NHL On Tap: Ovechkin can pass Howe for latest milestone with Capitals

There are eight games on the NHL schedule for Sunday, four of which are nationally televised. Here are five things to watch today, along with the complete game schedule.

Howe sweet it is

Alex Ovechkin can pass Gordie Howe (348) for the most home games with a goal in NHL history when the Washington Capitals (17-9-3) host the Columbus Blue Jackets at Capital One Arena (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, MNMT). The Capitals captain, who has 46 points (28 goals, 18 assists) in 52 games against the Blue Jackets, is also tied with Howe (42 points; 15 goals, 27 assists, 1968-69) for the most goals through 30 games in a season by a 40-year-old. Ovechkin has 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) in 29 games this season and his six-game point streak (nine points; four goals, five assists) ended in a 4-3 shootout loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. The Blue Jackets (13-9-6) who play the second of a three-game road trip and are 2-0-1 in their past three games.

Celebrate Celebrini

Macklin Celebrini is expected to play his 100th NHL game when the San Jose Sharks visit the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center (5 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, NBCSCA). Celebrini (103 points; 39 goals, 64 assists) has the eighth most points in NHL history among teenagers at the time of their 100th game and needs two to pass Ted Kennedy for seventh. He leads the Sharks (13-13-3) with 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists) in 29 games this season. Carolina (17-8-2), which has won three of four, will play the sixth of a seven-game homestand.

Right on time

Connor Bedard has scored the opening goal of the game 17 times since entering the NHL in 2023-24. He's sixth during that span and will look to add to it when the Chicago Blackhawks play the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center (8 p.m. ET; Victory+, CHSN, KCOP-13, SN). The only players with more opening-game goals are Sidney Crosby (21), Leon Draisaitl (21), Adrian Kempe (21), David Pastrnak (19) and Artemi Panarin (19). The Blackhawks (12-10-6) lost 6-0 at the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Anaheim (17-10-1) has alternated wins and losses over its past nine games (5-4-0).

More 'Bread,' please

Panarin has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his past six games for the New York Rangers, who host the Vegas Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NHLN, MSG). Panarin's 16 assists since Nov. 7 lead the NHL, and his 24 points are tied with Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson. New York (15-12-3) has points in three straight (2-0-1). The Golden Knights (13-6-8) have won three in a row and play the second of a five-game road trip. Captain Mark Stone has points in 11 straight games (four goals, 14 assists), the longest point streak to begin a season in his NHL career. The forward missed 16 games with an upper-body injury from Oct. 20 to Nov. 26.

Champing at the bit

Matthew Schaefer, who leads rookie defensemen with 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists), nine power-play points and in average ice time (23:29), will face the defending two-time Stanley Cup champion for the first time when the New York Islanders visit the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena (5 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MSGSN, SN). The 18-year-old has five points (one goal, four assists) in his past five games. New York (16-10-3) has won three in a row, including two against the Tampa Bay Lightning (2-1 on Tuesday and 2-0 on Saturday). The Panthers (13-12-2) ended a four-game slide (0-3-1) with a come-from-behind 7-6 overtime win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

The schedule

Colorado Avalanche at Philadelphia Flyers (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSP, ALT, SN, TVAS)

New York Islanders at Florida Panthers (5 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, MSGSN, SN)

San Jose Sharks at Carolina Hurricanes (5 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, NBCSCA)

Pittsburgh Penguins at Dallas Stars (6 p.m. ET; Victory+, SN-PIT)

St. Louis Blues at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, FDSNMW)

Vegas Golden Knights at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, NHLN, MSG)

Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, MNMT)

Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks (8 p.m. ET; Victory+, CHSN, KCOP-13, SN)