Spezza was hurt in the Stars' 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, during which he saw only 11:49 of ice time. It's probable he was hurt on this play, when Adam Lowry hit Spezza at the blue line.
The 33-year-old was riding a three-game point streak before being hurt, and has eight goals and 23 assists in 51 games. His loss is big for Dallas, which is trying to work itself back into playoff position in the Western Conference.
The move comes after unconfirmed reports surfaced Thursday that the 36-year-old had requested a trade from the team after serving as a healthy scratch over the last three games and five of the last 11.
Ribeiro's production is down from last year, but only slightly. He has four goals and 25 points in 46 games this season after tallying seven goals and 50 points one year ago.
He's in the final season of a two-year, $7-million contract with a cap hit of $3.5 million.
The Toronto Maple Leafs set their longest regulation losing streak of the season Thursday night, thanks to a 5-1 shelling from the St. Louis Blues.
With the loss, the team has now dropped three consecutive games in regulation, the team's longest stretch without a point this season.
The club remains confident in itself, but as defenseman Morgan Rielly insists, the team has little to hang their hat on of late.
"The confidence is there. We have lots of confidence in our group, we don't have a lot to be proud of right now," Rielly said postgame. "We have two outings that didn't go our way and we're not very happy with so, if anything, we have that much more motivation going into a big game against a team within the division. There's no reason to start getting concerned, it's just a matter of trying to get our focus back and make sure we know what to think. Just get playing our game again."
The Maple Leafs fell 2-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers just prior to the All-Star break, but it's been their first two games coming out of the time off that have been the most troubling.
The team fell 6-3 to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. A game that saw the Maple Leafs surrender five first-period goals and followed it up with Thursday's miserable display. The club has now given up 11 goals in their last two games.
As far as James van Riemsdyk is concerned, the team is better than how they have looked in their last few games, and getting back on track shouldn't take much mending.
"I'm sure everyone realizes where we're at in the standings and what part of the season we're at," said van Riemsdyk. "We know we've got more to give, we've got better hockey we're capable of playing, and it's just a matter of going out there, executing, working, and doing the things we know how to do."
The Maple Leafs will need to put that all together starting Saturday night. Toronto will play their most meaningful game in some time when they take on the Boston Bruins who sit three points ahead of the team and who have played five more games than them.
Only the Winnipeg Jets have played as much hockey as the Boston Bruins.
With four full days off after Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the club's bye week running Feb. 13 through 18, the Bruins appear to have dodged major injury bullets with respect to stars Tuukka Rask and Patrice Bergeron.
The club announced Rask won't participate in practice Friday, being given a maintenance day instead, after he hurt his groin Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Bergeron won't practice, either, and he's considered day to day with a lower-body injury.
Bergeron blocked a shot off his knee Wednesday, was forced from the game, and was seen limping afterward.
There's no word whether Bergeron and Rask will play Saturday, when the Bruins host the Maple Leafs. Boston's three points up on Toronto for third place in the Atlantic Division, but the Maple Leafs have a ridiculous five games in hand.
The playoff picture will be a lot more clear later this month, since the Bruins play only five games between Saturday and Feb. 20. And for Bruins fans, they're hoping that picture gets a bit better looking, and includes Bergeron and Rask.
The Nashville Predators' top line he centers with Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson accounted for both his team's goals in Thursday's 2-0 win over the Edmonton Oilers, and Johansen let out the secret to the trio's success:
"Well, we're all really good looking," he said, according to The Tennessean's Adam Vingan. "That kind of says it all."
It does, doesn't it?
Nashville's playing inspired hockey at the moment, and Johansen's got two goals and six assists in his past six games, in which the Predators have gone 4-1-1. His 38 points lead the team in scoring.
Forsberg, who's second on the team in scoring, contributed an assist Thursday, after a January that saw him score seven times in 14 games.
Arvidsson's a point behind Forsberg, and he's got two goals and two assists in his last five games. He's already set career highs in goals (13), assists (19), and points (32).
"They're playing really well," head coach Peter Laviolette said. "We put it together and we've stayed with it. It's given us some results."
The Predators are playing their best hockey after dealing with injuries to key players like P.K. Subban and Roman Josi. Things are looking good as they prepare to hit the stretch.
Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.
Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Friday, Feb. 3 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockeyand apply to 5v5 situations):
Dynamic Duos
C Alexander Wennberg (42K) and RW Cam Atkinson (56K), Blue Jackets (at Penguins): This game is expected to be the highest-scoring affair of the night, which puts all of the key players on the fantasy radar. This combo is far cheaper than it should be, with the Blue Jackets operating the league's best power play (24.6 percent) and the Penguins owning one of the least effective penalty kills (78.6 percent).
C Sidney Crosby (88K) and LW Chris Kunitz (40K), Penguins (vs. Blue Jackets: Let's not forget the abundance of skill on the other side of the ice. Crosby is a nightly lock, while Kunitz gets a significant boost as the player expected to be promoted to the top line full-time following the injury to Conor Sheary. These two have chemistry, and while Kunitz has lost a step, he represents tremendous value in this one.
C John Tavares (68K), Islanders and LW Josh Bailey (38K), Islanders (at Red Wings): Deciding between Bailey and fellow LW Anders Lee wasn't easy, but ultimately Bailey has the higher floor of the two players. The former first-round pick is averaging nearly a point per game on the road this season, and has a pair of goals over his last three games. He's also a little less expensive than Lee, making him a better value play.
Goalie Breakdown
TARGET: Cory Schneider (99K), Devils (vs. Flames): You could really go either way in this one, with both teams ranking in the bottom-10 in goals scored so far this season. But Schneider is the superior option to Brian Elliott by virtue of his 2.40 GAA and .916 SV% in 18 home games, including more than 28 minutes of shutout hockey against high-powered Washington on Jan. 26. Schneider should excel Friday.
BARGAIN: Brian Elliott (75K), Flames (at Devils): Of course, if you're feeling lucky, you can opt instead for Elliott. The veteran has struggled for most of the season, but is coming off a pair of sensational efforts, stopping 53 of 56 shots in wins over Ottawa and Minnesota. With the Devils having scored the second-fewest goals in the NHL entering Friday, there might not be a better matchup for Elliott than this one.
FADE: Matt Murray (107K), Penguins (vs. Blue Jackets): Murray would be a steep option on a normal night - but with Columbus and Pittsburgh expected to light up the scoreboard, Murray is even more hands-off. He has allowed nine goals over his last three games, losing two of them - and he was torched for six goals on just 23 shots in his previous meeting with the Blue Jackets. Spend your salary elsewhere.
CONTRARIAN: Thomas Greiss (87K), Islanders (at Red Wings): With most daily fantasy players opting to either spend up or spend down at the position, you should consider snagging a great low-owned option in Greiss. He has quietly put together a terrific first half, and has allowed just five goals over his past three games, winning all of them. Detroit shouldn't put up much of an offensive fight in this one.
Bargain Plays
C Ryan Kesler (46K), Ducks (at Panthers): Kesler is one of the more reasonably priced forwards on this slate. He comes in having recorded 40 points through 52 games while averaging nearly 2 1/2 shots per contest. He has also fared well this season against Eastern Conference opponents, recording 17 points in 21 games. If you're looking to spend up elsewhere, Kesler is a fine low-cost center.
LW Matthew Tkachuk (26K), Flames (at Devils): The points haven't been there for Tkachuk, who has just one assist over his last four games. But he's firing the puck more frequently, racking up 12 shots on goal over that span - and if he keeps it up, the goals will come. The low game total might scare you away, but with Tkachuk earning second-line and second PP unit exposure, you could do worse a near-minimum salary.
D Zach Werenski (32K), Blue Jackets (at Penguins): Werenski is heating up, having registered a goal and three assists over his past two games. The 19-year-old remains a fixture on both the first pairing and the top power-play unit, which should strike at least once against a weak Pittsburgh penalty kill. Werenski's price tag is perpetually low, and Friday is a great time to take advantage.
Top Fades
C Connor McDavid (69K), Oilers (at Hurricanes): Yes, it's a little crazy to consider McDavid a fade given his price point (especially compared to Crosby). But the Hurricanes have the best penalty kill in the league by a wide margin (88.7 percent), and that has to be considered even though McDavid does the majority of his damage at 5v5. With an abundance of good, cheap center options Friday, you should look elsewhere.
LW Johnny Gaudreau (60K), Flames (at Devils): Gaudreau has been in a lengthy slump, recording just seven points over his last 16 games. And yet, he comes in as the second-most-expensive left winger on Squad Up. The Flames have been playing terribly of late - Wednesday's win over the Wild aside - and could find offense hard to come by against the host Devils. Leave him unowned Friday.
RW Kyle Palmieri (62K), Devils (vs. Flames): Palmieri is coming off a two-goal effort against the Red Wings on Tuesday, and has been halfway decent of late with 10 points in his last 13 games. He has just four goals and four assists in 21 home games this season, and at 62K, you need more bang for your buck. This game could be the lowest-scoring contest of the night, so avoid it wherever possible.
Contrarian Options
LW Henrik Zetterberg (57K), Red Wings (vs. Islanders): The greybeard winger has come to life of late, recording a pair of multi-point efforts over his last three games. Even with the Red Wings' offense in shambles, Zetterberg has found a way to contribute. He also has a history of success against the Islanders, scoring a goal and adding an assist in their previous meeting this season.
RW Patric Hornqvist (60K), Penguins (vs. Blue Jackets): Most daily fantasy players looking for a Pittsburgh stack will opt for a cheap left winger to play alongside Crosby - but Hornqvist is more talented than anyone the Pens would consider moving up to the top line. Putting he and Crosby together puts a significant crimp in your budget, but that combo has tremendous upside Friday.
D Keith Yandle (45K), Panthers (vs. Ducks): Yandle has had solid efforts in back-to-back games, recording a pair of assists against Tampa Bay and earning a plus-3 rating versus Ottawa. He's good for a couple of shots per game at minimum, and he remains a top-tier power-play point producer among defensemen. Best of all, it's likely that almost nobody else will roster him - making him a truly contrarian play.
Marleau broke into the league in the fall of 1997, after the San Jose Sharks drafted him second overall that summer. He's been scoring for the Sharks ever since - like, every season. The 37-year-old has been remarkably durable throughout his career, with his 74-game rookie season the fewest number in 19 campaigns.
Marleau has 500 goals and 564 assists in 1,463 games. His next goal will give him 20 in 2016-17 - the 14th time he's hit the mark. He's a seven-time 30-goal scorer, and even hit 40 once, potting a career-high 44 in 2009-10.
Marleau's never won a Stanley Cup - he plays for the Sharks, after all - but he's produced in the playoffs, too, with 65 goals and 51 assists in 117 spring games. He's also a two-time Olympic gold medalist as a member of Team Canada in 2010 and 2014.
So, you've got the facts. Now you tell us: Does Marleau have a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame when his career's over?
While everyone continues to salivate over the potential of seeing many blockbusters go down this trade deadline season, it's time to scale things back a bit.
While names likes Matt Duchene, Ben Bishop, and Marc-Andre Fleury continue to be thrown around, it's important to recall almost every other trade deadline of the past five years.
Time and time again rumors of big name players on the move have run rampant only to see general managers fail to deliver. Be that an uneasiness to pay a hard bargain or an unwillingness to give up a player for cheap, the big fish usually aren't dealt until the offseason.
Be that as it may, this season sees - among the perennial stars - a collection of names that are slam dunks to be dealt ahead of this year's trade deadline. Let's check out that crop of players:
Jarome Iginla
Jarome Iginla made his intentions known this week that not only is he open to a trade, he would welcome one to a playoff contender.
The future Hall-of-Famer understands his career is coming to an end and he would love one last crack at winning the Stanley Cup.
As for the Avalanche - a team primed to start a rebuild - the club has literally no reason to keep him. The team's playoff aspirations died weeks ago, while Iginla will become an unrestricted free agent and is most likely to retire at season's end. A deal of any magnitude would be a gain for Colorado.
Of course, how serendipitous would it be if the Calgary Flames could make the postseason and acquire their former captain?
Martin Hanzal
Much like Iginla, Martin Hanzal is on an expiring contract and can be counted on to be shipped out of Arizona.
The Coyotes forward has had his name in rumors for the better part of the season and it should be only a matter of time before a deal is done.
What does seem peculiar - and what could be slowing things down - is the rather substantial demand by the Coyotes. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported last week that the Montreal Canadiens had interest in Hanzal and that the asking price was a first-round pick, forward Michael McCarron, and a conditional draft pick.
It's a lot for a player who has never cracked the 20-goal plateau, but with nothing to gain standing pat, count Hanzal in as one to be moved before March 1.
Thomas Vanek
If you haven't caught the common theme here yet, it's that all the players on this list will become free agents this summer.
While Thomas Vanek has fared admirably with the Detroit Red Wings this season, the Red Wings are likely to go in a different (younger) direction going forward, and for that expect Vanek to be dealt before the deadline.
Vanek is a cost-effective option for teams - only making $2.6 million - while his 31 points in 38 games on a club that sits in the Eastern Conference basement is not too shabby.
Factor in his history of producing as a rental player and he is the perfect candidate for a contending team looking for added depth.
Radim Vrbata
Much like Vanek, Radim Vrbata is a great candidate for depth scoring at a bargain.
His contract is bonus-laden with a $1-million cap hit and bonuses that pay him extra if he hits either the 20-goal mark or the 40-point plateau, as well as for playoff rounds won, eventually capping off at $3.25 million.
It might scare off some teams, but if that's the cost of winning in the playoffs, you'd likely be hard-pressed to find a team that wouldn't be willing to fork that over.
He provides value, and with the Coyotes continuing to rebuild, don't expect him back after March 1.
Kevin Shattenkirk
With high-end talent on the table, the risk of teams standing pat at the deadline always remains an option.
However, the St. Louis Blues saw how this worked out last season and they're unlikely to follow the same path with Kevin Shattenkirk. The club watched as captain David Backes and Troy Brouwer both signed elsewhere on July 1 last year, proving when in doubt, sell at the deadline.
There appears to be high interest in Shattenkirk and rightfully so as the 28-year-old sits fourth among all defensemen in scoring with 35 points in 51 games.
He's a power-play specialist which in tight postseason hockey could be the difference between a long playoff run and an early exit.
Last year's Atlantic champions aren't going to repeat. They're 22-19-10, four points out of the division's third and final playoff spot, with a few games in hand. They can't score, averaging 2.3 goals per game, 26th in the NHL. Ditto their power play, which ranks 25th.
Help is on the way: Jonathan Huberdeau will make his season debut Friday against the Anaheim Ducks, after Achilles surgery cost him the first half of the season. Aleksander Barkov will be back in the lineup, too, having last played Dec. 28. And he was heating up after a slow start when he went down, with 13 points - including seven goals - in 13 games in the final month of 2016.
No time to settle in
Florida doesn't have luxury to wait for Barkov and Huberdeau to find their legs. While the second wild-card spot is also within Florida's reach, it's third place in the division the Panthers covet. And in order to get there, Florida's going to have to beat some very good competition in February.
After Friday's game, Florida's off until Feb. 9, thanks to its mandated bye week, and then it's off to the races against very stiff competition:
Date
Opponent
Feb. 3
Ducks
Feb. 9
Kings
Feb. 11
@ Predators
Feb. 15
@ Sharks
Feb. 17
@ Ducks
Feb. 18
@ Kings
Feb. 20
@ Blues
Feb. 22
Oilers
Feb. 24
Flames
Feb. 26
Senators
Feb. 28
Hurricanes
In other words, the Panthers' immediate and long-term future will be decided in the coming weeks.
On the surface, things aren't good. Florida hasn't improved since Gerard Gallant took over, and that minus-20 goal differential is very difficult to ignore. And should the Panthers struggle on that upcoming five-game road trip against stiff Western Conference opponents between Feb. 11 and Feb. 20, it's a good chance they're sellers at the March 1 trade deadline.
Who could go?
And that could mean Jaromir Jagr's time in Sunrise may be up. While he's enjoyed his time in Florida, the soon-to-be 45-year-old is playing for a chance at a Stanley Cup - and he's on an expiring contract. If the Panthers aren't going to the dance, they must make sure Jagr does.
Jussi Jokinen, signed through next season at $4 million, is another player who could be made available if the Panthers find themselves on the outside looking in at the playoffs come Feb. 21. Florida can chalk up this season as lost due to injury, take the positives - Vincent Trochek's emergence into an All-Star and finding Jonathan Marchessault - and look to 2017-18 with its young core intact.
On defense, Jakub Kindl will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, while Mark Pysyk and Alex Petrovic will be restricted. And every playoff team needs depth defenders.
In other words, the Panthers have some assets they can move, should they decide to sell. With an unfavorable schedule, and no more points to waste, it's do-or-die time for Florida as the calendar inches towards deadline day.
"I guess you can tell that I voted for Trump," George told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette with a laugh for a story published Friday. "But I can’t say I disagree with him."
The order has caused widespread panic, led to worldwide protests, and has been deemed unconstitutional by virtue of several federal court rulings since the U.S. president signed it last week.
"I'm glad they're upping the immigration laws," the elder Saad said. "There's a legal way to enter the United States; you have to follow the right channels. We're a country built on laws. Let's follow the laws."
George left Syria - which is among the countries included in the ban - at the age of 18 to study engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. He and Brandon have helped 24 family members immigrate to the U.S. from the war-torn nation.
"The opportunities available here are not available anywhere else on the planet," George, who owns a Pennsylvania-based development firm, told Mackey.
"Without (Brandon's) financial ability, it's very difficult to sponsor that many people," George said. "There’s a minimum requirement the United States immigration law will demand from you. I could have sponsored five, six, or even 10 people. But I couldn’t sponsor all of our family members. That's why Brandon stepped in and helped sponsor the rest of the family."
As for the ban, it's received plenty of criticism and legal challenges from civil liberties groups alleging it targets people based on religious affiliation. It will prevent visitors from the seven countries from coming to the U.S. for 90 days and stop refugees from being admitted for 120.
"If it's going to take 90 days to make this country safer, I wouldn't mind it," George said. "They're not saying we're going to shut the doors completely for eternity. They're saying we're going to delay it for 90 days until we make sure everybody is following the proper channels."
