The NHL is expanding its partnership with SportsMEDIA Technology (SMT) as its source for puck- and player-tracking technology, the league announced Thursday."Fan engagement and technological innovation are at the forefront of everything we do. Using technology to depict exactly how fast, how skilled our game and our players are, enhances the connectivity our fans have with hockey," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said."We are thrilled to expand our partnership with SMT, a leader in the sports technology industry and established partner of the NHL. Through our partnership, we look forward to continuing to innovate our scoring and puck- and player-tracking systems, as well as how we bring to life limitless data points, which will take fans more inside the game than ever before."In January, the NHL announced it would introduce puck and player tracking for the 2019-20 season, but then cut ties with Jogmo World Corp - the league's original tracking partner - in September.Moving forward, the goal is for SMT to deploy puck- and player-tracking systems in every NHL arena by the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. According to the release, the data will be used for the following:

Nikita Kucherov is hungrier for the Stanley Cup than ever before.The Tampa Bay Lightning star may have taken home the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award last year, but those individual accomplishments alone didn't satisfy him."I don't care about the personal stuff, I mean you do care because you want to play well," Kucherov said, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "But at the end of the day, you want to remember the fun part and winning the Cup and having your name on it."The Lightning were swept at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2018-19 playoffs despite putting together one of the most dominant regular seasons in NHL history.Kucherov only managed two assists in three games during the first-round series after recording 41 goals and 128 points in the regular season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning pivot Brayden Point will make his season debut in Thursday night's matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, head coach Jon Cooper confirmed to reporters.Point was expected to be out until late October after undergoing offseason hip surgery. He recently practiced on a line with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov and skated with the Bolts' top power-play unit.The 23-year-old had the best season of his young career in 2018-19, registering a career-high 41 goals and 92 points in 79 games. Point's impressive production earned him a three-year, $20.5-million contract in September.Point's return is a welcome sight for the Lightning, who are coming off back-to-back losses that prompted Stamkos to publicly call for major changes to the team's style of play.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drew Doughty might just make enemies with all of Western Canada before the 2019-20 season is through.The Los Angeles Kings blue-liner was asked for his thoughts after Wednesday's 8-2 waxing at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks, and again raised eyebrows with another candid assessment."I mean, I ain't gonna park it, it's just embarrassing," Doughty said, per Kings insider Jon Rosen. "I mean, a team like that should not be beating a team like ours 8-2. There's actually no way. I know they had a lot of energy right off the bat because it's their home opener and they had their whole ordeal with the captain and whatever. But we had chances to come back, and then we just gave up a goal right after we scored a goal. It was a bad team effort by everyone on this team, I thought."Doughty's been under the microscope all week due to his rivalry with Matthew Tkachuk and his performance versus the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. Doughty had three points, including the overtime winning goal, and said he wanted to "shove it in their faces" with a spirited celebration after being incessantly booed all night.Wednesday's game didn't go as well for the 29-year-old, as he finished minus-3 in over 23 minutes in the loss that brought Los Angeles' record to 1-2.Doughty's comments about the Canucks aren't exactly easy to justify, as Vancouver finished 10 points clear of the Kings in 2018-19.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook will miss the next six-to-eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle injury on Friday, the team announced.Martinook's registered one point in Carolina's scorching 4-0 start to the 2019-20 season, averaging just under 12 minutes per night for the Metropolitan Division leaders.The 27-year-old signed a two-year, $4-million contract with the Hurricanes in January and was named an assistant captain prior to the current season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Disgruntled Dallas Stars defenseman Julius Honka has signed with JYP Jyvaskyla of the Finnish league, the team announced Thursday.Honka is a restricted free agent, and his Finnish deal includes an opt-out clause that runs until Dec. 1 - the deadline for RFAs to sign an NHL contract this season.Dallas drafted Honka 14th overall in 2014, but despite a promising skill set, he's yet to establish a consistent role on the blue line. Honka only appeared in 29 games with Dallas last season, and he was a healthy scratch for the club's final 35 contests and its entire playoff run.However, he's put up strong underlying numbers during his stints in the big leagues, and he's produced multiple prolific offensive campaigns with the AHL's Texas Stars.Honka asked the Stars for a trade in September The Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes were among the teams that reportedly showed interest in acquiring the 23-year-old right-handed shot.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks named Bo Horvat the 14th captain in team history prior to Wednesday's home opener against the Los Angeles Kings.Horvat succeeds Henrik Sedin, who captained the Canucks for eight seasons before retiring at the end of the 2017-18 campaign."They choose captains because of who you are," Sedin said, according to Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre. "That's why they didn't name a captain right away; they wait and see what kind of person a guy is and how he handles different situations."That's why they picked Bo."The club previously named Alexander Edler, Chris Tanev, and Brandon Sutter alternate captains on Oct. 1.Horvat established career highs with the Canucks last season, recording 27 goals and 61 points.Vancouver selected the 24-year-old with the No. 9 pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils forward Wayne Simmonds doesn't feel his efforts were fully appreciated by the Philadelphia Flyers.The 31-year-old, who makes his return to Philadelphia on Wednesday night, opened up about his departure from the club after nearly eight seasons."I put so much time and sweat and tears into this organization," Simmonds said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi. "I thought I did everything I could possibly do to at least get a bit of an extension."Following a career-best 32-goal, 60-point season in 2015-16, the 6-foot-2 winger saw his point total decline in each of the past three campaigns. With Simmonds on an expiring contract in 2018-19, the Flyers traded him to the Nashville Predators at last season's deadline instead of offering him a new deal.The Toronto native became an unrestricted free agent this past summer and signed a one-year, $5-million pact with the Devils on July 1.Simmonds recorded 203 goals and 378 points over 584 career games with the Flyers.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After spending 19 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Patrick Marleau is happy to be back in the Bay Area."The emotion I felt when that phone call came from Doug was just overwhelming," Marleau said on Wednesday, according to Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group. "I'm just very grateful to be back."The Carolina Hurricanes bought out the veteran forward from the final year of his contract in June after the Toronto Maple Leafs traded him.Marleau will make his season debut on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks after practicing on the Sharks' top line alongside Logan Couture and Timo Meier, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks have officially signed franchise icon Patrick Marleau to a one-year contract, the team announced Wednesday.The deal is worth the league minimum of $700,000, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.The 40-year-old inked a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs ahead of the 2017-18 campaign after 19 seasons with the Sharks. In June 2019, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, who bought out the final year of his deal days later.Marleau recorded 16 goals and 37 points in 82 games for the Maple Leafs last season.Despite his age, the 6-foot-2 Marleau has been one of the league's most durable players, suiting up in 788 consecutive contests over 10 campaigns.The Saskatchewan native is the Sharks' all-time leader in games played (1,493), points (1,082), and goals (508). He ranks second in assists with 574.San Jose selected Marleau with the second overall pick in the 1997 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Petr Cech joined English lower-league ice hockey team Guildford Phoenix on Wednesday and is set to make his debut between the pipes this weekend."I hope I can help this young team to achieve their goals for the season and try to win as many games as possible when I have the chance to play," Cech said in the Phoenix statement."After 20 years of professional football, this is going to be a wonderful experience for me to play the game I loved to watch and play as a kid."The retired Premier League goalkeeper won the Champions League, the Europa League, four Premier League titles, and eight domestic cups before calling an end to his playing career in the summer. The 37-year-old has also appeared for the Czech Republic more than any other player; he won the last of his 124 caps at Euro 2016.Cech, who currently serves as a technical and performance advisor at Chelsea, tweeted images of himself training as a hockey goaltender in August:

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, ex-NHL winger Mike Cammalleri joins the show to discuss a wide range of topics:

It appears more dominos could fall after Patrick Marleau became the first veteran unrestricted free agent to find a home during the season.There is "significant interest" from a number of teams in 34-year-old center Brian Boyle, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."Boyle split last season between the New Jersey Devils and the Nashville Predators, scoring 18 goals - the second-highest mark of his career - and adding six assists in 73 games. The 6-foot-6, 245-pounder also threw 145 hits and won 51.1% of his faceoffs, although he doesn't move around the ice as quickly as he used to.The 40-year-old Marleau returned to the San Jose Sharks on a reported one-year deal for the league minimum ($700K) on Tuesday. In addition to Boyle, veteran names such as Dion Phaneuf, Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, Andrew MacDonald, Jamie McGinn, Adam McQuaid, and Scott Darling all find themselves unemployed with the season underway.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drew Doughty was the center of attention Tuesday night in Calgary, and he made the most of it.The Los Angeles Kings defender was booed relentlessly by the Saddledome fans as a result of his ongoing feud with Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk, but he delivered a three-point performance that included the overtime winner and then a spirited celebration. Afterward, Doughty said he relished the opportunity to send the fans home with a loss."Oh yeah. As much as I love getting booed every time I touch the puck, you kinda wanna shove it in their faces," he said in the locker room, via TSN. "And before that overtime started I knew I had a great opportunity and I was like, 'Every time I get that puck I'm ripping it.'"The rivalry between Doughty and Tkachuk dates back two seasons from when the Flames star was suspended two games for an elbow to the head of the former Norris Trophy winner. The animosity between them has been persistent ever since, and Doughty fueled the fire ahead of Tuesday's game by saying, "We both know who the better player is" when asked for his thoughts on Tkachuk.Tkachuk also had a big game on Tuesday, as he registered three points, including a late equalizer that sent the contest to overtime.He and Doughty won't have to wait long to renew hostilities, as their clubs will clash on Oct. 19 in Los Angeles.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matthew Tkachuk had a memorable night, but his rival got the last laugh.Drew Doughty fired home the overtime winner as the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Calgary Flames 4-3 on Tuesday night.

James Neal is looking quite comfortable in blue and orange.The Edmonton Oilers forward buried four goals - including a natural hat trick - in the team's 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday.Neal scored his fourth tally on a nifty one-timer from a tight angle to put Edmonton up 5-1 in the third period.

Zdeno Chara has eclipsed The Great One in the longevity department.The Boston Bruins defenseman suited up for the 1,488th game of his NHL career on Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, breaking a tie with Wayne Gretzky for 23rd on the league's all-time games played list.Chara is in his 22nd season, and his 14th with the Bruins. The 42-year-old signed a one-year extension with Boston in March before helping the club return to the Stanley Cup Final.Gretzky played 1,487 career contests over 20 campaigns.Phil Housley ranks 22nd with 1,495 games played, while Gordie Howe is the NHL's all-time leader at 1,767.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bob was no match for the "Bunch of Jerks."The Carolina Hurricanes bombarded the Florida Panthers with four first-period goals on Tuesday night, ending Sergei Bobrovsky's night following 20 minutes.Sam Montembeault replaced Bobrovsky to begin the second frame after the veteran made 10 saves on 14 shots in the opening stanza.Jordan Staal, Teuvo Teravainen, Dougie Hamilton, and Ryan Dzingel scored for Carolina before the first intermission.

Philadelphia Flyers fans can now unleash their rage in a controlled environment.The Flyers will unveil the first-ever rage room inside a major professional sports arena on Oct. 9 at the Wells Fargo Center for their home opener, the team announced Tuesday.

It turns out Josh Morrissey isn't ready to go after all, as the Winnipeg Jets' top defenseman was held out of Tuesday's contest versus the Pittsburgh Penguins for precautionary reasons.Morrissey was a late scratch for Sunday's game after suffering an upper-body injury in warmups. On Monday, Morrissey was deemed good to go for the club's next game, but he apparently didn't feel well following practice, according to Mitchell Clinton of JetsTV.The Jets are also without blue-liner Dmitry Kulikov, who was given a personal leave from the team on Tuesday. Defensemen Sami Niku and Nelson Nogier have been recalled from the AHL's Manitoba Moose to help fill out Winnipeg's incredibly thin back end.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Oddsmakers have already been forced to reevaluate their stance on a number of teams less than a week into the NHL season.It seems ridiculous to let three games sway opinions on a team, especially after how poorly the St. Louis Blues started last season. But oddsmakers can't afford to be caught with their tail between their legs.Let's look at some of the biggest risers and fallers following the first week of the campaign:Carolina Hurricanes (16-1)Previous odds: 30-1These are not your father's Hurricanes. Carolina rallied from 3-1 down to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, limiting the Stanley Cup favorites to just two shots over the final 40 minutes and overtime. That's simply unprecedented, especially against a team as offensively gifted as the Lightning.The win pushed Carolina to 3-0 on the season, and although the Hurricanes have required overtime or a shootout in each of those games, there's a ton of reason for optimism in Raleigh. The Canes have been dominating possession stats, controlling the puck better than just about any team. They're deep at both ends of the ice while boasting high-end skill, and the club doesn't lack grit.The Hurricanes are capable of another deep playoff run, and it's time to start taking them seriously as legitimate Cup contenders. A lot of value has been sapped from this line already, but there's still time to jump on before it's gone completely.If you believe in the Canes - and you should - don't wait any longer.Winnipeg Jets (60-1)Previous odds: 25-1Did you know Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was a defenseman back in the day, and the New York Islanders' 16th overall pick in 1988? He never did appear in an NHL game, but his chance is imminent. One more injury or suspension among the team's blue-liners, and Cheveldayoff will need to lace them up himself, making his NHL debut 31 years after being drafted.Rightfully, much was made of Winnipeg's offseason losses on the back end. But few expected the unit to be this bad immediately.The Jets have conceded 14 goals through three contests while allowing nearly 35 shots per game. Dustin Byfuglien's absence has been crippling, and Winnipeg can pretty much rule out a return to the playoffs if he decides to move on from hockey.San Jose Sharks (35-1)Previous odds: 25-1There's a lot more reason to remain hopeful in San Jose than in Winnipeg. Early returns have been poor for the Sharks, but they possess way too much talent and experience to put a lot of stock in a three-game losing skid to begin the season.The two losses to Vegas were predictable given how San Jose ended the Golden Knights' season last year. Then, as he does so often, Ducks netminder John Gibson stonewalled the Sharks in Anaheim.San Jose isn't playing well defensively, but head coach Peter DeBoer will iron out those issues, and this supremely talented roster will get things turned around sooner rather than later.New Jersey Devils (40-1)Previous odds: 25-1Everyone and their mother selected the Devils as their sleeper team coming into the season, overlooking the squad's obvious flaws. A team won't win many games when it can't keep the puck out of its net. At least the Jets can lean on an excuse for allowing so many goals. The Devils, meanwhile, willingly went into the season with Cory Schneider and MacKenzie Blackwood as their only goalies.The Devils were beating the Jets 4-0 in their season opener before eventually losing 5-4 in a shootout, with Schneider letting in a pair. Then Blackwood replaced the veteran, and he completed the collapse before allowing seven goals the next night in Buffalo.No matter how you try to spin it, New Jersey isn't winning with either of those guys in net.Buffalo Sabres (40-1)Previous odds: 80-1The Sabres are showing the importance of the mental side of hockey.Buffalo had become something of a laughingstock over the past decade. The club developed a losing mindset that took a significant toll on the dressing room, resulting in players like Stanley Cup champion Ryan O'Reilly forcing his way out of town.New head coach Ralph Krueger puts a lot of resources into building morale and instilling a winning mentality in his teams. He's put an emphasis on cultivating a strong culture in Buffalo, and it appears to be working if early returns are to be trusted.The Sabres won in Pittsburgh to open the season before smacking the Devils in Buffalo's home opener and battling back to secure a point against the Blue Jackets on Monday. They have yet to lose a game in regulation, and Buffalo sits atop a tough Atlantic Division.Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks have reached out to free-agent forward Patrick Marleau's camp, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.A couple of other teams are also in the mix for Marleau's services, LeBrun added.Marleau had one season remaining on the three-year, $18.75-million contract he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017, but he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes this summer and was bought out shortly thereafter. The 40-year-old was hoping to rejoin the Sharks, but his agent Pat Brisson said in September that the fit between the two sides wasn't there.At the time, the Sharks wanted to give younger players a chance to play, but it appears general manager Doug Wilson may have changed his mind. So far this season, six rookies have cracked San Jose's lineup during the team's 0-3-0 start.Joe Thornton believes his old teammate still deserves to be in the NHL."(Marleau) should be playing somewhere," Thornton said, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. "I expect he'll be somewhere soon. He skates with us in the summer and he's still the best skater on the ice."Marleau had one of the NHL's most impressive ironman streaks going, as he went 10 straight seasons from 2009-10 to 2018-19 without missing a single game. But perhaps aside from his durability, Marleau's greatest asset was his speed - even in his late-30s.However, his play tailed off in the 2018-19 season with the Leafs, as his 16 goals and 37 points were his lowest totals since his rookie campaign in 1997-98.Marleau remains the Sharks' all-time leader in games played, goals, and points. He and Thornton formed one of the league's most prolific duos during their time together in the Bay Area, and the pair won an Olympic gold medal while skating on a line for Team Canada in 2010.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just two games into his tenure with the Minnesota Wild, Mats Zuccarello has already made it abundantly clear he's his own harshest critic."I haven't played good at all," Zuccarello said, according to Dane Mizutani of the Pioneer Press. "It's just making plays. I feel like I don't see anyone out there. I don't know. I've got to be better. I've been terrible."Zuccarello, who typically has outstanding vision, was one of the league's most underrated wingers over the past six seasons with the New York Rangers. Although he suffered an injury in his first regular-season game with the Dallas Stars after they acquired him at last season's trade deadline, he performed well in the playoffs, tallying 11 points in 13 games.But after signing a lucrative five-year, $30-million contract with the Wild as a free agent this summer, the 32-year-old is having a hard time gelling with his new squad."If you're coming to a new team, you want to show them why they signed you, and you want to do everything in that first game," Zuccarello said. "It's simple plays that I normally do that right now are difficult for me. Just think positive and have confidence and make the play when it's there."With Zuccarello on the ice at five-on-five, the Wild have been outshot 17-7, outscored 4-0, and have generated just one high-danger scoring chance while allowing seven, according to Natural Stat Trick. He's been held without a point through two games.Zuccarello has been playing right wing on the club's top line with center Eric Staal and a rotating cast of left-wingers. After Zach Parise and Ryan Donato both got opportunities in that role, it now appears Marcus Foligno will get a shot as the Wild attempt to find the right mix. Zuccarello believes he's the common denominator."It's more me," he said. "It's about finding my spot and getting comfortable with myself on the ice. I think my teammates do a really good job talking to me and giving me confidence."Minnesota is winless through its first two contests. Luckily for Zuccarello and his new team, there's plenty of time to turn the season around.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers dealt forward Vladislav Namestnikov to the Ottawa Senators, the clubs announced Monday night.New York receives a 2021 fourth-round pick, plus defenseman Nick Ebert, with the Rangers retaining 18.75% of Namestnikov's $4-million cap hit.Namestnikov is in the final season of a two-year, $8-million pact he inked with the Rangers on July 1, 2018.The 26-year-old collected 11 goals and 31 points in 78 games with the Rangers last season. He spent parts of three campaigns with New York after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Ryan McDonagh deal in February 2018.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 sure is nice to have hockey back. Of course, with so many games to watch, it can be hard to find the time to properly dig into each matchup to find the best spots.Well, now you don't have to. Here, we'll delve through the midweek slate so you have time to stop at the store on your way home from work to restock the beverage fridge.Game bettingSt. Louis Blues at Toronto Maple Leafs (Monday)This will mark the fourth game in six nights for the Maple Leafs, who are coming off an emotionally taxing shootout loss to the Canadiens on Saturday night. The Blues come into this one rested and on a six-game winning streak against Toronto. Goals could be at a premium in this one.Winnipeg Jets at Pittsburgh Penguins (Tuesday)The Jets are looking for their first win in Pittsburgh since moving back to Winnipeg. They've lost all nine of their games away to the Penguins - 18 straight dating back to the Atlanta Thrashers days, with their last win coming in December 2006. This will also be the fourth contest in six nights for the Jets.Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames (Tuesday)Goals might be hard to come by when the Kings and Flames square off at the Saddledome. They had a run of five unders snapped in their final meeting of last season, while eight of their last 11 encounters have finished with fewer than 5.5 goals.Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs (Thursday)The Leafs certainly have their hands full this week as their date with the defending champion Blues is followed by a visit from the Cup favorite Lightning. Tampa will be rested, having been off since Sunday and should be motivated following its loss to the Hurricanes if Steven Stamkos' recent comments are anything to go by.Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens (Thursday)The Canadiens have won nine straight over the Red Wings, including six by at least two goals. The Bell Centre should be loud with this being the Habs' home opener. The puck line warrants a long look here.Vegas Golden Knights at Arizona Coyotes (Thursday)The Coyotes are still looking for their first victory over the Golden Knights in Arizona, with Vegas winning all four of its visits to the desert.Game propsBuffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets (Monday)Goals have been plentiful in the early stages of this season, and Monday night in Columbus should be no different. Nine of the last 10 meetings between the Sabres and Blue Jackets in Ohio have gone over 1.5 first-period goals.San Jose Sharks at Nashville Predators (Tuesday)Nashville's forwards must light up when they see a visit from the Sharks on the calendar. The Predators have scored 23 goals in their last four home games against San Jose. They've also potted at least four goals in each of their last seven contests at SAP Center versus the Sharks. Fire up that team total over.Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres (Wednesday)If you bet the over in the first period each time these two teams met over the past few years, you'd have flushed a large amount of money down the toilet. Just twice in the last 11 meetings have there been more than one goal in the first frame.Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars (Thursday)The Flames haven't scored a first-period goal in any of their last five visits to Dallas. The Stars haven't managed many either. None of those games have seen a first-period over hit. Calgary's team total under is worth a look here as well.Vegas Golden Knights at Arizona Coyotes (Thursday)As mentioned above, Vegas is 4-0 in franchise history in Phoenix. What wasn't mentioned is that the Coyotes have scored a combined six goals in those games. I'll take the under on that team total, thanks.Player propsDetroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens (Thursday)Brendan Gallagher will be rolling out the red carpet for the Red Wings. He's scored 13 goals in 21 career games against Detroit for a higher goals-per-game mark than he's managed against any other franchise. You should be able to get him at close to +200 to score in this one, too.San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks (Thursday)Tomas Hertl scored a goal in each of his three games against the Blackhawks last season, adding three total assists for good measure. Back him to score again Thursday. Alex Debrincat is worth a flier as well after scoring a trio of goals in as many contests against the Sharks in 2018-19.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.

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane isn't changing his stance on NHL referees after serving his three-game suspension for abuse of officials."I'm sure you guys have heard my comments about it after the game," Kane said, according to the Mercury News' Curtis Pashelka. "I stand by what I said."Kane's suspension came after an altercation with a linesman during the team's preseason finale against the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 1.The 28-year-old opted not to appeal the suspension due to the Sharks' busy schedule to start the season and the lengthy process that comes with a formal review."That's what's in the CBA, that's what is in the rulebook," Kane said. "No matter what I guess transpires, the player's accountable for it. Doesn't make a lot of sense, but it is what it is."The Sharks have opened the season with three straight losses and take on the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The nature of Evgeni Malkin's injury is becoming more clear, as is his anticipated recovery timetable.Malkin suffered a soft-tissue injury to his leg and is expected to be out at least a month, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said earlier Monday that the dynamic forward and teammate Nick Bjugstad would be out "longer term" with their respective injuries. He added that while Malkin will miss more time than Bjugstad, the Russian's ailment is not season-ending.Malkin was hurt Saturday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.The 33-year-old has been limited by injuries for much of his career, having played at least 75 regular-season games in only five of his previous 12 non-lockout campaigns.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A fresh season hasn't changed the mind of Drew Doughty when it comes to his thoughts about Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk.The Los Angeles Kings defender was asked about the status of his rivalry with the Flames' pest ahead of Tuesday's matchup, and he gave a blunt response."I think we both know who the better player is, so if he wants to compliment me first, I'll give him one back," Doughty said, per Kristen Anderson of the Calgary Sun.Tkachuk was then asked if he respects Doughty and replied, "He's a good player and had a good career," according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis.The feud between the two stars dates back to Tkachuk's rookie season in 2016-17 when he was suspended two games for an elbow to the head of the former Norris Trophy winner. The tension between the Flames and Kings has been high in each meeting since, and in March, Doughty said he has "no respect" for Tkachuk - a stance he believes is shared by other players across the league.The two sides clash at 9:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday in Calgary.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad will be out "longer term" with lower-body injuries, head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Monday.Malkin projects to be out longer than Bjugstad, Sullivan added, though his injury is not expected to be season-ending.The 33-year-old center tripped over his own teammate while skating with the puck Saturday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was then hit awkwardly into the boards while on his knees.Malkin was eager to bounce back this season after a down year in 2018-19. He's played more than just 70 games once in the last seven campaigns.Pittsburgh's depth down the middle of the ice will be tested with its second- and third-line centers both shelved. Jared McCann, a natural pivot who's played primarily on the wing since joining the Penguins, will likely shift back to center. Teddy Blueger, who was centering the fourth line, could see an increased role.The Penguins could also shift Alex Galchenyuk to center, but he's struggled with the defensive responsibilities of the position in the past.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets will have their top defenseman back in the lineup on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.Although Josh Morrissey missed Sunday's game against the New York Islanders after suffering a lower-body injury in warmup, he's now good to go, according to The Athletic's Ken Wiebe.The Jets' depleted defense will yet again have a different look on Tuesday, though. Veteran Dmitry Kulikov is away for a personal matter and former AHL defenseman of the year Sami Niku has been recalled from the minors, Wiebe added.Winnipeg's blue line underwent major reconstruction this summer. Jacob Trouba was traded to the New York Rangers, Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot departed in free agency, and Dustin Byfuglien is contemplating retirement.Morrissey has been thrust into No. 1 duties, while Neal Pionk and 2019 first-rounder Ville Heinola - both of whom were acquired in the Trouba trade - have logged big minutes. Journeymen Anthony Bitetto, Tucker Poolman, and Carl Dahlstrom round out the defense corps.The Jets have allowed 14 goals in three contests, though poor goaltending has also played a part.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 1. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Add Victor OlofssonTeam: Sabres

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos is calling for some major improvements from his squad just three games into the 2019-20 campaign.The Bolts, who are Stanley Cup favorites again this season, fell to 1-1-1 on Sunday after a humiliating overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in which Tampa failed to record a single shot on goal in the second period. It was the Lightning's second defeat in as many nights, and Stamkos has seen enough."We just continue to be the freewheeling team that thinks we can just come into games and win because we're skilled," Stamkos told Diana C. Nearhos of the Tampa Bay Times. "We keep falling back into the same old habits that we've been doing, that cost us the season we had last year."Unless we change things, it's going to be a really, really, really long year."Stamkos' comments refer to last year's playoffs, where the Lightning were swept by the Blue Jackets in the first round. Columbus ultimately derailed Tampa's Presidents' Trophy-winning campaign with a physically dominant showing.The sweep was the most disappointing defeat in a long list of recent playoff shortcomings for the franchise, and the Lightning are under significant pressure this season to finally get over the playoff hump after returning virtually the same roster from a year ago."Everyone is sick of talking about it and not doing it," Stamkos said. "Let's go do it."Stamkos has scored two goals in three games while averaging over 20 minutes per night to start the season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Journeyman netminder Michael Leighton announced his retirement Monday after 18 seasons of professional hockey."This is a really hard thing for me to say: I'm done playing because I've done this my whole life," Leighton told The Athletic's Scott Powers. "Since I was four or five years old, I've played hockey. It's been my life. For me to just say I'm done playing is a tough decision. It's just one that has to be made at this time."Leighton, 38, dressed for 21 different teams throughout his career, spending most of his time in the AHL. Drafted in the sixth round of the 1999 NHL Draft, he played in a total of 126 NHL games (regular season and playoffs) and is best remembered for his role in the Philadelphia Flyers' run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2009-10.Leighton entered his age-28 season with 69 career games under his belt but had never enjoyed much success. The Flyers claimed him off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes after he began the year with a 4.28 goals-against average and an .848 save percentage.Leighton became the Flyers' starter, going 16-5-2 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.48 goals-against average during the regular season. He parlayed that strong play into a miraculous postseason run, recording a .916 save percentage and a 2.46 goals-against average as the Flyers fell two games short of winning the Stanley Cup against the burgeoning Chicago Blackhawks. He was in goal for Patrick Kane's famous overtime winner in Game 6."There's obviously a lot of disappointment still that burns inside of me that wishes I could have won and brought the championship to Philadelphia," Leighton said. "But that whole playoff experience, that whole season, was definitely a positive for me."Got a lot of NHL games, playing in the semifinals, getting three shutouts against Montreal in a playoff series, just playing in the Stanley Cup Final. There's a lot of goalies who play 15, 20 years in the NHL and never make it to the Stanley Cup Final. That's still a great accomplishment for me personally. It obviously sucks we didn't win, but still a highlight of my career to play in the playoffs and have a chance to play for the Cup."Leighton would start just five more NHL games after the Flyers' run, making his final appearance in the league during the 2016-17 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have traded defenseman Alex Biega to the Detroit Red Wings for winger David Pope, the Red Wings announced Sunday.Biega, a 31-year-old right-handed shot, played 41 games with the Canucks in 2018-19, registering 16 points. Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round of the 2006 draft, Biega has 179 NHL games under his belt.Pope, a fourth-round pick of Detroit in 2013, split time between the AHL and ECHL last season. He only managed three points in 28 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins but mustered 13 points in 20 playoff contests with the Toledo Walleye.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings winger Anthony Mantha beat the Dallas Stars all by himself on Sunday night, burying four goals during the club's 4-3 victory.Mantha potted a natural hat trick in the second period, then added his fourth goal of the contest with less than a minute to go in the final frame.Here's a look at each tally from his otherworldly performance.A one-time blast:

The Winnipeg Jets' depleted defense has taken another hit, as top-pairing rearguard Josh Morrissey missed Sunday's contest versus the New York Islanders after suffering an upper-body injury during the pregame warmup.However, the ailment doesn't appear to be serious, as Jets head coach Paul Maurice said sitting the defender was precautionary, and Morrissey is listed as day-to-day, according to Mitchell Clinton of JetsTV.Carl Dahlstrom replaced Morrissey while making his Jets debut. Here's the lineup Winnipeg rolled out:

The mighty Tampa Bay Lightning offense was no match for the Carolina Hurricanes in the second period of Sunday's contest, as the home side held the Bolts without a single shot on goal in the middle frame.The Canes outshot the Lightning 17-0 in the second. It was the first time Carolina's held an opponent to no shots on goal in a period since 2004, according to Hurricanes PR.Conversely, it also marked the first time Tampa Bay failed to record a shot on goal in a single period since 2013, according to Bryan Burns of the team's website.It was a dominant showing in the second for the Hurricanes, who recorded 85% of the period's shot attempts, 93% of the scoring chances, and 95% of expected goals at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.Carolina outshot Tampa Bay 44-13 for the contest and recorded a 70-26 advantage in five-on-five attempts. The Hurricanes ultimately won the game 4-3 in overtime, marking the club's first 3-0 start since the 1995-96 season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice didn't turn back to No. 1 netminder Connor Hellebuyck for Sunday night's road game.Backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit made his second consecutive start and was in goal against the New York Islanders.Brossoit, 26, allowed four goals on 39 shots in a shootout victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday."I just really liked his game," Maurice told reporters Sunday. "That gave us the chance to mount the comeback."Hellebuyck gave up five markers on 31 shots in a 6-4 loss to the New York Rangers in Winnipeg's season opener on Thursday. He also struggled in the preseason, allowing 12 goals in three games for an .813 save percentage - the second-worst preseason rate in the NHL.Winnipeg is in the midst of a season-opening, four-game road trip that concludes Tuesday in Pittsburgh.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders prospect Josh Ho-Sang apparently wants out of Long Island.Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said Thursday that Ho-Sang's agent asked that his client be traded, according to Newsday's Andrew Gross.The 23-year-old failed to crack New York's 23-man roster and was placed on and subsequently cleared waivers earlier this week.Lamoriello said the Islanders told Ho-Sang not to report to AHL affiliate Bridgeport while the team looks to meet his trade request, according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple."If there's no trade to be found, Ho-Sang will report to Bridgeport. Once he goes to Bridgeport, he's there," Lamoriello said, according to Staple.Ho-Sang has struggled to carve out a permanent role at the NHL level. The Ontario native has recorded seven goals and 24 points in 53 contests since the Islanders selected him 28th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A trip to the visitors' dressing room at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena earlier this week revealed one undeniable truth about the Ottawa Senators: This team is content with being basic.No frills. No grand expectations. No delusions. This is not an overnight rebuild, and revamping the team's culture is the top priority.First-year head coach DJ Smith wants his players to adopt a mindset that's straightforward and simple. "Our identity is how hard we work," Smith said prior to his team's 5-3 season-opening loss to the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Hard work? That's all you've got, DJ?Kevin Sousa / Getty ImagesOn the surface, the mantra sounds uninspired and, frankly, a little amateur. Shouldn't working hard come naturally to well-compensated professionals? When one begins to peel back the layers of this rebuilding franchise, however, the simplistic approach makes sense for the 2019-20 Senators.After all, expectations couldn't be lower. Nearly everybody projects Ottawa to finish last overall for a second straight season. So, instead of lying to themselves - and the fans - the coaching staff and players have developed a mutual understanding. Building good habits throughout the season will be infinitely more productive than, say, defeating the upstart New York Rangers on Saturday night.The Senators will obviously set out to win every game. But establishing a certain style - tenacious, simple hockey with sound defensive structure - will be more important than two points in the standings."We're all aware that we're not the most skilled team in the NHL. We know that going into games, we're not going to win the skill game," said Thomas Chabot, the franchise's 22-year-old cornerstone defenseman who signed an eight-year, $64-million contract extension at the start of training camp."We're a team that's got a lot of speed," he continued. "A team that has guys who can make plays, hit, and be in the other guy's face. That's something we've got to use to our advantage. For us to have success this year, we don't want to give them any time, don't want to give them any freebies."Most everything associated with these Senators - from Smith's message to the marketing team's "The Kids are Alright" tagline - is geared toward incremental gains. But actions will speak louder than words. Minimizing controversies would be a solid start, though the fact Logan Brown's agent is already complaining about ice time is hardly ideal.Vaughn Ridley / Getty ImagesOn the ice, the Senators can't afford to gloss over anything in this foundational stage. They lost 53 games last year and 54 in 2017-18, and the team's inability to limit opponents' scoring chances tops the list of contributing factors. The defensive straps must be tightened. It's hardly rocket science, but improvement isn't a linear process. And the players know that."We definitely gave up too many odd-man rushes. It starts in the neutral zone, and then in the D zone, there's just so many dangerous shots against," center Jean-Gabriel Pageau said of last year's struggles."We've got good goalies, but they can't stand on their head every night and save us. We're working on the little details so they're able to see more pucks - boxing out, being physical, being in the right spot, supporting each other, having our stick in the lanes, putting our sticks on pucks. Stuff like that."The growing pains were evident in the loss to the Maple Leafs. Sophomore winger Brady Tkachuk gave his team life with a goal 25 seconds into the game, but then the second period rolled around. Engaging in a track meet with one of the NHL's fastest and most skilled clubs, the Senators were outshot 17-3 and outscored 4-1 in the middle frame. The third period was more of the same, as the Senators continued to get outclassed at 5-on-5 and on special teams.The final tally: Eighty shot attempts for the Maple Leafs, 48 for the Senators. Craig Anderson, the oldest starting goalie in the league, had his hands full."We lost that urgency," defenseman Mark Borowiecki said postgame. "There's no pressure and no expectations, but that doesn't mean our pride and standards can go down."Smith, who spent four years working under Mike Babcock in Toronto, will be tasked with keeping his players focused as the year chugs along. If their attention wandered in Game 1, what happens when the losses pile up in the dog days of an 82-game season?It should help that the roster is almost completely turned over. Just six Senators who played Wednesday dressed in last year's season opener. The bulk of the core from Ottawa's run to the 2017 Eastern Conference Final is long gone. Borowiecki, Pageau, Anderson, and winger Bobby Ryan remain, but the summer departure of polarizing defenseman Cody Ceci - shipped down the highway to Toronto - seemed to signal the end of that chapter in team history.Young guns such as Chabot, Tkachuk, Brown, Colin White, and Erik Brannstrom are now insulated by an eclectic crew of veterans, some of whom are fringe players filling prominent roles in contract years. Like everything else about this Senators team, the dynamic is straightforward.Icon Sportswire / Getty Images"For us and DJ, I think the best part about it is that there's no grey area. It's black or white," said defenseman Dylan DeMelo, who joined Ottawa from the San Jose Sharks in the blockbuster Erik Karlsson trade of September 2018. "He's very clear on his message and what he wants. It's on us now to do that, come through with the game plan, and play the way he wants us to play."While Smith redefines the Senators' identity, general manager Pierre Dorion can continue overhauling the roster.It took a while to clear the books, but Ottawa now has tremendous cap flexibility. The only albatross contract is Ryan's - $7.25 million a season through 2021-22. The club opened the campaign with $10.6 million in cap space, so it's possible Dorion adds to the team's vast collection of draft picks (20 in the next two years) by taking on unwanted contracts and/or shipping out more veterans throughout the season.Belying Dorion and Smith's steady approach, however, is owner Eugene Melnyk's February promise that the Senators are headed toward "a five-year run of unparalleled success, where the team will plan to spend close to the NHL's salary cap every year from 2021 to 2025."With a crop of exciting youngsters already making strides, Senators fans should be able to envision a future in which the franchise returns to relevancy sooner than later. But based on attendance, which has been trending in the wrong direction for four straight seasons, the organization needs to deliver something of substance - sooner than later.The three-step process for doing so appears to be: work hard, spend, win. Simple enough, right?If the first step goes according to plan.John Matisz is theScore's national hockey writer.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Kasperi Kapanen submitted an early bid for the top brain cramp of the 2019-20 NHL season on Saturday night.With his club leading 4-3 and on the penalty kill in the third period against the Montreal Canadiens, Kapanen threw his stick at Jeff Petry after it broke on a shot block.Throwing your stick - broken or not - at the puck-carrier in the defensive zone results in an automatic penalty shot.As the player fouled, Petry was then in line to take the freebie and he made no mistake, burying a quick wrist shot behind Michael Hutchinson.Petry's goal completed the Canadiens' comeback after trailing 4-1, and they went on to win the contest 6-5 in a shootout, moving to 1-0-1 on the season.Kapanen owned up to the mistake following the game."I was out there for a bit and was pretty tired," Kapanen said. "I just blocked that shot and, honestly, I didn't even think I was going to hit him, but just kind of threw my stick that way and hit him so I guess you get a penalty shot for that. I take full responsibility of my actions and they tied it up so, obviously, I feel bad about it."I know everybody knows it's a big mistake on my part and if I knew that rule existed or if I thought I was actually going to hit his stick I wouldn't have done that, but, like I said, I take full responsibility."Kapanen was held pointless with two shots on goal over 18:43 of ice time on Saturday night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evgeni Malkin left Saturday night's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets after an awkward collision along the boards in the second period.

It's only Game 2 of the regular season, but an uninjured Loui Eriksson has been left out of the lineup.The Vancouver Canucks forward was officially a healthy scratch on Saturday night against the Calgary Flames. TSN 1040's Jeff Paterson reported he'd sit on Saturday morning.Adam Gaudette replaced the veteran in Vancouver's lineup.The 34-year-old Eriksson played in Vancouver's season-opening loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, but he skated only 13:12 while producing just one shot on goal.Canucks head coach Travis Green also made him a healthy scratch for a game in March of last season. In May, Eriksson told a Swedish outlet that he and the bench boss "don't really get on 100 percent."Eriksson inked a six-year, $36-million contract with the Canucks on July 1, 2016, coming off a 30-goal, 63-point season with the Boston Bruins. He's been a disappointment since, managing only 32 goals and 76 points in 197 games over three-plus campaigns with Vancouver.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Andre Fleury is one of a kind.After passing a Sharks player's stick to a fan through the photographer's hole in the glass Friday night in San Jose, the Vegas Golden Knights goaltender played coy when asked about his sneaky, charitable gesture.“It was broken right? No? We’ll just say it was broken," Fleury quipped postgame to The Athletic's Jesse Granger.Fleury donated the opponent's twig in the aftermath of a third-period melee that resulted in five players receiving 10-minute misconducts.The veteran's shutout was spoiled shortly before the brouhaha, but the Golden Knights cruised to a 5-1 victory.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another chapter in the heated rivalry between the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights was written Friday night.With the Knights leading 5-0 with five minutes left in the third period, the Sharks spoiled Marc-Andre Fleury's shutout with a late tally. Afterward, a bit of a melee ensued.Nic Hague took exception to a shove from behind by Marcus Sorensen. Then, everyone joined in.

Roman Polak's agent, Allan Walsh, called out Boston Bruins play-by-play announcer Jack Edwards for his insensitive response to the Dallas Stars defenseman crashing headfirst into the boards during the second period of Thursday's season opener."You are truly a piece of shit and an absolute disgrace," Walsh wrote on Twitter early Friday morning.Bruins color analyst Andy Brickley suggested Polak's dangerous collision "looked self-induced," to which Edwards replied by calling the scary fall "bad hockey karma."

Dallas Stars defenseman Roman Polak has a small fracture in his sternum after crashing headfirst into the boards during Thursday's contest against the Boston Bruins, the team announced Friday.The 33-year-old will be evaluated in one week.The incident occurred in the second period, and Polak needed to be stretchered off the ice.

Washington Capitals rookie netminder Ilya Samsonov is expected to make his NHL debut Friday night against the New York Islanders, the team announced.The Capitals selected Samsonov with 22nd overall pick in 2015. He's one of just seven goaltenders this decade to be chosen in the opening round of the draft.Samsonov allowed three goals on 28 shots over two preseason starts for the Capitals.In 2018-19, the 22-year-old appeared in 37 contests for the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears, posting a 20-14-2 record with a 2.70 goals-against average, an .898 save percentage, and three shutouts.Samsonov has been sensational for Russia on the international stage, helping the nation capture a silver medal at the 2016 World Junior Championship and a bronze in 2017.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators forward Logan Brown's agent, Andy Scott, expressed his disappointment with the club's development of his client after the forward was one of the final cuts at training camp."I can say with full confidence, that I've really never seen another player met with such resistance by the team that drafted them early in the first round," Scott told TSN Radio 1200 Ottawa."When I look at this situation, I see a team that is in the throes of a rebuild," he added. "And just driving around Ottawa, you see the slogan for this season is 'The Kids are All Right,' and if the kids are all right, then play the kids."The Senators selected Brown with the 11th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, but the 21-year-old has appeared in only six pro contests for the club.Scott believes the Senators have not put Brown in a position to succeed and suggested that players of his ilk are typically given a chance to compete alongside other elite talents."From Day 1, I really have seen Logan have to grind and claw and work his tail off for every morsel of opportunity that he's been provided," Scott said. "Whereas with some of these other guys, these elite players like Logan, it's a little bit easier. They get paired with top lines, top players, put into positions to excel."Brown failed to record a point during four preseason contests and was sent to the American Hockey League on Sunday. He tallied 14 goals and 42 points in 56 games with the AHL's Belleville Senators last season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin wasn't pleased with his team's preparedness in its season-opening loss at home to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night."Exhibition games are done. It’s real games right now," Malkin said, according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe. "It’s for sure a wake-up call. We need to understand every team is dangerous right now. It doesn’t matter if it’s Buffalo (or) if it’s Washington."We need to learn (from) how we played tonight and play better, for sure. Like, 100 percent better.”Conor Sheary, a former Penguin, opened the scoring for Buffalo just five minutes in, and the Penguins never seemed to find their footing. The Sabres won the possession battle with a 57.45% Corsi For rating and owned an 11-1 advantage in high-danger scoring chances, per NaturalStatTrick.Malkin, who scored the club's only goal in the 3-1 loss, understands how much every game counts with so many competitive teams in the mix for a postseason berth."The season started already," Malkin said. "We need to understand that. It’s not, like, 'Oh, we have 20 games to wake up.' No. It’s already started. Every point’s important. Every year, it’s harder and harder making the playoffs."Pittsburgh continues its season Saturday at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.