Sorry, Sweden.The Swedish national team's brain trust was in Toronto to scout William Nylander on Monday, and the young man put on an offensive display. He had a career-high three-point night, scoring once and adding two assists, pacing the Maple Leafs to their fifth win in eight games.And after the game, head coach Mike Babcock made sure there were no doubts: Nylander won't be going to Russia to represent Sweden at the upcoming world championships.

The captain's taking full responsibility.The New York Islanders dropped their fourth straight - and the sixth out of their past seven - courtesy of Philadelphia Flyers on Monday, and John Tavares pointed the finger right at himself."(It's an) important time of year and we're not playing our best," Tavares said, according to Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post. "It starts with myself and leading the way. I know I have to be better."Related: Islanders' Tavares suits up in 500th gameHead coach Jack Capuano, however, is looking further down the roster.

The Toronto Maple Leafs did it again. They won.The Calgary Flames were Toronto's latest victim, falling 5-2 at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs improved to 5-2-1 in their last eight games, despite a roster full of young players, many fresh from the AHL.William Nylander had the best game of his brief career, scoring once and adding two assists. The performance came with Swedish national team head coach Par Marts in the building, in town to scout Nylander ahead of May's world championships.Nylander's focused on the right now, though."It's fun when we're winning," the 19-year-old said.

Stop us if you've heard this before: The San Jose Sharks have the look of a team capable of going on a long playoff run.This has not been an uncommon sentiment over, oh, the past decade or so, as the Bay Area squad has been one of the most successful regular season teams since the lost 2004-05 season, with a pair of Western Conference finals appearances to their credit.However, the Sharks entered into a state of complete disarray following a calamitous first-round collapse in a 2014 series against Los Angeles, and failed to even qualify for the playoffs last season, with cornerstone centers Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau seemingly destined to be jettisoned in favor of building around a younger core.But lo and behold, the Sharks have just kept swimming, and appear well poised to take a serious bite out of the competition this spring.Here's why.Formidable goaltending tandemThe Sharks demonstrated great faith in Martin Jones by coughing up a 2016 first-round pick and prospect Sean Kuraly to the Boston Bruins to secure the services of the up-and-coming netminder.That appears to have been well placed, as the 26-year-old has risen to the occasion in his first season as a starter at the NHL level.In a savvy pre-deadline move, general manager Doug Wilson looked Toronto's way and reeled James Reimer into the fold. While his role is expected to be supportive, he's played well enough early on in his tenure with the Sharks to warrant starts down the stretch and possibly in the playoffs.PlayerGPRecordSv%GAASOMartin Jones5935-19-4.9192.265James Reimer43-1-0.9521.272Don't forget Reimer is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, giving him all the motivation in the world to make good on this opportunity with the Sharks, especially as the member of this tandem who brings playoff experience to the mix.Jumbo Joe's as good as everAt age 36, Joe Thornton remains a force to be reckoned with.Sitting second in assists (52) and eighth in total points (70) through 72 games, Thornton performing basically on par with his career average of 0.98 points per game. Throw in his 50 penalty minutes and a wicked beard, and he's showing off the kind of bite that has made him one of the game's premiere centers.One could argue that Thornton already boasts a Hall of Fame worthy resume, with a Stanley Cup being the major team award still missing. With one year remaining on his contract, this could be Thornton's last best chance to with in San Jose, and we have to think he'll do everything he can to make good on it.Don't believe the "too laid back to win" knock on his playoff performance; his 82 points in 97 postseason games as a Shark belie that myth.Young blood complementing veteran experienceThe Sharks' roster features only seven players over the age of 30, all of whom have experienced their fair share of playoff battles and, let's face it, failure.Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, and Brent Burns have been around for the bulk of San Jose's disappointments, while Joel Ward got a taste of it in recent years in Washington and Paul Martin joined Pittsburgh after the 2009 run to the Cup.The last of the over-30 crowd, Dainius Zubrus, went to the final with New Jersey in 2012, a team coached by Sharks' current bench boss, Pete DeBoer.These veterans, motivated as they may be to shake off the past, have the benefit of playing with some fresh young talent in San Jose this season, a healthy Logan Couture - still only 26 - certainly not least among them.Make no mistake, this team is led by Thornton, Pavelski, and Burns, a trio that ranks 8-9-10 in league scoring. But it's the likes of Tomas Hertl, Joonas Donskoi, Chris Tierney, Matt Nieto, and Melker Karlsson that are infusing the forward ranks with an extra boost, giving San Jose a fourth-ranked 211 goals to date.It's not rocket science, at the end of the day. Heading into Monday's action, the Sharks had the NHL's third-best goal differential (plus-29), behind only Washington and Los Angeles. If Jones and/or Reimer can keep the puck out of the net enough to allow the revamped offense to do its thing, the Sharks could be a surprise team to come out of the West.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

William Nylander may get to represent his country again this season.After suffering a concussion in the first period of his first game at the World Junior Hockey Championship in December, the Toronto Maple Leafs' prized prospect could represent Sweden at the World Championships, writes Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.Sweden head coach Par Marts is actually in Toronto to watch Nylander play Monday, and didn't hide the fact."The main reason is William, that's for sure," Marts said."It's important to see them live. You can't just watch TV or listen to what other people say. I think that's important for me; I must see them in action, that's the key."Nylander scored and had two assists Monday, giving him four goals and three assists in 12 games (five of those points have come in his last two games). Marts knows the kind of skill the youngster brings."He's a guy that makes a difference in the game. He's a good scorer, he can make penalty shots and stuff like that and he's really good on (the) power play. Very good offense, so that's what I like about him."The worlds run May 6-22 in Russia, and Nylander being 19 won't factor into the decision, Marts said.If Sweden does want Nylander, a discussion will have to be had with general manager Lou Lamoriello. The Maple Leafs have plans for Nylander once the NHL season ends - he's expected to go back down to the AHL's Toronto Marlies and compete for a Calder Cup.The Marlies are the AHL's best team and have already clinched a playoff spot.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Sabres have signed college standout Hudson Fasching to an entry-level contract, the club announced Monday night.Fasching's spent the last three seasons with the University of Minnesota, and 2015-16 has been his most productive. He has 20 goals and 18 assists in 37 games.

Time flies.John Tavares, only 25 years old, suits up in his 500th NHL game on Monday night, all having come with the New York Islanders, the club that drafted him first overall in 2009.With 457 points to his name, Tavares is most impressed that he's been able to reach the milestone so soon."I take a lot of pride in being able to be healthy," Tavares told NHL.com's Cory Wright. "It didn't take a lot of time to get to 500. One knee injury that kept me out a significant amount of time. Other than that, I've been able to take care of myself and be ready to play each and every night. That's something I've put a lot of work into."Tavares' numbers are slightly down this season, after better than point-per-game campaigns in 2013-14 (when he missed 23 games) and 2014-15. But his effort hasn't wavered, and it's his drive that's always set him apart. Tavares isn't flash. He's a very skilled player, but he works harder than most with his talent."He's just more vocal," head coach Jack Capuano said about Tavares' growth as a player and a person. "He always leads by example on and off the ice with his work ethic. He's quiet that way, but people understand the way he works and how he carries himself. He's become more vocal and he's not afraid. That comes with maturity too. He's learned a lot. Doug (Weight) was only here for a year, but Mark Streit was a pretty good captain, so you learn from those guys."Tavares came into the league as an 18-year-old, straight out of junior, scoring 24 goals in his rookie season. He was named the Islanders' 14th captain in franchise history in September 2013. He's only played in 13 playoff games, and has yet to win a round, and his goal over the next 500 games is to change that."It's something you're proud of," Tavares said of the milestone. "It means you're getting older, but still hopefully a long way to go and I want to build on the first 500."He should get a chance this spring, as the Islanders, currently on a three-game losing streak, are in playoff position, holding down the first wild-card spot in the East heading into play Monday night.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Good news for the Calgary Flames, who could use some.Johnny Gaudreau, the club's best player and a restricted free agent this summer, can't receive an offer sheet from another club, TSN's Bob McKenzie revealed on "Insider Trading" on Monday.According to article 10.2.C in the collective bargaining agreement, Gaudreau doesn't have enough experience - fewer than three years - to be offer sheeted.Gaudreau's in his third season, but only played one game in 2013-14. He'll turn 23 in August and has 152 games to his name, and 136 points.Sean Monahan, another restricted free agent of the Flames, who will turn 22 in October, is finishing his third full season in the NHL. He can be offer sheeted, but as McKenzie notes in "Insider Trading," if an offer sheet does come his way, the Flames will undoubtedly match.Monahan has 55 points this season. He and Gaudreau are the club's foundation up front for years to come.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock is giving the veteran a chance to pick up the ball and run with it.Or, in hockey terms, Brian Elliott will start Tuesday's game in San Jose after posting a shutout in Vancouver in his return from an almost month-long absence due to injury.If he's able to make good on that opportunity, he could very well assert himself as the Blues' starting goalie down the stretch and into the playoffs.Elliott's return comes on the heels of two rough outings for Jake Allen, who allowed nine goals on 43 shots in starts against Edmonton and Calgary. And while the 25-year-old has shown flashes of dominance at time this season, the elder Elliott has posted the better numbers, albeit in fewer outings.PlayerGPRecordSv%GAAShutoutsJake Allen4424-14-3.9172.425Brian Elliott3118-7-6.9312.072Heading into the season, it was expected that Hitchcock would deploy Elliott and Allen in a 1A-1B starting situation, and both have been called upon to step up over long stretches while the other was injured.With nine games remaining on the schedule, the Blues are sandwiched between Dallas and Chicago in the Central Division standings, with two points separating St. Louis from both each way. Finishing first would ensure an opening round series against a wild card opponent, giving the Blues the impetus to finish as strong as possible.For the time being, it's Elliott's crease to lose, but don't write that in anything but pencil quite yet.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks' season isn't over just yet, but it is for an injured trio.Brandon Sutter, Alex Edler, and Radim Vrbata have each been ruled out for the remainder of the season with their respective injuries, coach Willie Desjardins told reporters Monday.Sutter suffered a broken jaw in February. He'll be limited to just 20 games in his debut season with the Canucks after being sidelined previously by a sports hernia.Edler suffered a fibula fracture in the same game that felled Sutter. The top-pairing defenseman collected 20 points and led all Canucks skaters in average ice time, logging almost 24 1/2 minutes in his 52 games.Lastly, Vrbata labored through a trying second season in Vancouver. He was limited to 27 points in 63 games after scoring 31 goals and 63 points the year prior.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Petr Mrazek is on the mend from an illness that prevented him from dressing over the weekend, but Jimmy Howard will make his third straight start for the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday regardless.Howard wasn't brilliant Saturday in Florida, but followed that up with a strong effort in a mid-week win over Columbus to earn two important points, and will have an opportunity to anchor a third-straight victory when the Red Wings visit Tampa Bay.Mrazek earned, and has since protected, his No. 1 role from the veteran netminder with significantly superior performances over the last 14 months. But he's wobbled at a most inopportune time, sporting a .901 save percentage through six March starts.Detroit is three points up on the Philadelphia Flyers for the final wild card seed in the East.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Wiercioch's season may be done.The Ottawa Senators defenseman is dealing with an upper-body injury which could rule him out for the remainder of this season, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports.He's considered week to week.Wiercioch has again been a source of frustration for Senators fans despite being only one of two defenseman with a plus on-ice goal differential at even strength.He'll miss a full month with injury and be limited to 55 appearances if his issue does indeed cost him the rest of the year.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets winger Mathieu Perreault is out indefinitely with a concussion.Perreault, who was taking top-line minutes before his exit, was injured Sunday versus the Anaheim Ducks when he caught an edge and slammed backwards into the boards.He remained on the ice for several moments before requiring assistance to get up and down the tunnel.With nine goals and 32 assists, Perreault is two points shy of matching his career-best output from two seasons ago when he was a member of the Ducks.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TORONTO - Back in late May, much fanfare accompanied the Toronto Maple Leafs' hiring of Mike Babcock as head coach. Not to be forgotten in the sweepstakes were the Buffalo Sabres, who reportedly met with Babcock prior to his decision. At his introductory press conference in Toronto, members of the Buffalo media put Babcock on the spot about the details.But the end result is what mattered. Toronto won the Babcock sweepstakes, while the Sabres lost.On Saturday, the Maple Leafs hosted the Sabres in a game that had zero short-term implications. Both teams won't compete for the Stanley Cup.In fact, both teams are going through full-scale rebuilds, but appear headed in different directions.There is no quick rebuildThe Sabres have been rebuilding for years now. They've been near the bottom of the standings for the past few seasons and have had some summers to double-down on young talent, while adding the odd veteran here and there to complement the roster.The Maple Leafs are in the first year of their rebuild, a dismantling long overdue. And there are already signs that Toronto has learned how to do it a little bit better.To compare the Sabres' rebuild fairly, you need only go back to the 2011-12 season. Multi-billionaire Terry Pegula purchased the team in February 2011, giving Buffalo the wherewithal to compete with the NHL's very best teams. Pegula made a bold declaration: Buffalo would be a free-agent destination, and the Sabres would be players in the market. In July 2011, forward Ville Leino became a Sabre, signed to a six-year, $27-million contract.Days before the Leino signing, the Sabres traded for the rights to defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, and then signed him to a 10-year, $40-million contract. Pegula's words delivered action.Buffalo narrowly missed out on the 2012 playoffs, by three points, but the regression was underway. Older players had to be moved out and both Leino's and Ehrhoff's contracts were ultimately purged under compliance-buyout rules in June 2014."A lot of nights, this team was hard to watch," Sabres general manager Tim Murray said when he addressed the media at the end of the 2013-14 season, in which his team finished last by 14 points. "This is not going to be a five-year rebuild, not for me anyway. That's not what I want."Sound familiar?It's the same notion Brian Burke had when he served as president and general manager of the Maple Leafs. On March 3, 2010, Burke addressed the media following the trade deadline."Like you saw with the (Phil) Kessel deal, we're not interested in a five-year rebuilding plan," Burke said.Patience a virtue many GMs can't affordThe Sabres finished last again in 2014-15, though Murray was busy.Buffalo made some additions, trading for talented forward Evander Kane from the Winnipeg Jets. Kane came with baggage, but Buffalo represented a fresh start. This season, he was disciplined by the team for sleeping in and missing practice after attending the NBA All-Star game in Toronto the night before.In late June 2015, the Sabres traded for Ryan O’Reilly, and the forward was immediately signed to a seven-year, $52.5-million extension. He will make $11 million next season, which includes a $10-million signing bonus.Outside of Rasmus Ristolainen, Buffalo's defense is in need of severe help. It starts with a solid structure and some patience.They drafted Jack Eichel, a heck of a consolation prize to Connor McDavid, but the Sabres have demonstrated a lack of patience.Patience off the ice, tooIn June 2015, the Maple Leafs' overhaul included the hiring of a new doctor, Jeremy Bettle, as director of sports science. In late July, Toronto shocked everyone, hiring Lou Lamoriello as its general manager.Before the Sabres and Maple Leafs played Saturday, Buffalo head coach Dan Bylsma was answering questions about a tense parting of ways with the club's director of performance, Oliver Finlay. He didn't survive his first season on the job, thanks to some resistance to his methods.Many of the Maple Leafs' prospects have been dominating the AHL. The Toronto Marlies have the league's best record, and were the first team to clinch a playoff spot. Buffalo's farm team, the Rochester Americans, is occupying the last playoff spot in the North Division, with two teams threatening to bump it out of postseason contention.A rebuilding rivalryThe Buffalo-Toronto rivalry is not about what has been happening on the ice, but about the foundation both organizations are trying to build. Both have taken very different approaches, but it appears Toronto is winning the battle at the moment.It's still early, and some of the challenges both markets go through are very different. But it's hard to fault Toronto's approach, one season in.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Sabres rookie forward Jack Eichel is making the trip to Carolina, and is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday versus the Hurricanes.He was unavailable over the weekend - and in a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs - with flu-like symptoms, but it's suspected he was dealing with food poisoning.Eichel ranks second in rookie scoring behind Chicago's Artemi Panarin with 22 goals and 27 assists in 72 games.He's also nine points up on the hard-charging Connor McDavid, for those counting.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ducks forward David Perron is travelling back to Anaheim for an MRI on his injured right shoulder.The extent of the injury is unknown, but as of now, he's considered week to week. Anaheim has four stops remaining on its Eastern road trip.Perron suffered the knock in Sunday's win over the Winnipeg Jets when he lost his balance on a forecheck and crashed shoulder-first into the boards.The multi-faceted winger has provided a discernible lift since his acquisition from the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring eight times and adding 12 assists.Anaheim has 21 wins in his 28 appearance with the club.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It'll be a summer to stew for Bob Hartley and the Calgary Flames.The Flames coach met the Toronto media Monday, and though his team, much like the Maple Leafs, is young and building toward something, he doesn't share in a similar uplifting outlook felt throughout the opposing rink."It's going to be a long summer. An awfully long summer," he said. "No one will say they're proud about our season."The Flames had expectations bestowed upon them after a season spent defying the underlying numbers, and using myriad third-period comebacks (and a down season from the Los Angeles Kings) to earn the third seed in the Pacific Division.They're on a bit of a roll now, collecting seven points in their last four games, and are just one point behind the Arizona Coyotes for fourth in the division.But progress, at this point, only means fewer tickets at the draft lottery.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Quick, and Sean Monahan have received weekly accolades, being named the NHL's three stars for the third week of March.With two goals and seven points, and continuing on his season-best 12-game point streak, Crosby has ascended to third place in the NHL scoring race. His Pittsburgh Penguins took all eight points, beating the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals to move into the Metropolitan Division's second seed.Quick allowed four goals, winning all three of his starts, and helping the Los Angeles Kings become the first Western Conference team to clinch a postseason berth. His week began with a shutout of the Chicago Blackhawks.Lastly, Monahan hit the 25-goal plateau with a five-goal, seven-point week. He helped the Calgary Flames earn seven of a possible eight points.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs remain steady losing experience.Leo Komarov is latest Maple Leafs player to incur a setback, and after further testing on his lower-body injury yielded discouraging results, it's believed the gritty winger could be out "a while," James Mirtle of the Globe and Mail reports.Frederik Gauthier took Komarov's spot in the lineup over the weekend, and figures to remain there.Komarov, an All-Star this season, leads the club with 19 goals and is one point off Nazem Kadri's scoring lead.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals defender Mike Weber will avoid supplemental discipline for his punishing hit from behind on Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust, CSN's Chuck Gormley reports.Weber was given a five-minute major and a misconduct for driving through the back of Rust, who pulled up after entering the zone, driving him head- and shoulder-first into the side boards.The Capitals defenseman had time to recognize that Rust put himself in a vulnerable position, but still finished his check with authority.The NHL, it seems, has deemed that missing the remainder of that game was the proper recourse.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With just 11 games left in the regular season, the Washington Capitals sit 18 points clear atop the Eastern Conference, 12 points up in the President's Trophy race, and will tie a bow on a Metropolitan Division crown in a matter of days.Still, there's something sinister hanging over a club that's run laps around the competition this season: the recent performance of Braden Holtby.Holtby was lifted Sunday afternoon after allowing five goals on 19 shots in a loss to the surging Pittsburgh Penguins. In a vacuum, it's a just a blip on the radar - just his ninth loss in 58 appearances.But really, the loss, and his struggles, were illustrative of Holtby's substandard play since the calendar flipped to 2016.Check out Holtby's numbers from October through December, compared to how he's fared ever since:GamesGASV% AdSV%30550.9340.93528710.9060.902A deeper dive doesn't help pinpoint the root of his struggles. The Capitals have suppressed shots at a higher rate over the last two-and-a-half months, while Holtby's adjusted save metrics in all situations, and scoring areas, have risen evenly across the board.The Capitals will still be confident in themselves and Holtby heading into the playoffs - even if he's loosened his grip on the Vezina Trophy they might have already started engraving his name into after his dazzling December. But in a seven-game series, when sticks are gripped tighter, the particularly hot (or cold) goaltender historically tips the scales.So, with the weight of a decade of postseason failures, and all the pressure to not just win a few rounds, but to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final, a team that features near-flawless construction suddenly appears vulnerable.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild defender Matt Dumba saw a free shot on Patrick Kane - the NHL's MVP-in-waiting - Sunday night, and boy, did he take it.Watch this heavy open-ice collision, which saw both Dumba and Kane nearly lose their helmets as they tangle up in the wreckage.Though contact is made with Kane's head - which was hanging dangerously low as he fixated on the puck in his skates - Dumba won't be punished for the blow. The NHL has already deemed that in the case, contact was unavoidable.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With a little extra room, one would presume that the top-of-the-draft talents for the Edmonton Oilers would fill the net with the man advantage, and help crutch the club's dastardly and enduring even-strength performance.Yet, Edmonton's power play continues to languish in the NHL's bottom-third tier, firing at 17.1 percent clip for the season after a sloppy 0-for-4 effort in Sunday's loss to the Colorado Avalanche.After the game, coach Todd McLellan's frustration finally boiled over."There's a lot of talk about having a quarterback and stuff like that - it had nothing to do with the quarterback on the power play," McLellan said at his post-game press conference. "That had to do with the forwards - really high-end, talented skilled forwards you put out there that can win you game in that situation. And just turnover after turnover after turnover. Disappointing."He added: "This was a pretty group that was red rotten."Coaching a feeble special attacking unit is uncharted territory for the Oilers coach. He and assistant Jay Woodcroft, who followed him to Edmonton, engineered the most efficient unit in the West during his seven seasons with the San Jose Sharks.- with h/t to Kukla's KornerCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brent Burns has himself a spot in the San Jose Sharks' record books.Burns drew the primary assist on Joe Pavelski's empty-netter in a 3-0 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday night, and it was a historic helper.

It's not what counts the most, but it might be cause for concern for the Stanley Cup champions.The Minnesota Wild improved to 4-0-0 against the Chicago Blackhawks this season with a 3-2 shootout victory Sunday night, continuing a run that extends back to 2014-15.

Niklas Backstrom is a winner again.The Calgary Flames goaltender stopped 21 of 22 shots in a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night, and the win was a long time coming.Backstrom was playing his first NHL game since Jan. 13, 2015, a span of 432 days."There was not too much rust in his system," said Flames head coach Bob Hartley postgame. He added, "To get a big win, that sets the stage really well for Minnesota."Backstrom will start Thursday's game against the Wild at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The netminder spent parts of nine seasons with Minnesota before being traded to the Flames on deadline day in February."(It's) another special game," Backstrom said. "It's going to be a little weird but it should be fun."The 38-year-old is Minnesota's franchise leader in wins, shutouts, and games played by a goaltender.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL-leading Washington Capitals were dismantled at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, and it did not sit well with head coach Barry Trotz.The Penguins pulverized the Capitals 6-2 thanks to three third-period goals, but despite the team's 17-point cushion in the President's Trophy race, Trotz isn't giving his team a pass."I'm not going to let guys off the hook," Trotz said, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post. "There's no excuse for the sloppy play, the lack of execution."The Capitals missed their chance to clinch top spot in the Eastern Conference - which would have been achieved with a win in any fashion- a fate Trotz felt his team deserved."They're in playoff mode," said Trotz, according to NHL.com's Wes Crosby. "They wanted it more and we got exactly what we deserved tonight."They're probably the hottest team right now."

Sidney Crosby's incendiary streak has been nothing short of timely.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain stretched his league-high point streak to 12 games with two assists in his club's 6-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.For the Penguins, Crosby's hot hand could not have come at a better time. While the team looks to lock down a playoff position, their No. 2 center continues to watch from the press box.The Penguins have now played their last five games without Evgeni Malkin, but have not missed a beat, going 5-0 while Crosby's amassed three goals and nine points.

Mike Weber would be wise to keep his phone on after Sunday's game.The Washington Capitals defenseman drove Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust into the boards from behind in the third period.Weber received a five-minute boarding major and a 10-minute misconduct. Rust left for the dressing room but returned shortly thereafter and assisted on Justin Schultz's first goal with the Penguins.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Scott Wedgewood has already joined elite company with just one game under his belt.With a win in his NHL debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, Wedgewood became the first Devils goaltender to win in his NHL debut since franchise great Martin Brodeur did so back on March 26, 1992.

That's using your head.Washington Capitals forward Jason Chimera scored a rather unconventional goal Sunday, heading the puck past Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.The goal was one of a kind for Chimera, meanwhile for Fleury, the unfortunate bounce bore a striking resemblance to the game-winning goal scored on him by Patrick O'Sullivan at the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championship.

It's a case of good news and bad news for the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.While their captain, Gabriel Landeskog, will be back from his three-game suspension to play against the Edmonton Oilers, forward Nathan MacKinnon's knee injury will keep him out of the contest and perhaps beyond."When we get to Denver, some time this week he's going to meet with our team doctors," Avalanche coach Patrick Roy told reporters. "I guess from there we'll have a better idea."MacKinnon was hurt late in a come-from-behind win over the Calgary Flames on Friday. He has 21 goals and 31 assists in 72 games.Matt Duchene missed Friday's game with a knee injury of his own and isn't expected to play Sunday.The injuries come at a critical time for Colorado, which entered Sunday's game clinging to the second Western Conference wild-card spot. The Avalanche are one point ahead of the Minnesota Wild, who are in action Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The relationship between the Florida Panthers and actor Kevin Spacey is one of the oddest, yet most delightful stories of the season.What began with the adoption of the "Spacey in Space" hoodie as the reward given to the player of the game came to a head Saturday when the Oscar-winning thespian revealed himself to a record-setting and raucous BB&T Center crowd.It leads us to wonder what other teams could adopt a random celebrity as their own. Here are five suggestions, all from the world of Netflix in keeping with Spacey's hugely popular role as Frank Underwood on "House of Cards."Taylor Schilling - Philadelphia FlyersThe star of "Orange Is The New Black" is without question a Flyers fan in waiting.Yes, Schilling was born in Boston, and plays a character named Piper Chapman, who, prior to being sentenced to 15 months in prison, ran an artisanal bath soap business in Brooklyn.This doesn't exactly reek of Flyers' fandom, but above and beyond the obvious color scheme tie-in, the increasingly tough on-screen persona developed by Schilling hearkens back to the days of the Broad Street Bullies in Philadelphia.This might be the boost needed to propel the Flyers into the playoffs.Kyle Chandler - New York RangersOnly weeks ago, Chandler - of "Friday Night Lights" fame - could very well have been hitched to Carolina or Vancouver, but the New York Rangers are currently the best fit for his services as a result of brothers Eric Staal and Marc Staal teaming up on Broadway.Chandler - a Buffalo native - plays John Rayburn on "Bloodline," a local sheriff who's also tasked with upholding the family name as brother Danny runs wild and finds himself in hot water.We won't spoil anything here, but hopefully Chandler could inspire the Staal brothers to put aside any sibling rivalries - or any lingering resentment from an injurious hit levied by Eric on Marc in 2011 - and work towards mutual success as opposed to, well, a darker alternative.Elden Henson - Anaheim DucksAt present, Henson is living large as a co-star on the wildly popular "Daredevil" series. But prior to being known for his role as Foggy Nelson, Henson made a name for himself by playing Fulton Reed, a key player in Disney's "Mighty Ducks" trilogy.The Mighty Ducks nickname, of course, carried over to the NHL with the inception of an NHL franchise in Anaheim in 1993. This year's Ducks are mighty, and could certainly use the grit demonstrated by Henson as a hockey player and the smarts Henson displays as a lawyer in Hell's Kitchen.Plus, he could be shown on the scoreboard and lead the crowd in a chant of "quack, quack, quack."Jason Bateman - Edmonton OilersAs Michael Bluth in "Arrested Development," Bateman plays the one son who had no choice but to keep a wealthy family together after they lost everything.The term "arrested development" was used as a title for the show in reference to the Bluth's collective failures in terms of basic grow and development. In NHL terms, that's a perfect metaphor for the Edmonton Oilers, who are somehow in the running to "win" a fifth first overall draft pick in the past seven years.The Oilers haven't played a single playoff game since Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final, and there's no guarantee they'll get back to that level as early as next season.No one's going to top that.Ellie Kemper - Toronto Maple LeafsIn "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," Kemper - who plays the titular character - emerges from an underground bunker after 15 years in captivity and, brimming with positivity, decides to restart her life in New York.A similar emergence is beginning in Toronto, where the Maple Leafs teardown and rebuild is beginning to show glimpses of hope for a brighter future.Yes, there will likely still be moments of pain ahead, and not everything will go as smoothly as planned, but the fan base is accepting of the process and willing to keep an expectant smile regardless.Also, Kemper would remind Leafs fans that sometimes you just have to laugh to keep from crying along the way.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers will have to make the playoffs without Michal Neuvirth.A lower-body injury will cost the often-injured goaltender the rest of the season, the Flyers announced Sunday. And that means the crease belongs to Steve Mason, now in his fourth season in orange and white.The Flyers are three points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with two games in hand. Where it gets tricky: Philadelphia has four back-to-back scenarios out of their 12 remaining games. They'll play March 21 and 22, April 2 and 3, April 6 and 7, and April 9 and 10.Based on his track record at this time of year, Mason can get the job done.Season Month SV% Starts Wins2012-13April.944642013-14March.9171282013-14April.935422014-15March.9311132014-15April.933432015-16March.91764Mason's played some great hockey down the stretch as a Flyer."We haven't really been blessed with an easy schedule here to finish off," Mason said, according to the Courier-Post's Dave Isaac. "We've all got to come here ready to have a real strong push in these last few weeks of the season. It's tough with the back-to-backs, but you've just got to take care of yourself and get your rest."I'm gonna do everything I can to give this team as much goaltending as they need."Neuvirth will be missed. He's had a stellar season, and his .925 save percentage is in the top five among all NHL goalies. But Mason can get the Flyers to the promised land. Hopefully, based on the Flyers' remaining schedule, he gets enough sleep."I feel really good about my game," Mason added. "You always prepare to play every single game. That's just what I'm going to continue to do here."Backing up Mason will be 22-year-old Anthony Stolarz, who, based on the unforgiving schedule, will likely see some action in the crease. He's never played in the NHL."He'll be ready to go, he'll be ready to play when we need him to go in," head coach Dave Hakstol said.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Wild are bigger than Thomas Vanek. And Vanek knows it.Vanek will be a healthy scratch again Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks, as the Wild continue on their quest to make the playoffs. The 32-year-old forward watched from the press box Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes, despite being third on the team in goals (18) and fourth in points (41).

Sam Bennett is returning from an upper-body injury in time to play his first game in one of hockey's most storied cities.The Calgary Flames forward, who's been sidelined since March 9, missing four games, will play Sunday in Montreal, much to his delight."I'm excited," Bennett said after the morning skate. "It's my first time at the Bell Centre."The 19-year-old, who spent his junior hockey a few hours drive from Montreal, has 15 goals and 17 assists this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NCAA announced the field for this year's college hockey championship on Sunday.Quinnipac is the No. 1 seed in the tournament and the top seed in the East Region. St. Cloud State, North Dakota, and Providence also grabbed top seeds in their respective regions.Here's what the bracket looks like:East Region1. Quinnipac (29-3-7)

Saturday, April 30. The only date that matters this spring for fans of Canadian hockey teams.The NHL draft lottery will be held that night, and through play as of Sunday morning, the rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs have the best odds at landing the top overall pick:Team Odds Points GPMaple Leafs20%6171Jets13.50%6371Oilers11.50%6574Canucks9.50%6671Blue Jackets8.50%6671Flames7.50%6671(Courtesy: TSN)Before Maple Leafs fans get caught up in the excitement that is being in last place, Toronto's won three of four and has picked up points in five of seven. It's that time of year.It's going to be a race to the bottom, and to, in all likelihood, American center Auston Matthews, projected to be the first overall selection in Buffalo in June.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Step right on up, Steve Mason.The Philadelphia Flyers push for a playoff spot will be backstopped by Mason after general manager Ron Hextall announced that Michal Neuvirth will be out three weeks with a lower-body injury. In a subsequent move, Anthony Stolarz was recalled to serve as Mason's backup.Neuvirth was expected to start Saturday against Pittsburgh but was a late scratch because, the team said, he wasn't feeling right.Through 31 games, Neuvirth has a 17-8-4 record with a sparkling .925 save percentage.If the Flyers fail to qualify for the postseason, the injury effectively ends Neuvirth's campaign.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Most of us were too young - or simply not alive - to watch Bobby Orr play hockey and singlehandedly change what a defenseman could be. Luckily, YouTube exists.No. 4 turns 68 on Sunday, and there's no better way to celebrate than by watching awesome Orr highlights set to Hannah Miller's "Promised Land." And if you've never seen the pass he makes at the 1:12 mark, you're going to want to change that. Now.Orr had 139 points in 1970-71, as a 22-year-old. Injuries limited him to only 657 regular-season games, in which he compiled 915 points.There will never be another.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ryan Johansen is a member of the Nashville Predators. Today, tomorrow, and probably for a long time.Traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a one-for-one swap for defenseman Seth Jones, Johansen opened up about the deal with The Tennessean's Adam Vingan, saying the end of speculation about his future was certainly welcome."As soon as I hopped on that plane (after the trade), I just felt like I wanted to be at the rink," the 23-year-old said. "I wanted to get there. I wanted to get on the ice with the guys, just start my new chapter, I guess. ... For me, it was kind of like a 'get to work' moment."Johansen's been a Predator for 32 games, after spending the first four seasons and 38 games of his career with the Blue Jackets. After scoring 33 goals in 2013-14, a career high, and 26 last season, his goal-scoring touch has abandoned him this season. He scored six with Columbus and has six with Nashville. He averaged 0.68 points per game this season before the trade and is averaging 0.69 after.Johansen's thankful the deal happened when it did, long before the trade deadline. He feels like a Predator, as the club gears up for a playoff run."Just kind of a bonus of the trade was getting it done in January there instead of right at the trade deadline where things are a little more hectic," he said. "I was able to have some more time to adjust and get settled in with a new team and stuff and get more familiar with the guys and how they play and the systems and things like that. I think it was definitely, for any player I guess, a better situation to get there early.Johansen makes it clear he wasn't relieved he was traded - he was committed to Columbus - but he was excited to start the next phase of his career, especially considering how young he still is."They made it very clear that I was the top-line center that they had been looking for, and for me, that's the perfect opportunity. I can go out there and just do my thing and have fun," he said.Johansen's played six playoff games in his career, in 2013-14, scoring twice and adding four assists. The Predators are hoping for similar production, in hopefully three or four times the games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Out-shot, out-scored, out-worked, out-played.That was the scene Saturday in Vancouver as the Canucks dropped a 3-0 decision to St. Louis, and while Ryan Miller stood on his head with a 47-save performance, Daniel Sedin thought the resolution demonstrated by the rest of the team left much to be desired."The only thing I worry about is effort," Sedin said, according to Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun. "And I think from some guys right now, the effort is not there. It’s not good enough. I think those guys know who they are. I think it’s embarrassing if you’re not giving the effort every night. Shift in and shift out, game in and game out, it has to be there otherwise it’s going to look like this."The lack of effort, he said, isn't a new trend, and one that's effectively killed their playoff chances."I think it’s been an issue most nights," he continued. "Early on, we won some games because we had enough guys battling. It’s about learning to win those one-on-one battles. We’re there right now, trying to battle. But we’re not winning them. That’s a big difference."Sedin, the team's assistant captain and de facto leader in the absence of brother Henrik, recorded seven shots in the loss, the Canucks' second-straight game without a goal.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't take anything for granted. That's Nicolas Deslauriers' good advice.The Buffalo Sabres forward scored his sixth goal of the season Friday, dropping to his knees in celebration, impressing his head coach, writes The Buffalo News' John Vogl.Told Dan Bylsma was dazzled, Deslauriers kept it rather real."For me you've got to celebrate like it's your last one," he said. "You never know. I kind of lose control."Scoring a goal in the NHL - there's probably little like it.Deslauriers, a third-round pick in 2009, has scored 12 times in 160 career games - around once every 13 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin?That was the question facing the Edmonton Oilers upon winning the 2010 NHL Entry Draft lottery, leaving the Boston Bruins - thanks to the Toronto Maple Leafs - with as good a runner-up prize as could be hoped for.While those two players have indeed remained at the top of that particular draft class, others are making a huge impact around the NHL, proving the conversation runs far beyond Taylor vs. Tyler.Here are five whose stock has risen exponentially over the past six years:Evgeny KuznetsovSelected 26th overall by the Washington Capitals, Kuznetsov - who remained in the KHL for three years after being drafted - is proving to be well worth the wait.The Russian forward has eclipsed Alex Ovechkin to lead the team in scoring with 73 points in 70 games, and his playmaking skills rival the greatness of fellow Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom. Tied for fourth in the NHL in points, only Patrick Kane, Jamie Benn, and Sidney Crosby have had more productive seasons than Kuznetsov to date.If the Capitals are going to make good on their dominant regular season with a long playoff run, Kuznetsov could very well be the x-factor that tips the scales their way.Vladimir TarasenkoThe St. Louis Blues sniper recorded his 100th career goal in his 250th game Saturday, giving him an average of 0.4 per game.

Even the Detroit Red Wings got a kick out of it.Kevin Spacey - award-winning actor, the star of Netflix's "House of Cards," and the Florida Panthers' good luck charm - attended Saturday's game, and Detroit put on a show for him."It was nice to see Mr. President in the stands," Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.Detroit erased a 3-1 deficit, scoring three times in the third period to win 5-3.It was goaltender Jimmy Howard's second win in a row, and he rather enjoyed the celebrity appearance, too."That was great seeing Spacey. That was fantastic," he said. "I'm a huge 'House of Cards' fan, huge Spacey fan. 'Usual Suspects,' you name it."The Panthers are 0-1 with Spacey in attendance.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.