Jonathan Toews seems intent on living up to his All-Star designation.With two primary assists in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, Toews tacked on to the end of his current surge, collecting his 13th point in the space of nine games.Toews' run, which began leading up to his contentious All-Star appearance, features four goals, nine assists, and four multi-point outings. He had seven goals and 15 assists in 39 games prior.Chicago has six wins over the stretch, with 11 of the captain's 13 points coming in wins.With 0.62 goals and 2.17 points per hour in all situations, Toews is still on track for his least productive season in his 10-year career. But while the points have tailed off over the last three, we should probably expect his numbers to continue climbing toward his career average over the final few weeks of the season - beginning with some reversion to his career-low 8.3 percent shooting clip.If so, it'll arrive at an ideal time for a franchise that's made a habit of winning championships roughly every other season.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 Sunday's slate of games beginning at 6 p.m. EST (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

The NHL's recurring issue of ice quality sprung up again Saturday night.Pittsburgh's Josh Archibald was gifted his first NHL goal when typically sure-handed Arizona Coyotes netminder Mike Smith failed to effectively collect and dispose of a puck iced toward the trapezoid. His blunder led to the first of two Penguins goals scored inside the last six minutes, helping force overtime.Arizona prevailed in extra time on Connor Murphy's winner, but that didn't eliminate the sour taste lingering in Smith's mouth."That play can't happen. I understand that, but that ice is a joke," Smith said, according to Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic.That mistake indeed can't happen when protecting a two-goal lead against the defending champs, but the conditions did appear to increase his plight. The iced puck suddenly lost of all its momentum as it rebounded through the trapezoid. Naturally, that caused Smith to hesitate, but also required him to attempt to pick the puck out of the area using the toe of his blade with Archibald steaming in.The goaltender explained afterward that these problems are all too common at Gila River Arena."You can't play on that (ice)," Smith said. "When you got other teams coming in complaining about it on the ice, we have to skate on that all the time. It's not an excuse, but it's something that has to get better."It's like slush out there."This season, we've heard complaints in Chicago and Pittsburgh and seen a game between the Hurricanes and Red Wings rescheduled due to a malfunction in Raleigh - and, of course, that system in Brooklyn still doesn't meet the NHL standard.The issue's become so pervasive that it's even spread to Edmonton, where the ice was always flawless at Rexall Place, but is no longer special at the club's new arena.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's about time Nicklas Backstrom was given his due.The Washington Capitals center chipped in a goal and two assists on Saturday night to help the Capitals collect their 11th straight home victory and help the 29-year-old eclipse the 700-point mark.For Backstrom, the game was his second straight three-point outing and his third in the last six games. It also helped to push his current point streak to seven games, a stretch that has seen him post 13 points.

The Edmonton Oilers didn't find their offense during their bye week. And neither did Milan Lucic.After five days off, the club hit the ice again Saturday night, and its offensive struggles continued in a 5-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. It's the Oilers' fourth loss in five games, and the group's managed to score only five goals during the funk.And you can look no further than prized free-agent signing Lucic as the poster boy for the lack of offense. Big No. 27 has one goal in 2017, and it came on Jan. 20. It's the only goal he's scored since the Christmas break."We need more guys to step up, especially myself, to chip in with some goals," Lucic said after Saturday's game, in which he wasn't able to manage a shot on goal."Our group knows we can score," added Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. "We can't get frustrated. We've just got to keep working and it'll come."Lucic and co. are home to Arizona on Tuesday and Philadelphia on Thursday before embarking on a six-game road trip.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maybe reaching the 1,000-point mark is harder than it looks.After notching No. 998 versus Calgary earlier in the week, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby looked poised to reach the millennium mark by week's end. Not so fast.Instead of accomplishing the milestone, Crosby, for the first time in nearly a full calendar year, has been held without a point in consecutive games, dating back to Feb. 27, 2016, a span of 68 games per TSN's Frank Seravalli.In those 68 games, Crosby scorched his opponents, recording 41 goals and 48 assists for 89 points. Pretty good.The so-called slump comes as a bit of shock, given that the two opponents Crosby was blanked against were the Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche, currently in 29th and 30th place in the NHL, respectively.Fear not, though, Crosby is still Crosby. Sid is just one point behind Connor McDavid for the league lead in points this season with 60 in 47 games, and will have another chance to reach 1,000 on Tuesday versus Vancouver.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Martin Hanzal, so hot right now.And at just the right time for the Arizona Coyotes to boot.The hulking center recorded his second multi-goal game of the season in a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, elevating his total to 12.Hanzal also dished out four hits, blocked a few shots, fired three shots on goal and won 16 faceoffs, and on top of all that, the effort exuded on the second goal offered ample evidence as to why he's seen as a top candidate to be traded prior to the NHL's March 1 deadline.

Henrik Lundqvist was winning No. 400 at home, at Madison Square Garden, the mecca, in front of New York Rangers faithful. And he had no doubt.Lundqvist became the 12th goalie in NHL history - and the first European - to win 400 games, the milestone victory coming against the Colorado Avalanche, a 4-2 decision. And "The King" called his shot:

If you're heading to Washington to face the Capitals, the result's a formality.The Anaheim Ducks were the latest victim of the Caps, dropping a 6-4 decision to the NHL's best team Saturday. And by again filling the net, Washington tied a league record:

A trade to the Washington Capitals has made a goal scorer out of T.J. Oshie.After scoring his fourth goal in as many games in Saturday's win over the Ducks, the 30-year-old sits at 23 tallies on the season, three short of the career-best 26 he scored last season.Oshie, of course, has the luxury of playing on a line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin, but that shouldn't take away from the season he's putting together in the nation's capital.In Saturday's victory, Washington's sixth in a row, Oshie also added an assist, marking his 13th multi-point effort of the season. If things weren't already good enough for Oshie and the Caps, his first period goal was the 400th point of his career.Injuries have forced Oshie to miss nine games this season, yet he's on pace to reach 60 points if he stays healthy down the stretch, matching the career-high output he set in 2013-14 with the Blues.Overall, Oshie is by no means the biggest star on the Capitals, but he's playing a critical supporting role for a club on pace to capture its second consecutive Presidents' Trophy.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Whether he's boosting his trade value or simply keeping the Buffalo Sabres' slim playoff hopes alive, Evander Kane has been one of the league's hottest goal-producers over the last couple of months.The underrated sniper was center stage Saturday night, and he didn't disappoint in a road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada.Kane scored his 17th and 18th goals of the season in a 3-1 victory over the Leafs, leapfrogging Kyle Okposo for the team lead in 10 fewer games than his teammate while padding his impressive totals since the final month of 2016.

MONTREAL - Patrik Berglund scored three goals to lift the St. Louis Blues to a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night for their fourth straight road win.David Perron also scored for the Blues, who end a stretch of five consecutive away games on Wednesday in Detroit. St. Louis has won five of its last six games overall.Berglund's hat trick gave him six goals in his last five games and 17 on the season.Shea Weber and Max Pacioretty scored for the slumping Canadiens, who are 1-4-1 in their last six.The Canadiens controlled most of the play and outshot St. Louis 30-22, but lacked finish around the net.The Blues went ahead 3:49 into the game when Jeff Petry lost his stick and Alex Pietrangelo had an open shot that Berglund got a piece of as it went past Al Montoya, who lost his balance and fell in his crease just before the shot was taken. It was the first goal Montoya allowed at the Bell Centre this season in four appearances.Weber tied it at 16:39 with a blast from the right point that handcuffed Jake Allen.Perron scored 7:20 into the second period when he took a drop pass from Jori Lehtera and shot between Montoya's pads.After a long stretch of play in St. Louis' zone, Nathan Beaulieu's shot went in off Pacioretty at 12:55 for the Canadiens captain's 28th of the season.Berglund got his second of the game with 25 seconds left in the period on a shot through a screen. He added an empty netter to complete the hat trick at 18:59 of the third, as Perron left the puck for him to tap in the goal.NOTES: Canadiens C Tomas Plekanec played his 900th NHL game. ... Blues C Paul Stastny sat out with a lower-body injury suffered Thursday in Toronto. ... Montreal RW Brendan Gallagher, out since Jan. 7 with a broken hand, is scheduled to return Sunday night in Boston. Carey Price is expected to start in goal for that game. ... A moment of silence was held before the game for former Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch, who died this week.UP NEXTBlues: at Detroit on Wednesday night.Canadiens: at Boston on Sunday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Smith will apparently do anything to get Sidney Crosby off his game.Case in point: the Arizona Coyotes goaltender was caught flicking the back of Crosby's helmet with his trapper during a scrum that developed in front of the net.Clearly Smith didn't want to fall prey to the 1,000th point recorded by the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar, who entered the game sitting on 998.The two were teammates on Canada's 2014 Olympic team, so maybe it was all in good fun, although Nick Bonino wasn't taking any chances and stepped right in.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist became the 12th goalie in NHL history to earn 400 career wins on Saturday, making 31 saves in a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.Lundqvist, 34, is the fastest goalie to reach the feat (727 games) and just the second to do it with one franchise, joining all-time wins leader Martin Brodeur.King Henrik is also the winningest European-born goalie in NHL history, passing Dominik Hasek with win No. 390 in December.Lundqvist currently ranks 12th all time in victories, but by season's end, can move up to ninth, passing Chris Osgood (401), Grant Fuhr (403), and Glenn Hall (407).Throughout his career, Lundqvist has been a model of consistency, winning at least 30 games in every full season he's played. He owns a career save percentage of .920, and a GAA of 2.31.With four seasons remaining on his contract, Lundqvist certainly has plenty of time to further climb the ranks before he retires, and each win from here helps cement his case as one of the all-time greats.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Peter Laviolette doesn't want his team to forget.The Nashville Predators head coach was straight and to the point after his team dropped a 7-4 decision to the Florida Panthers on Saturday."A lot of times, they say you should put (a bad loss) in the trash can and forget about it," Laviolette said, according to The Tennessean's Adam Vingan. "I think we should take it home and wrestle with it all night."A 2-2 game changed quickly in the second period, when the Panthers scored three goals in two-and-a-half minutes."It was gross," Laviolette went on. "We didn't play with any purpose. There was no passion, no effort."It was Nashville's second straight loss, and the Preds are in action again Sunday at home against the Stars."We've got to play like we're fighting for our lives," captain Mike Fisher said.Nashville sits fourth in the Central, and holds the second wild-card spot in the West. It's tight, though, and will remain so through the rest of the season. And in a very competitive West, a couple of good teams will no doubt miss the playoffs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oh my god, Jonathan Drouin.The immensely talented Tampa Bay Lightning forward put on a show Saturday night in Winnipeg, showing off all his skill in setting up Brayden Point's game-opening goal.In order:

Ice can be slippery.Al Montoya was reminded of that fact firsthand Saturday night, losing his footing early in the Montreal Canadiens' game against the St. Louis Blues and allowing a regrettable goal less than four minutes in.Patrik Berglund redirected Alex Pietrangelo's shot for his 15th marker of the season. Shea Weber answered for the Canadiens to get Montoya off the hook and tie it up late in the frame.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Foley isn't ruling out the possibility of officially closing the expansion fee process by the end of the month, but it doesn't sound likely.The Vegas Golden Knights owner says that while the $500 million he owes the league will be ready before the March 1 trade deadline, some sticking points remain that could prevent the club from making deals.“It’s going to be complicated for us to do it by (Feb.) 28th because of all the legal documents that we’re doing with the NHL that still have to be completed,” Foley told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal for a story published Saturday.“We’re still negotiating a few points. But the money will be ready around the 25th or 26th, so if we can get all the legal paperwork finished, we may be able to move it up.”NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed last week that Golden Knights general manager George McPhee and his staff will be allowed to begin making roster moves with some parameters once the transaction is complete.Foley told Carp that the final payment will most likely go through in the first week in March, which would be in time for the general managers' meetings in Florida (March 6-8) and in time to sign college free agents, but not before the final opportunity for clubs to make trades on March 1 at 3 p.m. ET.McPhee is ready to start making moves, but whether he'll be able to pull the trigger on trades before time runs out remains to be seen."We’d like to participate as soon as we can and see what’s out there," the GM said.- With h/t to SportsnetCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cam Atkinson is launching to new heights.During the second period against Detroit, the Columbus Blue Jackets winger scored his 27th goal of the season, tying a career high set in 2015-16.

It's already been dubbed the "mitttrick."Nashville Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson bagged his first-career hat trick in Saturday's loss to the Florida Panthers, and it happened to be complimentary oven mitt day for fans at Bridgestone Arena.Naturally, the freebies showered the ice in celebration.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Craig Anderson couldn't help but feel touched as the fans in Ottawa chanted his name when he was named Saturday's first star."It's definitely emotional," the Senators goaltender told TSN's Brent Wallace after recording a 33-save shutout against the New York Islanders in his first game since Dec. 5.Anderson had been away from the club attending to his wife, Nicholle, who was diagnosed with cancer in late October."The crowd has just been outstanding," he added Saturday."The city of Ottawa, the organization, it's just been a dream come true the way they've handled everything and allowed me to be a husband and to be a dad. (They understand it's) family first, and they've really hammered that home. I can't thank the city and the organization enough."Anderson previously took several brief absences before deciding the situation required a more extended leave.Nicholle tweeted earlier Saturday that she couldn't be happier to see some normalcy back in their lives, and her husband agreed when asked about that after the game."That's key for myself to get into a routine and get her into a routine, and (for) the kids," he said.As for Saturday's first-star honors, clearly it's not a one-game achievement in the Anderson household.

Tuukka Rask finally got to enjoy a win from the bench.The state of Boston's goaltending depth has been a point of discussion all season long, but interim head coach Bruce Cassidy - in only his second game with the club - rolled the dice and called upon Anton Khudobin for Saturday's tilt with the Vancouver Canucks.The result? A 4-3 win in which Khudobin stopped 29 of 32 shots and earned the first regulation win of the season for a Bruins backup.Related - Watch: Pastrnak scores late beauty to seal victory for BruinsIt had been over 11 months since a Bruins backup had won a game in regulation, with the feat being achieved on March 8, 2016 by Jonas Gustavsson.Khudobin signed a two-year, $2.4-million contract with the Bruins last summer, but his second tour of duty in Boston has been anything but a success. Prior to Saturday, the 30-year-old had posted a record of 1-5-1 (with the previous win coming in overtime) and a save percentage of .885.He recently spent several weeks in the AHL after being placed on waivers, but was recalled when it became apparent that Zane McIntyre wasn't faring much better.General manager Don Sweeney has conceded the lack of a capable backup has put tremendous pressure on the Bruins, as Boston had earned three of a possible 22 points in all previous games in which Rask had not started.Kudobin was good but not great in the win over a Canucks team far removed from the one that was considered a Boston rival, but the win from a goalie not named Rask was much needed.Whether this is a sign of things to come from Khudobin, or Sweeney is considering other options (such as Andrew Hammond, who was placed on waivers by Ottawa) remains to be seen.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not so fast.With just two minutes remaining in Saturday's affair between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks, Bruins winger David Pastrnak took control to secure the victory for Boston.Dashing in from the left wall, Pastrnak fooled Canucks defender Christropher Tanev before burying the winner by Ryan Miller.The tally marked Pastrnak's 25th of the season, putting him five back of Sidney Crosby for the league lead.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

He didn't miss a beat.Ottawa netminder Craig Anderson wasted no time making his mark in his return to the lineup Saturday, shutting the door against the New York Islanders as the Senators captured a 3-0 victory.It was Anderson's first game since Dec. 5, after which he took a leave of absence to be with his ill wife. Saturday's victory was Anderson's 13th on the season.Despite his limited playing time this year, Anderson's shutout marked his fourth goose egg of 2016-17. Earlier this season, the veteran netminder blanked the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Rangers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Grabner is back.The New York Rangers winger has recaptured his scoring touch after slumping through the season's dog days, rebounding in a big way over the past six weeks:MonthGPGoalsPoints Goals/GPOctober9560.56November157100.47December13230.15January10790.70February4451.00Only three players have scored more goals than Grabner this season: Max Pacioretty, Jeff Carter, and Sidney Crosby. Not bad company.Grabner joined the Rangers on July 1, an under-the-radar free-agent signing after he scored just nine goals with the Toronto Maple Leafs a year ago.The Austrian-born forward is signed through the 2017-18 campaign, carrying a bargain $1.65-million cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cody Franson will move to the sidelines.The Buffalo Sabres defenseman suffered a bone bruise that will keep him out of the lineup for the next two-to-three weeks, coach Dan Bylsma announced Saturday, according to John Vogl of The Buffalo News.Franson has appeared in 51 games with Buffalo this season, scoring three goals and earning 13 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't count on Zach Franko joining the class-action lawsuit against the Canadian Hockey League.On Friday, the 23-year-old blasted the lawsuit that claims the umbrella league - which oversees the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL - owes millions of dollars in outstanding wages, including overtime, holiday, and vacation pay, to more than 300 current and former players who've joined together since the suit was filed in 2014."As a proud WHL and CHL alumni, I find it embarrassing that players are asking for more money," Franko wrote. "Tell me what responsibilities do we as 16-20 year-old boys have that we need money for? Our teams cover our gear, living expenses, food, put roofs over our heads, and take us in like one of their own children."Franko played three seasons with the Kelowna Rockets from 2010-13, splitting the following campaign between Kelowna and the Kootenay Ice. He finished second in Rockets scoring in 2012-13, recording 24 goals and 48 assists in 69 games."(The teams) monitor our billet families and make sure we are being taken care of like no other teenager," Franko added. "I am so thankful that my parents can retire years earlier (because) the WHL is paying for my school and I will forever thank them for that."The WHL awards more than 400 post-secondary scholarships to current and former players each year.

Jere Lehtinen's name will hang among the greats.The Dallas Stars announced Saturday that the club will retire the Finnish winger's No. 26 prior to a game next season.The ceremony will be part of 25th anniversary celebrations for the Stars, who arrived in Texas when the Minnesota North Stars relocated in 1993.Lehtinen played his entire career with Dallas, making his NHL debut in 1995 and appearing in his final game in 2010. He captured three Selke Trophies over his career and won the Stanley Cup in 1999.Lehtinen joins four former players who starred with the franchise:NumberPlayersCareer7Neal BrotenNorth Stars (80-93) & Stars (93-97)8Bill GoldsworthyNorth Stars (67-77)9Mike ModanoNorth Stars (88-93) & Stars (93-10)19Bill MastertonNorth Stars (67-68)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This isn't how Andrew Hammond wanted to celebrate his birthday.The Senators goaltender was placed on waivers Saturday, a move Ottawa made in response to starter Craig Anderson rejoining the team following a leave of absence to be with his ill wife.In Anderson's absence, the Senators acquired Mike Condon from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who recently appeared in his 27th straight game.Hammond has played in six contests with the Senators this season, going winless while recording an .837 save percentage and 4.08 goals-against average.The 29-year-old was a hero in Ottawa during the 2014-15 season, when he posted a miraculous 20-1-2 record and pushed the Senators into the playoffs. That performance earned him a three-year contract, which expires at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.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 slate beginning at 7 p.m. EST (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

There was a time, not long ago, when a trade sending Ben Bishop out of Tampa Bay seemed imminent.The Lightning were fresh off their second deep playoff run in as many seasons, and Bishop, twice a Vezina Trophy finalist, was scheduled to become a casualty of the success he helped create.That's because Bishop's contract is set to expire after this season, and Steve Yzerman appeared to tab Andrei Vasilevskiy the future go-to man in the fashion of a three-year contract extension last Summer.But as the Lightning - perhaps more than any other team - have learned this season, things change, and usually fast.In the midst of a trying season, Bishop's trade value isn't what it used to be, so what's next?The numbersIn his fourth full season in Tampa Bay, Bishop has put together his worst yet in 2016-17.That's not a knock on his skill, he's dealt with a lower-body injury and split time with Vasilevskiy. Not to mention, the once-reliable Lightning defense has turned to shambles, and that isn't Bishop's fault.Still, the numbers speak for themselves: Bishop owns a save percentage of .907, well below his career-average of .919. Same goes for his goals-against average, currently at 2.69 compared to his career 2.33 benchmark.The regression bodes well for potential suitors looking to take him off Tampa's hands via trade, but Bishop's diminishing numbers could shrink Yzerman's hopeful return, potentially receiving nothing if Bishop falls to the expansion draft.One way or another, Bishop is an improvement in goal for many teams, and be it a trade before March 1, a new contract in free agency, or a call from Las Vegas, it doesn't appear the 30-year-old will be back in Tampa Bay next season.Possible landing spotsDallas StarsDallas ranks 29th in goals allowed (174), while Antti Niemi (.901) and Kari Lehtonen (.902) own fourth and fifth-worst save percentages among all goalies with at least 25 starts.Calgary FlamesBoth the struggling Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson are scheduled for unrestricted free agency, while developing defensemen Jyrki Jokipakka and Oliver Kylington could serve as serviceable trade chips as the Lightning search to aid their blue line.Philadelphia FlyersNetminders Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth are pending unrestricted free agents and extra cap space could become available with defenseman Mark Streit and Andrew MacDonald coming off their books.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Craig Anderson is ready.The Ottawa Senators netminder will get the start Saturday against the New York Islanders, his first game since Dec. 5.Anderson recently returned to the team following a leave of absence to be with his ill wife.The veteran goaltender has appeared in 19 games with the Senators this season, posting a 12-6-1 record and a .924 save percentage. In his absence, Ottawa has relied on Mike Condon, who recently made his 27th consecutive appearance.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.That really is Eric Lindros wearing a Quebec Nordiques jersey - the same iconic sweater he refused to pull on when the franchise, which later moved to Colorado, drafted him first overall in 1991.Fast forward 26 years, as Lindros appeared on CBC Radio-Canada's "Tout le monde en parle" program to preview a documentary about his controversial past - titled "Lindros revisité" - that will air Sunday on RDS in Quebec.The Big E's NHL career got off to a rocky start when he made it known he wouldn't play for Quebec, but that didn't stop the Nordiques from making the pick.The standout junior player and perceived "Next One" - Lindros scored 149 points in 57 games in his final full season with the Oshawa Generals - refused to report to Quebec, later saying he didn't want to play for owner Marcel Aubut.As a result, Lindros spent most of the 1991-92 season with the Canadian national team.More drama followed at the 1992 draft, when the Nordiques agreed to two separate deals involving Lindros, trading him to both the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers. Eleven days later, an arbitrator ruled in favor of the Flyers, noting Philadelphia had a deal with Quebec 80 minutes prior to its agreement with New York.Lindros made his long-awaited debut with the Flyers the following season, recording 75 points in 61 games. He retired in 2007 and was recently named one of the NHL's 100 greatest players of all time.

If you were to make a checklist to determine the ideal team owner in professional sports, Mike Ilitch would check off all the boxes.The longtime chairman of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings and MLB's Tigers, who died Friday at the age of 87, was everything one could ask for in a franchise owner in an age when so many have made headlines for the wrong reasons.Related: Hockey world pays tribute to Mike IlitchJohn Spano essentially tried to con the NHL into letting him buy the New York Islanders. Donald Sterling was ousted as Los Angeles Clippers owner after it was revealed that he made racist remarks.Jeffrey Loria helped destroy the Montreal Expos, then effectively robbed taxpaying Miami Marlins fans of millions. James Dolan has embroiled himself in scandal after scandal as dual boss of the New York Knicks and Rangers.Over the years, while several of his contemporaries committed misdeeds that forced them out entirely, landed them in hot water, or simply went unpunished, Ilitch quietly went about his business - literally and figuratively - setting the bar for excellence as a dual team owner in a mid-sized American market.The founder of the Little Caesars Pizza empire took over the Red Wings in 1982, transforming them from a struggling squad into a club that would win four championships in an 11-year span and make the playoffs for 25 straight seasons, the longest active streak in pro sports.He bought the Tigers in 1992, and they'd go on to make two World Series appearances during his tenure and play in the postseason four straight times from 2011-14.But it wasn't just the success of his teams. It was that unlike so many of his fellow owners in the sports world, he was never the story. The only times he made headlines were when he was accepting the Stanley Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman or facilitating the construction of new stadiums for both of his teams.He was the rare sports owner who didn't meddle.By all accounts, he let his sport-specific leadership groups make their own decisions, didn't interfere with their expertise, and the franchises reaped the rewards of his patience.Ilitch was also Detroit personified, and he never betrayed it.The self-made businessman was born, raised, and died in the Motor City. Like Berry Gordy and the Ford family before him, Ilitch made the city proud by turning a successful enterprise into a source of pride (or two, in this case) for the entire community."He was more than a successful businessman," NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika wrote Friday night. "He was a dreamer who cared about his teams and his community, not just his bottom line."He was also a genuine sports fan and a former athlete who played in the Tigers' minor-league system and who started the Little Caesars minor hockey program that eventually produced several NHL players.But most of all, he was a good person. Just look what he did for Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press when the reporter was a young child.

One year removed from a sixth-place division finish and an early summer, the Vancouver Canucks have seemingly turned things around.Heading into the home stretch of 2016-17, the Canucks sit just six points out of a Western Conference wild-card spot - a noteworthy achievement considering what was expected of them this season.But if general manager Jim Benning is thinking long term, he'll begin his franchise's much-needed rebuild at this season's trade deadline. The first step in that plan? Closing the book on goaltender Ryan Miller and veteran Alexandre Burrows.Benning has waffled on whether or not he'll seek to move his veterans, or whether he'll remain loyal and hopeful that Vancouver somehow manages to go all the way.Though initially stating that he wouldn't ask veterans like Burrows to waive their no-trade clauses for the benefit of the franchise, Benning has since softened his stance."We're going to see where we're at,” Benning told The Province on Tuesday. "I'll have individual conversations with those players and their agents, but we're hoping we can stay in the (playoff) fight."The true question Benning should be asking is: How far can this team truly go in 2017?Is a playoff berth attainable? Perhaps, although landing a top-three divisional spot seems all but lost - Connor McDavid's Edmonton Oilers would be the team to pass, and they're 12 points out of reach at the moment.But even if Vancouver can make the climb into a wild-card spot - passing the Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, and one of the Los Angeles Kings or Nashville Predators - what exactly is the end game?The Canucks don't seem to have the pieces in place to get very far once the postseason grind begins, and they're not a young team for whom a small taste of playoff action would be good enough. So there seems little merit in holding on to pieces like Miller and Burrows - both unrestricted free agents by this season's end - for the sake of an early exit.More importantly, the club's surprising resurgence means Benning has a chance to sell high on his veterans, particularly Miller.The 36-year-old goaltender's .918 save percentage is tied for the second-best of his career, and he's fresh off recording his third shutout of 2016-17, having quelled the offensively prolific Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.Burrows hasn't been quite as strong this season, though his seven goals and 16 points through 48 games make it clear he's moved past his tumultuous 2015-16 performance, wherein he posted only nine goals and 22 points all season.The longtime Canucks winger does have a decent track record of postseason scoring on his resume, however, having racked up 34 points through 70 career playoff appearances.It's fair to assume Benning could find suitors for his two veteran stars, as plenty of clubs would likely line up for Miller's netminding services, and Burrows remains a serviceable depth winger.Vancouver's brass has been hesitant to go down the rebuild route out of respect for their starring duo, Henrik and Daniel Sedin. But finishing 2016-17 without a meaningful playoff run and with zero assets attained for their two star free agents-to-be would do little for the franchise-leading duo.Benning and head coach Willie Desjardins are both hopeful the Canucks can pull it all together down the stretch, both referencing the New England Patriots' recent Super Bowl comeback as possible inspiration, but the numbers suggest Vancouver's chances at making a real run at the Cup remain slim.It's too soon to count the Canucks out. But regardless, if the franchise wants to meaningfully move forward in 2016-17, selling high on their veterans and building around Bo Horvat seems the most appropriate route - and a proactive approach from Benning is going to be the straw that stirs that drink.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning battled through a thrilling matchup Friday night, concluding with a silky smooth game-winning shootout tally from Wild captain Mikko Koivu.

A 10-game winning streak is nothing but a distant memory for Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers.Since their impressive run, the Flyers have struggled to recapture any momentum, and their offense has run completely dry.Over its past 10 games, Philadelphia has scored just 13 goals, and have consequently fallen out of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference.The club is desperate for a shift in the right direction, and captain Giroux - who himself has two goals over his last 20 games - is taking the blame for the Flyers' recent futility."The bottom line is, the team's got to be better. I've got to be better," Giroux told Sam Carchidi of The Philadelphia Inquirer. "Personally I have to be better. I've got to play up to my standards and, right now, it's not the case. It's frustrating. You want to give everything you can to help the team, and that's not the case right now."I know I have to be better to help the team. I take responsibility."Philadelphia needs to rectify its scoring issues soon, as the Flyers host first-place San Jose on Saturday before embarking on a three-game road trip through Western Canada.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At just 22 years old, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is already proving he's ready for the big stage.The young blue-line stud has showed plenty of promise through the early goings of his career, particularly last season - his second full NHL campaign - when he broke out with a 41-point performanceThose 41 points ranked Ristolainen among the top 25 defenders in the game offensively - 24th, specifically - a notable achievement for a young defenseman on a less-than-stellar roster.In 2016-17, he's already climbing that list at a feverish pace, emerging as one of the game's elite rearguards with the prime of his career still ahead of him.Ristolainen has already amassed 31 points through 54 games this season, sitting just 10 back of his career-high with 28 games left on the Sabres' schedule. Should he continue to score at his current pace, he'll finish the season with a career-best 47 points by season's end.He's done his best work on the man advantage, tying for the most power-play points among defensemen with 18 thus far. That special teams production has been a key reason for the Sabres climbing out of the middle of the pack and ranking second overall in man-advantage effectiveness in 2016-17.Buffalo's mark of 23.3 percent on the power play sits just 0.3 percent back of the league-leading Columbus Blue Jackets.But the most notable aspect of Ristolainen's season isn't his production, impressive as it may be. It's the fact that he's been eating up the fourth-most minutes of any NHL skater this season.Ristolainen's averaging a monster 27:08 minutes of ice-time this season, ranking him as one of only four NHL defensemen to skate for over 27 minutes a night - the others being well-known veterans Dustin Byfuglien, Ryan Suter, and Drew Doughty.While he does see plenty of power-play time, Ristolainen is still boasting one of the league's highest workloads at even strength - his 20:42 even-strength minutes per game ranking fifth among all NHL blue-liners.It's a hefty assignment for a player just three years removed from being a teenager, but Ristolainen doesn't seem burdened by the big-league expectations.For Buffalo, the young defender's quick rise means the Sabres potentially have two of the most important franchise needs already locked up - 20-year-old Jack Eichel as the all-important No.1 center, and Ristolainen as the offensively inclined anchor on the back end.Few contenders and Stanley Cup champions have achieved their success without those two slots filled. That's certainly true of the last three Cup champs.Pittsburgh likely isn't climbing back into the championship conversation without Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, while Chicago and Los Angeles' multiple Cup runs came on the backs of Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Anze Kopitar, and Drew Doughty.Buffalo has plenty of work to do to build up the rest of their roster in the same mold as those league titans, but Ristolainen is undoubtedly doing his part, proving he's ready to carry the club's blue line as they begin their climb out of the NHL's basement.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The little kid in the background of the hockey card turned out to be a decent player himself.Patrick Kane scored a milestone marker Friday night against the Winnipeg Jets, but it wasn't just that he became the highest-scoring American-born player in team history, or even that he moved into sole possession of sixth on the franchise's all-time goals list.It was also noteworthy for another reason.

Patrick Kane is now the most prolific American goal-scorer in Chicago Blackhawks history.The 28-year-old winger finished off an exceptional pass from linemate Artemi Panarin Friday night, scoring his 18th goal of the season during Chicago's tilt against the Winnipeg Jets.In doing so, Kane earned his 269th career goal, passing Tony Amonte for most goals by an American in franchise history. Kane's tally also allowed him to take sole possession of sixth place on Chicago's all-time goals list.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Hoffman's time with the Ottawa Senators hasn't been the smoothest of tenures thus far. But that hasn't stopped the 27-year-old from continuing to grow his game with each passing season.Hoffman broke out during his first full campaign in the big leagues, piling in 27 goals - tops among rookies that year - and 48 points to help the Senators return to the playoffs.And yet, Ottawa hesitated to bet long term on Hoffman, instead taking him to arbitration and eventually inking him to a one-year deal. Hoffman answered with career highs of 29 goals and 59 points in 2015-16, earning a four-year, $20.8-million contract in the process.But even last year, Hoffman's second consecutive strong campaign, didn't come without a few obstacles. The central roadblock: former head coach Dave Cameron, who demoted Hoffman to the fourth line for a lengthy stretch while unimpressed with his defensive play.It's certainly not the type of treatment you'd expect of a young near-30 goal-scorer, especially on a team that isn't exactly brimming with snipers. But Hoffman has managed to take steps forward offensively regardless of the noise, and is doing so again this season.Through 47 games, Hoffman has amassed 18 goals and 37 points, those totals ranking second and third among Senators skaters, respectively.With the young sniper improving his goals per game and points per game rates for the third straight year, he's on pace to finish just a hair above his previous career-best offensive marks.However, a closer look reveals some of the more poignant ways he's upped his game this season.While Hoffman's overall totals may finish in a similar range as his 2015-16 numbers, he's managed to fine tune the ways in which he's contributing.The smooth-skating winger currently ranks second in the NHL in power-play goals, already boasting a career-best 11 with plenty of time left in 2016-17. He's also racked up the third-most game-winning goals in the league thus far, scoring six up to this point.His most dominant performance came in a late November loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Hoffman's club fell short, but clearly through no fault of his own, as he finished with a hat trick and an assist for the first four-point game of his career.That effort made Hoffman the only Senators skater other than captain Erik Karlsson to post four points in a game in the past two seasons.With 30 games left to go, the Senators sit second in the Atlantic Division, their 62 points giving them a good chance at returning to the playoffs either by keeping their divisional spot or dropping into the wild-card race.Hoffman has been crucial in getting them this far, and the quickly rising winger is sure be at the center of any postseason success the Senators are able to attain come playoff time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The death of Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch was felt throughout hockey circles Friday evening, as well wishes came from far and wide."'Mr. I' stands as one of America's greatest sports team owners, to have been able to work with him for more than 30 years and be a part of turning a struggling franchise into a champion again was an experience of a lifetime," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said in a statement."His commitment to his team and (to) our fans is the reason we all feel a part of 'Hockeytown'," Holland added. "He will be deeply missed by those of us who were fortunate enough to know him and call him a friend."NHL commissioner Gary Bettman echoed those sentiments and pointed out Ilitch's wide-reaching impact."With the passing of Mike Ilitch, the Red Wings have lost the consummate owner, the National Hockey League has lost a cherished friend and passionate builder, Detroit sports has lost a legend and the city of Detroit has lost not only a devoted native son but a visionary and driving force in the rebirth of downtown," Bettman wrote in a statement of his own."Mike's commitment to excellence and to winning were unparalleled and his commitment to the community was unrivaled - as was his boundless support of youth hockey," the commissioner added. "He was a prolific philanthropist, and, above all, a devoted partner and husband to his wife of 62 years, Marian."At this moment of heartbreaking sorrow, we send deepest condolences to the entire Ilitch family and to all who were privileged to know him, play for him or work for him."The Red Wings initially offered a simple but poignant tribute to their longtime chairman.

Take a Bow, Rick.Rick Bowness has now coached in more games than anyone in NHL history.The Tampa Bay Lightning associate coach broke Scotty Bowman's all-time record Friday night by working in his 2,165th career game, according to Bryan Burns of the club's official website.Granted, Bowness has been a head coach for only 463 of them, while Bowman occupied the lead role for 2,141 regular-season contests.Still, it's an impressive accomplishment for the 62-year-old Bowness, who's been a reliable assistant for more than a decade."He knows how to change with the times," Bowman told Burns before Friday's game. "Over the three or four decades, he's kept up. He's got the experience. Nothing's going to surprise him now."Before becoming one of the league's most dependable associate bench bosses, he served as head coach of the original Winnipeg Jets and the Boston Bruins for less than a season in both locales, spent parts of four campaigns as the head man with the Ottawa Senators, parts of two more with the New York Islanders, then reunited with the old Jets franchise for 20 games with the Arizona Coyotes in 2003-04.Bowness joined the Vancouver Canucks as Alain Vigneault's associate in 2006-07 and remained there until the end of the 2012-13 season, joining the Lightning for the following campaign under then-first-year head coach Jon Cooper.To this day, the quest to lift Lord Stanley's mug is still his primary driving force."That's my main motivation," he said. "I don't care what the job description is, assistant coach, head trainer, I don't care about that. I just want to win the Stanley Cup. So the drive of trying to win a Stanley Cup is still there. I've never worried about the job description. I just want to go somewhere where you have a legitimate chance to win and to win that Cup."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Ilitch, the longtime owner of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, died Friday at the age of 87."My father was a once-in-a-generation entrepreneur, visionary, and leader, setting the tone for our organization and our family," Chris Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., said in a statement."He made such a positive impact in the world of sports, in business and in the community, and we will remember him for his unwavering commitment to his employees, his passion for Detroit, his generosity to others and his devotion to his family and friends," the younger Ilitch added."Together my family and the company celebrate the tremendous man he was, and we will continue to work hard to uphold his remarkable legacy. I'm honored to have had the opportunity to work with him to nurture and grow our businesses, but mostly, I'm grateful to have called him my Dad, and I know my siblings feel the same."Mike Ilitch bought the Red Wings in 1982 and purchased the Tigers in 1992.Under his ownership, the Red Wings won four Stanley Cup championships (1997, '98, 2002 and '08), and they currently hold the longest active playoff streak in professional sports at 25 consecutive seasons.He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003, and into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame the following year.The Tigers won two pennants under Ilitch's watch, in 2006 and 2012, and the MLB club made four straight playoff appearances between 2011-14.Ilitch was the founder of the Little Caesars Pizza empire, and he was a prominent figure in the redevelopment efforts in Detroit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

By no means was it the biggest trade of the offseason, but the mid-July deal that sent Mika Zibanejad to the New York Rangers in exchange for Derick Brassard and a seventh-round pick is approaching the next stage of development.Zibanejad is a pending unrestricted free agent, but his contract year had a wrench thrown in it after suffering a broken fibula in November, limiting him to just 29 games this season.With that in mind, Zibanejad's upcoming negotiations become clouded by a bit of uncertainty. So how do the Rangers approach the situation?Let's take a look:His caseIn Zibanejad, the Rangers acquired a developing 23-year-old center coming off a career-best, 51-point season with the Senators. He was hand-plucked to serve as a cheaper, younger, perhaps even better alternative to Brassard, and early returns indicate New York general manager Jeff Gorton orchestrated a good deal.Ottawa selected Zibanejad sixth overall in 2011, and after a few stints in the AHL, he's started to become the player many anticipated he would be. Over his career (310 games) Zibanejad's career points per game rate is 0.55, but since becoming a permanent NHLer in 2014-15, his average sits at 0.62 with 48 goals and 70 assists in 190 contests.In limited action this season, Zibanejad has 21 points to Brassard's 29, in 23 fewer games.What's more, Zibanejad has assumed the centering role on New York's top line, flanked by Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello, two of the club's top three scorers.The Rangers' situationAs usual, New York's cap situation is less than enviable.The Rangers have an estimated $2.2 million in cap space, per Cap Friendly, and don't have any big contracts coming off the books before Zibanejad requires a new deal.However, the expiring, smaller-scale contracts of Brandon Pirri, Jesper Fast, Matt Puempel, Oscar Lindberg, and Adam Clendening - all RFAs - could create some wiggle room.That said, New York looks stuck between true contender status and an unavoidable rebuild, and unloading contracts to ensure Zibanejad sticks around could be the safest bet in securing the latter scenario is successful.What's he worth?Because it prolongs the overall process, bridge deals are becoming less frequent in toady's NHL, and locking Zibanejad up long term is likely in the Rangers' best interest, especially considering his leg injury could drive down his price.For comparison's sake, Ducks forward Rickard Rakell, who owns a career points per game of 0.52, and is also 23, netted a six-year extension worth $3.8 annually.Considering Zibanejad's similar production, and impact on the Rangers' offense in limited action, a deal like Rakell's could be on the horizon.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.