With a goal, three shots, four hits, and nearly 18 minutes to his name, it's safe to say Evander Kane had a significant impact in his Edmonton Oilers debut on Saturday night."It's nice to contribute on a new team coming in, you want to show what you can do," Kane said postgame. "Obviously, it was great to get the boys on the board early and everybody kind of took off after that."Kane suited up alongside captain Connor McDavid on the top line and opened the scoring with a deflection goal 11:21 into the opening period against the Montreal Canadiens.Saturday's game marked Kane's first since May 2021. He said he was relieved to be able to focus on hockey again after being the subject of multiple NHL investigations over recent months."When you get on the ice, you kind of put everything else to bed. Hopefully, that continues," Kane said. "It was great to be back out there."Kane was suspended 21 games in October for violating the NHL/NHLPA's COVID-19 protocol after he allegedly used a fake vaccine card. His deal with the San Jose Sharks was then terminated for breach of contract.Before he signed with Edmonton, Kane was investigated for allegedly crossing the U.S.-Canada border eight days after testing positive for COVID-19. The league determined there was insufficient evidence.Despite a strong showing Saturday, Kane says he still has to work out some kinks on the ice."Obviously, there was some rust, timing issues, getting the legs going. All to be expected," he said. "It was a good first game, there's really not much more to say than that."The win was Edmonton's fourth in a row. The Oilers return to action Monday versus the Ottawa Senators.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Florida Panthers expected to be buyers ahead of the deadline, the team has made forward Owen Tippett available for trade, reports Sportsnet's Jeff Marek.Tippett, a 6-foot-1, 207-pound winger, was a prolific sniper in junior, scoring 128 goals in 213 career OHL games. The Panthers drafted him 10th overall in 2017, but his NHL career has yet to take off.The 22-year-old has recorded 13 points in 39 contests this season. In 91 career NHL games, he's tallied 13 goals and 19 assists while averaging 12 minutes per contest.Tippett's underlying numbers haven't been strong, either. Evolving-Hockey.comThe Panthers have reportedly shown interest in both Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun and Montreal Canadiens blue-liner Ben Chiarot.Tippett is in the final year of his entry-level contract. He's set to become a restricted free agent.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman David Savard will miss eight weeks due to an ankle injury, the team announced.Savard played Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks but was ruled out before Saturday's 7-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.The 31-year-old signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Canadiens last offseason after winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Savard's collected nine points in 42 games while averaging over 20 minutes per night in his first campaign with Montreal.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres veteran netminder Craig Anderson made his first start since Nov. 2 on Saturday night against the Arizona Coyotes.The 40-year-old had been sidelined for almost three months with an upper-body injury. In his six appearances for the Sabres this season, he registered a 2.5 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.Anderson was backed up in net by Dustin Tokarski.Buffalo also placed goaltender Aaron Dell on waivers Saturday afternoon.The 32-year-old is serving a three-game suspension for interference after he injured Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson during Tuesday's contest.Dell struggled mightily this season, holding an .893 save percentage and 4.03 goals-against average in 12 appearances.Buffalo's crease has been rocked by injuries all season, to the extent that former NHL goalie Roberto Luongo jokingly suggested he'd step back between the pipes.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Paul Byron is nearing his season debut after undergoing hip surgery in July, and he's hopeful the procedure has fully resolved the worsening pain he experienced over the past couple of years.The 32-year-old chronicled the extent of the issue while speaking to reporters Saturday."Every day was different, every game was different. I remember some days just taking off your equipment and barely being able to walk to your stall. Going upstairs was always tough some days. Not even being able to sleep after games," he said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels."It would feel OK, and then you'd go to bed, and every time you moved in your sleep, it would wake you up in pain because all that adrenaline and Tylenol and Advil kind of wears off in the night."Byron said he received a cortisone injection before last year's playoffs. It initially made him feel better, but the relief dissipated midway through the Canadiens' first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs."By Game 5, it was just right back to where it was, and I remember saying in my head, 'This could be your last game of the year; you've just gotta grind through it, push through it, give everything you have. You have literally nothing left to leave on the table and win the game,'" he said. "Same thing Game 6, same thing Game 7, and that mentally just carried on."Byron registered six points while averaging 14:35 of ice time in 22 playoff games during Montreal's run to the Stanley Cup Final. He scored a highlight-reel shorthanded goal to secure a Game 1 victory against Toronto.Byron said the relief provided by the cortisone shot, though short-lived, changed his perspective on a potential recovery."That injection moment was kind of when the lightbulb went off and said, 'Wow, if that's how I can feel every day, I've gotta find a way to get that again.' This was the path I had to take, and I'm hoping it works," he said. "I'm excited. I'm really excited to play again and try it out because I feel really good right now."Montreal head coach Dominique Ducharme said Byron and fellow injured forward Brendan Gallagher won't play Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, but he's confident the duo can suit up against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.Gallagher, 29, has been sidelined for all of January with a lower-body injury.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No Dallas Stars player will ever wear No. 56 again.The team retired Hall of Fame defenseman Sergei Zubov's number prior to Friday's game against the Washington Capitals.The Stars aired a tribute video of Zubov's highlights before the ceremony got underway.

King Henrik will forever be enshrined in the rafters of Madison Square Garden.The New York Rangers retired legendary goaltender Henrik Lundqvist's No. 30 jersey Friday night. He's the 11th player in franchise history to have his number retired."The highs were high but the lows were low, and there was not much in between," Lundqvist said during the ceremony. "And that's how I chose to live my life for the past 20 years and 15 here in New York, it never really changed."Playing well and trying to help the team to win - that was so important to me."He added: "While I reflect on my time here in New York - everything I experienced, the people I've met, and what the game has given me - I keep coming back to one feeling, and that's gratitude. I feel so grateful for everything this organization has given me, supporting me and my family." Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe 39-year-old announced his retirement from the NHL in August after 15 seasons, all of which he spent backstopping the Rangers. He retired as the franchise leader in both regular-season and playoff wins, shutouts, and games played.Lundqvist didn't capture a Stanley Cup during his time with the Rangers, but he came close on a number of occasions. He helped the team reach the 2014 Stanley Cup Final and put together many other promising playoff runs. Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / GettyRangers general manager Chris Drury, who was once Lundqvist's teammate, commended the Swede on Friday, saying he was a perfect example of what it means to be a Ranger."You want to be like Hank. His desire, determination, will to win," Drury said, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "His dedication to his craft, along with his talent and skill level. His commitment to this community and this city. He is, for me, the gold standard for what a New York Ranger is, and what a New York Ranger should be for this generation of players." Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / GettyLundqvist finished his career with a 459-310-96 record, a .918 save percentage, and a 2.43 goals-against average. He captured one Vezina Trophy in 2012 and was nominated for the award five times. He also led Team Sweden to a gold medal at the 2006 Olympic Games and a silver in 2014.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL goalie and current Florida Panthers executive Roberto Luongo caught wind of the Buffalo Sabres' needs between the pipes and jokingly insinuated that he could strap the pads back on.

Ontario will launch its open market for private, regulated operators to offer single-event sports betting this spring, iGaming Ontario (iGO) announced Friday.Private gaming operators that have registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and have executed an operating agreement with iGO can begin offering their games to players in the province on April 4, as per the release."Consumers can be assured that companies who successfully enter the new Ontario market will have met rigorous standards of game and operator integrity, fairness, player protections and social responsibility, allowing all players to play with confidence," Martha Otton, iGO executive director, said in a prepared statement. "Prevention of underage access, ensuring compliance with applicable laws including anti-money laundering rules and regulations, and measures to enable more responsible gambling are just a few of the assurances consumers can expect in the new market as of April 4."Residents in Canada's largest province aged 19+ will be able to place legal wagers through private, regulated operators on professional sports in time for such marquee events as the NHL and NBA playoffs, and golf's Masters Tournament.Ontario's population of nearly 15 million is larger than all but four U.S. states (California, Texas, Florida, and New York).The Canadian federal government cleared the way for private, legal single-game sports betting with the passage of Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, in the Senate of Canada in June.Previously, single-game sports betting had been legal in the country but only via parlay wagers. Canadians will now have the ability to bet on single-game matches across sports (excluding horse racing), with the government set to collect taxes on estimated billions of dollars currently being wagered illegally.Tap here to sign up and receive updates on when theScore's sportsbook, theScore Bet, will go live in Ontario (19+).Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With 16 games over the next couple of days, we're heading for a busy weekend of hockey.Let's dive into some of my favorite plays.Wild (-125) @ Rangers (+105)

Evander Kane won't have to wait long to suit up for his new team.The freshly signed winger will be in the lineup when the Edmonton Oilers take on the Montreal Canadiens Saturday, general manager Ken Holland announced during Kane's introductory press conference Friday.Kane hasn't played in an NHL game yet this season. The league suspended him for 21 games in October for violating the NHL/NHLPA's COVID-19 protocol after he allegedly used a fake vaccine card.After serving his suspension, the San Jose Sharks waived him and sent him to the AHL. The team terminated his previous contract in early January "for breach of his NHL Standard Player Contract and for violation of AHL COVID-19 protocols."Despite the recent controversies surrounding the 30-year-old, Holland said he didn't do a lot of "soul-searching" before deciding to bring Kane aboard."I think my message to the fans would be that I've done my due diligence," Holland said. "I've talked to a lot of people. ... We're trying to win, we're trying to be a more competitive team. It's a move made to make our team better."He added: "At the end of the day, ultimately being the manager, it's my decision. It's my final decision. Based upon all the information that I gathered, all the people that I talked to, all the experience that I've had being a manager for 25 years in the National Hockey League … I felt that today if we could add Evander, it could be a real positive for the Edmonton Oilers."Kane said that "quite a few teams" inquired about him early on in the process and that he saw an opportunity for himself in Edmonton."Right now, today, I'm here. I'm excited to be an Edmonton Oiler," he said. "I'm excited to play with two of the best players in the world, this entire group of guys that have ... got themselves into a great position to make the playoffs."He added that he's "not really too focused" on what happened in San Jose. The Sharks reportedly tried to trade him last summer due to his strained relationships with some teammates."To say that everybody in the locker room I didn't get along with, that would be just incredibly false. It's less than a handful of guys, but it goes both ways. When there's leaks coming from your dressing room in the media, I wouldn't say that's necessarily a good act of leadership or being a productive teammate."Holland pointed to the maturity of the Oilers' leaders and "veteran locker room" as factors that could help Kane find more success in Edmonton.Kane's season debut Saturday is at 7 p.m. ET in Montreal.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drake Batherson is expected to miss at least two months with a high ankle sprain after taking a controversial hit from Buffalo Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell during Tuesday night's contest, Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith announced Thursday.Dell sent the 23-year-old forward crashing into the boards with a lowered shoulder during the first period of the Senators' 5-0 victory. The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Dell for three games on Wednesday.

The Edmonton Oilers and unrestricted free-agent forward Evander Kane agreed to a contract for the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign, the team announced Thursday.Kane's deal will contain a $750,000 salary, a $625,000 signing bonus, an approximate cap hit of $2.1 million, and a full no-movement clause, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.The NHL suspended Kane 21 games in October for violating the NHL/NHLPA's COVID-19 protocol after he allegedly used a fake vaccine card.Following the suspension, the San Jose Sharks terminated Kane's previous contract in early January "for breach of his NHL Standard Player Contract and for violation of AHL COVID-19 protocols." The team had him signed through 2024-25 with a $7-million annual cap hit. The NHLPA filed a grievance on his behalf.The league also investigated Kane for allegedly crossing the U.S.-Canada border eight days after testing positive for COVID-19 in December. However, Kane will not face discipline for this due to insufficient evidence, the league announced Thursday.Kane has made numerous other off-ice headlines throughout his career:

The Vancouver Police Department charged former Canucks forward Jake Virtanen with one count of sexual assault Thursday following an investigation.Virtanen is not currently in custody.He was named in a lawsuit last May after a woman, now 23, came forward regarding an incident that allegedly occurred in 2017. The lawsuit states Virtanen took the woman to a Vancouver hotel and assaulted her despite her pleas for him to stop.Virtanen denied the allegations in June.The Canucks placed Virtanen on leave after the allegations surfaced. He was then bought out and joined Spartak Moscow of the KHL for the 2021-22 season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes are in advanced discussions with Arizona State's hockey program about using the school's new multipurpose arena as a temporary home, sources told Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports.The Coyotes would use the 5,000-seat rink for all home games while they await approval and construction of a proposed permanent arena in Tempe. The franchise is reportedly negotiating a three-year deal with the Sun Devils featuring an option for a fourth season.Due to NCAA rules, the Coyotes would not be allowed to use ASU's hockey areas, meaning they'd have to build their own. That could cost between $15 million and $20 million, one source told Morgan.Asked whether the Coyotes would receive league approval to play in a venue with so few seats, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said, "(It) depends on the totality of circumstances, but I wouldn't rule it out."The Coyotes released the following statement:"As we have said many times, we are completely committed to building our future in Arizona. As part of that process, we are excited to be exploring some great temporary arena options here before we move in to a new permanent home in the Valley."In August, the city of Glendale said that it will terminate the Coyotes' lease agreement for Gila River Arena, where the franchise has played since 2003-04, at the end of this season. In December, Glendale threatened to lock the team out of the arena unless the franchise paid outstanding state and city tax balances.The Coyotes filed their bid for a new facility in September, but the evaluation process is ongoing. ASU's new arena is set to be completed in the fall.Both NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and the franchise itself have publicly shut down relocation rumors amid the arena drama this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have 20 teams in action this evening, which means there's no shortage of shot props.Let's take a closer look at three of the totals that stand out.Tyler Toffoli over 2.5 shots (-125)Tyler Toffoli has been a shooting machine since he returned to the lineup. He's recorded at least three shots in four consecutive games, all of which were on the road against good teams. His hits came against the Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, and Minnesota Wild. That's a pretty good crop of clubs to generate consistent volume against.Now Toffoli finds himself back on home soil - where he'll get softer matchups - against an Anaheim Ducks side that's given up a lot of late.They are 22nd in five-on-five shots against per 60 over the last 10 games and should be a little fatigued following an overtime game Wednesday night in Toronto.Victor Hedman over 2.5 shots (-118)Victor Hedman is 34 clear of Steven Stamkos for the team lead in shot attempts this season. Clearly, he puts a lot of rubber toward the net.There are a couple of things working in his favor in this game. For one, the New Jersey Devils concede a lot of shots to defensemen. Only six teams give up more volume to defenders on a per game basis.Nikita Kucherov's absence is also a bonus. Hedman's volume dropped when Kucherov returned, as he wasn't relied upon as heavily to contribute offensively. With Kucherov in COVID protocol, there's opportunity for Hedman to get more involved.Chris Kreider over 2.5 shots (-139)Chris Kreider is firing on all cylinders right now. He's scored in six consecutive games and registered at least three shots in seven of the last 10, falling just one short in all three exceptions.He has piled up 42 shots on target and 59 attempts in that time, both of which lead the team.Kreider now draws a mouth-watering matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. They have conceded more five-on-five shots per 60 than all but the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens over the last 10 games. They're also in the latter half of a back-to-back. I really don't see much reason to expect the screws to be tightened 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.

The Ottawa Senators have signed defenseman Nick Holden to a one-year contract extension worth $1.3 million, the team announced Thursday."Nick has seamlessly integrated himself into our lineup and into our dressing room," general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement. "His veteran presence and leadership qualities have been instrumental in helping our young group this season, while his strong defensive play and accountability on the ice has really helped with the maturity of our young defensive core."The Senators acquired Holden from the Vegas Golden Knights this past summer in a trade that sent Evgenii Dadonov to Vegas.The 34-year-old has played 543 NHL games split between the Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Golden Knights, and Senators.Holden's notched four points in 30 games this season while averaging over 19 minutes per contest.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a jam-packed schedule to work our way through today, as 20 of the league's 32 teams will be in action.Let's dive into a couple of my favorite ways to attack this slate.Rangers (-200) @ Blue Jackets (+165)We have faded the Blue Jackets a lot in this space of late. For the most part, the rewards have been fruitful, so we're going right back to the well tonight with the Rangers.Put simply, the Blue Jackets are a disaster defensively. Over the last 10 games, they rank 31st in high-danger chances allowed per 60, 31st in expected goals allowed per 60, and 30th in shots allowed per 60. They're giving up quality opportunities in bulk.Winning when that's the case is difficult even with Elvis Merzlikins between the pipes, as we saw last night. He finished with a save percentage above .900 but still conceded six goals.Winning while giving up that kind of quality and quantity with Joonas Korpisalo in net is an all but impossible task. He has played dreadful hockey all season, posting an .881 save percentage and conceding eight more goals than expected through 15 appearances.The Rangers' offense is tied with the Avalanche for 10th in goals over the last 10 games, and I expect it to take advantage of Korpisalo's shortcomings.Bet: Rangers in regulation (-135)Flames (+115) @ Blues (-140)The Blues are in the ultimate bounce-back spot tonight. They're coming off an embarrassing loss to these Flames, which they'll look to rectify.Everything is lining up for that to happen. For starters, this game is in St. Louis - where the Blues are remarkably strong. They own a 16-4-2 record and +32 goal differential at home this season. They're not just squeezing out wins in their building; they're beating teams into the ground.While the Flames seem to be on their way out of an ugly stretch of hockey, I don't see them staying hot in this one. They're playing their third game in four nights against a rested team with extra motivation to put their best foot forward in this game.Dan Vladar is expected to get the nod in goal for Calgary. While his counting stats (.910 save percentage) are OK, he has performed below expectation this season. The difference between Vladar (-0.11) and Jacob Markstrom (+0.37) is nearly half a goal per game.That's something, especially in a tough spot in the schedule where your goaltender is likely to see plenty of rubber.Bet: Blues (-140)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.

Between Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the Pittsburgh Penguins have more than their fair share of vital business to deal with this offseason.The franchise mainstays both signed eight-year pacts in the summer of 2013 that began in the 2014-15 campaign, meaning they will become unrestricted free agents at the end of this season.Malkin is interested in remaining in Pittsburgh, and his representatives have reportedly spoken to Penguins general manager Ron Hextall about a new contract, according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe.The 35-year-old is also reportedly willing to take a pay cut to make it work, sources told Yohe.That doesn't seem to be the case with Letang, with sources reportedly telling The Athletic that the blue-liner believes he has earned a raise.Letang is having a fantastic 2021-22 season and has been a stable presence for Pittsburgh, which has been wracked by injuries all year long. The 34-year-old has 37 points in 38 games while leading all Penguins in ice time, eating up an average of 25:45 per contest.Meanwhile, Malkin hasn't missed a beat since returning from offseason knee surgery, logging nine points in eight matchups.Malkin would be pleased with a multi-year deal and is fine with making less money than teammate Sidney Crosby in the future, while Pittsburgh is reportedly willing to sign Letang to a short-term pact with the possibility of a pay raise, according to Yohe.Letang has about $69 million in estimated career earnings, according to CapFriendly. Malkin has earned almost $117 million.The Penguins signed Jeff Carter, another pending unrestricted free agent, to a two-year, $6.25-million extension on Wednesday.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon won't return to Wednesday's contest against the Boston Bruins after colliding with forward Taylor Hall during the opening period, the team announced.Hall knocked the shaft of MacKinnon's stick with his shoulder as the center tried to exit the zone, hitting him in the face and causing him to fall hard to the ice.

Legendary New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist didn't end his NHL career quite the way he expected to when a heart issue forced him to hang up his pads in August."My plan was to play until 41, 42. If I had that chance, I would do it because I still love the game," Lundqvist said during an appearance on the "NHL @TheRink" podcast."I have my moments where I'm like, 'Ah, it's too bad I didn't get an opportunity to play more because I love it so much.' But then pretty quickly I move into the grateful phase where I'm just happy with what I got and not what I didn't get."Lundqvist plans to take his relaxed positive attitude into his jersey retirement ceremony at Madison Square Garden on Friday night."That place has meant so much to me. I've been so inspired by the building itself and what it means to walk in there every time. ... I felt so alive in that building at times," he reflected."If it's a preseason game or Game 7, that pressure is always there, and it was just awesome to feel it."The 39-year-old spent 15 seasons in the Big Apple, and he's the franchise's leader in games played (887) and wins (459). Lundqvist said he "struggled" to picture himself playing anywhere but New York, but his love for the game pushed him to sign a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals after the Rangers bought out the final year of his contract following the 2019-20 campaign.However, Lundqvist ended his career having played only for New York."In the end, the heart said 'no, it was not meant to be,'" he said. "It's funny how I struggled for such a long time if I should go somewhere else and play or not. The decision was made for me."It became symbolic to me, a little bit, the way it happened."The King has since enjoyed his stint as a studio analyst with MSG Network and admittedly prefers to go off the cuff when it comes to speaking in public. But Friday will be a little different."We'll see how it goes. I don't think I’m comfortable winging it on Friday. I need to prepare something," he said.Lundqvist's No. 30 will be the 11th jersey to reach the rafters in Rangers history. The ceremony will kick off before New York's contest against the Minnesota Wild.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will replace teammate Drake Batherson on the Atlantic Division All-Star squad next month, the team announced Wednesday.Batherson is sidelined long term with an ankle injury after Buffalo Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell sent him crashing into the boards Tuesday. The NHL's Department of Player Safety suspended Dell three games for interference Wednesday.The Senators' top pivot was in the midst of a career season, registering 34 points in 31 games before his injury.Tkachuk is having a solid season himself. The 22-year-old's notched 27 points in 33 appearances while averaging over 18 minutes per night. It's the second All-Star nomination of his career.All-Star Weekend runs Feb. 4-5 in Las Vegas.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL suspended Buffalo Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell three games for interference on Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson during Tuesday's contest, the league's Department of Player Safety announced.Here's a look at the play that sent Batherson crashing into the boards:

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed veteran forward Jeff Carter to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.125 million, the team announced Wednesday.The deal also has a full no-movement clause in both years, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie."Jeff's experience and versatility have made him a valuable addition to our team," Penguins general manager Ron Hextall said. "In addition to his on-ice contributions, his team-first attitude has made him a leader inside our locker room, and we are happy to have him under contract for two more years."Pittsburgh acquired Carter from the Los Angeles Kings prior to the trade deadline in 2021. He's appeared in 50 contests since his arrival, tallying 21 goals and 16 assists.Carter, 37, is in his 17th season and has twice won the Stanley Cup with the Kings. In 1,130 career games, he's scored 411 goals and added 377 assists.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eugene Melnyk does not agree with Ontario's current capacity restrictions for sporting events."It's my first game with empty seats," the Ottawa Senators owner told Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch during his team's win over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night. "It's sad. I don't know who the people are that come up with these rules."They're misinformed and they're miscalculated. They should be challenged and they will be challenged."Amid the surge of the omicron variant in December, the Ontario government reduced the maximum allowable capacity at sporting events and large entertainment venues to the lesser of 50% or 1,000 people.Earlier in January, the province said it would allow the same locations to operate at 50% capacity or 500 people beginning Jan. 31, and restrictions would be eased to 50% capacity as of Feb. 21. The plan is to completely lift limits on March 14.Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs as well as the NBA's Toronto Raptors and Scotiabank Arena, is in discussions with the province in hopes of lifting the restrictions, according to Garrioch.The NHL postponed 14 Senators games - including eight home dates - this season due to COVID-19 issues. All of those matchups have been rescheduled, with five of them planned for after Feb. 21.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a relatively small five-game slate on the docket Wednesday, but there are a few plays that stand out.We are mixing things up, providing a side, total, and shot prop for our best bets. Let's dive in.Sharks (+175) @ Capitals (-210)The San Jose Sharks are not a good road team. At five-on-five, they've controlled only 45.6% of the shot attempts and rank 19th in expected goals for percentage. Now they're without Erik Karlsson, by far their best play-driving defenseman.That's not ideal, especially going up against a team like the Washington Capitals. They're in the top half of the league in points percentage on home soil and their underlying numbers have been remarkably good. Washington owns a 54.88 xGF% in their own building. Their share of the xG is very high, which is a recipe for success given all the firepower getting those opportunities.I think the Capitals should be able to dictate the run of play at five-on-five and take advantage of James Reimer.The veteran Sharks netminder started the season strongly but his level of play has fallen off a cliff. He owns a .878 save percentage since Dec. 1. That ties him for 48th among 54 eligible goaltenders. Not great!To recap, Washington is the better five-on-five team, they're at home, and they're going up against a struggling netminder. I like their chances of taking care of business inside 60.Bet: Capitals in regulation (-135)Flames (-180) @ Blue Jackets (+150)The Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets have had a difficult time keeping the puck out of the net of late. Yet it's the under that appeals to me in this game.For one, Elvis Merzlikins is getting the nod in goal for the home side. He owns a respectable .912 save percentage on the season and has saved 3.8 more goals than expected. He's a huge upgrade over Joonas Korpisalo (.881 SV%, -8 goals saved above expectation) and gives me faith Columbus can keep Calgary to a reasonable number in this game.The Flames have also defended much better than their recent numbers indicate. They rank 12th in high-danger chances allowed per 60 at five-on-five over the last 10 games. Despite that, they sit 30th in goals against per 60.On the year, Jacob Markstrom and Daniel Vladar have combined to save 8.2 more goals than expected. They make up an above-average goaltending tandem. Regardless of who starts here, I think the Flames are bound to do a better job of limiting the goals against sooner than later - so long as they continue to be an above-average side in terms of preventing high-danger opportunities.I don't think that'll be an issue Wednesday against a Blue Jackets team below average at generating said opportunities.Bet: Under 6 (+105)Tyler Bertuzzi over 2.5 shots (-125)Tyler Bertuzzi is not a guy we've targeted much this year but he's been shooting the puck more of late, especially on home soil. He's accumulated 25 shots over the last eight home dates, which equates to a little more than three per night.This is a good spot for his success to continue. The Chicago Blackhawks have allowed 61.16 shot attempts per 60 minutes of five-on-five play over the last 10 games. That ranks them 29th in the league during this spell. They're really struggling defensively and they won't have the ability to get the matchups they want.Instead, the Detroit Red Wings will have the ability to put their best players in advantageous positions and Bertuzzi is a guy who will benefit. I also like that he no longer plays on a line with Dylan Larkin. He's spearheading his own unit, meaning there's more puck to go 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.

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher expects to be busy leading up to March's trade deadline.With his club mired in a franchise-worst 13-game losing streak - its second double-digit skid of the season - Fletcher said he's open for business."We're looking to aggressively retool here. Everything is on the table," Fletcher said, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.The Flyers made several significant moves in the offseason after missing the playoffs last year and replaced former head coach Alain Vigneault with Mike Yeo in December. But neither approach has helped the team find success, as Philadelphia currently sits last in the Metropolitan Division with 34 points through 43 games.Captain Claude Giroux is the Flyers' most intriguing trade chip. The 34-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, and Fletcher said it's up to Giroux to decide if he wants to be traded.Giroux's current contract has a full no-movement clause and carries an $8.275-million cap hit. He's spent his entire 15-year career with Philadelphia and ranks second in franchise history with 892 points.Though the 2021-22 season hasn't gone to plan, Flyers chairman Dave Scott doesn't believe the club needs to undergo a long-term rebuild."I don't see this being a three-, four-year rebuild at all," Scott said, according to Dan Gelston of The Associated Press. "The core is good. We've just got to get healthy."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Allvin has been named general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, the team announced Wednesday.He's the 12th in franchise history.Allvin has been with the Pittsburgh Penguins since 2006, starting as a European scout. While with the Penguins, he worked closely with Vancouver's recently hired president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, who promoted Allvin to Pittsburgh's assistant GM position in 2020."I am grateful and humbled for this opportunity and want to thank Jim and the Aquilini family for their belief in me," said Allvin. "Leading an NHL team in Canada is an honor and building a championship team in Vancouver is our goal. Jim has assembled a diverse and talented hockey operations group in Vancouver, and I look forward to working closely with all of them as we build a team that fans will be proud of and will ultimately compete again for a Stanley Cup."The Canucks cleaned house earlier this season by firing numerous front-office staff, including general manager Jim Benning. The club quickly hired Rutherford and named him interim GM.Vancouver failed to meet expectations early this campaign after a busy offseason that saw a number of big moves to improve the team. The Canucks inked Elias Pettersson to a three-year contract, while Quinn Hughes earned a six-year pact worth $47.1 million.The club has picked up the pace since coach Travis Green's dismissal and Bruce Boudreau's arrival behind the bench. However, Vancouver still sits in seventh place in the Pacific Division. The team has made the playoffs just once in the last six seasons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell will have a hearing Wednesday to answer for his hit that injured Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson on Tuesday night.Dell sent Batherson crashing into the boards with a lowered shoulder during the first period of Tuesday's contest.

Move over, Doug Jarvis. There's a new NHL ironman: Keith Yandle.The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman set a new benchmark by appearing in his 965th consecutive regular-season game Tuesday against the New York Islanders, surpassing Jarvis for the most all time.RankPlayerStreak1.Keith Yandle965*2.Doug Jarvis9643.Phil Kessel941*4.Garry Unger9145.Patrick Marleau910** Active streakYandle hasn't missed a game since March 22, 2009, when he was a member of the then-Phoenix Coyotes."It's one of those things that I don't think it's really sunk in too much yet," Yandle said following the Flyers' 4-3 loss to the Isles, per NHL.com's Brian Compton. "It's obviously something I'm super grateful for. I'm grateful to play one game in this league, the best league in the world."To be surrounded by the best people, people that always have your back, people that are rooting for you, to be a part of the NHL and the NHL family and for me being (a part of it) the last 16 years, it's more than a dream come true."The 35-year-old has played games with the Coyotes, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, and now the Flyers during his streak. He's recorded 572 points in that span.Kessel, 34, is currently on Yandle's tail, as he sits just 24 games back of the new record holder.Marleau's streak is technically active, but the 42-year-old is a free agent and it's unclear if he'll ever play again. He's the league's all-time games played leader at 1,779 contests.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals are eyeing an old foe in an effort to upgrade between the pipes.The club is looking into adding Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Fleury's contract carries a $7-million cap hit, a 10-team no-trade list, and expires after this season. Washington is up against the cap and would have to get creative to acquire the veteran netminder.The Blackhawks entered Tuesday sitting 14th in the Western Conference in points percentage. They're expected to be sellers at this year's trade deadline.The 37-year-old Fleury is still playing at a high level. He's posted a .913 save percentage and 2.76 goals-against average in 29 games this season.The Capitals have received inconsistent results from its two inexperienced goaltenders:GoalieRec.SV%GAAVitek Vanecek9-6-5.9122.47Ilya Samsonov13-4-3.9032.77The goaltender-needy Edmonton Oilers have looked into acquiring Vanecek, among several other netminders, Friedman adds.Primarily due to his 13-year run with the rival Pittsburgh Penguins, Fleury has appeared in 44 regular-season games against the Capitals. He's also played in 19 postseason contests versus Washington, including five in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Ben Chiarot appears to be drawing significant interest in the trade market.The Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, and St. Louis Blues are among the teams that have looked into adding the blue-liner, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wrote in Tuesday's edition of "32 Thoughts."The 30-year-old is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the season. He carries a $3.5-million cap hit.Chiarot was a revelation for the Canadiens during their trip to the Stanley Cup Final last season. The bruising defender averaged 25:15 of ice time per game while laying 88 hits and blocking 48 shots across 22 contests.Chiarot has five goals and three assists in 38 games with Montreal this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Devon Levi appears primed to represent Canada once again at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.Levi, Edward Pasquale, and Matt Tomkins will be Canada's goaltenders, TSN's Darren Dreger reports. However, the team's brain trust won't submit its final roster yet in case injuries or COVID-19 protocol situations arise, Dreger adds.On Saturday, Kent Johnson - the Michigan standout who the Columbus Blue Jackets selected fifth overall last year - was reported to be among the Canadians' forwards. One day later, Dreger clarified Johnson will be an alternate heading into training camp but could crack the squad if one of the above scenarios happens.Levi excelled for Canada's silver medal-winning side at the 2021 World Junior Championship. He was named the event's top netminder after posting a .964 save percentage over seven games despite playing nearly the entire tournament with a fractured rib sustained in the opener.The 20-year-old has also been stellar for Northeastern this season, going 16-7-1 with a .948 save percentage across 24 contests. The Buffalo Sabres landed Levi in the trade that sent forward Sam Reinhart to the Florida Panthers in July.Pasquale has played the last three campaigns in the KHL, suiting up for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl for the last two. The 31-year-old appeared in three games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018-19 and spent nearly a decade in the AHL after the Atlanta Thrashers drafted him 117th overall in 2009.Tomkins is 14-8-0 with a .913 save percentage in 23 games with Frolunda in Sweden this season. The 27-year-old Ohio State alum spent four campaigns in the AHL and ECHL before going overseas. The Chicago Blackhawks selected him in the seventh round of the 2012 draft.The Canadian roster will reportedly include Owen Power, the Sabres' No. 1 overall pick in 2021, as well as NHL veteran and current AHLer Eric Staal.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Canada unveiled its men's roster for the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing on Tuesday.Canada's squad is considerably older than the United States' entry and boasts fewer players with current NHL ties, but the Canadians do have a top prospect in each of the three positional groups.Here's Team Canada's full 25-man roster:ForwardsPlayerAgeTeam (League)Daniel Carr30Lugano (Swiss National League)Adam Cracknell36Bakersfield Condors (AHL)David Desharnais35Fribourg-Gotteron (Swiss National League)Landon Ferraro30Cologne Sharks (German DEL)Josh Ho-Sang26Toronto Marlies (AHL)Corban Knight31Avangard Omsk (KHL)Jack McBain22Boston College (NCAA)Mason McTavish18Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)Eric O'Dell31Dynamo Moscow (KHL)Eric Staal37Iowa Wild (AHL)Ben Street34Munich (German DEL)Adam Tambellini27Rogle (Swedish SHL)Jordan Weal29Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)Daniel Winnik36Geneve-Servette (Swiss National League)Staal cracked the roster after signing on with the Minnesota Wild's AHL affiliate earlier this month. McBain is a Wild prospect who's produced 13 goals and 11 assists over 18 games in his senior year at Boston College.The Anaheim Ducks drafted McTavish third overall last year. The center, who'll turn 19 on Sunday, played nine NHL games earlier this season but has split the rest of the campaign between the AHL and the OHL.DefensemenPlayerAgeTeam (League)Mark Barberio31Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)Jason Demers33Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)Brandon Gormley29Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)Alex Grant33Jokerit Helsinki (KHL)Maxim Noreau34Zurich Lions (Swiss National League)Owen Power19Michigan (NCAA)Mat Robinson35SKA Saint Petersburg (KHL)Tyler Wotherspoon28Utica Comets (AHL)The Buffalo Sabres chose Power first overall in 2021. He starred for Canada at the World Junior Championship in December before the remainder of the tournament was canceled. Power became the first Canadian defenseman to notch a hat trick in the tourney when he did so in the opener.GoaltendersPlayerAgeTeam (League)Devon Levi20Northeastern (NCAA)Edward Pasquale31Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)Matt Tomkins27Frolunda (Swedish SHL)Levi is another Sabres prospect. Buffalo acquired his rights from the Florida Panthers in the Sam Reinhart trade. The netminder is excelling in his first college season, posting a .948 save percentage and 16 wins in 24 games.ReservesPlayerPositionAgeTeam (League)Chris DiDomenicoF32Fribourg-Gotteron (Swiss National League)Kent JohnsonF19Michigan (NCAA)Max VeronneauF26Leksands (Swedish SHL)Morgan EllisD29Berlin Polar Bears (German DEL)John GilmourD28CSKA Moscow (KHL)Justin PoggeG35Cologne Sharks (German DEL)On Monday, the IIHF allowed every team to add six reserve players in case of injuries or COVID-19 protocol.The Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Johnson fifth overall last year. They took him three picks after the Seattle Kraken nabbed fellow Michigan Wolverine forward Matty Beniers, who's on Team USA's Olympic squad. Pogge is a journeyman who the Toronto Maple Leafs took 90th overall in 2004. He played only seven games for the club before toiling in the minors and then heading overseas.Only three players - Noreau, O'Dell, and Robinson - return from the Canadian roster that finished third in the 2018 Games in PyeongChang.The team will hold its training camp in Davos, Switzerland, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 1, when it will play a tune-up game against the Swiss side before departing for China. Canada will have another exhibition matchup against the United States on Feb. 7 in Beijing before the tournament begins two days later.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers will have a key player back in the lineup when they face the Vancouver Canucks on the road Tuesday night.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is suiting up for the matchup after missing the last six games due to injury.The forward has notched only three goals this season, but he's also collected 23 assists over 30 games. He ranks third on the Oilers in both assists and points despite missing time.Edmonton had been in a tailspin without him until defeating the Calgary Flames on Saturday.Nugent-Hopkins has played his entire 11-year career with the Oilers, who drafted him first overall in 2011.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a full slate of games on the docket tonight, which means the return of shot props.Let's dive into a couple of my favorite targets to back.Mark Scheifele over 2.5 shots (-118)The Panthers are one of the best teams in the NHL. On the surface, they don't seem like a side you want to target. Quite the contrary, as they play such fast-paced, high-event hockey that players can routinely hit the number against them even in losing efforts.Believe it or not, only four teams have allowed a higher rate of five-on-five shots over the last 10 games: the Canadiens, Sabres, Blue Jackets, and Blues. Yeah, Florida is in that territory.Kyle Connor is the obvious target, but you have to pay a hefty price to back him. As such, Scheifele is arguably the top option.Scheifele ranks second on the Jets in shot attempts over the last 10 games, resulting in him averaging 3.4 shots on goal per contest.I like him to stay hot and go over the number once again in what should be a high-event affair.Teuvo Teravainen over 2.5 shots (-118)You want to avoid Teravainen on the road as he's generated three shots or more just eight times in 19 tries, a 42% success rate.It's a much different story when games are played in Carolina, where the coaching staff can put him in advantageous matchups. Teravainen has registered at least three shots 12 times in 18 home games, a 66% hit rate.With implied odds of just 54%, I see a definite edge backing Teravainen on home soil. The fact that the Golden Knights are playing in the latter half of a road back-to-back only makes the pick more enticing.Not to mention, Vegas is of the worst teams at preventing shot attempts while shorthanded - and Teravainen does a lot of his damage on the power play.There's a lot to like with him tonight.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.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson is out for the foreseeable future after undergoing successful surgery to repair a muscle tear in his left forearm, the team announced Tuesday.There's no specific recovery timeline, but the Sharks expect to re-evaluate him in mid-March.Karlsson, who missed San Jose's most recent game, was enjoying a strong bounce-back season, with 26 points in 33 contests while averaging over 23 minutes.The 31-year-old had a career-low 0.42 points-per-game rate in last year's shortened campaign.Since arriving in San Jose via trade in 2018, he's registered 133 points in 194 appearances.The Sharks currently sit four points back of third spot in the Pacific Division. They're tied with the Calgary Flames for the second wild-card position at 44 points but have played five extra games.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Headlined by the Carolina Hurricanes versus the Vegas Golden Knights, we have eight games to work with tonight.As fate would have it, however, I see the most value in games involving three of the league's bottom-eight teams.Let's get into the best bets.Sabres (+155) @ Senators (-175)The Buffalo Sabres have won only three of the last 10 games and, honestly, I'm not sure that represents just how poorly they're playing right now.Offensively, they're generating very little. They amassed only 13.05 expected goals and 160 scoring chances at five-on-five during this spell - no team has fared worse in either category.Casey Mittelstadt is expected back tonight and should provide a boost, but the Sabres need a lot more than his presence to be competent in the offense.They've struggled mightily without the puck, conceding more chances than all but two teams over the last 10.Put it all together and their share of the chances sits at 38.83%, while they look even worse by expected goals (38.07%). Those are unfathomably bad numbers.For perspective, the Ottawa Senators have won four of 10 while controlling 49.56% of the expected goals. They're playing much more competitive hockey.With a big edge at five-on-five - and home ice in their back pocket - I like the Senators to pick up a win inside of 60 minutes.Bet: Senators in regulation (-114)Stars (-135) @ Devils (-115)High-scoring games follow the New Jersey Devils around. It doesn't matter how well they defend - their shot- and chance-suppression numbers are actually pretty good - because goaltending continues to be their undoing.Ten of the Devils' last 15 games have featured at least six goals despite the team ranking 11th in expected goals against per 60 over that time.Mackenzie Blackwood, now on injured reserve, has been one of the NHL's worst starters. He owns an .894 save percentage and has allowed almost half a goal above expectation per start. Only Philipp Grubauer has a case for faring worse among starters.Blackwood's platoon partner, Jonathan Bernier, is out for the season. With third-stringer Jon Gillies also struggling, the Devils will turn to prospect Akira Schmid.While Schmid's been one of the better goaltenders in the AHL this season, that hasn't translated into any NHL success thus far. He owns a woeful .851 save percentage through three appearances, having allowed 10 goals on just 67 shots.Deservedly or not, the Dallas Stars should be able to score a few goals in this game. I also expect Jack Hughes and Co. to contribute their fair share against Braden Holtby, who owns an .896 save percentage since Dec. 1.Bet: Over 6 (-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.

Montreal Canadiens forward Christian Dvorak was unable to return to Monday night's contest after Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon delivered a blindside hit to his head early in the first period.Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said the concussion spotter pulled Dvorak, and he failed his test, so he was ruled out of the remainder of the game, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.

With the Toronto Maple Leafs' forward group being the healthiest it's ever been this season, head coach Sheldon Keefe is looking to spread around his team's star power.Here's how the Leafs - who currently sit in third place in the Atlantic Division - lined up at practice Monday:

Records are made to be broken, and the owner of one of the most impressive NHL benchmarks welcomes the possibility of being surpassed this week.Doug Jarvis is all for Keith Yandle breaking his record for consecutive games played. The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman tied it Monday against the Dallas Stars and will now look to establish a new standard Tuesday."My emotion is I'm just happy for him," Jarvis told Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli on Sunday. "A lot of people have said to me, 'That record will never be broken.' And I'm like, 'Why won't it be?' I'm really surprised that it's been 35 years.""I wanted to play every game," added the retired center and current senior adviser for the Vancouver Canucks. "And before I knew it, they added up and I'm kind of like, 'Well, why can't that happen for anyone else?'"Jarvis played an all-time best 964 straight games from Oct. 8, 1975, until Oct. 10, 1987. Yandle has now also suited up for 964 in a row in a run that began on March 26, 2009."It's one of those records that you just, at least for me - I'm just speaking for myself - I don't feel you can set out to break or pass,” the 66-year-old Jarvis said. "There's so many things. It's not just injuries. There's been a number of players that have gotten close over the years that ended apart from injuries."Phil Kessel also has a shot at passing Jarvis, as the Arizona Coyotes forward has played 940 consecutive contests. Patrick Marleau sits at 910, but he remains unsigned this season. Andrew Cogliano was previously in the mix as well, but his streak ended at 830 when the NHL suspended him for two games in 2018.Yandle's run almost ended last January, when then-Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville nearly made him a healthy scratch before changing his mind. The rearguard scored in the game, and his streak remained intact even though the Panthers ultimately sat him during the playoffs.Jarvis intends to get in touch with Yandle to laud him for the achievement."I'd just say congratulations and well done," Jarvis said. "I'm really happy for him and the career he is having and it's great that he's basically been able to stay injury free through it."The Flyers signed Yandle to a one-year, $900,000 contract in July. The 35-year-old previously played for the Panthers, the New York Rangers, and the Arizona/Phoenix Coyotes.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL was originally supposed to take two weeks off for the Olympics at the start of February, but the league derailed those plans. Instead of Beijing, the sport's top players will head to Las Vegas during the weekend of February 4-6.As a result, we've got an extended edition of the weekly moneyline betting guide. The natural break - and the NHL's announcement about pulling back on the COVID-19 testing afterward - can give us a better idea of who's going to be in the lineup each night, and that will be a welcome change in a season that has frustrated bettors looking for roster certainty.The recipeBefore the campaign, we provided a three-chapter series on how to use the regular-season point-total market to create team ratings, how to interpret home-ice advantage, and how to use that information to create your own moneylines.Five weeks ago, we shared my 2021-22 campaign ratings, which use the metrics I deem important to predict future success. Considering all the lineup inconsistency across the league, I'll continue to rely on a 50-50 split between those ratings and the preseason priors via the regular-season point-total markets. This provides a more consistent base for assessing teams in the future rather than allowing mismatches generated by COVID-19 to pollute the numbers.The cheat sheetThe following includes my fair price on the games (true moneyline) and the moneyline price I would need to bet either side. I only need a 1% edge for a favorite if we're getting better than a fair price on the club more likely to win. For the underdog, I'll need 4% or better to make it a bet. For games I project to be closer to a coin flip, a 2.5% edge is enough for a worthwhile wager. I also have a 5% win probability consideration for a team playing in the second game of a back-to-back with travel and a 3% consideration for a side on the second leg of a back-to-back without travel.DATEGAMETRUE MLPRICE TO BETJan. 24VGK@WSH-105/+105VGK +106/WSH +116LAK@NYR+139/-139LAK +164/NYR -133DAL@PHI-101/+101DAL +109/PHI +112ANA@BOS+206/-206ANA +248/BOS -197MTL@MIN+166/-166MTL +198/MIN -159STL@CGY+144/-144STL +170/CGY -138CHI@COL+171/-171CHI +204/COL -164Jan. 25BUF@OTT+143/-143BUF +169/OTT -137ARI@PIT+206/-206ARI +249/PIT -197DAL@NJD+136/-136DAL +160/NJD -130VGK@CAR+122/-122VGK +143/CAR -117PHI@NYI+160/-160PHI +191/NYI -154FLA@WPG-119/+119FLA -114/WPG +140NSH@SEA-101/+101NSH +109/SEA +112EDM@VAN-105/+105EDM +105/VAN +116Jan. 26SJS@WSH+140/-140SJS +165/WSH -134ANA@TOR+198/-198ANA +238/TOR -189CGY@CBJ-116/+116CGY -112/CBJ +137CHI@DET+103/-103CHI +114/DET +107BOS@COL+127/-127BOS +149/COL -122Jan. 27NJD@TBL+163/-163NJD +194/TBL -156NYR@CBJ-107/+107NYR +103/CBJ +119CAR@OTT-124/+124CAR -119/OTT +146LAK@NYI+125/-125LAK +148/NYI -120SEA@PIT+143/-143SEA +169/PIT -137VGK@FLA+120/-120VGK +141/FLA -115ANA@MTL+143/-143ANA +169/MTL -137CGY@STL+133/-133CGY +157/STL -127VAN@WPG+122/-122VAN +144/WPG -117NSH@EDM+133/-133NSH +157/EDM -128Jan. 28MIN@NYR-134/+134MIN -129/NYR +158DET@PIT+183/-183DET +219/PIT -175COL@CHI-142/+142COL -136/CHI +168BOS@ARI-167/+167BOS -160/ARI +199WSH@DAL+102/-102WSH +113/DAL +108Jan. 29ANA@OTT+122/-122ANA +143/OTT -117LAK@PHI+108/-108LAK +119/PHI +102SEA@NYI+131/-131SEA +154/NYI -126WPG@STL+115/-115WPG +136/STL -111SJS@FLA+177/-177SJS +212/FLA -170TOR@DET-140/+140TOR -134/DET +165VGK@TBL+126/-126VGK +149/TBL -121NJD@CAR+127/-127NJD +150/CAR -122EDM@MTL-145/+145EDM -139/MTL +172BUF@ARI+108/-108BUF +119/ARI +103VAN@CGY+123/-123VAN +145/CGY -118Jan. 30SEA@NYR+145/-145SEA +171/NYR -139LAK@PIT+169/-169LAK +202/PIT -162SJS@CAR+134/-134SJS +158/CAR -129BOS@DAL+100/+100BOS +111/DAL +110CHI@STL+117/-117CHI +138/STL -112CBJ@MTL-104/+104CBJ +107/MTL +114MIN@NYI-116/+116MIN -112/NYI +137BUF@COL+342/-342BUF +437/COL -323Jan. 31FLA@CBJ-184/+184FLA -176/CBJ +220ANA@DET+128/-128ANA +151/DET -123VAN@CHI+134/-134VAN +158/CHI -128EDM@OTT-139/+139EDM -133/OTT +164Feb. 1WSH@PIT+109/-109WSH +121/PIT +101WPG@PHI+103/-103WPG +114/PHI +107SJS@TBL+188/-188SJS +225/TBL -179TOR@NJD-113/+113TOR -108/NJD +133SEA@BOS+162/-162SEA +193/BOS -155STL@MTL-114/+114STL -109/MTL +134FLA@NYR-115/+115FLA -111/NYR +136OTT@NYI+182/-182OTT +217/NYI -174VAN@NSH+143/-143VAN +169/NSH -137CGY@DAL+115/-115CGY +135/DAL -110ARI@COL+251/-251ARI +308/COL -239BUF@VGK+255/-255BUF +313/VGK -243Feb. 2EDM@WSH-127/+127EDM -122/WSH +149LAK@DET-102/+102LAK +109/DET +112MIN@CHI-126/+126MIN -121/CHI +149CGY@ARI-118/+118CGY -114/ARI +139Matt 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.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Teddy Blueger is expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured jaw, the team announced Monday.Blueger suffered the injury after taking a hit during the first period of Sunday's contest against the Winnipeg Jets.The 27-year-old has eight goals and nine assists in 40 games this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have hired player agent and former NCAA forward Emilie Castonguay as their new assistant general manager.Castonguay's now ex-clients include New York Rangers winger and 2020 first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere and Canadian star Marie-Philip Poulin, among others.The new Canucks executive is the first female assistant GM in franchise history. She became the NHLPA's first female certified agent in 2016 and was still the only woman in the role before Vancouver hired her."I think it's a historic day," Castonguay said after her hiring was announced. "It goes to show that women have a place in sports and in hockey. ... I've always had high aspirations in my career and in life in general, so we'll see where that takes me."Canucks general manager Jim Rutherford shed some light on Castonguay's role.

Almost exactly halfway through the season, the race for the Hart Trophy is wide open.Four players have at least 25 goals (none have more than 29), six have 50 points or more, and we're seeing one of the best goaltending seasons in a while.This race could go in a wide array of different directions, so let's break things down.PLAYERODDS (Jan. 24)ODDS (Oct. 8)Connor McDavid+200+200Alex Ovechkin+350+3500Leon Draisaitl+700+1600Jonathan Huberdeau+800+3500Auston Matthews+1200+950Nathan MacKinnon+1500+650Igor Shesterkin+2000+5000Jack Campbell+3000+10000Kirill Kaprizov+3000+3500Andrei Vasilevskiy+3000+2200Aleksander Barkov+3500+2500Artemi Panarin+4000+1600Brad Marchand+4000+2500Mikko Rantanen+4000+1900Kyle Connor+4000+3500Sidney Crosby+5000+3500David Pastrnak+5000+1600Adam Fox+5000+4000Victor Hedman+5000+5000Steven Stamkos+5000+5000Mitch Marner+5000+2500Cale Makar+5000+3000Mark Stone+5000+2500RisersAlex Ovechkin (+350)Nobody's stock has risen to the same extent as Ovechkin - and for good reason. The 36-year-old continues to elude Father Time, putting together one of his best seasons in a decade and jointly leading the league in goals and points. He has the Washington Capitals 11th in points percentage despite the team's overwhelming number of key absences to injury and COVID-19 throughout the season. Ovechkin's on pace for 113 points and perhaps some hardware to go with it. Should he finish anywhere close to those totals and bring the Capitals near the top of the league, he'll get more than a fair share of votes.Jonathan Huberdeau (+700)The Florida Panthers were everyone's favorite "sleeper" contender heading into the season, but I don't think anybody expected this. The Panthers are tied for first in wins and have scored more goals than any other team. Their depth has overwhelmed a lot of opponents but make no mistake: The stars are driving the bus. Perhaps none more so than Huberdeau, who averages an assist per game - yes, you read that correctly - and leads the powerhouse Florida in points by 21. He plays for a fantastic, star-studded team and is still lapping the field.Igor Shesterkin (+2000), Jack Campbell (+3000)It's very rare for a goaltender to win the Hart Trophy. In fact, only two have done so since Dominik Hasek in 1997-98. While that's unlikely to change this year, Shesterkin (+2000) and - to a lesser extent - Campbell (+3000) make it impossible to rule out. Shesterkin owns a sparkling 19-4-2 record and .936 save percentage for the surprising New York Rangers. They rank 22nd in expected goal share yet have continued to pile up wins on the back of Shesterkin's performances. Campbell hit a bit of a rut lately, but his numbers remain remarkably impressive. He's 19-6-3 on the season and has managed a .927 save percentage. Should these guys continue on their current paths, the position will get more consideration for a Hart Trophy than we generally see.FallersArtemi Panarin (+4000)It feels strange for a team exceeding expectations to have their best offensive player - who leads the roster in points per game - essentially fall out of contention for hardware. But that's the situation we're looking at here and it's easy to understand why: Panarin is on pace for just over 20 goals and is tied for 14th in points. Shesterkin is very clearly the Rangers' most important player. If the team sustains this kind of win pace, it's impossible to argue that Panarin is the best player on his own team - let alone NHL-wide.Mitch Marner (+5000)You can scratch Marner off the list entirely. He missed time with injury and isn't even averaging a point per game. Don't get me wrong, Marner is an awesome player. But Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Campbell, and, heck, even Morgan Rielly have probably played a larger role in the Maple Leafs' success this season.David Pastrnak (+5000)Pastrnak started the season in such miserable fashion that he took himself completely out of the conversation. Don't believe me? The Czech-born sniper has 13 points (10 goals) over his last eight games yet still finds himself averaging below a point per game and ranked 47th in points. Simply put, contending for the Hart this season is too big of a hill to climb.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.

Cam Talbot is ready to return to the crease.The Minnesota Wild goaltender will start against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night, head coach Dean Evason said after the morning skate, according to the Star-Tribune's Sarah McLellan.Talbot missed the last six games with an injury he sustained in Minnesota's Winter Classic loss to the St. Louis Blues at Target Field in Minneapolis on New Year's Day.Kaapo Kahkonen was dominant while starting every game for the Wild in his absence. The backup netminder went 5-0-1 with a .937 save percentage and allowed only 14 goals over the six contests.Talbot is 15-8-1 with a .909 save percentage in 24 games this season, but the 34-year-old has less flattering underlying numbers. He ranks fourth-worst in the NHL with minus-8.5 goals saved above expected at five-on-five to go along with minus-2.21 goals saved above average in the same situations, according to Evolving Hockey.Despite Talbot's less than stellar play, the Wild enter Monday's action with the NHL's eighth-best record by points percentage.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With seven games scheduled, we're in for an abnormally busy Monday night in the NHL.Let's dive into the best ways to take advantage of this slate.Blues (+120) @ Flames (-140)The Calgary Flames are playing some of the best hockey you'll see from a team with three wins in 10 games. They rank ninth in the NHL in expected goal share at five-on-five, just ahead of the Colorado Avalanche.Believe it or not, Calgary looks even better when factoring in special teams. Its xG share of 54.73% ranks seventh - again just ahead of Colorado.The Flames consistently get better chances than their opponents - they just fail to convert. Meanwhile, seemingly every good look they give up in the defensive zone ends up in the back of the net.Calgary ranks 28th in shooting percentage during this rough spell, sitting just below the likes of the Montreal Canadiens. Not great!They've also had .882 goaltending from Jacob Markstrom and Daniel Vladar who, prior to this rough patch, were one of the league's better goaltending tandems.This is all a long-winded way of saying the Flames are doing things that should lead to drastically better results than they're getting. Unless Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, and the team's top "non-stars" magically forgot how to produce offense and Markstrom has suddenly become a bottom-tier goaltender, we should expect the tide to turn sooner than later.Monday marks a sneaky good spot for that to happen. The Blues are playing their third road game in four nights against a Flames team that's played once since Jan. 18.St. Louis is quietly struggling to control the run of play at five-on-five (they sit 26th in xGF% over the last 10) and are fresh from allowing an extremely watered-down Vancouver Canucks team to win the xG battle 4.32-1.77.I think it's fair to assume the Flames can dictate play in this one. Back them to rebound.Bet: Flames inside regulation (+110)Golden Knights (+115) @ Capitals (-135)The Washington Capitals have been rather up and down of late - and understandably so.On top of having key forwards like T.J. Oshie in and out of the lineup, the team's defense has also been battered. John Carlson was recently sidelined due to a bout with COVID-19 while Dmitry Orlov had to sit two games following a suspension. Those absences made Washington's life a whole lot tougher at both ends of the ice.The good news is that Carlson and Orlov are expected back in this game, so the defense will be a lot more formidable. With last change also working in the team's favor, Washington can regularly get Alex Ovechkin and Co. out against Vegas' bottom-six forwards.I like the Capitals' chances of taking advantage of Vegas' depth - especially since it's thinned out due to no Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, or (likely) Max Pacioretty.Washington's weapons are also in a good spot against a struggling Robin Lehner. He owns a .886 save percentage at five-on-five since the beginning of December, slotting him 34th among 40 eligible netminders.Bet: Capitals (-135)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.

Veteran defenseman P.K. Subban didn't speak about his New Jersey Devils' 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night.Instead, he spoke candidly about racism just one day after his younger brother, Jordan, tweeted out that an opposing player, Jacob Panetta, directed a racist gesture toward him during an ECHL game.That incident occurred just one day after the AHL suspended Krystof Hrabik for 30 games for directing a racist gesture at player Boko Imama, who is Black."It keeps happening. So we can look at one incident and talk about it all we want, but tomorrow there may be another one. The next day, there may be another one," Subban told reporters.The 32-year-old said Jordan is doing fine and noted that moving on from troubling experiences is the status quo for P.K. and his family. As part of a Black hockey family, P.K. wants to do his part to eliminate racism from the sport."This is life for people that look like me that have gone through the game of hockey. And that's a part of the history, whether we like it or not," Subban said. "We're trying to change that. I'm an advocate to change that. To do that, we gotta bring people together, and hopefully, this is another step in doing that."He added, "Fortunately, (Jordan's) name was Subban on the back of the jersey, and he's got an older brother in the league who cares about him and loves him and wants to see the league move in the right direction and wants to do whatever he has to do to help the league move in the right direction."Subban noted he has the support of fellow players, his organization, and the NHL, and he's looking forward to partaking in the league's Black History Month initiatives in February while aiming to create lasting change."I think that we can take this and turn it into a positive with actionable items," he said. "But we can't glaze over this and think this is just a misunderstanding. It's not."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruce Boudreau became the 29th bench boss in NHL history to coach 1,000 games Sunday night versus the St. Louis Blues.For the Vancouver Canucks head coach, it's a dream come true."It's all I ever wanted to do, was be involved in hockey," Boudreau said prior to the milestone, according to TSN. "It's taken a lot of winding roads. I still pinch myself about where it's at, at this stage."I'm in awe with the fact that it's my 1,000th game here."The Canucks honored him with a video tribute prior to the contest.