The Buffalo Sabres' season is beginning to unravel.The Sabres fell 6-1 to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night, marking the club's fourth loss in its last five games. Buffalo is now 11 points back of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.Forward Sam Reinhart says the players have nobody to blame but themselves."It's all coming down to the players at this point," he told The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington postgame. "The systems and the game plans that are set out for us give us an opportunity to have success ... Guys need to demand more of themselves and a lot of guys need to step the hell up."Reinhart scored Buffalo's lone tally in the ugly defeat and is on pace for career highs in goals (29) and points (68) this season. He ranks second on the team - behind captain Jack Eichel - in both those categories.Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen also sounded off after the loss."We didn't play good enough. We didn't work hard enough," he told The Athletic's John Vogel. "Today was shit."Head coach Ralph Krueger called the loss "truly unacceptable," according to Harrington.The frustration extends outside the Sabres' dressing room, too. Before the contest, general manager Jason Botterill admitted that owners Terry and Kim Pegula aren't pleased with the team's season thus far."To put it bluntly, my conversations with Terry and Kim, they’re frustrated with the results," Botterill said on WGR-Radio. "They want better results."The Sabres had a glorious opportunity to make up some ground coming off their 10-day break last week, but lost to the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens by a combined score of 8-3."You can understand our fans' frustration," Botterill said. "Our organization is frustrated by that."A diehard Sabres fan spoke for all of western New York last week with a passionate radio rant that went viral after he called out the club's ownership.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.We enjoyed a solid start to the week by nailing the Florida Panthers' team total over 2.5 (-120) and 3.5 (+180) goals, though we did lose the under at Madison Square Garden.Let's improve Tuesday night.GOATs and scapegoatsPanthers defenseman Mark Pysyk had never scored more than four goals in a season before last night when he potted his first career hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Talk about an unlikely hero putting the team on his back. GOAT move, Pysyk.There are a couple of things we can blame for our failed under bet. First, the referees, who weren't interested in letting the boys play last night at MSG. They called 11 minor penalties, which led to four power-play goals in the first period alone, setting the tone for the game and effectively ending any hope of hitting the under. Similarly, we can blame the brutal penalty-killing efforts by both teams or, instead, look to New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who allowed five goals on just 21 shots.Tuesday's betsNew Jersey Devils (+110)Carey Price is out with the flu and the Montreal Canadiens are coming off a tough loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, which has left them reeling in the playoff chase. Charlie Lindgren (0-3 this season) will start for the Habs, who have lost seven straight against the Devils. Also, look to play New Jersey's team total over 3.5 goals (+190).Winnipeg Jets under 0.5 first-period goals (+145)The Jets have been shut out during the first period in each of their last 10 games at home to the Nashville Predators, including earlier this month in a 1-0 loss. That's far too dominant of a trend not to tail, especially at this price. I'd also play the Predators -0.5 in the first period (+175) if you're feeling up to it.Arizona Coyotes (-125)All the info says to back the Edmonton Oilers here. They've won five of their last six in Glendale and three of the last four on the road, while the Coyotes are reeling with five losses in a row and defeats in eight of their last nine. But this game is absolutely massive for Arizona, which is in danger of dropping out of a wild-card spot. I expect Rick Tocchet to get an impressive performance out of his team, while this is also a letdown spot for the Oilers after an emotional victory against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.Best betDallas Stars (+110)Has any team come crashing down to earth quite like the New York Islanders have? They went from a virtual playoff lock and potential Stanley Cup contenders to possibly on the outside of the postseason picture depending on tonight's results. New York was 22-7-2 on Dec. 16 but has since gone 7-12 straight-up. The Isles have lost eight of their last 10 at home as regression has hit them hard.The Stars have been one of the best teams in the NHL since mid-October and are enjoying themselves on this eastern swing. They enter this contest on no rest but have been profitable in such a situation all season, posting a 5-2 record on the road in the second game of back-to-backs. Dallas is unquestionably the better team and can be had at a bargain.Trend of the nightSeven of the last 10 games started by Ottawa Senators goalie Marcus Hogberg have gone to overtime or shootout.All five of Hogberg's starts against teams not currently occupying a playoff spot - such as tonight's opponents, the Anaheim Ducks - have gone beyond 60 minutes. There's real value in backing this game to go to overtime at +300.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.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen is considered day-to-day with a neck injury and will not travel to New York for the team's matchup with the Rangers on Wednesday, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Tuesday, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.Backup netminder Michael Hutchinson will start against the Rangers. The Leafs recalled Finnish netminder Kasimir Kaskisuo from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Tuesday morning.Andersen exited Monday's game after Florida Panthers forward Frank Vatrano crashed into him late in the first period. Despite finishing the frame, Andersen was replaced by Hutchinson to start the second period.

Chris Kreider is in high demand.Eight teams have informed the New York Rangers they have the winger at the top of their respective wish lists ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.The Rangers are reportedly seeking a return for Kreider equal to what they received for Kevin Hayes at last year's trade deadline. The Winnipeg Jets sent New York a first-round pick and forward Brendan Lemieux in that deal. Like Kreider, Hayes was a pending unrestricted free agent, though he plays a more coveted position at center.Kreider is expected to be the top rental target as the deadline approaches. The 28-year-old boasts a rare combination of skill and size, as well as a relatively affordable $4.625-million cap hit.His injury status could complicate matters, however. The 6-foot-3, 217-pound sniper took an inadvertent knee to the head from teammate Mika Zibanejad during Saturday night's win over the Detroit Red Wings. He missed Monday's loss to the Dallas Stars as a result.Kreider has spent his entire eight-year career with the Rangers, who drafted him 19th overall in 2009. He has 18 goals and 35 points in 50 games for New York this season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets and Dustin Byfuglien are working toward a mutual contract termination within the next several days, sources told TSN's Frank Seravalli.A termination would end the defenseman's suspension and nullify his grievance against the team. It would also serve as a significant step on Byfuglien's path to unrestricted free agency.Neither side can independently terminate the final two years of the deal - both sides need to sign off on it - and Byfuglien would then have to clear waivers before becoming a UFA, according to The Athletic's Ken Wiebe.The gargantuan blue-liner has missed the entire 2019-20 season after undergoing ankle surgery in October. The Jets suspended him in September after he didn't report to training camp, and the NHLPA filed a grievance on his behalf in November.Byfuglien hasn't resumed skating since the ankle procedure. The 34-year-old's camp has argued the injury was a hockey-related ailment sustained during the 2018-19 season and that it never fully healed, but the team deemed him healthy after he passed his end-of-season physical in April.The veteran rearguard's ban was procedural in nature and he hasn't been paid since being suspended. Byfuglien's contract originally carried a $7.6-million cap hit for both this season and the next campaign, along with salaries of $8 million in 2019-20 and $6 million in 2020-21.Terminating the deal would bring closure to the dispute while providing the Jets with cap flexibility ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kasperi Kapanen is taking full responsibility for his behavior.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward was a healthy scratch for Saturday's contest against the Ottawa Senators because he overslept Friday and was late for practice."It's not me not caring," Kapanen said Monday, according to The Athletic's Jonas Siegel. "It's just an honest mistake and it happens. I just gotta own up to it."Kapanen admitted this wasn't the first time he's been late for practice, while head coach Sheldon Keefe declined to go into detail other than saying the 23-year-old's poor habit needs to be addressed."I don't think that's important or necessary," Keefe said, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "I also don't think it's necessary to make this a bigger deal than it needs to be. It was very innocent. It just gets to a point where you have to respond."Kapanen has recorded 10 goals and 28 points through 51 games this season. He had yet to miss a contest in 2019-20 until Saturday's benching.The Finnish winger will be back in Toronto's lineup for Monday's game against the Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stephen Johns will never forget Monday night.The Dallas Stars defenseman, who missed the 2018-19 season and the first 47 games of the 2019-20 campaign due to post-traumatic headaches, scored his first goal in nearly two years against the New York Rangers.

New York Rangers head coach David Quinn offered a straightforward explanation for his benching of forward Pavel Buchnevich during Monday's 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars."I didn't like his game at all," Quinn said postgame, according to the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis.Buchnevich notched a power-play goal to open the scoring, but his ice time decreased as the game continued. After logging 8:17 in the opening frame, he played just 4:21 in the second period and 1:39 in the third, according to shiftchart.com.The Rangers controlled just 40% of the shot attempts and 34.5% of the expected goals with Buchnevich on the ice. He was also credited with a giveaway.Buchnevich isn't the first player to find himself in Quinn's doghouse this season, as fellow youngster Kaapo Kakko was also benched earlier in the campaign.The 24-year-old Russian has recorded 10 goals and 28 points in 51 games this season after a 21-goal, 38-point campaign in 64 contests a year ago.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen didn't return to Monday's game against the Florida Panthers after suffering an upper-body injury, the team announced.Panthers forward Frank Vatrano crashed into Andersen late in the first period. The netminder stayed in the game for the rest of the opening frame, but Michael Hutchinson later replaced Andersen to begin the second period.

Milan Lucic is more than willing to drop the mitts the next time his Calgary Flames face the Edmonton Oilers, but he says the game has changed, making it more difficult to impose his physical edge.“I don’t know what people expect. It’s not the '80s anymore," said the 6-foot-4 grinder, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "You can’t just go around jumping people. If you notice, it’s pretty quiet out there when I’m on the ice. Even when I try to mix it up things cool off pretty quick. I wish I was on the ice when that stuff happened.”The Flames acquired Lucic from the Oilers in July for forward James Neal. General manager Brad Treliving felt the team was lacking a physical element after its first-round playoff loss to the Colorado Avalanche last spring.Lucic believes his former teammates in Edmonton are keeping their distance from him to avoid letting the 31-year-old get more engaged in the game."It’s old teammates too," he said. "I know when you’re on the ice the only friends are those wearing the same jersey, but those guys know me too. They know I play better when I’m riled up. The scoring report on me is... don’t poke the bear. You can’t measure it just based on fights.”Flames captain Mark Giordano defended his teammate, saying Lucic "didn't fight because no one wants to fight him."The provincial rivals don't meet again until the final day of the regular season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Rittich won't apologize for channeling his inner Jose Bautista.On Monday, the Calgary Flames goaltender defended the stick-flip celebration he broke out last Wednesday after stopping Edmonton Oilers sniper Leon Draisaitl to win a shootout."We're not able to celebrate in this league anymore or what?" Rittich said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "I didn't want to do anything more. I just celebrate. Why I should change myself? I'm going to do it (again). I'm that guy who is showing emotions, who is celebrating goals and wins.”After reaching out to deny Draisaitl with a poke check to preserve Wednesday's win, Rittich got to his feet and tossed his stick in the air.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov will not be in the lineup for Monday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach Joel Quenneville confirmed, according to TSN's Mark Masters.The Finnish star exited with a lower-body injury in the second period of Saturday's game against the Montreal Canadiens. He did not return to that contest and is currently listed as day-to-day.Barkov, 24, has potted 16 goals for Florida and ranks second in team scoring with 54 points through 50 games in 2019-20.The Panthers enter Monday's tilt two points back of the Maple Leafs for third in the Atlantic Division with a pair of games in hand.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.I don't know about you, but I always consider the Monday after the Super Bowl to be the day the NHL really heats up.With a little over a third of the regular season left to play, teams generally have a good idea of their playoff prospects and can gauge whether to buy or sell at the rapidly approaching trade deadline.As the regular season heats up, let's do the same.GOATs and scapegoatsThat's more like it, Brian Elliott. After shockingly shutting out the Pittsburgh Penguins a couple weeks ago, he reverted to his old ways against the Pens on Friday, allowing four goals on 20 shots to help us cash our best bet of over six goals.Alex Tuch wasn't nearly as kind. The Carolina Hurricanes battled back from 3-1 down to tie the Vegas Golden Knights with just a few minutes left in the third period. We had hope, but boy, was it short-lived. Tuch potted the winner just over a minute later and our Canes bet was officially dead. We didn't even get treated to overtime.Monday betsDallas Stars/New York Rangers under 5.5 (-105)Not too long ago, the Rangers couldn't stop scoring. Overs were cashing at an impressive rate and there was never a shortage of excitement on Broadway. Well, the goals have since dried up. The Rangers have scored 11 in their last five games while allowing just 10. The Stars, meanwhile, have allowed two or fewer goals in six of their last seven road games and are on a 5-1 run to the under away from Dallas. They also haven't scored more than three goals in any of their last nine games. All signs point to a tight, low-scoring affair at Madison Square Garden.Best betFlorida Panthers' team total over 2.5 (-130)Last time these teams met, we were all in on the over. We had the game over 6.5 goals, the Panthers' team total over 3.5, the Toronto Maple Leafs' team total over 3.5, and the first period over 1.5 goals. Every single one of those bets was a winner in an 8-4 Panthers victory. Let's go back to the well.There's every reason to suggest the over is the play again here. Five of the last six meetings between these teams have gone over (average of 8.2 goals), the Panthers allowed 17 goals in their last three games in Toronto, six of Florida's last eight games have gone over, and seven of Toronto's last nine have gone over.I'm going to take a slightly different approach, though, because the Leafs have been struggling a bit on home ice, scoring just five goals in their last three games at Scotiabank Arena. Meanwhile, the Panthers aren't having any trouble scoring, with at least four goals in six of their last seven games and four of their last five on the road. They should have no problem potting three against a leaky Toronto defense, and I'll also be on their team total over 3.5 (+180).Trend of the nightThe Panthers have lost seven straight games in Toronto, all in regulation.The Leafs are priced quite high at -170, but you can get them at -120 to win in regulation or at +140 on the puck line (-1.5 goals). I'm not buying into this trend as much and will personally be laying off the Leafs. At the rate goals could be going in, this game could be wildly unpredictable.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.

Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This edition focuses on Week 17. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Add Kailer YamamotoTeam: Oilers

Gritty is off the hook.Philadelphia police closed their investigation into an alleged assault involving the Flyers mascot late last year, reports FOX 29. Detectives said the actions of the person in the Gritty costume "did not constitute physical assault as alleged."In late January, Flyers season-ticket holder Chris Greenwell claimed the mascot punched his 13-year-old son in the back during a November photo shoot.The Flyers downplayed the accusation at the time, noting they had conducted their own investigation and insisting there was "nothing to support" Greenwell's claim.Gritty became an instant viral sensation after being introduced as the team's mascot before the 2018-19 season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the 10th edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for 2019-20. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.In this edition, we highlight a player on each team who'll need to raise his game for the remainder of the campaign.1. Washington Capitals (35-13-5)Previous rank: 1The Capitals remain the class of the league, but Braden Holtby will have to improve if they want to dominate down the stretch and into the playoffs. The netminder has posted a sub-.900 save percentage on the season, and he's allowed four or more goals in six of his last 10 games.2. Boston Bruins (31-10-12)Previous rank: 5It's been a frustrating campaign for Charlie McAvoy after he signed a three-year extension in September. The young blue-liner still hasn't scored in 2019-20 and is on pace for a career-low 26 points. That output would be especially disappointing considering injuries significantly shortened his two previous seasons.3. Tampa Bay Lightning (32-15-5)Previous rank: 4Ryan McDonagh's underlying numbers are solid thanks in large part to the Lightning rounding into form as a team. However, he's simply not producing on the score sheet, managing only 12 points in 46 games after racking up a career-high 46 points across 82 contests in 2018-19.4. Pittsburgh Penguins (33-14-5)Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 2Matt Murray's struggles are well-documented, but as long as Tristan Jarry continues to perform, Alex Galchenyuk will remain the Penguins' primary concern. Much was expected of the forward after he was acquired from the Arizona Coyotes for Phil Kessel, but to label him a disappointment would be an understatement.5. St. Louis Blues (31-14-8)Previous rank: 3Jordan Binnington has been fine this season, but fine isn't good enough for a team aiming to defend a championship. The Blues goaltender has a .911 save percentage in 2019-20, but he's authored a mere .879 mark over his last 10 games, surrendering at least four goals in five of those contests.6. Vancouver Canucks (30-18-5)Previous rank: 7Loui Eriksson still hasn't fully found his game. That hasn't stopped the Canucks from leading the Pacific Division, but the $6-million man was acquired in 2016 to score goals, and while he's shown some life lately, he has to give Vancouver more than the five markers and 10 points he's accumulated in 33 contests so far.7. Toronto Maple Leafs (28-17-7)Previous rank: 13Much like Binnington, Frederik Andersen has underachieved in the crease, as the Maple Leafs' starting netminder has produced a less-than-stellar .910 save percentage in 2019-20. Worse yet, he's at just .893 since the calendar flipped to the new year.8. New York Islanders (29-15-6)Previous rank: 8Jordan Eberle has just eight goals so far this season, although five have come in his last nine games. The Islanders will hope Eberle can build on his recent performances in the second half after the winger signed a five-year, $27.5-million contract in the summer.9. Columbus Blue Jackets (28-16-9)Kirk Irwin / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 10The Blue Jackets have certainly exceeded expectations this season, but Nick Foligno's play has noticeably declined. While he's not typically an elite offensive contributor, the 32-year-old captain has managed only six goals and 22 points in 50 contests, including just two markers and nine points in his last 25 appearances.10. Colorado Avalanche (28-16-6)Previous rank: 9Gabriel Landeskog missed 16 games with an injury earlier this season, so matching his career-high output of 34 goals and 75 points from 2018-19 was always unlikely. However, at his current rate of production - despite showing some life recently - he'd produce only 53 points over 82 contests in 2019-20.11. Philadelphia Flyers (28-17-7)Previous rank: 18Claude Giroux's output dropped to 85 points in 2018-19 after his career-best 34-goal, 102-point explosion two seasons ago, but it's taken a nosedive in 2019-20. The Flyers captain hasn't scored in 11 games and has buried only one goal since the calendar flipped to 2020. He's on pace for just 55 points.12. Dallas Stars (29-18-4)Previous rank: 6One could argue nearly every player outside of the Stars' crease needs to pick his game up, but perhaps no one is more guilty than $78-million pivot Tyler Seguin. The 28-year-old hasn't found the net in 12 games, and with 37 points on the season, he sits tied for 77th in league scoring.13. Edmonton Oilers (28-18-6)Previous rank: 14Nobody expects Alex Chiasson to light the league on fire, but the Oilers are in dire need of depth scoring down the stretch. Chiasson has seen reduced ice time compared to his 22-goal campaign in 2018-19, but the winger is still averaging around two minutes on the power play per game and has the offensive tools to make a difference.14. Florida Panthers (28-17-5)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 12Imagine how difficult it would be to beat the Panthers if Sergei Bobrovsky was playing remotely close to his potential. It hasn't quite panned out for the goalie midway through his first season in Sunrise, and for the Panthers to make any serious noise down the stretch, he'll need to get his game on track.15. Vegas Golden Knights (27-20-7)Previous rank: 16Alex Tuch has yet to return to form after missing the first 17 games of the season to injury. With just seven goals through 39 contests, the 6-foot-4 winger must find his rhythm and become the dynamic talent the Golden Knights know him to be.16. Carolina Hurricanes (30-19-3)Previous rank: 11Jake Gardiner hasn't lived up to the four-year, $16.2-million deal he inked with the Hurricanes last summer. The offensive defenseman has only 13 points through 51 games and is a team-worst minus-20. With the long-term absence of Dougie Hamilton, Carolina will need Gardiner to be what they paid him to be.17. Calgary Flames (27-20-6)Previous rank: 17The Flames are desperate for Johnny Gaudreau to get back to his dominant self. Calgary has dropped four of its last six outings, and Gaudreau has contributed just three assists over those games. The 26-year-old has shown flashes of promise, but the consistency just hasn't been there this season.18. Chicago Blackhawks (25-21-6) Previous rank: 19It's hard to believe Alex DeBrincat has only 12 goals through 52 games after netting 41 last season. With the Blackhawks back in the playoff picture, now is the time for the talented winger to rediscover his scoring touch.19. Arizona Coyotes (26-21-7)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 15Has anyone seen Phil Kessel? The Coyotes' marquee offseason addition has just one point in his last five games and two goals over his previous 12 as the club continues to slide. The Coyotes appear to be all-in this season after acquiring Taylor Hall, and they'll need Kessel to step up and deliver down the stretch to avoid disaster.20. Winnipeg Jets (26-23-4)Previous rank: 20The Jets' glaring hole on the back end is catching up to them. It's tough to single out one player, so we're going to cheat and say the entire blue line has to improve if the club wants to remain in the playoff race. Winnipeg is allowing the most high-danger scoring chances against per 60 minutes at five-on-five.21. Nashville Predators (24-20-7)Previous rank: 23Unfortunately for the Predators, there are many players to choose from. Ryan Johansen, Matt Duchene, and Kyle Turris have all drastically underachieved up front. However, the player most capable of sparking a miraculous second-half turnaround is goaltender Pekka Rinne, who is currently posting a career-worst .898 save percentage.22. New York Rangers (25-21-4)Previous rank: 21It's hard to ask for a lot from a teenager at the NHL level, but 18-year-old Kaapo Kakko has been a major disappointment in his rookie season, tallying just 16 points in 46 games. A strong finish would give the 2019 No. 2 pick some much-needed confidence going into the summer.23. Montreal Canadiens (24-23-7)Previous rank: 26Jesperi Kotkaniemi would've been an easy answer for the Canadiens, but the 19-year-old sophomore was sent down to the AHL on Saturday. Another youngster Montreal was counting on, Ryan Poehling, has struggled in his rookie campaign. Poehling scored a hat trick in his NHL debut last season but has managed just one goal in 25 games this year.24. Buffalo Sabres (23-22-7)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 22The Sabres are rife with underachievers, but none have disappointed more than Jeff Skinner. He turned a 40-goal 2018-19 season into an eight-year, $72-million contract but has just 11 goals to show for this year.25. Minnesota Wild (23-22-6)Previous rank: 25Matt Dumba must find a way to boost his 2.4 shooting percentage and start finding the net. The talented defenseman showed he can fill the score sheet with 14 goals and 50 points two seasons ago, but Dumba has struggled to return to form after an injury-shortened 2018-19.26. Anaheim Ducks (21-26-5)Previous rank: 29John Gibson was considered one of the league's top goalies entering the 2019-20 campaign. However, he owns a very pedestrian .904 save percentage and his goals saved above average sits at minus-6.27. San Jose Sharks (22-27-4)Previous rank: 24San Jose's season is already a wash, but a big second half from Kevin Labanc would be a positive development moving forward. He's on pace for 16 fewer points than he totaled last year despite seeing a two-minute increase in his average ice time.28. Ottawa Senators (18-24-10)Previous rank: 30The Senators were hoping to see some growth out of 2015 first-round selection Colin White in his second full NHL campaign. White is on pace for just 25 points this season, which would be a 16-point drop-off from one year ago. The 23-year-old needs to step up and prove he's worth the six-year, $28.5-million deal he signed over the summer.29. New Jersey Devils (18-24-9)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 27P.K. Subban was brought into New Jersey to lead the defense corps, but he's on pace for a career-low 18 points despite being the league's third-highest paid blue-liner.30. Los Angeles Kings (19-29-5)Previous rank: 28Jonathan Quick is struggling for a second straight season, but strong play down the stretch could potentially make the Kings goaltender tradeable this summer.31. Detroit Red Wings (12-37-4)Previous rank: 31With a record this bad, everyone needs to step up but perhaps none more so than Andreas Athanasiou. The speedster has just five goals in 36 games after potting 30 a year ago.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Battle of Alberta gifted hockey fans with one of the most exciting occurrences in the sport on Saturday: a goalie fight!Calgary Flames netminder Cam Talbot and Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith highlighted another great chapter in the provincial rivalry with a heated bout that's inspired us to revisit some of the most memorable goalie fights in NHL history.Felix Potvin vs. Ron Hextall - Nov. 10, 1996A wild affair between the Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs, which included three separate player fights and a fiery altercation between captains Doug Gilmour and Rod Brind'Amour, ended with one of the most spirited goalie bouts ever.All hell broke loose as time expired in the game, and Hextall immediately joined in on the action. The Flyers netminder skated full-tilt down the ice to engage with Potvin, and the two exchanged a series of heavy blows for a solid 30 seconds before succumbing to exhaustion.Ray Emery vs. Martin Biron and Andrew Peters: Feb. 22, 2007One of hockey's ultimate gladiators between the pipes, Ray Emery was never one to back down from a fight. The Ottawa Senators netminder took on all comers on this night in Buffalo.Midway through the second period, the Buffalo Sabres matched their fourth line with the Senators' top unit. After Andrew Peters went after Ottawa star Dany Heatley, a line brawl erupted, and Emery fled from his crease to take on both Martin Biron and Peters with a grin from ear-to-ear.Emery's competitive spirit and love of the game will live on forever. R.I.P., Razor.Patrick Roy vs. Mike Vernon: March 26, 1997 It's one of the most famous regular-season games in NHL history. The fierce rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche reached its tipping point in late March of 1997, with each netminder taking center stage in a full-out line brawl.After Red Wings forward Brendan Shanahan flew through the air to greet Roy at center ice, the Avalanche puck-stopper got his hands on Mike Vernon, and the goalies squared off in Roy's first tilt with a Detroit counterpart.Patrick Roy vs. Chris Osgood: April 1, 1998Roy was at it again just over one year later, but this time with Red Wings netminder Chris Osgood. Similar to the incident a season prior, a line brawl erupted, and Roy jumped at the chance to embrace the chaos.After exchanging pleasantries with a dog pile of players, Roy noticed Osgood waiting for him at center ice and the rest was history.Brent Johnson vs. Rick DiPietro: Feb. 2, 2011The hockey world learned an important lesson on this night in Pittsburgh: Don't mess with Brent Johnson.The Penguins netminder skated down the ice to greet Islanders' Rick DiPietro with a thunderous left hook that ended what might be the quickest goalie fight in NHL history. Kudos to Johnson for checking in on his fallen opponent after delivering what he knew was a direct blow. Class act.Jonathan Bernier vs. Ryan Miller: Sept. 22, 2013Who says preseason hockey is boring? An unlikely spat between then-Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel and (All-Star) John Scott, which turned the former into Paul Bunyan, ignited an unforgettable line brawl that ended with Jonathan Bernier and Ryan Miller taking center stage.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leon Draisaitl was tight-lipped after David Rittich celebrated a shootout-winning save on him with a Jose Bautista-style stick flip when the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames met Wednesday night.

New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider is considered day-to-day after exiting Saturday's contest against the Detroit Red Wings with an upper-body injury, head coach David Quinn said after the game, according to the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis.“That looked like a really severe blow to the head," Quinn said. "I felt better when I came and saw him in between the periods. He wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I thought he would be. After the game ended, we talked, and it’s a lot better than I anticipated.”Kreider went to the locker room in the second period after taking an inadvertent knee to the head from teammate Mika Zibanejad and did not return.The 28-year-old winger is regarded as one of the most coveted pending unrestricted free agents ahead of the Feb. 24 trade deadline.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien has yet to resume skating and the "most likely" outcome is he doesn't play this season, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.In this case, Byfuglien's future would be re-visited in the summer.Byfuglien has yet to play this campaign. He was suspended without pay by the Jets for failing to report to training camp as he reportedly mulled his future. The 34-year-old underwent ankle surgery in October for an injury his camp is arguing was a hockey-related ailment from last season that never fully healed. However, Byfuglien was deemed fully healthy by the Jets after passing his routine end-of-season physical last April.The NHLPA filed a grievance on his behalf, arguing that he should be getting paid this season as any player on long-term injured reserve would. However, Byfuglien hasn't received any money since he's remained suspended.The defenseman reportedly began a post-surgery rehab program in consultation with the Jets in December. However, that rehab program has yet to see him hit the ice.Winnipeg's salary-cap situation has essentially been on hold awaiting Byfuglien's decision. The Jets have room to accommodate the blue-liner and his $7.6-million cap hit if he does return this season, but general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is free to use that cap room prior to the Feb. 24 trade deadline if he receives word the rearguard won't return.Byfuglien, who is signed through next season, was productive in 2018-19, tallying 31 points in 42 games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov exited Saturday's 4-0 loss against the Montreal Canadiens with a lower-body injury.The 24-year-old center did not return to the game after getting tangled up with Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber near the midway mark of the second period.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been sent down to Laval for the first time in his career.The Montreal Canadiens assigned the 19-year-old forward to their AHL affiliate, the club announced Saturday.Kotkaniemi had collected six goals and eight points in 36 games this season. The 2018 third overall pick had gone six games without a point and had managed only one point (a goal) in his last 12 contests.He was in his second campaign with the Canadiens after coming over from Finland. Kotkaniemi produced 11 goals and 34 points in 79 games as a rookie in 2018-19.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks will be without forward Tyler Motte for at least a month.Motte will be on the shelf for four-to-six weeks with a shoulder injury, Canucks head coach Travis Green said Saturday.The 24-year-old has collected three goals and five points in 24 games this season. He's spent parts of three campaigns with Vancouver, which acquired him from the Columbus Blue Jackets in February 2018.In January, the American center opened up about his battle with anxiety and depression.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dougie Hamilton could return to the lineup before the end of the regular season.The blue-chip rearguard was expected to miss the remainder of the campaign after suffering a broken fibula on Jan. 16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but the timeline for Hamilton's recovery has general manager Don Waddell pondering a potential return."The only thing that I'm cautious about is with Dougie they say 8-12 weeks," Waddell said Friday, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "If he's 10 weeks, that's the last week of March."Wadell will have to decide how to approach the Feb. 24 trade deadline with Hamilton's status still somewhat uncertain. Carolina could place Hamilton and his $5.75-million cap hit on long-term injured reserve in order to create more cap space, but using that space to add another player could prevent the team from activating a healthy Hamilton for what's shaping up to be a critical final stretch."If he was ready to go that last week of the season, starting on March 28, we have five games," Wadell said. "Those might be the most important five games of the year. So if he was ready to come back, you'd want to try to keep space to bring him back."Hamilton was in the conversation for the Norris Trophy this season, recording 14 goals and 40 points in 47 games before sustaining the injury. The 26-year-old earned his first All-Star nod earlier in January.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Duane Alan Steinel is now a hero in Buffalo.The lifelong Sabres fan went viral after unleashing an incredible rant while calling into a local sports radio show Wednesday.Here's the call he made to "Schopp and the Bulldog" on WGR 550:(Audio courtesy: WGR 550)Steinel took the Sabres organization and, specifically, co-owner Terry Pegula to task during the diatribe. He called out the team for its in-game ineptitude, but also cited a series of off-ice missteps involving the club's legends during its 50th season.He referenced the embarrassment he felt seeing former Buffalo forward Danny Gare being forced to wear an unlicensed jersey at a fundraising event, as well as the organization giving former Sabres Dave Andreychuk and Mike Robitaille jerseys with their surnames misspelled."I don't need a Jerry Jones-type of owner," Steinel said, before beginning to yell. "I need (an) owner who's going to answer the fans when they misspell names on jerseys and have Chinese knockoffs on alumni. What is going on? What are we doing?"

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Luck really wasn't with us Thursday as we fell on the wrong side of a come-from-behind shootout victory and a goal short of nailing an over, finishing 1-2 on the night.These things happen, but that New Jersey Devils game is going to haunt me for a while.Let's get it back Friday.GOATs and scapegoatBrendan Gallagher put on a show in his return to the ice for the Montreal Canadiens after missing 10 of the last 11 contests. He scored the game-winning goal and also registered an assist as the Canadiens marched into Buffalo and claimed two points from the reeling Sabres.We needed that from the Habs, because the Devils absolutely broke our spirit. They held three separate leads over the Nashville Predators - including two in the third period - but Mackenzie Blackwood was the victim of his miserable defense and allowed five goals on 25 shots. I'm never betting New Jersey again. That was torture.Friday betsCarolina Hurricanes (-140)Laying this sort of juice isn't something I typically like to do but there are times when the occasion calls for it. The Vegas Golden Knights have generally been pretty poor on the road. They've lost four of five, 12 of 18, and are 3-7 away to Eastern Conference teams, beating only the Devils, New York Rangers, and Ottawa Senators.This is the first game of a back-to-back for the Knights, with Peter DeBoer confirming Malcolm Subban will get the start against the Hurricanes, who are 7-2 at home to Western Conference teams this season and have won five of their last six in Raleigh. The Canes have allowed just four goals in their last five home games and are playing some excellent hockey at the moment.Boston Bruins/Winnipeg Jets over 6 (-110)Give me the Bruins' team total over 3.5 (-110) and the Jets' team total over 2.5 (-120), as well. Winnipeg is on a 6-0-1 run to the over against Eastern Conference teams and has allowed 25 goals in its last four contests.Boston has played to three straight overs against Western Conference teams and its last four games in Winnipeg have averaged 7.3 goals. All signs point to fireworks.Best betPhiladelphia Flyers/Pittsburgh Penguins over 6 (-110)This will be the first action for both the Flyers and Penguins since they met in Philadelphia just before the All-Star Break, with the latter losing that one 3-0. Brian Elliott put on an unlikely performance in that game, but I expect a much different result this time around. Elliott allowed 32 goals and was pulled four times over his previous eight games against the Penguins before that shutout.Pittsburgh has had 10 days to stew over that result and should put in a much-improved offensive effort on home ice. The over has hit in eight of the Flyers' last nine road games for an average of 7.8 goals per contest. The Penguins are on a 5-2 run to the over on home ice.I also like the Flyers' team total over 2.5 goals here at just -110. They've won four of their last five in Pittsburgh and are going to need to score to keep pace.Cross-sport propGeorge Kittle total receptions > Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens total goalsThis one is almost too good to be true. The Kansas City Chiefs were a bottom-five team at defending the tight end position this season in terms of receptions and yards allowed. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan is the best in the business at exploiting a defense's weakness and, with a projected total of 54.5, the 49ers will have to throw the ball a fair bit Sunday, with Kittle expected to be a focal point of that. Six receptions should be the minimum.And six should be more than enough to surpass the total number of goals scored at the Bell Center on Sunday when the Blue Jackets visit the Canadiens. Their last five meetings in Montreal have featured just 18 goals (3.6 per game). Even if they fly over that total and the game finishes 3-2, we should feel more than comfortable with Kittle surpassing that mark.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.

Tuukka Rask will return to the crease Friday night.The Boston Bruins goaltender is starting against the Winnipeg Jets, according to Bruins reporter Eric Russo.Rask missed the last three contests after taking an elbow to the head from Columbus Blue Jackets forward Emil Bemstrom on Jan. 14. He was diagnosed with a concussion shortly thereafter.It was Rask's third head injury in less than three years. He sustained a concussion on Jan. 19, 2019 against the New York Rangers after suffering one during a practice in October 2017.The 32-year-old is 17-4-6 with a .925 save percentage in 28 games this season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly interview-style podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.Former NHL forward Daniel Carcillo joins this week's show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

Brad Treliving is fed up with the idea that what Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano did to Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid on Wednesday was a nefarious act."Any talk that there's a malicious intent on the Gio hit is complete garbage," the Flames general manager told reporters, including Postmedia's Wes Gilbertson, on Friday.Late in the second period of the latest edition of the "Battle of Alberta," Giordano collided with McDavid in the neutral zone and appeared to clip the dynamic Edmonton forward in the leg with his hip. McDavid was incensed afterward, screaming at officials from the bench.Giordano was not disciplined for the incident. He had been penalized about four minutes earlier for slashing Sam Gagner.Both McDavid and his head coach, Dave Tippett, downplayed the collision postgame. The Oilers captain said he didn't want to start a "big media circus" and added that Giordano is "obviously a guy that plays hard, and that's that," according to TSN.Tippett said he didn't think there was any "malice" from Giordano on the play. However, Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said he thought it was "clearly a knee" and emphasized that McDavid isn't the type of player who falls easily.The Flames' shootout win also featured a highly anticipated "rematch" between Zack Kassian and Matthew Tkachuk, whose encounters during the two clubs' previous meeting on Jan. 11 ignited a war of words in the days that followed.Calgary and Edmonton won't have to wait long to renew hostilities, as they'll face off again Saturday night.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ST. LOUIS - Shea Weber is, if nothing else, a man of extremes.He's extremely nasty and feared on the ice, remarkably nice and humble off it. He's a polarizing defenseman to evaluate, with his true impact in any given game rarely reflected in traditional or even advanced statistics. He's incredibly strong and, relative to his size, tremendously agile. He's equipped with an extraordinarily hard shot. And he's totally uninterested in talking about himself.That last trait surfaced during All-Star Weekend. In a one-on-one interview, Weber - who's 24 NHL games shy of 1,000 - was asked how he's been able to maintain such a high level of play this year. His previous enthusiasm in discussing his seventh All-Star appearance - "This is awesome" - vanished instantly."I don't know, to be honest," the Montreal Canadiens captain said, his facial expression suddenly blank. "Dedication to training and preparation. Every year I prepare for the season. I've had some tough injuries the last couple of years, but I think I've worked hard to come back from those. I think that … I don't like talking about myself. It's just the hard work and dedication that comes with anything."Francois Lacasse / Getty ImagesThat dedication is paying off, both for Weber and Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin. The hockey community roundly mocked Bergevin in June 2016 after he traded Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban for Weber, straight up. The criticism was warranted: Bergevin had sent the Nashville Predators a younger, more dynamic blue-liner than Weber, one whose contract was less of an albatross than Weber's monstrous 14-year deal. The swap was projected to be a landslide win for the Predators. Yet, in 2020, Subban is a member of the New Jersey Devils and Weber, at 34 years old, is excelling."You're in one place 10-plus years, and you get comfortable with the city, the organization, everything. And then everything is new," Weber said, reflecting on the blockbuster trade. "But I feel like I am at home again, and that I'm settled into my home. I enjoy playing here, and after the first year, it has felt more natural. In the fourth year now, it feels normal."Weber - who was limited to only 26 games in 2017-18 and 58 games last year because of injury - hasn't missed a single contest this season. He's playing 24 minutes a night to lead all Habs skaters through 51 games, and he's posting the best possession numbers of his career. Though Montreal's underwhelming attack ranks a middling 17th overall in total offense, Weber's on pace to record at least 50 points for the fourth time in 15 years."He's a beast," New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider said of his 6-foot-4, 230-pound foe. "He's still hammering the puck. He still moves incredibly well. He's still stronger than an ox."In a recent poll of 392 NHLers conducted by The Athletic, Weber finished second in the "best defensive defenseman" category. He trailed only Victor Hedman, five years Weber's junior and a franchise defender in his own right. Weber's managed to vault himself back into the conversation for the game's top blue-liner while many of his 2003 draft class peers - namely Brent Seabrook, Dustin Byfuglien, and Dion Phaneuf - are essentially irrelevant or out of the NHL entirely. Ryan Suter and Brent Burns - who's having a down year - are his closest competition from that class; at this point in time, Weber's the king."He plays, first and foremost, really well defensively," Calgary Flames rearguard Mark Giordano said. "Then, this year, we all know the type of shot he has, and he's been able to jump into the play it seems like a little bit more."The numbers support Giordano's claim. According to advanced stats website Natural Stat Trick, Weber ranks first in on-ice shot attempts per 60 minutes among the 162 NHL defensemen who have logged at least 500 five-on-five minutes. The Habs attempt 69.7 shots every 60 minutes Weber is on the ice. Norris front-runner John Carlson is 27th in that regard, helping the Washington Capitals attempt 61 per hour. And, in all situations, Weber's averaging 2.9 shots on net per game, the fifth-highest rate of his career and highest since 2014-15.Joe Puetz / Getty ImagesThe native of Sicamous, B.C., still has his fastball, too, with players across the league reporting widespread fear of his booming shot. The All-Star Skills Competition provided some visual evidence: Weber won the hardest shot contest with a blistering 106.5 mph blast.Al MacInnis, one of the NHL's all-time great back-end snipers, has noticed Weber smartly fires away whenever a one-time pass enters his orbit. "I find that if you think there's another option there, the shot is taken away (by the defense)," said MacInnis, now a member of the St. Louis Blues' management group. "So, for me, when I'm watching him, that's his (go-to approach). That's why he's been able to be so effective, and he's getting shots through to the net."Added Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck: "That thing just continues to pick up speed. I remember I had one moment (years ago) where he hit me in the chest. I had my chest kind of puffed up, and it almost acted like a trampoline. I sucked my chest pad in and launched it almost right back to him. He's definitely got one of the hardest (in-game) shots in the league."Kreider recalled an occasion on which he pulled the chute on his defensive assignment, choosing instead to block a Weber howitzer and wondering how his coaches would react to that decision. "I sprinted away from the guy who was basically sitting right in front of the net in the slot because (Weber) was coming downhill for a one-timer," Kreider said. "Our coaches were basically like, 'That was a good play. We'd rather anyone shoot from high in the slot than him walking in on a one-timer.'"That particular anecdote comes from Weber's Nashville days, an 11-year tenure that included plenty of regular-season dominance but only three playoff series wins. The Predators broke through the season after the Subban-Weber swap, ultimately losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final. The Habs lost in the first round of that same postseason and haven't returned to the playoffs since. Tied for 11th in the East after Monday's 4-2 loss to the Capitals, it'll take a momentous post-All-Star run for Montreal to earn a spot in the dance this spring."I think that (we're) headed in the right direction, with the young guys and the talent that's coming up," Weber said. "We're in a tough spot right now in the second half of the year, but you just can't ever count a team out. St. Louis proved a lot of people wrong, with the way they went last year toward the end there. You just never know. We still have belief in that room."Though the Canadiens' playoff chances are dimming, Weber's still on the fringes of the conversation for the Norris Trophy (it's realistically a two-horse race between Carlson and Roman Josi), an honor he's never won. But is the league's defenseman of the year award even important to the guy former teammate Max Pacioretty calls "the ultimate leader"?"No, not at all," Weber said. "Everybody talks about that award. It's a great accolade and thing to have, but for me, the most important thing to have is the Stanley Cup. It's the epitome of a team just getting the job done, from top to bottom - everyone - no matter what your role is. Two minutes, 25 minutes. It doesn't matter. It's the ultimate team accomplishment."All things considered, that's an extremely Shea Weber response.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although we are four months deep into the season, the Hart Trophy race still remains one of the league's most hotly debated topics.With two months remaining in the regular season, opinions vary among NHL players and writers alike. Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon continue to separate themselves from the pack, but who's truly been the most valuable?Meanwhile, some argue Leon Draisaitl and David Pastrnak have Hart cases of their own, but their production has been aided significantly.Here are our top five Hart Trophy candidates as the unofficial second half of the season rolls on:5. Auston MatthewsMark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%SCF%51366020:2055.3355.17Even for his lofty standards, Matthews' contributions to the Toronto Maple Leafs have been impressive, particularly given the circumstances.The 22-year-old star has buried 12 more goals and notched 10 more points than the next-closest teammate. He's been particularly hot lately, piling up nine goals in 10 games since the calendar flipped to 2020, and a whopping 20 markers in his last 21 contests. Matthews has also been a beast from a possession standpoint, posting stellar Corsi For and High-Danger Chances For rates in addition to the analytics listed in the chart above.Those exploits are all the more commendable considering he's been dealing with a wrist condition for the last few weeks. He's not one of the front-runners for this award just yet, but with the Maple Leafs back in the playoff hunt, he now deserves to be included among the contenders.4. John CarlsonIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%SCF%51136024:4350.951.43Carlson has no shortage of talented teammates on the league-leading Washington Capitals, but his efforts still deserve recognition.He's cooled off a bit since his early season offensive explosion, but the ultra-productive defenseman is still putting up big numbers, collecting a point per game in January. The Norris Trophy favorite is driving the Capitals' offense and posting favorable possession figures while logging a heavy workload.Carlson is tied for 10th in the NHL points race, leads all blue-liners in that department, and is also pacing his team, registering eight more than second-place star Alex Ovechkin. Plus, his 96-point pace means he still has a shot at the first triple-digit campaign by a blue-liner since Brian Leetch in 1991-92.3. Brad MarchandIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%SCF%51216520:0156.4556.78It's tempting to give Hart consideration to Pastrnak based solely on his offensive output, but a closer look at the numbers shows his polarizing teammate remains a far more worthy contender.Marchand has excelled whether he's been with Pastrnak (55.48 xGF% and 55.8 SCF%) or without him (much better figures of 62.88 and 63.41), whereas Pastrnak's numbers in these categories dip to 45.53 and 51.16 without Marchand.That's largely due to the fact that Marchand is a more complete player than his Czech linemate. He does more on the defensive end, kills penalties, and leads the NHL in infractions drawn. The talented pest also ranks fifth in the league in assists (sitting in a tie for third in primary helpers) and is tied for sixth in points while playing in all situations.2. Connor McDavidDave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%SCF%50277722:1349.8150.97No one doubts McDavid is the league's biggest game-changer. He's been No. 1 in this race at times during the 2019-20 campaign, and arguably still would be if not for MacKinnon's exploits. The Edmonton Oilers superstar is tied for the league lead in assists and points while averaging over a full minute of ice time more than the Colorado Avalanche dynamo.However, McDavid has been aided by Draisaitl's significant production, even though he's also played a big role in facilitating it. It's none other than Draisaitl himself who's tied with McDavid for the NHL lead in assists and points, and he's matched McDavid's goal total as well. While Mikko Rantanen is averaging more than a point per game for the Avalanche, MacKinnon doesn't have a teammate scoring at a rate near that of McDavid's running partner.Draisaitl's has also been worse without McDavid than McDavid has been without him, posting a 45.02 xGF% and a 44.13 SCF% mark away from the Oilers captain, compared to 46.10 and 46.47, respectively, with him. Conversely, McDavid has posted a gaudy 57.93 xGF% and 60.22 SCF% without Draisaitl.So even if McDavid isn't the Hart front-runner right now, the value he brings to his team is obviously immense.1. Nathan MacKinnonMike Stobe / National Hockey League / GettyGPGPATOIxGF%SCF%49307221:0255.3954.71Despite McDavid's impact, MacKinnon remains the Hart favorite. He proved his case when Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog were both forced out of the lineup for a prolonged period earlier this season, and he's continued to produce with six goals and 14 points in nine January games.MacKinnon holds the edge over McDavid virtually across the board when it comes to driving possession, posting superior numbers in both of the analytics categories listed in the chart above. He also owns far better High-Danger Chances For (by a 57.45 to 52.69 margin) and Corsi For (53.06 to 48.82) rates.The Colorado catalyst has racked up nearly double the points of the next-closest Avalanche skater (72 to Cale Makar's 37), a feat that remains remarkable regardless of the aforementioned injuries.MacKinnon has demonstrated - both while his linemates were shelved and when they've been healthy - that no one's done more to improve his team.Honorable mentions: Pastrnak, Draisaitl, Elias Pettersson, Jack Eichel.(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is investigating the Arizona Coyotes after allegations they conducted physical testing on draft-eligible Canadian Hockey League players, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on "Insider Trading."Physically testing players prior to the NHL combine is prohibited under league rules.The OHL, WHL, and QMJHL - the three leagues under the CHL's umbrella - tell their respective junior teams to report any contact from NHL clubs. Multiple teams have stated there's been contact from the Coyotes, according to Dreger's sources.“We are aware of the reports," the Coyotes said in a statement. "We have discussed the matter with the NHL and we will have no further comment at this time."If the Coyotes are found guilty, the club would face hefty fines of $250,000 or more per incident at the discretion of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Dreger adds.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks' miserable season was dealt another devastating blow Thursday, as the team announced forward Tomas Hertl will miss the remainder of the year with a torn ACL and MCL.Hertl ranks second on the Sharks in goals (16) and points (36) this season. He's fresh off his first career All-Star Game, where he put up five goals in two games as the Pacific Division won the tournament last weekend in St. Louis.The 26-year-old joins San Jose's other top center, captain Logan Couture, on the sidelines long term. Couture was diagnosed to miss several weeks with a fractured ankle earlier in January.San Jose currently sits 26th in the NHL with 48 points through 52 games and appears set to miss the playoffs for just the second time since 1997-98. Making matters worse, the Ottawa Senators own the Sharks' first-round pick this summer as a part of the trade package that landed Erik Karlsson.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk wasn't trying to do anyone a favor when he dropped the mitts with Edmonton Oilers winger Zack Kassian during his club's 4-3 shootout win Wednesday night."I just didn't like getting kinda pummelled at home like I did," Tkachuk said postgame, according to Wes Gilbertson of Calgary Sun. "A lot of people didn't want me to do it, but I wanted to. It was a way for me to stick up for myself. It wasn't anything to do with owing anybody. I was just doing it for myself."Tkachuk laid some heavy hits during the last meeting between the two sides Jan. 11, which resulted in Kassian pounding the Flames forward before calling him out postgame for refusing to fight back. Kassian was consequently handed a two-game suspension.This time, however, Tkachuk was more than willing to settle the score, and the Oilers forward appreciated his rival answering the bell."He wanted to fight right away, but I wanted to keep him guessing a little bit," Kassian said, according to the Edmonton Sun's Rob Tychkowski. "I respect him for stepping up. I told him before we even dropped the gloves, 'Now it's over.' I wish this would have happened in the first place and then it would have been done."The Battle of Alberta continues Saturday when the Flames and Oilers meet in Calgary.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.We enjoyed a 3-1 night on Wednesday, taking us to 7-3 overall since the All-Star break. It's nice to have the NHL back.There are just three games tonight, which is strangely quiet for a Thursday, but I think we've got three winners picked out. Let's get to it.GOATs and scapegoats (Wednesday)Adam Henrique scored a pair of first-period goals to help the Anaheim Ducks (+110) beat the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday, ensuring we took home a nice profit on the night. That's what I call GOAT material.We can't say the same for Dallas Stars forwards Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, who each finished minus-1 and couldn't register a single point against a miserable Toronto Maple Leafs defense. That's why we didn't finish 4-0 on Wednesday.Thursday's betsMontreal Canadiens (-115)I suffered through the Buffalo Sabres' loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, and there were some troubling signs from the Sabres. Forget about their ineffective penalty kill or complete lack of offense outside of Jack Eichel - the team just looked defeated long before the game was over. Losing to the Senators effectively ended any hope Buffalo had of pulling back into the playoff race, and given the seemingly fragile mindset of this team, it's hard to imagine a positive response here.Despite what their record might indicate, the Canadiens are playing competitive hockey on a nightly basis. They're also getting healthy and have goaltender Carey Price in his best form of the season (.933 save percentage in January). Trust Montreal to leave Buffalo with two points.New Jersey Devils (+120)The Devils have been playing some really strong hockey on home ice over the past month. They've beaten the Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning while losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders in overtime. That's an impressive point haul given the quality of opponents.It's fair to say the underachieving Nashville Predators are a step down in class. The Preds are coming off a hard-fought win in Washington on Wednesday that was both physically and emotionally draining, leaving them in a letdown spot here. Nashville is just 1-3 this season when playing on no rest (allowing 17 goals in those games) and has lost seven of its last eight in that spot. Falling to the Devils a night after beating the Capitals would be right in line with the sort of season the Predators have produced.Best betLos Angeles Kings/Arizona Coyotes over 5.5 (+110)There's still a perception that the Coyotes are an "under" cash cow, but that hasn't been the case on home ice ever since the team traded for Taylor Hall. Following the trade, Arizona has gone 6-1 to the over at Gila River Arena, with those games averaging a staggering 7.6 goals. Additionally, Thursday's contest is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Coyotes, and they've hit four straight overs at home when playing on no rest.The Kings were also in action last night. They're 2-4 on the road this season when playing in the second game of a back-to-back, with five of those contests seeing at least six goals. Expect more fireworks on Thursday in the desert, despite what the total might indicate.Trend of the nightThe Coyotes are 1-9 in their last 10 home games played on no rest.As mentioned above, Arizona faced Anaheim last night. The Coyotes have posted a brutal record on home ice recently when playing in the second leg of a back-to-back, so this would appear to be a good spot to fade them. That being said, the Kings also played last night and are cemented in the basement of the Western Conference, which makes them a tough team to back here, even at the generous price of +170.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.

Boston Bruins forward David Backes won't report to AHL Providence despite being placed on waivers for purpose of assignment earlier this month, the team announced Thursday."After speaking with David, we have agreed that is in the best interest of David and the Bruins for him not to play in Providence at this time. David is fit and able to play, but in order to preserve all potential options for both David and the Bruins moving forward, we have decided this is the best course of action," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in a statement.The veteran forward has played only 16 games for Boston this season, most recently suiting up Jan. 9. He was sent down to the AHL on Jan. 17.After 10 seasons with the St. Louis Blues, Backes signed a five-year, $30-million contract with the Bruins in 2016. His deal expires after the 2020-21 campaign and includes a modified no-trade clause that features an eight-team exemption list this year and 15-team list next year, according to Cap Friendly.Backes, 35, has posted 39 goals and 55 assists in 217 games since joining Boston.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The All-Star break has come and gone, and from now until early April, it's going to be a dogfight for several clubs to get inside the playoff cutline.With that in mind, let's break down the remaining schedules of the teams battling for position in the Western Conference. Note that the NHL altered its tiebreaking procedure this season, making regulation wins the No. 1 deciding factor for teams deadlocked in the standings.Playoff odds are courtesy of Money Puck and change every night, while average points percentage indicates the quality of opponents each team is slated to face for the rest of the season. The higher the rank, the more difficult the schedule.Here's a look at the standings entering play Thursday.Team (Record)PointsReg. winsSeedBlues (31-12-8)7024C1Avalanche (28-15-6)6225C2Stars (28-18-4)6020C3Canucks (29-18-4)6223P1Flames (27-19-6)6017P2Oilers (26-18-6)5822P3Golden Knights (25-20-7)5719WC1Coyotes (26-21-5)5719WC2Jets (25-22-4)5418NABlackhawks (24-21-6)5418NA(C = Central Division; P = Pacific Division; WC = wild card)To see the Eastern Conference breakdown as of Wednesday, click here.Colorado AvalancheCurrent playoff odds: 97.4%

In the fourth edition of theScore's Norris Trophy Power Rankings, a veteran blue-liner chasing his first Norris enters the fold.5. Shea WeberIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAPATOIxGF%5112213324:1954.7Weber stays on this list despite an ice-cold January that's seen him register just a pair of assists in his last 11 games. His overall body of work at both ends of the ice remains impressive, and there's no player worthy of dethroning him with Dougie Hamilton out indefinitely. The Canadiens' expected goals share drops three percent without their captain on the ice.4. Alex PietrangeloJeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAPATOIxGF%5113294224:1454.6Pietrangelo cracks this list for the first time this campaign. In a contract year, he's peaking at the right time: The Blues captain is on pace for career highs in goals, assists, points, and power-play points. Pietrangelo has been especially hot of late, tallying 11 points in 11 games since the last edition of these rankings.3. Victor HedmanIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAPATOIxGF%489334223:2957.07Get used to seeing Hedman on this list. The Lightning blue-liner has been a finalist for the Norris in each of the last three seasons - winning it in 2017-18 - and there's a strong chance he finishes in the top three once again this year. Hedman's combination of size and speed is unmatched by any player in the league, let alone by any defenseman.2. Roman JosiIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAPATOIxGF%4914354925:5355.70Josi is enjoying a fantastic season and holds a 14-point lead atop the Predators' scoring list. He's continued his strong play even while partner Ryan Ellis has been sidelined with a concussion, tallying 10 points in his last 11 games. Josi has been the runner-up in all four editions of this list, and though his performance this season would likely be good enough to win the Norris in any other year, one man continues to stand above the rest in 2019-20.1. John CarlsonIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAPATOIxGF%5113476024:4350.90Carlson is still in a league of his own, remaining on pace for over 95 points during his historic campaign. For those who think he's simply the beneficiary of dishing passes to Alex Ovechkin on the Capitals' powerplay, it's important to note he leads all rearguards in even-strength points, too. Carlson's not only running away with the Norris, but he should garner plenty of Hart Trophy consideration as well.Honorable mentions: Ryan Suter (Wild), Kris Letang (Penguins), Erik Karlsson (Sharks), Cale Makar (Avalanche)(Advanced stats source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Zack Kassian to a four-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday. The new deal is worth $3.2 million annually, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The deal keeps the 29-year-old in Edmonton through the 2023-24 campaign. He was scheduled to become an unrestricted agent at the end of this season. With Kassian signed, the Oilers now have $1.26 million in projected cap space for 2019-20, according to CapFriendly.Kassian has recorded 13 goals and 28 points through 44 games this season, and he's on pace to shatter career bests in each category. He also leads the team with 123 hits while averaging a career-high 16:15 of ice time per game.The 6-foot-3 winger has missed the club's last two games after being suspended for an incident on Jan. 11 involving Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk. He returns to the Oilers' lineup on Wednesday in a rematch with their Alberta rival.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have looked into Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.However, Toronto's search for blue-line help extends past Dumba, as one NHL executive told Friedman the Leafs are "investigating every good defenseman on the market."Dumba is in the midst of one of his worst seasons, as he's collected just 16 points through 50 games - a far cry from the 50-point campaign he had in 2017-18, or the 57-point pace he played at last year before a torn pectoral muscle ended his season after 32 games.The 25-year-old would give the Leafs a much-needed right-handed shooting defenseman with term, as he's signed for three more years after this season with a $6-million cap hit. Toronto's right side currently features Tyson Barrie, Justin Holl, and Cody Ceci, but only Holl is signed beyond this season.Minnesota drafted Dumba seventh overall in 2012, two picks after Toronto selected Morgan Rielly.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.Today is bounce-back day.After sweeping the board Monday we settled for a 1-2 record Tuesday, thanks to an insanely frustrating finish in Buffalo.We had some limited options with just two games on the schedule - something we definitely don't have to worry about Wednesday.GOATs and scapegoatsRyan O'Reilly played a starring role for the St. Louis Blues (+105) Tuesday, assisting on the game-tying goal in the third period, doing a masterful job on the penalty kill in overtime, and scoring a beauty in the shootout, helping us salvage a winning end to the night.The reason we had to salvage something was because of a putrid Buffalo Sabres' penalty kill. The Ottawa Senators went 3-for-3 on the power play for the first time all season. We needed Jack Eichel to finish with a positive plus-minus, and he was on track to in the dying minutes, sitting at plus-one thanks to his goal. However, the Sabres were also losing late because of that pathetic excuse for a penalty kill, and Eichel was on the ice trying to tie the game when Ottawa scored into an empty net. Perfect.Wednesday's betsNashville Predators/Washington Capitals over 6.5 (-105)Alex Ovechkin returns to the ice tonight having served his one-game suspension for skipping the All-Star Game, and I'd imagine he's got a bit of an on-ice statement prepared. The Capitals can score in bunches and so can the Predators, who also struggle to keep pucks out of their net. The over is 5-0 in Nashville's last five games as underdogs, as well as 5-0 in the last five meetings between these teams.Anaheim Ducks (+110)The Arizona Coyotes were putting together a strong season but were largely flying under the radar as the small-market team they are. That all changed when Taylor Hall was acquired. The bandwagon started to fill up after the trade, but the Coyotes are just 7-8-1 since bringing in the former MVP. They've also lost four consecutive on the road (scoring just four goals) and six of their last seven. This is a team struggling to win and score outside of the desert, now facing one of the world's best goalies in the Ducks' John Gibson, who has remarkably better numbers in Anaheim this season.Los Angeles Kings' team total under 2.5 (-120)The game under could also be a play here, but there's always the risk of the Tampa Bay Lightning scoring six on their own. The Kings have scored two or fewer goals in six of their last eight home games and have been held to one or fewer in each of those games against teams of comparable skill level to Tampa. The Lightning are allowing just 1.8 goals per game in 2020 and the Kings are 30th in the NHL in goals scored all season. Trust Tampa's resurgence tonight in Los Angeles.Best betDallas Stars (-115)The Toronto Maple Leafs' road numbers under Sheldon Keefe are impressive. They're 11-4 outside of Toronto since he took over, as well as 8-1 on the road against Western Conference teams. But the Stars are an entirely different beast. They're 16-5-1 at home since Oct. 18 and have some of the best underlying numbers in the NHL. They're a fundamentally sound hockey team that is more equipped to take advantage of the Leafs' defensive frailties.As hard as it might be to overlook Toronto's road numbers, trust in the better team to get the job done tonight on home ice.Trend of the nightThe Vancouver Canucks have lost eight of their nine games against the San Jose Sharks in California over the last four seasons (including this one).Even more remarkably, the Canucks have scored a meager 16 goals in those nine games, and just 11 in the eight losses. But how seriously should we take Vancouver's struggles in San Jose considering both teams are significantly different this season than they were over the last three? The Canucks are drastically improved and sitting atop the Pacific Division, while the Sharks, perennial Stanley Cup contenders, are near the basement of the Western Conference. Because of that I'm not putting as much stock into this trend, and it's a no-play for me.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.

Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian is downplaying the chance of fireworks in Wednesday's highly anticipated rematch with Matthew Tkachuk and the Calgary Flames."Hey, listen. I thought I got enough good shots in there," Kassian told Sportsnet's Mark Spector, referring to the last meeting between the two clubs."This isn't the '80s. We're not just going to line brawl. Look at the standings. It's going to be a hard-fought, intense game. But we really have to play between the lines."After the Jan. 11 incident, Kassian - who received a two-game suspension - and Tkachuk got into a highly publicized war of words, and even though Kassian's stance appears to have mellowed, he won't pass up a chance to take a shot at his nemesis if it's within the rules."I thought, what happened on the ice, I handled it for the most part," Kassian said. "I got punishment, and that's that. Obviously we don't like each other. Obviously, if Tkachuk has the puck and I can hit him clean, I'm not going to pass on it, right? But that's the game of hockey. I don't think anyone is going to pass on a hit - especially in the Battle of Alberta."The Oilers enter Wednesday's game one point back of the Flames for second place in the Pacific Division with two games in hand. The two teams will face each other for the second time this week on Saturday night.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The All-Star break has come and gone, and from now until early April, it's going to be a dogfight for several clubs to get inside the playoff cutline.With that in mind, let's break down the remaining schedules of the teams battling for position in the Eastern Conference. Note that the NHL altered its tiebreaking procedure this season, making regulation wins the No. 1 deciding factor for teams deadlocked in the standings.Playoff odds are courtesy of Money Puck and change every night, while average points percentage indicates the quality of opponents each team is slated to face for the rest of the season. The higher the rank, the more difficult the schedule.Here's a look at the standings entering play Wednesday.Team (Record)PointsReg. winsSeedCapitals (34-11-5)7325M1Penguins (31-14-5)6721M2Islanders (29-15-5)6319M3Bruins (29-10-12)7026A1Lightning (29-15-5)6324A2Panthers (28-16-5)6123A3Blue Jackets (27-16-8)6221WC1Hurricanes (29-18-3)6121WC2Flyers (27-17-6)6018NAMaple Leafs (26-17-7)5921NA(A = Atlantic Division; M = Metropolitan Division; WC = wild card)The Western Conference standings breakdown will be published Jan. 30.Tampa Bay LightningCurrent playoff odds: 92.6%

In the fourth edition of theScore's 2019-20 Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, we look at the leading candidates for the award entering the second half of the season.5. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning Scott Audette / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV% 24-9-32.552.28.917.829The 2018-19 Vezina Trophy winner is officially back in the hunt thanks to a sensational eight-week stretch.Vasilevskiy rode a 10-game winning streak into the All-Star break, and he's gone 14-1-2 with a .933 save percentage over his last 17 starts. Since Dec. 1, he's posted a goals-against average of 2.19, slightly outplaying his expected goals against of 2.22.The Russian netminder also gets credit for putting up elite numbers despite carrying a heavy workload. Vasilevskiy is one of just eight goalies with at least 36 starts this season, and he's tied for the lead in save percentage among that group.4. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes Norm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV% 15-8-22.172.35.929.823Kuemper hasn't played since exiting a Dec. 19 contest with an injury, but his body of work throughout the first three months of the season was so impressive that he can't be omitted from these rankings.The 6-foot-5 goalie has been the backbone of Arizona's defensive identity this season, and the club hasn't been the same without him. The Coyotes have won just six times in 14 outings since Kuemper went down, and they'll need him to return in Vezina-like form amid an extremely tight Pacific Division race.Although the injury prevented him from suiting up, the 29-year-old Kuemper also earned his first All-Star Game nod this season.3. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV%21-16-42.742.80.917.791Where would the Jets be without Hellebuyck? The Vezina Trophy isn't handed out to the goalie who's deemed the most valuable, but the 26-year-old might be in a position to run away with the award right now if his teammates had given him a bit more defensive help.Hellebuyck's high-danger save percentage looks rocky compared to the other goalies on this list, but consider this: The Jets have owned a league-worst 41.5% share of high-danger scoring chances at all strengths, and they've conceded 671 such opportunities this season, which is 45 more than the third-last club in that department.Additionally, the 6-foot-4 puck-stopper has outplayed his expected goals against per 60 minutes and leads the NHL with 8.13 goals saved above average at five-on-five. Despite the Jets' serious defensive struggles, Hellebuyck has been dynamite.2. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV% 17-4-62.272.28.925.858Rask rebounded nicely after a shaky month of December, but a concussion has kept him sidelined since Jan. 14.The Finnish netminder allowed two or fewer goals in six of seven starts prior to the injury, and he owns a .936 save percentage since Christmas. Staying cool under pressure, Rask ranks third in high-danger save percentage among all goalies and sixth (5.61) in goals saved above average (minimum 20 starts).Although wins and losses are primarily a team stat, the fact that Rask has dropped just four starts in regulation this season speaks volumes about his resilient play.1. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV% 17-10-32.272.45.927.855Big Ben has stood tall for a Stars team that ranks 28th in goals for per game, the worst mark among all clubs that are currently in a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Dallas ranks first defensively, in large part due to Bishop's elite play.The Colorado native has outperformed his expected goals-against average per 60 minutes by the widest margin of all netminders (minimum 20 starts). His expected save percentage is also .115 lower (.912) than his actual mark, which suggests he's often stopping more pucks than he should be.Bishop has given the Stars a chance to win essentially every night, surrendering more than three goals on just three occasions through 33 starts. If that's not Vezina material, we don't know what is.Honorable mention: Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues(Advanced stats source: Natural Stat Trick, Corsica Hockey)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes are on a list of teams interested in San Jose Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Dillon is a throwback. He's recorded just 12 points in 51 games this season, but the 29-year-old is second among NHL blue-liners with 158 hits.The 6-foot-4, 225-pound D-man has managed to post positive possession numbers on a poor Sharks team, owning a 51.5 Corsi For percentage and a 50.4 expected goals percentage, according to Natural Stat Trick.Dillon carries a $3.27-million cap hit, and he'll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.The Bruins' blue line is already strong, especially on the left side where Dillon plays. Left-handers Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara eat up a lot of minutes, and Matt Grzelcyk is on pace for a career-high in points. Right-handers Connor Clifton and Kevan Miller are currently sidelined with injuries, but both are expected back this season.The Hurricanes appear to more urgently need reinforcements on the back end, as stalwart Dougie Hamilton is out indefinitely after breaking his fibula on Jan. 17. However, unlike the Bruins - who hold a comfortable lead in the Atlantic Division - Carolina is in a tight playoff battle. The Hurricanes are a point up on the Philadelphia Flyers for the East's second wild-card spot.The Sharks sit third last in the Western Conference, and they don't own a first-round pick in 2020. They appear to be gearing up to sell at the trade deadline for just the second time since general manager Doug Wilson was hired in 2003.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.We enjoyed a triumphant return to the ice Monday, sweeping the board for a substantial profit.Our best bet, the Toronto Maple Leafs, was never in doubt. The Dallas Stars pushed us to 2-0 with an overtime win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Vancouver Canucks capped things off by beating the defending Stanley Cup champions.We're on a heater and we've got more winners tonight.GOATs and scapegoatsThere were no scapegoats on Monday night, since it's kind of hard to have one when you're perfect. Monday was chock-full of GOATs.Frederik Andersen made 34 saves, Jamie Benn potted an overtime winner, J.T. Miller scored a pair, and Thatcher Demko edged Andersen with 36 saves against the St. Louis Blues.Tuesday's betsBuffalo Sabres -1.5 (+130)No one really has fun visiting Buffalo, but the Ottawa Senators seem to have an especially unpleasant time. The Sens have lost three in a row and five of their last six against the Sabres south of the border. Ottawa allowed 18 goals in its last three road games in Buffalo while scoring two or fewer in seven of the team's last eight at KeyBank Center.The Senators just plain stink on the road in general this season, having dropped their last seven outside Ottawa and 11 of their last 12. They're also playing this game on no rest in the midst of a 2-8 run on the second leg of back-to-backs, a spot where they're 6-18 over the past two seasons. Those are all pretty miserable numbers coming into a matchup with a Sabres team that's on an 8-3 run at home and already beat Ottawa 4-2 earlier this season when the Senators visited on no rest.St. Louis Blues (+105)I faded the Blues on Monday in Vancouver, but I like them Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. We're getting them at a deflated price because they just played, but the Blues have actually excelled on back-to-backs of late. They're 7-2 in the second leg over the last calendar year and 3-0 in that spot on the road this season. We also get the added bonus of Jordan Binnington starting after Jake Allen got the nod against the Canucks.The Flames have lost three straight in at home to the Blues, scoring just three goals in those games, and they haven't been all that impressive at the Saddledome this season, posting a 5-6 record against Western Conference teams. Ride with St. Louis tonight at a discounted price.Best betJack Eichel over 0.5 plus-minus (+125)No one slays the Senators quite like Eichel. OK, lots of players do these days, but Jack the Ripper seems to have a lot of fun when Ottawa comes to town. In three home games against the Sens in the last two seasons, Eichel has five goals and five assists. That's an outrageous 10 points in three contests. In a game that the Sabres should have no problem winning comfortably (see above and below), Eichel will likely be a driving factor for Buffalo.To get him at a plus-minus over 0.5 should be easy. Even if he's not the one scoring the goals, he should be on the ice for a couple. In those three home games against Ottawa, Eichel was a plus-four, plus-two, and plus-two for a combined plus-eight.Bonus plays: Sticking in the Eichel market, I'll be dabbling on Eichel to score two or more goals at +475, as well as the Eichel to score and Buffalo to win prop at +110. Getting him over 1.5 points at +125 isn't the worst bet in the world, either.Find me in a ditch at the end of the night when Ottawa wins 3-0.Trend of the nightThe Senators are 0-4 in games started by Craig Anderson in 2020.Rookie Marcus Hogberg has begun to take over between the pipes, with Anderson's appearances becoming more sporadic. The 38-year-old is winless in four starts in 2020 with an .862 save percentage and has allowed at least four goals against in each game. You can get the Sabres' team total over 3.5 goals at -110 and over 4.5 at +215.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.

Ed Belfour is in legal trouble once again.Early Tuesday morning, the Hall of Fame goaltender was arrested at a hotel in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was charged with third-degree criminal mischief and alcohol intoxication in a public place, according to an arrest report obtained by the Bowling Green Daily News and local station WNKY.Belfour was "manifestly under the influence of alcohol to a point he was a danger to himself and others," according to the citation.The 54-year-old was arrested just before 1:30 a.m. by Bowling Green police, who booked him into the Warren County Regional Jail about an hour and a half later, according to the jail's website.Belfour is accused of damaging property at the hotel. He was found clutching a curtain rod that had been ripped out of the wall, and he was not compliant with officers when they attempted to handcuff him.Police said the former netminder had "slow, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes" and "could barely stand up."Belfour was arrested multiple times during his playing career. In 2007, he was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting an officer without violence after he and teammate Ville Peltonen were booked in Miami. Belfour was also arrested in 2001 after a fight with security guards and police at a Dallas hotel, after which he offered the officers $1 billion to let him go.He pleaded guilty to resisting arrest, receiving two years probation, and enrolled in the NHL's substance abuse program as a result.Belfour retired in 2008 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenseman Marcus Pettersson to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $4,025,175, the club announced Tuesday.Pettersson was a pending restricted free agent making $874,125 on the one-year pact he agreed to in September.The 23-year-old has collected 15 points in 50 games while averaging 19:22 in ice time this season. He's in his second campaign with the Penguins, who acquired him in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks in December 2018.Anaheim selected Pettersson 38th overall in 2014.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the fourth edition of theScore's Calder Trophy Power Rankings, two players who have been red-hot recently throw their hats into the ring.5. Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue JacketsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRecord GAA SV% HDSV%9-6-42.39.926.862Are we witnessing Jordan Binnington 2.0? The St. Louis Blues netminder appeared in just 32 games last year but still finished second in Calder voting. Merzlikins, 25, could soon find himself in a similar situation.Since Joonas Korpisalo went down with an injury in December, Merzlikins has started 11 games for the Blue Jackets, winning nine of them while posting three shutouts. He boasts a 9-6-4 record with a .926 save percentage and 2.39 goals-against average.With Korpisalo set to return from injury, it's unclear what Merzlikin's workload will look like down the stretch. But if he can continue his dominant play and help Columbus reach the playoffs, his name will surely be in the Calder conversation.4. Dominik Kubalik, Chicago BlackhawksClaus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%49211113:3057.63Kubalik must have found the switch to turn on the jets because he's been an absolute revelation of late. Originally selected 191st overall in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings, he's notched 21 goals in 49 games for the Blackhawks to lead all rookies in that category.The 24-year-old has buried 10 of those tallies in just nine games in the month of January. It will be interesting to see if he and linemate Jonathan Toews can continue to create magic on the ice in the second half of the season and help Chicago maintain its surge up the standings.3. Victor Olofsson, Buffalo SabresJared Silber / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%42161918:4854.34Despite missing the last three weeks of action with a wrist injury, Olofsson's season is still salvageable. He remains second in both goals (16) and points (35) among all rookie skaters and is slated to return to the Sabres' lineup at some point in the next few weeks.If the 24-year-old retains his scoring touch once he's back to full health, he'll remain in the hunt for the Calder.2. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver CanucksIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%4952921:3553.93The Canucks boast the league's seventh-best power play, a fact that can be largely attributed to Hughes. His 18 power-play points are tops among all rookies and good for 17th in the league overall.With just five goals this season, he hasn't found the back of the net as often as the other skaters on this list. His 29 assists, however, more than make up for that. Hughes' 21:36 of average ice time leads all rookies, and he's a key reason the Canucks are sitting first in the Pacific Division.1. Cale Makar, Colorado AvalancheMichael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAATOIxGF%41112620:3747.92When an injury in early December cost Makar eight games, many thought the Calder race had been blown wide open. But he hasn't missed a beat since returning to the lineup, recording nine points in his last 12 games.Makar leads all rookies with 37 points and ranks second in team scoring for the Avalanche. Hughes has closed the gap recently, but it seems like the Calder Trophy is still Makar's to lose with more than half of the regular season in the books.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ahead of the much-anticipated Battle of Alberta rematch on Jan. 29, Matthew Tkachuk says he didn't carry any grudges into the All-Star Game."When it came down to it we're all there to have a fun time, and we all were enjoying each other's company," Tkachuk said to reporters on Monday, per TSN. "A bunch of really good guys honestly and I had a blast being around the rink. ... The fact that you can play as hard as we do for the whole year and for years and playoffs - a bunch of battles with each other - and you go there and it's like nothing honestly ever happened previous."The Calgary Flames forward has earned a reputation in the league as an agitator and has riled up plenty of his opponents this year. After being involved in a skirmish with Edmonton Oilers forward Zack Kassian before the All-Star break, Kassian's teammate Leon Draisaitl joked that he'd get off the ice if he was put on with Tkachuk. Instead, Draisaitl and Tkachuk ended up combining to create a pretty nifty goal.