NHL general managers discussed the league's emergency backup goalie procedure Monday and aren't looking to make a change.
Concerns arose about the legitimacy of the protocol after 42-year-old David Ayres made headlines when he starred for the Carolina Hurricanes in a win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 22.
However, NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell doesn't think there's a problem with the procedure.
"It's a good human interest story," Campbell said at the GM meetings in Boca Raton on Monday, according to ESPN's Emily Kaplan. "I think the process works ... our general managers are fine with where it's at right now."
Ayres works for the Maple Leafs'AHL affiliate and has practiced with the club in the past. He also became known for his responsibility as a Zamboni driver.
Prior to the Hurricanes-Maple Leafs extravaganza, the last emergency netminder to play in a game was Scott Foster, a 36-year-old accountant who suited up during a Chicago Blackhawks' win in March 2018.
Ayres and Foster are the only two emergency goalies to ever play in the more than 6,000 games one has been available, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.
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Our weekend betting preview started slow with a 1-2 night Friday, picked up steam with a 2-2 Saturday that returned a small profit, then finished strong with a 2-0 Sunday.
That's the momentum we're looking for heading into a big week.
GOATs and scapegoats
It's hard to pick just one hero from a busy weekend card, but how about the Columbus Blue Jackets' power play? Down 3-1 Sunday night heading into the third period, the Jackets cut the deficit to 3-2 before Zach Werenski and Emil Bemstrom scored power-play goals just three minutes apart to complete an impressive comeback and ensure we finished the day with a 2-0 record.
That came after Jeff Petry crushed our spirit Saturday night. The Carolina Hurricanes had battled back from a 3-0 deficit in Montreal to force overtime, and it looked as though we were headed for a 3-1 night. But with all the momentum on the Hurricanes' side, Petry took a stretch pass in overtime and roofed one to salvage a win for the Canadiens, forcing us to settle for a 2-2 night.
Monday bets
Filip Forsberg over 2.5 shots (-130)
With such a small card Monday, I've turned to player props to expand it. Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg recorded three or more shots in seven of his last eight games and registered 26 shots on goal across his last four games against the Edmonton Oilers, including nine in their most recent meeting in Nashville.
Leon Draisaitl to score anytime (+120)
While Forsberg has been shooting the puck a ton against the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl has done the same against the Predators - only he's made those shots count. The league's leading scorer has eight goals in his last four games against Nashville. He's in top form right now and is a steal at plus-money to add to his 39 goals on the season tonight. You can also get him at +700 to score two or more goals, which he's done in four straight meetings with the Predators, including both games in Nashville last season.
Best bet
Colorado Avalanche/Detroit Red Wings under 5.5 (+110)
The Avalanche have won their last six games and eight in a row on the road. Defensively, they've really tightened up, and it's been a key component to their success. Colorado is on a 12-1 run to the under and has hit seven straight unders on the road. That's largely down to the fact that the Avs allowed just 10 goals in their last eight road games while scoring 15 in their last six games overall. Meanwhile, the Red Wings scored just 14 goals in their last 10 games on home ice. Furthermore, only one of the last eight meetings between these teams in Detroit went over six goals. All signs point to a low-scoring affair in Motown.
Trend of the night
Colorado has allowed just eight goals in its last six games.
The team's impressive defensive record extends further back, having allowed just 23 goals in its last 14 games. If you exclude games against the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning, the Avalanche have allowed just 16 goals in their last 12 games. There are worse bets to make than the Red Wings' team total under 1.5 at +150.
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
This is the 12th 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 look at each team's key player over the final stretch in the race toward the playoffs.
1. Boston Bruins (41-13-12)
Previous rank: 2
The key for another deep playoff run by the Bruins is depth scoring. We know the "Perfection Line" is going to do its thing, but Boston's bottom nine needs to contribute offensively. Enter Jake DeBrusk. After a 27-goal sophomore campaign, the 23-year-old hasn't taken the strides many expected in his third season. With no goals in his last 10 games, DeBrusk needs to start putting the puck in the net in order for the Bruins to secure home-ice advantage for the postseason.
2. St. Louis Blues (39-17-10)
Previous rank: 7
With such a balanced attack, St. Louis has shown it can withstand an injury to one of its premier forwards, but blue-liner Alex Pietrangelo is invaluable. The Blues captain led the club in ice time while chipping in 19 points during its Stanley Cup run last spring and is on pace for a career-best 61 points this season.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (41-19-5)
Previous rank: 1
The Lightning gave up a haul to acquire Blake Coleman before the trade deadline. With Steven Stamkos expected to be out for at least the rest of the regular season, it's time for Coleman to show why he was so coveted by the Bolts' brass. No, he's not going to replace Stamkos, but he needs to play like the impact, two-way forward he is.
4. Colorado Avalanche (39-18-7)
Previous rank: 6
Let's not overthink this one. Nathan MacKinnon's dominance never wavered when the Avalanche lost co-star Mikko Rantanen and captain Gabriel Landeskog to long-term injuries earlier this season. MacKinnon rarely has an off night, and when the 24-year-old is at his best, the Avs can stick with any team.
5. Washington Capitals (40-19-6)
Patrick Smith / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Previous rank: 3
The Capitals are a juggernaut offensively, but their play between the pipes will likely dictate how far they go. Braden Holtby will look to rediscover his 2018 postseason form, which saw him help Washington capture its first Stanley Cup with a .922 save percentage. Ilya Samsonov has been terrific this season, but relying on a 23-year-old rookie goaltender come playoff time is never ideal, especially when you have a talent like Holtby who's done it all before.
6. Vegas Golden Knights (36-23-8)
Previous rank: 15
All eyes are on Robin Lehner. He won his Golden Knights debut Friday, stopping 32-of-34 shots. It remains unclear if Lehner or Marc-Andre Fleury will man the crease this postseason, but all signs are pointing toward the newly acquired Lehner taking the helm as the season winds down.
7. Philadelphia Flyers (38-20-7)
Previous rank: 12
Sean Couturier has taken his elite two-way game up another level this season. The 27-year-old leads the club in Corsi For percentage (56.52%) and the Flyers own a team-best 56.04% share of expected goals for at five-on-five when Couturier is on the ice. He's also chipped in 21 goals and is on pace for his third consecutive 70-plus point season.
8. Dallas Stars (37-21-7)
Previous rank: 5
If the Stars had received league-average goaltending this season, who knows where they'd be. The club ranks 24th in league scoring and is last among Western Conference playoff teams. Dallas needs the tandem of Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin to continue to stifle opponents between the pipes in order to make a deep playoff push.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins (37-21-6)
Kevin Sousa / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 4
Sidney Crosby has just one point during the Penguins' six-game losing streak. Pittsburgh owns a 4-9-1 record when the two-time Hart Trophy winner is held off of the scoresheet but is 12-0 when he records two or more points in a game. The proof is in the numbers - when Sid gets buzzing, the Penguins follow suit.
10. Toronto Maple Leafs (35-23-8)
Previous rank: 9
Frederik Andersen may be an obvious answer here, but more than anything, Toronto's blue line has to step up in front of its netminder. Perhaps no defenseman is more important to the Leafs' success right now than Travis Dermott, who's been thrust into a top-pairing role with both Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin sidelined. Dermott has excelled in sheltered minutes the past two years, but he needs to prove he's capable of more responsibility.
11. New York Islanders (35-21-8)
Previous rank: 10
Mathew Barzal may be the Islanders' most talented player, but Brock Nelson checks every box in terms of winning hockey games. The 28-year-old pivot leads the team with 23 goals - five of them game-winners - and plays a significant role on the team's power play and penalty kill.
12. Edmonton Oilers (34-23-8)
Previous rank: 11
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have gotten all the attention in Edmonton, but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been on a tear as of late. Since Dec. 31, Nugent-Hopkins has the fourth-most points in the league with 33. The secondary scoring has been a delight, and he'll need to continue to be a key source of offense as the Oilers surge toward the playoffs.
13. New York Rangers (35-26-4)
Previous rank: 17
Artemi Panarin has been the Rangers' most valuable player, but unlike the club's play between the pipes, his production hasn't wavered. New York's season did a complete 180 when Igor Shesterkin emerged as a dominant presence in net. With the rookie puck-stopper now sidelined with a broken rib, netminder Alexandar Georgiev will need to step up in a big way for the Rangers to complete their comeback season and clinch a playoff berth.
14. Carolina Hurricanes (35-24-5)
Previous rank: 14
With defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce out of the lineup, Jaccob Slavin has never been more valuable to the Hurricanes. The 25-year-old has seen increased ice time over the last several games and will continue to be tasked with handling other teams' top talents. He's also arguably the top penalty killer for a Hurricanes unit that's allowed just three goals in its last 28 times shorthanded.
15. Columbus Blue Jackets (32-21-14)
Patrick McDermott / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 13
The goal-starved Blue Jackets aren't going to clinch a playoff berth by outscoring their opponents down the stretch, making netminder Joonas Korpisalo all the more important - especially with rookie phenom Elvis Merzlikins sidelined with a concussion.
16. Vancouver Canucks (34-25-6)
Previous rank: 8
Jacob Markstrom was in the midst of a Vezina-worthy season before going down with an injury in late February. Now that he's out for at least another couple of weeks, goaltender Thatcher Demko will need to step up big time to keep the Canucks' playoff hopes alive. In the three games since Markstrom went down, Demko has gone 1-2-0 while allowing 10 goals on 93 shots.
17. Nashville Predators (32-24-8)
Previous rank: 19
A Matt Duchene redemption run to end the season would benefit a Predators team teetering on the fringes of the playoff race. The 29-year-old pivot has underwhelmed in Nashville since inking a splashy 7-year, $56-million offseason deal. If Duchene can begin producing at the level the Preds are paying him, they'll have a good shot at continuing their season deeper into the spring.
18. Calgary Flames (34-26-7)
Previous rank: 18
After a sluggish start to the year, Johnny Gaudreau has seemingly found his game. With three goals and eight assists in his last 10 games, Gaudreau will need to keep things clicking on the Flames' top line as Calgary enters the home stretch.
19. Florida Panthers (33-26-7)
Previous rank: 16
It's an obvious answer, but it couldn't be truer: Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida's $70-million man, is integral to the Panthers' postseason hopes. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has struggled mightily this season, but he's going to have to earn his paycheck if the Panthers are going to make the playoffs.
20. Minnesota Wild (32-26-7)
Jamie Sabau / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 22
Alex Stalock has posted a 7-1-1 record with a .932 save percentage in the month of February to launch the Wild from deadline sellers to postseason candidates. The 6-foot puck-stopper has given the club new life and could be the difference between Minnesota sneaking into the playoffs or narrowly missing out.
21. Arizona Coyotes (32-27-8)
Previous rank: 21
Taylor Hall has played well since his arrival in Arizona earlier this season. He's managed nine goals and 16 assists in 32 games and will need to continue to provide consistent offense for the Coyotes, who rank 22nd in the league in goals scored.
22. Winnipeg Jets (33-28-6)
Previous rank: 20
The Jets' resiliency in 2019-20 following a difficult offseason is an embodiment of their captain. Blake Wheeler's never-say-die attitude will be critical for Winnipeg in the thick of a tight Western Conference playoff race, particularly with star winger Patrik Laine nursing a lower-body injury.
23. Chicago Blackhawks (29-28-8)
Previous rank: 24
Patrick Kane has gone consecutive games without a point for just the third time this season. The Blackhawks' chances at a playoff spot this season are quickly fading, and any late-season surge would require an all-world stretch from "Showtime" himself.
24. Montreal Canadiens (30-28-9)
Previous rank: 23
Although they're not mathematically eliminated from the postseason, the Canadiens will need a bit of a miracle to make the playoffs. A lot would need to go right, and that includes Max Domi, who has eight points in his last seven games, staying hot. Domi hasn't replicated last season's success, but a strong finish would increase the likelihood of Montreal committing long term to the pending restricted free agent.
25. Buffalo Sabres (29-28-8)
Kevin Hoffman / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Previous rank: 25
This key player comes with a caveat. With nothing to lose at this point in the season, the Sabres might as well give Sam Reinhart an audition as the club's second-line center for the rest of the season. Reinhart was moved to the wing after struggling at center early in his career, but as a more mature player now, it's possible he could fill a massive organizational need for the Sabres down the middle. If not, then at least they know for sure. At the very least, moving him away from Jack Eichel would limit his production during a contract year.
26. New Jersey Devils (26-27-12)
Previous rank: 28
If the Devils want to deal P.K. Subban this offseason, they need him to play well down the stretch to get his trade value up. If they want to keep him, he needs to finish strong to gain confidence going into the summer. Either way, it's beneficial if he plays well in the last 17 games.
27. Anaheim Ducks (26-31-8)
Previous rank: 27
The Ducks made a gutsy move by dealing Ondrej Kase and bringing in Danton Heinen from the Bruins. In three games with Anaheim, Heinen has potted a goal and added an assist. The Ducks will be hoping to see their gamble pay off with a strong close to the year from Heinen, who's an impending restricted free agent.
28. San Jose Sharks (28-33-4)
Previous rank: 26
Leading the team in goals with 22, Evander Kane has shown that the seven-year, $49-million extension he signed in 2018 is paying off. He helps bring grit to the Sharks' lineup with a whopping 118 penalty minutes and is also a big offensive threat. With San Jose looking to bounce back next year, Kane will need to carry over his confidence into the summer and next season.
29. Ottawa Senators (23-31-12)
Previous rank: 30
The Senators are giving prospect Josh Norris an audition centering the team's first line between Brady Tkachuk and Bobby Ryan. With no clear-cut future No. 1 center in the organization, Norris, who was acquired from San Jose in the Erik Karlsson trade, has a glorious opportunity to prove himself down the stretch.
30. Los Angeles Kings (25-35-6)
Previous rank: 29
Despite a wildly disappointing season from the Kings, Anze Kopitar has continued to play at an elite level. Leading the team in points by a wide margin, Kopitar has shown that he isn't going to mail it in during his team's rebuild. He will need to finish the year strong and carry his play into next season to keep Los Angeles' morale up.
31. Detroit Red Wings (15-47-5)
Previous rank: 31
With last place in the NHL all but locked up, there's no "key player" for Detroit during the stretch run. What's key for the Red Wings is having the lottery balls fall their way once the season ends. Anything outside of the first overall pick and the rights to select Alexis Lafreniere would be extremely disappointing after what's been a disastrous season.
Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This edition focuses on Week 21. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.
Prepare for the playoffs
In most fantasy leagues, the playoffs begin March 9, but some may be starting their postseasons this week. Check to make sure you know your league's schedule.
Your strategy over the next week or so will depend on your place in the standings. If you've clinched a playoff spot and are locked into your position, you can start stashing players for the postseason. If you're fighting for your playoff life, you'll have to use up your adds to go all-out this week in order to get a ticket to the dance.
Regardless of your spot, it's crucial to look at the schedule ahead and use it to maximize your lineup. The following players should be able to help all fantasy owners, regardless of your current situation.
Add Tyler Ennis
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Team: Oilers Position: LW/RW Ownership: 22%
Ennis could not have ended up in a better spot. The Edmonton native went from one of the worst teams in the league in the Ottawa Senators to a spot on Connor McDavid's right wing with his hometown team. Ennis has been held off the scoresheet since his two-point Oilers debut, but he's worth picking up considering Edmonton plays four games this week and next week. The 30-year-old has enough skill and hockey IQ to keep up with McDavid.
Add Juuse Saros
Team: Predators Position: G Ownership: 32%
Goaltenders receiving Saros' workload are tough to come by at this time of year, but the Predators' de facto starter is still owned in less than one-third of leagues. The 24-year-old has grabbed a stranglehold on Nashville's No. 1 job, starting 10 of the team's last 13 games while going 7-3-0 with a .930 save percentage in that span.
The Preds have games in hand on most of their Western Conference competitors, so Saros is a valuable fantasy commodity for the rest of the season. Nashville plays four games both this week and next.
Add Sonny Milano
Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Team: Ducks Position: LW Ownership: 2%
A change of scenery has done wonders for Milano. The 2014 first-round pick was never able to fully establish himself with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he's getting the opportunity of a lifetime with the Ducks, as he's skating on the club's first line with Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell. The 23-year-old has already registered three points in three games with his new club, and Anaheim plays eight contests over the next 14 days.
Add Kevin Labanc
Team: Sharks Position: LW/RW Ownership: 18%
Unless he gets on a roll, Labanc is best served as a streaming option for this week. The Sharks play four games this week, but only three next week.
Labanc has failed to replicate his 56-point breakout season from a year ago, as he currently stands with 32 points in 65 games. However, poor shooting luck (8.5%) has played a part. Regardless, Labanc gets top-six minutes and time on the first power-play unit, which is difficult to find at this stage in the season for a player with less than 20% ownership. He's worth a flyer.
Josh Wegman has been theScore's resident fantasy hockey expert since 2015. Find him on Twitter @JoshWegman_.
The Canucks, who were up 3-1 with under eight minutes to play, went on to lose the game 5-3, and captain Bo Horvat made his frustrations known postgame.
"If we want to win and make the playoffs, we have to be better than that," Horvat said. "Plain and simple. We were the better team for 52 minutes, but those last eight minutes killed us. It's unacceptable. We're upset."
The Blue Jackets scored two power-play goals within three minutes in the second half of the final frame and later completed the comeback with an empty-net marker.
"These kinds of games just don't leave you. I think it's good that we have two days off right now to kind of regroup, get a practice under our belt before we play another game," head coach Travis Green said, according to Sportsnet's Brendan Batchelor. "When you play playoff hockey, you're going to lose a game, you're going to lose a game in overtime, and you've got to reset and get ready to play.
"This, probably, is a lot like that as far as how you'll feel after a tough loss in playoff hockey, and it's like playoff hockey right now. So I'm glad we've got a couple days here."
The Canucks slipped into the first wild-card spot with the loss, bringing their record to 34-25-6. Sunday's matchup capped off a four-game road trip, as the club is set to begin a four-game homestand Wednesday.
Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau scored the opening goal in the Flames' 3-0 victory over the Florida Panthers on Sunday, later revealing it was for his grandfather, who died Saturday.
Gaudreau celebrated his score with some visible emotion.
"It was kind of a tough day, but it was nice to find the net there for him in the first," Gaudreau said to reporters postgame. "It sucks losing people, but I was pretty pumped up to get that one for him.
"He watched a lot of my games, he was always a big supporter of me and my brother playing hockey," Gaudreau continued. "Like I said, it was just a special time to find the net there. Just emotional ... it was really cool."
Flames captain Mark Giordano added that he was happy to see Gaudreau have a good moment after the death of his grandfather.
"We have a really tight-knit group in there, and you could see how crushed he was yesterday on the bus," Giordano said, according to Sportsnet'sEric Francis. "I like to look at him as a little brother, to be honest. We've been around each other for so long. ... I thought for him to come in and score, that's really cool, and something I'm sure he'll share with his family tonight."
The 26-year-old Gaudreau was all over the ice Sunday afternoon, recording one goal, one assist, and adding five shots on goal. He was also rewarded a penalty shot in the contest, which he failed to convert.
Stone didn't play Friday against the Buffalo Sabres but head coach Pete DeBoer is hopeful to have the winger back prior to the playoffs.
The 27-year-old is tied for the team lead in points (63) and ranks third in goals (21) through 65 games this season. He also sits first among Golden Knights forwards in blocked shots.
Stone leads all NHL forwards with 78 takeaways this season and owns a Corsi For rating of 57.74%. The Golden Knights' team-high 61.47% share of expected goals at five-on-five comes with Stone on the ice.
Vegas has won eight consecutive games and sits atop the Pacific Division entering Sunday's action.
