Auston Matthews' bid for the Hart Trophy looks even more impressive following a postgame revelation from Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe.The bench boss confirmed Matthews' wrist was bothering him as Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames progressed, and that the superstar forward didn't take the first faceoff in overtime because he wasn't comfortable doing so."We'll see how he is. (The training staff) will continue to take care of him and monitor it," Keefe said. "We don't think it's anything more at this point than what he's been dealing with virtually all season."Matthews, who leads the NHL with 18 goals, assisted on both of William Nylander's markers against the Flames on Wednesday.In doing so, Matthews became only the third player in Maple Leafs history to notch a point in at least 18 of his first 20 contests in a season, joining Babe Dye (19 in 1921-22) and Darryl Sittler (18 in 1975-76).The 23-year-old center put together a pair of stellar scoring runs earlier in 2021, racking up 11 goals over 10 games from Jan. 16 to Feb. 8 and amassing another seven across four contests from Feb. 15 to 20. He's averaging nearly 22 minutes of ice time.It's unclear if it's related, but Matthews sat out last season's on-ice All-Star events to receive treatment for an ongoing wrist condition. He did attend the festivities.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston's major sports teams will begin allowing spectators to return to stadiums next month.Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced Thursday that the state is planning to enter Phase 4 of its reopening plan, which paves the way for the NBA's Celtics, NHL's Bruins, and MLB's Red Sox to allow some fans into stadiums and arenas after March 22.The Red Sox announced Fenway Park will be open to the public starting in April but don't know how many people will be allowed to attend games. Other MLB clubs, such as the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds, are starting the 2021 campaign with a 30% capacity.Meanwhile, the Celtics (beginning March 29) and Bruins (March 23), who both play at TD Garden, are permitted to have up to 12% capacity, the arena announced.Fan attendance has been very limited, when not prohibited completely, at professional sporting events since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have placed forward Filip Chlapik on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, according to CapFriendly.Chlapik signed a one-year, $735,000 qualifying offer with Ottawa in October. The 23-year-old has recorded five goals and six assists in 57 career NHL games across four seasons, but he's played in just one contest this year.Though he didn't produce much offensively in his limited action, he did post strong defensive metrics.

Slumping Buffalo Sabres winger Jeff Skinner will be a healthy scratch for a third straight game Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger said, according to WKBW's Matthew Bove.Skinner, who has no goals and just one assist in 14 games this season, skated with the team's taxi squad Thursday morning. He's in the second season of an eight-year, $72-million contract.Asked what it would take to get Skinner out of his doghouse, Krueger replied that he doesn't have a doghouse and doesn't "know really what that is." But the head coach did make it clear he wants to see more from Skinner when he returns to the lineup."My job, combined with the attitude and the work ethic of a player, is to work together to find the potential of a player," he said. "When Jeff is called upon again, may we drive him closer to his potential working together on that solution."Krueger also said he wasn't making Skinner a healthy scratch due to the forward's own play, but rather because he wants to reward other deserving individuals."Right now, the decisions are more for the players that are in the lineup than against anybody else," Krueger said.Skinner's 1.06 individual expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season is the second-highest such mark of his career, according to Natural Stat Trick, suggesting the four-time 30-goal scorer was on the verge of breaking out before being pulled from the lineup.The 28-year-old potted a career-high 40 goals during his first season with Buffalo in 2018-19, but he only managed a disappointing 14 tallies in 59 games last year.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jason Zucker will be out "longer term" after suffering a lower-body injury in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals, head coach Mike Sullivan announced Thursday.Zucker needed to be helped off the ice by trainers after catching his skate on Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen's foot in the third period.

Welcome to the second edition of theScore's Norris Trophy Power Rankings.These rankings focus more on analytics and defensive acumen rather than just points.

Our heater suffered a minor setback as a 1-2 start to the week has pushed our current run to 15-6.Let's get it back with a sweep Thursday.Devils (+100) @ Sabres (-120)New Jersey closed as -145 favorites when these teams met less than 48 hours ago. The Sabres won 4-1 on Tuesday and are now -120 favorites for Thursday. Granted, this game is in Buffalo, but one win doesn't negate the fact that this is a team in turmoil.The Sabres' issues run deep and haven't been magically fixed overnight despite Tuesday's victory. The Devils thoroughly outplayed Buffalo, with Linus Ullmark standing on his head before a power-play goal swung the momentum in his team's favor.New Jersey is far from a perfect team, but its issues over the past week can largely be attributed to inexperience. This is a young, talented roster that's going through growing pains. The Devils are still undervalued, especially with a large edge in goal.MacKenzie Blackwood is excellent, and while he was outdueled by Linus Ullmark on Tuesday, that was the exception, not the rule. If Ullmark starts again Thursday, it'll be his fifth in eight nights. As a result, it's very possible we see Carter Hutton, who's a massive drop-off from Ullmark. Either way, the Devils will hold the edge in this department and are good value in what's a prime bounce-back spot.Pick: Devils (+100)Canadiens (-115) @ Jets (-105)The Canadiens made the right decision firing Claude Julien. This is a deep team with a lot of speed that needs to be aggressive and energetic offensively. Julien's insistence on sticking to a conservative game plan - clogging the neutral zone and waiting for your opponent to make mistakes - wasn't the right fit for this roster.In a move that was overdue, Kirk Muller is also gone. The Canadiens have had a bottom-10 power play in each of the last three seasons, and their penalty kill has also been below average. That's inexcusable given the personnel at their disposal. Both units have been nothing short of disastrous over the last few weeks, with no adjustments made.Julien's successor, Dominique Ducharme - who coached the Halifax Mooseheads to a Memorial Cup win and Canada to World Juniors gold - is known as an innovative offensive bench boss. Whether he's the answer remains to be seen, but the change should provide a necessary spark for a still very good Canadiens team.The market has soured on Montreal a bit due to this rough stretch. That works to our benefit as the Canadiens take on a Jets team the market is too high on. Winnipeg sits 29th in expected goals percentage, with Montreal in first. Better days are ahead for the Canadiens, while the Jets - who were far from convincing in a pair of somewhat fortunate wins over a bad Canucks team - are due for some regression.Pick: Canadiens (-115)(Odds source: theScore Bet)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.

The KHL says it was never apprised of any matter pertaining to Andrei Nazarov's recent abuse allegation regarding Artemi Panarin.The league has "not been aware of or received a complaint in relation to any incident involving Artemi Panarin in December 2011," the KHL said in a statement to ESPN's Emily Kaplan.If a complaint had been made, the league insisted Wednesday it would have investigated, "as we take any allegations of misconduct incredibly seriously."Panarin is at his home in Connecticut and doesn't intend to fly home to Russia at the moment, reports Kaplan.The New York Rangers star stepped away from the team indefinitely Monday in the wake of Nazarov's allegation that Panarin got into a physical altercation with an 18-year-old woman on a KHL road trip to Riga, Latvia. The Rangers called the story "fabricated" and "unfounded," while throwing their full support behind the forward.No evidence has been presented, no victim has come forward, and no court or police records have been found that would corroborate Nazarov's allegation since Panarin took leave, according to Kaplan.Nazarov, a former NHLer who coached Panarin with KHL club Vityaz at the time, is a known supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Panarin has shown solidarity with opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was sentenced to more than three years in prison earlier this month after being poisoned over the summer.The Rangers believe Nazarov's claims are in retaliation for Panarin's Instagram post in January, according to Kaplan. Panarin captioned the post "freedom for Navalny" in Russian.NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league is also looking into the allegations.Several of Panarin's former teammates with Vityaz questioned the allegations and defended him Tuesday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin explained his decision to fire head coach Claude Julien on Wednesday."I had talks with Claude in the last little while and I know the message he was telling the players and what was happening was not the same," Bergevin said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "It happens in all sports. Claude is a very good coach, it's just at some point the player needs a new voice."The Canadiens won just two of their last eight games after starting the season 7-1-2. Bergevin said he saw his team trending in the wrong direction and decided to act before things got worse."We had two eight-game losing streaks last year, and I saw a pattern I didn't want to repeat," he said, according to The Athletic's Marc Antoine Godin.Bergevin said the shortened season played a role in making the move when he did.He added that his decision to promote assistant Dominique Ducharme to interim head coach wasn't impacted by COVID-19."Quarantine, no quarantine, Dom was my guy from the time I made my decision," he said.Bergevin also said he won't be interviewing head coaching candidates and that Ducharme will remain interim head coach for the rest of the campaign and be evaluated after.Ducharme is the Canadiens' third head coach under Bergevin's reign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brendan Gallagher wasn't happy after officials disallowed what would have been the winning goal for his Montreal Canadiens against the Ottawa Senators in the dying seconds of regulation.The Canadiens appeared to score with about two seconds remaining in the third period to take a 5-4 lead, but the NHL's Situation Room initiated a goaltender interference review and nixed the goal. The game ultimately went to overtime, and the Senators won in a shootout.The league explained postgame that Gallagher "impaired Ottawa goaltender Matt Murray's ability to play his position in the crease prior to the puck entering the net."Gallagher disagreed with that assessment."I get knocked on my ass - I have time to reset, you can't tell me the goalie doesn't have time to reset," the Canadiens forward said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Gallagher added that the NHL shows teams a video depicting goaltender interference every season, and he saw one in which Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen got pushed but was able to recover, so the goal stood. Gallagher said the officials received the same video.The veteran forward believes the inconsistency in rulings on video reviews has had a negative effect on the sport."To me, it's ruined the product," he said, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu.Tuesday's disallowed goal was the second controversial ruling impacting the Canadiens in a span of three days. On Saturday night, a Montreal goal that cut the Maple Leafs' lead to 4-3 in the second period was initially upheld. However, the Leafs then challenged the play for goalie interference, and the goal was overturned. Toronto won that contest 5-3.Canadiens head coach Claude Julien could not use his coach's challenge because reviews in the final minute of regulation and overtime are handled by NHL Situation Room in Toronto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens fired head coach Claude Julien and associate coach Kirk Muller on Wednesday, the team announced.Assistant Dominique Ducharme will take over as head coach on an interim basis.Montreal started the season 7-1-2 but has just two wins in its last eight games. The Canadiens are coming off back-to-back losses to the Ottawa Senators and are now 1-1-2 against the North Division's last-place team this season."I would like to sincerely thank Claude and Kirk for their contributions to our team over the past five years during which we worked together," general manager Marc Bergevin said. "I have great respect for these two men whom I hold in high regard."This marks the second time Montreal has fired Julien. His first stint with the club ended during the 2005-06 campaign after parts of three seasons.Julien failed to lead the Canadiens past the first round of the playoffs during his second tour of duty with Montreal, though the team did upset the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year's qualifying round.The 60-year-old owns a 201-175-10-50 record across his two stints with the Canadiens and ranks fifth on the team's all-time wins list.Ducharme, meanwhile, was in his third season as Julien's assistant. He's best known for serving as Canada's head coach at the world juniors in 2017 and 2018, helping the team win silver at the former and gold at the latter."In Dominique Ducharme, we see a very promising coach who will bring new life and new energy to our group," Bergevin said. "We feel that our team can achieve high standards, and the time had come for a change. "Former NHLer Alex Burrows, who previously served as an assistant coach with the AHL's Laval Rocket, will join Ducharme's staff. Luke Richardson and Stephane Waite are staying on as assistant coach and goalie coach, respectively.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the second edition of theScore's 2021 Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, we get an early look at which netminders have been at the top of their game this season.GAA = Goals against average

Several of Artemi Panarin's former teammates in the KHL are questioning Andrei Nazarov's allegation that the New York Rangers star committed assault over nine years ago."(Panarin) was a great kid, I have nothing but nice things to say about him, so when I heard that, I was like, 'Oh, that doesn't sound like him,'" Jon Mirasty told the New York Post's Mollie Walker. "And I'm pretty sure I would have heard something like that, you know, being one of the older veteran players there."I never heard anything like that, so I was kind of blown away. I'm obviously not saying it didn't happen, but if I were to guess, (it didn't.) And why is it coming out 10 years later?"Mirasty also said the allegation doesn't "add up to me."Another one of Panarin's then-teammates, Kip Brennan, echoed that sentiment."I didn't know or hear that something like that ever happened," Brennan said. "He was a great guy, he was hilarious in the locker room. He always worked on his English with the North American guys and was a very talented young player."Two other former teammates, who wish to stay anonymous, concurred with Mirasty and Brennan's assessments.They all played with Panarin on KHL club Vityaz in 2011-12. Nazarov, a former NHLer who was the team's head coach at the time, recently told a Russian tabloid that Panarin got into a physical altercation with an 18-year-old woman during a road trip in Riga, Latvia, in December 2011.Panarin took an indefinite leave from the Rangers on Monday, and the NHL club said the star forward "vehemently and unequivocally denies any and all allegations in this fabricated story." The club also called Nazarov's allegation "unfounded" and expressed its full support for the player.Nazarov has been a vocal proponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Panarin has expressed support for opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was sentenced to three and a half years in prison earlier this month after being poisoned in August.Panarin shared an Instagram post captioned "freedom for Navalny" in Russian in January, and Mirasty told Walker he's seen Panarin decry the Putin-led government.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jason Zucker was forced out of Tuesday's 3-2 victory against the Washington Capitals after suffering an apparent leg injury late in the game.

The NHL has altered the dates and/or start times for dozens of games.These 24 contests have all been fully rescheduled:All times in p.m. ET.AwayHomeOriginal DateNew Date (Time)Tampa Bay LightningDallas StarsFeb. 18March 2 (8:30)Philadelphia FlyersPittsburgh PenguinsApril 13March 6 (1:00)Nashville PredatorsStarsFeb. 15March 7 (8:00)StarsColumbus Blue JacketsMarch 15March 14 (5:00)LightningStarsFeb. 20March 16 (8:30)PredatorsStarsFeb. 16March 21 (8:30)Florida PanthersLightningMarch 16March 21 (4:00)St. Louis BluesColorado AvalancheApril 20April 2 (9:00)FlyersBoston BruinsMarch 7April 5 (7:00)BruinsFlyersApril 5April 10 (2:00)StarsPredatorsApril 29April 11 (8:00)FlyersWashington CapitalsFeb.9April 13 (7:00)LightningPredatorsApril 12April 13 (8:00)New York IslandersBruinsApril 14April 15 (7:00)Chicago BlackhawksPredatorsApril 4April 19 (8:00)AvalancheBluesFeb. 7April 20 (8:00)FlyersNew York RangersFeb. 14April 22 (7:00)StarsLightningMarch 1April 29 (7:00)StarsLightningMay 4May 5 (7:00)BlackhawksCarolina HurricanesFeb. 20May 6 (7:00)StarsLightningMay 10May 7 (7:00)StarsBlackhawksMay 6May 9 (7:00)HurricanesPredatorsMay 7May 10 (8:00)StarsBlackhawksMay 8May 10 (8:00)These six games have new start times:AwayHomeDateOriginal TimeNew TimeStarsBlue JacketsMarch 137:005:00PredatorsLightningMarch 157:004:00Arizona CoyotesAnaheim DucksMarch 2010:008:00BlackhawksLightningMarch 207:004:00PredatorsPanthersMarch 207:002:00BluesAvalancheApril 33:009:00Lastly, the Lightning-Panthers game originally slated for May 6 will be rescheduled on a date to be announced later.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Babcock has received his fair share of criticism from around the NHL, but the bench boss doesn't necessarily believe it's totally warranted."I'm not a big media guy, following what's going on. You know if you're getting whacked or not," Babcock said on "The Rod Pedersen Show" Tuesday when asked what it's like getting criticized by the media for the last year and a half."I know who I am, I know what I've done. Some of this doesn't pass the smell test at all."After spending 17 seasons in the NHL as a head coach, the Toronto Maple Leafs fired Babcock in 2019, and he hasn't returned behind the bench since.The 57-year-old came under scrutiny after being dismissed for what was deemed by many as controversial coaching tactics. Babcock recently said he made a "major mistake" when he asked then-rookie Mitch Marner to rank himself and his teammates based on their work ethic during the 2016-17 season.Babcock owns an impressive head-coaching resume featuring a Stanley Cup victory and two Olympic gold medals. He believes his experience and connections in the hockey world reflect his actual character."When you look at my career, I've always been hired by people that knew me - it's not like we had a Zoom meeting."When I went to Detroit, I had worked with Jim Nill and Ken Holland, we had shared a farm team together, they knew everything about me, so they knew me for four years. I worked with them for 10 years. Steve Yzerman played for me, he hired me to coach two Olympic teams, he worked with me for four years in the office. Then (Brendan Shanahan) hired me to coach (in Toronto)."Something doesn't add up."The Saskatoon native was recently named the new head coach of the University of Saskatchewan's men's hockey team.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour is available for trade, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The 26-year-old has registered three assists in 13 games this season while averaging 20:54 of ice time per contest. His underlying numbers are poor, as he's posted a Corsi for percentage of 47.1 and an expected goals for percentage of 48.6 at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.Montour has one year left on his contract carrying a $3.85-million cap hit. He'll be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.The Sabres acquired the right-handed blue-liner from the Anaheim Ducks in February 2019 in exchange for defenseman Brendan Guhle and a 2019 first-round pick (Brayden Tracey).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Many predicted the offseason addition of Taylor Hall would make the Buffalo Sabres an offensive juggernaut, but he and Jack Eichel have combined for just three goals on the campaign.In five games since the team returned from its COVID-19 shutdown, Eichel has collected just two assists. Monday night's 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders was a particularly rough outing for the captain, as the Sabres generated just 27.3% of the shot attempts and 26% of the expected goals while Eichel was on the ice at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.Head coach Ralph Krueger was asked postgame if Eichel was hurt."No. No, he's not," Krueger said, according to The Athletic's John Vogl. "For me, it's a confidence factor. He needs to stick with it and persevere."Hall created more chances on Monday than Eichel, but he remains stymied with one goal on the campaign. Krueger believes Hall and Eichel need to work through their struggles and start carrying the offense."If you look at Taylor Hall today also, six shots on net, posts again," Krueger said. "They need to stick with it and they need to believe and work through this and then get our five-on-five game going on their backs."The Sabres are also lacking contributions from Jeff Skinner, who has yet to score in 14 games. He was a healthy scratch on Monday.Eichel, Skinner, and Hall make up 33.1% of the Sabres' salary cap, according to CapFriendly.Buffalo is in last place in the East Division and ranks 28th in goals per game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brantt Myhres' eyes widen when he's asked about the shiny motocross bike in his living room."This is the fastest production dirt bike ever made," Myhres said during a recent Zoom call, moving his head away from the camera so his Kawasaki KX500 could fill up more screen space. "They stopped making it 18 years ago when the four strokes came out."The 65-horsepower, neon-green bike isn't merely a toy for the former pro hockey badass. It's also a reminder of his childhood in Alberta - the good and the bad."When I was little, it was a way for me to escape from what was going on at the house," Myhres, 46, said. "I'd head out to the alley nearby and ride for hours on my dirt bike." Todd Warshaw / Getty ImagesMyhres is the author of a new book, "Pain Killer: A Memoir Of Big League Addiction." In 2006, the NHL handed him a lifetime ban after his fourth drug-related suspension. The autobiography chronicles his difficult upbringing with a distant father and an abusive stepfather, as well as a childhood encounter with a sexual predator he met through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. It dives deep into the rise and fall of an NHL tough guy who not only went toe to toe with all-time heavyweights like Georges Laraque but also squandered millions of dollars while battling anxiety-induced addictions to alcohol and cocaine."This isn't about Brantt Myhres," he said of sharing his life's story. "Yeah, I wrote it, but at the end of the day this is way bigger than me. My hope isn't about book sales; I couldn't care less about that. I've got enough money. This is about the 15-year-old sending me a message, saying, maybe I saved his or her life or their parent's life."That, to me, is the juice. Nothing else."During a journeyman career stretching from 1993 to 2006 and featuring minor-league stops in the IHL, AHL, and EIHL, Myhres picked up six goals and two assists in 154 NHL games as a 6-foot-4, 220-pound winger. He fought 55 times, according to HockeyFights.com, racking up 687 career penalty minutes as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals, and Boston Bruins.Off the ice, alcohol became "more important than food." For years, Myhres says, he “couldn’t fathom not drinking again” as most social interactions turned into lengthy parties. Over time he even figured out how to temporarily hide his substance abuse from NHL officials, by either supplying fake urine samples or cozying up to the league’s testers."I was just loving it. I was a kid in a candy store," Myhres said of his ability to skirt the testing system. "But there's a line in the book that's never left me: The NHL told me, 'It's going to come to a point where we're not going to have to bust you. You're going to bust yourself.' And it's so true. I kept grabbing the rope and grabbing the rope, and then eventually I didn't have good urine. I busted myself at the end of the day."Rock bottom arrived around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 18, 2008. Myhres, recently retired after an unsuccessful half-season playing in England, was handcuffed in the snow outside of his sister's house. He had blacked out from drinking alcohol for the first time in his life."The stuff that I did during the blackout was very scary. I mean, having a knife out and having my sister by her throat … the kids were hiding in the closet upstairs," he said, relaying his sister's recollection. "When I got home that night I remember waking up and just hysterically crying for, I would say, a solid hour. Maybe an hour and a half."With his daughter Chloe due to be born in five days, Myhres entered rehab for a fifth and final time. He spent six months as an inpatient and another two in an outpatient program."At that point I had no hope. I was completely broke financially, and spiritually, and physically. I was broke every which way you could be broke. I think that would have been the turning point," said Myhres, who last week celebrated 13 years of sobriety. A Pichette / Getty ImagesHe started writing about his struggles in that Oregon treatment center. Originally, it was purely therapeutic, not meant for public consumption. But eventually his openness and willingness to attack his problems head-on led to a counseling position with the Los Angeles Kings in 2015. He worked as the club's player assistance director for three years.Ex-Kings coach Darryl Sutter was instrumental in bringing Myhres into the organization. Sutter believed in him then and throughout his dizzying career. Myhres counts Sutter, who coached him in San Jose and became a father figure, and Dan Cronin, the director of the league's substance abuse program, as heroes of his story."Dan was a guy who called me on the morning of the 18th, and said, 'Hey, we heard what happened last night. Would you commit to long-term treatment?' I'm like, 'You guys are going to pay for treatment again?' I couldn't believe it," Myhres said. "And he said, 'Don't worry about anything. Just get yourself on a plane.' So I owe so much to the league and the NHLPA for not only investing in the treatment center, and all of that, but they also paid for me to go back to school. They gave me a monthly stipend through the emergency fund. They gave that to me for like four years, and I'm like, 'OK, I've been three years sober and they're still sending me $1,200 a month. Incredible.'"Armed now with education in substance abuse and behavioral health from Calgary's Mount Royal University, as well as the practical experience from his time with the Kings, Myhres hopes to catch on with another NHL team. He doesn't see the downside in hiring an ex-player to help shepherd active players through issues relating to mental health, substance abuse, or both, like the Kings did with him and the Calgary Flames are doing with alumnus Brian McGrattan."I just don't understand," Myhres said of the lukewarm response from a group of 20 teams he's approached since parting ways with L.A. "When you're talking about additional support - they bring in all the nutritionists, health experts, sleep experts, and all of this - they don't really pay enough attention to the mental health side of it. The reality is, one or two guys are going to have issues on every team. That's a guarantee." @brantt_myhres / InstagramAhead of the launch of "Pain Killer," Myhres felt compelled to tell Chloe - who turns 13 on Thursday - that the person portrayed in the first half of the book isn't the person he is today. Those nights of hot tubbing with strippers and brawling in bars are long gone.But Myhres is fully aware of just how powerful addiction can be."I've done a lot of work on myself the last 13 years. It's a daily thing for me," he said. "I never look at my sobriety and say I'm out of the woods. Because I'm not."The dirt bike, which Myhres calls "the beast," is one of the ways he maintains his sobriety. He plans to visit a friend in British Columbia in April to test it out before the weather warms in his hometown of Edmonton."Me, with the need for adrenaline, I want the fastest thing that is made," he said with a giant smile. "If I go out on a dirt bike, great. That's OK with me."John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer. You can follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) and contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the second edition of theScore's 2021 Calder Trophy Power Rankings, we feature three rookies new to the list, including one of last year's high-profile draftees.Although postponements and small sample sizes have skewed some of the numbers, these five freshmen are worthy of recognition.5. Pius Suter, Chicago Blackhawks Dave Reginek / National Hockey League / GettyGPPATOIxGF%191015:4348.12Suter has filled in admirably on the Blackhawks' top line after Jonathan Toews and Kirby Dach suffered injuries. The 24-year-old leads all rookies in goals (six) and ranks third in points. Suter's done the majority of his damage at even strength, too. He's already exceeded expectations as an unheralded signing out of Switzerland.4. Josh Norris, Ottawa Senators Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyGPPATOIxGF%201115:3058.44Norris has been a real bright spot in what's been a difficult season for the Senators. The 21-year-old pivot ranks second on the team in scoring and second among all rookies, though he's played more games than most of his peers. However, Norris' underlying numbers are perhaps the most impressive aspect of his debut campaign. His expected goal stats shine relative to his teammates, which is a great sign for a club in desperate need of depth down the middle of the ice.3. Kevin Lankinen, Chicago Blackhawks Glenn James / National Hockey League / GettyGPWSv%GAA137.9272.42Lankinen has come out of left field to change the entire outlook of the Blackhawks' season. Chicago was widely considered to be a lottery team thanks to injuries and uncertainty in goal, but the undrafted 25-year-old has thrust the club into playoff contention. Lankinen's save percentage through 13 games ranks fifth in the league, and he's tied for the lead among all goalies with nine goals saved above average.2. Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPPATOIxGF%17915:3540.21Stutzle has made a charge up our rankings after missing the cut last month as he's more consistently showcasing his scintillating skill set. The 2020 third overall pick leads all rookies with seven points in February and appears to be getting more comfortable with life in the NHL. Stutzle is emerging as a stronger scoring threat with each passing game; he'll only see his point total climb as he's awarded more responsibility.1. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPPATOIxGF%151318:1148.3The Wild have played only five games in February due to a COVID-19 outbreak, yet Kaprizov leads all rookies in scoring. The Russian winger also tops Minnesota in points, and he leads all first-year forwards in ice time. Not only has Kaprizov met expectations in his inaugural season on North American soil, but he's also proved to be the most dynamic first-year player in 2021 by a significant margin.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames starting goalie Jacob Markstrom missed Monday's contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to an upper-body injury, the team announced.The Leafs also revealed prior to the game that starting goalie Frederik Andersen was out due to a lower-body injury.After the Flames' 3-0 shutout victory, head coach Geoff Ward said Markstrom is "day-to-day for a little while," according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis.When asked postgame about Andersen's status, Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said the goaltender is considered day-to-day and that he doesn't "know what's going to happen from here," according to The Athletic's James Mirtle.Markstrom was pulled from Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers after allowing five goals on 20 shots. It isn't clear when he suffered an injury. The 31-year-old started 10 of Calgary's last 12 games.Andersen was able to complete his last contest, a 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. He's started 11 of the Leafs' past 12 games.Toronto was already shorthanded for Monday's matchup, with lineup staples Joe Thornton, Zach Hyman, and Jake Muzzin nursing injuries.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruce Boudreau is interested in becoming the first bench boss in the history of the Seattle Kraken."The thing about that job is it would be great to start with a team that is starting fresh and to be the builder of something," the former NHL head coach told The Athletic's Ryan S. Clark."I think that is a real exciting thing," Boudreau continued. "Even though it was in the minors, I got a chance to start a team in a new league in Muskegon and in Mississippi, too. It was in an older league and I got the same chance with a new franchise in Manchester, New Hampshire, as well. Every one of them was fun and it was exciting for people in the area. It is exciting for you because it is something brand-new."Boudreau won't dismiss a potential opportunity simply because of the location, and he believes the Kraken will be in a position to contend right away."It's not like you sit there and say, 'I do or do not want this job because it is a West Coast type thing,'" he said. "If someone offers you a job, it is an amazing thing. Especially with the success Vegas had. It is not like an expansion team in 1967. You knew then you were not going to be very good (and) have the dregs of every team."The way they have gone about it now, Seattle is going to start off with a pretty good team."Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said recently that the expansion franchise may wait until after the 2021 season to hire a head coach in order to have more candidates to choose from, though assistant GM Ricky Olczyk mentioned in November that the team's owners have already given management the green light to hire one.Boudreau confirmed in August he was open to the idea of joining the Toronto Maple Leafs as an assistant coach, though that club didn't ultimately bring him on. The Minnesota Wild fired him last February in the midst of his fourth season with the team. The 66-year-old previously guided the Anaheim Ducks for nearly five full campaigns, and he began his head coaching career with the Washington Capitals, with whom he spent parts of five seasons.Though Boudreau has over a decade of NHL head coaching experience, he's made only one appearance in the conference finals. The Ducks reached that round in 2015 before the Chicago Blackhawks eliminated them in seven games.The Kraken are scheduled to begin play in 2021-22. The league's expansion draft is slated for July 21, 2021.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Ayres' miraculous victory as an emergency backup goaltender with the Carolina Hurricanes last year is being made into a movie with the help of Disney.The 43-year-old said comedian James Corden called him shortly after the win to discuss making a movie about it, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. Ayres then connected Creative Artists Agency, and at least 24 different production companies apparently expressed interest in the idea."(CAA) said to me, 'You wouldn't believe the amount of production companies that have come to us already asking to do this film. It's insane,'" Ayres said. "They narrowed it down to 24 at one point, and then we narrowed it down to 12. We listened to 12 pitches from all the different people."He added: "That's how the whole Disney thing came about. So, we'll see what happens. A little slow now with COVID, but once we get the ball rolling, it'll be fine. Once we start writing it, I think they'll go two years from there."Ayres said he was told he'll be a producer and help with writing the script.On Feb. 22, 2020, Ayres was called into action against the Toronto Maple Leafs after both of the Hurricanes' goalies went down with injuries. He was a Zamboni driver for the AHL's Toronto Marlies at the time and helped backstop Carolina to a 6-3 victory in front of Toronto's home crowd.When reflecting on the moment a year later, Ayres shared his biggest takeaway from the experience."It just lets you know, anything you try in life, you can achieve it," Ayres said. "You put a lot of hard work and get a couple lucky bounces here and there, and things will go your way - as long as you stay positive."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jake McCabe's season appears to be over.The Buffalo Sabres defenseman will likely be out for about six-to-eight months after injuring the ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his right knee during Saturday's win over the New Jersey Devils, the Sabres announced Monday.McCabe had to be helped off the ice after colliding with Devils forward Nico Hischier in the third period.The 27-year-old blue-liner had been one half of the Sabres' top defensive pair alongside Rasmus Ristolainen, who remains unavailable despite being removed from the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list.McCabe collected only one goal and two assists in 13 games in 2021, but he was playing much better than those numbers indicated. The veteran rearguard posted a 55.56 five-on-five goals for percentage and a 61.97 expected goals for percentage in the same situations, according to Natural Stat Trick.He's spent his entire career with the Sabres, who drafted him 44th overall in 2012.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman believes the 2021 NHL Draft should be delayed in order to give the eligible prospects who've had their seasons delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic an opportunity to play."I would hope they push it back, and give us a chance to watch these kids and give these kids a chance to play and put their best foot forward leading up to the draft," Yzerman said Monday, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.It was reported earlier this month the NHL has had conversations about pushing back the 2021 draft - which is scheduled for July 23 - until the summer of 2022, which means the league would hold back-to-back drafts.Although the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and NCAA seasons began months ago, the Western Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League have yet to begin their respective 2020-21 campaigns.The Ontario government is currently working with the OHL on a plan for the season, according to CTV's Josh Pringle. The WHL has set return dates for each of its divisions and will have all teams in action by March 19.Yzerman's rebuilding Red Wings sit 29th in the league heading into Monday's action and are likely to own a high lottery pick for the 2021 draft.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin will be away from the club indefinitely in the wake of a "fabricated story" against him from Russia, the team announced Monday.Panarin's former KHL coach, Andrei Nazarov, said the winger got into a physical altercation with an 18-year-old woman in Latvia in 2011 and "sent her to the floor with several powerful blows," Sports.ru wrote Friday, according to a translation provided to ESPN's Emily Kaplan."Artemi vehemently and unequivocally denies any and all allegations in this fabricated story," the Rangers said in a statement. "This is clearly an intimidation tactic being used against him for being outspoken on recent political events."Artemi is obviously shaken and concerned and will take some time away from the team. The Rangers fully support Artemi and will work with him to identify the source of these unfounded allegations."Nazarov, who played 12 NHL seasons, also claims that an unnamed person paid a "sum of $40,000 Euro cash" to stop the case against Panarin.The forward has publicly criticized the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin. In January, the 29-year-old showed his support for opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a post captioned "freedom for Navalny" in Russian.The 5-foot-11 winger ranked third in league scoring with 95 points over 69 games last season, finishing third in Hart Trophy voting.Panarin has tallied five goals and a team-best 18 points over 14 contests this campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We enjoyed a tasty sweep this weekend with the Oilers and Red Wings both cashing for us as 'dogs, moving us to 14-4 on this current heater.Here's how I'm betting these next two nights.Stars (+100) @ Panthers (-120)

This is the fourth 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 examine the biggest surprise for each team thus far.1. Toronto Maple Leafs (14-3-2)Previous rank: 4thThe Leafs have been carried by a dominant attack for the entirety of the Auston Matthews era, and while Toronto's offense is still quite potent, ranking top 10 in shots against per game is a significant shake-up.2. Carolina Hurricanes (12-3-1) Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 8thAfter scoring 31 goals and 75 points in 2017-18, Vincent Trocheck seems to have finally regained his scoring touch with the Hurricanes. He's currently tied for both the most goals (9) and points (16) on the team and his 82-game pace has him on track for the best season of his career.3. Colorado Avalanche (9-4-1)Previous rank: 6thGoaltending was considered the Avalanche's weakness entering the season, but Philipp Grubauer has silenced the critics. He's posted a .936 save percentage and a 1.67 goals-against average while starting all but two of Colorado's games with backup Pavel Francouz sidelined.4. Tampa Bay Lightning (10-4-1)Previous rank: 1stThe defending champs have suffered injuries to numerous key forwards this season, but Mikhail Sergachev emerging as an offensive contributor is a notable surprise. The 22-year-old defenseman ranks fifth on the club in scoring and currently boasts a career-best 0.73 points per game.5. Boston Bruins (11-3-2)Previous rank: 3rdDespite losing defensemen Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara, the Bruins remarkably entered Sunday as the league's best shot-suppressing team at five-on-five.6. Florida Panthers (11-3-2)Previous rank: 7thCarter Verhaeghe's hot start is one of the most surprising in the NHL. The 25-year-old entered the campaign with only 52 career regular-season games under his belt - most of which were spent on the Lightning's fourth line. He's now tallied seven goals and six assists in 16 games while riding shotgun on the top line with Aleksander Barkov. Not bad for a two-year, $2-million UFA signing.7. Vegas Golden Knights (10-4-1) Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 2ndEverybody pegged Robin Lehner as the Golden Knights' new No. 1 netminder, but Marc-Andre Fleury turning back the clock and posting a .935 save percentage through 10 starts is the unexpected story of the season thus far in Sin City.8. Edmonton Oilers (12-8-0)Previous rank: 23rdIt appears Darnell Nurse may have finally blossomed into the bona fide No. 1 defenseman the Oilers have been hoping for. He's tied for the lead among all defensemen in goals (6), tied for second in points (16), ranks sixth in time on ice (25:30), and is fifth in hits (52).9. St. Louis Blues (10-6-2)Previous rank: 13thJordan Kyrou has established himself as a key player for the Blues this season, ranking second on a team full of veteran stars with 17 points in 18 games despite averaging under 15 minutes per contest.10. Winnipeg Jets (11-6-1)Previous rank: 9thAndrew Copp was predominately used as a bottom-six checking winger during his first five NHL seasons, but he's performed well with top-line minutes, driving play at a high rate and chipping in offensively.11. Montreal Canadiens (9-5-3)Previous rank: 5thMany thought Jake Allen would provide Carey Price some breathing room to flourish in the crease, but the backup netminder has actually heavily outplayed the former Hart Trophy winner thus far. Allen's .932 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average in seven games are dazzling compared to Price's .893 save percentage and 2.87 goals-against average.12. Philadelphia Flyers (8-4-3)Previous rank: 10thTravis Konecny looked like a star in the making with a breakout 2019-20 campaign, but the Flyers' feisty winger has slumped to the tune of just eight points in 12 games so far. He's been held off the scoresheet in seven contests and was a surprise healthy scratch this season.13. Pittsburgh Penguins (9-6-1)Previous rank: 17thIf you thought Teddy Blueger would have as many points (10) as Evgeni Malkin through 16 games, you're a liar. Blueger has been excellent, posting strong underlying numbers despite an offensive zone start percentage of just 26.2% while centering Pittsburgh's checking line.14. Washington Capitals (9-5-3)Previous rank: 11thGoaltending was the Capitals' biggest question mark entering the season, and that was with a duo of Ilya Samsonov and Henrik Lundqvist. With the former spending most of the campaign on the COVID-19 list and the latter sitting out due to a heart condition, Vitek Vanecek has been thrust into action. He's kept the team afloat with reliable play (.907 save percentage, 2.92 goals-against average).15. Chicago Blackhawks (9-6-4) Dave Reginek / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 25thUndrafted rookie goaltender Kevin Lankinen has compiled a 7-3-3 record with a sparkling .927 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average and has helped the Blackhawks remain competitive this season.16. New York Islanders (8-6-3)Previous rank: 20thMany expected blue-chip goalie prospect Ilya Sorokin to make an instant impact on Long Island, but a .895 save percentage through four starts was not in New York's plans. We'll give the youngster some more time to figure out life in the NHL, though.17. Minnesota Wild (8-6-0)Previous rank: 16thMinnesota's power play is clicking at an awfully low rate of 7.7% this season, having just scored four times so far.18. Los Angeles Kings (7-6-3)Previous rank: 29thCalvin Petersen is quietly putting up some sparkling numbers in Tinseltown. The Kings' young netminder has only won three of nine appearances, but he owns a .926 save percentage and 5.3 goals saved above average - good for seventh among all goalies this season.19. Columbus Blue Jackets (8-7-4) Jamie Sabau / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 14thJack Roslovic was viewed by many as an afterthought in the Pierre-Luc Dubois-Patrik Laine trade, but the former first-round pick has found his game with his hometown team, notching 10 points in 12 contests with the Blue Jackets.20. Arizona Coyotes (7-7-3)Previous rank: 21stWhile his progression may not surprise those who follow the Coyotes closely, Conor Garland is establishing himself as a serious offensive threat every time he steps on the ice. The former fifth-round pick is playing at a 72-point pace (over 82 games) and his underlying numbers are tremendous.21. Calgary Flames (8-9-1) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 15thEven after bringing in Jacob Markstrom and reinforcing their blue line in the offseason, the struggling Flames rank 22nd in goals against this season and own a minus-7 goal differential. Not good enough for a team that was expected to be a contender in the North Division.22. Dallas Stars (5-3-4)Previous rank: 12thJoe Pavelski had a quiet regular season in his first with the Stars last year but really came alive during the postseason. His magnificent play carried over to this campaign, as he's racked up 17 points in his first 12 games - putting him on pace to shatter his career-high numbers.23. New Jersey Devils (6-5-2)Previous rank: 19thThe Devils allow the fewest goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five (1.54) in the entire NHL. The team ranked 29th in that regard a year ago, and starting goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood has been limited to just six games.24. San Jose Sharks (7-7-2)Previous rank: 27thOn a blue line full of aging veterans with big contracts, Mario Ferraro has been a pleasant surprise. The 22-year-old has not looked overmatched while averaging over 23 minutes per contest.25. New York Rangers (6-7-3)Previous rank: 22ndMika Zibanejad led the NHL with 0.72 goals per game last season, yet somehow only has two tallies and two assists through 16 games in 2021. His dreadful start is one of the biggest surprises league-wide, and it's hurting the Rangers.26. Vancouver Canucks (8-12-2)Previous rank: 28thThe Canucks' season hasn't gone according to plan, but rookie Nils Hoglander has been a bright spot. The 20-year-old is the only player chosen beyond the first round of the 2019 draft to play more than one NHL game. He also ranks fourth in the entire draft in career points.27. Anaheim Ducks (6-9-3) Debora Robinson / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 26thWe knew the Ducks would struggle to score this season, but it's still quite shocking they're the only team in the league without a double-digit point producer.28. Nashville Predators (7-10-0)Previous rank: 24thOnly two Predators players (Filip Forsberg and Calle Jarnkrok) have scored more than three goals this season. The overall offensive futility from a team that won the Presidents' Trophy only three years ago is truly mind-boggling.29. Buffalo Sabres (5-7-2)Previous rank: 18thSince inking an eight-year, $72-million deal with the Sabres, Jeff Skinner has been unable to get anything going. He finished last season with 14 goals and nine assists in 59 games and is faring even worse this campaign, with just one assist through 14 contests.30. Detroit Red Wings (5-12-3)Previous rank: 30thThe Red Wings are awful, but Jonathan Bernier's .910 save percentage and 2.74 goals-against average are impressive. Detroit allowed a league-worst 3.73 goals against per game last season but has improved slightly this year, reducing that to 3.20 - good for 23rd in the league.31. Ottawa Senators (5-14-1)Previous rank: 31stThe Senators are in for another long year, but Ottawa's up-and-coming outfit surprisingly ranks fourth in the NHL with 31.9 shots per game.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were hit hard by injuries Monday, losing three key players for Monday's clash versus the Calgary Flames and potentially beyond.Defenseman Jake Muzzin is out due to a broken bone in his face, while forwards Zach Hyman and Joe Thornton are day-to-day with undisclosed ailments, head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed to TSN's Kristen Shilton.Muzzin's potential return date is unclear and he'll need to wear a full face shield when he's back on the ice, Keefe added.The veteran blue-liner was hit by an errant stick in Saturday's win over the Montreal Canadiens. Muzzin has chipped in 12 points while averaging 21 minutes per night for Toronto this season.Hyman has notched 10 points in 18 games. Thornton's contributed three goals and six assists in nine contests and returned last week from a rib injury that forced him to miss 10 games.The Maple Leafs sit first in the NHL with a 14-3-2 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko is suffering from a back injury, sources told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford.Parayko's been dealing with the ailment throughout the season and has missed the club's past two games. There's no clear timeline on when he may return, but he's doubtful to return to the ice this week, Rutherford adds.It's unknown if Parayko will require surgery.Parayko is a key figure on St. Louis' blue line and has been tasked with top-pairing responsibilities after the offseason departure of former captain Alex Pietrangelo.In 16 games this season, Parayko's notched one goal and seven assists while logging over 22 minutes per contest.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 6. Roster percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Buy low on Mika ZibanejadTeam: Rangers

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the club announced Sunday.Merzlikins suffered the ailment during Saturday's contest against the Nashville Predators. He left the game after apparently hurting his left arm while making a save at the beginning of the third period.

It's Trevor Zegras time.The Anaheim Ducks recalled their prized prospect from the AHL's San Diego Gulls on Sunday, the team announced.Zegras was named MVP of the World Junior Hockey Championship in January after guiding the U.S. to a gold medal. He led the tournament with 18 points in seven games.The 19-year-old enjoyed a smooth transition to the pro level, as he recorded four goals and five assists in eight contests with the Gulls.The Ducks selected Zegras ninth overall at the 2019 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois will return to the lineup Sunday versus the Vancouver Canucks."I've never been more ready to go," he said, per Sportsnet's Ken Wiebe.Dubois missed Winnipeg's last four games due to what he called a "muscle injury."It appears he'll get a chance to skate on the Jets' top line.

Anaheim Ducks forward Adam Henrique has cleared waivers after surprisingly being made available on Saturday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Henrique was free for any team to grab over a 24-hour period, but he'll now continue his season with the Ducks. He's the club's second-highest paid forward, carrying a $5.83 million cap hit through the 2023-24 season.The 31-year-old led Anaheim with 26 goals and 43 points last campaign. However, he's off to a slow start in 2021 while managing only four points in 16 contests for the last-place Ducks.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Can we still call him "Sid the Kid?"After 1,000 career games, the moniker can be contributed to Sidney Crosby's evergreen love for the game and his elite ability at 33 years of age. Hockey fans everywhere still hold on to parts of that rosy-cheeked wunderkind from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, that became the face of hockey 16 years ago.The Penguins' blue-chip pivot is the first player in franchise history to reach the millennium mark in games played, and his accomplishments along the way have formed a body of work unmatched by most.Before we get into the numbers, let's briefly revisit what's been a remarkable ride for No. 87 thus far.Crosby's rise to greatness Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyCrosby burst onto the scene with 102 points in his rookie season. He then captured both his first Hart Trophy as MVP and first Art Ross Trophy with a league-best 120-point sophomore campaign. The Penguins made Crosby the youngest captain in NHL history ahead of Year 3, and by Year 4 he had led the franchise to the Stanley Cup. He accomplished all of this by the 290-game mark of his career.In Year 5, Crosby potted 51 goals to win the "Rocket" Richard Trophy. Well-documented concussion issues kept him sidelined for the better part of the three seasons to follow, but in 2013-14, Sid had a remarkable rise back to the top. He captured both his second career Hart and Art Ross that season after breaking the 100-point mark for the fifth time.With Crosby at the helm, the Penguins became the first team in 19 years to win back-to-back Stanley Cups (2016, 2017), with the captain collecting the Conn Smythe Trophy each time. In 2018-19, Crosby hit the 100-point mark once again - 14 years after doing it for the first time. Despite being in the latter half of his career, something tells us that "Sid the Kid" isn't done quite yet.Leader of an era Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyLet's take a moment to appreciate how incredible Crosby's first 1,000 games have been relative to his peers still playing today.RankPlayerGAPts1Sidney Crosby46881012782Alex Ovechkin60351511183Joe Thornton30769710044Ryan Getzlaf2686669345Jason Spezza3265708966Anze Kopitar3115758867Eric Staal3494868358Phil Kessel3574678249Corey Perry37440678010Patrice Bergeron307473780It's clear Crosby's body of work through 1,000 career games is superior. He also trumps every player on that list in both Stanley Cups and most of them in major individual awards, too.It's worth mentioning players like Patrick Kane (992 games played) and Crosby's longtime teammate Evgeni Malkin (923 games played) are on track to be near the top of that list once they reach 1,000 games. Malkin projects to reach around 1,176 points, which would still put him 100 back of Crosby.Legend among legends Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyWhen looking at Crosby's illustrious career to date from a historical perspective, there's no questioning his status as one of the greatest players to ever lace up a pair of skates.The 33-year-old is surrounded by Hall of Famers at this stage of his career both statistically and in terms of hardware. Below shows statistics from each player through 1,000 career games as well as how many Stanley Cups, Hart Trophies, and Art Ross Trophies they collected during that span.RankPlayerGPGAPtsSCHartArt Ross1Wayne Gretzky1000749151622654992Mario Lemieux915690103317232363Steve Yzerman100053379013233004Jaromir Jagr100052376012832155Jari Kurri100055872112795006Sidney Crosby100046881012783227Dale Hawerchuk100047079512650008Paul Coffey100033991012494009Joe Sakic1000480765124521010Peter Stastny9774507891239000*Mario Lemieux and Peter Stastny never reached the 1,000-game mark but remain in the top 10 in terms of points among players who didCrosby sits sixth in points and fourth in assists, which is impressive enough, but his greatness truly shines through when we understand which era each player played in. Using Hockey Reference's era-adjusted formulas, we can say with some reason Crosby has had the third-best career through his first 1,000 games in NHL history.RankPlayerGAPts1Wayne Gretzky607124518522Mario Lemieux61692415403Sidney Crosby54892414724Jaromir Jagr56480813735Joe Sakic48577312576Alex Ovechkin6845591243What comes next?With everything he's already accomplished, it's crazy to consider Crosby likely still has five-to-seven years of quality hockey left in him. The Penguins' perennial captain recently confirmed his desire to remain with the club for the remainder of his career, but whether or not the franchise can get back to being Stanley Cup contenders in that time remains to be seen.Statistically, he currently ranks 37th on the NHL's all-time scoring list. It's impossible to say how long Crosby can keep pace with his career point per game average of 1.27 - which is currently seventh-best all time - but it's reasonable to believe he'll crack the top 10 when all is said and done.If Crosby can average around 55 points for the next six seasons, which is extremely likely, he'll become just the 10th player ever to eclipse the 1,600-point mark.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The beautiful scenery of Lake Tahoe surrounded the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche when they hit the ice Saturday. After a rocky first period with players struggling to see and the ice taking a beating, the league decided to delay the rest of the game until midnight ET.Here are some of the best snapshots from a contest that took nearly 12 hours to complete.Vegas' mascots hit the beach Jeff Bottari / National Hockey League / GettyThe ice troubles are real Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyWhat a backdrop Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyColorado gets on the board Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyDoesn't get much better than this Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyFleury leads 'em back out Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyPlaying under the lights Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyGet out of MacKinnon's way! Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyCelebration at Lake Tahoe Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyAll eyes on Saad Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyCopyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

About eight hours after the NHL halted Saturday's outdoor game between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights, the teams got back on the ice to finish things off at Lake Tahoe.The NHL delayed the resumption of the contest until midnight ET due to poor ice conditions caused by extreme sun."We've done over 30 outdoor games," commissioner Gary Bettman said while confirming the suspension of play on NBC. "This has been the most difficult weather circumstance we've had, and it's a beautiful day. But if you look up at the sun, the cloud cover is everywhere but where the sun is, and it did a number on the ice."Bettman added the league made the decision in conjunction with the ice crew and both teams. The commissioner said some players wanted to continue playing while others expressed concerns."We've played in rain, we've played in snow," he said, according to the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran. "Sunshine has always been our enemy."The two teams completed the first period, with the Avalanche taking a 1-0 lead into the intermission. The start of the second frame was delayed for over an hour before Bettman made the announcement.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL reversed its initial ruling to nullify a Montreal Canadiens goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.The Canadiens scored to cut the Maple Leafs' lead to 4-3 late in the second period.

The Nashville Predators have a roster seemingly built for success, but as the team continues to struggle, ownership is looking for answers."Whether you’re an owner of the team, if you’re (general manager) David Poile, if you’re me, if you’re a player, it feels the same way. Everyone’s angry and confused," team president and CEO Sean Henry said to The Athletic's Adam Vingan. "We all believed that this roster would produce more."The Predators currently sit in seventh place in the Central Division with a 6-10-0 record. The team finished fourth in the division last season but ultimately failed to make the postseason after losing in the play-in qualifying round.Poile has made quite a few big moves over the last few years and has earned a reputation around the league as a general manager not afraid to shake up his roster. Most recently, he made a big splash in free agency in 2019 by reeling in Matt Duchene and signing him to a seven-year, $56-million deal.Despite some moves that may have not played out as expected, Henry reaffirmed the organization's faith in Poile moving forward. When asked if ownership has the appetite to make significant changes, including potentially moving along from Poile, he was quick to dismiss the notion."He is not afraid to make moves, but he doesn’t make them just to make them," Henry said. "He makes moves to be calculated, and it’s been a pretty good run that we’re on."If any of us weren’t seeing things the same way, we’d obviously have to look at different changes, but there is no discussion about, 'Oh, let’s get an axe right now,' because that’s what we’re seeing on Twitter."Poile has been Nashville's only general manager since the team began playing in 1998.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Babcock is back behind the bench, but not in the NHL.The Saskatoon native was announced as the next head coach of the University of Saskatchewan's men's hockey team on Saturday.Babcock recently accepted a role as a studio analyst with NBC and has appeared on several NHL broadcasts this season.The 57-year-old served as an NHL head coach for 17 seasons, most recently with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015-2019. He came under scrutiny after his firing for using what some believed to be controversial tactics with his players.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks placed veteran forward Adam Henrique on waivers, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Henrique, 31, has three years remaining on his contract beyond this season with an annual cap hit of $5.82 million. The Ducks signed him prior to the 2019-20 campaign.The 6-foot pivot led Anaheim in goals (26) and points (43) through 71 games last season but has amassed just four points over 16 contests this year.Henrique has collected 189 goals and 193 assists over 681 career games since the New Jersey Devils drafted him in the third round in 2008.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils named forward Nico Hischier the club's next captain Saturday.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen will miss more time as he continues to recover from a difficult battle with COVID-19.Ristolainen, 26, detailed his struggles with significant drops in oxygen levels, intense chest pain, and fatigue to Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat on Friday, according to The Buffalo News' Lance Lysowski and Mike Harrington via Google Translate.The Sabres had an outbreak in late January and were kept off the ice for 14 days. Blue-liner Jake McCabe, who also had COVID-19, says Ristolainen's scary experience proves how serious the virus is."I was texting with 'Risto' and we were both going through it together," McCabe said, according to Lysowski and Harrington. "So obviously, he had a little bit of a worse case than I did and maybe not even a little bit, a lot worse."It just goes to show how crazy and serious this virus really is. And Risto is probably the fittest guy on our team. For him to battle like this, it's very tough and unfortunate."Head coach Ralph Krueger says it will be a "long process" for Ristolainen to return to the lineup because of what he's gone through.The 6-foot-4 rearguard has tallied two goals and six points while logging a team-high 23:34 of average ice time over 10 games this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ralph Krueger believes his Buffalo Sabres are dealing with a crisis of confidence.The head coach said it was evident in a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday."One of my biggest takes out of that game was the fragile psychological state of the team right now," Krueger told the Buffalo News' Mike Harrington on Friday. "And (the importance of) managing that properly so that there is an edge, but that the edge doesn't go over to being too tight - which is exactly what is our biggest enemy at the moment. Everybody's trying to play within the right principles, they're trying to execute properly and almost squeezing our sticks too hard."They're fragile right now," he added. "They don't believe in themselves and they don't see themselves celebrating; they see themselves missing the net, hitting the shaft of the goalie, not finding the hole between the legs that they usually find."Buffalo entered Friday's action ranking near the bottom of the league with a 4-7-2 record. The Sabres did not play at all in the first two weeks of February due to postponements after many of their players landed on the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list and Krueger tested positive. However, Buffalo has lost three straight games since resuming play, scoring only two goals combined in those defeats - both coming on the power play.Before Friday's games, the Sabres ranked last in the league in goals for percentage at 35.71, but sat 13th in expected goals percentage with a favorable rate of 51.51, according to Natural Stat Trick.The team's best players have been largely unlucky to begin the season. Jack Eichel has produced 12 points but only two goals in 13 games and has authored a 4.5 shooting percentage. That's well below his average of 10.8 from previous campaigns. Taylor Hall has collected only a goal to go along with his eight assists in 13 contests while shooting at just a 3% clip, down from his average of 10.4 in past seasons.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving wants to make one thing clear about Sam Bennett's desire for a trade: The team controls where the forward plays."Sam's agent decided to have a conversation with the media in talking about changes of scenery and all that," Treliving said Friday on Sportsnet 960 The FAN. "We'll determine - whether it be Sam Bennett or anybody else - what their scenery is and when it's going to change, and until such time, Sam is a member of the Calgary Flames and he's like every other member of the Calgary Flames."We think Sam's a hell of a player, and we expect him to be a real good player here, and we'll go from there."In late January, Bennett's agent, Darren Ferris, said his client would like Calgary to deal him. Two days later, the team said Bennett and his camp hadn't approached the Flames with a trade request.Calgary made him a healthy scratch shortly after his public request. The Flames moved him into their top six alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan after Bennett returned to the lineup. However, he's since been relegated to fourth-line duties.Bennett logged only six-and-a-half minutes of ice time and didn't play in the third period of Calgary's 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night. He remained on the bench, and Flames head coach Geoff Ward declined to elaborate postgame, stating only that the team would "keep that internal," according to TSN's Salim Valji.The 24-year-old has played well in the playoffs, but his regular-season struggles have continued in 2021. Bennett has collected only two goals and an assist in 16 games this season.Bennett has spent his entire career with the Flames, who drafted him fourth overall in 2014.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the fifth edition of "Looking North," our weekly Friday dive into the all-Canadian division. This installment dates back to Feb. 12.The rundownThe Toronto Maple Leafs returned to form after suffering their most humiliating defeat since last February's infamous David Ayres game. The Maple Leafs let the Ottawa Senators overcome a four-goal deficit and prevail 6-5 in overtime on Monday, but they've since responded with two wins against Ottawa: a 2-1 victory on Wednesday and a 7-3 rout on Thursday.Wednesday's result didn't inspire much confidence in Toronto, but the next night's dominant showing proved the North Division's top dogs have put Monday's collapse behind them. Still, it will be more telling if they can continue to play well against better opponents.Out west, the slumping Vancouver Canucks showed some improvement. They went undefeated in regulation over three games against the Calgary Flames, earning a convincing 5-1 victory Wednesday.TeamPoints over last weekVancouver Canucks5 (2-0-1)Toronto Maple Leafs5 (2-1-1)Ottawa Senators4 (2-2-0)Montreal Canadiens2 (1-0-0)Edmonton Oilers2 (1-1-0)Calgary Flames2 (1-2-0)Winnipeg Jets2 (1-2-0)The stars Andrew Lahodynskyj / National Hockey League / GettyForward: Auston Matthews is making a case for the Hart Trophy and the Maurice "Rocket" Richard this season. The Maple Leafs superstar scored five times and collected four assists in four contests this past week, burying two goals Thursday for a league-leading 16 in 17 games.Defenseman: Tyson Barrie deserves recognition despite a small sample size. The Edmonton Oilers rearguard didn't dominate on the scoresheet (two assists this past week) but he did take on a heavy workload, leading all NHL blue-liners for the week by averaging 29:19 of ice time across two games; he played a whopping 30:48 in Monday's loss to the Winnipeg Jets.After collecting just two helpers and no goals in his first eight games with Edmonton, Barrie has started heating up. He entered Friday's game having posted three goals and nine assists in his last 10 games.Goaltender: It was a high-scoring week in the North Division, with more than a few games resembling 1980s barn burners. That was due partly to poor goaltending, as no netminder in the division has had an exceptional run since Feb. 12. Braden Holtby did excel in his one game, though. The Canucks puck-stopper turned aside 35 of 36 shots in Wednesday's aforementioned win over the Flames, putting together a strong outing after a less than stellar start to his season.Canadian of the week Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyMitch Marner had a very good week with two goals and four assists in four games, but Mark Scheifele outperformed him in fewer outings, notching three goals and two assists in three contests. The Jets center tallied in all three of his team's games, and he logged nearly 23 minutes of action in a loss to the Oilers on Wednesday.The momentsTwo days before the Senators rallied to stun the Maple Leafs, Brady Tkachuk provided some heroics of his own.

We split again Thursday to take our current run to 12-4.Let's try to push back on a few splits in a row now with a sweep of this weekend's card.Oilers (+100) @ Flames (-120)

St. Louis Blues forward Ivan Barbashev suffered a left ankle injury during the club's 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, the team announced Friday.Barbashev tallied two goals and two assists over his previous five games while getting frequent top-line minutes alongside captain Ryan O'Reilly and David Perron. He's amassed six points while averaging 13:23 of ice time over 17 games this season.The 25-year-old is on the final year of his current deal and becomes a restricted free agent after this season.St. Louis is dealing with injury troubles. Pivots Robert Thomas, who suffered a broken thumb earlier this month, and Tyler Bozak remain out, while forward Jaden Schwartz and blue-liner Colton Parayko are day-to-day.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins icon Sidney Crosby affirmed his commitment to the franchise Friday, quelling outside speculation that he'll suit up elsewhere one day."No, nothing's changed. ... I love playing here. This is where I'd love to play for the rest of my career," the Penguins captain said, per NHL.com's Wes Crosby.Crosby's future with the Penguins has been a small-scale talking point through the early stages of the 2021 season due to the club's underwhelming 8-6-1 start and recent front-office restructuring.Jim Rutherford unexpectedly stepped down as general manager in January. Pittsburgh hired Ron Hextall to fill the role while also bringing in Brian Burke as president of hockey operations.Crosby, 33, is under contract through the 2024-25 season and has a full no-movement clause. He's unsure what's in store after his current deal expires."I think as long as I feel good, I'd love to play as long as I can," Crosby said, according to Will Graves of The Associated Press. "I don't have an idea. ... I focus on playing out my contract and seeing where I'm at then."Crosby will play his 1,000th career game Saturday, and few players in hockey history are as synonymous with their team's image. Since being drafted first overall by Pittsburgh in 2005, Crosby's racked up 1,276 points, three Stanley Cups, two Conn Smythe Trophies, two MVPs, two scoring titles, and two Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophies.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.