It was the threat of arbitration that spooked the Florida Panthers into moving Brandon Pirri at the trade deadline.Co-owner Douglas Cifu confirmed what most pundits deduced in their unpacking of the oddly modest sixth-round pick the Panthers accepted in return from the Anaheim Ducks for the former 22-goal scorer. Cifu told the Sun Sentinal's Harvey Fialkov on Thursday that once the club decided Pirri wasn't going to be a top-six contributor moving forward, it chose to avoid having an arbitrator-awarded salary on its books.Pirri likely won't hit the 20-goal threshold for the second time, but with three goals and five points in eight games since joining Anaheim, he's established a new career high in points.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rick Nash looked like his often dominant self again Thursday when he harnessed his lethal combination of speed and power to score a tremendous go-ahead marker versus the Carolina Hurricanes.That's 15 goals on the season - and three in the past five games - for the New York Rangers' 42-goal man from a season ago.And that's Brett Pesce he dropped like a backpack.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic has been lost for the rest of Thursday's game versus the Columbus Blue Jackets with a lower-body injury suffered in a collision with Scott Hartnell.It appeared as though Hamonic took the blunt force of Hartnell's knee to the side of his right knee or lower thigh. That the team ruled him out almost immediately after the collision suggests the injury might be more severe than a simple contusion or Charley horse, though he was able to battle through the rest of his shift.Hamonic has anchored the Islanders' blue line, averaging more than 24 minutes in 71 appearances.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This young, still impressionable New York Islanders fan was either finally broken by the commute to Brooklyn or is truly horrified at the sight of Cal Clutterbuck.

Washington Capitals forward Jason Chimera has been fined $5,000 for butt-ending Philadelphia's Shayne Gostisbehere, the NHL's Department of Player safety announced Thursday.The incident happened behind the play during Wednesday's shootout win for the Flyers. No penalty was called at the time.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ben Scrivens is heading back to the American Hockey League.The Montreal Canadiens netminder cleared waivers and was assigned to the St. John's IceCaps, it was announced Thursday.The 29-year-old was placed on waivers Wednesday after the team signed NCAA goaltender Charlie Lindgren to a two-year contract.Scrivens has gone 5-8-0 with a .906 save percentage and a 3.07 GAA with the Canadiens, while also boasting a 2-6-1 record with a .893 save percentage and a 3.47 GAA with the Edmonton Oilers' affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

William Nylander's current stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs appears to have an expiry date.The team plans to return the 19-year-old rookie to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League once forward Peter Holland returns from an undisclosed injury, head coach Mike Babcock said, according to TSN's Mark Masters.The Maple Leafs' 2014 first-round draft pick has been with the team since Feb. 29 and has contributed four goals and seven points in his first 16 games in the league. He has also added 18 goals and 45 points in 37 games with the Marlies.Meanwhile, Holland has been missing from action since March 17.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mark Stone will miss at least the next two games.The Ottawa Senators forward is heading back to Canada's capital after receiving a devastating hit from Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien at the MTS Centre on Wednesday night."He's sore," Senators head coach Dave Cameron told reporters Thursday, according to the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch. Cameron added that Stone has been cleared to play, but will sit out the final two games of the road trip.The Senators are in Minnesota to face the Wild on Thursday night, then head to Philadelphia to battle the Flyers on Saturday, after which they'll have only three games remaining.Stone stayed in Winnipeg for further evaluation after Wednesday's game. He left the contest, then returned and exited again for the night after being diagnosed with a chest injury.Scott Gomez will take Stone's spot Thursday, while defenseman Ben Harpur will draw in for Mike Kostka.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks will receive a much-needed boost to their lineup when they visit the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.The Blackhawks will welcome back defenseman Brent Seabrook and forward Artem Anisimov. Seabrook missed Tuesday's contest with an illness, while Anisimov has been sidelined the past two games with a lower-body injury.The returns help balance a lineup which will be without defenseman Duncan Keith and forward Marian Hossa. Keith remains out pending a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety following a high-sticking incident against the Minnesota Wild, while Hossa will miss Thursday's game with an illness.The team is looking to collect its third win in four games. The Blackhawks currently hold down the third spot in the Central Division.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils will give goaltender Cory Schneider a couple more days rest before he makes his return to the net.The Devils, in Florida for a two-game road trip, will have Keith Kinkaid between the pipes Thursday against the Florida Panthers and then turn to Schneider on Saturday versus the Tampa Bay Lightning."We didn't come into the trip really with the expectation that he would play two (games)," head coach John Hynes said, according to The Record's Tom Gulitti. "I think it just makes sense to give him a few extra days and let him get his practice minutes up. His time on ice in game-like situations like he had today and yesterday, expand those a couple extra days and he should be good to go Saturday."In the meantime, Schneider will serve as the backup Thursday while he deals with the biggest lingering effect of recovering from his MCL sprain: fatigue."We just decided just get me into a game-day routine and back up and get that under my belt next," Schneider said. "I felt good yesterday, but got a little fatigued there at the end of practice, so they just wanted to make sure I was ready to go. So, Keith's been doing well and maybe it will be a good thing to just see a game up close and have that game-day routine back and jump in the next one."Schneider has been out since March 4. He'd amassed a record of 26-23-6 with a 2.17 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

More than one NHL owner cautioned commissioner Gary Bettman about the need to crack down on headshots before the league was sued by former players in 2013.Emails published this week by The Globe and Mail and later examined by James Mirtle after being unsealed in the ongoing concussion lawsuit show a pair of NHL owners expressing concern about the league's stance on hits to the head.Nashville Predators chairman Tom Cigarran sent Bettman an impassioned plea after then-Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin wasn't suspended for concussing Nashville forward Mike Fisher in October 2011."As I have tried to get across, ANY hit to the head MUST be a major penalty and result in a suspension," Cigarran wrote. "We would be the last league to take this position so this is not a RADICAL concept. The cost of our delay is huge in financial terms and in terms of damage to player careers as well."Cigarran closed his note emphatically:"The 'it will change the game' or 'we will have our players wearing figure skates' stories show the thinking of the old timers. Our incremental approach to change to mollify them has gone on too long. I intend to bring this up at every owners meeting until the changes are made. Enough is enough."Bettman's reply was brief:"We have a rule against head 'hits' but not head 'contact' in conjunction with a 'full body check.' Let's discuss tomorrow," wrote the commissioner.About two months beforehand, Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson forwarded the commissioner a Globe and Mail column arguing that the NHL could be subject to a concussion lawsuit by former players, in light of a similar case brought forth against the NFL."As an owner, the NFL lawsuits could put us at risk," Molson wrote. "Although we are making good progress, I don't think it's enough until any head hit is made illegal. I hope we get there soon!"In Bettman's reply, the commissioner stated he didn't believe the NHL was "in the same situation" as the NFL and didn't believe the football lawsuits put the NHL at risk, insisting that "we have been the leaders in the area of concussions."He also told Molson not to worry about potential legal action.The lawsuit filed about two years later now includes more than 100 former players.The owners unanimously approved major penalties and ejections for blindside hits to the head in 2010, but the NHL still has no rule banning all headshots.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres are shutting down Evander Kane.The 24-year-old forward won't play again this season due to what the team is calling an upper-body injury, which is expected to require another three-to-four weeks to heal.Kane missed Tuesday's loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he'll finish the 2015-16 campaign with 20 goals in 65 games.The struggling Sabres, who have five contests remaining, shut down goaltender Robin Lehner on Wednesday due to a nagging ankle injury.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carey Price appears to be inching closer and closer to a potential return.The Montreal Canadiens goaltender took to the ice for the morning skate Thursday, marking the first time he has shared the ice with his teammates since going down with a leg injury in late November, according to Sportsnet's John Bartlett.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a trade - with their American Hockey League affiliate.The team assigned forwards Connor Brown and Zach Hyman as well as defensemen Rinat Valiev and Connor Carrick to the Toronto Marlies. In return, the Leafs recalled forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Tobias Lindberg as well as defensemen T.J. Brennan and Andrew Campbell.Kapanen and Brennan will get their second chances with the team after both suited up in games earlier in the month. Brennan currently sits second in the AHL with 67 points in 67 games.Meanwhile, Lindberg could be the latest Maple Leaf to make his NHL debut this season. Campbell is expected to make his first NHL appearance in almost a year when the Leafs takes on the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.Brown, Hyman, Valiev, and Carrick rejoin a Marlies team that sits atop the AHL standings with a record of 48-15-5, 11 points ahead of the next best club.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gordie Howe is celebrating his 88th birthday on Thursday, and while he'll always be remembered as one of the game's most dominant scorers, his longevity on the ice was even more remarkable.Howe completed his final NHL season as a 52-year-old with the Hartford Whalers in 1979-80, scoring 15 goals in 80 games.He endured 32 pro seasons, playing more than 2,000 combined games in the NHL and WHA.Here are three players we want to see channel Mr. Hockey by playing into their sixth decade:Jaromir JagrThis one's a no-brainer, and the quotable forward has even said he wants to play until he's 50.Jagr leads the Florida Panthers in goals and points at age 44, and he passed Howe on the NHL's all-time points list earlier this month (he would have done it sooner if he hadn't spent three seasons in the KHL).He's playing better now than he did as a rookie, and, while it might not be physically possible, we hope he plays forever.Roberto LuongoJagr's teammate is also performing well at an advanced age.The Panthers goaltender is 32-19-6 with a 2.37 GAA and .921 save percentage while appearing in 59 of Florida's 76 games.He's shouldering a heavy workload at age 36, and his social media game remains on point.Luongo has a long way to go, but no one would complain if he was still playing on his 50th birthday.Jarome IginlaThe Colorado Avalanche winger has shown few signs of slowing down, posting 19 goals and 43 points at age 38.His prolonged production isn't an anomaly. Iginla scored 30 goals with the Boston Bruins in 2013-14, and followed that up with 29 goals for the Avalanche last season.The consummate pro still hasn't won the Stanley Cup, and we hope it doesn't take him 12 more years, but it will be a shame if he isn't able to hoist it.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tyler Seguin's Achilles injury has opened up lots of time for personal reflection.One thing that Seguin has come to terms with in his down time is his love for Justin Bieber.The Dallas Stars forward joined BaD Radio on KTCK 1310 in Dallas Wednesday where he admitted that he is a Belieber and will be in attendance when Bieber takes the stage in Dallas."I am. I'll be there. (Have you met him?) I have not met the Biebs," Seguin said, according to SportsDayDFW.com.Seguin admits that he's a little foggy on song titles, but says he'll have no trouble singing along to the pint-sized singer's hits."I don't know if I could name the songs, but I probably definitely sing along to it, though," said Seguin. "When he's at the concert, I don't think there will be a song that I won't be able to sing. I am a Belieber."His songs are catchy, I don't know what to tell you. He's changed, right? He's got tattoos! And he's Canadian, he's from Ontario, he likes hockey. I feel like we'd be Facebook friends, you know?"Seguin's favorite song is "What Do You Mean?" - which could be the same reaction teammates get when they learn Seguin is a Belieber.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If the Anaheim Ducks keep this up, their resurgence will be one for the record books.The Ducks erupted for eight goals in a blowout victory over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night, continuing a remarkable transformation.

For the first time in 46 years, there will be no Stanley Cup playoff hockey north of the border.After a Philadelphia win over Washington on Wednesday, the Ottawa Senators were officially eliminated from postseason contention, meaning the NHL's Canadian hockey teams will be preparing for the draft rather than fighting for hockey's greatest prize.A rare occurrence indeed, as this will mark only the second time in NHL history where every Canadian team will miss the Stanley Cup playoffs, with 1970 being the other.

Mark Stone, meet Dustin Byfuglien.The Ottawa Senators forward was absolutely rocked by the Jets defenseman on a seemingly clean, yet devastating, body check Wednesday in Winnipeg.Byfuglien wasn't penalized for the hit, but earned two minutes in the box for slashing in the ensuing melee.Somehow, Stone was able to return to the bench shortly after leaving for examination. During the second intermission, however, it was announced he sustained a chest injury and wouldn't return.After the game, it was announced Stone wouldn't immediately travel to Minnesota for Thursday's date with the Wild.

Charlie Coyle's nose was no worse for wear following an ugly stick-swinging incident Tuesday, one that he rightfully sees no place for in hockey.The Minnesota Wild forward briefly left a game against Chicago with a slashed nose after Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith swung a stick at his face.A day later, and relatively unscathed, he still can't believe it happened."I was just stunned that it happened," he told reporters. "You don't expect that ever in a game."No matter what happens in a game, you should never swing your stick at someone's face like that. Obviously there's no room for that and I'm sure he wants to take that back."Meanwhile, Keith has been offered an in-person hearing by the NHL's Department of Player Safety, signaling a suspension of five games or more.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The St. Louis Blues paid it forward in a big way Tuesday.After their game Feb. 6, forward Vladimir Tarasenko - who scored a power-play goal that night - handed his stick over the glass to 11-year-old Noah Kleinlehrer.The thing is, the youngster didn't keep it."I was going down to high-five the players just after the three stars, and Tarasenko reaches up and gave me his stick," Noah told Chris Pinkert from the Blues website. "I thought 'Wow! He actually did that!' But then I went down and saw a little boy, who I saw earlier in the game. I overheard his father say it was his first game, so I went down to give him a good memory."Made aware of Kleinlehrer's good deed, the Blues invited him and his family to Tuesday's win over Colorado,

The woman who charged Chicago Blackhawks minor leaguer Garret Ross for participating in "revenge porn" was deeply disturbed by the case's dismissal and the team's decision to quickly reinstate him."I was infuriated when I read about (the Blackhawks') decision. I was sitting at my desk at work literally shaking I was so mad," Ross' accuser told Stacy St. Clair of The Chicago Tribune."I saw it coming, but it still was devastating, especially since it was made known that the charges were dropped due to jurisdiction issues, not due to lack of evidence."Ross was charged in Illinois with one felony count of non-consensual dissemination of a private sexual image - also known as "revenge porn" - but the prosecution ended Tuesday afternoon because it was discovered Ross was in Michigan when he allegedly distributed the video in question.The Blackhawks' farmhand was suspended by the club pending the result of the legal process, and he was reinstated Tuesday evening, paving the way for his return to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs."What bothered me the most was that it took the Blackhawks 40 days after Ross was booked and charged to suspend him, but less than 10 hours to reinstate him," the accuser said."That right there shows how the organization feels about issues like this. … The Blackhawks organization turned a blind eye, when they easily could have set an example within their organization that they do not tolerate this kind of behavior."A Blackhawks spokesman and Ross' attorney both declined to comment when reached by The Tribune.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Robin Lehner's season is over.The Buffalo Sabres goaltender had surgery Wednesday on his troublesome right ankle and won't play in the remaining five games.Lehner has been resting the ankle since March 16, and he missed more than two months earlier this season after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the season opener.The 24-year-old was limited to 21 games, going 5-9-5 with a 2.47 GAA and .924 save percentage after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators on draft day last June.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen has been suspended two games for interference on San Jose Sharks defenseman Roman Polak.The NHL's Department of Player Safety called the collision a "late, violent" hit and said Polak was "not eligible to be checked in any manner."Virtanen, who was assessed an interference major and a game misconduct, acknowledged after the game that his hit was late.This is his first NHL suspension, and he'll forfeit nearly $10,000 under the terms of the CBA.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brent Burns can celebrate after all.The San Jose Sharks defenseman set the franchise record for goals in a season by a blue-liner thanks to a scoring change Wednesday afternoon, nearly two days after having the goal taken away.

Duncan Keith will have an opportunity to plead his case at the NHL offices.The Chicago Blackhawks defenseman has been offered an in-person hearing to answer for hitting Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle in the face with his stick Tuesday night.Keith was ejected from the game and handed a match penalty for the incident.With two previous suspensions, Keith is a repeat offender, but doesn't qualify as one by NHL standards because the previous infractions didn't occur within the last 18 months.The offer for an in-person hearing means the league may decide to suspend Keith for six games or more, and he remains suspended until a hearing takes place.The Blackhawks have five games remaining in the regular season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cory Schneider was activated off injured reserve Wednesday, and though the New Jersey Devils goalie doesn't know when he'll start, he expects to man the crease during the team's Florida road trip."I'm going on the trip, so I'm assuming they wouldn't take me unless I was going to be good to go," Schneider told The Record's Tom Gulitti. "Whether I play tomorrow or Saturday (at Tampa Bay) we still haven't determined, but I believe I should be available for both games."In a corresponding move, the team assigned goaltender Scott Wedgewood to the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League. Wedgewood fared extremely well in his first taste of the NHL.The 23-year-old went 2-1-1 in four games with a 1.25 goals-against average and a .957 save percentage.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The end is near, and that has elite teams scrambling and others pushing like never before. The race is real.1. St. Louis Blues ▲(Last Week: 4)The Colorado Avalanche finally brought an end to the Blues' four-game shutout streak Tuesday. But St. Louis only allowed one goal, and has still won five straight. They sit alongside the Dallas Stars for top spot in the Western Conference, and are hitting their stride at the right time.2. Dallas Stars ▲(Last Week: 3)Wins over a solid Sharks team and the Predators, the league's hottest team in the second half, make them a legitimate threat in the West, regardless of any goaltending doubts.3. Pittsburgh Penguins ▲(Last Week: 8)Phil Kessel has come alive. With seven points in his last three games, including a five-point outing, he's helping the team score in bunches. After three straight wins, the Penguins' playoff hopes are no longer a concern.4. Minnesota Wild ▲(Last Week: 13)Devan Dubnyk hasn't conceded more than two goals in a game in nearly two weeks. Meanwhile, his club has swept the reigning Stanley Cup champs this year. Look out.5. Washington Capitals ▼(Last Week: 1)While they don't appear to be showcasing the same firepower they did during the start of the season, the Capitals should still be considered Cup favorites.6. Los Angeles Kings ▼(Last Week: 2)They aren't quite emulating their former Cup-winning selves, but they still sit atop the Pacific Division, which is worth something, for now.7. San Jose Sharks ▼(Last Week: 5)A loss to the Oilers and a win against the Kings in the same week. This team is in the midst of a Sharknado, but three games remaining against teams outside the playoff picture should settle things down.8. Nashville Predators ▼(Last Week: 7)Though they split their games this week, wins over the Canucks and Blue Jackets should be expected. To quote Billy Madison: "That's a little easy, why don't you just give her the trophy."9. New York Rangers ▲(Last Week: 14)A tough loss to the Penguins was the only fault this week for the team that now boasts the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.10. Tampa Bay Lightning(Last Week: 10)They continue to play leapfrog with the state-rival Florida Panthers. An Anton Stralman injury hurts, but shouldn't derail any potential postseason success.10. Anaheim Ducks ▼(Last Week: 6)The team concluded their Canadian road trip with two wins, but the Ducks need to really spread their wings if they hope to take off come playoff time.11. Philadelphia Flyers ▲(Last Week: 17)A couple more wins have now put the Flyers in the driver's seat of their playoff prospects with two games in hand on the slipping Red Wings.12. New York Islanders(Last Week: 15)They got things back on track with two wins over the Hurricanes, but with upcoming games against the Penguins, Lightning, Capitals, and Rangers, things aren't going to get any easier for the Islanders.13. Florida Panthers ▼(Last Week: 9)A loss to the Maple Leafs hurts, no matter who you are, but the loss of forward Vincent Trocheck for an extended period of time would hurt more.14. Boston Bruins ▼(Last Week: 11)The Bruins have just 10 goals to show for their last seven games, and have gone 1-6-0 in that stretch. With just a point separating them from the Red Wings, it's time to snap out of it.15. Chicago Blackhawks ▲(Last Week: 16)Two wins against non-competing teams is good for positioning, but a loss against the Wild - who they've owned in postseason play - hurts. Add to that a possible suspension coming to defenseman Duncan Keith, and things aren't going so smooth for the reigning champs.16. Colorado Avalanche ▼(Last Week: 12)Simply put, the Avalanche have the most difficult stretch of games to conclude the season. The club will tangle with the Capitals, Blue, Predators, Stars, and Ducks in their remaining five games. It won't be easy, but overcoming that could make them the most dangerous team heading into the playoffs.17. Detroit Red Wings ▲(Last Week: 18)Goaltender Petr Mrazek has been pulled five times in his last 14 games. That means lots of pucks are going in, and that's not good. But no pressure, just a 25-year playoff streak on the line.18. Arizona Coyotes ▲(Last Week: 23)Mike Smith has pulled his team out of a Western Conference basement occupied by Western Canada, but not high enough to enter the playoff hunt.19. New Jersey Devils(Last Week: 19)Mathematically alive, but realistically not so much.20. Carolina Hurricanes ▲(Last Week: 24)See above.21. Montreal Canadiens ▼(Last Week: 20)The team could get P.K. Subban, Brendan Gallagher, and possibly goaltender Carey Price back before the season is up, which would help the team achieve ... ?22. Buffalo Sabres ▲(Last Week: 25)Three players hitting the 20-goal mark and some impressive debuts by college prospects have eased the pain of another down year.23. Ottawa Senators ▼(Last Week: 22)The Senators used up all their fairy dust last season and will likely finish in the middle of the pack.25. Toronto Maple Leafs ▲(Last Week: 27)Oddly for Maple Leafs fans, the fact the team is winning games might bring the most pain this season. If they keep it up, the chance to nab Auston Matthews could pass them by.26. Winnipeg Jets ▲(Last Week: 28)Tyler Myers decided to cut his season short to begin receiving necessary surgeries, likely since the team is so far out of it right now.27. Edmonton Oilers ▲(Last Week: 29)A huge comeback win against the Sharks and tight games against the Kings and Ducks are great, but they're still the same lowly Oilers.27. Calgary Flames ▼(Last Week: 26)Did the Flames overachieve last season or are they underachieving this season? Whatever the case, they are now on pace to finish with nearly 22 points less than last season.29. Columbus Blue Jackets ▼(Last Week: 21)John Tortorella was "pissed" at his team this week, and rightfully so.30. Vancouver Canucks ▼(Last Week: 30)On a positive note, one more poor week, and the Canucks might become the new front-runners to land that oh so prestigious lottery pick.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jimmy Vesey's camp have broken their silence since news of his intention not to sign with the Nashville Predators was made public.Related - Report: Vesey's reps informed Predators he wasn't signing with themThe camp representing the Harvard University star - including advisors Peter Fish and Pete Donatelli - according to TSN's Bob McKenzie released a statement Wednesday explaining the process, largely in response to the numerous allegations by the club that drafted him in the third round in 2012.

The Calgary Flames have agreed to terms with Providence forward Mark Jankowski.The club signed him to an entry-level contract Wednesday, and the 21-year-old center will report to the AHL's Stockton Heat on an amateur tryout for the rest of the season.

The Montreal Canadiens have placed backup goalie Ben Scrivens on waivers, the team announced Wednesday.The move comes following the signing of college free agent Charlie Lindgren who has joined the team in Tampa.Scrivens had been with the team on emergency basis since joining following a trade from the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 28, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. He went 5-8-0 in 14 games with the Canadiens.The 29-year-old will be assigned to the St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League if he isn't claimed, while the newly acquired Lindgren will burn the first year of his contract.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers' offense is about to take a serious hit down the stretch.Vincent Trocheck will miss the final six games of the regular season with an apparent ankle injury, head coach Gerard Gallant confirmed Wednesday.The 22-year-old was spotted wearing a cast at practice Wednesday, and he's expected to wear it for 10 days, according to The Miami Herald's George Richards.He may have suffered a non-displaced fracture of the ankle blocking a shot in the Panthers' 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, according to the report.

Jake Virtanen has some explaining to do.The Vancouver Canucks forward will have a hearing Wednesday for his hit on San Jose Sharks defenseman Roman Polak on Tuesday night.Virtanen admitted after the game that the hit came "a little bit late" but said he was "just back-checking," and that the hit was shoulder-to-shoulder as opposed to a headshot.The 19-year-old has never received supplemental discipline.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tony Granato is going back to college.The former NHL forward, coach, and assistant is the new head coach of the University of Wisconsin, the school confirmed Wednesday.Granato played four seasons with the Badgers from 1983 to 1987, becoming one of only two players in the history of the program to register 100 goals and 100 assists in his career."I don't think my heart ever left Madison (Wis.) or the Badger program," Granato said Wednesday."It was always there with me that someday it would be great to go back. Someday it would be an opportunity - if it ever came along - where you always think in your mind, 'Wow, wouldn't that be special and a great place to go back to?'"Granato has served behind three NHL benches since retiring as a player in 2001, including a pair of head coaching stints with the Colorado Avalanche.He was an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings for the last two seasons and occupied the same role with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2009 to 2014.Granato's brother, Don, and former Wisconsin assistant Mark Osiecki - who most recently served as an assistant with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs - will join Tony's staff.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens have signed free-agent goaltender Charlie Lindgren to a two-year two-way contract, the team announced Wednesday."We are very happy to have reached an agreement with Charlie Lindgren. Lindgren was in our mind the best free-agent goaltender available coming out of the U.S. college level," general manager Marc Bergevin said. "He made the decision to join the Canadiens organization and will complete the season with the team. Lindgren is a top goaltender coming out of college, and becomes an excellent prospect for our organization, bringing some depth at this position."

The Nashville Predators say they expected Harvard standout Jimmy Vesey to sign with them before the trade deadline, but the prospect's representatives reportedly told the club the opposite.The Predators were told of Vesey's decision a few days before the deadline, "in order for the team to conduct business unrelated to him," a league source told ESPN's Joe McDonald.Nashville general manager David Poile and assistant GM Paul Fenton both claim that Vesey told the Predators he would sign with them prior to the deadline, and Fenton said Tuesday that the team changed its deadline plans thinking Vesey would sign there.McDonald's league source said Wednesday that the Predators should have approached the deadline knowing Vesey wouldn't be joining them, and that if there was any miscommunication between the two sides, it was "cleared up" before Feb. 29.Vesey's reps were surprised by Poile's insinuation Monday night that the 22-year-old "received bad advice and bad counsel," according to the report.The Predators' 2012 third-round pick informed Nashville he would not be signing with them earlier this week, instead opting for unrestricted free agency beginning on Aug. 15.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jonathan Bernier has made amends after his hilarious spitting incident.A Tampa Bay Lightning ice worker was on the wrong end of a loogie hurled by the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Monday night, an event that was thankfully caught on camera.Following the Maple Leafs' 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, Bernier admitted things could have been worse."Obviously I felt really bad. I actually met the guy after and gave him a stick," Bernier told TSN's Mark Masters. "I couldn't see the guy because the astronaut was dancing next to me. The good thing he said was it wasn't his first time."Thank God it didn't hit him in the face, though."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's what postseason matchups look like after play after March 29:Eastern ConferenceTeamTeamSeason SeriesA1 LightningW1 Islanders1-1-0A2 PanthersA3 Bruins3-1-0 BruinsM1 CapitalsW2 Flyers2-0-1 CapitalsM2 RangersM3 Penguins3-1 Penguins

After a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, news got worse for the Florida Panthers, as forward Vincent Trocheck - who left the game after blocking a shot - may have suffered a fractured leg, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald.The 22-year-old will undergo an MRI on Wednesday, head coach Gerard Gallant said, per ESPN. Any time missed would be a significant loss for the Panthers as the center entered Tuesday on a four-game goal-scoring streak, while recording 13 points in his past 11 games."He was our best player for a long time so that's tough," said teammate Jaromir Jagr. "Not only did we lose a game but we lost one of our best players. Hopefully someone will step up. That line had been playing so well."Trocheck blocked shots on the same ankle in the two previous games against the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning, causing his leg to go numb in the latter game, but it's unclear if this injury is related, Richards added.In Trocheck's stead, Nick Bjugstad moved up to the second line, centering wingers Jussi Jokinen and Reilly Smith.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks reinstated prospect Garret Ross on Tuesday after it was announced that a charge against him of non-consensual dissemination of a private sexual image - also known as "revenge porn" - had been dropped.From the Blackhawks organization:

The Montreal Canadiens will have a familiar passenger for Wednesday's trip to the Sunshine State.Goaltender Carey Price will travel with the club for a two-game road trip, with stops in Tampa Bay (Thursday) and Florida (Saturday), head coach Michel Therrien announced.Price, of course, has been sidelined since November with a leg injury, slowly but surely working his way back to the lineup in the meantime.The Canadiens have already been eliminated from the playoffs, but with five games remaining on the schedule, price may get an opportunity to shake off some rust before the end of the regular season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Penguins won for the ninth time in 10 games Tuesday, coming back from a three-goal deficit to win 5-4 in a shootout over the Buffalo Sabres, and no player had a bigger impact than defenseman Kris Letang.

After scoring the shootout winner against the Carolina Hurricanes to pick up a huge extra point for the New York Islanders, Kyle Okposo wasn't in a celebratory mood as he discussed the ice conditions with reporters following Tuesday's game."Awful," Okposo said of the ice, per Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post. "Can't have it like that. It's got to change. It's got to be better than that."Since the Islanders moved into Barclays Center at the start of the season, the arena has been subject to criticism, with issues ranging from ice conditions to obstructed seating. It was also reported the Islanders and the facility were exploring ways to end their 25-year lease agreement.Okposo, who has two goals in his past five games, may not have to worry about the ice after this season as he may explore unrestricted free agency in July.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.