The Carolina Hurricanes contacted the Chicago Blackhawks about potentially acquiring a goaltender after their two netminders were injured Saturday night, sources told The Athletic's Mark Lazerus.

Both James Reimer and Petr Mrazek were forced to leave Saturday's contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to injuries. Carolina still managed to win the game with 42-year-old emergency goalie David Ayres between the pipes.

Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour said postgame that Reimer will be out for a while and Mrazek's status is unknown, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.

Chicago's two goalies, Corey Crawford ($6 million) and Robin Lehner ($5 million), are both pending unrestricted free agents.

GSAA = Goals saved above average

The Blackhawks allow the most expected goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, allow the 15th most.

Crawford has won two Stanley Cups with Chicago and ranks third on the franchise's all-time wins list.

Lehner signed a one-year deal as a free agent this summer after he was named a Vezina Trophy finalist a season ago with the New York Islanders.

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The Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Vegas Golden Knights are interested in Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Tyson Barrie, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

"Calgary, Vancouver, Vegas ... they're all wondering what the status is of Tyson Barrie, because they're among the teams that are looking to potentially acquire him," Johnston said during Saturday's Headlines segment on "Hockey Night in Canada." "They've certainly, at least, had some exploratory talks with the Leafs, and will have to go elsewhere depending on whether he's still gonna be moved."

Barrie temporarily left Saturday's game in the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes after going headfirst into the boards, but he returned to start the second frame.

As Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman outlined, it's not guaranteed Barrie is moved.

"The Maple Leafs believe that Cody Ceci and Morgan Rielly will be back in March," Friedman said during the segment. "And if, if they're going to trade Tyson Barrie, they're not going to do it unless they know that they can have somebody that can tie them over until everybody is healthy, plus some futures, either for themselves or to use elsewhere."

Barrie is a pending unrestricted free agent and carries a $2.75-million cap hit. He has five goals and 30 assists in 63 games this season, his first in Toronto.

The British Columbia native was acquired during the offseason from the Colorado Avalanche along with Alexander Kerfoot and a sixth-round pick for Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen, and a third-round pick.

The Leafs are in a battle with the Florida Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs found a new, crushing way to lose Saturday night.

After two blowout defeats earlier in the week, the Maple Leafs dropped crucial points to the Carolina Hurricanes, who had 42-year-old emergency netminder David Ayres between the pipes for roughly half the contest.

"It's another embarrassing night, right?" Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said postgame.

Ayres, who works as a Zamboni driver for the Toronto Marlies, was forced into the game in the second period after both James Reimer and Petr Mrazek left with injuries. Ayres allowed two early goals but stopped all seven shots he faced in the third period to secure the victory.

The Hurricanes dominated the contest, outshooting Toronto 47-26 and scoring three crucial goals after the stunning goalie changes appeared to swing the momentum in the Maple Leafs' favor.

"When the goalie switch happened, I talked to the team and said, 'If we don't change how we're playing, they don't even need a goalie,'" Keefe said. "There are no chances, no shots, there's nothing happening. They didn't need a goaltender the way the game was going."

Ayres, on the other hand, just tried to take in the moment.

"It was awesome," Ayres told "Hockey Night in Canada" postgame. "Time of my life out there."

He added: "I told the boys in the dressing room, once we come out for the third, I'll be settled down and ready to win this one."

Ayres has worked with the Maple Leafs as a practice goalie several times in the past and said he was supposed to join the club at its session Sunday, but Toronto is now taking the day off, according to Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun.

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Evander Kane leads the San Jose Sharks with 21 goals, but that didn't stop interim head coach Bob Boughner from benching him for the entire third period during Saturday's 3-2 loss against the New York Rangers.

"I think there's a level, an expectation here, and a standard that we hold every player the same accountable to," Boughner said postgame, according to The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. "I just think that you have to be prepared and you have to be able to get out there and compete for your teammates. I didn't think he had any of that tonight. It doesn't matter who you are, we're going to make sure that we have that standard and that line for everybody."

Kane played 12:19 in the contest - the fourth-lowest total on the Sharks.

The 28-year-old signed a seven-year, $49-million contract in 2018.

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Warning: Story contains coarse language

Nothing brings the sports world together quite like an emergency goalie in the NHL.

As expected, Twitter users had a field day when 42-year-old Zamboni driver David Ayres was forced to enter Saturday's game for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ayres' wife was obviously quite nervous for her husband.

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Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot was ruled out for the remainder of Saturday's game against the Montreal Canadiens with a lower-body injury, the team announced.

Brendan Gallagher delivered the hit to Chabot, which caused Senators forward Brady Tkachuk to fight the Canadiens winger.

Chabot entered Saturday with 33 points in 61 games, during which he's led all Senators players in average ice time at over 26 minutes per night. He signed an eight-year, $64-million extension in September.

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With the San Jose Sharks poised to miss the playoffs for just the second time in his 15-year tenure with the club, forward Joe Thornton said going after a Stanley Cup with another team is a tempting thought with the trade deadline approaching.

"You know, it is," Thornton told The Athletic's Kevin Kurz. "But it's not like I feel this is my last year. I feel like I'm healthy, I feel like I still have a lot in the tank left. It's not like a last-hurrah-type thing. I feel good, and my mind feels great. It's not like 'Oh, this is going to be my last shot at it.' So that's where my mind is at right now."

Securing a Stanley Cup ring is the only accomplishment Thornton is missing during his Hall of Fame career.

The 40-year-old ranks 14th on the all-time points list at 1,503, and he's earned a Hart Trophy, an Art Ross Trophy, and an Olympic gold medal. This season, he's notched 25 points in 60 games for a Sharks team that's constantly dealt with injuries to key players.

Thornton has signed one-year deals to remain with San Jose in each of the past three offseasons, and even if he was moved before Monday's deadline, the veteran would be open to coming back to the Bay Area again for the 2020-21 campaign.

"There's lots of possibilities," Thornton said. "That could be an option. There's lots to play with. It is what it is, and we'll see what happens. I'm a Shark now, and I love being a Shark."

Thornton was traded to San Jose from the Boston Bruins during the 2005-06 season, and he's posted 1,049 points in 1,094 games with the organization since then.

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