Who is this man, and what has he done with John Tortorella?

The Columbus Blue Jackets head coach stopped himself from cursing at the media session before Friday's game against the Montreal Canadiens.

He's been known to swear in scrums, during live in-game interviews, and of course behind closed doors in the dressing room.

This new kinder, gentler Tortorella might not be as much fun for mature fans or the media, but we're sure parents everywhere approve.

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This is one of MLB's premier players.

On the diamond, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier is explosive on the bounces, jumps out of his shoes to make sensational catches, has a cannon of an arm, and has power in his bat.

He is, by definition, one of the most talented players in baseball. But stick him on skates, and he looks like a toddler.

On Friday, Kiermaier geared up and practiced with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it was bad.

The slugger couldn't remotely skate, let alone stick handle, and it was probably the first time in a long time that he was very, very bad at something.

That being said, he was exceptional at making everyone laugh.

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David Pastrnak scored a goal in Thursday's win over Tampa Bay, but also appears to have experienced a dental mishap at the hands of an unknown Lightning player.

The Boston Bruins winger shared his new look, with a great tribute to Lloyd Christmas, Jim Carrey's character in "Dumb and Dumber":

Perhaps he should try pasta as an easy-to-chew food in the meantime.

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Alain Vigneault's New York Rangers have never really had a problem scoring goals; just four teams - the Stars, Blackhawks, Lightning, and Capitals - have a greater per-game output across the last four years.

This unshakable standard's been maintained despite shot-creation valleys, as well as Rick Nash, the $7.8-million star, leading the NHL in even-strength goals one season to eking out 15 total the next. In tandem with the supreme puck-stopping capabilities of Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers have scored just enough to rack up the most wins league-wide when factoring in postseason success.

Yet there's reason to suggest this season's Rangers - the team people had pegged for a step back this year - could be the most dangerous in this regime.

New York beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-3 on Thursday, winning for an eighth time in 11 games, and in the process scoring a league-best 45th goal to push their goal differential to plus-20.

Here's how they suddenly have the look of the NHL's most potent attack.

Additions

In his first full summer with autonomy, Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton eschewed convention. Rather than filling out his bottom six with role players limited once their skates cross the blue line, he targeted those with potential or a proven track record of scoring in the NHL.

Potential arrived in Jimmy Vesey, whose importance came twofold. First, the reigning Hobey Baker came as a top-end prospect New York lost spending so many draft picks chasing a ring. And second, the college free agent projected to offer singular value to a cap-strapped team on an entry-level contract as a refined, 23-year-old rookie. So far, this prophecy has proven true, as Vesey's ascended into a top-line role, and has six goals and nine points in his first 11 games.

His signing was precipitated, in part, by another move to inject young blood into their aging core. A month before, Gorton flipped Derick Brassard - New York's second leading scorer from a season ago - to the Ottawa Senators for Mika Zibanejad (also 23), a second-round pick, and in turn, almost $2.5 million in cap room. Zibanejad's since solidified the second-line center role, his speed and play-making instinct lending itself well to often-dominant power winger Chris Kreider.

Elsewhere on the margins, Gorton signed a serviceable penalty killer who happened to have a 34-goal season on his resume in Michael Grabner, and filled his fourth-line center position with Brandon Pirri, who scored 22 goals in 49 games two seasons ago.

Altogether, the Rangers now deploy legitimate scoring punch on all four lines, and thus far have submitted 10 of the 93 NHL forwards with seven points or more.

Resurgences

What may come as more encouraging than success from New York's newcomers are the starts from players that recently fell short of expectation.

First and foremost, the incentivized Nash is again producing at a top-line rate after hearing trade rumors after his dismal, injury-plagued season. He has six goals and nine points in 11 games, and is posing the same problems he did for opposing defenses in his "prime," using his speed, size, passing ability, and a willingness to dig into the dirty areas.

Likewise, Kreider has shown the complete, explosive package that wavered at times last season when healthy. A terror in full flight, Kreider was arguably the most dominant player in the NHL through the first week, recording three goals and seven points in four games before neck spasms chopped him down.

And finally, Kevin Hayes' resurgence is illustrative of both New York's new-look artillery and refined approach. His third-line unit, which boasts legitimate top-six talent in himself and J.T. Miller, has combined for 30 points in 11 games as teams struggle to match lines with the Rangers. Hayes (who no longer needs to look over his shoulder with Tanner Glass in the minors) has already contributed 30 percent of his total production from his sophomore season.

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A big dream appears to be dead for the Ottawa Senators.

The idea of an outdoor game being played on Parliament Hill has been nixed by the Government of Canada, according to Don Butler of the Ottawa Citizen.

The Senators had hoped to host a game on the hill in 2017 as part of the team's 25th anniversary celebration, the 100th anniversary of the NHL, and Canada's 150th birthday.

The logistics would have been difficult to manage, as a temporary stadium would've been needed to accommodate the event.

The Senators may continue to explore the possibility an outdoor game, with TD Place Stadium, site of the 2017 Grey Cup, as the more logical venue.

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The New York Islanders could be paying the price for allowing key free agents to sign elsewhere in the summer.

That's what head coach Jack Capuano alluded to following Thursday's 3-2 loss to Philadelphia, pointing out his club scored a power-play goal with the likes of Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas on the ice, with the other marker coming off the stick of Dennis Seidenberg.

"We took 134 points out of our lineup (in free agency) and we need to find a way to get some offense," Capuano said, per Arthur Staple of Newsday. "That’s my concern."

Those points came from primarily from Kyle Okposo (now with Buffalo) and Frans Nielsen (Detroit), who ranked second and third in team scoring with 64 and 52 points, respectively.

Andrew Ladd was signed with a view to filling that hole, but he's contributed a lone assist in 11 games.

Ladd is far from the only player failing to pick up the slack, and Capuano wasn't pleased with the effort brought forth in the loss to the Flyers.

"It was concerning the way a few guys came out, I won’t lie to you," he said. "We have some decisions to make going forward."

Perhaps general manager Garth Snow will have some decisions of his own to make sooner than later.

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Following a loss to the Montreal Canadiens last week, Nazem Kadri took a moment to send a family his best wishes after learning they named their baby after him.

Little did he know that in that moment, he joined another Toronto Maple Leafs family altogether.

Kadri Lee's the fifth child born to Dave and Misty Amey of Kingston, Ontario, who decided to name each of their offspring after Maple Leafs.

The newborn, Justice Tucker (11), Angel McCabe (10), Domi (9), and Colton Orr (5) are all named after players that personify what it means to play for the logo, at least in Dave's eyes.

"Those guys, they don't get all the recognition but they do the grittiest, the grindiest work out on the ice, night in and night out," he told The Toronto Star's Sammy Hudes and Brennan Doherty.

He added: "If I were to have another baby next year, there's no way on earth I'd pick Auston Matthews."

To be fair, Matthews is missing the requisite pugnacity.

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CHICAGO - Marian Hossa raced up the ice and headed to the net. Fedor Tyutin jabbed at him with his stick, but it was too late. Hossa shook him off and flicked the puck over Semyon Varlamov's glove.

It was vintage Hossa.

While the NHL playoffs raged into June, the 37-year-old Hossa found his legs again. The physical winger is off to a solid start for the Chicago Blackhawks, flashing the form that made him one of the league's best two-way players for most of his distinguished career.

''So far, I feel pretty good, skating-wise, and also had lots of puck on my stick,'' Hossa said. ''So when you play with the puck you get more comfort level and you are making things happen.''

Like Thursday night, when Hossa played a key role in Chicago's 4-0 win over Colorado. First, he got free for a breakaway and held off Tyutin on the way to his fourth goal of the season at 15:03 of the first.

Hossa scored again 55 seconds into the third , taking a stretch pass from defenseman Duncan Keith and shooting over Varlamov's glove for his fourth goal in his last four games.

''He's skating well,'' coach Joel Quenneville said. ''He's never really looked like he's slowing down at any time. The finish around the net was nice to see, two outstanding shots.''

Hossa, who signed a 12-year, $62.8 million contract in July 2009, helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. But the years of long playoff runs and Olympic play took a toll.

He had just 13 goals and 20 assists in 64 games last season, and Chicago was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

''Definitely longer summer helps after such a long time,'' Hossa said. ''I think the body needed a little rest.''

His resurgence has helped Chicago to four straight wins and seven of nine overall, masking some issues with puck possession and turnovers. The Blackhawks face a difficult test this weekend when they take on Dallas in a home-and-home set.

Hossa has five goals and four assists in 10 games. He didn't score his fifth goal last season until his 24th game.

''You know sometimes when the puck goes in early for you you're more relaxed,'' he said. ''You don't force things, and I think right now that's what's happening.''

Hossa also has found a home on Chicago's second line, playing alongside center Artem Anisimov and Calder Trophy winner Artemi Panarin. Anisimov, Panarin and Patrick Kane formed one of the NHL's most potent lines last season, but Kane is playing alongside captain Jonathan Toews in the top group at the moment as Quenneville searches for balance in his lineup.

Panarin set up Hossa's first goal against the Avalanche.

''Playing with two really good players, you know, try to find an open area and those guys can find you,'' Hossa said. ''I think things are clicking, just need to keep working on it.''

Hossa's first multigoal game since Jan. 10, also against Colorado, ran his goal total to 504, passing Peter Bondra for the highest total for a Slovakian-born player. Hossa is 41st on the NHL's career list, just three back of Hall of Fame center Jean Beliveau.

''He's got some offensive numbers that really are great to look at,'' Quenneville said after Hossa scored his 500th goal, which occurred last month against Philadelphia. ''The best part of his game is the consistency of being a pro, night in and night out, being responsible on both sides of the puck, plays hard every single game and night. It's a good example for our young guys learning how to play the right way.''

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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap

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The Detroit Red Wings appear set to welcome Niklas Kronwall back to the lineup Friday against the Winnipeg Jets.

A nagging knee issue kept Kronwall from representing Sweden at the World Cup, as well as off the ice through training camp and the first 11 games of the NHL season.

Kronwall recorded three goals and 23 assists while averaging 22 minutes in 64 games last season.

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For the second game in a row, the Vancouver Canucks outshot the opposition, but came out on the losing end after failing to hit the back of the net.

Thursday's loss in Ottawa marked the fourth time the Canucks have been shut out in their past five games. Vancouver fired 27 shots on Mike Condon, who got the shutout in his Senators debut, after recording 42 shots the night before in Montreal, only to be flummoxed at every turn by Carey Price.

The chances are there, says head coach Willie Desjardins, but a sense of desperation may be lacking.

Captain Henrik Sedin, who shares the team lead in points with Brandon Sutter (five in 11 games), appears confident things will turn around soon.

As a team, the Canucks are scoring at a success rate of 4.2 percent at five-on-five play and 5.44 percent in all situations, meaning a measure of bad luck is indeed working against them.

Only eight players on the roster have recorded a goal this season, and Desjardins is clearly looking for more from expected contributors.

The next chance to score will come Saturday in Toronto.

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