P.K. Subban is flourishing in his new digs.With his seventh goal of the year Tuesday - a patented point-shot blast - the Nashville Predators blue-liner surpassed last season's total output with the Montreal Canadiens - in just 25 games.Despite the career low in goals, Subban still recorded an ultra-productive 51 points in 68 games last year with the Habs.Subban now sits at 17 points on the season, putting him in a tie for seventh among all defensemen.His seven goals rank third among all rearguards, and one behind his blockbuster trade counterpart Shea Weber.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Load up and fire.That's exactly what John Tavares did Tuesday night, firing a bullet shot past New York Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist to give the New York Islanders a two-goal lead.The tally marked Tavares' seventh goal and 20th point of the season.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers are starting to get some increased production from their $42-million man.Milan Lucic buried his eighth goal of the season - and 11th point in his last nine games - Tuesday in Buffalo, created by a perfect pass from Connor McDavid.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Generally speaking, scoring mass amounts of goals will thrust you into superstardom, but for whatever reason, that hasn't been the case for Wayne Simmonds.The Philadelphia Flyers winger has emerged into one of the finest power forwards the NHL has to offer. He's finding the back of the net at an elite rate, yet no one seems to bat an eye.Counting Tuesday's two markers versus the Florida Panthers - his 14th and 15th of the season - Simmonds has scored 104 goals since 2013-14. That's the 11th-highest total of all NHLers.He's not exactly trailing a bunch of chumps, either.Rank*PlayerTeamGamesGoals6Corey PerryDucks2561147Max PaciorettyCanadiens2601138Steven StamkosLightning2131139Vladimir TarasenkoBlues24611110Patrick KaneBlackhawks23911011Wayne SimmondsFlyers266104*Alexander Ovechkin, Joe Pavelski, Jamie Benn, Sidney Crosby, and Tyler Seguin rank 1-5.In three previous seasons, Simmonds notched 29, 28, and a career-high 32 goals, respectively. With 15 in 28 games so far, he's well on pace to eclipse the 30-goal mark again.Entering Tuesday, Simmonds was shooting a staggering 19.1 percent on the season. His efficiency is due to regress, but considering his above-average career shooting percentage of 14.5, it's difficult pass his production this campaign off as a mere fluke.Simmonds' $3.975-million cap hit further illustrates how underrated he truly is, but rather than marvel at how stealthily he ranks among the league's best scorers and eases the Flyers' books, maybe it's time to recognize one of the game's finest producers.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks defensemen Philip Larsen left Tuesday's game on a stretcher following a hit by New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall.A scrum broke out following the hit, as Larsen laid on the ice while players quickly called for medical personnel.

Karri Ramo has some options.After signing a PTO with Maple Leafs' affiliate Toronto Marlies on Tuesday, Ramo is garnering interest from the Los Angeles Kings, reports ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.With starter Jonathan Quick still out long term, and replacement Peter Budaj carrying the brunt of the workload, Los Angeles is exploring its options, with Ramo being one of them.Ramo has yet to play a game since tearing his ACL last season, and despite the Leafs having the "inside track," the 30-year-old remains open to sign with any team as an unrestricted free agent, reports LeBrun.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Logan Stanley has put pen to paper.The Winnipeg Jets announced Tuesday they've signed the 18th overall pick from the 2016 draft to an entry-level contract.A booming defenseman, the 6-foot-7 blue-liner has recorded nine points in 20 games this season with the OHL's Windsor Spitfires.Stanley was the Jets' second pick in the 2016 draft, after selecting rookie sensation Patrik Laine second overall.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Logan Couture needed a little adjustment.The San Jose Sharks center underwent a minor procedure Saturday to remove a bothersome screw from the repair work he had on his ankle last October."It was irritating when I put my skate on," Couture told Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area. "It wasn't anything structural, it was just from having the skate on that area and irritation was building up. (I) figured we had a little break here and could take it out, and hopefully it feels better."Couture has appeared in all 25 games this season and hopes to be in the lineup Wednesday when the Sharks take on the Ottawa Senators.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No Nolan Patrick, no problem.Sure this year's edition of the world juniors will not include the early consensus first overall pick in next year's draft, but there are still many intriguing names to keep you glued to the television this holiday season.Related: Injury will keep Nolan Patrick from playing in world juniorsThis year's crop will see a star-studded cast highlighted - primarily - by players who have already heard their names called out on draft day, but that just means we have proven young talent to gaze upon.Dylan StromeDylan Strome was arguably the best player on a Team Canada squad that struggled immensely last year. Strome put up four goals and two assists in five games - not too shabby.This season the Arizona Coyotes' first-round pick was expected to remain with the Coyotes, but after seven games and just one goal, he now finds himself back with the Erie Otters, where he's making a mockery of his competition.Strome has 15 points in six games in the Ontario Hockey League. This year's tournament will allow him to face stiffer competition as he looks to prove he belongs back with the big club.Alex DeBrincatAlex DeBrincat's first taste of the world juniors certainly didn't go as expected last year.The 18-year-old American was ejected in his first game of the tournament for spearing Canada's Travis Konecny. He was injured in his second contest after taking an awkward ride into the boards against Sweden. In all, DeBincat played just five games and scored a single goal.The Chicago Blackhawks draftee is having another strong junior campaign with 28 goals and 56 points through 26 games, but it will be interesting to see if he can finally bring his offensive touch to the world stage.Pierre-Luc DuboisThe man who the Columbus Blue Jackets drafted over Jesse Puljujarvi in June should be a lock on Team Canada.Yeah, it's still surprising to some that the Blue Jackets elected to go with Pierre-Luc Dubois, but they did, and now the towering forward will have the chance to showcase his talents against the world's top junior players.This tournament could be more important to Dubois than any of the other candidates on this list. The 18-year-old failed to crack the Blue Jackets' lineup out of training camp and since returning to junior has not produced like he did a season ago.After posting 99 points in 62 games last season, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward has just 18 points through 20 games. So what better time to get back on track than while wearing the red and white?Eeli TolvanenNot every stud in the tournament has his rights claimed.Finnish forward Eeli Tolvanen will have not only the crowd's attention, but many NHL scouts will also be keeping a close watch.Tolvanen is currently playing with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League, where he sits fourth in league scoring with 14 goals and 24 points in 21 games.The sophomore is improving on his nearly point-per-game rookie campaign and early on looks to be the next hot prospect out of Finland. He's committed to Boston College next season, and will likely be more committed to bringing Finland back-to-back titles.Alex NylanderAlex Nylander certainly didn't look out of place last season in his first taste of the world juniors.The Buffalo Sabres' first-rounder shone with Sweden, totaling four goals and nine points in seven games. Fast forward another year and Nylander should enter the tournament with more tricks to his arsenal thanks to some fermenting in the American Hockey League.Nylander is off to a stellar rookie campaign with four goals and 14 points in 22 AHL games. And with brother William no longer in the picture, expect Alex to take on more of a leadership roll with the club.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The very early results are in, and a likely quartet leads the 2017 All-Star fan vote.After one week of voting, Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price and forwards Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers are the top vote-getters by division, meaning they're in line to serve as captains for the four-team 3-on-3 tournament.Here's a look at the top-five vote-getters from each division.Atlantic :

The New York Rangers are magic.Alain Vigneault's squad sits tied atop the Metropolitan Division, its 35 points good for second-most in the Eastern Conference. New York's 95 goals lead the NHL - only three other teams have scored 80 or more - yet at 5-on-5, the Rangers hardly have the puck on their sticks.Team Corsi For % RankSenators47.826Red Wings46.4627Islanders46.0328Rangers45.7629Coyotes44.6030The Rangers and Ottawa Senators are the only two teams currently in playoff position while ranked in the bottom five in possession.Even more amazing: the Rangers' plus-30 goal differential is tops in the league, and that's with a .917 team save percentage (10th in the NHL). Henrik Lundqvist's only at .914 - not very Lundqvist-like, as he's always at .920 or better - while Antti Raanta's picking up the slack, checking in at .931.On fireHelping matters is New York's power play, which ranks sixth in the league at 22.7 percent. The Rangers are also a top-10 penalty killing team, coming in at ninth at 85.1 percent.There's more. Three Rangers are shooting over 20 percent on the season: leading scorer Kevin Hayes (23.8 percent), Michael Grabner (22.8 percent), and Pavel Buchnevic (22.2 percent in 10 games). After shooting a career-low 8.2 percent last season, Rick Nash is firing at 15.1 percent. The hockey gods are fickle.Thing is, the Rangers danced to this number last season. New York finished 26th in the league in 2015-16 in possession, coming in at 47.36. What's concerning is that through a quarter of the season, they're even worse. And after scoring five or more goals in 10 games through Nov. 21, the offense is regressing - as expected.After a 7-2 beating of the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 15, in which New York was outshot 38-25, the Rangers have scored five in a game once, and 23 times in nine games.Possession obviously isn't the be all and end all, but it's becoming more and more clear that the teams at the top of the Corsi ledger are the ones left standing late in the spring. And that's all that matters.The Rangers are in Brooklyn on Tuesday night, in a game hockey nerds should find interesting to watch. One of the teams is going to have to have the puck.(All statistics courtesy: Corsica Hockey)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Forgive Jack Eichel for feeling a lot older than 20.The focal point of the Buffalo Sabres' offense tweaked his ankle Monday night, and while that's expected after his high ankle sprain, it was revealed Tuesday morning that the forward's also nursing a sore hip, according to Sportsnet's John Shannon."I'm fine," Eichel said of his ankle, The Buffalo News' John Vogl reports. "I'm good. Going through an injury like this, you know it's going to come back and bother you at times, but it's fine now."Eichel will be in the lineup Tuesday night against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers, and he downplayed the hype around the top two picks in the 2015 draft meeting for the second time in their careers."You guys are obviously going to make it look like it's Eichel-McDavid, that whole thing, but it's a team game," he said. "It's always been a team game."Eichel's got three goals and one assist in four games this season, and has scored in every game he's played against the Oilers. (He's played one game.)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Spooner let his game do the talking first.Lately the subject of trade rumors coming out of the Boston, the Bruins forward recorded an assist and three shots against the Florida Panthers on Monday, and was kept from scoring only by a beautiful glove save from Roberto Luongo.It was an impressive all-around effort, and evidence of the fact he has no desire to be traded."I definitely want to play here," Spooner said after the game, according to Joe Haggerty of CSNNE. "I want to help out and that's kind of where I'm at now. If I play like I did (against the Panthers), I think I'll be fine. I just want to go out, I want to help out, and that's kind of where I'm at right now."The trade rumblings began in late October, when Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the Bruins would listen to offers.The 24-year-old is coming off a breakout season in which he recorded 13 goals and 36 assists, but he's been bounced from the third-line center spot to left wing on both the second and, more recently, the fourth line. As a result, he hasn't quite found his game, but Monday's performance is perhaps a sign of things to come."I think there were five or six games there where I felt I wasn't playing a bad game. Then six or seven games there where it was hard to get, I guess, the ice time that I wanted," he said. "At the end of the day, I've been a little bit inconsistent."I just have to go out there and use my speed and my skill, and I found that in the game here. I thought that I did that and I just need to play with that, and I should be fine."Spooner has scored three goals and added six assists in 25 games this season, but may be asked to take on a bigger role once again in light of an injury suffered by Matt Beleskey that will keep him out of the lineup for up to six weeks.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After Mike Hoffman signed his first contract with substantial term last offseason, it's taken him a little time to get his hands back.Through the first month-and-a-half of the season - and after signing a blockbuster contract - it looked like the Ottawa Senators forward might be falling victim to the first-year curse that's plagued countless players following big paydays. As an example, look no further than Jakub Voracek.After a career season when he punched in 22 goals and 81 points in 2014-15, Voracek followed it up with just 11 goals and 55 points after signing an eight-year, $66-million extension. Luckily, Voracek appears to have found his footing with 23 points in 27 games this season.As for Hoffman, his contract isn't nearly as lucrative, but - coming off back-to-back one-year contracts - a four-year, $20.75-million deal likely felt like the world to him. That contract, however, may have added extra weight onto his shoulders.The 27-year-old struggled out of the gate, managing just three goals and seven points through the first 16 games, surely not what the Senators envisioned.However, whether it's puck luck or something else, Hoffman is back and firing on all cylinders, going off for six goals and 12 points in the past eight games.In fact, Hoffman is in the midst of a five-game point streak (with eight points), including his first career hat trick against the Sabres.Hoffman sits second in team scoring behind Erik Karlsson, but has been the offensive dynamo the club needs. He paces the Senators with five power-play goals and nine power-play points, while also firing far and away the most shots of any player on the team.The Senators could certainly use some offensive help, but in the meantime they'll take a red-hot Hoffman.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are adding goaltending depth to their system.Veteran goalie Karri Ramo has signed a professional tryout offer with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, according to multiple reports Tuesday. He had been practicing with the Maple Leafs in his quest to return to the NHL after tearing his ACL as a member of the Calgary Flames last season.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Tuesday, Dec. 6 (all advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):Triple Threat

The National Hockey League's concussion policy has been a hot-button topic since Connor McDavid was pulled at a crucial point from a game Sunday, only to be cleared to return to the eventual overtime loss for the Edmonton Oilers.McDavid himself said he was shocked about having to undergo the testing, while teammate Patrick Maroon talked about how hockey is a "man's game."San Jose Sharks forward Joel Ward went through the same earlier this season - pulled from a game and later cleared - but sees the inherent importance of exercising caution."I was upset about it because I knew I was OK," Ward said, per Paul Gackle of The Mercury News. "But we're dealing with people's lives here. It's a lot more serious than just a game."It's a sentiment echoed by teammate and 22-year-old center Chris Tierney, who was removed from a game on Nov. 30 after being flagged by a concussion spotter."Guys understand that you want to have a career in this game," he said. "You don't want to risk something to go back to play in the second or third period of a regular-season game. Guys understand it could have an affect on your life after hockey."So while the Oilers failed to pick up an extra point in Sunday's loss, the alternative of allowing McDavid to continue playing while potentially concussed could have had major ramifications for the player, team, and league in the long run.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Keith Yandle's going to miss a game.The Florida Panthers defenseman sustained a lower-body injury Monday. Head coach and general manager Tom Rowe said Yandle will "be out for a while," according to ESPN's Shawn Hutcheon.Yandle last missed a game in 2008, when the Arizona Coyotes were the Phoenix Coyotes. He's played in every game since, and even suited up in 84 in 2014-15 after a trade to the New York Rangers.In his first season as a Panther, Yandle has a goal and 11 assists in 26 games, averaging 21:48 in ice time. His loss is a big one for the defending Atlantic Division champs.Yandle's run of 577 consecutive games ranks 10th all time in NHL history. All good things come to an end.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."Calgary FlamesPlus: Johnny Gaudreau's return to the lineup three weeks early seemed to give the Calgary Flames a shot in the arm. The club went off for eight goals against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, with Gaudreau collecting one and an assist.Minus: With the second-worst power play and fourth-worst penalty kill, the Flames' special teams are still a cause for concern. Gaudreau's return should aid the PP, but he's just one man - and that does not solve the PK.The Take: After it appeared the sky was falling, Calgary is now 5-1-1 in its last seven games. Will the improved play hush the Dougie Hamilton rumors?Edmonton OilersPlus: Yeah, yeah, we know Connor McDavid is good, but so is Leon Draisaitl. The 21-year-old put up five points in four games last week, including a three-spot against the Winnipeg Jets, giving him 21 points on the year.Minus: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins got his first goal in five games this week. That's great, but four goals and 12 points in 27 games simply isn't good enough.The Take: With a modest 2.56 goals-against per game, the Oilers' defense appears to be doing a solid job of keeping the opposition at bay. However, it might be worth exploring the market on Nugent-Hopkins soon for an even greater upgrade on the back end.Montreal CanadiensPlus: After a slow start, captain Max Pacioretty now has five points in his last five games, including a three-point effort against the Los Angeles Kings - perfect timing for the club, as you'll see.Minus: The Canadiens received devastating news Monday with the announcement that their leading scorer, Alex Galchenyuk, will be sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury. The club's scored three goals or more just twice in its last seven games, so Galchenyuk will surely be missed.The Take: The Habs continue to roll with wins in four of their last five games on the back of Carey Price, who continues to do his thing. As we head toward Christmas, there appear to be minimal flaws in the club's game.Ottawa SenatorsPlus: Two questionable performances against the Penguins and Sabres aside, Ottawa's strength has been between the pipes, no question. Whether it's Craig Anderson or Mike Condon, their teammates can only praise the netminders for the club's 32 points so far.Minus: Their record is great, but the Senators are eventually going to have to provide their goaltenders some more run support. Averaging 2.35 goals per game is just not going to cut it.The Take: Ottawa did provide glimpses of offensive firepower in its 5-4 loss to Buffalo and 8-5 defeat to Pittsburgh. The Senators can score, but can they mesh their defensive systems and offensive touch in the same game?Toronto Maple LeafsPlus: The Maple Leafs are getting production from all over. With three players with 10 goals or more and six with 15-plus points, the team is clearly spreading the offense. Meanwhile, Nazem Kadri is making a name for himself as a shut-down center. Who knew?Minus: The Jhonas Enroth experiment looks to have failed. The team put the veteran backup on waivers Monday and all signs point to a new man warming the bench behind Frederik Andersen in the coming days.The Take: The Maple Leafs' youngsters continue to show promise, but with night-and-day results home and away, consistency is still the biggest issue - along with a defensive core that simply doesn't stack up to the elites of the league.Vancouver CanucksPlus: The jury is likely still out on the Vancouver Canucks, but with a 6-3-1 record in their last 10 games, they're clearly doing something right.Minus: As great as the team's recent run has been, look closer and you'll see two of those wins came against the Arizona Coyotes (19 points), one against the Colorado Avalanche (18 points), and one against the Maple Leafs (25 points) ... not the toughest competition around.The Take: The Canucks aren't a playoff team. We all know this. However, this week, president Trevor Linden asserted that a rebuild is not forthcoming as long as the Sedins are in town. That likely means they'll miss out on both a high-end draft pick and the playoffs at season's end, a worst-case scenario for any club.Winnipeg JetsPlus: Four points in four games is all the Jets could have asked from Bryan Little following his return to the lineup last week.Minus: As impressive a week as the Jets had, they've still now gone 10 games without managing four or more goals. Patrik Laine and company continue to chip in, but some secondary scoring would go a long way.The Take: Three wins against the perceived titans of the Central Division in Chicago, Nashville, and St. Louis have leapfrogged the Jets over the Predators and into a playoff spot. With slightly more consistent goaltending, Winnipeg could become a dominant force in the West.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid isn't thinking so much about Jack Eichel. He's thinking about Oct. 16.Buffalo was in Edmonton that night, and the Oilers were coming off two straight wins to start the season. The Sabres put an end to that mini run, spanking the home team 6-2. It was one of only two games the Oilers lost in October.On the weekend, McDavid was asked about his first game against Eichel, last season on March 1. The Oilers won 2-1, with No. 97 scoring both goals, including the overtime winner. Good times."I do remember that game," McDavid said, according to NHL.com's Tim Campbell. "It was definitely a good one for our team, but they gave us a pretty good thumping here when they played us earlier this year, so we owe them one."Eichel sat out the October game, his ankle not yet ready for action. This time he's back, and while he tweaked his ankle Monday, the Sabres announced he'll be in the lineup against Edmonton.The second overall pick to McDavid in 2015, Eichel scored his team's lone goal against the Oilers in March. The two young stars will forever be linked, and even spent some time as teammates during the World Cup of Hockey in the fall.McDavid says Eichel is as much a personality as he is a player."He's a little bit more animated than he leads on. He's definitely a good guy."On this night, though, he's the enemy.Interestingly enough, both players head into Tuesday night's affair with 27 goals on their NHL resumes:Player Career GP G PPGEichel85270.71McDavid72271.14Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Getting an opportunity to shake an NHL player's hand is something many kids dream of, but a young Pittsburgh Penguins fan had something else in mind Monday night.Penguins defenseman Kris Letang stuck out his hand to the fan, but instead of shaking it, the fan dabbed on him.

A youth hockey player made the most of an opportunity to skate on NHL ice while the Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres rested during intermission Monday.Micha of the Capitals' Mites on Ice team scored a goal and celebrated in style, paying homage to his favorite player, Alex Ovechkin.It's going to make for quite a story at school.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Barry Trotz isn't happy about a new dimension recently added to Alex Ovechkin's game.The Washington Capitals captain was called for his team-leading 11th minor penalty during Monday's overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres, and it's come to the point where the head coach needs to address it head on."Unacceptable," Trotz said after the game, per Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic. "He’s our leader, he can’t take those penalties ... I’m going to address it harshly with him (Tuesday)."Over the past five games, Ovechkin has been called for six minor penalties, and has failed to score a goal, while the team has a 2-2-1 record."He’s got to lead by example," Trotz continued. "He’s the captain and right now he’s (got) way too many penalties on his behalf."For the Capitals to have the best chance of winning, clearly they need Ovechkin scoring on the power play instead of giving the opposition opportunities to do the same.Ovechkin's career high in penalty minutes is 89, and he's on pace for 75.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Curtis Lazar suffered an upper-body injury in Monday's loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins and is out indefinitely, according to Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen.Appearing in just his ninth game of the season after failing to make the club out of training camp, Lazar logged just under four minutes before exiting after a collision with Brian Dumoulin.He hasn't registered a point this season.Warren notes that Ottawa will have to recall a forward from Binghamton before its game Wednesday versus the San Jose Sharks.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not long after the initial injury, it seemed as though the Buffalo Sabres and their fans were having to relive the nightmare all over again.Jack Eichel was in agony on the Buffalo bench after tweaking his injured ankle in a collision with Dmitry Orlov in Monday's overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.He remained in the game, though hindered, and worked to alleviate concern in the locker room afterwards."Hockey is a contact sport," Eichel said, according to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News. "So I figure that's going to happen during the year and I've just got to play through it."I felt good."Eichel would not admit the pain he felt was associated to his high-ankle sprain that cost him the first 21 games of the year. His coach, however, would deliver such confirmation."I think it's the first time he's had any incident on the ice where he did feel the ankle," Dan Bylsma told NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.Eichel has had a profound impact on a stagnant Buffalo attack, scoring three goals and four points in three games before being held pointless versus the Capitals.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

PITTSBURGH - Bryan Rust had his first career hat trick, Sidney Crosby added his NHL-leading 17th goal and the Pittsburgh Penguins raced by the Ottawa Senators 8-5 on Monday night.Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel each had a goal and two assists for Pittsburgh, and Matt Cullen and Justin Schultz also scored. The Penguins poured in six goals over the final 32 minutes after spotting the Senators a 4-2 lead. Matt Murray made 17 saves after coming in for an ineffective Marc-Andre Fleury in the second period.Pittsburgh has won three straight overall and improved to 7-0-2 in its last nine against the Senators.Matt Stone had a goal and two assists for Ottawa. Erik Karlsson, Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone and Dion Phaneuf also scored for Ottawa, which lost in regulation for just the second time in its last eight games.Craig Anderson spent most of the night under siege by the Penguins and stopped 36 of the 43 shots he faced before being pulled following Rust's successful penalty shot 12:36 into the third.The Penguins have made a habit of falling behind by two goals only to scramble back. Their victory marked the 13th time since Mike Sullivan took over as coach last December that they trailed by two only to rally and win. It's not the path Sullivan would prefer. Earlier in the day he insisted his team can't just turn on a switch to get things going.It only seems like that at times.The Senators chased Fleury when Hoffman pounded home a one-timer from the right circle to make it 4-2 at 7:08 of the second period. Fleury stopped 12 of 16 shots and was hurt by shoddy play in front of him and at least one bad bounce: Stone knocked a carom off the glass behind the Pittsburgh goal out of midair and into the open net.Murray entered to a loud ovation from the 445th consecutive sellout crowd in Pittsburgh and his team responded almost immediately, scoring three times in a span of 6:09 to take the lead. Cullen's short-handed breakaway sparked the surge. Kessel tied it with a nasty wrist shot from between the circles and Schultz finished it with a wrist shot of his own to give the Penguins a 5-4 lead.Ottawa stuck with Anderson, making his first start since taking a brief leave of absence to be with his wife as she battles throat cancer, even after the deluge. It backfired. Malkin squeezed past two defenders to flip a backhand by Anderson 1:05 into the third to put the Penguins up 6-4.Phaneuf brought the Senators back within one with Ottawa's third power-play goal, but Pittsburgh's beleaguered penalty killers finally got a stop a couple of minutes later and Rust went high with the backhand on his penalty shot to give the Penguins the breathing room they needed.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If you're willing to infer from his career trajectory, it would have been easy to conclude that this was to be Sam Gagner's last season in the NHL.His one-year, $650,000 contract signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets at the beginning of August after single-season spells with the Arizona Coyotes and Philadelphia Flyers appeared the death knell for a skilled 27-year-old forward about to be sucked under the wave of talent continuing to rise in the NHL.Oh the contrary.Gagner scored twice, and factored in all four goals, leading the Blue Jackets to their fourth win in a row Monday night over the Coyotes. He now has 10 goals and 17 points in 23 games, surpassing his total in 53 games with Philadelphia last season.His share of the team lead in goals has been a major factor in Columbus' best 24-game start in franchise history, and pulling to within a point of first place in the Metropolitan Division with two games in hand.An eight-week run does not make a season, nor does it ensure an extended lease on life in the NHL. But for the time being, Gagner's made himself relevant once again.And helped the Blue Jackets do the same.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins will be without winger Matt Beleskey for the next six weeks due to a right knee injury, the team announced after their overtime victory over the Florida Panthers on Monday night.Beleskey exited late in Saturday's win versus the Buffalo Sabres following a collision with Taylor Fedun.It's been a struggle offensively this season for the second-year Bruin, who has just two goals and three assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It seems David Pastrnak is not going to go unnoticed.The breakout star with the Boston Bruins scored a delightful walk-off winner Monday night versus the Florida Panthers, utilizing a dizzying deke to beat Michael Matheson before his cool finish around Roberto Luongo.Pastrnak's second of the night and team-best 15th on the season lifted the Bruins to their third win in a row.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Karlsson has ended Marc-Andre Fleury's night in ruthless fashion.Watch Karlsson paralyze the Pittsburgh Penguins goalie with a convincing shot fake, and then dish to his right for sniper Mike Hoffman to pound into the empty net.Matt Murray came on to relieve Fleury after he picked himself off the ice, and promptly saw the Penguins take the lead.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We will not be getting to know the prospective No. 1 overall draft pick over the holidays.Hockey Canada announced Monday that Brandon Wheat Kings forward Nolan Patrick has not been medically cleared for the National Junior Team selection camp, and will not play in the World Junior Hockey Championship in Toronto and Montreal at the end of the month.Patrick has been limited to six games this season with an upper-body injury that hasn't healed as quickly as expected.He finished fifth in Western Hockey league scoring last season, notching 41 goals and 102 points.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby has pulled ahead once again in the NHL goal scoring race.With his marvelous edges carrying him around Chris Kelly and into a high-danger shooting area, Crosby fired in his 17th of the season past a defenseless Craig Anderson in the first period Monday versus the Ottawa Senators.Crosby entered the contest tied with Patrik Laine atop the goal scoring race.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers were more than a touch annoyed when a call came down explaining that Connor McDavid would have to leave the bench and enter the mandated concussion protocol after tripping over a blade and whacking his mouth off the ice Sunday night.The rhetoric after the game was more likely than not impacted by the fact that the Oilers secured just a single point in an eventual overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. They would nitpick a bit after the bitter taste from their mouths dissipated, perhaps harp on the fact that the process has been inconsistent to date. But in the end, most would eventually agree the protection of players is paramount, and the necessary precautions are in place.Most of them."This is a man's game," Patrick Maroon told Sportsnet Mark Spector, when asked about McDavid's removal. "People are going to get hit, get high-sticked. They're going to go through the middle and get hit. That's part of hockey, and that's why we have all this gear that protects us."Yes, if someone gets seriously hurt, we're concerned. But he just fell, got tripped. I just don't get it."It's a man's game."Unfortunately, it's this perspective, and omnipresence of concealed symptoms, that makes it incumbent on the NHL to act in this instance, injury or otherwise.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Holland lives for early October baseball.The Detroit Red Wings general manager spoke with TSN's Gary Lawless about the state of hockey and how to increase scoring, and added that he believes the NHL should expand from 16 playoff teams to 18."I'm all for an extra team in each conference qualifying for the playoffs and having a wild-card play-in game," Holland opined. "It would add excitement down the stretch for many more teams fighting for the additional wild-card spot and two extra teams would be involved in the playoffs. Those play-in games would be dramatic."Major League Baseball added a wild-card playoff team in 1994, which advanced to the division series. In 2012, a second wild-card playoff team was added to the postseason mix, the result a winner-moves-on, play-in game between the two wild-card holders.Last season, the Red Wings qualified for the postseason with 93 points, finishing third in the Atlantic Division. The Boston Bruins ended with 93 points, as well, but missed out on the playoffs thanks to one fewer regulation and overtime win.The New York Islanders took the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with 100 points, and the Philadelphia Flyers the second with 96 points. If Holland had his way, the Islanders would have been guaranteed a seven-game series after 82 games, while Boston and Philadelphia would have contested a one-game showdown for the right to move on.There's little doubting Holland's statement about drama to begin the second - and most important - season. Everyone loves a Game 7, and in Holland's world, the Stanley Cup Playoffs would begin, essentially, with two of them.Where do we sign?Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the modern executive realm, there isn't a more respected visionary than Detroit Red Wings architect Ken Holland.So when Holland, the man credited with spearheading the NHL's adoption of 3-on-3 overtime, offered an opinion on the quick-fix proposition to increase scoring by increasing net size, it should come as no surprise that he introduced an important caveat to the conversation.In an interview with TSN's Gary Lawless, Holland cautioned that if manipulated carelessly, increased scoring could actually take away from the game."We have games where one team will significantly outshoot the other and it will still be a close game in the third period. Bigger nets could eliminate close games on nights when the ice is tilted," Holland said.In Holland's mind, the NHL has to protect the finish as it machinates strategies to increase scoring."I think the game's in great shape in terms of parity and competitiveness. So many of our games come down to the last few minutes and the tension and nervousness is critical and exciting for our fans."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

USA Hockey released its preliminary roster for the 2017 World Junior Hockey Championship on Monday, and 27 players are headed to camp in Buffalo, N.Y., later this month.Five returnees from the squad that won bronze in 2016 will be back for another go-around:Player NHL rightsBrock BoeserVancouver CanucksAlex DeBrincatChicago BlackhawksChad KrysBlackhawksCharlie McAvoyBoston BruinsColin WhiteOttawa SenatorsHere's the full roster, which will be cut down to 23 in time for the tournament in Montreal and Toronto:Goalies

It could be a Wednesday night in January or the Stanley Cup could be in the building, the NHL won't alter its new concussion protocol.That's the latest from deputy commissioner Bill Daly, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli."We have no intention of changing the standards that are employed based on the situation in the game or season," Daly said, adding that the very message was passed on to each team's general manager.On Sunday, NHL leading scorer Connor McDavid was pulled from the Edmonton Oilers' game against the Minnesota Wild in the second period by a concussion spotter, and No. 97 wasn't happy about it."I was pretty shocked, to be honest," McDavid said.McDavid reached for his mouth after hitting the ice in a collision, and that's one of four signs league-mandated concussion spotters - in place for the first time this season - are looking for to determine whether a player needs to be evaluated for head trauma.Seravalli writes that it was the league spotter watching from New York who made the call for McDavid to head off the ice."It remains a work in progress," Daly said, "but yes, we are comfortable with how the new protocol is working. It's always better to err on the side of caution."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Galchenyuk will be out indefinitely after undergoing tests on a lower-body injury suffered during Sunday's game in Los Angeles, the Montreal Canadiens announced.Related: Desharnais offers short-term fantasy value with Galchenyuk outThe initial tests took place in St. Louis, and Galchenyuk will be further evaluated in Montreal on Wednesday, at which time his status will be updated.Galchenyuk leads the Canadiens in goals (nine) and total points (23) despite ranking fourth in ice time among forwards, and has emerged as a key piece for a club sitting first in the Atlantic Division.Montreal next plays Tuesday against St. Louis, meaning Galchenyuk will miss one game, at the very least.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The teddy bear toss is easily one of hockey's most entertaining traditions.The AHL's Hershey Bears held their annual fundraiser Sunday afternoon and set a new team record in the process, with 20,662 teddy bears hitting the ice after Garrett Mitchell scored in the first period.

The Vancouver Canucks are apparently establishing new lows when it comes to ticket demand on the secondary market."I didn't think it would get any lower than the Mike Keenan years - that's when they moved Trevor (Linden) out and brought in (Mark) Messier," Kingsley Bailey, the manager of local broker Vancouver Ticket, told Postmedia's Stephanie Ip.Bailey said demand for resale Canucks tickets this season is at an "all-time low," or the lowest it's been since the late 1990s."It's got to the point where some ticket holders - they don't even want to go but they don't want to lose their priority number," he said. "So some of my season-ticket holders who were selling partial seasons are now selling me full seasons."Canucks COO Jeff Stipec told Yip that the season-ticket renewal rate for 2016-17 plummeted to just over 80 percent, down from 97 percent in 2011.Vancouver sits second-last in the paltry Pacific Division, and the Canucks have the fifth-worst record in the league at 11-12-2 through 25 games.Things seemed similarly grim in the fall of 2014, when Bailey said there was "no demand" for Canucks resale tickets. The club missed the postseason in 2013-14 after five consecutive playoff runs, which included a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2011.After being eliminated by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 2015 playoffs, Vancouver missed the postseason again last spring and doesn't appear likely to be playoff-bound in 2017.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Derek Dorsett will undergo cervical fusion surgery to repair disc degeneration in his neck, general manager Jim Benning announced Monday.The club isn't providing a timeline due to the nature of the procedure, but TSN's Darren Dreger reports Dorsett won't be back this season.The Canucks expect him to recover fully and eventually resume playing, however.He's been dealing with the condition for "five or six years," according to head coach Willie Desjardins."The decision to perform surgery was made after a thorough review of our options, including non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation," Benning said."Derek, our Canucks medical team, and Dr. (Robert) Watkins believe that surgery offers the best outcome both for his career and long-term health. Derek is an important member of our team and we are optimistic for a full recovery."Dorsett, who hasn't played since Nov. 17, ended the Canucks' goalless streak of just under 160 minutes when he scored against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 5.He's collected four points and racked up 33 penalty minutes in 14 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former NHL forward Marek Svatos' death has been ruled a drug overdose by a Colorado coroner's office.From Tom McGhee of the Denver Post:

Two Swedish junior hockey teams obliterated the NHL's single-game record for penalty minutes Sunday.Aker/Strängnäs HC and Flemingsbergs IK racked up a whopping 871 penalty minutes during their game, which was played before a crowd of just 67. The NHL record is 419 minutes, set during a brawl between the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers in 2004.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson will be back between the pipes for Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, head coach Guy Boucher confirmed.Anderson had left the team to be with wife Nicholle, who began another round of treatment for throat cancer on Nov. 30.Despite several leaves of absence, Anderson has played exceptionally well this season, posting a record of 12-5-1 with a .930 save percentage.Mike Condon has been strong in relief, going 3-1-1 with two shutouts and a save percentage of .942.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be in search of a new backup goalie.Jhonas Enroth has been placed on waivers, and head coach Mike Babcock cited poor performance as the impetus for the decision.

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Steve Mason, St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko, and San Jose Sharks netminder Martin Jones were named the NHL's three stars of the week Monday.Mason earned first star by winning all four games with a 1.71 GAA and a .945 save percentage.Tarasenko was named second star after scoring four times and collecting five points in three contests.Jones picked up the third star for going 3-0-0 with a 1.01 GAA and a save percentage of .962.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's new series, "The Noise," is published every Monday. It kicks off each week with a quick look at three teams or players making headlines, good or bad.Philadelphia FlyersThe hottest team in the NHL resides in the City of Brotherly Love.Philadelphia is riding a five-game win streak following back-to-back victories over the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators over the weekend.How have they done it?The Flyers are filling the net at a rate eclipsed by only three other teams - scoring 3.11 goals per game - but they've also allowed the fourth-most at 3.07 per contest.Only the Columbus Blue Jackets have a more efficient power play, but Philadelphia's penalty kill is ranked in the bottom-third of the NHL.Steve Mason is on an impressive run that earned him first star of the week honors, but he'll continue to be relied upon heavily while Michal Neuvirth is on the shelf.Even after his stellar week, the ever-inconsistent Mason is 9-8-3 with a 2.76 GAA and a .904 save percentage. Rookie backup Anthony Stolarz is largely unproven, and he's filling in for Neuvirth, who struggled mightily before suffering an apparent knee sprain last month.All these issues make it hard to believe Philadelphia's run is sustainable, but for now, the Flyers are clearly doing something right.Anaheim DucksThe Ducks' visit to Alberta did not go well.Anaheim was embarrassed in Calgary on Sunday night, surrendering five goals in six minutes during an 8-3 rout at the hands of the Flames.Jonathan Bernier allowed all eight goals and looked like a goaltender who hadn't played in over a week.The destruction came on the second night of a back-to-back for the Ducks, who also lost to the Edmonton Oilers in overtime Saturday night.Despite the losses, the Ducks currently find themselves in playoff position, but they're lucky the Pacific Division is the worst in the NHL.Anaheim has a couple of days to ponder what went wrong in Calgary, before hosting Carolina on Wednesday.Cam WardSpeaking of the Hurricanes, it's been an up-and-down season for Carolina - but its veteran netminder is pulling his weight.The Hurricanes are 10-10-5 through 25 games, and while Ward is only 8-7-4, his peripheral statistics provide a better indication of his early impact.Nearly one-third of the way through the season, he's putting up numbers - a 2.09 GAA and .924 save percentage, to be exact - that would be career highs, if he can sustain them into the spring.Ward made 30 saves in a shutout victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, snapping a personal four-game losing streak in which he allowed only eight goals.Not bad for a 32-year-old in his 12th NHL campaign.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 Monday, December 5 (all advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):Triple Threat