Pain may turn out to be pleasure for the Toronto Maple Leafs.By losing 5-1 to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, the Maple Leafs guaranteed themselves a last-place finish in the standings, their 69 points and 23 regulation and overtime wins the fewest among the 30 NHL teams. Toronto finishes 29-42-11.The Maple Leafs now officially have the best odds - 20 percent - of winning the April 30 draft lottery. American 18-year-old Auston Matthews, who spent the 2015-16 season playing in Switzerland, is the presumptive No. 1 pick. Matthews had 24 goals and 22 assists in 36 regular-season games, and added three assists in four playoff games.Toronto has a total of 12 picks in the coming draft. The last time the Maple Leafs selected first overall, they drafted Wendel Clark in 1985.The Edmonton Oilers finish 29th and have the second-best lottery odds, at 13.5 percent.Goaltender Garret Sparks was integral in Toronto's 30th-place finish. He lost his last five games, including Saturday's finale. Sparks was given a share of the crease after the Maple Leafs traded James Reimer, who was having one of the best seasons of his career, to the San Jose Sharks.Reimer was one of numerous Maple Leafs to be traded in head coach Mike Babcock's first season behind the Toronto bench. General manager Lou Lamoriello dealt captain Dion Phaneuf to the Ottawa Senators, veteran Roman Polak to the Sharks, Shawn Matthias to the Colorado Avalanche, and Daniel Winnik to the Washington Capitals.In the process, countless young players thought to be the future of the rebuilding Maple Leafs made their NHL debuts in the second half of the season, including William Nylander, Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen, and Frederik Gauthier.Babcock set the bar as low as he could when he arrived in Toronto. He predicted pain. Whether Toronto selects first overall or not, that pain will turn out to be another key piece of what appears to be, for now, a bright future.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Ellis held nothing back collecting his 10th goal of the season.The Nashville Predators defenseman reached a career-high in goals Saturday in powerful fashion blowing the top off of Antti Niemi's water bottle.The goal gave the Predators a 1-0 lead as the club looks to play spoiler to the Dallas Stars who are looking to clinch top spot in the Western Conference.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DENVER - Jakob Silfverberg scored twice, Corey Perry had three assists and the playoff-bound Anaheim Ducks beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 on Saturday.Cam Fowler, Ryan Garbutt and Ryan Getzlaf also scored for Anaheim, which still has a chance at the Pacific Division title should Los Angeles lose Saturday night and the Ducks get at least a point Sunday in Washington. That game is a makeup from January when it was postponed because of a snowstorm.The win also helped the team post their third consecutive 100-point season, setting a new franchise record. It's their fifth time hitting the century mark in team history.The Ducks scratched 11 players, but they still had enough punch to jump to a 3-0 lead and withstand Colorado's second-period rally.Nick Holden, Jarome Iginla and Zach Redmond scored as the Avalanche wrapped up the season by dropping eight of their last nine to miss the playoffs for a second straight year. Before the game, general manager Joe Sakic said coach Patrick Roy will return for another season.The Avalanche struggled at home all season, finishing with a 17-20-4 mark.Trailing 3-0 in the second period, Holden and Iginla scored 32 seconds apart. It was career goal No. 611 for Iginla, moving him past Bobby Hull for 16th on the all-time. Next up is Sakic, who finished his career with 625 goals.Anaheim secured the win in the third with Getzlaf and Silfverberg scoring on shots from the right side that got by Semyon Varlamov.There was an ugly high-sticking incident late in the third when Anaheim defenseman Hampus Lindholm caught Matt Duchene in the face. Duchene dripped blood onto the ice, but only left for a brief moment.The Ducks rested quite a few players who were banged up, including Shawn Horcoff, Mike Santorelli and Clayton Stoner. To make sure they had enough players, they recalled five players from San Diego of the American Hockey League. Two of them, Nick Ritchie and Shea Theodore, contributed assists.Garbutt was walloped at center ice in the first period by Andreas Martinsen. The Ducks center was slow to get up and Martinsen drew a game misconduct penalty for the blow. The penalty proved costly, with the Ducks cashing in when Fowler sent a wrist shot past Varlamov at 14:44 of the first period.Silfverberg added another goal with 54.8 seconds remaining in the period. It was his 19th goal of the season.Frederik Andersen served as John Gibson's backup Saturday after missing the last five games with a concussion. He could be in goal Sunday.Gibson finished with 29 saves.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Bread Man is leaving no doubt that he deserves a little more dough.Chicago Blackhawks rookie Artemi Panarin exploded in the first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, assisting on a Patrick Kane goal, then scoring two of his own, including his 30th of the season.

The Tampa Bay Lightning took to the ice with no reason to win Saturday with second place in the Atlantic locked up, but the team may have suffered a significant loss in the first period against the Montreal Canadiens.Already sitting five regulars due to injury, forward Tyler Johnson was helped off the ice after being cross-checked into the boards by defenseman Greg Pateryn. Johnson looked to be in considerable pain as he was helped off the ice.The Lightning later announced he suffered an upper-body injury and would not return to the game.Pateryn received a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct for the hit.Injuries have limited Johnson to just 69 games this season, where he recorded just 14 goals and 24 assists after a breakout 72-point campaign a year ago.The Lightning were playing without Steven Stamkos, Anton Stralman, Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov, and Ryan Callahan for Saturday's game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers clinched the second wild-card - and final playoff - spot in the Eastern Conference with a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.The win eliminates the Boston Bruins from playoff contention who earlier in the day missed their chance of clinching a spot with a 6-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators.For the Flyers, the win gives them their second playoff appearance in the last four seasons.The win also sets up the club's first-round matchup, an intra-division clash with the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals.It will mark the first time the teams have faced one another in the postseason since 2008, when the Flyers edged the Capitals 4-3 in the conference quarterfinals.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Roy recently made it clear that he plans on remaining behind the Colorado Avalanche bench, and it looks as though he's not alone on that front.Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic was asked if Roy will return as coach next season prior to Colorado's season finale against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday."Yes, he will," Sakic said. "We're in this thing together."Roy won the Jack Adams Award in his first season as coach in 2014, leading the Avalanche to a first place finish, but the season ended in a first-round playoff exit.After winning the Central Division title, it appeared that Colorado had turned a corner under Roy, but the Avalanche missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season this year."We're all learning," Sakic said. "He's got the passion, he's a winner, he wants to win. The players know exactly what he wants ... You don't always look at the coach. For us right now, we have to look and see if the players are going to buy into what it takes to win."Colorado was in the thick of the playoff race deep into the season, but a five-game losing streak did the Avalanche in.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford will get one tuneup game before his club embarks on another Stanley Cup run.The 31-year-old will make his first appearance between the pipes Saturday - against the Columbus Blue Jackets - since March 14, thanks to an unfortunate upper-body injury."It's very important to get a game in here before the playoffs," head coach Joel Quenneville said, according to NHL.com's Craig Merz. "You get three or four more practices before he plays a playoff game. It helps getting at least a start here and getting back on the on the ice as well. This is the next step."Crawford's untimely departure from the team's lineup came while he was enjoying a season that saw him set a career-high with 35 wins in 57 games.His career .921 save percentage and 2.21 goals-against average in the playoffs will be looked upon heavily as the team looks to repeat as Cup champs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets minor leaguer Brett Gallant was released from hospital Saturday after collapsing on the bench during a game Friday night.The 27-year-old forward for the Lake Erie Monsters was stabilized by the on-site medical personnel at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto and was conscious before being taken to a local hospital, the AHL club confirmed.Gallant traveled back to Cleveland, where he'll continue to consult with team doctors.He was taken off the bench on a stretcher during Friday's game against the Toronto Marlies.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the 25th consecutive season, the Detroit Red Wings secured a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and for the second season in a row, the Wings will square off with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.Detroit locked up the third spot in the Atlantic Division thanks to the Bruins blowout at the hands of the Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon.Despite not earning the spot by a win of their own, Detroit's players are feeling good about clinching."Let's go have some fun down in Tampa," goaltender Jimmy Howard told reporters postgame.Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg was quick to give some credit to the Senators' aiding win."We had our chances, made a good effort, but gotta send our thanks to Ottawa," Zetterberg said.Zetterberg, who will suit up in the playoffs for the 13th time in his career, may have to share some calming advice with Detroit rookie sensation Dylan Larkin.

An emotional Zdeno Chara was left searching for answers after his Boston Bruins were eliminated from postseason contention.The captain was asked why his club was so prone to big-game letdowns this season, the biggest of which came in a 6-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday."I wish I had an explanation," Chara told reporters, according to DJ Bean of WEEI. "I wish I had an explanation."The veteran defenseman was clearly frustrated after missing out on the playoffs for the second straight season.

The Boston Bruins will no doubt be scoreboard watching this weekend.With a devastating 6-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Bruins missed their chance to clinch a spot in the postseason and will now turn their eyes to the Philadelphia Flyers with the hope the team will stumble in their quest to clinch a spot, needing two points in their final two contests."Right now, all we can do is cross our fingers and hope for a miracle," head coach Claude Julien said. "That's all that's left for us."Excuses are out the window."

The Boston Bruins needed a win on home ice to give themselves the best shot at securing a playoff spot.Instead, they fell 6-1 to the Ottawa Senators, and their regular season came to an end amid a shower of boos from whatever was left of the disappointed home crowd.Boston, who posted a record of 17-18-6 at home, can still clinch a playoff spot if Philadelphia picks up one point or less in their final two games.Either way, the fan base is not enthused.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The streak is alive.Despite a loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings have clinched a playoff spot for the 25th consecutive year, thanks to a concurrent Boston Bruins loss.

Erik Karlsson is reaching new heights.With an assist in Saturday's game in Boston, the Ottawa Senators defenseman recorded his 82nd point of the season, ensuring he'll finish 2015-16 with at least a point-per-game average for the first time in his career.Karlsson has appeared in all 82 games, matching a feat that hasn't been achieved in 20 years.

The Philadelphia Flyers have reason to thank their fiercest rivals.Needing a win to help secure a playoff spot, the Flyers will face a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has chosen to rest star players Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, head coach Mike Sullivan announced 90 minutes prior to puck drop.

The future is now for the New Jersey Devils, as 19-year-old center Pavel Zacha will make his NHL debut Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Boston Bruins may have caught a huge break in a must-win game to end the regular season.For the second straight game, David Pastrnak appeared to open the scoring on a nifty play, and, like the last time, it was challenged by the opposition - this time, the Ottawa Senators - due to an apparent offside.The lengthy review was inconclusive, giving the Bruins the 1-0 lead.Here's a closer look at the apparent offside:

With the playoffs on the line for the Boston Bruins, Tuukka Rask is on the bench.Jonas Gustavsson will start Saturday's climactic game against Ottawa, with Rask sidelined with an illness.

When we think about the many greats that have donned the "C" such as Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr, what made them so revered was the leadership qualities they owned.They were the players that were looked up to in those dire moments and were always ones that showed with both their play and demeanor that they could be counted on. Captains that could lead their teams to greatness.Related: Captain Power Rankings (15-6): Stamkos irreplaceable, Getzlaf guiding reborn DucksHere are the top five current captains who embody such characteristics (you can vote on who you think is the best bel:5. Joe PavelskiThough he is enjoying just his first season as the captain of the San Jose Sharks, Joe Pavelski has already proved that he is among the league's best.Since the 2013-14 season, only Alex Ovechkin has scored more goals than Pavelski, who has tallied 114, averaging 38 goals per season.He is a vocal leader - especially in the locker room - something that last season's Road to the Winter Classic exposed when Pavelski went on a profanity-laced speech to pump his team up during a February game against the Arizona Coyotes.Putting his money where his mouth was, Pavelski would go on to lead his team to victory by scoring a hat trick following his rant, proving why he was worthy of the club's captaincy.Related: Captain Power Rankings (30-16): McDavid's next, Pacioretty can only get better4. Jamie BennJamie Benn is following up his Art Ross-winning season with another career-year. While he remains 15 points behind Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane for the league lead in points - still good enough for second place - he has eclipsed two personal bests.His 41 goals mark the first time the 26-year-old has surpassed the 40-goal mark, while his 88 points are one more than his league-leading 87 from last season.He, unlike many captains, has proved that he is not afraid to get physical and dish out devastating hits while lighting the league up offensively as well.There is nothing Benn can't and won't do for his team.3. Alex OvechkinIf he can manage a hat trick in the Washington Capitals' final game, Alex Ovechkin will hit the 50-goal mark for the seventh time in his 11-year career.The 30-year-old has become the pinnacle of scoring in the NHL, tied for 34th all-time and with the fifth highest goals per game average in league history.However, Ovechkin has been just as dangerous away from the puck. He sits 18th in the league with 225 hits through 78 games.Ovechkin has already become the highest scoring Russian of all-time and will one day go down as one of the best pure goal-scorers to play the game.2. Jonathan Toews"Captain Serious."Jonathan Toews has in large part, helped to turn the Blackhawks into the powerhouse they are now.He earned the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2015, was named the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner, and in 2013 proved he is not just a one-dimensional player, capturing the Selke Trophy.He has two Olympic gold medals, three Stanley Cups, a World Junior gold, and is the youngest player to join the Triple Gold Club.He has won everywhere while always being a catalyst for his team's successes. Sure he is serious, but winning is serious business.1. Sidney CrosbyUnless you're a goaltender in the NHL, there is no reason to hate Sidney Crosby.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain has been the face of the league ever since he stepped on to its ice and he has carried himself as a captain should ever since.His season got off to a horrific start this year with the 28-year-old going pointless in the first five games of the season and nine of his first 11. He has since mustered a 12-game point streak and an eight-game point streak in his last 21 games, bumping him up to third in league scoring.He has taken his team on his back this season after the club got off to a rocky start and then-leading scorer Evgeni Malkin went down with an injury.He has captained his country to an Olympic and World Championship gold all while being a model citizen. And yes, he is still the best player in the game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Erik Johnson is shouldering the blame for Colorado's inability to qualify for the postseason.The Avalanche defenseman - whose seven-year, $42-million extension kicks in next season - openly admits he has to be better in order for the team to succeed. For head coach Patrick Roy, it's not necessarily about piling up points as a high-paid player, but rather being more responsible defensively, and particularity at even strength."(Johnson) doesn't have to step up because of that contract," Roy said Friday. "He has to step up because we need E.J. It's as simple as that. He needs to be a plus player. And the same thing with (Tyson Barrie)."Look around the league, look at the defensemen, and if they are plus, that's how those teams are winning."Only six Avalanche players finished at zero or above in plus/minus this season, with Johnson (-19) and Barrie (-15) finishing ahead of only Jarome Iginla (-23).There's some debate as to the merits of that stat when more advanced metrics are available, but Roy thinks it's a big deal and believes Johnson and Barrie can and will make adjustments to improve."The thing I love about E.J. and Tice is that they're very receptive, they want to do well. Sometimes it affects our play, because they're pushing a little harder than they should. They should remain (back)."Speaking of advanced stats, the Avalanche rank dead last in Corsi For at even strength (44.1), suggesting issues run deep in Colorado.As far as Johnson is concerned, that's due to the players' failure to execute the coach's plan."Every night we have a great game plan and we try to execute it," he said. "We adjust to each team on any given night. It's definitely not a system issue with what the coaches put out there."It's definitely on us players, on the core of the team, that we didn't make the playoffs, and we have to look in the mirror and realize we have to be better."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have something to be encouraged about as a long and disappointing season comes to an end.On track to finish near the bottom of the standings, the Blue Jackets are one of only five NHL teams to boast multiple 30-goal scorers - Boone Jenner and Brandon Saad - with two days remaining in the regular season.The other four teams are all in the playoffs or still in the running for a spot:

The Boston Bruins should not expect the Ottawa Senators to lie down and let them walk into the playoffs.So says forward Zack Smith, who's intent on playing the role of spoiler on the final Saturday of the NHL's regular season."We're not handing anything to them," Smith said Friday, according to Ken Warren of the Ottawa Sun. "We've had enough battles with them. There is a little bit of a rivalry there, too. We don't owe anything to them, we have to go in there and win the game."Everyone has to find motivation from somewhere, whether it’s personal goals or just wanting to prove some things to different people that we're not giving up, that we do have something to play for."Winger Mike Hoffman, sitting on 29 goals for the season, sees it as an opportunity for a positive end to a disappointing year for the team."It's great, it's the last game of the year and there's going to be a great atmosphere in the building," Hoffman said. "Why not finish the season on a high and go in there and kind of spoil the party there?"We're professionals, we're trying to prove a point and play right to the last game. It's going to be a tough game. They're fighting for their lives. It's a good challenge for a lot of guys in here."The Senators finished three points ahead of the Bruins last season, snagging a wild-card spot on the strength of an incredible run to end the season. This season, Ottawa has posted a record of 2-1-0 against Boston, but with the Bruins holding a 9-8 scoring advantage.The puck drops at 12:30 pm EST.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Well, this is awkward.The Nashville Predators offered congratulations to Harvard forward Jimmy Vesey after he was named the winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's top men's hockey player Friday.Last month, Vesey informed the Predators he wouldn't sign with them, and would instead explore free agency when eligible on Aug. 15.Nashville made the 22-year-old winger a third-round pick in 2012, but he spurned them last April to return to Harvard for his senior season before rejecting them again last week.After accepting the award Friday, Vesey said there's no favorite to sign him yet, and his father added that his role with the Toronto Maple Leafs won't determine his son's future.Whether this was a last-ditch effort to get back in his good graces, or simply a sincere and heartfelt sentiment, it's a bad look.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A Columbus Blue Jackets minor leaguer was taken to hospital after collapsing on the bench Friday night.Brett Gallant of the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters was "alert and conscious," the team announced Friday night.He was taken off the bench on a stretcher during the Monsters' game against the Toronto Marlies at Ricoh Coliseum, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.Monsters play-by-play broadcaster Tony Brown described the scene:

Jimmy Vesey says no NHL team has the inside track to signing him, and his father doesn't expect his employment as a scout to affect his son's choice.The 22-year-old forward and his father, Jim Vesey, Sr., spoke to the media Friday for the first time since informing the Nashville Predators of his decision to enter free agency.The Veseys told Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe that they have no favorite when it comes to Jimmy's NHL destination, and he hasn't made up his mind about whether to sign with the Boston Bruins."There are 29 teams I can look at, and I'll find the best fit for me," Jimmy said.The elder Vesey told Dupont that he'd suggest his son not sign with the Bruins because of the pressure that comes with playing in his home state, but said it's his son's choice to make.''My advice, personally, (is that) I'd like to see him start somewhere (other than Boston) ... as a dad," Jim said.Jimmy was born in Massachusetts and spent four seasons at Harvard. He was named the recipient of the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men's hockey player Friday.Jim works as a scout with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but says that won't impact his son's decision.The Nashville Predators selected Jimmy in the third round of the 2012 draft, but he opted to return for his senior season at Harvard rather than signing with them last spring, then informed the club last month that he planned to test free agency instead of signing with Nashville before the Aug. 15 deadline.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman Steven Santini to a three-year entry-level contract Friday.The deal begins this season, and Santini will report to the Devils on Saturday.The 21-year-old collected 19 points in 41 games in his junior season with the Eagles, who were eliminated from the Frozen Four tournament Thursday.New Jersey selected him 42nd overall in 2013.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Vesey has been named the winner of the 2016 Hobey Baker Award, beating out Michigan forward Kyle Connor and goaltender Thatcher Demko of Boston College.The 22-year-old forward is the first ECAC player to win the national honor since 1989. He's a two-time ECAC Player of the Year.The Hobey Baker Award is given out annually to the nation's top NCAA men's hockey player.Vesey notched 24 goals and 22 assists in 33 games during his senior season at Harvard, boasting the seventh-best points-per-game mark in the country.He was part of the Hobey Hat Trick - the final three nominees - for the second consecutive season, after losing out to Jack Eichel in 2015.Last month, Vesey informed the Nashville Predators that he didn't plan to sign with them prior to the Aug. 15 deadline, opting to become an NHL free agent.He returned to the Crimson for his senior campaign after turning down a deal with the Predators last spring.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A man can only handle so much heartbreak.Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray said Friday he isn't going to the draft lottery later this month."They can save the paper and the call inviting me. I will not be there," Murray said on Buffalo radio station WGR 550. "I'm not saying somebody from the organization won't go and represent, but it won't be me."Murray was present for the last two draft lotteries, during which the Sabres failed to land the first overall pick despite having the NHL's worst record both times."(The lottery is) going to happen whether I'm there or not, so it's a waste of time," Murray said. "Whatever they do (when) the balls come out, nothing's going to change whether I'm there or not."Buffalo missed out on Aaron Ekblad in 2014 and Connor McDavid in 2015, settling for second overall picks Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel, respectively.The much-improved Sabres have the league's eighth-worst record and only a six percent chance of securing the top selection this time around, according to TSN.The 2016 draft lottery takes place April 30. The new format will involve three separate lotteries to determine each of the top three picks.- With h/t to John VoglCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

MONTREAL - Former Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Demers was in stable condition Friday, two days after having a stroke.Sandra Sciangula of the McGill University Health Centre said the 71-year-old Demers, now a Canadian senator, had improved to the point that doctors were planning to move him out of intensive care and into the inpatient stroke unit.''Senator Demers' family is at his bedside and they are able to interact with him,'' Sciangula said. ''The family appreciates the extraordinary care deployed by the medical team and thanks the public for the respect demonstrated for their privacy.''Demers, who coached the Canadiens to the 1993 Stanley Cup title, is a patient of the team's current doctor, David Mulder.Demers also coached Quebec, Detroit, St. Louis and Tampa Bay in the NHL, and Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Quebec in the WHA. He quit the Conservative caucus several months ago to sit as an independent.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Anaheim Ducks signed Northeastern forward Kevin Roy to a two-year entry-level deal Friday.Roy tallied 26 points over 29 games in his senior season with the Huskies.The 22-year-old was a fourth-round pick of the Ducks in 2012.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues have locked up one of their many pending free agents.The club agreed to a two-year contract extension with defenseman Joel Edmundson on Friday.His deal carries an average annual value of $1.05 million.Edmundson was a pending restricted free agent with a cap hit under $1 million. The 22-year-old has nine points and an average ice time of 14:54 in 66 games this season, his first in the NHL.He was a second-round pick of St. Louis in 2011.The Blues have three remaining pending RFAs - Jaden Schwartz, Anders Nilsson, and Magnus Paajarvi - and six pending UFAs - captain David Backes, Troy Brouwer, Kyle Brodziak, Scottie Upshall, Steve Ott, and Jeremy Welsh.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall's trading in his Edmonton Oilers jersey for a Canadian one, again.Hall will represent Canada at the upcoming World Ice Hockey Championship in Moscow and St. Petersburg, he confirmed Friday, according to Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels.Hall's season wraps up Saturday, and it's been a good one, personally. His 64 points are the second-highest of his career, and he needs one goal in the Oilers' final game to match his career high of 27. He's also been healthy, with Saturday's game set to be his 82nd. It'll be the first time in his career he'll hit the mark.The trip to Russia will be Hall's third World Championship. The tournament runs May 6-22.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

When KHL free agent Artemi Panarin signed with the Chicago Blackhawks last spring, few people expected him to have the impact he's had for the reigning Stanley Cup champions.That impact currently amounts to 74 points in 79 games, good for 10th in the NHL.The chemistry the rookie has developed with NHL point leader Patrick Kane has set the league ablaze, and Panarin's due for a raise because of it.If he remains in the top 10 in points at season's end, Panarin will be awarded a bonus of $1.725 million. He could earn even more, thanks to other bonuses outlined in his contract. Although the Blackhawks are perennially stifled by salary-cap restrictions, general manager Stan Bowman couldn't be happier with Panarin's production."I think it's fantastic for Panarin to have achieved what he has; I don't look at it as a negative at all," Bowman said. "What he's done here as a rookie - I don't want to say it's unprecedented, but it hasn't happened in a long, long time. For a guy in his first year in the league to finish in the top 10 in scoring, that's why those bonuses are rarely earned, and he's done something very special this year."Panarin, 24, is a strong candidate for the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie, an award that hasn't been won by a Blackhawk since Kane took it home in 2008.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Everything's coming up Red Wings.Detroit, in a win-and-you're-in situation Saturday against New York, will face a Rangers team missing a number of regulars - including Henrik Lundqvist. Backup Antti Raanta gets the start, head coach Alain Vigneault announced.The Rangers will also be without forwards Mats Zuccarello and Viktor Stalberg, who are dealing with lower-body injuries. Both should be fine for the playoffs, Vigneault said, according to the New York Daily News' Justin Tasch.Defenseman Dan Girardi, day to day with what's believed to be a concussion, will not play Saturday, but Vigneault expects him to be ready for Game 1 of the playoffs, too. He missed Thursday's game after being hurt Tuesday.Captain Ryan McDonagh was already ruled out for the regular-season finale. He remains day to day with a hand injury, and his status for Game 1 is up in the air.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders topped their cross-town rival Rangers for the fourth time this season Thursday night, swapping places in the standings and putting pressure on the Blueshirts, who fell to a wild-card position.The loss slots the Rangers to play the Atlantic Division champion Florida Panthers in the first round of the playoffs, a move some people think is New York's version of tanking to avoid a matchup with the white-hot Pittsburgh Penguins.Rangers forward Rick Nash, however, isn't one of those people."I can understand why the question (about preferring the wild card) would be asked, but anyone who has ever been in a locker room environment would know that would never happen," Nash told Larry Brooks of the New York Post. "The answer to the question is 'no.' It is the furthest thing from our minds."He added, "We're going to have to go through those teams sometime. We're going to face a really good team in the first round no matter what."The Rangers are stumbling down the stretch, having lost of four of their last six. They're 9-7-3 since acquiring Eric Staal at the deadline."Our focus is on getting our game together and going into the playoffs with momentum and confidence," Nash said.The winger, perhaps more than any other Rangers player, is being depended on to turn his individual struggles around in order to help the team.With only 15 goals, Nash is set to finish with his lowest total since the 2013 lockout-shortened season when he scored 21, and lowest overall since tallying 17 as a rookie."I know I have to be better," he said. "I'm happy with my defensive game, but the offense isn't where I know it has to be."I know I have to score to help this team in the playoffs."Ironically enough, Nash's difficulty finding the back of the net has been a theme during the Rangers' past few playoff runs. Perhaps the 31-year-old will reverse the trend by putting together a strong showing this postseason following the most modest offensive season of his pro career.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sergei Bobrovsky and Nick Foligno's seasons aren't over yet.The Columbus Blue Jackets teammates will represent their countries at the IIHF World Championship, writes the The Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline.Foligno, Columbus' captain, will suit up for the United States, while Bobrovsky will man the crease for Russia."It's just nice to continue your season," Foligno said. "But I sure don't want to get used to have our (NHL) seasons end in April."Bobrovsky, also on Russia's World Cup squad, was limited to only 36 starts this season, so he wants to play."I have had lots of time off in the season. Unfortunate, yes," he said. "So I will go. It's always great to represent your country. And to play in front of your own fans, of course, is special."The tournament runs May 6-22 in Moscow and St. Petersburg.Forward Brandon Saad declined his invitation from the United States. The former Chicago Blackhawks forward has often been busy this time of year, and will be participating in the upcoming World Cup on the Under-23 North American team.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Beleskey would like you to know the Boston Bruins are going to bring it. Again.Hours after the Bruins spanked the Detroit Red Wings in a must-win game, scoring four goals in bunches in the first and third periods, Beleskey pointed out he wants there to be no doubt in the building Saturday, when the Ottawa Senators come into town. No doubts in the dressing room, and none in the stands."Don't come to the game if you're expecting a letdown," Beleskey said, according to CSNNE.com's Joe Haggerty. "I don't care if you're there."We're going to play hard and we're going to try and get the job done. I think the fans are pretty good here and I know they all want us to win on Saturday. I'm sure they'll be there in their black and gold on Saturday ready to go."Chants of "We want playoffs!" have been the norm in Boston of late, and Thursday was no exception.The Bruins are a .500 team at home this season, at 17-17-6. They're on the cusp of the playoffs thanks to their road record. But they must win at home, and get some help, in order to reach the postseason. They likely won't know their fate until Sunday night.Enjoy the weekend, Bruins fans.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

MOSCOW - No one will face criminal charges over the worst doping scandal in Russia's history, the country's sports minister said Friday.A report in November by a World Anti-Doping Agency commission alleged systematic, state-sponsored drug use in Russian track and field and a widespread cover-up of doping.The former head of the Russian track federation was also accused of a role in extorting 450,000 euros ($500,000) from a marathon runner and was later banned for life.''The General Prosecutor's office carefully examined the report in question and did not find a single legally supported fact to open any kind of case,'' Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told sports portal Sportfakt.Mutko's comments came a day after almost the entire Russian national under-18 hockey team was cut from next week's world championships and replaced with an apparently weaker under-17 squad. The change was announced the day before the under-18 team had been expected to fly to the United States.Mutko said some players had taken meldonium while it was still legal but that Russian officials feared it could have remained in their bodies.''If an athlete or a group of athletes took it in October or November, we don't know if it'll be found or not (in testing),'' Mutko said in comments reported by the state news agency Tass. ''We're minimizing risks.''Russian Hockey Federation president Vladislav Tretiak had said the roster change was ''tactical,'' but the federation admitted Friday the switch was actually due to meldonium.The federation claimed that players stopped using the substance in the fall of 2015 when WADA ruled it would be banned for 2016. Removing the under-18 team from the world championship was an attempt to ''defend the rights of young athletes,'' it said.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In a perfect world, the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs would play each other in the Basement Bowl on Saturday night, and Auston Matthews would be in attendance.Both teams are tied for last in the league with 69 points, and both have one game left to play. The Maple Leafs will face the New Jersey Devils on the road Saturday, while the Oilers visit the Vancouver Canucks.Last place guarantees the best odds - 20 percent - at the NHL draft lottery on April 30. On the line is the right to select first overall at June's entry draft, where Matthews is predicted to be taken No. 1.The Maple Leafs failed to clinch 30th by winning Thursday in Philadelphia.Should both Toronto and Edmonton win or lose their final games, the Maple Leafs will finish 30th thanks to fewer regulation and overtime wins (ROW). Toronto has 23 ROWs to Edmonton's 27.If the Maple Leafs finish last, it will only be the third time in franchise history, writes the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran.May the luckiest team lose.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Many Montreal Canadiens fans haven't wanted to talk about anything between the pipes since all-world goaltender Carey Price went down with a knee injury, but Charlie Lindgren put forth a valiant effort in trying to change that.Lindgren suited up for the Habs in his first NHL start Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, earning a 4-2 victory and a moment he'll never forget.

An upper-body injury will keep Minnesota Wild forward Thomas Vanek out of at least Game 1 of the playoffs.Vanek took a cross-check March 29 and last played on April 1. He's missed three games and was ruled out Friday for more than a week, according to the Pioneer Press' Chad Graff. The Wild tweeted that Vanek will be "out for at least a week."Recently a healthy scratch, Vanek finishes his season with 18 goals and 23 assists in 74 games. His 41 points are a career low in a full season.The Wild also announced that Zach Parise will sit out the club's regular-season finale Saturday for maintenance issues.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No one's got a clue.The NHL pointed out Friday that heading into the final weekend of the regular season - every team is in action Saturday - nothing has been decided. While 14 of 16 teams have clinched playoff spots, no team knows its first-round opponent, and there are only 18 games left to play.

The Avalanche are about to begin an extended vacation, and that doesn't sit well with head coach Patrick Roy. But he plans to be back at work in Colorado next year, even though his team's trended down for a second straight season.Roy's Avalanche had a remarkable 112 points in his first season behind the bench, before losing a seven-game series to the Minnesota Wild in the first round. They had 90 points last season, missing the playoffs. They'll finish with 84, at most, this season. Considering the club's dropped five in a row to close out its schedule, 82 is more likely. But the fire still burns in Roy."Yeah, I do," Roy said when asked if he still wants to be behind the Avalanche bench next season, according to The Denver Post's Terry Frei. "Has this year been a tougher year that I expected? Yes. I thought that we were going to make the playoffs. Obviously, we did not have a good start for many reasons. But to answer your question, I do."I guess my 10 years in junior taught me a lot. As long as there's respect and I feel our players are playing hard. ... Are they playing well every night? No. But I feel that they're playing hard for me and I appreciate that. And they're very receptive."Roy made headlines last week after he called out Matt Duchene for an over-the-top celebration in a blowout loss after the forward hit the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career. He went even further, criticizing the leadership of his core players, outside of captain Gabriel Landeskog. Roy's a passionate coach, much like he was as a player.Now 50, Roy said he loves working with general manager Joe Sakic, and acknowledges that success in his first year as head coach hurt, in a way."Sometimes you want to go fast track, but that would be the wrong thing to do," Roy said. "The problem is we got 112 points the first year and that's where everybody thought we made the turn. But let's not forget that the year before, we were second-to-last overall. There's a reality between that year and what's going on."Roy's thinking long term. With young players like Duchene, Landeskog, and Nathan MacKinnon in the fold, the future still looks bright in Denver.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Desperately needing a win, the Philadelphia Flyers couldn't get it done, falling 4-3 in overtime Thursday night against the last-place Toronto Maple Leafs.The loss was a near-fatal blow to the Flyers playoff hopes, but with two games remaining, they're still mathematically alive.Philadelphia let a playoff position slip out of their grasp for the first time since March 21, but needing two consecutive wins to earn a spot as an Eastern Conference wildcard is an opportunity the Flyers need to be thankful for, or at least Claude Giroux thinks so."Tell us two months ago we'd be in this position and we'd take it," the Flyers captain told Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post. "We played really good in the second and third period."Giroux is right, the Flyers were the better team for the final 40 minutes. But after a sloppy first period, the Flyers couldn't surmount an early 2-0 deficit.Philadelphia out-shot Toronto 44-26 in the game, and forced overtime with a last-minute goal from Wayne Simmonds, salvaging at least one point - another thing the Flyers are thankful for after the disappointing result."We didn't do it. They came down and had a couple chances and scored two goals. The point is huge, but we needed to get two," said Flyers forward Jakub Voracek, who was out of position on the Leafs' first goal, and finished the contest minus-2.Now, the Flyers control their own destiny, but earning a berth in the playoffs won't come easy. Philly's final two games come on back-to-back days against two playoff-bound opponents in the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders.Anything can happen as the season comes to a close, and the Flyers are no strangers to dramatic playoff-clinching scenarios.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The significance of an NHL captain is often contested, but ranking them is likely to invoke even more debate.The best captains aren't merely great players, but ones who help balance egos and lead - often both vocally and by example - teams well into the spring.Related: Captain Power Rankings (30-16): McDavid's next, Pacioretty can only get betterHere is the NHL's second tier of captains:15. Zdeno CharaThe veteran defenseman isn't his formerly dominant self at age 39, and the Boston Bruins are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight season.14. Ryan McDonaghHe's overcome some brutal luck, suffering a concussion and a jaw injury within a two-week span, then sustaining another injury Monday that could force him to miss playoff games.13. Henrik ZetterbergThe Swedish winger has spent his entire 13-year career with the Detroit Red Wings, who named him Nicklas Lidstrom's replacement as captain in 2013.Zetterberg has lost a step at age 35, but he's a steadying presence on the third-oldest club in the NHL as it begins the transition to a younger core featuring the likes of Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha.12. David BackesThe physical center's offensive production has dropped off in a contract year, but that hasn't slowed down the surging St. Louis Blues, and he has picked up his game lately.11. Shea WeberThe leader of Nashville's loaded blue line has helped the Predators remain a tough out for years in the fiercely competitive Central Division, but the club has yet to advance past the second round.10. John TavaresTavares locked in his third 30-goal campaign Monday, but the Islanders have slipped into wild-card territory and aren't exactly heading into a potential playoff matchup on the most inspiring note.9. Claude GirouxGiroux is on pace to post his lowest point total in an 82-game season since his first full campaign in 2009-10, but he's already over the 60-point plateau, so that's just a testament to how consistent he's been in his career.8. Ryan GetzlafThe Anaheim Ducks' first-line center struggled in the first half of the season and his prolonged slump mirrored the team's woes, but Getzlaf resurrected his campaign in the second half and his teammates followed suit.Anaheim is now on pace to finish on a historic post-break scoring pace, and the Ducks captain is a major reason for the resurgence.7. Erik KarlssonKarlsson is in the midst of a Norris Trophy-caliber season and ranks among the most productive skaters in the league, but his less than flattering jab at teammates - and arguably Ottawa Senators management - didn't help his cause here.6. Steven StamkosEveryone knows the Tampa Bay Lightning captain is one of the game's best offensive talents, but his value as a leader will be even more evident now that he'll miss at least a month and possibly three.The Lightning are the youngest team in the league among playoff-bound clubs, and their only regular alternate captain, Ryan Callahan, is now banged up, too. Stamkos is a captain who leads by example, and his absence will truly illustrate how important he is to the youthful squad when healthy.Check back Saturday for the top five captains.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was 2-0 less than three minutes in, and, for the Detroit Red Wings, it was over.The Boston Bruins jumped all over Detroit on Thursday, winning a huge game between the clubs that ties them in the standings with 93 points, with only one game left to play for both.Related: Clinching scenarios for Bruins, Red WingsThe Red Wings played Wednesday, earning a massive 3-0 win at home against the Philadelphia Flyers, and didn't get into Boston until very late Wednesday night - or early Thursday morning, depending on your perspective."That was a tough turnaround," Brad Richards said, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. "They were sitting there waiting for us."Detroit was outshot 11-8 in the first period, but Boston truly took over in the second and third periods. The shots in the final 40 minutes: 23-7. Detroit mustered only two shots in the third period."I think it was a just a little bit of everything," Jimmy Howard, who was pulled after allowing five goals on 28 shots, said. "Having such an emotional high (Wednesday), coming off such a big victory, getting in relatively late last night and having to get up for another emotional game - it was tough. We just didn't have our 'A' game tonight.""You get down 2-0 right away, that's a hard thing," said head coach Jeff Blashill.Down 3-1 heading into the third period, the Bruins blitzed again, scoring twice in 45 seconds to end any thoughts of a comeback."Those first two shifts in the third period killed the game," Henrik Zetterberg said.There are a number of scenarios by which the Red Wings can make the playoffs. The simplest: Beat the Rangers on Saturday in New York. Win and they're in.The postseason streak's on the line. Rest up, Red Wings.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.