Antoine Bibeau stopped 25 shots - and took another - to earn his maiden NHL victory on Thursday night.Bibeau was absolutely steamrolled in overtime by a cutting Valterri Filppula. But if he was feeling any ill-effects, fortunately he didn't have to track another shot, as Nazem Kadri controlled a puck fired on net on the ensuing power play, and shoveled it over the line.Frederik Andersen collected the game winner for Bibeau to keep as the Maple Leafs celebrated wins in consecutive nights in Florida.Toronto now has four straight wins, as well as five in a row on the road for the first time in six years.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No Carey Price, no problem.Montreal Canadiens backup Al Montoya made a sensational stop Thursday, thrusting himself backwards to make a desperation glove stop on Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad midway through the second period.The save helped to keep the Canadiens in the game with the score 2-1 Panthers at that point.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres forward William Carrier can expect a call from the NHL's Department of Player Safety.The 22-year-old caught Boston Bruins forward David Backes with a headshot on Thursday and was assessed a minor for an illegal check to the head and a fighting major after Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid took exception to the hit.Backes was forced to leave the game with what the team called an upper-body injury.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

"I will forever be a Senator."Bestowing an honor not previously awarded in the modern era of the franchise, the Ottawa Senators retired the number of the greatest player in their history, raising Daniel Alfredsson's No. 11 to the rafters Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre.

After locking up Artemi Panarin for another two years, now comes the tricky part for general manager Stan Bowman and the Chicago Blackhawks.The Blackhawks made the two-year, $12-million extension of the forward official on Thursday, and now Bowman will be tasked with freeing up some cap space for the team going forward. Worrying about the numbers, though, isn't something the GM's concerned about at the moment - especially after having locked up a key part of the team's core."My suggestion would be to try to enjoy the fact that we've got a great player who is a big part of our team," Bowman said, according to Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago. "He wants to be here in Chicago, he loves playing with his teammates and he's having a lot of fun and scoring a lot of goals. That's really the thing that we're excited about. The other stuff, we'll make it work. The time to dissect that is not right now but we'll get there eventually."We've been doing that for months now … it's a process we're always going to be facing."Related: Panarin values environment over money in re-signing with BlackhawksFollowing the Panarin deal, the Blackhawks now find themselves with under $450,000 in cap space remaining. Heading into next season the team will have just short of $6.4 million in cap space, but will need to spend that money wisely or make moves with nine players from their current roster set to become either restricted or unrestricted free agents at season's end.Of course, with the Blackhawks currently perched atop the Western Conference standings there are more pressing issues than next year's salary cap.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' all-time goals leader will not take the ice for the club's alumni game against the Detroit Red Wings on New Years Eve.Former captain Mats Sundin - who was expected to play - has pulled out with his wife expecting to give birth to the couple's third child, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton.

The Florida Panthers will head into 2017 without Aleksander Barkov.The forward is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury, head coach Tom Rowe said Thursday. He offered no further update.Rowe said Wednesday that Barkov would be "out a few days" after the 21-year-old left that night's game early, but the injury appears more significant than initially thought.

It's rare to see a hockey fight start inside the penalty box, but that's exactly what happened during a recent game between the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies and Colorado Eagles.After being sent to the box for cross-checking, Grizzles forward Jon Puskar exchanged some words with Eagles defenseman Michael Sdao while the door was still open. Whatever he said clearly ticked off Sdao, because the Eagles player then stepped into the box and began throwing punches at him.Sdao's actions earned him a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine.- With h/t to Puck DaddyCopyright © 2016 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 gameHere are the fantasy repercussions following the news Pittsburgh Penguins' G Matt Murray is week-to-week with a lower-body injury:

There are more important things in the world than money.So says Artemi Panarin after signing a two-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks worth a reported $12 million.While he might be worth more than that on the open market, Panarin was willing to take less money to remain with the only NHL home he's ever known."I like everything about the team and the environment here," he said, per Mark Lazerus of the Chicago-Sun Times. "You can’t earn all the money in the world."As productive as he's been since entering the NHL at the beginning of the 2015-16 season, he knows he can't rest on his laurels, especially with another new contract to be signed in 2019.

Actions have consequences, plain and simple.That was the message delivered by Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper the morning after scratching center Valtteri Filppula from Wednesday's lineup for missing a team meeting."It's all about the team," Cooper said Thursday, per Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "Everything here is team first. But the hard thing about the situation like this was, there was no ill will in any of this. That's the part that's tough, when it's a simple mistake. But everyone else is included in this, trust me. Nobody wants any of this to happen."Fortunately for us we were able to win the game," he added. "But believe me we're a much better team with Val in the lineup."The Lightning indeed beat Montreal in overtime without Filppula, but he'll return for Thursday's game against Toronto.In 34 games this season, Filppula has recorded six goals and 18 assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid isn't quite there yet.Likely to reach Sidney Crosby's level sooner than later, even the Edmonton Oilers star recognizes where any conversation about the best in the game begins and ends.

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray is week to week after suffering a lower-body injury, head coach Mike Sullivan announced Thursday.Murray left Wednesday's contest versus the Carolina Hurricanes after two periods and gave way to Marc-Andre Fleury, who made 19 saves in securing the victory.Fleury was usurped on the depth chart by Murray during the postseason, as the rookie backstopped the Penguins all the way to the Stanley Cup and into this season.Now, with his future at the club unclear as a result of incessant trade speculation, Fleury will have an opportunity to prove his worth to the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2003.Murray signed a three-year, $11.25-million extension with the Penguins in October, and has put together a sparkling campaign thus far. The 22-year-old is 13-3-1 with a 2.18 goals against average and .928 save percentage.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have signed defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to a two-year contract extension, the club announced Thursday.Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the contract secures the 27-year-old through the 2018-19 season.In 11 games with the Blues this year, Bortuzzo has two points, whileaveraging over 13 minutes per contest.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Renney will step down as Hockey Canada president July 1, 2017, giving way to current chief operating officer Scott Smith, Renney announced Thursday.Renney will remain with the organization as CEO."I see an opportunity for Hockey Canada to be more effective in delivering on our growing mandate here in Canada and internationally by separating the roles of president and chief executive officer, and our board of directors has endorsed my view," Renney said. "Scott and I have very complementary skillsets and approaches, but just as importantly, this also allows us to recognize Scott’s demonstrated abilities as a leader and high-performer with a commitment to, and passion for, the game."Smith joined Hockey Canada in 1995, and was named COO in 2007.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Things aren't getting any easier for the Tampa Bay Lightning.Having battled injuries to key forwards all season long, the latest to hit the shelf is rookie Brayden Point, who will miss four-to-six weeks with an upper-body injury, the team announced Thursday.

Jonathan Quick's early-season long-term injury hasn't been as detrimental to the Los Angeles Kings as first feared.Instead, it's at the other end of the ice where the club is lacking, head coach Darryl Sutter opined following a 2-1 loss to the lowly Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday."I just think that we don't have a lot of scoring in our lineup, especially with Tyler (Toffoli) out, and if you get down one, you're fine, but if you get down two, you're playing a different game then," he said, according to Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider.He isn't wrong. After Jeff Carter's team-leading 19 goals, the scoring totals are down across the board, especially, as Sutter mentioned, after Toffoli - who sits second with eight goals - was recently placed on injured reserve.Here's a look at some notable Kings:PlayerGamesGoalsTanner Pearson338Drew Doughty355Dustin Brown355Anze Kopitar303Marian Gaborik131After the loss to Vancouver, the Kings still hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a plus-two goal differential. That's a testament to Peter Budaj's performance in relief of Quick, though, as Los Angeles ranks 22nd with a goals-per-game average of 2.49 while allowing a sixth-ranked 2.36.If the goal-scoring doesn't pick up, the Kings will risk falling out of the playoff picture, and it won't be because of goaltending.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's NHL editors convened for an emergency session of "On the Fly," our weekly roundtable series, to discuss whether Ottawa Senators legend Daniel Alfredsson - whose No. 11 is being retired by the club Thursday - is worthy of a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame.Without a doubtIan McLaren: Alfredsson belongs in the Hockey Hall of Fame.With 444 goals and 713 assists, Alfredsson's 1,157 career points ranks him 51st on the NHL's all-time list. The biggest knock against him will always be that he never won a Stanley Cup, but Alfredsson's impact on the NHL - serving as face of the Senators franchise for 17 seasons - can't be understated.He's Ottawa's all-time leader in goals, assists, and total points, and became the first European captain in league history to lead his club to a Stanley Cup Final after scoring a series-winning overtime goal against Buffalo in the conference finals.Awards-wise, Alfredsson did bring home the 1996 Calder Trophy and the 2012 King Clancy Award, along with winning gold (2006) and silver (2014) with Sweden at the Winter Olympics.All told, Alfredsson had a remarkable career, and one that deserves recognition beyond Ottawa.Sean O'Leary: There should be little debate about Alfredsson's Hall of Fame credentials.While he's not an all-time icon of the sport, "Alfie" was criminally underrated during his time as a player. He was as consistent as his era allowed him to be.Alfredsson won the Calder Trophy in 1995-96 with 61 points, and topped the 70-point plateau in nine consecutive season, including a four-year stretch with more than 80.He also captained the Senators to eight consecutive playoff appearances, and recorded 22 points in 20 games during their lone march to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007.He remains a terrific ambassador for the sport in Ottawa, and while Alfredsson may lack individual accolades, a 2006 Olympic gold medal with Sweden plus prolific scoring totals should be enough to get him in.No, unfortunatelyNavin Vaswani: Put simply: Alfredsson's career is worthy of Hall of Fame discussion, but in the end, no - he shouldn't make the cut.The Swede had a remarkable career, and this is more of a gripe against the Hockey Hall of Fame, which has simply let too many guys in. It's supposed to be an exclusive group - raise the bar.In my opinion, there's a baseline test: Did the player average a point per game in his career? Unfortunately, at 0.93, Alfredsson failed in this regard, albeit barely.His career was still remarkable. Alfredsson was - and still is - the Senators. He's been inducted into the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame, and rightfully so. He's the second-highest scoring Swedish NHLer ever, behind Mats Sundin, and certainly belongs in Sweden's Hockey Hall of Fame. But being the greatest Senator of all time doesn't mean the gates of the Hockey Hall of Fame must open for him.I know how Senators supporters will counter: If Sundin's a Hall of Famer - and he is - so is Alfredsson. But it isn't that simple.PlayerGAPPPG100-point seasonsPlayoff PPG20-goal seasons Major awardsAlfredsson44471311570.931 (103)0.81132Sundin56478513591.001 (114)0.90170Neither won a Stanley Cup - something that isn't their fault, although it should be noted that Alfredsson reached a final, something Sundin wasn't able to do. But Sundin hit two major benchmarks that give him the edge: 500 goals and the point-per-game mark.Alfredsson deserves all the praise in the world. He was an incredible hockey player, and by all accounts a better person, whose involvement in the Ottawa community will far outlast any of his on-ice contributions. That he's not worthy of a Hall of Fame spot, in my opinion, doesn't take away from any of his accomplishments, and he deserves to be feted Thursday in a way no other Ottawa sports icon has before him.Congrats, Alfie. No hard feelings.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, Dec. 29:Triple Threat

For the third straight season, NHL goalies are on pace to post the league's highest average in save percentage with a .915 mark.Scoring continues to be at a premium, and, sure, we can blame coaches and tough defensive styles for that, but the No. 1 culprit is the men protecting the blue paint.Yes, some players have been offensively deprived because of this, but for fans, that just means we have been treated to some miraculous stops.Here are this year's top five saves:5. Marc-Andre Fleury vs. DevilsTalk about waiting until the last minute.Marc-Andre Fleury made one last case for save of the year on Tuesday night, with an acrobatic, midair swat against the New Jersey Devils.It won't land him in first on the list, but very nice nonetheless.4. Martin Jones vs. CanadiensMartin Jones has been living on cloud nine the last two seasons.Last year he joined the San Jose Sharks and in his first season led his club to the Stanley Cup Final. He has amassed the second most wins among all goalies since the start of last season and after seeing saves like this beauty on Alex Galchenyuk, is it any wonder why?3. Matt Murray vs. LightningMatt Murray is a stone cold thief.The 22-year-old stole the starting position away from Marc-Andre Fleury during last season's playoff run, he's done so again this season, and as we can see from this stop on Valtteri Filppula, larceny is Murray's forte.2. Matt Murray vs. IslandersMurray is also a repeat offender, just ask John Tavares.The Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender turned in what came very close to be the save of the year this season when he took a sure thing away from the New York Islanders captain.There's got to be a magnet in that glove right?1. Petr Mrazek vs. CanadiensIt was arguably one of the greatest glove saves ever seen, so of course it tops the list.Detroit Red Wings netminder Petr Mrazek welcomed Canadiens rookie Artturi Lehkonen to the NHL in the cruelest way possible this past November, robbing the young winger with a glove save that might stand the test of time.Honorable mentionsMichal Neuvirth's game-saving stop:Ryan Miller's stupendous diving grab:Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Believe it or not, the Toronto Maple Leafs may have found a goalie. Finally.After failing to employ a consistent No. 1 since the days of Ed Belfour, the Maple Leafs orchestrated a trade over the summer to acquire Frederik Andersen from the Anaheim Ducks, and quickly tabbed him as their go-to with a five-year, $25-million extension.But, like the Andrew Raycrofts and Vesa Toskalas before him, Andersen's start in Toronto was a nightmare. Through his first five games, the 27-year-old owned an ugly .848 save percentage, allowing 22 goals along the way.However, unlike those before him, Andersen bounced back in grand fashion.In 24 games since a seven-goal shellacking versus Tampa Bay, Andersen boasts a .939 save percentage, a 2.07 goals-against average, and a 14-7-3 record. Pretty good.The more you shrink it down, the better it gets.

At last, a level playing field.After a concussion sidelined Sidney Crosby for the first six games of the season, his assumed successor for the "greatest player in the world" title, Connor McDavid, begun his ascension to the top of the NHL's points race.Now, just before the calendar turns to 2017, the two are deadlocked at the top.Here's a look at what they've done so far:PlayerGPGAP GWGTOI/GS%Crosby3126 (9)1642 (13)319:0524.3McDavid3613 (1)2942 (12)321:0312.7(x) Indicates power-play totalsBefore Crosby had played a game, McDavid had jumped out to a nine-point cushion. That's quickly evaporated, largely in part to No. 87's scorching goal production.Crosby is on pace for 64 goals, easily a career high, and the highest total in the NHL since Alex Ovechkin netted 65 in 2007-08.McDavid, meanwhile, has been the catalyst for most of Edmonton's offense, but has slowed down a touch. After scoring 19 points in November, McDavid has just 11 points in 12 December games.So, that said, who do you pick?If both Crosby and McDavid play every remaining game on their respective schedules, at their current paces, the totals favor No. 87.Crosby's league-leading points-per-game rate (1.35) projects him to score 102 points over 76 games, while McDavid's (1.17) puts him on pace for just under 96 in 82 contests.Keep in mind, the 90-point threshold has been surpassed only twice in the past three seasons. This season's stretch run is shaping up to be an entertaining one.With more than half the season still to play, streaks and projections will trend toward both ends of the spectrum. But as long as both Crosby and McDavid - the sport's two biggest names - are healthy and competing, NHL fans are in for a treat.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.▼ Jordan EberleThe Edmonton Oilers are eagerly awaiting an increase in production from one of their most seasoned forwards.Eberle has been a non-factor of late, going pointless in his last six games and only recording one goal in his past 15.The 26-year-old ranks fourth in Oilers scoring with 23 points, and his eight goals have him on pace for his lowest total since his rookie campaign (lockout-shortened season aside).Edmonton is two points clear of the wild-card-seeded Calgary Flames in the pacific, but someone needs to help take the load off No. 97. Eberle is a good candidate to do so.▲ Sidney CrosbyThere's not much else to say about the guy.Crosby's yet to cool off this season, and has assumed the NHL's scoring lead alongside Connor McDavid with 42 points - in five fewer games.The Penguins captain has goals in five straight contests, and is on pace for a blistering 63 tallies on the season.Crosby continues to compete on a different level from his peers, and first-place Pittsburgh looks the part of a Stanley Cup threat.▼ Florida PanthersTom Rowe's transition to Florida's bench has been anything but seamless.The Panthers can't find traction, skating a 3-3-4 record over their last 10, and sit three points out of the playoffs with a -10 goal differential. They have two regulation wins since firing Gerard Gallant on Nov. 27.To make matters worse, the club's leading scorer, Aleksander Barkov, was injured Wednesday versus the Maple Leafs and won't be available for a few games.▲ Stan BowmanThis upward trend might be temporary.Bowman ticked the top priority off his to-do list Wednesday in signing Artemi Panarin to a two-year bridge deal, but the Chicago Blackhawks general manager still has plenty of work to do.Erasing lingering questions around the future of the club's leading scorer gives Bowman a win for now, but he'll need to work some magic to keep Chicago under the salary ceiling. Some big names could become expendable in the Windy City.Bowman has been in this situation before, but his next move is particularly crucial, as the Blackhawks face a cap crunch worse than ever before.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators aren't planning on welcoming Craig Anderson back to the fold anytime soon.The team's starting goalie remains on a leave of absence while his wife Nicholle undergoes treatment for throat cancer, and head coach Guy Boucher indicated Wednesday a return is far from imminent."What’s fair to say for you, and for everybody to know, is it’s going to take a while before he’s back," Boucher said, per Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun. "When he’s back, he’s going to need quite a bit of time to practice and get into game situations. It’s been a while now. It’s not like it’s been a week. It’s been a long time."We have to be fair to him when he comes back, whenever that is, give him the time to get back in game shape and timing-wise. We’re looking at a long period here."Anderson hasn't played since Dec. 5, and with Andrew Hammond week to week with an ankle injury, Ottawa's crease currently belongs to Mike Condon.That Condon has played well eases any pressure potentially placed on Anderson to return."We want (the Andersons) to take care of what they need to take care of and right now they’re obviously in the middle of things and I’m sure it’s very difficult," said Boucher. "I don’t want to add on by saying, ‘He should be here’ and put pressure (on the family)."With Anderson and Hammond both unavailable, it's possible that Matt O'Connor will be called upon to make his second career NHL start sometime in the near future.Copyright © 2016 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.theScore will be giving out fantasy report cards discussing the fantasy value of key players on each of the 30 teams. This edition focuses on the Ottawa Senators.ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF | CGY | CAR | CHI | COL | CLB | DAL | DET | EDM | FLA| LA | MIN | MTL | NAS | NJ | NYI | NYR | OTT | PHI | PIT | SJ | STL | TB | TOR | VAN | WAS | WPGG Craig Anderson and Mike CondonAnderson has been spectacular when he has played, but he has been away from the team at times during the season as his wife battles cancer. When he has been absent, Condon has filled in admirably. Both netminders have given the team, and fantasy owners, more than they could have asked for. Grade: ALW Mike HoffmanHoffman should be well on his way to a season of around 30 goals and 30 assists - much like in 2015-16. He takes, on average, three shots a game, which keep his floor very high in daily fantasy. Grade: BRW Mark StoneStone's ice time is slightly down, which would explain why he is taking fewer shots this year. He is still scoring, but his shooting percentage would indicate regression is coming. He isn't flashy, but the fact that he leads the NHL in takeaways is a big reason why he continues to get points. Grade: BRW Bobby RyanYikes. Ryan might be the biggest underachiever in the NHL. The former second overall pick has so much talent, but a lack of effort seems to hold him back at times. He has played much better of late, but overall his season has been a major disappointment. Grade: D-C Kyle TurrisTurris had his worst season as a Senator in 2015-16, but playing though injuries was a major factor. He has bounced back in a big way this year, but an inflated shooting percentage explains why. He could still finish with around 60 points, but that doesn't guarantee fantasy ownership based on the depth of the center position and his lack of versatility. Grade: B-C Derick BrassardThe Brassard-for-Mika Zibanejad trade is looking awful for the Sens right now. Both players have around the same number of points, but Zibanejad has played just half the games because of injury. Brassard's fantasy value has cratered this year after setting a career high in goals in 2015-16. He escapes an F rating with stronger play over the last two weeks. Grade: D-LW Ryan DzingelDzingel wasn't anywhere close to the fantasy radar heading into the season, so his production has been a pleasant surprise. He is still nothing more than a streaming or daily fantasy option, but there's always the possibility the 24-year-old could improve as the season goes on. Grade: B+D Erik KarlssonThose who drafted Karlsson in the first round expecting point-per-game production have not been disappointed. He has also improved his +/- and has contributed more blocked shots this season. He has cemented his status as a top-5 fantasy player, regardless of position, in any scoring format. Grade: A+D Dion PhaneufIt doesn't look like Phaneuf will reach the 40-point plateau, but he is still a valuable fantasy asset in the right league. He is on pace for his highest shot total since 2011-12, produces a healthy amount of power-play points and is good for roughly two hits and blocks apiece per game. Grade: BPlayer to watch - LW Clarke MacArthurConcussions have derailed MacArthur's career. He hasn't played in an NHL game since Oct. 14, 2015, but he is hoping to return sometime in January. It might be a long shot, but there's always a chance he returns to his 50-point form.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michel Therrien was not the least bit satisfied on Wednesday night, as the Montreal Canadiens bench boss blasted his squad's effort following a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning."We were guilty. A lack of effort. A lack of desperation," Therrien told reporters following the loss. "It's unacceptable as far as I'm concerned."The Canadiens carried a 3-1 lead into the final frame, after getting goals from Alexander Radulov, Shea Weber, and Chris Terry. But the Lightning grabbed a pair of goals in the third period, sending the game to extra time.Tampa Bay forward Tyler Johnson sealed the victory 1:36 into the 3-on-3 overtime, beating Canadiens netminder Carey Price, who made 26 saves in the loss.The Canadiens have now dropped three straight games, with losses to the Lightning, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Minnesota Wild.Montreal won't have to wait long for its chance to get back into the win column, as the Canadiens head to Sunrise on Thursday to take on the Florida Panthers.The Canadiens sit atop the Atlantic with a 21-9-5 record, good for 47 points.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add three to the goal column for Robby Fabbri.The St. Louis Blues forward notched his first NHL hat trick on Wednesday, firing three goals past the Philadelphia Flyers en route to a 6-3 victory.

If anything, Vincent Trocheck sets a high bar.Following Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Florida Panthers forward commented on the injury to fellow forward Aleksander Barkov, who left in the second period with a lower-body injury.Barkov did not return to the game.The Panthers announced that Barkov will be "out a few days" with the ailment, a loss Trocheck likened to losing Sidney Crosby, according to Harvey Fialkov of the Sun-Sentinel."If (Barkov) was anywhere else, if he was in Toronto or any big city where hockey is the focal point, you would be seeing a lot more of him," Trocheck told George Richards of the Miami Herald. "He is the glue to this team. When he is not in the lineup, it's an enormous chunk missing."Crosby, of course, sits tied for first in league-wide scoring, holding down 26 goals and 16 assists through 31 games.As for Barkov, while a valuable pivot, his offensive production has dipped this season after a promising campaign a year ago. Barkov has tallied 27 points through 36 games this season, a downgrade from the 0.89 points per game rate he reached in 2015-16.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vladislav Namestnikov was hit by a truck with the license plate WEBER 6 on Wednesday night.The Tampa Bay Lightning forward was rocked after being leveled by Shea Weber midway through the third period.Unfortunately for Namestnikov, he left the game following the hit and did not return.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov will be 'out a few days' with a lower-body injury, Panthers coach Tom Rowe announced following Wednesday's 3-2 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.Barkov left midway through the second period and did not return to the game.Florida will recall forward Michael Sgarbossa in the absence of Barkov, reports Harvey Fialkov of the Sun-Sentinel.Sgarbossa has appeared in nine NHL games this season with the Anaheim Ducks. He was dealt to the Panthers in November.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It took 10 shots but Mitch Marner finally slipped one by Florida Panthers netminder Roberto Luongo.After the rookie forward was turned aside nine times through three periods and the 3-on-3 overtime, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock tapped Marner as one of his three shootout weapons.This time, Marner sealed the victory, and with it, gave the Maple Leafs their first win in the shootout this season in six tries.Auston Matthews and William Nylander scored in regulation for the Maple Leafs, while Jonathan Marchessault and Vincent Trocheck replied for the Panthers.With the victory, the Maple Leafs' record improved to 15-12-7 through 34 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cory Schneider is not a happy goalie.The New Jersey Devils netminder laid into his teammates following Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the division rival Pittsburgh Penguins.Pittsburgh carried a 3-2 lead into the third period, before scoring 3:13 into the final frame and then adding an empty-netter to seal the victory."I just didn't see the urgency from everyone to really want to tie that game and then the empty netter," Schneider told Andrew Gross of the North Jersey Record. "It might just be an empty-netter to make it 5-2 but could we have kept that one out of the net? Probably."We've got to take some pride in not giving up four or five a night and bearing down and believing we can get back in these games. We just have to change that mindset and be better going forward."Related: Shero's message to struggling Devils: 'Play (expletive) harder'It's a been a rough month for the Devils, who have come away with a 3-8-2 record through December, including back-to-back losses to the Penguins."We just need to be stronger in the last minutes of periods, myself included, come up with the save, get to the third tied," Schneider continued. "But the last couple of games that's been an issue. I just don't know. They get the next one and there's the game."(Pittsburgh is) a great team. I'm not discrediting them. We can play with that team. There's no reason why we couldn't have won this game. Not to disrespect them. They're a fantastic team ... That's three games now that they've beat us in a short amount of time and that should bother some people."Schneider and his teammates will have a shot at redemption on Thursday, as the Devils head to D.C. to take on the Washington Capitals.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What a nice return that would have been for Ondrej Palat.The Tampa Bay Lightning forward returned to the lineup on Wednesday after being sidelined since Dec. 14 with an undisclosed injury. He even looked destined to score a goal in his return, but that opportunity was denied by Carey Price who made an incredible paddle save on the 25-year-old early into the second period.Welcome back, Ondrej.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Everson is not only a singer. He also paints.Everson made headlines in October for his anthem performance prior to a Toledo Walleye (ECHL) home game, where he painted a canvas of the Marine Corps Memorial, all while singing the Star Spangled Banner.He was back in action on Wednesday, singing prior to the Florida Panthers game versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.Afterward, Everson took his talents to the concourse, painting this beauty of the legendary Jaromir Jagr, who captured his 1,888th career point earlier in December, passing Mark Messier for second in all-time NHL scoring.

The Chicago Blackhawks have locked up Artemi Panarin for the next two seasons, but it won't come cheap.On Wednesday, the Blackhawks and Panarin agreed to terms on a two-year, $12-million extension. The deal secures Panarin's place in the Blackhawks' lineup for the next two seasons, while he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2019.With 37 points in 37 games, Panarin has outpaced all Blackhawks this season, including Patrick Kane, last year's Art Ross winner, and sits just four places and five points back of the NHL scoring lead. The 25-year-old made his NHL debut last season after spending the previous six seasons in the KHL, and captured Rookie of the Year honors after scoring 77 points in 80 games.On his new deal, Panarin will become the Blackhawks' third-highest paid forward, behind only Kane and captain Jonathan Toews. Beyond that, he's the fourth-highest paid on the team, behind defenseman Brent Seabrook and earning the same as goaltender Corey Crawford.Taking that a step further, 10 Blackhawks will earn at least $3-million against the salary cap. In total, 15 players are signed through 2016-17, and nine others are in need of new contracts, including five forwards, three blue-liners, and a backup goalie. Assuming little to no change in this year's $73-million salary cap, the Blackhawks will have less than $7 million to fill out the rest of their roster.In short, others need to go in order to make room for Panarin's new money. Here are three possibilities:Marcus KrugerCenter Marcus Kruger is relied on for his strong checking presence down the middle. He's a valuable pivot at both ends of the ice, relied on for his skills on the penalty kill, in the faceoff circle, and even his knack to chip in offensively.He's also owed a shade over $3-million against the cap for the next two seasons. His intangibles aside, that sort of money makes Kruger a good candidate for the trade block.In his place, look for the Blackhawks to turn to some of their more affordable young talent to pick up the slack for Kruger.Niklas HjalmarssonA high-end second pairing defenseman could be a luxury the Blackhawks can no longer afford, given that the same money could soon be redirected toward Panarin.At a $4.1-million hit on the salary cap, Niklas Hjalmarsson is signed through the next two seasons, a price tag that is likely too much of a squeeze for the Blackhawks. Chicago could opt to move the blue-liner for picks or prospects, or even young and affordable players to fill out the rest of their roster.The Blackhawks have some interesting young defensemen, including Gustav Forsling, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Michal Kempny, which should help cover the potential loss of Hjalmarsson. The team could also re-sign veteran blue-liner Brian Campbell, who returned to Chicago this season on a hometown discount, earning a cap-friendly $1.5 million.Scott DarlingThe Blackhawks have a quality second-string goalie in Scott Darling. The problem is his performance this year will earn him too big of a raise for the Blackhawks to accommodate.Through 17 games this season, Darling has posted a 10-3-2 record and .923 save percentage. That type of play gives confidence to coach Joel Quenneville and offers key breaks for Crawford.But with a cap hit of under $600,000 this season, Darling is due for a healthy raise.A jump of about $1 million or so will be tight for the Blackhawks, while Darling will likely look for a lot more minutes elsewhere, in addition to a raise in pay. For the Blackhawks, a younger, more economical goalie could better fit their cap picture next season, like Swedish goalie Lars Johansson, who made his North American debut this season with Rockford (AHL).Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Valtteri Filppula will watch from the sidelines after missing a team meeting earlier Wednesday.The Tampa Bay Lightning forward was scratched for Wednesday's game versus the Montreal Canadiens after he was a no-show at a team-mandated meeting, the Lightning announced prior to puck drop.Filppula has scored six goals and 18 assists in 34 games this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a contract extension with forward Artemi Panarin, according to multiple reports and as first reported by Scott Powers of The Athletic.According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the deal is for two years and will pay Panarin an annual average of $6 million.The 25-year-old is in the final year of his two-year deal and was set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end. He currently holds a $3.5-million cap hit.Since joining the league last season, Panarin has quickly become a core piece on the Blackhawks' roster. He captured the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie last season after putting up 30 goals and 77 points in 80 games and has the fourth-most points league-wide since his inception last season.Early this campaign he is on pace to eclipse last year's totals, having amassed 15 goals and 37 points in 37 games.The contract could impose some more cap juggling by management, but in the meantime, Stan Bowman and company have secured an important part of their team going forward.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Kings will continue to trek on without forward Tyler Toffoli in the lineup.The 24-year-old - who has missed the team's last two games with a lower-body injury - was placed on the injured reserve on Wednesday, the team announced.The news is not good for the Kings who are already deprived of goals, having averaged the 20th most in the league at just 2.53 per game. In fact, besides Jeff Carter's 19 goals, no other Kings player has more than Toffoli's eight.The Kings cling to the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference with the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets, and Nashville Predators - all within two points.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Congratulations, Geno.Evgeni Malkin hit a milestone Tuesday, becoming the ninth Russian-born player in NHL history to reach 800 points."I'm old," the 30-year-old said of the occasion.After a goal and an assist, Malkin's 801 points place him ninth on the all-time Russian scorers leaderboard. And he'll be in sole possession of seventh place in a few weeks.RankRussian PlayerNHL PointsGP1Sergei Fedorov117912482Alexander Mogilny10329903Alexei Kovalev102913164Alex Ovechkin9928725Pavel Datsyuk9189536Vyacheslav Kozlov85311827Ilya Kovalchuk8168168Sergei Gonchar81113019Malkin801680Here's where it gets interesting, especially in comparison to Alex Ovechkin, who was drafted first overall in 2004 by the Washington Capitals, with Malkin going second to the Pittsburgh Penguins.PlayerPoints Per GameGPGAPMalkin1.18680310491811Ovechkin1.14872541451992Only five Russians have managed at least a point per game in their careers, and Malkin's 1.18 average is best:Player Points Per Game GPMalkin1.18680Ovechkin1.14872Pavel Bure1.11702Mogilny1.04990Kovalchuk1.00816Yeah, it was a real shame injuries cut Pavel Bure's career short. He was incredible.But back to business: Malkin's in his 11th season in the league, while Ovechkin's in his 12th. Ovie gets a ton of headlines because of his ability to score - he'll go down as the best pure Russian goal-scorer, and likely the second-best goal-scorer of all time behind Wayne Gretzky. And more headlines are on their way, as he's set to hit the 1,000-point mark early in 2017.Malkin, though, has put together a stellar career, despite being dogged by injuries throughout his time in black and gold. He was healthy in his first three seasons, accumulating 304 points in his first 242 games. Since 2009-10, though, he's played more than 70 games in a season only once, in 2011-12, when he finished with 109 points in 75 games, winning the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy. At 1.45 points per game, it was the finest season of his career.Ovechkin bettered that 1.45 mark in 2009-10, when he averaged 1.51 points per game, finishing with 109 in 72 games. He's got four 100-point seasons to his credit, while Malkin has three. Malkin's scored 50 once, while Ovechkin's done it an absurd seven times.Lastly, when comparing the two, there are three things Malkin has that Ovechkin covets: Stanley Cup rings and a Conn Smythe Trophy.This season, Malkin's healthy. He's played in all 36 Penguins games, and is tied with Sidney Crosby for the team lead in scoring with 41 points. Geno's on pace for 93 points - easily his highest total since that special 2011-12 season.Malkin and Ovechkin are two of the best players in hockey - of that there's little doubt. But it's definitely interesting to look at their careers side by side and wonder: If the Capitals could do it again, would they pick No. 8 or No. 71?Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames will be without Troy Brouwer for the foreseeable future following finger surgery.

Desperate for a spark, Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins is hoping Jayson Megna is up to the task of skating on the top line.The undrafted 26-year-old winger will play with Henrik and Daniel Sedin when the team takes to the ice Wednesday against Los Angeles.The assignment isn't without some merit, as the trio found some success in a Dec. 8 win over the Lightning.

The NHL's movement toward speed and skill has dramatically reduced fighting and diminished hitting, but the modern game still features plenty of devastating checks.From heavy hits in open ice, to hip checks, to clean but crunching collisions along the boards, there were many memorable body blows in 2016.Here are 10 of the biggest ones:Emelin rocks StastnyOne of the year's biggest hits came less than three weeks in, when Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin sent forward Paul Stastny airborne right in front of the St. Louis Blues bench back in January:Orlov flips DucheneThere's nothing like a hip check. Dmitry Orlov and Matt Duchene proved it - again - in October:Check out this still:Byfuglien wallops StoneWinnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is no stranger to this list, having made it for multiple collisions in 2015, and the burly blue-liner is back on it in 2016 for this destruction of Ottawa Senators forward Mark Stone in March.Stone missed the final five games of the season as a result, but it was arguably clean and there's no denying how thunderous it was, especially when viewed in slow motion.Andrighetto meets PhaneufDion Phaneuf is good for a couple of these a year.In March, the Ottawa Senators defenseman rudely introduced himself to Sven Andrighetto, who had no idea No. 2 was coming:Hickey ices Drouin"Never cut across the blue line." - Jonathan DrouinRussell steps up on MotteIn this case, Tyler Motte is advanced stats, and Kris Russell wants the world to know what he thinks of them:Wilson obliterates ZadorovWashington Capitals forward Tom Wilson plays on the edge. Ask Nikita Zadorov.The Colorado Avalanche defender retrieved a dump in and proceeded to skate with the puck behind his net. The only problem: Wilson had just hit the ice on a change and came in with incredible speed, literally stopping Zadorov in his tracks:Zadorov was concussed on the play, but luckily recovered quickly, missing only a game. Even he acknowledged the hit was clean."It wasn't the head or anything," he said. "It happened. I've been hitting all my life, and now it's probably time for me to get hit from someone."Voracek's helmet goes flyingIn October, Dmitry Kulikov woke up Jakub Voracek.The Philadelphia Flyers forward had his lid go flying after the Sabres defender rocked him after a turnover at the Buffalo blue line:Emelin flips ColborneEmelin's back, and we've got another hip check. Colorado's victimized again, Joe Colborne this time. And in a 10-1 game. Emelin cares not for the scoreboard.Tyler Johnson can flyLast but not least, not so much a hit but a shove-hit, one that proved that Tyler Johnson can fly:Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators will be without defenseman P.K. Subban for at least the next two games.Subban was unable to skate Wednesday due to an upper-body injury that's sidelined him for the past five games, and he'll therefore miss Thursday's home game against Chicago and Friday's date in St. Louis.Nashville's next game after that is Jan. 3 at home to Montreal, one that has been circled on the calendar since this past summer's Shea Weber trade.Speaking to 102.5 FM in Nashville on Tuesday, general manager David Poile neither confirmed nor denied a report from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that Subban is dealing with a herniated disc."We do everything we can to protect the player," Poile said, per NHL.com. "I say almost every team just announces their injuries as either an upper- or lower-body injury. That's because when a player comes back, he's not always 100 percent, and if you knew exactly what was wrong with the player, a player on another team might go after that body part to see if they could re-injure it."Poile added Subban was scheduled to meet with doctors Tuesday to evaluate the situation.Subban has not played since Dec. 15 after recording seven goals and 10 assists in his first 29 games with the Predators.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall's hurt again.The New Jersey Devils forward won't play Thursday due to lower-body injury, the club announced, while also noting the ailment is not related to knee surgery he had earlier in the season, or his mouth, after Hall took a high stick Tuesday. He's day to day.When healthy, he's been very good, with 23 points in 27 games. Travis Zajac leads the team in points with 24 in 35 games.Hall returned in fine form after missing eight games due to his knee injury. He has three goals and eight assists in 13 games in December.The Devils also announced that Vernon Fiddler will be out three-to-four weeks with a lower-body injury. The 36-year-old has a goal and two assists in 35 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There are two common interpretations of Sidney Crosby's calendar season - one reasoned, the other fanciful.The more measured rationalization is his revival was a response to a new voice with fresh ideas brought in just before the calendar flipped. Mike Sullivan shook up the stagnancy in Pittsburgh and awakened an elite talent hibernating within an inapt system.What requires spin is the notion that Crosby felt slighted. The industry that exalted him was now enamored with someone else, and Connor McDavid's rise was both a challenge and opportunity to quiet critics having careless assertions validated by his poor play.Either explanation would be too simplistic by itself. Instead, a combination of factors contributed to this hockey genius, making for a year as important to his legacy as any previous.With two champagne-soaked celebrations, three major-trophy hoists, and a goal-scoring rate unlike we've seen in a decade, Crosby was the story in hockey in 2016.Here's why:The driveTo tell the whole story, we have to start with the nightmarish circumstances of this time last year. Crosby had six goals in 28 games through the first two months, his struggles emblematic of a Penguins team ranked fourth-to-last in NHL scoring after upgrading one of the league's most expensive top sixes with the addition of Phil Kessel.Crosby's well-chronicled struggles meant name recognition wasn't going to earn him an All-Star nod. And soon after rosters were finalized without his inclusion, the connection was established that John Scott, he of five career goals, would have as many appearances at the NHL's showcase as the greatest player in the world due to Crosby missing four of his five All-Star selections with injury.By this point there was no shame, because Crosby had begun to score. He boosted his average output by a half-point within six weeks of Sullivan's hiring, and it continued to accelerate as Pittsburgh established itself as the top team in hockey over the final four months.Crosby scored 30 goals and an NHL-best 66 points in 52 games during the Penguins' drive to the postseason, and they finished with the No. 2 seed in the East and with the NHL's third-ranked attack.GamesGoalsAssistsPointsP15230 (2)36 (6)66 (1)51 (1)The runAs the top-performing team through the season's final two thirds, as reflected through metrics and record, the Penguins entered the tournament as title favorites.Crosby was the driving force in seeing them live up to that expectation.He was most productive in the swift disposal of the Rangers in Round 1. Crosby scored three goals and recorded eight points in five games, helping set up a titanic clash with Presidents' Trophy winners from Washington. He was held in check in that series, but the Penguins' supporting cast provided the offense. He then scored three game-winning goals against the Lightning in the conference finals, starting with an overtime winner in Game 2. Timely contributions helped Pittsburgh advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in seven seasons.Crosby failed to score against the Sharks, but orchestrated Conor Sheary's overtime goal in Game 2 to earn a 2-0 stranglehold, and later added two assists in the decisive Game 6. The voting committee saw beyond his sixth-place finish in playoff scoring, awarding Crosby his first Conn Smythe Trophy on the merit of his supreme, two-way, scoring chance-dominant performance throughout the spring.He hoisted the second Stanley Cup of his career moments later. This lift he would make sure to savor.For CanadaAs the only player to captain nations to Olympic and World Championship gold and have a Stanley Cup, Crosby had a unique opportunity to add something new to his brimming international portfolio this summer at the rebirth of the World Cup of Hockey.In a tournament engineered to showcase the NHL's premiere talent, it was, most appropriately, Crosby who stood out most.He scored three goals and a tournament-best 10 points, and anchored the event's most dominant line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. He was named MVP as Canada navigated the tournament to a perfect 6-0 record and won its third straight best-on-best competition.87's returnThe most fascinating aspect of Crosby's calendar season is that even after winning that legacy-cementing second Stanley Cup, and claiming an outstanding title for his international mantle, what's happening right now is arguably the most impressive.There was genuine reason to fear for the future when he had to sit out the first few weeks of this season with a concussion, and tackle the symptoms that cost him a considerable chunk of his career.But when he was cleared soon after the diagnosis, he returned at a level beyond the previous nine months; Crosby's been the most productive, the most innovative, and the purist goal scorer in the NHL.Crosby has 25 goals in 30 games for a 68-goal pace across a full 82-game campaign. His career high is 51. He's one point behind McDavid for the scoring lead despite starting his season Oct. 25, and by virtue of goals and first assists, he's been the truest scorer with 35 primary points.GoalsGoals/GameShooting %Points/6025 (1)0.83 (1)23.84.18 (1)In sumStill with two games on the schedule in 2016, Crosby will, in all likelihood, add on to his exceptional totals. But here they are to this point:Crosby has scored 52 goals and 99 points in 74 regular-season games, and 118 points in 98 games if you include the playoffs. His average output falls above his career standard, but actually doesn't rank in his top five calendar years. However it does disrupt his trajectory in a major way.YearGamesGoalsAssistsPrimary Points20169858 (1)60 (4)94 (1)20158428 (35)49 (16)56 (18)20148526 (40)66 (2)58 (19)* All stats include playoffsAs alluded to above, where Crosby's numbers do compare favorably to his best calendar seasons are in goals. His 0.70 per game in 2016 is second only to his colossal 2010.In 2017, Crosby will hit the 1,000-point mark - he's only 21 away. Another milestone and another year in what's already a Hall of Fame career.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' defensive depth will be tested yet again.Brian Dumoulin will miss four-to-six weeks after undergoing surgery for a broken jaw, the club announced Wednesday.Dumoulin was hit by an errant shot during Tuesday's win over New Jersey.He joins Kris Letang (lower body), Trevor Daley (upper body), and Olli Maatta (illness) on the Penguins' injured list, with Justin Schultz and Ian Cole left to lead the charge.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With every game that passes, Artemi Panarin continues to prove his worth to the Chicago Blackhawks. The problem is, some serious work will need to be done to fit the soon-to-be restricted free agent under the salary cap.Here are some things to consider ahead of his next contract:The Bread Man givethWith an assist in Tuesday's loss to Winnipeg, Panarin extended his point streak to eight games, boosting his exceptional career numbers to date.Since joining the Blackhawks in 2015-16, Panarin - who's since been dubbed "Bread Man" - sits in a tie for seventh among all players in points per game during that span.PlayerGamesGoalsAssistsPoints/GPPatrick Kane11956851.18Sidney Crosby11061651.15Connor McDavid8129611.11Evgeni Malkin9342571.06Jamie Benn11851681.01Tyler Seguin10844630.99Artemi Panarin11745690.97Erik Karlsson11723910.97Vladimir Tarasenko11556560.97Johnny Gaudreau10639640.97In terms of total production, Panarin's 114 points put him in a tie with Karlsson for fourth, behind only Kane, Crosby and Benn, and his performance as a rookie earned him the 2016 Calder Trophy.The fact that the 25-year-old has yet to miss a game due to injury or otherwise gives him a higher total, but drops him down average-wise in relation to the truly elite.What's he worth?Two names that jump out from the list as comparables for Panarin's next contract are Vladimir Tarasenko and Johnny Gaudreau, both of whom signed long-term extensions as pending restricted free agents.Back in July 2015, Tarasenko signed an eight-year deal with St. Louis worth $60 million, carrying a cap hit of $7.5 million. Gaudreau's deal came in at six years and $40.5 million - a $6.75-million cap hit.Again, Panarin shares a points-per-game average with these two star players, but has outperformed them in total points, and is two years older, meaning he's in his prime.Panarin's age adds an interesting wrinkle, according to Craig Custance of ESPN:

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Wednesday, Dec. 28 (all advanced stats are at 5-on-5 and courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):Triple Threat

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.theScore will be giving out fantasy report cards discussing the fantasy value of key players on each of the 30 teams. This edition focuses on the Montreal Canadiens.ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF | CGY | CAR | CHI | COL | CLB | DAL | DET | EDM | FLA| LA | MIN | MTL | NAS | NJ | NYI | NYR | OTT | PHI | PIT | SJ | STL | TB | TOR | VAN | WAS | WPGG Carey PriceDespite the odd disaster outing, Price has come as advertised. In 25 starts, he is 18-5-2 with a superhuman .934 save percentage. With injuries and uncertain sources of scoring, Price still manages to scrape wins off the ice. He's the best goaltender on the planet and is the only one worth trusting with this sporadic team in front of him. Grade: A+LW Max PaciorettyPacioretty went through a severe goal-scoring drought with only one goal over an 11-game stretch between late October and early November. He turned a corner in December, though he is still looking more like a boom-or-bust candidate. His propensity to take several shots per game helps, and he's been finding twine at a better rate than he did in his slow start. Grade: B-RW Alexander RadulovNo complaints here. Radulov's relatively low goal totals are easy to ignore because of his expertise in setting up his teammates. He started slowly, but he has not been held off the score sheet often, though he had a rough road trip to finish November. He's one of the few Canadiens worth rostering on a daily basis even if his upside is limited without the goals. Grade: ARW Brendan GallagherHampered by a poor shooting percentage, Gallagher has not developed into a consistent scorer. He's provided a decent floor, but after scoring twice on opening night, he hasn't gone back to the well often enough, including a six-game point-less streak in early November. He won't cost much, but the returns aren't inspiring. Grade: CC Alex GalchenyukBefore the knee injury, Galchenyuk had established himself as the Canadiens' most consistent fantasy option. He had only been held without a point in consecutive games once and had tallied five multi-point offerings. His ceiling wasn't reaching elite status, but he was as dependable as they come for cash-game options. Grade: ALW Paul ByronByron established a career high with 11 goals in 2015-16 and has already matched it. His high shooting percentage (23.9) suggests a correction is going to come soon, but he's been the bargain play of the season. Exceeding expectations, any extra fantasy value is gravy. Grade: A-C Tomas PlekanecThe Montreal mainstay is having his worst offensive season, leaving him on the cutting room floor in all fantasy formats. Plekanec's 4.8 shooting percentage is largely to blame as it's comically below his career numbers. He can't be trusted. Grade: FD Shea WeberThe prize of the P.K. Subban acquisition paid immediate dividends when he first suited up for the Canadiens and, like many teammates, his offensive numbers cooled after a hot start. Weber adds a couple blocked shots per game, so he maintains value even when he's not scoring. Expected offensive regression has settled in with only one point in his last 12 games. Grade: BD Andrei MarkovA cheaper alternative to Weber on most nights for the right reasons. He's less likely to score as he takes fewer shots, but he makes up for it with a smattering of assists and leads the team in helpers. Eventually, Markov is going to fall off due to age, but it hasn't happened yet. A limited ceiling prevents him from being a tournament option. Grade: B+Player to Watch - LW Artturi LehkonenThe rookie has played in 25 games and has seen some success. Five of his seven goals have come in 11 December games. His playing time jumped briefly, and settled back to under 14 minutes per game over his last five. Should injuries continue to pile up, Lehkonen has some serious upside, though he's only sporadically taking enough shots.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.