Most NHL players would not go to great lengths to get into a fight with Ryan Reaves, but Micheal Haley is not most NHL players.The San Jose Sharks enforcer took exception to the Vegas Golden Knights grinder's hit on Melker Karlsson late in the first period Monday night.Reaves went off on a change immediately after hitting Karlsson, but Haley, who was still on the ice, did his best to pull Reaves back out to drop the gloves.Haley was assessed a roughing penalty.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will officially be the top seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.The Lightning clinched the Presidents' Trophy - awarded annually to the team with the best record - with a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night.Tampa Bay accomplished the feat with nine games remaining in the regular season, and improved its record to 56-13-4.Since the Presidents' Trophy was first handed out in 1985-86, only the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings clinched the hardware in fewer games than this season's Lightning, doing so in 71 contests.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson has been returned to available status and entered the follow-up care phase of the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, the NHL and NHLPA announced Monday.Watson entered Stage 2 of the program in January.He was suspended in September after pleading no contest to a domestic assault charge over the summer.Watson's original ban of 27 games was reduced to 18 in October.He played 34 contests for the Predators from Nov. 15 to Jan. 23 and was then suspended again under the terms of the program.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been a difficult stretch for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as the team has suffered three regulation defeats and allowed 23 goals in its last four games.However, the Leafs remain positive despite the rough patch."In our meetings today just talking with one another, we're not sulking or getting down on one another," Auston Matthews told reporters on Monday. "We want to hold each other accountable and be better for one another."Head coach Mike Babcock believes such a losing skid can help his team grow."Adversity is really important for you in life. When you don't have some, you think you should get some so you can get better," Babcock told reporters. "When you get it, you don't want it. We have it right now. Let's pull together."Goaltender Frederik Andersen has been one of the league's top netminders this season but has posted just a .885 save percentage and 3.97 goals-against average during March."I think a little adversity will be good for some teams sometimes, and I'm sure once we work our way out of it, we'll be better off," Andersen said. "You don't feel good doing it, but once you get out of it, you are probably, like I said, better off and learn some very valuable lessons."The Leafs have 10 games remaining in the regular season and will kick off a two-game road trip against the Nashville Predators and Buffalo Sabres beginning Tuesday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Elvis could enter the building in the next couple of weeks.The Columbus Blue Jackets are closing in on a one-year, entry-level deal with the organization's top goalie prospect, Elvis Merzlikins, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.Merzlikins is reportedly expected to fly to Columbus on Sunday or next Monday and then make his North American debut with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters either March 29 or 30 at Quicken Loans Arena. The Latvian has played in Switzerland's top professional league for the last six years.Signing the 24-year-old now will burn his entry-level deal and make him a restricted free agent on July 1, Portzline adds.Merzlikins, a third-round pick by the Blue Jackets in 2014, is widely viewed as Columbus' goalie of the future. With Sergei Bobrovsky set to become an unrestricted free agent, that future could arrive as early as next season.The 6-foot-3 Merzlikins has posted a save percentage of .920 or better in four of his six seasons with HC Lugano in the National League. Merzlikins has also shined on the international stage, registering a 1.50 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage in six games for Latvia at the 2018 World Championship.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Four months. One hundred and twenty total days. Fifty games.That's how long it's been since the Chicago Blackhawks went under the total in back-to-back games.The league's best "over" team at 47-20-4 this season has been a thorn in the sides of oddsmakers, who had no choice but to start bumping some of the Blackhawks' game totals up to 7 following a stretch in which Chicago went 15-1 to the over starting in January.Off a 2-0 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday - and a comfortable victory for "under" bettors - the Blackhawks are in a position Monday against the Vancouver Canucks to hit consecutive unders for the first time since November 16-18.Line: Blackhawks -230

TORONTO - It's a Friday evening in the Center of the Hockey Universe and thousands of Maple Leafs fans are streaming into Gate 1 at Scotiabank Arena. They gab and laugh, weaving through a tight hallway. It's nearly go time for a St. Patrick's Day weekend matchup against the Flyers.Next door, on the 10th floor of 50 Bay Street, home of the National Hockey League offices, Sean Ellis settles in for the night. Four TV monitors, a laptop, an iPad, an iPhone, a TV remote, a computer mouse, a bottle of water, a sandwich, and a banana are all within reach. Like five other days this week and every week during the season, Ellis is in his element.Nick Roy / theScoreThis is the workstation of a professional hockey watcher. "I couldn't think of a better job for myself," says Ellis, who's wearing an NHL-themed Patagonia sweater and a Winter Classic ball cap as he sits in his computer chair, his back to a view of the Toronto waterfront.Pro hockey was the dream when Ellis, who hails from Massachusetts, graduated from Amherst College in 2007. He dressed for five preseason games in the Central Hockey League, hit the waiver wire, and decided to turn the page. "It was pretty disappointing," the 35-year-old admits. " ... But if it meant I wouldn't have this job, I'd choose this every time."A decade later, Ellis holds the title of senior director of hockey operations for the NHL. He's a key member of a group that, among other duties, audits games in real time from the Situation Room, the league's center for quality control.Not to be confused with the Department of Player Safety - the NHL's New York-based disciplinary arm - the Situation Room reviews disputed on-ice events such as goals, offsides, and goalie interference. Ellis and his colleagues are responsible for handling coach's challenges and, in general, maintaining the integrity of the game.On March 15, as the Leafs and Flyers skated before 19,290 fans a short walk away, the NHL granted theScore entry into the Situation Room. Here's what we learned from our trip behind the scenes.__________The Situation Room traces its origins back to an angry phone call from Ken Holland in 2002. The longtime Red Wings general manager rang the league in the middle of a Wings-Flames game to vent about a gaffe by the on-site goal judge in Calgary."You guys have to do something about this! This is wrong!" Holland said, as retold by Mike Murphy, the NHL's senior vice president of hockey operations. "We can't have amateurs and part-time people making calls on those games!"At the next GM meetings, the idea of creating a centralized video room was tabled. That discussion eventually led the NHL to grant select employees final authority on plays that were deemed reviewable. Starting in 2003, all concerns were directed to a dedicated unit of professionals in Toronto, rather than a local part-timer who had the emotionally involved parties - like Holland and his GM peers, along with coaches, players, and fans - breathing down their neck."This room's in a bubble. You're insulated from that type of abuse and that type of problem. At the rink you can get influenced by the pressure of the crowd, the pressure of the general manager," Murphy says with the start of the Leafs-Flyers broadcast in his peripheral vision. "That was the creation of this, and it's just exploded with more technology. TiVo, high-definition TV, fiber optics … "Nick Roy / theScoreOn this particular night, Murphy and VP of hockey ops Rod Pasma man the bridge, an elevated strip inside the Situation Room. Five 90-inch screens are mounted at the head of the room. Above those screens, a ticker displays the operators and on-ice officials assigned to each active game. Monitors on a side wall ensure there's no shortage of visual aids.On either side of the bridge sit the video room operators, part- and full-time NHL employees who inspect games. The operators have instant access to 14 camera angles, some of which are exclusive to the Situation Room, and they're trained to follow what other people aren't watching.Ellis' spot is in the back row, a few seats away from Don Van Massenhoven. The longtime referee is part of a rotation of retired officials added to the group this season to supplement the review process. Their expertise lends a unique perspective and an extra layer of insight.At around 7:35 p.m., with the Leafs and Flyers tied 1-1, the room comes alive.Auston Matthews has batted a puck past Flyers goalie Brian Elliott in the final minute of the first period. On the ice, it's called a goal by head ref Dean Morton."Oh!" Pasma yells. "The net's off," Ellis says calmly, defining the issue. "Is it really?" Murphy asks. "Before it goes in?"Within seconds, Pasma initiates review protocol, sending a signal to the off-ice official stationed between the penalty boxes inside Scotiabank Arena. A red strobe light flashes at ice level and a man picks up the phone. "Hey Luke, it looks like we might have a net off here … "As Pasma, Murphy, and Van Massenhoven watch the sequence from numerous angles, Ellis transfers footage of the play to an iPad that can be viewed by the referees inside the arena. Morton picks up the tablet, puts on a headset, and links up with Pasma for a chat."Whaddaya got, Morty?" Pasma asks."We've got a good goal. Matthews bats the puck … (The Flyers are) talking about the net being off. I don't have the net moving at all until maybe after the play? And it looked like it was in play even when Matthews was batting away at the side of the net.""Yeah. From where you are, Morty, it's hard to see because Elliott's pad's on it, but this net is definitely off the moorings before he shoots it in. OK? So, the net is off. This is no goal, Morty.""So, we've got no goal. It wasn't continuous action and the Flyers did not bat it in?""That's exactly right. We looked at that, too, Morty. He shoots it well after the net's off.""OK, so we've got no goal. The net was off its moorings prior to the puck crossing the line. OK, thank you."Headset off, Morton delivers the verdict to the Toronto crowd. Matthews rolls his eyes. As a chorus of boos drowns out Morton's final words and social media reacts to the decision, the Situation Room launches into Phase 2: educating the hockey world.The league's communications and public relations departments have been involved in the review process to varying degrees since the 2009 playoffs. In the moments following the Matthews decision, Corey Dempsey, an in-game communications employee, has already typed a rough draft laying out the Situation Room's reasoning for overturning the call on the ice.PR colleague Trevor Bjergso consults with Dempsey, who has a Word doc open for Pasma's approval. Making his way over from the bridge, Pasma recites exact wording for one particular part of the draft. The language is important. Dempsey reads the passage back to Bjergso, Pasma, and Murphy. He gets the green light from his superiors. It's ready for public consumption.The explanation is emailed to the PR departments for the Leafs and Flyers, as well as regional and national broadcasting partners. Roughly 10 minutes after Pasma's headset discussion with Morton, the rationale is published on NHL.com and fed through the league's social media channels. "The room's evolved," Pasma says, "into this real-time information generator."Murphy connects via phone with his boss, executive VP of hockey ops Colin Campbell, who is working from his home in the southwestern Ontario farm town of Tillsonburg. In great detail, they discuss a potential issue with the nets in the Leafs' home rink. Toronto was on the wrong side of another goal review earlier in the week, and in both instances, the net seemed to be rather easily dislodged.Pasma joins the conversation and the three higher-ups toss around several theories. Nothing official is being decided, but there's a strong sense of curiosity. They'd like to be proactive. So, what's really going on? Are the pegs used to secure the nets not gripping the ice? Is this actually an issue? If so, how can it be fixed?This back-and-forth is a prime example of the Situation Room's influence on the game of hockey, which extends far beyond a goal review on a Friday night in mid-March. In the moment, the group is beholden to the rule book and errs on the side of caution. There are no knee-jerk reactions. However, the room often serves as a think tank for improving the on-ice product."Snow gets in there and either messes with the integrity of the peg or keeps it from going down. Something. When our ice crews go out, clean the holes out, put the pegs back in," Pasma says to Campbell and Murphy at one point. The pair clearly agreed. On Saturday, the hockey ops department emails a memo to arena crews across the league, encouraging them to pay closer attention to the stability of the nets.Much like the dynamic within the Situation Room itself, the NHL's hockey ops department tries its best to operate democratically over the medium and long terms. The GMs, on the whole, act as the Situation Room's "compass," Pasma says, but the line of communication is always open."A lot of times, if we have a lot of contentious plays, we'll take them to the managers meetings," he continues, emphasizing the collaborative approach of the NHL's major off-ice influencers. "Here's the play, here's our ruling on it, here's why we ruled on it, can you tell us what you guys think?"__________There was a time when the NHL's hockey ops department only ruled on player safety issues, handing down suspensions for biting, spearing, and other egregious acts. Murphy, the 68-year-old former player and coach, laughs when he remembers attempting to review footage on the fly with 12-inch TVs and VHS tapes."If you saw something, you'd have to wait for a commercial break and then hurry back to the right spot (in the tape)," he says, recalling having to FedEx the cassettes to Campbell's home. "And then you'd hurry forward to reset it so you wouldn't miss the game."Nick Roy / theScoreIn 2019, the player safety department and the Situation Room operate completely independently from each other, and the latter's considered innovative in the pro sports landscape. Of course, it helps that the technology has improved immensely, solidifying and streamlining the review process.Next season, player and puck tracking will be rolled out on a full-time basis, adding a new tool to the technological arsenal. Will it dramatically affect the Situation Room? As of now, it's tough to say."There are times where we lose a puck in the goalie's equipment - under a pad - and you think it may be in the net but you can't be 100 percent sure. Or it goes into his glove and you think it's across the goal line. I think tracking may help in that area," Pasma says. He also thinks it could, hypothetically, help in the realm of high-stick goals too.But there are no guarantees with new tech. And for the Situation Room's inhabitants, that's part of the fun. The NHL's rules will forever be tweaked, its production quality always improved, yet the group's collective dedication to "getting it right" simply cannot slip.On this particular Friday night, Ellis hops into his car well after midnight following a second game plus some additional Situation Room duties. With Leafs fans long gone from Scotiabank Arena and the weekend's Irish-themed festivities in full swing, the professional hockey watcher drives some 100 kilometers to his home in Cambridge, Ontario. He'll complete the same commute again and again and again, logging more than 400 games a year.Not a bad gig for a guy who couldn't crack the Central Hockey League."At times, like in February and March, it can really feel like it's dragging. But you just need one game where something big happens and you snap out of it," Ellis says. "You walk away at the end of the night and remember how lucky you are to get to do this."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.

Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on the championship round of the fantasy hockey playoffs. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Scoop up Philipp GrubauerTeam: Avalanche

This is the 13th and penultimate edition of theScore's 2018-19 NHL Power Rankings, which are published every two weeks during the regular season.1. Tampa Bay Lightning (55-13-4)The Lightning have won six of their last seven games and potted at least five goals in five of those contests. Nikita Kucherov also added to his historic campaign by picking up his eighth four-point night of the season in a comeback victory over the Red Wings. The Bolts just need two more points to clinch the Presidents' Trophy.Previously: 1st2. San Jose Sharks (43-21-8) ▲The Sharks began March with six consecutive wins before losing two straight on home ice. Goaltender Martin Jones has posted his best month of the season with a .917 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against average, while the offense continues to hum with 35 goals over the past 10 games.Previously: 5th3. Calgary Flames (44-21-7) The Flames responded to their recent four-game slide with a three-game winning streak that saw them explode for 20 goals. Johnny Gaudreau's incredible six-point effort (3G, 3A) against the Devils stands as the best statistical game by any player this season.Previously: 3rd4. Washington Capitals (42-23-7) ▲The defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals are playing their best hockey at the right time with eight wins in their last 10 games. Alex Ovechkin is just two goals shy of hitting 50 for the eighth time in his career, which would move him one shy of tying Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy for the all-time record of nine.Previously: 6th5. Boston Bruins (43-20-9) ▼The Bruins predictably fell back down to earth after snapping their 19-game point streak, losing three straight. Overall, roster depth has played a pivotal role in Boston staying afloat while five key players are out with injuries, and sniper David Pastrnak's return to practice Saturday is a nightmare for the rest of the league.Previously: 2nd6. Toronto Maple Leafs (43-24-5) ▼The Maple Leafs have seen their defensive depth exposed following injuries to Jake Gardiner and Travis Dermott, and the team's tendency to float through first periods has resulted in chasing games. Toronto's allowed 23 goals over its last four contests, with three of those duds coming against teams currently outside the playoff picture.Previously: 4th 7. Vegas Golden Knights (40-27-5) ▲The addition of Mark Stone has taken an already dangerous Golden Knights team to the next level. Vegas has posted an 8-1 record since the trade deadline and has allowed just 13 goals over its last seven contests. Marc-Andre Fleury's been sensational in the month of March, going 5-0-0 with a .975 save percentage.Previously: 11th8. Carolina Hurricanes (39-25-7)Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettyThe Hurricanes keep inching closer to ending the NHL's longest playoff drought. They're 7-2-1 in their last ten contests, haven't lost consecutive games in regulation since Jan. 18, and hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.Previously: 8th9. Pittsburgh Penguins (39-24-10) ▲With spring fast approaching, it's officially Sidney Crosby season. The longtime Penguins captain is on a tear with eight goals and 19 points over his last 12 games. However, Pittsburgh endured a rough weekend, getting run over by the Blues on Saturday, blowing a lead and falling to the Flyers in overtime Sunday, and then losing Evgeni Malkin to a week-to-week injury.Previously: 10th10. Winnipeg Jets (42-25-4) ▼After going 5-3 during a tough eight-game stretch against current playoff teams, the Jets are battle-tested ahead of the postseason. Blake Wheeler continues to lead by example with seven goals over his last seven games, while Patrik Laine is showing signs of life at the right time.Previously: 9th11. New York Islanders (42-23-7) ▼The Islanders have struggled to find the net lately, mustering two goals or fewer in seven of their last 11 contests. Robin Lehner's potential return to the crease this week is a promising development, although Thomas Greiss has done an excellent job in his absence. New York's final 10 games won't be easy, with six coming on the road and eight against potential playoff teams.Previously: 7th12. Arizona Coyotes (36-30-6) ▲Norm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyThe Coyotes have seven wins in their last ten games, and it's been a complete team effort by Rick Tocchet's squad. No player on the roster's even hit the 20-goal mark this season, and only Clayton Keller has broken 40 points.Previously: 17th13. Nashville Predators (41-27-5) ▼The Predators have traded wins and losses since the All-Star break, failing to put together a winning streak longer than two games. But with five of their next six contests coming against current playoff teams, the Preds have an excellent chance to up their game and build some momentum for the postseason.Previously: 12th14. Dallas Stars (37-29-6) ▲The Stars have won five of their last eight contests, largely thanks to Ben Bishop's outstanding work between the pipes. Before departing with an injury last week against the Wild, Bishop had pushed his ongoing shutout streak to a franchise-record 230 minutes, 53 seconds.Previously: 19th 15. Columbus Blue Jackets (40-28-4) ▲Matt Duchene's scored two goals in his last three games for the Blue Jackets, who've earned points in four of their past five. Columbus also has the inside track for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot, but seven of the club's final 10 games will be on the road.Previously: 18th16. St. Louis Blues (37-27-8) ▼The Blues have dropped four of five contests, including matchups against the Senators, Sabres, and Coyotes. Those defeats could come back to haunt them as they try to maintain their grip on a postseason position.Previously: 13th17. Philadelphia Flyers (35-29-8) ▼The Flyers remain alive in the playoff race, and getting rookie goaltender Carter Hart back from injury should help, but it will still be a tall task to punch a postseason ticket. Philadelphia sits six points out with just 10 games left.18. Montreal Canadiens (37-28-7) ▼Things are not going well in Montreal right now. Andrew Shaw called out teammates on Thursday night, and the Canadiens have now dropped four of their last five.Previously: 15th19. Florida Panthers (32-28-12) ▲Eliot J. Schechter / National Hockey League / GettyThe Panthers saw their four-game winning streak snapped Sunday, but rookie goalie Sam Montembeault has shown something in his first six NHL appearances. Another hot streak would help Florida's playoff chances, but this team might be running out of time.Previously: 21st20. Minnesota Wild (34-30-9) ▼Minnesota's still hanging around in the Western Conference wild-card race, but with the Coyotes and Blackhawks coming on strong, and the Avalanche not going away, the pressure's squarely on the Wild to keep up. Losing four of their past five games didn't help.Previously: 14th21. Chicago Blackhawks (32-30-9) ▲Corey Crawford's stellar play has helped Chicago reel off five straight wins, and the veteran goaltender has allowed only three goals combined over his last four appearances. Here come the Hawks, indeed.Previously: 23rd22. Edmonton Oilers (32-33-7) ▲Connor McDavid's heroics lifted the Oilers to a big win over the Coyotes on Saturday night, but Edmonton couldn't keep up with the Golden Knights on Sunday. The Oilers' season isn't over, but they'll need quite a run over the final 10 games to have any shot at the postseason.Previously: 24th23. Colorado Avalanche (31-29-12) ▼Head coach Jared Bednar publicly roasted his Avalanche after a crushing loss to the lowly Ducks on Friday, and they responded with a much-needed victory over the Devils on Sunday. However, Colorado still has work to do.Previously: 20th24. Buffalo Sabres (31-32-9) ▼The Sabres snapped a seven-game losing streak with a shootout win Sunday, but they failed to score a single goal in three consecutive contests during the skid and have been in a downward spiral for months.Previously: 22nd25. Vancouver Canucks (30-32-10) ▲Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyElias Pettersson and Jacob Markstrom have provided Canucks fans with some optimism of late, but it's of the long-term variety. Vancouver remains near the basement of the Western Conference and would need to leapfrog several teams to make the playoffs.Previously: 26th26. Anaheim Ducks (30-35-9) ▲The Ducks are on a 6-3-0 run and have gone 9-9-0 since general manager Bob Murray fired head coach Randy Carlyle and took over behind the bench. Anaheim probably isn't playoff bound, but there have been positive signs down the stretch.Previously: 30th27. New York Rangers (28-31-13) ▼Pavel Buchnevich has shown promise with five goals in his last eight games, while four of them have come at even strength. Beyond that, though, the Rangers have just one win in their last 10 contests and are essentially playing out the string.Previously: 25th28. New Jersey Devils (27-37-9) ▼With the Devils sitting in the basement of the Metropolitan Division and near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, it's somewhat surprising that they haven't ruled out a return for Taylor Hall before season's end. On the other hand, fans in New Jersey could use a reason to tune in.Previously: 27th29. Los Angeles Kings (25-38-8) ▼The Kings entered Sunday's action with the worst goal differential in the NHL, and they've won only two of their last 10 games. There's not much hockey to be excited about in Southern California these days.Previously: 28th30. Ottawa Senators (25-41-6) ▲ Sometimes, a squad without anything on the line plays looser than a contender, and that was evident in Ottawa's win over Toronto on Saturday. However, the victory was only a small consolation for the NHL's worst team.Previously: 31st31. Detroit Red Wings (25-37-10) ▼Red Wings fans don't have much incentive to watch their team's final 10 games, especially now that top prospect Filip Zadina has been sent back to Grand Rapids. At least they can look forward to the draft lottery.Previously: 29thCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evgeni Malkin is considered week-to-week with an upper-body ailment, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters on Sunday.The superstar forward missed his team's 2-1 overtime loss Sunday to the Philadelphia Flyers.Malkin has recorded 50 assists and 71 points in 66 games this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames were idle on Sunday, but that didn't stop the team from earning a spot in the postseason.When the New York Islanders beat the Minnesota Wild, Calgary clinched a playoff berth.The Flames became the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff spot.Calgary boasts the second-best record in the NHL at 44-21-7, and the Flames have posted 95 points through 72 games.The league-best Tampa Bay Lightning became the first team to clinch on March 9.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins received some words of encouragement from Conor McGregor prior to the UFC star dropping the ceremonial puck at TD Garden on Saturday night.The Bruins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 in overtime on a goal by Brad Marchand, who celebrated by breaking out McGregor's famous strut."He's an incredible guy, very energetic," Marchand said of McGregor, according to Ken Powtak of the Associated Press. "He was humble. He was happy to be here. He's expressed that to everyone. It was an honor to meet him. It was great to have him here. It's something we'll remember."

Peter DeBoer reportedly doesn't need to worry about being in the final year of his contract as head coach of the San Jose Sharks."It's imminent that he'll sign a multi-year agreement with the San Jose Sharks, so he's not going anywhere," Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos said on "Saturday Headlines."DeBoer is in his fourth campaign as the Sharks' bench boss, and he's on pace for his best regular-season finish with the team. San Jose entered Saturday's action sitting second in the Western Conference with a 43-20-8 record.DeBoer guided the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 after stints with the New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers. He also led the Devils to the final in 2012.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

American forwards Jack Hughes and Cole Caufield are projected to be first-round selections in the 2019 NHL Draft, and on Friday night, each set a record on the same goal when the USA Hockey National Team Development Program defeated Green Bay.Hughes picked up his fifth assist of the night on Caufield's sixth goal of the game, placing him atop the program's points list, while Caufield moved into first place for goals.Here's a look at the record-setting tally:

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was exasperated by his team's lack of intensity after dropping a critical home game to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.The Avalanche carried a 2-0 lead into the first intermission, but a three-goal second period sparked the comeback victory for a Ducks team playing their third game in four nights.“We were checking with our eyes,” Bednar told reporters after the game, including the Denver Post's Mike Chambers. “We got to check with our legs. We’re supposed to be the rested team. We didn’t win enough races. We didn’t check the puck back enough. We build a lead and it looked like we got comfortable with it and just stopped working."Colorado has now dropped five of its last seven contests and sits five points back of the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference. Bednar pointed to the team's lack of urgency and inability to learn from past mistakes as a reason for their late-season struggles.“As a team, you can’t continually learn the same lesson," Bednar said. "It just seems like we’re learning the same lesson, over and over on our losses. I know our guys care but we didn’t play an inspired game today, like we really needed it - like it was mandatory that we won. The urgency, for me, wasn’t there.”With 11 crucial games left on the schedule, the Avalanche continue their playoff push Sunday when they host the New Jersey Devils.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another night, another net off its moorings at Scotiabank Arena.Auston Matthews' goal was waved off late in the first period on Friday night when the Philadelphia Flyers' net became dislodged before the puck crossed the line.It was the second time in as many games that a wayward net has victimized the Toronto Maple Leafs.Chicago Blackhawks netminder Collin Delia pushed his net off Wednesday night when the Leafs were pressing for the tying goal in the final minute of a 5-4 Blackhawks victory. That prompted Leafs star John Tavares to call for a challenge to be implemented if a defending team intentionally shoves its net off.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane says he's received countless well wishes after revealing the death of his unborn daughter, Eva, on Thursday."It’s actually been pretty surprising, to be honest. The amount of support and where it’s come from," Kane told The Mercury News' Paul Gackle.“It’s been really nice," he added. "It’s definitely been helpful. Lots of different players around the league and management have reached out that I don’t even know. It really makes you appreciate how special the hockey community is. It was pretty humbling to have so many people reach out.”Kane received an outpouring of support from the hockey world and beyond after announcing the tragedy on Twitter, including condolences from Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin.Kane's teammate Erik Karlsson and his wife Melinda had a stillborn son in March 2018. Sharks head coach Peter DeBoer and his wife, Susan, lost a child a week before birth in 2002, according to Gackle.Eva died at 26 weeks.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin has produced a ton of highlights over the course of his career, but the 27-year-old found himself on the blooper reel Thursday night.With the Stars holding a 3-1 lead over the Minnesota Wild late in the third period, Seguin looked poised to snap his six-game goalless drought when he skated into the offensive zone with the net empty.Let's just say the drought is now at seven games.

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 theScore colleagues Hannah Stuart and Nick Faris to discuss the 2019 NHL Draft, as well as the AHL Senators. Topics include:

After the Montreal Canadiens dropped their third game in the last four against the New York Islanders Thursday, forward Andrew Shaw didn't mince words about the attitude of his teammates as the club pushes toward a playoff spot."We need to be a team playing hard. Everyone. All lines, all D, goalie; everyone has to be playing their best every night. Lines are taking nights off, players are taking nights off. They don't have that fight," Shaw said, per Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Montreal entered Thursday's game outside the Eastern Conference's playoff picture with 81 points. The Habs had a chance to leap the Blue Jackets into the second wild-card spot, but now Columbus owns a game in hand with a chance to create a two-point lead Friday versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Although Shaw is far from the biggest name on the Canadiens' roster, he was a member of two Stanley Cup-winning squads during his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks.Montreal has 11 games remaining on its schedule this season.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kaapo Kakko is carving out quite a legacy for himself in his homeland.One of the top draft-eligible prospects in 2019, Kakko scored his 22nd goal of the season on Thursday, setting a new Liiga record for markers in a season by a player age 18 or younger.Kakko passed some esteemed company along the way, according to Elite Prospects.PlayerSeasonGPGoalsKaapo Kakko2018-194522Aleksander Barkov2012-135321Joel Armia2010-114818Patrik Laine2015-164617Artturi Lehkonen2012-134514Juga Jyrkkio1976-773414Mikael Granlund2009-104313Jari Torkki1982-833413Jesse Puljujarvi2015-165013Here's a look at the record-setting tally:

San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane and his wife lost their unborn daughter, Eva, at 26 weeks.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists to lead the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-3 win over Boston on Thursday night, handing the Bruins their third straight loss.Blake Wheeler added a goal and an assist, and Jacob Trouba and Nikolaj Ehlers also scored for the Jets, who snapped a two-game skid and improved to 5-5 in their last 10 games. Patrik Laine had two assists and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 36 shots as Winnipeg moved three points ahead of Nashville atop the Central Division.Charlie McAvoy, Joakim Nordstrom and Charlie Coyle scored for Boston and David Krejci had two assists. Tuukka Rask finished with 20 saves.Ehlers scored the eventual game-winner with just under 7 minutes left after Trouba put the Jets ahead 3-2 earlier in the third period.Coyle got Boston within one with 2:56 remaining, but the Bruins couldn't tie it up with an extra attacker.Winnipeg's top line of Laine, Scheifele and Wheeler did the early damage, giving the home team a 2-0 lead in the opening period that turned into a 2-2 contest midway through the second.Wheeler scored his 20th of the season 1:08 into the game off a rebound after Laine's one-timer hit the crossbar.Laine found Scheifele rushing to the net on the power play and sent him a pass for his career-high, team-leading 33rd with 8:36 left in the opening period. Scheifele had been held off the scoresheet the previous four games.McAvoy's high shot with 2:37 remaining in the period cut the lead to 2-1 and Nordstrom tied it up midway through the second when he banged in a rebound behind a sprawled Hellebuyck.The Jets had a chance to go ahead with their second power play of the game a few minutes later, but Laine twice hit a post.NOTES: The Bruins were without injured D Torey Krug (upper body). ... Boston outshot Winnipeg 30-19 after two periods, and 39-24 for the game.UP NEXTBruins: host Columbus n Saturday.Jets: Host Calgary on Saturday to finish a three-game homestand.---More AP NHL: www.apnews.com/NHL and www.twitter.com/AP-SportsCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ben Bishop's big night ended prematurely.The Dallas Stars goaltender was forced to leave Thursday's contest against the Minnesota Wild in the second period with what the Stars called a lower-body injury. He did not return.After the game, Stars head coach Jim Montgomery said Bishop is day-to-day and the club will know more Friday, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro.Before departing, the veteran netminder set a franchise record with his ongoing shutout streak, which now stands at 230 minutes, 53 seconds. He passed Ed Belfour, who established the previous team-best mark of 219:26 in 2000.Bishop stopped all seven shots he faced Thursday night. He hasn't allowed a goal since March 2 against the St. Louis Blues, posting shutouts in each of his previous three games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators prized prospect Erik Brannstrom was recalled from the AHL and made his NHL debut Thursday versus the St. Louis Blues.Brannstrom was the crown jewel return in the deal that sent Mark Stone to the Vegas Golden Knights last month and is largely considered one of the top prospects in hockey.The 19-year-old was drafted 15th overall by the Golden Knights in 2017. He stayed in Sweden for a season before coming to North America to play in the AHL, where he notched 29 points in 46 contests split between the Chicago Wolves and Belleville Senators.Brannstrom also captained Sweden at this year's world juniors, where he registered four goals in five games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carter Hart is on the mend.The Philadelphia Flyers' goaltending phenom will start Thursday night's game against the Washington Capitals, his club confirmed.Hart, who last played Feb. 21, missed eight games with an ankle injury. He served as Brian Elliott's backup in a win over the Ottawa Senators on Monday.The 20-year-old rookie has a .917 save percentage and 13 wins in 22 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for elbowing Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson during Wednesday's contest, NHL Player Safety announced Thursday.The 27-year-old Kreider was also given a five-minute major and a game misconduct following the play.Here's a look at the incident:

Former NHLer Kristian Huselius considers himself fortunate after surviving an unexpected fireplace accident at his home in Sweden.Huselius went to pour fuel on his fireplace when it suddenly exploded, causing burns to his face and upper body. He was sent to the intensive care unit for several days before returning home Wednesday."I'm really lucky because my whole apartment could have been a big fire," Huselius told Sportsnet's Eric Francis. "The doctor told me I was lucky to be alive. My face is kind of a mess right now. I have a lot of pain - that's a problem too. But they think my face is going to be fine. My shoulder is not as good. I might have to have surgery to get some new skin but I will wait a few weeks to see how much the damage is."I'm fortunate. I will have scars, but it could have been worse."Huselius was drafted 47th overall by the Florida Panthers in 1997. He also had stints with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets over the span of his 10-year career. In 662 NHL games, he notched 451 points.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders goaltender Robin Lehner doesn't think there is enough being done to protect goalies from opposing players and is ready to take matters into his own hands if they continue to barrel through his territory.“This is a problem around the league that a lot of goalies get run into like that,” Lehner told reporters, including Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post. “Cannot complain about it, but maybe all the goalies should start protecting ourselves with our blockers and our sticks, and they shouldn’t call anything about that if we do it.”The 27-year-old netminder was run over by Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk during the Islanders' 5-4 victory March 5. He left the contest with an upper-body injury and has not played since.Lehner practiced with the team for the first time Wednesday and had some choice words for the Senators' young talent.“Got to be honest, everyone always does it on purpose, which is fine. It’s part of hockey,” Lehner said. “But there are a few guys in the league who always do it intentionally on goalies. They’re just brought up and taught that way. It doesn’t matter if (Nelson) pushed on him or not, he’s coming into me, that’s just part of his game. I’m just happy I’m not out longer."To add insult to injury, the Senators scored a goal on the play, prompting the Swede to voice his opinion on another issue he feels the league still has yet to solve.“I think it’s a joke," Lehner said. “You look around at all the different hits and all the different stuff, it’s so inconsistent. Goalie interference and stuff like that, I’ve seen goals where players are holding goalies’ pads and sitting on them and it’s still a goal. So I don’t think they really know what they’re doing.”Lehner has made his bid for the Vezina Trophy this season. Among netminders with a minimum of 30 games played, he ranks third with a .927 save percentage and second with a 2.19 goals-against average heading into Thursday's action.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid said his Edmonton Oilers didn't take the New Jersey Devils seriously enough on Wednesday night."We took them lightly and took the game for granted," McDavid told reporters following a 6-3 defeat. "When one doesn't go well, you've got to shake it off and keep going."Oilers head coach Ken Hitchcock echoed his captain's sentiment.

Chris Kreider might receive a phone call from the NHL's head office on Thursday morning.The New York Rangers forward was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for elbowing Vancouver Canucks phenom Elias Pettersson in the head on Wednesday night.Here's a look at the play:

Vancouver Canucks forward Loui Eriksson was a healthy scratch for the first time this season, sitting out Wednesday against the New York Rangers."I want to put (Markus Granlund) back in, and it’s not like I’m sitting here saying that Loui's played terrible," head coach Travis Green said before the game, according to Sportsnet's Brendan Batchelor. "But has he done enough where I can't take him out of the lineup?"Eriksson has recorded just 10 goals and 12 assists over 69 games this season. He's been widely viewed as a disappointment after signing a six-year, $36-million contract on July 1, 2016. His $6-million cap hit is $500,000 more than Bo Horvat, the team's second-highest paid player.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares isn't pleased with what Collin Delia was allowed to do Wednesday night.The Toronto Maple Leafs superstar called for a rule change after the Chicago Blackhawks goaltender pushed the net off its moorings with about 25 seconds left in a 5-4 Blackhawks win."I didn’t see what happened there with the net coming off and whatnot but ... if that’s on purpose by them, especially in the last couple minutes in big situations I would love to see that being a challenge at some point," Tavares told reporters postgame."You got that kind of pressure, that’s kind of a free out if that’s what happened," he added. "I didn’t really see it. We did everything but tie it up. We had our chances, pucks were just bouncing around the net, around the crease. We just couldn’t find the tie."The Leafs trailed 4-0 after 20 minutes and 5-1 through two periods before scoring three times and registering 29 shots on goal in the third frame.Tavares established a new career high with his 39th goal this season, bringing Toronto within one with about 90 seconds remaining.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The top of the draft order will be determined one night before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.The NHL's draft lottery will be held April 9 in Toronto, the league announced Wednesday.It will be televised on Sportsnet, NBCSN, and TVA Sports during a one-hour show beginning at 8 p.m. ET.Each non-playoff team's chances to claim the first overall selection will be determined, in reverse order, by which club has the fewest points. The odds for each ranking are listed below:TeamPercent Chance118.5213.5311.549.558.567.576.58695103.5113122.5132141.5151Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Andre Fleury has checked off quite a few boxes during his career, but one accomplishment remains elusive.“I really want to score,” the Vegas Golden Knights goaltender told The Athletic's Jesse Granger on Wednesday. “I just want to be able to celebrate and see how it feels for once.”Fleury is best known for stopping the puck, but he occasionally plays as a forward during informal practice sessions.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has decided to uphold Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakub Voracek's two-game suspension for interference, he announced Wednesday.Voracek was disciplined for his hit on New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot is out week to week with a broken toe, head coach Marc Crawford told Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.Crawford added that he isn't sure if the youngster will be available to play again for Ottawa this season, but that he should be ready if Team Canada wants him at the World Championship in May.The 22-year-old Chabot has been a rare bright spot for the Senators this season and leads the team with 49 points now that Mark Stone and Matt Duchene have been traded.Ottawa's won just one of its last 10 games, and sit last in the NHL with 52 points and 12 games remaining.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed college free-agent defenseman Joseph Duszak of Mercyhurst University to a two-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday.The 21-year-old led all NCAA defensemen and ranked third among skaters with 47 points in 37 games this season.Duszak, a right-handed shot, adds depth to Toronto's farm system and is expected to join the AHL's Marlies on a tryout basis later this week.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TORONTO - Early on the morning of Feb. 22, a few hours before the Ottawa Senators traded point-per-game center Matt Duchene to Columbus, the team recalled rookie forwards Drake Batherson and Logan Brown from its AHL affiliate in Belleville, Ontario.The moves, minor as they were in the larger scheme, made sense: The Senators needed fresh legs in anticipation of trading their top three scorers. Within hours, Duchene was told to take his gear across the Canadian Tire Centre hallway to the visiting Blue Jackets' room. Then Ryan Dzingel and Mark Stone were scratched that night before a 3-0 Columbus victory.Batherson and Brown were in the NHL for three days, drawing sparse minutes as Ottawa lost two games. Then the front office sent them back to Belleville, a bastion of positivity in an organization that's seen better days.“Whatever is going on up there, that’s up there,” Brown says. “We’re down here, and right now we’re just trying to focus on getting into the playoffs and going on a run.”Stephane Dube / Getty Images Sport / GettyLess than two seasons since they came within a goal of playing for the Stanley Cup, the Senators have become one of the NHL's most downtrodden franchises.They're last in the league by a comfortable margin, and the Sens don't have their first-round selection in the upcoming draft, part of the cost to acquire Duchene in November 2017. The team has shown a recurring flair for the tragicomic ever since - including prior to an outdoor game on Parliament Hill when owner Eugene Melnyk said he’d consider relocating his team if flagging attendance didn’t improve.Much happened in Sensland between that ultimatum and the recent collapse of Melnyk’s bid to build a new arena on federal land downtown. Billboards with the "MelnykOut" hashtag were installed around the city. The owner sat down for an infamous interview with defenseman Mark Borowiecki. Duchene and some teammates were filmed deprecating one of their coaches in an Uber in Arizona. The hits kept coming.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Kasperi Kapanen is out with a concussion, the team announced Wednesday.Kapanen was held out of Monday's game versus the Tampa Bay Lightning for precautionary reasons, and there's no timeline for his return as of yet.The Maple Leafs have been hit hard with injuries lately, as defensemen Jake Gardiner and Travis Dermott are currently sidelined, while center Nazem Kadri recently missed eight games due to a concussion of his own.Kapanen has been an important contributor for Toronto this season and was skating alongside Auston Matthews before the injury. The 22-year-old is in his first full NHL campaign and has recorded 19 goals and 23 assists.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Jose Sharks veteran Joe Thornton registered two assists Tuesday, and as a result, moved past the legendary Stan Mikita for 14th on the NHL's all-time scoring list with 1,469 points.After the accomplishment, Thornton seemed to be in disbelief."I don't deserve to be up there with these types of guys," Thornton said, per Sportsnet's Mark Spector. "You mention those names, it's mind-boggling. I shouldn't be up there."Thornton's 1,058 career helpers rank ninth all time, and everyone in front of him on the scoring list is already in the Hockey Hall of Fame - save for Jaromir Jagr.At 39 years old, Thornton's recorded 42 points in 61 games this season and needs 62 more over the remainder of his career to catch Paul Coffey for 13th.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin reached the 1,000-point mark on Tuesday night, and he couldn't be more thrilled about it."It's 1,000 points. A crazy number," Malkin said postgame. "I played in a small city. I never believed that I would play in the NHL and score 1,000 points."It's an amazing night for me. One of the best nights of my life. It's a special day for my family, my friends. I played hockey all my life. It's amazing to be here and win against Washington. It's a special day."Malkin's two assists helped the propel the Penguins to a 5-3 victory over the rival Washington Capitals. Fittingly, the milestone-reaching point came on linemate Phil Kessel's third-period goal."(Kessel) wanted that," Malkin said with a huge grin. "We talked before. He said, 'I hope I score your 1,000th point.' He's unbelievable. It's special for him, too. We've played a long time together. It's a huge goal for him and a huge point for me."Despite going just one game without a point entering Tuesday, Malkin was feeling the pressure of reaching the mark."The last few weeks I was a little bit nervous," he said. "It was (coming slowly). Finally, it's 1,000 and I can breathe normally."Head coach Mike Sullivan noticed the tension as well."He’s been anxious to reach the milestone, so when he was finally able to get it everybody was excited and thrilled for him," Sullivan said, according to NBC's Adam Gretz. "You could see the raw emotion from the players on the ice and on the bench. It’s cool to be a part of that."Malkin became the 88th player ever - just the fifth Russian - to reach 1,000 points, all before his 33rd birthday. Not bad for someone who wasn't considered one of the 100 greatest players of all time.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) Johnny Gaudreau became the first player in more than five years to record six points in a game, and the Calgary Flames scored six times in the third period to scorch the New Jersey Devils 9-4 on Tuesday night.Gaudreau had a hat trick, including the go-ahead goal on a penalty shot in the third period, and added three assists for the Flames, who became the only team to score nine goals in a game twice this season.Gaudreau's six-point game is the first in the NHL since Dallas' Jamie Benn on Nov. 14, 2013, at Calgary. He's the first Flames player to accomplish the feat since Al MacInnis on March 20, 1994.Derek Ryan scored 41 seconds into the third to tie it 4-4, and then Gaudreau was hooked from behind on a breakaway by Damon Severson, resulting in a penalty shot.Gaudreau made no mistake, slowly winding his way in before ripping a shot past Mackenzie Blackwood.Gaudreau capped off his big night at 12:01, converting a setup from Sean Monahan, and sending hundreds of hats pouring onto the ice.Ryan finished with two goals. Sam Bennett, Elias Lindholm, Matthew Tkachuk and Monahan also scored for Calgary. Lindholm and Monahan both had four-point nights.The Flames remained one point back of the Pacific Division and Western Conference-leading San Jose Sharks, who won 5-4 in Winnipeg.Blake Coleman, Travis Zajac, Kyle Palmieri and Kenny Agostino scored for New Jersey, which is winless in its last seven (0-6-1).Making it three goals in less than two minutes, Calgary went ahead 6-4 at 2:37 when Ryan was set up by Gaudreau on a 2-on-1. Holding onto the puck patiently, Gaudreau froze Blackwood before sending the puck across to Ryan, who had a wide-open net.Gaudreau, who entered the night with just one goal in his previous 19 games, surpassed both of his previous highs of 30 goals and 84 points in a season. He's now up to 33 goals and 90 points.After falling behind 1-0 five minutes into the game, Coleman's breakaway goal was the first of three straight goals for the Devils.After coughing up a 3-1 lead earlier in the second, New Jersey regained the lead at 17:49 of the second on Zajac's short-handed goal.David Rittich had 22 stops for Calgary.Blackwood made 30 saves, falling to 6-8-0.Down 3-1, Calgary battled back to tie it on goals three minutes apart from Bennett and Lindholm.At 7:17, defenseman Mark Giordano won a puck battle and centered a perfect pass that Bennett one-timed past Blackwood.On another setup for Monahan, Lindholm jammed in his own rebound to make it 3-3.Calgary struck first when its slumping top line connected. Sent in alone on a pass by Monahan, Gaudreau made a slick move and tucked the puck through Blackwood's pads.NOTES: Michael Stone (blood clot) rejoined the Flames after a conditioning stint in the American Hockey League. His last NHL game was Nov. 11. Along with Oliver Kylington and Dalton Prout, that makes three extra, healthy defensemen.UP NEXTDevils: At Edmonton on Wednesday night.Flames: Host the New York Rangers on Friday night.---More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-SportsCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carey Price has solidified himself in Canadiens lore.The Habs netminder picked up victory No. 315 on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings, passing the legendary Jacques Plante for first place on Montreal's all-time wins list.GoalieWGPCarey Price315613Jacques Plante314556Patrick Roy289551Ken Dryden258397Bill Durnan208383The four other goalies on this list have all been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame.With seven years left on his contract after this season, there's plenty of time for Price to extend his lead.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos and Toronto Maple Leafs star John Tavares chimed in on Monday regarding one of the hottest topics among NHL fans and media - the league's playoff format.When asked about the structure, Stamkos used the Lightning's Atlantic Division rivals as a prime example of the division-based format hurting some of the league's top teams."I don’t think it’s an advantage to Toronto or Boston (who will likely meet in the first round),'' Stamkos said, according to the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran. ''What could be the top three teams in the whole league from one division, and have to play that team in the first round - I don’t think that’s right.”The format doesn't bode well for Tampa Bay, either, as the team will face the winner of the probable Toronto-Boston series if it advances to the second round. Last season, the Lightning finished atop the Eastern Conference with 113 points and were forced to meet the second-place Bruins in the second round."I understand where (the league) is coming from, (from) a marketing perspective, wanting to get some rivalries early on," Stamkos added, "(but) from a (team) perspective of what you’re grinding 82 games for during a season is to finish as high as you can so you can have an advantage come playoffs."Stamkos' good friend and Canadian World Cup of Hockey teammate in Tavares took his usual diplomatic approach on the issue but did point out that the format impacts one advantage that teams work hard to acquire.“Mostly, it affects home ice," Tavares said of potentially starting on the road despite finishing third in the conference. "It’s odd. It’s unusual. At the same time, if you want to get to the ultimate prize, you’ve got to beat some really good teams - the best teams in the league, the best players in the world. Whether that comes early or later on, you’ve got to find a way to do it.”The Maple Leafs opened last year's postseason on the road in Boston despite finishing tied with the third-best point total in the Eastern Conference.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TORONTO - When Nikita Kucherov inevitably accepts the Hart Trophy this summer at the NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas, nobody will remember point No. 111.That point didn’t break a record or signal a milestone. Heck, it's not even a nice, round number. The secondary assist, recorded in the first period Monday night at Scotiabank Arena, will be a mere footnote in the Lightning's late-season rout over the Maple Leafs.Yet that's precisely the beauty of point No. 111. Kucherov, who's run roughshod over the world's best for five months straight, did what he does nearly every night. He found his way onto the scoresheet in a distinctly Kucherovian manner.Screen shot (Courtesy: NHL)After pouncing on a loose puck after an Auston Matthews turnover deep in Toronto's zone, Kucherov commanded the building's attention, roping in three lunging defenders before deftly dishing to Ryan McDonagh, who hit Tyler Johnson's stick for a tip-in at the net."That’s his whole game," Johnson told theScore prior to the 6-2 victory, reflecting on his linemate's gravitational pull and unpredictability. "He's deceptive in everything he does.""He has the ability to beat you in different ways," Leafs center John Tavares added of Kucherov. "He's such a good shooter but also such a tremendous passer. He's so good at finding the late man, being able to slow things down even though he's a guy that can play at a high pace."It can't be forgotten that the Lightning, now 18 points clear of the rest of the league with a 53-13-4 record, can beat you in many different ways. They're elite at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, ranking first among all NHL teams in each situation. Flush with star power, versatile mid-level talent, and capable role players, Tampa Bay is intimidatingly stacked and well-coached by Jon Cooper, earning the label of Stanley Cup favorite from fans, media, and those within the NHL's inner circle.Atop the team's pile of talent is Kucherov, who's on pace for a gaudy 130 points with 33 goals and 78 assists through 70 games. Even though league-wide scoring rates keep rising year over year, those are still absurd numbers in 2019. When adjusting for era, Kucherov’s already produced the equivalent of 121 points, according to Hockey-Reference.Getty ImagesHe's a virtual lock for MVP, because, much like Tampa on the team level, it's as if Kucherov's playing a different sport than his peers. He's putting up video-game numbers and doing so in style for the best team. Clearly, Kucherov is benefiting from his environment - especially playing alongside star center Brayden Point and the ever-effective Johnson - but the cold, hard facts should wash away any skepticism of his Hart candidacy.Consider these notes following Monday's games: Kucherov has a 13-point lead on Patrick Kane for the scoring title, owns a 28-point cushion on Point for the team lead, has racked up almost as many multi-point games (17) as pointless ones (18), and sports underlying numbers that show teammates routinely see their performances dip when they take the ice without him. As a bonus, the play-driving winger is a tremendous bargain at a salary cap hit of $4.8 million.Truthfully, the other Hart considerations - Kane in Chicago, Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh, Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary, Alex Ovechkin in Washington, and, if you choose to ignore the no-playoffs asterisk, Connor McDavid in Edmonton - all seem like afterthoughts at this point.The Hart is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, but Kucherov's sensational season isn't lost on his rivals. Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock believes Kucherov is the "most dangerous guy in hockey right now." (Remember: best-on-planet McDavid and Crosby are also enjoying excellent seasons). Even Cooper, a mild-mannered, process-oriented bench boss, finds himself marveling at Kucherov, admitting he sometimes watches the stealthy Russian winger like a fan.The tantalizing skill set and the eyebrow-raising production make it very hard to avoid the Kucherov buzz. Not a single NHLer has surpassed the 125-point threshold since the salary cap arrived in 2005, and the Lightning have 12 games left. The next tier is reserved for Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, the last players to surpass 130 points (161 and 149, respectively, back in 1995-96).The points have come in bunches, both on the power play and at five-on-five. Kucherov's picked up 43 of them on Tampa Bay's potent PP, occupying the right flank on the first unit. And at even strength, he and his teammates rank highly in shot generation, scoring chances, and point production:CategoryKucherovNHL RankPoints per 60 minutes4.14thScoring chances per 6032.617thShot attempts per 6066.627th*Minimum 700 minutes at five-on-fiveKucherov, who logs an average of 19:41 per night, can be deceiving when he shifts his 5-foot-11, 178-pound frame around the rink, changing speeds and body positioning to confuse opposing skaters. The 25-year-old seems to always be hiding in plain sight, using his edgework to weave east-west and his quick first steps to bolt north-south.But while Kucherov processes the game at such a high rate, his teammates don't find him difficult to play with."He's deceptive but he’s easy to read off, if that makes sense?" Point said. "He goes to the right spaces, he makes the right play almost every time. So, being on his line, you just try to get to those soft areas and he’ll find you."Said Johnson, "Really, I just know that when he has the puck, if I can get open or find a lane, he's going to drag a few guys to him and allow me to take over some empty space."Kucherov's shot can be deceiving, too, as he's figured out how to fool goaltenders by firing the puck from a variety of release points or by using a defender as a screen. A skills coach even dedicated seven minutes to Kucherov's unique mechanics and technique in a recent YouTube video:It's been a steady climb for Kucherov through six NHL seasons, with his points-per-game rate rising from 0.4 in his rookie campaign to 1.2 in Year 4 and 1.6 now - not bad for a player who went 58th overall in the 2011 draft."Is it a credit to us or is it a shame on the 57 picks that went before that?" Cooper said half-jokingly.Of course, you can joke about it when the soon-to-be MVP is on your side, tormenting the rest of the league.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.

Warning: Video contains coarse languageThe NHL has concluded Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly did not direct a homophobic slur at an official during Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning."League officials interviewed several of the participants in the game - including Rielly and (referee Brad) Meier - and reviewed the audio of the alleged incident," senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell wrote in a statement. "All of those interviewed adamantly denied that Rielly uttered a slur and the audio supported their statements."The National Hockey League does not tolerate language or gestures that disparage anyone based upon their race, creed, or sexual orientation and continues to work to ensure that our games are played in a welcoming atmosphere for all of our players, coaches, officials, and fans."Rielly was under investigation for this incident, which occurred in the second period of Monday's contest:

Warning: Video contains coarse languageThe league is investigating the alleged usage of a homophobic slur during Monday night's game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL Public Relations announced.Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly could be the suspect, as he may have directed the slur at a referee.

The NHL's regular season is less than four weeks from its conclusion, but before you shift into playoff mode, there are plenty of reasons to monitor the remainder of the schedule.Here are five of the most intriguing storylines to keep an eye on as the 2018-19 campaign wraps up.1. Lightning chasing historyScott Audette / National Hockey League / GettyFor nearly the entire season, 30 teams have stared up the standings at the Tampa Bay Lightning and their potentially record-setting pace. The Bolts have already matched the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings as the fastest teams in history to reach 50 victories in a season (66 games) and need to win nine of their final 12 contests to tie those same Red Wings for the wins record at 62. It's a tall task, but if Tampa falls short, it's nothing to fret about - only three teams have eclipsed 120 points in a season in the last 23 years, a feat the Lightning will achieve with five more victories.It's also worth monitoring the closing stretch for Lightning dynamo and MVP favorite Nikita Kucherov, who's on pace for the NHL's first 130-point campaign since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96.2. Pressure's on for Blue JacketsJamie Sabau / National Hockey League / GettySince general manager Jarmo Kekalainen pushed his chips to the middle of the table and added both Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel at the trade deadline, the Columbus Blue Jackets are just 3-5-0. Those troubling results have left the team with a tenuous hold on the East's second wild-card position, an unsettling situation for the organization.Kekalainen was under the gun even before the season began due to the uncertain futures of pending unrestricted free agents Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. He's since added two more UFAs, leaving his franchise only two 2019 draft picks in the process. If the Blue Jackets miss the cut after such a major gamble, it can only be viewed as a catastrophic failure.3. Battle for seedingSteve Russell / Toronto Star / GettyThe NHL's oft-criticized playoff format has created unenviable scenarios for a handful of the league's elite teams. In the Atlantic, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins are essentially locked into a first-round meeting for the second straight year, despite being two of the top three teams in the Eastern Conference. Though the matchup is predetermined, home-ice advantage is still on the line, with the Leafs sitting four points back of the Bruins with 13 games to go.In the West, the battle for the Pacific Division crown is of massive importance. The Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks are separated by just one point in the standings, and whoever finishes in front likely gets a date with the second wild-card team (currently the Minnesota Wild). The runner-up, meanwhile, will face a first-round bout with the Vegas Golden Knights, who've lost just one game since acquiring Mark Stone.The Flames and Sharks play their final regular-season clash March 31 in San Jose in what could be one of the biggest games of the year.4. Droughts over?Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyFurther down the standings, two of the league's three longest active postseason droughts could be snapped this spring. The Carolina Hurricanes are engaged in a battle with the Pittsburgh Penguins for third place in the Metro and are in good shape to claim a wild-card spot if they fall short. Since Jan. 1, the Hurricanes have surged up the standings, sporting a 22-7-2 record and a plus-32 goal differential. If Carolina hangs on to make the dance, it'll be its first playoff appearance since 2009.In the Western Conference, the surprisingly hot Arizona Coyotes are making a charge at a wild-card berth, sitting one point back of the Wild with a game in hand entering Tuesday. The Coyotes are gaining ground on the strength of a stingy defensive scheme and the play of goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who owns a .924 save percentage in 17 starts since the beginning of February. If Arizona squeaks in, it will be for the first time since 2012.5. Awards raceIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThough Kucherov has a viselike grip on the Hart, multiple major awards still lack clear-cut winners at this point of the season.Who ends up with the Norris? Will it be Brent Burns and his 89-point pace, or will 35-year-old Mark Giordano finally get the nod for his best season yet? What about Morgan Rielly, who leads all blue-liners with 18 goals and 39 even-strength points? All three play for teams entrenched in playoff spots, so their individual performances down the stretch will likely decide the end-of-year voting.The fate of the Jack Adams Award is also up in the air. Barry Trotz has transformed the New York Islanders into a potential division winner in his first year with the team, but is his case stronger than Jon Cooper's? The latter has the more talented roster, but he and the Bolts have kept the rest of the league in check without a peep this season. The Lightning also own the league's top power play and penalty kill, leaving plenty to consider before the hardware is handed out.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.