This week, theScore's NHL editors debate which general manager has the most to lose between now and the March 1 trade deadline.Jim BenningJosh Gold-Smith: Maybe Benning learned his lesson from last summer's free-agency debacle, but the Vancouver Canucks general manager is taking a relatively quiet approach to this trade deadline. Still, the GM widely regarded as the worst in the NHL has a great deal to prove and just as much to lose in the days leading up to March 1.First things first, he has to admit the club isn't a legitimate playoff threat, even if the league's widespread faux parity has them within range of the final Western Conference postseason berth. The Canucks aren't going far even if they do manage to squeak into the playoffs, and the time is now to begin overhauling the roster.Benning has to convince Alex Burrows, Jannik Hansen, and Ryan Miller to waive their respective clauses that limit the teams to which they can each be dealt. He has to acquire assets in return for this trio, especially because two of them (Burrows and Miller) are pending UFAs. If he fails to do this, it'll be just another chapter in his embarrassing GM tenure.Ken HollandCory Wilkins: Ken Holland has been at the helm of the Detroit Red Wings for 20 years, and this season marks the first where his team will be a deadline seller.The Red Wings sit second last in the East, ahead of only the Carolina Hurricanes, and are poised to miss the postseason for the first time since 1990.The good news is, Detroit has a handful of pending unrestricted free agents available for sale, from defenseman Brendan Smith to crown-jewel forward Thomas Vanek. Holland could even up the ante if he opts to move blue-liner Mike Green, who is signed through the 2017-18 campaign.Hockey fans will get to see how Holland operates as a seller and if he can kick-start the Red Wings' rebuild by bringing in premium assets. With so few sellers on the market less than a week before the trade deadline - only the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes are truly out of the playoff mix - the Red Wings general manager has a prime opportunity to command top dollar in trade talks.Steve YzermanIan McLaren: The Tampa Bay Lightning are in quite the spot. After falling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, Steve Yzerman's club has inched back into the playoff race, with an outside shot at making good on their apparent contender status ... IF they can squeak in without the services of captain Steven Stamkos for most of the season.A spot among the final 16 is far from guaranteed, however, and the GM is left with big decisions to make prior to the trade deadline.For example:

Claude Julien's arrival hasn't yet invigorated the Montreal Canadiens the way other coaching changes have rejuvenated some of their Eastern Conference counterparts, and he believes the problem is self-esteem."There's certainly a lack of confidence when you don't score. You can see the guys are frustrated," the Canadiens head coach said after they were blanked 3-0 by the New York Islanders on Thursday night, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu."The execution, the plays that don't become scoring chances, those things are totally confidence."Montreal has scored only three goals in the three games since Julien took over, and the only victory so far in his second go-around with the club came following a shootout Tuesday against the New York Rangers.The Canadiens' scoring woes predate Julien's arrival, though. They've now been shut out in four of their last eight games, and they're 2-7-1 in their last 10.The captain agrees with his head coach's assessment."It seems like at times when you don't have confidence we're just content with going out there, make it look like you're working hard," Max Pacioretty said."You've got to want to be a difference-maker, every time you're on the ice you've got to want to change the game. Whether that comes with confidence or, I'm not sure how to get it, but everyone's got to have that mindset, and it's obvious that that's not the mindset."The Canadiens haven't relinquished their lead in the Atlantic Division all season, but they're in danger of being usurped by the Ottawa Senators on Friday night. The Senators sit two points back with three games in hand.Montreal will look to gain some of that much-needed confidence when it faces the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

MONTREAL - It was a big night for rookie Anthony Beauvillier and the New York Islanders.Beauvillier scored in the first period, Thomas Greiss had stopped 24 shots for his third shutout of the season, and the Islanders beat the slumping Montreal Canadiens 3-0 Thursday night.The 19-year-old Beauvillier, who grew up in nearby Sorel-Tracy, had a large group of family and friends on hand for his first game in Montreal.''It's really special,'' he said. ''I couldn't ask for a better night than getting the two points in Montreal with family and friends around, and for the ovation at the end.''Beauvillier said he bought 19 tickets for the game and several other of his supporters got their own to give the rookie a sizeable cheering section among the sellout crowd.His parents' emotional reaction to his goal was shown on the scoreboard.''They're the reason I'm here,'' he said. ''They supported me since I'm young. They paid for everything. It means everything for me to have them here. It was a little gift for them to score a goal and get the win here.''Anders Lee scored in the second period and John Tavares added an empty-netter in the final minute to seal the Islanders' third straight win. New York has won the first two games on a crucial nine-game road swing and improved to 12-4-2 since interim coach Doug Weight replaced the fired Jack Capuano.''Pretty good from the drop of the puck,'' Tavares said. ''We didn't give them a lot.''And a big goal by Bo. It was nice to see him score in his hometown. We knew how pumped up he was. I remember my first game in my hometown (Toronto). It's really exciting with lots of friends and family. We really wanted him to soak it in. He stepped up and it was great to see him get rewarded.''Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson each had two assists, and Greiss got his third shutout of the season.Carey Price finished with 21 saves as the Canadiens lost coach Claude Julien's 1,000th NHL game. Montreal is 1-2-0 since Julien replaced Michel Therrien last week and has totaled just 14 goals while going 2-7-1 in the last 10 games, including four shutouts.Instead of a pregame ceremony to mark Julien's milestone, a prerecorded video of the 56-year-old receiving a commemorative medal from team president Geoff Molson was played early in the first period on the scoreboard, drawing a standing ovation.''It's more my personality,'' he said. ''It's great that I've had 1,000 games, but I didn't want to be the center of attention.''I wanted to win that game more than I wanted to celebrate it. Unfortunately that didn't happen.''Julien cited his team's poor puck management and execution for the lack of offense, although the Canadiens picked up the pace in the third period. They will need to be better on Saturday when they visit the Maple Leafs.''In order to have an identity, you need consistency and we haven't had that in the three games that I've been here,'' Julien said.The Islanders owned the puck early and got the opening goal when Brock Nelson fed Beauvillier, who is from nearby Sorel-Tracy and was playing in Montreal for the first time, on the left side for a shot that beat Price to the near post at 5:28.Lee made it 2-0 at 5:58 of the second when he sneaked behind Alexei Emelin to take a pass from Bailey and score his 23rd of the season with a nifty shot from in close.Montreal had a goal disallowed at 6:50 of the third when both Tomas Plekanec and Paul Byron reached for the puck with high sticks on a shot by Shea Weber. Another was waived off at 7:46 because Artturi Lehkonen put it in with a hand.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The elusive sign-and-trade deal in the NHL nearly came to pass.The St. Louis Blues had reportedly agreed to the framework on a seven-year, $42-million sign-and-trade agreement with defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk six weeks ago, but the prized puck mover nixed the deal, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Jeremy Rutherford.Rutherford suggests that the Tampa Bay Lightning was the team involved in the sign-and-trade negotiation, and the return assets included in the proposed deal remain unknown.He also notes that since the deal fell through, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong has shifted his focus to moving Shattenkirk to a buyer whose interest doesn't hinge on the defenseman signing long term.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Who says hockey can't thrill in the absence of goals?Henrik Lundqvist and Frederik Andersen were spectacular in Thursday's clash in Toronto, matching each other save for save in a classic goaltender's duel won 2-1 in a shootout by the veteran New York Rangers stopper.Together, the netminders combined to make 69 saves, including seven in a wild overtime frame. However, it was the two Lundqvist made on three opportunities in the shootout which proved decisive.For Lundqvist, it was an outing consistent with his form of late. He has kept a dazzling .943 save rate since his struggles last month. But for Andersen, despite suffering the loss, the performance represents something to build on. He had allowed at least four goals in five of his eight appearances in February before making 37 saves versus the Rangers in perhaps his best game with the Maple Leafs."This is how I want to be playing," Andersen told Jonas Siegel of the Canadian Press. "I know I can play like this."Still, for a netminder that has struggled in the shootout throughout his career, it was another frustrating outing."I think pretty much everyone in hockey wanted this (game) to keep going," he told TSN's Mark Masters. "It was a good overtime."Despite their shootout record falling to 1-7, it was an important point earned for the Leafs. The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning each failed to earn a point Thursday, losing traction in the tight Atlantic Division race.Lundqvist's Rangers, meanwhile, moved past the Columbus Blue Jackets into the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One, two, three by Mike Smith.Chicago Blackhawks sniper Patrick Kane scored a hat trick Thursday versus the Arizona Coyotes, the first time this season he's tallied three goals in a contest.The three markers lifted Kane to 23 goals on the season, passing both Artem Anisimov and Marian Hossa to lead all Blackhawks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't underestimate the value of depth between the pipes.After the Boston Bruins dismissed coach Claude Julien earlier this month, general manager Don Sweeney acknowledged his own failure to equip his club with proper depth in goal, a factor that led to too many lost nights under Julien.This season, after franchise netminder Tuukka Rask, the Bruins have run through a slew of net options. A combination of second stringers have chipped in on crease time but have come away with a collective five wins.Goalie Games Record GAA SV%Tuukka Rask4828-14-42.28.912Anton Khudobin92-5-13.05.888Zane McIntyre83-4-13.97.858Malcolm Subban10-1-05.88.813"We've seen teams with 1A and 1B (goaltending) that have really hung around - even though they have had other injuries - because of it," Sweeney told Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe. "We've had a tough time with that this year. No question about it."Sitting two points outside of a playoff position, Sweeney notes his club could pursue netminding insurance prior to the March 1 trade deadline."It's tough to find at this time, but they exist," Sweeney added. "But it's just a matter of teams are like, 'Well, what are you giving up for it?' That's a big part of it."After waiving Anton Khudobin in January, he has since returned to the Bruins following a short stint in the AHL. Khudobin won his last outing, a 4-3 result over the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 11. The veteran goalie is signed through the 2017-18 campaign.If Sweeney elects to go shopping ahead of the deadline, among the more affordable options who could be available include Philadelphia Flyers netminder Michal Neuvirth and Anders Nilsson of the Buffalo Sabres.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There was a time when it didn't seem certain Filip Forsberg would muster half as many goals as he scored last season. Now it appears 33 is in reach.The Nashville Predators star completed a hat trick in consecutive outings with an empty-net goal in a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.Forsberg scored three two nights earlier versus the Calgary Flames.He now has 18 goals across his last 30 games after managing just three in his first 30 starts this season. And with his six goals across three nights, he now has more than any player since the holiday break.Forsberg still lags just a touch behind a pace that would match his career-best totals from last year. However, a third consecutive 30-goal, 60-point campaign is suddenly very attainable.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Score one for Sean Monahan.The Calgary Flames center set a record Thursday with his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning. With the tally, Monahan became the youngest player in Flames history to reach 100 goals.The 22-year-old is in his fourth campaign, having scored 22, 31, and 27 in the three previous seasons. Thursday's goal marked Monahan's 20th of the year.

Anthony Beauviller's already far along in his rookie season, but the treatment and emotions of being a freshman were on display during a special moment Thursday night in his first NHL game played in his home province of Quebec.Beauviller scored within the first few shifts at Bell Centre, and among his 50 friends and family in attendance was a proud father who couldn't hide his emotions.

Instant plaudits.Working the bench for just the third time in his return stint, head coach Claude Julien was celebrated by the Montreal Canadiens and their fans Thursday night during his 1,000th career game.

It's no secret the Los Angeles Kings rely on Jeff Carter to score goals.After all, he leads Los Angeles with 29 tallies, 10 more than Tanner Pearson, while Tyler Toffoli is the only other Kings skater to reach double digits.The Kings have scored 145 times this season, better than only five clubs league wide, averaging 2.44 goals per game.When Carter finds the back of the net, the Kings are 17-2-3, but only 13-24-1 when he doesn't score. The 32-year-old has seven multi-goal efforts this season.In all, Carter has accounted for 20 percent of the Kings' tallies this season. But in the midst of a four-game goal drought, things have gone sideways in Hollywood. Carter has not scored since Feb. 9, while the Kings have managed just one win in the following four contests.It marks the fourth four-game stretch this season in which Carter hasn't shown up on the goal column:Date RangeRecordPointsOct. 29 to Nov. 31-3-02Nov. 10 to Nov. 150-3-11Jan. 23 to Jan. 313-1-06Feb. 16 to Feb. 211-3-02In the combined 16 contests, Los Angeles grabbed just 11 of a possible 32 points. As the campaign enters its stretch run, the Kings sit on the outside of the playoff picture, two points behind the Calgary Flames.With 23 games left on the season, time is running out for Carter and his teammates to rediscover that offensive touch.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

How badly have things gone for the Colorado Avalanche?When the Denver club lost blue-liner Erik Johnson to a devastating leg injury on Dec. 3, the team held down a 9-13-1 record.Four games under .500, but still salvageable, particularly with five months left on the season.But in the ensuing weeks, the Avalanche have fallen hard without their top defenseman, posting a 7-26-2 showing in his absence. Colorado now sits dead last in the NHL.It's no secret that the Avalanche have a problematic blue line, and with things going this poorly, it's understandable why general manager Joe Sakic is contemplating moving a star player like Matt Duchene or captain Gabriel Landeskog to reshape his back end.As for Johnson, after suffering a broken fibula, he was expected to be on the shelf for six-to-eight weeks. He'll make his return to the lineup Saturday when the Avalanche take on the Buffalo Sabres.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sell high.The Tampa Bay Lightning now have the opportunity to do as such when it comes to goaltender Ben Bishop and his future with the club.A pending unrestricted free agent, Bishop is a candidate to be moved before the March 1 trade deadline, with the Lightning sitting outside of the playoff picture and prepared to turn over the keys to young goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.Part of Bishop's eventual move from the Lightning is tied to his contract. The lanky netminder has been one of the league's best in recent seasons and should cash in on that performance this summer.That doesn't work for the Lightning, already in a cap crunch and with a host of restricted free agents to entertain this summer, namely forwards Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, and Jonathan Drouin, who will cost a bundle to retain.The writing was on the wall for Bishop when the club opted to re-sign Vasilevskiy to a three-year contract that kicks in next season, when the 22-year-old will hold a $3.5-million cap hit.Last offseason, the Lightning were prepared to move Bishop to the Calgary Flames only for the deal to fall apart in its latter stages.Bishop has persisted despite the trade noise. After slugging through the season's early goings, where he came away with just nine wins in 19 outings, his game has turned around since returning from injury Jan. 12.Since then, Bishop has been one of the Lightning's best performers, winning seven of 10 games, while his save rate has climbed to .922. As a result, the Lightning are back in the thick of the playoff race, four points back of a wild-card position as of Thursday.But Bishop's play likely isn't enough to preserve his time in the Tampa Bay crease, and with the trade deadline less than a week out, he's now on borrowed time with the Lightning.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Miller shouldn't worry about moving.Given the stipulations outlined in his contract, the Vancouver Canucks netminder is an unlikely trade candidate ahead of the March 1 trade deadline.Miller can permit a move to just five clubs, three of which are believed to be California-based, namely the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks. The bad news is none of the three are in dire need of a goaltending upgrade, or even some added insurance between the pipes.Among the three, the Sharks are the least likely suitor, as Martin Jones is the go-to netminder for the Bay Area club. In 50 appearances this season, Jones has come away with a 28-15-6 record, and among goaltenders with as much crease time, only two have outperformed his .913 save rate.The Sharks could use an upgrade on backup Aaron Dell, but Miller's $6-million contract makes such a move improbable.In Los Angeles, the Kings have already passed on opportunities to seek upgrades in goal after starter Jonathan Quick was lost to a groin injury in the season opener. Veteran minor-leaguer Peter Budaj has impressively held down the fort in Quick's absence, with 27 wins on the season, while his seven shutouts also ranks first league-wide. Further, Quick is expected to return in the coming weeks, leaving no space for Miller.Anaheim is the most plausible destination among the California clubs, and even that is unlikely. The Ducks appear comfortable with the tandem of John Gibson and Jonathan Bernier, who share crease time in Orange County.While Gibson is the undisputed starter, the Ducks could upgrade on Bernier, who carries a $4-million cap charge, but that figure is still about $2 million less than Miller's wage. That's without consideration of the assets the Ducks would need to part with to complete a deal. In the end, how the Ducks fare in the playoffs will largely live on Gibson's shoulders.A pending unrestricted free agent, Miller's best bet may be to explore his opportunities in the summer, while a return to the Canucks should not be ruled out. Reports indicate the club could retain Miller at a lesser rate to share netminding duties with the younger Jacob Markstrom, while a stay in Vancouver would also keep Miller on his preferred West coast.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't expect fireworks from the Washington Capitals ahead of the March 1 trade deadline.Holding the NHL's top spot with 87 points in 59 games, the Capitals have few holes, according to general manager Brian MacLellan, whose club is on pace to win the Presidents' Trophy in back-to-back seasons."This year, I don't I don't feel that pressure or that need to do anything," MacLellan told Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic. "(But) we're exploring opportunities ... If we can upgrade on the fringes, we might do it."The Capitals made one depth addition earlier this month, acquiring veteran defenseman Tom Gilbert from the Los Angeles Kings.MacLellan made two moves ahead of last year's trade deadline, bringing in Mike Weber from the Buffalo Sabres and Daniel Winnik from the Toronto Maple Leafs.In any event, what the Capitals do at this year's deadline will be largely dictated by the salary cap, as Washington has less than $1.125 million in projected prorated trade deadline cap space.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At long last.Following Thursday's trade that sent Ron Hainsey to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the veteran blue-liner will finally get a look at playoff hockey.Hainsey, 35, holds the unfortunate record of the most games played without qualifying for the postseason. He joins his fifth team with 891 career appearances under his belt. Should he lace up for all of the Penguins' remaining contests, he'll finish at 914.The previous high-water mark was held by Olli Jokinen, who skated in 799 contests before making the playoffs with the Calgary Flames in 2009.To his credit, Hainsey has appeared in 41 postseason games in the AHL, recording two goals and 16 assists over that stretch. His last playoff endeavor came in 2005.The defending champion Penguins sit second in the Metropolitan and are poised to make their 11th straight playoff appearance.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One Tyler Ennis is headed to Los Angeles, but it's not the one hockey fans might think.The Lakers reportedly acquired reserve guard Tyler Ennis from the Houston Rockets for point guard Marcelo Huertas on Thursday before the NBA's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, and the Kings' social media staff shared the following greeting cheekily directed at the city's new import.

Dennis Wideman is open to a move prior to the trade deadline.The Calgary Flames defenseman would waive his no-move clause should a suitor come calling on or before March 1."If that's something that (the Flames) want to do, then they can call and I definitely would be open to it," Wideman told Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Herald. "I think, as a player, you don't want to be anywhere that you're not wanted. So if they want to move you and someone wants to take you, then it's nice to go somewhere like that if that's the case."Whether another club is willing to take on a 33-year-old defenseman who carries a $5.25-million cap hit is the bigger question, but Wideman - who's been bumped down the depth chart by the arrivals of Matt Bartkowski and Michael Stone - certainly wants to play."I just want to help this team as much as I can, for when I'm here, so I just have to be ready to play," he said. "And if it's somewhere else, then I'll cross that bridge when it gets there ... But my concentration right now is helping the Flames make the playoffs."Wideman has recorded three goals, 13 assists, and 79 shots while averaging 20:38 of ice time through 52 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Never any doubt.So says Florida Panthers general manager and interim head coach Tom Rowe, who stepped behind the bench after Gerard Gallant guided the club to a disappointing 11-10-1 record after 22 games.The Panthers have amassed 43 points (17-12-9) in 38 games since the move, and have crept within striking distance of a playoff spot, on which Rowe fully intends to pounce."We're in a good position," Rowe said. "If anybody thought we we're going to be here, I think most people would say no, except every guy in that room. We knew we were going to be in a playoff position. We're there and we're going to get it done."The Panthers sit level with the New York Islanders at 66 points, but can't claim the second wild-card spot thanks to the NHL's tiebreaking rules.Florida is the NHL's hottest team and trending in the right direction after going 8-2-0 in their past 10, a stretch certainly boosted by a return to full health for top-line forwards Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau.Whether the Panthers can hold off the competition and clinch a spot is another matter. According to Sports Club Stats, their chances stand at 31.1 percent, 10th highest in the Eastern Conference.Still some work to be done to erase all doubt, it would seem.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For a long time, the Central Division was revered as the strongest in the league.This year, there has seen a slight changing of the guard. Still, with just over six weeks remaining in the season, as many as six of the seven teams remain within striking distance of the postseason.With most teams in the the division either in a playoff spot or towards the basement, the Central could stand to be among the most active in the next week and a half.With that, here is what the Central clubs could be looking to do ahead of the trade deadline:Chicago BlackhawksNeed: Penalty-kill specialistThe Chicago Blackhawks have very few flaws (surprise, surprise). The team sits in the top-10 in both goals for and goals against.However, where the club seems to struggle is on the penalty kill. The team holds the third-worst contingent, killing off penalties just 77.1 percent of the time, despite averaging the second fewest penalty minutes per game (6:54).The Blackhawks don't need to add much at the deadline, but a notable penalty killer could go a long way.Colorado AvalancheNeed: SellIt's clear the process is already underway, as Joe Sakic and company appear ready to sell off all their high assets.With the number of buyers and sellers still not clear, it appears the Avalanche have made their asking price for players such as Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog pretty high - just ask Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk.Related: Melnyk stunned by asking price for Colorado's DucheneIt could be just a matter of time before a big fish is dealt, but Jarome Iginla and nearly anyone else on the roster could surely be shipped out of Colorado as well.Dallas StarsNeed: GoaltendingWhether general manager Jim Nill is ready to admit it or not, Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi have been terrible for the Dallas Stars.Dallas got by last season by outscoring their problems, but they can't do it this year. The Stars have the worst team save percentage league-wide despite averaging just the 15th most shots against per game.It's time for Nill to finally address the elephant in the room.Minnesota WildNeed: Stand patThe Minnesota Wild sit first in the Western Conference, fourth in goals for per game, and second in goals against per game. So why mess with success?The team has little need to make any significant moves at the deadline. A forward depth option is the only thing possibly worth considering, but rather than that, just carry on.Nashville PredatorsNeed: Top-6 forwardThe Nashville Predators cling to a playoff spot and with a solid defense core, it's quit obvious the biggest need is someone who can provide offense.The team's top-three scorers - Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, and Viktor Arvidsson - all occupy their top line at the moment, proving their biggest need is to find scoring elsewhere.Duchene would make sense and the Predators should have the pieces to make a deal work. A deal of this magnitude could help them get back to a top-three spot in the division and become a threat in the postseason.St. Louis BluesNeed: Trade ShattenkirkIt's a drum that will continue to be beat until it's eventually done.The Blues must deal Kevin Shattenkirk, lest they once again watch a star player depart without any assets recouped.The amount of suitors and the asking price are sure to be high, but with the Blues in the driver seat, it's all up to Doug Armstrong to finally make a deal happen.Winnipeg JetsNeed: GoaltendingThe Jets' goaltending needs an upgrade, plain and simple.Connor Hellebuyck, Michael Hutchinson, and Ondrej Pavelec have all failed to turn in performances that can even be considered average.It's obvious the team needs a change. If they can get in on the potential Ben Bishop or Marc-Andre Fleury sweepstakes, with the pending expansion draft looming, that would be ideal.Nevertheless, an upgrade is a must, especially if the club is serious about making the postseason.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins may not be done dealing following Thursday's acquisition of veteran defenseman Ron Hainsey.Justin Schultz appears set to return to the lineup from a concussion, but Olli Maatta and Trevor Daley will be out weeks due to injury, and, to make matters potentially far worse, Kris Letang is currently listed as day to day with an upper-body injury.The Penguins don't play again until Saturday's Stadium Series event, giving general manager Jim Rutherford time to assess the situation.

One thing was for sure in 2016: the Toronto Maple Leafs were sellers in advance of the Feb. 29 trade deadline.A total of 20 deals were pulled off in the 28 days of February leading up to deadline day, five of which were pulled off by a Maple Leafs' brain trust led by president Brendan Shanahan and general manager Lou Lamoriello.Yes, that's 25 percent of the trade action spurred by one team.Here's a look at what Toronto was up to this time last year:1. Feb. 9 - Maple Leafs traded D Dion Phaneuf, F Matt Frattin, F Casey Bailey, F Ryan Rupert, and D Cody Donaghey to the Ottawa Senators for D Jared Cowen, F Colin Greening, F Milan Michalek, F Tobias Lindberg, and a 2017 second-round pick2. Feb. 21 - Maple Leafs traded F Shawn Matthias to the Colorado Avalanche for F Colin Smith and a 2016 fourth-round pick (used to select D Keaton Middleton)3. Feb. 22 - Maple Leafs traded D Roman Polak and F Nick Spaling to the San Jose Sharks for F Raffi Torres, a 2017 second-round pick, and a 2018 second-round pick.4. Feb 27 - Maple Leafs traded G James Reimer and F Jeremy Morin to the Sharks in exchange for G Alex Stalock, F Ben Smith, and a 2018 conditional fourth-round pick.5. Feb 28 - Maple Leafs traded F Daniel Winnik and a 2016 fifth-round pick (used to select F Beck Malenstyn) to the Washington Capitals for F Brooks Laich, D Connor Carrick, and a 2016 second-round pick (used to select F Carl Grundstrom).Toronto stayed silent on the actual trade deadline day, and the rest, as they say, is history: the Maple Leafs' depleted roster amassed 17 points in the final 21 games of the season and finished 30th in the overall standings.The Leafs later won the NHL Draft Lottery for the right to select Auston Matthews with the first overall pick, and now, one year later, they could very well be buyers rather than sellers as the March 1 trade deadline approaches.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bryan Bickell is on the road back to NHL action.His first stop will be Charlotte, where he can be assigned to the AHL's Checkers once he clears waivers, the Carolina Hurricanes announced.Bickell has missed 48 games after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He last played on Oct. 30, and recorded one goal in seven games to begin the season.Acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks - with whom he won three Stanley Cups - in 2016, Bickell is in the final year of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent at season's end.If he does indeed clear waivers, he can be down in the AHL for more than the standard two weeks afforded for conditioning stints, reports Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.One of the best parts about the seasons rolling into the dead of winter is that it means the outdoor hockey game is upon us.With three games already in the books for the 2016-17 season, the fourth and final installment of the National Hockey League's popular outdoor games will be Saturday, February 25: a Stadium Series event in Pittsburgh featuring the Penguins hosting the Philadelphia Flyers at Heinz Field.SportsInteraction.com currently has Pittsburgh at +375 to win the Metropolitan Division, +440 to win the Eastern Conference, and +800 to win the Stanley Cup. Philadelphia is at +125,000 to win the Metropolitan, +4,500 to win the East, and +7,500 to win the Stanley Cup.Players will notice a few significant differences between playing inside an arena and plying their trade in an outdoor stadium environment. Most notably, temperature fluctuations can play havoc with both the quality of the ice surface and the hardness of the puck. There is a chance of rain in the forecast for Pittsburgh early Saturday but it is expected to clear off by the 8 p.m. ET puck drop with temperatures in the mid-40's and strong winds blowing between 15-22 mph.If past history is any indication, bettors can expect the visiting clubs to spoil the party as road teams have had an edge when the roof comes off. Here's a look at the previous outdoor games, along with the relevant betting numbers:November 22, 2003: Montreal Canadiens 4 at Edmonton Oilers 3 (O/U: 5)The first of two Heritage Classics went to the visiting team, while the bone-chilling temperatures at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium didn't deter the teams from easily eclipsing the total.January 1, 2008: Pittsburgh Penguins 2 at Buffalo Sabres 1 (SO) (O/U: 5.5)The Penguins edged the Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium, with the teams combining for 62 shots but still falling well below the total.January 1, 2009: Detroit Red Wings 6 at Chicago Blackhawks 4 (O/U: 5.5)The Red Wings made it three straight outdoor victories for the road team, prevailing in a Wrigley Field slugfest that remains the highest-scoring outdoor game in NHL history.January 1, 2010: Philadelphia Flyers 1 at Boston Bruins 2 (OT) (O/U: 5.5)The Bruins provided the Fenway Park faithful with the first home victory at an outdoor contest, shading the Flyers in a thrilling overtime contest that saw the teams combine for just 51 shots.January 1, 2011: Washington Capitals 3 at Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (O/U: 6)Despite a premium matchup featuring two of the league's most potent offenses, the Capitals and Penguins finished under the total in the Heinz Field showdown that will be best remembered for Sidney Crosby's career-altering concussion.February 20, 2011: Montreal Canadiens 0 at Calgary Flames 4 (O/U: 5)The Flames earned the first shutout in NHL outdoor history, cashing an Under while giving the home side just its second victory in six outdoor games.January 2, 2012: New York Rangers 3 at Philadelphia Flyers 2 (O/U: 5)Citizens Bank Park was the site of the Rangers' first taste of outdoor action, an entertaining victory over the Flyers. The teams narrowly missed surpassing the total despite combining for 69 shots.January 1, 2014: Toronto Maple Leafs 3 at Detroit Red Wings 2 (SO) (O/U: 5)The Maple Leafs and Red Wings did battle at the Big House in front of a record crowd of more than 105,000 people; Toronto made it six wins in eight tries for the road team, while the clubs provided the first push in outdoor history.January 25, 2014: Anaheim Ducks 3 at Los Angeles Kings 0 (O/U: 5)The Ducks and Kings skated at Dodger Stadium among the sunshine, palm trees and Kiss halftime show. The road team prevailed again as the Ducks dominated play in this low scoring affair.January 26, 2014: New York Rangers 7 at New Jersey Devils 3 (O/U: 5)This game got out of hand. Early. The teams combined for nine goals through the first two periods and the road team - the Rangers in this case - prevailed once again in Stadium games.January 29, 2014: New York Rangers 2, New York Islanders 1 (O/U: 5.5)The road team wins again. The Rangers prevailed in their second game at Yankee Stadium in a matter of days in this game, which pushed the road team to nine victories.March 1, 2014: Pittsburgh Penguins 1 at Chicago Blackhawks 5 (O/U: 5.5)The Blackhawks took control of this game early, outshooting the Penguins 14-5 in the first period. Chicago poured on the offense notching a win for the home teams and topping the total.March 2, 2014: Ottawa Senators 4 at Vancouver Canucks 2 (O/U: 5)Vancouver jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first before surrendering four unanswered goals to the Senators. Home fans left sad again with the Sens claiming victory.January 1, 2015: Chicago Blackhawks 2 at Washington Capitals 3 (O/U 5)This game looked destined for overtime when in the final 13 seconds Capitals' forward Troy Brouwer scored to make sure the home-town fans left happy in the Nations capital.February 21, 2015: Los Angeles Kings 2 at San Jose Sharks 1 (O/U 5.5)Seventy thousand fans in North Cali packed Levi's Stadium to watch the visiting Kings keep the road teams and Under trends alive with a 2-1 win in the second - and final - outdoor game of the 2014-15 NHL season.January 1, 2016: Montreal Canadiens 5 at Boston Bruins 1 (O/U 5.5)The Canadiens, who had won seven straight games at TD Garden, took the streak outside and dominated the Bruins 5-1 at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. Montreal took control early outshooting Boston 14-5 in the first period and scored the opening goal 1:14 into the game.February 21, 2016: Chicago Blackhawks 1 at Minnesota Wild 6 (O/U 5)A home team wins. Minnesota dominated Chicago, Jason Pominville and Erik Haula each had a goal and two assists. For Chicago, their record falls to 1-3 all time in outdoor games.February 27, 2016: Detroit Red Wings 5 at Colorado Avalanche 3 (O/U 5)Brad Richards was the hero for the road team in the first outdoor game in Colorado. The Red Wings winger tipped in a rebound with a minute left in the 3rd period. At 65 degrees this was the warmest outdoor game in the history of the NHL event.October 23, 2016: Edmonton Oilers 3 at Winnipeg Jets 0 (O/U 5.5)The first outdoor game held in Winnipeg was delayed for almost two hours because of too much sun, officials worried the glare would create safety issues for players. The road team dominated with three second period goals.January 1, 2017: Detroit Red Wings 4 at Toronto Maple Leafs 5 (OT) (O/U 5.5)Finally, outdoor hockey comes to Toronto. The road team Red Wings held a 1-0 lead after two periods but were outscored 4-3 in a wild third period and were beaten by an Auston Matthews overtime goal in an instant classic hockey game.January 2, 2017: Chicago Blackhawks 1 at St. Louis Blues 4 (O/U 5)The Blues became the second home team to win outdoors in as many days as Vladimir Tarasenko's pair of third period goals proved to be too much for the Blackhawks to overcome. Rain threatened the event throughout, but ended up not being a factor on the ice.Total: Road team 14-7-0; O/U 9-8-4 (Over is 4-1-1 last six outdoor NHL games)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back. This week, we're taking stock of four of the biggest names reportedly on the block ahead of the trade deadline.▲ Matt DucheneHe's already arguably the most skilled asset being dangled in potential deals, and the Colorado Avalanche forward is helping to reinforce that assessment with solid play of late.The club won only one of its four games over the last week, but Duchene picked up three points, including the tying goal in the final minute of regulation in an eventual overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night.He has four points in his last five games, and seven in his last 10.Every subsequent Avalanche loss further justifies his potential departure, and the combination of their continued futility and his steady production makes a Duchene deal even more of a logical conclusion.▼ Gabriel LandeskogUnlike his Colorado teammate, Landeskog didn't exactly boost his value this week.He was held pointless and registered only nine shots on goal in the four aforementioned games played by the Avalanche, and has only a single assist in his last six.The Colorado captain certainly remains a hot commodity given his youth, his rare status as a six-year NHL veteran at 24, and his obvious talent, but he didn't do himself any favors in the penultimate week before the deadline.▲ Kevin ShattenkirkThe St. Louis Blues had a less than ideal week, losing to the Buffalo Sabres and the resurgent Florida Panthers, but Shattenkirk had a major hand in the win over the Vancouver Canucks that preceded those two defeats.He assisted on three of four Blues goals in the 4-3 victory last Thursday night, including power-play helpers on third-period markers by Vladimir Tarasenko and Alexander Steen that gave St. Louis a lead it wouldn't relinquish.While it came against a less than formidable opponent, Shattenkirk's stellar performance proved just how much of an impact he can have on the offensive end.His game isn't as appreciated as that of the two Avalanche forwards by virtue of his position, but he's actually been more productive than both of them this season, and is more likely to move because of his status as a pending unrestricted free agent.▲ Martin HanzalWe usually look at two figures trending up and two trending down, but most of the biggest names expected to move before the deadline had very productive weeks.Hanzal is one such deadline target who's been turning it on at the right time, scoring the Coyotes' lone goal in a loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.That gave him five goals in five games, and while he didn't find the back of the net Monday night against the Anaheim Ducks, Hanzal is showing what he can do when he's healthy and motivated.He's a streaky scorer, having notched only one goal in the nine games before his five-in-five stretch, but the veteran center is showcasing his skills for the visiting scouts nearly every night as the deadline approaches, and that's good news for his current club.(Photos courtesy: USA Today Sports)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 Thursday, Feb. 23 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and Natural Stat Trick and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

Another defenseman down.The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without Trevor Daley for six weeks after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, the team announced.The injury was suffered during Tuesday's game in Carolina.The Penguins are already playing without Olli Maatta and Justin Schultz, both of whom are injured.Help is on the way, however, as Pittsburgh acquired defenseman Ron Hainsey from the Hurricanes in exchange for a second-round pick in 2017 and farmhand Danny Kristo.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins addressed their severely depleted defense corps Thursday, adding veteran blue-liner Ron Hainsey from the Carolina Hurricanes for a second-round pick in this year's draft and AHLer Danny Kristo, the clubs announced.The deal was confirmed five minutes after the Penguins revealed defenseman Trevor Daley will miss six weeks with a knee injury. They've already been without Justin Schultz, who was diagnosed with a concussion, and Olli Maatta, who'll miss at least another five weeks with a hand ailment.Hainsey is a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $2.83 million, and the Hurricanes will retain 50 percent of the 35-year-old's remaining salary. He ranked third on Carolina with an average ice time of 22:19, posting 14 points in 56 games.Kristo has been traded multiple times in his career and has yet to appear in an NHL game, but the 26-year-old posted three straight 20-plus-goal campaigns in the AHL prior to this season. He registered 11 points in 32 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2016-17.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney doesn't appear to have any interest in trading young defenseman Brandon Carlo.Related: Bruins must resist temptation to trade top young DWhile Sweeney conceded any player could conceivably be dealt at some point - citing that even Wayne Gretzky was traded - he's still intent on retooling from within, with Carlo emerging as a key piece, according to Kevin Paul DuPont of the Boston Globe."The commitment of our organization, to how we are trying to build, to the times we've done it correctly - you know, Bergy (Patrice Bergeron), (David) Krejci, (Brad) Marchand, (David) Pastrnak - that's where you want to be," Sweeney said. "We want to be a team that believes it has internal fixes, that you are growing those players."Carlo, then, is "not worried about that he is going somewhere," Sweeney added.In 50 games with the Bruins, Carlo has scored five goals (including one in a loss to Anaheim on Wednesday) and added nine assists while averaging 21:17 on the Bruins' blue line, the third-highest average ice time on the team and third among all rookie defensemen.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The date was Dec. 23, and in their final game before the NHL's holiday break, the New York Islanders beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-1, bringing them level with the defeated at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings at 32 points.Exactly two months later, the Islanders awake to find themselves occupying the second wild-card spot, courtesy of regulation losses suffered Wednesday by the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins.Here's two reasons why the drastic turn of events may have occurred:Coaching changeA lot has happened in Brooklyn over the past two months, not the least of which being the decision to fire head coach Jack Capuano and hand the reins to assistant Doug Weight on Jan. 17.Including the Dec. 23 win over Buffalo, the Islanders have a 16-7-4 record, tying two teams (San Jose and Toronto) for the third-highest point total over that span (36).Capuano was behind the bench for 10 of those games, guiding the club to a 5-3-2 record. Under Weight, however, the wins have been more regular; in 17 games, the Islanders have a 11-4-2 record, accumulating a league-high 24 points since he took over as head coach.Players stepping upOn top of the coaching change, goaltender Jaroslav Halak was placed on waivers and sent down to the AHL on Dec. 31, giving Thomas Greiss the opportunity to secure the starting job once and for all. In 19 starts in 2017, Greiss' record stands at 10-6-3 with a .915 save percentage.It also helps that certain veteran forwards have picked up their games of late. High-priced free-agent signing Andrew Ladd has eight goals in 14 games to lead the Islanders since Weight took over, the same amount he had in 41 games prior.And Jason Chimera, also signed last summer, has scored seven goals in 17 games after managing eight in 42 games to start the season.John Tavares, of course, remains the straw that stirs the Islanders offensive drink, and he's been averaging a point per game over the past two months after an uncharacteristically slow start to the season.Weight's team will play the second game of an eight-date road trip Thursday in Montreal, and the Islanders will return home March 13 with a much better idea of where they stand after this tough stretch in the schedule.There's still plenty of hockey to be played, but the Islanders' turnaround should not go unnoticed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rickard Rakell is perhaps the only Anaheim Ducks forward who should feel good about his offensive game lately, and even he was mired in a five-goal goalless streak when the surging Boston Bruins visited.Rakell came through with two scores in a game that reminded the Ducks they can still fill a net on occasion.Rakell scored the tiebreaking goal with 2:34 to play, and the Ducks snapped Boston's four-game winning streak under new coach Bruce Cassidy with a 5-3 victory Wednesday night.Rakell also scored in the second period for the Ducks, giving him 24 goals in his outstanding season. Ondrej Kase, Josh Manson and Andrew Cogliano also scored for Anaheim, and Jonathan Bernier made 26 saves in his first victory since Jan. 23.The Ducks had scored just five goals in their previous four games during an up-and-down February, and they had just four goals in 258 minutes before Kase scored early in the second. They can't afford much of a slump in the Pacific Division race with San Jose and Edmonton, but the Ducks are keeping pace.''It was nice to get the bounces tonight,'' said Rakell, who tapped home a loose puck for the game-winning goal. ''We've been having a tough time over the last couple of games to get something going. It was nice that we were able to help the team.''The Ducks killed five Boston power plays, but Frank Vatrano slipped behind Manson and scored on a breakaway with 8:25 left.Rakell then scored after the puck deflected off Corey Perry, who had two assists. Cogliano got credit for an empty-net goal with 48.7 seconds left when Torey Krug hooked him to the ice with a clear path to the net.''Five is a nice number, but three is the better number,'' Anaheim assistant coach Paul MacLean said. ''Our defensive game was a real big reason why we ended up winning the game. We had a couple of goal posts that helped us as well.''The Bruins hadn't lost since Cassidy replaced Claude Julien on Feb. 7. Defensemen Brandon Carlo and Zdeno Chara scored early goals, and Tuukka Rask stopped 20 shots as Boston lost to Anaheim for the seventh straight time.''I thought we played hard to get back into the game against a good hockey team that defends well,'' Cassidy said. ''I think the guys are frustrated. The positive with that is we knew we could have won that hockey game if we just took care of a few things here or there. Nothing worse than going out of a game thinking you had no chance. We definitely had our chance.''Bernier started his second straight game in place of John Gibson, a late scratch with a lower-body injury. He made a handful of jaw-dropping saves, including a diving stop of Patrice Bergeron with his stick.''You don't want to make those saves, because it means you're out of position,'' Bernier said.Forward Nic Kerdiles made his NHL debut for the Ducks, becoming the first player from Orange County to suit up for Anaheim.Kerdiles lived in Irvine for most of his childhood and regularly attended games at Honda Center before the club drafted him in 2012. The 23-year-old scorer missed several months earlier this season with a concussion, but has played 10 outstanding games for the Ducks' AHL affiliate in San Diego.Matt Beleskey returned to the Bruins' lineup after sitting as a healthy scratch in two of the previous three games. The longtime Ducks forward, who got a $19.8-million contract from Boston after scoring a career-best 22 goals for Anaheim in 2014-15, hasn't had a goal in 17 games since Nov. 19.NOTES: The Ducks recalled Jhonas Enroth from San Diego to back up Bernier. Enroth, acquired from Toronto in December, has suited up for five NHL teams in just over two years. ... Boston F Tim Schaller was scratched for the second time in three games. ... Chara played his 798th game for the Bruins, the most by a European player in franchise history.UP NEXTBruins: At Kings on Thursday.Ducks: At Kings on Saturday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been quite some time since an Edmonton Oilers defenseman filled the net at a clip similar to Oscar Klefbom.The 23-year-old unloaded his 11th of the season past Florida Panthers netminder James Reimer on Wednesday night and in doing so has now put himself on pace to have one of the most productive seasons by an Oilers defenseman in almost a decade.At his current pace, Klefbom should conclude the year with 14 goals, which would be the highest total for an Oilers defenseman since Sheldon Souray posted 23 during the 2008-09 season.In fact, over the last 17 seasons only eight defensemen have finished the season with as many or more goals than Klefbom currently has.YearPlayersGoals08-09Sheldon Souray2305-06Marc-Andre Bergeron1507-08Tom Gilbert1305-06Chris Pronger1200-01Tom Poti1200-01Janne Niinimaa1216-17Oscar Klefbom1113-14Justin Schultz11At his current pace, Klefbom would finish with the third-highest such total since the 1999-2000 season.The Oilers have certainly set out to be tougher on the back end this season, but added offense from their blueliners will always be a welcomed sight and Klefbom is doing his part.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Could David Poile be a trade deadline shopper?While the Nashville Predators general manager expects the tight standings to lead to a quiet deadline, that doesn't mean Nashville won't try to make some noise.The Predators hold the West's top wild card slot, a single point ahead of the Calgary Flames. The Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets are chasing, both within two points of a playoff position.Poile noted he'd like to add another top-six forward to his squad, describing his ideal target as "somebody who could add some pizzazz to our lineup," reports The Tennessean.But the price tag to bring in such a piece may not be something Poile is willing to entertain."Mostly what a team sees in a return from us in terms of value is probably one of our top four defensemen. That doesn't work right now," Poile added. "We've traded out defensemen, whether it's Seth Jones last year or (Shea) Weber for (P.K.) Subban. I'm less than excited to get into that."Right now, I would be trying to trade a forward for a forward or a draft pick for a forward, that type of thing."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It took a while, but Kris Russell finally has his first goal as a member of the Edmonton Oilers.The 29-year-old finished off a pretty tic-tac-toe play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl late in the third period for his first since signing with the Oilers in October and first since Feb. 11, 2016.More importantly, the goal held up as the game-winner, extending the Oilers' winning streak in Florida to eight games, while giving the club a two-point cushion on the Anaheim Ducks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

3.9 seconds.That was all that remained in the second period of Wednesday's contest between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers when Panthers forward Jonathan Marchessault beat Oilers netminder Cam Talbot with a late tying goal.Marchessault broke into Edmonton's zone after grabbing a pretty feed from blue-liner Keith Yandle to tally his 18th goal on the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You haven't heard this often. The Edmonton Oilers have a scoring problem.While the Oilers sit 12th with 2.80 goals per game, those tallies have come from the same source too often. Edmonton has seen 62 of its 172 goals come from Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Patrick Maroon. All three have reached the 20-goal plateau and have combined for more than one-third of the Oilers' goals.That means the rest of the roster has accounted for just 110 goals, or about six goals per player. Edmonton needs more scoring from its top skaters, where the likes of forwards Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Milan Lucic - all carrying $6-million cap hits and signed to multi-year contracts - are the most guilty.Players% of Team GoalsMcDavid13%Draisaitl12%Maroon12%Rest of roster63%With 12 goals on the season, Eberle is on pace to finish with just 16 markers after averaging 26 goals over each of the past three campaigns. The Oilers are undoubtedly expecting more from a player signed to such a hefty contract.Down the middle, Nugent-Hopkins has seen a dip in usage, relegated to third-line duty, but his production has seen a far steeper decline. Nugent-Hopkins is scoring 0.48 points per game, his worse pace since breaking into the league in 2011. His previous low-mark was his sophomore campaign, a lockout-shortened season where Nugent-Hopkins finished with 24 points in 40 games.Meanwhile, the Oilers' big-ticket recruit in Lucic has disappointed in the season's later stages. Through the season's first two months, Lucic tallied 17 points in 24 games, but since December, that production has fallen to 15 points in 36 outings. The Oilers can't afford for the hulking winger to decline in the first season of a seven-year pact.On pace to qualify for the postseason for the first time in a decade, the Oilers' secondary scorers will need to step up if the team hopes to make any noise after finally qualifying for spring hockey.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's unlikely the Vegas Golden Knights will be active before the March 1 trade deadline.The team can begin making deals - not involving current roster players - as soon as the final payment is submitted to the league, but, as owner Bill Foley explains, getting the final paperwork in on time will be a daunting task."We’ve been shooting for the 28th," Foley said, according to Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "Originally, the final payment wasn’t due until April 5. But then we moved it up to early March so (general manager) George (McPhee) can attend the general manager meetings in Florida the first week of March. Now, we’re trying to move it up even earlier to be involved in the trade deadline and I’m not sure we’re going to be able to make it."The money’s not the problem. We have the money. It’s signing off on everything and I don’t know if we’re going to make it or not. There’s a stack of documents I have to sign to get this done that is unbelievable."In the mean time, Foley confirmed that McPhee has been having talks with fellow GMs and, due to the potential inability to be involved in transactions at the deadline, the GM meetings are what the team is more interested in."George has had informal conversations with several teams but I don’t think George is not going to be too anxious to do a transaction and give up our flexibility in selecting players," Foley said. "It’s going to have to be an improvement over what we otherwise would have."But we want him at the GM meetings because that’s where policy changes get made and we want a seat at the table when that happens."Even if Foley and company were to get the final payment in before the deadline, as NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly also noted to Carp, there's very little the team can do trade-wise."The trade deadline is virtually irrelevant to the Vegas franchise at this point because they won’t be able to make trades involving real players under contract," Daly said. "They have no player assets to offer and they can’t acquire any in the form of real players. So every trade and transaction Las Vegas would be able to make before the trade deadline, they will be able to make after the trade deadline."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If Nick Paul is expecting a recall to the NHL anytime soon, he best not wait by the phone.Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion described Paul on Wednesday as the team's "biggest disappointment," according to Chris Stevenson of NHL.com. "If (Nick) Paul wants to be an NHL player, he has to be way better than how he's played this year."Paul has not played with the Senators this season after dressing for 24 contests in 2015-16. He has recorded 23 points in 50 games with Binghamton (AHL) this season, but six skaters, including defenseman Chris Rumble, have scored as many or more points than the 21-year-old winger.Canadian hockey fans will recall Paul from his performance at the 2014-15 world juniors, when he pocketed three goals in seven games en route to Canada's gold medal finish. Surely the Senators were expecting that type of return from what remains as the most significant piece from the deal that sent former captain Jason Spezza to the Dallas Stars in 2014.With Ottawa hit with a string of injury concerns - forwards Bobby Ryan, Mark Stone, and Mike Hoffman are all on the shelf - now is the opportune time for Paul to find his scoring touch and make his long-awaited return to the Senators' lineup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's the thing about this season's rookie crop: It's bloody amazing.Auston Matthews. Patrik Laine. Mitch Marner. William Nylander. Zach Werenski. Matthew Tkachuk. Sebastian Aho. Hell, Matt Murray - Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray! - is officially a rookie, too.But it's Laine and Matthews who stand apart. And, after watching the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs play their second nine-goal overtime thriller of the season - with the top two picks in last year's draft combining for five points, and Laine becoming the first freshman to reach 30 goals - it's easy to understand why. Yeah, they're rookies, but it's clear Laine and Matthews are otherworldly talents, franchise talents, and it won't be long before they're in the conversation about the best and most talented players the NHL has to offer.Laine or Matthews? Matthews or Laine?Winnipeg and Toronto supporters have been screaming over each other since the preseason about who's better between Matthews and Laine. Since the draft, actually.Laine's the better sniper, that much is clear - his release is unparalleled. Matthews appears to be the better playmaker, who dominates possession, who can create something out of nothing.And it has to be mentioned: Laine's doing what he's doing playing with Mark Scheifele - arguably the most underrated superstar in hockey - and Nikolaj Ehlers. Matthews is doing what he's doing playing with Connor Brown and Zach Hyman.For Jets and Maple Leafs supporters, it's impossible to be non-partisan. And that's fine - that's what sports fandom is all about.Split itThe truth is, between Laine and Matthews, there's no wrong choice. Both are completely acceptable answers to numerous questions:

The New York Islanders will be without Casey Cizikas for the next month.The 25-year-old will miss four weeks with an upper-body injury, a source told Arthur Staple of Newsday.Cizikas suffered the injury during Tuesday's contest against the Detroit Red Wings and was forced from the game. Cizikas has had an underwhelming year offensively, after agreeing to a four-year, $16.75-million contract extension last June, contributing just seven goals and 23 points in 53 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Smith makes some good points.The Arizona Coyotes goaltender was pulled by concussion spotters Monday night after he was in a third-period collision with Anaheim Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg, and Smith remains unhappy about what went down, as he wasn't able to get back into the game until it was just about over."I think there's a lot of flaws in the system, especially with the goalie position, and it needs to get fixed," Smith said, according to azcentralsports' Bob McManaman. "What stops a fourth liner from going out and bumping a goalie? It's just a two-minute penalty to get your starting goalie out?"Smith said unless changes are implemented, that exact scenario will happen in the playoffs. His goalie mask was knocked off Monday in the collision with Silfverberg, and he believes that played a part in his being called off the ice.Smith brought up another good point: If the starting goalie is removed from the game after a collision, what happens if the backup is bumped, and he needs to be checked for a concussion? Who plays goal?NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was contacted by McManaman on the issue, and said that while the league is always trying to improve the system, it will remain in place as is for the remainder of the season and the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Callahan won't be rejoining the Tampa Bay Lightning any time soon.The forward is out indefinitely after having a follow-up surgical procedure Tuesday on his injured right hip, the club announced Wednesday.Callahan has played 18 games this season, but he's been out since Jan. 7 with the nagging ailment, for which he underwent an initial operation in June that forced him to miss the World Cup of Hockey in September.In mid-January, the Lightning announced he'd miss another month.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Drew Miller is hoping his stay in the AHL is brief.Sent to the minors by the Detroit Red Wings earlier in February, the 33-year-old forward would like the opportunity to play elsewhere."Hopefully, I get traded," he told MLive. "I want to be in the NHL - everyone wants to be there - so we'll see how it goes."The NHL's trade deadline is set for March 1, and Miller expects action to pick up on the market, hopefully involving a ticket out of Grand Rapids for himself."That's what (the Red Wings have) been trying to do is just wait to see what teams may be looking to add and have a good fit," Miller said. "No one's really making a move yet, but I would think that will change as we get closer."Miller, who has his name on the Stanley Cup as a member of the 2007 Anaheim Ducks, is on a one-year deal that carries a cap hit of $1.025 million. He scored five goals and added an assist in 35 games with Detroit this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nazem Kadri doesn't seem too concerned about a warning issued by Ben Chiarot.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward caught the Winnipeg Jets defenseman with a big hit near the end of the second period of the Leafs' overtime win Tuesday night.Kadri wasn't penalized for the check, which led to Chiarot making a rather ominous statement after the game."When you see the video, you see him leave his feet (and) you see him end up in their bench," Chiarot said. "That's fine. It's not the right time or place to chase him down, but there will be a time down the line - it might not be this year, it might not be next year - but there will be a time (when) the shoe will be on the other foot."When asked about the incident Wednesday, Kadri said he was just trying to finish his check, and when told of Chiarot's threat, the Leafs center couldn't help but chuckle."That's not the first time I've heard that, that's for sure," he told reporters with a laugh, as relayed by TSN's Mark Masters.Kadri insisted that he wasn't rattled by the Jets blue-liner's remarks when asked about them again later in the scrum."I'm not worried at all. I'll be here for hopefully a few years, but ... if that (were) one of my teammates getting hit like that, I probably wouldn't be too happy, so I expect that kind of reaction," he said.The Leafs and Jets don't meet again in this regular season, so any retaliation will have to wait.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Life is interesting for soon-to-be unrestricted free agents in the days leading up to the NHL's trade deadline, especially for players on teams likely to miss the playoffs.Such is the case in Vancouver, where Canucks goalie Ryan Miller appears to be keeping his options open, according to Rick Dhaliwal of NEWS 1130.

The last time the Maple Leafs defeated the Canadiens, 11 players on their current roster had yet to make their NHL debut.The date was Jan. 18, 2014, when Randy Carlyle manned the bench and Brendan Shanahan had yet to take the reins as Leafs president and alternate governor. Thirteen games have been played between the two teams since, with the Habs skating to wins in each of those contests.The Leafs will hope to end the long-standing drought in the Original Six rivalry with a win on home ice this Saturday, and the matchup will be the league’s most expensive game this week. On TicketIQ, a leading search engine pooling ticket data from over 90 percent of the resale market, Maple Leafs versus Canadiens tickets are averaging $495.Barring a playoff berth, Saturday’s game will be the most expensive game remaining at Air Canada Centre this season. The cheapest tickets currently fetch for $157 each.This weekend’s matchup will be the third priciest between the two teams in Toronto since 2010, when TicketIQ began tracking resale ticket data. Only a February 2012 game ($530 average) and last month's game ($553 average) owned a higher average price.Saturdays game comes at a pivotal point in the season for both teams. The Leafs sit third in the Atlantic Division in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Canadiens own the fifth seed in the conference, though are very much on the postseason bubble as five teams trail by six points or less.For the best deals on all NHL tickets this season, make sure to download the TicketIQ app. Offering fans the most transparent buying experience in the marketplace, the TicketIQ app also helps save up to 10 percent on all IQ Certified listings. Download the TicketIQ app and start saving on tickets today!TicketIQ is a leading event ticket search engine with one simple goal: providing consumers with the most transparent and affordable buying experience. We aggregate listings from hundreds of certified sellers across every major sporting, music, and theater event - including deals from Ticketmaster's Official Exchanges and our Low Price Guarantee listings. Start discovering and saving now.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sam Bennett did not emerge unscathed from Tuesday's game in Nashville.The Calgary Flames forward was forced to spend the morning in the dentist's chair while undergoing a root canal after taking an errant high stick.

Well, this is amazing.Not only has Canadian rap artist SVDVM recorded a track called "Auston Matthews," there's even a music video:(Warning: Song contains some explicit language)SVDVM was in Ottawa at the phenomenal NHL debut of prized Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews, who dropped a ridiculous four goals against the Senators. Hence the line, "Hit 'em with the four like Auston Matthews."Music is art, and art is beautiful.Good luck trying to get that track out of your head.- With h/t to SportsnetCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.