After acquiring forward Alex Galchenyuk this offseason, the Pittsburgh Penguins are now looking to trade him, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday's "Headlines" segment."The Penguins are looking around to see what fits are available for him," Friedman said. "Galchenyuk is somebody who could be finding a new home."Galchenyuk, 25, arrived in Pittsburgh last summer from the Arizona Coyotes in the Phil Kessel trade. He's appeared in 21 games for the Penguins, posting two goals and 10 points.The former third overall pick has struggled to both stay healthy and produce with his new team. He has been spending time on the Penguins' fourth line recently and has played less than 10 minutes in five of his last six games."The fact of the matter is, when we're totally healthy, he's going to have to work very hard just to get in the top 12," Penguins GM Jim Rutherford said earlier this week, according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe. "That's just the way it is, because we have a lot of guys playing well."Galchenyuk is in the final season of a three-year, $14.7-million deal.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Darren McCarty believes Mike Babcock cost the club a championship in the 2009 Stanley Cup Final and was anything but the reason Detroit won it all one year prior."Our (dressing) room worked in different ways and when I came back you could tell that things were different, but the thing that didn't change was that guys played for each other," McCarty told Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press."That's the key. In spite of him, right? In spite of him," McCarty added. "And I learned that more getting into '09 because we won in '08 in spite of him and lost in '09 because of him. That’s exactly the thing because he misused (Pavel) Datsyuk, (Henrik) Zetterberg and just because he's stubborn and that was his way."Babcock coached the Red Wings from 2005-15 before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs. McCarty played 11 seasons for Detroit from 1993-2004 before rejoining the club for his final two campaigns.Echoing Nazem Kadri's and Chris Chelios' recent comments, McCarty made clear the problem with Babcock wasn't his coaching ability, but rather his treatment of players."Preparation, Xs and Os, practice, just like the guys say, there's nobody better," McCarty said. "It's unbelievable. But then the ego and the disrespect for people. ... It doesn't matter who you are. It's a personal thing. So it could be the one who changes the garbage and he doesn't change it properly or whatever. … So all that stuff that happened with (Johan Franzen), it doesn't surprise me because I could see how he was as a person."Franzen voiced pointed criticism of his former bench boss earlier this week, confirming Chelios' allegation that Babcock verbally assaulted Franzen and caused him severe mental distress during a playoff series in 2012.McCarty lamented the fact Babcock's behavior wasn't called into question until recently."I could see what had started when I left (after 2004) and it just gradually grew," he said. "That's all it is. And it festered and it festered and it got out of control and the disrespect got out of control and now you're in 2019 with everybody else saying things."I can see how it got here because it was never handled. And that's the sport."Detroit defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games to win the Cup in 2008 before losing a seven-game championship series to the Penguins the following year.Toronto fired Babcock on Nov. 20 amid a six-game losing streak. Less than a week later, Mitch Marner and Babcock himself confirmed reports of the head coach shaming the forward during his rookie season in 2016-17.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains disturbing content.Nikita Zaitsev's agent Dan Milstein said on Friday there's no truth to the story that the Ottawa Senators defenseman kidnapped his own children in Russia.Milstein said the children are at Zaitsev's parents' home in Moscow. He added that Zaitsev's ex-wife, Margo Gotovtseva, knows where the children are and that they're safe.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News sectionLet's keep the momentum going into the weekend after a week when we went 6-0 with in-game bets, 2-0 on in-game props, and 0-1 in player props - though if you backed Patrik Laine to score Tuesday against the Dallas Stars in Winnipeg instead of Thursday in Dallas, it was a clean sweep.Christmas is right around the corner, so let's turn money into more money.Game bettingMontreal Canadiens at New York Rangers (Friday)Don't look now, but the Rangers are really starting to find their groove. This is the second leg of back-to-back games for both teams, and the Canadiens haven't excelled in that situation lately, losing eight of their last nine.The scenario here is different though. Carey Price was spared last night, with head coach Claude Julien opting to save him for this conference game. The Rangers, meanwhile, will be rolling with Henrik Lundqvist. They're 3-6 in Hank's last nine starts, compared to 6-2 in Alexandar Georgiev's last eight. That will be the difference on Friday, with the Habs winning as short road favorites.Toronto Maple Leafs at St. Louis Blues (Saturday)In one of the least shocking developments of the week, it seems firing Mike Babcock didn't magically solve all the Leafs' problems. There are systematic issues in Toronto's own end, and the Blues are exactly the sort of well-coached team that will take advantage. Back them to extend Toronto's skid on Saturday.Colorado Avalanche at Boston Bruins (Saturday)This could be a Stanley Cup Final preview at the Garden. The Avalanche head into Boston on a five-game winning streak, while the Bruins' eight-game winning streak was just snapped on Thursday.Neither of these teams lack star power up front, but stout defensive play has been at the forefront of recent victories. Anticipate a tight game between a pair of disciplined clubs, and back the under in this spot at anything six or higher.San Jose Sharks at Tampa Bay Lightning (Saturday)After closing out November on an 11-2 run, the Sharks have begun this month with successive defeats.The Lightning, meanwhile, desperately need a winning run right now to pull back into the thick of the playoff race. It feels like success will come eventually, but Tampa still hasn't shown enough to make us believe that's imminent. Yet the Lightning continue to be priced closer to the Stanley Cup favorites everyone thought they were than the playoff bubble team they've been thus far.We'll likely get the Sharks at a very lucrative price here that you shouldn't pass up.New York Islanders at Dallas Stars (Saturday)Both of these teams have lofty ambitions this season and are certainly playing up to those standards. This matchup isn't quite Avalanche-Bruins, so let's call it Avs-Bruins lite.The Stars have won 10 of their last 12 at home, while the Islanders are beginning to sputter on the road, losing four of their last five away from home following six consecutive victories. Home ice should be the difference here, so back the Stars in this game between a pair of heavyweights that still might not be getting the respect they deserve.San Jose Sharks at Florida Panthers (Sunday)Logic states there should be plenty of goals scored when these teams meet on Sunday night in Sunrise, but a closer look suggests that might not be the case.The Sharks have allowed only 12 goals in their last six road games, while the Panthers' offense has been drying up a bit. Both backup goalies should start with these teams on the second half of back-to-back games too, which could also contribute to the under. Netminders Aaron Dell and Chris Driedger have been more effective than Martin Jones and Sergei Bobrovsky.Florida is 2-0 to the under with Driedger in net, while three of the Sharks' last four games with Dell in goal have gone under. The under is the play here.Game propsLos Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers (Friday)The last seven meetings between the Kings and Oilers have gone over 1.5 goals in the first period, and that's the play again here. You can also play the over 2.5 goals at +240, which has hit in each of the last five clashes between these teams.Seriously, there have been 21 first-period goals in the last five Kings-Oilers games. Keep riding this train until it hits the station.San Jose Sharks at Tampa Bay Lightning (Saturday)Let's stick with the first-period over here, too.These teams possess plenty of firepower and should be able to put on quite the show Saturday night. The Sharks are 9-5 to the first-period over on the road this season and tend to hit it against the league's higher-scoring teams. Meanwhile, the opening-frame over has cashed in seven of the Lightning's last eight at home.Player propsLos Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames (Saturday)The latest installment of the Drew Doughty vs. Matthew Tkachuk rivalry graces the Saddledome on Saturday.Tkachuk is a fiery enough player that he doesn't need added motivation, but he'll get it in spades here. He scored twice in the first contest between these two clubs in Calgary earlier this season, so let's back him to do that again in this spot for the Flames.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.

Near the end of the 2017-18 NHL season with the Buffalo Sabres, Robin Lehner crashed.The addiction and mental health issues the goaltender had battled throughout his career became overwhelming, and he nearly took his own life.But he reached out and got help instead. He went on to lead the New York Islanders to a surprise playoff berth last season, and he is now starring for the Chicago Blackhawks.He recounted that harrowing chapter of his Sabres tenure in a first-person article for The Athletic published prior to last season. After finding the courage to seek treatment, he knew that going public with his story could help lead others to safety."It was definitely not an easy decision," Lehner said in a telephone interview before this season about revealing his story. "I worked on the actual article for a little bit. There was a lot of emotions because a big majority of all the people around me didn't want me to do it, which was understandable. I wanted to do it, and I thought it was the right thing to do for my rehabilitation. Also, it was the right thing to do for other people - it could help a lot of other people."Lehner spent nearly three months in rehab during the 2018 offseason to treat his addiction to alcohol and sleeping pills, as well as his depression. During treatment, he was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder - a condition in which people experience extreme mood swings, including manic episodes. Exaggerated self-esteem, excessive energy, a reduced need for sleep, and poor judgment are some of the potential symptoms of mania. Like Lehner, most people with bipolar I disorder also experience depressive episodes. The illness is chronic, but treatable.Lehner, who was later also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, is now a trailblazer of sorts. He's the most prominent NHLer to go public about having a mental illness while still playing in the league. Many players have spoken out after their pro careers, but doing so as a 26-year-old about to hit unrestricted free agency created plenty of risk for Lehner; that's why his lawyer, family, and others advised against it.The pressure placed on Lehner to keep quiet about his experiences helps illustrate why it's impossible to know how many other professional athletes have endured something similar. The NHL/NHLPA's assistance program is confidential.Martin Rose / Getty Images"You couldn't tell when you played with him. He's a very intense guy. He's a competitive person. But you wouldn't necessarily know he's struggling," said Cory Conacher, who played with Lehner for two seasons with the Ottawa Senators."I'm sure there's a lot more people out there who haven't spoken out about it. Hopefully what he did will help others come out and help make this thing fade away and make it less and less of a problem to athletes."People who suffer from mental illnesses often do so in silence before getting help. Lehner's status as a high-profile professional athlete means his openness can make a significant impact."One of the biggest problems that we have nationally is a stigma," said Dr. Anita Everett. She's the director of mental health services for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a U.S. government program based in Rockville, Maryland. "That goes to mental health conditions as well as addiction. So we know that's the big reason that a lot of people don’t seek treatment."Having a (person) of celebrity status can be extremely helpful. We've seen a lot of that in the entertainment space. It's fabulous when it happens to professional athletes. They can be tremendous role models. It can be very inspiring for people ... quietly suffering and not seeking treatment."Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesLehner's mental illness and addiction almost killed him, but treatment helped get his life back on track, and he went on to put together the best season of his career in his lone campaign with the Islanders.Lehner was the finalist for the Vezina Trophy awarded to the league's top goalie, and he's maintained his excellent form in Chicago. He is among the league leaders in save percentage (.929) and goals saved above average (9.96).He'll be the first to tell you that a number of factors - including his improved mental health - contributed to his performance between the pipes. But before he hit rock bottom in 2017-18, he was one of the league's more underrated netminders, compiling a .921 save percentage in his first two seasons with the Sabres."People like to forget about that," Lehner said. "My last four years of statistics is pretty good. ... I still feel like I don't get enough credit for the numbers I put up in difficult situations."None of those situations were as difficult for Lehner as early 2018. He was severely depressed and would drink a case of beer a day, according to his piece for The Athletic. This often meant practicing hungover. He stayed away from liquor the night before games, but still needed beer or sleeping pills - often both - in order to fall asleep."That was my medicine," he said, "the beer."Bill Smith / NHL / Getty ImagesEven if Lehner, who won last season's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, had played like an average goalie after speaking out about his mental illness, he would still be a success story."What's really interesting ... is that he did better after treatment and was able to resume with his career," Everett said. "There's a lot of concern that people at that level when they step out, they won't come back. It sounds like his story really demonstrates the value of treatment."Mental health initiatives are still relatively new. World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Awareness Week have been around since the 1990s, but have gathered steam in recent years. Other campaigns, such as Bell Let's Talk Day in Canada, have dominated social media discussions this decade. Celebrities sharing their stories on these occasions can help fight the stigma that's still attached to mental illness."When people are known, they can make a difference," said Dr. Katy Kamkar, a clinical psychologist with the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. "We do know that, for example, whenever we have seen celebrities coming forward … someone that other people can associate with, whether it's mental health or physical health, it does make a difference."Lehner doesn't see himself as any sort of trailblazer or role model; he just hopes the stigma can be erased."If we can change the culture and society's views of these (things) and start cutting down all the bullshit, just change the perception a bit, that's gonna make the most change for everyone," Lehner said.With files from John MatiszCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Andreas Johnsson on long-term injured reserve with a leg injury and recalled Nic Petan, Pontus Aberg, and Martin Marincin from the AHL's Toronto Marlies, the team announced Friday.Johnsson suffered a leg injury after blocking a shot Wednesday night against the Colorado Avalanche. He'll be reassessed following the Christmas break.The 25-year-old has lined up alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander for the majority of the year, recording 16 points in 30 games.Petan and Marincin have bounced between the Leafs and the Marlies throughout the season, combining for 20 games played with the big club.Aberg signed with Toronto in the offseason but hasn't been given a shot with the Maple Leafs yet. He leads the Marlies in scoring with 24 points in 22 contests.Toronto returns to action Saturday night in St. Louis, having collected just four wins in its last 13 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi suffered a concussion on the hit that forced him to exit Thursday's game versus the Colorado Avalanche, reports The Athletic's Arpon Basu.Avs defender Nikita Zadorov drove Kotkaniemi hard into the boards in the first period, and the center was flipped upside down while falling to the ice.

Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien didn't hide his displeasure with Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov following Thursday's contest.Zadorov caught Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi with a heavy hit that forced the Finn from the game after just 47 seconds. The collision caused Kotkaniemi to flip and land awkwardly on his head."(Zadorov's) leg went up and he used his upper body to flip him, and to me, that's a dirty hit," Julien said, according to Sportsnet."I don't know how the league is going to see it, that's up to them to look at it. But when I talk to our people, to upper management and all that stuff, we seem to think that's definitely a suspendable move on his part ... it's a dangerous play.Julien also confirmed Kotkaniemi will not travel with the Canadiens when they visit the New York Rangers on Friday.Kotkaniemi has already lost seven games to injury this season and has struggled to find his offensive touch. The 19-year-old has accrued just three goals and five points through 22 contests after a 34-point rookie campaign in 2018-19.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi was ruled out with an upper-body injury after falling hard on a hit from Nikita Zadorov during Thursday's contest versus the Colorado Avalanche.Kotkaniemi will not travel with the team for Friday's game against the New York Rangers, head coach Claude Julien said postgame.

The Arizona Coyotes are definitely interested in trading for New Jersey Devils star Taylor Hall, TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."Hall, 28, is in the final year of his current deal, which carries an annual cap hit of $6 million. He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in July, and Devils GM Ray Shero is reportedly listening to potential offers for the blue-chip winger.The Devils entered the 2019-20 campaign with high expectations after being one of the most aggressive teams in the offseason. But New Jersey has stumbled to a 9-14-4 record through 27 contests and sits second-last in the NHL entering Thursday's action.Arizona, on the other hand, has enjoyed a strong start to the season as it looks to end a seven-year playoff drought. The Coyotes have been one of the league's best defensive teams but rank 23rd in goals-per-game and could use an offensive boost.Coyotes general manager John Chayka added perennial goal-scorer Phil Kessel in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins in July, and his apparent interest in Hall seems to indicate Arizona is all-in on this season; the Coyotes are currently projected by CapFriendly to have just $785,000 in cap space for 2020-21 - the first season of Hall's next contract.Hall captured the 2018 Hart Trophy as league MVP with a career-best 93-point campaign. The Alberta native leads the Devils with 22 points this season but has mustered just four goals in 27 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche forwards Gabriel Landeskog and Andre Burakovsky returned to the lineup for Thursday night's game against the Montreal Canadiens.Landeskog, 27, hasn't played since suffering a lower-body injury on Oct. 26. The Avalanche went 9-6-1 during his absence. The Colorado captain has seven points in 11 games so far this season.Burakovsky missed the last three games due to an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old winger has recorded 21 points in 24 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL defenseman Brent Sopel released a statement Wednesday adding context to his comments from last year about Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Marc Crawford, who is currently being investigated by the team after allegations that he was abusive toward players during his long career as a head coach with other franchises.Former NHLer Sean Avery recently said that Crawford kicked him so hard it "left a mark" when Crawford was head coach of the Los Angeles Kings in 2006. Sopel played under Crawford during his tenures with the Kings and the Vancouver Canucks. In a 2018 appearance on the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, Sopel said the coach had kicked, choked, and verbally abused him.Sopel's quotes attracted plenty of recent attention in light of Crawford being investigated. He posted a statement Wednesday on Twitter that credited Crawford for making him a better player, noted that he'd talked about his experiences "as a former NHL defenseman, not as a victim," and clarified that he won't comment on how the coach impacted others."I told some stories from many years ago about my time as a professional hockey player," Sopel said of his podcast appearance. "I shared those stories to entertain the listeners. I told those stories as a former NHL defenseman, not as a victim."The stories that I shared ... have recently been cited alongside accusations made by other players against coach Marc Crawford. It was not my intent to make any allegations against anyone or any organization. I was only speaking to how Coach Crawford affected me. I cannot speak for how others were affected by him. I played hundreds of games for Coach Crawford, including a season where I posted 42 points. He found ways to motivate me and make me a better player. He molded me into a player that went on to win a Stanley Cup in Chicago."I recognize and respect that different coaching tactics affect people in different ways. Just as I prefer others not speak on my behalf about my life experiences, I will not comment on Coach Crawford's impact on other players. Those are not my stories to tell."Time has a way of changing people and the way that we do things."Crawford, 58, oversaw 1,169 games as a head coach and won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. He joined the Blackhawks' staff this past summer.Sopel played 659 NHL games and recorded 218 points over a career that featured stints with the Canucks, Kings, Islanders, Blackhawks, Thrashers, and Canadiens. His final season in the league was 2010-11.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All it took was half a period with a healthy Mitch Marner.Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe on Wednesday did what his predecessor, Mike Babcock, rarely dared to do during his tenure in Toronto: He paired center Auston Matthews with the fourth-year winger - who'd been sidelined by injury during the coaching change - and let the two franchise cornerstones mingle for a few even-strength shifts.The Matthews-Marner Show was spotty in a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, but that's beside the point. To Leafs fans, the mere sight of No. 34 beside No. 16 registered as a key moment. It represented change. For the past two weeks, Keefe's open-mindedness, which has included a willingness to tinker with line combinations mid-game, has been on full display, a stark contrast to Babcock's infamously rigid approach to running a bench.Kevin Sousa / Getty ImagesIt's not all sunshine and rainbows, mind you. The Leafs have lost three of their last four games and own a 4-3 record under Keefe. All that said, as Toronto prepares for a four-game road trip starting Saturday, let's take a look at what's changed and what's stayed the same in the very early days of the Keefe era.What's changed?With Keefe at the controls, the 2019-20 Leafs look unshackled.Where Babcock had the skill-laden club playing a more traditional, north-south brand of hockey, Keefe's preaching a style better aligned with the roster's strengths. The new guy has given players the green light to hold onto the puck for an extra second, attempt an extra deke, and generally move through the three zones of the ice as a mobile, cohesive five-man unit.Keefe's system promotes regrouping when the situation warrants a reset. The rationale is simple: keeping the puck on a Leafs player's stick is better than dumping it into the offensive zone with no concrete retrieval plan. The rookie NHL coach also wants his defensemen to engage in the attacking side of the game by joining the play or handling the puck. Creativity is a major theme.The clip below, pulled from Toronto's 5-3 win over Colorado on Nov. 23, is an example of Keefe's instructions coming to life. The offensive blue line is an area of the rink normally reserved for low-risk plays, like a dump-in or a point shot, yet the Leafs choose to cycle the puck horizontally. In a span of 10 seconds, Matthews, defenseman Justin Holl, winger William Nylander, and defenseman Jake Muzzin get at least one touch each as they collectively search for a prime shooting opportunity.Your browser does not support the video tag. Being encouraged to play a possession-focused brand of hockey has undoubtedly been a breath of fresh air for the group, most notably defenseman Travis Dermott and wingers Ilya Mikheyev and Andreas Johnsson. All three of them thrive off constant puck movement and by filling space. Even in practice, there's been a strong emphasis placed on skill development. This switch has made coming to work more enjoyable for a squad built on general manager Kyle Dubas' philosophy of skill over brawn.Simply having the GM and coach on the same page has resulted in fourth-line forward and Babcock favorite Nick Shore leaving the club via waivers, AHLer Pierre Engvall earning a regular spot in the lineup - and his first NHL goal - and a guy like Holl seeing his role change and his nightly workload increase. Holl, who dressed for only 11 games last year, has averaged 17 minutes a night under Keefe, an addition of nearly three minutes per contest. The big blue-liner has been deployed in a more defensive role, too, and he hasn't disappointed, posting some of the best underlying numbers on the team.Mark Blinch / Getty ImagesAlso, it's fair to suggest Tyson Barrie was significantly miscast prior to Keefe's arrival. The dynamic defenseman was acquired by Dubas this past summer to complement Toronto's stacked forward group. Yet, under Babcock, he started only 58% of his five-on-five shifts in the offensive zone. Through seven games of the Keefe era, he's up to 71% and has bagged three goals in the process.Keefe will have more opportunities for change in the coming days, weeks, and months, since he's only had Marner healthy for one game and has yet to have the injured Trevor Moore, a solid bottom-six contributor, available. The Leafs have rarely iced a completely healthy lineup all season, which has thrown a wrench into various personnel decisions.One of the main issues the Leafs exhibited under Babcock was, as he used to say, "starting on time." Toronto scored only 37% of the first-period goals over a 23-game stretch with Babcock while surrendering the first goal of the contest 18 times. With Keefe, the sluggishness is less evident, as the Leafs have scored 90% of the first-period goals in seven games while surrendering the first goal just three times.It's mighty early in the Keefe era, but clearly progress is being made.What's the same?For all the positives attached to Keefe's honeymoon phase, there have been a few hiccups.The GM, coach, and players are working off the same playbook, yet old warts remain. The team is still on the outside of the playoffs; winning four of seven games hasn't gotten them closer to the postseason. They're now 30 games into an 82-game schedule. The urgency to win is increasing by the week.Kevin Sousa / Getty ImagesToronto's backup goaltending problem remains. Michael Hutchinson owns a woeful .876 save percentage and has failed to record a win in six starts. Circumstances are so dire that Frederik Andersen asked Keefe to let him play both games in the club's most recent back-to-back set.The Leafs' special teams have been solid yet unremarkable since the coaching change. Toronto's 15th-ranked power play has scored three times on 10 opportunities, and the penalty kill, ranked 26th, has allowed just two goals during the opposition's 16 power-play opportunities.However, the Leafs coughed up a shorthanded goal Wednesday that proved to be the game-winner for Colorado, so it's difficult to hand out any gold stars for the special teams. Here's the cringeworthy blunder:Your browser does not support the video tag. Attention to detail on the defensive side of the puck is one thing to keep an eye on. The 13-13-4 Leafs have wrestled with limiting turnovers all season long. Although turnovers are bound to happen when you possess the puck as much as the new-look Leafs, the team's running theme has been overlooking details, which was punctuated earlier this week during the "unacceptable" end to a 6-1 loss to the Flyers.The NHL's official scorers counted 12 giveaways per game under Babcock. Keefe's tenure hasn't produced as many - 8.9 per game - but his keep-away style is a dangerous manner in which to operate. The possession-hungry Leafs need to be mindful of the consequences of playing a high-risk game.The ability to manage that push-and-pull, balancing a creative style of play while trying to limit turnovers, is what's to be determined about this version of the 2019-20 Leafs. The adjustments made by Keefe make sense and, boy, is this team aesthetically pleasing. But the results must follow sooner rather than later.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars forward Alexander Radulov is a healthy scratch Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, head coach Jim Montgomery said, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro.Montgomery added that the move is what's best for the team.Radulov declined to comment on the matter through the Stars' public relations department.After compiling 70-plus points in each of his first two seasons in Dallas, Radulov has eight goals and seven assists in 29 contests this year. The 33-year-old is in the third season of a five-year contract that carries an annual cap hit of $6.25 million.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nathan MacKinnon is arguably the league's most underpaid player, but he says he isn't looking to make up for that on his next contract.The Colorado Avalanche superstar is owed $6.3 million per season through the 2022-23 campaign after signing a seven-year, $44.1-million deal in 2016. His $6.3-million cap hit makes him the 82nd-highest-paid player in the NHL even though he's blossomed into a perennial Hart Trophy candidate."We have guys that we wouldn't (otherwise) be able to bring in," MacKinnon told Forbes' Jordan Horrobin on Wednesday in Toronto. "On my next deal, I'll take less again. Because I want to win with this group."There's some irony in MacKinnon saying this while paying a visit to the Maple Leafs. Toronto rosters three of the league's seven highest-paid players by annual cap hit in Auston Matthews ($11.634 million), John Tavares ($11 million), and Mitch Marner ($10.893 million).The Avalanche are one of the few NHL contenders that isn't in dire cap trouble. MacKinnon's cap hit - which could have theoretically doubled by now had he signed a bridge deal instead of a long-term extension - is a big reason why."I was just excited to get paid that much money at such a young age," the 24-year-old said. "Obviously it's pretty (team) friendly now, but I was worth that at the time. … I have no regrets."MacKinnon won the Calder Trophy awarded to the league's top rookie in 2013-14, but he didn't enjoy a breakout season until his 97-point 2017-18 campaign.Bridge deals were popular in this offseason's stacked class of restricted free agents. Matthew Tkachuk, Patrik Laine, Brayden Point, Charlie McAvoy, and Zach Werenski were among those who signed contracts of two or three years, setting themselves up for bigger paydays down the road.Many of these players missed a large chunk of training camp and preseason during negotiations. MacKinnon's linemate Mikko Rantanen signed a six-year, $55.5-million pact less than a week before the start of the regular season."I think you want to get paid what you're worth," MacKinnon said. "I'd probably do the same thing. If a team isn't paying you what you think you're worth, holding out is something (players) are entitled to. … I think it's going to continue that way."MacKinnon is currently tied for third in the NHL with 44 points while the Avalanche hold second place in the Central Division with a record of 17-8-2.(Salary information source: CapFriendly)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators assigned defenseman Erik Brannstrom to the AHL on Thursday, the team announced.Brannstrom had recorded a pair of assists in 23 games while averaging 13:35 per game.The 20-year-old Swede was the centerpiece return chip in the deal that sent Mark Stone to the Vegas Golden Knights at last season's trade deadline. Vegas drafted Brannstrom 15th overall in 2017.Brannstrom totaled 32 points in 50 AHL games a season ago.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A Minnesota judge ruled Wednesday that a former member of the "Miracle on Ice" 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, Mark Pavelich, is mentally ill and dangerous, according to Pam Louwagie of the Minnesota Star Tribune.The judge ordered the 61-year-old committed to a secure treatment facility.Pavelich faced criminal charges that he beat a friend with a metal pole after accusing him of "spiking his beer." His friend suffered cracked ribs, a bruised kidney, and a fractured vertebra.Judge Michael Cuzzo deemed Pavelich incompetent to stand trial based on an expert report, concluding that he was "incapable of participating in the defense due to mental illness or deficiency." The case was put on hold while the state moved to civilly commit him to treatment.Pavelich's family is convinced he suffers from CTE after repeated concussions and blows to the head sustained during his hockey career. They started to see changes over the last few years but he has refused help. CTE can only be diagnosed after death.A pair of clinical psychologists who examined Pavelich found him to have post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as other conditions, according to the judge's order. Both psychologists considered him to be mentally ill and dangerous.Psychologist Chris Bowerman found Pavelich to have delusions and paranoia, including a delusion that family, friends, and neighbors tried to poison him.Psychologist Jacqueline Buffington found he suffers from "mild neurocognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injury with behavioral disturbance (psychotic symptoms, aggression)," and believes his condition is likely related to head injuries suffered over his lifetime.Pavelich had seven points in seven games during the 1980 Olympics. He assisted on Mike Eruzione's game-winning goal during the U.S.'s famous 4-3 upset victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union. The Americans then went on to defeat Finland to win gold.Pavelich played five seasons for the New York Rangers and one apiece with the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks. He tallied 329 points in 355 career games and fought nine times, according to hockeyfights.com.The NHL agreed to a maximum settlement of just under $19 million in its concussion lawsuit last year involving hundreds of players. The league didn't admit to any wrongdoing, however.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs turned to Frederik Andersen in goal for the second consecutive night as they take on the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.Andersen started Tuesday's 6-1 loss in Philadelphia, but head coach Sheldon Keefe said the netminder asked to suit up again in order "to be in the fight with the guys," according to NHL.com's Dave McCarthy.The Leafs crumbled in the third period versus the Flyers, allowing five goals after tying the score at 1-1 midway through the final frame. Following the embarrassing defeat, Auston Matthews said the team "just folded."Toronto initially planned to start backup Michael Hutchinson, who is 0-5-1 this season with an .876 save percentage and a 4.55 goals-against average.Andersen is 13-6-3 with a .917 save percentage in 22 games played.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mitch Marner is back.The Toronto Maple Leafs activated him from injured reserve Wednesday. Head coach Sheldon Keefe later told reporters, including NHL.com's Dave McCarthy, that Marner will be in the lineup against the Colorado Avalanche for the evening's game.Marner missed the last 11 contests with an ankle injury. He was hurt during a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 9.The Maple Leafs went 4-7-0 in his absence. That interval includes the team's sixth consecutive loss Nov. 19, after which the club fired Mike Babcock and replaced him with Keefe.Toronto placed Marner on long-term injured reserve with an expected initial recovery timeline of four weeks on Nov. 10. He was eligible to be activated off LTIR as of Wednesday.The 22-year-old ranks third among Leafs skaters in assists (14) and fifth in points (18) this season despite his absence from the lineup.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.Last week, we dove into advanced stats to find value in the current Stanley Cup market, identifying four buy-low teams that have had bad puck luck and are due for positive regression. I sincerely hope you locked in your Vegas Golden Knights tickets, because they're about to go on a run.This week, we shift gears and examine three teams being offered well below what their market values should be. These teams sport better records than their underlying numbers indicate or have seen any value in their Stanley Cup odds sapped by public perception. Such clubs need to be avoided in the futures market, at least until their odds lengthen appropriately.St. Louis Blues (10-1)Let's start by making one thing clear: The Blues are a very good hockey team and are capable of repeating as Stanley Cup champions. To suggest otherwise would be foolish. There's your disclaimer. Now let's pick apart the defending champs.The Blues really haven't missed a beat since winning the Cup in June. They continue to rack up signature wins, beating Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and Dallas within the last week despite injuries to a number of top players; it seems they're again the cream of the crop in the west. Remind me why I'm advising against backing them, again? Oh right, the underlying numbers.Teams are scoring on just 11.62% of their high-danger scoring chances against the Blues this season, the lowest mark in the league. St. Louis has posted the league's second-highest SCSV% (percentage of scoring-chance shots against that weren't goals) and second-lowest HDCF% (rate of high-danger scoring chances for versus against). They're bottom 10 in xGF (expected goals for) and among the 10 worst in xGA (expected goals against), yet just five teams have allowed fewer five-on-five goals.St. Louis is certainly due for regression, but it's hard to doubt this team. If anything, the Blues are a prime example of advanced stats telling only part of the story. They have a deep roster, a great goalie, and perhaps an even better coach. Still, it would be naive to throw these stats out the window. This isn't to say bettors should back off the Blues entirely, but they should exercise caution, especially at such a short price.Toronto Maple Leafs (12-1)As was expected, Mike Babcock's departure - and Sheldon Keefe's subsequent arrival - galvanized the Maple Leafs, who won their first three games under Keefe and outscored opponents 14-4 over that stretch. But the honeymoon has ended, and for all of Babcock's shortcomings as a person, fans will soon realize this team's issues didn't simply start and end with its former coach.The roster has some obvious weaknesses that general manager Kyle Dubas continues to neglect. Until he does, it doesn't matter who's behind the bench. The Maple Leafs lack physicality, energy, and depth - not a recipe for playoff success. Even more concerning is their inability to play in their own end. No team has allowed more high-danger goals at five-on-five this season.Toronto has allowed the sixth-most high-danger chances (HDCA) and the fifth-most goals at five-on-five. Those figures are right in line with the team's xGA, so they can't be chalked up to bad luck. It's simply bad hockey. It doesn't matter how talented the Maple Leafs' top two forward lines are - though they're still middle of the pack in xGF - if they can't keep the puck out of their own net.Defensive breakdowns and mental lapses have become far too commonplace to even consider backing Toronto at a very unfavorable 12-1. The Maple Leafs currently sit outside of a playoff spot and have shown nothing to warrant a price in the same region as the Blues, Washington Capitals, or Colorado Avalanche.Winnipeg Jets (20-1)If you haven't jumped ship on the Jets yet, you'll probably live to regret it. Nothing about their underlying numbers flatters them. Winnipeg ranks 12th in the league in five-on-five goals and has allowed the ninth-fewest against. Those are respectable marks, but both are due for considerable regression: The Jets are fourth-last in xGF and own the highest xGA mark in the NHL. And that's only scraping the surface.Winnipeg ranks sixth in SCSV%, fourth in HDCA, and fifth in both HDSH% (high-danger chances that resulted in goals for) and HDSV% (high-danger chances against that did not result in goals). They also have the worst HDCF% in the league. Even with the help of these unsustainable rates, the Jets currently hold just a four-point cushion for a playoff spot. That has to concern even the most optimistic of fans.You could do a lot better than Winnipeg at 20-1; the Jets have no business being priced alongside the likes of the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, or Philadelphia Flyers.*all stats above courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and only include 5v5Alex 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.

Nazem Kadri acknowledges Mike Babcock's behavior wasn't always ideal.The Colorado Avalanche forward didn't say no when asked if some of his former bench boss' tactics to get the best out of players crossed a line."Sometimes," Kadri told the assembled media, including Sportsnet, after Colorado's morning skate in Toronto ahead of the center's highly anticipated return."I think Babs is a good coach. I just ... sometimes his methods, I think, weren't the greatest. That's just the fine line between players and coaches. I think as a coach, you've got to take that responsibility to kind of have your players' backs, and that's when you get the best out of them."The Maple Leafs fired Babcock on Nov. 20 after suffering their sixth consecutive loss the night before.Less than a week later, the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan reported Babcock had shamed a rookie in 2016-17 by asking him to rank his teammates by work ethic and then sharing the list with the team. The Athletic's Ian Tulloch later reported the rookie was Mitch Marner.On Monday, former NHLers Chris Chelios and Johan Franzen came forward with unflattering accounts of Babcock's tactics during his tenure with the Detroit Red Wings.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets plucked forward Nick Shore off the wire on Wednesday, the club announced.Winnipeg wasn't the only team interested in his services, as at least one other team put a claim in, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The Toronto Maple Leafs placed him on waivers Tuesday. The 27-year-old produced only three points while logging the second-lowest average ice time (9:13) on the team in 21 games this season.Toronto signed Shore to a one-year, $750,000 contract in July.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane won't miss any games for his hit on Washington Capitals defenseman Radko Gudas.Kane was fined $5,000 for elbowing Gudas on Tuesday night, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.The hit occurred late in the third period, and replays showed Kane catching Gudas with a blow to the head.

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.Canadian Hockey League president Dan MacKenzie joins this week's show to discuss a variety of junior hockey topics, including:

Akim Aliu had a positive outlook following a meeting at the NHL offices in New York on Tuesday."I want to thank everyone for their support. It obviously means a lot to me," the former player said, according to TSN's Matthew Scianitti. "It's been a tough week, but we had some great discussions with (NHL commissioner) Gary (Bettman) and (deputy commissioner) Bill (Daly). They couldn't have been kinder and receptive to the message we're trying to bring."He added, "I think there is some big change coming. It's long overdue, and I'm excited to see it come to fruition."The 30-year-old also expressed his optimism on Twitter.

Auston Matthews didn't mince words when assessing the Toronto Maple Leafs' late-game effort in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers."We just folded, kind of just quit," Matthews said postgame, according to TSN's Mark Masters.Matthews added, "We can't be doing that, not to a guy like (Frederik Andersen), not to our starting goalie. Have to have a little more pride than that."The Leafs allowed five third-period goals, with four coming in the final 3:28. The Flyers scored an empty-netter to extend their lead to 4-1 then, with Andersen back, added two more just 12 seconds apart to complete the blowout."We have to play to that last minute, because that's just unacceptable," Matthews said. "We just left him out to dry ... suddenly the score's 6-1 so that's on us. That just can't happen."It was the Maple Leafs' worst showing under new head coach Sheldon Keefe, who denounced the way his team closed out the contest."Our response, our reaction after giving up the empty-net goal is not what we want to be about," Keefe said, per Masters."We want to be a team of high character and (a group) that cares for one another and we just left our goaltender completely out to dry there and stopped playing," Keefe added.Toronto will look to bounce back Wednesday when they host Nazem Kadri and the Colorado Avalanche.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero has seen enough.After the 57-year-old executive fired head coach John Hynes on Tuesday following Monday's embarrassing 7-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, he ripped into his players for their role in the club's 9-13-4 start."The Ranger game was disconcerting as well, but the Buffalo (loss), I'm not even sure how to explain that one," Shero said."We can't make a 5-foot pass," he added.The Devils have failed to meet expectations after a busy offseason, during which they added forwards Nikita Gusev and 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes along with All-Star defenseman P.K. Subban."Collectively ... I don't think there's any one player that is performing even at the level, let alone above, that we'd expect or maybe they'd expect and that's the thing that's disappointing," Shero said.When asked about the slow start from star winger Taylor Hall, who has been mentioned in reported trade rumors, Shero reiterated he expects more out of everyone."It's not even one particular player, it's almost everybody, and that's the frustrating and confounding thing for both the players and us," he added.Assistant Alain Nasreddine was named interim head coach following Hynes' dismissal.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton confirmed Tuesday that defenseman Duncan Keith will be sidelined for at least two more games, according to team insider Carter Baum.Keith, 36, suffered a groin injury Nov. 29 against the Colorado Avalanche and has missed the club's last two contests.The two-time Norris Trophy winner has declined offensively but remains the Blackhawks' most steady fixture on the blue line. Keith has logged a team-high 23:51 of ice time per game and ranks second on the club with 44 blocked shots through 25 outings this season.Keith joins a few other key pieces on the injury list, as forwards Dylan Strome, Drake Caggiula, and Andrew Shaw are all in concussion protocol.The Blackhawks have lost six of their last seven games and travel to Boston for a matchup with the league-leading Bruins on Thursday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Details about Patric Hornqvist's latest injury are crystalizing.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward is dealing with a knee injury and is expected to miss around a month, The Athletic's Josh Yohe reports.Head coach Mike Sullivan said Tuesday that Hornqvist would be out "longer term" with what he deemed a lower-body ailment after falling in practice Monday.The 32-year-old has contributed 11 points in 20 games in 2019-20. He missed seven contests in November with a separate ailment.Pittsburgh has been ravaged by injuries this season. Sidney Crosby, Justin Schultz, and Brian Dumoulin are among the Penguins players currently on the shelf, while Evgeni Malkin was forced to miss 11 games earlier in the campaign, and Kris Letang returned to action last Wednesday after sitting out eight contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils have dismissed head coach John Hynes and named Alain Nasreddine interim bench boss, the club announced Tuesday.The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Devils 7-1 on Monday night, dropping New Jersey's record to 9-13-4 ahead of Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights.Hynes was in his fifth season behind New Jersey's bench. During that span, the Devils went 150-159-45 and missed the playoffs in all but one campaign, in which the Tampa Bay Lightning knocked them out of the first round in five games.Expectations were high in New Jersey following an active summer. The club landed P.K. Subban and Nikita Gusev on the trade market and drafted Jack Hughes first overall.However, the Devils stumbled out of the gate, losing their first six games and nine of their first 11 contests to start the season.The New Jersey job was Hynes' first as an NHL head coach.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets' shorthanded defense corps will now be tested even further.Head coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday that Dmitry Kulikov will be out "until around the All-Star break" with the injury he suffered during Friday night's win over the Anaheim Ducks. This year's All-Star weekend takes place Jan. 24 and 25 in St. Louis.Kulikov left that game after Ducks forward Carter Rowney hit him hard in the first period. The veteran kept his left arm down at his side while skating off, according to the Winnipeg Sun's Scott Billeck.The Jets called it an upper-body ailment at the time, and Kulikov didn't play in a loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.The 29-year-old, who's not known for his offense, has recorded four points in 25 contests this season. He ranks third among Jets blue-liners in ice time while logging nearly 20 minutes per game.Winnipeg's back end has already been thinned out after an injury to Nathan Beaulieu, the offseason departures of Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers, and Ben Chiarot, and Dustin Byfugilen being away from the team all season amid his uncertain future.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames forward Matt Stajan officially announced his retirement from professional hockey on Tuesday after 14 NHL seasons."Thank you to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames organizations for giving me the opportunity to play and compete in the best league in the world," Stajan said. "I wore both jerseys with great pride, and I will be forever grateful for the experiences that came along with that. Also, thank you EHC Red Bull Munich - it was a great experience to play overseas for such a great organization."Drafted 57th overall by the Maple Leafs in 2002, Stajan spent five full seasons in Toronto before a midseason trade to Calgary, where he played eight-plus campaigns for the Flames. He concluded his pro career in Germany, playing 52 games for Munich in 2018-19.Stajan suited up in 1,003 NHL games, posting 147 goals and 264 assists.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Keith Kinkaid will try to rediscover his game in the minors.The Montreal Canadiens have assigned the veteran goaltender to their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. Kinkaid went unclaimed on waivers before Tuesday's deadline.Montreal placed him on the wire Monday. Afterward, Canadiens head coach Claude Julien said this would give Kinkaid the opportunity to play more often and "hopefully get his game back in sync."The 30-year-old backup has an .875 save percentage and just one win in six NHL games this season.On July 1, Montreal signed Kinkaid to a one-year, $1.75-million contract.The Canadiens recalled their top goaltending prospect, Cayden Primeau, from Laval on Monday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Nolan Patrick spoke with media about his lingering migraine disorder for the first time Tuesday, saying he believes he'll be able to suit up this season."I'm not gonna go too much into my symptoms or what I have but it's obviously frustrating," Patrick said, according to the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac. "It's not an injury where you're gonna be back in six weeks. There's no time frame to it."Obviously I'm hoping to get back soon and I believe I'll play this year so that's something I'm trying to stick with."Patrick, 21, was diagnosed with the disorder in late September and has been listed by the Flyers as week-to-week ever since. He's started skating again but hasn't been cleared for contact or practiced with the team."Obviously I'm not gonna go into too much detail but there's obviously a lot of things I've had to change," Patrick said. "It's an annoying process. It's (crappy). Hopefully, I get back soon."Patrick, the second overall pick of the 2017 NHL Draft, is in his third NHL season. He posted a career-high 31 points in 72 games last season and is due for a new contract as a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the 2019-20 campaign.The Flyers currently sit third in the Metropolitan Division with a 15-7-5 record through 27 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen told Swedish publication Expressen on Monday that ex-Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock is "the worst person I have ever met," as translated by the outlet.On a recent episode of the Spittin Chiclets podcast, Franzen's former teammate Chris Chelios said Babcock "verbally assaulted" Franzen during the 2012 playoffs while serving as bench boss in Detroit, causing him to have a "nervous breakdown.""I get the shivers when I think about it," Franzen said. "That incident occurred against Nashville in the playoffs. It was coarse, nasty, and shocking. But that was just one out of a hundred things he did. The tip of the iceberg."He would lay into a couple of the other players. The nice team players, the guys who don't say very much. When they left the team he went on to focus on me. It was verbal attacks, he said horrible things."Franzen admitted that as a coach, Babcock was "meticulous and well prepared" but said "he's a terrible person, the worst I've ever met. He's a bully who was attacking people."The Swedish winger claims Babcock's tirades began one year prior to the event in Nashville and got so bad he struggled to get out of bed."From 2011 on, I was terrified of being at the rink," Franzen said. "That’s when he got on me the first time. I just focused on getting out of bed every morning from that moment. Last year I could sleep naturally for the first time since then."It was just his attacks, playing in my head. Each and every day."Babcock was fired by the Maple Leafs on Nov. 20. Just days after his removal, it was revealed that in 2016, the former bench boss made then-rookie forward Mitch Marner rank his teammates by work ethic before showing the list to the players on it.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights acquired forward Chandler Stephenson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2021, the team announced Monday.Vegas assigned forward Nicolas Roy to the AHL's Chicago Wolves in a corresponding move.Stephenson, 25, has contributed three goals and four points through 24 games in a depth role with the Capitals this season.The 6-foot center helped Washington capture its first Stanley Cup in 2018, collecting two goals and seven points over 24 playoff contests.Stephenson signed a one-year, $1.05-million deal with the Capitals in July and is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks will be conducting a thorough review of assistant coach Marc Crawford in the wake of allegations regarding his conduct while with the Los Angeles Kings, the team announced Monday.Crawford will be away from the Blackhawks during the process, the team added.Former Kings forward Sean Avery accused Crawford of kicking him during a game while he served as head coach more than a decade ago."This was right after I (messed) up a drill and dumped the puck into the wrong corner, and it landed on Crow’s head and cut him for six (stitches)," the retired enforcer told the New York Post's Larry Brooks on Saturday. "He kicked me during a game."Avery then went on to clarify the circumstances of the event, saying Crawford's actions came after a bad penalty he took that resulted in a power-play goal against."No, he kicked me after a too-many-men-on-the-ice call I took," Avery said. "He didn’t have me serve it, we got scored on, and he let me have it. You know how I stand at the end of the bench? He came down and gave me an ass kick that left a mark."According to Brooks, the altercation took place on Dec. 23, 2006, during a game between the Kings and Nashville Predators.Avery's accusations don't mark the first time a player has come forward regarding Crawford's conduct.Ex-NHLer Daniel Carcillo posted a transcript of former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Brent Sopel discussing Crawford's troubling behavior over one year ago on the Spittin Chiclets podcast."He kicked me, he choked me, he grabbed the back of my jersey and pulled me back. He attacked guys personally," Sopel said of Crawford, who served as Canucks head coach from 1998-06."He said, 'You're terrible, you do nothing. You don't shoot hard, you don't skate hard, you don't pass hard, you do absolutely nothing. You have no hope of an NHL career, so you're heading to the minors. See you later.'"I thought the NHL was no hope after that meeting," Sopel said.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not all heroes wear capes, and Mark Borowiecki is perfect evidence of that.During the Ottawa Senators' off day Sunday in Vancouver, Borowiecki saw a person break into a car and steal a backpack. As the suspect attempted to flee, the veteran defenseman clotheslined the thief off a bike and wrestled him to the ground. Borowiecki retrieved the stolen bag, which contained passports, according to TSN 1200 and Sportsnet's Dan Murphy.Vancouver police confirmed that Borowiecki assisted in retrieving stolen property.Fittingly, the defenseman's nickname is "Borocop," according to The Athletic's Hailey Salvian.Borowiecki is 6-foot-1 and weighs 207 pounds. Known as one of the league's toughest players, he's been in 50 scraps during his nine-year career, according to hockeyfights.com.The 30-year-old has skated in 27 games with the Sens this season, recording 10 points - one shy of his career high.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens recalled goaltender Cayden Primeau from the AHL's Laval Rocket on Monday, the club announced.Backup netminder Keith Kinkaid was placed on waivers earlier Monday after posting a .875 save percentage and 4.24 goals-against average over six games.Primeau, whose father Keith played 15 seasons in the NHL, is Montreal's top goalie prospect. He's risen through the ranks after the Canadiens drafted him in the seventh round - 199th overall - in 2017.Following his draft year, Primeau played two seasons at Northeastern University, winning the Mike Richter Award as the nation's top goaltender after posting a .933 save percentage over 36 games in 2018-19. He turned pro this season with the Rocket and registered a .910 save percentage in 12 contests.The Athletic's Corey Pronman had Primeau ranked as his fourth-best goalie prospect in the NHL entering the 2019-20 campaign.Although Primeau is just 20 years old, he could potentially help take the burden off a struggling Carey Price amid Montreal's eight-game losing streak.Additionally, forward Matthew Peca was also recalled from the AHL.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chris Chelios has made his feelings on Mike Babcock known before, but he's going into more detail now that the former NHL head coach is coming under fire for his handling of players.The Hall of Fame defenseman, who played for Babcock with the Detroit Red Wings for four seasons near the end of his career, opened up about his former bench boss on the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast."What's come up here in Toronto … it's coming back to haunt Babcock for not so much his coaching as the way he treated people,” Chelios said.“What he did to (Mike) Modano was incredibly disrespectful," he added. "What he did to, just recently, (Jason) Spezza in Toronto, those were the things that are so unnecessary."Last week, just days after Babcock was fired as head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it was revealed that he had shamed Mitch Marner in 2016 by asking the then-rookie to make a list ranking his teammates by work ethic before Babcock shared it with the players at the bottom of the list.Babcock said last week that he apologized to Marner at the time.The longtime bench boss made Modano a healthy scratch with 1,499 games played and the forward ultimately never reached the 1,500-game milestone. Earlier this season, Babcock made Spezza a healthy scratch for the season opener against Spezza's former team, the Ottawa Senators.Chelios said that after one disagreement with the coach early in his Red Wings tenure, Babcock told him, "If you don't like it, you can go see (general manager) Kenny Holland. I'm sure he'll trade you."The legendary blue-liner also called it "so unnecessary" that Babcock tried to make him a healthy scratch for the 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago because he knew it was Chelios' hometown. Babcock eventually relented, but he benched Chelios after the opening shift.Chelios said in 2017 that no veteran free agent would "want to come in and play for" Babcock.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A medical mix-up last year briefly gave Ottawa Senators forward Tyler Ennis the impression his ankle injury was much worse than it was.After taking a shot off his right ankle in December 2018, Ennis - who was playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the time - was initially told he had a fracture. However, he then received a more extreme diagnosis."They pulled up my X-ray. And they're like, 'Whoa - you've got a really bad displaced break here,'" Ennis told TSN's Ian Mendes. "I said to them right away, 'But you said this wasn't displaced.'"As it turned out, his doctors had an image of Ennis' namesake, the Canadian-born basketball player who had coincidentally also hurt his ankle not long beforehand."They double-checked and they actually had the image from the other Tyler Ennis, who broke his leg playing basketball overseas," the hockey-playing Ennis said. "His break was a lot worse than mine. When they confused our X-rays, I was a little nervous. I thought my recovery was going to take a lot longer."The Ennis who was actually diagnosed with the more serious break is now playing for the Raptors' G League affiliate. He had returned home to Toronto to rehab after suffering his injury and undergoing surgery in Turkey while playing for Fenerbahce in October 2018."Wow. Just wow," the Syracuse product told Mendes with a laugh. "The timing of that is just mind-blowing. I can only imagine what he was thinking."He added, "I was going for X-rays every couple of weeks in Toronto, so it makes perfect sense."The basketball player ultimately missed more than a year with a leg injury, while the hockey player was out for fewer than two months with his ankle ailment.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alexis Lafreniere - the presumptive No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft - headlines Canada's preliminary roster for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic.Hockey Canada released its list of 31 invitees on Monday ahead of its selection camp for the tournament:ForwardsPlayerTeam (League)Quinton ByfieldSudbury (OHL)Dylan CozensLethbridge (WHL)Ty DellandreaFlint (OHL)Aidan DudasOwen Sound (OHL)Nolan FooteKelowna (WHL)Liam FoudyLondon (OHL)Benoit-Olivier GroulxHalifax (QMJHL)Dylan HollowayWisconsin (Big Ten)Peyton KrebsWinnipeg (WHL)Alexis LafreniereRimouski (QMJHL)Raphael LavoieHalifax (QMJHL)Connor McMichaelLondon (OHL)Dawson MercerDrummondville (QMJHL)Alex NewhookBoston College (Hockey East)Jakob PelletierMoncton (QMJHL)Cole PerfettiSaginaw (OHL)Akil ThomasNiagara (OHL)DefensemenPlayerTeam (League)Calen AddisonLethbridge (WHL)Kevin BahlOttawa (OHL)Jacob Bernard-DockerNorth Dakota (NCHC)Bowen ByramVancouver (WHL)Peter DiliberatoreQunnipiac (ECAC)Jamie DrysdaleErie (OHL)Thomas HarleyMississauga (OHL)Jared McIsaacHalifax (QMJHL)Braden SchneiderBrandon (WHL)Ty SmithSpokane (WHL)GoaltendersPlayerTeamNico DawsGuelph (OHL)Joel HoferPortland (WHL)Hunter JonesPeterborough (OHL)Olivier RodrigueMoncton (QMJHL)Lafreniere is one of three returnees, along with McIsaac and Smith.The selection camp will take place Dec. 9-12 in Oakville, Ontario.Led by head coach Dale Hunter - the longtime owner, president, and bench boss of the OHL's London Knights - the Canadians will be looking to improve on their sixth-place finish at the 2019 tournament.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 sectionThe first two months of the NHL season have absolutely flown by and December is upon us. That means it's time to ditch those pumpkin-spice lattes for candy-cane hot chocolates, stay inside unless it's absolutely necessary to leave the house, watch a ton of hockey, and hopefully win enough money to cover our holiday expenses.There's no time like the present to start, so here's your guide to betting the week ahead in the NHL.Game bettingNew York Islanders at Montreal Canadiens (Tuesday)Mired in an eight-game losing streak, the Canadiens put in one of their best defensive efforts over the last two weeks in a losing effort against Boston on Sunday. They're low on confidence, but there was a lot to build on as they get set to host an Islanders team that has really cooled off over the last 10 days. It's also the second leg of a back-to-back for the Isles, who play Monday. Look at the under here, as well as the Habs snapping their skid.Washington Capitals at San Jose Sharks (Tuesday)The Capitals have been playing great hockey since the start of the season and the Sharks have excelled over the last month. San Jose's on an 11-2 run and playing with urgency, so it seems like the side to back here, but the total appears to be a more appealing play. Both these teams can score in bunches and this could turn into a blow-for-blow affair. The over looks like a strong bet.Colorado Avalanche at Toronto Maple Leafs (Wednesday)This is something of a revenge spot for the Avalanche after the Maple Leafs came to Colorado and won just under two weeks ago. The Avs are getting healthy - they welcomed Mikko Rantanen back Saturday - and are hoping to make up for lost time. Meanwhile, the Leafs' issues weren't all magically solved by firing Mike Babcock. Defensively, they can still be picked on, and this game happens to be the second leg of a back-to-back with travel for Toronto. Take Colorado at plus-money.St. Louis Blues at Pittsburgh Penguins (Wednesday)The Blues really make this whole hockey thing look easy, don't they? The Penguins have one of the best home records in the NHL, so a trip to Pittsburgh poses a real test. The Blues on the road against strong competition has typically been a good spot to back the under. After these teams combined for seven goals in St. Louis on Saturday, expect a much tighter contest. I'd play the under as low as 5.5, though hopefully, we get it at six.Vegas Golden Knights at New York Islanders (Thursday)While the Islanders' point streak ended last week, they've won 10 of their last 11 home games, picking up at least a point in each of them. A visit from the Golden Knights will mark the third game in four nights for both teams. Back the Isles to maintain their dominant home form.Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars (Thursday)This will be the week's second meeting between these teams, which also face off in Winnipeg on Tuesday. Regardless of what happens in that first game, the Stars should take the home leg. They've won three in a row over the Jets in Dallas and 10 of their last 12 overall at American Airlines Center.Game propsLos Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks (Monday)The Ducks are riding back-to-back shutouts on home ice, while the Kings have scored two goals or fewer in each of their last eight road games. The last time they managed three away from home was in a 3-2 win in Winnipeg on Oct. 22. They've also been held to two or fewer goals in three of their last four games in Anaheim and six of their last eight overall against the Ducks. Play Los Angeles' team total under 2.5.Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets (Tuesday)Goals over the opening 20 minutes have been rare at Bell MTS Place this season. In seven of the Jets' last nine home games, there's been a maximum of one goal in the first period, while six of the Stars' last seven away games have gone under the total in the first period. Take under 1.5 in the opening frame; that also would have hit the last four times these teams met in Manitoba.Player propsWinnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars (Thursday)I'm all about these Jets versus Stars games, apparently. Dallas has been playing some terrific defensive hockey since the start of November, but Patrik Laine has 17 goals in 15 career games against the Stars, including one in Winnipeg's 5-3 loss in Dallas a couple of weeks ago. Those numbers are too good to ignore. It's worth betting on Laine to find the back of the net again Thursday.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.

The Montreal Canadiens have placed backup goaltender Keith Kinkaid on waivers, the team announced Monday.Kinkaid signed a one-year, $1.75-million contract with the Habs over the summer to back up Carey Price, but he hasn't had much success in the early stages of the 2019-20 season.The 30-year-old owns a 1-1-3 record along with a .875 save percentage, allowing at least four goals in five of his six appearances so far."Listen, I think it gives him the opportunity, if he passes through waivers, to have a chance to play more often in (AHL) Laval and hopefully to get his game back in sync," head coach Claude Julien said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "What we've seen from him is good, but maybe not good enough for this instant."We need a goaltender who - especially when we call on them infrequently - is making sure he's on top of his game."Montreal lost its eighth consecutive contest Sunday in Boston and returns to action Tuesday against the New York Islanders.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mitch Marner is back on the ice and appears to be nearing a return to game action.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward returned to practice Monday sporting a regular jersey.Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said the team hopes to have Marner back "in the coming days," according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe later echoed that sentiment."Based on his performance today, it doesn't look like he's too far away," Keefe told reporters, including The Athletic's Jonas Siegel.Marner, who hurt his ankle on Nov. 9 against the Flyers, won't play on the road against Philadelphia on Tuesday but can be activated off long-term injured reserve Wednesday. The minimum stay on LTIR is 10 games and 24 days. That would beat the club's initial four-week timeline, on which he wouldn't return until next week.The 22-year-old has produced 18 points in as many games this season, and his 14 assists still rank third on the club despite his absence from the lineup.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. Below are moments 100-81, and we're counting down by 20 every Monday in December.100-81 | 80-61 (Dec. 9) | 60-41 (Dec. 16) | 40-21 (Dec. 23) | 20-1 (Dec. 30)100. Butt Fumble! 🍑🏈Nov. 12, 2012

Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on Week 9. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Trade for Taylor HallTeam: Devils

Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien wore his emotions on his sleeve after his club dropped its eighth straight game on Sunday against the Boston Bruins.Julien was specifically upset with the officials for handing Nick Cousins a two-minute minor for holding midway through the third period which led to David Backes' game-winning power-play goal.

Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi and Dallas Stars defenseman Julius Honka won't be suiting up in the NHL this season.The pair of restricted free agents needed to sign contracts before Sunday's 5 p.m. ET deadline to be deemed eligible to play any games this campaign.Both players were seeking trades from the teams that drafted them, but Oilers general manager Ken Holland and Stars GM Jim Nill weren't able to find deals to their liking.The pair of Finns have been playing overseas in Finland's top pro league and will likely stay there for the remainder of the season. Puljujarvi recently said he intended on staying on home soil, regardless of whether a trade came to fruition. Here's how each player has performed in the Finnish Elite League this year:PuljujarviHonkaTeamKarpatJyPGP2515G113A133P246Both players signed one-year deals with opt-out clauses in Finland in case either of them was traded to a new NHL club and signed before Dec. 1. Either player could still have his rights traded before the deadline but wouldn't be able to play this season.The Carolina Hurricanes were reportedly among a list of teams that showed interest in Puljujarvi. The Montreal Canadiens apparently kicked tires on Honka.Puljujarvi was selected fourth overall by the Oilers at the 2016 draft, while Honka was nabbed 14th overall by the Stars in 2014.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur had surgery Thursday to remove a lobe from one of his lungs and ganglions, the team announced on behalf of his family Sunday.According to the club's statement, Lafleur's operation was successful. He'll remain under observation at a Montreal hospital and is expected to return home in the coming days to continue his recovery.The 68-year-old underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery in September.Lafleur is the Canadiens' all-time points and assists leader, and he ranks second in franchise history in career goals.The Hockey Hall of Famer won the Stanley Cup five times with Montreal in the 1970s.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.