The Sunshine State was friendly to the Calgary Flames.A night after beating the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning, the Flames got the best of the Florida Panthers on Friday to extend their winning streak to six games, currently the longest in the NHL.The opposition has not been of the pushover variety, either.DateOpponentResultDec. 31ChicagoW 4-3 (OT)Jan. 4Los AngelesW 4-3Jan. 6AnaheimW 3-2Jan. 9MinnesotaW 3-2 (OT)Jan. 11Tampa BayW 5-1Jan. 12FloridaW 4-2The length of the streak is not staggering by any means, but it's an important run of success nonetheless.Calgary has now amassed 52 points and sits one behind the Los Angeles Kings for second in the Pacific Division, albeit with two more games played. The Flames have also built a four-point cushion over San Jose, but the Sharks also have games in hand on Calgary.Still, the Flames are taking care of business as of late, and as a result, are hot on the trail of a playoff berth for the second season in a row.Calgary plays Sunday in Carolina before the team's bye-week break.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not only the Tampa Bay Lightning who will be without Victor Hedman as a result of a lower-body injury sustained Thursday in a game against Calgary.The defenseman will be sidelined three-to-six weeks with the ailment, thereby forcing him to miss several regular-season contests as well as the upcoming All-Star Game, which the Lightning will host on Jan. 28.Hedman was one of three defensemen named to the Atlantic Division roster, along with Ottawa's Erik Karlsson and Detroit's Mike Green. Here are three players who could step into those skates:Morgan RiellyThe easy choice here is the Toronto Maple Leafs' Rielly, whose 31 points (five goals, 26 assists) rank him second among Atlantic defensemen - two behind Hedman.Rielly is also sixth in scoring at his position league-wide, and is already only five points off his career high of 36 set two seasons ago.Superstar center Auston Matthews will also be in attendance, and the addition of Toronto's best defenseman would certainly garner further interest in the event from one of hockey's largest fan bases.Torey KrugThe Boston Bruins will already be represented by Brad Marchand, and while the young Charlie McAvoy would be an exciting replacement - and make no mistake, his time will come - it's Torey Krug who could add more black and gold to this year's All-Star festivities.Krug is coming off a breakout 51-point campaign in 2016-17, and has recorded six goals and 16 assists through 36 games this season. While his point total ranks him seventh among Atlantic blue-liners, his point-per-game average (0.61) puts him behind only Karlsson, Hedman, Rielly, and Shea Weber (currently injured).He's also recorded the third-most points by a defenseman from that division since the beginning of 2015-16, with Karlsson and Hedman again leading the way.Krug's game lends itself to three-on-three excitement, too.Mikhail SergachevDespite Hedman's absence, the hometown Lightning will be well showcased, with forwards Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos set to suit up.Still, there's an argument to be made for the inclusion of rookie defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, acquired by Tampa Bay this past offseason in a deal centered around Jonathan Drouin.Sergachev would by no means be a reach to replace his teammate. In 44 games, the 19-year-old has scored eight goals and added 18 assists, and his 26 points slot him fourth in the division (trailing Hedman, Karlsson, and Rielly), and 16th around the NHL.He'll take on a bigger role for the Lightning with Hedman out of the lineup, and while he's been outperformed by Rielly and Krug (on average), he has proven to be a star performer perhaps sooner than expected. His presence would be a nice boost for Lightning fans.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray has returned home to Ontario, Canada because of a personal family matter and will miss at least one game, head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed Friday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will be without their best defenseman for at least the next few weeks.Victor Hedman will be out three-to-six weeks with the injury he sustained Thursday night against the Calgary Flames.The veteran rearguard left the game after appearing to hurt his left leg in a collision with Flames forward Garnet Hathaway.Hedman ranks third in points among all NHL blue-liners with 33 in 44 games.He has played 25:36 per game this season, which ranks eighth in the league.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The most durable player in the NHL is staying with the Anaheim Ducks.Andrew Cogliano agreed to a three-year contract extension Friday, which carries a $3.25-million average annual value, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Cogliano was a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a cap hit of $3 million in the final year of his contract, according to CapFriendly.

Gary Bettman isn't ruling out the possibility of an outdoor NHL game in North Carolina.The NHL commissioner said as much at Friday's news conference introducing new Carolina Hurricanes majority owner Tom Dundon, who has inquired about it."Tom has already asked ... An outdoor game across the street is not out of the question," Bettman said, via Luke DeCock of The News & Observer.PNC Arena, the home of the Hurricanes, is literally across the street from Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, which houses the NC State Wolfpack football program.The football facility has a capacity of over 57,000.Only two NHL outdoor games have been played in the southern United States in the modern era. The Los Angeles Kings faced the Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium in 2014, and the San Jose Sharks hosted the Kings at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. just over a year later.The New York Rangers defeated the Kings at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas back in 1991.As far as outdoor NHL games at college football stadiums are concerned, there are two such spectacles on the horizon, with the Washington Capitals playing host to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., on March 3, 2018, and with the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins squaring off at Notre Dame Stadium in the 2019 Winter Classic.The Detroit Red Wings hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium, home of the University of Michigan Wolverines, in the Winter Classic on New Year's Day back in 2014.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Ho-Sang's AHL head coach didn't mince words about the New York Islanders prospect's maturity level, but acknowledged the effort has been there recently."He’s a baby,” Bridgeport Sound Tigers bench boss Brent Thompson told Greg Joyce of the New York Post, before praising the young forward's commitment.“He’s a baby, he’s immature and he’s got a lot of growing to do. I’m excited. The upside of him is outstanding. He worked hard (Wednesday in practice), he’s been working really hard. We all make mistakes, we all have bad games. It’s how do we respond from those and what do we learn from them? Every piece of this season for Josh, with us, is a development piece. It’s just going to be a longer process with some people.”Ho-Sang was a healthy scratch Wednesday for the first time this AHL season, not counting a game he missed in December that would've been his fifth in five days.“I don’t think anybody can break my confidence, but it’s definitely put in a place where it’s not very good," he said after practice Wednesday. “There’s certain things I can do on the ice to remind myself of what I am and who I am. But it’s just tough when you have people getting on you and sometimes when everyone’s talking to you about the negative, you may look at yourself negatively.”Ho-Sang showed some promise with the Islanders at the beginning of the season, collecting 12 points in 22 games, but has been sent down to the AHL multiple times since.The winger, who turns 22 later this month, has 12 points in 15 contests with Bridgeport.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Linus Ullmark made the most of his first start of the season for the Buffalo Sabres.The 24-year-old goaltender registered a career-high 44 saves to help the Sabres beat the Columbus Blue Jackets and snap a five-game losing streak (0-4-1).

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman sustained a lower-body injury during the second period of Thursday's game against the Calgary Flames and was not able to return.The injury occured on a collision with Flames forward Garnet Hathaway.After the game, head coach Jon Cooper had no update to offer, adding the defenseman will undergo tests Friday to determine the extent of the injury.Hedman has recorded six goals and 27 assists in 43 games, once again establishing himself as a Norris Trophy contender based on his steady and consistent play.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the Ottawa Senators want to move downtown, it will be up to the team to foot the bill.That's the stance of Ottawa mayor Jim Watson, who on Thursday told Jon Willing of the Ottawa Citizen that the local government won't help subsidize a new facility for the Senators.While Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has made no public comment about the city helping to fund a new arena, Watson appears to be getting ahead of the game.Rival Canadian cities, like Edmonton, have helped bankroll new facilities in recent seasons, and until recent discussions hit a standstill, Calgary was also in talks with the Flames on arena project funding."We should not be using property tax dollars to subsidize an NHL team," Watson said. "That's not the role of a municipal government, in my opinion."As it stands, Melnyk is in negotiations with the National Capital Commission to build a new arena in the downtown neighborhood of LeBreton Flats. The hope is that a move closer to the city core will reinvigorate the team's sagging attendance figures.The Senators currently play out of suburban Kanata, a commute that has proven to be a challenge for fans in recent seasons, particularly during last year's playoff run.In the meantime, Melnyk hasn't been shy in voicing his frustrations with the sluggish pace of negotiations with the National Capital Commission.That was especially evident ahead of last month's Centennial Classic, when he floated the possibility the Senators could leave Ottawa if the team's financial position did not improve, something that could become reality if a new arena does not come to fruition.Those comments didn't sit well with Watson."It was not helpful when Eugene blurted out that maybe (the Senators) don't have to move downtown because that's exactly at odds with what he and (NHL commissioner) Gary Bettman have been telling me going back four years, that the arena has to be in the downtown core," Watson added."I'm hoping he misspoke and is not casting doubt on all of the work we're putting in to getting the arena and the whole site revitalized in the downtown."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thomas Dundon is the new man in charge.The Dallas billionaire finalized his purchase of the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, in a deal which sees him gain a majority stake of the franchise.Former owner Peter Karmanos retained a minority share, selling 61 percent to Dundon, based on a $505-million valuation, according to Luke DeCock and Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer.Dundon has the option to gain full control of the franchise within three years.The Hurricanes had been owned by Karmanos since 1994, when the franchise was then known as the Hartford Whalers. The team relocated to North Carolina three years later. Thursday's sale is conditional on Dundon agreeing to keep the team in Raleigh.A press conference formally announcing the deal will be held Friday in Raleigh.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers may be looking to make a move.General manager Peter Chiarelli informed all NHL teams by email that forward Anton Slepyshev is available on the trade market, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector.The 23-year-old winger recently became waiver eligible and is in the final year of his entry-level contract. He carries a cap hit of $925,000.Slepyshev was drafted 88th overall in 2013 and has recorded five goals and nine assists in 70 NHL games.He's been limited to 18 appearances this season due to a lower-body injury and several healthy scratches.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Goaltenders David Leggio and Brandon Maxwell have been named the final two members of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, USA Hockey announced Thursday.The two join Ryan Zapolski, who was the lone goalie called up when the first 23 members were named on Jan. 1.Maxwell is currently playing in the Czech league for Mlada Boleslav BK where he's posted a 10-18-0 record with a .921 save percentage and 2.37 goals-against average.Leggio, who currently plays for Munich EHC of the DEL in Germany, might ring a bell as he's made headlines in recent years for pushing nets off their pegs to halt opposition rushes.Leggio has gone 13-7-0 with a .910 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average.The Americans will kick off their march toward Olympic gold on Feb. 14 when they face Slovenia.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are certainly some names you'll recognize up front and in goal on Canada's Olympic men's hockey team, but the defense is another story.Sure, Derek Roy, Mason Raymond, Wojtek Wolski, and Ben Scrivens were among the players named by Hockey Canada to its 2018 Olympic squad Thursday, but most of the Canadian blue-liners are relative no-names.Here's a quick rundown of who the defensemen are and where they came from:Stefan ElliottFans of the Colorado Avalanche - and to a lesser extent, the Arizona Coyotes and Nashville Predators - might remember this 26-year-old, who the Avalanche drafted in the second round back in 2009, but we'd forgive them if he didn't ring a bell.Elliott played 63 games over four seasons with Colorado, collecting 18 points, and left for the KHL in 2016 after shorter stints with the Coyotes and Predators. He's playing with HV71 (Jonkoping) in the Swedish Hockey League this season.Chay GenowayIf we told you Genoway was a point-per-game player in his NHL career, you'd be impressed, right?That's true, but the 31-year-old Manitoban has played just one game in the league, as he notched an assist in his only NHL appearance with the Minnesota Wild in 2011-12.Genoway has spent the last four years in the KHL, suiting up for four different teams.Cody Goloubef(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Goloubef might be the most experienced member of the D-corps as far as NHL experience is concerned, with 129 career games played.The 28-year-old spent parts of seven seasons in the Columbus Blue Jackets' organization after that club picked him 37th overall in 2008, but couldn't carve out a regular NHL role before being traded to the Avalanche in November 2016.Goloubef managed only five points in 33 contests with Colorado last season, and he's collected a respectable 14 points in 27 games with the AHL's Stockton Heat in 2017-18.Marc-Andre GragnaniThe Buffalo Sabres had high hopes for this now-30-year-old when they made him a third-round pick in 2005, but he didn't pan out as an NHL prospect.Gragnani put up big numbers in the QMJHL, but never quite fit in with the Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, or New Jersey Devils before heading to Europe for the 2013-14 campaign.He played for the KHL squad in Prague before jumping to Switzerland's National League with SC Bern, then back to the Russian-based league, in which he's played for Dinamo Minsk for the last two seasons, posting 38 points in 56 games in 2016-17.Chris LeeWhile Goloubef has the most NHL experience in the group, Lee has the most life experience.The 37-year-old is the definition of a journeyman, having never played a game in the NHL but having spent years toiling in the ECHL, AHL, and overseas.Lee has played in Europe for the last eight campaigns, and he's been a member of the KHL's Metallurg Magnitogorsk for the last five, piling up an impressive 65 points in 60 games one season ago.Maxim Noreau(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Much like Lee, Noreau went undrafted and has since bounced around in the AHL, ECHL, and Europe.He does have six NHL games under his belt, playing a single contest with the Wild in 2009-10, and then five more with them the following season, but he doesn't have any points to show for it.Noreau has played in Switzerland for five of the last seven years, most recently with SC Bern, where he has 21 points in 25 games this season.Mat RobinsonRobinson is certainly one of the more obscure names on the roster. He's never appeared in the NHL, and he's played in Europe for the last seven years, plying his trade in the KHL for the past five and racking up 20 points in 37 games for CSKA Moscow this season.Karl StolleryThis 30-year-old Albertan was never drafted by an NHL club, but he did play seven games for the Avalanche, five for the San Jose Sharks, and 11 for the Devils.He's in the midst of his first KHL season with Dinamo Riga, with whom he's chipped in 14 points in 46 contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What a difference a year makes.One year ago, Wojtek Wolski's hockey career looked to be in jeopardy after he broke his neck while crashing into the boards during a KHL game.After a lengthy recovery, the former Colorado Avalanche forward returned with a bang this season, scoring nine goals and 33 points in 40 games with Magnitogorsk Metallurg and Kunlun Red Star.On Thursday, he was named to Canada's Olympic roster a year removed from sitting in a hospital bed following neck surgery, he noted on Instagram.

The NHL trade deadline is just over a month away, but after Anthony Duclair was shipped to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night, it appears general managers have already started burning up the phones.Many clubs remain on the cusp of a playoff position, meaning the next few weeks could be the tipping point in determining who will look to sell and who will look to load up ahead of the final stretch.Here are the top 10 players who could very well be dealt ahead of the Feb. 26 deadline:1. Evander Kane, F, SabresTeams that could be interested: Sharks, Blues, KingsKane's name has been among the most prevalent in trade rumors. It appears to be a given he'll be dealt, and rightfully so, as he's producing despite playing on the league's second-worst team.Given he's tallied 35 points in 43 games in Buffalo, it would be interesting to see what he can do with a contender.2. Mike Green, D, Red WingsTeams that could be interested: Maple Leafs, Lightning, CapitalsThe number of dependable, right-shooting veteran defensemen is slim, and Green is the best of that group.Related: 3 teams that should be calling the Red Wings about Mike GreenGreen, who earned an All-Star nod after tallying 24 points in 41 games, can slot in on the power play and be a huge boost to a club looking to fill out its D core.3. Mike Hoffman, F, SenatorsTeams that could be interested: Blues, Hurricanes, SharksHoffman has one of the most lethal shots in the league.His production hasn't been great, but considering the tailspin the Senators have been in, his 11 goals and 29 points are decent totals. Placed on the wing of a setup man like Joe Thornton or in a solid power-play unit, he could be the perfect trigger man.4. Max Pacioretty, F, CanadiensTeams that could be interested: Sharks, Blues, KingsTeam captains are rarely traded at the deadline. However, with the Canadiens set to miss the postseason for just the second time in the last six years, rumors about Pacioretty being shopped have already surfaced.Related - Pacioretty on trade rumors: 'If it happens, it happens'A smaller role and less responsibility on a contender could be just what Pacioretty needs to rekindle his scoring prowess.5. Robin Lehner, G, SabresTeams that could be interested: Islanders, PenguinsFew goalies are available and even fewer teams are in need of one heading into the final stretch, but there could be a marriage between Robin Lehner and the New York Islanders.Goaltending has clearly been the Islanders' Achilles' heel, and Lehner has been one of the better Sabres this season, putting up the sixth-best home save percentage in the NHL.6. Thomas Vanek, F, CanucksTeams that could be interested: Blues, Kings, PenguinsIt's time for the annual Vanek trade.It seems teams looking to find offensive depth heading into the playoffs always look to Vanek for a cheap fill. The 29-year-old has recorded a respectable 12 goals and 29 points, including 11 power-play points, on a lowly Canucks squad.Teams in search of the self-proclaimed power-play specialist need apply.7. Alex Galchenyuk, F, CanadiensTeams that could be interested: Sharks, BluesGalchenyuk needs a fresh start.The Canadiens forward has faced criticism for his play, been shifted from center to wing, and moved up and down the lineup. He's just two years removed from a 30-goal campaign, and, at 23 years of age, has more to give.Related: The time is finally right for Canadiens to trade GalchenyukHe still has two years remaining on his deal after this season, so this would be more than your average rental.8. Erik Gudbranson, D, CanucksTeams that could be interested: Maple Leafs, Rangers, IslandersTeams bidding for Gudbranson won't get much offense, but they'll add a dependable two-way defender who can slot nicely into a bottom pairing.Gudbranson ranks third on the Canucks in both blocks and hits per game, while averaging 2:15 of shorthanded ice time per night.9. Patrick Maroon, F, OilersTeams that could be interested: Capitals, Penguins, SharksThings haven't gone according to plan for Maroon this season after he showed glimpses of promise playing alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl last year.After erupting for 27 goals in 2016-17, he's on pace to finish with 10 fewer this time around. That being said, he's your quintessential sandpaper-type player with the ability to finish - ideal for playoff hockey.10. Petr Mrazek, G, Red WingsTeams that could be interested: Islanders, PenguinsAfter Lehner, Mrazek is the best goalie likely to be made available.The Red Wings netminder will be a restricted free agent at season's end, and while he has served largely as a backup this year, he has experience as a starter. He's still only 25, and could serve as a depth option on a team like the Penguins.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here is the men's hockey roster Canada will be icing at the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, as revealed by Hockey Canada on Thursday:Forwards

The U.S. Army is renewing its battle with the Vegas Golden Knights over their team name, but the club insists it's done nothing wrong.On Wednesday, the Department of the Army filed a notice of opposition against Black Knight Sports and Entertainment - the company that owns and operates the NHL expansion franchise - with the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office over the use of the club's moniker, as obtained by SportsLogos.net's Chris Creamer.The team fired back Thursday."We strongly dispute the Army's allegations that confusion is likely between the Army Golden Knights parachute team and the Vegas Golden Knights major-league hockey team," the NHL squad said in a statement, via Sports Illustrated's Alex Prewitt."Indeed, the two entities have been coexisting without any issues for over a year (along with several other Golden Knights trademark owners) and we are not aware of a single complaint from anyone attending our games that they were expecting to see the parachute team and not a professional hockey game," the Golden Knights added."That said, in light of the pending trademark opposition proceedings, we will have no further comment at this time and will address the Army's opposition in the relevant legal forums."Golden Knights owner Bill Foley, a U.S. Military Academy graduate, said in the past that he initially wanted to call the team the Black Knights, the name used by Army's athletic program, but settled on Golden Knights because that's the name of the school's parachute team.The NHL club has until Feb. 19 to respond to the notice of opposition.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers came into the season listed among the favorites in their respective conferences to reach the Stanley Cup Final - quite a laurel, considering where both teams were a few seasons ago.Fast-forward to the second week of January, and only one of these teams remains in the hunt for a championship berth - while the other might soon be getting ready for yet another plum seat at the draft lottery.While Maple Leafs fans continue to enjoy seeing their team jockey for position at the top of the Eastern Conference table, Oilers supporters are deciding which guy they want to see fired this week. It's an incredible divergence between two franchise that entered 2017-18 full of hope and promise following stronger-than-expected playoff showings last season.So, what exactly went wrong for the Oilers? And what can they learn from a Maple Leafs team that has mastered its rebuilding process to the point where it finds itself a Stanley Cup contender just two seasons after stumbling to the worst record in the NHL?Plenty, as it turns out. And while there's a tongue-in-cheek element to this post, it's fair to say nearly everything that has gone right for Toronto this season has gone horribly wrong for Edmonton.Your star center can't do it allConnor McDavid might be a better overall player than Auston Matthews, but that hasn't made a lick of difference in the standings. In fact, while McDavid has emerged as the only reliable scoring option in an otherwise inept Oilers offense, the Maple Leafs have already shown they can score in bunches even with Matthews on the shelf due to injury.Consider that Toronto has 10 players with at least 20 points, while Edmonton boasts just five. The Maple Leafs have four skaters who have surpassed the 14-goal mark, while the Oilers have just two. Balanced scoring is critical, and Edmonton is getting nothing in that department, having scored just four goals over its past six games while going an unsurprising 1-5-0.Solid goaltending mattersIt took some time for Frederik Andersen to find his form, but he has emerged as one of the league's top netminders since the beginning of November, going 16-8-2 with a 2.36 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage, and a pair of shutouts. He's a major reason why the Maple Leafs haven't lost more than three games in a row at any point during that stretch.Things haven't gone nearly as well for Edmonton netminder Cam Talbot, who put together a sensational 2016-17 campaign but has been a shell of that player this season. Not only are his 3.09 GAA and .902 save percentage the worst marks of his career, he has been downright abysmal so far in 2018, going 1-4-0 with a 3.59 GAA and a woeful .885 save percentage.Don't ignore special teamsWith a few exceptions, successful franchises excel in at least one area of special teams. And the Maple Leafs have been terrific in that regard, coming into Thursday ranked eighth in power-play conversion (20.9 percent) and fourth in penalty killing (84.8 percent). It's an extension of their success from last year, when they were second and 10th, respectively.As for the Oilers ... it's bad. Their 16 percent power-play success rate ranks 26th out of 31 teams - a long, long way from their fifth-place showing last season - and they've been even worse on the penalty kill, sitting in the NHL basement at 71.4 percent. And things are getting worse, with the Oilers having surrendered nine power-play goals in their last seven games.Play your cards rightBoth teams have been blessed with a trove of talented forwards - but you wouldn't know it by looking at the Oilers' roster. In just over a year and a half, Edmonton has traded two former No. 1 picks (Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov) and a fellow first-rounder (Jordan Eberle) for a reliable but offensively challenged blue-liner (Adam Larsson), an erratic young center (Ryan Strome), and a former fourth-rounder toiling in the ECHL (Zach Pochiro).Since beginning the rebuilding process, the Maple Leafs have had to deal with bouts of inconsistency from young forwards Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Nazem Kadri. But rather than send them packing, Toronto opted to hold onto them, bolstering its goaltending, defense, and forward depth in other ways. Given the way all three have embraced pivotal roles up front, it's safe to say the Leafs are happy they did.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The player who tossed his silver medal into the crowd after losing the gold-medal game at the World Junior Hockey Championship was reportedly dealing with a significant injury.Sweden's Lias Andersson suffered a separated shoulder midway through the tournament and played both the semifinal and final with it, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Wednesday afternoon.Andersson was in New York City rehabbing his shoulder Wednesday, and he'll likely be out of action for two-to-four weeks, according to the report.The 19-year-old center is playing this season with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League. He served as Sweden's captain at the tourney and was a first-round pick (seventh overall) of the New York Rangers.Related - Andersson on tossing medal: 'Guy in the stands' wanted it moreAndersson generated controversy when he threw his silver medal into the crowd after Sweden lost to Canada in the gold-medal game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes and Anthony Duclair officially parted ways Wednesday, as the 22-year-old forward was shipped to the Chicago Blackhawks in a four-player trade.A report from The Athletic's Craig Custance last week revealed Duclair had requested a trade out of Arizona, but Coyotes general manager John Chayka revealed a potential move has been brewing for a while now."It's gone back for a few years now where the team wasn't particularly happy with the player and the player wasn't particularly happy with the team," Chayka said, per Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.Duclair was acquired by the Coyotes in 2015 as a part of the package for defenseman Keith Yandle, and in his first full season with the team, he looked like a piece to build around in the future after scoring 20 goals and 44 points.Since then, however, Duclair has struggled, producing only 15 points in 58 games last season, and the same amount in 33 contests in 2017-18.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Along with the annual naming of the NHL All-Star teams comes a rite of passage that is arguably as interesting.Related: Ranking the 2018 All-Star teamsAll-Star rosters were revealed by the league on Wednesday, so, naturally, the heated debates surrounding which players perhaps should have been chosen to compete in Tampa Bay at the end of the month will now begin.Here's a look at each division's biggest snub.Atlantic Division Most notable snub: Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, Florida PanthersLeaving a Panther off the list of All-Stars is never exactly a glaring omission. But, in the case of Huberdeau, the argument can be made that his name should be in the mix.Huberdeau leads the Panthers in assists (27) and points (43), while also rocking a stellar Corsi For percentage of 54.5 in just over 20 minutes of ice time per game. Factor in that the Florida winger is red-hot of late, notching 11 points in his last eight games, and his exclusion becomes even more notable.Snub honorable mentions: Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs; Mark Stone, RW, Ottawa Senators; Patrice Bergeron, C, Boston Bruins.Metropolitan DivisionMost notable snub: Phil Kessel, RW, Pittsburgh PenguinsOK, look. You're never going to catch us spitting such blasphemy as "Sidney Crosby doesn't deserve to be in the All-Star Game," because Sid is still very much the real deal, despite an up-and-down season. However, with that said, his Penguins teammate Kessel is perhaps the sole reason Pittsburgh still finds itself clinging to playoff contention.Kessel has been nothing short of sensational so far for the Pens, currently sitting 11th in the league scoring with 18 goals and 29 assists to go along with a positive Corsi For of 51.5.There is no doubt Crosby deserves a spot among the best in the business, but on the back of his solid 2017-18 campaign, so does Kessel.Snub honorable mentions: Sergei Bobrovksy, G, Columbus Blue Jackets; Jakub Voracek, RW, Philadelphia Flyers; John Carlson, D, Washington Capitals; Anders Lee, LW, New York Islanders.Central DivisionMost notable snub: Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, St. Louis BluesTarasenko's run of consecutive All-Star nods ends at three, as the Blues sniper was left off this year's squad despite registering yet another solid offensive season of 19 goals and 25 assists, so far.The Russian talisman might be on pace for his lowest goal output (33) since he entered the league in 2012, but Tarasenko has evolved his game this campaign, becoming a more complete player while also logging more minutes and making his teammates better around him. Case in point: Brayden Schenn is having a career year playing on Tarasenko's wing and will be making his first-ever All-Star appearance.A collection of the league's elite just isn't complete without one of the best pure scorers in the game.Snub notable mentions: Jamie Benn, LW, Dallas Stars; Ryan Suter, D, Minnesota Wild; Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators.Pacific Division Most notable snub: Jonathan Marchessault, C, Vegas Golden KnightsSeemingly unable to earn any respect despite putting up strong offensive numbers in back-to-back seasons, the criminally underrated Marchessault continues to produce despite getting little love from fans around the league.Across the past 113 games for the Panthers and the Golden Knights, Marchessault has 46 goals and 45 assists to go along with seven game-winning tallies.Marchessault has been Vegas' best forward so far this season on a team that has easily been the feel-good story of the year, making his omission that much more puzzling.Snub notable mentions: John Gibson, G, Anaheim Ducks; Clayton Keller, C, Arizona Coyotes; Sean Monahan, C, Calgary Flames.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks have traded forward Richard Panik and Laurent Dauphin to the Arizona Coyotes for Anthony Duclair and Adam Clendening, the teams announced Wednesday.Duclair is believed to have recently requested a trade out of the desert, seemingly in search of a fresh start after struggling to regain the fine form of his rookie year that saw him record 20 goals and 24 assists in 81 games.The 22-year-old scored nine goals and added six assists in 33 games for the Coyotes this season, and he's set to become a restricted free agent this summer.In return, the Coyotes receive 26-year-old Panik, who has this season and next remaining on a deal that carries a $2.8-million cap hit.In 37 games this campaign, he contributed six goals and 10 assists.No salary was retained in the deal, TSN's Pierre LeBrun adds, thereby freeing up some cap space for Chicago after taking on the balance of Duclair's $1.2-million cap hit.Dauphin and Clendening are minor leaguers with limited NHL experience, with Duclair and Panik clearly serving as the centerpieces of this deal.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL announced the complete rosters for the 2018 All-Star Game on Wednesday, naming 44 of the league's best players to represent their respective divisions in a 3-on-3 tournament.While all teams are loaded with talent, someone has to win the darn thing, and below is our list of who is most suited to do so.Full rosters can be seen here.1. Atlantic DivisionDream 3-on-3 trio: Auston Matthews - Nikita Kucherov - Erik KarlssonWhile Steven Stamkos is a worthy candidate here, we've seen what he's done with Kucherov all year long. Pairing the league's top goal-getter with the offensive abilities of Matthews and Karlsson would be non-stop entertainment.With the likes of Stamkos, Brad Marchand, and Victor Hedman on the bench, the Atlantic lineup will be terrifying no matter who is on the ice.Potential X-factor: Jack EichelYou have to think Eichel will be excited to take advantage of having good teammates for once this season.2. Central DivisionDream 3-on-3 trio: Patrick Kane - Nathan MacKinnion - P.K. SubbanCombining Kane's hands, MacKinnon's speed, and Subban's charisma could be lots of fun, while a supporting cast featuring Tyler Seguin and Brayden Schenn makes the Central a formidable opponent.Potential X-factor: Blake WheelerWheeler's rightfully earned the first All-Star nod of his career, and will have a platform to showcase himself as one of the best wingers in the NHL.3. Metropolitan DivisionDream 3-on-3 trio: Sidney Crosby - Alex Ovechkin - Seth JonesAs the two greatest icons of their generation, watching Crosby and Ovechkin play together, rather than be pitted against each other as rivals, is something hockey fans should cherish.Not to mention, one of the most effective duos in the league - John Tavares and Josh Bailey - wait in the weeds should Sid and Ovi require a break.Potential X-factor: Taylor Hall Hall's in the midst of a career season, and the open space of 3-on-3 will make him one of the most dangerous players on the ice.4. Pacific DivisionDream 3-on-3 trio: Connor McDavid - Johnny Gaudreau - Drew DoughtyJust imagine the potential puck movement between McDavid and Gaudreau, two of the NHL's most creative players. However, in spite of arguably the best trio available, James Neal and Rickard Rakell as depth options makes the Pacific less of a threat.Potential X-factor: Brock BoeserAll he does is score, and there's no reason to think that will stop in a game designed for goals.(Photos Courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres had an eventful practice Wednesday.Not only did Evander Kane and Justin Falk exchange verbal and physical blows, but defenseman Zach Bogosian reportedly suffered a significant lower-body injury.

Here are the complete rosters for the 2018 NHL All-Star Game tournament, the league's annual star-studded three-on-three event that will take place on Jan. 28 in Tampa Bay:Atlantic DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFBrad MarchandBoston BruinsFJack EichelBuffalo SabresFAleksander BarkovFlorida PanthersFSteven Stamkos*Tampa Bay LightningFNikita KucherovTampa Bay LightningFAuston MatthewsToronto Maple LeafsDErik KarlssonOttawa SenatorsDMike GreenDetroit Red WingsDVictor HedmanTampa Bay LightningGCarey PriceMontreal CanadiensGAndrei VasilevskiyTampa Bay LIghtningCoach: Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay)Metropolitan DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFTaylor HallNew Jersey DevilsFJosh BaileyNew York IslandersFJohn TavaresNew York IslandersFClaude GirouxPhiladelphia FlyersFSidney CrosbyPittsburgh PenguinsFAlex Ovechkin*Washington CapitalsDNoah HanifinCarolina HurricanesDSeth JonesColumbus Blue JacketsDKris LetangPittsburgh PenguinsGHenrik LundqvistNew York RangersGBraden HoltbyWashington CapitalsCoach: Barry Trotz (Washington)Central DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFPatrick KaneChicago BlackhawksFNathan MacKinnonColorado AvalancheFTyler SeguinDallas StarsFEric StaalMinnesota WildFBrayden SchennSt. Louis BluesFBlake WheelerWinnipeg JetsDJohn KlingbergDallas StarsDAlex PietrangeloSt. Louis BluesDP.K. Subban*Nashville PredatorsGPekka RinneNashville PredatorsGConnor HellebuyckWinnipeg JetsCoach: Peter Laviolette (Nashville)Pacific DivisionPositionPlayerTeamFRickard RakellAnaheim DucksFJohnny GaudreauCalgary FlamesFConnor McDavid*Edmonton OilersFAnze KopitarLos Angeles KingsFBrock BoeserVancouver CanucksFJames NealVegas Golden KnightsDOliver Ekman-LarssonArizona CoyotesDDrew DoughtyLos Angeles KingsDBrent BurnsSan Jose SharksGJonathan QuickLos Angeles KingsGMarc-Andre FleuryVegas Golden KnightsCoach: Gerard Gallant (Vegas)* denotes captainsCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Canada is almost ready to reveal its men's hockey roster for the 2018 Olympic Games.The governing body of Canadian hockey will reveal the team in Calgary on Thursday at 12 p.m. ET., according to a release.Sean Burke, the former NHL goaltender and executive, is Canada's general manager for the tournament, and former Vancouver Canucks bench boss Willie Desjardins will serve as head coach.USA Hockey announced its men's Olympic hockey roster on New Year's Day.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just when it seemed as though things couldn't get much worse for the Buffalo Sabres, they took to the ice for practice Wednesday morning.Following a 7-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, the team underwent an intense practice, ultimately resulting in a scuffle between Evander Kane and Justin Falk."Shut the (expletive) up, you selfish (expletive)," Falk reportedly yelled at Kane before shoving him, according to Bill Hoppe of BuffaloHockeyBeat.com.The coaches separated the two before things got out of hand. Falk downplayed the incident after the session, saying it was a case of emotions temporarily boiling over."It's just spur of the moment, emotions are running high," Falk said. "This time of year, where we're at, everyone's got a situation they're in, just heat of the moment boiled over."That wasn't the only sour news to come out of Sabres practice; during a drill along the boards, defenseman Zach Bogosian got tangled with Kane and left the ice struggling to put weight on his left foot.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.Colin Campbell, the NHL's director of hockey operations, says he'll once more attempt to impress upon the league's general managers that a player's skate that's in the air, but not over the blue line, shouldn't be considered offside."I’ll try it again at the March (GM) meeting(s),” Campbell told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun on Wednesday. “I think I’ll try to buy the managers over again as a group. People might say, 'Who cares about one inch?' A whole city would care in the playoffs about one inch if it was offside. That’s why we have the offside coach’s challenge."Connor McDavid expressed displeasure with offside challenges as a whole Tuesday after the Edmonton Oilers' late tying goal against the Nashville Predators was overturned upon review that showed teammate Jujhar Khaira with his back skate lifted as he entered the offensive zone.Campbell also brought this up at last year's meetings, and the GMs couldn't reach a consensus at the time, but he's hopeful it will resonate among more of them this time around.“I’ll try it again, because I think it’s an adjustment to this rule that we experienced," he said. "This is our third year with it where I think we’ve experienced it enough where you can put some goals back on the board. The basis of it is, the player is still onside because he hasn’t crossed the blue line. I don’t think you need to be touching the ice.”Campbell told LeBrun he counted eight times this season that a goal has been reversed on a skate-in-the-air call.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Sidney Crosby were in charge of naming the NHL All-Stars he would leave himself off the Metropolitan squad.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain recently spoke about the potential of playing at this year's installment of the 3-on-3 tournament, frankly stating he doesn't feel he's played well enough to earn an invitation."I don't expect to be there, to be honest with you," Crosby said, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I haven’t even thought about it. I don't feel like I've had an All-Star first half."While Crosby might be critical of himself, he has been far from awful this season. The 30-year-old has 43 points in 44 games, good enough for second in Penguins scoring.Instead, Crosby feels the team's leading scorer - Phil Kessel - is more deserving of the nod."I mean … Phil’s had a really good first half," Crosby said. "There’s been a lot of guys within our division that have had some great first halves here so far: Tavares, Bailey, and Ovechkin. These guys are all right at the top of the scoring race. I haven't given it any thought, only because of that. I just don't expect to be going."Crosby has been named to six All-Star Games but played in just two, having missed the event in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2015 due to injury.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the Edmonton Oilers had their tying goal against the Nashville Predators in the final six minutes wiped out by an offside review, captain Connor McDavid sounded off on the rule, calling for it to be canned completely."I ultimately feel they should just take the rule out," McDavid said, according to Rob Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun. "The number of calls that are a millimeter offside 45 seconds before the play don't have much of an effect on the goal itself. I think the fans want to see offense."

Patrick Kane has earned his fair share of accolades over the course of his career, but he outdid himself Tuesday night, recording his first-ever five-point performance as his Chicago Blackhawks dominated the Ottawa Senators 8-2.Kane started off with four assists - something he's never done before - and then topped off his incredible night with a power-play laser in the third period.

It may be time for Bobby Ryan to invest in better gloves.The Ottawa Senators winger left Tuesday's contest against the Chicago Blackhawks after he suffered a hand injury, marking the third time this season Ryan has been sidelined with the same ailment.Ryan missed an eight-game stretch earlier this year due to a fractured finger. He then returned for 17 games before aggravating the injury in late December.Senators coach Guy Boucher provided an update following Tuesday's game:

Nassau Coliseum hosted an open house Tuesday, as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and New York Islanders majority owner Jon Ledecky toured the recently renovated arena.The Islanders' former digs, Nassau Coliseum is considered a possible temporary home as the team's new arena in nearby Belmont Park breaks ground.In the meantime, New York will continue to play out of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where it's called home since 2015. Despite the team signing a 25-year agreement to play at the venue shared with the NBA's Nets, both the Islanders and arena manager can trigger an opt-out clause at the end of January.If that should happen, the Islanders would need to find a temporary home following the 2018-19 season.Nassau Coliseum, built in 1971, has undergone a host of changes since the Islanders left three years ago, including a $165-million renovation that reduced seating capacity by 3,000 to 13,000 for hockey games.A number of improvements would need to be orchestrated in order for New York to return temporarily. Also at issue is who would fund those changes. Nassau Coliseum is currently owned by Forest City Enterprises, a real estate development firm.Nassau Coliseum hosted an Islanders preseason game last September.While the Islanders have played out of Barclays Center for parts of three seasons, a quick exit was initiated after a host of issues were realized, from awful ice conditions to poor sight lines and a tough commute.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A dismal 2017-18 campaign has given the Montreal Canadiens a wonderful opportunity.No, not the chance to pick first overall in the draft - though with half the year still to go, that might not be out of the question - but rather the perfect opening to deal forward Alex Galchenyuk.Over the past two seasons, Galchenyuk and his coaches have been bombarded by questions surrounding his streaky play, what line he's playing on, and whether he fits best on the wing or at center.Related: Why Canadiens are making a big mistake by demoting Galchenyuk to 4th lineAll that can be put to rest, though, if they trade the 23-year-old.With Montreal holding down the third-lowest spot in the Eastern Conference and sitting seven points outside a wild-card berth, it's becoming clear the team will be a seller at the trade deadline.Max Pacioretty's name has already been floated, which means few roster spots are safe. It makes the most sense to trade Galchenyuk, though, and the timing couldn't be better.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Galchenyuk holds a share of the team lead in scoring with Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher, recording 23 points in 41 games. He's also matched Andrew Shaw for the top spot on the team with five power-play goals, leads the club with 10 points with the extra attacker, sits tied for second in game-winning goals with two, and ranks third in shots.Given the struggles he's endured over the last couple seasons, it could be argued his value hasn't been higher.Back in June, it was reported the Canadiens were actively shopping Galchenyuk, but with no suitor emerging, the team inked the then-restricted free agent to a three-year, $14.7-million contract.With the Canadiens likely to enter rebuild mode, they'll want to get his $4.9-million cap hit off the books.As for Galchenyuk, a move might help him recapture the form that led him to record 30 goals and 56 points during the 2015-16 season.He's still young and talented, and could serve as a great depth upgrade on a contending club ahead of the postseason.Related: 7 players in need of a change of sceneryThe last two years have been a headache for everyone surrounding the Galchenyuk saga. A trade would put it to bed, helping the Canadiens acquire draft picks or prospects and giving him a fresh start.The trade deadline is Feb. 26. It's time for Marc Bergevin to work the phones.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some poor form has landed veteran Brent Seabrook a spot in the press box.After staying late for practice, the Chicago Blackhawks veteran confirmed he will serve as a healthy scratch when the Blackhawks take on the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times.Seabrook noted head coach Joel Quenneville told him he needs to be better. The message looks to be received as Seabrook knows it's up to him to work his way back into the lineup."I want to get back to being more consistent," Seabrook said. "I think I’ve had good stretches and bad stretches. It’s tough. I've just got to stay focused, and when I get a chance to be back in the lineup, I’ve got to be ready to go."Seabrook has played over 20 minutes just once in the team's last eight games, while going pointless with just five shots during that span.The 32-year-old is currently earning $6.875 million, tops among Blackhawks defenders. He's scored just one goal and added 10 assists in 41 games this seasonCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators inked three defensemen to contract extensions Tuesday.The club announced the following defensemen signings:

If the San Jose Sharks had their way, they would've skipped Sunday's game against the Winnipeg Jets.That's because Tomas Hertl, Justin Braun, and Tim Heed all consider Winnipeg the worst city in which to play, per NBC Sports California."I think it's Winnipeg cause every time it's so cold and dark there," said Hertl. "I don't like it there."Meanwhile, Braun feels the city's infrastructure is lacking."Winnipeg. Dark. Cold. Hotel is a little questionable," said Braun. "Internet doesn't work ever. I don't know if they have wifi there yet."The fact the Jets thumped the Sharks 4-1 on Sunday - just after the video was posted - likely didn't change the minds of the players.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In terms of trade-deadline acquisitions for contending teams across the NHL, few pieces are more coveted than a right-handed defenseman.Unfortunately for the scores of general managers seeking to add one ahead of the deadline, available such players are few and far between. That said, a few exist, and Detroit Red Wings rearguard Mike Green is one name sure to generate plenty of interest across front offices prior to Feb. 26.Green, 32, hasn't packed the same punch since he registered back-to-back 70-plus-point seasons with Washington in 2009 and 2010, but has quietly remained an effective puck-mover and point producer throughout his tenure in Detroit.Although they've looked better of late, the Red Wings probably aren't strong enough to sustain a serious pursuit of a playoff spot, making Green's expiring contract highly expendable.Green, who has recorded 24 points in 41 games this season, carries a $6 million cap hit. It's unlikely he waives his no-trade clause for a team without serious Stanley Cup aspirations, so without further ado, here are three contenders that should be courting Ken Holland for Green's services.Toronto Maple LeafsWhether the Maple Leafs need to reinforce their blue line to truly emerge as a playoff threat has been discussed fervently since last summer, and if they do decide to make a move, Green could be a proper fit.Toronto's internal right-handed options are limited, and Green has potential to fit well with the up-tempo style at which the Leafs are most effective. With numerous high-end forward prospects at their disposal, and a few extra draft picks to boot, the Leafs have a few avenues to explore to make a deal work.Tampa Bay Lightning(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)As unstoppable as the Lightning have been to this point, why wouldn't Steve Yzerman want to make a move that could help push his team over the top?First and foremost, the Lightning would have to unload salary to add Green and stay under the cap, but it's not insurmountable by any means, especially if Yzerman manages to convince his old team to retain some of Green's cost.If there's a flaw with Tampa's roster as they look to nail down top spot in the East, it's a mostly inexperienced blue line. Jake Dotchin, rookie dynamo Mikhail Sergachev, and Slater Koekkoek currently make up half of the Lightning's top six; giving some of those minutes to Green down the stretch would only add to Tampa Bay's chances of capturing a Stanley Cup.Washington CapitalsAfter another playoff disappointment gave way to plenty of roster turnover, the Capitals have hardly lost a step, leading the treacherous Metropolitan Division with 55 points.Like the Lightning, Washington would also have to tinker to take on Green's salary, but seeking improvement on the back end ahead of a playoff trip that will likely feature multiple divisional opponents doesn't seem a bad idea - even if the Kevin Shattenkirk experiment didn't pan out last year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Believe it or not, the Vegas Golden Knights are just three points out from being the No. 1 team in the NHL halfway through their inaugural season.The Golden Knights used another gutsy effort on Sunday night to get by the New York Rangers by a score of 2-1. With the win, the club has now gone 14-1-1 in its last 16 games and has become the second team to hit the 60-point threshold.After 41 games, Vegas is on pace to finish with 120 points. With a start like this it's no longer a hot take to suggest that the Golden Knights will be playing playoff hockey this spring.With the playoffs now on the horizon, the question is shifting to: What will the team do as it approaches its first-ever trade deadline? Generally, a team in Vegas' position would be in the market to buy potential rentals in an attempt to bolster its lineup.However, with Vegas still in its infancy, a clear plan in place, and no glaring holes on its roster, it makes more sense for the club to stand pat and not make any moves it might regret later.When general manager George McPhee set out to construct the Golden Knights' roster he made it imperative that he not only load up on younger, skilled, roster players, but to also stockpile his cupboard with a load of prospects and draft picks (a perfect example of which are first-round picks Cody Glass and Nick Suzuki).Last June, the team made 12 selections at the draft. Going forward, the Golden Knights have 28 picks over the next three years.As most GMs could tell you, the price to pay to acquire rental players at the deadline is usually prospects, draft picks, or both. For Vegas to part ways with these pieces for a monetary gain makes little sense, especially when you consider how well the team has played to date.Related: Vegas odds tab Lightning, Golden Knights as Stanley Cup favoritesThe team found chemistry almost immediately and it's led to the Golden Knights posting the second-most potent offense in the league, averaging 3.44 goals per game. On the other side, Vegas has given up 2.71 goals per game, good enough for the 11th-best mark. Despite their special teams being middle of the pack, it hasn't particularly hampered the club in anyway. Then there is the fantastic duo of Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban manning the pipes.It makes little sense to mess with a winning formula. And in his short tenure, McPhee has shown he's not going to make any critical moves that could jeopardize the team's future.Ahead of free agency last July, McPhee made it clear that his team wouldn't be very active as it's usually the time of the year where teams overpay for players. Then, after the Golden Knights went through a carousel of goalies with injuries to Fleury, Subban, and Oscar Dansk, McPhee said he wasn't going to have a knee-jerk reaction and trade for a goalie. Instead, he elected to wait out the storm - which now looks to have been the smart choice."The plan going into this year was pretty simple: If we're in the hunt, we're going to try and stay in the hunt, if you're not in the hunt, you do what teams that are not in the hunt do at the trading deadline," McPhee told Sportsnet's Hockey Central at Noon last week. "We'll see where we are when we get there. And what happens between now and then will be determined as we go along."We wanted to be competitive this year. We thought it was really important to the league. We thought it was important to the market - we wanted to give the market a chance. Can we be competitive and see how people respond here? Well it has been pretty darn good here and you don't ever want to lose that. We're trying to set a standard."The Golden Knights couldn't have written a better script to this season if they tried. They worked the expansion draft to perfection by creating a model roster that's been producing from the back end on out, they've stockpiled talent in their system, and - without a ton of tinkering - the team leads the Western Conference.They should be able to compete without any additions. Doing so would keep Vegas' current roster intact and more importantly keeps its future pieces in the fold.Last November, owner Bill Foley stated he hopes to win a Stanley Cup within the team's first six years. Standing pat gives the Golden Knights the best chance at winning now while maintaining potential sustained success to do so in the future.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lighting defenseman Dan Girardi has escaped serious injury after taking a one-timer from Detroit Red Wings forward Martin Frk to the back of the neck on Sunday.After being evaluated, all tests came back negative and the 33-year-old is day to day, the team announced.The Lightning are back in action on Tuesday when they host the Carolina Hurricanes.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Solid production has earned Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Bernier, and Sidney Crosby the league's Three Stars of the Week.The Boston Bruins forward claimed top spot on the back of his first career four-goal game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. In all, Bergeron led the league this week with five goals in three games while chipping in two assists. Bergeron has also been instrumental in the Bruins' current 11-game point streak that has seen them go 8-0-3. Boston now occupies the second spot in the Atlantic Division.Bernier earned second star honors after going 3-0-0 with a 1.60 goals-against average, a .957 save percentage, and a shutout. The perfect week helped propel the Colorado Avalanche into a playoff spot, having won five straight games. Meanwhile, the club has already matched their win total from last season.Crosby rounds out the three stars having picked up a league-high seven assists and eight points in four games. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain concluded the week with four- and three-point games, snapping a streak of 12 games without multiple points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Monday, Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli made it known he has no intentions of firing head coach Todd McLellan.That being said, the team has lost six of its last seven games, and, after reaching the second round of the postseason last year, sit eight points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.The Oilers also sit 22nd in goals per game, are tied for 26th in goals against per game, have the 24th-best power play, and rank dead last in penalty-kill proficiency.Something needs to be done in Edmonton if the team is to turn things around. Is Chiarelli making the right choice by keeping McLellan?Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Coaching is not the Edmonton Oilers' issue in the eyes of general manager Peter Chiarelli.With his club spiraling out of control, having lost six of its last seven contests, Chiarelli insists he has not considered making changes behind the bench."I have no intentions of firing Todd (McLellan). I want to work with the coach, and I think he's a very good coach," Chiarelli said, according to Sportsnet's Mark Spector. "As far as Todd goes, and (his staff), I am not considering firing them. At this point we're going to solve it together."Related: Oilers stuck in another skid after showing brief glimmer of hopeOf course, with the team currently sitting eight points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference - after reaching the second round on the back of the fourth-best record in the West last season - Chiarelli understands that his job could be just as much in jeopardy as the head coach's."Everyone is under evaluation, including myself," Chiarelli said. "We've had our challenges from a coaching perspective, and we've had our challenges from a player personnel perspective. We went into the season with certain expectations, and we're not even close to them."I see the situation we're in. I see levels of improvement, but I also see the losses piling up," Chiarelli said. "There's a plan in place, and a plan to bring up through the ranks, at the proper time, younger players."With a potential plan to give a chance to younger players and the coach's job safe for the time being, it will be interesting to see if that means changes will come to the current roster.Until then this Oilers club will need to figure a way to climb from the depths of the Western Conference if it has any aspirations of salvaging the season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageTuukka Rask wasn't kind to himself after coming out on the losing end of a wild overtime defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night.The Boston Bruins goaltender offered a blunt assessment of his play in the 6-5 loss when asked about it postgame."I was horseshit all day," Rask said, according to Joe McDonald of Boston Sports Journal. "All night I felt like shit and didn't see the puck. I wasn't sharp ... (I let in) weak goals."The veteran netminder allowed all six of the Penguins' goals on 35 shots, including one to Evgeni Malkin in the waning moments of the second period, an unassisted marker by Riley Sheahan - who now has only six goals in his last 115 games - in the third frame, and then Malkin's overtime winner.Rask had given up only four goals in his previous five contests coming into Sunday's affair, and he's been solid for most of the first half of this season, posting a .920 save percentage in 27 appearances including the high-scoring loss to Pittsburgh.He'll have some time to rest up now, as the Bruins are on their bye week until Saturday when they return to action for a road date with the Montreal Canadiens.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There was a scary moment in Detroit on Sunday night.Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi was struck in the back of the neck by a Martin Frk one-timer in the second period against the Red Wings.

After showing signs of potentially snapping out of their lengthy funk prior to the Christmas break, the Edmonton Oilers have hit the skids again.Following a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens Dec. 23, the Oilers had won five of six games, and sat at 17-17-2 for the season - an encouraging mark given the club's play prior to that point.Since then, the Oilers have dropped six of seven decisions, including a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday afternoon.The scoring drought during their current skid has been rather ugly.

With Saturday's games in the books we are officially halfway through the 2017-18 season.The biggest story of the year has been the incredible play of both the Vegas Golden Knights and the Tampa Bay Lightning.Fans have also been spoiled by some incredible performances such as that by Nikita Kucherov, who is on pace to finish with the highest point total since Sidney Crosby tallied 120 during the 2006-07 season.It's been an thrilling first three months of the season. So with that here are five other interesting stats as pointed out from NHL Public Relations from the first half of the season:1. Vegas' points percentage at the midway point rivals all expansion teams in the big-four sports leaguesWith a record of 28-10-2 through their first 40 games, the Golden Knights have put together a point percentage of .725, the highest mark among any NHL expansion club at the midway point of a season since the Philadelphia Flyers mark of .568 during the 1967-68 campaign.The mark is also higher than any in the NBA since the 1961-62 season, in MLB since 1961, and the NFL/AFL since 1960.Here are the teams that have come closest during that span:LeagueYearTeamPoints Percentage at Midway PointNBA1976-77Denver Nuggets.707MLB1961Washington Senators.444NFL/AFL1995Carolina Panthers.3752. Six players have reached the 50-point plateau at the midpoint for first time in a decadeHalf-way through the season six players (Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Nathan MacKinnon, Claude Giroux, Josh Bailey, and John Tavares) have hit the half-century mark. This is the first time that many players have accomplished the feat since 10 did so during the 2007-08 season.Of the six, four are on pace to hit 100 points and if all - or at least two of the four - can keep that pace up it would be the first time since the 2009-10 season that multiple players have eclipsed 100 points.3. Twenty-four players are averaging a point per gameFurther to the impressive starts by players at the top of the scoring race, 24 players are averaging at least a point per game (with a minimum of 20 games played).If this pace keeps up it would be the largest crop of players to finish with at least a point per game since the 2006-07 season when 32 players achieved the feat.4. Ovechkin on pace to match record for most seasons as the leader in goalsWith 26 goals on the season, Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is currently neck-and-neck with fellow Russian Kucherov for the league-lead in goals.If Ovechkin can hang on to that lead it would mark the seventh time in his career that he has done so, which would tie him with Bobby Hull for the most in NHL history.Meanwhile, Ovechkin is just four goals away from hitting the 30-goal mark for the 13th time in his career. Only nine other players in league history have matched that feat.5. Lightning could become second team in 81 years to lead league in points after missing playoffs in previous seasonBarring a sudden drop in play or a catastrophic injury, the Lightning should capture the Presidents' Trophy this season with the best record in the league.If they were to do so they would be just the second team in 81 years to lead the league in points after missing the playoffs the previous season, joining the 1993-94 New York Rangers who went on to capture their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history that season.There's still a lot of hockey to be played, but it's worth noting the Lightning have paced the league in points since Nov. 28.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not only will the upcoming NHL All-Star Game in Tampa Bay feature the best on-ice talent, it will also showcase some great minds behind the bench.On Sunday, the NHL announced the four coaches who will partake in the All-Star festivities on Jan. 28:

With the Ottawa Senators occupying the second-to-last spot in the Eastern Conference, wisdom suggests they could be sellers at the trade deadline.However, one player who won't be dealt by the club is forward Derick Brassard, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.The Senators have fielded calls from other teams asking about the 30-year-old due to his history as a strong playoff performer, but the Senators feel he could be vital in turning the ship around, according to Garrioch.Brassard has 11 goals and 27 points in 40 games this season, but has been better of late with four points in his last five contests.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.