The Montreal Canadiens signed goaltender Al Montoya to a two-year contract extension that will run through the 2018-19 season, general manager Marc Bergevin announced Monday.The deal is reportedlyworth $2.125 million over the two-year term, thereby carrying a cap hit of $1.0625 million, according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.

From dead last to the postseason? One of the Toronto Maple Leafs' brightest young stars isn't ruling it out."We all want to make the playoffs and obviously go far in them," Mitch Marner told reporters including The Athletic's James Mirtle after a thrilling overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings in the Centennial Classic at BMO Field on Sunday.Watch: Matthews wins Centennial Classic for Maple Leafs in OTWhat once seemed like a pipe dream isn't too far fetched. After earning their fifth straight win Sunday, the Leafs are three points behind the third-place Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division with three games in hand.Leafs head coach Mike Babcock believes the club can get there eventually, but doesn't think it's ready to be a perennial contender just yet."We're finding players every day as we watch them grow, and we have aspirations to be a really good team in the National Hockey League, one that in the summer you know you're going to make the playoffs," Babcock said Sunday, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun."That's not where we're at right now, but we're a work in progress. We like the direction we're going.''Buoyed by the instant impact of Auston Matthews and Marner, the steady play of Frederik Andersen, and the continued development of William Nylander, Zach Hyman, Connor Brown, and Morgan Rielly, the Leafs appear poised to put last season's last-place finish behind them.Toronto has certainly exceeded expectations in the first half of the season, but with eight rookies, 46 games remaining, and a couple of playoff-tested clubs in its way, it'll be an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs.Still, Babcock - who's no stranger to the postseason - liked what he saw in a resilient victory Sunday, as the Leafs rallied to win in the extra frame after coughing up a 4-1 lead and allowing the tying goal with just over a second remaining in regulation."At playoff time in the National Hockey League, you're either up one or down one," he said. "It's the same every night. You've got to love the duress. You've got to love the grind. You've got to love digging in and knowing you're going to get it done, so that was a good opportunity for our team because we haven't had those kind of opportunities, so I thought that was good.''Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Opportunity earned, lesson learned.With his team clinging to a one-goal lead late in Sunday's Centennial Classic, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock gave Auston Matthews, Zach Hyman, and Connor Brown the chance to help close things out.Detroit's Anthony Mantha scored at 19:58 in the third period to send the game to overtime after Matthews lost the faceoff and Hyman later failed to clear the puck, but Babcock stood by the decision to deploy the young trio in that situation.Here's what he had to say after the game:

For the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Centennial Classic was two things.First, it was an exceptional, highly successful celebration of the last century of hockey and tradition in Toronto, which ended fittingly with wunderkind Auston Matthews scoring the first overtime winner of his career to defeat the Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field, extending the club's win streak to five.Second, it was another task scratched off The Shanaplan.The all-encompassing rebuildSince his hiring two-and-a-half years ago, Brendan Shanahan's purpose has been to mend the organization's estranged relationship with excellence. In his mind, achieving this required more than devising a plan to improve the on-ice product, and building a roster capable of ending the longest championship drought in the NHL.His restoration plan meant doing right by the past. And he made it a priority to salvage strained relationships, depict the franchise's history without bias or disguise, and, perhaps most importantly, provide this generation with a standard to meet.The weekend was the manifestation of that vision."The history of this team will never go unnoticed," Morgan Rielly told theScore after the 5-4 triumph under the lights. "I think the organization has done an outstanding job of honoring the players that have come before us."I don't think that's ever going to change."For Rielly, it won't be Matthews' overtime winner, or the moment he and his teammates made the walk out to the makeshift rink to the cheers of 40,000 hockey fans packed into a soccer stadium that he'll remember most. It will be the time he spent in a locker room with three generations of Maple Leafs, sharing stories, taking pictures, and gaining inspiration.Just as Shanahan drew it up.StarstruckThe incredible detail in the planning and execution of this event was most evident when the Maple Leafs stepped off the ice after practice Saturday morning. When the players returned the their stalls, there was a legend on either side, lacing skates, taping sticks, and ready to chat.While this was deliberate on the organization's part, the interactions were completely spontaneous.There was Mitch Marner receiving advice on Sharpie selection, and then passing that information onto fellow rookie William Nylander, who began darting around the room himself, chasing down autographs. There was Tie Domi requesting Matthews for a photo, and Frederik Andersen picking the brain of Curtis Joseph, and Matt Martin exchanging notes with Tiger Williams.The scenes were incredible. And that was just what the media was privy to."I think (the alumni) loved it," Rielly said. "And for us, we loved it more for sure."Miles to go, but going fastThere’s still room on Legends Row, and redressing history will remain an ongoing process for the organization. But after a weekend of celebrating the past, the focus shifts solely toward moving forward.And with Matthews and Marner leading the acceleration of the process, Shanahan's Maple Leafs are quickly correcting the hockey side, as well."We believe in each other in here," Connor Brown said. "And as a player, I get the sense that the fans believe. We're still a young team, but we're going to try to make strides in the right direction."Playing on that stage was a big one."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rivalries are made in the playoffs.The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues are a perfect example of that. The clubs have met twice in the last three postseasons, with each side coming away with a series victory.The playoffs are difficult enough as it is, but matching up against a divisional behemoth in the opening round? Both teams can relate:Steen scores the winnerThere isn't anything better in sports than sudden death overtime. In 2014, the Blues and Blackhawks served up a triple to hockey fans, playing into the wee hours of the night before somebody drew blood.That was Blues forward Alex Steen, who scored 26 seconds into the third overtime frame, putting the Blues up 1-0 in the crucial opening round series. Blues goaltender Ryan Miller, recently acquired from the Buffalo Sabres, was also impressive in the 4-3 victory, finishing the night with 39 saves.Blackhawks netminder Corey Crawford faced a busy night of his own, stopping 48 of 52 shots in the defeat.Keith steals the showThings were cheery in the Gateway City in 2014, with St. Louis coming out ahead of Chicago in a pair of overtime thrillers to kick off the series.But then the Blackhawks stormed back with four victories of their own, including the Game 6 laugher that closed out the series, as Chicago won 5-1. That victory followed two Blackhawks wins that came in extra time. All told, four of the six games in the series required overtime.In the end, Miller's time in the St. Louis crease ended in a nightmare, as he allowed five goals on just 27 shots in the final match. Blackhawks blue-liner Duncan Keith led the way in Game 6, finishing the night with one goal and three assists.Slaying the playoff demonsFinally, a taste of playoff success. A 3-2 win in Game 7 over the Blackhawks gave the Blues the series win, as St. Louis knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champions.In doing so, the Blues toppled the Blackhawks for just the fourth time in 12 postseason meetings dating back to 1973, and advanced to the second round for the first time since 2012, and just the third time since 2002.The Blues kicked off Game 7 with a quick 2-0 lead. Chicago tied it in the second frame, but Blues winger Troy Brouwer provided the game-winning goal at 8:31 of the third period. St. Louis netminder Brian Elliott was key in the victory, making 31 stops on the night.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. 2 (all advanced stats are at 5-on-5 and courtesy of Corsica.Hockey) :Triple Threat

The threat of inclement weather will not postpone the start of the Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues at Busch Stadium.The start time will remain at noon CT, or 1 p.m. ET, the NHL announced Monday.If the elements interfere once the game is underway, the league has a long list of backup plans in place:

The Ottawa Senators continue to fire blanks on the power play.The club dropped a 2-1 decision to the Washington Capitals on Sunday, and have only themselves to blame. Down by a goal in the third period, the Sens were gifted a golden opportunity to tie things up when Washington's Brooks Orpik and Evgeny Kuznetsov were both assessed minor penalties at the 8:10 mark.Up two men for a full two minutes, Ottawa's 5-on-3 resulted in only one shot on goal."It was frustrating," Kyle Turris said, according to the Ottawa Citizen's Bruce Garrioch. "We've got to score on the 5-on-3. We worked on (it) in practice. It's just not coming together and it's something we've got to keep working on."The Sens have lost three in a row and have six full days off to lament their power-play struggles before hosting Washington on Saturday."There's a lot of things not working," Erik Karlsson added about the two-man advantage. "We're going to have to work on it. It's one of those things it's not going well enough for us. We've got to find a way to generate more."Karlsson's got a goal and 11 assists when his team's up a man. He finished with one goal and 25 assists on the power play last season, when he had a career-high 82 points.Ottawa heads into its league-mandated break with the NHL's 22nd-ranked power play, producing at 16 percent.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John GIbson's going to remember New Year's Day 2017.The Anaheim Ducks goaltender tied a franchise mark - and set his own career high - with a 51-save performance in a 4-3 shootout win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, equaling the club record set by Jonas Hiller in December 2008.Gibson's night didn't look so promising to begin with. He was pulled early in the second period after allowing his third goal on 21 shots, and second in under 90 seconds, as the Ducks squandered a 3-1 lead. But Gibson's departure was apparently only for a breather. He returned and replaced backup Jonathan Bernier, who made one save in 3:48 of action.The break worked. Gibson stopped all 33 shots he faced the rest of the way, and made four of five saves in the shootout to give the Ducks two points.The Flyers ended the non-skills-competition portion of the game with a ridiculous 55-25 advantage on the shot clock. Randy Carlyle hockey, in other words:

Auston Matthews would like to do it again.The Maple Leafs' super-rookie scored twice - including the overtime winner - during Sunday's Centennial Classic, outdoors at BMO Field in Toronto with his family in attendance, and the 19-year-old loved every part of the spectacle.Related: Watch: Matthews' OT winner redeems Leafs' 3rd period collapse"Definitely one of the best moments in hockey I've ever experienced for myself," Matthews said, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "It's pretty special. All 23 guys out there, we played a pretty solid game ... it's a bigger setting, a lot more fans, that national stage."More than 40,000 took in the festivities, part of the club's and league's centennial season celebration, and most went home happy, with Toronto coming out on top 5-4 in overtime.

Henrik Zetterberg enjoys the elements.The Detroit Red Wings captain played in his fourth outdoor game Sunday and racked up three assists in his team's 5-4 overtime loss, tying a record for helpers in an NHL game played outside he set in 2009.Zetterberg now has seven points - all assists - in outdoor games, tops among those who've been fortunate enough to take part in the spectacles."It was nice to see we could rally and get back there in the third," Zetterberg said, according to the Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James. "Unfortunately, it got away from us a little bit earlier in the third. ... In the end, I guess it was a good show for the fans."Zetterberg's riding a six-game point streak, with a goal and seven assists during the run.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Kesler is your 2017 NHL goal-scoring leader.The Anaheim Ducks forward picked up his fourth career hat trick early into the second period against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.Kesler fired a puck from the hash marks that found its way through the pads of Steve Mason. His three goals give him 15 on the season and, for the time being, see him as the top-scorer in 2017 - though, to be fair, there are still 364 days to go.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews is the talk of the hockey world, and rightfully so, but three Toronto boys had themselves a banner Sunday evening at home at the Centennial Classic.Connor Brown, Mitch Marner, and Zach Hyman - all rookies - are living the dream. Brown, 22, and Hyman, 24, are from Toronto, while Marner, 19, is from Markham, just north of the city. All three played critical roles in the Maple Leafs' 5-4 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field to ring in the new year.Marner got things started with Toronto's second goal of the game, a brilliant snipe - off the post and in - after showing incredible patience in taking the puck into the slot. Based on his celebration, you could tell the tally meant a lot to him:Seventy seconds later, Hyman set up Brown, who went roof on Jared Coreau from the bottom of the circle. And was Brown ever pumped, celebrating with his Toronto-born teammate:Less than three minutes later, Hyman and Brown drew assists on Matthews' first of the night, a wicked snipe to perfectly complete an odd-man rush. In about five minutes, the three Toronto kids had two goals and three assists and the Maple Leafs had a 4-1 lead.While that lead would evaporate, it was restored for good in overtime, and Brown drew his second assist of the game on Matthews' winner.In the end, the young locals finished with two goals and four assists, representing their city in fine fashion."This is a whole new level," Hyman told TSN's Kristen Shilton about playing outdoors in the NHL after experiencing the thrill with the University of Michigan. "This is in my hometown. Never thought I'd be playing (in a) game like this."Brown, Hyman, and Marner have combined for 21 goals and 38 assists this season, and are a big part of Toronto's youth movement.PlayerPointsRookie Scoring RankMarner273rdBrown16T10Hyman16T10Yeah, the kids are more than all right.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Anthony DeAngelo was handed a three-game suspension for abuse of an official Sunday, the league announced in a statement.The incident occurred during the second period of Saturday night's contest against the Calgary Flames, and DeAngelo was assessed a game misconduct.DeAngelo will forfeit $14,388.90 with the suspension and will be eligible to return to the lineup Jan. 13 when the Coyotes host the Winnipeg Jets.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everyone can breathe now.After one of the most furious 20 minutes of hockey seen in years, it's safe to say that the Centennial Classic was an overwhelming success, thanks in part to Auston Matthews, who ultimately brought the house down.In all, the game will go down as one of the more memorable outdoor games, but it could have been remembered as the second-most devastating 4-1 third-period meltdown in Maple Leafs history.It was a sight to be seen. So, with that, here are some of the best photos of the night:Celebrating 100 years of hockey greatness.

The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues are all set to face off in the Winter Classic at Busch Stadium on Monday at 12 p.m. CT (1 p.m. ET) but Mother Nature may have other plans.With rain in the St. Louis forecast - AccuWeather is calling for thunderstorms at 1 p.m. local time - the NHL issued a release Sunday evening stating it will announce a start time for the game Monday morning at 7 a.m. CT (8 a.m. ET).In other words, stay tuned. There may be a delay, and worst-case scenario, the game will be pushed back to Tuesday.No Winter Classic has ever been postponed, while delays - due to rain and/or sunlight - have become common with respect to outdoor games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The goals are good for so many reasons.Auston Matthews scored another two - including the overtime winner - Sunday at the Centennial Classic in Toronto, giving him 20 on the season. That's the most among rookies, second-most in the NHL, and tops on the Maple Leafs.Twenty's a nice round number, especially after only 36 games, but it's significant for another reason, too:

The outdoors are for the kids.Young NHL talent was on display Sunday at the Centennial Classic in Toronto between the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. After a sluggish 40 minutes, the teams erupted for seven goals in the third period, and it was the youth doing the heavy lifting for both clubs.Six of the nine goals in the game were scored by players aged 22 or younger, and three of them by teenagers, as pointed out by NHL.com's Dan Rosen.The teens are Maple Leafs forwards Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, with Matthews scoring the fourth and fifth goals of the game for Toronto - the latter the OT winner after Toronto blew a 4-1 third-period lead.Toronto's Connor Brown, 22, added a goal for the blue and white, while Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha, 22, scored twice for Detroit, including the tying goal with just over a second left on the clock in the third period.The game's in great hands.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's nothing like an outdoor NHL game on New Year's Day. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings proved it again.The two Original Six clubs took part in the Centennial Classic on Sunday, the first outdoor game hosted in Toronto, as the Leafs and the NHL celebrated the team's centennial season. After a slow start, the contest at BMO Field had some finish.Detroit led 1-0 after 40 mostly boring minutes, but the third period brought action. Tons of it.The Maple Leafs went up 4-1, only to watch Detroit roar back in the final minutes, eventually tying up the game with 1.1 seconds to play.Prized rookie Auston Matthews, who scored Toronto's fourth goal, added No. 5 - his 20th of the season - to win it for the Maple Leafs in overtime.Here are the best reaction from a frantic final 25 minutes:

With flashes of 2013 in their heads, the Toronto Maple Leafs recovered after blowing a 4-1 third-period lead thanks to - who else? - Auston Matthews.The 2016 first-overall pick chipped in his second goal of the game with 1:20 left in overtime to give the Maple Leafs a 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings in the Centennial Classic.For Matthews, the two-goal output gives him 20 on the season, pushing him ahead of Patrik Laine in the rookie goals race and putting him into a tie with Jeff Carter for the second-most league-wide.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Red Wings did it.Down 4-1 in the third period of the Centennial Classic in Toronto, Detroit stormed back, and Anthony Mantha scored the tying goal on a scramble in front with officially 1.1 seconds left on the clock.Indoors, outdoors, when the Maple Leafs are up 4-1, bad things happen.Toronto eventually came out on top, winning 5-4 in overtime on Auston Matthews' 20th goal of the season. But Detroit at least got a point.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Donald Fehr's taking a positive approach to open the new year.The NHLPA's executive director is feeling positive about NHLers heading to South Korea for the 2018 Olympic Games, despite what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's been saying."I'm more optimistic now than I have ever been, at least as far as we're concerned, that we'll be able to reach an appropriate agreement with the IIHF to allow for the players to go," Fehr said Sunday, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reports. "So I assume there will be further discussions over the course of the next several weeks and I choose to be optimistic on this one. We'll see."Bettman said Sunday that nothing's changed on the league's front, and that clubs aren't expressing much desire to send NHLers.While a decision is expected to come at some point in January, Bettman isn't feeling any pressure."We're not the ones who are setting the deadline on the clock," he said. "Others seem to be doing it."Fehr added that instead of a one-off with respect to 2018, the league and players can come to some sort of international hockey agreement that would live outside the collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and NHLPA.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is counting down the 100 greatest players of all time to celebrate the league's centennial season.On Sunday, ahead of the Centennial Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings, the league unveiled 33 of those 100, all of whom primarily starred during the league's first 50 years.The list includes Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard, and Gordie Howe. Here's a video naming all 33 players:

Those fond of some good ol' fashioned pond hockey will get their fix once again next season.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spoke with reporters ahead of Sunday's Centennial Classic where he noted that there is likely to be three outdoor games next season, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.As per LeBrun, the games are expected to be a go regardless of the impending Olympic decision.Speaking of that, Bettman insisted that no progress has been made.

Jack Eichel downplayed his passionate postgame behavior from Saturday afternoon when asked about it on Sunday.The Buffalo Sabres forward said his frustration level is "pretty high," but his outburst was "a little bit blown out of proportion," according to the Buffalo News' John Vogl.Eichel reportedly erupted following Buffalo's loss to the Boston Bruins, pounding his equipment, screaming, then storming out without speaking, according to the Buffalo News' Mike Harrington.Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma didn't condemn Eichel's response when asked about it Saturday, instead offering that it should serve as an example for the rest of the team.Related - Bylsma: Sabres should channel Eichel's anger after loss to Bruins"I think I speak for the team in saying that we're all frustrated with where we're at, and I don't think I'm the only person in the (dressing) room that's not satisfied," Eichel said Sunday.The Sabres have plummeted to the basement of the Eastern Conference, winning only one of their last seven games and three of their last 10, but Eichel isn't ready to pack it in for the season."I'm sure not giving up on this, and I don't think anyone else is," he said. "Have we pissed away some good opportunities to put ourselves in a good position? Yes, but there's still a lot of hockey to be played."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban won't be back any time soon.The Nashville Predators placed the star defenseman on injured reserve with what the club has been calling an upper-body injury, and he'll be re-examined in about two-to-three weeks, the Predators announced Sunday.Related: Subban's absence leaves fantasy owners in limboSubban hasn't played since Dec. 15, missing the last seven games with the ailment.The IR designation means he definitely won't be in the lineup for Tuesday's game against his former team, the Montreal Canadiens, and may not return until late January.Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday night that Subban may have a herniated disc and that he and the club were expected to meet Sunday to decide between rest and surgery.For now, the team and the player have chosen the former route.Subban has 17 points in 29 games in his first season with the Predators following his offseason trade from the Canadiens for Shea Weber. Subban ranks second among Predators behind only Roman Josi - and 11th in the NHL - in average time on ice, logging 25:03 per game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A pair of Atlantic Division foes are calling each other out over a fight that never happened Saturday.On Sunday morning, Buffalo Sabres forward Evander Kane subtweeted Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller, claiming he ducked him during the matinee affair one day prior.

The sun has pushed back the start of yet another outdoor game.Puck drop for Sunday's Centennial Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings will be delayed by 30 minutes due to sunlight on the ice surface at BMO Field, the NHL announced.The league made the decision in the interest of player safety. The game was originally scheduled to begin shortly after 3 p.m. ET.Puck drop for October's Heritage Classic between the Winnipeg Jets and the Edmonton Oilers was delayed nearly two hours due to the glare at Winnipeg's Investors Group Field.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tie Domi might be full of hot air, or he could be on to something when it comes to the cold gusts at BMO Field.After dealing with the wind in a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in Saturday's Centennial Classic alumni game, the former Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer predicted the blustery conditions will again be a significant factor when the current squads meet outdoors Sunday."We were supposed to be the home team, and we were against the wind twice," Domi told Sportsnet postgame Saturday, according to Luke Fox. "I tell ya, they better switch the benches for tomorrow. The wind's an advantage."Domi wasn't kidding, according to Fox, and alumni teammate Tiger Williams agreed."I was doing an interview and I couldn't even talk because the wind was blowing down my throat," Williams said.Environment Canada is forecasting southwesterly winds of 20 km/h with gusts reaching as high as 40 km/h throughout the afternoon and into the evening Sunday.Auston Matthews isn't planning to overthink his game if the conditions pose a problem."The main message from guys who've played in these kinds of games before is: Keep it simple," the Leafs center said.Assuming the teams switch ends midway through the second period as we've seen in previous outdoor contests, neither club will have the wind as an excuse, but that may not stop them from blowing off steam about it after the game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The start of a new year is a time for reflection, but it's also an opportunity to look forward.Plenty of intrigue awaits the NHL in 2017, from the usual slew of outdoor games to the expansion draft and the debut of the league's 31st franchise.Here are three things we believe will happen in the new calendar year:Jack Capuano will finally be firedThe New York Islanders' bench boss will be the second NHL head coach fired this season following the Florida Panthers' unexpected dismissal of Gerard Gallant last month.The final straw for general manager Garth and the team's new owners will come in late January, when the Islanders win only one of six games in a homestand that pits them against the Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals.Capuano isn't entirely to blame for the Islanders' struggles - much of the club's woes stem from poor decisions by Snow - but the coach is always the first to go when a change is deemed necessary.Fairly or unfairly, New York's mediocre offense and the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division will be Capuano's undoing.The Bruins will narrowly miss the playoffs againBoston will be eliminated from postseason contention in the final days of the campaign for the third consecutive year.The Bruins failed to qualify last season despite finishing with the same number of points as the Detroit Red Wings, losing the tiebreaker on regulation-or-overtime wins. Boston missed out by three points in 2014-15.They'll be squeezed out again in 2017, with the injury-riddled but perennially competitive Tampa Bay Lightning primed to leapfrog them and the talented but turbulent Florida Panthers also on their heels in the Atlantic Division.The Lightning have proven they can win without Ben Bishop, and when Steven Stamkos returns in mid-March, they'll make a late push that will doom the Bruins, who - beyond David Pastrnak - won't find a cure for their scoring woes.Matthews will edge Laine for the Calder TrophyAuston Matthews and Patrik Laine will continue piling up points until the conclusion of the regular season, and the first overall pick in June's draft will justify the Toronto Maple Leafs' decision to take him in that spot by outproducing his Winnipeg Jets counterpart down the stretch.Matthews will beat Laine for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie in the closest vote in years, thanks to a surplus of young talent that also includes Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, as well as Matthews' teammate, Mitch Marner, and stellar but currently injured Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray.Voters will cite Matthews' ability to produce at a similar clip to Laine despite playing with less experienced linemates. Matthews will continue to be flanked by fellow youngsters Zach Hyman and Connor Brown on the Leafs' second line, while Laine will benefit from playing alongside Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers on the Jets' top unit.Both Matthews and Laine are surely primed to have terrific careers, but the former will earn the accolade over the latter following their rookie seasons.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jorge Alves had a New Year's Eve he'll never forget.The Carolina Hurricanes equipment manager was still soaking in the moment after manning the crease for the final seven-plus seconds in a loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night."It's a surprise, it's unbelievable," Alves told reporters postgame. "I was actually heading back down into the tunnel when I heard my name. I looked back, (and) I was like, 'What?' and coach (Bill Peters) said, 'Get your stuff on,' so ... it was amazing. I couldn't believe it."Related: Hurricanes give equipment manager the experience of a lifetimeThe Hurricanes signed the 37-year-old to a pro tryout contract before the game, and he was serving as Cam Ward's backup because an illness forced Carolina's No. 2 netminder, Eddie Lack, to miss the contest.After Alves' brief moment in the spotlight, he joked that he was hoping the puck wouldn't find its way into Carolina's defensive zone."I just remember looking down the ice and seeing the puck in the corner and saying (to myself), 'Stay in that corner,'" he said with a laugh.The impact of the moment was clearly still affecting him afterwards."It was amazing," he repeated. "It's still pretty emotional for me, so, it was amazing."Even though he was the Hurricanes' backup goalie for a night, Alves still fulfilled his duties as equipment manager, sharpening skates and taping up sticks during the game."I can't shake the habit," he quipped. "I have a duty with the team and I wasn't going to break that."The former NC State goaltender had seven ECHL contests under his belt but hadn't seen game action in 10 seasons.Now, he has an NHL debut and an unforgettable story to call his own.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thornton lost his cool on New Year's Eve.Just ask Los Angeles Kings defenseman Derek Forbort, who found himself on the receiving end of a trio of forceful slashes from the San Jose Sharks forward in the third period Saturday night, the last of which was a direct hit on Forbort's right arm.Thornton was assessed a minor penalty as a result, but he may be in line for more in the form of supplemental discipline.The Sharks and Kings renew hostilities Tuesday night.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL will ring in the new year with an outdoor clash between two Original Six clubs.The Toronto Maple Leafs will host their first outdoor game at BMO Field when the Detroit Red Wings come to town. The game represents their second outdoor matchup in three years since both teams took the ice at Michigan Stadium in 2014.The 2014 installment will surely go down as one of the better outdoor games the league has arranged, but as the sequel approaches, it doesn't have quite the same allure - and the reason for this is the lack of a rivalry.Sure the Red Wings and Maple Leafs have gone to war in the past, but that's the problem - it was in the past. With the Red Wings only recently returning to the Eastern Conference, the teams haven't played many heated games against each other, and because of that, bad blood between them is almost nonexistent.The two clubs used to meet regularly in the Stanley Cup Finals, but that was the product of having just six teams in the league. Though that's no longer possible, here are three ways to resurrect the Red Wings-Maple Leafs rivalry.A playoff seriesThe best and easiest way to create a rivalry: Play meaningful games against your foe. This all starts in the postseason.The Maple Leafs and Red Wings haven't met in postseason play since their memorable first-round series in 1993. The Maple Leafs edged the Red Wings in overtime of Game 7 thanks to Nikolai Borschevsky's iconic tip-in goal.However, even that series was just the teams' third playoff meeting since the 1963-64 season. While the Maple Leafs have made just one playoff appearance over the last 11 years, one could argue that's given Toronto a hatred for the Boston Bruins after the way their 2013 series ended.A series reminiscent of that one in any way could be all the Maple Leafs and Red Wings need to develop some animosity. Rivalries can be built, but teams generally need a reason to despise each other.Regular outdoor gamesIf the NHL wants to make Toronto vs. Detroit a rivalry through these outdoor games, the league should really embrace it.Instead of meeting every couple of years, the Maple Leafs and Red Wings could play every Jan. 1 and make it a real spectacle.The clubs could alternate hosting the event, and they're close enough that die-hard fans would make the trek when their side is the away team. An annual game would build history and wouldn't necessarily be looked at as just another regular-season contest. Players would have last season's meeting in the back of their minds, teams would look for redemption, and fans would be glued to their seats New Year's Day.Matthews vs. 2017 No. 1 pickThis next one would take some luck, but could create an instant rivalry.After reaching the playoffs for 25 straight seasons, the Red Wings are currently flirting with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, and could approach the worst in the entire league if things don't change.So it's not out of the realm of possibility that Detroit will not only miss the playoffs, but nab a top draft pick - and the Winnipeg Jets proved this past year that you don't need to finish last to move up and steal a star.If next season kicked off with a meeting between 2016 first overall pick Auston Matthews and a No. 1 selection of the Red Wings, we could have new reason to get rowdy about this rivalry.While we're on the subject of the Red Wings' quarter-century playoff streak, if the Maple Leafs somehow ended up being the team to stick the final dagger in Detroit's run, that could create some hatred too.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If he's the city's adopted son, this was baptism.Waking up to an alarm set before standard, Auston Matthews threw on an extra layer when he emerged from his slumber Saturday, and headed out to the rink for an early-morning practice in frigid conditions.This is holy ritual in Canada, and one his teammates, and the thousands of kids who now idolize him, know too well. But windburned cheeks and toes tingling as they returned to temperature in the locker room were unfamiliar sensations for the teenage star with the Toronto Maple Leafs on the eve of the Centennial Classic.Feeling any more Canadian now, Auston?"I feel very Canadian today," he laughed, shortly after the Leafs practiced on the NHL-grade rink built on the frozen grounds of BMO Field.This, too, was a foreign feeling for Matthews. The marquee attraction at the NHL's annual open-air New Year's Day showcase hails from Scottsdale, Ariz., where the margaritas come frozen - not ponds.Having never earned his ice with a shovel, scraping away snow to reveal a fresh sheet, Matthews doesn't know the seasonal luxury that many NHL stars used to hone their talent, innovate, and grow an obsession over a game in their impressionable years.It's the reason Canadian kids, as well as many Americans who share their climate, wear frostbite like a badge of honor. Because in many cases, time invested is what set them apart."I loved playing outside, it always seemed like it was more fun," Matthews' linemate and local kid Connor Brown said. "That's where I grew up learning to play and really love the game."A disadvantage? Maybe. But no hurdle Matthews couldn't clear.Eschewing other interests to maximize his time at a local rink about as old as hockey itself in the Valley of the Sun, Matthews acquired essential skills to surface on the radar of the U.S. Development Program, and then under expert tutelage, he evolved into the top prospect in his NHL draft season.Now, the No. 1 overall pick is having one of the finest rookie campaigns in the franchise's 100-year history. Which, as it happens, is the cause for celebration this weekend.Matthews is on pace for more than 40 goals, 300-plus shots, and if he can maintain his colossal attacking rate, he'll obliterate the club's rookie records. And while he's exceeded expectation on the ice in 35 games, he's also handled the often-blinding spotlight brilliantly.His temperament to this point has been irreproachable.It seems every time he answers a question, Mike Babcock should be seen off in the distance, nodding in approval."(It was my) first time skating outdoors (in preparation) for a game, so it was definitely exciting to go out there and get used to the ice. I enjoyed today - it's fun. But come tomorrow, it's all business."As the novice arctic outdoorsman in a sportive room, Matthews will have been subjected to his share of good-natured ribbing when the weekend is over (and there's three generations of Maple Leafs packed into one room to dish it out.)But under the arctic clouds and while breathing in chilly air Sunday, the ice will be immaculate and the dimensions just the same as inside Air Canada Centre. It'll be hockey. Nothing more or less.And when it is, Matthews ends up being the difference for the Leafs more often than not.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 Sunday, Jan. 1 (all advanced stats are at 5-on-5 and courtesy of Corsica.Hockey) :Triple Threat

All hail The King.With a win over Colorado on Saturday, New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist recorded the 390th victory of his career and passed Dominik Hasek on the NHL's all-time list.This is significant considering their respective birth certificates.

In what was expected to be a two-horse race for the 2017 Art Ross Trophy, a third player has emerged as a viable threat to win the NHL's scoring race this season.That would be Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, who, with an overtime goal and an earlier assist against Montreal on Saturday, took sole possession of first place in the points column with 43 through 38 games.

Sidney Crosby remains the best player in hockey for yet another year.The Pittsburgh Penguins' superstar center finished 2016 with 53 goals and 47 assists for a tidy total of 100 points in 76 regular season games, leading all players in scoring over the course of the past 12 months.This despite being held without a point in Saturday's overtime win over Montreal.Related: Sidney Crosby, NHL Person of the YearThe 100 points puts him 13 clear of second-place Patrick Kane, who needed 82 games to record 87 points (34 goals, 53 assists).Crosby's 53 goals were also the most scored by any player in 2016, with Alex Ovechkin finishing second with 46.He also contributed six goals and 13 assists in 24 playoff games en route to a Stanley Cup championship and Conn Smythe Trophy as the poststeason's most valuable player.So far this season, he leads all players with 1.35 points per game, and appears set to square off with Connor McDavid and teammate Evgeni Malkin in the race for the Art Ross Trophy.McDavid recently conceded Crosby is the greatest player in the world, and there's no reason to believe otherwise as 2017 begins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators and P.K. Subban are set to discuss the next steps in his recovery from what is being referred to as an upper-body injury.Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman shed some light on the situation during the "Headlines" segment of Hockey Night in Canada - and later on Twitter - suggesting a pair of options in terms of treating what's believed to be a herniated disc.From Friedman:

Make that 15 straight wins for the Columbus Blue Jackets.The Ohio hockey club defeated the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, coming away with a 4-2 victory, and extending their winning streak to 15 consecutive games.The loss snaps a 12-game win streak for Minnesota and marks their first loss since Nov. 29, a 5-4 defeat to the Vancouver Canucks.The Blue Jackets haven't dropped a game since a 2-1 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers on Nov. 26. The team's last regulation loss came on Nov. 23, falling 2-0 to the Calgary Flames.In all, the Blue Jackets have just five regulation losses on the season, three of which came in the team's first six games.The 15-game stretch has seen the Blue Jackets outpace their opponents by 61 to 26 goals.With the victory, the Blue Jackets tied the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins for the second-longest win streaks in NHL history. The Penguins also hold the top seed, a record-long 17 games:RankWinsTeamDate117PenguinsMarch - April 1993T215Blue JacketsNov - Dec 2016T215IslandersJan - Feb 1982T215PenguinsMarch 2013T314BruinsDec 1929 - Jan 1930T314CapitalsJan - Feb 2010Facing Minnesota, Columbus' offense got off to an early start, as forward Cam Atkinson opened the scoring 10:05 into the initial frame. Atkinson tallied again in the second period, marking his 17th goal of the season. Only five players league-wide have scored more goals than Atkinson.Defensemen Jack Johnson and Seth Jones also tallied for the Blue Jackets, while forwards Mikael Granlund and Jason Zucker replied for the Wild.With the loss, Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk allowed more than three goals for just the second time this season, after he also allowed four Thursday versus the Islanders.The Blue Jackets will have a chance to push their win streak to 16 when they face the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carey Price, good at tending goal.The Montreal Canadiens netminder used his blocker to bat the puck away from danger during Saturday's game against Pittsburgh, adding a last-minute "save of the year" candidate to the 2016 ballot.There's simply no one better in today's NHL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It didn't take long for the Columbus Blue Jackets to gain the upper hand during Saturday's huge game against the Minnesota Wild.Already holding a 1-0 lead, Columbus received quick second-period goals from Jack Johnson and Cam Atkinson.

Team Canada will not have defenseman Philippe Myers in the lineup when it begins quarterfinal play on Monday.Myers has been sidelined with a concussion, Canada coach Dominique Ducharme announced following Canada's 3-1 loss to the United States on Saturday. The blue-liner left the game after an interference play by American captain Luke Kunin, who was whistled for a major penalty and a game misconduct.Myers has been one of Canada's top defensemen in the tournament, registered three points in three games prior to Saturday's affair.The 19-year-old plays for the QMJHL's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. In 2015, he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers as an undrafted free agent.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brett Hull seems to have lost a step or ten.The Hall of Fame winger took the ice Saturday with other St. Louis Blues of old to participate in an alumni game against former Chicago Blackhawks players.While he enjoyed many aspects of the experience, his staking may need some work."Well, I mean, it's fun and you think you're doing okay. You're out and you're skating with the guys and you feel good, and then you get out there and it was just - every stride was agony," he told reporters after the game.