Victor Hedman is already the Tampa Bay Lightning's most productive defenseman ever.The 26-year-old picked up an assist on Jonathan Drouin's second-period goal Saturday, and in doing so, he passed Dan Boyle to become the leading point producer among defensemen in franchise history.Hedman also moved into sole possession of ninth on the team's points list among all skaters, inching to within five points of Chris Gratton for eighth.It was his 254th career point in his 502nd game. Boyle recorded 253 points in 394 games with Tampa Bay from 2001-08.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Kane wasn't going to be held off the scoresheet forever.The Chicago Blackhawks star broke out of a rare goal-scoring slump Saturday night, cruising in on a breakaway and beating St. Louis Blues goaltender Jake Allen.Kane went nine games without scoring until Saturday's marker - his ninth goal and 31st point in 33 contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vinnie Hinostroza hasn't produced at a high clip for the Chicago Blackhawks, but after pulling off a play like this, maybe he's ready.The 22-year-old forward scored an impressive goal Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues that held up as the game-winner, kicking a rebound with his skate to his stick and burying a shot on the backhand to give Chicago a 5-4 lead in an eventual 6-4 victory.Hinostroza's celebration was equally terrific.

A trio of notable Canadians came together in Toronto on Saturday night.Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie took in the Maple Leafs' victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, chatting up Don Cherry and Bobby Orr.

Carey Price is in rarefied air thanks to yet another victory.The Montreal Canadiens goaltender stopped 20-of-21 shots in a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night, becoming the fourth netminder in Canadiens history to collect 250 wins in his NHL career.Goaltender Win TotalJacques Plante314Patrick Roy289Ken Dryden258Carey Price250Price also tied Johnny Bower and Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne for 50th on the all-time list.He downplayed the accomplishment after the game, telling reporters it was "just another win for me," and adding that he doesn't "really care a whole bunch about milestones that much," according to NHL.com's Katie Brown.Price improved to 17-4-2 with a 1.90 GAA and a .936 save percentage in 23 appearances, putting Friday's uncomfortable exit behind him, but not before being asked about the stare-down seen 'round the world.

The hats were flying at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday thanks to Tomas Tatar.Tatar recorded the first hat trick of his career against the Anaheim Ducks, helping the Detroit Red Wings rally from a pair of multi-goal deficits en route to a 6-4 win.After potting goals in both the first and second period, the 26-year-old used a sweet deke to beat Ducks netminder Jonathan Bernier for his third of the contest and seventh of the season.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Tatar's hat trick was the second of the season for the Red Wings at Joe Louis, as Mike Green also scored three against the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 17. It's the first time since 2007-08 the team has accomplished the feat, according to NHL Public Relations.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Persistence pays off.That's the lesson taught by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner on Saturday night.The rookie put plenty of pressure on the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime before teammate Jake Gardiner buried the game-winner to give the Leafs a 2-1 victory.Marner single-handedly created a scoring chance, then stole the puck back on the forecheck and fed it to Gardiner for the relatively academic tap-in.Not bad for a 19-year-old.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rick Nash doesn't need much time or space to get himself on the highlight reel.The New York Rangers forward absolutely roofed one on Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros from an extremely tight angle after blowing by defenseman Petter Granberg on Saturday night.It put Nash in a tie with Michael Grabner for the team lead with 13 goals.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Twitter isn't the best venue when tone is required.The Washington Capitals were reminded of that Saturday night, when their social media staff had an awkward exchange with a fan who used the club's hashtag du jour to tweet a selfie.Despite its clear use of the "smirking face" emoji, the team was predictably roasted, but responded by claiming it was all in good fun.Emily may not have been entirely convinced.It wouldn't be Twitter without the occasional misunderstanding, but this one ended on a comedic note.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Andre Fleury's Saturday night could have been a whole lot worse.The Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender was forced to leave the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after James van Riemsdyk inadvertently caught him with a skate to the neck in the first period.Matt Murray replaced Fleury while he went off for repairs, and the veteran returned several minutes later.Fleury had a similarly scary moment in the preseason, when he was grazed in the throat by a skate worn by Detroit Red Wings forward Matt Lorito.After Saturday's game, Fleury said he was told he was lucky the skate cut his chin and didn't slice his jugular, adding that it took five stitches to seal up the cut, according to Postmedia's Lance Hornby.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators were without defenseman P.K. Subban in their lineup Saturday when they hosted the New York Rangers, as the team announced the 27-year-old is day to day with an upper-body injury.Subban was absent from Predators practice Saturday, but the team hasn't yet indicated how he suffered the injury.The two-time All-Star and 2012-13 Norris Trophy winner has appeared in 29 games for Nashville this season - his first with the Predators since coming over in a blockbuster deal with the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Shea Weber this past June - scoring seven goals, adding 10 assists, and averaging 25:03 of ice time.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' blue line is thinning out by the day.Trevor Daley is considered week to week with what the Penguins are calling an "upper-body injury," head coach Mike Sullivan said Saturday.Daley was forced to leave Friday's loss to the Los Angeles Kings with what was a fully undisclosed ailment at the time.Kris Letang was placed on injured reserve earlier Saturday after he was ruled out for "a couple of weeks" Thursday with an injury of his own.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gregory Campbell has played his last game as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets.Columbus placed the enforcer on waivers Saturday with the purpose of terminating his contract, the team confirmed.The veteran of over 800 games has not suited up for the Blue Jackets or the team's American Hockey League affiliate - the Cleveland Monsters - this season, but the club remains on the hook for his $1.7-million salary.Campbell has amassed 71 goals, 186 points, and 696 penalty minutes over his 12 seasons in the league.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Somewhere, Connor McDavid has a big smile on his face.Related: McDavid: Manning admitted questionable contact last season was intentionalDallas Stars forward Jason Spezza shook off the fisticuff cobwebs Saturday, dropping the gloves against Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning early into the second period.For Spezza, the fight was his first since the 2008-09 season when he duked it out with then-Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf, according to hockeyfights.com.The judges - and McDavid - are likely to score this one in favor of Spezza.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Scooch over Devan Dubnyk and Carey Price.Roughly a third of the way through the season, it's looking like the Vezina Trophy will be handed out to one of either Dubnyk or Price; and why not?The Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens netminders have been marvelous to date, pushing both of their clubs into the upper echelon of the NHL standings.However, as Christmas draws nearer, a third contender is starting to emerge in the form of Sergei Bobrovsky.The Columbus Blue Jackets have been arguably the hottest team in the NHL over the last month-and-a-half, and Bobrovsky has been as responsible for their streak as anybody.The club is riding an eight-game winning streak at the moment - its longest of the season - with Bobrovsky having dressed in seven of those games. In each contest, the former Vezina Trophy winner has allowed two goals or fewer, allowing just one goal in five of those appearances.Bobrovsky has been everything the Blue Jackets could want and more as he sits among the best in the league in nearly every statistical category.Goalie Wins Save Percentage Goals-Against Average ShutoutsDevan Dubnyk15 (T-4).947 (1)1.62 (1)4 (1)Carey Price16 (T-2).935 (T-4)1.95 (6)2 (T-8)Matt Murray12 (13).937 (3)1.86 (3)2 (T-8)Tuukka Rask15 (4).930 (8)1.90 (T-4)3 (T-2)Sergei Bobrovsky18 (1).935 (T-4)1.90 (T-4)3 (T-2)(X) = League RankA model of consistency all season long, the 28-year-old has allowed three or more goals in a game in just three of his 25 games played.Bobrovsky has helped propel Columbus to within a mere two points of the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins - who share the best record in the league. What's more, the Blue Jackets have four and three games in-hand on the two, respectively.Columbus is quickly becoming the team to beat league-wide, and in order for the opposition to overcome the soaring Blue Jackets, teams will have to find a way to put pucks past a goaltender who just might be bringing home some hardware at season's end.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff does not object to the four-game suspension handed out to Cody Eakin on Friday.The Department of Player Safety slapped the 25-year-old with a four-game ban for his charge on New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqivst in Thursday's contest and as Ruff sees it, Eakin was in the wrong."I expected (the suspension) to be within that range," Ruff said, according to NHL.com's Sean Shapiro. "It's something that I obviously don't condone. it wasn't a good play on his part, and he hurts the team by taking himself out of the lineup now."The Stars could use all hands on deck as the team has struggled in December going 3-5-0 in eight games this month. The team currently sits four points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference and things aren't getting any easier.The team's next three games pit them against the Philadelphia Flyers, the St. Louis Blues, and the Los Angeles Kings, clubs all seeded higher in the standings.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins will likely have to endure the next two games without their deadliest weapon.Forward David Pastrnak is likely to miss the club's contests against the Los Angeles Kings and New York Islanders on Sunday and Tuesday after undergoing a successful removal of the olecranon bursa from his right elbow, general manager Don Sweeney announced in a statement.In the meantime, Pastrnak will be re-assessed daily, though Comcast Sportsnet's Joe Haggerty notes that the procedure is the same one that fellow Bruin David Backes underwent earlier in the season and it sidelined the veteran for nearly two weeks.Pastrnak is off to a scorching start this season, having already eclipsed his career-high in goals through 27 games, while his 26 points is just one shy of his career-best. The 20-year-old's 19 goals are the second most league-wide, next to Sidney Crosby's 21.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 Saturday, December 17:Triple Threat

The Columbus Blue Jackets will beat you up on the ice and in the alley these days.The club picked up their eighth straight victory on Friday against the Calgary Flames, but much of the talk post game was of Alexander Wennberg's successful first fight in the league against Flames' rookie Matthew Tkachuk."Great left," Tortorella said, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch. "Great left, and then he switched to a right. I loved what I saw out of Wenny there. Hit him on the button, too. I thought Wenny was probably one of our best players."As for Wennberg, the fight wasn't something he thought too much of, he was just simply sticking up for teammate Brandon Saad."It’s not really my role to be fighting, but Saader took a big hit," Wennberg said. "I felt like I needed to step up. It didn’t make me uncomfortable. It felt like the right thing for me to do. It was a great experience for me to get involved a little bit."It was right in front of our bench. The guys enjoyed it and I think it fired them up a little bit. It was perfect. Couldn’t get any better than that, right?"Here's a look at the fight in case you missed it.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bo Horvat will take it.The Vancouver Canucks forward's ninth goal of the season stood up as the game-winning marker Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it was about us unorthodox as a power-play goal gets.

Well, isn't this interesting.The Columbus Blue Jackets won again Friday, because that's what they do now. It was their eighth win in a row, a 4-1 decision over the Calgary Flames.

It appears Sean Monahan is ready to produce again.After accumulating an underwhelming eight points in his first 20 games of the season, Monahan has been red-hot of late, notching 11 points (five goals, six assists) over a nine-game point streak. He scored Calgary's lone marker in a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.Without coincidence, his linemate Johnny Gaudreau is on a seven-game streak of his own, but Monahan's increased production has to be a welcomed sight for the Flames, who - before dropping their last two contests - had won six in a row.Monahan, 22, established a career high in points last season (63), and as a result, the Flames awarded their franchise pivot a seven-year, $44.6-million extension in the summer.A back injury suffered in September kept him off Team North America at the World Cup of Hockey, and could have contributed to his slow start, but as of now, it looks like Monahan has found his stride again.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Evgeny Kuznetsov is not about to tip his hand.After a slow start to the season, the Washington Capitals center is finally starting to pile up the points. Heading into December, Kuznetsov had recorded three goals and six assists, but he's almost doubled that point total over the past 11 days.Don't ask him what's behind the surge, though.

Plans change.Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price was pulled Friday night after about 27 minutes of action. He allowed all four goals - on only 18 shots - in a 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks, and clearly wasn't happy, staring down his bench as he left the ice.After the game, head coach Michel Therrien said Price - not Al Montoya - will start Saturday against the Washington Capitals, who beat Carolina to extend their win streak to six games.The original plan had Montoya starting Saturday - and the club winning Friday.Price refused to talk to the media after the game. In fact, he didn't sit on the bench with teammates in the third period.Therrien, meanwhile, said he didn't see Price's glare, according to La Presse's Richard Labbe. A number of Price's teammates - including captain Max Pacioretty and Shea Weber - said they didn't see it either, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu.It was a painful night all around for Montreal, who lost Sven Andrighetto to injury, further depleting a beat-up group up front. Chris Terry's been called up, as Andrighetto won't travel to D.C.The Capitals, meanwhile, started their backup Philipp Grubauer on Friday in Raleigh, which means it'll be Braden Holtby in goal Saturday opposite Price.Two Vezina Trophy winners. Two of the best. Should be fun.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rasmus Ristolainen has played the role of overtime hero for the second time in 10 days.The Buffalo Sabres defenseman wired a shot past Jean-Francois Berube of the New York Islanders to secure the two points for his club. Ristolainen recorded two points of his own, extending quite the personal hot streak.

PITTSBURGH - Tyler Toffoli scored a minute into overtime, helping the Los Angeles Kings end the Pittsburgh Penguins' seven-game winning streak with a 1-0 victory Friday night.The Kings have won three of four overall and four straight against the Penguins. Toffoli got his eighth goal, and Peter Budaj stopped 39 shots for his third shutout of the season.Matt Murray made his fifth straight start and had 27 saves for the Penguins. Pittsburgh had won nine of 11 and six straight at home.Toffoli scored on a 3-on-1, taking a pass from defenseman Alec Martinez before skating to the top of the crease and lifting a wrist shot that beat Murray to the glove side.The Penguins sit atop the Metropolitan Division with 44 points and are tied with Chicago for the NHL lead.Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby ended his season-high - and NHL-best - nine-game point streak. Crosby leads the league with 21 goals but failed to score in consecutive games for the first time this season. He has points in 20 of 25 games this year.Pittsburgh had a 30-15 advantage in shots heading into the third but couldn't get on the board. The Kings outshot Pittsburgh in the third and had the period's only power play, but still the game went scoreless to OT. It was the fourth time in the last five meetings the teams needed overtime against one another.The Kings are in the midst of a nine-game, 18-day trip that started Tuesday at Buffalo and ends in two weeks at Edmonton. Los Angeles has six wins in 15 road games this season, compared to 10 wins in 15 home games.The Penguins played without top defenseman Kris Letang, who is out a couple weeks with a lower-body injury. The Penguins were down to four defensemen at one point in Friday's game after losing Trevor Daley late in the second period and Brian Dumoulin early in the third. Dumoulin returned, but Daley did not.Letang, who had seven assists in his last seven games, was injured in Pittsburgh's win against Boston on Wednesday. The Penguins had been 4-1 in five games without Letang this season and 2-8-1 in 11 games missed last season.Pittsburgh recalled Derrick Pouliot from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to take Letang's spot in the lineup. Pouliot previously played in one game against San Jose earlier this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If looks could kill.With the San Jose Sharks in town, Montreal's Carey Price was pulled early in the second period after allowing four goals.However, Price didn't receive much help from those in front of him, as the Canadiens were outshot 15-4 in the first, and gave up two powerplay goals.Upon giving way to backup Al Montoya, Price shot Montreal's bench a seemingly furious stare en route to cooling off in the dressing room.It's the first time Price has been pulled since Oct. 13, 2014.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Timo Meier is on the board, and in notable fashion.The San Jose Sharks rookie recorded his first career goal on his first-ever shot during Friday's game in Montreal, beating Canadiens goalie Carey Price - arguably the best in the world - with a rebound from the doorstep.Meier, 20, was drafted ninth overall by the Sharks in 2015.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When the Chicago Blackhawks travel to St. Louis to play the Blues at Busch Stadium on Jan. 2, goaltender Scott Darling has a surprise for the local fans which they may not be too happy about.Darling's mask for the Winter Classic will commemorate the Chicago Cubs, adding fuel to the storied Cubs-St. Louis Cardinals rivalry, which is known around baseball as one of the sports' best.

Montreal Canadiens forward Andrew Shaw will not dress for Friday's game against San Jose due to concussion-like symptoms which developed late Thursday afternoon, the team announced.The Canadiens have not played since Monday's tilt with rival the Boston Bruins, during which Shaw was the recipient of a high hit delivered by Torey Krug.Shaw left the game for examination but was able to return, while Krug avoided supplementary discipline reportedly based on the fact Shaw put himself in a vulnerable position on the play.No timetable has been set for Shaw's return to the lineup, but he will not travel with the club for Saturday's game in Washington.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic will have to pay up.The San Jose Sharks defenseman was handed a $5,000 fine - the maximum allowable under the CBA - for dangerous use of the stick against Senators captain Erik Karlsson, the NHL announced Friday.The play occurred Wednesday, after which Karlsson said Vlasic "tried to pitchfork me in the face."The incident caused a small scuffle, but was originally unnoticed by the game's officials.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Stars forward Cody Eakin has been suspended four games for charging Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.Eakin was assessed a five-minute major and was ejected for the collision in the first period Thursday.The league stated Eakin didn't make a distinct effort to avoid contact, resulting in the decision.Lundqvist wasn't injured on the play.It's the first suspension of Eakin's career, and he's eligible to return Dec. 29 versus Colorado.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman has been suspended for two games for cross-checking San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.As the video shows, Hoffman delivered a high cross-check toward Couture's back, making contact with the head after his stick rode up defenseman Brenden Dillon' stick.While the play was deemed unacceptable and dangerous, Hoffman was cut somewhat of a break due to Dillon's stick.Couture not being injured on the play, as well as Hoffman's clean record, also factored into the decision.Hoffman will be eligible to return Dec. 20 in Chicago.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Henrik Zetterberg, leader of men.In a preview of the latest season of EPIX's "Road to the NHL Outdoor Classics," the Detroit Red Wings captain is seen holding a players-only meeting following a 4-1 loss to Arizona on home ice."We need our points. We all know that," Zetterberg said. "We all know where we are in the standings. These are the games we have to be better at. … It's going to be too late soon. We all know it."The Red Wings, who sit five points back of third place in the Atlantic Division, will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Centennial Classic on Jan. 1.The EPIX show premieres Friday at 10 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey bonds run deep.Buffalo Sabres forward Kyle Okposo alluded to as much in advance of Friday's game against the New York Islanders, for whom he played 556 games over nine seasons after being drafted 28th overall in 2006.It'll be Okposo's first game against his old club after signing with the Sabres this past summer, and while he has mixed emotions, all that matters in the end is securing the two points against an Islanders team that sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings."It's tough to see them struggle, but on the other side of the ledger I'm over here now and this is what I've got to focus on," Okposo said, per Joe Yerdon of NHL.com. "When I talk to those guys I just ask them how they're doing and hopefully their spirits are up. You don't like to see guys go through that, that you battled with and you grew up with."But when we play them it's going to be business as usual and everybody is trying to get two points out there. But you don't like to see those guys struggle or go through tough stretches like they are."Okposo's Sabres have a 11-11-6 record through 29 games, good for 28 points, one ahead of the Islanders (11-13-5).Neither team seems destined for the playoffs, but Friday's meeting could be an emotional affair all the same.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Add Ondrej Palat's name to the list of Tampa Bay Lightning players sidelined with injuries.Head coach Jon Cooper spoke to reporters on Friday noting that Palat - who left Wednesday's game against the Calgary Flames with an undisclosed injury - will miss Friday's game against the Vancouver Canucks and is likely to sit Saturday when the club rolls into Edmonton, according to Bryan Burns of TampaBayLightning.com.Nikita Kucherov - who leads the team in scoring with 30 points - will follow suit after missing's Wednesday's game with a lower-body-injury.

The Vancouver Canucks blue line will have an added boost Friday when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, as defenseman Chris Tanev is set to return to the lineup after missing 20 games with a lower-body injury, the team announced.Tanev last played Nov. 2 versus the Montreal Canadiens in a 3-0 loss for the Canucks. He also missed the previous three games with a lower-body injury, meaning he has appeared in just one of the club's last 24 games.Tanev has scored one point in seven games this season. The Canucks, who sit last in the Pacific with a 12-16-2 record, hope Tanev's return can bolster their lineup and improve their postseason chances. Vancouver sits six points shy of a playoff position.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

They've danced around the idea.It used to be, will the Pittsburgh Penguins trade Marc-Andre Fleury? But the question may now be, can the Penguins trade Fleury?With the Las Vegas expansion draft looming over the Penguins' crease, and the team all but guaranteed to protect young netminder Matt Murray, Fleury's days in the Steel City are no doubt on borrowed time.But that hasn't stopped Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford from denying the inevitable.In May, the veteran GM said that Fleury was "absolutely not" done in Pittsburgh, despite the strong play of youngster Murray.

Giving Timo Meier his first taste of the National Hockey League will come at a price for San Jose Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer.The club's first-round pick in 2015 will play his first game against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night, but in turn, veteran forward Joel Ward will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season."There’s no easy way. Those aren’t easy conversations," DeBoer said, according to Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News. "He’s a proud guy. He’s a great player and he’s a great teammate and he was a key guy for us last year on the run. Those aren’t easy and we don’t take them lightly. But those are the decisions we have to make."After contributing 21 goals and 43 points last season, Ward has been unable to replicate his stellar campaign, with just two goals and nine points in 30 games. Meanwhile, Meier has been dominant in his first AHL season, amassing nine goals and 15 points in 17 games with the San Jose Barracuda."He deserves to be up here, he’s played great in the American League and the whole organization high on him," DeBoer said. "Just want him to get through his first game without feeling too nervous. Jump in with both feet and go to work. He’s a good player. He belongs up here."The Sharks will be looking to remain perfect on their current road trip, having already collected wins against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings goaltenders are ringing in the holidays with festive new masks.As they did last season, Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek will be donning Christmas-themed helmets throughout the month of December. This year's versions feature a gingerbread man and Will Ferrell's character Buddy from "Elf."

After their proposal to host an outdoor game at Parliament Hill was denied, the Ottawa Senators moved on to the possibility of a game held at TD Place Stadium, home of the CFL's Redblacks.Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has continued discussions about an outdoor game and met with Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, the operator of the stadium, on Friday.According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen, Melnyk is "confident" the two sides will reach an agreement to host an outdoor game."The fact it's not on Parliament Hill, I'm still scratching my head, but it is what it is," Melnyk told Garrioch. "It could have been a three-hour infomercial globally on Parliament Hill but we'll do our best. I think we can do a lot of fun things at TD Place and try to make it very, very unique experience."Ottawa hopes to host the game as part of the city's 100-year celebration in December 2017, which also marks the centennial anniversary of the first NHL game played in the city by the original franchise, and 25 years since the Senators rejoined the NHL as an expansion team in 1992.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eric Staal is far from done.Rewind to one season ago, and this assertion appeared to be weak. A disappointing 10 goals and 33 points in 63 games with the Carolina Hurricanes and an even more pitiful three goals and three assists in 20 games with the New York Rangers left the impression that Staal could no longer keep up in the NHL.Well, get those thoughts out of your head, as the 32-year-old has found the fountain of youth in Minnesota.Through 29 games this season, the newest member of the Wild has rekindled his lethal scoring touch.With another two goals against the Nashville Predators on Thursday night, Staal pushed his season total to nine - one back of the team lead and just four shy of matching last year's total.Meanwhile, his 22 points pace the Wild, his four game-winning goals are twice as much as the next-highest total on the club, and his 84 shots are far and away a team high.Staal's new home and renewed scoring touch has him set to have his best season in years. At his current pace, he would eclipse the 25-goal mark, which would be his highest total since the 2010-11 campaign. He's also set to post 62 points this season, which would be his best single-season total since 2011-12.Of course, it certainly helps to center both the team's top line and power-play contingent.Coming off two straight seasons of regressed point production, Staal looks to be rebounding. New scenery, a new coach, and more skilled linemates are likely all factors.After looking like his time could be limited in the league, the eldest Staal brother is back to firing at a clip we have grown accustomed to during his glory years as Hurricanes captain, and there appears to be no slowing him down.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without Martin Marincin for four-to-six weeks as the defenseman has been sidelined with a lower-body injury, the team announced Friday.Marincin has been out of the lineup the last three games as the team awaited his diagnosis. He sustained the injury in Saturday's victory over the Boston Bruins.Marincin has appeared in 16 games with the Maple Leafs this season, tallying one goal and four assists. He sits fourth among Toronto defensemen, averaging 18:02 in ice time.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators announced Friday that the club will unveil a Ring of Honor to recognize key figures in the team's history, with former coach and general manager Bryan Murray as its first inductee.Currently senior hockey advisor with the Senators, Murray was the coach in Ottawa from 2005 to 2007, plus an 18-game stint as interim head coach in 2008. Through 182 games behind the bench, Murray posted a 107-55-20 record and, in 2007, he led the Senators to the Stanley Cup Finals versus the Anaheim Ducks.Murray, who served as GM of the Senators from 2007 to the end of last season, before moving into an advisory role, will be inducted Jan. 24, prior to the Senators home game against the Washington Capitals.The Ring of Honor will include an in-arena display on pillars in the 300 level of the Canadian Tire Centre. Future inductees, as chosen by the Ottawa Senators Player Honoring Committee, will be located on subsequent pillars."Bryan Murray's distinguished career places among the finest executives in NHL history, not only as coach and general manager, but as a leader and mentor," Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said in a statement. "I could not be more excited to announce Bryan as the first member of the Ottawa Senators Ring of Honour, a lasting tribute where our fans, both present and future, can be reminded of Bryan's many contributions to our team, our city and our community."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.