There are nine games on Tuesday’s NHL schedule, including five Canadian teams in action.
Here are some things to know prior to puck drop.
McDavid vs. Eichel, pt. 2
It’s time for another chapter in the book of Connor McDavid vs. Jack Eichel.
The top picks from 2015 will face off against each other for just the second time on Tuesday night when the Edmonton Oilers visit the Buffalo Sabres.
The two young stars first met on NHL ice on March 1, with that victory going to McDavid thanks to his two-goal effort — including the winner in overtime.
(The teams also met on Oct. 16 — a big 6-2 Sabres win over the Oilers in Edmonton — though Eichel was absent due to injury.)
The Oilers have been strong on the road, with an NHL-best eight road wins, four losses and two overtime losses for a .643 winning percentage.
Edmonton has also put up the most goals on the road this season, with 45, and the second-most power-play goals (11).
McDavid has been a force this season, leading the league in points with 11 goals and 23 assists in 27 games, 10 of which have featured multiple points for the 19-year-old.
The Oilers captain has been held off the score sheet for the past two games. Three straight scoreless games would be a new record.
Eichel’s season, on the other hand, is just getting underway. The centreman was forced to sit through the first 21 games of 2016-17 due to a high ankle sprain, but wasted no time getting on the scoreboard upon his return.
Eichel has three goals and an assist in his first four games this year.
There were rumours of Eichel being assessed after possibly re-injuring his ankle after getting tangled up with Dmitry Orlov against the Washington Capitals on Monday night. But according to the team, Eichel says he’s OK.
After winning back-to-back games upon Eichel’s return, the Sabres have lost two straight, though both were one-goal games against tough opponents in the Bruins and Capitals.
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Battle of New York
This will be the second meeting between New York City’s two franchises, with the first serving as both clubs’ season opener. The New York Rangers won that matchup, 5-3.
The Rangers have been strong this season, sitting in second place in the NHL and first in the Metropolitan Division. But as mentioned in Monday’s edition of Down Goes Brown, something looks a little off.
They’re not scoring at the rate they were at the start of the season, and their dismal possession numbers are a warning sign of trouble to come.
One of the club’s best scorers, Michael Grabner, won’t be with the team for Tuesday’s matchup due to personal reasons.
Kevin Hayes remains the Rangers’ leading scorer despite being held off the score sheet in four games.
The New York Islanders have had an interesting season so far, to say the least, with the fans chanting for Jack Capuano to be fired last month. (He wasn’t, of course.)
The one consistent piece of the Islanders’ puzzle has been captain John Tavares, who has 19 points in 24 games for the team lead.
The Islanders currently sit dead last in the Eastern Conference and third-last in the league.
Their three-game win streak was broken in overtime on Sunday night by the Red Wings, and they’ll not doubt be looking to earn a fifth straight point Tuesday in an attempt to turn their season around before it’s too late.