Jim Montgomery had been warned.Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill had asked the team's former head coach to change his behavior and stop with his excessive public drinking episodes prior to relieving him of his duties, sources told Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Montgomery was fired for "unprofessional conduct" Dec. 10. He announced Jan. 3 that he'd entered rehab for alcohol abuse and called his firing "appropriate."The Stars never revealed what Montgomery did to lose his job, but sources told Engel there was a specific incident that got him fired. However, no one in the organization has disclosed the particulars out of respect for the coach and his family.Montgomery's after-hours behavior and relationship with alcohol was an issue during his first season as the team's head coach in 2018-19. During the playoffs last spring, Montgomery was frequently seen "drinking a bit too much" at the bar Moxies, which is owned by Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, according to Engel. That behavior reportedly led to Nill essentially issuing a warning to the 50-year-old.The club knew Montgomery had struggled with drinking before he became the Stars' head coach in 2018, and was also aware when he was hired that Montgomery was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Florida back in 2008.Montgomery was previously the head coach at the University of Denver, where he won a national championship in 2017.Dallas has gone 7-3-1 under Rick Bowness since Montgomery's dismissal.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Justin Williams' market is starting to heat up.The Toronto Maple Leafs recently made a pitch to the free-agent forward, and the Boston Bruins have also inquired about the services of the three-time Stanley Cup champion, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.A return to the Carolina Hurricanes remains Williams' priority, LeBrun added. Williams' camp and the Hurricanes reportedly continue to work on a deal, but the rules pertaining to contracts for players aged 35 and over, salary bonuses, and Carolina's cap situation are complicating matters.Williams, 38, captained the Hurricanes to the Eastern Conference Final last season but has spent the 2019-20 campaign mulling his future. He remained productive last season, tallying 23 goals and 30 assists in 82 games.Like the Hurricanes, the Leafs and Bruins face significant cap crunches and would need to get creative in order to sign Williams.Signing with Toronto would give Williams, a native of Cobourg, Ontario, a chance to play for his hometown team. The Bruins, who have beaten the Maple Leafs in the opening round of the postseason in back-to-back campaigns, eliminated Williams' Hurricanes last season to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.The Bruins, Leafs, and Hurricanes rank second, fifth, and seventh, respectively, in the Eastern Conference standings.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It seems at least one player from Russia's world junior team has moved on from a tough loss and is now able to poke some fun at the controversial non-call involving a TSN camera late in the tournament's gold-medal game.Appearing during the intermission report of a recent KHL game, Russian junior player Dmitri Voronkov was given a prime opportunity to take out his frustration on a "TSN" camera, an opportunity he gladly accepted.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid lit the hockey world on fire Monday night by scoring arguably the prettiest goal of his career in a 6-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.Among those blown away by McDavid's individual effort was Wayne Gretzky, who was in the building - but no longer in his chair - as No. 97 lit the lamp in his hometown for the first time."He brought me out of my seat," Gretzky told NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "I've told him before that he does that to me. And he did that tonight."It was one of those special moments by a special player."McDavid's teammates couldn't believe what they had witnessed either."It's him," Oilers forward Gaetan Haas told The Athletic's Jonathan Willis while shaking his head. "It's just ... there is one. One Connor McDavid.""That's just Connor," Alex Chiasson added. "You could tell tonight he was playing with an edge, and that might be the nicest goal I've seen. Just pure skill."Predictably, McDavid wasn't as enthused as his peers when asked how he pulled off the move."I'm not going to give up any of my secrets," he replied. "So I just tried to make a play."The goal was the cherry on top of a dominant four-point night for McDavid, which brought his season total to a league-leading 69 points through 45 games.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There have already been six head coaching changes in the NHL this season, and it's not even the All-Star break yet.Peter Laviolette became the latest to go when the Nashville Predators fired him Monday night, with John Hynes stepping in on Tuesday.It's rare to see a half dozen coaching changes before the unofficial midway point of a campaign, but there were some extenuating circumstances. While most of the moves were made because of on-ice performance, two were necessary due to conduct issues.Nevertheless, it's worth exploring how each club is faring under new stewardship. Following Laviolette's dismissal, here's how the five other teams with new head coaches have performed since the in-season changes:5. New Jersey DevilsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRecord Since MoveG/GPGA/GPShots/GPSA/GPxGF%SCF%6-7-22.63.0731.732.246.8244.35Head coach: Alain Nasreddine

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The perceived gap between contenders and pretenders in the NHL has begun to grow as we enter the second half of the season.But really, how important are the standings at the halfway point? Everyone knows about the 2018-19 St. Louis Blues going from last on Jan. 3 to Stanley Cup champions, and while they're certainly an extreme example, a look back at past winners shows that the midpoint of the campaign is hardly a reliable indicator of future success.In fact, since the 2004-05 lockout season (excluding the shortened 2013 campaign), just three of the 13 Stanley Cup champions were leading their conference on Jan. 3, and none were since 2010. Seven were actually positioned fourth or lower, meaning there's still plenty of value to be found in the futures market right now.Here are the updated odds and a closer look at some risers and fallers:TeamPrevious odds (12/2)Current odds (1/6)Vegas Golden Knights12-17-1Boston Bruins7-18-1Tampa Bay Lightning8-18-1St. Louis Blues12-110-1Washington Capitals12-110-1Colorado Avalanche14-112-1Toronto Maple Leafs12-112-1Dallas Stars14-114-1Pittsburgh Penguins30-114-1Arizona Coyotes16-116-1Carolina Hurricanes20-120-1New York Islanders20-125-1Vancouver Canucks25-125-1Calgary Flames30-130-1Florida Panthers25-130-1Nashville Predators20-130-1Winnipeg Jets30-130-1Edmonton Oilers25-140-1Minnesota Wild80-150-1Philadelphia Flyers40-150-1San Jose Sharks20-150-1Only showing teams with odds 50-1 or shorter.Vegas Golden Knights (7-1)Previous odds: 12-1Last month, I wrote at length about Vegas as a quintessential buy-low candidate. At the time, the Golden Knights were listed at 14-1 and they've since seen their odds slashed in half as a result of their record more closely mirroring their impressive underlying numbers. They now lead the Pacific Division and, with all due respect to the Arizona Coyotes, shouldn't have any issue holding down the top spot down the stretch. Unfortunately, the time to buy low on Vegas is long gone. There's no value at 7-1.Pittsburgh Penguins (14-1)Previous odds: 30-1The Penguins have seen their odds cut in half after posting a remarkable 10-2 record in December, which has pushed them into a share of third place in the Eastern Conference. But a lot of teams go through big winning streaks without seeing their odds shorten so drastically, so why the big move for Pittsburgh? Well, no team's depth has been tested quite this much. Among players to miss prolonged spells this season are Evgeni Malkin (13 games), Bryan Rust (14), Kris Letang (eight), Patrick Hornqvist (17), Alex Galchenyuk (nine), Brian Dumoulin (19), and none other than Sidney Crosby, who's been limited to just 17 games and remains on injured reserve.Making matters even worse, Jake Guentzel is set to miss the remainder of this season with a shoulder injury suffered on Dec. 30. Losing their leading scorer might be too much for the Penguins to overcome - and it makes them tough to back at short odds - so sell high on this team and wait for its price to come down again. It almost certainly will.New York Islanders (25-1)Previous odds: 20-1Despite being pegged by many, including myself, as a likely candidate for regression this season, the Barry Trotz-led Islanders sat near the top of the NHL after two months with a 16-3-1 record. What's followed, though, is perhaps a more accurate representation of this team. The Islanders have played just below .500 hockey in 21 games since their hot start, and they've seen their Stanley Cup odds lengthen as a result. In a strong Metropolitan Division, another mediocre stretch could see them fall into a wild-card spot, or even out of the playoffs altogether.Edmonton Oilers (40-1)Previous odds: 25-1Connor McDavid is the best player in the world and Leon Draisaitl isn't far behind him, but those two can only take the Oilers so far. Both stars are on pace to smash their previous career highs in points, yet Edmonton is still struggling to hold onto a playoff spot. The Oilers have posted a 16-16-5 record since starting the season 7-1, and they'll be outside the playoff picture if the teams below them win their games in hand. The latest 40-1 odds are appropriate for what's essentially a .500 hockey team.San Jose Sharks (50-1)Previous odds: 20-1The Sharks endured a brutal start to the campaign and haven't quite been able to recover. They won nine of 10 games during a stretch in November but quickly followed that up with a 2-5-1 run that resulted in the firing of coach Peter DeBoer. Bob Boughner was appointed on an interim basis, but the coaching change hasn't galvanized the Sharks, who've posted a 4-5-2 record since that time. San Jose now sits seven points out of a playoff spot, and its chances of qualifying are down to 3%, according to The Athletic's Dom Luszczyszyn.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.

John Hynes wasn't unemployed for long.The Nashville Predators named the former New Jersey Devils bench boss their new head coach Tuesday.Hynes succeeds Peter Laviolette, whom the Predators fired Monday night.The Devils dismissed Hynes on Dec. 3, following a 9-13-4 start to the season. He spent four-plus campaigns with New Jersey and went 150-159-45 while guiding the team to a single playoff appearance, a five-game loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018.Hynes is the third head coach in Predators history. Barry Trotz guided the team for 15 campaigns beginning with the franchise's inaugural season in 1998-99, and the club hired Laviolette to replace him in 2014-15.Nashville general manager David Poile is familiar with Hynes due to their USA Hockey ties. Hynes spent nine years on the U.S. National Team Development Program coaching staff. Poile, who's long been associated with the governing body of American hockey, was an original member of the U.S. men's national team advisory group formed in 2007.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL on NBC analyst Mike Milbury made it clear who he believes is at fault for the Nashville Predators' disappointing season thus far, which resulted in head coach Peter Laviolette getting fired Monday.Milbury pointed fingers at the club's top three centers - Ryan Johansen, Matt Duchene, and Kyle Turris."I think the problem in Nashville is down the middle," Milbury said on Monday's broadcast. "Johansen, Duchene, and Turris, all chronic underachievers. You're not gonna win with those guys in the middle. You can't count on them. Johansen had one playoff season where he was going pretty good till he got hurt, but the rest of these guys, when the moment comes, they have faltered.""... I don't see this middle as being anything I'd be afraid of to go up against. These guys I think are overpaid and underperforming."Johansen, Duchene, and Turris have all had disappointing seasons thus far. Johansen and Duchene are the team's two highest-paid players this season, and Turris is tied for fourth.JohansenDucheneTurrisGP413834G995A171912P262817AAV$8M$8M$6.25MNashville has not yet named a replacement for Laviolette. When studio host Kathryn Tappen asked what kind of coach could get this trio going, Milbury said it would require some magic."Houdini, it would be Houdini to get them going here in the middle," he said. "These guys ... they bark a lot. That's not good enough for me. They don't try hard enough down the middle here. And if you have that in that key position, you're never gonna be successful."Milbury doubled down on the players' effort level and questioned their character."I don't see them coming to the well night after night with effort," he said. "That's what bothers me."Johansen, Duchene, and Turris were all acquired in major moves by general manager David Poile during Laviolette's reign as head coach.Johansen was traded straight up for Seth Jones in 2016, then eventually signed an eight-year, $64-million extension with the Predators. Turris came to Nashville from the Ottawa Senators in a three-way trade on Nov. 17, 2017, and immediately signed a six-year, $36-million extension that day. Duchene inked a seven-year, $56-million contract as a prized free agent this summer.Milbury also noted that the Predators need better goaltending from Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros (combined .894 save percentage) to be successful, but he didn't tee off on the netminders in the same manner as he did Johansen, Duchene, and Turris.Nashville is sixth in the Central Division and sits five points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators have fired head coach Peter Laviolette and associate coach Kevin McCarthy, the team announced Monday.No interim coach has been named, with a decision on who will coach the club on Tuesday versus the Bruins to be announced, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Laviolette's contract was scheduled to run through the 2020-2021 season. The Predators must honor the remaining $2.5 million owed to the bench boss unless Laviolette is hired somewhere else before the deal expires, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The Predators suffered their fourth loss in five games on Sunday, dropping their record to 19-15-7 on the season. The club sits four points out of a wild-card playoff seed entering Monday's action.Laviolette was hired by the Predators ahead of the 2014-15 season. He posted a record of 248-143-60 behind Nashville's bench and helped the club reach the postseason over five consecutive campaigns, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017. He becomes the sixth head coach fired this season.In 2017-18, Laviollete led the club to a franchise-best 53-win season to capture the Presidents' Trophy.The 55-year-old was just the second coach in Nashville's history. Barry Trotz filled the position from the franchise's inaugural season in 1998-99 until 2013-14.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Two of the NHL's biggest stars are voicing their hope that the league will return to the Olympics.Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers want a chance to represent their respective countries on the world's biggest stage. They expressed their feelings one day after IIHF president Rene Fasel said the NHL has been given until the end of August to determine whether it will send players to Beijing in 2022."A lot of guys take a lot of pride in playing for their country, so the Olympics is top of the tops as far as that goes," Matthews said on Monday ahead of his matchup with McDavid, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. "That'd be a pretty amazing experience to be able to put on the U.S. jersey and play in a tournament, for sure."McDavid feels the same way."Anytime you get a chance to represent Canada on a best-on-best tournament, it's always so special and makes for the best hockey. So, I definitely hope that I get that opportunity one day," he said.The NHL didn't send its players to the games in 2018 for the first time since 1998. Matthews and McDavid are just two of the numerous players who have said they'd relish the opportunity to play in the Olympics.However, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman remained resistant to the idea when asked about it in November, saying the tournament is "incredibly disruptive" to the NHL season.The most recent best-on-best tournament for players over 20 years old was the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, when Matthews and McDavid dazzled as linemates on Team North America. Both players have also received a taste of international play at the world juniors and world championship.Matthews is currently second in the NHL in goals this season with 28, while McDavid is tied for the league-lead in points with 65 through 44 contests.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 sectionNow that every NHL team has played at least 40 games this season, the first Monday of 2020 signals the start of the second half.Meanwhile, I've evaluated our bets from the opening half of the campaign and identified strong and weak points in our approach. For instance, we've been hitting on our underdog plays at a strong rate. Moving forward, we'll focus more on those value plays - while limiting the number of favorites we back - in hopes of ensuring a profitable stretch run.Let's kick off 2020 with a bang.Game bettingEdmonton Oilers at Toronto Maple Leafs (Monday)While both of these teams are certainly capable of playing run-and-gun hockey, it's not the preference for either of them. The Oilers have been the second-most-profitable under team on the road this season, while the Leafs have trended to the under on home ice since Sheldon Keefe's appointment as head coach. With a high total of 6.5, the under warrants serious consideration here.Colorado Avalanche at New York Rangers (Tuesday)I like the Avalanche to beat the somewhat struggling Islanders on Monday before facing the Rangers on Tuesday. However, Colorado's in the midst of a 3-9 run on the road when given no rest, with six of the last seven such contests staying under the total. The Rangers are playing just .500 hockey on home ice, but they offer great value in this spot as home 'dogs.Pittsburgh Penguins at Vegas Golden Knights (Tuesday)This game is part of a seven-game homestand for the Golden Knights, who've already won the first four. And Vegas has lost just once in eight attempts when playing its fifth successive home contest. Meanwhile, the Penguins are in the midst of an impressive road run, which has seen them win five of their last six away from Pittsburgh. They've been scoring a ton of goals - as have the Knights on home ice - which suggests the over is the strongest play here.Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers (Wednesday)The Flyers have posted an impeccable 13-2-4 record at home this season. The Capitals, once unbeatable on the road, have slipped a bit in recent weeks, losing in Boston and Carolina. This will be the second game of a back-to-back for Washington - which is playing at home on Tuesday - and when you consider the Flyers' impenetrable home form, they're certainly worth backing as 'dogs here.Arizona Coyotes at Tampa Bay Lightning (Thursday)Taylor Hall hasn't exactly hit the ground running with the Coyotes, scoring only twice in nine games while Arizona has posted just a 5-4 record with him in the lineup. The Lightning, meanwhile, finally seem to be figuring it out. They've won eight in a row entering this week and have shored up their defensive issues. But instead of laying a ton of juice with Tampa, consider the under 6.5 goals in a game featuring a pair of teams that have played stout defensive hockey in recent weeks.Dallas Stars at Anaheim Ducks (Thursday)The Stars will be decent-sized favorites when they visit California on Thursday, as they sit well ahead of the Ducks in the standings. However, the Ducks are a very different team on home ice (11-7-3) versus on the road (6-13-2). They've also won six straight over the Stars in Anaheim, holding Dallas to just nine total goals in those games, including a pair of shutouts. Ride with the Ducks as home 'dogs in this one.Game propsOttawa Senators at Washington Capitals (Tuesday)You have to go all the way back to November 2013 to find the last time the Senators scored at least three goals in Washington. Ottawa has been held to two goals or fewer in its last eight visits to D.C., making its team total under 2.5 a very strong bet here.Vancouver Canucks at Florida Panthers (Thursday)These teams are no strangers to scoring - or allowing - early goals. The Canucks have hit the first-period over in six of their last eight on the road, while the Panthers have hit the mark in three straight at home and five of their last seven overall. So, there should be plenty of fireworks when these clubs meet in the Sunshine State; don't hesitate to back the over 1.5 goals in the first period.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.

Ilya Kovalchuk will suit up for his first game as a member of the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night versus the Winnipeg Jets, the team announced.The veteran sniper practiced on the Habs' top line alongside Tomas Tatar and Phillip Danault on Monday morning, according to Sportsnet. Kovalchuk should get significant ice time between that role and the power play."Obviously, the coach put me on one of the top lines, so it's a lot of responsibility," Kovalchuk told reporters after the team's morning skate. "But I'm feeling good, I'm ready to go."Montreal signed Kovalchuk to a one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000 at the NHL level Jan. 3, weeks after the Los Angeles Kings terminated what remained of his previous contract. He hasn't played in a game since Nov. 9 and has posted nine points in 17 games this season.The Canadiens, who've been hit hard by injuries recently, are hoping the former 50-goal scorer can help boost their attack as they look to climb back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers have recalled goaltender Igor Shesterkin from the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, the team announced Monday.Shesterkin was drafted 118th overall by New York in 2014, and he's been one of the world's top goalie prospects ever since.Across 117 KHL appearances over the past six years, the 24-year-old posted an 88-16-7 record along with a .935 save percentage. And his success has translated well to the North American game in his first season, as he leads the AHL in goals-against average (1.93), save percentage (.932), and shutouts (three).Goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev have shared duties for the Rangers this season, but Shesterkin will get his first NHL start on Tuesday versus the Colorado Avalanche with Lundqvist backing him up, according to The Athletic's Rick Carpiniello.The Rangers are 19-18-4 this season, seven points back of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the eighth 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 identify one New Year's resolution for each team in 2020.1. Washington Capitals (29-9-5)Previous Rank: 1While the Capitals have been dominant this season, an improved power play would make them unstoppable. Washington owns the league's 11th-ranked man advantage (21.8%) but has converted on just five of 33 opportunities over its last 10 games (15.15%).2. Pittsburgh Penguins (25-12-5)Previous Rank: 7Like many of us, the Penguins should make a concerted effort to be healthier in 2020. Pittsburgh currently has more than $24 million going to players on its long-term injured reserve, but at least the club keeps winning.3. St. Louis Blues (26-10-7)Previous Rank: 2Give Robert Thomas more ice time. The speedy sophomore leads the team in points per 60 minutes and individual high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (both at five-on-five), but he's averaging just 13:53 of time per game - less than Tyler Bozak, Oskar Sundqvist, Alex Steen, and Ivan Barbashev.4. Boston Bruins (24-8-11)Previous Rank: 4In 2020, the Bruins need to close out tight games. In 13 trips to extra time this season, they've come out with just two wins while going 0-for-6 in shootouts.5. Toronto Maple Leafs (24-14-5)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious Rank: 11Don't be afraid to give Michael Hutchinson more starts. The Maple Leafs are 15-4-1 under Sheldon Keefe, which has given them a bit of a cushion in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Hutchinson was brutal to begin the season, but he's won all three of his starts since Mike Babcock was fired, posting a .945 save percentage in the process. A well-rested Frederik Andersen will give Toronto its best shot at a deep playoff run in the spring.6. Vegas Golden Knights (24-15-6)Previous Rank: 8The Golden Knights have taken over the driver's seat in the Pacific Division following a slow start to the season. Priority No. 1 for 2020 should be to keep it that way.7. Tampa Bay Lightning (24-13-4)Previous Rank: 17The Lightning must resolve to stop giving out so many no-trade clauses. With five pending RFAs, four pending UFAs, and only $8 million in projected cap space for 2020-21, the Lightning will need to get creative to lock up key players like Mikhail Sergachev and Anthony Cirelli - especially because they also have a whopping nine players with no-trade clauses.8. New York Islanders (25-12-3)Previous Rank: 6The Islanders play a unique style of hockey, but in 2020, they'll need to get more pucks on net. The team ranks dead last in shots on goal with 1,148 - almost 400 less than the top-ranked Golden Knights.9. Colorado Avalanche (25-13-4)Previous Rank: 3This club needs to make a splash in 2020. The Avalanche are in a rare situation as a Cup-contending team with ample cap space and plenty of trade capital. One more elite player would push them over the top.10. Vancouver Canucks (23-15-4)Previous Rank: 21It's been a roller-coaster season for the Canucks, and a current seven-game winning streak has put them back in the playoff mix. Finding some consistency is of the utmost importance in 2020.11. Dallas Stars (24-14-4)Previous Rank: 14Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski, and Tyler Seguin will need to hit a shooting clinic sometime soon. All three players are on pace for the lowest goals-per-game totals of their careers, so they should resolve to light the lamp at their usual levels in 2020.12. Carolina Hurricanes (24-16-2)Previous Rank: 5Give Andrei Svechnikov more ice time. The 19-year-old phenom has emerged as one of the best and most exciting young talents in the league, but he's played just 16:42 per game - almost three full minutes less than Teuvo Teravainen. It's time to let the kid loose.13. Arizona Coyotes (24-16-4)Previous Rank: 9Someone needs to light a fire under Phil Kessel, who's on pace for just 45 points, which would be his lowest output since 2007-08. With goalies Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta battling injuries, Kessel needs to be an offensive catalyst. He can start by shooting the puck more often, considering his 2.32 shots per game would rank as the lowest mark of his career.14. Florida Panthers (22-15-5)Previous Rank: 16The Panthers need to be better on the road. Their 8-8-3 mark away from BB&T Center thus far won't cut it in the playoff race.15. Philadelphia Flyers (22-15-5)Debora Robinson / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious Rank: 10The Flyers should resolve to rise above mediocrity in 2020. Ranked 15th in these power rankings, Philly also sits 15th in power-play percentage, 16th in penalty-kill percentage, 16th in goals scored, and 15th in the league's overall standings.16. Edmonton Oilers (22-17-5)Previous Rank: 15It might be obvious, but the Oilers simply need someone not named Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl to score some goals. James Neal has chipped in with 19 this season, but 11 of those came during October.17. Winnipeg Jets (22-16-4)Previous Rank: 12The Jets must stop allowing so many power-play goals. Winnipeg can't keep being the NHL's worst penalty-killing club if it plans to keep pace in the rough-and-tumble Central Division.18. Columbus Blue Jackets (19-15-8)Previous Rank: 22The Blue Jackets must remember to keep funds in their savings account this year, just in case a referee does something their coach doesn't agree with.19. Calgary Flames (22-17-5)Previous Rank: 13The Flames should acquire a top-six forward. Michael Frolik’s departure created the required cap space to land such a player, but actions speak louder than words, and GM Brad Treliving needs to make it happen before the trade deadline.20. Minnesota Wild (20-17-6)Previous Rank: 23Wild goaltenders need to make more saves in 2020, especially considering they play behind one of the league's stingiest defensive teams. Minnesota ranks near the top of the NHL in expected goals against per 60 minutes, scoring chances against per 60 minutes, and high-danger scoring chances against per 60 minutes, yet Alex Stalock, Devan Dubnyk, and Kaapo Kahkonen have combined for a save percentage below .900 and a goals-against average above 3.00. Even league-average goaltending the rest of the way could get the Wild into the playoffs.21. Nashville Predators (19-15-7)Previous Rank: 20Pekka Rinne needs to play up to his usual standard. The Predators are largely pulling their weight on both offense and defense, while their longtime starting goaltender is the primary reason they've underachieved to date.22. Buffalo Sabres (19-17-7)Previous Rank: 19More roster improvements are needed in 2020. The Sabres have made a series of smart trades over the past year but haven't kept pace in the top-heavy Atlantic Division. Fortunately, Buffalo still has some expendable pieces on its roster who could be dealt for reinforcements. Perhaps some additions can help the Sabres snap their lengthy playoff drought.23. New York Rangers (19-18-4)Previous Rank: 24Stop taking so many penalties. The Rangers have been shorthanded more often than any other team in the league this season, and their 23rd-ranked penalty kill (78.4%) hasn’t done them any favors.24. Montreal Canadiens (18-17-7)Previous Rank: 18The Canadiens must resolve to close out key games. Montreal has gone just 4-7-3 against divisional opponents this season, while 15 of its total losses have been decided by one goal.25. Chicago Blackhawks (19-18-6)Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious Rank: 25The Blackhawks need to spend the first six weeks of 2020 figuring out their long-term plan. Do they go full rebuild or can they stay the course with a mix of youth and experience in hopes of simply qualifying for the playoffs? The former would be more feasible if not for the hefty contracts of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Duncan Keith, but it bears considering.26. San Jose Sharks (19-21-4)Previous Rank: 28Climb the standings - it's that simple. This already appears to be a lost season for the Sharks, but it could get even worse if the first-round pick they owe the Senators ends up in the top five.27. New Jersey Devils (15-20-6)Previous Rank: 30While this season is a write-off, the Devils should still believe in their not-so-distant future. Following a disastrous start, they've gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 games while showing glimpses of potential. This team is loaded with young talent and a handful of key veterans, so it should resolve to keep on trucking in 2020.28. Ottawa Senators (16-21-5)Previous Rank: 26Ottawa must re-sign Anthony Duclair. The 24-year-old - who was considered a throwaway in last year's Ryan Dzingel trade - is in the midst of a breakout season. The Senators have plenty of cap space but don't feature many foundational pieces, so locking up Duclair should be a priority. He's always had the talent to produce at this rate, so there's a strong chance that he's for real.29. Los Angeles Kings (17-22-4)Previous Rank: 29With $21 million tied up between franchise cornerstones Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty until 2024, the Kings will need to make big strides in their rebuild this year. Both veterans are now in their 30s, so the window to become competitive again won't stay open much longer.30. Anaheim Ducks (17-20-5)Previous Rank: 27A complete teardown is needed in 2020. The on-the-fly retool - or whatever you want to call the current situation in Anaheim - isn't working. This needs to be the year in which the Ducks start from scratch.31. Detroit Red Wings (10-30-3)Previous Rank: 31Where does one even begin with these Red Wings? Let's start with Dylan Larkin. While the young forward's candor about wanting to skip the All-Star Game could be considered refreshing, it likely didn't sit well with many fans. Larkin could stand to show a bit more tact in 2020.(Advanced stats source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Most hockey fans in Russia spent Sunday disappointed. Some gleefully unaware supporters, on the other hand, partied like it was 2011.Channel One, a widely viewed Russian TV news station, aired Canada's 4-3 victory over the nation in the 2020 gold-medal game at the World Junior Hockey Championship, according to The Associated Press.However, Match TV - the country's primary sports network - simultaneously showed the 2011 final, in which Russia overcame a three-goal deficit in the third period to defeat Canada 5-3.Several prominent Russians, including politician Mikhail Degtyarev and soccer player Dmitry Tarasov, were apparently fooled.

Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on Week 14. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Buy low on Jamie BennTeam: Stars

Akil Thomas scored the winner with under four minutes remaining to give Canada a 4-3 victory over Russia in the gold-medal game at the World Junior Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic on Sunday.Connor McMichael and captain Barrett Hayton scored before Thomas' decisive marker - his first goal of the tournament - with Canada rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the third period.Canada appeared to benefit from a pivotal no-call late in the game when the officials chose not to penalize the team for shooting the puck off a camera above the glass. It was called an infraction on the ice, but wiped out upon further view.It's the country's third gold medal at the event over the last six years, and its first world-junior gold on European ice since 2008.Canada defeated Russia in the final for the fifth time in nine tries Sunday.The Canadian squad last won it all in 2018, when it defeated Sweden to capture gold in Buffalo.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

IIHF president Rene Fasel has set a deadline for the NHL to decide whether or not the league will participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.Speaking at the closing press conference at the world juniors Sunday, Fasel said he needs a decision from commissioner Gary Bettman by the end of August, according to The Canadian Press."We would like to have a decision as early as possible if they're coming to Beijing - 'Yes' or 'No,"' Fasel said. "In Pyeongchang, there was a late 'No.' Especially the North American teams, U.S. and Canada, had some problems to find the players and to build up a good team."The NHL informed the IIHF that it wouldn't be participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang 10 months prior to the event. It marked the first time since 1998 that the league didn't send its players to the Winter Games.In November, Bettman remained resistant to the idea of sending players to the Olympics, saying participation is "incredibly disruptive" to the NHL season. However, Fasel believes there's no greater stage for the game of hockey."The first mission is to promote the game of ice hockey," Fasel said. "The Olympic Games is the unique platform we can use, especially in Asia, with the best on best. Asia is two-thirds of the population. I consider Gary a smart person."He's smart. At the end, he will come ... I hope."There hasn't been a best-on-best international hockey tournament since the World Cup in 2016. The NHL said in December that a proposed World Cup in 2021 won't work, but the league is aiming to hold one in 2024.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sportsnet's Brian Burke isn't a fan of Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin's recent comments regarding the All-Star Game."Please don't vote, I like the days off more," Larkin said to reporters earlier this week when asked about being a candidate for the "Last Man In" fan vote, per USA Today's Helene St. James. "I'm sure there's guys more deserving to go so I'm fine with that."Burke, a former hockey executive and general manager, did not take Larkin's comments kindly."It's an honor to be a part of the All-Star weekend ... You should get a speeding ticket on your way to the airport to fly to this game Dylan Larkin, and you shouldn't scoff at it like that," Burke said during Sportsnet's "To The Point" segment on Saturday."A player acquires the right to turn this down like Alex Ovechkin, but that's after he played in about 12 or 15 of these," he continued. "International hockey, all the other stuff he's done, all the playoffs. Once you've done that, you can say no to this game."Larkin, 23, appeared in the All-Star Game during his rookie season in 2016. He has 10 goals and 26 points in 42 games this campaign.Burke went on to say that if he were Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, he would have "ripped his face off" for the comments, adding "If you're going to be that stupid, do it off-camera."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils forward Wayne Simmonds was irate after a Colorado Avalanche goal was upheld following a goalie interference challenge in Saturday's clash between the two clubs.Late in the third period, Devils netminder MacKenzie Blackwood was out of his crease playing the puck before he was tripped up by Matt Calvert, allowing Pierre-Edouard Bellemare to fire the puck into the yawning cage.

Paul Maurice didn't agree with the league's decision to uphold the Minnesota Wild's overtime winner Saturday, but the Winnipeg Jets head coach clearly didn't want to risk being fined for criticizing the officiating."It's goalie interference all day long for me and there's not a lot of gray area on that one, but I'm not giving them any money. Not one dime," Maurice told reporters following the 3-2 overtime loss.Eric Staal potted the decisive marker in the extra frame as teammate Zach Parise appeared to make contact with Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

Canada and Russia will play for gold Sunday.The Canadian squad defeated Finland 5-0 in the second semifinal at the World Junior Championship on Saturday, avenging a quarterfinal defeat to the Finns in last year's tournament.Alexis Lafreniere tallied twice in Saturday's contest, including a power-play marker late in the second period. Canada struck three times in the opening four minutes and led 4-0 at the first intermission.The win came at a cost, however, as Canada's captain and leading goal-scorer Barrett Hayton suffered an injury late in the contest.Connor McMichael, Jamie Drysdale, and Ty Dellandrea also scored for Canada, which is seeking its third world junior gold in six years and first since 2018.Canadian goaltender Joel Hofer stopped all 32 shots he faced to preserve the shutout.Russia slipped past Sweden with an overtime victory in the first semifinal Saturday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada captain and leading goal-scorer Barrett Hayton left Saturday's semifinal versus Finland in the third period after getting tangled with Lassi Thomson and crashing into boards.Hayton stayed on the bench with medical staff momentarily before heading to the dressing room.Here's a look at the play:

Washington Capitals forward Nic Dowd was in the giving spirit Friday night.Following a skirmish at the end of the first period between the Caps and the Carolina Hurricanes, Dowd threw Andrei Svechnikov's stick into the crowd.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom will replace Vegas Golden Knights netminder Marc-Andre Fleury for the Pacific Division at the 2020 All-Star Game, NHL Public Relations announced Friday.Markstrom is having a career year. The 30-year-old is 14-11-3 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.72 goals-against average. This will be his first All-Star appearance. He gives the Canucks a second All-Star in addition to phenom Elias Pettersson.The Golden Knights and Fleury mutually decided to pass on the festivities, the team stated. Vegas no longer has a player representative at the All-Star Game. However, Gerard Gallant will coach the Pacific Division and sniper Max Pacioretty is a "Last Men In" candidate.The All-Star Game takes place Jan. 25 in St. Louis.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars forward Corey Perry has been suspended five games for elbowing Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis during the Winter Classic on New Year's Day, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kurtis MacDermid has been suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers blue-liner Ivan Provorov, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

Jim Montgomery admitted himself into an inpatient residential program for alcohol abuse, he revealed Friday in a statement to the Dallas Morning News' Matthew DeFranks.“Losing my job as head coach of the Dallas Stars last month was a wake-up call. It was also the appropriate call," Montgomery wrote in his first public comments since the firing Dec. 10."I let the team's front office, staff, and players down," he continued. "More importantly, I let my wife and my family down. The team's decision to end my role forced me to look into the mirror and decide whether I wanted to continue living a damaging lifestyle or get help. I decided to get help. I turned to professionals in the field of alcohol abuse for their guidance and counseling. It has been an overwhelming and very humbling experience knowing that I am not alone."Montgomery added that he intends to "take the steps to be a better husband, father, friend, coach, and mentor," and that he's committed to the process.Stars general manager Jim Nill said Friday that the team supports Montgomery's decision and hopes that by seeking help, the former bench boss and his family will be stronger for it.Dallas dismissed Montgomery for "unprofessional conduct." He had more than two years left on his contract. Nill said at the time of the firing that there was no criminal investigation and that no current or former Stars players or employees were involved.Montgomery has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings since he was fired, a source told DeFranks. The 50-year-old was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated in Florida back in 2008.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, the team announced Friday.Ellis suffered the ailment during Wednesday's Winter Classic when he took an elbow to the head from Dallas Stars forward Corey Perry. The hit occurred just 2:44 into the game and Perry was handed a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Ellis did not return to the contest.The 5-foot-10 rearguard won't be eligible to return off injured reserve until Jan. 8, and he'll miss a minimum of three games.Losing Ellis long term would be a huge blow for the struggling Predators. He forms one of the most dominant blue-line pairings in the league with captain Roman Josi. Nashville owns a 61% share of high-danger scoring chances with Ellis on the ice at five-on-five, which is the best mark among all NHL defensemen. Additionally, the club's expected goals-for percentage of 58.22 with Ellis deployed ranks third among rearguards.Ellis has also taken a leap offensively this season and is on pace for 12 goals and a career-high 58 points. The 29-year-old leads the team in blocked shots and ranks second in average ice time, logging 23:34 per contest.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres forward Victor Olofsson will miss five-to-six weeks with a lower-body injury, the team announced Friday.The 24-year-old winger suffered the injury in the third period of Thursday's contest against the Edmonton Oilers. He left the game and did not return.Olofsson has been arguably the league's top rookie this season, leading all first-year players in both points (36) and goals (16) through 42 games. He ranks second on the Sabres in scoring behind Jack Eichel.The loss is significant for a Buffalo team that's struggled to find the net as of late. The Sabres are averaging just 2.3 goals per game over their last 10 contests and have just three wins during that span.Buffalo acquired forward Michael Frolik in a trade with the Calgary Flames on Thursday in an attempt to bolster its forward depth. The club also recalled forward Scott Wilson in a corresponding move to Olofsson's injury.After winning nine of their first 12 games this season, the Sabres have just nine victories over their last 30 outings. Entering Friday's action, Buffalo sits five points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for third place in the Atlantic Division.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have inked veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk to a one-year, two-way contract, the club announced Friday.It'll pay him $700,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 in the AHL.The Los Angeles Kings terminated his previous deal last month after holding him out of the lineup since Nov. 9.Kovalchuk managed only three goals and nine points in 17 games with the Kings this season.The 36-year-old greatly underachieved after returning from the KHL and signing a three-year, $18.75-million pact with the Kings on July 1, 2018. He collected 16 goals and 34 points across 64 contests last season.Montreal's forward group has been plagued by injuries. The club was already missing Jonathan Drouin, Paul Byron, and Joel Armia before Brendan Gallagher suffered a concussion Tuesday night.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have lost an important member of their blue line.Defenseman Adam Pelech will miss the remainder of this season due to an Achilles tendon injury, the team announced Friday. The 25-year-old suffered the ailment prior to Thursday's contest against the New Jersey Devils.Before going down, Pelech had logged the second-most minutes on the Islanders this season, averaging 21:08 of ice time while playing alongside Ryan Pulock on the club's top defense pairing.Across 38 appearances, Pelech also tallied one goal and eight assists while leading the team in blocked shots with 83.In a corresponding move, the Islanders recalled defenseman Sebastian Aho from the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the third edition of theScore's Hart Trophy Power Rankings, a defenseman on a historic pace enters the mix for the first time.5. Jack EichelIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGoalsPointsATOIxGF%41265421:5949.06Eichel showed flashes of his immense talent over his first four NHL seasons, but he's unleashed what looks to be his full potential this year. A game-changing player, Eichel is doing his best to give the Buffalo Sabres their first playoff appearance since 2011. The Sabres have started to slip after a hot start to the season, but they remain in the postseason mix. With 19 more points than the second-leading scorer on his team, the 23-year-old Eichel will need to keep his foot on the gas in the second half of the season to keep Buffalo in the race.4. John CarlsonIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGP Goals Points ATOI xGF%41135024:5750.59%Cemented as a Norris Trophy favorite since the opening weeks of the season, Carlson is generating serious buzz in the conversation for league MVP. On pace for the first 100-point season by a defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1991-92, Carlson has been a driving force for the league's top team. Averaging a touch under 25 minutes of ice time per game, he's been eating monster minutes on the blueline while leading the Washington Capitals in scoring by a whopping 11 points.3. Brad MarchandSteve Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyGPGoalsPointsATOIxGF%42205919:5554.50Playing in the shadow of goal-scoring machine and linemate David Pastrnak, Marchand is quietly putting together a terrific season from all angles. Sitting fifth in the league with 59 points, Marchand chips in on both sides of the puck. He's one of the best defensive wingers in the game and is tasked with killing penalties night in and night out for the Atlantic-leading Boston Bruins. He leads the league with 25 drawn penalties and ranks fourth in primary assists with 24.In 70 minutes on the ice at five-on-five without Pastrnak, Marchand boasts a stout 58.52 Corsi For rating and a 61.42 Expected Goals For percentage. And while Marchand excels without Pastrnak by his side, Pastrnak struggles without Marchand, managing a 48.47 CF% and 41.98 xGF% in 129 minutes away from him. He might not possess as much flash or charm as his Czech linemate, but Marchand is certainly the oil that keeps the machine running smoothly in Boston.2. Connor McDavidAndy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyGPGoalsPointsATOIxGF%43226422:1248.2After recording 51 points through his first 30 games of the year, McDavid has cooled off a tad over the last few weeks, chipping in 13 points over the last 13 games as the Edmonton Oilers have started to fall in the standings. Even so, McDavid is the league's most dynamic player on a nightly basis regardless of who lines up alongside him; he possesses a fantastic 55.09 xGF% in 197 minutes without All-Star teammate Leon Draisaitl on his wing. Despite the Oilers' lackluster performance of late, they'd be in far worse shape without McDavid.1. Nathan MacKinnonMichael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyGPGoalsPointsATOIXGF%41256221:0153.99When the injury bug hit the Colorado Avalanche in the early goings of the season, MacKinnon stepped up to ensure his team kept on trucking. He's gone just seven games without recording a point this year, five of which resulted in a Colorado loss. He continued rolling as his team inched closer to full health during the month of December, racking up seven goals and nine assists. MacKinnon ranks second in the league in shots and drives offense at a ridiculous pace whenever he's on the ice. He's third in the league in points and has an incredible 31 more than the next-highest scorer on the Avalanche. The 24-year-old has played an integral role in Colorado's rise to sixth in the league's overall standings, and he looks to be well on his way to surpassing the 99 points he posted in a career year last season.Honorable mentions: David Pastrnak (BOS), Auston Matthews (TOR), Leon Draisaitl (EDM)(Advanced stats source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames have traded forward Michael Frolik to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2020 fourth-round pick, the Sabres announced Thursday.Buffalo shipped defenseman Marco Scandella to the Montreal Canadiens earlier Thursday in exchange for a 2020 fourth-round pick, which the Sabres then used to acquire Frolik.Frolik joined the Flames as a free agent ahead of the 2015-16 campaign and is in the final year of a $21.5-million deal that carries $4.3-million annual cap hit.The 31-year-old has five goals and five assists in 38 games this season. He's spent the majority of the year playing in Calgary's bottom six, averaging 11:56 of ice time per game.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have acquired defenseman Marco Scandella from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2020, the team announced Thursday.Scandella will aim to provide a steadying presence on the Habs' blue line. The 10-year veteran isn't flashy, but the Sabres were able to control 55% of the high-danger scoring chances with Scandella on the ice this season, according to Natural Stat Trick. Montreal ranks 18th in the league in goals against in 2019-20.Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin could also flip Scandella, a pending unrestricted free agent, at the trade deadline if his club falls out of playoff contention.For the Sabres, dealing Scandella helps solve the team's logjam on the back end. It also created the necessary cap space to acquire forward Michael Frolik from the Calgary Flames shortly after moving Scandella.Buffalo used the same draft pick - a fourth-rounder in 2020 - it acquired in the Scandella deal to land Frolik, who's also a pending UFA. This essentially makes it a one-for-one trade for the Sabres.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Mike Reilly to the Ottawa Senators for a 2021 fifth-round pick and forward Andrew Sturtz, the team announced Thursday.Reilly has been with the Canadiens since 2018 when he was acquired from the Minnesota Wild. He's appeared in 14 games this season, recording four assists.The 26-year-old is in the first season of a two-year, $3-million contract he signed with Montreal this summer. The Canadiens are not retaining any of his salary, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Sturtz, 25, was undrafted and has yet to appear in an NHL game. He's spent the last three seasons with the AHL's Belleville Senators, recording four goals and 11 points in 35 games.Montreal also acquired defenseman Marco Scandella from the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday in exchange for a 2020 fourth-round pick.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada is off to the semifinals at the 2020 world juniors after defeating Slovakia 6-1 on Thursday.Canada got off to a rough start, as forward Nolan Foote was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a head hit 53 seconds into the contest. Slovakia was unable to convert on the power play and the Canadians took control from there, scoring once in the first period and adding four more goals in the second to put the game out of reach.Alexis Lafreniere was productive in his return to the lineup after missing two games with a knee injury. The projected No. 1 pick in June's draft set up the opening goal, then added a tally of his own in the middle frame. Forwards Barrett Hayton and Dylan Cozens, along with defenseman Jamie Drysdale, each recorded two points in the victory as well.Thursday's win improved Canada's record to 13-0-1 all-time versus Slovakia at the tournament.Canada will now face Finland on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET, while Sweden meets Russia at 9 a.m. ET. Canada beat Finland 4-2 in a pre-tournament game Dec. 23.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher is out indefinitely with a concussion, head coach Claude Julien told reporters Thursday, including Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Gallagher suffered the injury during the second period of Tuesday's contest against the Carolina Hurricanes after falling and colliding headfirst with teammate Ben Chiarot's knee.The 27-year-old winger did not come out for the third period.

In the third edition of theScore's Norris Trophy Power Rankings, a former winner of the award cracks the top five for the first time.5. Shea WeberIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAPATOIxGF%4012193124:1755.94Where would the Montreal Canadiens be without Weber? The 34-year-old captain has been an absolute rock on a rather leaky blue line. Without Weber on the ice at five-on-five, the Habs' goal share is nearly 6% less, and their high-danger scoring chance share is almost 10% less. He's undoubtedly the team's MVP and remains one of the league's best defensemen.4. Dougie HamiltonMichael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAPATOIxGF%4013243723:3158.80Hamilton has appeared on every iteration of this list this season and cracked the top three in November. He's been a stalwart on the Carolina Hurricanes' blue line, leading the team in ice time, shots on goal, and plus/minus (for what it's worth). Hamilton has always been blessed with the ability to be one of the league's top blue-liners, but in his age-26 season, he's finally putting it all together.3. Victor HedmanMark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / GettyGPGAPATOIxGF%369283722:5756.14Hedman makes his season debut on this list after a slow start. However, the 2018 Norris winner was red-hot in December, tallying 15 points in 14 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 6-foot-6 Swede has a lot of ground to make up, but with a strong supporting cast that underachieved in the first half of the season, he's more than capable of going on a run.2. Roman JosiIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyGPGAPATOIxGF%3914274125:3657.98For the third time in a row, Josi appears in this list's second spot. After signing an eight-year, $72.5-million extension early in the season, the Nashville Predators captain has not disappointed; he's on pace for career highs in goals, assists, and shots. If this were any other year, he'd likely be No. 1, but unfortunately for him, another defenseman is on the verge of making history.1. John CarlsonPatrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / GettyGPGAPATOIxGF%4113375024:5750.59Carlson nabs the top spot for the third straight month. The Washington Capitals rearguard is on pace for 100 points, which, frankly, is just silly. If he can pull it off, he'd be the first defenseman to do so since 1991-92 and the fourth blue-liner not named Bobby Orr or Paul Coffey - who did it a combined 11 times - to accomplish the feat.Honorable mentions: Alex Pietrangelo (Blues), Cale Makar (Avalanche), Ryan Ellis (Predators)(Advanced stats source: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Star forward Alexis Lafreniere is back in the lineup for Canada's quarterfinal game against Slovakia on Thursday.Lafreniere practiced Wednesday for the first time since injuring his left knee in Canada's second round-robin contest against Russia. The 18-year-old looked comfortable while participating in drills.

Dallas Stars forward Corey Perry is pleading his case after being ejected from the Winter Classic on Wednesday.After throwing an elbow to the head of Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis in the opening minutes of the contest, Perry was handed a five-minute major and game misconduct."I've played with Ryan before. I know him personally. It's very unintentional," Perry said postgame, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. "I didn't mean to hurt him. I hope he's OK."The 34-year-old will have a hearing on Friday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Wednesday."It was an awkward play. I reached up to try and deflect the puck," Perry added. "It's unfortunate."Perry is a repeat offender as he's been suspended twice before; his last incident came in 2013 when he was handed a four-game ban for an illegal hit on Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This year's edition of the NHL Winter Classic was as visually appealing as it was entertaining.The legendary Cotton Bowl's unique setting enhanced the Dallas Stars' eventful 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on New Year's Day. From the game itself to the sideshow livestock, Dallas put its distinctive stamp on the event.Here are the most indelible images from a truly memorable outdoor affair:The hosts emerge from the tunnel 👏Glenn James / National Hockey League / GettyWho doesn't love a good flyover? ✈️Glenn James / National Hockey League / GettyDitto for fireworks 🎆Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / GettyPerry takes the walk of shame after his ejection 🚶Tim Heitman / National Hockey League / GettyJohn Russell / National Hockey League / GettyLaviolette tries to get the Predators going 🗣️John Russell / National Hockey League / GettyOnly in Dallas 🐖🐄Brian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyBrian Babineau / National Hockey League / GettyJohansen celebrates Dante Fabbro's goal 😄Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyAbsolute scenes 😍Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyJosi appears to be missing something 🤔Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyComeau's fired up after 1st of 4 straight Stars goals 🤗Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyGoalies meet in the handshake line 🤝 Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyCelebration views 🙌Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyVictory pose 📸Glenn James / National Hockey League / GettyCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella has been fined $20,000 for his tirade against the officiating following a loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, the NHL announced Wednesday.He was also assessed a conditional fine of $25,000 if he displays similar inappropriate behavior through Dec. 29, 2020.Tortorella was upset with the referees on Sunday after they seemingly made an error with the game clock in overtime, which ultimately led to his team's apparent game-winning goal being negated.Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo was also injured during the ensuing shootout, which added fuel to Tortorella's displeasure. The 25-year-old netminder will miss four-to-six weeks after undergoing knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus on Monday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild will take part in the next edition of the Winter Classic at Target Field, the home of MLB's Twins, the NHL announced on Wednesday.It will be the Wild's first New Year's Day outdoor game and the second regular-season outdoor contest in team history.The Wild's opponent will be revealed at a later date, according to the club. The Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, and Winnipeg Jets have been discussed as potential opponents, reports Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Minnesota defeated the Blackhawks 6-1 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis back in 2016.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dan Milstein, the agent for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ilya Mikheyev, is extremely appreciative of the way general manager Kyle Dubas handled his client's frightening injury.Mikheyev suffered a wrist laceration that resulted in a severed artery and tendons during a Dec. 27 game against the New Jersey Devils. Dubas spent several days keeping the Russian company in the hospital and also bought clothes and other personal items for Mikheyev."Kyle went above and beyond his duty," Milstein said, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Milstein went on to compliment the franchise."I've been saying this since long ago: The Maple Leafs as an organization, the way they recruit is almost like college recruiting," said Milstein. "Many (other) teams would say, 'Yeah, well they can afford to do it.'"But caring for somebody and treating people like this doesn't cost any money. Showing support, showing you care, is about a lot more than money."Mikheyev isn't expected to return from the injury for several months. The 25-year-old winger is playing his first season in North America after inking a one-year deal with Toronto in May.Through 39 games this season, the rookie has tallied eight goals and 23 points while averaging 15:35 of ice time per contest.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Corey Perry didn't wait long to get booted from the Winter Classic.The Dallas Stars forward was tossed for a high hit on Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis in the opening minutes of Wednesday's outdoor game at the Cotton Bowl.

In the third edition of theScore's 2019-20 Vezina Trophy power rankings, we take a look at the leading candidates for this year's award as the midway mark of the season approaches.5. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV% 18-11-32.602.77.922.821Hellebuyck has endured a shaky couple of weeks heading into the new year, but an excellent body of work in the opening half of the season keeps him in the running for the Vezina.The 26-year-old puck-stopper has been invaluable to a Jets team that's struggled to stay healthy on the blue line. Hellebuyck leads the league in goals saved above average (12.7) and was just named to the Central Division All-Star team for the second time in his career.4. Tuukka Rask, Boston BruinsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV% 15-4-52.312.21.923.851Rask has been steady all season for the Atlantic-leading Bruins. The Finnish netminder has helped his club earn at least a point in all but four of his starts and has just two regulation losses since Nov. 8.Rask's numbers have declined over three consecutive months, however, as both he and the Bruins have come back down to earth following an incredible start to the campaign. He's also the only goalie on this list who's failed to outperform his expected goals-against average per 60 minutes so far this season.Despite his regression, Rask is still having his best season in several years and will remain a strong Vezina candidate if he continues his sound play between the pipes.3. Ben Bishop, Dallas StarsGlenn James / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV% 13-9-32.342.49.926.848Like Hellebuyck, Bishop has hit a bit of a rough patch of late, but the Stars' most valuable player has been at his very best for the majority of the campaign.Through 27 starts this season, Bishop has allowed more than three goals in a game on just three occasions, two of which have come in the last 11 days. Though the Stars boast the league's 26th-ranked offensive, Bishop's elite ability in goal combined with the club's stingy defense makes Dallas a contender for a deep postseason run.2. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona CoyotesNorm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV% 15-8-22.172.35.929.823Kuemper has been the backbone of one of the NHL's best stories this season. The Coyotes may be one of the top defensive squads in the league, but his excellence between the pipes elevates them from a team that's simply difficult to play against to a team that's extremely tough to beat.Arizona sits second in the Pacific Division thanks in large part to Kuemper's dominant play. The Saskatchewan native has posted a 5-1-2 record with a 1.70 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage against divisional opponents. Despite missing time with injury, Kuemper remains a top candidate to take home this year's Vezina honors.1. Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRecordGAAxGA/60SV%HDSV%19-6-42.392.58.921.873Binnington appears to be on cruise control during his sophomore campaign. He's won six straight starts and has lost consecutive games in regulation just once.The Blues' coolheaded netminder owns the analytical advantage as well. Binnington boasts the league's best high-danger save percentage, and his performance relative to his expected goals-against average per 60 minutes is better than that of any other goaltender with at least 18 starts.Advanced stats courtesy of NaturalStatTrickCopyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to a special edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings, which will encompass the last 10 seasons. With the new decade now underway, it's time to take one last look back at the previous 10 years and see which franchises were the class of the league.Let's rank how each team performed in the 2010s, considering overall performance, division titles, and championships:1. Chicago BlackhawksBruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyStanley Cup titles: 3 (2010, 2013, 2015)

Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher suffered an upper-body injury Tuesday versus the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period, the team announced.Gallagher was shaken up after a collision with teammate Ben Chiarot, and he didn't come out for the third period.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury ended his decade making history.With Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, Fleury passed Curtis Joseph on the NHL's all-time wins list to earn sole possession of sixth place with 455. He made 26 saves in the victory.Here's where the 35-year-old stands on the all-time ranks:Rank Player Wins1Martin Brodeur6912Patrick Roy5513Roberto Luongo4894Ed Belfour4845Henrik Lundqvist4586Marc-Andre Fleury455Fleury is in hot pursuit of Lundqvist, the only other active goaltender ahead of him on the list. He trails the Swedish netminder by just three wins.Tuesday's victory was Fleury's 80th with the Golden Knights. He claimed 375 wins over a 13-year stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.