Ovechkin goal-scoring milestone, NHL anniversary highlight week ahead

Alex Ovechkin's shot at a goal-scoring milestone, which could come on the 101st anniversary of the first games played in NHL history, and Mikko Rantanen's run at Colorado Avalanche history are among the highlights of the week ahead.
Here's a look at 5 things to watch:

1. Sid vs. Ovi, Part III

Forward Alex Ovechkin will have a chance to make some history when he and the Washington Capitals play Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVAS).
Ovechkin leads the NHL with 29 goals; he is one away from matching Mike Gartner as the only players to begin their NHL careers with 14 consecutive 30-goal seasons.
In 54 regular-season games against the Penguins, Ovechkin has 58 points (35 goals, 23 assists). Crosby has 66 points (21 goals, 45 assists) in 47 games against the Capitals.
It's the third of four games between the Capitals and Penguins this season. Crosby's two assists overcame Ovechkin's 609th NHL goal in a 7-6 overtime win for the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 4. Crosby and Ovechkin each scored a goal in Washington's 2-1 victory at Capital One Arena on Nov. 7.

2. Anniversary 101

The Penguins-Capitals game will be part of the NHL's celebration of the 101st anniversary of the first games in League history. The Montreal Canadiens also play the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center (8:30 p.m. ET; SN, SN360, ALT, RDS, NHL.TV).
On Dec. 19, 1917, Joe Malone scored five goals to help the Canadiens to a 7-4 win against the Ottawa Senators, and the Montreal Wanderers got five goals from Harry Hyland in a 10-9 win against the Toronto Arenas.

3. Rantanen nearing Colorado record

Mikko Rantanen can extend his point streak to 18 games, second-longest in Avalanche history, if he has a point in each of Colorado's four games this week.
Rantanen had two goals and an assist in a 6-4 win against the Dallas Stars at Pepsi Center on Saturday to give him points in 14 straight games. He's tied with teammate Nathan MacKinnon (2017-18) and Joe Sakic (1999-00) for the third-longest since the Avalanche moved to Denver from Quebec in 1995-96.
Paul Stastny holds the record with a point in 20 consecutive games, from Feb. 3-March 17, 2007. Alex Tanguay is second with a point in 16 straight from Feb. 6-March 7, 2003.
Colorado plays the New York Islanders at Pepsi Center on Monday (9 p.m. ET; ALT, MSG+, NHL.TV), then plays home games against the Canadiens on Wednesday and the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday before facing the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on Saturday.

4. To the Max

Vegas Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty will play his second game this season against the Canadiens, at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday (4 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV).
Pacioretty was traded to Vegas by Montreal on Sept. 10. He spent his first 10 NHL seasons in Montreal, where he had 448 points (226 goals, 222 assists) in 626 games, and had been the captain since 2015-16.
In his return to Bell Centre on Nov. 10, Pacioretty was minus-2 in a season-high 20:46 of ice time during the Golden Knights' 5-4 loss.

5. Milestone watch

\ Mike Smith of the Calgary Flames is two shutouts away from becoming the 11th active goalie with 40 in the NHL. The Flames play the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW+, SNW, NHL.TV) and are home against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday and the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
\ Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar is two goals from 300 in the NHL. The Kings play three games this week, starting against the Winnipeg Jets at Staples Center on Tuesday (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, TSN3, NHL.TV). They also play at the San Jose Sharks on Saturday and the Golden Knights on Sunday.
* Carolina Hurricanes forward Justin Williams is four goals from 300 in the NHL. The Hurricanes play the final three games of a four-game homestand this week, starting against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; FS-CR, FS-D, NHL.TV), followed by games against the Penguins on Saturday and Boston Bruins on Sunday.