Welcome to the second edition of theScore's Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, where we rank this season's top five goaltenders.5. Andrei Vasilevskiy, LightningPreviously: 3rdGPRecordGAASV%SO6142-15-32.59.9217Vasilevskiy's season has been a case of Jekyll and Hyde. In his first 34 games, he had a .939 save percentage and six shutouts, and looked to be running away with the Vezina. Since then, his save percentage is just .900 in 27 games, and he has only one shutout.It's clear that fatigue has played a part in Vasilevskiy's first full season as a starter, but the dropoff has been more dramatic than anyone expected. Regardless, his lights-out first half was enough to keep him in the top five.4. John Gibson, DucksPreviously: Honorable mentionGPRecordGAASV%SO5830-18-72.46.9254Gibson's stellar play has not only put him in a spot to potentially be a Vezina finalist, but also put the Ducks in a good position to make the playoffs - a prospect that was in doubt for a good chunk of the season.Entering Tuesday night's game, Gibson was 13-3-2 with a .938 save percentage and three shutouts in his last 18 games played. Health has plagued him in the past, but he's started 58 games this year - good for seventh-most in the league.3. Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue JacketsPreviously: 4thGPRecordGAASV%SO6235-22-52.38.9215While Bobrovsky only comes in at No. 3, he's arguably the goalie most crucial to his team's success. The Blue Jackets were averaging the fewest goals per game among teams in a playoff spot entering Tuesday night, putting an immense amount of pressure on their goaltender.Once the Jackets were able to generate some offense, they strung together a 10-game winning streak that was snapped last week, backed by a .940 save percentage by Bobrovsky, who was in net for seven of those wins.2. Connor Hellebuyck, JetsPreviously: 2ndGPRecordGAASV%SO6340-11-92.38.9236Hellebuyck continues to be solid as a rock in the Jets' crease. He'll have to be spectacular down the stretch to take over the top spot, but he's undoubtedly solidified himself as a finalist.1. Pekka Rinne, PredatorsPreviously: 1stGPRecordGAASV%SO5641-11-42.25.9298It's remarkable that Rinne has never won the Vezina Trophy, but barring some sort of late-season collapse, he has it all but locked up. Sure, the Predators are the league's best team, but they certainly wouldn't be there without the play of their star netminder.Honorable mentions: Frederik Andersen, Marc-Andre Fleury, Jonathan Quick, Tuukka Rask(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff races, while highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.Western ConferenceThe Anaheim Ducks suffered an embarrassing loss at the hands of the bottom-feeding Canucks, putting their playoff chances in doubt.Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues stayed hot with a massive victory - their sixth in a row - over the Sharks, snapping San Jose's eight-game winning streak in the process. The Blues now hold the first wild-card spot in the West.TeamResultPlayoff ChancesChangeBlues3-2 OTW vs. SJ80.8%+13.3%Ducks4-1 L vs. VAN67.6-16.2%Eastern ConferenceIn the East, the Devils walked away with a crucial victory over the Hurricanes. The Panthers now trail New Jersey by three points, but have two games in hand.TeamResultPlayoff ChancesChangeBlue Jackets7-3 W vs. EDM93.9%+5.1%Devils4-3 W vs. CAR70.7%+6.6%PanthersOff52.2%-7.8%To see percentages for the entire NHL, visit Sports Club Stats.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the first 10 minutes, the Edmonton Oilers looked fantastic.As for the remaining 50? Not so much.On the strength of three points from captain Connor McDavid - who reached the century mark for the second consecutive season - the Oilers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets, setting up what seemed to be a rare pleasant night at Rogers Arena.That is, until the Jackets poured in three goals of their own in the latter portion of the opening frame, and seven unanswered overall, to take a convincing 7-3 victory.Columbus reversed its fortunes on the strength of a hat trick from Thomas Vanek, who has 13 points in 14 games since being acquired at the trade deadline.While there's little consequence for the Oilers losing another game, it was a massive win for the Blue Jackets, who sit just one point back of the Pittsburgh Penguins for second in the Metropolitan Division.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues won their sixth straight game Tuesday night against the Sharks, ending San Jose's eight-game winning streak in the process.The Blues are now tied with the Winnipeg Jets for the longest active winning streak in the league.After a dismal stretch in which they lost seven straight games during the second half of February, the Blues are now holding onto the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, as they leapfrogged the Colorado Avalanche with Tuesday's overtime win.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid recorded his 100th point of the season Tuesday with a first-period assist against Blue Jackets, becoming the first player to reach the century mark in back-to-back seasons since Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin in 2008-09 and 2009-10, per Hockey Reference.Shortly thereafter, McDavid potted his 40th goal and 101st point of the season. He wasn't done there, though, as he added another first-period assist for good measure.Etching his name deeper into the NHL record books, McDavid became the seventh player in league history to record multiple 100-point seasons before his 22nd birthday, according to NHL Public Relations. The others? Wayne Gretzky, Dale Hawerchuk, Mario Lemieux, Crosby, Jimmy Carson, and Joe Sakic. Not bad company to say the least.McDavid continues to make a serious case for the Hart Trophy despite the fact that his team won't be heading to the postseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Referee Steve Barton was removed from the ice on a stretcher in the first period of Tuesday's contest between the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets.Barton hit his head on the ice after a collision with Connor McDavid, and was motionless before being attended to by medical staff.

Perhaps the NHL should make the same changes to plays on the goal line as it recently implemented for goaltender interference challenges.Early in Tuesday's game between the Winnipeg Jets and Boston Bruins, Jets winger Brandon Tanev tried to force the puck over the line as Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin did his best to keep it out.

Fresh off clinching a playoff berth in their inaugural season, the Vegas Golden Knights are offering a unique plan to incentivize season-ticket holders.The Golden Knights announced the "Knights Vow," which provides significant savings on cost and removes the option for holders to re-sell tickets through StubHub.Should a fan choose to opt out of the program and put their tickets on the secondary market, their discount options become limited.

Great Wall, meet Great One.Wayne Gretzky signed a lucrative deal with "hockey powers in China," TSN's Darren Dreger reports.Gretzky's name and brand will appear on hundreds of arenas being built across the country, and the hockey luminary will be heavily involved in the development of academies and camps in China as well as an equipment line.The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing, and while it's unclear whether NHL players will participate, both the league and the Canadian Women's Hockey League have taken significant steps to grow the game in China.Gretzky has gotten involved in many business ventures over the years, including acquiring ownership stakes in the then-Phoenix Coyotes and the CFL's Toronto Argonauts, owning an eponymous restaurant in downtown Toronto, and opening a winery and distillery in the Niagara region of Ontario.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Ty Rattie is growing quite fond of playing on a line with Connor McDavid.After failing to yet establish himself as an NHL regular, Rattie, 25, has found success playing on a line with McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, picking up four goals and three assists in his last six games.This prompted Rattie to give credit where credit's due."You could put my dad on his line and he'd put up 100 points," he told Sportsnet's Mark Spector.While it's a clear exaggeration, it's quite remarkable how McDavid has been able to rack up 99 points on such a poor team.As long as Rattie can keep up his chemistry with McDavid, the former St. Louis Blues' second-round pick should have no problem finding a permanent home in Edmonton, given the team's lack of scoring talent on the wings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings will likely be without one of their best defensemen for at least the next seven days.Jake Muzzin is listed as week to week with an injury the club simply described as an upper-body ailment, according to FOX Sports West's Jon Rosen.Muzzin took a big hit from Micheal Ferland in the second period of Monday's win over the Calgary Flames. He did not return.

Brad Marchand responded Tuesday to heavy criticism from New Jersey's Marcus Johansson.The Devils forward returned to practice Monday after missing more than two months of action due to a concussion suffered from a Marchand elbow to the head. He called the play sad, stupid, and not a hockey play.Johansson also worries Marchand hasn't learned his lesson, and could end someone's career with a similar hit."He's entitled to his opinion," Marchand said Tuesday, per TSN. "I understand he's frustrated with the situation. I would be as well. I feel really bad about how things played out, but again, very happy to see that he's back out on the ice and hopefully he's playing soon."Marchand was suspended five games for the play, marking the sixth time in his career he's been sidelined due to supplemental discipline.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Christopher Tanev has been shut down for the remainder of the season due to a sprained knee, head coach Travis Green announced Tuesday.Tanev sat out Sunday night's 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars after suffering the injury in Friday's game against the St. Louis Blues.The 28-year-old has dealt with injuries all season which have limited him to just 42 games, in which he's contributed two goals and 11 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's Board of Governors has approved the changes to Rule 78.7 (ii) regarding coaches' challenges of goaltender interference calls, the league announced Tuesday.The changes will see the NHL Situation Room (which will include a former referee) make the final decisions regarding goaltender interference reviews.The change to the rule was one of the recommendations made by the league during last week's GM meetings in Florida. Previously, the on-ice officials would make final interference calls on scoring plays.The topic of goalie interference and how it pertains to video review has been a season-long debate that has seen several head coaches, including Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss Mike Babcock, openly critical of inconsistent calls.The new rule will be implemented for games starting Wednesday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey's most infamous beard almost fell prey to an errant high stick.Winnipeg Jets winger Patrik Laine suffered a gash on his chin during Sunday's game against Nashville, but he made it clear the facial hair is there to stay."I let them know right away that I'm gonna keep it and don't touch it," he said, according to Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun. "It was pretty much what they had to work with."I didn't stitch it up so I have no idea how they did that. But they are professionals and they did great work with it so they were able to save my beard. It was fantastic work."Here's a look at what the beard looked like on opening night:Here's a more recent look:Laine has scored 43 goals in 75 games while developing this look.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shea Weber played on a fractured foot for more than two months.Speaking Tuesday in the Montreal locker room, the Canadiens defenseman admitted he suffered the injury that later required season-ending surgery while blocking a Jack Eichel shot during the first game of the season back on Oct. 5, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Weber kept playing until Dec. 16, recording six goals and 10 assists in 26 games while averaging more than 25 minutes a night.Eventually, he recognized something wasn't quite right, and it was later discovered that he'd suffered subsequent tendon damage.

It's arguably the most important position in sports, so it should come as no surprise that San Jose Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer thinks goaltender Martin Jones deserves much of the credit for his team's eight-game winning streak."We wouldn't be where we're at and we sure wouldn't have an eight-game winning streak (without him)," DeBoer said, according to NHL.com's Tracey Myers. "He's been our best player a lot of nights here the last month and that's where it starts. When you get goaltending like that, you have the confidence to take a few more chances offensively, and it usually leads to a few more goals. He's been great."

Each NHL club's nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy was unveiled Tuesday.The award is given out by the Professional Hockey Writers Association and recognizes the player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."This year's nominees include Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, who returned with a vengeance after being limited to just 17 games last season with a knee injury. He's put up 86 points in 75 games - his most productive campaign since 2011-12, when he captured the Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy with 60 goals.Among the other nominees is New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle, who was diagnosed with leukemia in September.After missing the first month of the season, Boyle made a triumphant return to the lineup on Nov. 1. The 33-year-old was ultimately named an All-Star, replacing injured teammate Taylor Hall, and has posted 13 goals and 23 points in 62 games.Here's the full list of nominees:TeamPlayerDucksTBACoyotesJakob ChychrunBruinsDavid BackesSabresKyle OkposoFlamesMatt StajanHurricanesJordan StaalBlackhawksJeff GlassAvalancheCarl SoderbergBlue JacketsZach WerenskiStarsMattias JanmarkRed WingsTBAOilersAdam LarssonPanthersRoberto LuongoKingsDustin BrownWildMatt CullenCanadiensAntti NiemiPredatorsAustin WatsonDevilsBrian BoyleIslandersJosh BaileyRangersChris KreiderSenatorsMark BorowieckiFlyersClaude GirouxPenguinsKris LetangSharksJoe ThorntonBluesCarter HuttonLightningSteven StamkosMaple LeafsRoman PolakCanucksDerek DorsettGolden KnightsBrad HuntCapitalsDevante Smith-PellyJetsTyler MyersCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As NHL teams are officially eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, theScore NHL freelance writer Katie Brown takes a look back at the highs and lows of their season, along with the biggest questions ahead of 2018-19. The sixth edition focuses on the Edmonton Oilers.The GoodConnor McDavid. There's much debate about whether he belongs in the Hart Trophy discussion as the best player on a non-playoff team, but McDavid is making an incredible case. He leads the Art Ross Trophy race, is a cinch to collect 100 points, and should also reach the 40-goal plateau. But the odds are against him, as only three other players in NHL history have won the Hart despite missing the postseason. A generational talent, McDavid is far and away the best thing about the Oilers - and has been since the day he first pulled on an Edmonton sweater.McDavid and Draisaitl are signed through their primes. Leon Draisaitl signed an eight-year, $8.5-million contract in August, and McDavid's eight-year contract kicks in for the 2018-19 season. Having them both locked up through their prime years is a wonderful development for the Oilers; now it's time to build a better team around them.Ethan Bear. Bear got his call-up on March 1 and might be here to stay. He's been on the top power-play unit and has averaged 18:12 of ice time per night through his first 12 games. All indications are that he'll remain with the Oilers through the end of the season. As Edmonton's top defensive prospect, he's expected to be in the running for a full-time stay in the NHL next fall. His development shouldn't be rushed, but his progress is encouraging.Center depth. To win in today's NHL, center depth is vital. That's one thing the Oilers don't have to worry about; there's a good chance they'll have McDavid, Draisaitl, Ryan Strome, and Jujhar Khaira manning the middle in 2018-19. That's not bad at all.The BadLosing Jordan Eberle. Looking at Eberle's first season with the New York Islanders, you can't help but wonder what might have been. Eberle was traded one year after Taylor Hall was shipped to New Jersey - and the Oilers felt the effects of both those deals this year with the overall lack of skill in the lineup outside McDavid and Draisaitl. Eberle's 25 goals would rank second on the Oilers, behind only McDavid; Strome, the player Eberle was traded for, has just 13.Oscar Klefbom's regression. The Oilers were banking on Klefbom to take the next step, but he fought a nagging shoulder injury that resulted in season-ending surgery in March. With 21 points in 66 games, he was well off the pace of his 38 points over a complete 2016-17 campaign, and his struggles are emblematic of the Oilers as a whole. His recovery time isn't expected to be long, so Klefbom should have ample opportunity to prepare for training camp in the fall and hopefully rebound next season.Not-so-special special teams. The Oilers have the NHL's worst power play at 14.5 percent, well below the league average of 19.9 percent. At 75.2 percent effectiveness, their penalty kill is 29th (only the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens are worse), and their 63 percent mark at home is the worst in NHL history.Cam Talbot. Talbot's third year with the Oilers is one he'd like to forget. The team's generally poor defensive play and disastrous penalty kill contributed to his current .909 save percentage, the worst of his five seasons in the NHL. He’s another player the Oilers can expect to bounce back, as long as they improve the team in front of him. With one year left on his contract, it doesn't make sense to part with him because of one bad season.The QuestionsWhat does the future hold for Chiarelli and McLellan? The Oilers are a mess. General manager Peter Chiarelli is more likely to survive the offseason than coach Todd McLellan, but it's also possible that both stay. Or both could go. It may depend on who else is available this summer - and whether ownership thinks those options are clearly superior to what the franchise already has. McLellan's done little to remedy the Oilers' consistently abysmal special-teams play, and Chiarelli hasn't effectively addressed their overall needs, trading away high-end offensive talent and getting little in return.How do they fix this mess? For the seventh time in eight years, the Oilers are a lottery squad. They've had the first overall pick four times in six years. They've also missed the playoffs 11 times in 12 years. It's hard to believe that this is the same team that started the season with the second-best odds to win the Stanley Cup. How many times can they repeat this cycle?If they get the No. 1 selection, Rasmus Dahlin might be the answer to every question about the Oilers' defense. He's a great fit for what they need. But Edmonton also needs to add depth on the wing. Clearing some cap space by trading Kris Russell or Milan Lucic would provide some wiggle room to pursue free agents. Sure, those contracts might look untradeable, but it's been done before.Other entries in this series:

Cory Schneider was expected to be the man in net when the New Jersey Devils made their return to the postseason.Instead, as the team makes a push for a playoff spot, the goaltender finds himself on the bench. He hasn't won a game since Dec. 27 and has failed to recapture his high-end form since returning from an injury that kept him out for 16 games.Based on the way Keith Kinkaid has been playing in his stead, not even Schneider can argue with the decision."At this time of the year, it's not about any one individual player, it's about the team and whatever is best for the team and Keith has been playing fantastic the last month and a half," Schneider said, according to Mike Morreale of NHL.com. "Even if I was playing well, Keith would give us a good decision to have in net one way or another."Kinkaid's been dialed in this month, posting a record of 6-3-0 with a .931 save percentage. Meanwhile, the Devils sit in the second wild-card spot, one point up on the prowling Florida Panthers.For his part, Schneider is doing his best to remain prepared if and when he's called upon.

Scoring big goals appears to be in the Selanne genes.Leevi Selanne, son of Hall of Fame winger Teemu, scored the overtime winner for Santa Margarita Catholic High School on Monday to clinch the Division I title at the 2018 USA Hockey national championships.

Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff race, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.While the Vegas Golden Knights stole headlines Monday by qualifying for the postseason in their inaugural campaign, there were some considerable changes in the odds for bubble teams vying for a playoff spot.The Florida Panthers and Los Angeles Kings each earned big wins, while the Colorado Avalanche - the Golden Knights' victim - took a substantial hit as the idle St. Louis Blues hold a game in hand down the stretch.Here's a look at how things shook out after a nine-game slate:Eastern ConferenceTeamResultPlayoff chancesChangePanthers3-0 W vs. FLA60.1%+12.1%DevilsOff64.1%-6.9%Western ConferenceTeamResultPlayoff chancesChangeKings3-0 W vs. CGY76.2%+3.2%Avalanche4-1 L vs. VGK67.8%-9.5%BluesOff73.5%+2.9%To see percentages for the entire NHL, visit Sports Club Stats.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vegas is playoff bound.With a 4-1 win on home ice over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night, the Golden Knights punched their ticket to the postseason in their record-setting inaugural season.The Golden Knights are the third team since 1968-69 to qualify for the playoffs in their debut campaign, joining the 1979-80 Hartford Whalers and Edmonton Oilers, per NHL Public Relations.However, the Whalers and Oilers did so after joining from the World Hockey Association, making Vegas' accomplishments the first of its kind in the NHL.Before the season begun, oddsmakers projected the Golden Knights to finish with a league-worst 69.5 points, but Monday's win pushed them to 103 on the season - ranking fourth in the league - with six games remaining.Now six points clear of the San Jose Sharks, Vegas is closing in on clinching top spot in the Pacific Division to cap off a success story nobody could have predicted.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks are still the hottest team in the NHL.Monday's 4-3 shootout victory over the Chicago Blackhawks gave the Sharks their eighth consecutive win.The Sharks temporarily moved within four points of the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division, but the expansion franchise later regained its six-point cushion and clinched a playoff berth with a win over the Colorado Avalanche.San Jose hasn't lost since March 10, when they fell 2-0 to the Washington Capitals.Extending the streak won't be easy, as the Sharks face the St. Louis Blues - winners of five straight themselves - in the second game of a road back-to-back Tuesday night.San Jose then travels to Nashville to face the NHL-best Predators on Thursday night before clashing with the Golden Knights in Nevada on Saturday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Let the Daniel Brickley sweepstakes begin.The NCAA free agent is going to visit the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks this week, and there are two other teams on his list that he's not visiting as of yet, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.Brickley's decision is likely coming later this week, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The 22-year-old defenseman piled up 35 points in 40 regular-season games for the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks, who were eliminated by Minnesota Duluth in the opening round of the NCAA tournament on Friday.He played three seasons at MSU-Mankato and also represented the United States at the 2017 World Championship.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks have inked forward Troy Terry to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday.He could join the Ducks in Vancouver on Tuesday, per Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register.Terry was drafted in the fifth round in 2015, but put himself on the map after an epic performance with the United States at the 2017 world juniors. Terry scored three goals in the semifinal versus Russia, then scored the shootout winner against Canada to deliver his country a gold medal.The 20-year-old also represented USA at PyeongChang 2018, and recorded 48 points in 39 games with the University of Denver this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers got one of the top collegiate point producers to sign on the dotted line.Henrik Borgstrom inked his three-year, entry-level deal Monday.The 20-year-old center poured in 52 points across 40 games in his sophomore season with the University of Denver, which was eliminated by Ohio State in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament on Sunday.His point total put him in a tie for fourth in the NCAA and placed him first in his conference, the NCHC, which gave him 2018 player of the year honors.Borgstrom is one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top U.S. college hockey player.He helped Denver capture the 2017 NCAA championship.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes' blue line has taken another hit.Already without defenseman Jason Demers for the remainder of the season, the Coyotes announced on Monday that blue-liner Niklas Hjalmarsson will not play in the team's final seven games due to a lower-body injury.Hjalmarsson sustained the injury against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday and sat out Saturday's contest against the Florida Panthers.It's been an injury-riddled campaign for the first-year Coyote, who earlier this season missed a 10-game stretch with an upper-body injury. He then returned for five games before missing the next 16 contests due to another upper-body ailment.The 30-year-old has one season remaining on his contract, carrying a $4.1-million salary cap hit.Arizona acquired Hjalmarsson from the Chicago Blackhawks last offseason for defenseman Connor Murphy and forward Laurent Dauphin.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marcus Johansson is inching closer to returning to game action, but he hasn't forgotten what put him on the sidelines in the first place.An elbow courtesy of Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand - as the play was blown dead - during a Jan. 23 contest left Johansson concussed.While Marchand was suspended five games as a result of the hit, Johansson has been unable to suit up for the past 28 games as he continues to recover from his second concussion this season.Johansson is also dealing with the frustration in how the injury occurred."It was stupid. There's nothing else to say about it," Johansson told Corey Masisak of The Athletic. "There was no point in doing that. There was no hockey play whatsoever."It's sad to see there are still guys out there trying to hurt other guys. It's sad. It's stupid. I (am) hoping it doesn't come to him ending someone else's career before it is enough."Nor does Johansson feel the length of Marchand's ban will sufficiently influence his future behavior."Not really, consider this was the ninth time he's been suspended or fined," Johansson added. "Like I said, you hope that it doesn't come to him ending someone's career before it's enough."As Johansson indicates, Marchand has missed plenty of time at the rink due to his indiscretions, including six suspensions since 2011 totaling 19 games lost, plus seven fines.Marchand's latest supplemental discipline - a $2,000 fine - came less than two months after the hit on Johansson. But its relatively minor amount apparently isn't a major deterrent to the Bruins forward."It's a joke. It's a small amount of money and pretty stupid. But it is what it is," Marchand said earlier this month.As for Johansson, while Monday marked his first practice, there is no time frame for when he will return to game action.The Swedish forward has been limited to just 29 games and 14 points this season, a critical loss for a Devils squad battling for its playoff lives and one that could benefit from his offensive contributions.New Jersey acquired Johansson from the Washington Capitals last offseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have added some depth to their prospect pool, signing Princeton forward and undrafted free agent Eric Robinson to a two-year, entry-level contract."Eric is a power forward with excellent speed who plays a very reliable two-way game and brings the type of character and leadership we value as an organization," Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a statement.Robinson is expected to join the Blue Jackets for Tuesday's contest against the Edmonton Oilers.The 22-year-old has spent the past four seasons with the Tigers. He opted to turn pro after Princeton lost out in the first round of the NCAA playoffs.Robinson tallied 17 goals and 14 assists across 36 games this season.Prior to joining the Tigers, the New Jersey native spent one season with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints, where he collected 24 points in 50 contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks signed forward Adam Gaudette to a three-year entry-level contract.Gaudette, 21, led the NCAA in scoring this season with 30 goals and 30 assists in 38 games for the Northeastern Huskies, and is a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top college men's player.

Chalk up another accolade for Connor McDavid.The Edmonton Oilers captain was named the NHL's first star of the week Monday after collecting 10 points over his last four appearances, including a four-point outing against the Ottawa Senators. McDavid sits four points ahead of Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov for the league lead in scoring with 99 points.After collecting three straight victories, St. Louis Blues netminder Jake Allen is the NHL's second star of the week. The stretch saw Allen post three consecutive games in which he allowed a single goal, while turning aside 73 shots.Winnipeg Jets rookie forward Kyle Connor is the NHL's third star of the week after he notched six points in three games, including overtime-winning goals over the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. Connor ranks tied for first with Vancouver's Brock Boeser in rookie goal scoring with 29 tallies on the season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Casey Mittelstadt's college career is over.The University of Minnesota forward has agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced Monday.In 34 games with the Golden Gophers this season, Mittelstadt collected 11 goals and 19 assists, finishing second in team scoring.The Minnesota native was also a key contributor for Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championship, as he picked up 11 points across seven appearances.Mittelstadt is expected to join the Sabres' roster later this week, TSN's Bob McKenzie reports.The Sabres selected Mittelstadt with the eighth overall pick in the 2017 draft.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As NHL teams are officially eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, theScore NHL freelance writer Katie Brown takes a look back at the highs and lows of their season, along with the biggest questions ahead of 2018-19. The fifth edition focuses on the Montreal Canadiens.The GoodThe youth movement. The Canadiens have a terrific core of young players 25 and under - a group that includes Artturi Lehkonen, Brendan Gallagher, Charles Hudon, Phillip Danault, Victor Mete, Jonathan Drouin, and Alex Galchenyuk. Some, like Hudon and Mete, have made significant strides individually this year; others, like Galchenyuk and Drouin, are still looking to reach their full potential. But it's clear that the Canadiens don't need to tear it all down and rebuild; they have the pieces. It's just a matter of putting their young core in a position to succeed.Carey Price will be better next year. It was an absolutely brutal year for Price, who struggled with chronic fatigue syndrome and missed time with a concussion. But he has a long summer to recover and get back to his Vezina Trophy-winning form. As Price goes, so go the Canadiens.Antti Niemi has been terrific. Niemi looked like a lost cause during the first part of the season in Pittsburgh, where he was supposed to be the veteran backup to Matt Murray. He was placed on waivers twice in three weeks and ended up in Montreal after being waived by the Florida Panthers, a move many thought signaled the end of Niemi's career. Since he was claimed Nov. 4, he's posted a solid record of 6-4-4, with a 2.25 GAA, a .936 save percentage, and a shutout in 16 appearances.It looked like Charlie Lindgren had the backup spot locked down earlier in the season, but Niemi has certainly given the Canadiens' management something to think about this summer.The deficiencies have been identified. In some ways, losing Price for parts of the season was a good thing. He has masked some of the Canadiens' faults for years - and his absence exposed areas of weakness that Montreal will undoubtedly look to shore up in time for next season.The BadThey're down a cornerstone player. Beyond Price, the Canadiens need a franchise player to build around, but who will it be? Captain Max Pacioretty has been in trade rumors and could be gone. Can Drouin become that guy? This team needs a player to forge an identity around - and someone the fan base can get excited about.That terrible start. Some teams can survive starting the season 1-7-1, but not the Canadiens. They were playing catch-up from the beginning and never recovered. Add Price's struggles and injuries to Shea Weber and other players to the mix, and they never really stood a chance.The thin blue line. Defensive issues have plagued the Canadiens all season long. Weber hasn't played since December and some of general manager Marc Bergevin's offseason moves look suspect in hindsight. He opted not to hang on to Andrei Markov and gave up his best defensive prospect, Mikhail Sergachev, to acquire Drouin.The Canadiens need to focus on getting younger and faster on the blue line, and they have the depth to accomplish that without completely blowing it up -especially if free-agent options are scarce.The QuestionsWhat exactly is Marc Bergevin’s plan? What the Canadiens need is clear: a No. 1 center; a left-handed defenseman who can play top-four minutes, and a refreshed, restocked prospect pool. Trading Tomas Plekanec at the deadline was a no-brainer, but how does Bergevin acquire a top-four defenseman through trade when he doesn't have that much to offer?He'll have an opportunity to add prospects at the draft, where the Canadiens have five picks in the top two rounds. And of course, there's the chance Montreal wins the first overall pick in the lottery and drafts Rasmus Dahlin.Will Shea Weber be ready in the fall? Weber had surgery to repair tendons on his left foot during the second week of March. This is good news for those who've watched him battle the nagging injury; the not-so-good news is the projected six-month recovery time for the surgery.If all goes as planned, Weber could hypothetically be ready by mid-September, and the Canadiens are hopeful he'll be ready for training camp. But just because he might be ready for training camp doesn't mean he’ll be ready for the start of the season. We don't know to what extent Weber will be able to train over the summer, if at all. So while he might be physically healthy, it could take him some time to get back into shape.What is Pacioretty's fate? The Canadiens shopped Pacioretty at the trade deadline, but nothing came to pass. That's likely because the asking price was too high; TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger reported the package would have had to include a No. 2 center.Pacioretty has one year left on a six-year contract with a reasonable $4.5-million cap hit. All signs point to Bergevin testing the market again during the offseason to see what he can get for the 29-year-old, who scored 30-plus goals in six straight seasons before settling for just 17 this season.Other entries in this series:

Steven Stamkos is getting at least one night off.The Tampa Bay Lightning captain won't play Monday against Arizona and is considered day to day with a lower-body injury, head coach Jon Cooper announced.The injury does not appear to be cause for concern.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward and captain Nick Foligno is expected to miss two-to-four weeks after suffering a lower-body injury late in Saturday's game against the St. Louis Blues, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced Monday.Foligno has scored 15 goals and added 18 assists in 72 games for a Blue Jackets team that currently holds third place in the Metropolitan Division, but has not yet clinched a postseason berth.The playoffs will begin April 11, meaning Foligno may not be able to suit up until later in the first round, depending on where his recovery falls on the expected timeline.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 13th installment of theScore's NHL Power Rankings was put together by editors Ian McLaren, Cory Wilkins, and Craig Hagerman.1. Tampa Bay Lightning (51-20-4)Previously 1stThis squad has been cruising all season, and tops the NHL in goal differential (+59). Expectations are high, and one gets the sense they'll strike hottest once the postseason rolls around. - McLaren2. Winnipeg Jets (46-19-10)Previously 4thThe Jets aren't resting on their laurels as the season winds down, as evidenced by a recent fight during practice and a current five-game win streak. Patrik Laine staying in the lineup after a foot injury scare sent history's biggest sigh of relief into the atmosphere. - McLaren3. Boston Bruins (47-17-10)Previously 3rdBoston keeps rolling despite a host of injuries, and there's still a very real chance the Bruins can leapfrog the Lightning atop the Eastern Conference standings. For now, the priority is getting healthy, and getting Patrice Bergeron back is a huge first step. - McLaren4. Nashville Predators (48-16-11)Previously 2ndNashville already boasts a deep and talented roster, and the Predators appear set to add top prospect Eeli Tolvanen for the stretch run. A shootout loss to Winnipeg on Sunday, however, was their third straight game without a win.

The Minnesota Wild have signed forward Jordan Greenway to a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the remainder of the 2017-18 season, the team announced Monday.

Canada will reportedly have a pair of general managers for the 2018 IIHF World Championship.Sean Burke and Martin Brodeur are expected to be named co-GMs by Hockey Canada on Monday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Burke served as GM of Canada's bronze-medal winning men's team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang; Brodeur was on the management team while concurrently working as the assistant GM for the St. Louis Blues.Canada will begin play at the World Championship in Denmark on May 4 against the United States.In 2017, Canada lost to Sweden in a shootout in the gold-medal game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eeli Tolvanen is free to sign with the Nashville Predators.The 18-year-old forward and KHL club Jokerit mutually agreed to terminate his contract Monday morning after the club was eliminated from the postseason.

The St. Louis Blues signed college free agent Mitch Reinke as well as draft picks Nolan Stevens and Austin Poganski to two-year, entry-level contracts Sunday, the team announced.Reinke is coming off his second season at Michigan Tech where the defenseman put up three goals and 24 points in 35 games. Last year he posted six goals and 20 points in 41 games.Stevens was drafted by the Blues in the fifth round in 2016 and is coming off his fourth year at Northeastern University. After being limited to just 17 games last season, the 22-year-old forward dressed in 38 contests where he posted a career-high in goals with 24 and matched his career-best in points with 42.Poganski is coming off his fourth season at the University of North Dakota where he potted 11 goals and 20 points. The 22-year-old forward was drafted by the Blues in the fourth-round back in 2014.Both Reinke and Stevens are expected to join the Blues this week where they will be eligible to make their NHL debuts. Meanwhile, Poganski will report to San Antonio of the American Hockey League on an amateur tryout.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars dropped their eighth straight game Sunday night with a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.The defeat makes their current losing skid the longest by the franchise since they made the move to Dallas for the 1993-94 season and longest overall since 1978.

The Winnipeg Jets clinched a playoff spot Sunday thanks to a shootout win over the Nashville Predators.After battling to a 4-4 score that 3-on-3 overtime couldn't solve, Mark Scheifele scored the lone shootout goal and Connor Hellebuyck turned away all three Predators shooters for the win.

Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has taken a leave of absence due to a family matter, coach Glen Gulutzan announced Sunday.As a result, Gaudreau won't play Monday vs. the Los Angeles Kings. The Flames didn't provide a timetable on when he'll return.Gaudreau has appeared in all 76 games this season, and has 23 goals and 59 assists, good for first in team scoring.Calgary has six games remaining and sits nine points back of a playoff position.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers will use their final seven games to evaluate some of their up-and-coming talent.On Sunday, the team recalled prospects Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil from the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.The Rangers selected the two forwards with the seventh and 21st picks, respectively, in last year's draft. It marked the first time New York drafted in the opening round since 2012.Andersson has split this season between Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League, where he tallied 14 points in 22 games, and Hartford, where he has collected five goals and nine assists across 24 games. The 19-year-old captained Sweden to a silver-medal finish at the 2018 World Junior Championship.Chytil made his NHL debut earlier this season, appearing in two games in which he averaged just over six minutes of ice time alongside a minus-two rating. The Czech Republic native sits third in Wolf Pack scoring with 31 points in 45 games.The Rangers' next game comes Monday against the Washington Capitals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets strengthened their prospect pool Sunday, agreeing to terms with Minnesota State forward C.J. Suess on a one-year, entry-level contract.Suess recently completed his fourth year at Minnesota State and had the option to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. However, the 24-year-old opted to sign with the Jets, which selected him in the fifth round of the 2014 draft.The deal also includes an amateur tryout contract, allowing Suess to finish the season with the Manitoba Moose, the Jets' AHL affiliate.In 40 games with Minnesota State this season, Suess netted 22 goals and 21 assists, tied with fellow forward Zeb Knutson for the lead in team scoring.Suess is also one of 10 nominees for the Hobey Baker Award, an annual recognition of the NCAA's top hockey player.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson will not travel with the team for Monday's game against Carolina, head coach Guy Boucher announced.Karlsson returned to the lineup for Saturday's home loss to the Hurricanes following the death of his infant son, but will remain in Ottawa to be with wife Melinda for the time being.

Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron was back in the lineup Sunday against the Minnesota Wild.It marks his first game since suffering a foot injury Feb. 25.In 55 games, Bergeron has 27 goals and 27 assists, and the Bruins still managed a winning record in his absence.The Bruins remain without Rick Nash, Jake DeBrusk, Zdeno Chara, and Charlie McAvoy, all of whom are sidelined due to injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Toby Enstrom has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season with a lower-body injury, head coach Paul Maurice announced Sunday.Maurice expects Enstrom to be ready to go for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Enstrom has been limited to 43 games this season, recording a goal and five assists while averaging 17:01 per contest.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.