Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is expected to miss four weeks with a shoulder injury suffered Saturday night, the club announced Sunday.Werenski left the Blue Jackets' 2-0 loss in the first period following a collision with Islanders forward Anders Lee in front of the Columbus net.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin is expected to miss at least eight weeks after undergoing ankle surgery Sunday, the club announced.Dumoulin underwent a procedure to repair lacerated tendons in his left ankle. He suffered the injury during Saturday night's loss to the St. Louis Blues.The 28-year-old ranks second on the Penguins in average ice time, logging 21:04 per game this season. He's collected seven points in 23 contests.Pittsburgh has been riddled with injuries, most notably to superstar captain Sidney Crosby and blue-liner Justin Schultz. Rearguard Kris Letang returned to the lineup Monday after missing eight games, while star forward Evgeni Malkin was forced to miss 11 games earlier this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean Avery is accusing former NHL head coach Marc Crawford of kicking him during a game while the two were with the Los Angeles Kings more than a decade ago.“Marc Crawford kicked me once,” the retired enforcer told the New York Post's Larry Brooks on Saturday.“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),” Avery added. “He kicked me during a game.”When asked whether Crawford kicked him during the next game because of the drill, Avery clarified the circumstances.“No, he kicked me after a too-many-men-on-the-ice call I took,” the former forward 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 incident took place on Dec. 23, 2006, during a game between the Kings and Predators following a too-many-men call against Los Angeles that came 36 seconds before Nashville scored the sixth goal in a 7-0 win.Avery found the incident more bemusing than upsetting, according to Brooks, and the former player said it wasn't the reason he was traded to the New York Rangers in February 2007.“No, no,” Avery said. “That was because I squared off with and tried to fight Mark Hardy, who was one of our assistant coaches, on the ice. (Former teammate Mattias) Norstrom saved his life.”Crawford is now an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks.Earlier this week, former Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan accused ex-Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters of kicking him and punching another player in the head during a game when Peters was Carolina's bench boss from 2014-18.Peters resigned as Flames head coach Friday after former player Akim Aliu revealed that Peters repeatedly directed the N-word toward him when the two were with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs in 2009-10. Peters' use of the slur was corroborated by two of Aliu's former teammates, and Peters later acknowledged using "offensive language."On Monday, recently fired Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said he apologized to Mitch Marner back in 2016-17 after shaming the then-rookie by asking him to rank teammates by work ethic before sharing it with the players at the bottom of the list.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was behind the bench at Scotiabank Arena as an NHL bench boss for the first time on Saturday, and he soaked it all in as his club skated to a 2-1 overtime victory over the Buffalo Sabres."It was fun being here," Keefe said postgame. "Different circumstances than when I've been here in the past. Fitting that the Marlies were in the building this afternoon, that's more what I'm familiar with. It's nice. It's special. A lot of my family here to enjoy it as well. It wasn't the prettiest game at times, but we found a way to get the two points and finish off a good week here."Keefe, a native of Brampton, took over for the fired Mike Babcock on Nov. 20, while the Leafs were in the midst of a road trip.Keefe coached in the building during his time with the Toronto Marlies, but he noticed the difference in the arena's atmosphere on a Saturday night with the big club."Fans are into it. There's a lot of them. It's a big crowd. It's nice to be at home. As I said, I've been in this environment before but never quite like this. Never quite as full and never quite as much emotion and energy and all those types of things. It was nice and we're hoping it gets better from here," Keefe said.Toronto's transition to Keefe's systems has been successful so far, as the club improved to 4-1 under their new leader with Saturday's victory.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saturday was a night Chris Driedger will never forget.Making his first NHL start, the 25-year-old journeyman stopped all 27 shots he faced for the Florida Panthers in their 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators. The memorable evening had Driedger lost for words."Honestly, I'm speechless at this point," he told reporters postgame. "It's been a long time coming. I was nervous, but as soon as the puck dropped it felt good."A long time coming indeed. Driedger has played in the minors for seven seasons with seven different teams - in addition to suiting up for three relief appearances with the Ottawa Senators - before getting the nod Saturday. He spent a significant amount of time in the ECHL - two levels below the NHL - over the last few years.Driedger was called up to the Panthers to start in place of a struggling Sergei Bobrovsky after posting a sparkling .938 save percentage in 14 games with the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds this season.The Winnipeg native left quite an impression on his coaches and teammates."He was unbelievable," Aleksander Barkov told WPLG's David Dwork. "He said he was nervous, but he didn't look like it at all."Head coach Joel Quenneville echoed his captain's statement."I thought he was great," Quenneville said. "Composure was terrific. Waited on pucks. Smooth. I thought he moved well. Happy for him."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ron Francis said Saturday that during his tenure as Carolina Hurricanes general manager, he was made aware of physical incidents involving two players and then-Hurricanes coach Bill Peters. Francis says he took immediate action and briefed ownership.However, three days ago, former Carolina principal owner Peter Karmanos denied knowledge of the event and said he would've fired Peters "in a nanosecond" if he'd been told about the abuse.On Tuesday, ex-Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan accused Peters of physical abuse, saying the coach kicked him while on the bench during a game and punched another player in the head.A day earlier, former NHLer Akim Aliu tweeted that Peters directed racial slurs toward him a decade ago while with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks' AHL affiliate.Peters coached the Hurricanes for four seasons before taking the head coaching job with the Calgary Flames prior to the 2018-19 season. He penned an apology letter to Flames GM Brad Treliving on Wednesday where he admitted using a racial slur, but he did not address the physical abuse allegations. Peters resigned as Calgary's bench boss on Friday.Francis served as Carolina's general manager for four years before he was let go in April 2018. He gave Peters a contract extension after the 2015-16 campaign - Jordan's last NHL season. Francis was hired as GM of the upcoming Seattle NHL team this past summer.Karmanos is still a minority owner of the Hurricanes, but he was the majority owner from 1994 to 2018 before selling controlling interest of the club to Tom Dundon.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall's days with the New Jersey Devils could be numbered.The club has started to listen to teams looking to acquire the star forward, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun, who adds that while it doesn't mean a trade is certain, Devils general manager Ray Shero is now in "listening mode."Shero met face-to-face with Hall's agent Darren Ferris earlier this month.Hall, a pending unrestricted free agent, is in the final season of the seven-year, $42-million contract he inked with the Edmonton Oilers in 2012.Shero said in March there was "zero chance" he was going to trade the 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner at the 2018-19 trade deadline.However, after a busy offseason that included the additions of P.K. Subban, Nikita Gusev, and first overall pick Jack Hughes, New Jersey enters Saturday's action with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers' new $70-million netminder will be riding the bench Saturday when the club takes on the Nashville Predators, as head coach Joel Quenneville is opting to start recently recalled goalie Chris Driedger over the struggling Sergei Bobrovsky."We expected to give (Driedger) a game on a merit-based basis by how he played in camp, how he played down there last year and this year," Quenneville told The Athletic's George Richards."We will see how he handles what is a great opportunity for him. Bob will certainly get back in there soon. This is not a scheduled start, but that is where it's at."Bobrovsky signed a seven-year contract with the Panthers this past summer that made him the league's second-highest-paid goalie at $10 million per season.The two-time Vezina Trophy winner was expected to help push a talented Florida roster to the next level. But through 21 appearances this season, Bobrovsky owns the NHL's second-worst save percentage at .884.The 31-year-old Russian seemed to draw Quenneville's ire while allowing four goals on 20 shots versus the Washington Capitals on Wednesday in his most recent start."That was a well-played game from our point of view, and we just need some saves to win the game in a game like tonight," the coach said.Driedger, 25, was the Ottawa Senators' third-round pick in 2012. He's spent the opening portion of the 2019-20 season with the Springfield Thunderbirds, Florida's AHL affiliate, posting a 6-8 record and a .938 save percentage in 14 contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand didn't mince words when asked about concussion spotters pulling him in the third period of Friday's matinee versus the New York Rangers.Marchand appeared to be shaken up after a collision with Rangers blue-liner Jacob Trouba in the dying seconds of the second period. He returned for the third, but the spotters took him off in the final frame."That's embarrassing," Marchand told reporters postgame, including Conor Ryan of the Boston Sports Journal. "They had 30 minutes, 20 minutes to sit there and view the tape and call that in, but they made me come out in a 2-1 game as we're starting to get momentum."The guy up there is busy eating pizza and cheeseburgers and can't watch the game. Maybe next time he'll pull his head out of his butt and watch the game."Here's a look at the play:

Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Michael Hutchinson continues to search for answers after a 6-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday brought his record to 0-5-1 this season."You think in 10 years you've gone through everything, and then hockey throws something new at you," Hutchinson said postgame, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.With the loss, Hutchinson sees his save percentage move to an abysmal .876 on the season. The Ontario native has conceded 28 goals over six starts, allowing at least four in each one.Hutchinson has spent much of the season bouncing between the Maple Leafs and the AHL's Toronto Marlies. He admits it's been difficult to find his game while alternating between the two levels."I felt OK. There’s an adjustment going both ways when you’re going from the NHL down to the American League there’s an adjustment and there’s an adjustment coming up."For myself, it wasn’t the cleanest game - I was battling hard trying to find pucks - that’s one of those things where the more you play, you feel more comfortable. I was just trying to battle through and get my body on pucks, as many pucks as I could. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win."The Leafs will turn to starter Frederik Andersen on Saturday as they host the Sabres for the second half of the home-and-home set.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 sectionThere were no games Thursday due to Thanksgiving, so we're treated to a very busy schedule this weekend, with a whopping 17 teams playing both Friday and Saturday.Here's your guide to navigating the chaos.Game bettingToronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres (Friday)It's Maple Leafs or bust when it comes to picking a side here, but you're paying a premium to back them in Buffalo. The Sabres have struggled to score in recent weeks and this game comes with an inflated total thanks to Toronto starting Michael Hutchinson. The over is a popular play but this is a good spot to be a contrarian and back the under of 6.5 goals despite the rate at which the Maple Leafs are scoring.St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars (Friday)The Blues are coming off a big win in Tampa on Wednesday night, while the Stars were shutout in Chicago on Tuesday. Dallas will be out for revenge after being dumped from the playoffs last season by St. Louis and has been in impeccable form throughout November, winning all six of its home games. The Stars get the job done here to finish the month with a record of 7-0 at American Airlines Center.Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals (Friday)The line makes this virtually a pick'em (-110) as the Lighting continue to be overvalued by oddsmakers. Fading Tampa Bay is always a dangerous proposition because the Lightning have the talent to break out and win on any given night, regardless of their opponent. But there's too much value here to not take the white-hot Capitals at even money on home ice.Nashville Predators at Florida Panthers (Saturday)This is something of a perfect storm. The Predators are 7-2 to the over on the road this year and have been unable to keep goals out of their net. Juuse Saros will likely get the start here with Nashville also playing Friday, and he's having a rough season with a 3.13 goals-against average and an .891 save percentage. The Panthers have scored the third-most goals in the NHL and are 9-2 to the over at home this season. Consider backing them on the puck line here, but definitely play the over, even if it's at 6.5.San Jose Sharks at Arizona Coyotes (Saturday)The Sharks have done well to turn around their season after a brutal start, but this is a tough spot for them as they fly to Arizona after hosting the Los Angeles Kings on Friday. San Jose has scored just four goals in three latter games of a back-to-back this season, and it's hard to envision an outburst against a Coyotes team that keeps it tight in defense. The under looks like a strong play, as does Arizona on the moneyline.Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks (Sunday)This is the second game of a home-and-home between these teams after a matchup Saturday in Edmonton. That first contest is a no-go for me, though I'd take the Oilers and the under if forced to make a play. Sunday, however, with Thatcher Demko likely in net, you should back the Canucks to finish the weekend series strong. The under is also worth a look at any total of six or higher.Game propsColorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks (Friday)A meeting between the Avalanche and Blackhawks suggests goals, but that hasn't been the case when they meet in Chicago. The first-period under has hit in seven of their last eight meetings in the Windy City.Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs (Saturday)Note: this is for Saturday's game in Toronto, with Frederik Andersen starting. The Sabres' offense has dried up significantly, especially on the road. With the Maple Leafs galvanized by their coaching change and playing much better hockey, look at Buffalo's team total under 2.5, which has been a profitable play when the Sabres are on the road in the second game of a back-to-back.Player propsChicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche (Saturday)Again, this is for Saturday's game in Colorado, not Friday's in Chicago. Mikko Rantanen is set to return to the Avalanche's lineup for this game after being sidelined since Oct. 21 with an ankle injury. I like him to mark his return with a goal. He has four tallies in his last four home games against the Blackhawks.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.

Warning: Story contains coarse and offensive language.The messages flooded into Daniel Carcillo's inboxes Tuesday.Dozens of former and current hockey players, some of whom Carcillo knows well and others he's never met, reached out on Instagram and Twitter to share stories or ask for guidance. They felt empowered by the courage of former NHLers Akim Aliu and Michal Jordan, who had gone public this week with their accounts of playing for Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters.Expect more players to speak out sooner than later about their treatment by hockey coaches."I hope that these abusers are uneasy today, have a hard time sleeping," Carcillo, a retired NHL fighter who's become a fierce advocate for player health and wellbeing, said Tuesday night. "I hope that some of them find the courage to not wait until they're called out but just come out right now."Daniel Carcillo celebrates 2015 Stanley Cup win with family Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesPeters is accused of hurling racial epithets at Aliu and physically abusing Jordan during coaching stints with the Chicago Blackhawks' AHL team and with the Carolina Hurricanes, respectively, earlier this decade. (On Friday, the Flames announced that Peters resigned his position after the team's investigation.)Mike Babcock, meanwhile, has admitted to humiliating Mitch Marner a few years ago. The story only became public after the Toronto Maple Leafs fired the coach last week amid a losing streak, but that disclosure prompted Aliu to speak out.Pulling back the curtain on the styles and tactics of two high-level coaches is fueling a broader conversation about some of the problems embedded in hockey culture."I believe in karma," Carcillo said, "and I think what you're seeing is a reckoning of sorts."Programmed this wayThe root of the issue is this: Hockey, like many sporting cultures, has developed its own set of rules because of the zero-sum nature of winning and losing games.A regular workplace has structures and policies in place to report a person in power who abuses a worker emotionally, mentally, or physically. Many hockey team environments, however, don't work that way. Abusive actions are accepted and even lauded in pursuit of team-building, victory, and championships.Coaches determine a player's ice time, linemates, and practice conditions. General managers determine if a player will be traded, demoted, or released. Authority figures in hockey wield great power over those who report to them."There shouldn't be this ivory-tower mentality to hockey operations," said Rachel Doerrie, a former analyst for the New Jersey Devils who now works for the York University athletic department. "Obviously, they're coveted positions, but it's not a license to be a terrible human being. You still should treat your employees with decency and respect."Mitch Marner and Mike Babcock at the 2015 NHL Draft Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesFor years and years, hockey coaches at all levels have used their influence within the team structure to embarrass players, like Babcock did with Marner. They justify their actions by talking about the art of motivation and the drive to win. Such psychological tricks can become so ingrained in the culture that everybody eventually accepts their presence and sees them as part of the process.When these tactics become especially widespread, trickling all the way down to minor hockey, they're less likely to ring alarm bells. "I don't think (NHL) players realize the risk that they're under because they're so fucking programmed," Carcillo said - programmed, he argues, to expect mistreatment.Carcillo made headlines last year when he said that, among other incidences of rookie hazing in the 2002-03 OHL season, his Sarnia Sting teammates stuffed him in a bus bathroom naked. The 34-year-old has also admitted to being part of the problem at one point in his life."I look back on my fights, and this person that I was on the ice and off the ice, and the way I treated people the first five years of the (NHL), and before I found rehab and spirituality at 25, and I just can't believe how much of a trained assassin I was," Carcillo said. "I can't even recognize that person, and I never want to, you know? It's brutal, man. And it's really, really, really hard to guard against because (coaches) start with you at 4 (years old). It needs to change, it needs to be systematic, and it needs to start with the NHL."The incident involving Aliu and Peters, in which Aliu says Peters berated him for playing what the coach called "n-----" music in the dressing room, was corroborated by teammates in interviews with TSN. (Peters later acknowledged the incident in an apology letter to the Flames.) But until Aliu made his pronouncement on Twitter this week and reporters looked into it, Peters' alleged actions stayed within the teams' bubbles for years."It's all out of fear and all out of being the same, right?" said Brock McGillis, a former goalie who is working to make hockey more respectful and inclusive. "If the black guy didn't come out and say, 'This happened to me,' and it instead happened in a room full of white people or white hockey guys, is anyone going to come out and speak? Or, is anyone going to come out and speak when they're using homophobic language (in a hockey dressing room)?"Akim Aliu during a 2017 AHL game Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesMcGillis, the first pro hockey player to publicly come out as gay, believes the typical North American hockey environment can still be toxic because of its built-in "pack mentality." Arenas and dressing rooms are segregated places often lacking diversity. Abusive behaviors are passed down from coaches and teammates, breeding insularity and conformity from a young age. The behaviors can intensify as players get older and the stakes increase. McGillis believes the problem is not specific to individuals but is systemic."When they're done playing, they stay in the sport," McGillis said. "They coach, they manage, they do different things within it. Not a lot of people who play hockey leave hockey."The funnel contributes to an atmosphere of limited accountability. Hazing and bullying - as well as the use of homophobic, racist, and sexist language - become ingrained in pockets of hockey's culture. The issues exposed by NHL players this week aren't new; they've just reached a critical mass."It makes me sick to think about. It has to change," said Doerrie, who's made inroads in a male-dominated sport but not without encountering sexism along the way."Hockey's already behind when it comes to social issues," she said. "No one can make an argument that it isn't. And if it doesn't change (soon), it's going to be even further behind."Searching for solutionsMcGillis has seen the effect of telling his own story - of coming out after years of internal struggle and fear of acceptance. He is adamant that there's great utility in addressing the various issues surrounding hockey culture and sports cultures at large. Stories can trigger change."The sad thing with sport is that it has so much opportunity to do good," he said. Sports promote teamwork, discipline, and the value of hard work, but not necessarily how to respect one another or be inclusive, he noted. "Why can't we learn to work with people who are different than ourselves?"TSN reported Wednesday that NHL teams are internally discussing what constitutes unacceptable behavior in coaches' interactions with players. "The bottom line is that it's possible to be demanding without being disrespectful," one GM told Gord Miller.Carcillo - who has been at the forefront of not only the conversation about hockey culture, but also discussions relating to head trauma - says he couldn't care less about Peters and his job security. Instead, he cares about the victims, their stories, and flipping the script on those abusing their power.

Takes, thoughts, and trends is theScore's monthly spin around the NHL.––––––––––Playoff picture taking shapeAmerican Thanksgiving has become an unofficial spot check on the NHL calendar. With just one game scheduled for Thursday (New Jersey at Montreal), the hockey world was able to take a deep breath. That was nice because the standings usually indicate something significant around the holiday.Over the past six seasons - the entirety of the wild-card era - 75% of the teams in a playoff spot on Thanksgiving ultimately reached the postseason. It's not a perfectly predictive snapshot, but taking stock in late November usually gives us a strong hint of what to expect.Here's what the playoff picture looked like after the Devils-Habs game:Eastern Conference - Boston, Florida, Toronto, Washington, NY Islanders, Pittsburgh, Carolina, PhiladelphiaWestern Conference - St. Louis, Dallas, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Arizona, Vancouver, Colorado, VegasUsing the 75% rule, 12 of the above teams will be playoff-bound come springtime, while four will be replaced. An educated guess at the four clubs that will move up and claim a spot leads us to Calgary, Nashville, Tampa Bay, and the New York Rangers.Montreal's world of hurtIcon Sportswire / Getty ImagesThe Canadiens are reeling after six straight defeats. They seem lost and frustrated - kind of like the Maple Leafs at the start of November. Here's what's up with Montreal through 25 games ...What to hate: The abundance of odd-man rushes allowed; a 30th-ranked penalty kill; undisciplined play.What to like: The Tomas Tatar-Phillip Danault-Brendan Gallagher line, which has controlled 60% of five-on-five shot attempts; being one point out of playoffs.What to wait on: The inevitable resurgence of all-world goalie Carey Price.Six straight losses could turn into 12 if Habs coach Claude Julien doesn't right this ship. The Flyers, Bruins, Islanders, Avalanche, Rangers, and Penguins are up next. Oof.Binnington's encoreThe Blues have won 15 of 26 games to start the season and their .692 points percentage ranks fourth overall. It's safe to say the so-called Stanley Cup hangover has not hit St. Louis.The same can be said for Jordan Binnington. Those who doubted a repeat from last season's Cinderella goalie are eating some humble pie. It turns out the steely 26-year-old is a legitimate NHL starter.Here are Binnington's splits from last year's regular season and playoffs, and from the first two months of this season:GamesSV%5v5 SV%QS%2018-19 regular32.927.936.6672018-19 playoffs26.914.929.6922019-20 regular20.925.926.620(5v5 SV% = 5-on-5 save percentage; QS% = quality start percentage)Overall, Binnington's career regular-season numbers in these categories - .926, .926, .660 - are beyond solid for someone who was completely off the radar 12 months ago.Unfriendly numbersSabres general manager Jason Botterill has been pretty forthcoming with the media this season, even telling a group of reporters recently that he's "actively seeking" a forward via trade.That type of deal would make perfect sense, given Buffalo's logjam on defense and lack of depth up front. But Botterill's task would have been easier a decade ago when the use of analytics wasn't as widespread. Rasmus Ristolainen, a right-handed blue-liner whose name is constantly in the rumor mill, appears quite valuable to scouts but flunks the stats test."We were thinking about making a trade for him in Calgary," Brian Burke, the former president of hockey operations for the Flames, said last week during a panel discussion in Toronto. "And we actually got several phone calls into this trade, and our analytics guy said, 'You guys are out of your minds.'"Burke added, "Chris Snow is our analytics guy - he's a genius. He says don't do a deal, we don't do a deal. That's how much weight we give him. But that's where the eye test failed. The player looked better than he was."So, if Ristolainen is nearly impossible to trade, which NHL defenseman might Botterill flip for a decent forward? Not Rasmus Dahlin (injured and a superstar talent) or Zach Bogosian (minimal value). Probably not Brandon Montour, Jake McCabe or Henri Jokiharju. Perhaps it'll be Colin Miller? Marco Scandella?Miro the golferJonathan Kozub / Getty ImagesDallas Stars stud Miro Heiskanen is having himself whatever's the opposite of a sophomore slump. Virtually all of his offensive statistics, both surface level and advanced, have reached new heights in his second NHL season. The Finn's all-around game is rather polished for a 20-year-old defenseman."The thing is, he doesn’t really have that one play," Dallas goalie Ben Bishop said. "He's not going to just have this flashy thing where he (dekes) everybody, has this shift where it's like, 'Wow! Look at that guy!'"Bishop, who's manned the crease behind perennial Norris Trophy contenders Alex Pietrangelo, Victor Hedman, and Erik Karlsson, also used an analogy to strengthen his point about Heiskanen."It's like that scratch golfer who just hits the ball down the middle," Bishop said. "Then he hits it to the green, then he putts for two shots. At the end of the round, you're like, 'How did that guy shoot 1-under?' That's kind of Miro. He just does it all. He's not bombing it, driving it 400 yards, making unbelievable shots. He just does the right thing."Dependable MarkstromJacob Markstrom is due for a healthy raise in the summer. Sportsnet reported last week that talks between the pending unrestricted free agent's camp and the Canucks are on hold due to the recent death of Markstrom's father, but that dialogue should pick up "over the next little while."Markstrom is a key cog in Vancouver's operation, especially now that the club is winning. Nobody's confusing the big Swede with any of the NHL's elite goalies, but he's been sneakily consistent over the past five seasons. For instance, his save percentage is always right around the league average:NHL avg.Markstrom2015-16.915.9152016-17.913.9102017-18.912.9122018-19.910.9122019-20.908.913With Markstrom likely to re-sign with Vancouver, the 2020 UFA goalie class should be headlined by Braden Holtby of Washington, Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner of Chicago, Jimmy Howard of Detroit, Matt Murray of Pittsburgh, Jaroslav Halak of Boston, and Thomas Greiss of the Islanders.Terrible timingNHL players get only so many chances to cash in as a free agent. For some, it only happens once. For others, it's twice or three times. And, ideally, a player's counting stats will peak the season before they hit the open market. Agents refer to it as a "platform year."Well, for three particular pending UFAs, the 2019-20 campaign has been an underwhelming platform offensively.Calgary's Michael Frolik has averaged a point every two games in his career; he only has four in 26 contests this season. Josh Anderson scored 27 times last year with Columbus; right now, he has one goal in 18 games. Frolik's teammate Mark Jankowski, who produced 32 points last season, has zero points in 25 games. There's time to rebound, but those early numbers jump off the page in the absolute worst way.Zuccarello reunion?Jared Silber / Getty ImagesIt was enjoyable to see the Rangers salute Mats Zuccarello with a proper video tribute earlier this week. The feisty Norwegian poured his heart and soul into that franchise. Ultimately, the team's timeline didn't align with his career arc, and now he's in Minnesota on a five-year deal.The Wild, buried in last place in the Central Division, aren't yet meshing with Zuccarello's career arc either. There's time to retool, so there's no need to panic yet, but the chances of Zuccarello's trade value increasing through his mid-30s is slim. At $6 million, he's not a cheap pickup, but if he's willing to waive his no-move clause, there might be a fit elsewhere at some point as the salary cap inches higher each year. Perhaps a return to the Big Apple could be in the cards someday.Preds on-brandThe Predators shipped out defenseman P.K. Subban and replaced his $9-million cap hit with center Matt Duchene. That seemed like a smart move for a team overflowing with blue-liners, and the trade-off has worked out well. Still, there's something about Roman Josi leading Nashville in scoring with 24 points - five more than Duchene and Ryan Ellis - that's just so befitting the Preds. GM David Poile must be shaking his head in disbelief.Bales' trajectoryBill Wippert / Getty ImagesRetired goalies tend to make good specialty coaches and television analysts. The names Mitch Korn and David Prior, directors of goaltending for the Islanders and Golden Knights, respectively, come to mind. The same goes for Jamie McLennan and Brian Boucher, two of the sport's finest color analysts.What about head coaches, though? It's mighty rare for a goalie to reach the top of the coaching mountain. In fact, Red Wings bench boss Jeff Blashill is the lone NHL head coach with direct ties to netminding, whether through playing or starting out as a goaltending coach.The Sabres' Mike Bales could break the mold. According to head coach Ralph Krueger, Bales has the potential to jump from goalie coach - a position he also held in Pittsburgh and Carolina - to Buffalo assistant, and one day to head coach somewhere."He's been such an asset to our coaching room," Krueger said. "The intelligence that he brings and the understanding of the whole game is important to our success. The goalie work that he does speaks for itself, but for us it's very valuable to have people like him around, in general."Draisaitl, Red Wings on same paceLeon Draisaitl proves nightly that he's the game's foremost power forward. To date, the result has been 59 goals in 27 games for the Oilers when the German is on the ice. The Red Wings, as an entire team, have scored 59 goals in 27 games. What's more startling here - Draisaitl's dominance or Detroit's futility?Konecny's timeIcon Sportswire / Getty ImagesFlyers winger Travis Konecny is turning heads in his fourth NHL season, leading Philadelphia with 24 points in 25 games. He's officially a handful for the opposition.People who've crossed paths with the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder often note his inner drive. Count Jonathan Kyriacou, a former scout for the Ottawa 67's among Konecny's supporters."The first thing I noticed about him when he started out was his 'eff you' attitude," Kyriacou said of Konecny's time in the OHL. "He's a small guy, he had a few injuries along the way, but he always came back stronger and more determined. He was named captain of the 67's at 17, which is very rare. But it was obvious how much respect he had from the older guys in the room."All hail PetterssonWhen checking out the penalty-differential leaderboard, it's shocking to find Aleksander Barkov, last year's undisputed king, so far down the list. The Panthers captain is actually a minus right now, having taken six penalties and drawn four after finishing an amazing plus-31 in 2018-19.Anyway, holding down the No. 1 spot at Thanksgiving is the Canucks' slippery Elias Pettersson:TakenDrawnDiff.Elias Pettersson‚ Canucks416+12Nathan MacKinnon‚ Avalanche112+11Joel Eriksson Ek‚ Wild112+11Brandon Tanev‚ Penguins212+10Brady Tkachuk‚ Senators717+10Source: Natural Stat TrickOT for 10One final thing: Hockey fans are universally thankful for the existence of three-on-three overtime. There's no denying that. Therefore, the NHL should extend OT to 10 minutes. It's already excellent theater, and adding more time would further minimize the frequency of shootouts.Making this change would, as they say, grow the game. Why not?John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Peters has resigned as Calgary Flames head coach, general manager Brad Treliving announced Friday.Flames associate coach Geoff Ward has been named interim bench boss.Treliving said he accepted a letter of resignation from Peters on Friday morning.Calgary was investigating Peters' use of a racial slur toward ex-NHLer Akim Aliu when the former was the coach of the AHL's Rockford IceHogs 10 years ago.Peters admitted in a letter Wednesday to using "offensive language" while with the IceHogs and said he apologized to the team at the time. However, Aliu said Peters never apologized and called the letter "misleading, insincere, and concerning."Former Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan subsequently accused Peters of physically abusing him and a teammate. Those alleged incidents took place during Peters' tenure behind the Carolina bench from 2014 to 2018.Current Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour, who was previously an assistant to Peters, said the physical abuse "for sure happened."Peters did not coach the Flames in their win over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is set to return to the team's lineup Friday against the Washington Capitals, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.The Lightning's star forward has been held out of action since suffering a lower-body injury Nov. 21. They've won two of three games during his absence.Stamkos, 29, has seven goals and 20 points in 19 games so far this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens are sputtering, and head coach Claude Julien didn't hide his displeasure after the team's sixth consecutive loss on Thursday night."I'm frustrated as hell right now," Julien said postgame, later adding that he's tired of losing, according to Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette.The Habs lost 6-4 on home ice to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, dropping another contest to a team below them in the standings. During Montreal's current skid, the team has lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, the Devils twice, and the Boston Bruins in an 8-1 drubbing.Defensive issues have been at the forefront of the Canadiens' struggles, with the team surrendering 31 goals during its run of losses.Montreal has now fallen outside the playoff cutline, and the Canadiens trail the Toronto Maple Leafs for the third spot in the Atlantic Division by one point with a game in hand.The Habs return to action Saturday for a matinee with the Philadelphia Flyers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mikko Rantanen has been given the green light.Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar confirmed Thursday that his blue-chip winger will be in the lineup against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday after missing what will be 16 games with a lower-body injury, according to The Athletic's Ryan Clark.The Avs be without Rantanen for their game Friday before he returns for the second half of the home-and-home set.Rantanen tallied five goals and 12 points in nine games before the injury. He was held pointless just once.After jumping out to a 7-1-1 record to begin the year, the Avalanche have gone 7-7-1 with Rantanen out of the lineup.The 6-foot-4 Finn notched a career-best 87 points last season and ranks 12th in the league with 1.12 points per game since the start of 2017-18.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators placed goaltender Craig Anderson on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, head coach D.J. Smith said Thursday, according to The Athletic's Hailey Salvian.Anders Nilsson is expected to tend the twine on Friday as the team begins a five-game road trip against the Minnesota Wild. Marcus Hogberg, who was recalled on Wednesday, will serve as the backup.Anderson will join the team on the trip and will be eligible to return from IR against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 4.The veteran puck-stopper has collected four wins in 14 starts this season with a 2.96 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.Nilsson, 29, has split time with Anderson throughout the season and boasts a career-best .927 save percentage through 13 starts heading into Friday's action.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.We're not sure if you've heard, but the St. Louis Blues went from last place in January to Stanley Cup champions in June last season.It's a story that's been beaten to death, but for good reason. The NHL regular season is a seven-month grind filled with ups and downs, so when it comes to betting futures, the key is finding the right time to jump in.More specifically, don't buy a team that just produced a 10-game winning streak, and don't sell a squad mired in a slump. The key is getting in or out before those runs begin. With that said, here are four teams that offer great value at their current Stanley Cup prices - prices that likely won't be available much longer.Vegas Golden Knights (14-1)After being considered Western Conference favorites at the start of this season, the Golden Knights currently sit fourth in the Pacific Division, seven points back of the first-place Edmonton Oilers. They've basically been playing .500 hockey through the first 27 games and they've seen their odds dip from 7-1 to 14-1 as a result. This is arguably the best buy-low spot you will get all season.From an analytics perspective, Vegas ranks No. 1 overall in expected goals for (xGF) but is middle of the pack in terms of actually finding the back of the net. Meanwhile, the team's percentage of goals from scoring chances is just 10.85%, the second-worst rate in the league, while 14.77% of high-danger scoring chances against have resulted in goals (the fourth-worst mark). All three of these stats are due for positive regression.This is a Stanley Cup-caliber team that's playing much better than its record indicates. With a legitimate stud goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury and a deep roster in front of him, Vegas will go on a run any time now. Once that happens, good luck finding 14-1 anywhere.Colorado Avalanche (16-1)The fact that the Avalanche are still in a playoff spot speaks volumes about the quality of depth on their roster. This team has been without stars Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog since late October, but it has stayed afloat thanks to impressive contributions from Andre Burakovsky, Joonas Donskoi, and others.When healthy, the Avalanche might have the best top line in hockey. They also feature excellent role players and some studs on the back end, including 20-year-old phenom Cale Makar.You can expect a deep playoff run from this team, which began the season with 12-1 odds. Those odds will be a lot shorter come January, at the latest, so hop on at 16-1 while you still can.Carolina Hurricanes (20-1)The Hurricanes are analytical darlings. There's not a team in the NHL that advanced stats love more. If the Stanley Cup was won on Natural Stat Trick, Carolina would be crowned champion.Reality isn't awful either - the Hurricanes are sitting comfortably in a wild-card spot - but the numbers suggest it can get a lot better. Carolina has produced the third-most scoring chances this season and the third-fewest chances against. This team is also second in xGF and eighth in xGA - one of just two squads that rank top 10 in both along with the Pittsburgh Penguins). Additionally, opposing teams have scored on 12.35% of high-danger chances against the Hurricanes, which is the fourth-highest mark in the league.All the underlying numbers suggest this is one of the league's best squads, which makes 20-1 a bargain.Florida Panthers (25-1)The Panthers opened the year at 20-1. Getting them at 25-1 right now is a blessing, as they haven't done anything to deserve those longer odds. Florida can score with anyone (third-most goals in the league) and has been unlucky on the back end. Opposing teams have scored on 16.86% of chances, which is the fourth-highest rate in the league and is due for a correction.Sergei Bobrovsky is too good of a goaltender for these issues to continue, and Joel Quenneville is a master behind the bench. The Panthers are loaded with talent at forward and they possess a strong top four in defense. All the ingredients for a Cup run are there. The Panthers currently sit second in the Atlantic Division behind Boston despite losing four of their first five games this season.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.

Akim Aliu will meet with the NHL to discuss Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters' use of a racial slur toward the player 10 years ago when they were with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs.Aliu released a statement Thursday in which he said Peters' apology on Wednesday was "misleading, insincere, and concerning."

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves delivered one of the biggest hits of the season on Edmonton Oilers forward Alex Chiasson during Wednesday night's game.

Warning: Story contains offensive languageCalgary Flames head coach Bill Peters apologized in a letter to general manager Brad Treliving for using a racial slur a decade ago, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis.

Former Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos said he would have fired Bill Peters "in a nanosecond" if he'd been made aware of allegations of physical abuse by the head coach, Karmanos told Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.Peters, now the head coach of the Calgary Flames, was accused of kicking former Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan and punching another player in the head on the bench during his tenure in Carolina. The abuse accusations surfaced after former NHL defenseman Akim Aliu revealed Peters directed racial slurs at him during their time together in the AHL 10 years ago.On Wednesday, current Carolina coach and former Peters assistant Rod Brind'Amour said the physical abuse "for sure happened."The Hurricanes' leadership group and other staff members made then-general Ron Francis aware of Peters' actions, but Karmanos said Francis never told him. Karmanos sold the team in 2017, while Peters retained his position until he left for the Flames in April 2018."I'm pretty upset," Karmanos said. "And I have my calls in to Ronnie as well. I think he's the one who's going to have to tell people what he did when he found out the coach had done these things."Francis was let go as Carolina's general manager in April 2018 and was hired for the same position with Seattle's expansion franchise this past July. He has not yet commented on the situation."Look, I'm probably upset as anybody could be," Karmanos said. "I take pride in our organizations. I've always taken pride in playing the game the right way and all of that stuff. So I'm fed up."Peters was not behind the Flames' bench for their contest in Buffalo on Wednesday while the team investigates the allegations.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.Brock McGillis, the first openly gay pro hockey player, joins this week's show to discuss a variety of timely topics, including:

The Boston Bruins have signed forwards Charlie Coyle and Chris Wagner to multi-year contract extensions, the team announced Wednesday.Coyle signed a six-year deal worth $5.25 million annually, while Wagner inked a three-year pact worth $1.35 million per year. Both players were set to hit unrestricted free agency at season's end, along with teammates Torey Krug, Zdeno Chara, Jaroslav Halak, and Joakim Nordstrom.Coyle was acquired from the Minnesota Wild ahead of last season's trade deadline. The 27-year-old Massachusetts native was a good fit in Boston right away, and he chipped in 16 points in 24 games during the Bruins' run to the Stanley Cup Final last spring. This season, Coyle's posted five goals and nine assists in 24 contests while averaging 16:30 of ice time per night.Wagner is an effective depth piece, and he produced a career-high 19 points in 76 games in 2018-19.The Bruins sit comfortably atop the Atlantic Division with a 16-3-5 record.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have placed forward Valentin Zykov on waivers, head coach Gerard Gallant confirmed Wednesday, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Ben Gotz.Zykov was suspended for 20 games on Oct. 17 for violating the NHL/NHLPA performance-enhancing substances program. The ban is set to end after Vegas' contest Wednesday. The 24-year-old would've been eligible to play Friday.Following the announcement of Zykov's suspension, the Golden Knights said the 24-year-old forward "knowingly used a banned substance without the consent, recommendation, or knowledge" of the team.Zykov collected two assists in seven games before the ban.The Russian winger was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft. In 47 pro contests, he's tallied six goals and 15 points.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rod Brind'Amour corroborated allegations that Calgary Flames bench boss Bill Peters physically abused his players while head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes from 2014-2018."You know with Bill, it for sure happened, the two issues that are in question," Brind'Amour, the Hurricanes' current head coach, said Tuesday regarding the allegations. Brind'Amour was an assistant coach on Peters' staff during that time.Former Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan tweeted Tuesday that Peters kicked him and punched other players on the bench, and the coach later acted like nothing happened."He kicked me pretty hard in the back during a game," Jordan told TSN's Frank Seravalli. "Even the trainers and the other guys saw it."Jordan insists there were multiple altercations between Peters and his players.Carolina's leadership group and other staff members made the incidents known to then-general manager Ron Francis, according to ABC11's Mark Armstrong. Despite that, no changes were made, and Francis' decision to keep Peters as head coach tarnished close relationships spanning decades, The Athletic's Sara Civian adds.Francis was hired as the general manager of the NHL's expansion Seattle club this past summer.Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Tuesday that the team launched an investigation into allegations of Peters using a racial slur toward former NHLer Akim Aliu while the two were with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs 10 years ago.Two former teammates of Aliu have since corroborated his account.Peters will not be behind the bench when the Flames take on the Buffalo Sabres Wednesday night. Instead, assistant coach Geoff Ward will assume coaching duties.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is out indefinitely with a concussion, the team announced Wednesday.The 19-year-old phenom suffered the injury after taking an elbow to the head from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak on Monday. Cernak was given a two-game suspension for the hit.According to Lightning reporter Bryan Burns, Cernak reached out to Dahlin on Tuesday via text message to apologize for the incident.Dahlin had been off to a solid start in his sophomore campaign. He's tallied 16 points in 24 games and ranks second on the Sabres with 15 assists.As a rookie in 2018-19, Dahlin became just the third 18-year-old defenseman in NHL history to record 40 points in a season and finished third in Calder Trophy voting.The Sabres now have five regulars on the injured list - including fellow blue-liner Jake McCabe - heading into Wednesday night's tilt against the Calgary Flames.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Over a quarter of the way into the season, there doesn't appear to be an answer for stopping David Pastrnak.The Boston Bruins sniper potted his second hat trick of the campaign against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, bumping his league-leading goal total to 23 in just 24 contests.With the big night, Pastrnak became the first player since Simon Gagne in 2005-06 to score that many goals through 24 contests. The last player to net more goals in that span was Mario Lemieux during the 1992-93 campaign.

Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters will not be behind the bench for Wednesday's game against the Buffalo Sabres as the club continues its investigation into allegations of racism and physical abuse."Our review into the allegations from last evening continues. This is a very serious matter and we want to be thorough in our review," general manager Brad Treliving said in a statement. "Bill Peters will not be behind the bench for the Flames' game tomorrow night in Buffalo. Associate coach Geoff Ward will handle head coaching duties."We will have no further comment until our review is complete."Former NHL defenseman Akim Aliu tweeted Monday night that Peters directed the N-word toward him several times 10 years ago when the latter coached him with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks' AHL affiliate. Two former teammates corroborated Aliu's accusation.On Tuesday, former Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan accused Peters of physically abusing him when the 54-year-old was the bench boss in Carolina. He claims Peters kicked him and punched another player in the head during a game.It's possible the Flames are prolonging their investigation in order to build a sufficient case to fire Peters without having to pay the remainder of his contract, notes Sports Illustrated legal analyst Michael McCann."If the Flames fire Peters, they could argue the firing is 'for cause' or 'with cause.' This would mean that Peters is fired for conduct that betrays core provisions of the employment contract," McCann wrote. "That classification of firing usually relieves the employer of the obligation to pay the fired worker going forward, or at least reduces that obligation."McCann notes there are several factors at play, including the language in Peters' contract and how it addresses alleged misdeeds prior to his employment with the Flames.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has the power to step in and punish Peters if he concludes the coach is guilty under Article IV of the NHL Constitution, McCann added. McCann notes, however, that the language in Article IV - "guilty of conduct detrimental to the League or the game of hockey" - doesn't explicitly cover incidents that took place before an NHL team employed the person in question.Bettman could also fine Peters up to $1 million and terminate his employment, according to McCann, who adds such punishments are final and typically not appealable.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On paper, New Jersey Devils rookie Jesper Boqvist scored his first career NHL goal Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild. In reality, it shouldn't have counted.The NHL admitted Boqvist's goal should have been overturned when Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau challenged the tally due to an earlier high stick that went uncalled, according to NJ.com's Chris Ryan."Minnesota issued a coach's challenge for a missed stoppage event prior to the New Jersey goal at 12:44 of the first period," the league said in a statement. "Since New Jersey's Wayne Simmonds high-sticked the puck in the neutral zone and then played the puck in the attacking zone, a missed game stoppage event occurred."Minnesota's challenge should have resulted in the New Jersey goal being disallowed."Here's a look at the high stick:

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak has been suspended two games for elbowing Buffalo Sabres blue-liner Rasmus Dahlin during Monday's contest, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.Dahlin did not play another shift after the incident and Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger confirmed postgame the 19-year-old suffered a concussion on the play. Cernak was not penalized for the hit.

Former Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan said Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters physically abused him when the latter served as bench boss for Carolina.Jordan tweeted Tuesday that Peters kicked him and punched another player in the head on the bench. He added that the coach then pretended it didn't happen."Couldn't believe my eyes what can happen in the best league," Jordan said. "Happy that I don't have to go (through) that stuff on (a) daily (basis) anymore.""He kicked me pretty hard in the back during a game," Jordan told TSN's Frank Seravalli. "Even the trainers and the other guys saw it."Jordan said there were multiple altercations between Peters and Hurricanes players.The incident involving Peters punching another player in the head was confirmed by multiple sources to Seravalli. The player in question wishes to remain anonymous for the time being, Seravalli adds.Carolina's leadership group and other staff members made then-general manager Ron Francis aware of their concerns about Peters at the time, but no changes were made, according to ABC's Mark Armstrong. Francis' decision to retain Peters ruined close relationships spanning decades, The Athletic's Sara Civian added.The upcoming Seattle NHL team hired Francis as its general manager this past summer.Former NHL player Akim Aliu tweeted Monday that Peters repeatedly used a racial slur toward him during their time with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. Aliu went into further detail Tuesday, and two former teammates corroborated his account.Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Tuesday that there is an ongoing investigation into Peters' possible usage of the racial slur.The 54-year-old bench boss coached the Hurricanes from 2014 to 2018. He's been Calgary's head coach for the last two seasons.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Tuesday that there is an ongoing investigation into the alleged use of a racial slur by head coach Bill Peters.Former NHLer Akim Aliu tweeted Monday that Peters directed the N-word toward him 10 years ago while with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. Two of Aliu's former teammates who were in the room, Simon Pepin and Peter MacArthur, corroborated his account on Tuesday."Throughout the evening last night and into this morning, we were starting an investigation into the incident," Treliving told reporters.He added: "The purpose of me coming in today is we have not completed that. We are trying to be as transparent as possible and to update you."Treliving also made it clear that the organization is handling the situation with the utmost care."Allegations of this nature we take very, very seriously," Treliving said. "This is a subject matter that has no place in our organization and, so, the magnitude and the serious nature that we take to these allegations is very high."The GM added that Peters remains the head coach and a decision regarding his future has not yet been made."Jeff Ward is running our practice today," he said. "Bill will remain at the hotel. Bill has not been relieved of his duties.""We hope to have this completed quickly, but it's got to be thorough," he added. "It's got to be thorough and it's got to be done correctly."Peters was hired by the Flames ahead of the 2018-19 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains offensive languageAkim Aliu went into further detail about the racial slur he says Bill Peters directed toward him 10 years ago.On Monday, Aliu accused the Calgary Flames head coach of hurling the N-word at him multiple times due to the player's choice of music while with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs in 2009-10. The former NHLer elaborated to TSN's Frank Seravalli."He walked in before a morning pregame skate and said, 'Hey Akim, I'm sick of you playing that n----- shit,'" Aliu said. "He said, 'I'm sick of hearing this n-----s f------ other n-----s in the ass stuff.'"He then walked out like nothing ever happened," Aliu continued. "You could hear a pin drop in the room. Everything went dead silent. I just sat down in my stall, didn't say a word."Two of Aliu's former IceHogs teammates who were in the room, Simon Pepin and Peter MacArthur, corroborated his account to TSN on Tuesday."I think everyone should be held accountable for their actions or words spoken," Pepin said.Aliu also said that then-Rockford captain Jake Dowell confronted Peters about the event. Dowell wouldn't comment, but he said he would cooperate with any NHL or Flames investigation.According to Aliu, Peters called him into his office to discuss the incident, but instead of apologizing, the bench boss reiterated his displeasure with Aliu's musical selection."You know, I’m just sick of this n----- shit," Peters said, according to Aliu. "It’s every day. From now on, we need to play different music."Later on Tuesday, Flames general manager Brad Treliving told reporters that an investigation into the matter was ongoing and that Peters had not been fired.Aliu, 30, played seven NHL games - all with the Flames - from 2011-13. He spent parts of 11 seasons in the AHL and ECHL.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha will be sidelined for a couple of weeks with a lower-body injury, the team announced Tuesday.Mantha suffered the injury during the first period of Sunday's contest against the New Jersey Devils and did not return to the game.The 25-year-old leads the Red Wings in both goals (12) and points (23) while averaging a career-high 18:55 of ice time through 25 games this season.Mantha had points in seven of his previous eight contests prior to Sunday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHLer Akim Aliu accused Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters of using racial slurs toward him 10 years ago while with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks' AHL affiliate.Aliu, who was born in Nigeria, tweeted Monday that Peters directed the N-word toward him in the dressing room several times over his choice of music.In a second tweet, Aliu said he "rebelled against" Peters due to the comments. He added that in response, the coach wrote a letter to Blackhawks president John McDonough and general manager Stan Bowman to have Aliu sent down to the ECHL despite a strong start to the season.Flames general manager Brad Treliving said the team is aware of the accusations but won't comment until talking to Peters, according to Postmedia's Wes Gilbertson. Peters was not made available to the media following Calgary's loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.Aliu, a second-round pick of the Blackhawks in 2007, logged seven games in his NHL career - all with the Flames from 2011-13, well before Peters joined the organization.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist claimed sole possession of fifth on the NHL's all-time wins list with the New York Rangers' 3-2 overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild on Monday.Lundqvist made 26 stops to earn the 455th win of his illustrious career, passing Curtis Joseph on the list.King Henrik, 37, only trails Ed Belfour (484), Roberto Luongo (489), Patrick Roy (551), and Martin Brodeur (691). Vegas Golden Knights stalwart Marc-Andre Fleury is hot in pursuit, however, currently sitting at 450.Lundqvist has spent his entire 15-year career with the Rangers. He owns a career .918 save percentage and has earned a Vezina Trophy and two postseason All-Star nominations.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak will face a hearing after elbowing Buffalo Sabres phenom Rasmus Dahlin on Monday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.Dahlin was forced to leave the contest after taking the hit, and head coach Ralph Krueger said postgame that the blue-liner suffered a concussion on the play, according to The Athletic's Joe Yerdon.

The Washington Capitals have expressed interest in playing the first-ever NHL regular-season game in Russia, and they're hoping to do so as soon as possible."We've talked about different things overseas, and we've talked about some in Russia or some in Sweden," Capitals president Dick Patrick told Isabelle Khurshudyan and Samantha Pell of The Washington Post. "We're not sure; it's a league decision. They've talked about China, too, which would be like an exhibition game. I personally wasn't too intrigued with that. I think it is just too hard on players during training camp."It could happen next year or the year after. If we are going to do it, it would probably be one of those years."The NHL announced earlier in November that the Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators will play regular-season games in Prague, Czech Republic, next season as a part of the 2020 Global Series, while the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche will travel to Finland.Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov make the Capitals an obvious fit to play a game in Russia, and commissioner Gary Bettman alluded to the possibility of an NHL tilt there when he announced the sites of the 2020 international contests."If we're going to play games in Russia - and we know there's great interest in our game there - it would most likely be, from our standpoint, regular-season games with two NHL teams," Bettman said at the time.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames defenseman T.J. Brodie has returned to the lineup for the first time since collapsing at practice on Nov. 14.The 29-year-old, who missed a total of five games, is back on the team's top pairing alongside captain Mark Giordano as the Flames face the Pittsburgh Penguins looking to win their second contest in a row.Brodie was standing on his own at practice nearly two weeks ago when he suddenly fell to the ice and started convulsing. He was immediately taken to hospital and discharged one day later.Flames doctor Ian Auld said Brodie's episode was likely related to fainting, rather than to a brain issue, when the team addressed the situation the following day.Brodie has spent his entire 10-year career with the Flames and has posted eight assists in 21 games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will receive a big boost Monday against the Calgary Flames.Head coach Mike Sullivan announced defenseman Kris Letang will return to the lineup after missing the last eight games with a lower-body injury, according to NHL.com's Wes Crosby.Letang will be a welcome addition as the Pens continue to play without captain Sidney Crosby, who underwent surgery to repair a core muscle injury and was given a six-week recovery timeline on Nov. 14. Pittsburgh is also without forward Nick Bjugstad and right-handed D-man Justin Schultz.Rookie defenseman John Marino has been one of the team's unsung heroes this season, logging nearly 22 minutes per game and tallying six points during Letang's absence.Injuries have plagued Letang throughout his career, but he's been one of the league's most productive blue-liners when healthy. The 32-year-old has 12 points in 15 games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock used a humiliating motivational tactic with Mitch Marner during the forward's rookie campaign in 2016-17.The tactic involved Babcock asking a rookie to list his teammates based on their work ethic during the club's annual fathers' road trip - which occurred in January 2017 of that season - as first reported by the Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan. The Athletic's Ian Tulloch later reported that the rookie was Marner.Once Marner complied, Babcock revealed the list to the players who'd been listed at the bottom, according to Koshan.Marner addressed the incident Monday and said he's thankful for how his teammates handled what could've been an ugly situation."It was just surprising," the 6-foot winger said, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "I was lucky enough that the guys that were there with me, none of them took it to heart and they knew it wasn't up to me."It was huge for a first-year guy," Marner said about his teammates' support following the incident. "When I heard about (what Babcock did), I didn't really know what to think. But I was lucky enough to have that first-year group with me and our team was very tight and very well-knit together. That was a lucky situation."Babcock - who was fired by the club last week in his fifth campaign behind the bench - expressed his regret about the decision but said he had nothing but good intentions for his young player."I was trying to focus on work ethic with Mitch - focusing on role models - it ended up not being a good idea. I apologized at the time," Babcock said.Marner, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury he suffered Nov. 9, has recorded four goals and 18 points this season.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 NHL has offered up a treat in the buildup to American Thanksgiving.The highlights this week include a renewal of hockey's oldest rivalry, a rematch between the defending Cup champions and preseason favorites, a date with the league's highest-scoring teams, and a meeting of two Hart Trophy favorites. Giddy up.Here's a guide to wagering during this week's slate.Game bettingVancouver Canucks at Philadelphia Flyers (Monday)This is a good bounce-back spot for the Flyers after losing to the Flames in a shootout Saturday. The Canucks began their East Coast swing with a shootout victory of their own in Washington, giving them consecutive road wins for just the second time this season. Philadelphia won't let Vancouver play the type of game it wants and at a reasonable price, you should back Carter Hart and the Flyers.Minnesota Wild at New York Rangers (Monday)This game seemed important to feature in this preview due to the strange line. For just the second time this season the Wild are -125 favorites on the road. They were the same price in Ottawa early in October, winning 2-0, but it's odd to see them favored in this spot against a Rangers team that has won three of their last four at home and is coming off an impressive comeback win in Montreal. This is the fourth game in six nights for New York, though, who left everything on the ice on Saturday. Listen to what the oddsmakers are telling you here and back Minnesota.Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens (Tuesday)Blowing a 4-0 lead to lose in regulation can either send a team into a tailspin or act as a wake-up call. The Canadiens have a lot of experience in their room and are too well-coached to let the loss impact them. Claude Julien was livid with his team's defensive effort on Saturday and that should result in a much more disciplined showing against the division-leading Bruins. Consider the Habs as small home 'dogs, but the play here feels like under 6.5 goals.St. Louis Blues at Tampa Bay Lightning (Wednesday)Last week I had you fade the overvalued Lightning when they visited the Blues, who went on to win 3-1. It was a comfortable victory for St. Louis, a team that imposed its will on the Bolts in impressive fashion. Let's flip the script here, though. The Lightning will be able to play more to their style on home ice and should have a lot more urgency. The Blues find themselves in higher-scoring games more often on the road and that will work into Tampa's hands. Back the Bolts to pick up a confidence-boosting win.Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals (Wednesday)This might be the best game of the week between a pair of free-scoring teams. No two clubs have tallied more goals this season than the Capitals (91) and Panthers (88). The over would be the obvious play - it has hit in the last four meetings between these teams - but instead, consider backing Florida. The Eastern Conference-leading Capitals have cooled off, playing .500 hockey over the last two weeks, while the Panthers have some impressive road wins under their belt this season. They've also won four consecutive in Washington.Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche (Wednesday)Two of the league's best players lead their teams into battle Thursday as Connor McDavid and the Oilers visit Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche. With both teams being a bit unpredictable this season, the over is the play here as the NHL's most explosive forwards will treat us to fireworks. The over is 5-0-1 in the last six meetings between these clubs in Colorado.Game propsVegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars (Monday)This wasn't included in the game bets above, but the under is a strong play here. Adding to that, take the Stars' team total under 2.5 at +150. Dallas has scored just four goals in its last three games against the Golden Knights and has never scored more than three in six all-time meetings. The under 3.5 at -170 could also be good parlay fodder.Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators (Wednesday)D.J. Smith deserves a ton of credit for the work he's done while in charge of the Senators, as do the players for fully buying into the system. Ottawa has proven itself a very tough team to play against and enters the week on a three-match winning streak. Over the weekend I said to take the over in the first period in their game against the Rangers, which hit, but go the other way here. The Senators will look to play physical and contain the Bruins, which makes the under 1.5 goals in the first period an attractive play. It has hit in each of the last seven meetings between these teams in Ottawa.Winnipeg Jets at San Jose Sharks (Wednesday)The Jets are one of the least profitable teams when it comes to first-period overs, while the Sharks are one of the most. However, San Jose is trending the other way with the first-period total going 5-5 in its last 10. The Sharks are tightening up defensively, while the Jets continue to play solid two-way hockey. There was just one goal in the opening 20 minutes when these teams met earlier this month, and you should consider taking the first-period under once again in this spot at plus-money.Player propsGameAleksander Barkov loves the Capitals. The Panthers' captain had a goal and an assist in their overtime loss to Washington earlier in the campaign and registered five assists in three games against them last season. Back him to get on the scoresheet with over 0.5 assists in this contest, which shouldn't be lacking in goals.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.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alex Kerfoot has been handed a two-game ban for his hit on Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday.The incident occurred in the second period of Saturday's contest. Johnson remained in the game and Kerfoot was handed a two-minute minor for boarding.

Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on Week 8. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Trade for Tyson BarrieTeam: Maple Leafs

This is the fifth 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 each team's most valuable player at the quarter mark of the season.1. New York Islanders (16-3-2)Previous rank: 4Thomas Greiss is out to prove that his success in 2018-19 was no fluke. The German netminder has been lights out for the Islanders once again this season, posting a 9-1-0 record with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage.2. Washington Capitals (16-4-5)Previous rank: 1John Carlson has his eye on the Norris Trophy this season, and it's safe to say he has a pretty good chance thanks to eight goals and 28 assists through 25 games.3. Boston Bruins (15-3-5)Previous rank: 3David Pastrnak's all-world scoring has been mesmerizing, but it's hard to deny Brad Marchand the title of most valuable Bruins player. The veteran forward leads the team in points, even-strength goals, and game-winning goals. He also ranks first among Boston forwards in ice time and is called upon in all situations.4. Dallas Stars (14-8-2)Glenn James / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 16Sophomore blue-liner Miro Heiskanen has been a key piece of the Stars' recent turnaround, and he's only getting better. The 20-year-old ranks second on Dallas with 17 points and logs almost 25 minutes per night.5. St. Louis Blues (14-5-5)Previous rank: 2Several forwards have stepped up in the wake of Vladimir Tarasenko's injury, but Alex Pietrangelo has been the Blues' most important player. The 29-year-old captain is on pace for a career-best 64 points and has logged a team-high 24:04 of ice time per game.6. Edmonton Oilers (16-7-3)Previous rank: 6Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are the top two scorers in the NHL by a considerable margin, so we have to hand out co-MVP honors to the Oilers' unstoppable duo.7. Arizona Coyotes (14-8-3)Previous rank: 18Darcy Kuemper has emerged as one of the game's best netminders this season following a breakout campaign in 2018-19. The 6-foot-5 puck-stopper boasts a league-best 1.98 goals-against average and his elite play has helped take a young Coyotes squad to the next level.8. Winnipeg Jets (14-9-1)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 22Connor Hellebuyck has managed an incredible turnaround so far this year, giving the Jets a real chance to win every night with a .928 save percentage in 19 starts.9. Colorado Avalanche (13-8-2)Previous rank: 5With points in 19 of 23 contests, including a 13-game streak to start the campaign, Nathan MacKinnon has been the pulse of an Avalanche team that keeps on rolling despite the absences of Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen.10. Carolina Hurricanes (15-8-1)Previous rank: 20Dougie Hamilton has been a force for the Hurricanes, leading all NHL defensemen with 10 goals to go with 15 assists in 24 games. The 26-year-old has also paced all Carolina skaters in ice time, and the team has posted a sterling 56.87% expected goals rate with Hamilton on the ice at five-on-five.11. San Jose Sharks (12-11-1)Previous rank: 23Logan Couture has been dynamite in his first season as captain, leading the Sharks back into the playoff picture after a dreadful month of October. The 30-year-old forward has tallied a team-best 24 points, including 14 in November as the Sharks have won eight of 11 contests in the month.12. Florida Panthers (12-7-5)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 19Both Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau have been fantastic for the Panthers this year, but the hulking pivot narrowly gets the nod here. Barkov drives the bus for Florida's dominant top line - he's put up 29 points, logged over 20 minutes per night, and won 54% of his draws.13. Pittsburgh Penguins (12-7-4)Previous rank: 9The Penguins rode Sidney Crosby's point-per-game production to a 10-6-1 record while missing several key pieces. With Crosby out of the lineup, however, Pittsburgh has won just two of six contests and has no victories away from home.14. Montreal Canadiens (11-7-5)Previous rank: 8It's no coincidence that the Canadiens are in contention for a playoff spot with Shea Weber healthy. The veteran rearguard ranks second on the Habs with 18 points and still plays an incredibly sturdy game on the back end at 34 years old.15. Tampa Bay Lightning (11-7-2)Previous rank: 13Thank goodness Nikita Kucherov's recent injury wasn't serious, because the reigning MVP is up to his usual ways, leading the Lightning with 20 points through 19 appearances.16. Vancouver Canucks (12-8-4)Jeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 14Elias Pettersson is playing like a league MVP candidate, so it's a no-brainer that he's been the most valuable Canuck. Last year's Calder Trophy winner sits 11th in NHL scoring with 29 points through 24 games.17. Philadelphia Flyers (11-7-5)Previous rank: 11After being rewarded with a six-year, $33-million contract in September, Travis Konecny has not disappointed. The Ontario native leads the Flyers with 23 points in as many games, and he's kept the club afloat despite slow starts from some of his typically productive teammates.18. Toronto Maple Leafs (11-10-4)Previous rank: 12Auston Matthews was already the Maple Leafs' MVP front-runner before Mike Babcock was fired, but Toronto's superstar looks reinvigorated under his new coach. Matthews has posted three points in two games with Sheldon Keefe at the helm, putting himself on pace for 52 goals and 98 points.19. Ottawa Senators (11-11-1)Previous rank: 24Jean-Gabriel Pageau has been a pleasant story for a Senators team that had low expectations for this season. Pageau has already surpassed his 2018-19 point total by seven in 16 fewer games, and he also leads Ottawa in both goals and points.20. Vegas Golden Knights (11-10-4)Zak Krill / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 15Mark Stone leads all Golden Knights forwards in ice time and has paced the club with 10 goals. He's one of the best two-way forwards in hockey, and his first full year in Sin City has been impressive, to say the least.21. Chicago Blackhawks (9-9-5)Previous rank: 28The Blackhawks will remain competitive as long as Patrick Kane is in town. The 2016 Hart Trophy winner is off to another all-world campaign with 30 points in 23 outings. Consistent as always, Kane is riding a 12-game point streak, amassing 21 in that span.22. Nashville Predators (10-9-3)Previous rank: 7Roman Josi has more than proved he's worth the big-ticket extension he signed earlier this season. The Norris Trophy contender leads the Predators with 22 points in 22 games.23. New York Rangers (10-9-2)Previous rank: 25The Rangers paid Artemi Panarin to play like an MVP candidate, and, so far, so good. The Russian marksman has recorded a team-best 12 goals and 27 points through his first 21 contests in the Big Apple.24. Minnesota Wild (9-11-3)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 27The ageless Eric Staal continues to produce at 35 years old. He leads the struggling Wild with 17 points thus far.25. Columbus Blue Jackets (9-9-4)Previous rank: 26Pierre-Luc Dubois has done his best to pick up the slack after the Blue Jackets lost several key offensive pieces to free agency in the offseason. His 10 goals and 17 points are both team highs, as the 21-year-old continues to develop in his third NHL season.26. Calgary Flames (11-12-3)Previous rank: 10Calgary is tumbling down the standings, but Matthew Tkachuk is developing into the team's heart and soul. Tkachuk has struggled to produce during the Flames' offensive drought, but he still leads the club with 20 points.27. Buffalo Sabres (11-9-3)Previous rank: 21Where would Buffalo be without Jack Eichel? The Sabres captain is on pace to shatter career bests in both goals and points, and he's been the club's heartbeat through thick and thin.28. Los Angeles Kings (9-13-1)Juan Ocampo / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 30Anze Kopitar has been the Kings' best player for years, which doesn't appear set to change anytime soon. Los Angeles ranks 28th in goals scored this season, but Kopitar has maintained a point-per-game pace through 23 contests.29. Anaheim Ducks (10-11-3)Previous rank: 17His play has wavered somewhat in recent games, but a locked-in John Gibson gives the Ducks a chance to win every single night against any opponent.30. New Jersey Devils (8-10-4)Previous rank: 29A tumultuous start for the Devils hasn't slowed down leading scorer Taylor Hall, who's up to 20 points in 22 games. Unfortunately, for New Jersey, its MVP will be a free agent in the offseason, and the club isn't doing a great job of convincing him to stick around.31. Detroit Red Wings (7-16-3)Previous rank: 31Anthony Mantha has rediscovered the touch that made him one of the deadliest scorers in the history of junior hockey. The 6-foot-5 forward has potted 12 tallies in 26 games this season, putting him on pace for a career-best 38-goal campaign.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mats Zuccarello is disappointed in the way his lengthy tenure with the New York Rangers came to an end.Ahead of his return to Madison Square Garden on Monday night, the Minnesota Wild forward lamented the way things went down before the Rangers dealt him to the Dallas Stars before last season's trade deadline."You get invited to the business side of the league, where you feel at home and then suddenly they want you out of there," Zuccarello told NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin on Saturday. "It was tough to accept in the beginning because you're passionate about your team and loyal and everything like that and you gave everything every game and then suddenly it comes to an end. Suddenly they don't want you anymore, or whatever, or they go in a different direction."The 32-year-old cited the level of communication from the club as the specific issue that bothered him the most."That was probably my biggest thing is the communication wasn't really there," he said. "To be there for a long time and (not to) feel that was hard, but it's no different for me than anyone else. I just think that's the bad part of the business."Like, I'm not stupid. You have a sense of it way before it happens, but the communication could have been better. It is what it is. ... It took me longer to accept than I ever thought it was going to be because you always have the mindset that you're going to stay there and it was your family, and then suddenly you're on a new team."Zuccarello spent his first eight-plus NHL seasons with the Rangers before they traded him to the Stars on Feb. 23 for two draft picks. He suffered a broken arm in his Dallas debut and played only two regular-season games after the trade, but then racked up 11 points in 13 playoff contests.The Norwegian winger signed a five-year, $30-million contract with the Wild on July 1. He has collected 11 points in 19 games for Minnesota.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will miss Sunday's game versus the Arizona Coyotes and at least one more after that as he deals with a hand injury, the team announced.The 26-year-old played nearly 19 minutes Saturday during Edmonton's win over the Vegas Golden Knights, so it's unknown when he suffered the injury.Sam Gagner has moved into Nugent-Hopkins' spot centering the Oilers' second line, according to team play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels.Nugent-Hopkins has notched five goals and 10 assists in 25 games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo is suspended four games for repeatedly cross-checking Nashville Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson on Saturday, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.Bortuzzo was assessed a two-minute minor for the play, which occurred in the first period. Arvidsson exited the game with a lower-body injury and has since been ruled out of action for four-to-six weeks.