Frederik Andersen will finally be able to take a breather.The Toronto Maple Leafs have been riding Andersen a lot this year - due partly to his solid play, but more importantly, due to the poor play of their other main option between the pipes.Related: Maple Leafs claim McElhinney on waiversIt's for that reason - and the fear of fatigue - that the Maple Leafs made a move Tuesday, claiming Curtis McElhinney on waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets."We're trying to put a veteran in there that can take away some of those games that maybe (can) give (Andersen) a rest," general manager Lou Lamoriello said, according to Jonas Siegel of The Canadian Press.The Maple Leafs' backups have largely dropped the ball this season, starting with Jhonas Enroth, whom the Maple Leafs inked to a one-year, $750,000 deal ahead of the regular season.Enroth struggled mightily, going 0-3-1 in six games with a 3.94 goals-against average and a .872 save percentage.The only other netminder to suit up for the Maple Leafs has been Antoine Bibeau, who's fared much better, going 1-1-0 with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in just two games.McElhinney gives the team a steadier and more veteran presence."He's been able to sort of sustain what's necessary from a backup," Lamoriello said. "The character and quality of him is exemplary and he's had some outstanding games this year. He's got great size so we felt that this was the right decision at this time."That said, Lamoriello made it very clear that the crease still belongs to Andersen and this move is solely for relief purposes."He's our No. 1 goaltender," Lamoriello said of Andersen, "but we also have to make sure - because he has never played say No. 1 goaltender games because he split (in Anaheim), but he has the ability and capability of doing it - we have to make sure that we give him the proper rest ratio that's necessary to stay at the top his game."Through the Maple Leafs' first 39 games this season, Andersen's made 33 starts, a number only bested by four other netminders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2017 NHL All-Stars.Related: NHL announces All-Star rosters for 3-on-3 tournament in L.A.The NHL unveiled this year's participants for All-Star weekend on Tuesday, naming the teams that will once again take part in the league's 3-on-3 tournament.The teams include all your usual and worthy suspects such as Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Patrick Kane, but like every year - and oddly more so this time around - there appears to be some notable omissions.Here are five of the biggest snubs:Zach WerenskiThis snub is a bigger head-scratcher when you consider he was replaced by a fellow Blue Jackets defenseman.Seth Jones ultimately secured a spot, despite the fact that the rookie pivot has amassed seven more points than his elder.Werenski has been in Calder Trophy discussions all season and is among the league-leaders in power-play points. For an event that the league has tried to make about their young stars, this was a great opportunity to add another.Cam TalbotThe Edmonton Oilers deserve to have more than just Connor McDavid represented in Los Angeles.Besides the league's leading scorer, Cam Talbot was more than worthy of one of the two goaltending positions on the Pacific Division team.The 29-year-old is just one win away from matching a career-high - having collected 20 wins in 37 games - the same as fellow All-Stars Carey Price and Tuukka Rask.Talbot - a big reason for the team's current playoff position - has given the Oilers the stability they need on the back end with a .920 save percentage and a 2.44 goals-against average.Rasmus RistolainenRasmus Ristolainen is quickly becoming Buffalo's work horse.The Sabres defenseman has been brilliant on a team that dwells in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Through 39 games the 22-year-old sits fifth in points by defensemen with 26.What's also been incredible is his durability, as he currently sits fifth in the league in ice time, averaging 27:06 a night - in Saturday's win over the Winnipeg Jets he logged 30:22.He's arguably been the team's most valuable player this season and deserves to be treated as such.Mark Scheifele/ Nikolaj EhlersPatrik Laine is undoubtedly worthy of an All-Star nod, but so too are his linemates.The trio are evenly deserving of a spot especially considering all three sit locked at 37 points on the season.Scheifele has taken a real step in his development, tallying 17 goals through 40 games - putting him on pace to shatter his career-bests. While Ehlers is doing the same with 14 of his own.Of course, the elephant in the room is that Laine is currently out with a concussion, meaning there is still a chance Scheifele or Ehlers could still play.Artemi PanarinComing from the horse's mouth, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews would have thrown a vote towards Artemi Panarin over himself.Related: Toews admits he isn't most deserving of All-Star nodToews secured a roster spot ahead of Panarin despite the fact that Panarin has amassed 10 more goals and 21 more points than his teammate.The Bread Man trails only teammate Patrick Kane in team scoring and sits sixth league-wide.Honorable Mentions

When Jonathan Toews boards his flight to Los Angeles for the NHL All-Star festivities, he'll do so reluctantly.After learning Tuesday that he was one of four members of the Chicago Blackhawks named to the Central Division's three-on-three roster, Toews conceded he has "a handful" of other teammates more deserving of the honor.Toews mentioned Artemi Panarin (sixth in league scoring with 41 points), Artem Anisimov (team-leading 18 goals), and Marian Hossa (16 goals) as players who have exceeded his play, telling Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune, "Why I got picked ahead of those guys based on performance this year I'm not sure."Toews is having one of the worst statistical seasons in his career, producing seven goals and 20 points on a top 10 offensive team. It's been speculated that Toews' potential inclusion in the NHL's "100 Greatest Players" unveiling has a lot to do with his selection.Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Corey Crawford were appointed to the squad with Toews. Chicago has more selections than any other team.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have found a backup to Frederik Andersen.The club claimed Curtis McElhinney on waivers a day after he was waived by the Columbus Blue Jackets, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.McElhinney was placed on waivers by the Blue Jackets on Monday, two days after the 33-year-old turned in his worst performance of the season, allowing five goals on 34 shots in a 5-4 loss to the New York Rangers.Outside of the blunder, McElhinney has been a model of consistency for the Blue Jackets this season, going 2-1-2 in seven games while posting a 2.39 goals-against average and .924 save percentage.As for the Maple Leafs, the team acquires a more experienced and reliable backup for Andersen a day after it was reported that the club wasn't actively seeking a backup goalie.Andersen has dressed in 33 of the Maple Leafs 39 games this season, going 17-9-7 with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All set.The NHL submitted its rosters for the 2017 NHL All-Star Game's 3-on-3 tournament Tuesday, revealing the names of the 44 players who will walk the red carpet in Los Angeles at the end of the month.Here's how captains Sidney Crosby, Carey Price, P.K. Subban, and Connor McDavid will lead their divisions onto the ice at Staples Center:Metropolitan DivisionForwardsDefensemenGoaltendersSidney Crosby (PIT)*Ryan McDonagh (NYR)Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ)Evgeni Malkin (PIT)Seth Jones (CBJ)Braden Holtby (WAS)Alex Ovechkin (WAS)Justin Faulk (CAR)Wayne Simmonds (PHI)John Tavares (NYI)Taylor Hall (NJ)Head coach: John Tortorella (Blue Jackets)Atlantic DivisionForwardsDefensemenGoaltendersNikita Kucherov (TB)Erik Karlsson (OTT)Carey Price (MTL)*Brad Marchand (BOS)Victor Hedman (TB)Tuukka Rask (BOS)Auston Matthews (TOR)Shea Weber (MTL)Frans Nielsen (DET)Kyle Okposo (BUF)Vincent Trocheck (FLA)Head coach: Michel Therrien (Canadiens)Central DivisionForwardsDefensemenGoaltendersVladimir Tarasenko (STL)P.K. Subban (NAS)*Devan Dubnyk (MIN)Patrick Kane (CHI)Duncan Keith (CHI)Corey Crawford (CHI)Jonathan Toews (CHI)Ryan Suter (MIN)Tyler Seguin (DAL)Nathan MacKinnon (COL)Patrik Laine (WPG)Head coach: Bruce Boudreau (Wild)Pacific DivisionForwardsDefensemenGoaltendersConnor McDavid (EDM)*Brent Burns (SJ)Martin Jones (SJ)Jeff Carter (LA)Drew Doughty (LA)Mike Smith (ARI)Joe Pavelski (SJ)Cam Fowler (ANA)Ryan Kesler (ANA)Johnny Gaudreau (CGY)Bo Horvat (VAN)Head coach: Peter DeBoer (Sharks)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Roberto Luongo has crunched the numbers and, according to his calculations, there is no way he can hit Martin Brodeur's mark of 691 wins.Related: Luongo passes Sawchuk for 5th on all-time wins listThe Florida Panthers netminder took to Twitter to thank everyone for the kind words after he surpassed Terry Sawchuck for fifth place on the all-time wins list Monday night.Unfortunately, the 37-year-old doesn't feel he can move much further up the list.

Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."Calgary FlamesPlus: The Flames have split their last four games and have looked solid doing so. This is in large part due to the club's defense, which has held the opposition to fewer than 30 shots in eight straight games.Minus: Mikael Backlund leads the Flames in scoring. With all due respect to the Swedish forward, this should not be the case. Johnny Gaudreau can be given a pass - having missed time with an injury - but it doesn't excuse Sean Monahan.The 22-year-old is on pace to score fewer than 20 goals for the first time in his career this season and 20 fewer points than he did one season ago.Take: The Flames have benefited of late by playing largely underwhelming competition. That being said, they are still picking up points. Though, they will need to be ready for when they start to go toe-to-toe with the heavyweights of the West.Edmonton OilersPlus: Patrick Maroon is making it really easy to forget about Taylor Hall. The Oilers forward has reprised the former's role on the left side of the club's top line and is thriving. Maroon was named the league's second star for his five goals last week, and because of that, he now paces the team in that category.Minus: While Maroon continues to score at an alarming rate and Connor McDavid does his thing, Jordan Eberle's struggles have flown under the radar. Eberle is currently riding a 14-game goalless skid with just five assists in that span. While we're at it, Milan Lucic has been silent of late as well, going goalless in his last seven games.Take: The Oilers brass finally came to its senses and sent fourth overall pick Jesse Puljujarvi to the American Hockey League on Monday. After a slow start to his career, it's exactly what the 18-year-old needs to rekindle his scoring touch and get some valuable minutes under his belt.Montreal CanadiensPlus: Bring in the reinforcements. The Canadiens should finally be getting some help, as Alex Galchenyuk and Andrei Markov are expected back any time now after spending time in the injury ward.Minus: The return of the players above will be much appreciated, especially considering that Brendan Gallagher has gone down with another fractured hand.Take: Despite numerous injuries, the Canadiens continue to trek on. The club remains atop the Atlantic Division and if Galchenyuk can pick up where he left off prior to his injury, the Canadiens should be in cruise control heading into the postseason.Ottawa SenatorsPlus: While he has gone 1-2-0, Mike Condon has amassed a .933 save percentage in his last three games. Condon still has the club clinging to a playoff spot even while the team's offense remains shotty.Minus: Bobby Ryan has now gone five straight games without a single point. The 29-year-old was also mysteriously scratched against the Washington Capitals on Saturday with neither the player or coach explaining why.Is there something going on behind the scenes or is it just for his poor play this season? Either way, it's not good.Take: Despite the Senators managing to hold onto a playoff spot, their offense must improve. The club boasts the 22nd-ranked power play overall and the 27th best at home, something's got to give.Toronto Maple LeafsPlus: This is a recording: Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are the real deal.Minus: In another all-too-familiar trend, the Maple Leafs continue to blow leads at an alarming rate. Sure they got away with it during the Centennial Classic, but it caught up with them once again against Washington a week ago. They also found a way to throw away a game against the Canadiens, after fighting back from two goals down. The team needs to batten down the hatches.Take: The club's current bye-week will help no one more than Frederik Andersen. After going a stretch of 16 straight games without allowing more than three goals against, Andersen has now conceded four-plus in three of his last four outings.Andersen has played 33 of the club's 39 games this season. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs are reportedly not seeking a stable backup goaltender. If Toronto remains keen on making the playoffs, then the Leafs need to be careful not to burn their No. 1 goalie out.Vancouver CanucksPlus: Bo Horvat has arrived. The 2013 first-round pick is on his way to shattering career marks thanks in large to a streak that sees him with 13 points in his last 13 games.What's shocking is that during that streak he has mustered three or more shots in a game just once. If he can start shooting more and with some puck luck, he could really take off.Minus: The Canucks have been lightning it up without much help from their power play. The team has connected on just 14.1 percent of its man advantages this season. If Vancouver can get its power-play rolling, then a trip to the postseason looks good.Take: The Canucks continue to defy preseason predictions, looking to have turned their season around after a dismal start. Being sellers at the trade deadline might still be best for the team long term, but until they fall out of the race, enjoy the ride Canucks fans.Winnipeg JetsPlus: Connor Hellebuyck recorded his third shutout of the season on Monday. It's one game, but its exactly the type of performance the Jets need if they want to jump back into the playoffs.Minus: Losing Patrik Laine to concussion is a big loss to the Jets' lineup.Take: Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little will help fill Laine's void, and there's no reason why the Jets can't carry on without the rookie phenom.The Jets are stacked with offensive talent, but it's the other side of the puck they need to worry about.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Tuesday, Jan. 10 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Bargain Plays

Evgeny Kuznetsov's turned the corner with his season - and is quickly gaining speed.The previously snakebitten Washington Capitals center scored a goal and added a helper in Monday's 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, giving him two goals and eight points for his last four games.Seven of his points were at even strength, but perhaps the more telling sign that the top-10 point producer from last season is reverting back to superstar status is the undeniable quality of his goal on Carey Price and the Canadiens.For a refresher:Kuznetsov managed just three goals and 16 assists in 35 games before the calendar flipped to 2017. He's still on pace for about half the goals, and 20 fewer points, from last season, but odds are he'll have a strong finish for the Capitals, who are surging the same.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brock Lesnar ought to be tried in a (kangaroo) court of law.The WWE wrestler and former UFC titleholder, making an appearance at MTS Center in Winnipeg on Monday night, broke the cardinal rule in the Jets' locker room, marching right through the team's carpeted logo.And the boys were quick to let him know what he had done.Lesnar reportedly took home a $2.5-million purse for his win at UFC 200. If this world is just, a portion of those earnings will be stuffed in the Jets' kitty.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LOS ANGELES - Jiri Hudler scored the tiebreaking goal with 12:16 to play, and the Dallas Stars blew a late two-goal lead before hanging on for a wild 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.Hudler, Tyler Seguin and Devin Shore had a goal and an assist apiece for the Stars, who snapped a three-game skid despite giving up four goals to the Kings in just over 10 minutes spanning the final two periods.Drew Doughty scored the tying goal on the power play early in the third period, chasing Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen. But Hudler capitalized on a turnover behind the Kings' net and scored the first goal of his first season the Stars moments later.Goalie Peter Budaj also was pulled by the Kings in the third period.Dallas' Antti Niemi and Los Angeles' Jeff Zatkoff finished the game in net, but Dallas clinched the win on Patrick Sharp's empty-net goal with 52 seconds left.Both teams hit the midway point of their mildly disappointing seasons with a high-scoring thriller, but the Stars survived with goals from Brett Ritchie, Jamie Oleksiak and Shore. Hudler missed most of the season's first two months with an illness after signing with the Stars as a free agent, and he didn't score a goal in his first 15 games with Dallas.Nick Shore scored a short-handed goal for the Kings, while captain Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown both broke lengthy goal-scoring droughts during the Kings' rally.Doughty and Kopitar had a goal and an assist each for the Kings, who have lost two of three to open their seven-game homestand.Los Angeles still got two particularly encouraging goals for one of the NHL's lowest-scoring offenses. Brown scored on an excellent wrist shot during a power play in the third period to snap his 15-game drought since Nov. 30, and Kopitar followed him two minutes later with his first goal since Dec. 13, ending his 12-game goalless skid.NOTES: Dallas captain Jamie Benn missed his third straight game with a foot injury. ... Kopitar played his 800th NHL game, all with the Kings. He is just the sixth player to reach the mark in the Second Six franchise's 50 years of existence. ... Ritchie's goal was his eighth of the season. He is narrowly being outscored by his younger brother, Nick Ritchie, who has nine goals heading into their meeting Tuesday in Anaheim.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anze Kopitar continues to climb the Los Angeles Kings' statistical ladder.The L.A. captain scored the 247th goal of his career Monday, all with the Kings, passing Wayne Gretzky for sixth place on the franchise's all-time goals list.It took Kopitar 800 games. Gretzky did it in 539, in a much different era.Up next for Kopitar: Butch Goring.RankKings PlayerGoals1Luc Robitaille5572Marcel Dionne5503Dave Taylor4314Bernie Nicholls3275Butch Goring2756Kopitar2477Gretzky246The goal was only Kopitar's fourth this season and second since Oct. 25.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jaromir Jagr's feeling excellent, thanks for asking.The 44-year-old's playing future is a topic of discussion wherever the Florida Panthers go on the road, especially to a place Jagr's played before as a member of the home team. That was the case Monday in New Jersey, where Jagr said he's still got 10 years to go."I go to 55," Jagr said, writes The Record's Andrew Gross. "I just changed. Fifty-five. I feel good so I go to 55."Jagr has never said he'll play until a certain age, though 50 has been bandied about. The point is: he'll tell us when he's done.No. 68 didn't register a point in his team's 3-0 shutout of the Devils, but played 18:54, third-most on the team. His 25 points are tied for second on the club.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was obviously going to happen in Montreal.Alex Ovechkin went into Monday night needing one goal to tie Canadiens legend Maurice "Rocket" Richard on the NHL's all-time goal-scoring list, and after a goal and two assists in Washington's 4-1 win, he left the Bell Centre tied with No. 9 at 544.Ovechkin's won the "Richard Trophy" as the NHL's leading goal-scorer six times, including in each of the last four seasons."The Great Eight" is now only one point from 1,000 in his career, and he'll look to record the milestone Wednesday at home in D.C., with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in town (of course)."It means I'm getting old," Ovechkin said of the career milestones after the game, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu.

Alex Ovechkin had himself a night.With his third-period goal on Monday, Ovechkin tied Maurice "Rocket" Richard - in Montreal, no less - for 29th on the all-time list at 544.It was Ovechkin's third point of the night, and he's now one shy of 1,000 for his illustrious career.The Capitals won 4-1, their sixth straight victoryCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The euphoria of delivering the lone taste of success in a near quarter-century for a storied fan base must feel like it was ages ago.Just nine months ago, John Tavares' electrifying wraparound game-winner in Game 6 of the New York Islanders' first-round series versus the Florida Panthers felt like the turning point for a franchise that hadn't won a playoff series in 23 years.It hasn't been, though, as the Islanders rank dead last in the Eastern Conference 38 games into their season, owners of a 15-15-8 record.Yet, as he's done in the past, captain Tavares affirmed his commitment to the club that drafted him first overall in 2009, even though a lucrative free-agent deal could be waiting for him down the road."I think for myself, I’ve always shown and talked about my commitment here," Tavares told Steven Marcus of Newsday. "Wanting to have success here and keep building on some of the good things we've done. Obviously, this (low) point's been disappointing."Tavares is an unrestricted free agent after the 2017-18 season, and to his standards, is underperforming this season with a team-leading 27 points."For myself, I know that I have not been to the level that I expect of myself and the standard that I want to be at," Tavares said. "(I) keep trying to improve and get better. I need to be counted on more, to be more of a difference-maker."The Islanders lost a wealth of talent to free agency last offseason, and are enduring dwindling attendance numbers along with substandard ice conditions at the Barclay's Center.None of that seems to be bothering Tavares."I think I’ve stated enough how much I enjoy being here," he said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Evgeny Kuznetsov of last season showed up in Montreal on Monday night.Last season's Washington Capitals' leading scorer quieted the Bell Centre after embarrassing Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry before scoring blocker side on Carey Price.The goal, Kuznetsov's fifth of the season, came less than a minute after Tomas Plekanec finally got the Habs on the board, his fourth briefly tying up the game 1-1.The goal was eventually the winner, Washington coming out on top 4-1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Roberto Luongo stands alone in fifth place on the NHL's all-time goaltending wins list.The 37-year-old veteran won his 448th career game on Monday - a 3-0 decision for the Florida Panthers over the New Jersey Devils - breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk.It took Luongo 953 games, while Sawchuk needed 971.The shutout was Luongo's 73rd of his career.Luongo won't be in fifth for long. Up next, just six wins ahead, is Curtis Joseph:Rank Goalie Wins1Martin Brodeur6912Patrick Roy5513Ed Belfour4844Joseph4545Luongo448Only 11 goalies in history have won 400 or more games, with Henrik Lundqvist needing just eight more to join the club.The majority of Luongo's wins - 252 over eight seasons - came as a member of the Vancouver Canucks. Monday was his 189th win as a Panther, in his second go-round with the club.Luongo also won seven games as a member of the New York Islanders, who drafted him fourth overall in 1997.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Underestimate Dustin Byfuglien's hands at your own peril.The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Winnipeg Jets defender showcased his scoring touch with a beautiful goal versus the Calgary Flames on Monday night, making a great move before firing a short-side bullet past Chad Johnson.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everything looks to be coming together for Bo Horvat.The Vancouver Canucks made him their guy in 2013, trading netminder Cory Schneider for the right to pick him ninth overall, and halfway through the third season of his career, he's a budding star.With a team-leading 13 goals and 29 points through 42 games this season, Horvat is on track to become the first player not named Sedin to lead the Canucks in scoring since 2005-06, when Markus Naslund recorded 79 points.While Henrik or Daniel - second and third in team scoring, respectively - can surely assume the team lead before the season ends, it remains important to recognize the strides Horvat has made.The 21-year-old is three goals shy of the career-high 16 tallies he established in 82 games last season, and just 12 points shy of reaching a new best in that regard.What's more, the Canucks are winning, owners of a 7-3 record in their last 10 games, and unexpectedly in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.Over Vancouver's impressive stretch, Horvat's leading the way, currently riding a seven-game point streak and manufacturing 13 points in his last 13 games.Horvat has also set new highs in ice time (17:26) and owns the highest faceoff win rate of his career (54.2%).The increased success couldn't come at a better time for Horvat, either, as he's scheduled for restricted free agency - and likely a hefty raise.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL-best Columbus Blue Jackets are playing for this season and the future.The club waived backup goalie Curtis McElhinney on Monday, and he leaves with a .924 save percentage. The 33-year-old was shelled Saturday against the New York Rangers, and he's gone, replaced by 24-year-old Anton Forsberg, who got the call from the AHL.Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said it wasn't only Saturday's start that factored into Monday's decision."It's not based upon one game," Kekalainen said, writes The Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline. "(All the games) go into the evaluation, where we feel he's at with his career and where we feel our other goalies are with their careers, the future of our goaltending."Forsberg's that future.A seventh-round pick in 2011, that Forsberg is getting an opportunity is a story in itself. He's produced at the minor-league level and jumped Joonas Korpisalo - a second-round pick, 62nd overall in 2012 - on the depth chart thanks to a 9-0-0 miracle playoff run last year, playing an integral role in the Lake Erie Monsters' Calder Cup championship.Here are Forsberg's AHL numbers:SeasonGPSV%2014-1530.9272015-1641.9142015-16 Playoffs10.9492016-1721.930He's played nine NHL games in his career, including four last season, recording a disappointing .882 save percentage.But he's getting a chance. Even though Korpisalo filled in admirably for oft-injured No. 1 goalie Sergei Bobrovsky last season.Korpisalo played 31 games for Columbus last season, the only 31 games of his NHL career, and posted a strong .920 save percentage. Losing his starting job in the minors, though, has affected his play. He has a .900 save percentage in 12 AHL games this season.Kekalainen said McElhinney "is a great pro and a great person," and said the decision to waive him was a difficult one."(Forsberg) deserves a chance to show what he can do at this level based on the AHL playoffs last spring, but also his continued excellent play," Kekalainen explained. "Korpisalo gave us a lot of wins in the NHL last season. He was basically our No. 1 goalie when Bobrovsky was hurt. He has to earn his opportunity again. This time it's Forsberg who has earned it."Columbus is in action Tuesday in Carolina, Friday in Tampa Bay, and Saturday in Sunrise, Fla., so it's certainly possible Forsberg starts one of the final two games the Blue Jackets play this week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Top prospect Nolan Patrick is hoping to be in the WHL Brandon Wheat Kings' lineup on Friday."That's the plan," general manager Grant Armstrong told TSN's Bob McKenzie.

After his abrupt firing Nov. 27 as head coach of the Florida Panthers, Gerard Gallant remains steadfast that there was no divide between he and the club's shift into analytics."I wasn't fired because of analytics," Gallant told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "I loved coaching the Florida Panthers and I'm a stubborn guy at times; maybe I said a little too much, maybe I gave my opinion a little bit too much. Maybe when they asked for my opinion, I have an honest opinion and sometimes it doesn't help you. Maybe it wasn't always what they wanted to hear. I don't know where it went from there."General manager and current interim head coach Tom Rowe cited a philosophical divide and inconsistency in performance upon Gallant's dismissal, but Gallant insists analytics were a part of his agenda as leader of the Panthers bench."For me, analytics is certainly part of coaching, but it's not the whole thing. In my mind, if I take a job, analytics is part of it for sure, 25 to 30 percent, whatever percentage you want to put on it. It's definitely a tool. If you get the right information, you're happy with that. Every coach uses analytics. We all go over the same stuff," Gallant said.It's clear something didn't add up, and Panthers owner Vincent Viola - handpicked by President-elect Donald Trump to become the Secretary of the Army - didn't have time to waste on any disagreements, even if it involved the most successful coach in the franchise's recent history.Now, with two years left on the extension Florida awarded him in the midst of his Atlantic Division title season in 2015-16, Gallant patiently awaits his next opportunity."I'm not sitting here hoping somebody gets fired in order for me to get a call." Gallant said. "Something will eventually come up."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For some NHL clubs, the news that the NHL will be limiting teams to just two jerseys next season is a blessing in disguise.Teams will reportedly be limited to one home jersey and one away jersey. This means several clubs will be forced to do without some sharp threads, while others will now thankfully be done with uniforms that had no business making the rounds in the first place.Here are three alternate jerseys we won't miss next season:New York IslandersThis jersey has nothing to do with the team's color scheme, doesn't share the same logo, and has no significant features. The Islanders current third jersey is a head-scratcher, to put it nicely.The Islanders alternate is more bizarre than it is bad. It comes off as a lazy design with nothing appealing about it. Besides their questionable third jerseys that were worn between 2011-2014, it is also the only uniform that has ever featured black in team history.It's an eyesore and for a team struggling to rediscover its identity in Brooklyn and - lets be honest - these jerseys certainly don't help.Columbus Blue JacketsThe biggest flaw with the Blue Jackets current third jersey is that their traditional home and away versions are far and away better.The Blue Jackets have been repping their alternates since 2010 and, while in comparison to the other uniforms on this list, it is not nearly as bad, but it is still very forgettable.The jersey tries to play homage to the 1857 Napoleon cannon, but the fact is they already have such a cannon firing after every home goal, which means it's not necessary on the uniform.Once again, this jersey has little to match the team's color scheme, including a complete lack of any red, plus it resembles the Winnipeg Jets jerseys.Tampa Bay LightningIt's fitting that the Lightning's third jersey reads "Bolts," because it's a bit screwy.Similar to the Islanders jersey, the Lightning third jersey is bizarre given there's no black in the logo.Sure, in the past, the team donned black, but that was when there was black in the team's logo - though very little. When the team decided to simplify their logo back in 2011, they should have done the same with their color scheme.The simple reading of "Bolts" once again comes off as lazy and uninspired. The team has tried hard to nail down a concept with six changes to their jersey since 2001, but their easiest fix could be to just rid themselves of their current alternates.Honorable MentionAnaheim DucksThe Mighty Ducks logo is fantastic, but the fact that it sits upon a very bright orange means the luster and nostalgia of the former namesake is lost.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Expect to see a lot more of Frederik Andersen.The Toronto Maple Leafs netminder has carried a heavy workload this season, and that's likely to continue with the team "not actively" seeking an upgrade to its backup goaltender position, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.In his first season with the Maple Leafs, Andersen has been frequently called upon by Toronto bench boss Mike Babcock, already appearing in 33 games this season, including a stretch of 10-straight starts and playing 11 of the team's past 12 games.The 27-year-old netminder handled back-to-back games over the weekend, coming away with a win Friday against the New Jersey Devils, but didn't look as sharp a night later, in which he allowed five goals on 31 shots as the Maple Leafs fell to the Montreal Canadiens. Following the game, Babcock called his decision to play Andersen a "mistake."Don't blame Andersen if fatigue is starting to take its toll. Andersen, who spent the last three seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, has never appeared in more than 54 games, a record he is sure to shatter this season. But a big reason for his heavy workload this season has been the performance of the team's second string netminders:GoalieRecordGAASV%Antoine Bibeau1-1-01.98.927Jhonas Enroth0-3-13.94.872Karri Ramo (AHL)0-3-03.80.880The Maple Leafs started the season with Jhonas Enroth as their No. 2 option, but that plan was quickly averted after Enroth went winless in four appearances and was shuttled to the Toronto Marlies (AHL). In the interim, the Maple Leafs recalled 22-year-old netminder Antoine Bibeau, who has put up solid numbers through two games, but is likely in line for more AHL seasoning.Toronto also hoped to cash in on goalie Karri Ramo, who trained with the team after not returning to the Calgary Flames, where he spent last season. Although Ramo did not land an NHL contract with the Maple Leafs, he was given a trial run with the Marlies, but the bout did not go as planned, with Ramo coming up winless in three outings.Still, despite the need for a quality backup, and maybe a rest for Andersen, the Maple Leafs don't appear to be prioritizing an upgrade in the crease. The team recently passed on Boston Bruins backup Anton Khudobin, who is 1-5-1 this season with an .885 save percentage, after he was placed on waivers. But could the Maple Leafs take a look at Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Curtis McElhinney?The veteran netminder was waived Monday in somewhat of a curious move. The 33-year-old sports a winning record at 2-1-2 and a strong save percentage at .924, in addition to a cheap hit on the salary cap, costing just $800,000.It will be worth following if the Maple Leafs, or another club in need of more depth in the crease, takes a shot on McElhinney.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Rangers forward Michael Grabner, Edmonton Oilers forward Patrick Maroon, and Washington Capitals netminder Braden Holtby were named the Three Stars of the Week, the league announced on Monday.Grabner claimed first-star honors after pacing the league with five goals and seven points in three games. Grabner enjoyed three-point and four-point efforts against the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets, respectively.He also collected his fourth career hat trick against the Blue Jackets thanks to a timely scoring change on Monday morning.Maroon was named the league's second star after matching Grabner with five goals on the week to go along with one assist in four games. Maroon - also like Grabner - collected a hat trick last week, netting three against the Boston Bruins for his first career hat trick.With his strong week, Maroon now leads the Oilers with 16 goals on the year.Holtby earned third-star honors, despite being pulled against the Toronto Maple Leafs after allowing three goals on eight shots in just 20 minutes early in the week.He ultimately righted the ship by going perfect the rest of the week, collecting back-to-back shutouts for the first time in his career. Holtby now has five goose eggs on the year, which gives him a share of the league-lead next to Devan Dubnyk and Tuukka Rask.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jesse Puljujarvi is off to Bakersfield.The Edmonton Oilers announced Monday that the team has assigned the rookie winger to its AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.Puljujarvi has appeared in 28 games this season, scoring one goal and seven assists, with his lone goal on the year coming in the season opener.The Finnish forward was scratched for Edmonton's last two games and played just 3:27 in his last appearance, a game in which he saw just one shift after the opening period.In another roster move on Monday, the Oilers also placed goaltender Jonas Gustavsson on waivers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Say so long to third jerseys.Next season teams will be restricted to just one home and one away jersey, eliminating all third jerseys, multiple sources have told the Star Tribune, according to Michael Russo.The report sites the reason for the change is that Adidas will be taking over from Reebok as the official jersey provider for the NHL and the elimination of third jerseys is to help ease the transition.According to Russo, the Minnesota Wild are deciding on what direction to go with their jerseys for next year. The team could decide to either use their red jerseys or their green ones - currently used as their third option - as their home decor.Russo suggests the club is likely to elect to go with the green and that such a decision could also mean a slight redesign of their current third jersey.Elsewhere in the league, Newsday's Arthur Staple backed the report, adding that the change will mean that the New York Islanders will no longer don their black and white uniforms and will keep the classic blue and orange sweater as their home jersey.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 Monday, Jan. 9 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):Dynamic Duos

New York Rangers fans saved their hats on Saturday.A scoring change was made Monday morning regarding the Rangers' 5-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.The correction sees Michael Grabner now credited with the team's fourth goal of the game, which had originally been given to defenseman Adam Clendening.Having finished the game with two goals and an assist already, the scoring change means Grabner is now credited with a hat trick and an assist, the team announced.The goal gives Grabner his fourth hat trick of his career and 19 goals on the year, putting him in a tie for sixth place league-wide.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brent Burns is a wizard, but you knew that, just look at that beard.All joking aside, the San Jose Sharks defenseman has quickly staked his name as one of the premiere blue-liners in the league, and this season he is on pace to hit a milestone that very few in his position have ever eclipsed.With 15 goals in 40 games, Burns is on pace to hit 30 goals this season, a mark that is nearly unheard of for a defenseman.Just how rare is the feat? Well, in the history of the league the 30-goal mark has only been achieved by defenders on 18 occasions and by only nine different individuals: Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Dit Clapper, Doug Wilson, Kevin Hatcher, Ray Bourque, Mike Green, Phil Housely, and Denis Potvin.Green was the latest player to tally 30 when he netted 31 during the 2008-09 season as a member of the Washington Capitals and before him was Hatcher, who did so in 1993.So, if Burns is able to keep the same pace, or even accelerate it, he could join some elite company. Of course, this isn't exactly unprecedented for the 31-year-old, given that the next highest single-season total in goals by a defenseman since Green's 30 was posted by Burns last season when he scored 27.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's new series, "The Noise," is published every Monday. It kicks off each week with a quick look at three teams or players making headlines, good or bad.Phil KesselHow does Kessel follow up a Stanley Cup win? Easy. By offering up the best season of his career.The 29-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins winger has soared through the past week and change, collecting two goals and four assists in five games. Those numbers make him not only one of the hottest members of the Penguins, but also on pace to match his career-best 82 points, set in his third season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Very quietly, Kessel has played his way into the NHL's top scorers, sitting 11th overall, and in the top 10 among forwards - San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns sits even with Kessel at 39 points. Kessel also ranks nine points back of the league lead in scoring, but just five points from second overall, shared by teammate Sidney Crosby and Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane.Jonas GustavssonThere's a problem in the Edmonton crease. While starter Cam Talbot has been impressive this season, coming away with 20 wins plus a .920 save percentage and 2.44 goals-against average, the same cannot be said for backup Gustavsson.The Swedish netminder has made seven appearances this season, while finding a single win in the process. That includes Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators, in which Gustavsson allowed four goals on just 17 shots, before the Senators finished off the evening with an empty netter. Gustavsson's only win on the season came Nov. 6 in a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, in which he stopped 22 of 23 shots.In any event, such shaky play by Gustavsson has forced Oilers bench boss Todd McLellan to regularly call on Talbot. That's left the Edmonton faithful curious about the long-term fatigue on Talbot. The 29-year-old goaltender is on pace to play 72 games this season, despite his previous high-water mark of 56 games, while he's pushed north of 37 games on only two occasions.Anthony DuclairSaying it was a rough start to the season for Duclair would be an understatement.The Arizona Coyotes winger struggled through the classic sophomore slump well into the season's early goings, coming away with just five points through the first 31 games. That marked the polar opposite from Duclair's first year in the desert, when the rookie impressed with 20 goals and 24 assists through his freshman campaign.But things have turned around for Duclair of late, as he's tallied four points in Arizona's last six matches. It's a good sign for Duclair, who was a frequent subject of trade speculation through the early months of the season. Given his improved play, Duclair has been rewarded with greater ice time, as the 16:32 he saw Saturday versus the New York Islanders was his fourth-most in 37 games this season, a game in which Duclair added a shootout marker as the Coyotes secured their first victory in nine games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The All-Star Game is nearly here, meaning that at any time now, the NHL will spring official roster selections on us for the Los Angeles showcase.So to beat the press release, here's how the rosters should shake down for the three-on-three tournament we can hope will entertain us for another year.Keep in mind that six forwards, three defenders, and two goalies make up the squads.And, alas, every team must be represented.The MetroSidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (c)

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Matt Dumba and Jared Spurgeon scored early in the second period, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Ducks 2-1 Sunday night in coach Bruce Boudreau's triumphant return to Anaheim.Boudreau was fired by the Ducks after their first-round playoff exit last spring despite leading Anaheim to the past four consecutive Pacific Division titles and Game 7 of the 2015 Western Conference finals. The veteran coach has turned his new team into an early-season Stanley Cup contender with 14 wins in its last 16 games.Devan Dubnyk made 23 saves for the Wild, who won twice on their three-game California road trip.Ryan Kesler scored and John Gibson stopped 34 shots for the Ducks, whose three-game winning streak ended. Anaheim played without captain Ryan Getzlaf, who missed his third straight game.The Ducks made no public acknowledgement of Boudreau's return to Honda Center, where he replaced the fired Randy Carlyle and immediately injected life into a middling franchise early in the 2011-12 season. He went 208-104-40 with the Ducks, hanging four division banners in the rafters and falling one agonizing game short of the Stanley Cup Final in 2015.But after last season ended with a seven-game loss to Nashville in the first round, general manager Bob Murray abruptly fired Boudreau. The Ducks won just three combined rounds in four postseason trips under Boudreau, losing a Game 7 on home ice in four straight years, and Murray chose to get rid of the coach instead of breaking up his roster core.The Wild eagerly hired Boudreau, who has won eight division titles in his nine seasons behind an NHL bench. He has immediately turned Minnesota into an early-season Stanley Cup contender, getting the Wild (25-9-5) off to the best first half of a season in franchise history.After a long search for Boudreau's replacement, Murray decided to re-hire Carlyle, the winningest coach in franchise history and the leader of their 2007 Stanley Cup champions - even though Carlyle won only one playoff round in his final four seasons before Murray fired him the first time.Carlyle kept Boudreau's two assistants, and Anaheim has kept its spot in the Pacific race, while the Wild have taken off with Boudreau. The Ducks hadn't lost at home in regulation in eight games since Nov. 25.Anaheim took the lead in the first period when Jakob Silfverberg stole the puck deep in Minnesota's end and Kesler scored on the rebound. Their line has been dominant in recent weeks, and Kesler's goal was the 25th of his career against the Wild in just 57 games.But Minnesota scored twice in 1:42 after consecutive Ducks penalties early in the second. Dumba connected with a two-man advantage, and Jason Pominville's shot skipped off Spurgeon and past Gibson to put the Wild ahead.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It might not have been the case earlier this weekend, but Bobby Ryan and Guy Boucher have arrived at the same page.After the Ottawa Senators coach declined to reveal the reason for the winger's scratch Saturday, Ryan did the same after the club's 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers the following night."I had a personal issue that arose," Ryan said. "I saw what (Guy) said and I'm going to follow him on that. What coach said was accurate; we dealt with it in house, and we're going to keep it in house. That's it."He continued: "As far as we're concerned, (it's) already done. It's a non-issue."Ryan recorded a shot in a little less than 15 minutes versus the Oilers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After losses to Jonathan Toews in back-to-back Olympic Games, and again at the recent World Cup of Hockey, U.S. National Team member Patrick Kane earned a measure of revenge Sunday night.Kane posted a picture of himself and his Canadian teammate wearing his U.S. jerseys, the result of a bet between the Chicago Blackhawks stars on the recent gold-medal game at the World Junior Championship.

One to distort for the grandchildren.Chicago Blackhawks rookie Ryan Hartman collected his first career hat trick (and a natural one at that) Sunday night versus the Nashville Predators, scoring with a pair of empty-net goals 42 seconds apart late in the third period.Sticking with the unconventional, Hartman's scoring began rather appropriately with a fortunate bounce off his left hip as he drove to the front of the net.On his second, Richard Panik chased the puck Hartman had flipped toward the vacated net, but resisted the urge to whack it in. Finally on his third, Hartman aimlessly fired the puck while deep in his own zone. But when it struck the back of Patrick Kane, luck would have it that the Blackhawks gained control, sending Hartman in for his trick.It was a serendipitous night, but Hartman reached double-digit totals for goals in his rookie season nonetheless, and now ranks fifth among Blackhawks in that department.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Maroon leads the Edmonton Oilers in goal scoring.We repeat, Patrick Maroon leads the Edmonton Oilers in goal scoring.Normally, this alert would serve as a harbinger for another last-place finish. Because, with more than half of the season's schedule completed, it's rarely a good sign to have a player that's only hit double digits in goals once before taking rank on the spreadsheet.But it's not as much of a concern with the Oilers still fighting for tops in the division, and Maroon appearing to be the right fit on the left wing for Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the No. 1 line.After scoring a hat trick Thursday in Boston, Maroon scored his 15th and 16th goals on the season 63 seconds apart in the second period on Sunday to bring the Oilers level with the Ottawa Senators.Maroon now has 15 even-strength goals, which is, rather remarkably, just two shy of Auston Matthews for the NHL lead.His second had the benefit of a deflection off a defender's skate, but his first was full value:Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Vasilevskiy liked 2016 just fine.Making his fourth straight start with Ben Bishop still out with injury, Vasilevskiy was rung up for five goals on 36 shots in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.What's amazing is that Sunday's loss was the Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender's second-best outing since the calendar turned - at least statistically. Vasilevskiy's allowed at least four goals in each of his last four starts, sporting an .855 save percentage over that stretch.Of course, the Lightning - now losers of six of their last eight games - haven't helped out their netminder one bit. Vasilevskiy's faced 80 shots in his last two games, and the Lightning are averaging 33 against in 2017.This isn't just a recent concern. Tampa Bay, which ranks fourth-to-last in goals against, has now allowed four or more goals in nearly 40 percent of its games this season. Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times points out that it happened just 11 times last year.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

CAHOKIA, Ill. - A plane carrying the Dallas Stars hockey team was forced to return to a St. Louis-area airport because of smoke in the cockpit.The Belleville News-Democrat reports the Boeing 737 took off at 11:52 a.m. from the St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia, Ill., but turned around within five minutes.Mike Mavrogeorge, airport fire chief, says the smoke might have come from an electrical malfunction. He says there was no fire.The plane was carrying 50 passengers including team members and staff.The Stars were in St. Louis on Saturday night for a game against the Blues. A backup plane was summoned to take the team to Los Angeles to face the Kings on Monday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The result was unfortunate, but, in hindsight, the Winnipeg Jets aren't complaining about a hit levied by Buffalo's Jake McCabe that caused Patrik Laine to be sidelined indefinitely with a concussion."It's an awfully hard hit," head coach Paul Maurice said Sunday, per Tim Campbell of NHL.com. "Those happen in the games. It wasn't dirty."I don't have a problem with the hit," he continued. "When two big men get together at that pace, there's going to be some collateral damage. The hits they're talking about getting out of the game are blind-side hits, elbows to the head, people coming off their feet to drive into it. It's a very unfortunate result and we're hoping to get (Laine) back healthy here but there's no issues with it."The Jets reacted differently in the moment, of course, with a line brawl being sparked by the open-ice hit.Laine was able to watch practice Sunday, but there's no timetable for his return to the lineup.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carter Hutton appears to be ready for spring training.The St. Louis Blues goaltender, who was recently part of the Winter Classic at Busch Stadium against the Chicago Blackhawks, took part in an interesting experiment, too.Hutton had baseballs fired at him from a pitching machine, and if there is any doubt about how hard they were being hurled, the crack of the balls hitting the backstop's pads is certainly an indicator.

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 are the fantasy repercussions following Winnipeg Jets rookie sensation Patrik Laine being diagnosed with a concussion, forcing him to be out indefinitely:

Winnipeg Jets rookie forward Patrik Laine has been diagnosed with a concussion following a hit delivered by Buffalo's Jake McCabe on Saturday, head coach Paul Maurice announced.No timetable has been set for Laine's return to the lineup.The hit, seen below, occurred in open ice and sparked a line brawl between the Jets and Sabres.The 2016 second overall draft pick leads all rookies with 37 points through 42 games, and is tied with Auston Matthews in rookie goals with 21 - the third-highest total among all players this season.The Jets, meanwhile, sit three points back of a Western Conference playoff spot, with four games on the schedule in the coming week.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The reason for Bobby Ryan's absence from Saturday's lineup will remain undisclosed.After confirming the winger would play Sunday against Edmonton, Ottawa Senators head coach Guy Boucher wouldn't explain why Ryan watched the previous day's 1-0 loss to Washington from the press box."We had an issue that we dealt with and it's dealt with," Boucher told reporters after an optional morning skate that Ryan attended, according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia.When asked to expand, Boucher managed to make things less clear.

Brandon Carlo is a non-starter in trade discussions as far as the Boston Bruins are concerned.That's what was reported Saturday by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, who said the club recently refused to include the young defenseman in a potential deal with the Avalanche."There was talk this week between Colorado and Boston about (Gabriel) Landeskog, and for the second time this year, Boston has told teams 'we're not trading that guy,'" Friedman said during Saturday's "Headlines" segment on Hockey Night in Canada.The first time, Friedman added, revolved around discussions between Boston and Winnipeg in regards to Jacob Trouba.Carlo, 20, has proven to be a revelation for the Bruins this season. The 2015 second-round pick is averaging 21:41 of ice time a night on the team's top pair alongside Zdeno Chara, and has recorded two goals, six assists, and a 5-on-5 Corsi rating of 52.3.Defense has been an issue for the Bruins in recent years, and clearly Carlo is seen as part of the solution moving forward.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the spotlight has shone brightest on Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, and Mitch Marner this season (and for good reason), two other rookies are placing their names among those first-year forward stars as of late.A Mantha among boysSince Dec. 1, Detroit Red Wings winger Anthony Mantha sits in a tie for second in goals among rookies, sandwiched between the two Calder Trophy front-runners.PlayerGamesGoalsAuston Matthews1611Anthony Mantha178Patrik Laine178Seven of those goals, it should be noted, have come in his past eight games.Mantha is no stranger to goal-scoring, and expectations were high after he scored 81 in 81 games for the QMJHL's Val d'Or Foreurs during the 2013-14 season (regular season and playoffs combined).As is the Red Wings way, he's been brought along slowly with extended time in the AHL, but after recording eight goals in 10 games to start the season with Grand Rapids, he's finally getting an opportunity to prove himself at the NHL level, and clearly succeeding.Overall, he's tied with Jimmy Vesey for third in rookie goal scoring with 11, 10 back of Matthews and Laine, but in far fewer games played.Streaking TkachukWith an assist in Saturday's win over Vancouver, Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk extended his personal point streak to nine games, recording one goal and 10 assists in that time.Dating back to Dec. 1, Tkachuk ranks third in total points by a rookie, behind only a pair of familiar names:PlayerGamesPointsPatrik Laine1718Auston Matthews1617Matthew Tkachuk1615Tkachuk was selected sixth overall at the 2016 NHL Draft, and is proving to have been well worth keeping around instead of sending back to the OHL, where he recorded 107 points in 57 games for the London Knights last season.With the streak still going, Tkachuk has risen to a tie with Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski for fifth in rookie points with 25.So while Matthews, Laine, and Marner garner most of the attention as Calder-worthy forwards, this year's class is proving to be exceptionally deep.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Lightning can't afford to rest on any laurels.Jon Cooper's club entered the season with high expectations, but sits outside the NHL playoff picture after 41 games. Losers of three straight after picking up points in five of six games around the holiday break, the head coach knows the Lightning can ill afford to let opportunities to climb the standings go to waste."We’re scrambling to find our way back into the mix, which we did over the break," Cooper said Saturday, per Erik Erlendsson of Lightning Insider. "And now in one short week, we’re right back where we started with a back-to-back coming tomorrow and then a six-gamer on the road. The time is now, that’s it."The Lightning miss Steven Stamkos and Ben Bishop, but possess an enviable level of depth to withstand injuries to star players. Cooper, then, lamented not what's missing in terms of personnel, but rather a lack of passion following Saturday's loss to Philadelphia.After Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, who Tampa Bay pushed to seven games in the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals, the Lightning host Columbus and Buffalo on consecutive nights before heading on a lengthy road trip, both in terms of time and mileage.The six-game excursion includes stops in Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Arizona, Chicago, and Florida.Failing to pick up some points over that stretch could put a supposed Cup contender on the outside looking in come playoff time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.