The latest Auston Matthews vs. Connor McDavid showcase may have to wait.The Toronto Maple Leafs center will be a game-time decision Sunday against the Oilers, coach Mike Babcock confirmed to TSN's Mark Masters."We got a few guys bumped and bruised so after warmup we'll know more," Babcock said. "(Matthews is) one of those guys that's bumped and bruised. We have a couple guys. You know, it's the season, you're playing hockey. You see who's available at game time."Matthews was shaken up in Saturday's win over the Pittsburgh Penguins after colliding with teammate Morgan Rielly:

A harmonious start to the season in St. Louis hit a very sour note with the announcement that Blues forward Jaden Schwartz will be out at least six weeks with an ankle injury.Schwartz had been excelling on a line with Brayden Schenn and Vladimir Tarasenko, arguably the NHL's top trio so far this season. Through 30 games, he recorded 14 goals and 21 assists, one point behind Schenn for the team lead and good for ninth in the NHL, tied with Edmonton's Connor McDavid.Those numbers had him on pace for 38 goals, 57 assists, and 96 points, all of which would demolish previous career highs. Now he'll watch as a Blues team that sits first in the Central Division toils on without him well into 2018.Here are three teammates who will need to step up in his absence.Ivan BarbashevImmediately recalled from the AHL's Chicago Wolves in light of Schwartz's injury, Barbashev is out to prove he belongs with the big club.A second-round pick in 2014 (33rd overall), the 21-year-old center/winger has appeared in 129 AHL contests, averaging 0.57 points per game after scoring 33 goals and adding 44 helpers. His production has dropped off at the NHL level, though, as he's been good for only five goals and seven assists in 36 appearances, albeit in limited ice time.Barbashev was a dominant force in his junior days, and St. Louis could greatly benefit from a big step forward taken at this point in his pro career.Paul StastnySt. Louis' second-highest-paid forward will likely get a run on the top line with the highest, allowing Stastny to earn that $7-million salary alongside an elite player in Tarasenko.Stastny can become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, giving him extra incentive to make use of a plum line assignment.He's recorded a decent 21 points through 30 games, but he's only on pace for 16 goals after scoring 18 in 66 games last season. Stastny's shooting percentage sits at 9.7, down from his 12.6 career average.There's no better time for an uptick in that department, both for the team and the pending UFA.Magnus PaajarviDrafted 10th overall by Edmonton in 2009, Paajarvi hasn't been able to put it together in the NHL, putting up 45 goals and 96 points in 334 contests.He's managed to stick around due to some decent AHL numbers (33 goals, 99 points in 141 games), but could find himself struggling to find work in North America if he can't take advantage of the gaping hole left in Schwartz's absence.Like Stastny, Paajarvi can hit the open market in 2018 with UFA status upon the expiry of his one-year deal that carries a cap hit of $800,000.If he wants to remain with the Blues, or sign with any NHL team for that matter, he'll need to drastically improve on the two goals and three points posted in 26 games. If not, European hockey is likely in his future.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues will need to make do without Jaden Schwartz, as the club placed the winger on injured reserve Sunday with a right ankle injury.Schwartz will be re-evaluated in six weeks after sustaining the ailment by blocking a shot in Saturday's win over the Detroit Red Wings.It's a key loss for St. Louis, as Schwartz sits second in team scoring with 35 points.In the interim, the Blues have recalled forward Ivan Barbashev from the AHL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand will not have a hearing for a hit on John Tavares of the New York Islanders, the NHL confirmed to Arthur Staple of Newsday.

Given the fact the Toronto Maple Leafs improved to 11-3-1 over their last 15 games with Saturday's win in Pittsburgh, any complaints about the current outfit could very well be considered nitpicking.Despite the recent surge, one of the more confusing aspects throughout the club's recent run has been the deployment of winger William Nylander.The 21-year-old has been used in a fourth line role of late, which isn't uncommon under head coach Mike Babcock, who frequently shifts his lines to provide a spark - either for increased effort out of the individual involved or the makeup of the team as a whole.Yet, Nylander can't seem to find his way back to his old spot, and versus the Penguins on Saturday, he logged a career-low 8:39, including just one shift in the third period.So, what gives?It's hard to chalk it up to a lack of production, as Nylander has 20 points in 30 games this season - even with a 6.8% shooting percentage, which suggests he's had poor puck luck so far. Even though he hasn't recorded a point in his last three games, Nylander's never had a drought of four contests in his NHL career, so it can't be labeled as inconsistency either.(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)Lately, Nylander's linemates have been Matt Martin and Dominic Moore, who are two players nowhere near his skill level. Of course, Nylander flanking that duo means he's separated from Auston Matthews, eliminating a wildly dynamic one-two punch from both a season ago and in limited instances this year.There's a case to be made about the impact Nylander's deployment is having on Matthews, as well. Toronto's best player has just one goal in his last nine games and was held without a shot on goal for the second time in five tries on Saturday - the only two such instances of his career.Putting Matthews with Connor Brown rather than Nylander provides opponents a better opportunity to zone in on No. 34, eliminating his time and space without having to worry about another high-end offensive threat.In the grand scheme of things, the Leafs' current line combinations probably don't have much of an effect on what the team is trying to accomplish this season, but for the time being, keeping one of the team's greatest talents with inferior linemates - or stapled to the bench - doesn't seem to make much sense.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After picking up just one win in their first eight games, the New York Rangers have turned their season around, compiling a record of 13-4-0 in their last 17 contests, putting them on the cusp of a playoff spot.The turnaround can largely be credited to their offense, as they've averaged 3.76 goals per game during that 17-game stretch. This comes in spite of the fact that their most decorated offensive player, Rick Nash, is having the worst offensive season of his career with just seven goals and eight assists in 29 games.This would lead many to assume that the 33-year-old is washed up and that a game now built more around speed than power has simply passed him by. The underlying numbers would suggest differently, however.Excluding Saturday's game, Nash is smashing his previous career high in individual high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (iHDCF/60) at five-on-five. His 6.34 iHDCF/60 this season is 1.31 better than his previous best since Natural Stat Trick began recording the statistic in 2007-08.From a league-wide perspective, Nash's iHDCF/60 is the fifth-best in the NHL among players who have played at least 20 games.RankPlayeriHDCF/60 (5v5)1.Patric Hornqvist (PIT)6.882.Zach Hyman (TOR)6.733.Cam Atkinson (CBJ)6.564.Joonas Donskoi (SJ)6.385.Rick Nash (NYR)6.34If the speed of the game has truly become too much for the 6-foot-4 Nash to handle, how would he be generating the most high-danger scoring chances of his career?Throughout Nash's whole career, he's been a pure goal-scorer. He's made a living off his ability to finish around the net. It seems hard to believe that his shot or offensive instincts have undergone some sort of decline, so there's only one logical reason as to why he's not capitalizing on his chances: poor puck luck.Nash has simply been snakebitten. His 7.7 shooting percentage would be the worst single-season mark of his career, and 4.4 percent worse than his career average.If Nash can start getting some long overdue bounces to fall his way, it would make the Rangers' offense that much more prolific and would go a long way in propelling them to an eighth straight playoff appearance.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Good things come to those who wait.Oilers star Leon Draisaitl picked up his first power-play point of the season - an assist - against the Canadiens Saturday night.Draisaitl had 27 points with the man advantage last season - an average of one every 3.037 games. This season, it took him until his 25th game to notch his first.Despite the struggles with the man advantage, Edmonton's $68-million man sat tied for 22nd in the league in even-strength points with 19 heading into Saturday's game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Right now, Carey Price can't stop a beach ball.The Montreal Canadiens netminder was pulled Saturday night in the second period against the Edmonton Oilers after allowing four goals on 14 shots in just over 20 minutes of ice time.

Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson will be a healthy scratch Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes, head coach John Tortorella told reporters, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.Atkinson had a breakout year in 2016-17, tallying a career-high 35 goals and 62 points. This season has been a different story, as he's mustered just six goals and nine points in 25 games.Tortorella insists the decision is in his best interest."For me, it's not a tough call," Tortorella said, according to Brian Hedger of BlueJackets.com. "Cam's a very important guy. If we're going to have any sniff at all of having a chance to play and keep playing, he has to be a huge part of it."I know people get all jittery about it. I look at this as part of the process to getting him back. Do you want to go down this road? No. As I've said many times. It's easy to sit a guy out, but you've got to go through the other processes to try to help him. I think I'm helping him. You may think I'm crazy, but I do feel I'm helping Cam, and I'm going to continue to try and help him. I'll put it to you that way."The benching comes less than a month after the 28-year-old signed a seven-year contract extension with a $5.875-million annual cap hit.Sonny Milano is expected to take Atkinson's spot in the lineup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Drouin will return to the Montreal Canadiens' lineup Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers after missing three games with a lower-body injury and an additional game with an illness, the team announced.The illness apparently wasn't pretty:

Take a deep sigh of relief, Blues fans.Jaden Schwartz left Saturday's game against the Red Wings with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot in the first period and didn't return. Fortunately, X-rays came back negative, though he'll be re-evaluated once the Blues return to St. Louis, the team announced.Schwartz is in the midst of a breakout season, with 14 goals and 35 points in 30 games - both of which rank second on the team.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada's world junior team is unlikely to get a helping hand from the Colorado Avalanche.Both Tyson Jost - who suited up for Canada last year - and Samuel Girard are eligible to play in this year's tournament, and while neither have discussed being loaned to the team with general manager Joe Sakic, head coach Jared Bednar insists he would oppose the decision."It's not up to me, but if it were I'd say no. They're part of our team and we need them," Bednar said, according to Mike Chambers of the Denver Post.The other big factor is that neither player has discussed playing for Canada - who named their selection camp roster Wednesday - and while it would be an honor, Jost admits he's focused on playing with the Avalanche."I’m just getting in my groove after being hurt so long," Jost said. "I want to be here. Hockey Canada, whenever you can represent your country, it's such an honor. I had my chance last year. Right now, honestly, I'm just focusing on playing on the Avs, focusing on earning the coach's trust and put up numbers. Obviously, I haven't been doing that and I'm trying not to get frustrated because I'm getting my chances and getting that opportunity. It will come. That's what I'm focused on right now and just getting in this rhythm."Last year, Jost scored one goal and four points en route to a silver medal. This year, he's put up a goal and an assist in 11 games with the Avalanche, while Girard has five points in 18 combined games with the Avalanche and Nashville Predators.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the second time this season, the Vegas Golden Knights apologized for a tweet that was in poor taste.On Friday night versus the Nashville Predators, the Golden Knights' Twitter account tweeted that when the Predators scored, media members covering the team began clapping.The tweet was soon deleted, but not before Jim Diamond of the Professional Hockey Writers Association took exception, demanding an apology and retraction of the tweet on behalf of the Nashville media.He sent this note to the Golden Knights's media relations department:

From the poorhouse to the penthouse.When the Montreal Canadiens face off against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, they'll do with some new line combinations at the ready.Among the changes made by coach Claude Julien, forward Alex Galchenyuk will climb to the team's top line alongside Andrew Shaw and Jonathan Drouin.It should mean a busier night for Galchenyuk, who was limited to a season-low 9:18 of ice time in Thursday's overtime loss to the Calgary Flames.It marked the second-straight night in which Galchenyuk was held off the scoresheet. Saturday's boost up the lineup is surely a move to get more offense from Galchenyuk, who just three games ago picked up four assists in the Canadiens' 10-1 romp over the Detroit Red Wings."We know he's a good player. We know he's got skill ... You never give up on your players," Julien told reporters Friday, courtesy of TSN. "We know that Alex is a young player still. You look at his age and because he played as an underager, if you want to put it that way, we think we expect more, but I think there is still some untapped potential there."Galchenyuk's status with the Canadiens has seemingly been up in the air since the offseason, when a report indicated he was on the Canadiens' trade block following the acquisition of Drouin.Adding more fuel to the fire, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin stated earlier this season that Galchenyuk, a natural center, will spend his time on the wing until he can grasp the responsibilities of playing up the middle of the ice.The Canadiens drafted Galchenyuk with the third overall pick in 2012.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Markov never envisioned playing for any team besides the Montreal Canadiens.The franchise's second-most productive defenseman of all time failed to come to terms with the team on a new contract this summer after becoming a free agent, ultimately deciding to take his talents back to his native Russia.In an interview with Jonathan Bernier of Le Journal de Montreal, Markov explained that his contract talks with the Canadiens allowed almost no negotiation, and left the former great feeling disrespected by the team."As an athlete and as a person who spent 16 years of their life in Montreal, I'd have liked it if they had respected me," Markov said, according to a translation from Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "That's all I was asking for from the team."Markov was seeking a two-year deal in free agency, but he claims the Canadiens wouldn't give him more than one year."I'm going to be honest with you," he said. "There was practically no negotiations with Montreal. I got two or three offers from them and they said, 'Either you sign or you don't sign.'"No one listened to me and no one wanted to listen to me. That's what happened. So I had the choice to sign on their terms or to leave and find a new team."Markov agreed to a two-year deal with Ak-Bars Kazan of the KHL. So far, he's put up four goals and 19 points in 39 games with his new club, and while he plans to play out his contract, he hasn't shut the door on a possible return to the Canadiens to hit the 1,000-game plateau (he sits at 990 games played)."It's a step I'd like to accomplish, but I didn't get to do it in Montreal," he said. "Maybe that will happen at some point, but not at the moment."No matter what, I still don't regret my decision to come back to Russia. We made the choice that was in the best interest of my family, and right now that's the most important thing in my life."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In what was arguably the most controversial shootout decision since Marc Crawford left Wayne Gretzky on the bench during the 1998 Olympic semi-final between Canada and the Czech Republic, Predators head coach Peter Laviolette prevented viewers from an epic brother-versus-brother moment.When the horn sounded in overtime in Friday's matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and Nashville Predators, many fans in the building likely had one thing on their mind - a chance for Preds defenseman P.K. Subban to face his brother, Knights goalie Malcolm Subban, one-on-one in the shootout.Instead, Laviolette didn't choose the elder Subban to take a shot, even though he had multiple opportunities.In the six-round contest - in which the Predators failed to beat Malcolm - here are the shooters Laviolette selected, along with their career shootout numbers heading in:OrderPlayerCareer SO1Kyle Turris23-622Kevin Fiala2-43Filip Forsberg7-234Craig Smith10-365Viktor Arvidsson0-26Nick Bonino9-24While it's hard to argue with the selections of Turris and Forsberg, Laviolette clearly passed up a golden opportunity once the the shootout went beyond the originally scheduled three shooters.P.K. may be 0-for-4 in his career, but all fun aside, who knows how to beat Malcolm better than his very own brother? And while that argument could be made both ways, Laviolette had nothing to lose after nobody he chose could beat the Knights netminder, who also stopped a career-high 41 shots in the contest.The Predators and Knights play twice more this season, so Laviolette could be handed another chance to pit the brothers against each other.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a fourth consecutive win - a 4-2 decision over the New York Rangers on Friday - Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen broke things down rather simply."Hockey's a lot more fun when you're playing well, playing hard for each other like we are right now," he said, per Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.Niskanen buried the game-winner Friday night - his first tally of the season - helping the Caps to their eighth win in their last 10 games, and an NHL best 12th win on home ice.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Bread Man was feeding everyone on Friday night.Blue Jackets forward Artemi Panarin collected five assists in Columbus' 5-3 victory over the Devils - all of which were primary helpers.In fact, he became the first player since Hall of Famer Brian Leetch in 1995 to record five primary assists in a single game, according to TSN StatsCentre, joining some elite company in the process:

Largely taking a back seat to the buzz surrounding the NHL's recent news out of Seattle, commissioner Gary Bettman revealed the league's plan to move toward groundbreaking player-tracking technology at this week's Board of Governors meetings.Bettman said the league is working with - and investing heavily in - companies to invent brand new camera-based technology to track players on the ice, with the potential to be implemented by the 2019-20 season."It is a work in progress but we're very confident we're going to get this to work," Bettman said, per Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "And the amount of data it will provide in addition to creating opportunities for broadcasters to use it in real time is pretty exciting."The NHL has previously used player- and puck-tracking technology at past All-Star games and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If everything continues to go according to plan, Seattle will be the next city to house an NHL franchise.The heavy lifting is being sorted out with KeyArena in the process of getting a major facelift, and a formal bid likely to be pitched, but one thing has yet to be considered - the team's roster.It's hard to gauge exactly how the expansion draft will work and what players will be made available. However, what can be determined is which players will become free agents during the summer ahead of the 2020-21 season - the year Seattle is projected to join the NHL.With that, here are five players who will hit the open market and could garner Seattle's attention:Corey CrawfordAge entering 2020-21 season: 35Crawford has been a staple on the Chicago Blackhawks for nearly a decade. He has backstopped the club to two Stanley Cup wins and has earned the William M. Jennings Trophy twice (given to the goalie or goalies of the team who allow the fewest goals against in a season).In the 2020 offseason, Crawford will be coming off a six-year, $36-million contract. It's unlikely he will be able to ink a deal anywhere near that term or dollar amount at his age, especially with the Blackhawks.As for Seattle, Crawford could be a solid option and provide leadership to a group that one would project to be young, much like the way Marc-Andre Fleury has done with the Vegas Golden Knights.Nicklas BackstromAge entering 2020-21 season: 32If Crawford is to Seattle what Fleury is to Vegas, then maybe Backstrom can play James Neal in this situation.The Washington Capitals center is among the elite setup men in the league and will head into the 2020 offseason as a free agent barring a contract extension.He's an offensive catalyst, the perfect linemate for young, talented wingers, and could even serve as team captain. Of course, he will have to be pried away from Alex Ovechkin.Brayden SchennAge entering 2020-21 season: 29Schenn finally looks to be molding into the player many expected he could become when he was drafted fifth overall in 2009 by the Los Angeles Kings.He's tearing it up with the St. Louis Blues and is on his way to a top-10 finish in league scoring. Unlike Backstrom, Schenn will be younger when he enters the 2020-21 season - 29 - and will likely be just exiting his prime.The Blues could have their hands full financially as captain Alex Pietrangelo will be up for a new contract the year prior, and Schenn could be in line for a raise from his $5.125-million cap hit if his current play persists. St. Louis might have to let him go, which is good news for Seattle.Tyson BarrieAge entering 2020-21 season: 29Barrie may very well top the list of available high-end defensemen.Despite enduring some rather painful years with the Colorado Avalanche, the 26-year-old has remained one of the most consistent producers in the league from the back end with 160 points in 258 games over the last three-plus seasons.Given that he grew up just a stone's throw away from Seattle, in Victoria, British Columbia, the opportunity to be closer to home could also be attractive.Braden HoltbyAge entering 2020-21 season: 31If Seattle could ever find a way to nab Holtby, it would be the steal of a lifetime.The Capitals netminder has been arguably the best goalie in the league over the last handful of seasons, but as fate would have it, he will become an unrestricted free-agent following the 2019-20 campaign.The Capitals could ink him to a long-term extension before he gets to free agency, but given that Holtby is sure to command top dollar, and with budding goaltending prospect Ilya Samsonov in the fold, the team could decide to save money on Holtby and use it elsewhere.It would cost Seattle a pretty penny, but as the Golden Knights have proven in the two-plus months of their inaugural season, goaltending is key to success.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle is making its case to become the NHL's 32nd team.Formally invited to apply for an expansion franchise, Seattle is expected to submit a bid backed by billionaire David Bonderman and film producer Jerry Bruckheimer.Seattle would mark the NHL's first entry into the Pacific Northwest and bring geographic parity to a league that currently includes 16 teams in the Eastern Conference and one less in the West.Seattle would also be a natural fit in the Pacific Division. But, as it already has eight clubs, one would need to be bumped to the Central, thus giving the NHL four divisions of eight teams each.A better option could be to realign into eight divisions of four teams. Here's our proposal:NorthwestSouthwestMountainCentralCalgaryAnaheimArizonaChicagoEdmontonLos AngelesColoradoMinnesotaSeattleSan JoseDallasNashvilleVancouverVegasWinnipegSt. Louis

For the first time since childhood, P.K. Subban and Malcolm Subban will square off Friday when the Vegas Golden Knights visit the Nashville Predators.With P.K. being five years older than Malcolm, the two were previously never able to play with or against each other in competition, making Friday's game that much more special."No we weren't (able to play together), when I left the OHL that's when he came in and I know he got to play with my brother Jordan," P.K. said. "I've never had the opportunity to play against any of them so it'll be pretty special seeing him on the other side tonight."The pair's father, Karl, will also be in attendance, and will be rocking a Golden Knights jersey as he's supporting Malcolm during the Golden Knights' first father's trip."For sure it's pretty special," P.K. said of having Karl in attendance. "Just like any other brothers that have ever played with each other or played against each other, it's a pretty special moment when you do it and for him (Malcolm) I think he's worked really, really hard to get to the NHL and the start of his career's been great. So just going to take in the whole moment."

The Ottawa Senators announced Friday their roster of all-time greats who will take on Montreal Canadiens alumni ahead of the NHL 100 Classic.Headlining the group - that includes 19 forwards, 11 defensemen, and four goalies - are former captains Daniel Alfredsson and Alexei Yashin.Here's the entire roster:ForwardsPlayerYears With TeamDaniel Alfredsson1995-2013Magnus Arvedson1997-2003Radek Bonk1994-2004Laurie Boschman1992-1993Randy Cunneyworth1994-1998Alexandre Daigle1992-1998Shean Donovan2007-2010Mike Fisher1999-2011Denis Hamel2003-2007Martin Havlat2000-2006Denny Lambert1996-1998Rob Murphy1992-1993Randy Robitaille2007-2008Bryan Smolinski2002-2006Brad Smyth2002-2003Shaun Van Allen1996-2000/ 2002-2004Todd White2000-2004Alexei Yashin1993-2001Rob Zamuner1999-2001DefensemenPlayerYears With TeamBrendan Bell2008-2009Filip Kuba2008-2012Jim Kyte1992-1993Janne Laukkanen1995-2000Curtis Leschyshyn2000-2004Norm Maciver1992-1995Chris Phillips1997-2015Lance Pitlick1994-1999Wade Redden1996-2008Dennis Vial1993-1998Jason York1996-2001GoaliesPlayerYears With TeamPatrick Lalime1999-2004Pascal Leclaire2009-2011Damian Rhodes1995-1999Ron Tugnutt1996-2000The game takes place on Friday, Dec. 15 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and is free to the public.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just when it looked like the Vancouver Canucks were starting to round into form as a potential playoff threat, the injury bug sunk its teeth into perhaps the team's most important player.Vancouver is facing the harsh reality of playing the next four-to-six weeks without its top forward - Bo Horvat - as he'll miss at least the next month with a fractured foot.Let's get one thing straight: Losing one player to injury should never determine whether a club is a playoff contender or not.But, in the case of Horvat and the overachieving Canucks, there just isn't enough talent on the roster to replace a guy who does a lot more than fill the scoresheet.Case in point, Alex Burmistrov slotted into Horvat's spot alongside Brock Boeser against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, and while his one shot and even rating weren't the reasons for the 4-1 loss, he simply isn't good enough to fill the void in Horvat's absence.That goes for the rest of the group tasked with filling in for Horvat up the middle, as Sam Gagner, Markus Granlund, and Brendan Gaunce all leave something to be desired. That trio, who will be leaned on heavily by head coach Travis Green over the next few weeks, has only seven combined goals to go along with a crooked minus-13 rating, and were all nonfactors Thursday.Killing penalties, scoring on the man advantage, winning faceoffs - Horvat really does it all for a Vancouver club lacking in depth at almost every position.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)That lack of depth is especially felt on the back end, where the Canucks employ a ragtag group of rearguards that includes Ben Hutton (minus-39 since the start of the 2015-16 campaign) and Michael Del Zotto (minus-10 with a Corsi For percentage of 45).Now, the Canucks are far from being in the sweepstakes for the No. 1 overall pick and potential future Norris winner in Rasmus Dahlin. But, if the team starts to slide like expected, Green's men could find themselves in prime draft position for one of the three or four D-men projected to be in the top 10.Realistically, the Canucks are too good to secure the top pick. But, Horvat was the straw that stirred the drink, and without him, Vancouver's weaknesses - such as a poor penalty kill that sits 19th in the NHL - will be magnified, especially with Brandon Sutter still on the shelf.No disrespect to guys like Derrick Pouliot and Chris Tanev, who have performed admirably on the back end this season, and Boeser and Sven Baertschi up front, but without Horvat, the Canucks just aren't good enough to compete in the Western Conference.With Horvat on the shelf for the foreseeable future, and the supporting cast unable to pick up the slack, an overachieving Vancouver squad is set to struggle.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL general managers will have some extra money to play with next season.The league unveiled Friday to the Board of Governors that next season's salary cap is projected to come in between $78 million and $82 million, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.The cap is currently set at $75 million, meaning teams can expect a raise of $3 million to $7 million.

With the topic of Seattle expansion running rampant, Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler instead made the case for a club to relocate Thursday.After the Jets visited the Florida Panthers, Wheeler criticized the ice conditions at BB&T Center, suggesting the game should've been taken outside."We'd be better off going out to the parking lot and playing roller hockey," Wheeler said, according to Brian Blessing of SportsbookRadio.com.Of course, the hot climate in Florida tends to be a catalyst for poor ice conditions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A Subban is on the move.Early Friday, the Los Angeles Kings acquired defensive prospect Jordan Subban from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for veteran forward Nic Dowd.Subban has spent the past three seasons with AHL's Utica Comets. He has five points in 16 games this season.Subban is the younger brother of Nashville Predators blue-liner P.K. Subban and Vegas Golden Knights netminder Malcolm Subban.Dowd, 27, appeared in 16 games with the Kings this season, recording one assist.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers' double-digit run of defeats is now firmly in the rear-view mirror.Claude Giroux notched a goal and an assist and Jakub Voracek chipped in three helpers of his own as the Flyers dumped the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Thursday night.Philadelphia extended its win streak to three, with all of those victories coming on the road against Western Canadian clubs this week.The Flyers snapped their 10-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Monday and doubled up the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 on Wednesday, before beating the Canucks one night later.The team begins a five-game homestand Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Senators captain Erik Karlsson snapped a 10-game pointless streak with an assist on Matt Duchene's first-period tally Thursday in Los Angeles. The drought was the longest of his career.Despite the offensive slump, Karlsson amazingly still has 18 points in 22 games, ranking third on the Sens despite missing the first five games of the season recovering from foot surgery.The Senators tied the game against the Kings in the dying seconds of the third period but fell 4-3 in overtime on Drew Doughty's game-winner.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyler Stewart had a night to remember.The St. Louis Blues season-ticket holder - who's a vending machine worker by day, according to The Associated Press - briefly served as the club's backup goaltender Thursday night.So how did that happen?Goalie Carter Hutton got hurt in the morning skate, and while the Blues called up Ville Husso from their AHL affiliate, he couldn't make it to the arena in time for puck drop.That gave Stewart the unlikely opportunity to hear head coach Mike Yeo's pregame speech, speak to several Blues players, and warm up alongside starter Jake Allen.

With the NHL announcing an agreement to consider an application for an expansion franchise in Seattle, it's time to start brainstorming ideas for a potential team name.A city located by the Pacific Ocean with plenty of mountains and a diverse wildlife, there are many elements that relate strongly to Seattle, which usually brings out the most creative ideas when branding a new team.Without further ado, here are 15 possible team names for Seattle's potential NHL franchise:Bonanzas: Bonanza Peak is the fifth-highest mountain peak in all of Washington. Plus, as a city with numerous Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft, Starbucks, and Amazon, it fits the definition of "something that is very valuable, profitable, or rewarding," per Merriam-Webster.Cascades: The Cascade Mountain Range (also referred to as Cascades) is the tallest mountain range in Washington, and one of the longest mountain ranges in North America, stretching from British Columbia to California.Chickadees: Birds usually make for pretty good team names, so why not go with one of the more popular ones in Seattle? It gets its name from the sound it makes: Chick-a-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee.Cougars: Cougars are pretty cool animals, and with all of the mountains nearby, there have been cougar sightings near Seattle in the past.Eagles: A simple, yet effective team. Eagles are very common in Seattle.Evergreens: Seattle's nickname is the "Emerald City," due to the evergreen forests in the area. Naming your team after a tree may not seem ideal, but the "Seattle Evergreens" has a pretty nice ring to it.Glaciers: Glacier Peak is the fourth-highest mountain in Washington.Metropolitans: This wouldn't be Seattle's first hockey team. In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first American team to win the Stanley Cup before folding in 1924.Mountaineers: As you may have noticed, Seattle is known for its mountains, so why not pay homage to those brave enough to climb them?Mountain Lions: Another name for cougar, but still cool.Rainiers: Mount Rainier is the highest mountain peak in Washington. Plus, it rains a lot in Seattle. The only problem with this is the Seattle Mariners' Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma is named the Rainiers, so some sort of agreement would have to be worked out.Salmon: Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle is famous for their Salmon toss. Maybe if the team was named after the fish, this could become a ritual at their games?Sandpipers: Out of all these team names, the Seattle Sandpipers might have the best ring to it. The Sandpiper is a popular type of bird in the city.Sea Otters: Sea otters live in shallow coastal waters off the northern Pacific. They're underrated intelligent animals.Space Needles: The Space Needle observation tower is Seattle's most iconic landmark, and possibly the first thing you think off when someone mentions Seattle.Which team name do you like the best?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle has the green light, but a certain Canadian city has once again been left waiting at a stop sign.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday that the league is only looking at Seattle for potential expansion, meaning Quebec City is not a possibility this time around, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Related: NHL opens application process for Seattle expansion franchiseBettman said he doesn't know where this leaves Quebec City going forward, per TSN's Pierre LeBrun, and added that the former NHL city is still on the league's radar, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.Quebec City submitted an expansion application in June 2016, but the NHL deferred it and chose Las Vegas as the only new franchise destination.Quebecor, a local media company, oversaw the construction of the $370-million Videotron Centre, which opened in fall 2015.The NHL's Nordiques left Quebec City for Denver and became the Avalanche in 1995.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The city of Seattle took its first major step toward securing an NHL franchise Thursday, and a potential local rival is more than willing to welcome it to the region.Vancouver is just over a three-hour drive from Seattle, so naturally, the Canucks would align nicely as a team to build a rivalry with.According to Vancouver's president of hockey operations, Trevor Linden, the Canucks are more than open to the idea of having another team nearby to stoke the competitive flames that come with playing against a club from the geographical area.

The Carolina Hurricanes have an agreement in place to sell the team, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is adamant that they're not going anywhere.The Hurricanes announced Thursday that the club has signed a purchase agreement with its prospective new owner, Dallas-based businessman Tom Dundon.Bettman told reporters the sale won't be officially closed for a few weeks, but insisted "this is not a team that will be moved," according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Dundon signed the purchase agreement with longtime Hurricanes chairman Peter Karmanos on Wednesday night. Dundon is the chairman and managing partner of Dundon Capital Partners, a private investment firm.Under the new agreement, Dundon will own 52 percent of the team, while Karmanos will own 48 percent, and Dundon will have an option to buy out Karmanos' share in three years' time, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reports.Karmanos has owned the franchise since the Hartford Whalers days. He purchased it along with Compuware partner Thomas Thewes and now-Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford in 1994.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL Board of Governors has agreed to consider an application for an NHL expansion franchise in Seattle, commissioner Gary Bettman said in a press conference Thursday, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.Bettman said the expansion fee would be $650 million, which is $150 million more than Las Vegas paid.The NHL will allow a potential ownership group, led by billionaire David Bonderman and legendary film and TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer, to file an application and then conduct a season-ticket drive, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.While this is similar to the Golden Knights' beginnings, it doesn't guarantee a team will arrive in the Pacific Northwest.If a team was indeed brought to Seattle, it would be looking at the 2020-21 season to begin play, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the second time in less than a month, Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk was handed a suspension by the NHL Department of Player Safety.Tkachuk was assessed a one-game ban Thursday for unsportsmanlike conduct against Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Martin during Wednesday's game. Amid a scrum, Tkachuk speared Martin from the Flames' bench.This latest infraction comes after he was handed a one-game suspension last month when, during a game against the Detroit Red Wings, Tkachuk tapped Luke Witkowski on the leg after his opponent had left the ice.The suspension means Tkachuk will miss Thursday's game against the Montreal Canadiens.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Where there's smoke, perhaps there's fire.The NHL Board of Governors are meeting in Florida, and on Thursday the topic of expansion to Seattle was discussed, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.This news comes after Seattle's city council approved plans Monday for a $600-million redevelopment of KeyArena for the purpose of a multipurpose sports and entertainment area.It's believed with the arena deal, former president and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, Tim Leiweke, will make a pitch to have an NHL club housed in the facility.

Vancouver Canucks center Bo Horvat fractured his foot and will be out "multiple weeks, up to six," the team announced Thursday.Horvat will meet with a specialist in order to determine a more precise recovery timeline.The 22-year-old was on pace for a career year, with 10 goals and 10 assists in 20 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was another depressing result Wednesday for the Ottawa Senators, being shut out for the second-straight game, 3-0 versus the Anaheim Ducks.The blanking was just the latest in an almost unbearable stretch for the Sens that's seen them go 1-8-1 in their last 10 games. That said, if the optimists out there can hang their hats on one thing, it's that things can't get much worse.Things began to go off the rails after the Senators swept the Colorado Avalanche in Sweden, just after the blockbuster trade in which Kyle Turris was swapped for Matt Duchene.On Nov. 11, after a 4-3 win, the Senators had an 8-3-5 record, good enough for fourth in the Eastern Conference and third in the Atlantic Division (just three points back of the Toronto Maple Leafs for second with three games in hand).However, since then the club has plummeted 10 spots in the East and sit tied with the Florida Panthers with the second-worst record, ahead of only the lowly Buffalo Sabres.So what's gone wrong? Well, in a word, everything.During the 10-game slide, the Senators have averaged just 1.5 goals per game, while giving up 3.6. In addition, they've been out-shot by nearly three shots per game.Their special teams have been pitiful with the power-play connecting on just 8.57 percent of opportunities, and the penalty kill giving up a goal 25 percent of the time.Further to that:StatNumber (NHL Rank)SCF%47.12 (25)Team SV%88.16 (29)Team SH%5.43 (30)PDO.936 (31)It's been a wide-scale failure. Since the Duchene deal, much has been made about his mere two points in 12 games, but the fact is no one's been immune from terrible play over the last 10 games.Mark Stone leads the way offensively with six points, while Ryan Dzingel and Mike Hoffman have scored the most goals (three each). Perhaps most puzzling is that Erik Karlsson has gone pointless in 10 straight games, the longest streak of his career.Between the pipes, both Craig Anderson and Mike Condon have struggled with consistency. Last season, Anderson's .926 save percentage was third among goalies with at least 25 games played, but he's gone winless during the current stretch and sports a .894 save percentage and a goals-against average greater than three. Condon hasn't been much better. In four games, he's gone 1-2-1 with a .900 save percentage and 3.38 goals-against average.So where do the Senators go from here? There appears to be only one direction: up. And here's why that may happen: with the NHL's worst PDO - generally a good indicator of a team's luck - the Senators have been extremely unlucky. Furthermore, Karlsson and Duchene are too talented offensively to continue down this road, while Anderson and Condon may be dealing with a loss of confidence.Things are looking bleak for the Senators, but it's hard to envision things getting any worse.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils defenseman Ben Lovejoy is the first active NHL player pledging to donate his brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation in Boston."Hockey has been so good to me," Lovejoy said Wednesday on TSN. "It's helped me make a ton of friends, travel the country and world, and given me an amazing job that has paid me really well. My entire life has revolved exclusively around hockey and I want to give my brain to help make this game safer."Lovejoy is a nine-year NHL veteran and a Stanley Cup winner. He's also been fortunate to avoid a diagnosed concussion, but is a believer in science and wants to do whatever he can to make the game safe for those who come after him.Several former players - including Craig Adams, Ted Drury, Shawn McEachern, and Bob Sweeney - have also pledged their brains to the Concussion Legacy Foundation. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, can only be detected through a postmortem examination of the brain.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Over the course of the 2017-18 season, theScore will run a series of interviews with former players, coaches, and officials in which they recall some of the greatest moments of their careers. This edition focuses on Dennis Maruk, who averaged nearly a point per game over 888 NHL regular-season contests with four teams and had a 60-goal season with Washington in 1981-82.On whether he felt he should have been drafted higher than 21st overall in 1975 following a successful junior career:I think in that situation, I had good numbers ... but truthfully, I thought I would have been drafted the year before as an 18-year-old due to the fact that I was pretty good. We had played exhibition games against the Washington Capitals in London (while with the OHL's London Knights), and I had scored a bunch of goals in those games, so I was disappointed at that time.And of course, having that great last year of junior, and then not being drafted in the first round ... yeah, I know there was a lot of great talent in that draft. But I think the reason that I wasn't drafted higher was because of my size (5-foot-8, 158 pounds). It was a negative. I think I had all the skill teams were looking for, but basically it came down to them going with the bigger guys.On his first NHL goal:My first goal was in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens, against Wayne Thomas. My parents, my brothers and sisters, friends, and relatives were all at the game. I remember that one more than I remember (No. 50 in 1980-81) and (No. 60 in 1981-82) ... when I wrote my book ("Dennis Maruk: The Unforgettable Story of Hockey’s Forgotten 60-Goal Man"), (co-writer Ken Reid) had to tell me the dates and all that. But I remember that first one.On playing for the California Golden Seals in the mid-1970s:In the 70s and early 80s, I don't think people realize how it was compared to the game today. I call it "survival" ... there was a lot of hitting, spearing, slashing, fighting. And you still had to play your game despite all that.In my first year, I was a 5-foot-8, 158-pound hockey player. My body got beat up a lot. But playing in California was great ... I was 19 years old, the sun was shining, driving around in a Corvette, shorts and a T-shirt on, and great travel - we had those big planes. Our team wasn't the greatest, but we did okay. We just didn't have enough talent.And then they moved to Cleveland. That was a big change.On landing with the Capitals at the start of the 1978-79 season:When (Minnesota and Cleveland) merged, (North Stars general manager) Lou Nanne contacted me and said, "We're staying with our centermen. I'm going to trade you for a first-round pick." I said, "Okay, well make sure you do it before the season starts so I can go to that city and get settled with my family."Over the summer, Lou said, "Well, we didn't make the deal. We want you to come and play for the Minnesota North Stars. The fans will really like you." I called my lawyer and he said, "There are two teams that are really interested. When you get to Minnesota, just rent a home and go to training camp."I had two games (with Minnesota) - I dressed for one and didn't play in the other one. I had one shift. Harry Howell was the coach, and I asked him after the first period what was up, and he said, "Well, we can't really play you. There are two teams interested."I was all ready to go to the next game. I was about to be picked up by J.P. Parise and Brad Maxwell at five o'clock, and I got a phone call from (Capitals GM) Max McNab at twenty to five - I was being traded. And then a few minutes later, Lou Nanne calls me. So I found out from Washington first.On the origin of his trademark Fu Manchu mustache:You have to let it just grow, kind of like a beard. And then you put it into a goatee, and then you just shave the middle part from your lip down to your chin about two inches depending on how thick you want your Fu Manchu. That's how I grew it out - and I've always grown my hair pretty fast.One year, I saw this pitcher from the Kansas City Royals, Al Hrabosky. He was going nuts on the mound. And I looked at him, and he's got the big Fu Manchu. And I thought to myself, "I'm going to keep it. Al can do it, I'm going to do it, too. It's going to be my mark in the NHL." And it was.Everyone keeps saying, "Grow it back, grow it back." But I pretty much can't, because the girlfriend doesn't like it. (laughs) She likes the goatee better.On the biggest talkers of his era:There weren't a lot of guys who really chatted at me, because I gave it back. So I got a lot of respect right away.When I played in Washington, the Philadelphia Flyers always chatted on the ice. Ken Linseman was a chatter. Mel Bridgman was a chatter. I can't say the words that were said, but it was a battle - with your sticks, and your hands, and what you would say to each other. But I have a lot of respect for guys like Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach. Those guys had great careers.On some of his favorite teammate pranks:When I was with Oakland, Jim Neilson, the former Ranger ... we had a big party and he was sleeping in the lobby, and we lit his shoe on fire. And he had had so much to drink that he woke up, looked at it, and fell back asleep. We had to put it out for him. (laughs)We'd have a big dinner, and one of the guys would take the head of a big fish and take it back to the hotel and put it in a guy's pillow case. You always had to check your skates and your helmet because you never knew what was going to happen. You could put your hand in your glove and pull your hand out ... and I can't say what would be on your hand, but you always checked.There was always something done to someone every day. Every day.On how he became one of the best goal scorers of the early-80s:I'm not going to say I was a great goal scorer; I worked on things, and I learned a lot from goalies that played on my team. I would ask them a lot of questions, like what they looked at when a good goal scorer was coming down. I tried a few things like that in a game, and it worked.I think it was mainly my quick release. I had a pretty good slap shot, but I kind of caught a lot of goalies off-guard with my quick release. I had a short stick and I kept the puck close to me, just like (Calgary Flames forward) Johnny Gaudreau. You lose a little reach, but you have the puck close to you and you can snap it quick where you catch goalies not thinking you're gonna shoot.Of course, I had a lot of help from my linemates. You can't do that yourself - you have to have support. People talk a lot about my goals, but I consider myself more of a playmaker. I had more than 500 assists, and I could have had many more. I loved to make plays, and I loved to score goals.On being traded out of Washington:We had just gotten into the playoffs in Washington, and I was really shocked when I got traded back to Minnesota.I had played one year at left wing, and Bryan Murray and David Poile met with me in the summer and said they were moving me back to center. And one week later, I got traded! I was really confused.So I went to Minnesota, a good hockey team, and ended up not playing much. I was getting 60, 70 points as a fourth-line player; if I had played as much as I did in Washington, I probably would have had 100-plus points. It wasn't because of my talent, we just had too many good players.We had to go up against the Oilers (in the playoffs), and they were a phenomenal team. You won't find a team with talent like that again. We just couldn't beat them. But to be able to play in the playoffs and go for the Stanley Cup was any player's dream. I struggled my first four, five years not getting into the playoffs. But that's the way life goes.On being a Roller Hockey International coach after his playing career:It was a lot of fun for the short time I was involved. I even played one game. (Former NHLer who coached the RHI's Chicago Cheetahs) Randy Boyd put himself in the lineup, so I said, "Well, if he's going to play, I'm going to play." (laughs) So I ended up playing a game.Going from skates to wheels wasn't a problem. You just had to get used to the wheels, and how you had to turn and stop and that sort of thing. Going from wheels to skates was a little different. If you rollerbladed for a while and then put on a pair of skates, it's amazing the different muscles you use on blades versus hockey skates.On playing for the WPHL's Lake Charles as a 43-year-old:I was coaching there for a year and a half, and I got released. I was still living in Lake Charles, and the new coach and I had met a couple of times to talk about players because he had just come in from out west.They had a couple of injuries and suspensions, and the coach asked me if I would be interested in skating in practice to help him with his lines. So I did it for a few weeks, and he goes, "Would you be interested in signing a five-game contract?" And I said, "Yeah, right. Why would you want me? These guys are all in their 20s and I'm in my 40s."I ended up talking to the team by myself, and I said, "I'm not here to take any of your ice time away. I'll sign to play, but I'm only going to play a few shifts. I'm here to have fun with you guys." They made the decision for me that they wanted me in the lineup. So I ended up playing some games.I had a lot of fun with it, but I got the weirdest names when I was out there. "You old man, you old fart ... you're losing more teeth." I would come back with, "Okay, how old are you? Where are you playing? Where did I play? You played in the NHL yet?" (laughs) They put those names away pretty quick.On who he considers underrated from his era:I would say Kent Nilsson. I was on the same line with him and Brian Bellows in Minnesota. Out of all the players that I played with, I don't think he got the respect for how great he was.This guy had so much talent. Unbelievable. He was so shifty with the puck and had such a great shot. I don't think he got the breaks until he got to Edmonton. That happens with some guys. But he would be my choice for most underrated.On what he would have done differently in his career:I would have started out going to college.My son went to Notre Dame. He didn't go on to play in the NHL but he has a wonderful job. When you hear stories of people getting ready for college ... I got traded when I was 15, 16 years old. I had to leave my family and go live with people in London. Those things were hard - you had to grow up fast.When I think back to it, I would have liked to have gone to college rather than going straight to junior. I missed four years of what a lot of people get to do in their life, meeting people and getting an eduction, getting some structure. I think that's the way I'd go.__________Rapid FireBest player he ever played with: Ryan WalterBest player he ever played against: Wayne GretzkyBest goalie he ever faced: Ken DrydenFavorite coach of all time: Bryan MurrayFavorite visiting arena: Chicago Stadium__________Fact FileBorn: November 17, 1955, Toronto, ONDrafted: Second round (21st overall), 1975, California Golden SealsTeams: California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons (1975-78), Minnesota North Stars (1978, 1983-89), Washington Capitals (1978-83)NHL STATSGPGAPPIMRegular Season888356522878761Playoffs3414123626(Special thanks to the NHL Alumni Association for its assistance.)(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Other entries in this series:

The Carolina Hurricanes are on the verge of being sold.Current owner Peter Karmanos Jr. met with Dallas billionaire Tom Dundon on Thursday, and the pair later appeared at the NHL's Board of Governors meeting in Florida.A purchase agreement is in place and is expected to be announced later Thursday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun.Karmanos Jr. will not be stepping aside immediately, however.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without defenseman Justin Schultz for the foreseeable future with a lower-body injury, head coach Mike Sullivan announced Thursday."He's a little more than week to week," Sullivan said. "I'm reluctant to put a time on it, but it'll be weeks."The Penguins recalled Frank Corrado from the AHL to fill Schultz's spot in the lineup."The last time he was up, we really liked his game," Sullivan said of Corrado. "He's got a little bit of bite to him. He's a stiff player. He defends pretty well and he plays within himself. He's a calculated player out there - that's what we like about his game."Corrado was acquired last season from Toronto and has failed to record a point in his five appearances with the Penguins. He did, however, score a goal and add four assists in 12 AHL games prior to the recall.Through 23 games, Schultz - who missed time earlier this season with a concussion - contributed two goals and eight assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk will have a hearing Thursday for unsportsmanlike conduct Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.The incident in question is a sneaky spear delivered from the bench to Maple Leafs forward Matt Martin.Tkachuk was suspended one game in November for unsportsmanlike conduct after tapping the leg of Detroit's Luke Witkowski with his stick as Witkowski was skating off the ice following an ejection.Calgary's next game is Thursday in Montreal, so a quick decision is expected.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson was held without a point for the 10th consecutive game Wednesday night during the team's 3-0 loss at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks.The streak is the longest drought in Karlsson's illustrious career, which was previously held at eight games, set during his 2009-10 rookie season.Unsurprisingly, the Senators have struggled amid the lack of offense from their best player, compiling a 1-8-1 record during those contests.Amazingly, Karlsson still has 17 points in 21 games despite the cold spell. His overall individual performance may be an afterthought, though, as the Sens continue to fall in the standings, currently sitting in sixth in the Atlantic Division.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maple Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen has been Toronto's best player over the past month or so, and that says a lot considering he's on a team with Auston Matthews.Andersen was named one of the three stars of the month after posting a 9-2-1 record with a 2.14 goals-against average and .938 save percentage in November, and his strong play's continued into December, though the Leafs haven't always been at their best in front of him.He stopped 47 of 48 shots in Toronto's 2-1 shootout win over the Calgary Flames, moving into the league lead in wins that took 40 or more saves with four victories this season, according to NHL Public Relations.The win also bumped his career record in games where he made at least 40 saves to 10-2-2.It may not be all that uncommon for a goaltender to find their comfort zone with more work, but Andersen's proving that he is capable of stealing a victory even when the rest of his team doesn't necessarily bring its A game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Flames agitator Matthew Tkachuk appeared to spear Maple Leafs tough guy Matt Martin from the Calgary bench during Toronto's 2-1 shootout win, but Martin says it didn't have much of an effect."I didn't feel it at the time," he told TSN's Mark Masters. "If he's going to do stuff like that he should make it count. That's child's play."Martin added that he's fine, and was not injured.Related - Poll: Should Tkachuk be suspended for spearing Martin?Despite the apparently harmless result, Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock wasn't impressed by Tkachuk's spear, though he noted that the 19-year-old had played well otherwise."That's junior hockey stuff. He'll learn," Babcock said, according to Sportsnet's Shawn McKenzie.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.