Joe Thornton did what he does best Saturday: Pass the puck.The San Jose Sharks center recorded two assists in his team's 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild, and the second was historic in nature.

Joffrey Lupul knows a thing or two about season-derailing slumps.The Toronto Maple Leafs winger - who's mired in a personally horrific season by any measure, having amassed just 10 goals and three assists in 40 games - was asked about the Montreal Canadiens' struggles ahead of Saturday's matchup between the historic rivals, and he pulled no punches.

Alex Ovechkin isn't going to run and hide from a little snow.The Washington Capitals captain brushed off talk of the storm when spotted at a gas station Friday and showed no fear of the precipitation when it arrived in full force Saturday:Wish me luck!пожелайте мне удачи🙈💪😂Ovechkin told reporters Friday that he can handle the weather because he's "from Russia, so we always have that kind of stuff."Point taken.Friday's game between the Capitals and the Anaheim Ducks was postponed due to the storm, as is Washington's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hats off to Evgeni Malkin.The Pittsburgh Penguins forward notched the 10th hat trick of his career Saturday afternoon against the Vancouver Canucks, capping it off with a great wrist shot over the shoulder of goaltender Ryan Miller.(Courtesy: NHL.com)The last time a Penguins player accomplished the feat against the Canucks was 29 years ago to the day.

The New Jersey Devils won't have Jiri Tlusty back in the lineup any time soon.The forward is expected to be out three-to-four months after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right wrist Friday.Tlusty, who hasn't played since the Devils' 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Jan. 8, managed only four points in 30 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will have their captain back for Saturday's game against the Boston Bruins.Nick Foligno will play after being activated off injured reserve Friday.He missed six games with what the team called an upper-body injury, and has 25 points in 39 contests.Foligno is in the first season of his six-year, $33-million contract extension, signed in December 2015.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There were no takers for Detroit Red Wings forward Joakim Andersson.Andersson cleared waivers but will not be assigned to the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.The 26-year-old center recorded one shot in Friday's shutout win over the Buffalo Sabres, after being placed on waivers earlier in the day.He has three points in 26 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Somewhere, Johnny Gaudreau is smiling.Former NHL forward Linus Omark lit his stick on fire during a shootout attempt in the KHL's All-Star skills competition on Saturday.That's a much cooler - and more dangerous - version of the old FOXTrax glow puck.Omark resorted to the flaming twig after missing on his first try, and he was apparently named the winner of the contest despite failing to score on both attempts.Gaudreau wanted to do the same while representing the Calgary Flames in last year's NHL All-Star Skills Competition, but he wasn't allowed.Leave it to shootout specialist Omark and the KHL to make it happen.- With h/t to Puck DaddyCopyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saturday's game between the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers and Sunday's game between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins have been postponed due to the snowstorm along the east coast.No makeup dates have been announced.Washington will have at least two games to make up at some point this season, after Friday's scheduled game against the Anaheim Ducks at Verizon Center was also postponed.The Capitals won't practice until Monday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman wasn't kidding when he said he wouldn't be forced into making an unfavorable Jonathan Drouin trade.If the Ottawa Senators want the disgruntled forward, the asking price is two top prospects, including defenseman Thomas Chabot, a league source told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.Related: Yzerman denies telling Drouin's agent that trade was closeChabot, the Senators' 18th-overall pick last June, has 25 points in 28 games with the QMJHL's Saint John Sea Dogs.Drouin was suspended indefinitely without pay by the Lightning this week after refusing to play more games for their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.His agent, Allan Walsh, wrote in a statement that "there is no reason for Jonathan to continue with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization in any capacity," and that they'll abstain from further comment while they await a deal.TSN's Darren Dreger reported earlier this month that Eastern Conference teams would likely "have to pay a premium" for Drouin, and that Yzerman would prefer to send the 20-year-old winger to a Western Conference club.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche appeared ready to surrender two points to the St. Louis Blues on Friday. Nathan MacKinnon had other ideas.MacKinnon buried a perfect feed from Matt Duchene to tie the game with just under one minute remaining in regulation.(Courtesy: NHL.com)The Avalanche went on to win in a shootout, maintaining their position in a wild-card spot with a record of 25-21-3.The 20-year-old sniper now has 16 goals and 23 assists in 49 games this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Florida Panthers put an end to a four-game losing streak against one of the hottest teams in the league on Friday.Roberto Luongo made 27 saves for his fourth shutout of the season in a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, and it's no coincidence that the Atlantic Division leaders got back in the win column in Aaron Ekblad's return to the lineup.

The New York Islanders got some extra incentive to play hard while visiting the Ottawa Senators on Friday, as injured defenseman Johnny Boychuk, knowing a blizzard was on its way to New York, promised to lend a helping hand if they picked up the win.

Bad luck continues to plague Ottawa Senators forward Milan Michalek. For the second time this season, he'll be out indefinitely due to a fractured finger.Michalek sustained the injury after blocking a shot with his right hand during the second period against the New York Islanders on Friday.He left the game and didn't return.The 31-year-old was playing in just his eighth game since returning from the same injury. He has six goals and four assists in 31 games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin had a roller coaster of a Friday.The Hockey News released its rookie issue earlier in the day, the cover of which dubbed the 19-year-old "the next Jonathan Toews."Larkin's day took an unfortunate turn during his team's evening game against the Buffalo Sabres, though, as he lost a tooth after being caught by a Marcus Foligno high stick in the third period.

With 49 points in 47 games entering Friday's contest, Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson is certainly better known for his scoring than his hitting. That doesn't mean the two-time Norris Trophy winner can't throw his body around, though.Karlsson caught New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy, who scored the game's first goal minutes earlier, with his head down and sent him flying near the Senators' blue line.Karlsson would pick up his 50th point of the season in the second period, assisting on a Bobby Ryan goal that tied the game at one.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman John-Michael Liles is certainly wishing he could have this one back.Liles telegraphed a pass to Ryan McDonagh, and the New York Rangers captain made him pay. McDonagh stole the puck at the red line, used his speed, and unleashed a wicked shot off the crossbar and in Friday for his sixth goal of the season.(Courtesy: NHL.com)The 26-year-old has 24 points in 47 games this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's something you don't see every day.The Charlotte Checkers - the Carolina Hurricanes' AHL affiliate - took on the Chicago Wolves in front of an empty arena Friday, as severe weather conditions forced the teams to close the game to the public.

With Washington, D.C., preparing for a major blizzard Friday night, WUSA 9 reporter Ellison Barber was one of many looking to interview locals about the impending storm.As she approached an SUV at a gas station for an interview, its driver turned out to be a familiar face in Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who got quite a kick out of being asked if he wanted to go on camera.

The St. Louis Blues will get some reinforcements Friday as they look to win their fourth consecutive game against the Colorado Avalanche, with defensemen Carl Gunnarsson and Colton Parayko set to return from injury.Gunnarsson missed five games after suffering an upper-body injury in a Jan. 9 contest against the Los Angeles Kings, while Parayko missed the team's last game - a win over the Detroit Red Wings - due to illness.Despite their recent winning streak, the Blues will certainly appreciate the help at the back end, as they've been heavily outshot across their three victories.Opponent Score SF SAJan 16 vs. MTL4-32249Jan 18 vs. PIT5-22538Jan 29 vs. DET2-12030Brian Elliott will make his seventh consecutive start since Jake Allen suffered a knee injury on Jan. 8, and will look to continue an impressive run, going 5-1-0 with just 12 goals against in his last six.The Avalanche are entering on a two-game win streak of their own, but have scored just five goals in their past three outings.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Colorado Avalanche will get a gigantic boost to their blue line Saturday against the high-scoring Dallas Stars.Erik Johnson will return to the lineup for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury on Jan. 4.Johnson will miss his ninth game in a row Friday against the St. Louis Blues, setting the stage for his return in the second game of a back-to-back.

Russian defenseman Nikita Zaitsev has told teams he intends to sign a one-year, entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs next season, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Friday.The undrafted 24-year-old is currently playing in his seventh season in the KHL, and third with CSKA Moscow. Last year, he set career highs with 12 goals and 20 assists in 57 games.Zaitsev would add a much-needed right-handed shot to the Maple Leafs' blue line. The Philadelphia Flyers were also interested in his services, reports Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will likely be without their head coach for Saturday's game against the Boston Bruins.John Tortorella suffered two broken ribs following a collision with forward Rene Bourque during Friday's practice.

Brad Boyes played his 800th career NHL game Thursday night, and some of the more important people in his life were at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto to celebrate the momentous occasion.

If James Reimer's numbers have you taken aback now, wait until you see his next contract.In his recent conversations with those in the know, TSN's Darren Dreger deduced that there's a belief among some executives that the Toronto Maple Leafs' soon-to-be free-agent goalie - who's absolutely at the height of his career right now - has done enough to fetch a substantial long-term contract."Asked to predict the term and dollar Reimer might command to extend his time with the Maple Leafs, the collective average educated guess of a few NHL management types outside of Toronto is five to seven years at $4.5- to $5.5-million per season," Dreger wrote in his latest Dreger Report.Dreger adds that both Reimer and the Leafs have mutual interest in getting a deal done. But with the netminder's value skyrocketing, he acknowledges the very real possibility of either party taking advantage of new-found leverage."Are those numbers good enough to convince the Leafs to invest in him for the long term? Are they more ammo to lure in potential trade suitors? It’s too soon to say," Dreger wrote.With a dazzling .937 clip, Reimer is the current league leader in save percentage, and, as Dreger noted, leads in a variety of advanced goaltending metrics as well.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sergei Bobrovsky has a groin injury. This is a recording.The Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender suffered a groin strain Thursday and is back on injured reserve, the club announced Friday.

There won't be Friday afternoon hockey after all.The Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks are packing up and heading indoors after the NHL officially postponed Friday's game due to inclement weather.Friday's game had been moved up to 5 p.m. ET in an effort to beat the storm.The blizzard beginning to fall in the Washington area has also left Sunday's game between the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins in doubt. A decision on that game is expected Saturday morning.A makeup date for Friday's game has not yet been established.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Spin that trade wheel.New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic, who's still waiting on a trade away from Brooklyn, will return to action Friday versus the Ottawa Senators.He was expected to miss two or three weeks due to a foot injury, but instead will lose just four games.Hamonic has the best shot-attempt differential among Islanders blue-liners, but the club's overall production has tailed off a little bit when he's on the ice at even strength.The defenseman cited personal reasons when he requested a trade to a market closer to his home in Western Canada in the offseason.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby's rolling. Phil Kessel has jump. All parties appear to be getting along, as they'll contend they always have.It's clear the Pittsburgh Penguins are a different team since Mike Sullivan took the head coaching reins from Mike Johnston in mid-December. Yet, here they are today, as they were when the change was made, seeded outside the postseason bracket.So they're a different team, sure, but are they in fact a better team?The RecordThe overall optics around the Penguins suggest they are better with Sullivan. Their record, however, does not.Under JohnstonUnder Sullivan15-10-37-7-4This is tricky. Many teams see immediate gains in response to a coaching change, but the Penguins almost needed time to shed - for a lack of a better term - the stink.Pittsburgh has earned points in eight of its last 10 games; the club's only regulation losses over that span came against a pair of Central Division heavyweights in the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues.Goals for and againstPittsburgh has essentially surrendered a goal for each scored all season long. And though it hasn't really changed from Johnston to Sullivan, the goals are coming at a higher rate.CoachGF/GGA/GUnder Johnston2.352.32Under Sullivan2.612.67Even over the last 10 games, perhaps the Pens' most encouraging stretch all season, they're only outscoring the competition 33-27.PossessionThis chart best illustrates the most profound change under Sullivan:

Cold conditions were unexpectedly made frigid for John Tortorella as he ran an outdoor practice Friday at Winter Park in Columbus.The Blue Jackets coach was flattened, and left sprawled on the ice, after what Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch described as a "nasty collision" with winger Rene Bourque.

The Florida Panthers, losers of four in a row, will sit forward Brandon Pirri in Friday's clash with the Chicago Blackhawks.Though Panthers coach Gerard Gallant maintained after practice the decision was made in an effort to elicit an on-ice response, others believe there may be more to it.TSN's Gary Lawless tweeted that Pirri's scratch could be because the young, inexpensive forward is on the trade block, adding that the Winnipeg Jets are among multiple Central and Metropolitan Division teams interested in his services.A 22-goal scorer last season, Pirri has just nine this season, to go along with 21 points. His production has been limited to just two goals and one assist across the last 14 contests.Pirri makes a little more than $900,000, and is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Go long.Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle took advantage of a huge alley-oop pass by Marco Scandella on Thursday. The 23-year-old collected his 11th goal of the season after coralling the long pass and beating Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick on the clear-cut breakaway.(Courtesy: NHL.com)The goal snaps Coyle's nine-game goalless skid.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite the Nashville Predators' recent struggles, none of the blame can be placed on recent acquisition Ryan Johansen, who picked up two more points in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.It was just Nashville's second win in seven games since trading Seth Jones to the Columbus Blue Jackets.The 23-year-old forward has only been held off the scoresheet twice since moving to Tennessee, and his first seven games with the Predators have been considerably more productive than his final seven with Columbus.7-game totals G A P +/- SOGBefore trade (CLB)044210After trade (NSH)369123While Johansen has quickly excelled as the team's No. 1 center, another promising development for the Predators was a strong performance from goalie Pekka Rinne, who ended a five-game winless streak by stopping 20 of 21 shots.With the win, Nashville now sits one point behind the Avalanche for the final wild-card spot, as Johansen and co. continue a critical four-game Western Canada road trip against the struggling Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes slowly crawled past the Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 in an uneventful overtime contest Thursday.The game resembled nap time at a preschool rather than an electric display of fast-paced athleticism, and many in attendance and watching at home made it clear how they felt about the rather unremarkable display.

Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Hendricks is not having a good day.During the second period of Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars, the entire crowd at the American Airlines Center groaned as the 34-year-old inadvertently took a slap shot to the groin.To make matters worse, Hendricks appeared to hit his head off a railing as he limped towards the dressing room.

With one flick of the wrist, the Chicago Blackhawks saw their 12-game winning streak come to an end.Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov fired home his 20th goal of the season over the catching glove of goaltender Corey Crawford late in the second period. It held up as the game-winner.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Kucherov remains red-hot in the winter months, with points in 15 of his last 16 games and a total of 22 over that span.A Blackhawks win would have given the club sole possession of the longest winning streak in the league this season. The Lightning, meanwhile, extended their own winning streak to seven with the victory.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Jersey Devils made a big statement Thursday, as a five-goal first period gave goaltender Cory Schneider more than enough of a cushion to work with as they beat the Ottawa Senators 6-3."That's probably the best 20 minutes I've seen this team play maybe in my three years here," said Schneider, who has yet to see playoff hockey through two seasons in New Jersey, but now sees his team on a three-game winning streak as it barely holds on to a wild-card spot in the East.Wild Card StandingsRankTeam W L O P1Boston24175532New Jersey24195533Pittsburgh22177514Montreal23204505Ottawa2219650The Devils chased Senators goalie Craig Anderson net as the top line of Travis Zajac, Kyle Palmieri, and rookie Joe Blandisi combined for 10 points on the team's first four goals of the night."Everything was going in. Everything was going right," said Blandisi, who became the seventh rookie in team history to record three points in a period, which included his first NHL goal. "It was almost like a fairy tale."Palmieri added two goals and an assist while Zajac had a goal and three helpers to become the first Devil to record a four-point period since Ilya Kovalchuk accomplished the feat in 2010.Lee Stempniak added the final goal of the opening period while Adam Henrique scored an empty-netter after the Senators reduced their deficit to two late in the third period.New Jersey will look to continue its winning ways with a quick two-game road trip against teams currently outside of a playoff position. It will face the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday before a huge division matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Coyotes paid tribute to one of their all-time greats Thursday, honoring Shane Doan for his franchise record-breaking 380th career goal.The longtime Coyotes captain was presented with a painting to honor the record, along with a few other gifts from his teammates.

What has gotten into Sam Bennett?The Calgary Flames forward has been on an incendiary streak lately, and on Thursday he continued his red-hot play as his team took on the Columbus Blue Jackets.Bennett recorded another two goals in his club's 4-2 win over Columbus, extending a recent offensive outburst that seems to have come out of nowhere.

Daniel Sedin made Vancouver Canucks history against the Boston Bruins on Thursday, overtaking Markus Naslund for most goals in franchise history with his 347th career marker.The third-period tally was Sedin's 20th of the campaign, and stood up as the game-winner.

If this isn't adding insult to injury, we don't know what is.Boston Bruins forward Ryan Spooner hit Vancouver Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev into the boards Thursday, and the boards were showing absolutely no remorse.Making the situation even worse, the Bruins went on to score on the play.Tanev returned to the game for the third period, and undoubtedly had a few words for the boards.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky took a rather abrupt leave from Thursday's game against the Calgary Flames with a lower-body injury.The 27-year-old left the game under his own power midway through the second period and was replaced by Joonas Korpisalo. The reason for his exit wasn't initially clear.Bobrovsky entered Thursday with just one game under his belt after a groin injury kept him out of the lineup for 17 games.Head coach John Tortorella did not have an update on Bobrovsky following the game and didn't want to speculate on a potential injury.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A pair of Winnipeg Jets rookies connected for an early goal to open the scoring Thursday against the Nashville Predators.Joel Armia made a perfect stretch pass to send linemate Nikolaj Ehlers flying into the Predators' zone, and the young Dane finished with a nice move as he sent the puck over Pekka Rinne for his ninth goal of the season.(Courtesy: NHL.com)The teenaged Ehlers has four points in his last five games.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's safe to say Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby is over his early season slump.Crosby picked the corner with a wicked release from a near-impossible angle to beat Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason for his 15th goal of the season on Thursday.

The Boston Bruins continue to show their support for injured NWHL player Denna Laing.The Bruins honored Laing - a member of the Boston Pride who suffered a significant spinal injury at the Outdoor Women's Classic - with a touching video tribute ahead of their game against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.Laing delivered an inspirational pregame message of her own:Her sisters were also part of the tribute, taking part in the ceremonial puck drop.

Corey Crawford can finally be considered an elite goaltender.The Chicago Blackhawks netminder has gone underappreciated in the league, but this season, he's strung together yet another stellar campaign.If you need more convincing, check out his incredible desperation save, blocking a puck hurtled to the net by Tampa Bay Lightning forward J.T. Brown while sitting on his back.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Crawford holds a .931 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average this season.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson entered Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils on the heels of consecutive wins with 30 saves or more.That streak ended abruptly less than 14 minutes into the first period after the Devils' first line shelled him for four goals on just seven shots, sending Anderson to the bench early.Rookie forward Joseph Blandisi opened the scoring with his first NHL goal before fellow winger Kyle Palmieri netted a pair to reach the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career. After recording assists on the first three goals, center Travis Zajac scored to record his fourth point of the game.(Courtesy: NHL.com)Things didn't get any better for the Senators from there, as Anderson's replacement, Andrew Hammond, allowed a goal on the second shot he faced. The Devils took a 5-0 lead into the first intermission.

Ottawa Senators forward Kyle Turris missed Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils due to a lower-body injury. It is the first game Turris has missed since joining the team in December 2011.The 26-year-old did not participate in practice on Wednesday or Thursday. There is no timetable for his return.Turris has 13 goals and 17 assists this season.Meanwhile, fellow forward Mike Hoffman is in the lineup after colliding hard into a goal post during Monday's game against the San Jose Sharks.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Scott Hartnell will be back on the ice Thursday against the Calgary Flames after head coach John Tortorella made him a healthy scratch for Tuesday's loss to the Washington Capitals.The Blue Jackets' bench boss made it very clear he doesn't want Hartnell to change how he plays, but to simply control his frustration."I don't want a different Scott Hartnell," Tortorella told reporters. “Since I’ve been here, (Hartnell) has been one of my most consistent forwards - he’s a really good player. I'm not looking for a different one, I just want one that is disciplined right on through, being himself."It was his second time being scratched this season after a slow skate to the bench cost his team a penalty for too many men late in a tie game against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.Tied with fellow winger Brandon Saad with a team-leading 31 points, the 33-year-old has struggled of late, and is currently on a season-worst seven-game goalless drought, while recording just five points in his last 10."It's when the sloppiness comes into play, he's got to reel himself in," Tortorella said. "He's a pro. He's a very good player, and we're looking forward to getting him back in."The Blue Jackets will face a club going through a tough stretch of their own, with the Flames entering their third game of a five-game road trip as losers of four of their last five.Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sam Gagner's stint in the minors certainly didn't last very long.The Philadelphia Flyers recalled Gagner from the AHL's Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Thursday.The move coincides with Sean Couturier's absence due to a lower-body injury. Gagner is expected to take Couturier's spot in the lineup against the Pittsburgh Penguins.