We took home a small profit over the weekend, and after a 1-1 split on Monday, we're back with a couple of plays for Tuesday. As always, check Twitter for any other plays that might end up on the card.Here's what's on tap for tonight.Penguins (+105) @ Rangers (-125)I think I've bet the Rangers more than any other team this campaign. New York has remained undervalued for most of the first few months of the season, but oddsmakers have started to adjust. Now what we're seeing is actually a bit of an overcorrection, with the Rangers moving as high as -130 before some buyback on the Penguins settled the line around where it sits now.New York - a strong candidate for positive regression all year - did claw its way back into the East Division playoff picture, but the squad's performances have tailed off again lately. Excluding the games against the Sabres, the Rangers have actually controlled a lesser portion of the expected goal share at five-on-five in each of their last six games, managing just a 44.6 xGF% over that span.The Penguins, who typically aren't a strong advanced stats team, have actually posted solid underlying numbers over the past few weeks. Pittsburgh has had New York's number this season - putting up a 5-1 record - and is good value here with the offense rolling once again.Pick: Penguins (+105)Bruins (-125) @ Flyers (+105)The Flyers picked up two massive points in Boston last night to pull within three of the Bruins for the final playoff spot in the East, making tonight's rematch a huge deal for both franchises. However, it's a big ask for Philadelphia to sweep this two-game set against a Boston side that rarely drops back-to-back contests against the same opponent.In fact, it's not just rare - it flat out doesn't happen. The Bruins are 6-0 this campaign when playing a team they lost to in their previous matchup, having yet to be swept in a two-game set. Not only does Boston win when avenging a defeat, but the squad plays great hockey as well. The club managed a 57.68% share of the expected goals at five-on-five in those six contests, compared to just a 43.26% share in the six losses pre-dating those wins.The Bruins are excellent in this spot and are worth a play at a relatively cheap price against Carter Hart and the Flyers. Hart looked somewhat improved in his return to the lineup on Saturday against the Islanders, but New York didn't test him much. I trust the 22-year-old about as far as I can throw him right now, especially against a Boston team that's scored 20 goals on him over four meetings this season.Pick: Bruins (-125)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.

Drew Doughty called out some of his teammates for a lack of effort following the Los Angeles Kings' 5-2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday."I think (our desperation level has) been lacking for the last five games," Doughty said postgame. "We haven't had any intensity, anyone competing. I shouldn't say that. We've had some guys competing every single game, and we've had others take games on, play good games, and take games off."We're down 4-1 in the third period, I sure hope that we're playing a little more desperate. But it's absolutely ridiculous that we didn't play like that in the first or the second. Or the last four games. Actually, besides the Vegas one."The Kings are 1-6-0 in their last seven games and have been outscored 23-12 in that span. Los Angeles had hung around to battle for the West Division's fourth and final playoff spot for most of the season, but the club is now in seventh place - nine points out."We put ourselves in a good spot, and the last two weeks or so we've absolutely shot ourselves in the foot, and now we've got a lot of work to do, a lot of climbing to do, and a lot of winning to do," Doughty said. "Honestly, I don't even remember your question I'm so pissed off right now."Doughty is one of the league's most emotionally outspoken players, but in March, he said he believes his outbursts make him "look bad," so he's been attempting to keep them to a minimum.However, that didn't stop the former Norris Trophy winner from continuing his rant on Thursday."Compete," Doughty said when asked how he wants to see his team respond. "Act like you've earned your spot in this lineup and on our team and run with it. Don't sit around hoping you're gonna get more shifts. Take your chance and run with it."I think some guys are just worried about just being in the lineup, and I understand that, but at the same time we need our second and third core guys, as (well) as our top core guys, to all step up right now and play as if its playoff series, every single series we play in."The 31-year-old has carried his weight this season, registering 28 points in 37 games while averaging nearly 27 minutes per contest. Doughty's 0.76 points per game currently stand as a career high.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The upcoming NHL trade deadline might be a quieter one than usual, but that won't stop us from hoping a handful of teams land certain players who will instantly make those squads more fun to watch.A flat salary cap, COVID-19 considerations, and a high degree of league-wide parity certainly complicate the trade landscape ahead of April 12. But most clubs should know fairly soon whether they'll be buying or selling - if they don't already - and that should get general managers' phones ringing.Some moves may not be likely for one reason or another, but hey, we can dream.Here are five deals we would love to see ahead of the fast-approaching NHL trade deadline:Oilers reunite with Hall Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / GettyTaylor Hall's tenure with the Oilers didn't exactly end smoothly (five words: "Trade is one for one"), and his $8-million cap hit will complicate any swap, let alone a move from the Buffalo Sabres back to Edmonton. Plus, the 29-year-old has a no-move clause in his contract.But Hall would give the Oilers some more secondary scoring, and with the disappointing era of former Edmonton general manager Peter Chiarelli now firmly in the rearview mirror, current GM Ken Holland should explore bringing the 2017-18 MVP back to Alberta.The Oilers could reacquire Hall at a lower cost than usual because the veteran winger hasn't produced at his typical clip this season. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are carrying Edmonton with their elite play, and the team would greatly benefit from the addition of a third potential game-breaker who's clearly better than his current numbers indicate.Edmonton is projected to have literally no cap space at the deadline, but there are numerous ways this can work. The Sabres could retain a portion of Hall's salary, and the Oilers could also send Buffalo one or two roster players in addition to other assets to help balance out the money.Hall would have to approve such a trade, of course. But considering Edmonton already boasts two Hart Trophy-caliber players and has a legitimate shot at the postseason, it's not unreasonable to think the 29-year-old would consider a reunion.Bruins bag Ekholm John Russell / National Hockey League / GettyNashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm is expected to be the top blue-liner available ahead of the deadline. The Predators have vaulted back into playoff contention, but they'd still be better off selling since any postseason appearance they make will likely be a short one.The Bruins are reportedly among the teams interested in the rock-solid rearguard, and for good reason. Charlie McAvoy has been excellent on the Bruins' back end this season, but the 23-year-old has been tasked with carrying Boston's defense corps following the offseason departures of Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara.Nashville is apparently seeking a first-round pick, an elite prospect, and a third asset for Ekholm, who is under contract for another season beyond this one. The price is steep, but a blue-liner who impacts games at both ends of the ice is a worthwhile investment for a contender with Boston's defensive needs.The Bruins could package one of their top prospects - either Jack Studnicka or John Beecher - plus the required first-rounder and a roster player like possible trade target Jake DeBrusk in an Ekholm deal. Boston's cap crunch isn't as severe as those of some other clubs - such as the Winnipeg Jets, who've also reportedly shown interest in the 30-year-old defenseman - and Ekholm's team-friendly $3.75-million cap hit will make it even easier for Boston if GM Don Sweeney is comfortable parting with all three assets.Hurricanes pull in Palmieri Andy Marlin / National Hockey League / GettyDo the Hurricanes absolutely need Kyle Palmieri? No. Would he help them drive possession even more effectively than they currently do while adding scoring punch to an already potent squad? Yes.The New Jersey Devils held Palmieri out of the lineup Sunday, and his agency confirmed it was in anticipation of a possible trade. The 30-year-old pending UFA has a $4.65-million cap hit and an eight-team no-trade clause, but Carolina will have some wiggle room at the deadline and might be an appealing landing spot given its status as an up-and-coming playoff team.Palmieri has had a disappointing season by his standards, but he's rediscovered his scoring touch lately, and his underlying numbers are impressively favorable considering his lackluster team. He's scored at least 24 goals five times, fits the Hurricanes' style of play, and would give them further forward depth while Teuvo Teravainen remains out due to a concussion.Carolina boasts several promising prospects to dangle in trade talks, though Palmieri may not even command an elite young player or first-round pick considering his diminished 2021 production.Maple Leafs grab Granlund Frederick Breedon / Getty Images Sport / GettyEkholm isn't the only Predators skater who should be moved ahead of the deadline, and the Maple Leafs would be wise to snag Mikael Granlund.The 29-year-old hasn't been the playmaker he was during his time with the Minnesota Wild, but he's a solid two-way forward who can play in all situations and would give Toronto a more complete top nine ahead of the playoffs.Like Ekholm, Granlund carries a $3.75-million cap hit. Though Toronto doesn't have much cap space, the Maple Leafs do have plenty of assets at their disposal, and an expendable roster player such as Alex Kerfoot could be included in a deal to balance the books.Avalanche reel in Reimer Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyThe Hurricanes have a surplus of goaltenders, and the Avalanche need a better backup. Colorado is expected to have about $1.8 million in deadline cap space, but that doesn't mean a trade for Reimer and his $3.4-million cap hit is impossible.The Avalanche are oozing with assets, but they shouldn't need to part with a top prospect or high pick for the 33-year-old Reimer. There are better goaltending options out there, such as Jonathan Bernier of the Detroit Red Wings, but he'll command a higher price; it would be much easier for Colorado to acquire a cheaper but still dependable puck-stopper.With Alex Nedeljkovic performing well and Petr Mrazek back in the lineup, Reimer - a pending UFA - should be the odd man out. The Hurricanes need to get something for him before April 12.While Carolina will undoubtedly reach the postseason, Reimer will have a better chance to win the Stanley Cup with Colorado. Given his crushing Game 7 defeat in the 2013 playoffs with Toronto, it would be heartwarming to see him win it all.(Salary-cap source: CapFriendly)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko is in the lineup Monday against the Vegas Golden Knights after missing the club's previous 21 games due to an upper-body injury, the team announced.Parayko, 27, last played on Feb. 15 against the Arizona Coyotes. He's contributed one goal and eight points and ranks third on the club in average ice time (22:08) through 16 games.The Blues own a 7-10-4 record without Parayko in the lineup this season and have allowed 3.28 goals against per game in those outings.St. Louis has lost six straight contests and sits fifth in the West Division entering Monday's tilt.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eric Staal is in the lineup Monday for his Montreal Canadiens debut versus the Edmonton Oilers.The recently acquired pivot served his mandatory seven-day quarantine and joined the club's top-six forward group at practice."Obviously, the first thing that jumped out is the talent level and the skill level," Staal said of his new teammates. "I think it's hard to gauge a lot else in a morning skate, but watching the guys for a few games, it was real competitive, quick, and aggressive, and I think all things you like to see from a good hockey team."So I'm excited to get involved tonight and hopefully play a good game and be another part to the group that's already here."Montreal acquired Staal from the Buffalo Sabres on March 27 for a third- and fifth-round pick in 2021. The 36-year-old has 10 points in 32 games this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks will transition top prospect Trevor Zegras back to the center position, the team announced Monday. The club reassigned him to the AHL's San Diego Gulls to begin his assignment."Our goal was to help Trevor transition more smoothly into the NHL, so we started him out on the wing. He's ahead of our scheduled progression, and as a result, we are moving him to center ice effective immediately," general manager Bob Murray said. "He will need some experience in the AHL first, but our expectation is that he will be back with us in the near future and play center for the Ducks for years to come."Anaheim selected the talented forward with the ninth pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. He made his debut with the Ducks in February.The 20-year-old has impressed so far at the pro level. He recorded nine points in eight games in the AHL prior to being called up, and he's since managed one goal and six assists in 17 games with the Ducks.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The city of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, has announced plans to open a $25-million tribute center to permanently commemorate the lives lost in a fatal bus crash in 2018, according to The Canadian Press.The building will feature a gallery honoring the victims of the crash, as well as an arena and a fitness and physiotherapy area. The city said construction will not begin for at least a couple of years.A semitruck hit the bus transporting the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey on April 6, 2018, killing 16 people and injuring 13 others.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers signed forward Mason Marchment to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Monday.The deal's terms weren't disclosed, but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports Marchment will make $800,000."Mason has taken full advantage of his opportunity this season, and we are pleased to have signed him to a contract extension," said general manager Bill Zito. "In his first full NHL season, he has proven himself to be a versatile forward who provides our team with a combination of size, skill, and character. We are excited for Mason to take the next step in his career with our organization."Marchment was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end.The 26-year-old joined the Panthers over the offseason after being traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He's notched seven points in 22 games in 2021 while averaging over 14 minutes per night.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak has tested positive for COVID-19, head coach Bruce Cassidy said, according to The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa.Halak will miss Monday's clash versus the Philadelphia Flyers, Shinzawa adds.Dan Vladar will start for Boston, with Jeremy Swayman serving as his backup. Tuukka Rask remains sidelined with an upper-body injury.Halak started Saturday versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, the Bruins have recently dealt with a false positive as they held out forward Brad Marchand for two games even though he didn't contract the virus.Halak is 9-5-3 this season with a .910 save percentage.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the seventh 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 grant every team one wish for the trade deadline.1. Colorado Avalanche (25-8-4)Previous rank: 4While landing another top-six forward would be a boon to Colorado's Stanley Cup aspirations, adding a goaltender may be the most sensible wish. There's a lot of inexperience behind Philipp Grubauer, and Pavel Francouz's return date remains unknown. Someone like David Rittich could provide nice insurance and ease Grubauer's load down the stretch.2. Florida Panthers (26-9-4)Previous rank: 3The Panthers need to bring in a defenseman for cheap after losing Aaron Ekblad for the season. It's not an easy task to replace a Norris-caliber defender, but there are several rearguards available who could be acquired without giving up significant assets, such as Niklas Hjalmarsson or Marc Staal.3. Tampa Bay Lightning (26-10-2)Previous rank: 1The Lightning are a nearly flawless team, which is remarkable considering they've been without injured superstar Nikita Kucherov all season. In a perfect world for Tampa Bay, Kucherov would return well ahead of schedule - say around April 12 - giving the club a major lift a month prior to the playoffs.4. Carolina Hurricanes (25-9-3)Previous rank: 5When fully healthy, there are three goalies on the Hurricanes capable of being serviceable after the emergence of Alex Nedeljkovic. Carolina's wish is to find a team willing to pay up for either Petr Mrazek or James Reimer, which could in turn facilitate bringing in a talented forward like Mikael Granlund.5. Vegas Golden Knights (24-10-2) Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 2Chandler Stephenson found a home between Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone on the Golden Knights' top line before receiving a three-game suspension, but just imagine Vegas with a true No. 1 center with those two star wingers. There aren't any elite pivots on the market right now, but Granlund can play down the middle, and he'd make a dangerous unit even more potent.6. Toronto Maple Leafs (25-10-3)Previous rank: 8With the North Division not expected to live beyond 2020-21, this could be Toronto's best chance to win the Stanley Cup. The Maple Leafs should go all-in at the deadline to get Taylor Hall, the best available rental, giving them the league's most lethal top-six forward group.7. Washington Capitals (25-9-4)Previous rank: 7The Capitals are one of the NHL's deepest teams, but even the best squads would benefit from an upgrade. Washington could use another reliable top-nine left winger to provide more scoring than Conor Sheary and Richard Panik are offering in 2021. Ryan Dzingel would be a nice fit.8. Pittsburgh Penguins (24-12-2)Previous rank: 9The Penguins could need to address a couple of areas after injuries to key forwards Evgeni Malkin and Kasperi Kapanen, and goaltender Tristan Jarry. The netminder is back practicing, so adding to the middle six up front appears to be the priority for Pittsburgh. If the injuries to trade candidates Rickard Rakell and Tanner Pearson aren't severe, either would be an ideal addition.9. New York Islanders (24-10-4)Previous rank: 6The Islanders need to fill the void Anders Lee leaves behind after the team's captain was ruled out for the season with a torn ACL. The club is a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, so it would make sense to pursue one of the big names available, like Kyle Palmieri or Nick Foligno. Either would seemingly fit well into Barry Trotz's system.10. Minnesota Wild (23-11-2) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 15The Wild letting their elite blue line go to waste would be a shame. But they also shouldn't go all-in for just this season, as Minnesota will likely need to go through the Golden Knights and Avs at some point. That's why it would be wise to get a dynamic offensive producer like Johnny Gaudreau, who's signed through next season. However, the Flames may want to wait until the offseason before potentially moving him.11. Boston Bruins (19-10-5)Previous rank: 11The Bruins desperately need to inject some goal-scoring into their lineup, as the club ranks 29th in goals at five-on-five. Beyond David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand, Boston's forwards have combined for just 34 goals. Palmieri would slide in well if the Bruins can fit him under the cap.12. Winnipeg Jets (22-13-3)Previous rank: 12No contending team needs a defenseman more than the Jets. Insert Mattias Ekholm, who would be Winnipeg's top blue-liner for both this season and 2021-22. The Predators may not be willing to sell now that they're back in the playoff race. But these are just wishes after all, right?13. Edmonton Oilers (23-14-1)Previous rank: 10The Oilers are essentially a dollar-in-dollar-out team ahead of this year's deadline, so general manager Ken Holland will need to get creative with barely any wiggle room. If he can pull off a deal, a third-line center should be atop the team's wish list, with options like Luke Glendening or Sam Bennett potentially fitting.14. Montreal Canadiens (16-9-9)Previous rank: 14General manager Marc Bergevin already made several big moves during the offseason, and he recently acquired Eric Staal for good measure. The Canadiens are extremely deep and right against the cap, and they also may get top prospect Cole Caufield in the lineup soon. Montreal needs to stand pat and hope to come out atop the North Division with its current roster.15. Nashville Predators (20-18-1) Chase Agnello-Dean / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 26The Predators are back in the playoff hunt, but they clearly need to sell at the deadline regardless. So with an eye to the future, Nashville would do well to get its desired three-asset package for Ekholm. That would include a first-round pick and an elite prospect.16. Dallas Stars (13-13-10)Previous rank: 22Much like the Lightning, the Stars may not be busy prior to the deadline because they could get several impact players back from injury before the season ends. Dallas surely wishes for faster-than-expected recoveries from Tyler Seguin, Ben Bishop, Alexander Radulov, and Joel Kiviranta. If any of them return before the deadline - particularly either of the first two - the Stars wouldn't need to do much else.17. Arizona Coyotes (18-15-5)Previous rank: 24The Coyotes have played well lately, but they should still be deadline sellers. However, three of their biggest potential trade chips - Niklas Hjalmarsson, Antti Raanta, and Darcy Kuemper - are injured. Getting them all back before the deadline would help maximize Arizona's returns.18. New York Rangers (17-15-5)Previous rank: 20The Rangers might seem like a bubble team based on their point total, but their points percentage indicates the club is all but out of contention in the competitive East Division. New York shouldn't sell everything off, but a successful deadline would involve getting a moderately valuable asset for veteran blue-liner Brendan Smith.19. San Jose Sharks (17-16-4)Previous rank: 25The Sharks are reportedly willing to take on a cap hit in exchange for assets, and that's exactly what they'll need to do now. With more than $6 million in available space and just two draft picks over the first three rounds in 2021, the Sharks need to load up on picks or prospects to replenish their system.20. St. Louis Blues (16-15-6) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 13Mike Hoffman's struggles have created an unexpected top-six need for the Blues. St. Louis would clearly love to address that issue, and if cap space weren't holding the team back, snagging a winger like Hall or Palmieri would be ideal. In reality, nabbing a proven contributor like Bobby Ryan would be a safe move, albeit an uninspiring one.21. Philadelphia Flyers (17-14-5)Previous rank: 16The Flyers have built a roster that can succeed, though reinforcements are clearly needed. Carter Hart has struggled immensely this season, but the defense in front of him has also been abysmal, and Matt Niskanen's absence has been felt. Bringing in a solid defender like David Savard or Brandon Montour would go a long way toward helping the Flyers get back on track.22. Chicago Blackhawks (17-17-5)Previous rank: 21The Blackhawks have regressed a bit after a hot start, and they should sell rather than try to push for the playoffs. Mattias Janmark, Carl Soderberg, and David Kampf are all on expiring deals, and they could easily be attractive to contenders looking to add depth pieces.23. Vancouver Canucks (16-18-3)Previous rank: 18The only thing we can wish for the Canucks right now is a quick and full recovery from their ongoing COVID-19 battle.24. Los Angeles Kings (14-16-6)Previous rank: 23In a perfect world, the Kings wish for a team to take Jonathan Quick off their hands. Cal Petersen has essentially snatched the starting role in net for Los Angeles, and there are two more years left on Quick's contract at $5.8 million. Moving the veteran likely won't happen, but it sure would help the Kings out a ton.25. New Jersey Devils (13-17-6) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 27The Devils need to load up on assets to keep smoothly rebuilding around their young stars. The club shouldn't stop at just potentially parting ways with Palmieri. Defenseman Sami Vatanen and veteran Travis Zajac are both on expiring deals, and New Jersey needs to at least gauge what they would fetch.26. Columbus Blue Jackets (14-18-8)Previous rank: 19Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen won't admit it, but his team should absolutely sell. Savard is the Blue Jackets' best trade chip, and while his value is debatable, Columbus would do cartwheels if the club could get a first-round pick in return.27. Calgary Flames (16-20-3)Previous rank: 17For a team to fall in love with Sam Bennett. It's no secret that the 2014 fourth overall pick is available for trade, but so far there haven't been any takers. Perhaps a club will look at his strong postseason track record (11 goals and eight assists in 30 games) and take a flier on him.28. Ottawa Senators (13-21-4)Previous rank: 29For someone to overpay for Mike Reilly. Defensemen are always a hot commodity at the trade deadline, and Reilly is Ottawa's most valuable trade chip on an expiring deal. He's just 27 years old, his cap hit is only $1.5 million, and he's quietly producing a strong season. If GM Pierre Dorion can create a bidding war for Reilly's services, he could net a better return than many expect.29. Detroit Red Wings (13-22-5)Previous rank: 28To take on some cap hits. With most of the league's top contenders right up against the cap, the Red Wings should take on hefty contracts in exchange for some valuable assets.30. Anaheim Ducks (11-21-7) Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 30For Ryan Getzlaf to waive his no-movement clause. The captain has declined, but with so few centers on the trade market, the Ducks could probably reel in a decent return if the pending UFA wants to go ring chasing.31. Buffalo Sabres (8-23-6)Previous rank: 31A first-round pick for Taylor Hall. There's no guarantee Buffalo gets that return given the 2018 Hart Trophy winner's struggles this season. But getting a first-rounder - or an equally valuable prospect - would be a nice victory for the Sabres in a season that's provided little optimism.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Petr Mrazek made his long-awaited return to the Carolina Hurricanes' crease Sunday against the Dallas Stars.The Hurricanes confirmed he would start in amusing fashion shortly before puck drop.

Dallas Stars head coach Rick Bowness was forced to leave the bench during Sunday's contest against the Carolina Hurricanes due to the league's COVID-19 protocol, the team announced.He was on the bench for the first two periods but missed the third period. Assistant coach John Stevens assumed head coaching responsibilities in his absence.Bowness' PCR test came back positive during the second intermission and the club believes it's a false positive, Stars general manager Jim Nill told reporters postgame, according to The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno. Nill added that Bowness has been fully vaccinated.The Stars experienced a COVID-19 outbreak during training camp when a number of players tested positive. Goaltender Anton Khudobin was placed on the league's COVID-19 protocol list Saturday, but Nill said Sunday that Khudobin's retest result came back negative and he's been cleared to travel with Dallas, according to team reporter Mike Heika.Bowness is the NHL's oldest active head coach at 66 years old.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Easter typically marks the first or second weekend of the NHL Playoffs, the start of a two-month stretch during which I spend every night watching teams leave it all on the ice in pursuit of the Stanley Cup.I remember Tomas Hertl's second-overtime goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in 2019 on Easter Sunday and Alexander Radulov's OT marker against the New York Rangers in 2017 on Good Friday. And, if I really want to date myself, I remember watching Martin St. Louis score in the third overtime in Game 6 of the first round to knock out the Washington Capitals in 2003.However, we're still six weeks from playoff hockey. The games might not carry the same intensity this Easter weekend, but let's be thankful we have hockey at all.Flames (+130) at Oilers (-150)

The Vancouver Canucks placed two more players on the NHL's COVID-19-related absences list Sunday, bringing the team's total to 16.In addition, two members of the club's taxi squad and three coaches are also affected, increasing the club's overall total to 21, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Jalen Chatfield and Marc Michaelis joined Travis Boyd, Thatcher Demko, Jayce Hawryluk, Bo Horvat, Tyler Motte, Tyler Myers, Brandon Sutter, Alex Edler, Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Braden Holtby, Quinn Hughes, Zack MacEwen, and Antoine Roussel on the list.The Brazil variant has reportedly affected some members of the team. Symptoms have reportedly included vomiting, cramping, and dehydration. Family members of the players and coaches have contracted the virus, too.

The New Jersey Devils kept forward Kyle Palmieri out of the lineup Sunday afternoon against the Washington Capitals for precautionary reasons, the team announced.The move was made in anticipation of a deal ahead of the April 12 trade deadline, his agency, Bartlett Hockey, confirmed. Palmieri is projected to be one of the top forwards available.The 30-year-old has one year remaining on his current deal and carries a cap hit of $4.65 million.Palmieri has spent the past six seasons with New Jersey. Since his arrival in 2015, he leads the club with 140 goals and 266 points over 397 games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every week, theScore offers a fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This edition focuses on Week 12. Roster percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Add Linus UllmarkTeam: Sabres

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic was a healthy scratch Saturday and didn't suit up for the club's 5-2 loss against the Florida Panthers.Head coach John Tortorella didn't offer much when asked about Roslovic's play."(Jack's) still a work in progress, yeah," Tortorella told CBJ Radio's Bob McElligott before Saturday's contest. "And that's where I'll leave it."However, the Blue Jackets bench boss voiced his displeasure with Roslovic's game in a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday."I didn't like Jack's line," Tortorella said postgame, according to Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch. "I didn't like Jack's play. But I'm not going to criticize anybody. I shouldn't. I thought 99% of this hockey club played their (butts) off tonight."Roslovic ranks third on Columbus with 22 points through 30 games this season but has just two points over his previous six outings.The Blue Jackets acquired Roslovic and Patrik Laine in a trade that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Winnipeg Jets in January. Despite Laine and Dubois being the headliners of the deal, Roslovic leads all three players in points since the transaction.Tortorella sat Dubois before he was traded to Winnipeg. Laine has also been benched by Tortorella on multiple occasions this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL will discuss the possibility of returning to a bubble for the 2021 postseason, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on "Saturday Headlines."The league hosted the 2020 playoffs in separate bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton. Whether or not the same measures will be used depends on how the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, Friedman adds.Over 33,000 tests were administered during last season's 24-team playoffs, and zero positive results were returned. Teams entered their respective bubbles on July 26, and the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup on Sept. 28.Nearly every team has had at least one player enter COVID-19 protocol since the 2020-21 season began Jan. 13. The Vancouver Canucks currently have 14 players on the COVID-19 list, and the Brazil variant of the coronavirus has reportedly infected some of those players.The regular season is scheduled to end May 8, with the postseason beginning May 11, but those dates are subject to change if the league needs to reschedule games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The number of Vancouver Canucks players on the NHL's COVID-19-related absences list doubled Saturday from seven to 14, and the virus appears to be affecting even more members of the team.Travis Boyd, Thatcher Demko, Jayce Hawryluk, Bo Horvat, Tyler Motte, Tyler Myers, and Brandon Sutter landed in the protocol Saturday, joining Alex Edler, Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Braden Holtby, Quinn Hughes, Zack MacEwen, and Antoine Roussel, whom the league added to the list Friday.Sixteen players and three coaches are currently affected and the total is expected to increase, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun. He adds that the NHL is assuming the entire Canucks club will test positive, and the league will likely need to reschedule North Division games after May 11.The Brazil variant of the coronavirus has reportedly infected some of the Canucks players.On Thursday, the league postponed the Canucks' games through Tuesday after placing two Vancouver players and a staff member in the league's COVID-19 protocol. LeBrun reported Saturday that the Canucks' shutdown will extend beyond Tuesday.The NHL originally tabbed May 11 for the start of the playoffs but later moved two matchups - including a game between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens - to that date, delaying the postseason by at least a day in the wake of other postponements.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks' COVID-19 outbreak grew by at least five players Friday.Quinn Hughes, Braden Holtby, Alex Edler, Zack MacEwen, and Antoine Roussel were added to the NHL's COVID-19 list, joining Adam Gaudette and Travis Hamonic after the pair landed on it Thursday.TSN's Darren Dreger reported earlier Friday that eight Canucks players and one staff member had tested positive for the virus. Just seven Vancouver players are currently on the COVID-19 list, which is updated daily at 5 p.m. ET.The NHL announced Thursday that two Canucks players and a staff member had landed in the protocol. Vancouver's games through April 6 have been postponed as a result.The Canucks are the second team in the North Division to suffer a coronavirus outbreak. The Montreal Canadiens recently returned from a 10-day layoff.Vancouver's last four scheduled games have been postponed, and it hasn't played since March 24 against the Winnipeg Jets.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks' COVID-19 outbreak might be worse than initially feared."There are additional cases identified Friday evening, and perhaps what's more scary to most of us throughout society is that the Brazil variant has been identified in some of the cases that have infected members of the Vancouver Canucks," TSN's Darren Dreger said on SportsCentre."Now, I'm told that there are cases here in Vancouver with the Canucks where the individuals are very ill. It's something that we're going to have to continue to monitor."There were seven Canucks players on the NHL's COVID-19 list as of Friday: Quinn Hughes, Braden Holtby, Alex Edler, Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Zack MacEwen, and Antoine Roussel. The list is updated daily at 5 p.m. ET.The Canucks haven't played since March 24 against the Winnipeg Jets. Their games have been postponed through at least April 6.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks acquired forward Vinnie Hinostroza from the Florida Panthers for forward Brad Morrison, the team announced Friday.Hinostroza was a Blackhawks draft pick in 2012, suiting up for three seasons with the club from 2015 to 2018. He played in Arizona for two years afterward, and Hinostroza hasn't produced any points over nine games with Florida in 2021.Morrison, 24, hasn't played an NHL game yet. He's notched five points over six contests for the AHL's Rockford IceHogs this season. Chicago acquired him from the Los Angeles Kings during the offseason for defenseman Olli Maatta.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Nathan Beaulieu will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, the team announced Friday.The 28-year-old hasn't played since March 9. Beaulieu recorded one assist in 25 games this campaign.The Jets can now place Beaulieu's $1.25-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve, giving the club increased cap flexibility ahead of the trade deadline.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils forward Nikita Gusev cleared waivers after being put up for grabs on Thursday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The 28-year-old winger has tallied just a pair of goals and three helpers in 20 games this season. His underlying numbers haven't been strong, either.

Everybody loves to see a grizzled veteran end their career on top. Below, we identify six candidates around the NHL who could receive that opportunity leading up to the 2021 trade deadline.Note: Effective cap hit indicates the total dollars a team will pay any player it acquires ahead of the trade deadline. It's determined by dividing a player's salary by the number of days remaining in the season. All figures dated to April 1, courtesy of Cap Friendly.Marc Staal, Red Wings Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAge: 34

Roberto Luongo is expected to be named general manager of the Canadian team heading to the 2021 world championship in Latvia, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."An official announcement could come as early as next week, Dreger added.Luongo was recently named to Canada's 2022 Olympic brass as an assistant GM. He joined the Florida Panthers' front office prior to the 2021 season and leads the club's goaltending excellence department.The 41-year-old wrapped up his 18-year playing career in 2019. He represented Canada as a player at the world championships and Olympics, winning two gold medals at each event.This year's world championship is scheduled to begin May 21. The 2020 event was canceled due to the pandemic.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators continued to ink their college players to pro deals Thursday, signing University of North Dakota forward Shane Pinto to a three-year, entry-level contract.Pinto will report to the Senators after a mandatory quarantine period.The 20-year-old was named one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award - bestowed annually to the NCAA's top men's hockey player - just a few hours before Ottawa announced the signing.Pinto produced 15 goals and 17 assists across 28 games in his second collegiate campaign. The Senators drafted him 32nd overall in 2019.Ottawa also signed Pinto's NCAA teammate, defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker, to an entry-level pact Thursday. The Senators selected Bernard-Docker 26th overall in 2018.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid's elbow on Jesperi Kotkaniemi is top of mind right now - and rightfully so, he deserved a fine. But let's not get it twisted, hockey fans: What McDavid has accomplished this season, his sixth in the NHL, isn't diminished by one angry elbow.McDavid has amassed 21 goals and 42 assists for 63 points in 37 games. He's nine points ahead of teammate Leon Draisaitl, the only other player so far to reach the 50-point mark. No. 97 isn't dining out on secondary helpers, either. No, McDavid ranks first in primary assists, with 28, and his 21 goals are just three back of Maple Leafs super sniper and buddy Auston Matthews. Kevin Sousa / Getty ImagesMcDavid is on pace to replicate his 2016-17 awards haul, when he claimed the Art Ross, Hart, and Lindsay trophies. In fact, there isn't a logical Hart case to be made for anyone else. The 24-year-old has been the best and most valuable player - a man possessed. McDavid, the Oilers captain, skates for 22:19 a night, second among NHL forwards; he's collected a point on 52% of all Oiler goals; and Edmonton is primed to snag a North Division playoff spot.McDavid's current points per game rate - 1.70 - is not only the highest of his career, but it's the highest of the entire salary-cap era, which began in 2005-06. Here's the list of cap-era players who have finished a season with 1.50 points per game or greater (minimum 37 games): There are some McDavid-friendly variables at work. The 37-game sample size is relatively small, and the temporary North Division has been an offensive playground this season. We also can't ignore the impact of skating with another legitimate superstar like Draisaitl, who's been on the ice for 60% of McDavid's minutes.Nevertheless, McDavid's producing at a rate that projects to 95 points over 56 games (which encompasses the rest of this season's schedule) or 139 points over a full 82 games. And it would be foolish to suggest McDavid won't challenge the 100-point mark this year - if he can stay healthy during the regular season's final six weeks.The NHL trade deadline is approaching. You can bet Oilers general manager Ken Holland and his staff are debating the various scenarios with one consistent thought in the back of their minds: How do we maximize peak McDavid this season and for the five seasons remaining on his contract?'Canes PP, Necas surgingThe Carolina Hurricanes power play has been a juggernaut this campaign. In 107 power-play opportunities, the 'Canes have scored 32 times for a league-high 29.9% success rate. Last year, at 22.8%, they finished eighth in the NHL, which was still very good.This year has brought next-level proficiency. Carolina is scoring 12.07 goals per 60 minutes on the power play, which is 2.24 goals better than second-ranked Tampa Bay."It's all personnel," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said earlier this week when asked about the driving forces behind the uptick. "I've been here for a long time, running the power play. I haven't really changed it from one year to the next too much. And yet, now, all of a sudden, it's, 'Oh, it's a good power play!'"Well, we've been trying the same things for 10 years, you know? You get better players, and there's something to be said about guys that have been around each other now for a while, that chemistry, that kind of understanding of, OK, where are we going?" Gregg Forwerck / Getty ImagesQuarterback Dougie Hamilton has collected a cool 14 power-play assists, while Vincent Trocheck leads all 'Canes in PP goals with six. Jordan Staal has bagged five, Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas both have four, and seven others have at least one tally. Everybody's pitching in.In general, Necas is enjoying a breakout season, picking up 28 points in 31 games. The sophomore winger has become an essential member of the top power-play unit and is one of those "better players" at the coach's disposal."He's just blossoming and maturing," Brind'Amour said of the 12th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. "The talent's always been there, but then you gotta figure out how to play. You take the video and the stuff that you get taught, and you go, 'Oh yeah, this does work …' And then you apply it to all that talent, and I think you're starting to see all of that kind of come together."Carolina is tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for first in the NHL in standings points percentage. Frankly, the 'Canes are the Stanley Cup contender that media and fans aren't talking about nearly enough - especially since general manager Don Waddell has made it known he's looking for reinforcements ahead of the April 12 deadline.Carrier's subtle impactOne of my favorite stats is penalty differential, which is a plus-minus rating for penalties drawn and taken. I find it provides a clearer picture of player discipline than raw penalty minutes. If a player is penalized a certain number of times but induces the opposition into committing infractions more often, that's a net-positive.As of Thursday morning, Evolving Hockey's penalty differential leaderboard featured Nikolaj Ehlers alone at plus-15. McDavid, Brady Tkachuk, Conor Garland, and Johnny Gaudreau were next at plus-14. Jack Hughes is at plus-13; Kirill Kaprizov and William Carrier were at plus-11; and, to round out the top 10, Brayden Point and Elias Pettersson were at plus-10.It's a list of nine offensive studs who frequently possess the puck … and Carrier, a 6-foot-2, 218-pound depth winger for the Vegas Golden Knights. Michael Martin / Getty ImagesCarrier has taken five minor penalties and drawn 16 while averaging just 9:37 of ice time a night. What's more, two of those minors were assessed to him for delay-of-game infractions; he flipped the puck over the glass, and then he was picked to serve a team penalty after an unsuccessful coach's challenge.So, really, Carrier has crossed the line just three times (high sticking, interference, hooking) and induced as many penalties as Gaudreau, Kaprizov, and Ehlers. Again, one of these players is not like the others.Carrier has recorded two goals and three assists skating alongside Tomas Nosek and Ryan Reaves on Vegas' fourth line. It's a heavy, hard-forechecking line head coach Pete DeBoer lauds for their consistently disciplined play."Typically, when you've got intimidating players in the depth of your lineup, a lot of time the trade-off is, you know you're going to be taking minor penalties. And those guys don't," DeBoer said Wednesday of Reaves and Carrier. "Will, in particular, with his speed and his fearlessness with attacking holes on the ice, draws a lot of penalties 'cause his feet are always moving, and he's willing to go to those areas. The rest of our group can take a little bit of a page from that because I don't think we draw enough doing those things."Player A vs. Player BIt never ceases to amaze me how seamlessly two wingers picked inside the top 10 of the 2014 NHL Draft have matched up over the past six-plus years.Let's call them Player A and Player B for a moment.Player A is listed at 6-foot and 191 pounds. Player B's the same height but 19 pounds lighter. Both are creative with the puck and possess dynamic skating abilities. Both broke into the league in 2015-16 and took a step back in 2018-19 but otherwise average roughly 60 points per 82 games. Both make a substantial amount of money - even relative to most of their peers - and are currently in the third year of long-term deals. That said, neither is the most talented or highest-earning player on their star-studded squads.Player A's career average time on ice is 16:35. Player B's is 16:28. Player A has appeared in 343 games, 63 fewer than Player B's 406. That key discrepancy - games played - means the ideal way to compare their career production is to look at per-game stats. Let's see if they're in sync: Like I said, amazing.So who are they? Player A is the Leafs' William Nylander and Player B is the Jets' Ehlers.Devils' two-headed saving graceIt isn't the sexiest storyline but props to the goalie tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood for keeping the New Jersey Devils afloat.Corey Crawford's unexpected retirement put the Devils in a bind back in January. Blackwood, a 24-year-old still coming into his own as an NHLer, was supposed to share the starting load with Crawford, while the 28-year-old Wedgewood was slotted in as the No. 1 for AHL Binghamton. Both netminders were instantly elevated to more prominent and demanding roles. Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThis season, Blackwood has posted a .911 save percentage in all situations and .919 at even strength through 20 games. Behind him, Wedgewood owns a .914 in all situations and .924 at evens in 11 appearances. Those aren't gaudy numbers. Yet consider New Jersey's team defense, which isn't exactly a world-beater, ranking 27th in shots against per game. In that context, Blackwood and Wedgewood have been more than good enough for the 13-16-5 Devils.By design, rebuilding teams lose a lot. However, losing doesn't always have to be detrimental to the culture of the club. Competent goaltending tends to keep a group's collective head up because blowouts are minimized and the losing doesn't extend to depressing lengths, like Buffalo's 18-game disaster.Keep in mind, too, that the Devils were off for the first half of February due to a COVID-19 spread within the team. Returning to the crease after a long break from stopping pucks would be difficult for any goalie, and Blackwood had it particularly hard as one of the players who experienced COVID symptoms.3 parting thoughtsTrade market: If I'm the GM of a playoff-bound team looking for scoring, Taylor Hall is Plan B, C, or D. The former MVP's production has dropped off a cliff since leaving New Jersey in December 2019. Instead, one of Hall's ex-teammates, Kyle Palmieri, would be my primary target. The longtime Devil isn’t having a banner year (eight goals in 33 games) but he has a long track record of recording 25-30 goals a season, carries a lower cap hit than Hall and would presumably command less in a trade, and also is on an expiring contract. The only question: Will GM Tom Fitzgerald re-sign him instead?

Vancouver Canucks games are postponed through April 6 as two players and a member of the coaching staff remain in COVID-19 protocol, the league announced Thursday.The Canucks have three contests scheduled over that span, one versus the Edmonton Oilers and two against the Winnipeg Jets.Forward Adam Gaudette and defenseman Travis Hamonic were on the NHL's latest COVID-19 list, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Vancouver is the North Division's second team to have games postponed this season. The Montreal Canadiens recently returned from a 10-day layoff due to COVID-19.The Canucks sit sixth in the division standings with a 16-18-3 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane is content to be in the conversation but isn't expecting to add a second Hart Trophy to his mantle at season's end.The 2016 MVP believes Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid has this year's award sewn up."I don't think anyone's going to really touch McDavid this year," Kane told Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times. "He's just (by) head and shoulders, the best player in the league. And their team is having a great year."McDavid leads the league with 63 points in 37 games, and the Oilers are in the mix for the top spot in the North Division. Kane ranks third in scoring in the NHL with 49 points and has garnered considerable buzz to be a finalist for MVP since he's put the Blackhawks - who were largely expected to be a lottery team - within reach of a playoff spot in the Central.At this point, Kane is solely focused on earning wins rather than individual accolades."But at the same time, it's nice to hear those types of things," Kane said. "Usually it means your team is in a good position throughout the year, as well. For me, I don't really think about it too much. (I) just want to help the team win."Kane's 2016 Hart Trophy marks the only time he's been a finalist for the award in his 14-year career. McDavid won the prestigious trophy in 2017 and finished third in voting in 2019.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers agreed to a two-year, entry-level contract with defenseman Matt Kiersted, the team announced Thursday.The North Dakota product was widely considered the top college free agent in this year's class."He's a very intelligent puck mover with some skill and runs North Dakota's power play," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote. "He's not that big or quick, but neither the size nor the quickness are so detrimental to limit him at higher levels due to the very high IQ. He should be able to defend OK versus pros while making great outlets and offensive plays."I could see him as a third-pair defenseman in the NHL."Kiersted, 22, tallied 22 points in 29 games during his senior year with the Fighting Hawks. He finished as the runner-up to UND teammate Jacob Bernard-Docker for NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year."Matt is an exciting defenseman who plays the game with great speed and vision," Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. "His steady progression and development from an undrafted player to one of the NCAA's top defensemen is a display of his resiliency and motivation to succeed."Kiersted is listed at 6-feet and 181 pounds and shoots left.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL fined Colorado Avalanche superstar center Nathan MacKinnon $5,000 for throwing a helmet at Arizona Coyotes forward Conor Garland, the league's Department of Player Safety announced Thursday.MacKinnon and Garland were engaged in a scrum near the end of Wednesday's one-sided Avs blowout. When Garland's helmet came loose, MacKinnon underhanded it back at him.The Nova Scotia native received a 10-minute misconduct on the play and was ejected from the contest, marking the first time MacKinnon's been fined or suspended in his career since Scouting The Refs started keeping track in 2014-15 - the 25-year-old's sophomore season.MacKinnon was last season's Lady Byng Memorial Trophy recipient, awarded to the player "adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." The former first overall pick had 12 penalty minutes in 69 games last year but 14 on Wednesday night.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Thursday.Bernard-Docker will report directly to Ottawa following his required quarantine period.The Senators selected the right-handed blue-liner 26th overall at the 2018 draft. He was their second of two first-rounders that year after taking Brady Tkachuk fourth overall."Jacob represents another key component of our future," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He's very mature for his age and already possesses great gap and stick detail within his game. He's an exemplary leader and a winner who we're looking forward to seeing in our lineup."The 20-year-old recently wrapped up a three-year NCAA career at the University of North Dakota. He tallied 18 points in 27 games during his final season with the Fighting Hawks and was named NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year on March 10.Bernard-Docker helped Canada capture a gold medal at the 2020 world juniors, collecting one goal in seven games.The Senators have used at least one first-rounder on a defenseman in three straight years. After taking Bernard-Docker in 2018, they chose Lassi Thomson 19th overall in 2019 and used the No. 5 pick in 2020 on Jake Sanderson.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The North Division has been an intriguing one this season, and with the April 12 trade deadline fast approaching, it's time for some difficult decisions.Each of the seven Canadian teams finds itself facing a unique set of circumstances. Some clubs are looking to add, others are looking to sell, and some appear to be caught in between.Here's a look at one move each team north of the border should make ahead of the deadline.Calgary Flames - Trade Sam Bennett Gerry Thomas / National Hockey League / GettyDeadline cap space: $2.14MBennett's departure from the Flames has felt inevitable since his reported trade request earlier this season, and general manager Brad Treliving should deal the pending restricted free agent before the deadline to leverage Bennett's history of strong postseason play.The 24-year-old forward has just four goals and seven points through 34 games this season, but he's assembled a strong body of work in the playoffs. Bennett led the Flames with eight points and five goals through 10 games in the bubble last season, and he has 11 goals and 19 points through 30 career playoff outings.Calgary is clearly in need of some sort of shake-up. Any major changes to the core should wait until the offseason, but moving Bennett ahead of the deadline could net the Flames a future asset while giving him a fresh start.Edmonton Oilers - Acquire Jake DeBrusk Codie McLachlan / Getty Images Sport / GettyDeadline cap space: NoneThough it's been inconsistent, this group is probably the best the Oilers have assembled during the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl era. Edmonton should look to add another talent up front, and hometown boy DeBrusk could be the perfect fit.The Boston Bruins made DeBrusk a healthy scratch earlier this season, and he's struggled to find his form. Perhaps a change of scenery and a chance to play alongside Draisaitl or McDavid could revitalize the former 27-goal scorer.DeBrusk, 24, is signed through 2021-22 at $3.67 million per season, so the Oilers would need to move out money to acquire the winger. Edmonton has a few impact players on expiring deals, but general manager Ken Holland would likely need to move draft picks or a prospect to sway Boston. Still, the Oilers finally appear ready to contend, and Holland shouldn't hesitate to get aggressive.Montreal Canadiens - Trade for Brandon Sutter Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyDeadline cap space: $448KMarc Bergevin already made one move after claiming salary-cap constraints would likely keep him idle ahead of the deadline, and the Canadiens' savvy general manager could have another trick up his sleeve. Trading for Eric Staal was probably the largest splash Montreal will make, but it could still improve in a few areas.Jake Evans hasn't quite found his stride in his first full NHL campaign, and the Canadiens could benefit by filling his spot in the lineup down the stretch. Sutter would come as a rental on an expiring deal, wouldn't have to quarantine upon arriving, and provides strengths in areas of need for the club.The Canucks veteran ranks fifth among all centers in shorthanded ice time and would give Montreal's 21st-ranked penalty kill a reliable option. The Canadiens also struggle mightily at the faceoff dot, and the 32-year-old's 55.5% efficiency on draws would be beneficial in critical situations.Ottawa Senators - Keep selling Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDeadline cap space: $37.83MThe Senators have started carving out an identity as the season has progressed, but general manager Pierre Dorion shouldn't overthink things at the deadline. Ottawa should continue to sell for future assets, and it has a few pending unrestricted free agents who are worth shopping.Ryan Dzingel, one of the original "Pesky Sens" from the club's wild run in 2016-17, has revitalized himself in his second stint with Ottawa, scoring five goals in 11 games since rejoining the Senators at the start of March. He's not going to fetch a large haul, but Dorion would be wise to continue collecting assets when possible and ship the 29-year-old to a contender.Braydon Coburn, 36, and Erik Gudbranson, 32, are both on expiring deals as well. They could be useful for playoff teams looking to shore up their defensive depth.Toronto Maple Leafs - Find a way to add Taylor Hall Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDeadline cap space: $1.1MWhy not? Players of Hall's ilk rarely become available for far less than they're worth, and the Maple Leafs should take advantage. The 29-year-old winger hasn't been anywhere close to his normal self this season; if surrounding him with star talents on a team positioned for a deep playoff push doesn't bring the best out of the former Hart Trophy winner, we're not sure what will.Toronto would need to do some cap maneuvering to acquire Hall, but as we explored in March, it's absolutely possible. The Maple Leafs are already one of the NHL's top offensive teams, and adding a player like Hall would give them arguably the most lethal top-six forward group in the league:LWCRWZach HymanAuston MatthewsMitch MarnerTaylor HallJohn TavaresWIlliam NylanderAfter years of opening-round failure, no team will face more pressure this postseason. Playing out of the North Division offers a unique opportunity for success, and Maple Leafs should go all-in.Vancouver Canucks - Deal Jake Virtanen or Braden Holtby Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDeadline cap space: NoneThe season has progressed far enough to conclude the Canucks overachieved in the bubble last season. As such, the club should focus on the future rather than the present. Vancouver sits sixth in the North Division and has a 7% chance of making the playoffs, according to The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn. The club also has some significant housekeeping to do this summer.Canucks general manager Jim Benning inked breakout netminder Thatcher Demko to a five-year pact reportedly worth $25 million on Wednesday, but franchise cornerstones Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes are set to become restricted free agents and have earned healthy paydays of their own.With Demko emerging as Vancouver's No. 1 goalie, the team is paying Braden Holtby $4.3 million to be a backup. The Canucks would likely need to retain some of his salary to make a deal work, but several teams are looking for insurance in net, and Holtby's championship pedigree could be valuable during a playoff run.Perhaps a more realistic option would be a deal involving Jake Virtanen, whose name has surfaced in previous trade rumors. Moving the 24-year-old winger would clear $2.55 million off the books for next season while fetching Vancouver additional assets.Winnipeg Jets - Target an impact defenseman Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDeadline cap space: NoneThe Jets boast a lethal offense but have yet to fully replenish their blue line after losing several key rearguards during the 2019 offseason. The club is still one of the league's worst teams analytically and will likely need more than Connor Hellebuyck's brilliance in goal to make a Stanley Cup push.Winnipeg has reportedly expressed interest in Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm, but with Nashville back in the playoff picture, it's hard to gauge the Swedish blue-liner's availability. The Predators are battling a slew of injuries that could mire their postseason push, so it's likely Ekholm could still be had for the right price.Another somewhat under-the-radar option is Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson. The 6-foot-3, right-shooting rearguard would give the Jets a physical presence they've lacked on the right side since Dustin Byfuglien's departure, and his defensive metrics have been consistently strong.Manson and Ekholm are both under contract through the 2021-22 season. Since neither is a rental, the Jets would need to move money out to bring one of them in. Perhaps Mathieu Perreault and his expiring $4.12-million cap hit could be a starting point.(Salary-cap source: CapFriendly)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler suffered an undisclosed injury Wednesday versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team announced.Wheeler finished his last shift with 2:25 remaining in the first period and didn't come out for the second frame.Jets head coach Paul Maurice said Wheeler's injury will be examined Thursday, according to team reporter Mitchell Clinton."We'll have something for you in a couple days," he told reporters after his team's 3-1 loss.Wheeler, 34, hasn't missed a game this season. He entered Wednesday's action fourth in team scoring with 31 points.Winnipeg's next contest comes Friday against Toronto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres are back in the win column at last after hammering the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1 on Wednesday night to snap an 18-game losing streak.Buffalo's miserable run matched the longest skid in NHL history set by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003-04. The win is the Sabres' first since Feb. 23.The Sabres endured some excruciatingly close calls before finally halting their losing streak, blowing multi-goal leads in the two games prior to Wednesday's triumph.Buffalo jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and added two more in both the second and third periods to secure the two points. Goaltender Linus Ullmark made 31 saves.The Sabres rank last in the league standings by a nine-point margin and own the NHL's worst goal differential at minus-46. Still, they'll look to make it two victories in a row Thursday versus the New York Rangers.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL postponed Wednesday's game between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks due to COVID-19 protocol.Two Canucks players - including one the league said it added to its COVID-19-related absences list after its initial release at 5 p.m. ET Wednesday - and a coach have entered protocol.Vancouver forward Adam Gaudette is the lone member of the team currently on the list. He tested positive and entered protocol Tuesday.The NHL hadn't postponed a North Division game until rescheduling a Montreal Canadiens-Edmonton Oilers contest on March 22 after two Canadiens forwards landed on the COVID-19 list. The league subsequently postponed three more of Montreal's games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks and goaltender Thatcher Demko have agreed to a five-year contract extension, team owner Francesco Aquilini confirmed Wednesday.The pact carries an average annual value of $5 million, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Demko is in the midst of a breakout season, posting a .917 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average in 25 games so far this year. He also ranks fifth in the NHL in goals saved above expected, according to Evolving-Hockey.The 25-year-old netminder's success this season follows his coming-out party during the 2020 postseason. Replacing an injured Jacob Markstrom, Demko stopped 128 of 130 shots in four appearances against the Vegas Golden Knights before the Canucks were eliminated.The Canucks let Markstrom walk as a free agent after Demko's strong playoff showing this summer and signed veteran Braden Holtby to a two-year, $8.6-million deal. Demko has thoroughly outplayed Holtby and solidified himself as the team's No. 1 goalie moving forward.Vancouver selected Demko 36th overall in the 2014 draft. The native of San Diego was set to become a restricted free agent in the offseason.Demko, defenseman Quinn Hughes, and forward Elias Pettersson made up a trio of key RFAs the Canucks had to sign following the campaign. With Demko's deal taken care of, Vancouver projects to have just over $20 million in cap space this offseason with a roster size of only 12, according to CapFriendly.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has been chosen to assemble the 2022 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team in Beijing next February, USA Hockey announced Wednesday.Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin will serve as assistant GM."We could not be happier to have the combination of Stan and Bill, with the support of John Vanbiesbrouck, guiding our men’s Olympic team," said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey."We have a deep talent pool thanks to so many people, including volunteers at the grassroots level across the country, and it’s great to have the leadership and expertise that Stan and Bill bring in building our team."Bowman helped lead the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup titles (in 2010, 2013, and 2015) since being hired as general manager in 2009.The 47-year-old has been a member of the U.S. Men's National Team Advisory Group - which helps select players and staff for the U.S. Men's National Team - since 2012. Bowman was also selected as general manager for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey alongside Peter Chiarelli.The Wild hired Guerin as general manager in August 2019. The Massachusetts native served as assistant GM for the Pittsburgh Penguins and eventually as GM for the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before joining Minnesota. Guerin won consecutive Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017.The NHL is expected to send its players to the Olympics after skipping the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Their participation is still pending an agreement between the league, the NHLPA, the International Olympic Committee, and the International Ice Hockey Federation.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere cleared waivers Wednesday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Gostisbehere can now be placed in the AHL or on the Flyers' taxi sqaud. Both moves clear an NHL roster spot and remove $1.075 million worth of prorated cap space from the team's books each day he's not on the roster, according to The Athletic's Charlie O'Connor.The 27-year-old has two years beyond this season remaining on his current deal, which carries an annual cap hit of $4.5 million.Gostisbehere ranks third on the Flyers in average ice time this season (20:01) and has contributed five goals and 11 points through 25 outings. He missed the opening two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19.The 5-foot-11 blue-liner stormed onto the scene with a 46-point rookie campaign in 2015-16 to finish second in Calder Trophy voting. He ranked eighth among all defensemen in goals (37) and ninth in points (150) between then and 2017-18.He's seen his game slip in recent years, however, particularly in the defensive end, according to Hockey Viz's isolated impact tool. (Red, or positive, is good in the offensive zone, while blue, or negative, is good in the defensive zone.) The Flyers, who rank 30th in goals against per game (3.56), have won consecutive contests after losing five of their previous six.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and numerous general managers have key decisions to make about the direction they want to take their respective teams. Some executives have it easy; teams well on their way to locking postseason spots are obvious buyers, while clubs that are so far removed from contention are clear sellers.However, teams on the bubble have very difficult decisions to make - buy, sell, or sit? Let's look at which direction 10 fringe playoff teams should head in before April 12.Calgary Flames Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyCurrent standing: 5th in North

The San Jose Sharks are open for cap relief.The club has more than $6 million in cap space and is looking to use it as leverage to obtain assets ahead of the April 12 trade deadline, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun reports.San Jose sits seventh in the West Division past the midway point of the season and is likely to miss the playoffs. The Sharks haven't fallen short of the postseason in consecutive campaigns since 1996-97.The salary cap remained flat in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult for many general managers to facilitate moves to improve their clubs.Sharks general manager Doug Wilson admitted earlier in March that the team was heading toward an organizational reset.The Sharks don't own a second-round pick in the 2021 draft due to the Erik Karlsson trade. They also dealt their fifth-rounder in 2022 for netminder Devan Dubnyk.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier is among the netminders on the Philadelphia Flyers' radar ahead of the April 12 trade deadline, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.However, if the Flyers fall out of playoff contention before the deadline, they could instead become sellers, LeBrun added.Philadelphia sits three points back of the Boston Bruins for the final playoff spot in the East Division. Boston has two games in hand, though.The Flyers own the NHL's worst save percentage (.878) and rank second-last in goals against per 60 minutes (3.51), according to Natural Stat Trick. Philadelphia, however, has the ninth-best expected goals against per 60 minutes in the league.Youngster Carter Hart ranks last in the NHL with minus-26.02 goals saved above expected, according to Evolving-Hockey. His veteran teammate, Brian Elliott, hasn't been much better, sporting an .893 save percentage.Bernier has been solid despite playing for the Red Wings, who sit 29th in the NHL standings. The 32-year-old owns a .918 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average in 17 games this season. He's in the final year of his contract carrying a $3-million cap hit.Dean Lombardi, a senior advisor for the Flyers, drafted Bernier 11th overall in 2006 while general manager of the Los Angeles Kings.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres took a 3-0 advantage into the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, with the end of their 17-game winless streak on the horizon. By the end of overtime, however, the Sabres skated off the ice without a victory for the 18th consecutive game.So much has gone wrong for a team that was never particularly strong on paper, to begin with. Buffalo battled a COVID-19 outbreak in early February and later lost captain Jack Eichel and starting netminder Linus Ullmark to long-term injuries.The club fired head coach Ralph Krueger earlier this month, but the change hasn't done anything to spark better results. Offseason addition Taylor Hall has been a complete shell of himself, $9-million man Jeff Skinner still can't find the net, and the team looks like it's simply waiting for the season to finish.With the Sabres at risk of setting the longest winless streak on Wednesday night since the 2003-04 Pittsburgh Penguins, we take a look back at some eye-popping statistics the club has recorded throughout its slide.Minus-45: The Sabres' goal differential during the skid. They've been outscored 75-30 and allowed at least three goals in every game, conceding an average of 4.11. Mikko Rantanen, the NHL's leading scorer since the Sabres' last win, has 26 points of his own to the Sabres' 30 goals..878: Buffalo's team save percentage over the 18 games. With Ullmark injured, the trio of Carter Hutton, Jonas Johansson, and Dustin Tokarski were absolutely shelled. Ullmark was back in goal for the two most recent losses, so the 27-year-old should help the team snap the slide soon.5: The Sabres have been shut out five times amid the slump. The Detroit Red Wings are the only other team to be blanked five times this season, and those came in their 36 total games.8: Sam Reinhart's team-leading point total since the Sabres' last win. Reinhart ranks 167th among all players in that span. Only six forwards have netted more than one goal, and Hall isn't one of them.8%: The Sabres' dreadful power play has been almost non-existent. Buffalo has just three goals with the man advantage, and two of those tallies came in the first of the 18 losses back in February.7: Buffalo has lost multiple games to all seven teams in the division except for the Washington Capitals, who have had the fortune of playing the Sabres only once during their drought.11: The total number of losses by three-plus goals. The Sabres haven't even been close to winning the majority of games throughout the losing streak.13: The number of times Buffalo allowed the first goal, which leads all NHL teams during the 18-game span.1 - Plus/minus is an overused stat, but it's worth noting that just one player has avoided the dreaded dash throughout the losing streak. Congratulations to Tobias Rieder for his even rating, though the German winger has appeared in just 12 of the 18 outings.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild signed forward Matt Boldy to a three-year, entry-level contract starting this season, the club announced.Boldy will report directly to the AHL's Iowa Wild to begin his professional career.The Wild selected the 19-year-old with the 12th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. He tallied 11 goals and 20 assists in 22 games with Boston College this season. Boldy was recently named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.Boldy played a pivotal role on the gold medal-winning American squad at the 2021 world juniors, finishing tied for the team-lead with five goals while adding two assists in seven games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine says there's something unfamiliar about his current slump.The struggling sniper has managed just four points in his last 16 games."I've always told everybody: I'm not worried as long as I'm getting chances," Laine told The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "So I feel like this is kind of new. I'm not even getting chances. That's something I've never had before. I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes."(I) still have to play the same way, play just as hard, and hopefully find a way to do your best and hopefully score every now and then."Laine's play has tailed off considerably since he first arrived in Columbus from the Winnipeg Jets. In his first 10 games with the Blue Jackets, he registered six goals and four assists.The 22-year-old has been benched on multiple occasions in his short stint under head coach John Tortorella, and he admitted earlier in March that he was battling a lack of confidence.Laine's managed 17 points in 27 games in 2021, the least productive showing of his five-year career. He's a restricted free agent at season's end.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Adam Gaudette entered the NHL's COVID-19 protocol Tuesday after testing positive, the team announced.Gaudette, 24, has tallied four goals and three assists over 33 games this season.The Canucks take on the Calgary Flames on Wednesday before playing a back-to-back against the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets this weekend.The North Division hadn't been impacted by the pandemic until the Montreal Canadiens had players enter the protocol last week. The club had its next four games postponed but is set to return to action Tuesday night against the Oilers.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand is good to go.The Boston Bruins star will play against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday after missing the club's previous two outings due to a positive COVID-19 test.Marchand said his test result was a false positive, according to Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com.The 32-year-old leads the Bruins with 34 points this season and sits second with 12 goals through 29 contests.Boston recently had a pair of games postponed due to COVID-19 protocol. The team returned to action last Thursday against the New York Islanders.The Bruins have lost four of their last seven games and sit fourth in the East Division entering Tuesday's action.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau appeared in his 1,757th game Monday night against the Minnesota Wild, passing Mark Messier to claim sole possession of second place on the all-time games played list.

Pittsburgh Penguins netminder Tristan Jarry is being evaluated for an upper-body injury after leaving Monday's game versus the New York Islanders, head coach Mike Sullivan announced."I don't really have a lot of details for you at this point," Sullivan said. "I can't even pinpoint when it happened. It was something the medical staff felt strongly enough to take him out of the game."The 25-year-old started the contest, but he didn't return after the first intermission. Casey DeSmith entered the game in relief and stopped 19 of 20 New York shots as Pittsburgh secured a 2-1 victory.Jarry entered Monday's game with a 14-8-2 record and a .909 save percentage in 2021.The Penguins are dealing with several injuries to key players, as Evgeni Malkin, Brandon Tanev, and Kasperi Kapanen are all sidelined.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.