This Week in the NHL: Buckle up for Steven Stamkos’ return to Tampa Bay

Credit: Oct 10, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) awaits the face off against the Dallas Stars during the first period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

With 32 teams and seemingly infinite storylines, it’s hard to keep track of all the weekly goings on during the NHL season. That’s why I’m here to help. Every Monday from October to April, I’ll preview the key events, games, narratives and milestones in play for the week.

So what’s on tap for Oct. 28 – Nov. 3?

Oct. 28: Steven Stamkos returns to Tampa Bay

Nashville Predators @ Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 p.m. ET

Monday will bring the most emotional NHL homecoming in recent memory. Stamkos amassed 555 goals, 1,137 points and two Stanley Cups in 16 seasons with the Lightning. It felt like he’d spend his entire Hall of Fame career with one franchise. But it didn’t play out that way in the summer, when the Bolts walked away from him and he signed with the Predators as a UFA on a four-year, $32 million pact. When he visits Amalie Arena in an opposing team jersey for the first time, there won’t be a dry eye in the house. Bet on a massive ovation from the Lightning faithful for their all-time leading scorer and longest-serving captain.

Oct. 30: Mikael Backlund’s 1,000^th game

Calgary Flames @ Utah Hockey Club, 9:30 pm. ET

Backlund has quietly put together a solid career as one of the game’s better defensive forwards, finishing top-10 in the Selke Trophy vote three times. Amazingly, he will be just the second player to reach 1,000 games in a Flames uniform, joining Jarome Iginla (1,219).

Oct. 30: Hughes Bowl

New Jersey Devils @ Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m. ET

For the first time since last December and first time since they were named EA Sports NHL 25 cover athletes, Jack, Luke and Quinn Hughes will compete when Jack and Luke’s Devils visit Quinn’s Canucks. During their previous meeting they became the ninth trio of brothers to play in the same NHL game, with all three landing on the scoresheet.

Nov. 1-2: NHL Global Series heads to Finland

The Dallas Stars will play their first games outside North America in franchise history when they take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers for back-to-back games Friday and Saturday at Nokia Arena in Tampere. Among the top Finnish talents competing, health permitting: Miro Heiskanen, Roope Hintz and Esa Lindell for Dallas and Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen and Niko Mikkola for Florida.

Connor McDavid’s 1,000^th point

If any other player opened a week eight points away from 1,000, talk of him reaching the milestone would be premature. But we can never count McDavid out. His Edmonton Oilers play three games this week. He’ll either be the third or fourth-fastest player to reach 1,000. McDavid opens the week with 654 career games. Mike Bossy, the third-fastest to 1,000, got there in 656.