The continuation of the 2018-19 NHL season after the All-Star break and the Detroit Red Wings retiring Hockey Hall of Famer Red Kelly’s No. 4, are among the highlights of the week ahead.
Here’s a look at 5 things to watch:
1. Back to work
The 2019-19 regular season resumes following the NHL All-Star break with two games Monday. The Winnipeg Jets play the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NBCSP, TSN3) and the New Jersey Devils face the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena (7 p.m. ET; SN, ATTSN-PT, MSG+, NHL.TV).
The Jets (31-15-2, 64 points) have won four of their past five games and are 6-2-0 since Jan. 6 to sit seven points behind the Calgary Flames for first place in the Western Conference. They visit the Flyers (19-23-6, 44 points), who entered the break on a three-game winning streak and 4-1-0 in five games since an eight-game losing streak (0-7-1).
The Penguins (26-16-6, 58 points) are 19-8-2, including an eight-game winning streak, since starting 7-8-4 and hold the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, four points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres. The Devils (18-23-7) have been outscored 11-4 in three straight losses.
2. Islanders seek 30th win
The New York Islanders will try to extend their point streak to seven games and lead in the Metropolitan Division when they return from their mandatory five-day break before the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game to play the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nassau Coliseum on Friday (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, SUN, NHL.TV).
Video: Gross on the Islanders’ defense, Barzal’s year, more
The Islanders (29-15-5, 63 points) are 10 points ahead of their pace last season and could become the first Metropolitan team to win 30 games. They’ve allowed NHL lows of 118 goals and 2.41 goals per game and had a shutout streak of 158:58 that ended with Chicago Blackhawks forward Dylan Strome‘s second-period goal in a 3-2 shootout loss Jan. 22.
New York has split two games with Tampa Bay this season, the last a 5-1 win at Barclays Center on Jan. 13. The Lightning (37-10-2) lead the NHL with 76 points.
3. Peters returns to Carolina with Flames
Bill Peters will coach the Calgary Flames against the Carolina Hurricanes in his return to PNC Arena on Sunday (2 p.m. ET; SN360, FS-SE, NHL.TV).
Peters was 137-138-53 during four seasons as Hurricanes coach before he resigned on April 20. Three days later Peters became coach of the Flames. He’s guided the Flames (33-13-5, 71 points) on a nine-game point streak (8-0-1) since Jan. 5 and coached the Pacific Division at the All-Star Game.
The game also marks the first in Carolina for Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin and forward Elias Lindholm since they were acquired in a trade with the Hurricanes for defenseman Dougie Hamilton and forward Micheal Ferland on June 23, 2018.
4. Honoring Red
Leonard “Red” Kelly will have his No. 4 retired by the Detroit Red Wings before their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Little Caesars Arena on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET; FS-D, TSN4, NHL.TV).
Kelly, an eight-time Stanley Cup champion inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969, had 472 points (162 goals, 310 assists) in 846 games with the Red Wings. He finished his NHL career by winning the Cup with Toronto in 1967.
Video: Red Kelly won Cup four times each with Wings, Leafs
5. Milestone watch
* Patrick Kane is one point from becoming the fifth United States-born player in NHL history to reach 900 points prior to their 900th game (Pat LaFontaine, Joe Mullen, Jeremy Roenick, Mike Modano). The Blackhawks are at the Sabres on Friday (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, MSG-B, NBCSCH, NHL.TV) and the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
Kane also returns from the break with the longest active point streak in the NHL (21 points; seven goals, 14 assists in nine games).
* Evgeni Malkin is two assists from 600 in the NHL. The Penguins begin a three-game homestand against the Devils on Monday before visiting the Maple Leafs on Saturday.
* Mike Smith remains two shutouts from 40 in the NHL. The Flames are at the Washington Capitals on Friday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, SNW, NHL.TV) and the Hurricanes on Sunday.
from A Viral Update http://bit.ly/2Wo9yHq
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