Jason Spezza, often the playmaker, hasn't forgotten how to score.Taking on the Nashville Predators on Thursday, the Dallas Stars center came in from the half wall, walking Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson before sliding the puck into an open net behind goaltender Pekka Rinne.Spezza's goal put the Stars up 3-1, before teammate Antoine Roussel grabbed a goal of his own, ending Rinne's night, who allowed four goals on 18 shots.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shane Doan continues to give everything he has to the Coyotes.In earning a secondary assist on Max Domi's first period goal versus the Flames on Thursday, the 40-year-old surpassed Thomas Steen for the most helpers in franchise history at 554.Add it to the remarkable list of Doan's accomplishments with the club.

Max Pacioretty's slow start can be attributed to more than a dip in performance - or questionable usage from Michel Therrien.The Montreal Canadiens captain played with a broken foot through most of November, Sportsnet's Eric Engels reported on air Thursday. Engels added that Pacioretty was reluctant to admit that he was skating on a broken foot, as he didn't want to use it as an excuse.Michel Therrien confirmed after the club's 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils that Pacioretty was suffering from a microfracture in his foot.It's unknown when the injury was suffered, or when it healed, but Pacioretty was limited to three goals and five assists in 14 games through the month of November.Montreal went 8-5-1 over that span.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stay out of Carey Price's crease.The Montreal Canadiens netminder took matters into his own hands, delivering multiple blows with his blocker, after Kyle Palmieri crashed the net on a scoring chance late in the first period Thursday night.New Jersey's goal earlier in the frame went under review for possible goalie interference, which could have played a role in Price's displeasure.Following the game, Price revealed self-defense was the motive for his aggression on the play."It seems to be the nature of the league; go to the net, run the goalie over, and score a goal. You just gotta stick up for yourself every once in a while," Price said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid has a hate on.After emphatically celebrating his first power-play goal of the year, McDavid spotted Brandon Manning - the depth Philadelphia Flyers defenseman that cost McDavid nearly half his rookie season - and delivered some choice words.The Edmonton Oilers captain, who rarely mixes it up, also engaged his assailant earlier on, initiating back-and-forth shoving behind the net.

David Pastrnak just continues to score.Facing the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, the Boston Bruins forward found the back of the net twice in 80 seconds, connecting for a pair of goals midway through the second period.The tallies bring Pastrnak to 18 goals on the season, tying him for first in the NHL alongside Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jack Skille is showing off his skill.In the first period of Thursday's game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Tampa Bay Lightning, Skille grabbed the puck with one hand and then turned on the jets to drive into the Lightning zone, before firing the puck over the right shoulder of netminder Ben Bishop.Not bad for his first goal of the year.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens will be without defenseman Greg Pateryn for the next eight weeks, as the club announced Thursday that he has been sidelined with a fractured ankle.Pateryn suffered the injured Tuesday versus the St. Louis Blues. He has appeared in 19 games with the Canadiens this season.Pateryn joined the club in 2008 following a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The owners aren't willing to budge.Emerging on Thursday evening from the Board of Governors meetings in Florida, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman informed reporters on hand that the 30 owners had expressed a "strong negative sentiment" toward Olympic participation in 2018, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Dreger notes that a decision was not made inside the boardroom, but the hope that NHL players will be in Pyeongchang appears to be "fading."This isn't a variation in stance. The NHL's owners have long been opposed to the in-season interruption and potential for stars to suffer injuries while representing their countries, but have ultimately made that concession in recent years.Bettman also touched on escrow - another major issue loosely connected to the topic after the NHL offered international competition in exchange for an extension on the current conditions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He reiterated that the system depends on escrow, and it must rise as long as players continue to vote in favor of the salary cap escalator.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While Connor McDavid is well on his way to earning the Art Ross trophy - currently leading the NHL with 36 points - and possibly more this season, he hasn't earned the moniker of NHL's best player. Not to Wayne Gretzky, at least.Gretzky believes the title still belongs to Sidney Crosby, who's tied for the league lead in goals, and is fourth league-wide in points with only 20 games played."Sid is still the best player in hockey. That's a mantle you earn over time," Gretzky told Craig Custance of ESPN. "It's one of those things where you have to earn that title."Of course, Crosby is 10 years McDavid's senior, and while the Oilers phenom seems poised to take over, Sid's accolades seal it for The Great One."Is Connor a great player? Absolutely. Does Connor have an opportunity to be the next Crosby? Absolutely," Gretzky said. "Right now, Sidney deserves to be known as the best player in the game. He's been the best player consistently in his career. He's won Stanley Cups and he's won gold medals. Until somebody takes that mantle away from him, he's still going to hold the crown."As Crosby reaches the peak of his prime, and McDavid enters his, a passing of the torch may feel inevitable, but coming from the player no superstar - past or present - can usurp on hockey's totem pole, Gretzky's view has to be taken as valid.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A player for a pick.That's the asking price when it comes to Toronto Maple Leafs forward Peter Holland, reports TSN's Darren Dreger."(General manager Lou) Lamoriello wants a draft pick. He doesn't want a contract," Dreger told TSN 1050. "Because of the fact that Holland makes $1.3 million, he's not an easy fit with most organizations."NHL clubs are limited to 50 contracts, while the Maple Leafs currently sit at 48, including Holland.Holland has recorded just one point in eight games this season. He has been sent home by the club while it attempts to work out a trade.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When Phil Kessel was acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins, the thought of adding him to a forward corps built around Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin was downright frightening.His first regular season with the club had its ups and downs, both from a personal production standpoint and for the Penguins as a group, and Kessel's 26 goals and 59 points came in below expectations.Kessel found his game under replacement head coach Mike Sullivan, and he broke out on the way to a Stanley Cup win with 10 goals and 12 assists in 24 playoff games - and should have won the Conn Smythe Trophy.And through 26 games in 2016-17, Kessel has shown no signs of slowing down. In fact, a quick look at the points per game leaderboard and we see all three Penguins snipers ranked within the top five among players with at least 20 appearances this season.PlayerGamesGoalsAssistsPoints/GPSidney Crosby2017101.35Connor McDavid2811251.29Nikita Kucherov2613161.12Evgeni Malkin2610181.08Phil Kessel269181.04In terms of total points, Malkin leads the way with 28 - good for third overall -while Crosby and Kessel are tied with several others for fourth with 27.If and when the Penguins decide to settle on a single goalie, this team will be well-positioned to repeat as champions.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's not by accident that Zach Werenski has put himself in the Calder Trophy conversation.The Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman recently traveled to his home state of Michigan following the death of his grandfather, but that didn't stop him from staying in game shape, much to the delight of head coach John Tortorella.From Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch:

The National Hockey League officially responded Thursday to the apparent denial of the Vegas Golden Knights' trademark application by the USPTO, calling the registration "a routine matter" and expressing confidence in working through the process without changing the team's name or logo.Related: Vegas not concerned about Golden Knights trademark issueFrom deputy commissioner Bill Daly:

The unveiling of the NHL's 31st franchise hit another speed bump.Weeks after a somewhat botched reveal of the Vegas team's name and logo, there's believed to be a snag in regards to trademarking the Golden Knights.A report by SB Nation's Mary Clarke on Wednesday pointed to a United States Patent and Trademark office document that apparently denied an application filed by Black Knight Sports and Entertainment - team owner Bill Foley's company - because the Vegas Golden Knights mark too closely resembles that of the The College of Saint Rose Golden Knights, based in Albany, N.Y.Here are the two looks side by side.

Just like that, the Montreal Canadiens are in serious need of help down the middle.The club was told this week that both Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais, its top two centers, will be out of the lineup for the better part of two months.Related: Let the Hanzal-to-Habs speculation begin in earnestWith that, the Canadiens are in need of replacements, or at least a player who can help them weather the storm for the next six-to-eight weeks.Below are a few options:Peter HollandPeter Holland almost makes too much sense for the Canadiens.The Toronto Maple Leafs center has found the doghouse in Mike Babcock Land thanks to inconsistent play, and is looking for a new home.There's no denying Holland has the potential to produce effectively at the NHL level. He can play up and down the lineup, and, most fittingly for the Canadiens, would likely cost a low-round draft pick, or could even potentially be plucked if he's placed on waivers by the Maple Leafs.Ryan SpoonerHere it is: more Ryan Spooner trade talk.The Boston Bruins forward went on record Wednesday to confirm that despite his name being mentioned in rumors recently, he'd like to remain with the Bruins, but there's no denying he'd be a welcome addition to the Canadiens in a potential trade.Spooner is still young, and after a slow start to follow last year's solid 49-point season, his value isn't what it was.A trade proposal that includes a defenseman is something the Bruins would at the very least have to consider. While Spooner has been playing more important minutes with Matt Beleskey out of the lineup, he certainly isn't untouchable.Ryan Nugent-HopkinsThis one would take some big moves, but shouldn't be out of the question.Ryan Nugent-Hopkins hasn't gotten off to the strong start the Edmonton Oilers would have liked this season. That aside, he's still young, talented, and has more in the tank than he has shown through 28 games.The biggest obstacle in this case would be his contract, which will pay him $6 million for four more years following this season. It's also worth noting a potential deal here wouldn't come from the same division, which could also make him a more desirable option than the names above.It's safe to assume the Oilers would also covet a defenseman, and one capable of making an immediate impact. Andrei Markov would make sense, but his age and the fact that his contract is up at season's end might not sit well with Edmonton.The deal would take some heavy lifting, but could benefit the Canadiens now and into the 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.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, Dec. 8 (advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):Triple Threat

Forget the others considered to be Norris Trophy candidates, because the NHL's best defenseman plays for the Ottawa Senators.This was proven once again in a showdown between the league's two top-scoring blue-liners Wednesday in San Jose, wherein Erik Karlsson stole the show.Karlsson scored a goal and added two assists to put himself four points ahead of Sharks counterpart Brent Burns, who managed to score a goal of his own. Karlsson also saw more time shorthanded than on the power play, and added to his already stellar defensive numbers with a couple of blocked shots.In short, there's a clear case to be made that Karlsson should win the Norris Trophy once again this year, and why he should be in the running - if not the frontrunner - for years to come.In a league of his own, offensivelyNot only is Karlsson on pace to lead all defensemen in total points, he's the only player at his position to average a point per game, placing him in a tie for fourth among all players with 27 points.Only Connor McDavid (36), Nikita Kucherov (29), and Evgeni Malkin (28) have recorded more points, while Karlsson's 27-point peers include Sidney Crosby, Vladimir Tarasenko, Tyler Seguin, Phil Kessel, and Patrick Kane.Decent company, to be sure.Bigger picture: since entering the NHL in 2009-10, Karlsson has recorded 412 points, 65 clear of second-ranked Duncan Keith in defensive scoring during that span.In short, he has no equal in this department, and there's great defensive value in keeping the puck away from one's own net through offensive ability.No defensive slouchBut lest we believe the myth that Karlsson is strictly an offensive dynamo, his more traditionally defined defensive performance to date this season has been sensational.Karlsson ranks second among all NHL players in total ice time, and - for those who care about the stat - has posted a plus-five rating for a Senators team that boasts a minus-one goal differential.In terms of killing penalties, Karlsson has seen 63:13 of ice time, already the fourth-highest single-season amount of his career, while the Senators rank fifth as a team in this category.The key to Karlsson's success has been head coach Guy Boucher's new strategic deployment of the Swede.

Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.▲ Steve MasonA six-game winning streak has propelled the Philadelphia Flyers back into a playoff spot, and Steve Mason has been providing the kind of high-end goaltending needed to succeed in today's NHL.Look at the numbers from his last five starts:OpponentResultSavesSave %BruinsW 3-2 (SO)45.957SenatorsW 3-2 (OT)19.905BlackhawksW 3-126.963PredatorsW 4-230.938PanthersW 3-2 (OT)42.955His overall numbers aren't all that impressive (.908 save percentage through 22 appearances), but he's certainly found his game as of late and is giving the Flyers every opportunity to move up the standings.▼William NylanderToronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock put one of his star rookies on watch following a loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, calling out William Nylander's defensive effort and overall competitiveness.Nylander began the night on the fourth line, and was bumped up late in order to help his team try to send the game to overtime, but to no avail. In truth, his offensive game hasn't been much to write home about following a scorching start.After recording four goals and seven assists in nine October games, the 20-year-old has managed only two goals and three assists over his past 15 appearances.Many young players experience growing pains, but Nylander clearly needs to put in the work to get out of Babcock's doghouse.▲ Calgary FlamesAfter a disappointing start, the Calgary Flames are heating up under Glen Gulutzan's guidance, winning their past four games and thereby jumping into a Western Conference wild-card spot.The Flames do have a goal differential of minus-10, by far the worst among all teams currently in a playoff position, but they've outscored the opposition by a margin of 15-6 over the course of the current streak.Chad Johnson is proving to be a bona fide NHL starting goalie, while Johnny Gaudreau is sparking the offense with four points in two games since his return from injury, so things are definitely looking up in Calgary.▼ Washington CapitalsDespite beating Boston in overtime Wednesday, the Washington Capitals held a players-only meeting after coughing up a 3-0 lead to the Bruins in the process.Through 25 games, the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners are clinging to a wild-card spot, and perhaps a bit of regular-season malaise has set in for a team hoping to finally get over the hump when it matters most."We had a little talk in here, and there's some things we've got to clean up," T.J. Oshie said, according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. "I think it's more of a mentality than it is any systems or anything like that."Obviously, we want to play within our team game, but it's just a mentality that we've got to get back to. Once we get a step up on someone, we've got to get that mentality that we're going to finish them off."Without that shift in mentality, the Capitals could be facing yet another early end to their season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Corey Perry is about to go on a goal-scoring tear, or at least that's what Randy Carlye hopes.The Anaheim Ducks sniper snapped a bizarre 18-game goalless skid Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, scoring the game-tying goal with just under three minutes left in regulation to send the contest to overtime.The goal was a relief to Perry and as for Carlyle, he's hoping that Wednesday's goal is the first of many more to come."We hope Perry's ketchup bottle starts flowing," Carlyle said, according to Hannah Spraker of The Fourth Period.For those who might not get the reference:

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Corey Perry and Nick Ritchie scored late in the third period to tie it and rookie Ondrej Kase got the deciding goal in a shootout, lifting the Anaheim Ducks over the Carolina Hurricanes 6-5 on Wednesday night.After Ritchie deflected in Cam Fowler's shot with 3:59 left in the third, Perry got his fifth goal of the season with 2:28 remaining to tie it at 5.Kase slickly deked to his backhand before lifting his shootout attempt over Cam Ward. It was the first non-regulation win for the Ducks this season.Stefan Noesen got his first NHL goal, and Andrew Cogliano and Ryan Kesler also scored for Anaheim. John Gibson made 29 saves.Teuvo Teravainen scored twice for the Hurricanes, and Jay McClement, Sebastian Aho, and Brett Pesce also had goals. Ward made 33 saves while Carolina matched a season high with five goals.Pesce scored on a slap shot 4:46 into the third period to give the Hurricanes a 4-2 lead. Kesler scored about four minutes later to cut the deficit, but Teravainen's second goal a minute later made it 5-3.Noesen scored at 13:52 in the second period to make it 3-2. Joseph Cramarossa and Kase, former American Hockey League teammates with the San Diego Gulls, were credited with the assists.Less than two minutes after McClement broke a 1-1 tie with a backhand around Gibson at 10:10 in the second period, Aho broke away, faked a shot, and backhanded it over Gibson to make it 3-1.With 38 seconds left in the first period, Teravainen tied it at 1 with a power-play goal. Jaccob Slavin couldn't get a stick on a pass and instead used his skate to get it over to the right circle, where Teravainen found it and ripped a slap shot past Gibson.Cogliano put the Ducks on the board with just over three minutes left in the first, when he went five-hole on Ward with his own rebound, his seventh of the season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you don't know Sebastian Aho, you do now.The Carolina Hurricanes' 19-year-old rookie scored the goal of the night Thursday, showing off his incredible skill and hands while deking the pads off Anaheim's All-Star goaltender John Gibson.The tally was Aho's fourth of the season, and there will be many, many more.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bold words.With all due respect to Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price, Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau believes he's got the best keeper on the planet in Devan Dubnyk.Dubnyk, who boasts the NHL's best goals-against average (1.65) and save percentage (.964), delivered another stellar effort in Toronto on Wednesday, stopping 35-of-37 shots in a 3-2 win over the Maple Leafs. And Boudreau was singing his 'tender's praises - loudly - after the game."If (Dubnyk) was in Toronto there'd be no Carey Price," Boudreau told reporters, as relayed by Sportsnet when asked about the early Vezina Trophy race. "I'm just saying, media-wise. I mean, he hasn't allowed more than three goals in any game he's played this year. He's held us in all the time."Dubnyk was exceptional - and perfect - in the third period, stopping all 17 shots as Toronto sent wave after wave at Minnesota in search of the tying goal. And he's done it all season. In fact, Dubnyk's been doing it for years - especially in Toronto.The 30-year-old improved to 5-0-0 against the Maple Leafs since joining Minnesota in January 2015, with a 1.20 GAA and .962 save percentage. Nasty numbers.Previously a Vezina Trophy candidate in 2015, Dubnyk is making a strong case this year, more than a quarter through this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Babcock - not a happy man.Toronto's head coach watched his club drop a 3-2 decision to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night, leaving the Maple Leafs in the basement of the Eastern Conference - and behind the pace he set out for his young group.

It was a formality.With a goal and two assists against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, Erik Karlsson made Senators history, surpassing Wade Redden for the most points by an Ottawa defender.DefensemanPointsGPKarlsson412506Redden410838Chris Phillips2881179Zdeno Chara146299Jason York124380Karlsson's goal was his seventh of the season and 107th of his career - the lifelong Senator leads all Ottawa defensemen in goals, too.Only 26, Karlsson's far from finished. He's a marvel, and he's now fourth all time on the Senators in scoring, at any position.PlayerPointsGPDaniel Alfredsson11081178Jason Spezza687686Alexei Yashin491504Karlsson412506Redden410838When it's all said and done, two Swedes will be the greatest Senators in history.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's safe to say there's bad blood between the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals.The teams met in the District on Wednesday night and an entertaining game - a 4-3 overtime win by the Capitals, after they blew a 3-0 lead - was overshadowed by three questionable hits, beginning with a Patrice Bergeron cross-check to the back of Matt Niskanen that sent the defender awkwardly into the boards.

Minnesota is treating Eric Staal well. Staal, meanwhile, is still abusing the Maple Leafs.Staal and his Wild teammates were in Toronto on Wednesday, and No. 12 scored his sixth of the season - and third against the blue and white, after a pair in October. It eventually stood up as the game-winning goal in a 3-2 decision for Minnesota.It was Staal's 43rd career game against Toronto, and the goal was his 23rd, to go along with 24 assists. Leafs killer.

That didn't take long.David Pastrnak scored 15 goals in 51 games last season as a 19-year-old. Not bad at all - and he was only getting started.The Boston Bruins forward is on a mission in 2016-17. He scored again Wednesday night, his 16th goal - a new career high - in only 22 games. And it was rather something.Pastrnak's insane production is masking the fact that Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Ryan Spooner have just 11 goals combined (four, four, and three, respectively).Only two men have more goals than Pastrnak this season, and you may have heard of them: Sidney Crosby and Patrik Laine.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Dumba's still looking for Tyler Bozak.The Toronto Maple Leafs center's sixth goal of the season was undoubtedly his prettiest. He has 18 points in 25 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens' roster took a massive hit down the middle Wednesday, as centers Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais will both miss six-to-eight weeks with knee injuries.If anyone knows just how much an injury to a top player can derail a season, it's Habs general manager Marc Bergevin. While his club's currently atop the Eastern Conference with 37 points - tied for most in the NHL - the real heavy lifting begins now. Montreal's without its top scorer and his replacement for potentially two months.Enter Martin Hanzal.The 29-year-old Coyotes pivot is playing out the final year of his contract, and is thought to be available on the trade market. Arizona is languishing at the bottom of the Pacific Division with only eight wins in 25 games, so it's no surprise Hanzal is a candidate to be moved.He's earning a salary of $3.5 million this year, but costs just $3.1 million against the cap. The Coyotes are rumored to be seeking a young NHLer in return - preferably a center - who can slot into their lineup immediately.One option could be Phillip Danault, who's 23 years old, can play center, and has five goals and four assists in 26 games. Problem is, with Desharnais and Galchenyuk out, it doesn't make sense for Bergevin to deal one of his remaining centers for another one.Fueling speculation about Hanzal, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun took to Twitter after the Galchenyuk and Desharnais injuries were announced:

It could have been worse.The results of Rick Nash's MRI on his groin are in and the forward is expected to miss a week, the New York Rangers announced Wednesday evening.Nash was hurt Tuesday in Brooklyn, and was forced from his team's loss to the Islanders.The former first overall pick - way back in 2002 - is enjoying a bounce-back season. He scored only 15 goals in 2015-16, finishing with a career-low 36 points in 60 games. This season, Nash has 11 goals and seven assists in 27 games, shooting 14.1 percent.The Rangers boast the NHL's top offense with 97 goals.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens were dealt a serious blow Wednesday evening.Forwards Alex Galchenyuk - the team's leading scorer - and David Desharnais will be out six-to-eight weeks with knee injuries, the club announced.Desharnais, who has three goals and six assists in 25 games, was hurt Tuesday - and was being called upon to replace Galchenyuk's spot on the top line.Galchenyuk, while playing only 16:10 per game, has nine goals and 14 assists in 25 games, and was in the midst of a breakout season, finding instant chemistry with Alexander Radulov. After a career-high 56 points last season, the 22-year-old was blossoming into the star center Montreal hoped he would become when he was drafted third overall in 2012.Montreal, tied for the league lead in points with 37, is about to be seriously tested. It's not looking good down the middle right now:

New York Rangers power winger Rick Nash is scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the groin injury that forced him to exit Tuesday's loss to the New York Islanders, according to NHL.com.The Rangers expect to have the results before their matchup with the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.New York's suddenly dealing with a slew of injuries. Jimmy Vesey exited the same game with an upper-body knock, and Matt Puempel suffered a concussion.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

By the time the Toronto Marlies put a wrap on practice Tuesday afternoon, staff was all hands on deck. Bustling.Two coach buses were parked single file outside the loading dock, with most of the luggage, equipment, and essentials required for a 10-day trek through the Northeast United States already Tetris-ed into vessels underneath.Meticulously packed, because it had to be. Before long, the coaches, staffers, trainers, and a 27-player head count (which has to be some record) making the trip would wander over for boarding and request space for their duffles, kits, and sets of partially sweat-soaked gear.In terms of minor-league bus-ridin', there are worse trips. In fact, with short-distance travel between stops, and a break in the schedule allowing for three off days in New York City, this is travel the Marlies were looking forward to.But as the busloads cued up films du jour on presumably dated media systems for consumption in rows, once again they left behind the greater alternative that bonds them altogether.Are we there yet?Brendan Leipsic is the Marlies' leader in points, the most productive forward in the American Hockey League, and the talented scoring pest many fans in the city would prefer to see plying his trade in a rink a few blocks east as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.With former teammates William Nylander, Zach Hyman, and Connor Brown sticking the landing on the jump he's loading up for - as well as prized prospect Mitch Marner making the team out of camp - the wing position has emerged as an organizational strength, in turn obstructing Leipsic's advancement.But Lou Lamoriello's Maple Leafs have proven in his recent dealings that they are willing to exchange difficult conversations for the slightest improvement to their team. It was just six weeks ago that they made veteran Milan Michalek (who waived a no-move clause to facilitate the club's unloading of Dion Phaneuf) a Marlie in order to sign penalty-killing faceoff specialist Ben Smith.Nevermind Brooks Laich.In that, it's explained: Leipsic's not quite there yet."The biggest thing for myself is being good without the puck," an upbeat Leipsic told theScore before packing up his equipment. "I've always been able to put up points, through junior and in the last couple years in the AHL. Playing without the puck, taking care of my own end, earning the coach's trust."If you can't play defensively in the AHL, you are not going to be able to (do it) in the NHL."Goes without sayingTacit communication is a key tool for the Marlies.Leipsic's fully aware his situation as a third-year professional. He belongs to an elite, often-unforgiving, deliberate competition ground for career advancement, and an organization devoted to the process. In that, he's seen teammates scale the company ladder, and respected veterans pick themselves up after being kicked down the rungs.Despite being under this scrutiny, the Marlies, in their configuration at the time, are expected to endure regardless."Everything we do here is to prepare you for the next level. But not too much talk about that comes up between us," Leipsic said.He added: "At the end of the day, everybody is trying to make the NHL. As much as we are a team here, you are competing against other guys. Here in our organization, it's a bit of a different feel, I guess."Escaping this is next to impossible. Sharing a city with the Maple Leafs means constant exposure to their day to day."They're on (all the time). It's all over 'SportsCentre' and stuff like that. And I'm still pretty good buddies with some of those guys I played with last year."Everyone keeps tabs on them."Still looking upWhat will work in Leipsic's favor is the heightened rate of replacement among players earning above the league average. If he proves he can be relied on in all three zones in the minor leagues, and convinces the club he can come close to matching the production level of a current middle-six contributor, he would be deemed more valuable based simply on his contract status.But until he can force their the hand into making a trade, or barring a significant injury, Leipsic must continue to focus on becoming that sound, all-situations player in the time spent between rides on the charter."You have to believe in yourself, and be confident in your abilities that if the opportunity does come, you'll take full advantage of it. I think I have developed good habits down here that will prepare me."When I get the opportunity, I'll be ready."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Toews is giving back to the place that helped him become one of the NHL's brightest stars.The Chicago Blackhawks captain donated $1 million to the Dakota Community Centre in his hometown of Winnipeg, the facility announced in a release Wednesday.(Courtesy: Dakota Community Centre)Toews' gift is the largest-ever private donation to a community center in Manitoba. It will be put toward the "Dakota Futures Capital" campaign, an initiative that will support the construction of a new 60,000-square foot field house and future development on the center's campus.He'll also serve as the campaign's honorary chair.The center's primary facility was named the Jonathan Toews Sportsplex in 2010 after the Blackhawks center won his first Stanley Cup championship."From my earliest days playing hockey, Dakota Community Centre has always played a pivotal role in my upbringing and my career", Toews said."Today, I continue to be honored to have my name associated with the sportsplex on the Dakota campus. My parents have instilled in me the importance of giving back, and I believe that in supporting Dakota, we will see endless possibilities for the community center's future and transformation in the lives of our community members."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philip Larsen is heading home.The Vancouver Canucks defenseman was discharged from hospital and medically cleared to return to British Columbia, the club announced Wednesday.Larsen was stretchered off following a hit by New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall in the second period Tuesday night.Related: Hall doesn't regret hit on Larsen but feels 'terrible' about resultThe Canucks have four games remaining on a five-game road trip to Florida, D.C., and North Carolina. They'll be back in Vancouver next Friday to host the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first game of a four-game homestand.Larsen is celebrating his 27th birthday Wednesday.The Danish-born blue-liner is averaging just over 17 minutes of ice time and has four points in 17 contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have secured a win off the ice.The club has reportedly won its arbitration case with defenseman Jared Cowen, whose contract will remain bought out, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.The argument on Cowen's end was that the one year remaining on his deal could not be bought out due to his ongoing recovery from hip surgery, technically rendering him injured.This allegation appears to have been deemed unfounded.

The reigning NHL All-Star Game most valuable player is calling it a day.While John Scott has been seen enjoying the retirement lifestyle, he has penned an article for The Players' Tribune to make a formal announcement."It has been a hell of a ride. But I'm done. I am officially retired, as of today," he wrote.Known primarily as a ruffian over the course of his career, Scott thoughtfully wrote again about what the 2016 All-Star experience meant to him - and how the NHL changed the rulebook to make sure it doesn't happen again - and also took the opportunity to discuss the role of fighting in his career and in the game.Scott writes:

If anyone's an authority to opine on Russian hockey, it's Alex Ovechkin.The Washington Capitals star had high praise for countryman Nikita Kucherov when recently asked about the Tampa Bay Lightning forward."He's a tremendously skilled player," Ovechkin told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times. "He's got great shot, great vision. He's going to be one of the greatest players in the history of Russia."The pair played together with Russia at the World Cup of Hockey in September, where they both recorded three points in four games and were eliminated by Canada in the semifinals.Opposing NHL coaches are also taking notice of Kucherov's impact."He can do damage anywhere. He's fearless on the rush, he's fearless with the puck, he makes plays off the rush, he wins one-on-ones," St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock told Smith."He makes some exceptional passes where you think there's not a (chance)," Capitals bench boss Barry Trotz said. "He sends a rocket saucer pass through five sticks and legs.""He's not a big guy, but man, is he ever strong on the puck. He might be underrated if you don't play him very much, but if you play him a couple games, he's a hell of a player."Kucherov ranks second on the NHL's points list with 29 and sits tied for fourth in goals with 13 through 26 games this season.The 23-year-old has 80 goals and 177 points in 237 career contests, and his .747 career points per game put him ahead of former Russian stars Igor Larionov and Slava Kozlov on the all-time list, albeit in a smaller sample size.His 1.12 points per game this season also has him in elite company, as he trails only Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and teammate Steven Stamkos in the category.Kucherov's production has been critical for the Lightning, who've been forced to play without Stamkos since the captain was ruled out for at least four months after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in November.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 Wednesday, December 7 (advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):Triple Threat

The holiday season is fast approaching, but there's little to celebrate for certain teams around the NHL.Here's a look at three of the most disappointing teams so far this season:Denver malaiseThe premature departure of Patrick Roy was seen as a bit of a blessing in disguise for the Colorado Avalanche.While the club did achieve a measure of success early in the former head coach's tenure, the consensus was Colorado was stuck with a failed system, as evidenced by poor possession numbers over the past few seasons.It's only been 24 games, but things haven't improved much under Jared Bednar. The Avalanche sit 30th overall with just 19 points (9-14-1) and a 29th-ranked goal differential (minus-21). The underlying numbers don't paint much of an optimistic picture either, as Colorado's 5-on-5 Corsi rating of 47.97 is good for 25th.Perhaps a bit of bad luck is working against Colorado, as the club's shooting and save percentages rank low as well. Losing captain Gabriel Landeskog to injury doesn't help either.Still, at this point in the season, it's difficult to envision much of a turnaround, with on-ice personnel changes maybe next in line for general manager Joe Sakic.Losing sleep in BrooklynPerhaps it should come as no surprise that the New York Islanders have tumbled down the standings.Losing both Kyle Okposo (Buffalo) and Frans Nielsen (Detroit) in free agency was certainly a blow, and, to make matters worse, Andrew Ladd - with whom the club invested $38.5 million over seven years - has underperformed, to say the very least.With an unprecedented lack of support around him, John Tavares' numbers are below his career averages, and questions are being raised in regards to his long-term future with the team as he approaches potential free agency in 2018.Somehow still behind the bench, Jack Capuano has taken the team from a second-round playoff appearance last spring to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, and the Islanders' 5-on-5 Corsi rating of 45.93 is a testament to the fact things just aren't working.Texas toastExpectations have been very high in the Lone Star state after general manager Jim Nill was able to overhaul the roster and form as dynamic a duo up front as they come in Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn.Yes, the Dallas Stars have been hit with the injury bug, and a literal virus in the case of Jiri Hudler, who's been limited to four games with the team after signing in the offseason.The fundamental flaw, however, remains a two-headed goalie system that just isn't working out. The numbers posted by Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi really speak for themselves.PlayerGPRecordGAASave %Antti Niemi5-3-33.20.902Kari Lehtonen5-8-32.97.892An average possession team (49.08 5-on-5 Corsi), the Stars have allowed a league-high 87 goals, and, unlike years' past, the offense isn't clicking enough to make up for the defensive failures.The Stars are seven points clear of the last-place Avalanche, but the reigning Central Division champions will be in tough to clinch a playoff spot if this trend continues.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall wouldn't change a thing except the result.The New Jersey Devils winger delivered a check on Philip Larsen that caused the Vancouver Canucks defenseman to be stretchered off the ice during the second period, and while no penalty was called on the play, Hall certainly felt bad about its effects.Related: Canucks' Larsen stretchered off after hit from Devils' Hall"I'm looking to make contact there, but I never want to see a guy laying on the ice there like that," Hall said after the game, per Chris Ryan of NJ.com. "I only know how to play the game one way, and you've got to play it hard. But like I said, I feel terrible."When you see him laying on the ice like that, he's a former teammate of mine, and I just would have loved to make a hit there and continue the play. I hope he's OK."Larsen, with whom Hall played in Edmonton back in 2013-14, was awake and responsive as he left the ice before being taken to hospital for further evaluation, the Canucks announced at the time.Hall added he felt reassured by the fact the hit was deemed to be clean, but Larsen's well-being remained front of mind."I don't have any regrets with what I did," he said. "I tried to keep all my extremities in close and make contact chest-to-chest, and sometimes it doesn't work out like that."I just hope he's alright. You never want to see that."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers are the hottest team in the NHL right now, earning their sixth consecutive win Tuesday night versus the Florida Panthers.Much can be made of the Flyers' attack - which has scored the second most goals in the NHL - but it's the recent play of goaltender Steve Mason that has propelled Philadelphia into the thick of the playoff race.In 19 starts this season, the 28-year-old owns a record of 10-8-3, accompanied by a 2.71 goals against average and .908 save percentage - fairly pedestrian numbers.However, during his club's hot streak, Mason has been lights out, recording a .943 save percentage while surrendering two goals or less in his last five starts.He was the first star Tuesday night, recording 42 saves in a game Philly had no business winning judging by the shot clock.Mason has struggled to find consistency since earning the Calder Trophy in 2008-09, but he's the Flyers No. 1 at this point, and he's finally playing like it.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.