Nothing but landmines ahead for Claude Julien.With speculation swirling about an apparent divide between the Boston Bruins management and Julien, the NHL's longest tenured coach, the club's preparing to embark on an arduous portion of their schedule.To finish the month, Boston is home to Chicago, at Pittsburgh, home to Detroit and Pittsburgh, and then at Tampa Bay.In February, the Bruins will visit Washington before hosting Toronto, San Jose, Vancouver, and Montreal. The club will then tour California, meeting the Sharks, Ducks, and Kings."It's not going to get easier," netminder Tuukka Rask acknowledged after their shootout loss to the Red Wings on Wednesday, via the Associated Press. "This is probably the biggest couple of weeks in our season coming up, really good teams against us. We'll have to play some good hockey."If there's a silver lining within the schedule (and for Julien), it's that the Bruins will be rested for these games. They will have the All-Star break, their bye, and another four-day stretch between games over the next six weeks, playing just 13 games.On the other side of that, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators will be spending their games in hand over the next six weeks, potentially heightening the pressure on a Bruins teams now 17th in points percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"On the Fly," theScore's NHL roundtable series, will reflect on a week full of goals in this installment. Below are three thoughts on a brief flashback to the '80s in the NHL.Moderation, pleaseHagerman: How much fun was this week's 8-7 goal fest between the Penguins and Capitals? Everyone - minus the three goalies who dressed in the game - would likely give it a big thumbs-up.It was fantastic. It almost never happens. And such an uncanny display makes for great TV, so long as it doesn't happen all the time.Sure, many fans - and the league - would like to see more goals, but that comes with a limit. As the NHL looks at ways to increase scoring, one could argue problems would also arise with too many goals being scored. Heck, goalies might argue for larger equipment.Continued onslaughts would have coaches searching for a way to lower the number of goals and slow down the game, while the luster of such crazy contests would fade quickly. It takes away the allure of scoring a goal when everyone is scoring in bunches.Bring on more 8-7 games, but give us the time and space to recognize just how crazy they are.Goals, goals, and some more goalsGold-Smith: Just hook it to my veins.High-scoring games seem to be happening more frequently this season, and after years of lament about declining offense league-wide, it's refreshing to see more high-octane affairs with crooked numbers on the scoreboard.Everyone loves great goaltending, and there's something to be said for solid defense, but most fans would probably prefer a plethora of filthy dangles, bar-down wristers, and perfectly executed one-timers to a game lacking a slew of highlight-reel offensive plays.Why not have the frenetic pace of three-on-three overtime at five-on-five and all the time?Back-and-forth barnburners are much better for ratings, and they make for a far more marketable product. They're not ideal for those with heart conditions or fans invested in the teams involved, but for everyone else, they're far more exciting than a 1-0 defensive clinic.Low-scoring games are fun, tooO'Leary: I like defense. Sue me.While watching the Capitals and Penguins use up the ink in the scorekeeper's pen was entertaining, it didn't represent the best product the sport has to offer.Although there were 15 goals - nine of which came in one period - it wasn't exactly a showcase of offense so much as a defensive slopfest.Scrambles and deflections off shinpads and various other extremities aren't the most entertaining concept to me, even if the puck does wind up in the back of the net.When teams trade dangerous scoring chances, but don't beat the goalie on every opportunity, it creates intensity. A 0-0 tie late in the third period can be just as gripping as a 7-7 score.A high number of goals doesn't always determine the quality of the game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If we're lucky, the first shoe will soon drop in advance of an eventful March 1 trade deadline in the NHL. Fingers crossed.We took a look at the Metropolitan on Thursday; now it's time to examine the potential trade candidates from each team in the Central Division.Chicago BlackhawksThe Blackhawks haven't sold in a long time, and that's not expected to change. Besides, since they didn't win the Stanley Cup last year, they're quite clearly due.With negligible cap space and Artemi Panarin's raise coming into effect next season, the Blackhawks are fairly limited in what they can bring in. But with the expansion draft approaching, they may consider turning Trevor van Riemsdyk, who will in all likelihood be exposed, into a serviceable part up front.With Brian Campbell and Michal Kempny making for a sudden surplus on defense, the Blackhawks are in an uncommon position: they require help up front. Van Riemsdyk could fetch a nice return, especially if packaged with one of the club's 10 draft picks.Colorado AvalancheWhere to start?Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog are the big fish being discussed around league circles, but aside from Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, there isn't a nameplate safe in the Avalanche dressing room.With the talented defensive prospects Colorado covets worth their weight in gold, we may not see one of the larger commodities dealt until after the season, once Vegas has constructed its roster. But because the Avs are essentially the only team preparing a fire sale, they'll most certainly be busy."By any means necessary" has to be the approach, as the Avs desperately need to turn over a large portion of their personnel.Dallas StarsDallas is in an interesting spot.On one hand, the Stars are fifth in the wild-card chase and have a multitude of expiring contracts. And on the other, they're three points out in a shaky Central, and boast a similar roster to that which finished atop the conference last season.Both on expiring deals, Patrick Sharp and Johnny Oduya are the most obvious trade chips. Dealing them would almost certainly require retaining salary, and waiving the proverbial white flag on the season.Minnesota WildThe prevailing belief that it's in Minnesota's best interest to ship out a defender before the expansion draft has obviously cooled with its 29-10-5 start. The risk of losing a piece on the back end for nothing just isn't worth undermining what has the chance to be a long postseason run.The Wild have less than $1 million in cap space, and not a single expiring deal in a featured role. There isn't an obvious trade candidate to identify - especially with the resurgent Jonas Brodin currently on the shelf.Nashville PredatorsIt's unlikely Nashville can solve its expansion conundrum with one move at the deadline. That said, proactive measures would help soften the blow.In a perfect world, the Predators preserve their top four, keeping Ryan Ellis, and including Viktor Arvidsson and Calle Jarnkrok in their safeguarded forward list. But because squeezing all three young assets into the protected roster is next to impossible, trading one - depending on Nashville's spot in the playoff chase - might be the club's best option.Jarnkrok, in particular, is a fascinating candidate and maybe the most likely to be exposed. There isn't a team - including Vegas - that couldn't benefit from his auxiliary talent at $2 million each season through 2022.St. Louis BluesAll eyes on Kevin Shattenkirk.With the Blues reluctant to bleed out another asset, and two talented right-shot defenders on the roster, Shattenkirk could wind up being the marquee rental commodity on the market regardless of where his team stands in the Central Division race.Related: Oilers have to take another run at Kevin ShattenkirkWith his potential impact and an expiring deal that many contenders could fit into their salary structures, Shattenkirk has the potential to generate a return few can match.Winnipeg JetsWhile the Jets will hold out hope goaltender Ondrej Pavelec will give them a chance to win, in reality, his return is the worst-case scenario from back when the decision was made to demote him.The Jets, who cannot maximize the talent on their roster while carrying three goalies, are third from the bottom in the West, and have a few expiring assets they could turn into futures to help push this exciting program over the top.There's speculation surrounding Mathieu Perreault, but that seems tenuous, given he's having a miserable offensive campaign and the clock will begin next season on his four-year extension. Drew Stafford seems like a more viable option. He's on an expiring deal, and the Jets can eat a portion of his salary.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Clarke MacArthur will not return for the Ottawa Senators this season, general manager Pierre Dorion announced Friday.MacArthur has been denied clearance to pursue a return from team doctors and multiple specialists, despite being symptom free, according to TSN 1200's Dean Brown."In the long-term in this process, we always said that the doctors would decide if Clarke was going to play," Dorion said, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch."After consulting many doctors and independent doctors, they all feel that Clarke shouldn't play this year."Dorion said MacArthur is "devastated" by the news.MacArthur suffered his fourth concussion in 18 months when he took a hit from Patrick Sieloff in a training camp scrimmage. He's been limited to four games over the last two seasons due to post-concussion syndrome.He said in October that he's unwilling to give up on his NHL career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators netminder Craig Anderson will return from his indefinite leave "for good" in either late January or early February, general manager Pierre Dorion said Friday, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.Anderson has been absent from the club for the last six weeks to be with his wife, Nicholle, who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer.Mike Condon has filled in admirably, and has been one of the main reasons the Senators are in a postseason position. He's fashioned a .920 save percentage and earned three shutouts since his acquisition in November, and appeared in 20 consecutive games for the club.Dorion said he expects Anderson to need a couple weeks of practice to return to form.Nicholle wrote in her last blog post that her final radiation treatment was scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 19.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes shipped struggling sophomore Anthony Duclair down the road to Tucson on Thursday to open up space on the active roster for grinder Ryan White.With three goals and nine points from 41 games following his 20-goal, 44-point rookie season, the move doesn't require a rationale. Duclair needs a change in setting, and a chance to recoup some confidence; his production is too important to a club ranked second from the bottom in total scoring.Duclair's teammates have faith in his talent, and believe his demotion is as much an indictment of themselves as it is of him."He's too good to not be back up," forward Jamie McGinn said, according to the Coyotes' Dave Vest. "We know he's going to be back up. It's just a wake-up call for our team."If and when Duclair returns is unknown, though John Chayka and Dave Tippett both indicated that he would be back. Timing his recall with the return of Max Domi, who has been out for more than a month with a fracture in his hand, might be the best thing for Duclair and the team.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A piece of glass proved to be a real pane in Anaheim.Midway through the second period, a shot from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Eric Gelinas caused the glass behind the Ducks' net to crack.After a 45-minute delay during which the two teams were sent off to their respective locker rooms for an early intermission, the players returned to the ice to play what essentially became an extended final frame.

Jonathan Drouin is pretty good at hockey.This vast understatement was made evident once again in Tampa Bay's game in San Jose, wherein the young forward burned stalwart defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic and outwaited Aaron Dell for a jaw-dropping power-play goal.Drouin recorded his 14th goal of the season on the play.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The absence of Morgan Rielly didn't explain the generally poor effort put forth by the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers.That was Mike Babcock's assessment, at any rate."I don't think Rielly made us not compete hard enough tonight or not take care of the puck or not stop on defense. I don't think he had anything to do with that," the coach said after the game."Obviously the back end was in trouble lots tonight," he continued. "We weren't very good. We didn't skate (Wednesday) so we should have been fresh and we should have had jump. Obviously we shouldn't have done that, we weren't mentally sharp. We'll get that fixed tomorrow and get right for Ottawa (Saturday)."The Maple Leafs were outshot 41-25 on the night, and old teammate Michael Grabner scored a pair of third-period goals - one on a short-handed breakaway and one into an empty net - to seal the win for New York.Heading into Saturday's game against the Senators, Toronto sits two points back of both Ottawa and Boston in the race for second spot in the Atlantic Division.Rielly, by the way, remains day to day with a lower-body injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Somewhat quietly, the New York Rangers have managed to retool the forward ranks, assembling an array of impressive young talent.The latest to make his mark is Russian forward Pavel Buchnevich, who leads the club with an average of one point per game after recording his sixth goal of the season against Toronto to go along with eight assists.In recent days, he's been rolling at an ever better clip.

When the Ottawa Senators added Mike Condon for the price of a fifth-round draft pick, the expectation was that he would give the club the occasional spot start while Craig Anderson was on personal leave and in relief of Andrew Hammond.As it turns out, the 26-year-old undrafted goalie has been relied upon heavily in recent weeks, and is making good on the opportunity.Condon's latest feat? A 42-save shutout win over the first-place Columbus Blue Jackets.

NEW YORK - John Tavares narrowly missed out on his second hat trick in a week, Thomas Greiss got his second straight shutout and the New York Islanders beat the Dallas Stars 3-0 on Thursday night in their first game since firing longtime coach Jack Capuano.New York canned Capuano in the middle of his seventh season Tuesday, replacing him on an interim basis with Doug Weight.Tavares has seven goals in four games after scoring twice and then having an empty-net shot just deflected wide late in the third period. He had three goals last Friday at Florida.Greiss stopped 23 shots after making 32 saves in a 4-0 win over Boston on Monday.Calvin de Haan added an empty-net goal on a coast-to-coast shot with four seconds left.Kari Lehtonen made 33 saves for Dallas, which was coming off a 7-6 victory over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, but dropped to 3-12-4 in games following a victory this season.Tavares got his 17th goal with 6:29 left in the first period. After taking a pass from Anders Lee, the All-Star slid the puck behind John Klingberg while cutting in front of the Dallas defenseman, met the puck on the other side of Klingberg and smacked it past Lehtonen for a 1-0 lead.Tavares also scored on a short-handed breakaway with 3:06 left in the game, going to the forehand to beat Lehtonen with a low shot. Dallas entered trailing Philadelphia by one for the league lead in short-handed goals allowed.Weight was an assistant GM and coach with New York before his promotion this week. The last-place Islanders entered Thursday eight points shy of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, though they have games in hand on nearly the entire league.Weight said Wednesday that he doesn't plan to ''reinvent the wheel'' as interim coach, but said New York was ''going to tweak some things in certain systems.''The power play is one obvious area that needs improvement, with New York entering Thursday ranked 28th in the league. The Isles had a dangerous first man-advantage Thursday, getting four shots on Lehtonen during Adam Cracknell's hooking minor in the first period.Weight got creative after that, with less encouraging results. New York shuffled the unit during a trio of second-period power plays, even keeping Tavares on the bench for long stretches.Lehtonen's breakaway saves kept it close. He denied Tavares on a rising wrist shot in the first period, then stopped Shane Prince's sweeping deke with a sliding leg save.NOTES: Tavares was recognized during the first period for getting his 500th NHL point last week at Florida. ... New York F Josh Bailey played his 600th NHL game. ... Islanders D Johnny Boychuk sat out because of an upper-body injury. He played Monday night against the Bruins, but also missed the previous game. The team said he is day-to-day, and Weight said Boychuk's scratch was ''precautionary.'' ... Isles Fs Andrew Ladd (upper-body injury) and Cal Clutterbuck (lower-body injury) each missed their second straight games. Both are day-to-day. ... Dallas Ds Johnny Oduya and Jamie Oleksiak were scratched with injuries. Oduya aggravated an ankle injury against the Rangers, and Oleksiak is dealing with an upper-body issue. ... UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes was at the game with her title belt. Nunes knocked out MMA superstar Ronda Rousey for the championship on Dec. 30.UP NEXT:Stars: Return to Texas for a six-game homestand beginning with a game Saturday night against Washington.Islanders: Continue their six-game homestand when the Kings play here Saturday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a case of deja vu in more ways than one for Jake Allen on Thursday night.The St. Louis Blues goaltender was pulled twice against the Washington Capitals, marking the third consecutive game and fourth in the last six that he's been removed for poor performance.Allen gave up two goals on the first three shots he faced, and he was replaced by Carter Hutton midway through the first period. Hutton stopped a single shot, and Allen was then put back in by Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock.The yo-yo act didn't exactly work, though. Allen allowed two more goals on seven additional shots after returning to the game, and Hitchcock pulled him for Hutton once again.The comedy of errors continued when Hutton surrendered a Marcus Johansson goal on his first shot after coming back in, giving the Capitals a 5-1 lead, and Washington made it 6-1 on a goal by Justin Williams later in the second period.St. Louis' goaltending is among the worst the NHL has seen over the last decade or so.

It's his eighth season in the league but John Tavares is still finding new ways to score.With a breakaway chance in the third period Thursday night Tavares collected his first career shorthanded goal.The goal was his 225th of his career - after he dazzled early in the first period for his 17th of the season - but the only time in 553 games he has scored while down a man.Related: Watch: Tavares undresses Klingberg, beats LehtonenIt would appear Tavares' special teams play is better suited for the power play, where he has scored 68 goals with the extra skater.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now that's how you kill a penalty.Late on a New York Rangers power play, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman put the pressure on defenseman Adam Clendening, stripped him of the puck, and roofed his shot on Henrik Lundqvist.The goal was Hyman's sixth of the season and the first he's recorded while short-handed.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ch-ch-ch-chia!Lucky San Jose Sharks fans will get to grow their own Chia Jumbo Joe Thornton pet after picking one up at the arena on Jan. 21.This blast-from-the-past promotion is a creative homage to one of the greatest beards in hockey history, and it makes a great giveaway.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anthony Duclair is off to Tucson.The Arizona Coyotes assigned the young winger to their AHL affiliate Thursday, the NHL club announced."Anthony is a good young player," general manager John Chayka said in the statement. "Unfortunately, he has struggled this season. We felt this was a good time to send him to Tucson to work on a few things and hopefully regain his scoring touch. We hope to have him rejoin our team soon."Duclair managed only three goals and six assists in 41 games with the Coyotes this season. He was held without a point in each of the last five games, and in seven of his last eight.The 21-year-old posted 20 goals and 44 points in his first full season with the Coyotes in 2015-16.He was acquired by Arizona from the New York Rangers in the deal that sent defenseman Keith Yandle to the Big Apple at the trade deadline in 2015.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Tavares is doing his best to endear himself to the new coach.The New York Islanders captain scored a sensational goal in the first period of Doug Weight's first game as the Islanders' new interim head coach on Thursday night.Tavares put the puck between the legs of Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg before lifting a shot over Kari Lehtonen, giving his club a 1-0 lead - surely a delight to the new bench boss.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's no surprise that many of the NHL's goaltenders aren't fans of the less bulky equipment being rolled out across the league, but one netminder has a different method in mind to boost offense.Corey Crawford says ice conditions play a larger role in determining quality of play than the size of goalie gear."I've always thought the real issue isn't goalie equipment,” he told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. "The issue is ice. If you can make ice like the way it is in Colorado, the way it is in Washington, Edmonton - you make the conditions like that for every game in every rink, guys are going to score."Crawford has played in his fair share of outdoor games, and he drew on that experience to further his point."Look at the Winter Classic, where plays are so much harder to come by," he said. "Guys are struggling with the puck on the ice, where they have to get their head down, to make sure the puck's (settled) down. If those top players have their heads up, and don't have to worry about where the puck's going to be … it's a massive difference. Massive difference between battling with the puck and making sure it's going to be on the ice, and just playing."The veteran goalie pointed specifically to Tuesday's 6-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center in Denver, an arena known for having favorable ice conditions."I don't care how big your equipment is, if you can't react to it, you're not going to stop it, anyway," Crawford said. "Like, how fast was that game in Colorado? How fun was that game to watch? That was a fast game. You watch a game where the ice is just horseshit - it makes a huge difference. It's way more fun to watch."Crawford tried out the new tighter goalie pants last Friday against the Washington Capitals, and the experiment didn't go so well, as the netminder allowed five goals in a 6-0 defeat."Tough one to try them out in," Crawford said with a laugh. "I wore them in practice, too. They're definitely thinner. It's not going to make a huge difference, but there are some little tweaks to be done with the equipment."Smaller pants or not, Crawford has been inconsistent since returning to action following appendix surgery last month, posting a save percentage just north of 90 in the 10 games since he was forced to take a three-week absence.The new equipment standards will become mandatory on Feb. 4.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sam Bennett is going to be a spectator for at least one game.Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan has decided to scratch the young forward from Thursday's game against Nashville, saying Bennett's game isn't where the club needs it to be at this point in the season.Being scratched, however, is part of the growing process, Gulutzan explained."He's 20 years old. Sometimes guys just need a break to sit and watch the game and they come back a lot better," Gulutzan explained, per Torie Peterson on the team's official website. "We've been working with Sam the last three, four weeks, trying to get his game back in order. Sometimes it's good for a young guy - a 20-year-old - to sit and watch a game, get a little bit of a break."Bennett, who was drafted fourth overall by the Flames in 2014, has recorded nine goals and nine assists in 47 games this season.Matt Stajan will take his place on a line with Johnny Gaudreau and Alex Chiasson.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Grabner is becoming arguably the comeback player of the year, a shock to some, but not to his former teammates in Toronto.Ahead of the Rangers' second clash with the Maple Leafs in the span of a week, some of Grabner's former teammates spoke of the 29-year-old's impeccable year, that sits him among the league leaders with 19 goals."I'm not surprised at all,'' Nazem Kadri said, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "He had a ton of chances last year. It seems like he had a breakaway every single game. He's always had that goal-scoring potential in him. He scored 30-plus goals before. With that incredible speed he has and how good his stick is - he comes up top and forces the defenseman to make bad plays. He's just unbelievable at that.''Grabner was acquired by the Maple Leafs during the offseason last year as the team was desperate to free up the number of contracts they could carry. He ultimately went unsigned by Toronto this past summer, but as head coach Mike Babcock admits, the decision didn't have much to do with his on-ice performance."Grabby is a guy we really liked here; he did a real good job for us," Babcock said. "We would have loved to have kept him, but we felt that, with the wingers we had coming, one of these kids wouldn't have gotten the ice time.''Having not hit the aforementioned 30-goal mark since the 2010-11 season, Grabner is now making the most of a two-year deal with the Rangers. The Austrian has already surpassed last year's output by 10 goals and nine points in 36 fewer games and is on his way to setting a career high, all while making very few adjustments to his game."He played exactly the same way he is now, but he just didn't score; they didn't bounce in for him," said Leo Komarov. "He got a breakaway almost every game. He was really good. He probably had like 30-40 breakaways last year. This year he's scoring, too. He's got the confidence back. He's a good player and he's obviously showing everyone that.''Grabner has become a great redemption story, but with the Maple Leafs and Rangers both currently holding down playoff spots, it's unlikely either party is too upset about how things worked out.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the verge of reaching 1,000 points for his career, Henrik Sedin delivered the perfect response when asked if he would have family in town to celebrate the milestone."Well, Daniel will be here," Henrik said, according to TSN 1040's Jeff Paterson.Yes, Daniel will be there all along.The Sedin brothers have racked up 1,966 points between them since breaking into the NHL together in 2000. Henrik is reaching the milestone a few months sooner, due to dressing in 23 more games and owning a fractionally higher points-per-game rate than his sibling.Games PlayedGoalsAssistsPointsPoints/GHenrik12122327679990.824Daniel11893666019670.813It will be a special night for all if the Sedins can combine for a goal Friday night versus Roberto Luongo's Florida Panthers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings aren't throwing in the towel.Like their arena's namesake, the occupants of Joe Louis Arena aren't giving up the fight - that is, keeping alive the NHL's longest active playoff streak which dates back 25 seasons.Under the tutelage of general manager Ken Holland, who joined the club in 1997 and moved up to the top job a year later, the Red Wings have been the NHL's model of excellence over his tenure, one that includes four Stanley Cup championships, with the most recent coming in 2008.On Wednesday, a come-from-behind shootout victory over the Boston Bruins marked three straight wins, as the team pushed its record in January to 4-3-2. The Red Wings now have a shot at a four-game winning streak Friday when they face the Buffalo Sabres.How the team performs down the stretch will ultimately decide its playoff chances, particularly with 26 of its remaining matches coming within the East, half of which are against Atlantic Division foes.The Red Wings stand points ahead of only the Sabres and New York Islanders in the East, but just four points from the final wild-card spot, with the team carrying a 20-19-6 mark through 45 games."We're going to continue to try and be competitive, we're going to continue to try and make the playoffs and our ultimate goal is to eventually be a Cup contender," Holland told Peter Wallner of MLive.com.With the Red Wings beginning to pass the torch to their younger players, the likes of Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou have been key contributors this season, joining Dylan Larkin, who finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting a year ago. All three have played big roles under coach Jeff Blashill as the Red Wings' focus remains on winning while rebuilding on the fly.What to do about Thomas Vanek?When the Red Wings lost top center Pavel Datsyuk in the offseason, who returned home to Russia, the focus turned to recruiting would-be free agent Steven Stamkos. Ultimately, that didn't happen, leaving the Red Wings to split their summer money three ways, adding Frans Nielsen, Vanek, and Steve Ott through free agency.Vanek and Ott signed one-year deals, making them free agents this summer, meaning the club must soon decide their fates, while the 32-year-old Nielsen was brought in on a six-year pact.Vanek has impressed through his first season in Detroit. After being bought out by the Minnesota Wild, Vanek landed in Detroit with hopes of rebuilding his game, and the early returns have been positive.Despite an injury taking 11 games from his season, Vanek is the Red Wings' leading scorer, tallying 31 points. He's been a valuable add by the Red Wings, both on the ice and in regards to the salary cap, as he agreed to a bargain-friendly $2.6-million deal.But could the Red Wings move Vanek before this year's trade deadline, particularly if the postseason doesn't appear to be in the picture?If Vanek has his way, it appears he'd like to stay in Detroit, particularly after bouncing around four teams since 2013-14."I enjoy my time here. I like the guys. My family likes it here. So obviously I'm hoping to put a good streak here together to get ourselves back in the picture so I can be here," Vanek told Nicholas Cotsonika of NHL.com. "But obviously I understand the business side of it. If I'm moving, I'm getting pretty good at that too."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A thoughtful Robin Lehner met with the media Thursday, and addressed the circumstances surrounding his contentious removal from Tuesday's loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.The Buffalo Sabres netminder was lifted after allowing three goals in less than 10 minutes - shortly after waving back at a fan acknowledging him live during a timeout through a phone held by their mother.Lehner defended his moment with the fan between sips during the stoppage, taking issue with the broadcast's portrayal, and how his intentions were framed in that moment.He said it was made out to be a "half-Hollywood movie.""It's a mom with a 5-year-old kid waving in his pajamas," Lehner told Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald. "You know what? I'm going to wave back. I don't care what anyone thinks."Lehner stared down Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma after being lifted from the game. He slammed his helmet in frustration, and flung off a few other pieces of equipment before sitting down beside the fan who was on their phone with their kid, adding to the theater."I understand what it's coming from, it's all entertainment to them, but it's a real-life reaction from me, and I accept the responsibility of it. I got mad. I let in three goals in 10 minutes."He added: "I'll make adjustments. But at the same time, it's hypocritical to apologize for who you are. I'm a competitive guy that doesn't want to get out of the net. I don't want to get out of the net. I want to sink with the ship or be able to stand in there and come back."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Markov needs a little more time.Speaking Thursday, Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien announced that the veteran blue-liner is still sidelined on a week-to-week basis with a groin injury and will be out at least one more week, reports Eric Engels from Sportsnet.Markov was originally diagnosed as day to day. However, he has not played since Dec. 17, missing 15 games.

The Florida Panthers took a major blow with the loss of Aleksander Barkov.The club's top center was lost to injury in late December, missing 11 games since then. But in his absence, fellow middleman Vincent Trocheck has proven to be an admirable fill-in.

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

Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola was reportedly accused of punching a concessions worker at a racehorse auction in August, according to Michael S. Schmidt from the New York Times, citing a police report and law officials.From Wednesday's report:

The NHL's trade deadline is less than six weeks away, but it's never too early to consider who could be on the move come March 1.Here's a candidate from each of the eight Metropolitan Division teams.Carolina HurricanesFor the time being, Carolina is right in the thick of the playoff race. Should the Hurricanes lose steam, however, there always seems to be a demand for veteran, penalty-killing faceoff men. Jay McClement is valued by the club, but could be primed for a "trade and re-sign in the offseason" scenario.Columbus Blue JacketsThe Blue Jackets possess each of their seven draft picks over the course of the next three years, save for a second-round pick in 2017 or 2018 owed to Vancouver as compensation for hiring John Tortorella as head coach.The only pending UFA is Sam Gagner, and he's not going anywhere. Defensive prospect Scott Harrington could be packaged with a pick or two for an upgrade on the blue line.New Jersey DevilsP.A. Parenteau was scooped off waivers by the Devils from the New York Islanders prior to the start of the regular season, and is the kind of savvy, play-making veteran that would cause a contender to cough up a draft pick to add to New Jersey's stockpile.New York IslandersDennis Seidenberg turned a solid showing at the World Cup of Hockey into a one-year deal with the Islanders. He'd come at a low cap hit, but with Stanley Cup experience, and would be seen as a valuable depth piece on the blue line.New York RangersThe Rangers have several pending restricted free agents who'll be looking for new deals this summer, but no UFAs that could be sold off for picks or spare parts.What general manager Jeff Gorton does have in his back pocket is Ottawa's second-round pick in 2018, acquired in the Mika Zibanejad trade. That could certainly be used to bolster a struggling defense corps.Philadelphia FlyersThe Flyers have three defensemen set to become unrestricted free agents this summer - Mark Streit, Nick Schultz, and Michael Del Zotto.The former two could be moved in order to free up cap space and make room for younger, better options on Philadelphia's blue line moving forward.Pittsburgh PenguinsThe defending Cup champions won't look to move pieces from a roster able to repeat, but the Penguins could dangle defensive prospect Derrick Pouliot, who can't seem to crack the NHL roster.Drafted eighth overall in 2012, Pouliot seems like a player who could use a change of scenery, bringing back some help for another long Penguins playoff run.Washington CapitalsThe Capitals are very much in "win now" mode, with a handful of key players set to become UFAs at season's end and a few picks having already been used on the trade market.A player like Dmitry Orlov could be moved if the team feels it'll be unable to come to an agreement with the RFA in the offseason, but that seems doubtful.Of all the Metropolitan Division teams, Washington seems most likely to stand pat.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thornton is climbing the ranks.With a pair of assists in a 3-2 victory Wednesday over the Los Angeles Kings, the lumbering San Jose Sharks center notched the 1,370th point of his historic career.With the helpers, Thornton surpassed Johnny Bucyk for 24th place among the NHL's all-time scoring leaders.And Thornton isn't finished just yet.Thornton, who will surely find a spot in the Hall of Fame once his career reaches its end, already passed three other Hall of Famers earlier this season: Mats Sundin at 1,349 points, Guy Lafleur at 1,353, and Brendan Shanahan a point higher, at 1,354.Just how high could he climb? At 1,370 career points, the 37-year-old is within striking distance of some of the game's greatest.With 29 points on the year, Thornton is on pace for 52. In other words, another 23 points, but with a bit of puck luck, the native of St. Thomas, Ontario could leapfrog another four names before April rolls around:RankPlayerGPGoalsAssistsPoints20Jari Kurri1251601797139821Luc Robitaille1431668726139422Brett Hull1269741650139123Mike Modano1499561813137424Joe Thornton14123809901370Thornton's game has seen little, if any, slowdown, as he's averaged 74 points over the past three seasons leading up to 2016-17.The pending unrestricted free agent is believed to be seeking a three-year extension and, should he post similar totals to past years, that would take his career numbers above 1,600 points.At 1,590 points, Phil Esposito occupies the last spot in the Top 10, but by the time it's all said and done, that slot could be owned by Jumbo Joe.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.▲ James van RiemsdykSave some ink for Van Riemsdyk. While the focus this season in Toronto has been on Auston Matthews and his fellow young stars, a familiar face is now sharing the spotlight.The Maple Leafs winger has caught fire in recent days, and is currently running an eight-game point streak, a stretch which includes three goals and nine assists. Van Riemsdyk's best performance of the stretch came Jan. 7, collecting three points as he contributed on each of the Maple Leafs' goals against the Montreal Canadiens.Signed through next season at an affordable $4.25-million salary cap hit, Van Riemsdyk has been a frequent target of trade talk, with speculation that he could be moved if the Maple Leafs desire an upgrade on their blue line. It will be worth following Van Riemsdyk down the stretch as the March 1 trade deadline approaches.▼ Mike CammalleriIt's been a rough go in New Jersey for veteran forward Cammalleri. With just 23 points on the year, he's on pace for his worst full-season finish since breaking into the league with the Los Angeles Kings in 2002.Decline is expected from an aging player, but the 34-year-old winger has hit the skids in recent weeks, with just one point in his last three games and two in his last seven matches. Take that one step further and Cammalleri has just six points in his past 22 performances.This isn't what the Devils expected from the former triggerman, who, despite being limited to 42 games a year ago, still finished at a near point-per-game pace, as he wrapped the 2015-16 campaign with 38 points. Signed through the next two seasons, the Devils may choose to expose Cammalleri to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.▲ Ryan GetzlafThe Anaheim Ducks captain wasted little time in making his way onto the scoresheet after missing a four-game swing with a lower-body concern in early January.Since returning, Getzlaf has put up four points in as many games. As always, the heavy center has been a key contributor in Orange County, as the Ducks have very quietly gone about their business and now stand first in the Pacific Division with 59 points. Since the calendar turned to 2017, the Ducks have lost just once in 60 minutes, posting a 7-1-1 record, which includes three victories in extra time.On pace for a 64-point campaign, consistency has been the name of the game for Getzlaf, after he finished the past two seasons with 63 and 70 points, respectively.▼ Sam GagnerThe early goings of Gagner in Columbus showed signs of career rejuvenation.The former sixth overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers was nearing NHL extinction after short, failed stints with the Arizona Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers, before landing in Columbus. With the Blue Jackets, Gagner appeared to have found his game, and at a bargain to the team too, as he signed for just $650,000.Through the first 33 games of the season, Gagner had 28 points, on pace for a career-best 70-point season. But with just one point in his last five outings and only three in his last nine, that number has taken a tumble. Fortunately for Gagner, the Blue Jackets remain the league's best with 64 points, so the opportunity is there for the veteran forward to get his rebound season back on track.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For many years, the idea of LeBron James putting on the pads, snapping on a chinstrap, and rescuing the Cleveland Browns from their destitution has existed as fantasy for sports fans in Ohio, and around the sports world.There's been no such speculation, however, about James - in many ways the ultimate athlete - taking his schoolyard talent to the rink and helping another Ohio team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, experience postseason success.But the topic finally came up Wednesday (because talk radio), and Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella playfully snuffed out the notion that James could make a crossover to the NHL."Not a chance," Tortorella told 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland, according to show producer Keith Britton."He can't skate. He's too damn big, he can't skate. And you can tell him I said that, I challenge him. Tell him to get his ass out here and come on the ice with us. I want to see him skate."Though you can never quite tell with the often-fiery bench boss, who seems to be mellowing with age (and success), Tortorella's comments were made in jest, as Britton reiterated.That said, we're sure the challenge stands as issued.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid has a flair for the dramatic.The Edmonton Oilers star cruised in on a breakway and shoveled in a backhander to defeat the Florida Panthers with about three seconds remaining in overtime Wednesday night.Panthers goaltender James Reimer caught the puck in his glove, but upon review, the officials upheld the goal call because it clearly crossed the line while in the netminder's trapper.McDavid earned his 100th career point earlier in the game with an assist, becoming the fourth-fastest active player to hit triple digits.He leads the NHL in points (51), although he's played eight more games than Sidney Crosby and two more than Evgeni Malkin, each of whom have 50 points so far.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins are reeling, and Patrice Bergeron has deemed his team's last two games to be unacceptable.That would be a 4-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Monday, followed by a shootout loss in Detroit on Wednesday wherein the Bruins held multiple three-goal leads over the Red Wings.Here's what Bergeron had to say after the game, per the Bruins:

Carey Price knows there's plenty of time for the Montreal Canadiens to find their groove.With his team sitting comfortably atop the Atlantic Division - for the time being at least - the franchise goalie acknowledged the need for improvement if it wants to achieve its ultimate goal.

Connor McDavid has put himself in fine company.The Edmonton Oilers superstar recorded the 100th point of his career upon assisting on a Zack Kassian goal against Florida.Only three active players have reached that mark in fewer career games.

Thomas Vanek's renaissance continues.The Detroit Red Wings forward showed off his playmaking abilities Wednesday night against the Boston Bruins, finding Andreas Athanasiou for a second-period goal with a beautiful behind-the-back pass.It was Vanek's 19th assist and 31st point in the 34th game of the season for the veteran, who signed a one-year deal with the Red Wings on July 1.A disappointing 2015-16 campaign led the Minnesota Wild to buy out the final year of his previous contract, but those days appear to be long forgotten for the 32-year-old.Vanek extended his point streak to seven games with the slick assist, giving him five goals and five helpers over that span.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tim Raines is finally Cooperstown-bound, and the city where he spent the majority of his career hasn't forgotten about him.

The Minnesota Wild will have to maintain their Central Division lead without Jonas Brodin for the next little while.The 23-year-old rearguard will miss at least a month with a broken finger, Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher announced Wednesday.Brodin was injured in Wednesday's loss to the New Jersey Devils.In 43 games this season, Brodin has chipped in three goals and 13 assists, averaging over 20 minutes per night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov will be out of action for at least another two weeks.Avalanche coach Jared Bednar announced on Wednesday that his starter has been shut down through the All-Star break as he continues to deal with groin troubles.Varlamov had just returned after missing three weeks with a groin pull."This is no longer a day-to-day thing," Bednar said, according to the team.The Avalanche have four games before taking a breather for All-Star weekend.Varlamov's season has reflected that of the last-place Avalanche. He's taken six wins from 24 starts, sporting an .898 save percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When we look back on the Nashville Predators' season a few months down the line, we may reflect on a serendipitous turn: when the team found Super Mario.On a delay due to mechanical issues with their charter last week, the Predators headed over to Dave & Busters to kill time. And when James Neal caught fire in the arcade, the team redeemed their winnings, using thousands of tokens to purchase a novelty-sized Super Mario plush toy.It's been with them since.From Adam Vingan of The Tennessean:

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.The basic judge of a player's value in fantasy hockey tends to be his goal and point totals. If a player is scoring, he has fantasy value and warrants a regular spot in any lineup. This can be a mistake, as it neglects to delve deeper into what other contributions a player is bringing to a fantasy team.Here are five pairs of players with identical goal, assist and point totals and a look at which of the two is actually the more valuable player in standard fantasy leagues (stats as of Tuesday, Jan. 17; all advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):Toronto Maple Leafs C Auston Matthews vs. Winnipeg Jets RW Patrik LaineGA+/-PIMPPPMatthews211641011Laine211681411While Laine is out for an undetermined length of time due to a concussion, he had been the superior fantasy option to the No. 1 overall pick from the 2016 draft. Laine stormed off to an early lead in the goals race, and although Matthews caught up in the category, Laine's improved plus/minus and additional penalty minutes have swung things in his favor.Matthews is the safer fantasy option even if Laine were currently active. Matthews has been less streaky this season, and his role as the Maple Leafs' top center ensures him playing time and opportunity. Matthews has the superior Corsi For rating, and the Leafs average nearly four more scoring chances per 60 minutes when he's on the ice than the Jets do with Laine.Chicago Blackhawks LW Artemi Panarin vs. Boston Bruins LW Brad MarchandGA+/-PIMPPPPanarin1726141914Marchand172664411Marchand's high propensity for penalty minutes is his biggest fantasy asset over players with similar offensive abilities. Panarin is all but guaranteed to finish the year with a lofty plus/minus rating as a part of the Blackhawks' top line. Both players have similar offerings on the power play, though Panarin is guaranteed more ice time with the man advantage.Both players have elite Corsi ratings, with Marchand holding the advantage at 61.16 percent as the wing man for C Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins see more scoring chances with Marchand on the ice. His Scoring Chance For percentage of 55.62 is a big improvement over Panarin's 46.91 rating.Marchand is the one to own in all fantasy formats.Minnesota Wild C Mikael Granlund vs. Dallas Stars LW Jamie BennGA+/-PIMPPPGranlund10252269Benn1025-93712Granlund's breakout season comes with the highest average ice time of his career, and a high-but-sustainable 11.9 shooting percentage. Benn has played in fewer games, but his average TOI is down just four seconds from last season's career high. His shooting percentage is at a four-year low.Both players have a Corsi rating below 50 percent, though Granlund provides the Wild with more scoring chances for and fewer against per 60 minutes. Granlund is playing on the superior team, and spending more time in the offensive end than Benn. Owners really need to decide which of plus/minus and penalty minutes they value/need most.Ottawa Senators RW Mark Stone vs. Carolina Hurricanes C Victor RaskGA+/-PIMPPPStone131931711Rask1319287The Senators' insistence on playing Stone away from LW Mike Hoffman and C Kyle Turris at 5v5 significantly caps his upside, but he is still on pace to top last season's 61 points. He should reach a career high in goals and could push for upward of 30.Rask has been providing similar offensive value across the board as the Hurricanes' No. 1 center, but Stone's added value on the power play has been the biggest boost thus far.Stone has better analytic ratings in CF%, xGF60 and SCF60 at 5v5. What we've seen so far this season from Stone is his floor. Should Ottawa load up a top line at 5v5, he could reach his ceiling. Own him where possible.Winnipeg Jets D Dustin Byfuglien vs. Dallas Stars D John KlingbergGA+/-PIMPPPByfuglien719-2687Klingberg719-22610It has been a disappointing season for the Stars' offense as a whole, and Klingberg has certainly suffered as a result. He's in danger of falling short of 50 points, as he is taking far fewer shots than he did a year ago. Byfuglien has been shooting at a similar rate to last season, but his shooting percentage is down over 50% from last season.Penalty minutes are the biggest differential, with both players also struggling in plus/minus. Klingberg finishes a slightly higher percentage of his shifts in the offensive zone, but both players are well below 50 percent in zone-finish ratio. Byfuglien has the closer shot distance by over a foot.With both players under performing and not receiving enough help from their teammates, choose Byfuglien's assured penalty minutes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This year's NHL All-Star Skills Competition will look a little different.Introducing the "Four Line Challenge."With no breakaway challenge this year, the NHL will implement the new competition as a replacement, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. The "Four Line Challenge" will entail players attempting to hit targets in the net from the near blue line, red line, far blue line and far goal line.Here's the exciting part: goalies will be allowed to participate from the farthest distance if they so please, and will be awarded extra points if they're capable of getting it done.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues need to quit bleeding assets. The Edmonton Oilers need a puck-moving defender with excellent offensive instincts to facilitate their top-tier attack.But before we set up the trade call, there are a few obstacles to clear should the Oilers re-set sights on Kevin Shattenkirk, the high-skilled defender playing out what remains of his cost-effective contract.St. Louis is penciled into the postseason bracket as a top three team in the Central Division, an uncommon position for a would-be seller. Further, with Ken Hitchcock on his final turn as coach, the Blues were assumed to have every intention of taking one last run at a ring in their current, albeit underachieving, configuration.To that point, though Shattenkirk lacks no-move protection and can be dealt to the highest bidder before March 1, it's in both the Blues' and the buyer's best interest to work out a situation that sees the defenseman relinquish the control he'll gain when he becomes an unrestricted free agent four months later. In the long game, rentals only hurt the Oilers (though fall short of devastating if they're cheap), because this team isn't quite ready to truly contend. But let's be real: The Blues aren't spoiling a chance to win this season for pennies on the dollar. A deal will only make sense if Shattenkirk is willing to commit term to the up-and-(finally)coming program. And he was apparently reluctant to portion even a season to Edmonton when talks surfaced last summer.Have the Oilers, led by megastar Connor McDavid, done what's necessary to change his perception?Among other potential booby traps: working out a suitable return for the Blues, attributing a value to Shattenkirk that would work under Edmonton's present and future financial structure (remember: McDavid will soon command the NHL's highest annual salary, if he wants it), and the potential implications of the upcoming expansion draft.All that said, the Oilers shouldn't be discouraged; this is the player they need.There are big bodies, big shots, cloggers, and players who readily go high off the glass on the Oilers' backline. There isn't a player that can neatly retrieve the puck in his own zone, land a precise first pass to launch an attack without hesitation, create from the top of the umbrella, and put up points in large quantities.A true power-play specialist, Shattenkirk is one of four defensemen with an all-situations points rate above two, along with Brent Burns, Justin Schultz (we won't touch that), and Victor Hedman. He's on pace to hit career-best totals, but efficient high-end production has been a constant throughout his career. Burns, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, and John Klingberg are the only defenders over the last five years with a greater output than Shattenkirk's 1.73 points/60 minutes.He's perennially been one of the top possession-driving defenders and a potent catalyst for scoring chances. He's at 53.6 percent even-strength score- and venue-adjusted possession over the last half decade, which is tops among Blues.Short on top-end speed to offset mistakes and positional lapses, Shattenkirk maintains strong metrics in all three facets - offense, defense, and transition - primarily through his ingenuity.The efficiency and creativity he's shown in retrieving, handling, and distributing the puck would aid an Oilers team often still undermined by a prevailing disconnect between offense and defense. And when the Oilers arrived in the opposition's end, his awareness would amplify the threat as the McDavids, Leon Draisaitls, and Jordan Eberles circle.The Oilers' scheme caters to Shattenkirk's strengths by already employing a slow, patient, somewhat plodding pace on the back end and relying on the forwards' speed to transport the puck between zones.With the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks also in the race for the division crown, and the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings lurking the wild-card position, the Oilers might require a move to ensure this is their first playoff season in more than a decade.But to truly become a championship contender in the not-so-distant future, the Oilers need to address their greatest weakness in terms of role. Until they find a creative right-shot puck mover, they will be without balance on the back end, and their transition won't be as crisp, and their power play not as productive, as it has the potential to be.Shattenkirk can help accomplish their goals for this season, and continue that trend in the seasons to come.If that interests him.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly will miss at least one game, but is considered day to day after suffering a suspected ankle injury versus the Buffalo Sabres, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.As a result, Frank Corrado will draw into the lineup Thursday versus the New York Rangers, coach Mike Babcock announced.Rielly exited after a few shifts Tuesday when William Carrier landed on his leg. It was announced that he would not return during the second intermission.Reporters noted that Rielly - walking around the Leafs room without a brace, wrap, or discernible pain - was in good spirits after the game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The next stage in Jonathan Drouin's saga with the Tampa Bay Lightning will involve putting pen to paper.The 21-year-old is in the midst of his best season yet, making his upcoming contract negotiations all the more intriguing, as he's due for restricted free agency.Here are some factors to consider:His resumeAfter Drouin put up an unfathomable 242 points in 128 games for the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads, Tampa Bay selected the shifty playmaker third overall in the 2013 draft.However, his transition to the NHL has been rocky, at best.Drouin amassed just 32 points in 70 games as a rookie, before demanding a trade during the 2015-16 season following an AHL demotion. Things got messy, as Drouin walked away from Tampa's farm team, causing a stalemate between him and general manager Steve Yzerman.That seems like a long time ago, though, as Drouin began to prove his worth last postseason, looking rejuvenated in recording 14 points across 17 playoff contests with Tampa.His confidence has continued into this season, with 29 points in 38 game, and 22 in his last 20.Drouin's value is growing as we speak.Some comparablesWith bridge deals becoming less and less frequent in today's NHL, it's plausible to believe Yzerman will look into a long-term contract right away, rather than prolonging the process and dealing with the same situation a few years down the road.Here are some recent examples of forwards who've signed extensions coming off their entry-level contracts.PlayerTeamLengthAAVP/PGSean MonahanFlames7 years$6.375M0.65Nathan MacKinnonAvalanche7 years$6.3M0.7Aleksander BarkovPanthers6 years$5.9M0.64Rickard RakellDucks6 years$3.8M0.52Filip ForsbergPredators6 years$6M0.7Through 127 career games, Drouin's notched 71 points (0.55 p/pg), but his pure skill and upside could outweigh all the players listed above, complicating matters going forward.Tampa's situationThis is where it gets interesting.Much like last season, Yzerman will have his hands full in maneuvering Tampa's roster without breaching the salary cap.Yzerman managed to walk away from his first crucial wave of roster decisions with a gold star - retaining Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman at a discount - but several other crucial determinations loom following this season.Along with Drouin, core forwards Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat are slated for restricted free agency, and due for a raise.For the time being, the Lightning are pressed right up against the cap ceiling, but some pressure will be alleviated with netminder Ben Bishop - and his $5.9-million cap hit - coming off the books via trade or expansion draft. Elsewhere, Brian Boyle ($2M AAV) could be forced to find other suitors as Tampa's only other pending UFA.Yzerman has been adamant about testing the "quiet" NHL trade market, and any sort of deal involving a salary dump could make sense for a Lightning team unexpectedly outside the playoff bubble.A potential offer sheet to Drouin, however, would throw a giant wrench into Yzerman's plans. While offer sheets have gone the way of the bridge deal lately, what team with salary cap space wouldn't want to dangle money in front of a young, supremely talented forward? It's purely hypothetical, but it's allowed, and it sure would make things interesting.The dealSo, what's it gonna be?Feasibly, based on the market of similar players and Drouin's prospering value, a five-to-seven year deal could be realistic, and likely closer to $5M than $6M in AAV.Yzerman knows Drouin is key to the Lightning's success. It's why he never wanted to trade him, and it's why he's watching his development closely. The GM will do his best to make it work.With half a season to play and plenty of unpredictable variables surrounding the rest of Tampa Bay's roster, pinpointing exact numbers becomes difficult, but considering Drouin's tumultuous past and promising future, it will be fascinating to monitor how it plays out.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider has been fined $5,000 for hitting Dallas Stars forward Cody Eakin in the head with his own helmet during a fight Tuesday night, the Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.The penalty is the maximum allowable under the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement.Kreider landed one blow before smartly discarding the makeshift weapon, though it wasn't enough to avoid sanctioning.Eakin drew the ire of the Rangers earlier this season when he leveled goalie Henrik Lundqvist while chasing a puck behind the net. He was suspended four games for the incident, and some criticized the Rangers for not responding in the moment.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.