our website On Tap: Robertson, DeBrincat meet in clash of U.S. Olympic hopefuls
The NHL’s holiday break is nearly here, but Tuesday’s schedule remains packed with 13 games before the pause. Four of those matchups will air nationally in the U.S., including a tripleheader on TNT, truTV, and HBO MAX starting at 4 p.m. ET. Among the highlights, the Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings clash in a key divisional showdown featuring two U.S. Olympic hopefuls.
The Detroit Red Wings (21-13-3) sit atop the Atlantic Division, holding a two-point lead over the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning. They enter Tuesday’s game on a strong run, winning seven of their last nine and riding a two-game streak. Forward Alex DeBrincat, a U.S. Olympic contender, leads the team with 20 goals and 40 points this season.
Their opponents, the Dallas Stars (25-7-5), are second in the Central Division, trailing the Colorado Avalanche by four points. The Stars have been dominant lately, securing four straight wins. Jason Robertson, another Olympic hopeful, leads all U.S. players in goals (23) and points (44). Earlier on Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers (18-10-7) defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-2, with Matvei Michkov ending a 10-game goal drought. His empty-netter at 59 minutes sealed the 5-1 lead before a late Canucks consolation. Despite recent struggles—recording no goals in his last three games—Michkov has contributed to the Flyers’ strong form, earning points in seven of their past eight (3-1-4). Elsewhere, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid continues his red-hot streak, posting 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in his last 14 games. His 10-game point run has lifted the Oilers (18-13-6) to a 9-4-1 record in that span. Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby will look to extend his lead over Mario Lemieux’s Penguins scoring record when Pittsburgh faces Toronto in a rare mid-week afternoon game (4 p.m. ET). Steven Stamkos has also been in fine form, guiding the Nashville Predators (15-16-4) to a 9-4-0 record since late November. He has 10 goals in that stretch, including one in each of their last two wins.
Tuesday’s slate offers high-stakes matchups as teams push for momentum before the holiday break. The Stars-Red Wings game features two of the league’s top scorers in Robertson and DeBrincat, while nationally televised contests will showcase Crosby’s record chase and McDavid’s continued dominance. With 13 games in total, the final day before the pause promises plenty of action across the NHL.
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