David Backes may be hearing from the Department of Player Safety after catching Florida Panthers centerman Vincent Trocheck with an unsuspecting, open-ice hit late in the first period on Thursday.The Boston Bruins forward was assessed a match penalty on the play.The hit sparked a fight between Backes and Florida's Mike Matheson. The Panthers defenseman was ejected after receiving an instigator for fighting penalty and a game misconduct."It's the kind of hit I've been doing for years," Backes said postgame, according to NBC Sports' Joe Haggerty. "So if this is the new NHL, the new standard, then I hope I can have my old league back."Earlier this month Backes was suspended three games for interference on Detroit Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen. For that, he would now be considered a repeat offender.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrik Laine made NHL history on Thursday.Picking up an assist against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Winnipeg Jets superstar extended his point streak to 14 games - the longest ever by a teenager.Laine has recorded 16 goals and 24 points over the stretch. Just how long can Laine extend the streak? He doesn't turn to 20 until April 19, after the Jets play the final 11 games of their regular-season schedule.The 19-year-old leads the Jets with 41 goals and sits second in team scoring with 66 points.

James van Riemsdyk is on some kind of roll.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward scored two goals in a span of exactly three minutes against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, one night after potting a hat trick in a win over the Dallas Stars.He threw one in off Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner from below the goal line to open the scoring Thursday night.

Jacob Trouba made his long-awaited return to the Winnipeg Jets' lineup on Thursday night.Trouba was back manning the Jets' blue line against the Chicago Blackhawks after missing the last 20 games with a lower-body injury. He'd been sidelined since Jan. 25, and Winnipeg went 12-6-2 during that stretch.The 24-year-old has been a crucial part of the Jets' defense this season, ranking second on the club with just over 24 minutes of ice time per game. He's also contributed 20 points from the back end in his limited action.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes appear to be diminishing Ron Francis' responsibilities even more than originally anticipated.After being stripped of his general manager title and appointed to the position of president of hockey operations by new Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon last week, Francis may not represent the team at the upcoming GM meetings.

Columbus Blue Jackets blue-liner Seth Jones returned to the lineup Thursday versus the Philadelphia Flyers, one game after suffering an upper-body injury.Jones left late in the second period of Monday's contest against the Montreal Canadiens due to the ailment. Following the game, Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella noted Jones had aggravated a past injury and that he was held out of the remainder of the game as a precaution.The Blue Jackets defender enters Thursday's game riding a three-game point streak in which he has tallied four goals and three assists.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Calle Jarnkrok will miss the remainder of the regular season with an upper-body injury, the team announced Thursday.The ailment was suffered in Tuesday's win over the Winnipeg Jets. While the specifics of the injury are unknown, head coach Peter Laviolette didn't rule out the possibility of Jarnkrok returning should the West-leading Predators make a playoff run.

The Boston Bruins will be without defenseman Zdeno Chara and rookie winger Jake DeBrusk for Thursday's game versus the Florida Panthers as both players deal with upper-body injuries, head coach Bruce Cassidy announced.Cassidy also said the duo will miss Saturday's marquee contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning.The Bruins will also be without key players Patrice Bergeron and Charlie McAvoy due to injury.Chara, 40, has been as reliable as ever this season, managing 23 points in 68 games while playing 23 minutes per night. DeBrusk, meanwhile, has been an important contributor in his rookie campaign, registering 14 goals and 25 assists so far.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens welcomed goaltender Carey Price back to practice for the first time since he suffered a concussion Feb. 20.

As NHL teams are officially eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, theScore National Sports Editor James Bisson takes a look back at the highs and lows of their season, along with the biggest questions ahead of 2018-19. The first edition focuses on the Arizona Coyotes.The GoodClayton Keller's arrival. The seventh overall pick in the 2016 draft arrived on the NHL scene in a major way, recording 15 points in 13 October games - tops among rookies for the month. And while he wasn't able to maintain that breakneck scoring pace, he's proven to be his team's most consistent offensive options, leading the way with 19 goals and 50 points through 69 games while adding three game-winners.Keller doesn't turn 20 until July and, while the Chesterfield, Mo., native is on the small side at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, the modern NHL is built for speedy players like him. There's clearly plenty of growing to do - both on and off the ice - but it's clear the Coyotes have likely landed a future star.Antti Raanta's resurgence. Give full credit to Coyotes general manager John Chayka (more on him later) for recognizing an opportunity to improve his team immediately rather than continuing to rely on high draft picks. And while the acquisitions of Raanta and center Derek Stepan from the New York Rangers last June hasn't exactly moved the needle this season, it does position the Coyotes to be better in the seasons to come - thanks mostly to Raanta.After failing to find a foothold in Chicago and New York despite playing well in both stints - and struggling in his initial arrival in the desert - Raanta has emerged as one of the Western Conference's most reliable goaltenders, boasting a 2.43 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage through Wednesday's games. The Coyotes will need to re-sign Raanta, who's set for unrestricted free agency July 1. There's a decent chance they'll do just that.A very happy anniversary. The Coyotes celebrated the 3,000th game in franchise history in style, waxing the Chicago Blackhawks 6-1 on Feb. 12 to equal their biggest margin of victory of the season. It was their best offensive output of 2017-18, and marked just their second six-goal effort in the past 189 regular-season games.Forward Max Domi might have been the happiest guy on the ice; not only did he get to be on the right side of a rout for a change, but his goal 1:32 into the game snapped a 21-game goalless streak dating back to mid-December. "Winning's fun, so it was just a lot of fun out there," Domi told reporters afterward. "Everyone was contributing and everyone wanted to be a part of it. No one let up."Chayka's shake-up. He won't win Executive of the Year, but Chayka made a flurry of moves this season, most of which improved his team both for now and in the future. The price for Stepan and Raanta was a steep one - especially when you consider that he continued to tinker with his goaltender roster - but in doing so, he landed a solid netminder and a No. 1 center.Acquiring Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jason Demers prior to the season helped shore up a leaky defense that remains among the league's worst, but has improved over last season; Arizona allowed the third-fewest goals against in February, and has given up the fourth-fewest overall since the All-Star break. Give Chayka a solid B for his moves this season, which is progress.Another high pick is coming. Barring another deal like the one that netted them Raanta and Stepan prior to last year's draft, the Coyotes will have one of the earliest picks this June. And while a handful of prospects have stood out to scouting departments this season, one name is of particular interest: Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.Would the Coyotes favor Dahlin over the top forward prospect, Barrie Colts winger Andrei Svechnikov? Perhaps; while Svechnikov would help address Arizona's goal deficiency issues, Dahlin is clearly the draft's top prospect - and acquiring him would either give Arizona yet another solid blue-liner, or would allow the Coyotes to deal Oliver Ekman-Larsson for a haul. Whatever route Chayka takes, it's a great problem to have.The BadAnother scoring shortage. The Coyotes haven't had a 30-goal scorer since 2011-12 - and that streak is in no danger of being halted this season. In fact, Arizona has just two players - Keller and winger Brendan Perlini - on pace to score 20 goals. Simply put, this team can't score enough goals - and no amount of improvement on defense and in goal will mask that.This is where Arizona will need to make significant inroads beginning next season. Saddled with the league's second-worst offense (2.4 goals per game) and the No. 26 power play (16.9 percent), Chayka has his work cut out for him - which is why he might want to consider either dangling his draft pick as trade bait, or sending OEL packing if he does wind up with Dahlin.Behind from the start. It's one thing for a team to open the season with two or three losses in a row (a development that makes even the most optimistic NHL fan want to pull his or her hair out.) It's another to kick off the campaign with losses in 11 consecutive games - which is exactly what happened to the 2017-18 version of the Coyotes. And yes, it gets worse.Arizona went on to win just two of its next nine games - giving it two victories through 20 contests. And both of those wins came in extra time; Arizona didn't earn its first regulation triumph of the season until Nov. 16, when it knocked off the Canadiens in Montreal. Essentially, the Coyotes' playoff chances were toast by the one-quarter point of the season. Brutal.The fall of Anthony Duclair. Given the Coyotes' annual struggle to produce offense, you can imagine their delight when Duclair - acquired from the New York Rangers in a blockbuster March 2015 deal - put together a 20-goal season as a rookie. But the sheen quickly came off the following season, as Duclair managed just five goals and 15 points in 58 games.On his way to another disappointing offensive campaign, Duclair requested a trade in January - and was promptly granted his wish, as he was shipped to the Blackhawks in a four-player deal that sent Richard Panik to Arizona. And while Duclair has yet to rediscover his offensive form, that's of little consolation to Coyotes fans who thought they had a keeper.Bad Max. As disappointing as it was to see Duclair go from highly touted prospect to nondescript trade piece, Domi's struggles have been even more alarming. The 23-year-old center has just five goals and 31 points in 69 games games, two years removed from an 18-goal, 52-point rookie season that had Arizona fans dreaming of a homegrown No. 1 center.Granted, Domi has almost certainly suffered from some bad puck luck this season; his shooting percentage of 3.9 is well below his 11.5 percent rate as a rookie and his 8.3 percent rate from last season. But with just 14 goals in 128 games over the past two seasons, it's clear Domi is nowhere near the polished offensive gem the Coyotes thought they had two years ago.More fan indifference. There are a multitude of reasons why the Coyotes aren't drawing anywhere near the top NHL teams - but it's still noteworthy that the team can't pull in more than 75 percent of capacity. Winning is the best remedy for poor attendance, but you can't help but wonder if this is just how it's going to be for hockey in the desert.The QuestionsWhat happens to Ekman-Larsson? Chayka wasn't about to give away his No. 1 blue-liner at the trade deadline, reportedly asking for two solid roster players and a high draft pick. It's been a dismal season for the 26-year-old Swede, who has just 10 goals and 25 assists to go along with a hideous minus-34 rating through 69 games.Will a team pay Chayka's price this summer? That seems unlikely given that Ekman-Larsson's contract expires in the summer of 2019; unless the move came along with OEL's signature on a contract extension, it's hard to envision any GM ponying up for a one-season commitment. Chayka will likely push for a trade this summer, but fans shouldn't be surprised if one doesn't emerge.Who's coming back? Arizona is well positioned to undergo a complete roster facelift over the next two years, with eight expiring contracts this summer and another 11 in July 2019. And at this point, it's hard to believe that more than a few of these players are iron-clad candidates to return.That said, it's fair to assume Raanta will get a look following his terrific second half; he isn't the NHL's most consistent goaltender, but he's flashed greatness under difficult circumstances in Glendale. Perlini is also looking like a core player for the Coyotes as he nears the 20-goal plateau as a rookie. But look for plenty of the veterans to have new addresses soon.What's Plan B in goal? Despite Raanta's late-season emergence, there's no guarantee he'll return. The Coyotes acquired netminder Darcy Kuemper from Los Angeles in February; he was having a sensational season with the Kings (10-1-3, 2.10 GAA, .932 SV%, 3 SO) but has struggled in his first few games with the Coyotes,It's possible the Coyotes are perfectly content to roll with Kuemper, who is under contract through 2020 at a $1.85-million cap hit over the next two seasons. But with Kuemper having just 126 career games under his belt, it would behoove Arizona to add experience in goal - most easily done by retaining Raanta and having Kuemper spell him 20-25 times per season.Is an FA splash coming? As of this writing, the Coyotes have more than $15 million in cap space, and with a handful of expiring contracts in the fold, that number will grow July 1. Phoenix kept the purse strings tight last summer, adding a handful of role players but no real impact forward. Will that change this year? Given the Coyotes' offensive woes, it has to.Notable UFA forwards as of this post include John Tavares, Rick Nash, Paul Stastny, Evander Kane, James Neal, James van Riemsdyk, and David Perron, among others. While some of those players will likely remain with their current teams, the Coyotes should be in on several others. Without an injection of top-level talent, this team isn't going to be able to score goals.If they fix it, will fans come? Phoenix has never been a hockey hot bed, but it hasn't helped that the Coyotes have advanced past the first round just once since the franchise migrated from Winnipeg in the mid-1990s. This year will mark the third consecutive year out of the playoffs - and given how many areas of weakness exist, that drought isn't likely to end next season.We've seen examples of non-traditional hockey markets generating significant fan interest - either temporary or sustained - with some on-ice success. Heck, even the Coyotes saw a boost of 1,500 fans per game the season following their 2012 Western Conference final appearance. There's reason for optimism here, but this team has a very, very long way to go.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled goaltender Garret Sparks from the AHL, the team announced Thursday.Workhorse starter Frederik Andersen left Wednesday's contest versus the Dallas Stars with an upper-body injury, prompting the emergency call-up of Sparks as the team heads to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Thursday night.Head coach Mike Babcock said Curtis McElhinney, who secured Toronto's 6-5 shootout win over Dallas, will start against Buffalo.There's no word yet on how long Andersen will be unavailable, but Babcock doesn't seem overly concerned.

Have teams found a cure to the Vegas Flu?For the third straight game, the Vegas Golden Knights dropped a contest on home ice, falling 8-3 to the visiting New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.It was a tough loss for Vegas, as starter Marc-Andre Fleury was chased from the cage after allowing four goals on 11 shots.The latest stumble follows home losses to the Ottawa Senators and Los Angeles Kings.The defeat brings the Golden Knights to a record of 24-8-2 at T-Mobile Arena this year, while the current skid marks the first time this season Vegas has lost three in a row on home ice.The team's last win in Sin City came Feb. 23 against the Vancouver Canucks.Wednesday's contest opened a four-game home stand for the Golden Knights, meaning the team will have the chance to get back to its winning ways on home ice when they take on the Minnesota Wild on Friday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks can't buy a goal.For the third straight game, the Canucks were unable to find the scoresheet, as the team fell 3-0 to the Anaheim Ducks.Ducks goaltender John Gibson turned aside 32 shots for his third shutout of the season.The goalless drought extended the Canucks' scoring slump following shutout losses to the Los Angeles Kings and Arizona Coyotes.Vancouver's last goal came Friday, when Jussi Jokinen tallied against the Minnesota Wild. Given that goal came with 12:09 remaining in the second period, the Canucks have now gone more than 212 minutes since finding the back of the net.Adding insult to injury, Wednesday's loss officially eliminated the Canucks from postseason contention.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs dug themselves a sizable hole late in Wednesday's game, but once again they rallied for a victory.Toronto clawed back from a 4-2 deficit in the third period against the Dallas Stars to win 6-5 in a shootout. It marked the fourth time this season that the Maple Leafs have come back from two goals down in the third period to win, the most of any team in the league.

The Dallas Stars let one get away on Wednesday night.After falling behind 2-0 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the club rallied to snag a two-goal lead and a separate one-goal lead, before conceding the game-tying goal with 15 seconds left in regulation and ultimately falling in the shootout 6-5.The game marked the club's fifth loss in their last six games and with just over three weeks left in the regular season, the slump couldn't be coming at worse time.During the Stars' mini slump, the club has fallen out of third place in the Central Division and now sits precariously in the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.The Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames both sit just outside the playoff picture, at 82 and 80 points, respectively.The Stars' spate of losses has no doubt been precipitated by the loss of No. 1 goaltender Ben Bishop, who went down with injury against the Ottawa Senators. Bishop has now missed the last five games, and it was that March 5 game versus the Sens that marked the first loss of the team's current slide.In his absence, Kari Lehtonen has been tasked with holding down the fort and he's had mediocre results in relief. He's gone 1-3-2 with a .904 save percentage and 2.82 GAA. The Stars' offense hasn't given him much support, however, having scored just 12 goals in those six games.Bishop did skate on Wednesday - though he did not take part in practice - so his return should be imminent.Despite the Stars having the benefit of more regulation and overtime wins than the Ducks and Flames, if they don't right the ship - and soon - they may find themselves on the outside looking in as the wild-card race winds down.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some late heroics from Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad put the New York Rangers in the win column on Wednesday night.Trailing 3-2 against the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins with less than four minutes remaining in the final frame, the two went to work.First, following a hectic flurry that saw the two teams score 73 seconds apart, Zibanejad finished off Kreider's pretty passing play to even the score:

Frederik Andersen's night ended early on Wednesday, as the Toronto Maple Leafs netminder was forced out of the game versus the Dallas Stars due to an upper-body injury.The Maple Leafs later announced that Andersen would not return to the game.Backup goaltender Curtis McElhinney entered in place of Andersen. In 13 appearances this season, McElhinney has posted a 7-4-1 record and a .931 save percentage.Following the 6-5 win, Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock was optimistic about Andersen's injury status and maintained the club will stick with its original plan to start McElhinney on Thursday when the Maple Leafs head to Buffalo to take on the Sabres.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The coach is ready to get back to work.Arizona Coyotes bench boss Rick Tocchet will rejoin the team for Thursday's contest against the Nashville Predators, three days after taking a leave of absence due to a family illness, assistant coach John MacLean told Craig Morgan of AZ Sports.Tocchet missed one game while away from the team, a 4-3 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings in which MacLean assumed the head duties.The former Coyotes forward is in his first year behind the Arizona bench.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And then, there were 10.Finalists for the 2018 Hobey Baker Award - an annual recognition of the NCAA's top hockey player - were announced Wednesday.Among this year's finalists are Henrik Borgstrom, a first-round draft choice by the Florida Panthers in 2016, and Ryan Donato, a Boston Bruins prospect and USA Hockey product who competes at Harvard University.Also included are three goaltenders. No netminder has won the Hobey Baker since Ryan Miller of the Anaheim Ducks claimed it 2001.Player (Position)TeamNHL Rights2017-18 StatsHenrik Borgstrom (F)DenverFlorida (1/23 '16)36GP - 49PtsRyan Donato (F)HarvardBoston (2/56 '14)28GP - 41PtsMatthew Galajda (G)CornellUndrafted21-3-2 .943SV%Adam Gaudette (F)NortheasternVancouver (5/149 '15)36GP - 59PtsDylan McLaughlin (F)CanisiusUndrafted36GP - 48PtsCale Morris (G)Notre DameUndrafted23-7-1 .946SV%Colton Point (G)ColgateDallas (5/128 '16)16-12-5 .944SV%Jimmy Schuldt (D)St. Cloud StateUndrafted37GP - 38PtsDylan Sikura (F)NortheasternChicago (6/178 '14)33GP - 52PtsC.J. Suess (F)Minnesota StateWinnipeg (5/129 '14)39GP - 43PtsRecent winners have proven to be an instant hit in the NHL, particularly the last four recipients: Will Butcher, Jimmy Vesey, Jack Eichel, and Johnny Gaudreau.A 27-member committee will select this year's winner at a later date.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild blue line got some crushing news on Wednesday.Defenseman Jared Spurgeon will miss at least four weeks after suffering a partial tear of his right hamstring during Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche, the team announced.The timeline for the injury means that Spurgeon will miss the remainder of the regular season and potentially the start of the postseason if the Wild are able to secure a playoff berth.Spurgeon had been on pace to eclipse his previous career highs in goals (11) and points (38), having put up nine and 37 respectively in 61 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc Methot can't catch a break.The Dallas Stars defenseman will be "out a while" after cutting his hand on Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens, head coach Ken Hitchcock told Sportsnet's Luke Fox.In the short term, the injury means Julius Honka will take Methot's place in the lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.It's been a tough first season with the Stars for Methot, as he's been limited to just 28 games due to injury, including a knee issue that sidelined him from early November until early January.In his limited action, he's recorded one assist and 27 penalty minutes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are two words in the NHL lexicon that will rile up any hockey fan, player, coach, or executive in 2018: goaltender interference.More than three quarters through the season, everybody is still trying to understand how to interpret the rule, but no one has a clue. The inconsistency and the continuation of coach's challenges has clouded the concept of what differentiates a good goal, an illegal goal, and a penalty.Controversial calls have already impacted some of the league's biggest names, including Auston Matthews - although he handled it with grace, and arguably the greatest goal celebration of all time - and Connor McDavid more than once. Several coaches have aired their grievances, too - most recently Los Angeles Kings bench boss John Stevens, who called the process a "guessing game" following his club's loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday.The bottom line is, the playoffs are less than a month away, and you-know-what is going to hit the fan if a questionable call determines the outcome of a series. Goaltender interference is said to be a topic of discussion at the annual league meetings in Boca Raton later this month, but for any change to be instituted before the postseason, it would have to be agreed upon by all parties in short order - something the NHL historically isn't very good at.So, while fans, coaches, and players pray the next controversial call doesn't cost their team the game - or their season - let's explore some suggestions to remedy the issue going forward.Take it out of the refs' hands(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The main issue with goaltender interference is it's incredibly subjective. Hockey moves quickly, making it tough to track all of the variables. Who initiated the contact? Was the player pushed? Did the skate that nicked the knob of the goalie's stick really impede his ability to make a save with the opposite leg?That's for the ref to decide, but that course of action may be less effective with these gray areas. So, why not have a team in Toronto's league office dedicated to making the calls? Much like the league has done with the Department of Player Safety, the team could include people that have been there. Former refs, even former goalies, could surely offer some valuable insight, and would likely instill consistent decision-making.Adopt the IIHF's rule(Photo courtesy: Action Images)The IIHF has no dilemmas regarding goalie interference, because international rules state: "If an attacking skater establishes position in the goal crease, play will be stopped and the ensuing faceoff will take place at the nearest faceoff spot in the neutral zone."It might be a radical change, but it would definitely eliminate these controversies. The crease belongs to the goalie, and enforcing a rule to ensure that's the way the game is played is a reasonable proposition.The rule doesn't have to be adopted verbatim, but it could be a good starting point. Plus, imagine seeing a player score a desperate lacrosse-style goal, lunging through the air while managing to avoid the goalie and the blue paint. Try challenging that, coaches.No more coach's challenges(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Speaking of challenges, what if they weren't a thing?Video review is useful for getting things right, but we're well into the coach's challenge era and things are a certified disaster. If a play needs to be reviewed, contact the aforementioned crew of rules experts in Toronto to make the call instead of a grumpy coach who has nothing to lose by demanding a replay.If goalie interference challenges are taken away, that means offside reviews, which carry a consequence for being incorrectly challenged, will likely be extinguished as well. Is anyone really against that?Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks removed blue-liner Erik Gudbranson from the active roster Wednesday, with the 26-year-old set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom will return to the lineup Wednesday against the San Jose Sharks after missing the team's last two games with a shoulder ailment, head coach Todd McLellan said.Klefbom's return comes in spite of the fact that a recent procedure he had on his shoulder will require a follow-up "clean-up" as early as next week, at which point his season would be finished, McLellan added."There's no risk of any damage," McLellan said. "I'm not going to deny him the opportunity to contribute to this team."McLellan added Klefbom "will be ready for training camp" next season, as reported by Sportsnet's Mark Spector.Having a player return to the lineup coming off a procedure - ahead of further surgery on the same shoulder, no less - seems like an unnecessary risk for a team closer to last place in the league than a playoff spot.Klefbom had a career-high 12 goals and 38 points for the Oilers last season but has been one of many players on the team to regress this year, as he has just four goals and 19 points in 63 games. It isn't too far-fetched to believe his down season may have something to do with an ailing shoulder.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames activated forward Kris Versteeg off injured reserve Wednesday.Versteeg hasn't played since Nov. 24 due to a hip injury.Even though he only had three goals and five assists in 22 games prior to his injury, the team will surely welcome his return. The Flames sit two points out of the Western Conference playoff picture, so they need all the help they can get.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another goaltender interference controversy, another unhappy coach.The Los Angeles Kings were the most recent victims, this time coming in overtime of Tuesday night's game against the Arizona Coyotes:

The most senior member of the Carolina Hurricanes didn't mince words following the club's excruciating loss to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.The Canes were staked to a 4-1 lead in the third period, but the Bruins roared back with five unanswered tallies in the final frame, handing Carolina its seventh loss in 10 games."It's beyond anger, to be honest," Justin Williams told Fox Sports Carolinas after the game. "We've got thousands of Boston fans cheering for them when we're at home. It's a product of what's happening. It's beyond upsetting, but we gotta look at ourselves and know we're responsible for what we've done at this point."Carolina now sits seven points outside the playoff picture with 12 games remaining. Although the Hurricanes' odds of qualifying were slim before Tuesday's collapse, that's the type of loss that could have lingering effects on an organization, particularly one that just shook up its front office.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the first edition of theScore's Vezina Trophy Power Rankings, editor Josh Wegman ranks the top goaltenders around the league from this season.5. Frederik Andersen, Maple LeafsGPRec.GAASV%SO5733-18-52.76.9195If there's one word to describe Frederik Andersen, it's workhorse. The Maple Leafs netminder leads the league in games started, minutes played, shots against, and saves.They haven't exactly been low-stress minutes, either. Among playoff teams, the Leafs allow the most shots against per game, the second-most scoring chances against per 60 minutes, and the sixth-most high-danger scoring chances against per 60 minutes, per Natural Stat Trick.Andersen has been able to overcome these obstacles and post a better save percentage than Tuukka Rask, for example, who isn't tested nearly as often.4. Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue JacketsGPRec.GAASV%SO5630-21-52.42.9214The Blue Jackets rank 25th in goals per game - lower than any other current playoff team - meaning there isn't much room for error for Bobrovsky. If he allows more than two goals in a game, chances are Columbus isn't going to win.That puts an absurd amount of pressure on a goaltender, but last year's Vezina Trophy winner has handled it with relative ease. In fact, Bobrovsky has been able to hide some of his team's defensive flaws, as he ranks first in the NHL in high-danger save percentage among goalies with at least 30 games played, per Corsica.3. Andrei Vasilevskiy, LightningGPRec.GAASV%SO5740-13-32.52.9237Vasilevskiy was the front-runner for the Vezina after a blazing-hot start, posting a .939 save percentage in his first 34 games, but it appears his first season with a starter's workload has led to some fatigue, as his save percentage in the 23 games since then is just .902.Nonetheless, the 23-year-old has cemented himself as one of the league's top goaltenders. Those who believe he's a byproduct of the team in front of him are mistaken. In fact, it's hard to believe the Lightning would sit atop the NHL's standings if it weren't for their stud netminder.2. Connor Hellebuyck, JetsGPRec.GAASV%SO5835-11-92.36.9246The Jets didn't make any major offseason moves, yet they've already surpassed their point total from last season by five with still 12 games to go. While the Jets' depth and experience has been a contributing factor to their turnaround, the single biggest reason for their improvement has been the play of Connor Hellebuyck in goal.He's been an absolute rock between the pipes since the get-go, never posting lower than a .911 save percentage in any month, and nothing higher than a 2.63 GAA.1. Pekka Rinne, PredatorsGPRec.GAASV%SO5138-9-42.25.9297Rinne is first in the NHL in both GAA and save percentage among netminders with at least 40 games played. Not only has he simply stopped the puck at a better rate than any other goaltender with a full starter's workload, but he's also arguably the league's best puck handler - a wildly underrated aspect of the position.Rinne is having one of the best season's of his career in his age-35 season, and he's primed to finally get recognized for his efforts with his first Vezina Trophy.Honorable mentions: Tuukka Rask, Jonathan Quick, Marc-Andre Fleury, John GibsonCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a questionable return to the lineup against the New York Islanders on Sunday, Mike Smith looked back to form as the Calgary Flames netminder was perfect in a 1-0 shutout of the Edmonton Oilers.Smith turned away all 28 shots thrown his way as the Flames halted the Oilers seven-game winning streak in the Battle of Alberta.It marked the first win for Smith since missing an entire month with a lower-body injury. It was also Smith's first shutout since he blanked the Arizona Coyotes back on Nov. 30.With the win, the Flames gained slight ground in the Western Conference playoff race. The team now sits tied with the Anaheim Ducks for 80 points, two points back of the Dallas Stars for the final wild-card spotCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Greg Pateryn implied Tuesday night that Andrew Shaw's apparent head injury was inevitable.Here's what the Dallas Stars defenseman said postgame, according to The Athletic's Sean Shapiro, after the Montreal Canadiens forward was injured following a hit on Pateryn in the third period.

The Nashville Predators rode a three-goal first period to a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night.With the win, the Predators reached the 100-point mark for the sixth time in franchise history. They also passed the Tampa Bay Lightning - who fell to the Ottawa Senators 7-4 on Tuesday - to take over first place in the overall standings.The Lightning have 100 points on the season as well, but they've played one more game than the Predators.

Who could have seen this coming?After a disastrous run with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and a not-much-better showing as part of the Florida Panthers, Antti Niemi has seemingly found his game since joining the Montreal Canadiens.The veteran 'tender, and former Stanley Cup winner, has turned back the clock since arriving in Montreal, where he's posted five wins and a stellar .933 save rate through 14 appearances.Even more impressive is that Niemi is putting together such a performance on a club that finds itself in the bottom-third of the standings.TeamGamesRecordSV%GAAPenguins30-3-0.7977.49Panthers20-1-0.8725.11Canadiens145-2-4.9332.30Furthering his comeback story, Niemi's latest victory came Tuesday as he turned aside 36 shots to guide the Canadiens to a 4-2 win over his former club, the Dallas Stars, the same team that tossed him aside last summer. Call it a night of redemption.Only a few months ago, all signs pointed to Niemi's NHL career being on borrowed time. But given his bounce-back with the Canadiens, that may no longer be the case, as the pending unrestricted free agent will be an intriguing option this summer for teams in search of a reliable second-stringer.No doubt Niemi will stand out from the crowd in free agency given the crop offers realistic backup options like Jonathan Bernier, Eddie Lack, and Chad Johnson. It's the sort of competition that will have teams once again betting on Niemi when the calendar turns to July.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Shaw was forced to exit Tuesday's game following a heavy hit on Dallas Stars defenseman Greg Pateryn.Shaw collided with Pateryn along the boards in the third period, and the Montreal Canadiens forward went to the dressing room after being helped off the ice.

Don't ever count out the Boston Bruins.After falling behind 4-1 against the Carolina Hurricanes with less than 10 minutes to play in the third period, the Bruins went off for three goals in just 1:17 to tie the game at 4-4.They weren't done there.Four minutes later, David Pastrnak scored his second of the period, as his one-timer on the power play gave Boston a 5-4 lead. Then, with 1:34 left on the clock, Pastrnak fired a puck into the empty net to collect his first career hat trick and cap off the five-goal onslaught for a 6-4 victory.This marks the sixth time in franchise history that the Bruins have rallied from a third-period deficit of three or more goals to win in regulation.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets' big trade-deadline acquisition was a last-minute scratch Tuesday night ahead of a key battle with the Nashville Predators.Paul Stastny was originally listed as part of the Jets' lineup, but was later changed to a scratch.He left the warmup early and was replaced by Shawn Matthias, according to the Winnipeg Sun's Ken Wiebe. Matthias was activated off injured reserve earlier in the day.Stastny has eight points in seven games for Winnipeg since being acquired from the St. Louis Blues on deadline day.The Jets now have eight injured players, including Mark Scheifele, Jacob Trouba, and Toby Enstrom.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber will be sidelined for six months after undergoing foot surgery Tuesday.The veteran defenseman has been out for more than three months, with his last appearance coming Dec. 16. Last month, the club elected to shut down Weber for the remainder of the season.The recovery time frame could see Weber ready to return for next year's training camp.In his second season with the Canadiens, Weber tallied 16 points in 26 games.The 32-year-old is signed through the 2025-26 campaign.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand is back.The Boston Bruins forward returned to the lineup on Tuesday night versus the Carolina Hurricanes after missing Sunday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks with an upper-body injury.Marchand looked to be injured in a collision with Blackhawks forward Anthony Duclair in Saturday's contest.The 29-year-old leads the Bruins in scoring with 28 goals and 69 points in 53 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A significant shakeup in the football world will apparently have ramifications in hockey.Tod Leiweke is leaving his post as NFL chief operating officer after three seasons in the role, commissioner Roger Goodell revealed in a letter to team executives Tuesday, as shared by ESPN's Adam Schefter.He will be succeeded by Maryann Turcke, the president of NFL Media.Leiweke, the brother of former MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke, is expected to join the Oak View Group in a top executive position, Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times reports.OVG is overseeing the renovation of Seattle's KeyArena and is seeking to bring an NHL franchise to the city. Tim Leiweke is the group's CEO.Tod Leiweke was touted as a possible successor to Goodell, according to Baker, but the commissioner recently inked a five-year extension. Leiweke has experience in the NHL, having spent five years as CEO of the Tampa Bay Lightning before joining the NFL head office.He served as CEO of the Seattle Seahawks from 2003-10.The NHL hasn't officially awarded Seattle an expansion franchise, but OVG and its partners, including legendary Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer and investment company billionaire David Bonderman, began a season-ticket drive on March 1, securing 10,000 deposits in the first 12 minutes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former first-round draft pick Trent Frederic has put pen to paper on a deal with the Boston Bruins.The University of Wisconsin product signed his entry-level contract with Boston on Tuesday, along with an amateur tryout agreement that will see him join the AHL's Providence Bruins for the remainder of the 2017-18 season.Boston selected Frederic with the 29th pick in 2016. The 20-year-old forward tallied 32 points in 36 games with Wisconsin this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With just a few weeks left in the regular season, there's plenty yet to be determined in the NHL standings.Several teams are still jockeying for postseason positions in both divisional and wild-card races. However, there's an intriguing race at the bottom of the standings as well, with quite a prize, Swedish sensation Rasmus Dahlin, on the line for whoever wins the draft lottery.Only seven points separate 31st and 27th place in the league standings, so with ample time for shakeup, let's take a peek at the stretch-run outlook for the bottom-five teams in the league.(All stats entering Tuesday's games. ROW = Regulation/overtime wins, and is the first tiebreaker rule in the standings)Arizona Coyotes, 55 points (22-35-11) ROW: 21Games RemainingHome (record)Away (record)Games vs. playoff opponentsOdds at No. 1 pick146 (13-18-4)8 (9-17-7)618%After occupying 31st place all season, the Coyotes have picked the wrong time to get things straightened out. Thanks to strong play from goaltender Antti Raanta (who is sidelined again with a lingering issue), Arizona is 6-3-1 in its last 10 games and has made the tank race much closer than we could have imagined.That said, the Coyotes face a five-game road trip that features two back-to-backs from March 21-29, which, considering their record in opposing arenas this season, is probably a good thing for their lottery odds.Buffalo Sabres, 56 points (22-35-12) ROW: 21Games RemainingHome (record)Away (record)Games vs. playoff opponentsOdds at No. 1 pick137 (10-19-5)6 (12-16-7)612.5%It hasn't been a banner year for the Sabres, who rank dead last with a minus-59 goal differential in the first season of the Jason Botterill-Phil Housely regime.With three games versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, two against the Nashville Predators, and one date with the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning down the stretch, Buffalo has serious potential to push ahead of the Coyotes in the race to 31st - a battle that will be kicked into overdrive when the clubs clash on March 21. Be sure to circle your calendars.Vancouver Canucks, 59 points (25-36-9)ROW: 25Games RemainingHome (record)Away (record)Games vs. playoff opponentsOdds at No. 1 pick126 (12-17-6)6 (12-16-7)610.5%Perhaps the hottest team in the Fallin' for Dahlin sweepstakes is the Canucks, who've lost four consecutive games - including two to the Coyotes - while managing just three goals in that span.With Brock Boeser out for the season, it doesn't appear Vancouver's goal-scoring issues are soon to be rectified, either.Ottawa Senators, 59 points (24-33-11)ROW: 22Games RemainingHome (record)Away (record)Games vs. playoff opponentsOdds at No. 1 pick 147 (14-14-6)7 (10-19-5)69.5%The Senators have their remaining games evenly split between home and away, but in addition to playing six teams currently slotted in the playoffs, they also have two matchups with the Florida Panthers - one of the hottest teams in the league which sits on the cusp of the postseason cut line.Ottawa dropping a couple extra games to close out a tumultuous season - both on the ice and in the front office - to bolster its odds at landing a generationally talented Swedish defenseman may be the best course of action, just in case the other one already within the organization, pictured above, gets shipped out of town in the summer.Montreal Canadiens, 62 points (25-32-12)ROW: 23Games RemainingHome (record)Away (record)Games vs. playoff opponentsOdds at No. 1 pick137 (16-10-8)6 (9-22-4)98.5%The Habs face a tough task in erasing a seven-point gap, but could potentially increase their lottery odds with two road contests - Montreal's only won nine games away from the Bell Centre so far - versus the Pittsburgh Penguins and one in Toronto.Additionally, Dallas, Florida, Winnipeg, New Jersey, and Washington all visit Montreal before season's end to face a team that's already shut down three key pieces in Shea Weber, Max Pacioretty, and Carey Price. Maybe that gap isn't so big after all.(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames will be without forward Matthew Tkachuk for their provincial clash with the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, head coach Glen Gulutzan announced.Tkachuk left Calgary's most recent contest late in the third period, and the ailment is being labeled an upper-body injury, according to Aaron Vickers of NHL.com. Chris Stewart will draw in as his replacement, marking his first game since Feb. 28.While it's unclear how long Tkachuk may be unavailable, any time the sophomore misses is tough for the Flames, who currently sit two points out of the second wild-card spot in the West. In 68 games this season, Tkachuk has notched 24 goals and 25 assists while playing more than 17 minutes per night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barcelona - Barcelona will make a late decision on whether captain Andres Iniesta is fit to face Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday, coach Ernesto Valverde has confirmed.Iniesta sustained a hamstring injury against Atletico Madrid on March 4 but the midfielder took part in a light training session on Monday ahead of the last-16 second leg at the Camp Nou. The first leg finished 1-1."It's clear when a match like this arrives, a player tends to risk," Valverde said on Tuesday."What we have to decide is whether the risk is excessive."Iniesta could be replaced by Paulinho in the starting line-up but the Spaniard's absence would represent a major blow to his team's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals."We know what Andres brings to the team, not only on the pitch but as a captain," Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets said."You give him the ball and he always knows what he has to do to create chances. Everything that he contributes is postive. He is training and we hope he plays."Lionel Messi, however, is available again, after the Argentinian missed Saturday's win at Malaga to attend the birth of his son, Ciro."He will be fine," Busquets said. "In fact he will be more motivated than what we are used to and physically he is going to be great, after having an extra game's rest. I hope that this is perfect."Busquets was also asked whether he thought Messi, who scored his team's crucial away goal at Stamford Bridge, would ever leave Barcelona and move to the Premier League."He is at home here," Busquets said. "He has a great changing room, he is winning titles, has a great project, is winning collective and individual awards."In the end all these positive things are difficult to find elsewhere, so the Premier League is a league that maybe you would like to play in but if you have to balance the positive and the negative out of here, it is very difficult to leave."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Less than a week after the Los Angeles Kings granted the Hurricanes permission to speak with Mike Futa about their general-manager vacancy, he appears to be out of the running for the Carolina job, reports Sportsnet's John Shannon.Futa, the Kings' current assistant GM, has "respectfully withdrawn" his name from consideration, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has been busy seeking a replacement for Ron Francis, who was relieved of his GM duties last week. It was reported Monday that the club had already interviewed Buffalo Sabres assistant GM Steve Greeley for the position.The Hurricanes' new GM will report directly to Dundon.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite having been retired for 19 years, Wayne Gretzky still owns more than 50 NHL records - and it's fair to say that most of them are safe.But the Great One may one day cede one of his most impressive marks - the league record in goals - to the Great Eight.Washington Capitals uber-sniper Alex Ovechkin became the newest member of the 600-goal club Monday, and the fourth-fastest in history to reach the milestone. Considering that Ovechkin won't turn 33 until September, it's time to ponder whether he has a legitimate shot at becoming the league's all-time goals leader by the time his career is done.Where he standsEntering the Capitals' upcoming home-and-home set with the New York Islanders, Ovechkin has 600 goals in 990 career regular-season games.More significantly, Ovechkin averages 0.606 goals per game over his career - the sixth-highest rate of all time, and 0.05 goals ahead of Gretzky himself, who set the standard with 894 goals. Two guys ahead of Ovechkin - Cy Denneny and Babe Dye - played when 24-game seasons were the norm, while two others - Mike Bossy and Mario Lemieux - saw their chances at the goal-scoring crown curtailed by injury.Based solely on goals per game, Ovechkin has an excellent chance at racking up enough scores to pass Gretzky. But he's still trailing the Great One by 294 goals, so it'll take a lot of work.What he needsHealth

Alex Ovechkin notched his 600th career goal Monday against the Winnipeg Jets, providing plenty of ammunition for a deep dive into his remarkable goal-scoring resume.20 - Ovechkin is the 20th player in NHL history to reach 600 goals.990 - The number of games he needed to record 600 goals - the fourth-fastest in league history.0.61 - His goals-per-game average - the fifth-highest in league history among players with at least 300 games played.7 - Ovechkin is seventh all time in era-adjusted goals.0.69 - Era-adjusted goals per game - the most among anyone with at least 400 non-adjusted goals.29 - Regular-season games missed throughout his 13-year career.6 - Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophies - awarded to the player with the most goals each season.2 - Seasons in which Ovechkin hasn't led the league in shots on goal during his career.195 - Goals separating him and Sidney Crosby, who has the second-most tallies since coming into the league in 2005-06.20 - Career hat tricks.128 - Different goalies scored on.22 - Goals scored on Henrik Lundqvist - the most of any goalie he has faced.29 - Number of franchises Ovechkin has scored at least five goals against. The Golden Knights are the only team he hasn't scored on.47 - Goals in 63 games against the Jets/Thrashers - the most against any single organization.19 - Ovechkin leads the NHL in goals over the past 19 seasons, despite only partaking in 13 of them.65 - His career high in goals, set in 2007-08.32: The lowest single-season goal total of his career, recorded in 2010-11.35.8 - The number of goals Ovechkin would need to average through his age-40 season to surpass Wayne Gretzky for the all-time lead, assuming he stays on his current 0.61 goals-per-game pace for the remainder of this season.(Stats courtesy: NHL Public Relations, Capitals Public Relations, Hockey Reference)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres welcomed back a familiar face Tuesday morning, as Jack Eichel returned to practice for the first time in nearly a month.

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a pair of recalls Tuesday, bringing up forward Andreas Johnsson and blue-liner Calle Rosen from the AHL's Toronto Marlies.Johnsson was drafted by Toronto in the seventh round in 2013. In his second full season with the Marlies, he leads the team with 54 points (26 goals, 28 assists) in 54 games.Rosen, meanwhile, was signed by the Maple Leafs out of Sweden last summer. He appeared in four NHL games earlier in the season, but has since been with the Marlies, recording 17 points in 50 contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Great One believes the Great Eight deserves a ring.After Alex Ovechkin notched the 600th goal of his remarkable career Monday night, Wayne Gretzky - one of three players in the history of the game to reach the mark faster than the Russian sniper - said he wants to see Ovi add the one thing that's missing from his resume."If there's one guy that hasn't won a Stanley Cup that I think deserves it, I think it's him," Gretzky said, according to Derek Van Diest of NHL.com. "He's worked his rear end off for the game of hockey and the Washington Capitals, and for his country."Although the Capitals have qualified for the postseason in eight of the last nine seasons, the organization - and particularly Ovechkin - have faced tremendous criticism for never advancing past the second round, all in spite of the captain recording 90 points in 97 career playoff contests."I'd love to see him lift the Stanley Cup one day, because I think he's truly put his heart and soul into being a better player and trying to become a champion," Gretzky said.Ovechkin and the Capitals currently lead the Metropolitan Division, and should have a few more cracks at a championship with him in the fold. Even if they continue to fall short of hockey's ultimate prize, No. 8 can rest on the laurels of 11 All-Star nominations, three MVPs, six Rocket Richards (for now), and one Calder Trophy.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Henrik Zetterberg surpassed Detroit Red Wings royalty Monday night.The veteran forward's third-period marker moved him past Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay and into sole possession of fifth place on the franchise's all-time goals list with 336 in his career.Lindsay needed only 862 games over 13 seasons with Detroit to collect the 335 goals he scored with the team from 1944-45 to 1956-57.Zetterberg got his 336th in his 1,069th regular-season contest. He's played his entire 15-year career with the Red Wings.The 37-year-old is now 64 goals from tying Sergei Fedorov for fourth, but he's closing in on him in the points department.Zetterberg ranks fifth on the club's all-time assist list, more than 200 helpers behind Alex Delvecchio, but his goal and an earlier assist Monday night moved him to within four points of Fedorov for fifth in the points category.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageWashington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, linemate of superstar Alex Ovechkin, paid witness to history.That is, Ovechkin's 600th career goal, scored Monday versus the Winnipeg Jets."It's huge. When you look at those numbers, you don't even think it's 599, 600," Kuznetsov told Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post. "But then when you understand, holy f--- that's a lot of goals."Not only was Kuznetsov on the ice for the play, he also chipped in on the action, picking up an assist on Ovechkin's tally."That's a free meal for me, for sure," Kuznetsov quipped.Ovechkin is the 20th player in NHL history to score 600 goals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.