What's a goalie to do?

Toledo Walleye forward Evan Rankin scored a mesmerizing shootout-winning goal on Friday night with a new take on the traditional between-the-legs move.

Slow clap.

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The 2015-16 campaign wasn't very kind to many of the NHL's most experienced point producers.

Many marveled as several stars failed to replicate the success that had made them such high-profile players in the league. Some slumps left many with doubts as to whether the careers of once great players might be coming to a close.

Rejoice, as it appears that is not the case with these five players, who have turned back the clocks and found what once seemed lost.

Marian Hossa

Hossa needs just three more goals to match his total from last season.

After two straight seasons of 60-plus points, Hossa's numbers took a dip last season with the 37-year-old scoring just 13 goals and a measly 33 points in 64 games.

It's quite easy to see where Hossa went wrong last year. The veteran managed to capitalize on just 6.8 percent of his shots, down from his career shooting percentage of 12.4 percent.

This year, he is connecting at a career-high level, nearly 24 percent. It's likely unsustainable, but, nevertheless, expect Hossa to return to the 60-plus point plateau once again.

Jakub Voracek

Two years ago, Voracek looked as though he might claim the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer. So what happened last season?

After a career-high 81 points in 82 games during the 2014-15 campaign, Voracek managed 55 points last season, including just 11 goals. Sure, 55 is not terrible by any stretch, but a regression of 26 points is certainly a head-scratcher.

The drop in production came in Voracek's first season of his new eight-year, $66-million contract. Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall has gone on record saying he feels Voracek got into his own head following the deal and was trying to do too much, resulting in his struggle to put up points, according to NHL.com's Adam KImelman.

Whatever the case, Voracek is back to being nearly a point-per-game player and the Flyers and company couldn't be happier.

Radim Vrbata

Vrbata's time in Vancouver can be summed up as night and day.

After pacing the team with 31 goals and adding another 32 assists in 2014-15, the sniper fell off the map last season, collecting just 13 goals and 27 points.

This offseason, his former team took a risk on Vrbata, and early on it's paying off. The 35-year-old has bounced back, leading the Coyotes with six goals and 11 points through 16 games.

While it's early, Vrbata is on pace to hit the 30-goal, 50-point mark once again. A far cry from what we saw last year.

Nick Foligno

Like Voracek, Foligno was certainly looking like a bust after signing a six-year, $33-million contract extension during the 2014-15 season.

The Blue Jackets captain concluded that year with a dazzling 31 goals and 73 points, but 2015-16 was another story. The 29-year-old scored just 12 goals and 37 points in 72 games.

Fast forward one year, and Foligno appears to have re-kindled the scoring touch that earned him a hefty paycheck, amassing six goals and 16 points in 15 games.

Eric Staal

Admittedly, last season looked like we were seeing the fall of Staal.

The long-time Carolina Hurricanes captain was dealt to the New York Rangers after his least productive year since his rookie campaign in 2004.

Staal played a league-high 83 games last season, but came up with just 39 points. However, the Minnesota Wild took a chance on the former 100-point man in free agency and are reaping the benefits.

The 32-year-old leads the Wild with five goals and 13 points through 16 games, and is on pace for his first 60-plus point season in five years. Newsflash: He's still got it.

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Ottawa Senators goaltender Andrew Hammond has said thanks, but no thanks to a trial run in the AHL, reports Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen.

Sidelined with a groin injury earlier in the year, Hammond has seen limited playing time this season, appearing in just two games and last playing Oct. 28 versus the Calgary Flames.

The Senators, who are carrying three goalies - Hammond, Craig Anderson, and Mike Condon - believed a conditioning stint in Binghamton would allow Hammond to get back into game shape, but the veteran netminder doesn't seem interested in pursuing that path.

"For now, I feel what's best for me is being here and being around NHL players," Hammond said. "I don't feel rusty in practice and, as I said, I just feel it's best for to be here practicing with these guys."

On Monday, reports surfaced that the Senators could trade Hammond, with Garrioch citing the San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Los Angeles Kings as teams that may be interested in a goaltending upgrade.

Hammond carries a $1.35-million average annual value and is signed through 2017-18. He posted a 7-11-4 record and .914 save percentage with the Senators last season.

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"Don't think I've ever taken a slap shot to the forehead."

Matt Calvert was the toast of the Columbus Blue Jackets room after taking a slap shot off the face and later returning to score the game-winning goal Friday in a victory over the New York Rangers.

And while it was Nick Holden who literally took a chunk (opening up a gash over Calvert's eye that required 36 stitches) they all wanted a piece of Calvert in the locker room postgame.

Leave it to rookie Zach Werenski for realizing that smiling might be incredibly painful right now.

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Visitors have offered nothing but cannon fodder of late at Nationwide Arena.

Defeating the New York Rangers for the first time in more than two seasons Friday, the Columbus Blue Jackets collected a franchise-best seventh consecutive win in their home barn.

The triumph vaults them into a postseason slot and also keeps them perfect inside the Metropolitan Division - albeit after just their second game versus direct competition.

As for additional ancillary numbers, the Jackets' 9-4-2 mark is their best ever through 15 games, and they're now 5-0 against division leaders, as pointed out by the club's public relations staff.

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The Carolina Hurricanes probably didn't expect to have to put out a fire while the Montreal Canadiens rolled through town, but were prepared to safeguard the brand on Friday regardless.

In response to speculation stirred by a Montreal radio station, Hurricanes president Don Waddell denied rumors that owner Peter Karmanos wants to sell the team and wouldn't hesitate if a prospective buyer planned to relocate the franchise.

Waddell said the Hurricanes are in "the best shape ever" financially, and ownership has not turned down an offer, according to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News and Observer.

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When Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Evgeni Malkin are on the ice together, it's fair to assume some magic will happen.

That it did, as the Pittsburgh Penguins' captain froze Brock Nelson with a fake slap shot, before dishing a perfect feed to Letang, who made no mistake in burying the wide-open overtime winner.

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The New York Islanders must hate seeing the Pittsburgh Penguins on their schedule for one simple reason: No. 87, who continues to build on the hottest start of his career.

For whatever reason, Sidney Crosby feasts on the Islanders, and a goal plus a game-winning assist in Friday's contest brought him to 98 points (31 goals, 67 assists) in 56 career games versus New York, his best numbers against any club.

Here's how Crosby's dominance over the Islanders compares to his output against other teams throughout his career:

It's not even close.

This season, it's not just the Islanders that have felt Crosby's wrath, as the captain now has 11 goals - one off the league lead - in 11 games since returning from a concussion.

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