This Week in the NHL: Senators, Panthers meet for first time since epic brawl

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. 19-25?

Nikita Kucherov: first to 100 points this season?

It remains to be seen if piping-hot Connor McDavid makes an incredible comeback to win the 2023-24 scoring race. For now, though, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Kucherov paces the pack, currently sitting at a league-best 94 points through 55 games. The Bolts are busy this week, with four games on the slate, meaning he has a strong chance to hit the century mark. In 2018-19, his Hart Trophy season, he did it in his 62^nd game. At the time, he was the fastest to get there since Mario Lemieux in 1996-97. Connor McDavid eclipsed that accomplishment in 2020-21 when he got point No. 100 in his 53^rd game, making him the fastest since Lemieux in 1995-96.

Feb. 20: Senators, Panthers meet for first time since brawl

Ottawa Senators @ Florida Panthers, 7:00 p.m. ET

The Sens and Panthers played some old-time hockey in late November. During the Panthers’ 5-0 beatdown victory, they amassed 167 minutes in penalties, with brothers Brady (Ottawa) and Matthew (Florida) heavily involved in the chaos. At one point, after Brady crashed into Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, a brawl ensued, leading to the official ruling that “Every player on the ice has a 10-minute misconduct.” The teams haven’t met since. Will the tension carry over into Tuesday’s tilt?

Feb. 25: Blackhawks retire Chris Chelios’ jersey

Detroit Red Wings @ Chicago Blackhawks, 6:00 p.m ET

One week after the Pittsburgh Penguins honor legend Jaromir Jagr by retiring his No. 68, the Blackhawks will do the same for defenseman Chris Chelios’ No. 7. The Chicago-born blueliner won two of his three Norris Trophies with the Blackhawks, for whom he played nine of his jaw-dropping 26 seasons. Chelios ranks second all-time among NHL D-men in games and penalty minutes and 10^th in scoring.