Welcome to NHL On Tap. Three NHL.com editors will share each day what they look forward to most from the schedule. Today, their three-game picks on Wednesday.
Islanders need more of their forwards
The New York Islanders (2-4-0) have some scoring issues to resolve ahead of their game against the New York Rangers (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS). Of their 19 goals, seven were scored by defensemen, tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for first place in the NHL. But that means 15 forwards have combined for 12 goals in six games. Anders Lee has four, but the only other island strikers with multiple goals are Olivier Wahlstrom (three) and Anthony Beauviller (of them). Brock Nelson, who led them with 37 last season, is scoreless. Neither Jean-Gabriel Pageau (18 goals last season), Mathieu Barzal (15) or Kyle Palmieri (15). Could a game against rival Rangers be the spark? The Rangers (3-2-2) are in their second straight set after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Jaroslav Halak likely to start for Rangers; the former Islanders goaltender has a .852 save percentage in two starts. — Adam Kimelman, Associate Editor
Binnington’s backbone for the Blues
Jordan Binington will pick up its fourth unbeaten win to start the season when the St. Louis Blues host the Edmonton Oilers (8 p.m. ET; SN, SN1, BSMW, ESPN+SN NOW). Binnington was a stronghold for the Blues (3-1-0), stopping 78 of 83 shots for a .940 save percentage. Thomas Greiss played out a 4-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. St. Louis has allowed 2.25 goals per game (third in the NHL) but will be tested by the high-flying Oilers (3-3-0), who are coming off an impressive 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday. As has been the case in recent seasons, Edmonton is led by forwards Leon Draisaitl (11 points; three goals, eight assists) and Connor McDavid (10 points; five goals, five assists). — Shawn P. Roarke, Senior Managing Editor
Lightning don’t panic
It’s supposed to be a lopsided showdown (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, TVAS, BSSUNX). On one side you have the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, came back to the Stanley Cup Finals last season and are expected to fight again. On the other, you have the Anaheim Ducks, who have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the past four seasons. But while the Ducks are 1-4-1, the Lightning are 3-4-0, suffered a 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday and are playing the second in a streak row on the road across the continent. It’s a challenge for the Lightning to get up for a game in October and get their game in order, and an opportunity for the Ducks to defeat a top-tier opponent. — Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Wednesday Games
New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS)
The Rangers are 0-1-2 in their last three games and the Islanders are 0-3-0. Artemi Panarin leads Rangers with 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in seven games; Lee leads the Islanders with seven points (four goals, three assists) in six. Four defenders have more points than Adam Fox Rangers since entering the NHL in 2019-20: John Carlson (196), Romain Josi (195), Victor Hedman (190) and Cale Makar (187).
Edmonton Oilers vs. St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; SN, SN1, BSMW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blues defeated the Oilers 2-0 in Edmonton on Saturday, the only game of the season Draisaitl was scoreless and the first McDavid didn’t. Binnington has made 23 saves and can become the sixth goaltender with multiple shutouts against McDavid, Draisaitl and the Oilers (Mike Smith, Quick Jonathan, Connor Hellebuyck, Antti Raanta and Juuse Saros have two each). St. Louis has played four games, two fewer than any NHL team, but it will be the second of four games in six nights.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, TVAS, BSSUNX)
Nikita Kucherov has eight points (one goal, seven assists) on a five-game point streak for Tampa Bay. Corey Perry will play his fourth game against Anaheim, where he played the first 14 seasons of his NHL career and had 776 points (372 goals, 404 assists) in 988 games; he has an assist against his former team. The Ducks have lost five straight (0-4-1) since a 5-4 overtime win over the Seattle Kraken on Opening Night Oct. 12. They were outscored 23-9 in regulation and overtime during the streak.
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