With one situation muddled further, another has perhaps become unclouded.As the final preparations were being made for Boston's Super Bowl parade Tuesday, the local hockey club instructed its coach to stop doing his job, terminating the contract of the longest-tenured bench boss in the NHL, Claude Julien.Though it seemingly became inevitable, the Bruins' decision is curious. Because for his part, Julien has extracted results from rosters with a wide breadth of overall talent throughout his 10-year tenure with the Bruins.This hasn't been more evident than it is right now.Boston is the NHL's top possession team, swaying shot attempts at upwards of 56 percent. This isn't a product of meticulous roster construction on the part of Cam Neely, Don Sweeney, and the rest of Bruins management.In fact, the argument can be made Julien's scheme is thriving in spite of it.Boston's still in the midst of suffering the consequences of previous success that has forced the club to make many difficult decisions with its assets since Julien steered the organization to a Stanley Cup in 2011. Coin flips and questionable decisions have had a detrimental impact on the foundation of the roster.But many front office failings and the hemorrhaging of assets for the last decade hasn't undercut the program, because Julien's design has kept them competitive on a nightly basis.What has finally led to his undoing in this results-focused business after two seasons on the outside of the postseason bracket, however, is another, more destructive factor beyond his control: a ruinous combined save and shooting percentage.Boston sports an NHL-worst 96.68 PDO, which, in a way, flatters its current seeding in the East. The club leads the league in total shots on target, but is converting at a historically low percentage, and Tuukka Rask's uncharacteristic struggles are being intensified by management's inability to support their world-class starter with capable help.Terrible luck. It's ultimately why Julien's without work.Fortuity, however, works both ways.With Julien unemployed (though still technically under contract with Boston for another season beyond this), the Vegas Golden Knights now have an absolute embarrassment of riches when it comes to coaching candidates to vet.And while the other three NHL bench bosses fired this year - Gerard Gallant, Jack Capuano, and Ken Hitchcock - are qualified to spearhead the expansion program, none have built up the same level of cachet as Julien in the post-lockout era.Technical, successful, and respected. Julien would tick off all the boxes for the Golden Knights, and make the expansion market an even more desirable destination for NHL talent - both on the ice and inside operations.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins have severed their partnership with the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL, firing Claude Julien on Tuesday, the club announced.Bruce Cassidy, an assistant under Julien this season, has been named the interim boss.In his 10th year at the helm, Julien led the Bruins to a playoff appearance in his first seven seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. The Bruins have missed the postseason in the last two campaigns under his watch, and have slipped to 20th in points percentage this season.Though the results have eluded Boston this season, many believe Julien's structure isn't what's failing the organization. The Bruins are the league's top possession team, controlling shot attempts at 55.86 percent, according to Corsica.He's Boston's all-time leader in wins and postseason victories, and finished his tenure with a .614 winning percentage. He won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's best coach in 2008-09.Cassidy spent the previous five seasons with the Bruins' minor-league affiliate in Providence. His only previous head coaching in the top flight came with the Washington Capitals in 2002, and he was fired 25 games into his second year in charge.Julien had another season beyond this year remaining on his terminated deal. He'll continue earning his current $2.5-million salary, as well as $3 million next season, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.Julien is the fourth NHL coach to be fired this season, joining Gerard Gallant, Jack Capuano, and Ken Hitchcock. Each should receive consideration for the vacant post with the Vegas Golden Knights.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

PITTSBURGH - It's not a stretch to think that Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby might rack up at least three points on Tuesday night when the Calgary Flames visit PPG Paints Arena.After all, he had two goals and an assist on Saturday at St. Louis.If Crosby get three points against the Flames, he will reach 1,000 career points in front of his home fans. The Penguins play their subsequent two games on the road."At home would be really nice, but hockey is the way it is," Crosby said Monday. "I'll try my best to get it (Tuesday) night. You want to win the game ultimately, but if you can get a few points at home and get it, that would be great."If his 1,000th point comes Tuesday, it will be in Crosby's 753rd game, 12th fastest in NHL history.Crosby already has won two Stanley Cups, two Hart and two Art Ross trophies, one Conn Smythe Trophy and one Rocket Richard Trophy. Hindsight will give Crosby proper perspective on 1,000 points, but approaching such a milestone has already prompted him to consider that number."You want to get it over with because you're close. You don't want to stew over it for a few games," he said. "But I definitely appreciate it."I think you just kind of reflect a bit on all the teams you've been a part of, all the guys you've played with and how quickly it goes by."Crosby, 29, surely would have reached 1,000 a season or more ago if not for time lost to injuries. Specifically, he played in just 63 games combined in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons because of much-chronicled concussion symptoms."My mind didn't even venture to point totals or anything like that at that point," he said. "You just want to play the game, and you want to get back to the level that you can play at and feel healthy. As that comes back and you start to feel better, your goals change."Crosby this season leads Pittsburgh with 59 points and leads the league with 30 goals."Creativity is one element to his game, but he has so many facets to his game," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "That's what separates him from other players, in my opinion."He can beat you so many different ways. He can play a power game. He can play a finesse game and a speed game and a creative game. He can beat you off the rush. He can beat you in the grind game underneath the hash marks. He's so versatile as a player offensively. That's what separates him."Pittsburgh (33-13-5), which has won two games in a row, will be short-handed among forwards against Calgary.Crosby's regular left winger, Conor Sheary, is out with a lower-body injury, as is fellow star center Evgeni Malkin, who practiced Monday for the first time but has not been cleared for contact. The latest injury is to left winger Carl Hagelin, who has a concussion sustained Saturday.The Flames (27-25-3) had won two straight before falling to the Rangers 4-3 on Sunday. Tuesday marks end of three-game road trip and sends them into a five-day break.Calgary is clawing to hold onto a wild-card spot in the West."We can feel pretty good about our game," winger Troy Brouwer said of the loss to New York, "but in our current situation pretty good doesn't get us points. We've got to learn from it, for sure, but we're in a tough stretch right now playing really good hockey teams - and we're playing really good hockey ourselves."We go into a very tough building in Pittsburgh, and we need to find ways to keep pace with everybody else."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One day, the Philadelphia Flyers will score again.It didn't happen Monday, making it two games in a row at home in which the Flyers have failed to score. After losing 1-0 to the Kings on Saturday, Philly fell 2-0 to St. Louis on Monday.And Jakub Voracek, who's scored only three goals since Dec. 10, is as frustrated as Flyers fans."It's tough, you don't score a goal two games in a row, especially at home. It's tough for us," he said, according to the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac. "It's tough for the fans. They pay a lot of money to see goals and unfortunately we just couldn't buy one again (Monday)."The Flyers outshot the Blues 26-16, but it wasn't meant to be.Philadelphia remains in the playoff picture, holding down the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, but the Flyers will have to begin finding the net again if they want to play in the postseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every point matters.That was the simple message espoused by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly after a 6-5 overtime loss to the New York Islanders.The single point vaulted Toronto past the Boston Bruins for the third spot in the Atlantic Division - both teams are level at 58 points - but the Maple Leafs have the advantage of playing four fewer games.The eight points that could be amassed as Toronto catches up to Boston only exist in the realm of possibility at this point, Rielly told reporters after the loss to the Islanders:

Sometimes complaining works.A new group formed by the NHL and NHLPA called the Playing Environment subcommittee will rate ice conditions around the league by having players submit postgame surveys, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reports.At the end of games, players will evaluate what the ice quality was like through 20, 40, and 60 minutes, and it was the new subcommittee that authored the ice conditions report card, according to Kypreos.Several players have taken digs at the ice conditions at certain arenas this season. Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson quipped last month that the outdoor sheet for the Winter Classic at Busch Stadium was "better than that last game in Carolina."His teammate, goaltender Corey Crawford, was critical of that outdoor ice surface. Then, a couple of weeks later, he said having ideal ice quality like that of Colorado, Washington, and Edmonton was a better way to increase scoring than the streamlined goalie pants that became mandatory over the weekend.Three days after Crawford's comments, the always outspoken Vancouver Canucks netminder Ryan Miller complained about Crawford's home rink, Chicago's United Center, claiming it was the worst ice he's seen in his career.Then there's the situation at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where several New York Islanders players criticized the ice in an arena where the floor piping system reportedly doesn't meet NHL standards.The league clearly knows the situation there is less than ideal and there's not much the Islanders can do about it barring a move to another venue, but these new surveys should help determine other arenas where the ice needs to be improved.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ondrej Pavelec has earned the right to keep making starts for the Winnipeg Jets.So says head coach Paul Maurice, who will continue to turn to the veteran goalie over the likes of Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson."He's played well," Maurice said Monday, according to Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun. "So he gets to play more, which pushes the other two guys further down the depth chart."In seven starts since being called up from the AHL - where he'd played all season after being waived during training camp - Pavelec has a 4-3-0 record with a .895 save percentage.Not great by any standard, but team captain Blake Wheeler said it goes deeper than the numbers."There's a trust factor there," Wheeler said. "He's capable of making some big stops for us ... He made some incredible saves (in Saturday's loss to Colorado). We get one or two of those we're going to be tough to beat."Pavelec, it should be noted, would need to clear waivers if sent down after 10 games played. Hutchinson would have to go through the same process to be reassigned, while Hellebuyck would not. For now, Maurice seems content to carry three goalies, with Pavelec at the head of the pack.The Jets, meanwhile, remain in the hunt for a wild-card spot, three points back of St. Louis.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another wild one involving the Toronto Maple Leafs.This time in Brooklyn, eventually a 6-5 loss in overtime to the New York Islanders. And there's a lot to unpack, after Toronto's rookies again shined, but the club's poor defensive play and poor goaltending cost it a point.

Yet another Toronto Maple Leafs rookie is out there making his mark.Zach Hyman recorded his third shorthanded goal of the season Monday in Brooklyn. In so doing, he tied the league high and, more importantly, made team history

Kenny Agostino may never get a better shot.The St. Louis Blues recalled the 24-year-old forward from the AHL in light of a season-ending ACL injury suffered by Robby Fabbri, and head coach Mike Yeo will start Agostino on the second line Monday against Philadelphia."(Agostino) has been having a great deal of success (in the AHL) and I want him to come up and show us what he can do," Yeo said, per Chris Pinkert from the team's website. "I don't want him thinking about too much or worried one mistake will take him out of the lineup. I want to see what he can bring us and we'll give him a good chance tonight."Agostino, a 2010 fifth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins, led the AHL in scoring with 60 points (18 goals, 42 assists) at the time of his recall.His debut with the Blues will mark his 11th career NHL appearance, with the previous 10 coming with the Calgary Flames, to whom he was dealt as part of the Jarome Iginla trade in 2013.The loss of Fabbri can't be understated, but Yeo is confident Agostino (among others) can step up and help the team clinch a playoff berth."It's a very tough loss," Yeo said of Fabbri's injury. "I've been real impressed with Robby, I love his competitiveness. Every time he's out on the ice he's trying to make a difference and make something happen. That said, we're trying to develop the mentality of next man up. I think we have some guys in our lineup that can bite off a little bit more, bring a little more and help relieve us in his absence."Agostino is set to skate on a line with Jori Lehtera and David Perron.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Hitchcock closed the book on his five-plus seasons behind the St. Louis Blues' bench Monday, showing appreciation for those he worked and crossed paths with during his tenure in a letter.Hitchcock recognized chairman Tom Stillman, as well as the many coaches that worked on his staff throughout the years. He also thanked the athletes he coached, wished luck to his successor, Mike Yeo, and ended with a message to Blues fans.

The process has slowed, and the Sabres' inability to make considerable strides this year has been reflected slightly in interest in the club, but Buffalo remains the most engaged local NHL market south of the border.Buffalo continues to boast the top local television ratings in the Sports Business Journal's RSN report after taking the crown from Pittsburgh last year.MarketAvg. Rating (Change)Sabres6.43 (-5%)Penguins5.56 (2%)Blues4.26 (22%)Wild3.91 (23%)Blackhawks3.12 (-20%)The resurgent Columbus Blue Jackets have seen the greatest viewership spike on FS Ohio, up 110 percent.Columbus is followed by the New Jersey Devils, who are 58 percent but are still in the bottom tier.MarketAvg. Rating (Change)Devils0.41 (58%)Stars0.41 (-33%)Coyotes0.40 (-2%)Islanders0.29 (-31%)Panthers0.27 (35%)Ducks0.21 (-46%)Falling 57 percent, the last-place Avalanche have experienced the greatest drop, followed by the Ducks, Stars, Islanders, and Red Wings.Note: SBJ doesn't have data on the Hurricanes, Predators, or seven Canadian markets.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evidently, the Minnesota Wild still have convincing to do.As per the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, the Washington Capitals are the Stanley Cup favorites, followed by the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks.Next are the Wild and Montreal Canadiens.Here are the complete odds:TeamOddsCapitals6/1Blackhawks7/1Penguins7/1Sharks7/1Canadiens8/1Wild8/1Blue Jackets12/1Ducks12/1Rangers16/1Oilers18/1Blues20/1Predators25/1Bruins30/1Kings30/1Lightning30/1Senators40/1Maple Leafs50/1Panthers50/1Stars50/1Flames60/1Flyers60/1Islanders100/1Canucks200/1Hurricanes200/1Devils300/1Jets300/1Red Wings300/1Sabres300/1Avalanche5000/1Coyotes5000/1Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It wasn't the potential addition to his resume that bothered Evgeni Malkin.It was the suit.The Pittsburgh Penguins star delivered an affable response when asked about his exclusion from the NHL 100 Greatest Players list after practice Monday."I try to forget," Malkin laughed, according to the PHWA's Angie Carducci. "I'm proud what the team say, what Mario say. I'm proud that my family, parents, and friends support me."I did my best. What I can do is nothing. One hundred players is legend; they deserve to be on the list. Maybe I win a couple more trophies, a couple more Stanley Cups, and maybe next year, the NHL 101 year, and they send me a great black jacket and I will be No. 101."Even without winning another major individual award, or adding a third Stanley Cup to the ledger, many believe Malkin has already earned the distinction of "No. 101."A former Hart Trophy winner, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and two-time scoring champion, Malkin ranks 16th all time in points per game, scoring at a higher rate than four of the five active forwards who walked out onto the stage in L.A. wearing a suit jacket with the NHL's centennial anniversary logo stitched to the front.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Penguins burner Carl Hagelin has been diagnosed with a concussion and is working through the league's mandated protocol, head coach Mike Sullivan announced Monday.Hagelin suffered the injury in Saturday's 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. He skated on his own before Monday's practice.Hagelin has bounced around the lineup in his first full year with the Penguins, contributing six goals and 19 points.Pittsburgh's top-ranked offense has been stretched a little thin with top-six forwards Evgeni Malkin and Conor Sheary also out. Malkin is making progress, but apparently won't be ready for Tuesday's game versus the Calgary Flames.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For another Monday, the NHL has named the three stars of the week that was.It was a banner seven-day stretch for Sebastian Aho, who was named the league's first star. The Carolina Hurricanes rookie recorded his first career hat trick, totaled four goals, and chipped in one assist, helping his team sweep its three-game schedule.The hottest scorer over the last two months in the NHL, Minnesota Wild center Mikael Granlund, was named the second star. He recorded his first hat trick Saturday versus the Canucks, and finished with a league-high six points.Finally, with two shutouts to claim the league lead in that category, Peter Budaj earned third-star honors. The netminder won three games, helping extend the club's win streak to five before his loss Sunday to the Capitals.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Once again, Shayne Gostisbehere will watch from above.The Philadelphia Flyers second-year defenseman is expected to be scratched for a third straight game with the St. Louis Blues in town Monday.It will be the fifth time this season that Gostisbehere's served as a healthy scratch.The Calder Trophy runner-up from last season is mired in a 27-game goalless drought and has just four goals and 17 assists all season after galvanizing the club following his summoning last fall.Gostisbehere's scratches have been a contentious talking point among fans and media. It appears those feelings have spilled into the Flyers' locker room:

The Buffalo Sabres have retained defender Justin Falk for the 2017-18 season, signing him to a one-year, $650,000 deal, the club announced Monday.Falk, 28, has provided quality - though relatively sheltered - minutes in his first season with the Sabres, as he's among just a handful of players landing on the positive side of possession.He's without a goal, and has chipped in three assists.Falk will be eligible for the expansion draft if he appears in another five games this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's new series, "The Noise," is published every Monday. It kicks off each week with a quick look at three teams or players making headlines, good or bad.Some biteDeployed as they were designed, finally, after rolling out a diminished lineup for 51 games to start the year, the Panthers looked like the playoff threat they were pegged as in preseason Friday night.Simultaneously returning from 15-game and 16-week absences, respectively, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau picked up right where they left off on the top line with Jaromir Jagr, driving play in a 2-1 win over the Ducks. The victory, the Panthers' third in succession, lifted them to within two points of the third postseason slot in the Atlantic Division.Barkov, Huberdeau, and Jagr produced 36 goals together at even strength last season, second only to the Chicago Blackhawks' scoring line of Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, and Artem Anisimov. In itself, losing a line that's outscored top defensive units at better than two-to-one has been a major detriment to the Panthers. But the absences had a much more profound effect.Vincent Trocheck, Reilly Smith, and Jussi Jokinen feasted on mismatches created by the top unit last season, generating even greater margins at even strength than the No. 1 line. This season - as the focus of the opposition - the second-line trio has mustered just three goals in more than 200 minutes at five-on-five.Batten down the hatchesIt won't quite be the media throng awaiting him next week when he makes his only visit to Toronto this season, but John Tavares and the Islanders will experience an appetizer with the Maple Leafs and their reporters in New York on Monday.Speculation surrounding Tavares' future has been an omnipresent narrative in Toronto and across league circles for months now, but still hasn't matched the hoopla that surrounded Steven Stamkos before he eventually decided to re-up in Tampa.Part of that is because Tavares - still not a free agent until 2018 - has shot down the idea at every opportunity. But cooler heads are prevailing, for the most part, because Toronto's dynamic offense has a) eliminated the need and b) served up enough of a distraction.Regardless, Tavares will have to repeat himself Monday, before doing so again for a larger audience in just over a week.Oilers still starving for secondary scoringThe Oilers had 150 goals in 51 games at the All-Star break, boasting an overall offense in the runner-up position among Western Conference teams. They've scored just three in four games since, and would be winless (and five points back in the Pacific Division) if Montreal hadn't been equally impotent in the Super Bowl Sunday shootout snoozer.As has been a problem for much of the year, Edmonton's depth has been unable to pick up Connor McDavid when he falls into brief inactive spells. Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Milan Lucic - the team's three highest-paid players who take up $18 million of cap space - have counted eight goals over the past 20 games, with Lucic serving up a single.With the Oilers now hanging up the blades for five days for their mandatory bye, the coaching staff ought to be hard at work devising a strategy to help take the pressure off McDavid for the stretch run.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Goaltending has been a hot topic in the NHL this season, with the 2016-17 campaign throwing wrenches into a fair few clubs' expectations.Between Devan Dubnyk outshining Carey Price, Peter Budaj reigning as the league's shutout king, and a number of former mainstay starters beginning to slip, it's fair to assume a couple general managers will be talking netminders heading up to the trade deadline.The Calgary Flames remain desperate for a more solid contributor in net, while the Edmonton Oilers need a reliable backup behind Cam Talbot. And teams like St. Louis and Dallas continue to fall short of expectations due to issues in net.That being the case, here are three backup goalies who could wind up in new homes before deadline day:Ondrej Pavelec, Winnipeg JetsThe Winnipeg Jets have taken a huge step forward offensively this season. But heading into the home stretch, they still find themselves on the outside looking in, sitting three points out of a playoff spot.Winnipeg has one obvious option to help turn things around - dealing one of their three netminders for a piece that can benefit them down the line.Connor Hellebuyck has started the most games for the Jets so far (35), and boasts the best numbers of the team's three goalies. Michael Hutchinson is next up in terms of starts (20), and has at different points in his career seemed to be the future of the Jets' net.That leaves Ondrej Pavelec as the odd man out.The veteran isn't a home run, but he has a solid enough track record to warrant a look from teams looking for an upgrade. Just two seasons ago he posted a career-best .920 save percentage alongside five shutouts. If nothing else, he's very familiar with carrying the load in the cage, and may be a nice veteran option for a team with a young starter.Anders Nilsson, Buffalo SabresBuffalo Sabres backup Anders Nilsson has been one of the league's strongest secondary options this season. Through 19 games, the 26-year-old has posted a stellar save percentage of .923 - a top-10 mark among this year's crop of backups.The Sabres are definitely in need of some help heading into the season's final third, sitting second-last in the East after an injury-plagued 2016-17. They're not completely out of the running yet though. Buffalo sits just seven points out of a wild card spot, a small enough sum for a miracle run.Robin Lehner is hitting his stride and reclaiming the starter job - he posted his first shutout of the season in Buffalo's recent win over Ottawa - making Nilsson expendable. The team also has a decent backup option, Linus Ullmark, waiting in the AHL. Ullmark appeared in 20 games for the big club last season, and is fresh off an impressive performance at the AHL All-Star skills competition.Sounds like it's time to shuffle the deck and see what Nilsson will fetch on the market.Peter Budaj, Los Angeles KingsWe know. The shutouts. But hey, "if Wayne Gretzky can be traded ..."Budaj has found new life in Los Angeles Kings colors, putting up a career year that has him leading the NHL with seven shutouts.But is the 34-year-old really a reliable enough option to take into the playoffs? The Kings aren't exactly rolling through teams anymore, and as of right now they're only barely in the playoff picture. Budaj might have single-handedly saved their season, but with Jonathan Quick back practicing with the team - and scheduled to return in early March - the club might be better served by selling high on their now-elite backup to fill other needs.It's fair to assume Quick will reclaim the starting role once he's settled back in, and the team still has a fairly serviceable option in Jeff Zatkoff as well. Trading Budaj would be risky - the club could also opt for the safer option of flipping Zatkoff - but considering what he might bring in given his current level of play, it could be a game-changing gamble for the Kings' postseason run.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Few things remain constant in the NHL. But if there's one aspect of the game that seems a given each year, it's Washington Capitals sniper Alex Ovechkin reaching the 50-goal plateau.After all, Ovechkin has topped the half-century mark in each of the past three seasons, and has done so a total of seven times throughout his career. The only other two players to boast seven 50-goal campaigns? Hall of Famers Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky.But the Russian phenomenon isn't currently firing at the same clip he has in recent years.Through 52 games, Ovechkin's posted 25 goals, leaving him with the second-lowest goals-per-game pace of his career (0.48).He's scored at a similar rate twice before in his career, finishing with 32 and 38 goals in the two seasons when that was the case (2010-11 and 2011-12). Those rank as the only two years in which Ovechkin failed to top 45 tallies while still playing roughly a full season (he appeared in more than 78 games in both instances).And after dominating for three consecutive campaigns, the 31-year-old appears headed for that range once again.With exactly 30 games remaining in Washington's season, and Ovechkin only halfway to the coveted plateau, he'd have to score 25 goals in 30 games to reach his usual mark. Certainly not an easy task.Interestingly, there is one player who did post 25 goals through 30 games this season - the Russian's longtime rival, Sidney Crosby.If there's one other player who can put pucks in the net at that absurd pace, it's The Great Eight. And with Crosby cruising en route to this year's Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, he'll likely have all the motivation he needs to step his game up over the home stretch.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL family took its eyes off the ice Sunday night, taking to Twitter to note the finer (and less fine) moments of Super Bowl LI.

For the first time in decades, the Detroit Red Wings will approach the NHL trade deadline with good reason to be sellers.The Wings have earned a postseason berth every season since 1990, but appear on the cusp of seeing that streak end, sitting with the third-fewest points in the East heading into the home stretch.Related: How the Red Wings can rebuild at the trade deadlineWith the organization potentially turning their attention to the future, one key name that could find its way into trade talks is Mike Green. The veteran defenseman would certainly draw interest in the midst of an impressive season, having posted 10 goals and 25 total points through 44 games on the Wings' back end.Right-handed rearguards with Green's offensive skill are always among the most coveted trade pieces, and the former Washington Capital boasts some elite career numbers - two 70-point seasons in his prime years, and at least 35 points in each of the past three seasons. He's on pace to top 40 points in 2016-17.Green's no-trade clause means his fate is in his own hands, but given the fact that the Wings seem to be going nowhere fast, a change of scenery may not require much convincing.That being the case, here are three teams that could benefit from the smooth-skating defender's services:1. Winnipeg JetsWith seven entry-level deals on the books, cap space isn't a huge concern for the Winnipeg Jets. That's key, as Green carries a hefty $6-million annual cap hit until the conclusion of next season.There's no denying his skill, however, and with the Jets taking a step forward offensively this season, Green's scoring talent could help them move one step closer to a playoff return.Most importantly, the veteran could help fill in for key defensive cog Tyler Myers, who remains on the injured reserve. Myers hasn't played since early November, and is not making any progress, according to his head coach.Green seems as good a replacement as any, and could perhaps help the club continue to climb the standings - they currently sit three points out of a wild-card spot. The draw for Green? Getting to play with one of the most potent young snipers in the game in Patrik Laine.2. New Jersey DevilsThe fit is pretty straightforward here. The New Jersey Devils are absolutely starved for offense, having finished last in the league in goals per game last season, and ranking fourth-last in that regard this year.Though the club added a few intriguing offensive pieces this summer - namely elite winger Taylor Hall - they still lack a true No. 1 option on the blue line. A problem exacerbated by the fact that the Devils traded their best bet at that role, Adam Larsson, to get Hall.Making matters worse, the injury bug is chipping away at New Jersey's defensive corps, as both John Moore and Jon Merrill currently sit on the shelf.The Devils have plenty of cap space and plenty of room for improvement at both ends of the rink. Like Winnipeg, they sit within reach of the playoffs - five points out of a wild-card spot - and adding Green would be a significant step towards closing the gap.New Jersey's going to be a harder sell for the veteran, though donning Devils colors would mean an unchallenged shot to be the No. 1 option on the back end.3. Carolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes have all sorts of cap space, meaning they would have no issue fitting in Green's salary. They're also oozing with potential, as the up-and-coming club is beginning to see hard-earned progress after years of futility.The Canes sit just four points out of the playoffs and boast a number of strong young prospects building up their names. They've got some talent on the blue line, but aside from Justin Faulk, the Hurricanes' rearguards are an exceptionally young and inexperienced bunch.Green and Faulk could serve as a considerable one-two punch for Carolina, and the Red Wings star would be of particular use in helping right the ship for the Hurricanes' 22nd-ranked power play. Over the past decade, only four active defenders have put up more power play points than the former Capital's mark of 188.A move to Carolina would allow Green to take on a mentor role for the next crop of talented blue-liners, as the Hurricanes have a few talented future options in tow, led by 2015 fifth overall pick Noah Hanifin.Whether or not Green and the Red Wings agree that a move is best remains to be seen, but if the scales tip toward a trade, it's clear the 31-year-old won't be short on suitors.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just one, not both.That should be the approach of Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic heading toward the March 1 trade deadline, or the summer draft floor, when the team could move one of its star players.With the Avalanche in the midst of the worst season since the franchise arrived in Denver, change is in order, and that could land center Matt Duchene or winger Gabriel Landeskog in a new area code.Duchene, 26, is signed through the next two seasons and carries a $6-million cap hit, while 24-year-old Landeskog has four seasons remaining at a cap charge of about $5.57 million annually.Here's why it makes more sense for Sakic to hang onto Duchene and trade Colorado's captain.The case for DucheneNo team ever complained about strength down the middle.Just ask the Los Angeles Kings about having both Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter or the Pittsburgh Penguins about featuring Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Each side has captured two Stanley Cups since 2009.The Avalanche have their own pair of middlemen in Nathan MacKinnon and Duchene. Three seasons ago, they combined for 133 points en route to MacKinnon winning Rookie of the Year honors. Furthermore, in a game focusing more and more on possession, faceoff strength is critical, and only Anaheim's Antoine Vermette has done better at the dot than Duchene's 61.1 percent success rate (minimum 100 faceoffs).While not much has gone right in Denver this season, Duchene has done his part, collecting 32 points in 44 games. On pace for 56 points, that's in line with his past two seasons - even more impressive considering the Avalanche haven't had many good nights. They've won just two of their last 22 games.Captain's goodbyeAs for Landeskog, the captain's body of work hasn't been as impressive. With 18 points on the year, he's on pace for his worst full season since he made his NHL debut in 2011.Landeskog plays a physical brand of hockey, and the Avalanche have an opportunity to cash in on their asset before that approach takes its toll. His contract also doesn't expire until 2021, when Landeskog's best days could already be behind him. The captain's crash-and-bang style would be perfect for a contender this spring, but the Avalanche's days as a contender are still far off, meaning they may not have the opportunity to utilize that strength when it counts.Filling a needSure, Sakic would likely get a bigger return for Duchene, but that's because wingers are the easiest pieces to add. When was the last time a top center or high-end defenseman became available or reached unrestricted free agency? They just don't move, and in the rare case they do, what's surrendered in exchange is painful.Dealing a wing won't fetch as much. The Edmonton Oilers made a comparable move and set the market by shipping winger Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Larsson, a reliable second-pairing defenseman.And that's truly the top need for the Avalanche. They already have two top defensemen in Erik Johnson (who's missed the majority of the season with a leg injury) and Tyson Barrie, an excellent puck mover, but the issue is depth. Colorado has rolled through a range of low-end rearguards this season. What the Avalanche sorely need is a true second-pairing blue-liner, and that's what they can get by trading Landeskog while staying strong down the middle and keeping Duchene's production.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you're looking to dissect the Winnipeg Jets' offensive resurgence this season, starting with Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine is a good bet. But don't discount the value of the team's veterans, because a few of their more weathered names have been invaluable for the surging club.Bryan Little, in particular, has stepped up with a career-best effort for Winnipeg in 2016-17.The veteran is fresh off a seven-game point streak that saw him rack up seven goals and 11 total points over the latter half of January. All in all, he's amassed 14 goals and 28 points through 32 games for Winnipeg, those totals ranking fifth and sixth among Jets skaters, respectively.This impressive production marks a notable step forward for Little. The 29-year-old has five 20-goal seasons on his resume, but is currently scoring at the highest goals per game pace of his career (0.44). His overall scoring pace is similarly a career-high, with Little rolling along at a rate of 0.88 points per game.The wily veteran's production has earned him a plum gig as of late, skating between star wingers Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers.According to head coach Paul Maurice, the line assignment speaks to Little's growing value for the club."We don't hear much about him around the league or his importance," Maurice told The Canadian Press recently. "But he's been so important to us - power play, faceoffs. Every time I put him with the two young players, their game settles right down."He has a great calming effect on them in terms of what they feel they need to try to get accomplished every time they touch the puck."That steadiness has led to some exceptional numbers for Little himself this season. While he's a top-six scorer on the team in terms of straight goal and point counts, he ranks much higher when that production is measured against his ice-time.Little, in fact, ranks third on the team in points per 60 minutes, behind only Scheifele and Laine, and second in goals per 60 minutes, behind only Laine.He doesn't come cheap, but as of right now, the former first-round draft pick is living up to every penny of his $4.7-million annual cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' road to the 2016 Stanley Cup wasn't without a few bumps and bruises.A horrid first half led to the dismissal of head coach Mike Johnston, and a lengthy absence for injured star pivot Evgeni Malkin further added to the Penguins' struggles. It took a number of astute moves to keep the club afloat and push it to the second championship of the Sidney Crosby era.But only a small part of that equation came at the trade deadline. After years of being one of the biggest players leading up to deadline day, Pittsburgh took a different approach last year, and the results speak for themselves.That in mind, here are three reasons the Penguins can win big once again by avoiding the blockbusters:1. Sticking to minor tweaks paid off in 2016A quick review.The Penguins made some significant changes to their roster once Rutherford took over - the most noteworthy being the trade that sent James Neal to Nashville in exchange for Patric Hornqvist, and the swap that brought Phil Kessel to town from the Toronto Maple Leafs.Both of those trades happened in the offseason (Hornqvist in 2014, Kessel in 2015), as did the deal for former Vancouver Canucks pivot Nick Bonino, who came to town less than a month after Kessel.Rutherford made just three in-season deals prior to the 2016 deadline, two of them far ahead of time. Trevor Daley was added in December - with Rob Scuderi sent to Chicago - and Rutherford acquired Carl Hagelin in January in exchange for David Perron and Adam Clendening.His only major-league deal in the days leading up to the deadline? A 2016 third-round pick to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Justin Schultz.None of those three trades seemed all too significant at the time. Of course, all three of those players became key contributors for the club because they fit perfectly with the team's style of play - particularly Daley, who's been one of the club's top defensemen since, and Hagelin, who caught fire as part of the "HBK" line.2. Pittsburgh knows what happens when you go big and missMidway through the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, the Penguins were rolling through a 12-game win streak, the longest such stretch of victories of any team that season.Then came a flurry of trades to beef up the contending club right before the deadline, with the Penguins adding Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow, hulking defenseman Douglas Murray, skillful veteran Jussi Jokinen, and future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla.The black and gold looked well-stocked and ready to dominate, and did just that over the short stretch of remaining regular-season games, winning eight of 10.But the wheels came off during the playoffs. Pittsburgh had enough raw talent to make it to the Eastern Conference final, but once the competition ramped up, the club found itself swept in four straight by the Boston Bruins.A number of factors contributed to the early exit - the injury bug certainly did the Penguins no favors - but it's fair to assume the significant turnover in the locker room just one month before the playoffs didn't help matters.Iginla, in particular, wound up being a prime example of a home-run attempt that fell well short. The veteran never quite fit, and the team's offense sunk.3. Rutherford has options, but the Penguins have all they needThe Penguins manager holds one of the league's most coveted trade chips heading into the deadline, as netminder Marc-Andre Fleury seems a clear candidate to move.Matt Murray has all but claimed the starter's role in Pittsburgh, and with the expansion draft looming, Rutherford has said the club will move Fleury if the veteran wants out.But there's no reason Pittsburgh should shake things up with a big-time move unless something undeniable comes along - especially since that deal will likely alter the club's proven chemistry moving forward.Adding a notable piece in exchange for Fleury could help the Penguins deal with their injury woes, but if everyone is due back before the playoffs - as they appear to be - holding off might be the better option.Pittsburgh still boasts exceptional depth down the middle with Crosby, Malkin, Bonino, and Matt Cullen. And the club struck gold last season with its current crop of wingers.In fact, the Penguins have enough talented young forwards on the cusp - particularly Scott Wilson, Tom Kuhnhackl, and Jake Guentzel - that they're rotating a few notable names fighting to claim roster spots. Pittsburgh did just fine with that formula last year, as Conor Sheary and Bryan Rust clawed their way into central roles in the top six.A minor move or two to shore things up may help the club down the stretch. But given the fact that Pittsburgh brought back nearly its entire Stanley Cup roster in 2016-17, too much change could derail what could be a prime opportunity to repeat as champs.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Call it a reset.Following a healthy scratch on Jan. 5, in which high-priced sniper Mikkel Boedker got to watch his team from the stands, the Danish winger has come back with a vengeance.In the 14 games since, Boedker's production has more than tripled what he put up through the season's early goings, his first year in San Jose.Date RangeGPGAPtsPts/GPSince Jan. 51446100.71Before Jan. 5382680.21The struggle was real. With single-digit points in nearly half the season, Boedker's big-money contract looked like an even bigger mistake by Sharks general manager Doug Wilson after he signed the winger to a four-year, $16-million pact in the offseason.Things were so bad that Boedker's name was floated as a possibility for the Vegas expansion draft, which would mark his fourth team in just over a year. Boedker was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in 2008 and spent his career in the desert until a trade to the Colorado Avalanche last February.But in signing in San Jose, Boekder reunited with coach Peter DeBoer, who was behind the bench for his one season with the OHL's Kitchener Rangers. That year, Boedker finished second in team scoring with 73 points in 63 games.The two appear to have rediscovered that chemistry."That's what we need from him," DeBoer said after Boedker scored a hat trick against the Edmonton Oilers on Jan. 10. "These type of games were coming. He just took his foot off the gas for a couple days and got it back. He's in for a big second half. We need him."In recent days, Boedker has seemingly found that comfort, lined up with center Logan Couture and veteran Patrick Marleau. The three have combined for 22 points in the past six games.No doubt DeBoer and Sharks fans alike hope the trio can keep up that sort of production.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Is Devan Dubnyk feeling a little burnt out?The starting netminder for the Minnesota Wild has taken on a busy workload this season, and that could be contributing to his recent dip in performance.In his past 13 outings, dating back to Dec. 29, Dubnyk has allowed more than three goals in eight games. He allowed four in three of those matches and five in a defeat to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.Over the stretch, Dubnyk's save percentage has sagged to .900, while his GAA has climbed to 2.84. Compare it to the first part of the season and the difference is staggering. Through the first 27 games of 2016-17, Dubnyk owned a .947 save rate and a sparking 1.58 GAA.It's a different workload for Dubnyk with the Wild, on pace for 64 games after taking on 67 a year ago. Upon his arrival to Minnesota during the 2014-15 campaign, Dubnyk played all but one game down the stretch, making 39 appearances. He's also played 16 playoff games over the last two years.You can't blame Wild coach Bruce Boudreau for regularly relying on Dubnyk, with backup Darcy Kuemper contributing subpar performances when he's been called upon. While Kuemper has come away with the win in four of his past six starts, it hasn't been without difficulty, as he's allowed four goals on three of those occasions, posting a bloated 3.00 GAA over the stretch.It's a stark contrast from a year ago, when Kuemper proved reliable in 21 games, earning a .915 save percentage and 2.43 GAA. The 26-year-old was once a trusted No. 2 but his drop off in play has left few options for Boudreau.Cap space is tight in Minnesota, but the team should consider investigating a reliable second stringer prior to the March 1 trade deadline. Without doing so, the Wild risk putting their best season in franchise history at stake.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cam Talbot continues to get it done.The Edmonton Oilers goaltender was at it again Sunday, earning his fifth shutout of the season in a 1-0 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens. Talbot stopped all 22 shots he faced in 65 minutes, and didn't allow a goal in the skills competition.With the clean sheet, Talbot tied his career high for shutouts in a season, matching the five he recorded in just 36 games with the New York Rangers in 2014-15. His strong play that season backing up Henrik Lundqvist - and filling in when The King was injured - changed the trajectory of his career.Talbot was traded to the Oilers - seemingly forever in search of a No. 1 goalie - ahead of the 2015 draft for three picks (a second, third, and seventh). And, it's safe to say he was worth the price.The 29-year-old has started 49 of the Oilers' 55 games this season, and along with Connor McDavid is a huge reason why Edmonton's poised for playoff hockey for the first time since 2006. It's been a while.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brett Connolly appears to have finally found a home in the NHL.It's on the Washington Capitals' third line, more specifically, where the 24-year-old is in the midst of his most potent season to date.Playing alongside Lars Eller and Andre Burakovsky, the winger recorded his 10th goal of the season in his 39th game on Sunday. In so doing, he eclipsed the nine goals scored in 71 games with the Boston Bruins last season, and kept him well on pace to top the career-high 12 goals scored as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014-15.Not bad for a player making $850,000.How he got hereWhile his goal totals aren't blowing anyone away quite yet, Connolly is finally starting to show the kind of output expected when the Lightning selected him sixth overall in 2010.After scoring 46 goals in 59 games for the WHL's Prince George Cougars the season after he was drafted, Connolly was unable to find a groove in the NHL but became a fixture at the AHL level, where he averaged 0.88 points per game over two seasons.In the end, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman decided to cut bait, sending Connolly to the Bruins at the 2015 trade deadline for Boston's second-round picks at the 2015 and 2016 NHL Drafts. He broke his finger in practice before appearing in a single game with his new club, and was simply unable to find the net, scoring nine goals on 104 shots in 76 games in black and gold.He became available in July after Boston decided not to sign him to a qualifying offer. In swooped the Capitals, who in adding both Eller - in a trade from Montreal - and Connolly as a free agent are now reaping the benefits of significant scoring depth on the third line.What's next?Scheduled to become a restricted free agent at season's end, Connolly is not only proving he belongs in the NHL, but is working toward added term and salary on his next deal, be it with the Capitals or elsewhere.If he keeps it up and helps Washington achieve the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup, he'll be considered one of the best signings of the 2016 offseason, at the very least.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues will be without Robby Fabbri for the remainder of the season.The 21-year-old forward suffered an ACL injury in his left knee and has been ruled out of action until training camp in September.Fabbri was hit in front of the Blues' bench by Pittsburgh's Carter Rowney on Saturday. He collided with the boards and was unable to leave the ice without assistance.

Alex Ovechkin's family was on hand Sunday afternoon as the Washington Capitals' captain was honored for reaching the 1,000-point plateau.Prior to Sunday's matinee against the Los Angeles Kings, the NHL's Jim Gregory presented Ovechkin with a Tiffany crystal, while team owner Ted Leonsis gave the captain a golden stick.Fans in attendance were also given cutouts of Ovechkin's face.Ovechkin reached the milestone with a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 11. Since hitting the mark, the 31-year-old has been on a tear, picking up four goals and 12 points in 11 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne has no complaints with the league's new streamlined goalie pants.Related: Streamlined goalie pants mandatory as of SaturdayThe new slimmer pants were made mandatory as of Saturday night, and after going nearly perfect in a 1-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, Rinne hinted that he actually prefers the new equipment."'I'm European, so I like slim fit," Rinne said, according to the Tennessean's Adam Vingan.Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen didn't throw much shade toward the new pants despite allowing five goals on 41 shots in a 6-5 win over the Boston Bruins, noting they did little to impede his play."No, not really," Andersen said post game. "Maybe restricting a little bit moving around but that's how it is with new gear. I'm sure I'll focus on getting that fixed."In all, 74 goals were scored in 13 games Saturday night, an average of nearly six goals per game, but only time will tell if the new pants will lead to more goals.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals fans are in for a cardboard treat.Prior to Sunday's game against Los Angeles, the club will honor captain Alex Ovechkin for recently recording his 1,000th NHL point, and every fan in attendance will receive a cutout of the superstar winger's face.

The NHL's trade market is stalled.Why? Because there are really only two teams - Colorado and Arizona - that fall directly into the camp of sellers, even with just over three weeks to go before the March 1 deadline.Each of the other 28 teams are either in a playoff position or within seven points of one, but a quick look at the standings reveals three teams next in line, as the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and Tampa Bay Lightning all sit tied for the third-lowest point percentage (.491) and therefore all but out of the race.Here's what they might have to offer.Dallas StarsGeneral manager Jim Nill has a bevy of players set to become unrestricted free agents at season's end and who could be dangled for picks or prospects prior to the deadline.Highlighted by Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya, the list also includes Jiri Hudler, Patrick Eaves, Lauri Korpikoski, Adam Cracknell, and Ales Hemsky.Eaves is having the best season of his career and probably made a case for a contract extension, but the rest of the field should fully be in play as the Stars look to retool over the summer.Hemsky, it should be noted, has missed all but one game this season due to hip surgery, but could return in time to help a team down the stretch.Including Antti Niemi or Kari Lehtonen in a deal for a more permanent solution in net would be a huge bonus.Tampa Bay LightningThought to be a Stanley Cup contender heading into the season, the Lightning have sunk to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with Steven Stamkos sidelined with an injury, and that may give GM Steve Yzerman reason to pause when considering what to do with several restricted free agents.Jonathan Drouin is a lock to get a nice new deal, and Ondrej Palat is viewed as an important two-way winger, but it's possible Tyler Johnson could be moved in order to avoid a negotiation headache and to create some much-needed cap flexibility.Goaltender Ben Bishop would seem to be at the top of Yzerman's trade chip list, seeing as he's set to hit the UFA market on July and the Lightning have incumbent Andrei Vasilevskiy signed through 2019-20.Brian Boyle also stands out as a veteran with playoff experience that teams may covet.Winnipeg JetsFull of young talent to build around, these Jets just aren't taking off, and it may be time to discard some dead weight.Pending UFA Drew Stafford is a scoring winger that teams could use come playoff time, and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff would do well to part ways with Ondrej Pavelec once and for all in the event someone's desperate for goalie depth heading into the postseason.The re-signing of Jacob Trouba to a team-friendly contract earlier this season may have temporarily rectified the defenseman's trade request, but the market for quality on the blue line could be insane, giving the Jets a chance to cash in on that front.This team is still a year or two away, and can't afford to remain quiet on the trade front any longer, especially in a buyer's market.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks are on some kind of streak and that's thanks in large to a suddenly potent second line.The Sharks have gone 8-1-1 in their last 10 contests to propel them to the top of the Pacific Division, and it's all thanks to a trio that have been lighting it up ever since a dramatic third period back on Jan. 23.That, of course, was the night that Patrick Marleau became one of only a dozen players to score four goals in a single period - doing so in the final frame of a 5-2 Sharks victory over the Colorado Avalanche.The game seemingly awoke a sleeping giant, as the trio of Marleau, Logan Couture, and Mikkel Boedker have been nearly unstoppable in the five games since.Including that win over the Avs, the Sharks have gone 4-1-1 in their last six, scoring 19 times along the way. Amazingly, the aforementioned trio has been responsible for 10 of those goals, one of which was also the 500th of Marleau's career. That's over 52 percent of the team's scoring.Here's exactly what the three men have accomplished in six games:Player Goals PointsMarleau710Couture37Boedker05The three have combined for 22 points in the last half-dozen games, which averages out to nearly a point each per game each. Couture's goal Saturday night against the Arizona Coyotes - a game the team ultimately dropped in a shootout - proved just how in sync the linemates are at the moment.

Lindy Ruff got right to the point in his assessment of his team's play.The Dallas Stars head coach had this to say following a 5-3 loss to Chicago on Saturday, per the team's official website:

Mikael Granlund is bursting into the next tier of NHL star.On the big stage Saturday in Vancouver, and on the same sheet of ice of his brother Markus, the Minnesota Wild's leading point-producer registered his first NHL hat trick with a one-handed swipe at a loose puck skittering toward Ryan Miller in the Vancouver Canucks' crease.

The Vancouver Canucks celebrated the leading scorer in the franchise's history Saturday, honoring Henrik Sedin and his 1,000th career-point milestone before puck drop versus the Minnesota Wild.Before team president Trevor Linden presented Henrik and his family with a gift to commemorate the achievement, the captain thanked the fans and franchise with a short video that played inside Rogers Arena.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As preposterous as it may sound, Boston Bruins dynamo David Pastrnak may be supplying the Toronto Maple Leafs a competitive advantage.After William Nylander recorded his first career hat trick in Saturday's 6-5 win in Boston, Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock suggested his offensive wiz is a better player when in the presence of his childhood friend."We got to bring Pastrnak on the road with us all the time, take him to every rink," Babcock said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "(Nylander) always wants to be better than (Pastrnak)."For his part, Pastrnak was a force himself. He scored twice, and matched Nylander's three points with a primary assist on a power-play goal scored by Torey Krug.Nylander commented on how special it is to dual with his close friend on such a massive stage, via Masters:"It's something you never thought would happen when you're playing as little kids back home. Pretty cool."Let's face it, if this "rivalry" continues to yield 6-5 shootouts, we're all benefiting.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sometimes the difference between winning and losing is simply the presence of otherworldly talent.That seems to have been the case Saturday night as the Pittsburgh Penguins took down the St. Louis Blues with a dominant 4-1 performance, due in no small part to captain Sidney Crosby putting the club on his back once again.Crosby kicked off the theatrics near the end of the first period with an exceptional highlight-reel tally, scoring a backhand one-timer from one knee.Midway through the second, he did it again, concluding a dominant shift by faking a slap shot and whipping the puck over to defender Justin Schultz, who wired it home for the 3-0 lead.

While it wasn't an exact replica, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins proved history does indeed repeat itself.Spearheaded by William Nylander's first career hat trick, Toronto owned a 4-1 lead in the second period. However, presumably drawing from past experience, the Bruins promptly erased the three-goal deficit, setting up one hell of a finish between the Atlantic Division rivals.Unlike the Maple Leafs' infamous playoff collapse in 2013, though, the result turned out much better for the Blue and White, eventually eking out a crucial two points.All in all, it was bananas, and a series of key plays ultimately played a big role in determining the outcome. Here are three of them:Brown gets a breakFive minutes after Ryan Spooner tied things at 4-4, Toronto briefly managed to escape the confines of the defensive zone, and Connor Brown was the beneficiary of a fortuitous bounce on the other side of the rink.As Zach Hyman searched the slot for a recipient, his centering pass deflected off the heel of Zdeno Chara's stick and right onto the tape of Brown's, who authoritatively put it in the open net.5-4.Komarov's penaltyIt wasn't long after Brown's goal that Leo Komarov tempted fate, awarding the Bruins a chance after interfering David Pastrnak.As the hockey god's would have it, none other than Patrice Bergeron would capitalize on the ensuing powerplay.5-5.Marner's screenBased on what transpired throughout a topsy-turvy third period, hardly anyone anticipated overtime despite the tied score, and it was James van Riemsdyk that iced it with 1:36 to go.While JVR's second tally of the game was certainly a well-placed shot, it wouldn't have been possible without a perfect screen from linemate Mitch Marner.6-5, final.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Morgan Rielly has appeared in two games since suffering an unidentified lower-body injury a few weeks back, but it's obvious that the Toronto Maple Leafs' No. 1 defenseman remains affected by the ailment.Now we understand why.Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock revealed after the club's thrilling 6-5 win over Boston on Saturday that Rielly is playing through a high ankle sprain, according to The Athletic's David Alter.It's an injury that typically requires a more lengthy recovery process.Babcock added that Rielly tweaked the injury in the win, and that it will continue to happen until the injury can fully heal.Rielly was still able to log in excess of 22 minutes Saturday, almost four minutes more than in his return Thursday versus the St. Louis Blues. Still, Rielly's injury, and how its impacted his performance, has magnified Toronto's shortage of plus defenders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.