Jonathan Drouin has six points in six games since returning to the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL affiliate earlier in March, but the 20-year-old found himself sidelined by team discipline once again after missing a team meeting.The Syracuse Crunch kept Drouin out of the lineup Wednesday against the Utica Comets after the forward missed a pre-practice meeting Tuesday due to an alarm clock issue."I've got to live with the consequences,'' Drouin said before Wednesday's game. The forward took full responsibility and apologized for his actions while vowing to "make it up to his teammates," according to Lindsay Kramer of Syracuse.com.Lightning assistant general manager Julien Brisebois said Drouin will sit out just one game, and this incident won't change how the organization feels about him.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks released a statement Saturday regarding prospect Garret Ross after he was charged with one count of non-consensual dissemination of a private sexual image - also known as "revenge porn" - per police reports.

Hard to believe there are only three weeks until the NHL playoffs begin. Three teams are in, and one division champion has been crowned. Here we go.1. Washington Capitals

After No. 1 goalie Cory Schneider went down with injury, New Jersey Devils backup Keith Kinkaid shone in the spotlight, being named the NHL's third star of the week ending March 13 after allowing just one goal across a pair of wins.But Kinkaid's luck soon soured as he's allowed 13 goals across his last three appearances, eventually being pulled in Saturday's loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, losing the starter's job to 23-year-old Scott Wedgewood.Discussing his struggles with reporters Friday, Kinkaid was rather harsh in his criticism."Worst player of the week," the 26-year-old suggested, per Rich Chere of NJ.com. "It could be true. No, it's just about getting my game together. It's a growing process. I've only had a few losses in that stretch and a couple of good wins. I just have to manage with the consistency."The Devils find themselves six points out of a playoff spot with just nine games remaining in the season. Wedgewood will get his second consecutive start Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Next year's outdoor game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers has been pushed back a week, the NHL announced Wednesday.The Stadium Series game that will pit the Pennsylvania-based teams against one another was originally scheduled for Feb. 18, but will now take place Feb. 25.The game commemorates the 50th anniversary of both franchises and will see the teams do battle at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The NHL also announced that the game will be broadcast in prime time at 8 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It apparently wasn't smooth sailing for Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban after being taken to the hospital by paramedics following his March 10 neck injury.Subban recalled his Montreal ambulance ride following coach Michel Therrien's announcement Wednesday that Subban wouldn't be in the lineup Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings. He is, however, travelling with the team."If there's one thing I gotta say, in the ambulance, the ride was bumpy, man," Subban said, according to TSN 690's Amanda Stein. "We hit a couple potholes on the way there and I was just like, 'Geez! I don't know what we're driving over here!' But it felt like it was a couple of bodies we had dropped and drove over, to be honest. Some of the bumps were pretty big."Subban has not participated in game action since the injury, which came from an awkward collision with teammate Alexei Emelin.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Who's the NHL's best right-winger - Patrick Kane or Vladimir Tarasenko? Cast your vote on the banner below.C | LW | RW | D (3/24) | G (3/25)Patrick Kane is the NHL's best right-wingerKane's the runaway favorite to win the Hart and Art Ross trophies this season. He put together a 26-game point streak that saw him tally a score in every game from Oct. 17 through Dec. 13 - the longest scoring streak in Blackhawks history. The magic didn't end when the streak did, as he compiled 43 points in the 35 games that followed. He also brings something to the table that Tarasenko doesn't: a championship pedigree. Kane's an integral part of the Blackhawks' nucleus that's won three Stanley Cups in seven seasons, exorcising the demons that came with a 49-year championship drought.Vladimir Tarasenko is the NHL's best right-wingerTarasenko may not have a ring, but he's scored 10 goals in 13 postseason games and the Blues are confident enough in his ability to lead them to the promised land that they made him the face of the franchise, inking him to an eight-year, $60-million extension. Tarasenko's great hands and creativity make him one of the NHL's most electrifying players and a nightmare to defend in the offensive zone. At just 24 years of age, we're only beginning to to see the potential of a player who's eclipsed the 30-goal plateau in back-to-back seasons.Who do you think is the NHL's best right-winger - Patrick Kane or Vladimir Tarasenko? Cast your vote on the banner below.Related: LeBron v Durant: Who's the NBA's best small forward?Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens will have to endure at least one more game without defenseman P.K. Subban.Subban practiced with the club Wednesday, and though head coach Michel Therrien had been hopeful to have the 26-year-old back for Thursday's tilt against the Detroit Red Wings, Subban will remain out of the lineup.

On April 3, 2013, the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals pulled off a trade that the hockey world might not have believed if they'd announced it two days earlier.The Predators acquired forward Filip Forsberg from the Capitals in exchange for a package including Martin Erat and Michael Latta.The deal was a head-shaker at the time, even as then-Capitals general manager George McPhee made it clear he wanted to help his team win now: Why would the Capitals give up on such a talented prospect before he'd even seen NHL ice?Predators GM David Poile, meanwhile, appeared to have a more accurate forecast of what the young Forsberg could become."In Filip Forsberg, we are adding one of the top-rated young forwards in the world; we are excited to have him join our other emerging young talent and solid veterans at the position," Poile said.The writing was on the wall once the Capitals packed their bags after being eliminated from the 2013 playoffs by the New York Rangers. Erat had failed to show up, providing the team with just one goal and three points in nine regular-season games down the stretch and going pointless in the only four postseason games he participated in.Forsberg, on the other hand, underwent an incubating period with the Predators and finally burst onto the scene last season, proving to be exactly as Poile had claimed two years prior.As a 20-year-old, Forsberg put up 26 goals and 63 points in 82 games, finishing third in rookie scoring while adding another six points in six playoff games.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jared Boll will have a hearing Thursday for interference on Philadelphia Flyers forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.Boll caught Bellemare with a late, high hit early in the second period of Tuesday's game. Boll received a five-minute major and a game misconduct on the play.Bellemare appeared to escape serious injury, as he remained in the game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders signed goaltender Eamon McAdam to a three-year, entry-level contract Wednesday.The 21-year-old is coming off his third season with Pennsylvania State University, where he compiled a record of 13-8-1 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.98 goals-against average.McAdam - who was drafted by the Islanders 70th overall in 2013 - will join the club's American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, and finish the season on an amateur tryout.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not everyone was celebrating after the Washington Capitals ensured themselves home ice in the playoffs Wednesday night.Related: Capitals clinch Metropolitan Division, No. 1 seed in Eastern Conference"We weren't the better team tonight, and that was pretty evident," goaltender Braden Holtby told reporters following a 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post."Got some goals, finished early. It was kind of the opposite of what we've been doing lately (by having) a good start and (tailing) off (for) the rest of the game. I think we're all kind of sick of the way we've played at times (for) the last couple of months. You can tell it's starting to turn, just everyone's realizing we have kind of hit that bottom. Tonight, you could kind of tell. That's where we turn around now."The Capitals had allowed the first goal in seven of their previous eight games, but they jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the first intermission Tuesday. The Senators made a game of it in the final 40 minutes, cutting the deficit to one before T.J. Oshie's empty-netter."We know we haven't played as well as we've needed to," Washington head coach Barry Trotz said. "We've got some work to do, there's no question. But we haven't played a real meaningful game for a while here."Securing home-ice advantage doesn't mean much, as far as Nicklas Backstrom is concerned."It's nice to be a No. 1 seed in the East, but at the same time, it doesn't really matter, to be honest with you," the center said. "It's nice to start at home, but it's so tough. We've seen many times before that the No. 8 seed is as good as the No. 1 seed. ... We have 10 really important games. We haven't played our best hockey since after Christmas, so we have some areas we have to get better on and make sure we play a full 60-minute game."The Capitals still hold the NHL's best record and goal differential by a comfortable margin, and haven't lost consecutive games in regulation all season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Blackhawks appear to be limping towards the finish line as the regular season concludes.The club was dismantled 6-2 at the hands of the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, marking Chicago's sixth loss in its last seven games. However, with eyes still on a Stanley Cup repeat, the team remains confident it can hit the brakes on the current skid."Hopefully we can look back on this and say, 'It's better it happened now than in a month or so,'" Patrick Kane told Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago. "But we have to shake out of it."It seems to be the same old story where we get behind and we're playing catch-up the rest of the game."The Blackhawks have averaged just two goals a game over their last seven contests, and while they may have come up just short on two occasions - losing two games to the shootout - captain Jonathan Toews doesn't think they can wait for their luck to improve."You can't blame it on bad luck," said Toews. "You just need to work through some of these games we're not getting the bounces."The Blackhawks are sure to be back in the playoffs for the eighth straight season, and maybe then things will start to turn around. The team has been the picture of postseason success, winning three Cups while amassing a playoff record of 73-44 since the 2008-09 season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Who's the NHL's best left-winger - Alex Ovechkin or Jamie Benn? Cast your vote on the banner below.C | LW | RW | D (3/24) | G (3/25)Alex Ovechkin is the NHL's best left-wingerProject his statistics for the lockout shortened 2012-13 campaign out over 82 games and Ovechkin would have finished with 54 goals. That would give him three consecutive seasons of 50-plus goals - no other player's put together a 50-goal campaign in that span. Still at the top of his game at age 30, Ovechkin's on pace to win his fourth consecutive Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's leading goal-scorer. Unlike Benn, whose rise to fame has been flanked by an All-Star centerman, Ovechkin's ascent to stardom has been less reliant on the quality of his linemates.Jamie Benn is the NHL's best left-wingerPlaying alongside Tyler Seguin has certainly helped propel Benn's game to new heights, but his skill set as a goal-scorer, playmaker, and physical force are undeniable. He's a throwback to a dying breed: a true power forward. A powerful skater with a big frame, Benn contributes at both ends of the ice, using his body to separate opposing players from the puck and create offense from defense. He's been better than a point-per-game player for the Stars over the last three seasons, and at 26 years of age, is only now entering his prime.Who do you think is the NHL's best left-winger - Alex Ovechkin or Jamie Benn? Cast your vote on the banner below.Related: Harden v Thompson: Who's the NBA's best shooting guard?Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' nightmare season continued Tuesday night in the desert.The forward was forced from the Edmonton Oilers' game against the Arizona Coyotes with an undisclosed injury, the club announced.

Ryan Suter's having a career season.The Minnesota Wild workhorse registered an assist Tuesday, giving him 47 points on the season, and the franchise record for points by a defenseman.Suter has eight goals, and his 39 assists tie a career high he set in 2011-12 as a member of the Nashville Predators. His 47 points are one better than his former personal best of 46, which also came in 2011-12.The 31-year-old went into Tuesday's game averaging 28:46 in ice time, and played a game-high 30:11 in his team's big 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks forward Rickard Rakell has some hands. He showed them off Tuesday in Montreal.Rakell, a right-handed shot, used his left hand to pass the puck to himself in the Canadiens' zone, switching his stick behind his back to his right hand in order to keep control of the puck, before getting two hands back on his stick to make a pass.Yeah.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers picked up an important point and moved into playoff position Tuesday night, but you wouldn't know it if you were in their dressing room after their game.After blowing a 2-0 lead with 65 seconds to play against the Columbus Blue Jackets and eventually losing in a shootout, the mood in the room "was as down as I've ever seen it after a game in which (the Flyers) got a point," tweeted The Philadelphia Inquirer's Sam Carchidi.

The Dallas Stars are in.Texas' team clinched a Western Conference playoff berth with a rather convincing win over the division-rival Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.The Stars, who were playing without top center Tyler Seguin, earned the convincing victory thanks to a host of depth players, namely Colton Sceviour, Vernon Fiddler, and Patrick Eaves, who all scored in the first period en route to an early 4-0 lead that would not be relinquished.

The Montreal Canadiens were paced by an unlikely source Tuesday night in their win over the Anaheim Ducks.Forward Mike Brown had the first multi-point game of his season, scoring once and adding an assist in a 4-3 win. His offensive explosion came after he brought back his trademark mustache. He'd been sporting a beard prior to Tuesday's game.While his teammates were on him to go back to the 'stache, it was Brown's wife who made it all happen."She wanted the duster back," Brown said, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu.Thank you, Mrs. Mike Brown.Brown's goal was his first as a Canadien.

The Vancouver Canucks are barely crawling to the finish line.For the third game in a row, the Canucks were held without a goal, with the latest shutout loss coming at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets and Ondrej Pavelec, who carried a .901 save percentage heading into Tuesday's action.

The Washington Capitals have clinched both the Metropolitan Division crown and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.The double dip comes courtesy of a win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night and secures home-ice advantage for the first three rounds of the playoffs, should Washington advance that far.With a double-digit lead in points over second-place Dallas in the league standings, it appears to be only a matter of time before the Capitals clinch the Presidents' Trophy and therefore home-ice advantage in the Stanley Cup Final as well.Washington will now wait to see which team clinches the second wild-card spot, a clinching scenario that may come down to the final days of the season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Dion Phaneuf suffered a lower-body injury during Tuesday's game against Washington and was unable to return, the team announced.Phaneuf saw 16:28 of ice time before exiting the game. He won't play Wednesday, head coach Dave Cameron said, and there's no word on how long he'll be out of the lineup.

Hockey Fans | FacebookDo not mess with Brent Seabrook's video game likeness.We're not sure what's more impressive - that the Chicago Blackhawks defender got the Minnesota Wild player completely airborne, or that he made the body check while completing a line change.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings needed a big game from Jimmy Howard on Tuesday. Unfortunately, they didn't give their goalie much help.Howard was pulled 33 seconds into the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning, after allowing his third goal on 16 shots. He was replaced by Petr Mrazek, who didn't fare much better. Mrazek allowed three goals on 18 shots, and Detroit lost 6-2.The Lightning move into a tie with the Florida Panthers for first place in the Atlantic Division with the win.Detroit had a brutal first period, outshot 15-7. The first shot of the second period went in past Howard, and out he went from the game.Howard won his last start, Saturday in Florida, but has a save percentage better than .910 in only one of his five March games. He'll be the first to admit he has to be better.The Red Wings entered Tuesday a point up on the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers lost in a shootout, but move into playoff position by gaining a point, bumping Detroit. Both teams have 83 points, but the Flyers have a game in hand.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Not even players are immune from feeling the beat.Case in point: Justin Williams of the Washington Capitals dancing on the bench as "Cotton-Eyed Joe" played over the arena speakers in Ottawa.When you've won a Conn Smythe, you can get away with this.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jared Boll destroyed Philadelphia Flyers forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare on Tuesday.Boll got five and a game for the violent collision, and will likely be hearing from the NHL's Department of Player Safety. The hit was late, Bellemare had passed the puck, and Boll's shoulder made primary contact with Bellemare's head.Bellemare stayed in the game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens honored the victims of Tuesday's terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium, with a moment of silence before their game against the Anaheim Ducks.At least 30 people were killed and more than 230 injured after explosions ripped through Brussels' international airport on Tuesday morning. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ask yourself: How much do you love Shayne Gostisbehere?Enough to travel to a Philadelphia Flyers game in Columbus against the Blue Jackets with your best friend, one of you wearing a bear outfit, the other wearing a ghost outfit and full-body orange spandex suit?Because this, this is fandom:

Eugene Melnyk's still talking.Hours after saying the entire Ottawa Senators organization is under the microscope after this disappointing season, the club's owner went on TSN 1200 and said general manager Bryan Murray's job is safe - if Murray still wants it.Murray has terminal colon cancer, and is working through the disease. He's been up front in saying he will not be cured, and that this season will be his last. His contract is up once the 2015-16 campaign ends.Melnyk also said head coach Dave Cameron's fate will be determined by management. Cameron is 66-46-16 in two seasons behind the bench in Ottawa, good for a .578 win percentage."That's the owner's prerogative," Cameron said after hearing Melnyk's comments earlier Tuesday, according to the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch. "He pays the bills. He has the right to make changes."The Senators are 34-31-8, and their 76 points put them seven short of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The club's been able to score, averaging 2.8 goals per game. The puck's gone in on the Senators far too many times, though. Ottawa's allowing three goals per game, which ranks 27th in the league. The Senators also have the league's worst penalty-killing rate (75.4 percent), and the 26th-ranked power play (16.4 percent), which doesn't bode well for Mr. Cameron.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dale Tallon unironically declares Vincent Trocheck to be the Florida Panthers' most important player this season."He saved our team this year," Tallon admitted to Dan Rosen of NHL.com.It's a curious statement to make for the general manager of a team that features a top line of Aleksander Barkov, Jaromir Jagr, and Jonathan Huberdeau, a franchise defenseman in Aaron Ekblad, and a rejuvenated Roberto Luongo excelling in net.The 22-year-old - who was selected in the third round of the 2011 NHL Draft - has indeed broken out in a big way for the Panthers, with 23 goals and 27 assists in 73 games, but it's Trocheck's complete game that has earned the trust of both management and the coaching staff."We knew he had some warts as far as the defensive side, but now he's making better decisions, not turning the puck over and trying to beat guys one on one," Tallon continued. "He's just been better and better every game. He's been terrific."Trocheck's emergence has come in a second-line center role, with Jussi Jokinen and Reilly Smith on his wings. The former confirms Tallon's assessment to be no joke."Saving a season is a strong statement, but without him no chance we'd be in this spot right now," Jokinen said. "That's a fair thing to say. When we've needed him, he's been there and he's been really reliable."The additions of Jiri Hudler and Teddy Purcell prior to the deadline have given Tallon that much more depth up front, meaning the Panthers could very well translate their regular-season success into a long playoff run.If so, it'll be Trocheck who plays as big a role as anybody on the roster.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres have dipped into the college ranks to add a young defenseman.Defenseman Casey Nelson of Minnesota State University has been signed to an entry-level contract, general manager Tim Murray announced."We've been consistently impressed with Casey's play for the last two years," Murray said. "We identified him as one of the top college free agents available and we're excited to have him join the organization."Nelson recorded six goals and 16 assists in 40 games for Minnesota State this season and was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's defenseman of the year.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed winger Anton Rodin to a one-year, one-way deal, general manager Jim Benning announced.

Eric Staal hasn't exactly lit up Broadway.The center has appeared in 11 games for the New York Rangers since being acquired from Carolina prior to the trade deadline, recording a goal and two assists with the Blueshirts. As far as head coach Alain Vigneault is concerned, the blame falls squarely on his shoulders."I haven't put him in ideal situations - it's my fault," Vigneault said Tuesday, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post. "I've been moving personnel around trying to find the right chemistry with the lines."Not only is Staal's ice time down an average of over three minutes a night as compared to earlier this season with the Hurricanes, but Vigneault has yet to find him permanent linemates.Staal had Chris Kreider and Oscar Lindberg on his wings in practice Tuesday, but who he plays with during Wednesday's game against Boston is anyone's guess, including the coach.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild's third-highest paid forward will continue to watch from the press box as the team looks to lock down a playoff spot.Thomas Vanek, who carries a $6.5-million cap hit through to the end of next season, will not play Tuesday against Los Angeles, marking the third straight game that he's been made a healthy scratch by new bench boss John Torchetti.For the coach, it's not that Vanek isn't scoring - although his 18 goals in 70 games is below-average production based on his career numbers - it's more a matter of all-around effort at both ends of the ice."We just talked about playing a two-way game," Torchetti told Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "He’s out right now and then when he gets the opportunity, I’m sure he’ll come back and be a better player for us."Vanek's response?"I'm not going to lie. Obviously I’m not happy about it," he said after practice Tuesday. "It is what it is. It's a team sport, guys are going to be in and out and I'm not going to (whine) and complain about it."(Torchetti's) got his guys he trusts, so I think once I get back in there, just to play well and that's about it. That's all I can control."Working against Vanek is the fact Minnesota has won the two games from which he's already been scratched. Still, the Wild sit a point back of Colorado in the wild-card race, and may yet be in need of Vanek's previously prolific stick.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Jose Sharks are expected to be without top-pairing defender Marc-Edouard Vlasic for the remainder of their six-game homestand, CSN's Kevin Kurz reports.Sharks coach Pete BeDoer didn't have a firm handle on Vlasic's recovery from a lower-body injury, but didn't appear overly concerned about his postseason status."I would term it day to day, but it could be a week, it could be 10 days," he said.San Jose has conceded one goal in two games with Vlasic shelved, earning all four points.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche will be without their top two scorers this week with four points at stake in their push toward the playoffs.Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon, who've combined for 108 points, will miss at least two more games with their respective knee injuries, the team announced.Colorado will host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, and then the ninth-seeded Minnesota Wild in an all-important clash Saturday afternoon.It's obviously a massive hit, as the Avalanche cling to a one-point lead over the Wild in the final Western Conference wild-card slot. Fortunately for Colorado, the team's benefiting from a soft portion of the schedule, playing just twice over the next six days.Duchene has missed two games so far to MacKinnon's one.Their playing status moving forward will be determined at the end of this week.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson will return to the Arizona Coyotes' lineup after a two-week absence Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers.Arizona's leading scorer and minutes eater has been considered day to day throughout March with a shoulder injury.He took reps with Connor Murphy at the morning skate.The Coyotes took seven points from the first four games played without Ekman-Larsson, but have been shut out in their last two outings.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This story first appeared on theScore esports.Rick Fox isn't just investing in esports - he's helping other sports personalities and investors find their footing in the new environment, while also defending the scene's long-term audience.TMZ caught up with Echo Fox's charismatic owner outside LAX and asked for his thoughts on the recent addition of Shaquille O'Neal and Alex Rodriguez to NRG eSports' list of investors.Related: Shaq, A-Rod among NRG eSports' latest investorsHis usual gracious self, Fox said he wasn't threatened by the high-profile athletes' entry into the scene, and revealed that he had previously spoken with Shaq about esports."The more that get in, the merrier," he said.TMZ also asked Fox how soon he believed esports would surpass a major sports league."It's in that conversation now, it's fifth right now. We're in fifth place, it's coming," Fox replied.Pressed to provide a more concrete answer, Fox responded quickly before ducking back into his car."In two years, it'll be on par with the NHL," he said.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This may be the weirdest - yet most hypnotic - thing you'll see today.Reddit users discovered the "Hydraulic Press Channel" episode in which the machine crushes a hockey puck because, why not?Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Cammalleri's re-emergent season has now officially been derailed.The New Jersey Devils volume scorer, who produced at nearly a point-per-game pace before injuring his right hand or wrist and suffering a setback in late January, has been shut down for the season.Cammalleri incurred another setback about a month later, and has been unable to successfully rehab the ailment.He'll finish the season four points shy of his total output from a season ago in 26 fewer games. And with 0.90 points per game, he ranks 15th in the NHL.He's not expected to need surgery.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets middle-pair defenseman Toby Enstrom will undergo surgery to repair a troublesome knee that's plagued him throughout the season, head coach Paul Maurice announced Tuesday.He's out indefinitely.Enstrom's had a down season offensively, chipping in just 16 points in 72 starts. His underlying numbers, though, have been sufficient.He still has two years and $11.5 million left on his contract, and should be on the mend in time for training camp.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cory Schneider was on the ice and performing drills at New Jersey Devils practice Tuesday as he makes his way toward a return.The Devils' No. 1 starter has been out since suffering a mild MCL sprain on March 4.Schneider told reporters there's no timetable for his next start, and although he might travel with the team, he's not expected to see action through the weekend, according to The Record's Tom Gulitti.He's enjoyed another banner season in New Jersey, stopping pucks at a .923 clip.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

P.K. Subban was a participant at Montreal Canadiens practice Tuesday, and could return to game action before the week is up.According to TSN's John Lu, head coach Michel Therrien said after practice that Subban won't be in the lineup Tuesday, but hopes his superstar blue-liner can return for Thursday's clash with the Detroit Red Wings.That timetable puts him in line to resume his season two weeks after being stretchered off the ice and taken to hospital with what was eventually deemed a non-serious neck injury.Subban has six goals and is tied for fifth in the league with 45 assists.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Who's the NHL's best centerman - Sidney Crosby or Tyler Seguin? Cast your vote on the banner below.C | LW (3/23) | RW (3/23) | D (3/24) | G (3/25)Sidney Crosby is the NHL's best centermanCrosby's been as reliable as they come, ranking inside the top three in NHL scoring each of the past three seasons. Since his debut in 2005-06, no player comes close to Crosby's per-game scoring average, which sits at better than 1.3 points per game. On the all-time list, only four players rank ahead of Crosby in points per game: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, and Bobby Orr. Statistically speaking, last season may have been the worst of his career, compiling 84 points and a plus-5 rating in 77 games, ranking third in NHL scoring. That's a pretty lofty floor. He plays a better two-way game than Seguin and has established himself as the better playmaker.Tyler Seguin is the NHL's best centermanSince his rookie campaign, Seguin has scored more goals than Crosby each year, and he's on pace to do it for the fifth consecutive time this season. No centerman in the game today is as good at finding the back of the net when playing at even strength as Seguin. He's partnered with Jamie Benn to create arguably the most dominant scoring tandem in the NHL. At only 24 years of age, we still haven't seen Seguin's best, as he continues to develop into the peak performer he could be for the Stars. Dallas fans saw a flash of that potential as Seguin carried a plus-19 rating through the first three months of this season.Who do you think is the NHL's best centerman - Sidney Crosby or Tyler Seguin? Cast your vote on the banner below.Related: Westbrook v Curry: Who's the NBA's best point guard?Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Expect changes this summer for the Ottawa Senators.Team owner Eugene Melnyk was candid Tuesday in sharing his assessment of an organization he plans to thoroughly vet across all levels of management and down to player personnel."I'm looking at all of that. All of it. Right across the board. Nobody is safe when you have a year like we just did," Melnyk said via Sportsnet.He added: "We will fix this."Melnyk's blunt dissatisfaction appeared to center around the coaching staff. He traced his angst as far back as the "stupidity" of having rookie Matt O'Connor start the Senators' home opener."What was that about?" he asked, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "And the guy gets clobbered."He defended ownership, pointing to the club's $68-million (U.S.) payroll, and offered some veiled support for his players."Some nights we look like Stanley Cup champions, other nights like an AHL team."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's just two-and-a-half weeks left in the regular season, if you can believe it. So time is clearly of the essence for teams, players, and coaches looking to make their mark on the 2015-16 campaign.But if Jamie Benn has taught us anything, it's that a skater only needs a few weeks to swoop in and rip a major individual award from another superstar's grasp.Nonetheless, here are the favorites for the five major awards:Hart Trophy: Patrick Kane, Chicago BlackhawksKane has seen his lead in the NHL's scoring race cut down from 17 to 12 over the last month, as he's cooled in concert with the Blackhawks. He's also no longer a lock to hit 100 points, either, as he sits at 92 points with nine games left on the schedule.Still, it would take a monumental effort - one far greater than his dethroning of John Tavares last season for the Art Ross - for Benn to chase down the shifty winger, who has the edge in goals, assists, points, power-play points, and even-strength contributions.It should be noted that Sidney Crosby has risen again, and is actually more efficient than Kane at even strength, but is surging for a nomination, not his third win.Chicago is four points out of first place in the Central and also four from falling into the wild-card wading pool. Should the Blackhawks back into the playoffs, and Kane continue to stumble, the door might be left open. Problem is, the next-best candidate might not have the portfolio to barge through.Calder Trophy: Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia FlyersThe past month brought clarity as to who the three nominees probably should be, but the category remains in flux.Artemi Panarin is destined to go wire-to-wire, still with a comfortable 14-point lead over Jack Eichel in the rookie scoring race with 25 goals and 38 assists. But, like Kane, he's slowed down, which Panarin detractors will argue only perpetuates the notion that he's leaned on the league's presumed MVP all season.Gostisbehere has had a couple substandard games over the past week, and at an important time in Philadelphia's postseason chase. But with the Flyers now controlling their destiny in the Eastern conference, it's almost impossible to argue that Panarin has had a greater impact on his club than Gostisbehere.And then there's Connor McDavid, who's producing at an 86-point pace and who's per-game output trails only Kane, Benn, and Crosby. He's also just nine points behind Eichel in 34 fewer games, which clearly vaults him ahead for at least that third nomination.This one's still wide open.Vezina Trophy: Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay LightningAs Braden Holtby continues to sag (his adjusted save percentage has fallen below .900 since the All-Star break) it's only illuminated Bishop's remarkable consistency.The Bolts goalie now leads all featured No. 1s with a .928 save percentage and 2.02 goals-against average - numbers that far exceed his Vezina-nominated 2013-14 season. And though his 30 wins rank seventh, he's kept the Lightning in games all season, allowing two goals or fewer in 70 percent of his starts.Corey Crawford's numbers are very close to Bishop's, and he has five more wins. But, like Holtby, he seems to have hit another valley on his season, having been chased three times over the last 11 games.Norris Trophy, Erik Karlsson, Ottawa SenatorsIt appears as though, for the first time in 61 years, the Norris Trophy will be handed out to a defenseman who won't partake in the Stanley Cup playoffs.With 13 goals and a league-best 60 assists, Karlsson is tied for fourth in NHL scoring, and with a late surge, can become just the third defenseman to finish top three, joining Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey.Karlsson is eight points clear of Brent Burns in scoring among blue-liners, and has half as many goals. So the divide between Karlsson and the rest of his class, at least offensively, isn't as wide as we're made to believe.But with a hand in 36 percent of his team's offense, which trails just Kane and Crosby, he has a case for an MVP nomination as well.Jack Adams Trophy: Dave Hakstol, PhiladelphiaThis hinges on the Flyers making the postseason, of course. But why not?The Jack Adams is often handed out to the coach who's team has exceeded expectations the most, and with the playoff bracket housing who we expected, for the most part, that's likely Philadelphia.But with Hakstol, the improvement from the start of the season is discernible. This iteration, and what we've seen over the last few months, is the best, most exciting from the Flyers in some time.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers lost their second straight game and third in five Monday in Manhattan, and it was a night on which little went their way.Jussi Jokinen missed a gaping net on a play that saw the referee leaping in the crease, and Steven Kampfer had a goal called back after it was ruled he batted the puck in with a high stick. The goal was reviewed, but Toronto deemed the play inconclusive, so the call on the ice stood. It was an integral decision - the New York Rangers won 4-2, their final goal an empty netter.Head coach Gerard Gallant wasn't making excuses after the game, however."It was a bad night. We can't show up and play 15 minutes," Gallant said, according to the Sun Sentinel's Harvy Fialkov. "That's all we played tonight. The Rangers dominated the first two periods; there's no excuse for that."Florida had only three shots in the first period, and was outshot 23-12 through 40 minutes. By the time the Panthers woke up, firing 15 shots in the third period, it was too late."Some of those calls didn't go our way," Gallant added. "That was frustrating to see that happening. The (referee) standing in the net. I've never seen that before. It's frustrating when the guy has an open net and he can't put it in."Jokinen, to his credit, spoke to the media about a miss that will surely keep him awake Monday night."We had enough chances to score four or five goals. At the end of the day I need to put the puck in," he said. "It's on me. That's been the deal here the last two weeks; we haven't been able to get that 60-minute effort."The lack of finish is having an influence on the Panthers' place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Rangers are now the second-best team in the East, leapfrogging the Panthers with the win. New York has 90 points to Florida's 89, though the Panthers remain atop the Atlantic Division. They're up over Tampa Bay by two points, but the Lightning have a game in hand.The standings are tight, with movement after each night. But the Panthers know they can only worry about themselves."You could only blame the refs so much," said forward Nick Bjugstad. "You can blame the refs or other people but it comes down to us creating our own luck.""Frustration," Kampfer added. "You don't want to lose games, especially back-to-back this late in the season. It's time to get on a roll and head into the playoffs with a full head of steam."Florida's next two games are big. The Panthers are in Boston on Thursday, and are up on the Bruins by three points. Then they're off to Tampa Bay for a huge tilt against the Lightning on Saturday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Fisher's got himself a silver stick.The Nashville Predators honored the veteran with a video tribute on the night he played his 1,000th NHL game. Even better: He later scored in his team's 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings.There's more, as the Predators went all out for Fisher. His country music superstar wife, Carrie Underwood, and other musical talents - including U2's Bono - along with other NHL players saluted Fisher in an eight-minute long video.(Videos courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.