Sabres' winning streak, Trotz facing Capitals highlight week ahead

Erik Karlsson's return to Ottawa with the San Jose Sharks and Barry Trotz coaching his first game for the New York Islanders against the Washington Capitals are among the highlights of the week ahead in the NHL.
Here's a look at 5 things to watch:

1. Big returns

Two prominent players in the NHL will face off against their former teams.
San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane plays the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, MSG-B, NBCSCA, NHL.TV) for the first time since he was traded Feb. 26. Kane, who signed a seven-year contract with the Sharks on May 24, has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 24 games this season. He had three straight 20-goal seasons with the Sabres from 2015-16 to 2017-18.
Kane's teammate, Erik Karlsson, skates against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday (1 p.m. ET; TVAS, TSN5, NBCSCA, NHL.TV) for the first time since he was traded Sept. 13. Karlsson has 15 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 24 games with San Jose. He's third in Senators history in assists (392) and points (518) by any player and is their all-time leader in goals (126), assists and points by a defenseman.

2. Buffalo stampede

The Sabres will go for their 10th consecutive win Tuesday, which would tie the Buffalo record set in 1983-84 and matched at the start of the 2006-07 season. Buffalo (16-6-2, 34 points) finished 53-22-7 (113 points) and won the first Presidents' Trophpy in their history in 2006-07.

3. Isle be seeing you

New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz will face the Washington Capitals at Barclays Center on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SN, MSG+, NBCSWA+, NHL.TV) for the first time since guiding them to the first Stanley Cup championship in their history.
Trotz (775-576-136, 60 ties in 1,546 NHL games) has the Islanders (12-8-2, 26 points) tied with the New York Rangers for third place in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind first-place Washington, which has won five consecutive games.

4. To the rafters

Two former NHL standouts will have their numbers retired.
Rick Middleton will have his No. 16 raised to the TD Garden rafters before the Boston Bruins play the Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNE, SNO, SNP, NESN, MSG+, NHL.TV). Middleton will become the 11th Boston player to have his number honored. He ranks among the top six in Bruins history in goals (402; third), assists (496; sixth) and points (898; fourth).
Vic Hadfield will see his No. 11 elevated to the top of Madison Square Garden by the Rangers before their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday (6 p.m. ET; MSG, TSN3, NHL.TV). Hadfield and Rangers teammates Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert formed the "GAG" line (goal a game) in the late 1960s and early '70s. The three averaged more than one goal a game playing together and helped New York reach the Stanley Cup Final in 1971-72. Hadfield played 13 seasons with the Rangers and is among their top 10 in goals (262; 5th), power-play goals (83; 5th), game-winning goals (40; 5th), games played (841; 7th), points (572; 9th) and assists (310; 10th).

5. Milestone watch

* Patrik Laine has two chances to break Mario Lemieux's NHL record for most goals in a calendar month when the Jets host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV) and the Blackhawks on Thursday. Laine has scored 16 goals in 10 November games; Lemieux scored 17 goals in 15 games in November 1996.
Laine, who turns 21 on April 19, is also one goal from 100 in the NHL. Six players in NHL history have reached the milestone before their 21st birthday: Wayne Gretzky (167), Jimmy Carson (141), Dale Hawerchuk (122), Steven Stamkos (114), Ilya Kovalchuk (108) and Brian Bellows (102).

* Cam Atkinson can set a Blue Jackets record and become the first NHL player to score in eight consecutive games since Mike Green of the Capitals in 2008-09 when Columbus visits the Detroit Red Wings on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; FS-D, FS-O, NHL.TV). Atkinson tied Geoff Sanderson (2002-03) for the longest goal streak in Blue Jackets history when he scored against the Penguins on Saturday.
* Anze Kopitar is three goals from 300 with the Los Angeles Kings, who host the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, FS-W, NHL.TV).