This Week in the NHL: Pietrangelo, Marchand to join 1,000 game club

So many games. So little time. What should you focus your NHL hockey fandom on if your favorite team’s games don’t scratch the itch enough?

Welcome to This Week in the NHL. From now until April, we’ll lay out a collection of key games, events and deadlines to watch on the league calendar each week.

So what’s on tap for Feb. 12-18?

Feb. 12: Alex Pietrangelo’s 1,000^th game

Minnesota Wild @ Vegas Golden Knights, 10:00 p.m. ET

Slowly but surely, ‘Petro’ ticks boxes on what could be a Hall of Fame resume. He owns two Stanley Cup rings and an Olympic gold medal, he’s a three-time second-team All-Star, and he ranks seventh among all NHL defensemen in points since his first full season in 2010-11. At home at T-Mobile Arena Monday night, he’ll become the 126^th blueliner to play 1,000 NHL games.

Feb. 13: Brad Marchand’s 1,000^th game

Tampa Bay Lightning @ Boston Bruins, 7:00 p.m ET

Marchand’s career progression across his 15 NHL seasons has been fascinating to watch. He’s gone from super-pest to top-line scorer to one of the best forwards of his generation and a surefire Hall of Famer with multiple first-team All-Star nods. The Bruins captain will log career game No. 1,000 at home on Tuesday. He should get career point No. 1,000 next season.

Feb. 17-18: 2024 NHL Stadium Series

Philadelphia Flyers @ New Jersey Devils, 8:00 p.m., Feb. 17 (MetLife Stadium)

New York Rangers @ New York Islanders, 3:00 p.m., Feb. 18 (MetLife Stadium)

The 40^th and 41^st outdoor games in NHL history take place this weekend with a pair of important Metropolitan Division battles. The Devils and Islanders sit outside the playoff picture and will try to gain ground on the Flyers and Rangers, respectively.