With a new year, comes resolutions.Atop every goaltender's list of hopeful changes is to win more games, but the elite netminders of the league will also set their sights on adding some hardware in 2019.Here are five goalies poised to make a run at the Vezina Trophy over the final three months of the season.5. Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden KnightsEthan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Golden Knights have quietly climbed up the Western Conference standings and now trail only the Calgary Flames by a mere two points. The club has gone 6-1-3 in its last 10 games and Fleury has played a vital role in that run.He leads the league with 23 wins - on pace for a career-high 43 - and six shutouts. After a shaky October, Fleury's gone 18-6-3 with a .916 save percentage, 2.48 goals-against average, and looks to have Vegas in line for a second straight playoff run.4. Pekka Rinne, Nashville PredatorsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyRinne and the Predators have endured a recent tough stretch, but the reigning Vezina Trophy winner is still in the running to repeat this year.The 36-year-old boasts the second-best goals-against average (2.25) among those to play at least 15 games, to go along with a .920 save percentage.His .905 high-danger save percentage ranks second and he's fourth in goals saved above average.3. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay LightningIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyHe's back!Vasilevskiy returned from a foot injury that caused him to miss a month and subsequently jumped back into the running for the Vezina Trophy.He's made numerous highlight-reel saves, ranks among the league leaders in all major goaltending categories, and has helped the Lightning retain their status as the team to be feared.The 24-year-old is rocking an absurd 15-3-2 record, and with the club's offense running as hot as it is, he's sure to keep piling up the wins.2. Frederik Andersen, Toronto Maple LeafsMark Blinch / National Hockey League / GettyOutside of the Lightning, the Maple Leafs have arguably been the most dominant club in the East, and while the team's offense has been stellar, so, too, has its netminding.Andersen sits second in wins, fifth in shots faced, second in goals saved above average at five-on-five, and sixth in save percentage and eighth in goals-against average among goalies to play at least 15 games.The Leafs might be stacked up front, but it's quite clear their most valuable player is the man between the pipes.1. John Gibson, Anaheim DucksIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIt's astonishing that the Ducks remain in a playoff spot, but that's just a testament to how great Gibson has been this season.The Ducks average the fewest shots per game, allow the second most, and average the second-fewest goals per game, and still sit in the second wild-card spot in the West.Gibson is keeping the Ducks above water, which is nothing short of spectacular.Honorable mentions: David Rittich (Flames), Jaroslav Halak (Bruins), Ben Bishop (Stars)Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are dealing with some major complications in the crease.Starter Frederik Andersen was placed on injured reserve Thursday, retroactive to Dec. 23, as he deals with a nagging groin injury. His backup Garret Sparks is also out of action for precautionary reasons after going through concussion protocol following Wednesday's practice, the team announced.With both regulars out, the Maple Leafs recalled recent trade acquisition Michael Hutchinson, as well as Kasimir Kaskisuo from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis to carry the load versus the Minnesota Wild on Thursday afternoon.Hutchinson made four starts with the Florida Panthers in 2018-19 before the Leafs traded for him on Dec. 29. Kaskisuo has appeared in 11 games with the Marlies, going 3-5-1 with an .866 save percentage.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the rosters for the 2019 NHL All-Star tournament were announced, the players eligible to grab the final spot on each team's lineup through a fan vote were unveiled.Voting opens on Jan. 3 at 12:00 p.m. ET at NHL.com/Vote.Here are the players included in the "Last Man In" vote:Atlantic DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFPatrice BergeronBoston BruinsFJeff SkinnerBuffalo SabresFDylan LarkinDetroit Red WingsFAleksander BarkovFlorida PanthersDShea WeberMontreal CanadiensFMark StoneOttawa SenatorsFBrayden PointTampa Bay LightningDMorgan RiellyToronto Maple LeafsMetropolitan DivisionPosition Player TeamFTeuvo TeravainenCarolina HurricanesFNick FolignoColumbus Blue JacketsFKyle PalmeriNew Jersey DevilsFAnders LeeNew York IslandersFMats ZuccarelloNew York RangersFJakub VoracekPhiladelphia FlyersDKris LetangPittsburgh PenguinsFNicklas BackstromWashington CapitalsCentral DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFJonathan ToewsChicago BlackhawksFGabriel LandeskogColorado AvalancheFTyler SeguinDallas StarsFZach PariseMinnesota WildFFilip ForsbergNashville PredatorsFVladimir TarasenkoSt. Louis BluesFPatrik LaineWinnipeg JetsPacific DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFRyan GetzlafAnaheim DucksDOliver Ekman-LarssonArizona CoyotesDMark GiordanoCalgary FlamesFLeon DraisaitlEdmonton OilersFAnze KopitarLos Angeles KingsFLogan CoutureSan Jose SharksFBrock BoeserVancouver CanucksFJonathan MarchessaultVegas Golden KnightsCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Finland stunned Canada in the quarterfinals at the world juniors on Wednesday, defeating the defending champions 2-1 in overtime after tying the game in the dying seconds of the third period.Canada's Ian Mitchell opened the scoring early in the second period and goaltender Michael DiPietro held the door shut until late in the contest.However, the game began to slip away from the host country when Finland's Eeli Tolvanen banked the puck off Aleksi Heponiemi's leg from behind the goal line, and it snuck past DiPietro with 47 seconds left to force overtime.Canada was awarded a penalty shot during the extra frame, but captain Maxime Comtois failed to convert. Then, Noah Dobson was gifted a wide-open net, but his stick broke on a one-timer, generating a turnover that led to Finland's game-winning goal.With their quarterfinal elimination, Canada will fail to medal in the World Junior Championship for the first time ever on home soil, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Finland will play Switzerland - the team that upset Sweden to advance - in the semifinal on Friday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Switzerland shocked Sweden with a 2-0 victory in the quarterfinals of the World Junior Hockey Championship on Wednesday.Swiss netminder Luca Hollenstein turned away all 32 shots he faced en route to the upset.

The rosters for the 2019 NHL All-Star Game were announced on Wednesday, the yearly three-on-three event that will take place on Jan. 26 in San Jose.A fan vote will determine the last player added to each team.Here are the lineups for each division:Atlantic DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFDavid PastrnakBoston BruinsFJack EichelBuffalo SabresFSteven StamkosTampa Bay LightningFNikita KucherovTampa Bay LightningFAuston Matthews*Toronto Maple LeafsFJohn TavaresToronto Maple LeafsDKeith YandleFlorida PanthersDThomas ChabotOttawa SenatorsGJimmy HowardDetroit Red WingsGCarey PriceMontreal CanadiensMetropolitan DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFSebastian AhoCarolina HurricanesFCam AtkinsonColumbus Blue JacketsFTaylor HallNew Jersey DevilsFMathew BarzalNew York IslandersFClaude GirouxPhiladelphia FlyersFSidney CrosbyPittsburgh PenguinsDSeth JonesColumbus Blue JacketsDJohn CarlsonWashington CapitalsGHenrik LundqvistNew York RangersGBraden HoltbyWashington CapitalsCentral DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFPatrick KaneChicago BlackhawksFNathan MacKinnon*Colorado AvalancheFMikko RantanenColorado AvalancheFRyan O'ReillySt. Louis BluesFBlake WheelerWinnipeg JetsFMark ScheifeleWinnipeg JetsDMiro HeiskanenDallas StarsDRoman JosiNashville PredatorsGDevan DubnykMinnesota WildGPekka RinneNashville PredatorsPacific DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFClayton KellerArizona CoyotesFJohnny GaudreauCalgary FlamesFConnor McDavid*Edmonton OilersFJoe PavelskiSan Jose SharksFElias PetterssonVancouver CanucksDDrew DoughtyLos Angeles KingsDBrent BurnsSan Jose SharksDErik KarlssonSan Jose SharksGJohn GibsonAnaheim DucksGMarc-Andre FleuryVegas Golden Knights* denotes captainsCopyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The injury that sidelined Carey Price for two games following the Christmas break is something he's been dealing with for some time.The Montreal Canadiens netminder recently missed the club's games against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning with a lower-body injury. He admitted Wednesday that the injury is one he's been playing through for about seven weeks, according to Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette.The good news for the Canadiens is that Price noted he could have played had the two contests been playoff games.Price said after practice he is feeling well enough to play Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks, but head coach Claude Julien didn't want to commit to a starter.The Canadiens sent goaltender Michael McNiven back to the AHL's Laval Rocket on Wednesday afternoon, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels, meaning Price will likely back up Antti Niemi even if he doesn't start.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have traded forward Tom Pyatt, goaltender Mike McKenna and a 2019 sixth-round draft pick to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Darren Archibald and goalie Anders Nilsson, the teams announced Wednesday.Pyatt, 31, was placed on waivers Tuesday by the Senators after recording just two points across 37 contests this season. McKenna has appeared in 10 games, going 1-4-1 with a .897 save percentage.Archibald has spent the majority of his season with the AHL's Utica Comets, posting 11 goals and five assists in 23 games. Nilsson has played a backup role in Vancouver, managing a .895 save percentage in 12 appearances.Travel shouldn't be an issue for the players involved in the deal - the Senators and Canucks square off in Ottawa on Wednesday night.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin told the NHL he will skip the 2019 All-Star Game in San Jose later this month to take advantage of the extra rest the break provides, according to Mike Vogel of the team's website.Ovechkin was named captain of the Metropolitan Division squad on Dec. 27. Per NHL policy, he will be forced to sit out one regular season game for skipping the event.The Capitals play 12 games in January leading up to the festivities, which begin with the annual skills competition on Jan. 25. Washington then has its bye week before returning to action Feb. 1.

In the third edition of theScore's Norris Trophy Power Rankings, one blue-liner takes a sizable step ahead of the pack. You can read November's rankings here.Note: Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot was excluded from this edition due to an upper-body injury that will keep him out for at least three weeks.ATOI = Average time on ice

Warning: Story contains coarse languageGary Bettman says he hasn't reached out to the Dallas Stars and doesn't plan to intervene in the team's front-office drama following Jim Lites' remarks last week."We’re never going to condone profanity," the NHL commissioner said during the Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. "As a general rule, I don’t interfere in internal team dynamics."Bettman continued to be diplomatic when he elaborated on Lites' critical comments from Friday. The Stars CEO called the recent play of captain Jamie Benn and superstar center Tyler Seguin "fucking horseshit.""I’ve known Jim Lites for as long as I’ve been in the NHL and I know him to be passionate," Bettman said. "I also respect the fact that Jamie and Tyler are terrific players and have done a great deal to grow the game in North America, particularly in Texas. … I think we saw some frustration there. That comes from the fact that people are very competitive and want to do better."The NHLPA called Lites' remarks "reckless and insulting" in a statement on Sunday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There have been conversations between the NHL and both Florida-based teams about the possibility of a nighttime Winter Classic in the future, commissioner Gary Bettman said on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers are two of the league's eight clubs that haven't taken part in an outdoor regular-season game.Bettman confirmed earlier on Tuesday that one of those eight squads, the Dallas Stars, will host the 2020 Winter Classic at Cotton Bowl Stadium against a to-be-determined opponent.That will be the southernmost Winter Classic in NHL history, a feat that a game in either Tampa Bay or Sunrise, Fla. would eclipse.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Allan Walsh reportedly talked to Brad Treliving about Michael Frolik before calling out Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters for making the forward a healthy scratch.Walsh, who represents Frolik, and Treliving, the Flames general manager, discussed the Frolik situation a few times over the past several weeks prior to Walsh's criticism on Twitter, sources confirmed to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.On Sunday evening, the agent publicly questioned Peters for scratching his client Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames will participate in the NHL Heritage Classic on Oct. 26 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan, commissioner Gary Bettman announced during the Winter Classic on Tuesday.Mosaic Stadium is home to the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders and holds a crowd of 33,350. Next year's rendition of the Heritage Classic will serve as the fifth since 2003.Both Winnipeg and Calgary have previously participated in the event. The Jets took on the Edmonton Oilers outdoors in 2016, while the Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens at McMahon Stadium in 2011.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins got a goal from Sean Kuraly with 9:40 remaining in the third period before Brad Marchand potted an empty-netter to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 in the 2019 Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium.The Blackhawks opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from Brendan Perlini, but the Bruins answered quickly as David Pastrnak buried his 24th of the season four minutes later. Dominik Kahun and Patrice Bergeron traded goals in the middle frame before Boston pulled away in third.The event drew a sellout crowd of 76,162 - the second-largest crowd in Winter Classic history, according to NHL Public Relations.The Blackhawks fall to 1-5 in their long history of outdoor games while the Bruins improve to 2-1.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators right winger and pending unrestricted free agent Mark Stone expects contract discussions with the club to begin in the next two weeks, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.Jan. 1 marks the first day Stone's eligible to negotiate an extension with the Senators after he signed a one-year, $7.35-million contract with the club in August, narrowly avoiding arbitration. The 26-year-old said he wants to remain with the club, a stance he affirmed multiple times over the past year.Stone is the team's leading scorer, managing 18 goals and 43 points in 40 games this season along with a 14.6 relative Corsi For percentage and over 20 minutes logged per night.Ottawa is projected to have $35.3 million in cap space for next season, according to Cap Friendly. The team's other expiring contracts include unrestricted free agents Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel, and restricted free agents Colin White and Cody Ceci.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars will host the 2020 Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday, according to John Shannon of Sportsnet.The opponent has yet to be decided, but the Stars will have the chance to pick their adversary, according to Sean Shapiro of The Athletic.Until the end of 2009, Cotton Bowl Stadium was the host venue for the annual college football playoff game, the Cotton Bowl Classic. However, in 2010, the bowl game was moved to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which doubles as the full-time home of the Dallas Cowboys.The 2020 event, to be held on Jan. 1, will be the southernmost in the league's history. Of the previous 11 Winter Classics dating back to 2008, the 2017 edition held at Busch Stadium was previously the most southern. Other outdoor games have also been played in warm weather venues such as Los Angeles and Santa Clara, Calif.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the third edition of theScore's Calder Trophy Power Rankings, we have the same face at the top, but the top two picks from 2018 continue to rise. You can read the previous installment here.5. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa SenatorsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTkachuk has slowed from the point per-game pace he managed in our last edition, but is still sitting at a solid 20 points through his first 29 NHL contests. The 19-year-old is averaging 15:34 per game while playing on the Sens' top line on the opposite flank of Mark Stone, and is among the team leaders in Corsi-For percentage at 52.7.4. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas StarsJoe Sargent / National Hockey League / GettyHeiskanen continues to eat up big minutes for the Stars, and still leads all rookies with an average of 23:00 played per night. He also ranks second in shots with 88, and sixth in points with seven goals and 10 assists through 40 games.3. Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina HurricanesGregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / GettySvechnikov, the No. 2 pick in last summer's draft, started off his NHL career relatively quietly, but is beginning to show signs of his offensive talent with six goals in his last 15 games. His ice time has fluctuated all season, but Svechnikov still leads all freshman with 106 shots, and controls 58.5 percent of all attempts at even strength for the Corsi-heavy Hurricanes.2. Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo SabresKevin Hoffman / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's tough to stand out in the NHL as an 18-year-old defenseman, but Dahlin does thanks to incredible poise with the puck and swift skating ability. He continues to look increasingly comfortable at the pro level, and is up to 20 points in 40 games, good for third among rookies.1. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver CanucksJeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyAt this point, Pettersson's got a vice-like grip on the Calder, and he's one month closer to ending his outstanding debut season with some hardware. The Canucks' phenom sits at 39 points in 36 games, which out-produces the likes Taylor Hall, Mathew Barzal, and Tyler Seguin to this point. Pettersson is already as pure of a sniper as the NHL has to offer, but still regularly dazzles with his quick hands and playmaking ability.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's officially 2019, and is there a better way to kick off the new year than with some NHL predictions? Below, we've compiled five bold ones that could come to fruition over the next 12 months.Five-plus 100-point scorers for 1st time since 2006-07Michael Martin / National Hockey League / GettyScoring is still up across the NHL near the midway point of the 2018-19 campaign, and 15 skaters are currently on pace to eclipse 100 points. The last time five-plus players hit triple digits was during the 2006-07 season (Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, Vincent Lecavalier, Dany Heatley, Martin St. Louis, Joe Sakic, and Marian Hossa).All 15 of this year's candidates maintaining their current clip over 82 games is unlikely. But few will bet against Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, or Connor McDavid slowing down if they stay healthy. Then there's Mikko Rantanen, Mitch Marner, Johnny Gaudreau, Brayden Point, and Patrick Kane, among others, who all have realistic shots at the 100-point plateau.Tarasenko gets dealt in Blues' deadline teardownJeff Vinnick / National Hockey League / GettyThe St. Louis Blues surely didn't envision being at the bottom of the Central Division standings at the turn of the calendar after an offseason that included acquiring Ryan O'Reilly. Despite heightened expectations, the 2018-19 campaign is all but lost for the Blues, and they're primed to be sellers at the trade deadline.Vladimir Tarasenko, who has been rumored to be drawing interest, is among St. Louis' most attractive trade chips. The 27-year-old is playing at a career-low 50-point pace, but his goal-scoring prowess will likely intrigue a playoff-bound team. He scored 30-plus goals in four straight seasons prior to 2018-19.Tarasenko's no-trade clause kicks in next year for the final four seasons of his contract. So the Blues need to act now if they want to make a move.Matthews maintains shooting percentage, wins Rocket Richard TrophyKevin Sousa / National Hockey League / GettyThis one is the boldest of the bunch.First of all, Auston Matthews has to stay healthy for this prediction to have a chance. Second, Alex Ovechkin currently holds a 10-goal advantage on the Toronto Maple Leafs sniper in the race for the Rocket.However, Matthews has posted a sky-high 24.1 shooting percentage so far this season, which is no fluke considering he's converting at a 17.1 percent clip for his career and finished last season at 18.2 percent over 62 games. Factor in his key role on the Leafs' loaded top power-play unit, and it's hard to imagine Matthews slowing down for an extended period of time. Whether that's enough to out duel Ovechkin remains to be seen.Panarin returns to Chicago in free agencyNorm Hall / National Hockey League / GettyWith contract talks under wraps between Artemi Panarin and the Columbus Blue Jackets, the winger's future is completely up in the air. The Russian superstar headlines the unrestricted free-agent class of 2019, and we're predicting he heads back to where his career began and returns to the Chicago Blackhawks.A source told The Athletic's Scott Powers in August that Panarin would strongly consider a return to the Windy City, where he ran rampant alongside Patrick Kane for two 70-plus-point seasons. Also, Chicago is projected to have $19.6 million in cap space for the 2019-20 season, per Cap Friendly, and the team doesn't have any prominent players to re-sign. The Blackhawks will have enough room to entice Panarin, who should get a major raise from his current $6-million cap hit.The Blackhawks are in the running for the opportunity to draft Jack Hughes first overall, too, which would be a nice consolation price, or give them an even nicer one-two punch depending on where Panarin goes.Star-studded crop of RFA's shift NHL's salary landscapeGerry Thomas / National Hockey League / GettyWhile Panarin headlines the UFAs, the list of RFAs coming off entry-level contracts in 2019 is bananas:Player (Pos) Team Proj. Cap SpaceMikko Rantanen (RW)COL$32MMitch Marner (RW)TOR$23MBrayden Point (C)TB$6.3MMatthew Tkachuk (LW)CGY$11.7MSebastian Aho (C/LW)CAR$34MAuston Matthews (C)TOR$23MTimo Meier (RW)SJ$24MPatrik Laine (RW)WPG$23.9MBrock Boeser (RW)VAN$32MThose players are some of the best young talents in the NHL, and their contract negotiations could shake things up around the league. How much can each player demand? Will there be any offer sheets? Did William Nylander start a trend with his holdout?Over the last few years, NHL teams have shifted away from bridge contacts in favor of securing young stars while they're under team control, and each team here faces a critical decision. Each player in the group above could haul in at least $7-8 million per year, with some possibly reaching eight digits.Only 22 skaters league-wide have cap hits of $8 million or more, with just four signing their big-money deals fresh off their ELCs. This year's swarm of pending RFA's will change the way young players get paid and shift the balance of money in the league going forward.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz moved into fourth place on the NHL's all-time wins list after the New York Islanders defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 at KeyBank Center on Monday.The 56-year-old Islanders coach secured his 783rd career victory to move past Al Arbour.Trotz sits 461 wins back of all-time leader Scotty Bowman but isn't far behind Ken Hitchcock, who entered Monday in third with 832 victories.Now in his 20th season as an NHL bench boss, Trotz secured 557 wins with the Nashville Predators and another 205 with the Washington Capitals.After winning his first Stanley Cup with the Capitals last season, Trotz resigned because of a contract dispute. He was hired by the Islanders in June.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel left Monday's game against the New York Islanders with an undisclosed injury and did not return, the team announced.Eichel's playing status was a game-time decision heading into the contest after he missed Sunday's practice for a maintenance day.The 22-year-old is the undisputed MVP of the Sabres, as he leads the squad with 49 points in 39 games.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Rookie goalie Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 25 shots to earn his second straight shutout and the New Jersey Devils defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 on Monday.Blackwood is 3-1 since joining the Devils on Dec. 18th. He blanked the Carolina Hurricanes 2-0 on Saturday, becoming the first rookie goalie in franchise history to post back-to-back shutoutsBrian Boyle, Miles Wood, Sami Vatanen and Pavel Zacha scored for the Devils. It was Zacha's second goal in as many games.Anders Nilsson stopped 19 shots for Vancouver.The Devils have won three straight for the first time since their first three games of the sesson.The game featured two of the top five players taken in the 2017 draft.New Jersey's Nico Hischier went first overall and has 26 points in his second season in the league. Hischier, who turns 20 on Friday, had 52 points a year ago.Vancouver's Elias Pettersson was the fifth selection of the draft and has 39 points in his first NHL season.Vatanen's power-play goal early in the third period made it 3-0 Devils.Boyle gave the Devils a 1-0 lead when he scored off a rebound at 12:03 of the first period. He was followed by Wood's power-play goal later in the period for a 2-0 cushion.NOTES: Devils F Taylor Hall missed his third game with a lower-body injury. He leads the team with 37 points. Hall was replaced at LW by Jesper Bratt on New Jersey's top line. ... Vancouver is on its second six-game road trip of the season after getting wins in Edmonton and Calgary. ... Vancouver F Brock Boeser skated in his 100th NHL game. ... New Jersey was without G Cory Schneider (lower body) and F Marcus Johansson (upper body). Devils G Mackenzie Blackwood was the NHL's third star of the week on Monday after going 2-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and .975 save percentage in two games.---UP NEXT:Canucks: At Ottawa on WednesdayDevils: At Dallas on Wednesday---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.

Peter Chiarelli met the media Monday in an attempt to justify the two deals he swung a day earlier.The Edmonton Oilers general manager and president of hockey operations tried to dispel the notion that his separate trades to acquire Alex Petrovic from the Florida Panthers and Brandon Manning from the Chicago Blackhawks were panic moves.They "weren't knee-jerk reactions," Chiarelli told reporters, according to Edmonton radio station 630 CHED. He added that he felt "it was imperative (that) we shore up our defense."While he stressed the importance of adding on the back end, Chiarelli also explained that better blue-liners simply aren't available."Puck-moving defensemen ... they're hard to find," he said, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector."Right now, they're not out there," he added, according to the Edmonton Sun and Edmonton Journal's Trevor Robb.Chiarelli acknowledged that Petrovic and Manning aren't "sexy players," but called them "good, solid defenders."The Oilers have lost five straight games and are missing rearguards Oscar Klefbom, Kris Russell, and Andrej Sekera due to injuries.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL will name Dallas as the host city for the 2020 Winter Classic on Tuesday, Sportsnet's John Shannon reports.The Stars' opponent for the outdoor affair is not yet known.Dallas also hosted this year's draft. The Stars have yet to take part in an outdoor regular-season NHL game.A preseason game originally scheduled for Sept. 23, 2011 between the Stars and the then-Phoenix Coyotes at Houston's Reliant Stadium was ultimately canceled due to the cost of putting ice in the facility.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Jori Lehtera was charged Monday with buying drugs from a cocaine distribution ring in his native Finland, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Tricia L. Nadolny.Lehtera is accused of buying eight grams of cocaine over the summer, and prosecutors are seeking a five-month sentence, as first reported by Finnish news outlet MTV."We understand Lehtera plans to contest the charges," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email to the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac. "No current intention to intervene (by the NHL)."Lehtera is one of more than 20 defendants in the case, according to the Finnish report.The 31-year-old told The Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi on Monday that he is innocent of all charges, reiterating his stance from September that he hasn't "done anything wrong."Lehtera is currently traveling with the Flyers, who will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With 2018 winding down, theScore looked back at the previous 12 months and voted on the top 25 sportspeople of the year. Here's the fourth instalment, highlighting Nos. 10-6.25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-110. Eliud Kipchoge, marathon runnerpicture alliance / picture alliance / GettyFew athletes had as dominant a 2018 as Kenyan distance runner Eliud Kipchoge. The 33-year-old has won 10 of the 11 marathons he's entered since switching to the distance in 2012. His last was a record-smashing 2:01.39 at the Berlin Marathon that shattered the previous best by 78 seconds. So dominant was Kipchoge's performance in Berlin that he ran the final 17 kilometers alone after dropping the third of three pacemakers, running the second half in an obscene 60:34 - or 4:37 per mile. The greatest marathoner of all time, full stop. - Michael Chandler9. Shohei Ohtani, P/DH, Los Angeles AngelsMasterpress / Getty Images Sport / GettyShohei Ohtani arrived stateside with absurd expectations after seemingly every MLB team was in on the bidding for his services. As the first true two-way player to hit the league, he was basically a unicorn. Ohtani showed that he could measure up to his peers on both sides of the ball (.925 OPS, 22 HR, 3.31 ERA, 10.97 K/9) en route to winning AL Rookie of the Year. And though Tommy John surgery risked derailing his year, he answered by going 4-for-4 with two homers on the very day surgery was suggested. The phenom may have to wait until 2020 before he can pitch again, but he should be able to swing a bat and remain an impactful piece. - Jason Wilson8. Chloe Kim, snowboarderRyan Pierse / Getty Images Sport / GettyChloe Kim is the future.

With 2018 winding down, theScore looked back at the previous 12 months and voted on the top 25 sportspeople of the year. Here's the third instalment, highlighting Nos. 15-11.25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-115. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma Brett Deering / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe vast majority of the world's top athletes train countless years and make endless sacrifices to reach the pinnacle of their sport. And then there's Kyler Murray. Not only was the Texas-born Murray a top-10 pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, but he also won the Heisman Trophy as the quarterback of Oklahoma in his "offseason." The latest two-sport star to grace the American landscape also has the potential to be one of the best, as the Oakland A's prospect is now being mentioned as a Day 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Before he's forced to make that decision, he will lead the Sooners into the CFP semifinal against Alabama, hoping to end the Crimson Tide's three-year streak of reaching the final. - Dane Belbeck14. Ada Hegerberg, F, Olympique LyonnaisFRANCK FIFE / AFP / GettyOne of the most important figures in the history of world football hails from a modest Norwegian town of just 7,000 people, but she's more than capable of living up to her illustrious title. "Every female player deserves the same opportunity (as men) to develop," the first female winner of the Ballon d'Or wrote for The Players' Tribune. "There's so much talent out there all over the world that deserves a chance to shine." What a relief Hegerberg was given that chance, with the phenomenal striker racking up almost 300 goals at just 23 years of age. As influential off the pitch as she is on it, Hegerberg shooting down a now infamous sexist remark about twerking - while on stage accepting her Ballon d'Or, no less - was the perfect response from someone who has been such an outspoken advocate for equality in football. - Daniel Rouse13. Steph Curry, G, Golden StateStacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettySteph Curry's growing impact on the game of basketball continued in 2018. Teams are taking (and making) the most 3-pointers per game in history, turning the NBA into a perimeter-driven league no matter the position. The average pace is fractions from 100 possessions per game for the first time in nearly three decades, and players are fearlessly chucking shots from well beyond the 3-point line early in the shot clock. Much of this can be directly related to the Warriors' dominance. Individually, Curry added a third NBA championship to his resume and has begun the new season on a torrid pace, averaging 28.6 points per game on a sparkling 46-percent shooting from deep. - Wael Saghir12. Nick Foles, QB, Philadelphia EaglesMike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyWas there a better 2018 sports story than Nick Foles? A backup to begin the 2017 season, the quarterback was thrust into the starting lineup after Carson Wentz tore his ACL in December. Despite being the NFC's No. 1 seed, no one thought the Eagles would win one playoff game, let alone the franchise's first Super Bowl. The ultimate underdog, Foles put together a spectacular playoff run, and now has Philadelphia charging toward the postseason after another injury to Wentz. And let's not forget, the Super Bowl MVP not only threw for over 350 yards and threw three scores last February, but he also suggested the legendary "Philly Special" play call. - Mike Alessandrini

With 2018 winding down, theScore looked back at the previous 12 months and voted on the top 25 sportspeople of the year. Here's the final installment, highlighting Nos. 5-1.25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-15. Tiger Woods, PGA TourStan Badz / US PGA TOUR / GettyWoods put golf back on the map in 2018 with a historic comeback season. He was ranked 668th, coming off his fourth back surgery, and many questioned whether a return to the sport was the right move for his legacy. And then came the Open Championship in July, when he captivated the sports world by taking the solo lead on Sunday. Woods ultimately fell short at Carnoustie but pressed on. He recaptured that magic at the PGA Championship, firing the lowest final round of his major career to finish alone in second and set the stage for a storybook ending. At the season finale Tour Championship, Woods never relinquished his first-round lead to win for the 80th time on the PGA Tour and climb to No. 13 in the world. Chaos ensued as Woods walked up the 18th fairway en route to his first title since 2013, surrounded by fans storming the grounds in hopes of catching a glimpse of history. After so many years defined by turmoil, 2018 was, by all accounts - including his own - one of the best seasons of Woods' legendary career. - Eric Patterson

Every Monday, theScore will offer a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. Ownership percentages (as of Dec. 30) and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.Pick up Collin DeliaTeam: Blackhawks

Warning: Story contains coarse languageBrad Marchand disagrees with Dallas Stars CEO Jim Lites' profanity-laced tirade about Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn's performance this season."There's a lot more going on there than just to throw their top players under the bus," the Boston Bruins forward - and former Seguin teammate - told The Athletic's Joe McDonald on Sunday. He added that Lites "might've lost it a little bit too much there."Lites tore into the Dallas duo on Friday, calling their recent play "fucking horseshit." Marchand implied Sunday that it was an unfair assessment."They are two of the top players in the league and have been for a long time," the Bruins winger said. "So when you're looking at a 30-game segment and they don't put up 50 points in 30 games and you're losing, I don't necessarily agree with that."They've been two of the top players in the league the last four or five years, and you haven’t heard a peep out of (Lites) in that time. It doesn't take long for those guys to go off (production-wise by) getting 30 points in 20 games, and (Lites) won't say a whole lot then. You can't expect guys to have their best year every single year. By no means are they having bad years. Compared to what they've done it might not be the same."Seguin, who signed an eight-year, $78.8-million extension in September, has seen a slight dip in production from his typical pace but leads the team with 33 points in 39 games. He had 32 points in 38 contests at the time of Lites' remarks.Benn, Dallas' captain, leads the club with 15 goals and has 30 points in 39 games. He's earning $13 million at a cap hit of $9.5 million in the second season of the eight-year extension he inked with the Stars in 2016.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Prior to being acquired by the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, Brandon Manning had been viewed as public enemy No. 1 in Oil Country, stemming from a 2015 incident with Connor McDavid. During McDavid's rookie campaign, Manning was involved in a collision responsible for breaking McDavid's collarbone, forcing him to miss 37 games.Many, including McDavid, indicated that they believed the collision was an attempt to injure by Manning. The next time the two players met, the bad blood boiled over. They jawed at each other for much of the meeting, which McDavid said was "one of the most classless things" he's ever seen on the ice. Manning then said McDavid's reaction to scoring was also "classless."However, upon hearing the news Manning had been acquired by the Oilers, Edmonton's captain reached out in order to bury the hatchet."He (Chiarelli) mentioned the incident with Connor is behind them and he talked to Connor," Manning told Paul Gazzola of the team's website. "Connor actually reached out. He said he's happy to have me and thinks I can help the team. Obviously, with our history and when a guy of that caliber reaches out to you, it's pretty special."It remains to be seen if the addition of Manning can get the Oilers back on track, but at least it appears they'll be no awkward locker room interaction between the two upon his arrival.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames forward Michael Frolik was a healthy scratch Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks for the second time this season, and his agent Allan Walsh isn't pleased, to say the least."Many people in Calgary have been reaching out asking why Michael Frolik is a healthy scratch," Walsh said on Twitter. "Keeping one of the team's most efficient and versatile forwards in the stands marginalizes and devalues a great team player. Head coach's attempt to run a good player out of town?"Frolik is in his fourth season in Calgary, but his first under Bill Peters, who was hired as the team's head coach this offseason. He has seven goals and zero assists in 22 contests and is playing five minutes less per game than he did a year ago.The offseason acquisitions of right-wingers Elias Lindholm and James Neal are partially responsible for Frolik's diminished role this season; however, he was already trending in the wrong direction offensively. He averaged just 0.36 points per game in 2017-18 after averaging at least 0.5 points in each of his previous four campaigns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers traded forward Drake Caggiula and defenseman Jason Garrison to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in exchange for defensemen Brandon Manning and Robin Norell, the team announced.Caggiula, a speedy, undrafted forward, is on pace for a career season. The 24-year-old has seven goals and 11 points in 29 games with the Oilers, which included a brief stint on the club's top line with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.Manning is the centerpiece of the return. He's been considered a villain of sorts in Edmonton, as he was responsible for McDavid missing nearly half of his rookie campaign with a broken collarbone. The 28-year-old blue-liner had three points in 27 games with the Blackhawks after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Flyers.Garrison, a veteran defenseman, skated in 17 games with the Oilers this year, recording one point.Norell, a fourth-round pick of the Blackhawks in 2013, recorded three points in 37 games in Sweden this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageThe NHLPA issued a pointed response Sunday to Jim Lites' profane criticism of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, implying the existence of a double standard and questioning the Dallas Stars CEO's professionalism."The comments Jim Lites made regarding Tyler and Jamie are both reckless and insulting," the union said in a statement, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "If players directed such comments towards management, how would those be regarded? To say that Jim Lites' conduct is unprofessional would be a gross understatement."In professional sports, all individual players and teams go through highs and lows, but this is not how professionals handle adversity."Lites ripped into Seguin and Benn in a pair of interviews Friday, most notably telling The Athletic's Sean Shapiro the duo's performance this season is "fucking horseshit" and informing Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News that their "terrible play" has "pissed me off.""This is not about trading anyone. This is not about firing anyone," Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said in a statement to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Saturday night.Both players brushed off the comments earlier Saturday, with Benn saying, "I don't play for him, I play for every player in this room and the coaching staff." Seguin revealed he hasn't had a conversation with Lites since the end of last season.Seguin and Benn currently rank first and third in team scoring, respectively.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill isn't overly impressed with how CEO Jim Lites decided to call out stars Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.Lites went on an expletive-infused rant Friday about the play of Benn and Seguin, accusing the forwards of being "f---ing horse----." On Sunday, Nill insisted that while he supports Lites' message, he does not agree with the language used in his tirade."I was aware he was going to talk to the media," Nill told Nick Alberga and David McCarthy on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. "First of all, I don't condone Jim's language and the tone and we've talked about that and we've addressed that internally. Jim's a very emotional guy. I just think he let the best get a hold of him a little bit, but in the long run, I don't want the message lost either about how the players have to be better. That's the main message."Once again I don't condone the language that was used and Jim and I have talked, he agrees. He knows he got carried away, but in the end, the message is our players do have to be better and that's the message he wanted to get out there."On Saturday, owner Tom Gaglardi told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that no one would be traded or fired in the wake of the recent comments and that the team's best players must perform as such. For his part, Seguin admitted that he and his teammates "hear the message."In the short term, the remarks seem to have given the team a bit of a kick, as Dallas dismantled the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 on Saturday. With victories in back-to-back games, the Stars occupy the final wild-card spot in the West and sit just two points out of third place in the Central Division.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have dealt defenseman Alex Petrovic to the Edmonton Oilers for blue-liner Chris Wideman and a 2019 third-round pick, the clubs announced Sunday.Florida will receive the higher of Edmonton's two third-round selections in next year's draft.Petrovic, who was born and raised in Edmonton, played parts of seven seasons with the Panthers, who drafted him 36th overall in 2010.The Oilers acquired Wideman from the Ottawa Senators for a 2020 sixth-rounder on Nov. 22.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is expected to be out until after the All-Star Game on Jan. 26, head coach Paul Maurice said Sunday, according to team insider Mitchell Clinton.The 33-year-old suffered a leg injury Saturday night after taking a hit from Minnesota Wild forward Luke Kunin.A minimum four-week absence is a significant blow for the Jets as Byfuglien's been the club's most productive blue-liner, having tallied 29 points in 32 games. The good news is that the Jets have gone 5-0-1 in the six contests that Byfuglien has missed this season.The Jets currently sit tied for top spot in the Western Conference with 50 points despite coming off back-to-back losses to the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With 2018 winding down, theScore looked back at the previous 12 months and voted on the top 25 sportspeople of the year. Here's the second instalment, highlighting Nos. 20-16.25-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1 (Mon.)20. Marit Bjoergen, Cross-Country SkiingFRANCK FIFE / AFP / GettyAlready the winningest cross-country skier in history entering PyeongChang, Marit Bjoergen's GOAT status in her sport wasn't in doubt. But she sought a greater level of achievement, and, after claiming two golds, a silver, and two bronzes in South Korea to bring her career Olympic medal total to 15, she wrestled the crown of most decorated Winter Olympian away from fellow Norwegian legend Ole Einar Bjoerndalen. Bjoergen's dominance boosted Norway, a nation with about as many citizens as Greater Boston, to the top of the medal table. Michael Phelps of the snow? Maybe he's the Bjoergen of the water. - David P. Woods19. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans SaintsChris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / GettyAlthough Drew Brees will likely be denied an MVP award once again, this time by Patrick Mahomes, that oversight does nothing to diminish what the future Hall of Famer has accomplished, and still can accomplish, in his age-39 season. The longtime Saints superstar earned his most prestigious personal record yet back in Week 5 when he surpassed Peyton Manning to become the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, and it's been Brees' elite play over the course of the season, arguably the most efficient of his 18-year career, that's led the Saints to the NFC's No. 1 seed. A second Super Bowl ring is well within reach, and, if his continued dominance is any indication, perhaps Brees has his eyes on several more Lombardi Trophies before he calls it a career. - Dan Wilkins18. Daniel Cormier, UFCJeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC / UFC / Getty2018 was the year Daniel Cormier finally emerged from the shadow of his longtime rival Jon Jones. Once cast as a villain, DC flipped that narrative and became the UFC's second-ever double champion with an astounding first-round knockout of heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in July. He also added two dominant title defenses against Volkan Oezdemir, at light heavyweight, and Derrick Lewis, at heavyweight, in January and November, respectively, to seal his place as an all-time MMA great. His retirement in March is fast approaching, but with a farewell fight against Brock Lesnar or perhaps even Jones in the cards, DC could leave the Octagon on a legacy-altering streak like few before him. - Jack Browne17. Arike Ogunbowale, G, Notre DameAndy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt often takes something special to topple the giant that UConn is in women's college basketball, and Arike Ogunbowale delivered just that during March Madness. The Notre Dame star was a force all night in the national semifinal between the two programs but saved her best moment for overtime. With the score tied as the seconds ticked away, Ogunbowale drilled a deep jumper with one tick left, sealing the upset win for the Fighting Irish.That bucket would be the pinnacle of most athlete's careers, but Ogunbowale wasn't done there, ending the ensuing national championship in the most dramatic way possible, forever etching her name into basketball lore. - Dane Belbeck

From a veteran superstar finally realizing his dream to expansion intrigue on multiple fronts to seemingly never-ending drama in Canada's capital, there were plenty of hockey talking points that endured throughout the calendar year.While Gritty has been the talk of the NHL and beyond since the strangely lovable Philadelphia Flyers mascot was introduced in the fall, a handful of significant subplots have pervaded hockey discourse for much of the last 12 months.Here are five of the league's biggest storylines from 2018:5. Erik Karlsson's futureAndre Ringuette / National Hockey League / GettyWhether Karlsson would ultimately be traded or choose to re-sign with the Ottawa Senators was a burning question that began to simmer in 2017, but it reached a boiling point this year, and even now, his future beyond this season remains uncertain.The all-world defenseman's name was firmly entrenched in the rumor mill at the beginning of 2018, but he remained with Ottawa through the trade deadline, insisting afterward that he never asked to be dealt.On July 1, the first day the Senators could formally offer him a contract extension, they did just that, but the uber-talented blue-liner turned it down. The club then gave other teams permission to negotiate with him, which led to the Tampa Bay Lightning reportedly making a failed bid for him several days later.The trade talk cooled down until late August when he denied a report that he was unwilling to sign a long-term deal in Canada. The saga culminated with the trade that sent him to the San Jose Sharks in September.However, Karlsson's future plans are still unclear. The 28-year-old remains in the final year of his contract, and although he's looked much more comfortable recently amid what may still be an adjustment period in San Jose, there have been no firm indications from his camp of his intentions beyond the current campaign.4. The Senators' scandalsIt wasn't just Karlsson's uncertain future that regularly put Ottawa in hockey headlines in 2018. The Senators were involved in a slew of off-ice incidents this year, as a disappointing 2017-18 season on the ice preceded a disastrous spring, summer, fall, and winter away from the rink.Then-assistant general manager Randy Lee was arrested on a harassment charge at the draft combine in late May, which led to his eventual resignation in August. An online harassment case brought forth by Karlsson's wife, Melinda, against Monika Caryk, the fiancee of Erik's then-teammate Mike Hoffman, led to Hoffman being traded one week later.Then, in November, Ottawa players were captured in a video criticizing assistant coach Martin Raymond inside an Uber, which led to apologies, the driver being fired, and an admission from Mark Stone that the club knew about the footage before it went viral.Later in November, the Senators and Trinity Group, the club's partner in its downtown arena proposal, revealed an internal dispute between the two parties. Then, in December, Eugene Melnyk announced through the team that his company, Capital Sports Management, was suing Trinity Group for $700 million in the wake of the failed redevelopment bid.3. SeattlePatrick McDermott / National Hockey League / GettyThe fact that it was essentially a foregone conclusion didn't stop Seattle's pursuit of an NHL franchise from being a consistent topic of discussion throughout the calendar year.If there was any doubt that there would be demand for the league's product in the Pacific Northwest, those fears were allayed in March, when the then-prospective team sold 10,000 ticket deposits within 12 minutes of making them available.The franchise wasn't officially rubber-stamped until early December, but hockey fans and media members alike spent many months before that pondering potential names, logos, and jersey concepts.Fans in the Emerald City won't get to see their new squad play until 2021-22, and the team has yet to establish its full identity. But much like the supporters of the league's previous expansion darlings (more on them below), the Seattle faithful have made it clear early on that they're more than ready to support an NHL team.2. The Golden KnightsJason Halstead / Getty Images Sport / GettyVegas' inaugural NHL season was unlike anything the league - and arguably professional sports - had ever seen before.Yes, the Golden Knights officially joined the NHL in 2016 and technically began play in 2017, but they truly peaked in 2018, simultaneously captivating and shocking the hockey world by making an improbable run all the way to the Stanley Cup Final in June.They became the most successful expansion team ever in the process, surpassing even the most generous expectations and doing so in uniquely Vegas fashion, with absurdly delightful pregame presentations, a drumline, and a makeshift castle inside T-Mobile Arena.Sin City put its one-of-a-kind stamp on the NHL in the Golden Knights' debut campaign, and the league's 31st franchise was undoubtedly one of the best stories in hockey this year.1. OviThe Washington Post / The Washington Post / GettyIf this past offseason was the "Summer of Ovi," 2018 was unquestionably his year.Alex Ovechkin silenced the critics once and for all by leading his Washington Capitals to a Stanley Cup championship for the first time in his career. That feat alone was a gargantuan story, but the Russian sniper did far more over the course of the year, accomplishing several other impressive on-ice feats and then going on a bender for the ages after hoisting Lord Stanley's mug.He was named an All-Star for the 10th time, hit the 600-goal plateau in March, scored the all-important opening goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Lightning, tallied in Game 5 of the Cup Final to help Washington win the title, captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, and won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the seventh time.Then, there was the partying, as he commemorated the championship by doing push-ups in a fountain with his teammates, doing a keg stand with the Cup, and generally entertaining the masses with his months-long celebration.His offensive exploits both last season and so far in this one are all the more impressive considering he has done it in his 13th and 14th NHL seasons and is now 33 years old. Ovechkin was the biggest hockey story of 2018, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him in the 2019 conversation, as well.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor Hellebuyck believes NHL officials are allowing skaters to do too much when it comes to contact with goaltenders.The Winnipeg Jets netminder was particularly miffed about Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin kneeing him in the head during Thursday's game.“My question is why is there no penalty on that?” Hellebuyck told the Winnipeg Sun's Paul Friesen on Friday. “It’s not like I dove in front of him. He wasn’t pushed in. He just made a dumb route. You see that more coming around this game. People aren’t really afraid around the goalies anymore.”Hellebuyck then implied that it's time for the league to take action.“Something needs to change there,” he said. “Because I get called for a penalty in L.A., right? So now I have more penalties called against me than I drew. And I think that’s ridiculous.“You can see in the young guys, like (Flames forward Matthew) Tkachuk – (he) tries to push me into the net. It’s ridiculous. Something needs to be called or something needs to be changed with the goalies. We’re players too.”The 2017-18 Vezina Trophy finalist said he's noticed a developing trend in which "they're trying to take a little more from us," and he doesn't think there's a desire to fix it.“They don’t want it to change," Hellebuyck said. "They like the goals. They want more goals and want to take more from us. (Hanifin) wasn’t shoved in or anything. What needs to happen is a penalty needs to be called, and then their coach is going to say that was a dumb penalty to take, and then he’s not going to come storming at the net when I’m covering the puck.”The first-place Jets have dropped two consecutive games following Saturday's 2-1 defeat to the Minnesota Wild. However, Hellebuyck was hardly to blame for either loss, and he's posted a .924 save percentage over his last nine starts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars CEO Jim Lites ripped into forwards Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn on Friday, but owner Tom Gaglardi made it clear that Lites' comments don't mean that any sort of shakeup is imminent."Our best players have to be our best players," Gaglardi told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. "This is not about trading anyone. This is not about firing anyone. We are in danger of missing the playoffs for the third straight year, and this team is built to win and contend now. We need to take advantage of the opportunity we have in front of us."However, Friedman believes that there will be fallout if the club does indeed miss the playoffs.Benn is averaging 0.79 points per game, which is the worst since his rookie season. The captain is the currently the team's highest-paid player at $9.5 million.Seguin is also having a down year, as his 0.84 points per game are his worst since arriving in Dallas. He signed an eight-year, $78.8-million extension this past summer that will kick in next season. Both players have full no-movement clauses.Jim Montgomery is in his first season as head coach of the Stars, while general manager Jim Nill has been in charge since April of 2013.Lites' harsh comments have been a point of discussion for the NHLPA, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Legendary Buffalo Sabres play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret is back in the broadcast booth on Saturday after he was removed from the KeyBank Center on a stretcher and was hospitalized one week ago.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageDallas Stars CEO Jim Lites is far from impressed with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn this season, and went on the record Friday with a profanity-laced rant to describe their recent performances.“They are fucking horseshit, I don’t know how else to put it,” Lites said, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro. “The team was OK. But Seguin and Benn were terrible.”Surprisingly, the comments came after the Stars beat the Nashville Predators 2-0 on Thursday, a game in which Benn and Seguin were held pointless for the second straight night.“We are a stars-driven league, and our stars aren’t getting it done,” Lites added, urging Shapiro to publish his comments. “It’s embarrassing, and no one writes it. Write it!”Frustration within the organization first boiled over Thursday morning when head coach Jim Montgomery described the team's first skate back after the Christmas break as "fucking embarrassing."“These guys are not good enough. They’re not good enough for me, they’re not good enough for the owner, and they’re certainly not good enough for the general manager," Lites continued."These guys were signed to big contracts because they were the third- and sixth-leading scorers in the National Hockey League over the past five years. They get their money, we expect them to not be outplayed every game we play in."Seguin leads the Stars with 32 points in 38 games and has an eight-year, $78.8-millon contract that kicks in next year.Benn has the fourth-highest salary in the NHL at $13 million (cap hit of $9.5 million) and has 30 points this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois is confident that he'll be able to work out a contract this summer with star forward Brayden Point.Point, who has recorded 22 goals and 49 points so far in his third NHL season, will be one of over a dozen premium pending restricted free agents likely to command big bucks this summer, which brings the threat of an offer sheet.But BriseBois isn't concerned about that possibility:

The Ottawa Senators will be without their top defenseman for the foreseeable future.Thomas Chabot will miss the next three weeks with an ailment he sustained Friday night against the New York Islanders, Senators head coach Guy Boucher confirmed to TSN's Brent Wallace on Saturday.Chabot took a big hit from Islanders enforcer Matt Martin in the second period, after which he left the game and didn't return.The club continues to classify it as an upper-body injury. Boucher said on Friday night that it was not to the head.Chabot is on a point-per-game pace for the Senators so far, having racked up 38 in as many contests. The 21-year-old blue-liner ranks second in the NHL in points among rearguards behind Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageJamie Benn downplayed the remarks from Dallas Stars CEO Jim Lites when asked about the comments on Saturday, less than 24 hours after the tirade.“I don’t play for him," the Stars captain told reporters, including the Dallas Morning News' Matthew DeFranks. "I play for every player in this room and the coaching staff. I come to the rink and ... I’m proud to be a Dallas Star and proud to go out there every night and battle with these guys in games.”Lites lambasted Benn and Tyler Seguin in a pair of interviews on Friday. He told The Athletic's Sean Shapiro that the duo "are fucking horseshit" and that the two forwards "were terrible" in Thursday's win over the Nashville Predators. He then told DeFranks that the "terrible play" from Seguin and Benn has "pissed me off."Seguin also addressed the criticism on Saturday."I hear the message," he said, according to DeFranks. "I think Jamie and I hear the message. I think the whole team hears it."Seguin added that Lites' assessments came as "a little bit of a surprise" because the two haven't had a conversation since the end of last season, according to Mark Stepneski of the club's official website.Meanwhile, Lites implied that he wants Seguin, Benn, and their teammates to use his critiques as motivation.“Hope they jam it down my throat,” Lites wrote in a text to The Athletic's Scott Burnside on Friday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired goaltender Michael Hutchinson from the Florida Panthers on Saturday in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2020, the team announced.News of the deal comes just hours after the team revealed Frederik Andersen is day to day with a groin injury and will miss Saturday's game against the New York Islanders.The trade gives the club some added depth at the goaltending position. Backup Garret Sparks has just 26 games under his belt in his short NHL career. The club's AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, has struggled mightily this season, especially in goal. Kasimir Kaskisuo, Jeff Glass, and Eamon McAdam have each played double-digit games for the team and none have posted a save percentage above .891.Hutchinson, on the other hand, has 106 NHL contests to his credit. He has spent the majority of this season with the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds where he's gone 2-3-1 with a .906 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators head coach Guy Boucher confirmed Thomas Chabot will be out for at least Saturday's game versus the Washington Capitals after suffering an upper-body injury Friday night.Chabot left the game and did not return after taking a hit from New York Islanders forward Matt Martin in the second period. Martin was not penalized on the play.Boucher added the Sens' top blue-liner is not dealing with a head injury, and a timetable for his return is unknown.Frustration boiled over during the contest's dying seconds. The teams combined for 38 penalty minutes with less than a minute on the clock, which included a fight between Martin and Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saturday night will be a memorable one for both John Tavares and Lou Lamoriello.For Tavares, it will mark the first game against his former club, the Islanders, since he elected to fulfill a childhood fantasy and sign with the Maple Leafs on July 1. As for Lamoriello, Saturday's visit to Scotiabank Arena will be his first since he stepped down as Toronto general manager and joined New York.While Lamoriello's return is certainly a captivating story, it won't quite match the emotions that players on both teams are sure to feel as Tavares suits up against the club that drafted him first overall in 2009 and helped develop him into the superstar he is today.For many Islanders fans and possibly a few former teammates, there is likely to be some bitterness toward Tavares' decision to seemingly jump ship, but Lamoriello contests that the five-time All-Star had every right to sign elsewhere."First of all, I knew him as a player by seeing my teams play against him," Lamoriello told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "I got to know him as a person and got to spend time with he and his wife; he's as great a person as he is a player. It's unfair for any criticism that he has received because he had every right to make that decision. He gave everything he had when he was here. He had a right to do it. So I don't think anybody should begrudge him for any decision that he made because that was his right."What should make burying the hatchet easier is that both clubs have been able to find success in the early going. The Maple Leafs sit second overall in the Eastern Conference behind the mighty Tampa Bay Lightning. The Islanders, meanwhile, are just two points out of the final wild-card spot in the East with games in hand on nearly all the teams ahead of them.As for Tavares, he's thrived with the blue and white, sitting tied for second in the league with 26 goals to go along with 18 assists in 38 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen is day to day with a groin injury and will miss Saturday's game against the New York Islanders, the team announced.Goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo has been recalled on an emergency basis.The news comes a day after backup goaltender Garret Sparks was given the reins in the Leafs' 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.Andersen has gone 3-0-1 in his last four games. He currently sits second in the league with 20 wins and ranks seventh in both goals-against average and save percentage among goalies who have played at least 15 contests.Kaskisuo has gone 3-5-0 in 11 games this season for the AHL's Toronto Marlies, compiling a 4.12 goals-against average and a .866 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.