NHL On Tap: Senators return to play Avalanche after COVID-19 protocol

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 six games Monday.

Senators back in action

The Ottawa Senators are expected to resume their season at the Colorado Avalanche (8:30 p.m. ET; SN1, ALT, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) after having three games postponed because of 10 players in NHL COVID-19 protocol. The Senators last played Nov. 14, a 4-0 loss to the Calgary Flames, and have struggled in November, going 1-6-1 in eight games for an NHL-low three points. The game Monday won't be any easier with Colorado on a four-game winning streak led by center Nazem Kadri, who is on an eight-game point streak (four goals, 11 assists). -- Rob Reese, fantasy editor

Do the Blues have the Golden Knights' number?

The St. Louis Blues have a .611 points percentage (8-4-6) against the Vegas Golden Knights since the latter joined the NHL in 2017-18, second best among teams that have played Vegas at least 10 times behind the Minnesota Wild (.735), and are 5-2-1 in St. Louis, where they play Monday (8 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, BSMW, ATTSN-RM, NHL LIVE). St. Louis defeated Vegas 3-1 on the road Oct. 20. The Golden Knights have been decimated by injuries and Max Pacioretty (lower body) will miss his 17th game, though coach Pete DeBoer said he could be available at the Nashville Predators on Wednesday. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist

Terry looks to match McDavid's point streak

Troy Terry will try to extend his point streak to 17 games when the Anaheim Ducks visit the Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSSC, BSSD, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). After being held without a point in the season opener, Terry has scored 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) during his 16-game run and can tie Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid for the longest streak in the NHL this season. Terry is tied for fourth in the NHL in points behind Oilers forwards Leon Draisaitl (35 in 17 games) and McDavid (32 in 17 games) and Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (30 in 19 games). He's been the breakout player of the season so far. -- Pete Jensen, senior fantasy editor

Monday schedule

Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; MSG-B, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Sabres play the second of a back to back following a 5-4 at the New York Rangers on Sunday, when Ryan Lindgren scored the game-winning goal with 0.7 seconds remaining in the third period. Sabres forward Victor Olofsson played his first game since Oct. 31 after missing eight with an undisclosed injury. He had an assist in 16:45 and leads Buffalo (7-8-2) in points per game (1.11 in nine games). Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner has scored three goals in his past three games and leads Columbus (9-6-0) with nine goals in 15 games.
Vegas Golden Knights at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, BSMW, ATTSN-RM, NHL LIVE)
The Golden Knights (11-7-0) are 10-3-0 in their past 13 games and 3-1-0 since getting Mark Stone back from injury. Vegas' captain has three assists in four games since returning. The Blues (9-6-2) have one win in their past six games (1-4-1).
Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSSC, BSSD, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Ducks' eight-game winning streak ended with a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes last Thursday. Anaheim (10-5-3) has seven players who have scored at least 10 points this season including captain Ryan Getzlaf (19 points in 18 games), who has a five-game assist streak. Nashville (9-7-1) has been outscored 9-3 in consecutive losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.
Ottawa Senators at Colorado Avalanche (8:30 p.m. ET; SN1, ALT, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Kadri's point streak is tied for the fourth longest in the NHL this season behind McDavid (17; active), Terry (16; active) and Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (nine; Oct. 16 to Nov. 5), and he has three straight multipoint games (eight points; two goals, six assists). The Avalanche (8-5-1) are 4-0-0 since a lower-body injury sidelined their top forward, Nathan MacKinnon, outscoring opponents 24-8 in that span. Colorado defenseman Cale Makar was named the NHL Third Star for the week ending Nov. 21 after scoring five points (three goals, two assists) in two games. Senators leading scorer
Drake Batherson
(16 points; seven goals, nine assists) remains in NHL COVID-19 protocol and is not expected to play.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Winnipeg Jets (8:30 p.m. ET; SN, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Penguins (7-6-4) are coming off back-to-back shutout wins, 6-0 against the Canadiens and 2-0 against the Maple Leafs. Captain Sidney Crosby, who has been limited to five games because of injury and COVID-19 protocol, scored his first goal of the season against the Canadiens on Nov. 18. The Jets (9-4-4) return home after consecutive road losses to the Oilers (2-1 in shootout on Thursday) and Vancouver Canucks (3-2 on Friday). Winnipeg forward Kyle Connor is among the NHL leaders in goals (12; T-5th) and points (22; T-4th).
Carolina Hurricanes at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, BSSO, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Goalie James Reimer is expected to start for the Sharks in his first game against his former team. Reimer, who signed a two-year contract with San Jose (8-8-1) on July 28, has the fourth-best save percentage (.938 in nine games) in the NHL among goalies to play at least six games this season behind Jack Campbell (.944) of the Maple Leafs, Jacob Markstrom (.942) of the Calgary Flames and Jonathan Quick (.939) of the Los Angeles Kings. The Hurricanes (14-2-0) have won the first three games of a six-game road trip. They lead the Metropolitan Division and the NHL in points percentage (.875).