Why the Senators will soon sit atop the Atlantic

Look out, Montreal Canadiens.

The Ottawa Senators are about to make their mark in the Atlantic Division.

Sitting seven points back of the Canadiens, the Senators have a chance to reshape the division that Montreal has comfortably crowned all season, having three games in hand on the Habs and holding a prime opportunity to disrupt that position.

Carrying a 26-15-6 mark coming out of the All-Star break, the Senators have built on an impressive campaign, one that saw the team drop just one contest in its last nine outings, grabbing 14 of a possible 18 points.

The best part? The Senators will soon have their starting goaltender back in the fold.

In the absence of starter Craig Anderson, who left the team to be with his ill wife, Ottawa has called on backup Mike Condon to carry the load, who has been nothing short of impressive. With the No. 1 away, Condon has started all 15 of the Senators' games dating back to Dec. 20, posting an 8-4-3 mark.

Only two other goaltenders saw more starts than Condon over that stretch: Carolina's Cam Ward and Boston's Tuukka Rask.

Still, Anderson remains Ottawa's No. 1 netminder, and with one-year remaining on his contract, the future of the team, with Condon a pending unrestricted free agent.

Through 19 appearances this season, Anderson owns a 12-6-1 record and a .924 save percentage. Among goaltenders with as much ice time, Anderson's save rate ranks sixth league-wide and the best in the Atlantic.

In what has no doubt been an emotional campaign for Anderson, he and the Senators will soon have a chance to build on their success this season. Thanks to some impressive play, grabbing the Atlantic's top spot is now a realistic possibility on Ottawa's radar.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Taylor Hall remains undefeated at NHL All-Star tournament

Taylor Hall knows how to handle a novelty check.

For the second time in as many NHL All-Star 3-on-3 tournaments, the Edmonton Oilers-turned-New Jersey Devils high-volume scoring winger supplemented his annual income with a portion of the winner's $1-million purse.

Representing the Pacific last season, Hall scored twice and added an assist for a championship team captained by John Scott. And on Sunday in Los Angeles, Hall contributed two points in each game for the Metropolitan Division, which defeated a collection of his former 3-on-3 teammates in the grand finale.

Perhaps it's coincidence. Besides, Hall wasn't even in the truck conversation in either championship run. But on Sunday afternoon, his veteran savvy was very much the difference.

Twice Hall caught the opponent napping by knocking the puck ahead from the faceoff dot and scampering into the offensive zone.

It was the ingenious strategy that set up Wayne Simmonds' decisive goal in the final.

And he got one of his own beforehand versus the Atlantic Division.

All Hall does is win (at the NHL All-Star 3-on-3 tournament, that is).

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Horvat states his case with impressive All-Star showing

There's no doubt the 2017 NHL All-Star final had a different cast of game-changing characters than most expected, with Wayne Simmonds skating away as MVP while Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin went pointless in the championship game. But no All-Star benefited more from the festivities than Vancouver Canucks pivot Bo Horvat.

The 21-year-old centerman arrived in Los Angeles as the least-hyped of the All-Star bunch by a mile. Amid crowds of future Hall of Famers, veteran scorers, and well-known young guns, it was pretty much Horvat and Frans Nielsen standing alone as question marks.

And the latter forward at least enjoyed a bit of heat for suiting up alongside former New York Islanders teammate Kyle Okposo, leaving Isles fans wallowing in disappointment about their lost talent.

However, instead of fading into the background and simply enjoying the bright lights of the All-Star weekend, Horvat lit it up for the Pacific Division crew, putting his name on the map in the process.

Related: Watch: Horvat scores slick goal for the Pacific

Horvat racked up two assists during the early goings of his squad's semifinal win over the Central Division, before impressing with a beautiful chip over Devan Dubnyk's shoulder late in the second period.

He scored the last of the Pacific's three goals in the final match as well, carrying the puck up ice with speed and working a tight cycle with Johnny Gaudreau before beating Sergei Bobrovsky, giving his team a 3-2 lead.

The impressive showcase won't land Horvat a slew of ritzy endorsement deals, but it undoubtedly gave the average hockey fan a reason to watch for the quickly-rising Canucks star.

That's fantastic news for Vancouver, because if there's one thing the team's been lacking, it's elite young star power.

Few expected Horvat to cause too much of a ruckus this season, but the 2013 ninth overall pick has upped his game and proven he can be a key piece for the franchise moving forward.

Through 50 appearances in 2016-17, he's put up a team-leading 14 goals and sits tied with captain Henrik Sedin for the team scoring lead with 32 points.

If his performance this weekend is any indication, that's only the tip of the iceberg for Horvat, as the former OHL standout made it clear he has enough skill to skate with the big boys.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

MVP Simmonds: Gretzky’s challenge ‘was the game changer’

Wayne Simmonds knows he has "The Great One" to thank for his new truck.

The Philadelphia Flyers forward was named All-Star Game MVP after the Metropolitan Division took down the Pacific in the 3-on-3 tournament final, and after the game praised his fill-in head coach, Wayne Gretzky, who knows a thing or two about hockey.

With the Metro trailing 3-2, Gretzky used a coach's challenge after the Pacific had scored in the second half to go up 4-2. It worked, Connor McDavid ruled offside, setting the stage for a Metro comeback.

"Helped us win, right?" Simmonds said after the game. "That was the play. That was the game changer. That was the decision. Obviously (Gretzky's) got a great hockey mind. He pulls that card, it's offside, and come back, we score two goals and we win the game, so obviously it was a great decision."

Not only is Simmonds going home with a truck, he's also going back to Philly with a lucky dollar bill, which was taped to his nameplate at his locker.

"I don't even know who did that to be honest with you," the 28-year-old from just north of Toronto said. "I'm still trying to figure it out. It says 'enjoy the money' on it. I have no clue who it was. But I'll take it. That will be my lucky dollar bill now. I'll throw that in my pocket."

On a more serious note, Simmonds also talked about diversity in hockey, after four black players represented their teams at the All-Star Game.

"It was unbelievable," he said. "I think if you look around the game now, you're starting to see different ethnicities, not only black, but it's starting to open up a little bit, and that's the goal here. We're trying to spread the game. Hockey is for everybody, so it's a great sport. I'm just trying to be a good ambassador and stuff like that, so it's great."

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Crosby finally has something go his way as he captures elusive All-Star title

There was one crown left for Sidney Crosby to capture. And he's got it.

Playing in only his second All-Star Game due to injury and Olympic participation, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar and face of the NHL captained the Metropolitan Division to an All-Star Game win Sunday, and now he's truly won it all.

The Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, world junior and world championship gold, the Art Ross, the Hart, the Conn Smythe. And, finally, an All-Star Game.

"It was great," Crosby said after Sunday's festivities wrapped, writes NHL.com's Michelle Crechiolo. "Our bench was pretty loose. We had a lot of fun there."

Not only did Crosby get to play with his new best friend Alex Ovechkin at 3-on-3, he had the opportunity to be coached by Wayne Gretzky, who took over the duties for John Tortorella, who was away tending to his son's ill dog.

And Gretzky's offside challenge, which brought back a Pacific Division goal, proved large.

"Who would've thought the offside rule would have come into play there," Crosby said. "But you need the bounces if you're going to win," he added while laughing.

"Just an overall great experience," Crosby said of the weekend.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Watch: Ultimate teammate Ovie serves up water during late timeout

It takes a team to win an All-Star Game, kids. Never forget that.

Alex Ovechkin, one of the greatest goal-scorers in NHL history, served up a reminder that before you're a prolific sniper, or a stay-at-home defenseman, or a checking forward, you're a teammate first. And forever.

Up by a goal with 19.4 seconds left, Ovechkin made sure his Metropolitan Division teammates were hydrated well enough to get the job done. And they did, defeating the Pacific 4-3 to win Sunday's 3-on-3 tournament.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

7 fantastic quotes from the All-Star Game

NHL All-Stars weren't only delivering on the ice Sunday.

Here are some of the best quotes from the game's best after fun-filled 3-on-3 tournament that saw the Metropolitan crowned hockey's best division.

1. Marchand about Price

Carey Price, Boston Bruin? Brad Marchand can see it.

The Bruins do have major issues behind Tuukka Rask. Just saying.

2. How do you really feel?

Vladimir Tarasenko only keeps it real:

3. Paying the price

Make no mistake: A million dollars is motivating.

4. 20 minutes?!

Alex Ovechkin made sacrifices, and Sunday he's a champion.

5. Sleeping with the enemy

It was a day of firsts for Sidney Crosby:

6. Blame Toronto

Connor McDavid just can't catch a break:

7. Boudreau ain't pleased

Bruce Boudreau prefers the Minnesota Wild, thanks.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ovechkin confirms bromance with Crosby: ‘Best friends’

It's going to be awkward if the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals meet in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. Why? Because two men will have to put aside a fierce friendship to battle each other.

After Sunday's All-Star tournament wrapped, Alex Ovechkin, who found himself hanging out with Sidney Crosby at Saturday's Skills Competition and playing with Crosby at 3-on-3, confirmed that the two foes now share a special bond.

The pair exchanged sticks after the All-Star Game, too, tweeted Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

It's amazing how much can change in only 48 hours.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Doughty left unimpressed by Crosby-Ovechkin tandem: ‘We shut ’em down’

Perhaps they're best suited as arch rivals.

The Metropolitan Division won the 3-on-3 tournament at the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles, but not because the fantastical combination of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin was a match made in heaven for substitute head coach Wayne Gretzky.

In fact, Gretzky's decision to turn the two greatest players of their generation into a tandem was a failure.

At least, that's how Drew Doughty saw it.

"We shut 'em down," he told LA Kings Insider Jon Rosen, presumably through his toothless grin.

"I don't think they scored against us. They're easy to play against."

Crosby scored, and later set up Ovechkin in the Metropolitan Division's 10-6 win over the Atlantic before being shut out by Doughty's Pacific All-Stars.

Later, they decided to exchange faulty weapons.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Gretzky flexes coaching muscle for All-Star champions

It's been eight years since Wayne Gretzky called the shots as an NHL head coach, but after a legendary performance for the All-Star champion Metropolitan Division, The Great One made it clear he still knows his way around a bench.

Though the 3-on-3 final was brimming with superstar talent - Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin on one side of the sheet, Connor McDavid and Johnny Gaudreau on the other - it was No. 99 who stole the show.

The wily veteran wasn't afraid to use all the tools in his arsenal, most notably in the second half when he threw down a successful coach's challenge to cancel out a goal from Ryan Kesler, keeping his team's one-goal deficit from doubling.

Gretzky made little effort to hide his feelings about his perfect career coach's challenge record, which now stands at a sterling 1-for-1.

The Hall of Famer's astute play wound up being a key turning point in the tilt - and perhaps the rousing call his squad needed, as they answered by putting up a two-spot to come back and take the All-Star crown.

Lesson learned: You miss 100 percent of the challenges you don't take.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.