The NHL and NHLPA agreed to pause the 2021-22 season from Dec. 22 to Dec. 25, the league announced Monday night.Teams must suspend all operations and will not practice or be tested during those days. Facilities will be reopened Dec. 26 at 2 p.m. local time.Tuesday's games between the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers and the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights will go on as scheduled pending test results, according to Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.There were already no games scheduled for Dec. 26. A hefty 14-game slate is currently on the docket for Dec. 27.Upon returning from the holiday break, no individual from the team's traveling party can enter facilities other than for testing purposes until they test negative.The pause is the NHL's latest attempt at halting the spread of COVID-19. With a handful of teams already shutting down operations until Dec. 27, the league postponed 12 cross-border games that were originally scheduled to run from Dec. 20-23.Five games were still scheduled to be played on Dec. 23, bringing the total number of games shelved to 49, according to Seravalli. Forty-four of the postponements came in the past seven days. All games on Dec. 22 were already postponed.A desire to maintain a competitive balance across the league also reportedly factored into the pause, as some teams have been more affected by COVID-19 than others.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jack Eichel sweepstakes are far behind us now, with the Vegas Golden Knights being the eventual victor of the months-long saga. Trade rumors swirled for weeks up until the center was sent to Sin City in early November, and among the teams reportedly interested were the Anaheim Ducks.However, it doesn't appear the Sabres and Ducks were close to a deal, as Buffalo wanted a massive package for the 2015 second overall pick, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman."I heard what the Sabres asked Anaheim for was (Trevor) Zegras, (Jamie) Drysdale, and two first-rounders. Anaheim wasn't willing to do that," Friedman said on Monday's edition of "32 Thoughts."The Sabres ultimately pried forward Alex Tuch, prospect Peyton Krebs, a top-10-protected first-rounder in 2022, and a 2023 second-rounder away from the Golden Knights in exchange for Eichel.Friedman also noted that he doesn't know if Anaheim's doctors were ever comfortable with allowing Eichel to undergo his preferred artificial disc replacement surgery to replace the herniated disc in his neck, but since the Ducks were in on Eichel early, their thoughts on the procedure could have changed over time.Zegras, 20, has already made headlines in his young career thanks to his creativity in the offensive zone. The forward went viral earlier in December after pulling off a ridiculous lacrosse-style assist to teammate Sonny Milano. Zegras has 38 points in 54 games.Drysdale was taken sixth overall by the Ducks in 2020. The 19-year-old blue-liner has the potential to be a top two-way defenseman. He's accrued 22 points in 56 career contests and has averaged the third-most ice time among all Ducks skaters this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings have recalled blue-chip prospect forwards Quinton Byfield and Alex Turcotte, the team announced Monday.The pair had been playing with the AHL's Ontario Reign before getting a shot with the big club.Byfield, the second overall pick in 2020, has been sidelined for the majority of the 2021-22 campaign due to a fractured ankle suffered in October. He's gone pointless in four games with the Reign since returning to the ice.Los Angeles drafted Turcotte with the fifth pick in 2019. He's recorded 31 points in 50 career games in the minors and has yet to make his NHL debut.The Kings' next game is scheduled for Thursday versus the Vegas Golden Knights, but the NHL has postponed dozens of games over the past week as COVID-19 cases soar across the league.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL continues to try to power through its COVID-19 issues. While there is only one game scheduled tonight, I still see value on the board.Let's comb through it.Wild (-105) @ Stars (-115)The Wild are one of the better teams in the NHL, ranking third in goals scored at five-on-five and seventh in goals for percentage. That's not a far cry from where they deserve to be, as they sit 11th in expected goals for percentage.That may not seem that good, but it's worth noting Minnesota has dealt with a lot of absences this season due to COVID-19 and injuries. Now, the team is fully healthy and ready to make a run.The Stars are a good team playing some of their best hockey as of late, but I don't think Dallas has the high-end talent - or depth - to match the Wild.I like Minnesota to snap out of a three-game losing skid and head into the holiday break on a high note.Bet: Wild (-105)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Brett Connolly has been suspended four games for his hit on Dallas Stars forward Tanner Kero, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Sunday.Connolly hammered Kero into the boards even though the Stars forward never touched the puck. Connolly was handed an interference major and a game misconduct on the play.Kero had to be stretchered off the ice. He was conscious, alert, and responsive afterward. Kero was hospitalized as a precaution.This marks the first time Connolly has been suspended or fined in his 11-year NHL career.Stars veteran Joe Pavelski got emotional postgame speaking about his injured teammate.

The NHL postponed a dozen games originally scheduled from Dec. 20-23 "due to the concern about cross-border travel and given the fluid nature of federal travel restrictions."All matchups featuring a Canada-based club versus an American team during that span will take place at a later date.Here are the games that the league will reschedule:DateAwayHomeDec. 20Montreal CanadiensNew York IslandersDec. 20Anaheim DucksEdmonton OilersDec. 21St. Louis BluesOttawa SenatorsDec. 21Vancouver CanucksSan Jose SharksDec. 22CanadiensNew York RangersDec. 22Winnipeg JetsDallas StarsDec. 22OilersLos Angeles KingsDec. 23BluesToronto Maple LeafsDec. 23Carolina HurricanesSenatorsDec. 23CanadiensNew Jersey DevilsDec. 23DucksCanucksDec. 23OilersSharksThe NHL also said Sunday that its regular-season schedule will continue aside from those postponements, and a decision on the league's Olympic participation is expected "in the coming days."Shortly after the NHL revealed its cross-border decision Sunday, the league also confirmed the Detroit Red Wings are holding off on playing through at least Dec. 26. Detroit had two games scheduled in that span - a home date against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday and a road clash with the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.A rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in both countries has already forced five clubs to shut down temporarily and two more to halt play this weekend. On Friday, the NHL postponed all Calgary Flames, Avalanche, and Florida Panthers games until at least Dec. 27. On Saturday, the league added the Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators to that list while putting the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks on pause through Sunday.The NHL's holiday break will run from Dec. 24-26.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets have placed captain Blake Wheeler on long-term injured reserve, the team announced Sunday.The 35-year-old forward hasn't played since suffering an apparent leg injury on Dec. 10 versus the Vancouver Canucks.Then-Jets head coach Paul Maurice said at the time that Wheeler would be out "a while," but he didn't give an exact timeline.Wheeler has 17 points in 22 games during his 12th season with the Jets.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Tuch will make his Buffalo Sabres debut Monday versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, head coach Don Granato announced Sunday, according to team writer Jourdon LaBarber.Tuch, 25, was a key piece of the November trade that sent former Sabres captain Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights. He hasn't played this season while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.The native of Syracuse, New York, grew up a Sabres fan, and his first game with the club will be in Buffalo."He's ready to go. He's as excited as anybody I've seen to play a game - because it's here. Because he's putting that jersey on," Granato said.Originally a first-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2014, Tuch joined Vegas in the expansion draft and posted 139 points in 249 games with the franchise.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Brett Connolly will have a hearing for interference after his hit on Dallas Stars forward Tanner Kero on Saturday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Sunday.Officials handed Connolly a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct after he plowed into Kero near the boards early in the first period. Kero laid on the ice while the Stars' medical staff attended to him, and they eventually took him off on a stretcher.Dallas later said Kero was conscious, alert, and responsive. He'll be hospitalized as a precaution and for further evaluation.Stars forward Joe Pavelski fought back tears postgame while discussing his teammate.

After his New Jersey Devils dropped a fifth straight game, head coach Lindy Ruff said it's on him to right the ship."The same things happen to our club over and over, ill-advised mistakes that turn into goals against," Ruff said after losing 5-2 to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, according to team reporter Amanda Stein. "Careless decisions with the puck that turn into goals against."He added: "All that's on me. That's my responsibility. The way this team plays is my responsibility."The Devils have dropped nine of their last 10 contests to fall to 10-14-5 this season. After missing the playoffs for the last three campaigns, many expected New Jersey to be more competitive in 2021-22.While Ruff did take plenty of the blame for the team's recent performance, he also didn't hesitate to call out some of his players."Our top (forwards) are the ones that hurt us," Ruff said. "I thought our bottom forwards gave us a good night - (they were) great on the kill, scored the first goal, shorthanded goal, all the good stuff. Our top guys have to be harder to play against."He continued: "They have to be harder on the puck. They have to win more battles. They have to create more odd-numbered situations themselves, speed, drive in the middle. All those little things add up by the end of the game."The Devils were missing a number of players Saturday, including Jesper Bratt, P.K. Subban, Nico Hischier, and Ryan Graves, as well as goaltenders Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier.However, New Jersey has been outscored 44-23 over the past 10 games. Bratt leads the team with 24 points in 28 games, while Andreas Johnsson ranks second with 19 in 29 contests.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators have been shut down until the Christmas break ends on Dec. 27, the NHL announced Saturday.Additionally, The Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks will not play this weekend due to COVID-19 outbreaks.Here's a look at each team's impacted games:TeamDateOpponentMaple LeafsDec. 18CanucksMaple LeafsDec. 19KrakenCanucksDec. 19CoyotesBruinsDec. 18CanadiensBruinsDec. 19SenatorsBruinsDec. 21HurricanesBruinsDec. 23AvalanchePredatorsDec. 19HurricanesPredatorsDec. 21JetsPredatorsDec. 23PanthersThe Maple Leafs, Canucks, Bruins, and Predators each have at least four players in COVID protocol.The virus is currently surging across the NHL. The league already shut down the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, and Florida Panthers on Friday due to outbreaks.As of Friday, there are no known plans to halt the season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Malcolm Subban isn't sure how he made that glove stop against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night, either.Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues seemingly had the netminder dead-to-rights in the first period when Subban slid across the crease to make an incredible behind-the-back save, which the officials confirmed upon review."Honestly, I didn't even know it happened. I thought someone hit my glove or something," Subban said, according to NHL.com's Heather Engel.He added: "I went to the bench and (goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen) asked if I got that with my glove. I was like, 'Oh, I don't know, maybe it hit the post and hit my glove. ...' Then I saw the replay, and it was a pretty lucky save."When asked what his left hand was doing behind him on the sequence, the 27-year-old said, "I honestly don't know. I think it's a bad habit, but it turned out to be a good thing," per Wes Crosby of NHL.com.Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan was also in awe of Subban's stop."We all thought it was in the net. It was an incredible save," he said, according to Penguins beat reporter Michelle Crechiolo. "(Rodrigues) was talking to himself on the bench, he thought it was in the net also."Subban made 45 saves in Buffalo's 3-2 overtime loss to the Penguins. It was his second appearance as a Sabre this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An emotional Friday for the Winnipeg Jets started with the resignation of longtime bench boss Paul Maurice and culminated in a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.But for Jets sniper Nikolaj Ehlers, saying goodbye to the only NHL head coach he's ever played for was particularly difficult."It was a weird morning," Ehlers told the media postgame. "(Maurice) was the guy who gave me the chance to play in the NHL. I'll be forever thankful for the seven years and all the things that I learned from him, and for the chance that he gave me."He's not just a great coach but also a great person."Ehlers, who the Jets drafted ninth overall in 2014, had played under Maurice since making his NHL debut in 2015-16. Maurice announced his decision to step down Friday after coaching Winnipeg for 600 games since 2014.However, Friday wasn't just emotional for the players."It's been a whirlwind," interim bench boss Dave Lowry said prior to coaching his first NHL game, according to Mitchell Clinton of NHL.com. "For myself, it came out of the blue. I first had a conversation last night with (general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff), that was the first I had any inkling that something was going on."Although the team dropped its first game under Lowry, Ehlers said the Jets are looking forward to what's next."We've got a great coaching staff here that we want to build this together (with)," he said. "We gotta look forward now. I know that, with this team, we've got more in us than where we're at right now. Even though right now it's a little tough, it should be exciting for us as well."Lowry said he wants the Jets to play fast and hard moving forward. However, Ehlers said following Friday's contest that there wasn't much time for Lowry to implement those changes due to the sudden resignation.The Jets are currently in fifth place in the Central Division with a record of 13-11-5.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Spezza's suspension has been reduced to four games, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Friday.The Toronto Maple Leafs veteran was initially handed a six-game ban for kneeing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk. Although Spezza was deemed eligible to play in Toronto's Saturday game versus the Vancouver Canucks, he was added to the league's COVID-19 protocol late Friday.Spezza had an in-person hearing for his hit and then appealed the league's decision. He has no prior suspensions in his 19-year career, which played a factor in Bettman's decision."In the unusual circumstances presented here, I believe that the conduct at issue was a serious, but isolated, aberration from Mr. Spezza’s consistent style of play over nearly two decades and that a four-game suspension is sufficient to ensure that the conduct will not be repeated," Bettman wrote in a statement.Before Spezza retaliated, Pionk kneed Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin, resulting in a two-game suspension of his own. Pionk entered concussion protocol and missed three games in total before returning to the Jets' lineup.Spezza has notched seven goals and four assists in 26 games for Toronto this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs placed veteran forwards Jason Spezza and Wayne Simmonds in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol, the team announced Friday.The club also placed captain John Tavares and forward Alexander Kerfoot in protocol earlier Friday.The Maple Leafs recalled forward Alex Steeves and defenseman Carl Dahlstrom from the AHL's Toronto Marlies.The team canceled Friday's practice for precautionary reasons, and all players and staff will undergo additional testing. Toronto is scheduled to take on the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.Spezza was set to return to the team's lineup after getting his suspension reduced from six games to four on Friday. He has seven goals and four assists in 26 games this season, while Simmonds has four goals and six assists in 29 contests.Tavares has recorded 32 points in 29 games this season, while Kerfoot's posted 16 points in 30 contests. The pair have been deployed together on Toronto's second line alongside William Nylander for much of the campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We split our shot totals on Thursday night. Max Pacioretty posted his lowest shot total of the season, but, luckily, Joel Eriksson Ek came through for us.We now sit at 76-61 (+13.56 units), heading into the weekend.Jason Zucker over 2.5 shots on goal (+105)Jason Zucker let us down last time out, but we're going right back to the well tonight. Zucker has been a consistent shot generator at home. He is just one shot back of Evan Rodrigues for the Penguins' team lead on home soil and has recorded at least three in 10 of the 14 games in Pittsburgh.With an implied chance of 48.8%, there's a big edge in backing Zucker to go over the number, even more so when you factor in the top-tier spot he finds himself in.On the road, the Sabres are dead-last in shots on goal against (per 60) at five-on-five this season. There are no personnel reasons to expect much improvement, especially in the latter half of a back-to-back.Roope Hintz over 2.5 shots on goal (+115)Roope Hintz has been one of our favorite targets all season. While he’s done his best work at home, he has at least three shots in 15 of his last 21 games and should benefit from a sneaky good matchup against St. Louis.The Blues are typically a strong defensive team, but COVID-19 and injuries have taken some important players out of the lineup, and their numbers are trending downward as a result. At five-on-five, St. Louis ranks 28th in shots against per 60 over its last 10 games.The Blues are giving up a substantial volume of shots, and Hintz is arguably the best bet to take advantage of that.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, and Florida Panthers games have been postponed until at least Dec. 27, the NHL announced Friday.All three teams are dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks. Cases across the league have risen substantially over the past two weeks.Here's a look at the affected games on each team's schedule:TeamDateOpponentFlamesDec. 21DucksFlamesDec. 23KrakenAvalancheDec. 18LightningAvalancheDec. 20Red WingsAvalancheDec. 22SabresAvalancheDec. 23BruinsPanthersDec. 18WildPanthersDec. 21BlackhawksPanthersDec. 23PredatorsThe Flames have already had three games postponed this week. All three teams are tentatively scheduled to play their respective contests when the league returns from its Christmas break on Dec. 27.As of right now, the NHL isn't planning a league-wide shutdown, reports Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.Saturday's clash between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens was also called off, and capacity limits have been implemented in some Canadian markets as the league navigates the increase of COVID-19 cases.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been a good week for our best bets. We're entering the weekend with a 5-1 record, and a blown lead late in the third period contributed to our lone loss.Let's keep the train rolling.Golden Knights (-120) @ Rangers (+100)

Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is in COVID-19 protocol, the team announced Friday.He's the third Oilers player put on the list this week, joining Devin Shore and Ryan McLeod. Head coach Dave Tippett is also in the protocol.Nugent-Hopkins played nearly 20 minutes in Edmonton's victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. The 28-year-old has recorded 25 points in 28 contests this season.The Oilers' next game comes Saturday versus the Seattle Kraken.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Paul Maurice has resigned as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, the team announced Friday.Assistant coach Dave Lowry will take over duties on an interim basis. Winnipeg is 13-10-5 this season.Maurice told reporters Friday morning it was his decision to step down."This is a good team, I'm a good coach ... But sometimes you can only push so far," Maurice said, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. "Sometimes a team needs a new voice. They haven't quit on me but need a different voice. It's the right time for it, and I know that.""I love these guys. I love this place. I know that it's time, and that's a good thing for the Jets. It's also a really, really good thing for me," Maurice added, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.Maurice signed a three-year extension in 2020 worth $3 million per season, according to CapFriendly.The 54-year-old took over as Jets head coach in 2014. He's overseen 600 games for the franchise, accumulating a 315-223-62 record and five postseason appearances.Maurice ranks sixth in NHL history with 775 victories. He broke into the league with the Hartford Whalers in 1995 and stuck with the franchise when they became the Carolina Hurricanes, until 2003-04. Maurice then spent two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and had a second stint with Carolina before landing with the Jets.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has postponed Saturday's marquee matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins, the league announced Friday.A makeup date hasn't been confirmed, but the Canadiens are scheduled to play on Dec. 20 versus the New York Islanders. Montreal played at home Thursday without fans due to rising COVID-19 cases.The Bruins are dealing with an ongoing outbreak that's sidelined superstars Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, among others. Boston could only dress 17 skaters in its loss to the Isles on Thursday.The NHL has postponed several games in recent weeks as there has been an increase in players landing in COVID-19 protocol.The Bruins haven't visited Montreal since November 2019. The longtime archrivals met once this season in Boston, with the home side taking a 5-2 victory.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse language.Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault believes the New Jersey Devils could've avoided the brouhaha that occurred between the two clubs at the end of Thursday night's game.With 25 seconds left in the game and the Golden Knights leading 5-3, Devils head coach Lindy Ruff lined up 6-foot-4, 227-pound defenseman Mason Geertsen at forward for the ensuing faceoff.Here's what went down:Geertsen and Vegas captain Alex Pietrangelo started the skirmish, leading to lots of pushing, shoving, and grabbing. Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner swung his stick at a New Jersey player who appeared ready to scrap. Lehner, Pietrangelo, and Geertsen were all handed 10-minute misconducts."I think it was some bullshit. (Ruff) was probably just mad that Jack Hughes got hit there and nothing happened in the moment," Marchessault said, referring to Zach Whitecloud's open-ice hit on the Devils phenom earlier in the contest:

Even at just 29 years old, Tyler Seguin is aware he isn't the same player he used to be.The Dallas Stars center was limited to just three games last season after undergoing a hip arthroscopy and labral repair in November 2020 and a knee scope one month later. He said in May that he basically had to rebuild his entire quad muscle.The injuries appear to have caught up to Seguin, as he's recorded just seven goals and four assists in 26 games this year. The 34-point pace would mark his worst NHL campaign since he was a 19-year-old rookie with the Boston Bruins in 2010-11."Sometimes, you get a little frustrated not having the same kind of game I have in the past," Seguin said, according to The Dallas Morning News' Matthew DeFranks. "Some things that used to click in my head and the opportunities I would get, I haven’t really seen this year."Seguin isn't generating the chances he used to, with his shots and individual expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five both plummeting to career lows, according to Natural Stat Trick.Knowing his limitations, the veteran forward is trying to find new ways to be productive."That’s all I know how to do, is when things aren’t going a certain way, it’s 'Okay, let’s grease it up. Let things go off you. Go to those dirty areas,'" he said. "I’m still trying to find that balance of muck-and-grinder and finding that fluid style to my game that I’ve had."The grind mentality should be music to the ears of head coach Rick Bowness, who was highly critical of some of his players during Tuesday's loss to the St. Louis Blues.Bowness understands Seguin is still getting back up to speed."Through time, it’ll come back to where it was," Bowness said. "It’s not there yet. He just has to keep working hard in the gym and he has to keep pushing his pace in practice."The injuries' impact has served as a harsh reality check for Seguin."I’ve had people close to me tell me it could take a little bit just to get it all back," he said. "I didn’t believe them, and I still haven’t fully until the last week or two."Seguin is Dallas' highest-paid player, and he's signed through 2026-27 with an annual cap hit of $9.85 million, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are trying out a new moniker in the locker room."We kinda joke, you know, 'we're the Tampa Bay Find-A-Ways,'" captain Steven Stamkos said after Thursday's 2-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. "We just find a way to win and find a way to get points. Just munch them away until we can get healthy. It's certainly been a great run."The start of the 2021-22 season hasn't been smooth sailing for Stamkos' squad. Nikita Kucherov played just three regular-season games before being dealt another long-term injury; young phenom Brayden Point played in 16 contests before being sidelined by an upper-body ailment.Despite all of that, the Lightning sit at the top of their division with a record of 19-6-4. Since Nov. 21, the first game the Lightning were without both Kucherov and Point, the team has gone 10-2-1.Stamkos said the Bolts miss Kucherov and Point the most on the power play."We have guys that are capable of making plays, but we have to be realistic here. You're talking about probably the best power-play guy in the world in (Kucherov) and one of the best shooters from the hole ... in (Point)," he said. "No one's gonna replace those guys. It's gotta be by committee. It's gotta be guys willing to get out of their comfort zone a little bit."The 31-year-old pointed to defenseman Victor Hedman as someone who has stepped up on the man advantage. The Swede scored the game-winner on the power play against the Senators on Thursday night.The Lightning will take on the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens played Thursday night's 3-2 shootout victory against the Philadelphia Flyers behind closed doorsThe announcement that fans wouldn't be permitted to attend the contest came just two hours before puck drop.The Canadiens said they received a request from Quebec public health officials to host Thursday's contest without fans due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the province. The organization will provide an update Friday on the status of Saturday's game against the Boston Bruins.Fans who had tickets to the game will be contacted directly by the ticket office.The organization is planning to return to partial capacity beginning in January."Playing tonight's game in a closed setting is obviously disappointing for our fans," the team wrote in a statement that was released during the game."We moved forward with the measure following a request from Public Health ... something we accepted in order to help ensure the safety and security of our fans and our communities."The Bell Centre was granted to operate at full capacity before the start of the regular season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Count Nashville Predators forward Nick Cousins among those in favor of pausing the NHL season until after Christmas amid a league-wide COVID-19 outbreak.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors will prioritize season-ticket holders as they reduce capacity to comply with the Ontario government's new restrictions, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment announced Thursday.All non-season tickets for games through mid-January will be refunded, and people will be notified of refund details in the coming days. People with Raptors season seats will be informed of ticket allocation details Thursday, while those with Leafs season seats will find out by Tuesday.Each team's season-ticket holders will be divided into two groups and will receive tickets for alternating games, starting with the Raptors' matchup against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.The Maple Leafs' next home game is Thursday against the St. Louis Blues.MLSE said that ticket allocation for season seats will be determined randomly and that members will be contacted again in January with allocation details for upcoming games based on public health restrictions.The move comes one day after the province announced that sports venues with capacity for 1,000 or more people would be limited to 50% capacity starting Saturday due to rising COVID-19 cases.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have a full slate of games on the docket Thursday and you know what that means: shot props!We're 75-60 on the year for +14.01 units. Let's comb through the value and try to build on that with today's best bets.Joel Eriksson Ek over 2.5 shots on goal (-135)Joel Eriksson Ek is scorching hot. The Minnesota Wild forward has recorded at least three shots on goal in eight consecutive games and is averaging 4.2 shots on target over his last five.He draws a mouth-watering matchup Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, who have struggled to limit shots all season, especially on the road. The Sabres are allowing 35.09 shots on goal per 60 minutes of five-on-five play away from home. That ranks them last in the NHL.Look for Eriksson Ek to stay hot and capitalize on an advantageous matchup.Max Pacioretty over 3.5 shots on goal (-145)This might seem like a hefty price to lay for over 3.5 shots. For a lot of guys, I'd agree. However, Max Pacioretty is definitely an exception.Pacioretty is off to an absolutely insane start to the campaign with the Vegas Golden Knights. He's recorded 62 shots through just 11 contests, good for an average of 5.6 per game.Unsurprisingly, he has been a god when it comes to going over the number, with at least four shots in nine of his 11 appearances. He ended up at three the two times he failed to go over the number.That means he's hit the over 82% of the time and was just one shot away when he fell short.Pacioretty is a legitimate threat to hit four each and every night. I don't think the New Jersey Devils - losers in 12 of their last 15 games - are going to change that.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe believes top defenseman Morgan Rielly has developed into a more well-rounded player this season.The veteran rearguard has seen an uptick in penalty-kill assignments, and Keefe thinks Rielly is starting to thrive defensively."Confident. Reliable on both sides of the puck. I think he's got more to offer us here offensively, and it's on us to as a team to get him engaged more, get more happening on the rush where he can get involved. But he's defended really well," Keefe said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.Keefe continued, "The defensive ability that he's added here on both five-on-five and the penalty kill has really come a long way - and he's really embraced that. We're just seeing a more complete version of Morgan."Rielly, viewed as an offense-first blue-liner for much of his career, has kept his production up this season. The 27-year-old has 26 points in 30 games, good for fourth among NHL defensemen. He's notched 22 points in 22 contests since signing a monster eight-year, $60-million contract extension in October."He's an elite defenseman in the league, and I think elite defensemen in the league should be contributing to your team in all facets. That's a really important thing," Keefe said.Toronto drafted Rielly fifth overall in 2012. He's recorded 331 points in 602 games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Our best bets are firing on all cylinders as we're 4-0 on sides and totals on the week.Let's get into our picks for tonight's busy 10-game slate.Bruins (+100) @ Islanders (-120)It's not every day you back a team on track for 65 points - as favorites, no less - against a perennial playoff side playing at a near 100-point pace.But the New York Islanders are slowly starting to play better. They've picked up points in five of their last seven games and their expected goals for percentage is just below 50%. While that's nothing to write home about, it's a step in the right direction.Now they're at home against a Boston Bruins team that's been decimated by COVID-19. The Bruins are top-heavy at the best of times so playing without three top-six forwards - Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and Craig Smith - will be absolutely crushing.The Islanders have their own issues - Mathew Barzal is also in COVID protocol - but their much healthier lineup is certainly capable of beating a team running Jack Studnicka, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic, and Tomas Nosek down the middle.Look for a desperate New York team to take advantage of a golden opportunity.Bet: Islanders (-120)Flyers (-140) @ Canadiens (+120)Don't look now, but the Philadelphia Flyers have won three consecutive games. They've controlled nearly 54% of the expected goals at five-on-five over that time, a sign that the wins aren't just smoke and mirrors.I like the Flyers to extend their winning streak to four tonight, but this play is more about fading the Montreal Canadiens.The Canadiens rank dead last in expected goals against per 60 over their last 10 games. They get caved in each and every night and continue bleeding quality chances.Given Montreal's abundance of injuries, there isn't much reason to expect anything different in the immediate future.I don't like Cayden Primeau's chances of masking the team's issues. He owns an .883 save percentage through eight NHL appearances and has lost all six games that weren't against the Ottawa Senators, who've been rebuilding since he first played in the league.Philadelphia seems poised to score in bulk, which should allow it to get things done within 60 minutes.Bet: Flyers inside regulation (+105)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames placed forward Dillon Dube and defenseman Oliver Kylington in COVID-19 protocol Thursday, the team announced.One support staff member was added to the list as well. Calgary placed 17 members of the organization into protocol on Wednesday and six on Monday this week. The only Flames players not currently in the protocol are Matthew Tkachuk, Mikael Backlund, and Blake Coleman.All Calgary games through Saturday have been postponed. The league will provide an update on changes to the Flames' schedule next week.Calgary sits second in the Pacific Division with a 15-7-6 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks and Kyle Beach reached a settlement in Beach's negligence lawsuit against the club, according to TSN's Rick Westhead."The parties are pleased to announce that today's mediation resulted in a confidential settlement between the Blackhawks and Kyle Beach," said a joint statement released by Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz, team CEO Danny Wirtz, and Beach's lawyer, Susan Loggans. "The Blackhawks hope that this resolution will bring some measure of peace and closure for Mr. Beach."As for the Blackhawks organization, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that, going forward, this team will be a beacon for professionalism, respect, and integrity in our community. We remain grateful for the trust and support of the Blackhawks community, and we promise to continue working every day to earn and maintain that trust."Beach said that former Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him in 2010 during Chicago's Stanley Cup Final run when Beach was a Black Ace for the team.He said Blackhawks executives were told about the incident and didn't immediately act upon the information. An independent investigation, which concluded with a detailed report from law firm Jenner & Block in October, determined that senior leaders at minimum knew about allegations of sexual misconduct against Aldrich, did not act immediately, and later allowed him to resign without an investigation.In the wake of the report, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman stepped down and vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac left the organization. Additionally, Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville resigned. They all held positions with the Blackhawks in 2010.Aldrich's name has since been crossed off the Stanley Cup.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom made his season debut Wednesday night following an offseason hip injury.The 34-year-old centered Washington's second line in his return and played over 18 minutes in the Capitals' 5-4 overtime loss against the Chicago Blackhawks. He assisted on Alex Ovechkin's momentous power-play marker in the second period, which tied Ovechkin with Dave Andreychuk for the most power-play goals in NHL history.Backstrom began the 2021-22 campaign on long-term injured reserve. The Capitals activated him from the injured non-roster list earlier Wednesday.Backstrom notched 53 points in 55 games last season. The Capitals have fared well without the veteran playmaker, sitting atop the Metropolitan Division through 29 contests.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NHL's regular season roughly one-third complete, it's as good a time as any to try and separate the contenders from the pretenders.We avoided teams widely viewed as Stanley Cup favorites - the Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, and Colorado Avalanche - and are instead focusing on six clubs that appear to be causing a divide among fans and analysts.All six have tantalizing strengths but also question marks that could ultimately be their undoing.New York RangersRecord: 18-7-3 (.696 PTS%)

New Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations and interim general manager Jim Rutherford hasn't even been in the front office for a week, but he's already making moves to fill out his staff.Rutherford has hired Calgary Flames pro scout Derek Clancey as assistant general manager, the team announced Wednesday."We are building a front office with people with a variety of backgrounds," Rutherford said. "Derek has excellent experience and has played an important role on three Stanley Cup-winning teams. He will be a key member of our leadership team as we create a progressive, collaborative hockey operations group that can support our team and players at all levels."Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported earlier Wednesday that Clancey was on Rutherford's radar to fill one of Vancouver's three potential assistant general manager openings.Rutherford and Clancey worked together for the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017.Clancey, who the organization hired in 2007 as a pro scout, spent 15 years in Pittsburgh. As the Penguins' general manager, Rutherford went on to promote Clancey to director of player personnel in 2019.Rutherford resigned as Pittsburgh's GM in January following a seven-year stint. Clancey left the Penguins shortly afterward, and the Flames hired the 52-year-old Newfoundland native as a pro scout this past summer.The Canucks still have more roles to fill as Rutherford leads the search for a permanent GM. Once the franchise sorts its executive staff out, the plan is for all three assistant general managers to have their own unique role and background, according to Seravalli. The trio would then report to the GM while working under Rutherford's guidance and mentorship.Vancouver cleaned house earlier this month, firing head coach Travis Green, assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner, assistant general manager John Weisbrod, and general manager Jim Benning amidst a poor start to the season.The team seemingly has new life under new head coach Bruce Boudreau, boasting a spotless 5-0-0 record to begin his tenure.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ontario government is implementing 50% capacity limits for sporting events beginning Saturday to combat the spread of COVID-19.The NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, as well as the NBA's Toronto Raptors, are the teams currently affected by the changes. Ontario is the first NHL or NBA jurisdiction to implement capacity limits this season.Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Maple Leafs and Raptors, said it'll provide details to all impacted ticketholders within 24 hours.There will also be a stricter mask mandate in Toronto's Scotiabank Arena beginning Saturday. Guests will be required to comply with all mask-wearing protocols or risk ejection.The Senators announced they'll soon contact ticketholders likely to be affected by the capacity reduction. They added that season seat members won't be impacted by the changes."I know this will be tough, but it's an important step in ensuring we slow the spread of Omicron as we urgently accelerate boosters because, as I said earlier, it's all hands on deck," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday, per CP24's Bryann Aguilar.The NHL and NBA have both seen outbreaks among players and staff in recent weeks. The Senators had three games postponed due to COVID-19 protocols in November.The Raptors played in Florida last season due to border closures, while the Maple Leafs and Senators held their shortened 2021 campaign with no fans.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks winger Kevin Labanc will undergo surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder, head coach Bob Boughner announced Wednesday, according to NBC Sports' Sheng Peng.The timeline for Labanc's procedure is approximately three months, per Peng. He's scheduled to have the surgery early next week, according to Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News.San Jose will, for now, place Labanc on injured reserve instead of long-term injured reserve, Peng adds.Labanc suffered the injury during Saturday's contest against the Dallas Stars after being hit by defenseman Jani Hakanpaa, per Pashelka.The 26-year-old has struggled so far this campaign, putting up just six points in 21 games. He was a healthy scratch for the Sharks earlier this month.Labanc is currently in the second season of a four-year, $18.9-million deal. He has 65 goals and 118 assists in 360 career NHL games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We started the week off right, successfully backing the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings to pick up wins against the New York teams on home ice.We'll look to build on that with our best bets for tonight's three-game slate.Rangers (-230) @ Coyotes (+190)The Rangers aren't as great as their 18-7-3 record would have you believe. Their numbers are trending upward, but they've controlled only 46.96% of the expected goals at five-on-five this season. That slots them 26th in the NHL, sandwiched between the Sabres and Flyers.New York looks even worse in terms of scoring chances. The club's minus-124 at five-on-five and their share of 45.02% is 29th in the NHL.Essentially, lights out goaltending from Igor Shesterkin - and a strong power play - has led to the team's success. There's no harm in that; there are different ways to win games.But Shesterkin is out of the mix right now. The Rangers can't rely on Alexander Georgiev or Keith Kinkaid to provide anywhere close to the level of goaltending Shesterkin has given them.That makes it harder to win on any given night, especially when fatigue is such a big factor. Wednesday's contest will be New York's sixth game in nine nights.Meanwhile, the Coyotes have been off since Saturday and have played just one road contest this month. They're well-rested and have enjoyed the comfort of playing a string of home games.I'm not backing Arizona to win, but I like its chances of keeping this game close. So long as Shesterkin doesn't make a surprise return, I'd back the Coyotes on the puck line.Bet: Coyotes +1.5 goals (-135)Kraken (+140) @ Ducks (-160)We haven't picked against the Kraken all that often, but we're making an exception in this game.Seattle isn't playing good hockey right now. The team's posted a 43.16 xGF% over the last 10 games, which puts them 29th in the NHL.The Kraken's low share of the xG stems from their inability to create opportunities. At five-on-five, they rank 31st in generating high-danger chances per 60 minutes and 32nd in expected goals.Now they find themselves playing their second road game in as many nights and against a solid Ducks team that ranks 11th in xGF% over the last 10 contests.Despite John Gibson's absence, Anaheim looks to have a clear edge in goal. Anthony Stolarz has stopped 2.9 shots above expectation through nine games.Seattle's projected starter Philipp Grubauer sits at minus-19.1 through 22 contests - quite the contrast.Back the Ducks to get it done within 60 minutes.Bet: Ducks in regulation (-105)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron is in COVID-19 protocol, the team announced Wednesday.Teammates Brad Marchand and Craig Smith were already added to the list Tuesday, alongside 16 players from other NHL teams.The league has faced a concerning uptick of outbreaks over the last few days, forcing some of this week's games to be postponed.Bergeron has notched 23 points in 25 games this season. The Bruins' next game is on Thursday versus the New York Islanders.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Throughout December, we’re writing stories about records, spotlighting a fresh or overlooked angle behind sports' biggest milestone chases. Read Part 1 about Steph Curry.On Jan. 13, 2006, Alex Ovechkin received a pass on the move against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. At his opponent's left faceoff dot, he wired a wrister through two sets of legs - those of the backtracking defenseman and goalie J.S. Giguere - to seal a hat trick in style. This was his 30th career NHL goal and first in overtime.On Jan. 24, 1986, Wayne Gretzky dispossessed a New Jersey Devils winger and skated with speed into the offensive zone. Down 6-4 earlier in the game, the Edmonton Oilers prevailed 7-6 on Gretzky's snipe past Craig Billington. This was his 466th NHL goal - and first in OT.Ovechkin is 144 goals shy of Gretzky's all-time record haul. By lighting the lamp 20 times this season, the Washington Capitals captain is on track to pass Jaromir Jagr before the February Olympic break. If he continues at this pace, he'll leapfrog Gordie Howe early next season.Pursuing Gretzky will headline the stretch run of Ovechkin's career. So, here's a subplot to think about in the meantime: when he retires, how many more goals than Gretzky will he have potted in overtime? John McCreary, Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesThe scoreline is 24-2; Ovi's league-record total dwarfs Gretzky's output in the extra frame. The fourth period existed for 16 of Gretzky's 20 NHL seasons, yet OT goals account for a minuscule 0.22% of his hallowed career sum. Ovechkin has scored twice in OT against Frederik Andersen alone.Gretzky's peers were more productive in overtime. Mario Lemieux racked up 11 career OT goals; Mark Messier notched eight; Jari Kurri scored seven; Paul MacLean recorded six in 768 fewer games.This aberration doesn't exactly mar the Great One's legacy. But it's shaped the record chase, morphing into a meaningful edge for Ovechkin as he gets closer to 894.So what's going on here? Why is Ovechkin far more prolific in OT?"I think there are probably three reasons," said Randy Gregg, a retired Oilers defenseman who played with Gretzky in the 1980s.The first reason: despite scoring a ton, Gretzky was a pass-first player, as reflected by his record 1,963 assists. The second: Ovechkin's ice time spikes in OT - the Oilers were able to spell Gretzky by playing Messier, history's best No. 2 center. The third: when Gretzky did skate in the clutch, he tended to magnetize the opponent's attention."You'd have to key on the best player in the history of the game," Gregg said in a recent interview. "During the really tense times, either overtime or deep in the playoffs, Wayne would have one or two or three players on him." Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesIn 1942, at the outset of the Original Six era, the NHL nixed overtime due to reductions on wartime train travel; to head home postgame, visiting teams had to get to the station pronto. Tie games ended as such for four decades, until the president of the Quebec Nordiques, Marcel Aubut, convinced the league's board of governors in 1983 that reinstating sudden death would excite fans.OT was back, but other quirks of the era curbed Gretzky's opportunities to score.One was his squad's firepower, which normalized blowout wins. Between 1983-84 and 1987-88, Gretzky's Oilers won more games by four-plus goals (78) than they settled in OT (65), per Stathead. Edmonton won 17 of those OT games, lost eight, and tied 40. Since Ovechkin's NHL debut, the Capitals have played 314 OT periods, netting a winner in 92 of them. Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesThe OT format differed in Gretzky's day. Extra frames were played at five-on-five and no loser point was awarded. Valuing the point that a deadlock guaranteed, most coaches seemed content to play it safe."They were happy with ties after 60 minutes and they were happy with ties after 65 minutes," retired NHL goalie Andy Moog, Gretzky and Gregg's longtime Oilers teammate, told theScore recently."There wasn't any change in strategy. You didn't go for it to get the extra point."OT changed to four-on-four in 1999, when the loser point was introduced. Ovechkin scored 15 goals in this configuration and has tallied nine since 2015, when skaters were capped at three-a-side. OT periods now devolve into a track meet or cat-and-mouse affair, as the team with the puck tries to maintain control until it can create a prime scoring chance."If you're going to have one shot on net in overtime, who would you want to have it?" Gregg said. "Alex Ovechkin comes to mind."Gretzky's overtime heroics were scarce but dramatic.One night in 1983, Gretzky put up eight points in New Jersey and called the Devils a "Mickey Mouse organization" that was ruining the NHL. He apologized for that jab but salted the wound in the 1986 game, stripping Doug Sulliman of the puck in OT to spring himself for the game-winner."In my opinion, it was a hook," Billington said postgame to reporters, including United Press International's Tom Shand. "But we're the New Jersey Devils and they're the Oilers and he's Wayne Gretzky." Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesGretzky's other OT goal was poetic. On Oct. 15, 1989, he returned to Edmonton with the Los Angeles Kings and broke Howe's career points record. Gretzky's record-setting 1,851st point was a backhand goal that tied the score in the last minute of the third period. The game paused for him to greet Howe, hug Messier, and deliver a speech. When it resumed, he beat Bill Ranford in OT on a wraparound.Then there was playoff Gretzky, who scored four overtime goals. His first - against the Kings in 1982 - won Edmonton the game that preceded the Miracle on Manchester. Gretzky's fourth - against the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1993 - capped a power play on which he high-sticked Doug Gilmour and got away with it.Somehow, Ovechkin has never scored in playoff OT. That blemish aside, his resume is vast and colorful. Rob Carr / Getty ImagesHis 2006 snipe against the Atlanta Thrashers, which tickled twine six seconds after puck drop in OT, completed a hat trick and tied the NHL mark for fastest OT goal. Against the Detroit Red Wings in 2017, Ovechkin's power-play blast from the left dot raised the OT goals record to 20. His 24th and most recent, a wrister off the rush last January that beat the Boston Bruins, tied him with Mike Gartner for eighth on the career goals list.The fact Ovechkin's gaining fast on 894 is "almost inconceivable" to Gregg. The record chase is a tribute to his transcendence. At the same time, it jogs Gregg's memory of everything that made Gretzky superb, which includes his playmaking and unselfishness. Credit where it's due: Gretzky only scored twice in regular-season OT, but he doled out 15 assists."All you had to do was get into an opening," said Gregg, who scored once in overtime, off a Gretzky assist in 1987."Somehow, with his old piece of lumber - the Titan stick that was about 400 pounds, it seemed like - he could get the puck through sticks, through skates, through legs. And not just to you, but right on your tape, flat as anything."Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers head coach Dave Tippett has been placed in COVID protocol, the team announced Tuesday.The veteran bench boss tested positive for the virus, associate coach Jim Playfair said postgame. That means he'll miss a minimum of 10 days.Tippett was not behind the bench on Tuesday for the team's 5-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs due to precautionary reasons.Playfair added he'll run the defense and assistant coach Glen Gulutzan will run the forwards in Tippett's absence.Oilers forward Ryan McLeod was one of 18 NHL players added to COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday.Tippett is in his third season as coach of the Oilers. He led the team to a 16-10-0 record heading into Tuesday's game.The Oilers activated defenseman Duncan Keith off injured reserve. He hadn't played since Nov. 23 due to an upper-body injury.Rookie blue-liner Philip Broberg was loaned to the AHL in a corresponding move.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A total of 18 players from across the NHL were placed on the league's COVID-19 protocol list Tuesday.The Boston Bruins added forward Brad Marchand to the protocol, the team announced.The New York Islanders announced forward Mathew Barzal also entered the protocol.Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes placed Ian Cole, Steven Lorentz, Jordan Staal, and Andrei Svechnikov in the protocol after all four tested positive. The surge in cases prompted the postponement of Tuesday night's contest against the Minnesota Wild. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis were placed in protocol Monday.Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews, Bruins forward Craig Smith, Florida Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg, Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan McLeod, Vancouver Canucks players Luke Schenn, Juho Lammikko, Brad Hunt, and Tucker Poolman, and Calgary Flames players Milan Lucic, Noah Hanifin, and Sean Monahan were all put on the list earlier Tuesday.Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost exited in the first period against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. Interim head coach Mike Yeo revealed postgame that Frost had to be removed due to COVID-19 protocol, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Giana Han.Like Frost, Vancouver defenseman Poolman was pulled midgame against the Columbus Blue Jackets.The Flames are seemingly in the midst of an outbreak as nine of their players have been placed in the protocol since Monday. The club last played against the Bruins on Saturday night. The NHL has so far postponed three of Calgary's games through Dec. 16.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Team USA has revealed its 25-man roster for the upcoming 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship in Alberta.The roster boasts a powerful blue line that features three players - Jake Sanderson, Brock Faber, and Tyler Kleven - who helped Team USA beat Team Canada for the gold medal last tournament, as well as 2021 fourth overall pick Luke Hughes.Six first-round picks from 2020 and 2021 will feature for the defending champs, including forwards Matty Beniers, Mackie Samoskevich, Matt Coronato, and Chaz Lucius, as well as Sanderson and Hughes.Logan Cooley, 17, will also play for the U.S. as the youngest skater on the team. He projects to be a first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.However, not a single player on Team USA has suited up for an NHL game. Fellow contender Team Canada, by comparison, boasts a trio of skaters who've played in the NHL this season.Here's the full roster:*Denotes returning playerForwardsPlayerCurrent teamNHL rightsMatty Beniers*Michigan (NCAA)SEABrett Berard*Providence (NCAA)NYRLogan CooleyUSNTDP Juniors (USHL)2022 eligibleMatt CoronatoHarvard (NCAA)CGYTanner DickinsonSault Ste. Marie (OHL)STLDominic JamesMinnesota Duluth (NCAA)2022 eligibleMatthew KniesMinnesota (NCAA)TORChaz LuciusMinnesota (NCAA)WPGCarter MazurDenver (NCAA)DETSasha PastujovGuelph (OHL)ANAMackie SamoskevichMichigan (NCAA)FLARed SavageMiami (Ohio) (NCAA)DETLandon Slaggert*Notre Dame (NCAA)CHITy SmilanicQuinnipiac (NCAA)FLADefensePlayerCurrent teamNHL rightsBrock Faber*Minnesota (NCAA)LAKLuke HughesMichigan (NCAA)NJDWyatt KaiserMinnesota Duluth (NCAA)CHITyler Kleven*North Dakota (NCAA)OTTIan MooreHarvard (NCAA)ANAScott MorrowMassachusetts (NCAA)CARJack PeartSt. Cloud (NCAA)MINJake Sanderson*North Dakota (NCAA)OTTGoaliesPlayerCurrent teamNHL rightsDrew CommessoBoston (NCAA)CHIKaidan MberekoLincoln (USHL)2022 eligibleDylan SilversteinUSNTDP Juniors (USHL)2022 eligibleForwards Declan McDonnell and Dylan Peterson, defensemen Connor Kelley and Jacob Truscott, and goalie Luke Pavicich didn't make the final cuts.Since 2013, either Canada, the United States, or Finland has claimed the gold medal. The U.S. has won it five times and medaled 13 times total.Team USA will face Slovakia in its first preliminary matchup Dec. 26.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We started the week without any hockey. The league had just one game scheduled for Monday, and, unfortunately, COVID-19 nixed the contest.Luckily, we're going to get our fill - and then some - tonight as the NHL ramps back up with a 12-game slate.Let's get into our best bets.Rangers (+160) @ Avalanche (-180)COVID-19 and injuries have decimated the Avalanche's roster. However, you wouldn't know it as they continue to chug along like they're at full health.Colorado owns a 7-2-1 record over its last 10 contests and has scored more goals (48) in that time than any team in the league. The Avalanche continue to fill the net and win games regardless of who's in the lineup.I like their chances of continuing that trend at home against the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin remains sidelined, which means Alexander Georgiev gets the nod in goal. That's problematic.While Georgiev has performed a little better of late, he still ranks near the bottom in goals saved above average per start - ahead of only Kevin Lankinen, Jonas Johansson, and Philipp Grubauer. On average, Georgiev is costing the Rangers 0.60 goals each game.The Avalanche will undoubtedly generate a lot of chances, as they always do. And I don't like Georgiev's odds of making the saves he should, let alone out-performing expectation.Bet: Avalanche inside regulation (-120)Islanders (-115) @ Red Wings (-105)The Red Wings have gone ice cold of late, losing three consecutive games by at least three goals.Meanwhile, the Islanders won two of three and picked up at least a point in five of their last six contests. Back those trends to continue, right? I don't think so.New York remains lifeless offensively. The Islanders are generating just 2.15 xG per 60 at five-on-five over the last 10 games. That's a brutal number, and now they're expected to be without their best weapon in Mathew Barzal. Detroit isn't stout defensively, but it should limit New York in this game, especially with Alex Nedeljkovic between the pipes.Nedeljkovic has stopped 4.3 goals above expectation this year. He's a clear upgrade over Thomas Greiss, who owns a minus-4.2 in that category.I just don't see the Islanders scoring more than a couple of goals in this game. I'm happy to back the Wings on home ice - where they're 9-3-2 - at near even money.Bet: Red Wings (-105)Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tuesday night's contest between the Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild is postponed due to four more Hurricanes players testing positive for COVID-19, the Hurricanes confirmed.Since Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis entered the league's protocol Monday, Ian Cole, Steven Lorentz, Jordan Staal, and Andrei Svechnikov tested positive for the virus, Carolina announced.Including the Hurricanes' latest results, 15 NHL players have entered the league's COVID-19 protocol Tuesday.Tuesday's matchup is the ninth game this season that's been postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, and Calgary Flames have all had contests called off.The Flames are dealing with a current outbreak as well, with nine players and one staff member in the protocol.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We have an enormous 13-game slate on the docket tonight. Combing through all the games and finding value is a large task under normal circumstances. With COVID-19 running rampant through the NHL, there's even more to factor into the equation.Let's get into our best bets.Sam Bennett over 3.5 shots on goal (-115)Sam Bennett is an absolute monster. He's averaging seven shot attempts and 4.2 shots on goal per game over the last 10 contests, and he's recorded at least three shots in nine of those games.Bennett is also significantly more productive on home ice. He's averaging 4.3 shots at home - compared to just three on the road - and Aleksander Barkov is out again with an injury, which means more opportunities for Bennett.Not to mention, the matchup is extremely good. The Ottawa Senators rank dead last in shot attempts against per 60 minutes at five-on-five. The same can be said on the penalty kill.The Senators bleed shots in all situations, and Bennett is one of the game's best volume shooters. He should be able to pile up the shots in this game.Jason Zucker over 2.5 shots on goal (+105)Jason Zucker, like Bennett, is somebody who benefits greatly from playing at home. He's recorded at least three shots on goal in 10 of his last 12 games in Pittsburgh and amassed 38 shots (3.16 per) over that span.He's consistently getting the job done regardless of opponent. Now, he draws one of the best matchups you could ask for against the Montreal Canadiens.The Canadiens are paper-thin right now due to injuries, and that's really hurt their defensive play. They rank 30th in shot attempts against per 60 minutes at five-on-five over their last 10 games, while only the Philadelphia Flyers have allowed opponents to fire pucks on net at a higher rate.This is a really good spot for Zucker to stay hot.Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars assigned goaltender Anton Khudobin to the AHL after he cleared waivers Tuesday, according to The Dallas Morning News' Matthew DeFranks.Khudobin last appeared in a contest Nov. 18 when he allowed seven goals against the Minnesota Wild. General manager Jim Nill said Dallas waived Khudobin because he needs to see game action and the club needs a roster spot due to injuries.The 35-year-old has one year left on his contract after this season with a $3.33-million cap hit. Khudobin's struggled in the seven contests he's played in so far in 2021-22, managing an .873 save percentage and 3.73 goals against average.Teams have expressed interest in Khudobin but would likely prefer to make a trade so that the Stars can retain salary or take a contract back, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.With Ben Bishop officially announcing his retirement, veteran Braden Holtby and youngster Jake Oettinger will share the Stars' crease for the time being.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin was named GM of the 2022 U.S. men's Olympic hockey team, USA Hockey announced Tuesday.New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury was tabbed as assistant GM.Ex-Chicago Blackhawks executive Stan Bowman was originally chosen to be GM with Guerin serving as an assistant, but Bowman resigned in October amid the Blackhawks' sexual assault scandal.Guerin said 55 NHL players are being considered for the team, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. Guerin added that he's been in touch with Jack Eichel's agent about the center's availability and won't rule him out.It remains unclear if NHL players will go to Beijing in February due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the league and around the world. Commissioner Gary Bettman said last week that the decision will ultimately rest in the players' hands.It's been reported that players could face quarantine periods of three-to-five weeks if they test positive while in China, which has increased the uncertainty surrounding NHL participation.Guerin has served as Wild general manager since 2019. He won consecutive Stanley Cups as an assistant GM with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin and forwards Milan Lucic and Sean Monahan have entered the NHL's COVID-19 protocol, the team announced Tuesday.The Flames now have nine players in protocol in addition to one staff member. The league has announced that it's postponed the club's next three games through at least Dec. 16.Calgary added Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson, Adam Ruzicka, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov to the list on Monday. The NHL decided to cancel the team's contests out of precaution due to potentially lengthy quarantine requirements upon returning to Canada after a two-game road trip to the U.S.The Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders are the only two other clubs in the NHL to have games postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks so far this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.