Letting opportunities to acquire top-end talent slip by can lead to the undoing of NHL teams.It's why the Montreal Canadiens swiftly severed ties with Michel Therrien, the long-tenured coach in charge of a club entering its bye week in first place in the Atlantic Division.An upgrade was made available."He's a superstar," Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said Wednesday of his new coach, Claude Julien, according to TSN's John Lu."Julien is the best man for the situation," Bergevin added, after signing the coach to a long-term deal just over a week after he was fired by Montreal's greatest rival.The GM said removing Therrien was a difficult decision - made without the request of ownership - but that it had to be done."Michel and I worked very closely together over the past five years," Bergevin said, via the Canadian Press."We fought some big battles and experienced strong emotions together ... our working relationship has always been marked by intensity, sincerity, and emotion and our meeting yesterday was no different."That being said, I've reached the conclusion we were at a turning point and that is why I decided to make this change in the club's best interests."Bergevin also revealed that no interview process was conducted, and that Therrien could have been fired even if Julien wasn't an option.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals have acquired defenseman Tom Gilbert from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick, the Kings announced Wednesday.The Capitals will send the fifth-round selection to Los Angeles if Gilbert plays in half of Washington's playoff games and if the team advances beyond the second round, according to the Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.Gilbert is a pending unrestricted free agent and carries a $1.4-million cap hit, with the Kings retaining 20 percent in the deal, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.Gilbert has split the season between the Kings and the team's AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, collecting a goal and four assists in 18 games with Los Angeles.Glbert, 34, has 655 games of NHL experience under his belt in a career that's also included stints with the Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Florida Panthers, and Montreal Canadiens.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The numbers don't lie.Four coaches have gotten the axe since the calendar turned to 2017, with Michel Therrien the latest victim. But you can't blame the general managers calling for change when the early returns have been this good:Team Coach Start RecordIslandersDoug WeightJan. 178-3-2BluesMike YeoFeb. 15-1-0BruinsBruce CassidyFeb. 73-0-0The installation of Julien in Montreal is the fifth coaching change this season after moves were made behind the bench in Florida, Brooklyn, St. Louis, and Boston, the latter three coming in 2017.So far, each team has experienced a quick turnaround, and Weight, Yeo, and Cassidy combined for a 16-4-2 showing in their first month behind the bench.Canadiens fans hope Julien can do his part to add to that mark.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You can't blame the Anaheim Ducks for failing to score on the man advantage Tuesday night.That's because the Orange County club saw zero power plays versus the Minnesota Wild, as the West's top team skated 60 minutes without a whistle against."I guess that they didn't do one thing wrong out there on the ice," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle joked to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. "They had the enjoyment and luxury of five straight power plays."It was a quiet contest between the two sides, as the Ducks captured a 1-0 victory on a goal from Joseph Cramarossa.While the Wild went penalty-free, the Ducks took five minors in the game, including two in each of the first two periods. Anaheim wrapped up the night with 20 total minutes in penalties after forward Antoine Vermette was given a game misconduct.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jaromir Jagr's reached another milestone. Though this one has slightly less to do with his hockey legend.The current Florida Panthers forward and enduring all-time great has turned 45, and can mark Wednesday's occasion with a single point in San Jose to make 1,900 for his incredible career.To celebrate the ride, here's a spectacular goal, or moment, in each sweater he's worn in his incredible NHL career.PenguinsJagr's most memorable goal with the Penguins came in the 1992 Stanley Cup Final, when he led a three-goal comeback in Game 1 with a paralyzing display in the offensive zone.OK - one more with the Penguins.CapitalsJump forward to two minutes. This had it all. Speed, power, creativity, that jurisdiction of the attacking zone. Mattias Timander is still waking up in cold sweats over this.RangersMore vintage Jagr. He grinds the puck out of his end with lower-body strength alone, then picks up enough speed in neutral ice before accepting the drop pass and winding through helpless defenders to the front of the net.FlyersSplitting the two Maple Leafs defenders with speed we didn't remember he had, Jagr scored his first goal after three seasons in Russia in his eighth game with the Flyers.StarsJagr scored just 14 times with Dallas, but did hit a major milestone that season, picking up his 1,000th assist.BruinsJagr scored twice in 33 games with the Bruins in the regular season and playoffs combined. The underwhelming tenure did start well, though, as he was credited for a goal off his skate in his debut.DevilsJagr became the seventh player in history to score 700 goals while with the Devils. Bit of a lucky bounce, but that's so very Jagr.PanthersJagr's career with the Panthers hasn't yet amounted to two complete seasons, but there are so many great moments from his tenure in Sunrise.Here's his 742nd career goal, which put him third all time.There was also that monumental "ass-ist."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL forward Mike Comrie is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department after being accused of rape, law enforcement sources told TMZ Sports.Comrie met a female acquaintance at a bar Saturday and returned to his Los Angeles condo, where she reportedly says he raped her multiple times. The woman said she almost immediately visited Cedars-Sinai Medical Center afterward and underwent an examination for a rape kit.He acknowledges they had sex but insists it was consensual, sources say.Comrie skated 589 games in the NHL, last appearing with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011.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 Wednesday, Feb. 15 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

You can't win without solid goaltending.That was the case in Alberta on Tuesday, as the Arizona Coyotes dropped a 5-2 decision to the Edmonton Oilers despite carrying the lead through 20 minutes.Arizona's backup netminder Louis Domingue was tapped for the game. Coyotes bench boss Dave Tippett described the opportunity as a "good challenge" for the second stringer who has struggled through his sophomore season, according to Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports.After recording 15 wins a year ago and running with the top job in the absence of injured starter Mike Smith, Domingue has struggled through 2016-17, coming up with just five wins through 22 appearances.It hasn't been a successful season in the desert - Arizona sits second-last league-wide - so Domingue's .895 save percentage and 3.29 goals-against average is understandable. But poor performances up front haven't stopped Smith from bringing stability in the crease; he owns .918 and 2.83 marks on the season.Among the goaltenders with as much crease time as Domingue this season, no netminder has posted a lower save percentage, while Semyon Varlamov of the Colorado Avalanche - the one team which ranks worse than the Coyotes - is the lone goaltender with a higher GAA, coming in at 3.38.Following the loss to the Oilers, Domingue was short on an explanation, telling McLellan, "I got no answer for you guys. I play once a month and it wasn't good enough so I have zero answer."As for his coach, Tippett didn't mince words about the defeat, noting that Domingue played "very average" and calling Mark Letestu's game-winning goal "very stoppable."Domingue, 24, has one year remaining on his contract with a $1.05-million cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A trip through three separate hockey pressure cookers put Kevin Shattenkirk on notice.As the rumored No. 1 trade target for the upcoming deadline and his St. Louis Blues trekked through Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal last week, the coveted defenseman felt the spotlight shining a little brighter."I think last week was probably the toughest week just as far as media and the attention being in Canada," Shattenkirk told Louie Korac of NHL.com. "I want to say in a way, I have a luxury of playing in St. Louis because it's not really at the forefront, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. But it's something that I'm prepared for and I'm ready to take it day bay day and see (what) comes and goes. It's been present all year, so I think that helped me deal with it."The added pressure didn't seem to have much of an effect on the ice, as the Blues won all three games, with Shattenkirk chipping in an assist in each contest.Shattenkirk, 28, is in the final year of his contract, and if the deal is right, the Blues would rather trade him than risk losing him for nothing to free agency.In 56 games, Shattenkirk recorded 11 goals and 28 assists, putting him on track to crack the 40-point plateau for the fifth time in six seasons.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

He won't be forgotten.Mike Ilitch, the longtime owner of the Detroit Red Wings who died Friday at 87, will be recognized with a commemorative patch on the team's uniform.The patch reads "Mr. I" - the nickname of the Detroit native who owned the club since 1982.In September, the Red Wings also added a "No. 9" patch to the front of their jersey in recognition of Detroit legend Gordie Howe, who died in June.

Colton Parayko wandered into the corner, slumped one shoulder and exhaled.He had just reached back and fired an arrow into the top corner behind Tuukka Rask, scoring his first goal in the follow-up season to his All-Rookie debut.The celebration was muted, as it meant little in the context of the game. But the goal, scored after the star-crossed defender had fired more than 100 shots on goal (and attempted 100 more), meant something to the St. Louis Blues, who at the time were crossing the traverse into the second half of the season.Surely it held significance to Parayko.This scoring outage wasn't the classic case of a superstar's struggle subverting a team. It's not the rangy blue-liner's classification, nor his role. But unleashing 200 attempts before finally deceiving a netminder is the sort of misfortune that would commonly weigh heavy on a young player.Or worse, lead him into the second-year trap many fresh-faced future stars - especially defensemen - commonly fall into, and struggle to escape.Down on his luck, but importantly not himself, Parayko's rise wasn't disrupted when goalies seemed to ban together, rejecting the kitchen sink in 40 straight games to begin the year. Though it surely existed in the back of his mind, he continued to steadily establish himself as a reliable, all-situations contributor on the Blues' back end during his skid, tackling tougher matchups and eating more meaningful minutes in his sophomore season.Having kept his focus on what he can control, the goals are now beginning to come as part of a steady stream of production, and he'll soon cruise past his rookie points mark.This to which he owes, at least in part, to good counsel.Alex Pietrangelo is the first-year captain of St. Louis, and a voice routinely inside the ear of Parayko. He explained that the key to maintaining an upward developmental trajectory in the early seasons is to resist the urge of trying to do too much."There were periods where it was easy to dwell on the negative," Pietrangelo told theScore, speaking to his experience as a young player. "The biggest thing for me as I have gotten older, talking to young guys is: Find who you are as a player. Don't try to change that. Don't be something that you're not."I've accepted my role. You find your place on your team. As a young guy, you always want more, which is a good thing because you push yourself."It's easy to dwell on the negative when you're not getting what you want."Pietrangelo said Parayko quickly carved out a function in St. Louis, and has importantly stuck with it."Not many people can do what he's done over the past couple years, coming in and playing the way he has. If you watch him night in and night out, he plays the same way every single night, which is the one thing I have stressed to him moving forward."Work on your game. Get better in all facets. But find your game, keep working on it, and know the type of player that you are."As a good student should, Parayko wasn't about to trivialize his captain's influence in the slightest. He said Pietrangelo has been "huge" for him, both on and off the ice, as he's made the adjustment to life in the NHL.But such wisdom can't be the out-and-out solution for the common struggles of former breakout stars. Surely the Shayne Gostisbeheres and John Klingbergs have received similar advice from coaches and veteran players.The difference for Parayko is that his fallback, when executed properly, offers immediate and reassuring feedback, because he isn't depended on to score like others who are strictly evaluated on point production. It's these players who more often drift, falling victim to the randomness of scoring and adjustments made by opposing teams.Parayko is too busy studying up for the next challenging matchup to be hung up on output."I'm playing against top lines this year. That's helpful based on the fact that you know you have to be ready every game. It's been a big challenge for sure."There are potential pitfalls within that, but Parayko knows where to turn when in need of sage advice."It's no different than real life. You live and you learn," Pietrangelo said. "Good players, whether young or old, veteran or rookie, it doesn't matter; we all make mistakes. It's how you bounce back from that."(It can be) a little harder as a young guy to bounce back from it, but I think as you get older, you find a way to learn from those, and it makes you better in the long run."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Claude Julien hopes his second tour in Montreal lasts longer than his first.The veteran bench boss called the shots for the Canadiens from 2002-06, a tenure that included one full season, two partial campaigns, and another lost to the 2004-05 lockout. This came after Julien spent part of three seasons as the head coach of the Canadiens' then-AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.Promoted to the big club during for the final 36 games of the 2002-03 season, the Canadiens missed the playoffs in Julien's first year. However, they qualified for the postseason in the following campaign. Julien led his club to a 41-30-11 mark, good for 93 points and the Canadiens' best finish since 1993-94.That squad was highlighted by the likes of rookie Michael Ryder, who finished his freshman campaign with 25 goals and 38 assists, and leaders like Saku Koivu and netminder Jose Theodore, stable pillars and veteran voices for the Canadiens.In the playoffs, Montreal pushed past the Boston Bruins in an exciting seven-game series, sealing the closing contest with a 2-0 victory in Boston. But Montreal's playoff success was short-lived: The Canadiens were swept aside by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the following round.In the next season - Julien's final one in Montreal - he lasted until the midway mark with a 19-16-6 showing before then-general manager Bob Gainey made a change to his coaching ranks.Eleven years later, Julien gets the opportunity to build on his record with the Canadiens, which sits at 72-62-25 and ranks 15th all time in franchise history.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks forward Antoine Vermette, based on NHL rules regarding physical contact with an official, is facing an automatic 10-game suspension after slashing a linesman Tuesday night versus Minnesota, Sportsnet's John Shannon reports.Here's the play:

Provided an opportunity to climb into a playoff spot, the New York Islanders laid an egg.Visiting Toronto on Tuesday night, a win would have leapfrogged the Maple Leafs for the second wild-card position in the East, but it didn't go remotely close to plan for New York.The Maple Leafs cruised to a 7-1 win, the worst result of Doug Weight's brief tenure as head coach, and the new bench boss was honest in his assessment of his club's performance."As much as it's just one loss, that's a humbling loss, that's a (butt) kicking, I'm sorry," Weight told Dave McCarthy of NHL.com. "They played a playoff game tonight; we played a hard game but we didn't play a playoff game. That's virtually what it was, right? We win, we're in the playoffs as far as statistically speaking."The Islanders have taken off under Weight, holding an 8-3-2 record since he took over for Jack Capuano. However, Tuesday's loss was extra significant because New York's most realistic avenue to a playoff seed is via the wild-card route.New York's next chance to work its way up the standings comes Thursday when they host their in-state rival Rangers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

David Clarkson is coming to grips with the reality that his NHL career is more than likely finished.Recuperating from a chronically injured back, Clarkson hasn't suited up in an NHL game since last March. The 32-year-old hasn't even set foot in the Columbus Blue Jackets' facilities this season, save for a physical he took in September.Clarkson spoke candidly with Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch about his situation, and how much he misses the game."I left home at 15 to play juniors, and hockey's all I've ever known," Clarkson said. "It's hard to go through, but I'll look at a picture of my kids, or think about them, and it brings me back to earth. I have a lot to be happy about, but this sucks. There's not a day that goes by - not an hour, honestly - when I don't think about (playing hockey) and miss it."Clarkson said there are days when he skates, and days when he's bed-ridden, unable to move.The Toronto-area native meets with doctors every few weeks for consultations on three degenerative discs in the L5 region of his spine, which is the same condition that's kept Nathan Horton - the player the Maple Leafs exchanged Clarkson for in 2015 - out of hockey since the 2013-14 season. There's no surefire fix, and surgery would all but officially end his career."When I know an appointment is coming up, I get those butterfly feelings that maybe they're going to tell me something good," he said. "That would be my dream come true, because I have a lot of nights where I have trouble going to sleep. My mind is just spinning."Clarkson, who's played 570 NHL games spread between the Devils, Maple Leafs, and Blue Jackets, is under contract until after the 2019-20 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Remember when the Edmonton Oilers couldn't beat the Arizona Coyotes? Like, ever? Well, those days are done.The Oilers easily dispatched the Coyotes at home Tuesday, 5-2. and Patrick Maroon and Oscar Klefbom hit some personal milestones in the process.

Out with Michel Therrien, in with Claude Julien.General manager Marc Bergevin stunned the hockey world Tuesday, when the Montreal Canadiens simultaneously announced the firing of head coach Therrien and the hiring of Julien - who was fired by the Boston Bruins on Feb. 7 - to replace him.With Montreal in jeopardy of wasting yet another strong start to its season, Bergevin decided it was time for a change while the Canadiens are on their bye week.Here's everything you need to know about the shuffle behind the Habs bench:A new voice, a new direction

The rookie goal-scoring race appears set to go down to the wire.Winnipeg Jets winger Patrik Laine recorded his third hat trick of the season in a win over the Dallas Stars, while Auston Matthews added a pair of his own in thwarting the New York Islanders' attempts to leapfrog his Toronto Maple Leafs in the standings.Both players showed off their skills in the process.Matthews' second of the night came off a brilliant takeaway, a testament to his already strong two-way game.

ST. PAUL, Minn. - John Gibson made 37 saves for his fourth shutout of the season, rookie Joseph Cramarossa scored his fourth goal and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Minnesota Wild 1-0 on Tuesday night.Gibson stalled the league's fourth-highest scoring team, beating Minnesota and former coach Bruce Boudreau for the first time in three meetings.The Wild were 0 for 5 on the power play and lost in regulation for the first time in six games and the fifth time since the start of December, a span of 34 games. Devan Dubnyk made 22 saves.Cramarossa scored for the first time in 16 games 4:38 into the first period. Corey Perry's shot from Dubnyk's left side was stopped, but the puck dropped near Dubnyk's feet and Cramarossa alertly tapped it in.Following the goal, Anaheim went nearly 10 minutes without a shot. Gibson had the cushion he needed, though.Minnesota had 13 shots on goal in the first period and then peppered Gibson in the second with another 16 shots. The Wild outshot the Ducks 37-23 in the game.Closing against Anaheim has proven to be a tough task for any team this season. The Ducks have allowed the fewest third-period goals in the NHL this season.Minnesota had plenty of chances. The closest was Christian Folin's slap shot early in the third that deflected hard off the post behind Gibson. The Wild were shutout for the second time at home this season.Minnesota had scored four power-play goals in the past two games and had 13 in its previous 13 home games. The Wild were a league-best 30.1 percent on the power play at home this season heading into the game and sixth overall.NOTES: Ducks F Antoine Vermette was ejected in the third period with a game misconduct for abuse of an official. ... Anaheim scratched D Sami Vatanen for the fifth straight game with a lower-body injury. The team listed him as day-to-day. ... Minnesota scratched D Matt Dumba for the second game in a row with a lower-body injury. ... The Wild reassigned C Tyler Graovac to Iowa of the American Hockey League after he cleared waivers. ... The Ducks finished a season-long, six-game road trip at 2-3-1. Their last home game was Jan. 31.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antoine Vermette's going to be hearing from the NHL.The Anaheim Ducks center earned a game misconduct Tuesday in one of the weirder incidents you'll likely see in hockey. Vermette slashed a linesman after he lost a faceoff to Mikko Koivu.Here's an isolated video of the slash:

Robin Lehner sure enjoys playing against his old team.The Buffalo Sabres goaltender, who made 39 saves Tuesday in a win over Ottawa, improved his career record to 4-0-2 against the Senators. And in those six games, he's posted a .959 save percentage and 1.30 goals-against average, per Sabres PR.Lehner was drafted in the second round of the 2009 NHL Draft by the Senators, and was traded to the division-rival Sabres along with David Legwand in 2015 for a first-round pick that year. Ottawa selected promising center Colin White with that pick.The goalie recently called out teammates after a loss to Vancouver, and later made it clear he too needs to step up in order to help the Sabres stay relatively close to playoff contention.A date with the Senators, then, appears to have been just what the doctor ordered in terms of backing that up.Tuesday's game was the final meeting between the two teams this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jamie Benn is a member of the NHL's 500 Club. His membership card is in the mail.The Dallas Stars captain reached the milestone Tuesday night against the Winnipeg Jets, when he got his team on the board with his 19th goal of the season.Benn joins Patrick Kane as the only other member of the 2007 NHL Draft to record 500 points, according to Sportsnet Stats. That's notable because Kane was the first overall pick, while Benn was selected in the fifth round, 129th overall.

Dallas Stars play-by-play announcer Dave Strader will return to the broadcast booth for the team's upcoming five-game homestand while he fights cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.Strader has been sidelined this season while undergoing cancer treatment, but a break will allow him to be in Dallas for the homestand, the team announced.

One more.Sidney Crosby recorded the 999th point of his career Tuesday night, setting up Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Jake Guentzel for a tap in.When you're playing with No. 87, always have your stick on the ice, no matter where on the ice you are.The Pens beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-0.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Signs of life from Bobby Ryan in Ottawa.Held without a goal in his previous seven games, and on pace for his least productive offensive season of his career, the Senators winger finally found the back of the net by tipping an Erik Karlsson shot from the point on the power play.The goal was Ryan's 12th of the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Curtis Lazar may have a new address come March 1.The Ottawa Senators forward was a healthy scratch Tuesday for a fourth straight game, and his name is gaining traction as the deadline nears. General manager Pierre Dorion is looking for a high draft pick - "talking first or second" - in return for the 22-year-old, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.Related: What could Ottawa realistically fetch for Lazar?TSN's Darren Dreger also chimed in Tuesday night, saying a meeting between Lazar's agent and Dorion is expected this weekend. Dreger opined that he "wouldn't be surprised if (Lazar) requests (a) trade."

Max Pacioretty is taking a bigger measure of responsibility for the Montreal Canadiens decision to fire head coach Michel Therrien and replace him with Claude Julien."You feel guilt. We know we have a great team and we know that Michel is a great coach, so we feel like if we had performed better as of late, then he'd still be here," Pacioretty said Tuesday on TSN's 'That's Hockey.' "So you definitely feel guilt, especially as a player but even more so as the captain."Be that as it may, Pacioretty knows the only direction in which to move is forward, with this move serving as a wake up call for the players."It's time for everyone to look in the mirror and say, 'you know, I've got to do more, I've got to play better.' Whether it's confidence or trying to be the difference maker every night, we've got to find it."There's not a lot of room for error now, with giving up as many points as we did as of late, so whatever it's going to take, we need everyone to bear down and help us pull together some wins."The Canadiens posted a record of 1-5-1 over the last seven games of Therrien's tenure, including a 4-0 loss to Boston, who fired Julien on Feb. 7.Currently in the midst of their bye week, Montreal will return to the ice on Saturday against Winnipeg, and will attempt to right the ship under the direction of their new bench boss.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens will have a familiar face behind the bench Saturday when they host the Winnipeg Jets.Michel Therrien is out, fired, and Claude Julien is back, the former Boston Bruins general remaining exclusively an Original Six head coach.We ask you: Is Julien enough to fix what ails the Habs? Or does general Marc Bergevin need to shake up his roster some more?As of Wednesday, we're two weeks away from deadline day.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Never a dull moment in Montreal. Not even during the Canadiens' bye week.General manager Marc Bergevin fired Michel Therrien on Tuesday, as another promising Habs start to the season appears headed for disaster. Even better, Bergevin replaced Therrien with former Boston Bruins - and former Canadiens - head coach Claude Julien, who was unemployed for about five minutes, in a stunning shakeup.And make no mistake: It's a shocking move. Sure, Therrien had to have been looking over his shoulder, but surely he didn't think it would be Claude Julien behind him.

The Montreal Canadiens weren't about to let Claude Julien slip away.After the Boston Bruins made the decision to part ways with the winningest coach in club history on Feb. 7, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin acted quickly, requesting permission to speak to Julien on Feb. 12, according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.It should shock no one that Montreal wasn't the only team interested.

As the NHL's trade deadline nears, a big addition to the Edmonton Oilers roster could come from within the organization.General manager Peter Chiarelli recently made the trip to Bakersfield in order to check in on Jesse Puljujarvi, the 18-year-old first-round pick who was sent to the AHL earlier this season in order to develop his game.Chiarelli certainly appears to have liked what he saw."He is getting a lot of touches and you could see his confidence is coming back," the GM told Chris Wescott of EdmontonOilers.com. "The defensive side of his game is getting better, and he's made a lot of progress down there and he's playing a lot of minutes."After managing only a goal and eight points in his first 27 NHL games, Puljujarvi has recorded five goals and six assists in 15 games for the Condors, including three goals in his past four games.As a result, he could certainly warrant a recall later this season, giving the seemingly playoff-bound Oilers a potential offensive boost from within as other teams look for help prior to the March 1 deadline."He's going to be in the conversation come the deadline," said Chiarelli. "He's a dangerous player down there. He was far and above the most dangerous player I saw in both the games down there."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What a time to be alive.Hockey Twitter was sent into a veritable frenzy after the Montreal Canadiens announced the firing of head coach Michel Therrien and the concurrent hiring of Claude Julien, who was let go by the rival Boston Bruins just one week ago.Related: Canadiens name Claude Julien head coachHere's a sample of some of the best tweets to come out right after the news broke.

The Montreal Canadiens have named Claude Julien as their new head coach after relieving Michel Therrien of his duties Tuesday afternoon."I would like to sincerely thank Michel for his relentless work with the Montreal Canadiens over his eight seasons behind the bench, including the last five seasons when we worked together," general manager Marc Bergevin wrote in a statement. "The decision to remove Michel from his coaching duties was a difficult one because I have lots of respect for him.Related: Therrien out, Julien in: 3 thoughts after Habs' shock coaching move"I came to the conclusion that our team needed a new energy, a new voice, a new direction," he continued. "Claude Julien is an experienced and well respected coach with a good knowledge of the Montreal market. Claude has been very successful as an NHL coach and he won the Stanley Cup. Today we hired the best available coach, and one of the league's best. I am convinced that he has the capabilities to get our team back on the winning track."Julien, of course, was let go by the rival Boston Bruins on Feb. 7. This will be his second tour of duty as head coach of the Canadiens, a post he held from 2003-06.During his tenure with the Bruins, Julien amassed a record of 419-246-94 in 759 regular season games, leading the club to a Stanley Cup in 2011, another appearance in the final in 2013, and the 2013-14 Presidents' Trophy. He also won the Jack Adams in 2008-09, and became the winningest coach in Bruins' history.Therrien, meanwhile, led the Canadiens to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2014. While Montreal got off to a 13-1-1 start this season, a recent swoon - and, more importantly, Julien's sudden availability - appears to have prompted a change behind the bench.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In his eighth professional season, and after more than 300 games at the minor-league level, Jeremy Smith will get his NHL moment.He'll make his big-league debut Tuesday for the Colorado Avalanche, who are on the East Coast preparing to take on the New Jersey Devils.

Edmonton Oilers, this is your captain speaking.Connor McDavid wants to see a different result Tuesday night when the Arizona Coyotes roll into town, as Edmonton looks to end a skid in which they've lost four of five, most recently a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks."We've had a few days to readjust and get back into it, so there's no excuse tonight," McDavid told reporters.The Oilers have endured a prolonged stretch of futility, stagnated by the All-Star break and their increasingly criticized league-mandated bye week. They've scored only five goals in five games, while dropping to third place in the Pacific Division.Like the rest of the Oilers' attack, McDavid has been stifled of late, accruing just two points over the frustrating stretch. The dry spell has come after a six-game point streak - which included three goals and six assists - carried McDavid into Los Angeles for his first-ever All-Star Weekend.Perhaps McDavid picked the right time to call on his troops, as Arizona allows 3.11 goals per game (27th), and enters Edmonton on the second half of a back-to-back.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Focus on the task at hand.That's Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Mitch Marner's prerogative these days, as his first NHL season enters the stretch run.The Maple Leafs find themselves clinging to the second wild-card spot in the East through 54 games, with Tuesday night's opponent, the New York Islanders, hot on their tails. It's a big game in terms of the standings, but that's not something Marner concerns himself with."I haven't looked at it once, to be honest," he told TSN ahead of Tuesday's clash. "I don't really care to look. I know every game we have to go in there thinking we need the win, doesn't matter what position you're in. If you're in the playoffs or not, I think every game you go into, you want to win."While Marner might not look at the implications, a win tonight is paramount for the Maple Leafs, who own just two regulation wins over their last eight games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares' focus isn't yet on his imminent negotiations with the New York Islanders, but recognized Tuesday in Toronto that the process of chiseling out a new contract will begin soon.The Islanders captain acknowledged that there is a lot to consider through the process, but restated his desire to work out an agreement to continue his stay on Long Island for many years."I've said it in the past: I want to be on the Island," Tavares said, via TSN. "That's where I hope everything works out. I think we all know there's a lot that goes into it more than just saying that you want to be there."There's negotiations (that) happen, and there's a process that goes about it. For me, it's just going through all that."Like I said, I haven't thought too much about it, but obviously it's coming sooner than later. But I'm just worried about playing, and trying to help this team get to the playoffs. I love playing here and obviously hope to be here."Tavares isn't losing sight on the task at hand despite the negotiating window opening this summer, and his pending unrestricted free agency in 17 months time.He said his group has expended too much energy working to make these final weeks count to worry about what the future holds."I just try to stay focused on the day-to-day, and try to make the playoffs. A lot of those things are out of my control. You know, take time after the season, maybe to assess things or see where certain things are headed."The Islanders can leap ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the final wild-card spot in the East with a win on Tuesday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey sense.It's a buzzword throughout the sport; an immeasurable characteristic that few understand and even fewer posses.The (unofficial) titleholder, though, as you probably know by now is Sidney Crosby. And as the Pittsburgh Penguins' captain takes another crack at reaching the 1,000-point milestone Tuesday night versus the Vancouver Canucks, it's his knowledge of the game many believe is the driving force behind his storied career."I don't think anybody is ever going to think the game like Sid can," teammate Chris Kunitz told Bill West of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I think he knows what we're thinking most of the time, so it makes it easy on us that he knows where we're going probably even before we're there."Age has shuffled Kunitz down Pittsburgh's lineup in recent years, but the 37-year-old fully understands No. 87's methods, having rode shotgun to Crosby during his most effective NHL seasons, and in Sochi at the 2014 Olympics.Kunitz's comments on Crosby's smarts aren't exactly hyperbolic, either, as "The Kid" ranks fifth all-time in points per game (1.497), trailing only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, and Bobby Orr. Crosby sits in the same spot for assists per game (.834), with Peter Forsberg replacing Bossy on the list of those ahead of him.Crosby had two chances at reaching 1,000 points last week, and if history is any indication, it shouldn't be much of a wait from here.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL playoff push is in full swing in the Big Apple, but Thursday’s matchup between the Islanders and Rangers is posting record-low ticket demand on the resale market.With the Islanders looking to remain perfect against their crosstown rivals at Barclays Center, the second and final meeting in Brooklyn this season won’t put a dent in fans’ wallets. On TicketIQ, a search engine that compiles ticket data from over 90 percent of the resale market, Islanders vs. Rangers tickets at Barclays Center now average $174. That trumps a December 6 meeting between the teams, which previously set a record low average of $177 in Brooklyn.For those looking to just get past the gates on Atlantic Avenue on Thursday, the cheapest tickets can be found from $67 each. While it will serve as the cheapest home game against the Rangers since the Islanders moved from Nassau Coliseum last season, it is the priciest remaining game at Barclays Center through the end of the season. It surpasses a March 25 battle with the Bruins by a considerable margin, where tickets own a $149 average and $36 get-in price.The Islanders find themselves knocking on the playoff door after a dismal start to the 2016-17 campaign. They sit just one point removed from the second wild-card slot entering Tuesday’s matchup with the Maple Leafs and could take sole possession of the spot with a regulation win at Air Canada Centre.The Rangers have compiled their own hot streak across the East River, going 8-2-0 over their last 10 games and winners of their last six ahead of Thursday’s contest in Brooklyn. They currently possess the first wild-card but own the same number of points as the Penguins and Blue Jackets (75), who sit in second and third place in the Metropolitan division, respectively.For the best deals on Islanders and Rangers tickets this season, make sure to download the TicketIQ app. The TicketIQ app offers the most transparent buying experience for all NHL tickets and helps fans save up to 10 percent on all IQ Certified listings. Download the TicketIQ app and start saving 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.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Tuesday, Feb. 14 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

The Arizona Coyotes have not tabled an offer to pending unrestricted free-agent center Martin Hanzal, lending more evidence to suggest he will be dealt before the March 1 trade deadline."I haven't got an offer yet from the Coyotes," Hanzal told Sarah McLellan of azcentral sports. "We haven't talked."For his part, Hanzal has helped ratchet up interest on the ice, and seems to be embracing the showcase spotlight. He scored his third goal in two games during Monday's win over the Calgary Flames, coming after a week of inactivity due to illness and a lengthy break in the schedule."I've been here. I like it here," Hanzal said. "But the bottom line is I don't have a contract for next season, and we're two weeks away from the deadline. So it's going to happen one way or the other."I'll be happy with whatever happens because this is hockey and if they move me, I'll probably have a chance to win a Stanley Cup. That's another upside, right? So we'll see."Word is that Arizona covets - at minimum - a top prospect and first-round pick for Hanzal. There are few players believed to be available who can match the potential impact the power center can deliver to a contender.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bobby Ryan is trending in the wrong direction.With his team jockeying for positioning in the Atlantic Division, the Ottawa Senators forward hasn't exactly had a resounding impact on the club's success, and for that, he's been sent down the lineup.Ryan's been moved to bottom-six duties alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Tom Pyatt, a decision he's looking at as an opportunity."Truthfully, (this line) plays the most minutes so I’m excited for the opportunity," Ryan told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "The last game was (facing) Tavares, the next game will likely be (Jack) Eichel so I don’t mind those matchups one bit. Call it the third or defensive line or whatever you want but I saw the last game and I was excited for the opportunity."Embracing his given role is all well and good for Guy Boucher, but Ottawa didn't acquire Ryan to shut down opponents' top lines.In July 2013, the Senators gave up Jakob Silfverberg, 2011 first-round pick Stefan Noesen, and their 2014 first-rounder to the Anaheim Ducks for Ryan, who had scored 30-or-more goals in four consecutive full seasons.It was a big move for the Senators, but in the midst of his fourth season with the club, Ryan is experiencing his worst offensive season to date.In 47 games this season - he missed time with multiple hand ailments - Ryan has mustered just 11 goals and 21 points, putting him on pace for the lowest output - excluding the 2013 half-season - of his career (17 goals, 33 points) if he plays every game from here on out.Ryan is currently ninth on the team in scoring, and he's hardly creating chances for himself. With just 77 shots on goal so far, the winger is tracking to record 124 by season's end, which would also be the lowest total he's ever produced.Not great for a player with the a $7.25-million cap hit until after the 2021-22 season.For comparison's sake, Silfverberg, 26, has 17 goals and 19 assists in 54 games for Anaheim this season, and Nick Ritchie, who Anaheim drafted 10th overall with Ottawa's pick from the Ryan trade, has 11 goals and 18 points as a 21-year-old.Approaching 30, Ottawa must be hoping Ryan can find his game again. At this point, even just a brief glimpse of his former self will do. But if this season is a sign of things to come, the Senators are facing a big, expensive problem.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."Calgary FlamesStatus: SellersOptions:

Yet another reason for coaches to hate the CBA-mandated bye week.Over the last three days, the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, and Calgary Flames each lost in their returns to action, further underscoring the difficulties for teams in the first game back from vacation.The three losses - handed to them by an aggregated total of 14-2 - dropped the record of teams returning from recess to 3-8-1.Two squads on opposite ends of the league spectrum are the only ones to defeat non-idle teams in their first game back. The defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins (who had a full week off in early January) and Arizona Coyotes beat the Tampa Bay Lightning and Winnipeg Jets, respectively.The Toronto Maple Leafs claimed the other triumphant return last month, but defeated the New York Rangers, who recessed at the same time.Overall, teams that took a break have been outscored 42-24. However, three of the six teams that lost in their returns - and that have competed again since - were able to score a victory the next time out.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.Find yourself constantly losing a certain category in your head-to-head league? Acquire the following player adjacent to the category you're struggling in and your problems could be solved immediately!While these players excel in one specific category, they need to be able to at least keep their head above water in a handful of others in order to be worthy of a permanent roster spot.LW Marcus Foligno, Buffalo Sabres (Hits)Foligno is third in the NHL with 195 hits. He plays a stable 15:53 minutes per night, keeping his game-to-game hit total fairly reliable. His 46 blocked shots are the 15th most among forwards and he also contributes with 60 PIMs.Foligno has spent time on a line with C Jack Eichel this season, but he's currently on the third line. The LW spot on Buffalo's first line with C Ryan O'Reilly and RW Kyle Okposo has been a revolving door all season, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Foligno get his crack soon.RW Radim Vrbata, Arizona Coyotes (Shots)Heading into Monday's tilt with the Calgary Flames, Vrbata ranked 23rd in the NHL with 162 shots on goal. Every single player ranked ahead of him is owned in the majority of fantasy leagues, but Vrbata is owned in less than 15 percent.There's a reason for this: he has just 11 goals on those 162 shots and is minus-17 on the season. He does have 25 assists, though.As a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of just $1 million, Vrbata is a lock to be moved at the deadline to a contender, where he could very well wind up on a line with an elite center. This would help his goal total as well as his plus/minus rating, which is looking very reminiscent of a winning golf score right now.D Calvin de Haan, New York Islanders (Blocks)With 142 blocks, de Haan is just four back of the NHL leader, Chicago Blackhawks D Niklas Hjalmarsson. Of the the top six leaders in blocked shots, de Haan is the only one to have more than 60 shots and 60 hits, with 78 and 86 apiece.The Islanders have been playing some of their best hockey lately, posting a record of 8-2-2 since Doug Weight replaced Jack Capuano as head coach. With Capuano behind the bench, de Haan was playing 18:24 per night, but with Weight his ice time has jumped to 20:46.C/RW William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs (Power-play points)Nylander is the lone player on this list who would need to be acquired via trade rather than the waiver wire. He shouldn't be overly costly. Even including his hat-trick against the Boston Bruins on Feb. 4, he has just seven points in his last 12 games.Of Nylander's 36 points this season, 16 have come with the man advantage. His dynamic skill set, plus the surrounding talent in Toronto make it plausible for his power-play success to continue.D Brooks Orpik, Washington Capitals (+/-)Orpik leads the NHL with a plus-32 rating. At 36 years old, he is no spring chicken, but he still logs nearly 18 minutes per night for the NHL's best team. In addition to his high +/-, he has 139 hits and 93 blocks.LW Antoine Roussel, Dallas Stars (PIMs)Roussel's 111 PIMs are the most in the NHL. The next most? Montreal Canadiens RW Andrew Shaw's 95. In fact, Roussel is one of two players with at least 80 PIMs to average more than 15 minutes of ice time per night. Philadelphia Flyers RW Wayne Simmonds is the other.Roussel isn't an offensive juggernaut by any stretch, but with eight goals and 13 assists, he isn't completely useless either. He also chips in with 64 hits and 38 blocks.(Photos courtesy Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers have a dilemma on their hands, but they need to address the looming uncertainty in their crease sooner rather than later.Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth are both pending unrestricted free agents, and while their inconsistency this season has been well documented, general manager Ron Hextall would be wise to decide on their respective fates before the March 1 trade deadline.Neuvirth has been the better netminder lately, allowing only six goals in his last five games and earning victories in three of his last four. His numbers in all of the 19 games he's appeared in this season aren't as favorable (9-5-1, 2.67 GAA, 897 save percentage), but the Flyers remain on the cusp of the playoff picture thanks in large part to his recent play.The Czech-born goalie entered the season as the backup to Mason, and he's being paid like one with a cap hit of only $1.625 million. That's great value considering his contributions, but he's been getting the majority of the opportunities lately because the starter simply hasn't been good enough.Mason has appeared in only one of the Flyers' five games this month, and he's been inconsistent all season, winning only 16 of 39 decisions with a pedestrian .900 GAA and a paltry 2.90 GAA in 42 games.He's on the books for $4.1 million in the final season of the three-year, $12.3-million extension he signed in 2014, and while that contract could be worse, it's his less than reliable play that makes him a difficult sell in a potential trade.So what can Hextall do?Gauge Mason's value, even if it's lowIf he hasn't already, the GM should start putting out feelers on Mason to see what other teams are willing to give up, even if his calls are met with reluctance or resistance.Mason is by no means elite, but he's proven he can shoulder a heavy workload, and he has playoff experience that could benefit a club simply looking for goaltending depth.That said, because of his status as a pending UFA, he'd likely be a rental, which means teams won't be eager to part with very much. Even so, netting a draft pick and/or another expiring contract could be preferable to signing him to an extension or losing him for nothing.The questions for Hextall are whether an insignificant return is better than none at all, and whether he would consider re-signing Mason before he reaches free agency in the summer.We wouldn't advise the latter.Re-sign NeuvirthConsidering Neuvirth's own inconsistent play until recently, one route for the GM to take would be selling high on him while his value is at its peak. The problem with that route is that it's not ideal in the short term.Like many NHL clubs, the Flyers are still within striking distance of a playoff spot, possessing the same number of points as the Toronto Maple Leafs, who hold the second wild-card spot in the East because they have two games in hand on Philadelphia.Neuvirth is excelling at the moment, but even if he's overachieving, Hextall won't be able to justify trading away a goaltender playing as well as Neuvirth has of late while the Flyers remain in a playoff pursuit.It would also leave the club with Mason and Anthony Stolarz, a largely unproven 23-year-old with only four NHL appearances under his belt, unless another goaltender was part of the package coming back.That's why the most logical plan is to sign Neuvirth to a contract extension at some point before season's end. He's never played more than 48 games in a season, and he hasn't done that in six campaigns, but Hextall can't afford to trade him right now.Figure out if Stolarz is readyThe Flyers' goalie of the future was excellent in his first NHL cameo earlier this season, posting a shutout and a pair of wins in the four-game look, but he hasn't been spectacular in parts of three campaigns with the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms.StolarzGPRecordGAASV %2014-15319-13-43.28.9052015-164721-18-72.60.9162016-171611-5-02.71.911Stolarz is a pending restricted free agent himself, but if Hextall feels his young netminder is prepared for an extended role at the NHL level, it will make parting with one of his two veterans academic.There's always a chance Hextall opts to keep Mason and Neuvirth through the deadline, let them walk at season's end and then look to start fresh by adding a goalie in free agency, but there's no guarantee any reliable options will be available, particularly given the uncertainty of the upcoming expansion draft.It's an unenviable position to be in, but it's not an impossible problem to solve.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.