NHL On Tap: Malkin looks to stay hot for Penguins against Blues

There are two games on the NHL schedule for Monday, including one nationally televised in the United States and Canada. Here are the five things to watch today, along with the complete game schedule.

Malkin rolling

Evgeni Malkin has gotten off to as strong a start for the Pittsburgh Penguins (6-2-1) this season. The veteran center, who is in his 20th NHL season, has a six-game point streak during which he has two goals and seven assists. He’ll look to extend that run against the St. Louis Blues (3-4-1) at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh (7 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, SN-PIT, NHLN). Malkin, at 39 years, 86 days, is the oldest player in Penguins history to have a point streak of this length, besting Mark Recchi (38 years, 60 days), who had a six-game run in 2006-07.

Pens power

One of the reasons the Penguins have gotten off to a great start this season is their power play. They lead the NHL with a 33.3-percent success rate (8-for-24), and it’s no surprise Malkin and captain Sidney Crosby lead Pittsburgh in power-play points (Malkin has five, Crosby has four, including three power-play goals).

Feeling Blue

St. Louis is 0-2-1 in its past three games and had a particularly frustrating game Saturday when it allowed six unanswered goals in a 6-4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Worse, center Robert Thomas left in the third period because of an upper-body injury and will not play, nor will forward Jake Neighbours (lower body). Each is day to day.

'Pasta' closing in on milestone

David Pastrnak is four goals away from 400 in his career. The forward has gotten off to a strong start this season, leading the Boston Bruins (4-6-0) with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) entering their game against the host Ottawa Senators (4-4-1) at Canadian Tire Centre (7:30 p.m. ET; RDS, Prime, NESN). Pastrnak assisted on a game-winning goal for the 88th time in his career when he had the primary assist on Morgan Geekie’s goal in a 3-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. That’s one shy for seventh in Bruins history, shared by Phil Esposito and Johnny Bucyk.

Senators surging

Ottawa is 3-1-1 in its past five games and is coming off a 7-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Saturday. What’s worked? Well, let’s start with forward Shane Pinto, who is tied for the NHL lead with eight goals this season. He and center Dylan Cozens lead the Senators with nine points each. Ottawa’s power play is tied for sixth in the League at 28.1 percent.

The schedule

St. Louis Blues at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, SN-PIT, NHLN)

Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m. ET; RDS, Prime, NESN)