Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, and Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Jan. 21.MacKinnon recorded four goals - including two game-winners - and two assists in three games as the Avs extended their win streak to nine games. He sits second in NHL scoring with 23 goals and 36 assists for 59 points on the season.Hellebuyck stopped 59 of 60 shots over two games, posting a 2-0-0 record with .983 save percentage and one shutout (versus Vancouver). Last week's performance was a highlight in what's been a stellar campaign to date.

Maybe Scott Darling isn't up to being a No. 1 goalie?There's certainly reason to raise the question as the Carolina Hurricanes netminder has posted a record of 9-13-6 with a .892 save percentage after the team acquired and subsequently signed Darling to a four-year, $16.6-million deal last summer.Hurricanes' columnist Luke DeCock even went as far as to say it's time to "stick a fork" in the Darling experiment.Not so fast, says head coach Bill Peters.

The National Hockey League released its rankings of eligible prospects for the 2018 draft on Monday, and you may be familiar with the names that top the international and North American skaters list.Swedish phenom Rasmus Dahlin and Russian sniper Andrei Svechnikov sit atop the international and North American lists, respectively.Here's a look at the rankings released by NHL Central Scouting:

Finland announced its men's Olympic hockey roster for the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, on Monday.Included on the roster are former NHL players Karri Ramo, Lasse Kukkonen, Sami Lepisto, Teemu Hartikainen, and Joonas Kemppainen, while a pair of 2017 first-round picks will draw quite a bit of attention.Defenseman Miro Heiskanen was selected third overall by the Dallas Stars, and forward Eeli Tolvanen was snagged 30th by the Nashville Predators.Here's a look at the entire roster:Goalies:

The loss of No. 1 goaltender Martin Jones did little to slow down the red-hot San Jose Sharks.The club was perfect in back-to-back games on the weekend with wins over the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks, thanks in large part to the play of backup netminder Aaron Dell.Dell had himself a weekend, playing both games while making a combined 64 saves on 67 shots. The impressive play is nothing new for the 28-year-old, who's been stellar over his last dozen games.

Winnipeg Jets netminder Connor Hellebuyck was perfect Sunday night, turning away all 29 Vancouver Canucks shots to pick up his 25th win of the season.The 24-year-old helped his club to a 1-0 victory, and in doing so, set a franchise record for the fewest games needed to hit the 25-win plateau (39).Hellebuyck bested the previous mark of 49 games set by Kari Lehtonen during the 2006-07 season.It's the latest accolade for Hellebuyck in a season that has already seen him named to next weekend's All-Star festivities. He now hones a .926 save percentage and a 2.29 goals-against average, both of which stand as career highs, and he's now just one win away from matching his career best of 26, which he set last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the back of an impressive three-goal outburst in the first period, the Vegas Golden Knights topped the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 on Sunday, hitting the 66-point mark to pass the Tampa Bay Lightning for top spot in the NHL.Prior to Sunday's game, the Lightning had occupied the first overall position since Nov. 28.With its 31st win on the season, the Golden Knights also reached the third-highest win total by a team in its inaugural season, matching the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers, who each did so during the 1967-68 season. Two more wins, and they will tie the record of 33 victories currently held by the Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers, who achieved the mark during the 1993-94 campaign.In losing to the Golden Knights, the Hurricanes also became the ninth team to lose their season series against Vegas this term.Team Record AgainstLightning2-0-0Stars2-1-0Predators2-1-0Hurricanes1-0-1Panthers1-0-1Maple Leafs1-0-1Coyotes4-0-0Ducks3-0-0Blackhawks2-0-0Let's face it: this Golden Knights team is for real.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Paul Coffey's resume speaks for itself - at least as far as Peter Chiarelli is concerned.The former Edmonton Oilers blue-liner was hired by the club Sunday to be its new skills development coach, and while he doesn't have any experience in such a role, it's his knowledge of the game that attracted the Oilers."If your question is should a candidate have needed more coaching experience, I think Paul is an exception," Oilers general manager Chiarelli told reporters Sunday. "I think the way he looks at the game and he views the game is a real asset."A key cog of the Gretzky-era Oilers, Coffey was a dynamic puck-mover who played seven seasons in Edmonton. While his career with the Oilers was relatively short, it was decorated, with three Stanley Cups and two Norris Trophies.As skills development coach, Coffey will be tasked with working alongside the Oilers' up-and-coming players, particularly the bevy of talent on the back end.That includes the likes of AHLers Caleb Jones and Ethan Bear, plus 2017 draft selection Dmitri Samorukov, among others.Critics may suggest the organization is simply hiring another familiar name - ex-Oilers Wayne Gretzky, Craig MacTavish, and Kevin Lowe all have roles with the team - but Chiarelli insisted Coffey was chosen based on merit."I know prior to me coming in here there was talk of all of the old Oilers, but for me, this is a collaborative decision by myself and (coach) Todd (McLellan). We're not old Oilers," Chiarelli added."There are a lot of nuances to playing D and it's no accident that it takes D longer to mature ... I feel (Coffey) brings a level of expertise and insight into the game that will help our D and how our D play collectively."Coffey has coached at the midget AAA and junior A levels in the Greater Toronto Hockey League and the Ontario Junior Hockey League, respectively.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The cause of Carey Price's uncharacteristically poor start to the 2017-18 season may have been pinpointed, as the all-world goaltender dealt with chronic fatigue, according to a report from TVA Sports, translated by Sportsnet's Eric Engels."I was always tired," Price said. "A guy who eats well and sleeps well like me isn't supposed to be tired like I was."The constant fatigue was negatively affecting his ability to recover properly, and doctors discovered vitamin D and B12 deficiencies upon taking blood tests.Prior to an injury suffered on Nov. 2, Price had won just three games, owning a save percentage of .877. However, since a switch to his diet and a healthy return to the net, the 30-year-old is back to normal, making saves at a 92 percent clip since Nov. 25."It took me three weeks to see a major difference in my energy level," Price said.For the season, Price is 13-16-4 with a .908 save percentage and 2.96 goals-against average.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The hockey world lost an icon Sunday, as longtime USA Hockey executive Jim Johannson died unexpectedly at 53.Players, teams, and media members alike expressed their condolences upon learning the news.

Paul Coffey's role with the Edmonton Oilers has been identified, as the Hall of Fame defenseman will join the club as a skills development coach, the team announced Sunday.It was reported Saturday that Coffey was set to join his former team but in an unknown capacity.Coffey spent seven seasons with the Oilers, winning three Stanley Cups at the peak of Edmonton's 1980s dynasty. He added a fourth ring to his collection in 1991 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.While his NHL experience as a coach is limited in comparison to his career achievements, it's hard to imagine a better skills teacher than Coffey, who ranks second all-time in scoring among defenseman with 1,531 points in 1,409 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of USA hockey and general manager of the 2018 men's Olympic team, died Sunday morning.He was 53 years old.“We are beyond shocked and profoundly saddened,” Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey said in a statement. “As accomplished as Jim was in hockey, he was the absolute best, most humble, kind and caring person you could ever hope to meet. His impact on our sport and more importantly the people and players in our sport have been immeasurable. Our condolences go out to his entire family, but especially to his loving wife Abby and their young daughter Ellie.”Johansson won an NCAA national title with Wisconsin in 1983, and represented the United States as a player at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics.Upon joining USA Hockey in 2000, he worked with 10 national junior teams, and was involved in the leadership group for the 2006 and 2010 Olympic teams.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock had himself an evening Saturday.The 23-year-old became the eighth rookie defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a single game, according to TSN's StatsCentre.That's based on the rookie standards put in place in 1990-91, which require rookies to be 26 or under.He also became the first Islanders rookie defenseman to ever score five points in a game, according to Shannon Hogan of MSG Networks.Pulock tallied one goal and four assists in the Islanders' 7-3 destruction of the Chicago Blackhawks. He's the first rookie blue-liner to achieve the five-point feat since Alexandre Picard did so for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2007.Saturday's effort gives Pulock 14 points on the season in 34 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another Edmonton Oilers great appears set to join the club's front office.Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey is expected to join the organization in some capacity, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.Coffey was in attendance for Edmonton's game against Vancouver on Saturday, and reiterated the unspecified nature of his role:

It's all just noise as far as Erik Karlsson is concerned.Trade rumors surrounding the Ottawa Senators captain have picked up this week, especially after general manager Pierre Dorion went on record Thursday stating that while the team plans to keep the two-time Norris Trophy winner for life, he would still listen to trade offers.In fact, Dorion made sure to point out even Wayne Gretzky was traded in his prime, seemingly comparing the two players and situations despite Karlsson not fully understanding why."This isn't close to that," Karlsson said of the comparison, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "I don't know why that parallel is being drawn."As for the speculation, Karlsson insists he isn't worried about potentially being traded. For the time being, his focus remains solely on the ice."This isn't something I can control. I'm going to do the job I've done," said Karlsson. "I'm going to do the best I can to help this team. When the time comes to make a decision, I will make one."In a down season, Karlsson still ranks tied for eighth in scoring among all NHL defensemen with 31 points in 39 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit with a third-period rally to best the Ottawa Senators 4-3 on Saturday night.It was the Maple Leafs' first win in regulation since Dec. 28, when they topped the last-place Arizona Coyotes. Prior to Saturday's game, the team had gone 2-3-4 in its previous nine contests, with both victories coming in the shootout.Despite Toronto's shaky play of late, the Maple Leafs remain third in the Atlantic Division with a 13-point lead over the fourth-place Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a night to remember for 15-year-old San Jose Sharks fan Hayden Bradley.The team signed Bradley to an honorary three-day contract as part of the Make-A-Wish program, and had planned to have him drop the puck to Joe Pavelski and Sidney Crosby in a ceremonial faceoff.Instead, the Sharks' captain had Bradley stand in the dot with the Pittsburgh Penguins' superstar center.

Presented with an opportunity to make up ground quickly, the Montreal Canadiens came up short.Over the course of the last eight days, the Canadiens played the rival Boston Bruins - a team they're chasing for a playoff spot - on three occasions.The result? Three losses and a single point earned.Here's how it went down:

The Dallas Stars firmly believe John Klingberg belongs in the Norris Trophy conversation, and rightfully so.Earlier this week, the NHL Network offered up a graphic displaying the apparent leading candidates for the league's best defenseman this season.

The Colorado Avalanche have turned things around in a hurry.Coming off an historically awful 2016-17, the Avs have reeled off nine wins in a row, currently sit in a Western Conference wild-card playoff spot, and are withing striking distance of third place in the ultra-competitive Central Division.Following that ninth consecutive victory Saturday over the New York Rangers, defenseman Erik Johnson spoke about the commitment made by the team's core players to avoid a repeat performance of last year."The way things went last year, I think the easy thing to say would have been: 'It's not working here, let's go somewhere else, let's jump ship,'" Johnson said Saturday, per Rick Sadowski of NHL.com. "The character guys and core guys in this room said we want to figure things out here in Colorado, make it work."Earlier this season, Colorado shook up the roster by coming through on a trade request filed last year by Matt Duchene, one made because he was tired of losing."I wanted to play playoff hockey," Duchene explained at the time of the trade, per Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. "I’ve got eight playoff games to my name right now and that’s not where I want to be at this point of my career."Heading into Saturday's game against Toronto, Duchene's Ottawa Senators sat second to last in the Eastern Conference, all but out of the playoff picture.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were without their top defenseman against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.Morgan Rielly was held out after suffering an upper-body injury during the second period of Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers, according to TSN's Mark Masters. He finished the game against the Flyers, but, as head coach Mike Babcock said postgame, was used sparingly.Rielly is in the midst of a career year. He's tallied 31 points in 47 games, just two points shy of Auston Matthews, who leads the Maple Leafs in scoring.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With another win on Saturday afternoon, the Colorado Avalanche extended their winning streak to nine games, the longest managed by any team this season.The Avalanche topped the New York Rangers 3-1 and in doing so also tied their second-longest winning run in franchise history.

With the New York Islanders bitten by the injury bug, a promising young forward remains in the minors with something left to prove in the eyes of the organization.That would be Joshua Ho-Sang, who sits in Bridgeport despite some holes in the NHL lineup, the biggest of which was created by an injury to Josh Bailey.But Ho-Sang was recently a healthy scratch in the AHL, and Islanders' head coach Doug Weight believes it would be sending the wrong message to immediately promote the highly-skilled forward to the team's top line."It’s a crying shame (Ho-Sang's) not playing with John Tavares when Bails goes down," Weight said, per Arthur Staple of Newsday. “We had six guys out. It was a perfect opportunity. And Josh should be upset with himself."Whether our view of the world is wrong is something we can argue later. But the fact is, we need to be able to look at how some guys are laying it on the line (in Bridgeport) and he’s a healthy scratch. So, to go from that to the first lineup here, where is he learning from that? That’s a big, big part of this."Ho-Sang has appeared in 19 games for Bridgeport this season, scoring four goals and nine assists. In four games since being benched, he's recorded one assist.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils may have lost their afternoon tilt against the Philadelphia Flyers, but their was a silver lining in the blue paint.That's because 22-year-old netminder Ken Appleby was lights out after being thrust into action in relief of starter Keith Kinkaid. Appleby stopped all 24 shots he faced after entering the game midway through the first period when Kinkaid was injured and did not return.Appleby was recalled on an emergency basis from the Devils' AHL affiliate in Binghamton on Friday due to a sickness to starter Cory Schneider.In 14 games for the Binghamton Devils this season, Appleby has registered a 5-8-1 record, a 3.21 goals-against average, and an .888 save percentage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The two hottest teams in the NHL will look to extend impressive runs Saturday.Few expected the Colorado Avalanche to be this good after last season's atrocious finish, but they've been one of the best stories in the league so far and have squeezed into the second Western Conference wild-card spot with eight straight victories.The Calgary Flames have been on a torrid stretch of their own, too, with seven straight wins propelling them to third in the Pacific Division.Here's a quick look at how both teams have done it:AvalancheDateOpponentScore12/29/17TOR4-3(OT)12/31/17NYI6-11/2/18WPG3-2(OT)1/4/18CBJ2-01/6/18MIN7-21/13/18@DAL4-11/15/18ANA3-11/18/18SJ5-3FlamesDateOpponentScore12/31/17CHI4-3(OT)1/4/18LA4-31/6/18ANA3-21/9/18@MIN3-2(OT)1/11/18@TB5-11/12/18@FLA4-21/14/18@CAR4-1The Avalanche run has been longer, but Colorado has had to play only once on the road during its eight-game streak, while four of the Flames' seven wins have been accomplished away from home.Here's how the two clubs stack up statistically over this stretch:CategoryCOLCGYGoals/G4.253.86Goals Allowed/G1.622.00Goal Differential+2.63+1.86Power Play32.1% (9-for-28)25% (5-for-20)Penalty Kill93.1% (27-for-29)91.6 (22-for-24)Both teams have been great at limiting opposing power-play goals and have had plenty of success with their own man advantages.The Avalanche have the edge in everything here, but not by much. Both teams deserve credit for their play on special teams and overall.Jonathan Bernier's stellar play in goal has been a major reason for Colorado's sub-two GAA during their streak, and Nathan MacKinnon has amassed seven goals and 10 assists over the eight-game span.Johnny Gaudreau has 13 points for the Flames during the seven-game stretch, and Sean Monahan scored four goals in six games before missing Calgary's most recent victory with the flu.The Avalanche will try to extend their streak to nine Saturday in a matinee against the New York Rangers, while the Flames host the Winnipeg Jets in another afternoon affair.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not Patrik Laine. Not Tyler Seguin. Not even Vladimir Tarasenko. None of those All-Star-caliber players were first in the Western Conference to hit the 25-goal mark this season.That honor goes to the criminally underrated Vegas Golden Knights pivot William Karlsson, as the relatively unknown 25-year-old has quietly grown into one of the NHL's hottest goal-scorers.Karlsson is currently on a steal of a deal at one year for only $1 million, becoming a restricted free agent on July 1.Given general manager George McPhee's propensity to hand out extensions recently and Karlsson's tendency to tickle twine, now is the perfect time to project what the talented forward could make come summer.The numbers One thing should be made clear off the jump: Karlsson's body of work isn't exactly expansive in terms of point production. But, that doesn't change the fact that he has lit the lamp more than any other Western Conference forward this season. That, on its own, should see his $1-million price tag increase exponentially.Take a look at his numbers through 45 games this season:Goals Assists Points GWG CF% S%251439555.226Of course, Karlsson's gaudy shooting percentage is bound to come down at some point. But the smooth-skating Swede still owns impressive possession numbers and plays a responsible two-way game with poise in all three zones.The 2011 second-round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks didn't exactly enter the show and take the league by storm, as Karlsson only managed 18 goals and two assists over 183 regular-season games for the Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets. But he's elevated his play this season to a level that has begun to turn heads.Karlsson isn't going to become a top-10 paid player off of only one exceptional season, but he has already done more than enough to secure himself a pretty payday once the season ends.And it's only January.The comparablesGiven Karlsson's relative lack of track record, determining his exact annual-average value and term is a bit tricky. But given his age, solid season (on pace for 46 goals), and ability to play responsible hockey at both ends of the ice, don't be surprised if his contract falls into the four-to-five year range at roughly $5 million per season.Here are some long-term deals signed since the start of September that can be used as measuring sticks:Player (Team)AgeLengthValueAAVJonathan Marchessault (Knights)276 years$30M$5MBryan Little (Jets)306 years$31.75M$5.2MKyle Turris (Predators)286 years$36M$6MAlexander Wennberg (Blue Jackets)226 years$29.4M$4.9MKarlsson falls in the middle of the above players' age range, but their annual-average values and term could line up very closely with what he should receive.Naturally, the aforementioned four players have more distinguished NHL credentials. But considering Karlsson's individual success along with that of the team as a group, expect McPhee to ink his underappreciated sniper to a significant contract, sooner than later.Future in VegasThe last thing to consider when it comes to projecting how long and how much Vegas is willing to offer Karlsson, is how well he fits into the Golden Knights' future plans.As of now, Karlsson is meshing with his linemates like spaghetti and meatballs, as Vegas' top line of Marchessault, Karlsson, and Reilly Smith has arguably been one the best in the business of late. Those three players account for just over 40 percent of the Knights' goal output, and has been one of the club's most lethal offensive combinations.Entering Saturday, the Knights sit fourth in league scoring with 150 total goals while also holding down second overall in the league standings - just one-point shy of the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning.A lot of that has to do with the chemistry of Gerard Gallant's top-six group.

James Neal is a scoring machine, and playing for an expansion team is not slowing him down.With a goal in Friday's overtime loss to the Florida Panthers, the Vegas Golden Knights winger became the sixth active player to score at least 20 goals in each of his first 10 NHL seasons.The other five are Alexander Ovechkin, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Tomas Vanek, and Jaromir Jagr.Neal was drafted 33rd overall by the Dallas Stars in 2005 and scored 24 goals as a rookie in 2008-09. His lowest single-season total is 21, recorded in 2012-13 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he appeared in only 40 games that season.He hit his high the season prior, scoring 40 goals for the Penguins.With 20 goals through 45 games, Neal is on pace for 36 over a full 82-game season. He becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After 10 games and stints with three different clubs this season, Antti Niemi has finally found the win column.The Montreal Canadiens netminder picked up his first victory of the season on Friday as the Habs downed the Washington Capitals by a 3-2 score.It's been a well-traveled year for Niemi, who began the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, only to be placed on waivers just one month into his start with the defending Stanley Cup champions after some early struggles.Though the veteran goaltender was claimed off waivers by the Florida Panthers, Niemi was once again released - having played just two games. The Canadiens came calling this time around, in need of a goalie with then backup Al Montoya on the mend.Team Games Record SV% GAAPenguins30-3-0.7977.49Panthers20-1-0.8725.11Canadiens51-1-1.9192.59Three teams, 10 games, and too many goals allowed. And while it's been a hectic season for Niemi, he was a calming presence Friday, as he turned aside 24 shots in the Canadiens' win.Prior to Friday, his most recent victory came last April as a member of the Dallas Stars.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews believes Frederik Andersen did well to call out his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates on Thursday night following another loss in which the team blew a third-period lead."Andersen doesn't say much, but when he says something, people listen up," Matthews said Friday after practice, per Chris Stevenson of NHL.com. "He's absolutely within his right to be upset because we've left him out to dry too many times over this course of games. He's absolutely right. We have his back. We need to be better for one another, and we need to be better for him."Related: Blowing leads becoming all too familiar for Maple LeafsA visibly frustrated Andersen said the Leafs need to examine both their attitude and overall effort level after Thursday's overtime loss in Philadelphia, adding the team simply can't coast through the regular season despite sitting comfortably in a playoff spot.Again, Matthews agreed."You can't have any complacency," said the young star center. "A lot can change. So you can go on a tough stretch, you can go on a hot stretch. Next thing you know, you're in another battle. We just want to stay focused, stay focused the whole season, doesn't matter what position we're in, we want to win every night."The Maple Leafs are 12 points up on Detroit for third in the Atlantic Division heading into Saturday's game in Ottawa.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown has avoided a suspension, but was fined $10,000 for his cross-check on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz on Thursday, the Department of Player Safety announced.Here's a look at the play:

The Edmonton Oilers' season just went from bad to worse.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be out for five to six weeks due to an injury the club would only classify as an "upper body" ailment. Head coach Todd McLellan confirmed to reporters the issue is cracked ribs, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector.The 24-year-old forward left Saturday's win over the Vegas Golden Knights after being hit hard by defenseman Brayden McNabb.Nugent-Hopkins leads the Oilers with 16 goals and ranks third with 31 points this season.The Oilers have been on their bye week since last Saturday's victory but return to action this Saturday at home against the Vancouver Canucks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle doesn't have an NHL team yet, but the group that's expected to submit a bid for an expansion franchise may have already begun the process of securing a name.Thirty-eight domains covering 13 different Seattle team names were purportedly registered Thursday by Oak View Group, as discovered by Clark Rasmussen of DetroitHockey.net.The names represented among the registered domains are:

Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown will have a hearing for his cross-check on Pittsburgh Penguins blue-liner Justin Schultz, the Department of Player Safety announced Friday.Here's the play in slow motion, which clearly shows Brown following through on a hit while Schultz was in a vulnerable position.

New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk needs surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee and will be out indefinitely with the injury, the team announced Friday.Shattenkirk played over 17 minutes in Thursday's win over Buffalo, but won't be available for the stretch run, making matters worse for the Rangers, who have also dealt with recent injuries to Ryan McDonagh, Chris Kreider, and Kevin Hayes.

The NHL is defending its decision to tab Kid Rock as the headlining performer at the upcoming All-Star Game, despite the uproar the move elicited.Steve Mayer, an executive vice president with the league and its executive producer for programming and creative development, told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski that Kid Rock's value as an entertainer and his history as a hockey fan outweighed the singer's slew of controversial comments and views."Most of the time, our acts are passionate hockey fans," Mayer said. "It's all about the entertainment at the end of the day for us, and this selection was purely based on that, and the fact that Kid Rock is a hockey lover. That's simply the background here."The Detroit native performed at the opening of the Red Wings' new facility, Little Caesars Arena, back in the fall. The NHL's decision to hire him for the All-Star festivities drew widespread criticism when it was announced earlier this week.Kid Rock, whose most recent hit record came six years ago, has made anti-transgender remarks, has displayed the Confederate flag at his concerts, and has criticized quarterback Colin Kaepernick multiple times for peacefully protesting police brutality and racial injustice.The 47-year-old performer has also been arrested twice on alcohol-related charges and once on an assault charge.The 2018 NHL All-Star Game, a 3-on-3 divisional tournament, will take place on Jan. 28 in Tampa Bay.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of Budweiser's famous Red Light, which has commemorated thousands of goals since its inception.In celebration of that, Budweiser is teaming up with a man whose goal-scoring prowess is second to none, Wayne Gretzky, to make goal celebrations even bigger with limited-edition Wayne Gretzky Gold-Synced Lights, marked with his legendary No. 99 and replica signature, along with a certificate of authenticity."Goals are the most exciting part of any hockey game, and as someone who has played hockey at all levels of the game, including the international stage, there's no better feeling than having the country celebrate those moments with you," Gretzky said. "I'm excited to light these limited-edition lamps to celebrate our country's biggest goals. Let's bring it home!"Budweiser will turn the iconic Red Light and Goal-Synced Glass gold in a 30-second TV spot called "Bring it Home" that will air during Super Bowl LII.Watch the video below to see Gretzky alongside other hockey greats, with gold-synced lights in hand. Must be legal drinking age.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Bernier is brilliantly backstopping the Colorado Avalanche to many a victory of late.Last season's last-place club extended its win streak to eight games courtesy of a 5-3 decision over San Jose on Thursday, and Bernier has been between the pipes for the past seven victories.The win over the Sharks was the first time he allowed more than two goals over the course of the streak, but he did stop 45 of 48 shots, good for a .938 save percentage.That single-game success rate is actually Bernier's second-lowest over his past seven starts.DateOpponentSavesSave%Dec. 31Islanders27.964Jan. 2Jets21.913Jan. 4Blue Jackets341.000Jan. 6Wild34.944Jan. 13Stars27.964Jan. 15Ducks33.971Jan. 18Sharks45.938Bernier was signed to a one-year, $2.75-million contract last summer with a view to spotting starter Semyon Varlamov. With the latter shelved with an injury, Bernier is certainly providing excellent value for a club surprisingly in playoff contention.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Frederik Andersen didn't mince words after the Toronto Maple Leafs blew yet another lead Thursday.For the third time in the past four games, the Leafs were up in the third period but couldn't hold on, this time losing in overtime to the Philadelphia Flyers.Related: Blown leads costing Maple Leafs during shaky JanuaryThe setbacks are clearly wearing on the goaltender."We've got to regroup, we've got to figure out who wants to commit to playing as a team," Andersen said postgame. "I think we have a few days now until our next game - one day between - but we've got to look at the attitude. We played well enough for two periods, but we've got to find a way to keep the foot on the gas the whole game. We can't be satisfied with two periods."The game-tying goal came off a shorthanded odd-man rush early in the third period, another bothersome event for Andersen."I think it's a lack of effort at certain points and we've got to figure this out if we want to play any meaningful hockey later. We've got to figure it out."Despite the recent trend, Toronto sits comfortably in third place in the Atlantic Division - 12 points up on Detroit in the "race" for that playoff spot. But as far as Andersen is concerned, there's no coasting through any part of the regular season."We're sitting pretty good, I think we've got it pretty comfortable, but that can't be any reason for not playing the right way. We've got to be ready when it comes to past the (All-Star) break here. It's going to be a lot tougher with teams trying to catch us. We can't slide like this."Toronto's next game is Saturday in Ottawa.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs let another lead get away from them on Thursday night.After mounting a 2-0 advantage in the second period in their clash with the Philadelphia Flyers, the club watched as its gutsy effort was quickly erased with the Flyers tying the game before the third period was four minutes old.The Maple Leafs took the Flyers to the extra session - which they have done in five of their last six games - but ultimately Sean Couturier had the dagger just 18 seconds in to hand the Maple Leafs their fourth straight loss.The game was an example of a recent trend that has found its way into the Maple Leafs' game - blowing leads. Thursday marked the fourth time in the last six that the Maple Leafs have coughed up a lead.DateOpponentLead BlownFinal ScoreJan. 4Sharks2-1W 3-2 (SO)Jan. 8Blue Jackets2-0L 3-2 (OT)Jan. 16Blues1-0L 2-1 (OT)Jan. 18Flyers2-0L 3-2 (OT)Of course, this unfortunate fad is nothing new for the Maple Leafs, as fans might recall the club was notorious last season for giving up leads late in games as well. In fact, the team blew 11 leads of two or more goals in 82 games last season, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton, who defines a blown lead as being when the opposing team is able to secure at least one point.Luckily for the Maple Leafs, the so-called "pity points" have allowed them to construct a 12-point lead over the next-closest Atlantic club (the Detroit Red Wings), meaning there's no panic in Leaf Land - yet.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrice Bergeron has found his scoring touch to begin 2018.The Boston Bruins center recorded a hat trick in a win over the New York Islanders on Thursday, only five games after notching his first career four-goal game (Jan. 6 vs. Carolina).These kinds of outbursts are rare for Bergeron, who had only one career hat trick heading into the new year. He's been a consistent scoring threat over the course of his career, however, averaging 24 goals for every 82 games played.The latest three goals gave him 278, pushing him past Wayne Cashman for seventh on the Bruins' all-time list - 11 behind Ken Hodge."I had a chance to learn from Cash my first few years," Bergeron said postgame, according to the Bruins' Twitter account. "He was a great person, I've heard only great things about him as a player and the way he played the game. It's always great to hear and great honors."But at the same time, I'm really worried about what I can control, which is helping my team get some more wins."The Bruins are indeed winning games, having picked up at least a point in their past 15. Boston now sits only five points back of the NHL-leading Lightning, with one game in hand.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With a firm grasp on the No. 1 spot in the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights are now looking to claim top spot in the league.With a commanding 4-1 win over the top-ranked Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, the Golden Knights moved to within a win of the Lightning for the best record in the NHL. What's more, the Golden Knights also have a game in hand on Tampa Bay.

The Philadelphia Flyers retired Eric Lindros' No. 88 on Thursday, forever uniting one of the game's greats with the team he spent his most dominant seasons with, and from which he later infamously parted ways.

Evander Kane's days with the Buffalo Sabres appear to be numbered.Kane confirmed to Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News that he won't be re-signed by the Sabres, meaning the winger is set to become one of the bigger prizes at both the trade deadline and in free agency.From Harrington:

The Ottawa Senators' poor season apparently hasn't motivated players to head for the hills.General manager Pierre Dorion noted to reporters Thursday that no player has requested a trade, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.Dorion also said he hasn't shopped any players to other teams - though that's partly because other teams came calling on their own."I haven't shopped anyone," Dorion said, according to TSN's Brent Wallace. He added, "We have good players - that's why they (other GMs) are calling."The Senators currently own the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, and are consequently widely expected to be sellers at the trade deadline.

When Brian Gionta last played in the Olympics in 2006, his final NHL game before the break allowed him just three days to fly to Italy and get acclimated before suiting up for Team USA.This time around, the semi-retired U.S. captain and his Olympic teammates will get four whole practice days before opening the tournament against Slovenia on Feb. 14.''With the NHL setup, you fly over there, you have a small window to practice in and then you're right into the games,'' Gionta said. ''We've had the added benefit of being able to go over to the Deutschland Cup and be together for that week. A lot of the guys that were there are on the team and have a good understanding of each other. But I think that's a nice change, I guess, from previous Olympics.''Still, the U.S. lost all three games at that tournament in November and didn't score more than two goals in any of them. Preparation under a new coach, learning the nuances and habits of new teammates are certainly key, but every men's hockey team going to South Korea is in a much different situation from any previous Olympics.Before NHL players began participating in 1998, national teams were centralized and spent months together - much like women's teams do now. In contrast, the past five Olympics featured quick turnarounds when it came to training because so many players were also in the NHL, which decided this time around not to pause its 82-game regular season.However, no NHL didn't automatically translate into more practice time as the teams were put together.Almost everyone on an Olympic roster is playing professionally or in college, so there isn't much of an opportunity for training camps - though Canada, Russia and other countries are making the most of any time they have to get together. Russia's Kontinental Hockey League has its final games before the Olympic break Jan. 28, and other European leagues will release players shortly after that so they can prepare.Chock full of stars from the KHL, including former NHL players Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk, Russia should be the first to have its full team together and will play exhibition games in Moscow on Jan. 30 and Feb. 4. Canada is gathering as many players as possible in Latvia on Jan. 28 and will play two exhibition games there and one more in South Korea before the Olympics begin as it tries to win a third consecutive gold medal.''We have access to our players very early, and we're going to take advantage of that,'' said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada's vice president of hockey operations and national teams. ''We're actually going to simulate the first two games of the Olympics with the ice times and the game times and try to get used to that kind of quick turnaround from a 9 p.m. game and a day off and a noon game.''Sweden, which has a handful of former NHL players and projected 2018 No. 1 draft pick Rasmus Dahlin , will gather in Seoul for four days of practice before facing Canada on Feb. 12. The Czech Republic will hold training camp in Prague from Jan. 29-Feb. 6 before practicing in Seoul and playing an exhibition game against Finland on Feb. 11, while the Swiss are scheduled to play Germany in Kloten, Switzerland, on Feb. 6 and Norway in Goyang, South Korea, five days later.USA Hockey general manager Jim Johannson said his team won't play any exhibition games with most U.S. players arriving in South Korea on Feb. 8. Johannson said the U.S. will practice Feb. 10-13 and get in a game-day skate Feb. 14, which coach Tony Granato feels will be enough preparation.''We've all been parts of multiple tournaments like this, so we're not unfamiliar with them,'' said Granato, who played 49 games with the U.S. national team prior to the 1988 Olympics and currently coaches at the University of Wisconsin. ''A lot of the excitement and build-up leading up to it makes it that much better - you're going to get there, we're going to jump on the ice, we're going to practice and then a few days later we'll be center stage and ready to play.''Seventeen of the 25 U.S. players were at the Deutschland Cup in November and won't be back on the ice together until nearly three months later. The U.S. women's team? They gathered in Florida in September, played a series of games against top Olympic rival Canada and have been together since.''It's a huge bonus and a huge advantage to be together all year,'' forward Meghan Duggan said. ''(It's ) a difference from a world championship year, a non-Olympic year where we play with our pro teams and our club teams or college teams and get together for certain periods of time whether it be for world championships or Four Nations Cup or training camp.''Canada's men's team took part in several Olympic tune-up tournaments for evaluation purposes. GM Sean Burke, who played in goal for Canada in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, is trying to make the most of this hybrid schedule to put coach Willie Desjardins and his team in the best position to succeed.''We've had a lot of time to not only evaluate our players but have them together to do some team-building and we're going to get a good two-week training camp. I like the process,'' Burke said. ''Our coaching staff can really get down to working on our systems and having everything in place that they're comfortable with. That's a real nice luxury to have.''---AP Sports Reporters Teresa M. Walker and James Ellingworth contributed.---Follow Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno---More AP Olympic coverage: https://wintergames.ap.orgCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins are a cornerstone franchise in the NHL.The Original Six club never seems to be truly out of Cup contention, qualifying for the playoffs 11 out of the last 15 seasons despite personnel changes in the front office, behind the bench, and obviously on the ice.This year's edition of the Bruins is once again on pace to be playing postseason puck. It's the perfect balance of young and experienced players sprinkled throughout Boston's lineup that should have fans in Beantown already circling dates on the calendar for April, May, and perhaps, June.The excellent mix of young and veteran players is easiest to see by taking a glimpse at Boston's forward line combinations used in its most recent contest against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.(Line combinations courtesy: Daily Faceoff)Every single line has the Bruins' biggest strength on full display: depth.Boston's ability to roll out four lines allows head coach Bruce Cassidy the luxury of not having to overplay his top-six forward group, a unit that includes players Brad Marchand, David Krejci, and Patrice Bergeron - three key players aged 29 or older.However, Cassidy augments his aging players by blending guys like David Pastrnak, Jake DeBrusk, and Danton Heinen into his lineup. Three forwards that are all under the age of 23.The even mix of age and youth is arguably best exemplified on the back end, where veteran D-man Zdeno Chara and rookie rearguard Charlie McAvoy form the Bruins' top defensive pairing. Big Z and McAvoy are separated in age by exactly 20 years, but that isn't stopping them from forging a chemistry that sees the pair earn over 22 minutes a night, each.Of course, a well-balanced attack only means something if it translates into tangible success. And luckily for Cassidy and Co., his eclectic mix of players is doing exactly that as the Bruins have been nothing short of sensational over the last two months.Since Nov. 16, Boston has registered an impressive 19-3-4 record while outscoring opponents at almost a two-to-one clip, earning 58 points to date.

The Dallas Stars had been showing signs of improvement since undergoing a major offseason overhaul, but after a decent yet unspectacular start, they're really clicking now.Dallas has reeled off four wins in its last five games and eight in its last 11, including a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The team now sits in the first Western Conference wild-card spot, but it's not just Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn doing the heavy lifting.After missing the playoffs a season ago, there are several factors that can explain why Dallas is finally putting the pieces together:DefenseThe biggest reason for the Stars' improvement isn't one of their marquee mainstays or free-agent acquisitions, but rather head coach Ken Hitchcock, who was brought back into the organization to replace the fired Lindy Ruff last spring.Hitchcock's defensive emphasis has noticeably improved the club through 46 games, and has been evident on even the most basic levels:SeasonGoals Allowed/GamePenalty Killing Percentage2016-17 (League Rank)3.17 (29th)73.9 (30th)2017-18 (League Rank)2.72 (11th)81.5 (15th)The Stars are surrendering fewer shots on goal per contest, even as the rate across the entire league has risen:SeasonShots Against/GameLeague Average2016-1729.5830.092017-1829.3531.67Most importantly, they're limiting opposing scoring chances better than any other team after being one of the worst at doing so last season:SeasonScoring Chances Against/60League Rank2016-1729.228th2017-1825.711stThat's a stunning transformation, and the Stars' ability to limit opposing shots and scoring chances should continue, as the club ranks fifth in the NHL in expected goals against (73.17) at even strength.The Stars' goaltending has obviously improved too, with Ben Bishop posting a solid .916 save percentage across 36 appearances and providing some much-needed stability in the Dallas crease after last season's Antti Niemi/Kari Lehtonen disaster.Lehtonen's also played better, with a .910 save percentage in 14 games, compared to last year's forgettable .902 mark.Klingberg's developmentJohn Klingberg had a mild setback by his standards in 2016-17, even though it was ultimately a productive campaign, but he's now taken his game to a completely different level.Dallas' franchise defenseman followed up a 58-point season in 2015-16 with a 49-point effort last year, but he's piling up nearly a point per game (43 in 46 contests) so far in 2017-18, leading all NHL defensemen in assists and points while not getting much recognition for it.Klingberg is driving possession at an even-strength Corsi For percentage of 53.66, compared to his 49.7 mark from 2016-17. That ranks him second best among Stars' skaters this season, compared to a mere 19th last year.Considering how much better his team is playing on the defensive end and how well he's performing offensively, few are questioning Klingberg's defensive abilities, but they haven't actually been cause for much concern. In fact, his expected goals against compares favorably to some similar players.

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. – Playing alongside John Tavares is good for most players, as anyone from Matt Moulson to Kyle Okposo will tell you. As much of a boost as there is from skating on the Islanders captain’s line, though, the season that Anders Lee is having is something different.It was last season when Lee linked up with Tavares and Josh Bailey, with Lee playing about two-thirds of his five-on-five minutes as part of the trio. The result was a career-best 34 goals. Lee has only continued to fill the net this campaign, with Tavares taking aim at his first career 100-point season and Bailey – in mid-January – only six points away from the career-high point total of 56 he set a year ago."It’s a combination of good line chemistry, working hard, getting bounces, taking advantage of opportunities, and trying to pick up where we left off last year," Lee told theScore. "I’ve kind of rolled with it this year … Us three have been together at parts since I’ve been here, but consistently for the last year or so, plus, and I think all three of our games, the chemistry, the different styles just meld together really well. The way those two see the ice and we work off each other, and stick to our own game, makes us successful."With 26 goals, Lee trails only Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy. He's on pace for 46 goals, and more than halfway through the season, that means it’s possible to start thinking historically.The highest goal total for a Tavares linemate was Moulson's 36 in 2011-12. The last Islanders 40-goal man was Jason Blake in 2006-07. It’s been 20 years since Ziggy Palffy recorded the Islanders’ last 45-goal season, and 25 since Pierre Turgeon was their last to hit 50. While the half-century mark is within reach, Turgeon’s 58 from the 1992-93 season is probably out of the picture.Lee doesn't mind talking about reaching various scoring plateaus - but the 27-year-old is far more excited by the Minnesota Vikings’ playoff run. Lee is, after all, from Edina, Minn., and was the runner-up for the state’s “Mr. Football” award his senior year of high school as a quarterback behind Varmah Sonie, now a star cornerback in the Arena Football League."A quarterback in hockey terms, you’re looking at a guy running the point and stuff on the power play, and it’s kind of the opposite for me right now," Lee said. “But it’s one of those things where you’ve got to read and react, find the open play, and try to stay on your feet … I’ve always played this style, but matched up with guys like John and Josh, I’m going to be the guy that’s down in the corners and in front of the net. They’re going to be the guys that are high, with the puck a little bit more."I can create space for them to make plays, and you give those two guys space, good things are going to happen. I think all three of our styles of game just do really complement each other well.”Lee’s particular style is the biggest reason to believe his goal production will regress. While Ovechkin’s league-leading 28 goals have come on a league-leading 193 shots, Lee is tied for 77th in the NHL for shots on goal. He’s scored on 23.4 percent of them, easily the highest rate of anyone with 100 or more shots.The difference, though, is that Lee is not a volume shooter, nor particularly a sniper. His ability to work in the corners and in front of the net has allowed him to do more damage with fewer opportunities as Tavares - who is having a stellar season with 24 goals - takes the lion’s share of the shots.It’s also worth noting that Lee’s shooting clip last season was 17.8 percent, which lends credence to the notion that while he may be getting some bounces, an above-average percentage is not a fluke for him.“It’s for sure high, but I don’t know what else to say about it,” Lee said of his shooting percentage. “I think right now, some of my shots are in tight, with a little bit of time, and I haven’t been putting up five-, six-, seven-shot games which would bring that percentage down. So, it’s kind of better shots and they happen to be going in. But I feel like the quality’s there for sure.”The entire NHL is now seeing that quality, looking up to see Lee rise in a season where his own skill must be recognized just as much as the fact that he plays on a line with one of the game’s best.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hold your horses, people. Jack Johnson might not be demanding a trade, after all.Related: Report: Jack Johnson requests trade from Blue JacketsColumbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella offered some insight Wednesday regarding the developing scenario surrounding his D-man after Johnson reportedly demanded a trade last week, and according to Torts, it's not that clear-cut."He didn’t come out and say 'I want to be traded,' " Tortorella stated, according to Steve Gorten of the Columbus Dispatch. "He said, 'I just think some stuff’s going to probably start coming out along the way. I want to talk to you face-to-face. I love it here. I want to improve as a player. I want it to work here, but I also have to think about my family.'"Johnson's so-called trade demand might not have been for real, but his frustration with his reduced playing time and role on the team is. The frustration has started to dissipate, however, as Johnson has begun to earn his coach's trust back."You slowly start getting a bigger role back," Johnson said. "Hopefully it keeps trending in the right direction because I know I have a lot to give, and I know I can help this team out a lot."Despite Johnson's unhappiness with his diminished role and minutes, Tortorella isn't holding anything against the veteran defenseman for speaking his mind."I’m certainly not going to go the other way because a player is talking about his future ... Jack loves it here. His family loves it here. So if we get him playing better, and maybe win some games, who knows where it all goes here?"Johnson's next opportunity to prove his worth comes Thursday night when Columbus hosts the Dallas Stars.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.