The Vancouver Canucks continued the league's efforts to celebrate You Can Play night on Tuesday, donning pride-themed jerseys before their tilt against the Detroit Red Wings.

NEW YORK - Marcus Johansson had two goals and an assist to help Washington beat the New York Rangers 4-1 on Tuesday night in Kevin Shattenkirk's first game with the Capitals.Brett Connolly and Nicklas Backstrom also scored and Braden Holtby stopped 29 shots as the NHL-best Capitals gave Barry Trotz his 700th career victory. Evgeny Kuznetzov and Matt Niskanen had two assists each.Shattenkirk, acquired from St. Louis on Monday night, had four shots on goal in 17:57 of ice time.Brady Skjei scored in the first period and Henrik Lundqvist finished with 34 saves as the Rangers lost for the second time in three days on home ice after going 5-0-1 in their previous six at Madison Square Garden.After stepping up their play in the latter stages of the first period, the Capitals were in control in the second as they scored twice and outshot the Rangers 18-9.Johansson tied it at 1 on a rush about 7 1/2 minutes into the middle period when he knocked in the rebound of a shot by Dmitry Orlov for his 20th.Michael Grabner appeared to give the Rangers the lead with less than eight minutes remaining as the puck deflected up off Kuznetsov's leg and Holtby's helmet and dropped on the goal line before the Rangers forward knocked it in. However, Trotz challenged for offside on the Rangers entering the zone, and the goal was waved off after a lengthy video review.Washington took the lead later when Lars Eller sent a pass that went off Niskanen's stick to Connolly, who put it in for his 13th with 3:34 to go in the period.Johansson made it 3-1 at 1:15 of the third, deflecting a shot by Kuznetsov over Lundqvist's right shoulder for his 21st.Backstrom scored a power-play goal that deflected up off Skjei's stick and over Lundqvist and in for his 19th with 2:03 left. John Carlson got his 200th career assist on the play.The Rangers controlled the pace for much of the opening period, outshooting the Capitals 11-5 over the first 16 1/2 minutes before Washington had the final three shots of the first.Washington's Tom Wilson hit Derek Stepan into the boards about 5 1/2 minutes in and the Rangers' center slowly skated to the bench.Skjei put the Rangers up 1-0 when he tipped a pass from Adam Clendening past Holtby for his third at 5:08 of the first period. It gave the rookie 30 points for the season, including his two goals and 13 points in the last 18 games.Skjei also hit a post with a slap shot with about seven minutes left in the first, and Jimmy Vesey's backhander in close was denied by Holtby less than 10 seconds later.NOTES: Trotz is sixth on the NHL coaching wins list. ... Washington's Karl Alzner played in his 571st regular season game, breaking a tie with Ken Klee for ninth on the franchise list for defensemen. ... The Capitals improved to 7-8-3 when giving up the first goal and 32-1-1 when leading after two periods. ... The Rangers won the first two meetings with the Capitals, 4-2 at Washington on Oct. 22 and 2-1 at home Feb. 19. The teams conclude the season series at Washington on April 5. ... The Rangers acquired D Brendan Smith from Detroit for two draft picks and swapped minor league players with Buffalo. ... New York, without D Kevin Klein (back spasms) for the fourth straight game, announced D Dan Girardi will miss 10-14 days due to an ankle injury. D Steven Kampfer was recalled from Hartford of the AHL and rookie F Pavel Buchnevich was assigned to the Wolf Pack. ... The Rangers are now 25-9-1 when scoring first.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan White can use his hands for good.In Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, the noted pugilist, acquired Sunday from the Arizona Coyotes, scored his second goal in as many games since the trade that sent him to the Minnesota Wild.The goal marked White's ninth on the season. He sits two back of his career high, set last year with the Philadelphia Flyers.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jordan Weal won't ever forget Feb. 28, 2017.In his 19th NHL game, the Philadelphia Flyers forward scored his first NHL goal - and it was damn pretty.Weal showed off his hands, redirecting the puck perfectly past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Jeremy Smith.The Flyers won the game 4-0.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ben Bishop is ready for royalty.The goaltender will make his Los Angeles Kings debut Tuesday when his new club takes on the Calgary Flames.The Kings acquired Bishop from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a trade Sunday.He appeared in 32 games with the Lightning this season, posting a 16-12-3 record alongside a .911 save percentage and 2.55 goals-against average.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins rearguard Justin Schultz has been at the center of trade deadline conversations for a few years now.First, Schultz spent a couple campaigns as potential trade bait. Then came the 2016 deal that sent him to Pittsburgh for nothing more than a 2016 third-round pick. One season later, the Penguins have helped the 26-year-old become the player he was projected to be before he joined the NHL ranks.Heading into the home stretch, Schultz has posted the seventh-most points of any defender in the league (39 through 57 games), playing a crucial role on Pittsburgh's injury-riddled blue line.It seems another former Penguin is to thank for Schultz's resurgent performance this season. Asked about his turnaround, the former Edmonton Oiler heaped praise on former Pittsburgh defender Sergei Gonchar, who's currently serving as a defenseman development coach for his former club."Sergei just preached all the little details of the game," Schultz told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "Like stick position, where your feet are when you're on the offensive blue line. It's all the little things you never really think about. I started to focus on that and it helped me with my overall game and I started feeling better. He's been huge for me. I'm sure glad he's here."Gonchar is certainly no stranger to the finer details of the game. Attention to those details allowed the Russian star to rack up 811 points over the course of his career in the big leagues - the 16th-most in NHL history. He posted 259 of those points in Pittsburgh, and won the Stanley Cup with the club in 2009.Now mentoring the next wave of Penguins blue-liners, Gonchar has the new generation following the lead of some of history's best."We were watching guys like Nicklas Lidstrom and Erik Karlsson, some of the things they've done offensively," Schultz said. "We watched things they did with the puck, how they played the game. We started focusing on things like that and it helped me out a lot ..."He just wanted to show me with Lidstrom, his position all the time in the defensive zone, and he never got beat. He wanted to show me that you don't have to run over guys or anything, just be in good position, good stick position. Like I said, it's the little details."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens traded forward David Desharnais to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Brandon Davidson, the Habs announced Tuesday night.

Arizona Coyotes forward Alexander Burmistrov was stretchered out of Tuesday's game against the Boston Bruins following a hit by defenseman Colin Miller.Teammate Jakob Chychrun responded to the hit immediately after, taking Miller to the ice.Miller was issued a major penalty and game misconduct on the play.

The sale in Dallas continues.The Stars traded defenseman Johnny Oduya to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night, the Blackhawks announced. Dallas retains half of Oduya's salary, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.The return is 24-year-old forward Mark McNeill and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2018.

"It was fun while it lasted."Those were the words of Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn after his brother Jordie Benn was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, writes the Dallas Morning News' Mike Heika.And while the pair will forever cherish the opportunity to play together in the NHL, both are looking forward to what Jordie will do with his new team."Now he can be Jordie Benn and not Jamie Benn's brother," said Jamie. "I think this is going to be great for him, and he can move on and move forward with his career."Jordie acknowledged his brother's superstar status when talking to the Montreal media for the first time, and echoed Jamie."I just get to come here and I get to be Jo-Benn, and not Jamie Benn's brother," Jordie said.Jordie's signed through 2018-19 at $1.1 million per season, so barring another trade, he'll be in Montreal for the foreseeable future. And that's just fine by him."I'm just a kid living a dream and obviously to play in Montreal is pretty exciting," he said.Jordie's a stay-at-home defenseman, a veteran of 302 regular-season games. He has two goals and 13 assists in 58 games this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kevin Shattenkirk sweepstakes came to an end Monday night as the Washington Capitals emerged from the darkness to acquire the highly touted defenseman, giving Alex Ovechkin's club even more solid ground to rest its Stanley Cup hopes upon.Shattenkirk met with media in Washington for the first time on Tuesday, granting some perspective on his recent move."They didn't bring me in to save anything," Shattenkirk said. "They're the best team in the NHL right now. I just have to make sure that I'm coming in and doing what I do best for the hockey team."The former St. Louis Blue said he was just as surprised about his new team's deadline-day deal as everyone else."Washington really came out of nowhere. It was a team I really didn't have in my head," Shattenkirk said. "Obviously when the news was announced it was very exciting for me because it's a great team."

What was once NHL trade deadline day has transformed into NHL trade deadline month - or at least trade deadline two weeks. The action's been steady since Feb. 15, and below we break down all the moves that have taken place and those moves still to come ahead of the clock striking 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 1.Done DealsCanes ship Stalberg to Ottawa

A nagging injury may keep Patrick Sharp in Dallas - but may also force him from the Stars' lineup.Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has the latest on the 35-year-old Stars forward, who will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end, and potentially a rental acquisition ahead of Wednesday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline:

Corey Hirsch is a former NHL goaltender who spent parts of seven seasons with the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals, and Dallas Stars.I was watching my friend Todd Walsh of Fox Sports Arizona interview Shane Doan at intermission during Saturday night's game, and it prompted a lot of internal questions of my own that I didn’t even realize were there.Todd had asked Doan how he felt about about Martin Hanzal, who was traded to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday after 10 seasons with Doan and the Coyotes. Doan was visibly upset and disappointed, saying he just didn’t understand it. So why was Doan so shaken? He has millions of dollars, plays in the NHL, has a great life, great friends - why would the trade bother anyone?After examining my own thoughts and feelings on this, I realized that while this is a business transaction for the organization, for Doan and Hanzal this is a human transaction. As a professional athlete, we all accept the responsibility that our lives can be changed and uprooted at any moment. It’s part of the business, and you get paid handsomely for it.What you are never ready for is that someone can be part of your everyday life for 10 years, and then with one decision, in an instant, it’s over, gone, like they were never there. Your children played together. Your wives hung out together. You know everything about each other. Then poof, gone. They will never be a part of your life like they were before. Never again.Some will say, "Well, that’s part of life, you can be transferred from a job at any time." Yes, that’s true, but it is never like being traded. Once dealt, the player is usually gone within 12 hours, and sometimes sooner.There’s no corporation saying, "Hey, we’ll give you two months to sell your house, and help you along the process." No, it’s more of a "Thank you for your service, we’ll miss you, don’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out. You have a flight in three hours to your new team."There is little time for goodbyes, if any at all.I was once in a situation where I was traded in a minor-league deal. I drove eight hours and played that night with my new team - gone within three hours of the trade being finished. So what’s the big deal? I had two little kids under the age of three, and a wife that was left with them, alone, to pick up the pieces.Lost in this are the wives and girlfriends, left at home to pack up the house and the kids and get everything to their new city as fast as they can. They’ve built lives as well, ones they don’t want to leave.So, should we feel sorry for players that make millions, and that get upset over being traded, or their friends being traded? Absolutely not - but remember, there is more to a trade than just a bunch of names moving from team to team. There are hearts involved. There are people in the background whose lives and friendships will never be the same.Glen Metropolit is still one of my best friends to this day, and I wish he lived next door to me. I spent every day for two years with Metro on the same team, sharing laughs and secrets. We knew everything about each other. Sadly, though, he doesn’t live near me anymore, and never will again. Why not?Because that’s hockey.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pierre Dorion's done his part. Now it's up to his team to do the rest.The Ottawa Senators general manager spoke about the acquisition of winger Viktor Stalberg on Tuesday, a third-round pick heading to Carolina, his second trade in two days. Dorion sent promising prospect Jonathan Dahlen to Vancouver for Alex Burrows on Monday, and then signed Burrows to a two-year extension.Dorion's message to his group is simple, and one they surely understand."Win," he said, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "We have enough pieces that we should be in the playoffs," Dorion added.Burrows brings toughness and leadership, while Stalberg will be relied upon to bring more speed to the Senators' lineup.Head coach Guy Boucher's happy."He told me he did a few cartwheels (Tuesday)," Dorion said.Dorion, in his first season as GM, was heavily criticized for trading Dahlen out west, but disagrees with the notion that he's mortgaging the club's future for a playoff spot. He believes in his club, and he's giving it a push.He also thanked Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, who approved the additions and the extra dollars on Ottawa's payroll.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Banished New York Islanders goaltender Jaroslav Halak may be back in the NHL by Wednesday.Two teams have made offers for the keeper, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli, with a third team also in the mix.Halak, who will be 32 in May, has been beasting in the AHL since being waived and demoted by the Isles. He has a .933 save percentage in 18 games with Bridgeport, winning 14 of them.There's one year and $4.5 million left on his contract.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Spooner is airing some laundry now that the dust has settled.The Boston Bruins center addressed his relationship with former head coach Claude Julien on Tuesday, admitting he didn't feel like the two were on the same page, to say the least."I felt like the last coach ... he just didn’t really trust me," Spooner said, per Joe Haggerty of CSNNE "It might've been kind of on me not really playing to the potential that I have, but at the same time ... I just don’t think that he really liked me as a player.Spooner added: "It’s kind of in the past now. It’s just a part of the game. It’s up to me to just go out there and just play, and not have that stuff in the back of my mind."After a breakout 2015-16 in which he recorded 13 goals and 36 points as the team's third-line center, the 25-year-old has taken a few steps back production-wise this season, due in part to being bounced around from the middle to the wing early on under Julien.In seven games under interim bench boss Bruce Cassidy, Spooner has been good for two goals and four assists, perhaps with a bit of renewed confidence in his back pocket.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs earned Brian Boyle.The veteran center - who's played a ton of playoff hockey over the past few years - was acquired by Toronto in a trade with Tampa Bay on Monday, and the players he's joining can consider Boyle a reward for their strong play through three quarters of the season.

Talk is cheap, and doesn't put a Stanley Cup ring on one's finger.That's the message brought forth by Alex Ovechkin after his Washington Capitals traded for defenseman Kevin Shattekirk, further cementing their status as Stanley Cup favorites."Every year we talk about 'this is our year, this is our year,'" he said Tuesday, per Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "But enough talk. It's time to do something."The reigning Presidents' Trophy winners were bounced from the playoffs in the second round by the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, and the Capitals have never actually advanced to the Eastern Conference finals during the Ovechkin era.With the roster currently in place, Washington has its best chance of winning a Cup, and anything less will be a massive disappointment, as reiterated by general manager Brian MacLellan.When asked what success means to the team this season, he said, "winning a championship."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings have traded defenseman Brendan Smith to the New York Rangers, the club announced Tuesday.In exchange for Smith, 28, the Red Wings will receive a 2018 second-round pick and a 2017 third-rounder.The Rangers were reportedly in the mix for Kevin Shattenkirk, who was dealt to the Capitals on Monday, but in Smith, the Blueshirts receive a viable consolation prize to shore up a back-end in need of more mobility.Smith carries a cap hit of $2.75 million, and will be an unrestricted free agent July 1. In 33 games this season, he has just two goals and three assists, but was one of few possession drivers on a struggling Red Wings team.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Former Buffalo Sabres player Andrew Peters won't face charges following an on-ice brawl involving the youth hockey team he coaches.The Erie County district attorney's office and Buffalo police began looking into the Saturday fight after video appeared to show Peters reaching across the Buffalo Junior Sabres' bench and shoving to the ice a player from the Hamilton, Ontario, team.District Attorney John Flynn said Tuesday the parents of the teenage player don't want to pursue criminal charges against Peters, so his office won't take legal action.The 36-year-old Peters was suspended from coaching Buffalo's 15-and-under team. Neither the Buffalo Junior Sabres nor Peters has responded to requests for comment.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers will be without defenseman Dan Girardi for 10-14 days as a result of an ankle injury, the club announced Tuesday.

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, Feb. 28 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

Doug Armstrong did what had to be done with the knowledge that Kevin Shattenkirk would not be returning to the St. Louis Blues next season.Rather than lose the defenseman for nothing as an unrestricted free agent, the general manager sent Shattenkirk to the Washington Capitals for a first-round pick in 2017, a conditional pick at the 2019 NHL Draft, as well as forwards Zach Sanford and Brad Malone.

It's official, Alexandre Burrows is an Ottawa Senator for years to come.

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms on one-year contract extensions for defenseman Michal Rozsival and forward Jordin Tootoo that will run to the end of 2017-18.Both players were set to become unrestricted free agents July 1.Valuations have not been announced.Rozsival has one goal and one assist in 51 games this season, while Tootoo has zero points and 21 penalty minutes, but here's the important thing to keep in mind:

Kevin Shattenkirk is looking back before moving on.The defenseman is expected to make his Washington Capitals debut Tuesday after being traded the night before, but took some time to tweet some thoughts about his time with the St. Louis Blues:

You've heard by now - Kevin Shattenkirk is a Washington Capital.Yes, the NHL's best team claimed the biggest fish in the rental pond, becoming an even more complete unit. But, that said, the Caps still play in the Metropolitan Division - the best in hockey - and until they actually advance past the second round of the playoffs, they haven't accomplished anything of merit.That's not a slight on Washington, they've sent a loud, clear message to fellow competitors they're in it to win it, hoping to erase a decade of postseason disappointment.Still, thanks to the NHL's faulty playoff format, the Capitals - should they advance to the second round - will likely have to play the Penguins, Rangers, or Blue Jackets. Not an easy out.Year after year, it's never as easy as it seems for the on-paper postseason favorites, and here's some potential deals from Washington's divisional foes that can thwart the Capitals' strengthened Cup aspirations.PenguinsFace it, we all want to see another Washington versus Pittsburgh series this Spring, and wouldn't it be something if the Penguins went out and matched the Capitals' seismic splash, say, by acquiring Matt Duchene?The rumors surrounding the Colorado trigger man have quieted lately, but Pittsburgh was said to be interested in the speedy center before.Pittsburgh vied to shore up its depleted blue line by acquiring Ron Hainsey in a pre-deadline deal, and another depth rearguard could certainly be on Jim Rutherford's radar.However, when Pittsburgh upset Washington en route to the Stanley Cup last May, it did so with unmatchable speed on offense. With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin down the middle of the ice and a slew of gifted wingers to boot, adding a player like Duchene creates a matchup nightmare for any opponent.Rangers(Photo Courtesy: Getty Images)New York's high-flying offense doesn't need any altering, but some blue-line tinkering would certainly help the Rangers against a fellow Metropolitan juggernaut.Now that Shattenkirk - who has been linked to Broadway from the get-go - is off the board, the Rangers should search for a plan B. Brendan Smith of the Red Wings is rumored to be available, and would prove useful in all situations.The Rangers' D-corps isn't exactly young, and without many draft picks at its disposal, New York would have to give a player to get a player. A declining Kevin Klein and Nick Holden - who's at the peak of a career season - could fit as suitable options.Blue JacketsIt's still surprising to some, but the Blue Jackets are in this, too.Columbus currently sits third in the Metropolitan Division, one point back of Pittsburgh and five back of Washington, while holding just a single point advantage over the Rangers.Short on playoff experience, a veteran such as Patrick Sharp could be of assistance for the Jackets, though he's trudged through an injury-riddled season with just 15 points in 36 games.Despite scoring the fifth-most goals league-wide this season (three of the four teams ahead of Columbus in that department are Pittsburgh, New York, and Washington), the Blue Jackets will need to continue putting pucks in the net to survive in the playoffs.Columbus would be wise to call on Duchene, while fellow Avalanche trade subject Gabriel Landeskog plays with the type of snarl head coach John Tortorella appreciates on his roster.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brian MacLellan was presented with a chance to make his club even better, and he took it.The Washington Capitals general manager addressed the acquisition of Kevin Shattenkirk from the St. Louis Blues in a conference call Tuesday, saying the defenseman was his singular target on the trade market.Related: Blues trade Shattenkirk to Capitals

Every Tuesday, theScore's hockey editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."Calgary FlamesTrade: Acquired defenseman Michael Stone from the Arizona Coyotes for a 2017 third-round pick and a 2018 conditional fifth-round pick. Arizona also retained 50 percent of Stone's salary.Grade: B-Stone has jumped onto the Flames second defense pairing alongside T.J. Brodie with solid results to date. In four games, he's recorded two assists, and seven shots, albeit with a five-on-five Corsi rating of 42.8. He's also helping in the plus/minus department, for those who still care about the stat.

One for the demo tape.Minnesota Wild breakout star Mikael Granlund celebrated his 300th career game with a magnificent overtime winner scored 12 seconds into the extra frame versus the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.An exhilarating finish made even more impressive by the on-ice resistance. Granlund sliced through Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar before beating Drew Doughty to the net and tucking it behind Jonathan Quick.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty hit the 30-goal plateau with the first of his two goals on Monday, and joined an elite group of Montreal greats in the process.Pacioretty has now hit the milestone in four consecutive seasons, becoming just the fifth player in franchise history to do so, joining Steve Shutt, Guy Lafleur, Maurice Richard, and Yvan Cournoyer.Pacioretty also scored his 31st of the year later in the game, putting him alone in second place league-wide in goals, just three behind Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby.Montreal would go on to defeat New Jersey 4-3 in overtime.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 are the fantasy implications of the Washington Capitals acquiring D Kevin Shattenkirk from the St. Louis Blues:

Talk about deja vu.Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov blasted three identical one-timers in quick succession in the second period to collect the natural hat trick against the Ottawa Senators Monday night.

The Washington Capitals acquired the top rental asset on the open market Monday night, landing talented puck-moving defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk in a seismic trade with the St. Louis Blues, the teams have confirmed.In exchange, the Blues acquired Washington's first-round pick this summer, a complex conditional selection in the 2019 NHL Draft, along with forwards Zach Sanford and Brad Malone.Washington will also re-acquire 25-year-old goaltender Phoenix Copley as part of the agreement.St. Louis reportedly retained 39 percent of Shattenkirk's $4.25-million salary to complete the transaction, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.The Capitals are already, in many ways, the NHL's most complete team, and their current configuration on defense has been the league's stingiest unit this season. But with the mobile Shattenkirk, they have added a completely new dimension to their back line.The 28-year-old is one of the league's premier transition facilitators, and a power-play specialist. He owns the fourth-highest points rate among blue-liners in all situations, meaning just three of his peers have been more productive with their minutes this season.Shattenkirk is in the final year of his incredibly team-friendly deal. He stands to fetch a lucrative long-term agreement as the most sought after free agent this summer.The acquisition made two days before the March 1 deadline also prevents the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers - two Metropolitan Division heavyweights with similar aspirations and apparent interest in Shattenkirk - from bolstering their respective lineups with the ice-tiling rearguard.Copley's inclusion in the deal acts as protection for the Capitals should backup Philipp Grubauer be chosen in the expansion draft.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

They did it, they finally did it.With his 22nd goal of the season, Kyle Turris tallied the Ottawa Senators' first goal at 5-on-3 since the 2014-15 season.Prior to Monday night's marker against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Senators had not scored a 5-on-3 goal since a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on April 4, 2015, a stretch of 147 games.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Vasilevskiy is resolutely protecting a net now exclusively belonging to him.The Tampa Bay Lightning's undisputed No. 1 goalie - following the trade of Ben Bishop - made a ridiculous desperation stretch Monday to deny Ottawa Senators forward Chris Kelly of a sure goal.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jason Pominville and Zach Parise will be out of the Minnesota Wild lineup for the time being as the two have been diagnosed with the mumps, the team announced on Monday.The team did not say how long the diagnosis will keep the pair out of the lineup.Meanwhile, the team did note that fellow members within the organization that have begun to show symptoms will be tested and placed in isolation for a five-day period.

It isn't every day that Jim Benning gets praised enthusiastically.The Vancouver Canucks general manager, reviled for his inactivity at the trade deadline last season, began the process of redressing previous failures Monday afternoon by moving veteran winger Alex Burrows to the Ottawa Senators for intriguing forward prospect Jonathan Dahlen.Here are three reasons why Benning is being patted on the back.Dahlen wasn't Ottawa's best prospect, but a damn good oneThe Senators have been linked to quite a few trade scenarios over the last few weeks, but the thought has been that they weren't major players for the high-end assets believed to be available because they were married to blue-chip prospects Thomas Chabot and Colin White.In being cut loose for a veteran well beyond his prime, Dahlen clearly isn't regarded in quite the same manner, but the second-round prospect does possess major talent.Dahlen has produced nearly a point per outing against the men in Sweden's second division. For comparison's sake, his production at the same age and against the same quality of competition has exceeded that of one of the NHL's hottest scorers, Filip Forsberg.

Toronto Maple Leafs supporters channeled their inner Jim Mora on Monday afternoon: "Playoffs?!"It's happening, folks. Less than a year after selling anyone and everything - while finishing dead last - Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello and Co. are buying ahead of the trade deadline with one goal in mind: the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Toronto traded a second-round pick and Byron Froese to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Brian Boyle on Monday, and the pending unrestricted free agent gives the Maple Leafs depth at arguably the most crucial position on the ice - up the middle.While it can be argued that a second-round pick for a rental player is too steep a price to pay, Toronto dealt from a position of strength; it had three second-rounders in the upcoming draft - its own, one from the San Jose Sharks, and another from the Ottawa Senators.Hitting fast forward on the rebuildMike Babcock promised pain. He was right. But even he probably expected more of it.While it's fair to say no one expected Toronto to be where it is in the standings today, that's what happens when you add three uber-talented rookies to the lineup in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. You win. And now that they've got a taste, the Maple Leafs want more. Because - and this is the irony - Toronto's brass knows its young group is going to have to learn how to lose in the playoffs before it learns how to win.Enter Boyle.The huge center from Hingham, Mass., joins Matthews, Nazem Kadri, and Tyler Bozak up the middle, bumping - thankfully - Ben Smith and Frederik Gauthier down the depth chart.By possession this season, Boyle's got the best numbers on the team at the center position:CenterCorsi For %Boyle53.54%Matthews52.17%Bozak52.14%Kadri51.71%Gauthier46.62%Smith41.90%(Statistics courtesy: Corsica Hockey)The Maple Leafs had a need. They deserve props for going out and filling it before March 1.About faceoffs(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)There's more.Boyle can win faceoffs - something all Maple Leafs centers except Bozak struggle to do.Boyle ranks 31st among NHL centers who have taken at least 300 faceoffs, winning 53 percent. In the defensive zone, he's won 51.4 percent of his draws, which ranks 37th in the league. In other words, see you later, Ben Smith.About experienceThere's more, still.Not a single NHLer has suited up for more playoff games than Boyle since 2011. That will serve the youthful Maple Leafs well, and Babcock, too, as Toronto aims to qualify for the postseason for - somehow - only the second time since the 2004-05 lockout (and we all know how that first appearance ended).About flexibility(Photo courtesy: USA TODAY Sports)Plans change. The Maple Leafs are the perfect example.Toronto wasn't supposed to be in the playoff conversation in year two with Babcock behind the bench. But sometimes the ping-pong balls land in your favor, and things change.The Maple Leafs are adapting on the fly, and deserve credit for recognizing that playoff experience - whenever it comes - is crucial for Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Morgan Rielly, Connor Brown, Zach Hyman, and even Nazem Kadri - one of only five players left from that horrific night in Boston.Adding Boyle is a big win for Toronto, which used the draft picks it accumulated over the past year to perfection.Now comes the hard part - the playoff push, and being left standing when the dust settles. And that's the best part. Finally, the last six weeks of the regular season matter. Enjoy, Maple Leafs fans. You've earned it.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Benning is just getting started.The Vancouver Canucks general manager candidly addressed the media after dealing veteran forward Alex Burrows to the Ottawa Senators on Monday afternoon, insisting more deals could be coming."I'm not done for the day," Benning said. "I have some calls to make and if deals make sense for us, we're going to do them."It appears that Benning has been quite active recently. On Friday, forward Jannik Hansen told reporters that he submitted a list of eight teams he would be willing to be traded to, while goaltender Ryan Miller signed off on his five-team list.Related: Canucks' Hansen submits list of 8 teams he's willing to be dealt toAs for Monday's deal, Benning also confirmed that talks with Ottawa had been going on for the past three to four days before Burrows finally signed off on the deal Monday.Benning is doing his due diligence, and with his team now nine points out of a playoff spot it appears the Canucks could be huge sellers in the coming days.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Burrows might not be the lone acquisition by the Ottawa Senators before Wednesday's trade deadline.General manager Pierre Dorion spoke Monday after the deal and made it quite clear that while there might not be another move made on Monday, that doesn't mean there won't be more before 3:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

While some Ottawa Senators fans might not be thrilled by the value given up in the Alex Burrows trade on Monday, it's quite clear current players are ecstatic.Related: Twitter praises Benning for Burrows trade, throws shade at SensSenators general manager Pierre Dorion spoke following the deal that saw Burrows flipped for 2016 second-round pick Jonathan Dahlen and noted that many of the team's veteran players were jubilant with the GM's move."We're elated," Dorion said, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "Five key vets came up to me in our dressing room - one wanted to hug me and the others shook my hand."

It's rare that Vancouver Canucks fans can applaud the actions of their acting general manager.However, after it was confirmed that the team had acquired 2016 second-round pick Jonathan Dahlen from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alex Burrows, the hockey world applauded the move by Jim Benning.That being said, some shade was thrown at Benning's past and the apparent misplay by the Senators' management group. It's classic Twitter.Some might call the move mythical in nature.

Brian Boyle was expecting to play for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. Things changed during his pregame nap.The 32-year-old was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs hours before his now former club was set to host the Ottawa Senators. He's trading in one blue and white uniform for another."It's interesting when you wake up from a nap expecting to play and you're no longer with that club," Boyle said of the deal, which netted Tampa Bay a second-round draft pick and Byron Froese. "I moved up the standings in a matter of a couple of hours," he added.Boyle spent the last two-and-a-half seasons in Tampa Bay, and he admitted it's hard to move on, especially after a couple of deep playoff runs."It's tough to say goodbye. I'm a fairly loyal guy," he said. "I'm going to miss my buddies. It's really been a pleasure to play down in Tampa, and it's been exciting," he added.

The Montreal Canadiens have acquired defenseman Jordie Benn from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Greg Pateryn and a fourth-round pick in 2017, the Canadiens announced.Benn joins the Canadiens after spending his first six years in the league with the Stars. As for Pateryn, his availability was made known after it was reported that the Canadiens had sent a league-wide memo to NHL clubs last week.