The moribund Colorado Avalanche got a glimpse of a brighter future Thursday night.Highly touted prospect Tyson Jost fired a wrister past Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk from in tight to notch his first NHL goal.Jost was playing his fourth game with the Avalanche after signing with the club last week.He left the University of North Dakota after the conclusion of his freshman season, in which the 19-year-old scored 16 goals and piled up 35 points in 33 games.Jost was taken 10th overall by Colorado in last year's draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks will be without defenseman Cam Fowler for "anywhere between two and six weeks" after he suffered a lower-body injury from a knee-on-knee collision Tuesday night, general manager Bob Murray announced.While the news puts a damper on Anaheim's momentum gearing up for the playoffs, Murray told Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register that there's no tear, and the Ducks will have a better read on a possible return closer to the postseason, which begins April 12.

The Ottawa Senators are heading back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Their berth was secured after earning a single point by pushing Thursday's game in Boston to overtime. The Senators went on to complete the win in a shootout, moving two points ahead of the Bruins for sole possession of second spot in the Atlantic Division.Apparently their postseason motto will be "All In."

Vladimir Tarasenko inched one step closer to his second consecutive 40-goal season with an absolute laser of a wrist shot Thursday night, notching his 38th tally of the campaign.Rumor has it, James Reimer and the Panthers are still trying to locate the puck.(Video Courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans held their collective breath Thursday night, and not just because of the possibility of the club clinching a playoff berth.Auston Matthews took a knee-on-knee hit from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin after entering the offensive zone late in the first period.The Leafs phenom's parents were in the building, and their reactions were exactly as you'd expect.

Hockey players are a special breed.The latest to demonstrate this point is Vladislav Namestnikov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who required immediate medical attention after blocking a William Nylander shot with his face.The puck appeared to have been deflected by his stick, but the sting was no less painful, to be sure.Namestnikov was patched up and returned to the game with haste.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Gibson is healthy and ready to lead the charge.The Anaheim Ducks goaltender, who's appeared in only two games since aggravating a lower-body injury on March 10, feels he's shown enough over the course of the season to merit entering the playoffs as the team's clear starter."It's like I didn't forget how to play, right?," he asked tongue-in-cheek, per Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. "Just had an injury. Came back a little too soon the first time. Now everything's pretty good."The thing is, Jonathan Bernier was fantastic in relief of Gibson, making a case for meaningful playing time down the stretch and even in the postseason.Here's how the two have performed this season:PlayerGamesRecordSave %ShutoutsJohn Gibson5124-16-9.9225Jonathan Bernier3820-7-4.9172And it's not as if Gibson is showing any rust since his return, stopping 60 of 64 shots against in April for a save percentage of .938.Bernier did indeed fill in admirably, but the crease clearly belongs to Gibson moving forward.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's safe to say Canada's entry in the upcoming World Hockey Championship will be fine down the middle.A trio of talented centers - Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets - have agreed to play in the tournament, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.Scheifele and Duchene won gold with Canada at last year's event and also represented their home nation at the 2014 tourney on the team that finished fifth. MacKinnon was a part of the Canadian squad that won gold at the worlds in 2015.Scheifele posted a career-high 31 goals and 80 points with the Jets this season, while MacKinnon and Duchene both had disappointing campaigns, by their standards, for the league-worst Avalanche.New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall recently told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun that he's unlikely to play for Canada in the upcoming tournament. The Canadian contingent is being assembled by Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall.The 2017 World Hockey Championship runs May 5-21 in Paris and Cologne, Germany.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vladimir Sobotka is back with the St. Louis Blues.The forward is set to join the club for the remainder of this season to fulfill the one-year contract awarded to him in arbitration in 2014.At the same time, general manager Doug Armstrong has announced that the Blues have signed Sobotka to a three-year contract extension worth $10.5 million, thereby carrying a cap hit of $3.5 million.

The Anaheim Ducks will take on a far less intimidating Chicago Blackhawks squad than usual Thursday night.That's because the team is expected to rest captain Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa, while the defensive duo of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook is also likely to sit out as a precaution heading into the playoffs, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times.The game means very little to the Blackhawks, who have already clinched top spot in the Western Conference. It holds a little more significance for the Ducks - depending on the result of the Edmonton Oilers' game against the San Jose Sharks, they could clinch the Pacific Division title.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nikita Zaitsev's reported contract extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs doesn't appear to be in jeopardy.The defenseman is having a strong rookie season, though news of a new contract comes at a rather odd time, as the NHL announced earlier this week that it will not be sending its players to the 2018 Winter Olympics.The decision has upset players, especially Russians - such as Alex Ovechkin, who insists he will still participate in the Games with or without NHL approval.Zaitsev says the news has not changed his mind about staying in North America, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Last Thursday, it was reported that the Maple Leafs and Zaitsev were finalizing a seven-year contract extension that would pay the 25-year-old an average of $4.5 million per season.Zaitsev's comments suggest that deal is still likely to be signed. As far as leaving the NHL to participate in the Olympics, Zaitsev insists Ovechkin has earned the right to make those claims."I don’t have a $10-million salary here," said Zaitsev. "So he can do whatever he wants. He’s like a superstar player."It's a safe bet to assume that had NHLers been allowed to go, Zaitsev would have been part of the Russian squad. He represented Russia at the World Cup of Hockey in September, contributing two assists in four games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"I like it, I love it, I want some more of it."The Nashville Predators sold out all 41 home games this season, a first for the franchise that joined the NHL in 1998. Of the league's 30 clubs, the Predators are one of 11 to average standing-room only capacities in 2016-17, according to ESPN:RankTeamAveragePercentage1Blackhawks21751110.32Penguins*19762110.23Maple Leafs*19768107.94Jets*15742107.65Wild19070106.26Blues*19553104.77Flyers19642100.58Predators17159100.3T9Kings18240100.1T9Canadiens21288100.1T9Rangers18020100.1*The Penguins, Maple Leafs, Jets, and Blues hosted outdoor games, played in larger-capacity stadiums."It is incredibly exciting to sell out every home game this season," Predators president Sean Henry said in a statement. "(It) puts us one step closer to reaching the 'One Goal' vision Tom Cigarran set when he became chairman seven years ago, of becoming the No. 1 sports and entertainment venue in the United States centered around a Stanley Cup champion hockey team."The previous high mark for attendance was set a year ago, when the Predators reported 35 sellouts at Bridgestone Arena.One of the league's most exciting teams, the Predators have given their faithful something to cheer about. Nashville sits tied for ninth in goals this season, with burgeoning stars like Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg providing plenty of offensive punch.But it wasn't always this easy in Tennessee.The Predators were challenged with ownership issues and relocation rumors through their early goings, fighting off challenges from BlackBerry billionaire Jim Balsillie to relocate the team to southern Ontario followed by a fraudulent takeover by Boots Del Biaggio to move the team to Kansas City.Through it all, the Predators endeavored, growing hockey throughout the state and becoming a model expansion franchise for the NHL. Grassroots efforts continue where more than 1,200 local children tried their hand at hockey this season through the Little Preds Learn to Play Program.This year, the Predators will make their third consecutive playoff appearance, giving fans another opportunity to showcase their enthusiasm. The postseason begins next week, when the Predators will look to build on their success from last spring, when they advanced to Game 7 of the second round.While just two games remain on the season, this year's playoff opponent remains to be decided. The Predators have collected 92 points through 80 games and will close out the regular season Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, April 6 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

It appears unlikely Steven Stamkos will dress in one of the Tampa Bay Lightning's final three games.Stamkos spoke to reporters in Toronto ahead of his club's do-or-die contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he admitted a return to the lineup is becoming less likely. A loss means the Lightning are eliminated from postseason contention.

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand has been suspended two games for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin, the league announced Thursday.The play occurred Tuesday in the Bruins' 4-0 win.The Bruins have two games remaining this season, against the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals. The team has already clinched a playoff berth, meaning Marchand will be eligible to return for Game 1. Boston's playoff opponent is not yet determined.It's a costly infraction for Marchand, as the two lost games will see him forfeit $109,756.10, according to the NHL.The suspension marks the second punishment for Marchand this season. He was fined $10,000 in mid-January following a dangerous trip involving Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens will get a chance to exact some revenge when they take on the New York Rangers in the first round of the NHL playoffs.The two will face off in the postseason for the first time since the Rangers ousted the Canadiens in six games in the 2014 Eastern Conference Final.There's a lot on the line and - like any playoff series - there are sure to be a number of players who will help tip the scales in either direction.Here are three players who could make a difference in this first-round matchup:Shea WeberYou may have thought it was all behind us, but no, the P.K. Subban-Weber trade deserves to be brought up once again.The deal that had many Montreal faithful up in arms looks to have paid off - at least for the time being. The Canadiens clinched a postseason berth after missing out last season, while Weber has also bested Subban with seven more goals and four more points this season while playing in 14 more games.The reason the trade is worth bringing up again is because, during his time in Montreal, Subban played some really inspired playoff hockey.Subban has 11 goals and 38 points in 55 career playoff games, and who could forget his incredible display against the Boston Bruins during the team's 2014 run.Weber won't be forced to match Subban's production, but like the man he was traded for, he will be looked at to be a difference-maker for the Canadiens.Henrik LundqvistMuch like Subban, Lundqvist has historically been a gamer who brings his best to the postseason.The Rangers netminder has a career .921 save percentage and a 2.28 goals-against average over 116 playoff games. Meanwhile, he's been among the most consistent goaltenders since his NHL debut in 2006.However, recently there have been more question marks surrounding the 35-year-old. Lundqvist had his worst season statistically, with a .910 save percentage and a 2.74 goals-against average, both career lows.Not to mention Lundqvist was also lit up in the postseason last year by the Pittsburgh Penguins who delivered the King a ghastly 4.39 goals-against average over five games.The Rangers playoff lives could rest heavily on Lundqvist, which would depend on what version of the King shows up.Carey PricePrice could be the difference-maker if he does Carey Price-like things.While Price has had had a couple questionable stints this season, for the most part he's been his usual consistent self and at the moment he's playing some of his best hockey of the year.The 29-year-old has gone 5-2-0 in his last seven games with a .944 save percentage and a 1.58 goals-against average, allowing more than two goals in a game just once.For the Canadiens, Price's presence will be huge, especially in the revenge storyline as Canadiens fans probably recall that, in 2014, Price played just 40 minutes in the series against the Rangers before bowing out due to injury, leaving Dustin Tokarski and Peter Budaj to fill the void.It's hard to say if he could have propelled the team to a series win, but one thing is certain: the Canadiens likely don't stand a chance without Price between the pipes this time.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get ready for another round of Brandon Dubinsky versus Sidney Crosby.The two centers will collide when the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins meet in the opening round of the playoffs. The Metropolitan Division matchup was set in stone following Wednesday's contests.The two sides met in the postseason three years ago, just the second time in franchise history the Blue Jackets made the dance after joining the NHL in 2000.In that hard-fought six-game series, all but one game was decided by a single goal. The Blue Jackets captured a pair of victories in extra time, but the Penguins ultimately advanced.Both squads have undergone extensive changes since: Just 15 of the 40 players who competed in Game 6 are still with their club. Each side scratched six players that night, and all 12 are out of the picture.The changes didn't stop on the ice. Mike Sullivan's now behind the Pittsburgh bench, not Dan Bylsma, while John Tortorella has stepped in for Todd Richards as head coach in the Ohio capital. Interestingly enough, Sullivan was an assistant to Tortorella during his short tenure with the Vancouver Canucks.Here's a look at the 15 players set to renew the budding rivalry this spring:ForwardsThe forward ranks contain the biggest crop of players returning from the 2014 affair, including Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Chris Kunitz for the Penguins. Meanwhile, five frontmen remain with the Blue Jackets: Dubinsky, captain Nick Foligno, Cam Atkinson, Boone Jenner, and Matt Calvert.Foligno and Calvert potted the two overtime winners for the Blue Jackets in 2014. Calvert's Game 2 goal notched the first playoff win in franchise history. (Columbus made its first playoff appearance in 2009 but was swept by the Detroit Red Wings.)Malkin was the Penguins' top-scoring forward through the series, registering three goals and four assists, while Dubinsky and the since-traded Ryan Johansen led all Blue Jackets forwards with six points.DefenseJust five players combined come back on the blue line: Kris Letang and Olli Maatta for Pittsburgh, and Jack Johnson, Ryan Murray, and David Savard for Columbus.In practical terms, it's a four-person list, as it was announced Wednesday that Letang will miss the next four-to-six months following a neck injury.Johnson led Columbus rearguards in playoff scoring in 2014, coming away with seven points, while blue-liners Matt Niskanen and Paul Martin, both since departed, picked up eight points apiece for the Penguins. Maatta collected two points in six games.GoaltendersEach side returns a goaltender to the series, but things have changed for both of them since 2014.Columbus' Sergei Bobrovsky is the NHL's top goalie this season, owning an NHL-best .933 save percentage and standing second to only Washington's Braden Holtby in wins. But Bobrovsky wasn't nearly as successful the last time the two sides met in the playoffs. He picked up two wins in six games alongside a .908 save rate and 3.08 goals-against average.Penguins veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, meanwhile, is on bench duty after losing the top job to youngster Matt Murray. The 22-year-old led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup a year ago. In a pinch, Fleury offers solid support in goal. In six games against Columbus in 2014, Fleury posted a .908 save percentage and 2.81 GAA.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators will attempt to clinch a playoff spot without the aid of their captain on Thursday night.Erik Karlsson will be held out of the lineup against the Boston Bruins and is considered day to day with a lower-body injury, head coach Guy Boucher announced, according to TSN 1200's Dean Brown.Karlsson had played in the team's last two games against the Detroit Red Wings - scoring a goal in each contest - after missing last Thursday's contest against the Minnesota Wild with a foot injury.The Senators can clinch a playoff spot by claiming at least a point against the Bruins, or if both the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning lose on Thursday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mobile app users - expand the banner below to view more on the race to the playoffs.Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.The 2016-17 season has been lined with the most exciting rookie class to enter the NHL in a decade, from Toronto's Auston Matthews, to Winnipeg's Patrik Laine, and Columbus' Zach Werenski, among others.But let's not to forget the freshmen who graced the league a year ago, some who have built on their initial success to others, who haven't been as fruitful in their second seasons:▲ Connor McDavidIt's one thing to produce as a rookie. It's another to climb the ranks and become the league's most dominant player in only your second season, but that's the case when it comes to the Edmonton Oilers captain.McDavid sits first in league scoring with 95 points, seven ahead of runner-up Patrick Kane. He also ranks first league-wide in points per game, coming in at 1.20, ahead of Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos. The 20-year-old already sits among the NHL's best.After his first season was cut short due to a collarbone injury, limiting him to just 45 games, McDavid played his 100th career game this season, collecting 108 points by then. That total has reached 143 points in 124 contests. Credit McDavid's performance in returning the Oilers to relevancy, as the club has locked down its first playoff berth since 2006.▼ Shayne GostisbehereThe Philadelphia Flyers blue-liner has taken a step back in his second season, not an uncommon occurrence for sophomore skaters, particularly on the back end.After netting 17 goals and 29 assists a year ago, the Philadelphia defenseman regressed this season, as his production dropped off with 10 fewer tallies, despite playing in 10 more games, with two games remaining on the season. His point production also fell by eight points. On five occasions, Flyers coach Dave Hakstol made Gostisbehere a healthy scratch.Still, it's key to remember that, despite his second-year struggles, the 23-year-old Gostisbehere remains a big piece of the Flyers' blue line, as he'll continue to grow into a critical role surrounded by the likes of rookie Ivan Provorov and up-and-comers Samuel Morin and Philippe Myers.▲ Jonathan MarchessaultAfter toiling with the Tampa Bay Lightning a year ago, when Marchessault put up a respectable 18 points in 45 games, he moved cross-state, landing a deal with the Florida Panthers.It may have been the best buy of the offseason. Agreeing to a two-year contract worth $750,000 per season, the Panthers got a prime bargain in Marchessault, now a 30-goal scorer. He's tops on the team in goal production, ahead of rising offensive stars like Vincent Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov.As for the Panthers, the team will sit on the sidelines this postseason, unable to build on last year's playoff appearance. But with a healthy lineup next season, and continued production from Marchessault, the future looks bright in Florida.▼ Dylan LarkinAfter netting 23 goals and 22 assists in 2015-16, the Detroit Red Wings forward declined in both categories this season, totaling 16 and 14, respectively.The good news is that most of Larkin's lagging production came in the season's first half, while his scoring touch picked up following a shift from the wing to center. Larkin played up the middle prior to turning pro and the Red Wings envision him as a center long term.The Red Wings won't make the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. But the future is now in Detroit, as the franchise turns the page and begins to lean on its young talent. Larkin, alongside Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou, are the next wave charged with returning the Red Wings to the winner's circle.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Mobile app users - expand the banner below to view more on the race to the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Three Canadian teams have already punched their tickets to the postseason, and with some puck luck, two more could follow suit.Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators can clinch playoff berths Thursday, joining the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames.Here is what needs to happen for each club to earn a postseason place:Toronto Maple LeafsThe Maple Leafs currently hold the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 93 points, five up on both the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning.Toronto can clinch a spot if it defeats Tampa Bay in regulation or overtime. Alternately, if Toronto loses to the Lightning in a shootout and the Islanders also lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in any fashion or win in a shootout, the Maple Leafs will earn a playoff berth.Ottawa SenatorsThe Senators sit one point above the Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division, but find themselves in second place behind Montreal. They're tied with the Bruins in points, but have a game in hand over Boston.In order to earn a spot, the Senators need just a point against the Bruins on Thursday. However, they can also clinch with a regulation loss, as long as both the Lightning and Islanders lose.It's safe to say there will be a lot of scoreboard watching on Thursday night from Ontario hockey fans.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Eichel hates losing.The Buffalo Sabres phenom wrapped up the home portion of his second NHL season Wednesday night, and a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens did little to take the sour taste of another wasted campaign out of his mouth."It sucks," Eichel said of an offseason coming far too soon, according to the Times Herald's Bill Hoppe. "We didn't make any improvement from last year. It's another failed season."Buffalo sits 33-35-12 with two games left.Should the Sabres win out, they'll finish with 82 points, a one-point improvement over Eichel's rookie year, when Dan Bylsma made his debut behind the Sabres' bench.Clearly, though, Eichel views anything less than a playoff spot as a disappointment. And expectations were high coming into the 2015 second overall draft pick's sophomore season.A high-ankle sprain forced Eichel to miss the first two months of 2016-17, and while the Sabres were able to somewhat tread water without No. 15 - Buffalo was 7-9-5 on the night Eichel made his season debut, on Nov. 29 - they were never able to hit a top gear they thought they had.Personally, it was a stellar season for Eichel, despite his injury. He's second on the Sabres in goals (24) and first in points (57) despite playing only 59 games.

Carey Price versus Henrik Lundqvist. Sidney Crosby against Brandon Dubinsky.The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference is taking shape, with two matchups confirmed after the Washington Capitals won their second straight Presidents' Trophy on Wednesday.The Montreal Canadiens - your Atlantic Division champions - will face the New York Rangers when the postseason begins, with the Blueshirts locked in as the East's first wild card. Game 1 will be in Montreal.Montreal won the season series 3-0.The beastly Metropolitan Division's No. 2 and No. 3 seeds are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets, and they'll meet in the opening round for the second time in four years.Pittsburgh won in six games in 2014.Home ice between Pittsburgh and Columbus has yet to be determined. The Penguins have 109 points to the Blue Jackets' 106, and both teams have three games to play.Pittsburgh will close out its season on the road in New Jersey, Toronto, and Manhattan. Columbus is home to Winnipeg, in Philadelphia, and in Toronto on Sunday.The clubs split the season series.Date ResultDec. 22PIT 1 - CBJ 7Feb. 3CBJ 3 - PIT 4 (OT)Feb. 17PIT 1 - CBJ 2 (OT)April 4CBJ 1 - PIT 4Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Donald Fehr, executive director of the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA), was a guest on Sportsnet's "The Jeff Blair Show" on Wednesday morning and talked about the league's decision to sit out the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.The main takeaway: the players will not forget the NHL's decision, one they vehemently disagree with. They want to be there.Fehr said Olympic participation wasn't part of previous collective bargaining talks because no one saw this decision coming, not after NHLers have become such an integral part of the winter games."No one envisioned that the owners would take this kind of view. It's basically just shortsighted, and clearly, as we see it, contrary to the best interests of the game and the growth of the game," Fehr said.Fehr added that while last summer's World Cup was a success, it's nowhere near the level of popularity that ice hockey at the Olympics has enjoyed, and it's going to take time for the World Cup to get there - if it ever does. The PA believes the 2018 Games offers an inroad into Asia, where the league wants to make its mark, making this decision all the more unwise."The real question is, why do you simply walk away from incredible numbers of hours of programming that are going to reach all kinds of people that would not otherwise see NHL players," he said."All I can say is this," Fehr added. "If the notion is that players will just say 'Oh well, it's too bad, the CBA didn't provide for it or we wish it were different' ... and we can just go on with life as usual, or as if this hadn't happened, I think that's a very, very, very unlikely possibility."Fehr went on about what the Olympics mean to players, what it means to represent their countries, and how the opportunity only comes along on rare occasions for a select few, who take much pride in it."In the statement we issued, I said that a decent respect for the opinions of the players matters, or ought to matter, and it's clear here that it did not and that's too bad. And we also think it's a very foolish and shortsighted marketing and promotional decision."If the notion is that everybody will just forget about this, I suspect that's not going to be the case."The current CBA between the PA and the NHL was ratified in January 2013 and is in effect until Sept. 15, 2022, according to the PA's website. Both parties have the right to terminate the deal after eight years.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Presidents' Trophy is staying in Washington.Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals will have the NHL's best regular-season record and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs for the second consecutive campaign thanks to a 2-0 victory over the New York Rangers on Wednesday night.It will be the third time in the last eight seasons that Washington will have the top seed, and the Capitals are only the third team to claim the Presidents' Trophy at least three times since it was first awarded in 1986.They won it last season with a 56-18-8 record before being eliminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinal.Washington also clinched it in 2009-10, but the club was bounced out of the first round by the Montreal Canadiens in seven games.The Capitals have yet to capture the sport's ultimate prize, falling to the Detroit Red Wings in their lone Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1998.Washington clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and the Metropolitan Division title with a win over the Ottawa Senators on March 22.The Capitals are 54-18-8 with two games remaining in their regular-season schedule.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Justin Williams has a knack for scoring clutch goals, but he also doesn't see anything wrong with a little bump and grind.The Washington Capitals forward took Adam Clendening down with his posterior Wednesday night, crunching the New York Rangers defenseman with a big-time butt check.To his credit, Clendening turned the other cheek and was apparently no worse for wear.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's a new era for the lottery-bound Detroit Red Wings, but at least they have the future.Dennis Cholowski signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the club, the Red Wings announced Wednesday.The 19-year-old defenseman collected 12 points over 36 games in his freshman season with St. Cloud State.He was selected 20th overall by Detroit in 2016.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Concerning news out of Buffalo on Wednesday night.Sabres forward Kyle Okposo has been hospitalized in intensive care and is undergoing tests due to an undetermined illness, according to the Associated Press.Earlier in the day, head coach Dan Bylsma said he was "very concerned" about his player's health, announcing that Okposo wouldn't play against Montreal and was unlikely to play again this season.The Sabres issued a statement Wednesday night, following the report:"Kyle continues to be under the care of our doctors as he deals with symptoms from an illness. Out of respect to Kyle and his family, we will have no further comment at this time," it read.The Buffalo News added that Okposo is in the Neuro Surgical ICU at Buffalo General Hospital.Okposo missed most of March due to rib injury, returning to the lineup on March 25 before being sidelined again due to illness.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Randy Carlyle doesn't often call out NHL officiating, but he couldn't hold back Wednesday.The Anaheim Ducks head coach called it a "travesty" that no penalty was called on Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano for his knee-on-knee hit on Ducks blue-liner Cam Fowler, according to the Los Angeles Times' Curtis Zupke.The Flames captain caught Fowler's knee after the Ducks rearguard took a shot on goal late in Tuesday night's 3-1 victory by Anaheim.Related: Fowler leaves in distress after Giordano hits him knee on kneeNo disciplinary hearing is scheduled between Giordano and the league for the incident, an NHL spokesman confirmed to Pro Hockey Talk's Mike Halford.Fowler will have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, according to the Orange County Register's Eric Stephens. The Ducks would only officially classify Fowler as day to day with a "lower-body" ailment.He appeared to be in severe pain following the hit Tuesday night, and needed help getting off the ice.Fowler leads the Ducks in average ice time by more than two-and-a-half minutes at 24:50, and tops all Anaheim defensemen with 39 points.Plenty could certainly change between now and the start of the playoffs, but if the standings remain as they are, the Ducks and Flames would face each other in the first round.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks' elder statesman appears to have avoided a major injury scare.Joe Thornton said he has "no doubt" about his availability for the Game 1 of the playoffs, three days after suffering with what appeared to be a serious leg issue."I'm a quick healer, so just a couple days, that's all I need," he told reporters after Wednesday's practice. "Who knows? Maybe I'll play (Thursday)."The 37-year-old forward left Sunday's game after going down awkwardly following a collision with Vancouver Canucks forward Michael Chaput near the boards in the offensive zone.Thornton appeared to have trouble putting weight on his left leg as he left the ice Tuesday night, but said Wednesday that he'll relish having a short-term recovery period."I knew I was going to come back quick(ly) anyway, so a couple of days (off) before the playoffs just to rest the body's probably not a bad thing. Maybe (I'll) play (Thursday), maybe (I'll) play Saturday and then go from there."Thornton missed his first game of the season Tuesday in a rematch between the two clubs, which finished with the same result as Sunday's contest, a 3-1 victory for San Jose.He said Wednesday that he had an MRI and "everything looked good."The Sharks host the Edmonton Oilers in a game with massive playoff implications Thursday night, then wrap up their regular-season schedule with a home date against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With three straight losses, the Buffalo Sabres are now tied for the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference.It's not a position Ryan O'Reilly had envisioned for his club entering this season.After consecutive down seasons where it looked as though the team was rebuilding, the Sabres have stumbled this year. Buffalo will now get set to conclude the regular season - without any playoff aspirations for the sixth straight year - and that has O'Reilly venting his frustrations."It's so disappointing, it's so frustrating coming to the rink right now," O'Reilly said, according to NHL.com's Joe Yerdon. "Practicing, there's no purpose right now. You're seeing other teams gearing up for playoffs and seeing teams, like a Toronto, who's young too, seeing them in the spot we should be in - it's very frustrating. I'm sick of losing, it's getting exhausting and it's not fun. It sucks the fun out of the game."O'Reilly is in his second campaign with the Sabres since being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche at the 2015 draft. Last season was almost equally as heartbreaking for O'Reilly, as the Sabres finished with the third-worst record in the East with 81 points."Your first year it's all right because there are so many new faces and you can see it took a while for guys to get used to each other in playing, but then this year you start to get things going and then you fall back into old habits again and our old ways and, again, that's a big piece of it is me," O'Reilly added."Being a leader, a lot of it falls on me, but to do it two years in a row like this and not go anywhere and not get any better is pathetic. It's so frustrating and things have got to change. We've got three games left here and we've got to prove something at least to ourselves."The Sabres have just three games remaining on the schedule, starting Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens, and you have to think at least one player will be looking to bring his A game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you were under the impression that Henrik Zetterberg isn't one of the classiest players in the league, this story will surely convince you.The following message was sent to the Ottawa Citizen by a fellow named Mike, whose friend Ryan was the victim of some beer spillage on Tuesday night in Ottawa:

A couple of Winnipeg Jets draftees will get their first taste of the NHL on Thursday night.Forward Jack Roslovic and goaltender Eric Comrie will both make their NHL debuts when the Jets take on the Columbus Blue Jackets, head coach Paul Maurice confirmed on Wednesday.Roslovic was plucked by the Jets in the 2015 first round, 25th overall, and is in the midst of his first professional season. He's produced 13 goals and 45 points over 61 games with the Manitoba Moose.Comrie - a second-round selection in 2013 - is in his second season with the Moose, where he's recorded a 17-25-2 record in 48 games, with a 2.98 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not all injury news was bad in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.After it was announced that Kris Letang would undergo surgery on a herniated disk in his neck and be out of the lineup for four-to-six months, head coach Mike Sullivan spoke about Evgeni Malkin and was confident the sniper would be back for the postseason."We're optimistic that Geno will be ready," Sullivan said. "He's been skating for a couple days now."Malkin has been out of the lineup since March 15 with a shoulder injury, missing the last 10 games. His return would be a welcome addition considering he sits second on the club with 33 goals and 72 points.In other injury news, players sidelined by various ailments - including Bryan Rust, Matt Cullen, and Olli Maatta, but minus Chris Kunitz - will join the team on their season-ending three-game road trip.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fans and players alike seem quite disappointed that the NHL won't be heading to the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Seeing a best-on-best international ice hockey tournament can always be exciting, but the fact that the league has opted not to attend might actually be a good thing for hockey.The tournament is suddenly wide openAnything can happen in sports, it's why the games are played. However, the prospect of another international best-on-best hockey tournament had one likely result: Team Canada winning it all.Canada has won three straight best-on-best tournaments, coming out on top at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. In fact, it hasn't lost a best-on-best game since a 5-3 defeat at the hands of the United States in the round robin stage of the 2010 Olympics.No country can match Canada's combination of forward depth, star talent on the blue line, and Carey Price between the pipes.However, with Canada projected to send a roster full of has-beens, the tournament is suddenly wide open. Russia will likely be the favorites thanks to their talent in the KHL, but both Sweden and Finland are rich with talent in their respective leagues. The NHL's absence should provide great parity.Everyone loves a good underdog storyIf Canada, or a Team USA squad full of misfits, were able to pull off a victory, it would be one of the greatest underdog stories in recent memory. Imagine the likes of T.J. Brennan and David Booth leading the U.S. to victory over a Russian team led by Ilya Kovalchuk? It would be reminiscent of the 1980 Miracle on Ice.Or maybe a team such as Latvia, who lost just 2-1 to a powerhouse Canadian team in the the quarter finals of the 2014 games despite lacking quality NHL talent, could make some noise. The possibilities are endless.Unknown players will become national heroesSidney Crosby's "Golden Goal" from the 2010 Olympics was an iconic moment in hockey history, but imagine if it was scored by, say, Rob Klinkhammer instead?Klinkhammer's life would change drastically. He would instantly become a beloved figure across Canada, much like how Mike Eruzione, who scored the game-winning goal in the 1980 Miracle on Ice, is beloved by hockey fans everywhere in the United States.The NHL won't shutdown for three weeksIn the past, the three-week Olympic break has been a burden for those players not participating in the games. It results in a condensed schedule, leading to more back-to-backs. Routinely playing three games in four nights can not only lead to more injuries, but a poorer overall quality of hockey since players are fatigued. It's easy to forget that professional athletes are humans, too.If you're a hockey-crazed fan, the three-week stretch during the Olympics could actually be pretty awesome. With the time change in South Korea, games will be on TV during times competitive hockey wouldn't normally be televised.Combined with the NHL's normal scheduling, this could result in entire days of non-stop competitive hockey on TV. Every day could wind up being like football Sundays, only for hockey. This is a dream come true for die hard fans of the game.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Shawn Thornton's playing career is winding down, though the 39-year-old will reportedly still work with the Florida Panthers in some capacity.Thornton will join the business side of the team next season, reports George Richards of the Miami Herald, specifying the position won't be in hockey operations.The veteran has spent the past three seasons of his 14 years in the NHL as a Panther. Though he was a fourth-liner for the majority of his career, he has two Stanley Cups to his name, winning with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 and the Boston Bruins in 2011. Not bad for a seventh-round pick.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will undergo surgery on a herniated disk in his neck, the team announced on Wednesday.The expected timeline for Letang's recovery is four-to-six months.The news is a crushing blow to the Penguins, who will now look to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions without their No. 1 defenseman."Kris underwent an MRI in February that revealed a herniated disc in his neck," General Manager Jim Rutherford said in a release. "Our neurosurgeons examined him and recommended conservative treatment in an attempt to correct the condition without surgery. Kris had been making progress and was hopeful of returning for the playoffs until about a week ago, when the progress plateaued. He underwent another MRI, and, at that point it was determined that surgery was needed."Letang has been out of the lineup since Feb. 21 and has been limited to just 41 games this season. The news is just the latest in a series of injuries that have plagued Letang throughout his career. Since he joined the league on a full-time basis during the 2007-08 season, he has missed 190 games.The 29-year-old will surely be missed as the team heads into the postseason. Letang led all Penguins blue-liners with 15 points in 23 games en route to his second Stanley Cup last season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL announced Monday that it won't participate in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. So, with American-born stars such as Auston Matthews and Patrick Kane seemingly unable to participate, the roster will look vastly different than expected.Team USA will be a mix of former NHLers skating overseas and players having great seasons in the AHL. The following names will likely draw one of two reactions:1) Oh, I remember him.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin scored his first regular-season goal in over 800 days in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was his first regular-season goal since Dec. 15, 2014 - a stretch of 150 games.When asked about how the goal transpired, Dumoulin provided quite a humorous remark."I think I blacked out," he told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.As a stay-at-home, shutdown defenseman, Dumoulin's job isn't to be scoring goals - the Penguins have enough high-end talent to take care of that. Although, the injury-hit team will surely take any contributions it can get.Dumoulin now has two goals and 30 assists over his 161-game career. He did, however, score two goals in 24 playoff games last spring during Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup-winning playoff run.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand will have a hearing Thursday morning for spearing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.The incident in question occurred late in the first period of Tuesday's contest when Marchand speared Dotchin between the legs.Related: Bruins' Marchand ejected for spearing Lightning's DotchinMarchand received a five-minute major for spearing and a game misconduct.Following the game, Marchand called the play an "undisciplined penalty" and tipped his hat to his Bruins teammates for killing it off.A suspension for Marchand could be detrimental to the Bruins, who have just two games remaining on the schedule. With a 4-0 win in Tuesday's contest, though, they have already punched their ticket to the postseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Flames fell 3-1 to the Ducks on Tuesday, extending their road losing streak against Anaheim to 25 games. The last time the Flames won a regular season game in Anaheim was Jan. 19, 2004.Let's take a look at how things were different in January '04:The Ducks were still "Mighty"Ah, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. We'd all love to see Anaheim sport their Disney-themed uniforms with more regularity. It wasn't until the 2006-07 season that the Mighty Ducks traded in their teal and purple uniforms for the black, gold, and orange to become simply the "Ducks."Ties were still a thingTying is such a terrible way to end a hockey game, but at the same time, shootouts aren't a whole lot better. Perhaps the most annoying part of ties was the need for four columns to write out a team's record.The Flames hadn't gone on their miracle Cup Final run yetAt the time of their Jan. 19 win, the Flames were 23-15-4-3. They would go on to finish sixth in the Western Conference, only to upset the Canucks, Red Wings, and Sharks before losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Lightning in seven games. Aside from Jarome Iginla in his prime, the Flames were led by a then-unknown Miikka Kiprusoff in goal and a 32-year-old Craig Conroy as their No. 1 center.Anaheim was just coming off their own miracle Cup runAlthough they failed to make the playoffs in 2003-04, the Mighty Ducks were just coming off a miracle Cup run of their own. Jean-Sebastien Giguere won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP, despite his team losing the series 4-3 to the Devils. Mike Babcock was the team's head coach and Paul Kariya was the captain and leading scorer in 2002-03.The 2004-05 NHL lockout hadn't happened yetThe infamous NHL lockout of 2004-05. It was the first year in league history when there was no champion. Sad, sad times.Neither Crosby nor Ovechkin had played an NHL gameIt feels like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have been the faces of the NHL for an eternity. But in 2004, neither had played an NHL game. In fact, neither had even been drafted yet.Connor McDavid just turned 7McDavid, the new face of the NHL, was born Jan. 13, 1997, and therefore had just turned 7 years old. He was probably already playing against 10-year-olds - and probably skating circles around them.Barret Jackman was the reigning Calder Trophy winnerJackman? He's not even in the NHL anymore. You're probably assuming it was a weak rookie class, but he actually edged out Henrik Zetterberg and Rick Nash to earn Rookie of the Year honors.There had only been two Harry Potter moviesOn a pop culture note, only two Harry Potter movies had been released in theatres. "The Prizoner of Azkaban," the third installment in the series, wouldn't come out until later that year."Hey Ya!" by OutKast was the No. 1 songYes, that song is still extremely catchy.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff race, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.Two of 16 playoff spots remain up for grabs after the Boston Bruins clinched their berth Tuesday, and barring a miracle, those spots are going to the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs.The New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning - the former winners and the latter losers Tuesday - are still alive, but only barely, while the Carolina Hurricanes were officially eliminated after losing in Minnesota.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Patrick Eaves scored his eighth goal in nine games, John Gibson made 26 saves, and the Anaheim Ducks moved closer to a fifth straight Pacific Division title with a 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.Kevin Bieksa ended his 47-game goal drought and Chris Wagner also scored as the Ducks recorded their 25th consecutive home regular-season victory over the Flames since Jan. 19, 2004, extending the longest such streak in NHL history.Mikael Backlund scored for Calgary, which has lost three of four.Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler left the game in the third period after a knee-on-knee hit from Flames captain Mark Giordano, who extended his leg and hit the U.S. Olympian's right knee well after he had shot the puck.Fowler crumpled and couldn't leave the ice under his own power after the hit from Giordano, who wasn't penalized.The hit set off a combative final period featuring 96 combined penalty minutes, including Josh Manson's battering of Giordano in a one-sided fight. The Flames had a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage while Anaheim had five players in the box midway through the period, but couldn't capitalize.''I think there's a lot of hate there,'' Manson said.The Ducks began the night two points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers, who have a game in hand. Anaheim has earned points in 12 consecutive games down the stretch, moving closer to a possible first-round matchup with the wild-card Flames.Flames goalie Brian Elliott made 16 saves after replacing Chad Johnson just 5:19 into the first period. The Flames' backup goalie left his first appearance since March 23 with an unspecified lower-body injury after stretching to make a pad save.Calgary hasn't won at Honda Center in the regular season since Darryl Sutter's Flames beat Mike Babcock's Ducks over 13 years ago. Anaheim's 25 straight victories over Calgary represent the longest winning streak in one arena against one opponent in NHL history.Honda Center fans serenaded the Flames with a loud chant of ''You can't win here!'' in the closing seconds.After Anaheim won 4-3 at Calgary on Sunday night on a late goal by Logan Shaw, the Flames were a step quicker than the Ducks in the first period of the rematch. Backlund ended an 11-game goal drought since March 11 with his 22nd goal of the season.Anaheim evened it early in the second when captain Ryan Getzlaf took a sneaky shot off a faceoff and Eaves capitalized for his 31st goal - 11 more than his previous career high.Bieksa then put Anaheim ahead when he slipped a stoppable shot past Elliott. The veteran defenseman hadn't scored a goal since Dec. 15.NOTES: The Ducks also played without key defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen, both out with upper-body injuries. ... Gibson was solid in just his third appearance since Feb. 20 for the Ducks, who hope their starting goalie has recovered enough from his nagging lower-body injury to return for the postseason. ... Calgary earned a playoff victory in Anaheim back in 2006 during the regular-season skid.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cam Ward made one hell of a save Tuesday night in Minnesota.The Carolina Hurricanes goaltender used every bit of his body to take a sure goal away from Wild forward Jason Pominville, who could only reach for his head after the fact.Pominville won't lose too much sleep about it, though, as his team won 5-3 and clinched second place in the Central Division.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Honka if you love overtime winners.Dallas Stars defenseman Julius Honka capped a dominant extra-frame shift with the first goal of his NHL career, courtesy of a top-shelf slap shot past Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes.The future is bright for the 14th overall pick at the 2014 NHL Draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators secured an important two points over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, but the result wasn't the only positive at Canadian Tire Centre.Veteran winger Clarke MacArthur, who's been out of NHL action for 18 months due to concussion problems, surprisingly got the nod to rejoin the lineup shortly before puck drop.Suffice to say, MacArthur was overjoyed to be back with his teammates."You don't know when you're going to get in, to get the call late in the day, and get a chance to play again it's just a great feeling." MacArthur told TSN's Brent Wallace. "It's been two years of never knowing if you're going to get back, or what's going to happen, I'm just happy to be back playing."It's a day I wasn't sure was going to come."MacArthur recorded one hit in 9:44 of ice time, and was named the game's third star, which earned him a standing ovation from the home crowd.

What a rip.Winnipeg Jets rookie Patrik Laine, who entered Tuesday's action without a goal in his past four games, scored his second of the night and 36th of the season with an absolute snipe past Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues.Laine now sits three goals behind Toronto's Auston Matthews for the rookie lead with two games remaining for the Jets.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.