Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock has offered an alternative to this season's implemented bye week.The Maple Leafs bench boss - whose team will return to action on Friday after enjoying their five-day break - insists he would prefer a less condensed schedule over a week off."I'd rather have four less back-to-backs, but that's the way life is," Babcock said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.Earlier in the month Babcock admitted that he felt that the bye week was dangerous for players. Meanwhile on Wednesday, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall called the bye-week schedule "the most asinine thing" he's ever seen as the Flyers will play a set of back-to-back games prior and upon returning from their bye week.The Maple Leafs will have played on back-to-back nights for a league-high 18 times when the season concludes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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Patrik Laine won't be around to help cure what ails the Winnipeg Jets on their three-game road trip through the southwest.According to TSN's Sara Orlesky, the rookie sniper will not travel with the club, which further clouds his availability for the NHL All-Star Game at the end of the month.Laine was concussed last weekend in Buffalo when he was drilled by Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe in open ice. Signs indicate he won't be out long, but the Jets have reason to be conservative with their teenage trigger man.Laine is tied for third in the NHL with 21 goals, and he owns Winnipeg's best all-situations scoring rate with 2.91 points per 60 minutes.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While players soaked up rays on an assortment of beaches down south, taking their minds completely off sport, Toronto Maple Leafs management had time to reflect and properly gauge the swift development of its fledgling roster.A lot to unpack in five days.At this time last year, the Leafs were a last-place team sending Leo Komarov to the All-Star Game. Now, it's more likely than not that they'll become the third team this century to go from last place to making the playoffs the following season. Oh, and they'll be represented in Los Angeles on All-Star weekend by Auston Matthews, a genuine marquee attraction.The turnaround has caught even general manager Lou Lamoriello by surprise. At least a little bit."I would say we're a little ahead of where we might have thought we could (be), but (that's) really not saying that we shouldn't be here," Lamoriello said, via TSN."You don't know how quickly some of the young players will adjust."He's right: it has all hinged on the kids, who have exceeded expectations across the board. Matthews and Marner have been particularly impressive, scoring at a rate that compares favorably to the best 19-year-old seasons we've seen, and Matthews is already a shot-dominant center in the NHL.But it really has been by (rookie) committee. Six rookies, in particular, who all rank in the top 11 in team scoring and have produced 45 percent of the team's total goals.All indications suggest this group will only improve, but for this momentum to continue swelling, the focus must stay on the process - which resumes at practice Thursday afternoon."We have to be careful," Lamoriello said. "We can't get high, we can't get low. But we certainly feel good about the direction that we're going and not getting off really the course of what has to be done to have success."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars will welcome their captain back to the lineup on Thursday.Jamie Benn will make his first appearance of the New Year when the club takes on the Detroit Red Wings, the Stars confirmed.Benn has been sidelined for the club's past four games with a foot injury - a stretch that saw the team go 2-1-1. The 27-year-old will enter the lineup riding a four-game point streak, with six points in that span.Meanwhile, the club also announced defenseman Jamie Oleksiak - who was forced from Tuesday's game against the Anaheim Ducks - will be out of the lineup for a couple weeks as he nurses a hand injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

According to Eddie Lack, it's time for another rule change.Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin notched his 1,000th point on Wednesday, but it was his second goal of the game - for point No. 1,001 - scored in his usual textbook manner that the Carolina Hurricanes' netminder is up in arms about.With the league already including a trapezoid where goalies can't play the puck, Lack suggests an "Ovizoid" where Ovechkin is not allowed to fire his famous one-timers.

The Tampa Bay Lightning emerged as big winners in the online roasting of the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers and their new logo.

If Bruce Boudreau had it his way, Alex Ovechkin would have settled down long ago.The Minnesota Wild head coach and former boss in Washington delivered a strong one-liner when asked about the difference he's seen in the Capitals star, who got married last summer - and exceeded the 1,000-point threshold Wednesday night.

Enough is enough.The Winnipeg Jets were pummeled 7-4 by the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night in an effort that was more dismal for the Jets than it was masterful on the part of the Canadiens.Related: Jets' Maurice after allowing 7 goals: 'We were horses--t'What stuck out, once again, for the Jets was their porous goaltending. Connor Hellebuyck was given the hook after allowing three goals on seven shots in the first period, but Michael Hutchinson didn't fare any better in relief, conceding four goals on 23 shots the rest of the way.It's the same old song and dance for a Jets team struggling to find consistency between the pipes. Sure, they've largely given the reins to Hellebuyck this season, but the club is no better for that decision as both have produced unremarkable numbers.GoalieGames PlayedGAA (League Rank)SV% (League Rank)Hellebuyck332.73 (31st).910 (T-31)Hutchinson173.30 (49th).890 (48th)League rank based on goalies with at least 10 games played.The most obvious solution would be to try making a deal with a club currently boasting two strong goaltenders - and many candidates fit that bill.The Detroit Red Wings have Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek, the Pittsburgh Penguins have Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray, the Tampa Bay Lightning boast Ben Bishop and Andrei Vasilevskiy, and then there is Scott Darling, who could possibly be plucked from the Chicago Blackhawks.Of course, the impending expansion draft is likely to see at least one of the names above selected by the Golden Knights or moved due to the fear of that very scenario playing out.According to Cap Friendly, the Jets currently have the fourth-most cap space in the league: approximately $12 million dollars to play with, meaning they can certainly afford any of the men above.However, with trades becoming as rare as Bigfoot, the Jets might be forced to do the one thing they hoped they'd never have to - recall Ondrej Pavelec.Yes, the 29-year-old's play has been suspect in the past - but so too is the play of the club's current duo, and desperate times call for desperate measures.Pavelec was banished to the American Hockey League this season and has played 17 games there for the Manitoba Moose, going 7-7-2 with a 2.88 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.The numbers are hardly any better than those of Hellebuyck or Hutchinson, but the team needs a change and Pavelec - despite his flaws - has proven in the past that he can provide solid goaltending.In order to make that move, one of Hellebuyck or Hutchinson would have to be sent down. Hellebuyck is waiver-exempt, so there are no worries there, while Hutchinson would have to clear waivers - but given his numbers, it's safe to say that's unlikely.There are no easy, quick-fix solutions, but the Jets have now given up a league-high 132 goals, with the fourth-worst goals against per game at 3.00. The time to act is now.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, Jan. 12 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

The greatest scorer of this generation has provided a multitude of extraordinary moments on his path to 1,000 points.Here are five that best illustrate Alex Ovechkin's greatness:The GoalLet's not bury the lede.In his 44th game in the NHL, and while charting a path to a 52-goal, Calder Trophy-winning rookie season, Ovechkin scored an outrageous, extraordinary, stupid, unthinkable, impossible goal versus the Phoenix Coyotes.It was something unlike we've ever seen before, or will see again. And it was the moment many realized Ovechkin would thrill us like no one else has.Another 'Wow' momentOvechkin is much more than a stationary trigger man. The goal that might best showcase his complete attacking portfolio was this stunning marker against the Montreal Canadiens in 2009.The creativity with the bank, the power on the edge, the insatiable desire to score. Unreal.The DuelIn the second round in 2009, Ovechkin and longtime rival Sidney Crosby each scored a hat trick, making for one of the most memorable Stanley Cup playoff games in the post-lockout era. But if we're being honest, "The Duel" was a touch one-sided.Ovechkin erased Crosby's first with a gorgeous finish in transition, then scored two breathtaking goals (one from his common post above the circle on the power play, and the other on a one-on-one rush) in the third period to put the Capitals up two.The scenes in Washington were spectacular.Trucking JagrWe weren't being completely truthful when mentioning earlier that we saw the entirety of Ovechkin's offensive talent on one play. There's another, more devastating manner in which he can create.Case in point:1KAlways a showman. With all eyes on him on a nationally televised game versus the Penguins with a chance to collect his 1,000th career point, Ovechkin rather predictably delivered 35 seconds after the puck dropped.Also worth noting:What may best define Ovechkin's hockey legacy (but doesn't make for the best highlight) is his commitment to his country.From suffering a shoulder injury in the world junior final in 2005, to falling short in three Olympic bids, Ovechkin's greatest heartbreaks have been suffered while wearing a Russian uniform. But his passion to win a best-on-best title for his country burns as it always has, and he's championed the movement to play in the upcoming Olympics regardless of whether the NHL decides to go.There's something truly admirable in that.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.▲ Washington CapitalsEverything is coming up Washington Capitals these days.Captain Alex Ovechkin wasted no time reaching 1,000 points this week. The effort was capped off by a two-goal effort against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it was his strong play since the holiday break that made Wednesday's achievement possible.Related: Watch: Ovechkin rips home 1,000th point in opening minute vs. PenguinsOvechkin has amassed six goals and 11 points in nine games - a much more potent pace than his eight goals in 17 games to start the year.And Ovechkin isn't the only Capital firing on all cylinders of late. Evgeny Kuznetsov has 11 points since Christmas, Nicklas Backstrom has 10, and then there's Braden Holtby.Holtby has allowed just three goals against in four games since being pulled against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 3. He posted his first set of back-to-back shutouts following the loss and has put up an outstanding .974 save percentage in that span.With seven straight wins under their belt, it seems another Presidents' Trophy is certainly not out of the question for the Capitals.▼Tampa Bay LightningThe Tampa Bay Lightning are saying all the right things, but those sentiments have had little impact on their success of late.The club currently sits four points out of a playoff spot, nestled sixth in the Atlantic Division, and Jon Cooper knows it's time for his team to rally. This weekend he went on record saying now is the time for the Lightning to climb back into the playoff picture.There's no better opportunity to do so than with the Maple Leafs - who sit a win above them in the standings - on their bye week. However, following those comments, Tampa Bay dropped its fourth straight game, a 6-2 shelling by the Pittsburgh Penguins.The club will get back to it Thursday when it plays the first game of a back-to-back against the Buffalo Sabres.It won't be an easy road back up the standings, with games against the Blue Jackets, the Blackhawks, and all three California clubs over the next two weeks.▲ Brent BurnsForget the Norris Trophy - Brent Burns has his eyes on the Art Ross.Thanks to a quartet of multi-point games over the last week, the San Jose Sharks defenseman - let that sink in for a moment - is now just four points behind Connor McDavid for the NHL scoring lead and one point from matching Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane for second spot.This season, only McDavid and Crosby have more multi-point games than Burns - who's posted 13.Burns' torrid pace of late has given him a solid cushion in the defenseman scoring race, leading in both goals and points by a margin of seven in each category.If he keeps it up, he might just squeeze his name into Hart Trophy consideration as well.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL has undergone a youth movement this season, with several rookies stealing the show and playing prominent roles for their respective teams.Led by Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Patrik Laine of the Winnipeg Jets, this season's crop of youngsters has treated fans to a glimpse of the talent that lies in store for years to comeHowever, beyond 2016's top two draft picks putting together historic seasons, there have been multiple rookies exceeding expectations and make their marks in the pros. Here are a few of them:Matthew TkachukThe apple doesn't fall far from the tree with this one.Drafted sixth overall by the Calgary Flames last June, Tkachuk exudes the tenacious, "in-your-face" style his dad, Keith, employed as a 20-year-pro.Like his father, he's got some offense in him, too. Tkachuk's 27 points are tied with Mikael Backlund and Johnny Gaudreau for the Flames' lead, and rank fourth on the rookie scoring list.The 19-year-old leads rookies with 74 penalty minutes, and has been credited with 40 hits. He's filling the exact role Calgary was missing, transitioning seamlessly from a truly dominant season with the OHL's London Knights last year.Mitch MarnerWhile Matthews has drawn most of the spotlight in Toronto, the Maple Leafs' first-round pick from 2015 is making quite a name for himself.Marner's 32 points trail only Laine and Matthews in the rookie race, and his 22 assists lead the pack.We've all known since his OHL days how ridiculously gifted he is offensively, but Marner has earned constant praise from head coach Mike Babcock for his willingness to work every shift - so much so that Babcock keeps his young superstars separated, because, like Matthews, Marner has already earned the responsibility of carrying his line.Marner has etched his mark in the league already with his skill and energy. It's funny to think just four months ago, many were wondering if he's too small for the NHL.Ivan ProvorovThe Philadelphia Flyers struck gold with their first-round selection in 2015.After an extra year dominating the junior ranks in 2015-16, Provorov made the jump to the NHL this season and has looked every bit the part of a budding No. 1 defenseman.Provorov ranks second among all rookies in shifts per game (28.2) and third in ice-time (21:17). Not to mention, he's chipped in 18 points for a Flyers franchise that has long struggled to employ a reliable two-way threat on the blue line.The 19-year-old's smooth, cerebral approach to the game has earned him a workhorse role for the Flyers, and don't expect that to change anytime soon.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Capuano isn't singling anyone out, but he's not discriminating when it comes to laying blame, either.The New York Islanders head coach directed his frustration at the team's offseason additions, veterans, and young players alike, after a 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers at home in the Barclays Center on Wednesday night."We signed some guys for reasons, we want to give those guys an opportunity," Capuano said postgame, according to the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis."There are some other guys, too - you can say the veteran guys, but there are a few of the young guys - you watch the game tonight, they were non-factors," he said."What you need to do right now, in the time that you're in this game right now, you have to come to the rink and you have to be a difference-maker. If you don't have that mindset to be a difference-maker, knowing it's a crucial time with games in hand, to play like you played tonight, then you're in the wrong profession as an athlete."One of the Islanders' offseason signings, Jason Chimera, was on the ice for less than 10 minutes on Wednesday night, and Andrew Ladd, a more significant addition, played under 15 minutes himself.Capuano revealed he'll be making some changes when the Islanders play the Panthers again in Florida on Friday night."There are guys that will be out of the lineup next game, no doubt about that," he said. "It's the accountability of the coaching staff to do what they have to do."The Islanders have sunk to the basement of the Eastern Conference with only 15 wins in 39 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It took about half the season, but the Washington Capitals are making their move.A 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night - one that was historic in multiple ways for captain Alex Ovechkin - gave the Capitals their seventh consecutive win and their eighth in the last 10 games.Watch: Ovi adds patented one-timer goal to historic nightWashington now sits one point back of the first-place Columbus Blue Jackets in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division.The Capitals defeated the Blue Jackets last Thursday, ending Columbus' 16-game win streak and derailing their bid to tie the longest such run in NHL history.Washington now has the same number of ROW (regulation or overtime wins, which serve as a major playoff seed tiebreaker) as their Ohio-based counterparts, but the Blue Jackets have a game in hand and an 11-goal edge in goal differential at plus-45, which leads the NHL.Still, the Capitals are making a push to overtake Columbus and claim the best record in the league, a distinction that earned the Capitals the Presidents' Trophy over the 82-game schedule last season.Wednesday's win gave Washington the second-best record in the NHL - considering the number of games each team has played - behind Columbus.The Capitals have quelled some respectable opponents during their current seven-game run, defeating the Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators (twice), the Blue Jackets, and the surprising Toronto Maple Leafs in addition to their victory over the struggling New Jersey Devils.Getting an eighth consecutive win won't be easy for No. 8 and company. Washington hosts the Chicago Blackhawks, owners of the highest point total in the Western Conference, on Friday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Paul Maurice has seen better nights.The Winnipeg Jets coach could only watch as his club laid an egg versus the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night in a 7-4 loss.The Jets looked complacent from the opening faceoff, as Phillip Danault gave the Habs a lead just 57 seconds into the first period.Suffice to say, Maurice did not appreciate his team's lack of effort.

The San Jose Sharks found themselves shorthanded on the back end Wednesday night thanks to some confusion involving the lineup card.The Sharks were forced to play with only five defensemen against the Calgary Flames because of a last-minute switch that wasn't reflected on the official game sheet.Paul Martin was originally listed as an active player, while Mirco Mueller was a scratch. However, Martin was ruled out shortly before the game, so Mueller was inserted in - but the club apparently didn't report the change in time.

Phillip Danault channeled his inner Bobby Orr on Wednesday night.The Montreal Canadiens pivot - recently bumped to the top line because of injuries - provided a brilliant end-to-end rush versus the Jets for his second goal of the game.Danault, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks last season, has quietly been productive for the Habs. Wednesday's markers gave him nine on the season, and a total of 21 points.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin needed just one shift to take care of his latest milestone.The Washington Capitals star scored 35 seconds into Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, snapping home his 20th goal of the season and registering his 1,000th career point in the process.By hitting quadruple digits in his 880th career game, Ovechkin became the second-fastest active player to accomplish the feat behind Florida Panthers forward Jaromir Jagr, who reached the milestone in 763 contests.Ovechkino became the 24th-fastest player, the first Washington Capital ever, the 37th with a single franchise, and the 84th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-point mark.As if that wasn't enough, the goal was also the 545th of his career, moving him past Maurice Richard into sole possession of 29th all time. He tied the Montreal Canadiens legend with a goal at the Bell Centre on Monday night.He added another highlight-reel goal later in Wednesday's game, going top shelf with one of his patented one-timers on the power play.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks reportedly won't mortgage their future at the expense of a playoff berth.Picked by many to be a lottery team come June's draft, Vancouver is surprisingly in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race in the weak Pacific Division. The Canucks are currently one spot outside a postseason position, tied with the Kings, who own two games in hand.However, despite being within striking distance, Canucks' management won't sacrifice their future by trading draft picks for short-term help, reports ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.Saved by superb goaltending this season, the Canucks aging roster ranks 22nd in the NHL with 102 goals, and owns a troubling minus-17 goal differential.For this reason, among others, and due to the long-term rebuild that team president Trevor Linden hopes to initiate, the Canucks are reportedly sticking to their plans.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A personal matter has forced Tyler Myers to step away from the Winnipeg Jets.The defenseman is attending to a family situation, in addition to his ongoing recovery from a back injury, Jets head coach Paul Maurice told reporters Wednesday."Tyler came with us on the road to Florida and had to leave on a personal family matter with the full blessing of the Winnipeg Jets, and he's still dealing with that now," Maurice said.Myers remains on injured reserve as he continues to work his way back from the injury that's kept him out of action since Nov. 11.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal is in a familiar, unfavorable position.Staal, who missed the club's past two games with an unspecified upper-body injury, is reportedly dealing with post-concussion symptoms, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post.The 29-year-old has missed time with two separate concussions over the course of his career, and his timeline for a return is unclear at this point, reports Brooks.Staal has suited up in 40 games for the Blueshirts this season, notching three goals and three assists, while averaging 19:33 in ice time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 3-on-3 tournament is here to stay on All-Star weekend, but the NHL's annual skills showcase will be slightly different this time around.In a minor tweak from last year's format, the league's All-Star Skills Competition will now be contested between divisional teams rather than those of conferences, with the winner earning the right to select its first (semifinal) opponent and game time in the 3-on-3 tournament, the NHL announced.Last year, the skills event was a matchup of the Western and Eastern conferences, and the winner did have the right to select its 3-on-3 semifinal time, but not the opponent.The 2017 All-Star Skills Competition will take place Jan. 28 in Los Angeles, and the 3-on-3 tournament is scheduled for the following day at Staples Center.The tourney's format will remain as it was in Nashville last year, with two 3-on-3 semifinal games and a championship final with a prize pool of $1 million going to the winner.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock isn't the only one picking a bone with the league's five-day bye week.The Philadelphia Flyers will enjoy their five-day break starting next Monday, but they'll first play back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday, then face another back-to-back scenario coming out of the break, a scheduling method general manager Ron Hextall doesn't exactly agree with.

Ben Bishop says he's ready to return to the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup.The Lightning goalie was a full participant at practice Wednesday, and afterward declared himself "ready to go," according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.He's been sidelined since late December with a lower-body injury.Erik Erlendsson of Lightning Insider expects Bishop to make a start on their upcoming two-game homestand versus either the Buffalo Sabres or Columbus Blue Jackets.Bishop's performance over the next six weeks will be a point of interest across league circles. The netminder is scheduled for unrestricted free agency this summer, and the Lightning have until the March 1 trade deadline to receive value on a potential deal.Bishop has posted poor numbers this season after a runner-up finish in the Vezina Trophy voting last year. He has nine wins from 22 appearances with a .907 save percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Toews might be worthy of an All-Star nod after all.Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau - who will serve as head coach of the Central Division All-Stars - joined TSN's 1050 radio on Wednesday where he addressed the idea that the Chicago Blackhawks captain could be overrated after being named an All-Star despite having just 21 points in 34 games.

Whatever direction hockey takes, seldom is there resistance.Directive can dictate change, but for the most part, the sport's organic, season-to-season growth is borne out of success. When one team takes the lead in the NHL, 29 others attempt to mimic their process.For this reason we see few stylistic matchups - unlike many other sports. There is some variance from conference to conference, and sometimes personnel determine style, but teams are largely trying to achieve a similar product. One can hope that a skill-based, up-tempo, puck-moving style is indeed the direction that the current's headed.The systems that coaches and tacticians use work to acculturate players. In turn, idiosyncrasies fade, and players end up performing the same tasks, while talent determines the effect.Then there's Alex Ovechkin, forever swimming upstream.The greatest goal-scorer of a generation is on the brink of reaching another checkpoint en route to becoming the greatest ever.On Monday night in Montreal, Ovechkin notched his third point of the night, and 999th of his career, scoring with an unorthodox, sling-style, one-touch wrist shot from his home on the power play. It was the 544th goal of his illustrious career, matching him with Maurice "Rocket" Richard, the Canadiens legend that lends his name to the trophy Ovechkin's monopolized over the past decade.Wednesday night, with a national audience against longtime rival Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ovechkin has a chance to pass Richard, and become the first player in his era to record 1,000 points in less than 12 seasons.Done his way, like he always has.This isn't a Ovechkin-versus-Rocket debate (though if it was, we would point out that Ovechkin required 99 fewer games to score his 544th goal, and has seven times the 50-goal seasons), because the nonconforming Washington Capitals superstar is simply incomparable.No one else has such an endless reservoir of sheer force. No one else is predictable, yet unstoppable. No one else has resisted compromise quite like Ovechkin, or scored with similar flair, distinctiveness, and dynamism.Like the bad seed, but in the best possible way.To scratch the surface of what he's accomplished in 11-plus seasons:

NHLers will be taking the ice in style at the All-Star Game later in January.Related: NHL announces All-Star rosters for 3-on-3 tournament in L.A.The league unveiled the four jerseys that the four teams representing each division will wear in the second running of the 3-on-3 tournament.

An Alex Ovechkin fan from Canada went the extra mile to meet her longtime idol.A fan in attendance at Washington Capitals morning skate Wednesday held up a sign noting that she had taken three different flights and traveled 4,662 kilometers - that's about 2,897 miles - just to meet Ovechkin.The girl got her wish: Ovechkin took time to sign an autograph and pose for pictures with her.

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, January 11 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

With four wins in their last 10 games and losses in three of their past five, the St. Louis Blues are anything but happy about their play of late.The club dropped a 5-3 contest to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, a game they were out-shot handily 38-17 and one that looks to have pushed the team to its limit."It's frustrating," captain Alex Pietrangelo said, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac. "We're tired of talking about it, we're tired of answering the questions from outside our locker room."We need to be better, especially early on."One of the team's growing concerns has been the play of goaltender Jake Allen, who was pulled for the second time in four games on Tuesday after conceding three goals on 11 shots in the first period."He's not stopping the puck," head coach Ken Hitchcock said of Allen following the loss to Boston. "He's having a tough go of it. We can jump all over him or rally around him. We have a choice."Thank God Hutts is playing hard or we'd be in really tough shape."Of course Allen himself is well aware his play hasn't been up to snuff."It's frustrating for me," Allen said, according to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I really always have high expectations for myself. I always set the bar really high. I've got to be better."With Tuesday's game in the books, the Blues concluded a six-game road swing that saw the club go 3-3-0. The team has been stellar on home ice this season with a 16-5-4 record, but has seen a complete contrast on the road, going 5-10-1.A three-game home stand could help turn things back in the Blues' favor, but Hitchcock isn't sold on the idea."I don't know about that. You are what you are," the Blues bench boss said.Nevertheless, the Blues will host all three California clubs over the next week in games St. Louis must win if the team hopes to hold down its current playoff spot.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're coming down the home stretch.With just about half of the 2016-17 season in the bag, NHL awards talk is bound to heat up. Since the quarter mark of the season, there has been a lot of reshuffling as far as the favorites to bring home the hardware goes.Here are the six individuals most deserving of the game's six major awards at the halfway mark of the season.Hart Trophy - Connor McDavidWho else?Connor McDavid has made the transition from rookie to arguably the most talented player in the league in just one season. He's on his way to picking up the Art Ross Trophy for likely the first of many times.With the award's recipient being defined as "the player judged most valuable to his team," it's no question McDavid fits the bill for the Hart, as the Oilers have their young phenom to thank for what should be their first trip to the playoffs in 11 years.Vezina Trophy- Devan DubnykThe Minnesota Wild netminder is doing it all. He paces all goalies with a .939 save percentage and 1.80 goals-against average, while his five shutouts are tied for tops in the league.Above all, he has his club within striking distance of the Central Division lead after claiming a wild-card berth last season.Norris Trophy - Brent BurnsThe Norris Trophy will be heading back to California, this time washing up in San Jose.Brent Burns is crushing the competition in the defenseman scoring race with 16 goals and 42 points. He's put up a league-leading 163 shots and is on pace to hit the 30-goal plateau - a mark that has been a rarity for any d-man.Related: Burns on pace to hit illustrious 30-goal markHe's the only blue-liner with more than 10 games played averaging at least a point per game, and has done so while remaining defensively sound in his own end of the rink.Calder Trophy - Auston MatthewsAuston Matthews is well on his way to breaking multiple Toronto Maple Leafs rookie records. As far as the rookie scoring race is concerned, the 19-year-old currently shares the lead with Patrik Laine at 21 goals and is just two points behind the Winnipeg Jets sniper with three games in hand.He's quickly becoming the Maple Leafs' best player and with Laine now sidelined with a concussion, Matthews could very well run away with the Calder.Selke Trophy - Brad MarchandHe's a pest among pests, but you can't deny the value that Brad Marchand brings with his impeccable two-way game.The Boston Bruins forward has transformed into a player that can torch clubs at both ends of the rink. He holds the second-best Corsi-for rating in the league at 61.3% and is always a threat to score shorthanded.Jack Adams Award - John TortorellaIt's hard to argue that any coach is more worthy of the Jack Adams than John Tortorella. The Columbus Blue Jackets bench boss has morphed his team from a 27th-place club to a first-place powerhouse in one season.He's made strategic moves that have certainly paid off, such as removing the club's game-day skates, and for the first time in a long time, the colorful head coach appears to have kept his temper in check. Winning will do that.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pavel Datsyuk will be in Los Angeles at the end of January to attend the NHL All-Star festivities, his agent Dan Milstein announced Tuesday on Twitter.It's expected that Datsyuk will be recognized when the NHL reveals its list of the 100 Greatest Players as part of its centennial anniversary celebration.Wanting to be closer to his family, Datsyuk returned to Russia last summer on a two-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg, ending a brilliant 14-year tenure with the Detroit Red Wings organization.He scored 314 goals and 918 points in 953 games with the Red Wings, winning two Stanley Cups. He also won the Lady Byng Trophy in four straight seasons, and took home the Selke Trophy three times.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first half of the 2016-17 campaign officially ended Tuesday night, with half the 1,230 games on the regular-season schedule now in the books.Before you know it, it'll be spring, and you'll be talking about the playoffs, and dreaming of the Stanley Cup. We can't wait, either.Here are five storylines that dominated the last quarter of 2016 and the first 10 days of 2017:Auston and PatrikThe kids, they dominate the NHL so fast.Grown men and women have been walking around Toronto and Winnipeg for the past few months saying "Auston Matthews" and "Patrik Laine" out loud, without reason, just because. It's weird.But also understandable. Toronto and Winnipeg are two hockey-mad cities, and they've been gifted two remarkable talents, who will hopefully bring glory back to the Maple Leafs, and for the first time to the reincarnated Jets.Hockey fans may have thought themselves spoiled when Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel came along last season, but Matthews and Laine are proving the encore's better than the original.The top two picks in the 2016 draft are equal at 21 goals, good for a tie for third in the NHL, and are one-two in rookie scoring, Laine's 37 points are two more than Matthews, with the Toronto phenom holding three games in hand.That Maple Leafs-Jets Stanley Cup Final, when it happens, is going to be something.Columbus risingThese aren't your daddy's Blue Jackets.After all, Columbus could find itself one day on "Jeopardy," in the "NHL team milestones" category for $600.This team went on a 16-game winning streak from Nov. 29, 2016 to Jan. 3, 2017, one shy of the NHL record of 17 set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins.Who are the 2016-17 Columbus Blue Jackets.Sixteen games. The Blue Jackets! Crazy, right?John Tortorella's turned over a mellow leaf, and halfway through the season Columbus is the NHL's best team, and owns the league's best goal differential. The Blue Jackets are third in goals per game, third in goals against, and boast the league's top power play. They're for real.Sid and the new kidConnor McDavid's the heir apparent. But Sidney Crosby isn't ready to give up his throne.Through the first three months of the season, No. 87 and No. 97 have delivered stellar performance after stellar performance, battling for the NHL scoring lead. And it's been damn fun to watch.It's taken McDavid no time at all to prove himself as one of the league's best players. In fact, he'd probably own the title if it wasn't for Crosby, who is scoring goals at the highest rate of his career.Crosby's played only 33 games and has 22 goals, good for a ridiculous 0.79 per game average. McDavid's got the Art Ross Trophy halfway through the season, his 48 points four more than Crosby, although he's played 10 more games.Forget about the debate over who's better. Instead, sit back, relax, and enjoy watching these two generational talents do what they do.Goalie godsThe goalies have figured this whole goaltending thing out.Carey Price is healthy and has the Montreal Canadiens in first place. Devan Dubnyk is stopping pucks at almost a .940 clip, and the Minnesota Wild own the West's best goal differential (plus-38). Braden Holtby's .931 trails only Dubnyk, his five shutouts are tied for tops, and he's got the Washington Capitals within three points of Columbus.The list goes on and on and on. Sergei Bobrovsky's healthy and is arguably the biggest factor in the Blue Jackets' success. Tuukka Rask is keeping the Boston Bruins alive, while Corey Crawford is quietly having one of the best seasons of his career in Chicago.Roberto Luongo is not aging, at all, and Toronto and Edmonton have competent goalies in Frederik Andersen and Cam Talbot.You can choose to look at the state of hockey and lament the lack of goals scored on a nightly basis. Or you can marvel at the golden age of goaltending we're in.The MetroThrough play Tuesday, four teams in the Western Conference have 50 or more points - two in the Central and two in the Pacific. In the East, Montreal's 56 points pace the Atlantic. Then there's the Metropolitan Division.Four Metro teams - Columbus, Pittsburgh, Washington, and the New York Rangers - have 57 points or more. And the Philadelphia Flyers will hit 50 with their next win.Columbus sets the standard with 16 wins in a row, but each of the top Metro teams has gone streaking. The Flyers won 10 in a row from Nov. 27 through Dec. 14, the Penguins reeled off seven straight wins to open December (and are currently on a five-game run), and Washington's won six in a row twice since Dec. 5. The Rangers have managed a five-game win streak once, but have won three in a row six times.On Wednesday, the Pens and Caps collide in D.C., in another Metro showdown. One streak's going to end, and one's going to continue. The division's never been better.Here's to the second half.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Jakob Silfverberg isn't terribly well-known outside Anaheim, where Ducks fans love his scintillating two-way game.Silfverberg is playing far too well to stay a secret this year.John Gibson made 34 saves in his third shutout of the season, and Silfverberg had a goal and an assist in the Ducks' 2-0 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.Silfverberg scored a power-play goal in the second period, and the surging Swedish forward set up Andrew Cogliano's top-shelf shot with 5:18 to play. Their line with center Ryan Kesler combined for 17 shots and largely dominated play for the Ducks, who wrapped up their five-game homestand with four wins.''He's on another level right now,'' Cogliano said of Silfverberg. ''I've always thought he was one of the most underrated in the league. When you play with him, you appreciate him more about what he does with his stick battles and how hard he is on pucks. When he's playing well, he's usually the best player on the ice.''The Ducks stayed even with San Jose atop the Pacific Division with their fifth win in seven games overall.Anaheim finally snapped its 0-for-16 drought on the power play when Silfverberg pounced on a fat rebound of Corey Perry's shot in the slot for his 12th goal.Late in the third period, Silfverberg surged ahead on a rush and threaded a cross-ice pass for an exceptional top-shelf shot by Cogliano, who ended his eight-game goal drought.''Our line has been doing pretty good as of lately,'' Silfverberg said. ''I've always said we do the job defensively, but we have the aspects to produce and help the team score goals. We've been getting bounces lately. We're shooting pucks and going hard to the net. We're getting rewarded for that.''Both teams played without their injured captains. Dallas' Jamie Benn missed his fourth straight game with a foot injury, and Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf also missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury.Dallas also lost defenseman Jamie Oleksiak to an upper-body injury shortly before Patrick Eaves went to the dressing room with an undisclosed problem in the third period. Stars coach Lindy Ruff said Oleksiak could be out ''for a little bit of time,'' while Eaves' injury doesn't appear serious.''We've been (dealing with injuries) all year, since the start of the year,'' Ruff said. ''I thought the guys worked hard. It's a tough back-to-back. Last night was a tough game (in Los Angeles). I thought we were right there to at least tie the game.''Antti Niemi stopped 36 shots for the Stars, who wrapped up their three-game road trip with their fourth loss in five games overall.''They weren't going to give us much off the rush,'' Dallas' Jason Spezza said. ''To get that power play goal, it forced us to open the game up a little bit. I think that's when they scored the last one.''Gibson played in his ninth consecutive game for the Ducks and earned his ninth career shutout - his second in four starts. After sharing the Jennings Trophy with Frederik Andersen last year, Gibson has been increasingly solid following a slow start to his first season as Anaheim's unquestioned No. 1 netminder.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jhonas Enroth experiment in Toronto is over.The Maple Leafs traded the backup goaltender to the Anaheim Ducks late Tuesday night for a 2018 seventh-round draft pick, the clubs announced.Enroth, 28, will report to Anaheim's AHL team in San Diego.

They were the best of times.It began on a Sunday in late November, the 27th. A 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames. The Philadelphia Flyers wouldn't lose again until Dec. 17, a streak of 10 straight victories, including three in overtime.Those days are over.Philly dropped its second game in a row on Tuesday - its fourth of five in 2017 - and has lost nine of 11 since The Streak ended."That win streak seems like a long time ago right now," goalie Steve Mason said after the Flyers dropped a 4-1 decision to the Buffalo Sabres.The offense is mostly to blame. Over the last 11 games, the Flyers have managed only 18 goals, and have scored one or less in six of them. Luck's played a part, too:

Mikkel Boedker doesn't want to be benched again.The San Jose Sharks forward - who signed a four-year, $16-million contract in Silicon Valley in July - felt the wrath of head coach Peter DeBoer last week, sitting for all but two shifts in a loss to the Los Angeles Kings. He was then a healthy scratch Thursday.In his next game, back in the lineup, Boedker responded, tallying a goal Saturday versus Detroit. It was only his third of the season, though.Fast forward to Tuesday night, when Boedker struck again, this time netting a hat trick versus the Edmonton Oilers in just two periods - doubling his season total.Boedker, signed to provide secondary scoring in San Jose, had been ice cold, recording only six assists along with his lowly goal total.

Remember that 16-game Blue Jackets winning streak? It's very much over.Columbus dropped its third in four games Tuesday, a 5-3 decision to the Carolina Hurricanes, as Anton Forsberg struggled after being called up to replace the waived Curtis McElhinney.Forsberg stopped 23-of-27 shots, once again proving how important Sergei Bobrovsky - who missed the game due to illness - is to Columbus' success.The Blue Jackets have been one of the league's better teams in the third period this season, but allowed two in the final frame in what was a 3-3 game.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are on the outside of the playoff picture halfway through the season, but general manager Steve Yzerman wants it known that it's not head coach Jon Cooper's fault."I think (Cooper) is doing an excellent job," Yzerman said Tuesday, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Joe Smith. "Our team competes really hard, and I think (Cooper) and his staff have done a really good job."I like the way we play," Yzerman added. "I like the style. We've got to improve in some areas."Tampa Bay's style of play has the team three points back of Ottawa for the third and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning are six points out of a wild-card spot, thanks to the Metropolitan Division boasting four teams with over 50 points, and with Philadelphia closing in on the half-century mark.Yzerman's been open about wanting to make a move, while saying the market is "really, really quiet." He also spoke about wanting to keep the core of his club together."We have our core and I want to add to that core," he said. "Over time, your core has to change, that's the reality, you can't afford to keep everybody. They age, they mature. Are players untouchable? Yes. Because I want to build around the core. But at some point, to address needs, if there's something really good out there, you're probably going to have to give up somebody really good in order to do that."Tampa's issues are at the back end. The club's allowing three goals a game, which ranks 25th in the league, while its penalty kill ranks 24th at 79.4 percent.Andrei Vasilevskiy's had to play a lot with Ben Bishop injured, but both goalies haven't been at their best this season. Vasilevskiy has a .904 save percentage in 23 games, while Bishop has posted a .907 percentage in 22.Bishop's in the final year of his contract ahead of unrestricted free agency, so his name will likely be involved in a number of rumors as the trade deadline approaches.It will be an interesting few weeks in Tampa Bay, no doubt.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everybody hates the shootout. Especially when it decides who wins gold.After the U.S. defeated Canada via the shootout in the gold-medal game at the world juniors, change may be on the horizon - it's at least being discussed."(International) officials from both Canada and the United States are at least investigating some potential scenarios" in order to have shootouts be an ultimate last resort in order to decide an important game, reports TSN's Darren Dreger."They'd look at that 20-minute overtime period," Dreger said on "Insider Trading." "Is it better to start five-on-five, play for 10 minutes, shift to three-on-three or 10 minutes. Maybe start with four-on-four for 10 minutes, shift to three-on-three for 10 minutes, to avoid the shootout, or at least curb away from it.""But again, all of this is very preliminary," he concluded.Here are the international overtime rules:Game type OT formatPreliminary round5 min @ 3-on-3 plus shootout (3 attempts)Playoff/bronze medal game10 min @ 4-on-4 plus shootout (5 attempts)Gold medal game20 min @ 5-on-5 plus shootout (5 attempts)After a wild gold-medal game between Canada and the U.S., many decried the clash - one of the best finals in recent world juniors history - being decided by a skills competition.The Americans won 5-4, scoring once in the shootout. Canada was unable to find the back of the net in five attempts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sitting well within striking distance of top spot in the Central Division, the Minnesota Wild are in position to add a player before gearing up for the postseason.The team is looking to bolster its attack by adding a forward, but not by trading a key defenseman, reports ESPN's Pierre LeBrun."They're not going to trade a D just because they want to make their situation better for the (Las Vegas franchise) expansion draft," LeBrun said on TSN's Insider Training segment Tuesday."Yes, they want to add, they want to add a piece up front between now and March 1, but i don't think it's going to be a the expense of one of their good defensemen."As LeBrun alluded to, the Wild face a problem with the upcoming expansion draft, as their deep core of defenders can't be entirely protected. However, a Stanley Cup run is reportedly a higher priority to general manager Chuck Fletcher, as opposed to who he might lose to Vegas.The strength of the Wild stems from goaltending and a strong defensive corps, anchored by Ryan Suter. And while Fletcher wants to keep that core intact, there are certainly appealing options for inquiring teams:PlayerShootsGA PTOIAgeJonas BrodinL3111420:1123Matt DumbaR6101619:4122Marco ScandellaL22417:0626Jared SpurgeonR5121723:5027However, Minnesota is allowing a second-best 2.13 goals against per game, so keeping the band together is likely in the club's best interest down the stretch.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews has surprised everyone but himself.Headed to the All-Star tournament in Los Angeles as 19-year-old, and as the NHL's third-leading goal-scorer, the Toronto Maple Leafs phenom can't say his success - and Tuesday's news of a trip to Hollywood - has come as a shock."Honestly, not really," Matthews told TSN's Kristen Shilton. "I know what I'm capable of. Going into the season, you just want to soak it all in, learn as much as possible, and that's exactly what I've tried to do so far."The kid from Scottsdale, Ariz., has certainly been learning, while also teaching the opposition a thing or two.Matthews called his first All-Star selection "a huge honor," adding that he's looking forward to playing with stars he grew up idolizing in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.With Toronto on its bye week, Matthews is enjoying some down time, but knows he's got a playoff push to look forward to once the Maple Leafs hit the ice again Friday at Madison Square Garden.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gabriel Landeskog ain't coming cheap.The Colorado Avalanche captain and his trade prospects were discussed on TSN's "Insider Trading" on Tuesday, and Darren Dreger had the latest on what general manager Joe Sakic is asking for:

Rookie sensations Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine each earned their first career All-Star selection on Tuesday - with rare distinction.It's only the third time in NHL history that two rookies drafted No. 1 and No. 2 overall have been selected to play in the All-Star Game in the season immediately following, according to ESPN Stats and Info.The only previous duos were Mario Lemieux and Kirk Muller in 1984-85, and Gil Perreault and Dale Tallon in 1970-71.Here's a look at Matthews' and Laine's production so far:PlayerGPGAPMatthews39211435Laine42211637All-Star weekend kicks off Jan. 28 with the Skills Competition in Los Angeles.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.