The Maple Leafs are relying on their goaltender and one of their rookies.Toronto beat Washington 4-2 on Saturday night, improving to 8-4-1 in November, and the team was once again propelled by Frederik Andersen and Mitch Marner.Andersen won his seventh game this month, holding the opposition to two goals or fewer for the seventh time in November, and fifth time in a row. He's been stellar over the past two weeks:OpponentGASV%ResultCapitals2.943WHurricanes2.931LCanadiens2.931LPanthers1.963WPredators2.941WMarner, meanwhile, had two assists, giving him six goals and six assists in 12 games in November. The 19-year-old is now tied with Patrik Laine for the NHL lead in scoring among rookies with 18 points. He belongs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings have a little more clarity regarding Jimmy Howard's groin injury.The Red Wings netminder is expected to miss 10-14 days with an ailing groin, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday on the Headlines segment of "Hockey Night in Canada."Howard left Friday's game against the New Jersey Devils after just over 11 minutes. Originally, the 32-year-old was expected to miss at least a week, according to head coach Jeff Blashill.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Kuhnhackl looks like he may have picked up a move or two from Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward channeled his teammates as he undressed New Jersey Devils goaltender Keith Kinkaid before sliding the puck past him for a beautiful goal.The goal was just the 24-year-old's first of the season.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nobody does a teddy bear toss quite like the Calgary Hitmen.The Western Hockey League club held their annual fundraiser on Saturday and once again the result was something to behold.

Here's one for the Save of the Year file.On Saturday night, Petr Mrazek made arguably one of the best glove saves you'll ever see, period.The Detroit Red Wings netminder made a desperate lunge to snare a shot from Montreal Canadiens forward Artturi Lehkonen.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Cammalleri is making up for lost time.The New Jersey Devils forward - who returned to the lineup Wednesday after a six-game absence to care for his sick daughter - scored early in Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.He has three goals and four assists since his return.(Video Courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles is a hockey town, don't forget it.That was the message as the Kings unveiled a monument outside Staples Center on Saturday. The monument includes many Kings greats of then and now and pays homage to many of the franchise's greatest moments including its first game, the historic Wayne Gretzky trade, and the team's 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup victories.

Brandon Prust is headed for Germany.The 32-year-old is pursuing an opportunity with the DEL's Nurnberg Ice Tigers, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.Prust signed a PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason, and stayed with the club to practice despite not earning a contract.Over his career, Prust has spent time with the Flames, Coyotes, Rangers, Canadiens, and Canucks, accumulating 115 points and 1,036 penalty minutes in 486 NHL games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Saturday, November 26 (all advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey):Goalie Breakdown

Believe it or not, one quarter of the NHL season has already been played.Yup, it's true. After Friday's contests, 25.37 percent of the schedule is in the books, according to NHL Public Relations.There's plenty of hockey left to be played, but in honor of the quarter mark of the campaign, let's reflect on the top moments so far.5. ShowtimePatrick Kane submitted an incredibly strong candidate for goal of the year with this effort versus the Canadiens.The reigning MVP showcased his silky stickhandling for the umpteenth time in his career, completing the remarkable individual effort with a top-corner finish.4. McDavid breaks in new homeThe captain opened his new home in grand fashion.In his first game as Oilers leader, Connor McDavid submitted three points, including a brilliant penalty shot effort to christen the sparkling new Rogers Place.3. No. 1 vs. No. 2 The first meeting between 2016's top picks did not disappoint.It was the Maple Leafs versus the Jets, but Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine stole the spotlight - especially the latter.With Toronto staked to a 4-1 lead, Laine nearly single-handedly evaporated the deficit, completing his first career hat trick with a bullet wrister immediately after Matthews couldn't convert a chance of his own.2. The debutMatthews' moment came in his first try.In his initial taste of the NHL, Toronto's No. 1 pick became the first player in league history to score four goals in his debut, setting the hockey world ablaze on opening night.1. Anderson's shutout Hockey itself took a back seat on this one.In his first start after the club announced his wife's cancer diagnosis, Senators netminder Craig Anderson stifled the Oilers for an uplifting 37-save shutout.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Puempel is not upset about moving on from the Ottawa Senators.The 23-year-old winger was claimed by the New York Rangers following an injury to Mika Zibanejad, and the newest Blueshirt was asked about his new surroundings following his first win - and goal - with the club in his debut Friday."They let you play here, they let you play to your strengths," Puempel told Larry Brooks of the New York Post. "They know there are going to be mistakes. They're not barking at you every time you come off the ice. It's beneficial."Puempel, a first-round pick of the Senators in 2011, managed just six points in 52 career games with Ottawa, and he feels the high-flying Rangers, who boast the most prolific offense in the NHL, are a superior fit."In Ottawa there for a while it was getting a little repetitious; chip the puck, chase the puck," Puempel said. "I think this was the most minutes I've played in a long time. The more minutes you get, the better you play. You're more engaged."Puempel will quickly have a chance to back up his claims, as the Senators roll into Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Remember the Buffalo Sabres team encouraged to lose in the season spent angling for Connor McDavid?That attack was desolate by design, having produced 1.87 goals on average, each night.Or, more goals on a per-game basis than they're scoring this season.With their 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday night, the Sabres were reduced to two or fewer goals for the 12th time in 13 November games, and saw their production drop to a microscopic 1.81 goals per game.Ryan O'Reilly was awarded the most expensive contract in Sabres history to spearhead the accelerated rebuild, which was to soothe the humiliation of that season. So it was only appropriate he stepped up and took responsibility for their continuing failure."We're moving it well. We're supporting each other. We're getting these good looks, but it's beating the goalie," O'Reilly told John Vogl of the Buffalo News. "That's all it is. It starts with myself. I've got to do that."In 15 games, O'Reilly has scored four goals on 53 shots, which works out to a 7.5 percent shooting percentage, incrementally assisting the team's anemic total currently hovering around five percent."It's frustrating," he said. "It's scoring goals again is the problem, and that's my job. I'm not doing it right now."Good news is the club's leading scorer from last season, Jack Eichel, is again skating with his teammates, and inching closer to make his first appearance of the year.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For just a split second the Arizona Coyotes got a taste of what it would be like to have Connor McDavid on their bench.This was after a bizarre sequence that saw McDavid jump into the Coyotes' bench after being edged off the puck by Anthony Duclair.Luckily for the Edmonton Oilers, the Coyotes promptly returned the superstar all in one piece.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Some might think the Detroit Red Wings dressed three goalies Friday after the save Justin Abdelkader made.The Red Wings forward took over as netminder, bailing out Petr Mrazek - who entered the game in relief of Jimmy Howard - to stone New Jersey Devils forward Michael Cammalleri with a lunging skate save late in the second period.To add a little extra salt in the wound, the Red Wings would immediately take the puck the other way and knot the game up at 3-3.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid doesn't need a head start, but he'll take one when provided.Flying the zone with just one defender back, McDavid received a pass in line with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and won that race with enough ease to use any move he wanted to beat Mike Smith.McDavid now has 10 goals on the season, and is halfway to extending his multi-point scoring streak to four games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard exited his start Friday night versus the New Jersey Devils after suffering an apparent groin injury, Helene St. James of Detroit Free Press reports.The veteran made two saves on three shots before heading off the ice with no clear indication of how the injury occurred.Head coach Jeff Blashill said afterward that Howard would miss at least a week.Howard has primarily been serving as a backup behind Petr Mrazek since injuring his groin almost two years ago in his first start after being named to the All-Star team.He was unable to rediscover his form until this season, where he's earned split duties for his performance that's exceeded the much younger Mrazek.Howard owned a .943 save percentage in 11 games heading into Friday's contest - third-best in the NHL among goalies with at least 10 appearances.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Well that escalated quickly.The Vancouver Canucks had quite the pregame stretch ahead of their matchup against the Dallas Stars Friday night. After the team's soccer ball got stuck in the light, captain Henrik Sedin took it upon himself - like a true leader - to get the ball down. Except things didn't go exactly as planned as the following tweets show.

Brandon Tanev might want this one back.The Winnipeg Jets rookie trucked through Colton Sissons with a dangerous hit from behind Friday, leaving the Nashville Predators forward crumpled on the ice.Tanev's immediate reaction indicates it wasn't with intent, but that may not convince the NHL's Department of Player Safety.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Goals by Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf appear to be a thing of the past these days.The Anaheim Ducks dropped a 3-2 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks Friday afternoon and once again no goals came off the sticks of the club's two most prolific stars.Through 17 games, Getzlaf has just one goal to his name to go along with 15 assists, while Perry has four goals and 12 assists in 20 games. Sure Getzlaf and Perry are still chipping in with helpers, but five goals combined simply won't cut it, something Getzlaf is well aware of."We have to score goals, and that falls on (Corey) Perry and me," Getzlaf said, according to AnaheimDucks.com's Adam Brady. "With me and Pears not scoring the way we are right now, we need to put pucks in the net. We play a lot of minutes. We need to find ways to score goals. All I can really say is put the puck in the net. We've had opportunities. It's not like we're not trying or not playing. I'm not dogging on that. We have to score. That's our responsibility and what we're paid to do."After Friday's contest, Getzlaf has now gone 15 games without a goal, while Perry is goalless in 13. Their current paces would see the two put up four and 16 goals respectively, which would be their lowest totals in a full season.Despite the slumps, the Ducks continue to cling to a playoff spot with 22 points in 21 games, but with the Predators, Stars, and Jets all within striking distance, a couple goals from the Ducks' $8-million men would go a long way.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Frederik Andersen drew from the angst many weekend hackers experience on the first tee to explain the early-season struggles that now appear behind the Toronto Maple Leafs netminder."When you play golf and you want to hit a long bomb down the fairway, you grip and swing out of your shoes," Andersen said Friday, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston."Not all the time it goes down the middle."Except instead of a retiree in a motorized golf cart critiquing a slice, it was the stresses of one of the densest hockey media markets, and the legion of long-suffering supporters with hardened skepticism."You want to prove yourself right away," Andersen explained. "Sometimes that's added pressure you don't want to put on yourself. It doesn’t help you out too much."Since his woeful start, Andersen's provided indication he can fulfill the duties of the No. 1 starter - something he hasn't had a chance to prove in three previous seasons. Facing an average of 34 shots per game over the last month, Andersen's denied rubber at a .931 clip - and allowed two or fewer goals in two-thirds of his appearances."I feel pretty much at home now," he said. "I feel really good with the guys, I'm starting to have a little bit more fun, (and feeling) a little bit more loose. It's one of those things where you can't just jump right into it; you've got to just let it happen and build it up."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Like most, Ryan Dzingel became anxious as he lay on the table.The game he'd exited after being struck in the side of the head by an errant Erik Karlsson shot was still hanging in the balance, and the seconds were ticking away while the Ottawa Senators medical team was working to sew up the wounds that had opened up around his ear.His impatience now overriding the pain being dulled by the freezing agent, Dzingel had to ask the question. Though he probably wished he hadn't."I don't think I knew how serious it was until Dr. Chow said a couple things," Dzingel told reporters Friday as he offered a recount of the events. "(I was like), 'how much longer is this going to be.' He laughed. 'You have five cuts in your ear. Your ear looks like mashed potato.' So then I kind of figured out that it was serious."Dzingel was thankful for the job, saying that he owes Chow a few bottles of wine. He would, however, offer one critique."I think we need to teach him how to lie."

Nashville Predators defenseman Matt Carle has elected to retire after 12 seasons in the league.The 32-year-old made the decision after the Predators placed him on unconditional waivers earlier in the day for the purpose of buying out his contract, according to Adam Vingan of the Tennessean."It has been an honor to be a player in the National Hockey League and play for four great organizations over the past 12 seasons," Carle said in a release. "At this time, I have decided to retire as a National Hockey League player. I want to thank the San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Nashville Predators for the opportunity to play for each organization. I would also like to thank all the fans that I have met throughout my career for the support that you have given me. Most importantly, I want to thank my family for all the sacrifices they have made on behalf of my career. My parents, brothers, and wife Clancey allowed me to focus on the pursuit of playing the best sport in the world, in the best League in the world, and I will always be grateful."After putting up a career-low nine points in 64 games with the Lightning last season, the Predators took a gamble with Carle signing him to a one-year, $700,000 contract this offseason. Ultimately Carle played just six games with the club, prior to Friday's news."The Nashville Predators would like to congratulate defenseman Matt Carle on a successful and decorated hockey career," Predators general manager David Poile said. "In addition to 730 career NHL games and an All-Rookie Team selection in 2007, Matt is one of just four defensemen in the last 32 years to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player, was a two-time NCAA Champion, a World Junior and World Under-18 Champion for the United States, and a World Championship medalist. We would like to thank Matt for his commitment and dedication to the game, and wish he and his family the best as they move into the next chapter of their lives."Carle played parts of 12 seasons in the league, dressing in 730 games, tallying 45 goals and 283 points.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Vesey is more than just a gifted scorer.The New York Rangers rookie proved that point early in Friday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers, threading a sublime backhand feed to Matt Puempel, who buried it for his first goal with New York in his Rangers debut.Puempel was claimed by New York on Monday after being placed on waivers by the Ottawa Senators.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Toews will have some time off this Thanksgiving weekend.The Chicago Blackhawks captain will not be in the lineup Friday afternoon versus the San Jose Sharks, according to multiple reports.Toews was injured in Wednesday's loss to the Sharks, and head coach Joel Quenneville revealed it was an upper-body ailment at the time, though he didn't provide specifics.However, Quenneville did reveal Toews' status is also in question for Saturday's contest against the Kings.

Andrei Gavrilov is either extremely confident, or simply absent-minded.The Salavat Yulaev goaltender nearly gave up an embarrassing goal in the KHL on Friday when he was caught taking a drink of water with his back turned during an oncoming rush by Dinamo Misk.No one will dispute the fact that his opponents deserved to lose after failing to convert, and sure enough, Salavat hung on for a 2-1 victory.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

More than a few NHL clubs have hindered themselves by signing players to hefty, lengthy contracts that come back to haunt their respective general managers, but there are some deals that should be commended.In the spirit of Black Friday, let's take a look at some of the best bargains on rosters around the league, not including players who are unsigned beyond their entry-level contracts:Wayne Simmonds, Philadelphia Flyers2016-17 salary: $4.3M

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 NHL daily fantasy picture for Friday, November 25 (games starting prior to 7 p.m. ET are not included). Advanced stats courtesy of Corsica.Hockey:Triple Threat

Every Friday this season, theScore's NHL editors are debating a hot-button issue in On The Fly, our roundtable series. This week, we discuss what we're excited for, and concerned about with hockey heading to Vegas.Blank slateWilkins: General manager George McPhee has a unique opportunity with the Vegas Golden Knights.Typically, when a GM takes over, he's inheriting a roster he hopes to build into a winner. But it often comes with its less desirable parts - it's not uncommon to see a GM saddled with scouts he didn't hire, a coach he didn't pick, and a handful of ugly contracts he's not too fond of.That's not the case in Vegas, where McPhee, the former general manager in Washington, will start with a clean slate in his attempt to bring Lord Stanley to the Strip.McPhee gets to lay the first brick with the Golden Knights, choosing everything from the team's initial roster and its staff. He even had input on the team's official name. Not a bad gig.Is there anybody out there? Gold-Smith: Golden Knights fans hit their season-ticket deposit cap long before the team had a name or a logo, but it's the years after their inaugural campaign that owner Bill Foley should be concerned about.There will be at least 16,000 seats accounted for in 2017-18 thanks to the early season-ticket drive, but whether they're consistently filled in a city with an unrivaled number of evening entertainment options remains to be seen.The onus will be on the club's management - led by McPhee and whoever he tabs as head coach - to build a competitive team that holds interest long enough to establish a loyal fan base in a town with myriad distractions.How the Golden Knights do at the gate will be one of the most intriguing storylines of their maiden voyage in the NHL.The on-ice productCuthbert: When a bullish Foley triumphantly vowed that the executive team he chose would craft a championship roster within six seasons, it was clear that he hadn’t been sitting in on the mock drafts.Without question, Las Vegas has assembled an impressive collection of hockey minds and strategists more than capable of building a successful franchise from the ground up. But because the expansion mandate has proven to accommodate the NHL’s 30 active teams, it would be naive to expect even the most fervent talent evaluators to piece together more than a glorified American Hockey League team with its selections.Mock drafts from pundits and fans shared and discussed online are alarming, and these rosters have been assembled even before the NHL’s active franchises board up their rosters with the deadline still months away.McPhee’s team is going to unearth talent. But with the way the NHL has protected its other teams, you have to be concerned about the product the Knights will bring to opening night.Looking the partMcLaren: For as poorly as the unveiling went for the team we now know as the Vegas Golden Knights, the logo, at the very least, was well worth the wait.The first thing about the logo that stands out is the V built into the Knight's helmet, which was a stroke of design genius. It works especially well after it was announced the team would be go by Vegas and not Las Vegas, a nod to the locals on the part of owner Bill Foley.The gold is said to represent the fact Nevada is the largest producer of gold in the United States, while the grey represents strength and durability, and the black represents power and intensity.Put it all together, and the hockey world has a slick new logo that fans from all over the world can proudly don - even if the the team is an absolute embarrassment on the ice to begin with.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In hockey circles, American Thanksgiving is the initial checkpoint on the path to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Over the past decade, 76 percent of teams seeded in postseason standing in time for the mid-week holiday binge successfully qualify for the tournament. So as we stand now six weeks into the season, we can gauge who will be gearing up for a postseason run, and who should be devising a plan to make this losing season a productive one.Except while the percentage of teams that consolidate their current advantage likely won't deviate from the prevailing standard, it doesn't seem as simple identifying the divide.The EastThe Rangers, Penguins, Capitals, Canadiens, and Lightning are the five teams that have created separation in the Metropolitan and Atlantic Divisions, and should be penciled into the bracket.Then it's the Senators, Blue Jackets, and Devils - three teams that didn't qualify last season - holding down the remaining postseason spots. If we go by the percentages, that means we should expect at least one of those teams to keep it. However, of the eight remaining outsiders, seven (including three teams that made the postseason last year) are within four points of unseating one of the three teams with insubstantial advantages at Thanksgiving.Only the last-place Islanders - another playoff team from a season ago - would remain outside the bracket in the event that they string a few wins together. But even then, the Islanders aren't a candidate to disband, meaning the entire 16-team conference could continuing chasing those eight playoff spots.Out WestAt the six-week mark, the Pacific Division-leading Oilers are the only change in the Western Conference playoff picture, having taken the place of last season's No. 1 seeded Stars.Lack of turnover in the overall standings is likely a stronger predictive measure than the percentage of teams that typically maintain their postseason positions. And yet, five of the six teams outside the West standing are within three points from crashing in. Only the Coyotes seem to have opened an overwhelming deficit, having took a league-low 14 points from 18 games.But what's a strong indicator that current structure could be flimsy is that the conference's strongest goal differentials belong to Edmonton and Minnesota - the two teams most would peg as likeliest to fall out. The Blackhawks, Sharks, Kings, Ducks, and Predators are just barely outscoring the competition at the quarter portion of the season, while the Blues own a negative differential at Thanksgiving.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey players are something else.Case in point: Ottawa Senators forward Ryan Dzingel took an Erik Karlsson slap shot to the head during Thursday's win over the Boston Bruins, and was able to resume playing after getting stitched up - to put it mildly.Related: Senators' Dzingel takes Karlsson slap shot to headHead coach Guy Boucher went into further detail:

Now that's teamwork.After a turnover caused by an ill-advised pass by David Krejci, Ottawa Senators forwards Kyle Turris and Bobby Ryan teamed up to tally a much-needed insurance marker against the Boston Bruins.Turris led the rush up the ice, dropped the puck back to Ryan with a between-the-legs pass, and made a beeline to the front of the net where the winger found him with another picture perfect pass.The play was finished off by a Turris snipe for his ninth goal of the season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Boston Bruins are getting all they could have hoped for out of the 25th overall pick at the 2014 NHL Draft.On that day, the Bruins selected Czech winger David Pastrnak, and, looking back, it's all too fitting that it was team president Cam Neely who called his name.Early promisePastrnak debuted with the Bruins in late November of 2014, and scored 10 goals in 46 games during his rookie season.He was limited to 51 games in his second season as a result of a cracked foot suffered early on and a World Junior Championship conditioning stint, but still managed 15 goals.The 25 goals in 97 total appearances worked out to be an average of 0.257 per game, putting him on pace for 21 through an 82-game regular season.Decent production for a player drafted at Pastrnak's spot, to be sure.The breakoutEarly on this season, he has taken his game to a whole new level. In fact, only Sidney Crosby has scored with more regularity than Pastrnak this season.The two players sit well atop the goals-per-game leaderboard, with only eight others averaging 0.5 or more, according to Sporting Charts.PlayerGamesGoalsG/GPSidney Crosby14141.000David Pastrnak15110.733Rickard Rakell1170.636Alex Ovechkin19120.632Michael Grabner21120.571Marian Hossa20110.55Patrik Laine22120.546Steven Stamkos1790.529Nikita Kucherov20100.5Mark Scheifele22110.5Pastrnak's latest came Thursday against the Ottawa Senators on a nifty spinning backhand.

Ryan Dzingel was the victim of friendly fire Thursday night.The Ottawa Senators forward left Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins after taking an Erik Karlsson slap shot to the side of the head.Dzingel was seen holding his left ear as he made his way to the locker room, and didn't return for the start of the second period.His night, however, didn't end.

If it's broken, fix it.That's what Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Brown is doing after smashing the phone of a Nashville Predators fan who was recording his exit from a game on Nov. 21."Just a heat-of-the-moment situation," Brown told Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times. "We've reached out to the guy, and we're working on getting him a new phone as well. That's all there really is to say."Brown had been ejected from the game following an incident with Ryan Ellis, and knocked the phone out of the fan's hand, cracking the screen.The fan decided not to press charges, but requested a replacement phone. He'll also receive an autographed Brown jersey."At the end of the day, we made it right," Brown said.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets will be without Toby Enstrom for an indefinite period of time.The defenseman has returned to Sweden to tend to a personal family matter and there is no timetable for his return to the club."He had to get home to Sweden for a family situation that's come up briefly with the full and complete support of the Winnipeg Jets organization," head coach Paul Maurice said Thursday, according to the team's website. "We're hopeful that he comes back and it's a positive result, and we get him back real soon. But I don't know when he's going to be able to return"Enstrom ranks third among Jets defensemen with an average ice time of 22:22 this season, recording a goal and six assists in 22 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Thursday, the Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Ben Hutton to a two-year extension. Next on the to-do list: a long-term deal for forward Bo Horvat, who can become a restricted free agent at season's end.Canucks general manager Jim Benning is seeking a long-term extension for Horvat rather than the sort of shorter bridge deal accepted by Hutton, reports Dan Murphy of Sportsnet.Vancouver's top pick in the 2013 draft, Horvat has emerged as a crucial pivot in the Canucks' lineup. In his third NHL season, Horvat is off to a career year, with 13 points in 20 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed defenseman Ben Hutton to a two-year, $5.6-million deal, the team announced Thursday."Ben is developing into one of our young, emerging core players and is an important part of our future," Canucks general manager Jim Benning said in a statement. "We're excited to see him further elevate his game and help this team compete for years to come."Hutton has scored four points in 20 games with the Canucks this season.The 23-year-old made his NHL debut last season, appearing in 75 games and scoring 25 points. The Canucks selected Hutton in the fifth round of the 2012 draft.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What better way for hockey fans to celebrate American Thanksgiving than to look back on the early stages of the hockey season and revel in what has been?With that in mind, here are five storylines that hockey fans can appreciate through the quarter mark of the 2016-17 campaign:Healthy CrosbyQuite simply, hockey is better when Sidney's around. The "Next One" in the line of hockey's generational superstars, Crosby has already captured a host of accolades in his relatively short career. His trophy case includes five gold medals with Canada, two Stanley Cups, two Harts, and a pair of Art Ross wins, among other honors.A prolific playmaker, Crosby added to his repertoire in 2009-10 when he won the Rocket Richard on the back of a 51-goal season. This year, he's out to showcase that goal-scoring side of his game. With 14 goals in 14 games, Sid the Kid is on pace for an absurd 76 goals. The NHL hasn't seen totals that high since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny both hit 76 during the 1992-93 campaign.Rookie classHockey fans have been treated to a delectable rookie class that includes the likes of Winnipeg Jets winger Patrik Laine, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, and the Toronto Maple Leafs trio of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner, among others.It's lining up to be an exciting race to Calder honors, with the above five sitting atop the freshman scoring race, separated by just three points. Laine leads the way with 18 points in 22 games, while his 12 goals sit shy of only Crosby's 14.Price is rightPuckheads haven't seen goaltending this dominant since the days of Dominik Hasek manning the crease for the Buffalo Sabres. Once again, Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price is proving to be the league's MVP. Through 13 games, Price has 11 wins and just one regulation loss, plus a remarkable .943 save percentage, having allowed only 23 goals on the year.The Habs fell off the map last year in the absence of Price, who missed all but 12 games with a knee injury. As a result, the Canadiens struck out on the postseason for the first time in four years. But things are all good this season, with Price healthy and the Canadiens sporting the NHL's best record of 14-4-2 through 20 games.Highlight goalsThe summer's World Cup wasn't short on intrigue, and much of that excitement has carried over to the early portion of the NHL season, with fans across the hockey map spoiled with so many highlight-reel plays.Whether you're talking Matthews' four-goal debut, Patrick Kane's electrifying goal against the Canadiens, or Connor McDavid's pair of goals over the Calgary Flames in the season opener, hockey fans are certainly thankful for offense in the season's early goings.Vegas, baby!Hockey fans are about to see the NHL's first foray into expansion since the addition of the Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild in 2000. This time around, the Vegas Golden Knights will have the opportunity to build a team that should prove to be competitive sooner than previous expansion entries due to the NHL limiting the 30 current clubs' ability to protect players, leaving plenty of talent free for Vegas' picking.The Golden Knights will begin play in 2016-17, and team owner Bill Foley has already made a number of impressive hires, including GM George McPhee, the former manager of the Washington Capitals. Next on the docket? The team's first bench boss.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On this Thanksgiving - and really, every other day - we're thankful for Aretha Franklin and Roberto Luongo.Related: Twitter goes in on Aretha Franklin for marathon national anthemThe ever-clever Florida Panthers goaltender uncorked a brilliant zinger that perfectly summed up the lengthy rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" performed by the Queen of Soul before Thursday's NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings.

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.Nearing the quarter-mark of the season, fantasy owners need to take action on top-tier players who continue to struggle. Fantasy owners as a whole award opportunity to struggling players based on name value. A big-name player who was selected with a high draft pick will be rostered for longer than a late-round pick, even if the production is extremely similar.While these high draft picks were selected as such due to histories of quality performance, some years it just isn't there. Cutting bait either in a trade or to waivers may not be easy but can be a necessity. Here's a look at five players owners should expect to turn their seasons around while five others may be doomed for a lost season:Slump-bustersC Logan Couture, San Jose SharksCouture is already beginning to come around with four goals in his past seven games, including one in each of his past two. He is up to six goals and 11 points through 20 games. The resurgence is much more than just a hot streak, as he continues to put himself in idea scoring situations. He is one of five Sharks skaters with more than 50 minutes played at 5v4. Four of his goals have come on the power play.He has a Corsi For rating of 56.30 percent at 5v5, the second-best mark on the team. His average shot distance of just over 28 feet, per Corsica.Hockey, is right in line with his career average entering this season. He is starting 32.17 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone and finishing 36.95 percent in the opposition's end. His Zone-Finish Ratio of 53.89 ranks fifth on the team.All of Couture's five assists have come at 5v5. Of the five, four have been primary assists. His career assist ratio is 69 percent primary. He should happen into some more secondary helpers and see improved PP production. He should finish the year with 70-plus points, setting a new career high.LW Mike Hoffman, Ottawa SenatorsLike Couture, Hoffman has shown some of his expected promise of late, including a three-point game Tuesday, against the Montreal Canadiens. He's at just four goals and 10 points through 17 games, after scoring 27 and 29 goals in each of the past two seasons. He remains at 3.35 shots on goal per game, more than he averaged in each of those seasons.His 7.0 shooting percentage should climb toward his career rate of 11.2, offering some reprieve. Four of his 10 points have come via the power play, as new head coach Guy Boucher has awarded him more special teams opportunity than Ottawa's previous bench bosses.He is being deployed in the most ideal offensive situations, starting over 48.5 percent of his shifts in the offensive end. His ZFR of 59.49 ranks second on the team, behind only C Kyle Turris. This much time in the oppositions zone and an average shot distance just over 28 feet will allow Hoffman to approach 30 goals for the third consecutive season.C Adam Henrique, New Jersey DevilsThe injury to LW Taylor Hall (knee) has harmed the production of the Devils' offense as a whole, especially his former center. Henrique sits at just three goals and eight points on the year, after scoring 30 goals for the first time last season. He has gone point-less in three straight games and goal-less in four.A shooting percentage of 20.1 helped him a lot last season, as he took just 149 shots on goal to score his 30. He shooting percentage has fallen to a more natural 10.3 percent this season, but he has taken just 29 SOG. After scoring 19 power-play goals over the last three years, he doesn't have a PP point this season.Henrique's average shot distance this year is just 19.05 feet at 5v5. Only five players with at least 50 minutes of 5v5 play have closer averages, and Henrique is the only one of these players with more than 200 minutes played. He and owners may need to wait for Hall to return, but the production will follow close behind.Ghosts of production pastC Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington CapitalsAfter leading the Capitals in points last season, Kuznetsov has just three goals and six assists in 2016-17. More alarmingly, he has just 30 SOG through 19 games, after averaging 2.35 per game last season. His average shot distance has risen from 29 feet to over 30 feet. A small difference, but one having an impact.His paltry production has already come with an inflated PDO of 99.81. The league norm is 100 and his projected rate is 99.81. He has been getting lucky and still hasn't capitalized. Of his five assists at 5v5, three have been primary and two have been secondary.He is currently centering the top line with LW Alex Ovechkin again, and it led to a two-point game Wednesday. Ovechkin's center can never be ruled out completely, but he won't get back to last year's level.LW Evander Kane, Buffalo SabresKane has just two assists and remains without a goal since making his return from injury Nov. 9. He has 19 shots on goal through nine games, well short of his career rate of 3.46 SOG per game.He has been shuffled throughout Buffalo's lineup, currently skating on the second line with C Sam Reinhart and C/LW Zemgus Girgensons. He doesn't have a Corsi For rating higher than 48 percent on any trio he has played with. He has no more than 46.53 minutes of 5v5 play with any one three-man unit.His average shot distance is 40.46 feet, more than 10 feet further back than his career average entering this season. Until he starts getting some more high-danger opportunities and putting himself in better position, he'll be a non-factor in most fantasy formats.D John Klingberg, Dallas StarsKlingberg is averaging a near-identical amount of ice time to last season, but he is being used in a fundamentally different way as the Stars are relying on him in the defensive end. He has just 25 SOG through 20 games, after averaging nearly 2.5 per game last season.He is starting just 26.06 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone, though he is finishing nearly 30 percent in that end. Last season, he started over 32 percent of shifts in the offensive end.While he remains on the top power-play unit, he isn't receiving nearly the same type of opportunity in 5v5 situations. He will fall well short of last season's 58 points.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa hockey fans got some good news Thursday morning.The National Capital Commission has selected RendezVous LeBreton Group as the preferred proponent for LeBreton Flats, the downtown Ottawa district where the Ottawa Senators hope to build their new arena as part of a mixed-use redevelopment.Related: Senators unveil detailed proposal for downtown arena projectRendezVous, a joint venture between Trinity Development and Senators Sports & Entertainment, has been permitted to negotiate a development agreement, which will take at least one year to finalize, reports Don Butler of the Ottawa Citizen.

Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back.▲ Alex OvechkinIt's been business as usual for the Washington Capitals captain, who's doing everything he can to avoid taking a back seat amid the influx of talented youngsters bursting onto the NHL scene.Ovechkin made another statement Wednesday night, notching his 16th career hat trick to become the active leader in three-goal games in a win over the St. Louis Blues.He has five goals in his last four games, and four of Ovechkin's 12 goals have been game-winners.Ovechkin trails only San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns in total shots on goal (with a game in hand), and ranks behind only injured New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall among qualified skaters in shots per game.His latest hat trick vaulted him into a tie for second on the NHL's goal-scoring list this season. The 31-year-old is serving notice to the incoming teenagers that one of the best pure goal-scorers in NHL history isn't going to fade away any time soon.▼ The Vegas Golden KnightsAfter months of buildup, the NHL's newest expansion franchise had a painfully awkward introduction to the world this week that was almost universally panned on social media.Watch: Technical difficulties derail Vegas Golden Knights unveilingFirst came an avalanche of jokes at the expense of the club for a video that failed to properly play, then came criticism of the team name, with many wondering why "Las" was omitted and others questioning the nickname itself.Related: UCF would appreciate if you'd stop calling them the Golden KnightsOne thing most people agreed upon, though: While the logo sure looks a lot like Magneto's helmet, it's pretty well conceived by NHL standards.▲ Connor McDavidA healthy Connor McDavid is truly something to behold.The youngest captain in NHL history collected three points and scored the game-winner Wednesday night, guiding the Edmonton Oilers to a victory over the Colorado Avalanche.McDavid sits atop the NHL points list with 27 in 21 games, and he ranks fifth in the league in average ice time among forwards, logging over 21 minutes per contest.We all knew he'd be this good, but the fact that's been this dominant with less than a full NHL season under his belt confirms he's ready to lead an Oilers resurgence sooner rather than later.▼ The NWHLTo say it's been a tough week for one of the two major professional women's hockey leagues in North America would be an understatement.NWHL commissioner Dani Rylan announced over the weekend that the league planned to reduce player salaries (reportedly by as much as 50 percent) in the wake of diminishing attendance, and the players responded by demanding an audit of the league's finances.Related: NWHL DJ plays 'B---h Better Have My Money' in warmup after salary cutsIt's unfortunate to see the league struggling, and even more of a shame to see the players being short-changed without warning as a result. Here's hoping both sides can figure out a solution that allows the women's game to further grow south of the border.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Smith's strong start to the season has hit a bump in the road.After missing 12 games with a lower-body injury, the Arizona Coyotes netminder looked to be back to his winning ways, holding down a 2-0-1 record and .923 save percentage through three games.That came crashing down Wednesday night when the veteran keeper was yanked after allowed four goals on 17 shots at the hands of the Vancouver Canucks.Smith was quick to take responsibility for his poor play."I was awful. I was sleeping right from the first goal," Smith told reporters, including Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports. "It was not even close. We did a lot of good things in front of me and didn't get rewarded for it tonight, but a lot of that comes solely on my shoulder's tonight ... I dropped the ball."The Coyotes own a league-worst record of 6-10-2, with 14 points through 18 games."It was obvious that I wasn't feeling it tonight, but that's no excuse. You have to get the job done," Smith added. "It was obvious that after that (fourth) goal went in, my night was over."Coyotes coach Dave Tippett was not pleased with the loss."It's all well and good that everybody's willing to fall on the sword, but let's just do the job," Tippett told Sarah McLellan of The Arizona Republic.Smith and the Coyotes will have a shot at redemption when they face their Pacific Division foe Edmonton Oilers on Friday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thomas Vanek put on a show for his old hometown Thursday night.After setting up Gustav Nyquist with a nifty no-look spin, Vanek showed off his next move during the shootout, besting Buffalo Sabres netminder Robin Lehner with a fake shot before burying the game-winner over his former team.With the victory, Detroit pulled closer to .500, now sitting 9-10-1 through 20 games, while the Sabres fell to 7-8-5.The match marked Vanek's second game back since missing 11 contests with a groin injury. The veteran winger has seen a resurgence with the Red Wings, posting nine points in nine games this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews did not return after exiting in the second period of Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks.It's unclear how Toews suffered the injury, which head coach Joel Quenneville said afterwards is an upper-body ailment, according to Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago. Toews fell down along the boards on his last shift of the game - which he was able to finish - close to the midway mark of the second period.Quenneville didn't offer an update on the severity, telling reporters that the captain will be evaluated Thursday, and that the club is hopeful that Toews will be alright.Toews has four goals and 12 points in 21 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DENVER - Connor McDavid extended his scoring surge with a goal and two assists in the third period, Milan Lucic had four points and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 on Wednesday night.McDavid, the NHL's leading scorer, has four goals and four assists in Edmonton's three-game winning streak.The Oilers trailed 3-2 entering the third but scored three times in the first 7:25. Lucic tied it 32 seconds in when he knocked in McDavid's shot on goalie Semyon Varlamov.McDavid gave Edmonton a 4-3 lead when his shot from the backboards went off Varlamov and in at 6:35. The second-year star then assisted on Leon Draisaitl's goal 55 seconds later.Draisaitl also had an assist, Jordan Eberle netted two goals and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored for Edmonton. Lucic finished with a season-high three assists, and Cam Talbot made 25 saves.After Nathan MacKinnon and Eberle traded goals 2:55 apart in the first period, the Avalanche took a 2-1 lead when Rene Bourque scored the first of his two goals on a delayed penalty at 17:19.Eberle's power-play goal at 19:49 tied it 2-all. It was his sixth of the season.Bourque's second goal of the night came 2 seconds after Andrej Sekera's boarding minor expired and gave Colorado a 3-2 lead.Varlamov made 35 saves for Colorado.NOTES: Eberle has 24 points in 27 career games against Colorado. ... Avalanche LW Gabriel Landeskog turned 24 and missed his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury. He skated in the morning and is scheduled to do so again Thursday. The Avalanche hope to have him back Saturday against Vancouver.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.