Short takes

• <CHARENTITY>7</CHARENTITY>Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin reached the 600-goal plateau Monday with a two-goal effort against the Jets, becoming the 20th player in NHL history to achieve the milestone. He was also the fourth fastest, scoring No. 600 in Game No. 990. The accomplishment further cements Ovechkin's status as one of the greatest to ever play the game, and while younger players continue to steal the spotlight in today's NHL, Ovechkin remains must-see TV.

• <CHARENTITY>7</CHARENTITY>Ovechkin has competition for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's top goal scorer, and the Winnipeg Jets' Patrik Laine might be the best challenger. Laine entered the weekend just a goal shy of Ovechkin's 42 and with the 19-year-old in a groove of late, Laine will be one to watch as the season wraps up. With an assist Thursday, he set the NHL record for points in consecutive games by a teenager at 14 — a span in which he's corralled 16 goals and eight assists.

• <CHARENTITY>7</CHARENTITY>The Wild isn't the only team that recently lost a defenseman to injury. Anaheim will be without Kevin Bieksa for two to five weeks after he underwent surgery to remove scar tissue from his left hand. The Ducks entered the weekend a point out of a wild-card spot and just two behind the Kings for the third seed in the Pacific Division.