Could the NHL have its sights set on a second team in Texas?

While recent expansion talk has centered on the success of the Vegas Golden Knights and the pending entry of a Seattle-based team, at least one member of the NHL's executive committee sees unearthed value in bringing a team to Houston.

"I look at where we can make the greatest impressions and have the most effectiveness," Boston Bruins owner and NHL executive committee chairman Jeremy Jacobs told 98.5 The Sports Hub. "Clearly the one area that is missing is Houston because that's such a great city."

Jacobs did not indicate whether he thinks the NHL should enter Houston through expansion or relocation, but added, "We don't have any really poor cities anymore. They're continuing to flourish."

It's not the first time Jacobs has shared his admiration for Houston, particularly when compared to another oft-discussed expansion market in Quebec City.

"You look at Houston and you look at (Quebec), it's the fifth largest city in North America versus the 105th, let's say, so they have a different situation there," Jacobs said in May.

Meanwhile, Tilman Feritta, a Texas billionaire who bought the NBA's Houston Rockets for $2.2 billion in September 2017, hasn't been shy in expressing his interest in bringing the NHL to Houston. He's even met with the NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss Houston's suitability as an NHL market.

"I'm very interested in the possibility of bringing the NHL to Houston, but it will have to be a deal that works for my organization, the city, fans of the NHL throughout the region, and the NHL Board of Governors," Fertitta said in November 2017.

Houston has previously played home to two pro hockey teams: the AHL's Aeros from 1994 to 2013 and a World Hockey Association franchise by the same moniker from 1972 to 1978.

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An afternoon contest Monday between the New York Islanders and the visiting San Jose Sharks drew a sparse crowd of just 8,790 to the Barclays Center, according to Arthur Staple of The Athletic.

It marked the lowest-ever turnout to an Isles home game since the team moved to Brooklyn in 2015. Poor ice conditions, challenging commutes, and obstructed views have continued to plague the fan base.

The Islanders finished with the NHL's lowest average attendance last season, coming in at just 12,002. The Barclays Center holds 15,795.

The franchise hopes to combat its attendance woes this year by splitting its home games between Barclays Center (21 games) and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (20 games). Plans are also in place to build a new arena in Belmont Park, which is just east of New York City. Arena construction will begin in 2019.

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With the news that Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo will miss two-to-four weeks with an MCL injury, and Los Angeles Kings netminder Jonathan Quick has been placed on injured reserve, here are five goalies fantasy owners can turn to:

Ownership percentages courtesy Yahoo.

James Reimer, Panthers

Ownership: 39 percent

Reimer will handle starting duties in Florida until Luongo returns from injury. As far as waiver-wire additions go, Reimer is a quality goaltender with plenty of experience. He's posted a .920 save percentage or better in four of his eight NHL seasons. With matchups at home against the Blue Jackets and Canucks this week, a couple of wins could be in the cards.

Jack Campbell, Kings

Ownership: 31 percent

Like Reimer, Campbell will fill in as his team's starer while Quick is out. However, Quick could be back as early as Friday, so Campbell's reign as the team's No. 1 may be short-lived.

Despite his limited NHL experience, the former 11th overall pick has plenty of talent and has had success in the minors. The Kings have three games this week (at Jets, at Canadiens, at Senators), so there's a good chance he gets the call in at least two of them.

Craig Anderson, Senators

Ownership: 26 percent

Anderson and the Senators were awful last year, and the team's offseason was even worse, leaving their veteran netminder undrafted in most leagues. Despite facing a ton of action in his first two starts, Anderson has performed admirably, owning a .913 save percentage. He's been known to alternate good and bad seasons throughout his career, so it's possible the 37-year-old has one more solid campaign in him.

The Sens have two games remaining this week: Wednesday vs. the Flyers, and Saturday vs. the Kings. Mike Condon got shelled on Monday, so it's possible the Sens go with Anderson in both contests.

Robin Lehner, Islanders

Ownership: 38 percent

The Islanders were a historically bad defensive team last season, but Barry Trotz has been brought in to clean that up and play a more structured game. Lehner is a very talented goalie and has put up decent numbers despite some poor Sabres teams in front of him. He appears to be in a better place mentally now and already had a shutout in his Islanders debut.

Unfortunately, the Isles only have one more game this week, and it comes on the road against the Nashville Predators, so Lehner probably makes for a better long-term solution.

Curtis McElhinney, Hurricanes

Ownership: Eight percent

McElhinney, who's coming off a career year with the Maple Leafs, was scooped up off waivers by the Hurricanes after Scott Darling went down with an injury. Petr Mrazek has played poorly in his first two games this season, while McElhinney stopped 31 of 32 shots in his only game this year.

The 'Canes have three games left this week (vs. Canucks, at Wild, at Jets), so the 35-year-old seems poised to start at least two of them.

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The San Jose Sharks received some good news on the status of Joe Thornton's aching knee, as the swelling that sent him to injured reserve on Sunday was apparently caused by an infection rather than structural damage, head coach Peter DeBoer told Paul Gackle of The Mercury News.

"Nothing structurally. It looks like an infection, put him on antibiotics," DeBoer said. "He should be fine."

Thornton experienced swelling after Friday's win over the Los Angeles Kings. He was then placed on IR and sent home from the club's four-game East Coast road trip for precautionary reasons.

At the earliest, Jumbo Joe could rejoin the Sharks on Oct. 14, but a firm timetable is still unclear. The update has to be considered a positive for the Sharks, though, as the 39-year-old has undergone two knee surgeries in the past 17 months.

Over the first two contests of the new season, Thornton recorded one assist and sits on the precipice of two personal milestones. With five more games played and three more goals, the No. 1 overall pick from the 1997 draft will reach 1,500 and 400, respectively, for his career.

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, and Dallas Stars netminder Ben Bishop have been named the NHL's three stars of the season's opening week.

Matthews has been lights out to start the new campaign, recording five goals and three assists in the Maple Leafs' first three games. He netted the overtime winner in the club's season opener and currently leads the NHL in both goals and points.

Toews appears poised for a major bounce-back season, as he's matched Matthews' five goals and has tacked on an assist for the Blackhawks during their 2-0-1 start.

Bishop has been a brick wall for the Stars early on, stopping 62 of 63 shots in his first two starts of the season.

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, and Dallas Stars netminder Ben Bishop have been named the NHL's three stars of the season's opening week.

Matthews has been lights out to start the new campaign, recording five goals and three assists in the Maple Leafs' first three games. He netted the overtime winner in the club's season opener and currently leads the NHL in both goals and points.

Toews appears poised for a major bounce-back season, as he's matched Matthews' five goals and has tacked on an assist for the Blackhawks during their 2-0-1 start.

Bishop has been a brick wall for the Stars early on, stopping 62 of 63 shots in his first two starts of the season.

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Florida Panthers netminder Roberto Luongo will be out longer than initially thought, as he's scheduled to miss two-to-four weeks with a Grade 1 MCL injury, head coach Bob Boughner said Monday.

On Sunday, it was reported that Luongo would miss at least a week after teammate Frank Vatrano fell on his leg in the Panthers' season opener.

With Luongo out, James Reimer will take over the starter role. Michael Hutchinson has been recalled from the AHL to serve as the backup.

The 39-year-old Luongo missed 27 games with a lower-body injury last season while posting a .929 save percentage across 33 starts. His health going forward will be a key factor for the Panthers and their playoff hopes.

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The Philadelphia Flyers will be without marquee free-agent signing James van Riemsdyk for five-to-six weeks after suffering a lower-body injury in Saturday's loss to the Colorado Avalanche, general manager Ron Hextall announced.

Van Riemsdyk took a puck off the leg in the first period and was unable to return.

After posting a career-high 36 goals with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, the Flyers inked van Riemsdyk to a five-year, $35-million contract on July 1.

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The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without Brandon Dubinsky for the next four-to-six weeks after the forward strained an oblique muscle during practice, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced Sunday.

It marks the second consecutive season Dubinsky has been forced to miss a significant chunk of time. In 2017-18, he missed 20 games as he dealt with a broken orbital bone and other personal issues. He finished the season with a career-low 16 points.

Dubinsky, 32, was off to a strong start to begin the new campaign, registering a goal and an assist in the Blue Jackets' first two games.

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