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.
No shortage of contributors for Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have been a handful offensively in their first three games, using the same multi-pronged offense as when they won the Stanley Cup last season. The Avalanche (2-1-0) have scored 14 goals (4.7 per game) and will look to get things going when they host the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW, ALT2, ESPN+, SN NOW). Five players average better than one point per game, led by striker Nathan MacKinnon, who has seven points (two goals, five assists). Attackers Valery Nichushkin (four goals, two assists) and Mikko Rantanen (one goal, five assists) have six points each and forward Arturi Lehkonen (two goals, two assists) and defender Cale Makar (four assists) each have four points. Colorado got off to a quick offensive start without a captain Gabriel Landeskog, who is expected to be out 12 weeks after undergoing knee arthroscopy in Minnesota on Tuesday. For Winnipeg (1-1-0), forward Marc Scheifele looking to continue their torrid start to the season. He scored three goals in the first two games, scoring twice in a season-opening win over the New York Rangers on Friday and again in a loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday. He also leads the Jets with nine shots on goal. — Shawn P. Roarke, Senior Editorial Director
Flyers look to continue a surprising start
Expectations weren’t high for the Philadelphia Flyers this season, which makes what they did ahead of their game against the Florida Panthers (2-1-0) at FLA Live Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS) much more impressive. . They are 3-0-0 after a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, coming off a 2-0 deficit. They allowed the first goal of all three games, including the first two goals in two consecutive games; last season they were 5-36-4 when they allowed the first goal. Grasp that resilience has been the goalkeeper Carter Hart, who has a .943 save percentage going into all three games. But now comes another test against a Panthers team that will be ready to play their home opener. Forward Matthew Tkachuk, acquired from the Calgary Flames in the biggest trade of the offseason, is tied for the lead on the Panthers with four points (two goals, two assists) in three games, and his restless play has already allowed him to take five penalties, tied for second most in the NHL. — Adam Kimelman, Associate Editor
Will the rested Blues be rusty in Seattle?
The Blues played one regular season game. They need to have, well, uh, Kraken. Counting the preseason, their only game in the past 10 days was a 5-2 home win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. This game at the Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS) marks the start of a three-game road trip that will continue in Edmonton on Saturday and Winnipeg on Monday. Will they be rusty? Keep an eye on the third line of Ivan Barbaschev, Brayden Schenn and Jake Neighbors, who plays on the Blues’ forecheck identity and was the difference maker in the season-opening victory. St. Louis and Columbus were tied 2-2 in the third period until Barbashev and Neighbors opened the game by scoring 20 seconds apart. — Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Wednesday Games
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS)
The Flyers won their first three games under new coach John Tortorella after a 3-2 victory at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, spoiling Tampa Bay’s home opener with their third straight win. Now they will try to spoil Florida’s home opener. The Panthers lost 5-3 to the Boston Bruins on Monday after winning their first two games under new coach Paul Maurice. They also lost Aaron Ekblad to a lower body injury. The defender was placed on long-term injured reserve.
Winnipeg Jets at Colorado Avalanche (8 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW, ALT2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Nathan MacKinnon had multiple points in each of the Avalanche’s first three games, including a goal and two assists in a 6-3 win at the Minnesota Wild on Monday. The Jets are hoping new coach Rick Bowness returns after missing a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday due to a positive COVID-19 test. Associate Coach Scott Arniel replaced.
St. Louis Blues at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; TNT, TVAS)
The Kraken (1-2-1) have lost two straight at home, 5-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday and 5-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. Forward Andre Burakovsky, who signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract with Seattle as an unrestricted free agent on July 13, opened the season with a four-game point streak and leads the team with five points (two goals, three assists). Forward Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals for the Blues in their season-opening win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
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