Round 2 between Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid goes Tuesday night, and here's hoping for a little more intrigue this time around.The first battle between the two most recent No. 1 picks was overshadowed by Nazem Kadri, who potted two goals for the Maple Leafs while the 19-year-old phenoms were held off the scoresheet.The Oilers captain currently paces the NHL in points, while Matthews sits one point back of the rookie lead, 21 games into his inaugural campaign.As the two rising stars collide for the last time this season - barring an incredibly unlikely meeting in the Stanley Cup Final - here's a look at their production rates through 21 games in their respective careers.PlayerGPG APMulti-Point GamesMcDavid21916256Matthews2197164Advantage McDavid, who was sidelined 13 games into his rookie season with a broken collarbone, but returned with something to prove.He netted 13 points in his next eight games, including a career-high five-point effort Feb. 11 versus - that's right - Toronto.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey Canada unveiled the list of invitees who will report to its Junior Team selection camp in Blainville, Que. from Dec. 10-14.The roster includes 19 forwards, 10 defensemen, and three goaltenders.

The Buffalo Sabres are welcoming Jack Eichel back to the lineup.The 2015 second overall pick will make his season debut Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. Eichel has missed all 21 of Buffalo's games after injuring his ankle the day before opening night.

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, November 29 (advanced stats pulled from Corsica.Hockey):Triple Threat

Jim Rutherford's problem is likely the envy of several of his peers.The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the season with two high-end goalies on the roster in Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray, both of whom have carried the team to Stanley Cup wins.With both goalies now healthy and able to play every night, balancing the workload is proving to be a challenge, according to the general manager."Despite the fact I like having the two top goalies, it's difficult when both goalies are used to playing the majority of the games," Rutherford said Monday, according to Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "You get into weeks where they're splitting and going every other game. That hasn't worked, at this point, as well as I thought it would."Murray has excelled since coming back from a broken hand suffered at the World Cup, outplaying Fleury overall this season.PlayerGamesRecordSave %Matt Murray87-1-0.939Marc-Andre Fleury156-5-3.901Still, Rutherford is in no rush to move one goalie out and hand the starting job to the other."I don't feel urgency (to decide)," Rutherford said, adding, "It is one area I'm probably looking at the most right now."With an expansion draft looming next summer, it's a situation that needs to be resolved one way or another in the coming months.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL is quickly turning into a two-goalie league.In the past, the workhorse netminder was a staple, with one player carrying the majority of the starts over the course of an 82-game season. Even following the 2004-05 lockout, 26 goalies recording at least 70 starts from 2005-06 to 2010-11.Over the past five regular seasons, however, only four goalies have made 70 or more starts:PlayerTeamSeasonStartsJonas HillerAnaheim2011-1273Pekka RinneNashville2011-1272Braden HoltbyWashington2014-1572Jonathan QuickLos Angeles2014-1571While it's still early in the season, there are no fewer than four goalies on pace to reach the 70-start mark.Here's a quick look at the NHL's new workhorses:Cam TalbotWith 21 starts through 23 games, the Edmonton Oilers' Cam Talbot is on pace for 75 - a number reached only eight times by five different goalies over the past decade.Talbot has posted an 11-8-0 record with a .921 save percentage to date, playing a big part in Edmonton's somewhat unexpected rise to first place in the Pacific Division.Jonas Gustavsson waits in the wings as his backup, so it stands to reason head coach Todd McLellan will continue to call Talbot's number as long as he's able to play.Sergei BobrovskyAfter starting 18 of 20 games to date, the 2013 Vezina Trophy winner is on pace to start 74 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets - a somewhat troubling forecast considering Sergei Bobrovsky's recent groin injuries.Not ideal, but doable, head coach John Tortorella told Tom Reed of the Columbus Post-Dispatch, but with one caveat:"I don't do the math ... I'm not a numbers guy."General manager Jarmo Kekalainen offered a more measured response."Bob is our No. 1 goalie and we're going to monitor the situation very close ... to make sure we don't overload him or overwork him," he said. "But he's going to play most of our games no matter who our backup is."The backup, for the time being, is Curtis McElhinney.Martin JonesThe San Jose Sharks appear to have struck gold by acquiring Martin Jones.Since coming over from Boston after he was sent there by rival Los Angeles, Jones has been as reliable as they come, and - with 19 starts in 22 games - is on pace to start 71 games for the Sharks this season.The other goalie on San Jose's roster is 27-year-old Aaron Dell, who went undrafted and has four career appearances at the NHL level on his resume - all of which have come this season.Frederik AndersenFor better or worse, the Toronto Maple Leafs are placing their already slim playoff hopes on the back of Frederik Andersen. Thankfully, things have fallen on the better side since a rough start to the season.Andersen was acquired from Anaheim this past offseason, and promptly signed to a five-year contract extension - a deal that seemed questionable at best back in October. In November, however, he has displayed the kind of game that led Toronto to bank on him.MonthGamesRecordSave %October72-2-3.876November117-4-0.931Jhonas Enroth hasn't proved himself capable of effectively easing Andersen's load, putting the No. 1 option in line to start 70 games for Mike Babcock.- Statistics courtesy: NHL.comCopyright © 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: Supposed backup netminder Chad Johnson remains the Flames' savior, as he's 7-4-1 with a 2.23 GAA and .922 save percentage in 12 starts.Minus: The Flames haven't treated home fans to much this season, putting together a measly 3-7 record at the Saddledome, which traditionally has been tough on opposing teams.The Take: Calgary has the worst powerplay, the second-worst penalty kill, and have allowed the most goals against in the NHL. But hey, they're only two points out of a wild-card spot in the uncertain Western Conference.Edmonton OilersPlus: Connor McDavid is stealing the show atop the NHL's scoring race, but next on the Oilers' production list is Leon Draisaitl, who's quietly racked up 17 points in 23 contests.Minus: Really? The Coyotes? After dropping both games in a home-and-home with Arizona last week, Edmonton is 0-21-4 in their last 25 contests versus their foes from the desert. Seriously.The Take: If McDavid stays healthy, a top-three position in the Pacific Division is definitely attainable, but one wonders, when will Cam Talbot's workload ease? The 29-year-old has started 21 of the Oilers' 23 games.Montreal CanadiensPlus: Both Alex Galchenyuk and Alexander Radulov have been outstanding for Montreal this season, serving as the catalysts for an offense averaging more than three goals a game.Radulov has 10 points in his last 10 games, while Galchenyuk has benefited greatly since joining his line. The 22-year-old sniper ranks seventh in league scoring with 22 points, averaging just under 16 minutes per game.Minus: Tomas Plekanec is struggling mightily a quarter of the way through the season, with only one goal and five assists in 22 games. He's topped the 50-point plateau in each of the past two seasons.The Take: The Habs have a threatening offense and the best goaltender in the universe. Don't expect them to fall out of first place any time soon.Ottawa SenatorsPlus: Ottawa's won four in a row, and seven of their last 10, supplanting Tampa Bay for second in the Atlantic. They've done so on the strength of Craig Anderson, who sits at 12-4-1 on the season, with an exceptional 2.03 GAA and .936 save percentage.Minus: Ryan Dzingel's ear looking like a mashed potato.The Take: If the goaltending can stay hot, the Senators will remain in the playoff race, but any regression could spell trouble, as Ottawa is allowing 31.2 shots per game, and are scoring at the second-lowest rate in the NHL.Toronto Maple LeafsPlus: Breathe easy, Maple Leafs fans, Auston Matthews is off the schneid. The 2016 first overall pick broke out of his slump in a big way last week, earning three points versus New Jersey, then adding another tally in Saturday's impressive win over Washington.Minus: Despite Matthews' slumpbuster, which saw Toronto jump out to a 3-0 lead over the Devils, the Leafs squandered another advantage, ultimately losing in a shootout.The Take: Toronto is 5-4-1 in their last 10, and sit above .500 as December approaches, so that has to resonate well with the young club. However, the Leafs embark on a three-game road trip this week, which should serve as a tough test, only earning one win on the road this season.Vancouver CanucksPlus: It looks as though Bo Horvat is emerging into the star Vancouver hoped he'd become. The former ninth overall pick leads the Canucks with 15 points, 11 of which have come in his last 10 games.Minus: The Canucks have won three of five, but other than a brief uptick in their offense, they're still struggling in many facets of the game, allowing too many shots, while barely squeaking out the majority of their wins in extra time.The Take: Vancouver seems to be wedged in the middle of tearing it all down, and unnecessarily pressing to make a run with an insufficient roster. Hardly anyone expected much from the Canucks this season, but as the rest of the season plays out, it will be interesting to see which route management pursues.Winnipeg JetsPlus: The Jets erased an ugly five-game skid with an impressive 3-0 shutout Sunday over Nashville. Time to regroup. Bryan Little is also due back soon, which should help an offense that's struggled of late.Minus: Maybe rookie slumps are contagious. Patrik Laine has just one goal in his last 10, while the rest of the Jets attack has sputtered to only nine tallies in six games.The Take: Now it's up to Winnipeg to find its balance again. With their slide a memory, the Jets need to capitalize on four of their next six games on home ice, where they've been better all season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tomas Hertl is a national treasure.The affable San Jose Sharks forward took on teammate Tommy Wingels in a lip-reading challenge posted by the team Monday.Fun must be always, indeed.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jamie Oleksiak isn't the most decorated member of his family, but he did his best to get noticed by his parents Monday night.The Dallas Stars defenseman and brother of Canadian Olympic swimming medalist Penny Oleksiak stick-handled past two members of the St. Louis Blues and buried his second goal of the season late in the second period Monday night.Oleksiak scored again to tie the game on a redirection with 50 seconds left in regulation.Not bad for a player listed at 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Rutherford believes two fading hockey traditions aren't necessary.The Pittsburgh Penguins general manager joined the list of hockey personnel to speak up against morning practice sessions on game days, while also arguing that fighting isn't a vital part of the game when asked about the subjects Monday night.Rutherford didn't sugarcoat his answer when asked about the point of a morning skate."There isn't one," the GM said at the '50 Years of Hockey' event in Pittsburgh."(The Montreal Canadiens) started (the) morning skate in the early '70s. (Penguins co-owner) Mario (Lemieux), (head) coach (Mike Sullivan) and I all don't care for it."The architect of the defending Stanley Cup champions also dismissed the notion that fighting is essential."When you look at the best events in hockey, you don’t have any fighting," Rutherford said, according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I don’t think we need it."Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella did away with his team's morning skates earlier this season, and several other key NHL figures have argued against the game-day sessions in the last couple of years.The frequency of fights has been dramatically reduced as the NHL has collectively shifted toward prioritizing speed and skill, which were precisely the qualities many believed separated the Penguins from the rest of the league during their championship run.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We all know John Tavares can finish, but his teammates can make plays, too.Josh Bailey feathered a perfect no-look dish to Tavares, and the New York Islanders captain roofed one over Calgary Flames goaltender Brian Elliott to open the scoring Monday night.It was Tavares' sixth goal and 16th point in his 21st game of the season. Bailey picked up his ninth assist and 12th point of the campaign.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Foley's team-naming headache might not be over just yet.U.S. Army officials are reportedly looking into the Las Vegas NHL franchise's use of "Golden Knights," because that nickname belongs to the army's parachute team."We're reviewing the situation and figuring out what the way ahead would be," army Marketing and Research Group spokeswoman Alison Bettencourt told Steve DeVane of the Fayetteville Observer, a publication based near Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina.Foley, the billionaire West Point graduate who owns the expansion club, announced the Golden Knights' team name and logo last Tuesday. He is apparently aware of the parachute team's name, but that isn't stopping the army from taking a closer look."We understand that one of the Las Vegas team owners has army connections, and will likely understand our interest in this announcement is meant to protect the proud history of the army's Golden Knights and their vital role in telling the army story and connecting America with their army," Bettencourt said.Foley's search for a name was held up by copyright hurdles and the NHL's reluctance to condone references to gambling.After the Golden Knights' ill-fated unveiling last week, the owner told Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he originally wanted the army's Golden Knights to parachute in on the ceremony, but it got "kind of complicated."Foley's interest in using "Black Knights" dates back nearly two years, but that moniker was nixed because it belongs to army's athletic program.The ownership group also considered "Silver Knights" and "Desert Knights" before settling on the golden variation.- With h/t to Puck DaddyCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gerard Gallant has spoken.The former Florida Panthers head coach broke his silence Monday afternoon and addressed the organization that fired him Sunday night."(I) would like to thank (the) Panthers for two great years and (for) giving me (an) opportunity to be a head coach in the NHL," Gallant told TSN's Darren Dreger. "(I'm) really going to miss my players and staff, thanks."Gallant guided the Panthers to their best season in franchise history in 2015-16, but Florida general manager and interim head coach Tom Rowe said Monday that philosophical differences played a role in the decision to dismiss the now-departed bench boss.Related: Panthers cite inconsistency, philosophical divide for Gallant firingGallant's vision surely clashed with that of the Panthers' front office, but he won't likely have to wait long for another opportunity, given his track record.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes will be without their No. 1 center for the time being.Jordan Staal has been diagnosed with a concussion, general manager Ron Francis said, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer.Staal's recovery timeline isn't yet known, but the club placed him on injured reserve Monday, calling up Phil Di Giuseppe from the AHL in a corresponding move.The veteran forward suffered the injury during Sunday's contest against the Florida Panthers, leaving the game after playing less than three minutes.The concussion came with Staal in the midst of a seven-game pointless skid. In 21 contests this season, Staal has five goals and nine points to his name.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL All-Star Game will air on NBC for the first time in 13 years, as the event has been moved to the main network from NBCSN."As the NHL celebrates its Centennial, we’re excited to bring the pace and energy of the NHL All-Star Game to a network-television audience for the first time in more than a decade," said Sam Flood, executive producer at NBC Sports and NBCSN."This move, combined with the addition of games featuring rising young stars like Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid, as well as our upcoming 'Star Sunday' matchups, continues to illustrate our commitment to showcase the best talent in the NHL and grow the game of hockey in America."Speaking of McDavid and Matthews, NBCSN had already announced the airing of Tuesday's game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers, meaning the pair is well on their way to reshaping the face of the league for years to come.The 2017 All-Star Game is set for Jan. 29 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.Last year's event, highlighted by John Scott's MVP performance, was the highest-rated All-Star game on NBCSN since the rights were acquired in 2005-06.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers have lifted the curtain a bit in regards to their decision to fire head coach Gerard Gallant.Related: Panthers officially name GM Rowe interim head coachIn a conference call Monday, team president Matt Caldwell said the team had high expectations after winning the Atlantic Division last season and making apparent upgrades over the summer, particularly to the blue line. Quite simply, those expectations were not being met early on under Gallant's guidance.

The news is not good for Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alex Edler.The 30-year-old will undergo surgery to repair a fractured left index finger, and will miss four-to-six weeks, the team announced Monday.Edler suffered the injury after blocking a shot in the first period of Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche.In 21 games this season, Edler has chipped in with one goal and two assists, and sits ninth in the league with 48 blocked shots.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gerard Gallant was not stranded after being fired by the Florida Panthers on Sunday.Related: Gallant awaits cab after being fired by PanthersThat's what Panthers co-owner Doug Cifu maintains, at least, after a bevy of photos emerged of Gallant waiting for a taxi outside PNC Arena in Raleigh after being let go.

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.Fantasy hockey owners will often forego one or two of their defensemen slots in favor of rostering an extra goalie of forward. With each team having four starting positions for defensemen, a typical 12-man league require 48 D-men. Unfortunately, only 35 NHL defensemen have at least 10 points on the season.While going with only two or three defensemen has some merit in providing depth at other positions instead of receiving next to no production from those roster spots, owners can instead use the spots to address other fantasy categories. This can be productive in both head-to-head and points leagues as owners focus on getting high levels of point production from their forwards.Here are 10 defensemen going under the fantasy radar who are capable of rounding out your team's production:

Ryan Strome appears to tiring of his uncertain role within the New York Islanders organization.For the second straight game, the 23-year-old center will watch his team play from the press box as a healthy scratch. It's not the first time head coach Jack Capuano has exiled him to the sidelines, although Strome's response is different this time around.

One day later, and the hockey world is still up in arms over the sudden and unexpected firing of Florida Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant.Related: Panthers officially name GM Rowe interim head coachAfter helping the Panthers claim just their second division title on the back of a franchise-record 103-point season last year, the club appeared to have it out for Gallant, giving him the ax after the club jumped out to a sub-par 11-10-1 record.Gallant's firing should also come as a warning to current head coaches in the league, as there appear to be much hotter seats elsewhere.Here are three coaches that should be worried about their job security following Gallant's abrupt firing:Willie DesjardinsThe Willie Desjardins experiment in Vancouver needs to come to an end.The Canucks under Desjardins have been in regression since his first season. After making the postseason with 101 points during the 2015 season - which was followed by a swift exit at the hands of the Calgary Flames - the team managed just 75 points last season and are on pace for less than that in 2016-2017.The team averages the second-fewest goals per game, they boast the second-worst goal differential in the league at minus-17, and despite a 5-4-1 record in their last 10 games, sit just a win up on last place in the Western Conference.Management has a lot to blame for the current state of the Canucks, but they could make a statement with a change behind the bench.Jack CapuanoComing off a second straight 100-point season and the franchise's first playoff-series win, it appeared the New York Islanders were well on their way to a strong 2016-17 campaign. Wrong.Jack Capuano and Co. have gotten off to the worst start in the NHL, amassing a league-worst 16 points through 20 games, and it isn't just one or two facets of their game holding them down.Stat GF/GP GA/GP Shots/G SA/GP PP% PK%League Rank21252226 (5th highest)2522It's a mess across the board, and while Capuano has admitted he feels the loss of Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen have hurt the club, decisions such as rolling three goalies have hindered the club's performance and caused a wrinkle in attitude with some.A change here could be forthcoming.Lindy RuffStop me if this starts to sound familiar.Coach leads team to division title, reaches second round of the playoffs, next season struggles out of the gate partially due to injuries, still has a winning record, and now sits just outside a playoff spot.Yes, if anyone in the league knows what Gallant was feeling right before he got fired, it would be Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff.The Stars are struggling, especially compared to the team we saw last season. The team's goaltending has not gotten better and they are struggling to score themselves out of holes.Ruff - like in so many cases - might not necessarily be the culprit for a slow start, but with a team appearing to be in win-now mode and a playoff spot in question, it might not take too long for Jim Nill to make a change in an attempt to get the team back on track.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson, New Jersey Devils winger Mike Cammalleri, and San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns have been named the NHL’s "Three Stars" for the week ending Nov. 27.Here's what they did to earn the honors:AndersonAnderson led the NHL with four wins, recording a .960 save percentage and one shutout in four appearances, propelling the Senators into second place in the Atlantic Division.He made 36 saves in a 4-3 victory over the league-leading Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 22, before allowing just two goals across his next three starts, including a shutout of the high-scoring New York Rangers on Sunday.His wife Nicholle, meanwhile, continues to undergo throat cancer treatment.CammalleriIn his return to the lineup following a personal leave, Cammalleri scored four goals and added four assists in three games, including his sixth career four-point performance in Wednesday's game against Toronto.Cammalleri missed six contests while his five-year-old daughter dealt with a severe case of pneumonia.BurnsFresh off signing a big contract extension, Burns led all defensemen in scoring last week with two goals and four assists in four games.He ranks first among all players at his position with 30 points through 22 contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adam Henrique is out there making dreams come true.Back in August, the New Jersey Devils center attempted to aid backup goaltender Keith Kinkaid in his quest for a new look for the upcoming season, placing forward Stephen Gionta's face on a famous body image of Seinfeld character George Costanza.What was then seen as a design joke has apparently become a reality.

If you want something done right, do it yourself.That appears to be the sentiment felt by Florida Panthers general manager Tom Rowe, who was officially named the club's interim head coach on Monday."My focus is solely on turning our season around, fixing our special teams, and securing a playoff berth," Rowe said.The move comes after former head coach Gerard Gallant was fired on Sunday, following the Panthers' 3-2 loss to Carolina. Florida also cut ties with assistant coach Mike Kelly."In seeking to earn a second consecutive playoff berth and bring a Stanley Cup to South Florida, we believe that new leadership is required immediately," Panthers owner Vincent J. Viola said in a release.

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.Sidney CrosbyFrom the beginning of 2016 through to the end of play on Nov. 27, no player has scored more goals than Sidney Crosby.The Pittsburgh Penguins' superstar center has recorded 42 goals in 60 games this calendar year, one more than Alex Ovechkin, and eight more than Wayne Simmonds.His yearly total has been boosted by an otherworldly start to the 2015-16 regular season; in 16 games, Crosby has scored 15 goals, and despite missing a handful of games with a concussion, he's on pace for 71 if he remains healthy through to the end.Crosby's career high is 51 goals back in the 2009-2010 season, but he hasn't really approached 40 since scoring 39 as a rookie over a decade ago.We'll have whatever he's having for breakfast these days.Florida PanthersA road loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in late November kicked off quite a Sunday night for the Florida Panthers.Less than ten minutes after the team tweeted out Gerard Gallant's postgame comments, Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet reported the Panthers had fired their head coach. Follow-up reports stated assistant head coach Mike Kelly was also let go, while general manager Tom Rowe will take over behind the bench, news that was confirmed Monday morning.All this after an 11-10-1 start for the reigning Atlantic Division champions who were trying to overcome injuries to Jonathan Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad while also waiting for Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr to improve upon their two and three goals apiece to date.The social media reaction was far less than complimentary, especially in light of the fact Gallant was forced to wait for a cab outside PNC Arena following his dismissal.Here's the thing: We know Gallant, who was believed to be widely appreciated by his players, will land on his feet. It's already been suggested that he could get a look from the Vegas Golden Knights if he's not already scooped up by then. Embarrassing cab ride aside, he won't be out of work for long.Back in Florida, questions remain in light of a huge amount of tinkering over the past calendar year, both on and off the ice. Ownership and management have a clear and unified vision and mandate, and while it has cost many their jobs, the hope is it will pay off in the end with sustained success.Related: Panthers are an experiment worth seeing through, with or without GallantCraig AndersonThe Ottawa Senators goalie is making the most of every start these days.Craig Anderson stopped 65-of-66 shots against over the weekend, earning a 2-1 win over Carolina on Saturday and a 3-0 victory over the New York Rangers the following night.Head coach Guy Boucher said Anderson is likely to miss games in the near future in order to be with wife Nicholle, who is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatment at a New York-based hospital for throat cancer.So while it's not always ideal to give a goalie back-to-back starts, Anderson's situation is rather unique."We want the best for him, we want the best for our team ... (but) when you’ve got no hesitation from your No. 1 goalie and he says, 'I want that game,' it’s very difficult to say you’re not playing," Boucher said, per Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen.Anderson has now posted a record of 12-4-1 on the season, with a .936 save percentage.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Redblacks' underdog victory in the 104th edition of the Grey Cup on Sunday appears to have struck a chord with the city's NHL club.Many Ottawa Senators took to Twitter to applaud their football brothers in their 39-33 overtime win, lending words of congratulations and vows to follow in their footsteps.

Gerard Gallant won 96 of the 186 games he worked as head coach of the Florida Panthers. He lost only 65 in regulation time. That's good.The 53-year-old was behind the bench of the most successful Panthers team in franchise history, which eclipsed 100 points last season, won the Atlantic Division, and made the playoffs. He was a 2016 Jack Adams Award finalist, finishing second, and signed through 2019.But his record, contract, and accomplishments didn't matter to the folks running the show in Sunrise. As of Sunday night, Gallant's the former coach of the Panthers, fired and left outside PNC Arena in Raleigh to find his way home.And if you're wondering why, you're not alone.It's not you, it's meThere was discord between Gallant and management. The game's "insiders" are about the only ones not surprised at what transpired Sunday night.The Panthers are owned by Vincent Viola, a billionaire West Point graduate who made his fortune on Wall Street. The club's president and CEO, Steve Caldwell, is 36 years old, served in the U.S. Army, has an MBA, and was a former vice president at Goldman Sachs. He's the furthest from a hockey guy.More men like Caldwell with military and business backgrounds have been brought in to work important management roles. As The Globe and Mail's James Mirtle wrote, "The team's fundamental ethos has become one of Wall Street."And so far, it's working. The Panthers are winning. Attendance is up. Florida's spending more money (and losing more of it, but that's besides the point, for now).The team's embraced analytics, something Viola knows a thing or two about from his time in the pits as a trader. The club's new analytics director was a math professor at West Point in his former life. General manager - and new interim head coach - Tom Rowe is a hockey lifer, but he's buying what the Panthers are selling. He took over for respected Stanley Cup winner Dale Tallon, who went from GM to president of hockey operations, in the spring.Gallant was never management's guy. And while, according to Mirtle, Viola encourages disharmony, perhaps Gallant was a little too disharmonious. His firing is another sign the Panthers are moving all-in on their Wall Street and West Point approach to building a hockey team. You can disagree, but you must be on board - so it appears.

Anthony Stolarz plays goal for the Philadelphia Flyers, but he represents the state of New Jersey. And the 22-year-old made home-state history Sunday.Hailing from Edison, Stolarz became the first New Jersey-born goalie to play in - and win - an NHL game. He made 29 saves in his successful debut.

The Florida Panthers sure know how to cut the cord.The club fired head coach Gerard Gallant and assistant coach Mike Kelly on Sunday after a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, and the two weren't about to get a ride to the airport on the team bus.Gallant and Kelly were spotted outside PNC arena awaiting a taxi:

Craig Anderson did what no other goalie's been able to do this season: shut out the New York Rangers.Playing in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday, the Ottawa Senators' tender recorded 33 saves in Manhattan in a 2-0 win, and stopped a remarkable 65 of 66 shots he faced over the weekend.Anderson, who took a leave of absence after his wife was diagnosed with cancer in late October, went into Sunday's game with a stellar .932 save percentage - and it's going up. He's won four straight starts, allowing only five goals combined.With everything on Anderson's plate, his play in November has been nothing short of inspiring. After the shutout over New York, he has a .943 save percentage in 11 starts this month.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The reaction to the Florida Panthers firing head coach Gerard Gallant was quick and decidedly supportive in favor of the 53-year-old.Here's a sample of tweets from around the hockey world:

A slow start has cost head coach Gerard Gallant his job.The Florida Panthers fired Gallant after Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the club confirmed on Monday.General manager Tom Rowe will take over behind the bench, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Assistant head coach Mike Kelly was also let go, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

Michael Leighton is back in the win column.For the first time since Dec. 30, 2010 against the Los Angeles Kings, the veteran goalie recorded a regular-season NHL win.The victory came Sunday in Leighton's first appearance this season since being recalled from the AHL by the Carolina Hurricanes.The 35-year-old found himself in an early 2-0 hole to the Florida Panthers, but settled in and made 31 saves on 33 shots to secure two points for the Hurricanes.Prior to Sunday, Leighton had played approximately 100 regular-season minutes since that last win over the Kings.Leighton's most successful run in the NHL was with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2009-10, wherein he helped bring the club to within two wins of a Stanley Cup win.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

21-0-4.That's now the Arizona Coyotes' record in the past 25 against the Edmonton Oilers after a 2-1 road win on Sunday, extending a run of team-on-team dominance that knows no equal in today's NHL.

It was a span of about six weeks, but somehow, our planet became a far different place between the time it took Ryan Getzlaf to score his first and second goals of the season.After notching one in a loss to the New York Islanders on Oct. 16, the Anaheim Ducks captain went 15 games without finding the back of the net before scoring the eventual game-winner Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks.Here are a handful of significant things that happened between Getzlaf's goals:Twitter kills VineOne social media giant decided to dispatch with another in late October when Twitter shocked its user base, announcing plans to discontinue Vine in the coming months.The decision was bad news for sports fans and meme aficianados alike who relied for so many years on Vine's perfect length to share countless highlights and other viral videos.Cubs end 108-year championship droughtIn case it still hasn't sunk in, yes, it really happened.The Chicago Cubs won the World Series in the early hours of Nov. 3, earning a dramatic 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians in a Game 7 that took 10 innings and a rain delay to complete.It was the Cubs' first title since 1908.Donald Trump elected presidentLess than a week after the Cubs pulled off the improbable, the unthinkable happened in the U.S. presidential election.Despite having no previous political experience and losing the popular vote by about two million, Donald Trump was elected president. He defeated Hillary Clinton in the electoral college in a result that stunned most of the mainstream media and pollsters alike, several of whom expected a Clinton landslide victory.Trump has since back-tracked on his proposed Muslim ban, but even a registry could impact the sports world and its diverse group of athletes, staff members, and executives.'Gilmore Girls' returnsThe show that brought mothers and daughters together for seven years in the early 2000s made its triumphant return last week in a Netflix reboot, amid feverish anticipation on social media among fans of the original series and beyond.While it may not have the same cultural impact as the rest of the items on this list, the return of the former CW cult classic resonated deeply with people of multiple genders, whether or not they all admit it.Fidel Castro diesCastro's death wasn't particularly shocking given his status as a nonagenarian, but it was still a significant development that could affect relations between the U.S. and the Caribbean island nation for years to come.His health was by all accounts in perpetual decline, so much so that his death had been erroneously reported multiple times over the years.The former president of Cuba took medical leave in the summer of 2006 and officially vacated the role in 2008. He died Friday at the age of 90.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins defenseman John-Michael Liles was helped off the ice by teammates following a scary headfirst collision into the boards Sunday afternoon.Liles was inadvertently tripped by the stick of Ben Bishop. He was taken to the dressing room and didn't return for the second period.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're now more than a quarter of the way through the NHL season, so it's safe to begin looking at some of the award favorites.Some familiar names are the early bets to capture the hardware, while a couple of new candidates have emerged in their respective races.Here's who deserves each of the six major individual awards through the opening quarter of the campaign.Hart Trophy - Carey PriceGold-Smith: We've seen what the Montreal Canadiens are without their franchise goaltender, and it's not pretty. Now, we're seeing once again just how dominant they can be when Price is healthy and locked in.The 2015 Hart and Vezina Trophy winner is 13-1-1 with a 1.66 GAA, .946 save percentage, and a pair of shutouts in 15 games. He's helped Montreal post the best record in the league, and both he and the club have made some history in the process.Connor McDavid is doing great things for the Edmonton Oilers and leads the league with 18 assists and 28 points, but he's had help from Jordan Eberle, Leon Draisaitl, and Milan Lucic.McDavid is making a strong case, but Price has been the most valuable player to his team early on.Vezina Trophy - PriceO'Leary: It's hardly a debate. The Vezina belongs to Price again.While Tuukka Rask and Devan Dubnyk are putting up remarkable seasons of their own, it's impossible to ignore Price's impact in the Canadiens' crease.It's not as if he isn't getting tested, either, as the Habs are allowing 31.5 shots per game - the sixth-highest mark in the league.Price's Hart Trophy worthiness is debatable, but he's a lock for the Vezina if he continues to play at this level.Norris Trophy - Brent BurnsGold-Smith: The bearded one is tied with Canadiens blue-liner Shea Weber for the league lead among defensemen with eight goals, and he leads the NHL among players at his position with 20 points.Incredibly, he also leads the league - among all skaters - in shots on goal with 91, five more than Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who's played one fewer game.Burns has also generated more shot attempts than he's allowed, with a 52.39 even-strength Corsi For percentage through 22 games according to Corsica.hockey.Weber and Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson have also been excellent in the early going, but Burns is separating himself from the field.Calder Trophy - Zach WerenskiO'Leary: This season's race for rookie of the year may be the most intriguing we've ever seen.Auston Matthews emerging from his drought puts him one point behind rookie leader Patrik Laine, but it's a 2015 draft pick that gets the nod right now.Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski has quietly been sublime in his initial pro campaign, registering five goals and 11 assists while logging 22:15 of ice-time - tops among rookies.The race is wide open, however, as Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Matt Murray could easily thrust themselves into contention if they keep up their current paces.Given Werenski's heavy workload and steady production from the back end, he has a legitimate chance to pull off an upset here.Selke Trophy - Anze KopitarGold-Smith: This award - given annually to the league's best defensive forward - is always the hardest to predict, by virtue of being a largely subjective honor.One thing we can say is the NHL has a tendency to reward the same player multiple times, most notably with Bob Gainey (four) and more recently with Patrice Bergeron and Pavel Datsyuk (three apiece).Kopitar was a deserving recipient last season, and he's once again a major reason the Los Angeles Kings have allowed the fewest shots on goal per game in the NHL.Jack Adams Award - Joel QuennevilleO'Leary: The Chicago Blackhawks have faced question after question regarding their depth, and they've been hit with a slew of injuries, yet there they are sitting in first place.Typically, coach of the year is given to whoever emerges out of the basement and into playoff contention, but the way Joel Quenneville has maximized the potential of a depleted lineup earns him the nod a quarter through the season.Shockingly, three Stanley Cups and a Presidents' Trophy during his tenure in the Windy City hasn't warranted Quenneville - the second-winningest coach of all time - a previous Jack Adams Award, but if Chicago cruises to another playoff berth, he has to be considered.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 Sunday, November 27 (games starting prior to 6 p.m. ET are not included; all advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):Triple Threat

Garret Sparks was suspended by the Toronto Maple Leafs for violating team policy, the AHL's Toronto Marlies confirmed to The Canadian Press on Saturday.The organization would not confirm the length of the suspension, nor the reason for it, but Sparks did use violent, sexist language in a Facebook thread earlier in the week.

"It's a much faster game."We've all heard the line. It's a statement usually opined by the older generation as it reflects upon the differences of the modern game and hockey's sluggish days of hooking and clutching.The league is brimming with younger players as teams' nuclei are now filled with not veterans but uber talented teenagers. And with fitness regimes being what they are, the game has never been played with such speed.Of course, with that, many players are on a whole other level and mystify fans, not necessarily with dazzling moves, but by sheer quickness.Here are the five fastest skaters in the NHL today:Connor McDavidIt's his No. 1 asset.Sure McDavid can shoot the puck, has insane vision and offensive awareness like no other, but what is most obvious about the exceptional talent is his blistering speed.Load up a highlight reel of McDavid and you are certain to see footage of him sidestepping defenders en route to a breakaway goal.Just admit it, there is nothing the kid can't do.Michael GrabnerGrabner for years has been known as a speedster, generating a plethora of breakaway chances because of his foot speed, but usually with little finish which in the past he's been very open about.

Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz proved his toughness Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.On the opening faceoff, a puck deflected off the stick of Nikita Soshnikov and into the Capitals' bench, striking Trotz in the forehead. Trotz barely flinched, though, and remained in the game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LOS ANGELES - Jeff Carter scored his 10th goal of the season 1:06 into overtime, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 on Saturday night for their season-best fifth consecutive victory.Alec Martinez scored and Peter Budaj stopped 18 shots for the Kings, who persevered through a back-and-forth game between Western Conference contenders for their third straight win over Chicago at Staples Center.After Los Angeles failed to score on a power play stretching into overtime, Carter fired a wrist shot past Scott Darling for his fifth goal in five games. Carter also had an early assist, giving him 19 points in 22 games.Patrick Kane scored and Darling stopped 27 shots in his first loss for the Blackhawks, who finished their seven-game circus road trip at 3-3-1.Captain Jonathan Toews missed his second straight game for the Western Conference leaders with an upper-body injury. He also sat out Friday's win over Anaheim.Marian Gaborik made his season debut for the Kings, playing in his first regular-season game since Feb. 12. The $34 million Slovak wing broke his foot during the World Cup of Hockey when teammate Mats Zuccarello's shot hit him.Chicago didn't get a shot on goal for the first 11:40, but Kane scored his eighth goal of the season with a redirection on the Blackhawks' first shot. Kane scored in his second straight game in Southern California after last season's NHL MVP failed to score a goal on the first five games of the circus trip.Los Angeles evened it early in the second period when Martinez fired a shot over Darling's shoulder for his fifth goal and 14th point, extending his five-game scoring streak. The defenseman and 2014 Stanley Cup Final hero became the Kings' second-leading scorer with that goal.An apparent goal by Los Angeles' Tyler Toffoli was waved off on video review just 72 seconds into the first period. Officials ruled Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson was shoved into Darling for goaltender interference.NOTES: Gaborik missed the first 21 games this season, and he missed the final 28 games of last season with a knee injury. He returned to play in four playoff games last spring. ... F Andrew Desjardins and D Michal Kempny returned to Chicago's lineup after being scratches Friday at Anaheim. They replaced F Jordin Tootoo and D Michal Rozsival. ... Kyle Clifford was scratched for the second time all season to make room for Gaborik. D Tom Gilbert also replaced D Matt Greene in Los Angeles' lineup.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks love working overtime.The club came out on the right side of a 3-2 decision against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, needing the shootout to pick up two points.The win was Vancouver's ninth of the season, and six of those victories have required more than 60 minutes of hockey. The Canucks are 4-1 in overtime and 2-1 in the shootout.Jacob Markstrom was exceptional in the crease for Vancouver. He made a number of excellent saves in a frantic three-on-three overtime session, finishing with 32 on the night, and didn't allow a goal in the skills competition.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Capitals were in Toronto in name only Saturday night - not spirit.After the club dropped a 4-2 decision to the Maple Leafs, goaltender Braden Holtby didn't hold back."We didn't look like the Capitals out there at all. I think we got embarrassed by a young team," he said, according to beat writer Mike Vogel. "That's not acceptable in our culture here. We have to be better, every one of us. It was embarrassing."Holtby was the best Capital on the ice, and came to play - unlike most of his teammates. Toronto outshot Washington 15-6 in the first period, and Holtby finished with 33 saves on 37 shots.Maple Leafs rookies Zach Hyman, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, and Nikita Soshnikov combined for five points.Capitals head coach Barry Trotz praised the Maple Leafs, but acknowledged his team wasn't at its best."It wasn't one of our better efforts," he said.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a tumultuous start to the season, Loui Eriksson is finally getting it together.The 31-year-old collected his fifth goal of the season and third in four games Saturday, firing a shot over the blocking hand of Colorado Avalanche goaltender Calvin Pickard.After signing a six-year, $36-million free-agent deal with the Canucks during the offseason, Eriksson went his first 13 games without a goal and just four assists.Canucks fans can now slowly lower their pitchforks.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyle Turris keeps finding the back of the net.The Ottawa Senators forward netted his 10th of the season in a 2-1 win Saturday against Carolina - his second game-winner against the Hurricanes in November.Turris' 10 goals are double the next-highest Senator, and the longest he's gone without scoring is two games. His 13 points are second on the club to some guy named Erik Karlsson.Ottawa's struggling to score goals, so Turris' consistent play through the first quarter of the season has been crucial.The 27-year-old struggled in 2015-16, scoring only 13 goals and finishing with 30 points in 57 games - a down season. He bagged 26 in 2013-14 and 24 in 2014-15.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.