NHL On Tap: Surging Panthers visit New York to play Rangers

Welcome to NHL On Tap. Three NHL.com writers will share what they’re most looking forward to on the schedule each day. Today, their picks from the four games Monday.

Panthers visit New York with momentum

A recent topic of conversation around NHL headquarters in New York is why this season has been a struggle for the Florida Panthers (23-20-5) after they posted a team-high 58 wins and 122 points in 2021-22. Exactly why has been hard to pin down, but the way the Panthers play Monday at the New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET: TVAS, MSG, BSFLX, ESPN+, SN NOW) all theories may be moot come April. Florida takes a five-game hitting streak (4-0-1) and 7-2-1 into Madison Square Garden sitting three points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference Stanley Cup playoffs. A big reason behind the surge – a total of 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) from the top line in seven games ago Anton Lundell was moved to the left margin with the center Alexander Barkov and the right edge Sam Reinhart. The Rangers (25-14-7) have scored seven goals in their last four games (2-2-0), are 1-for-19 on the power play in their last six and are still trying to find consistent line combinations. — Jon Lane, staff writer

Gaudreau returns to Calgary

What kind of reception is coming Johnny Gaudreau coming to the Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday? It’s sure to be an interesting and likely mixed emotional reaction from Calgary Flames fans as the home team welcomes Gaudreau and his new team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, for their only visit of the season (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN1, SNW, TWAS, SN NOW). Gaudreau left the Flames (22-16-9) as an unrestricted free agent and signed a seven-year, $68.25 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 13. who had every right to do what he did as a UFA. He delivered in a huge way for the Flames, 609 points (210 goals, 399 assists) in 602 regular season games and 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 42 playoff games from 2014-22. He’s delivered for the Blue Jackets (14-30-2) as well, leading them with 44 points (13 goals, 31 assists) in 46 games while insisting it wasn’t easy for him to leave Calgary, even if people don’t want to believe him. But the Flames have bigger things on their minds than Gaudreau’s return. They are trying to maintain their place in the playoff race in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference. A 6-3 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning last Saturday was big. They need to follow that up with another win against the Blue Jackets, whose 30 points are tied for last in the NHL. — Dan Rosen, Senior Writer

Home could be sweeter for the Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are 17-3-4 at Scotiabank Arena this season. It’s a nice little record, and one they’d like to add to when they begin a five-game homestand against the New York Islanders (23-20-5) on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SN, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW) ). The Maple Leafs (28-11-8) are top 10 in the NHL in several categories at home, including goals per game (3.50, seventh), goals-against per game (2.38, third) and power play (27, 8 percent, fifth). Forward Mitchell Marner (29 points; eight goals, 21 assists) will look to extend his Maple Leafs-record home ice scoring streak to 21 games, the longest by any player since Joe Sakic’s 23 for the Colorado Avalanche in 2000-01. Goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov is 12-0-1 with a 1.61 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and two shutouts at Scotiabank Arena, where the forward William Nylander has scored 32 (14 goals, 18 assists) of his 52 points (24 goals, 28 assists). The Maple Leafs have been consistent this season, especially at home. — Tracey Myers, staff writer

Monday game

Florida Panthers at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET: TVAS, MSG, BSFLX, ESPN+, SN NOW)

Florida ahead Sam Bennett and defenders Aaron Oakleaf will play. Each left a 5-3 win against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday with what coach Paul Maurice said was related to fatigue. Goalkeeper Alex Lyon will start his third straight game for the Panthers. Spencer Knight was recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League and Sergei Bobrovsky remains sidelined with a lower-body injury. The Rangers have earned points in five straight home games (4-0-1) and 12 of their last 13 (9-1-3) against the Panthers with Artemi Panarin on an 11-game hitting streak (five goals, 16 assists).

New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; SN, MSGSN, ESPN+)

The Islanders have lost four straight (0-2-2) and eight of nine (1-5-3) and are 3-for-54 on the power play in their last 20 games while allowing three shorthanded goals. The Maple Leafs have held onto second place in the Atlantic Division since November 12th. Mark Giordano scored 53 seconds into a 3-2 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, becoming the second Toronto defenseman to score in the opening minute in 25 years. Morgan Rielly has done so twice (49 seconds on March 27, 2022; 58 seconds on April 4, 2021).

Buffalo Sabers at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. ET; BSSW, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW)

Sabers forward Take Thompson (tied third with 32 goals) and Stars forward Jason Robertson (31 goals, fifth) are two of the five best scorers in the NHL. Buffalo defender Rasmus Dahlin has back-to-back two-assist games and 15 multi-point games this season for Buffalo (23-19-3). Dallas (28-13-7) has back-to-back wins – 4-0 at the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, 4-0 at home against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday – and three of four games, two from Jake Oettinger (1.35 GAA, .954 save percentage).

Columbus Blue Jackets at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN1, SNW, TVAS, SN NOW)

Gaudreau’s return will highlight the night, but the Flames looking to build on their win against the Lightning will mean the most to the home team. They lost 3-1 in Columbus on December 9, when Gaudreau was kept off the scoresheet. Calgary has outscored its opponent in seven straight games. The Blue Jackets ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win at home against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, as Gaudreau had a goal and an assist.