This would be the bowling equivalent of picking up a spare.Dustin Byfuglien was the human bowling ball Monday night, taking out two San Jose Sharks as well as teammate Toby Enstrom.Marcus Sorensen and Justin Braun were the opponents who ended up in the heap, and somehow, everyone emerged unharmed.To think, Byfuglien was actually trailing the play when the Sharks broke into the Jets' zone.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand is turning into an elite goal-scorer.For the second season in a row, the Bruins winger has scored 30 goals, a feat not achieved in Boston in more than a decade.

Braden Holtby will have to wait until next season to finally beat the Dallas Stars.The Washington Capitals goalie, who's posted a victory over every other NHL team, entered Monday's action in search of his first career win against Dallas.Instead, Holtby found himself on the bench in the second period after allowing three goals on 11 shots, continuing a run of poor play in games against the Stars.

The Vegas Golden Knights will gladly take a player the Minnesota Wild chose not to keep.In fact, the experience of being drafted in 2014 but not signed to an entry-level contract should serve Reid Duke well, says general manager George McPhee.

There's no such thing as a bad idea.That appeared to be the theme of the first day of general manager meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., where the group of 31 gathered Monday to talk about the future of the NHL.

The expansion Vegas Golden Knights made history Monday, agreeing to terms with free-agent Reid Duke.The 21-year-old plays for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. After signing with the Golden Knights, the next step is for the young forward to attend the team's upcoming development camp.Here are three things to know about the first-ever Golden Knight:Wheat King ConnectionReid won't be the only Wheat Kings alumni making his name in the Vegas desert. Already with the team is Kelly McCrimmon, the new assistant general manager of the Golden Knights and longtime owner of the Wheat Kings. McCrimmon was also previously the general manager and coach in Brandon before accepting his new gig in Nevada.That connection put Reid on the radar for the Golden Knights. McCrimmon said in a statement, "I think what's impressive with Reid is a real high skill level and yet a guy that's able to play a big, strong, heavy game."Knowing NolanWith a little lottery luck, Reid could be followed to Vegas by another Brandon forward. The Golden Knights have the third-best odds at the upcoming draft lottery, where the winner of the top pick could select Wheat Kings center Nolan Patrick.Patrick is the favored first overall pick in the 2017 entry draft. The 18-year-old has had an abbreviated campaign after missing three months with a upper-body injury, but that hasn't stifled his production since his return. Patrick has registered 42 points in 28 games with Brandon this season.Several other players who formerly sported the black and yellow for the Wheat Kings have stepped into the NHL in recent seasons, including Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov, drafted seventh overall in 2015, and Flyers teammate Brayden Schenn, selected with the fifth pick in 2009.Wild about the DraftThis isn't Duke's first crack at the NHL. The center was drafted in the sixth round by the Minnesota Wild in 2014. Duke spent that season with the WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes, where he finished third in team scoring with 15 goals and 25 assists in 62 games.This campaign marks a career-best for Duke since he made his WHL debut in 2011. In 54 games with the Wheat Kings this season, Duke has tallied 35 goals and 32 assists, while his 71 penalty minutes also ranks fourth on the team.

Welcome to Las Vegas, Reid Duke.The Vegas Golden Knights signed the free-agent forward to an entry-level contract Monday, the team announced.Duke, 21, plays for the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings. The center has recorded 35 goals and 32 assists with the Wheat Kings this season.The Wheat Kings are owned by Kelly McCrimmon, who serves as assistant general manager of the Golden Knights."When we project Reid, we think his game will evolve as he becomes a pro," McCrimmon said. "We believe he's going to be an NHL player."Duke was originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild in 2014.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evander Kane didn't mince words about the Buffalo Sabres' performance in their Sunday loss."We stopped trying to score goals," the winger told Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald. "The way you score goals is you stay aggressive."The Sabres led the defending champions Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0, only to fall 4-3 in regulation.Buffalo put 21 shots on the board in the opening frame, but wasn't as aggressive in the closing periods, registering 10 shots in the second and 19 in the third.The club sits five points behind the New York Islanders for the second wild-card spot in the East. Failing to grab any points in Sunday's collapse was a tough blow for an improving squad.The Sabres, whose 166 goals for rank 21st in the NHL, have been better since the calendar flipped to 2017, going 14-12-4 in the new year.As for Kane, there's no question he knows offense. The scoring winger leads the league with 22 even-strength goals since Dec. 1, and he's tallied 35 points in 54 games this season.Kane has one year remaining on his contract, carrying a $5.25-million cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers have a scoring problem.In the midst of chasing down a playoff position, Philadelphia's offense has gone cold. Since returning from the All-Star break, the Flyers have managed just 23 goals, or about 1.64 goals per game. No club has tallied fewer over that stretch:Rank Team Games Record GF27Canadiens168-7-13228Avalanche184-13-13029Hurricanes145-6-32930Flyers145-7-223It's a drastic fall from the season's earlier months, when the Flyers collected 135 goals through 50 games, a middle-of-the-pack showing of about 2.7 goals per game.Despite the lack of finish, the Flyers remain in the thick of the playoff race, largely due to their early season success. Philadelphia sits three points behind the New York Islanders, who hold the East's second wild-card seed.Seeking a scoring spark, the Flyers added a new face at last week's trade deadline, recruiting forward Valtteri Filppula from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Filppula recorded 34 points with the Lightning this season and scored in his debut with the Flyers.If Philadelphia fails to qualify for the postseason, consider its biggest offender the lost offense from the team's top players:PlayerBefore ASGPts/GPAfter ASGPts/GPVoracek14G 30A0.883G 5A0.57Giroux11G 29A0.801G 4A0.36Simmonds21G 17A0.766G 0A0.43Schenn15G 18A0.704G 5A0.64Should the Flyers not make the playoffs, it will mark the third time in the past five seasons. They were eliminated by the Washington Capitals in the opening round last spring.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc Bergevin is trying to keep a low profile at the GM meetings going on in Boca Raton, Fla.The Montreal Canadiens general manager tried to go unnoticed by reporters Monday by using a plant to block his face.You can't make this stuff up.He probably wishes he had had the same luxury following the P.K. Subban trade last June.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A downright blistering week has earned Nikita Kucherov the NHL's first star of the week.The Tampa Bay Lightning forward was named the best player of the past seven days after amassing a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.His week was highlighted by his second-career hat trick, a three-point effort against the Carolina Hurricanes, and a dazzling shootout winner against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night.Related: Kucherov seals Lightning victory with cheeky shootout goalColumbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky earned second-star honors after posting back-to-back shutouts against the New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild. In all, Bobrovsky went 2-0-1 in three games on the week while posting a ridiculous 0.33 GAA and a .989 save percentage.Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price rounds out the three stars after nabbing third spot with a perfect 3-0-0 record.Related: Price bounces back since bye week, Julien hiringPrice was nearly as dominant as Bobrovsky, posting a 0.66 GAA, a .974 save percentage, and a shutout over Bobrovsky's Blue Jackets team.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov was the talk of the NHL Saturday night, after pulling off one of the cheekiest shootout moves ever.Related: Kucherov seals Lightning victory with cheeky shootout goalSome called Kucherov's move ballsy, but he may have had some previous knowledge heading into his attempt against Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner. After all, Lehner had yet to make a single save in the shootout all season leading up to Saturday.Kucherov would go on to do his thing, ending the game and leaving Lehner without a save on eight shots in four shootouts this season.Here's a look at Lehner's shootout work this season:It surely hasn't been pretty for Lehner.In fact, Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saros is the only other goalie to go saveless in the shootout this season. Though, Saros has only faced two shooters in just one shootout session.Entering this season, Lehner had allowed just 24 goals on 60 shots all time - a success rate of 60 percent.He's been better, but one thing is certain - if the Sabres want to help themselves collect points down the stretch, avoid taking the game past overtime.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 Toronto Maple Leafs who have been on fire against Atlantic Division opponents this season.

All is right in Montreal.The Canadiens have rediscovered their winning ways since returning from their mid-February bye week, while franchise netminder Carey Price is also back in his groove.After starting the season on a 13-1-1 mark, the Canadiens stumbled through the season's sleepy months, going 18-18-7 in their next 43 nights, ultimately ending in the ax for former bench boss Michel Therrien.But since Feb. 18, and now under the guidance of coach Claude Julien, the Canadiens are winners of six of eight, regaining a firm lead atop their division, with 82 points on the season.Julien's early returns are promising. Price has rebounded to win five of seven contests, not allowing more than two goals in any game. It's a nice bounce back for the team MVP, who struggled through six games following the All-Star Break, in which his save percentage dipped to .894.Time FrameRecordGAASV%October - All-Star Break22-10-52.35.921All-Star Break - Bye Week2-4-03.17.894Bye Week - March 65-2-01.40.949"Any team that goes through a funk will tell you that it's just not a fun thing," Price told Arpon Basu of NHL.com. "Especially with the uncertainty too from the trade deadline. So you add all those things up, they were just kind of looming over the room. Now that those things are gone I feel like there's kind of a rejuvenation of energy."In the meantime, Price has added more accolades to his impressive resume.Last month, Price passed the legendary Ken Dryden for third place on the Canadiens' all-time wins list. He should leapfrog Patrick Roy next season, although a stellar campaign could put Price at the top as early as 2017-18:Rank Goalie Games Wins1Jacques Plante5563142Patrick Roy5512893Carey Price4972624Ken Dryden397258Copyright © 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 6 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

Eddie Lack took head coach Bill Peters' rash criticism the best way he could, by turning in an inspired performance against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday.Related: Hurricanes' Peters rips Lack in lengthy tiradePeters was blunt on Lack's play of late - most notably a recent loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning - stating his numbers in the league as "not good enough."Luckily Lack rebounded, turning away 24 of the 25 shots fired his way, helping aid his club to a 2-1 victory while restoring some confidence."I know there has been a lot of talk … but the two games before (Tampa Bay) I felt were my two best games of the season," Lack said, according to NHL.com's Jerry Brown. "I have a lot of positive people around me and I had so many phone calls and texts."This was a good game to get my stats up a little, though."After the game Peters admitted his tirade was "not his proudest moment" and that the two had made peace after some discussions during their walk to the plane.The coach also made the decision early that he wanted to give Lack the start Sunday."We met (Friday) morning and I said, 'I want to give you the start in Arizona.' Our goalie coach (David Marcoux) was in the meeting and he said, 'Well, let's not commit to that now,' but I said I was ready to make it," Peters said.For now Lack can also take a little pride in knowing that with Sunday's outing he no longer sits 60th in the league in save percentage among goalies with at least 10 starts, now ranking 59th.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames are red hot.Following Sunday's 5-2 scorching of the New York Islanders, the Flames are winners of seven straight, a stretch including three overtime victories. Calgary will look to push for win No. 8 vs. the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.Credit netminder Brian Elliott for the team's recent run. The veteran has come away with the win in his past six outings. The results are even better over his last five, where he's allowed just eight goals while boasting a .950 save percentage. He has just one regulation loss in his past nine (7-1-1).Date Opponent GA SV%Mar. 5Islanders2.943Mar. 3Red Wings2.946Feb. 28Kings1.966Feb. 26Hurricanes1.971Feb. 23Lightning2.920Feb. 21Predators5.821Appearing in 36 games this season, Elliott owns a 18-13-3 record with a .905 save percentage. But it wasn't always this easy. Elliott struggled through his initial months in Alberta following a summer trade from the St. Louis Blues, soon losing the starter's gig to Chad Johnson.On Dec. 1, the Flames were 11-13-2 and just five points removed from the West's basement. But subtract the season's first two months, and Elliott's numbers are in line with his career performance:Time Frame Record GAA SV%Oct - Nov3-9-13.31.885Dec - Mar15-4-22.26.917Calgary has put together a record of 25-13-2 since then, climbing to the first wild-card spot in the West. Should the Flames overtake the Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific - the teams are tied on points with the Ducks holding a game in hand - it could potentially set up a playoff date against the Edmonton Oilers and the first Battle of Alberta since 1991.Elliott's performance has not only revived Calgary's season, it could also rekindle one of the game's greatest rivalries.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's new series, "The Noise," is published every Monday. It kicks off each week with a quick look at teams or players making headlines, good or bad.Ryan WhiteThe Minnesota Wild appear to be getting the most out of their newest acquisitions and no, we're not necessarily talking about Martin Hanzal.Sure Hanzal has three assists in his first four games with the Wild, but it's been Ryan White - the apparent throw-in of the deal - who has come up big for his new team.In four games, White has chipped in two goals and an assist. It's quite impressive given White has averaged just over eight minutes of ice time per game in those contests.Factor in that he only contributed seven goals and 13 points in 46 games with the Arizona Coyotes this season and it appears the Wild are getting the best out of the pesky fourth liner.Alex BurrowsThe Ottawa Senators couldn't have asked for a better debut than the one they got from Alex Burrows.The 35-year-old punched in his first two goals in a Senators uniform in his first game, propelling his new club to a 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche.Game 2 Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets was a little forgettable, but nevertheless it's a deal that is paying quick dividends for the Senators.The questionable price to acquire Burrows - prospect Jonathan Dahlen - can be debated, but if Burrows can keep producing now and moderately for the next two seasons all can be forgiven.Patrick EavesAt this pace, Patrick Eaves will score another 11 goals in the final month of the season.Since joining the Anaheim Ducks one week prior to the deadline, the former Dallas Star has found the back of the net twice in three games.Sure his first was an empty netter against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but that aside, Eaves has fired a combined 12 shots on net and scored the Ducks' lone goal Sunday night against the Vancouver Canucks.Eaves continues to pad his goal and point totals in what is already a career season, and for a Ducks team who fails to produce much offense, he is certainly contributing in a big way.Mark StreitMark Streit joined the surprisingly high amount of players who scored goals in their first games with their new teams this week.The newest member of the Pittsburgh Penguins blue line picked up a goal and an assist Friday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning - a team that owned his rights for mere minutes March 1 - and was equally solid in the Penguins' comeback win over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.In all, Streit has been a great addition to the Penguins' rather thin defensive core, quickly averaging 20 minutes of ice time per game.He might not be a complete game changer, but Streit should be a calming addition to the Penguins as they pursue their second straight Cup.(Photos courtesy: USA Today)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks breathed life into their playoff hopes Sunday night by taking down the Anaheim Ducks with an impressive 2-1 victory and moving within six points of the final spot.While netminder Richard Bachman received the majority of praise - posting a 43-save effort in his first start of the season - it was center Bo Horvat who quietly pushed his club forward once again.The 21-year-old Horvat reached the first 20-goal season of his career by slipping behind the Ducks' defense and re-emerging to tap in a point shot from Ben Hutton.His goal tally leads all Canucks skaters this season, as does his 45 points. But those aren't the only impressive aspects of the young pivot's surprising breakout campaign.By getting his 20th, Horvat became only the eighth Canuck in nearly four decades to reach the plateau before turning 22, joining all-time greats like Trevor Linden and Pavel Bure.Horvat also became the first Canuck to achieve the feat since veteran sniper Daniel Sedin did so back in 2000-01.He may not be rolling through opposing defenses like some of the league's more high-profile young guns, but there's no question Horvat has quietly established himself as the face of the franchise in Vancouver.And just in time, it seems, as he's owed a new contract before next season and will be a restricted free agent in the summer.Considering all he's accomplished in 2016-17 - amid the disappointing production from high-profile acquisitions like Loui Eriksson - it's fair to assume Horvat will earn a pretty penny this summer.And rightfully so.The Sedins remain the most talented members of the Canucks' current roster. But for the first time in a long time, neither twin holds the crown of team MVP; that distinction rests uncontested with the club's 21-year-old sniper.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DENVER- Paul Stastny scored his first goal against his former team, Jake Allen stopped 27 shots, and the St. Louis Blues ended a five-game skid by beating the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 on Sunday night.Stastny got the Blues going with a power-play goal early in the first period, his first score in 11 career games against Colorado. He spent eight seasons with the Avalanche before leaving for St. Louis.Kyle Brodziak and Patrik Berglund also scored for the Blues, who moved into the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.Allen was shaken up with just more than three minutes remaining when Gabriel Landeskog's wrist shot appeared to hit him awkwardly. He was checked out by trainers before finishing off his third shutout of the season.The last-place Avalanche were blanked for the 11th time this season.Berglund scored on a power play in the second to give the Blues a 3-0 lead. It ended a seven-game goal drought and also marked his first since signing a five-year extension worth $19.25 million on Feb. 25.Allen made one big save after another, especially in the second when he thwarted Rene Bourque's breakaway attempt by stopping the shot with his chest. With around 30 seconds left, he stopped another shot by Bourque.This was the second half of a back-to-back for the Avalanche. They were routed 6-1 in Winnipeg, leading Landeskog to say the squad looked ''like a junior C team.''Once again, the Avalanche came out sluggish in dropping their fourth straight game.Stastny and Brodziak scored 1:37 apart in the first to help the slumping Blues get back on track. Stastny's goal was set up off a precision pass by Jaden Schwartz from down low. Stastny celebrated by pumping both his gloves. He still ranks ninth on the Avalanche's all-time points list (458).Brodziak added another goal by firing in a shot after an Avalanche turnover near the net.Jeremy Smith was in goal a night after Calvin Pickard was pulled against the Jets after allowing five goals in 29 minutes.Forward Sven Andrighetto made his first appearance with the Avalanche. He was acquired in a deal with Montreal, but didn't join the team in Winnipeg as he waited for a visa.He was thrown ''right in the fire'' - coach Jared Bednar's description - by being paired on the second line with Matt Duchene and Mikko Rantanen. Andrighetto turns 24 on March 21 and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.NOTES: Blues D Jordan Schmaltz made his NHL debut. ... LW Zach Sanford was a scratch. He was acquired as part of the recent trade that sent Kevin Shattenkirk to Washington. ... Schwartz appeared in his 300th career game. He played at Colorado College in nearby Colorado Springs.UP NEXTBlues: At the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday to wrap up a three-game trip.Avalanche: Host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You could say Richard Bachman is an opportunist.In the second game of a back-to-back, the Vancouver Canucks turned to the 29-year-old on Sunday in Anaheim, and he stepped up in a big way, turning aside 43-of-44 Ducks shots to preserve the victory.A 43-save performance is a feat for any netminder, but considering this was Bachman's first NHL start since Oct. 30, 2015, you have to tip your cap.

Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau cooked up an interesting alteration to his lines before the club's Sunday night tilt against the San Jose Sharks. And it seems the move paid off.With star winger Zach Parise set to return to the lineup, Boudreau switched things up and slotted the longtime left-winger in on the right side with veteran pivot Eric Staal. The change worked, as Parise and Staal scored all three of Minnesota's goals in the Wild's victory over the Sharks, Parise netting the game-opener, and Staal adding a game-winner and an empty-netter.As it turns out, Boudreau was gambling on a hunch, moving Parise to Staal's right side because he thinks Staal looks to his right more than his left, according to the Star Tribune's Michael Russo."These are just stupid things I think at home," the veteran coach told Russo after the Wild's victory.Needless to say, it was a risky move."I've never played right wing in my life," Parise told Russo.For his linemate Chris Stewart, the transition didn't look quite as seamless. The winger said he and Parise ended up on the same side a few times during the game, Parise understandably reverting back to his usual habits.And yet, the biggest mix-up didn't come from the position changes but from Stewart himself, when he accidentally popped Parise in the face during a net-front scrum.All part of the plan, apparently."It's chippy at the front of the net, so I just was making sure he was into the game," Stewart told Russo cheekily. "I thought I'd wake him up."Parise was sidelined for the Wild's last three games while dealing with the mumps, as was teammate Jason Pominville. The latter forward got in on the scoring in his first game back as well, assisting on Parise's first-period goal.With the win, the Wild returned to the top of the Western Conference with 90 points on the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Watching his Buffalo Sabres blow a 3-0 lead to the Pittsburgh Penguins probably ruined his day, but Jack Eichel added an impressive accolade to his young resume in the process.Eichel extended his active point streak to a career-long 10 games with his goal in the first period; it was his 16th of the season and 40th of his career. That may seem a tad irrelevant, but he's only 20-years-old, and only a select few players in the history of the Sabres franchise have enjoyed such a prolific start to their careers.

It's no secret that Pittsburgh Penguins defender Justin Schultz has vastly improved since moving to the Steel City. But the 26-year-old's recent play has proved he's far more than a much-improved gamble.With Kris Letang sidelined and the rest of Pittsburgh's blue line consisting of trade deadline patchwork, Schultz has emerged as a bona fide No.1 option.He proved that again Sunday night as the Penguins fought back from a 3-0 first-period deficit to eventually top the Buffalo Sabres 4-3. Schultz was the catalyst for his club's resurgence on the evening, posting a team-leading three points (one goal, two assists).The former Edmonton Oiler started things off with a goal midway through the second, getting Pittsburgh on the board and giving the struggling team life. Schultz then fed Evgeni Malkin for a one-timer a few minutes later to make things interesting.Finally, after his mates helped out with the tying goal, the rearguard stumped the Sabres with three minutes left in the tilt, faking a slap shot and dishing to Conor Sheary for the game-winner.With three more points in the bag, Schultz's season total now stands at 44 - fifth-most among NHL blue-liners - leaving him level with Dustin Byfuglien and just one below Duncan Keith.It's impressive company to keep, and even more so considering Schultz has played fewer games than both veterans.Of course, his success can be largely attributed to Pittsburgh's dominant offense, but that crutch doesn't seem quite as convincing when comparing Schultz to names like Keith, who also have plenty to work with up front (teammates Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews have combined for 41 points during the Chicago Blackhawks' recent 13-game stretch of dominance).Overall, many believe the Penguins' hopes for a second straight championship hinge on how Letang fares in his return from injury, as he's widely considered the only defender capable of filling Pittsburgh's No. 1 role.However, that may not be the case.Heading into the home stretch of the season, Schultz has proven to be one of the most consistent offensive defensemen in the league. And at this point, he might just be the most important piece of Pittsburgh's blue line.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CALGARY, Alberta - Sean Monahan had a goal and an assist and the Calgary Flames beat the New York Islanders 5-2 on Sunday for their seventh straight victory.Brian Elliott made 33 saves for his sixth straight win. Elliott is 7-0-1 since his last regulation loss on Feb. 5 when he made 28 saves during a 4-3 loss in New York to the Rangers.Michael Frolik, T.J. Brodie, Micheal Ferland and Kris Versteeg also scored for the Flames.John Tavares and Jason Chimera scored for the Islanders. They are 3-2-1 on a nine-game trip.Thomas Greiss started in net for the Islanders and stopped 17 of 21 shots in the first period before being replaced by Jean-Francois Berube, who finished with 15 saves.Greiss stopped the first 16 shots before the Flames scored four goals in a 4:40 span late in the first.Frolik started things off when he shoveled a sharp-angle shot past Greiss at 14:56. Brodie banked the puck off the New York goalie's leg from behind the net at 16:28.Ferland took a pass from Monahan 42 seconds later and fired a quick shot past Greiss. Monahan then converted a feed from Johnny Gaudreau to finish off a 3-on-1 with 23.3 seconds.The Islanders rebounded with a better effort in the second period, but were only to score one goal when Tavares swatted a rebound past Elliott.Versteeg added an insurance goal at 6:58 of the third, and Chimera replied for the Islanders at 11:32.Notes: Islanders D Johnny Boychuk sat out with a sore foot after blocking a shot during a 2-1 shootout loss in Chicago against the Blackhawks on Friday night. ... D Travis Hamonic suited up for his second straight game with the Islanders after missing the previous 24 outings with a lower-body injury. ... D Matt Bartkowski had an assist on Versteeg's goal for his first point in his eighth game with the Flames.UP NEXTIslanders: At Edmonton on Tuesday night.Flames: Host Montreal on Thursday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's safe to say that Josh Ho-Sang's NHL career hasn't gotten off to an ideal start.The oft-maligned New York Islanders rookie likely hit a new low on Sunday night, as he and teammate Travis Hamonic collided during the third period of a 4-1 blowout and gifted the Calgary Flames a golden opportunity to extend the lead with a three-on-one break.Calgary did just that, with Kris Versteeg netting the Flames' fifth goal of the game. Not the Islanders' finest work, to say the least.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames came to play Sunday.Squaring off versus the New York Islanders, the Flames scored four goals in just under five minutes, capped by Sean Monahan's 21st of the season coming off a gorgeous set-up from linemate Johnny Gaudreau.It was a dominant period in every sense of the word for Calgary, out-shooting the Isles 21-8. Michael Frolik, T.J. Brodie and Micheal Ferland were the other contributors to the Flames' offensive blitz.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When a collision knocked off Mike Smith's mask, the Arizona Coyotes goaltender was less than pleased upon being told a few minutes later he had to leave the game.One of the NHL's central spotters in New York made that call to trainer Jason Serbus, and in accordance with the league's concussion protocol, Smith's departure was mandatory.''Mike didn't want to come out, but that's what was going to be done,'' coach Dave Tippett said. ''I'm interested to see how that one goes in an overtime in playoffs or something like that. We'll see how teams react to that one.''The playoffs are still a month away, and teams already are not reacting well to concussion protocol for goalies, which is why it's one of the topics that general managers are expected to discuss at their annual March meeting beginning Monday in Boca Raton, Florida. Smith and New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist are among those who have been critical of the rule.Other issues as GMs try to refine rules they've put in place in recent years include the offside rule, coaches' challenges, goalie equipment and goalie emergencies.Video review is among the hottest topics, especially the time it takes. Major League Baseball recently instituted timing guidelines for umpires, and that could soon happen for hockey officials.''That's probably maybe the No. 1 discussion,'' Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill said via phone Sunday. ''Other than getting the call right, it is the time frame. It's something we can't go seven, 10, 12 minutes to get it right. ... It is something where I think the call has to be done within a certain time frame to keep the game going.''GMs also will discuss some controversial coach's challenges where a player's skate is off the ice and the play is ruled offside. It came up during a playoff series last year between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues and has been a subject of discussion at previous meetings.Updates to the league's concussion protocol will be under the microscope after Smith and Lundqvist blasted the system as flawed. Connor McDavid and other skaters have expressed concerns that the rules could have a major impact come playoff time - and goalies are at the center of the debate.''If there is an instance that takes place where you think there is a possible concussion, I think we need to look after that,'' Nill said. ''When you do that, there's a risk of a player coming in cold. I guess the answer to that for me sometimes, it's no different than if a goalie hurts his knee, he's coming out and the other guy's coming in cold.''Goalie equipment and emergencies - where teams have to sign players to tryout contracts to back up for a game - are also on the agenda. After missing the past two meetings, George McPhee will attend as GM of the Vegas Golden Knights for the first time; owner Bill Foley's final expansion payment went through last week.GMs said criteria for the June 21 expansion draft have been made clear, so there's no need for further clarification. Blind-side hits, which were discussed at the November meeting, and playoff formats aren't on the official agenda but may be brought up over the course of the three-day meeting.Ken Holland of the Detroit Red Wings has suggested expanding the playoffs to nine or 10 teams in each conference with play-in games similar to MLB, and the strength of the Metropolitan Division this season - where the fourth-place team has more points than the Atlantic Division leader - has generated some questions.''I don't know that they want to keep changing it, but this has got to be an impetus for at least a discussion when something happens like this where there's so many good teams in the one division,'' said Brian MacLellan of the league-leading Washington Capitals, who acknowledged it would be self-serving to propose a change.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's the circle of hockey life.As Kevin Shattenkirk continues to find his legs as a member of the Washington Capitals, he was made to feel welcome by a somewhat unlikely friend.During Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Capitals forward Justin Williams came to Shattenkirk's defense after a skirmish broke out. What's notable about this is that Shattenkirk and Williams once dropped the gloves as members of the Blues and Kings, respectively.Flashback time: Here's Shattenkirk and Williams going at it over two years ago.And here's Williams throwing down with Nick Cousins, who went after Shattenkirk for a hit delivered on Brandon Manning on Saturday.That an old foe stepped in to help was not lost on Shattenkirk."It was amazing," Shattenkirk said, according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "For me to only be here for a few days so far and to come out there in an emotional game like this against a big rival for these guys and now for me, it was a great start. And for him to stick up for me, especially with our little tussle that we had a few years ago, that's the type of guy he is."That's why he's been in this league for so long, because he's such a great teammate. I hope he knows that I would do the same for him."With the playoffs just around the corner, the battle's just getting started.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nikolay Goldobin is making quite the impression in Vancouver, both on and off the ice.Acquired by the Canucks from San Jose prior to the trade deadline, the 21-year-old forward scored a breakaway goal in his first game with his new club.Asked to describe his game to those who may not be familiar, Goldobin literally had nothing to say."There are no words, just let me show you and that will be easier," he said, per Ben Kuzma of The Province.Goldobin seems excited about the opportunity to let his game do the talking while playing a bigger role in Vancouver than he was afforded with the Sharks."I was kind of surprised at being traded and who knows what is going on, but I was happy to be traded to this organization," he said. "It was hard to make that (Sharks) team and I probably would have been playing fourth line."Selected 27th overall by the Sharks in 2014, Goldobin's goal with the Canucks was only his second in 12 NHL games. He did record 39 goals and 51 assists in 115 games down in the AHL, and has the look of a key contributor moving forward for the rebuilding Canucks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adam McQuaid is a lucky man.The Boston Bruins defenseman received 25 stitches after getting cut on the neck by the skate of teammate David Backes on Saturday, interim head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed.Here's a look at the incident.

After a dismal trip through California, the Toronto Maple Leafs now return home before they kick off their final playoff push.The club captured just one of a possible six points in games against the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks this week, and with that, Toronto has now fallen outside the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.The Maple Leafs get a three-day break before welcoming the Detroit Red Wings to the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday. But with just 18 games remaining, they'll need some inspired performances if they hope to make the postseason for the first time since 2012-13.The biggest hindrance to their success might be their rather cruel remaining schedule. The Maple Leafs play five games against top-five clubs and seven games against teams seeded higher than them entering play Saturday.Toronto's saving grace is that it holds the advantage as far as season series are concerned.Here are the Maple Leafs' remaining opponents and their season results against those clubs, grouped by teams ahead of them in the overall standings (16th), teams just below them, and teams well out of the playoff race.Teams above them:Rank OverallTeamSeason Series1Capitals1-0-12Blackhawks0-0-14Blue Jackets0-1-05Penguins1-1-012Bruins3-0-014Predators1-0-0Teams just below them:Rank OverallTeamSeason Series17Panthers3-0-018Lightning1-1-019Flyers1-1-0Teams well below them:Rank OverallTeamSeason Series22Sabres2-1-024Devils1-0-126Red Wings2-0-028Hurricanes1-1-0(Note: The Maple Leafs play the Blue Jackets, Panthers, Lightning, Sabres, and Red Wings twice in their final 18 games.)That amounts to 26 games against their 13 remaining opponents so far this season. To date, Toronto's posted a 17-6-3 record against those teams.However, while the Maple Leafs have owned their upcoming opponents for the majority of the regular season, most of those 13 clubs have been playing better hockey recently.Over the last 10 games, only the Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, and Philadelphia Flyers have accumulated fewer points than the Maple Leafs' nine.The season so far might be on the Maple Leafs' side, but with a collection of games coming up against the league's elite and some teams riding sudden hot streaks, it won't be easy for Toronto to lock down its first playoff berth in four years.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins backup goalie situation seems to finally be falling into place.After a disastrous first half of the season and time spent down in the AHL, Anton Khudobin has won his past three starts, including Saturday against New Jersey.That general manager Don Sweeney didn't add a goalie prior to the trade deadline was a bit of a boost."If they believe in me and they didn't bring anybody, I really appreciate it," Khudobin said, per Joe Haggerty of CSNNE. "I want to do my job and I want to win for the team ... If they believe in you as a player, it gives you confidence, and that's it."Khudobin added, "Of course, and after a rough start, especially my start, and winning right now, it just gives you more confidence, it gives your team more confidence, and gives everybody confidence which is important at this time of the year."With the Bruins in search of a playoff spot, interim head coach Bruce Cassidy has been rewarded for newfound faith in Khudobin. In three starts under Cassidy, Khudobin has allowed only six goals, stopping 92.2 percent of shots faced.As a team, Boston has posted a record of 8-2-0 since the coaching change, and sits third in the Atlantic Division.More solid play from Khudobin will go a long way towards advancing to the postseason and making sure Tuukka Rask is fresh when the time comes.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 the four-game slate beginning at 6:00 p.m. EST, Sunday, March 5 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

It was not a decision he made lightly.After trading a few draft picks - including this year's first-round selection - to the Arizona Coyotes for Martin Hanzal, Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher called members of the club's amateur scouting staff to apologize, seeing as much of their hard work to date would likely be all for naught."Imagine being an amateur scout and you get a call basically on March 1 telling you, 'We’ve traded our first-round pick,' after you’ve been scouting for five months," Fletcher said, per Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. "You’re out slogging miles, and a lot of your focus is on the first round, it is on the top guy because that’s how the franchise is judged, that’s how you’re judged."You’re thinking, 'All this time away from my family' ... it’s tough."Amateur scouts spend most of their time on the road, traveling between junior and college hockey rinks in sometimes remote locations in order to take a look at players they'll put a stamp of approval on come NHL Draft day.That the Wild are in position to go deep in the playoffs is a testament to work put in by the staff over the years, and Fletcher added, "hopefully we do something special this year that makes it worth it."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"That don't impress me much" - Shania TwainThat's the tune ex-NHL forward Jason Williams was singing Sunday morning after Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning wowed the hockey world with a neat fakeout move on Robin Lehner of the Buffalo Sabres the night before.Turns out Williams pulled off a similar move during his stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2008-09 season.

The Chicago Blackhawks are on some kind of roll, courtesy of their franchise cornerstones.After losing three straight to end the month of January, the Blackhawks have posted a record of 12-1-0 since the beginning of February, earning a league-high 24 points while jumping into first in the Western Conference and second in the overall standings, behind only the Washington Capitals.It should come as no surprise that Chicago's best players during this stretch have been Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, who rank first and second in NHL scoring over that time with 21 and 20 points, respectively.Kane and Toews are in the second season of twin $10.5-million-per-year contracts, extensions that raised questions as to whether a Stanley Cup contending team could be built around them.Despite a plethora of talent traded away in order to work around salary cap constraints, general manager Stan Bowman continues to surround the pair - along with other core players like Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Corey Crawford - with the talent needed to remain as competitive as any team in the NHL.At last check, Chicago and Minnesota ranked behind the Capitals in terms of Cup favorites (according to Bovada), but with Kane and Toews playing at a high level and with the experience they bring to the table, it's not hard to imagine a fourth Cup being added to their resumes come June.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche are historically bad.Following Saturday's 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets, the Avalanche fell to 17-43-3 through 63 games, and are trending toward the worst season of any team in the shootout era.TeamSeasonRecordPoint %Colorado Avalanche2016-1717-43-3.294Buffalo Sabres2013-1421-51-10.317Buffalo Sabres2014-1523-51-8.329Philadelphia Flyers2006-0722-48-12.341Arizona Coyotes2014-1524-50-8.341Related: Avalanche's Comeau bizarrely passes up breakawayThe modern point system was introduced at the beginning of the 2005-06 season after the lockout wiped out an entire season, and with it came a structure wherein teams earn points for losing in overtime or the shootout.Those Buffalo teams directly ahead of this year's Avalanche were deep in the midst of a rebuild, with the latter roster seemingly constructed with the intent of making sure the club had the best possible chance of drafting at least Jack Eichel and hopefully Connor McDavid.In short, it's no small feat to post a sub-.300 winning percentage in today's NHL, especially for a team not actively tanking.Joe Sakic has said he remains committed to first-year head coach Jared Bednar despite the poor season, while the long-term futures of core players like Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene are up in the air after much trade talk prior to this year's deadline.In the meantime, this seems like a lost season in Denver, with a top draft pick soon to be added to the mix.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Talk about making a good first impression.Nikolay Goldobin picked up his first goal as a member of the Vancouver Canucks in his debut with his new club Saturday night. Goldobin turned on the jets before beating Los Angeles Kings goaltender Ben Bishop with a precise wrist shot midway through the second period.It looks like Goldobin's a man of his word (or lack thereof):

Andrei Vasilevskiy will forever be indebted to Ben Bishop.With the two-time Vezina Trophy finalist now a member of the Los Angeles Kings - following a trade just days before the deadline - Vasilevskiy is now the Tampa Bay Lightning's No. 1 goalie, but he credits Bishop for acting as a mentor for him during his start in the league."When I first got here, I was looking at him like, 'This guy is the best goalie in the NHL,'" Vasilevskiy said, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "I told him he's like my old brother, old teacher. I'm really thankful for him. He's a nice guy and unbelievable goalie. He'll stay in my heart forever."While Vasilevskiy is now clearly the club's undisputed No. 1, the 22-year-old is adamant that he will not be taking the position for granted."I don't want to say, 'Bish is gone, I'm 100 percent No. 1,'" Vasilevskiy said. "I'm not going to (mess) around. I will work even more and show everybody that I deserve to be here and deserve to be the starting goalie."Early on, Vasilevskiy appears to be living up to his word having gone a perfect 3-0-0 with a .949 save percentage since the Bishop trade.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2016-17 season continues to be a forgettable one for the Colorado Avalanche.The latest iteration of misery for the maligned club came Saturday night in the form of a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets. With seven total goals in the spirited tilt, there were a few spectacular plays to get those in attendance on their feet.(Spoiler alert: none of them came from Colorado).Here's a look at the three best:1. Chiarot flips in first of the seasonWith Winnipeg already leading 3-0, Nikolaj Ehlers decided to keep things rolling, flooring the Avalanche defense with a slap-shot fake and setting up Ben Chiarot, whose backhand flip earned him his first goal of the season.2. Ehlers, Wheeler play catchTwo minutes after setting up Chiarot's second period tally, Ehlers added another point to his season total, tapping in Winnipeg's fifth following a tremendous setup from captain Blake Wheeler.3. Patrik Laine: More than just an All-Star sniperPatrik Laine has already established himself as one of the game's premier goal-scorers in his first NHL season, but the rookie phenom proved he's got far more in his toolbox than elite sniping skill. Linemate Mark Scheifele was the beneficiary, wiring home Laine's slick dish early on in the eventual drubbing.All in all, a brilliant showing from Winnipeg, who earned six goals from six different scorers on the night. For Colorado? Time to call it a season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Craig Anderson rises to the top.The Ottawa Senators netminder has been the best in the league since returning from a leave of absence on Feb. 11.In that stretch, Anderson has appeared in eight contests, owning the best save rate among goaltenders with as many starts.Rank Goalie Starts Record GAA SV%1Craig Anderson86-2-01.75.9462Carey Price85-3-01.72.9403Cory Schneider92-5-22.56.9244Frederik Anderson82-3-32.46.9215Robin Lehner105-3-22.68.920The veteran netminder took a leave of absence earlier this season to be with his ill wife. In 26 games, he has posted a 17-8-1 record with a .930 save percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thanks, but no thanks, Patrick.Patrick Kane's attempt to kiss Chicago Blackhawks linemate Artemi Panarin was rejected Saturday night.Panarin made a nice move to set up the reigning Art Ross Trophy winner with an empty-net goal, but wasn't interested in his teammate's method of celebration.Luckily for Kane, he'd already scored twice in the team's 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers bench boss Tom Rowe sounded off Saturday following his team's 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars."We're being selfish, flying the defensive zone, and not paying attention to defensive assignments. That's what happens," Rowe told reporters.The teams carried a 1-1 tie into the third period before Stars defenseman John Klingberg netted the game-winner with just 1:07 remaining.Rowe was particularly displeased with Panthers forward Reilly Smith.

Nikita Kucherov's insane shootout goal Saturday night was no accident.The Tampa Bay Lightning forward scored the game-winner in the extra session, faking a deke and letting the puck slide past Buffalo Sabres goaltender Robin Lehner.Related: Kucherov seals Lightning victory with cheeky shootout goalCaptain Steven Stamkos had seen the goal before, noting on Twitter that the 23-year-old was practicing the move during the week.

Nasty, just nasty.The Tampa Bay Lightning got by the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night thanks to some shootout wizardry from Nikita Kucherov.The Lightning forward came in on goalie Robin Lehner, faking a deke and letting the puck slide past Lehner.That's just not fair.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.