Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara isn't yet pondering retirement, even while the 2019-20 season is on pause."Definitely not getting ahead of myself. I'm still in the present and I still believe that we're going to play some sort of hockey this season," Chara said on Sportsnet's "After Hours."He added: "That's where I'm at. I'm not getting too ahead of myself. Obviously I still love the game, I still love going out there and compete, and if everything is right I still want to play."The 43-year-old Chara is in his 22nd NHL campaign and has spent the last 14 years with the Bruins. He's the only active player from the 1996 draft class and has appeared in 1,553 career games."Very honored and privileged to play 1,000 games with the Bruins, over 1,500 games in this league," Chara said. "I've said it many times, I'm very grateful and I'm very lucky to be able to play with so many great teammates and under so many great coaches and good organizations."The former Norris Trophy winner has amassed 205 goals and 656 points throughout his career, which included stints with the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders. Chara also captured a Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011 - one of three times he led the Bruins to the Cup Final as captain.The veteran is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign. He signed back-to-back one-year deals with the Bruins for the past two seasons.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the pandemic suspending sporting events worldwide, athletes suddenly have tons of time on their hands. In the latest installment of our weekly NHL series, we look at how they've been keeping themselves entertained - and in shape - while self-isolating.Ovechkin flexes on The Great OneTypically, if you're going toe to toe with the greatest hockey player of all time, you might want to be a little reserved. That is, unless you're Alex Ovechkin. While the two faced off in a couple of games of NHL 20, raising over $40,000 for charity in the process, Ovechkin celebrated a buzzer-beater game-tying goal the only way he knows how - by screaming at the top of his lungs. Never change, Ovi.

Mats Zuccarello doesn't appreciate the way his former team, the New York Rangers, have treated franchise legend Henrik Lundqvist."It's disrespectful," Zuccarello said, according to Roy Kvatningen of VG, as translated by Danny Abriano of SNY. "He is getting older, yes, and they have another good keeper, but then they could let him play the games (Igor) Shesterkin doesn't play."Lundqvist saw a drastic dip in his playing time this season after rookie phenom Igor Shesterkin was promoted from the AHL. Fellow youngster Alexandar Georgiev played the majority of games Shesterkin missed. Lundqvist started just four of a possible 29 contests after Shesterkin was recalled on Jan. 6."It is absolutely haunting that he is treated that way," Zuccarello said. "Did anyone ever think that this was going to happen Henrik Lundqvist? None."With three goaltenders on board, the Rangers have some decisions to make this summer. Shesterkin and Georgiev are both 24 years old, but Lundqvist, 38, is under contract for one more season with a hefty $8.5-million cap hit. It's possible he could be bought out, especially considering the club is up against the cap.Zuccarello sees some similarities to how the Rangers treated him - New York dealt the winger to the Dallas Stars at the 2018 trade deadline. Lundqvist got choked up when discussing the move afterward."I never thought it would happen to me, either. In my eyes, I was about to end (my career with the Rangers). I think Hank would, too," said Zuccarello. "Everything was going to be fine and great, but then the management decided (something else), and then you are not worth a damn."Lundqvist, who sits sixth on the all-time wins list, owns a .905 save percentage and a 3.16 goals-against average in 30 games this season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes' unlikely run to the conference finals in 2009 may not have happened if it weren't for Jussi Jokinen's heroics.In the opening round of the playoffs that year, the sixth-seeded Hurricanes were pitted against the third-seeded New Jersey Devils. With New Jersey leading the series 2-1, Jokinen scored the game-winning goal in Game 4 with 0.2 seconds left on the clock in the third period. It stands as the latest regulation game-winning goal in NHL playoff history.Watch a replay of the entire contest:Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Tampa Bay Lightning bench boss Jon Cooper has experience coaching hockey in an empty arena.Cooper was the head coach of the Norfolk Admirals - the organization's former AHL affiliate - in 2012 when they were forced to play a playoff game at a neutral site without fans due to scheduling conflicts."The first five minutes everybody gets a shift in and there are no fans in the stands, there will probably be a little bit of sarcasm going on the bench like there is on every single NHL bench about what's going on," Cooper told NHL.com's Bryan Burns. "But I'm telling you, once the banging starts and the competitive juices kick in, I don't think guys will even notice."If the NHL is able to resume its season at some point this summer, it's highly unlikely fans will be allowed to attend games. Cooper believes the intensity among players will still be there, knowing what's at stake."It didn't change a thing," Cooper said of the 2012 contest. "Guys were battling it out, gaming it out. That's the only thing I can reflect on when I was a part of something like that at kind of a crucial time in the second round of the playoffs. It was still one hell of a hockey game."I think the guys will get over (not having fans in the stands) pretty quick knowing what's at the end of the rainbow if you keep winning those games."The NHL abandoned its plan to hold games at non-league arenas, and Toronto and Columbus have reportedly emerged as leading contenders to serve as two of the league's host cities if play resumes. Florida Panthers president Matthew Caldwell said Wednesday the league is targeting a July return.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NHL and NHLPA have intensified talks about a potential plan to resume the season, and Toronto and Columbus are the leading contenders to become two of the host cities, according to the New York Post's Larry Brooks.Initial reports indicated that as many as 12 NHL cities were being vetted as possible destinations.The latest proposal floating around this week discussed the idea of the NHL using up to four hub cities and bringing teams to station in each of them to play out the remainder of the games. The cities will need to have an existing NHL team, rather than using neutral sites that were talked about earlier.Commissioner Gary Bettman told Sportsnet's Ron MacLean Wednesday that the cities they're looking into need to meet certain requirements in order to be considered. The city can't be a hotspot for COVID-19, arenas would need at least four NHL-caliber dressing rooms and practice facilities nearby that meet NHL standards, and there would need to be a suitable four- or five-star hotel nearby to house the players.Within the framework of this idea, teams will hold training camps for up to three weeks at their assigned centralized locations before games begin.The NHL will need to listen to local governing bodies when making decisions as well. After the league began exploring Edmonton and Calgary as potential destinations, Alberta's chief medical officer clarified that gatherings of more than 15 people will be prohibited until at least September, ultimately ruling out the two cities.One of the glaring issues on the NHLPA's agenda for a return to play amid the pandemic is the concern for a number of players with pre-existing health issues. That includes players such as Max Domi, who has Type 1 diabetes, and Brian Boyle, who was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2017 but has been in remission since 2018.There are also a number of questions that remain unanswered. A decision needs to be made regarding European players and whether they will be able to return, what the daily lives of players quarantined in hotels for weeks will be like, and how the league will handle the testing of its players and staff. Brooks added that these questions will all be a part of discussions in the coming days.The NHL and NHLPA will continue to hold conference calls in the near future to determine if a return is a plausible scenario.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby offered a message of support to his fellow Nova Scotians while his home province continues to grieve the deaths of 22 people lost in a shooting last week."I'm in Pittsburgh, but being from Nova Scotia, my heart and mind is home with all of you," Crosby said. "I'd like to extend my condolences to all the family and friends affected by this tragedy, as well to the family of Constable Heidi Stevenson from Cole Harbour, who sacrificed her life protecting others. I’d like to thank all the first responders and, as well, the medical personnel that faced this nightmare head on to keep us all safe."I know we’ll stick together as we always do through challenging times, and help support those who need it the most. I’m sending all my love and support back home."

The NHL should be deep into postseason action, but with the start of the 2019-20 playoffs delayed, theScore's hockey editors are picking their favorite Game 7s from years past.We're now looking back at how one of the biggest recent playoff upsets concluded. The Montreal Canadiens, with goaltender Jaroslav Halak leading the way, walked into Washington to defeat the Presidents' Trophy-winning Capitals in a thrilling Game 7 during the opening round of the 2009-10 playoffs.The setupThe Capitals just finished their most dominant regular season of all time, winning the team's first Presidents' Trophy. A young Alex Ovechkin was fresh off a 50-goal, 109-point campaign, and he was looking to keep things rolling in the postseason, with the Capitals entering as the No. 1 seed in the East.The 2009-10 season was a special one for the Canadiens, as it was their 100th anniversary. After hosting the 2009 NHL Draft and All-Star Game, Montreal managed to squeeze into the playoffs as the eighth seed, beating out the New York Rangers by one point.The Capitals couldn't have asked for a better first-round matchup on paper. They had scored 99 more goals than the Canadiens that season while racking up 15 more regulation wins, and they were 33 points ahead of Montreal in the standings.However, what should have been an easy series win was far from it.The seriesJim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Canadiens' Carey Price and Halak split starts in goal evenly all season long. But come playoff time, Halak was given the nod, helping to stun the Capitals in Game 1 while stopping 45 of 47 shots. But the Canadiens went on to drop the next three games to go down 3-1 in the series.On the brink of elimination, Halak went superhuman. He stopped 37 of 38 shots in Game 5 to keep the Habs alive, and the then 24-year-old one-upped his performance by stopping 53 of 54 shots in Game 6 to force a Game 7.Through six games, Washington was outshooting Montreal 250 to 178, but only outscoring the Habs 21 to 18. With Halak playing on another level and the Capitals unable to solve him, Montreal headed to Washington ready to steal the series.The gameFrancois Lacasse / National Hockey League / GettyThe star: This one is a no-brainer, and it's evident who the game's single star was just by simply looking at the box score. Halak gets all the credit again after stepping up when it mattered most against the league's best offensive team.Facing pressure all night long, he stopped 41 of 42 shots and blanked the Capitals on their three power-play opportunities. He helped steer the Canadiens, who mustered just 16 shots on goal, to an improbable victory.The X-factor(s): Canadiens defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron played just 4:06 in Game 7. But he made the most of his limited ice time, blasting home a power-play goal in the dying seconds of the first period to give the Habs a 1-0 lead they didn't relinquish.The Canadiens' defense was abysmal in the series. However, the team blocked an incredible 41 shots from the Capitals in Game 7, with big-bodied Hal Gill leading (six blocks).The key moment: To start the third period, the Capitals were still trying to figure out how to get one past the brick wall standing in the Canadiens' net. Minutes into the frame, Ovechkin thought he tied the game with a wicked wrist shot.While the team and fans were busy celebrating, they all failed to realize the referee waived the goal off due to Mike Knuble's goaltender interference. The Capitals returned to square one with their backs against the wall.The highlightDominic Moore, one of Montreal's trade-deadline acquisitions that season, proved the deal to get him was absolutely worth it by potting the most crucial goal of the series. With Washington pressing hard, the Canadiens broke out, and Moore pounced on the opportunity.The Canadiens knew that with three-and-a-half minutes left, their 2-0 lead wasn't necessarily safe. The Capitals' Brooks Laich scored one minute later, but the Canadiens were able to hold onto the lead and close out the game, with Moore's tally standing as the series-winner.The falloutLen Redkoles / National Hockey League / GettyAfter stunning the Capitals in the first round, the Canadiens took on the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins. With gas still left in the tank, the Canadiens and Halak also upset the Penguins in seven games. Then things fell apart when the Philadelphia Flyers dropped Montreal in five games in the Eastern Conference Final.That summer, both Halak and Price became restricted free agents. Price was clearly the goalie of the future in Montreal, but Halak's playoff performance still made the decision between the two extremely tough.Ultimately, the Canadiens rolled the dice and stuck with Price, trading Halak to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Lars Eller and Ian Schultz. Eller quickly became a fan favorite and spent six seasons in Montreal, while Schultz never suited up in an NHL game.Halak has enjoyed success with the Blues, New York Islanders, and Boston Bruins since being dealt. His departure ushered in a new era for the Canadiens, with future Hart Trophy winner Price anchoring the team. Montreal has returned to the conference final once with Price, but otherwise the club hasn't accomplished much.The Canadiens' 2009-10 playoff run may not have resulted in a Stanley Cup, but Halak put together one of the most memorable postseason performances we've seen in a long time.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Boston Bruins president Cam Neely still believes there's a great possibility this NHL season can be completed without affecting next year."I can tell you this. Both the players and NHL ownership want to do whatever possible to get this season completed," Neely said, according to NBC Sports Boston's Joe Haggerty. "If that means playing into the summer then we're all willing to do that. The feeling is there’s an opportunity to be able to push next season back and still get an 82-game schedule in next year. Everything is on the table to try and get the (2019-20) season completed."The most recent idea that has been floated around is using hub cities to host the remainder of the season's games. There was also a report earlier this week that an NHL team told its players to plan to return for workouts starting May 15.Neely added he believes the NHLPA wouldn't approve a scenario to resume the season if it meant it had to jump directly into the playoffs, and that regular-season games will be needed to ramp up to the postseason.The Bruins stood atop the league's standings with a 44-14-12 record and were primed for another deep playoff run after making the Stanley Cup Final last season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Taylor or Tyler debate began to brew ahead of the 2010 NHL Draft when Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin were neck and neck to be picked first overall. Before they had even entered the league, the two were seemingly on opposite sides of a rivalry.Ten years later, Seguin says there's no ulterior competition between the two."I got to know him, we're always still nice to each other, never had any beef. Never, Taylor/Tyler massive competition," the Dallas Stars forward said, according to The Athletic's Craig Custance. "I always secretly cheer for him and watch his career."He continued: "We're competitive pro athletes, right? I was happy as anyone else when he won the MVP, seeing what he went through, leaving Edmonton. I left Boston."There's so many things where we’ve gone separate ways in our career, and there are so many things that are the same in our career. "With no consensus top prospect in the 2010 draft, it was virtually a toss-up as to who would go first on draft day. Seguin revealed that he and Hall even traveled to Edmonton and Boston together before the draft to meet with the Oilers and Bruins, who owned the first and second picks, respectively.The Oilers ultimately selected Hall first, and the Bruins gladly settled for Seguin. But neither player's tenure with the team that drafted him went as planned.Edmonton dealt Hall to the New Jersey Devils in 2016 after never making the playoffs in six seasons since drafting him. Seguin didn't last as long in Boston. The Bruins traded him to Dallas - where he blossomed into a star - in 2013.While the two 28-year-olds have both enjoyed successful NHL careers so far, Seguin hasn't succumbed to outside pressure to fuel a rivalry with Hall."People always look for this hidden rivalry, don't like each other," he said. "I like Taylor a lot, I love his hockey game, I definitely am a fan of his and follow his career. I want him to get in the playoffs, he’s worked so hard to get there."Hall hasn't had many opportunities to play in the postseason, making the playoffs just once since entering the league. Seguin, who won a Stanley Cup with the Bruins his rookie season, has appeared in 62 playoff games.Seguin has managed 279 goals and 635 points in 741 career games. Hall has racked up 218 goals and 563 points in 627 career games and was named league MVP in 2018.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says the league wouldn't undoubtedly pause the campaign again if a player tests positive for the coronavirus after the games return."We believe that everything depends on the facts and the entire set of circumstances, but no, one positive test - even multiple positive tests - wouldn't necessarily shut the whole thing down," Daly told TSN's Ryan Rishaug on Friday.Eight NHL players - five from the Ottawa Senators and three from the Colorado Avalanche - have tested positive for COVID-19 since the league postponed the 2019-20 season amid the pandemic March 12.One night before the NHL paused its campaign, the NBA did the same following a positive test by Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz.The NHL is targeting a return in July, with one team reportedly telling its players to get ready to report for informal workouts beginning May 15.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The man who helped rescue the Carolina Hurricanes during a game in February is doing his part during a real-life emergency.David Ayres is launching a fund in conjunction with the Kidney Foundation of Canada to help kidney patients amid the coronavirus pandemic."This time of year, and this situation that we're in, is tough for a lot of people that are going through kidney disease, whether it's dialysis or post-transplant," Ayres told 680 News' Lindsay Dunn on Friday.Ayres, who underwent a kidney transplant of his own during the SARS epidemic in 2004, said the goal is to raise $100,000 for the campaign.The 42-year-old became the first emergency backup netminder in NHL history to notch a victory when he helped the Hurricanes defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Feb. 22.Ayres is the operations manager at Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) in Toronto, having formerly served in a similar role at Ricoh Coliseum, where he drove the Zamboni among other duties.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The role of general manager didn't always come naturally to Kyle Dubas.The Toronto Maple Leafs executive admitted he was frightened when team president Brendan Shanahan first asked him to represent the club at a meeting of Dubas' contemporaries in June 2015."I was scared shitless when I walked into Vegas," Dubas said Friday. "That was one of the most nervous times I've ever had in my life."The Maple Leafs GM added, "I've known (then-Carolina Hurricanes GM Ron) Francis my whole life, so he was, like, the only person I felt I could talk to. I just went in, sat in my chair, and took notes at the meeting, and got up and left. But I was nervous as anything."Shanahan tabbed Dubas and Mark Hunter as co-interim GMs following the firing of Dave Nonis and before the hiring of Lou Lamoriello, the latter of which came in July 2015."I really didn't feel like I belonged in (the meeting)," Dubas said. "I'd only been in the league for one year, and we were still a month away from having Lou hired. So, I just went in there, took my notes, and got on the plane."Dubas became one of the youngest GMs in NHL history when he was promoted at age 32 in 2018. He was 28 when the Maple Leafs hired him as an assistant general manager.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Amid developing news of the NHL aiming to resume the 2019-20 season in July, odds have been released for potential playoff series should the league jump straight into the postseason.Let's take a closer look.Boston Bruins (-350) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (+280)Before the injury bug swept through Columbus, the Blue Jackets were one of the league's hottest teams. With a healthy Seth Jones and Oliver Bjorkstrand, and the exploits of Elvis Merzlikins between the pipes, Columbus is an incredibly dangerous eighth seed. The Blue Jackets beat the Bruins twice this season, and they'd offer a ton of value at this price.Tampa Bay Lightning (-240) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (+200)A fascinating series between two teams with something to prove before we can truly buy-in. It's hard to lay the juice with the Lightning after last season's catastrophic first-round sweep, though they again look like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. I'd rather take a stab with the Leafs here at this price, even if their playoff resume hardly inspires confidence.Washington Capitals (-200) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (+175)This is a rematch of last season's first-round matchup the Hurricanes won in double overtime of Game 7, and expect another fiercely competitive series. The Capitals were reeling before the campaign was suspended, so perhaps they'll benefit from the break. But I can't pass up the Hurricanes at +175 because they'd be getting blue-liners Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce back.Philadelphia Flyers (-110) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (-110)The battle of Pennsylvania is a coin flip, and it might be the series to watch in Round 1. The Flyers were close to untouchable in the month leading up to the season being suspended, and the hiatus could negatively impact that momentum. The Penguins were trending in the opposite direction, but getting Jake Guentzel back for the postseason might just be the difference. Take the grizzled vets in Pittsburgh by a hair.St. Louis Blues (-180) vs. Nashville Predators (+160)The Predators are 4-0 against the Blues this season, but St. Louis is just so much stronger all over the ice. The Blues also hold a significant edge behind the bench, are battle-tested, and they would be getting a healthy and rested Vladimir Tarasenko back from a shoulder injury that's kept him out since August. I'm laying the chalk here.Colorado Avalanche (-160) vs. Dallas Stars (+140)Both teams were agonizingly close to the Western Conference Final a year ago, with the Avalanche losing controversially in Game 7 to the San Jose Sharks, and the Blues ousting the Stars in double overtime of Game 7.Dallas is loaded on the back end, but the Stars would need their big guns up front to step up against an Avs team with very few holes. This series would be a lot closer than the line indicates, but although I don't like the price, I'd still roll with Colorado.Vegas Golden Knights (-220) vs. Winnipeg Jets (+190)Goaltending and scoring are both major strengths for the Jets, making them a live 'dog in this spot. While there's certainly a case to be made for Winnipeg, the Knights are just such a complete team, and a chip would be on their shoulder after last season's controversial playoff exit.Edmonton Oilers (-120) vs. Calgary Flames (+100)This series would be an absolute treat, and given the bad blood between the Alberta neighbors, the intensity would be unrivaled. That's all we know here though, and the series can essentially be billed as a toss-up. While I'd lean toward the Flames' grit over seven games, that didn't do them much good last season, and their goaltending just doesn't inspire enough confidence to warrant backing.Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. 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, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan supports the NHL's latest proposal of using up to four hub cities to host multiple teams, separated by division, for a potential return to hockey if health officials deem it safe."I do like the idea of four hub cities, the idea of bringing each division to that hub city. It's one of the best ideas - or most workable, I guess is a better way of putting it," Shanahan told Sportsnet's "Tim and Sid" on Thursday."We're not talking about doing it right now or any time right around the corner, but when the time is safe and when the proper authorities give the clearance to do so, under the right precautions, I think that it is a very workable scenario."The NHL recently abandoned the idea of hosting games at non-NHL rinks, with commissioner Gary Bettman citing a lack of accommodations and difficulty televising the games at smaller venues.The league is looking at cities where the coronavirus outbreak has been more contained. While no locations have been determined, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reported that the rinks of the Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Minnesota Wild are considered the early front-runners.Shanahan said the Maple Leafs have been contacted in regards to Toronto potentially being one of the host cities.The NHL recently extended its self-quarantine period for players and staff until April 30. The league officially went on pause March 12.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's no secret the Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty and Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk aren't huge fans of each other. So when Doughty's teammate Ben Hutton got the defenseman for the team's Secret Santa gift exchange, he came up with the perfect present: a signed stick from Doughty's rival."I might be ruining it, saying this because he (Doughty) still doesn’t know it’s me,” Hutton said on The Athletic's "Point Breakaway" podcast. “If he listens to this, he’ll know that for Secret Santa I ended up getting him a Matthew Tkachuk stick.“It was signed by him and everything. I wrote a little message on it. He (Doughty) was going around the locker room trying to figure out who it was. None of the boys were snitching on me. So that was pretty good.”The rivalry dates back to Tkachuk's rookie season in 2016-17, when he was suspended for two games for elbowing Doughty in the head. The two have exchanged insults on numerous occasions, with Doughty saying he has "no respect" for Tkachuk, to which the youngster responded that he doesn't care and will still "sleep like a baby."Hutton also revealed Tkachuk was in on the gag. Despite the beef, the 22-year-old was willing to participate.“I got our trainers to do it,” Hutton said. “We were flying to Calgary when we were doing (the Secret Santa gift exchange), so it just clicked in my head. I asked our trainers, and once they told (Tkachuk) who it was for, he was all for it.”Doughty may have gotten the short end of the stick by being kept in the dark, but it's still good to see two rivals knowing how to have fun with one another.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL should be deep into postseason action, but with the start of the 2019-20 playoffs delayed, theScore's hockey editors are picking their favorite Game 7s from years past.Today, we look back at the final installment of the Battle of Ontario, wherein the Toronto Maple Leafs bounced the archrival Ottawa Senators from the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.The setupThe Maple Leafs and Senators met in the postseason three years in a row from 2000-02. After a year off, they crossed paths again in the first round in 2004. Toronto entered the playoffs as the 4-seed with 103 points, a single point clear of Ottawa in the standings.The Senators came into the series as the stronger team on paper, ranking first in goals for through the regular season and ninth in goals against. Ottawa had a deep roster led by the likes of Marian Hossa, Daniel Alfredsson, Zdeno Chara, and a pair of dynamic young forwards in Jason Spezza and Martin Havlat.The Leafs were a veteran club through and through, built around captain Mats Sundin, Gary Roberts, and Alexander Mogilny up front while a 38-year-old Ed Belfour tended goal.The seriesDave Sandford / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Senators won Game 1 on the road, but the Maple Leafs responded with two consecutive victories to take a 2-1 lead. Ottawa won a crucial Game 4 in which Toronto was dealt a major blow, as Sundin suffered a lower-body injury that caused him to miss the remainder of the series. The Maple Leafs went on to win Game 5 without their leader thanks to a 21-save shutout from Belfour. After the contest, Alfredsson guaranteed his club would win Game 6 at home and ultimately take the series.The Sens captain came through on the first part of his promise, as a baby-faced Mike Fisher scored in double overtime of Game 6 to send the series back to Toronto for a winner-take-all showdown.The gameThe Star(s): Maple Leafs forward Joe Nieuwendyk had the most memorable performance of the game, burying two first-period goals (we'll get to those later) to provide Toronto an early and insurmountable lead.Even though Toronto was in the driver's seat for nearly the entire game, Belfour was fantastic in goal, stopping 36-of-37 Senators shots. After Ottawa scored 22 seconds into the second period to make it 3-1 and gain a glimmer of hope, Eddie the Eagle was there to stop the ensuing barrage with several key saves.The X-factor(s): The Maple Leafs' opening goal came from the unlikeliest of sources, as depth winger Chad Kilger tallied his first goal of the playoffs just over six minutes into the first period. The veteran winger had only three goals that season, but he was in the right spot to bury a perfect feed from another rare offensive contributor: enforcer Tie Domi.Kilger went on to add the primary assist on Toronto's key insurance marker in the third period. As they say, anything can happen in a Game 7.Key moment: Nieuwendyk's aforementioned two first-period goals are unquestionably the lasting memory from this game. The eventual Hall of Famer notched his first less than two minutes after Kilger opened the scoring, fooling Ottawa goaltender Patrick Lalime with a soft wrister from the left boards.Oddly enough, Nieuwendyk got the same opportunity on a nearly identical rush in the final minute of the opening frame. He squeaked another one past Lalime, and the game might as well have been over. Even legendary announcer Bob Cole was dumbfounded, shouting "What's going on?!" as a raucous Air Canada Centre crowd basked in the commanding 3-0 advantage for their Leafs.The highlightSixteen years later, these goals still make no sense.Lalime was pulled after allowing three goals on 11 shots in a performance that tarnished an otherwise impressive playoff resume. He had managed a .926 save percentage and 1.77 goals-against average across 41 postseason games, but that outing in Toronto was the final playoff start of his career."Patrick didn't have a good night," Senators head coach Jacques Martin said following the loss. "We're not going to hide that."The falloutThe Leafs were eliminated in six games by the Philadelphia Flyers the following round. After that, Toronto and Ottawa went in opposite directions.The 2004-05 season was canceled due to lockout, but before the league returned for the 2005-06 campaign, the Senators made a major splash by trading for Dany Heatley. He scored 50 goals in each of his first two seasons in Ottawa, helping the team become a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference.The Senators won the division that season with 113 points, then advanced to the Stanley Cup Final the following year. The top line of Heatley, Alfredsson, and Spezza was one of the league's best.Meanwhile, the Leafs plummeted after the lockout. Their lineup was too old, and after they barely missed the playoffs in the first two years of the new NHL, things went further downhill.From the 2007-08 season through the 2011-12 campaign, the Leafs maxed out at 85 points. The club wasn't developing players, and different management teams made a variety of questionable decisions without ever committing to an actual rebuild. Toronto didn't make the playoffs again until 2013, the lockout-shortened season that featured a 48-game schedule.More pain followed, but the Leafs have been a real playoff contender since 2016. However, they're still looking for their first series win since ousting the Senators in 2004.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The IIHF announced updated rankings and unveiled the groups for men's and women's hockey at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.Here's a look at how the countries will line up in the men's bracket:Group A: Canada (1), USA (6), Germany (7), China (12)

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment is using Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, to prepare 10,000 meals a day for the city's frontline health-care workers and their families, the organization announced Friday.With the help from its partners, MLSE has transformed the floor of the arena to a massive food production line. It is planning to run the program five days a week through the month of June, delivering approximately 500,000 meals, according to The Toronto Star's Neil Davidson."We're learning as we go," MLSE's vice president of food and beverage Dan Morrow said, according to Davidson. "We learned that cooking 5,000 pounds of pasta takes a long time."Meals will also be delivered to shelters and community agencies throughout Toronto and to hospitals during shift changes. The goal is to catch frontline health-care workers going home and to provide them with a meal for four."These individually packaged meals are critical. And we didn't have any to give out," Second Harvest CEO Lori Nikkel said. "This is a time, with COVID, that you really need the meals. You need the food but you really need the meals."The operation began with making 2,800 meals per day and has been steadily increasing its production. As they gear up to make 50,000 meals a week, there will be approximately 90 people working to get the job done.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan is grateful for the therapy he participated in earlier this season now that he, along with most of the world, is being forced to self-isolate.In November, Ryan suffered a panic attack and was forced to leave the Senators to enter the NHL/NHLPA's player assistance program for alcohol abuse. He revealed the clarity he gained from the therapy is helping him now during such uncertain times."It would have been really bad going into this had I not gone through what I did back in the early part of December to get help," Ryan told TSN's Ian Mendes. "I couldn’t imagine being isolated with my family. It wouldn’t have been good for my marriage, because I wasn’t in a good place to really help."Ryan added: "One of the things I’ve really learned in the past four and a half months is that there only a few things you can control. And what’s outside those limits are going to happen anyway. So just try and stay within the bubble. I can’t control the situation. I can only control thoughts."Ryan returned to the Senators in February, and late in the month, produced one of the most memorable moments of the season, burying a hat trick versus the Vancouver Canucks in his first home game since his absence.The 33-year-old is in his 13th NHL season, having posted 555 points in 833 career games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In this installment of the Battle of Quebec, the Montreal Canadiens and Quebec Nordiques face off in a decisive Game 5, with the winner advancing to the second round of the 1982 playoffs.Led by the Stastny brothers, the Nordiques looked to complete the upset at Montreal Forum over Guy Lafleur and the division-leading Canadiens.Watch a replay of the stream below:Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Eric Lindros was named an ambassador for the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday and will participate in the "ALL IN Challenge" - a fundraiser for COVID-19 hunger relief - as his first project, the team announced."Few players in Flyers history inspire as much excitement and passion among the fanbase as Eric Lindros, and during this unprecedented time those positive feelings are exactly what we want to deliver to our fans," president of business operations Valerie Camillo said."This ambassadorship with Eric has been in the works for quite some time, and we made the decision to kick it off right now, not only as a special engagement for our fans but even more importantly as an integral way to assist those impacted by COVID-19."As part of the fundraiser, the Flyers and Lindros are auctioning off the Ultimate Flyers Game Day Experience. The winner and up to 11 guests will hit the ice with Lindros during the morning skate, participate in the ceremonial puck drop prior to that night's game, watch the game in a suite with Lindros, and enjoy a postgame celebration with the former Flyer and special guests.Lindros spent his first eight NHL campaigns with Philadelphia, racking up 290 goals and 659 points in 486 games with the club. The Flyers lifted his No. 88 to the rafters at Wells Fargo Center in January 2018.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's probe into whether the Arizona Coyotes conducted physical testing of draft-eligible players before the combine will be wrapped up before the next draft, regardless of when it's held."There's a timeline and there's a conclusion that's set for sorting through the allegations," TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."The Coyotes will reportedly take part in a hearing, and while the team has been cooperative lately, other clubs want Arizona to be punished if the league discovers violations.The NHL made it known to teams earlier this week that a resolution would precede the upcoming draft."The National Hockey League, as part of a conference call Tuesday with the general managers, brought it up unsolicited," Dreger said. "No general manager asked for further detail, but the National Hockey League commissioner's office did tell the general managers that whenever the draft is - if the draft is in June (or) if it's later than that - this issue will be resolved, and if necessary, the Coyotes will be held accountable before the NHL draft."Dreger reported in January that the NHL was investigating the club after multiple CHL teams stated they were contacted by Arizona. NHL rules prohibit physical testing of draft prospects prior to the combine. If found guilty, the Coyotes could face a $250,000 fine or more, per incident, at commissioner Gary Bettman's discretion.The league is considering holding a virtual draft in June before the season resumes.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Swedish forward Linus Sandin intends to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers when the NHL and IIHF finalize new international transfer agreements, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Johnston adds that "it sounds like the IIHF transfer agreements will be/have been extended for a year," but there is no official entry-level contract yet in place.Sandin, 23, enjoyed a career year for the Swedish Hockey League's HV71 this season. He ranked third in the league in goals (19) and second on his club in points (36) through 51 games.The 6-foot center is the older brother of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.At least one NHL club has asked its players to be ready to report May 15 to start informal workouts that would precede a training camp lasting up to three weeks, according to the New York Post's Larry Brooks.However, not every team has reportedly done so.NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly responded Thursday by saying the league hasn't given its teams any timetables pertaining to the resumption of play."I don't know what clubs are telling their players,” Daly wrote to Brooks. “We have not specified or articulated any 'target dates' to our clubs at this point.”"We're not going to rush anything," commissioner Gary Bettman told Sportsnet's Ron MacLean on Wednesday night.Last week, the league recommended its players, coaches, and staff continue self-quarantining through April 30. It was the third time that date had been extended beyond March 27. The season was paused March 12 amid the coronavirus pandemic.Florida Panthers president Matthew Caldwell said Wednesday that the NHL was targeting a return in July.Earlier in April, Bettman stated teams would need a two-to-three-week training camp before the season could resume.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed netminder Elvis Merzlikins to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.The contract comes with an average annual value of $4 million, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet."We've believed for several years that Elvis Merzlikins was the best goaltender outside the NHL while he was playing in Switzerland and this year he has shown that he has the ability and drive to be a very good goaltender in this league," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement. "He is quick, athletic, and driven to succeed."Merzlikins, 26, has authored a 13-9-8 record with a 2.35 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage, and five shutouts during his first professional campaign. He leads all rookie netminders in all of those categories.The Latvian puck-stopper failed to pick up a win in his first eight career starts but caught fire after earning his first victory Dec. 31. From that point on, Merzlikins owns a record of 13-5-4 with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. His stretch of dominant play includes a run of eight straight victories in which he conceded just eight goals while collecting five shutouts.Columbus also extended goaltender Joonas Korpisalo last week to a two-year deal worth a reported $5.6 million. With the pair locked up, the club has established a formidable tandem for just $6.8 million annually.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NHL is considering ways it can resume its paused campaign, but Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher is already looking ahead to 2020-21."For us right now, it always comes back to the same thing," Gallagher said Thursday, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "It's about winning, and if it's going to interfere with our ability to prepare for next year where we have a chance, I'd rather continue my training."The 27-year-old did, however, clarify that he'd be up for playing out the 2019-20 season if the playoffs include more than 16 teams."If it's a situation where maybe you see these scenarios where you have a chance to play and they expand the playoff bracket, obviously you're going to be all for it," he said.As the league remains postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Canadiens sit 10 points out of both an Eastern Conference wild-card spot and third place in the Atlantic Division."I'd rather be here preparing for next year and getting my body ready for whatever you have to do to have a chance to win, and obviously the players that are in contention, they're going to want to go play no matter what," Gallagher said.The NHL considered hosting games at neutral sites before scrapping that idea in favor of potentially resuming play in up to four league cities.Florida Panthers president Matthew Caldwell revealed Wednesday that the league is targeting a return in July.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL should be deep into postseason action, but with the start of the 2019-20 playoffs delayed, theScore's hockey editors are picking their favorite Game 7s from years past.On Thursday, we're looking back at the conclusion of the 2019 first-round series between the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights.The setupThe Sharks were already arguably the Golden Knights' biggest rivals after the two sides met in the second round of the playoffs in 2018. Vegas had home-ice advantage that year, though many still considered the Golden Knights the underdogs since it was their first year as a franchise. However, they managed to defeat the Sharks in six games.It was a different story the following season. The Sharks had home ice after collecting eight more points than the Knights during the regular season, but many viewed Vegas as the favorite due to Sharks netminder Martin Jones' rough campaign.The seriesThe first six games didn't disappoint. San Jose looked unstoppable early, scoring three straight goals to open Game 1 en route to a 5-2 win. The Golden Knights stormed back to win the next three contests by a combined score of 16-6, chasing Jones twice and pushing the Sharks to the brink of elimination.San Jose wouldn't go down without a fight, though, as it handily won Game 5 and then emerged victorious from an overtime thriller to set up an epic winner-take-all contest.The series had no shortage of off-ice drama, either. Evander Kane and Ryan Reaves exchanged some classic chirps, and Vegas head coach Gerard Gallant called Peter DeBoer - his eventual successor - "a clown" ahead of the deciding game.Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe game It appeared the Golden Knights had it wrapped up with a 3-0 lead and just over 10 minutes remaining in the contest. However, one of the biggest turning points in playoff history came when Vegas center Cody Eakin shoved Joe Pavelski after the faceoff. Pavelski lost his balance and collided with Paul Stastny, causing him to fall to the ice and suffer a gash to his head. Eakin was handed a five-minute major for the cross-check, though it should've likely warranted only a two-minute minor.The Sharks rallied behind their injured captain and scored four goals on the ensuing man advantage - two from Logan Couture, one from Tomas Hertl, and one from Kevin Labanc, who assisted on the first three tallies. Joe Thornton's leadership also played a big part."You gotta give credit to Jumbo," Couture said postgame, according to The Point Hockey's Sheng Peng. "As soon as we got to the bench (after Pavelski's injury), he said, 'You guys go out and get f------ three goals right now.' When a man who's played 20 years orders you around like that, you gotta go do it. We got four."However, Vegas winger Jonathan Marchessault would tie it up with less than a minute remaining in regulation to force overtime.When it seemed the contest was destined for a second sudden-death period, Barclay Goodrow - who barely played in the extra frame - took a slick feed from Erik Karlsson and scored a beautiful winner to send the Sharks to the second round.The highlightRelive the Sharks' entire comeback below:The falloutThe Golden Knights were understandably irate following their collapse."It's a f------ joke. It's embarrassing," Marchessault said postgame about the officiating. "That's what it is. It changed the entire outcome of the game, and the season."It changed the rule book, too. Beginning the following campaign, Section 20.6 stated that referees are allowed to review major penalties and reduce them to minors, though they can't rescind the penalty altogether or change a minor to a major. Call it the Pavelski Rule, if you will.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL, in coordination with ESL Gaming, announced the "NHL Player Gaming Challenge" on Thursday.The challenge will feature head-to-head battles in EA Sports' NHL 20 between players from all 31 teams.Even Seattle, the league's 32nd franchise set to take the ice in 2021-22, will be involved, with Seahawks tight end Luke Willson representing the currently unnamed club."Over the past several weeks, the NHL, its clubs, and player community have been very active with gaming initiatives in an effort to connect with fans while social distancing - such as charity tournaments, simulated games, and nightly streams," said Chris Golier, NHL vice president of business development and innovation."The NHL Player Gaming Challenge presented by Honda will take gaming to another level. We know how competitive our players are, and coupled with the interaction between players, these series of competitions will be extremely fun to watch."Games will begin on April 30 and run over the course of four weeks. All matchups will be available to watch through Sportsnet, NBCSN, Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.Here's a look at every team's representatives:TeamPlayer(s)DucksCam FowlerCoyotesConor Garland/Clayton KellerBruinsJake DeBrusk/Charlie McAvoySabresBrandon MontourFlamesNoah Hanifin/Matthew TkachukHurricanesWarren FoegeleBlackhawksDrake Caggiula/Alex DeBrincatBlue JacketsElvis Merzlikins/Zach WerenskiAvalancheJ.T. CompherStarsStephen Johns/Jamie OleksiakRed WingsMadison Bowey/Anthony ManthaOilersCaleb Jones/Darnell NursePanthersJonathan HuberdeauKingsMichael Amadio/Blake LizotteWildDevan Dubnyk/Jordan GreenwayCanadiensVictor Mete/Nick SuzukiPredatorsFilip ForsbergDevilsMackenzie BlackwoodIslandersMatt MartinRangersChris KreiderSenatorsBrady Tkachuk/Chris TierneyFlyersJame van RiemsdykPenguinsZach Aston-Reese/Bryan RustSharksEvander Kane/Marcus SorensenSeattleLuke Willson (Seahawks TE)BluesColton Parayko/Robert ThomasLightningTyler JohnsonMaple LeafsZach HymanCanucksThatcher Demko/Adam GaudetteGolden KnightsRyan Reaves/Alex TuchCapitalsEvgeny KuznetsovJetsAnthony Bitetto/Kyle ConnorCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray is teaming up with local sandwich chain Primanti Bros. to open a $5,000 tab for police officers in need during the COVID-19 pandemic."I want to thank the people on the front lines who put themselves at risk every day to keep us safe," Murray said in a statement, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.The initiative will begin Thursday.Murray was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2012. The 25-year-old posted a .899 save percentage in 38 appearances during 2019-20 before the season came to a halt March 12.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Vancouver Canucks netminder and pending unrestricted free agent Jacob Markstrom isn't worrying about his contract status as the NHL's coronavirus-related stoppage persists."With all the other stuff, hockey has kind of become not so important with everything going on around the world," Markstrom told reporters on a conference call, according to Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "Obviously, I would have liked to have a long-term deal and know what I’m going to do for the next few years here. But that's not the case right now. Nobody knows what’s going to happen this year. Hopefully, we get back playing. Even next year, and cap hits and all that stuff, hockey is kind of secondary."While putting pen to paper isn't at the top of Markstrom's mind, the 30-year-old is adamant that he'd like to remain with his current club whenever the time comes."In my mind, I want to stay in Vancouver," he said."That's my goal. The season isn't over this year, either. I’m still hoping we can come back and play and make a push in the playoffs here. It’s going to be tough to get fans in the building, but give the people and city of Vancouver something to cheer for. That’s pretty much 100% of my mindset. I'm still a Vancouver Canuck and I’m super proud of being it. I have no plans of leaving."When the season paused on March 12, the Canucks were just outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference. They'd fallen down the standings after Markstrom suffered an injury in February. Before being sidelined, the netminder had posted a .918 save percentage in 43 starts, the best statistical season of his career.When inking his next deal, Markstrom should be in line for a considerable raise over his $3.66-million cap hit. Vancouver already has $63.4 million committed to its 2020-21 roster, while the league's salary limit has yet to be determined.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's indefinite hiatus gives us an opportunity to take stock of the league's most fascinating figures. Last week, we explored Auston Matthews' goal-scoring prowess. This week, we tip our cap to Henrik Lundqvist's illustrious career while trying to make sense of its messy ending.Around this point last year, Henrik Lundqvist was back in his native Sweden, digesting a weird season.The 2018-19 campaign featured an encouraging first half but a disappointing second one, during which the future Hall of Famer endured one of the toughest stretches of his career. The New York Rangers, the team that drafted him in 2000, were in a state of flux. And so was he.By September, Lundqvist was refreshed and upbeat during the annual preseason player media tour in Chicago. When asked if he expected to be around for the anticipated "good times" at the end of the Rangers' overhaul (a promising rebuild which began with a famous open letter to fans in February 2018), Lundqvist responded positively."I just couldn't picture myself anywhere else, so when they told me what was going to happen, it was like, 'OK, let's battle through it,'" Lundqvist said of his discussions with Rangers management, adding that he was focused solely on the season ahead and not beyond.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesFast forward to today and Lundqvist's future in New York can be described as murky at best. He carries an $8.5-million cap hit, yet he sits behind 24-year-olds Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev on the depth chart. Lundqvist, a franchise legend with one year remaining on a seven-year deal, has become redundant.Lundqvist will undoubtedly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he retires. He's arguably the second-best European-born goalie to ever play in the NHL, behind Dominik Hasek. Along with Marc-Andre Fleury, Carey Price, and Roberto Luongo, Lundqvist is firmly in the conversation for the best goalie of the salary-cap era, which goes back to 2005-06. Unconvinced? Here are the cold, hard facts:

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, an interview-style podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.Todd Woodcroft, former Winnipeg Jets assistant coach and new University of Vermont head coach, joins the show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky took their talents to the virtual world, and they didn't disappoint.The Great One and the Great Eight faced off Wednesday night in NHL 20 on the Washington Capitals' Twitch stream to raise money for coronavirus relief.In the first of two games they played, Gretzky opened the scoring, and it's safe to say Ovi was not happy.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NHL is abandoning the idea of resuming its 2019-20 season using non-league arenas due to a lack of accommodations and difficulty televising games at these facilities, commissioner Gary Bettman told Sportsnet's Ron MacLean on Wednesday."I know there's been a lot of rumors about this, we can't play in a small college rink in the middle of a smaller community because if we're going to be centralized, we need the back of the house that NHL arenas provide," Bettman said."Whether it's multiple locker rooms, whether it's the technology, the procedures, the video replay, the broadcasting facilities; those are the things that are in place at NHL arenas and that's what we're going to ultimately need if we're going to come back in a centralized basis and play multiple games a day."The league is shifting its focus toward playing games at up to four regular NHL cities where the coronavirus outbreak is contained and less stringent restrictions would allow games to be played.Bettman says that although divisional games will be centralized in one location, contests won't necessarily be hosted in a city within the respective divisions.The home rinks of the Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers, and Minnesota Wild are currently the front-runners, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.Three cities contacted the league after the NHL went on pause March 12: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Manchester, New Hampshire.Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie was among the players to discuss potentially playing neutral-site games, saying he'd play anywhere if it brought back the chance to compete for a Stanley Cup.The NHL pushed its self-quarantine period to April 30 last week, and several options to ensure a fair format for all teams and safety for players are being considered as the pandemic persists across North America.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.New York Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan has recovered from the coronavirus, a Knicks spokesperson told The Athletic's Shams Charania.Dolan has donated his blood plasma toward research for potential treatments, Charania adds.The 64-year-old executive tested positive for COVID-19 on March 28. He was said to be experiencing little-to-no symptoms and continued to oversee the team.A day after the Knicks announced Dolan's diagnosis, it was reported that the NBA requested personnel within the league to consider donating plasma to the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project.Dolan is the only NBA team owner known to have contracted the virus.In the state of New York, there have been more than 257,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and over 15,000 deaths as of Wednesday, according to The New York Times.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NHL is targeting July as a potential return date as it continues to evaluate all options for resuming the 2019-20 season, Florida Panthers president Matthew Caldwell said on a conference call Wednesday shared by The Florida Channel."At least for the NHL, we're trying to target sometime in July and then when we feel that players are safe, we have enough testing, and have enough ways to get back on the ice, it's probably going to be contained to playing at four or five neutral sites, so that's all being discussed right now," Caldwell said. "My guess is that we would start with either limited fans or empty arenas."None of this has been finalized but this is the direction things are going."What Caldwell means by neutral sites is unclear, as ESPN's Greg Wyshynski and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman both reported earlier Wednesday that the league's plan to host games at non-NHL arenas has been abandoned. According to the report, the league is now shifting its focus toward two-to-four regular NHL cities where the coronavirus outbreak is contained and restrictions would allow games to be played.The league's ability to test players for COVID-19 will also be paramount to its return, and commissioner Gary Bettman reportedly has plans to connect with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss potential testing options.Another hurdle is the fact players have been self-quarantining in their own homes for over one month, and they haven't been able to skate or train to a degree that would keep them in game shape."I know for the NHL, our players are quarantined until the end of April, which will probably be extended into May," Caldwell said. "When we are able to come out from the quarantined period, players are going to need time to work out. I think all leagues are considering some type of mini training camp before the start of the season so that's going to take us into June."Bettman said players will need at least two-to-three weeks of training camp before the season resumes.The campaign was officially suspended March 12. All eight NHL players who tested positive for the virus have since recovered.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL should be deep into postseason action, but with the start of 2019-20 playoffs delayed, theScore's hockey editors are picking their favorite Game 7s from years past.On Wednesday, we look back at the deciding contest of the Philadelphia Flyers' unprecedented comeback against the Boston Bruins in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals.The setupWith several teams jockeying for playoff berths through the final weeks of the 2009-10 regular season, Boston closed out the campaign with three straight wins to comfortably secure the Eastern Conference's sixth seed. The Flyers' season, on the other hand, culminated in a win-and-you're-in contest against the New York Rangers on the final day of the campaign, a game Philadelphia won in one of the most memorable shootouts in NHL history.The Bruins and Flyers both pulled off upsets in the opening round of the postseason. Riding the momentum of its late-season playoff push, Philadelphia steamrolled the second-seeded New Jersey Devils in five games. Boston, meanwhile, knocked off the third-seeded Buffalo Sabres in six.The seriesThe Bruins took a pair of one-goal contests on home ice, including a 5-4 overtime thriller in Game 1, before pushing the Flyers to the brink with a dominant 4-1 win in Philadelphia.Down 3-0 in the series, the Flyers faced sudden-death elimination as Game 4 went to overtime. Philly wouldn't lay down, though, as star forward Simon Gagne delivered the game-winner in the extra frame to catalyze a comeback for the ages.Philadelphia's convincing 4-0 win in Game 5 came at a hefty cost when starting netminder Brian Boucher was forced from the tilt with a leg injury, further dampening his team's comeback chances. But in Game 6, backup Michael Leighton made 30 saves in his first career playoff start to lead the Flyers to a 2-1 victory and set up a seventh and decisive contest.Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyThe game It appeared the Flyers' miraculous comeback would fall short after the Bruins leapt out to a 3-0 first-period lead in front of a raucous Boston crowd. But Philadelphia's fight in the contest matched its resilience in the series: The Bruins let another 3-0 lead slip away as the Flyers stormed back to win 4-3. Philadelphia became just the third team in NHL history to win a playoff series after trailing 3 games to none, and the first to do so after facing a multi-goal deficit in Game 7.The stars: The Flyers' game-breakers were there when the team needed them most. Despite registering just one assist between them, Chris Pronger and Mike Richards were dominant all over the ice in Game 7. Pronger led all players with 31:42 of ice time, including a 1:43 shift to end the game, while Richards paced all forwards by playing 22:21, primarily against the Bruins' top unit.Philadelphia's line of Daniel Briere, Scott Hartnell, and Ville Leino was sensational, combining for six points in the second and third periods. Briere, undoubtedly the Flyer's most valuable player of the series with five goals and 10 points, notched the game-tying tally in Game 7.The hero, once again, was played by Gagne. After missing Games 1-3 due to injury, Gagne potted his second game-winning goal of the series as the Flyers improved to 4-0 with him in their postseason lineup.Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyThe X-factor: After allowing three goals on the first 13 shots he faced, Leighton locked things down to give the Flyers a chance. The backup netminder made 12 straight stops to end the game, highlighted by a point-blank save on Marc Savard with 3:50 remaining in the third period. Making just his second career postseason start, Leighton never wavered following a rocky first period.The key moment: With nine minutes left in the third frame and the score tied 3-3, Bruins forward Milan Lucic came inches from putting Boston back on top when he clanked a heavy wrist shot off the post. Not only did the score remain even, but the Bruins were caught with too many men on the ice just 15 seconds later. With all the momentum tilted in Philadelphia's favor, that costly near-miss and subsequent error proved the difference.The highlightOn the ensuing power play, Gagne found twine with a perfect shot over the shoulder of Tuukka Rask to put the Flyers ahead 4-3 with seven minutes left in regulation. The rest is history.The falloutThe Flyers continued their Cinderella run, knocking off a red-hot Jaroslav Halak and the Montreal Canadiens in the third round to reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1996-97. Unfortunately, the club's miracle season was halted by a juggernaut Chicago Blackhawks team that defeated Philadelphia in six games for the first of its three Stanley Cups of the decade.The Bruins took their embarrassing collapse personally and came back stronger because of it. After establishing another 3-0 series lead over the Flyers in the second round of the 2011 playoffs, Boston completed the sweep with conviction, outscoring the Flyers 20-7 in the series. The Bruins rode that momentum to a third-round knockout of the Tampa Bay Lightning before upsetting the Presidents' Trophy-winning Vancouver Canucks in seven games to capture their first Stanley Cup since 1972.Want to relive all the action? Catch the full game here.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.NHL general managers and executives will be paying close attention to the NFL's first-ever virtual draft on Thursday, as they could be following suit in a few months."It's going to be really interesting," Flames general manager Brad Treliving told The Canadian Press. "I know the NHL is watching what they're doing closely. We may be following their lead.""Certainly our draft is going to be remote, that would be safe to say," Treliving continued. "For sure I'm going to be watching (the NFL draft) and doing a lot of homework on not only that, but different ideas of how we could potentially do our draft."The NFL's draft will be held virtually due to coronavirus-related restrictions on mass gatherings. Teams recently went through a trial run, and despite some technical glitches at the start, the overall success of the proceedings satisfied GMs.The NHL draft, originally scheduled for June 26-27 in Montreal, was postponed last month. A makeup date and potential new format haven't been determined yet.Montreal Canadiens assistant general manager Trevor Timmins believes the NFL's execution of a virtual draft will give the NHL a solid example."We can learn a lot from that - what works, what doesn't work," Timmons said. "I've been in contact with my NFL contacts discussing how they are preparing with the limitations.""We should all pay attention," he added.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Despite a free-agency landscape that's completely up in the air, Arizona Coyotes general manager John Chayka won't let the NHL's current stoppage prevent him from trying to lock up forward Taylor Hall to a long-term deal.Hall was recently asked whether he'd prefer to seek a long-term deal as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, or if he'd rather settle for a one-year contract in case teams are wary of big commitments after the coronavirus-induced pause. The winger said he wants security, and Chayka won't let the hiatus affect Arizona's efforts to retain its star."At the end of the day, the NHL will still be here, once we work through everything," Chayka told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "The Coyotes will be as well. I don't think long term vs. short term is a huge discussion vs. what it's going to look like. There's certainly implications of this. I'm not saying it doesn't apply. But we weren't afraid to have a discussion about a longer term before, and this doesn't change that opinion."The Coyotes made a major splash by acquiring Hall from the New Jersey Devils in December. The 28-year-old headlines the list of pending free-agent forwards slated to hit the market whenever the NHL's signing period opens.Hall had notched 52 points in 65 games this season before the break began on March 12, including 27 points in 35 games after the trade to Arizona.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The National Women's Hockey League is officially expanding to Toronto for the 2020-21 season, the league announced Wednesday.Toronto will be the league's first Canadian team and sixth franchise overall, joining the Boston Pride, Metropolitan Riveters, Buffalo Beauts, Minnesota Whitecaps, and Connecticut Whale."Launching our first team in Canada is a pivotal and proud moment for the NWHL," league commissioner Dani Rylan said. "Everyone in the Toronto hockey community can be sure that this first-class team of professionals will make bold strides for the women’s game."Former Brown University coach Digit Murphy has been named team president and will oversee hiring a general manager and head coach. Johanna Neilson Boynton, a former captain at Harvard, and Tyler Tumminia, will serve as owner and chairman, respectively."We aspire to build a perennial Isobel Cup contender for Toronto," said Boynton. "This will be an organization with strong fan, community, and corporate support, outstanding coaching, training, and player development, and a club dedicated to promoting hockey as a game for everyone."Signing, hirings, and venues for the team will be announced at a later date, but fans can immediately begin submitting ideas for a team nickname, colors, and logos here.The 2020-21 NWHL season is expected to begin in November.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Some videos contain coarse languageThe Boston Bruins got most of their 2011 championship-winning squad back together to watch a rebroadcast of Game 7 against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night, and more than the result of the game was predictable.It didn't take long for things to get entertaining during the Zoom call, albeit occasionally vulgar.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.The NHL could conduct the draft in the month it normally takes place even if the season remains on pause.The league has discussed possibly holding the event in June before the resumption of the current campaign, though that's one of many potential plans, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Tuesday.It would be held virtually rather than at an arena, but nothing has been decided yet, adds LeBrun.As he notes, this idea presents several issues, including the draft order and conditional picks, which the final regular-season standings and playoff results typically determine, respectively.Such a scenario would also make draft-day trades - arguably the most entertaining part of the event - impossible, as ESPN's Greg Wyshynski points out.The league postponed the upcoming draft, the combine, and the annual awards show amid the coronavirus pandemic in late March. Montreal was scheduled to host the 2020 draft, and the NHL later reassured the Canadiens they would get the chance to host one in the future.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson and many other players in Sweden have been granted permission by local authorities to return to the ice, something their peers overseas are not pleased about, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."Some players in North America "do not like the idea" of the Swedes being allowed to skate due to the "competitive edge" it could offer if the league returns, according to Dreger.Having players return to the ice is a recommendation - but not a directive - from the league, Dreger adds. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, arenas and training facilities remain closed in North America to all players unless they are rehabbing an injury.Last week, the league extended its self-quarantine recommendation for players and staff for the third time, pushing back the date to April 30.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said players will need a two-to-three week training camp if the NHL resumes its season, which was suspended March 12.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils are taking a proactive approach while the NHL remains on hiatus.Devils interim general manager Tom Fitzgerald has spoken with former Vegas Golden Knights bench boss Gerard Gallant about New Jersey's head coaching position, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading.""Gerard Gallant, according to our sources, (was) interviewed last week," LeBrun said, before adding that the conversation with Fitzgerald took place virtually rather than face to face.Fitzgerald has spoken to several candidates, according to LeBrun, who wrote shortly thereafter on The Athletic that Devils interim head coach Alain Nasreddine is a legitimate candidate to keep the job.The Golden Knights fired Gallant, replacing him with Peter DeBoer in a surprise move back in January. Vegas was 24-19-6 at the time, and the team sat only three points back of first place in the Pacific Division despite being on the outside of the playoff picture.Gallant won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top head coach for 2017-18 after guiding the Golden Knights to a playoff berth and a run to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. He spent parts of three campaigns with Vegas after tenures of similar lengths with the Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets.Nasreddine took over behind the Devils' bench on an interim basis after the dismissal of John Hynes in early December. Under Nasreddine, the Devils have gone 19-16-8.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is beginning to enter the tail end of his career, but he's still not exactly sure when he'll call it quits for good."We'll see, I have one more year after this season and we'll see," Ovechkin said in an interview with NBC Sports' Kathryn Tappen and Wayne Gretzky Tuesday. "I'm healthy, thank God, and I still love this game. As soon as I'm not going to love this game, I'm not going to cheat on it. I respect it a lot, and I don't want to put my name on the caliber players who just play out there and take somebody's spots. I don't want to do that."Ovechkin, 34, is set to enter unknown territory as he approaches free agency. He has one more season left on the 13-year extension he signed with the Capitals in 2008 - the only contract he's signed following his rookie deal. The veteran will be 36 years old at the start of his next contract if he chooses to sign one.The perennial goal-scorer has shown no signs of slowing down yet. He was tied for the league lead in goals with 48 when the season paused on March 12. He's also shown incredible durability throughout his career, only missing a handful of games over the years due to injury.When asked about his thoughts on what he's accomplished and what he still has to get done, Ovechkin showed he understands the significance of his work on the ice so far."Obviously right now I have lots of time to think about and you know it's great, it's great for (the) game, it's great for me, for my teammates, it's great for Washington area, D.C. area to be able to see that," Ovechkin said of his personal feats to date. "Right now, I can't even realize what I did throughout all my career because you know my career is not ending, but to be eighth all time (on the all-time goals list), it's special."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Spezza had the chance to play for his hometown team this season, and he's hoping he can continue to do so."I definitely feel I have game left," the veteran said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "And there's nowhere else I'd rather be than play another year here in Toronto."The Mississauga, Ontario, native signed a one-year, $700,000 deal with the Maple Leafs last summer and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.Spezza will turn 37 in June. He's filled a bottom-six role nicely for Toronto, recording nine goals and 16 assists in 58 games while averaging 10:50 minutes of ice time.He has skated in 1,123 career games, racking up 341 goals and 599 assists.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2019-20 season paused indefinitely, theScore recently surveyed a group of NHL players via phone at their homes about a variety of topics.The six-player panel includes: the Sharks' Evander Kane, the Maple Leafs' Alexander Kerfoot, the Lightning's Kevin Shattenkirk, the Coyotes' Jakob Chychrun, the Kings' Austin Wagner, and the Hurricanes' Warren Foegele.Interviews were held individually and answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.––––––––––What's one specific part about being at the rink that you miss the most? It could be a person, a smell, a superstition - anything.Scott Audette / Getty ImagesShattenkirk: For me, the highlight of my day coming to the rink is going into the training room. Usually, that's where a lot of guys are congregating in the morning. Some guys go in there to get their vitamins, some guys are going in there to get treatment for injuries before practice or the morning skate, whatever it may be. I usually have a crossword puzzle going. Guys come in and we all take our turns at it. It seems to be our water-cooler talk.Chychrun: It's really just the conversations with the guys. We'll sit at the rink for two hours after practice and talk about absolute nonsense and give each other a hard time. It's those little stupid arguments and conversations where we're busting each other's chops over little stupid things. … I feel like my face hurts when I'm leaving the rink because I'm smiling the whole time.Foegele: Once practice is done, you get to fool around. It's kind of like you're a kid in a sense, like you're out there on the pond and playing because you just love the sport. That's probably what I miss the most: Enjoying the game and working on getting better. … Whether that is doing shootouts after practice, or shooting at targets, or doing one-on-one battles. It's the competitiveness that I miss, for sure. Competing to win and going up against your buddies out there.Wagner: For me, it's the schedule that I miss the most. Waking up and having that daily routine. It's different for every day. A game day, for instance, is different than a practice day. That's probably the biggest thing. Even people going to the office, like my mom; she misses the daily routine, too. It's definitely hard on a lot of people.––––––––––Who's the most underrated player in the NHL, and why? You can't pick a teammate.Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesKerfoot: Miro Heiskanen is the most underrated player. I know (Jason) Spezza on our team - he obviously played in Dallas with him - talks about him a lot. And the more you watch him the more you realize how good he is. He gets a lot of recognition, but maybe not the amount that he deserves. I think that he's an elite skater, probably one of the best in the league. He's got good hands, good feet. He's able to kind of do everything out there: Good defensively and also can carry the play in transition, can make plays offensively. He's really good and is going to be really good for a long time.Chychrun: It's probably easy to say after the year he had this year, but I think it's Leon Draisaitl. This was the first year everyone realized he could be a top-two player in the league. Him and (Connor) McDavid could be one, two - honestly. I remember when he signed his contract, everyone was freaking out, saying he's overpaid. That's probably the best deal in the league now. … And we play them a lot, so I see a ton of Draisaitl. He's just so dominant. He averaged like 24 minutes a game, a ridiculous number for a forward. It feels like he's out there the entire game and plays in every single situation. That's so valuable.Kane: You might not think he's underrated but … Draisaitl. Even though me and him don't get along on the ice - I don't know him personally - I would probably go with him. He gets a lot of attention, but I think this year specifically he was able to show he could do it on his own. A lot of people thought he wouldn't be as productive if he wasn't teammates with Connor. … And it's not necessarily his production. It's him being able to carry his own line. He showed that, that was more evident this year. He's underrated in terms of his finish. I know he had 50 goals a season before, but when you think of Leon Draisaitl, I don't know if people think "sniper." He's got good hands, makes plays, can obviously score. But I think he has really, really good finish.Wagner: I think (Brendan) Gallagher might be a little underrated. He does have an impact on the game every night, and I think people don't realize that, if he's not on the scoresheet. You can obviously look at (Sebastian) Aho in Carolina, too. Carolina doesn't get a ton of media attention. He's an unbelievable player. … There's so many things (about Aho). Just the way he skates and controls the pace of the game. He doesn't just score. He can make plays and do just about everything. He'll turn out to be one of the better players in the league eventually, and he's already showing glimpses of that.––––––––––Let's pretend you're NHL commissioner for a day and can make a change to the game. What do you do?Eliot J. Schechter / Getty ImagesKane: Honestly, I would make a completely relaxed dress code. That would be my No. 1 thing. That's what I would do. … Being restricted to being able to wear only one style of clothing (takes away) marketability. Players aren't able to show off their own personalities, their own sense of style. It also limits bringing other industries and other entities into our sport, such as the fashion industry. It's pretty hard to be diverse when you are only allowed and able to wear one style of clothing. It doesn't make a lot of sense. You look at how the NBA integrates fashion into their sport, and that's one of the many reasons why they generate so much revenue. They market their players and part of marketing their players is allowing their players to be themselves and allowing them to market themselves.(Editor's note: Kane's interest in league fashion is bolstered by the late-summer launch of his "EK9" clothing line.)Shattenkirk: One thing for me that I think could be changed is taking the trapezoid out. I'd like to see goalies handle the puck a little bit more. When it was out previously, the two-line pass was still in play, and that had teams slowed down as they came into the zone. I think taking it out now could present these situations where the goalie isn't sure if he should come all the way out because of the speed of the forechecker, which is now unbelievable, especially since you can't hold guys up. I think it would spice the game up a little bit.Wagner: That's a really tough one. I think a lot of people have underestimated what Gary (Bettman) has done. I think Gary's done a lot of good things for the league. … I don't really know if I'd change anything. As a young guy, too, it's hard because you haven't been in the league for so long and haven't seen the changes over the years.––––––––––What was your "Welcome to the NHL" moment?Jared Silber / Getty ImagesKerfoot: My first game, to be honest. We (the Avalanche) played in New York at MSG. You're on the road to start off your career and that was a really special moment. You're playing in a historical building like Madison Square Garden, it's your first game in the NHL, you've got your family in town. It doesn't really get much better than that. And I just remember how nervous I was that whole day. I don't think I slept much the night before the game, and then everything leading up to the game is kind of a blur. ... You dream about that your whole life, and then all of a sudden you're there and you're playing with some of the best players in the world and against some of the best players in the world, people you grew up watching. You're playing next to TV reporters who you've been watching the year before, or who commentated the playoffs. Stuff like that. Every little detail of it is pretty special.Foegele: I remember I scored my first NHL goal and I lined up beside Bobby Ryan and he said, "Congrats, kid. Welcome to the National." And I was like, "What the heck!? Bobby Ryan's talking to me?" I'll always remember that.Wagner: I was lucky enough to play in the home opener, make the roster on opening day (for the 2018-19 season). For me, it was probably that first game, when you hear all the noise in the tunnel and they call your name. That gives you something to feel good about. 100%, that was it.––––––––––What have you learned about yourself (or others) in quarantine?Kevin Sousa / Getty ImagesFoegele: (Laughs) I've learned to cook better. During the season, you do cook but you also eat out a lot with your teammates. So I've taken the opportunity to get better at cooking. I wouldn't say I'm the greatest, but I've improved my BBQ skills and read some recipes. Trying new things, getting out of my comfort zone since I have all of this time.Kerfoot: I think when you're in quarantine for so long, everybody's qualities come to the forefront. You spend a little bit more time with everyone for so long, and maybe some of those negative qualities (appear). I would say that I've noticed that about myself a little bit. Some of the things around the house have been a little bit selfish. I haven't been doing the dishes, haven't been helping out and making meals as much as I maybe thought I was. I think that's been something that has been a little bit eye-opening for me, and something I haven't appreciated my mom doing for me for a long time or my girlfriend in the last little while. I've tried to do a little bit better job of that during this quarantine period.Chychrun: It's really nice having quality time with (my mom and dad). I'm sure, once we get through this, we'll look back on this time and realize that there might not be another opportunity to have this much quality time with loved ones or whoever you're staying with. I've just been trying to enjoy it with them the best we can, which makes time go by easier. I can't complain because they've been doing all my chores, cooking me every meal. I wake up to a breakfast every morning, a nice dinner, so it's been great. It's been nice to have them here. I couldn't imagine doing this alone. It would be pretty crazy.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's central registry department has rejected the Columbus Blue Jackets' signing of Mikhail Grigorenko because of a misunderstanding regarding the filing window, the team confirmed Monday night.However, the club has been in contact with Grigorenko's agent, Dan Milstein, and the NHL, and the contract will be filed on July 1.The pact reportedly went against section 50.8 of the league's CBA, according to TVA's Renaud Lavoie. That section states:"No club or player may enter into a (standard player contract) that does not cover at least the then-current league year. The foregoing does not apply to an SPC entered into pursuant to Section 50.5(f) above, or to unsigned draft choices or draft-related unrestricted free agents, who shall be permitted to sign an SPC during the period from March 1 through June 1 immediately preceding the league year in which such SPC is to take effect."The Blue Jackets inked Grigorenko - a former NHL forward who's spent the last three seasons in the KHL - to a one-year deal for the 2020-21 campaign Monday morning.The NHL paused the 2019-20 season on March 12 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After losing in the 2006 Western Conference Final, the Anaheim Ducks added Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Pronger to their star-studded lineup in an all-in effort to capture the franchise's first Stanley Cup.Facing off against Daniel Alfredsson and the Ottawa Senators in the 2007 final, the Ducks carried a 3-1 series lead to Anaheim for Game 5. With the Stanley Cup in the building, could Anaheim seal the deal, or would the Senators rise to the occasion and push the series back to Canada's capital for Game 6?Watch a replay of the NHL's YouTube stream below:Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.