NHL On Tap: McDavid goes for 100 points when Oilers host Red Wings

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.

McDavid has 100 points in sight

Connor McDavid’s 15-game point streak ended when the Edmonton Oilers lost 6-2 to the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday, leaving the leading scorer in the NHL three shy of 100 points this season. The Oilers captain leads the NHL in goals (42) and has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 12 games against the Detroit Red Wings, his opponent at Rogers Place (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW, TVAS, BSDETX, ESPN+, SN NOW). How consistent is McDavid? The loss to the Canadiens was only the sixth time in 54 games he’s failed to get at least one point this season. Edmonton (30-19-5) is 4-0-2 in its past six at home. Detroit (24-20-8) has won three in a row, outscoring opponents 13-4, to inch closer to a wild card spot into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, but it won’t be easy playing the second of a tough five-game road trip. — David Satriano, staff writer

Avalanche, Wild meet in key battle for playoff positioning

The tests keep coming for the Colorado Avalanche, who visit Minnesota Wild one day after losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning (4-3 in a shootout) for the second time within a week. The Wild (28-20-5), also fighting for a playoff berth, have lost four of five (1-3-1), seven of 10 (3-6-1) and 10 of 16 (6-7-3). The teams are tied for third in the Central Division with 61 points, but the Avalanche (28-19-5) have a game in hand, which makes the game at Xcel Energy Center (9:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN NOW) even more important. It’s hard not to think the defending Stanley Cup champions still have a run in them as the season winds down, but they have lost three of four (1-1-2) and have 30 games left. It’s go time. — Amalie Benjamin, staff writer

Panarin vies to extend hot streak vs. struggling Canucks

Artemi Panarin is one of the hottest players in the NHL and will look to keep his momentum going when the New York Rangers face the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena (10 p.m. ET; SNP, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW). The forward was named the NHL First Star of the Week for the week ending Feb. 12 after he had nine points (four goals, five assists) in four games, all victories. The highlight was his four-goal performance, the first of his NHL career, in a 6-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. The 31-year-old scored a natural hat trick, including the game-winner, and equaled an NHL-best with five points (four goals, one assist). Panarin and the Rangers (31-14-8) face a Canucks team that has allowed the second-most goals in the NHL (217) ahead of the Anaheim Ducks (220). Coach Gerrard Gallant said Panarin will remain on a line with Vincent Trocheck and Jimmy Vesey after his four-goal game. He previously played on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Vladimir Tarasenko, but swapped places on the top two lines with Chris Kreider. Gallant’s logic is simple: Why change now if it’s working? With the Canucks (21-29-4) continuing to have issues keeping pucks out of their net, they face a daunting task against a Rangers team firing on all cylinders. — Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Wednesday games

Chicago Blackhawks at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; TNT, SN, TVAS)

The Blackhawks (16-31-5) will try to rebound after a 4-0 loss to the Canadiens at Bell Centre on Tuesday, a game when they had 22 shots against goalie Jake Allen. Chicago has scored one goal in its past two games. Auston Matthews will return to the lineup for the Maple Leafs (32-14-8) after the forward missed five games because of a knee sprain. He’s second on Toronto with 25 goals, and his 53 points in 47 games are tied for third with John Tavares.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Arizona Coyotes (9 p.m. ET; BSAZ, BSSUNX, ESPN+, SN NOW)

Tampa Bay (35-16-2) has won three in a row. Arizona defenseman Jakob Chychrun again will be out of the lineup for trade-related reasons. The Coyotes (18-28-8) are a respectable 11-8-2 at home, where they will play 20 of their final 28 games.

Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild (9:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN NOW)

Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson is out indefinitely because of a lower-body injury; he left a 5-3 loss at the Florida Panthers on Saturday after blocking a shot. Mats Zuccarello leads Minnesota with 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) in 24 games against Colorado.

Detroit Red Wings at Edmonton Oilers (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW, TVAS, BSDETX, ESPN+, SN NOW)

Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin has five goals in his past three games and defenseman Moritz Seider has five assists in his past four. Goalie Jack Campbell likely will start for the Oilers. He has won eight consecutive starts after struggling in the first half of the season.

Buffalo Sabres at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW)

The Sabres (26-22-4) arrive in Anaheim on an 0-3-1 skid, including two lopsided losses since the NHL All-Star break: 7-2 to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, and 5-2 to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. Starting with the second period against Calgary, Buffalo was outscored 11-0 over the next four. The Ducks (17-31-6) have been outscored 13-5 in their past two games, losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights. They allowed five third-period goals in their 7-2 loss to the Golden Knights on Sunday.

New York Rangers at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNP, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)

The Rangers have won five in a row while outscoring opponents 25-13, including 4-3 against the Canucks at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 8. Vancouver was outscored 11-3 in back-to-back losses to the Red Wings on Feb. 11 and Feb. 13.