All eyes on Zegras
The Anaheim Ducks may not have the record they want (2-6-1), but if you live outside the Anaheim area, how can you pass up a chance to watch Trevor Zegras? The Ducks forward is capable of anything from a lacrosse goal to a lane pass. And he has a hot stick in their game against the San Jose Sharks (3-8-0) at SAP Center (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN NOW), with four goals in his last three games. That includes an end-to-end rush for an overtime goal to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. Erik Karlsson has been good for the Sharks with five points (three goals, two assists) in his last two games, including two against the Lightning on Saturday, the defenseman’s first two-goal game since March 29, 2021. But Zegras has the chance to be the star of this show, so put on an extra cup of coffee, get your popcorn ready and hope something spectacular happens. — Adam Kimelman, Associate Editor
Gather the gang
For the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins, the plan for (at least) this season was simple: Bring back the veterans. The Bruins have refueled with Patrice Bergeron and got David Krejci back after a season in the Czech Republic. The Penguins chose to re-sign Yevgeny Malkin and Kris Letang as free agents. So far so good for the Bruins, at least. Boston is 8-1-0 and leads the NHL in scoring percentage (.889), their only 7-5 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 18. They have since won five straight, although Krejci was injured Thursday and won’t play him against the Penguins. The Penguins (4-4-1) have had a bump in the road after a strong start with four straight losses on their five-game journey. They’re back at PPG Paints Arena to host the Bruins (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, TVAS) and are trying to turn the tide in a building where they outscored opponents 18-5 in three games (3-0 -0). It will be two teams with championship pedigrees battling it out to see which of the past works best in the present, and a preview of the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 2. — Amalie Benjamin, editor
Revamped senators seeking consistency
The Ottawa Senators did a lot in the offseason, including acquiring the forward Alex De Brincat of the Chicago Blackhawks and signs an unrestricted free agent Claude Giroux. The results, however, have been mixed. Coming off a four-game winning streak, the Senators (4-4-0) are down two in a row and are looking to get back into the win column when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4-0) at the ‘Amalie Arena (7 p.m. ET; BSSUNX, TSN5, RDSI, ESPN+, SN NOW). Attackers Brady Tkachuk (six goals, five assists) and Drake Batherson (three goals, eight assists) lead the Senators with 11 points apiece. DeBrincat has eight points (two goals, six assists); his six-game point streak ended in a 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Ottawa has the talent. It’s just about being more consistent. — Tracey Myers, Writer
Tuesday Games
Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUNX, TSN5, RDSI, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Senators goalie Anton Forsberg is 3-4-0 with a 3.04 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in seven games, all starters, and made 53 saves on Saturday. The Lightning have won four of their last five games. Nikita Kucherov leads them with 12 points (three goals, nine assists). Steven Stamkos is their top scorer with seven.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; SN360, MSG, NBCSP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Artemi Panarin coming off of his third game by three points, one behind Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid mostly in the NHL. The forward had 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 10 games for the Rangers (5-3-2) and had one goal and two assists in a 3-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday . The Flyers (5-2-1) nearly came back to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, erasing a two-goal deficit, but lost 4-3 in overtime.
Vegas Golden Knights at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Jack EichelThe Golden Knights (8-2-0) goal in overtime with seven seconds left gave the Golden Knights (8-2-0) a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. Forward TJ Oshie is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury and a defender John Carlson (lower body) is day to day for the Capitals (5-4-1). Each was injured against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Montreal Canadiens at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWI, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Matt Boldywho had eight points (five goals, three assists) in nine games, scored twice in a 4-3 shootout win over the Blackhawks on Sunday to give the Wild (4-4-1) their third victory in four games . Marc-Andre Fleury also surpassed Henrik Lundqvist for the most shootout wins in NHL history with 62. The Canadiens (5-4-0) have won two in a row. Their last loss was 3-1 to the Wild on October 25.
Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, TVAS)
The Bruins got Brad Merchant back from offseason hip surgery on Thursday and quickly scored three points (two goals, one assist). Jake Guentzel returned for the Penguins against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday after missing four games with an upper-body injury and scoring one goal. Marchand (798 points) and captain of the Penguins Sidney Crosby (899 assists) can reach the milestone of 800 points and 900 assists respectively. Bruins Forward Craig Smith and Penguins ahead Jeff Carter will not play. Everyone is day to day with an upper body injury.
New York Islanders at Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. ET; NBCSCH+, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Jonathan Toews is three of 500 assists in the NHL, all with the Blackhawks (4-3-2) and could become the eighth player in their history to reach the milestone. The Islanders (5-4-0) have won three straight, including back-to-back wins over the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche on Friday and Saturday.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Stars (5-3-1) lost their home opener of the season Saturday, 6-3 to the Rangers, and are 3-1-0 at American Airlines Center. The Kings (6-5-0) have scored at least four goals in four consecutive games (3-1-0) and lead the NHL with 41.
Nashville Predators at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; SN1, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Oilers (6-3-0) won all three games on their most recent road trip and are on a four-game winning streak. They got two wins on this road trip thanks to the substitute goalkeeper Stuart Skinner. Since returning after winning two games in Prague as part of the 2022 NHL World Series, the Predators are 1-5-1. Matt Duchene needs four goals to reach 300 and one assist for 400 in the NHL.
Seattle Kraken vs. Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNF, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Seattle is 4-4-2 in 10 games in its second NHL season. Kraken forward Matty Beniers leads rookies with eight points (four goals, four assists) in 10 games, ahead of Senators forward Shane Pinto and savage defender Calen Addison (seven each). The Flames (5-2-0) lost 3-2 to the Oilers on Saturday, as Nazem KadriThe six-game point streak ended with four goals and five assists.
Florida Panthers vs. Arizona Coyotes (10 p.m. ET; BSAZX, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Coyotes (2-5-1) are still looking for their first win at Mullett Arena (0-1-1). The Panthers (5-3-1) had a team-high 58 shots on goal against the Senators.
New Jersey Devils vs. Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SN360, MSG, MSG 2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Jesper Bratt is on a season-opening nine-game streak of at least one point (15 points; four goals, 11 assists) for the Devils (6-3-0) and can match Tim Higgins’ team record of 10 to start the 1984-85 season. The last New Jersey player with a point streak of at least 10 games was Pavel Zacha (10 from January 20 to February 28, 2021). Taylor Room(January 30 to March 6, 2018)’s 19 consecutive games is the franchise record. The Canucks (2-5-2) have won two straight games after losing their first seven games of the season.
Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN NOW)
Anaheim Forward Ryan Strome had two assists in his last five games and five points (one goal, four assists) during a four-game point streak against San Jose. Sharks ahead Logan Couture has four points (two goals, two assists) in its last four games.
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