The Winnipeg Jets came away big winners in the Dustin Byfuglien deal, and while there's little hope for the club this season, the limited term on his contract extension gives them the flexibility to compete in the years to come.General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff should be thrilled after extending Byfuglien for three years less than the eight-year, $55-million request the defenseman's camp reportedly made in December.Related: Jets, Byfuglien agree to 5-year, $38M contract extensionThey'll pay $7.6 million against the cap - a slight increase on the $6.875 million hit that would have accompanied the initial ask - but that's a small price to pay for the fact that Byfuglien will be off the books by 2021.Byfuglien turns 31 next month and is showing no signs of slowing down, but getting him under contract without committing to as many of his post-prime years is a coup for the Jets.Winnipeg locked up an arguably irreplaceable defenseman who possesses a rare combination of offensive talent and physicality while resolving one of its two major uncertainties three weeks before the trade deadline.Andrew Ladd - the other uncertainty - is reportedly being shopped, and his play has dropped off dramatically since he authored a career-best season in 2014-15. Captaincy aside, parting with Ladd is academic now, as the Jets look to rebuild with more affordable talent.The Byfuglien extension is the first major step in that direction. He won't be part of Winnipeg's next generation, but he's a vital component of the current roster."Where we started and where we are now, I don't feel as an organization and as a group that we're far off," Byfuglien told reporters after the deal was announced Monday.He's right. The Jets are all but a certainty to miss the playoffs after qualifying last season, but they have a skilled core including forwards Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, Mark Scheifele and Drew Stafford, along with 21-year-old defenseman Jacob Trouba, towering blue-liner Tyler Myers, and promising goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.Hellebuyck, Trouba, and 19-year-old forward Nikolaj Ehlers are already contributing at the NHL level, and there's more talent coming. First-round picks Josh Morrissey and Kyle Connor aren't far behind, and neither is 2013 second-round selection Nic Petan.Byfuglien's five-year pact will make it easier to keep the future foundation intact, while allowing the Jets to remain competitive until that time comes.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first domino has fallen.The Winnipeg Jets inked defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a five-year, $38-million contract Monday, quickly shifting the focus to captain Andrew Ladd.Related: Report: Panthers, Canucks potential suitors if Andrew Ladd goes on trading blockPrior to the five-year commitment the Jets made to the blue-liner Monday, league executives believed Ladd would likely be the odd man out in Winnipeg after the trade deadline.General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff addressed the media Monday about where the club stands on a potential Ladd extension:

Winnipeg Jets forward Drew Stafford has been suspended one game for high-sticking Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nick Holden, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Monday.Stafford was given a double-minor for high-sticking Saturday after his stick unintentionally hit Holden's face, forcing the blue-liner to leave the game briefly for repairs.It's the first time Stafford has been fined or suspended by the league.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's nice to feel wanted.That's exactly how Dustin Byfuglien must have felt upon receiving a warm reaction from his Winnipeg Jets teammates after head coach Paul Maurice announced the club had signed him to five-year, $38-million contract extension.

The Winnipeg Jets and Dustin Byfuglien agreed to terms on a five-year, $38-million contract extension, the club announced Monday.Related: Byfuglien mobbed by Jets teammates following contract extension announcementThe 30-year-old defenseman was a pending unrestricted free agent, and he's in the final season of a five-year, $26-million deal.

New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault informed reporters that forward Rick Nash will miss his sixth-consecutive game Monday against the New Jersey Devils due to a bone bruise in his left leg, but it appears he won't remain out of the lineup for too much longer."Today he came in and said he's feeling a lot better," Vigneault said. The 31-year-old has not played since blocking a Justin Faulk shot in the third period of a Jan. 19 game against the Carolina Hurricanes.The Rangers have won three of five games despite Nash's absence, but Vigneault is hopeful that the six-time All-Star could return to the lineup later this week."We might give him another day or two more," the head coach continued. "It's not an exact science, bone bruises, so we'll see how he feels in a day or two and go from there."The Rangers will also be without Ryan McDonagh on Monday, who was diagnosed with a concussion as a result of a punch from Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds on Saturday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After watching 39-year-old Peyton Manning pick up his second Super Bowl victory Sunday, the NHL's elder statesman - 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr - unlike many, doesn't think the Denver Broncos quarterback's career is over just yet."I don't think he's going to retire, I think he's going to play," the Florida Panthers forward said of Manning, according to ESPN's Craig Custance. "I don't know him personally, he's going to listen to a lot of bulls--- from media. 'He's not good anymore and he's too old.' But they won it."Currently tied for the Panthers' scoring lead with 37 points, Jagr admitted he can't understand the idea that older players should end their career after winning a championship."Why do you want to retire when your team won the championship? It wouldn't make sense to me. I'm always thinking differently than everybody else. Why you should retire on the top? I don't get it," Jagr said. "People say you should retire when you're the best. What's the reason? It doesn't make sense to me. Are you wanting to die when you hit 35 when you feel the best? You know what I mean?"Jagr and the Panthers will look to increase their lead atop the Atlantic with a pair of upcoming games against division rivals. They will visit the Detroit Red Wings on Monday before heading to First Niagara Centre to face the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michael Grabner showed his appreciation in a big way.The Toronto Maple Leafs forward, who spent three seasons playing for the WHL's Spokane Chiefs upon moving to North America from his native Austria, surprised the family with whom he lived during those days with tickets to Super Bowl 50 and a flight to California.Rachael and Rob McCann hosted Grabner during his junior days, and he decided to pay the family back for years of not only making him feel like part of the family, but also making fun of Rachael's favorite NFL team, the Denver Broncos.From The Spokesman-Review:

The NHL's scoring race is over.Except, maybe it isn't.With 32 goals and 44 assists through 56 games, Patrick Kane's 76 points puts him 17 clear of the next most productive players, making him a virtual lock to win the Art Ross Trophy.But if there's anyone who might be able to challenge the Chicago Blackhawks winger, it's Sidney Crosby.The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar is on an absolute tear as of late, earning the NHL's most recent first star of the week after recording eight points in his last three games.Still, with only 22 goals and 27 assists through 50 games, Crosby is averaging less than a point per game on the season and sits 10th in overall scoring, 27 points behind Kane.So how on earth could Crosby possibly catch Kane?Career averagesFor starters, the current production of both players is way off in terms of their career averages.After a truly uncharacteristic start, in which he recorded only 27 points in his first 36 games, Crosby is only now beginning to come close to the kinds of numbers the hockey world has become accustomed to seeing out of arguably the best player on earth.Sidney CrosbyGoalsAssistsPointsShotsSh%2015-160.440.540.983.1613.9Career0.480.851.333.3214.4Kane had hit the 75-point mark only once before in his career prior to this season, and it's only because of his offensive outburst to start 2015-16 that he's now averaging a point per game for his career.Patrick KaneGoalsAssistsPointsShotsSh%2015-160.570.791.363.4816.4Career0.380.631.003.0412.3On top of that, both players' shooting and success rates are also out of whack as compared to their career averages, giving further basis for a balancing of the scales as the season continues.Games remainingEven still, Kane is on pace for 111 points, while Crosby is in line for only 78.But here's where the schedule comes in to play.Chicago has played a league-high 56 games, meaning there's only 26 remaining on their schedule. Meanwhile, the Penguins have 31 games yet to play, having seen only 51 dates come and go. Quick math tells us Crosby has five more games to work with than Kane.But is it enough time to make up the gap?In 14 games to begin 2016, Crosby has recorded 13 goals and nine assists, good for an average of 1.57 points per game. Even if he were to maintain that level of play over the course of the next 31 games, it would only give him an additional 49 points, equalling his total to date and giving him 98 on the season.That, of course, would fall well short of Kane's projected total.Again we point back to the fact that Kane's numbers are well above what's become normal for him throughout his career, meaning there's reason to believe he will slow down and therefore not reach the 110-point mark.Averaging a point per contest over the next 26 games would give Kane an additional (you guessed it) 26 points, or a total of 105.So all things considered, Kane should still be able to hold Crosby off.HealthA big X-factor here is health, with both players having become familiar with the injured reserve list in the past.Crosby has yet to play a full 82-game season, missing seven over the past two season after three years of extensive injury issues. For his part, Kane's past two seasons have been cut very short due to leg and shoulder injuries.It's a hypothetical caveat, as Kane and Crosby are presently healthy and playing at high levels. But the risk is there, and if either misses significant time, it could effectively end the wondering either way.ConclusionSo, then, can Crosby catch Kane?Speaking plainly, it's possible but unlikely, given the next-level way Kane is playing alongside rookie of the year candidate Artemi Panarin, and how Crosby started his season and the deep hole he finds himself in.Having said that, pencil Crosby in for the runner-up spot, and don't be surprised if he's able to pull off the great scoring title comeback.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without a trio of forwards for at least the next four games.Tyler Bozak, Joffrey Lupul, and Shawn Matthias will not travel with the club on a four-game western road trip, head coach Mike Babcock announced Monday.

St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was placed on the injured reserve with a right knee injury and will be re-evaluated in three weeks, the team announced Monday.

An incredible few games from Sidney Crosby has earned him a spot atop the NHL's three stars of the week, the league announced Monday.

With captain Ryan McDonagh now sidelined with a concussion after being punched by forward Wayne Simmonds on Saturday, New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault was in disbelief that the Philadelphia Flyers forward wasn't suspended.Vigneault spoke with reporters Monday and said he was told by officials that Simmonds received a game misconduct for throwing his stick, which would constitute an automatic three-game suspension.But regardless of the stick-throwing incident, the 2007 Jack Adams Award winner made it clear he believes Simmonds should've received supplemental discipline for his punch, accusing the league of not protecting its stars."An All-Star gets sucker-punched ... wonder what would happen if it was (Sidney) Crosby," Vigneault said.The Rangers coach also had a message for Flyers' players who reportedly accused McDonagh of faking his injury. "Tell them to go to his house, today," Vigneault said, before adding there was no timetable for the defenseman's return.Dylan McIlrath will draw into the lineup as the sixth defenseman Monday against New Jersey, but Vigneault said he and general manager Jeff Gorton will decide if a call-up is necessary after the game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Milan Lucic's dream of remaining with the Los Angeles Kings appears to be in the early stages of coming to fruition.The 27-year-old forward, who's playing his first season with the club after being acquired from the Boston Bruins this past summer, says he and his camp have had at least some level of discussion with management in regards to a contract extension."There's been two or three little talks here and there," Lucic told Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times. "My plan is to remain a King and hopefully finish off my career here. Like I said, I go day by day and you never know what tomorrow is going to bring."If I could look eight, nine, 10 years down the road, hopefully I play that long. I hope it is right here in LA and that something can get done and conversations can get picked up in the near future because I really have enjoyed my time this season and love being a King and living here in LA"Lucic is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, and has recorded 12 goals and 18 assists in 50 games with the Kings.On Tuesday, he'll make his first appearance in Boston since the trade.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A weekend off did not fully help what's ailing Evgeni Malkin.The Pittsburgh Penguins center, who missed the last two games with a nagging lower-body injury, will not suit up for Monday's meeting with Anaheim.

The New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh suffered a concussion and will not be available for Monday's game against the New Jersey Devils, the team announced.The Rangers captain suffered the injury during Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers after taking a punch from forward Wayne Simmonds, who received a match penalty for intent to injure as a result.The 26-year-old has seven goals and 19 assists in 52 games this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The No. 30 is set to be featured on a Devils jersey one last time.Prior to Tuesday's game against Edmonton, New Jersey players will take the ice for warmup wearing special jerseys to honor Martin Brodeur, whose number will be retired in a pregame ceremony.

If the Montreal Canadiens are able to rebound from a dreadful stretch and qualify for the playoffs, weekend wins over Edmonton and Carolina could prove to be the turning point.Montreal came out on top of consecutive games for the first time since late November, at which point it appeared as though a spot in the postseason was a foregone conclusion. The Canadiens, however, went on to win only six of their next 27 games, tumbling down the standings in the process.And while they're still outside the playoff picture, the two wins were obviously a step in the right direction. As far as captain Max Pacioretty is concerned, Ben Scrivens - who earned his first two victories in the bleu, blanc et rouge - deserves much of the credit."I think the momentum of this weekend started early in the game against Edmonton. Ben made two huge saves against (Jordan) Eberle 1-on-0 in front of the net, and I think that kind of set the tempo for both him and us this weekend," Pacioretty told reporters after Sunday's win over Carolina."These four points are big, but we know we owe them to the way he played. It’s been a long time (since we’ve won two in a row), so it’s a good stepping stone for where we want to be."Scrivens saw 59 shots in the back-to-back starts, stopping 57 for a save percentage of .966."It's nice to get two wins," Scrivens admitted. "Having a bit of ownership of it makes it a little sweeter but the big thing was we got four points this weekend."Added Scrivens, "We needed it. Now we have to focus on the next one."Montreal's next chance to earn two points will come Tuesday against Tampa Bay.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After an impressive 5-1 victory against the New York Islanders on Saturday that saw veteran forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk reunited on the top line, Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill stated he has no intention of splitting up the dynamic duo anytime soon."They did a good job," Blashill said Saturday, according to the Detroit Free Press. "What did we call them - Eurotwins? I thought there were moments when you saw that, where they played off each other well."I told them this isn't going to be a short-term thing, and I don't know what long term means, but we've got a good home stand here, let's see if they can feed off each other."Playing with Justin Abdelkader, the new first line saw time defending the Islanders' top unit featuring John Tavares. Rookie forward Dylan Larkin has moved to the second line beside Darren Helm and Brad Richards.The Red Wings will begin a four-game homestand against the division-leading Florida Panthers on Monday, and look to avenge their 6-3 loss suffered four days before.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Millions of people around the world watched Beyonce and Bruno Mars join Coldplay in the Super Bowl halftime show Sunday, and thanks to an accommodating schedule, that included much of the hockey world.Related: Beyonce, Bruno Mars steal show in Coldplay's colorful, star-studded halftime showLet's just say opinions differed.

P.K. Subban says genes are on his brother Malcolm's side as he recovers from a scary injury.Related: Bruins prospect Malcolm Subban out indefinitely with fractured larynx"He's a Subban. We're built tough," the Montreal Canadiens defenseman told reporters after Sunday's win over the Carolina Hurricanes, according to TSN's John Lu.Malcolm is in stable condition after taking a puck to the throat during warmups for the AHL's Providence Bruins on Saturday night before a game against the Portland Pirates.P.K. said there was a family chat about the incident Saturday, and that he found out about Malcolm's hospitalization on Twitter.The Canadiens' blue-liner is about four and a half years older than the Bruins goaltending prospect. Their younger brother Jordan is a 20-year-old defenseman in the Vancouver Canucks system.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andrei Markov continues to cement his legacy as one of the most prolific passers in Montreal Canadiens history.The 37-year-old defenseman delivered a perfect dish to Max Pacioretty, who scored his 20th goal of the season Sunday afternoon against the Carolina Hurricanes.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Markov's helper was his 407th career assist in his 900th game, moving him past Guy Lapointe into sole possession of 10th place on the Canadiens' all-time assist list.He's now one helper behind Elmer Lach for ninth, and 14 behind Maurice "Rocket" Richard for eighth.Markov also moved into second place on the franchise's all-time assist list among defensemen, but he'll have a hard time catching Larry Robinson, who notched 686.Markov has spent his entire 15-year career with the Canadiens, racking up 111 goals and 518 points from the blue line.- With h/t to Heather EngelCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Boston Bruins prospect Malcolm Subban is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a fractured larynx.The goaltender was hospitalized after being struck in the throat by a puck during pregame warmups prior to Saturday's game between the AHL's Providence Bruins and Portland Pirates.Subban stayed overnight at Maine Medical Center in Portland and was moved to Mass General Hospital in Boston on Sunday for further evaluation, according to the NHL club.The 22-year-old is in stable condition.He's appeared in 85 AHL games and one NHL contest since the Bruins drafted him 24th overall in 2012.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby is one step closer to breaking an NHL record.Related: VIDEO: Capitals' Holtby extends to make miraculous skate saveSunday's 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers marks his 33rd win of the season. Holtby remains on pace to eclipse Martin Brodeur's record mark of 48 wins in a single season, set during the 2006-07 campaign.If he can keep pace with his production and durability, he should start 67 games and finish the year with 52 wins, which would best the former New Jersey Devils star by four wins.The numbers could be even better as he may play more games, having proved Sunday with his second game in as many nights, that rest isn't essential.

Winnipeg Jets forward Drew Stafford will have a hearing Monday for high-sticking Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nick Holden, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Sunday.Stafford - who scored two goals in Saturday's victory over the Avalanche - was assessed a double minor after his stick hit Holden in the face and momentarily forced him from the game for repairs.The incident is a departure from the 30-year-old's usual playing style, accounting for 28.5 percent of his 14 penalty minutes this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Braden Holtby's groin might be feeling a little tender after extending to take a sure thing away from Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Mark Streit.The Washington Capitals goaltender made a split save robbing Streit of his fifth goal of the season Sunday.The stop proved crucial as it kept the game at 1-0, before the Capitals connected for two late second-period goals to take a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin scored another historic goal Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers.Ovechkin made a perfect redirection in front of the net for his 30th marker of the season, joining Wayne Gretzky and Mike Gartner as the only players to score at least 30 goals in each of their first 11 years in the league.(Courtesy: NHL.com)The 30-year-old has never tallied less than 32 goals in a season.

The San Jose Sharks would welcome some help to their back end.General manager Doug Wilson has been working the phones and would like to acquire a defenseman, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.Regardless of how the regular season unfolds, playoff success is paramount to the Sharks, as Garrioch suggests, adding, "Wilson has been telling his counterparts he'd like to get a defenseman if at all possible."The Sharks have given up the 10th most goals this season - 2.71 per game - while conceding just the fifth fewest shots per contest at 27.8.The club is having a turnaround season, sitting second in the Pacific Division after missing the postseason last year for the first time in 11 campaigns.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens aren't in fire-sale mode yet, but they're keeping an ear to the ground.The club is currently listening to offers on forwards Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise, as well as defenseman Tom Gilbert, according to the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch.Fleischmann, Weise, and Gilbert are all set to become unrestricted free agents at season's end and could fetch a decent return in a package deal.Garrioch reports that if franchise netminder Carey Price can't return to the net soon, talks to move the trio could intensify as the trade deadline draws nearer.Fleischmann and Weise have combined for 21 goals this season, while Gilbert has been steady on the back end sitting tied for second on the team with a plus-5 rating.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds won't face supplemental discipline for punching New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh on Saturday, reports Dave Isaac of Courier-Post.Simmonds was assessed a match penalty for intent to injure and a game misconduct for the incident. McDonagh left the contest and didn't return.Related: Flyers' Simmonds ejected for punching Rangers' McDonaghThe 27-year-old will be in the Flyers' lineup against the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon. Although he avoided suspension, Isaac adds he won't be as fortunate next time.

This town ain't big enough for the both of them.As trade deadline day inches closer, it's become evident the Winnipeg Jets will provide the biggest grab, regardless of who it is.Related: Report: Panthers, Canucks potential suitors if Andrew Ladd goes on trading blockAccording to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, three league executives believe the Jets will retain only one of captain Andrew Ladd and defenseman Dustin Byfuglien past the deadline.Indications are that Ladd is more likely to be shipped out, but that doesn't make him a throwaway."There won't be any shortage of interest in Ladd if they decide to move him," an executive told Garrioch.The reporter notes there are also indications that Ladd turned down a six-year, $36-million contract at the start of the season. In December, Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press reported that Ladd was seeking $41 million over six years.Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman also reported that both the team and Ladd agreed on a six-year term, but both sides were less than $1 million apart per year, yet more than $500,000.As for Byfuglien, Garrioch insists there's a sense the Jets will try to lock him up before the deadline, with a source saying a deal could fall within the seven-year, $7.5-million-per-annum range.Byfuglien's tied for second among NHL defensemen with 15 goals in 52 games this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nashville Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson tallied one of the best goals of the season against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.Arvidsson unleashed a perfect shot, going top shelf while falling and not touching the ice on the release.

Patrick Roy lost his cool again.The Colorado Avalanche head coach was absolutely incensed when a goal by Winnipeg Jets forward Drew Stafford was upheld Saturday night.Stafford scored his second goal of the game when Jets captain Andrew Ladd appeared to make contact with Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov.Roy challenged the call but lost, and he wasn't shy about letting the officials know how he felt about it.

Dustin Byfuglien is so over scrumming in the corner.On Saturday, the Winnipeg Jets rover took time to express his discontent with the battle happening in the corner with members of the Colorado Avalanche ... while in the midst of battling in the corner with members of the Colorado Avalanche!

Boston Bruins prospect Malcolm Subban will be spending the night in a Portland, Maine-area hospital after suffering an injury while warming up prior to an AHL game on Saturday.Subban took a puck to the throat and was transported to hospital by ambulance prior to puck drop, but the exact nature and extent of the injury isn't known, Bruce Cassidy, coach of the AHL's Providence Bruins, told Mark Divver of The Providence Journal.Subban has appeared in 27 games for the minor-league club this season, with a 14-8-5 record and a .911 save percentage.He has made one appearance at the NHL level since being drafted 24th overall in 2012.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You give, and you apparently get.Ottawa Senators forwards Curtis Lazar and Mark Stone, who combined to score three goals and four points in Saturday's 6-1 destruction of the Toronto Maple Leafs, believe they're benefiting from good karma.Lazar told CBC's David Amber that he believes giving money to a homeless man has helped both of the Senators' roommates.Streamable - simple video sharingStone has scored in all three games since his All-Star donation, while Lazar, previously mired in an eight-game scoring drought, scored his fourth and fifth goals after fortuitous bounces yielded empty nets.Perhaps this is a nightly routine for Erik Karlsson?Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby picked an opportune time to keep his point streak alive and hit a career benchmark.Crosby had a hand in two late goals, then assisted on the game-winner in overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Saturday night.The Penguins captain found defenseman Kris Letang on the power play less than 90 seconds into the extra frame for the winner.Sid to Letang OT winnerCrosby redirected a Letang shot to tie the game with 1:15 remaining in regulation.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Earlier in the third period, Crosby fed Letang with a slick centering pass and Letang scored to help his captain reach a career milestone.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Crosby has recorded at least a point in 10 consecutive games, and now has 902 points in his career.His first assist was his 900th career point, and he became the 10th-fastest in league history to reach that milestone.

If it's production that determines who wins the Norris Trophy this season, Erik Karlsson better make sure his mantle can hold a third award.The Ottawa Senators captain accelerated his incredible scoring pace Saturday night, netting four assists for the second time this season in Ottawa's 6-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Brad Marchand sealed a victory with a nifty shootout move - before the game even got to that point.The Boston Bruins winger was awarded a penalty shot during overtime, and made no mistake, going backhand shelf on Robin Lehner to give his team a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.Streamable - simple video sharingIn doing so, he made team history.

The Nashville Predators are getting exactly what they hoped for from Ryan Johansen.The talented 23-year-old center has recorded four goals and eight assists in the 12 games since Predators general manager David Poile acquired him from Columbus for Seth Jones. On Saturday, Johansen kept up his point-per-game pace with this spinning backhand pass to set up a James Neal goal.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Heading into Saturday's game against San Jose, the Predators sat outside the Western Conference playoff picture. If they do end up falling short, it certainly won't be on Johansen, who's only drawing rave reviews in Music City.

Some just want to see the world burn.Two hopeful Toronto Maple Leafs fans are dabbing rinkside in Ottawa, and in giant Steven Stamkos heads.

The St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks are reportedly on the verge of taking their Central Division rivalry outdoors.The NHL is finalizing talks that would bring an outdoor game to Busch Stadium in 2017, multiple sources told Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.The league is "strongly considering" St. Louis as the host city for the 2017 Winter Classic, and the Blues' opponent could be the Blackhawks, according to the report.The St. Louis Cardinals are expecting to host a hockey game at Busch Stadium on Jan. 2, sources told Rutherford. Both the league and the Blues declined to comment.The Blues will celebrate their 50th anniversary next season.The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly finalizing a pair of outdoor games, one of which could take place at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field in 2017.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The third period of Saturday's game between the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders was delayed by over 35 minutes after the Zamboni accomplished the exact opposite of its intended job.Rather than flooding and leveling the ice at intermission, the Zamboni appeared to pick up a peg used to keep the nets in place, and dragged it across the ice - creating a gash that almost hit the cement underneath.After both clubs approved of the patchwork, play resumed, with the Red Wings and Islanders agreeing to switch sides at the 10-minute mark.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the first time in a long time, approving chants reverberated throughout Bell Centre on Saturday.Tomas Plekanec collected four points and Ben Scrivens made 23 saves versus his former club as the Montreal Canadiens won in regulation for the first time in a month, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1.Montreal's win snapped a five-game home losing streak and marked the first victory for Scrivens since being acquired from Edmonton in exchange for Zack Kassian.He said this about his exit from Edmonton following the victory:

Connor McDavid was this close to topping the showstopper he scored in his reintroduction to the NHL earlier this week:

Shayne Gostisbehere is already making Philadelphia Flyers history.With a goal and an assist in Saturday's loss to the New York Rangers, the rookie defenseman pushed his point streak to seven games, the longest ever by a first-year Flyers blue-liner.Gostisbehere achieved the feat by opening the scoring with a power-play goal, his fifth of the season.The 22-year-old leads all NHL rookie defensemen with 26 points through 32 games (nine goals, 17 assists), and his points per game average of 0.81 is fourth among all rookies.League-wide, only Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Kris Letang, and John Klingberg are averaging more points per game.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Flyers came within 13 seconds of their fourth straight victory.Related: Rangers' McDonagh leaves game after punch from Flyers' SimmondsNew York Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle had other ideas, though, rifling a seeing-eye one-timer over the blocking glove of goaltender Steve Mason to send the game to overtime.It ultimately went to a shootout, where Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan shared the role of hero.The win gave the Rangers 29 victories on the season and five in their last seven games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a fairly quiet overtime period between Washington and New Jersey, with just two Capitals shots, two Devils shots, and this:Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin ran over Jacob Josefson with a devastating hit in the Washington zone, forcing the Devils forward to skate straight to the bench in obvious discomfort.The game went to a shootout, with Ovechkin scoring the deciding goal to clinch another victory for the NHL's best team.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NHL's fastest skater isn't slowing down.Playing the New York Islanders on Saturday, Detroit Red Wings rookie Dylan Larkin took a feed from Pavel Datsyuk and burst into the Islanders' zone past a trio of defenders before threading a perfect pass through Travis Hamonic to Kyle Quincey, who scored his second goal of the season.(Courtesy: NHL.com)The 19-year-old leads the Red Wings with 36 points.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds was tossed from Saturday's game against the New York Rangers for a retaliatory punch on defenseman Ryan McDonagh.The incident took place midway through the first period, after McDonagh caught Simmonds with a high stick while trying to brace himself for a hit. Simmonds delivered a two-handed slash and a punch to McDonagh's face.Simmonds was assessed a match penalty for intent to injure and a game misconduct on the play, while McDonagh received a minor for slashing and a minor for high-sticking.McDonagh left the game and did not return.After the game, Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol stopped short of criticizing the officials, but said Simmonds was fortunate not to be injured by McDonagh's cross-check.