After spending the entire 2016-17 season at the bottom of the standings, the Colorado Avalanche currently find themselves on the right side of the playoff cutline.The Avs pounded the Minnesota Wild 7-2 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory, and in doing so, moved into the second wildcard spot in the West with 47 points - one shy of their entire output a season ago.

Henrik Lundqvist leapfrogged another Hall of Famer on Saturday night.The New York Rangers goaltender stopped 38 of 39 shots in a 2-1 shootout win over the Arizona Coyotes, and in doing so, moved past Tony Esposito and took sole possession of eighth place on the NHL's all-time wins list among netminders with his 424th career victory.Lundqvist surpassed Glenn Hall for ninth on the list when he earned his 408th career win in a victory over the Vegas Golden Knights back on Oct. 31.The 35-year-old is having a solid season, owning a .924 save percentage in 35 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The red-hot Boston Bruins came ready to play on Saturday night, pouring in five goals in the opening frame versus the Carolina Hurricanes.Boston's assault only required eight shots, forcing starter Cam Ward from the visitor's net after two goals against in the first 5:43 of the contest.Patrice Bergeron led the charge, netting two goals and one assist, while Riley Nash, David Pastrnak, and Jake DeBrusk also found the back of the net.The Bruins went on to claim a 7-1 victory.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It won't count as an assist on the score sheet, but this good deed by Michael Del Zotto wasn't any less important.The Vancouver Canucks defenseman rounded up teammate Chris Tanev's teeth after Tanev took a deflected shot to the mouth and was forced to leave the game.

VisitorScoreHomeStart Time/PeriodBlues3-6Flyers(FINAL)Oilers1-5Stars(FINAL)Hurricanes1-5Bruins1stCanucks0-0Maple Leafs1stLightning0-3Senators1stRangers0-0Coyotes8 p.m. ETWild0-0Avalanche9 p.m. ETDucks0-0Flames10 p.m. ETPredators0-0Kings10:30 p.m. ETCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Victor Mete isn't going back to junior just yet.The defenseman will return to the Montreal Canadiens next Friday, ending speculation - at least for the time being - he would be sent back to the OHL's London Knights following the World Junior Hockey Championship, which ended Friday night.Mete helped Canada win gold at the tournament, collecting three assists and firing 12 shots on goal in six games.The 19-year-old managed only four assists in 27 games with the Canadiens before being loaned to Hockey Canada for the tourney.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With a slick redirection of a Claude Giroux pass midway through the second period Saturday, Sean Couturier hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his seven-year NHL career.

Another year of the World Junior Hockey Championship is in the books.Canada ultimately took home gold with a win over Sweden on Friday, and throughout the tournament we were left with some brilliant impressions of the most talented young players from around the world.Here are five such players who put themselves on the map with their stellar play over the last two weeks:Drake Batherson, CanadaBatherson seemingly came out of nowhere, as the 19-year-old forward made the Canadian team despite going without an invite to the summer evaluation camp. By the end of the tournament, he'd become one of Canada's most valuable players.The 2017 Ottawa Senators fourth-round selection finished tied for second in the tournament with seven goals in seven games, including a hat trick in Canada's semifinal win over the Czech Republic.The question now is, will the Senators give Batherson a taste of the NHL sooner rather than later?Filip Zadina, Czech RepublicWe haven't heard the last of Filip Zadina.The Czech forward played a monumental role for a team that improved from a sixth-place finish last year to fourth this time around, matching Batherson with seven goals in seven games.Zadina has torn it up for the Halifax Mooseheads this season, tallying 24 goals and 46 points in 32 games, but he really put his lethal release on display for the world to see over the last couple weeks. He's expected to be selected with one of the top five picks in June's draft, and it's easy to see why.Kieffer Bellows, USAOn the topic of players with great shots, Kieffer Bellows stood out.The New York Islanders prospect led the tournament by scoring nine times, surpassing Jeremy Roenick to set a new American record for goals in a single world juniors.Like Zadina, Bellows proved that his greatest asset is his impeccable shot. The Islanders are already enjoying the fruits of Mathew Barzal - who's making a strong case for the Calder Trophy this season - and could soon have another top-end talent entering the picture.Martin Necas, Czech RepublicVery few people would have predicted that a member of the Czech Republic would lead the tournament in scoring, but here we are.Necas matched USA's Casey Mittelstadt with 11 points in seven games to pace all players as an 18-year-old. The Czech forward was plucked 12th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes last year and drew into the lineup in mid-October before being loaned back to the Czech Republic.Necas was so heavily relied upon by the Czechs that he actually averaged the second-most ice time on the team despite being a forward. It will be interesting to see what he can do if he returns to play in next year's tournament.Cale Makar, CanadaMaybe it shouldn't be all that surprising that a fourth overall pick had a great showing at the world juniors, but Cale Makar is an interesting case.The Colorado Avalanche draftee earned a spot playing largely as the seventh defenseman on the Canadian blue line, but in that time showed off his offensive talent and ability to quarterback a power play.Makar concluded the tournament with eight points in seven games to co-lead all defenseman, was named to the tournament's All-Star team, and did all that despite playing the fewest minutes per game among Canadian defenders.Makar was drafted out of Junior A hockey and is currently in his freshman year at UMass. With more seasoning in the NCAA, he could develop into one elite defenseman.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Springfield Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, are paying homage to Snoop Dogg and the Springfield Indians on Saturday night.As part of "Blast from the Past Night," the Thunderbirds will wear throwback Indians jerseys for their home game against the Providence Bruins. Snoop rocked an Indians jersey (and a Pittsburgh Penguins uni) in the music video for his 1994 hit "Gin and Juice."

Team Sweden will return home with silver medals for their efforts at the world juniors. That is, except for captain Lias Andersson.The New York Rangers first-round pick hurled his silver medal into the crowd following Friday's 3-1 loss to Canada. Afterward, Andersson admitted he didn't regret the decision."There was one guy in the stands who wanted it more than me," Andersson told reporters. "So I decided to give it to him, I think he deserved it."I was just going to have it home in some box or whatever."Andersson previously won a silver medal with Sweden at the World Under-18 Championships and it appears it was another achievement he doesn't hold in high regard."I have a silver medal from the U-18 worlds and I haven't checked it in two years since I lost last time. So I don't regret it," Andersson said.Andersson finished this year's tournament with six goals and seven points in seven games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

United States forward Casey Mittelstadt didn't get the gold medal he wanted, but he was named tournament MVP, as voted by members of the World Junior Championship media. The Buffalo Sabres draft pick finished the tournament with four goals and seven assists.Mittelstadt was also the top forward of the tournament, and named to the tournament all-star team:Directorate AwardsAwardPlayerCountryTop GoaltenderFilip GustavssonSwedenTop DefensemanRasmus DahlinSwedenTop ForwardCasey MittelstadtUSAGustavsson finished the tournament with a .924 save percentage and a 1.81 GAA.Dahlin, nearly a lock to be the top pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, had six assists and 25 shots on goal in the tournament.All-Star teamPositionPlayerCountryGoaltederFilip GustavssonSwedenDefensemanRasmus DahlinSwedenDefensemanCale MakarCanadaForwardCasey MittelstadtUSAForwardFilip ZadinaCzech RepublicForwardKieffer BellowsUSAMakar led all defensemen with three goals from the back end, and finished tied with Czech defender Libor Hajek with eight points.Zadina, who, like Dahlin, is still draft eligible, finished tied for second in the tournament with seven goals. Only Bellows, who potted nine goals, scored more.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyler Steenbergen tipped home a beautiful pass from Conor Timmins with less than two minutes left in regulation to help Canada defeat Sweden in the gold-medal game of the World Junior Hockey Championship.Steenbergen played sparingly throughout the tournament, primarily being used as Canada's 13th forward, but his first goal wound up being the biggest.Goaltender Carter Hart was tremendous, as the Canadians were outshot by the Swedes 36-28. With his eighth victory, he tied Stephane Fiset and Jimmy Waite for the most career wins in Team Canada world junior history.The game was tightly contested. After a scoreless first period, Dillon Dube roofed the game's first goal past Swedish goalie Filip Gustavsson after a slick pass from Jordan Kyrou.The Swedes didn't take long to answer back, though, as Tim Soderlund ripped one off the post and in for a sensational shorthanded goal midway through the second.Just when everyone in the rink was gearing up for overtime, Steenbergen notched the winner, despite playing 7:16 in the game. Alex Formenton added an empty-netter to put the icing on the cake.The win marked Canada's second gold medal in the last four years, while Sweden's struggles in the medal round continued, despite its historic success in the preliminary round.The Swedes' heartbreak was summed up in one moment. During the medal presentation, captain Lias Andersson took off his silver medal and threw it into the stands.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It wasn't the medal it was looking for, but Team USA still skated away from the 2018 World Junior Championship with some hardware, beating the Czech Republic in convincing fashion 9-3 on Friday night in Buffalo, N.Y.The Americans dominated the game from puck drop, getting stellar solo performances from Trent Frederic (four goals) and Kieffer Bellows (two goals, one assist).The Czechs were outmatched at both ends of the ice, managing only three garbage-time goals late in the third period to pull the game within six.Bellows, a New York Islanders first-round pick, broke the record held by Jeremy Roenick for most goals by an American at a single world junior tournament with his nine tallies in seven games.The U.S. earned a world junior medal for the third consecutive year, while the Czechs finished in fourth place - their best showing since earning bronze in 2005.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Have yourself a tournament, Kieffer Bellows.With his second goal of the bronze-medal game Friday against the Czech Republic, Bellows passed Jeremy Roenick for the most goals scored by an American at a single World Junior Championship with nine.

The best way for Sweden to defeat Canada in Friday's gold-medal game? Stay out of the box.Canada's power play has been operating at a remarkable rate thus far in the tournament. They've scored 13 goals in 23 opportunities with the man advantage - good for an astonishing 56.5 percent.While the average NHL power play is obviously operating in completely different circumstances, for comparison's sake, it's been successful just 19.1 percent of the time this season.Matchups against softer opponents such as Slovakia, Denmark, and Switzerland have aided Canada's numbers, but the power play has also clicked in tougher matchups. The team scored one power-play goal against Finland, two against the United States, and three against Czech Republic.Ottawa Senators prospect Drake Batherson has led the way with four power-play goals, while Colorado Avalanche fourth overall pick Cale Makar has proven to be an exceptional quarterback for the unit.The Swedes have taken the second-most minor penalties in the tournament, and will need to be more disciplined if they hope to capture their first gold medal since 2012.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Video contains coarse languageCalgary Flames coach Glen Gulutzan was a little displeased with his group at practice Friday.Coming off of a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, the Flames appeared to be taking things a little too lightly the following day, and that didn't sit well with the bench boss.He certainly wasn't shy in expressing that feeling to the squad.As Gulutzan advised, we've checked the standings - Calgary currently sits three points outside of the final playoff position in the Western Conference.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sitting eight points back of a playoff position halfway through the season, reality is setting in: The Montreal Canadiens are likely to be sellers ahead of the Feb. 26 trade deadline.The exodus began Thursday when the Canadiens sent backup netminder Al Montoya to the Edmonton Oilers. While that was a minor trade, Montreal could make a much more substantial move in the form of dealing captain Max Pacioretty.It may seem unusual for a Canadiens squad that can't find the back of the net to move on from its most prolific goal-scorer. However, Pacioretty's also the most valuable trade chip in the team's forward ranks.Signed through 2019 for $4.5 million, Pacioretty's manageable cap hit makes him especially attractive to potential suitors. Like his team, he's struggled this season, with just 22 points in 41 games, but he's a five-time 30-goal scorer. Meanwhile, moving him would help the Canadiens add some sorely needed younger assets.With that in mind, here are three possible trade destinations that would be great fits for Pacioretty, while fetching a valuable return for Montreal.Calgary FlamesAfter acquiring blue-liner Travis Hamonic from the New York Islanders in a summer deal, and adding goaltender Mike Smith to stabilize the team between the pipes, Calgary came out of the offseason as a favorite to make some noise in the West.The Flames no doubt made improvements in their own end, but the team's offensive ability remained questionable, and that's proven to be their weakness. The Flames are one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league and haven't been able to manufacture much offense outside of their top-six forwards.The likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Matthew Tkachuk provide much of the scoring, but Calgary could use one more offensive weapon. Enter Pacioretty. The Flames don't have many draft picks to part with thanks to the Hamonic deal, but they do have a few younger pieces that could entice the Canadiens - like Sam Bennett, who could fill a center role in Montreal.Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Penguins have already had success reforming a star from a Canadian market - former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel - and they have a chance to go 2-for-2 if they acquire Pacioretty.Away from the pressures of Toronto, Kessel has excelled, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh. It's easy to imagine a similar output from Pacioretty if he's free to play without the challenge of carrying the Canadiens' captaincy.Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford has already stated he could be aggressive ahead of the trade deadline, and he'll need to be, as Pittsburgh's currently three points back of a playoff position. That race won't get any easier as all eight teams in the Metropolitan Division contend for the postseason.Late in December, the Penguins recalled the up-and-coming Daniel Sprong in hopes of jump-starting their offense. However, that opportunity could also be seen as a trade showcase. The former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scorer - he tallied 59 points in 31 games with Charlottetown last season - could intrigue the Canadiens.San Jose SharksMuch like Calgary, the Sharks are struggling to score. Their tight defensive structure, coupled with the exceptional netminding duo of Martin Jones and Aaron Dell, keeps San Jose in games, but the team's lack of finish will prevent it from accomplishing anything of note when the games matter most.With just 104 goals, only four teams - Montreal and fellow cellar dwellers Ottawa, Arizona, and Buffalo - have lit the lamp less often than San Jose this season. That's troubling for a team that holds down one of three playoff positions in the Pacific Division.If San Jose hopes to make a playoff run like the one it did two seasons ago, general manager Doug Wilson needs to address his team's offensive woes. It's even more pressing because the Sharks' window of opportunity to win a Stanley Cup is closing fast - the average age of their top four scorers is nearly 33.Pacioretty has just nine goals this season, but only two Sharks have exceeded that mark, meaning the Canadiens star certainly has something to contribute to San Jose's forward ranks.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider will be out indefinitely after he undergoes surgery to have a rib resected, the team announced Friday.Late last month, the Rangers disclosed Kreider would be out indefinitely due to a blood clot in his arm. The 26-year-old has been sidelined for the past three games.While no timeline was given for Kreider's return, TSN's Darren Dreger reported the forward's recovery could keep him out of the lineup until March.Kreider has scored 22 points in 37 games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers acquired goaltender Al Montoya from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2018, the club announced Thursday.Montoya has been on injured reserve since suffering a concussion Nov. 4. In four games this season with Montreal, he registered a 2-1-0 record to go along with a 3.77 goals-against average and .863 save percentage.Once Montoya is healthy, he will add an element of veteran depth to Edmonton's crease, as the Oilers are currently using the unproven Laurent Brossoit as the No. 2 behind starting netminder Cam Talbot.

Nazem Kadri doesn't have a reasonable explanation as to how part of Joe Thornton's beard ended up in his hand following their scrap off the opening faceoff Thursday night."I ended up with a piece in my hand," Kadri told The Athletic's James Mirtle postgame. "I have no idea what happened. I'm a hockey player, not a barber."As it turns out, Kadri appeared to snag Thornton's beard while attempting to grab the collar of his jersey - a standard fighting tactic.While Thornton may have gotten the edge in their brief fight, Kadri and the Maple Leafs got the upper hand in the game, defeating the Sharks 3-2 in a shootout, with Kadri's second-period redirect goal proving to be integral.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drake Batherson notched a hat trick as Canada advanced to the gold-medal game at the World Junior Hockey Championship with a 7-2 drubbing of the Czech Republic in the second semifinal Thursday night in Buffalo.Boris Katchouk, Jordan Kyrou, Maxime Comtois, and Sam Steel also scored for Canada in the rout.Three of Canada's goals came on the power play, and the team nearly doubled the Czechs in the shots-on-goal department, out-shooting them by a 39-20 margin.Filip Zadina poured in both Czech Republic goals, opening the scoring less than six minutes in and collecting the game's final marker midway through the third period.The Canadian squad will face Sweden on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. The Swedes doubled up the United States 4-2 earlier Thursday in the first semifinal. The Czech Republic will battle the U.S. for bronze at 4 p.m. ET on Friday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres were already down two goals to the Minnesota Wild early on, and then their most reliable defenseman got kicked out of the game for doing this to Mikko Koivu:Rasmus Ristolainen was assessed a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct for the hit, which left Koivu looking like this:

Sweden eliminated the United States from gold-medal contention at the World Junior Hockey Championship with a 4-2 win in the semifinal Thursday.After a scoreless first period, the Swedes jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a power-play snipe from Canucks first-rounder Elias Pettersson midway through the second frame.USA had a glorious chance to tie the game in the waning minutes of the second, but Sabres prospect Casey Mittelstadt opted to deke on a three-on-none break rather than passing, and it didn't work. To make matters worse for the Americans, Kieffer Bellows wound up taking a goaltender interference penalty on the play, which would prove to be the turning point.Lias Andersson notched one for the Swedes early in the thrid period, followed by back-to-back shorthanded goals from Oskar Steen and Axel Jonsson Fjällby to give them a 4-0 lead.USA added two late tallies from Bellows and Brady Tkachuk, but it proved to be too little, too late.The Swedes will face the winner of Canada and the Czech Republic in the gold-medal game, while the host Americans will face the loser in the bronze-medal game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TORONTO — Although it's technically a school day, a horde of children and teenagers flock toward the practice facility at the MasterCard Centre in hopes of getting an autograph from Joe Thornton, Brent Burns, and Logan Couture before the San Jose Sharks take the ice.Aaron Dell, who's posting numbers that rival any goaltender in the league, breezes through the crowd without being recognized. "The World's Okayest Goalie" has outperformed his nickname, but widespread acclaim has yet to follow.It seems apparent to everyone but Dell - and, perhaps, the legion of otherwise awestruck children - that the 28-year-old is becoming one of the NHL's most surprising stars. Across 15 appearances (11 starts), he's posting a superlative .934 save percentage and 1.98 goals-against average entering Thursday's road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both of those stats rank third in the NHL.Though Dell seems to have outgrown his nickname, he isn't concerned about changing it."The name is kind of a joke in the first place, just kind of the way my demeanor is. Just kind of laid-back. I try to go out and give the team a chance to win. I really didn't take too much into it, I guess for the actual meaning of it. I've been having a good season this year and hopefully I can continue," Dell told theScore.With Martin Jones entrenched as the Sharks' starter, Dell remains the backup, though his situation could change next season - he's set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.Dell is reticent on that topic, but his teammates are happy to offer testimonials about the quality of his goaltending."They should watch the San Jose Sharks when he's playing. Not enough people watch the Sharks because we start late," defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic told theScore."He's a very good goalie - just watch him play."Blue-liner Justin Braun has noticed a slight change in how Dell carries himself on the ice, but notes that his approach hasn't changed."He does look more confident in games but that's never really been an issue for him," Braun said. "He just goes about his business and gets the job done. It's impressive."Dell's waited a while for the opportunity to impress at the NHL level. In 2010-11, he broke Ed Belfour's single-season record for wins at North Dakota, but the achievement barely registered nationally. He went undrafted, signed with the Central Hockey League, and was named its Most Outstanding Goaltender in 2012-13.After bouncing around the ECHL and AHL, he signed an entry-level deal with the Sharks in March 2015. Strong play with their AHL affiliate persuaded the big-league club to re-sign him to a two-year contract in July 2016, and he made his NHL debut last season, ultimately appearing in 20 games."Every once in a while I just kind of sit back and reflect on it - 'Wow, it's actually happening,'" Dell said. "It's been my dream since I was 5 years old, so every once in a while I've got to think about it and realize I'm pretty lucky to be here. All of the things that had to fall into place and the opportunities, the chance at the right times."In part due to his long journey to the NHL, it's evident that his teammates couldn't be happier for him."He's a really popular guy in the locker room," defenseman Brenden Dillon said.Though Dell is exceptionally polite and humble about his stellar season, the skaters in front of him agree his old handle no longer fits."I didn't know he had that name. ... He's quiet, does what he has to do and when he's in net we have a lot of confidence in him," Vlasic said. "Solid guy, works hard every day. We have two very good goalies."Dillon added, "I don't know that's much of a nickname for him anymore. I don't know who gave that one to him. But he's a guy that continues to get better every year, at every level he plays at."Blue-liner Dylan DeMelo says Dell has some other monikers that the general public may not be privy to."He's got like 15 nicknames on the team, all probably from Joe Thornton. That's one of many," DeMelo said. "He's done a great job every time he's been in the net. Yeah, I guess you could say he's not the 'World's Okayest Goalie' anymore."The Sharks are more than OK defensively too. Entering their game in Toronto, they're one of just four teams in the league that have yet to allow 100 goals, and Dell's made a significant contribution to that accomplishment.Two years removed from an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, San Jose is hanging tough in the Pacific Division and hoping to return. If Dell helps the Sharks lift their first Cup, maybe people will finally call him something more flattering.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anthony Duclair's days with the Arizona Coyotes may be numbered as the 22-year-old has requested a trade, a league source told Craig Custance of The Athletic.Duclair is having another miserable campaign, having tallied just seven goals and 13 points in 31 games. His struggles have continued from last year, when he put up just five markers and 15 points in 58 contests on the back of a 20-goal, 44-point sophomore season.Custance notes the Coyotes are doing their best fulfill his wishes. Maybe with a change of scenery Duclair will be able to rekindle his offensive potential.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 63rd NHL All-Star Game is set for Jan. 28 in Tampa Bay as the league assembles to showcase its best talents.The captains of the four divisions were revealed Wednesday:

The New York Islanders signed defenseman Scott Mayfield to a five-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.The deal will pay the 25-year-old an average of $1.45 million per season, according to Arthur Staple of Newsday Sports.Mayfield was selected by the Islanders in the second round of the 2011 draft. In his hist first season spent solely with the big club, he's played a career-high 29 games and posted two goals and 10 points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At the halfway point of the 2017-18 campaign, theScore's NHL team identifies the front-runners to bring home some hardware. This installment was put together by editors Cory Wilkins and Craig Hagerman.Hart - John TavaresPreviously: Steven StamkosThe New York Islanders captain hasn't cracked under the pressure of being just months away from a big payday in free agency. In fact, he's done just the opposite.Not only is Tavares on pace for a 100-point season, he's also transformed linemates Anders Lee and Josh Bailey from solid players into elite scoring threats. Like Tavares, they're both on pace for career years - Bailey is just six points back of his previous best.That sort of production has allowed the Islanders to hold down a playoff position for most of the year in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division, despite being backstopped by the questionable duo of Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss. If the Islanders make the postseason, thank Tavares. - WilkinsVezina - Andrei VasilevskiyPreviously: Sergei BobrovskyThe Tampa Bay Lightning could walk away with multiple awards at year's end, including a Vezina Trophy for Vasilevskiy.The 23-year-old has had no trouble shifting into the starter's role in the post-Ben Bishop era. Among netminders with a minimum of 30 games played, he stands atop the league in both wins (26) and save percentage (.937). - WilkinsNorris - Drew DoughtyPreviously: Erik KarlssonThe competition for the NHL's defenseman of the year is stiff, but the leader of the pack at the halfway point is the Los Angeles Kings' star blue-liner.On pace to match his career high in production, Doughty has revived a Los Angeles squad that many pundits picked to finish outside the playoff picture. Instead, the Kings stand second in the West and look like the same Stanley Cup contender that won it all in 2012 and 2014.Even more impressive, Doughty is getting it done on a defensive corps that has little help to speak of outside of Jake Muzzin and Alec Martinez. - WilkinsCalder - Brock BoeserPreviously: Will ButcherHe may be a rookie, but Boeser is already one of the purest goal-scorers in the game.The Vancouver Canucks forward paces all rookies with 21 goals, leads his team in scoring with 38 points, and has been named rookie of the month in both November and December. He sits fourth overall in goals and is on pace to score 44, which would be the seventh-most by a rookie in NHL history - and the most since Alex Ovechkin tallied 52 in 2005-06. - HagermanSelke - Patrice BergeronPreviously: Mark StoneIt's just too hard to knock Bergeron off his perch as the league's best two-way forward.Bergeron's put up a respectable 12 goals and 26 points in 33 games, but once again is proving to be a stud in his own end. He's rocking a Corsi For rating of 57.75, has won 57 percent of his faceoffs, and, most impressively, his line (with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak) has allowed just one goal against at five-on-five in 25 games.One day, this award might be named after the Boston Bruins forward, who's on his way to capturing it for the fifth time and fourth in five years. - HagermanJack Adams - Gerard GallantPreviously: Gerard GallantThis year's Jack Adams Award looks to be a slam dunk.Gallant has taken an expansion team constructed mostly of second- and third-line players and turned it into the second-best squad in the NHL. That's no easy feat, and barring a collapse of cataclysmic proportions, the Vegas Golden Knights should host some playoff hockey this spring.Florida Panthers management must be kicking themselves. - HagermanGeneral Manager of the Year - David PoilePreviously: Doug ArmstrongThe Nashville Predators have proven that last year's run to the Stanley Cup Final was no fluke.The club sits two points out of top spot in the Central Division and is once again thriving thanks to Poile's work.Kyle Turris is making the Preds look like the winners of the three-team Matt Duchene swap. More subtle moves in the offseason, such as signing Nick Bonino and Scott Hartnell and trading for Alexei Emelin, have given the team great depth. Meanwhile, first-round pick Eeli Tolvanen looks like he could be the steal of the 2017 draft.All of this has set the Predators up for prolonged success. - Hagerman(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday's contest between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers has been postponed due to a severe winter storm impacting the Boston area.The game will be rescheduled at a later date.As of Thursday, temperatures in Boston sat at 25 degrees Fahrenheit, with the area expecting between eight and 16 inches of snowfall.The Panthers and Bruins have not met this season, but are scheduled to play three other times: March 15, March 31, and April 5.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Admitting defeat can be tough for any general manager to do, but the following three teams need to swallow their pride, trade away some of their best assets, and enter a full-on rebuild if they hope to eventually contend one day.Montreal CanadiensCanadiens GM Mark Bergevin seems so invested in all the terrible moves he's made that it's hard to imagine him blowing things things up. With that in mind, Montreal would be better off bringing in a new GM who can create a clear plan to bring one of the NHL's most historic franchises back to respectability.The task will be difficult, however, given all of the long-term contracts the Habs are locked into. Carey Price and Shea Weber will be tough to move unless the team is willing to eat a small chunk of their salaries, which it may as well do, since a rebuilding club shouldn't have any immediate plans to be up against the cap.Max Pacioretty and Paul Byron should both be traded at the deadline. They each have one more year on their contracts following this season with modest cap hits. Teams will pay the price for goal-scoring, and both players can put the puck in the net.There's always a need for defensemen around the league, so the Habs should entertain trading Jeff Petry and Karl Alzner, even though they're both locked up. A no-movement clause kicks into Petry's contract next season, so now would be the time to trade him. Neither rearguard will be around once a rebuild is complete, so both should be shipped out even if the returns are minimal.Meanwhile, Alex Galchenyuk's name has swirled in trade rumors, but as a rebuilding team, the Canadiens would have nothing to lose by giving him a full season playing top minutes as a first-line center and seeing what they have before making a rash decision. After all, he's still just 23 years old.Assuming most of these players are moved to acquire prospects and picks, Montreal's roster will be left quite bare, but picking in the top five for at least the next three seasons is the best way to rebuild its horrific farm system.Ottawa SenatorsThis may be tough for Sens fans to hear, but Erik Karlsson isn't re-signing in Ottawa - especially while Eugene Melnyk owns the team.The Sens' best bet is to trade Karlsson, either before the deadline or this offseason. Either way, they'll receive a mammoth return that should help speed up a rebuild.Ottawa could also trade forwards Mike Hoffman, Derick Brassard, and possibly even Matt Duchene. The sooner the better, as losing these players would weaken the club further and increase its chances of winning the lottery ... and the right to select Rasmus Dahlin in June's draft.There are two issues facing a Sens rebuild, however:

Connor McDavid (Pacific), P.K. Subban (Central), Alex Ovechkin (Metropolitan), and Steven Stamkos (Atlantic) were announced as the 2018 NHL All-Star Game captains, as chosen by the fan vote to represent their respective divisions for the festivities in Tampa Bay later this month.The remaining players will be named Jan. 10.McDavid and Subban were also captains last year, while Ovechkin and Stamkos - who will suit up in front of his home crowd - are new selections.Ovechkin has gotten back to his old ways this season, leading the NHL with 26 goals so far. Meanwhile, Stamkos and McDavid sit in the top 10 in league scoring, while Subban ranks third among all blue liners with 29 points.The annual skills competition is scheduled for Jan. 27, while the three-on-three tournament is set for the 28th.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Patrick Maroon has been suspended two games for his hit on Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty on Tuesday night, the Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.Here's the play:

Don't look now, but the Colorado Avalanche are just three points back of the Anaheim Ducks for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with two games in hand.What a difference a year makes. Just one season removed from being the NHL's laughing stock, finishing with the lowest point percentage in the shootout era, the club has undergone a huge transformation in its style of play.Through 39 games this season, the Avs currently boast a 20-16-3 record, good for 43 points and the 19th-best mark overall. Through 39 contests last year, the club sat at the bottom of the league with a 13-26-1 record.Unlike last season, the club is getting strong contributions throughout the roster, while the decision to keep head coach Jared Bednar at the helm looks to be paying off. This healthy dynamic - minus the distraction caused by the Matt Duchene saga - has helped the team enter the playoff conversation, and the Avs could realistically make the postseason if some current trends persist.MacKinnon, Rantanen are Avalanche saviorsNathan MacKinnon and sophomore Mikko Rantanen have been leading the charges this campaign. MacKinnon sits fifth in league scoring with 48 points, while Rantanen has put up 36 in 39 games - just two points shy of last season's total.The two have formed a strong chemistry and have factored in on 21 of the same goals. As it stands, MacKinnon is on pace to finish with 100 points, which would make him the first Avalanche player to hit the century mark since Joe Sakic tallied 100 during the 2006-07 season. Meanwhile, Rantanen is on pace for 75 points, which no Avalanche player has done since Paul Stastny potted 79 in 2009-10.The two have been scorching hot of late. During the team's last 10 games - in which time it's gone 6-3-1 - MacKinnon has posted six goals and 15 points, while Rantanen has put up four and 12.Bednar's 2nd chance is paying offThe coaching staff deserves some love for the team's resurgence. Many were willing to throw Bednar to the wolves after last season, but Sakic was not one of them. He elected to give the first-year coach another chance and it looks to be paying dividends.The team's systems, and more specifically, their special teams play have drastically improved from last year.2016-17 (League Rank)Stat2017-18 (League Rank)3.37 (30th)GA/GP3.1 (21st)2.01 (30th)GF/GP3.21 (6th)12.6% (30th)PP%19.6% (13th)76.6% (29th)PK%83.8% (7th)90.69 (30th)5-on-5 SV%92.20 (18th)In each of the categories above, the Avalanche have made significant steps forward, rising from virtually last place to, in some cases, among the league's best.Varlamov is backBetween the pipes, Semyon Varlamov has recovered from a dismal 2017 campaign. The 29-year-old was limited by an injury last year, but in the 23 games he did play, he posted a 6-17-0 record with an .898 save percentage and a 3.38 goals-against average.He's reclaimed his role this year as the team's starter, and while his numbers aren't astonishing by any stretch, he's gone 13-9-2 with a .912 save percentage and 2.87 goals-against average.Colorado will need to find ways to win away from home if it really plans to mount a playoff run. The team will play 13 of 16 games on the road between Jan. 22 and Feb. 24, and so far Colorado has gone 7-9-2 when playing on foreign ice.The Avalanche must continue to build on what they've already put together through the first half of the season. They're far from being contenders, but given that they were historically bad last season, there's no arguing they've quickly turned a corner and can now at least play some meaningful hockey.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vegas Golden Knights have signed forward Jonathan Marchessault to a six-year, $30-million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday.The deal will reportedly pay Marchessault $7 million in year one, $6 million in year two, $5 million in years three and four, and $3.5 million in years five and six, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The 27-year-old burst onto the scene with the Florida Panthers last season by scoring 30 goals and 51 points in 75 games, which made him one of the most coveted players in the expansion draft.Marchessault has continued to prove his scoring prowess in Las Vegas, as he leads the Golden Knights with 37 points in 35 games, including 15 goals.The extension makes Marchessault the first forward to sign an extension with the new franchise.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators will be without forward Filip Forsberg for the next four-to-six weeks as he recovers from an upper-body injury, the team announced Wednesday.Forsberg sustained the injury Dec. 29 against the Minnesota Wild and has been out of the lineup for the past two games.It's a key loss for the Predators, as Forsberg leads the team with 34 points.Prior to 2017-18, the 23-year-old had played all 82 games in three consecutive seasons in Nashville, with his last missed game coming in 2014.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shea Weber will be sidelined for the immediate future.The Montreal Canadiens defenseman is doubtful to return to the lineup until after the Jan. 28 All-Star break, the team announced Wednesday, as he continues to recover from a foot injury.Weber has missed the last seven games since his previous appearance in a 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 16.On Monday, Canadiens coach Claude Julien noted Weber does not have any broken bones in his foot and that he is simply rehabbing from the injury. Weber was wearing a protective boot as of Wednesday.The veteran defenseman has tallied 16 points in 26 games this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks may not win the Stanley Cup this season, but they did come first in at least one category.The Blackhawks' iconic look, worn since 1959, has been named the NHL's greatest uniform, as selected by fans in an NHL poll.Founded in 1926, the Blackhawks are six-time Stanley Cup champions, including three Cup wins since 2010. The legendary franchise has also been home to a host of Hall of Famers, from Stan Mikita to Bobby Hull and Denis Savard, plus current stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.The NHL's ranking included the top 25 uniforms of all time, with every Original Six franchise finding a spot on the list:Rank Team1Blackhawks7Detroit Red Wings9Montreal Canadiens12Toronto Maple Leafs15Boston Bruins23New York RangersBoth the Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs had two separate uniforms qualify for the Top 25 ranking, coming in at 21st and 18th, respectively.The NHL's newest addition, the Vegas Golden Knights, is ranked 13th.See the full list here.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Something needs to change.Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Boston Bruins marked the third straight game in which the New York Islanders have allowed at least four goals.Through 15 games in December, no team saw more goals against than the Islanders, who allowed at least three tallies in 12 contests. On seven nights, that number ballooned to five or more.It's obvious the Jaroslav Halak-Thomas Greiss tandem is no longer working. The two have combined for an .893 save percentage, only four points ahead of the last-place Arizona Coyotes.Tuesday's loss, coupled with a victory by the surging Carolina Hurricanes, bumped New York from a playoff position, an absurd reality considering the Islanders' dynamic offense trails only the NHL-best Tampa Bay Lightning.Time is running short for general manager Garth Snow to bring in a netminding reinforcement ahead of the Feb. 26 trade deadline. Here are five possibilities worthy of his consideration:Robin LehnerWith reports indicating the Buffalo Sabres are already taking calls on both of their goaltenders, the Islanders could make a quick deal for Robin Lehner.For the third consecutive year, the fiery netminder has impressed on a poor Sabres squad. He's posted a .916 save percentage over 30 games, putting him in the same conversation as Braden Holtby, Ben Bishop, and Martin Jones, among others.Lehner is set to become a restricted free agent at season's end. If things go south, there is no long-term commitment for New York. As it stands, Halak is set to become unrestricted this summer, while Greiss is signed through the next two campaigns.Jimmy Howard or Petr MrazekThe Detroit Red Wings could have a pair of goaltenders up for grabs, either of which could be an upgrade for the Islanders.Despite pundits seeing Petr Mrazek as the Red Wings' goaltender of the future, Jimmy Howard has taken the majority of time between the pipes, and deservedly so. He boasts a .913 save rate through 32 appearances this season; not bad on a Red Wings team that sits ahead of only three teams in the East.While Mrazek has struggled over the past two campaigns, the 25-year-old netminder still holds potential. He's just two years removed from a 27-win campaign. Only once in the last 10 seasons has an Islanders goalie registered that many victories (Halak, 2014-15).Michael HutchinsonMichael Hutchinson had a tough time with the Winnipeg Jets last season, but the 27-year-old has rebuilt his game and his confidence in the minors this year, proving he's ready for another shot at prime time.Through 18 games with the AHL's Manitoba Moose, Hutchinson has lost just twice while posting a league-leading .947 save percentage. Not only could Hutchinson serve as a potential upgrade for the Islanders, he also comes at an affordable price, as his cap hit stands at just $1.15 million.Antti RaantaIt'd be odd for Arizona to move on from Antti Raanta after acquiring him in a blockbuster deal last summer - the same trade that brought Derek Stepan to the desert - but all options must be considered for a squad that has occupied the league's basement all season.When healthy, Raanta has put up respectable numbers in Arizona, as he owns a .912 save percentage through 20 games despite the Coyotes allowing 32 shots a night.As an added bonus, Raanta could quickly fit into the Metropolitan Division, where he previously resided for two seasons with the New York Rangers, a stretch that saw him post a 27-14-4 showing. Like Hutchinson, Raanta also comes at a cheap ticket, as he's on an expiring contract that carries a $1-million cap hit.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wayne Gretzky's moved down a couple of lines in the record books.Two players leapfrogged a pair of The Great One's accomplishments Tuesday, beginning with Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown, who surpassed a mark from Gretzky's time in Tinseltown.Two tallies against the Edmonton Oilers gave Brown 15 goals on the season, and 247 in total for the franchise that drafted him in 2003. That puts Brown one ahead of Gretzky for seventh all time in Kings scoring.Rank Player Goals1Luc Robitaille5572Marcel Dionne5503Dave Taylor4314Bernie Nicholls3275Butch Goring2756Anze Kopitar2727Dustin Brown2478Wayne Gretzky246Meanwhile, Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin also snapped a record held by the former Oilers captain when he potted his 584th goal with a single franchise.That nudged Ovechkin one ahead of Gretzky's goal total in Edmonton.Rank Player Franchise Goals1Gordie HoweRed Wings7862Steve YzermanRed Wings6923Mario LemieuxPenguins6904Joe SakicNordiques/Avalanche6255Bobby HullBlackhawks6047Alex OvechkinCapitals5848Wayne GretzkyOilers583The good news for Gretzky fans? Most of his records should be on the books for a while if they don't prove completely unbeatable, like his 50 goals in 39 games, 92 tallies in a single season, and an astounding 2,857 career points.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maybe the "Vegas Flu" is real after all.A 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday gave the Vegas Golden Knights their 17th win on home ice, the most any team has managed in its own barn this season.The win also marked Vegas' eighth straight victory and the 13th consecutive game in which the Golden Knights have recorded at least one point.Here's a look at the five best records on home ice:TeamGPWinsPoint %Golden Knights2017.875Lightning2016.825Jets1814.806Capitals2116.762Wild1913.737The upcoming schedule could be a little more difficult for the Golden Knights, as the team plays six of its next eight games away from T-Mobile Arena.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Patrick Maroon will have a hearing Wednesday regarding his interference on Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty in Tuesday's game, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.Maroon received a match penalty in the second period after catching an unsuspecting Doughty with a hit to the head.The Kings scored three goals on the ensuing five-minute major en route to a 5-0 win. Doughty returned to the game in the third period.The Oilers are back in action Thursday when they host the Anaheim Ducks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eight might not be enough for the Vegas Golden Knights.The expansion club extended its win streak in impressive fashion, blanking the Nashville Predators 3-0 on Tuesday night.The Golden Knights earned their eighth straight victory and improved to 17-2-1 on home ice in their inaugural season.Vegas has also gone 13 games without a loss in regulation (12-0-1) and remains in first place in the Pacific Division.The win and point streaks could be in jeopardy Thursday and Friday, when the Golden Knights hit the road to face the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively.Vegas has won only 10 of 18 games away from T-Mobile Arena.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a familiar sight in yet another Montreal Canadiens defeat: The offense was virtually non-existent.Timo Meier scored twice and backup goaltender Aaron Dell made 30 saves to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 4-1 victory over the Canadiens on Tuesday night.Montreal nearly kept pace with the Sharks in the shots-on-goal department, losing that battle 33-31, but Andrew Shaw's second-period marker was all the Canadiens had to show for it.Shaw's goal was only the fourth by the Canadiens during their five-game losing skid.It won't get any easier for Montreal. Next up is a date with the high-flying Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Patrick Maroon was assessed a match penalty Tuesday night after a hit to the head of Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty.Doughty was taken to the dressing room following the play, which can be seen below.

With two of the most prolific offenses in the NHL pitted against each other Tuesday night, of course it was a goaltender who stole the show.Then again, Andrei Vasilevskiy is no ordinary goalie, particularly as of late, as his 29-save effort against the Toronto Maple Leafs marked his second consecutive shutout.The Tampa Bay Lightning netminder blanked the Columbus Blue Jackets in his previous outing, and now has a league-leading six shutouts this season.Vasilevskiy also notched his NHL-best 26th win while continuing to pace all starters in save percentage (.937) and goals-against average (1.95).Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The United States advanced to the semifinal of the World Junior Hockey Championship with a 4-2 win over Russia Tuesday.New York Islanders first-round pick Kieffer Bellows scored his second goal of the game in the third period, breaking the 2-2 tie. The tally was his tournament-leading sixth.Captain Joey Anderson sealed the game with an empty-netter.Maple Leafs prospect Joseph Woll was stellar between the pipes, stopping 27 of 29 shots he faced.The United States outshot Russia 43-29.USA will take on Sweden in the first semifinal on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The matchups and times are locked in for the semifinal round of the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship.The United States will battle Sweden in the first semi on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET, and Canada will face the Czech Republic in the second one at 8 p.m. ET.Both games will be played at Buffalo's KeyBank Center, and the home of the NHL's Sabres will also host the gold and bronze-medal games on Friday.In the quarterfinals, Canada advanced easily with an 8-2 victory over Switzerland, and the U.S. defeated Russia 4-2. Sweden slipped by Slovakia 3-2 to move on to the round of four, while the Czech Republic edged Finland 4-3.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Christian Wohlwend might as well have said, "I told you so."The head coach of Team Switzerland couldn't help but refer back to his brutally honest pregame assessment of their chances in the World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinal after Canada cruised to an 8-2 victory Tuesday night."See? See? It was just like the last exhibition," Wohlwend told reporters, including TSN's Mark Masters. "You guys saw it, everybody saw it, they're just better than us."The Swiss coach's initial comments raised some eyebrows, but he insisted postgame that his players weren't bothered by them."No way, no way," he said with a smile, according to Masters. "They like me. I like them too."As if Wohlwend's first dose of honesty wasn't enough, he took it one step further when asked to predict the result of the semifinal."I think Canada wins the whole tournament, this is what I think," he said.On Sunday, he offered an unexpected reality check when asked to evaluate his team's hopes against Canada in the quarterfinal."We are far away from them, still. They are faster, they are bigger, they are stronger, they can shoot better, they can pass better," he admitted at the time. "What do you want me to say? How many first-rounders do they have? And the rest in the second round. And the one in the fourth round who has played the most NHL games so far? We have one in the fourth round, too. One. And the rest are not drafted."The remarks prompted Canada's captain, Dillon Dube, to theorize that it might have been an attempt at reverse psychology, and Canadian forward Sam Steel wondered if Wohlwend was "playing mind games."Canada thumped Switzerland 8-1 in pre-tournament action, and with Tuesday's win, has now defeated Switzerland in all 22 games they've played in the history of the tourney.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a heartfelt pregame ceremony in honor of the late Johnny Bower prior to their Tuesday night matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.Bower passed away last week at the age of 93. The goaltender spent 12 seasons with the Leafs, winning four Stanley Cups.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.