Evgeny Kuznetsov is flapping back at Don Cherry for criticizing his bird-themed goal celebration again.“If he want(s) to say something, he can call me or he can meet me, but to call me (a) jerk on TV doesn’t make him look good, you know? But whatever he said, my parents (taught) me a lot of good things when (I was) young, and I’m not going to say anything bad about a guy who’s much older than me," the Washington Capitals Russian forward told Scott Allen and Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post on Tuesday.During Saturday's edition of "Coach's Corner," Cherry called Kuznetsov a "jerk" for doing the bird celebration after scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning, insisting that players should "never inspire the other team" with such behavior.Kuznetsov said on Tuesday that he's a fan of the Carolina Hurricanes' "Storm Surge" celebrations, which Cherry also infamously bemoaned, calling that team "a bunch of jerks."“That’s what hockey should be for, for fun,” Kuznetsov said. “Fans like it, and you know, the way (Cherry) talk(s), it doesn’t make him look good, right? If he thinks he’s good, he should check his record when he was coaching in the CHL and that’s it, he should shut his mouth.”Cherry's Mississauga IceDogs went 11-47-10 during his stint behind the bench in 2000-01.The "Hockey Night in Canada" pundit knocked Kuznetsov in January for doing the move in front of the Columbus Blue Jackets' bench after scoring a game-tying goal, noting that the Blue Jackets then did it themselves to mock him following their overtime winner.A similar move in the "FIFA" video games inspired Kuznetsov's celebration, and he says his daughter loves it, according to The Post.When the Capitals host the Hurricanes on Tuesday night, they'll be giving away bobbleheads featuring Kuznetsov doing his trademark post-goal routine.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed head coach Jon Cooper to a multi-year extension on Tuesday, the team announced.Tampa Bay has a league-leading 122 points - 21 more than the second-best team - with five games remaining. The historic campaign could put Cooper in the running for the Jack Adams Trophy.The Lightning are 302-157-44 since Cooper became head coach during the 2012-13 season. He led them to the Stanley Cup Final two years later, though they fell to the Chicago Blackhawks.Prior to coaching the Lighting, Cooper led the AHL's Norfolk Admirals to a Calder Cup championship in 2012.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon wasn't shy when discussing his team's offseason plans on Monday."We’ve been very close to being a good team for a long time," the veteran executive told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "It’s just a matter of adding the right pieces this summer. The great thing is our owner Vinnie Viola is committed to being a cap team. He wants to win. He wants us to do what we have to do. It’s a really good situation."We’re going to be aggressive this summer."After February's trade that sent Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann to Pittsburgh, the Panthers project to enter the offseason with roughly $21 million in cap space, and very few of their own players requiring new deals.The 2019 free-agent class could be one of the better ones in recent memory. Here's a look at the top pending unrestricted free agents:ForwardDefenseGoalieMatt DucheneErik KarlssonSergei BobrovskyArtemi PanarinJake GardinerRobin LehnerJoe PavelskiTyler MyersSemyon VarlamovJeff SkinnerAlex EdlerCurtis McElhinneyKevin HayesAnton StralmanPetr MrazekGustav NyquistJay BouwmeesterJordan EberleRyan DzingelBrock NelsonAnders LeeIn February, LeBrun reported that Florida hopes to take a run at Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin.Being aggressive this summer could also mean more trades, and the potential for a shake-up has at least one player on edge."It’s a little nerve-racking," forward Vincent Trocheck said. "A lot of these guys I’ve literally spent my entire career with. We’ve created some great friendships. I couldn’t say a bad word about a single guy in this room. It’s always tough when you see guys go. We had a couple of guys traded earlier the year, I spent my entire career with Bjugstad... But that’s the business side of it and you do what you have to do to become a winning team."Led by a potent top-six forward group, the Panthers rank eighth in goals for this season, but 29th in goals against.Trocheck believes a change is necessary."I think we need to kind of change our culture," he said. "It seems like every year we look at our personnel and we think, ‘This is a team that should definitely be able to compete in the playoffs.’ And I 100 percent agree. We have all the right personnel to be a great team, to compete in the playoffs. It’s just we need to create a winning identity, a winning culture a little bit more in this locker room."It seems like sometimes we kind of feel sorry for ourselves and don’t really do much about it. I think that’s something that’s on me, on (Aleksander Barkov), on (Jonathan Huberdeau), other guys, to create in here."The Panthers sit 10 points out of a playoff spot with just six games remaining.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders will be without one of their top-six forwards for the rest of the season.Andrew Ladd is out for five months or so with a torn ACL and will undergo surgery on the knee this week, Islanders president of hockey operations and general manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters Tuesday.Ladd was hurt in New York's 2-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday.Earlier this season, the 33-year-old missed more than three months with what the club called a lower-body injury before returning in late February.Ladd has three goals and eight assists in 26 games in 2018-19.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames agitator Matthew Tkachuk isn't letting Drew Doughty get under his skin.The Los Angeles Kings defenseman had some strong words for Tkachuk before Monday's contest between the two teams. Doughty said he had "no respect" for the Flames forward and that many others around the league share the same opinion."Doesn't bother me at all," Tkachuk said after the game, according to Flames beat reporter Wes Gilberston. "Doesn't really surprise me. Doesn't not surprise me. It's just another day. I'll sleep like a baby and not worry about that type of stuff, I'll tell you that."When the two engaged in the third period, Tkachuk did what he does best by agitating Doughty before goading him into a two-minute slashing penalty.

John Tavares had himself quite a night versus the Florida Panthers on Monday.The Toronto Maple Leafs superstar registered the first four-goal game of his career and reached several impressive milestones in the process.His dominant effort in the Leafs' 7-5 win pushed him to 45 tallies on the season, good for second in the NHL. It's also a franchise record for most goals by a player in his first season with the Maple Leafs, according to NHL Public Relations."It's obviously nice to get rewarded like that, it's always a good feeling," Tavares said postgame. "But you know, I think we still feel we can be a little better with some of the opportunities we gave up and eventually went in our net."All in all, obviously, I think mostly it was a good night and we'll build on the good stuff."Toronto's marquee offseason addition also established a new record for goals scored by a former unrestricted free agent in his debut season with a new team, according to Sportsnet's JD Bunkis. Marian Gaborik, the previous record-holder, scored 42 goals in 2009-10 after signing as a UFA with the New York Rangers.Tavares' 45 goals this season are the most by a Maple Leafs player since Dave Andreychuk in 1993-94 (53). He's also matched his career high in points at 86 with six games to go.So far, Tavares' new contract looks like money well spent for Toronto.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators officially secured their spot in the postseason with a victory over the Minnesota Wild on Monday night.With the win, the Predators head to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, which is the third-longest active streak in the NHL.Nashville has won its first-round matchup in three straight postseasons. Only the Washington Capitals have a longer run, as they've emerged victorious from their last four opening rounds.Peter Laviolette's club joins the Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, and San Jose Sharks as the only Western Conference teams to book their ticket thus far.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers' slim playoff hopes took what was perhaps the final blow Sunday with a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, and forward Jakub Voracek was critical of his team's recent performances after the game."We had a good push, but unfortunately, anytime we got close - three points, five points - and we played those big teams in front of us (in) those four-point games, we choked," Voracek said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi. "We couldn't find a way to win those big games, and that's why we are where we are right now."The Flyers attempted to reverse course this season after a sluggish start, as they won 18 of 24 contests from Jan. 14 to March 11. However, Philadelphia since dropped five of its last seven games, all to teams above it in the standings.It sits eight points back of the final wild-card spot with six games remaining heading into Monday's action. When asked what the team can learn from this season, the 29-year-old was rather blunt in his response."I don't want to take anything out of this season, to be honest," said Voracek. "I had way higher expectations. I think everybody did before we walked into the locker room in training camp. It's really disappointing. We have to have a good look in the mirror and straighten some things out before we come in next year."Outside of reacquiring forward James van Riemsdyk last summer, the Flyers didn't make any major changes to their roster heading into the season. Voracek said he's focusing on his own game when asked what the team can do to improve for next year."Tough to say. It's not my decision," Voracek said. "I've got to prepare myself in the summer and come in here in shape and be a better player, more experienced. Hopefully, we won't have to focus on digging ourselves out of a hole by December."The Flyers host the Maple Leafs on Wednesday after back-to-back losses on the weekend.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drew Doughty took no prisoners on Monday.The Los Angeles Kings defenseman expressed his distaste for Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk. Then he criticized San Jose Sharks blue-liner Brent Burns while praising Calgary's Mark Giordano ahead of Monday's meeting between the Kings and Flames."No respect for him - none," Doughty said of Tkachuk, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "I respect everyone else. I'll never talk to him off the ice. He's not respected by most of the people in the league, it's not just me - that's just a fact."During Tkachuk's 2016-17 rookie season, he delivered an elbow to Doughty's face and received a two-game suspension. Doughty then called Tkachuk "a pretty dirty player," according to LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen.Doughty's next target was Burns, who the rearguard clearly considers unworthy of claiming the Norris Trophy again."All you’ve got to do is watch one San Jose Sharks game and you’ll see Brent Burns get beat three times a game, literally, and everybody has him up for the Norris. I just don’t get it," Doughty said, according to Sportsnet's Ryan Leslie."I would want Giordano on my team before I’d want those points guys," Doughty continued. "Giordano has like 75 points or something and he plays good defense. From me, based on how I know he plays, I think he should be the front-runner."Doughty won the Norris Trophy in 2016, and Burns was given the honor the following year.Burns entered Monday's action leading all defensemen with 77 points in 75 games, while Giordano ranked second at the position with 72 in two fewer contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We've been waiting patiently for the Tampa Bay Lightning to lose so we could cover how well they've performed following a loss. It took a while.The NHL's top team at 58-14-4 went 16 full days and nine games between their two most recent losses. The Lightning are (finally) coming off a 4-3 defeat by the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, setting them up for an angle that deserves your attention when the Bolts meet the Boston Bruins on Monday.Line: Tampa Bay -150

John Tortorella is pining for his Columbus Blue Jackets to simplify their game and reset mentally while mired in a 6-7-1 slump since the trade deadline.The Jackets haven't jelled the way many expected after they added Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel, Adam McQuaid, and Keith Kinkaid for the stretch run. Columbus currently sits outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, but Tortorella wants his team to drown out that noise and just have fun."Just go play. We need to have a shinny-hockey mentality," Tortorella told The Province's Ben Kuzma prior to Columbus' 5-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. "We're trying to really clean the slate here. Good players always expect more out of themselves and not getting results, it tends to bog them down because they're not feeling it."He added: "The biggest thing now is we need to not overthink anything ... Don't overload your mind with a lot of thinking and numbers that people throw at me all the time with the problems we've had as a team."The Blue Jackets are averaging 2.36 goals per game since the deadline. The top line of Artemi Panarin, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Cam Atkinson has combined for four goals in March. Duchene, meanwhile, has tallied six points in 16 contests since joining the squad.Tortorella admits that Columbus' top players are feeling pressure to perform after the team went all-in at the deadline."They've got to feel a result to not let their confidence waver, because it can go either way if we don’t start getting results," Tortorella said. "We need to find a way to release ourselves and get on the attack and keep it simple. The one thing when you're dealing with some guys who aren't used to being put under a microscope and you’re supposed to win now, is that it changes a bit with expectations and that has affected some guys."Sunday's decisive victory was a step in the right direction, but the Blue Jackets still trail the Montreal Canadiens by two points for the second wild-card spot with one game in hand.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The defending champions from Minnesota Duluth, alongside Minnesota State Mankato, St. Cloud State, and Massachusetts will be the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Hockey Championship bracket.For the second straight year, St. Cloud State is the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.Here's the path to the NCAA Frozen Four, which will take place April 11 and 13 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo (all times ET):West RegionScheels Arena, Fargo, N.D.1. St. Cloud State (30-5-3)

Head coach Barry Trotz appreciates the passion from the New York Islanders' fan base, but asks they show more support amid the team's struggles on the man advantage."It doesn't help that our fans boo us 30 seconds into the power play," Trotz said, according to the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis. "In our own rink, give us an advantage ... we have fantastic fans, and they have the right to boo, but we need their help."The Islanders' power play entered Sunday's action ranked 29th in the league, operating at 14.5 percent. With just one goal over their last 36 opportunities, Trotz understands the criticism is warranted, but hopes fans can exercise a little more patience."Power play is not good, we deserve to get booed," he said. "But give us a couple of them. If it's the third or fourth one and we're not doing anything, then you can boo. Every team needs the support of their fans. When you're struggling, you don't need other people kicking you down."Trotz will likely be a candidate for the Jack Adams Award this spring. With seven games remaining, he's improved the Islanders' point total by 13 from one year ago. The 56-year-old became the fourth bench boss in league history to coach in 1,600 games when the Islanders took on the Arizona Coyotes Sunday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs gave credit where it was due after Alexandar Georgiev excelled against them for the second time this season.The New York Rangers goaltender made 44 saves in a 2-1 overtime victory Saturday night, following up a 55-save performance in a 4-1 win over Toronto in February."Their goalie has just got our number," Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews told reporters. "Somehow he’s just made some unbelievable saves (Saturday night) and kept them in it and then obviously, it comes down to one play in overtime to get the extra point."Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen praised his counterpart as well."He was playing well down there, he obviously made a game out of it," he said.Zach Hyman echoed that sentiment."It just wasn’t going in," the Toronto forward said. "Give credit to their goalie, he played great."Georgiev helped the Rangers snap a five-game losing streak with the victory, and said afterward it felt like winning a championship.

The Ottawa Senators are looking to add to their front office by hiring a president of hockey operations, the team said in a statement, according to The Canadian Press."The Senators intend to hire a president of hockey operations to support and provide guidance to the general manager, and fill the void left by the late Bryan Murray," the statement said."The position is integral to the success of the hockey club, especially as we continue our rebuilding process, hiring a top-notch candidate to fill this role is critically important."While the Sens seek another hockey mind, the team added that the new hire won't threaten GM Pierre Dorion's position with the club.The Senators have made several significant trades since the offseason and have begun a full-scale rebuild. The club shipped out former captain Erik Karlsson in September and then dealt Mark Stone, Matt Duchene, and Ryan Dzingel - the club's three leading scorers at the time - before the trade deadline.As a result of the roster makeover, Ottawa has 19 draft picks at its disposal over the next two drafts. In February, owner Eugene Melnyk said the club will be "all-in" for a five-year run of success from 2021 to 2025 when the team will spend close to the league's salary cap.The Senators currently rank 31st in the NHL with 58 points through 75 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins punched their ticket to the playoffs for the third straight year with a 7-3 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.Boston's the second team in the Eastern Conference to clinch a postseason spot following the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.Saturday's win gave the Bruins 101 points on the season and they appear set to capture the second seed in the Atlantic Division, which means Boston will likely meet the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round for the second year in a row.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets officially secured their spot in the postseason with a win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.It's the second straight year the Jets have qualified for the playoffs, and the fourth time they've done so in franchise history.Winnipeg became the third Western Conference club to book a berth this season, joining the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks.Moments after the Jets clinched, the Boston Bruins became the fifth NHL team to officially earn a spot with their win over the Florida Panthers.The Tampa Bay Lightning have already locked down the Presidents' Trophy and the top seed in the playoffs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If all goes well for Ken Hitchcock, he'd like to stay in his line of work until he's nearly a centenarian."For the record, I feel if I'm good, I can coach until I'm 99," the Edmonton Oilers bench boss told reporters after an overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.When asked about whether he wants to coach the Oilers next season, the 67-year-old acknowledged that decision is out of his hands."That's hard because it's somebody else's ballgame now," Hitchcock said. "From a management standpoint, obviously there's going to be a new general manager. I can just tell you what I did this year, I wouldn't change this for the world."Hitchcock said he's grateful to have the opportunity to work in a Canadian market."There's coaching and then there's coaching in Canada, and this is a whole different animal and something that I'm so lucky that I get to experience," he said.Hitchcock is under contract with Edmonton for two more years after this season.The Oilers have gone 24-24-7 since Hitchcock came out of retirement and replaced the fired Todd McLellan in November. The club sits six points out of a playoff spot as of Saturday evening and needs to leapfrog five teams to move into a postseason position.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen went all-in at the trade deadline, seemingly improving his roster without trading blue chippers Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky.Now, in the middle of a three-game losing streak that's resulted in the Blue Jackets falling out of a playoff spot, Kekalainen feels that the team he assembled to make a deep run this spring lacks cohesion."We have to start playing like a team," Kekalainen said, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "Right now, we're looking like a group of individuals who are pulling in different directions. We don't look like a team."Columbus has won just five contests since the trade deadline, scoring a measly 2.08 goals per game.Since the Blue Jackets' big deadline moves, new acquisition Matt Duchene has delivered three goals and six points in 15 games and Panarin - Columbus' leader in points this season - has just one goal during that span, leaving Kekalainen to question his team's sense of accountability."Are you able to look each other in the eye and know you've done your job," Kekalainen said. "When you're doing your job, you can demand the same of everybody else. That's called professional pride."The GM also insisted that he still supports head coach John Tortorella and rejected the idea that he may be let go before the season ends."That's just silly," Kekalainen said. "Torts has been our coach for a long time, been a good coach for us. He's coached us into the playoffs twice in a row. He's a very experienced coach in this league."The Blue Jackets will look to avoid being swept on their Western Canadian road trip as they close it out in Vancouver versus the Canucks on Sunday night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zdeno Chara isn't ready to hang 'em up.The Boston Bruins signed their 42-year-old captain to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Saturday. The deal comes with a base salary of $2 million, plus an additional $1.75 million in performance-based incentives.Chara's current salary is $5 million plus $1.75 million in bonuses, so he'll be taking a sizable pay cut in 2019-20.Despite his age, Chara continues to log over 20 minutes per night on Boston's blue line. He's maintained positive possession numbers too, posting a 54.02 Corsi For percentage at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.The 6-foot-9, 250-pound defenseman has four goals and seven assists in 55 games this season. He's the second-oldest active player in the NHL, behind Pittsburgh Penguins center Matt Cullen.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Kings winger Ilya Kovalchuk isn't pleased with how head coach Willie Desjardins is using him lately.Kovalchuk was a healthy scratch for the second time in three games on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, with Desjardins opting to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen.The veteran sniper doesn't support that idea, and he didn't enjoy sitting in the press box."It's horrible," Kovalchuk said, according to The Athletic's Lisa Dillman. "That's the worst. But he (Desjardins) didn't play young guys. He plays 7 D. That's his new strategy."What you can do? That's his decision and he's the head coach - 10 more games. What else we can do. Just practice hard and show the young kids that thing can happen to anybody. You just have to keep going."Kovalchuk returned to North America last summer on a three-year $18.75 million contract with the Kings after a five-season stint in the KHL. He was brought in to help bolster Los Angeles' offense, but the season hasn't gone according to plan.The Kings started the season 4-8-1 and fired John Stevens before naming Desjardins interim head coach. Under Desjardins, the club is 22-31-7 and sits last in the Western Conference with 60 points."After Willie came here, I don’t have a chance. I play five, six minutes a game," Kovalchuk said."A few games I play with Kopi (captain Anze Koptiar)," Kovalchuk said. "We did well. We score all five games and then he (Desjardins) decide to change and I never play again, much. That’s the way he sees the situation."Kovalchuk has appeared in 60 of the Kings' 73 games in 2018-19, registering 14 goals and 17 assists. Despite recent difficulties, the 35-year-old doesn't appear to regret choosing to play in the Golden State."That's what is good about California," he said. "Every day, almost every day, the sun's up. It's easier to go through those kind of stretches in your career. When you're in some city when it's raining, snowing every second day, then it's pretty tough."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Yanni Gourde has been suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Carolina Hurricanes pivot Jordan Staal, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Friday.Here's the play:

With rumors and speculation running rampant among the masses, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock decided to clear the air Friday on his relationship with general manager Kyle Dubas.The spotlight on their partnership grew intense following the club's 3-0 loss in Nashville on Tuesday, after which Babcock said other teams around the NHL have done a better job playing through injuries than the Leafs. Some took the comment as a shot at Dubas, but Toronto's veteran coach insisted he meant no harm."We've talked about this since this happened," Babcock said Friday, according to NHL.com's Mike Zeisberger. "How would I say it? If any of my comments in any way - because then I read the article and I don't read it that way, at all - but if any of my comments in any way hurt anyone, it (wasn't intended)."Babcock is in his fourth season as the Leafs' coach, but Dubas is in his rookie season as Toronto's GM, which Babcock believes is a factor in the duo's growing relationship."(Dubas) and my relationship isn't as good as it will be four years from now," Babcock said. "Mine with (Detroit Red Wings GM) Ken Holland wasn't as good in my first (season) as in my 10th or Bryan Murray in my first (with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) as in my third. It takes a while to build."Toronto currently sits sixth in the NHL with 93 points and is all but locked into a playoff spot for the third consecutive season with Babcock at the helm.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, Google Play, and Spotify.In this episode, John's joined by Jonathan Willis of The Athletic to bounce around the league as the regular season winds down. Topics include:

Although Edmonton Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson apologized for publicly criticizing Tobias Rieder's play this season, the Oilers forward sounded off on the incident Friday."You kind of can't believe it. I feel like it's disappointing and I'm offended by it," Rieder said, according to TSN's Ryan Rishaug. "I'm the first one to admit I haven't had a good year."Nicholson went off on a tirade at a breakfast for season-ticket holders Thursday, directly blaming Rieder's individual lack of production for the team's precarious playoff position.The German forward was surprised to hear such critical commentary from the front office with the team sitting five points out of a playoff position with eight games remaining."It went a little too far and Bob knows that ... I thought the timing was a bit weird, we're still fighting for the playoffs. I'm still going to do my best," Rieder added.Rieder's agent, Darren Ferris, also voiced his displeasure regarding the comments, calling Nicholson's remarks "unacceptable." As for Rieder's teammates, the 26-year-old says everyone's on the same page regarding the issue."We talked before the game and they don't think it was right either ... it's good to know they have my back," Rieder said, according to Rishaug. The NHLer added that he accepts Nicholson's apology.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby will not be in attendance Monday when his teammates visit the White House as Stanley Cup champions."I've got to stay true to my values, and I'm going respectfully decline the offer," Holtby said Friday, according to The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan."In saying that, it's a tough situation for everyone to be in, to be forced to make a decision of that standing," he added. "You're a team and you want to stick together no matter what, so I hope everyone kind of blows it away and that we don't worry about who goes and who doesn't."Capitals forward Brett Connolly already declined the invitation, citing his support for Devante Smith-Pelly. Smith-Pelly, who played a crucial role in Washington's championship run but is currently with the AHL's Hershey Bears, has previously spoken out against President Donald Trump and will also skip the visit.“For me, it's just a personal thing," Holtby said. "I believe in what I believe in, and in order to stick to those values, I think I have to do what I feel is right. But that doesn't make a difference (in) everyone else's decision."We stick by every single teammate we have and their decision. That's about it."Holtby is an active supporter of the LGBTQ community. He's marched in D.C.'s Pride Parade and was the Capitals' "You Can Play" ambassador for the past two seasons. That involvement factored into his decision."My family and myself, we believe in a world where humans are treated with respect regardless of your stature, what you're born into," the 29-year-old said. "You're asked to choose what side you're on, and I think it's pretty clear what side I'm on. I believe that this is the right decision for myself and my family."The Capitals announced there would be no official ceremony or media availability during their visit. They will receive a tour of the White House and meet President Trump in the Oval Office, reports Khurshudyan.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The truck driver who caused the deadly crash with the Humboldt Broncos' bus was sentenced to eight years in prison Friday, according to Bre McAdam of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.Jaskirat Singh Sidhu of Calgary, Alberta, pleaded guilty earlier this year to 29 counts of dangerous driving.Judge Inez Cardinal said Sidhu's remorse and guilty plea were mitigating factors, but she had to consider the number of people who were killed or seriously injured as a result of the crash.In April 2018, Sidhu drove through a stop sign at a rural Saskatchewan intersection and collided with the junior hockey team's bus. Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured.The judge noted that Sidhu will be deported after serving his sentence because he's a permanent resident and not a Canadian citizen.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk joined CFRA's Bill Carroll for a radio interview on Friday morning and voiced strong opinions on a number of topics, including the Toronto Maple Leafs' rebuild, his own team's trades, and Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.While discussing the challenges of building and maintaining a championship contender in the salary cap era, Melnyk was quick to take a jab at how the Leafs have allocated their salaries."They're going to have a tough time winning the Stanley Cup without defense," Melnyk said, "because they're hitting the cap, they can't bring anybody new in so they're stuck, and that's where you have to be extremely careful. ... They collapse their team, say we gotta do a rebuild, but you know, mistakes were made and somebody forgot about defense."When talking about his own rebuild with the Senators, Melnyk insisted he needed to trade away Ottawa's budding stars to accommodate the younger talents of the future."A lot of people were really upset about us trading away the three in the end, (Matt) Duchene and (Mark) Stone and (Ryan) Dzingel, and if you think about it, they're all looking for a seven- or eight-year contract at the age of 27," Melnyk said."Five or six years from now, they're all going to be in their almost mid-30s and you're going to have all these kids coming up."In a later discussion regarding the contentious RendezVous LeBreton proposal to build a new downtown arena west of Parliament Hill, Melnyk openly ridiculed Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson after Carroll noted how critical Watson has been of Melnyk throughout the process."He is so lucky that I keep my mouth shut, he should keep his," Melnyk said of Watson. "I have a lot to say but I don't say it, but you know what, I'd be very careful I was him and walking around mouthing off. With him opening up like that, you know all he does is the NHL offices, they look at it and say, 'Hey do we really want to bring more events to this city?'"Melnyk concluded the radio hit by calling out the Ottawa media, specifically stating that one particular reporter was "bush league" for asking general manager Pierre Dorion to listen to a taped call of an upset Senators fan.TSN's Ian Mendes immediately took to social media, tweeting, "So, Eugene Melnyk just called me 'bush league' on the air. So there's that." Soon after, Mendes' colleagues began speaking out in his defense.The Friday radio hit came just one day after Melnyk joined Sportsnet 590 The Fan and stated that the Senators need to identify their "real fans."Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Yanni Gourde will have a hearing Friday for an illegal check to the head of Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.Here's a look at the play, which took place in the first period of Thursday's contest:

Tobias Rieder's representative is not pleased with Bob Nicholson.Darren Ferris expressed as much on Thursday night, hours after the Edmonton Oilers CEO criticized Rieder at a breakfast for season-ticket holders.“I am totally astonished and disappointed that the president of an NHL team can make such a callous and reckless statement about a player," Ferris told TSN's Ryan Rishaug. "This is unacceptable.”Nicholson apologized to Rieder, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, and later told Sportsnet's Mark Spector he "screwed up."The executive told fans that the Oilers would probably be a playoff team if Rieder had 10-to-12 goals, and that the 26-year-old winger won't be re-signed for next season.Oilers head coach Ken Hitchcock had Rieder's back after Thursday's victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Alexander Steen and his father, Thomas, joined some elite company Thursday night.The St. Louis Blues forward picked up three assists in a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings, and his second was the 600th point of his career.With that helper, the Steens became only the fourth father-son tandem to each hit the 600-point plateau in their careers, joining Gordie and Mark Howe, Bobby and Brett Hull, and Peter and Paul Stastny, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac.Thomas Steen racked up 817 points in 950 games across 14 NHL seasons with the original Winnipeg Jets from 1981-82 to 1994-95.Alex Steen has 601 in 955 contests over 14 campaigns spent with the Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eugene Melnyk wants to know who really supports the Ottawa Senators as criticism of him and his hockey club continues to dominate headlines.The team owner wondered aloud Thursday who the true Senators are when asked how he plans to win back fans who've lost faith in the ownership group."The key for us is, first of all, to identify who's a Senators fan and (who's) not," Melnyk said on Sportsnet 590 The FAN."We tripped up one of these guys, somebody big, and it turns out it was a 12-year-old in Toronto that was upset with the Senators in general," he added. "I'm a high-profile person that's an easy target, so let them do what they want to do. I basically ignore 99 percent of it."Melnyk said the organization is trying to turn things around for those who remain patient with the team."For our fans, our real fans, we're doing the best we can and all you can do is just keep doing what you've been doing," he said.The Senators have traded away Erik Karlsson, Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone, Matt Duchene, and Ryan Dzingel within the last six months and have also suffered from various off-ice scandals.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau is suspended one game for boarding Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ashton Sautner, the Department of Player Safety announced.The play occurred Wednesday evening. Pageau was given a two-minute minor while Sautner remained in the game.

Bob Nicholson has found his scapegoat.The Edmonton Oilers CEO criticized Tobias Rieder at length at a breakfast for season-ticket holders Thursday, according to the Edmonton Journal's Bruce McCurdy.Nicholson said the Oilers won't re-sign Rieder at season's end, lamented that he hasn't scored a goal with the club and has "missed so many breakaways," and added that if the struggling forward "would have scored 10 or 12 goals, we'd probably be in the playoffs."The executive said that other teams wanted Rieder in free agency last summer, but the 26-year-old signed with the Oilers for one year because he wanted to play with fellow German national Leon Draisaitl."He thought if he wasn't playing with Leon, he'd be playing with Connor (McDavid), he'd score 15-16 goals, and instead of making $2 million, he'd sign a four-year (extension) at $3.5 million (annually)," Nicholson said.The Oilers CEO opened his remarks at the breakfast by saying he wouldn't throw anyone under the bus, according to McCurdy.Nicholson later apologized to Rieder and admitted he "stepped out of bounds," according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Rieder has 11 assists in 59 games with the Oilers this season. He signed with Edmonton last July 1 after mustering 12 goals and 13 assists in 78 contests split between the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings in 2017-18.The Oilers entered Thursday's action with a minus-38 goal differential and sit seven points out of a Western Conference wild-card spot.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Perron returned to the St. Louis Blues' lineup Saturday with tears of joy streaming down his face after missing nearly two months with a concussion.He explained his raw emotion to NHL.com's Lou Korac on Wednesday."Because it's harder and harder every time," Perron said, according to Korac's In The Slot blog. "It's so hard on the mental side of it to go through. Basically, you have some situations that heal up quicker, and some that linger and there's no reason why, and that's why it gets harder on you, it gets harder on your family, you start to wonder about other things and you get in your head a lot."It's just good to be back. I think when you play, you think less and everything kind of settles."Perron suffered his first concussion during the 2010-11 season after taking a blindside hit from Joe Thornton. He ended up missing 97 games.Perron's since suffered multiple concussions. His latest head injury, which forced him to miss 24 games, caused him to think about the bigger picture."There's so many things that are hard mentally," he said. "You feel different as a person almost. ... I really, really hope - knock on wood - that it never happens again just because I don't know how many more times I can go through this."He noted a wide variance in how long it takes him to recover from concussions."Last year I had one and I was out 10 days," Perron said.The 30-year-old veteran is in his third stint with the Blues. He has 20 goals and 20 assists in 48 games this season, including five points in three contests since rejoining the lineup.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark Stone's having a moment right now.Since being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 25, Stone's already bagged four goals and four assists while his new team has won nine of 10 games heading into Thursday's home date with the Jets. Quite simply, the fit has been impeccable.It's crazy to think that just last month, Stone debated re-signing with the Ottawa Senators, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2010. However, the queasy state of the Senators ultimately saw the right winger shipped to Vegas, where he quickly signed an extension through 2026-27 at a team-high annual cap hit of $9.5 million.Ethan Miller / Getty ImagesReally, Stone's never had it so good.After carrying the weight of being the best player on the NHL's worst team, the low-profile 26-year-old is now drawing second-tier matchups on a line with smart veterans Paul Stastny and Max Pacioretty. Individually, he's firmly in the Selke Trophy conversation for the first time in his career. And at the team level, he's playing for last season's Stanley Cup finalist, which should contend again in the Western playoff bracket.So, let’s unpack how Stone arrived at this juncture of his career, and what makes him so effective on the ice.The early daysRob and Jackie Stone designated a boatload of time, energy, and money to hockey in the 1990s, which assured that Mark and older brother Michael, currently a Calgary Flames defenseman, could immerse themselves in the sport.Over time, mom and dad developed a habit of stopping by one particular vendor at the arena to pick up a keepsake for whichever child had been competing that day. "If our games were being videotaped, we weren’t leaving the rink without one," Mark told theScore in a recent phone interview.The collection of souvenirs morphed into pieces of research for young Mark, who became obsessed with reviewing not only his own shifts but also the performances of his brother’s team, particularly during the famous Brick tournament in Edmonton."We bought all the tapes of Michael's games," Rob said of the annual event showcasing the country's top 10-year-olds. "The only person who’s ever watched them is Mark."Jeff Bottari / Getty ImagesThere were other early signs of potential stardom, namely Mark's elite hockey sense that began bubbling to the surface during his formative days in Winnipeg-area arenas.Rob remembers other parents demanding that young Mark - then skating against kids a year older - strap on the goalie pads for a few two-minute shifts per game in an effort to level the playing field. Fair enough, the Stones thought. Unfortunately for the complainants, the lopsidedness continued."As the goalie, he would fire passes up the ice so his teammates could get breakaways," Rob recalled, seemingly still in disbelief 20 years later. "That’s how much of a strategist he was, even as a 5-year-old."Along with his advanced mind, Mark developed what Michael calls an "ultracompetitive" streak, which the brothers shared. "We hated losing. To one another, and in anything," Michael said, referring to baseball, lacrosse, and other sporting adventures.At least once, Mark broke a mini stick over the back of Michael's leg. And no family member was immune to his fits of rage."I remember him getting mad at my grandma because they lost the baseball game and she was just trying to say, 'Hey, everything’s alright,'" Michael laughed. "And he was so mad. He would have been, like, seven? Five? Really young and totally took it out on our grandma."As he aged, Mark matured and gained a greater appreciation for the sport, although he refused to settle for anything less than perfect when it came to his hockey stick - much to the annoyance of his parents."You have no idea how many nights he'd go, 'I need a new stick,'" Rob said. "We'd be like, 'Another new stick? Ah man, OK. Let’s go and look.' We would never go to just one store."The progressionWedged between Stone's minor-hockey triumphs and his 400-game NHL career was a period of doubt. The general concern: How will this lanky teen with inefficient skating get from Point A to Point B?"He hadn't, as a young player, added up to the sum of his parts," Kelly McCrimmon, then the Brandon Wheat Kings' owner, general manager, and head coach, said of the 14-year-old Stone he selected 92nd overall in the 2007 Western Hockey League bantam draft."The skating really needed work, physical maturation, getting stronger. Those were the things that had to come together for him."Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesIn due time, Stone made McCrimmon, now assistant GM of the Golden Knights, look like a talent-evaluation genius. It's true that a growth spurt in the forward's mid-teens had taken his skating from awkward to poor, but after a strong second season that saw the Wheat Kings nearly win the 2010 Memorial Cup, Stone broke out, piling up 229 points in 137 games across his final two junior campaigns.The turning point arrived in the summer of 2011, when the Senators assigned Stone some gut-check homework one year after drafting him: Change the mechanics of your stride, kid. Get your feet moving in harmony instead of against each other.With the aid of Senators skating coach Marc Power, concerns began to fade. "We had to make sure he's learning how to use his edges and how to maximize his skating ability as much as he can, with the body that he has," said Paul MacLean, Ottawa's bench boss from 2011-14. "That was a priority for us, and it's something that he went and worked at and became good at.""His skating, to me, was never going to be a big issue," added Cory Clouston, who took over for McCrimmon as Wheat Kings coach in Stone's last junior year. "I think he took it upon himself to say, 'If that’s my weakness, I’m going to turn it into a strength.' I think he's done a really good job at it."Stone, who's now a coordinated 6-foot-4, 220-pound package on skates, graduated to the pro ranks in 2012-13. And the sixth-rounder from a few summers earlier - a complete long shot on paper - made noise almost immediately, contributing 38 points in 58 AHL games while managing to crack Ottawa's lineup four times."He was an impact player back then," said current Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg, Stone’s teammate in Binghamton that year. "You could tell, anytime he had the puck on his stick it was under control. He never seemed to be rushed on the ice. He was always making the right play. And that’s something he's still doing today, but maybe with more confidence."Therein lies the secret to Stone’s rise, and the reason he didn’t fall off the rails amid the reconstruction of his skating stride. His mind, as Clouston framed it, is very "proactive." The winger is flexible, versatile, and really cares about winning."For an offensive guy at that level, I don't know if I’ve ever had a guy who took that much pride in his defensive game," the coach said. "He wanted to be successful. He didn't want to be a one-dimensional player."The finished productIt seemed like something was always going wrong during Stone's tenure in Ottawa.Sure, he was a key part of two Cinderella runs - the Hamburglar streak of 2015 and the near trip to the 2017 Stanley Cup Final - but the Senators were never considered true contenders.Yet Stone, to steal a phrase from former Ottawa coach Guy Boucher, was Mr. Consistency. In four full seasons, he posted point totals of 64, 61, 54, and 62. He starred on special teams, drew the stiffest competition, housed rookies, and kept his mouth shut as the franchise spiraled out of control. Brilliantly, Stone even recorded five points in the first game after the infamous Uber video leaked in November.Then there are the copious defensive plays. Including this year, in which he's recorded 107 takeaways through 69 games, Stone has paced the NHL in the category in five of his six seasons."His hand-eye coordination is second to none, and I think the way he reads the game he almost knows what you're doing before you even think about doing it," Senators goalie Craig Anderson said.Beyond those skills, Stone has become the league's takeaway king while using one of the weirdest - and most effective - sticks in the league, especially in his first two NHL seasons."We called it the Lizard Stick. It comes out of nowhere and then is gone," former Senators teammate Curtis Lazar said of Stone's lumber during those early years. Meanwhile, Stone admits his stick obsession, which carried forward from childhood, got "out of control" when he entered the NHL."Mine have always been different than most," he said. "(These days), it's got a little shorter blade, it’s a little bit longer, but it’s a lot more standard than it used to be."Along with the takeaways and the projected career bests in goals, assists, and points this season, Stone's underlying defensive numbers are off the charts. Among the 420 skaters who've played at least 700 five-on-five minutes in 2018-19, he leads in two important categories: Corsi Relative percentage and Goals Above Replacement. There's a strong possibility Stone could become the first winger to win the Selke - an award usually reserved for elite two-way centers such as Patrice Bergeron and Anze Kopitar - since Jere Lehtinen in 2003."As much as I love scoring goals and being out there for a goal, it almost makes it worse when you’re out there for something against," Stone said. "It’s just something that has stuck with me throughout my career."Ethan Miller / Getty ImagesSo far in Vegas, the Pacioretty-Stastny-Stone line has been dominant at even strength, controlling 60 percent of shot attempts, 61 percent of scoring chances, 62 percent of shots, and 67 percent of goals. Stone's also found a spot on the first-unit power play, lining up on the right flank."Whatever that subliminal impact is across the entire team, I think Mark’s had a really positive impact to our team, and specifically to the two players he's playing with," McCrimmon said.The adjustments have been seamless because both team and player needed each other. The Golden Knights had been yearning for secondary scoring, while Stone's time in Ottawa, like that of other franchise stars over the past couple seasons, had run its course.Signing the long-term extension was a no-brainer as well. Stone, the former draft long shot, could finally cash in on his dedication and progression, while McCrimmon and Vegas could lock up an elite three-zone winger who quietly ranks eighth in points among those selected in the 2010 draft, which featured Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin at the top."The last year and a half have been tough on me, losing so many hockey games," Stone said. "Being in Vegas right now, I’m just so excited with how well the team is playing and how many wins we're getting. It looks like we’re going to have an opportunity to try and win a Stanley Cup.”John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils are eager to lock up their franchise player.Taylor Hall is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2020, but Devils general manager Ray Shero plans to begin extension talks with the reigning Hart Trophy winner once this season concludes."He's been something for our franchise that we really haven't had in a long time ... At the end of the day, we still have another year left," Shero said on Wednesday's edition of the NHL's "Executive Suite" podcast. "But the intention is to sit down somewhere after the season, well before July 1."The Devils can officially sign Hall to a contract extension from July 1 onward. He's due for a sizable raise from his current $6-million cap hit."It's not like, 'Hey, here's the contract, sign it up,'" Shero continued. "If we're getting into some longer term with a free agent, well OK, what are you selling, what are we doing? So they need to know that and I want to know that from their standpoint."I think the respect and relationship both ways has been really good and he's an important player for our franchise, certainly. So that will be the hope sitting down ... something that can work for both of us longer term and if that's meant to be."Hall has been out of the Devils' lineup since December and underwent knee surgery in February. The 27-year-old winger racked up 37 points in 33 games before he went down.New Jersey snapped a five-year playoff drought last season on the strength of Hall's 93-point campaign. He had 41 more points than his team's second-leading scorer, Nico Hischier.The Devils have clearly missed their star player this season; they currently sit fourth-last in the NHL.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand came to the defense of teammate Torey Krug via Twitter on Thursday after NBC Sports writer Joe Haggerty suggested the Boston Bruins may be a better team without the blue-liner in the lineup.

The NHL will have regular-season action overseas for a third straight season, the league announced Thursday.Stockholm, Sweden's Ericsson Globe arena will play host to the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning for a pair of games on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9, offering Swedish fans an opportunity to see two of the country's star defensemen - Victor Hedman and Rasmus Dahlin - in meaningful NHL action.The Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers will play their 2019-20 season opener against each other in Prague, Czech Republic on Oct. 4 at O2 Arena. The contest will mark a homecoming for Jakub Voracek and Radko Gudas of the Flyers and David Kampf of the Blackhawks.Chicago will also complete their training camp in Germany and face Eisbären Berlin in an exhibition match on Sept. 29. Meanwhile, the Flyers will finish off training camp in Switzerland and play an exhibition game against Lausanne HC on Sept. 30.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brett Connolly won't join his Washington Capitals teammates for their 2018 Stanley Cup celebration at the White House on Monday, he told reporters following Tuesday's win over the New Jersey Devils.

The Detroit Red Wings signed goaltender Jimmy Howard to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.Howard's deal comes with a $5.1-million average annual value, but $1.1 million is based on playoff bonuses, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie. If the Red Wings don't make the playoffs next season, Howard would receive no bonus and only get his $4-million salary, McKenzie adds.The veteran goalie, who will turn 35 next week, has spent his entire career in the Motor City. He owns a .908 save percentage and a 3.05 goals-against average in 48 games this season.Howard was set to hit the open market this summer and would've been a part of a free-agent goaltending class headlined by Sergei Bobrovsky, Robin Lehner, and Semyon Varlamov.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Is it possible to be the best and worst at something?According to the 2018-19 NHLPA Player Poll, the answer is yes. Boston Bruins super-pest Brad Marchand - one of the NHL's most polarizing players - was voted as both the league's best and worst trash-talker.Here are the results for best trash-talker, based on 272 votes:PlayerTeam%Brad MarchandBOS21.3Drew DoughtyL.A.11.8Ryan ReavesVGK5.5Claude GirouxPHI4.8Nick CousinsARI3.3OtherN/A53.3The results for worst trash-talker - based on 256 votes - were a bit tighter:PlayerTeam%Brad MarchandBOS12.5Antoine RousselVAN5.5P.K. SubbanNSH5.1Nick CousinsARI4.7Brendan LemieuxNYR3.5OtherN/A68.8Everyone knows Marchand likes to chirp on the ice, but apparently his tactics aren't for everyone. The same can be said for Arizona Coyotes forward Nick Cousins, who also surfaced on both polls.Marchand was clearly pleased with the results.

The idle San Jose Sharks clinched a postseason spot when the Colorado Avalanche beat the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.San Jose became the third team to secure a playoff berth, following the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames.It'll be the fourth straight season the Sharks have qualified for the playoffs, and the 19th time in their last 21 campaigns.San Jose sits in second place in the Pacific Division with a record of 43-22-8.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings are expected to announce a one-year extension in the $4-million range for Jimmy Howard this week, reports Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.If Howard plays well next season, he'll earn another one-year extension after that, adds St. James. He's a pending unrestricted free agent in the final campaign of a six-year, $31.75-million pact inked with the Red Wings in 2013.Howard, who turns 35 next week, has recorded a .907 save percentage in 47 appearances in 2018-19.He's spent his entire career with Detroit after the Red Wings selected him 64th overall in the 2003 draft.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

North Bay Battalion scoring sensation Justin Brazeau is on the radar of numerous NHL clubs."He's undrafted, so he is drawing NHL attention (with) at least five-to-seven teams in the mix," TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday's edition of "Insider Trading."Dreger added the Toronto Maple Leafs have expressed some interest, and the Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights, and Columbus Blue Jackets are all intrigued by Brazeau.The 21-year-old winger amassed 61 goals and 113 points in 68 OHL regular-season games in 2018-19.Brazeau and the Battalion will face the Niagara IceDogs in the first round of the playoffs beginning with Game 1 on Thursday night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins got their most lethal sniper back on Tuesday against the New York Islanders.David Pastrnak returned after missing 16 games with a thumb injury. He'd been listed as a game-time decision.The 22-year-old forward hadn't played since Feb. 10 after undergoing surgery, but he's still tied for the team lead in goals with 31. Overall, he has 66 points in 56 games this season.Remarkably, the Bruins have gone 12-3-1 in his absence, although they had dropped three of their last four games entering Tuesday's action.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals will celebrate their 2018 Stanley Cup victory at the White House on Monday, a team spokesperson told Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post.Following the team's championship victory last spring, captain Alexander Ovechkin went on record saying he couldn't wait for the visit, while teammates such as Devante Smith-Pelly and Brett Connolly expressed opposite opinions.Barry Trotz, the Capitals' head coach at the time, noted he would do whatever the group decided and was unsure whether it would be a full-team outing, or just certain players electing to attend.The annual championship visit has been a controversial topic over the past couple of years. President Donald Trump canceled the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles' visit last June. During the NBA Finals, both LeBron James and Stephen Curry insisted their teams would not attend if invited, resulting in Trump ultimately revoking the invitation.The entire Pittsburgh Penguins team visited the White House after winning their most recent Stanley Cup in 2017.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars will get their starting goaltender back on Tuesday night when Ben Bishop suits up against the Florida Panthers.The 32-year-old Bishop left last week's contest against the Minnesota Wild with a lower-body injury.Before his departure, Bishop was in the midst of a franchise-record shutout streak that stands at 230 minutes, 53 seconds entering Tuesday's contest. The previous Stars record was held by Ed Belfour, whose streak lasted 219 minutes, 26 seconds in 2000.Bishop's run is the longest in the NHL since San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones shut out his opponents for 234:33 during the 2015-16 season. The longest shutout streak in the modern era belongs to Brian Boucher, then a member of the Phoenix Coyotes, at 332:01 set during the 2003-04 season.Overall, the 6-foot-7 Bishop is enjoying a career year. He sports a 2.05 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage, while the Stars are currently in a playoff position despite ranking 29th in scoring.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko will be in the lineup Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers after missing the last five games with an upper-body injury, the team announced.The Blues sorely missed their leading goal-scorer; they won only one game in his absence while averaging just 2.2 goals per contest.Tarasenko started the campaign slowly after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, tallying just 22 points in his first 37 outings. But the 27-year-old racked up 36 points in the 29 games that followed, helping the Blues catapult up the Western Conference standings and into a playoff spot.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.