The Dallas Stars have signed forward Adam Cracknell to a one-year extension worth $675,000, the club announced Wednesday.Cracknell's scored seven goals and has matched a career high with 10 points in 53 games in his first season with the Stars.He signed for $600,000 as a free agent last summer.Stars general manager Jim Nill said the following about the 31-year-old:

Alex Ovechkin has been the NHL's top goal scorer four years running.The Russian superstar has racked up 27 tallies this season, and while he likely isn't in contention for a fifth straight title, the player who captures this year's honors could do so without cracking the 50-goal plateau:Player Games Goals On PaceSidney Crosby583445Patrik Laine593240Max Pacioretty673138Auston Matthews653139Brad Marchand663037Jeff Carter653038Cam Atkinson653038In the 11 full seasons that have followed the 2004-05 lockout, the top scorer has always reached 50 goals. Ovechkin won the Rocket Richard Trophy in 2012-13, a lockout-shortened campaign in which he finished with 32 goals in 48 games. Prorate those numbers to a full season and he ends up with 55 markers, while runner-up Steven Stamkos' 29 goals become 50.This season, only Sidney Crosby and Winnipeg Jets rookie Patrik Laine are projected to finish north of 40 goals.The last full-season finish to claim the goal-scoring title with similar totals was Jarome Iginla, who did so with the Calgary Flames in 2003-04, scoring 41 goals in the final year before the lost season.Interestingly enough, at 5.45 goals per game, NHL squads are finding the net at a higher pace than the past five seasons, but are seemingly doing so with a more balanced attack.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Secrets will apparently be safe among NHL general managers.The executives due to submit a protected roster in June are apparently collectively against releasing these lists to the public before the Vegas Golden Knights select their expansion team, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.This makes practical sense for the teams, which, at least for the time being, will keep players in the dark about their exposures, therefore avoiding the potential straining of relationships.That said, if teams are allowed to keep the lists private, the NHL will miss out on a wonderful opportunity to foster interest, debate, and discussion in all 31 markets.LeBrun didn't specify if the protected lists might be released after the fact - but it certainly won't stop reporters from digging up the names anyway.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This isn't how the Florida Panthers drew it up.After picking up wins in San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles, the Panthers swept the California road swing, a first in franchise history, and a performance that clawed the Panthers back into the playoff race.Victories over the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues bookended the California games to mark a five-game win streak, with the defeat over the Blues pushing the Panthers to 28-20-10 and third in the Atlantic.But Florida has failed to build on that success since returning to Sunrise. The Panthers have played five of their last six games on home ice, but have churned out only a single win, an overtime victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.The lack of recent success has the Panthers mired in a dog fight for the East's last wild-card spot, held by the New York Islanders, while three other clubs stand between Florida and New York.On Tuesday, the Panthers suffered a key loss to the New York Rangers, falling 5-2, which coach Tom Rowe chalked up as a frustrating loss for the club.The Panthers have one win in Sunrise since Feb. 4, but will have a chance to find the win column Friday when they take to the Minnesota Wild.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There was a time not too long ago when the introduction of offside review in the NHL was viewed as a positive. From now on, all calls would be correct.Sure enough, they were bang on. Calls have been correct, only infuriatingly so.It has, of course, in reality been nothing short of a disaster. The NHL (a league short on the thrill of points being scored) is losing far too many goals to grainy frame-by-frame analysis and ambiguous rulings that leave fans, and often coaches and players, dumbfounded.Now, this is has nothing to do with the latest apparent conundrum facing the NHL: rampant misrepresentation in the league standings. But it should serve as a reminder that change needs to be tirelessly thought out, and isn't easily reversed.Let's get two things out of the way before diving into the latest debate. The NHL is not scrapping the shootout, because the importance of having a conclusive result is immense for reasons beyond seeding. And second, the idea of waiving the loser point and awarding the shootout winner the full two points, is patently absurd. The full value on a 60-minute hockey game cannot be decided by eight players or more in an isolated, fabricated, one-on-one non-hockey scenario. It can't be that way. Not ever.So it leaves us with one option for potential change: Each game is worth three points. A regulation win carries the full freight under this format, leaving the current overtime and shootout allotment as is.This makes a ton of sense, beginning with the obvious reality that all games in a North American professional sports league should carry a consistent value. And there's no doubt that a truer representation of performance and efficiency will be reflected in the overall standings.But would it be worth it?Running the totals under this format brings about change and certain swings in most divisions, and perhaps provides a more accurate depiction.DivisionMetroAtlanticWAS131MTL111NYR123OTT107CBJ122BOS102PIT120TOR95NYI100TB92PHI89FLA87CAR79BUF86NJ79DET76CentralPacificMIN125SJ117CHI120ANA107NAS102EDM104STL97CGY101WIN91LA87DAL88VAN81COL51ARI67Here, the Rangers jump ahead of the Blue Jackets and Penguins in the Metropolitan Division; the Senators are neck and neck with the Canadiens in the race for the Atlantic, while the Maple Leafs lose ground in the wild-card chase; and the Predators and Ducks earn separation from the Blues, and the Oilers and Flames in their respective Central and Pacific Divisions.There are sizeable, and in some cases insurmountable, deficits in the playoff races. For example, the Panthers are now 15 points out in the division, and the Flyers and Kings are now 11 and 10 points out of the wild card, respectively.But the most important conclusion to be drawn from comparing the two formats is that all 16 teams in current postseason position, though slightly rearranged, remain safe inside the bracket.Now this won't invariably be the case - and it wasn't as recent as last season when the Bruins missed out despite finishing with three regulation wins more than the Detroit Red Wings. And the argument that the postseason race could intensify with regulation wins carrying such considerable value has a leg to stand on.But despite the importance of more accuracy in the overall standings, and the suspicion regulation will be much more exciting when three points are on the line, proponents of a new mandate must consider that the associated hazards with change (say, perhaps nearly half of local audiences tuning out by the All-Star Game) could potentially be more profound than modifications to the overall seeding itself.Trudging through the false parity muck is small price to pay if the correct teams punch their tickets.This is an issue to monitor, not act on impetuously.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canada is calling on Dominique Ducharme.Hockey Canada announced Wednesday that Ducharme will return for his second stint as head coach of the Canadian world junior squad.It marks Ducharme's third time behind the Canadian bench after serving as an assistant in 2016. Ducharme led Canada to a silver medal at last year's tournament. The 2017-18 games will be hosted in Buffalo, beginning in December.Ducharme, 43, is head coach and GM of the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs. He won the Memorial Cup with Halifax in 2013.Kris Knoblauch of the OHL's Erie Otters and Tim Hunter of the WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors will also return as assistant coaches.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's 2017-18 salary cap could increase to upwards of $76 million next season depending on annual negotiations with the players' association, Bill Daly said Tuesday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.The $75.5-million-$76-million projection once again hinges on the NHLPA agreeing to activate the five percent growth escalator. The players could elect against the cap progression, therefore limiting the attached increase in escrow.There was a belief the players would choose that route last year, but ultimately agreed to trigger a $1.6-million increase.Daly's projection outlines a potential $2.5-million-$3-million increase, earmarking the salary floor at over $45 million.The NHL's salary structure is close to doubling the initial $39-million salary cap introduced following the 2004-05 lockout.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Change is good.That's the stance from NHL general managers, who on the third day of meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., called for a change to the NHL's bye week, which was implemented this season."You come out of the break and we looked like a peewee team in Colorado," Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray told TSN's Frank Seravalli. "We're a middle-of-the-pack, or a bottom-third team, however you want to write it. We had to fly to Colorado and play a mile in the air after five days off, so it was no good."The recommendation calls for half of the league to take its bye week at one time, and the remaining clubs to sit out the following week. The first two games coming out of the bye week would be against teams who were also inactive, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.As of Feb. 25, teams playing after their bye week combined for a 4-12-4 record.The next step is for the proposal to be agreed upon by the NHL's board of governors and the players association.

The New York Islanders are sitting with the elite.Since firing coach Jack Capuano on Jan. 17 and handing the reins to assistant Doug Weight, the Islanders have won 15 of 23 games.It's a stark contrast from New York's 17-17-8 showing under Capauno, whose club sat last in the East at the time of his dismissal.Now with 73 points on the season, the Islanders hold down the East's second wild-card seed. In fact, no club has picked up more points than the Islanders since the change behind the bench:TeamRecordPointsIslanders14-6-331Rangers15-7-131Capitals15-5-131Sharks13-3-531Blackhawks15-4-030Senators14-7-230Wild14-7-129Penguins13-5-329Despite his success, Weight credits Capuano for how he's performed in his first shot as a head coach."I learned a lot from our previous coach. Jack's a great friend. Preparation is a key for me and I learned that from him," Weight told Eric Duhatschek of The Globe and Mail. "There is a certain way I handle each guy and the way I handle the bench that I believe can be beneficial to us over the course of a season."New York is in the midst of a nine-game road trip, where they are 4-2-1, with two games remaining against the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues before returning to Brooklyn.With 17 games left on the campaign, the Islanders have the chance to lock down their third straight playoff appearance, a feat the franchise has accomplished just once since 1988.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just over a month remains before the regular season gives way to the 2017 playoffs, and the league's contenders and pretenders continue to emerge from the pack.The top of the pile has looked the same for much of the season, with the usual powerhouses looking most likely to add to their championship counts. But it's the other end of the spectrum that's most intriguing.While some of the teams on the playoff bubble gain momentum and tease the promise of a miracle run, others seem unsure of why they're even in the picture.Let's take a closer look at who may be in over their heads:1. Toronto Maple LeafsThe Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner show has been a treat to watch, but clinching a playoff spot would likely be where the good times end for the blue and white in 2017.It the Maple Leafs do indeed snag the final wild-card spot, they'll likely find themselves face to face with the Washington Capitals in round one, with the current top-ranked club also the most motivated to prove itself in the postseason.The mismatch here is pretty clear.Toronto has allowed the eighth-most goals per game thus far, as Frederik Andersen has looked brilliant at times and downright terrible at others. He's shown promise, but Andersen's .916 save percentage suggests he isn't going to hold up for 4-7 games against Alex Ovechkin and the rest of Washington's third-ranked offense.Making matters worse, the Leafs hold the fifth-worst penalty differential in the league, having taken 23 more penalties than they've drawn. So take that offensive mismatch and add in the man-advantage factor.Not ideal.And then there's the issue of the Leafs' frequent third-period meltdowns - Washington scores more goals in the third than in any other period, their 81 tallies in the final frame ranks fourth-most in the league.Again, not ideal.Toronto has talent, but the Capitals are heading into these playoffs with fire in their eyes, as Ovechkin and company know their window is closing. They were just a few one-goal losses away from advancing to the conference finals last year, and they're not about to be quashed by a bunch of teenagers this time around.2. Ottawa SenatorsElsewhere in Ontario, the Ottawa Senators are similarly in danger of getting rolled over once the playoffs begin.The Senators have managed to hang on to second place in the Atlantic Division, but with the injury cloud hanging over them, the club's depth remains in question at the worst possible time.Of all the teams bound for the playoffs via top-three division finishes, Ottawa's goal differential ranks last - they've scored just one more goal than they've allowed up to this point. Even one of the potential wild-card teams boasts a better differential, as the New York Rangers have potted 37 more goals than they've allowed.Regardless of the injuries, Ottawa just doesn't seem to have the offensive firepower necessary to contend with any of their conference's big guns.Consider the top names on the roster.Can Erik Karlsson, Kyle Turris, and Mark Stone cancel out Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel? Or Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and T.J. Oshie?The Senators' playoff hopes have a hard cap in this regard, as they can't match the top-end skill of their conference's best, let alone overall depth throughout the lineup.Even their likely first-round matchup, the Boston Bruins, has a better top-three in Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak. That line remains the most dominant regularly-used trio in the league in terms of puck possession, and Marchand's breakout year has him fourth in league scoring.New additions Alex Burrows and Viktor Stalberg put up a few goals early in their tenures with their new club, but they aren't the catalysts that spur true contention from the Senators.They'll make it to the dance, but they won't be staying long.3. Nashville PredatorsThe Nashville Predators have found new life as of late, with Filip Forsberg piling in three-point games seemingly every night. But even with everything going right at the moment, the Predators are about to run into a brick wall in the first round.Nashville currently sits third in the Central Division, with the stumbling St. Louis Blues closest to taking their spot. Winnipeg is coming, but if Nashville holds on, they'll punch their playoff ticket in that No.3 position.That gives them either the Minnesota Wild or Chicago Blackhawks in round one - whichever of the two dominant squads doesn't claim the division title.Good luck.If the Predators draw Minnesota, they get the club with the highest goal differential in the West, and second-highest in the league overall - the Wild have potted 61 more than they've allowed this season.Minnesota boasts 11 different players with double-digit goal totals, more than any other team in the league. Seven forwards rank above star winger Zach Parise in that regard. If he turns it up, and the rest of Minnesota's offense keeps rolling, Nashville will have its hands full.And answering back won't be easy, not with the league's current top netminder, Devan Dubnyk, manning the Wild cage.But maybe Nashville will catch a break and get Chicago. The Blackhawks have won seven in a row and 12 of their last 13. Throughout those 13 tilts, star forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews have posted a dominant 41 combined points - both ranking among the top-three scorers in the league over that span.Anything can happen once the playoffs begin and the stakes change, but all things considered, it's safe to assume the Predators' yellow threads won't be making an appearance in the second round.(Photos courtesy: USA Today Sports)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack can't do it alone.Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel has been the NHL's best since Feb. 1, collecting 24 points in his last 18 games. Through 46 games, Eichel has 45 points, and a near point-per-game pace that ranks 13th league-wide (among skaters with at least 40 games).Facing the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, and with Buffalo's playoff hopes fading, the Sabres were defeated 6-3. Eichel registered two of the tallies after picking up an assist on Evander Kane's goal, but it wasn't enough, as the Sabres fell to 1-5-2 in their last eight outings.Related: Eichel beats Mason for 100th career pointThe game was the Sabres' first since Sunday's collapse against the Pittsburgh Penguins, in which Buffalo grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the opening frame only to fall 4-3 in regulation.With just 15 games left on the campaign, the Sabres have made things a little more difficult for themselves, now sitting seven points outside of the East's final playoff seed, while four teams stand between Buffalo and the New York Islanders, the current occupants of the second wild-card slot.A playoff miss would extend the Sabres' postseason drought to six years. Only the Edmonton Oilers and Carolina Hurricanes have been worse, while the Oilers are poised to make their first playoff appearance since 2006.Buffalo is back in action Friday to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets, owners of the league's third-best record, and 24 points ahead of the Sabres.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have uncovered new ambition.With a Stanley Cup Playoffs berth all but sewn up in the franchise's greatest season to date, the Blue Jackets are shifting their focus toward the Presidents' Trophy and finishing with the league's top record."There's still so much hockey left to play," captain Nick Foligno said, according to Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch after concluding a home-and-home sweeping of the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday."What do you get up for? How do you motivate yourself? Push for the Presidents' Trophy. Push to be the best team in the league come playoffs."For the Jackets, the recognition would've been much more than adding hardware to a largely bare franchise ledger. It would mean avoiding a first-round matchup with another Metropolitan Division heavyweight. And, assuming they advance past the second wild-card entry, the Blue Jackets would then meet a division rival already enervated by another in the second round.Not to mention enjoying the comforts of Nationwide Arena throughout."We are right there," forward Brandon Dubinsky said. "We have a couple games with (the Capitals), and we still have a tough schedule, but I think we are trending in the right direction."We are going to take every opportunity to go for it."According to Reed, the Presidents' Trophy objective has just been discussed between Foligno and Dubinsky - not yet inside the room.Five points back with 17 games remaining, now's time to spread the word.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Paul Byron, overtime hero.The Montreal Canadiens forward deflected an Alex Galchenyuk shot to bounce the puck past a helpless Ryan Miller to extend his team's win streak to six.The goal was Byron's 16th of the season, and fifth game-winner.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite real glimmers of hope, the situation in Buffalo remains grim with 15 games remaining on the schedule.While Jack Eichel continues to put up points and Evander Kane scores at a torrid pace, the wins for the Sabres simply aren't coming, and the mood around the team is bleak, says goaltender Robin Lehner."You can clearly hear the disappointment in the building," Lehner said after Tuesday's loss to Philadelphia, per John Vogl of the Buffalo News. "It’s been a long season. It’s disappointing where we are."The Sabres are currently seventh in the Atlantic Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference, with already slim playoff hopes all but extinguished thanks to a record of 1-5-2 over the past eight games."It’s frustrating to go through this," Lehner continued. "We’ve all got to be better. It’s not one guy or two guys. It’s a team game. We talk about a lot of different things."It certainly didn't help that Eichel - who does indeed appear to be a franchise cornerstone - missed a quarter of the season due to injury, but general manager Tim Murray will have some work to do in the offseason in order to ensure progress is made in 2017-18.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a big win on a number of levels.For the St. Louis Blues, earning two points with Tuesday's victory over the division-leading Minnesota Wild kept them in good standing when it comes to a playoff spot.And for head coach Mike Yeo, it was nice to beat his former team."I'd be lying if it didn't feel pretty good," Yeo said. "But in all honesty, I wanted this one for our group."Related: Koivu's center-ice shot spoils Allen's shutout with 10 seconds leftThe Wild fired Yeo as head coach late last season, and the Blues hired him to serve as an assistant to Ken Hitchcock with a view to taking over as bench boss in 2017-18.That plan was expedited Feb. 1, putting Yeo in position to coach against the Wild on Tuesday for the first time since Minnesota let him go.St. Louis currently sits 19 points behind the Wild, and, as the second wild-card team, would be matched up against Minnesota in the opening round of the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Days after Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice took a shot at fellow bench boss Mike Babcock, suggesting the Jets don't use their youth as an excuse like the Toronto Maple Leafs do, Babcock dug in on the impact experience - or lack thereof - has on a young team.The Leafs outlasted Babcock's former club, the Detroit Red Wings, on Tuesday night, winning 3-2 after nearly succumbing to yet another third-period meltdown.Following the victory, Babcock said the team's third-period issues are directly tied to their inexperience."Some people may think this is an excuse - I don't think it's an excuse at all," Babcock said, according to The Athletic's David Alter. "When you have a veteran group who has been through it before, someone goes out and calms everyone down and just makes a play. And we don't - it's like a feeding frenzy. So as much as we talk about it, not a whole lot happens."For those who have spent time in the big leagues, it's a simple formula."When you're loose and driving, you're flying and on top of the other team and you look fast and you're playing right. Then when you're tight, you look slow," Babcock said, according to the team. "That's just the reality of being in the league and learning how to win, and expecting to win every night and understanding what you've got to do to win."The veteran coach did highlight Leo Komarov and Nazem Kadri as a few team veterans who dug in late in the game to help the club hold on for the win. Kadri netted what wound up being the game-winner midway through the tilt, scoring his career-best 27th of the year in the second period.With the win over Detroit in tow, the Leafs currently have 72 points on the season, leaving them right in the thick of the wild-card battle with the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers - all of whom are separated by just five points.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With only 10 seconds remaining to secure his fourth shutout of the season, a seemingly harmless dump-in spoiled it all for Jake Allen.The St. Louis Blues goaltender was left baffled after Mikko Koivu's shot skipped off the ice and over his glove late in Tuesday's critical contest versus Minnesota.The blunder was inconsequential though, as Allen turned aside 32 other Wild shots en route to a 2-1 victory.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Henrik Lundqvist continues to pad his resume as one of the best to ever defend the blue paint.The veteran netminder earned the 404th win of his career on Tuesday night, as his New York Rangers took down the Florida Panthers by a score of 5-2.In doing so, Lundqvist moved past Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr in the history books, taking sole possession of 10th place on the all-time wins list. The longtime Rangers starter topped Fuhr's win count in 132 fewer games - an impressive feat considering the star-studded teams Fuhr played on.The victory was also the Swede's 30th of the season, giving him 11 seasons of 30 or more wins in his career - the only outlier being the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, wherein Lundqvist earned an impressive 24 wins in 43 games.Netting No. 404 certainly wasn't easy.Lundqvist turned aside 43 shots from the Panthers, enduring goals from Thomas Vanek and Aaron Ekblad in the process.The 35-year-old will almost certainly move up one more spot before the season's end, as Glen Hall holds the ninth-most all-time wins with 407. The Rangers have 15 games remaining on the year, plenty of chances for their star netminder to continue to climb the all-time ladder.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

An unlikely source helped the New York Rangers earn a win in Florida.Gritty forward Tanner Glass, who was playing in his second game of the season, scored a goal and added an assist Tuesday night, earning second star honors as well as some love from his teammates.

Sergei Bobrovsky is on some kind of roll.The Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender recorded his third consecutive shutout by stopping all 33 shots fired on him by the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. Were it not for an overtime goal scored by Montreal on Feb. 8, the shutout streak would be even longer.Here's what Bobrovsky's past week has looked like:DateOpponentResultShots AgainstSavesFeb. 28CanadiensL 1-0 OT3029Mar. 2WildW 1-03838Mar. 5DevilsW 3-02020Mar. 7DevilsW 2-03333Add it all up, and that's one goal allowed on 121 shots, good for a save percentage of .992.Decent.The win temporarily puts Bobrovsky level with Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk for the league lead in wins (35), and the run of hot play has his save percentage (.931) within 0.02 points of Dubnyk (.933) atop the goalie list.On top of that, the three recent shutouts gives him six on the season, two behind Washington's Braden Holtby.While it seems safe to say Bobrovsky won't keep up this past week's pace, his overall body of work this season is putting him well in the conversation for the Vezina Trophy, which he won back in 2013.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A change of address isn't about to stall Thomas Vanek's resurgent offensive campaign.Fresh off a trade deadline deal that sent the veteran winger from the Detroit Red Wings to the Florida Panthers, Vanek got on the board during his club's Tuesday night tilt with the New York Rangers, cutting into the slot and snapping in his first goal with his new club.The tally was Vanek's 16th of the year, and his 39th point overall. By netting his first goal for Florida, Vanek has now scored for six different teams in the past four seasons.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As it turns out, giving Jack Eichel open shots from the slot is not a good way to prevent goals.The 20-year-old Buffalo Sabres pivot confirmed as much during his club's tilt with the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday night, showing off some veteran patience and sending Wayne Simmonds spinning before wiring in his 17th goal of the season past Steve Mason.Eichel's game-tying tally was also the 100th point of his career. He netted his 99th one period prior, registering an assist on a goal from Evander Kane to extend his point streak to a league-leading 11 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs took a moment during Tuesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings to honor play-by-play man Joe Bowen, who was calling his 3,000th game.The tribute received a standing ovation from the crowd and stick taps from the team.Related: Relive Joe Bowen's call of Matthews' 4-goal debutBowen, known for his "Holy Mackinaw" catchphrase, began calling Maple Leafs games in 1982.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is asking the Arizona Legislature to pass a bill - Senate Bill 1149 - that would provide public funds for a new arena for the Coyotes.In a letter submitted Tuesday, Bettman maintained the Greater Phoenix region represents a "strong hockey market which we are proud to have included in the NHL." At the same time, however, the current home arena situation is untenable at best.Bettman wrote:

The changing of the guard in Los Angeles is going to be a rough transition, to say the least.While the Kings still have a few premier offensive pieces in Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter, they're also shelling out over $18 million this season for four forwards over the age of 30 - with only Carter living up to his hefty salary.The club has established an identity as a hard-nosed, veteran squad, well aware of what it takes to cut it in the big leagues. But what does that mean for the few young prospects on the roster?For winger Tanner Pearson, it means a much-improved payday is coming up quick.Putting points on the boardThe 24-year-old has taken a significant step forward this season, already boasting a career-best 22 goals and 40 points with 17 games remaining on the Kings' schedule.He posted just 15 goals and 36 points last season, but has raised his points per game pace for the fourth consecutive season in 2016-17, currently sitting at a clip of 0.63.Pearson has been especially clutch as of late, posting the ninth-most goals in the league (11) since the calendar turned to 2017. His four game-winners over that span are tied for third-most in the league.His totals aren't exactly jaw-dropping, but their importance to Los Angeles' success is much more clear when viewed in the context of his team's overall production.Kings of complacency Heading into the home stretch of the season, Pearson is the only King aside from leading scorer - and linemate - Carter to top 20 goals.Kopitar, who's made his name as one of the most talented pivots in the sport, has only eight goals up to this point, despite posting 25 just last season and reaching the 20-goal plateau on seven other occasions throughout his career.Veteran sniper Marian Gaborik, who potted 27 goals for L.A. two seasons ago, has been limited by injury once again, hindering his effectiveness. The 35-year-old has yet to suit up for a full campaign since joining the Kings, and has just seven goals through 42 games this season.Meanwhile, Pearson's fellow young gun, Tyler Toffoli, has missed 19 games as well, his tumultuous season causing a regression in terms of his goals per game and point per game paces. He's managed just 12 tallies on the year so far.Ready for a raiseAs the Kings scratch and claw for one of the final Western Conference playoff berths, Pearson and Carter have seemingly been the only success stories, each posting resurgent offensive campaigns to help their club make the climb.In the case of the younger King, it couldn't have come at a better time.Pearson's modest two-year, $2.8-million deal expires this summer, at which time he'll become a restricted free agent. There's no question this season's circumstances are going to bump up the young forward's value.Imagine if he had hit free-agency just one year earlier?At the tail end of 2016, six players sat above Pearson on the team's scoring chart.Toffoli emerged as the better of the two prospects, finishing with 31 goals on the season, while Kopitar, Carter, and Milan Lucic each topped the 20-goal plateau. Even defenders Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin outscored Pearson that season.But what a difference a year makes.Pearson seems set to finish as the Kings' second-best goal-scorer this time around, already sitting with 10 more goals than the team's next-highest scorer.He won't be raking in an absurd amount of cash this summer, but with the rest of the team's forward corps faltering - and aging - and Pearson hitting a new level, he's undoubtedly made good on his bridge deal and earned a significant raise.Los Angeles has $13.6 million in projected cap space next season, according to CapFriendly, with most of its core names already locked up long term.That means there should be plenty of room to bump up Pearon's annual salary. And after two years of earning half as much as fellow youngster Toffoli, Pearson's performance has him set to see a much smaller discrepancy when the two sign their next deals this summer.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don Sweeney's tenure as general manager of the Boston Bruins hasn't exactly been well revered by the hockey community. But at least one of his moves has, and will continue to, pay major dividends for his club.Right before last summer's free agency period hit, Sweeney inked defenseman Torey Krug to a four-year, $21-million contract extension, a decision that's gotten nothing but positive returns so far.Krug, 25, is manufacturing a career season, and has emerged as the Bruins' most reliable rearguard among an otherwise average platoon of defenders.By notching two assists in Monday's loss to the Senators, Krug matched his personal best of 44 points in just 66 games. Those 44 points slot the Michigan native fifth among all defensemen, tied with Dustin Byfuglien, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Justin Schultz, while trailing only Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, and Duncan Keith. Pretty exclusive company.Save for Schultz's and Shattenkirk's impending July 1 pay raise, Krug's $5.25-million cap hit is substantially smaller compared to the who's who of all-stars he trails in production.With only six goals to his name, Krug has staked his claim as a premier setup man - of his 38 assists, Krug's recorded the primary helper on 24 of the tallies he's had a hand in creating.If Krug needed a new deal this summer instead of last, it's safe to assume that after the season he's put together, he'd fetch more money than his current contract. Instead, Sweeney can allocate the extra funds to improving his club as a whole, a task that starts with mapping a new contract for sniper David Pastrnak.Krug's evolved into a legitimate top-pairing defender, and beyond nearing a new career high in points, he's averaging the most shifts per game (26.8) among all Boston's blue-liners. He's become an integral piece to the Bruins' core, and for the next three seasons after this one, he'll be doing so at a premium.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins forward Ryan Spooner has been diagnosed with a concussion and will be sidelined indefinitely in accordance with NHL protocols, general manager Don Sweeney announced.The injury occurred during the third period of Monday's loss in Ottawa.Spooner's injury comes as the Bruins sit third in the Atlantic Division and in search of their first playoff berth in three years. Spooner had also been playing better as of late under interim head coach Bruce Cassidy, who had slotted him back in a familiar third-line center role.The 25-year-old appeared in 65 games for the Bruins this season, with 11 goals and 23 assists to his credit, good for sixth in team scoring.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not much is known about what's ailing Kris Letang, but we do know he won't be traveling with the Pittsburgh Penguins on a five-game road trip that will span the next eight days.Officially listed as being out with an upper-body injury, Letang hasn't played since Feb. 21, and head coach Mike Sullivan - who recently admitted the timeline is longer than day to day - isn't keen on discussing the particulars."Our medical staff has a good handle on it," Sullivan said Tuesday, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "When he’s ready to play or he’s getting close, and we get him on the ice, we’ll let you guys know. I really don’t want to go down the road of talking details of his injury. We’re hopeful here that he’s making progress."Letang has missed time in recent years due to a variety of injuries, concussion and stroke being the most serious.In 41 games this season, he's recorded five goals and 29 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Of all the names to find themselves listed on new rosters after the trade deadline, Ben Bishop's was arguably the most intriguing.The former Tampa Bay Lightning netminder's change of address wasn't the surprise - he was involved in trade talks dating back to last summer - but rather the fact that the Los Angeles Kings dealt for his services. And one day after longtime starter Jonathan Quick returned from injury, no less.Now, as the Kings fight to claim a playoff spot, the potential of a timeshare in net looms, with Quick and Bishop both ranking among the top starters in the game.That might not be a very welcome development for Bishop given his thoughts on splitting time in the past.In an interview with ESPN's Scott Burnside this week, Bishop said the Lightning's setup in net this year wasn't exactly ideal."I was a little frustrated at the beginning of the season," Bishop said. "Coming off of probably my best season of my career and not getting to play as much as I wanted to in Tampa. I wanted to kind of keep it the same as the last three years, because it had been working."We started switching goalies back and forth in Tampa, and it wasn't working. We were falling in the standings and it was making me a little bit upset. Why fix what's not broken?"(Photo courtesy: Action Images)Bishop posted an impressive .921 save percentage over his three-and-a-half seasons with the Lightning, alongside 17 shutouts. He finished second in Vezina Trophy voting last season, losing out to Washington Capitals starter Braden Holtby.Following the deal that sent Bishop to California, Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said the trade wasn't simply a backup plan in case Quick was unable to find his form.But he also stopped short of naming either man as the club's No. 1 option."Best-case scenario, assuming Jon is at the top of his game, what’s the best number of games to play him?" Lombardi said to Jon Rosen at the time. "We had sketched that out, and said, ‘You know what? It makes a lot of sense for him, but we better get essentially another No. 1.'"In the four games since Los Angeles acquired Bishop, he and Quick have each started twice. Quick earned the Kings' only win during that stretch - a shootout victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maple Leafs broadcaster Joe Bowen will call his 3,000th game Tuesday when Toronto hosts the Detroit Red Wings at Air Canada Centre.What's exceptional about Bowen, and one of the many reasons he's become entrenched in Maple Leafs history, isn't simply the passion and enthusiasm he brings to the booth every night. It's that he has maintained it through so many lean years since his start almost 35 years ago.To celebrate his zest across 3,000 nights, relive his call from a potential landmark moment in franchise history and harbinger of future glory: Auston Matthews' four-goal debut.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Playoff lives are on the line.The Philadelphia Flyers will look to up their odds at a postseason ticket with three critical contests on this week's docket.With dates against the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins, the Flyers will need to collect points from teams surrounding them in the playoff chase. Both Toronto and Boston stand ahead of the Flyers, while Buffalo is just two points behind.All three matches are on road ice. Philadelphia is five games under .500 away from home this season (11-16-4), with the team faring much better in its own barn, posting a 19-10-4 mark.The Flyers sit three points outside of the East's final playoff seed, held by the New York Islanders, while three clubs separate the two squads.Related: Flyers' offense dries up in season's second half"It's probably the biggest week of our season so far," forward Travis Konecny told Sam Carchidi of The Philadelphia Inquirer.Konecny recently returned from an ankle injury that kept him out of the lineup for nine games. He registered two shots in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. The rookie forward is expected to suit up alongside Chris VandeVelde and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare on Tuesday vs. the Sabres.Philadelphia made the postseason in 2015-16 but saw an early exit against the Capitals. The Flyers have not won a playoff series since 2012.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Loui Eriksson will miss the next one-to-two weeks with an undisclosed injury, the team announced Tuesday.Eriksson suffered an apparent leg ailment in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

NHL executives are evidently content with the otherwise contentious offside rules for coach's challenges and video review.Executive vice president and director of operations Colin Campbell said Tuesday at the annual general manager meetings that there will not be an amendment to the offside rule and challenge process, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.LeBrun said the issue will remain "status quo."If not close to unanimous among fans and media types, there's been a strong opposition to this aspect of video replay. Most are bothered by the length of time it can take to overturn a call, while many others believe the frame-by-frame analysis - and the determination that players are indeed offside, but only fractionally - simply exceeds reason.The issue will most certainly be revisited down the line. Considerations include abolishing the current mandate, or implementing more subtle modifications like honoring a lifted skate as onside and limiting the time coaches have to issue a challenge.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Yeo just wants to win.The St. Louis Blues coach is solely focused on finding the victory column when the Blues travel to Minnesota on Tuesday to take on the Wild.The game marks Yeo's first return to St. Paul as a head coach since the Wild fired him as their own bench boss last February.Yeo joined the Blues in the offseason, signing on as associate coach before taking on head coach duties after Ken Hitchcock was fired Feb. 1. The Blues visited Minnesota on Dec. 11, with Yeo second-in-command. Tuesday will be his first game back in Minnesota in the top job.Yeo coached the Wild from 2011-16, qualifying for the playoffs in all but one year. His time in Minnesota ended last season, following a stretch in which the Wild won just once in 14 outings (1-11-2).Now behind the bench in Missouri, it's been a tale of two seasons since Yeo took over for Hitchcock. After going 7-1 to kick off his coaching tenure, the Blues then fell to 1-5 in their next six contests.The Blues are clinging to the West's final playoff spot, one point ahead of Los Angeles. Tuesday's game is an opportunity for St. Louis to get its season back on track, a fact not lost on the new coach."I want to win the game for a number of reasons," Yeo told Michael Rand of the Star Tribune. "I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a personal part of it, but I'd like this one for our team."The Blues and Wild have split their season series, winning two games apiece, while Tuesday's contest marks the final time the two sides will meet in the regular season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Where's Jaromir?That was the question in Sunrise, Fla., after the legendary Jaromir Jagr passed on the Florida Panthers' optional morning skate prior to Tuesday's game against the New York Rangers.It was a change of pace for Jagr, as the ageless wonder prefers to stay late into the on-ice sessions. But the saved energy will serve him well with a valuable two points up for grabs against the Rangers."He knows how important (this game) is," Panthers interim coach Tom Rowe told George Richards of the Miami Herald.The Panthers are in the thick of the playoff race, sitting two points back of the New York Islanders for the East's final playoff seed. A postseason berth would mark back-to-back playoffs for the Panthers, who were eliminated by the Islanders in six games in the opening round last spring. Florida has not qualified for the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 1997.

What's old is new again.The Ottawa Senators are contemplating a full-time switch to their iconic throwback logo, replacing the Roman-style emblem the club has used since 1992.The original Senators used a variation of the 'O' logo during Ottawa's initial stint in the NHL (1917-34), and the franchise reintroduced it in 2011."That jersey has inspired lot of people," Tom Anselmi, president and CEO of the Senators, told Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen. "It's a great looking jersey and the players like it. But we're not going to do anything knee-jerk."Anselmi joined the Senators in January after a 17-year career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The longtime executive believes the timing is perfect for the Senators to bring in the new look, considering several historic milestones both the franchise and its city have on the horizon:

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 Tuesday, March 7 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."Four weeks remain in the NHL schedule. Marking an incredible comeback from a year ago, all clubs north of the border have a chance at a playoff spot after Canada was shut out from postseason play in 2016.Look for these seven players to be the biggest contributors for their clubs with the playoffs on the line:Calgary FlamesThe Flames are hot, winning seven in a row, with a chance to push that streak to eight straight victories when they face the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.Over that stretch, Calgary's top player has been speedy forward Johnny Gaudreau, putting up nine points in seven games. Since Dec. 1, Gaudreau's points per game has climbed to 0.85 after struggling to 0.65 through the season's first two months.A playoff date for the Flames would mark their second postseason appearance in the past three years, and just their third since 2009.Edmonton OilersNo goaltender has seen a heavier workload this season than Oilers netminder Cam Talbot, already with 58 games under his belt. The 29-year-old is on pace for 73 contests this season, after setting his previous high-water mark a year ago, at 56 games.Poor showings from Edmonton's second stringers - the club has already shuffled out Jonas Gustavsson for Laurent Brossoit - has left Oilers bench boss Todd McLellan little choice other than to regularly call on Talbot.Edmonton has missed the playoffs 10 straight seasons, last showing up in the postseason in 2006 following a miracle run to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Oilers hope Talbot holds up while the club locks down its first playoff match in over a decade.Montreal CanadiensEvery club has an MVP, but no player is more important to his squad than Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.After missing all but 12 games last season following a devastating knee injury, Price has returned to Montreal's crease and hasn't missed a beat. The 2015 Vezina winner holds down a 29-16-5 record this season, while his .922 save rate ranks second among netminders with as many starts.For the Canadiens to make any noise in the playoffs, they'll need to rely on Price. It's evident the club isn't the same without their franchise netminder. Price caught a cold streak coming out of the bye week, while the Canadiens picked up just three points in seven games.Ottawa SenatorsThe Senators aren't known for their offense - with just 170 goals on the season, Ottawa ranks 19th league-wide.Ottawa has relied on a scoring by committee approach this season under new coach Guy Boucher. Three forwards have reached both 20 goals and 40 points, with winger Mark Stone topping the list. The 24-year-old has struggled since returning from a neck injury, putting up just two assists in five games, and the Senators will need Stone to return to form in order to do damage in the spring.The Senators have flown under the radar for much of the season, but thanks to some key performances, the club is a good bet to return to the postseason after missing out a year ago.Toronto Maple LeafsThe young Maple Leafs hit a wall coming out of the All-Star break, following up the Jan. 29 weekend with a 5-7-5 showing.Part of that recent sagging performance coincided with the loss of rookie Mitch Marner, out five games with an upper-body injury. Marner is one of a trio of key rookies making names for themselves in Toronto this season, alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander.Toronto sits one point back of the New York Islanders for the last playoff spot in the East. A postseason appearance would be the Maple Leafs' first since 2013, and a chance to win their first playoff series since 2004.Vancouver CanucksVancouver has the tallest task in locking down a playoff position, sitting six points back of the St. Louis Blues for the second wild-card seed in the West. Couple that with the fact the team sold off pieces at the recent trade deadline, and the Canucks have their work cut out of for them.In the meantime, no doubt the Canucks would like to see some more noise from their big-ticket free agency addition, veteran winger Loui Eriksson. The Swedish-born forward was injured Sunday versus the Anaheim Ducks, but is not expected to miss much time.Eriksson has accounted for 11 goals and 13 assists with the Canucks this season. He was added in the offseason, given his chemistry with countrymen Daniel and Henrik Sedin. The 31-year-old is signed through the 2021-22 season.Winnipeg JetsNo freshman has been as electrifying this season as Jets winger Patrik Laine. The Finnish forward leads all rookies in goals with 32 and in points at 59. He's averaged a point-per-game pace this season, appearing in 59 contests.As for the Jets, the team has rebounded in recent weeks to put itself back in the playoff picture, with just two regulation-time losses in their past nine outings (5-2-2). Winnipeg is now just three points back of the Blues for the West's final playoff seed.Since uprooting from Atlanta in 2011, the Jets have a single playoff appearance, falling in a 4-0 sweep to the Ducks in 2015. Laine and the Jets have a chance to find some playoff success this spring.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Olli Jokinen will exit the sport with the club he captained for four seasons.The Florida Panthers announced they will sign their all-time points leader to an honorary contract, and will honor him during the second period Tuesday versus the New York Rangers.Jokinen thanked the organization for extending its gratitude via the Panthers official website."My heart has always been with the Panthers organization and now I feel like my career has come full circle," he said. "I am extremely grateful that I had the chance to play hockey in South Florida and help the sport grow."I want to thank my family - my wife Katerina and my daughters Alexandra, Emma, and Keira - and all of the fans, teammates, coaches, and staff who have supported me throughout my career."Jokinen spent seven seasons with Florida, and captained the team from 2003-2008. He scored a franchise-best 188 goals and 419 points in 567 games, and 750 points in 1,231 games with 10 franchises in his 17-season NHL career.He also leads the Panthers in game-winning goals, overtime goals, and power-play points.Jokinen was acquired in 2000 in a trade with the New York Islanders in a package that included goaltender Roberto Luongo.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another milestone had Joe Thornton reminiscing.The San Jose Sharks center and legendary passer became the 13th player in NHL history to collect 1,000 career assists in Monday's victory over the Winnipeg Jets.It was the supporting cast of goal-scorers who contributed to the grand total on his mind when he spoke about the achievement afterward."Honestly, I've been lucky enough to stay healthy all these years and play with a lot of good scorers," Thornton said, according to Darren Bauming of the San Jose Mercury News. "For a passer that's probably the key - it's just having the Jonathan Cheechoos, the Glen Murrays, the Joe Pavelskis, you know, the Patty Marleaus."The list goes on and on and on - the guys that I've played with over the years have put the puck in the back of the net, so I've been lucky to be set up with those guys."The incomparable vision and pinpoint accuracy that Thornton's used to scale the all-time list wasn't necessary for No. 1,000. Defending a one-goal lead late in the game, Thornton scooped up a blocked shot and initiated a clean zone exit by patiently moving the puck to Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Vlasic then pushed it up to Pavelski who swept the puck under the stick of Nikolaj Ehlers, and into the vacated net.Regardless of the aesthetic, it was cause for celebration."It's always nice to get these things when you get the two points and you can have some fun on the plane on the way home."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sometimes, you just have to play the hand you're dealt.A former Magic: The Gathering champion was on the receiving end of an unlikely mix-up Monday after his hockey namesake became the first-ever player signed by the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights.

One of the more eyebrow-raising trades prior to the deadline is paying early dividends, albeit in a very small sample size.Since the Ottawa Senators traded highly regarded prospect Jonathan Dahlen to the Vancouver Canucks for veteran winger Alex Burrows, the team has posted a record of 3-0-0.In those three games, Burrows has recorded three goals and one assist, including an empty-net marker that sealed Monday's important win over the Boston Bruins.He'd managed nine goals and 11 assists in 55 games prior to the trade.Burrows is unlikely to keep up this pace, and questions remain regarding the two-year, $5-million extension the Senators handed him before he made his debut with the club.For the time being, however, he seems to be fitting in just fine, doing his part in Ottawa's effort to not only clinch a playoff spot, but challenge for first in the Atlantic Division.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Artemi Panarin has issued an apology for what he referred to as insensitive comments said in an old Russian television interview."In 2012, I was a guest on a Russian TV show and made insensitive comments that I deeply regret," Panarin said in a statement the Blackhawks released to Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune. "I understand my comments are offensive and I apologize for my hurtful words."According to Hine, Panarin was asked in the interview what he could never do, and Russian-speaking sources confirmed his answer was, "Have sex with a black woman."The sources added Panarin and the television host appeared to be joking around, and Panarin's response may have been an attempt at humor.The Blackhawks added, "On Sunday, we were made aware of the video from Artemi's appearance on a Russian TV show in 2012. We immediately addressed the matter with him. His comments in the video in no way represent the values of our organization. He has apologized and understands the offensive nature of his words."Panarin has emerged as one of the Blackhawks' best player over the past two seasons and recently signed a two-year, $12-million contract extension.The apology comes days after the NHL wrapped up "Hockey Is For Everyone" month.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Make it quadruple digits for Jumbo Joe.San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton picked up the 1,000th assist of his career with a helper on Joe Pavelski's empty-netter against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night.Thornton became the 13th player in NHL history to accomplish the feat, recording his 1,382nd point in his 1,432nd game.The 37-year-old ranks 23rd on the league's all-time points list, and his 1,000th assist pulled him to within 16 helpers of Joe Sakic for 12th all time in that category.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

That escalated quickly.The puck, that is, fired from the back of T.J. Oshie's stick and past Kari Lehtonen of the Dallas Stars for quite the impressive goal.The tally was Oshie's 25th of the season, bringing the Washington Capitals winger to within one of his career high.It also brought Washington to within one in an eventual 4-2 loss.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.