Connor McDavid's pursuit of 100 points during a 56-game season could become one of the most prominent subplots of the NHL's stretch run, and Wayne Gretzky believes the Edmonton Oilers star is capable of reaching and possibly exceeding that mark."It wouldn't surprise me if he gets more than 100 points," The Great One told Sportsnet's Mark Spector. "Just to show people he's capable of doing it."McDavid is a virtual lock for the Art Ross Trophy while leading the NHL in scoring by 12, and he needs 23 points over his final 11 contests to hit the century mark. That would give him a 1.79 points-per-game average, a pace only nine other players have matched over a 56-game span, according to Spector.Gretzky, of course, is on the list after finishing with that average 11 times. However, he believes McDavid's efforts are more impressive given the difference in eras."What he's doing is once in a generation, and what he's doing today is a lot tougher than I did," Gretzky said. "Although I'm proud of what I accomplished, all the things we did, these players today are coached differently, the equipment is better, they're coached different."It's tougher to play. I'm the first guy to tell you that."McDavid continues his pursuit Monday versus the Winnipeg Jets.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenseman Riley Stillman to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $1.35 million, the team announced Sunday.Stillman, 23, was set to become a restricted free agent this offseason.The Blackhawks acquired the 6-foot-1 blue-liner from the Florida Panthers in April. He's appeared in six games for Chicago, registering 16 hits while averaging 16:43 of ice time.Originally selected by Florida in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, Stillman has notched five assists over 49 NHL contests.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Spezza is helping to ensure Toronto Marlies players get paid.Spezza led an initiative in which a group of Toronto Maple Leafs players pooled together money to make a contribution to their AHL counterparts."I have to give Spezz a lot of credit on this one," captain John Tavares said when asked about the contribution, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "He kind of brought it to the forefront from the leadership standpoint, and the leadership group thought it was really important."I think we know - society as a whole, but certainly in our game - how tough a year it is for so many. So, within the organization, we wanted to make sure we try to take care of our own."The 37-year-old Spezza is on a league-minimum contract this season but has totaled nearly $89 million in career earnings, according to CapFriendly.An AHL player's minimum salary for the 2020-21 campaign is $51,000, per the league's CBA. However, due to a shortened season and minimal gate revenue, players' salaries have been reduced by 52%.Head coach Sheldon Keefe had high praise for his club's actions."It just, first of all, speaks to the character of our group, but I think it also just speaks to the recognition of the fact, through this pandemic, people in all walks of life are going through some tough times, and the hockey business as well at different levels," Keefe said."If you're a guy playing on an AHL contract, it's a challenge to get through this period," Keefe continued. "I don't know a whole lot about it, but not surprised that our players have the character that they do and step up."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zdeno Chara joined some elite company on Saturday.The Washington Capitals blue-liner became the fifth defenseman in NHL history to reach the 1,600-game mark.

Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle played his 915th consecutive game Saturday night when he suited up against the Carolina Hurricanes. In doing so, he now stands alone with the second-longest ironman streak in NHL history.The veteran blue-liner eclipsed Garry Unger's mark of 914, which he tied Thursday. Doug Jarvis holds the record at 964.Here's the top five all time:PlayerConsecutive gamesDoug Jarvis964Keith Yandle*915Garry Unger914Patrick Marleau*900Phil Kessel*891*Active playerYandle hasn't missed a game since the 2008-09 season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin's ascent up the NHL's all-time goals list is on hold for now.The Washington Capitals star is sitting out Saturday's game against the New York Islanders due to a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day, the Capitals announced.This is the first game Ovechkin is missing due to injury since March 5, 2015, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. Ovechkin didn't play in four contests earlier this campaign while on the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list.The 35-year-old sat out his final shift of the third period, as well as overtime and the shootout, during Thursday night's win over the Islanders.Ovechkin ranks sixth all time with 730 goals and trails Marcel Dionne by one.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby joined some historic company in the NHL record books during Saturday's 4-2 win over the New Jersey Devils.Crosby notched his 55th point of the 2020-21 campaign with an empty net goal, officially clinching his 16th straight point per game season. Only Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky have managed more seasons with a point per game pace, with 17 and 19, respectively, the team announced.Crosby also joins Gretzky as the only players in NHL history to start their careers with 16-plus consecutive point per game campaigns.Crosby currently ranks fifth in points per game among players who have played at least 700 contests.RankPlayerGPP/GP1Wayne Gretzky14871.922Mario Lemieux9151.883Mike Bossy7521.504Marcel Dionne13481.315Sidney Crosby10311.28With the goal during Saturday's contest, Crosby also broke a tie with Lemieux and teammate Evgeni Malkin to become the first player in Penguins history to record 20-plus goals in 13 different seasons, according to NHL PR."He's a generational talent ... he’s in such elite company," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "He’s building a real compelling argument for being one of the greatest players of all time. We believe he is, but with each milestone he reaches it just provides hard evidence."The 33-year-old has recorded 20 goals and 35 assists in 47 games this season. In 1,031 career games, he's amassed 482 goals and 836 assists while capturing three Stanley Cup victories, two Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies, and two Hart Trophies.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian will be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, head coach Dave Tippett announced Saturday.The bruising right wing suffered the injury early during Wednesday's contest against the Montreal Canadiens when he went to lay a hit on defenseman Shea Weber. Kassian previously missed 17 games earlier in the season due to an upper-body injury.Kassian has amassed two goals and three assists in 27 games this campaign. The 30-year-old ranks third on the Oilers with 13.68 hits per 60 minutes while averaging 11:51 minutes of ice time per game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens played as scheduled Friday evening after the Flames canceled their morning skate due to one player receiving a positive COVID-19 test.Calgary forward Josh Leivo was added to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list Friday afternoon, per Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The NHL recently rescheduled 13 North Division games after the Vancouver Canucks paused their season due to a coronavirus outbreak. The division is now scheduled to play until May 19.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

American women's hockey stars Hilary Knight and Kendall Coyne Schofield aren't impressed with the IIHF's failure to implement a contingency plan following the cancellation of the 2021 world championship.The IIHF and the Nova Scotia government nixed the tournament Wednesday due to COVID-19 concerns, just weeks before it was scheduled to take place May 6-16 in Halifax and Truro."The cancellation of the women's world championship at the last minute this week was just another reminder that women's hockey continues to be treated as an afterthought," Knight wrote in a statement Friday.She continued: "The health and safety of the people of Nova Scotia is, and must be, the top priority. However, to cancel this critical event so close to its start - with some teams en route to the site to begin an eight-day quarantine process - and provide no other option is incredibly disappointing."Coyne Schofield shared similar sentiments."To learn that there was no contingency plan and the IIHF is letting 250 of the best players in the world return to their homes today with, 'We are seeking new dates,' is simply unacceptable," she stated Thursday.The IIHF and Hockey Canada said in a joint statement after the cancelation that they aim to stage the event "in the summer of 2021." The possibility of moving the event from Nova Scotia is on the table.IIHF president Rene Fasel said the organization didn't have a safety net in place because there didn't appear to be a need for one."As both the IIHF and Hockey Canada had assurances that this event was going to proceed a few days before the cancellation announcement, this news was completely unexpected," Fasel said, per The Canadian Press.The 2020 women's world championship was also canceled due to the pandemic.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Wayne Simmonds isn't buying the idea that his team has played dirty against the Winnipeg Jets lately."Every time we've played them, they've tried to run us out of the building to start games," Simmonds said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "We come back, and we're physical, and now we're a dirty team? I don't buy that. We're defending ourselves."The NHL handed Leafs veteran Joe Thornton a $3,017.24 fine earlier Friday for an interference penalty on Jets forward Mathieu Perreault during Thursday's contest. Thornton was given a two-minute penalty on the play.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Zach Bogosian will miss at least four weeks with a shoulder injury, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Friday, according to TSN's Mark Masters.Bogosian suffered the injury during Tuesday's 6-3 loss against the Vancouver Canucks after falling awkwardly into the corner boards.With the defender out of the lineup, the Leafs' defensive pairings looked like this at Friday's practice with Rasmus Sandin stepping in:

Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg will miss the next four-to-six months after undergoing successful surgery for femoroacetabular impingement and to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, the team announced Friday.Silfverberg had apparently been playing through the issue for the past two campaigns."Jakob is a great teammate and leader in our locker room," general manager Bob Murray said."He did everything he could to continue playing, but after two years dealing with this issue, now is the right time to help him get to 100 percent. He has been an impactful player in all situations for us, and we are confident he will return to full health by next season."The 30-year-old recorded eight goals and eight assists in 47 games this season. The Ducks inked him to a five-year, $26.25 million contract in 2019.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Punk rock isn't supposed to be about the money, but a beloved Seattle bar is looking to be heavily compensated in a clash with the NHL's newest franchise.The Kraken Bar & Lounge filed a lawsuit Thursday in King County Superior Court alleging trademark infringement and tortious interference, according to the Seattle Times' Geoff Baker. The establishment, which opened in 2011, is seeking $3.5 million and says the Seattle Kraken hockey club has irreparably damaged its brand.At issue is the team name itself, as well as the fact the NHL organization plans to open a restaurant called the Kraken Bar & Grill at its practice facility this fall. The latter was the final straw for the existing bar's owners, according to Baker. Their lawsuit said they had put up with the team name amid numerous new customers showing up in hockey apparel, in contrast to the bar's typical music crowd."That The Kraken Bar would or should become a ‘hockey bar’ or a sports bar of any kind was anathema to The Kraken Bar and its regular patrons," the lawsuit reads, according to Baker. "The Kraken Bar’s regular patrons frequented the bar precisely because it was a dive bar, associated with affordable food and drinks as well as cutting edge live music performances by well-known punk and metal bands."The existing establishment wants the team to be prevented from using the Kraken moniker and any additional names that could be mistaken for its own trademarks. The bar owners also claim the team's newly planned restaurant "is sure to ruin The Kraken Bar and its near decade-old, cherished image and reputation as one of Seattle’s last dive bars," according to the lawsuit.The team revealed its name and logo in July 2020. The squad will take shape during an expansion draft on July 21, and is scheduled to begin play in the 2021-22 season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin will miss the remainder of the season due to an upper-body injury, the team announced Friday.Larkin joins a slew of forwards including Tyler Bertuzzi, Frans Nielsen, and Bobby Ryan who have also already been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.Detroit has seven games remaining on its schedule and currently sits in seventh place in the Central Division with a 17-25-7 record.Larkin, 24, recorded nine goals and added 14 assists in 44 games this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We've been stuck in the mud since Monday's sweep, splitting the rest of the week to sit 123-113 (+7.41 units) on the season heading into the weekend.It's time for a final push as we enter the last couple of weeks of the regular season.Canadiens (-110) @ Flames (-110)

The Minnesota Wild and forward Ryan Hartman agreed to a three-year extension carrying an annual cap hit of $1.7 million, the club announced Thursday.Hartman has registered six goals and 12 assists in 40 games this season while averaging a career-high 14:48 of ice time per contest. His 37-point pace over 82 games would be a personal best.The 26-year-old spent the bulk of his career as a winger until 2020-21. He's spent a large portion of this season playing center.Hartman was set to become a restricted free agent at season's end, according to CapFriendly. The Wild now have three pending RFAs remaining: Kirill Kaprizov, Kevin Fiala, and Joel Eriksson Ek.Minnesota projects to have nearly $21 million in cap space, since pending UFAs Marcus Johansson, Nick Bonino, Nick Bjugstad, Ian Cole are slated to come off the books.The Chicago Blackhawks selected Hartman 30th overall at the 2013 NHL Draft. The Wild signed him as a UFA in 2019.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Elvis Merzlikins is ready to leave the building - and the 2020-21 campaign behind him.The Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender spoke candidly about his team's struggles and the effect it's having on him following a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night."I think we played good. Only thing, I'm tired. I'm tired of losing the game. I know we are trying but this is getting embarrassing," Merzlikins said postgame.

The NHL and the players' association want a decision from the International Olympic Committee regarding the league's participation in the 2022 winter games by the end of next month, TSN's Frank Seravalli said on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading.""The NHL, NHLPA, and the IIHF are putting a little bit of heat on the IOC. They've set a late-May deadline to get an answer from the IOC on things like a financial commitment for the 2022 Olympics because they need to set their schedule," Seravalli said. "The NHL schedule for next season is usually announced in June and they need to know whether they're gonna have a three-week break for the NHL players to go to the Olympics."The problem is, this isn't exactly priority No. 1 for the IOC at the moment. They're trying to get this summer's Olympics in Tokyo off the ground before they can then handle what's left with the NHL."The NHL and NHLPA agreed to Olympic participation in 2022 and 2026 as part of a modified collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified in 2020 prior to the league's return to play. Some details - including finances and travel insurance, among others - still need to be ironed out by the league and IOC before NHL players can officially participate.NHLers weren't sent to PyeongChang in 2018, ending a run of five straight Olympics featuring the world's best.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Newly acquired forward Nick Foligno made his debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets on the team's top line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner."Might as well jump right in, right?" Foligno said Thursday about starting with the duo, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.With the addition of Foligno, the Leafs' lines looked like this during their morning skate Thursday:

Arizona Coyotes forward Conor Garland is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, the team announced Thursday.Garland suffered the injury during practice Tuesday, according to Jose M. Romero of AZCentral.com. He subsequently missed Wednesday's contest against the Minnesota Wild.The 25-year-old has been one of the Coyotes' most productive players this season, recording 10 goals and 22 assists in 45 games. He's tied for second on the team in points.Arizona currently sits fourth in the West Division with a 20-22-5 record. The St. Louis Blues trail by one point but have four games in hand.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner says the NHL isn't fulfilling promises made to players about loosening restrictions once they're vaccinated against COVID-19."At some point, we gotta start looking at the mental health of people around us. Not just (the) NHL, but everyone in society and see how can we start getting back to normalcy," Lehner told reporters Wednesday. "Because the problem is gonna be huge, but being lied to us about things changing, to kind of force us to take the vaccine. Unacceptable."And to now when we have taken the vaccine to have the excuse of saying, 'Nah, we're not changing because of competitive advantage.' It's outrageous."Lehner says the NBA was used as an example of how the NHL would ease restrictions for players who get vaccinated. In March, the NBA and NBPA agreed that restrictions would loosen for players who get fully vaccinated, including not needing to quarantine after coming into direct contact with someone who tests positive and being allowed to leave their hotels on the road.The netminder said the league is waiting for more teams to get vaccinated so that restrictions aren't unfairly lifted for some clubs and not others, leading to a competitive-balance issue."That made me go crazy, to be honest. ... We are humans as everyone else," Lehner said. "So, there's a two-fold problem for me here. The first one is we get promised something to take something that not necessarily everyone wanted, so that was a lie, a blatant lie.""No one thinks about the mental impact, and there are people struggling," he added. "I know people will say, 'Oh, you're millionaires, this and that, you're crying, what about these guys.' We care about that too, man. No matter what people think, this is a society problem. But when government, corporations, NHL, whoever, are taking decisions in terms of these irrelevant things like a competitive edge over the human being, it's not OK, man."Lehner took to Twitter shortly after speaking to the media to clarify his comments, saying his main point is about remembering the mental health of players.

The Vegas Golden Knights beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Wednesday night, becoming the first team this season to punch its postseason ticket.

The NHL hopes to begin the 2021-22 campaign on Oct. 12, the league said Wednesday during virtual general manager meetings, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.That would be about a week later than the start of a normal season. The date is contingent on no further delays this campaign, LeBrun added.Training camps would reportedly open on Sept. 22 if all goes according to plan.The Seattle Kraken, the NHL's 32nd franchise, are set to play in 2021-22.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carter Hart needs a bit more time before he can return from injury, but his head coach isn't worried about the ailment being a long-term issue."I'm not concerned at all," Philadelphia Flyers bench boss Alain Vigneault said Wednesday. "It's a mild sprain to his knee. It's just taken a few more days than we anticipated. He's had (doctors) look at it, he'd had the MRI, there's nothing serious."Vigneault added that Hart won't travel with the team to New York, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. The Flyers will play the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday and Friday before returning home to host the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.Hart has missed the club's last two games.The 22-year-old has been arguably the NHL's worst netminder this season, posting a 9-11-5 record and a .877 save percentage. He's authored the league's worst goals saved above average (minus-22.99) and goals saved above expected (minus-24.45) in 2021, according to Evolving Hockey.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2021 Women's World Hockey Championship has been canceled after Nova Scotia's provincial government determined the tournament could not proceed as scheduled due to COVID-19 safety concerns, the IIHF announced Wednesday.The tournament was set to take place May 6-16 in Halifax and Truro. The IIHF and Hockey Canada said in a joint statement that they are aiming to stage the event "in the summer of 2021."“In the end, we must accept the decision of the government," the two governing bodies said. "This does not mean that we will not have a Women's World Championship in 2021."We owe it to every single player that was looking forward to getting back on the ice after such a difficult year that we do everything possible to ensure this tournament can be moved to new dates and played this year."The IIHF and Hockey Canada pushed the tourney to May from its original target dates of April 7-17 in March.This is the second consecutive year the tournament has been called off because of the coronavirus. Halifax and Truro were also the intended host cities for the 2020 women's worlds, but the event was canceled last March.The number of COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia has been relatively low throughout the pandemic, but rising totals prompted the provincial government to close its borders to seven other provinces Tuesday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs veteran netminder David Rittich took ownership of the team's 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night."I'm taking full responsibility for this game," Rittich said postgame. "I think the players did a great job. They got three goals for me and I just didn't respond. I've got to get better."Toronto held a 3-2 lead in the third period but Vancouver scored four straight - including an empty-netter - to storm back and win. The dagger from Tanner Pearson got past Rittich from a weak angle.

Florida Panthers blue-chip prospect Spencer Knight made his first NHL start Tuesday versus the Columbus Blue Jackets and made 33 stops in a 5-1 victory.The Panthers drafted Knight 13th overall in 2019. The 20-year-old has spent the past two seasons at Boston College and posted a 16-4-1 record with a sparkling .932 save percentage in 2021.Knight also anchored the United States to a gold medal at the world juniors in January.Florida's win brought them to 65 points through 47 games this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers ruled out defenseman Jacob Trouba for the remainder of Tuesday's game against the New York Islanders with an upper-body injury, the team announced.Trouba got hit hard into the boards by Islanders forward Matt Martin. The Rangers blue-liner was visibly shaken up after the collision.

The Winnipeg Jets expect captain Blake Wheeler to play Thursday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing the last six games with a concussion, according to NHL.com's Mitchell Clinton.Head coach Paul Maurice said Wheeler was cleared prior to Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers, but with four days off before their next game, the Jets decided to give the forward more rest."Honestly, getting these four days in addition to the extra two days, in the long run, is going to make a world of difference," Wheeler said Tuesday. "I'm just happy to be feeling good, you know, feeling like myself."The 34-year-old winger ranks fifth on the Jets with 32 points in 39 games this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price will be out of the lineup for a week while going through concussion protocol, head coach Dominique Ducharme said Tuesday.Edmonton Oilers forward Alex Chiasson bumped into Price during the first period of Monday's game, and Jake Allen replaced the Canadiens starter to begin the second period. Ducharme confirmed postgame that Price's injury occurred on the play in question.Montreal is scheduled to play four times before next Tuesday. The Canadiens will play a road contest against the Oilers on Wednesday before facing the Flames in Calgary on Friday, Saturday, and Monday to wrap up a five-game trip.Chiasson wasn't penalized for Monday's incident.Price was in his second game back after missing six due to a lower-body injury. The 33-year-old has a .901 save percentage through 25 games this season while also posting minus-5.63 goals saved above average and minus-8.11 goals saved above expected in 2021, according to Evolving Hockey.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Marleau eclipsed Gordie Howe on the NHL's all-time game's played list Monday night. Marleau suited up for the 1,768th time, and setting the new benchmark will be the legacy-defining achievement for a 23-year career that's included two Olympic gold medals, over 500 goals, and nearly 1,200 points.Marleau accomplished the feat versus the Vegas Golden Knights, who won't play their 1,768th regular-season game as a franchise until the 2039-40 season, as The Athletic's Jesse Granger pointed out.When a single career spans a generation, there's no shortage of mind-bending stats like the one above to marvel over. But perhaps the most ridiculous is the fact Marleau has appeared in at least one game with 37% of players in the 104-year history of the league.But rather than dive into all the numbers, let's take a broader look back and remember what the world looked like when Marleau's career started.The NHL landscape B Bennett / Bruce Bennett / GettyOct. 1, 1997, is when it all began. The San Jose Sharks had drafted Marleau second overall a few months prior on the strength of his 125-point season with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds. At barely 18-years-old, Marleau cracked the Sharks' opening night roster, going pointless in 12:15 against the Edmonton Oilers in his NHL debut.The NHL was in a drastically different spot back then: The league was at the peak of the dead-puck era, and franchises were being relocated or introduced left, right, and center. Marleau's career began the same year the Carolina Hurricanes debuted in their migration from Hartford. The Colorado Avalanche were only two years removed from being the Quebec Nordiques, and the Phoenix Coyotes were in their second season after their previous stint as the Winnipeg Jets 1.0. The Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Atlanta Thrashers (later Jets 2.0) didn't even exist yet.The Detroit Red Wings entered Marleau's first season as defending champions, finally getting over the hump and winning their first of three Stanley Cups in a five-year span.Meanwhile, the reigning individual award winners and all-star teams were stacked with Hall of Fame talent.AwardPlayer (totals)Hart TrophyDominik HasekArt Ross TrophyMario Lemieux (122)Goal scoring leader*Keith Tkachuk (52)Norris TrophyBrian LeetchVezina TrophyDominik HasekCalder TrophyBryan BerardFrank J. Selke TrophyMichael Peca* - The Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy wasn't officially introduced until the 1998-99 season*First team all-starsPositionSecond team all-starsDominik HasekGMartin BrodeurBrian LeetchDChris CheliosSandis OzolinshDScott StevensMario LemieuxCWayne GretzkyTeemu SelanneRWJaromir JagrPaul KariyaLWJohn LeClairTo go from sharing the ice with so many legends who are now years removed from the current game to sharing a line and forging a friendship with Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews - who wasn't even one month old when Marleau started - is a testament to the 41-year-old's unparalleled longevity.Marleau ultimately finished his rookie season with 32 points in 74 games, good for sixth in Calder voting. Joe Thornton, the only player drafted before Marleau in 1997 and his longtime Sharks teammate, mustered only seven points in his freshman year.The rest of the sports scene Andrew D. Bernstein / National Basketball Association / GettyMarleau's NHL debut, while fun to look back on now, hardly registered in the grand scheme of the sports world at the time. The Florida Marlins were weeks away from shocking the baseball universe and winning their first World Series, while Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and co. were preparing to embark on "The Last Dance" of the Chicago Bulls dynasty. Brett Favre and Barry Sanders were authoring MVP performances in the NFL, while a young Peyton Manning played out his final NCAA season for Tennessee, dominating the rest of the SEC before being drafted first overall early in 1998.Elsewhere, the stacked United States Ryder Cup team was reeling after a single-point loss to a savvy European squad at the 1997 event in Spain. USA's squad featured a baby-faced Tiger Woods fresh off his first Masters win, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples, and Jim Furyk, among several other high-profile names.Pop culture Bob Riha Jr / WireImage / GettyOutside the world of sports, some huge names and releases in entertainment headlined late 1997.As Marleau got started in the pros, Jerry Seinfeld and his pals were freshly into the final season of their hit sitcom. "Seinfeld" would finish the 1997-98 television season atop the charts with a 21.7 rating, edging out "ER," "Veronica's Closet," "Friends," and "Monday Night Football."The top movie in American box offices during Marleau's debut was "The Peacemaker" - an action thriller starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman. The film raked in $12 million in its opening weekend and was followed up by some huge flicks in the following months, including "I Know What You Did Last Summer," "Scream 2," and the critically-acclaimed drama "Titanic."Boyz II Men's "4 Seasons of Loneliness" overtook Mariah Carey's "Honey" for the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of Marleau's debut. Usher ("You Make Me Wanna..."), LeAnn Rimes ("How Do I Live"), and the Backstreet Boys ("Quit Playing Games") rounded out the top five, while The Notorious B.I.G., Spice Girls, and Third Eye Blind were other prominent names near the top of the charts.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A 2-0 sweep on Monday got the week started right for us as we move to 120-110 (+7.51 units) on the season.Here's what's on tap for Tuesday.Hurricanes (+105) @ Lightning (-125)I always recommend waiting for goaltending confirmations before betting a game, and that holds especially true when a team has as big of a discrepancy between starter and backup as the Lightning do. Curtis McElhinney looks to get the start in this contest after Andrei Vasilevskiy manned the net last night in a 3-2 overtime win for Tampa. The Lightning are 15-4 in Vasilevskiy starts since the beginning of March and 1-4-1 with McElhinney in the crease.The gulf between the two is massive, and while the Lightning may opt to go back to Vasilevskiy tonight given the magnitude of this game in the Central Division race, it's also unlikely considering how strict Tampa has been when it comes to managing his load. Vasilevskiy hasn't started more than three straight since McElhinney was on the COVID list during the first week of February. The Lightning have had five back-to-backs this season, with Vasilevskiy never starting both games.The Hurricanes have also been the better team this season, holding an edge in just about every important underlying metric - a gap that's grown even bigger over the past few weeks. Carolina's posted a 57.87 xGF% and 57.49 FF% at five-on-five since March 30, with the Lightning sitting at marks of 51.64% and 51.46%. If McElhinney starts, the Hurricanes are a steal at plus money.Pick: Hurricanes (+105)Rangers (+110) @ Islanders (-130)The Islanders find themselves in a bit of a slump as they try to push for first place in the East Division, losing three of their last five and winning just twice in regulation over their last 13 games while also managing just a 44.9 CF% over those 13 contests. The club has been especially bad over the last six games and hasn't managed a single regulation win, posting a 43.1 xGF% and a 43.73 CF% at five-on-five - both are bottom-five marks in the league (excluding the Canucks, who played just one game over that span).The Rangers, meanwhile, continue to take care of business as they desperately chase a playoff spot that may be impossible to catch with the way the teams ahead of them keep winning. After a four-game sweep of the Devils, the Rangers have now won eight of their last 11 and have taken points from 10 of those games.Based on how these New York rivals have been playing over the past month, the Rangers are actually deserving of being slight favorites with Igor Shesterkin in net - he's been confirmed as tonight's starter - so getting them at +110 is quite the bargain.Pick: Rangers (+110)Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, despises how the NHL handles starting goalie announcements, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Roberto Luongo will oversee Team Canada at the upcoming men's World Hockey Championship.Hockey Canada tabbed Luongo as general manager for its entry in the tournament on Tuesday.Former NHLer Shane Doan and Scott Salmond, the senior vice president of national teams for Hockey Canada, will round out Canada's management group for the event.Luongo will be in charge of all hockey operations, including selecting players and staff, and leading the evaluation process. The former NHL goaltender and current Florida Panthers front office member will make his international management debut during the 2021 worlds.Hockey Canada named him an assistant GM for its 2022 men's Olympic team in February. Luongo played for Canada during three Olympics, four world championships, and a World Cup of Hockey. He helped the nation win two Olympic gold medals, two titles at the worlds, and one more at the World Cup.Before retiring in 2019, the 42-year-old notched the third-most goaltending wins in NHL history with 489, though he also posted the second-most losses with 392. He ranks second all time among netminders after playing 1,044 games.The 2021 worlds will be held May 21 through June 6 in Riga, Latvia.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The OHL will not return to play until at least 2021-22, the league announced Tuesday.The league cited the recent extension of Ontario's stay-at-home order and the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the province as reasons for the decision.Earlier in April, the OHL and the provincial government agreed on a plan for the league to resume play. However, the proliferation of coronavirus variants led to a spike in local cases. Ontario Premier Doug Ford enacted a stay-at-home order shortly thereafter. Last week, he extended it through at least May 20.The plan for the OHL's return never came to fruition as a result. It was to be an abbreviated season played in hub cities.The OHL is the only Canadian major junior league that hadn't started playing in 2020-21. The WHL said Monday it would not conduct its playoffs following a 24-game regular season.The CHL canceled the 2021 Memorial Cup last Tuesday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price suffered an upper-body injury in Monday's loss to the Edmonton Oilers, head coach Dominique Ducharme said postgame, according to TSN's John Lu.Ducharme also confirmed that the ailment occurred when Oilers forward Alex Chiasson bumped Price in the first period. The bench boss had no further details on the netminder's condition.

John Tortorella is sending a message to Max Domi.The Columbus Blue Jackets head coach made the forward a healthy scratch Monday night for the 4-2 loss against the Florida Panthers.Tortorella didn't specify his reasoning for the move, but it would appear to be a response to a pair of recent incidents.Domi was assessed a 10-minute misconduct in addition to minor penalties for high-sticking and slashing for his actions toward Dallas Stars forward Rhett Gardner late in the second period Saturday. Gardner was assessed a slashing minor of his own.Five nights earlier, Domi went after Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy, earning a 10-minute misconduct as well as minor penalties for hooking and cross-checking.Domi has collected only seven goals and 12 assists over 46 games for the Blue Jackets this season in his first campaign with Columbus. The team landed him along with a third-round pick in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens for forward Josh Anderson in October.The 26-year-old signed a two-year, $10.6-million contract with the Blue Jackets one day after they acquired him.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks winger Patrick Marleau eclipsed Gordie Howe's all-time record for NHL games played Monday night versus the Vegas Golden Knights, lacing up the skates in his 1,768th career contest.Here's a look at the leaderboard:RankPlayerGames1Patrick Marleau1768*2Gordie Howe17673Mark Messier17564Jaromir Jagr17335Ron Francis17316Joe Thornton1669** - active playerHowe had held the record since 1980. Mr. Hockey played until he was 51, but he was a member of the World Hockey Association for six years.Marleau, 41, is in his 23rd NHL season. He's played 21 of those with the Sharks, and he also had stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins.He was drafted second overall in 1997 and sits 23rd all time with 566 goals. In 2021, Marleau's notched eight points in 44 games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the eighth edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2020-21 season. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.In this edition, we pick one player from each team who needs to step up in the final stretch of the season.1. Colorado Avalanche (30-9-4)Previous rank: 1Devan Dubnyk played well in his Avalanche debut Wednesday, stopping 31 of the 34 shots he faced in a 4-3 win. The 34-year-old trade acquisition will be relied upon to hold the fort in Colorado's crease following Philipp Grubauer's COVID-19 diagnosis.2. Vegas Golden Knights (31-11-2)Previous rank: 5The Golden Knights have a lot of weapons at their disposal, but Vegas' second line has experienced a noticeable dip in production this season. Jonathan Marchessault's assists per game rate is up compared to last season, and his points per game rate is on par with his output over the last two campaigns. But he hasn't scored a goal in five games, and Vegas could use more of the secondary scoring he's struggled to provide this year.3. Carolina Hurricanes (29-10-4)Previous rank: 4Martin Necas looked to be having a full-fledged breakout when he notched four goals and three assists over a three-game span in late March. But the talented forward has collected only two markers and three helpers in 10 contests since. He's shown flashes of his full potential this season, but the Hurricanes will be an even tougher out if he finds more consistency.4. Tampa Bay Lightning (29-13-2)Previous rank: 3Anthony Cirelli is already one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL, but the 23-year-old isn't yet on the offensive level of two-way stars such as Sean Couturier. Cirelli has no points in his last 11 games, and with Steven Stamkos on long-term injured reserve and Nikita Kucherov likely out until the postseason, the Lightning could certainly benefit from him creating more offense.5. Washington Capitals (29-13-4) Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 7Ilya Samsonov can be forgiven for needing time to find his game after recovering from COVID-19, but the Capitals goaltender has to provide more stability than he has since returning. Vitek Vanecek can't carry the club come playoff time. For now, Samsonov and his teammates are winning. Sooner or later, though, his mediocre play could hurt them.6. Toronto Maple Leafs (28-12-5)Previous rank: 6The Maple Leafs gave up a first-round pick to acquire Nick Foligno for a reason: He seemed like a perfect fit as someone who can theoretically play up and down the lineup and in all situations. When he finishes his quarantine and joins Toronto, the grizzled veteran will be expected to justify his cost, even if it was inflated.7. Florida Panthers (28-12-5)Previous rank: 2It's been a roller-coaster season for Keith Yandle, who found his groove after the Panthers nearly made him a healthy scratch in January. Points aren't everything, especially for defensemen. But the puck-moving blue-liner needs to help fill the void left by Aaron Ekblad's injury and contribute more than the two assists he's notched over the last 10 games.8. Pittsburgh Penguins (28-14-3)Previous rank: 8Jason Zucker made an immediate impact with the Penguins after they traded for him ahead of last year's deadline, but he's been underwhelming this season. The 29-year-old missed time earlier in the campaign due to injury but hasn't contributed enough when healthy. Pittsburgh needs better secondary scoring - especially while Evgeni Malkin remains out.9. Minnesota Wild (27-13-3)Previous rank: 10Nick Bonino has historically been a well-rounded forward, and he has two Stanley Cup rings to show for it. But the Wild need more from the 32-year-old, who's now languishing on their fourth line despite his $4.1-million cap hit. It's not just his production that's declined, either. The veteran's underlying numbers are underwhelming this season, and Minnesota needs him to be better at driving possession.10. Boston Bruins (25-12-6) Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 11The Bruins now boast a lethal top six with the addition of Taylor Hall and Craig Smith's recent offensive surge. Jake DeBrusk is a third-liner, but the 2015 first-round pick has taken a step back offensively this season after showing promise in his first three campaigns.11. New York Islanders (28-13-4)Previous rank: 9Josh Bailey has always been a pass-first player. But as a team that struggles to generate offense, the Islanders need more than six goals in 44 games from a $5-million winger.12. Winnipeg Jets (27-15-3)Previous rank: 12Pierre-Luc Dubois has been better lately, but he certainly has more to give. If the Jets are going to give the Maple Leafs a run for their money in the North Division, Dubois needs to elevate his game to the level he performed at in the 2020 playoffs.13. Edmonton Oilers (26-15-2)Previous rank: 13Kailer Yamamoto has taken a step back after an impressive late-season stint in 2019-20. The Oilers' dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will only carry the team so far; if Edmonton wants to be a serious Stanley Cup contender, key pieces like Yamamoto need to elevate their game.14. New York Rangers (23-16-6)Previous rank: 18The Rangers already boast one of the league's deadliest offenses, so imagine if Kaapo Kakko found his groove. The 2019 second overall pick has struggled in his first 100-plus NHL games, and it would be a massive boost for New York if he found his scoring touch in the Big Apple.15. Dallas Stars (17-14-12) Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 16As unfair as this may be, the Stars really need Tyler Seguin to contribute immediately upon his return to the lineup. He's yet to play this year after offseason hip surgery, but he's expected back in about a week. Dallas desperately needs his offensive touch.16. Nashville Predators (24-21-1)Previous rank: 15Matt Duchene is back in action for the Predators after missing almost a month. With only eight points in 24 games this season, the club's highest-paid forward needs to start earning his paycheck.17. Montreal Canadiens (19-14-9)Previous rank: 14If the Canadiens are to have any chance of success, Carey Price needs to get hot - just as he did in the 2020 postseason bubble. He's had a rough year.18. Chicago Blackhawks (21-19-5)Previous rank: 22Dylan Strome is in danger of enduring three straight seasons of declining production, which is the opposite of what the Blackhawks want to see from their 24-year-old pivot. It's safe to say he has to be better.19. Philadelphia Flyers (20-18-7)Previous rank: 21As usual, the Flyers' goaltending has let them down. Carter Hart needs to find his game for Philadelphia to have a shot at the playoffs.20. St. Louis Blues (19-18-6) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 20Jaden Schwartz tallied four goals in nine games in the bubble. He's matched that total through 28 outings this season. The Blues' offense has been average this season, and Schwartz heating up down the stretch would be massive for the club's playoff hopes.21. Arizona Coyotes (20-20-5)Previous rank: 17The Coyotes are a team with little offensive depth and need more than one goal in 15 games from Conor Garland if they're going to snag a playoff spot in the West Division.22. Calgary Flames (19-22-3)Previous rank: 27The Flames need much more from one of their top offensive weapons. Sean Monahan is on pace to score fewer than 20 goals over 82 games for the first time in his NHL career, and Calgary's production has suffered greatly as a result.23. Vancouver Canucks (17-18-3)Previous rank: 23It's fair to give the Canucks a pass here. Returning to complete their season after a devastating COVID-19 outbreak - and beating the top team in the North Division in their first game back - is stepping up in our book.24. Los Angeles Kings (16-20-6)Previous rank: 24The Kings have fallen out of playoff contention, but it would be nice to see some growth from 2017 11th overall pick Gabe Vilardi down the stretch.25. San Jose Sharks (18-22-4) Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 19Timo Meier's 0.60 points per game average this season is his lowest since his sophomore campaign. Called out by Sharks head coach Bob Boughner after Saturday's loss, the Swiss forward needs to catch fire down the stretch to keep San Jose's fading playoff hopes alive.26. Detroit Red Wings (16-24-6)Previous rank: 29Richard Panik hasn't done much since signing a four-year, $11-million ticket ahead of the 2019-20 season. The new Red Wings forward has a few weeks to show Detroit fans he was more than just salary filler in the deal that landed Jakub Vrana from Washington.27. Columbus Blue Jackets (15-22-9)Previous rank: 26Patrik Laine is a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The former 40-goal scorer needs to rediscover his form immediately to maximize his next paycheck and justify the price the Blue Jackets paid to acquire him.28. Anaheim Ducks (14-25-7)Previous rank: 30With Jakob Silfverberg managing just 16 points through 46 games, his $5.25-million cap hit looks like a complete disaster. The Ducks will look for him to show signs of life over the final weeks of the campaign.29. Ottawa Senators (15-26-4)Previous rank: 28Matt Murray hasn't come close to living up to his splashy $25-million contract in his first year with the Senators. With three years left on the deal, Murray needs to prove Ottawa didn't make a colossal mistake; a hot stretch of play to end the campaign would certainly help his case.30. New Jersey Devils (14-24-6)Previous rank: 25Jack Hughes had a red-hot start to the season but has since cooled off significantly. His underlying numbers are very strong, but the Devils would surely love to see him finish his sophomore campaign the way he started it: racking up points.31. Buffalo Sabres (12-26-7)Previous rank: 31Dylan Cozens has shown flashes of potential throughout his rookie season. If the 2019 seventh overall selection can make some serious strides down the stretch, Sabres fans will have something positive to take into the offseason after a disastrous campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday's win was no ordinary victory for the Vancouver Canucks.In their first game since March 25 following a severe COVID-19 outbreak, the Canucks stunned the division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime."This isn't just a regular win like you have in the regular season. It's a special win," head coach Travis Green said postgame, according to TSN's Farhan Lalji. "We've gone through a lot. ... I'm proud of our group."Some team members who contracted the virus dealt with harsh symptoms like vomiting, cramping, and dehydration. Family members also became ill.The Canucks were originally supposed to return Friday, but the NHL ended up giving them additional time after forward J.T. Miller voiced his concerns, saying the team wasn't ready.Vancouver captain Bo Horvat was clearly prepared on Sunday night while potting two goals, including the overtime winner."I couldn't be prouder of the guys in that room," Horvat said postgame, according to The Athletic's Thomas Drance. "Not just great for the organization, but for our families, it definitely felt great."Canucks goaltender Braden Holtby was also excellent in the contest. Toronto generated 21 high-danger scoring chances compared to Vancouver's five, according to Natural Stat Trick. But Holtby shut the door, stopping 37 of the 39 shots he faced, including a brilliant windmill save on Wayne Simmonds in the third period.

Every week, theScore offers a fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This edition focuses on Round 2 of the playoffs, although that may not apply to all leagues. Roster percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Add Jake OettingerTeam: Stars

The Arizona Coyotes will ink defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to a one-year extension worth $1.35 million, general manager Bill Armstrong said, according to AZ Coyotes Insider's Craig Morgan.Lyubushkin, 27, was set to become an unrestricted free agent in July.The 6-foot-2 blue-liner has contributed one goal and one assist while averaging 15:30 of ice time over 31 outings this season. He also leads Coyotes defensemen with 77 hits.Armstrong appears to be getting ahead of what projects to be a busy offseason for Arizona. Defensemen Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Jordan Oesterle are all impending unrestricted free agents.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander are in the lineup Sunday against the Vancouver Canucks, head coach Sheldon Keefe said, according to TSN's Mark Masters.Matthews missed Thursday's game against the Winnipeg Jets due to a wrist injury. Keefe said the ailment was similar to but not the same one that kept Matthews out earlier in the campaign. The star pivot leads the NHL with 32 goals.Nylander missed Toronto's last five games while he was in COVID-19 protocol. The Swede has 30 points in 39 contests this season.Pierre Engvall and Adam Brooks will come out of the lineup to make room for Matthews and Nylander. Here are Toronto's projected forward lines based on Saturday's practice:LWCRWAlex GalchenyukAuston MatthewsMitch MarnerNick RobertsonJohn TavaresWilliam NylanderIlya MikheyevAlexander KerfootZach HymanJoe ThorntonJason SpezzaWayne SimmondsThe Leafs are looking to get back in the win column after dropping their last three games. Meanwhile, the Canucks are playing in their first game since March 24 due to their COVID outbreak.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner decided to send a message to two of his key young players Saturday against the Minnesota Wild.Wingers Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc were both demoted to the fourth line after the opening frame."They were both horrible in the first period," Boughner said, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. "They didn't deserve to play in the top six or the top nine for that matter. I just made the decision after the first period, if you're not ready to play, put both those guys on the same line and let them try to figured it out down there."The Sharks trailed 3-1 after the first period and ended up losing 5-2.Labanc actually ended up playing 17:34 in the contest - second among Sharks forwards. He also notched an assist in the third period and his five-on-five expected goals share of 76.7% was third-best on the team, according to Natural Stat Trick.Meier logged 13:29 in the game - nearly three minutes below his season average. He finished with a minus-1 rating, a 44% expected goals share, and no points.Labanc, 25, and Meier, 24, are tied for fifth on the Sharks with 25 points each this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green is grateful he's healthy enough to return behind the bench after battling COVID-19."There's been a lot of people that have gone through a lot and are coming back to play, and I wanted to make sure that I was there," Green told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "If I didn't feel like I could do it, though, I wouldn't do it."There was a time, probably just a couple of days ago, where I really didn't believe I would be. I'm thankful that I've been able to come and be at the rink the last few days and get on the ice today and it will be good to coach tomorrow."Green was one of 24 people in the Canucks organization to contract the virus. The club hasn't played since March 24, and its initial return date was pushed back after forward J.T. Miller openly said the players weren't ready."I think it has been real important that we've had the extra days of practice for our team,” Green said. "Obviously, they've gone through a lot in the last few weeks. But I think they've needed (more time) physically ... but maybe more importantly mentally."Just to get through a few more days and feel good about themselves and get through a practice where you're not struggling to get through practice, I think that's been vital for our group."The Canucks return to the ice Sunday versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. Vancouver currently sits sixth in the North Division with 35 points through 37 contests. The plan is for the team to play all of its 56-game schedule.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carey Price is back in the Montreal Canadiens' crease.The veteran goaltender started Saturday's afternoon tilt against the Ottawa Senators and allowed three goals on 14 shots in the 4-0 loss.Price missed the previous six games with a lower-body injury.The 33-year-old has struggled this season, authoring a .903 save percentage in 23 games prior to Saturday. He's also posted a minus-4.32 goals saved above average and a minus-7.32 goals saved above expected in 2021, according to Evolving Hockey.Jake Allen went 2-4-0 with a .900 save percentage in Price's absence. The backup has been the better Canadiens netminder this season, albeit in fewer appearances.Price has spent his entire 14-year career with Montreal. He won the Hart and Vezina trophies in 2014-15.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention after Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming the first team to earn the dubious distinction in 2021.The loss extends Buffalo's postseason drought to 10 seasons, matching the Florida Panthers (2001-2011), and Edmonton Oilers (2007-2016) for the longest playoff-free streak in NHL history, according to NHL.com's David Satriano.The Sabres have 12 games remaining, and sit last in the NHL with 29 points. They've been playing better lately under interim head coach Don Granato, going 5-3-2 in their last 10, but the club dug itself a gigantic hole in the standings during an 18-game losing streak beginning in late February.Hopes were high for Buffalo this season, as the club made a pair of significant splashes by landing Eric Staal and Taylor Hall. Neither player made much of an impact, and both were dealt away before the trade deadline. Injuries to captain Jack Eichel and starting goaltender Linus Ullmark were also key factors in the Sabres' demise in 2021.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper isn't worried about his captain remaining on long-term injured reserve for longer than the minimum length of time required.Cooper said Saturday that the club hopes Steven Stamkos can skate in 7-to-10 days, and the club is "extremely optimistic" the star forward will be ready to play once his mandatory stay on LTIR is complete, according to team reporter Bryan Burns.Later on Saturday, the Lightning said Stamkos' injury is unrelated to the core muscle ailment he sustained at the end of the 2019-20 regular season.On Thursday, Tampa Bay placed him on LTIR. The move was retroactive to April 8, when he was hurt late in a win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.Players placed on LTIR must miss at least 10 games or 24 days.Stamkos remains tied for the team lead in goals this season with 17 despite playing five fewer contests than fellow club scoring leader Brayden Point and the four other skaters in the top six on the list.The Lightning entered Saturday's action sitting second in the Central Division with the NHL's fourth-best record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos has been placed on long-term injured reserve retroactive to April 8 due to a lower-body injury, according to team reporter Bryan Burns.Stamkos has missed the club's past three games. He'll be forced to miss at least 10 contests or 24 days total, per NHL rules.The Lightning have 13 games remaining this season. They currently sit tied atop the Central Division with the Carolina Hurricanes with one extra game played.Stamkos has notched 34 points in 38 games in 2021.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has shuffled the North Division schedule after delaying the Vancouver Canucks' return to action following a COVID-19 outbreak.The Canucks will resume their season on April 18 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and play their final game on May 19 against the Calgary Flames.Here's a look at the revised schedule (all times ET):AwayHomeOriginal DateNew Date (Time)Toronto Maple LeafsVancouver CanucksApril 17April 18 (7 p.m.)Toronto Maple LeafsVancouver CanucksApril 19April 20 (9 p.m.)Toronto Maple LeafsWinnipeg JetsApril 21April 22 (7 p.m.)Edmonton OilersVancouver CanucksApril 16May 3 (10 p.m.)Edmonton OilersVancouver CanucksMay 6May 4 (10 p.m.)Vancouver CanucksEdmonton OilersMay 4May 6 (9 p.m.)Edmonton OilersMontreal CanadiensMay 11May 12 (5 p.m.)Vancouver CanucksCalgary FlamesMay 3May 13 (9 p.m.)Toronto Maple LeafsWinnipeg JetsApril 23May 14 (8 p.m.)Vancouver CanucksEdmonton OilersMay 13May 15 (TBD)Calgary FlamesVancouver CanucksApril 21May 16 (TBD)Calgary FlamesVancouver CanucksMay 15May 18 (TBD)Vancouver CanucksCalgary FlamesMay 16May 19 (TBD)The league also made the following start time changes:AwayHomeDate (Original time)New timeEdmonton OilersWinnipeg JetsApril 17 (10 p.m.)7 p.m.Toronto Maple LeafsOttawa SenatorsMay 12 (7:30 p.m.)8 p.m.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.