Sidney Crosby is running low on potential firsts.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain opened the scoring in the all-Pennsylvania Stadium Series matchup at Heinz Field on Saturday night, marking his first goal in four outdoor appearances.Crosby's league-leading 34th goal came on a smart feed from Jake Guentzel after Shayne Gostisbehere failed to clear the zone.Of course, Crosby was responsible for the decisive goal in the shootout versus the Buffalo Sabres in the inaugural Winter Classic staged more than nine years ago. He then suffered a concussion three years later at the outdoor showcase, and was held off the scoresheet versus the Chicago Blackhawks in a Stadium Series event back in 2014.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Filip Forsberg refuses to settle for anything less than three-point performances.The 22-year-old Nashville Predators pivot made waves earlier this week after posting consecutive hat tricks in games against the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche, and continued his run during the club's 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.He might not have earned the hat trick of hat tricks, but Forsberg came pretty close, posting a goal and two assists for his third straight three-point game.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Filip Forsberg scored the winning goal and had two assists as the Nashville Predators scored three in the second period in beating the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Saturday.Forsberg missed becoming the first in NHL history with a hat trick in three consecutive games. He still notched his seventh goal in three games as Nashville won its second straight and third in four games.Roman Josi scored twice, and Mike Fisher and Viktor Arvidsson each had a goal. Ryan Johansen had three assists.The Predators denied their former coach Barry Trotz his 700th career win in the building where he started his career as an NHL coach back in 1998.Tom Wilson and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored for the Capitals. They beat Edmonton 2-1 in Washington on Friday night and were without T.J. Oshie and defensemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the regular season comes to a close and the schedule shifts to the playoffs, no NHL club makes it very far without a healthy dose of offensive depth.The Columbus Blue Jackets likely aren't sweating that requirement, as the strength of their forwards group seems to be just fine.Heading into their Saturday night tilt with the New York Islanders, the Jackets' offense was rolling along at an elite rate already, the club ranking fifth in the league with 3.19 goals per game.They managed to find a new level against the Islanders, however, stomping their division rival with a 7-0 victory.The most impressive part of that win? All but two of Columbus' 12 forwards managed to record a point in the game.Related: Watch: Wennberg dishes through defender's legs to set up goalFive different Jackets forwards recorded multi-point efforts (Nick Foligno, Alexander Wennberg, Brandon Saad, Boone Jenner, and Josh Anderson), while everyone else in the forward corps - besides Oliver Bjorkstrand and Scott Hartnell - recorded at least one point.Of course, things didn't look so bad for the blue-liners either, as David Savard posted a team-leading three points (one goal, two assists), while Jack Johnson scored for the Jackets as well.The Islanders entered the game with a seemingly favorable match-up against Columbus' backup goaltender, Joonas Korpisalo, but had their hopes for an easy win quickly dashed as Korpisalo earned his first career shutout while the rest of his team rolled over the Islanders for 60 minutes straight.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LOS ANGELES - Jonathan Quick made 32 saves in his return from a groin injury, and Tyler Toffoli scored two of Los Angeles' four third-period goals in a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.Quick missed 59 games after injuring the groin in the first period of the season opener Oct. 12 against San Jose, and his return was complimented by a timely end to Los Angeles' recent offensive power outage.Dustin Brown added his 10th goal of the season, and Jeff Carter scored an empty-net goal, securing a much-needed two points in the Kings' chase for a wild card in the Western Conference after losing four of their previous five games.Andrew Cogliano scored, and Jonathan Bernier made 29 saves for Anaheim. They head into the bye week alternating wins and losses over their last nine games.Toffoli scored 3:37 into the third period, ending a 130-minute goal drought for the Kings in the fierce Southern California rivalry, having been held scoreless in 10 of the previous 11 periods against the Ducks this season.Toffoli added his 12th goal of the season off a spectacular pass from Carter that somehow stayed under Cam Fowler's feet as the Ducks defenseman slid face-down on the ice trying to deflect the puck, giving Los Angeles the 2-1 lead with 12:12 remaining.Brown deflected in Kevin Gravel's shot from just inside the blue line 17 seconds later, giving the Kings as many goals in 4:28 as they had scored in their previous three games combined.Quick mostly looked sharp in his return, even doing the splits well out in front of his crease to deny Nick Ritchie on a power play in the first period, but could not prevent the Ducks' lone goal.Cogliano was on the receiving end of a quick give-and-go from Ryan Kesler, potting his 14th goal of the season late in the first. Jakob Silfverberg intercepted the puck at center ice and sparked a ruthless rush the other way, picking up his 38th point of his breakout campaign.Patrick Eaves made his debut for the Ducks after being acquired from Dallas for a conditional second-round draft pick Friday. Slotted on a line with Corey Perry and Rickard Rakell, Eaves played 16:09.The latest edition of the Freeway Faceoff was typically physical and ill-tempered, with a 10-man dog pile midway through the second period leading to a fight between Ducks center Nate Thompson and Kings defenseman Brayden McNabb. Carter, who leads the Kings with 29 goals, and Kesler traded blows later in the period, a right hand by Kesler momentarily sending Carter down to a knee.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL was apparently willing to reduce the 10-game suspension levied to Antoine Vermette for his slash on linesman Shandor Alphonso down to five, but the Officials Association prevented an amendment, according to multiple reports.It's believed Vermette met with the NHL on Thursday in an effort to lessen the punishment.The slash was deemed to be the application of physical force without an intent to injure, which carries an automatic 10-game suspension.If he chooses, Vermette has seven days to take his appeal to an independent arbitrator, or he stands to miss the 10 games and forfeit nearly $100,000 in salary.Vermette released this statement Saturday, as retrieved by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman:

Columbus Blue Jackets pivot Alexander Wennberg's breakout season continues.The 22-year-old impressed once again during his club's tilt against the New York Islanders on Saturday night, beating a defender along the wall and embarrassing another with the slickest of dishes to teammate Nick Foligno, who finished the play off in style.The assist was Wennberg's 39th of the year, taking his season total to 49 points.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the Montreal Canadiens are looking for an affordable gamble to upgrade their offense, they might consider giving the Washington Capitals a call.The topic of conversation? Stanislav Galiev, the skillful winger who seems to be nearing the end of his tenure in Washington.Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan is ready to move the 2010 third-round pick, according to The Washington Post, not because he thinks Galiev isn't worthy of a shot in the big leagues, but because the team simply has a deep NHL roster and too many young forwards clawing for spots.Putting up pointsGaliev has done enough to prove he could be of use to a club in need of an offensive boost if given a decent shot. The 25-year-old has 17 goals and 28 points through 34 appearances in the AHL this season, but he also boasts a notable resume of production dating back to his days in junior hockey.The Russian winger showed plenty of promise early in his career while suiting up for the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs (alongside current Habs' defender Nathan Beaulieu). Galiev posted 60 points in 67 games in his first go-round with the club, before exploding for 37 goals and 65 points in just 64 contests one year later, his best offensive showing thus far.He's bounced around between the ECHL and AHL since then. His finest effort in each league: 47 points in 46 games with the ECHL's Reading Royals in 2012-13, and 45 points through 67 appearances for the AHL's Hershey Bears in 2014-15.Dotted throughout that timeline is a history of winning. The Moscow native has lifted five championship trophies up to this point, racking up a Memorial Cup, an ECHL championship, two QMJHL championships, and a USHL championship.And he wasn't simply along for the ride during those runs either. Galiev amassed 34 goals and 80 points in 57 playoff contests in the QMJHL, and scored at a point-per-game pace during the ECHL playoffs as well.(Photo courtesy: USA Today Sports)Bringing it in the big leaguesDoes this resume guarantee the talented winger can succeed at the NHL level? Of course not, but it should give teams in need of an offensive spark enough reason to roll the dice - especially in a situation such as this, wherein MacLellan seems resigned to simply let Galiev go so that the forward can play.The Capitals kept Galiev on their roster throughout the entirety of 2015-16 to avoid losing him in the waiver process, though he only managed to break into the club's well-stocked lineup 24 times. He posted just three points in those appearances, though he wasn't given much of a shot, his ice-time limited to fewer than 10 minutes per game.Galiev is far from a sure thing, but his talent is promising enough that Washington held on to him as long as they could, and seem willing to part with him simply to avoid stalling his development. With a bigger role, he could thrive.Meshing in MontrealThe Canadiens' offensive woes have been well-documented. Despite boasting a few marquee stars on the roster, they've scored the fewest goals in the league over the past month.Acquiring Galiev likely won't require much of a sacrifice in terms of assets going the other way, nor would the 25-year-old put much of a strain on Montreal's salary situation - he carries a $575,000 cap hit and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.Bring him in, give him a shot, and see if something clicks. It's fair to assume Galiev is hungry for an opportunity to showcase his skill after being shelved for much of last season, and at this point, the Canadiens could use any help they can get.His countryman Alexander Radulov has already helped bring a different flavor to the Canadiens' offense this season, and the veteran could potentially play a key role in helping Galiev's transition as well.Buying big remains an option for general manager Marc Bergevin, but if the club opts for a more subtle addition, Galiev might just be a worthy gamble.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jeff Carter's first scrap in a Los Angeles Kings uniform didn't end well.Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Kesler earned an economical victory in a fight with the Kings' top scorer in Saturday's heated matinee clash, flooring him with one punch.Seeing red after being stung by the elbow of Carter earlier in the shift, Kesler deserves credit for not following up his heavy right with additional shots when Carter got up to his feet.Carter last fought more than six years ago when he was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Quick is back.The Los Angeles Kings netminder received the start Saturday versus the Anaheim Ducks, marking his first appearance since being injured in the season opener.He was activated from injured reserve earlier Saturday.Quick was hurt in the first period of the Kings' season debut against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 12, and missed the next 59 contests with a groin injury in the same area as the groin strain that forced him to miss two months in 2013.The Kings assigned netminder Jeff Zatkoff to the AHL's Ontario Reign in a corresponding move. He went 2-7-1 with a 2.95 GAA and .879 save percentage while serving as Peter Budaj's backup.Budaj was relied upon heavily in Quick's absence and he held his own behind Los Angeles' stingy defense, going 27-20-3 with a 2.12 GAA, a .917 save percentage, and seven shutouts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks forward Antoine Vermette will serve the entirety of his 10-game suspension, the NHL announced Saturday.Vermette was handed the suspension for abuse of an official on Feb. 16, after slashing linesman Shandor Alphonso during the Ducks' game against the Minnesota Wild.The 34-year-old opted to appeal his ban, hoping to have it shortened. Many expected the league to acquiesce to this request, with some reports pinning the eventual reduced total at five games.According to the league, he met with commissioner Gary Bettman in New York on Thursday, but the hearing didn't sway the league.Vermette has missed four games for Anaheim, meaning he'll remain barred from returning until the team's game against the Washington Capitals on March 12.The veteran pivot will forfeit $97,222.22 in salary while serving his suspension, with that money going to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Babcock isn't a doctor, he just plays one on TV.The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach can't seem to figure out why injured forward Mitch Marner was ruled out of Saturday's game against the Montreal Canadiens."It looked to me like he was the best player out there today," Babcock told reporters, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "I don't know why he's not dressed tonight."Marner took part in the morning skate wearing a black jersey normally reserved for defensemen. It was his first time on the ice with the full team since he was hurt in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets last week.The first-year phenom will miss his fifth consecutive game with the undisclosed ailment, yet he still ranks third among rookies with 48 points and fifth in the class with 15 goals.As much as Babcock wants to get Marner back in the lineup, the medical staff exists for a reason, and the team doctors should be trusted enough to not have their decisions questioned, regardless of the head coach's assessment.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the Washington Capitals take the ice against the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, they'll be playing for more than just a pair of points.The Eastern Conference leader already has a playoff spot in the bag, but it's fair to assume they'll be pushing for a victory regardless, as doing so would allow head coach Barry Trotz to claim his 700th career win - and against the Predators no less, the team he led for the first 15 years of his career.Trotz amassed 557 wins during his time as the Predators' head coach, helping the club reach the postseason on seven different occasions. But given a star-studded group in Washington a few years ago, the 54-year-old has found even greater success.Since adding the new bench boss in 2014-15, the Capitals have been one of the most dominant clubs in the NHL, both in the standings and in the finer points of their game:

Jim Rutherford is shedding light on Marc-Andre Fleury's thought process ahead of Wednesday's trade deadline, and while no decision has been made about the goaltender's future, things are starting to become more clear."Based on my conversation with him here in the last day or so, it's very clear to me that he would like to get playing," the Penguins general manager told NHL Network at Heinz Field on Friday."We're going to communicate right up to the deadline, and that decision will be made probably within the 48 hours leading up to the deadline - what's best for him and what's best for the Penguins."The veteran netminder hasn't garnered much interest from other clubs."We have not received any offers on him," Rutherford said. "Certainly teams have called over the course of the season asking a number of questions, but that's as far as it's gotten."Fleury's sudden urge to increase his playing time is a departure from the attitude he's purportedly held since last spring, when he was supplanted as the Penguins' starter by Matt Murray, who continues to get more starts than his more experienced teammate."(Fleury) was really good last year with accepting his role in a tough situation for a guy who was a No. 1 goalie for a long time," Rutherford said. "And (now) he's back to that same role this year and he's handled it very well."The GM has long stated that he'd prefer to keep both goalies through the end of this season, and he reiterated that Friday.Fleury isn't a pending free agent, but the Penguins would still be better off getting something for him in a trade than losing him for nothing in the expansion draft this summer. If neither of those things happen, they'll be stuck with his $5.75-million cap hit for another two seasons.From the sounds of it, the two-time Stanley Cup champion is starting to embrace the idea of taking on a larger role than he has now.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have reportedly been mulling the potential acquisition of Martin Hanzal for more than a month, but they need to seal the deal.Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin resisted the urge to trade for him when centers Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais went down with injuries earlier in the season, but things have now taken a turn for the worse in Montreal, even with both of those players back in the lineup.Hanzal will likely have plenty of suitors before Wednesday afternoon's trade deadline, and the struggling Canadiens need to outbid the competition to ensure they land him.Here are three reasons why they have to go out and get him immediately:They're starving for scoringMontreal isn't playing like a team that's been in first place all season.The Canadiens have been shut out in four of their last eight games, and they've scored only 10 goals in that span, including just three in the three contests since Claude Julien stepped back behind the bench.That's obviously not going to cut it, and Bergevin is surely looking for ways to cure their recent scoring woes.Enter Hanzal. He's a streaky scorer who's never gone over 16 goals in parts of 10 seasons with the Coyotes, but he's also been limited to an average of only 55 games in the previous three campaigns due to injuries.However, 2016-17 has been a different story. His 16 markers this season have already tied a career high in 10 fewer games than the last time he did it in 2010-11, and he's been on a tear lately with six goals in his last eight contests.Hanzal has proven to be a dependable option on the offensive end when he's healthy, and he's worth acquiring while he's on a roll.They have a clear positional needEven with Galchenyuk and Desharnais back, the Canadiens could use an upgrade up the middle.Phillip Danault has shown flashes of his talent and has even been bumped up to the top line between Max Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov, but Montreal would stand to benefit from a boost at center, and they have the assets to make a deal happen.Hanzal is a solid two-way player, and that's certainly something Julien would appreciate.He'd fit in perfectly in the Canadiens' top six and solidify a roster that already has plenty of depth elsewhere.They have to right the shipBeyond taking a step to cure their scoring woes and addressing a positional need, Bergevin has to do something to end the Canadiens' recent slide.They're 2-7-1 in their last 10 games, and their lead atop the Atlantic Division has shrunk to a mere two points over the second-place Ottawa Senators, who hold two games in hand.After Thursday's shutout loss to the New York Islanders, both Pacioretty and Julien admitted the team is lacking confidence amid its scoring slump.Bergevin said last week that he won't overpay for a short-term fix, and while that's a reasonable stance, sacrifices have to be made to avoid allowing the season to continue spiraling downward.Hanzal is a pending unrestricted free agent who could bolt at season's end, but his cap hit is reasonable at $3.1 million, and he'd be a more affordable choice than the biggest fish available at the position, Matt Duchene, who will command better prospects and higher draft picks in return.The Canadiens need to bust out of their funk, and a trade for Hanzal would no doubt invigorate a club searching for a way to get back on track.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 Saturday, Feb. 25 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a few outdoor games under their belt, but none as potentially satisfying as this.Under the bright lights of Heinz Field, the Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers will renew their historic rivalry for the NHL's Stadium Series on Saturday night, logging another head-to-head battle in what is always a thrilling match-up.The two Pennsylvanian teams have long been foes in the NHL, but this isn't just a geographic rivalry played up regardless of the players skating for each club. Go back over the past few years, and it's easy to spot the evidence of the two teams' genuine dislike for one another.That being the case, here are the top three moments showcasing the recent history of the Penguins-Flyers rivalry:2009: Talbot quiets the crowdThe Penguins and Flyers met in the first round of the '09 playoffs, battling through alternating one-sided tilts to eventually arrive at game six in Philadelphia. The Penguins held a 3-2 series lead - Philly wins and it goes to seven, Pittsburgh wins and it's over.Four minutes into the second period, Daniel Briere scored to give the Flyers a 3-0 lead, getting the raucous orange-clad fans on their feet. Fresh off a shutout win on the road one game earlier, it was all falling Philadelphia's way.Then Pittsburgh's Max Talbot threw a wrench into the plans.The diminutive agitator goaded Philly's Dan Carcillo into a fight. After exchanging a few spirited blows, Talbot was taken to the ice, the two still volleying punches at one another. As the Penguins winger got up and skated to the bench, he put one finger to his lips, shushing the crowd and calling his mates to action.Talbot's dramatics worked. Pittsburgh exploded for five straight goals to take the victory, ending the series at six games. The Penguins kept rolling all the way to a Stanley Cup championship, with Talbot playing the hero once again in the Cup-winning game.2011: Jagr rejects Pittsburgh, chooses FlyersIn 2011, former Penguins legend Jaromir Jagr was rumored to be mulling over an NHL return. He'd been out of the league for three seasons after leaving the New York Rangers for the KHL.Word got out that Jagr was considering a return to Pittsburgh. It was huge. After all the ill will, the second-greatest to ever wear the black and gold was going to reunite with the city that brought him into the league - the one he twice lifted the Cup for. Even better, he'd play alongside the team's new legends in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.But it didn't work out like that. Jagr spurned his old club and chose Philadelphia, inking a one-year, $3.3-million deal with the team - $1.3 million more than Pittsburgh's offer.Jagr put up 19 goals and 54 points in 73 games for Philly, adding insult to injury by posting four goals and an assist in his team's six games against Pittsburgh.For the Flyers, that wasn't even the most satisfying part. Jagr helped a then-young Claude Giroux blossom into one of the game's elite pivots, the latter scoring a career-best 93 points in his one season alongside Jagr.Their chemistry was so great, Jagr went as far as to compare Giroux to another of his former teammates."Mario Lemieux," Jagr told NHL.com at the time. "A little Mario Lemieux, a little bit smaller - but he can see it."Yikes.2012: A playoff series for the agesFor all the hype that's often drummed up when two rivals meet in the postseason, few teams have lived up to it the way Pittsburgh and Philadelphia did in 2012.Meeting for the first time since the '09 series, the Pennsylvanian clubs put on one of the most memorable six-game stretches in recent NHL history, giving fans everything from highlight reel offensive battles to captain-versus-captain fisticuffs.After kicking things off with an overtime win in game one, the Flyers stomped Pittsburgh with two straight eight-goal performances in games two and three, taking the Penguins to the brink of elimination.The series' third match saw tensions boil over as everyone had been waiting for, with captains Crosby and Giroux dropping the gloves while Kris Letang and Kimmo Timonen squared off. It was mayhem.With their emotions having gotten the better of them and the series all but lost, Pittsburgh came out of nowhere and posted a 10-3 drubbing in game four to stay alive, with Malkin, Crosby, Letang, and Jordan Staal scoring seven of those tallies.One of the most iconic moments of the series came in the very first shift of the final game, however. Pittsburgh had managed to grind out two wins to put Philly in the same position the Penguins had been in just a few years prior. Lose and it goes to seven, win and it's all over.Giroux dispensed with the theatrics quickly, setting the tone by leveling Crosby with a bone-crunching check. It was a breakout moment for Giroux, and enough to spur the Flyers on to a 5-1 victory and a series win.Giroux's performance was so impressive it prompted then-head coach Peter Laviolette to dub him "the best player in the world."Look at us nowNeedless to say, things have changed since that 2012 match-up.The Penguins retooled and emerged as one of the league's best squads, capturing the second Stanley Cup of the Crosby era last season. The Flyers, meanwhile, have missed the playoffs in two of the past four years and haven't made it past the first round since.Pittsburgh took the only meeting between the two teams this season - way back in October - and the Penguins beat their in-state rivals in three of four games last season, Philly's only win coming in the last game of the campaign, with all of Pittsburgh's big guns scratched.There's never a shortage of fireworks when the two teams meet. Rest assured, the Penguins will be looking to reverse their recent outdoor-game fortunes - their last two appearances consisted of a 5-1 loss to Chicago at Soldier Field and the near end of Crosby's career during the last tilt at Heinz Field.Time for some redemption in Pittsburgh? The Flyers will be all too willing to stop that from happening, with Philadelphia set on knocking the Penguins down a few pegs and slowing their recent ascent.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Nill gave Patrick Eaves a hopeful sendoff after trading him to the Anaheim Ducks."I told him, 'Go there and win the Stanley Cup. You deserve it,'" the Dallas Stars general manager said to the Dallas Morning News' Mike Heika.Nill dealt Eaves to the Ducks on Friday afternoon for a conditional second-round pick in June's draft.Related: Eaves awoken from pregame nap by call informing him he'd been tradedHis now-former GM touted the veteran forward's versatility."He's a coach's dream," Nill said. "You can put him anywhere in the lineup. He can kill penalties, be on the power play, he does all the little things right in the offensive zone."Eaves, a pending unrestricted free agent, was one of the more enticing rental options leading up to the deadline because of his extremely team-friendly $1-million cap hit.He's also in the midst of a career year, with 21 goals and 37 points at age 32.The 2003 first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators spent parts of three seasons with the Stars before being traded Friday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Help is on the way, Colorado Avalanche fans.Check out the goal 2016 first-round pick Tyson Jost scored for North Dakota in NCAA action Friday night, in a 4-4 game late in the third period.Kid can dance, yeah.Jost was the 10th overall pick last summer, and went into Friday night's action with 11 goals and 14 assists in 24 games in his first collegiate season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Radim Vrbata is trying to play himself out of Arizona, he's doing a damn good job.With another goal and an assist in the Coyotes' 5-2 loss to the Dallas Stars, Vrbata extended his point streak to a career-high eight games. He has three goals and six assists on the run, and is now up to 14 goals and an impressive 44 points on the season.Vrbata's name will be all over the rumor mill over the next few days, as the March 1 NHL trade deadline nears. He's on an expiring $1-million contract, though he does have playoff-related bonuses that could total an additional $1.25 million (he'll earn $250,000 for making the playoffs and that same amount for every playoff series win).One of the top scorers on the market, Vrbata has eight goals and 10 assists in 42 career postseason games.Meanwhile, Vrbata's teammate Martin Hanzal, another player expected to be traded by the Coyotes over the next few days, scored his 16th of the season Friday - tying his career high. He's also been hot this month; it was his sixth goal in 10 games in February.A career Coyote, Hanzal and the club haven't talked contract, and with the 30-year-old also approaching unrestricted free agency, it's all but a certainty he's traded by general manager John Chayka.The team that acquires Hanzal will be on the hook for the remainder of his $3.1-million salary, unless the Coyotes decide to retain a portion of that.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes celebrated "You Can Play" night Friday as part of the NHL's month-long "Hockey is for Everyone" campaign, and Eddie Lack did his part.Serving as the club's "You Can Play" ambassador for the month, the Canes' goalie recorded an impressive 34-save shutout against the Ottawa Senators and sent out a dedication after the game:

The Calgary Flames like Florida. They also like playing the third period with a lead.The Flames won their third straight and second in two nights in Florida on Friday with a 4-2 decision over the Panthers, and after going up by two in the second period, Calgary shut it down - as it's been doing all season:

The save of the night goes to Luke Schenn.The Arizona Coyotes defenseman took a sure goal away from Dallas Stars forward Brett Ritchie, diving to pull the puck off the the goal line with his stick.The play was so close to going in that it was originally ruled a goal by the on-ice official before being overturned by video replay.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

WASHINGTON - Justin Williams and Tom Wilson scored as the Washington Capitals beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 on Friday night to tie the franchise record with their 13th consecutive home victory.Williams' game-winner in the third period was his 19th of the season. Washington's streak of home games with five-plus goals ended at 11, but Braden Holtby made 30 saves to pad the team's lead atop the NHL.Evgeny Kuznetsov didn't have a point but was arguably the Capitals' best player against Edmonton. They have now outscored opponents 64-20 during their home winning streak.Leon Draisaitl scored his team-leading 23rd goal of the season for Edmonton, which got 24 saves from goaltender Cam Talbot.The Capitals had their most patchwork lineup of the season with injured regulars Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik and T.J. Oshie out along with Andre Burakovsky, who's expected to be back in mid-to-late March. Washington is the league's healthiest team this season with only 27 man games lost to injury, but four players out at one time meant the NHL debut of rookie forward Riley Barber and season debut of defenseman Aaron Ness.Oshie's absence, his 10th missed game this season because of an upper-body injury, pushed Brett Connolly on to the first line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. But it was the fourth line that jumpstarted the offense with Wilson's fifth goal of the season through traffic 12:22 into the first period.A misplay by the Capitals' second line led to Draisaitl's goal 35 seconds into the second when the puck pinballed to the big German wide open in front. Connor McDavid added to his league-leading point total of 69 with the secondary assist.Williams, a pending unrestricted free agent, beat Talbot clean on a one-timer for the game winner 5:48 into the third. The Capitals dominated much of the final period and held on in the final minutes when Talbot was off for an extra attacker.NOTES: The Capitals improved to 35-4-4 when scoring first. All-time leading scorer Wayne Gretzky was in attendance. Gretzky is vice chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group. ... Edmonton D Darnell Nurse skated Friday morning but missed his 37th consecutive game with a lower-body injury. F Benoit Pouliot also skated but missed his sixth consecutive game with an undisclosed injury. ... Barber's debut came against the team that drafted his father, Don, in 1983.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames' second line remains a force to be reckoned with.Of course, it can't be considered their second line any more, as Calgary's unexpectedly dominant trio of Mikael Backlund, Michael Frolik and Matthew Tkachuk have rolled over the opposition all season long. The trio combined for 115 points heading into their Friday night tilt, and have emerged as the second-best regularly used line in the NHL in terms of puck possession.The fact that it's this supposed depth group doing the Flames' heavy lifting as opposed to the highly touted duo of Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau is impressive enough. But that's not even the craziest part.Even more impressive is how they're putting up those numbers.The trio added another batch of points during their game against the Florida Panthers on Friday - during which they once again showed their ability to drive play up ice and contribute on the score sheet without the help of offensive zone starts.First came Backlund's tally to give Calgary the lead:

Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen has named his most desired trade destinations.The 30-year-old noted Friday that he provided his club with a list of eight teams he would be willing to be traded to, according to TSN's Farhan Lalji.Hansen admitted that of the eight teams, seven are playoff teams and one is a preferred city.According to CapFriendly.com, Hansen can submit a list of eight teams he's willing to be dealt to. The Canucks would then have 45 days after receiving the request to trade him to one of those teams, or else the list becomes void.As per Lalji, goaltender Ryan Miller has also signed off on his own trade list from the summer - which includes five teams he's willing to join in a swap - while Henrik Sedin confirmed that neither him nor Daniel have been asked to waive their no-trade clause.Hansen could potentially serve as a cap-friendly option for a contending team. He represents a modest cap hit of $2.5 million this season and next.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At first glance, the Edmonton Oilers look stacked at center ice.Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - a team with these three pivots in tow would be foolish to give up anything to acquire more help at center. But the Oilers find themselves on the cusp of doing just that, as their crew of middlemen come with one fatal flaw - faceoff proficiency.First off, that three-man group mentioned above is down to just two, as Draisaitl has spent plenty of time on the wing this season and has looked far too good alongside McDavid to slot in anywhere else.That being the case, the team's four regular centermen are actually McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins, Mark Letestu, and a rotating cast of fourth-line pivots, with Drake Caggiula taking the most draws among them.Here's how that group stacks up in the circle at even strength:PlayerFaceoff WinsFaceoff LossesFaceoff PercentageMark Letestu34232251.5%Ryan Nugent-Hopkins41252044.2%Connor McDavid27935743.9%Drake Caggiula9515038.8%There are a few obvious problems here. First, the two pivots in need of the most ice time, McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins, are both brutal at taking faceoffs, with third-liner Letestu currently the only center on the team winning more than 50 percent of his draws. For the record, Draisaitl has posted a 49.3 percent clip when suiting up in his natural position this season.Secondly, the team has no viable option at the fourth-line center position, as consistently losing draws doesn't seem like a winning formula for a line already possessing less skill.So what are the Oilers' options heading into the deadline? They don't need to spend big, as the asset they covet need only fill a minor role - either taking over on the third line and moving Letestu down, or adding some skill and faceoff proficiency to the fourth line.New York Rangers forward Brandon Pirri may be an affordable option. He hasn't taken a ton of draws this season, but Pirri's 113 faceoff wins are still more than Caggiula has managed, and he possesses a sterling 56.5 percent success rate in the circle.He's also got some decent offensive skill - the 25-year-old posted 22 goals just two seasons ago - and he might be able to rediscover that scoring touch in Edmonton's offensive scheme.University of Alberta alum Derek Ryan is another option. The veteran Carolina Hurricanes pivot doesn't provide much offensive skill, but he does boast a dominant 57.1 percent faceoff win rate - ninth-best in the league among players to have taken at least 200 draws.Peter Chiarelli could also inquire about Montreal Canadiens pivot Torrey Mitchell, who's won 54 percent of the draws he's taken this season.The Canadiens have more than a few talented faceoff practitioners on their roster, and Mitchell has been slumping as of late. He's posted just 15 points this season and is pointless in 12 straight games as Montreal's offense continues to struggle.If the Oilers can turn that disappointment into a deal, Mitchell could be a worthy depth option for them, assuming he leaves those offensive struggles in Montreal with the rest of his former mates.(Photos courtesy: USA Today Sports)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Eaves was resting up for the Dallas Stars' game against the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night when he received quite the wake-up call: he had been dealt to the Anaheim Ducks.The 32-year-old was acquired by the Ducks in exchange for a conditional second-round draft pick in 2017, and was awoken from his pre-game nap to learn he was changing teams."It got me out of bed really quick," Eaves said, according to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register."Your world gets turned upside down real quick," Eaves added during a conference call, according to Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times.Eaves couldn't help but share his jubilation during the conference call, admitting he can't wait to join his new club."I'm really excited...because of the way they play," said Eaves, who added he wasn't surprised by the deal. "I've been around and know the business side of it."

Here we go.With less than a week to go until the March 1 NHL trade deadline, the action's finally begun. The Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins got things started with a deal Thursday, and another two trades were completed Friday afternoon.Here's what we know is guaranteed: The Anaheim Ducks got the best playoff beard ahead of the trade deadline. Patrick Eaves is ready for the postseason.Here are three thoughts after a mini flurry of action since Thursday morning.Adding Eaves a major win for DucksThe Ducks own the league's sixth-stingiest defense and NHL's fifth most proficient penalty kill. John Gibson almost single-handedly has the Ducks tied for seventh in team save percentage (.914), despite Jonathan Bernier's best efforts to send the club into the middle of the pack. The club's weakness: offense.Enter Eaves. The 32-year-old's having a career season ahead of unrestricted free agency, with 21 goals - including 11 on the power play - and 37 points. And all he's owed is what's left on his bargain $1-million contract, and at worst he'll cost Anaheim a first-round pick (conditional on the Ducks making the third round and Eaves playing in 50 percent or more of the club's playoff games in rounds one and two).Among pending unrestricted free agents, only T.J. Oshie has more goals than Eaves' 21, with 24, while Patrick Marleau also has 21. And Oshie and Marleau obviously aren't going anywhere, with Washington and San Jose both harboring Stanley Cup dreams.In other words, the Ducks got the best goal-scorer available at the deadline, and he joins a star-studded group of forwards up front: Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Corey Perry, Jakob Silfverberg, and Rickard Rakell.Anaheim's shooting 7.3 percent at five-on-five. They're better than that. And if the goals come in the spring, they won't be complaining. And the Ducks will be more than happy to fork over a first-rounder in the end.Excellent trade by Anaheim, top marks, and kudos to the Dallas Stars for accepting their playoff-less fate.Market set for Shattenkirk as rentalIf Ron Hainsey - acquired by the Penguins for a second-round pick - and Eaves are worth seconds, you know the St. Louis Blues will accept nothing less than a first-round pick - and a lot more - for Kevin Shattenkirk, another pending UFA, as a rental.The St. Louis Blues are one of the more interesting teams to watch right now. They desperately want to trade Shattenkirk, who is making life impossible for Blues management by refusing to sign an extension in St. Louis or with another team prior to the deadline. He wants to hit the market - and he has every right to make that decision.But it's clear the Blues aren't going to let what happened last year happen again, when David Backes and Troy Brouwer walked as free agents. Both of those players were over 30 at last year's deadline, and it's clear the Blues are thinking both short and long term, as the club re-signed Patrik Berglund to a five-year extension Friday.Berglund's 28, will be 29 in early June, but has been determined to be someone who can help in the coming years. He doesn't play as physical a style as Backes and Brouwer, and it always makes sense to let players 30 and older walk, as opposed to throwing big money at them in free agency.It's clear the Blues would love to sign Shattenkirk, 28, to a long-term extension, but it's also clear that isn't happening. So he's got to go. It's only a matter of time, and only a matter of which team will accept the cost to acquire the defender for a single playoff run: a first-round pick, no conditions, and a top prospect.Jurco should be 1st of more Detroit dealsSometimes, you have to let things go. Like a remarkable quarter-century run of making the playoffs.While trading Tomas Jurco to the Chicago Blackhawks for a third-round pick hardly means Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland will be parading outside Joe Louis Arena with an "Everything must go!" sign, it is, for the sake of Red Wings faithful, a sign of things to hopefully come.Detroit's last in the Atlantic Division, second-last in the Eastern Conference, and it's time to accept reality: The club's not qualifying for the postseason. Even if Detroit did go on a run and somehow grab the second wild-card spot, ask yourself: Can the Red Wings beat the Washington Capitals?Maybe on one of those seven new Earth-like planets NASA found, but certainly not on this one.Thomas Vanek's 33 and has 38 points. He must be traded. If Eaves is fetching a conditional second that could turn into a first, Vanek should be able to bring in something similar.Tomas Tatar will be a restricted free agent, is 26, and is a back-to-back 20-goal scorer, and will hit the mark again if he gets hot. He's taken steps back after a breakout 2014-15, so Holland must inquire into what teams are willing to pay for him.Gustav Nyquist's contract is going to be difficult to move, but the teams that miss out on Shattenkirk should be hearing from Holland about their potential interest in Mike Green, who has another year left on his deal.It's time to make the Red Wings great again, and Holland can get a head start over the next few days.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks gave their offensive depth a boost Friday evening, adding winger Tomas Jurco from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2017 third-round pick.According to Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, it wasn't a spur of the moment decision."We've had our eye on Tomas for quite a while," Bowman said, according to the Blackhawks. "He's a big kid, (he's) got a lot of skill and speed."Chicago's decision to bring in the 24-year-old hinged on the team's belief that he has more to give at the NHL level."He's been an accomplished player at a lot of different levels," Bowman said. "He's shown flashes in the NHL ... There has to be a level of patience, but the potential is great."

The dominoes are beginning to fall.After the Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings made deals earlier in the day - appearing to sell off assets - Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall stated the Flyers will not be buying at the deadline, according to Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer.The confirmation comes as the Flyers slip in the standings, sitting five points out from the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.The Flyers have certainly faltered since going on a 10-game winning streak through November and December. In their last 11 games, they have just three victories.With three of their next four games coming against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, and the Washington Capitals, things might get worse before they get better for the team.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 repercussions following the Dallas Stars trading RW Patrick Eaves to Anaheim (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

With each passing season, the trade that sent Filip Forsberg to the Nashville Predators is looking worse and worse for the Washington Capitals.Forsberg came up with another impressive performance Thursday night, posting his second hat trick in two games as his club took down the Colorado Avalanche.Related: Watch: Filip Forsberg nets consecutive hat tricksWith back-to-back three-goal performances, Forsberg etched his name alongside one of the Predators' all-time greatest scorers in the team's record books. He now sits tied with Steve Sullivan for most career hat tricks in Nashville's history, his career total now sitting at four.Certainly an impressive feat for the 22-year-old, who will overtake Sullivan for most hat tricks in team history the next time he pots three in a game. The Predators haven't exactly been overflowing with pure goal-scoring talent throughout their time in the NHL, but Forsberg is far from the lone sniper in franchise history.Case in point: he's suited up for the same number of full Predators seasons as James Neal, who potted 40 goals for the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 2010-11 and 31 for Nashville just last season.And yet, Forsberg seems to be the club's brightest offensive star at the moment. Not a good look for Washington, who didn't keep a single piece from the deal that sent the promising young star packing.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When you become accustomed to injuries, you start to expect the worst.Following the news Friday that the Vancouver Canucks are dealing with a mumps outbreak, New Jersey Devils forward Beau Bennett took to Twitter to suggest that odds are he will also contract the illness again.

The Detroit Red Wings traded forward Tomas Jurco to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a third-round pick in this year's draft, the Red Wings announced Friday afternoon.The deal was announced shortly after the Dallas Stars announced the trade of Patrick Eaves to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional second-round pick in the coming draft, as the market establishes itself ahead of the March 1 trade deadline.With the postseason looking less and less likely for teams like Detroit and Dallas, the sale - at least in those two cities - has begun.It was no secret Jurco was looking for a fresh start away from Detroit, as the 24-year-old has been held pointless in 16 games this season.A second-round pick, 35th overall, in 2011, Jurco's career high in goals is only eight, established in his rookie season in 2013-14. Twice a 30-goal scorer in junior hockey, Jurco had 32 points in 32 games in the AHL in 2013-14, resulting in his call up that season. But that's as good as it ever got.The Slovakian was averaging only 10:02 in ice time this season and will be a restricted free agent on July 1."Things haven't worked out," said Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, according to the Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James. "He wanted to be elsewhere."Wish granted. And there aren't too many better places to play than Chicago, once a fierce rival of the Red Wings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bad news at the wrong time for the Vancouver Canucks.Defenseman Troy Stecher has been diagnosed with mumps, and four other players - Mike Chaput, Markus Granlund, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Tryamkin - are showing symptoms, the club announced.Here's more from the release:

The Dallas Stars have traded forward Patrick Eaves to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional second-round draft pick in 2017, the Stars announced.As per the Stars the condition of the trade is as follows:

The Columbus Blue Jackets might suddenly be in the market for a depth forward.Matt Calvert was deemed week to week with an oblique strain suffered Sunday against the Nashville Predators, the Blue Jackets announced Friday.The left winger has 11 points in 51 games played largely in the Blue Jackets' bottom six.Columbus will come off its bye week Saturday with a home date against the New York Islanders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders' biggest rival may be helping to foot the bill for their new barn.New York Rangers owner James Dolan is among a group of investors offering a new arena proposal for the Islanders, according to Bloomberg's Scott Soshnick, who cited people familiar with the proposal discussions.The new plan is being spearheaded by the Islanders, Oak View Group - for which Dolan is an investor - and Sterling Project Development, which is controlled by the Wilpon family, owner of the New York Mets.The Islanders have called the Barclays Center in Brooklyn their home since the beginning of 2015-16, but the relationship between the NHL club and the arena has taken a turn as of late.In January, Soshnick reported that Barclays Center officials deemed it no longer in their best financial interest to house the Islanders, preferring to focus on the NBA's Brooklyn Nets as well as concerts and other events.That leaves the Islanders and the Barclays Center with two options. Either the club terminates its lease, allowing the team to move on in 2017-18, or the arena backs out, giving the Islanders until the end of 2018-19 to find a new home.The new proposal to be put forth by Dolan and Co. calls for a venue to be built at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., just outside of Queens, according to Soshnick.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators aren't expecting to have Mike Hoffman in the lineup in either of their next two games.Head coach Guy Boucher ruled Hoffman out of Friday's road game against the Carolina Hurricanes and didn't seem confident that his star forward would be available for Sunday's contest in Sunrise against the Florida Panthers."(Hoffman is) legitimately injured, and I don't even know if he can play this weekend," Boucher told reporters Friday. "Right now, I'm not too optimistic about it."The head coach confirmed Hoffman is dealing with a groin ailment, and emphasized the need to take a cautious approach despite the Senators' pursuit of first place in the Atlantic Division."Groin injuries can be deadly in the sense that you think you're OK and all of the sudden, you push a little bit and you snap it and then you're gone for three weeks, and that's exactly what we don't want (with him)."If we have to sit him out for three (or) four games (to) make sure that we have him for the next month, then that's what we have to do."Hoffman was hurt in Sunday's loss to the Winnipeg Jets and missed Tuesday's win over the New Jersey Devils.Boucher said Mark Stone, who was injured Sunday on a headshot by Jacob Trouba that got the Jets defenseman suspended two games, is doubtful for Friday night. He also missed Tuesday night's victory.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues signed forward Patrik Berglund to a five-year, $19.25-million contract extension, the club announced Friday.Berglund was a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a cap hit of $3.7 million. His new deal is incredibly team friendly, with an average annual value of only $3.85 million.The extension includes a partial no-trade clause, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.The Blues were able to ink the 28-year-old to a long-term deal with just a marginal raise despite the fact he ranks second on the club behind Vladimir Tarasenko with 17 goals.Kevin Shattenkirk and Scottie Upshall are now the Blues' only remaining pending UFAs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bryan Bickell's goal of getting back on the ice is on the verge of being fulfilled.The veteran forward cleared waivers Friday and was assigned to the AHL's Charlotte Checkers by the Carolina Hurricanes.He's not likely to play Friday against the Cleveland Monsters, but is expected to play Saturday in the rematch, according to the Hurricanes.Bickell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November. Carolina placed him on waivers Thursday with the intention of sending him to the AHL for a conditioning stint.He appeared in seven NHL games in October before revealing his condition.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thursday marked the 600th career NHL game for Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman, and there to help him celebrate were his four children.After spotting his kids holding balloons in the front row during warmups, Stralman decided to tease them by repeatedly trying to toss a puck over the boards and missing intentionally. So cruel.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drew Stafford is reportedly garnering interest as the trade deadline approaches.Teams are calling the Winnipeg Jets to inquire about the veteran forward's availability, according to ESPN's Craig Custance.Stafford is a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $4.35 million.Related: 5 under-the-radar players who could be traded before the deadlineHe's had an injury-plagued season and hasn't produced much offense with 12 points in 39 games, but six of those points came during a seven-game stretch right before he got hurt.Stafford hasn't registered a point since returning, but he has four 20-goal seasons, including a 31-goal campaign, to his name.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unlike the ultra-competitive and staggeringly dominant Metropolitan Division, the Atlantic is rife with parity, and that's made for a complicated lead-up to the trade deadline.The Montreal Canadiens sit atop the Atlantic pack, but they can't be comfortable knowing the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and a host of other squads lurk not far below them.Whether the bubble teams engage in a proactive arms race or take a longer wait-and-see approach before Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET, one thing's abundantly clear: There should be plenty of movement.Here's what each Atlantic Division club should prioritize before the deadline passes:Boston BruinsNeed: Backup goaltenderThe Bruins' lack of depth in goal has been well-documented, and while general manager Don Sweeney has acknowledged the need to spell Tuukka Rask with a more reliable No. 2 netminder, he hasn't yet been able to address it.Despite Anton Khudobin's impressive performance in a win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night, neither he nor Zane McIntyre nor Malcolm Subban has been consistently effective in the role over the balance of the season.The Bruins have two more back-to-backs during a seven-day stretch next month. Considering the importance of every point in the wide-open Atlantic, their issue between the pipes needs to be fixed if they plan to be part of the postseason.Buffalo SabresNeed: Keep rebuildingAs much as fans or media members want to tout Buffalo as a playoff contender, it's just not realistic this season.The Sabres would have to leapfrog four teams to get in, and they have more regulation-or-overtime wins (the first playoff tiebreaker at season's end) than only one of them, the Philadelphia Flyers.While there is a logjam of hopeful squads in the muddled Eastern Conference, general manager Tim Murray should avoid the temptation and remember the bigger picture.Barring a Godfather offer from another team for Evander Kane, the sensible path involves dealing Brian Gionta and one of either Dmitry Kulikov or Cody Franson. That would allow the Sabres to stay relatively competitive in the present while adding draft picks to further address the future.Detroit Red WingsNeed: Sell! Sell! Sell!It's been an incredible run, but, let's be honest, the Red Wings' streak of 25 straight playoff appearances is about to end.While that may be a bitter pill for general manager Ken Holland and company to swallow, all good things must come to an end, and it's time for Detroit to retool.Thomas Vanek has to be dealt, and if Holland can get anything for fellow pending unrestricted free agents Steve Ott and Brendan Smith, he has a responsibility to do it.Florida PanthersNeed: Stand patThe Panthers are a deep, dangerous squad with Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov back in the fold.They'll surely be a top-three team in the division at season's end, and they have no major weaknesses. Florida is loaded with talented, young forwards; strong on the back end; and safe in goal.If the Panthers look to add anything before the deadline, it would likely be a top-nine forward, but they don't need to pull off any blockbuster moves before Wednesday.Montreal CanadiensNeed: Top-six forwardWhether it's a high-impact and high-priced center like Matt Duchene or the more affordable Martin Hanzal, the Canadiens could use a boost up the middle.If they can't make that happen, or are unwilling to part with the assets necessary to consummate a major move, adding a winger would be an acceptable Plan B, and an offensively minded defenseman would be a worthwhile Plan C. Is P.K. Subban available? (Sigh.)Montreal is particularly weak on the left side up front, where Paul Byron, rookie Artturi Lehkonen, and Brian Flynn represent a significant drop-off from top-liner and captain Max Pacioretty.Ottawa SenatorsNeed: Forward(s)Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman might not be out for long, but the Senators still require some reinforcement up front.General manager Pierre Dorion said earlier this week that if he does anything before the deadline, it will be to address his forward group.Bobby Ryan is out at least a month with a broken finger, so regardless of when the other two are able to return from their own injuries, Ottawa will and should look to offset Ryan's loss, perhaps with one of Patrick Eaves, Thomas Vanek, Radim Vrbata, or Patrick Sharp.Tampa Bay LightningNeed: DefenseThe Lightning have plenty of forward depth, and barring a setback, they should get Steven Stamkos back before season's end.They have two of the most reliable blue-liners in the league in Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman, but could benefit from an upgrade over Jake Dotchin in the top four.The Lightning reportedly made a bold but unsuccessful play for Kevin Shattenkirk, which suggests they're looking into addressing this need.That's going to be hard to do with literally no cap space, but trading pending UFA Brian Boyle would help clear some room, as would dealing goaltender Ben Bishop if the right offer presents itself.Toronto Maple LeafsNeed: DittoWhat a difference a year makes.The Leafs were the biggest sellers before last season's deadline, but now they might actually be buyers. They're loaded with skill up front, and despite Frederik Andersen's inconsistency, there's no need to pursue a goaltender. But they could use a boost on the back end.Given its wealth of forward prospects and future draft picks, Toronto can afford to give up some of them to land an elite defenseman like Shattenkirk, but that particular move is risky considering he could opt not to re-sign.There's a significant drop-off after the St. Louis Blues rearguard among potential trade targets on defense, so Lou Lamoriello, Brendan Shanahan, and the Leafs' brass would probably be best served waiting until at least the summer to upgrade on the blue line.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 Friday, Feb. 24 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

The KHL playoffs have gone to the dogs.SKA St. Petersburg invited a four-legged guest to drop the puck Thursday before Game 2 of their first-round postseason series against Vityaz as part of Russia's Defender of the Fatherland Day celebrations.It was the best performance by a canine since the military service dog that conducted the ceremonial faceoff in Anaheim in November.- With h/t to Puck DaddyCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.