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 two games Wednesday.
Maple Leafs return home feeling the heat
The Toronto Maple Leafs need to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday (7 pm ET; SN1, TVAS, NBCSP+, ESPN+) to pause questions about the future of coach Sheldon Keefe. They’re 4-4-2 and have lost four straight (0-2-2). In their last game, a 4-3 overtime loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, they blew a 3-1 lead in the third period. Despite their offensive firepower, they rank 26th in the NHL in goals per game (2.70). Toronto reporters spent Tuesday asking players about the coach’s job security. The good news for the Maple Leafs? They started 2-4-1 last season, then won 15 of their next 17. They ended up setting team records for wins (54) and points (115). Eight of their next 10 games are at home, so they have a shot to get hot again. — Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Hayes healthy, hot for Flyers
Some fans may have forgotten how good a player is Kevin Hayes is for the Flyers (5-2-2). Well, the center is reminding them with 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in his first nine games. Hayes was severely limited by core-related injuries last season but finished with 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 48 games. This season, Hayes has four multipoint games and is an offensive mainstay on a team that can struggle to generate scoring. Hayes is on pace to have more than 80 points this season. The 30-year-old has never had more than 49 (17 goals, 32 assists), which he did with the New York Rangers in 2016-17. — Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial
Thompson, Sabers getting attention
If you haven’t taken notice of Tage Thompson already, it’s time to do so. The Buffalo Sabers forward became the sixth different player in their history with six points in one game, and first since Pat LaFontaine (one goal, five assists Feb. 10, 1993), when he had three goals and three assists in an 8-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. Thompson arrived last season when he scored 38 goals, and is now in NHL annals as the 12th player since 2009-10 with at least six points in one game (New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad did it twice in one week, March 17 and 25, 2021). Buffalo’s investment in Thompson — he was acquired in the trade that sent Ryan O’Reilly to the St. Louis Blues on July 1, 2018 and signed to a seven-year, $50 million contract Sept. 1 that starts next season — is paying off nicely. He’s a foundational player who’s helped the Sabers (6-3-0) win five of their past seven games heading into their home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins (7:30 pm ET; TNT, ATTSN-PT, SN NOW). — Jon Lane, staff writer
Wednesday games
Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, NBCSP+, ESPN+)
Maple Leafs center Austin Matthews, who led the NHL with 60 goals last season, has three goals in 10 games. He has 48 shots on goal, fifth in the League, giving him a shooting percentage of 6.3, well below his NHL career average of 16.1. The Flyers are 1-1-2 after a 4-1-0 start. They lost 1-0 in overtime at the Rangers on Tuesday.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabers (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, ATTSN-PT, SN NOW)
The Penguins blew a 5-2 lead in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday. They have lost five straight (0-4-1) after a 4-0-1 start. Center Sidney Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 12 points (five goals, seven assists). Thompson and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin lead Buffalo with 12 points (six goals, six assists) each.
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