This Week in the NHL: Patrick Kane eyes American hockey immortality
With 32 teams, games every night and countless narratives emerging, the NHL season can make one’s head spin, and it’s easy to miss out on the weekly storylines. Not to worry; every Monday from October to April, I’ll map out the major events, games, plotlines and milestones on tap for the next seven days.
So what’s happening the week of Jan. 26 – Feb. 1?
Feb. 1: NHL Stadium Series heads to Tampa
Boston Bruins @ Tampa Bay Lightning, 6:30 p.m. ET
After the Winter Classic took place at Miami’s LoanDepot Park with the Florida Panthers hosting, the outdoor slate remains in the Sunshine State when the Lightning take over Raymond James Stadium in Tampa to battle the Bruins. The matchup marks the 45th regular-season outdoor game in NHL history.
Patrick Kane eyes U.S. NHL points record
When Kane spoke to a small group of reporters including myself before the season, he was pumped about 500 goals but was clearly more excited about 1,375 points. That’s the number he needs to surpass Mike Modano for the all-time lead among American-born NHL players. Kane opens the week one back, needing just two for the record, and his Detroit Red Wings play a three-game homestand, providing the perfect backdrop for ‘Showtime’ to make history.
Joel Quenneville’s 1,000th coaching win
It never seemed possible that ‘Q’ would approach 1,000 wins after he was exiled from the NHL for three years due to his failure to take action over Brad Aldrich’s alleged sexual assault of Kyle Beach in 2010 during Quenneville’s tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks. But the NHL and the Ducks gave Quenneville a second chance one year after his reinstatement, and his Anaheim Ducks are squarely in the playoff hunt this season. Quenneville opens the week at 997 career wins, with the Ducks playing three times. He’ll become the second bench boss to win 1,000 games, joining Scotty Bowman, who has an incredible 1,244 victories.