The Vancouver Canucks let their actions do the talking this time.One game after goaltender Jacob Markstrom called out his teammates, the Canucks took it to the Dallas Stars, breezing to a 6-0 victory.Winger Reid Boucher led the way with a pair of goals, while fellow forward Jake Virtanen also chipped in with a multi-point effort. Between the pipes, Markstrom turned aside 30 shots for his second perfect game of the season."I'm not good enough, and we got a lot of guys on our team that's not good enough either to be in this league. It's embarrassing," Markstrom said Friday following the Canucks' 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.That certainly wasn't the case Sunday, as the Canucks chased Stars starter Ben Bishop after he allowed four goals on 20 shots, while backup Kari Lehtonen let in two more in mop-up duty.The Canucks improved to 22-28-6 on the season with the victory.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils netminder Cory Schneider will remain sidelined due to a groin injury for at least another week, coach John Hynes announced Sunday.Schneider has been out of the lineup for the past seven games with the injury, and the hope was he could return in the near future.Given Hynes' announcement Sunday, Devils fans should expect Schneider to miss at least a few more games. Schneider has not suited up since Jan. 23 against the Boston Bruins, when he suffered the injury.Backup goaltender Keith Kinkaid has posted a 3-3-0 record and .890 save percentage in Schneider's absence.With the faltering Devils beginning to fall out of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, the sooner Schneider returns, the better.New Jersey has 62 points on the season and holds the East's first wild card, but is just 3-7 in its past 10 outings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The timetable for Buffalo Sabres All-Star Jack Eichel's recovery from the high ankle sprain he suffered Saturday night will be four-to-six weeks, head coach Phil Housley confirmed Sunday.Eichel was injured during the first period against the Boston Bruins after getting mixed up with Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk behind the Bruins' net, going down awkwardly. He left the game and did not return.The 21-year-old missed most of the first two months of last season with a high-ankle sprain as well. Last year's injury was to his left ankle, and this latest injury is to his right ankle, according to the Buffalo News' Mike Harrington.Housley isn't ruling out the potential of his superstar forward returning for the end of the season, as the team has not officially shut him down as of yet. But, with Buffalo languishing in the basement of the NHL standings basically all year, don't be shocked if the club does end his season sooner than later.Eichel was in the middle of a career year before getting hurt, his third in the NHL. He made his first All-Star team and has 22 goals and 53 points in 55 games to his credit.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Markus Granlund will be out for at least a month with an ankle injury, the team announced Sunday.Granlund suffered the injury Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning when he landed awkwardly on his ankle after a taking a bump along the boards from Ryan Callahan.The 24-year-old has eight goals and four assists on the season while playing primarily in a checking role with the Canucks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser will play Sunday against the Dallas Stars, the team confirmed.Boeser missed Friday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes with an injured hand.The rookie standout suffered the injury during Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning but didn't miss any playing time while notching a goal in 21 minutes.Boeser has been the focal point of the Canucks' offense, leading the team with 26 goals and 47 points in 51 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown will have a hearing for his knee on Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev on Saturday, the Department of Player Safety announced Sunday.Brown was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct on the play. Here's the incident:

More bad news for the Buffalo Sabres.All-Star forward Jack Eichel was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain and will be out four-to-six weeks. The injury occurred Saturday in Boston and forced Eichel from the game in the first period.The 21-year-old missed most of the first two months of last season with a high-ankle sprain as well. Last year's injury was to his left ankle, and this latest injury is to his right ankle, according to the Buffalo News' Mike Harrington.Eichel was in the midst of a career season, his third in the NHL. He made his first All-Star team, and goes down with 22 goals and 53 points in 55 games. His play has been about the only bright spot in another very disappointing season in Buffalo.The Sabres' 42 points rank last in the Eastern Conference and 30th out of 31 teams in the NHL. Only the Arizona Coyotes are worse.With Eichel looking at another six-to-eight weeks on the sidelines, it's conceivable - and likely - that his season is over.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby scored the 400th goal of his decorated career Sunday against the St. Louis Blues.It certainly wasn't Crosby's prettiest goal, as he banked a shot off Blues netminder Jake Allen from a bad angle, but when you're good, you're good.

New York Rangers goaltender Ondrej Pavelec will be out for two-to-three weeks with a sprained MCL, the team announced Sunday.Pavelec has gone 4-7-1 with a .910 save percentage and a 3.01 goals-against average in his first season as a Ranger serving as Henrik Lundqvist's backup. He spent the previous 10 years of his career with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organization.Fellow Czech native and former Nashville Predators netminder Marek Mazanec seems poised to get called up in Pavelec's absence. He's spent most of the season as Alexandar Georgiev's backup in the AHL, but his 31 games of NHL experience would seemingly give him the edge for the temporary role.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It probably wasn't how the Philadelphia Flyers drew it up, but despite a goalie change midway through Saturday's shootout against the Arizona Coyotes, they still came away with the win, making some history in the process.No. 1 goalie Brian Elliott took a stick to the face during Coyotes forward Clayton Keller's shootout attempt and was subsequently taken off the ice as a precaution. Backup netminder Michal Neuvirth was thrust into action in the third round of the shootout and proceeded to lift the Flyers to victory, not allowing a single goal on four attempts.With the victory, Neuvirth became the first goalie in NHL history to enter during a shootout and win.

Brendan Gallagher may have shed a little more light on some old friction between P.K. Subban and the Montreal Canadiens.With Subban and the Nashville Predators in town Saturday to take on the Canadiens - his second game at the Bell Centre since being traded in a June 2016 blockbuster - the blue-liner had a quiet night, as he was held pointless and picked up a minus-one rating. However, a shootout goal by Ryan Ellis was enough to seal the 3-2 victory for the Predators.While Subban wasn't a factor, his return seemingly irked at least one member of the Canadiens."I don't know why you're asking about him," Gallagher told Eric Engels of Sportsnet postgame. "I think he was - you know, they got a lot of good players. I don't know, what was he? Minus-1 in the game? They have a lot of other reasons why we lost tonight. They're a good team. ..."He was talking, doing what he does. But, like I said, I don't know why we're talking about him. That's kind of what he wants. He came in here and tried to make it about P.K. Subban, which is what he does. ..."You can let him talk about himself all night."Just as Gallagher predicted, Subban had something to say postgame, too."I didn't see a smile from (Gallagher) tonight, to be honest with you," Subban told Engels. "I just saw the blood dripping down his face when he tried to hit me and fell down."The Predators took both contests against the Canadiens this season, with both wins coming in the shootout.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL players aren't in PyeongChang, South Korea for the Winter Olympics, but a few put in gold-medal efforts in North America on Saturday.Here are three plays in particular that can't be missed.Vasilevskiy's trapper triumphUpon multiple viewings, this behind-the-back glove save by Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy off the stick of Anze Kopitar is no less amazing.

Warning: Video contains violent content

Mitch Marner had himself a night.The Toronto Maple Leafs sophomore notched a career-high five points versus the rival Ottawa Senators on Saturday, as he collected two goals and a trio of assists in the Maple Leafs' 6-3 win.The total brings Marner to 42 points on the season, and closer to the type of production he saw as a freshman:SeasonGPGAPtsPts/GP2016-17771942610.792017-18571230420.74After a slow start to the season, Marner has had the hot stick in recent weeks, as he's tallied 10 points in his past eight outings.The Maple Leafs forward nearly set another career first Saturday, as his first assist came on a deflected goal by James van Riemsdyk, negating Marner of what would have been his first career hat-trick.

Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask's unbelievable streak of 21 consecutive decisions with at least one point ended with Boston's 4-2 loss against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.

Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown was assessed a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct for this hit on Tampa Bay Lightning rookie defenseman Mikhail Sergachev on Saturday.

It's hard to put into words just how great a save it was, but that didn't stop many on social media from trying.The save in question is this behind-the-back glove stop from Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy off the stick of Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar.

Things are going from bad to hellishly worse for the Buffalo Sabres, as superstar forward Jack Eichel left Saturday's game in the first period and will not return.Eichel got tangled up with Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk behind Boston's net and went down awkwardly.

Rick Nash is open to heading to the Great White North.With the New York Rangers prepared to enter a rebuild, the team has approached the veteran winger about a move elsewhere. Nash obliged, despite carrying a modified no-trade clause, offering a 12-team list of where he'd accept a trade to.While those dozen clubs are unknown, Nash indicated Saturday that his list includes teams in Canadian markets. He also noted there's the possibility he could expand the list if it helps facilitate a deal and if he is convinced by the interested team."I included the teams that I think have the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup and are also places I think would be good for my family," Nash told Larry Brooks of the New York Post. "And, yes, that does include teams in Canada. I'm not excluding that as a possibility."As it stands, only two Canadian teams are in a playoff position - the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets. The Calgary Flames sit just outside the Western Conference wild card due to a tie-breaker.Related - Rangers' Nash: Facing potential trade 'sucks'The team which could acquire Nash would be banking on the former "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner bringing some added scoring touch in the playoffs. In 55 games this season, Nash has tallied 17 goals and 10 assists.The 33-year-old carries a $7.8-million cap hit and can become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.Meanwhile, Brooks indicated the Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, and St. Louis Blues are also among the teams interested in Nash.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A second number now hangs from the rafters of Amalie Arena.The Tampa Bay Lightning retired Vincent Lecavalier's No. 4 prior to Saturday's game against Los Angeles, putting a banner alongside Martin St. Louis' No. 26.

San Jose Sharks veteran Joel Ward is dealing with a right shoulder injury that could derail the remainder of his season, according to NHL.com's Eric Gilmore.The 11-year veteran was injured during the Sharks' loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday when he a took a hit into the boards from Vegas blue-liner Nate Schmidt, injuring the same shoulder he had rotator cuff surgery on in the offseason.Despite the previous surgery and severity of the injury, Ward hopes to return this season: "Yeah, for sure," he said Saturday, via Gilmore. "I think even this morning getting a little more movement so I'm kind of optimistic for sure. Just waiting to hopefully get better as quick as possible."... Pretty lucky actually, because I thought the way it felt after, I thought I kind of had some numbness too in my arm. I felt actually pretty lucky the next day when I woke up."Ward has only 11 points (five goals and six assists) through 46 games this season, but if he is out long term, his loss would be most felt if San Jose were to qualify for the postseason, as Ward is a proven playoff performer with 52 points in 83 career contests.The Sharks currently cling to third place in the Pacific Division.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will retire Vincent Lecavalier's No. 4 prior to Saturday's game against Los Angeles, adding his jersey alongside Martin St. Louis' No. 26 as the only two to hang from the rafters at Amalie Arena.Lecavalier was drafted first overall by the Lightning in 1998, served as captain from 2008-2013, helped the franchise win its first and only Stanley Cup in 2004, and greatly impacted key members of the current team.Current captain Steven Stamkos was also drafted first overall by the Lightning (2008), and discussed the legacy that Lecavalier left in Tampa both on and off the ice."Vinny has always been a superstar in this area," Stamkos said on the team's website. "He was the face of the franchise for a long time and similar to me, came here at 18 and played and had a great career, was part of that Stanley Cup-winning team, had some unbelievable individual successes, and was definitely a role model of mine when I came to this organization. Very deserving of this honor."And for what he did away from the rink I think is just as or even more impressive as his career, the involvement in the community for him and what he did with the Children's Cancer Center. It was just a pleasure to watch him do that and a lot of guys really looked up to him for that as well. It's going to be a huge honor for him obviously and looking forward to being a part of that."Star defenseman Victor Hedman arrived in 2009, and similarly sung Lecavalier's praises leading up to the number retirement."Coming here as an 18-year-old and having the leadership he brought to this team and the kind of person he is, he made it very easy for me to acclimate to this team," Hedman said. "What he's done for this organization, this community is something you really look up to."Hedman also referenced Lecavalier's foundation and the Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center that the latter helped set up with a $3-million donation."Everyone around town knows who Vinny Lecavalier is," Hedman continued. "Kids grew up idolizing him for the work he did in this community. Really something that rubs off on his teammates as well. It was an eye-opener for me coming from Sweden. I didn't know a whole lot about the charity work he did over here, so it was a real eye opener to me to see the kind of work he's done. Really inspirational for us as players and to be around and see that firsthand."Lecavalier ranks first in Lightning history in games played, goals scored, and shots fired, but clearly the numbers don't tell the whole story. Thankfully, there are those still around to tell it.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have two of the very best players in the NHL at a combined cap hit of $6.36 million, but they're on the verge of wasting such a rare luxury.Everyone knows John Tavares is one of the game's elite players, but it's also time to start using the "E" word for rookie sensation Mathew Barzal.Coming off his third five-point night this season (in one of the craziest hockey games in recent memory), Barzal now has 58 points in 56 games, and the Isles hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference by a single point.Fringe playoff teams generally struggle to put the puck in the net, but the Isles are an exception.TeamPointsGF/G (rank)Wild642.94 (12th)Flames642.80 (20th)Ducks642.77 (22nd)Avalanche623.15 (7th)Devils622.94 (13th)Flyers612.91 (14th)Islanders603.36 (3rd)Hurricanes592.64 (24th)Blue Jackets582.50 (29th)The Islanders are in an unusual situation: They have a prolific offense, and they are in win-now mode (unlike the Avs), but they don't have a clear path toward the postseason.Why does this matter? Well, frankly, it is much easier to make a significant improvement to your team defensively at the trade deadline than it is offensively. And the Islanders have a lot of holes defensively.On a per-game basis, they rank dead last in goals against, save percentage, shots against, scoring chances against, and high-danger scoring chances against (the latter two at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick).The Isles are merely a goaltender and a blue-liner or two away from being a team that nobody would want to face in the playoffs. A bit more defensive structure wouldn't hurt, either. Despite this, general manager Garth Snow seems disinclined to make the necessary trade deadline push.Snow has recently said he's "comfortable" with the team's goaltending situation, and isn't interested in trading high picks for rental players.What Snow has on his hands is a situation every GM and head coach covets: an offense that is never out of a game. Failing to address the team's defensive needs would be a colossal management error, and not just because he'd be passing up the chance to turn the Islanders into a legit contender; if Snow doesn't make a push, Tavares may be less inclined to sign a long-term extension with a team that doesn't appear to prioritize winning.Snow has no excuses, either. Thanks to the haul he received from the Calgary Flames for Travis Hamonic this offseason, the Islanders have two first-round picks, and two second-round picks in the upcoming draft - plenty of ammunition to make deadline moves without mortgaging the future.Furthermore, the Islanders project to have nearly $7 million in deadline cap space, per Cap Friendly. If they're able to sign Tavares long term, his $5.5-million cap hit might double. Barzal is on the first year of his entry-level contract. The time to strike is now, while cap space isn't an issue.While the Islanders could explore many avenues to improving their goal prevention, the Detroit Red Wings - the Isles' opponent in their most recent game - seem like an ideal trade partner. Not only are the Wings rebuilding, but they have two solid goaltenders, and the top rental defenseman available. Here's a possible trade scenario:Islanders receiveRed Wings receiveD Mike Green2018 1st-rd pickG Petr Mrazek2018 2nd-rd pickRW Josh Ho-SangG Linus SoderstromRelated: Red Wings should deal thriving Mrazek to cement high draft pickHo-Sang is in need of a fresh start, and Soderstrom, a goaltending prospect, is struggling mightily this season in Sweden after a strong 2016-17. Mrazek's overall numbers aren't pretty, but he's played great lately, and at 25 years old, could be more than a short-term solution. He and Jaroslav Halak would form a solid duo.In a corresponding move, the Isles would place Thomas Greiss ($3.3-million cap hit) and his 4.03 goals-against average on waivers, then bury him in the minors for the rest of the season when he goes unclaimed.Green, meanwhile, would solidify a shaky blue line and help an already potent power play. With him on the back end, the team's defensive corps suddenly doesn't look that bad.LDRDNick LeddyJohnny BoychukCalvin de HaanMike GreenThomas HickeyAdam Pelech/Ryan PulockThe Islanders could also add another defenseman in a separate trade to upgrade from Pelech/Pulock. If you're going all in, might as well do it right.A first- and second-round pick plus a prospect might be enough to land Ryan McDonagh ($4.7M cap hit through 2018-19), though trading with a regional rival seems unlikely. It's possible the Arizona Coyotes could make Niklas Hjalmarsson ($4.1M through 2018-19) available. Otherwise, a veteran rental could do the trick.Would these moves make the Islanders Stanley Cup favorites? No, but if they played to their ability, they would certainly be capable of upsetting a team such as the Washington Capitals in the first round. With two of the most dynamic centers in the league on your team, almost anything is possible. Snow needs to take full advantage while they're both vastly underpaid.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers recalled defenseman Keegan Lowe from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors, the team announced Saturday.Lowe, 24, skated in two NHL games with the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2014-15 campaign, but failed to register a point. In 35 contests with the Condors this season, he has two goals and eight assists.If the name sounds familiar, it's because he's the son of longtime Oilers executive and former player Kevin Lowe.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Babcock is a passionate coach, and a pretty straightforward, stern individual. However, when his Toronto Maple Leafs won the 2016 draft lottery for the rights to select Auston Matthews first overall, his emotions got the best of him."Well, we got Auston," Babcock told TSN's Kristen Shilton while discussing the team's progress over the last few seasons. "But what if we (didn't)? I remember when we got to three (in the draft lottery), I was jumping up in the living room. When we got to one, tears. People don't understand. You need real players."Most Leafs fans can probably relate to Babcock's reaction.On Day 1, Matthews showed he was the real deal by scoring four goals in his first game. Through his first 128 NHL games, he's now collected 65 goals and 112 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban and Shea Weber will square off against their former clubs when the Montreal Canadiens host the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.The franchise defensemen were famously traded for each other in June 2016, and their careers took on different trajectories afterward.Below, we review how the Predators and Canadiens - along with Subban and Weber - have fared since the blockbuster deal.Team statisticsCategory Predators CanadiensOverall record73-41-2169-52-15Winning percentage5450Goals for406368Goals against362369Power-play opportunities443394Power-play goals9281Power-play percentage20.720.5Power-play opportunities against435421Power-play goals allowed8085Penalty-kill percentage81.779.9Upon first glance, it would appear Nashville merely possesses a slight edge over Montreal. However, if you consider the Canadiens flew out of the gate last season to a 13-1-1 mark before their record stabilized, the disparity between the two teams becomes more evident. The Predators ultimately went to the Stanley Cup Final last season and few would be surprised to see them playing again this June with another shot at the title. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have devolved into disarray, toiling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.Subban vs. Weber CategorySubbanWeberGames played119104Goals2523Assists5835Points8358Power-play Goals714Plus-Minus312Corsi For % (5-on-5)53.6152.18Points/60 (5-on-5)1.070.85PDO (5-on-5)100.16100.32Many wondered why Montreal would trade a younger, healthier defenseman nearing his apex in Subban for a player in the latter stages of his prime in Weber. And Subban has been the far superior player since the deal, although Weber's totals have been inflated by an unsustainable 12 power-play goals he scored in 2016-2017. The tale of the tape appears closer than expected on the surface, but the Predators should still be tried for grand larceny after stealing Subban away - a hypothesis supported by statistics, the eye test, and team performance.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals signed Lars Eller to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.5 million, the team announced Saturday.Eller has 11 goals and 28 points in 53 games this season, putting him on pace for career highs in both categories, all while serving as Washington's third-line center behind Evgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Backstrom.The 28-year-old was the 13th overall pick by the St. Louis Blues back in 2007. He spent six years with the Montreal Canadiens before joining the Caps last season. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 prior to the extension.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has never been better stocked with such a variety of different players, many of whom bring a unique skill set and disposition to the game.In the modern era, there is a premium on speed, skill, and playmaking ability - essential qualities to keep up with the blazing pace of the professional ranks.Although there are numerous players who have contributed to the current dynamic of the league, three stand alone, walking their own path fearlessly while leading their respective teams.Johnny Gaudreau There are few players who embody the trajectory of the modern era more than Johnny Hockey.Selected 104th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft, Gaudreau was overlooked repeatedly by 29 other teams due to his physical stature, standing at 5-foot-9, 157 lbs. In the seven years that have followed, Gaudreau has made the league's scouting personnel look silly, serving as the catalyst for the Flames' offense.Gaudreau has taken advantage of the NHL's crackdown on slashing better than anyone by using his outstanding anticipatory instincts and ability to create in narrow spaces. The 24-year-old moves with a fluidity that few possess, which allows him to get his shot off from nearly all angles, and he can create scoring chances off rebounds and deflections which others simply cannot.He may be undersized but Gaudreau can evade oncoming defenders with ease and punishes overzealous defenders with routine frequency, while inadvertently creating more room for his linemates to attack the net. Gaudreau may look like a spectator but count him out at your own peril.Brad Marchand If you focus merely on Marchand's preternatural ability to annoy his opponents, you will almost certainly miss out on his immense skill set. Marchand is one of the NHL's marquee players and if he drives the opposition crazy, it's an added bonus.Marchand is an elite scorer and to not treat him as such would be absurd at this juncture of his career, as he leads the NHL in points per game. Although he doesn't seem outwardly imposing at 5-foot-9 and 182 lbs, Marchand is an outstanding forechecker and his speed, along with his fearlessness to create contact with larger defenders, makes him a threat at all times.The 29-year-old is outstanding at creating his own chances and is quietly one of the best playmakers in the league. On pace for his third consecutive 30-plus goal season, Marchand is better than his outdated reputation would suggest.Marchand is the definition of a clutch player and his resume speaks volumes, with a Stanley Cup - including two goals in Game 7 of the 2011 finals - two World Junior gold medals, a World Cup gold medal, and a World Championship gold. Call Marchand a pest if you'd like, but he is the focal point of one of the NHL's best lines and can take over the game at will. You can choose to be upset but Marchand simply doesn't care.Erik Karlsson In a league full of talented, robust defensemen, there simply isn't another player like Karlsson.Karlsson is gifted with otherworldly speed that is only matched by Edmonton's Connor McDavid, and can veer into the offensive zone without sacrificing anything defensively. A wizard with the puck, Karlsson injects life into any powerplay and functions as a de facto fourth forward while controlling the pace of the game. In doing so, Karlsson often presents an impossible conundrum for the rest of the league: Try to pick him off on a surge up the ice or get hopelessly caught out of position while he breezes by with blazing strides and offensive awareness.There is no defenseman with better vision or anticipatory instincts, and Karlsson appears to be playing chess while everyone else plays checkers, mapping out the game several moves ahead of the opposition. Karlsson assesses a multitude of options with unmatched decision-making and he's rarely outsmarted, choosing to play at a pace that no one else can match. In doing so, Karlsson makes the game look effortless, an optical tactic which seems almost unfair.There is a good reason why teams are preparing for a bidding war for Karlsson's services, even if there's no guarantee he'll ever leave the only franchise he's ever known. The NHL is full of unique talents, but none that combine every aspect of the modern game quite like Karlsson.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

GANGNEUNG, South Korea (AP) Miro Heiskanen and Eeli Tolvanen are must-see entertainment at the Olympics, even for their Finnish teammates.Heiskanen and Tolvanen are the only 2017 first-round draft picks playing in the tournament, an opportunity to show what their very-near NHL futures might look like. Heiskanen, a puck-moving defenseman who was the third pick of the Dallas Stars, and Tolvanen, a scoring winger who was the 30th pick of the Nashville Predators, have substantial roles for Finland and are expected to play in the NHL next season, if not sooner.''It's a great thing to get a chance to play with them before they go in the bigger league,'' captain Lasse Kukkonen said. ''I think it's going to be fun.''Heiskanen and Tolvanen are 18-year-olds who joke around in the locker room and bring what coach Lauri Marjamaki called a ''freshness'' to the team full of European-based veterans. Tolvanen will play on the first line alongside Petri Kontiola and get first power-play time, and Heiskanen will be counted on to pump in some goals from the blue line.That's not too much of an expectation. Two of the youngest players in the tournament, along with projected 2018 top pick Rasmus Dahlin of Sweden, Heiskanen and Tolvanen have drawn rave reviews for how they fit in with and against older players.''It's amazing to see how well they play at a young age, but if you watch them on the ice you could never tell,'' Kukkonen said.Heiskanen has 11 goals and eight assists in 25 games with HIFK in the Finnish Elite League, while Tolvanen has 17 goals and 17 assists in 47 games with Jokerit in the Kontinental Hockey League.Playing against grown men seems to make them thrive. Heiskanen said older teammates ''are smarter, and it's maybe easier to play with those guys,'' and Tolvanen considers it a challenge.''I've always been the youngest guy on the team,'' Tolvanen said. ''It's just more fun playing against older guys because you know they're stronger, maybe faster than you are, so you have to compete every day and you have to give your best every night.''The Stars and defending Western Conference-champion Predators know they have something special in Heiskanen and Tolvanen. Rumors have swirled about Tolvanen joining the Predators this season, but he's concerned first about the Olympics and the rest of the KHL season.''I don't think that's a thing I have to worry (about) right now,'' Tolvanen said. ''I just have to live in the moment and live day by day. I still have playoffs with Jokerit, so let's see after the playoffs what I'm going to do.''Tolvanen said his game resembles that of St. Louis Blues sniper Vladimir Tarasenko and compared Heiskanen's to Norris Trophy-winning Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson. Those are lofty comparisons, but Finns who have played in the NHL like what they see so far.''(Heiskanen) really plays like a seasoned veteran,'' former Calgary Flames goaltender Karri Ramo said. ''I play with Tolvanen and he's been excellent. ... His overall game's been improving all the time. He's going to be a big part of this team and a big part of Jokerit.''Nashville already is overflowing with young forwards - Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson and Kevin Fiala - and looks primed for another deep playoff run. Any team looking to trade with the Predators ahead of the Feb. 26 deadline will undoubtedly ask about Tolvanen, but he and Heiskanen might be NHL-ready and able to help now.''He's a great kid,'' Marjamaki said. ''Eeli's so talented (of a) guy and versatile player. I like his hockey sense, he's pretty good skating and (has a) unbelievable shot.''Heiskanen, who is feeling good now after dealing with the effects of a concussion in the fall, figures making the jump to the NHL is possible next season as long as he trains hard this summer. Playing with him in pre-Olympic tournaments made quite the impression on Tolvanen, who is on board with Heiskanen taking his talents to the next level.''He's an amazing player,'' Tolvanen said. ''He's really fun to play with because he can see you and he has the ability to score goals, so I think that's a D-man I want on my team.''Dallas' Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn should like the sound of that.For his part, Tolvanen also said he's ready to make the leap to the NHL after proving himself in the KHL, and Kukkonen is eager to witness what the two kids can do when they get to North America.''The sky's the limit,'' Kukkonen said. ''We've seen both guys doing big things already, and they only keep getting better, so I think they're going to be top players in the world once they get a little bit older.''---Follow Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno---More AP Olympics: https://wintergames.ap.orgCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom offered a very frank assessment of his play and the abilities of some of his teammates following a 4-1 loss to Carolina on Friday.

If you weren't watching the finish of the Detroit Red Wings-New York Islanders game Friday night, take a quick second and review the insane third period in which the Islanders notched four goals on the same five-minute power play.The four-goal explosion was precipitated by a five-minute major slashing penalty to Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi for a wack on Islanders tough guy Cal Clutterbuck. A penalty that Bertuzzi feels was too harsh."Was a heat of the moment thing. I don't think it deserved a five. I think it deserved a two-minute penalty," Bertuzzi said postgame, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. "It was more or less just sticking up for myself. ... I regret it."Be the judge for yourself. Here is the slash in question:

If the Carolina Hurricanes are serious about embracing their Whalers heritage, Connecticut governor Dannel P. Malloy wants Hartford to be part of it.New 'Canes owner Tom Dundon has stated he wants the team to start donning Whalers gear on occasion, and Hartford jerseys are now available to purchase at Carolina home games.Malloy took it to another level Friday by officially inviting the Hurricanes to return to Hartford and play a regular-season outdoor game at Rentschler Field.

Mathew Barzal continues to make a strong case to be named the best rookie in the NHL this season.The New York Islanders forward registered five assists in a 7-6 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, giving him 58 points in 56 games. That puts him 11 points ahead of Vancouver's Brock Boeser, who's currently sidelined with a hand injury.With the performance, Barzal became the first rookie in 100 years to record three five-point games in a single season.

A five-minute penalty against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night turned into a goal barrage for the trigger-happy New York Islanders.Detroit forward Tyler Bertuzzi got mixed up with New York tough guy Cal Clutterbuck at the 6:33 mark of the third period and received a five-minute major penalty for slashing and a game misconduct.That's when the fun kicked off:

New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault has pinpointed one specific area that has hindered his team's success this season."I believe that we’re a goaltender getting on a roll here (away from) being back in the hunt and back into the playoffs," Vigneault said Friday, per Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post. “We started our season 4-7-2 and we were a little inconsistent in the goaltending department. I felt we were playing better than our record indicated."Goaltending got better, we went on a run (of 18-7-3). Came back from the bye week and since that time, we’ve been on a (3-10) run. A little inconsistent in the goaltending department."Ondrej Pavelec was given the start against Calgary despite Henrik Lundqvist's overall solid play this season.GoalieGPRecordSave %Lundqvist4621-17-4.917Pavelec154-7-1.911The Rangers recently announced they're entering a period of roster rebuilding, and some players are likely to be traded prior to the deadline. Vigneault isn't ready to pack it in on this season, however, again citing the need for consistent goaltending to get back into the playoff picture.Related: What could a Rangers rebuild on the fly look like?"I believe we’re playing better than our record indicates and I really believe that Hank and Pav can get on a roll and we can get back in the hunt and get back in the playoffs," Vigneault added.The Rangers entered Friday's game against the Flames with a record of 25-24-5, three points out of a wild-card playoff spot.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators' roster appears set for a shakeup.In announcing a three-year contract extension for general manager Pierre Dorion and the departure of team president Tom Anselmi, club owner Eugene Melnyk affirmed his desire to bring a winner to Ottawa.Given the team's position in the standings, tough decisions are ahead in regards to refining a roster one year removed from double overtime in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.Those decisions, Melnyk says, may be painful to accept.

The Ottawa Senators have signed general manager Pierre Dorion to a three-year contract extension through the 2021-22 season.The announcement comes while the Senators sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, but less than a year after a long playoff run under Dorion's watch.That's what the team wants to strive for year in and year out, according to owner Eugene Melnyk."The goal is to win the Stanley Cup," Melnyk said. "Having come within one goal of last season's Stanley Cup Final, we were hopeful entering this season. Obviously, our results have challenged those expectations. What remains unchanged is the dedication that goes into evaluating every aspect of this organization."The team further reiterated Dorion will concentrate on building a foundation for sustainable success."Today's announcement reflects a renewed commitment to scouting, drafting and development," Melnyk continued. "It may require changes to our lineup. Rest assured, we will only tolerate pain with an endgame in mind: building an organization that wins - at all levels - year in and year out."The announcement coincided with news that team president Tom Anselmi had officially vacated the position.Dorion has been on the job since April 2016 after taking over from the late Bryan Murray.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks were dealt some bad news on Friday, as head coach Travis Green announced super rookie Brock Boeser will miss Friday's contest against the Carolina Hurricanes with a hand injury.Boeser was hurt Thursday night during Vancouver's loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Tampa Bay Lightning, but played the entire game, registering a goal in over 21 minutes of ice time.The extent of Boeser's injury is still not known, but according to Green, he fell on his hand during Thursday's game and woke up feeling stiffness in the same hand.Through 51 games this season, Boeser has been a revelation for a lackluster Canucks squad, as he currently sits second in the NHL rookie scoring race with 47 points (26 goals and 21 assists).Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Anselmi has left his position as president of the Ottawa Senators, the team announced Friday."We thank Tom for his contributions to the organization and wish him all the best in his future endeavors," the club said in a statement coinciding with the extension of general manager Pierre Dorion's contract.Anselmi held the job for just over a year, having been officially hired by the club on Jan. 25, 2017.He was chosen in part due to his experience overseeing the Air Canada Centre, the downtown Toronto home of the Maple Leafs and Raptors.The Senators, of course, recently reached a deal in principle to be part of the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats, a downtown Ottawa neighborhood where the club wants to build a new arena.Prior to working for the Senators, Anselmi served first as chief operating officer and then president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), and even further back, he was vice president and general manager of arena operations for Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment (now Canucks Sports & Entertainment).There's no indication at this point as to why Anselmi left his post, or who his replacement might be.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL enforcer Dave "Tiger" Williams was arrested Friday after being charged with sexual assault earlier in the week.The charges against Williams stem from a morale-boosting trip to visit the Canadian Armed Forces in Latvia in December."The accused was a passenger on the flight as part of the sanctioned morale visit to deployed Canadian Armed Forces personnel," said Lieutenant (Navy) Blake Patterson, a spokesperson for the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's Office, according to The Canadian Press via TSN.Williams is facing one count of sexual assault and one count of common assault.The 64-year-old was arrested by military police but released from custody on the promise to appear in court. Despite the charges being laid by the military, Williams' case will go to civilian court in Ottawa, the city the flight originated from.As a former NHLer with over 960 career games for such teams as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks, Williams had been a regular on military morale trips, taking part in celebrity ball hockey games and other morale-boosting events in recent years.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Frederik Andersen has been a rock for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and his body of work has teammates talking.The 28-year-old put up his fifth 40-plus-save game of the 2017-18 campaign Wednesday in a 3-2 shootout win over the Nashville Predators. The outing - along with Andersen's overall strong play - has people talking about a potential Vezina Trophy nomination, including teammate Tyler Bozak."You watch the game versus Nashville and you can just show them that tape and that should put him in the conversation right there," Tyler Bozak said, according to TSN's Mark Masters.Related: Andersen, not Matthews, is the Maple Leafs' real MVPMeanwhile, the soft-spoken Dane was asked last week about possibly winning a Vezina someday, and he was blunt in his response."Of course," Andersen said, according to The Athletic's Jonas Siegel. "We've seen stretches of what I can do and I think it's something that I obviously strive to be better and be in that top-goalie conversation."Andersen sits ninth in the NHL in save percentage (.922), is tied for fourth in shutouts (four), while leading all goalies in shots against and saves.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets will welcome forward Mark Scheifele back to the lineup after a 16-game absence on Friday when the club takes on the St. Louis Blues, the team announced.Scheifele has been out since Dec. 27 after a collision with Edmonton Oilers defenseman Brandon Davidson. The Jets will certainly be thrilled to have arguably their top center back in the fold, but the fact is, they fared just fine while he was on the shelf.The Jets have gone 11-2-3 in Scheifele's absence and sit just three points back of the Vegas Golden Knights for top spot in the Western Conference. In 38 games this season, Scheifele still ranks fourth on the club with 15 goals and 38 points.Related: Maurice jokes Jets should trade Scheifele due to success without himScheifele was officially activated off injured reserve later on Friday.

On Thursday afternoon, the New York Rangers brass announced their bold strategy to blow up their roster and rebuild for the future.It's an interesting tactic, given it comes with the club sitting just three points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot, and it proves how much the organization prides itself on not just making the playoffs but legitimately competing for a Stanley Cup.General manager Jeff Gorton and president Glen Sather understand the club doesn't currently hold a candle to other strong teams in the East such as the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, or Pittsburgh Penguins. In fact, the Rangers currently rank 16th in goals for, 23rd in goals against, 18th on the power play, and 21st in shots per game - numbers that simply are not up to scratch, comparatively speaking.So, for now, the smart decision is to sell players while they still have top value and attempt to turn around a club that has shown solid regular-season performances while not being able to make it out of the second round of the playoffs in the last two years.So what could this pending rebuild look like?Already in the systemFirst, it's worth noting the young pieces the club has developing. Though the likes of Jimmy Vesey and Brady Skjei, at 24 and 23 years old respectively, are still getting the hang of things at the NHL level, the team's two first-round picks from last season - Lias Andersson, plucked seventh overall, and Filip Chytil, snagged with the 21st selection - are both showing particular promise.Andersson, who might be remembered for hurling his silver medal into the crowd at last month's world juniors, began the year playing men's hockey for Frolunda in Sweden, where he tallied 14 points in 22 games. He has since joined the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford, where he's put up five points in six games.Meanwhile, Chytil, excepting two games with the big club, has spent the season with the Wolf Pack, where he's been just shy of a point per game with eight goals and 22 points in 27 outings.With two talented centers making big strides, the Rangers can head into the trade deadline knowing they already have two major building blocks at their disposal.Trade deadline crazinessHere's where the fun begins.With the Rangers seemingly the only club that has shown their hand ahead of the deadline, much of the noise regarding potential deals has involved their bigger-name players, as well as their quest to acquire first-round picks, which looks to be a priority.Related - Report: Rangers ready to sell ahead of trade deadlineSure, that sounds like a common-sense strategy for any club looking to rebuild, but for the Rangers, it should be even more so as prior to last season - when the aforementioned Andersson and Chytil were taken - the club had not made a selection in the first round since drafting Skjei 28th overall in 2012.It appears to be just a matter of time until the club deals forward Rick Nash, who should garner a big haul. On Tuesday, Bob McKenzie reported on TSN's "Insider Trading" segment that the asking price for Nash was a first-round pick, a high-end prospect, and another lesser player, pick, or prospect.TSN's Darren Dreger followed that up by noting Nash's agent had spoken to as many as 10 interested teams and that his top preferences were the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars.Also believed to be on the trading block is Michael Grabner, for whom, according to McKenzie, the Rangers are seeking a first-round pick.Then there is captain Ryan McDonagh, who could also be disposable. There's no reason to think he couldn't also fetch a first-round selection - although, unlike Grabner and Nash, he is not necessarily a rental player given he's signed through the 2018-19 season with a $4.7-million cap hit.A couple other names also reportedly getting looks are Nick Holden, J.T. Miller, and Chris Kreider. On top of that, the Rangers also placed defenseman Brendan Smith - who they signed to a four-year, $17.4-million deal just last summer - on waivers Thursday.All of this is to say there are plausibly no untouchables on the Rangers roster, meaning they are wide open for business.Potential offseason moves could create quick turnoverWhat is also interesting about the Rangers' attempted rebuild is the thought this might not necessarily be a multi-year endeavor.There is some belief that since both Nash and Grabner enjoy playing in New York, they might not be averse to re-signing with the Rangers again in the offseason after being dealt before the deadline, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman noted during last Saturday "Headlines" segment.On top of that, there is another potential name to consider: Ilya Kovalchuk. As you might recall, the former New Jersey Devils forward - who currently resides in the KHL and will participate for the Olympic Athletes of Russia at the PyeongChang Games - attempted an NHL return last season but never managed it, partly due to his rights being owned by the Devils.Related - Report: Rangers, Jackets, Leafs believed to be on Kovalchuk's wish listHowever, next season he will be an unrestricted free agent, and it is believed he would prefer to play in New York if he is to return to the NHL, Friedman wrote in his "31 Thoughts" column.One final way the team can rebuild on the fly is by electing not to deal arguably their most valuable commodity.Given the goalie landscape, his long-term contract, and what he means to the franchise, the player with perhaps the best odds of surviving the overhaul is Henrik Lundqvist.While he has had a shaky past five games, overall Lundqvist has been solid this season, rocking a record of 21-17-4 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average. And with him manning the pipes, the Rangers can at least bank on the fact that no matter how much they strip things down, they have one largely dependable mainstay at their disposal.There's no question the next few weeks and even months will be interesting in the Big Apple, and while the team might have warned its fans about a total revamp, it seems the Rangers will be better off for it in the not-so-distance future.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Thursday, the New York Rangers took the unusual step of sending an open letter to their fans - from president Glen Sather and general manager Jeff Gorton - to inform them that “we consider you a part of the New York Rangers family,” and also that the team will be selling off anyone and everyone it can in the next two weeks leading up to the trade deadline.Will other teams follow suit? There certainly are a few who could.Let’s see what’s in those drafts folders.__________

The Ottawa Senators will get two key names back in the lineup Saturday when they take on a divisional foe, the Toronto Maple Leafs, as forwards Mark Stone and Derick Brassard will return, the team announced Friday.Stone has missed nine games due to a lower-body ailment, while Brassard missed two games with an undisclosed injury.The Sens are playing some of their best hockey of the season, going 4-1-0 in their last five games.Though the Sens are well out of the playoff picture, Stone's return will undoubtedly help at both ends of the ice. He leads the team with 44 points in 44 games, but also leads with 47 takeaways - good for 10th in the NHL.Brassard, on the other hand, has 13 goals and 16 assists in 51 games this season. Though he's under contract for next season, there's a possibility he'll be moved at the trade deadline.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's easy for Maple Leafs supporters to take Frederik Andersen for granted. Understandable, even. In Toronto, it's often been better to not think about the goalies.Andersen's not Auston Matthews. Or William Nylander. Not Mitch Marner, either. He isn't Morgan Rielly or Jake Gardiner, and he's not future Hall of Famer Patrick Marleau, or head coach Mike Babcock.Andersen is none of those guys, but he is Toronto's undisputed MVP.He proved it again Wednesday against the Nashville Predators, winning while making 40-plus saves for an NHL-leading fifth time and sending the Stanley Cup finalists away with only one point when they entirely deserved two.The crowd at Air Canada Centre noticed, too, as chants of "Freddie! Freddie! Freddie!" bellowed throughout the third period, overtime, and shootout, as Andersen single-handedly got his team a point and then stole another.The unassuming 28-year-old has done the impossible - he's provided the Maple Leafs with legitimate No. 1 goaltending, finally, and despite a heavy workload has, for the most part, somehow managed to fly under the radar.Until Wednesday.Andersen, two nights after being removed from Monday's game following a skate to the head, demanded that everyone take note. There's no longer any doubt: He's as important - if not more - as any of the kids the rebuilding-on-steroids Maple Leafs have been built around.

New York Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith has cleared waivers and will now be assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, according to multiple reports.Smith was placed on waivers on Thursday after struggling this season, producing one goal and eight points in 44 games."Everybody that's followed him since he's been here, there's no doubt that he has played better for us in the past, and this year he got off to a slow start. We worked with him in a number of different ways, and he seemed to be having a hard time to find his game, so at the end of the day, this might be a little bit drastic here, but coaches and management felt that this was the way to go for our team right now," head coach Alain Vigneault said on Thursday, according to Newsday's Steve Zipay.Smith getting assigned to the Rangers' affiliate means the club will now be able to bury $1.025 million of his $4.35-million cap charge in the minors, according to Zipay.The 29-year-old inked a four-year, $17.4-million contract with the Rangers this past offseason after being acquired from the Detroit Red Wings last February.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Ben Harpur to a two-year, one-way contract extension, the team announced Friday. He will earn $650,000 in 2018-19 and $800,000 in 2019-20, for an average annual value of $725,000.Harpur has suited up for 20 games for the Sens this year, collecting one assist in nearly 15 minutes of ice time. In 16 games with Ottawa's AHL affiliate in Belleville, he's shown more offensive prowess, collecting two goals and seven assists in 16 games.The 23-year-old's greatest asset is his size, as he stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 222 pounds. He's displayed a willingness to throw his weight around, averaging two hits per game this season. Harpur was a fourth-round pick by the Sens in 2013.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson had surgery to repair a broken forearm suffered Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, the club announced Friday.Edmundson has been placed on injured reserve and will be re-evaluated in six weeks. In a corresponding move, the club recalled defenseman Chris Butler from the AHL's San Antonio Rampage.The 24-year-old Edmundson was a surprise performer in last year's playoffs, recording three goals and six points in 11 games, including the overtime winner against the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their first-round series.Edmundson has already matched his career-high in points with 15 and set a career high with six goals, besting last season's marks in 13 fewer games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.