The Buffalo Sabres are back and other talking points on a busy NHL Monday

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Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Patrick Kane ultimate nightmare for Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings don’t enjoy facing Patrick Kane. That is obvious. After all, Kane has one goal and three assists for four points in two games against the Red Wings for the Chicago Blackhawks this season, while he has also averaged nearly a point per game in his career against Detroit, scoring 48 points (16 G, 32 A) in 51 games. Yeah, that is pretty good.

So, it goes without saying that the Red Wings will not look forward to facing Kane tonight, especially considering that they are 4-10-2 on the year and are bottom of the Central Division. On the flip side, Kane leads the 7-5-4 Blackhawks in points this season with 22 (7 G, 15 A), and the Hawks have also been red hot on the power play this season with 17 goals, compared to Detroit who rank 27th in the NHL on the penalty kill this year (71.7 percent). Basically, expect Patrick Kane to record at least a couple of points tonight.

Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Steven Stamkos is back

We will hopefully get to see one of the most exciting players in the National Hockey League tonight. Yes, Steven Stamkos is expected to be back for the Tampa Bay Lightning when they play the Florida Panthers tonight (7 p.m. ET), with the Captain having left the NHL’s COVID-19 Protocol list.

Stamkos, who was also listed with a lower-body injury prior to entering the Protocol, has been stellar for Tampa Bay in 2020-21 with 14 points (7 G, 7 A) in 11 games, playing a huge role in the Lightning getting off to a 10-2-1 start. And, after splitting their first two games with the Panthers over the last few days without Stamkos, losing 5-2 on Feb. 11 before winning 6-1 on Saturday, the Tampa Bay Lightning will be thrilled to get one of their most potent weapons back for tonight’s game.

Let’s not forget the Florida Panthers though, who have been a feel-good story in their own right and they have arguably been one of the biggest surprise stories in the NHL so far in 2020-21. Their 6-1 loss to the Lightning on Saturday aside, the Panthers have been outstanding so far this year and they currently sit second in the Central Division with a 8-2-2 record, with a lot of their success down to the high-level play of Carter Verhaeghe who has 10 points (7 G, 3 A) in 12 games after signing for Florida in the offseason following his exit from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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