Jason Spezza's first goal on his former team was doubly special.The Dallas Stars forward scored with the man advantage in the second period Sunday, notching his first career goal against the Ottawa Senators.Spezza's marker also gave him at least one goal against all 30 NHL teams.The 32-year-old center now has 24 goals and 24 assists in his second season with Dallas.He was traded by the Senators to the Stars on July 1, 2014, and signed a four-year extension four months later.Spezza, who spent 11 seasons with Ottawa, still ranks second on the Senators' all-time goals, assists, and points lists.He has 292 goals and 797 points in 829 career games.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Kane came ready to play Sunday.The Chicago Blackhawks star wasted no time opening the scoring against the Detroit Red Wings, beating goaltender Petr Mrazek to finish off an end-to-end rush 21 seconds into the game.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Kane's 38th goal was also his 89th point of the season, giving him a new career high in the latter category.It was the fastest goal he's scored to open a game in his career, according to Elias Sports Bureau.Duncan Keith scored less than six minutes later to chase Mrazek from the game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Much-maligned defenseman Justin Schultz made his Pittsburgh Penguins debut Sunday against the New Jersey Devils.He took Derrick Pouliot's spot in the lineup, and picked up an assist in 16:23 of action (including 2:13 on the power play)The heavily recruited attack-minded defender - whom the club is treating as a project, of sorts, after four disappointing seasons with the Edmonton Oilers - was acquired prior to last week's trade deadline for a third-round draft pick.The Penguins won 6-1, and are now seven points clear of the Devils.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Winnipeg Jets announced Sunday they'll host the Edmonton Oilers in the 2016 Heritage Classic at Investors Group Field on Oct. 23.It'll be the fourth edition of the Heritage Classic, and the first since the Ottawa Senators defeated the Vancouver Canucks at BC Place in 2014.The Jets will play in an outdoor game for the first time in franchise history, while the Oilers will participate in their second after hosting the first-ever Heritage Classic at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium in 2003.The festivities will also include an alumni game between former Jets and Oilers on Oct. 22. Wayne Gretzky will captain the Edmonton legends and Dale Hawerchuk will lead Winnipeg's former stars.

The New York Rangers will be without Henrik Lundqvist for at least one more game.The 34-year-old goaltender skated Sunday but won't dress for the club's inter-borough matinee tilt with the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden."He's on the right track," Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault said. "It should be just a day or two more."Lundqvist left Thursday's loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins with neck spasms suffered when teammate Ryan McDonagh collided with him in the crease, and the netminder drew a delay of game penalty for dislodging his own net in frustration to ensure a stoppage in play.Related - Holtby: Delay of game penalty on Lundqvist 'absurd'Antti Raanta will start for the second consecutive game after making 32 saves in a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday. Magnus Hellberg will back him up again after being recalled due to Lundqvist's injury.After Sunday's game, the Rangers embark on a two-game road swing, facing the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.Lundqvist is 31-17-4 with a 2.31 GAA, a .923 save percentage, and four shutouts in 53 contests.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Sunday that forwards Kasperi Kapanen and Brendan Leipsic were returned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies after serving as emergency recalls.Kapanen, 19, was held without a point in his first four NHL games, recording six shots on goal since being called up Feb. 29. Leipsic has appeared in six games with the Maple Leafs this season, recording a goal and two assists.The two demotions come after head coach Mike Babcock said Saturday that forwards Milan Michalek and Brad Boyes are nearing returns from injury, according to Jonas Siegel of the Canadian Press.Michalek is yet to make his Maple Leafs debut as he is continues to recover from a broken finger suffered in a Jan. 22 game, while still a member of the Ottawa Senators. Boyes has missed the team's last two games with an upper-body injury.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After scoring four unanswered goals during the third period of Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche, the Nashville Predators continued a pair of franchise-best point streaks as they picked up a 5-2 victory in Denver.

Just days after being handed a five-game suspension by the NHL for his illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette, Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo has found himself in trouble again - this time, in the American Hockey League.Since being sent down to the Providence Bruins, Rinaldo has been suspended indefinitely by the AHL for a hit to the head of defenseman Kane Lafranchise during his team's 4-3 overtime loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin earned a five-minute major for boarding during the second period of Saturday's 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins after hitting defenseman Kevan Miller from behind.Related: Ovechkin draws 5-minute major for boarding Bruins' MillerWhile the hit forced Miller from the game with an apparent shoulder injury, the Russian forward insists there was no intent to hurt his opponent."Oh, it's just a hockey play," Ovechkin told reporters, according to NESN.com. "I tried to kind of, like - I don't try to hit him. I didn't see a replay, but my motion was not like try to headhunt."I just try to play the puck, and he kind of turned, and there was hit. At least, I told the referee I didn't try to go through him or something, just trying to pin him."The NHL will look into the incident, but the league's leading goal-scorer doesn't seem worried about receiving further discipline."No, I don't think it's (worthy) of suspension or something," he added. "I don't try to hit the head, just to be in my spot and make a play. He's turning at the boards."Ovechkin was suspended twice during the 2009-10 campaign, receiving a pair of two-game bans during a season in which he racked up three game misconducts. He was suspended for one game earlier this season for sitting out All-Star weekend in Nashville.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacob Markstrom stole James Reimer's thunder.Reimer, acquired by San Jose from the Toronto Maple Leafs before the trade deadline, made his Sharks debut Saturday night, and it didn't go very well. Reimer allowed three goals on 25 shots, as the Vancouver Canucks earned a 4-2 win.Markstrom was stellar. He stopped 32 of 34 shots, including a couple of 10-bell saves in the third period.Reimer didn't get much help from his new teammates, who were on a parade to the penalty box. All three goals Reimer allowed came with Vancouver on the power play. The result was disappointing, considering it was Reimer's first start in March, with his new team, after a nightmare February. And the Sharks' penalty kill, already below 80 percent heading into Saturday's game, remains a major concern.Last month, Reimer had a .869 save percentage in eight games and seven starts, and an unseemly 3.80 goals-against average. March has begun with similar numbers.It was the Canucks' fifth straight win in San Jose and ninth in 12 games, according to CSN's Kevin Kurz.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Tanguay knows how to make a first impression.The forward, acquired at the trade deadline from the Colorado Avalanche, introduced himself to the desert in fine fashion, scoring twice and adding an assist in his debut Saturday.The performance puts Tanguay in his new club's record books. He's the first player in franchise history (going back to their days as the Winnipeg Jets) to record three or more points in his first game with the club, according to NHL Public Relations.The Coyotes beat the Florida Panthers 5-1, and Tanguay admitted after the game that he was a bit nervous."Even though I've played for a while, this was a little nerve-racking," he said, according to the Coyotes' Dave Vest. "I got a little lucky tonight. Teammates played great."I know I'm not going to score every game but I want to contribute and help this team win some games until the end of the year. I was anxious to get going and to get to know my new teammates. Tonight I got to know a lot of them on the bench."They like you already, Mr. Tanguay.

Former Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf made his first visit back to Toronto on Saturday since being traded, wearing Ottawa Senators colors.Phaneuf captained Toronto for 397 games, and the Maple Leafs are in no hurry to name his successor. So there's no better time to look back and rank Maple Leafs captains over the past generation.5. Rob Ramage (1989-1991)Rob Ramage was the last defenseman to captain the Maple Leafs before Phaneuf.A four-time All-Star, Ramage took over for ... no one. Toronto was captain-less for three seasons beginning in 1986. The Maple Leafs drafted in the top 10 a remarkable 10 years in a row (1981-1990), so he was clearly a placeholder for some young talent, which never arrived.Ramage wore the "C" for 160 games. Toronto made the playoffs once in his two-year tenure, losing in the first round in 1990.4. Dion Phaneuf (2010-2016)There's one word to describe Phaneuf's time as Maple Leafs captain: failure.That's not all on the defenseman, though, who captained Toronto from 2010 until February 2016. He never had enough help, and was far too often asked to do far too much.Phaneuf played over 25 minutes a night against the opposition's best players in his first three seasons with the "C," and only in one season during his time in Toronto did he hit the 40-point mark.The Maple Leafs suffered through some monumental collapses while Phaneuf was captain, and, for better or worse, he'll be remembered as the leader of a team that blew a 4-1 lead to the Boston Bruins in the third period of Game 7 in their first-round playoff series in 2013.The bad times far outweighed the good. That Toronto was able to get out from Phaneuf's massive contract - which the club of course signed him to - without retaining salary was seen as a massive win for the Maple Leafs.3. Doug Gilmour (1994-1997)If there was anyone who could take over for Wendel Clark, it was Doug Gilmour.Gilmour donned the "C" during the lockout-shortened 1995 season, after Clark was traded for Mats Sundin, in one of the most highly discussed transactions in Toronto hockey history.Acquired in 1991, Gilmour put together the finest single season in Maple Leafs history in 1992-93, scoring 32 times and adding 95 assists. He won the Selke Trophy and finished second to some guy named Mario Lemieux for the Hart Trophy. He followed that performance up with a 111-point 1993-94, and was the best player on Maple Leafs teams that went deep into the playoffs. Clark was traded because Gilmour was a Maple Leaf, because Gilmour could take the "C."Gilmour was captain for three seasons, and was another heart-and-soul player easy to fall for. Toronto made the playoffs twice in his time as captain, losing in the first round both times. After Burns was banished, Gilmour wasn't far behind. He asked for a trade, his wish granted in 1997.In the grand scheme of things, Gilmour wasn't in Toronto long, wasn't a Maple Leaf for a very long time. But few have made more of an impact on the Toronto sports scene.2. Wendel Clark (1991-1994)Wendel Clark drinks for free in Toronto.The first overall pick in 1985 was the type of hockey player the city adores: passionate, tough, reckless, full of emotion, who always gave it everything he had.Clark took the captaincy from Ramage, in 1991, and was the face of a team that was crawling out of the darkness that was the Harold Ballard era. Often, Clark was the only player worth watching at Maple Leaf Gardens. Injuries limited him to only 43 games in his first season as captain, but the two seasons that followed are ones Maple Leafs supporters of a certain generation still talk about.The 1992-93 season, the first with Pat Burns behind the bench, saw Toronto win 44 games and pull off an improbable and incredible seven-game upset of the Detroit Red Wings in the first round, after going down 2-0 in the series. Toronto would win another seven-game series against the St. Louis Blues, before falling to Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings in the conference finals.Clark will forever be remembered for his pounding of Marty McSorley after the defender took out Gilmour, and for his game-tying goal in Game 6 of the L.A. series, sending the game to overtime. Gretzky got away with a high-stick in the extra frame, before scoring the winner to push the series to seven.Clark captained Toronto to another conference finals appearance in 1994, the team winning its first 10 games of the regular season in 1993. While injuries limited Clark to only 173 games as captain, he wore the "C" when the Maple Leafs came back into the light.1. Mats Sundin (1997-2008)Only one of the five captains mentioned here has a statue outside the Air Canada Centre in downtown Toronto: Mats Sundin. He is forever.Acquired for Clark, Sundin was a lightning rod of criticism in his early Toronto years, never physical enough, never showing enough emotion. He wasn't Clark. He wasn't Gilmour. As if that was somehow his fault. But the soft-spoken Swede let his play on the ice do the talking, and once Gilmour was traded, and the Maple Leafs became Sundin's team, it was clear No. 13 would wear the "C" - and do it justice.And he did. Sundin's numbers speak for themselves. He's the Maple Leafs' all-time leader in goals and points. In power-play goals, shorthanded goals, game-winning goals, and overtime goals. After being named captain in 1997, Toronto went on a competitive six-season run beginning in 1999, making two conference finals.Sundin was the first non-Canadian captain the Maple Leafs ever had. He had Don Cherry and a rabid Clark- and Gilmour-loving town ready to pounce on him at every opportunity, but he handled the pressure with class. He produced in the dead-puck era with little talent (no offense, Jonas Hoglund) around him. He won. And he did it with the respect of his teammates and coaches, who called him one of the greatest leaders the Maple Leafs ever had.Sundin captained the Maple Leafs for 10 seasons. He gave Toronto the best years of his life, his prime. And he did it with aplomb, never shying away from the media, his reputation in the city and the community sublime. Sundin was criminally underappreciated as a Maple Leaf, as a captain, and his legacy has only become stronger in the years since his departure, his absence leaving a massive void down the middle and in the Toronto locker room. Many in Toronto didn't know what the Maple Leafs had in Sundin, until he was gone.The Maple Leafs haven't had a No. 1 center in the years since Sundin left. With all due respect to Phaneuf, you could argue Toronto is still looking for the right man to wear the "C" since No. 13 left, too.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Vancouver Canucks lost Henrik Sedin to injury, at least for the duration of Saturday's game in San Jose, and possibly Monday in Los Angeles.The captain suffered an upper-body injury in the first period and was deemed unable to return, the club announced.The injury is believed to have occurred on a first-period hit delivered by Brent Burns. Chris Tanev also left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury.

Move along, Johnny Bower.On Saturday night, goaltender Michael Leighton broke a tie with Bower, the Hall of Famer, recording his 46th career American Hockey League shutout, setting the new standard in the NHL's developmental league.

The good news: Mike Hoffman had arguably the best seat in the house. The bad news: he was benched.The Ottawa Senators forward played a season low 10:45 in Toronto against the Maple Leafs, watching the third period from the bench. He had only 15 shifts.After the game, head coach Dave Cameron brought the heat."Ice time is distributed with what I think gives us the best chance to win," Cameron said, according to TSN's Ian Mendes.Hoffman leads the Senators in goals with 25 and is fourth on the team in points, with 46. The new year has brought struggles, though, as Hoffman has only seven goals and five assists in 28 games in 2016.Earning $2 million, Hoffman's set for restricted free agency this summer.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are moving on in a hurry.Head coach John Tortorella made it clear after Saturday's 6-0 loss to Philadelphia that game tape will not be reviewed.

The book on Dion Phaneuf's time as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs officially came to a close Saturday night.The former Toronto captain made his first visit to the Air Canada Centre since a February blockbuster trade to the Ottawa Senators, and he did what he didn't do often enough while in the blue and white: win.The Senators took a 3-2 decision, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive, and Phaneuf was celebrated with a video tribute by the Maple Leafs and a standing ovation from the crowd that left him - it appeared - fighting back tears.Related: Alter: Phaneuf feeling 'mixed emotions' before facing Maple Leafs in TorontoAfter the game, Phaneuf was appreciative."It's a night I'll remember forever and a for me it's a pretty good way to go out," Phaneuf said, according to TSN's Jonas Seigel. "I just want to thank the fans for what they did. It meant a lot to me and that was some good closure. Real classy by them."

The Washington Capitals are the first team to hit the 100-point mark this season, thanks to a 2-1 overtime win in Boston on Saturday.The two points were earned one night after Washington lost on home ice to the New York Rangers, continuing a trend of great resilience shown by Barry Trotz's squad this season.

Alex Killorn ensured the Tampa Bay Lightning made history in style.The top-liner shook Carolina Hurricanes center Victor Rask and went the length of the ice to score the winner in overtime Saturday night, giving the Lightning a franchise-record ninth straight win.Related: Lightning make it a record 9 in a row, take 1st in AtlanticKillorn was named the first star of the game for helping the Lightning eclipse the previous team record set in 2003-04.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a night Mark Scheifele will never forget.The Winnipeg Jets center registered a hat trick for the first time in his NHL career Saturday night, scoring once in the second period and twice in the third in a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.The 22-year-old opened the scoring when he stole the puck from P.K. Subban in the Canadiens' defensive zone.Related: VIDEO - Subban coughs up puck to Scheifele for breakaway goalScheifele redirected a Drew Stafford shot to give the Jets a 3-2 lead with 6:59 remaining, then added an empty-netter to seal the victory with 29 seconds left.He now has 20 goals and 20 assists in 53 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For at least one night, Radko Gudas played like an elite-level NHL defenseman.Heading into Saturday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Philadelphia Flyers blue-liner had zero goals, six assists, 98 shots, 98 penalty minutes, and a minus-two rating through 57 games.Check Gudas' stat line from the tilt with the Blue Jackets:Time on IceGoalsAssistsShotsHitsPIM+/-19:56227544As another point of reference, Gudas' single-season career high in points is 22, set in 2013-14 with Tampa Bay; in one game, he dropped 18 percent of that total.Yes, one of his goals came from center ice, but we might not see the stat sheet filled by such an unlikely player again this season.Perhaps the Flyers said it best:

The Tampa Bay Lightning made franchise history Saturday with their ninth straight win, breaking a record set in 2003-04.The Lightning beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime.The Bolts were paced by their future: Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, and Nikita Kucherov. Palat had two goals, and his first was spectacular. Johnson had a goal and an assist, and Kucherov had two helpers.Alex Killorn, though, will be remembered in Lightning trivia. He scored his 13th of the season in overtime to give Tampa Bay its record - and it was a sensational goal, worthy of history.

Willie Desjardins' job is safe for now.The head coach isn't going anywhere, according to Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Trevor Linden, who said as much to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman."Earlier this week, I had a chance to speak to Trevor Linden and one of the things he said was, 'End any speculation about Willie Desjardins' future. There's no doubt he will be back as head coach of the Canucks'," Friedman said during Saturday's edition of "Headlines."Linden confirmed those remarks to the Vancouver Province's Ben Kuzma, adding that the Canucks' entire coaching staff will return."We expected to be very young this year - which we are - and we've handed Willie a real challenge with several rookies on any give night and I think he has performed well," Linden said. "I'm not making any excuses, but there's no reason for us to consider a change. The rookies have made steps. Nothing is perfect."Vancouver boasts a trio of talented rookies in Jake Virtanen, Jared McCann, and Ben Hutton, along with second-year center Bo Horvat.Desjardins is 24-27-12 in his second season behind the Canucks' bench, with Vancouver entering Saturday's action 12 points out of a playoff spot.The Canucks went 48-29-5 in his first NHL campaign last season before being eliminated in six games by the Calgary Flames in the first round of the playoffs.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

(Courtesy: NHL.com)This won't help P.K. Subban get in head coach Michel Therrien's good graces.The Montreal Canadiens defenseman tried one too many moves in his own zone, coughing up the puck to Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele, who buried an easy goal to open the scoring Saturday night.Therrien singled out his Norris Trophy-winning blue-liner last month for a turnover that led to an overtime winner for the Colorado Avalanche.Alex Galchenyuk scored his 20th goal of the season to tie the game about a minute later, so maybe Subban's off the hook for now.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Ovechkin spent five minutes in the penalty box for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller on Saturday.Miller was forced to leave the game and appeared to be favoring his right shoulder which had been surgically repaired last February.

Brooks Laich's time in Toronto won't be in vain.The former much-loved Washington Capitals forward was traded to the Maple Leafs last week, and it was difficult for him to accept, as the first-place Caps are Stanley Cup favorites. But after Saturday, Laich's got a story to tell.Laich assisted on the first NHL goal of William Nylander's career Saturday night, and the 32-year-old has a history with William's father, Michael Nylander, as the two played together for the Capitals.Related: VIDEO - Nylander snipes for 1st NHL goalIn fact, Laich assisted on the final goal of Michael's career, on April 5, 2009, against the Atlanta Thrashers (may they rest in peace).

Brendan Gallagher played less than five minutes before suffering an injury Saturday night.The Montreal Canadiens forward left the game against the Winnipeg Jets in the first period, and his club announced in the first intermission that he would not return.He appeared to take a Max Pacioretty shot in the hand before departing, but the Canadiens classified the injury as a lower-body ailment, and it's more likely to have occurred when Gallagher's skate got caught with that of Jets forward Marko Dano, causing the Canadiens winger to do the splits.(Courtesy: Sportsnet)Gallagher missed 17 games earlier this season with a pair of broken fingers.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Kings forward Kris Versteeg suffered an upper-body injury during the first period of the Kings' 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.Originally listed as questionable to return, Versteeg's day ended late in the first period, two shifts after being involved in a line brawl and dropping the gloves with Rickard Rakell.Versteeg was appearing in his second game with the Kings after being acquired from Carolina prior to the trade deadline for a pick and a prospect.The severity of the injury has not yet been disclosed.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Young William Nylander is on the board.The prized Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, only 19, scored his first NHL goal on Saturday, going shelf blocker side on Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson.The goal comes in Nylander's fourth career game. It's his first point in the league, too, as he was held off the scoresheet in his first three games, recording seven shots.But Nylander - admittedly a bit starstruck earlier in the week when the Maple Leafs visited the Washington Capitals - hasn't looked out of place in hockey's top league.Finally, Maple Leafs fans have something to look forward to. And they'll get used to that display of skill easily.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Grab some Kleenex.The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed former captain Dion Phaneuf back to the Air Canada Centre for the first time since a February trade, and the hosts pulled out all the stops.Well, more stops than they did for Phil Kessel.Related: Alter: Phaneuf feeling 'mixed emotions' before facing Maple Leafs in TorontoPhaneuf got the tribute-video treatment, and a standing ovation, and the show of support left the usually stonefaced defenseman fighting back some serious emotion.

Eighteen-year-old hockey phenoms may have to worry.The NHL is always looking at ways to improve, according to Pat LaFontaine, a Hall of Famer who now works for the league, and one idea is to raise the draft age from 18 to 19."We're exploring many ideas in improving conditions for player development," LaFontaine told ESPN's Joe McDonald, "and raising the draft age is one of many things that we're looking at, and those discussions remain very preliminary."The latest player to start his career as an 18-year-old was Edmonton Oilers phenom Connor McDavid, last year's first overall pick. He turned 19 on Jan. 13. And with 34 points in 30 games, it's clear he can play.McDavid's teammate Taylor Hall doesn't think the draft age needs to be changed."No. I think it's fine where it's at," Hall said. "You're seeing kids come in and do great things in this game. When you're 18 you should be able to work and seek employment however you want, so I think it's fair."Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also began his career in Edmonton at the age of 18.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Stars will likely face a pair of Canadian clubs without their best defenseman.Head coach Lindy Ruff didn't expect John Klingberg to join the team for its two-game road rip, beginning Sunday in Ottawa against the Senators and wrapping up Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre."I don't think (he'll travel),” Ruff said, according to Mark Stepneski of the Stars' official website. “But if he responds well to treatment there's a chance - if he doesn't travel - he could join us. He's not traveling with us (to Ottawa)."He's day to day with what the team is calling a lower-body injury, suffered early in Friday's win over the New Jersey Devils. After the game, Ruff said the injury should be of the short-term variety.Klingberg didn't practice Saturday but underwent some tests."Nothing conclusive with the tests, which is good," Ruff said. "So, we just go day to day with him and see where he is at."Klingberg leads all Stars' defensemen with 53 points, and ranks first among all skaters on the club with 43 assists in 66 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby didn't quite like what he saw from his teammates in a loss to Calgary on Saturday.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain recorded two goals and six of his team's 31 shots, but lumped himself in with the rest of the group as having lacked desperation in the 4-2 loss.

After a potentially disastrous start to the season, the Anaheim Ducks are making history for all the right reasons.With a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, the Ducks won their 11th game in a row, setting a new team record for consecutive victories.The result also put Anaheim two points ahead of Los Angeles in the race for the Pacific Division crown, and marked Bruce Boudreau's 400th win as an NHL head coach.

As a Toronto Maple Leafs supporter, you either liked Dion Phaneuf as captain, or you hated him. There was no middle ground.One group of Phaneuf's detractors has a suite Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre, as the defenceman returns to Toronto as a member of the Ottawa Senators. It's safe to say they're big fans of Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello.

Sidney Crosby didn't quite like what he saw from his teammates in a loss to Calgary on Saturday.The Pittsburgh Penguins captain recorded two goals and six of his team's 31 shots, but lumped himself in with the rest of the group as having lacked desperation in the 4-2 loss.

In an act of intended goodwill, Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog tossed a puck over the glass during Saturday's pregame warmup to a young girl celebrating her birthday.While a clean catch wasn't made on the other end, a thumbs up and a head nod signaled a relatively happy ending to the story.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tensions were high when the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks took to the ice Saturday.Less than seven minutes into the game and before the first goal was scored, the Pacific Division foes engaged in a full-out line brawl, much to the delight of the Staples Center crowd.Here's a look at the penalty breakdown after the dust settled.(Courtesy: NHL.com)And on top of that, both Kevin Bieksa and Andy Andreoff were handed game misconducts for their roles in the action. Bieksa's absence forced the Ducks to play the rest of the game with only five defensemen.We think it's safe to say this rivalry is alive and well.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TORONTO – When he stepped onto the ice Saturday morning, Ottawa Senators defenseman Dion Phaneuf acknowledged that it felt a little weird.It probably didn’t help that a bunch of Toronto Maple Leafs fans were invited to watch the morning skate. Some of them stuck around to see Phaneuf; when he touched the puck, some even booed.“It was different, obviously, going out there this morning on this side,” Phaneuf said. “That’s the way it is right now and they (the fans) gave it to me a bit.”Phaneuf was back at Air Canada Centre for the first time since he was shipped to the Senators in a nine-player deal on Feb. 9. He’d spent seven years in Toronto, including more than six as Leafs captain. He was also a polarizing figure in the city, a lightning rod for criticism.However, it’s evident Phaneuf forged lasting relationships with his ex-teammates, as many players met up with their former captain for dinner on Friday. Many of them didn’t get a chance to say goodbye when Phaneuf was traded.“For me, it’s mixed emotions because I was such good friends with them. I enjoyed my time playing with them immensely,” Phaneuf said. “It was different going for dinner with the opposition side - I don’t usually do that but for them I made an exception.”One of the players at dinner was Leafs forward Nazem Kadri. For the first time in both of their careers, Phaneuf and Kadri will be looking across the ice and seeing the other as the enemy. With the trade not even a month old, it’s not a familiar look.“I’ve watched a couple of his games before (tonight) just keeping tabs on him a little bit,” Kadri said. “It’s pretty awkward to say the least, even doing the scrums after the game with his Ottawa Senators hat on and the red and the black, it just doesn’t sit too well with me yet.”Video tribute planned for Phaneuf on SaturdayThe Maple Leafs will honor Phaneuf with a television timeout video tribute during the first period. Back in October, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel returned to Toronto for the first time since being dealt in the offseason, but there was no acknowledgement of his return by the Maple Leafs during the game.Kessel led the team in scoring in each season he was a member of the Maple Leafs.The reason for the change this time around is largely due to the captaincy Phaneuf held. Although many will point to the team’s lack of success during Phaneuf’s tenure as its leader, that can never be taken away from him.At the Maple Leafs’ training facility, there are life-sized pictures of every past team captain. When Phaneuf retires, his likeness will join the ranks of Mats Sundin, Doug Gilmour, and Wendel Clark.The crowd reaction is expected to be what it usually is for a past player returning to Toronto. Every time Phaneuf touches the puck, the crowd is sure to boo. But during the video montage, there will be some applause.“I think it should be outstanding,” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said about the fan reaction he’s hoping to see. “In my opinion, and I’ve only had a limited time, (he is) a good man, played hard and trained right.”No matter what the reaction is, Phaneuf’s mindset will be on helping his new team grab a spot in the playoffs. Sitting seven points out heading into Saturday’s game, there is a lot at stake.“The bottom line is, once I was traded, I had two flights to go to Detroit and I had some time to reflect and I was all in,” Phaneuf said. “I’m excited to be part of the organization and I like the group that we have here and I just wanted to come and fit in. We’re fighting for our lives right now; it’s fun to be in a race.”Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

That sound you hear is the New Jersey Devils organization holding its collective breath.Cory Schneider will not play against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, and he'll be evaluated in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon when the Devils return home from Dallas, where Schneider left a 4-2 loss to the Stars on Friday with what the team called a lower-body injury.Related: Devils' Schneider hurt in loss to Stars after making stellar pad saveThe Devils won't provide another update on the goaltender's condition until Sunday.New Jersey sits five points back of Pittsburgh for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 16 games left, but the Penguins have two games in hand.If the Devils are forced to play more games without their No. 1 netminder, their playoff chances could be in serious jeopardy.(Courtesy: New Jersey Devils)Schneider has a 2.17 GAA and .923 save percentage with four shutouts while appearing in 55 of New Jersey's 66 games this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will get their first look at the man who wore the "C" for six season with the club Saturday night.Dion Phaneuf and the Ottawa Senators will renew the Battle of Ontario on Saturday as Phaneuf takes to the ice at the Air Canada Centre for the first time since being traded to the Senators nearly a month ago.

Last offseason saw a graduation of sorts for a number of backup goaltenders.Among them, Martin Jones, who broke away from the shadow cast by Jonathan Quick in Los Angeles, and Cam Talbot, who utilized a Henrik Lundqvist injury to put on a show on Broadway.Jones was ultimately traded and flipped, landing in San Jose, while Talbot was acquired by the Edmonton Oilers for three draft picks.The two have since occupied the starting positions with their respective clubs and are the latest proof that sometimes you have to pay your dues before making it big.With that in mind, here are three backup goalies who might follow in their footsteps as early as next season:Antti RaantaIt would appear Antti Raanta is trying to follow Talbot's journey as closely as he can.After seeing limited action with the Chicago Blackhawks last season as a third-string backup, Raanta was dealt to the Rangers to fill backup position behind Lundqvist.Raanta put up spectacular numbers last season, going 7-4-1 in just 14 games with a 1.89 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage. He has remained a solid second-in-command this season, going 7-4-2 in 17 games with a 2.30 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.The 26-year-old has a fairly small sample size, but if there is one thing we learned from Jones, it's that experience is not necessarily a deterrent. The current Sharks netminder made only 34 appearances with the Kings before landing a spot as the team's No.1.Raanta will hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent this summer.Frederik Andersen or John GibsonIt isn't always clear who the starter is and who the backup is for the Anaheim Ducks.Both Frederik Andersen and John Gibson have been used largely, with injuries and the hot hand usually driving the schedule. The two have had near equal stats this year and each have had their hand in helping the club rebound from a shaky start to the season.Goalie GP Wins GAA SV%Andersen35172.22.922Gibson28162.09.918With Gibson signed to a three-year, $6.9-million contract after this season and Andersen set to become a restricted free agent this summer, there is growing belief that the team will look to deal Andersen.Related: 3 goalies the Flames should target in the offseasonIf that is the case, both Gibson and Andersen could become starters next season. They're surely deserving of it.Michal NeuvirthTied for the fifth best save percentage with a .925 mark while rocking an impressive 2.29 goals-against average and three shutouts, it's only fair that Michal Neuvirth be given some credit for keeping the Philadelphia Flyers afloat in the Eastern Conference.The team sits just five points out from the final wild card spot in the East, all while backing a team that has given up the third-most shots per game (31.6), while deploying the 23rd most efficient offense.Steve Mason has received the bulk of the action, dressing in 37 games this season, but Neuvirth has been no stranger to the crease. He's suited up for 30 contests and boasts an impressive 16-8-4 record.The 27-year-old has the most career starts of any of the goaltenders above, and though he's had mixed results during his tenor, he holds a .914 career save percentage and a 2.67 goals-against average.Given a shot, Neuvirth could be a viable option for a club looking to upgrade in goal. And with a $1,625,000 price tag, what's not to like?Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey will soon get the moment he's waited three years for.The 20-year-old will make his NHL debut when the Jets take on the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

The 2015-16 season is not working out for Buffalo Sabres forward Matt Moulson.The 32-year-old been largely ineffective for the Sabres this season, managing just five goals through 64 games, and while his on-ice struggles seem to have stemmed from a lack of confidence, general manager Tim Murray believes it all starts with his workouts."I see a player that maybe has neglected some things in the last couple years as far as how workouts are changing, how we as an organization are changing with our young players and even our players on the team," Murray said on WGR 550-AM Radio, according to John Vogl of Buffalo News."He's sat up through some tough conversations. He's sat up and taken notice, and I would say in the last five to six weeks he has been our hardest-working guy after games in the gym."Moulson has been putting in the time; anything to help rekindle the offensive side of his game that saw him hit the 30-goal mark in three straight season from 2010 to 2012. However, Moulson denies that his workout habits have changed."I just think it was a case of, I kind of lost my confidence and building that back up by the way I'm working," said Moulson. "I don't think my workouts have really changed. I've taken my off-ice performances pretty seriously my entire life."Obviously, (it's) not the way I wanted it to go," said Moulson. "You want to help your team win and contribute. You always want to do that. I think for anyone that likes scoring goals you want to have more of them."In the meantime, the Sabres are hoping they can get Moulson back towards becoming the producer he has proven he can be for the 2016-17 campaign."The long-term goal is to have him better and able to produce starting next September in training camp, but it has started now," said Murray. "The extra work has started now. We know it won't pay off, like I say, tomorrow, but I fully expect he'll come back better next year."I don't expect to see a drastically different (player) but I expect to see a different, more competitive Matt Moulson next season."- With h/t to NBC SportsCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pacific Division is up for grabs Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles, and you'll forgive the Kings for wondering how that happened.The Anaheim Ducks will roll into the Staples Center on one hell of a streak, having won 10 in a row. They're flying, going 17-1-1 in their last 19, and posting a 20-4-2 mark since 2016 began.The two teams have met three times since Jan. 17, with the Ducks losing the first meeting 3-2, but winning the next two games 4-2. Both have 80 points in 63 games, and both excel defensively."(Saturday's) a big game, one of the biggest games of the year," said Kings defenseman Brayden McNabb.It should live up to the hype. Here's how the clubs match up, and there isn't much difference between them:DucksStatisticKings2.51 (22nd)Goals Per Game2.63 (17th)2.29 (2nd)Goals Against2.27 (1st)22.9% (3rd)Power Play21.5% (9th)86.7% (2nd)Penalty Kill81.4% (13th)53% (3rd)Corsi For %56.3% (1st)91 (29th)Goals For 5on598 (24th)99 (9th)Goals Against 5on590 (1st)98.6 (29th)PDO99.4 (22nd)Individually, the clubs line up similarly as well:Ducks Statistic KingsCorey Perry (28)GoalsTyler Toffoli (24)Ryan Getzlaf (42)AssistsAnze Kopitar (35)Getzlaf (51)PointsKopitar (54)Frederik Andersen (17)WinsJonathan Quick (32)John Gibson (2.09)GAAQuick (2.18)Andersen (.922)SV%Quick (.920)Gibson (4)ShutoutsQuick (3)Both teams have five players with over 35 points. Yeah, this game's going to be good.Should the Ducks win, they'll set a new franchise record for wins in a row with 11. And you know, to a man, they'd love to set the record against the Kings."It's going to be the biggest game of the year, and everybody knows that going in ," said Kings winger Dwight King. "We know what's on the line, so it's going to be pretty much playoff hockey."Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils may have lost their MVP on Friday night.Goaltender Cory Schneider left the game early in the third period after making a brilliant right pad save on Dallas Stars forward Jason Spezza. Schneider was replaced by Keith Kinkaid, and was favoring his right leg as he left the ice.The 29-year-old lunged back towards the goal line after a shot wide came off the boards to Spezza, who tried to put it in. Schneider got his pad down in time, but wasn't able to get back up after the play.The Devils offered no update to Schneider's condition after the game."We'll see what happens when we get back to (New Jersey)," head coach John Hynes said, according to The Star-Ledger's Rich Chere. "If he's hurt, we'll move on without him. If he's not, we'll see him soon."The Devils won't leave Dallas until late Saturday morning, according to The Record's Tom Gulitti.Schneider didn't have a Schneider-like night Friday, allowing three goals on 18 shots. He came into the game with a .924 save percentage - ranking fourth among goalies who have played at least 40 games - and four shutouts in 54 starts.If Schneider - recently named one of three goalies who will represent the United States at the World Cup in September - is hurt long term, the Devils can kiss their playoff chances goodbye. They're five points out of the second wild-card spot, with the Pittsburgh Penguins owning three games in hand.The Devils lost 4-2.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.