In the thick of rumors surrounding a team desperate for change, Matt Duchene is prepared for anything leading up to the trade deadline.The Colorado Avalanche pivot has been a staple of the franchise since he was drafted third overall in 2009, but now, at 26, Duchene recognizes his club's situation and will accept whatever lies ahead - even a trade."I'm open to it," Duchene told Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post on Wednesday. "When I say open to it, I know it's part of the business, and it's something that might happen. I'm not hiding from it. I'm not running away. I'm not banging my head. I understand it's part of what we deal with as pro athletes."Colorado's season has been flat-out disastrous. The Avalanche are on pace for the lowest point percentage in the post-lockout era, as head coach Jared Bednar's introduction to the NHL has resulted in a league-worst 28 points through 46 games."Where we're at, it's really hard. It's tough for everybody. Waking up in the morning, it's not the same excitement going to the rink," Duchene said.The Avalanche need to make a change, and Duchene, the club's leader in goals (15), would likely provide general manager Joe Sakic a hefty return of assets to help a rebuild.In his tenure with Colorado, Duchene has appeared in the playoffs twice, and if he's packing his bags, he hopes to land with a winner."I know when this team, or whatever (NHL) team I'm on, is ready to win, I know I'll be able to bring some experience to it," Duchene said. "That's something that fuels me, and it keeps me positive."Duchene's skill set is highly enticing. His speed and playmaking have led to an average of 0.75 points per game over 536 career contests.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will be well-represented in Los Angeles.Cam Atkinson is set to take the All-Star spot vacated by injured Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, the Blue Jackets announced Thursday.Atkinson will join two teammates and his head coach on the Metropolitan Division roster.

Jim Benning insists he has a playoff team.Through late January, the Vancouver Canucks general manager appears to be right.With a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, the Canucks notched their 23rd victory on the season and collected two more points to move into the second wild-card slot in the Western Conference.Through 49 games, Vancouver owns a 23-20-6 record, good for 52 points.It's been a fun month for Canucks fans, with the team holding a 6-2-3 showing through January.Vancouver now looks to build on its winning ways when it closes out the month on Thursday, as the Canucks head to the desert to take on the Arizona Coyotes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indispensable.Is there any other way to describe Frederik Andersen's performance this year?The Toronto Maple Leafs starter earned consecutive shutouts for the first time in his career Wednesday, making 22 saves in a 4-0 win over the Red Wings in Detroit.He steered aside 26 shots in a 4-0 win over the Calgary Flames on Monday.Andersen's consecutive shutouts are also the first by a Maple Leafs netminder in nearly four years. Ben Scrivens stopped 34 and 37 shots versus the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers in two perfect performances in succession back in February of 2013.Andersen's been largely spectacular all season for the Maple Leafs, steadying himself after a distressing first five starts with the franchise.His .930 save percentage since Nov. 1 - a span in which he's seen more rubber than any other netminder - trails only Braden Holtby and Devan Dubnyk among undisputed starters.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Forget about trading Thomas Greiss. Rather, the New York Islanders should be printing him a new contract.Why? Because he's played better than any Islanders goalie in recent history.No Islanders netminder has posted better numbers than Greiss since Glenn Resch did so in 1976. In other words, Greiss has put on the best performance between the pipes in 40 years. Using a 10-game minimum, here's how the top five stack up, based on save percentage:RankGoalieSeasonGPRecordGAASV%1Glenn Resch1975-764423-11-82.07.9282Thomas Greiss2016-172413-7-32.31.9273Wade Flaherty1997-98164-4-31.99.9264Thomas Greiss2015-164123-11-42.36.9255Kevin Poulin2010-11104-2-12.44.924Since joining New York last season, Greiss has taken hold of the starter's role, playing half of the games a year ago and is on pace for 43 appearances this season.Overall, Greiss has a .926 save rate through 65 games over the past two campaigns. Take it one step further and here's how he ranks league-wide:Rank Goalie Games Record GAA SV%1Juuse Saros115-4-21.91.9362Thomas Greiss6536-18-72.34.9263Matt Murray3826-7-22.23.9254Braden Holtby10371-17-112.12.9255Devan Dubnyk10458-34-92.18.924Only Nashville Predators rookie netminder Juuse Saros has posted a better save percentage (min. 10 games played), owning a .936 mark through 11 games this season.But stretch that to a bigger workload and Greiss stands above the rest, ahead of both the New York Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist and New Jersey Devils' Cory Schneider, who get the bulk of the goalie headlines in the metropolitan area.Goaltending has been hard to come by this season in other markets. The Islanders need to look no further than the likes of Calgary, Dallas, and Winnipeg to see the true value of goaltending and what Greiss provides.So what's the value in trading Greiss? He's a pending unrestricted free agent, where the team could deal him and then attempt to re-sign him in the summer. That allows the Islanders to cash in on an asset but at some long-term risk.That's because there's no guarantee Greiss returns to New York, particularly if he's shipped to a Stanley Cup contender. There's no denying the Islanders have recruitment problems. Quite simply, Brooklyn is bad and, save for last spring, the team has been a playoff flop dating back to 1993.But today, Greiss is in New York, where he has a starter's role. Now he just needs the starter's pay to go with it.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One bad goalie was enough for the Calgary Flames. But two?Chad Johnson, the free-agent revelation in goal in Calgary, has gone cold at the wrong time, with the Flames in the midst of a heated playoff race.With 51 points in as many games, Calgary is holding down the West's final playoff spot, but is only a single point above Los Angeles and Vancouver, and three points ahead of Dallas and Winnipeg. Three of those four teams also have games in hand.Collectively, Johnson still holds a winning record on the season, coming in at 16-12-1, alongside a .913 save percentage and 2.50 GAA. But Johnson's play has faltered somewhat lately:Month GP Record GAA SV%October31-1-12.89.901November96-3-02.01.930December95-4-02.75.905January83-4-03.01.887Earlier this season, the Flames turned to Johnson in goal after its big-ticket summer addition, netminder Brian Elliott, faltered through his early goings in Alberta. Now into January, Elliott still hasn't found the high level of play that saw him finish with an NHL-best .930 save percentage a year ago while with the St. Louis Blues.Whether it's Johnson or Elliott who finds his game, the Flames will need support in goal if the team hopes to return to the postseason for just the second time since 2009.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks are expected to have forward Tomas Hertl back in the lineup when they wrap up the pre-All-Star portion of their schedule.He's expected to be in action Thursday versus the Edmonton Oilers, according to Curtis Pashelka of the San Jose Mercury News.Hertl, activated from injured reserve Wednesday, has missed the last 32 games with a right knee sprain.Scoring hasn't been a major concern of late for the first-place Sharks, but the punch Hertl can pack will be welcomed nonetheless. He established career-best numbers with 21 goals and 46 points last season.San Jose's production has been middling this season, but the club has scored at a top-10 level over the last month, racking up 47 goals in its last 15 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Tuesday, the Ottawa Senators inducted Bryan Murray as the first member of its newly-minted Ring of Honour.Murray served as general manager of the Senators from 2007 until the end of last season, while doubling as head coach from 2005-08.Under his guidance, the Senators posted their best season in franchise history, wrapping the 2005-06 campaign with 113 points. The following spring, the Senators made their first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.Whether from the general manager's seat or behind the bench, Murray left his impression on the Senators' organization, where he still serves as senior hockey advisor.This season, with the Senators sitting second in the Atlantic Division, the team is poised to return to the postseason after missing out a year ago. The Senators are led by a host of key players, many of whom arrived in Ottawa because of Murray:The Turris TradeDavid Rundblad had a short tenure in Ottawa. That's because after he was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in the summer of 2010, Murray flipped him to Arizona a year-and-a-half later in order to bring young pivot Kyle Turris to the Canadian capital.With the Coyotes, Turris struggled to live up to his billing as a one-time third-overall pick, but has flourished in Ottawa, where he has provided a strong top-two presence down the middle alongside new recruit Derick Brassard. Consistency has been the name of Turris' game since coming to the Senators, as he's scored no fewer than 0.53 points per game since 2011:Season GP G-A-Pts Pts/GP2011-124912-17-290.592012-134812-17-290.602013-148226-32-580.712014-158224-40-640.782015-165713-17-300.532016-174617-16-330.72Goodbye LehnerOn the floor of the 2015 draft, the Senators cashed in on a seller's market for goaltenders, when Murray shipped backup netminder Robin Lehner to the Buffalo Sabres, recently under the guidance of former Senators assistant GM and Murray's nephew, Tim Murray.That deal returned a first rounder to Ottawa, which the Senators used to nab forward Colin White with the 21st overall pick.White recently made headlines as part of the world juniors, where the agitating winger put up seven goals and an assist en route to Team USA's gold medal finish. While White remains in the amateur ranks, spending this season at Boston College, Murray and the Senators have seen several other successes at the draft table, many having big impacts with the team this season:PlayerDraftGamesCareer G-A-PtsCody Ceci1/15 ('12)25119-44-63J.G. Pageau4/96 ('11)21538-48-86Ryan Dzingel7/204 ('11)7612-21-33Mark Stone6/178 ('10)22369-99-168Mike Hoffman5/130 ('09)22776-71-147Erik Karlsson1/15 ('08)525107-317-424Zach Smith3/79 ('08)44476-61-137Adding DionEleven months ago, the Senators pulled off a blockbuster deal with their provincial rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 10-piece, nine-player deal involved many moving parts, but the biggest name in the package included Maple Leafs defenseman and captain Dion Phaneuf.Since arriving in Ottawa, Phaneuf has stabilized the Senators' blue line, pairing with young defender Cody Ceci, and rounding out a top-four that includes Erik Karlsson and Marc Methot. Phaneuf has rediscovered his game and his scoring touch in Ottawa, as he's on pace for his best finish since 2012.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The numbers of women affected by abuse, sexual assault or domestic violence staggered Sean Henry, president and CEO of the Nashville Predators, the first time he heard them.Then he talked to his wife, mother and other women in his life who told him the numbers didn't surprise them. That shocked, and scared, him even more.Now the Nashville Predators are launching a public service announcement to ''Unsilence the Violence'' that features players like All-Star defenseman P.K. Subban and captain Mike Fisher. The franchise also pledged $500,000 over five years from its foundation to the YWCA's MEND program designed to teach men and boys how to help end violence against women and children.''The best part of what we do as a franchise, we get to leverage the passion our teams have for our team, our logo and turn that into something better, and I can't think of a better cause to be behind than stopping violence against women in our community,'' Henry said at a news conference Wednesday.The Predators have supported the MEND program since soon after its inception four years ago, including hosting program sessions at the Bridgestone Arena. The Ohio Valley Conference, headquartered just south of Nashville, also has been a longtime supporter, with Tennessee State men's basketball coach Dana Ford appearing in the new ad.With the money from the Predators and a $200,000 commitment from the All-State Foundation, the YWCA will help fund billboards and expansion of the MEND program beyond the 10 clubs and schools in the Nashville area.The program is run by Shan Foster, Vanderbilt's all-time leading scorer, and works to teach boys and young men how to talk to women and to have healthier relationships. Foster said hearing those lessons from coaches, administrators and pro athletes makes the message more powerful.Henry said violence against women is a man's problem.''Men need to step in and stop this,'' Henry said. ''We need to turn those numbers around, and it starts with every individual.''Sharon K. Roberson, president and CEO of the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, said one in four women will be abused in her lifetime, one in five will be sexually assaulted in college and 15.5 million children witness domestic violence each year. She also said Nashville police respond to a domestic violence call every 20 minutes.Henry said those numbers are worsening, making it more imperative to act. The Predators official said he's had some people tell him they won't end violence against women.''Even if we fall short of that goal, if we change that one in four to one in 54, the lives we're changing we're changing forever breaking the cycle,'' Henry said.The Predators are hosting MEND Night at their arena Thursday night during their game against Columbus to raise awareness and more money for the program, offering discounted tickets and making a donation to the YWCA.Henry said the NHL is looking at the issue of violence against women and how to get involved. But he said he's more focused with what the Predators are doing right now and hoping other sports franchises follow their lead. The new ad is designed to give boys role models who speak up, whether it's a sexist joke or someone being harassed.''We need to get our 12-, 13-, 14-, 15-year-old boys better examples,'' Henry said. ''Examples they can say: 'Wait a minute. P.K. Subban says this isn't OK. He's standing up to this. I should too.'''Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand will have a hearing for his "dangerous trip" on Detroit Red Wings defender Niklas Kronwall, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.Marchand looked to intentionally kick the right leg out from underneath Kronwall as he skated behind the defenseman Tuesday night.He was not penalized on the play.Marchand has a lengthy suspension history, which likely factored into the NHL's decision to host an official review. There have been several slew-footing incidents over the last week that have gone unpunished.He was last suspended 13 months ago for clipping Ottawa's Mark Borowiecki.If there is a ban handed down, it's not expected to affect his participation at the upcoming NHL All-Star Game, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reports.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues are going to ride the hot hand.Goaltender Carter Hutton will get the start in Thursday's game against the Minnesota Wild after stopping all 34 shots faced in a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.Related: Hutton's shutout further complicates Blues' crease conundrumIt had previously been announced that Jake Allen would make his first start since Jan. 19 on Thursday in his return from a team-mandated mental break.Allen will, however, suit up as Hutton's backup as Pheonix Copley has been returned to the AHL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche are eschewing the morning skate in the second half of the season.With a schedule that has the club playing almost every other night through the conclusion of the regular season, the team made the decision to go with optional morning skates on game days, in addition to team meetings and video sessions."Our schedule has been strange," said first-year head coach Jared Bednar, who asserted the decision was a result of conversation between staff and players. "That's the best way I can put it. You look at the two big breaks at the start of the year, then Christmas break, then the bye week, and we seem to have (had) a lot of space in between games."Bednar added that his team has had a lot of practice time through the first half of the season, even though it's not showing, as Colorado sits dead last in the NHL in points, with only 28 through 45 games, in what is a lost season.With a busy schedule the rest of the way, Bednar wants to make sure the players have ample time to rest.Colorado will have more than a day off between games only twice next month, between Feb. 1 and 4, and Feb. 25 and 28. The rest of the way, it's a game every other night, with five stretches of three games in four nights.The decision also means practices will be more intense, with the players expected to work hard.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bryan Bickell hopes to help the Carolina Hurricanes get into the playoffs.The forward, who's been sidelined since late October following a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, participated in his third full practice Wednesday. Afterwards, Bickell told reporters he feels normal and positive, and that being around the team has been helpful in terms of focusing on hockey and getting back into his normal routine following a tough stretch adjusting to his new reality."I knew something wasn't right and to pull myself up and get it fixed is the biggest thing," he said. "That was the past, we're taking it day by day right now and looking to get back in the lineup and helping this team win. Ideally, (we'll) get in the playoffs. That's our goal and my goal as well."Bickell added he's in constant communication with doctors in terms of the treatment process and whether he's well enough to return to game action.He does need to clear a few final hurdles in order to get full medical clearance, but he's making progress and feels mentally ready to play.Bickell scored one goal in seven games for the Hurricanes earlier this season, and would bring valuable experience from his days in Chicago as Carolina tries to jump into a playoff spot.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

#BellLetsTalk.Wednesday, Jan. 25 is Bell Let's Talk Day in Canada, an initiative by the telecommunications company to bring awareness to mental health issues across the country.

Evgeni Malkin will miss at least one regular season game and Sunday's NHL All-Star Game due to a lower-body injury, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan announced on Wednesday.Malkin saw 18:27 of ice time in Tuesday's loss to St. Louis and fired four shots on goal, but will be unavailable for Thursday's date in Boston as a result of the ailment.The center sits tied with teammate Sidney Crosby for second in the NHL with 54 points after recording 22 goals and 32 assists in 47 games. He'll be replaced on the Metropolitan Division roster for the weekend's All-Star festivities in Los Angeles.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's true: Complaining about who is, and who isn't, an All-Star is the first-est first-world problem there is. But it's time for Mark Scheifele and Cam Atkinson - who won't be in Los Angeles this weekend - to get their due.They're both top 10 in NHL scoring, each with 46 points on the season. Only one player has scored more goals than Atkinson - that Sidney Crosby guy. Six players have scored more than Scheifele, all of them All-Stars except Atkinson.Yeah, sure, you could throw Nicklas Backstrom in this conversation, too. His 47 points are tied for fifth overall, but he's been an All-Star before, earning his first trip - what the hell took so long? - last year. Scheifele and Atkinson have never had the honor.And until the NHL takes the best players, regardless of team, and drops the sticks in the middle to make three-on-three teams, this will happen every year - deserving players won't be at the All-Star Game.Columbus CamAtkinson, like his Columbus Blue Jackets team this season, seemingly came out of nowhere. But the sixth-round pick, 157th overall in 2008, has proven over the past three seasons that he's a solid NHLer. He's reached new heights in 2016-17 - like his team - and is set to obliterate career highs across the board.SeasonAgeGPGoalsAssistsPoints2013-1424792119402014-1525782218402015-1626812726532016-172747242246Among the league's top 10 scorers, nobody averages fewer minutes than Atkinson's 17:53 per game. His 19 points on the power play are tied for third in in the league.You want more? Atkinson's averaging more points per 60 minutes than Connor McDavid, who leads the NHL in scoring. Atkinson ranks sixth among skaters who've played at least 35 games.RankPlayerP/60GP1Crosby4.14412Evgeni Malkin3.73473Thomas Vanek3.47364Conor Sheary3.37405Nikita Kucherov3.29426Atkinson3.29477Backstrom3.22489McDavid3.22499Phil Kessel3.214710James van Riemsdyk3.1945At 27, at 5'8 and 180 pounds, and as a player drafted in the sixth round, Atkinson was never supposed to be here, among the McDavids and Crosbys of the world. And who knows if he'll ever be here again - he's shooting 17.3 percent.The Jackets are one of the best stories in hockey this season, with Atkinson the club's leading scorer. If anyone deserved a trip to L.A., it's him.With all due respect to Justin Faulk and Taylor Hall, they're not All-Stars this season. It remains stupid - and always will be - that each team must be represented at the game, and in a three-on-three tournament, there are no positions. Atkinson surely wouldn't have minded playing "defense."Superstar ScheifeleLost in all the Patrik Laine hype - and Nikolaj Ehlers hype, too - is that Scheifele, only 24 in March, has become the superstar the Winnipeg Jets dreamed he'd be when they drafted him seventh overall in 2011.Yes, it's official: Scheifele is a superstar. And while he won't be in L.A., there are multiple All-Star games in his future, because, to put it simply, he's really quite excellent at hockey.Scheifele's gotten better with age. He's going to score 35 this year and hit the 70-point mark for the first time in his career.Season Age GP Goals Assists Points2013-1420631321342014-1521821534492015-1622712932612016-172348212546Only five players in the Western Conference are averaging more points per 60 minutes than No. 55 (and one of them is his teammate Laine, who is certainly deserving of his All-Star selection, considering what he's doing at 19 years old).Rank Player P/60 GP1McDavid3.22492Vladimir Tarasenko3.18483Tyler Seguin3.01494Jeff Carter2.97485Laine2.91436Scheifele2.8548All-Stars in our heartsHey, it is what it is. In the end, Atkinson and Scheifele are on theScore's All-Star team, and have themselves a long weekend to enjoy. Best of both worlds. They should put their feet up, relax. They should definitely watch "La La Land," if they haven't yet. It's so good.The rest and relaxation will come in handy. Atkinson's got hockey to play this spring, something he hasn't done since 2014. A lot of hockey, hopefully.And there's absolutely no shame in Scheifele winning back-to-back gold medals with Canada at the world championship. The tournament is split between Cologne and Paris this year, with the Canadians stationed in France for their round-robin games. What's better than Paris in the spring?Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild have a prospect to be very excited about over in Russia.With a goal and an assist Wednesday for Salavat Yulaev Ufa, 19-year-old Kirill Kaprizov set a KHL record for most points in a season by an under-20 player.Kaprizov sits at 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 total points in 43 games, thereby passing Evgeny Kuznetsov - who recorded 41 points for Traktor Chelyabinsk in 2011-12 - in the league's record books.Kuznetsov needed 49 games to hit 41 points, making Kaprizov's feat that much more impressive.Taken in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Wild, Kaprizov made a huge impression at the 2017 World Juniors with a tournament-high nine goals and 12 points in seven games en route to a bronze medal.Kaprizov, however, has yet to sign his entry-level contract with the Wild.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have appointed Tom Anselmi team president and chief executive officer, owner Eugene Melnyk announced Wednesday.Anselmi replaces Cyril Leeder, who stepped down from his position as president of the hockey club.Anselmi most recently worked for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), first as chief operating officer then as president, and prior to that he served as vice president and general manager of arena operations for Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment (now Canucks Sports & Entertainment)."Tom's distinguished career in sports and his previous senior executive roles with two other Canadian NHL clubs will be invaluable as we continue our efforts to build an organization that will prepare us for the future and the exciting opportunities which lie ahead," said Melnyk.Early in his tenure with MLSE, Anselmi oversaw the development of Air Canada Centre, experience valued by the Senators as they look to build an arena closer to downtown Ottawa.

With five goals over the past two games, Patrick Marleau has been making a statement.The 37-year-old center is in his 19th season with the San Jose Sharks after being drafted second overall back in 1997, and is now on pace for 28 goals in 2016-17 after his recent outburst. That would be Marleau's highest goal total since 2013-14, and a clear sign he's still able to make a meaningful impact for the defending Western Conference champions."He’s a special player," Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said after Tuesday's win over Winnipeg, per Mike McIntyre of The Mercury News. "He’s had an unbelievable career, and he looks like he’s still got a lot of gas in the tank."Marleau's secret? Sticking to the basics."It’s been a real tough schedule but the guys have been taking care of themselves, getting the proper rest and putting in the proper work in between games. Eat, sleep, play hockey," Marleau said.Marleau is in the final year of his current deal with the Sharks, and he - along with Joe Thornton - is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Whether or not the two sides decide to part ways, Marleau doesn't appear ready to give up on the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup.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 Wednesday, Jan. 25 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

John Tortorella knows a thing or three about getting fired.Previously let go by the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks, the current Columbus Blue Jackets bench boss has been in touch with Jack Capuano, who served as Tortorella's assistant with Team USA at the World Cup and who was cast aside by the New York Islanders on Jan. 17."I’ve talked to him since the firing," Tortorella said Tuesday prior to Columbus' loss to the Islanders, per Dan Martin of the New York Post. "He’s gonna be fine. One door closes, another one’s going to open up for him."He’s a hard-working guy," Tortorella continued. "It’s really the first time I got to know him, at the World Cup. I heard so many great things about him and that’s why I wanted him on our staff. He’s a really good coach ... Jack will be fine. He’ll land on his feet."An unknown team has reportedly reached out to the Islanders for permission to speak to Capuano, who guided the Islanders to a 227-192-64 regular-season record in his tenure with the club, and to the second round of the playoffs last year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With only two days remaining before the NHL's All-Star break, the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings features a total of six teams tied with the fewest amount of points.The New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes have all amassed 49 points to date, and each sits four points back of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the race for the second wild-card playoff spot.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Point percentage, however, tells a different story, creating a bit of separation between the six teams and slotting the Islanders in a much more favorable position.Here's a look at the bottom ten teams as ranked by point percentage:TeamGamesPointsPoint %Toronto4553.589Philadelphia4852.542NY Islanders4649.533Boston5154.529Buffalo4749.521Carolina4749.521Detroit4849.510Florida4950.510New Jersey4949.500Tampa Bay4949.500Based on the advantage of having fewer games played, therefore, the Maple Leafs appear set to overtake the Boston Bruins for an Atlantic Division playoff spot, with the Flyers and Islanders directly in line to fight for that second wild-card spot, and the Hurricanes and Sabres not too far behind.There's still plenty of season left, of course, and games in hand only matter if points are actually accumulated. Still, the Islanders in particular should be feeling a bit more hopeful about their situation than the rest, especially after going 3-0-1 under interim head coach Doug Weight.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carey Price came less than seconds away from his third shutout of the season Tuesday.The Montreal Canadiens goaltender was perfect sans a Sam Bennett goal with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock - that snapped his shutout bid. Price however, was unfazed by the goal postgame noting the win was more important."At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter that much. I’ve never been a really big statistics guy," said Price. "We need the win more than anything. It's the way it goes."The victory was more important and helped Price and his team snap mini slumps. Price entered Tuesday's game having gone winless in his last three contests. Meanwhile, the Canadiens entered Tuesday having dropped three of their last four games.All things considered, the team is back in the win column and hold an eight-point lead over the Ottawa Senators for top spot in the Atlantic Division.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A change behind the bench appears to have sparked the New York Islanders.The Brooklyn hockey club remained undefeated in regulation under interim coach Doug Weight with its 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.With the win, the Islanders improved to 3-0-1 since the firing of coach Jack Capuano. That stretch has seen them outscore their opponents 13-8, while goaltender Thomas Greiss has led the way in net, posting a 2-0-1 record with a .946 save percentage.Next up for the team is a matchup with the Montreal Canadiens in Brooklyn on Thursday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets rolled the dice when they recalled veteran netminder Ondrej Pavelec from the AHL earlier this month.The reasoning made sense. Young netminders Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson have struggled this season, and with playoff hopes quickly slipping away in Winnipeg, the team turned back to a familiar face.Except the reunion is quickly reminding Jets faithful why Pavelec was in the minors in the first place. Through four games back in Winnipeg, here is how he stacks up against the others manning Winnipeg's crease:GoalieRecordGAASV%Pavelec2-2-03.29.894Hellebuyck16-13-12.82.907Hutchinson4-10-33.23.894That's not the sort of strong goaltending the Jets had in mind. In one week back with the big club, Pavelec has allowed at least three goals in all four contests, including Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks.Following the defeat, the Jets now hold a 22-25-4 record through 51 games. While the team is just three points back of the West's final playoff spot, that will be a difficult gap to make up if the team can't fix its play between the pipes either with Pavelec or by looking for a goaltending option currently outside the organization.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was an all too familiar site for the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night - a blowout in the opposition's favor.The club dropped their fourth straight game and third in concession in which the team was outscored by four goals, thanks to a 5-1 shelling by the Montreal Canadiens.Related: Canadian clubs feasting on Flames in JanuaryTuesday's game was a blowout and while the Flames may have outshot the Canadiens 31-20, head coach Glen Gulutzan was less than thrilled with his club's performance."We were pathetic ... no bite back ... we need someone to step up," Gulutzan said.

For a third straight night, a fellow Canadian club hammered the Calgary Flames.Calgary came within seconds of being shut out for the second straight game, ultimately losing in a 5-1 drumming to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.For the Flames, the loss continues a miserable slide in January in which the club has struggled to beat teams who also call Canada home.With the loss to Montreal, the Flames have now dropped six of their last seven games against Canadian teams. Their season record against Canadian squads now stands at an unimpressive 5-7-2.DateTeamResultJan. 6CanucksL 4-2Jan.7CanucksW 3-1Jan. 9JetsL 2-0Jan. 14OilersL 2-1 (SO)Jan. 21OilersL 7-3Jan. 23Maple LeafsL 4-0Jan. 24CanadiensL 5-1Over that span, the Flames have now been outscored 24-10 and have now gone 4-7-1 overall in January. The team still clings to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but thanks to a Los Angeles Kings win, both the Kings and Vancouver Canucks sit just a point behind Calgary, each with three games in hand.The Flames need to get things back on track, but don't look now - the team's next game is Thursday against Ottawa.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Your starting goaltender for the St. Louis Blues is ... Carter Hutton?Facing the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, the Blues once again called on Hutton, who turned aside 34 shots for his second shutout in his past five outings.Hutton has been the go-to goalie for bench boss Ken Hitchcock, with starter Jake Allen struggling to stop the puck. The situation became foggier over the weekend, when Allen didn't travel with the team, which called on farmhand netminder Pheonix Copley to face the Winnipeg Jets.Copley allowed five tallies on 29 shots in a losing effort. Hutton, meanwhile, has appeared in all but three of the Blues' January games, posting a 4-2-0 record.General manager Doug Armstrong insisted Allen remains the franchise's goaltender of the future, despite the fact that he has been pulled in his last three games, including twice versus the Washington Capitals on Thursday.Prior to Tuesday's match, the Blues announced that Allen would get the call in the team's final match prior to the All-Star break, when St. Louis faces the Minnesota Wild.But could that change anything after Hutton shut the door on the defending Stanley Cup champions? That's up to coach Hitchcock.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow the puck.Jonathan Toews picked up right where he left off Sunday night, finishing off a pretty passing play with Richard Panik and Ryan Hartman to give his club a 1-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning.The goal was Toews ninth of the season and comes after the Blackhawks captain put up four points against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday night. Toews wasn't done there as he would pick up a helper on Duncan Keith's second period tally.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Reaves' hands can do more than just leave bruises.The St. Louis Blues' tough customer put his name on the scoresheet in the goals column after fighting off Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz and beating Matt Murray.The goal was just Reaves' third of the season and helped give his club a 2-0 advantage.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators inducted former general manager, coach, and current senior hockey advisor Bryan Murray into the Ring of Honour Tuesday night.The cub recognized the man, who prior to this season, had served as the club's general manager since 2007, with a video tribute before the Sens' game against the Washington Capitals.

Bet on the Golden Knights hiring a bench boss before season's end.The Vegas club, which will join the NHL next season as the newest expansion team, originally planned to hire its first coach in the late spring, but that date has been moved up, reports Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.According to Carp, the Golden Knights could be interested in Gerard Gallant, who was fired earlier this season by the Florida Panthers.However, Vegas could have competition for Gallant, with the New York Islanders also looking for a new coach following the firing of Jack Capuano. Gallant previously served as an assistant with the Islanders from 2007-09.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tomas Hertl and Tommy Wingels' friendship just became long distance.Related: Sharks trade Wingels to Senators for 2 players, draft pickWingels was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Zack Stortini, Buddy Robinson, and a seventh-round draft pick on Tuesday, leaving best friend - Hertl - very upset.

Winnipeg Jets rookie forward Patrik Laine will be in the lineup Tuesday when his team takes on the San Jose Sharks, coach Paul Maurice confirmed.Laine missed the last eight games after suffering a concussion Jan. 7 versus the Buffalo Sabres.The Finnish forward has appeared in 42 games with the Jets this season, scoring 21 goals and 16 assists.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sometimes a change of scenery is the easiest solution.That appears to the be the case with Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Jurco, as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman writes that it "sounds like (Jurco) wants a new opportunity and Detroit is trying to find a match."Jurco has appeared in 11 games with the Red Wings this season but has not recorded any points. He scored six points in 44 games with Detroit last season, and tallied nine points through five contests with Grand Rapids, the Red Wings' AHL affiliate.A one-time second-round pick, Jurco was drafted with high acclaim, but hasn't met those expectations through his early goings in the NHL. In the end, a clean slate could be the perfect scenario for both sides.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The price for Martin Hanzal appears to have been named.As one of only a few sellers heading toward the March 1 trade deadline, the Arizona Coyotes are looking to move the center, and if the Montreal Canadiens, who are among the interested suitors, want to get their hands on the Czech center, they'll need to pay up.According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the two sides have discussed a trade, and Arizona's asking price is believed to include Canadiens forward Michael McCarron, a first-round pick, and another conditional pick.Two possible conditions of that pick include how far the Canadiens advance in the playoffs, or if Montreal re-signs Hanzal, a pending unrestricted free agent.Hanzal has appeared in 39 games with the Coyotes this season, tallying 10 goals and eight assists, and is a desirable asset given his big presence up the middle.As for McCarron, the 21-year-old is currently in the AHL, but has spent time with the Canadiens this season, recording a goal and three assists through 15 contests.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs could be looking for a more reliable option down the middle of the ice.While the club surely can't knock the play of centers Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri, and Auston Matthews to date - it appears they could use an upgrade on the fourth line.The team is reportedly looking for a depth center, someone who could provide some more insurance with Ben Smith out with an injury and rookie Frederik Gauthier currently manning the spot, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.While Smith and Gauthier have not contributed much on the offensive side of things - each with three points on the season - they have been among the club's best faceoff men with 53.24 percent and 52.49 percent efficiency rates respectively.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For a while there, it seemed the 2016-17 season was going to be the David Pastrnak show. But the young Boston Bruins winger's cold streak has turned into a genuine step back, returning him to the middle of the pack.The 20-year-old Czech started the new season as hot as one can be, tearing through the league at a blistering pace. By early December, Pastrnak was up to 18 goals in just 23 games - tied with Sidney Crosby for the league's scoring lead.Pastrnak posted 15 goals in 2015-16, and it took him 51 games to reach that sum. Suffice to say, his strong start was a crucial step forward, establishing himself as one of the game's new goal-scoring kings.And then it all came tumbling down.Injuries threw his sterling 2016-17 effort into disarray, as the young winger was forced out of the lineup for a pair of games in mid-December to get treatment on his elbow.Since returning to the Bruins' lineup, Pastrnak's previously indomitable scoring touch has all but dried up. Following his 18-goal romp through the first 23 games of the year, he's registered just one tally in the past 20 contests, and none in his past 17.The young Bruin has actually been shooting slightly more often during his cold streak than he was when he was terrorizing goaltenders on a nightly basis. He's averaged 3.5 shots per game over the past 20 contests, up from 3.4 during the earlier 23-game span.Unfortunately, Pastrnak's luck seems to have deserted him, as all but one of his past 70 shots have failed to find the back of the net. A regrettable reality for the Bruins, who are desperate for success after sliding down the standings and temporarily out of a playoff spot.Head coach Claude Julien is certainly giving his young star all the opportunity needed to get back on track, as Pastrnak is seeing more ice now than he did early in the year. Through December and January, he's averaged nearly a full minute more per game than he did through October and November.And yet, the floodgates remain firmly closed. As it currently stands, Pastrnak still ranks 15th in the league's goal-scoring race thanks to his scorching start. But unless he can start adding to that total again some time soon, it won't mean much for the quickly falling Bruins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have acquired forward Tommy Wingels from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for forwards Buddy Robinson and Zack Stortini, along with a seventh-round draft pick in 2017."Tommy has been a valuable member of our franchise for many years, a phenomenal teammate and a true role model on and off the ice for our organization and the NHL," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson wrote in a statement. "As a team evolves and younger players push for roster spots, unfortunately tough decisions have to be made. We wish Tommy and his wife, Molly, nothing but success in the future."Wingels, 28, has recorded five goals and three assists in 37 games while largely serving as the Sharks' fourth-line center this season. He's under contract through the end of this season at a cap hit of $2.45 million, and as part of the deal, San Jose will retain 30 percent of his salary.Drafted in the sixth round back in 2008, all of Wingels' 337 regular-season games and 45 playoff appearances have come with the Sharks.The trade bolsters Ottawa's forward ranks for a potential playoff push in light of Clarke MacArthur's inability to play this season. The Sharks, meanwhile, are able to open a roster spot for younger talent while adding size, depth, and a draft pick to their system.

The Los Angeles Kings have pushed back the expected return date for goaltender Jonathan Quick.The initial target for Quick's recovery from a groin injury was mid-February, but he isn't likely to step back into the crease until early March at best, general manager Dean Lombardi told Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider on Tuesday.Quick isn't skating again yet, and Rosen writes that Lombardi "acknowledged that there was a big difference between Quick getting onto the ice to test his injured groin in a limited step forward, and actually getting onto the ice and facing shots in a more structured setting."Losers of four straight, the Kings have been relying primarily on Peter Budaj in net, with the odd start coming from Jeff Zatkoff. Los Angeles sits outside the Western Conference playoff picture, but goaltending hasn't really been a big issue, as the Kings ranks seventh in goals against per game (2.49) and 22nd in average goals for (2.47).Whether the Kings make a move to bolster the offense and the backup goalie position remains to be seen, but if Quick is able to return shortly after the March 1 trade deadline, that could serve as a huge addition for the stretch run in and of itself.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes forward Peter Holland has been fined $3,611 for "a punch to an unsuspecting opponent," according to the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

Between Patrik Laine's breakout effort and the ascension of new superstar Mark Scheifele, the 2016-17 Winnipeg Jets haven't been short on storylines. So, it's no surprise that Nikolaj Ehlers' exceptional sophomore effort has gotten lost in the shuffle.Though it's been his gifted linemates soaking up the spotlight, Ehlers has quietly amassed 17 goals and 43 points in 50 games. Not only is the latter the second-highest mark among all Jets skaters, it's also 15th in the NHL, putting Ehlers on the same level as Alex Ovechkin and Artemi Panarin.The 20-year-old nearly veered into sophomore slump territory early in the season, going goalless for 15 games at the tail end of 2016. He managed to keep his production rolling with a steady stream of assists, however, and since the calendar changed to 2017, the great Dane has been unstoppable.In 11 January games, Ehlers has tallied seven goals and 12 total points. His thrilling tally Monday night against Anaheim was his third straight game with a goal, further extending his career-high sum.

Alex Burmistrov has made a great first impression with his new club.In five games since being claimed off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets by the Arizona Coyotes, the 25-year-old center has recorded five assists. Two of those came in Monday's win over Florida, including the primary helper on Tobias Rieder's overtime goal.His efforts have not been lost on head coach Dave Tippett.

All is not well in Denver.The Colorado Avalanche, in fact, are on track to record the lowest point percentage since the adoption of the shootout following the 2005-06 lockout.Through 45 games this season, Colorado has posted a record of 13-30-2, good for 28 points and a point percentage of .311. That's last among all 30 teams over the 12 seasons of the shootout era, according to NHL.com.The shootout introduced a system wherein teams earn points for losing: two points go to a team that wins in regulation, overtime, or the shootout; one point to a team that loses in overtime or the shootout; and no points to a team that loses in regulation. More points, then, are being awarded on a nightly basis than prior to that lockout.The 2013-14 and 2014-15 Buffalo Sabres are next lowest with point percentages of .317 and .329, respectively. Those teams were deep in the midst of a rebuild, with the latter roster seemingly constructed with the intent of making sure the club had the best possible chance of drafting at least Jack Eichel and hopefully Connor McDavid.The current Avalanche squad wasn't exactly expected to contend for the Stanley Cup, but general manager Joe Sakic appeared to have assembled enough talent to at least challenge for a playoff spot under new head coach Jared Bednar.Not even close.On top of the lowly point percentage, the Avalanche are on pace to record the fourth-fewest goals per game while allowing the 15th-most goals against per game in the shootout era.How long until Sakic decides to make a move?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 Tuesday, Jan. 24 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

While the NHL is enjoying a golden age of high-flying rookies fighting tooth and nail to make their names, a few members of the old guard are nearing the end.It's never easy to watch the heroes of past decades wind their careers down, but competing against the new wave of elite young talent on a nightly basis serves as a clear reminder that the NHL remains a young man's game.With that in mind, here are a trio of veterans heading into the final chapter of their careers:Zdeno Chara, Boston BruinsThe monstrous captain of the Boston Bruins has established himself as a presence like none other over his nearly 20-year career. Such is the case when you hit the ice at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds.Zdeno Chara has been a dominant force throughout his time in the NHL, finishing near or above 40 points on 11 different occasions while dishing out over 1,400 hits. Of course, he also snagged a Norris Trophy along the way (in 2009) and lifted the Stanley Cup (in 2011).At age 39, it's clear Chara is on the final legs of an exceptional career on the blue line. Next season is the last on his current deal with the Bruins, and at age 40, 2017-18 could very well be his final go-round in the big leagues.Jarome Iginla, Colorado AvalancheFew players to ever suit up in the NHL have embodied their role as flawlessly as Jarome Iginla, who's been the definition of "power forward" throughout his two decades on the ice.The Colorado Avalanche winger and longtime Calgary Flames captain already ranks as one of the game's most gifted goal-scorers - his 617 career tallies sit 16th in the history books. With just nine more goals, he'll pass his current general manager Joe Sakic on that list, finishing his career in the top 15.Set to enter unrestricted free agency at age 40, it's unclear whether Iginla is willing to hold on for another shot at the Cup. If a genuine contender comes calling, perhaps another season is in order. But either way, it seems the historic sniper's final game isn't too far off.Joe Thornton, San Jose SharksOne of the finest playmakers of his generation, San Jose Sharks veteran Joe Thornton still seems to fly under the radar as one of the game's best, despite already ranking 24th among the NHL's all-time scorers.Perhaps his most impressive performance - aside from his 96-assist, 125-point effort in 2005-06, which netted him the Hart and Art Ross trophies - was last season. At age 36, Thornton turned back the clock and finished fourth in league scoring and second in assists, converting at a point-per-game pace.He clearly isn't ready to hang them up just yet, but considering he's playing out the final year of his deal in San Jose, the veteran has some tough decisions ahead of him as he navigates what will likely be the final contract negotiation of his career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.