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 three games on Sunday.
Canada only
Ehlers giving Jets added boost
The Winnipeg Jets are having a good season but getting Nikolaj Ehlers back still has provided a lift. The forward, who missed 36 games after having sports hernia surgery in late November, returned on Jan. 6 and has a four-game point streak (three goals, five assists). The Jets (28-14-1) have kept rolling, winning seven of their past eight entering their game against the Arizona Coyotes (13-24-5) on Sunday (7 pm ET; NHLN, TSN3, BSAZ, SN NOW). Ehlers, who has been on a line with the left wing Kyle Connor and center Pierre-Luc Dubois since returning to the lineup, hasn’t skipped a beat since coming back. Neither have the Jets, who are tied with the Dallas Stars for first in the Central Division. — Tracey Myers, staff writer
Defensemen refuse to rest for Hurricanes
The defensemen of the Carolina Hurricanes will be in the spotlight when they host the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday (5 pm ET; BSSO, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Hurricanes (27-9-7) have been driving their offense with contributions from their defensemen, getting 26 goals from the blue line, tied with the Islanders for the most in the NHL this season. In the past two games, the Hurricanes have scored seven goals from their defensemen, something done four times in the history of the NHL. The Washington Capitals have done it twice (Dec. 4-5, 1992 and Nov. 30 – Dec. 4, 1992), the New York Rangers scored eight goals on Feb. 15-17, 1985) and the Edmonton Oilers scored eight Nov. 2-5, 1983. The Canucks (17-22-3) are finishing a five-game road trip, looking for their first win (0-4-0). They’ve allowed 21 goals on the trip. — Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial
Hobbled Rangers host Canadiens
The New York Rangers have points in their last seven games (5-0-2), including two straight comeback wins. Since Dec. 5, New York has lost twice in regulation (13-2-2). But the Rangers (24-12-7) will not be at full strength Sunday when they host the Montreal Canadiens (5 pm ET; MSG, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW). They will be without forward Julien Gauthier (upper body) and likely without forward Chris Kreider (upper body), who is doubtful. In addition, Ryan Lindgren, Vitaly Kravtsov and Artemi Panarin all missed practice Saturday with a stomach bug. The Canadiens (17-23-3) don’t have it easy either, after a 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Saturday. Jake Evans went out with a lower-body injury. — Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
Sunday games
Montreal Canadiens at New York Rangers (5 p.m. ET; MSG, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller, who scored the game-tying goal in their 2-1 win Thursday against the Minnesota Wild, has a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists). He has goals in back-to-back games. Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, who scored the overtime winner Thursday, has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in a six-game point streak. The Canadiens are 3-11-1 in their past 15 games, although two of those wins have come in their past four games.
Vancouver Canucks at Carolina Hurricanes (BSSO, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Bo Horvat has 47 points (30 goals, 17 assists) in 43 games and is the first Canucks player with consecutive 30-goal seasons since Daniel Sedin did it in 2010-11 and 2011-12. After a four-game skid (0-3-1), the Hurricanes have won two straight, including 2-1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.
Arizona Coyotes at Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN3, BSAZ, SN NOW)
The Coyotes are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday and are 0-8-0 since winning three games in a row. Arizona forward Lawson Crouse has 16 goals, four away from the NHL career-high 20 he scored last season. For the Jets, Josh Morrissey has 47 points (eight goals, 39 assists) in 43 games, third among NHL defensemen behind Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks with (56 points; 13 goals, 43 assists) and Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabers (48 points; 13 goals, 35 assists) in 39 games.
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