Maybe you can go home again after all.Amid reports the relationship between the New York Islanders and Brooklyn's Barclays Center is heading for a split, team co-owner Jonathan Ledecky has discussed a possible return to the Veterans Coliseum, Nassau County executive Edward Mangano said in a statement, according to Robert Brodsky and Jim Baumbach of Newsday:

After eight weeks away from the Ottawa Senators while his wife underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatments for throat cancer, Craig Anderson returned to the team Monday with a different outlook on the game he's fortunate enough to play for a living.The simple message, the goalie told Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun, is that there's more to life than hockey:

Nolan Patrick got his hands on the trophy in the end, but it was No. 2 ranked North American skater Nico Hischier who had scouts, pundits, and fans alike buzzing after the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Quebec City.Hischier scored a gorgeous breakaway goal off a Patrick turnover with a silky backhand move and also added two assists to take top player honors in a losing effort for Team Orr.Related: Hischier scores beautiful goal at prospects showcaseHe outshone the presumptive No. 1 NHL draft choice with a dynamic offensive showcase, though Patrick, the captain for Team Cherry, did have a productive outing, collecting two assists and impressing physically.Hischier, a Halifax Mooseheads center, has picked up momentum throughout his draft season. He scored four goals and seven points in five games at the World Junior Championship, and U.S. coach Bob Motzko labeled Hischier the best player his gold medal-winning side faced in the tournament after he nearly willed Switzerland past the Americans in the quarterfinal.Gabe Valiardi and Owen Tippett, the third- and fourth-ranked North American skaters, also scored for Team Cherry.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It could have been much worse for The Biebs.Chris Pronger, one of the baddest defensemen in NHL history, was merely taking it easy on Justin Bieber when he used his 220-pound frame to press the pop star's chin into the glass in the NHL All-Star Celebrity Game on Saturday in Los Angeles."We're just going to call it a hit and stick," Pronger laughed in conversation with TSN 1050 on Monday. "I didn't hit him very hard; he only weighs about 100 pounds. Had I hit him, I may have killed him."There would be another legal nightmare for the NHL."That said, over the course of the game, Pronger realized that it was on him to teach Bieber a lesson."I was kinda playing around with him all game, getting in his face, face-washing him and bugging him a little bit. He gave me a little whack so I said 'alright, I guess he wants to play.' So I thought I would rough him up a little bit in the corner, see how he liked it."It turns out Bieber is a good sport. When asked if he was unhappy with the abuse, or the viral photo snapped rinkside, Pronger said his latest victim took it all in stride."We were just having fun."

Joe Thornton is predictably at peace with the NHL's decision to omit him from its list of 100 Greatest Players."At the start, I was like, 'Ah, maybe I could be on there.' But once it came out, I live my life, or try to live, with no stress," Thornton told Curtis Pashelka of the San Jose Mercury News on Monday."So as soon as it came out, it was like, 'Oh, you're not on it. OK, don't worry about it.'"Of course, this is consistent for Thornton, unbothered and unwound, ostensibly with age, or at least since he began growing the stringy beard that matches his on-ice legend.Thornton is 24th all time in points, and is on pace to crack the top 20 in history this season; he will exceed the 1,000-assist threshold this spring, a milestone only 12 others have accomplished; and he won the Hart Trophy in 2006 after the most productive season in the post-lockout era.What Thornton doesn't have is a Stanley Cup, which, rightly or wrongly, clearly did factor in the selection process.But he'll leave the speculation to those upset by the snub."For me, personally, it was just, 'Wow,' what a list it was. You read all of the names, and you're like, 'Wow, those are some powerful names.'"But, no worries."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LOS ANGELES - Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin were linemates. Connor McDavid scored on a pass from Ryan Kesler. Wayne Simmonds was the shooting star of the show.The dreamlike quality of the NHL All-Star Game was particularly pronounced on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Hollywood. After all, just about every All-Star got to meet his hockey heroes when most of the game's greatest living players performed the ceremonial opening faceoff with them.''I was pretty star-struck,'' Montreal goalie Carey Price said.But when the league revs up again Tuesday night, another dream comes into focus. Only 40 percent of the regular season remains, and there's a Stanley Cup to chase.Few teams are out of the postseason race, and nearly every club is about to begin 10 weeks of high-stakes play. Most teams reported back to work on Monday morning, and the league schedule resumes Tuesday with 28 of the 30 teams in action.Nobody is an overwhelming title favorite yet. The Canadiens' seven-point lead in the Atlantic is the biggest edge in a division race, and the competition for the Presidents' Trophy is still wide-open as well: There are 10 teams within nine points of Washington's league-leading 72 in the chase for home-ice advantage in the postseason.''The All-Star (weekend) a great time, but we all know what happens when we have to get back to work,'' San Jose captain Joe Pavelski said.Here's a quick preview of the four divisional races and what's coming up in the NHL's home stretch:PACIFICThe race out West is particularly enticing: San Jose, Anaheim and upstart Edmonton are separated by one point atop the division.McDavid and the Oilers have hung in with the division's three California powers all winter, capped by back-to-back road victories over the Ducks and Sharks to close out the first half.''We've put ourselves in a good position, and we're happy about that,'' McDavid said. ''We realize how much work we have left to do, because this is a long season. None of it means very much if you don't finish out the way you started.''The Golden State's trio of contenders isn't about to give up.The Ducks have won four straight Pacific titles, and they're hoping coach Randy Carlyle can inspire postseason success that Bruce Boudreau couldn't. The Sharks look easily capable of defending their Western Conference title, and the Los Angeles Kings should get star goalie Jonathan Quick back from injury shortly before the postseason.CENTRALThe Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks are in tight competition atop the division. Boudreau got the Wild off to their best start to a season in franchise history, and All-Star goalie Devan Dubnyk is having another standout season. This could be the year Minnesota reaches its first Stanley Cup Final, or at least wins two playoff rounds for the first time since 2003.Of course, the team that beat them in the second round twice in the past three years is right behind them in the Central standings - and it just happens to be the best playoff team of this era.Chicago returns with three of the 100 greatest players in NHL history in its lineup. Captain Jonathan Toews admits he isn't having a great season, but he has plenty of time to ramp up for another playoff run with Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith.METROPOLITANThe best divisional race might be among the stars who won the four-division, 3-on-3 tournament at the All-Star Game. A four-team competition has swung back and forth in the Metropolitan, with Columbus streaking in front on its 16-game winning streak, only to be passed by Washington two weeks ago.The Capitals' fretful fans might think they've peaked too soon yet again, but nobody gets comfortable with Crosby's Penguins lurking behind them. The defending Stanley Cup champions begin the second half in third place, just seven points back.ATLANTICThe Canadiens have bounced back smartly from last season's second-half collapse without the injured Price, and Les Habitants' nearest competitors all have problems: Ottawa's goal-scoring woes, Boston's inconsistent play and powerful Tampa Bay's major injuries have all put a cushion underneath the Canadiens.But that cushion isn't as big as it looks. The Senators have three games in hand on Montreal, and the Lightning hope to get Steven Stamkos back for the late playoff push.And the Toronto Maple Leafs? They've got problems, as you'd expect for a team that's made the postseason once since 2004. They've also got All-Star Auston Matthews, fellow high-scoring youngsters Mitchell Marner and William Nylander, and more than enough talent to be dangerous down the stretch.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mika Zibanejad, a Swede of Iranian descent, is one of the countless U.S. and world citizens affected by Donald Trump's executive order barring travelers from seven countries from entering the United States.Zibanejad's father lives in the U.S. with a green card. They have many family members, including Zibanejad's grandmother and eight cousins, living in Iran, one of the seven Muslim-majority countries identified.He spoke to Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News about the travel ban and how it affects his family.

The New York Islanders have signed goaltender Thomas Greiss to a three-year contract extension, the team announced Monday.Greiss will reportedly earn $10 million throughout the life of the deal, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.Since arriving in Brooklyn last season, Greiss has wrested the starter's role from Jaroslav Halak, who is currently earning his $4.5-million annual salary with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League.Greiss, 31, sports a .926 save percentage in 66 appearances dating back to last season, which is tops among all regular contributors league-wide over that span.He has 37 wins from 62 starts, including 14 of the club's 21 victories this season.Greiss is working on a $1.5-million salary, with his performance putting him in line for a hefty raise in unrestricted free agency at the end of the year.Halak still has one more season left on his current deal, while current backup J.F. Berube will be a restricted free agent in a few months.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No John Scott effect required.NBC saw its rating spike for its broadcast of the NHL's 2017 All-Star three-on-three tournament, with a 42 percent viewership increase from last year's event in Nashville, the network announced via a press release.The NBC-only broadcast averaged 2.262 million viewers, which increased to more than 2.5 million for the Metropolitan Division's victory over the Pacific in the tournament finale.Pittsburgh and Buffalo were the two top scoring markets.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders are apparently being evicted from their Brooklyn home.Barclays Center officials have decided that it's no longer in their best interest to house the NHL franchise, Bloomberg's Scott Soshnick reported Monday, citing people familiar with the facility's finances.It's believed they have decided that the arena can generate more money staging concerts and other events in addition to Brooklyn Nets basketball.Barclays Center pays the Islanders an average of $53.5 million annually for control of business operations, according to Soshnick.The Islanders are in their second season in the Brooklyn barn, and since their arrival, there have been complaints from players and fans about ice quality and obstructed views.The club has the NHL's third-worst average attendance behind the Arizona Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes, with 81.1 percent of their seats sold, according to ESPN. In their final season at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, the Islanders had almost 95 percent attendance.Soshnick notes that either side can cancel the current deal. If the Barclays Center chooses that route, the Islanders would need a new home after the 2018-19 season.The Islanders have not commented on the report, according to Arthur Staple of Newsday.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said this about the Islanders' future at Barclays Center at NHL All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, according to ESPN's Craig Custance:

The American Hockey League All-Stars are planning a tribute to Tuscon Road Runners captain Craig Cunningham at the minor-league showcase Monday night in Allentown, Pa., wearing his No. 14 in warmups.

Nazem Kadri has a prominent new fan, and he's welcoming him with open arms.It all started when Chad Johnson, the outspoken former NFL and CFL wide receiver, once known as Chad Ochocinco, expressed an interest in Kadri's team Sunday afternoon before the start of the NHL All-Star tournament.

Add Connor McDavid to the list of NHL players keen on a trip to PyeongChang in 2018.The Edmonton Oilers superstar and burgeoning face of the league is fully in favor of NHL player participation at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea."One hundred percent. NHL players should be there," McDavid stated at the end of All-Star weekend, according to Mike Zeisberger of Postmedia. "I certainly hope they are there. But ultimately it isn’t up to me. There’s a lot of people a lot higher than me who will make that decision."But 100% they should go. I couldn’t really picture an Olympics without it, to be honest."McDavid, of course, is hoping to be part of a Canadian roster set on defending the gold medal won in Sochi back in 2014."It would mean everything," McDavid said of being part of the team. "Just to get the chance to chase down a spot on the team. Just to have that opportunity. It would be very special."We’re very lucky in Canada to have a long list of great Canadian players who are available. It’s a tough team to make."We're pretty sure you'd have a good chance of cracking the roster, Connor.McDavid, who was born in 1997, has never witnessed an Olympic Games without NHL players present, seeing as the last men's hockey tournament without them took place in 1994. If the NHL wants to grow the game worldwide, McDavid is certainly the kind of player to build around at the next opportunity.No firm timeline has been set for a decision on this matter.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The accolades keep coming for Wayne Simmonds.The Philadelphia Flyers forward was dubbed the NHL's first star of the week following his MVP performance in this past weekend's All-Star tournament, the league announced Monday.San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau and Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen were named second and third star of the week, respectively.Simmonds scored twice for the Metropolitan Division squad in their semifinal win over the Atlantic Division, then notched the tournament winner in the final against the Pacific Division. He also scored two goals in the two games prior to the break for the Flyers.Marleau notched six points in three games for the Sharks last week, tying an NHL record with four goals in a single period in a victory over the Colorado Avalanche last Monday night, becoming the first player since Mario Lemieux in 1997 to accomplish the feat.Andersen earned shutouts in both of his appearances last week, turning aside all 48 shots he faced.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nico Hischier put the hockey world on notice at the 2017 World Junior Championships.The Swiss center recorded four goals and seven points in five games at the international tournament, and, in so doing, caught the eye of scouts and casual observers alike.He's also been good for 33 goals and 35 assists with the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads in his first season of North American hockey, putting himself in the conversation for first overall pick at the 2017 NHL draft.Ahead of Monday's Top Prospects Game in Quebec City, Canadian junior head coach Dominique Ducharme - who also coaches the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs - believes there's certainly an argument to be made."We saw him score big goals at big times at the world juniors," Ducharme said, according to Bill Beacon of the Canadian Press. "If you’re a scout, if you want to build a team, you want players who can rise up in those moments and make a difference and I think he is a difference maker."For Hischier, the world junior experience was but a fragment of his draft year, with plenty of work left to put in before his name is called by an NHL general manager."It was such a great experience," Hischier said of the world juniors. "We had a good group of guys in the locker room so it was fun to play there, but there’s a lot of hockey to play until June so I have to keep it up and work hard."Hischier will line up as the first-line center for Team Cherry at the Top Prospects Game, going head-to-head with Nolan Patrick, who's expected to be chosen first overall in June.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nolan Patrick will be out there with something to prove.Patrick, who will captain Team Cherry in Monday's CHL Top Prospects Game in Quebec City, entered this season as the likely first overall pick at the 2017 NHL Draft, but was forced out of action early on as a result of a groin injury. He has recorded four goals and four assists in five games since returning to the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings, and will use the showcase to further assert himself as the the most viable first pick."Maybe this game is important to me in order to show I'm back at full speed," Patrick told Mike Morreale of NHL.com. "You never want to be injured and out 35 games, but I'm feeling good, feeling 100 percent and feel as though I'm starting to get back into the swing of things."At least one pro scout believes the injury has given teams at least some reason for pause."There's no franchise-type player in this draft and even the No. 1 consensus pick, Nolan Patrick, had the injury factor so there are still questions," Dallas Stars director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell told Morreale. "That said, Patrick is a big, strong center and can skate well. It's just a matter of his development and getting more experience and strength. But he has all the pro attributes that you're looking for."Altogether, Patrick has scored 80 goals and added 96 assists in 141 junior games, winning WHL rookie of the year and WHL playoffs MVP along the way.Center Nico Hischier made up some ground in the top pick discussion with a strong showing at the World Juniors, but Patrick certainly won't move down the draft board without a fight.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Canadian Hockey League's Top Prospects game will proceed as scheduled Monday.The annual showcase is being held in Quebec City, where Sunday's shooting at a local mosque resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries.Related: CHL's top prospects 'safe and accounted for' after Quebec City mosque shootingAfter careful consideration, league president David Branch has confirmed the game will indeed be played at Videotron Centre, according to John Shannon of Sportsnet.

theScore's new series, "The Noise," is published every Monday. It normally kicks off each week with a quick look at three teams or players making headlines, good or bad, but we made an exception this time around.When you think about lasting memories from this past All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, what immediately comes to mind?Other than Chris Pronger giving Justin Bieber a gleeful back massage, the main takeaway for many was the presence of the NHL's past luminaries and the mutual admiration between them and the league's current stars.The legends were there as part of the league's centennial celebrations and in conjunction with the "NHL 100" list that was unveiled Friday night to commemorate that anniversary, but surely the alumni can and should be involved more in future All-Star celebrations.Even though it wasn't in the original plans, tabbing Wayne Gretzky to fill in as head coach for the victorious Metropolitan Division squad was a brilliant move that ultimately had a major impact on the event itself, both in terms of the outcome and Gretzky's own redemption story behind the bench.Doing more of this with the legends in future years, and intentionally as opposed to as a last-minute replacement, would go a long way in terms of increasing interest in All-Star weekends that lack a John Scott-esque transcendent must-watch factor.There are a number of ways to do it, too. Getting the best of the best like Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, and Joe Sakic to serve as head coaches of the four respective divisions or having one legend from the host city lead that team's divisional squad would be fun ways to get the league's greats more involved.That might be a bit unfair to the best current head coaches, who deserve to be honored with All-Star nods of their own, so here's another way: Work the alumni into the skills competition.This year's skills event was a snoozer for several reasons, and while there are other ways to liven it up, teaming the modern-day players up with the legends would be delightful, as long as it was done in a way that didn't embarrass the old-timers.They wouldn't be expected to fire 100-mph slap shots or set fastest-skater records against the current stars. Just have them square off against each other while representing the four divisions (by virtue of their most identifiable former team), and award points to the current squads based on the assistance of their legendary partners.It could be much simpler than that, like having the elders feed passes to the active players in the accuracy event, or how about ditching the less than thrilling four-line challenge for an entirely new event that gets the alumni and current players to work together in another way?For the second straight year, the NHL lucked into a compelling All-Star angle, this time thanks in large part to the 100th anniversary. To its credit, though, the league got this one right without a PR debacle, incorporating its alumni in a way that both gave the past stars their proper due and celebrated the vast history of the league.But this shouldn't be a once-in-a-century phenomenon. Whether it's behind the bench or on the ice, the league's most respected figures need to be front and center at these events more often.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's best were on full display Sunday in Los Angeles, but the All Stars haven't been the only ones putting on a show.Here's a look at five of the best plays from the unofficial first half of the season, in no particular order.Matthews arrives in styleOf the four goals scored by Auston Matthews in his Toronto Maple Leafs debut, the second stood out as the one that will be hard to top.Miller's diving saveWhen he's finished playing for the Vancouver Canucks, Ryan Miller might be able to secure a Major League Baseball contract as a shortstop.Drouin burns Sharks with lightning speedWith a trade demand well in the past, Jonathan Drouin has become a thunderous force for the Tampa Bay Lightning.Exhibit A.Spurgeon's catch and releaseJared Spurgeon's catch and bat trick for the Minnesota Wild still boggles the mind.Seriously, how did he do that?Tavares' tricksThis one needs a couple looks to truly appreciate.Yes, that's John Tavares playing the puck behind his back in order to elude Jay Bouwmeester and create the space needed to fire it top shelf on Jake Allen.Don't let him ever get away, New York Islanders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Players and staff from around the Canadian Hockey League have gathered in Quebec City for Monday's top prospects game, prompting the league to issue a statement following a shooting at a local mosque that resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries:

Life in the NHL is no peachy affair, even if you're a high-flying first overall pick in one of the game's biggest markets.Toronto Maple Leafs centerman Auston Matthews seems well aware of that fact, as the 19-year-old recently discussed his foray into unfamiliar territory courtesy of his new league's 82-game schedule."It's a tough grind," Matthews told Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star. "I played more games this season than I did last. It's hard on your body. You've got to recover and make sure you get enough sleep. It makes a big difference."Matthews played 40 games in total last season, suiting up for 36 regular-season contests and four playoff games for the Swiss league's ZSC Lions. He's already topped that mark in the NHL this season, appearing in 47 games for the Leafs heading into the break - plus a few 3-on-3 All-Star tilts.The 2016 No. 1 pick's production did tail off a tad recently as he headed into the extended schedule. He's posted five points over his past 10 games, a slight step back after tearing through his previous 20 games with 14 goals and 22 points.There's little doubt the new franchise cornerstone will be able to adjust to the extra workload, as Matthews has already exceeded expectations in what has been an exceptional rookie year.Resting up will be crucial, however, as the Leafs' play as of late has the club primed for a return to the postseason, meaning even more games tacked on to Matthews' new schedule.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Change is good.The history books of hockey show a host of young players who excelled at the junior ranks only to struggle to find that same scoring touch in the pros. Often times, a move to a new team can help trigger that production.With that in mind, here are three players who could benefit from new surroundings:Ryan StromeA former fifth overall pick, the New York Islanders forward has struggled to find his way in the early goings of his career.Ryan Strome made his NHL debut in 2013-14 and put up a respectable 18 points in 37 games. The 23-year-old seemed to be on the right track, building on that performance in the following season when he posted 17 goals and 33 assists in 81 games.But Strome failed to live up to that play last season, when he finished with just eight goals and 20 assists through 71 games. Still, the team saw enough to sign him to a two-year, $5-million extension, but his challenges have continued through the 2016-17 campaign. This season, Strome has twice been a healthy scratch and has been limited to 14 points in 44 games.Curtis LazarThe accolades were there, so you can't blame the Ottawa Senators when they chose Curtis Lazar with the 17th pick in 2013.After winning the Memorial Cup with the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings in 2014, and following that up a year later with a gold medal as part of Team Canada at the world juniors, Lazar hasn't seen as much success in the pro ranks.Lazar made his debut with the Senators in the 2014-15 season, posting 15 points through 76 games, and made a slight uptick a year later, when he tallied 20 in 76 games. But a poor training camp this fall saw Lazar begin the year in the AHL, where the forward finished with four points in 13 games. Since his recall to the NHL, he has just a single point in 27 games.Tomas JurcoThe Detroit Red Wings know how to develop prospects, especially outside of the first round.That's why it's so surprising to see less than stellar numbers from Red Wings winger Tomas Jurco, who has been unable to translate his success from the AHL ranks to the NHL level.After wrapping the 2013-14 campaign with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings' minor-league affiliate, in which Jurco recorded 32 points in as many games, he followed that up with 15 points in his first 36 games with Detroit. But in the ensuing 120 matches, the Slovak-born winger has tallied only 24 points. A change out of the Winged Wheel uniform could possibly help him find his scoring touch.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With over half the 2016-17 season in the books, Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau is establishing himself as one of the game's best when it comes to drawing opponents into taking penalties.Watch a few minutes of the quick-footed forward working his offensive magic and it's no mystery why. The 23-year-old is one of the most gifted skaters in the league, able to weave in and out of the opposition, and stop on a dime to keep defenders spinning.A combination that tends to draw a fair amount of hacks, whacks, and trips.The third-year standout is fifth-best in the league in this regard this season, as he's drawing 1.95 minor penalties per 60 minutes of play. That's fairly impressive as is, but it's nothing compared to what Gaudreau is doing on the other side of the penalties column.Unlike teammate Matthew Tkachuk - who is drawing the most minor penalties per 60 minutes, but is also the owner of the second-most penalty minutes among all NHL skaters - Gaudreau is drawing the opposition into trips to the box without spending any time there himself.As in, literally any time. At all.Gaudreau is one of only three players in the league to have appeared in more than a handful of games this season without taking a single penalty - alongside Edmonton's Oscar Klefbom and Washington's John Carlson. The Flames star has lasted 42 games without a single scolding from the officials.Combined with his apparently elite knack for sparking power plays for his own club, it's fair to say Gaudreau has been a game-changer for the Flames' special teams units in 2016-17.And the team-wide numbers back up that assertion as well. With Gaudreau and Tkachuk both drawing a slew of penalties each game, the Flames have been gifted the third-most power-play opportunities in the league (172), which has helped them score the fifth-most power-play tallies despite only ranking in the middle of the pack in terms of actual man-advantage effectiveness.Given how much Calgary has struggled with special-teams play in the past, having Gaudreau tilting his penalty game entirely in the opponents' direction is quickly becoming a key advantage.The Flames still have their issues with winding up shorthanded too often, especially with Tkachuk nearing the penalty-minute century mark in just his first year in the big leagues. But at the very least it seems the club's brightest star is doing his part to balance things out, leading the way with a clean sheet.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Look out, Montreal Canadiens.The Ottawa Senators are about to make their mark in the Atlantic Division.Sitting seven points back of the Canadiens, the Senators have a chance to reshape the division that Montreal has comfortably crowned all season, having three games in hand on the Habs and holding a prime opportunity to disrupt that position.Carrying a 26-15-6 mark coming out of the All-Star break, the Senators have built on an impressive campaign, one that saw the team drop just one contest in its last nine outings, grabbing 14 of a possible 18 points.The best part? The Senators will soon have their starting goaltender back in the fold.In the absence of starter Craig Anderson, who left the team to be with his ill wife, Ottawa has called on backup Mike Condon to carry the load, who has been nothing short of impressive. With the No. 1 away, Condon has started all 15 of the Senators' games dating back to Dec. 20, posting an 8-4-3 mark.Only two other goaltenders saw more starts than Condon over that stretch: Carolina's Cam Ward and Boston's Tuukka Rask.

Taylor Hall knows how to handle a novelty check.For the second time in as many NHL All-Star 3-on-3 tournaments, the Edmonton Oilers-turned-New Jersey Devils high-volume scoring winger supplemented his annual income with a portion of the winner's $1-million purse.Representing the Pacific last season, Hall scored twice and added an assist for a championship team captained by John Scott. And on Sunday in Los Angeles, Hall contributed two points in each game for the Metropolitan Division, which defeated a collection of his former 3-on-3 teammates in the grand finale.Perhaps it's coincidence. Besides, Hall wasn't even in the truck conversation in either championship run. But on Sunday afternoon, his veteran savvy was very much the difference.Twice Hall caught the opponent napping by knocking the puck ahead from the faceoff dot and scampering into the offensive zone.It was the ingenious strategy that set up Wayne Simmonds' decisive goal in the final.And he got one of his own beforehand versus the Atlantic Division.All Hall does is win (at the NHL All-Star 3-on-3 tournament, that is).Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's no doubt the 2017 NHL All-Star final had a different cast of game-changing characters than most expected, with Wayne Simmonds skating away as MVP while Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin went pointless in the championship game. But no All-Star benefited more from the festivities than Vancouver Canucks pivot Bo Horvat.The 21-year-old centerman arrived in Los Angeles as the least-hyped of the All-Star bunch by a mile. Amid crowds of future Hall of Famers, veteran scorers, and well-known young guns, it was pretty much Horvat and Frans Nielsen standing alone as question marks.And the latter forward at least enjoyed a bit of heat for suiting up alongside former New York Islanders teammate Kyle Okposo, leaving Isles fans wallowing in disappointment about their lost talent.However, instead of fading into the background and simply enjoying the bright lights of the All-Star weekend, Horvat lit it up for the Pacific Division crew, putting his name on the map in the process.Related: Watch: Horvat scores slick goal for the PacificHorvat racked up two assists during the early goings of his squad's semifinal win over the Central Division, before impressing with a beautiful chip over Devan Dubnyk's shoulder late in the second period.He scored the last of the Pacific's three goals in the final match as well, carrying the puck up ice with speed and working a tight cycle with Johnny Gaudreau before beating Sergei Bobrovsky, giving his team a 3-2 lead.The impressive showcase won't land Horvat a slew of ritzy endorsement deals, but it undoubtedly gave the average hockey fan a reason to watch for the quickly-rising Canucks star.That's fantastic news for Vancouver, because if there's one thing the team's been lacking, it's elite young star power.Few expected Horvat to cause too much of a ruckus this season, but the 2013 ninth overall pick has upped his game and proven he can be a key piece for the franchise moving forward.Through 50 appearances in 2016-17, he's put up a team-leading 14 goals and sits tied with captain Henrik Sedin for the team scoring lead with 32 points.If his performance this weekend is any indication, that's only the tip of the iceberg for Horvat, as the former OHL standout made it clear he has enough skill to skate with the big boys.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wayne Simmonds knows he has "The Great One" to thank for his new truck.The Philadelphia Flyers forward was named All-Star Game MVP after the Metropolitan Division took down the Pacific in the 3-on-3 tournament final, and after the game praised his fill-in head coach, Wayne Gretzky, who knows a thing or two about hockey.With the Metro trailing 3-2, Gretzky used a coach's challenge after the Pacific had scored in the second half to go up 4-2. It worked, Connor McDavid ruled offside, setting the stage for a Metro comeback."Helped us win, right?" Simmonds said after the game. "That was the play. That was the game changer. That was the decision. Obviously (Gretzky's) got a great hockey mind. He pulls that card, it's offside, and come back, we score two goals and we win the game, so obviously it was a great decision."Not only is Simmonds going home with a truck, he's also going back to Philly with a lucky dollar bill, which was taped to his nameplate at his locker."I don't even know who did that to be honest with you," the 28-year-old from just north of Toronto said. "I'm still trying to figure it out. It says 'enjoy the money' on it. I have no clue who it was. But I'll take it. That will be my lucky dollar bill now. I'll throw that in my pocket."On a more serious note, Simmonds also talked about diversity in hockey, after four black players represented their teams at the All-Star Game."It was unbelievable," he said. "I think if you look around the game now, you're starting to see different ethnicities, not only black, but it's starting to open up a little bit, and that's the goal here. We're trying to spread the game. Hockey is for everybody, so it's a great sport. I'm just trying to be a good ambassador and stuff like that, so it's great."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There was one crown left for Sidney Crosby to capture. And he's got it.Playing in only his second All-Star Game due to injury and Olympic participation, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar and face of the NHL captained the Metropolitan Division to an All-Star Game win Sunday, and now he's truly won it all.The Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, world junior and world championship gold, the Art Ross, the Hart, the Conn Smythe. And, finally, an All-Star Game."It was great," Crosby said after Sunday's festivities wrapped, writes NHL.com's Michelle Crechiolo. "Our bench was pretty loose. We had a lot of fun there."Not only did Crosby get to play with his new best friend Alex Ovechkin at 3-on-3, he had the opportunity to be coached by Wayne Gretzky, who took over the duties for John Tortorella, who was away tending to his son's ill dog.And Gretzky's offside challenge, which brought back a Pacific Division goal, proved large."Who would've thought the offside rule would have come into play there," Crosby said. "But you need the bounces if you're going to win," he added while laughing."Just an overall great experience," Crosby said of the weekend.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL All-Stars weren't only delivering on the ice Sunday.Here are some of the best quotes from the game's best after fun-filled 3-on-3 tournament that saw the Metropolitan crowned hockey's best division.1. Marchand about PriceCarey Price, Boston Bruin? Brad Marchand can see it.

It's going to be awkward if the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals meet in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Why? Because two men will have to put aside a fierce friendship to battle each other.After Sunday's All-Star tournament wrapped, Alex Ovechkin, who found himself hanging out with Sidney Crosby at Saturday's Skills Competition and playing with Crosby at 3-on-3, confirmed that the two foes now share a special bond.

Perhaps they're best suited as arch rivals.The Metropolitan Division won the 3-on-3 tournament at the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles, but not because the fantastical combination of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin was a match made in heaven for substitute head coach Wayne Gretzky.In fact, Gretzky's decision to turn the two greatest players of their generation into a tandem was a failure.At least, that's how Drew Doughty saw it."We shut 'em down," he told LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen, presumably through his toothless grin."I don't think they scored against us. They're easy to play against."Crosby scored, and later set up Ovechkin in the Metropolitan Division's 10-6 win over the Atlantic before being shut out by Doughty's Pacific All-Stars.Later, they decided to exchange faulty weapons.

It's been eight years since Wayne Gretzky called the shots as an NHL head coach, but after a legendary performance for the All-Star champion Metropolitan Division, The Great One made it clear he still knows his way around a bench.Though the 3-on-3 final was brimming with superstar talent - Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin on one side of the sheet, Connor McDavid and Johnny Gaudreau on the other - it was No. 99 who stole the show.The wily veteran wasn't afraid to use all the tools in his arsenal, most notably in the second half when he threw down a successful coach's challenge to cancel out a goal from Ryan Kesler, keeping his team's one-goal deficit from doubling.Gretzky made little effort to hide his feelings about his perfect career coach's challenge record, which now stands at a sterling 1-for-1.

Wayne's world.Metropolitan Division and Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds was named MVP of the All-Star Game on Sunday, after his team was victorious over the Pacific in the final, 4-3.Simmonds' third goal of the day, and his only one in the final, ended up the tournament-winner.A first-time All-Star, Simmonds flies under the radar as a do-it-all guy for the Flyers, but he'll be more of a household name after his solid weekend in Los Angeles. And he's got a new truck, a Honda Ridgeline, to show for his efforts.Fittingly enough, Simmonds began his career as a member of the Kings, so there's some symmetry in his first All-Star appearance - and first three All-Star goals - coming in L.A.Simmonds has a team-leading 21 goals for the Flyers, and ranks third on the team in points with 38, while also accumulating the club's most penalty minutes (76).Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Kings.Wayne Gretzky's Metropolitan Division All-Stars defeated Drew Doughty, Jeff Carter, and the defending champion Pacific Division 4-3 in the 3-on-3 tournament final, winning the $1-million purse at the NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.Braden Holtby anchored the comeback win, stopping all five shots he faced in the second period. Cam Atkinson and Wayne Simmonds - the latter of which now the owner of a new truck after being named tournament MVP - claimed the only goals scored after the intermission.Related: Wayne Simmonds named All-Star MVPSimmonds and Atkinson tied for a tournament-best three goals each.Gretzky, a late replacement for Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, changed the momentum with a successful challenge in the second period, which wiped away a Ryan Kesler goal with Connor McDavid ruled offside.McDavid, Joe Pavelski, and Bo Horvat scored for the Pacific Division All-Stars. Seth Jones and Justin Faulk had the other two goals for the Metropolitan.Mike Smith took the loss after allowing two goals on 11 shots.The Pacific advanced to the final with a 10-3 win over the Central Division All-Stars. The Metropolitan won the second semifinal, beating the Atlantic Division 10-6.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michel Therrien, fortune teller.The Montreal Canadiens head coach is predicting big things for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the years to come."I believe this is the team of the future," he told reporters Sunday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, at the NHL All-Star festivities in Los Angeles, where Therrien guided the Atlantic Division squad.The central piece of the Leafs' rebuild, Auston Matthews, was center stage Sunday, scoring his first All-Star goal for Therrien's team in a semifinal loss to the Metropolitan Division.Therrien's assessment isn't exactly a stretch, considering the wealth of young talent in Toronto including Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Connor Brown, and Zach Hyman.The Leafs sit one point out of a playoff spot at the All-Star break with three games in hand on the Philadelphia Flyers for the second and final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.Montreal leads the Atlantic Division with a record of 29-14-7.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Count Jonathan Toews among those who believe NHLers need to participate in the 2018 Olympic Games."If it's not the best in the world ... I feel like we're misrepresenting our sport on a pretty huge scale," Toews said to ESPN's Craig Custance.The Chicago Blackhawks captain is certainly familiar with the international circuit, having captured two Olympic gold medals in his career - in 2010 and 2014 - alongside myriad other championships for Team Canada.Related: Players continue to reaffirm desire to be at next year's OlympicsLeague officials have repeatedly said nothing has changed in regards to the NHL's participation in the Olympics - set to take place in Pyeongchang, South Korea - which means it remains unlikely that Toews and the rest of the league's best will be permitted to make the trip.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Let's face it: The Atlantic Division never had a chance.With Wayne Gretzky behind the bench, the best division in hockey rode over the Atlantic Division. And the Sidney Crosby-Alexander Ovechkin experiment - the two playing together for the first time at 3-on-3 - worked.Check out their possession numbers:Player Corsi For Corsi Against Corsi For %Crosby12957.14%Ovechkin11955%(Courtesy: Hockey Stats)The pair had the best possession numbers on the Metro, while rookie Auston Matthews paced the Atlantic, finishing at 56 percent.In conclusion: Gretzky is a genius.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Goals, goals, goals.Wayne Simmonds opened the scoring in Sunday's showdown between the Metropolitan and Atlantic divisions before adding a second later in the frame, while John Tavares and Cam Atkinson added a pair of tallies of their own as the Metropolitan Division captured a 10-6 victory.Atkinson and Tavares both scored a pair of assists to wrap the afternoon with four points a piece.The Metropolitan Division now faces the Pacific Division in the final round of the All-Star Game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The best social media managers never forget.Nowhere was this more apparent than in Los Angeles on Sunday, where the Columbus Blue Jackets' social team dunked on the Washington Capitals with an impeccably timed zinger that called back to an awkward moment the Capitals' social team endured last month.Sunday's scorching started oh so innocently.

As members of the 100 Greatest met with the NHL's current stars prior to puck drop on the NHL All-Star Game in Los Angeles, the greatest defenseman in history, Bobby Orr, eschewed the traditional handshake when greeting today's top scoring blue-liner, Brent Burns.Good grip, when you consider Burns' passion for beard oils.

The NHL's Pacific Division All-Stars kicked off the weekend's 3-on-3 tournament in style, taking down their Central Division rivals with ease.Here are a few of the nicest tallies from the one-sided tilt:Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau lit it up for the Pacific, posting two goals and an assist, including this slick top-corner snipe: