Monday night will mark Mike Hoffman's first game in Ottawa since being traded from the Senators.

Hoffman was flipped to the Florida Panthers after originally being dealt to the San Jose Sharks back in June. At the time, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion suggested that the trade was an attempt to improve the team's locker room dynamic.

Ottawa traded the forward after it became public that Erik Karlsson and his wife Melinda had accused Hoffman's fiancee, Monika Caryk, of being behind a campaign of harassment against the Karlssons on social media.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Monday's game, Hoffman suggested the narrative put forth by Dorion wasn't entirely true.

"People sometimes need reasons on why they get rid of some players," he said, according to "Tim and Sid." "If you go and ask anyone around that locker room if I was a problem, I think you'll be able to find that answer yourself."

His former Sens teammate, defenseman Mark Borowiecki, said he'd always been on good terms with Hoffman.

"I will say I've played with Hoff(man) for I think seven years between minors and the NHL, I always got along with him," Borowiecki told reporters, via Sportsnet. "I never had any issue with Hoff. We chatted a bit during the game in Florida and will probably do the same tonight, but at the same time, we know a guy like him: a big shooter from the outside, big speed, you got to put a body on him and play him hard. So, friends off for a little bit."

Hoffman enters Monday's game riding a 15-game point streak, the longest such streak in Panthers history. In all, Hoffman has eight goals and 18 points in 17 games with Florida this season.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Red Wings aren't expecting Darren Helm in the lineup until 2019.

The 31-year-old winger sustained a shoulder injury that will sideline him for six to eight weeks, general manager Ken Holland said, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.

Helm suffered the injury during Saturday's 3-2 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils. He left midway through the first period after logging just 2:03 of ice time.

The veteran forward has one goal and five assists in 20 games this season.

In other Red Wings injury news, forward Thomas Vanek and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson are both day to day with lower-body ailments but could return as early as Wednesday, head coach Jeff Blashill said, according to NHL.com's Dana Wakiji.

The Red Wings have been on a roll of late going 8-2-0 in their last 10 games.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson doesn't want to be known as a dirty player.

Last week, a neutral arbitrator slashed Wilson's original 20-game ban for a headshot on St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist by six games, allowing him to play immediately since he'd already sat out 16 contests. While he's been criticized for his style of play, Wilson maintains he never intends to injure opposing players.

"On that (Sundqvist) hit, I was actually doing a lot of what the department had asked me to do," he said, according to Chris Kuc of The Athletic. "I was low to the ice, I had my shoulder tucked and my feet planted. Unfortunately, the guy was in a tough position and the outcome isn't what the intent was. For me, the intent is never there as much as people try and say it is.

"I’m not out there trying to hurt guys; I'm trying to play the game hard. I have to make sure that I'm executing it completely clean. Even if there's the slightest little bit, you know and everyone else knows what will happen. It's tough. It's something I'm dealing with for sure."

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cullen ripped the league's suspension appeal process after Wilson's ban was reduced, arguing that simply suspending players for reckless hits won't persuade them to change how they play.

For now, Wilson is just hoping to help the Capitals "put together wins." He's posted one goal and three points in three games since he returned from his suspension.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sidney Crosby will miss his third straight game when the Pittsburgh Penguins face the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.

The 31-year-old is dealing with an upper-body injury. Crosby noted he is feeling better but won't suit up for a Penguins team that is winless since he exited the lineup.

"I'm not playing tonight, but things are going in the right direction," Crosby said, according to Michelle Crechiolo of NHL.com. "Happy with the way I'm feeling."

Crosby had been on a three-game point streak prior to his injury. The Penguins sit last in the Eastern Conference and have just two wins in their last 10 games.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Monday, theScore will offer a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing five moves you should make. Ownership percentages (as of Nov. 18) and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.

Buy low on Erik Karlsson

Team: Sharks
Position: D
Ownership: 99 percent

Karlsson finally got the monkey off his back on Saturday, potting his first goal as a Shark. That could open the floodgates for the two-time Norris Trophy winner who has been a disappointment through his first 21 games in San Jose, recording just 12 points.

On a per-60 minute basis, Karlsson is shooting more, getting more scoring chances, and more high-danger scoring chances than the past three seasons, indicating some positive regression may be coming. The human element can't be forgotten here either, as Karlsson could succeed more after getting comfortable in his new surroundings.

With enough persistence, Karlsson's owners might be persuaded to move him for a fraction of his actual value. It wouldn't be surprising if the Swede finishes the season as a top-25 fantasy player.

Add Mikko Koskinen

Team: Oilers
Position: G
Ownership: 14 percent

Koskinen is quickly emerging as Edmonton's No. 1 goalie. He's started half as many games as Cam Talbot, but it's evident which goalie has been more effective.

Koskinen, the more reliable netminder, will see his starts increase as head coach Todd McLellan's desperation rises.

Stream Craig Smith

Team: Predators
Position: RW
Ownership: 18 percent

Smith is skating on the Predators' top line with Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg in the absence of Viktor Arvidsson, who's out six-to-eight weeks with a broken thumb.

After scoring 25 goals in 2017-18, Smith has been somewhat snakebitten so far this season, with just five tallies despite averaging a career-high 3.35 shots per game.

Add Nate Schmidt in deeper leagues

Team: Golden Knights
Position: D
Ownership: 7 percent

Schmidt served his 20-game suspension and returned to the Golden Knights' lineup on Sunday against the Oilers. The smooth-skating blue-liner racked up a career-high 36 points a year ago while leading his team in ice time.

Schmidt doesn't warrant a pick up in standard-sized leagues, but he's worth owning in any league with 14-plus teams.

Pick up Casey DeSmith

Team: Penguins
Position: G
Ownership: 34 percent

Matt Murray has been brutal this season, posting an .877 save percentage and a 4.08 goals-against average over 11 games. That's a far cry from the composed goalie we saw backstop the Penguins to two Stanley Cups.

DeSmith, on the other hand, has been magnificent in 11 games, sporting a .930 save percentage and a 2.25 goals-against average.

The Pens sit dead last in the Eastern Conference, so Murray's leash might get short quickly, which will lead to more starts for DeSmith.

(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although he was draped in a red non-contact jersey, Auston Matthews rejoined the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday for his first full practice since injuring his left shoulder Oct. 27, and says the recovery is coming along nicely.

"Kind of just taking it day by day," Matthews said, per Dave McCarthy of NHL.com. "It feels a lot better. I think it's progressed quite well. It's still not all there but hopefully it continues to progress, and I can get out there as soon as possible."

Matthews was given a four-week recovery timeline upon being diagnosed with the injury, which would keep him out until Nov. 24 if the prognosis is to be taken verbatim. He's missed nine games so far, and the Maple Leafs play four times in the coming week.

"You'll just know (when you're ready), I guess," Matthews said. "Taking contact, feeling back in game shape, being able to do a full practice, all that kind of stuff. A lot of protocol you have to go through. In all honesty, it doesn't really matter. I'm going to come back when I feel ready. It's great to see us getting a lot of wins though."

Prior to being sidelined, Matthews had recorded 10 goals and six assists in 11 games. Toronto's still managed a 6-3 record in his absence, and the club currently sits one point outside first place in the Atlantic Division.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Nate Schmidt's 20-game suspension is up, and he's in the lineup for his season debut as the Vegas Golden Knights battle the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday evening.

Schmidt was suspended in September for a violating the terms of the NHL and NHLPA's performance-enhancing substances program, which the 27-year-old blue-liner strongly disagreed with due to the "microscopic" amount of tainted substance discovered in his system.

His return to the lineup should be big for the Golden Knights, who have sputtered out of the gate with an 8-11-1 record in his absence. Last season, Schmidt appeared in 76 games, recording a career-high 36 points while logging over 22 minutes per contest.

In the midst of his ban, Schmidt signed a six-year contract extension worth $5.95 million annually.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sam Gagner is headed back to the NHL.

The Vancouver Canucks have recalled the veteran forward from the AHL's Toronto Marlies, the team announced Sunday.

Gagner was waived by the Canucks on Oct. 1 and loaned to the Marlies one day later.

The 29-year-old produced seven goals and 15 points in 15 AHL games this season.

Gagner carries a $3.15-million cap hit after Vancouver inked him to a three-year, $9.45-million deal in July 2017.

Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.