; NBCSN, SN1, ATTN-PT, MSG, NHL.TV) in one of the marquee games of Hockey Day in America. It's a showcase of No. 1 picks in the NHL Draft, Penguins center Sidney Crosby was the top selection in 2005 and Rangers forward
Alexis Lafreniere
went first to New York in 2020. Each team is coming off an impressive victoriy Saturday. Crosby had two assists and Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers equaled their season-high in goals for a second consecutive game with a 6-3 victory against the New Jersey Devils. They defeated the Devils 6-1 on Thursday. Lafreniere's four-game point streak ended Saturday, but he's showing signs of becoming more comfortable at the NHL level. Six of his seven points have come in his past seven games (three goals, three assists). -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
Hurricanes seek fifth straight win
The Carolina Hurricanes will go for their fifth win in row when they host the Florida Panthers (5 p.m. ET; FS-CR, FS-F, NHL.TV). The Panthers will have their hands full with the Hurricanes' balanced attack; Forwards Vincent Trocheck (21points), Sebastian Aho (20), Jordan Staal (20) have each scored at least 20 points and Andrei Svechnikov (19) will look to join them in this one. The Panthers will try to extend their point streak to six games following a 6-2 win at the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Keep an eye on Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad, who has been fantastic this season and has scored three goals in his past two games. Not only is Ekblad contributing offensively by scoring 17 points in 23 games, including nine goals that lead NHL defensemen, he's been a workhorse playing in all situations and averaging 25:12 of ice time per game. Florida has a one-point lead on Carolina for second place in the Discover Central Division and each of the first three games between them this season has gone past regulation, with the Hurricanes winning the past two.-- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor
Lightning-Blackhawks rubber match
After two wild games between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday and Friday, the finale of the three-game series in Chicago (2:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN1, SNW, TVAS, NBCSCH, NHL.TV) should be a must-watch part of Hockey Day in America. The upstart Blackhawks have given the reigning Stanley Cup champions everything they can handle. Tampa Bay rallied from two goals down to win 3-2 on forward Alex Killorn's deflection with 0.1 seconds remaining in overtime Thursday. Chicago came back from trailing 2-0 and 3-2 before winning 4-3 in a shootout Friday, when Blackhawks goalie Malcolm Subban made 39 saves, including five during an end-to-end overtime. It will be fun to see what the Lightning and Blackhawks do for an encore. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer
Sunday schedule
Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders, 12 p.m. ET (NBC, SN, SN1)
The finale of a three-game set. The Islanders have won four in a row and are 9-0-2 at home this season. The Sabres have lost six in a row (0-5-1).
Tampa Bay Lightning at Chicago Blackhawks, 2:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN1, SNW, TVAS, NBCSCH, NHL.TV)
Blackhawks forward Alex DeBrincat has scored 12 points (six goals, six assists) during an eight-game point streak, the longest active streak in the NHL. Defenseman Victor Hedman leads the Lightning with 22 points (four goals, 18 assists) in 22 games.
Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m. ET (FS-CR, FS-F, NHL.TV)
Panthers forward Noel Acciari scored his first three goals of the season Saturday. The Hurricanes have been off since Thursday after playing 13 games in 22 days.
New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins, 5 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN1, SNW, NESN, NHL.TV)
The Bruins come off a 5-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Friday but are 3-4-1 in their past eight games. The Devils have lost five straight games in regulation.
Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. ET (NBCSP, NBCSWA, NHL.TV)
Nicklas Backstrom got his 700th NHL assist Friday and the center leads the Capitals with 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 23 games. Flyers forwards Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton each scored two points in a 4-3 loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET (NBCSN, SN1, ATTSN-PT, MSG, NHL.TV)
The Rangers seek their fourth straight win with eyes on staying in the Stanley Cup Playoff picture in the MassMutual East Division. Forwards Jake Guentzel and Sidney Crosby are tied for the Penguins lead with 21 points; each has scored seven goals and 14 assists. Pittsburgh has won six of its past nine games.
Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m. ET (FS-SW, FS-TN, NHL.TV)
The Predators have lost three straight games and will be without center Matt Duchene for the next 3-5 weeks because of a lower-body injury. The Stars ended a four-game losing streak with a 5-0 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Ottawa Senators at Calgary Flames, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+, SNW, TSN5, RDS, NHL.TV)
Assistant Ryan Huska will coach for a second straight game with new coach Darryl Sutter not expected to join the Flames until Monday at the earliest because he's going through NHL COVID-19 protocol. The Senators have lost the first two of a six-game road trip and three of their past four games.