Ryan Dzingel: unstoppable force.The Ottawa Senators winger mulched the Buffalo Sabres' top blue-line pairing Tuesday night, en route to his fifth goal of the season on a gorgeous end-to-end effort.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks sent youngster Jake Virtanen to the minors Wednesday, a move designed to give the 20-year-old winger some ice time after he was a scratch for the club's past two games.The move is only temporary, however, reports Ben Kuzma of The Province, as Virtanen will play two games in Utica before returning."This is about development," Canucks general manager Jim Benning told Kuzma. "It’s about giving Jake ice time and getting his confidence up like we did with (Troy) Stecher. Sometimes, our marketplace looks down on us when we send a player down because we’re not happy with him. That’s not the case. He’ll get games and hopefully take off from there."Virtanen has struggled this season, notching only one point in 10 contests, but in fairness, Vancouver as a whole has struggled just as much. The Canucks snapped a nine-game losing streak Tuesday, and rank 27th in the league in goals for with 27.Vancouver drafted Virtanen sixth overall in 2014, in hopes his size and scoring touch will translate into the pro game.While the Canucks remain patient, head coach Willie Desjardins needs maximum effort from Virtanen, night in and night out, to award him a permanent roster spot."It’s not that I don’t think Jake is a good player and a spot you look for him is top nine or top six, but he’s not consistent enough and until he gives you that, he can’t play," Desjardins said. "We have to get to that spot because he does stuff that’s unique."For us, it’s how can we get him to go where we need him to go to? Because we need him to get there."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nail Yakupov isn't griping about his seat on the sidelines.The St. Louis Blues forward will be a spectator for the third straight game Wednesday when his team takes on the Chicago Blackhawks.After recording four points in his first six games with his new club, Yakupov was held pointless in his next five, while his ice time has dipped to 10:27."Obviously I couldn't be happy about it," Yakupov told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "So, it's a coach's decision and nothing I can do about it. It's always hard watching a game from upstairs. But the team played good, guys are working hard ... but I couldn't be comfortable with that."The Blues acquired Yakupov from the Edmonton Oilers in an October trade. As part of a condition of the deal, the Blues will owe the Oilers their second-round pick in the 2018 draft should Yakupov scored 15 goals this season. As it stands, he's found the back of the net twice.Since making his NHL debut in 2012, Yakupov has scored 15 or more goals on just one occasion - his rookie campaign, in which he recorded 17 tallies in 48 games."I'm not going to complain, I'm not going to (gripe) about my teammates or my coach," Yakupov added. "I'm not that kind of person who is going to fight and be (griping) about minutes."Blues coach Ken Hitchcock doesn't see fault in Yakupov's game, noting that, as it stands, the Russian forward is simply caught in a game of numbers."He does not have to change anything," Hitchcock said. "Just get ready, and when it's his turn, take advantage of it. That's just competition within the group."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As they've been designed, it was the worst possible scenario.Yes, Norris and Selke winners Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar are superior talents relative to their positional reference points, but the allocation of resources within the Los Angeles Kings meant those players had support, while workhorse goaltender Jonathan Quick did not.So when Quick tore some tissue on a push less than 20 minutes into the season - leaving Los Angeles with a player that negotiated a contract worth 1.2 percent of the team's total pie at its most important position - it caused paralysis.The Kings were summarily outscored 11-5 with Jeff Zatkoff in goal across three games - each a loss - as the franchise flirted with its worst start in history.It became clear that this team, one not ready to retool, needed a goalie that could not only stop pucks, but instill confidence into a dispirited group. The expectation was this player would arrive via trade. Instead, he hopped over the bench in relief, after Zatkoff allowed six goals on 17 shots in a third straight loss to begin the season.Three weeks later, in his 10th consecutive start Tuesday night, Peter Budaj made 19 saves versus the Maple Leafs, recording his second shutout in as many games, and earning his seventh victory of the year.Budaj hasn't been spectacular for the Corsi Kings, who've allowed only 22 shots per game with him in goal, and remain the NHL's premier possession team. But with a .920 save percentage, he's essentially served the same function as Quick, earning the confidence of his teammates."You're not going to replace a Jonathan Quick," Jake Muzzin told theScore before the game, "but (his injury's) given an opportunity for another goaltender to step in - and Budaj's been awesome for us."And we need him to continue it, because Quickie's not coming back any time soon. We need him to continue playing well."Tyler Toffoli added: "It's not something that we want, or thought we would be doing, but Budaj's been great. And we've shut it down a bit, just playing our game."The Kings' reliance on Quick - and that their primary focus is placing a seal-tight lock on the defensive zone without their No. 1 stopper - suggests the trust between Budaj and Los Angeles' two-time championship core could remain an ongoing process.But there's a faction within the Kings' dressing room and front office that was sold long before Quick went down.Given perhaps a final chance to prove himself after failing to win even a single game in 19 appearances with the Montreal Canadiens' minor-league affiliate in 2014-15, Budaj accepted a pro tryout last season with the Kings, and did enough in camp to carve out a role with their feeder team, the Ontario Reign.There, he injected life into a flat-lining North American career, fashioning an astounding 1.75 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in 60 starts, winning 42 times. He was named the AHL's top goalie, for one of the best campaigns on record in a league filled with highly skilled forwards and incomplete defensemen.While proving his worth to the Kings' brass, Budaj convinced the prospects that would end up making the NHL jump with him this season that he was capable of dominance."He was our backbone for the entire season - definitely our MVP," defenseman Kevin Gravel said of his time with Budaj and the Reign. "He just needed a chance. Now he's running with it."Resolute shot suppression has meant the Kings haven't needed a supreme talent in goal to win. But the formula does require a goalie that routinely makes the saves it should, because Los Angeles' preferred style lends itself to tight, low-scoring finishes, and little room for error.For this reason, Budaj has found a setting that's favorable to his continued reclamation."He's proven himself before and he's hungry to do it again," Muzzin said. "He's in a good position to do that."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks will have top-pairing defenseman Hampus Lindholm in the lineup for the first time this season Wednesday versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.Lindholm missed the first month of the campaign due to a contract holdout, and the process of obtaining a U.S. work permit.His stalemate ended when he signed a six-year, $31.5-million extension Oct. 27.Lindholm, who scored 10 goals and collected 28 points in 80 games last season, is Anaheim's premier puck-mover and an elite possession defender in the NHL.Anaheim won six of its 13 games without him.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Al Montoya played the role of a good teammate by playing all 60 minutes of a recent 10-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.That's the perspective the Montreal Canadiens backup goalie has taken, at least, according to John Lu of TSN:

The St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks will be looking sharp during the 2017 Winter Classic.In commemoration of their 50th anniversary, the Blues' jersey is a recreation of the club's inaugural look from the 1967-68 season

The Buffalo Sabres are set to receive an offensive boost.Winger Evander Kane will play Wednesday against Ottawa after missing 11 games with cracked ribs suffered during the team's season opener.The Sabres rank 29th in goals, scoring only 25 through 12 games, so the addition of Kane will be most welcome.Kane has appeared in 66 games for the Sabres since being acquired in 2015, recording 20 goals and 15 assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders have sent rookie center Mathew Barzal back to the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds, the team announced Wednesday.Though it seemed Barzal, the 16th overall selection from two summers ago, won a top-nine center-ice role out of training camp, he dressed just twice for the Islanders, recording no points.The decision preserves the first season on Barzal's entry-level deal.Meanwhile, the clock has started on fellow 2015 first-round draft selection Anthony Beauvillier, who recently crossed the nine-game threshold. The winger has one goal and five points with New York.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrik Laine was celebrated with a shower of hats, but his third goal against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday was a complete effort from all five Winnipeg Jets skaters.Here's how it happenedThe play started with defenseman Tyler Myers (57), who slid the puck from behind his own net to partner Toby Enstrom (39).With Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) bearing down on him, Enstrom chipped the puck off the boards as Winnipeg's forwards eyed a defensive zone exit.Jets head coach Paul Maurice recently decided to load his first line with skilled forwards, and here's where it paid off.Both Mark Scheifele (55) and Nikolaj Ehlers (27) were in position to gather the puck, but Scheifele as the center wisely deferred to Ehlers at the wing in order to spread things out and keep Dallas' defense on its toes.Instead of dumping the puck deep into the offensive zone, Ehlers threaded a pass to Scheifele, who was able to cut between the defensive pairing of John Klingberg (3) and Esa Lindell (23) as a result of the winger carrying the play.With the defense tracking the puck on the left side of the ice, Laine was left to get open on the right side, eagerly awaiting Scheifele's pass.What's interesting to note here is that Patrik Nemeth (15) was on Laine's tail as a defenseman who's been forced to play forward as a result of a bevy of Dallas injuries up front.Upon receiving the pass, Laine made no mistake, firing a wicked shot past a rather helpless Kari Lehtonen (32), who was pulled following this goal.The goal was Laine's 11th in 14 games - a feat few have accomplished - and vaulted him to the top of the NHL leaderboard, while also boosting Scheifele's league-high point total.

Patrik Laine is certainly proving his worth for the Winnipeg Jets.The 2016 second overall pick recorded a hat trick Tuesday in a win over Dallas, marking the second three-goal performance of his career.Laine leads the NHL with 11 goals in 14 games, and the offensive outburst puts him alongside a few names to accomplish similar feats early in their careers.From NHL Public Relations:

The Toronto Maple Leafs' modest three-game win streak came to an end Tuesday courtesy of a 7-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, and while head coach Mike Babcock was clearly disappointed with his team's effort, he seemed prepared to move forward in quick order."The good thing about it is we'll get up in the morning and the sun's going to get up, we're going to go to the rink and work," Babcock said postgame. "After we do our penance we'll probably get on with it, but you're not just going to get up tomorrow and everything is going to be rosy."We embarrassed ourselves here today and so it's like anything, you get to the rink and you go to work and reset what you've got to do and you understand what happened and go from there."Not only were the Maple Leafs outscored by a wide margin, the shot differential was also heavily in the Kings' favor, and Babcock credited Los Angeles for simply being ready to win."We didn't play heavy, we didn't finish any checks, we didn't win any races. They won them all. Give them credit, they were way better than us. They were way more organized and way more prepared to compete at a high level."Babcock added he'll revisit the game and assess whether lineup changes will be necessary for Friday's game against Philadelphia.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche aired a touching tribute to Marek Svatos on Tuesday night before their game against the Arizona Coyotes.Svatos died Sunday at the age of 34.Related: Former NHL teammates pay tribute to Marek SvatosThe former winger played parts of six seasons with the Avalanche from 2003-04 to 2009-2010, scoring a career-high 32 goals in 2005-06.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The reigning Stanley Cup champions prevailed in Tuesday's headliner of Sidney Crosby versus Connor McDavid, in an entertaining game from start to finish.The hype was front-and-center from the get go, as the two captains were head-to-head for the opening faceoff. But it was McDavid who stole the early spotlight, buzzing past Pittsburgh's defense to create two assists in the first and adding a third in the second frame.While the two generational phenoms are showstopping talents on the ice, neither McDavid or Crosby exude the same sort of excitement in front of a microphone, but nonetheless, the two recognized their first matchup was a unique opportunity."It was a good chance for me to measure myself against the best player in the world," McDavid said postgame. "Going head-to-head with him was a good test."McDavid admitted he was excited to take on a childhood idol."There definitely was a little bit of a level of excitement to play against a guy like him, someone that I grew up watching," McDavid said. "It definitely wasn't hard to get up for this one."Crosby, on the other hand, faced the unenviable task of containing McDavid's speed, something that wasn't very enjoyable early on.

Connor McDavid made a major statement in his first clash with Sidney Crosby, but the reigning Conn Smythe winner and his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates taught McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers a lesson Tuesday night.McDavid showed off his incredible vision, speed, and strength in the much ballyhooed first-ever meeting between him and Crosby, but his remarkable play-making ability wasn't enough to quell the defending Stanley Cup champions, who showed the Oilers how to properly close out a game.The 19-year-old dominated early on, setting up all three Oilers goals as Edmonton jumped out to a 3-1 lead. He fed Jordan Eberle for a pair of goals and created Patrick Maroon's marker by burning past Brian Dumoulin and feathering a perfect backhand pass.McDavid impressed at both ends of the ice, breaking up a Penguins scoring chance before feeding Maroon for the goal that made it 2-1 for the Oilers late in the first period.Crosby was on the ice for Edmonton's first two goals, but he got the first and last laughs Tuesday night.The two-time Hart Trophy winner beat McDavid on the opening faceoff and was nearby when Benoit Pouliot's clearing attempt went into the Oilers' net late in the third period, giving Pittsburgh the eventual game-winner with less than two minutes left.The Oilers' strong start to the season has been impressive, and they now sit at 9-4-1 through 14 games, but Edmonton's inability to hold the lead and Pouliot's decisive gaffe proved they aren't on the Penguins' level just yet.McDavid has already provided myriad glimpses of his gifts, shown he's capable of consistent offensive production, and proven he's wise beyond his years on the ice, but the Oilers learned as a team Tuesday that they still have work to do before joining the NHL's elite.No matter how many points he piles up or how quickly his game continues to evolve, he can't do it all by himself. This loss to the Penguins showed the Oilers that despite McDavid's brilliance, they still have plenty of room to grow.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

So long, nine-game losing streak.The Vancouver Canucks put an end to a miserable slide with a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, and finally enjoyed the benefit of some luck, as three players notched their first goals of the season. Most notably, coveted free-agent signing Loui Eriksson finally found the back of the net, 14 games into his tenure in Vancouver.Although some personal slumps were busted, the beleaguered club was just happy to collect two points."Big win for us," starter Jacob Markstrom told reporters. "I thought we did a great job going after it. We were hungry and played a smart hockey game."Alex Burrows, who also notched his first of the season, echoed the idea that it was team effort."After 40 minutes we talked about finding a way to win, not finding a way to lose," he said. "Everyone stepped up tonight."Wearing the brunt of the blame for the losing streak was head coach Willie Desjardins, and he saw some positives in the club's first win in over three weeks."We had some games we deserved to win and didn't," Desjardins said. "We played really well tonight and that's how we have to play."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Benoit Pouliot's gaffe provided a bizarre climax to the first-ever meeting between Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.The Edmonton Oilers forward shot the puck into his own goal while trying to clear it away from Pittsburgh Penguins winger Conor Sheary, who was credited with his second of the game and third of the season.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The scouting reports were true: Patrik Laine can score at will.The second overall pick of the Winnipeg Jets completed the second hat trick of his 14-game NHL career Tuesday against the Dallas Stars, chipping home a feed from Mark Scheifele in the second period.Laine's three tallies give him a league-leading 11 on the young season.

Rick Nash reached an impressive feat Tuesday night, tapping in his 400th career goal in the third period versus the Vancouver Canucks.The goal was his seventh of the season, as Nash is quietly enjoying a refreshing bounce-back season after only tallying 15 in 2015-16 season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It took 14 games, but Loui Eriksson has scored for the first time as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.The high-priced free-agent acquisition took a pass from Daniel Sedin and shoveled one in on the backhand to get the monkey off his back late in the second period Tuesday night against the New York Rangers.Vancouver forwards Alex Burrows and Sven Baertschi added their first goals of the season in the third period.The Canucks signed Eriksson to a six-year, $36-million deal on July 1, but the veteran winger managed only four assists in the first 13 games with his new club.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens had a special guest on hand Tuesday night, as they hosted legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus to read the starting lineup ahead of their contest versus the Boston Bruins."The Golden Bear" - winner of a PGA-record 18 majors - knows a thing or two about success, and offered a few words of wisdom before revealing the starters.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fighting Wayne Simmonds: Not a good idea.The Philadelphia Flyers winger rocked Detroit Red Wings blue-liner Jonathan Ericsson with a vicious left hook Tuesday, quickly ending their bout.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Gudbranson's threat toward Matt Martin reportedly caught the attention of the NHL.Following a chippy 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the Vancouver Canucks blue-liner said Martin's "f-----g dead."NHL executive Colin Campbell reportedly spoke to Canucks general manager Jim Benning, saying Gudbranson better stay in line when the two clubs meet again Dec. 3 or he'll face "harsh repercussions," according to TSN's Darren Dreger.Dreger reports the issue isn't on the league's front burner, but it takes a "threat of that magnitude" very seriously.The Canucks and Leafs combined for 171 penalty minutes in the contest, including 10 for Gudbranson and 19 for Martin.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Give the first period to Connor McDavid in his first-ever matchup with Sidney Crosby.The Edmonton Oilers captain used his terrific vision to set up a pair of goals in the first 20 minutes Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.McDavid took a slick pass from Patrick Maroon and fed Jordan Eberle for the tying goal late in the opening frame.(Courtesy: NHL.com)McDavid one-upped himself less than three minutes later, breaking up a Penguins rush with a nifty defensive play, then blowing past Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin and dishing a perfect backhand pass to Maroon for the Oilers' second marker.McDavid picked up his third assist of the game on Eberle's second goal of the contest early in the second period.Crosby was on the ice for the Oilers' first two goals. Over to you, Sid.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's a big night in America, as the votes pour in to determine the 45th president of the United States.On a smaller scale, Tuesday marks the first matchup between oft-compared superstars Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby.The two first-overall picks are the modern faces of their respective decorated franchises, but Tuesday's contest shares an eerie parallel with the first game between another pair of Oilers' and Penguins' legends.

Nazem Kadri can't be punished further for his blindside hit on Daniel Sedin, but the NHL's general managers will reportedly bring it up next time they meet.The incident is going to be an added topic of conversation for the league's GMs, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported in Tuesday's edition of "30 Thoughts."Related: Kadri levels Daniel Sedin with blindside hit, answers to HansenKadri avoided supplemental discipline for the hit because his initial contact was with Sedin's body. The Vancouver Canucks forward's helmet was dislodged and his head hit the ice as he landed.The Toronto Maple Leafs center obviously approved of the ruling, and Canucks GM Jim Benning was understandably disappointed.Kadri was assessed charging and fighting majors in the aftermath. Sedin left briefly for evaluation but was able to return.The GMs also reportedly plan to discuss Florida Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck's controversial shootout goal scored against the Tampa Bay Lightning last month.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers have traded defenseman Dylan McIlrath to the Florida Panthers for fellow blue-liner Steven Kampfer and a conditional seventh-round pick, the clubs confirmed Tuesday.The condition on the deal requires McIlrath to play 30 games this season for the Rangers to get the pick, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.McIlrath has played in only one of the Rangers' first 13 games, appearing in four AHL contests for the Hartford Wolf Pack. New York signed him to a one-year extension in July.He's spent his entire six-year career in the Rangers organization after being drafted 10th overall by the club in 2010.Kampfer only appeared in a single game for his team this season before Tuesday's deal. He was in his third campaign with the Panthers after stints with the Minnesota Wild and the Boston Bruins.He thanked the Panthers organization and expressed his excitement about joining the Rangers in a pair of post-trade tweets.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks defense corps is about to receive a major boost.Hampus Lindholm has finally obtained his work visa, and has now rejoined Anaheim on its three-game road trip through Columbus, Carolina, and Nashville this week, according to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register.It's still unknown if he'll be in the lineup versus the Blue Jackets on Wednesday night.The 22-year-old signed a six-year, $31.5-million extension Oct. 27, but due to his contract stalemate with the Ducks, Lindholm has already forfeited a month of regular-season action.Anaheim won six games, picking up 14 points, without its top defenseman.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fare thee well, Spacey in Space.The Florida Panthers have a new post-game tradition, as modeled Monday by goaltender Roberto Luongo.

Willie Desjardins has been tabbed by oddsmakers as the NHL coach most likely to be fired first.It's not surprising, seeing as his Vancouver Canucks have dropped eight straight games.Of note, Peter Laviollette and Dave Tippett have been added to the list while Claude Julien and Alain Vigneault have been dropped.What a difference a few weeks make.Here's the complete list, courtesy of Bodog.CoachOdds on Oct. 18Odds on Nov. 8Willie Desjardins (VAN)7/22/1Jack Capuano (NYI)15/411/5Peter Laviolette (NSH)Off the Board3/2Dave Tippett (ARI)Off the Board13/2John Tortorella (CLB)13/410/1Paul Maurice (WPG)7/112/1Michel Therrien (MTL)11/215/1Claude Julien (BOS)13/2Off the BoardAlain Vigneault (NYR)7/1Off the BoardCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes have lost top defender Justin Faulk for the foreseeable future.The defenseman is considered week to week after suffering an upper-body injury, head coach Bill Peters announced Tuesday. Faulk was forced to leave Sunday's game against New Jersey and underwent an MRI to determine the extent of the damage.Faulk had appeared in all 11 games so far this season, recording three goals and three assists while logging a team-high 24:10 per game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's all part of the hockey business.So says Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler, as he addressed Jacob Trouba's return to practice after the defenseman - who made a public trade request prior to the season - signed a two-year contract.Related: Trouba rescinds trade request

Jacob Trouba isn't going anywhere.The Winnipeg Jets defenseman, who signed a two-year deal with the club Monday, said he's taken his trade request off the table.

As Americans head to the polls to vote for a new President, the Washington Capitals are holding an important election of their own.From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, fans can vote for the bobblehead doll the team will give away on March 21.On the ballot:

Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid will compete on the same sheet of ice for the very first time Tuesday in Pittsburgh.So, naturally, it's time to compare the two generational talents.Or in this case, more specifically, examine the question: can McDavid live up to the iconic standard that Crosby has established since being drafted out of the same No. 1 overall draft slot a decade prior?Of course, this topic won't interest either party. And instead of indulging these comparisons and conceptualizations, the two will instead exchange predictable adulation. But when discussing legacy when it comes to McDavid and Crosby, the pressure of expectation can now only realistically affect one of the two.Crosby is a two-time Stanley Cup champ, two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time Hart Trophy winner, Triple-Gold Club member, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer. He provided one of a handful of truly indelible moments in Canadian hockey history, and above all that, he's in part responsible for the NHL's current prosperity.And yet, the awe-inspiring sight of McDavid dashing down the middle of the ice is enough to believe he can transcend the game in the same way.Salad DaysA cursory look at the numbers would indicate that McDavid's indoctrination into the NHL hasn't been nearly as successful as Crosby's was.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain hit the 100-point plateau in his rookie season, scoring fractionally short of a half-goal per game while collecting 1.26 points per start. Crosby made a major leap in production in his second year, racking up 120 points. This gave him 75 goals and 222 points in his first two NHL campaigns, which averaged out to an astounding 1.39 points per game.Crosby had 44 more points than Pittsburgh's next highest scorer (Sergei Gonchar) in his rookie season, and when support in the form of Evgeni Malkin arrived in his second year, Crosby emerged as the NHL's most dominant player, helping the Penguins improve by 25 wins.McDavid's rookie season, of course, was cut short 13 games in when he broke his collarbone crashing into the end boards. When healthy, however, McDavid was one of six players - including Crosby - to average more than one point per game. He finished with 16 goals and 48 points in 45 starts, which works out to 0.36 goals per game and 1.06 points a night.Factoring in his five goals and 14 points in 13 games this year, McDavid's improved his career per-game production to 1.07 points - still almost a third of a point per game less than Crosby mustered in his teenage seasons.Deeper DiveThere are obvious problems with comparing the work of Crosby, who appeared in 160 games in his first two seasons, and McDavid, who has 58 NHL games for his career. Breaking down Crosby's first 58 games illustrates this as fact.Crosby scored 28 goals and 65 points in his first 58-game chunk. This is on par for his career goal-scoring rate at just under a half goal per game, but his 1.12 points per game over that stretch is far closer to McDavid's first sample (1.07 points) then Crosby's career average of 1.33.Also leveling the playing field is the generational divide between their arrivals.With games averaging between 2.95 and 3.08 goals from 2005-07, there were 14 100-point seasons and 40 85-point individual campaigns. Fast forward to now, there's been two 100-point scorers in the last four seasons, and only three players broke the 85-point threshold in McDavid's rookie season. Games averaged 2.71 goals per game that year - the fewest in the salary cap era.Relative to environment, it's not a stretch to suggest that McDavid's points-per-game average is right in line with Crosby's work over the same time period.LegacyIndividual scoring rates are what will remain in McDavid's control. And with his speed and skill, he can be one of the most prolific scorers of this generation and dominate for at least the next decade. What he can't control, however, are external factors that contributed to Crosby's greatness.Crosby's worked under two NHL executives that have successfully constructed a roster capable of winning the Stanley Cup. For McDavid, just helping the Oilers become one of 16 postseason teams would be a major accomplishment in his second season.The 29-year-old has represented Canada twice at the Olympics, offering an opportunity to deliver his greatest moment in hockey: the golden goal at the Vancouver Olympics. McDavid may never have the chance to call himself an Olympian.Crosby won another international title with Canada at the World Cup of Hockey in September. McDavid's age prevented him from being on that team.OpportunityThough he may have a season-to-season impact comparable to Crosby's in his career, McDavid may never have the chance to match resumes simply due to factors beyond his control.But McDavid does have an opportunity Crosby will likely never have, and one that if taken, would mean more to a large portion of Canadian hockey fans that have experienced his eminence over the last decade.If McDavid was able to to bring a cup back to Edmonton, he'd be ending a championship drought north of the border that's quickly closing in on a quarter century.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators are shaking things up from within.Goaltender Juuse Saros has been recalled from the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, with Marek Mazanec heading the other way.The move comes with Nashville having lost five of its past six games, sitting last in the Central Division with a record of 3-5-3.One of its wins came courtesy of Saros, who was earlier recalled on an emergency basis when a bout of food poisoning tore through Nashville's locker room. All he did in that game was stop 34 of 35 shots fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins.Through seven AHL games, Saros has posted a save percentage of .929, and while starter Pekka Rinne hasn't been the Predators' main issue, the youngster might be the spark Nashville needs to turn things around.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."Calgary FlamesPlus: Matthew Tkachuk is proving to be a bit of a steal as the sixth-overall pick from the 2016 Draft. The 18-year-old eclipsed the 10-game benchmark and will therefore stick around for the entire season. He celebrated the news by scoring a game-winning goal against San Jose, and now has three goals and three assists in 12 games.Minus: Calgary's top players are officially on watch after Flames president Brian Burke called them out for not getting it done. "I'm not one for calling players out or naming names, but our top guys are not playing up to their level - it's that simple," he said Monday.Take: The Flames have been doused as of late, and their 5-8-1 record is below expectations. The Pacific Division is arguably the worst in hockey, meaning a playoff spot remains within striking distance.Edmonton OilersPlus: The Oilers have rebounded from three straight losses with a pair of wins, and the resilience displayed may finally signal an actual turning of a corner in Edmonton.Minus: It's rare to rank Connor McDavid as a minus, but with only two assists in his past five games, we'd say he's in a bit of a funk (by his standards, at least). Still, McDavid sits in a tie for fourth among all players in points, while the Oilers have gone 2-2-1 during his mini-slump.Take: It's still very early, and the Oilers have 69 games remaining on the schedule. But they sit first in the Pacific with a five-point lead, and not making the playoffs this season will be seen as a disappointment.Montreal CanadiensPlus: A 10-1-1 record has put the Canadiens atop the NHL standings, and a 7-0-0 home record has somehow made Le Centre Bell an even more intimidating place to visit.Minus: A 10-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets will not soon be forgotten. Poor Al Montoya.Take: As long as Carey Price remains healthy, the Canadiens have to be seen as one of the best teams in hockey and legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. Without him, all bets are off.Ottawa SenatorsPlus: Ottawa continues to rally around Craig Anderson, who's playing some of the best hockey of his career despite unthinkable circumstances off the ice. Mike Condon was brought in as insurance in net, and recorded a shutout in his Senators debut.Minus: The dream of playing a game on Parliament Hill is dead, and the club is unlikely to pursue an outdoor game at the local football stadium. Sad!Take: Guy Boucher has quietly led his new team to a record of 7-4-0, putting him in position to be a viable Jack Adams candidate should the Senators keep up their winning ways.Toronto Maple LeafsPlus: Frederik Andersen has strung together three straight wins to begin November, with a save percentage of .948 in starts against Edmonton, Buffalo, and Vancouver. Not the strongest competition, but a much-needed confidence boost for a goalie whose first month with his new team was one to forget.Minus: Remember Auston Matthews' four-goal NHL debut? The first overall pick has scored only two goals in 11 games since Oct. 12, and has registered a single assist in his past six games.Take: Despite Matthews' aforementioned cold spell, the Maple Leafs are led in scoring by three rookies (including William Nylander and Mitch Marner). If that wasn't enough, recent fireworks in a game against Vancouver proved Toronto is as close to a must-watch team as any other around the league. You literally never know what you're going to see.Vancouver CanucksPlus: After scoring only two goals over a stretch of five games, the Canucks exploded for five in their past two! Vancouver is also not dead last in the NHL, which is a positive only for those who believe this team can salvage a dreadful start.Minus: The Canucks are mired in an eight-game losing streak, with games against the Rangers (two, in fact), Red Wings, and Stars on the horizon. A pair of November dates with the Coyotes - the only team with fewer points - may be their best bet to get back in the win column.Take: Willie Desjardins has jumped to the top of the "first coach likely to be fired" list, and general manager Jim Benning should not be too far behind. It's well past time to kickstart a full rebuild in Vancouver.Winnipeg JetsPlus: Jacob Trouba is returning to the club after signing a two-year, $6-million contract. His long-term future with the Jets remains unclear, but it's a win for both sides in the meantime.Minus: Exiling Ondrej Pavelec to the AHL and committing to Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson in net was supposed to improve Winnipeg's goaltending numbers. The pair have combined to record an .896 save percentage, and the Jets have given up the fourth-most goals. That's not going to cut it.Take: Trouba's return will help stabilize a struggling defense, but it's likely he'll be traded now that he has a deal in place. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff hasn't pulled off too many trades in his day, and can't afford to botch this one if he indeed chooses to go down that road.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Calgary Flames are in a familiar position: at the bottom of the table, having allowed the most goals in the NHL.It's been 14 games, and with only five wins to show for them, president Brian Burke is running out of patience. Especially after a 1-3 road trip.Burke explained what's dogging his team Monday on Sportsnet960 The Fan, and, after bringing up turnovers and special teams (Calgary ranks 28th on the power play and 29th on the penalty kill), he went in on Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan - two players who recently signed massive extensions."Our top players aren't getting it done," Burke said. "I'm not one for calling players out or naming names, but our top guys are not playing up to their level - it's that simple."Gaudreau has two goals and six assists in 14 games, and while his eight points are second on the team, he's a team-worst minus-11. Monahan's got four goals and one assist in 14 games, and checks in at minus-10.Brian Elliott's struggled in goal, too, with an .887 save percentage in nine games, but Burke refuses to blame his goalies, who are battling in the crease but getting no help.He made a point of saying that what ails the Flames isn't a lack of effort. He's been around the block, and knows the mental hurdles that come with big-money extensions for young players."We believe in these guys," Burke said. But he's tired of the excuses.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Monday couldn't have gone much better for the Boston Bruins.Boston got back into the win column after a convincing 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, with two Bruins earning some personal accolades in the process.Tuukka Rask continued his outstanding early-season play with a 32-save shutout, his 32nd as a Bruin, supplanting 2011 Conn Smythe winner Tim Thomas for third on the Boston's all-time list, according to NHL Public Relations.On top of Rask climbing the ranks, head coach Claude Julien - the winningest coach in Bruins history - earned his 400th career win behind the bench.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks exploded for another two goals Monday night in Brooklyn, but they weren't enough to end a losing streak that's now hit nine games.The good news: Vancouver's scored five goals over its last two games. When you're averaging 1.69 goals a game, 2.50 is something to call home about.The bad news: Vancouver's in Manhattan on Tuesday to face the New York Rangers, who score at a rate the Canucks can't even dream about.Here are the Rangers' goal totals over their past five games:

It's a question that will be asked for generations in Brooklyn: Where were you when Andrew Ladd scored his first goal as a member of the New York Islanders?It took 13 games, and it was ugly as ever, but Ladd's on the board, his first goal as an Islander banking in off a Vancouver Canucks defenseman Monday night.Loui Eriksson wishes he was that lucky.The Islanders won 4-2.(Video courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At last, a resolution. Sort of.Jacob Trouba and the Winnipeg Jets suddenly agreed to a two-year bridge deal Monday, putting a (possibly temporary) end to the trade demands the 22-year-old made prior to the season.Trouba, a restricted free agent, signed for $6 million, but is eligible to sign an extension as soon as July 1.The term and value of the contract is a huge win for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff - something he's become accustomed to during his tenure in the Jets' front office - as he's retained a young, top-four defender at a markdown.Trouba's quarrel with Winnipeg was based on an inability to play his natural right-handed side, but injuries have created an opportunity there - one that's up to him to seize.The Jets have skated to a 5-7-1 record with Trouba sidelined, but one can't help but wonder: Why waste a month of your season to sign a new deal beneath market value? Isn't playing top minutes, on your preferred side or not, better than isolated workouts away from your team?One possibility is a sign-and-trade, as his discounted rate will surely spark the interest of a bevy of teams around the league. The other scenario - the one that makes less sense after this entire ordeal - is that Trouba came to grips with the fact that one of the youngest, most up-and-coming teams in the league wants him somewhere on its blue line for more than 20 minutes a night.The entire saga between Trouba and the Jets is reminiscent of Kyle Turris' feud with the Coyotes. Turris - a first-round pick of the club - wanted out, and was traded to Ottawa shortly after signing a new contract as an RFA.However this plays out, it's clear the Jets weren't going to be strong-armed into meeting Trouba's demands before rightfully closing a deal for themselves. He's their property, after all.But having Trouba in the lineup immediately benefits both sides. He stabilizes Winnipeg's blue line while simultaneously maximizing his personal value in the eyes of the franchise that drafted him, as well as for inquiring teams.The story has yet to be completed, but both the Jets and Trouba have to consider Monday's signing a positive chapter.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kevin Cheveldayoff wanted only one resolution: for Jacob Trouba to remain in a Winnipeg Jets uniform. On Monday, he got his wish.The general manager signed the restricted American free-agent defenseman to a two-year, $6-million contract, and both parties now hope to leave the past in the past - especially the 22-year-old's trade request.Related: Fantasy Fallout: Trouba's return stabilizes Winnipeg's back end - for nowCheveldayoff acknowledged the situation was difficult on a professional and personal level."Jacob means a lot to our organization. ... He's a Winnipeg Jet," Cheveldayoff said, according to the Jets' website.The 46-year-old executive added, "There are long-standing relationships that go deeper than the game. I've got a picture in my office of me shaking his hand when we drafted him; I care about how he's doing. I'm glad we were able to get this done and that he's a part of our group again."While Cheveldayoff wouldn't get into details of the past six weeks of negotiations and trade talks, he made a point of saying Trouba's trade request and decision to hold out had nothing to do with playing in Winnipeg, or playing in Canada."From the very onset ... Jacob didn't have a problem playing in Winnipeg and in Canada," Cheveldayoff said.The Jets' season early on has been defined by the electrifying play of Patrik Laine and injuries, and Cheveldayoff is looking forward to adding Trouba back to his group."We're hopeful sooner rather than later," the GM said about Trouba's return to the lineup.Winnipeg's home to Dallas on Tuesday, and while it's possible Trouba may be able to get his paperwork sorted by then, Thursday in Phoenix may be more likely. It's a busy week for the Jets, with four games in six nights.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark your calendars, ladies and gentleman, Las Vegas will soon have a team name.The NHL's 31st franchise - set to take the ice for the 2017-18 season - will unveil its name and logo Nov. 22, according to Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.Commissioner Gary Bettman, owner Bill Foley, and general manager George McPhee will be on hand for the event, where new team merchandise will be available.Foley has trademarked three names - the Golden Knights, the Silver Knights, and the Desert Knights - but has vowed to keep the winning name a secret until the unveiling.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Help is on the way for the Los Angeles Kings, as goaltender Jeff Zatkoff has been activated off injured reserve, general manager Dean Lombardi announced Monday.Zatkoff's started three games for the Kings this season, but was sidelined for seven with a lower-body injury, making the absence of all-star Jonathan Quick hurt even more for Los Angeles.Peter Budaj has primarily been the starter, with Jack Campbell - who was reassigned to the AHL as a result of Zatkoff's activation - serving as backup.In his three starts with the Kings, Zatkoff has an 0-3 record with a 4.37 goals against average.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The stalemate is over.The Winnipeg Jets have re-signed defenseman Jacob Trouba to a two-year, $6-million deal. The contract carries base salaries of $2.5 million this season and $3.5 million in 2017-18.The two sides met Nov. 4 in Detroit, with Trouba's agent - Kurt Overhardt - calling the scenario "status quo" as recently as Monday.Trouba, who'd requested a trade prior to the start of the regular season, had until Dec. 1 to agree to terms on a new contract, lest he be forced to sit out the entire NHL season.His issue was a lack of opportunity on his natural right side, a position that has opened up - for the time being, at least - due to an injury to Tyler Myers that recently landed him on injured reserve.At the same time, however, there exists the possibility of a sign-and-trade, with the prorated first year of Trouba's new deal serving as an enticingly low cap hit for a player of his potential.