The Toronto Maple Leafs bagged a critical regulation victory over the Boston Bruins on Monday when they capitalized on a late man advantage awarded on a questionable penalty call on Dominic Moore.Given the stakes, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy was understandably aggravated, calling the interference minor "egregious."He added in conversation with Sportsnet's Luke Fox, "It was a great game until the penalty call."Moore was flagged for this bump on an engaged Nikita Soshnikov while angling for position with his net-front drive.Tyler Bozak scored on the ensuing power play, giving the Maple Leafs their first lead with less than two minutes remaining in the game. They would score twice into the empty net to complete the four-game season sweep.Toronto's now just one point behind Boston with a game in hand in the chase for the final top-three seed in the Atlantic Division.(Video Courtesy: Stanley Cup of Chowder)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the patience to apply the bunt after the puck dropped below the crossbar, Patrick Maroon hit the 25-goal plateau Monday versus the Los Angeles Kings with some tidy hand-eye coordination.Maroon's career-best goal total entering the year was 11. He has 22 at even strength alone in his first full season with the Edmonton Oilers.The super sophomore who sent the puck airborne for Maroon with a shot off the shoulder of Jonathan Quick, Connor McDavid, reclaimed a provisional lead in the NHL scoring race with his 81st point.(Video courtesy NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk will sit for two.The 19-year-old rookie has been suspended two games for an elbow to the head of Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty on Sunday night, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Monday.Here's the explanation from the league:(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Doughty wasn't injured on the play, but he wasn't happy about it."He's a pretty dirty player, that kid," Doughty said of Tkachuk after Sunday's game.Tkachuk will forfeit $10,277.78 in salary and will miss road games in Washington on Tuesday and Nashville on Thursday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

PITTSBURGH - Jake Guentzel still finds himself staring. And really, it's kind of hard to blame him.A year ago he was fresh out of Nebraska-Omaha trying to find his legs with the Pittsburgh Penguins' AHL affiliate, all speed and youth and talent anxious at what the future might hold.And here he is now, the youngest member of the NHL's hottest line, sharing the ice with his childhood idol thinking to himself, `Yes, that really is Sidney Crosby over there.''Gulp.''It's crazy,'' Guentzel said with a shrug.And at the moment kind of unstoppable for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who remain in the thick of the Metropolitan Division race with Washington and Columbus despite missing 66 percent of its starting blue line and center Evgeni Malkin, who is out with an upper body injury that will keep him out of the lineup in Buffalo on Tuesday.Yet the Penguins have stayed afloat anyway thanks in part to Crosby's usual brilliance and an unexpected alliance created on the fly by head coach Mike Sullivan.Developing chemistry with the best player in the world can be an inexact science. Crosby, the 22-year-old Guentzel and 24-year-old Conor Sheary have created some almost instantaneously since Sullivan threw them together against Edmonton earlier this month.In the six games since they've started hopping over the boards together, they've combined for 10 of Pittsburgh's 20 goals and racked up 16 assists.Every red-light moment of Crosby's natural hat trick in Sunday's 4-0 victory over Florida came courtesy of the sticks of his precocious linemates, the ones who make up for in enthusiasm and innate hockey IQ what they lack in experience.''The main thing is that we're consistently getting chances,'' said Crosby, who leads the NHL with 40 goals. ''With that, it doesn't matter who gets them, they'll go in. Those guys have a ton of speed and they're strong on pucks and making plays. We'll continue to get better.''They'll certainly continue to play together indefinitely, though Crosby isn't one for trying to come up with some sort of gimmicky nickname like the ''HBK'' - Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel - that played so well together during last spring's run to the Cup a local restaurant chain created a sandwich in their honor.''I never got into the lines or the nicknames and I'm not going to start now,'' Crosby said with a laugh. ''I'll leave that up to you guys.''At 29, Crosby's old enough to know that nothing lasts forever. ''HBK'' might have been a revelation last summer, but they've long since split up.For now, Sid and the Kids (just a suggestion) will keep doing what they're doing, which is mainly keeping defenses scrambling to keep up.''Sid's the glue there that holds that line together but certainly the three of them, to a man they've all played terrific for us,'' Sullivan said.While playing alongside Crosby certainly helps, Sheary and Guentzel are more than keeping up. Sheary managed just seven goals in 44 games as a rookie in 2015-16. He's already at 20 goals in 51 so far this season, a 5-foot-8 gnat in skates relentlessly working his way into tight spaces or beating opponents to loose pucks.They also keep their heads up rather than developing tunnel vision about getting to the net and hoping for the best. Call it the byproduct of knowing Crosby is liable to try to find them at any moment while trying to thread a pass few others can make.Crosby and Sheary both offered Guentzel - who had two goals during his auspicious NHL debut in a loss to the New York Rangers in November - the same bit of advice so he wouldn't get too wide-eyed.''I may have told him once or twice just play your game,'' said Sheary, who went through a similar indoctrination process of learning to play with Crosby last season. ''Other than that he's a smart enough player, he's a good enough player. He can play with anyone.''It certainly looks that way. While it's hard to imagine Steph Curry or LeBron James hitting the court with two rookies in tow, Crosby has embraced the opportunity.While Sullivan stressed that Crosby remains ''the glue,'' having two players who seem immune to the pressure that comes with playing in the spotlight with the face of the NHL helps.''I don't think one's a scorer or one's a passer,'' Sullivan said. ''I think they're hockey players and they just play hockey. When the shot's there, they shoot. When it's not, they have the vision and the awareness and they see it.''And just as importantly, they're oblivious to the pressure of the moment. A quality that will be in high demand when Pittsburgh begins its quest to become the first team in two decades to repeat next month. No staring allowed.''Growing up you watch (Crosby),'' Guentzel said. ''So to be honest it's pretty special. I'm trying to make the most of it.''Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With nary a windup from outside the circle, Jack Eichel clobbered a one-touch shot through Petr Mrazek on the power play to reach the 50-point mark in his sophomore season.The NHL-grade snipe puts Eichel within three goals and six points of matching his rookie totals through 51-plus games. His near point-per-game output since making his season debut in late November sits just outside the NHL's top 10 scorers.The Sabres beat the Red Wings 2-1.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The U.S. women's national hockey team and USA Hockey both released statements after the two parties met Monday for over 10 hours to discuss fair wage and support issues. Both said the day's events were productive and talks are set to continue in the coming days.Here's the team's statement:

Morgan Rielly never gave up.The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman followed through Monday after grabbing a backhanded pass from rookie forward Mitch Marner before knocking the puck past Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask.The goal marked Rielly's third in his past five games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ben Bishop's introduction to Los Angeles isn't off to a Hollywood start.Acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning at this year's trade deadline, Bishop is winless in four efforts since the deal that sent him to California:Team Record GAA SV%Kings0-2-22.60.899Lightning16-12-32.55.911Bishop's most recent loss came Sunday at the hands of the Calgary Flames, when starter Jonathan Quick's night ended early after allowing two goals on seven shots. Bishop didn't fare much better in mop-up duty, allowing two on 16.As for Quick, who missed four months with a groin injury after being lost in the season opener, he's been solid since his late February return. The 2012 Conn Smythe winner has appeared in eight games since coming back, securing five wins alongside a .920 save percentage and a 2.19 GAA.The Kings are 4-3-1 since the trade deadline, with Quick recording all of the victories. Meanwhile, Bishop - a pending unrestricted free agent - has left critical points on the table against some inferior opponents, like the Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes.After winning its first Stanley Cup in 2012 and repeating the feat two seasons later, Los Angeles has appeared in just one playoff series since. Now six points shy of the postseason, there is a growing possibility the Kings will once again be on the outside of the playoff picture.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tortorella, one of the best.After defeating the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, the Columbus Blue Jackets collected two points to reach the century-point club for the first time in franchise history. It was the third time for coach John Tortorella.

The Detroit Red Wings will miss the postseason for the first time in 25 years, but there is at least one bright light as their playoff streak comes to a close.Sophomore forward Dylan Larkin, among last year's top rookies after finishing with 45 points, has finally rediscovered his offensive touch after struggling to score through much of the season:Date Range Games G A P P/GOct - Feb59127190.32Mar93580.89Second-year slumps aren't uncommon. Just ask Arizona's Anthony Duclair, who finished in the top 10 in Rookie of the Year voting last season, only for his production to dry up in 2016-17, where he's collected just 10 points and even saw a stint in the minors. Or Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon, who won the Calder Trophy in 2014 with 63 points, but hasn't matched that total in his three following campaigns.Larkin's uptick in offense lines up with his move to center, his junior position. He played wing in his freshman year and has spent most of this season playing the left side, but the organization projects him as a pivot long term. That has seen coach Jeff Blashill pair Larkin as the center to rookie Andreas Athanasiou, who he credits in part for his late-season turnaround."Playing with a guy like Andreas is huge," Larkin told Helene St. James of the Detroit Fress Press. "It makes myself, as a centerman, worry less about how we are going to get up the ice. In the Colorado game, a few times, I just threw it to his wing, where he was flying. You know he is going to get the puck in the other zone and then we are going to have chances to play offense."Larkin recorded a goal and an assist against the Avalanche on Saturday.As for the Red Wings, they'll sit out the playoffs for the first time since 1990, but with Larkin, alongside Athanasiou, Anthony Mantha, and a host of other emerging talents charged with leading the next wave, Detroit can't overlook the value in its young star regaining his scoring punch, and likely his confidence, with the team now looking ahead to its future.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zdeno Chara is tired of the lack of progress in the Olympic participation saga."Any time there's some sort of interference, it looks bad on the sport and it looks bad on the people making the decisions," the Boston Bruins captain said Monday, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun."We are at a point where people need to really sit down behind one table and find a solution, instead of always kind of being defensive I would say, or finding ways not to find solutions."A league source told LeBrun on Monday that no Olympic meetings are "currently on the docket," but Chara wants to see future in-person discussions that lead to a resolution."That's what I'm hoping for and believe that it will eventually happen," he said. "Things will find a way and fall into place for the Olympics, for the sport and for the history of all the nations being in the same place; come together and we will see the best hockey players for their countries at the Olympics.''Chara has played in three Olympic Games, and the hulking Slovak defenseman hopes to take part in a fourth."I think every player wants to be part of the Olympics. It's one of the biggest stages that any athlete can participate in and compete in. It makes it so special when you have your best athletes all over the world competing against each other."Many players have vocalized their desire to go to South Korea in 2018, and some have said they'll go individually whether or not the NHL agrees to participate.Related - Flyers' Voracek: NHL's indecision on Olympics is 'ridiculous'Last fall, the International Olympic Committee set a deadline of Jan. 15 for a decision, but that passed without one and the issue remains unresolved.At the All-Star festivities in L.A. in January, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly implied that Olympic participation in 2018 was unlikely.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Safe to say Daniel Winnik doesn't like the NHL's postseason format."It's stupid," the Washington Capitals forward told The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan Monday. "It's the stupidest thing ever."The league's divisional playoff format, instituted in 2014-15, matches the second and third-place teams in each division against one another in the first round.It was brought in to foster intra-division rivalries and create new ones, but Winnik thinks people are getting tired of watching similar matchups each spring."I’m sure fans are getting sick of seeing the same two teams play each other in the first round and second round," he said, according to The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.The Capitals became the first team this season to clinch a playoff spot Saturday night and currently hold the tiebreaker over the Columbus Blue Jackets for the league's best record.Related: Blue Jackets putting serious heat on Capitals in Presidents' Trophy raceA first-place finish would ensure the Capitals of a first-round matchup against the worse of the two Eastern Conference wild-card teams (right now, that's the Toronto Maple Leafs), whereas a slip to second place would force Washington to battle either the Blue Jackets or the Pittsburgh Penguins.That underscores just how important it will be to finish first, and those three Metropolitan Division foes are separated by a single point through Sunday's games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Like the players they employ, NHL executives get paid by performance, and Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving is owed some financial security.Treliving is the only GM in the league without a contract for next season, and while the focus in Calgary has suddenly shifted into a race for home ice in the Pacific Division playoffs, an extension for the 47-year-old is a must for the Flames this summer.Since his tenure begun in 2014, Treliving has built a strong roster short of any cap-restricting contracts, and his club is on the verge of reaching the postseason for the second time in three seasons.His track record isn't perfect - that's the nature of the beast as an NHL GM. However, his body of work far outshines his predecessor, Jay Feaster, who despite drafting the franchise cornerstones Treliving has masterfully kept together, has a trade track record that's far better left unseen for Flames fans.Here's a look at the current makeup of the Flames' core, all of whom had their contracts extended by Treliving.PlayerCap hitContract ExpiryT.J. Brodie$4.65M2020-21Mikael Backlund$3.575M2018-19Dougie Hamilton$5.75M2021-22Michael Frolik$4.3M2020-21Mark Giordano$6.75M2022-23Sean Monahan$6.375M2023-24Johnny Gaudreau$6.75M2022-23Treliving's heist of Hamilton from the Boston Bruins and the extension that followed may stand as his best move to date. He's also responsible for drafting forwards Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk, who look to be on a fast track to increased prominence in Calgary's offensive strategy going forward.After Treliving gets signed, Calgary's roster situation is destined to shift, as Dennis Wideman's ($5.25M) and Deryk Engelland's ($2.9M) hefty cap hits come of the books.Ideally, the extra money can be allocated to the expiring deals of Bennett, trade deadline steal Michael Stone, and Brian Elliott, who looks to have returned to the form Treliving desired when pulling the trigger to acquire him at the draft.All in all, Treliving has built a young, competitive roster that's improved drastically under his command, and it's imperative to the Flames' future success that he's awarded the chance to bring the club to the next step.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's just something about Boston-based sports stars.Bruins forward Brad Marchand channeled New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski when asked about Bobby Orr on the legendary defenseman's 69th birthday."It's a great age," Marchand told reporters Monday, according to CSNNE's Joe Haggerty. "Great year. He's an incredible human being."The comment came less than an hour after Marchand was named the NHL's first star of the week for piling up five goals and nine points in three games.Gronkowski has shown a near-obsessive fascination with 'the sex number' over the years.Related: Gronkowski's GF says he's been telling 69 jokes since he was 3By all accounts, this is new territory for Marchand, but we eagerly await Orr's response.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Markus Granlund is going under the knife.The Vancouver Canucks forward will have surgery to repair an ongoing wrist issue and his recovery timetable won't be provided until after the procedure, the club announced Monday.Granlund posted 19 goals and 32 points in 69 games with the Canucks this season.The 23-year-old was a second-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2011.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been nearly three weeks since the clock struck 3 p.m. ET on trade deadline day, so it's time to take stock of how some of the biggest acquisitions have fared.There have been a few early disappointments, but most of the players dealt on or before March 1 have already made an impact with their new teams. Thomas Vanek, Drew Stafford, and Alex Burrows have each produced at an impressive clip since changing uniforms.Ben Bishop, the deadline's biggest goaltending prize, has allowed only 10 goals in four games since being traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Los Angeles Kings, but he is 0-2-2 with an .899 save percentage with his new squad.Here's how the most significant skaters have done since their respective deals:PlayerTeamGPGAPP/GPThomas VanekFLA91670.77Drew StaffordBOS72350.71Alex BurrowsOTT104370.7Sven AndrighettoCOL82350.625David DesharnaisEDM72240.57Mark StreitPIT91450.55Patrick EavesANA103250.5Jarome IginlaLAK83140.5Kevin ShattenkirkWAS80440.5Martin HanzalMIN120550.42Johnny OduyaCHI51120.4Valtteri FilppulaPHI91230.33Viktor StalbergOTT102130.3Jordie BennMTL92020.22Jannik HansenSJ60110.17P.A. ParenteauNSH40000Vanek hasn't scored much since being acquired by the Florida Panthers, but he posted a four-point game against the Toronto Maple Leafs last week.Burrows leads all deadline acquisitions with four goals, but his production comes with an important caveat.

No surprise here, but Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was named the NHL's first star of the week after registering five goals and four assists in three games, including his second-career hat trick in a marvelous performance against the Canucks. The 28-year-old's surge has propelled him into second place in the league's goal scoring (37) and points races (79).The only player with more goals than Marchand, Sidney Crosby, received second star honors after netting eight points in four games, highlighted by a natural hat trick Sunday versus the Panthers to hit the 40-goal mark for the second time in his career.Lastly, red-hot Calgary Flames netminder Brian Elliott was designated as the third star after going 3-0-0 with a sparkling 1.95 goals against average and .926 save percentage. Elliott has won 11 consecutive starts, matching Flames icon Mike Vernon for the longest such run in franchise history.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Our Covers NHL cheat sheet breaks down the best NHL betting notes so you can handicap the week like a pro, including the one-sided recent history between the rival New York Rangers and New York Islanders.Season Sweep Bruin for Leafs?The Toronto Maple Leafs have their eye on a very satisfying season sweep as they tangle with the division-rival Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre on Monday night. Both teams are jockeying for position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, and a win would carry great significance for the Leafs as they cling to the second wild-card berth entering the week. Toronto has dominated the season set, out scoring the Bruins 14-7 over the first three games. The Leafs haven't won four straight games against Boston since 1967, the year they last captured the Stanley Cup.Rangers Reeling vs. Rival IslesOne of the most heated geographical rivalries in hockey resumes Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden when the New York Rangers entertain an Islanders team chasing the pack for an Eastern Conference wild card spot. The Isles enter Monday just one point behind the Leafs for the second wild card, and have recent history squarely on their side in Wednesday's tilt. They have victories in nine of the previous 12 games between the teams, with four of the previous five contests playing to the Over. They have also scored three or more goals six straight times vs. the Rangers.Another Wild Result vs. Canucks?Take a good hard look at the recent history between the Canucks and Wild before taking a shot at a totals wager when these two teams meet Saturday afternoon in Minnesota. While the Wild have one of the best goal prevention units in the NHL - and the Canucks can't seem to score away from Vancouver - these teams have filled the scoresheet in their last four games, averaging a combined 8.3 goals per contest to hit the Over each time. Don't be surprised to see this game boast a 5.5 or even a 6, despite the Wild's elite D and Vancouver's road struggles.Injury News* The loss of defenseman Christian Folin to an arm injury has played a role in the Wild's recent defensive problems. Minnesota has dropped seven of eight games in Folin's absence and has allowed three or more goals seven times in that span.* Devils winger Michael Cammalleri remains sidelined with an upper-body injury that has limited him to just one game this month. New Jersey has lost seven of eight games without him and has scored two or fewer goals five times over that stretch.Player Notes* Sidney Crosby is at it again, potting a natural hat trick to reach the 40-goal plateau in the Penguins' 4-0 triumph over Florida on Sunday. The Pens are a scorching 20-1-2 SU and 16-6-1 O/U in games in which Crosby records multiple points.* Brad Marchand's magnificent March has had an impact on both the Bruins' playoff push and its totals record. Marchand enters Monday with nine goals and four assists this month, during which Boston has gone 5-3 SU and 5-2-1 O/U.* Has Devan Dubnyk fallen out of Vezina Trophy contention? The Minnesota goalie is a dismal 2-6-0 with a 2.61 goals-against average so far this month, and is just 9-9-0 with a 2.67 GAA since the All-Star break. The six losses are his most in any month.Stanley Cup Futures* Don't look now, but the Columbus Blue Jackets are making a charge for the best record in hockey. The Blue Jackets extended their winning streak to four games with a 4-1 win over New Jersey on Sunday, and enter the week tied with the Washington Capitals at a league-best 100 points. This latest surge has Columbus installed at +950 to win its first Stanley Cup title, according to Sports Interaction.* A late-season collapse has had an impact on the Wild's odds of winning the league title for the first time. Minnesota finds itself at +600 as of Monday, the second-best odds in the Western Conference and fourth-best in the league. But things might be getting better down the stretch for the Wild, who will play seven of their final 11 regular-season games in the friendly confines of Xcel Energy Center.* It's a bad time for a rough stretch from the Ottawa Senators (+1,300) who have one of the toughest remaining schedules in the league. The Sens enter the week having lost four straight games, including back-to-back contests to the division-leading Canadiens - and with eight of their final 11 games on the road, and two of their three home games coming against the Pens and Rangers, it could be tough sledding in Ottawa.Over/Under Trends* Low-scoring games have become the norm for the St. Louis Blues, who enter the week having gone 3-8-2 O/U in their previous 13 games. The Over drought has moved the Blues back to even on the season at 30-30-11 O/U.* The Tampa Bay Lightning are coming off their longest Under stretch of 2016-17, putting together seven in a row before seeing that streak come to an end in Saturday's 5-3 setback to Washington. Tampa Bay is now 31-33-7 O/U for the season.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 Monday, March 20 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

Calgary Flames rookie Matthew Tkachuk will have a hearing for elbowing Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty in the head, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Monday.Here's the play:Tkachuk wasn't assessed a penalty on the play, but after the game Doughty was outspoken, calling the 19-year-old a "pretty dirty player."It's not the first time Tkachuk has ruffled feathers this season, as he avoided supplemental discipline after slew-footing Maple Leafs defenesman Martin Marincin in January.Tkachuk's antics could begin to outweigh a fine debut season if they persist, as last year's sixth-overall pick has 13 goals and 33 assists in 68 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Get your popcorn ready.Intrigue abounds with about three weeks left in the NHL's regular season. On both individual and team levels, the final push before the playoffs should feature no shortage of excitement.Here are three major storylines to pay attention to during the home stretch:Eastbound traffic jamThe "loser point" has been wreaking havoc in the East all season, and the oft-debated point awarded for overtime and shootout losses could end up deciding who gets in and who doesn't in a crowded race for the final wild-card spot.(Courtesy: NHL.com)The Toronto Maple Leafs have benefited most from the single point, and they have the inside track with a game in hand on all potential usurpers except the Carolina Hurricanes, as well as more regulation-or-overtime wins (the first playoff tiebreaker) than all but the New York Islanders among those battling it out for the final playoff positions.Considering the ROW totals, it's likely a three-horse race between the Leafs, Islanders, and Tampa Bay Lightning.The schedule doesn't exactly favor the Philadelphia Flyers, while the postseason hopes of the Hurricanes and Florida Panthers have all but faded. Each of these three teams would need a near-perfect finish coupled with disastrous skids by the better-positioned clubs.But hey, anything is possible. Right, Kevin?Rocket menThe race for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy looks like Sidney Crosby's to lose.Crosby's hat trick Sunday gave him a three-goal cushion over Brad Marchand in the goal-scoring race, but it's not over yet by any means. Vladimir Tarasenko sits three goals behind the Boston Bruins forward, followed by a handful of players tied with one fewer tally than the St. Louis Blues sniper.Here's how the top Richard contenders' schedules look this week:PlayerGoals MonTuesWedThuFrSatSunCrosby40@BUF@OTTNYIPHIMarchand37@TOROTTTB@NYITarasenko34@COLVANCGYNIkita Kucherov33ARI@BOS@DETPatrik Laine33PHI@LA@ANAVANMax Pacioretty33DETCAROTTCam Atkinson33TOR@WASPHIEvgeni Malkin also has 33 goals, but his injury will make it tough to catch his top-ranked teammate.Getting to the pointBarring a surge from one of the other contenders, Crosby really only has to worry about fellow Nova Scotian Marchand in the goal-scoring race, but winning the Art Ross Trophy will be more difficult.Crosby is tied with Connor McDavid atop the points leaderboard, with a trio of stars in close pursuit. Here's how their respective weeks break down:PlayerPointsMonTuesWedThuFriSatSunCrosby80@BUF@OTTNYIPHIMcDavid80LA@ANA@COLCOLMarchand79@TOROTTTB@NYIPatrick Kane79VANDAL@FLANicklas Backstrom75CGYCBJARIMcDavid gets the league-worst Colorado Avalanche twice, while Patrick Kane faces three non-playoff teams with no back-to-backs.Buckle up, because it should be an entertaining ride.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's safe to say Drew Doughty isn't a huge fan of Calgary Flames rookie Matthew Tkachuk.After being on the receiving end of a dirty and dangerous elbow to the head from Tkachuk on Sunday night in Calgary, the Los Angeles Kings defender was honest when talking about the 19-year-old and the play after the game."He's a pretty dirty player, that kid," Doughty said, according to LA Kings Insider's Jon Rosen. "To be a rookie and play like that is a little surprising. I don't know exactly what happened because I got hit in the head, but I thought he elbowed me. ... Whatever it was, it hurt pretty bad, and it's going to hurt for a bit."Doughty was helped off the ice after the incident, which occurred late in the first period, but was back on the bench to start the second period. He ended up playing a Doughty-like 28:14.It's not the first time Doughty and Tkachuk have battled this season."It's just that every game I've played against him basically, me and him get after it a little bit," Doughty added. "Obviously, partially that's my fault, too, because I like to get under people's skin, too. He's a young guy in the league, and I don't think he necessarily meant to hurt me or anything like that, but he did."While Tkachuk wasn't penalized on the play, it's highly possible he'll be hearing from the NHL's Department of Player Safety in the coming days.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.The Los Angeles Kings are in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the second time in three years.Darryl Sutter and company's postseason aspirations took a huge hit Sunday, while the Kings' 5-2 loss was a welcome result for the Nashville Predators - the team L.A. is chasing.Here's a look at the playoff races' most significant swings after Sunday's action:Western ConferenceTeam Result Playoff Chances ChangeKingsL 5-2 vs. Flames9.9%-8.3%PredatorsOff93.1%+3.5%FlamesW 5-2 vs. Kings98.9%+3.1%Eastern ConferenceTeamResultPlayoff ChancesChangeSenatorsL 4-1 vs. Canadiens96.9%-1.3%PanthersL 0-4 vs. Penguins0.5%-0.8%IslandersOff26.2%+1.0%Maple LeafsOff63.4%+0.7%To see percentages for the entire NHL, visit Sports Club Stats.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Remember when Brian Elliott couldn't win a game? Times have changed.The Calgary Flames goaltender added another victory to his 2016-17 resume Sunday night, a 5-2 decision over the Los Angeles Kings. Elliott also tied a Flames franchise record set by Mike Vernon almost 30 years ago by winning his 11th straight game.Elliott made 19 saves Sunday and is a huge reason why Calgary improved to 13-1-1 over its last 15 games.After recording only three wins through November (all came in October), he's making up for lost time. Elliott is 16-4-2 with a .925 save percentage since Jan. 1, and is an obscene 7-0 in March with a dazzling .952 save percentage.With the Flames in Washington on Tuesday, Elliott's now got work to do in order to claim the club record for himself. Right now, though, betting against Calgary - and Elliott - is a fool's errand, regardless of the opposition.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is a recording: The Chicago Blackhawks are headed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Chicago's 6-3 comeback win - combined with the Los Angeles Kings' 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames - meant the Blackhawks officially clinched their postseason berth late Sunday night.It's the ninth straight season that Chicago will compete for the Stanley Cup, all with Joel Quenneville behind the bench - the man can coach. And if recent odd-year history is any indication, the Blackhawks could be due for their fourth Cup in the Quenneville era this year, having won in 2015 and 2013. And, yes, we're just about into dynasty territory here.Chicago's the top seed in the Western Conference, seven points up on Minnesota, thanks to a 24-9 run since Jan. 1.For L.A., the loss was a massive one. Calgary's now 11 points clear of the Kings in the Pacific, and back into third place in the division. Los Angeles is 10 points back of Edmonton for the first wild-card spot, and remains six points back of Nashville for the second. Each team has played 71 games.The Kings are running out of time, in other words.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The waiver wire doesn't always produce a rich harvest, but Paul Byron is certainly proving to be a considerable exception.The Montreal Canadiens center scored his 20th goal of the season in Sunday's win over Ottawa, making general manager Marc Bergevin look like a genius for scooping him off waivers and locking him up to a contract extension.

Blake Wheeler's officially a member of the 500 club.With two assists Sunday, the Jets captain now has 500 career points, joining Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and David Krejci as players from the 2004 draft class who have hit the mark. (Andrew Ladd, whom Wheeler replaced as Jets captain, will soon join them; he's at 493 career points.)Wheeler was selected fifth overall by the then-Phoenix Coyotes, but never played a game with the club. He signed with the Boston Bruins as a free agent in 2008, but it's in Winnipeg that his career blossomed. He was acquired by the then-Atlanta Thrashers in a February 2011 trade, along with Mark Stuart, in a deal that sent Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik to Boston.And it's safe to say both teams are happy with how the trade worked out. Wheeler traveled north to Winnipeg when the Jets were reborn for the 2011-12 season, and the Bruins won the 2011 Stanley Cup. Peverley scored four goals - including two game-winners - and added eight assists in 25 playoff games, won 53 percent of his faceoffs, and played over 16 minutes a night on the run. He did his part and earned his ring.Wheeler took off in his first full campaign in Winnipeg in his age 25 season, playing over 19 minutes a night and becoming a focal point of the Jets' offense. He's kept it up, and is today one of the more underrated stars in the NHL.SeasonTeam Points Per Game2008-09Bruins0.562009-10Bruins0.462010-11Bruins/Thrashers0.542011-12Jets0.802012-13Jets0.852013-14Jets0.842014-15Jets0.772015-16Jets0.952016-17Jets0.82** 2016-17 stats don't include Sunday's statistics.Wheeler's only become more consistent as he's aged. He's scored 20 or more goals in each of his last four seasons, and finished with 19 in 48 games in lockout-shortened 2012-13.The only issue for Wheeler during his time in Winnipeg is the fact he's played just four postseason games with the club. He'll try to add to that total next year.All in all, though, both teams certainly have no regrets with how things ended up. And that's nice, for a change, right?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

MONTREAL - Carey Price made 30 saves for his 33rd win of the season and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-1 on Sunday night to sweep the home-and-home series.Tomas Plekanec, Jordie Benn, Paul Byron and Nathan Beaulieu scored for the Canadiens, who lead the Atlantic Division by four points over the Senators, who still have one game in hand.Tom Pyatt scored a first-period goal for the Senators. Craig Anderson stopped 33 shots.The Canadiens also beat the Senators in Ottawa on Saturday, winning 4-3 in a shootout. Price made 28 saves in that game, while Anderson stopped 29 shots in defeat.With Montreal leading 2-1 in the third period Sunday, Byron made it a two-goal lead for the Canadiens when he went five-hole on Anderson at 3:30, opting to shoot while on a 2-on-1 with Plekanec.The goal was Byron's 20th of the season. He also added an assist on Montreal's first goal of the game.Beaulieu made in 4-1, on the power play, scoring with a slap shot from the blue line with Anderson screened by Artturi Lehkonen at 5:08.Montreal is now 8-4-2 in the second game of a back-to-back. The Senators are 6-4-1.Sunday's game had big playoff implications, and the energy on the ice and atmosphere in the stands were definitely playoff-like. Montreal came out flying, only needing 28 seconds to get the sell-out crowd off its feet.Plekanec scored his first goal since Jan. 24 when Andrei Markov's shot from the point bounced off Anderson's chest and fell right to the veteran center in the crease for his eighth of the season.The lead was short-lived as Pyatt scored the equalizer at 4:36 of the first when his shot from close range deflected off Benn's stick and skipped over Price's outstretched pad.Benn made up for the mistake later in the same period when his shot from the point deflected off Viktor Stalberg's stick to beat Anderson glove side at 17:45.NOTES: Price only faced six shots in the second period, but needed to be at his best when Kyle Turris fired a one-timer. The Canadiens goalie sprang to his right and did the splits to get his toe on the puck. ... Montreal's Alexei Emelin was back in the lineup after he was a healthy scratch in Ottawa. ... The Canadiens are 10-4-0 under Claude Julien. ... Torrey Mitchell played his 600th NHL game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Johnny Hockey, indeed.Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau wowed the home crowd Sunday with this breakaway move on Ben Bishop and the Los Angeles Kings.The play was kick-started by a perfect pass from Sean Monahan, who frequently collaborates with Gaudreau.The goal was Gaudreau's 16th of the season, and quite possibly the prettiest.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Calgary Flames rookie forward Matthew Tkachuk may soon hear from the NHL after a blatant elbow to the head of Los Angeles' Drew Doughty.No penalty was called for the elbow itself - which occurred late in the first period - although Tkachuk drew two minutes for roughing during the ensuing scrum.Here's a closer, slowed-down look:

Things fell apart rather quickly for the Colorado Avalanche after amassing a 3-1 lead over the Blackhawks in Chicago on Sunday, and by quickly, we mean "blink and you missed it."It all started with Jonathan Toews' 19th goal of the season, which was deemed good after a lengthy offside review. While Toews scored by deflecting the puck in front of the net, the zone entry did not appear to be on the level.

Nothing new to see here - just Carey Price being Carey Price.The Montreal Canadiens' all-world netminder - starting his second game in as many nights - showed no signs of fatigue on this play, springing across the crease to make an incredible toe save on Ottawa's Kyle Turris.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bruce Boudreau's on a five-game regulation losing streak for the first time in his coaching career, and his postgame scrum Sunday perfectly summed up how he was feeling.The Minnesota Wild erased a 4-0 deficit, scoring four in the second period to tie the game, but eventually fell 5-4. Boudreau wanted nothing of a question about his club's "resiliency" in almost pulling off a miracle comeback:

Hips don't lie.In Claude Giroux's case, an inability to bounce back quickly from offseason hip surgery has taken a toll at times this season, the Philadelphia Flyers captain admitted prior to Sunday's game against the Hurricanes."When you try to make plays you used to make and can't really make them, it is frustrating and confusing," Giroux said, according to Marc Narducci of Philly.com. "When you start getting the confidence back, you know you can make those plays you just go out there and make it happen."Giroux added, "Even if you don't feel good out there, you have to find the right way to be strong mentally."Giroux's numbers are indeed down - his 14 goals and 37 assists through 70 games have him on pace for production levels unseen since early in his career.The good news is that he's been able to play every game for the Flyers this season, and a healthy summer with regular workouts will be key to the team's chances of bouncing back with a more successful 2017-18.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid and Cam Talbot have the Edmonton Oilers on the cusp of the playoffs.And while the world is now well aware of the absurd talent McDavid possesses, as the 20-year-old eyes his first of many Art Ross and Hart trophies, it can be argued that Talbot's been as crucial to the Oilers' success as No. 97.Related: Talbot continues climb among Oilers' all-time netminding greatsBy now, you know the facts: No goalie has played more games, faced more shots, and made more saves than Talbot. And you can forget about fatigue - Talbot's save percentage is an exceptional .929 in March.Talbot's not worried about the workload. It's the culmination of his hard work, his journey to becoming a No. 1, and of the habits he picked up along the way."I've always had a pretty good work ethic and I got to sit behind one of the best in the world and watch his work ethic for two years," Talbot told NHL.com's Tim Campbell, reflecting on his two seasons as Henrik Lundqvist's backup with the New York Rangers.After providing excellent relief in 34 starts in 2015-16 when Lundqvist was hurt, Talbot got his chance. He was traded to the Oilers for three draft picks in late June 2015, and, in his late 20s, he knew it was now or never. When the time came, he planned to be ready. And he was. He is.Now, with a top-10 save percentage in the league, Talbot is willing to look back, albeit briefly."I did a good job preparing myself," he said.Talbot signed a three-year extension last January, and he certainly hasn't let the security of $12.5 million affect how hard he works, or his game."You can never be too sure," he said. "You want to be confident in yourself. But I still had something to prove to myself, and to this organization when they traded for me. I think I've done a pretty good job of that."If you disagree, you're wrong. Simple as that.Talbot has never started a playoff game. That'll change this spring. In two limited postseason relief appearances in 2014, the 29-year-old stopped 11 of 13 shots. Here's another safe bet: That .846 save percentage is going up.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eric Staal became the first player from the 2003 NHL Draft class to appear in his 1,000th career game Sunday in Winnipeg.The milestone wasn't lost on him, despite the fact his Minnesota Wild dropped a fifth straight game, this time to a Jets club far down in the standings.

March hasn't been too kind to the Minnesota Wild ... or their head coach.The former Central Division leaders traveled north for a date with the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, falling 5-4 to bring their record to 2-8 this month.It was also Minnesota's fifth consecutive defeat in regulation - the first time a team under the command of Boudreau has ever done so, per Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.The Wild put forth a valiant effort against the Jets, heavily controlling the shot counter (48-21), and erasing a 4-0 deficit to tie the game with four goals in a span of just over 10 minutes in the second period. But it wasn't enough.The loss also kept the gap between Minnesota and the Central-leading Chicago Blackhawks at five points, a stunning development after the Wild were nine points clear of their division rivals a month ago.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames signed goaltender Tyler Parsons to a three-year, entry-level contract, the club announced Sunday.A second-round draft pick last year, Parsons starred for the U.S. at this year's world juniors, as the Americans won gold over Canada in a shootout. Parsons was perfect in the skills competition with the championship on the line, stopping all five Canadian shooters he faced.The 19-year-old certainly has a winning pedigree, as his resume includes a Memorial Cup championship - won in overtime - with London last year. He's apparently clutch, too.Parsons has also produced an excellent 2016-17 season in the OHL, with a .925 save percentage in 34 games. He's gotten better in each of his three junior campaigns:Season GP SV % SO2014-1533.90502015-1649.92142016-1734.9254From Chesterfield, Mich., Parsons is 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, and - the Flames hope - the goalie of the future in Calgary.Also on Sunday, the Flames announced the signing of forward Ryan Lomberg to a two-year, two-way contract beginning next season. Lomberg's spent this season in the AHL, and has eight goals and 11 assists in 57 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dustin Byfuglien got the better of one of the NHL's top goalies in fine fashion.The Winnipeg Jets defenseman joined the rush and fired a wicked backhand from the faceoff circle that found its way over Devan Dubnyk's left shoulder during Sunday's game against Minnesota.Blake Wheeler drew the assist on the play, marking his 500th career point.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Micheal Ferland's breakout season has hit a speed bump.The Calgary Flames left winger will miss Sunday's game against Los Angeles while under observation for mumps, the team announced.Several players around the league have been diagnosed with mumps in recent weeks, most notably in Vancouver and Minnesota.Ferland's recorded 14 goals and seven assists in 67 games this season, and will be replaced in the lineup by Curtis Lazar, who'll make his debut with the Flames.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Before maturing into one of the NHL's finest producers, Brad Marchand's name was in headlines among the hockey community generally for the wrong reasons.Now in the midst of his best professional campaign, the Boston Bruins super pest-turned-offensive dynamo has caught the attention of the NHL world for crafting a flat-out incredible season.On Sunday afternoon, Marchand sits in second place in the ever-changing NHL scoring race, one point behind Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. His 37 goals trail only Crosby, and since the calendar flipped to 2017, no player has been more productive.In 32 games since Jan. 1, Marchand leads the league with 27 goals and 48 points, naturally thrusting his name into the mix for the "Rocket" Richard, Art Ross and perhaps even the Hart Trophy.However, an MVP award isn't on Marchand's mind."I'm not even paying attention to any of it," Marchand told CSNNE's Joe Haggerty. "We're at the end of the season, and that's so important. That's the only thing that matters right now."Marchand and the Bruins are looking to snap a two-year absence from the postseason, and currently hold a three-point cushion for third place in the Atlantic Division heading into Monday's pivotal clash with the pressing Toronto Maple Leafs.Toronto coach Mike Babcock, who slotted Marchand alongside Crosby and Patrice Bergeron at the World Cup in September to galvanize No. 63's coming-out party, believes Marchand deserves to be recognized as one of the game's top forwards."No one's driving his team harder," Babcock told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "Marchy's a great guy and he's a real good player, plays hard. He's competitive. He's all-in every day and he does a good job for his team."Marchand might be in tough to outshine Crosby and McDavid in the eyes of voters, but he can no longer be ignored. Whatever he amounts to over the course of Boston's next 11 games, his presence among the NHL's elite forwards is now firmly cemented.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Over the final three weeks of the season, the race to watch is atop the Metropolitan Division standings.What happened Sunday?With a win over New Jersey, the Columbus Blue Jackets earned their 100th point of the season, and not only matched the Washington Capitals for first in the Metro and the NHL as a whole, but also became the second team to clinch a playoff spot.Not to be outdone, the Pittsburgh Penguins benefited from a natural hat trick by Sidney Crosby to beat Florida, climbing within one point of both Washington and Columbus.All three teams, therefore, are in the running for first in the Metro, as well as the Presidents' Trophy as the league's best team in the regular season (the Blackhawks, with 97 points, are the next-best club).Finishing first in the Metro, however, matters on a much deeper level.What's at stake?Based on the NHL's current playoff format, the team that finishes first in the Eastern Conference - which, at this point, will definitely come from the Metro - would be matched up with the second wild-card team in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Meanwhile, the second- and third-place teams in the Metro - and quite possibly the NHL - would meet, with the loser facing the harsh reality of getting bounced in the first round despite one of the league's best regular-season records.As of Sunday ev, here's a look at the relevant matchups:

NEWARK, N.J. - Lukas Sedlak and Brandon Dubinsky scored on penalty shots and the Columbus Blue Jackets clinched their third playoff berth in franchise history with a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.This was only the third time in NHL history that a team scored twice in a game on penalty shots. Thomas Gradin and Ivan Hlinka of Vancouver did it against Detroit in 1982, and Ryane Clowe and Joe Thornton of San Jose converted against Washington in 2009.The win was the fourth straight for the Blue Jackets, gave them their first 100-point season and moved them into a tie with Washington for the NHL's best record with 11 games left. Columbus, which joined the league in 2000, last made the playoffs in 2014.Boone Jenner added two goals, one short-handed and the other into an empty net. Sergei Bobrovsky made 35 saves for Columbus, which is 12-3-1 in its last 16 games.Adam Henrique scored for the Devils, whose season is all but over after falling to 1-10-2 in its last 13.Columbus, which was its second game in as many days, jumped to a 2-0 lead with a pair of short-handed goals on the Devils' first two power plays.Sedlak, who was in the lineup because Alexander Wennberg was hurt on Saturday against the Islanders, was taken down by Devils defenseman Andy Greene on a breakaway a minute after Josh Anderson was sent off for tripping.On his penalty shot, Sedlak skated to the edge of the right circle, cut toward the middle and beat Cory Schneider with a low shot to the left corner for his seventh goal.With Matt Calvert off for tripping, Jenner outworked three Devils behind the net to gain control of the puck and eventually knocked the rebound of Jack Johnson's shot off Schneider at 10:23 for his 15th goal.Henrique got the Devils back into the game just seven seconds later, breaking in after taking a pass from Pavel Zacha and sliding the puck between the legs of Bobrovsky.Dubinsky converted the second penalty shot at 6:28 of the second period after Anderson was taken down on a breakaway by Dalton Prout. Anderson was hurt on the play and there was some confusion about who would take the shot.Columbus coach John Tortorella initially sent out Sam Gagner to take it, but the officials ruled that he was not on the ice at the time of the penalty. Dubinsky took it, beating Schneider high to the left corner with a move similar to the one by Sedlak.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby went to work on Sunday with the Florida Panthers in town.The Kid buried a natural hat trick, giving him a league-leading 40 tallies this season and 10 career three-goal performances. All three of his markers were assisted by linemates Jake Guentzel and Conor Sheary.With his latest goal, Crosby also moved into a tie with Connor McDavid atop the scoring race with 80 points on the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

USA Hockey will sit down with members of the women's national team to discuss wage and inequality issues that have prompted the players to boycott the IIHF World Championship in Plymouth, Mich., later this month, according to the Associated Press' Stephen Whyno.The meeting, to be held in Philadelphia, will occur two days before the team is scheduled to begin training camp.It was announced Wednesday that until significant progress is made toward rectifying these disparities, players would not report to the tournament, which is scheduled to begin March 31.Since that announcement, USA Hockey and the women's national team haven't appeared to be progressing closer to a resolution, trading pointed releases, statements, and tweets.At the crux of the issue is the lack of compensation the highly successful team receives during non-Olympic years. Players say they earn "virtually nothing" outside the six-month residency program, wherein which they earn as little as $1,000 per month.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A penalty-shot goal in itself is a rarity in the NHL, but two in the same game? From the same team? Come on.After Lukas Sedlak converted his opportunity versus the Devils in the first period Sunday, Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky was awarded another free attempt, which he promptly roofed over Cory Schneider.Dubinsky's tally marked only the third time in NHL history that a team has scored on two penalty shots in a single game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel came to Pittsburgh as an elite goal-scorer, but the veteran winger has proven to be far more in his second season with his new club.Kessel and linemate Patric Hornqvist combined for a gorgeous opening goal Sunday against the Florida Panthers, the former lobbing an alley-oop pass over the net before the latter batted the puck out of midair and into the cage.The flashy assist was Kessel's 41st of the season, while the goal was Hornqvist's 18th of 2016-17.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.