At first blush, Jason Zucker and Benjamin Rubin appear to have little in common beyond a link to high-level hockey.Zucker is 27 years old, hails from Las Vegas, and plays for the NHL's Minnesota Wild. Rubin is 30, grew up in Montreal, and plays for Riviere-du-Loup 3L of the LNAH, a six-team semi-pro league based in Quebec.It turns out Zucker and Rubin, two complete strangers, share a deeply personal experience. As adolescents, both were saddled with choosing between hockey and Judaism. Neither took the decision lightly, knowing it would lay the foundation of their lives for years to come.Jason Zucker Derek Leung / Getty ImagesThe Zuckers identified early in minor hockey that the time and travel demands associated with being an elite athlete too often interfered with religious holidays and rituals. Hockey became the top priority, so Zucker and his brothers never officially came of age with a bar mitzvah, the traditional Jewish celebration."Judaism is all-in or nothing, in my opinion," said Zucker, who has a Hebrew message tattooed on his left arm, in part to remind him of his beliefs. "I don't mean that in a negative way. It's just the way the Jewish religion works. There's a lot that goes into it."Rubin, on the other hand, routinely missed minor hockey games to fulfill the obligations of being an Orthodox Jew. After Rubin made the jump to junior in 2006, Quebec Remparts coach Patrick Roy granted him weekly leaves of absence to observe the Sabbath, a Jewish day of rest and worship that falls between nightfall Friday and nightfall Saturday and prohibits athletic activities for those in more religious sects.Initially, Rubin was thrilled. He had found a middle ground. Over time, though, the weekly absences produced lineup headaches and even national headlines. Rubin's reputation also took a hit among scouts, simply due to him missing 35 games in his NHL draft year. He wasn't a blue-chip prospect, so he needed all the exposure he could get.Roy opted to cut ties with Rubin the following offseason, shipping him to a division rival. Upon reflection, Rubin would commit to playing a full season without interruption for the Gatineau Olympiques. At the age of 18, he had concluded that his religion's strict rules could not be upheld within the world of hockey."I knew at a certain point in time I would have to (conform)," Rubin recalled recently, noting the original arrangement with Roy made him feel like an "outsider" in the dressing room. "That’s why it was so hard at that time, and that's why it resulted in all that press. It was a big deal at that level."Benjamin Rubin TVA Sports screen grabRubin ultimately failed to get within striking distance of an NHL roster. He transferred to the Alberta junior league after three QMJHL seasons and then tested out the Canadian university circuit before eventually turning pro in 2011. Next, he played three years in France, two in the U.S.-based Southern Professional Hockey League, half a year in Hungary, and is currently in his third full year in the LNAH."Life's about growth, and if I'm not in the NHL, big deal," Rubin said. "I love playing (in the LNAH) and it's up to me to figure out what I want to do and how to do something else with my life. … Just because I went through what I went through doesn’t mean I have to look back and regret what happened to me."Of course, to draw a straight line between their differing commitments to faith and their trajectories in hockey would be unfair to Zucker and Rubin. There are so many variables to consider, including talent, work ethic, opportunity, and luck. However, their diverging paths illustrate the complex nature of devoting oneself to a pair of demanding, ritualistic pursuits.While no two situations are the same, the hockey-religion balancing act requires sacrifice, flexibility, and daily integration. Look no further than the Mormon forward, the Christian defenseman, and the Sikh broadcaster profiled below.––––––––––Hockey is largely considered a secular sport, and the NHL is arguably the least overtly religious league among North America's big four. The sport's culture of conformity and its lack of diversity might help explain why it lags behind football, basketball, and baseball in that department. Still, some in the professional hockey world are all-in on both sport and religion - they just tend to keep a low profile.Derek Ryan qualifies. The Calgary Flames center is likely the only Mormon in the NHL. "I could be wrong," he said, "but I'm almost 100% certain." Previously Catholic, he converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2013 after being exposed to the religion by his wife and in-laws. "It's something that takes over your lifestyle," Ryan said.Derek Ryan Jamie Sabau / Getty ImagesA typical workday for Ryan begins with a 20-minute commute from Calgary's West Springs neighborhood to the Flames' downtown arena. Via Bluetooth, he listens to various scriptures - one chapter from the Book of Mormon, one chapter from the Bible, and a cataloged sermon from a well-known church leader - through the speaker system in his black Chevy Tahoe. This is Ryan's time to reflect, recalibrate, and bridge his two passions. Homelife revolves around two young, energetic children, so the drive to the Scotiabank Saddledome supplies the 32-year-old with a period that's free of distraction.Ryan's spirituality spikes again in the quiet moments before each game. He recites a prayer in the hallway near the Flames' dressing room, asking God for "blessings, help, and strength" for himself and his teammates. "Hockey is important for me, important for my family, important for providing for my family," he said. "But at the same time, there's a lot more to life than hockey."Weekend road trips add a layer of difficulty. Multiple times this season alone, Ryan has participated in the team's Sunday morning skate and then skipped his pregame nap. Whether he's in Calgary or California, he spends two hours of his afternoon at church, taking part in the sacrament - a Mormon ordinance similar to a Catholic communion - before joining a small group for Sunday School, which is a Bible study for churchgoers of all ages.Ryan has this Sunday detour down to a science. He fires up a mobile app called Member Tools, locates the closest Mormon church on the virtual map, and heads out the door in search of the venue. He'll walk, take an Uber, or, if he's in a warm locale, ride an electric scooter to the church and back. Time's precious on any game day, but finding a spiritual equilibrium is equally important."I think I've yet to miss out on going to church," said Ryan, who's in his fourth full NHL season. "To be honest, I've played some of my best games when I've been tired, forgotten that nap, and chosen to go to church."Derek Ryan and family outside an LDS temple SubmittedOver the years, Ryan has found religion to be an icebreaker with new teammates, who tend to pick his brain about his personal beliefs. Their questions will range from whether Mormon men can have multiple wives (they can't) and why the consumption of coffee and alcohol - longtime staples of hockey culture - is forbidden by the religion. "I think the most important takeaway is that we're only putting things in our body that we need to function," Ryan explained.Baking faith into his everyday life helps Ryan safeguard against the rigors of an 82-game season. The modern NHLer goes through an incredibly regimented schedule for 8-10 months of the year. Players are expected to be present at certain places for specific times: board a plane here, catch a bus there, attend this video session, talk to reporters during that window. Being a Mormon is his own thing; a productive vice."It's pretty important for me to rely on my faith to get me through the hard times or to bring me down from the high times. The season's long," said Ryan, whose point production has ebbed and flowed through 35 games this season. "You don't want to get too high, get too low. My faith keeps me pretty grounded."In the offseason, when his allotment of free time expands and the family returns to his home state of Washington, Ryan helps Mormons in the Spokane area construct their family trees as part of his "calling" within the community. He also delivers talks about his conversion story and about the winding road he traveled through multiple leagues to reach the NHL."You look at my hockey journey, along with my spiritual journey, and it's crazy how I've been blessed," Ryan said. "I made the jump from the Austrian league to the Swedish league, from the Swedish league to the American league, from the American league to the NHL. I just don't think it's a coincidence. … I feel like I was guided and helped along by my heavenly father."––––––––––The rookie party is a rite of passage for NHL players. It means you've climbed the mountain and aren't scheduled to descend anytime soon. Particulars of the tradition vary based on the club and era, but nowadays, it's typically a players-only night out on the road that involves a fancy dinner - paid for by the first-year guys, of course - some form of light hazing, and alcohol consumption.Ryan and former teammate Jaccob Slavin, who also abstains from drinking alcohol for religious reasons, threw the Carolina Hurricanes' veterans for a loop ahead of their respective rookie parties four and five years ago.Instead of downing liquor, Ryan whipped back shots of grapefruit juice, Tabasco sauce, and milk. Slavin was offered nothing but lactose - "milk, like, a lot of milk" - and reports it was a tolerable night with only minor side effects. "I didn't puke, but I was backed up for a couple of days," he added with a grin.Jaccob Slavin Gregg Forwerck / Getty ImagesSlavin, who at 25 is one of the best defensemen on the planet, takes his beliefs very seriously. Over the course of his young career, he's never shied away from speaking about his devotion to God and having a "bigger purpose" on Earth as a nondenominational Christian. Slavin works closely with Hockey Ministries International, wholly aware that the NHL spotlight affords him a rare platform."Even here," he said, motioning toward a room of reporters at the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour this past fall, "it's an opportunity to be able to speak on how God's changed my life. It's not a part of who I am; it is who I am. It's my identity. My identity is not, 'I'm a hockey player who happens to be a Christian,' it's actually, 'a Christian who happens to be a hockey player.'"While Christianity continues to decline in the United States, there's still a huge portion of the North American population - approximately 75%, according to a recent report - that identifies as Christian. The hockey world isn't a perfect reflection of society, but Christians form the league's most prominent religious group. Active and ex-NHLers like Jarome Iginla, Mike Fisher, Shane Doan, Jordan Staal, David Backes, Stu Grimson, Dan Hamhuis, Jay Beagle, Paul Stastny, and James Reimer have all - at one time or another - discussed their deep ties to the Christian faith, and most clubs offer access to a chaplain.This dynamic opens the door for off-ice interactions between religiously active players who are scattered across the pro ranks. Case in point: Slavin hops on Skype calls throughout the season - sometimes as often as twice a month - to discuss the prayers and lessons he's currently focused on. Ryan Carpenter and Rocco Grimaldi, of the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators, respectively, might be on the other end of the line, along with AHL and ECHL players. The calls are facilitated by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which says its mission is "to empower the hockey world through the love of Jesus Christ."

Another edition of the World Junior Championship is upon us.You may have read up on the young star power highlighting this year's event or some of the favorites to take home the gold, but the tournament also offers several unique storylines.With puck drop just two days away, it's time to take a deeper dive into hockey's greatest holiday tradition.1. Sweden's dominant preliminary playKevin Light / Getty Images Sport / GettySweden enters the 2020 competition on one of the more remarkable runs in all of sports. Winners of 48 consecutive round-robin contests, the Swedes have not dropped a game in preliminary action since losing to the United States in 2006. (Who scored the game-winner that day? Defenseman Jack Johnson, who's now 32 years old.)The Tre Kronor have defeated 13 different nations throughout the run, many of them more than once. They've also won six games in overtime, including one against the Americans last year in which they blew a 4-0 lead in the third period.That impressive record comes with a major caveat, however: Sweden has captured just one gold medal since the streak began and has lost the championship game five times.Here's Sweden's schedule at this year's tournament:OpponentDateFinlandDec. 26SwitzerlandDec. 28KazakhstanDec. 30SlovakiaDec. 31If the Swedes can get past Finland, they'll have an excellent opportunity to keep the streak alive.2. Can Canada end overseas podium drought?Rich Lam / Getty Images Sport / GettyEurope has not been kind to Team Canada. The tournament's perennial powerhouse has failed to medal in each of the last three competitions overseas, including consecutive bronze-medal losses in 2013 and 2014.The last time Canada captured gold in Europe was in the Czech Republic in 2008 - this year's host country. After being held off the podium on home soil in 2019, Canada should feel an extra sense of urgency to get back on top.Canada's sixth-place finish in British Columbia resulted in a tough schedule through the preliminary round. The red and white open the tournament against the U.S. before meeting Russia two days later.3. Decade of parityKevin Light / Getty Images Sport / GettyFor the first three decades of the tournament's existence, there were only a few serious horses in the race. Canada and Russia dominated much of the conversation while the U.S., Sweden, and Finland played the underdogs. The remaining nations were just happy to be there.This decade, however, the tournament has been wide open. Five nations have captured a gold medal over the last 10 years, and no country has repeated as champion since Canada won five straight from 2005-09. Even Switzerland, which has just one bronze medal in its history, knocked off Sweden in last year's quarterfinal and finished fourth.For more context, Canada will exit a decade with fewer than four gold medals for the first time. Meanwhile, Finland and the United States, which combined for three championships in the event's first 32 years of existence, have three golds apiece in the last 10 years.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks were blown out on home ice on Monday night against the New Jersey Devils. Captain Jonathan Toews was noticeably frustrated after the tilt."Just embarrassing," Toews told NBC's Charlie Roumeliotis. "Pretty tough all around. Not much to say."The Devils, who recently traded star forward Taylor Hall to Arizona, own the second-worst record in the entire NHL.Toews called out his team's effort level."There's no games where you can cakewalk and it just looks like that was our assumption tonight," he said.The Blackhawks entered the evening coming off two impressive victories over the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche, but they'll enter the Christmas break on a sour note, sitting eight points out of a playoff spot."Enough's enough," he continued. "We've talked about being pissed off, we can't keep letting this slide."Toews is second on the team with 27 points in 38 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Wilson wasn't in the holiday spirit Monday night.The Washington Capitals forward was ejected late in the third period against the Boston Bruins for roughing David Pastrnak. Wilson speared Pasta in the groin, and then the two exchanged blows before the refs intervened.

NBC has suspended Jeremy Roenick indefinitely without pay for inappropriate comments made about his co-workers during a recent appearance on the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, the network announced on Monday, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.On the podcast, Roenick discussed a vacation to Portugal when he and his wife traveled with co-worker Kathryn Tappen, and he made multiple references to the three having sex together."I play it off like we're going to bed together every night, the three of us," Roenick said. "If it really came to fruition, that would be really good, but it's never going to happen."Roenick went on to say Tappen is "one of the most professional sports personalities I know."Later in the episode, Roenick discussed fellow NHL on NBC panelists and former NHLers Patrick Sharp and Anson Carter.Roenick called Sharp beautiful, saying "I'd have to think about it if he asked me.""I wouldn't say no right away," he added."It's good to have a beautiful face that talks well that knows the game because it's totally the opposite when me and Anson get on there," Roenick continued.Roenick has been with NBC since 2010. He was hired shortly after his 20-year playing career ended.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the decade drawing to a close, theScore looked back and voted on 100 moments that defined the sports world in the 2010s. We're counting down every Monday in December, and below are moments 40-21.100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 | 20-1 (Dec. 30)40. McGregor vs. Mayweather 👊🥊Aug. 26, 2017When Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor started talking about a potential boxing match, no one thought it would actually happen. But it did. The biggest superstar in UFC history crossed over to face one of the greatest boxers of all time. Mayweather defeated McGregor by 10th-round TKO, extending his pro record to 50-0 and dropping McGregor's to 0-1. Mayweather vs. McGregor is the second-best-selling combat sports pay-per-view of all time and proved that literally anything is possible. - Nick Baldwin39. American Pharoah wins Triple Crown 🏇June 6, 2015Larry Collmus nailed the call on the broadcast: "The 37-year wait is over! American Pharoah is finally the one!" And with that, the drought ended, with another horse earning the Triple Crown. The thoroughbred led from gate to wire, winning the Belmont Stakes by five-and-a-half lengths and punctuating a 2015 for the ages. - Navin Vaswani38. Doc's postseason no-hitter ⚾Oct. 6, 2010Rob Tringali / SportsChrome / GettyJust four months after throwing a perfect game, Roy Halladay authored one of the best postseason pitching performances ever, tossing only the second playoff no-hitter in MLB history and the first since Don Larsen's perfecto in the 1956 World Series. Halladay had already established himself as the most dominant starter of his generation before he took the mound for Game 1 of the NLDS, but the late workhorse's remarkable outing that night - coming within a fifth-inning walk of hurling yet another perfect game - bolstered his already strong Hall of Fame credentials and further cemented his enduring legacy. - Josh Gold-Smith37. Humboldt bus tragedyApril 6, 2018In small-town Canada, the local junior hockey team is everything. When a semi-trailer truck ran a stop sign and t-boned the Humboldt Broncos' team bus - killing 16 people and injuring another 13 - it changed the lives of an entire community. It became a national story, too. Sticks were left outside houses nationwide for the fallen members and a GoFundMe campaign raised a national-record $15 million. Perhaps nothing encapsulated this heartbreaking tragedy more than the image of a broken disc of the movie "Slap Shot" at the scene of the accident. They were just boys being boys. - Josh Wegman36. MLB's wild finale 😲Sept. 29, 2011With four teams vying for two playoff spots, the final day of the 2011 season was bound to be dramatic. What ensued was absolute mayhem. Jonathan Papelbon's blown save against the last-place Orioles concluded an incredible collapse by the Red Sox, who opened September as the AL's best team. David Price got shelled before the Rays erased a seven-run deficit on their final out, completing the comeback with Evan Longoria's extra-innings, walk-off homer. On the NL side, Craig Kimbrel's blown save helped eliminate the Braves and Chris Carpenter's complete-game gem carried the Cardinals into the postseason, setting up one of the most epic championship runs in MLB history. - Michael Bradburn35. Ogunbowale's buzzer-beaterMarch 30, 2018At the 2018 Final Four, Notre Dame junior Arike Ogunbowale sunk what would've been the shot of a lifetime for most players: a deep pull-up jumper to vanquish powerhouse UConn in overtime, cementing the Fighting Irish's trip to the national title game. It turns out that was merely the warm-up act. Against Mississippi State, Ogunbowale nailed one of the greatest buckets in college basketball history. After collecting the inbound pass with three seconds left in regulation, she took three dribbles toward the corner, leaned, and unfurled a high-arching three. Game. Season. The Fighting Irish were the 2018 National Champions. - Andrew Joe Potter34. Kobe says goodbye with 60 🏀👋April 13, 2016Kobe Bryant ended his career exactly how we all expected him to: firing shots at will in typical Black Mamba fashion. The future Hall of Famer became the oldest player to score 60 points in a game at age 37, while carrying the Lakers to a double-digit comeback over the Jazz on the final day of the 2015-16 season. - Josh Weinstein33. Philly Special 🏈Feb. 4, 2018

This is the seventh 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 holiday gift each team could use for this campaign or the future.1. Washington Capitals (26-6-5)Previous rank: 1It's tough to shop for somebody who's got it all, but we'll gift the Capitals a Magic 8-Ball to help them make a difficult decision on Braden Holtby after the season. The 30-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, and Washington has a promising, cheaper backup option who seems able to take over the reins in goal.2. St. Louis Blues (23-8-6)Previous rank: 5A pen for captain Alex Pietrangelo to ink a contract extension has to be at the top of the Blues' wish list.3. Colorado Avalanche (22-11-3)Previous rank: 3A fully recovered Cale Makar is all the Avalanche want to find under their tree this year. Since the rookie phenom has been sidelined, Colorado's usually lethal power play ranks 24th with a 13.6% conversion rate.4. Boston Bruins (21-7-9)Previous rank: 2The Bruins have shown their inability to capitalize in overtime and the shootout, so they're in dire need of finishing skills. With 11 trips to overtime this season, the Bruins have come out with just two wins and have gone 0-5 in the shootout.5. Carolina Hurricanes (22-12-2)Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 10They've been looking for a trade partner to add some punch to their offense, but the Hurricanes' search may be over. Justin Williams, who scored 23 goals and 53 points with Carolina last season, could make a return to the team in the near future and would be the perfect holiday gift.6. New York Islanders (23-8-3)Previous rank: 4A peaceful contract negotiation between Mathew Barzal's agent and the notoriously stingy Lou Lamoriello is the only gift the Islanders need. The youngster's pact is up after this season and he's proven his worth again this year, leading New York with 30 points in 34 games.7. Pittsburgh Penguins (21-11-4)Previous rank: 8The injury bug has hit Pittsburgh all season long. Key players Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Nick Bjugstad, and Patric Hornqvist have missed a combined 79 games so far this year. They've managed to stay competitive and in the playoff race, so good health going forward will be atop their list over the holidays.8. Vegas Golden Knights (20-13-6)Previous rank: 14A big bucket of pucks, so Max Pacioretty can keep firing 'em. The Golden Knights forward is third among all skaters in shots on goal this season, and it has him on pace for a career-best 77 points.9. Arizona Coyotes (21-13-4)Previous rank: 9Three games into his Coyotes tenure, Taylor Hall has shown some solid chemistry with his new teammates. Hall is the offensive player the Coyotes dearly needed, and signing him to an extension would be the gift that keeps Arizona in contention for years to come.10. Philadelphia Flyers (20-11-5)Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 6Nolan Patrick hasn't suited up in a game yet this season due to a migraine disorder. The former second overall pick has been skating but hasn't practiced with the team or been cleared for contact. The 21-year-old's return to the Flyers' lineup would be a great gift to kick off the new year.11. Toronto Maple Leafs (19-14-4)Previous rank: 16thMichael Hutchinson's first win of the season helped weather the storm for now, but a backup goalie is still at the top of the Christmas list for the new and improved Maple Leafs.12. Winnipeg Jets (21-13-2)Previous rank: 11Dustin Byfuglien's situation has been tricky, but a gift for the Jets would be for the whole ordeal to come to a conclusion. Whether he eventually makes a return to the lineup in the new year or not, it would be great for the team to be able to move on.13. Calgary Flames (19-14-5)Previous rank: 12The Flames' top trio of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Elias Lindholm spent all of last season terrorizing opposing teams but have struggled to do so this year. With the Pacific Division still completely wide open, the Flames will need them to pick things up and get going.14. Dallas Stars (20-14-4)Previous rank: 13The Stars could really use a fountain of youth right now. Father Time might have caught up to Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski, and Corey Perry, who are all performing well under their career averages.15. Edmonton Oilers (20-15-4)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 7Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have combined for 121 points this season in just 39 games each. The Oilers haven't won a contest when both forwards are held pointless in just over two years, according to Sportsnet Stats. Edmonton's No. 1 gift on their wish list is another top-six forward capable of putting up points consistently.16. Florida Panthers (18-12-5)Previous rank: 18The Panthers brought in Sergei Bobrovsky on a lucrative deal with the hope he would be one of the league's best netminders. With a .902 save percentage and 3.09 goals-against average so far, the best gift Florida could receive would be for the real Bob to make an appearance in the second half.17. Tampa Bay Lightning (17-13-4)Previous rank: 20We're gifting the Lightning a can of gasoline and matches so they can burn the tape on a disappointing start to the year.18. Montreal Canadiens (17-13-6)Previous rank: 24We're wrapping up a 2020 day planner for the Canadiens' coaching staff so some time can be dedicated to improving the club's woeful penalty kill. Operating at just a 75.45% efficiency, Montreal's allowed a power-play goal in 13 of their 19 losses.19. Buffalo Sabres (17-13-7) Previous rank: 25The Sabres should be wishing for a better travel routine because their play in road games has been a big concern. Buffalo's been outscored 72 to 51 and owns a 6-10-4 record away from home.20. Nashville Predators (17-12-6)John Russell / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 22The Predators' leading two point-scorers are Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. Forward scoring has been hard to come by, with new addition Matt Duchene potting eight goals so far this season. More tallies from their top six would be a great gift for Nashville in the second half of the season.21. Vancouver Canucks (18-15-4)Previous rank: 15General manager Jim Benning said recently he'd like to re-sign Jacob Markstrom and add a top-six winger before the trade deadline. Both would be tremendous gifts for a Canucks squad that's hit the skids of late.22. Columbus Blue Jackets (16-14-6)Previous rank: 28A spotlight to shine on goaltender Joonas Korpisalo would be the perfect gift for the Blue Jackets. Faced with the monumental task of replacing Bobrovsky between the pipes, the 25-year-old netminder has quietly posted a 16-10-3 record with a .910 save percentage this season.23. Minnesota Wild (17-15-5)Previous rank: 17A return to form for Mathew Dumba would be the ultimate gift for a Wild team desperate for his offensive capabilities. The 25-year-old blue-liner is on pace for just 22 points this season - the same total he had in 32 contests in 2018-19.24. New York Rangers (17-14-4)Previous rank: 21With Hall off the market, Rangers forward Chris Kreider is arguably the top rental available leading up to this year's trade deadline. A hefty return for the versatile winger would be a welcomed gift for a New York team that appears another year or two away from playoff contention.25. Chicago Blackhawks (15-16-6)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 23Alex DeBrincat made every team that passed on him in the 2016 draft regret it last year when he potted 41 goals. The former 39th overall pick is on pace for just 18 goals this year and is set to be paid $19.2 million over the next three seasons. A gift for the Blackhawks would be for the young winger to regain his scoring touch and come out strong next season.26. Ottawa Senators (15-18-4)Previous rank: 27A crystal ball would work wonders for the Senators. With pending free agents Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Duclair having career-best seasons, Ottawa will have to make the tough decision whether to trade the pair in the coming months or make them a part of the team's future.27. Anaheim Ducks (15-18-4)Previous rank: 26Since Nov. 1, the Ducks rank 30th with 18 points in 23 games. A successful tank job over the remaining months of the season would be the best gift for an organization in need of a major rebuild.28. San Jose Sharks (16-20-2)Previous rank: 19The Sharks desperately need the gift of better goaltending. San Jose has the third-worst goal differential in the league at minus-32, and Martin Jones has let in three or more goals in 19 of his 26 starts.29. Los Angeles Kings (15-19-4)Previous rank: 29Boasting the league's 30th-ranked power play and 28th-ranked penalty kill, the Kings would benefit from receiving some much-needed special teams help on both sides of the puck.30. New Jersey Devils (11-19-5)Previous rank: 30Jack Hughes' rookie season hasn't gone as planned, with the forward recording just four goals and 13 points in 32 games. With Hall gone, a nice gift for the Devils would be to see Hughes step up and show what he can bring to the table as their future star player.31. Detroit Red Wings (9-26-3)Previous rank: 31The Red Wings are on pace for one of the worst seasons in the history of the league, with a current goal differential of minus-65. At this point, a draft lottery victory is the only gift Detroit needs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara will miss Monday's marquee matchup versus the Washington Capitals to undergo a scheduled follow-up procedure stemming from the jaw injury he suffered in last season's Stanley Cup Final, the team announced Sunday.Chara was injured after taking a puck to the face in Game 4 versus the St. Louis Blues in June. He wore a jaw protector for Games 5-7 and had plates, wires, and screws put in his mouth in order to play."The area where the surgery was done got infected, which is kind of rare, but it does happen after six months," Chara said. "The decision was made to avoid maybe further troubleshooting with that area to basically remove all the plates and screws and clean it up. Pretty much the same (procedure), just instead of putting the plates in, it's gonna be taking the plates out."The 42-year-old added he only expects to miss one game. The Bruins are off for the Christmas break after Monday's contest against the Metropolitan Division leaders and return to action Dec. 27 versus the Buffalo Sabres.Chara has registered 13 points in 37 contests in 2019-20 while averaging over 21 minutes per contest in his 22nd NHL season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Michael Hutchinson wasn't putting any extra pressure on himself Saturday despite being mired in a lengthy losing streak.Hutchinson made 29 saves in a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings to secure his first NHL win since January."This game, I tried not to overthink things and just relax and let the game come to me," Hutchinson said, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "I feel like I'm in a good headspace right now, so I came in relaxed, waiting for the game to come to me."He added: "Once you do that, the team that we have, once we have a little momentum going, we're a tough team to stop."Hutchinson had dropped six straight starts entering Saturday's contest, allowing four or more goals in each. The 29-year-old has split time between the Maple Leafs and the AHL's Toronto Marlies this season and admitted that the constant shuffle between teams hasn't been easy."It's a challenge. I think I was doing a good job about it," Hutchinson said. "Getting sent down is always difficult so then regaining and getting back into that good headspace is a process and you can't do it on your own."The victory marked the first win for a Maple Leafs backup this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals and netminder Braden Holtby are postponing contract negotiations until the offseason, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported during "Headlines" on Saturday."The Capitals and Holtby's agent, David Kaye, have decided that they will not talk contract during the season," Friedman said. "They will wait until after the year. The focus will be on trying to win the Stanley Cup."Friedman then pointed to Washington's recent history of signing core players during the offseason."I've been told, 'Don't panic necessarily,' Capitals fans, about that," he said. "If you look at their history, they have signed (John) Carlson and (T.J.) Oshie after the season, before free agency. So, just because it's not happening now, it doesn't mean it still possibly can't happen."Holtby is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said in August he'd begin talks with Holtby and fellow pending UFA Nicklas Backstrom before training camp opened.The Capitals have run Holtby as their No. 1 goaltender since 2013, and the 30-year-old is in the final season of a five-year, $30.5-million contract he signed in 2015.Holtby owns a .918 save percentage for his career but has performed below par this year, as well as during the two seasons prior. He's 16-4-4 with a .909 save clip and 2.82 goals-against average this season.His illustrious Capitals tenure is highlighted by a Vezina Trophy in 2016 and a Stanley Cup in 2018.Washington is projected to have roughly $19.5 million in available money for next season, without factoring a potential increase to the league's salary cap, according to Cap Friendly. Along with Holtby and Backstrom, Radko Gudas, Brendan Leipsic, Travis Boyd, and Jonas Siegenthaler are other Capitals players in need of new contracts for next season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you had plugged your ears on Sept. 1, 2016, and tried to tune out the rest of the world, you might have been able to concentrate on sports in the narrowest framing of the term. The National League-leading Cubs beat the Giants at Wrigley Field. It rained at the US Open, but Serena and Venus Williams won second-round matches under Arthur Ashe Stadium's new retractable roof. Lamar Jackson, Louisville's sophomore quarterback, passed and ran for eight touchdowns against UNC Charlotte, the first opponent to mount zero resistance on his march to the Heisman Trophy.In San Diego, the 49ers visited the Chargers for each team's preseason finale. It was a Thursday night. Steven Powell, a petty officer in the U.S. Navy, sang the national anthem. Colin Kaepernick dropped to his right knee.So started the silent protest that dominated multiple cycles of American discourse in a way no box score could. Paradoxically, Kaepernick also came to embody something essential about the 2010s, the decade in which pro athletes made their voices heard. They spoke out against injustice and abuse and for causes they considered vital. They rejected the notion that critical thought was not their domain; that acting on their convictions didn't fall within the strict bounds of a player's lane. They refused, as it were, to stick to sports.The Cubs, the Williams sisters, and Jackson made a lot of noise on the day they authored these respective triumphs. But it was Kaepernick's quietude that resonates most in the world we inhabit - a world that is complicated and dangerous and too often unfair. Occasionally, the loudest cry to make it safer, better, a little more just, is one in which nothing is actually said aloud.––––––––––Kaepernick doesn't have a quarterbacking job these days, not since he opted out of his 49ers contract after the 2016 season and the NFL's owners and general managers - if not intentionally, then effectively - banished him from the league. Barring the slim possibility that he gets another chance to play, his will remain a lonely post to occupy.Michael Zagaris / Getty ImagesIn his protest, though, Kaepernick was never alone. Not in his resolve to object to a malignant societal trend. Not in his specific campaign against police brutality and racial injustice. And not on the very first day he assumed his solemn sideline posture; kneeling directly to his right was 49ers safety Eric Reid, his fiercest partner inside the game from that point forward.When Reid and more than 200 fellow players kneeled en masse before a slate of Sunday games on Sept. 24, 2017 - lashing back at U.S. President Donald Trump's call, two nights earlier, for any such dissenter to be "fired" - they were emulating Kaepernick and aligning themselves with their shunned contemporary. The display of support wasn't limited to the NFL. That day, the Los Angeles Sparks sat out the national anthem in their locker room before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Members of the Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury had adopted Kaepernick's mode of protest before a game the previous September, as did American soccer midfielder Megan Rapinoe.These players' spiritual forerunners - Muhammad Ali losing nearly four years of his prime for refusing to serve in the military during the Vietnam War; Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising black-gloved fists on the Olympic podium in 1968; Denver Nuggets guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf declining to stand for the U.S. anthem in 1996 - weren't of the 2010s. But this decade, athletes revived the practice of protesting on an unprecedented scale, harnessing the attention and reach conferred to them by their platform to lobby for profound social change.

Four of the NHL's most dynamic offensive stars will captain their respective divisions at the 2020 All-Star Game in St. Louis.David Pastrnak will lead the Atlantic Division squad, Connor McDavid the Pacific, Alex Ovechkin the Metropolitan, and Nathan MacKinnon the Central, the NHL announced Saturday night.Pastrnak leads the NHL in goals with 28, while Ovechkin ranks third with 22. McDavid paces the league in scoring with 60 points, and MacKinnon occupies third spot with 53 points in 35 games.All four players were chosen as captains via the NHL's online fan voting system. McDavid is representing the Pacific Division for the fourth consecutive season, and Ovechkin will make his third straight appearance as Metro captain. MacKinnon occupied the role of Central captain last year, but didn't participate in the weekend's events. Pastrnak made his All-Star Game debut in 2019, and this will be his first appearance as captain.All-Star Weekend runs Jan. 24-25.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Viktor Arvidsson is back in action.The Nashville Predators forward returned to the lineup against the Boston Bruins on Saturday after missing the club's last 12 games with a lower-body injury, the team announced.Arvidsson suffered the injury Nov. 23 against the St. Louis Blues when defenseman Robert Bortuzzo landed a pair of cross-checks to the Swede's lower back. Bortuzzo was assessed a four-game suspension.The 26-year-old marksman has been the Predators' most consistent scorer, leading the club in goals during each of the previous three campaigns. Nashville posted a record of 6-3-3 in his absence.Through 22 games this season, Arvidsson has recorded six goals and 15 points while logging an average of 17:13 of ice time per contest.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Josh Leivo will miss two-to-three months with a fractured kneecap, head coach Travis Green announced Saturday.Leivo was hit from behind by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden on Thursday.

New York Rangers forward Lias Andersson has formally asked for a trade, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Andersson is no longer with the club, and Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton will use the holiday freeze to assess the trade market, Dreger added.The 21-year-old has averaged less than 10 minutes per game with the Rangers this season, tallying just one assist in 17 contests.Andersson is best known for throwing his silver medal into the stands after Sweden lost to Canada at the 2018 World Junior Championship.New York drafted Andersson seventh overall in 2017.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Eichel is in the Buffalo Sabres' lineup on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings after missing one game with an upper-body injury, the team announced.Eichel's 17-game point streak was snapped due to his absence.Eichel has enjoyed a Hart Trophy-caliber season, entering Saturday fifth in the NHL with 50 points in 35 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains graphic content.New York Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on his wrist, the team announced Saturday.In a fluke play, Patrice Bergeron's skate cut Clutterbuck's wrist open during Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins.Clutterbuck received a severe gash on his left wrist. He needed some tendons repaired, but fortunately, the injury wasn't life-threatening, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple.MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyClutterbuck has recorded seven points and 116 hits in 33 games this season.Andrew Ladd, who cleared waivers last month, has been recalled from the minors in Clutterbuck's absence. The 34-year-old has notched seven goals and two assists in 19 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers this season.There are four seasons remaining on Ladd's seven-year, $38.5-million deal he signed with the Isles on July 1, 2016.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Forward Benoit-Olivier Groulx will have to take the lonely flight back home from the Czech Republic, as the Anaheim Ducks prospect was Team Canada's final cut ahead of the 2020 World Junior Championship.Here's a look at the final 23-man roster, based on Saturday's practice lines, according to TSN's Mark Masters.ForwardsLWCRWAlexis LafreniereJoe VelenoNolan FooteQuinton ByfieldBarrett HaytonDylan CozensLiam FoudyTy DellandreaAidan DudasConnor McMichaelAkil ThomasRaphael LavoieDawson MercerCanada's two returnees up front - Lafreniere and Veleno - seem poised to anchor the team's first line. Veleno has spent the season playing professionally with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.Lafreniere and Byfield are projected to go first and second overall, respectively, in the 2020 NHL Draft. They're just two of five draft-eligible players on the roster.Hayton, the No. 5 pick in the 2018 draft, is Canada's lone player with NHL experience. The 19-year-old has registered four points in 14 games with the Arizona Coyotes this season.DefensemenLDRDJared McIsaacTy SmithKevin BahlJacob Bernard-DockerBowen ByramCalen AddisonJamie DrysdaleThe top pairing of McIsaac and Smith are Canada's lone returnees on the back end, so expect them to play big minutes.The 6-foot-7 Bahl was recently part of the package that the New Jersey Devils received from the Coyotes in exchange for Taylor Hall.Drysdale, a 17-year-old, is Canada's youngest defenseman. Byram, meanwhile, is the most highly touted blue-liner, as he was selected fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2019.GoaliesGNico DawsJoel HoferOlivier RodrigueDaws, who is eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft, has posted a .939 save percentage with the OHL's Guelph Storm this season. Whoever runs away with the starting job will have big shoes to fill after Michael DiPietro's sensational performance in last year's tournament.Canada will begin its quest for gold on Dec. 26 at 1 p.m. ET against the United States.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Noel Acciari could fry an egg on his blade right now.The Florida Panthers forward torched the Dallas Stars on Friday with three goals in a span of four minutes to complete the natural hat trick in the 7-4 win. Acciari also notched three tallies against the Ottawa Senators in a 6-1 victory Monday.The 28-year-old completed the feat with a shorthanded penalty shot in the second period, extending the Panthers' lead to 7-1.

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper is out week-to-week with a lower-body injured suffered Thursday night against the Minnesota Wild, the team announced Friday.Kuemper had been enjoying a Vezina-caliber season, ranking in the top five in the league for wins (15), save percentage (.929), goals-against average (2.17), and goals saved above average (14.75).Antti Raanta, who owns a .919 save percentage and a 2.72 goals-against average in 13 games, is expected to get the bulk of the starts in Kuemper's absence. Adin Hill was also recalled from the AHL to serve as Raanta's backup.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger announced superstar Jack Eichel is considered day-to-day and will be re-evaluated before Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Kings, according to WGR 550's Brayton J. Wilson.Krueger didn't provide specifics about the nature of the injury. Eichel was healthy enough to be on the ice for Friday's practice, which could signal a return Saturday.Eichel missed Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers due to an upper-body injury, ending his point streak at 17 games.Eichel has carried the Sabres to a 16-13-7 record with 50 points - tied for fifth in the NHL - in 35 games.Copyright © 2019 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 sectionAlthough it started as bad as it could on Monday and the early part of Tuesday, we rebounded in a big way to close out the midweek slate on a 4-1 run, including three lucrative plus-money winners.Let's carry that momentum into the break as we dive into a busy four days that features 34 games.Four days without NHL hockey may sound depressing, but don't sleep on the world juniors - there's always money to be made.Game bettingToronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers (Friday)Looking to head into the Christmas break strong, the Leafs travel to New York on Friday for the first game of a back-to-back. Toronto has been playing better of late, but the Rangers have been a profitable team in this spot. They're on a 6-1 run as underdogs of +130 or greater, and 9-5 on the season. They also won both games in November on at least three days' rest against the Predators and Capitals. Back the Rangers as a home 'dog on Friday.Winnipeg Jets at Minnesota Wild (Saturday)The Jets last won on the road on Nov. 29 and have been playing .500 hockey for the past month. Winnipeg has lost three consecutive and five of its last six in Minnesota. The Wild have really turned a corner, forcing their way up the standings, and have posted an impressive 11-5 record as favorites this season. Early lines suggest they will hover around -125 on Saturday and are a worthy bet as a result of the short price.Montreal Canadiens at Edmonton Oilers (Saturday)The Canadiens and Oilers are able to play a number of different styles. Both lean on a tight defensive game, relying on forward speed to hit back at teams, which is what we should expect on Saturday as goals should be limited. Take the under here at anything six or higher, or make it a half-play if it's at 5.5.Nashville Predators at Boston Bruins (Saturday), Washington Capitals at Bruins (Monday)Losers of seven of their last eight, the Bruins are in the midst of a December free fall and will be desperate to get into the break for a reset. Limping into the break is a genuine possibility as they host a pair of hot teams that have flourished in this spot.The Predators are 5-1 as a 'dog this season and the Capitals are 7-1. No team has been better in this spot than these two. Nashville is starting to find its scoring touch, while the Capitals own the league's best road record at 15-3-1. Back them both to leave Boston with two points.Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators (Monday)Since the start of November, the Sabres are 2-12 playing outside of Buffalo (including a pair of games in Sweden). The status of top scorer Jack Eichel is up in the air, but regardless of whether he plays or not, I like the Senators in this spot. DJ Smith is doing an excellent job with this team and they're in pretty much every game they play. Ottawa is on an 8-1 run on home ice and are 3-0 this season as favorites. The Sens should be small favorites here, but either way they warrant a play.Colorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights (Monday)With the amount of firepower these teams have you can never be fully comfortable backing an under, but the way the Avalanche and Golden Knights have been playing of late is telling. Despite the offensive prowess, they're each relying on defense-first hockey. Colorado is on a 6-2 run to the under on the road, while Vegas is on an 8-1 run at home. It'd be rude not to play the under here.Game propsFlorida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes (Saturday)In their last 10 trips to Carolina, just once have the Panthers managed more than two goals. Take their team total under 3.5 against the Hurricanes, or under 2.5 if you'd prefer not to lay the juice.New Jersey Devils at Columbus Blue Jackets (Saturday)The Blue Jackets are one of the most profitable under teams in hockey on home ice, with 13 of 19 games in Columbus staying under the total this season. The Devils have been held to just one goal in each of their last three trips there and will be playing in the second leg of a back-to-back, with travel. Their team total under 2.5 feels like a strong bet here.Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars (Sunday)In their last six trips to Dallas, the Flames have a grand total of 10 goals. The Stars have held teams to two goals or fewer (excluding the shootout) in 13 of 19 home games this season, and three goals or less in 18. Only the Capitals have gone into Dallas this year and scored four. It's another team total under, which we've been hitting at a high clip this season, this time with the Flames under 2.5, and 1.5 if you're up for the thrill.Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Islanders (Monday)Goals have typically been scarce in the opening frame when these two teams meet in New York, with the first-period under hitting in four straight and six of the last seven. The Islanders have hit it in four straight at home and we should expect that trend to continue here.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 © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall's agent, Darren Ferris, isn't ruling out the idea of the star forward staying with the Arizona Coyotes on a long-term basis."It's absolutely a possibility," Ferris told The Athletic's Craig Morgan. "(The recent trade) gives Arizona an opportunity that it probably would not have been afforded for him to consider in the future because you just don't know where the mindset would be at the end of the year."Now you get a chance to have him in there, have him get an idea of what it’s like to be in Arizona, and I have the feeling with the way Hallsy approaches things that he will really like Arizona and the lifestyle there. He is going to see that, 'This might be a place where I can play for a while.'"Hall, who will become an unrestricted free agent after this season, was traded from the New Jersey Devils to the Coyotes on Monday. He's already made an impact in the desert, recording a pair of helpers in two games thus far.Not only do the Coyotes have a much-needed elite player in the lineup for the remainder of the campaign, but they also have a six-month headstart to convince Hall to stick around. While money will be a key factor, Ferris believes his client has landed in a solid spot."I think this is a good situation for Taylor," Ferris said. "You've got a great coach there. Rick Tocchet is one of my favorites. I’m glad he got the opportunity to coach in Arizona because players over the years that I've had with him love him and really like to play for him. I really think he's today’s kind of coach so, again, I think this is a good situation for Taylor."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes netminder Darcy Kuemper departed Thursday's contest against the Minnesota Wild after suffering an apparent injury late in the third period.The 29-year-old puck-stopper kicked out his right pad to make what seemed to be a routine save, but he looked to be in pain afterward and had to be assisted off the ice.

Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel didn't get the chance to extend his point streak to 18 games.The 23-year-old pivot was sidelined Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers due to an upper-body injury. His absence officially ended his point streak at 17 contests, according to Adam Kimelman of NHL.com.Following the game, Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger said Eichel's injury developed during warmups and that the team will look to update his status Friday, according to The Athletic's John Vogl.Eichel leads the Sabres in both goals (24) and points (50) through 35 games this season, and his 16 goals and 31 points during his streak were both league highs over that span. His run is tied for the second-longest point streak in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Gilbert Perreault's 18-game stretch in 1971-72.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild netminder Devan Dubnyk returned to the crease Thursday night versus the Arizona Coyotes after missing his club's last 15 games.Dubnyk was away from the Wild for the past month to be with his wife, who suddenly fell ill in November. He occasionally practiced with the team but didn't travel or appear in a game since a Nov. 16 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.Minnesota's undergone a massive turnaround in Dubnyk's absence, collecting 21 points in 15 contests - the second-highest total league-wide over that span. As a result, the Wild currently sit three points out of a playoff spot despite a dreadful start to the campaign.Dubnyk, 33, has been nowhere near his best this season, posting an .893 save percentage in 14 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz has a bone to pick with Peter Laviolette.The New York Islanders bench boss wasn't happy when the Nashville Predators head coach sent out his top power-play unit late in the third period on Tuesday while winning 8-3."I’ll see Peter maybe in the summer and we’ll discuss that a little bit," Trotz told Newsday's Andrew Gross on Thursday. "I wasn’t a big fan of that. It’s 8-3 and you’re putting your guys blasting pucks and you’re putting guys at risk. That’s fine. Everybody has their own way of doing it. I probably wouldn’t have done it that way."It tells me a lot about him."Handed a two-man advantage with less than four minutes left in the game, Laviolette summoned Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen, and Matt Duchene - arguably Nashville's top five players. It could've been a time for Laviolette to reward some bottom-six players with rare power-play time, but he opted not to.The Predators currently rank 26th in the NHL with the man advantage after finishing dead last a year ago, so it's possible Laviolette was trying to build the confidence of his top unit.Oddly enough, Laviolette replaced Trotz in Nashville in 2014 when the latter was fired after a 16-year run.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes forward Taylor Hall is embracing his warm welcome to the desert.Hall, traded to Arizona by the New Jersey Devils on Monday, appreciated the city of Glendale's enthusiasm when told about billboards already in place to herald his arrival.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Santa Claus is coming to town. He's making a list and checking it twice, and going to find out who's naughty or nice.A simple glance at the standings doesn't always tell the whole story of which NHL teams have been kind to bettors this season, and which clubs have been naughty.A few teams can expect to be spoiled on Christmas morning, while Santa will forgo visiting others altogether.Nice listNew York IslandersBarry Trotz is the closest thing to Santa Claus in the NHL. He's followed up an incredibly successful first season as head coach of the Islanders with an even more impressive one, starting the year 22-8-2. New York has been the most profitable team to bet on this season, returning $1,117 to the $100 bettor. There's no situation in which the Isles haven't been profitable: They've posted a 15-5 record as favorites and won seven of 10 as 'dogs.In addition to turning a healthy profit on a night-to-night basis, the Islanders are rewarding bettors who backed them before the start of the season. They're set to comfortably surpass their 91.5 point total and should be a virtual lock for the playoffs after being even money to clinch.Forward Brock Nelson gets an extra-special present this Christmas, too, after scoring three overtime goals.Colorado AvalancheA hair behind the Islanders, the Avalanche have been the league's second-most profitable team.The darlings of the Western Conference have been a consistently safe bet. With an average line this season of -109, oddsmakers aren't overvaluing Colorado either. The Avs are 10-4 as favorites (+$425) and 11-8 as 'dogs (+$571). The fact they've been underdogs more than favorites shows there's been value in backing them through the first three months of the season.After closing at 7-2 to win the Central Division on Oct. 1, the Avalanche are now 3-2 to claim top spot ahead of the Blues. They currently trail St. Louis by three points (albeit with two fewer games played).Washington CapitalsYour Christmas would be paid for if you'd picked the right spots to bet the Capitals. They've been a cash cow as underdogs, posting a 7-1 record for a profit of $683. To a lesser extent, the Caps have also returned a profit as favorites, and there's another gift that keeps on giving: Overs are 12-4 in games played in Washington this year.The Caps are also rewarding futures-market bettors. They could play below .500 hockey the rest of the way and still clear their point total, and they're 2-5 to win the Metro Division after closing at 7-2 on October 1.Naughty listTampa Bay LightningHas there been a more frustrating team to back this season than the Lightning? I've lost count of how many times someone's told me, "They're too talented not to turn it around."The average Tampa Bay line so far this season has been minus-172. That's the highest line average in the NHL, a full five points ahead of the Bruins and 19 over the third-worst Golden Knights. This is an overvalued team that was barely above .500 a week ago. Obviously, people are betting the Lightning enough that their record and performance don't matter for books, and that's a scary thought.The Bolts have been 'dogs just twice all season, beating the Leafs at +100 and losing to the Capitals at +109. They've been favorites of -200 or more a staggering 10 times and are just 5-5 in those games, sinking your bankroll if you mindlessly indulged.The Lightning would have to post a 36-14 record the rest of the way in order to go over their preseason point total. To cash tickets for anyone who backed them at -1100 to make the playoffs before the season started, Tampa will seriously need to turn things around.New Jersey DevilsIf you tend to be sucked in by preseason hype, then it's fair to assume you've been burned by the Devils this year in more ways than one.Though they were dubbed winners of the offseason, that's about the only win they've managed. They've been the least profitable team to be on all year - if you bet a cool hundy on every New Jersey game this season, you'd have lost $1,194 already.The Devils are 3-9 as favorites and 7-13 as 'dogs. They were 6-1 to win the division at the start of the season (shorter odds than the Islanders) and -110 to make the playoffs. In order to go over their projected point total, they need to finish the year 33-17 - no easy feat given that they just traded their best player.Nashville PredatorsIf betting favorites is your thing, the Predators are not your favorites. Among Western Conference teams, only the Golden Knights have been favored more often than Nashville, which is 11-14 when laying juice. Betting $100 on every one of those games would have drained $1,254 from your bankroll already. That's the worst return on investment of any NHL team as favorites this season.The Predators have somewhat made up for it by going 5-1 as 'dogs, which is why they're lower on the naughty list, but bear these numbers in mind. Oddsmakers can't figure out this Nashville team, so keep taking advantage until they do.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 © 2019 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.There's something inherently special about the World Junior Championship.The once overlooked yearly showcase of the best young players in the country has blossomed into a tradition unlike any other. For two weeks, the world stops to watch the stars of tomorrow in junior hockey's most prestigious international tournament.The 2020 edition begins in the Czech Republic on Boxing Day, the first time in three years the tourney is being held outside of North America.Country OddsCanada5-2USA7-2Russia4-1Sweden9-2Finland11-2Czech Republic14-1Switzerland50-1Slovakia66-1Germany100-1Kazakhstan150-1The favoritesCanada is priced as the betting favorite to claim gold but the gap between it, the United States, and Russia, is marginal at best.Of the three favorites, Canada was the only country not to medal at the 2019 edition of the tournament, losing to eventual champions Finland in the quarterfinals. It was the first time ever that the Great White North failed to medal on home soil.Out for revenge in 2020, Canada enters the tournament with a ridiculously talented group of forwards that includes seven first-round picks and the likely top two picks in the 2020 NHL Draft, Alexis Lafreniere and Quinton Byfield. From top to bottom, there isn't a forward group in the tournament that can match what Canada will bring to Ostrava.Russia is armed with a deep forward pool with 2019 world juniors scoring leader Grigori Denisenko and Vancouver Canucks prospect Vasili Podkolzin leading the charge offensively. However, it lacks the same depth of star power that Canada possesses. USA will rely heavily on Wisconsin teammates Alex Turcotte and Cole Caufield, but with the Americans returning just one forward from 2019, they're a significant step behind Canada and Russia on offense in terms of experience.What the Americans lack up front, they make up for on the blue line. Returning defensemen K'Andre Miller and Mattias Samuelsson will lead an impressive, albeit undersized, group on the back end, with a wealth of skating and offensive ability. The unit should provide an important helping hand to a forward group that's about to be thrown into the fire.Russia will rely on Montreal Canadiens prospect Alexander Romanov, who was named the best defenseman at the 2019 tournament, to carry its blue line. Romanov, who is capable of taking over a game, might be one of the most important players at the tournament. He'll be asked to log a ton of minutes and play in just about every situation for a Russian team that lacks depth on the back end. Daniil Zhuravlyov is a power-play specialist, but otherwise, Russia's options are a bit underwhelming.The Canadians, on the other hand, will have one of the most experienced defensive units in the Czech Republic. Goaltending is the only thing that can hold Canada back. Olivier Rodrigue is having a terrific season with the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats, but there's no clear-cut starter in goal for the Canadians. As such, the most important position on the ice is Canada's biggest question mark.That's where the USA and Russia hold a significant edge over the Canucks. Spencer Knight, the 13th pick in the 2019 draft, is having another stellar campaign and should provide the Americans with the excellent netminding they've become accustomed to.Russia will likely turn to Yaroslav Askarov, a consensus top-10 pick in 2020. The Omsk native is looking to become the first 17-year-old to start for the Russians at the tournament since Andrei Vasilevskiy in 2012. Askarov led his country to first place at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and is set to become the first goalie selected inside the top 10 of the NHL draft since Carey Price in 2005. He's performed admirably at every level for both club and country and should have no problem claiming the starting job despite his age.Pricing Canada as favorites is justifiable, though the Canadians have been derailed by bad goaltending in the past at the world juniors. If Rodrigue carries his excellent junior campaign into this tournament, there might be no stopping Canada. The USA is a much scarier side to back given its lack of experience, though Knight could mask a lot of its issues. Russia possesses high-end talent and offers terrific value at 4-1 as it aims to end a lengthy drought at this tournament, having not won gold since 2011.The restAlways the bridesmaid, Sweden has finished as runners-up 11 times, and have won gold just twice in the history of the tournament. The Swedes have a ton of talent up front, including a pair of highly touted 2020 prospects in Alexander Holtz and Lucas Raymond. Their defensive corps is loaded with skill, highlighted by Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Rasmus Sandin, but the unit was dealt a blow with the news that Adam Boqvist won't be released by the Chicago Blackhawks to join the Swedes in the Czech Republic.The gap between Sweden's high-end talent and its depth players is fairly large, and that's a big part of the reason why the club generally seems to falter in the latter stages of the tournament. There are also question marks in goal, but you could do worse at 9-2.It almost feels wrong to include the defending champions among "the rest," as Finland looks to become the first nation to win back-to-back gold medals since Canada's run of five straight golds between 2005 and 2009.Finland brings back an exceptional roster loaded with NHL draft picks and 2020 eligible prospects. There's no question this team can compete with anyone, but the question is whether Colorado Avalanche prospect Justus Annunen - who's piecing together a terrific first half of the season with Karpat - can replicate the success Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had in goal for the Fins last year. If Annunen can fill the void, then 11-2 odds are criminal and need to be scooped up.Being placed in Group A also works in Finland's favor, as the club avoids Canada, Russia, and the USA until the quarterfinals at the earliest. If the Fins top their group, they likely won't see any of those three teams until the semifinal.As the host nation, the Czech Republic can't be disregarded, but the fact that it's playing the tournament on home ice was certainly baked into the odds. The Czechs haven't medaled at the world juniors since 2005 and their roster pales in comparison to the nations above them when it comes to elite talent, depth, and experience.Switzerland offers the best value on the board at 50-1. The Swiss were a goal away from beating Canada last year and stunned Sweden 2-0 in the quarterfinals, en route to a fourth-place finish. They're expected to return as many as ten players from their 2019 team, providing them with a dangerous blend of talent and experience.Beyond the Swiss, there are no real candidates to shock the world and claim gold. Slovakia's had a pair of third-place finishes at the tournament, while neither Germany or Kazakhstan have ever managed a podium finish.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 © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Justin Williams may be coming back to the NHL after a season-long hiatus.The 38-year-old, who was captain of the Carolina Hurricanes last season and spent two years with the club, is in contact with the team about potentially returning."There has been talk back and forth between his camp and the Carolina Hurricanes," TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading." "That certainly would be the team of choice, the front-runner for Justin Williams, if he decides to come back."During the offseason, Williams decided that he was going to step away from hockey, but the forward did not formally announce his retirement from the NHL."It's not 100 percent decided at all, but he's been ramping up his skating, skating by himself the last three-to-four weeks," LeBrun added.Williams recorded 23 goals and 53 points with the Hurricanes last season and helped guide them to the Eastern Conference Final.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien has started a post-surgery rehabilitation program in consultation with the Winnipeg Jets, according to the Winnipeg Free Press' Mike McIntyre and Jason Bell.Byfuglien is working with medical staff at an independent clinic, but there's been ongoing communication with the Jets, including recommendations for his treatment, which are being pursued, sources told McIntyre and Bell.With the two sides working together again, McIntyre and Bell believe it could potentially lead to an on-ice return for the 34-year-old later this season. However, a team spokesperson said Byfuglien's standing with the club is still the same."To our understanding, he has progressed to the stage of doing rehab. However, his status with the team remains unchanged," a Jets spokesman said Tuesday. "He is doing rehab at an outside clinic. He is still under suspension."Byfuglien was suspended by the team without pay in September after he failed to report to training camp as he reportedly mulled retirement. The Minneapolis native then underwent ankle surgery in October. Byfuglien battled multiple lower-body injuries last season but was deemed fully healed following a routine player exit physical in April.However, Byfuglien's camp is arguing his ankle never fully recovered from last season. If the defenseman had no intention of retiring but was deemed unfit to play to begin the season due to a hockey-related injury, he likely would've been able to collect his salary on long-term injured reserve.The NHL Players' Association reportedly filed a grievance last month challenging the Jets' suspension of Byfuglien, who is currently being denied his $8 million salary this season (he's also owed $6 million next season). The arbitration hearing still has no set date, according to McIntyre and Bell.Byfuglien's recovery from surgery was expected to take around four months, which means the Jets could potentially have clarity on his future before the trade deadline. The club would have enough cap space to accommodate his $7.6-million cap hit if he returns.Sitting in third place in the Central Division, Winnipeg could use the cap space to be big buyers at the deadline if they find out Byfuglien will not be returning in 2019-20. If he decides he wants to play this season, the Jets hold his playing rights.Even in an injury-riddled campaign, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound blue-liner was still highly effective last season, tallying 31 points in 42 games.Copyright © 2019 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.Sportlogiq CEO and former Olympic figure skater Craig Buntin joins this week's show to discuss a variety of topics, including:

Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker is considered week-to-week after suffering a lower-body injury, head coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters following Tuesday's loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.Zucker was ruled out of the Wild's 3-2 defeat and sent home from Minnesota's current road trip.The 27-year-old is second on the team in scoring this season with 24 points in 34 games while averaging over 16 minutes per contest.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get Thomas Chabot some water, stat.The Ottawa Senators blue-liner deserves a long rest after playing a whopping 37:50 during his club's overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.Chabot's effort represents the second-most minutes played in a regular-season game dating back to 1979-80, according to Hockey Reference. Dennis Wideman's 38:05 in January 2014 is the only number that bests Chabot's.Making Chabot's Herculean performance even more impressive is the fact the Senators were on the second half of a back-to-back. Chabot played 22:35 during Monday's loss to the Florida Panthers, and entered Tuesday's game averaging 25:10 per contest.Chabot had a total of 30 shifts Tuesday night, playing 33 minutes at even strength and an additional 4:50 on the power play, according to the NHL's official shift chart. He didn't notch any points but fired four shots on goal while adding two blocks.The Senators return to action Thursday night versus the Nashville Predators at home, where Chabot's name is likely to be repeatedly called upon once again.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zack Kassian's camp is working with the Edmonton Oilers on a potential contract extension, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading.""We can tell you that the agent for Zack Kassian, Rick Curran, was in Dallas on Monday and met with Oilers general manager Ken Holland to begin talks on a contract," McKenzie said. "They were only preliminary, they will try and drill down on this over the next couple of weeks. Kassian is going to try to parlay some really strong play on Connor McDavid's line into a multi-year deal."Kassian is in the final season of a three-year contract signed with the Oilers in 2017. His current cap hit is $1.95 million, and he's scheduled for unrestricted free agency in July if neither side agrees on a new deal.The soon-to-be 29-year-old is enjoying a stellar year riding on Edmonton's top line. Kassian has already posted 23 points - just six shy of his career high - through 33 contests in 2019-20 while still providing the overpowering physical element he's known for.The Oilers are projected to have over $23 million in available money for 2020-21, per Cap Friendly, though that number could rise if the league's salary cap goes up. Despite plenty to spend, Holland has a lot of work to do with only six forwards and three defensemen currently under contract for next season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The minor-league equipment manager who went to a 2011 Halloween party dressed in blackface as Akim Aliu apologized directly to the player and will keep his job.Colorado Eagles owner Martin Lind said in a statement Tuesday that he and Tony Deynzer, the staffer in question, spoke with Aliu separately about the "unacceptable racist incident."Deynzer "offered a heartfelt and emotional apology directly to Mr. Aliu which Mr. Aliu accepted," said Lind, who added that Aliu requested that Deynzer not lose his job.Aliu confirmed as much in a statement of his own."My conversation with Mr. Lind was a tough one but a necessary one," the former player said. "I believe that we must confront racism head-on. I believe the time for big, positive change in the sport has arrived and that this moment can be used to promote diversity, inclusiveness, and safety in the sport and our community."Lind's "candid" conversation with Aliu focused on the incident and more broadly on promoting diversity in the sport at all levels, the team owner said.Aliu first divulged details of the incident to the Wall Street Journal's Andrew Beaton last week, after which the Eagles publicly apologized, placed Deynzer on administrative leave, and claimed no prior knowledge.The Eagles have employed Deynzer since 2003.They were the Winnipeg Jets' ECHL team in 2011, and are now the AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.In late November, Aliu revealed former Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters repeatedly directed the N-word toward him while the two were with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs in 2009-10. Peters resigned from the Flames shortly thereafter.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Vancouver Canucks forward Antoine Roussel is not a fan of how many Montreal Canadiens fans live in his city."There are too many red jerseys here," Roussel said, according to TSN's Jeff Paterson. "It pisses me off the way they feel like it's their home. It's our home. Get the hell out of here."Roussel, a native of France, spent six seasons with the Dallas Stars before signing a four-year, $12-million deal with the Canucks in 2018. He has three goals and one assist in six games this season.The 30-year-old has appeared in 11 career games against Montreal, recording one assist with two fights.The Canadiens will face the Canucks in Vancouver on Tuesday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ilya Kovalchuk's tenure with the Los Angeles Kings officially lasted for just under a year and a half after the forward cleared unconditional waivers Tuesday, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. Kovalchuk signed a three-year, $18.75-million contract with L.A. in 2018 and appeared in just 81 games for the Kings, recording 19 goals and 43 points.He wasn't living up to his $6.25-million cap hit, but Kovalchuk can still score and produce to a certain extent, and he should draw some interest if he wants to continue playing in the NHL. Now that he's an unrestricted free agent, here are three teams that could benefit from bringing in the 36-year-old on a cheap deal.Boston BruinsEthan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty Despite sitting atop the Atlantic Division with a dominant nine-point lead on the Buffalo Sabres, the Boston Bruins could use some secondary scoring.Their top line of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron has a combined 56 goals, accounting for 49% of Boston's total goals scored. The prospect of playing for one of the league's top contenders could attract Kovalchuk, and the Russian could slot into the team's second line alongside David Krejci and help bolster the team's second power-play unit.Edmonton OilersAndy Devlin / National Hockey League / GettyAfter a high-flying start, the Edmonton Oilers have started to skid. They're 3-6-1 in their last 10 games with just 23 goals in that span. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remain the league's two leading point-getters, but goals have otherwise been hard to come by for Edmonton lately.Kovalchuk could provide some much-needed support for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on the team's third line. Adding another scorer could also allow Draisaitl to return to McDavid's line, where the two have created magic together all season long.Montreal CanadiensAndre Ringuette / National Hockey League / GettyIt seems like the Montreal Canadiens could always use an injection of offense. This season, they rank in the middle of the league at 17th in goals for with 105. Goals are spread throughout their group of forwards, led by Brendan Gallagher, who has 14.With Jonathan Drouin expected to be on the shelf for several more weeks after undergoing wrist surgery in November, bringing in another scoring winger could help the Canadiens stay afloat in the competitive Atlantic Division. Montreal has a plethora of cap space, so a low-cost deal for Kovalchuk wouldn't carry much risk.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders forward Joshua Ho-Sang will report to the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the first time this season, general manager Lou Lamoriello confirmed on Tuesday.The 23-year-old Ho-Sang requested a trade after he failed to crack the Islanders' opening-day roster in October. Once he cleared waivers, he was told by Lamoriello not to report to the Sound Tigers while the Isles attempted to trade him, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple.After being selected 28th overall by the Islanders in the 2014 draft, Ho-Sang has appeared in just 53 games with the club. He's enjoyed success in the AHL, though, amassing 26 goals and 110 points in 156 games with the Sound Tigers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers have one of their top prospects back in their pipeline.General manager Jeff Gorton announced that 19-year-old forward Vitali Kravtsov has left the KHL and will play for the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack on Tuesday."We're glad to have him back and have control of his ice time," Gorton said.After failing to crack the Rangers' opening-day roster and playing five games in the AHL, Kravtsov had exercised his European assignment clause to suit up in the KHL.The ninth overall pick of the 2018 draft appeared in 11 KHL games, recording two goals and one assist.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the decade drawing to a close, theScore looked back and voted on 100 moments that defined the sports world in the 2010s. We're counting down every Monday in December, and below are moments 60-41.100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 | 40-21 (Dec. 23) | 20-1 (Dec. 30)60. Nole makes history Down Under 🎾Jan. 29, 2012WILLIAM WEST / AFP / GettyThere are few people who can outlast Rafael Nadal with his punishing style of play, but Novak Djokovic did just that, defeating the Spaniard 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 to win the 2012 Australian Open men's singles title. Their five hour and 53 minute showdown was the longest Grand Slam final match (by duration) in history. The war of attrition left both players bent over and clutching their knees as they waited for tournament organizers to finish their post-match speeches. Mercifully, Nadal and Djokovic were given a much-needed seat. - Chicco Nacion59. Manti Te'o and the mind-blowing hoaxJan. 16, 2013It's a story you couldn't make up if you tried. During his final season at Notre Dame, Manti Te'o told media outlets that his girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, died in September. The next January, it was discovered that Kekua actually didn't exist and the Heisman contender appeared to be a victim of an online relationship hoax by family friend Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. In an even stranger twist, suspicions arose that Te'o was involved in the hoax after the linebacker claimed he never met Kekua. This conflicted with previous accounts of the two meeting after a football game. Add countless denials from Te'o and a confession by Tuiasosopo on "Dr. Phil," and it's safe to say we likely won't see something like this again. - Mike Alessandrini58. Phelps goes out in style 👑Aug. 13, 2016Brazil Photo Press / LatinContent Editorial / GettyMichael Phelps made it clear the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games would be his final hurrah, so naturally all eyes were on him. After already taking home four gold medals and one silver in Rio, Phelps suited up for his final race - the 4x100m medley relay. Swimming the butterfly in third, Phelps ended his historic Olympic career in style by helping the USA set a new Olympic record, edging out Great Britain and Australia with a time of 3:27.95. - Brandon Maron57. Gordon's emotional home run 😢Sept. 26, 2016In the Marlins' first at-bat of their first game since Jose Fernandez's tragic death one day prior, Dee Gordon - a left-handed hitter - stepped into the right-handed batter's box to honor the late pitcher, mimicking Fernandez's bat waggle and leg kick while taking a ball from Bartolo Colon. After reverting to his customary stance, the light-hitting Gordon took a 2-0 pitch deep for his first homer of the season. There's definitely crying in baseball. - Michael Bradburn56. Carli Lloyd from WAY out 😱July 5, 2015Carli Lloyd's goal from midfield capped a ridiculous four-goal blitz against Japan in the 2015 World Cup final. After just 16 minutes, it was all over. Sports Illustrated correspondent Grant Wahl called it "the most remarkable quarter-hour in the history of American soccer." Lloyd, however, stood out for her sheer audacity. Having already scored twice, she wheeled away from a defender and let fly from the center circle to complete the hat-trick. She had tried the feat before and missed, but she wasn't to be denied on this day. - Anthony Lopopolo55. Tiger ends the drought 🐅Sept. 23, 2018Tiger Woods hadn't won a golf tournament since 2013. His career was considered over after multiple failed comebacks and four back surgeries forced him out of the game for years. However, Tiger pulled off the unimaginable by winning the 2018 Tour Championship despite, at one point, believing he'd never play competitive golf again. Pandemonium ensued on the 18th fairway as fans flooded East Lake Golf Club to catch a glimpse of history. Little did the sports world know, Tiger's 80th PGA Tour title was only a sign of bigger things to come. - Eric Patterson54. Exit Sandman 👋Sept. 26, 2013The Sandman's swan song hits you right in the feels. Mariano Rivera's 1,115th and final appearance of his Hall of Fame career was captivating. MLB's all-time saves leader exited the game after his longtime teammates Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte pulled him with two outs in the ninth. Rivera was overcome with emotion, and there wasn't a single dry eye in Yankee Stadium. - Tom Ruminski53. Kane's bizarre Cup winner 🏆June 6, 2010Patrick Kane had already begun hugging his goalie in celebration before anyone knew what on earth was going on. The Blackhawks winger deceived Michael Leighton with a seemingly harmless shot and left a Flyers crowd in utter shock as he ended a 47-year championship drought for his team while kick-starting his reputation as one of the most clutch playoff performers in NHL history. - Sean O'Leary52. Dirk slays the Big ThreeJune 12, 2011Dirk Nowitzki entered the 2011 Finals with a reputation for choking. His Mavs blew a 2-0 Finals lead against the Heat in 2006, followed by a first-round loss to the No. 8 seed "We Believe" Warriors in 2007. Facing the "Heatles" - LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh - Dirk was expected to be denied his maiden title yet again. But 2011 was different, as the Mavericks proved greater than the sum of their parts. Dirk captured Finals MVP honors and, at long last, a ring, made even more meaningful by his commitment to making it work in Dallas. - Andrew Joe Potter51. Baylor fires Briles amid scandalMay 26, 2016On the field, Art Briles built Baylor's football program into a perennial powerhouse. But off it, the team was mired in controversy. Briles was fired in 2016 after a review of the university's handling of multiple sexual assault allegations, several of which were made against football players. Briles was found to have failed to adequately respond to the allegations against his players, which also led to the school's president and athletic director being dismissed. - Michael McClymont50. Khabib vs. McGregor chaos 👊Oct. 6, 2018MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyAfter months of trash talk, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor finally met in the Octagon at UFC 229. Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor in the fourth round, but that didn't mark the end of the night for the rivals. After the referee stopped the fight, Nurmagomedov jumped over the cage to confront McGregor's teammate Dillon Danis. An all-out brawl ensued in the Octagon as McGregor punched one of Nurmagomedov's teammates and two others fought back against the Irishman. The Nurmagomedov-McGregor rivalry had already escalated earlier that year when McGregor attacked a bus in Brooklyn before UFC 223. - Nick Baldwin49. MadBum is untouchable 🔥Oct. 29, 2014Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Giants cruised to championships during their previous two World Series trips, so this was uncharted territory for baseball's most recent dynasty. In 2014, the Royals forced Game 7 in their home park, and the Giants' bullpen was the team's worst ever. Enter Madison Bumgarner, after earning two wins earlier in the series, including a complete-game effort two days prior in Game 5. The lefty came on in relief, tossing five shutout frames - and retiring 13 straight hitters at one point - to clinch the title. Over an unprecedented 52 2/3 innings that postseason, MadBum authored an otherworldly 1.03 ERA. - Bradburn48. Pass interference?!?! 😠Jan. 20, 2019

Taylor Hall says he remembers each of his playoff games in "great detail."That's either a testament to the 28-year-old's memory retention or a reminder of how sad it is that a player of Hall's caliber has dressed for a grand total of five NHL postseason contests.Either way, Hall feels he's finally in a position to reverse his fortunes by joining the Arizona Coyotes, who sat atop the Pacific Division and ranked 10th among 31 teams in points percentage prior to Monday's slate of games."That's what this is all about," Hall said during a conference call Monday following the blockbuster trade that sent him from the lowly New Jersey Devils to the 19-12-4 Coyotes. "It's not about what line I play on, or what power-play unit (I'm assigned to). I'm really just looking forward to winning games."Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesWe'll get back to the fit with Hall and Arizona, but, first ...What's the Devils' angle?It's never a positive sign when the team parting ways with the only NHL player in the deal - a star, no less - receives nothing concrete in return. For that reason, Devils general manager Ray Shero gets a failing grade for his role in the Hall trade.Shero shipped Hall and AHL forward Blake Speers to Glendale for a top-three-protected first-round pick in 2020, a conditional third-round pick in 2021, and three promising but unspectacular prospects in forwards Nick Merkley and Nate Schnarr, and defenseman Kevin Bahl.The Devils, who are retaining $3 million (50%) of Hall's salary cap hit, clearly hope the Coyotes go on a deep playoff run and convince the winger, who's a pending unrestricted free agent on July 1, to stay long term. The 2021 pick becomes a second-round selection if the Coyotes win a playoff round or re-sign Hall. And it becomes a first-round selection if the Coyotes win a playoff round and re-sign Hall - a double whammy, of sorts."I've been open to anything, and I haven't closed the book on signing with any team prior to July 1," Hall said of his thought process in the leadup to his first crack at testing the UFA market.Andy Marlin / Getty ImagesSo, if the best-case scenario for Shero and the Devils comes to fruition, it's fair to say this trade will look decent, in hindsight. The haul would be two first-rounders and three prospects for a star on an expiring contract and an AHLer.Shero could then walk away from the disaster that is the 2019-20 season and feel he's at least made a little progress toward a better future. Right now, though, there's no way New Jersey can claim this year is going according to plan with Hall officially gone, Shero changing coaches earlier this month, and last offseason's splashy additions contributing less than expected.Now, if one of the other scenarios play out, in which that 2021 pick remains a third-round selection or is upgraded to a second-rounder, this trade will be a tougher pill to swallow for Jersey.Realistically, given Arizona's trajectory this season, the 2020 first-rounder is probably going to be a mid- or late-round pick. Then, you factor in the prospects, who, based on sources around the league, don't project to be NHL stars, and there's not much to get excited about.One, two, or perhaps all three of Merkley, Schnarr, and Bahl may blossom into everyday NHLers - the latter, a 6-foot-7 blueliner with some solid upside, is considered the best of the bunch - but that's a long shot. In the end, the Devils didn't yield a single blue-chip prospect for the best rental in the league. That hurts.How's the fit in Arizona?As for Arizona and GM John Chayka, there's significantly less hedging required because the fit with Hall is, in a word, apt.Jeff Vinnick / Getty ImagesThis is exactly the kind of trade that Coyotes fans have been clamoring for since Chayka was crowned GM in spring 2016. Yes, the 30-year-old has developed a reputation as one of the NHL's most active executives, but he hadn't landed one bonafide offensive spark plug prior to the Phil Kessel swap.Hall injects a dynamism that was sorely lacking within Arizona's forward group. To get him at this rate, and in the middle of December rather than late February, promotes this to a two-thumbs-up victory for a club that believes in itself already."He's a game-changer. He's an electric player. He's one of my favorite players to watch, just in terms of entertainment value," Chayka said. "Then, when you really start to dig into some of the deeper analytics of how this guy impacts the game and impacts his teammates in so many different ways."It helps that Hall is motivated to turn around a season in which his counting stats aren't matching his credentials as the Hart Trophy winner of two seasons ago. Though a career-low shooting rate of 5.5% suggests he's been the victim of poor puck luck, Hall's accumulated just six goals and 19 assists for 25 points in 30 games this year."I feel like the organization in Arizona does a lot of due diligence. They respect the analytics of the game, and for them to want to pursue a player like myself, it's definitely flattering," said Hall. "It's been a tough year, and it hasn't gone the way that I've wanted, but coming into a new situation and a team that has confidence that you can help them, it's a really nice thing."Hall is a rare goal-scoring winger who tilts the ice for his teams. He's speedy, crafty, and consistently on the right side of the puck. Over his career, which includes six years in Edmonton and three-and-a-half in New Jersey, Hall's teams have owned 50.7% of the even-strength shot attempts when he's on the ice, versus 46.1% of the attempts when he's not. Both Hall's supreme abilities and the poor quality of his former squads have contributed to that huge gap.Andy Devlin / Getty ImagesThe Coyotes, meanwhile, aren't serial winners themselves. Only the Buffalo Sabres have a longer playoff drought than Arizona's seven-season skid. The narrative around the organization is changing, though, with new ownership giving the green light to spending to the cap, Chayka improving the roster bit by bit and now enormously, and head coach Rick Tocchet providing ultimate credibility."We know Taylor wants to win. That's kind of the main criteria for him to re-sign," Chayka said. "We feel like we have a chance to win for a long time here, so we feel like our opportunity is as good as anybody."The Coyotes are set between the pipes, with Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta providing one of the best one-two punches in the NHL. Their group of defensemen, led by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jakob Chychrun, is deep. Up front, they've traditionally failed to generate much offense but have some guns, including Kessel, Nick Schmaltz, and Clayton Keller.It'll be fascinating to watch how Hall's presence alters Tocchet's forward combinations and how opposing teams change their defensive tactics. All of a sudden, a creative guy like Keller is less of a priority for shutdown units and can move about the ice more freely.Regardless of what transpires over the next few months, as the Coyotes attempt to clinch that elusive playoff spot, Chayka made what he calls a "potentially once-in-a-lifetime" move. He believes the Coyotes' timeline aligns well with Hall's and has been asking a simple yet profound question both internally and externally: "Why not us, at this stage?"John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Marc Crawford will remain suspended from team activities until Jan. 2, 2020, following a club-initiated review in response to allegations of past misconduct, the team announced Monday."I used unacceptable language and conduct toward players in hopes of motivating them, and, sometimes went too far," Crawford acknowledged Monday. "As I deeply regret this behavior, I have worked hard over the last decade to improve both myself and my coaching style."The 58-year-old added he's made sincere efforts to address his inappropriate conduct with the individuals involved and has regularly undergone counseling over the last decade.Crawford will resume his assistant coaching duties at the end of his suspension as long as he continues to comply with his contractual obligations and the team's expectations. He'll also remain in counseling, according to the team.The Blackhawks began looking into the former NHL head coach on Dec. 2 after several players accused Crawford of inappropriate behavior.In late November, Sean Avery said Crawford kicked him during a game while the two were with the Los Angeles Kings in 2006.Over a year ago, Brent Sopel accused Crawford of physical and verbal abuse during their time with the Vancouver Canucks. Daniel Carcillo shared those allegations on Dec. 2, prompting Sopel to downplay them and defend Crawford's coaching ability on Dec. 5.The veteran bench boss joined Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton's staff in June after spending three years with the Ottawa Senators.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Joel Farabee has been suspended three contests for interference on Winnipeg Jets forward Mathieu Perreault, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday.Officials assessed Farabee a five-major penalty and a game misconduct Sunday after he caught Perreault with a high hit behind the play.Perreault had to be helped off the ice.The league described the play as a "late, forceful hit to the vulnerable Perreault" that came "almost a full second after the puck (was) gone."The suspension further hampers a Flyers club that's already without Travis Konecny, Nolan Patrick, and Oskar Lindblom up front.Farabee, a 19-year-old rookie, has collected 11 points in 27 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes have officially landed Taylor Hall.The New Jersey Devils traded the star forward to the Coyotes on Monday along with forward Blake Speers in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick, a conditional third-round selection in 2021, and prospects Nick Merkley, Nate Schnarr, and Kevin Bahl.The first-rounder is lottery protected. If Arizona lands a top-three selection in 2020, New Jersey gets the Coyotes' first-rounder the following year.The third-round pick becomes a second-round selection if Arizona wins a playoff round or if Hall re-signs with the Coyotes. It becomes a first-rounder if Arizona wins a playoff series and Hall re-signs with his new team.New Jersey is retaining 50% of Hall's contract, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. The two clubs will split his $6-million cap hit, according to CapFriendly.Hall will likely test the free-agent market this summer, but his agent, Darren Ferris, will listen to extension options if the Coyotes present them, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.New Jersey held Hall out of its last two games amid the possibility of a trade. The 2018 Hart Trophy winner is a pending unrestricted free agent.It's the second time Hall has been traded in nearly three-and-a-half years. The Edmonton Oilers sent him to the Devils in exchange for defenseman Adam Larsson in June 2016.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens could be counting on one of their top defensive prospects next year.After meeting with Alexander Romanov in Russia, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin told reporters Monday that there's a good chance the defenseman joins Montreal next season.The 19-year-old is currently playing in the KHL with CSKA Moscow, where he's recorded four assists in 33 games. He won the league's Gagarin Cup with the club last season and was named best defenseman at the world juniors, helping Russia secure a bronze medal.Montreal drafted Romanov 38th overall in 2018.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are among several NHL teams interested in KHL goaltender Timur Bilyalov, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.Bilyalov is severely undersized for a goalie, standing just 5-foot-10 and 174 pounds. However, he's been outstanding for Ak Bars Kazan this season, leading all KHL netminders in save percentage (.957), goals-against average (1.10), and shutouts (six) in 16 games.The 24-year-old has not yet determined whether to pursue a career in the KHL or go to the NHL, Fox added. His contract expires April 30, but he could make a decision by March.Frederik Andersen is the Maple Leafs' only goalie to see his name in the win column this season. Backup Michael Hutchinson has struggled to an .876 save percentage and a 4.55 goals-against average in seven games.Toronto successfully dipped into the Russian free-agent market this offseason by signing forward Ilya Mikheyev, who ranks fourth in NHL rookie scoring with 18 points in 34 games.Copyright © 2019 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 sectionIt was a bit of a frustrating weekend as we took one step forward and one step back before finishing at .500. A couple of nice 'dogs came through to help ensure a profit, but it wasn't as much as we'd have liked.Here's to a perfect week ahead, yeah?Game bettingColorado Avalanche at St. Louis Blues (Monday)The Blues continue to march along swimmingly despite a laundry list of injuries, having won six of their last nine. The Avalanche are dealing with some injuries of their own, particularly on the back end, but there's no stopping them right now. Colorado has lost just once in its last nine, which includes winning four in a row on the road. The Avs simply offer too much value as road 'dogs in St. Louis.For a bonus play, back the under here. Six or fewer goals have been scored in 12 of the last 14 meetings between these teams in Missouri.Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars (Monday)The Oilers are in a tailspin, having lost seven of nine, and they're barely holding onto a playoff spot ahead of an incredibly difficult two-game southern road trip. The Stars are a juggernaut on home ice, and they should give Edmonton - which has been struggling to score - all sorts of trouble. The Stars have beaten the Oilers in seven of their last eight visits to Dallas and are worth backing here despite the high price (-170 to -180). If you don't want to lay that much juice, pick the Stars to win in regulation at -120.Nashville Predators at New York Islanders (Tuesday)While the Oilers are barely holding onto a playoff spot, the Predators would kill to be in that position right now. Nashville is way too talented to be sitting sixth in the Central Division, seven points back of a playoff spot. Coach Peter Laviolette's job is hanging in the balance and this could prove to be a decisive week for him. It won't be easy against the Islanders on the road for the second leg of a back-to-back and the third game in four nights. This is just the second back-to-back of the season for the Preds, who were shut out the last time and have lost six in a row in this spot. Don't think twice about taking the Isles.Montreal Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks (Tuesday)Both of these teams are near the top of the NHL in goals scored, but those numbers have dwindled of late. The Canucks are playing much tighter games at home than the 7-5 thrillers they were producing earlier in the year, while the Canadiens have clearly emphasized playing good defensive hockey since their losing streak. Take the under here at anything six or higher.New York Islanders at Boston Bruins (Thursday)While the Islanders remain an absolute force on home ice, their away form hasn't been as inspiring of late. Both wins in Florida were impressive, but they've otherwise struggled when traveling. The Bruins just endured a worrisome five-game losing streak (Blackhawks, Avalanche, Senators, Capitals, Lightning) before beating the Panthers on Saturday. They're in need of a statement win, and you should trust them to get it at home on Thursday.Minnesota Wild at Arizona Coyotes (Thursday)This game deserves a lot more attention than it's likely to get. The Coyotes are entering this week atop the Pacific Division and the Wild are one of the hottest teams in hockey. But while Arizona has posted a remarkable record away from home, it's gone just 8-8-1 in the desert. Minnesota is winning everywhere right now and has claimed eight of its last 11 in Phoenix. The Wild offer a ton of value as road 'dogs and should be backed in this spot.Game propsArizona Coyotes at San Jose Sharks (Tuesday)Since firing Peter DeBoer, the Sharks have played twice at home and haven't allowed a goal in the first period of either game. That bodes well for a matchup with a Coyotes team that's hit the first-period under in nine of its last 10 on the road. Back the under 1.5 goals in the opening 20 minutes.Edmonton Oilers at St. Louis Blues (Wednesday)The last time the Oilers scored more than three goals in St. Louis was December 2009. Since then, Edmonton has been held to three goals or fewer in 16 straight trips to St. Louis while scoring two or fewer in nine of those. Back the Oilers' team total under 3.5 (lay the juice) and under 2.5.Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers (Thursday)Much like Edmonton can't score in St. Louis, Buffalo can't score in Philadelphia. The Sabres have managed two or fewer goals in 10 of their last 13 trips to face the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. Bet on that happening again here with Buffalo's team total under 3.5, 2.5, and even 1.5 if you're feeling frisky.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 © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Nikita Kucherov's injury isn't serious.The Tampa Bay Lightning announced Monday that the reigning Hart Trophy winner is day-to-day with a lower-body injury after he left Saturday's game versus the Washington Capitals.Head coach Jon Cooper said that Kucherov could be back in the lineup as early as Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators, but he would have to heal pretty quickly to do so, according to Bryan Burns of the team's website. Cooper added that the star forward should play before Christmas, per The Athletic's Joe Smith.Kucherov got in the way of a heavy one-timer from John Carlson: