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 three-game slate (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

New Jersey Devils winger Taylor Hall wasted no time making his presence known Saturday, scoring within the first four minutes of a tilt with the Columbus Blue Jackets and refusing to let up over the rest of the eventual 5-1 victory.Related - Watch: Devils capitalize after Werenski loses stickHall posted one of his finest stat lines of 2016-17 in the rout, finishing with eight shots and two goals - he added an empty-netter in garbage time - to lead skaters on both sides.The eight chances tied the most Hall has launched on net in any game this season - he posted eight shots just once before in 2016-17, in early November.And he managed that noteworthy effort in just 17:10 minutes of ice-time, which ranks as the seventh-lowest total among his 43 games this season. He's topped 20 minutes on 19 occasions this year.The 25-year-old sniper posted his third multi-goal effort in the win over the Jackets as well, coming up big for his new club against an Eastern Conference titan, an apt time to do so given the Devils' desperate push for a playoff spot.With the two points in the bag, New Jersey now sits with 54, five back of Philadelphia for the East's second wild-card slot.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Any deal sending Matt Duchene or Gabriel Landeskog out of Denver likely requires a top-end defensive prospect coming back to Colorado.Unfortunately for Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic, he seemingly let one slip through his fingers a year ago.The Avalanche are the NHL's cellar-dweller this season, with just 30 points in 49 games after winning just three of their last 22. But that wasn't the case a year ago. In the thick of the playoff race, the Avalanche were buyers at the deadline, bringing in winger Mikkel Boedker from the Arizona Coyotes.The early results were promising. Boedker finished his short tenure in the Mile High City with 12 points in 18 games, outpacing all Avalanche skaters. But Colorado's dreams of a postseason dance were short-lived, as the Avalanche finished five points shy of a playoff berth.On Arizona's side of the deal, veteran winger Alex Tanguay was the most notable quantity headed to the desert, while the Avalanche also included young blue-liner Kyle Wood as part of the deal.Wood was drafted 84th overall in 2014, but less than two years later, he was off to Arizona, with Sakic noting the club was questionable to sign Wood. It was a curious statement, given Wood tallied 39 points in 49 games in his final year in junior.

There may be fewer specialists, but there sure are heavyweights.Adam McQuaid and Matt Martin - two players that meet the requirements for the division - exchanged punches at center ice in the second period Saturday in Boston after the Bruins defender wiped out Auston Matthews.McQuaid landed the decisive right hand before the intervention, sending the bloodied Martin in for repair, and presumably to enter concussion protocol.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot of good rookies. William Nylander is one of them.After notching the equalizer in the first period, the Maple Leafs' freshman recorded two more, completing his first NHL hat trick.Here's goal No. 2:

The Colorado Avalanche didn't look like the historically awful team they've been all season on Saturday afternoon. They scored five times (incredibly, for the first time since opening night), answered the bell physically, and limited an ambitious Winnipeg Jets team to 24 shots in an eventual 5-2 triumph.Colorado's first win in close to a month comes as a welcomed reprieve for a group of players who have indicated in recent weeks that it's become more and more difficult to come to the rink motivated.However, they failed to completely shake that omnipresent discontent."We kind of showed why we had success early on in the season. It might make things even more frustrating because we can show what we can do," Matt Duchene said, according to Terri Frei of the Denver Post."We showed what we can do tonight, we beat a team that's desperate to stay in the playoff run and that's not an easy thing to do. We did a lot of good things, everyone pulled their weight tonight."Duchene said it was the first time in a "long, long time" the Avs felt like a good team.With the trade deadline less than four weeks away, the last-place Avalanche likely won't have many more opportunities to experience that feeling together.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Transitions: they're important.A blended Mike Babcock line proved just that Saturday, as Auston Matthews stole the puck in the neutral zone before finding Nazem Kadri, who promptly spotted a streaking William Nylander.The rookie's quick shift to the forehand fooled an over-committed Tuukka Rask, and ultimately tied the game at one.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Okposo, a man of many moves.The Buffalo Sabres winger showcased his skills Saturday versus the Ottawa Senators, driving to the net and deking the Ottawa defense before going backhand to beat netminder Mike Condon.The tally marked Okposo's 16th of the season, and second in his past five games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Take a look at the top five assists leaders in the NHL, and the first four won't raise many eyebrows - Connor McDavid, Nicklas Backstrom, Erik Karlsson, and Patrick Kane.It's the fifth name on that list that will likely cause a few double takes, as 22-year-old Alexander Wennberg rounds out that elite group.Through 50 games this season, the Columbus Blue Jackets' pivot has amassed 34 assists, stating his case as one of the game's most dangerous distributors while emerging as one of the Jackets' top weapons.

The Nashville Predators have acquired forward Vernon Fiddler from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2017 draft.Fiddler has appeared in 39 games with the Devils this season, recording three points and a minus-10 rating.The 36-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, carrying a $1.25-million cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings have a golden opportunity.In a season in which all but two teams are within single-digit points of a playoff spot - the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes are long out of the race - the Red Wings could become the third party in what is a strong sellers' market.The Avalanche and Coyotes are courting buyers with high-end wares like Matt Duchene and Martin Hanzal, but the Red Wings would be wise to add a few of their own pieces to the seller's table.A 25-year playoff streak remains in the balance - the Red Wings have not missed the postseason since 1990 - but now is the opportune time for Detroit general manager Ken Holland to ship off his better pieces. Several skaters are likely to draw the interest of rival suitors, returning assets that will brighten the team's future.Pending free agents are the easiest moves at the deadline, and the Red Wings have an attractive option in winger Thomas Vanek. After the Minnesota Wild bought out his contract, Vanek agreed to a one-year, prove-it deal with Detroit. He's done exactly that, scoring 32 points in 39 games, sitting second to only captain Henrik Zetterberg in team scoring.Between the pipes, netminder Jimmy Howard, sidelined since late December with a leg injury, has been the league's best in the 17 games he's taken the ice, owning an NHL-high .934 save percentage. He's had a nice bounce-back campaign, particularly after a summer in which his near $5.3-million cap hit seemed immovable.Still, 24-year-old Petr Mrazek is the goalie of the future in Motown, while Jared Coreau has proven that he's ready for the backup job. That could put Howard on the market.One other player of interest could be defenseman Mike Green. Given the high demand for right-handed blue-liners, particularly those who can move the puck, Green could draw some interest and a nice return for the Red Wings.With 24 points on the season, Green is on pace to finish the campaign with 41, which would mark his second-best finish since he put up 76 with the Washington Capitals in 2009-10 (he scored 45 points with the Capitals two seasons ago). The 31-year-old has one year remaining on his contract, carrying a $6-million AAV.As for the Red Wings, with 51 points in as many games, the team sits eight points back of a playoff spot, ahead of only the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning in the East, while a jump to the postseason would require a leapfrog of six other clubs. No easy task.League wide, the Red Wings are only better than four clubs, currently holding the fifth overall pick come June. With a little lottery luck, Detroit is poised to make its highest pick at the draft tables since Keith Primeau went third overall 27 summers ago.A top pick and some bonus pieces added at the deadline would truly kick the Winged Wheel's rebuild into overdrive.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Resistance looks good on the Colorado Avalanche.Before putting the finishing touches on a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon, defenseman Nikita Zadorov punished Mark Scheifele for wheeling into neutral ice with his head down with a massive open-ice hit.Colorado's win ended a four-game losing streak on home ice.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand has emerged as one of the game's top talents over the past two seasons, posting career-best numbers in 2015-16 and arguably finding an even more dangerous gear this year.But a closer look at the Boston Bruins winger's performance over the past month suggests he might just be one of the most versatile scorers in the league.Marchand has set himself apart on the scoresheet over the past month, racking up a league-leading 13 goals and 23 points in just 14 games. This offensive outburst helped him climb into the top tier of league scorers, with the gifted agitator now tied for the seventh-most goals in the NHL, and the fourth-most points.But Marchand's 2016-17 effort is far more impressive than the numbers might initially suggest.The 13 goals he's put up over the last month have been spread fairly equally in terms of strength, as Marchand posted six of them at even strength, four on the power play, and three short-handed.The near goal-per-game pace is already impressive, but the fact that Marchand has been doing it every which way has been the true game-changer. And his competition hasn't matched him in this regard.Winnipeg Jets pivot Mark Scheifele and San Jose Sharks veteran Patrick Marleau each have nine goals over the past month, with all but two coming at even strength. Calgary Flames winger Sean Monahan and New York Islanders captain John Tavares posted nine as well, both posting six during five-on-five play.Expanded past the last month to 2016-17 as a whole, Marchand still comes out on top on the versatility front.Compared to the rest of the top 15 goal-scorers in the league, Marchand has relied far less on any one game situation. He ranks in the middle of the pack in terms of even-strength tallies (14) and power-play goals (six), while his three short-handed markers are tied for most in the league.The actual manner in which he's finding the net is just as unconventional as the situations in which he's scoring.While the majority of the rest of the game's top snipers are beating netminders primarily with wrist shots, Marchand has nearly as many backhand goals as he does wristers.His seven tallies off the backhand are the most league wide, and just a handful below his 10 wrist shot goals. He's added one via deflection and five off snap shots as well.Marchand isn't taking Sidney Crosby's crown as the league's most versatile offensive force, but it's clear the Bruins' star is cut from the same cloth as his fellow Nova Scotian.That's excellent news for Boston, as its 23rd-ranked offense is clearly in need of all the help it can get as it struggles to hold on to a playoff spot.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nobody saw this coming.Peter Budaj, the AHL veteran holding down the fort in Los Angeles with starter Jonathan Quick on the sidelines, now leads the NHL in shutouts.Goalie GP Record ShutoutsPeter Budaj4525-14-37Braden Holtby4026-8-46Devan Dubnyk3927-9-35Tuukka Rask4325-13-45Budaj secured his seventh goose egg in a 1-0 Kings victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.It marked Budaj's third shutout in his past four outings, a stretch where he's allowed just two goals and turned aside 91 shots.Through 45 games this season, Budaj has come away with a 25-14-3 record alongside a .923 save percentage. He appeared in one game with Los Angeles last season and played 60 games with the Ontario Reign, the Kings' AHL affiliate.The 34-year-old was up for grabs after failing to make the Kings out of training camp, when Los Angeles placed the veteran goaltender on waivers.Budaj is a pending unrestricted free agent. He earns a bargain $600,000 at the NHL level this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you're going to beat the Los Angeles Kings, stay away from overtime.Stuck in a scoreless draw Saturday in Philadelphia, who else but Kings forward Jeff Carter broke the deadlock, depositing his 27th goal of the season and his league-leading ninth game-winner.Carter's goal improved Los Angeles' three-on-three record to a ridiculous 10-1 this season, and earned the Kings their fifth consecutive win.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Starting now, every NHL goaltender is going to look a little thinner as the league's new streamlined goalie pants became mandatory Saturday.Several netminders have expressed concern about the tighter, more form-fitting gear, which they've had an opportunity to test out in games before this weekend.Related - Crawford: Better ice, not smaller goalie gear, increases scoringArizona Coyotes netminder Mike Smith was the most vocal critic."I think to have an equipment change midseason, it's crazy, especially in the goaltending position," he said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "It's nuts that it can't wait until the beginning of next season."Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray likened the new pants to "skinny jeans," according to Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,The NHL originally planned to make the new pants compulsory prior to the start of the season, but senior director of hockey operations Kay Whitmore told Rosen that safety concerns delayed the mandatory rollout.Goalies who refuse to don the new equipment will be subject to a two-game suspension, their teams will be fined $25,000, and the offending club's equipment manager will be docked $1,000, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to the highlight reel, Michal Neuvirth.The Philadelphia Flyers goaltender made one of the best saves of the season Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings, recovering after biting on a Dustin Brown fake to absolutely rob him with the glove midway through the first period.Neuvirth stopped all 18 shots he faced over the first 40 minutes, but no save was better than this one.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Steve Mason wasn't starting Saturday, but he still had to keep his head up.The Philadelphia Flyers goaltender got up close and personal with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kevin Gravel, who was hip-checked into the Flyers' bench by Radko Gudas.Nobody appeared to be hurt on the play, and Mason seemed to get a kick out of it.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's nothing like a Saturday in Central Park.The Calgary Flames apparently shared that sentiment, as they held practice at one of the outdoor rinks in New York's most famous public space ahead of Sunday's game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.

Some big names could be on the move before March 1, but there are several less productive players who could still provide value to buyers looking to add ahead of the trade deadline.From veteran forwards to seasoned blue-liners, more than a handful of reasonably priced options abound for teams looking to bolster their playoff-ready rosters.Here are five under-the-radar players who might find new homes before the clock strikes 3 p.m. ET on deadline day:Mike RibeiroRibeiro went unclaimed on waivers and was assigned to the AHL on Saturday, so he's not exactly in high demand, but his value should rise closer to the deadline as teams get a better idea of where they stand.The 36-year-old center has certainly flown under the radar with only four goals and 25 points, but he's only a season removed from a 43-assist, 50-point campaign.He's a pending unrestricted free agent with a cap hit of $3.5 million, and that figure shouldn't be too cumbersome for teams looking to add depth down the middle.Patrick EavesThere's a ton of parity in the league at the moment, and that's essentially led to crickets in terms of significant trades, because so many teams aren't sure whether they'll be buyers or sellers.The Dallas Stars are one of those teams, sitting third-last in the Western Conference but only four points out of a playoff position.If they bottom out and decide to sell, Patrick Eaves would have to be considered a trade candidate, considering his status as a UFA, his age (32), and his team-friendly cap hit of $1 million.The fact that he's on pace for a career year - leading the Stars with 19 goals - doesn't hurt his value, either.Drew StaffordWhen you look at Stafford's production this season as a whole, it's not very impressive, but the Winnipeg Jets' notoriously streaky forward was putting together a nice run before an injury forced him to miss the last six games.He's posted only 12 points in 34 contests, but eight of those points came in the last 13 games he played prior to getting hurt.He's nearing a return, and if he picks up where he left off upon retaking the ice, he'll be a possible trade target as a pending UFA who's proven he can contribute.The Jets are only two points out of a playoff spot, so they may opt to hold on to him, but, should they falter in the weeks ahead, Stafford could garner some interest despite his $4.35-million cap hit.Brian GiontaThe Buffalo Sabres won't admit it, but let's be honest - they're not really in contention this season, sitting eight points out with effectively seven teams to leapfrog if they hope to claim a playoff berth.That means, barring a February surge, general manager Tim Murray will look to do what he did at last year's deadline, when he dealt versatile forward Jamie McGinn to the Anaheim Ducks.McGinn was a pending UFA, just like Sabres captain Brian Gionta is this year. The latter is 38 years old, but he can still score on occasion, and teams might covet his wealth of experience.Dennis SeidenbergThe New York Islanders have resurrected their season under new head coach Doug Weight, but it's still going to be an uphill battle to qualify for the postseason.If they deem the playoffs a lost cause come deadline time, Dennis Seidenberg would likely be discussed considering his ultra-affordable cap hit of $1 million, and his status as a steady defenseman with plenty of playoff experience, including a Stanley Cup championship with the Boston Bruins in 2011.He's 35, and the offensive production hasn't quite been there this season, but Seidenberg could be a reliable bottom-pairing addition for a team looking to solidify its blue line.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.It's the most wonderful time of the year! Nope, it's not the holiday season - it's Super Bowl season!We all know that the two weeks leading up to the Big Game are the busiest two weeks of the betting season, and they are also the most fun. Props, props and more props. Some of the more interesting proposition wagers available for the Super Bowl are of the cross-sport variety. Let's take a look at a few of those NHL versus Super Bowl LI crossover props.Connor McDavid total points at Montreal vs. total interceptions in Super Bowl LI (William Hill US)The NHL's leading scorer, Connor McDavid, and his Edmonton Oilers teammates will be in Montreal on Sunday afternoon to battle the Canadiens in a nationally televised game in Canada. You can expect the young Oilers to come out flying, draw some penalties using their speed and test the below average penalty kill of the Habs (No. 23 in the NHL at 79.2 percent). McDavid will likely be involved in every goal scored by Edmonton - the big question is can they score more than one or two.In the football game, despite the expectations of the game being an all-out air assault by both teams, there shouldn't be a lot of interceptions. Tom Brady, incredibly, only tossed two picks all season and the New England defense is not known for grabbing balls out of the air.There may be a deflected ball that falls into a defender's hands at some point, but one interception is about all we can expect from these two teams. Connor McDavid has a much higher ceiling in this matchup.Pick: Connor McDavid total points at MontrealCalgary Flames at New York Rangers total goals in the first period vs. Matt Bryant total field goals made in Super Bowl LI (Sportsbook.ag)The New York Rangers are the second highest scoring team in the National Hockey League at 3.35 goals per game. Simple math says the Rangers are likely good for one goal in the opening period versus the Calgary Flames on Sunday afternoon. The Flames, on the other hand, rank No. 21 with only 2.58 goals per game. That is less than one goal per period so we'll use the overflow from the Rangers and handicap this as a 1-1 game after the first period.Matt Bryant, on the other hand, could be in for a big day in the field goal department. The Patriots employ a very effective bend-but-don't-break defensive system that really tightens up when opposing teams get into the red zone. The Falcons will get their share of offensive yardage Sunday, but they will be held to fourth down kicks three or four times. There has even been some betting action on Matt Bryant as Super Bowl MVP based on the Patriots' ability to keep teams out of the end zone (currently at 10/1 at William Hill US in Nevada after opening at 100/1).Pick: Matt Bryant total field goalsAlex Ovechkin total shots on goal versus Los Angeles Kings (-0.5) vs. totals sacks in Super Bowl LI (William Hill US)Gone are the days when Washington Capitals' sniper Alex Ovechkin would wind up and fire the puck on net every time he crossed the blue line. Ovie is averaging right around 3.9 shots on goal per game this season - he's more efficient and most will agree he is now a better "team player". However, Ovechkin still has the potential to hit the ice in front of a massive Sunday afternoon NBC audience and pepper the net from all angles. Ovie's ceiling for shots on goal, on any given night, could potentially be as high as 8-10.Atlanta's defense is not good - let's just be brutally honest. The only chance the Falcons are going to have at slowing down Tom Brady and the Patriots on Sunday is to get a fierce pass rush on virtually every play from scrimmage. Bill Belichick and Pats' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are fully aware of this fact and will attempt to get the ball out of Brady's hands quickly, using the speed and elusiveness of their wide receivers to gain big chunks of yardage. Don't expect many five-step drop backs from the Patriots' quarterback this Sunday.The Patriots have a very good defense, but they are not big on the pass rush. The Pats have only recorded three sack thus far in the playoffs and their 34 during the regular season ranked them in the lower half of the league.You can expect one or two sacks from each team Sunday which will put the total number right around Alex Ovechkin's season average for shots on goal per game (3.9). Ovie has a much higher ceiling and should be considered the big favorite in this matchup.Pick: Alex Ovechkin total shots (-0.5)Vegas Golden Knights total points during 2017-18 season (-20.5) vs. Devonta Freeman total rushing yards in Super Bowl LI (Westgate LV Superbook)As much as everyone in Las Vegas is excited about getting a professional sports franchise, it's an expansion team so expectations should be very low for their first year. The last time the NHL expanded was for the 2000-01 season when the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild were welcomed to the league. The Jackets finished their first season with 71 points and the Wild were even worse with 68.The current league rules allow for more team points with the extra point being awarded for a shootout victory, but you still must assume the Golden Knights will finish somewhere near the bottom of the league next season. The worst teams in the NHL, even with the extra shootout points, are generally around the 70 point mark. We can give the Golden Knights a few extra points due to the "Vegas factor" and estimate 75 points in 2017-18.With the -20.5 being put on the Golden Knights that means we will need 55 rushing yards out of Devonta Freeman. Although the Patriots are very good against the run (third in the NFL during the regular season at 88.6 yards allowed per game), Freeman is a dynamic running back who will only need to bust off one big run in order to cover this number. At just under 74 yards per game during the regular season, Freeman won't have to come anywhere near his season average in order to take down the expansion Golden Knights.Pick: Devonta Freeman total rushing yardsCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Frank Corrado might finally be freed.The Toronto Maple Leafs placed the seldom-used defenseman on waivers Saturday and claimed blue-liner Alexey Marchenko off the wire from the Detroit Red Wings, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and Chris Johnston.Corrado never managed to carve out consistent playing time since the Leafs claimed him off waivers last season. He appeared in only two games for Toronto this year after getting a 39-game look in 2015-16.The 25-year-old Marchenko recorded six points in 30 games this season for the Red Wings, who drafted him in the seventh round in 2011.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Ribeiro isn't in high demand.The Nashville Predators center went unclaimed on waivers Saturday, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.The 36-year-old was then assigned to the Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, several hours later. Nashville also activated defenseman Roman Josi off injured reserve in a corresponding move.Ribeiro was placed on the wire by the club Friday, after reportedly requesting a trade.He hasn't played in the AHL since appearing in three games for the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2002-03. That team was coached by current Boston Bruins bench boss Claude Julien, as pointed out by The Tennessean's Adam Vingan.Ribeiro is a pending unrestricted free agent carrying a cap hit of $3.5 million. He has 25 points in 46 games this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators filed a rather surprising transaction Saturday morning.The club assigned goaltender Juuse Saros to its AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, while recalling netminder Marek Mazanec.Saros went 5-3-2 with a 1.79 GAA and a .941 save percentage in 10 starts for the Predators, spelling veteran No. 1 netminder Pekka Rinne.The 21-year-old - widely regarded as the Predators' top goaltending prospect - has also excelled in the AHL, going 11-2-0 with a 1.76 GAA and .938 save percentage in 13 games with the Admirals this season.Mazanec, on the other hand, has struggled to a 4.73 GAA and .839 save percentage across four games with Nashville in 2016-17. He's 12-10-0 with a 2.61 GAA and .910 save percentage in 23 AHL contests.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers finally have two of their best players back, and it might just be enough to save their season.Jonathan Huberdeau scored the eventual game-winner in his 2016-17 debut Friday night to beat the Anaheim Ducks after missing more than 50 games with a leg injury, while Aleksander Barkov set up the goal in his first appearance of the calendar year.It was the Panthers' third straight victory in what's been a turbulent campaign in Sunrise. Gerard Gallant was fired in late November, and things have actually been worse under interim head coach and general manager Tom Rowe, even including this latest run.Related: Trending ▲, Trending ▼: Yeo steps up, rough waters for RoweThe Panthers are 12-10-9 since Rowe stepped behind the bench, or seven games under .500 for those who value true wins and losses. They were 11-10-1 in 22 games before Gallant was dismissed.But, despite a failure to pick up where they left off last season, the Panthers are alive in the wide-open Eastern Conference.The team sits two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild-card spot, and while they have the worst goal differential among East playoff contenders, the Panthers are only two points back of the Boston Bruins for third in the Atlantic with a pair of games in hand.Those postseason aspirations will only be further bolstered by the returns of two of their most productive offensive players.The 23-year-old Huberdeau notched 20 goals and 59 points last season, ranking third on the team in the latter category. Barkov, 21, led the club with 28 goals in 2015-16 and has 28 points in 37 games this season.Florida is in dire need of scoring, meanwhile, ranking fifth-worst in the NHL with 2.33 goals per game.Huberdeau and Barkov will obviously help the Panthers improve in that area, and the offensive boost might be enough to catapult them back into the playoff picture.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One limitation when evaluating players with advanced data is that performance doesn't occur in a vacuum. Players are all - to at least a certain extent - products of their system, and environment and role invariably impact individual metrics.Because of this, we often see underlying numbers look more, or less favorably, when players begin to work out of a new system. A coaching change, or shift in scenery can easily overhaul perception.P.K. Subban and Shea Weber have been performing under new instruction for almost four months following last summer's stunning swap of high-priced, top-pairing defenders.What, if anything, have we learned since?Before the dealG/60P/60CF/60CA/60Rel. CF%Subban0.311.6962.2856.743.37Weber0.521.4360.5558.42-3.45* Goal and point rates include all conditionsSetting aside the subjectivity to the Subban-Weber debate, this is what the raw numbers revealed about the two All-Star defenders in the two seasons leading up to the deal:

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, Feb. 4 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

Some players know their stats inside and out. Phil Kessel isn't one of them.The affable Pittsburgh Penguins forward didn't initially realize he'd achieved a career milestone by playing Friday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

It's suddenly not so certain for the Edmonton Oilers, a club that returned from the All-Star break as a veritable lock for the postseason in the eyes of Las Vegas.The Oilers fell flat for third straight outing since the showcase in Los Angeles, losing 2-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. They mustered three goals across these three defeats, and were predictably unable to pick up cooling captain Connor McDavid.It's not yet time to panic; they're still seven points up on the Calgary Flames in third in the Pacific Division.They should, however, heed to the ominous road ahead.Edmonton will meet the Canadiens on Sunday in a Super Bowl matinee on the east coast. When the club returns, it will host the Blackhawks, Coyotes, and Flyers before embarking on a six-game road trip to close out the month with visits to Chicago, Tampa Bay, Florida, Washington, Nashville, and St. Louis.The Oilers made a statement on the other side of the All-Star break, beating the Ducks and Sharks in consecutive nights in California by a combined 8-1 score.A similar statement, made sooner than later, may be needed to avoid tumbling too far, and missing the postseason for an 11th straight season.We imagine Las Vegas would appreciate it swift.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola has pulled his name out of nomination for Secretary of the Army, the club confirmed to George Richards of The Miami Herald.President Donald Trump nominated Viola for the position in December.The billionaire founder of Virtu Financial Inc. withdrew his nomination because distancing himself from his business ventures became too difficult, sources told Matthew Leising of Bloomberg News.Viola, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, purchased the Panthers in 2013.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares is New York Islanders royalty.Scoring his 20th goal of the season Friday versus the Detroit Red Wings, the Brooklyn captain has now reached that total in eight straight campaigns.Tavares is just the fourth Islanders player to pull off the feat since the franchise broke into the NHL in 1972. He joins past New York skaters Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Brent Sutter.SeasonGPGoalsPoints2016-174920432015-167833702014-158238862013-145924662012-134828472011-128231812010-117929672009-10822454Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Ladd is finally playing like Andrew Ladd.The New York Islanders much-maligned free-agent addition, who agreed to a hefty seven-year, $38.5-million pact, has finally found his game, and the back of the net.Coming in as a replacement after Kyle Okposo signed with the Buffalo Sabres, Ladd struggled through his early goings in Brooklyn, scoring just eight points in his first 33 games.But in his past 11 outings, Ladd has tallied five goals and two assists. Friday against the Detroit Red Wings, Ladd added his sixth goal in his last 12 games.It appears that new bench boss Doug Weight isn't the only one performing well for the Islanders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Phil Kessel made game No. 800 a memorable one.Two periods after rifling a patented wrister top corner for his 16th goal of the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins sniper whacked home the overtime winner Friday to sink the Columbus Blue Jackets.On a bigger scale, Kessel's heroics shrunk the gap between the two clubs in the standings, each with 50 games played. Columbus sits second in the Metropolitan Division with 71 points, while Pittsburgh is hot in pursuit, currently in third place with 69 points of its own.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona State University has pulled the plug on the Arizona Coyotes' proposed new home in Tempe.School officials announced Friday that it "has no intention of proceeding to sign a development agreement or an option to lease or any other agreement with the Coyotes," according to azcentral.com.Coyotes CEO Anthony LeBlanc released a statement shortly after, via ABC15 Sports.

Connor McDavid can only be held down for so long.With an assist from the training staff, the Edmonton Oilers captain cashed in another incentive with his 60th point on the year, scoring with an incredible backhand on a breakaway Friday with the trailing Elias Lindholm draped all over him.McDavid's 18th on the season tied the game, and ensured the NHL points leader wouldn't suffer a three-game pointless streak through his first 100 NHL games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean Monahan just can't stop scoring goals.With a resounding ping off the crossbar, the Calgary Flames pivot earned his 19th goal of the season Friday night.The 22-year-old is making up for lost time of late - his tally versus the Devils marks his ninth goal in 10 starts, dramatically hiking his totals after a prolonged cold spell to start the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Metropolitan Division has not been kind to the Carolina Hurricanes.The Hurricanes have struggled to make their mark against their most frequent opponents this season, showing an ugly 5-11-2 record against Metropolitan teams through February.It's so bad that the Hurricanes' wins against their own division this season can be counted on one hand:WinDateOpponentScore1Oct. 28Rangers3-22Nov. 12Capitals5-13Jan. 10Blue Jackets5-34Jan. 14Islanders7-45Jan. 31Flyers5-1It's a stark contrast for a club that sits eight games above .500 against the league's other 22 clubs, where the Hurricanes have performed to a 17-9-5 showing on the season.With 33 games remaining on the season, a little more than one third of those -12 matches - will come against a Metropolitan foe.Having not qualified for the postseason since 2009, the Hurricanes will no doubt need to see improvement against their Metropolitan competitors if the team is to have realize a long-awaited playoff berth.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrik Laine isn't slowing down.After missing eight games with a concussion, the Winnipeg Jets rookie sensation has picked up where he left off, posting six points in four games since making his long-awaited return to the lineup Jan. 24.The Jets have a 3-1-0 record upon Laine's return, grabbing impressive victories over the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, and Dallas Stars. As for Laine, the Finnish forward sits at 43 points through 46 games, keeping his name atop the heap among the league's freshmen:PlayerTeamGPG-A-PtsPts/GPPatrik LaineWPG4623-20-430.93Mitch MarnerTOR4913-29-420.86Auston MatthewsTOR4923-16-390.80William NylanderTOR4810-21-310.65Matthew TkachukCGY499-22-310.63Winners of five of their last seven, it has been a nice turnaround for the Jets, as they sit within a single point of a playoff position.Winnipeg will have the chance to push its win streak to four games Saturday when they take the ice against the lowly Colorado Avalanche, who have just one win in their past 15 outings.The Jets picked up the victory in the last meeting between the two sides, a Dec. 18 affair in which Laine finished with a goal and a pair of assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Entering the 2016-17 NHL campaign, the Hart Trophy was presumably Sidney Crosby's or Connor McDavid's to lose, and well beyond the halfway point of the season, both are living up to expectations, leading the league in goals and points, respectively.But there's a dark horse in this race - a particular Chewbacca-resembling rover who's forced himself into the conversation about the league's most most valuable player.Yes, it's Brent Burns, the San Jose Sharks man-child who sits third in league scoring (55 points in 52 games) as he crafts a season worthy of the Hart Trophy.After scoring 75 points in 2015-16, Burns lost out on the Norris Trophy to Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson - no shame in that. But after his best season to date yielded no hardware, Burns is on pace to up his career bests this time around, which should make voters take an extra second when considering their year-end winners.If Burns plays 82 games at his current pace, he'll collect 86 points, which would be the highest output by a defenseman since Brian Leetch's 85 with the Rangers in 1995-96. Similarly, Burns is on track to score 34 goals - the sixth-highest total by a defenseman in league history.It's more than just point production, though: Burns is an offense-generating machine. The 31-year-old currently leads the NHL in shots (201), and if he winds up knocking Alex Ovechkin off his puck-firing throne by season's end, he'll be the first blue-liner to lead the league in that category since Ray Bourque in 1994-95.In terms of primary points, otherwise known as goals or first assists, Burns' 26 trail only McDavid. Elsewhere, his totals per 60 minutes and individual shot attempts reveal his on-ice impact is larger than almost anyone's.StatTotalRankPrimary Points262ndGoals/600.962ndPoints/602.305thIndivdual CF/6020.041stIndividual CF3141st(Statistics courtesy: Corsica Hockey)Burns is a lock to be a Norris finalist again, and frankly, should win it. While Karlsson is the Senators' centerpiece in a team-wide shift toward defensive responsibility, and Doughty's focus is obtaining a playoff spot, Burns is blistering toward one of the best seasons we've ever seen from a defenseman.In personality and production, Burns is truly a one-of-kind player, and he's building an increasingly convincing case to be considered the most valuable.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Well, this is a whale of an idea.Connecticut governor Dannel Malloy is presenting an interesting option amid the New York Islanders' uncertainty surrounding their present and future home.Malloy offered up Hartford's XL Center as an option for "interim use" in a letter sent to Islanders owners John Ledecky, Scott Malkin, and Charles Wang on Friday.The governor then took it one step further, implying that the arena could be NHL-worthy for a longer period of time with a few adjustments."Of course, as we pursue the transformation of the building into today's NHL standards, we would suggest the building as a long-term solution to your needs as well," Malloy writes.Bloomberg reported earlier this week that officials associated with the Barclays Center, the Islanders' current home, have concluded it's no longer worth housing the franchise.If Barclays Center does opt out, the NHL club would need a new home for after the 2018-19 season.Malloy's letter, obtained by TV station WFSB, touts Hartford as an NHL market and also attempts to sell the owners on the city's corporate community and the proximity of many affluent residents to the arena.It also points out that the Islanders' AHL affiliate is not far from Hartford in Bridgeport, Conn.Malloy ends his pitch by offering to meet with the Islanders' brass.Hartford has been without an NHL team since the Whalers left for Raleigh, N.C. and became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997.The AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack play at the XL Center, which seats just under 15,000 people.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL, NHLPA, IIHF, and IOC met in New York City on Friday to discuss the NHL's participation in the 2018 Olympics, and while it seems once again that little progress was made, it appears there's a rough deadline in place.IOC president Thomas Bach told reporters that it was merely a courtesy meeting, and said there were no negotiations on whether NHLers will be in attendance at the games, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.Bach added that it's a priority to have NHL players attend the Olympics, and IIHF president Rene Fasel said it was important for Bach to visit with the NHL for the first time.Fasel suggested that while there's no official deadline in place for a solution, he has a meeting in South Korea in mid-March, and needs to know more about the league's stance by then.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman asserted back in December that the NHL Board of Governors doesn't support sending players to the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, due in large part to the interruption of the season schedule and the potential for injuries to star players.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Words hurt. Andrew Shaw knows better than most.The forward is the Montreal Canadiens' You Can Play ambassador during February's "Hockey is for Everyone" NHL-run campaign, and he revealed Friday that he volunteered for the position, after being suspended for using a homophobic slur in last year's playoffs.

With the trade deadline less than a month away, we map out potential trades for some of the most significant names available on the market leading up to March 1.Duchene to OttawaJustin Cuthbert: There are limitations when attempting to chart out the course for a championship program without burning it to the ground first.Such is life for the Ottawa Senators, who, with their top-heavy salary scale, won't be in position to depend on the lottery as their primary means for gathering top-end talent for the foreseeable future.For teams like Ottawa, the championship window acts as a moving target. And while captain Erik Karlsson is still hauling in about half his earning potential, now's the time to zero in.Matt Duchene will have his $6-million contract with the Colorado Avalanche expire simultaneously with Karlsson's in 2019. The versatile forward's potential addition to the club's incomplete top six would help them contend until then, clearly defining the club's intent for the next three seasons, and won't limit their ability to appease Karlsson in future negotiations, unlike past acquisitions.Don't expect the Senators to give up Thomas Chabot in a deal for Duchene, however, because the top prospect is certain to contribute next season. The Senators can afford to meet the Avalanche's requirements by framing a trade package around 23-year-old top-four defender Cody Ceci.Hanzal as a BlackhawkSean O'Leary: It's Antoine Vermette all over again.Despite keeping his hand close to his chest, and hinting at standing pat, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman will make a big splash in trading for Hanzal before the deadline.A la Vermette in 2015 - Chicago's most recent championship season - Bowman will make it work in adding Hanzal, a dream rental for any team with championship aspirations.Vermette cost the Blackhawks a first-rounder and defensive prospect Klas Dahlbeck, and while it's hard to imagine Hanzal going for the same premium, a pick-and-prospect package is certainly doable for Chicago. The Blackhawks have three fifth-round picks and two in the sixth in the coming draft, and a few youthful forwards contributing at the NHL level in Vinnie Hinostroza, Ryan Hartman, Nick Schmaltz, and Tanner Kero.The Blackhawks need a winger more than a center, but the opportunity to add a name like Hanzal isn't an opportunity Bowman has historically passed up.Shattenkirk for BishopCraig Hagerman: Two birds, one stone.The St. Louis Blues surely learned their lesson. That being: Don't let key players walk for nothing, which happened when David Backes and Troy Brouwer signed elsewhere July 1.This time around, Kevin Shattenkirk's contract is up, but every indication suggests the team will trade him, and one destination that makes sense is Tampa Bay.The Lightning are set offensively, with Steven Stamkos (when he returns), the triplets, and a collection of other producers, but their blue line is a little more thin. Aside from Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman, the club's back end is underwhelming. Shattenkirk could provide a bigger offensive punch, while possibly giving the club the jolt it needs to jump back into playoff contention.Meanwhile, though Doug Armstrong remains confident in Jake Allen, a potential deal for Ben Bishop makes sense. The Blues need help in goal now, whether they trust Allen or not, and St. Louis is too talented not to make the postseason. To fail simply because of poor goaltending would be criminal.A swap for Bishop also makes sense with respect to each player's salary, while a look at Allen's career stats show he's played his best when he's had to fight for the net.If the Senators can't get Duchene ...Josh Gold-Smith: Gabriel Landeskog is an unusual trade candidate in that he's the Avalanche captain, is only 24, and has scored at least 20 goals in four of his first six NHL seasons.If Colorado wants to cut bait with the forward it selected second overall in 2011, there will be plenty of suitors, but the club is reportedly seeking good, young defensemen or defensive prospects in return, and the packages are "going to have to be big."The Senators, again, make the most sense here. They need a left-winger, they'll be deadline buyers by virtue of being in the playoff mix, and they'll have the cap space to take on Landeskog's $5.57-million hit this season, as well as for the next four campaigns.World juniors MVP and prized Senators blue-line prospect Chabot would likely have to go the other way, and it wouldn't be shocking if the Avalanche asked for more, so throw in one of Curtis Lazar or Derick Brassard. An exchange of picks could help balance things out to ensure the deal benefits both clubs equally.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Rutherford is making Marc-Andre Fleury's satisfaction a priority.The Pittsburgh Penguins general manager will stay in touch with his veteran goaltender over the next few weeks to gauge Fleury's level of happiness ahead of the March 1 trade deadline.“The one thing I'll have to watch for and keep the lines of communication open with the player is, is he OK with the situation that he's in?” Rutherford told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Jonathan Bombulie.Fleury lost his starting job to Matt Murray last spring but appeared content serving in the No. 2 role as the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. Murray has essentially remained the starter when healthy this season, and he's justified the new hierarchy with his largely steady play.“Going back to last year and to this point in time, (Fleury) has handled it like a true pro," Rutherford continued. "No issues at all. It may play out that we may be able to go right through having two top goalies on our team. We just have to keep an eye on what direction Marc(-Andre) wants to go here in the next few weeks.”Rutherford said in the summer and into the fall that his goal was to keep both goalies, and he's not altering that now.“Our priority here is to win,” he said. “My preference hasn't changed. Go back to training camp. My preference is to keep both these goalies here this year.”Fleury has a measure of control over his future, wielding a limited no-trade clause that can prevent a deal to 12 NHL clubs.He also has a $5.75-million cap hit. The pro-rated remainder is still owed this season, along with the full amount over both of the next two campaigns before he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019.Fleury's agent, Allan Walsh, told Bombulie on Thursday that he had no comment on what Fleury's decision will be.And whether the goaltender opts to remain or desires an opportunity to play elsewhere, Rutherford wants to do the right thing.“We want to respect what he's done,” the GM said. “He has won two Stanley Cup (championships) here, has been a popular player not only within the organization but with the fans. He deserves to be respected properly, and that's what we're trying to do.”Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.