Canada will head into the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship with a singular focus: Avenging last year's gold medal defeat.The team fell to their rivals to the south in a shootout after blowing two two-goal leads, including a 4-2 third-period advantage.This year - as always - Canada will enter as one of the favorites, but unlike years past, the roster isn't littered with top-10 picks, so the team will need to win by committee.With that, here are three players worth keeping an eye on because they could play pivotal roles:Kale ClagueBig things are expected of Clague largely because he's one of seven returning members from last year's team, but also because of his incredible jump in production.Through 28 games with the Brandon Wheat Kings, Clague has amassed career highs in goals (10) and points (47), good enough to lead all WHL defenders.Clague is expected to be on the team's top pairing alongside Nashville Predators first-round pick, and fellow returnee, Dante Fabbro - assuming he's healthy - and man the first power-play unit. Expect a lot of Team Canada's offense to go through Clague.Tyler SteenbergenSteenbergen is an example of a player who made it very difficult for Hockey Canada to ignore due to his incredible play this season.The Swift Current Broncos forward wasn't invited to the summer evaluation camp, but after averaging over two points per game, including 35 goals in 27 games, his production couldn't be overlooked. Dating back to last year, Steenbergen has scored an incredible 86 goals in his last 99 games."Everyone talks about his ability to score goals, but what I like most, more than anything is, we challenged him at the beginning of last year to be a 200-foot player and now he's one of our better defensive players, one of our key penalty killers and one of our go-to guys if we have a lead with one minute left and stuff like that," Broncos head coach Manny Viverios said, according to TSN's Mark Masters.The Arizona Coyotes 2017 fifth-round pick could enter the tournament as Canada's purest goal-scorer, and with the ability to play in all situations, expect to see a lot of Steenbergen.Boris KatchoukSimilar to Steenbergen, Katchouk will be looked upon to aid the team in the goal-scoring department.The Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick sits second in goals in the OHL with 27, along with 18 assists in 30 games.Katchouk should slot in on the second line alongside Robert Thomas and returnee Taylor Raddysh. He'll also feature on the power play, where he showed his effectiveness in a tune-up against Denmark, scoring a goal with the extra skater.At 6-foot-3, Katchouk stands with Brett Howden as Canada's biggest bodies up front and as such should be expected to be a net-front presence, play on the physical side, and provide offense.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adam Henrique returned to New Jersey in style.On Nov. 30, the Devils traded the center (along with a prospect and draft pick) to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Sami Vatanen.As fate would have it, Henrique made his return Monday, less than three weeks later. He proceeded to score a truly original "goal of the year" candidate at the expense of not just his former club, but the very defenseman for whom he was deemed expendable.Here's how it happened:The play began in the defensive zone as Henrique (No. 14) held possession of the puck and turned to skate up the ice. Vatanen (45) was the defenseman directly in his path.As he skated over the blue line, Henrique flipped the puck into the air while Vatanen was skating backward.The puck flew over Vatanen's head and landed near the offensive zone blue line. Henrique and the defenseman - who was forced to pull off a quick 180-degree turn - raced to track it down.Henrique was able to beat Vatanen on the outside and gathered the puck as he entered the faceoff circle.He positioned himself between Vatanen and goaltender Cory Schneider, although it wasn't yet clear whether he would move the puck to his forehand or stick to his backhand.After faking a move to his forehand, Henrique decided to stick with the back of his blade and roofed the puck past Schneider.The full play can be seen here.The Ducks lost to New Jersey in Henrique's return, but the center also added an assist Monday, bringing his totals as a Duck to four goals and four helpers in nine games.Whatever he might do over the rest of the season, this play will be hard to top - especially given the team, the occasion, and the opposing player involved.(Photos courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the second time in a week, the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, thereby sweeping their season series with the reigning Stanley Cup champions.The first win came Dec. 12 in Pittsburgh, where the Avalanche won 2-1 on the strength of a 39-save performance from Jonathan Bernier. On Monday, Semyon Varlamov was in net, and he stopped 30 of 32 shots in a 4-2 decision, with the Avalanche's goals coming from Tyson Barrie (two), J.T. Compher (the game-winner), and Mikko Rantanen.Colorado was by far the worst team in the NHL last season, finishing with a 22-56-4 record for a total of 48 points - the fewest earned by any team in the shootout era. The Penguins hoisted their second Cup in a row while the Avs were two months into their offseason.In 2017-18, however, these two clubs aren't so far apart in the standings. Monday's win improved Colorado's record to 16-15-2 (34 points), and the Penguins dropped to 17-15-3 (37 points).Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets lost 7-2 to the Boston Bruins on Monday, and captain Nick Foligno was not at all happy about his team's effort."Just a really, really disappointing game for a team that usually finds a way to answer," Foligno said following the defeat. "That's what I'm most disappointed about. You know, you chalk it up to a loss and get ready for the next one, but we're always a team that prides ourselves on - after a tough loss we come back and we answer right away. And tonight we didn't, and we did it the wrong way the whole game."Columbus was coming off a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. Monday marks the second time in less than a week that the Blue Jackets lost 7-2, with their previous such defeat coming at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 12.Foligno pointed to "the lack of emotion and the lack of care" as the source of his disappointment.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was fun while it lasted.The Los Angeles Kings walked into Wells Fargo Center on Monday and laid a beating on the Philadelphia Flyers, thumping them 4-1 to snap the Flyers six-game winning streak.The loss brought an end to Brian Elliott's personal six-game winning streak and marked the first time he's allowed more than three goals in a game since Nov. 27.With the win, the Kings snapped their own three-game losing streak and momentarily moved ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights for top spot in the Pacific Division.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson is sticking to the business of playing hockey,After shining in Saturday's NHL100 Classic, the Ottawa Senators captain was forced to address remarks made by team owner Eugene Melnyk the night before, wherein relocation was suggested should the arena remain unfilled on a regular basis."That's none of our business," Karlsson told reporters after practice on Monday, per TSN. "That's what he (Melnyk) worries about. We worry about playing hockey and that's all we can control."We show up here every day and do the best that we can and what we do ... There's nothing I can do about that. Whatever he chooses to say is on him and we just worry about showing up wherever we're told to every day."Having said that, Karlsson appears to be a fan of building a new rink closer to the city's core."I do think it would be better for a rink downtown, just for commuting and you know there's more people down there," he explained. "It would be a cool experience to have a rink in downtown Ottawa since we have a beautiful city."I think this is a great market, it's always treated me real well, whether things are going well or if things haven't been going well."The outdoor win over Montreal improved Ottawa's record to 11-13-7. The Senators sit six points behind Boston for third place in the Atlantic Division.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser's foot injury sustained Sunday against the Calgary Flames isn't a fracture, the team announced."It's more of a bone bruise and more day-to-day than week-to-week for his return," general manager Jim Benning said, according to Ben Kuzma of Postmedia. "It's a relief. We can't afford to lose a player like that."The injury occurred early in the second period when Boeser blocked a shot on the power play, after which the 20-year-old struggled to get to the bench.The timeline for his absence is unknown, but any significant time would be catastrophic for the Canucks, as Boeser paces the team with 17 goals and 30 points in 31 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz apologized to New York Rangers defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk for calling into question his former player's abilities.Prior to a game between the two clubs on Dec. 7, Trotz said the Capitals acquired Shattenkirk last season with a view to installing him as a top-pair defenseman down the stretch, but he didn't come as advertised and failed expectations.Trotz, however, later clarified his comments in a personal moment with Shattenkirk."He came up to me and apologized after the game," Shattenkirk said Monday, per Larry Brooks of the New York Post. "He explained what he had said and told me that it had been portrayed differently than he intended. I appreciated that."Washington won that game 4-2, and Shattenkirk added Trotz's comments were weighing on his mind when he took to the ice."That game I felt I had a point to prove and then the first shift it’s in the net,” said Shattenkirk, whose turnover led to a goal 14 seconds in. "I felt that I was playing catch-up the rest of the way. But after the game, talking to him and with the explanation he gave me, I put it out of my mind. It hasn’t stuck with me."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber has been shut down and sent back to Montreal in order to rest an ailing foot injury, according to TSN's John Bartlett.Weber has missed seven games this season due to the ailment.While the duration of his absence is unknown, head coach Claude Julien told reporters that the team is going to "shut him down for a bit," according to Sportsnet's Irfaan Gaffar.Weber has been dealing with the injury for most of the season, per TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Weber missed Montreal's game against the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 9, but then returned for the club's next four games. He then sat out six straight contests before rejoining the lineup for the Canadiens' most recent six games.The Habs are 4-2-1 without their top defenseman in the lineup so far this season, but this news is certainly a big blow to a team trying to scratch and claw their way into a playoff spot.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (first), Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Brian Elliott (second), and New York Islanders forward Josh Bailey (third) have been named the NHL's three stars of the week.Kane registered four goals - including two game-winners - and one assist to help the Blackhawks improve their winning streak to five games.Elliott, who was named the NHL's third star last week, stayed red-hot in the Flyers' crease, going 3-0-0 with a 1.31 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage.Bailey is showing no signs of slowing down in what has been a career year, collecting four goals and four assists this past week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the franchise's first-ever game, Dec. 19, 2017 will be known as "Toronto Maple Leafs Day," the city's mayor John Tory and team president Brendan Shanahan announced Monday.

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. – NHL goal-scoring is at its highest rate in over a decade - and for the majority of the season, it has felt like the New York Islanders have been solely responsible.New York enters the week ranked second in the league in goals scored per game (3.52), behind only the best team in hockey, the Tampa Bay Lightning. But all that offense has come at a price: the Isles also rank joint-second in goals allowed (3.42), behind only the lowly Arizona Coyotes.That combination of full nets at both ends of the ice, as one might expect, has led to an 18-12-3 record, good for fourth place in the rugged Metropolitan Division entering play Friday – four points from the top of the division, but two points from being out of the playoffs altogether.“We preach a lot of movement and we want to play offense,” said rookie center Mathew Barzal, fourth on the Islanders with 28 points. “I’m an offensive guy and I like that. We take advantage of the system – I haven’t really played in a system with so much offense. I think it’s our mentality."(Head coach) Dougie Weight was an offensive guy, he knows what it takes to score goals and how to score goals. We’ve got to tighten up defensively, but I think we’re doing a great job on the offensive side.”As one of 87 players in the NHL’s century-long history with 1,000 career points, Weight was indeed an offensive force during a playing career that included four All-Star appearances. The Islanders’ coach would like to see better defensive work from his team, and believes that even while playing a “harder” game, they could still score as much as they already do.“Yes, you can, absolutely - you can score more,” Weight said. “If you can defend better and quicker ... you can score and still be better in those areas and be simpler.”While Barzal took some heat for defensive lapses in Thursday night’s 6-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets - mistakes which he owned - the Islanders really need their bottom six to be more dependable defensively, a point Weight made indirectly by saying he could not start Barzal’s line and John Tavares’ line in both the offensive and defensive zones all the time.If Weight could do that, though, the Islanders would really be something else. Barzal, flanked by Jordan Eberle and Andrew Ladd, is in the thick of the Calder Trophy race, but it’s Tavares’ line with Josh Bailey and Anders Lee that is really ensuring New York is never out of any game. Bailey notched his first career hat trick on Thursday, helping the Islanders rally from a three-goal deficit to tie the Blue Jackets before they ultimately fell.This is Bailey’s 10th season in the NHL, all with the Islanders after they made him the No. 9 overall pick in the 2008 draft. With 40 points, he's already enjoying his third-highest single-season total, with his career high of 56 from last term very much within reach.The 28-year-old winger is, in fact, on pace for 99 points - meaning that, with Tavares also on track for the same number, the Islanders have a legitimate chance at having their first 100-point scorer in a quarter-century, since Pierre Turgeon’s 58-goal, 132-point bonanza in 1992-93.“I just try to go play,” Bailey said. “I’m fortunate enough, I get to play with two of the best goal-scorers in the game. For me, I think, those guys have a knack for putting the puck in the back of the net. My game’s always been more of a playmaking type of player."I just try to get the puck to those guys in good spots, and usually, they find a way to put it in. I think the three of us have been feeding off those guys, and a lot of the credit goes to them and their ability to finish.”Bailey has assisted on 10 of Lee’s 20 goals and eight of the 19 tallied by Tavares, plus three apiece by Barzal and defenseman Nick Leddy, as well as goals by seven other teammates. That’s 31 assists, tied with Blake Wheeler and Steven Stamkos for second in the league behind only Jakub Voracek.“You look back at his hockey card, he’s always been a very good assist man,” Weight said. “The discrepancy of numbers is different, but in junior when he was drafted, he was a playmaking centerman. He’s moved to wing, and I think you have two guys with him right now that have an amazing amount of camaraderie together and confidence."Any line of work, it doesn’t matter, if you’re confident and you’re skilled, and you’ve got people around you that you trust and you like being around, it’s gonna be good. It’s been a good recipe for us and we’re definitely relying a lot on him.”(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's NHL Power Rankings are published every other Monday. Our sixth installment is put together by editors Craig Hagerman, Cory Wilkins, and Sean O'Leary.1. Nashville Predators (21-7-4) ▲Previously 3rdThe Predators are looking like the same club that made a dazzling march to the Cup Final last season. The offense is thriving and Pekka Rinne is playing some of the best hockey of his career. What's not to like? - Hagerman2. Tampa Bay Lightning (24-6-2)Previously 2ndWith seven straight wins, the Lightning continue to roll along, taking out nearly everyone in their path. - Hagerman3. Washington Capitals (21-12-1) ▲Previously 10thReuniting Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin has helped the Capitals' offense explode over the last two weeks. Ovechkin is tied for the league lead in goals again and Washington's first in the Metropolitan Division. - Hagerman4. Los Angeles Kings (20-10-4)Previously 4thThe Kings have lost three straight, but prior to that, they'd strung together an eight-game winning streak, and Anze Kopitar's sizzling season hasn't cooled off. Things are still looking up for an L.A. club that missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons. - Hagerman5. Vegas Golden Knights (21-9-2) ▲Previously 15thThe hockey world is still waiting for a Golden Knights collapse that never comes. Making matters worse for everyone else, Marc-Andre Fleury is back after a two-month absence and looks to be picking up where he left off before his concussion. - Hagerman6. St. Louis Blues (22-11-2) ▲Previously 8thThe Blues are still tied for the Central Division lead even with recent injuries to Alex Pietrangelo, Jaden Schwartz, and Jay Bouwmeester, but the Predators have three games in hand. - Hagerman7. San Jose Sharks (17-10-4) ▲Previously 9thUndefeated in regulation in their last five games, the Sharks have begun to make up some ground on the Golden Knights and Kings in the Pacific. What's more promising, after scoring just once in the first 21 games, Brent Burns looks to be heating up with five goals in his last five contests. - Hagerman8. Winnipeg Jets (19-10-5) ▼Previously 1stThe Jets have dropped five of its last seven games to slide out of top spot in the Central. - Hagerman9. Toronto Maple Leafs (20-13-1) ▼Previously 5thThe Maple Leafs are suddenly struggling to score goals, with just 10 in their last seven contests. The fact they've been missing Auston Matthews over the past four is part of the equation, but it's not everything. Luckily, Frederik Andersen's keeping Toronto from entering a significant tailspin. - Hagerman10. Chicago Blackhawks (17-11-5) ▲Previously 19thFive straight wins - including a 5-1 drubbing of the Jets - have pushed the Blackhawks back into a playoff spot. Corey Crawford's return from injury is a big reason for this, as he's gone 5-0-0 with just seven goals against and a .954 save percentage. - Hagerman11. New York Rangers (18-12-3) ▲Previously 14thWinners of four of their past seven, the Rangers can thank Michael Grabner for scoring three goals over that stretch. The speedy winger has 16 tallies this season and continues to be one of the league's best bargains. - Wilkins12. New Jersey Devils (18-9-5) ▲Previously 16thDespite slowing down in recent weeks, the Devils have held down a playoff spot in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan because of their hot start. Taylor Hall's taken another step forward offensively. - Wilkins13. Columbus Blue Jackets (20-12-1) ▼Previously 7thCoach John Tortorella is understandably testy considering his team's lost three of its past six outings by a combined score of 13-4. - Wilkins14. New York Islanders (18-12-3) ▼Previously 6thWinning just three of their past eight, the Islanders have been playing like a sub-.500 club too. If only they could shore up their goaltending. - Wilkins15. Dallas Stars (18-14-2) ▼Previously 12thDespite a change behind the bench, the Stars are still struggling defensively, having allowed as many goals as they've scored. Dallas is barely holding onto a wild-card position in the West. - Wilkins16. Minnesota Wild (17-13-3) ▲Previously 20thThe depth of the Wild will be tested with starting netminder Devan Dubnyk sidelined week to week, leaving the team to rely on former AHLer Alex Stalock. - Wilkins17. Boston Bruins (15-10-5) ▼Previously 13thIt could come down to two teams for the final postseason berth in the Atlantic Division, and right now, the Bruins hold that ticket. - Wilkins18. Pittsburgh Penguins (17-14-3) ▼Previously 11thWith the season nearing its halfway point, the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions don't occupy a playoff spot. That's more than a little concerning for general manager Jim Rutherford. - Wilkins19. Anaheim Ducks (14-11-8) ▲Previously 23rdUndefeated in regulation in their past six contests, the Ducks have kept their heads above water despite seemingly constant attacks from the injury bug. - Wilkins20. Philadelphia Flyers (14-11-7) ▲Previously 30thAfter dropping 10 straight, the Flyers strung together six consecutive victories to climb back into the playoff picture and grant coach Dave Hakstol a little breathing room. - Wilkins21. Montreal Canadiens (14-15-4) ▼Previously 18thSome nights, the Habs look like they've begun to right the ship. Other nights, they get shut out by the Senators. Even with the ultimate X-factor in Carey Price at their disposal again, this team is incredibly difficult to gauge. - O'Leary22. Carolina Hurricanes (14-11-7) ▲Previously 27thThe Hurricanes are among the league's best at generating shots and scoring chances, but with newcomer Scott Darling producing a .903 save percentage, the same ol' problem is hindering Carolina's efforts to compete. - O'Leary23. Vancouver Canucks (15-15-4) ▼Previously 21stThe Canucks look much better under Travis Green, but this team still isn't talented enough to contend. - O'Leary24. Edmonton Oilers (14-17-2) ▼Previously 22ndWith Cam Talbot back in goal and five home games before the end of 2017, now would be a good time for the Oilers to start a run. - O'Leary25. Calgary Flames (17-14-3) ▼Previously 17thBeyond the top-line duo of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, the Flames are struggling to put the puck in the net. The current lack of production throughout the lineup won't cut it in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. - O'Leary26. Colorado Avalanche (15-15-2) ▼Previously 24thThe good news: Nathan MacKinnon has never looked better. The bad news: The Avs still allow just over 3.3 goals per game - the fifth-highest mark in the NHL. - O'Leary27. Florida Panthers (12-16-5) ▲Previously 28thNow that the Panthers are second-last in the Eastern Conference and own a minus-20 goal differential, it's almost as if letting go of Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith in the expansion draft was a bad idea. - O'Leary28. Detroit Red Wings (12-13-7) ▲Previously 29thWith only two wins over their last 10 games, it's time again for the Red Wings to decide which players can be shipped out of town for future assets. - O'Leary29. Ottawa Senators (11-13-7) ▼Previously 25thA nice win on a historic night in Ottawa took a back seat to owner Eugene Melnyk, who picked a dandy time to pour gasoline on an already raging fire with some dumbfounding comments about the state of his team. - O'Leary30. Buffalo Sabres (8-18-7) ▲Previously 31stOn a night when Jack Eichel dominated to the tune of his first career hat trick, the rest of Buffalo's roster activated full Sabres mode and spoiled the dazzling performance with an overtime loss. At this point, their greatest hope is some lottery luck come April, and we all know how that's gone in the past. - O'Leary31. Arizona Coyotes (7-23-5) ▼Previously 26thIt's nearly Christmas, and the Coyotes have 19 points. There's not much else to say. - O'Leary(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers were bitten by a couple of familiar faces Sunday.In Las Vegas for their first-ever contest against the Golden Knights, the Panthers lined up against old teammates Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault, both of whom were sent to Sin City in connection to the expansion draft.Parting with Marchessault was an odd move for Florida, considering he netted 30 goals last season at an affordable cap hit of $750,000. His availability in the draft made more sense when it was reported that the Panthers left their leading-goal scorer on the table on the condition that Vegas also acquired Smith.Florida was prepared to move on from Smith and his five-year, $25-million contract after he struggled to a 37-point finish last season. The Panthers received a fourth-round draft pick in return.A few months later, both Smith and Marchessault have been key contributors for the Golden Knights. One reason for their success has been their familiarity with bench boss Gerard Gallant, who also coached them as Panthers prior to his unceremonious firing last year.All three ex-Cats got the last laugh Sunday as the Golden Knights defeated the Panthers 5-2. Marchessault led the way with a goal and two assists, while Smith picked up two helpers of his own.The victory gave Gallant and the Golden Knights 44 points on the season, good for fourth-best in the league.As for the Panthers, Sunday's loss marked their third consecutive defeat. The team's collected 29 points in 33 games, ahead of only the lowly Buffalo Sabres and Arizona Coyotes.The Panthers will have the opportunity to revenge Sunday's score when the two sides meet again in Sunrise in January.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks must be thrilled to have Corey Crawford back between the pipes.Coming off a brief stint on the injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, Crawford's return has resuscitated a Blackhawks squad that reeled in his absence. With the two-time Cup winner back in the fold, the Blackhawks have won five straight, with the most recent victory coming in a 3-1 decision over their division rival, the Minnesota Wild, on Sunday night.The win continued a dominant stretch for Crawford, who has to be strongly considered in the Vezina conversation at this point.

Uh oh.Vancouver Canucks forward and Calder Trophy favorite Brock Boeser left Sunday's game versus the Calgary Flames with a foot injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest, the team announced.Boeser blocked a shot on the power play early in the second period, and was in clear distress while attempting to get back to the bench.

Joey Anderson is Captain America.The University of Minnesota-Duluth product will captain the American squad at the upcoming World Junior Championship, USA Hockey announced Sunday."Joey has been among the leaders of this group since this summer and we couldn't be happier than to have him leading this locker room," Team USA coach Bob Motzko said in a statement."We have a strong leadership group and will announce our alternate captains in time, but in putting our mission together, every mission needs a leader and we're excited to have Joey take that step forward."Anderson was a part of last year's squad that toppled Team Canada in a shootout to win the gold medal. The forward notched two points in seven games in the tournament.Anderson has tallied four goals and five assists through 13 games with Minnesota-Duluth this season.The Minnesota native was a third-round draft choice by the New Jersey Devils in 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson has been suspended two games for slashing and boarding Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov on Saturday, the Department of Player Safety announced.Here's the play:Namestnikov stayed in the game, while Johnson received a slashing minor, a five-minute major for boarding, and a game misconduct on the play. He'll be eligible to return Dec. 23 versus Arizona.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson will have a hearing Sunday for boarding Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.Johnson slashed and shoved Namestnikov into the end boards late in the second period Saturday, just after Namestnikov was turned away by Jonathan Bernier on an odd-man rush.Johnson received a slashing minor, a five-minute major for boarding, and a game misconduct on the play.Namestnikov was able to stay in the game, finishing with the third-most ice-time among Lightning forwards, logging 18:05.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Mahura's world juniors dream isn't dead yet.The Anaheim Ducks prospect has rejoined Canada and will continue to practice and play with the club while defenseman Dante Fabbro deals with a lower-body injury, Hockey Canada announced Sunday."We are thankful to Josh for agreeing to return to the team for the pre-tournament phase in our preparations," said Joël Bouchard of the Program of Excellence Management Group. "We also want to thank the Regina Pats, the Western Hockey League and the Canadian Hockey League for their support through this process."Fabbro missed the first two games of the team's development camp and left midway through the third period of Canada's exhibition game against Denmark Friday in a move head coach Dominique Ducharme called precautionary, according to TSN's Mark Masters.Mahura was among Canada's final cuts Friday, but for now he will stick with the team while Fabbro receives treatment with the hope he will be fit to play in the tournament.Canada will play two pre-tournament games this week on Wednesday and Friday against the Czech Republic and Switzerland respectively.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues will have captain Alex Pietrangelo back manning their blue line Sunday, as the defenseman has been activated off injured reserve, the team announced.Pietrangelo has not played since the team's crushing 6-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. During his absence, the club has gone 2-2-0 and enters Sunday's contest after winning the first leg of a home-and-home with the Jets by a 2-0 count Saturday night.The 27-year-old is tied for eighth in league scoring among defensemen with 23 points in 30 games.Meanwhile, with a single point in Sunday's game the Blues can leap the idle Nashville Predators and claim top spot in the Central Division.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Were there too many cooks in the kitchen prior to the Matt Duchene trade?One thing is for certain, ever since Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche pulled the trigger on a three-way deal that sent Duchene to the Ottawa Senators, Nathan MacKinnon has played the best hockey of his career.Heck, he's played the best hockey of anyone in the league since the trade was made on Nov. 5. MacKinnon has put up 26 points in 19 games following the deal - two more than Connor McDavid for the most during that time frame. Meanwhile, only St. Louis Blues forward Brayden Schenn has scored more than MacKinnon's 12 goals (13).The jump in production has been quite remarkable:Before Trade Stat After Trade12Games Played193Goals1210Points265Power-play Points81GWG318:04TOI/GP20:572.25Shots/GP3.7MacKinnon is averaging nearly three more minutes of ice time per game and is using his opportunity wisely, averaging nearly 1.5 more shots per game. He's scored nine more goals in the 19 games since the trade than he did in the 12 games prior.He's well on his way to setting new career highs, and after last year's disastrous finish, he's given the Avalanche something positive to talk about.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carter Hutton has a spot in the record books.The St. Louis Blues goaltender denied all 48 shots fired his way Saturday by the Winnipeg Jets, and in doing so notched a franchise record for the most saves in a shutout.The mark was previously held by Chris Mason, who made 47 saves to blank the Nashville Predators in November 2008.Saturday's performance improved Hutton's already impressive stat line this season. He now has a mind-boggling .949 save percentage and 1.63 goals-against average in nine appearances.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The actual game wasn't exactly one for the ages, but that didn't stop the NHL 100 Classic between the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens from producing some memorable images.Here are a few awesome pictures from Saturday's outdoor game:Tomas Plekanec pondering pregame.Craig Anderson stood tall to earn the 3-0 shutout.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman converse while taking in the action.A pregame ritual is a pregame ritual, regardless of the setting.Ice-mist shower courtesy of Max Pacioretty and Fredrik Claesson.The players came prepared in head-to-toe winter gear, shown off here by Erik Karlsson.Canadians: Always game for a little puck, regardless of the temperature.Carey Price made 35 saves in a losing cause for the Canadiens.A perk of watching hockey in minus-10 degree weather: Your beer stays frosty all game long.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Craig Anderson was unbeatable.The Ottawa Senators netminder turned aside all 28 shots that came his way in Saturday's NHL 100 Classic against the Montreal Canadiens.In doing so, Anderson became the fourth goaltender to record a shutout when the NHL has taken it outdoors, joining the likes of Miikka Kiprusoff, Jonas Hiller, and Cam Talbot.Goalie Game Opponent SavesKiprusoff2011 Heritage ClassicCanadiens39Hiller2014 Stadium SeriesKings36Talbot2016 Heritage ClassicJets31It was a big victory for Anderson, who entered Saturday's contest with a 3.05 goals-against average and .897 save percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Notching five goals in a single game is impressive enough, but Mario Lemieux's performance was extra special.Lemieux's five-goal game from New Year's Eve in December 1988 against the New Jersey Devils was voted by fans as the NHL's greatest moment. Super Mario, after all, scored each of his goals in a distinct situation.

Fans of the Ottawa Senators were united Saturday.While supporters have often disagreed as to whether the team should play in its current arena in suburban Kanata or in downtown Ottawa, they're currently on the same page about at least one topic: the future plans of Senators owner Eugene Melnyk.Melnyk denied speculation Friday that he wants to sell the franchise, but left open the possibility of relocating to another city if fans don't turn out in better numbers.Those statements didn't sit well with the Senators faithful, who successfully got the hashtag #MelnykOut trending on Twitter in Canada as the team played the NHL 100 Classic outdoors in Ottawa.

Not even NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has an explanation for the alarming lack of enthusiasm about the Senators in Ottawa.The Senators struggled to fill the Canadian Tire Centre during last year's playoff run and that trend has flowed into this season. Ottawa ranks 25th in average attendance, and last among Canadian-based teams, according to ESPN.Those figures have left owner Eugene Melnyk dumbfounded, a feeling Daly echoed on Saturday."You kind of scratch your head as to why attendance wasn't an issue when the team was competing for conference championships every year in the early 2000s," Daly told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun."From my perspective, it's a head-shaker that this team isn't doing better from an attendance standpoint and a fan's standpoint ... This is a very competitive team in a hockey market and it's not something we've experienced in Canada in probably 20 years."Earlier this season, the Senators covered over 1,500 seats in the Canadian Tire Centre to make it easier to reach capacity.There is widespread belief that a move from suburban Kanata to downtown Ottawa will boost turnout at the gate.Ottawa is continuing efforts to build a new arena in the city's downtown core. Negotiations are ongoing with the National Capital Commission for the right to build at LeBreton Flats, a neighborhood situated minutes from Parliament Hill.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Babcock is one of the most decorated coaches in the history of the NHL, but for the first time in his stint as the Maple Leafs' bench boss, he's over-coaching.Toronto's once unstoppable offense has come to a screeching halt in the month of December, with the last four games evidently the low point. During this four-game stretch - all of which have been without the injured Auston Matthews - the Leafs are 1-3 and have scored just four times.While it's reasonable to expect any team to struggle without their best player - especially when the player is one of the league's best - Matthews' absence isn't the main reason the offense has gone ice cold - Babcock is.Babcock, like many great coaches, is a former defenseman and has always wanted his teams to prioritize goal prevention first and foremost. But, with a youthful group filled with speed and skill up front and some holes in the back end, the Leafs haven't always played to his liking - even when they've had success.Over the last four games, Babcock has seemingly pulled out all the stops to get the Leafs to play as defensively as possible, and it's not working. That's not their identity.For example, the Leafs held a 2-1 lead over the Flyers heading into the third period Tuesday night. Instead of trying to keep the pressure and build on their lead, Babcock had the Leafs sit back, clog the neutral zone, and simply try to "hang on" for 20 minutes. It did not work, as they wound up losing 4-2 and were outplayed in the final frame.Sure, hindsight is 20/20, but the Leafs have more than enough speed and skill up front to apply pressure with the lead and hem an opponent in their own end for the bulk of a period.Over the last four games, the team's ability to generate scoring chances has drastically tailed off:SCF = Scoring Chances For

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Timothy Liljegren has been loaned to Sweden for the World Junior Championship, the Toronto Marlies announced Saturday.Liljegren was plucked by the Maple Leafs with the 17th overall pick in last June's draft and is enjoying a respectable first season in North America, tallying nine points in 17 games with the Leafs' AHL affiliate.The 18-year-old will make his world juniors debut, but is no stranger to representing his native Sweden, having suited up at the under-18, under-17, and under-16 tournaments over the last three years.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

OTTAWA -- Different elements will be in play when the Ottawa Senators entertain the Montreal Canadians on Saturday.Frigid temperatures and the possibility of snow should be among them.For the first time, Ottawa is playing host to an outdoor game, as NHL100 Classic sets up at TD Place, home of the Canadian Football League Ottawa Redblacks.In excess of 30,000 fans are expected to brave the coldest weekend of the winter thus far. After practicing on the outdoor rink Friday, players expressed their excitement."This is unbelievable," said Senators center Matt Duchene, who circled the date on his calendar after being traded from Colorado a month ago. "You're playing for a Canadian team against a Canadian team in the capital of Canada. This has been a whirlwind for me. This is something I knew was coming. I've really been looking for it."Not to be forgotten for the Senators, however, is the importance of the game. After a brutal road trip that saw them win just one of seven games and fall deep down the Eastern Conference standings, the Senators defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 in their first game back on Wednesday night.The win didn't get them any closer than seven points back of the last division playoff spot, with the Canadiens a team they have to pass on their way."I don't think the big thing for us is that we're having this type of game," Ottawa coach Guy Boucher said of playing outdoors. "We needed to come back home and we needed it big time. We've been on the road for a month. That was huge. Just to come back, I saw the energy change at home. We had terrific energy, great enthusiasm. It's the same feeling here."While Craig Anderson will be in goal for the Senators, Carey Price makes his 10th straight start between the pipes for Montreal.The Canadiens are coming off Thursday's 2-1 overtime victory over the New Jersey Devils that snapped a three-game losing streak.To get acclimatized, the Canadiens strayed from their normal routine by practicing in Ottawa on Friday."The most important thing for us is to get the two points," Habs center Tomas Plekanec told the Montreal Gazette. "These games are different, they're fun, but we have to remember we need points."Stressing the point was Canadiens coach Claude Julien, an Ottawa native."There's no doubt when you're playing outside you're looking at more things than you would in a normal game," Julien told the Gazette. "Weather has an effect on your game plan. The ice was great today and we hope it's the same tomorrow, but if the ice isn't as good and there are certain situations with the weather and the wind, we'll try to keep the game simple."You may have to tweak things along the way, but you don't need to overload your players with all these things. But, as a coach, you have to be ready."I don't hate these games. These games get a lot of people excited, even the players. There are guys who haven't played an outdoor game yet. A lot of people will tell you it's grown old, but it's an experience. But you have to manage it properly. Guys have to understand that's a big two points."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

December has turned the Toronto Maple Leafs' offense ice-cold.After netting 50 goals in 15 games through November - the NHL's highest mark - the Leafs have experienced a complete turnaround in the final month of 2017, and continued the trend Friday in a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.Through seven December games, Toronto ranks 31st with 10 goals for, and it's no coincidence the club has dropped three consecutive decisions with the offense floundering.Here's a look at some of the Leafs' offensive numbers this month:NovemberStatDecember10-3-1Record3-4-03.33Goals per game1.4229.7Shots per game278-for-38 (21%)Power play1-for-17 (0.05%)Of course, Toronto has played the last four games without superstar Auston Matthews, which surely contributes to the lack of offensive punch. Still, with three straight losses in tow, the Leafs will need to find their spark again before playing five of six on the road to close out 2017.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The end result wasn't desired, but the Buffalo Sabres sure got what they need out of franchise center Jack Eichel.With his team down two goals to the Carolina Hurricanes midway through the third period, the 21-year-old scored two goals in 10 seconds, earning his first career hat trick after having scored in the previous period.The third goal in particular was the kind of "put the puck on my stick and let me take over" play that this perennially struggling this team needs from its best player.

That's one way to celebrate a goal.New Jersey Devils forward Brian Boyle won a net-front battle with defenseman John Klingberg of the Dallas Stars on Friday, depositing a rebound for his seventh goal of the season.In the ensuing celebration, he exchanged words with Klingberg and almost exchanged blows with Greg Pateryn, earning a two-minute minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct.The goal was also the 100th of Boyle's career, and stood as the game winner.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Team Canada's 2018 world junior roster is set, as the outfit made its final cuts Friday for the upcoming tournament.Forwards Nick Suzuki and Tanner Kaspick were the forwards trimmed from the final roster, while defensemen Josh Mahura and Mario Ferraro, as well as goaltender Michael DiPietro also didn't make the cut.Suzuki, the 13th overall pick in the 2017 draft (Vegas), is by far the most surprising omission, as the 18-year-old center has 44 points in 26 games with Owen Sound (OHL) this season.He joins Cody Glass and Owen Tippett as fellow 2017 first-rounders to miss out on this year's tournament, set to begin Dec. 26 in Buffalo.With the final decisions made, the 22 players Canada has chosen are as follows:ForwardsPlayerTeam (League)Drake BathersonCape Breton (QMJHL)Maxime ComtoisVictoriaville (QMJHL)Dillon DubeKelowna (WHL)Alex FormentonLondon (OHL)Jonah GadjovichOwen Sound (OHL)Brett HowdenMoose Jaw (WHL)Boris KatchoukSault Ste. Marie (OHL)Jordan KyrouSarnia (OHL)Michael McLeodMississauga (OHL)Taylor RaddyshErie (OHL)Sam SteelRegina (WHL)Tyler SteenbergenSwift Current (WHL)Robert ThomasLondon (OHL)DefensePlayerTeam (League) Jake BeanCalgary (WHL)Kale ClagueBrandon (WHL)Dante FabbroBoston University (NCAA)Cal FooteKelowna (WHL)Cale MakarUMass (NCAA)Victor MeteCanadiens (NHL)Connor TimminsSault Ste. Marie (OHL)GoaltendersPlayerTeam (League) Carter HartEverett (WHL)Colton PointColgate (NCAA)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the Ottawa Senators prepare for what's expected to be a downright frigid outdoor game, there's no shortage of hot topics surrounding the club.In recent days, owner Eugene Melnyk has downplayed rumors that he's looking to sell the team, while the long-term status of all-world defenseman Erik Karlsson has also been brought into question.But here's a new one: While reiterating he won't sell, Melnyk mentioned the remote possibility of relocation in advance of an alumni game on Parliament Hill as part of the NHL100 Classic festivities."It just won’t happen," Melnyk said with respect to selling the team, per Luke Fox of Sportsnet. "It’s a franchise. Imagine if you own a McDonald’s franchise. But you can move it. Why would you sell it? It’s something that’s very difficult to buy. We’re doing OK here. Nothing great, but we’re doing OK."Melnyk added he's disappointed the team isn't selling out after advancing deep into the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but still, relocation remains a worst-case scenario.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Ryan Callahan is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury and will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, the team announced Friday.The injury occurred as a result of this crash involving Arizona's Oliver Ekman-Larsson the night before.The former New York Rangers captain had been skating on the team's fourth line with Chris Kunitz and Cedric Paquette, and had contributed one goal and five assists in 29 games.Callahan, who's in his fifth season with the club, was limited to 18 games last season with hip issues.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Canada is reportedly considering adding Victor Mete for more than just one international tournament, but it remains to be seen if he'll be eligible for the second one.The Montreal Canadiens defenseman is on Team Canada's radar for the 2018 Olympic Games in South Korea, but it's not clear if he'd be allowed to play, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.Mete was loaned to Canada's national junior program for its selection camp, which wraps up Friday.If the Canadiens bring him back to the NHL after the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championship, he'll be ineligible for the Olympics, but he might not be permitted to play in Pyeongchang even if he were sent back to the OHL's London Knights after the junior tournament.Montreal hasn't decided which course of action to take, reports LeBrun, adding it will be up to the CHL to decide whether Mete can play in the Olympics, and that league is slated to discuss junior players' Olympic eligibility with Hockey Canada once the WJHC concludes.Mete hasn't been stellar in his first NHL season, collecting only four points in 27 games with the Canadiens while averaging less than 15 minutes of ice time. He played the previous three campaigns with the Knights, and was selected by Montreal in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers will have their No. 1 netminder back when they take on the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, as Cam Talbot was activated off injured reserve on Friday.Related: Talbot's return could spark win streak Oilers desperately needTalbot's upper-body injury had kept him sidelined for the past seven games - a stretch that saw the Oilers go 3-4-0 with Laurent Brossoit manning the crease.The 30-year-old's return comes at a key time for the Oilers, as the club currently sits with the second-worst record in the Western Conference. The team will play five of its next six games at home, and with five of those coming against Western Conference foes, Edmonton will have a chance to claw its way up the standings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jay Bouwmeester's return to the St. Louis Blues' lineup was short-lived, as the club placed the veteran back on injured reserve with an undisclosed issue on Friday.The news comes after Bouwmeester sat out against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday and again on Thursday versus the Anaheim Ducks after taking the ice for the pregame warmup.As Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic noted, the IR designation is retroactive to Tuesday, meaning Bouwmeester will miss at least two games and will be first eligible to return next Wednesday when the Blues take on the Calgary Flames.Bouwmeester has made only 10 appearances this season after missing the first 21 games with an ankle injury. He's tallied just one goal and one assist in that time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens won't be the Ottawa Senators' only enemy when the teams head outdoors for the NHL100 Classic.Players and coaches will have to endure frigid conditions Saturday night at TD Place Stadium, with weather forecasts calling for temperatures around 3 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 16 Celsius), the NHL announced. With that in mind, Sens players are already working on ways to combat the cold."I can't even pronounce the thing that goes over your head. It's sounds like a dessert - a balaclava or whatever," Bobby Ryan said to TSN's Ian Mendes.

LAS VEGAS (AP) Jon Merrill's first goal of the season snapped a third-period tie, Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 24 shots against his former team and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on Thursday night.It was the first meeting between the defending Stanley Cup champions and Vegas, which acquired Fleury from Pittsburgh during the NHL expansion draft on June 21.Fleury was taken by Pittsburgh with the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft.James Neal scored his 15th goal of the season for Vegas, while Ian Cole scored Pittsburgh's goal.The matchup between the Penguins and Fleury was arguably the most anticipated game against a former Penguin since Jaromir Jagr played against Pittsburgh on Dec. 11, 2001, for the first time after his trade to Washington.After missing six straight games due to a lower-body injury, the Penguins activated goalie Matt Murray off injured reserve in time to face his mentor, Fleury.Murray, who stopped 24 shots, had his personal regulation losing streak extend to four games, the longest of his career.The Golden Knights became the fastest first-year team to 20 wins in NHL history.Vegas wasted no time in giving Fleury an early lead, when Neal's rebound off Colin Miller's wrist shot found its way past Murray.The Penguins tied it when Carl Hagelin found Cole, who beat Fleury top shelf from just behind the goal line for his second goal of the season.Merrill's one-timer put the Knights ahead with 11 minutes left in the game, slapping Erik Haula's pass beneath Murray's pad.NOTESVegas D Deryk Engelland's next game will be the 500th of his career. ... Engelland, Fleury, James Neal and David Perron have all played for the Penguins during their careers. ... Sidney Crosby is five goals away from notching the 400th in his career. ... Crosby has at least one point in 10 of his last 14 games, with eight goals and 11 assists.UP NEXTPittsburgh: Visits Arizona on Saturday.Vegas: Hosts Florida on Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just when it looked as though the Edmonton Oilers were rounding into form, Juuse Saros and the red-hot Nashville Predators rolled into town.The Oilers were all over the Predators from the jump, but it was Saros who held down the fort and secured the shutout win in the face of a 46-shot barrage from Edmonton.

Vintage Marc-Andre Fleury.In his first game against the team he played all his games for prior to this season, the Vegas Golden Knights goaltender absolutely robbed Brian Dumoulin by sliding over to get his body in front of the puck.

Minnesota Wild netminder Alex Stalock hit rock bottom in 2016 when he was buried in the AHL by the Toronto Maple Leafs after being acquired from the San Jose Sharks for goaltender James Reimer.On Thursday, Stalock proved that revenge is a dish best served on ice, as the 30-year-old veteran backup shut out his former club, blanking the Leafs 2-0 with a 23-save performance.With Devin Dubnyk out for the next few weeks with a lower-body injury, Stalock should get ample opportunity to prove his haters wrong.Stalock improves to 5-3-1 on the season with the victory.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers' season has had some serious ups and downs.Thursday's win over the Buffalo Sabres marked the club's fifth in a row, which comes on the heels of a 10-game losing streak that lasted from Nov. 11 to Dec. 2.This kind of turnaround doesn't happen often:

Tales of the Washington Capitals' demise appear to have been premature.Following a win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday, the Capitals have won 10 of their last 12 games, improving their record to 20-12-1. Those 41 points have them level with the Columbus Blue Jackets - who also won Thursday - for first in the Metropolitan Division.The two-time defending Presidents' Trophy winners were expected to take a step or two back this season after some significant roster losses over the summer, and while they're not right at the top of the standings, the Capitals are climbing the ranks due to a recent run of success.Leading the charge is Alex Ovechkin, who scored again in the win against Boston to put himself on pace for 55 goals, which would be his highest total since 2008-09.Winger T.J. Oshie has been out since Dec. 4 with an upper-body injury and could return as early as this weekend, giving Washington something else to be optimistic about going forward.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Boxing Day right around the corner, Team Canada's roster is beginning to take shape, as the first round of cuts were announced Thursday, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The most notable name from the first group of players who won't be making the trip to Buffalo is Vegas Golden Knights 2017 first-round draft pick Cody Glass. The 18-year-old Winnipeg native has 20 goals and 28 assists for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League this season and was expected to make some noise at camp.Joining Glass on the plane ride home is Winnipeg Jets first-round pick Logan Stanley, Detroit Red Wings draftee Dennis Cholowski, Vancouver Canucks pick Kole Lind, Florida Panthers prospect Johnathan Ang, and goaltender Samuel Harvey of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior League.Twenty-seven players remain at selection camp in St. Catherines, Ontario, as the roster closes in on the 23-man group who will be representing the red and white at the end of the month.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Beleskey is Providence-bound.The Boston Bruins placed the winger on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to the team's minor-league affiliate in Rhode Island, general manager Don Sweeney announced Thursday."Matt was placed on waivers with the hope he will have the opportunity to go to Providence, play in all situations, get his confidence and game back to the level he brought in his first year with the Bruins," Sweeney said."Matt has been nothing but an exemplary teammate and pro during the time he has not been in the lineup, but we felt playing would be more beneficial to Matt than practicing, especially with the limited practice time available with regards to our schedule."Beleskey is in the third season of a five-year, $19-million contract signed with the Bruins in 2015. He recorded 15 goals and 22 assists in his first season with the club, but has managed just three goals and five assists in his past 63 games, with zero points in 14 outings this season.Injury issues have hindered him over that time, but Beleskey often has been scratched from the lineup this season despite returning to full health.It's possible he could be claimed off waivers, or traded if not, but his contract makes that unlikely.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.