Carey Price continues to make significant progress in his recovery from a lower-body injury that's kept him out of the lineup since Nov. 25.Related: Carey Price skates in full equipmentJust a day after being named to Team Canada's 16-man preliminary roster for the World Cup of Hockey, Price was back on the ice in full equipment, facing shots for the first time since suffering the ailment.

How things can change in a hurry.On Jan. 20, the Los Angeles Kings were cruising atop the Pacific Division, with 61 points and a cushy nine-point lead over the San Jose Sharks. The Arizona Coyotes occupied third place in the division, while the struggling Anaheim Ducks sat outside of a playoff spot, 16 points back of their division-leading rivals.That was then, and this is now.Related: Gibson leads red-hot Ducks to 9th straight winThe Kings have seen their lead atop the Pacific evaporate completely, sitting tied with the Ducks at 78 points with just 20 games remaining. To put the improbable shift into context, Anaheim has managed to make up 16 points in just 18 games.Team On Jan. 20 Since Jan. 20Los Angeles Kings29-13-38-8-1Anaheim Ducks19-8-716-1-1The Ducks are without a doubt the hottest team in the league right now, sporting a record of 16-1-1 - highlighted by nine consecutive victories - over the past six weeks. They've received help from the Kings, as well.Here's how Anaheim's impressive resurgence occurred:The Perron-Hagelin TradeThe Ducks traded forward Carl Hagelin to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward David Perron on Jan. 16. The exchange paid immediate dividends, sparking a significant change in Anaheim.Related: Ducks trade Hagelin to Penguins for Perron, ClendeningPerron recorded points in five of his first six games with the Ducks, and has continued to produce at an impressive clip. After recording just four goals and 12 assists in 43 games with the Penguins, the 27-year-old has tallied seven goals and 10 assists over 19 contests in Anaheim.With the sudden addition of a near point-per-game producer, the Ducks were able to split up stars Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, creating a much more well-rounded top six. It also allowed iron man Andrew Cogliano to drop down a spot, forming a solid third line.

John Gibson made 25 saves as the Anaheim Ducks earned their ninth consecutive victory with a 3-2 shootout win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.Gibson preserved the victory with a nice save on Max Pacioretty to end it.

Somewhere, Hockey Canada's management team is smiling.Hours after being named to Canada's initial roster for the upcoming World Cup of Hockey, Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 31 of 33 shots in a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.Crawford set a new career high with his 34th win of the season, accomplishing the feat with 18 games remaining.He improved to 34-16-3, breaking his previous career high of 33 victories set in his first full season back in 2010-11.Patrick Kane tied a career high of his own, notching his 88th point of the season with an assist on Artemi Panarin's second goal of the game late in the third period.The Red Wings won't have to wait long to exact some revenge, as they'll travel to the United Center in Chicago for a rematch on Sunday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrew Ladd is back on the scoresheet as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.The veteran winger, acquired from the Winnipeg Jets in advance of the NHL's trade deadline, scored his first goal with the club since the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, from which the Blackhawks emerged victorious.A few more of these could help Chicago to another happy ending.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the Washington Capitals keep winning, their head coach continues to cement his legacy.The Capitals hung on Wednesday for a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, giving Barry Trotz his 649th career win and moving him past Ron Wilson and into sole possession of ninth on the all-time list.He accomplished the feat in his 1,341st game, doing so in 60 fewer contests than Wilson. The Capitals bench boss is now 24 wins from Mike Keenan, who ranks eighth all-time.Trotz is one of four active coaches in the top nine:RankHead CoachWinsGames1Scotty Bowman124421412Joel Quenneville79314393Al Arbour78216074Ken Hitchcock74513885Dick Irvin69214496Lindy Ruff69013947Pat Quinn68414008Mike Keenan67213869Barry Trotz649134110Ron Wilson6481401Many of these coaches earned their wins in the three-outcome era (wins, losses, and ties), but Trotz's milestone is impressive nonetheless.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The United States revealed a well-rounded initial roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey on Wednesday, but some difficult decisions remain.Related: Patrick Kane leads USA's initial World Cup rosterThe American side will have the likes of USA mainstays Patrick Kane, Max Pacioretty, Joe Pavelski, and Zach Parise, but it won't feature Johnny Gaudreau, Dylan Larkin, Brandon Saad, or Seth Jones, all of whom were named to the initial 23-and-under North American squad due to the tournament's eligibility rules.That's unfortunate for USA general manager Dean Lombardi, but there are plenty of reliable options for the remaining spots.Here are the seven players who should be added before the final roster deadline on June 1:ForwardsPhil KesselHe's had a disappointing campaign - by his standards - in his first season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Kessel absolutely deserves a spot on this team.The 28-year-old already has five 30-goal seasons on his resume, and he's represented the United States in two Olympic Games, three World Championships, and two under-21 World Junior Hockey Championships.Kessel is one of the USA's best pure scoring options, and his experience on the international stage makes him a no-brainer.Kyle OkposoOkposo is one of the most consistent American playmakers when healthy, and he's tied for fifth among U.S.-born skaters this season with 48 points in 59 games.He's represented his country at three World Championships and two World Junior Hockey Championships.Bobby RyanRyan is another remarkably consistent scorer who's played for Team USA in the Olympics, World Championships, and the world juniors.Although a lot of right wingers have a similar resume, the U.S. should prioritize skill over preferred position.Brandon DubinskyHe's not a prototypical offensive force, but the Columbus Blue Jackets center brings a blend of skill and sandpaper to the American squad, which already features Justin Abdelkader and Ryan Kesler.Dubinsky can get under the skin of opponents, and he has a long history with Sidney Crosby. Lombardi clearly added Abdelkader and Kesler with physicality in mind, and Dubinsky would round out an imposing grind line.DefensemenKeith YandleYandle is tied for third among American defensemen with 35 points this season, and he hasn't posted an even-strength Corsi For percentage below 50 since 2008-09.The New York Rangers blue-liner drives possession and provides stability on the back end.Justin FaulkFaulk is tied for the league lead in power-play goals among defensemen, and he'll be 24 on March 20, meaning the Carolina Hurricanes defender should be eligible to play for the U.S. in this tournament.Kevin ShattenkirkShattenkirk ranks sixth in points among American blue-liners with 33 in 56 games, and he's on pace to surpass the 40-point plateau for the third straight season.The St. Louis Blues defenseman is no stranger to the U.S. national program, representing his home nation in three previous tournaments.David Backes, Matt Niskanen, Ryan Callahan, Lee Stempniak, and Kyle Palmieri could all be considered as potential injury replacements, but their cases aren't as convincing as the aforementioned seven.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Overlooked by Team Canada for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, Roberto Luongo has something else in mind:

The Washington Capitals welcomed Brooks Laich back to the Verizon Center with a video tribute during a TV timeout Wednesday, which drew a standing ovation from the fans.A visibly emotional Laich demonstrated his appreciation to the Capitals faithful with a raising of the stick and a clap of the mitts.

The initial 16-player roster for the World Cup of Hockey is set, and Team Canada's brass - led by general manager Doug Armstrong - has less than three months to fill out the full 23-man roster.Related: Crosby headlines Canada's initial 16-man World Cup rosterHere's a look at who should be getting the call:ForwardsCorey PerryIt's rare for Perry and Ryan Getzlaf to be separated, and with the Anaheim Ducks center having already been named to the squad, the winger is sure to follow.Perry is a Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a World Junior Championships gold medalist, and since Canada traditionally values pre-existing chemistry, expect him to line up alongside Getzlaf in this tournament.Taylor HallThe Edmonton Oilers remain a huge question mark, but it's no fault of Hall's. Among Canadian left wingers this season, Hall ranks second in points to Jamie Benn, who's already been named to the team.The 24-year-old helped Canada to a World Championship in 2015, and should be called upon to represent his country once again as a premiere player at his position.Claude GirouxThe Philadelphia Flyers captain has been as consistent as they come as an NHL center, averaging 0.9 points per game in his career.Overlooked for the past two Winter Olympics, Giroux was a member of Canada's 2015 World Championship-winning team, and also won World Junior gold in 2008.Canada is already stacked at center, but Giroux's right-handed shot could slot in as a winger, and a dynamic one at that.Brad MarchandThe Boston Bruins winger sits in a tie with Benn and Tyler Seguin for third among NHL players with 32 goals this season, and in six fewer games. Only Alex Ovechkin and Patrick Kane can boast a higher total.And speaking of chemistry, Marchand has been excelling alongside Patrice Bergeron for years, and, like in Boston, this pair could give international opposition all it can handle at either end of the ice.Don't forget, Marchand also has two World Junior gold medals as a member of the 2007 and 2008 teams.DefensemenP.K. SubbanThis one's too easy.Subban is one of the game's most exciting players, and is a Norris Trophy winner as the top player at his position.Questions abound in regards to his propensity to give away the puck, but he leads the league in that category because a player of his skill level commands it on his stick as often as possible.The World Cup is meant to be a showcase for the game's best players, and Subban is indeed just that. He should be on this team, especially with the tournament being played in his hometown.Brent BurnsAmong all defensemen this season, only Erik Karlsson has recorded more points than Burns, while the San Jose Sharks blue liner ranks first with 21 goals and 265 shots.Like a few mentioned above, Burns played for the 2015 World Championship team, and his superb play offensively and defensively warrants a spot on the World Cup team, especially considering his familiarity with Marc-Edouard Vlasic, one of the four named to the initial roster.Kris LetangThe Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman is sandwiched between Burns and Subban in terms of points by Canadian defensemen this season, and is, of course, familiar with star center Sidney Crosby.A series of unfortunate injuries have befallen Letang in recent seasons, but the two-time World Championship gold medal winner and Stanley Cup champion has been good for 0.61 points per game in his career.It's high time for Letang to be featured in a major international tournament.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey got a lot more real Wednesday.Initial 16-man rosters were unveiled by the eight teams set to face off for global hockey supremacy in September.Rosters

Hockey fans around the globe will have some slick new jerseys to add to their closets in the coming months.With the 2016 World Cup set for September, and on the day when 16 players were named to each of the eight teams, the NHL also revealed the jerseys to be worn at the event, all courtesy of Adidas.Here they are in all their glory, with the first four representing traditional European squads:Czech Republic

Patrick Kane will lead Team USA at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.Here's a look at the initial 16-man roster for the American squad:ForwardsKane, Chicago Blackhawks

The first 16 players have been named to Canada's 2016 World Cup roster and, not surprisingly, the team will be built around Sidney Crosby.Here's a look at the initial list:ForwardsJamie Benn, Dallas Stars

Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel will team up to lead Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.The first two picks in the 2015 draft were among the 16 players named to the initial roster for the under-23 team from the western hemisphere.ForwardsMcDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara and Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar will lead a team of Europe's finest at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.Team Europe announced its initial 16-player roster Wednesday. With players coming from European countries outsides of the power-houses of Russia, Sweden, Finland, and Czech Republic, general manager Miroslav Satan had his hands full, but his initial 16 looks to be steady.ForwardsF Mikkel Boedker, Colorado Avalanche (Denmark)

The NHL expects the World Cup of Hockey to be a regular occurrence.The tournament will take place every four years, with the next one in 2020, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr announced Wednesday.Related: World Cup of Hockey roster announcements scheduleThe Toronto edition of the tournament will take place this September, and Daly expects future host cities will be selected through a bidding process.Daly said they've considered holding the event midseason, similar to the Olympics, but it's unlikely they head down that road since September gives the competing countries time to hold training camps.The inaugural edition of the tournament will take place from Sept. 17 to Oct.1.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey will truly be unlike anything we've ever seen.While clubs began to announce their initial 16-man rosters Wednesday, leaked logos for the teams also began surfacing online Wednesday through Icethetics, with each established team appearing to offer slight variations on looks we've come to expect - and others having to start from scratch.Team USA appears to have found a new take on its simple logos of the past.

For the first time in nine weeks, the Washington Capitals have been dethroned from the top spot in the NHL power rankings. It's certainly not anything they did, but with just one regulation loss since Jan. 17, the Anaheim Ducks are on absolute fire.Although the aforementioned duo are certainly legitimate Stanley Cup contenders this season, they'll need to watch their back. The surging Tampa Bay Lightning are hot on their tail, closing in on the Florida Panthers and the top spot in the Atlantic Division in the process.Here are this week's power rankings:1. Anaheim Ducks â–²

Sweden is in a position to avenge its disappointing loss to Canada in the gold medal game at the Sochi Olympics, naming an impressive preliminary roster Wednesday for the World Cup of Hockey.The Swedish Ice Hockey Association named its first 16 players, consisting of eight forwards, six defensemen, and two goalies.New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist will lead Sweden behind a formidable blue line headlined by Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson. Up front, youngsters Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators and Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche will complement a solid veteran core.Here's the initial 16-man roster:ForwardsF Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals

Scott Gomez's stellar play in the American Hockey League has earned him a NHL contract.The Ottawa Senators have signed the 36-year-old to a one-year contract that will keep him with the team for the rest of the season.

The Florida Panthers have added another talented prospect to their arsenal.The team signed Moose Jaw Warriors forward Dryden Hunt to an entry-level contract Wednesday, general manager Dale Tallon announced.The 20-year-old leads the Western Hockey League with 50 goals through 63 games, 11 more than Boston Bruins draft pick Jesse Gabrielle, who sits second.Hunt was named the WHL's Player of the Month for January and followed that up with five hat tricks in February. His 102 points also slot him just two back of top spot in the league.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's fourth all-time leading scorer, Jaromir Jagr, was an obvious omission from the Czech Republic's roster for the World Cup of Hockey, named Wednesday.The Florida Panthers forward was expected to be left off, but he may still be included when the remaining roster spots are announced no later than June 1 - as could his new Panthers teammate Jiri Hudler.The team's general manager, former NHLer Martin Rucinsky, explained the decision in a conference call Wednesday.

Even though they no longer wear the same jersey, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel will always have Dion Phaneuf's back.Kessel, who played alongside Phaneuf for six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, said his former teammate was often mistreated throughout his tenure as captain of the team."Obviously, Dion is a great player and a good friend of mine," Kessel said Tuesday. "I think he's misunderstood in Toronto. I think a lot of times he wasn't treated fairly through the media and through the fans."The 28-year-old sniper adds that the duo have kept in touch, and that Phaneuf is embracing his new role with the Ottawa Senators."I've talked to (Phaneuf) a little bit," Kessel said. "He's a professional. I think he knows now you can always get traded in this league."Phaneuf has certainly found his game since being traded. The 30-year-old has recorded one goal and six assists in 10 games with his new club.The two former teammates will face off against each other for the first time since the trade on April 5 in Ottawa.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Finland's initial World Cup of Hockey roster announced Wednesday features 10 forwards, four defensemen, and two goalies.Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask - who shut out the U.S. in the bronze-medal game at the Sochi Olympics, making 27 saves in a 5-0 win - will be back in the crease. Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne was also named to the team. Up front, Leo Komarov will represent the Maple Leafs at the tournament in Toronto.ForwardsAleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

The World Cup of hockey will become more of a reality Wednesday, as initial 16-man rosters for the eight participating teams will be announced.Canada's roster drops at 6:05 p.m. ET (Sportsnet) and the Unites States' at 6:45 p.m. ET (Sportscenter).Schedule

The Dallas Stars thought they addressed their big area of weakness, goaltending, in the offseason, but shaky play between the pipes continues to haunt the club.The Master PlanAfter his club finished next to last in team save percentage last season (.895), general manager Jim Nill decided to compliment incumbent Kari Lehtonen with the acquisition of Antti Niemi from San Jose.At the time, Nill contended the NHL had become a two-goalie league, and that a healthy measure of competition would be beneficial for both Lehtonen and Niemi.The GM was so confident in this philosophy that he, with the blessing of owner Tom Gaglardi, put pen to paper on a three-year, $13.5-million contract for Niemi, even with Lehtonen already signed through to the end of 2017-18 with a cap hit of $5.9 million.Add it all up, and the Stars entered the season with a supposed 1A/1B goalie combo carrying a combined salary cap hit of $10.4 million.Where They StandWith 17 games remaining in the regular season, the Stars have posted a record of 38-20-7, good for a share of the Central Division lead in points along with Chicago and St. Louis.Following a loss to Nashville on Tuesday, however, Dallas has gone 3-5-2 over the past 10 games, allowing 40 goals against over that span.It's an ugly stretch, and it certainly hasn't helped the overall numbers posted by Lehtonen and Niemi to date.PlayerGames PlayedRecordSave %GAAShutoutsAntti Niemi4222-12-6.9032.723Kari Lehtonen3116-8-1.9062.931What's boosting the Stars is their elite-level offense, which ranks first in the NHL with 209 goals, four more than Washington, albeit in three more games played.That's all well and good, but Dallas finished last season in the second spot in terms of goals for (one behind Tampa Bay) yet failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing the regular season with a plus-1 goal differential.The OutlookBased on the NHL's current playoff format, the Stars would have to beat two divisional opponents to advance to the Western Conference finals. Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, and Minnesota have better team save percentages to date, and even Colorado's goalies - a team now on the outside looking in - have performed better than the Stars' duo.At present, only five teams have allowed more goals than the Stars, and while the addition of the shot-blocking Kris Russell is expected to shore up the defense, the Stars' strong regular season could very well translate into a first-or second-round playoff exit if the goaltenders don't improve.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators are on a roll.With a 5-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, the Music City squad pushed its recent record to 7-0-3, tying a franchise record with points in 10 consecutive games.Nashville's past three wins, all in regulation, have come against Chicago, St. Louis, and, now, Dallas, all teams that sit ahead of the Predators in the Central Division standings.The latest win helped the Predators secure their hold on the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, and their upcoming schedule appears conducive to at least a few more wins.

The Minnesota Wild's scoring woes appear to be a thing of the past as John Torchetti's club matched a season-high in goals in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche.The two points draw the Wild even with the Avalanche at 68 points, but with a game in hand, Minnesota holds the final Western Conference wild-card spot.Western Conference Wild Card StandingsRnkTeamGP WLOPts1Nashville64322111752Minnesota64292510683Colorado653229468It was just over a month ago when the Wild scored six goals over a six-game period from Jan. 9-20. The team has now scored at least five goals in five of nine games since replacing head coach Mike Yeo with Torchetti on Feb. 13.A big part of their recent success has been the production from their third line of Erik Haula, Jason Pominville, and Nino Niederreiter. The trio combined for seven points against the Avalanche, with all three scoring breakaway goals in the first period, ending the night of Avalanche starter Semyon Varlamov."They want to play on both sides of the puck," Torchetti said of the line, per Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. "I think the whole team can learn from that."We talk a lot, on the bench, to support each other," Niederreiter added. The winger would score on an empty net in the third to help him and Pominville finish with three-point nights."This game was one I think everyone had marked down and wanted to win," Pominville said postgame. "And everyone responded."

Advantage Connor McDavid.In the initial showdown between the first and second overall picks from the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, it was the Edmonton Oilers who came out on top against Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1.McDavid, who opened the scoring a mere 22 seconds into the first period, finished things off in overtime with this goal on Robin Lehner. The goal came moments after a glorious opportunity for Eichel.Considering these two youngsters will be linked for quite some time, McDavid sounded as though he was happy to get their first encounter out of the way.

Ottawa Senators forward J.G. Pageau literally scored at the absolute last possible moment to send Tuesday's game against the St. Louis Blues to overtime.The goal came with 0.1 seconds left on the clock and was Pageau's 16th, with the 15th coming less than three minutes earlier to make it 3-2.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With a fantastic glove save to rob Carl Hagelin in the final minute, goaltender Braden Holtby ensured his second consecutive 40-win season, as the Washington Capitals beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Tuesday.

The St. Louis Blues have a special player in Vladimir Tarasenko.With this snipe Tuesday in Ottawa, the 24-year-old's 30th goal of the season, Tarasenko became the youngest Blues player with back-to-back 30-goal campaigns since Brendan Shanahan in 1992-93 and 1993-94.

Will the Colorado Avalanche defense please stand up?The Minnesota Wild's third line of Nino Niederreiter, Jason Pominville, and Erik Haula stayed hot Tuesday, as all three scored on first-period breakaways.After Haula's marker - which gave his team a 3-1 lead - he made some friends by sticking out his tongue while skating by the Avs' bench.

After Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney decided to hold on to winger Loui Eriksson at the NHL trade deadline, the two sides are in a position - at least in theory - to negotiate a long-term agreement to keep the nine-year veteran with the organization.Eriksson said Tuesday he's happy to still be with the Bruins and that a contract extension is certainly possible."It's definitely nice to be still here," Eriksson said, according to Matt Kalman of NHL.com. "It was kind of a stressful day (Monday) and not really knowing what's going to happen. I'm just happy to be here. It's a lot easier for me and my family to stay here and finish the season and try to make this team make the (Stanley Cup) playoffs and be a good team. So I'm really happy to be still here."Added Eriksson, "Now we have some more time to negotiate and maybe get something done and like I said, all I can do now is just to play games and try to win games and help this team."The 30-year-old is in the midst of a productive season for the Bruins, with 23 goals and 28 points through 63 games. Those numbers, however, are boosting his bid to secure a big-money contract, something the Bruins seem unwilling to commit to at this point.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Islanders spent a third-round pick to acquire forward Shane Prince from the Ottawa Senators on deadline day, and the club isn't wasting any time throwing him into the spotlight.The 23-year-old will make his Islanders debut on the first line alongside Ryan Strome and captain John Tavares as they face the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, head coach Jack Capuano told Newsday's Arthur Staple."(Prince) is a player we feel can rotate up and down the lineup to different lines and has some untapped potential," added general manager Garth Snow. "He can help us now and hopefully in the future."The Rochester, N.Y. native has spent most of the season on a line with grinders Zack Smith and Chris Neil, but will finally get a chance to show if he can produce in a scoring role.The Prince acquisition was a surprising one for the Islanders, as it was rumored the team was trying to acquire Tavares' former linemate P.A. Parenteau from the Toronto Maple Leafs, but were ultimately unwilling to give up a second-round pick.The rookie has three goals and nine assists in 42 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel will share the same sheet of NHL ice for the first time in their professional careers Tuesday night in Buffalo.Huge deal, yeah?Perhaps to everyone except the first and second overall selections in last year's draft.Naturally, McDavid and Eichel rejected the notion that Tuesday night's clash was anything more than the Buffalo Sabres hosting the Edmonton Oilers in a matchup of two clubs desperate for points."The media has us pegged as not liking each other or being rivals (when) we really just don't know each other," McDavid said.Eichel was particularly dismissive in his media availability."I think you guys all probably want to view it that way but I think inside the room you don't look at it like that. It's a team game. There's five guys on the ice and a goalie. It's a lot more than two people playing against each other," Eichel said."We're playing the Oilers tonight, we're not playing Connor McDavid. Obviously he's a key component to their team, and he's a good player. Right after I get out of here I'll go pre-scout Edmonton and I will know what to do."Though they'll have to deal with this line of questioning for at least the next several seasons, there's hope for McDavid and Eichel to escape their constant comparison eventually.These days, the Oilers and Stars can meet without "Taylor versus Tyler" dominating the pre- and post-game chatter, and even Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin's apparent distaste for one another seems to have subsided, too.Until then.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf, Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, and Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg have been named the NHL's Three Stars of the Month, the league announced Tuesday.The red-hot Getzlaf earned first star honors with six goals and 14 assists in 14 games, leading the Ducks to a 12-1-1 record in February.

With an 11-point cushion in the Presidents' Trophy race, it's no surprise oddsmakers have pinned the Washington Capitals as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.Oddsmakers Bodog released the latest betting odds Tuesday, and once again the first-place Capitals are leading the charge.Here's how all 30 teams stack up:

Suspended Anaheim Ducks center Shawn Horcoff was back at practice for the first time Tuesday since it was announced in January that he had violated the NHL and NHLPA's Performance Enhancing Substances Program.Though he can skate with the team now, after a month of inaction, he will not be at head coach Bruce Boudreau's disposal until March 11.Horcoff had 10 points through 45 games in his first season with Anaheim, which has shot up the league standings in his absence.The Ducks acquired two bottom-six players at the trade deadline in Brandon Pirri and Jamie McGinn.Horcoff is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for February, the league announced Tuesday.McDavid edged Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin for the honor after an absolutely dominant 14-game stretch in his return from a 37-game absence on Feb. 2.

The Connor McDavid effect will be put to the test once again Tuesday.Nail Yakupov is staying put past the trade deadline, and it appears he'll have every opportunity to show the Edmonton Oilers what he's capable of in the final 18 games of the season. With Benoit Pouliot reportedly sidelined indefinitely due to a separated shoulder, Yakupov will slot in next to McDavid and Jordan Eberle on Edmonton's top line against the Buffalo Sabres.

He might be one of his best friends, but Alex Ovechkin plans to bring the hurt when he faces former teammate Brooks Laich.The Washington Capitals host the Toronto Maple Leafs Wednesday in the first matchup between the clubs since the two executed the trade that sent Laich, Connor Carrick, and a second-round pick to the Maple Leafs for forward Danniel Winnik and a fifth-round pick, and Ovechkin doesn't plan to take it easy."When we have a power play he’s gonna be PK and I’m gonna shoot him in the foot and laugh about it," Ovechkin said, according to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.Ovechkin sent his well wishes early Sunday morning after learning about the trade. The two had been the longest-serving Capitals on the roster, both suiting up for their first full season with the team in 2005.

Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo has been issued a five-game suspension from the NHL's Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette.The NHL cited Rinaldo's lengthy suspension history, and ultimately deemed that Paquette's head - the principal point of contact - was avoidable in his attempt to separate the Lightning center from the puck last Sunday.Rinaldo has since been sent to the American Hockey League's Providence Bruins, so it will be up to the minor-league outfit to uphold the suspension.He's now accrued 19 games in suspension from four separate incidents in parts of six seasons since making it to the NHL, as Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe points out.He will forfeit nearly $52,000 as a result of his latest ban.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL Trade Deadline came and went Monday, and, aside from a flurry of activity after 3 p.m. (13 deals were announced following the deadline), it was certainly a day containing very little drama.

The Nashville Predators have come to an agreement on a two-year contract extension with depth forward Miikka Solomaki, the club announced Tuesday.He will earn $1.225 million over the two-year term, which will see him earn a tidy pay bump in 2017-18.