Andrei Vasilevskiy is resolutely protecting a net now exclusively belonging to him.

The Tampa Bay Lightning's undisputed No. 1 goalie - following the trade of Ben Bishop - made a ridiculous desperation stretch Monday to deny Ottawa Senators forward Chris Kelly of a sure goal.

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Jason Pominville and Zach Parise will be out of the Minnesota Wild lineup for the time being as the two have been diagnosed with the mumps, the team announced on Monday.

The team did not say how long the diagnosis will keep the pair out of the lineup.

Meanwhile, the team did note that fellow members within the organization that have begun to show symptoms will be tested and placed in isolation for a five-day period.

The news comes after the Vancouver Canucks announced on Friday that defenseman Troy Stetcher had been diagnosed with the illness and that Mike Chaput, Markus Granlund, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Tyramkin were all showing symptoms.

Related: Canucks' Tanev thought he broke jaw prior to mumps diagnosis

The news certainly hurts with the Wild, as they are currently fighting off the Chicago Blackhawks for top spot in the Western Conference, with just one point separating the clubs.

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It isn't every day that Jim Benning gets praised enthusiastically.

The Vancouver Canucks general manager, reviled for his inactivity at the trade deadline last season, began the process of redressing previous failures Monday afternoon by moving veteran winger Alex Burrows to the Ottawa Senators for intriguing forward prospect Jonathan Dahlen.

Here are three reasons why Benning is being patted on the back.

Dahlen wasn't Ottawa's best prospect, but a damn good one

The Senators have been linked to quite a few trade scenarios over the last few weeks, but the thought has been that they weren't major players for the high-end assets believed to be available because they were married to blue-chip prospects Thomas Chabot and Colin White.

In being cut loose for a veteran well beyond his prime, Dahlen clearly isn't regarded in quite the same manner, but the second-round prospect does possess major talent.

Dahlen has produced nearly a point per outing against the men in Sweden's second division. For comparison's sake, his production at the same age and against the same quality of competition has exceeded that of one of the NHL's hottest scorers, Filip Forsberg.

His production leads all teenagers in Sweden's second tier.

The Canucks did their homework

Though Benning clumsily referenced Youtube in his assessment of the 19-year-old volume scorer, Canucks management seem to have scouted Dahlen extensively.

Benning mentioned the high-end toolbox and scoring instincts, but seemed particularly impressed with the Swede's willingness to earn opportunities in tough areas.

"He's got a good nose for the net and he'll pay the price to get there."

Dahlen turned heads at the World Junior Championship a few months back, scoring five goals at the tournament.

The center, who can pack more muscle onto his 5-foot-11 frame, should slot in behind first-round selections Brock Boeser and Olli Juolevi as the Canucks' No. 3 skating prospect.

His old man could play

Jonathan is the son of Ulf Dahlen, a former first-round draft pick of the New York Rangers who averaged 0.68 points per game and wore six sweaters in his 14-year NHL career.

Jonathan was born in 1997 during Ulf's short stint with HV71 Jonkoping of Sweden's top division in the middle of his NHL career. He returned to North America after his two-season run there, playing three with the Washington Capitals before one final year with the Dallas Stars.

His best season came in 1992-93 when he scored 35 goals and 39 assists for the Minnesota North Stars.

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Toronto Maple Leafs supporters channeled their inner Jim Mora on Monday afternoon: "Playoffs?!"

It's happening, folks. Less than a year after selling anyone and everything - while finishing dead last - Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello and Co. are buying ahead of the trade deadline with one goal in mind: the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Toronto traded a second-round pick and Byron Froese to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Brian Boyle on Monday, and the pending unrestricted free agent gives the Maple Leafs depth at arguably the most crucial position on the ice - up the middle.

While it can be argued that a second-round pick for a rental player is too steep a price to pay, Toronto dealt from a position of strength; it had three second-rounders in the upcoming draft - its own, one from the San Jose Sharks, and another from the Ottawa Senators.

Hitting fast forward on the rebuild

Mike Babcock promised pain. He was right. But even he probably expected more of it.

While it's fair to say no one expected Toronto to be where it is in the standings today, that's what happens when you add three uber-talented rookies to the lineup in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander. You win. And now that they've got a taste, the Maple Leafs want more. Because - and this is the irony - Toronto's brass knows its young group is going to have to learn how to lose in the playoffs before it learns how to win.

Enter Boyle.

The huge center from Hingham, Minn. joins Matthews, Nazem Kadri, and Tyler Bozak up the middle, bumping - thankfully - Ben Smith and Frederik Gauthier down the depth chart.

By possession this season, Boyle's got the best numbers on the team at the center position:

(Statistics courtesy: Corsica Hockey)

The Maple Leafs had a need. They deserve props for going out and filling it before March 1.

About faceoffs

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

There's more.

Boyle can win faceoffs - something all Maple Leafs centers except Bozak struggle to do.

Boyle ranks 31st among NHL centers who have taken at least 300 faceoffs, winning 53 percent. In the defensive zone, he's won 51.4 percent of his draws, which ranks 37th in the league. In other words, see you later, Ben Smith.

About experience

There's more, still.

Not a single NHLer has suited up for more playoff games than Boyle since 2011. That will serve the youthful Maple Leafs well, and Babcock, too, as Toronto aims to qualify for the postseason for - somehow - only the second time since the 2004-05 lockout (and we all know how that first appearance ended).

About flexibility

(Photo courtesy: USA TODAY Sports)

Plans change. The Maple Leafs are the perfect example.

Toronto wasn't supposed to be in the playoff conversation in year two with Babcock behind the bench. But sometimes the ping-pong balls land in your favor, and things change.

The Maple Leafs are adapting on the fly, and deserve credit for recognizing that playoff experience - whenever it comes - is crucial for Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Morgan Rielly, Connor Brown, Zach Hyman, and even Nazem Kadri - one of only five players left from that horrific night in Boston.

Adding Boyle is a big win for Toronto, which used the draft picks it accumulated over the past year to perfection.

Now comes the hard part - the playoff push, and being left standing when the dust settles. And that's the best part. Finally, the last six weeks of the regular season matter. Enjoy, Maple Leafs fans. You've earned it.

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Jim Benning is just getting started.

The Vancouver Canucks general manager candidly addressed the media after dealing veteran forward Alex Burrows to the Ottawa Senators on Monday afternoon, insisting more deals could be coming.

"I'm not done for the day," Benning said. "I have some calls to make and if deals make sense for us, we're going to do them."

It appears that Benning has been quite active recently. On Friday, forward Jannik Hansen told reporters that he submitted a list of eight teams he would be willing to be traded to, while goaltender Ryan Miller signed off on his five-team list.

Related: Canucks' Hansen submits list of 8 teams he's willing to be dealt to

As for Monday's deal, Benning also confirmed that talks with Ottawa had been going on for the past three to four days before Burrows finally signed off on the deal Monday.

Benning is doing his due diligence, and with his team now nine points out of a playoff spot it appears the Canucks could be huge sellers in the coming days.

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Alex Burrows might not be the lone acquisition by the Ottawa Senators before Wednesday's trade deadline.

General manager Pierre Dorion spoke Monday after the deal and made it quite clear that while there might not be another move made on Monday, that doesn't mean there won't be more before 3:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

Related: Dorion says Sens veterans thrilled with Burrows deal: 'One wanted to hug me'

Despite Monday's deal, the Senators could certainly use more help at forward, but only time will tell if Dorion can swing another deal.

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While some Ottawa Senators fans might not be thrilled by the value given up in the Alex Burrows trade on Monday, it's quite clear current players are ecstatic.

Related: Twitter praises Benning for Burrows trade, throws shade at Sens

Senators general manager Pierre Dorion spoke following the deal that saw Burrows flipped for 2016 second-round pick Jonathan Dahlen and noted that many of the team's veteran players were jubilant with the GM's move.

"We're elated," Dorion said, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "Five key vets came up to me in our dressing room - one wanted to hug me and the others shook my hand."

Dorion admitted that after the team learned that forward Clarke MacArthur would not play this season - as he deals with continued concussion problems - Burrows quickly became a target.

Of course with the sudden slew of injuries, the Senators will be hoping Burrows can make an immediate impact, especially with the club now just two points behind the Atlantic Division-leading Montreal Canadiens.

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It's rare that Vancouver Canucks fans can applaud the actions of their acting general manager.

However, after it was confirmed that the team had acquired 2016 second-round pick Jonathan Dahlen from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alex Burrows, the hockey world applauded the move by Jim Benning.

That being said, some shade was thrown at Benning's past and the apparent misplay by the Senators' management group. It's classic Twitter.

Some might call the move mythical in nature.

Canucks fans reading Twitter today.

It was quite surprising though.

And maybe fans will have renewed faith in Benning.

As for the Senators, it wasn't great value on their part.

Especially when considering who you were dealing with.

The deal was bad. I know it, you know it, everyone knows it. It was yuge!

And, of course, no reaction piece is complete without it:

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Brian Boyle was expecting to play for the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. Things changed during his pregame nap.

The 32-year-old was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs hours before his now former club was set to host the Ottawa Senators. He's trading in one blue and white uniform for another.

"It's interesting when you wake up from a nap expecting to play and you're no longer with that club," Boyle said of the deal, which netted Tampa Bay a second-round draft pick and Byron Froese. "I moved up the standings in a matter of a couple of hours," he added.

Boyle spent the last two-and-a-half seasons in Tampa Bay, and he admitted it's hard to move on, especially after a couple of deep playoff runs.

"It's tough to say goodbye. I'm a fairly loyal guy," he said. "I'm going to miss my buddies. It's really been a pleasure to play down in Tampa, and it's been exciting," he added.

Now joining Toronto for its playoff push, Boyle has a different kind of excitement to look forward to.

Playing for the Maple Leafs is an "unbelievable opportunity. They have some guys who are just phenomenal, phenomenal players," he said.

The Maple Leafs begin a three-game road trip in San Jose on Tuesday, and Boyle is hoping to be in the lineup for his new team.

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