Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on Week 4. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Sell high on Brayden SchennTeam: Blues

St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko will undergo left shoulder surgery Tuesday and be re-evaluated in five months, the team announced Monday.Tarasenko suffered the injury Oct. 24 against the Los Angeles Kings, leaving the contest in the first period after logging just four minutes and 37 seconds of ice time.The 27-year-old winger was riding a five-game point streak before sustaining the injury. He's recorded three goals and 10 points through 10 games in 2019-20.The talented Russian played a pivotal role during the Blues' Stanley Cup run this past spring, contributing 11 goals and 17 points in 26 playoff contests while averaging over 18 minutes of ice time per game.Tarasenko has led the Blues in goals for five straight seasons, notching at least 30 tallies in each of those campaigns. Only Alex Ovechkin and John Tavares have recorded more goals than Tarasenko's 185 since the start of the 2014-15 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Travis Dermott will suit up for the first time in the 2019-20 campaign on Tuesday night.The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman will play against the Washington Capitals, head coach Mike Babcock told reporters on Monday, including NHL.com's Dave McCarthy.Dermott was expected to miss a minimum of six months after having shoulder surgery in early May.The 22-year-old collected 17 points across 64 games in 2018-19, adding three points in seven playoff contests in his second campaign with the club.Toronto selected him 34th overall in 2015.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Todd McLellan is putting his team on notice after a forgettable four-game Midwestern road trip.The Los Angeles Kings head coach refused to blame external factors and put the fault squarely on the players after they were outscored 15-4 in the final three games of the trip in St. Louis, Minnesota, and Chicago."The schedule has nothing to do with it because the other teams are playing the exact same amount of games, so let's clarify that the schedule is not an excuse, certainly for our team," McLellan told reporters following a 5-1 loss to the Blackhawks on Sunday night."I think this trip was good, because it let us know that there are some players that probably can't play in the league right now," the bench boss added. "So maybe we'll have to make some changes. There are some veterans that really have to pick up their play. We'll have to have a chat with them."The Kings dropped to 4-8-0 with Sunday's loss. Only the Detroit Red Wings have a worse record (3-8-1) among clubs with 12 games played, and the two teams are tied with a league-worst minus-18 goal differential.Los Angeles ranks dead last in the league with 4.08 goals against per contest and ninth-worst with 2.58 markers per game.Kings veterans Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Tyler Toffoli have combined for just 11 goals through the first dozen games, while 33-year-old goaltender Jonathan Quick is 2-5-0 with a .849 save percentage in seven starts.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders will be without forwards Matt Martin and Tom Kuhnhackl for four-to-six weeks, president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello told reporters, including NHL.com's Brian Compton, on Sunday.Martin has appeared in seven games for the Islanders this season, recording two goals and one assist. He injured his leg after crashing into an open bench door against the Ottawa Senators on Friday, but returned to finish the game.Kuhnhackl has gone pointless in six games with the team this year. He was injured in the first period during Friday's game.The Islanders do not plan to call any players up at this time, Lamoriello added.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly has inked a one-year deal with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL, the team announced Monday.Smith-Pelly, 27, was released from a professional tryout with the Calgary Flames in September and went unsigned during NHL free agency. He tallied eight points in 54 games on a one-year contract with Washington last season.The 6-foot winger played an important role when the Capitals captured their first Stanley Cup in 2017-18. He potted seven goals - including two game-winners - while averaging 12:02 of ice time per game through 24 playoff contests during that run.Since being selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2010 draft, Smith-Pelly has amassed 44 goals and 101 points over 395 career NHL games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is the third edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for 2019-20. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.In this edition, we identify one pleasant surprise from each team after the first month of the new campaign.1. Boston Bruins (8-1-2)Previous rank: 3Having yet to lose a game in regulation, Tuukka Rask is off to a scorching hot start. The netminder is 5-0-1 in six games, posting a microscopic 1.48 GAA and .952 save percentage. Despite a lengthy playoff run last season, Rask has been locked in to start this year.2. Colorado Avalanche (8-2-1)Previous rank: 1Signed to fill in as their fourth-line center, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare has settled into his role with the Avalanche. The forward is already halfway to his 2018-19 goal total with three goals and three assists so far for his new club.3. Buffalo Sabres (9-2-1)Previous rank: 5Many forget Rasmus Dahlin is still a teenager at 19 years old. The first overall pick in 2018 has taken another step forward and likely hasn't reached his full potential yet. His 10 points in 12 games puts him in the top 10 in points among defensemen.4. Washington Capitals (8-2-3)Previous rank: 6John Carlson has been a force of nature to kick off the year. He leads all defensemen with 21 points and has his name involved in the Art Ross, Hart, and Norris Trophy conversation early in the season. He's looking to shatter his career-best 70 points he put up last year.5. Edmonton Oilers (8-3-1)Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 4James Neal had seven goals in 63 games with the Flames last season. He has 10 goals in 12 contests so far this year with the Oilers. The winger scored 25 with the Golden Knights two seasons ago and has shown he can reach that potential again. That is the definition of a pleasant surprise.6. New York Islanders (8-3-0)Previous rank: 22After inking a six-year deal worth $36 million during the offseason, Brock Nelson hasn't disappointed so far. With four goals and six assists through 11 games, Nelson has shown he is worth that kind of money.7. Carolina Hurricanes (7-3-1)Previous rank: 2The Hurricanes have more defensemen than they can count, but Dougie Hamilton is still standing out among them. With six goals and six assists in 11 games and excellent defensive play so far this season, Dougie is proving why he can be one of the league's top blue-liners. 8. Nashville Predators (7-3-1)Previous rank: 12Nashville's power play finished 30th in the league last season. With Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis quarterbacking the unit now, the Predators have been clicking. They're currently ranked ninth in the league and are converting at a 22% clip.9. Arizona Coyotes (6-3-1)Previous rank: 26The Coyotes made a splash in the offseason by acquiring Phil Kessel, and despite his slow start, the team is still knocking down opponents. Although Kessel has just two goals in 10 games, the Coyotes are evidently still getting the job done.10. Vancouver Canucks (6-3-1)Jared Silber / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 17Jim Benning made a gutsy trade during the summer, shipping off a couple of premium draft picks for J.T. Miller. The veteran forward has been better than expected, leading the team with 11 points in 10 games.11. Vegas Golden Knights (8-5-0)Previous rank: 8It's been an inconsistent start for the Golden Knights, but the club has significantly improved its penalty kill thus far after finishing in the middle of the pack in 2018-19. Despite being the third-most penalized team, Vegas has only surrendered five power-play goals and is killing penalties at a rate of 89.6% - good for second in the league.12. St. Louis Blues (6-3-3)Previous rank: 9If we told a Blues fan the club would have a combined seven goals between Ryan O'Reilly, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, Tyler Bozak, and Alex Steen through 12 games but would still be third in the Central Division, they'd be pleasantly surprised.13. Tampa Bay Lightning (5-3-2)Previous rank: 7The Lightning are still searching for their A-game after being swept out of the postseason by the Blue Jackets last spring, but the low-risk September signing of rearguard Kevin Shattenkirk has returned a high reward. With a cap hit of just $1.75 million, the veteran is second on the team with four goals and first among Lightning defensemen with seven points in 10 contests.14. Toronto Maple Leafs (6-5-2)Previous rank: 10Russian rookie Ilya Mikheyev has been quite the revelation so far in Toronto. The "souperman" has endeared himself to Leafs fans and media alike with his splashy game and quirky personality, and has even been bandied about in much-too-early Calder Trophy discussions. Mikheyev has potted four goals and ranks fourth on the team with 10 points over his first 13 NHL games.15. Pittsburgh Penguins (7-5-0)Jonathan Kozub / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 13Many counted the Penguins out after they were hit with early injury trouble, but the club has gotten a surprising amount of production from their depth. Pittsburgh has received at least one goal from 16 different players so far with neither Alex Galchenyuk or Nick Bjugstad cracking that list.16. Philadelphia Flyers (5-4-1)Previous rank: 11Travis Konecny's elite level of production early this season has masked sluggish starts from Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier. The Flyers wanted Konecny to take another step after signing him to a six-year, $33-million deal in September, and the 22-year-old has exceeded expectations so far.17. Calgary Flames (6-5-2)Previous rank: 15He may only have one victory to his name this season, but Cam Talbot has shown the Flames he still has plenty left in the tank. The 32-year-old netminder has posted a 2.46 GAA while stopping 79 of 87 shots through four appearances. For a team in need of reliable goaltending, Talbot could provide the answer.18. Anaheim Ducks (7-6-0)Previous rank: 16Hampus Lindholm is off to the best start in his career with nine assists in 12 games. It's unlikely he keeps this 61-point pace alive all year, but the 2014 sixth overall pick is teasing a breakout campaign that could help keep the Ducks relevant in a murky Pacific Division.19. Florida Panthers (5-2-4)Previous rank: 23With captain Aleksander Barkov still goalless through 12 games, the Panthers have seen their depth produce, including 22-year-old Denis Malgin. The Swiss winger has collected three goals and eight points in nine games after tallying only 16 points over 50 contests last season.20. Montreal Canadiens (5-4-2)Francois Lacasse / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 18Much like the Predators, the Habs have found success with a rejuvenated power play. Montreal ranked dead last in 2018-19 with just 31 power-play markers but has seen its efficiency with the man advantage double from 13.2% to 26.3% so far this season.21. Winnipeg Jets (6-6-0)Previous rank: 14Although the Jets lost four of their regular defensemen from last season, rookie Ville Heinola has made the most of his opportunity.Winnipeg's 2019 first-round selection has collected five points in eight contests. But with his ninth game approaching, the club will have an important decision to make: If he plays a 10th contest, he'll burn the first year of his entry-level deal.22. Columbus Blue Jackets (5-4-2)Previous rank: 25The Blue Jackets have needed extra time for three of their wins and have struggled at both ends in terms of special teams. It's been a tough transition into 2019-20 for John Tortorella's club, and it's a surprise to see them above .500 considering the underlying numbers.23. San Jose Sharks (4-7-1)Previous rank: 19Patrick Marleau returning home to the Sharks certainly came as no surprise, but his six points through eight games to start his 22nd season sure is.24. Dallas Stars (4-8-1)Previous rank: 27Roope Hintz made a name for himself during last year's playoffs, and he's notably carried his success into the regular season with six goals in 13 contests - twice as many as any of his teammates.25. Los Angeles Kings (4-8-0)Adam Pantozzi / National Hockey League / GettyPrevious rank: 24Things haven't gone well for the Kings in 2019-20 but 24-year-old blue-liner Sean Walker has racked up six points in 12 games. He also leads all of Los Angeles' regular defenders with 61.67% Corsi and 62.26% of expected goals at five-on-five.26. New York Rangers (3-5-1)Previous rank: 20The Rangers don't look like a team ready to take a step forward after a big summer, but defenseman Tony DeAngelo has emerged with eight points in nine games so far.27. Minnesota Wild (4-7-0)Previous rank: 31Thirty-one-year-old defenseman Brad Hunt of all people leads the team in goals and points, which is great for him, but probably not so great for the current outlook of the Wild.28. Chicago Blackhawks (3-5-2)Previous rank: 29After struggling to find his groove in Buffalo, winger Alex Nylander appears to have discovered himself in the Windy City. The No. 8 pick from the 2016 draft has two goals and three assists through his first nine games with the Blackhawks.29. New Jersey Devils (2-5-2)Previous rank: 30Pavel Zacha, the club's first-round pick in 2015, looks to have finally made some strides this season. He's already notched five points - which puts him on pace to shatter his previous career high of 25 - and has looked confident with the puck most nights. A step forward for the big pivot would be huge for the Devils.30. Ottawa Senators (3-7-1)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyPrevious rank: 28Somewhat a forgotten aspect of the Senators-Leafs mega trade this summer, forward Connor Brown has made the most of an elevated role in the nation's capital. He leads all Ottawa forwards with 10 points in 11 contests.31. Detroit Red Wings (3-8-1)Previous rank: 21Detroit only has one victory in its last 10 outings, but Tyler Bertuzzi notching 12 points thus far has to be a welcome sight for Red Wings brass.(Advanced Stats Courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins' vaunted top line gave the New York Rangers all they could handle on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.The dominant trio of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak simply torched the Blueshirts, combining for 13 points in a 7-4 victory.Here's a look at their body of work:PlayerGAPTOIBergeron30317:35Marchand23517:05Pastrnak05516:02Sunday's outing continued a torrid stretch for Boston's top line this season. Bergeron has recorded 11 points in 11 games, while Marchand extended his point streak to 10 contests - recording seven goals and 12 assists over that span. Pastrnak, who entered the contest leading the NHL with 11 goals, now paces the entire league in points with 23.With a combined 23 tallies so far in the new campaign, Boston's top line has now scored a remarkable 63% of the club's 36 goals.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan will be a healthy scratch against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night, head coach D.J. Smith told reporters, including The Athletic's Hailey Salvian."The 20 hardest workers are playing tonight," Smith said, according to The Athletic's Chris Stevenson.Ryan will be replaced in the lineup by forward Filip Chlapik, the team's 48th overall selection in the 2015 draft.The 32-year-old Ryan is in the fifth season of a seven-year deal, which carries a cap hit of $7.25 million.The veteran has just one goal and three assists through 10 contests this season. He's seen his role reduced and is averaging 12:36 minutes of ice time per game.This is only the second time Ryan has been a healthy scratch in the last 12 years. He was left out of the lineup in January 2017 by former Sens coach Guy Boucher, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brent Seabrook will be a healthy scratch for the second time in his career on Sunday when the Chicago Blackhawks take on the Los Angeles Kings, according to The Athletic's Mark Lazerus.The veteran blue-liner has scored one goal through nine games this season while averaging 17:39 of ice time.Fellow defenseman Dennis Gilbert, the Blackhawks' 90th overall selection in the 2015 draft, will draw in for Seabrook."We want to get Gilbert in, and it's a back-to-back," head coach Jeremy Colliton said of the decision, according to The Athletic's Scott Powers. "It's a good opportunity to give Seabs a rest and see what Gilbert has."The 34-year-old Seabrook still has five years left on the eight-year, $55-million contract he signed in 2015.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon will not receive supplemental discipline for his check to Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Dillon caught Matthews up high as the Maple Leafs star crossed the Sharks' blue line in the second period of Friday night's contest. Dillon was not penalized on the play.Matthews left the game to enter concussion protocol but returned for the third period. He said postgame he "felt fine" and was "just shaken up."The Sharks rearguard said he apologized to Matthews postgame.Matthews scored his ninth goal of the season with 30 seconds left in regulation as Toronto pulled out a 4-1 victory.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets forward Mason Appleton is out long term after breaking a bone in his foot while playing football with his teammates, head coach Paul Maurice told reporters, including The Athletic's Ken Wiebe."It will be a month before you can ask about him again," Maurice said on Friday.The 23-year-old suffered the injury trying to intercept a pass as teammates tossed the ball around prior to Friday's practice, the bench boss added, according to TSN's Jermain Franklin.Appleton has appeared in nine games for the Jets this season but hasn't recorded a point. Winnipeg drafted him in the sixth round in 2015.The Jets and Calgary Flames are in Regina, gearing up for Saturday's Heritage Classic to be held at Mosaic Stadium - home of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans can breathe a major sigh of relief.Superstar center Auston Matthews exited Friday's contest versus the San Jose Sharks after taking a hit to the head from Brenden Dillon in the second period but was able to return for the final frame.Matthews stayed down for a moment before finishing his shift but was later pulled to enter concussion protocol.There was no penalty called on the play.

St. Louis Blues star Vladimir Tarasenko will not play during an upcoming two-game road trip, the team announced Friday.Tarasenko will miss at least the next two games against the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings before he's re-evaluated next week.The Russian forward exited Thursday's contest with an upper-body injury in the first period and did not return.Tarasenko has three goals and seven assists through 10 games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins traded defenseman Erik Gudbranson to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday in exchange for forward Andreas Martinsen and a seventh-round pick in 2021, the team announced.Gudbranson has now been traded three times since the spring of 2016 when he was dealt from the Florida Panthers to Vancouver. After spending parts of three seasons with the Canucks, the 27-year-old was shipped to the Pens at last year's trade deadline.He's amassed 64 points in 474 regular-season games since the Panthers drafted him third overall in 2010.The deal gives the Penguins some much-needed cap flexibility. Gudbranson carries a $4-million cap hit through next season, while Martinsen earns $750,000 and is a free agent after this year.Anaheim, meanwhile, gains some experience on the right side of its blue line. The Ducks have been unable to fill the void after they traded Sami Vatanen to the New Jersey Devils in 2017-18 and dealt Brandon Montour to the Buffalo Sabres last season. Their top right-handed defenseman, Josh Manson, suffered an upper-body injury Thursday and will miss at least two games.Martinsen has registered 23 points in 152 career NHL contests split between the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, and Chicago Blackhawks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

BUFFALO - It hit Ralph Krueger earlier this week in a KeyBank Arena hallway.As the first-year Sabres head coach reflected on the early days of his tenure in Buffalo, he felt a chill. Krueger's group had exploded out of the gate to start the 2019-20 season, gelling behind closed doors while collecting 15 of a possible 18 points. His body was telling him to soak it all in for a quick moment."If somebody asked me, 'After 10 games, what would I like to know?' It's that we have a right to be part of the (playoff) race. That'd be the first thing," Krueger said in a conversation Monday afternoon. "And I feel that for sure we do, especially after that (2-1-0 California) road trip. I get a little bit of goosebumps when I think about it because this is the first time I've actually said it to anybody."Bill Wippert / Getty ImagesThe next day, the Sabres won again, with Jack Eichel scoring on a jam play in overtime. That 4-3 victory over San Jose improved Buffalo's record to 8-1-1, its points percentage to .850, and its goal differential to plus-14 - all tops among NHL teams. Eichel, meanwhile, is playing at an MVP level."Ralph is a little bit unique, which really works for this group," center and alternate captain Marcus Johansson said. "It's fun to play for him. He's honest, he's positive, he lifts guys up. Hockey players with confidence are a lot better than hockey players without confidence."Undeniable impactThe Sabres own the NHL's longest active playoff drought - eight seasons - and no other team has lost more games this decade, so October's been a boon for the organization and its rabid fan base. The Eichel era, which started in October 2015 when he made the jump from college, has been characterized by horrible records, bad body language, and fired coaches.Krueger, the Eichel era's third bench boss following Dan Bylsma and Phil Housley, has been a breath of fresh air. Previous Sabres teams didn't play with this kind of pace or fluidity. There's a collective swagger brewing.Rob Marczynski / Getty ImagesThe coach and his staff have been preaching interchangeability between the forwards and defensemen, and the message isn't just aimed at certain players. "Five guys on offense, five guys on defense," is how Johansson described the mentality. "The big focus," winger Sam Reinhart added, "is trying to stay connected, with and without the puck. Supporting each other all the time."This pack mentality has led to crisper breakouts, cleaner offensive-zone entries, and a ton of odd-man rushes. "Irrelevant of the score, irrelevant of where we play, we need to keep playing the same way," Krueger said of his system. "We stay on our toes. We keep playing offense. We don't sit back."So far, the Sabres are averaging 3.7 goals per game, which ranks fourth in the league. Second-year captain Eichel, sniper Jeff Skinner, and power-play sensation Victor Olofsson have bagged six goals apiece, while 15 others have registered at least one point. Scoring four or more times in five of 10 games is an inspired start for a franchise that's finished bottom 10 in goals throughout the Eichel era.It helps that Buffalo's forecheck is greatly improved this year, said Jake McCabe, one of six players remaining from the awful 2014-15 team that lost 59 games. "And as a defenseman," he added, "it's been a lot easier to keep my gap because our forwards are working to get back and pressuring the puck constantly." In short order, the Sabres are looking like a cohesive group.Andy Devlin / Getty ImagesThe 60-year-old Krueger, a master communicator, has brought an optimist's vibe to the formerly downtrodden franchise. The guy literally wrote a book on leadership, and his glass is always three-quarters full. He's deeply thoughtful and willing to challenge institutional norms like the morning skate. Perhaps most important to his players, he's an inclusive, collaborative coach with an open-door policy."Our opinion matters to him, which is nice," center Casey Mittelstadt said. "Any time you're going (into his office or the video room), you know he's actually listening to you and actually taking what you have to say to heart."The last time we saw Krueger behind a bench, he was leading Team Europe to a surprise second-place finish at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. That came in the middle of an unusual turn as chairman of Southampton FC, an English Premier League soccer team. An uneventful 48-game stint with the Edmonton Oilers seven years ago was Krueger's only prior NHL head coaching experience, and the game has changed dramatically since 2012."I had a lot of time to think about if I was going to be a coach, what I would do strategically," he said. "To actually bring it to life, then, is a completely different experience."Cautious optimismOn Tuesday, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill praised Krueger for the team's impressive improvement. He added that the four players acquired over the summer - forwards Johansson and Jimmy Vesey, and defensemen Colin Miller and Henri Jokiharju - have been a "really calming influence."But with most of the roster returning, Krueger said last season's dramatic second-half slide still "hangs in the air." Ten straight wins had vaulted the Sabres into first place in the Eastern Conference during November, but they lost an incredible 41 of 57 remaining contests to miss the playoffs by 22 points.At the time, pundits warned about falling head over heels for those Sabres since the winning streak featured six overtime or shootout victories. Puck luck had skewed the results, and the crash was swift and painful. Inevitably, fans may wonder if this year's scorching start is also a mirage.In one sense, it's not. A plus-14 goal differential suggests dominance, not luck, and contributions have been coming from all four forward lines, three defense pairings, and two goalies. In another sense, the underlying even-strength data suggests the Sabres are playing with fire:SabresNHL rankShooting success (SH%)10.5%3rdExpected goals (xGF%)47.7%20thScoring chances (SCF%)48.1%22ndShot attempts (CF%)47.2%25thSource: NaturalStatTrick.comBuffalo has capitalized on a high percentage of shots and is seeing red in three other important categories. That's not ideal. Nor is the team's early-season reliance on its power play (30.8%) and goaltending tandem. Journeyman starter Carter Hutton has posted a terrific .943 save percentage through six appearances. Is it illogical to expect so much of him, backup Linus Ullmark, and the power play over a full year?"It's not lucky what's happening here," Krueger argued. "There is a method to what's going on and why we're where we're at right now."Krueger used last week's 3-0 win in Los Angeles as an example. Outshot 47-24, Buffalo seemed to get away with murder. Yet the club mostly limited the Kings' second chances, Krueger said, allowing for the gritty victory."We're more of a possession team and pick our moments to shoot," he noted. "Others, like a Columbus, like an L.A., they're shooting teams. They shoot, they shoot, they shoot. So, the shot clock is a dangerous clock to track with us." Additionally, Krueger said his club leans on in-house data - namely scoring chances for and against - and that those numbers haven't been setting off alarms."You could argue about whether (percentages are) too high or it's too low, or whatever, but in the end, we feel like we're realistically capable of being part of the race," he said.Harry How / Getty ImagesIt's hard to disagree with Krueger because the Sabres are passing the eye test with flying colors. Mittelstadt and Vesey are playing some of the best hockey of their careers, much-maligned defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is happy with his suitable role on a well-balanced blue line, the Johansson-Skinner combo has made the second unit more dangerous, and both Eichel and Rasmus Dahlin - the organization's tentpole stars - are leading the charge on and off the ice.The Sabres' 50th season is young, and their record could look wildly different in a month. Regardless, it feels like the tide is turning. The organization has found its leader."The most pleasing (development) is how much these players in Buffalo have embraced the plan that we as coaches drew up," Krueger said, "and the pathway that we've drawn up."John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gary Bettman was in peak troll mode Friday.The NHL commissioner was asked about the league's controversial playoff format during a media availability on Friday ahead of Saturday's Heritage Classic in Saskatchewan."We think the format we have works extremely well ... unless you're a Leafs fan," Bettman joked, according to Donna Spencer of the Canadian Press.With the NHL's current playoff format, the second and third seeds in each division meet in the first round of the postseason, regardless if one division is stronger than the other.The Toronto Maple Leafs have been the biggest victims of this format. Last season they met the Boston Bruins in the first round, despite the fact they had the fifth-most points in the Eastern Conference and the Bruins had the second-most. It also hurt them in 2017-18, when they tied for the third-most points in the conference but were once again forced to start on the road against the second-seeded Bruins in Round 1.Toronto, of course, was eliminated in the first round each time.In the old 1 vs. 8 format, the Leafs would've been at home to the Penguins as the No. 4 seed in 2018, and on the road against the Islanders as the No. 5 seed in 2019.Steven Stamkos, Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, and Nazem Kadri are among a list of players that have criticized the format in the past.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brendan Perlini's representative, Darren Ferris, and the Chicago Blackhawks concur that the forward needs a change of scenery."Yeah, we've been exploring options," Perlini told reporters, including The Athletic's Scott Powers, after practice Friday.The club and the player's agent "have agreed that they’re going to try and find a new home for him," TSN's Bob McKenzie reported on "Insider Trading" on Thursday.Perlini has played just one game this season, logging 7:49 in ice time. The Blackhawks acquired him and Dylan Strome from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Nick Schmaltz in November 2018.In 47 games with Chicago over parts of the last two seasons, Perlini has 12 goals and three assists. He produced 33 markers and 24 helpers across 153 contests in parts of three campaigns with the Coyotes.Arizona selected him 12th overall in 2014.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers prospect Vitali Kravtsov has exercised his European assignment clause to sign with his former club, Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, according to the New York Post's Larry Brooks.Friday marked the first day Kravstov could exercise the clause. It is only for one year and the Rangers can still recall him at any time this season, Brooks adds.Selected by New York with the ninth overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, Kravstov did not make the Rangers' roster out of training camp and has recorded one assist in five games with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.The 19-year-old forward tallied two goals and six points in seven games to help Russia capture a bronze medal at the 2019 world juniors.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.It has been a profitable week on the ice thus far, so let's keep the momentum going into a busy weekend on the schedule.One of hockey's oldest rivalries headlines the weekend slate as the Montreal Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs, while a Stanley Cup rematch graces TD Garden.Game bettingSan Jose Sharks at Toronto Maple Leafs (Friday)It's the chalk play, but how do you stay away from the over 6.5 in this game? Both teams can score at will, while they each struggle to keep the puck out of their own net. The Sharks are on a 9-1 run to the over when playing their second game in as many nights, and until the Leafs prove they're capable of playing sound defense, there's no reason to think this game should be any different.Washington Capitals at Vancouver Canucks (Friday)The Capitals have three well-deserved days off to reset after this one. It's been a busy start to the season for them with 13 games in 25 nights, including a ton of travel. Washington is also on the second game of a back-to-back and fatigue will be an issue for it. The Canucks have been idle since Tuesday and are a strong bet at even money.St. Louis Blues at Boston Bruins (Saturday)If this isn't the best revenge spot on the calendar, I don't know what is. The Bruins spent the summer watching videos of Blues players bathing in beer and eating food out of the Stanley Cup, after they came so close to winning it themselves. Nothing that happens on Saturday will take that away from St. Louis, but Boston can put a small band-aid over its heart-sized wound with a win. You know how bad the Bruins want this.Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens (Saturday)Once more, the schedule makers have taken away from the allure of a Habs-Leafs game this season, with Toronto again playing it as the second game of a back-to-back. As a result, Michael Hutchinson will get the nod in goal. He's posted a save percentage below .900 this season, with the Leafs 0-3 in his starts. Carey Price will steal the show again as the Canadiens make it two for two over the Leafs this season.San Jose Sharks at Ottawa Senators (Sunday)The Sharks have performed reasonably well in the second half of back-to-backs under Peter DeBoer, though they typically struggle in the game that follows - especially when it's on the road. San Jose is 5-12 in this spot over the past two seasons, so consider backing the Senators here at what will certainly be an attractive price.Game propsColorado Avalanche at Vegas Golden Knights (Friday)The best team in the Western Conference was dealt a blow this week with the news that star winger Mikko Rantanen will miss at least a couple weeks with a lower-body injury. His absence will be sorely missed in a game in that could be a Conference Final preview against the Golden Knights. The Avalanche have had three days off in advance of this contest, which can be problematic with all the distractions Vegas has to offer. It's possible they spent Thursday night celebrating their hot start and will come out sluggish as a result. With the price on Vegas a bit high (-165), take them -0.5 in the first period at +150.Calgary Flames at Winnipeg Jets (Saturday)A Heritage Classic, this game will be played at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan. Since Heritage Classics were instituted as yearly occurrences in 2008, outdoor games are 14-7-5 to the under, assuming a six-goal total for each contest. The under is worth a look here as well, but the Jets' team total is our focus. They've scored three or less goals in each of their last 12 games against the Flames, and two or less in nine of those contests. Under 3.5 and under 2.5 are both worth a look here. Goals have become an issue for Winnipeg, with just eight in its last five games.Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks (Sunday)Only twice in the last nine meetings between the Blackhawks and Kings have there been two or more goals in the opening 20 minutes. With neither team scoring much these days, the first-period under looks like a strong bet here.Player propsWashington Capitals at Vancouver Canucks (Friday)Vancouver's power play has been humming along nicely this season, especially at home where it has converted on 44.4% of its opportunities. Bo Horvat is the team leader in that regard, with four goals on the man advantage. Look for him to add to that total against the Capitals, who can't seem to stay out of the penalty box - their 41 minor penalties are third-most in the NHL 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.

If Patrick Marleau has his way, he'll pass Gordie Howe and become hockey's new king of longevity."His goal is to break Gordie's record," Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock told reporters, including the Mercury News' Curtis Pashelka, on Friday. "I wish him luck with that."However, Marleau used his wife's Twitter account Friday afternoon to deny having that particular goal.

It was a rough night to be a goaltender in Calgary.The Flames defeated the Florida Panthers 6-5 in a shootout on Thursday night. The result came even though the two teams combined for less than 50 shots. For reference, the league average for shots per game entering Thursday was 63, but the average for goals per game sat at 6.06.Between the Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky and the Flames' David Rittich, neither netminder brought their A-game.GoalieSVSASV%Sergei Bobrovsky1924.792David Rittich1823.783It was a shooters paradise, as skaters scored on 21.3% of their shots - better than one goal on every five attempts.The game started out tame. The Flames went into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead before the Panthers tied it up at 2-2 after the second period. The two sides erupted in the final frame, combining for six goals, with Sean Monahan scoring the shootout winner.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues star winger Vladimir Tarasenko suffered an upper-body injury versus the Los Angeles Kings in the first period of Thursday's contest and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the game, the team announced.There's no word on the specifics of the injury, but it's worth noting Tarasenko suffered a separated shoulder in June's Stanley Cup Final, and also had surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder in the previous offseason.Head coach Craig Berube said he has no injury update on the forward following the 5-2 win.Tarasenko entered Thursday's tilt leading the Blues with 10 points through nine games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews called out himself and his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates after Tuesday's loss to the rival Boston Bruins."It's just not good enough," he said postgame. "We need to be better and I think it comes from the leadership group. I need to be better. All of us need to be better. We just need to look each other in the eye and hold each other accountable."The Maple Leafs are 5-4-2 to start the season and have dropped three of their last four games. Matthews shed more light on his comments Thursday."We're a family here, but sometimes you gotta yell at your family," he told TSN's Kristen Shilton. "(Communication) is something that we can do a better job of and I think it's something that we are doing a better job of."Sloppy defensive play and undisciplined hockey have held the Leafs back. They're tied for the most goals against in the league entering Thursday and have the fourth-most giveaways. They've also taken the fifth-most penalties - including 10 in the last two games - after being the NHL's most disciplined squad a year ago."You don't want to lose; I hate losing," Matthews said. "So you're frustrated, but it's still early. We've still got new guys and we're still trying to mesh. ... But when we look around at the guys that we have, I think we expect more out of each other. So that's just holding one another accountable, putting the past in the past, and putting our best foot forward."This summer, Toronto experienced as much turnover as any club in the league. Nine players have already made their Leafs debut this season. Two key skaters - Zach Hyman and Travis Dermott - have yet to play after undergoing offseason surgeries, and captain John Tavares has missed last three games with a broken finger.Matthews, who leads the team with eight goals in 11 games, has been counted on to play bigger minutes with Tavares out. He admits he needs to do a better job without the puck."Just defensively (I can be better) and all areas," he said. "I have to put the puck in the back of the net, create on offense, but it starts in the D-zone and I think that's an area that we've been trying to work on lately, especially today (at practice), so I've got to be better."The Leafs are back in action Friday against the San Jose Sharks and Saturday versus the Montreal Canadiens.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg announced his retirement on Wednesday."Physically, it just does not work anymore; my shoulder and wrists are pretty much done after 15 years in the NHL," Seidenberg told German outlet EIS Hockey News, according to NBC Sports via Google Translate.Seidenberg played a pivotal role in the Boston Bruins' Stanley Cup title in 2011. He recorded 11 points during those playoffs and averaged 27:38 minutes of ice time per game.The 38-year-old dressed for six teams after being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth round in 2001. He last played for the New York Islanders in 2017-18.Seidenberg ends his career with 44 goals and 251 points over 859 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Without a contract offer from an NHL club, former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov has inked a professional tryout contract with HC Lokomotiv of the KHL, the league announced Thursday.Markov, 40, spent 16 seasons with the Canadiens. In August, he announced his desire to return to the NHL, with Montreal his first choice.In September, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said the club was looking to take a younger approach, and he wasn't interested in bringing back the veteran rearguard.Markov has spent the past two seasons with Ak Bars Kazan, posting 47 points in 104 games and winning the Gagarin Cup in 2018.The Russian was selected by the Canadiens in the sixth round of the 1998 NHL Draft and ranks sixth in both games played (990) and assists (453) in franchise history.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Breaking into the NHL at 18 years of age is no small task, but New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko isn't making any excuses for his sluggish start.“We’re not playing good right now as a team, and I’m not playing good,” Kakko said, according to the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis.He added, "I'm playing bad hockey."The Rangers selected Kakko with the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. The Finland native has just one goal and one assist through the first seven games of his career.Kakko's ice time has decreased over four consecutive outings, and he played a season-low 9:51 in an overtime loss against the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.“Of course (it’s not fun) because we are not winning the games right now,” Kakko said. “But, hopefully it’s getting better. Like, next game, maybe I feel better.”Since winning their first two contests of the season, the Rangers have lost five straight and have found the net just nine times. They'll look to get back on track at home on Thursday night against the first-place Buffalo Sabres.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Are you not entertained?The first three weeks of the 2019-20 NHL season have given us plenty to think about and gawk at. Here are some of the many eye-catching developments from the first 21 days of action:Scoring > fightingThe NHL has made a distinct move from decades past. Fighting's importance to the game is dwindling, while scoring continues to surge. Both trends have carried on through the first few weeks of the final season of the 2010s. There have been 21 fighting majors, according to HockeyFights.com, which is a 197-fight pace or a scrap roughly every six-and-a-half games, which would be a historic low. Meanwhile, the average 2019-20 game has featured 6.1 total goals, the highest rate since the 2005-06 campaign.Front offices acting fastAndy Marlin / Getty ImagesNico Hischier's seven-year contract extension was a tidy piece of business for New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero. Hischier, who will make $7.25 million starting next season, has been lost in the shuffle in a league ruled by more flamboyant players. The two-way center is an integral part of what New Jersey is building, forming a one-two punch down the middle with Jack Hughes. He joins Chicago Blackhawks winger Alex DeBrincat, Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot, Winnipeg Jets rearguard Josh Morrissey, and Arizona Coyotes winger Clayton Keller on the list of 2020 restricted free agents who've inked an extension far in advance of July 1. The 2019 RFA crop taught GMs a lesson, apparently.Carlson on fireJohn Carlson finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting last year. In his previous nine seasons, he cracked the top five just once. It's safe to say he's the clubhouse leader now. Carlson tops all skaters - yes, that includes Connor McDavid - in points (five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 11 games). If Carlson can remain healthy and average a point per game for the remainder of the season, he'll become the first defenseman since Ray Bourque in 1993-94 to crack the 90-point mark. Video game numbers for a 29-year-old in the second season of an eight-year deal. For the Capitals, it's $8 million well spent.Sharks dress to impressBravo to the San Jose Sharks. Those Los Tiburones warmup jerseys hit all the right notes.

Wednesday night's marquee matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins did not disappoint.With the score even at two goals apiece in the final minute of the game, Victor Hedman unleashed an absolute rocket from the point to give the Bolts a late lead.

A handful of injuries up front are forcing the Ottawa Senators to seek out external reinforcements.The Senators are "trying hard to add a forward," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wrote in his "31 Thoughts" column Wednesday.Two of the club's top three centers recently went down with injuries: Colin White will miss three-to-five weeks with a hip flexor and Artem Anisimov is out one-to-two weeks with a lower-body ailment.Senators general manager Pierre Dorion has already shown a willingness to make moves early in the season, acquiring forward Vladislav Namestnikov from the New York Rangers earlier in October in exchange for a fourth-round pick and defenseman Nick Ebert. The move has paid off brilliantly thus far; Namestnikov is currently tied for the team lead with six points in six games in a Sens uniform.It's rare that teams look to trade away players so early in the season, but Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nic Petan is one individual reportedly on the trade block. It's worth noting Dorion and Leafs GM Kyle Dubas appear to have a strong working relationship, as the two teams pulled off a six-player trade this past summer.In the meantime, the Senators have recalled 2016 first-round pick Logan Brown from the AHL and penciled him in on the top line. That will surely please his agent, who complained about the team's handling of Brown's development in early October.The rebuilding Senators entered Wednesday with the NHL's worst record at 1-6-1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Logan Couture didn't reference Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc by name after Tuesday's overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres, but the San Jose Sharks captain made it clear he wasn't happy with their decision that preceded the game-winning goal."Just an inexcusable change. Two guys that stayed out too long looking for offense," Couture told reporters afterward. "It's a selfish play that doesn't need to be part of this team, so we'll figure that out."Meier and Labanc were both on the ice for nearly 90 seconds of the extra frame (1:28 and 1:22, respectively) before going off with the Sabres controlling the puck and pushing to enter the Sharks' defensive zone.Couture and Joe Thornton came over the boards to replace them, but it was too late, as Brent Burns was forced to defend a two-on-one that led to Jack Eichel's winner for Buffalo.Couture clarified to TSN's John Lu on Wednesday that he spoke to Meier and Labanc before meeting the media postgame, adding, "I think those guys will learn from it."For his part, Meier took responsibility for the error."Me and Kevin obviously know that we made a mistake, that's how it is," he said. "I think we're man enough to stand up to that and own up to our mistakes. Things happen, and you try to learn from it and do a better job next time."Both Meier and Labanc have struggled to find their footing on the offensive end so far this season. They've each collected two goals and two assists in nine games.On July 1, Meier inked a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $24 million following a 66-point campaign. One week later, Labanc signed a one-year deal for a reported $1 million on the heels of his 56-point output in 2018-19.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild netminder Devan Dubnyk was forced to exit Tuesday's contest versus the Edmonton Oilers after being taken down in a collision in the second period.Wild forward Ryan Donato and Oilers defenseman Brandon Manning got tangled up and slid into Dubnyk, who crashed hard to the ice.

Colorado Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen has been deemed week-to-week with the injury he suffered Monday against the St. Louis Blues, head coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday.The top-line winger sustained the injury - which Bednar classified as a lower-body ailment - when his skate blade got stuck in the ice, causing his leg to twist. After the game, The Denver Post's Mike Chambers reported it as a leg injury.On Wednesday, the bench boss told reporters, including CBS Denver's Michael Spencer, that he'd know more about Rantanen's status by early next week. He added that the Avalanche don't expect the timetable to be four-to-six weeks, but that they also don't want to rush the forward back.Rantanen has produced five goals and 12 points through the first nine games of 2019-20.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets have claimed defenseman Luca Sbisa off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced Wednesday.Anaheim signed the veteran blue-liner but had to clear him through waivers first, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Sbisa is on a one-year deal worth $750,000, according to CapFriendly.The 29-year-old appeared in nine contests with the New York Islanders last season, during which he recorded one assist. He has 504 games of NHL experience under his belt.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.This week, longtime hockey executive and lawyer Trevor Whiffen joined the show to discuss a wide range of topics:

John Carlson can do no wrong right now.The Washington Capitals blue-liner scored twice Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, giving him a league-leading 20 points on the season. By reaching the mark, he became the fourth defenseman ever to tally 20 points in October, according to Capitals Public Relations.With three more games to go this month, Carlson has a chance to capture the all-time record for points by a defenseman in October, according to NBCS Capitals:DefensemanSeasonPointsAl MacInnis199025Brian Leetch199021Paul Coffey198821Paul Coffey198120John Carlson201920MacInnis, Leetch, and Coffey are all enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.Carlson is also the second-quickest defenseman to record 20 points, per NHL PR, needing just 11 games. Bobby Orr also required 11 games to reach the mark in 1974-75, while Coffey needed just 10 in 1988-89.The 29-year-old has been incredibly productive over the last two campaigns, recording 68 points in 2017-18 and 70 in 2018-19. However, 47% of his points those seasons came on the power play. This year, he's dominated at even strength, as only six of his 20 points have come with the man advantage.Carlson has a three-point lead on David Pastrnak and Connor McDavid in the Art Ross race, is the front-runner for the Norris Trophy, and should be firmly entrenched in Hart Trophy conversations as well. What a start.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews is calling for changes after his Toronto Maple Leafs fell to 5-4-2 on the season following a loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night."It's just not good enough," Matthews said postgame, per TSN. "We need to be better and I think it comes from the leadership group. I need to be better. All of us need to be better. We just need to look each other in the eye and hold each other accountable."The loss was the Leafs' second in their last three games without captain John Tavares, who's ruled out for two weeks with a broken finger suffered Oct. 16."It's just been the same thing kind of over and over for us. We haven't been disciplined, we're taking ourselves out of the game with lots of penalties," Matthews said.The Leafs blew a 3-2 lead to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday and didn't perform particularly well against the Bruins in response. Boston controlled 58.38% of shot attempts and 70.27% of scoring chances at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick, and Matthews' line was consistently hemmed in against the vaunted Patrice Bergeron-led top unit.With the win, Boston leapfrogged Toronto for second spot in the Atlantic Division with 14 points and two games in hand.The Maple Leafs return to action Friday versus the San Jose Sharks before traveling to Montreal on Saturday to conclude their second back-to-back of the week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not even the Vaxjo Lakers are safe from Kanye West's social media wrath.The 21-time Grammy winner apparently had the Swedish Hockey League outfit put in Twitter jail for using one of his songs in an old promotional video, Vaxjo announced Tuesday on Instagram."Right now, Vaxjo Lakers' Twitter account is down due to the fact that music from Kanye West was used in an old video," the post read, as translated by Thomas Williams of Yahoo Sports. "Twitter was contacted about the removal of the clip and we hope to get the account back as soon as possible."It's not known which West song the Lakers used, but it's clear no one person should have such power.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings placed veteran defenseman Jonathan Ericsson on waivers Tuesday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Ericsson has spent all 12 seasons of his NHL career in the Motor City. The stay-at-home blue-liner never recorded more than 15 points in a single campaign but ranks 23rd all time on the storied franchise's games played list.The 35-year-old is unlikely to be claimed by another team due to his $4.25-million cap hit - which expires after this season - but he could serve as a veteran mentor on the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.Ericsson managed to carve out a lengthy career despite being chosen in the ninth round - 291st overall - of the 2002 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just because their teams are rivals, doesn't mean David Pastrnak can't show Auston Matthews some love."He has an unbelievable shot and skill set and he can find the soft spot," Pastrnak told reporters Tuesday, via TSN. "Every time he's 100% healthy he's showing that, and I just think he's a hell of a player."During the summer, the Boston Bruins winger predicted that the Toronto Maple Leafs star would win the Hart Trophy this season."I don't think there's something wrong with just giving him credit when he deserves it," Pastrnak added. "It's early in the season, he's showing that he can score goals, and he's been showing that since he got here."So far in 2019-20, Pastrnak is tied with James Neal for the league lead in goals with nine, but Matthews isn't far behind with eight. The two players clashed on Saturday, as Pastrnak scored a goal but Matthews helped set up the game-winner for Toronto in overtime.The Maple Leafs haven't had a Hart Trophy winner in 64 years. Ted Kennedy won the honor in 1954-55.The Bruins and Maple Leafs will meet again Tuesday night in Boston.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche superstar Mikko Rantanen took an awkward spill Monday against the St. Louis Blues and needed help to get to the dressing room.He appeared to get the blade of his skate caught on the ice, causing his leg to twist.

Many projected the Columbus Blue Jackets to regress after losing Sergei Bobrovsky, Artemi Panarin, and Matt Duchene in free agency this summer, but the club has collected points in five straight games to improve its record to 4-3-2.After Monday's 4-3 overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, always candid head coach John Tortorella addressed the pundits who believed his team wouldn't be able to overcome the loss of its three best players."We're supposed to suck this year," Tortorella said postgame. "We're just gonna worry about our own business and take it a day at a time."Tortorella's response stemmed from a question about goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who had big shoes to fill in replacing a two-time Vezina Trophy winner.Korpisalo stopped 28 of 31 shots against the high-flying Leafs and has now been in goal for all four of the club's victories this season. He owns a .922 save percentage in his last four games.Columbus' next test will come at home Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk is undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stomach cancer in August."For some reason, the Lord put me in this kind of fight and I'm ready to fight it," Hawerchuk told TSN's Rick Westhead in an interview last weekend. "I want to live to tell the story."Hawerchuk is the head coach of the OHL's Barrie Colts, but the team announced in September he wouldn't be behind the bench to begin the 2019-20 season due to health issues. Details were not revealed at the time."The chemo has hit me pretty hard," he said. "I do it one week and it breaks the body down and then the next week I take a break and build my body up so I can do it again. I have to do that for two months. I really struggle to eat and have a feeding tube, but the last few days I've been able to eat a little bit, too. You've got to keep your nutrition up."Hawerchuk was selected first overall in the 1981 NHL Draft by the original Winnipeg Jets franchise. He became an immediate star, winning the Calder Trophy in his rookie season with 103 points. He reached the 100-point mark in six of his first seven NHL campaigns.The 56-year-old also played five seasons for the Buffalo Sabres and had a brief stint with the St. Louis Blues before wrapping up his career with the Philadelphia Flyers. He finished his career with 1,409 points in 1,188 regular-season games and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2001 - his second year of eligibility.Hawerchuk has been the head coach of the Colts since 2010-11, capturing four division titles in his tenure.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky paid a hefty price to get his old sweater number with his new team.Bobrovsky, who wore the No. 72 with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2013 to 2019, rewarded teammate Frank Vatrano with a bottle of wine, a Rolex watch, and a McDonald's hamburger for surrendering the digits before the start of the season.

Mike Babcock is giving the phrase "bottom of the lineup" a whole new meaning.The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach gave an anatomical answer when asked what allows smaller skaters like Trevor Moore and Dmytro Timashov - who are both listed at 5-foot-10 - to succeed with the team."They got big asses," Babcock told the assembled media, including TSN, on Monday. "So they weigh a lot. You can laugh, but it's the truth. You can get under people, you can win retrieval races, you can own lanes. You have good balance."Moore is in a five-way tie for second on the club with three goals to go along with two assists in nine games. Most recently, the 24-year-old has been playing on the Leafs' third line and second power-play unit.Timashov has four points of his own and potted his first NHL goal in Saturday's victory over the Boston Bruins. The 23-year-old has been filling a fourth-line role after spending the last three seasons with the AHL's Toronto Marlies.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.Round 2 between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs this season goes Tuesday night.The rivalry highlights a delicious midweek slate that includes a Central Division clash and a meeting between a pair of Eastern Conference favorites in the Sunshine State.Game bettingColorado Avalanche at St. Louis Blues (Monday)The Avalanche will look at this game as a passing of the torch. The Western Conference leaders are white-hot as they visit last season's champions, with the Blues coming off consecutive home losses. However, it's the third game in four nights for Colorado, which has lost seven of its last eight trips to St. Louis. The Blues haven't dropped three successive home games since February 2013.Ottawa Senators at Dallas Stars (Monday)Dallas isn't off to the start it hoped for, but there's no better slump-buster than the Senators, right? Well, this is a tough spot for the Stars, who return home from a back-to-back in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. The Stars are 4-11 over the last two seasons when playing their third game in four nights. They're also 0-3 at home this season with just four goals. At +190, the Senators are live 'dogs.Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins (Tuesday)Revenge will be on the Bruins' minds as they welcome the Leafs to TD Garden after losing to Toronto in overtime Saturday. The Leafs will likely start Michael Hutchinson in what will be their second game of a back-to-back after hosting Columbus. Toronto got run over in two trips to the Garden during the 2018-19 regular season, and it's hard to see the Leafs beating a rested Boston team under these circumstances.Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (Wednesday)The Lightning will have had three days off to think about their 6-2 home loss to the Avalanche when they host a Penguins team that plays at Florida the night before. Tampa has won 14 of its last 16 home games on three days' rest. Only once last season did the Lightning lose two in a row at home, falling 1-0 to the Blues in overtime. They've consistently bounced back from losses under Jon Cooper and have won all three of their home games against the Penguins over the last two seasons. The chalk could be a bit high, but this is a great spot to back the Bolts.Minnesota Wild at Nashville Predators (Thursday)The beginning of Minnesota's schedule has been brutal, with 13 of the team's first 18 games away from home. The Wild are 1-5 on the road this season, lost all five of those games by two or more goals, and recorded their lone away win against the Senators. They last won in Nashville in 2016 and have scored just nine goals in their visits since. Play the Predators on the puck line.Game propsAnaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators (Tuesday)Anaheim has enjoyed a strong start, but it would be a whole lot better if the Ducks could find their scoring touch. They have been held to two or fewer goals in five of their nine games and scored just eight times in four contests on the road. Excluding the playoffs, the Ducks have been held under 2.5 goals in each of their last six trips to Nashville.Vegas Golden Knights at Chicago Blackhawks (Tuesday)The Golden Knights have scored at least four goals in each of their six all-time meetings with the Blackhawks. Across three trips to Chicago, they've put up 17 goals. Back Vegas' team total over 3.5. The first-period over 1.5 is also worth a play despite the likely high juice - every time these teams have played each other, the over 1.5 has hit in the opening 20 minutes.San Jose Sharks at Montreal Canadiens (Thursday)Heading into the week, the Canadiens (7-2, 77.8%) and Sharks (6-2, 75%) are two of the five most profitable teams when it comes to the first-period over. They meet Thursday in Montreal, where the over 1.5 in the opening frame looks tasty.Player propsToronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins (Tuesday)We hit with David Pastrnak scoring in the game in Toronto on Saturday night. Let's back him to do so again in Boston. He simply can't help himself against the Leafs.Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (Wednesday)With the Penguins thin down the middle and Tristan Jarry likely to start in net, Lightning center Brayden Point is a good candidate to score. Point has three goals in five games so far and put up three goals in three contests against the Pens last 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.

Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on Week 3. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Add James van RiemsdykTeam: Flyers

A tornado in the Dallas area caused significant damage to one of Tyler Seguin's properties Sunday night.The aftermath was first documented by Jason Whitely of local station WFAA.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Mikael Backlund scored with 11:03 left, Cam Talbot made 29 saves and the Calgary Flames rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night.Backlund got a pass from Matthew Tkachuk on a 2-on-1 rush after a neutral zone turnover and beat goaltender John Gibson with a snap shot from the right faceoff circle. It was his second goal in two games.Talbot made his second start of the season and got his first win as he stopped a flurry of one-timers in the third period. Michael Stone also scored for the Flames, who snapped a three-game road losing streak.Jakob Silfverberg scored for Anaheim, which lost for the first time in five home games. Gibson made 27 saves.Silfverberg opened the scoring 12 seconds into the second when he beat Talbot top shelf from the left faceoff circle after taking the pass from Hampus Lindholm. Silfverberg - who has five goals this season - has scored in three straight games.Stone tied it at 15:32 of the second with a one-timer from near the blueline for his first point. Gibson didn't get a clear look as Calgary's Sean Monahan and Anaheim's Michael Del Zotto were battling in front of the net when Stone's slap shot got through.UP NEXTFlames: Return home to face Washington on Tuesday.Ducks: Hit the road for four games starting Tuesday at Nashville.---More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-SportsCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker wants his club to soak up the positive emotions following its 4-3 home win over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday."We need to remember this feeling," Zucker said, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo."This feels great. I mean, it's awesome to have a win, especially at home, and now, coming back on Tuesday and playing another high-powered offense, we gotta make sure that we remember this feeling and make sure we want to get it back."The Wild potted a pair of third-period goals to seal the much-needed victory after losing six of seven games to start the season."A win like tonight and the way we did it can really kind of boost your spirits a bit," forward Marcus Foligno added, according to the Star Tribune's Sarah McLellan. "The guys are happy again. It's good to see some smiles on guys' faces."Zucker, who apologized for calling out head coach Bruce Budreau while criticizing his team's effort after a 4-0 loss to the Canadiens on Thursday, scored his third goal of the season and picked up an assist on Zach Parise's game-winner in the third period."You can talk and say the right things every day of the week, and until you come out and you play and you do those things, it doesn’t matter," Zucker said, per Russo. "We have great leaders from Mikko (Koivu) to Zach (Parise) to (Ryan Suter), all the way down the lineup to our younger guys."The Wild will look to continue their winning ways when they host the red-hot Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.