NHL On Tap: Ovechkin looks to score 30 goals for 16th time with Capitals

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 seven games Monday.

Ovechkin tries to reach 30 goals for 16th time

Alex Ovechkin looks to score 30 goals for the 16th time in the NHL when the Washington Capitals host the Vegas Golden Knights (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, NBCSWA, ATTSN-RM, NHL LIVE). That would be second most in NHL history, behind Mike Gartner, who scored 30 goals in 17 of his 19 NHL seasons. Ovechkin, who is tied with Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers atop the NHL leaderboard with 29 goals in 42 games, is coming off a two-goal game for the Capitals (23-10-9) in their 3-2 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Ovechkin is also tied for the NHL lead in points (58) with Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl and Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau. Chandler Stephenson leads the Golden Knights (24-15-2) with 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 40 games and will face his former team in Washington for the first time since being traded to Vegas on Dec. 3, 2019. -- Pete Jensen, director, senior fantasy editor

Kreider looks to stay hot for Rangers

Kreider is enjoying his finest season with the Rangers since making his NHL debut during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The forward has scored eight goals in an NHL career-best five-game goal streak, leads the League with 14 power-play goals and has an NHL career-high 29 goals in 42 games this season. He's helped power New York (27-11-4) to first in the Metropolitan Division entering their game against the Los Angeles Kings (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE) at Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers are 12-2-1 since Oct. 29 for an .833-point percentage, third-best in the NHL during that span. The Kings (21-16-5) are playing the second of a back-to-back set after ending a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. -- Jon Lane, staff writer

Flames try to get back on track

The Calgary Flames (18-12-6) were rolling until the calendar hit the dividing line of Dec. 4. Through their first 24 games, the Flames were 15-4-5 and tied in points with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers for first in the NHL. Since then, they've won three games (3-8-1), are 1-5-0 in their past six and have slipped to ninth in the Western Conference, two points behind the eighth-place San Jose Sharks. They'll try to right themselves starting against the St. Louis Blues (25-11-5) at home (9 p.m. ET; SN1, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). The Flames were outscored 25-10 and 1-for-12 on the power play in their past five losses and have struggled at home (5-4-4) this season. Calgary must deal with a St. Louis team that is coming off a 3-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday and has won six of its past seven games. It's a busy week for the Flames with four games in six days, including a rematch with the Blues in St. Louis on Thursday. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Monday schedule

Anaheim Ducks at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; NESN, BSSC, BSSD, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Ducks (20-16-7) begin a five-game road trip after they ended a four-game losing streak with a 5-1 win at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday. David Pastrnak has scored 11 goals in January for the Bruins (24-12-2), the fourth time the forward has scored at least 11 in a calendar month in the NHL (Oct. 2018, 11; Oct. 2019, 12; Nov. 2019, 12).
Los Angeles Kings at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Kings are playing the second of a six-game road trip and are 7-4-0 in their past 11 games. The Rangers' 27 wins through 42 games are tied for the fifth-most in their history and most since 2016-17 (28).
Dallas Stars at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Stars (20-16-2) have won the first two of a four-game road trip. The Flyers (13-20-8) are 0-8-3 since their last win Dec. 29, a 3-2 overtime victory against the Seattle Kraken, and have been outscored 43-22.
Vegas Golden Knights at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, NBCSWA, ATTSN-RM, NHL LIVE)
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone remains in NHL COVID-19 protocol and is not expected to play. Forward Max Pacioretty (wrist) and defenseman Alec Martinez (upper body) are on the road trip and nearing returns. Defenseman John Carlson is out of COVID-19 protocol and will return for the Capitals, who have won consecutive home games in overtime.
Montreal Canadiens at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; SN, BSN, BSWI, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canadiens (8-25-7) have lost eight of nine (1-4-4). Mats Zuccarello has four consecutive multipoint games for the first time in his NHL career and has scored 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) during an eight-game point streak for the Wild (24-10-3), who are 5-0-1 in their past six. Cam Talbot will start for Minnesota after the goalie missed five games with a lower-body injury.
Chicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, NBCSCH+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Blackhawks (15-19-7) were swept by the Wild in a home-and-home series Friday and Saturday. The Avalanche (28-8-3) have won 15 in a row at home, tied with the 2016-17 Capitals for the second-longest home winning streak in the past 25 years. The Detroit Red Wings own the NHL record of 23 set in 2011-12.
St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SN1, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Johnny Gaudreau, who leads the Flames with 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 36 games, has a four-game point streak (one goal, six assists). Calgary defenseman Erik Gudbranson is expected to play his 600th NHL game. It's the end of a three-game road trip for the Blues, who will play their next four games at home. Forward Brayden Schenn has scored six points (four goals, two assists) in a three-game point streak.