Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad needed help leaving the ice after an awkward collision Friday against the Anaheim Ducks.He was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the contest with what the Panthers labelled a lower-body injury.Interim head coach Andrew Brunette offered an encouraging postgame update."We're very hopeful," he said, according to WPLG's David Dwork. "It's way better than we thought it would be."He added: "Nothing structural. I'll know more (Saturday). It'll be a clearer picture (then of) exactly what it is. But yeah, it was positive news (Friday night), and we'll go from there."Ekblad went to hit Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, but teammate Aleksander Barkov accidentally took out his legs. He couldn't put any weight on his right side as he crawled toward the bench before the training staff helped him off the ice.

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was caught a bit off guard when his team traded forward Brandon Hagel to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday."Yeah, if Hags is the guy to get traded, if he’s not a guy that’s a part of a rebuild, then I don’t know," Toews said, according to The Athletic's Mark Lazerus."I don’t know if anyone feels safe at this point, with the way he’s been playing and what he’s meant to our team. I had a hard time thinking in my mind that he would be one of the guys to get shipped off, considering what he brought in. Yeah, that was a tough one to see. I’m pretty shocked, for sure."The Blackhawks acquired Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh, and a pair of first-round picks for Hagel. The 23-year-old, who was enjoying a great season in Chicago, is signed for two more years at a $1.5-million annual cap hit.General manager Kyle Davidson released a statement Friday citing how the move is a part of the team's rebuild."I said a few weeks ago that we are rebuilding, and this is clearly the start of that. Getting two first-round draft picks as well as two young NHL players helps us kickstart that process in a major way," the statement reads.After winning three Stanley Cups between 2010-2015, the Blackhawks have struggled to get back to being a contender. The club has missed the playoffs in three of the past four seasons.Toews and Patrick Kane each have just one more year remaining on their contracts. The Blackhawks have floated the pair around in trade rumors as they look to usher in a new era, and Toews acknowledged the reality that the franchise could end up trading him and all his teammates."Now, all of a sudden, you realize no one on our team is safe, and we could all be going in different directions in the near future - it’s pretty discouraging," Toews said. "I’ll leave it at that for now."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks dealt forward Brandon Hagel to the Tampa Bay Lightning and got a significant return in the trade.Chicago sent Hagel and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024 to Tampa Bay in exchange for first-round picks in 2023 and 2024, plus forwards Boris Katchouk and Taylor Raddysh.Hagel is in the midst of a breakout season with 21 goals and 16 assists over 55 games. He's been on fire lately, racking up seven goals and three assists in his last nine contests, including four markers and two helpers in his last four.The 23-year-old's production this campaign already far exceeds his output of nine goals and 15 assists across 52 games last season.Hagel's contract carries a $1.5-million cap hit through 2023-24, after which he'd be a restricted free agent, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF) is challenging sanctions imposed by the IIHF over the country's invasion of Ukraine.The IIHF announced last month that Russia and Belarus are banned indefinitely from international play and relocated upcoming events scheduled to take place in the two countries.The RIHF said the punishments are "discriminatory.""Banning players from international competition based on nationality fuels intolerance in the media and could lead to divisions within the ice hockey community, which has always been known for its unity," the RIHF's statement said.Russia has also been sanctioned by other sports authorities such as FIFA and UEFA.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday was a tough one for our shot props. Anze Kopitar came through for us while Brendan Gallagher and John Carlson both fell a shot shy, hitting the net on two of their four attempts.We'll look to get back on a winning track and start the weekend off right.Cam Atkinson over 2.5 shots (-150)Cam Atkinson is the Philadelphia Flyers' most consistent shooting threat. He leads the team in shots on goal, scoring chances, goals, and expected goals on the year. While Travis Konecny's numbers over the last 10 games give him an edge, Atkinson is right on his tail.Atkinson is a really attractive player to back, especially against a team like the Ottawa Senators. They have been one of the worst shot suppression teams in the league this season and their defense just took a huge hit with Thomas Chabot going down. The Senators also give up a ton of shot volume to right-wingers. Only the Detroit Red Wings have conceded more shots per game to the position.With Claude Giroux sitting out and waiting for a trade, even more of the offensive load will fall on Atkinson's shoulders. Look for him to be heavily involved against Ottawa.Johnny Gaudreau over 3.5 shots (+100)Johnny Gaudreau has amassed 34 shots on goal over his last 10 home dates and is tied with Elias Lindholm for most shot attempts on the Calgary Flames during that period. He doesn't consistently hit four shots but he does hover around that number.What attracts me to Gaudreau on Friday is the matchup. The Buffalo Sabres give up more shots to left-wingers than every team in the league. No side is even close to touching their ineptitude against the position.For perspective, the difference in shots allowed between the Sabres and the closest team to them (Anaheim) is 54. That's the same gap as the one between the Ducks and the Nashville Predators, who rank 20th in shots against vs left-wingers.Whether he finds the scoresheet or not, Gaudreau should be able to generate plenty of chances in this game.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not that different from any other sport, but betting on hockey rests on a metaphorical edge the width of a skate blade. And not just on the ice during a game, but in the 24 hours before puck drop.For the uninitiated, moneyline prices are opened by sportsbooks the night before a contest is played. It's the first chance for bettors to weigh in on their opinion of a game at relatively low limits. Oddsmakers then shift the price toward the more heavily bet team.Value-based betting is when you aim to bet on a club at a specific minimum price. That move can push a team from qualifying as bet-worthy to no longer worth it. There are also occasions when a squad becomes valuable after there's enough action on the other club.With just one game Monday, let's look back at the Coyotes and Senators contest and see how the pricing in that matchup might have changed our perspective on it.OUR PRICE TO BET SUNDAY NIGHTCLOSING LINE (Mon.)Coyotes+144+147+128Senators-118-167-148With our bi-weekly guide posting Monday morning, we couldn't jump on the Coyotes at +144 or better. Bettors saw the value in Arizona and modestly bet them down into the +120s. That value disappeared.If you're an intrepid hockey handicapper, perhaps you were willing to blindly bet on the Coyotes anyway, and you'd have been rewarded. However, over the long term, it's a prudent betting practice to be disciplined enough to bet when the number is in your range and pass when it's not.Of course, the thin line still exists after the bet is made. The following night, three valuable underdog bets at an average price of +165 went to the 50/50 coin flip of overtime. The Sharks and Blackhawks lost during 4-on-4, and the Islanders fell in a shootout. Sometimes good bets don't go the right way. In other cases, timing keeps you off a winner. Either way, you can rest easy knowing you have a plan.The recipeBefore the 2021-22 campaign, we devised a three-part series on how to use the regular-season point-total market to create team ratings, how to interpret home-ice advantage, and then how to use those to create your own moneylines.We made a small adjustment to our formula a couple of weeks ago, moving this season's on-ice predictive metrics to 75% of our total rating. While our ratings are weighted to this season, basing 25% of the ratings on preseason "priors" allows us to emphasize team metrics without going all-in on what's happened this campaign. That's important because this season is still a relatively small sample size that includes some tainted results from when COVID-19 ravaged lineups.The stabilization of rosters at the All-Star break has meant that underdogs, or favorites that aren't favored by enough, are priced that way due to less quantifiable reasons, like public perception or short-term variance.The cheat sheetWhat follows is my fair price on the matchups (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I would need to bet either side. I just need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. On games I've projected to be a near coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough to make it a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a side playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and 3% for without travel.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETMarch 18WSH@CAR+110/-110WSH +122/CAR +100PHI@OTT+131/-131PHI +155/OTT -126BOS@WPG-111/+111BOS -107/WPG +131BUF@CGY+267/-267BUF +330/CGY -254FLA@ANA-135/+135FLA -130/ANA +159COL@SJS-145/+145COL -139/SJS +171March 19DAL@NYI+119/-119DAL +140/NYI -114CHI@MIN+126/-126CHI +148/MIN -121NJD@EDM+152/-152NJD +181/EDM -146LAK@VGK+141/-141LAK +167/VGK -135STL@CBJ-119/+119STL -114/CBJ +140PIT@ARI-134/+134PIT -129/ARI +158OTT@MTL+142/-142OTT +168/MTL -137TOR@NSH-115/+115TOR -110/NSH +135NYR@TBL+135/-135NYR +159/TBL -130DET@SEA+127/-127DET +150/SEA -122CGY@VAN+129/-129CGY +152/VAN -124March 20NYI@PHI+114/-114NYI +134/PHI -110DAL@WSH+133/-133DAL +157/WSH -128NYR@CAR+139/-139NYR +164/CAR -133ARI@SJS+131/-131ARI +155/SJS -126WPG@CHI-112/+112WPG -108/CHI +132BUF@VAN+206/-206BUF +248/VAN -197Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With 17 games scheduled over the next couple of days, we're in for a busy weekend of hockey.Let's dive right into the best bets.Capitals (+130) @ Hurricanes (-155)

Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen, and Stuart Skinner.Those have been the Edmonton Oilers' goalies through 61 games and, unless general manager Ken Holland is pulling a fast one on reporters and fans, those are the club's netminders for the rest of the season; Holland has said or inferred it's unlikely the team upgrades its goaltending ahead of Monday's trade deadline. It's a stick to the crotch for Oilers fans given Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the sport's best duo since Lemieux and Jagr, are in the prime of their careers but aren't being surrounded with enough talent.But what if Holland acquires a defenseman or two? Would Edmonton be OK? Could they then go on a deep run in a relatively weak Western Conference?The answer would have been, "Uh, no, you idiot," in the latter stages of Dave Tippett's time behind the Oilers' bench. The answer in the early stages of the Jay Woodcroft era has been upgraded to, "Hmm, maybe, yeah, just maybe." Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesSince Woodcroft took over as head coach, the Oilers are 11-5-1 for a .676 points percentage versus a 23-18-3 record and .557 PTS% under Tippett. The biggest strides have been made at five-on-five, where the Oilers' goals for percentage and expected goals for percentage have risen from middling to top 10 in the NHL. Here's the high-level breakdown:Five-on-five statTippett (rank)Woodcroft (rank)Shot attempts %52.3 (8th)53.4 (7th)High-danger attempts %48.7 (21st)58.0 (1st)Expected goals for %51.0 (15th)54.6 (6th)Goals for %46.8 (22nd)59.7 (3rd)(Advanced statistics source: Natural Stat Trick)I asked Woodcroft on Thursday about the improvements and what kind of message he's been delivering to players with respect to playing at even strength. "I don't want to give away all of the trade secrets," he said initially."On our work back to our own end," he added prior to Edmonton's 6-1 beatdown of the Buffalo Sabres. "Understanding that to win down the stretch and to win in the playoffs, your five-on-five game comes down to how hard you're willing to work back to your net and how hard you're willing to defend."Woodcroft then tacked on an interesting correlation: "There's a lot of side benefits to being organized and relentless ... A lot of the best offense in the NHL comes off of that." You saw the Oilers turn defense into offense countless times against the lowly Sabres. Devin Shore's shorthanded goal in the third period is a prime example:

The Anaheim Ducks are preparing to trade defenseman Hampus Lindholm after failed extension talks between the two sides, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The Ducks will hold him out of the lineup Friday against the Florida Panthers to protect him ahead of Monday's deadline, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Lindholm is a pending unrestricted free agent. He and the Ducks reportedly began negotiating a new deal in late February.Recently appointed general manager Pat Verbeek said he won't let the club's UFA's "walk out the door for free." That group of players includes Lindholm, Rickard Rakell, and Josh Manson, who's already been traded to the Colorado Avalanche.The Ducks exceeded expectations for much of the season but have since fallen out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference. Anaheim sits five points back of the second wild-card spot with more games played than every fringe team it's chasing.Lindholm should be a highly valuable piece on the trade market. He can slot into the top four for most contenders and has a palatable $5.205 million cap hit that can be reduced with salary retention.The Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs are among several teams interested in Lindholm, reports ESPN's Emily Kaplan. However, suitors are reportedly waiting to see if Anaheim drops its asking price.Lindholm was drafted sixth overall by the Ducks in 2012. The 28-year-old has notched 22 points in 61 games this season while averaging over 22 minutes per night.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel missed the third period of Thursday's 5-3 win against the Florida Panthers due to an upper-body injury, the team announced.Eichel blocked a shot with his arm late in the second period and briefly went to the locker room. He returned to the ice shortly after but didn't come out for the third period.The Golden Knights have been dealing with a slew of injuries as of late and had lost five straight games entering play. The team currently has a handful of players sidelined, including Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, Reilly Smith, Alec Martinez, Robin Lehner, and Brayden McNabb.Eichel has been one of Vegas' most productive forwards since making his debut with the club last month. Including Thursday's brief outing, he has five goals and five assists in 15 games.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux won't travel with the team to face the Ottawa Senators on Friday night and won't play against the New York Islanders on Sunday, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The team is holding him out of the lineup until his situation is resolved by Monday's trade deadline, but no deal is in place yet, sources told LeBrun.Giroux has been the subject of trade rumors for the last few weeks as he's set to become a free agent this summer and the Flyers aren't close to playoff contention.The 34-year-old played his 1,000th game with the Flyers on Thursday night in a 5-4 victory against the Nashville Predators. The club honored him with a pregame ceremony, and the veteran saluted the crowd with a lap postgame.

Seattle Kraken captain Mark Giordano is on the Toronto Maple Leafs' list of targets ahead of Monday's trade deadline, according to TSN's Chris Johnston."We know that Mark Giordano is one of the targets that the Maple Leafs have on their list at this point in time," Johnston said on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."He added: "The Seattle Kraken would like to get a first-round pick back in any trade for Mark Giordano; that's expressly what Kyle Dubas has told other teams he doesn't want to do. He's not going to trade his first-rounder, he's told teams, in a deal for a rental player."The veteran defenseman carries a $6.75-million cap hit and is set for unrestricted free agency after the season. The Kraken selected him from the Calgary Flames in the expansion draft and quickly named him the first captain in franchise history.Giordano, 38, has inevitably lost a step in his game as he's gotten older, but he can still bring value on the left side of the blue line. He has six goals and 17 assists in 55 games this season and has averaged 21:29 minutes of ice time per game.If the Maple Leafs were to add Giordano, their blue line combinations could look something like this if and when Jake Muzzin returns to the lineup from LTIR:LDRDJake MuzzinMorgan RiellyMark GiordanoTJ BrodieRasmus SandinIlya LyubushkinThe Montreal Canadiens landed a significant package for Ben Chiarot that included a solid prospect, plus first- and fourth-round picks. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche gave up a second-round pick and one of their top prospects to acquire Josh Manson. The Kraken will surely be looking for a similar package for Giordano.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although he's already sold assets ahead of the trade deadline, Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes isn't hanging an "everything must go" sign on his door just yet."We're not looking to make a fire sale," Hughes said Thursday, according to TSN.Montreal shipped defenseman Ben Chiarot to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday for a 2023 first-round pick, a 2022 fourth-rounder, and prospect Tyler Smilanic.Chiarot was one of several players on expiring contracts on the rebuilding Habs' books. Arturri Lehkonen and Brett Kulak are also rumored to be on the move.Hughes was named Canadiens GM in January. He's already made a handful of changes, including hiring Martin St. Louis as interim head coach. Since the Hall of Famer took over, Montreal has an 8-6-1 record after starting the season 8-30-7 under Dominique Ducharme.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators top defenseman Thomas Chabot will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured hand, head coach D.J. Smith announced Thursday, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.Chabot sustained the injury in Wednesday's loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets after logging only 8:54.The 25-year-old was in the midst of another strong campaign, having registered 34 points in 55 games while averaging over 26 minutes per contest. He also recorded 88 blocks and 71 hits.Chabot is in the second season of an eight-year, $64-million contract extension signed in 2019.Injuries have held the Senators back all season, and they sit seventh in the Atlantic Division with 47 points through 60 games.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a juicy 10-game slate on the docket Thursday night, which means there's a ton of player props to comb through.Let's take a closer look at three of my favorites.Brendan Gallagher over 2.5 shots (-106)Brendan Gallagher is always an attractive option on home soil. He has registered at least three shots in 59% of his home games, compared to a 45% success rate on the road.There's plenty of reason to believe he'll hit again Thursday night. With Josh Anderson out of the lineup due to injury, Gallagher finds himself with more weight on his shoulders to provide offense on the right wing.The matchup is also surprisingly good. Miro Heiskanen is out for the Dallas Stars, and they've given up shots at a much higher rate since he went down.John Carlson over 2.5 shots (-118)The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the best teams to target with shot props, especially for defensemen. Only the Arizona Coyotes have allowed more shots and shots per game to blueliners.Offensively gifted rearguards continue to find success against the Blue Jackets on a nightly basis. We saw that firsthand Wednesday as Thomas Chabot recorded five shots in eight minutes of ice time before leaving with an injury.It's not reasonable to expect that level of efficiency again in this contest. However, a talent like John Carlson is worth backing in such an advantageous matchup.Anze Kopitar over 2.5 shots (-106)The San Jose Sharks have conceded shots at an alarming rate for quite some time. I figured getting some players healthy - such as Erik Karlsson - might help, but the Sharks continue to struggle defensively.No matter the stretch you focus on - be it 15 games, 10 games, or five - San Jose ranks dead last in five-on-five attempts allowed per 60 minutes. They're giving up a ton of volume each and every night.Anze Kopitar figures to be one of the prime beneficiaries. He has gone over the number (2.5) in 68% of his home contests this season and is taking on an even larger role with so many key players missing for the Los Angeles Kings.He's also going up against one of the worst teams at defending against centers. Only seven clubs have allowed more shots per game to the position, and the Sharks find themselves moving further down the list every week.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wednesday night was a good one on the ice. We successfully backed the Calgary Flames to pick up a multi-goal victory over the New Jersey Devils while splitting our +100 player props.We'll look to turn 2-1 into 3-0 as we dive into our best bets for a jam-packed Thursday slate.Hurricanes (-110) @ Maple Leafs (-110)The Carolina Hurricanes enter this game playing some of their best hockey of the season. They're on a 7-2-1 run and have absolutely dominated opponents during that stretch, controlling 58.26% of the shot attempts (first) and 56.14% of the expected goals (fifth) at five-on-five.Beating a team like the Hurricanes is difficult enough, but when you factor in their elite special teams - headlined by arguably the league's best penalty kill - and high-end goaltending from Frederik Andersen, they're a miserable opponent for any side. I don't think they're getting the respect they deserve.Considering the Toronto Maple Leafs have home ice, I'd understand pricing this game at essentially a coin flip - if they were just dealing with goaltending issues. That's not the case. Not only are the Maple Leafs starting a third-string netminder, but they're playing without a legitimate Hart Trophy candidate in Auston Matthews.I don't see Toronto getting the better of the five-on-five play without Matthews. Its special teams are no better than Carolina's, and it's at a big disadvantage in goal with Erik Kallgren going up against a potential Vezina Trophy finalist.The Hurricanes have plenty of edges in this game. With an implied winning percentage of around 52%, there's real value backing them.Bet: Hurricanes (-110)Stars (-190) @ Canadiens (+155)The Montreal Canadiens have quietly played solid defensive hockey of late. No, seriously.Over the last 10 games, they rank 10th in attempts against and expected goals against per 60 minutes of five-on-five play. They really haven't given opponents much.Now they're getting a big jolt in the arm with Jake Allen expected back Thursday night. His play has dipped this season, but Allen still has around 0.30 more goals saved above expected than Sam Montembeault per start - and he carries a higher floor and ceiling.Put simply, the Canadiens are not giving up many chances. Upgrading in goal should really help them limit teams on the scoreboard.On the flip side, the Dallas Stars are a competent defensive team with one of the league's hottest netminders. Jake Oettinger has started 17 of the last 20 games, posting a remarkable .927 save percentage in that span. Montreal's offense has been better under Martin St. Louis, but Oettinger still has a good chance of slowing it.I think this total should be considerably juiced to the under. Since it's not, I'll happily take the value.Bet: Under 6 (-110)Capitals (-205) @ Blue Jackets (+170)The Columbus Blue Jackets have been a team to target all season long - and nothing's happened to give any pause for change.Columbus has dropped six of the last 10, posting miserable numbers in the process. Its share of the five-on-five shot attempts during that spell was just 43% and, somehow, it looks even worse by expected goals. Its expected goals for percentage is below 40%, which is mind-numbingly bad.The Washington Capitals are starting to get healthy and desperate for points to get out of a wild-card spot. Winning would be a difficult proposition for Columbus at the best of times. Doing it with Joonas Korpisalo makes it nearly impossible.OK, that might be a bit of an exaggeration - emphasis on "might." Korpisalo owns a putrid .883 save percentage this season. Of all netminders with at least 19 appearances (Korpisalo's number), only three allow more goals above expected per start.The Blue Jackets play a style that's heavily reliant on their goaltender stealing games. That's a disastrous recipe with Korpisalo between the pipes.Bet: Capitals in regulation (-129)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks signed forward Tomas Hertl to an eight-year extension, the team announced Wednesday.The deal carries an average annual value of $8.1375 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. The first three years have a no-movement clause, and the final five years have a limited no-trade clause, Friedman adds.Hertl was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season ended.The 28-year-old's name was floated around in trade rumors all season long, but San Jose's management was adamant that the club wanted to sign him to a long-term deal.

Goalies aren't typically hot commodities approaching the trade deadline, but the 2021-22 campaign may be a different story. Teams sitting in playoff spots at this time of the year usually have their crease figured out, but there are a handful of postseason hopefuls this season that could surely use an upgrade in net.The Toronto Maple Leafs previously indicated they planned on riding it out with Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek, but the two have struggled mightily over the last couple of months. With Campbell now sidelined with an injury, it's possible the club opts to address its troubling crease in order to avoid another playoff disaster. We dove into the team's options earlier this week.Finding an upgrade at this point is no easy task, but let's take a look at three other clubs that could do with one ahead of Monday's deadline.Minnesota Wild Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Wild were one of the league's best teams in the first half of the season but have sputtered in recent weeks. Inconsistent goaltending is one of the main reasons for their downward spiral.Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen are both capable options but have been wildly inconsistent. Since Feb. 1, the club has lost 11 of 19 games and allowed 75 goals in the process. On the season, the Wild have allowed four or more goals 23 times.It appears right now that Minnesota will struggle to make a deep playoff run with one of Talbot or Kahkonen in net. Talbot is signed for another season with a $3.6-million cap hit, while Kahkonen is set for restricted free agency. Many have viewed Kahkonen as the goalie of the future, but this season may have derailed that idea.The Wild have all of their draft picks at their disposal as well as an adequate amount of cap space. General manager Bill Guerin hasn't been afraid to shake things up, so it wouldn't be surprising if he attempts to right the ship before the deadline.Edmonton Oilers Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyIt's no secret that the Oilers need an upgrade in goal. Even reaching the postseason isn't guaranteed, but if they want to get there and make any noise, it's highly unlikely they can do it with one of Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen, or Stuart Skinner leading the way. The Oilers have the NHL's 11th-worst save percentage (.899) and have allowed four or more goals in 24 contests.Marc-Andre Fleury would be the obvious leading candidate if he gives the OK for the Chicago Blackhawks to trade him. So far, he's indicated he doesn't want to move, so that may not even be a possibility. Another viable option could be Semyon Varlamov, who's having a decent season but has been dominant the last few years. With Ilya Sorokin being the future of the New York Islanders' crease, they would be wise to move Varlamov, who has one more year on his contract with a $5-million cap hit. If available, he could be just what the Oilers need.However, with limited cap space and not a ton of attractive options, the Oilers might decide to waste yet another season and address the issue during the summer.Vegas Golden Knights Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyThe Golden Knights are in the midst of a staggering free fall, and their chances of making the playoffs are dwindling every day. They've been decimated by injuries throughout the lineup, so it's hard to point out one particular area to blame for their struggles.Robin Lehner has appeared in just four games since Feb. 10, and his health moving forward is a big question mark. If Vegas wants to have a shot at making the postseason, bringing in a goalie is as good a desperation move as any.Since Lehner could return at any point, the club doesn't have to chase a high-end starter. Lehner's having a down year by his standards, but if he can get healthy down the stretch, the Golden Knights won't hesitate to hand the crease back to him. They simply need someone who can man the crease in the meantime, as Laurent Brossoit has struggled to fill in.There are plenty of options out there, including Jaroslav Halak, Jake Allen, James Reimer, Alexandar Georgiev, and Joonas Korpisalo. These goalies are solid stopgap options and are good enough to be leaned on if Lehner misses an extended period. Bringing in one of these guys could keep the Golden Knights in the playoff picture, and if they can get back to full health in the next few weeks, they could be a nightmare to face come playoff time.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers have shown interest in Dallas Stars winger Alexander Radulov, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Radulov is in the midst of his worst NHL season, as he's registered just three goals and 15 assists in 52 games while averaging 14:52 of ice time per contest. He is a proven playoff performer, though, as he's totaled 49 points in 64 career postseason tilts.The 35-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $6.25 million. The Rangers have $6.239 million in projected cap space, according to CapFriendly, so they're one of few contending teams that could afford his salary without performing major cap gymnastics.Dallas currently holds the Western Conference's second wild-card spot via points percentage. It's unclear whether the club will buy, sell, or sit ahead of Monday's trade deadline.The Rangers, meanwhile, sit second in the Metropolitan Division and are well on their way to clinching a playoff berth.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Kraken traded forward Calle Jarnkrok to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick (originally the Florida Panthers'), a 2023 third-round selection, and a 2024 seventh-rounder, the team announced Wednesday.Seattle will retain 50% of Jarnkrok's salary.This marks the Flames' second big acquisition ahead of next week's trade deadline after the club landed Tyler Toffoli from the Montreal Canadiens in February.The Kraken selected Jarnkrok from the Nashville Predators in the expansion draft. The 30-year-old forward has 12 goals and 14 assists in 49 games this season and can slot in anywhere in the Flames' lineup.

The Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Ben Chiarot to the Florida Panthers for a 2023 first-round pick, a 2022 fourth-round pick, and forward prospect Tyler Smilanic, the team announced Wednesday.Chiarot is a pending unrestricted free agent, and Montreal is retaining 50% of his $3.5-million cap hit, according to TSN's Chris Johnston.The 30-year-old has recorded 18 points in 54 games this season while averaging 23:33 per contest. The underlying numbers have not been kind to him over the last three campaigns, though: Evolving-Hockey.comHowever, Chiarot's physicality tends to play well in postseason hockey. The 6-foot-3, 226-pound blue-liner, who has recorded 110 hits this season, was an integral part of Montreal's miracle run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, logging over 25 minutes per game.Smilanic, meanwhile, was a third-round pick by the Panthers in 2020. He's recorded 22 points in 38 games at Quinnipiac University this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron will miss at least two games, the team announced Wednesday."A previous injury has re-emerged, and there's risk for infection," head coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We're being cautious."Bergeron has recorded 17 goals and 28 assists in 56 games this season. His outstanding defensive play has again put him in contention for the Selke Trophy.Tomas Nosek will move up to center the top line in Bergeron's absence, while Anton Blidh will enter the lineup.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers are trading forward Frank Vatrano to the New York Rangers for a fourth-round pick in 2022, the teams announced Wednesday.Vatrano is a pending unrestricted free agent and has a $2.53-million cap hit.The 28-year-old has been buried in a stacked Panthers attack this season. He's notched 19 points in 49 games while averaging just over 12 minutes per night.Vatrano posted a career-high 24 goals for Florida in 2018-19.

It appears Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg and goaltender Braden Holtby are staying put.Barring any overwhelming offers, general manager Jim Nill said he isn't looking to move two of his biggest trade chips ahead of the March 21 deadline, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger.Klingberg, a pending unrestricted free agent, has been on the trade block for most of the season. However, the 29-year-old's presence became critical for a team in the throes of a playoff race following the news that defenseman Miro Heiskanen is out indefinitely with mononucleosis."Let's be clear, I'm not calling teams about (Klingberg)," Nill said."We've talked to some people, and you always have to look at things. But our focus is on making the playoffs. That's very important to our franchise. John's a big part of that, and we'll just move forward."Klingberg said in January that he didn't feel "appreciated" after his contract negotiations with Dallas stalled. Shortly after his comments, the Stars reportedly ramped up their efforts to trade the veteran blue-liner.Nill added that he never actively shopped Holtby around, but Anton Khudobin's injury solidified his place in Dallas. Khudobin will miss the rest of the season after undergoing a right hip arthroscopy and labral repair earlier this week.The Stars are one point behind the stumbling Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.Klingberg averages 22 minutes of ice time a night and leads all Stars defensemen with 31 points in 51 games.Holtby, 32, has rebounded in a big way after having his contract bought out by the Vancouver Canucks in July. He's logged a .913 save percentage and 2.78 goals-against average across 24 appearances this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a jam-packed schedule Tuesday night, we have just four games on the docket Wednesday evening.While I don't yet see a ton of value in terms of sides, I have found one I like to pair with shot props.Devils (+265) @ Flames (-330)The New Jersey Devils have quietly played pretty solid hockey of late. While they only have four wins over the last 10 games, they've often dictated play at five-on-five, and their share of the high-danger chances is above 60% during that span.Maintaining their standing in that category is going to be a difficult task in this game. The Calgary Flames are sixth in high-danger chance share over the last 10 games. That total sits above 60% if we adjust to their last 10 in Calgary. They routinely dominate in the chance department and are better equipped to capitalize than New Jersey.The Flames also have an enormous edge in goal. Nico Daws has mostly played well of late, but the rookie netminder enters play having started eight straight. That's a lot to ask of a guy still finding his footing in the league, and Tuesday night gave us our first indication the heavy workload is taking its toll. Daws allowed 2.36 goals more than expected before being yanked, presumably to preserve some energy for this game.I'm not sure he'll fare much better considering the stress the Flames put on opposing netminders. They rank sixth in attempts per 60, fifth in expected goals per 60, and fifth in actual goals per 60 on home soil. Suffice to say, they don't make it easy on you.Calgary has a better, more balanced roster. It has a potential Vezina Trophy candidate going up against an unpolished rookie. It's a rested squad playing host to a fatigued team. New Jersey also has injury concerns, as its best defensive blue-liner, Jonas Siegenthaler, was unable to go on Tuesday night while Pavel Zacha left with an injury and won't dress in this game.The Flames should be able to flex their muscles in this one.Bet: Flames -1.5 (-125)Josh Norris over 2.5 shots (+100)Norris has been one of my favorite value targets for some time. While he doesn't go over the number on a nightly basis, he routinely gets the job done at home when he has an advantageous matchup. That's most definitely the situation he finds himself in on Wednesday night.The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of the NHL's worst shot-suppression teams. They give up a ton of attempts and shots on target, especially to centers.Only the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers have conceded more shots to the position. In New York's case, the difference is just one shot.Norris found himself in a similar spot at home to the Arizona Coyotes last time out, and he dinged them for five shots on target. I don't know if he'll reach those heights again, but I do expect a productive outing.Oliver Bjorkstrand over 2.5 shots (+100)Bjorkstrand is a rare cat who enjoys more success on the road than at home. He's gone over his shot total (2.5) in just 37% of his home games, but he gets the job done 54% of the time on the road. That's a big difference.Only two teams have allowed shot attempts at a higher rate than the Ottawa Senators, who've been absolutely crushed by right-wingers all year. Only the Detroit Red Wings have conceded more shots to the position on a per-game basis.Bjorkstrand only had two shots the last time these teams met, but it wasn't for a lack of chances - he had six attempts toward the net. Look for him to have more success this time around.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Change can be a scary thing, but sometimes a little shake-up can go a long way.Whether they're toiling away on an underperforming team, underperforming on a solid team, or fading into the background on their current squad, here are five NHL players who could greatly benefit from a change of scenery as the March 21 trade deadline approaches.Marc-Andre Fleury, Blackhawks Chase Agnello-Dean / National Hockey League / GettyJust nine months removed from taking home the Vezina Trophy for the first time in his illustrious career, Fleury finds himself on a non-playoff team in the Chicago Blackhawks. If he stays put, the 2021-22 season would mark the first time he failed to reach the playoffs in 15 seasons.The 37-year-old has put up admirable numbers on a team that's leaky defensively - the Blackhawks control less than 50% of the shot attempts and expected goals at five-on-five - but finds himself in the midst of an up-and-down campaign.If the season were to end today, his .909 save percentage would be his third sub-.910 mark in his last six campaigns. Fleury's also dangerously close to eclipsing a goals against average of over three for just the fourth time in his career. On the advanced stats side of things, he owns a 0.68 goals saved above average rate and a minus-7 goals saved above expected rate at five-on-five.Fleury is playing out the final season of a three-year, $21-million contract and has stayed relatively mum about his future plans. The three-time Stanley Cup winner said in February that he "would love a chance to win" if he were moved at the deadline but added that he'd be open to re-signing in Chicago.Luckily for Fleury, if he is indeed moved, plenty of contending teams need a boost in the crease, and he'd instantly become the top netminder available. Either way, the ball is mostly in Fleury's court, thanks in part to the 10-team no-trade clause included in his contract.Max Comtois, Ducks Debora Robinson / National Hockey League / GettyComtois had a season to remember in 2020-21. He led all Anaheim Ducks skaters with 16 goals and 33 points in 55 games. Though that may not seem like eye-popping totals, he produced at a 0.60 point-per-game clip while tripling his output from the previous season.All in all, the forward seemed primed to build on his breakthrough season and was rewarded for his efforts with a two-year, $4.08-million deal in the offseason, but he hasn't been able to keep the momentum going this campaign.Comtois has been mired by not one, but two separate 11-game pointless droughts this season. He hasn't been in the lineup on a consistent basis when the Ducks are fully healthy and has logged just three goals and seven assists in 37 games. Comtois' campaign has also been hampered by health issues - he missed almost six weeks after undergoing hand surgery in November and followed that up with a stint in COVID-19 protocol.If the Ducks' youth movement is proceeding without him and he's fallen out of favor in Anaheim, then it might be best for both parties if he moved on.Besides, Comtois has one year left on a decent contract - not to mention that he's been handcuffed by a career-worst shooting percentage of 5.4% - so he could be a low-risk, high-reward option for teams in the market for a winger.Jake DeBrusk, Bruins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIs this one obvious? Yes. Is it still valid? You bet - it'd be an oversight to leave him out.It's been a well-documented fact since November that DeBrusk wants out of the Boston Bruins. He reiterated his desire for a change when his camp reportedly informed teams of his willingness to work on an extension to facilitate a deal in early March.Inconsistency has been the bane of DeBrusk's time as a Bruin. It was at the heart of head coach Bruce Cassidy's decision to make him a healthy scratch against the Vancouver Canucks earlier this season, after which DeBrusk immediately submitted a trade request. After averaging just over 20 goals in his first three seasons in the NHL, DeBrusk took a nosedive in 2020-21 and logged just five goals and nine assists in 41 showings.He looked doomed to put up only slightly better (but still iffy) numbers this campaign after recording nine goals and eight assists in the first 45 games of the season, but a promotion to the top line in late February helped boost his production. He's registered six goals and two assists in his last 10 games alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand while showcasing his potential to any suitors. His recent performances might help interested buyers forget that he's gone through four separate goalless droughts of six or more games so far this season.DeBrusk has had the biggest impact out of the Bruins' trio of underwhelming 2015 first-round draft picks, but his career hasn't quite panned out as planned. Maybe a divorce from Boston is just what he needs. At the very least, he's extremely likely to get one.Max Domi, Blue Jackets Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDomi may not be the flashiest forward available at the deadline, but physical players capable of producing offense are always in demand on the market.His play throughout his NHL career has been streaky - and that's been no different this season. Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen even described Domi's game as "inconsistent" earlier this month, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. Domi cooled off considerably after rattling off nine points in his first eight games of the campaign, but he's begun to heat up again in March.The 27-year-old is no stranger to starting fresh on a new team, having previously played for the Arizona Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens in his seven-year career. The 2013 No. 12 pick hasn't quite found the stability that may have been expected of him, but there have been some mitigating factors. He's been bit by the injury bug in Columbus, and none of the squads he's played for have been particularly noteworthy - his two campaigns with the Habs were the only times he's played on a team that finished the regular season with a points percentage over .500.Domi also has a penchant for making a good first impression. Two of his best statistical seasons came during his first seasons with both the Coyotes and Canadiens.He's set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and doesn't appear to be in the Blue Jackets' future plans. His deal carries a $5.3-million cap hit, and he likely isn't lined up for a significant raise, so Domi could be a motivated, serviceable rental who provides a spark for contending teams down the stretch and into the playoffs.Alexandar Georgiev, Rangers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAny backup goaltender is going to have a bad time in the Big Apple thanks to Igor Shesterkin, who's making a major push for both the Vezina and Hart Trophies this season.Unfortunately for Georgiev, he's currently the one living in the phenom's shadow on the New York Rangers. He even hinted at wanting more playing time earlier in March."I think there's only one way to be in the game rhythm - is to play. We've been doing some drills with (director of goaltending Benoit Allaire) and working hard in practice," he said after allowing five goals against the Minnesota Wild on March 8, according to the New York Post's Mollie Walker. "I don't know what else we could do and that's maybe for us to think about."The pending restricted free agent has shown flashes of potential. He performed remarkably with a .931 save percentage and 2.00 goals against average over six games when Shesterkin missed time with a lower-body injury in December. However, he's since been in a major free fall during his last seven contests. He's authored a .845 save percentage in that span and, prior to Tuesday's victory against the Ducks, hadn't won a game since Jan. 8.Georgiev has the ability to be an upgrade in net for teams in the market for a goaltender. Any acquiring squad would be banking on the hope that the 26-year-old will see an uptick in his performance if given more responsibility.Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat TrickCopyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are among several Eastern Conference teams that have inquired about San Jose Sharks defenseman Jacob Middleton, reported TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."The Sharks are looking to acquire a second-round pick plus another selection or prospect, LeBrun adds.The 26-year-old is in the final year of a two-way contract that pays him $725,000 at the NHL level. He's been a revelation for the Sharks this season, slotting into the left side of the team's top-four and logging big minutes alongside Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns.Middleton has three goals and six assists in 41 games this season. He's averaged 19:01 minutes of ice time per game and ranks second on the team with six blocked shots per 60 minutes. He'll be a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild traded forward Nico Sturm to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Tyson Jost, both teams announced Tuesday.Sturm, 26, has nine goals and eight assists in 53 contests this season, matching his point total from last season in three fewer games. The physical, 6-foot-3 center logged 61 hits while averaging 11 minutes per game this campaign.The German can be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and carries a cap hit of $725,000. He has 36 points in 111 career NHL matchups and has performed well in fourth-line minutes."Nico is a big, strong forward who also brings a heavy defensive presence," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. "He is a defensive-minded center who can chip in offensively, is good on draws, and can contribute on the penalty kill."Jost has six goals and eight helpers in 59 games but registered just one goal and two assists in his last 25 contests. Drafted by the Avalanche with the 10th overall pick in 2016, he has one season remaining on a two-year, $4-million deal. Jost has 103 career points in 321 NHL games.The 24-year-old is expected to make his Wild debut Wednesday against the Boston Bruins, per The Athletic's Michael Russo.Colorado created $1.275 million in cap space thanks to the swap, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin's season is over.The veteran will miss approximately six months after undergoing a right hip arthroscopy and labral repair, Stars general manager Jim Nill announced Tuesday.Khudobin only played in nine NHL games this season after being the odd man out in Dallas' crowded goalie room. He logged a .879 save percentage and a 3.63 goals-against average. His last NHL start came during a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 15.The Stars waived Khudobin in December and sent him to the AHL. He suited up for six games with the Texas Stars where he put up a .903 save percentage and a 2-4-0 record. Khudobin last played for the Stars on Jan. 29.Dallas reportedly placed Khudobin on the trade block prior to waiving him. He has one season left on a three-year, $10-million contract.Since Khudobin was injured in the AHL, the Stars can't place him on long-term injured reserve and gain extra cap space ahead of the deadline, according to The Athletic's Saad Yousuf.Khudobin is only two seasons removed from his outstanding 2020 Stanley Cup Final run with the Stars. He authored a .905 save percentage in 32 appearances last campaign.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After just one NHL game on Monday night, we have 11 to look forward to Tuesday evening.There's a ton of value on the board so let's waste no time getting to a few of my favorite plays.Jack Eichel over 3.5 shots (-118)Jack Eichel is one of the most consistent shot generators in the NHL right now. He's generated at least four shots on goal in seven of his last nine games, leading the Vegas Golden Knights in attempts (55), shots (38), and scoring chances (30) during that span. With several key players out of the lineup, a ton of responsibility has fallen on Eichel's shoulders.That's a recipe for success with his shot props, especially in positive matchups - such as Tuesday night's game against the Winnipeg Jets. Only five teams have conceded more shots to centers this season. Look for Eichel to take advantage.Brendan Gallagher over 2.5 shots (-106)The Arizona Coyotes are one of the ideal teams to target on a nightly basis. They give up shots at an insane rate at the best of times. And they're in the latter half of a back-to-back without their best defenseman Jakob Chychrun.At five-on-five, Arizona has allowed a whopping 68 attempts per 60 over the last 10 games.That's music to the ears of Brendan Gallagher. He's a volume shooter who has done his best work at home, going over his total 62% of the time (compared to 45% on the road).His home success should continue in this game.Patrice Bergeron over 3.5 shots (-125)Patrice Bergeron is firing on all cylinders. He's averaged an absurd 4.8 shots per game over his last 10 while going over the number (3.5) seven times in that span. League-wide, only Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews have generated more shots over the last 10.Now Bergeron finds himself in an advantageous spot against the Chicago Blackhawks. Only five teams have allowed more shots to centers on a per game basis. Unsurprisingly, Bergeron teed off on them last time the two sides met; he had seven shots on target and attempted nine. This line is short.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a jam-packed schedule to look forward to Tuesday night as 22 of the league's 32 teams will be in action.Let's waste no time and get to our best bets.Bruins (-190) @ Blackhawks (+155)We backed the Boston Bruins on the puck line against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, and the Bruins did everything but cover.They were by far the superior team, controlling 58% of the shot attempts, 60% of the expected goals, and 62% of the scoring chances. They fully deserved their win and were unlucky the game was even close.I expect Boston to be the decisively better side again in this game. Its current form is remarkably good, and the team is full value for its 8-1-1 record over the last 10 games, sitting second in expected goal share (57.71%).Chicago won four of its last 10 and sits 26th in five-on-five expected goal share over that period. Suffice to say, Boston is playing at a significantly higher level.While Linus Ullmark isn't Jeremy Swayman, the Swede is more than capable of matching this year's version of Marc-Andre Fleury. Ullmark has conceded around 0.20 goals more than expected per start while Fleury sits at around 0.40.There really aren't many - any? - edges for Chicago in this game. Back the Bruins to pick up another win inside 60.Bet: Bruins in regulation (-112)Golden Knights (+105) @ Jets (-125)The Vegas Golden Knights feel like a sinking ship right now. The injuries continue to pile up at an alarming rate, which makes it very difficult to get a result on any given night.While the injuries are a real cause for concern and help justify the losses piling up, I think the Golden Knights have been a little unlucky of late. Healthy players or not, they're playing better than the results suggest.Over the last 10 games, they rank third in five-on-five shot share and fourth in expected goals. They're routinely getting the better of the chances.Their shooting percentage during that span ranks 29th, and that's hurt them. It doesn't matter how many chances you generate if you can't finish any of them.The good news is the Winnipeg Jets have just the ailment the Golden Knights need: poor goaltending. Winnipeg's goaltenders have combined to post a sub-.900 save percentage over the last 10 games.Connor Hellebuyck is generally one of the better netminders in the league, but he's simply not right at the moment. That's good news for Vegas. Even with several key players out of the lineup, it still has names like Jack Eichel, Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore healthy and ready to go. It's also possible Max Pacioretty can play.With or without him, I'm happy to take my chances on Vegas enjoying some positive regression against a struggling netminder.Bet: Golden Knights (-105)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens are sitting defenseman Ben Chiarot for Tuesday's contest versus the Arizona Coyotes, head coach Martin St. Louis confirmed.The decision was made by management to protect the blue-liner from injury leading up to Monday's trade deadline. Chiarot, a pending unrestricted free agent, is highly likely to be dealt.Chiarot has reportedly drawn plenty of interest league-wide. The 30-year-old has registered 18 points in 54 games this season while logging over 23 minutes per night along with 91 blocks and 110 hits.He's spent the last three seasons in Montreal after six with the Winnipeg Jets.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Erik Kallgren will make his first NHL start Tuesday against the Dallas Stars.Kallgren made a relief appearance last week against the Arizona Coyotes. He's now being given a chance to take over as Petr Mrazek continues to struggle and Jack Campbell remains sidelined with a rib injury.Mrazek's made four starts in March and has allowed at least four goals in all of them. He owns a .884 save percentage in 17 appearances this season.Kallgren, 25, was a seventh-round pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2015. The Maple Leafs signed him to a two-year, two-way deal last May.Tuesday's clash is the first of superstar Auston Matthews' two-game suspension. Here's how the Leafs are going to line up without their top player:

The Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltending situation officially reached a red alert.Petr Mrazek has completely lost his confidence. His .884 save percentage is third-worst among goalies with at least 10 starts this season. His minus-12.61 goals saved above expected ranks 100th out of 105 netminders. It's undoubtedly the worst stretch of the 30-year-old's career. And he's in the first season of a three-year deal with a $3.8-million cap hit.Jack Campbell, meanwhile, is out for at least two weeks with a rib injury and struggled mightily before landing on injured reserve. His season has been a tale of two halves:Date rangeSV%GSAx1st 20 games.94213.57Last 20 games.885-20.22Campbell had reportedly been battling the injury for a while, so it's safe to assume it affected his performances. However, banking on him to regain his early-season form when he returns from injury seems unwise. It may take Campbell a while to get back into a rhythm.So, how should general manager Kyle Dubas address the position ahead of the March 21 trade deadline? We dive into his options below:Sink or swim with Mrazek/Campbell Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyThis will undoubtedly be the least popular option among Leafs nation, but there's a chance Dubas stands pat in goal. Sticking with in-house options would allow the GM to use his cap space and best trade assets to add a top-four defenseman and/or a top-six winger.Plus, Mrazek has negative value on the trade market. It would likely be easier to get rid of him this offseason. As much as he's struggling now, he can't stay in this funk forever, can he?It's also fair to argue that a healthy Campbell is better than most options available. But is Dubas willing to risk the 2021-22 season, and potentially his job, over it? Probably not.Go all-in for Fleury Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyMarc-Andre Fleury is the most proven goaltender available, and the Leafs reportedly inquired about him. Fleury's contract contains a 10-team no-trade list, but the Blackhawks won't send him anywhere he doesn't want to play. Toronto apparently isn't one of his preferred destinations, but there's still time for that to change.Fleury, a pending UFA, has a $7-million cap hit, so Chicago would need to retain half. A third team may even have to jump in to eat an additional 25%.However, this has the potential to turn into a real blockbuster deal. The Blackhawks don't have an NHL goalie signed for next season, so perhaps they'd be willing to take Mrazek if Toronto added a sweetener. If the Leafs are willing to add more assets, maybe they could get defensive-minded, pending UFA blue-liner Calvin de Haan out of the deal, too. That would fill multiple needs, but the price would be very steep.Fleury, 37, still has some gas left in the tank. He and Campbell would form a very solid - and likable - tandem entering the playoffs.Add a mid-tier option Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe following goalies are all enjoying stellar campaigns but shouldn't cost as much as Fleury.Semyon Varlamov, IslandersVarlamov surrendered his starting gig to Ilya Sorokin, but he still owns a respectable .912 save percentage in 19 games. The 33-year-old is signed through next season at a $5-million cap hit, which could be too pricey for Toronto if New York is unwilling to take Mrazek back.Anton Forsberg, SenatorsForsberg has found a home in Ottawa this campaign, posting a .916 save percentage in 29 games. The 29-year-old journeyman carries a $900,000 cap hit and is a pending UFA. The Senators might try to extend Forsberg. Would they be willing to trade him to their provincial rivals if they don't?Braden Holtby, StarsThe 2016 Vezina winner is having a nice bounce-back year after two subpar seasons. Holtby owns a .913 save percentage in 24 games and is a pending UFA with an affordable $2-million cap hit. The Stars may not be sellers anymore, but Holtby could still be an option considering Jake Oettinger has taken the starting reins.James Reimer, SharksWouldn't this be fitting? The former Maple Leaf is still a reliable option at age 33, posting a .916 save percentage in 34 contests. Reimer's signed through next season with a $2.25-million cap hit, but his current injury complicates things.Anthony Stolarz, DucksStolarz lacks NHL experience (55 career games), but he's recorded a .919 save percentage in 21 appearances in 2021-22. However, the Ducks may want to hang on to him as their backup considering he's signed through next campaign at just $950,000.Roll the dice with a bargain Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe following goalies likely won't cost much, but each has their warts.Craig Anderson, SabresIf any team knows that Anderson still has game, it's the Leafs. The 40-year-old stoned Toronto twice this month. Anderson has recorded a respectable .907 save percentage in 18 games this season and makes the league minimum. At the very least, he could be a cheap option while Campbell recovers and Mrazek works out the kinks behind the scenes.Martin Jones, FlyersJones has plenty of playoff experience (62 games) and is only 32 years old. His .900 save percentage this campaign is his best since 2017-18, but the pending UFA's $2-million cap hit is attainable.Karel Vejmelka/Scott Wedgewood, CoyotesThe Arizona tandem has been surprisingly effective this season. Wedgewood (UFA) and Vejmelka (RFA) are on expiring sub-$1-million contracts, and each own save percentages above .900. Arizona needs to get to the cap floor for next year, so it may be willing to take on Mrazek for a sweetener, as they did with Nick Ritchie.(Analytics source: Evolving-Hockey)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Stanley Cup contender would love to acquire a superstar talent ahead of Monday's trade deadline. But, let's face it, that's not happening.Below, we run down dream fits between available players and contending teams that straddle the line between the best-case scenario and what's realistic.For this particular exercise, any NHL team in the top 10 in points percentage is considered a "Stanley Cup contender." OK, here we go ...Colorado Avalanche Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty ImagesDid the Avalanche already find their dream fit? On Monday, the NHL's top team acquired Josh Manson from the Anaheim Ducks, adding a dash of physicality to a blue line that's stacked with elite skaters and playmakers.Injuries are starting to pile up for Colorado, complicating general manager Joe Sakic's life ahead of the deadline. If captain Gabriel Landeskog is ultimately deemed out for the rest of the regular season, Sakic will have enough salary-cap space to pursue a big-ticket forward like Claude Giroux or Brock Boeser.At the moment, given the uncertainty with Landeskog, Sakic's measured approach to player acquisition, the Avs' wide-open contention window, and the Manson trade, we think it's more likely the GM goes after two mid-tier forwards, starting with the Chicago Blackhawks' Energizer Bunny, Brandon Hagel.A high-compete winger with scoring touch, Hagel would add a little spice to a tremendously fast and skilled forward group. Equally important, his contract ($1.5-million cap hit this year and next) is good value. The extra season would make the steep acquisition price worth it for the Avs.As for a second target, the Avs could try to pry Nick Paul from the Ottawa Senators.Carolina Hurricanes Ronald Martinez / Getty ImagesThrough 59 games, the Hurricanes are second in the league with a .737 points percentage. They're a well-coached squad with no glaring weaknesses.That said, if GM Don Waddell were to nitpick, he'd surely identify the defense corps as an area that could be upgraded in one respect: offensive pop. Tony DeAngelo is the club's lone offensively minded defenseman and he's currently injured, with a return timeline set for late March/early April.That leads us to John Klingberg. The 29-year-old smooth-skating Dallas Star could be a wonderful complement to DeAngelo and Brett Pesce on Carolina's right side. Adding Klingberg would probably send Ethan Bear to the press box, which, while unfortunate for Bear, would be a sign of enviable depth.The Canes don't typically chase pending UFAs at the deadline, and the team doesn't have the cap space right now to absorb Klingberg's $4.25 million AAV. However, the timing is right for the organization to step out of its comfort zone. Waddell has enough picks and prospects for an enticing deal, and there are bottom-feeding clubs that could take on some of Klingberg's salary.Florida Panthers Eliot J. Schechter / Getty ImagesDo the Atlantic-leading Panthers need to add anything? Not necessarily. Should they? Absolutely.Florida has been firing on all cylinders all season long, but we're of the opinion that they should go big-game hunting and land Giroux. The 34-year-old All-Star is the biggest name available and could easily be the most impactful. Giroux has 42 points in 56 games for a lowly Philly squad this season, and it's fair to assume he'd be raring to go for a contending team playing high-stakes hockey down the stretch.It would be very entertaining for the Panthers to build a Globetrotter-type offense, and they have the assets to make a trade work for both sides. Florida doesn't have much draft capital this year, but it has all of its picks in 2023, along with quality roster players (Patric Hornqvist, Frank Vatrano, Lucas Carlsson) and high-profile prospects (Grigori Denisenko, Owen Tippett) to build a desirable package for the career-long Flyer.Toronto Maple Leafs Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesThe Maple Leafs' deadline philosophy, at least in the eyes of fans and pundits, has drastically shifted of late. At first, Toronto appeared poised to pursue an impact forward, but it's become clear that the club needs to concede fewer goals to have any realistic chance in the Atlantic Division playoff gauntlet.Adding a goaltender is one potential solution. However, finding a suitable and available netminder within a time crunch is easier said than done. Another idea is acquiring a blue-liner (or two) who would make Toronto's slot more difficult for opponents to breach.We're of the mind that Kyle Dubas should call up old colleague Lou Lamoriello and pry Scott Mayfield from the New York Islanders. The Leafs need a player who can help clear the dangerous areas of the D zone and insulate whichever Toronto goalie gets his confidence back first. Mayfield is a stay-at-home, stabilizing presence on the back end and a clear upgrade over Timothy Liljegren, Justin Holl, and Travis Dermott.Mayfield also makes only $1.45 million through 2023. That may make it difficult to convince the Islanders to move him, but what a difference it could make for a slumping Toronto squad.New York Rangers Sean M. Haffey / Getty ImagesThe Rangers have more room on their books than any contender and should try to catch lightning in a bottle while Igor Shesterkin is playing out of his mind. New York could benefit from shoring up its third defensive pairing, but its clearest need is a top-six winger, specifically to play the right side on a line with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome.Rickard Rakell's a terrific candidate. He'd be a rental, yet he carries a modest $3.79-million cap hit. He drives play offensively and has the skill set to complement Panarin's elite hockey IQ and playmaking. It's hard to view New York's attack as a problem, but Rakell would be replacing Dryden Hunt on the second line. That's a clear improvement. The Ducks winger could also add some firepower to a second power-play unit that lacks experience.Calgary Flames Richard T Gagnon / Getty ImagesThe heart says bring back former captain Mark Giordano for a Cup run, but the Flames made the 38-year-old expendable this past offseason for a reason: They're set on the back end. The Flames might be set everywhere, for that matter, and having already acquired Tyler Toffoli, they'll probably be quiet at the deadline.For the sake of this exercise, though, we see a match between Calgary and Calle Jarnkrok. The versatile, tight-checking forward is the type of player whose strengths seem to be maximized by Darryl Sutter's schemes and systems, and he would fortify one of the club's bottom-six center spots. Making him even more attractive to the cap-strapped Flames, Jarnkrok accounts for only $2 million against the cap before hitting unrestricted free agency this summer.Pittsburgh Penguins Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesBoy, the Penguins certainly could use a sharp-shooting winger.The top forward line of Sidney Crosby between Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust is rolling, but the Evgeni Malkin-centered second line is decidedly not.If he's available, Dominik Kubalik of the Blackhawks makes a ton of sense. The 26-year-old Czechia native may be having a down year, but he's armed with a wicked shot and has plenty of experience sharing the ice with stars like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. A pending RFA with arbitration rights, Kubalik scored 30 goals in 68 games in 2019-20 as an NHL rookie.Picking up Kubalik wouldn't be groundbreaking. But that's OK. The Pens could make two or three medium-sized deals instead of one whopper in order to deepen their lineup while preserving their upcoming first-rounders. Don't forget, the Pens are in limbo: Malkin, Rust, and longtime No. 1 defenseman Kris Letang are all set to become UFAs at season's end.Boston Bruins Norm Hall / Getty ImagesBrandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, and Mike Reilly are all fine players, but there's simply too much on Charlie McAvoy's plate as the Bruins' No. 1 D-man. The club needs to upgrade its blue line heading into the playoffs.Boston's top target should be Jakob Chychrun of the Arizona Coyotes. Yes, Chychrun suffered a lower-body injury over the weekend - ironically against the Bruins. And yes, it will sideline him for 2-4 weeks, which is not ideal. Yet the fit is still there.A three-zone defenseman who can play both sides, Chychrun moves the needle like McAvoy. He's 23 and under contract through the 2024-25 season at a team-friendly $4.6 million AAV. He would boost Boston's chances of winning this year and then help keep the contention window open.There also seems to be a fit from a transactional perspective. Forward Jake DeBrusk has requested a trade out of Boston, and the Coyotes - deep in a rebuild and about to start playing in a 5,000-seat arena - are on a desperate search for NHL-caliber players under team control. DeBrusk is a 25-year-old pending RFA who could flourish with a change of scenery.Of course, the package going to Arizona would include several impact pieces, namely a first-round pick. The Bruins have their firsts in 2022, 2023, and 2024.Tampa Bay Lightning Andy Devlin / Getty ImagesLightning GM Julien BriseBois has been aggressive at each of the past two trade deadlines, shipping out first-round picks to nab the role players he wants. Back-to-back Stanley Cup rings indicate his strategy works.Tampa Bay doesn't have many flaws, but BriseBois seems to prioritize targeting flexible players that can be deployed in all situations. Andrew Copp of the Winnipeg Jets would fit the bill as the Bolts look to become the first franchise to three-peat since the Islanders in the early 1980s. He's on an expiring contract ($3.64 million AAV), and his current club is swiftly falling out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference.Copp is in the midst of a career offensive season, so Tampa would have to pony up to get him. Regardless, the 27-year-old can play center or wing and has a history of strong advanced metrics at both ends of the ice. He's also a physical presence and could anchor a battle-tested, pain-in-the-ass third line in between veterans Patrick Maroon and Corey Perry.St. Louis Blues Minas Panagiotakis / Getty ImagesMarco Scandella played 19:53 against the Jets on Sunday night, lining up mostly alongside Colton Parayko on the Blues' top defense pairing. Important context: St. Louis doesn't have any star blue-liners injured.Scandella is a perfectly capable NHLer, but he shouldn't be facing stiff competition for a third of the game. And that's precisely why Ben Chiarot would be a fantastic fit for the Blues. The battle-tested Montreal Canadien could be slotted on Parayko's left side while Torey Krug and Justin Faulk do their thing as an overqualified second pair and Scandella moves down the depth chart.The Blues rank in the top 10 in several key categories, including goals for per game, goals against per game, power-play percentage, and penalty-kill percentage. They're a quality squad with a diverse group of forwards and two goaltenders in Ville Husso and Jordan Binnington who can hold down the fort.What's missing is defensive depth, and acquiring pending UFA Chiarot - for a package starting with a first-rounder or A-level prospect - would fix that issue.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun will miss two-to-four weeks with a lower-body injury, the team announced Monday.Boston Bruins defenseman Derek Forbort hit Chychrun awkwardly into the boards Saturday night.The 23-year-old is among the top players rumored to be moved ahead of the March 21 trade deadline. The St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Bruins are reportedly among the serious contenders for his services.Chychrun has recorded 21 points in 47 games this season. He's signed for three more years at a $4.6-million cap hit.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks traded defenseman Josh Manson to the Colorado Avalanche for prospect Drew Helleson and a 2023 second-round pick, the team announced Monday.Anaheim is retaining 50% of Manson's $4.1-million cap hit, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. The 30-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent.Manson shoots right and stands at 6-foot-3, 218 pounds. He doesn't produce much offensively, as he's recorded just nine points in 45 games this season. However, he's extremely physical (116 hits) and has logged top-four minutes (19:45 ATOI). The underlying metrics are poor, though.

In the back half of 2020, as leagues adapted to the pandemic, they shortened their regular seasons and took radical steps to slash travel. NHL teams started meeting consecutive times in the same city. Baseball's AL East squads only faced divisional opponents and the NL East. The NFL canceled its international games, including four in London.The point was to minimize player exposure to COVID-19, but Seth Wynes detected a different benefit; sports' cutback on chartered flights was good for the environment.Wynes, a geographer at Concordia University in Montreal, researches climate change mitigation. In a recent study, he found MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL teams combined to fly 7.5 million kilometers in 2018, emitting close to 122,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the course of a normal sports year.Steph Curry disembarks in Oakland after the Golden State Warriors won the 2018 NBA title. Noah Graham / NBA / Getty ImagesThe 2020 experience was abnormal and revealing. If the Big Four leagues restored the scheduling changes that they introduced on health and safety grounds, Wynes estimates they'd reduce their carbon footprint by 22% - no trivial amount as the world warms and climate disasters threaten to get more extreme."Most fans probably wouldn't want to see the MLB 2020 season repeated, where you only got to play teams that are close by," Wynes said. "But if you think about a league during a normal season, they make a lot of trips to (distant) regions that maybe you could do without."Wynes spoke to theScore about the climate crisis, the opportunity leagues have to help combat it, the upside of an NBA midseason tournament, and the reasons why less flying would benefit players, too. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.theScore: What effect do carbon dioxide emissions from flights have on the environment?Wynes: Aviation is really important for climate change because each flight makes a lot of emissions. That pollution is released high in the atmosphere. It causes more warming than pollution that is released at ground level. It's also really hard to find alternatives. We have great ideas for electric vehicles and things like that to cut pollution, but not so much for air travel. When we're talking about climate, it's a hard area to tackle.You researched air travel in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and Major League Baseball. How much carbon dioxide does each league emit in a normal season by flying to games?The NBA releases the most. The NHL is close behind. Hockey and basketball, they play a lot of games. Baseball also plays a lot of games, but (scheduling series) makes for a lot less traveling. The NFL has fewer emissions because the season is so short.Gary Bettman (left) and Rob Manfred in 2015. Mike Stobe / NHL / Getty ImagesWhen did you realize that 2020 scheduling changes might affect the environment?This was something that I'd been thinking of before the pandemic: What could leagues do to reduce their climate impact? Scheduling is one idea. Climate people think about this sort of thing, so ideas come up. What would happen if the NBA got rid of conferences for the playoffs? There are some good competitive reasons to do that, but if you're a climate person, you start thinking: Oh, that would mean a lot more travel, wouldn't it?But that's a really minor thing. Then the pandemic comes up and all of these leagues take some strong steps to reduce travel because they're trying to keep their players (and team personnel) from getting infected. As a climate person, that makes you think: I wonder what effect that would have on their carbon footprint every year.Baseball and hockey regionalized their schedules. In 2020, MLB teams only faced opponents in their division and the corresponding interleague division: the AL East and NL East, for example. The NHL split into four regions for division-only play. What was the climate effect?MLB went pretty hard on that regionalization. Their emissions went down by about 20% because of that. Other leagues did a little bit less, so that number wouldn't be quite as high. It's an interesting step because it's maybe not quite as sustainable in a normal season. But if you at least do a small amount of it, it's kind of a no-brainer.MLB is broken down into the National League and the American League, and they're not grouped by region. You could have teams play more games against teams that are close by. You could keep the National League and the American League but improve that efficiency a little bit and cut down on emissions without anyone noticing all that much.A Red Sox-Phillies game in 2020. Kathryn Riley / Getty ImagesThe NHL also took after baseball by staging consecutive matchups in one city a lot more often. One reason not to do this might be to maintain variety in the schedule so that fans get to watch a new opponent each night. That said, do you think the NHL and NBA should schedule more of these miniseries?I think there's a pretty strong argument to be made for that policy especially. You're saving a lot of travel. When you look at regionalization, that's just making trips shorter. Here, you're cutting trips altogether.That's more carbon that you're saving, but it also means more rest for your players - fewer trips, fewer red-eye flights, fewer time-zone changes. That would have a bigger impact in terms of player health and performance. When players lose sleep, they don't play as well. They're more likely to get injured. If you do those miniseries, you're cutting back on that. I think that's something that should be investigated a lot more fully.A lot of players might not have enjoyed (the 2020) experience because they were also stuck in hotel rooms. They're quarantining when they're doing those miniseries, and so that's kind of miserable.But imagine doing it in 2023. You're not as worried about COVID, hopefully, at that point. Suddenly these players are like: Oh, I have an extended stay in Los Angeles. I can rest up. We can practice between games. I can go out. Maybe enjoy myself rather than: OK, I'm going to be in L.A. and then, the next day, I'm hopping on a flight to Utah, and the night after that I'm over to New York. That's exhausting.There are financial and marketing arguments to be made for leagues playing international games. The NFL visits London every year, except for 2020, to grow its fan base there. What's the climate argument for abandoning overseas games?I estimated that the NFL could cut emissions in their season by 8% if it eliminated international games. It's pretty big for a change that fans at home wouldn't really care about. You're trying to make those fans happy, and I don't think those fans would be too harmed by eliminating a game overseas.There are financial reasons not to do it, and so maybe the leagues won't do it. But I think there's a good argument to be made that the climate emergency is really important. Professional sports leagues act as role models in society. Taking a stand like that would be a visible signal that they actually care.The Jacksonville Jaguars mascot is seen in London in 2021. Alex Pantling / Getty ImagesOn that note: You acknowledged in your study that Big Four sports travel accounts for less than 1% of private flight emissions and that private flight emissions account for a fraction of the global total. If these leagues cut back on flights, what's the value of that? What could that change in the grand scheme?The importance there is largely in leading by example; setting an example in the business community; setting an example for your millions of fans. I also think that what elite members of society choose to do really matters. When we're thinking about the climate crisis and trying to solve it, it requires this rapid, large-scale societal change.If we're going to make that big change, it's hard to imagine us doing that successfully while the wealthiest people, while the most popular and well-known people in our society, continue to act as if there's no problem. Attending international games, flying on these large, luxurious planes, that's acting as if nothing is abnormal. Whereas saying, "OK, we're going to make these big changes," that's something useful.There's one other, smaller point I would make. There are these alternative, sustainable aviation fuels, and they're pretty expensive. A lot of businesses couldn't afford to upgrade to these fuels or pay for these credits. But we need the sector of aviation to switch over to that. A strong hope for the future is that we develop these fuels, but they're so expensive to try out.Leagues have a lot of money. If they were really concerned about money, they would already have implemented some of these (travel cutback) policies. It's clear that they have a little bit of extra cash that they could put toward a good cause.And so when you're saying: League emissions are only a tiny fraction of global emissions, or even aviation emissions, why do they matter? They could be part of catalyzing a bigger change by purchasing credits for these cutting-edge technologies and helping to jump-start that field. That would be another area where the leagues could have an outsize impact.Adam Silver. Tim Nwachukwu / Getty ImagesYou brought up how players could benefit from playing more baseball-style series. If you're advocating for climate solutions and trying to get organizations to act with urgency, what's the importance of presenting win-win solutions - ideas that can benefit everyone involved?Generally, it's a pretty big deal. Outside of the NBA, maybe you're talking to policy-makers about coal power plants. It's important to present the information that shutting down coal power plants would be really good for the health of people in your state or province. We're talking about less cancer, less asthma, less hospital visits.Sometimes talking about those co-benefits can be more persuasive than talking about climate. It depends on your audience. If I was bringing this to a players' union and trying to get them on board, I'd be focusing on the data for: Look, these are the injuries that are hampering your players. You should think about backing (these scheduling changes) when you get into negotiations with the league; maybe negotiations about how long the season will be.Going off that, the NBA has considered shortening its regular season by four games, from 82 to 78, and introducing a centralized midseason tournament. From a climate perspective, what do you think of that idea?It's a great idea. The one thing you do have to be careful about: If you only cut a few games from the entire season, and then introduce a midseason tournament and decide to put it in Seattle, that's on the coast. It's way out of the way. You might have a backfire effect where you increase the amount of emissions. It's a little bit safer if you cut 10 games from the season, rather than, let's say, four. These policies can be tricky, and you have to think them through.Joel Embiid takes flight during the 2019 playoffs. Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBA / Getty ImagesLast month, a United Nations expert panel warned that the climate crisis is intensifying. The New York Times summed up its report like this: Time's running out to avoid "a harrowing future in which floods, fires and famine displace millions, species disappear, and the planet is irreversibly damaged." The panel called on countries to act soon to reduce emissions. Are there actions we haven't covered yet that the sports world could take?If you look outside of the four major leagues, if you want to look at climate change as being an all-hands-on-deck situation, absolutely.Every time a tournament is scheduled, you can think about: Where are we placing this tournament so that people have to fly as little as possible to get there? Beyond aviation, you can say: We have fans coming from all over the place (to attend home games). Can we talk to people at the city and find a way to incentivize our fans taking public transit? Or maybe the best (spots) in our parking lot are all EV chargers, and you need to drive an electric vehicle to use them.There are also ways you can communicate about climate change. You can be more vocal about it. Players, owners, and so on can take a stand, use their social media influence, and promote climate action. You see that a little bit more in Europe. There are some (soccer) teams that are intentional about taking trains instead of flights to games. Winter sports have been strong advocates because they're going to be the first affected. Downhill skiing: It's much harder to imagine a future for that sport in a warming climate.But I would also say for the leagues we're talking about, climate change has already started to impact them. You have games that officials are considering whether to cancel because of wildfire smoke. LeBron James had to evacuate his home (in 2019) because of a wildfire.We know these wildfires are supercharged by climate change. We're going to see more and more of that as the planet warms. It's going to become an unavoidable issue for sports.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The growing number of injured Vegas Golden Knights players is now over half a dozen.Vegas placed goaltender Robin Lehner and forward Reilly Smith on injured reserve Monday. They're the sixth and seventh members of the club currently carrying that designation.Lehner missed the last three games with a lower-body ailment. He also sat out five contests in February due to injury before returning on March 1. The Golden Knights' top netminder is 21-15-1 over 38 games - all starts - with a .909 save percentage this season.Smith also missed the last three games with an undisclosed injury. He's collected 16 goals and 22 assists over 56 contests in 2021-22.The pair joins star winger Mark Stone, defensemen Alec Martinez and Brayden McNabb, and forwards Mattias Janmark and Brett Howden on IR.Max Pacioretty, who's dealt with numerous ailments this season, left Friday's loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins and missed Sunday's defeat against the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, he's not currently on injured reserve. Nolan Patrick was previously on IR and hadn't played since Feb. 16, but Vegas activated him for Sunday's game.The Golden Knights have lost the first four contests of their five-game road trip and are in danger of slipping out of a playoff spot. Vegas sits fourth in the Pacific Division in both total points and point percentage, but the Vancouver Canucks are only three points behind them with a game in hand. The Anaheim Ducks trail the Golden Knights by four points with one more contest played.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews has been suspended two games for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during Sunday's contest, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday.The incident occurred during the third period of the Maple Leafs' 5-2 defeat at the Heritage Classic. Matthews was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking on the play.More to come.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Amid a four-game losing streak and a 4-9-1 slide since Jack Eichel's highly anticipated debut, Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson has seen enough."There's not much to say," Stephenson said, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger. "It's the same old story until we can figure it out, and it's a big enough reality check. I'd think guys would be woken up by now."Stephenson added: "I'm sick of it. I think everybody is sick of it. So, until we figure it out, I don't know. Everybody has to dig deeper, grab their nuts, and just work. That's the bottom line."Vegas is dealing with injuries to several key players, including captain Mark Stone and starting goaltender Robin Lehner. The team is virtually out of the Pacific Division race and is clinging to a one-point lead over the Dallas Stars for the second Western Conference wild-card spot with four extra games played.The Golden Knights return to action Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs are less than two months away. While it's likely a team +1600 or shorter ultimately gets its hand on the trophy, there are still a few dark horse sides with potential.Let's take a look at three long shots - to varying degrees - that could surprise when the tournament begins.TEAMODDSColorado Avalanche+400Florida Panthers+750Carolina Hurricanes+800Tampa Bay Lightning+800Calgary Flames+850Vegas Golden Knights+1000Toronto Maple Leafs+1100Pittsburgh Penguins+1600New York Rangers+2000Boston Bruins+2000Minnesota Wild+2100St. Louis Blues+2100Nashville Predators+2700Washington Capitals+2700Dallas Stars+3000Edmonton Oilers+3000Los Angeles Kings+3500Vancouver Canucks+7500Anaheim Ducks+12500Winnipeg Jets+12500Columbus Blue Jackets+30000New York Islanders+30000San Jose Sharks+30000New Jersey Devils+50000Detroit Red Wings+50000Chicago Blackhawks+100000Philadelphia Flyers+100000Ottawa Senators+150000Buffalo Sabres+300000Montreal Canadiens+500000Arizona Coyotes+600000Seattle Kraken+600000Boston Bruins (+2000)There's too much meat on the bone here for a team with so much high-end talent and experience. I know they have to get through a ridiculously tough Atlantic Division bracket to have any shot at a trophy, but crazier things have happened. This team is extremely well-rounded.Offensively, they seem to be hitting their stride. Jake DeBrusk has held up his end of the bargain on the top line, which has allowed the Bruins to pair Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak on the second unit. That essentially gives them two top lines. Craig Smith and Charlie Coyle spearhead a solid third line as well, which has been especially hot of late.Boston's team defense is remarkably good; no team in the league has conceded high-danger chances at a lesser rate during five-on-five play. They're also stout on the penalty kill.When all else fails, they can be comfortable relying on Jeremy Swayman between the pipes. The 23-year-old has established himself as the team's No. 1 option in goal, and not just because Linus Ullmark has been inconsistent. Swayman owns a rock-solid .926 save percentage and sits eighth among starters in goals saved above expected per start.This team is above average in every area of the game and they're battle-tested. If they can add another piece or two at the deadline, they'll be an extremely difficult side for any team to out.Washington Capitals (+2700)The Capitals have stumbled a bit of late. I wouldn't be quick to write them off, though.They are 12th in the NHL in points percentage despite the fact they've spent very little of the season anywhere close to full health. Nicklas Backstrom has appeared in 27 of 60 games, T.J. Oshie has appeared in 26, and Anthony Mantha has dressed just 15 times. The Capitals haven't had one member of the second line healthy for even half of their games, let alone all three.Not only have the absences of those players impacted the Capitals at five-on-five, but they've taken some jolt out of the power play. It can't be overstated how important it is to have them healthy.Dating back to last season, they've helped the Capitals control better than 52% of the expected goal share at five-on-five. Backstrom and Oshie, in particular, really help out on the power play as well.I think we're going to see a different Capitals team now that they're healthy again. There are also rumblings they're eying a Calle Jarnkrok-type forward at the deadline, which would provide some much-needed depth on the third line.I'm not saying the Capitals are world-beaters or that they can match some of the other big-name teams. However, they do have a very good top six and a healthy power play, while Vitek Vanecek has quietly given the Capitals fantastic goaltending of late. They have the pieces to cause some problems in the playoffs.Washington also figures to benefit from an easier path to the conference finals. With respect to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, and New York Rangers, the Caps have a better chance of getting through that group than the bracket featuring the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Bruins.Los Angeles Kings (+3500)The Los Angeles Kings are going through a bit of a tough spell right now. Drew Doughty, Viktor Arvidsson, Matt Roy, Dustin Brown, Mikey Anderson, and Andreas Athanasiou, among others, are out of the lineup with varying timelines to return.If the Kings can get most of those guys back by the playoffs, the Kings have sneaky potential. Hear me out.They are a fantastic five-on-five team. They rank fourth in the NHL in shot share, sixth in expected goals share, and eighth in terms of high-danger chances. Whichever metric you prefer, the Kings grade out highly. That's important, especially because officials tend to put the whistles away come playoff time. A lot of each game is played at full strength and the Kings are at their best in that game state.Anze Kopitar spearheads a very good top line while Arvidsson, Phillip Danault, and Trevor Moore have combined to create a shockingly good second unit. Los Angeles has controlled ~59% of the shot attempts, 61% of the expected goals, and ~63% of the actual goals with that trio on the ice. Suffice to say, the Kings' top six is a problem.They're also a great defensive team. While the goaltending hasn't been as good of late, Jonathan Quick and Cal Petersen have both taken the ball and run with it at different points of the season. There's reason to believe they can be stable enough when the chips are down.This team doesn't have much flash or appeal to the average observer. But they're solid and, outside of the Calgary Flames, every team in their division appears flawed. They could cause some headaches in the coming months.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What home ice is worth is a tough enough question, but it becomes even more of a guessing game when the contest is being played at a neutral site in the middle of a CFL field. The Buffalo Sabres were the host team in Sunday's Heritage Classic despite playing in the home country of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Did it matter in the end, though? They beat the Leafs anyway.As for our bi-weekly list of moneyline prices we'd be willing to bet, underdogs were the order of the day Sunday as we went 5-1 for better than seven units.The Montreal Canadiens, tantalizingly priced throughout this season, were overvalued when they opened as favorites to the Seattle Kraken. Sure enough, the Kraken came away with the win, penalizing anyone getting overly excited about the Habs' recent run of good play.Elsewhere, the Penguins, Islanders (twice), Devils, and Canucks joined the ranks of rare valuable favorites in the past three days. The first three won in that role. Vancouver didn't.Finally, the market's souring on the Oilers caused them to again find their way onto our betting card. For the second straight time, Edmonton rewarded its backers with a win as a home underdog, this time against the Lightning. However, the Oilers' foray into underrated territory might have come and gone.Strangely, there's just one game on the board for Monday night - a fairly priced barn burner between the Coyotes and the Senators. But with three more weeknights of games, there'll be other opportunities to find value. A night off never hurt anyone.The recipeBefore the 2021-22 campaign, we devised a three-part series on how to use the regular-season point-total market to create team ratings, how to interpret home-ice advantage, and then how to use those to create your own moneylines.We made a small adjustment to our formula last week, moving this season's on-ice predictive metrics to 75% of our total rating. While our ratings are weighted to this season, basing 25% of the ratings on preseason "priors" allows us to place more emphasis on team metrics without going all-in on what's happened this campaign. That's important because this season is still a relatively small sample size that includes some tainted results from when COVID-19 ravaged lineups.The stabilization of rosters at the All-Star break has meant that underdogs, or favorites that aren't favored by enough, are priced that way because of less quantifiable reasons, like public perception or short-term variance. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that our guide is up nearly 30 units despite a 66-80 record. A 45.2% win rate is just fine when the vast majority of plays are on plus-money pups.The cheat sheetWhat follows is my fair price on the matchups (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I would need to bet either side. I just need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the team more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. On games I've projected to be a near coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough to make it a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a side playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and 3% for without travel.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETMarch 14ARI@OTT+122/-122ARI +144/OTT -118March 15DAL@TOR+135/-135DAL +159/TOR -129ANA@NYR+160/-160ANA +190/NYR -153NYI@WSH+103/-103NYI +114/WSH +107ARI@MTL+108/-108ARI +120/MTL +102VGK@WPG-105/+105VGK +105/WPG +117PIT@NSH+101/-101PIT +112/NSH +109BOS@CHI-114/+114BOS -110/CHI +134DET@EDM+199/-119DET +239/EDM -190NJD@CGY+159/-159NJD +190/CGY -153FLA@SJS-156/+156FLA -149/SJS +185COL@LAK-107/+107COL +103/LAK +119March 16BOS@MIN+122/-122BOS +144/MIN -117CBJ@OTT+110/-110CBJ +129/OTT -106TBL@SEA-131/+131TBL -126/SEA +155NJD@CGY+159/-159NJD +190/CGY -153March 17WSH@CBJ-126/+126WSH -121/CBJ +149DAL@MTL-133/+133DAL -128/MTL +157CAR@TOR+129/-129CAR +152/TOR -123NSH@PHI-101/+101NSH +109/PHI +112NYI@NYR+111/-111NYI +130/NYR -106PIT@STL+117/-117PIT +138/STL -113BUF@EDM+253/-253BUF +311/EDM -241SJS@LAK+160/-160SJS +190/LAK -153DET@VAN+164/-164DET +196/VAN -158FLA@VGK-105/+105FLA +106/VGK +116Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After yet another embarrassing late-game collapse, Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux was unflinchingly honest about his team's season."It's been probably the worst year since (I've been) here," Giroux told reporters after Philadelphia's 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. "It's been a tough year. Obviously, a lot of injuries, but I'm not going to start making excuses. It's been a long year."He added: "There's still some meetings and some things to talk about with the management and see what the game plan is, not just for this year, but for the future."The Flyers have an 18-30-11 record this season after winning six of their first 10 games.As a result, Giroux, who's a pending unrestricted free agent, is one of the top available names ahead of the March 21 trade deadline. The 34-year-old has registered 18 goals and 24 assists in 56 games while playing out the final season of an eight-year deal with an average annual value of $8.275 million.Despite recording his 900th point in his 999th career NHL game Sunday, Giroux's achievements were quickly overshadowed.The Flyers held a 3-2 lead late in the third period when Canadiens defenseman Chris Wideman took an interference penalty. The Habs then tied the game with a shorthanded tally with just over 40 seconds left in the game before forward Cole Caufield delivered the final dagger in overtime."We're gonna have to keep finding ways to get players to understand that you can play the way you want to play, or you can play winning hockey," interim head coach Mike Yeo said postgame. "Again, I think there were things that you can look at. Our defensive game is getting better, blah, blah, blah, that's nice. That's what you have to do. That's what you’re supposed to do."And there's a way to play with the puck where you're not turning it over and giving free ice and giving freebies to a team that obviously has skill. We still refuse to do that."Yeo added that he's willing to take players' ice time away, demote them to the fourth line, or scratch them entirely, including veterans, in order to get his message across.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the 12th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2021-22 campaign. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.In this edition, we grant each team a wish ahead of the March 21 trade deadline.1. Florida Panthers (40-13-6)Previous rank: 4thWin the Jakob Chychrun sweepstakes. The Panthers' defense can be suspect at times, but landing the Boca Raton native to anchor their second pairing would be a perfect match.2. Carolina Hurricanes (41-13-5)Previous rank: 2ndA right-winger. The Hurricanes are set down the middle of their lineup but lack threats on the right side. They would cost a pretty penny, but there are plenty of options. Guys like Brock Boeser, Rickard Rakell, and Conor Garland are available and would make Carolina's forward group absolutely lethal.3. Colorado Avalanche (42-13-5)Previous rank: 1stClaude Giroux. The Avalanche are hopeful that captain Gabriel Landeskog can return from a knee injury by playoffs, but any time without their leading goal-scorer will hurt. Picking up Giroux would surely soften the blow.4. Calgary Flames (36-16-7)Previous rank: 5thSome insurance depth. The Flames have a packed schedule to close out the season, and injuries and fatigue are likely to pile up. The team is loaded throughout the lineup, but adding a couple of guys who could step up when needed could go a long way.5. Tampa Bay Lightning (38-15-6) Mark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 3rdA physical, defensive forward. The Lightning lost their hard-checking trio of Yanni Gourde, Blake Coleman, and Barclay Goodrow last offseason. Tampa hasn't struggled much without them, but grit can go a long way in the playoffs. The Bolts can replicate that line's success by picking up a hard-nosed player who's difficult to compete against.6. New York Rangers (37-17-5)Previous rank: 7thA winger who can score. The Rangers' depth on the wing is a weakness for them this season. New York controls less than 50% of the expected goals and scoring chances at five-on-five, so adding a dynamic winger who can light the lamp would help address that sore spot.7. Pittsburgh Penguins (36-15-9)Previous rank: 8thA clear mind for netminder Tristan Jarry, who has rebounded spectacularly from last season's playoff catastrophe. Penguins general manager Ron Hextall sounds like he isn't rushing to make a major addition at the deadline. If he isn't actively seeking an upgrade on backup Casey DeSmith, Pittsburgh will need Jarry to continue to erase any memory of last year's mental block from his psyche.8. Boston Bruins (36-18-5)Previous rank: 10thThe Bruins seem to have found a recipe for success with their forward combinations at the moment, but injecting some talent couldn't hurt. Bringing in a stud center like Giroux or Tomas Hertl to anchor the team's second line would be nightmarish for playoff opponents.9. Toronto Maple Leafs (37-17-5)Previous rank: 6thGoaltender Petr Mrazek proving himself this week. Both he and Jack Campbell have struggled severely this winter. Campbell is sidelined with a rib injury, and the Maple Leafs better hope Mrazek can turn things around so they can fully set their sights on bolstering their defense corps by deadline day.10. Washington Capitals (32-18-10) Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 13thLand Marc-Andre Fleury and Calvin de Haan from the Blackhawks. The Capitals have two needs: a goaltender and a left-shooting defenseman. Why not kill two birds with one stone?11. St. Louis Blues (34-17-8)Previous rank: 9thA top-four, left-shooting defenseman. The Blues are deep up front and have a solid tandem between the pipes, but they could use one more blue-liner to round out a top four that already features Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk, and Torey Krug.12. Nashville Predators (34-21-4)Previous rank: 14thAn extension for Filip Forsberg. The Predators aren't trying to move the pending UFA ahead of the deadline, so getting the Swedish sniper signed before March 21 should be Nashville's top priority.13. Minnesota Wild (34-20-4)Previous rank: 11thA goaltending fix. The Wild were one of the league's hottest teams in the first half of the season, but they've stumbled lately. A big reason is Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen's instability in net. Minnesota has allowed 69 goals in its last 15 games, which isn't going to fly if it wants to be a legit Cup contender.14. Los Angeles Kings (33-20-8)Previous rank: 12thAcquire a player with term. The Kings are playing surprisingly well this season but boast one of the league's deepest prospect pools. The club can take a huge step in the next year or two when some of their youngsters jump to the NHL, so acquiring a non-rental player makes the most sense.15. Edmonton Oilers (32-23-4) Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 15thA starting goalie. Sure, the Oilers' options will be limited, and they'll have some competition given the number of teams in need of help in the crease. However, Edmonton needs an upgrade from Mikko Koskinen and Mike Smith.16. Dallas Stars (32-22-3)Previous rank: 17thReach a resolution with John Klingberg. Miro Heiskanen is out indefinitely, so it seems the Stars may hold onto Klingberg. Without an extension in place, it means Dallas is taking a chance at going on an unlikely playoff run and potentially losing the blue-liner for nothing in the summer. Even with Heiskanen out, it might still be worthwhile to shop him.17. Vancouver Canucks (29-24-7)Previous rank: 18thA team to pony up for J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, or Conor Garland. The Canucks don't have to trade any of them since all three have terms. But if a contender steps up with an offer centered around a promising, young defenseman, it could be highly beneficial for Vancouver's future.18. Winnipeg Jets (27-23-10)Previous rank: 21stA king's ransom for Andrew Copp. The versatile Jets forward could be plugged in anywhere into a contending team's lineup and make an immediate impact. In the past two years, Blake Coleman got the Devils a top prospect and a first-round pick, and Barclay Goodrow netted the Sharks a first-round pick as well. If the Jets deal Copp, the return should be somewhere around there.19. Vegas Golden Knights (32-25-4)Previous rank: 16thInjury clarifications. If Mark Stone returns from long-term injured reserve before the playoffs, the Golden Knights will need to move some money out. Robin Lehner's health could be an even bigger concern. Vegas should be in the market for a goalie if the netminder is projected to miss significant time.20. Columbus Blue Jackets (30-27-3) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 20thA deal that reaps a similar haul to last season's Nick Foligno trade. The Blue Jackets ran away with the Maple Leafs' 2021 first-round pick and a fourth-round selection in 2022 in exchange for the veteran's services. Columbus has quite a few players who could be on the move.21. Anaheim Ducks (27-25-10)Previous rank: 19thMassive hauls for Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson, and Rakell. The Ducks aren't far from contending again, and fetching huge returns for pending UFAs will speed up the rebuild. Ideally, they could bring one of them back this summer in free agency.22. San Jose Sharks (26-25-7)Previous rank: 23rdA team-friendly extension for Hertl. The pending UFA forward would've been the Sharks' only high-end trade chip, but they're looking to lock him up instead. Anything under $8 million per season would be a huge win for San Jose.23. New York Islanders (24-24-8)Previous rank: 24thA strong market for Semyon Varlamov. Ilya Sorokin has established himself as the Islanders' goalie of the present and future. Dealing Varlamov could net some valuable assets and create much-needed cap space for next season.24. Detroit Red Wings (24-28-7)Previous rank: 22ndA team to overpay for Nick Leddy. Veteran defensemen like Leddy are always a hot commodity come deadline time. A first-round pick may be greedy, but a second-rounder and promising prospect would be a nice return for the Red Wings.25. Chicago Blackhawks (22-30-8) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 26thFor Fleury to expand his list of teams he'd be willing to accept a trade to. The veteran netminder has a 10-team no-trade list in his contract, but all reports have indicated that Chicago won't move him somewhere he doesn't want to go. However, the more clubs Fleury is willing to play for, the more the Blackhawks will receive for the 37-year-old.26. New Jersey Devils (22-32-5)Previous rank: 27thA trade partner for P.K. Subban. The Devils aren't looking to extend the pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman. New Jersey will likely have to retain some of his $9-million cap hit in any deal, but it might not have to lose him for nothing.27. Ottawa Senators (21-32-5)Previous rank: 25thDetermine Erik Brannstrom and Victor Mete's futures. The young defensemen are pending RFAs, so the clock isn't ticking yet. However, now could be a good time to trade one or both of the blue-liners if the Senators don't see them being a part of the team's future.28. Buffalo Sabres (20-32-8)Previous rank: 29thLoad up on even more draft picks. The Sabres have three selections in the opening round of this year's draft, but they likely won't be able to add another with who they can offer in trades. Colin Miller is Buffalo's most attractive option, but overall it doesn't have many rentals who would fetch much more than middle-round picks.29. Montreal Canadiens (16-35-8)Previous rank: 31stA hungry market for Ben Chiarot. The Canadiens are reportedly looking to land, at the very least, a first-round draft pick for the sturdy defenseman, but teams are apparently not as willing to put up their assets as much as they've been in the past. Habs fans can only hope the deadline pressure makes an opposing GM give in.30. Philadelphia Flyers (18-30-11) Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 28thA nice landing spot for Giroux. The Flyers are spiraling. The best thing the team can do for their beloved captain is to send him to a contender, hopefully after he plays his 1,000th game with the franchise, which he can do on March 17. Of course, Philadelphia should also wish it'll net an excellent return for his services.31. Arizona Coyotes (18-36-4)Previous rank: 32ndA healthy Chychrun. The young defenseman exited Saturday's contest against the Bruins with a lower-body injury. The Coyotes better keep their fingers crossed that their most coveted trade piece isn't seriously harmed.32. Seattle Kraken (18-37-6)Previous rank: 30thA bidding war for Mark Giordano. The Kraken's farm system is obviously weak given their brief existence, so GM Ron Francis needs to get some promising futures for his most valuable rental asset.(Analytics sources: Evolving Hockey, Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Monday for cross-checking Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during Sunday's Heritage Classic.Matthews caught Dahlin in the neck area with a cross-check as the two players battled in the Buffalo crease."You're just battling in front of the net," Matthews said postgame, according to ESPN's Kristen Shilton. "I felt like I kind of rode up his shoulder and his shoulder pack rolled up a little bit. That's hockey; you're competing out there."Matthews has never been fined or suspended over his six-year career and was a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy in each of the past two campaigns. He leads the NHL with 45 goals in 56 games this season.Dahlin, who leads all Sabres defensemen with 37 points in 58 games this season, remained in the contest.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're down to just over a week before the 2021-22 NHL trade deadline, and it's shaping up to be a compelling one. There are some tantalizing possibilities with plenty of big names and skilled players on the block.While some of these scenarios may not come to fruition, here are five moves that'd be satisfying to see put into motion before March 21:Avalanche grab Giroux Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / GettyThis one is actually conceivable, and the Colorado Avalanche should make it a priority. Claude Giroux would make that explosive club even more of a matchup nightmare, and with Gabriel Landeskog likely out until at least the start of the playoffs, Giroux is the best option to fill the void because he's proficient at playing on the wing and at center.Colorado could offer a first-round pick in the 2023 draft, a defensive prospect like Drew Helleson or Justin Barron, and a roster player like J.T. Compher, who'd be expendable with Giroux's arrival. The Philadelphia Flyers could retain half of Giroux's salary in addition to Compher's full contract to even out the money.We'd be remiss not to mention Giroux's no-movement clause and his career-long tenure with the Flyers. But if he and Philadelphia's brass agree that a change of scenery is the right course of action, Giroux would surely approve a blockbuster trade to the perennial Stanley Cup hopefuls in Denver.Panthers haul in Hertl Kavin Mistry / National Hockey League / GettyThe Florida Panthers are one of several teams - including the Avalanche - reportedly interested in Giroux, but it'd be more fun (and make more sense) for them to snag Tomas Hertl if he's available. The Panthers have an even more productive offense than the Avalanche (they're ranked first and second in the NHL, respectively), so adding a forward who's younger than Giroux and on a 30-goal pace would make the league's most high-flying club even more dangerous.Of course, the San Jose Sharks may not trade Hertl if they can sign him to a contract extension before the deadline, and the Czech center said March 1 that talks were "positive." But if the Sharks can't secure his services beyond this season, it'd be in their best interests to get something for him before the deadline. The Panthers don't have a pick for the first two rounds of the draft this year, but they have all of their 2023 selections and a couple of good prospects to dangle in a potential swap.Hertl would give Florida a major upgrade up the middle and turn its solid power play into an elite one. The Sharks have enough cap space to retain some of his salary and take back another roster player in a trade. The 28-year-old may stay in the Bay Area, but this would be a truly enjoyable outcome if he doesn't.Oilers fetch Fleury Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyIf Marc-Andre Fleury decides he wants to go to a contender, there'll be plenty of competition to lure him away from the Chicago Blackhawks. While the Washington Capitals probably make the most sense for the veteran goaltender, the Edmonton Oilers would be a far more entertaining destination. Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen won't cut it in the playoffs, and it'd be a shame to see the peak years of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to be wasted.So what can Edmonton offer to get it done? Chicago will want a first-round pick considering it'd be parting with the best available goalie. Given the uncertainty about his future, the price may not be as high as it'd be for others on the market, but Edmonton would have to at least include a decent prospect - like forward Xavier Bourgault or defenseman Dmitri Samorukov, who's been one of general manager Ken Holland's best trade chips for a while.The Blackhawks would have to retain a portion of Fleury's $7-million cap hit. If they kept 50%, the Oilers could balance the books by sending a roster player like Zack Kassian ($3.2 million), though Chicago might be reluctant to take a fourth-liner under contract through 2023-24. The Oilers shouldn't go overboard to obtain a netminder who could bolt to free agency or retire at season's end, but they have a glaring need that Fleury's addition would immediately address. Edmonton, Fleury himself, and the hockey world as a whole would all be better off for it.Capitals reunite with Holtby Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Dallas Stars are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, but Jake Oettinger is the club's present and future in the crease. Having two proven goalies is an advantage during a postseason push, but Stars backup Braden Holtby has value as a pending unrestricted free agent with experience who's playing reasonably well. Dallas also has depth at the position with Anton Khudobin waiting to slide back into the No. 2 role, so the team would be dealing from a position of relative strength.If the Stars fall out of the race or choose to get something in return for Holtby rather than risk losing him for nothing in the summer, what better landing spot would there be than the Capitals? Washington needs a better backup goalie, and Holtby's done well enough in basically a 40/60 split with Oettinger recently that he could fulfill the same role with Vitek Vanecek while Ilya Samsonov figures out his game in the AHL.Holtby spent the first decade of his 12-year career with the Capitals and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2018. He has a team-friendly cap hit of $2 million. Washington is up against the cap ceiling, but it wouldn't be hard to make room for that amount by sending some salary the other way in addition to an asset. Given the Stars' surplus in goal and the Capitals' need, this reunion makes sense and needs to happen.Maple Leafs land Giordano Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAnother grizzled vet who's still contributing is Mark Giordano, the former Calgary Flames captain who now wears the "C" for the Seattle Kraken. We know Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas would prefer to add players with term over rentals, but there are several reasons they should reel in this pending UFA.The Maple Leafs have to address their goaltending, but they also need stability on defense. Despite being 38 years old, Giordano is still playing well at both ends with favorable underlying numbers considering how bad the Kraken are. The rearguard is logging over 21 minutes per game, and he'd solidify Toronto's second pairing. He hails from Ontario's capital, and Dubas has known Kraken GM Ron Francis for his entire life.There will be younger options on the market, but they'll likely cost more in terms of assets. Giordano's cap hit is a hurdle, but not if the Kraken and Leafs find a third team with cap space to help pull it off. He has a modified no-trade clause, but between the homecoming angle and his pursuit of the Stanley Cup in his 16th season (if Toronto can win a playoff round, that is), this would be a desirable trade for both Giordano and the hockey world at large.(Salary source: CapFriendly)Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Josh Archibald and defenseman Tyson Barrie got back in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.The Oilers activated Archibald from long-term injured reserve and removed Barrie from injured reserve Saturday afternoon.Archibald had yet to play this season before Saturday's matchup due to myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, after contracting COVID-19. Oilers general manager Ken Holland confirmed in September that Archibald was unvaccinated."I think (Archibald) can help our team win a game here," head coach Jay Woodcroft said Saturday, according to The Athletic's Daniel Nugent-Bowman. "That's what we're all about."Woodcroft told reporters Archibald currently can't play games outside of Alberta because of his vaccination status and would have to drive to play the Flames in Calgary.Barrie, meanwhile, suffered an upper-body injury against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 3 and missed the Oilers' previous three games.Archibald was projected to play on the fourth line alongside Zack Kassian and Brad Malone. Barrie was expected to slot in on Edmonton's third defensive pairing with Philip Broberg.Archibald, 29, entered Saturday's tilt with 39 goals and 31 assists in 235 NHL games.Barrie, 30, collected three goals and 20 assists in 49 contests this season while averaging 19 minutes of ice time a night before the game against the Lightning.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher after Ottawa Senators forward Parker Kelly hit him hard into the boards from behind early in Saturday's game.The officials handed Kelly a five-minute major for boarding. Murphy gave a thumbs-up as he was being taken off.Blackhawks interim head coach Derek King said postgame that Murphy will travel back to Chicago with the team, according to The Athletic's Phillip Thompson.Captain Jonathan Toews said Murphy is "OK," per the Chicago Sun-Times' Mark Lazerus.Murphy entered Saturday's matchup ranking second on the team in average ice time at 22:08. The soon-to-be 29-year-old has played all but three of Chicago's games this season, posting four goals and six assists.Kelly was playing just his 26th NHL game and his 25th in 2021-22. The 22-year-old has split the campaign between the Senators and their AHL affiliate in Belleville.Blackhawks forward Tyler Johnson later left Saturday's contest to enter concussion protocol, but King said he'll also travel back with the club, according to the Sun-Times' Ben Pope.Toews also took several punches to the head in a fight with Zach Sanford in the first period, not long after the veteran center missed more than a month with a concussion of his own. However, he appeared no worse for wear when he scored twice in under two minutes at the start of the second frame.The Blackhawks fell behind 2-0 early but rallied to defeat the Senators 6-3.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Joel Edmundson made his season debut Saturday night against the Seattle Kraken.A back injury has sidelined Edmundson dating back to training camp. Before the regular season began, he was initially expected to miss two-to-three weeks, but significant setbacks delayed his return.The 28-year-old potted three goals and 10 assists in 55 contests last season while averaging 20 minutes of ice time. He led the team with 75 blocks and was second among Canadiens defensemen with 98 hits.Edmundson was an important piece during the Habs' run to the Stanley Cup Final, logging over 23 minutes per contest and tallying six helpers over 22 games.The Canadiens announced a slew of other injury updates as well: