NHL's Packed Week Kicks Off Monday

Five NHL games light up Monday night as the Kings hit Columbus early and heavyweights like Rangers-Flyers and Flames-Capitals follow in a marquee slate. Front offices circle this stretch with 70-plus games through Sunday, including 14 on both Thursday and Saturday, testing rosters down the stretch toward playoffs. Teams like the Utah Mammoth push their max-games weeks, but every GM knows back-to-backs and cross-country hauls separate contenders from pretenders this time of year.