The Los Angeles Kings have placed forward Ilya Kovalchuk on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, the team announced Monday.The veteran forward has been held out of the Kings' lineup as a healthy scratch since Nov. 9. He's recorded three goals and nine points in 17 games with L.A. this season.Kovalchuk inked a three-year, $18.75-million deal with the Kings in 2018 after playing in the KHL for five seasons. L.A. will no longer have to pay him, as his remaining $2.65-million bonus was paid over the weekend, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun. However, Kovalchuk's $6.25-million cap hit will remain on the team's books, LeBrun adds.The 36-year-old is now set to become an unrestricted free agent.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on Week 11. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Add James ReimerTeam: Hurricanes

The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled defensemen Timothy Liljegren and Martin Marincin from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis, the team announced Monday.Liljegren was selected 17th overall by the Maple Leafs in 2017 and has yet to appear in an NHL game. He has two goals and 13 points in 24 games with the Marlies this season.Marincin has skated in seven games with Toronto this season, going pointless.The Leafs' blueline may be shorthanded after defenseman Tyson Barrie left Saturday's game against the Edmonton Oilers after blocking a shot off his foot. X-rays on his ankle came back negative, but there was no further update on his status.The Maple Leafs play the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anze Kopitar has leapfrogged The Great One.The Los Angeles Kings captain scored twice in a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday to move past Wayne Gretzky into fourth place on the Kings' all-time points list.Here's the franchise's updated top five:PlayerPGP w/ LAP/GPMarcel Dionne13079211.42Luc Robitaille115410771.07Dave Taylor106911110.96Anze Kopitar91910380.88Wayne Gretzky9185391.7Kopitar sits fifth on the club's career goals list, only two markers behind Bernie Nicholls. The Slovenian is also fifth on the team's career assists list, just three helpers shy of Robitaille. Kopitar ranks fourth all time among Los Angeles skaters in games played.The 32-year-old has returned to form this season despite the Kings' struggles, posting 11 goals and 29 points in 34 contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Joel Farabee was tossed from Sunday's game against the Winnipeg Jets for a questionable check on Mathieu Perreault.Officials assessed Farabee a five-minute interference major and a game misconduct after he caught Perreault up high behind the play midway through the second period.

Rasmus Sandin will represent his home country once again at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship.The Toronto Maple Leafs loaned the defensive prospect to the Swedish national team for the tournament, the NHL club announced Sunday.Sandin has collected 12 points in 18 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies this season. He posted a pair of assists in six contests with the Maple Leafs at the start of the campaign.The 19-year-old, who notched two goals and two assists for Sweden at the previous world junior tourney, will represent the nation for the fourth time in his career.Toronto selected Sandin 29th overall in the 2018 draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyson Barrie appears to have avoided a significant injury.Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe didn't offer a timeline for the injured defenseman's recovery, but he did shed some light on the blue-liner's status after Barrie was hurt blocking a shot against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday."No update other than his X-rays that we had were negative, but he just didn't feel comfortable enough to go back," Keefe said postgame. "We'll just see how he is when we get home."Barrie left the Maple Leafs' 4-1 victory midway through the first period after absorbing a shot from Oilers forward Gaetan Haas.

Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov was ruled out in the second period of Saturday's contest against the Washington Capitals with an undisclosed injury, the team announced.Kucherov blocked a heavy one-timer from Capitals defenseman John Carlson and looked to be in pain while hobbling to the dressing room.Head coach John Cooper didn't offer an update on his blue-chip winger's status following the game, according to the team.

Taylor Hall is sitting out for the second consecutive night.The New Jersey Devils' star forward isn't in the lineup against the Arizona Coyotes, according to Devils reporter Chris Wescott.New Jersey held Hall out of Friday's loss to the Colorado Avalanche as a precaution.The Devils are reportedly listening to offers for the pending unrestricted free agent. The Avalanche, Coyotes, and Florida Panthers have expressed varying degrees of interest in the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the fifth straight year, the New York Rangers have landed the top spot on Forbes' list of the most valuable NHL teams.The Rangers lead all NHL teams with a worth of $1.65 billion - a 6% increase from 2018. They also made the most revenue ($270 million) and operating income ($123 million) of any team during the 2018-19 campaign despite not making the playoffs the past two seasons.Rounding out the top three are the Toronto Maple Leafs at $1.5 billion and the Montreal Canadiens at $1.34 billion.Here's the full list:RankTeamCurrent ValueRevenue1.New York Rangers$1.65B$270M2.Toronto Maple Leafs$1.5B$243M3.Montreal Canadiens$1.34B$243M4.Chicago Blackhawks$1.085B$208M5.Boston Bruins$1B$228M6.Los Angeles Kings$850M$203M7.Philadelphia Flyers$825M$187M8.Detroit Red Wings$800M$183M9.Washington Capitals$775M$180M10.Vancouver Canucks$740M$167M11.Pittsburgh Penguins$665M$184M12.Dallas Stars$600M$166M13.Vegas Golden Knights$580M$167M14.Edmonton Oilers$575M$154M15.New Jersey Devils$550M$181M16.San Jose Sharks$540M$164M17.St. Louis Blues$530M$171M18.New York Islanders$520M$115M19.Minnesota Wild$510M$149M20.Calgary Flames$500M$138M21.Anaheim Ducks$480M$137M22.Colorado Avalanche$475M$130M23.Tampa Bay Lightning$470M$140M24.Nashville Predators$460M$135M25.Carolina Hurricanes$450M$128M26.Ottawa Senators$445M$127M27.Winnipeg Jets$420M$127M28.Buffalo Sabres$400M$135M29.Columbus Blue Jackets$325M$119M30.Florida Panthers$310M$105M31.Arizona Coyotes$300M$102MCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Taylor Hall sweepstakes are officially underway, and they may not be here long.The pending unrestricted free agent sat out New Jersey's most recent game Friday and he's expected to do so again Saturday. It appears the former Hart Trophy winner has played his last game with the Devils.Here are the five teams with the best chances of landing the superstar forward.Colorado Avalanche Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyRecord: 21-8-3 (1st in Central)

Forward Sven Baertschi is looking for a fresh start, and the Vancouver Canucks are now seeking a trade partner, his agent told TSN's Rick Dhaliwal."We would like to get traded, I am in contact with (GM) Jim Benning, he knows that," agent Andre Rufener said.The 27-year-old Baertschi has only made six appearances for the Canucks this season, recording two assists. He's spent the majority of his campaign with the AHL's Utica Comets, posting 22 points in 15 games."I am not happy with the way this season has gone for Sven," Rufener added. "He played well when he was in the NHL. In my opinion, he did not get the opportunity he needed."Baertschi was limited to 26 games with the Canucks last season due to injuries, tallying nine goals and 14 points.The Calgary Flames drafted him 13th overall in 2011.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers inquired about the services of pending unrestricted free-agent forward Taylor Hall, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche are also in the running for the former Hart Trophy winner, LeBrun added.Hall has tallied 25 points in 30 games for the New Jersey Devils this season, who have the second-worst record in the NHL.The Panthers have just $517,494 in cap space, according to CapFriendly, so general manager Dale Tallon would have to get creative in order to accommodate Hall and his $6-million average annual value. The Devils can retain up to 50% of Hall's salary, and defenseman Mark Pysyk ($2.73M AAV) could be a candidate to head the other way.Florida is in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with 35 points after a busy offseason that was geared toward making the club a Stanley Cup contender.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils are withholding Taylor Hall from the lineup on Friday night against the Colorado Avalanche for precautionary reasons, the team announced just before the opening faceoff.The Devils had nothing to report on a potential trade, a club spokesman told reporters, including The Athletic's Corey Masisak.However, there's been some traction in trade talks, so it's not worth it for the club to risk playing the 28-year-old at the moment, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Hall took part in the pregame warmup, according to The Record's Abbey Mastracco.Devils general manager Ray Shero reportedly began listening to teams interested in acquiring the star forward recently, and the Avalanche are the perceived favorites to land him.The 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner is a pending unrestricted free agent, and he's in the final campaign of the seven-year, $42-million pact he inked with the Edmonton Oilers in 2012. Edmonton traded him to the Devils for defenseman Adam Larsson in 2016.Hall entered Friday's game leading New Jersey with 25 points in 30 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everybody loves a good John Tortorella rant.The NHL's most brazen head coach was at it again on after his Columbus Blue Jackets were blanked by the rival Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, insisting it was impossible for him to describe how poorly his team performed in the defeat.For the standard-bearer of must-listen postgame press conferences, the 61-year-old's latest diatribe was, relatively speaking, pretty tame. Take a look:

Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom has been diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma and is not expected to return for the remainder of the season, the team announced Friday.Ewing's sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the bones or the surrounding soft tissue. Lindblom will undergo further testing and evaluation next week and begin treatment immediately after.The 23-year-old winger was enjoying a career season in his third year with the Flyers. Lindblom has contributed 18 points and is tied for the team lead with 11 goals through 30 games.Selected by Philadelphia in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Lindblom has amassed 30 goals and 57 points over 134 contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said he couldn't allow himself to repeat a mistake.Five seasons ago, as his team struggled out of the gate, Wilson opted to keep head coach Todd McLellan employed through 82 games. The Sharks ultimately missed the playoffs. Wilson made it known he's learned a lesson, so he dismissed Pete DeBoer on Wednesday after a 15-16-2 start to the current campaign."Who knows what it's going to take, and where you're going to have to get to to make the playoffs, but we will never give up on this season," Wilson told reporters Thursday in San Jose, a few hours before the Sharks played the Rangers. "We know that if we play the right way, we feel ... that we can put ourselves in that position. How we perform will dictate what we do later in the year, but there is just something about our team (that's off)."Ezra Shaw / Getty ImagesWilson referred to this "off"-ness multiple times during his media availability, noting that the underachieving squad had developed an energy problem under DeBoer and should benefit from a new leading voice in the dressing room. Bob Boughner, in his first season as DeBoer's assistant, has taken over on an interim basis, inheriting a litany of problems and the league's seventh-worst points percentage one-third of the way into the schedule."I really do believe this team has more," said Boughner, the head coach of the Florida Panthers the last two seasons.That's the crux of the coaching switcheroo: Does this veteran-laden, top-heavy team really have more to give, or is Wilson's first in-season coaching change during a 17-year stint as GM simply a shot in the dark?Let's not forget the Sharks collected the sixth-most regular-season wins in the NHL during DeBoer's tenure, hitting the 45- or 46-win mark in the four previous seasons. They made the 2016 Stanley Cup Final and the 2019 conference finals. Despite failing to win it all, San Jose accomplished plenty. But the Sharks have already been trying to forestall the inevitable closure of their contention window for a couple of years. Based on the eye test and underlying numbers, they seem closer this season to an average team than an elite one."Have we played up to our expectations? No, we haven't," Wilson said. "Have we been inconsistent? Yes, we have."Brandon Magnus / Getty ImagesFor starters, San Jose's goaltending has been atrocious. (The team has been horribly undisciplined, too, but luckily has the league's best penalty kill.) The Sharks also struggle to generate high-quality shots, leaving them 24th in goals scored (2.64 per game), and have trouble suppressing high-quality shots and goals against at five-on-five (2.67, 31st).Here's a look at the even-strength numbers through 33 games:SharksRankShot attempt %50.017thScoring chance %47.825thShooting %9.018thSave %.87631stExpected goal %47.726th(Source: Natural Stat Trick)It's fair to suggest that unless Boughner can unlock something hidden beneath the surface, the era of franchise glory has probably ended. Captain Joe Pavelski, Gustav Nyquist, and Joonas Donskoi - three key contributors - left in the offseason. Successful Sharks teams have dined out on what Boughner calls "attack mode," and the current core may be too old to suddenly produce this brand of swarming offense.Let's pretend that Wilson miraculously solves the goalie issue over the next year or so, and the Martin Jones/Aaron Dell duo is no longer a nightly liability. What then for this capped-out team? Not only is San Jose tied with Minnesota for the oldest roster in a young man's league, it has five players making at least $7 million a year for the foreseeable future. Evander Kane, Logan Couture, Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic are still fine players in their own ways, but they're also aged 30, 28, 29, 34, and 32, respectively. Both Thornton and Patrick Marleau are 40 - way past their best-before dates.Brandon Magnus / Getty ImagesThe Sharks' prospect pipeline isn't overflowing with blue-chippers, and the club doesn't own a first-round pick in the 2020 draft thanks to the Karlsson trade. A quick retool doesn't appear to be available. Even if Timo Meier and Tomas Hertl - 23 and 26, respectively, and oozing with talent - break through as dominant stars, which may still happen, it likely won't be enough to keep the Sharks in contention for division or conference titles in the near future.Only one team wins the Cup each year. You can be a model franchise for decades, with an excellent culture and smart people in charge, and still lack a championship to show for it. Luck, timing, and other uncontrollable variables have a great effect on results. That's essentially what's happened with San Jose. Boughner will do what he can over the rest of the season, but it's up to Wilson to determine if this is the start of the end or the beginning of a resurgence.At this point in the season and the core's collective career arc, the smart money is on this being the end of the road.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.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's been a wild week in the NHL with two more coaches fired, the Washington Capitals beating the Boston Bruins in a meeting between two of the league's best teams, and Carter Hart submitting his entry for save of the season.Things won't slow down this weekend, either. We've got a meeting between Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, the Montreal Canadiens playing their final home game of 2019, and the Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the league-leading Caps.Here's your guide to betting on this weekend's slate.Game bettingVegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars (Friday)The Stars might have rallied around their coaching change to beat the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, but the reality of the situation must be hitting them by now. They still don't have a new full-time head coach, which makes it hard to back them as favorites. This is the second game of a back-to-back, with travel, for the Golden Knights, though they've fared well in this spot this season, winning three of four. They're playing good hockey at the moment and offer great value at plus-money.Toronto Maple Leafs at Edmonton Oilers (Saturday)Since Connor McDavid entered the league, the Maple Leafs have generally owned the Oilers, though Edmonton is a very different team this year. It's been a bad run at home of late for the Oilers, who've won just once at Rogers Place since Nov. 14. However, a date with one of the NHL's worst penalty kills could be the recipe for a slump-buster, especially with Edmonton possessing the league's best power play. Toronto is aiming to close out this road trip strong, but I like the Oilers to bounce back and send the Leafs back to Ontario on a losing note.Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens (Saturday)This marks the final home game of the calendar year for the Canadiens as they get set to embark on a lengthy road trip. Expect them to sign off at the Bell Centre on a high against a Red Wings team that they've completely dominated on home ice to the tune of 10 wins in their last 12 contests. Play the Habs on the puck line.Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning (Saturday)The Capitals have put together an impressive season so far. Their 14-2-1 record on the road, however, is almost unbelievable. The unimpressive Lightning still can't find any sort of rhythm, but that's not being reflected in their game lines. Back the Caps to produce another statement win here while Tampa takes another step back.Vancouver Canucks at San Jose Sharks (Saturday)When a veteran team like the Sharks sees its coach fired, it tends to really resonate with the players. Peter De Boer's dismissal will certainly have a galvanizing effect that should last more than the typical few games. There's too much talent on this team not to react. Expect the Sharks to take care of business Saturday against the Canucks, who aren't all that impressive away from home.Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks (Sunday)Just one of the Wild's last seven road games in the second half of a back-to-back has gone over six goals, while the Blackhawks are on a 5-2 run to the under on home ice. Nine of the last 10 meetings in Chicago between these two teams have produced six goals or fewer, so take the under if it's sitting at six or place a slightly smaller wager if it's at 5.5.Game propsBuffalo Sabres at New York Islanders (Saturday)Don't expect fireworks when these two hit the ice. The Islanders force teams to conform to their style at home, playing tight, defensive hockey. The first-period under has hit in four straight home matinees (puck drop between noon and 3 p.m.) for the Islanders and nine of their last 11. The last seven visits from the Sabres have seen the under hit as well.Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens (Saturday)The Canadiens are second in the NHL in five-on-five goals scored and shots generated. The Red Wings allow the second-most five-on-five goals. They also own the league's worst penalty kill, which is bad news against a Montreal team with an above-average power play. The Habs have scored four or more goals in seven of their last 10 home games against Detroit, so all signs point to their team total over 3.5.Player propsToronto Maple Leafs at Edmonton OilersConnor McDavid gets a visit from his hometown team, against which he has four goals and 11 points in seven career games. Earlier in the week, I wrote about how he's shooting the puck a lot more, especially on the power play. The Oilers are the best team in the league this season with the man advantage, while the Leafs' penalty kill ranks 26th. Back McDavid to get on the scoresheet in this one.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.

Los Angeles Kings star Drew Doughty's lasting impression from Thursday's 2-1 win over the rival Anaheim Ducks was a second-period fight between teammate Kurtis MacDermid and Anaheim's Nicolas Deslauriers."The highlight for me is Dermy chuckin' em with Deslauriers, that was a great fight," Doughty said. "Got us really pumped up and we were able to get the win."Doughty was then asked about the decline of fighting across the NHL."It can't make its way out of the league, we need fighting," he replied. "I know people don't like it, some of you, but then you're gonna have all those meatheads running around, little guys being rats out there. That's just the way it's gonna go. We need fighting. People need to be able to protect their teammates and themselves. When it's safe like that and no one gets hurt, that's the best way."Los Angeles was up 2-0 at the time of the scrap and held on to earn two points despite being outshot 37-27.Doughty recorded one assist in the victory, giving him 21 points in 31 games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas revealed he stepped away from hockey after the 2013-14 season due to brain damage from a concussion."I couldn't communicate with anybody for a few years," Thomas said Thursday ahead of his induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "I didn't call my dad. I didn't talk to anybody."There was a time period, yeah, where I hated the game, so to speak."Thomas said he suffered the life-changing concussion while playing for the Florida Panthers in December 2013. He was traded to the Dallas Stars the following March but called it quits at the end of the campaign."I woke up the next morning after it and I couldn't decide what I wanted to eat, where I wanted to go," Thomas added. "I couldn't plan a schedule. I survived following the team schedule the rest of the year and just made it through that season."The 45-year-old admitted he went off the grid for the last several years to deal with concussion-related symptoms. He's undergone many experimental treatments, which have helped with his brain function."I couldn't follow the game anymore," Thomas said. "My brain wasn't functioning well enough to be able to keep up with the game, so I sat out in the woods for a few years. I didn't watch much hockey."Thomas' NHL career spanned just eight seasons after he broke into the league as a full-time goaltender at 31 years old. He helped lead the Bruins to a Stanley Cup in 2011, taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy in the process.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday's OHL game between the Niagara IceDogs and London Knights was canceled after Niagara goaltender Tucker Tynan was severely cut by a skate blade early in the second period.Tynan bled profusely after a collision with a Knights player in the crease. He was immediately attended to by trainers and paramedics before eventually being stretchered off the ice.The game was postponed due to the severity of the injury. Tynan is in stable condition after undergoing successful surgery, the IceDogs announced.

Team Canada announced its first round of cuts from its selection camp on Thursday, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin returned to the lineup Thursday versus the Nashville Predators after missing the last eight games with a concussion.Veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian was scratched to make room for Dahlin. Bogosian reportedly demanded a trade from the team earlier Thursday.The sophomore blue-liner has one goal and 16 points in 24 games this season. The Sabres went 4-1-3 in his absence.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Defenseman Zach Bogosian has requested a trade from the Buffalo Sabres, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.The blue-liner has recorded three assists in 10 games this season. He was previously announced as a healthy scratch for Thursday's game versus the Nashville Predators.Buffalo has a bevy of right-shot defensemen alongside Bogosian, with Rasmus Ristolainen, Brandon Montour, Colin Miller, and Henri Jokiharju on the roster.He is in the final year of a seven-year deal, carrying a cap hit of $5.14 million.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning is hoping to sign pending unrestricted free-agent goaltender Jacob Markstrom to a contract extension and add a top-six winger before the Feb. 24 trade deadline, he told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre on Wednesday."Yes, that's my plan," he said. "That's our goal. Jacob is an important guy in our locker room. He was a player we thought we could develop into a No. 1 goaltender. We've seen him get better and better every year. He's had some interruptions this year with his father, but we're past that now. We need him to be kind of where he left off last year."The 6-foot-6 Swede has been remarkably consistent, owning a .912 save percentage for the third straight season.However, 24-year-old netminder Thatcher Demko, who owns a .906 save percentage and a 3.00 goals-against average in 12 games this season, is also in the fold. If Markstrom re-signs, the Canucks would have to choose between the 29-year-old veteran and the former highly touted prospect when it comes to protecting just one goaltender for the 2021 Seattle expansion draft."There's a lot of time between now and the expansion draft," Benning said. "We'll figure that out as we get closer. Thatcher is a young goalie in this league and he's learning what it takes to be competitive and consistent every night. I think this is a good learning experience for him and we think he'll get even better down the road."Even though the Canucks are three points out of a playoff spot, Benning is also looking to add a top-six winger."I try to keep in contact with all the other general managers in the league, and if there's something that fits and makes sense, we'll look at it," Benning said.Benning attempted to complement his lethal one-two punch down the middle in Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat by adding a pair of wingers during the offseason. He traded a conditional first-round pick, a third-round pick, and goalie Marek Mazanec to the Tampa Bay Lightning for J.T. Miller. He also signed free agent Micheal Ferland to a four-year contract with a cap hit of $3.5 million.The addition of Miller has worked beautifully, as the 26-year-old is enjoying a career year with 31 points in 31 games. However, Ferland has been a disappointment, tallying just five points in 14 games while missing time due to injury.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brady Tkachuk claims he wasn't up to any mischief when he collected the puck after Wednesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens - which just so happened to be the first NHL victory for his old pal Cayden Primeau.The Ottawa Senators pest was spotted grabbing the puck before skating off the ice following his club's overtime loss. However, during his venture, he was met by Carey Price, who was looking to give the biscuit to his goaltending partner.Price was then asked whether he thought Tkachuk was stealing the puck."I think so," Price said, per The Athletic's Arpon Basu. "I was watching to see what happened to the puck and just saw him scoop it up."Tkachuk was asked about it Thursday, and he pleaded innocence."Honestly, I didn't even realize it was his first win puck," he told The Athletic's Chris Stevenson. "I know (Primeau). I played with him at the U18 Worlds and we won a gold medal together. I know him pretty well. Honestly, I didn't even think of it. When I saw him, I was like 'Oh, OK.' I didn't even realize. I was just going to give the puck to a kid in the stands."Primeau, 20, was a seventh-round draft pick of the Canadiens in 2017. Thursday's win came in the second NHL start of his career.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ron Francis says that when he extended Bill Peters' contract in 2016 while the two were with the Carolina Hurricanes, he felt the physical abuse allegation involving Peters and former Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan had been dealt with.“We looked where the team was and how it was playing,” Francis, the former Hurricanes general manager, told the Seattle Times' Geoff Baker. “It was moving in the right direction ... And quite honestly, we looked at that (physical abuse) situation. We addressed it and we felt it was behind him.”On Nov. 26, Jordan tweeted that during his time in Carolina, Peters kicked him and punched another player in the head on the bench during a game. Francis didn't provide a direct answer when asked if he'd handle the situation differently given the recent abuse allegations against numerous hockey coaches.“I think you deal with it the best you can with the situation you have at the time,” he said. “... I don’t claim to be perfect. I make mistakes. I try to learn every day from the people I talk with in situations."Francis said in a Nov. 30 statement that a group of players and hockey staff members told him about the Peters incidents at the time - which would have been between 2014 and 2016 - and he "took immediate action to address the matter and briefed ownership."The 56-year-old gave his account of the events after former Carolina majority owner Peter Karmanos claimed he wasn't informed of the incidents. Karmanos said he would have fired Peters "in a nanosecond" had Francis made him aware of the physical abuse allegations.The Calgary Flames also conducted an investigation into Peters' actions following Akim Aliu's revelation that the coach directed the N-word toward him multiple times while the two were with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs in 2009-10. Peters, who had been at the helm in Calgary since 2018, resigned from his post with the Flames in November 2019.On Tuesday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman laid out the league's initial plan to address inappropriate conduct, which included a zero-tolerance policy for teams not reporting incidents, a mandatory diversity and inclusion program for coaches and top-level executives, and a potential whistleblower hotline.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks have dismissed head coach Peter DeBoer and appointed Bob Boughner interim bench boss, the club announced Wednesday night.The move is strictly a hockey decision, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, as the team has gone 15-16-2 in 2019-20 after reaching the Western Conference Final last spring.DeBoer was in his fifth season behind the bench with San Jose. The Sharks made the playoffs in each of his previous four campaigns at the helm, losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final during his first year with the club in 2015-16.The 51-year-old joined San Jose after three-plus seasons with the New Jersey Devils and three campaigns with the Florida Panthers. He guided the Devils to the Cup Final in 2012.He's the fifth NHL bench boss to lose his job in 2019-20. Three of the other four were fired, and Bill Peters resigned from his post with the Calgary Flames.Boughner previously served as Panthers head coach from 2017 to 2019.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains offensive content.Former NHLer Akim Aliu's revealed another racist incident he was subjected to during his pro career.In 2011, as one of the newer members of the ECHL's Colorado Eagles, the Nigerian-born Aliu was invited to the team's Halloween party, but he was told to "come a little bit later" - an instruction he didn't think too much about at the time, Aliu told The Wall Street Journal's Andrew Beaton.Aliu said he arrived at the party to find Tony Deynzer, the team's head equipment manager, in blackface while wearing an Afro-style wig and an Eagles jersey with Aliu's No. 78 and nickname - "Dreamer" - stitched on the back.Those attending the party - including Aliu's teammates, staff members, management, and some of their families - encouraged the two to take a picture together, which Aliu shared with Beaton:The Wall Street Journal"Guys just started laughing," Aliu said. "All I can do is tell my story."Aliu, who said he didn't see anyone else at the party who was black, posed for the picture because he didn't want to cause a scene. He said he felt trapped and in shock, and then called his brother immediately afterward."I didn’t even grasp the idea of how vicious of a thing that is to do," Aliu said.The Wall Street JournalAliu played only 10 games for the Eagles. He requested a trade, which was eventually granted, and wound up in the Calgary Flames organization before making his NHL debut in 2012.Deynzer, who has been employed by the Eagles since 2003, was placed on administrative leave Wednesday, according to Colorado Hockey Now's Adrian Dater. The Eagles were the Winnipeg Jets' ECHL team in 2011 but are now the AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.The Eagles issued a public apology to Aliu on Wednesday, though claimed they had "no prior knowledge" of the incident."We wholeheartedly seek your forgiveness and sincerely apologize," the statement reads. "We are truly very sorry, and we will also assure you that this behavior is not and never will be acceptable in our organization."Aliu revealed more than two weeks ago that Flames head coach Bill Peters directed the N-word toward him several times while the two were with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs a decade ago. Peters ultimately resigned from his position with Calgary.Last week, Aliu met with NHL officials, including commissioner Gary Bettman, to confront racial and conduct issues in hockey. In that meeting, he told them about the blackface incident. On Monday, the NHL announced it will institute a mandatory annual program focused on counseling, consciousness-raising, education, and training on diversity and inclusion."They need to accept the fact that there is a problem," Aliu said. "That’s the only way you start."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Dallas Stars head coach Jim Montgomery's dismissal Tuesday wasn't due to his appearance on a local radio show despite speculation it was the cause, reports Sean Shapiro of The Athletic.Montgomery joined 96.7 FM's The Ticket on Dec. 5, during which he was asked questions about Tyler Seguin's private life and whether he smoked marijuana during his time as head coach of the University of Denver.The 50-year-old was fired in the midst of his second season with Dallas due to what was described as "unprofessional conduct." Stars general manager Jim Nill said he was made aware of a "material act of unprofessionalism" over the weekend, but added that the incident didn't involve past or present players or a criminal investigation, and it didn't relate to the league's new zero-tolerance policy toward inappropriate or abusive behavior.The Stars qualified for the playoffs and advanced to Game 7 of the second round last season in Montgomery's first year at the helm. Dallas lost eight of its first nine games this campaign but experienced a drastic turnaround and is now 18-11-3 and holds the first wild-card position in the Western Conference with 39 points.After learning of Montgomery's firing, Seguin said "no one expected this."Longtime assistant Rick Bowness is serving as interim head coach and won his first game as bench boss Tuesday night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lapointe has been diagnosed with oral cancer, the team announced Wednesday."Dr. Keith Richardson, the treating physician from the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), indicated that the cancer is located at the base of the tongue. Lapointe will begin his treatments in the coming weeks. This form of cancer has a high cure rate."The family wishes to thank the personnel at the MUHC as well as all hockey fans and asks for respect of their privacy as they face this challenge."Lapointe won six Stanley Cups with the Habs. In 14 seasons with the club, the blue-liner recorded 572 points in 777 regular season games. He enjoyed brief stints with the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins before his retirement in 1984.He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Habs retired his No. 5 in 2014. The 71-year-old is currently employed by the Minnesota Wild as an amateur scout.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to Puck Pursuit, a weekly NHL podcast hosted by John Matisz, theScore's national hockey writer.Subscribe to the show on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Spotify.NBC analyst and former NHLer Patrick Sharp joins this week's show to discuss a variety of decade-closing topics, including:

Shea Weber doesn't mind dating himself when talking about his on-ice exploits.The Montreal Canadiens defenseman did just that when discussing the marker he notched in a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.Weber was asked postgame if it was his first wraparound goal."Since I played NHL '95, probably," he told the assembled media, including Sportsnet, with a smile.The 34-year-old took a pass at the offensive zone blue line, flew in around the Penguins' net, and tucked it in on the backhand late in the second period.Sportsnet's Eric Engels, whose question elicited Weber's original response, also revealed that his classic video-game reference was lost on his younger teammates.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.David Pastrnak can't stop scoring.The Boston Bruins forward sits comfortably atop the NHL's goal leaderboard with 25 through just 31 games, putting him on pace for 66 this season. The last player to reach that mark was Mario Lemieux in 1995-96.If Pastrnak can continue scoring at this rate, he'll unquestionably win the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in a landslide after opening the season at 25-1 odds. However, the jury is out on whether he's capable of continuing his historic output, and the underlying numbers suggest he isn't.Pastrnak's 12 power-play goals are a huge reason he's No. 1 in the league, and perhaps the greatest contributor to his success is the fact that he's converting on 34.2% of his shots on the man advantage, which is nearly double his 18% average from the last three seasons. It's hard to imagine that number doesn't come down significantly during the remainder of the season.At five-on-five, his shooting percentage is a more sustainable 16.7%, though that's still a significant improvement from the past three years - 10.4%, 12.6%, and 13.6%. There's room for regression across the board.That's reflected in his expected goals count (ixG), which sits at 11.7 - eighth in the NHL below the likes of Alex Ovechkin (15.8), Leon Draisaitl (12.8), and Connor McDavid (11.8). His ixG at five-on-five is just 5.86, which ranks 26th in the NHL.Pastrnak is a remarkable player and has fully established himself as one of the league's premier talents, but it's too much to expect him to continue this rate of production. The "Rocket" Richard race isn't settled in December, so don't start cashing those tickets just yet.Player Odds GoalsDavid Pastrnak5-225Connor McDavid7-219Alex Ovechkin7-221Leon Draisaitl4-119Auston Matthews7-118Brad Marchand8-118Nathan MacKinnon12-119Jack Eichel50-118Patrick Kane50-114Jake Guentzel100-116Connor McDavid (7-2)McDavid is on pace for a career-best 49 goals thanks, in large part, to a significant uptick in power-play production. His eight markers with the man advantage through 32 games is one shy of his career best of nine, which he potted in 78 games last season.The Edmonton Oilers superstar has done so with a 27.6% shooting percentage, which is well above his career average. However, unlike Pastrnak, McDavid is shooting more than he has in the past.He has 29 power-play shots in 32 games after averaging 45 during the last three seasons. It'll be tough for him to sustain his shooting percentage, but even keeping it above 20% puts him on pace for another nine goals on the man advantage.His five-on-five shooting percentage is right in line with his career average and he's firing pucks on net at the same rate as he has in the past, so there shouldn't be much of a downtick in production there.McDavid is on pace to add another 18 tallies at even strength, which would put him at 46 for the season when combined with his power-play projections. It might be tough for him to reach 50 unless he can maintain that 27.6% power-play shooting percentage - which isn't out of the question for the best player in the world - and muster some goals at four-on-four or when shorthanded.Alex Ovechkin (7-2)It wouldn't be a proper "Rocket" Richard race without Ovechkin in the thick of it. The Washington Capitals sniper has won the award in six of the past seven seasons and remains Pastrnak's closest competitor with 21 goals through 32 games.It's been a fairly standard season thus far from Ovechkin, whose power-play numbers are right in line with his career averages. His five-on-five shooting percentage is a tad low, sitting at 10% - he's been above 12.8 in each of the last two seasons - but otherwise, he's again meeting expectations.Ovechkin's on pace for 54 goals right now and it's entirely realistic to expect him to reach that number. If so, it would be his best mark since amassing 56 tallies in 2008-09. Whether or not that's enough to best Pastrnak depends entirely on how much the Bruins forward regresses.Auston Matthews (7-1)Matthews endured a slow November following a scorching-hot October, leaving him seven goals back of Pastrnak for the scoring lead.Like Ovechkin, Matthews' numbers are generally in line with his career averages. However, he is getting significantly more power-play shots this season, averaging just over one per game - a significant increase from the 0.63 he managed through his first three campaigns. The Maple Leafs want him shooting more, which suggests this jump is intentional.The one area that's slightly down for Matthews is his power-play shooting percentage, which sits at 15.6% on the season, nearly 3% below his career average of 18.4. If Matthews can reverse that trend, he could be in for a monster second half of the campaign. Working in his favor is the Leafs' power play under head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team has converted 41.7% of its opportunities with the man advantage under Keefe, compared to just 17.6% of its power-play chances under Mike Babcock. Now it's just a question of whether or not Matthews has dug himself too big of a hole to climb out of.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.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman eliminated the possibility of a potential World Cup of Hockey in 2021, saying Tuesday there isn't enough time to get it done, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.This past offseason, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league was "cautiously optimistic" about the NHL and NHLPA being able to coordinate a World Cup based on successful CBA negotiations.The proposed tournament would have taken place in February 2021, with the league taking a break in order to stage the event.The NHL and NHLPA are now focused on organizing full-fledged World Cup of Hockey tournaments in 2024 and 2028, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.In the meantime, the international focus will shift to the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, China. NHL players didn't suit up for the 2018 games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and Olympic participation is still a contentious issue between the players' association and league owners.The World Cup of Hockey debuted in 1996 and had another installment in 2004 before making a return in 2016. The most recent version was won by Team Canada, and it also garnered plenty of praise for the implementation of Team North America - a band of Under-23 superstars who took the tournament by storm with a relentlessly entertaining style of play.The NHL hasn't gathered for a best-on-best tournament since the 2016 event.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars players are just as confused as fans and media members alike for the reasoning behind head coach Jim Montgomery's dismissal Tuesday morning.Despite leading the Stars to a 17-11-3 record so far this season, Montgomery was fired due to "unprofessional conduct." General manager Jim Nill didn't elaborate much during a press conference, offering that the coach was let go for "a material act of unprofessionalism." He added this didn't involve any past or current players, staff members, or a criminal investigation.Nill informed his players of the move during a team meeting before going public with the news, according to the Dallas News' Callie Caplan, but he apparently didn't fill them in on the specifics behind Montgomery's abrupt departure."Definitely didn't expect that one, and still shocked. It's pretty crazy that we're talking about this," captain Jamie Benn said. "We all want to know all the answers, but that's not the case. We believe that Jim Nill and the organization made the right moves, so we'll trust in them and move forward."Leading scorer Tyler Seguin was equally stunned."No one expected this," he said."It's confusion. Shock. It's definitely sad. Really liked Monty, great coach, and (I was) saying all along, I was looking forward to this being the last coach of my Stars career."Interim bench boss Rick Bowness will be the fourth coach Seguin has had since joining the Stars in 2013-14. In total, Montgomery is the fourth coach Nill has fired during his reign as GM.The Stars will look for their third straight win Tuesday night when they square off against the New Jersey Devils.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Flower is back, and likely with a heavy heart.Vegas Golden Knights netminder Marc-Andre Fleury will be between the pipes Tuesday night against the Chicago Blackhawks after missing the last seven games, the team announced.Fleury had returned home to Sorel, Quebec, following the death of his father, who had been ill for several months."It was a hard week, and I feel when you go back on the ice, it changes your mind," Fleury said after rejoining the team at practice, according to David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "You’re trying to enjoy the game and be in the moment a bit. My teammates have been very supportive, too. And the fans. I've got so many nice notes. My friends and family. I feel very fortunate for that."Fleury, who is often viewed as Vegas' emotional leader, is in the midst of another stellar season. He owns a .919 save percentage and a 2.54 goals-against average through 20 appearances.Backup netminder Malcolm Subban filled in admirably during Fleury's absence, starting all seven games while posting a 4-2-1 record and a .909 save percentage.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars have fired head coach Jim Montgomery due to unprofessional conduct and named assistant Rick Bowness the interim bench boss, the team announced Tuesday."The Dallas Stars expect all of our employees to act with integrity and exhibit professional behavior while working for and representing our organization," Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a statement. "This decision was made due to unprofessional conduct inconsistent with the core values and beliefs of the Dallas Stars and the National Hockey League."Nill said during a press conference Tuesday that he was made aware of "a material act of unprofessionalism" over the weekend, and the incident occurred last week. He added that it didn't involve any past or present players, other Stars employees, or a criminal investigation.Montgomery's dismissal comes one day after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league's implementation of a zero-tolerance policy of incidents involving league personnel that are "clearly inappropriate, unlawful, or demonstratively abusive." However, Montgomery's departure is not related to that plan, Nill said.Dallas holds the first wild-card position in the Western Conference with a 17-11-3 record. The club lost eight of its first nine contests to start the campaign but made a drastic turnaround since.Montgomery was hired prior to the 2018-19 season after an impressive run as the head coach at the University of Denver. The 50-year-old led the Stars to a 93-point regular season and the second round of the playoffs in his first campaign at the helm and had two years remaining on his contract, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.He's the third head coach to be fired this season, following Mike Babcock and John Hynes. Bill Peters also resigned from his position with the Calgary Flames in late November.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gary Bettman is shedding some light on what the NHL plans to do to address inappropriate behavior by its coaches and those involved in the game.On Monday after the league's Board of Governors meetings in California, the commissioner laid out the initial steps the NHL will take in the wake of a series of revelations that have resulted in Bill Peters' resignation from the Calgary Flames and the Chicago Blackhawks' investigation into assistant coach Marc Crawford.Bettman said NHL clubs are on notice that they must immediately advise the league office if they become aware of an incident involving league personnel that is "clearly inappropriate, unlawful, or demonstratively abusive," or if they're made aware of an incident that may violate the NHL's policies on or off the ice."There will be zero tolerance for any failure to notify us and in the event of such failure, the club and individuals involved can expect severe discipline," he added.Bettman said inappropriate conduct by club personnel "will be disciplined, either by the team, the league, or both," and that the discipline has to be severe to ensure the conduct doesn't happen again.The commissioner also announced the league will institute a mandatory annual program on counseling, consciousness-raising, education, and training on diversity and inclusion. The program will be required for all head coaches, minor-league bench bosses under contract with NHL clubs, assistant coaches, general managers, and assistant general managers.Bettman explained that the program's structure will be created by outside professionals and that the league will consult with the NHLPA to determine the extent that it should be presented to the players.Lastly, the NHL will create a platform - "perhaps a hotline," according to Bettman - on which incidents of inappropriate conduct connected to the league can be reported either anonymously or for attribution.In November, former NHLer Akim Aliu revealed Peters hurled the N-word at him multiple times when the two were with the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate in 2009-10. Former Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan also said Peters kicked him and punched another player in the head during a game when Peters was behind the bench in Carolina.Peters admitted directing "offensive language" toward Aliu and stepped down as Calgary's head coach days later.Following Bettman's remarks Monday night, Aliu tweeted that he was pleased to see the commissioner taking action. Aliu met with Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly at the NHL offices last week, after which the former player said he was optimistic about the coming changes.

Colorado Avalanche phenom Cale Makar is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, the team announced.He won't play against the Calgary Flames on Monday, but head coach Jared Bednar said there's a possibility Makar could return later in the week, according to The Athletic's Ryan S. Clark.Makar left Saturday's game against the Boston Bruins after taking a hard hit into the boards from Brad Marchand.The 21-year-old blue-liner has taken the league by storm in his rookie season. His 28 points are tied for second among NHL defensemen and the most among all rookies.Goaltender Philipp Grubauer is also considered day-to-day after exiting Saturday's tilt with a lower-body injury. Pavel Francouz is expected to handle starting duties in the meantime.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 another profitable slate over the weekend as our preview returned a 4-2 record in game bets, though we had to settle for a 1-1 split with our props.Let's keep our nose to the grindstone and continue to build that bankroll ahead of the holidays.Game bettingTampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers (Tuesday)This will be the Lightning's second game of a back-to-back, and their third in four nights. That means Curtis McElhinney will likely get the start against the high-scoring Panthers. Tampa is perfectly equipped to enter into a shootout, and all signs point to that being the case here. Its last five trips to take on the Panthers have produced 45 goals (and five overs), and the Bolts typically trend to the over when closing out a back-to-back.Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins (Tuesday)The Canadiens seem to be turning a corner over their last four games, allowing just nine goals since being berated by coach Claude Julien following a string of embarrassing defensive efforts. Meanwhile, the Penguins have kept a shutout in each of their last two at home as they shift their focus to playing good defensive hockey in light of injuries up front. The under is a strong play here at anything six or higher.Toronto Maple Leafs at Vancouver Canucks (Tuesday)There will be nights when the Leafs put it together, their big guns show up, and they roll over a team like the Blues. But the consistency isn't there, nor is the depth to put in those performances on a regular basis. Still, the talent on their roster means their price is constantly inflated, which offers plenty of value in backing their opponents. The Canucks remain a tough team to beat on home ice, and we can back them at a very short price here. Take them at anything -130 or lower.Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals (Wednesday)Losers of two in a row, the Bruins open the week in Ottawa on Monday night before visiting D.C. and Tampa. They beat the Capitals 1-0 in Washington in February last season, ending a seven-game skid at Capital One Arena. Boston's scoring has dried up a bit of late, but the team is surviving on strong defensive play. Washington is also allowing very few goals (seven over its last four). The under looks good here despite all the firepower that these clubs possess.Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning (Thursday)This is a statement game for the Lightning, hosing a Bruins team on the second leg of a back-to-back. Tampa needs to build back its fractured reputation and a good way to do that is by beating a conference powerhouse. The Bolts are catching Boston at a good time, with less than a 24-hour turnaround from the Bruins' contest in Washington the night before. Back the Lightning to win a fifth straight home game over the Bruins as short favorites. Don't lay anything over -140.Vegas Golden Knights at St. Louis Blues (Thursday)The Golden Knights have been one of the NHL's unluckiest teams this season, while the defending champion Blues continue to march on despite a litany of injuries. Eventually, the bounces will start going Vegas' way - the underlying numbers are too good for them not to - and this is a good spot to back the Knights as 'dogs, as well as consider a bet on the contest to go to overtime at +300 or higher. Each of Vegas' last two games as 'dogs have required more than 60 minutes.Game propsChicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights (Tuesday)There's usually no shortage of fireworks when these two teams face off. In eight all-time meetings, the first-period over has hit seven times, including in all four of the Blackhawks' trips to Vegas. Bank on it happening again Tuesday.Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens (Wednesday)Despite dominating for close to 60 minutes, the Canadiens fell 2-1 in overtime to the Senators in their most recent meeting Nov. 20. Still, the most important streak for our sake stayed alive as Ottawa has now scored two or fewer goals in seven straight visits to Montreal and nine of its last 10. Go with the under 2.5 on the Sens' team total here, regardless of whether it's Carey Price or Cayden Primeau starting for the Habs.Player propsToronto Maple Leafs at Vancouver Canucks (Tuesday)Tyson Barrie, who hails from Victoria, British Columbia, should have no shortage of family and friends in attendance when the Leafs visit Rogers Arena. He's notched five points in eight contests since Sheldon Keefe became head coach. He should be buzzing for a trip back to his hometown Tuesday night and is a sneaky play to get a goal in this game, which should be offered between +2000 to +2500.Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens (Wednesday)This might seem somewhat contradictory given our under play for this game, but take it in stride. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is a Canadiens killer. He's managed nine goals in his career against Montreal, three more than his next biggest victim. He scored at the Bell Centre already this season and is worth backing to do so again.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.

Boston Bruins veteran Patrice Bergeron will return from injury Monday night versus the Ottawa Senators, head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed after the team's morning skate.Bergeron hasn't played since Nov. 23 due to a lower-body injury.The first-place Bruins still managed a 5-1-1 record without their top pivot.Bergeron has posted 24 points in 21 games this season while averaging nearly 19 minutes of ice time per night on Boston's top line.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 80-61.100-81 | 80-61 | 60-41 (Dec. 16) | 40-21 (Dec. 23) | 20-1 (Dec. 30)80. It was 4-1 😲May 13, 2013It's one of the greatest implosions of all time. The phrase "It was 4-1" was heard around the hockey world. The Toronto Maple Leafs blew a three-goal lead over the Boston Bruins in the third period of Game 7 and lost in overtime. The Leafs were eliminated from their first playoff appearance in eight years in horrific fashion, marking the start of a modern, albeit one-sided, rivalry: Toronto's dropped two more playoff series to the Bruins since, both in seven games. - Kayla Douglas79. Ibra's wonder goal vs. England 🇸🇪Nov. 14, 2012Derided for his poor record against English clubs in the Champions League, Zlatan Ibrahimovic answered his critics by scoring one of the most spectacular goals of the decade. The towering Swede actually put four past England in that memorable friendly, but it's the last one that was seen and heard around the world. An overhead kick from some 30 yards out, it soared into the net. "Last night, the world woke up to the mighty Zlatan," wrote English pundit Jamie Redknapp. - Anthony Lopopolo78. Did Dez catch it? 🙅Jan. 11, 2015

Former Ottawa Senators teammates Mike Hoffman and Erik Karlsson met for the first time as opponents Sunday, as the former's Florida Panthers dismantled the San Jose Sharks by a score of 5-1.While it was a big game in the standings for both teams, it was the Hoffman-Karlsson reunion that drew most of the attention.Both players were dealt from Canada's capital in separate trades in 2018 amid ugly off-ice circumstances, as Karlsson and his wife filed an order of protection in an Ottawa court against Hoffman's then-girlfriend, alleging harassment and cyberbullying.The case was ultimately dismissed, but Hoffman circled Sunday's meeting on his calendar, as Karlsson missed both games between the Panthers and Sharks last season due to injury."I have been thinking about this game for a long time," Hoffman said, according to The Athletic's George Richards. "It is a part of hockey."Hoffman grabbed Karlsson early in the contest and challenged him to drop the gloves, though no fight developed.

The Philadelphia Flyers will be without their leading scorer for the foreseeable future, as forward Travis Konecny is out indefinitely with a concussion, the team announced Monday.Konecny was flattened by Ottawa Senators blue-liner Mark Borowiecki on Saturday and was forced to leave the game. No penalty was called on the play.

This is the sixth 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 standout statistic from each team so far this season.1. Washington Capitals (22-4-5)Previous rank: 2The NHL's best team comes with no shortage of notable numbers, but the most staggering statistic is that the Capitals have somehow gone 14-2-1 on the road.2. Boston Bruins (20-4-6)Previous rank: 3A loss to the Avalanche on Saturday was the Bruins' first home defeat of the season in regulation. More amazingly, it was the first home loss in regulation by any of the four major Boston-area sports teams since the Red Sox fell to the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 28.3. Colorado Avalanche (19-8-2)Previous rank: 10Nathan MacKinnon's 17-point lead over teammate Cale Makar marks the largest gap between any club's top two scorers. Despite fellow stars Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog missing extended time due to injuries, MacKinnon's MVP-level play has kept the Avs near the top of the standings.4. New York Islanders (19-7-2)Previous rank: 1The Islanders have enjoyed tremendous success in tight contests. They lead the NHL with a .769 winning percentage in one-goal games.5. St. Louis Blues (18-7-6)Previous rank: 5The Blues have taken care of business against division rivals, going 6-1-1 versus Central Division opponents. Their only losses came in matchups with the Nashville Predators.6. Philadelphia Flyers (17-8-5)Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 17Despite three-on-three overtime usually yielding a winner, the Flyers have found themselves in a league-high eight shootouts through 30 games.7. Edmonton Oilers (18-10-4)Previous rank: 7After owning the NHL's second-worst penalty kill in 2018-19 (74.8%), the Oilers boast the league's second-best rate this season with a stellar 87% mark.8. Pittsburgh Penguins (17-9-4)Previous rank: 13Despite going without Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and now Sidney Crosby for long stretches, the Penguins lead the NHL with a 55.81 rate of expected goals for and feature the league's third-best goals for rate of 57.48.9. Arizona Coyotes (18-10-4)Previous rank: 7While many expected Darcy Kuemper to build on his impressive 2018-19 campaign, few figured he'd be this good. The Coyotes netminder leads all NHL goalies who've made at least 12 appearances with an incredible .935 save percentage.10. Carolina Hurricanes (18-11-1)Previous rank: 9These "bunch of jerks" are the NHL's possession darlings. Carolina owns a league-best 54.67 Corsi For rating at five-on-five.11. Winnipeg Jets (18-10-2)Previous rank: 8The Jets have remained competitive despite icing one of the NHL's worst power plays. Winnipeg has converted just 15.4% of its opportunities with the man advantage, the league's fifth-worst rate.12. Calgary Flames (15-12-4)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 26Following the Bill Peters mess, which resulted in his resignation, the Flames have gone 4-0-0 under interim head coach Geoff Ward.13. Dallas Stars (17-11-3)Previous rank: 4Dallas' four highest-paid players (Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski, and Alexander Radulov) have scored just 27 goals this season. With a combined annual cap hit of $32.6 million devoted to them, the Stars have paid more than $1.2 million per goal from that quartet so far this season.14. Vegas Golden Knights (15-12-5)Previous rank: 20Have doctors found a cure for the Vegas flu? The Golden Knights were dominant at T-Mobile Arena during their first two years of existence, but they're just 7-6-3 at home this season compared to 8-6-2 on the road.15. Vancouver Canucks (15-11-4)Previous rank: 16Is it crazy to say the 2019-20 Canucks are the best offensive team the franchise has featured in the last 10 years? Considering the club has scored 103 goals to date - its highest total of the decade through 30 games - it's starting to look that way.16. Toronto Maple Leafs (14-13-4)Previous rank: 18The Maple Leafs are 14-7-3 when Frederik Andersen starts and 0-6-1 when he doesn't. Toronto desperately needs a quality backup goalie.17. Minnesota Wild (14-12-4)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 24Bruce Boudreau is viewed as an offensive-minded coach, but he doesn't get enough credit for his team's defensive structure. The Wild have surrendered the fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five.18. Florida Panthers (15-9-5)Previous rank: 12Is Sergei Bobrovsky feeling the pressure? His save percentage is currently 20 points lower than it was last season after he signed a seven-year, $70-million contract with the Panthers in the offseason. If Bobrovsky can regain his form, look out for Florida.19. San Jose Sharks (15-15-2)Previous rank: 11It's been a trying season in the Bay Area. On the bright side, the Sharks' penalty kill is operating at a league-best 89.9% clip.20. Tampa Bay Lightning (14-10-3)Previous rank: 15The NHL features some weird scheduling quirks. To date, the Lightning have played a league-low 27 games, while 23 other teams have already played at least 30.21. New York Rangers (15-11-3)Previous rank: 23The Rangers have torched opponents for a league-leading six shorthanded goals after scoring just seven of them in 2018-19. However, the club's penalty kill has clicked at a subpar rate of 77.5%, which suggests New York may be wise to ease up on the aggression when shorthanded.22. Nashville Predators (13-10-5)Previous rank: 22Goaltending has been the Achilles' heel of the Predators this season, as Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros have combined for an .895 save percentage and a 3.01 goals-against average. At this rate, Nashville will finish in the bottom half of the league in goals against for the first time since 2013-14.23. Chicago Blackhawks (12-12-6)Previous rank: 21Despite boasting some of the best shootout specialists of all time in Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, the Blackhawks are 1-4 in the skills competition this season. Goaltender Robin Lehner is having a fantastic campaign, but he'll be the first to tell you that shootouts aren't his cup of tea. Considering Chicago's spot in the standings, those valuable extra points could be the difference between making the playoffs and hitting the links early.24. Montreal Canadiens (13-11-6)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 14The Canadiens have lost 17 games this year, but they've held a lead in more than half of them (nine). The Habs have no issues putting the puck in the net, but they'll miss the playoffs for a third straight year if they can't clean up their defensive issues.25. Buffalo Sabres (14-11-6)Previous rank: 27The first 40 minutes have been vital for the Sabres this season. Buffalo is a perfect 12-0 when leading after two periods but has yet to win a game when trailing entering the final frame.26. Anaheim Ducks (12-14-4)Previous rank: 29The Ducks own one of the most inexplicable stats of the season. The club has been outshot in each of its 12 victories (12-4-1) but has yet to pick up a win when outshooting its opponent (0-9-3).27. Ottawa Senators (12-17-1)Previous rank: 19We knew this young Senators team would struggle, but nine power-play goals through 30 contests is just plain ugly.28. Columbus Blue Jackets (11-14-4)Previous rank: 25Boy, do the Blue Jackets ever miss Artemi Panarin. Through 29 games, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Gustav Nyquist share the team lead in points with 18, making Columbus the only squad in the league without a 20-point producer.29. Los Angeles Kings (11-18-2)Previous rank: 28The Kings have recorded just two road victories this season, and they've lost 11 straight away from home. Considering eight of L.A.'s next 11 games will come on the road, this team will need to figure out a way to win without the bright lights of Staples Center. Otherwise, its season will be over.30. New Jersey Devils (9-15-5)Previous rank: 30The Devils have received an NHL-low 42 points from their defensemen. That's less than Norris Trophy favorite John Carlson has recorded on his own. P.K. Subban, Sami Vatanen, Damon Severson, and Will Butcher are all talented offensive players, so perhaps interim head coach Alain Nasreddine should put his blue-liners in more scoring situations.31. Detroit Red Wings (7-21-3)Previous rank: 31The rebuilding Red Wings are finding themselves on the wrong side of history. Jeff Blashill's club has dropped 11 straight games, marking the franchise's longest losing streak since 1981-82.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on Week 10. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Sell high on Brad MarchandTeam: Bruins

The red-hot Washington Capitals are about to get one of their best players back.Nicklas Backstrom will make his return Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the club confirmed Sunday.The star forward has missed the last eight contests with what the team called an upper-body ailment. He suffered the injury Nov. 18 in a game against the Anaheim Ducks.Backstrom has posted 18 points in 23 contests this season.The 32-year-old center, a pending unrestricted free agent who recently opened contract talks by representing himself, is the Capitals' all-time assists leader. He also ranks second in career points among Washington skaters and fourth on the franchise's all-time goals list.Washington boasts the best record in the NHL and has won six consecutive games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar left Saturday's contest after taking a hard hit from Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand.The play occurred just under four minutes into the third period as the rookie phenom went to retrieve the puck behind his net.

The Colorado Avalanche are apparently making a serious run at acquiring New Jersey Devils star Taylor Hall."The feeling in the industry is that the Avalanche are the favorites right now, pushing to try and get Taylor Hall perhaps as soon as the Christmas break, which starts Dec. 19," Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reported on the latest edition of "Saturday Headlines."Hall is in the final year of his current deal, which carries an average annual value of $6 million. The 28-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July, and Devils general manager Ray Shero is reportedly listening to offers amid the team's struggles this season.The Avalanche own the fourth-lowest cap hit in 2019-20 with $5.95 million in projected space. Colorado also possesses a talented prospect pool that includes defensemen Bowen Byram and Conor Timmins, along with forwards Alex Newhook, Martin Kaut, and Vladislav Kamenev.The Arizona Coyotes are another team reported to be interested in acquiring the Devils' star winger.Hall entered Saturday's action leading all Devils with 23 points in 28 games. The Alberta native tallied a career-high 93-point season in 2017-18 to become the first player in franchise history to capture the Hart Trophy.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.