Ovi goes for record again; Rangers seek 10th in row

It appeared on two occasions in the Washington Capitals' past three games that captain Alex Ovechkin scored to set the record for most NHL goals scored by a Russian-born player. Each time, though, the apparent goal was taken away following a video review.

Ovechkin will get another chance to pass Sergei Fedorov when the Capitals face the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA Sports).

Ovechkin has 483 goals in 775 NHL games, the most of any player since he entered the League in 2005. Fedorov had 483 in 1,248 games with the Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Capitals.

"I haven't talked to him about it, but the best advice I can give him is to play your normal game," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "He's scored a gazillion goals in this league, and to our team: Don't look for Ovi to score that goal. Don't overpass. He's scored a lot of goals. Play the way we play, and I guarantee you, he will score that goal, and he'll score many after that."

Ovechkin, who leads Washington with eight goals in 15 games, has scored at least 50 goals in a season six times, including 53 last season, and is the fifth player in NHL history to score at least 30 goals in each of his first 10 seasons. He holds Washington's record for most career goals.

Here are other games that should garner plenty of attention:

Monday, Nov. 16 -- Vancouver Canucks at Montreal Canadiens (7:30 p.m. ET; SNP, RDS, SNE): It's the sixth of a seven-game road trip for the Canucks, who are 1-3-1 thus far. Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins said Sunday that center Brandon Sutter is close to returning from a lower-body injury he sustained Nov. 10. Canadiens goalie Carey Price, who hasn't played since Oct. 29 because of a lower-body injury, skated for a second straight day Sunday.

Tuesday, Nov. 17 -- Minnesota Wild at Pittsburgh Penguins (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, ROOT): Penguins center Evgeni Malkin was brutally honest following a 4-0 loss at the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Pittsburgh has scored 35 goals in 17 games this season. "We're not playing right," Malkin said. "We're not working hard. It's tough right now. We're mad at each other. It's not only (lack of) goals, it's bad penalties, turnovers, it's everything. Not playing right in the system."

Thursday, Nov. 19 -- New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG, SUN): New York will be seeking its 10th straight victory following its 4-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. Mats Zuccarello had a goal and two assists; he leads the Rangers with 18 points (nine goals) in 18 games.

Friday, Nov. 20 -- Chicago Blackhawks at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; CSN-CH, SNW): Two of the faster teams in the NHL go head-to-head for the second time in six days; the Blackhawks defeated the Flames 4-1 at United Center on Sunday. Chicago, which will play the second of a six-game trip, has won two of seven road games this season; Calgary is 3-5-0 at home. Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has 17 points in 19 games.

Saturday, Nov. 21 -- Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, NESN): An "Original Six" matchup at TD Garden. The Bruins are 8-7-1 through 16 games, but they're 2-5-1 at home. Toronto had won three in a row before losing to the Rangers on Sunday.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

James Reimer, Toronto Maple Leafs -- Reimer has picked up his play drastically in recent weeks. He made 43 saves Saturday to lead the Maple Leafs to a 4-2 win against Vancouver. Reimer has a .945 save percentage over his past seven starts.

"He's been great," Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk said of Reimer. "He looks really sharp back there, he's making all the big saves we need to have a chance every night to win."

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks -- Kane extended his goal streak to seven games Sunday; he has 10 goals and 12 assists during a 13-game point streak. Kane leads the League in points (28) and goals (13).

Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers -- He's been on the ice for Edmonton's past seven goals and has a point on six of them. Draisaitl, who turned 20 on Oct. 27, has at least two points in five of the eight games he's played.

Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins -- Bergeron extended his point streak to four games Saturday during a 3-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings. He has two goals and three assists over the stretch.

LINE CHANGES

Marko Dano, Chicago Blackhawks -- The centerpiece of the trade that moved Brandon Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets received another chance on the Blackhawks' top line with Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa on Saturday, a line that looked awfully sharp during the preseason.

"It's good to be back with them on the same line, and yeah, they're trying to find someone to play on the first line, and now I'm getting a chance," Dano, 20, told CSN Chicago. "It's a big opportunity for me, and we played well in training camp at Notre Dame, and now hopefully it's going to work again. I'll just go there, have fun with them and hopefully it's going to work."

Brock Nelson, New York Islanders -- After going six games without a point earlier this season, Nelson is heating up. He was promoted to New York's top line last week alongside center John Tavares and right wing Kyle Okposo and has two goals and two assists during a three-game point streak.

"It's good to see him shoot the puck," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said of Nelson. "It's one thing he's been working on in his game. He's playing well, he's playing with some confidence. I think that line has got some chemistry. We're gonna need him."

Mikhail Grigorenko, Colorado Avalanche -- Grigorenko moved on to the Avalanche's top line against the Bruins on Thursday when he replaced Gabriel Landeskog, who was given a game misconduct and suspended two games following a hit on Boston forward Brad Marchand. Grigorenko had a career-high three points Saturday, when the Avalanche earned a 6-1 win at the Montreal Canadiens.

The line of Grigorenko, Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon combined for nine points in the victory.

"They are great players," Grigorenko told the Avalanche website. "They are smart and fast and skilled. If you get open, you get the puck; you just have to think the same way and try to give them the puck."

POINT SHOTS

Devils coach John Hynes on a 10-6-1 start: "If people are talking about you, that's nice, but it's early. We appreciate that, but it doesn't guarantee any success, so you have to continue on. One of our objectives coming into the year was that we wanted to make the fans proud of the team, and we have, but we can't guarantee what will happen in the end. When you play well, the fans appreciate that effort, and that's great." … Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith played 27:34 on Saturday in his first game since having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee Oct. 20. … It appears Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask is overcoming his slow start; he has a .933 save percentage over the past four games. … Nashville Predators defenseman Seth Jones has five points in the past three games. … Since being reunited on Oct. 30, the Rangers' top line of Rick Nash, Derick Brassard and Zuccarello has combined for 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists). … Here's a water-cooler chat: Is Islanders assistant coach/assistant general manager Doug Weight worthy of a Hockey Hall of Fame induction? The United States Hockey Hall of Fame center represented the U.S. at nine international competitions (including three Olympics), helped his country upset Canada at the 1996 World Cup and had 1,033 points over 19 seasons. Discuss.

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