They'd be unbeatable.Three of the greatest players to lace up skates spoke as part of the All-Star Game festivities in Los Angeles on Friday.Alongside Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky summarized the three greats with the perfect one liner."The three of us would have been pretty good at 3-on-3," Gretzky joked.Player Games Goals Assists PointsGretzky148789419632857Lemieux91569010331723Orr657270645915The trio are arguably the best to take the ice in the 100-year history of the NHL, with a host of combined accolades: Eight Stanley Cups, 18 Art Ross Trophies, 15 Hart Trophy wins, 10 Lester B. Pearson awards, and six Conn Smythes.

On the eve of the NHL's unveiling of the top 100 players of all time, a man who ranks among them has cast his ballot.Hall of Fame defenseman Bobby Orr spoke to reporters prior to Friday's event, stating that no one was better than Gordie Howe."Gordie in my mind is the best to ever play the game," Orr said, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.Of course, a few other greats agreed.

They are two players the hockey world is just waiting on to be dealt.Marc-Andre Fleury's days in Pittsburgh are numbered with Matt Murray clearly becoming the team's goalie of the future and - over the past couple months - their goalie of today.On the flip side, Kevin Shattenkirk has seen his name included in trade rumors over the last couple years. This time around, things could finally be coming to an end in St. Louis as the 27-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end and if not traded could leave for nothing.As it stands, neither team wants to lose its star for nothing. So, could they help each other out? Would a swap in stars in this case work?Blues goaltending in shamblesLately it's been hard to find a team that gives up goals quite like St. Louis.Heading into the All-Star break, the Blues have given up 151 goals in 46 games, good enough for an average of 3.08 goals per game - the fourth worst in the league - this, while rocking a league-worst .889 team save percentage.Aside from the team's startling 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, the team has given up at least five goals in each of its last four games. Simply put, Jake Allen and Carter Hutton have both played terribly and something needs to change.Enter Fleury.While the Penguins netminder has been far from perfect, he has managed slightly better numbers than both Blues netminders and gives the club something it's lacked for years - a goaltender with valuable playoff experience.Fleury has now won two Stanley Cups - sure, last year Murray owned the net - and he can still give quality starts and knows what it takes to win in the postseason.Penguins could use a defense upgradeIt's really hard to critique a team that's coming off a Stanley Cup Championship and sits poised for another deep run.That being said, the club's defense core is thin. Though Kris Letang is an elite defender, his health is a question mark to put it lightly, while the rest of the back end - despite its Cup win last year - remains largely inexperienced.Shattenkirk would provide some needed experience and an added offensive flair. The Blues pivot sits tied for fifth in points by defensemen and is tied for first in his position in power-play points.He's an insurance piece that could really make a Cup repeat possible.Where the expansion draft comes inIn this case the expansion draft actually wouldn't impact either player very much.Shattenkrik is set to become a UFA and chances are that barring a re-up by the Penguins, he is headed to free agency regardless. He is, in essence, a rental wherever he goes.As for Fleury, he could be essential in helping the Blues pick up the pieces - or at least help mend the damage left by the team's other starters - so they can get back to the playoffs.If he is plucked by the Vegas Golden Knights it wouldn't hurt the Blues too much, as the team still appears set on Allen in the long term and it would have lost Shattenkirk for nothing in free agency anyway. So, really, nothing changes there.It makes sense, but ...However you slice it, the deal at least marginally makes sense. As for one side sweetening the deal, salary retention, and things of that sort, we'll leave that to the general managers.TSN's Darren Dreger voiced his opinion on the potential swap, noting he didn't believe it would be done due to the Blues' continued commitment to Allen.That may very well be the case and the thought of both teams losing their players to free agency or the expansion draft could prove to be an issue. But with both clubs desperate to move assets and make a change, this deal could be beneficial to both.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You better come ready to play if you want to score on Ken Hitchcock's team.That's been the hallmark of the clubs iced by the legendary bench boss, and certainly his story since arriving in St. Louis in 2011, as the Blues have finished no worse than fifth in goals against under Hitchcock's guidance.Season Goals Against League Rank2016-1715225th2015-162014th2014-152014th2013-141913rd*2012-131155th*2011-121651stHitchcock replaced David Payne in 2011-12, coaching the Blues in 69 games. The following season was shortened to 48 games due to the lockout.Most impressive has been Hitchcock's ability to achieve such a feat with a slew of netminders over the years, from Jaroslav Halak, to Brian Elliott, Ryan Miller, a handful of games with Martin Brodeur for good measure, and returnee Jake Allen.But the numbers haven't been nearly as strong this season, in what is Hitchcock's seventh and likely last season in St. Louis, on the final year of his contract with associate coach Mike Yeo promised the head role next season.The Blues have plummeted to among the worst goals against in recent weeks, a result that now has the team's playoff chances at risk, with St. Louis grasping a playoff position by a single point. Only five clubs have performed worse in goal than the Blues, with the last spot Winnipeg Jets allowing just nine more goals than St. Louis.It's a result that is almost foreign to Hitchcock, and one he hasn't seen since his final year in Columbus. Fired in February 2010, the Blue Jackets pulled the plug on Hitchcock with the team sitting second-to-last in the West, and having allowed a conference-worst 193 goals. Only the Toronto Maple Leafs, at 197 against, had fared worse.No doubt it has been some troubling times in St. Louis this season, with backup Carter Hutton now getting the bulk of work as Allen works to find his game.On a recent road swing to Winnipeg, Allen was left in St. Louis and didn't travel with the team, while Blues general manager Doug Armstrong insisted that Allen remains in the club's future plans. That night, farmhand netminder Pheonix Copley got the call against the Jets, allowing five goals in a losing effort."There's a lot in his head," Hitchcock said of Allen at the time. "He's kind of locked up mentally and he's going to have to fight through this."More recently, with Allen promised the start Thursday against the divisional rival Minnesota Wild, that plan was quickly shuttered after Hutton posted a shutout two nights prior against the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.As for Allen, he hasn't finished a game since dropping a 4-2 decision to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 5, pulled in three straight starts since, including twice in a 7-3 defeat to the Washington Capitals. That night, a dreadful performance saw Allen allow four goals on just 10 shots.With 33 games left on the season, the Blues' poor play in the crease must be fine-tuned, not only to preserve the team's now precarious playoff chances, but potentially the swan song of one of the game's most decorated coaches.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The race for an Eastern Conference playoff spot is as close as it's ever been, and the Toronto Maple Leafs remain right in the mix heading into the All-Star break, sitting just one point out of a wild-card slot with a few games in hand.But Toronto could be cruising near the top of the Atlantic Division if they could just figure out how to seal the deal in the shootout. The Leafs currently boast the most shootout losses in the league, having lost six of the seven times their games have progressed past overtime.Points are at a premium in the East right now, with only a handful separating the wild-card clubs from the four teams tied for last place. With that being the case, those added points the Leafs left on the table could prove to be significant.Of course, lasting past regulation time did give Toronto one point in each of those six shootout losses. Though, had they managed to come up with victories, the club would be sitting with 61 points right now - good for second in the division behind the Montreal Canadiens, and well above the wild-card chaos.The poor shootout record is especially curious given the talent level among the team's newest crop of players. Young guns Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander have all showcased their exceptional hands on numerous occasions, but that highlight-reel skill hasn't yet translated to 1-on-1 action.Marner's been the most proficient of the trio, tallying three times through seven attempts. Matthews sports a 1-for-6 shootout record, and no other Leaf has managed a shootout goal this season.The Leafs' faithful likely aren't complaining, as the team's current position still represents a vast improvement over their 2015-16 performance. But as Toronto heads into the season's home stretch, finishing games through 65 minutes will be a key focus, as it's clear the shootout simply isn't their cup of tea.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Smith has gone Hollywood.The Arizona Coyotes' representative at the upcoming All-Star festivities in Los Angeles has revealed a special mask for the game, combining the glamour of Hollywood with dynamic desert elements.

Few teams face a trickier road ahead than the Minnesota Wild.That's because the Wild, who sit atop the West at the All-Star break, will soon face the challenges that come with success.Where the divisional rival Chicago Blackhawks have been hammered with keeping a winning group together under the salary cap, the Wild will face a similar difficulty ahead of the summer expansion draft.That's when the incoming Vegas Golden Knights will have their pick of the litter from the NHL's current 30 clubs, with each team having to sacrifice one player to Sin City.As a refresher, each club will have its choice of protection prior to the expansion draft: either seven forwards and three defensemen, or eight skaters of any combination. Each team can also protect a single goaltender.For the Wild, the complication comes in owning arguably the league's deepest blue line. No doubt Minnesota will want to retain all of Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella, Matt Dumba, and top defender Ryan Suter, who is automatically protected given his no-movement clause.That leaves just three slots open under the second protection scenario, and it should come as no surprise that a team performing as well as the Wild has more than three forwards it will want to keep in the fold.But the decision at the forward ranks is a difficult one for Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher, as three players hold full no-move clauses: captain Mikko Koivu, Zach Parise, and Jason Pominville.As a result, a handful of other useful players would be left exposed, including center Eric Staal, who is having a turnaround season in his first year in Minnesota, plus the likes of Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter, and Mikael Granlund.The last is Jason Zucker, and the 25-year-old has made himself part of the protection conversation given the career-best season he's currently having. Through 48 games this season, Zucker has tallied 14 goals and 19 assists, ranking fifth for points among his teammates.One other wrinkle? Zucker is a native of Las Vegas, and it's tough to underestimate the appeal of a hometown player in a new market, particularly one that has proven to have a big impact on the game like Zucker.For the Wild, this is just the tip of the iceberg for Zucker. The former second-round pick has already exceeded his previous career best, when he put up 26 points in just 51 games in 2014-15. This year, Zucker is on pace for more than double that number, projected to reach 56 points.No doubt Fletcher and the Wild will want to keep Zucker around, and certainly won't want to lose him for nothing to the Golden Knights. That means somebody else will be on borrowed time in St. Paul.In what has been the franchise's best season since joining the NHL in 2000, it's bright times ahead for the Wild, with the team a legitimate threat to win it all come June. But the challenges of that success won't be far behind.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been a long, arduous climb, but Washington Capitals pivot Evgeny Kuznetsov is finally back among the league's best.The 24-year-old broke out with a two-goal performance against the New Jersey Devils last night, earning his first multi-goal effort of the season.But Kuznetsov's return to elite production extends far beyond his most recent display. After posting just nine points through the first 23 games of 2016-17, the young Russian has been dominating since early December.He's amassed 28 points over his past 26 games, righting the ship in a significant way while the Capitals have surged.The past month heading into the All-Star break has been particularly kind to Kuznetsov. Over that span he's tied Brad Marchand for the second-most points in the league - 20 in 17 games - topped only by his captain Alex Ovechkin's 21.Kuznetsov's 14 assists over the past month are tied for first among all skaters, level with teammate Nicklas Backstrom.

Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella revealed Thursday that he won't be going to Los Angeles to lead the Metropolitan Division at the All-Star Game, citing a family matter.After an outpouring of well-wishes from his peers, Tortorella wanted to clarify that he wasn't dealing with an emergency - instead, one of his dogs is sick, he told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch."I appreciate so much the number of messages I have received since the announcement," Tortorella said. "But this absolutely is not an emergency. I want to clear that up."I needed a few days during the All-Star break - not having to go to the All-Star Game - to take care of something very important to my family and my son."In response to missing All-Star festivities, the NHL - just like they do with players who can't make it - made Tortorella miss a game, so he did not coach Thursday against Nashville.The 58-year-old owns five dogs, and it's his son Nick's 10-year-old pitbull, Emma, that is in ill health. Nick, a U.S. Army Ranger, is stationed abroad.This would have been the second All-Star Game of Tortorella's career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Full disclosure: This was very difficult. Damn near impossible.With the NHL set to reveal its full list of the 100 Greatest Players at the All-Star break, in celebration of its centennial season, we took a crack at our own top 10.Related: The top 50 players in the post-lockout eraSo many incredible talents have played in the NHL over the years. Here are the best of the best:10. Patrick RoyGoing with Roy over Martin Brodeur was the first of many very difficult decisions, but here's why Roy gets the edge: He was a Stanley Cup winner in different eras, with two teams, and won three Conn Smythe trophies to Brodeur's zero.Brodeur deserves all the praise in the world. His 691 regular-season wins will never be matched, he's first all time with 125 shutouts, and bests Roy in save percentage .912 to .910.But Roy won Cups in 1986, 1993, 1996, and 2001. Three decades. Two of them in hockey-mad Montreal, one as a rookie, and while it's unfair to credit all of Brodeur's success to the systems employed by the New Jersey Devils, there's no denying their impact on Brodeur's success.Hell, let's call it a tie, how about that?9. Alex Ovechkin"The Great Eight" comes in at No. 9, because there hasn't been a sniper like him since Mike Bossy and Mario Lemieux.Among players with at least 500 regular-season games to their name, only Bossy, Lemieux, and Pavel Bure averaged more than Ovie's 0.617 goals per game. And Ovechkin's done all his damage when goalies have never been better in the history of the league.Ovechkin's 1.139 points per game ranks 17th all time, but he's on this list because of the era his body of work falls in. And he ain't done yet.8. Mark MessierIt's crazy for Gordie Howe not to be on this list. He's Mr. Friggin' Hockey - his career spanned five decades, his final season at age 51. But, like we said, difficult decisions had to be made, and Mark Messier's inclusion - and Howe's exclusion - was one of them.But Messier, a key member of the Edmonton Oilers' dynasty, won six Stanley Cups - two without Wayne Gretzky. In fact, it's Messier's postseason exploits that land him on this list. Only Gretzky and Mario Lemieux were better in the playoffs.PlayerPlayoffs P/PGGPGretzky1.837208Lemieux1.607107Messier1.250236Just three players played for the Cup more than Messier: Chris Chelios, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Roy. "Moose" was the ultimate leader, and it's impossible to forget his reaction as he waited for the Stanley Cup in 1994 as the New York Rangers' drought ended after 54 years.There's never been a happier person than Stanley Cup winner Messier.7. Jaromir JagrLongevity counts for something - for a lot, actually - and that's why Jagr is on this list, and he's representing Howe while he's at it.Jagr, turning 45 on Feb. 15, ranks third all time in goals with 758, and should he play a couple more seasons - he talks about going until he's 50 - he'll pass Howe (801) and finish second to only Gretzky's 894. Had No. 68 not left North America in 2008 to play in Russia for three seasons, he'd be chasing Gretzky, not Howe.There's more: His 134 game-winning goals rank first all time, his 1,139 assists fifth, and after recently passing Messier, only Gretzky has more points than Jagr's 1,887. He did some of his best work in the dead puck era, and is still going, leading his team in scoring last season (!), at a time when players are faster, bigger, stronger, and train harder than ever.While Jagr's 1.130 points per game rank 20th all time, there's no denying his name deserves to sit amongst the top 10 greatest to ever lace them up.6. Dominik HasekDominik Hasek was before his time. He changed goaltending - period.Season NHL AVG SV% Hasek SV%1993-94.895.9301994-95.901.9301995-96.898.9201996-97.905.9301997-98.906.9321998-99.908.937Hasek has the highest save percentage in history among goalies who have played at least 700 regular-season games: .922. His 81 shutouts rank sixth all time."The Dominator" did it in the playoffs, too. His .925 postseason save percentage is highest all time among goalies who played at least 100 games in the spring, better than Ed Belfour (.920), Brodeur (.919), and Roy (.918).5. Mike BossyNo player in NHL history scored goals at Bossy's 0.762 clip. Only Lemieux (0.754) comes close.Bossy's 1.497 points per game rank third to only Gretzky and Lemieux. He may have only played 752 games, but they were something.In fact, in only one of Bossy's 10 seasons did he not hit the 50-goal mark. He scored 38 in 63 games in 1986-87, his final campaign at only 30 years old. He scored 60 or more five times.Part of the New York Islanders' dynasty, Bossy certainly did his part. In winning four Stanley Cups in a row from 1980 through 1983, Bossy scored a ridiculous 61 goals in 72 games.4. Sidney CrosbyYou better believe it.Crosby's 1.326 points per game ranks fifth all time. And he's done it in an era when goalies actually stop the puck. With 749 regular-season games to his name, the sample's big enough. "The Kid" has lived up to the hype.No. 87 has won everything there is to win in hockey, and his 1.105 points per game in the playoffs ranks 12th in history.3. Bobby OrrHall of Fame goalie Ken Dryden said it best in his book "The Game" about Bobby Orr:

One game into the Los Angeles Kings' 2016-17 season, the club was dealt a devastating blow, as franchise netminder Jonathan Quick was forced out with injury.The veteran goaltender hasn't returned since, leaving the Kings' crease a certifiable mess. But following what looked to be the downfall of L.A.'s season, the team has seen an unlikely name play the role of savior - Peter Budaj.With a 22-save shutout over the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night, Budaj pushed his 2016-17 sum to five total shutouts - that's more than he's posted over the last six seasons combined.Where exactly do Budaj's five goose-eggs rank league-wide? Second. Bested only by last year's Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby, and tied with this year's Vezina front-runners, Devan Dubnyk and Tuukka Rask.

The stars have been given their assignments.Ahead of the annual skills competition Saturday evening, the NHL announced the participants for each event.Each squad will compete for points in all events in division-versus-division play, ultimately to determine opponent and start time of their first game Sunday.Here's a look at the star-studded affair:Skills RelayCentral Division vs. Pacific Division:

It's safe to say 2016-17 hasn't been kind to New York Islanders veteran Andrew Ladd. But last night the former Winnipeg Jet turned back the clock.The 31-year-old, who signed a seven-year, $38.5-million deal with New York last summer, has been a major disappointment through the majority of his first season in Brooklyn, posting just 14 points through 43 games thus far.But it seems the presence of new head coach Doug Weight is helping Ladd find his game. That was certainly the case last night, as Ladd dominated against the Montreal Canadiens, posting two goals - including a flat out snipe for the game-winner - to earn his second multi-point effort of the season.

After a supremely lackluster start to 2016-17, the Calgary Flames have managed to hang on and climb into a wild-card spot, due in no small part to the changing complexion of their blue line.For the past three seasons, captain Mark Giordano has reigned as the club's most dangerous offensive defenseman. The veteran has finished among the team's top five scorers in each of the past three campaigns, posting more than 45 points each time.The only defender to finish above him in that span was Dennis Wideman in 2014-15, doing so in 19 more games after Giordano was forced out of the lineup with a torn bicep in his 61st appearance.In the past two campaigns, T.J. Brodie was right there with Giordano, topping 40 points in each season as the duo played a key role for a Flames club lacking in secondary scoring options.Things have changed considerably this time around.As the Flames head into the home stretch of the season, it's 23-year-old Dougie Hamilton that has been the unequivocal leader in terms of offense from the blue line.The former Boston Bruin - who found himself embroiled in trade rumors early this season - has racked up seven goals and 32 points through 51 games.Not only is that sum 10 points higher than Giordano's, and 15 points higher than Brodie's, it's also good for second among all Flames skaters - even a hair above leading duo Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau.Despite his stellar play, Hamilton is still seeing fewer minutes than his veteran counterparts. Giordano leads the blue-line corps with 23:57 minutes per game, while Brodie ranks second with 23:35.Both have seen their points-per-game pace cut nearly in half compared to the past few seasons. Meanwhile, Hamilton - who's seeing 19:24 minutes per game - is scoring at a career-best pace, and is on track to finish with 51 points.Things are certainly changing on the Flames' back end, as Hamilton is quickly becoming the player the club was hoping for when they acquired him prior to last season. Still young, it's only a matter of time before the smooth-skating defender moves up the club's blue line depth chart for good.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As if being shut out to the 29th-place Arizona Coyotes isn't bad enough, the Vancouver Canucks did so Thursday in historically bad fashion.It took Vancouver 28:12 to register its first shot on goal, the longest a team has gone since the NHL started tracking play-by-play in 2003, according to Sportsnet Stats.Here's a look at the unbelievable performance - for all the wrong reasons - in chart form:

With All-Star Weekend upon us, "On the Fly," theScore's NHL roundtable series, will look at four predictions leading up to the festivities in Los Angeles.McDavid scorches record booksHagerman: Dylan Larkin made one hell of an impression at the NHL skills competition last year.The Detroit Red Wings dynamo set a skills competition record winning the fastest skater competition in a time of 13.172 as a rookie, besting Mike Gartner's previous mark of 13.386 seconds which had stood since 1996.This year we could see the record broken once again.Connor McDavid has quickly become the premiere offensive talent in the league. He paces the NHL in scoring with just over one full season under his belt. Sure, his hands and vision are unworldly, but his most deadly asset is his skating.What makes McDavid so lethal is that he can beat the fastest skaters in a foot race and even more impressively, can set up and make plays at that speed.So is he fast enough to break Larkin's record? Absolutely.The Oilers held their own skills competition on Jan. 15 where McDavid also bested Gartner's mark, finishing his lap in a time of 13.382 seconds. McDavid doesn't have to go much faster to earn the official record and with the entire hockey world watching, one has to believe the phenom will deliver.Metro takes the tourney Vaswani: The Metropolitan, the best division in hockey - four teams have 60 or more points at the break, with Washington's 72 leading the NHL - will win the All-Star three-on-three tournament. It must, because an All-Star Game victory is about the only accomplishment - albeit minor - missing from Sidney Crosby's resume.Somehow, Crosby will play in only his second All-Star Game on Sunday. He last played in the showcase in 2007, in Dallas, when the Western Conference took down the East 12-9. Somehow, again, Crosby didn't register a point.Think about it for a minute: Thanks to injuries and the Olympics, it's been 10 years since a Crosby All-Star appearance.That's nuts.So be sure to enjoy No. 87 out there with the rest of the best. With Sid shooting 20.4 percent this season, it's more than likely he scores a bushel Sunday.Oh, and he could be out there at three-on-three with Alex Ovechkin by his side. Yeah, that'll do.Crosby vs. McDavid replaces John Scott story Sachdeva: It’s going to be tough to match last year’s theatrics, as this year’s All-Star festivities will be without what was arguably the most intriguing part of the 2016 iteration - John Scott.The veteran’s unexpected presence helped fans avoid thinking about how lackluster the All-Star games have become, but with no outsider aspect this time around, we’ll see how interesting the new format truly is.But there are still a few noteworthy storylines heading into the event. Key among them - how Crosby and McDavid fare in a full tournament of 3-on-3 action.With half of 2016-17 in the books, the two centermen have made it clear they remain a step above the rest of the league, with Crosby leading the way in the goals department and McDavid ranking as the NHL’s scoring leader.They’re both ultracompetitive, in a different stratosphere in terms of skill, and surely well aware of all the talk surrounding who takes the crown as the NHL's true No. 1. Here’s hoping they spice up All-Star weekend with a few highlight-reel head-to-head performances.Rookie sensation will earn MVPO'Leary: The Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets will be represented in Los Angeles by their two brightest stars: Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine.The two phenoms - likely to be linked together for the entirety of their careers because of their draft positions - have ushered in a new wave of talent in the NHL in style, manufacturing electric seasons to start their NHL tenures.Their first meeting was as hyped as an NHL game in October can be, and this time, with extra ice at their disposal, Matthews and Laine are sure to put on a show again.Think about the space Laine will have to unload his lethal shot. Think about the opportunities Matthews will have to put his extraordinary puck skills on display. Excited yet?All four teams are chock-full of elite NHL talent, but as evidenced at the World Cup in September, fans are rabid for the youth movement. Laine and Matthews are 1-2 in rookie scoring, and are both in the top 10 in goals, there's no reason to believe one of them won't steal the show in Tinsel Town.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One year removed from barely sneaking into the playoffs as a wild-card club, the Minnesota Wild now rank first in the Western Conference heading into the All-Star break.A number of possible causes for their turnaround have been offered - the astute coaching of new leader Bruce Boudreau, the Vezina-worthy play of Devan Dubnyk, or maybe the resurgence of veteran Eric Staal.And yet few are talking about one of the most pivotal storylines unfolding in Minnesota - the newly elite play of 24-year-old Mikael Granlund.In the midst of his fourth full NHL season, Granlund has graduated to full-fledged stardom for the Wild. The 2010 ninth overall pick has found a new gear in 2016-17, leading his team in scoring with 42 points through 48 games.Related: Granlund puts puck between legs, outwaits Rinne for slick goalThat's a career-high scoring pace by a mile, as Granlund is just two points away from topping his personal best of 44, set last season over a full 82-game campaign. He's also just one goal away from matching his former top mark of 13.Should Granlund continue to put up numbers at his current pace, he'll finish with 21 goals and 72 points. The Wild haven't seen any of their skaters top 70 points since Mikko Koivu in 2010.Considering how well Granlund has been playing of late, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him push forward all the way to that 70-point plateau.With a goal and an assist in Thursday's victory over St. Louis, Granlund has racked up 28 points over his past 24 games. He's riding a nine-game point streak, during which he's put up 11 points.The Finnish star has flown under the radar through his first trio of NHL campaigns. It's taken time to notice Granlund, but he's proven he's more than a depth piece in Minnesota, and looks poised to lead the Wild on a march through the postseason come playoff time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the New York Islanders cut head coach Jack Capuano loose, the club sat dead last in the Eastern Conference. Just five games later, the Isles have overtaken five Eastern teams and are one mediocre win streak away from a playoff spot.That stark turnaround isn't simply the result of new bench boss Doug Weight's inspiring leadership - though the Islanders have gone 4-1 since he took over. It's just the reality of the situation for teams in the East this season, where the battle for the last few playoff spots is nowhere near finished.Heading into the home stretch of 2016-17, the seven clubs at the bottom of the standings remain just three points apart, and all are within reach of a wild-card spot.Four teams (the Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, and Detroit Red Wings) are tied for last at 49 points. The next tier is only a mild step above, as the Islanders, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning all sit between 50-52 points.After triumphantly closing the gap on the backs of their elite rookie stars, the Toronto Maple Leafs have temporarily dropped out of a postseason position. Yet they remain just one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild-card slot, and the Leafs have played three fewer games than Philly.Needless to say, it's still anyone's year in the East.Perhaps the only clubs sure to remain in their current spots are the Metropolitan Division leaders, where the Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Pittsburgh Penguins have been rolling over the rest of the league all season. All three have cleared 65 points and don't look likely to fall too far before the year is through.The Atlantic Division-leading Montreal Canadiens appear to be a sure thing as well, sitting with a seven-point lead over the second-place Ottawa Senators.Past that, the rest of the conference is an all-out mess. This time last season, the bottom three teams in the East were already well behind the middle-of-the-pack clubs by a full 10 points or more, their playoff hopes all but dashed.But the basement dwellers are hanging around this time, which should mean plenty of heated conference rivalry tilts once the All-Star break concludes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL took on the unforgiving task of comparing players from each of its generations, compiling a 100 Greatest Players list for reveal in Los Angeles this weekend as part of the All-Star festivities.While we admire their zest, it's not a task we'll gleefully take on ourselves. We will, however, scrutinize this generation.Here are the top 50 players in the post-lockout era - 2005-06 and beyond - broken down categorically.League PillarsSidney Crosby - an NHL-best 1.33 points per game

This just in: Mike Babcock doesn't like to lose.Unfortunately for him and his Toronto Maple Leafs, they experienced just that Thursday night in Philadelphia, dropping a 2-1 decision on a late goal from the Flyers.The Leafs were in the second game of a back-to-back, and while they certainly played like they were out of gas in the third period - where they were out-attempted 32-11 at even strength - Babcock isn't buying into his team being fatigued, citing the glory days of minor hockey as a reference point."When you were young, you played three minor hockey games in one day and no one knows (they're tired)," Babcock said, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle. "You eat a burger and then you have some fries and then you put a little ketchup on the side and then you keep playing. You don't know. No one told you you were tired so you're not tired."So this is just because now we have all these (sports science) people working for us saying you've got to eat this and do this - forget that. Play the game."To Babcock's point, the Flyers were also in the second portion of a back-to-back, and heavily carried play as the game wore on.The compact schedule doesn't stop any time soon for the Leafs, either, as Toronto faces seven more back-to-back situations in the remaining 35 games of its season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With veteran defenseman Andrei Markov still on the shelf and general manager Marc Bergevin looking to beef up his club's blue line, the Montreal Canadiens found a temporary solution Thursday in Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Nikita Nesterov.Related: Canadiens add defensive depth in trade for NesterovThe Canadiens acquired Nesterov in exchange for a 2017 sixth-round pick and defender Jonathan Racine. With the 23-year-old Nesterov likely to debut after the All-Star break, here are a few things for Montreal fans and interested observers to keep in mind:1. He gets a thumbs-up from fancy statsWhile Nesterov was fairly sheltered through the 35 games he played in Lightning colors this season - starting 66 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone - he did come out on top when it came to his possession metrics.Nesterov led all Lightning defensemen in even-strength Corsi For rating, posting a strong mark of 54 percent this season. That percentage was also good for fifth-best among all Lightning skaters.He hasn't been wholly consistent in this area, as he finished with 50 percent in 2015-16. However, Nesterov topped 54 percent in his 27-game go-round in the big leagues in 2014-15 as well.2. He's as versatile as they comeThe young rearguard manned both sides of the rink for the Lightning this season, splitting time with partners Braydon Coburn, Jason Garrison, and Anton Stralman. He even spent a fair chunk of time with Tampa Bay's blue-line leader, Victor Hedman.Of course, the most obvious example of Nesterov's versatility is the fact that he's been used as a forward on a number of occasions. He first got the call to play on the front lines during his time in the KHL. But Lightning coach Jon Cooper has tried him out on the club's fourth line at times as well - and Nesterov hasn't disappointed."He can skate, he's physical, he engages, he's got a good stick," Cooper told the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith in December. "He can do them both at forward and D. He's been kind of a utility guy."3. He's a project, but he's cheapFor all his skill and potential, Nesterov comes with an extraordinarily reasonable contract, as he's owed only $725,000 this season. He's in the midst of a one-year deal signed with the Lightning after playing out his three-year entry-level pact.He's a restricted free agent after this season, but since Nesterov hasn't exactly lit the league on fire throughout his 119 career games, it's fair to assume he'll be paid a pretty reasonable sum on his next deal as well.That's excellent news for Montreal, as the club houses four defenders making over $4 million per season - with those annual salaries stretching as high as $7.9 million for Shea Weber.Nesterov didn't cost the organization very much in terms of the trade itself either. Racine - who's the same age as Nesterov - has earned only one game in the big leagues, and the sixth-round pick won't set the club back much.All in all, it's a strong move by Bergevin to bring in Nesterov as the perfect low-risk, high-reward option on the Canadiens' blue line.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For fans, All-Star weekend means watching the world's best players "compete" in a series of league-sanctioned events to grow the game. For players and coaches, the break provides a barometer of where a team lies heading into the stretch run of the season, and this year, it's as close as ever.Remarkably, 12 of the 14 NHL clubs outside the playoff picture are within seven points of a spot, the outliers being the lowly Coyotes and Avalanche, who at this point have a snowballs chance in hell of making it.Here's a look at the ground the outsiders will have to make up once festivities in Los Angeles conclude:Eastern Conference (cut-line: 56 points) TeamGames playedPointsMaple Leafs4755Panthers5052Islanders4751Lightning5050Hurricanes4849Sabres4849Red Wings4949Devils5049The Islanders have surged up the standings since Doug Weight took over behind the bench, moving from last place into striking distance with games in hand.Elsewhere, the Panthers and Lightning - both heavily expected to make the playoffs this season - have some work to do, while the Red Wings' 25-year playoff streak is in jeopardy, but remains salvageable.Western Conference (cut-line: 53 points)TeamGames playedPointsKings4952Canucks5052Stars5050Jets5250Coyotes4638Avalanche4628Save for the last two entries, the West is even closer than the East.While the 16 teams slotted in postseason positions may feel comfortable right now, remember, the two teams - the Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks - that reached the Stanley Cup Final last season, sat near the basement of their respective conferences last season at the midway point.So as riveting as the skills competition and All-Star Game will be, try not to wear yourself out folks, because the regular season's final push is going to be a wild ride.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

How 'bout those Edmonton Oilers?After their second road win in as many nights over a Pacific Division competitor - 4-1 over the San Jose Sharks - the Oilers sit in a tie for first place with 64 points at the All-Star break. This is not a drill.The victory gives Edmonton a 7-0-1 record over their past eight games, and a win over San Jose - a team they've beat just four times in regulation over their last 32 attempts - shows a changing of the guard for a franchise finally on an upswing."I think it's a feather in the cap of the players," head coach Todd McLellan said upon notching first place, according to Eric Gilmore of NHL.com. "They bought into a system, they bought into each other, they care about each other. To scratch and claw and win on the road in theses last two games in very tough buildings is something we should be proud of and we should be confident with, but it's only the All-Star break."McLellan's right, it is only the All-Star break, but the Oilers snapping their 10-season playoff drought looks like all but a formality at this point. Edmonton is 11 points clear of its wild-card chasers 51 games in, and as their past two games have shown, the Oilers are very well competitive with the best the Pacific has to offer.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Andrej Sekera scored two goals and the surging Edmonton Oilers extended their point streak to eight games by beating the San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Thursday night.Edmonton ended San Jose's six-game winning streak and tied the Sharks for the Pacific Division lead heading into the All-Star break. Both teams have 64 points, one more than Anaheim.Oilers goalie Cam Talbot played brilliantly in earning his 26th win of the season. He made several point-blank saves and stopped 32 of 33 shots.Drake Cauggiula and Connor McDavid also scored for the Oilers, who improved to 7-0-1 over their last eight games. The only loss during that span came to Nashville in a shootout.Logan Couture scored for the Sharks, and Martin Jones made 18 saves.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CHICAGO - Andrew Copp and Bryan Little scored in a 32-second span in the third period, and the Winnipeg Jets beat Chicago 5-3 on Thursday night for their fourth straight victory against the Blackhawks this season.Little, Copp, rookie Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and an assist, helping the Jets to their third win in their last nine games. Connor Hellebuyck made 38 saves on the final night before the NHL All-Star break.The Blackhawks had a 3-2 lead before Copp tipped Josh Morrissey's shot past Scott Darling with 4:03 left. Little then blasted a shot by Darling for his 13th of the season, silencing the crowd of 21,746.Scheifele added an empty-netter at 17:57 for his 22nd goal, moving the center into a tie with Laine for the team lead.Duncan Keith, Nick Schmaltz and Tanner Kero scored for the Blackhawks (30-16-5), who were coming off a 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Darling finished with 28 stops.Winnipeg also scored two goals in a 42-second span in the first, continuing a disturbing trend for Chicago. The Blackhawks allowed two in 46 seconds against Vancouver on Sunday, and then surrendered a pair of goals in 30 seconds against the Lightning.Kero's fourth of the season, finishing a slick passing sequence with Patrick Kane, gave Chicago a 3-2 lead at 16:37 of the second. The Blackhawks had a couple more opportunities after taking the lead, but Hellebuyck held them off until the Jets put together their strong finish.Winnipeg jumped in front in the first when Little made a great pass across the ice to Laine, who drove a one-timer by Darling for a power-play goal at 6:16. Laine returned Tuesday after missing eight games with a concussion.Jacob Trouba then had a big slap shot go off the right skate of Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell and past Darling, with Shawn Matthias getting his stick on the puck just before it crossed the line. It was Matthias' seventh of the season.The Blackhawks, who controlled much of the early action, then got one back after Nic Petan was whistled for hooking at 13:02. Just five seconds into the ensuing power play, Keith drove a slap shot by Hellebuyck from the left point with Chicago center Artem Anisimov providing a perfect screen in front.Schmaltz got the tying goal four minutes into the second. While Winnipeg defenseman Mark Stuart repeatedly checked Chicago center Marcus Kruger in the back while the two were on the ice, Schmaltz picked up the loose puck, skated in and beat Hellebuyck on the short side for his third of the season.NOTES: Kruger played in his first game since Dec. 30. He was activated from injured reserve on Tuesday after being sidelined by a hand injury. ... The Jets scratched Ds Brian Strait and Julian Melchiori and G Michael Hutchinson. ... Blackhawks C Dennis Rasmussen, who is battling an illness, skated Thursday morning, but was scratched. D Michal Rozsival and F Jordin Tootoo also were inactive. ... Blackhawks D Niklas Hjalmarsson played in his 600th NHL game.UP NEXTJets: Continue a four-game road trip Tuesday night against St. Louis.Blackhawks: Begin a six-game road trip at San Jose on Tuesday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was the biggest goal the Calgary Flames have scored in some time.Johnny Gaudreau finished off a beauty 2-on-0 passing play with Mikael Backlund to give his club a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. It also put an end to the Senators' four-game winning streak.As for Gaudreau, the goal was a huge monkey off his shoulders, ending the star's 11-game goalless skid.With the win the Flames momentarily hold onto the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference heading into the All-Star break.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eddie Lack is close to making his return.The Carolina Hurricanes netminder has been sidelined since Nov. 22 after he suffered a concussion.On Thursday, the Hurricanes assigned Lack to Charlotte, their minor-league affiliate, where he will have an opportunity to get in some playing time on a conditioning stint.Lack has appeared in just five games with Carolina this season, posting a 1-2-1 record with a save percentage of .856.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Frustration continues in the Dallas crease.Stars netminder Antti Niemi was given the early hook Thursday after allowing two goals on five shots to the Buffalo Sabres. Niemi lasted just one period before Stars coach Lindy Ruff changed hands and called on Kari Lehtonen.It marked the third straight start in which Niemi finished the game on the bench.The Finnish netminder was yanked Jan. 14 after allowing three goals in just 4:01 against the Minnesota Wild. Three nights later, Niemi allowed six goals on 28 shots to the New York Rangers, with Lehtonen coming in for mop-up duty late in the third frame.In all, Niemi has stopped just 25 of the past 36 shots that have come has way, resulting in an ugly .694 save percentage over that stretch.Niemi has one year remaining on his contract, carrying a $4.5-million cap hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It won't take long for Tommy Wingels to make friends in Ottawa with plays like that.Just two days following a trade from the San Jose Sharks, Wingels scored in his first game with the Senators, putting the puck by Calgary Flames netminder Brian Elliott.Early in the third frame, Wingels redirected a point shot by Ottawa blue-liner Fredrik Claesson to tally his sixth goal on the season.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Score one for Sean Monahan.Late in the second frame, Calgary Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton dragged the puck toward the Ottawa Senators cage, but saw his shot denied by netminder Mike Condon. Monahan was there, however, to capitalize on the second opportunity by burying a between-the-legs goal.The tally marked Monahan's sixth goal in his past eight games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets rookie Patrik Laine is back to scoring goals.The 18-year-old fired a one-timer past Chicago Blackhawks netminder Scott Darling for his first goal in his second game since returning to the lineup from a concussion.The goal was Laine's 22nd of the season, leaving him one behind Auston Matthews for tops among all first-year players.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Eichel to the rescue.The Buffalo Sabres center and franchise forward has made a big-league impact since returning to the lineup on Nov. 29.After suffering a high-ankle sprain on the eve of the season opener, it was a gloomy state of affairs in Western New York after what had been a promising offseason.Over the summer, Sabres general manager Tim Murray made a handful of recruits in an effort to build on his team's 81-point finish in 2015-16, Eichel's first year in the NHL after being drafted second overall the previous June.Several new faces arrived in Buffalo. High-profile winger Kyle Okposo, fresh off a 22-goal campaign with the cross-state New York Islanders, was added in free agency. Veteran blue-liner Dmitry Kulikov was acquired from the Florida Panthers. Meanwhile, starting goaltender Robin Lehner was looking forward to a fresh start after an injury-riddled season the year prior.But then Eichel was lost one day before the season opener versus the divisional rival Montreal Canadiens, after an awkward fall resulted in an ankle injury that sidelined him for six weeks. In all, Eichel missed 21 games, while the Sabres struggled in his absence, posting a 7-9-5 record and tallying just 1.81 goals per game.But things have turned around since his return, as Eichel has already collected 12 goals and nine assists in what will be an abbreviated season for the Massachusetts native. He's been the biggest reason the Sabres have a winning record since his return, as the team has gone 13-9-4 over that stretch and its goals-per-game ratio has also jumped more than a full point - coming in at 2.93 - since Jack came back.How far can the turnaround go? Playoffs are now a possibility for the Sabres, although slim, given the muck that is the bottom of the East - Buffalo is among a group of teams battling it out in the conference's basement, where no club stands more than five points behind the final playoff slot.That certainly wasn't the case just a few months ago, when the Sabres were seemingly holding on for Eichel's return. Now, he's back, and the Sabres are winning. It's no wonder why the Buffalo faithful like Eich.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brad Marchand is counting his blessings Thursday night.The Boston Bruins forward got his club back into Thursday's game thanks to two goals in a span of 4:49 to knot the game at 2-2.The goals come the same day it was announced the 28-year-old would not be suspended for his dangerous trip on Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall and would instead be fined $10,000.Related: Marchand fined $10K for dangerous trip on KronwallMarchand now has 21 goals on the year, hitting the 20-goal mark for the fourth straight season.(Videos courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everything is turning up spades for Justin Schultz.The Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman is among the league leaders in points by defensemen this season and he can thank Boston Bruins rookie Brandon Carlo for his latest goal.The Bruins blue-liner accidentally redirected Schultz's cross-ice feed into his own net on Thursday night, giving his opponent his eighth goal and 33rd point of the season.Schultz would pick up another assist on Phil Kessel's goal later in the first period, putting him in sole possession of fourth in defensemen scoring.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nobody saw this coming. Except for the man running it all.When Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning insisted throughout the offseason that he had a team bound for the postseason, pundits scoffed at the proclamation.Most saw the Canucks in line to hold a ticket for Nolan Patrick draft lottery, rather than primed for a playoff run.A year ago, Vancouver tumbled down the standings, the second season under Benning, as the Canucks dropped to 75 points - 26 fewer than the prior campaign. Only two teams finished worse than Vancouver.This season, the odds of postseason play in British Columbia seemed unlikely, given an aging club seemingly past its best days featuring young talent not yet ready for prime time.But as Benning and Canucks president Trevor Linden attested, a formal teardown simply wasn't in the cards with the Sedins still in town. As long as Daniel and Henrik remained, Vancouver's focus would be on winning. In the interim, the Canucks needed some talent to hold down the fort while their young talent readied for their NHL future.That left Benning to make the necessary deals to push his team into relevancy. Those moves proved unpopular at the time, but now appear to be savvy acquisitions, given the Canucks spot in the standings.At the 49-game mark, the Canucks hold down the West's final playoff spot.That makeover began in March 2015, when Benning shipped a second-round pick to the Calgary Flames for little-used forward Sven Baertschi, a one-time first-round pick who hadn't caught on with the Flames.The Flames and Canucks reconnected a year later, with Vancouver this time shipping former first-round pick Hunter Shinkaruk to the Flames for Markus Granlund, another player who had made little impact in the NHL up to that point.Both have emerged as key cogs this season with the Canucks, as has forward Brandon Sutter, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in July 2015 for a package including center Nick Bonino. Only Canucks center Bo Horvat has found the back of the net more often this season than Baertschi, Granlund, or Sutter.At the other end of the spectrum, the Canucks have some exciting prospects in the pipeline, including defenseman Olli Juolevi, goaltender Thatcher Demko, and 2015 top pick Brock Boeser, who is currently playing at the University of North Dakota.The future is certainly bright in Vancouver, but the present has also proven to be something to behold.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens added some depth on defense Thursday, acquiring defenseman Nikita Nesterov from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for blue-liner Jonathan Racine and a sixth-round pick in 2017, the team announced.Nesterov joins the Canadiens after managing three goals and 12 points for the Lightning this season - good enough for third in team scoring among defensemen.

Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella will not be behind the bench Thursday when his team takes on the Nashville Predators, nor will he head to Los Angeles as part of the NHL's All-Star festivities.The Blue Jackets announced Thursday that Tortorella has temporarily left the club to deal with a family matter."Regrettably, there is a personal matter that requires my immediate attention that will force me to leave the team temporarily and miss the All-Star Game in Los Angeles," Tortorella said in a statement.Columbus assistants Brad Larsen and Brad Shaw will run the bench in Tortorella's absence. His replacement for the All-Star Game has not yet been announced.The Blue Jackets have had an impressive run under Tortorella, as the club sits second place in the East with a 32-11-4 record on the season.Earlier this season, Tortorella became the first American-born coach to win 500 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Johnny Gaudreau realizes there's no time to waste.His Calgary Flames have dropped four in a row and find themselves out of the Western Conference playoff picture heading into Wednesday's game in Ottawa."We've got to find a way to get out of this hole really quickly," Gaudreau told reporters Thursday. "There's not many games left in the season and we know how important the remainder of our schedule is."Personally, Gaudreau has chipped in only one goal and three assists across 12 games this month, and is on pace to fall well short of his career highs set least season.As such, he's preaching the basics to help himself and his teammates get back on track."Every player needs to step up, look at ourselves in the mirror," Gadreau said. "It's a little cliche to say that, but that's what we need to do right now. We've got to play our roles, play simple, come together as a team here and try to get out of this little funk and go on from there."The Flames sit tied for the most games played to date with 51, making it even more difficult to catch other teams looking to keep Calgary on the outside looking in.A nice run for Gaudreau - Calgary's top forward - would go a long way toward ensuring the Flames indeed climb out of that hole.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyler Seguin appears willing to stick his neck out to ensure a Dallas Stars win.Prior to Thursday's game against Buffalo, the club will hand out 10,000 Seguin bobbleheads, made extra bouncy by an unusually long neck.

The Washington Capitals have a good thing going.The Metro-leading Caps are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, have four balanced lines, and are on pace to best their Presidents' Trophy winning season from a year ago. And general manager Brian MacLellan doesn't want to alter his club's momentum as the trade deadline inches closer."We've got good chemistry, which is important," MacLellan told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "It seems like our lines are all settled in here. Everyone is comfortable with their roles, the coaches are comfortable. So it has more the feel right now of something you don't want to mess with ... at all, in my mind, because it's running smooth right now. So I'd be more inclined to do nothing."But it doesn't mean that we're not going to go through the process of, 'Can we upgrade on guys.'"Of course, things can change. Injuries occur, and with a division as tight as the Metropolitan, a slump of any sort can change playoff seeding. Still, with the way Washington is rolling, MacLellan staying the course might be his best bet.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand has avoided suspension, as the NHL instead fined him for an incident involving Detroit's Niklas Kronwall.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are providing a new challenge for one of hockey's most experienced front office executives.The rapid emergence of rookie forwards Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander - all of whom rank within the top five in team scoring - has put the club in playoff contention perhaps a year or two earlier than expected.Teams being carried by first-year players is a phenomenon that has emerged late in Lamoriello's 30-year career."I don’t think your rookies would have been better than the players you had," Lamoriello told Craig Custance of ESPN, referring to the state of the NHL during his tenure with the New Jersey Devils. "That’s the difference. I don’t think 10 years ago, 12 years ago, rookies came in and were able to take the jobs the way they are right now. The young player is so much better as far as quantity than it’s been in the past. It’s just the way the development of the game and the programs, and the focus of 12 months of training."It’s a different game today. It’s a different philosophy, it’s a different approach," he added. "I have certainly not experienced it."The question, then, becomes where to go from here. Do the Maple Leafs continue with a patient, build-from-within approach, or do they take advantage of the fact three of their best players are on entry-level contracts and try to surround them with veteran talent in order to become legitimate Stanley Cup contenders in the near future?It's a conversation that will no doubt be had more than once prior to the NHL's March 1 trade deadline, as well as through the offseason.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, Jan. 26 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

Semyon Varlamov's season is over.The Colorado Avalanche goaltender will undergo surgery Thursday in an attempt to eradicate groin muscle issues that have kept him off the ice for long stretches in recent years, according to Terry Frei of the Denver Post."(Varlamov) has been dealing with groin and hip issues for some time now," said general manager Joe Sakic. "After further evaluation from our team doctors, it was determined that the best road to recovery was surgery. Doing this procedure at this time ensures that Semyon will be fully healthy for the start of training camp."The last-place Avalanche will presumably roll with Calvin Pickard and Spencer Martin in net for the balance of the regular season.Varlamov, a 2013-14 Vezina Trophy finalist, posted a record of 6-17-0 with a .898 save percentage in 24 appearances this season. He remains under contract with the Avalanche through to the end of 2018-19 at a salary-cap hit of $5.9 million.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.â–² New York IslandersA change behind the bench appears to be paying off for the New York Islanders.The club has posted a record of 3-0-1 since Doug Weight took over from the fired Jack Capuano, and while they remain tied for last in the Eastern Conference with 49 points, the fact they've played only 46 games gives the Islanders a leg up on other teams trying to climb into a playoff spot.In fact, the Islanders now have a the best chance at grabbing the second wild-card spot, according to Sports Club Stats.John Tavares has also stepped up as of late, scoring eight goals and adding three assists for 11 points in his last seven games.â–¼ Brad MarchandOn one hand, Brad Marchand is having a career year. His 47 points put him in a tie for the fifth-highest total among all NHL players this season, and on pace for a career-high 76 over the course of a full 82-game schedule.The problem is, he's likely to miss at least one game after a hearing was scheduled for this dangerous trip on Detroit's Niklas Kronwall.The Boston Bruins have been struggling of late, with whispers of head coach Claude Julien being on the hot seat growing louder with each loss. On track to miss the playoffs for the third season in a row, Boston can ill afford to lose arguably its best player - who scored a pair of goals in a big win over the Red Wings - to suspension for such an unnecessary incident.Marchand has displayed growth both on and of the ice in recent months, but this moment of regression could cost his team dearly.â–² Filip ForsbergThe Nashville Predators highest-paid forward appears to have found his scoring touch.After a quiet start to the season, Filip Forsberg has flipped the script, and has been absolutely on fire over the past seven weeks.