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Blue Jackets forward set for return to Calgary; Bruins, Penguins to play at Fenway Park on Jan. 2
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The NHL resumes play Tuesday with 12 games following its annual Christmas break. It will be an action-filled stretch for the League leading up to the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, to be hosted by the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, on Feb. 3-4.
Here are some stories to watch between now and the All-Star Game:
2023 IIHF World Junior Championship
Conor Bedard of Canada, Leo Carlsson of Sweden and Charlie Stramel of the United States are among the top prospects for the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft who will be in the spotlight at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton New Brunswick. The tournament starts Monday and concludes with the gold medal game Jan. 5. Also competing will be Shane Wright, the No. 4 pick of the 2022 NHL Draft on loan from the Seattle Kraken, who was named Canada captain, and Luke Hughes, the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils, who is in his sophomore season at the University of Michigan and was named captain for the United States.
Stamkos seeks 500th goal
Overshadowed some by Alex Ovechkin's chase for his 802nd goal, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos is three goals from becoming the 47th player to reach 500 in the NHL. The Lightning open a three-game homestand against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; SN, BSSUNX, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW). Stamkos, who has 16 goals in 32 games this season, already became the first player in Lightning history to get 1,000 points with an assist in a 4-1 win at the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 1.
Busy New Year's Eve
The NHL bids farewell to 2022 with a dozen games on Dec. 31, beginning with the Buffalo Sabres visiting the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks playing at the Columbus Blue Jackets at 1 p.m. ET. The reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche close their year by hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. ET, and the night concludes with Calgary Flames at the Vancouver Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Winnipeg Jets at 10 p.m. ET.
Winter Classic returns to Fenway
The Bruins will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Jan. 2 (2 p.m. ET; TNT, SN, TVAS). It will be the second time Fenway Park, home of the Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox, will host the Winter Classic. The Bruins defeated the Flyers 2-1 in overtime at Fenway in 2010, the third Winter Classic.
Lindholm's return to Anaheim
Hampus Lindholm played his first nine NHL seasons with the Anaheim Ducks before being traded to the Bruins on March 19, and the next day agreeing to an eight-year, $52 million contract ($6.5 million average annual value). The defenseman will return to Honda Center for the first time since then when the Bruins visit on Jan. 8. Lindholm, who helped Anaheim finish first in the Pacific Division four straight seasons from 2013-17, ranks third in Ducks history among defensemen in goals (57), assists (165) and points (222).