Tom Wilson wasn't in the holiday spirit Monday night.
The Washington Capitals forward was ejected late in the third period against the Boston Bruins for roughing David Pastrnak. Wilson speared Pasta in the groin, and then the two exchanged blows before the refs intervened.
Pastrnak received two minutes for roughing, but he stayed in the game.
The physicality in this contest didn't end there. With less than two minutes remaining, T.J. Oshie crushed Charlie McAvoy into the boards with a devastating check.
Oshie didn't receive a penalty on the play. McAvoy struggled to get off the ice and immediately went down the tunnel to the dressing room, but head coach Bruce Cassidy said postgame the defenseman "seems to be OK," according to NBC's Joe Haggerty.
The Bruins won 7-3 in the clash between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
NBC has suspended Jeremy Roenick indefinitely without pay for inappropriate comments made about his co-workers during a recent appearance on the "Spittin' Chiclets" podcast, the network announced on Monday, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.
On the podcast, Roenick discussed a vacation to Portugal when he and his wife traveled with co-worker Kathryn Tappen, and he made multiple references to the three having sex together.
"I play it off like we're going to bed together every night, the three of us," Roenick said. "If it really came to fruition, that would be really good, but it's never going to happen."
Roenick went on to say Tappen is "one of the most professional sports personalities I know."
Later in the episode, Roenick discussed fellow NHL on NBC panelists and former NHLers Patrick Sharp and Anson Carter.
Roenick called Sharp beautiful, saying "I'd have to think about it if he asked me."
"I wouldn't say no right away," he added.
"It's good to have a beautiful face that talks well that knows the game because it's totally the opposite when me and Anson get on there," Roenick continued.
Roenick has been with NBC since 2010. He was hired shortly after his 20-year playing career ended.
With the decade drawing to a close, theScore looked back and voted on 100 moments that defined the sports world in the 2010s. We're counting down every Monday in December, and below are moments 40-21.
When Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor started talking about a potential boxing match, no one thought it would actually happen. But it did. The biggest superstar in UFC history crossed over to face one of the greatest boxers of all time. Mayweather defeated McGregor by 10th-round TKO, extending his pro record to 50-0 and dropping McGregor's to 0-1. Mayweather vs. McGregor is the second-best-selling combat sports pay-per-view of all time and proved that literally anything is possible. - Nick Baldwin
39. American Pharoah wins Triple Crown ๐
June 6, 2015
Larry Collmus nailed the call on the broadcast: "The 37-year wait is over! American Pharoah is finally the one!" And with that, the drought ended, with another horse earning the Triple Crown. The thoroughbred led from gate to wire, winning the Belmont Stakes by five-and-a-half lengths and punctuating a 2015 for the ages. - Navin Vaswani
38. Doc's postseason no-hitter โพ
Oct. 6, 2010
Rob Tringali / SportsChrome / Getty
Just four months after throwing a perfect game, Roy Halladay authored one of the best postseason pitching performances ever, tossing only the second playoff no-hitter in MLB history and the first since Don Larsen's perfecto in the 1956 World Series. Halladay had already established himself as the most dominant starter of his generation before he took the mound for Game 1 of the NLDS, but the late workhorse's remarkable outing that night - coming within a fifth-inning walk of hurling yet another perfect game - bolstered his already strong Hall of Fame credentials and further cemented his enduring legacy. - Josh Gold-Smith
37. Humboldt bus tragedy
April 6, 2018
In small-town Canada, the local junior hockey team is everything. When a semi-trailer truck ran a stop sign and t-boned the Humboldt Broncos' team bus - killing 16 people and injuring another 13 - it changed the lives of an entire community. It became a national story, too. Sticks were left outside houses nationwide for the fallen members and a GoFundMe campaign raised a national-record $15 million. Perhaps nothing encapsulated this heartbreaking tragedy more than the image of a broken disc of the movie "Slap Shot" at the scene of the accident. They were just boys being boys. - Josh Wegman
36. MLB's wild finale ๐ฒ
Sept. 29, 2011
With four teams vying for two playoff spots, the final day of the 2011 season was bound to be dramatic. What ensued was absolute mayhem. Jonathan Papelbon's blown save against the last-place Orioles concluded an incredible collapse by the Red Sox, who opened September as the AL's best team. David Price got shelled before the Rays erased a seven-run deficit on their final out, completing the comeback with Evan Longoria's extra-innings, walk-off homer. On the NL side, Craig Kimbrel's blown save helped eliminate the Braves and Chris Carpenter's complete-game gem carried the Cardinals into the postseason, setting up one of the most epic championship runs in MLB history. - Michael Bradburn
35. Ogunbowale's buzzer-beater
March 30, 2018
At the 2018 Final Four, Notre Dame junior Arike Ogunbowale sunk what would've been the shot of a lifetime for most players: a deep pull-up jumper to vanquish powerhouse UConn in overtime, cementing the Fighting Irish's trip to the national title game. It turns out that was merely the warm-up act. Against Mississippi State, Ogunbowale nailed one of the greatest buckets in college basketball history. After collecting the inbound pass with three seconds left in regulation, she took three dribbles toward the corner, leaned, and unfurled a high-arching three. Game. Season. The Fighting Irish were the 2018 National Champions. - Andrew Joe Potter
34. Kobe says goodbye with 60 ๐๐
April 13, 2016
Kobe Bryant ended his career exactly how we all expected him to: firing shots at will in typical Black Mamba fashion. The future Hall of Famer became the oldest player to score 60 points in a game at age 37, while carrying the Lakers to a double-digit comeback over the Jazz on the final day of the 2015-16 season. - Josh Weinstein
"You want Philly Philly?" Eagles fans didn't know it then, but Nick Foles' play-call suggestion on 4th-and-goal with 38 seconds left in the first half was the biggest moment in the franchise's existence. Up 15-12 on the New England Patriots, head coach Doug Pederson confirmed arguably the gutsiest call in the sport's history. The ball was snapped to Corey Clement. Clement tossed it to Trey Burton. Burton threw to Foles in the end zone. Touchdown. No one saw the play coming - the climax of a game in which Foles outplayed Tom Brady on football's biggest stage. Philadelphia doesn't complete its unlikely Super Bowl run without it. - Mike Alessandrini
32. Mayweather vs. Pacquiao
May 2, 2015
Dubbed the fight of the century, Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao was highly anticipated for years, but it took a lengthy and at times acrimonious series of negotiations before the two finally reached an agreement. By that point both combatants, though still at the top of their sport, were a little past their primes. But that didn't make the fight any less lucrative, as it became the highest-selling pay-per-view in sports history. The bout itself was a dud largely due to Mayweather's defensive style and Pacquiao's undisclosed shoulder injury, with the latter allowing Mayweather to keep his perfect record intact with a unanimous decision victory. - Mike Dickson
31. Kawhi's Game 7 buzzer-beater ๐ต
May 12, 2019
As the fadeaway from the right corner took its first bounce straight in the air, you could hear a pin drop. The nearly 21,000 rabid Raptors fans inside Scotiabank Arena - plus millions more watching across Canada - held their collective breaths for what seemed like an eternity. And then, somehow, after four bounces, it fell through the hoop and the North exploded in a collective primal scream of joy. Kawhi's shot - the first-ever buzzer-beater in a Game 7 - instantly wiped away 24 years of repeated heartache for the Raptors and kick-started their run to an improbable title. - Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb
30. 2011 lockout, CP3 trade vetoed ๐ซ
Fall 2011
It's an incredible what-if: During the 2011 lockout, then-commissioner David Stern vetoed a trade that would have teamed Chris Paul with Kobe Bryant on the Lakers, sent Pau Gasol to the Rockets, and left New Orleans with Lamar Odom, Goran Dragic, and other odds and ends. Why? "Basketball reasons." Would Kobe have won a sixth title? Would the then-Hornets have been positioned to draft Anthony Davis in 2012? The Clippers would certainly never acquire Paul - or experience "Lob City." In a decade defined by blockbuster transactions, it was the move not made that may have had the largest impact. - Potter
29. Ovi gets his Cup
June 7, 2018
One Calder Trophy. One Art Ross Trophy. Three Hart trophies. Seven โRocketโ Richard trophies. Entering the 2017-18 season, one of the only things missing from Alex Ovechkinโs impressive list of accomplishments was seeing his name etched on the Stanley Cup. Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals were unable to get over the hump for years come playoff time. Then in his 13th season, one of the leagueโs most prolific scorers ever finally got his turn to hoist the cup, adding the Conn Smythe Trophy to his resume in the process. - Brandon Maron
28. Bautista's Bat Flip ๐ช
Oct. 14, 2015
The moment will forever be etched in the minds of Blue Jays fans. A wild top of the seventh featured Russell Martin botching a throw to Aaron Sanchez, allowing the Rangers to bring home the go-ahead run. After three Elvis Andrus errors in the bottom of the inning, Jose Bautista stepped up to the plate and redefined the term "bat-flip." His three-run homer helped the Blue Jays advance to their first ALCS since 1993, and it let the baseball world know that showing passion is OK. - Jose Taboada
27. Deflategate ๐คฅ
Jan. 18, 2015
The story that just wouldn't go away. Only in the NFL could a controversy over PSI levels in footballs devolve into court battles as the greatest quarterback of all time tried to avoid a four-game suspension. Tom Brady ducked discipline for the entire 2015 season after that fateful AFC title game, but the legal battle continued and he was ultimately banned for the first four tilts of 2016. No matter. The Patriots lost just one game after Brady made his return, going all the way to the Super Bowl and coming away with yet another title, this one courtesy of a legendary comeback to stun the Falcons. - Daniel Wilkins
26. Biles sets worlds record ๐ฅ
Oct. 13, 2019
Simone Biles' reign of dominance continued at the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, as she took home five of six possible gold medals. The haul brought the 22-year-old's career medal count to 25, making her the most decorated world championship gymnast - male or female - in history. - Caitlyn Holroyd
25. Rangers-Cardinals Game 6 ๐คช
Oct. 27, 2011
David Freese will eat for free in St. Louis for the rest of his life. With the Cardinals trailing and down to their final strike in the bottom of the ninth, he hit a game-tying, two-run triple. The Rangers took another lead in the 10th with a two-run Josh Hamilton bomb, but the Cardinals scraped together two more runs. Then, in the 11th, Freese clobbered a walk-off home run that set up a Game 7 World Series win at home. No other baseball game this decade could match the drama and magic of Game 6 at Busch Stadium. - Jason Wilson
During Marshawn Lynchโs first year in Seattle, he pulled off one of the most remarkable runs in NFL history. Playing against the New Orleans Saints in his first career playoff game, and doing it with the below .500 Seahawks, โBeast Modeโ justified his nickname. He broke several tackles on his way to the end zone for an unbelievable 67-yard touchdown run, including shoving cornerback Tracy Porter to the ground with a monster stiff arm. The noise from fans celebrating after the four-quarter game-sealing play was so intense it registered on a seismograph nearby, giving the moment its name. - Caio Miari
23. Serena beats Venus for No. 23 ๐พ
Jan. 28, 2017
The story written by Venus and Serena Williams will never be replicated. It was fitting, therefore, when they crossed paths in Melbourne and once again rewrote the history books at the pinnacle of the sport. Serena captured her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, passing Steffi Graf for the Open Era record. It was later revealed Serena was eight weeks pregnant during her run. Venus made history of her own, reaching the final at the age of 36. The Williams sisters changed the game. We were fortunate to watch them do it again Down Under. - Devang Desai
22. Penn State scandal
Nov. 2011
The Penn State sexual assault scandal spanned decades, culminating in the 2011 arrest of Jerry Sandusky, the football team's celebrated ex-defensive coordinator who was eventually convicted of 45 counts of child sexual abuse. Sandusky's philanthropic work - founding a charity for troubled youth - was nothing more than a front for meeting and soliciting young boys. Investigators also discovered that Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno was made aware of at least one assault in the early 2000s and did report the incident to police. In 2012, Sandusky was sentenced to 30-60 years in prison, a term to which he was resentenced in November. The disgraced Paterno stepped down in November 2011 and died months later, and his statue was removed from campus. The NCAA, meanwhile, levied harsh sanctions against Penn State, most of which were later rescinded. - Bradburn
In the moment, NBC's Cris Collinsworth called it "absolutely impossible" and "maybe the greatest catch I've ever seen." Al Michaels offered a more measured response, saying, "It's in the conversation." Over the ensuing half-decade, we've had that conversation. And what the rookie did that night in New Jersey - diving backward while being dragged down by a defender, snagging the ball with the tips of his thumb and two fingers to instantly become a household name - stands above all others. It's as jaw-dropping a highlight now as it was then, with every camera angle revealing a new layer of difficulty. - David P. Woods
This is the seventh edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for 2019-20. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.
In this edition, we identify one holiday gift each team could use for this campaign or the future.
1. Washington Capitals (26-6-5)
Previous rank: 1
It's tough to shop for somebody who's got it all, but we'll gift the Capitals a Magic 8-Ball to help them make a difficult decision on Braden Holtby after the season. The 30-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, and Washington has a promising, cheaper backup option who seems able to take over the reins in goal.
2. St. Louis Blues (23-8-6)
Previous rank: 5
A pen for captain Alex Pietrangelo to ink a contract extension has to be at the top of the Blues' wish list.
3. Colorado Avalanche (22-11-3)
Previous rank: 3
A fully recovered Cale Makar is all the Avalanche want to find under their tree this year. Since the rookie phenom has been sidelined, Colorado's usually lethal power play ranks 24th with a 13.6% conversion rate.
4. Boston Bruins (21-7-9)
Previous rank: 2
The Bruins have shown their inability to capitalize in overtime and the shootout, so they're in dire need of finishing skills. With 11 trips to overtime this season, the Bruins have come out with just two wins and have gone 0-5 in the shootout.
5. Carolina Hurricanes (22-12-2)
Gregg Forwerck / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 10
They've been looking for a trade partner to add some punch to their offense, but the Hurricanes' search may be over. Justin Williams, who scored 23 goals and 53 points with Carolina last season, could make a return to the team in the near future and would be the perfect holiday gift.
6. New York Islanders (23-8-3)
Previous rank: 4
A peaceful contract negotiation between Mathew Barzal's agent and the notoriously stingy Lou Lamoriello is the only gift the Islanders need. The youngster's pact is up after this season and he's proven his worth again this year, leading New York with 30 points in 34 games.
7. Pittsburgh Penguins (21-11-4)
Previous rank: 8
The injury bug has hit Pittsburgh all season long. Key players Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Nick Bjugstad, and Patric Hornqvist have missed a combined 79 games so far this year. They've managed to stay competitive and in the playoff race, so good health going forward will be atop their list over the holidays.
8. Vegas Golden Knights (20-13-6)
Previous rank: 14
A big bucket of pucks, so Max Pacioretty can keep firing 'em. The Golden Knights forward is third among all skaters in shots on goal this season, and it has him on pace for a career-best 77 points.
9. Arizona Coyotes (21-13-4)
Previous rank: 9
Three games into his Coyotes tenure, Taylor Hall has shown some solid chemistry with his new teammates. Hall is the offensive player the Coyotes dearly needed, and signing him to an extension would be the gift that keeps Arizona in contention for years to come.
10. Philadelphia Flyers (20-11-5)
Len Redkoles / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 6
Nolan Patrick hasn't suited up in a game yet this season due to a migraine disorder. The former second overall pick has been skating but hasn't practiced with the team or been cleared for contact. The 21-year-old's return to the Flyers' lineup would be a great gift to kick off the new year.
11. Toronto Maple Leafs (19-14-4)
Previous rank: 16th
Michael Hutchinson's first win of the season helped weather the storm for now, but a backup goalie is still at the top of the Christmas list for the new and improved Maple Leafs.
12. Winnipeg Jets (21-13-2)
Previous rank: 11
Dustin Byfuglien's situation has been tricky, but a gift for the Jets would be for the whole ordeal to come to a conclusion. Whether he eventually makes a return to the lineup in the new year or not, it would be great for the team to be able to move on.
13. Calgary Flames (19-14-5)
Previous rank: 12
The Flames' top trio of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, and Elias Lindholm spent all of last season terrorizing opposing teams but have struggled to do so this year. With the Pacific Division still completely wide open, the Flames will need them to pick things up and get going.
14. Dallas Stars (20-14-4)
Previous rank: 13
The Stars could really use a fountain of youth right now. Father Time might have caught up to Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski, and Corey Perry, who are all performing well under their career averages.
15. Edmonton Oilers (20-15-4)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Previous rank: 7
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have combined for 121 points this season in just 39 games each. The Oilers haven't won a contest when both forwards are held pointless in just over two years, according to Sportsnet Stats. Edmonton's No. 1 gift on their wish list is another top-six forward capable of putting up points consistently.
16. Florida Panthers (18-12-5)
Previous rank: 18
The Panthers brought in Sergei Bobrovsky on a lucrative deal with the hope he would be one of the league's best netminders. With a .902 save percentage and 3.09 goals-against average so far, the best gift Florida could receive would be for the real Bob to make an appearance in the second half.
17. Tampa Bay Lightning (17-13-4)
Previous rank: 20
We're gifting the Lightning a can of gasoline and matches so they can burn the tape on a disappointing start to the year.
18. Montreal Canadiens (17-13-6)
Previous rank: 24
We're wrapping up a 2020 day planner for the Canadiens' coaching staff so some time can be dedicated to improving the club's woeful penalty kill. Operating at just a 75.45% efficiency, Montreal's allowed a power-play goal in 13 of their 19 losses.
19. Buffalo Sabres (17-13-7)
Previous rank: 25
The Sabres should be wishing for a better travel routine because their play in road games has been a big concern. Buffalo's been outscored 72 to 51 and owns a 6-10-4 record away from home.
20. Nashville Predators (17-12-6)
John Russell / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 22
The Predators' leading two point-scorers are Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. Forward scoring has been hard to come by, with new addition Matt Duchene potting eight goals so far this season. More tallies from their top six would be a great gift for Nashville in the second half of the season.
21. Vancouver Canucks (18-15-4)
Previous rank: 15
General manager Jim Benning said recently he'd like to re-sign Jacob Markstrom and add a top-six winger before the trade deadline. Both would be tremendous gifts for a Canucks squad that's hit the skids of late.
22. Columbus Blue Jackets (16-14-6)
Previous rank: 28
A spotlight to shine on goaltender Joonas Korpisalo would be the perfect gift for the Blue Jackets. Faced with the monumental task of replacing Bobrovsky between the pipes, the 25-year-old netminder has quietly posted a 16-10-3 record with a .910 save percentage this season.
23. Minnesota Wild (17-15-5)
Previous rank: 17
A return to form for Mathew Dumba would be the ultimate gift for a Wild team desperate for his offensive capabilities. The 25-year-old blue-liner is on pace for just 22 points this season - the same total he had in 32 contests in 2018-19.
24. New York Rangers (17-14-4)
Previous rank: 21
With Hall off the market, Rangers forward Chris Kreider is arguably the top rental available leading up to this year's trade deadline. A hefty return for the versatile winger would be a welcomed gift for a New York team that appears another year or two away from playoff contention.
25. Chicago Blackhawks (15-16-6)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Previous rank: 23
Alex DeBrincat made every team that passed on him in the 2016 draft regret it last year when he potted 41 goals. The former 39th overall pick is on pace for just 18 goals this year and is set to be paid $19.2 million over the next three seasons. A gift for the Blackhawks would be for the young winger to regain his scoring touch and come out strong next season.
26. Ottawa Senators (15-18-4)
Previous rank: 27
A crystal ball would work wonders for the Senators. With pending free agents Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Anthony Duclair having career-best seasons, Ottawa will have to make the tough decision whether to trade the pair in the coming months or make them a part of the team's future.
27. Anaheim Ducks (15-18-4)
Previous rank: 26
Since Nov. 1, the Ducks rank 30th with 18 points in 23 games. A successful tank job over the remaining months of the season would be the best gift for an organization in need of a major rebuild.
28. San Jose Sharks (16-20-2)
Previous rank: 19
The Sharks desperately need the gift of better goaltending. San Jose has the third-worst goal differential in the league at minus-32, and Martin Jones has let in three or more goals in 19 of his 26 starts.
29. Los Angeles Kings (15-19-4)
Previous rank: 29
Boasting the league's 30th-ranked power play and 28th-ranked penalty kill, the Kings would benefit from receiving some much-needed special teams help on both sides of the puck.
30. New Jersey Devils (11-19-5)
Previous rank: 30
Jack Hughes' rookie season hasn't gone as planned, with the forward recording just four goals and 13 points in 32 games. With Hall gone, a nice gift for the Devils would be to see Hughes step up and show what he can bring to the table as their future star player.
31. Detroit Red Wings (9-26-3)
Previous rank: 31
The Red Wings are on pace for one of the worst seasons in the history of the league, with a current goal differential of minus-65. At this point, a draft lottery victory is the only gift Detroit needs.
Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara will miss Monday's marquee matchup versus the Washington Capitals to undergo a scheduled follow-up procedure stemming from the jaw injury he suffered in last season's Stanley Cup Final, the team announced Sunday.
Chara was injured after taking a puck to the face in Game 4 versus the St. Louis Blues in June. He wore a jaw protector for Games 5-7 and had plates, wires, and screws put in his mouth in order to play.
"The area where the surgery was done got infected, which is kind of rare, but it does happen after six months," Chara said. "The decision was made to avoid maybe further troubleshooting with that area to basically remove all the plates and screws and clean it up. Pretty much the same (procedure), just instead of putting the plates in, it's gonna be taking the plates out."
The 42-year-old added he only expects to miss one game. The Bruins are off for the Christmas break after Monday's contest against the Metropolitan Division leaders and return to action Dec. 27 versus the Buffalo Sabres.
Chara has registered 13 points in 37 contests in 2019-20 while averaging over 21 minutes per contest in his 22nd NHL season.
