Talk about heading in the right direction.Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nazem Kadri used his opponent's melon to his advantage Saturday night, banking a shot off Ottawa Senators winger Ryan Dzingel's head and into the net.It was the 24th goal of the season for Kadri, and his fourth in the last three games. The center has seven points in his last six contests.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning center Brian Boyle's name is gaining traction in rumors as the March 1 trade deadline approaches, but the pending unrestricted free agent knows where he wants to be in his immediate future."I want to stay here," Boyle told the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith. "We've been on a mission for a few years now and haven't accomplished it yet. We want to do it here."Boyle has 13 goals and seven assists in 50 games. He's huge - 6-foot-7 and 244 pounds - and would provide depth up the middle for a playoff team. He's playing out the final season of his contract, earning $2 million.The 32-year-old has also played a lot of playoff hockey over the past few seasons:SeasonTeamGPGAPTOI2015-16Lightning1750515:282014-15Lightning2511213:402013-14Rangers2535813:182012-13Rangers1132518:502011-12Rangers1733616:44Boyle's wife's parents live in Orlando, so Boyle has added incentive in wanting to remain in Florida. But he told Smith he's only going to worry about what's in his control, and that's trying to help the Lightning get back into the playoff picture.Last year's Eastern Conference finalists went into Saturday's action seven points back of Toronto for the second wild-card playoff spot.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wendel Clark, Frank Mahovlich, Red Kelly, and Charlie Conacher will soon be immortalized by the Toronto Maple Leafs.The club announced the quartet as additions to its "Legends Row" in a pregame ceremony Saturday.The four new statues will be unveiled in the fall and will join 10 others already unveiled outside Air Canada Centre including the likenesses of Mats Sundin, Dave Keon, Darryl Sittler, and Johnny Bower.Clark is one of the most popular players to suit up for the Leafs in their history. He played parts of 13 seasons with the club in three separate stints, setting the franchise rookie record with 34 goals in 1985-86, and wore the 'C' as team captain from 1991 to 1994.Mahovlich spent parts of 12 seasons in the blue and white, winning four of his six Stanley Cup championships with the Leafs and capturing the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 1958. The Hockey Hall of Famer is tied for sixth on the franchise's all-time goals list and ranks seventh in points.Kelly won the Cup eight times in his career, and four of those titles came with Toronto. He has the most championships of any player to never play for the Montreal Canadiens, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.Conacher led the NHL in scoring five times and was inducted into the Hall in 1961.The four players' numbers were retired by the Leafs along with 12 other previously honored players in a pregame ceremony back in October.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With just 24 games remaining in their season, the Edmonton Oilers rank second in the Pacific Division, just four points back of first place.It's been a long, difficult wait in Edmonton, but the club is finally poised to make its playoff return after a decade on the sidelines. What the Oilers do beyond that, however, depends on whether or not they can find a solid backup netminder at the trade deadline.That's not a knock on starting goalie Cam Talbot, as the Oilers' gamble on Talbot has clearly paid off. The former New York Rangers backup has been exceptional for Connor McDavid and Co. Among netminders who have made at least 40 appearances, Talbot's .920 save percentage is tied for fifth-best in the league.Carrying the loadThe only problem is the fact that the Oilers are leaning heavily on Talbot, seemingly without a viable contingency plan should his situation change.The Oilers have played 58 games this season, and Talbot has started 52 of them - the biggest workload of any NHL netminder this season. Behind him, Jonas Gustavsson has suited up for just seven games and Laurent Brossoit has seen action in only three.Neither backup has earned more than one win in that span. Brossoit boasts a strong save percentage of .919 - but only within a very limited sample size - while Gustavsson has struggled with his slightly bigger workload, posting a save percentage of .878.Chiarelli's gambleThat leaves the Oilers in a bind, for two reasons.Firstly, if Talbot goes down with an injury over the home stretch or during the playoffs - or sees his play drop off in any way - the Oilers will find themselves significantly limited.Edmonton is all too familiar with having a strong offensive group with little to offer on the back end, and it's unlikely the team would last long without Talbot - even with McDavid doing work up front.Secondly, the Oilers are risking overworking their starter. If nothing changes and they continue to start Talbot as much as they have thus far, he'll play 21 of those remaining 24 games, taking his season total to 73.No netminder topped 70 appearances last season. Jonathan Quick and Braden Holtby are the only ones to do so in the past four seasons, both topping that mark in 2014-15.Talbot's performance thus far suggests he can handle the increased workload, but leaving the club without a backup plan is a risky move for general manager Peter Chiarelli.Plenty of optionsLuckily, it wouldn't be too difficult to find one.There are plenty of potential names to choose from at the moment, and while there's no merit in selling anything crucial to the team's future success to shore up their goaltending situation, there may be a lesser deal to be made.Taking another look at Jaroslav Halak could be worthwhile, especially if the New York Islanders are willing to take a hefty contract back in return. Former Oiler Anders Nilsson is another option - he's found his game in Buffalo, is headed to unrestricted free agency, and likely isn't stealing the starting job from Robin Lehner. New Jersey Devils backup Keith Kinkaid is another option worth a look.The potential is there, and with McDavid carrying the Oilers anyway, the club can afford to trim down elsewhere in the lineup to beef up the goaltending.Might as well, because at this point it's one of the last remaining weaknesses for the quickly rising Oilers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Back in the thick of the playoff hunt, the Florida Panthers won't be resting on any laurels in advance of the NHL's March 1 trade deadline."The goal is to be buying," president of hockey operations Dale Tallon told Arpon Basu of NHL.com. "I like where we're at, but I'd like to add some offense to get our power play going."The Panthers sit one point back of Toronto for the second wild-card spot, but are currently carrying a 15.3 percent success rate on the power play, which ranks them 28th league wide.The recent addition of Jonathan Huberdeau to the lineup is already proving to be a huge boost from within."I like our team, we've been waiting for (a healthy roster) for a long time," Tallon said. "Jonathan's made an extraordinary recovery."In five games since returning from an Achilles injury suffered in training camp, Huberdeau has recorded three goals and four assists, but with only one point coming on the man advantage.Tallon's club has over $9.5 million in available cap space to work with, and it certainly looks as though they're prepared to use it.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers plan to pay tribute to a legendary former Blueshirt.Jean Ratelle's iconic No. 19 will be lifted to the rafters of Madison Square Garden next season, the club announced Saturday.The 76-year-old was named to the NHL's list of its 100 greatest players and took part in the All-Star festivities in Los Angeles last month.Ratelle ranks second in franchise history with 336 goals, and third with 817 points.His 491 career goals combined with the Rangers and the Boston Bruins rank 47th on the NHL's all-time list.Ratelle was a two-time Lady Byng Trophy winner who spent parts of 16 seasons with the Rangers.He was also a member of Canada's victorious 1972 Summit Series squad and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

MONTREAL - Patrik Laine and Mathieu Perreault each had a goal and an assist, and the Winnipeg Jets spoiled Claude Julien's return to Montreal with a 3-1 victory over the Canadiens on Saturday.Joel Armia also scored for Winnipeg (27-29-5), and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 19 shots. The Jets had dropped five of six.The Canadiens fired coach Michel Therrien on Tuesday and hired Julien in hopes of getting their season back on track. Julien also coached Montreal from 2003-2006.But Julien's first game back was more of the same for the first-place Canadiens (31-20-8), who have lost three in a row and seven of eight.Perreault made it 2-1 just 1:16 into the third period. He sent a backhand shot over Carey Price's shoulder after a nifty one-handed pass from Dustin Byfuglien.Laine added an empty-netter at 18:43. The rookie has five goals in his last three games and 28 on the year.Andrei Markov scored for Montreal, and Price had 31 saves.The Canadiens were sloppy in their first game back following their bye week, and it cost the home side on Winnipeg's first goal.With Montreal on the power play in the second period, defenseman Nathan Beaulieu skated out of his own zone, and then tried to dangle the puck around Armia in the neutral zone.The Jets winger easily stole the puck, skated in on Price and scored Winnipeg's sixth short-handed goal of the season at 4:52. Montreal had 18 giveaways in the game.In one of his first coaching decisions since rejoining the Canadiens, Julien put Alex Galchenyuk on the first line with Alexander Radulov and captain Max Pacioretty.That move paid instant dividends on Montreal's first goal on a rarely seen pinch by defenseman Markov.The Russian's forecheck on Blake Wheeler forced a giveaway in Winnipeg's zone, with the puck falling right to Galchenyuk. The center then found Pacioretty, who gave it back to Markov in the crease for the easy tap-in at 11:04 of the first.Pacioretty has seven points in his last four games.NOTES: Michael McCarron, recalled from the St. John's IceCaps on Friday, centered the fourth line for Montreal. David Desharnais and Sven Andrighetto were healthy scratches. ... The Jets have two more games remaining on their four-game road trip. ... Markov was also on the ice on Jan. 18, 2003, when Julien made his coaching debut in his first stint with the Canadiens.UP NEXT:Jets: Visit Ottawa on Sunday.Canadiens: Visit the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Big man, bigger skill set.Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien recorded one of the nicest assists of the season, putting the puck behind his back with one hand, then kicking it over to Mathieu Perreault.Perreault promptly backhanded the puck past Carey Price, who likely didn't expect Byfuglien to get it out in front of the net to begin with.The goal was Perreault's fifth of the season and stood as the game-winner.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Robin Lehner stopped 16 shots in the third period and 37 overall, and the Buffalo Sabres snapped the St. Louis Blues' six-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory on Saturday.Evander Kane and Nicholas Baptiste each had a goal and an assist in Buffalo's third straight win, matching a season best accomplished three times. Ryan O'Reilly also scored for the Sabres (26-23-10), who have three more wins than losses for the first time since closing the 2011-12 season 39-32-11.St. Louis dropped to 7-2 since Mike Yeo replaced Ken Hitchcock as coach. The Blues also had won five consecutive road games.Scottie Upshall and Vladimir Tarasenko scored for St. Louis, and Jake Allen stopped 25 shots.The Sabres beat the Blues for the first time since Dec. 27, 2009, stopping an 0-8-1 drought. It was Buffalo's third win in 24 games against St. Louis dating to the start of the 1998-99 season.Buffalo broke it open by scoring twice in the second period for a 3-1 lead.Kane scored the go-ahead goal at 11:58 when he parked in front and deflected Zach Bogosian's shot from just inside the blue line. It was Kane's 20th of the season.O'Reilly scored with 32 seconds left with Buffalo enjoying a two-man advantage. Playing give-and-go with Rasmus Ristolainen, O'Reilly worked his way into the right circle where he spun and beat Allen inside the far post.Lehner was sharp after being beaten by Tarasenko on the short right side just 1:31 into the game, when the Blues capitalized on a delayed penalty.Lehner's best save came 20 seconds into the second when he kicked out his pad to stop Jori Lehtera.The Sabres scored three straight times, beginning with Baptiste being set up by Jack Eichel and slipping a shot through Allen's legs midway through the first period.It was Baptiste's third goal of the season and came after he was recalled from the minors earlier in the day to replace Sam Reinhart, who was sidelined by an illness.Upshall had a short-handed goal at 15:03 of the third, but the Sabres held on from there.The start of the game was delayed by about five minutes because of poor ice conditions. Referee Dean Morton announced just as players lined up for the opening faceoff that the rink had to be re-flooded due to the integrity of the ice.Ice conditions have been an issue around the league this season. The NHL Players' Association has asked players to rate the ice conditions following games after a series of concerns have been raised.The game was played after crews worked overnight to remove the flooring from the ice surface after Buffalo hosted a National Lacrosse League game on Friday night.NOTES: Blues C Kyle Brodziak returned after missing 10 games with an injury to his right foot. ... Blues F Paul Stastny (lower body) missed fourth straight game. He has a good chance of returning on Monday against Florida, Yeo said. ... Sabres D Cody Franson returned after missing four games with a foot injury. In recalling Baptiste, Buffalo placed D Taylor Fedun on waivers.UP NEXTSt. Louis: Hosts Florida on Monday.Buffalo: Hosts Chicago on Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban for Shea Weber, Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson, and now Sergey Kalinin for Viktor Loov.OK, maybe not, but the Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils gave trade-starved hockey fans something to digest on Saturday, swapping players in a not-so-impactful deal.Regardless, here's what you need to know:His resumeKalinin is an undrafted 25-year-old centerman who's spent the past two years with the Devils after six seasons with Omsk in the KHL.Over 121 NHL games, Kalinin's recorded 19 points, including four in 43 games this season.His travel partner, Loov, was a seventh-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2012, and has four NHL games to his name.Insurance policyDon't order your Kalinin jerseys just yet, he'll report straight to the AHL's Marlies to stay for the long term, barring a slew of injuries.The Marlies needed some depth at center, and pivots Ben Smith, Frederik Gauthier, and Byron Froese will likely all be chosen for Maple Leafs duties before Kalinin.Additionally, this move has nothing to do with the upcoming expansion draft:

Buffalo Sabres center Ryan O'Reilly is shocked by what's become of his former club, the Colorado Avalanche.The NHL's worst team this season, the Avalanche have won just 16 of their 56 outings. The franchise drafted O'Reilly in 2009 and he spent six seasons with the club prior to his trade to Buffalo in 2015."It's surprising. They have a lot of great players over there and maybe it's a lot of bad bounces," O'Reilly told Paul Hamilton of WGR 550. "I haven't been watching them too much, but to see them that low in the standings it's surprising and I think those years just happen."The Avalanche have won just three times in their last 16 tries, dating back to Jan. 12. It's a steep fall for a club that finished with 112 points in 2013-14.Colorado's poor showing has led to calls for change in Denver, with longtime stars like Matt Duchene and captain Gabriel Landeskog frequently mentioned in trade rumors.If and when the Avalanche stars are moved elsewhere, O'Reilly just hopes it's not to the Atlantic, the Sabres' division."I don't want to have to play against those guys all the time," O'Reilly told Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News. "They're good players that will help any team."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2016-17 season has been the Connor McDavid show from day one, as the young Edmonton Oilers captain has ramped up his production to a league-leading level in his second campaign.It's clear the 20-year-old is one of the top scorers in the game at this point, likely rivaled only by fellow phenom Sidney Crosby, but that's only half the story. He's also emerging as the most important offensive presence in the league.Why exactly? Because McDavid isn't just putting up more points than the opposition, he's also carrying more of his team's offensive load than any other player in the big leagues.Bob Waterman of the Elias Sports Bureau elaborated on the subject for the Edmonton Journal's Terry Jones."The best McDavid MVP argument would be that he's recorded a point on 40.2 percent of his team's goals this season (66 of 164)," Waterman said. "The highest percentage of any NHL player in 2016-17. Brent Burns is second at 38.4 percent (61 of 159)."McDavid has been on the ice for 52.4 percent of the Oilers' goals this season - the second-highest such percentage in the league, topped only by Nathan MacKinnon's 53.2 percent, Waterman also pointed out.A look at the rest of the league's top scorers shows just how much of the load McDavid has taken on. While Crosby sits just two points back of the league lead, he's recorded a point on only 32 percent of the Pittsburgh Penguins' total goals.Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeni Malkin round out the top five scorers in the league, and the two centermen have factored in on just 31.4 and 29.5 percent of their team's total goals, respectively.It isn't simply a matter of McDavid posting more points than the competition; it's also a statement about his supporting cast. While the rest of these stars have other elite talents on their rosters, McDavid has pushed the Oilers up the standings largely through his own sheer will.That's a strong argument for the young pivot's Hart Trophy chances, and surely just the beginning of a long line of impressive numbers illustrating the Oilers leader's importance to the game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are times the Dallas Stars seem to have all the right pieces. Two of the best scorers in the game, plenty of offensive depth behind them, and a few exceptionally talented defenders on the blue-line.And then comes the horrid goaltending, of course. The downfall of the club over the past couple seasons.Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi have undoubtedly been a problem for the Stars. But at this point, they're simply one of many - the forward corps ranks in the middle of the pack in goals per game, and the blue-line has a similarly mediocre ranking in terms of the number of shots they're allowing each night.The formula in Dallas needs to change, and selling off peripheral pieces that aren't crucial to the club's immediate future is Step 1 in that process.A quick look at the team's contract situation paints a pretty clear picture of who might have their name called on deadline day. Only six of the Stars' current forwards are signed past 2016-17, a group that includes three offensive heavy hitters in Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, as well as Cody Eakin, Antoine Roussel, and Devin Shore.And then there's the slew of Stars forwards earning hefty paychecks while contributing little, either due to injury or simply being a poor fit.Here's a look at Dallas' soon-to-be unrestricted free agents up front:PlayerCap HitProductionPatrick Sharp$5.9 million13 Points/33 Games PlayedAles Hemsky$4 million0 Points/1 Game PlayedJiri Hudler$2 million7 Points/24 Games PlayedPatrick Eaves$1 million36 Points/58 Games PlayedLauri Korpikoski$1 million19 Points/56 Games PlayedAdam Cracknell$600k10 Points/51 Games PlayedNeedless to say, the Stars haven't exactly been getting their money's worth this season. Veteran Patrick Eaves is the only forward on the above list who's earned a shot at remaining with the club, and he's putting one of the smallest dents in the team's wallet.As for the rest - particularly Patrick Sharp, Ales Hemsky, and Jiri Hudler - the Stars need to do what they can to flip their expiring contracts for assets, rather than potentially losing them for nothing this summer.Of course, Dallas' perspective on its chances this season will be the determining factor here. The Stars aren't completely out of the playoff picture, with their 54 points currently putting them seven points out of a wild-card slot.But given how tumultuous their goaltending has been dating back to last season, it's hard to believe they could climb back into the postseason, let alone make it past the first round if they get there.And with that goaltending costing them over $10 million per year until after next season, the need to create room by moving out expiring contracts like Sharp's becomes even more pertinent.Unless general manager Jim Nill believes the former Chicago Blackhawk is going to be a key contributor down the line - Sharp will be 36 years old next season - offering the veteran up for deadline assets seems the appropriate route.Hemsky isn't going to garner much interest given his injury status, but Hudler might just be able to net the Stars something interesting.With changes clearly coming in Dallas, now seems as good a time as any to begin the restructuring. It's not going to get any easier in 2016-17, so it's time for Nill to sell as many expensive expiring pieces as possible to create room to rebuild the periphery around the still-solid core of Benn, Seguin, Spezza, and John Klingberg.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired center Sergey Kalinin from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Viktor Loov, the club announced Saturday.Kalinin, 25, has played in 43 games this season, scoring two goals and two assists for the Devils. He'll report to the AHL's Toronto Marlies.Loov, meanwhile, has spent his entire season with the Marlies, recording six points in 41 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Confidence is key.That appears to be the case with Arizona Coyotes rookie forward Christian Dvorak, who has come into his own this month, scoring five goals in February, a total topped by only three players league-wide.A former star in the OHL, Dvorak tallied 121 points in 59 games a year ago with the London Knights, two years after he was drafted by Arizona."His first 20 or 30 games, he's just happy to be in (the NHL)," coach Dave Tippett told Sarah McLellan of The Arizona Republic. "As he recognizes that he's capable of playing here and doing things right and is not in awe of people anymore, he goes out there and just plays and he's a really good player ... He's coming but like all young players, it takes some time."A team well-stocked with young talent, the Coyotes are finally winning - and at the season's most difficult point, with rival clubs gearing up for the playoffs. It's been a turnaround month for the Coyotes, who are 4-2-1 in February after putting up sub-.500 showings in the previous two months. Only three teams in the West have put together better records so far in February.Though he's posted an impressive eight points on the month, Dvorak hasn't been the only contributor to his team's recent success.Starting goaltender Mike Smith continues to be the club's MVP. Arizona's 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday marked the 10th contest this season in which Smith has faced at least 40 shots. More impressively, he is undefeated in regulation in those games, owning a 7-0-3 record.Smith turned aside 41 shots against the Kings, three nights after recording his second shutout of the season in a 5-0 hammering of the Calgary Flames. That blanking saw him equal Arizona's all-time shutout mark, a record shared with Nikolai Khabibulin and Ilya Bryzgalov.While Arizona's playoff hopes are long gone - the Coyotes sit 14 points back of a wild-card spot - both Dvorak and Smith have been highlights in a season of progress, and early showings of what's on the horizon in the desert.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A prolonged goal-scoring drought has earned Mike Cammalleri a seat in the press box.The New Jersey Devils winger, though fourth on the team in points and fifth in goals, hasn't scored in his last 18 games, and has found the net just once over his last 33 contests.Thus, the Devils have decided to give Cammalleri a game off, which isn't exactly something the 34-year-old is used to.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are content with their youth.Less than two weeks from the March 1 trade deadline, the Ohio club doesn't foresee a flurry of upgrades, despite its high rank in the standings.Sitting third in the Metropolitan, the Blue Jackets hold down a playoff position and are poised to make just their third postseason appearance since joining the league 17 years ago. Youth has been served, and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has his eyes on the road ahead, seeing bigger and better things from a team on the rise."I don't think we want to get ahead of ourselves, where we try to put all the eggs in one basket in the spring of 2017 and, sort of, go for it," Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch. "We're going to go for it if we make the playoffs, (in the sense that) it's going to be a great opportunity for our group."Center Alexander Wennberg, 22, leads the Blue Jackets with 36 assists, sitting among the top four in team scoring with 24-year-old Brandon Saad. That youthful exuberance extends to the blue line, where teenaged Zach Werenski has been a revelation.It's that group who will be the key pieces for the Blue Jackets down the road."There will be a right time where we look at it and think our window might be closing, that maybe this is when we should make a move like that," Kekalainen added. "Our window is not closing in 2017, it's just starting to crack open."A handful of top players could be available at the deadline, including Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene and St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, but don't expect the Blue Jackets to be among the big-game hunters.The GM, however, did leave open the possibility that the Blue Jackets could make a depth addition or two.Cap space is tight - the Blue Jackets have less than $2 million in projected wiggle room - but it should leave Kekalainen with enough flexibility if he chooses to add to his lower ranks before the deadline."It's just smart, with injuries and all that can get in your way in the springtime," Kekalainen said. "You want to protect yourself. We have decent depth. But you can always have better depth in the playoffs, with NHL guys."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without rookie winger Mitch Marner for Saturday's contest versus the Ottawa Senators and Sunday's game versus Carolina, head coach Mike Babcock announced, according to TSN's Mark Masters.Marner was injured after crashing into the boards Wednesday in Columbus, While there's no official diagnosis, the 19-year-old will be reassessed next week, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton, with the hope of a return Tuesday versus Winnipeg.The Maple Leafs have been fairly fortunate in terms of injuries this season, and their luck has run out at the wrong time. A regulation loss in Saturday's clash against the Sens would separate the rivals by five points in the standings, and considering Toronto's struggles in back-to-backs this season, Marner will be seriously missed versus Carolina as well.Marner is tied for the rookie lead in points with 48 in 56 games, and he's the driving offensive force on his line with Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk at even strength and on the power play.With Marner out, Nikita Soshnikov will draw into Toronto's lineup.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's games beginning at 7 p.m. ET and later (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

It was a curious move when the Florida Panthers signed James Reimer.After all, veteran starter Roberto Luongo was already locked up until 2022, so bringing in Reimer on a five-year, $17-million deal looked like an overreach for a backup.But thankfully, they made it.Reimer has been key to a resurgent season in Sunrise, one where Florida now finds itself a single point out of the playoff picture as the season enters its stretch drive.Coming out of the All-Star break, the Panthers have won five of six, with Reimer responsible for three of those victories.On Friday, he turned aside 35 shots and captured his fourth straight win in a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Two nights earlier, after Luongo left with an injury, Reimer came into an overtime contest against the San Jose Sharks and held his own as the Panthers clawed to victory.In all, Reimer has posted an 11-6-4 showing on the season. He's also put up a solid goals-against average and save percentage, outperforming Luongo in nearly every major category:GoalieStartsRecord (Pt%)GAASV%Reimer2111-6-4 (.619)2.48.918Luongo3515-14-6 (.514)2.71.914Reimer's results are even better since the change behind the bench, when general manager Tom Rowe took hold of the coaching duties following a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 27. Under Rowe's tutelage, Reimer has been a star pupil, turning around his season under his new coach:Date RangeStartsRecord (Pt%)GAASV%Before Nov. 2783-4-1 (.438)3.05.896After Nov. 27138-2-3 (.731)2.12.931It's that type of play that has the Panthers back in the thick of the playoff race, with the possibility of qualifying for the postseason in back-to-back campaigns, a feat that the franchise has pulled off just once since popping up in South Florida over two decades ago.Relying on Reimer, the Panthers may just have a chance.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While they're comfortably nestled in a playoff spot through 59 games, the Anaheim Ducks have one major problem: scoring goals.Despite a lineup full of players capable of carrying an offense, the Ducks sit 18th in the NHL with 151 goals this season, the third-lowest total of any team currently in postseason position.Part of this is due to core superstars Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf experiencing down seasons, with just 11 and nine goals, respectively, but Anaheim generates just 29.1 shots per game (24th) and owns a middle-of-the-pack power play at 20.2 percent (13th).This becomes particularly troubling when considering Anaheim could very well end up playing offensively superior Edmonton or San Jose in the first round.The Ducks shouldn't have any problems securing their playoff berth, but as the trade deadline nears, general manager Bob Murray - who has a surplus of defensemen at his disposal - needs to acquire some more offense if he wants his club to keep playing past April.Here are three candidates to help the Ducks' scoring woes:Evander KaneOn one hand, the Sabres are finally getting the production they expected from Kane, but on the other, he's making his trade value skyrocket.Since Dec. 1, Kane leads the NHL with 18 goals at even strength, helping push Buffalo within three points of a playoff spot. His heavy cap hit ($5.25 million) through next season would be a big number on Anaheim's ledger, but sending one of several quality blue-liners the other way would help create space.Hampus Lindholm, Sami Vatanen, and Cam Fowler all make big money on Anaheim's back end, and their clout could help persuade Sabres GM Tim Murray to make a deal.James van Riemsdyk(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Anaheim needs goals, Toronto needs defense. Let's make a deal.The Maple Leafs' position in the standings over the next few weeks will play a big role in determining whether they deal Van Riemsdyk, but the Ducks are certainly a good suitor for the 27-year-old.JVR sits third on Toronto with 19 goals and 44 points through 56 games, is a big body on the wing, and can contribute on the power play. Not to mention, he has familiarity with Ducks - and former Leafs - coach Randy Carlyle.More salary cap work would be required on Anaheim's end, but that's a part of making trades in today's NHL, and Toronto could potentially sweeten the pot with one of its extra draft picks.P.A. ParenteauIf the Ducks fail to orchestrate a big-splash deal, Parenteau could provide some cheap production.The 33-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, and his $1.25-million salary would be much easier for Murray to stomach.Parenteau's 13 goals with the Devils this season outpace all but three forwards on Anaheim.He's consistently hovered in the 15-20 goal range throughout his career, and is rumored to be expendable as New Jersey faces an uphill battle in reaching the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It could have been worse.The Pittsburgh Penguins went into Columbus on Friday night to tangle with the Blue Jackets, their Metropolitan Division rivals, and came away with a point in after a 2-1 overtime loss. And playing without Olli Maatta - out six weeks after hand surgery - and a concussed Justin Schultz, it's safe to say Pittsburgh will take the result, especially in a building that's been tough on opponents in 2016-17.Related: Pittsburgh's top 3 deadline options with Maatta on the shelfIf Friday's game is any indication, it appears Mike Sullivan and the Pens are going to be relying on 25-year-old Brian Dumoulin while Schultz and Maatta are sidelined.A steady contributor who played more and more as last season went on, and in the playoffs as the Penguins marched to the Stanley Cup, Dumoulin played a career-high 27:59 on Friday, including a whopping 25:03 at even strength. He and Kris Letang saw the majority of action on the blue line, with Letang logging 29:24 minutes.Letang's used to that kind of workload - he went into Friday's game averaging 25:18 in ice time. Dumoulin's been playing 19:44 a night, so that's a massive eight-minute jump for the young man playing in only his second full NHL season.The returns, though, were impressive. As noted, Dumoulin logged a ton of ice at 5-on-5, and finished the game with a 56 percent Corsi For rating at even strength (28 shot attempts for to 22 against), according to Hockey Stats.Dumoulin and Letang have spent the majority of the season playing together, and when they're on the ice, the puck's in the opponent's zone. The pair went into Friday's game having played over 450 minutes together with a Corsi For rating of 53.69 percent, according to Corsica Hockey.Here's how the Penguins' defense was used Friday:Defenseman Ice Time 5-on-5 Ice TimeLetang29:2426:13Dumoulin27:5925:03Trevor Daley18:1016:29Ian Cole18:0016:43Chad Ruhwedel14:0414:04Steven Oleksy13:3212:46It's worth noting that Dumoulin didn't see any power-play time, instead logging a team- and game-high 2:56 shorthanded. Columbus went 0-for-3 on the power play.Looking ahead, the Penguins will play a great deal of hockey over the next six weeks - like seemingly every team in the league. March is especially brutal, with 15 games scheduled in 29 days.Support may be on the way if Schultz is able to return sooner rather than later, but the Penguins would be wise to add some help on the blue line. If Pittsburgh wants to defend its title, it's going to play another 20-odd games in the spring, and that's a lot of additional hockey for Mr. Dumoulin and Letang.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One night after Sidney Crosby hit a major milestone, his nemesis stole his thunder.Brandon Dubinsky ended the latest chapter in the rivalry between his Columbus Blue Jackets and Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins with an impressive overtime winner Friday night.It was his first overtime goal in his 675th career game. He now has four goals and 12 points in his last 12 contests.Crosby notched his 1,000th, 1,001st, and 1,002nd points - including the overtime winner - in Thursday's victory over the Winnipeg Jets.Dubinsky's goal also came after Evgeni Malkin joined Penguins royalty with his 500th career assist.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Friday evening, the NHLPA officially requested an appeal hearing for Antoine Vermette, who was automatically suspended 10 games Thursday for abuse of an official.If you missed the incident, Vermette slashed a linesman Tuesday after the official dropped the puck for a faceoff while Vermette wasn't ready. He was immediately given a game misconduct.The NHL's Rule 40 stipulates an automatic 10-game suspension for Vermette's Category II actions, in "which physical force is applied (to an official) without intent to injure."As ESPN's Pierre LeBrun noted on Twitter, there is precedent for this kind of suspension being reduced:

Another night, another personal milestone for a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.This time it's Geno's turn.With an assist on Ian Cole's goal in the second period, Evgeni Malkin became the fourth player to record 500 assists as a Penguin.

Claude Julien was talkin' 'bout practice.The new Canadiens head coach - returning for his second tour of duty - held his first practice Friday with his new club, and then met with the Montreal media for the first time since ditching Boston Bruins black and gold for Montreal bleu, blanc, et rouge.His message to his new team, fresh off its bye week, was simple."I wanted them to know how good I think the team is. We're in first place," Julien said, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu."Guys needed to go on the ice feeling good about themselves, and I made sure that happened," he added, according to TSN's John Lu."Guys want hope, excitement, and a positive message," he continued, La Presse's Marc Antoine Godin tweeted. "There's no need to panic. There's a need to fix."For all the "Sky is falling!" talk in Montreal, the Canadiens are indeed in first place in the Atlantic, and have the division's best goal differential (plus-15). While the Habs are certainly struggling, and Ottawa's on their heels at only four points back, the Senators' three games in hand only matter if Ottawa wins them.And make no mistake, Julien isn't worried about Carey Price's form."I have no doubt that Price is one of the best goaltenders in the world," Julien said. "He'll bounce back, and it could be (Saturday)."That'd be one way for Price to welcome his new bench boss.Montreal will play six times before the March 1 trade deadline, games Julien and general manager Marc Bergevin will certainly use to evaluate the roster.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets took an unexpected turn Friday night.An elderly Blue Jackets fan greeted Patric Hornqvist with a double-bird salute as the Penguins forward was being escorted to the penalty box for a goaltender interference infraction early in the first period.(Image courtesy: ROOT Sports/NHL.com)Nationwide Arena in Columbus has its share of entertaining fans, and its oft-despised goal cannon makes for an already hostile environment, but this guy took it to a new level.Never a dull moment in Ohio.- With h/t to Dimitri FilipovicCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's safe to say the Montreal Canadiens have officially hit the reset button.The team hit the ice after its league-mandated bye week Friday, for its first practice under new head coach Claude Julien. Pictures were taken, babies were kissed, and everybody's looking forward to a return to game action Saturday when the Winnipeg Jets visit the Bell Centre.All-world goaltender and Montreal's most important player Carey Price had the quote of the day:"It kind of feels like it's a new season," Price told a massive horde of media after practice.The 29-year-old has to be hoping that's the case, because if the last two years are any indication, the Habs love when a new one begins.

Well, that didn't take long.Claude Julien wasted no time putting his stamp on the Montreal Canadiens, bumping Alex Galchenyuk up to the first line Friday in the head coach's first practice since he was re-hired immediately following Michel Therrien's firing earlier this week.Julien's highly anticipated return in Canadiens colors generated just a bit of attention.

Mike Babcock will not be glued to his television or furiously refreshing Twitter on March 1.With the trade deadline inching closer by the day, the hour, the minute, the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach advised that supporters of the blue and white shouldn't be expecting major moves on deadline day."If anyone's looking for us to be the news on deadline day, I'd find something else to do," Babcock said, writes the Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby.This despite the fact it was confirmed Thursday that Toronto freed up over $13 million in salary cap space earlier in the season by placing injured players Nathan Horton, Joffrey Lupul, and Stephane Robidas on long-term injured reserve.With a young squad propelled by rookies and a playoff spot in sight, Toronto may simply take its chances with the roster its assembled.James van Riemsdyk's name has come up in rumors, thanks to a friendly contract and one season left on it, but he's a big part of the top-six forwards Babcock uses, and after two seasons spent accumulating assets, it's likely Toronto now focuses on accumulating valuable stretch-run and - ideally - playoff experience.William Nylander's another popular option when discussing potential trades Toronto can make at the deadline, but he's precisely the kind of player Toronto spent years coveting. And were it not for his teammates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, the young Swede would be in the conversation for the Calder Trophy - he's that good, too.While there's a need for another top-four defenseman, it's unlikely Kevin Shattenkirk - who has been the subject of incessant trade rumors - arrives in Toronto on or before the deadline. He's a rental out of St. Louis, and he'll cost a heavy price. The Maple Leafs aren't there, one piece away, just yet.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The numbers all point to a single, universal truth: Sidney Crosby is like no other.Gretzky, Lemieux, Bossy, Crosby, and Dionne. One hundred years of NHL hockey and those five stand apart, the only ones to average more than 1.30 points per game. And after accounting for era, it's no longer a stretch: Crosby's the best forward not named Wayne or Mario to ever play the game.(Photo courtesy: Action Images)It's time to plan a trip to Sydney, Nova Scotia. To thank the land.Congrats, Sid. To a thousand more.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The news just keeps getting worse for the Pittsburgh Penguins.Justin Schultz has been diagnosed with a concussion and is going through the league's head-injury protocol, head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Friday.The defenseman was forced to leave Thursday's win over the Winnipeg Jets and didn't return after being hit hard into the boards by Dustin Byfuglien.Schultz was enjoying the best season of his career from a production standpoint with 39 points in 56 games.He's in his first full season with the Penguins after being acquired from the Edmonton Oilers for a third-round pick before last year's trade deadline.Earlier Friday, the Penguins announced fellow blue-liner Olli Maatta - who was also hurt Thursday - is expected to miss six weeks with a left hand injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's hard to imagine Shane Doan playing for another NHL team. But it's possible, as the March 1 trade deadline nears, that he's in his final days as a member of the Arizona Coyotes.However, on Friday, general manager John Chayka reiterated that if Doan is done in the desert, that will be the veteran's decision. The two have talked, Chayka said, and if Doan decides he wants a run at the Cup, the two will talk some more."I respect him too much to not have (that discussion)," Chayka told NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "Having said that, he hasn't told me to explore these opportunities and look into things. He's happy with being a Coyote. He signed here for a reason. He's only ever played here. That's where we're at today."Doan said a month ago that he'd be open to a trade, but his destination "would have to be exactly perfect." He's on an expiring one-year contract.The Coyotes are playing out their season. If it weren't for the sad Colorado Avalanche, Chayka's crew would be the worst in the league.Doan, 40, has only five goals and 14 assists in 56 games, but is playing over 15 minutes a game. There's no doubt competing for a Cup would get him going.Chayka said he's approaching the deadline as a "building opportunity" and acknowledged that he has received calls about Doan's availability. But his answer's been the same: Doan will let Chayka know if he wants to go, not the other way around.Doan's spent his entire career with the Coyotes franchise, since its days in Winnipeg. He has 401 goals and 964 points in 1,522 games. He has 15 goals and 28 points in 55 career playoff games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2016-17 season has been a rough one for the Buffalo Sabres. With key offensive weapons Jack Eichel and Evander Kane forced out of the lineup at different points, finding an offensive rhythm hasn't been easy.And it's shown. The club sits sixth-last in the league in terms of goals per game, despite loading up with plenty of promising offensive talent over the past few seasons.But after a less than ideal start to the year, Buffalo seems to be rounding into form with a playoff berth still in reach.In the past month, the Sabres have been among the top 10 offensive clubs in the league, scoring 42 goals through their past 15 games. That run has managed to keep them afloat, earning them an eighth-best 17 points over that span.Buffalo's star power has come up big over the course of the last month, with a few key names coming alive at just the right time.Kane racked up eight goals over the past month, tied for the third-most among all NHL skaters. Eichel has been doing work as well, posting the fourth-most assists in the league over that span (11 in 15 games) as well as the 14th-most total points (14 in 15 games).The leading duo have been giving themselves a chance to get on the board more often than not - Kane's 61 shots are the most in the league during that month-long stretch, while Eichel ranks fifth with 57 shots on goal.Meanwhile, veteran center Ryan O'Reilly has quietly posted 20 points over the past 25 games, and Kyle Okposo continues to lead the team with 38 points on the season.With their key pieces coming up big, the Sabres have held onto a chance at returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.Buffalo currently ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference wild-card race, but with 60 points in the bag, only three points separate the Sabres from the final wild-card spot. They trail third place in their division by only four points.Climbing that ladder isn't going to be easy, but with Buffalo's best flexing their offensive muscle and the team's young stars continuing to make progress, the Sabres are giving themselves a fighting chance.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Watching the Blackhawks skate to a ninth straight playoff berth will come at a premium for fans this spring.While elbow room is limited in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, the Blackhawks appear poised to extend their season through the month of April, and ticket prices won’t be cheap to see them at United Center.On TicketIQ, an aggregator that collects ticket data from over 90 percent of the resale market, Blackhawks tickets are the priciest among all Western teams in the postseason hunt. The average resale price for tickets at United Center is $251 through the end of the season. Jonathan Toews and Co. will play their most expensive remaining home game against the Bruins on April 2, where tickets average $329.Following the Blackhawks in average resale price are the Canucks ($228) and Oilers ($212), though their limited ticket quantity on TicketIQ is inflating those prices. The Canucks sit just five points removed from the second wild-card spot while the Oilers’ current digs in fifth place in the conference put them in line for their first playoff berth since 2006.The first-place Wild trail the Canucks and Oilers with a $154 average price across all remaining games at Xcel Energy Center. They’ll host their top-priced home game against the Blackhawks on February 21, where tickets average $234. The Wild are bidding for their fifth straight playoff appearance and best finish since winning 44 games during the 2007-08 season.Perhaps the best value among Western Conference playoff teams comes at SAP Center in San Jose. The reigning conference champion Sharks own first-place honors in the Pacific Division and will book their ninth playoff berth in 10 seasons. That success hasn’t altered prices on the resale market, however, as Sharks tickets average just $95 through the end of the season. The Sharks are the cheapest Western playoff-bound team to see through April.For the best deals and prices on all NHL tickets this season, download the TicketIQ app. Fans can save up to 10 percent on all IQ Certified listings on the TicketIQ app, the only engagement-based loyalty program in the marketplace. 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.

In the span of one game, the Pittsburgh Penguins' trade deadline plans took a significant turn.The Penguins lost both Justin Schultz and Olli Maatta to injuries during their recent tilt with the big-bodied Winnipeg Jets, with the latter of those two rearguards out six weeks.Pittsburgh now heads toward the trade deadline in a vastly different situation, both in terms of their needs (shifting from offense to the back end) and their finances.If general manager Jim Rutherford moves Maatta and his $4-million cap hit to long-term injured reserve, the Penguins could use the accompanying cap relief to acquire assets at the deadline before bringing the blue-liner back for the playoffs - a crafty route for loading up before the postseason.Keep in mind, Pittsburgh still has another significant deadline chip in a potential Marc-Andre Fleury trade. With the looming expansion draft forcing their hand, shipping Fleury out of town would remove his $5.75-million cap hit from the Penguins' books, leaving the defending Stanley Cup champions with plenty of room to play.Here are a few of their top options moving forward:Kevin ShattenkirkThe most obvious potential move would be a deal for St. Louis Blues rearguard Kevin Shattenkirk. The smooth-skating blue-liner would help fill the now-pressing need in the lineup with Maatta and potentially Schultz sidelined. He would also be a strong insurance option for Kris Letang, who's been forced to sit out multiple times this season.It's a no-brainer in terms of potential fit. Shattenkirk currently boasts the fourth-most points among NHL defenders and remains one of the league's best power-play specialists. And that's without playing alongside the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel.With Blues goaltender Jake Allen struggling, the Fleury-for-Shattenkirk rumors are likely to swirl once again, with the deal now making more sense than ever.If Maatta's cap hit is moved to long-term IR, fitting in Shattenkirk wouldn't be an issue, as he has a nearly identical cap hit of $4.25 million per year.

Mitch Marner was absent from practice Friday morning, but the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie seems to have avoided a serious injury after crashing into the boards Tuesday versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.Leafs head coach Mike Babcock told reporters that he's day to day, and his availability for Saturday's seismic clash versus the Ottawa Senators will be determined later by the medical team.Marner briefly returned to Tuesday's game, testing out the apparent shoulder injury, but ultimately exited not long after the fall.It's believed that he underwent an MRI on Thursday.Marner was the NHL's rookie scoring leader with 15 goals and 48 points at the time of the injury. Patick Laine has since matched Marner, scoring four goals in his last two games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin rolled the dice last summer, betting big on KHL veteran Alexander Radulov in the form of a one-year, $5.75-million deal.The gamble paid off. With 14 goals and 42 points through 56 appearances, Radulov has been the club's second-most dangerous offensive weapon, bested only by captain Max Pacioretty.Even so, the captain has put his new teammate in the spotlight over himself, heaping praise on him for helping the offense become more dynamic as a whole.Looking at the numbers, that praise certainly seems apt, as Radulov has been one of the best playmakers in the game this season.It might not be clear from a quick glance at the scoring race - he ranks 40th in total points and 37th in assists - but boil it down to the most pertinent numbers, and his impact becomes more clear.In terms of primary assists, the 30-year-old is tied for sixth in the league, sitting level with Sidney Crosby.The central reason for the discrepancy in his first-assist ranking and overall ranking: Radulov has only five secondary assists to his name this season, the fewest of any of the top nine primary assist-getters of 2016-17.But it's clear Montreal's new star is contributing where it counts.Secondary assists aren't without value, and, in certain cases, the secondary assist can represent the most impressive sequence of a particular play. But for the most part, it's the primary assist that represents most of the heavy lifting - and a look at the game's best playmakers should start there.The best still rise to the top when doing so, as Connor McDavid, Evgeni Malkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Patrick Kane, and Crosby all rank among the top seven.Taking into account those leading the league with first assists and failing to rack up secondary markers can highlight some oft-missed elite talent. For example, the one other player among that All-Star list of primary playmakers is Mikael Granlund, who ranks second with 26 primary assists to his name, alongside just nine secondary helpers.The Canadiens likely aren't sweating Radulov's lack of secondary numbers. Montreal has the 11th-best goals-per-game pace in the league with him in tow, and still holds a division lead.Bergevin's bold offseason move made him the second-highest paid forward on his team's roster, but heading into the home stretch, the slick Russian has undoubtedly lived up to the hype.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta underwent surgery on his hand and is expected to be absent from the lineup for six weeks, the team announced Friday.He exited Thursday's overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets after a heavy collision with Adam Lowry.Maatta's been healthy this season, missing just two games. His offensive totals are down in his fourth season, as he's contributed just a goal and six assists in over 18 minutes a night.Pittsburgh also lost Justin Schultz in the win, complicating matters with less than two weeks remaining before the trade deadline. It's been rumored that the Penguins are interested in adding an impact forward, but it's hard to imagine the framework of the deal not having to include a section of their now much-needed depth on the back end.That said, if he remains on LTIR through the end of the regular season, the Penguins could conceivably spend his $4-million cap hit on other assets and then include him on the playoff roster without overage penalty.For now, the six-week timetable for Maatta's return puts him in line to return before the Penguins begin their postseason title defense.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This week, theScore's NHL editors are looking into the office's crystal ball and predicting the March 1 trade deadline and playoff futures of the five teams that have made in-season head coaching changes.Boston BruinsDeadline prediction: Cam Neely and Don Sweeney played a big card in firing Claude Julien based on the belief the Bruins roster was underachieving under the longtime and highly successful head coach. To some extent, they're not wrong, especially when you look at the team's Corsi numbers in relation to shooting percentages.But while the team has gone 3-0-0 under Bruce Cassidy, the ante was upped when the rival Montreal Canadiens scooped Julien, putting even more pressure on management to clinch a playoff spot this season after missing out the past two years.As such, Sweeney will pull off a trade with the Colorado Avalanche involving Gabriel Landeskog, sending a package built around Brandon Carlo and a first-round pick in return.Playoff prediction: The thing about trading Carlo is they've come to rely on the 20-year-old as a top-pair defenseman. Subtracting him from the roster will leave a hole at a position that's already a weakness.The prospect pool is deep on the blue line and help is coming as early as next season, but Landeskog won't be able to offset the loss of Carlo in the meantime. Boston will miss the playoffs for the third straight season.- Ian McLarenFlorida PanthersDeadline prediction: Picking up speed but also dealing with a tough schedule in the weeks between now and March 1, the Panthers should be in a similar position in the standings on deadline day.For that reason - and because there are no expiring contracts that would fetch a return on the payroll - we shouldn't expect them to do too much. That said, this team is still reworking itself, and management will swap assets if it can acquire a player who fits the ideal.Playoff prediction: Jonathan Huberdeau's return will have a more profound impact than any in-season acquisition a team can make. With the boost he brings to the first line and the trickle-down effect it has through the lineup, Florida slides into the eighth seed in the East, unseating either the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Bruins.From there, the Panthers won't give the Washington Capitals too much trouble, crashing out in the first round for a second consecutive season.- Justin CuthbertMontreal CanadiensDeadline prediction: It's been a tale of two seasons for the Canadiens. After beginning the year 13-1-1, the Habs went 18-18-7 leading into the team's bye week before saying bye bye to coach Michel Therrien.But all hope isn't lost. Despite their slide, the Canadiens still sit atop the Atlantic with 70 points. Montreal has shown enough through 58 games to suggest it's a season worth saving.In announcing new bench boss Claude Julien, general manager Marc Bergevin also touched on recent trade speculation surrounding the club, pouring cold water on talk that the Canadiens could move a top prospect like Mikhail Sergachev to bulk up the club prior to the trade deadline.What's interesting is that Bergevin didn't mention Michael McCarron, the young forward and rumored return needed to acquire hulking pivot Martin Hanzal from the Arizona Coyotes. The Canadiens are weak up the middle, and while time is dwindling for the two sides to make a trade, there's enough smoke to this fire that the deal will get done.Playoff prediction: As it stands, the Canadiens would face the New York Rangers in the opening round of the playoffs. The addition of Hanzal could be enough to power the team through, but the Canadiens won't have enough gas to take down more than one Metropolitan opponent. Montreal's road to the Cup stops in Round 2.- Cory WilkinsNew York IslandersDeadline prediction: The Islanders could use a left winger and a right-shot defenseman, and they'll have about $7 million in cap space to address those needs.Jumping into the Landeskog sweepstakes wouldn't make much sense for New York given the likely price, but Snow would be wise to call Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray about Evander Kane.Snow has plenty of young assets to facilitate a deal, but we'd still be shocked if Murray caved, considering how glowingly he's spoken of his troubled star of late. Still, both sides would be foolish not to do their due diligence.On defense, Dennis Seidenberg is a pending UFA, and he has a team-friendly $1-million cap hit despite not having much value. He'll likely be dealt for whatever Snow can get, which will be a late-round pick. Ryan Pulock can immediately take Seidenberg's spot on the third pairing.New York also needs to upgrade their top four, though, so Michael Stone is a sensible target. Snow should be able to pry him from the Arizona Coyotes by offering a third-round pick, and if that doesn't get it done, he'll open up the treasure chest of forward prospects and look to increase what he gets in return.Playoff prediction: The Islanders looked like a lottery team for the first half of the season, but they've vaulted into the postseason mix since Doug Weight took over from Jack Capuano. So which team is the real one?It'll come right down to the wire, but the Islanders will miss the playoffs by just a few points. They'll leapfrog the Philadelphia Flyers, but won't surpass the Leafs, who'll secure the second wild-card spot in the East.- Josh Gold-SmithSt. Louis BluesDeadline prediction: Kevin Shattenkirk will be traded - the team won't let what happened with Troy Brouwer and David Backes occur again.In return, the Blues could use a defenseman to fill the void that unquestionably will be left by Shattenkirk's departure. St. Louis could also use an upgrade up front, especially with injuries to Paul Stastny and Robby Fabbri.New head coach Mike Yeo has praised the play of his AHL call-ups, but experience is always preferred when games become that much more meaningful. Maybe a Shane Doan or Thomas Vanek could fit the bill.Playoff prediction: The Blues appear reborn under Yeo and could be as dangerous as anyone in the West. Formerly an assistant who was originally supposed to take over in 2017-18 after Ken Hitchcock's final season behind the bench, Yeo has his club firing on all cylinders after taking the coaching reins prematurely.More specifically, he has it stopping all cylinders. Goaltenders Jake Allen and Carter Hutton have been nearly perfect over the last two weeks. If the offense - starting with Vladimir Tarasenko - can chip in a bit more, St. Louis will make another deep run.- Craig HagermanCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After what became an unexpectedly arduous wait, Sidney Crosby finally reached - and quickly surpassed - the 1,000-point plateau.The Pittsburgh Penguins pivot achieved the feat in dominant fashion Thursday night, doing so in about as signature a performance as one would hope for - elite puck protection, even better vision, and a tag-team effort with old linemate Chris Kunitz.Now that Crosby has moved on from the historic moment - he posted two more points in the Penguins' win to move his total to 1,002 - the next slew of milestones sit waiting for his approach.It's clear the Nova Scotian phenom isn't anywhere close to hanging up his skates. So where exactly does that point total project to finish by the end of his career? Let's break down the determining factors.Hanging aroundThe central factor will obviously be how long Crosby stays in the NHL.Jaromir Jagr, the league's current elder statesman, is 45 years old and still years away from his final game in the league. However Jagr's also 6-3 and 230 pounds, easily able to handle the physicality of the big leagues. The same can be said for 40-year-old Shane Doan.Crosby's own teammate Matt Cullen is a fresh 40 years old as well though, and still making an impact without that physical presence.Given Crosby's oft praised work ethic and his irreplaceable understanding of the game, playing until 40 doesn't seem out of the question. He's 29 at the moment, so sticking around after his 30s would give him another 11 seasons to do work.How many of those campaigns are going to see the captain score at the pace he's currently on?There's going to be an undeniable decline at some point. That's simply the reality of players' career arcs, whether they're on the fringe or in the record books.But Crosby found new life in 2016. Since the installation of Mike Sullivan as the Penguins' head coach last season, Crosby's looked as good as he ever has, tallying points at a dizzying pace. With 64 points through 50 games, he's on track for just under 100 points by season's end.Even with the legs getting slower over the coming years, it's safe to assume he has at least another few seasons at this level. Especially with the key components of his supporting cast set to remain in Pittsburgh - Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Phil Kessel are all signed long term in the Steel City.(Photo courtesy: USA Today Sports)The numbersLet's give Crosby three more years at his league-leading level, before things begin to tailor off. He's been in the 85-point range for two consecutive seasons, and will likely finish well above that this year, so let's allot 90 points per season for those next three years.After that, it's possible he dips down into the 70-point range. A look at the career arcs of other all-time greats suggests as much, and given the fact that the league is trending more and more towards speed, keeping up isn't going to get any easier for older players.Pinning him at 70 points is being generous to Crosby's decline, as the former 'Kid' has enough competitive drive and pure skill to do far better for far longer. But let's wind it all the way down to 70, just to account for the inevitable slow-down.It's tough to imagine him finishing any lower than that, even into his late 30s and early 40s. Playmaking wizard Joe Thornton is fresh off posting an 82-point season at age 36. Jagr is still in that range well into his 40's.If Crosby's supporting cast remains productive and talented enough to feed his skill set, he isn't falling below that 70-point level.Health is undoubtedly an issue, especially given the significant amount of time the captain has spent on the shelf with an assortments of injuries and ailments. But all signs point to him being past the worst of it. He's missed no more than a handful of games in each of the past four seasons, and looks to be in line for another nearly full campaign in 2016-17.Adding it all upWhere does all of that leave the Canadian scoring king?If everything lines up as stated, Crosby would amass another 270 points over the next three years, and 560 points over the subsequent eight campaigns - assuming he hangs up the skates at 40.That would give him 1,832 career points, cementing his place among the all-time best. With 1,832 in the bag, the Cole Harbour product would climb to fifth all-time, sandwiched between legends Gordie Howe and Ron Francis.The Penguins star would become only the fifth player in history to top 1,800 points, joining Wayne Gretzky (2,857), Jagr (1,900), Mark Messier (1,887), and Howe (1,850).Of course, that's all assuming Crosby calls it quits at 40. What if he doesn't?Assuming he stays in that 70-point range, remaining for even one more season past age 40 would deliver him to the 1,900-point plateau. He would rank third all-time, bested by only Gretzky and Jagr.Undoubtedly appropriate company for Crosby, who's already proven himself as one of the best to ever take the ice.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Mike Sullivan insisted the Pittsburgh media was too quick to conclude Marc-Andre Fleury's home start Thursday versus the Winnipeg Jets would be his last in a Penguins uniform.If it was, it was fittingly special.On the same night that longtime teammate and close friend Sidney Crosby reached 1,000 points for his career, Fleury led the Penguins to victory with a vintage 44-save performance.Whether the fans picked up on the narrative or were simply appreciating his acrobatics, Fleury heard the chants of his name, and stopped to appreciate them.Afterward, he became emotional when asked about the support he received Thursday and throughout his career with the Penguins."The support I get here is always amazing you know, and again tonight," he said, after taking a deep breath and cracking a smile."You don't know what's coming. That was nice."In order to retain Matt Murray, the second-year star coming into the No. 1 role for the Penguins, general manager Jim Rutherford must either shed Fleury or cut a deal with the Vegas Golden Knights before the expansion draft.If Fleury remains with Pittsburgh beyond the March 1 deadline, one of few remaining windows of opportunity to receive value in return on the asset - and to avoid issuing a buyout - will close on the Penguins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It wasn't supposed to go like this.The Dallas Stars dropped another game Thursday night, falling 3-1 to the Minnesota Wild and further cementing their surprising status as one of the NHL's worst teams.They've been the league's second-most futile club since the final day of 2016.