Jake McCabe's season appears to be over.
The Buffalo Sabres defenseman will likely be out six-to-eight months after hurting the ACL, MCL, and meniscus in his right knee during a win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, the Sabres announced Monday.
More to come.
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin will be away from the club indefinitely in the wake of a "fabricated story" against him from Russia, the team announced Monday.
In the piece, there's a claim that Panarin "beat up" an 18-year-old girl in a Russian bar in 2011, according to the New York Post's Larry Brooks.
"Artemi vehemently and unequivocally denies any and all allegations in this fabricated story," the Rangers said in a statement. "This is clearly an intimidation tactic being used against him for being outspoken on recent political events.
"Artemi is obviously shaken and concerned and will take some time away from the team. The Rangers fully support Artemi and will work with him to identify the source of these unfounded allegations."
Panarin has publicly criticized the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin. In January, the 29-year-old showed his support for opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a post captioned "freedom for Navalny" in Russian.
The 5-foot-11 winger ranked third in league scoring with 95 points over 69 games last season, finishing third in Hart Trophy voting.
Panarin has tallied five goals and a team-best 18 points over 14 contests this campaign.
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
This is the fourth edition of theScore's NHL Power Rankings for the 2020-21 season. Check back for updated rankings every second Monday during the regular season.
In this edition, we examine the biggest surprise for each team thus far.
Previous rank: 4th
The Leafs have been carried by a dominant attack for the entirety of the Auston Matthews era, and while Toronto's offense is still quite potent, ranking top-10 in shots against per game is a significant shake-up.
Previous rank: 8th
After scoring 31 goals and 75 points in 2017-18, Vincent Trocheck seems to have finally regained his scoring touch with the Hurricanes. He's currently tied for both the team-lead in goals (9) and points (16) and his 82-game pace has him on track to have the best season of his career.
Previous rank: 6th
Goaltending was considered the Avalanche's weakness entering the season, but Philipp Grubauer has silenced the critics. He's posted a .936 save percentage and a 1.67 goals-against average while starting all but two of Colorado's games with backup Pavel Francouz sidelined.
Previous rank: 1st
The defending champs have suffered injuries to numerous key forwards this season, but Mikhail Sergachev emerging as an offensive contributor is a notable surprise. The 22-year-old defenseman ranks fifth on the club in scoring and currently boasts a career-best 0.73 points per game.
Previous rank: 3rd
Despite losing defensemen Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara, the Bruins remarkably entered Sunday as the league's best shot-suppressing team at five-on-five.
Previous rank: 7th
Carter Verhaeghe's hot start is one of the most surprising in the NHL. The 25-year-old entered the campaign with only 52 career regular-season games under his belt - most of which were spent on the Lightning's fourth line. He's now tallied seven goals and six assists in 16 games while riding shotgun on the top line with Aleksander Barkov. Not bad for a two-year, $2-million UFA signing.
Previous rank: 2nd
Everybody pegged Robin Lehner as the Golden Knights' new No. 1 netminder, but Marc-Andre Fleury turning back the clock and posting a .935 save percentage through 10 starts is the unexpected story of the season thus far in Sin City.
Previous rank: 23rd
It appears Darnell Nurse may have finally blossomed into the bonafide No. 1 defenseman the Oilers have been hoping for. He's tied for the lead among all defensemen in goals (6), tied for second in points (16), ranks sixth in time on ice (25:30), and fifth in hits (52).
Previous rank: 13th
Jordan Kyrou has established himself as a key player for the Blues this season, ranking second on a team full of veteran stars with 17 points in 18 games despite averaging under 15 minutes per contest.
Previous rank: 9th
Andrew Copp was predominately used as a bottom-six checking winger during his first five NHL seasons, but he's performed well with top-line minutes, driving play at a high rate and chipping in offensively.
Previous rank: 5th
Many thought Jake Allen would provide Carey Price some breathing room to flourish in the crease, but the backup netminder has actually heavily outplayed the former Hart Trophy winner thus far. Allen's .932 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average in seven games is dazzling compared to Price's .893 save percentage and 2.87 goals-against average.
Previous rank: 10th
Travis Konecny looked like a star in the making with a breakout 2019-20 campaign, but the Flyers' feisty winger has slumped to the tune of just eight points in 12 games so far. He's been held off the scoresheet in seven contests and was a surprise healthy scratch this season.
Previous rank: 17th
If you thought Teddy Blueger would have as many points (10) as Evgeni Malkin through 16 games, you're a liar. Blueger has been excellent, posting strong underlying numbers despite an offensive zone start percentage of just 26.2% while centering Pittsburgh's checking line.
Previous rank: 11th
Goaltending was the Capitals' biggest question mark entering the season, and that was with a duo of Ilya Samsonov and Henrik Lundqvist. With the former spending most of the campaign on the COVID-19 list and the latter sitting out due to a heart condition, Vitek Vanecek has been thrust into action. He's kept the team afloat with reliable play (.907 save percentage, 2.92 goals-against average).
Previous rank: 25th
Undrafted rookie goaltender Kevin Lankinen has compiled a 7-3-3 record with a sparkling .927 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average and has helped the Blackhawks remain competitive this season.
Previous rank: 20th
Many expected blue-chip goalie prospect Ilya Sorokin to make an instant impact on Long Island, but a .895 save percentage through four starts was not in New York's plans. We'll give the youngster some more time to figure out life in the NHL, though.
Previous rank: 16th
Minnesota's power play is clicking at an awfully low rate of 7.7% this season, having just scored four times so far.
Previous rank: 29th
Calvin Petersen is quietly putting up some sparkling numbers in Tinsel Town this season. The Kings' young netminder has only won three of nine appearances, but owns a .926 save percentage and 5.3 goals saved above average - good for seventh among all goalies this season.
Previous rank: 14th
Jack Roslovic was viewed by many as an afterthought in the Pierre-Luc Dubois-Patrik Laine trade, but the former first-round pick has found his game with his hometown team, notching 10 points in 12 contests with the Blue Jackets.
Previous rank: 21st
While his progression may not surprise those who follow the Coyotes closely, Conor Garland is establishing himself as a serious offensive threat every time he steps on the ice. The former fifth-round pick is playing at a 72-point pace (over 82 games) and his underlying numbers are tremendous.
Previous rank: 15th
Even after bringing in Jacob Markstrom and reinforcing their blue line in the offseason, the struggling Flames rank 22nd in goals against this season and own a minus-7 goal differential. Not good enough for a team that was expected to be a contender in the North Division.
Previous rank: 12th
Joe Pavelski had a quiet regular season in his first with the Stars last year but really came alive during the postseason. His magnificent play carried over to this campaign, as he's racked up 17 points in his first 12 games - putting him on pace to shatter his career-high numbers.
Previous rank: 19th
The Devils allow the fewest goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five (1.54) in the entire NHL. The team ranked 29th in that regard a year ago, and starting goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood has been limited to just six games.
Previous rank: 27th
On a blue line full of aging veterans with big contracts, Mario Ferraro has been a pleasant surprise. The 22-year-old has not looked overmatched while averaging over 23 minutes per contest.
Previous rank: 22nd
Mika Zibanejad led the NHL with 0.72 goals per game last season, yet somehow only has two tallies and two assists through 16 games in 2021. His dreadful start is one of the biggest surprises league-wide, and it's hurting the Rangers.
Previous rank: 28th
The Canucks' season hasn't gone according to plan, but rookie Nils Hoglander has been a bright spot. The 20-year-old is the only player chosen beyond the first round of the 2019 draft to play more than one NHL game. He also ranks fourth in the entire draft in career points.
Previous rank: 26th
We knew the Ducks would struggle to score this season, but it's still quite shocking they're the only team in the league without a double-digit point producer.
Previous rank: 24th
Only two Predators players (Filip Forsberg and Calle Jarnkrok) have scored more than three goals this season. The overall offensive futility from a team that won the Presidents' Trophy only three years ago is truly mind-boggling.
Previous rank: 18th
Since inking an eight-year, $72-million deal with the Sabres, Jeff Skinner has been unable to get anything going. He finished last season with 14 goals and nine assists in 59 games and is faring even worse this campaign, with just one assist through 14 contests.
Previous rank: 30th
The Red Wings are awful, but Jonathan Bernier's .910 save percentage and 2.74 goals-against average is surprisingly impressive. Detroit allowed a league-worst 3.73 goals against per game last season but has improved slightly this year, reducing that to 3.20 - good for 23rd in the league.
Previous rank: 31st
The Senators are in for another long year, but Ottawa's up-and-coming outfit surprisingly ranks fourth in the NHL with 31.9 shots per game.
(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko is suffering from a back injury, sources told The Athletic's Jeremy Rutherford.
Parayko's been dealing with the ailment throughout the season and has missed the club's past two games. There's no clear timeline on when he may return, but he's doubtful to return to the ice this week, Rutherford adds.
It's unknown if Parayko will require surgery.
Parayko is a key figure on St. Louis' blue line and has been tasked with top-pairing responsibilities after the offseason departure of former captain Alex Pietrangelo.
In 16 games this season, Parayko's notched one goal and seven assists while logging over 22 minutes per contest.
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
Every week, theScore offers a fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This edition focuses on Week 6. Roster percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.
Team: Rangers
Position: C
Rostered: 90%
Zibanejad has been one of the league's most disappointing players so far, tallying just two goals and two assists in 16 games. A year ago, he recorded 41 goals and 34 helpers in 57 contests.
But it's clear Zibanejad has been a victim of poor puck luck:
All-situations goals scored below expectation:
— Evolving-Hockey (@EvolvingHockey) February 20, 2021
Brady Tkachuk (-5.03)
Rickard Rakell (-4.62)
Mika Zibanejad (-3.63)
Sean Monahan (-3.06)
Jeff Skinner (-3.01)
The New York Rangers pivot is shooting just 4.3%. His 19.7% mark last year was a career high and perhaps unsustainable, but he shot 12.1% across the previous six campaigns and never finished below 10.4% over that span.
Zibanejad is bound to turn it around at some point, so now is the time to trade for him. With his value is at an all-time low, managers can probably acquire the 27-year-old for pennies on the dollar.
Team: Ducks
Position: C
Rostered: 6%
The Anaheim Ducks promoted Zegras to the NHL on Sunday after a successful AHL stint in which he tallied nine points in eight games. The 19-year-old was named MVP of the world juniors in January after leading the tournament with 18 points in seven games for the U.S.
It remains to be seen what kind of impact Zegras can make at the NHL level. There are concerns about his skating, but he'll likely get a chance to produce for an Anaheim team that sorely lacks offensive firepower. The highly skilled and intelligent center should play in the Ducks' top six and on the No. 1 power-play unit.
Team: Canadiens
Position: LW/RW
Rostered: 57%
Tatar is still rostered in more than half of fantasy leagues despite a recent demotion to the Montreal Canadiens' third line. He was even a healthy scratch at one point last week. The 30-year-old entered Sunday with a respectful nine points in 15 games, but there are likely better players available on the waiver wire in 10- and 12-team leagues.
Team: Kings
Position: G
Rostered: 21%
Petersen has been a bright spot for the Los Angeles Kings this season while drastically outplaying teammate Jonathan Quick.
| Stat | Petersen | Quick |
|---|---|---|
| GP | 9 | 8 |
| GAA | 2.43 | 3.19 |
| SV% | .926 | .889 |
| GSAA | 5.3 | -3.8 |
Petersen's strong start doesn't appear to be a fluke, either: He entered the campaign with a .923 save percentage and 2.62 goals-against average in 19 career games.
Quick played well this past week, but look for the 26-year-old Petersen to receive the lion's share of the workload as the season progresses. Playing in the weak West Division also helps his fantasy outlook.
Team: Sabres
Position: C/RW
Rostered: 43%
Reinhart has produced four points in his last four games and is back playing alongside Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson on the Buffalo Sabres' top line and No. 1 power-play unit.
Buffalo is scheduled to play an NHL-high five games this week, so if Reinhart is already rostered in your league, it may be worth looking into Eric Staal, Dylan Cozens, or even Jeff Skinner. Skinner should only be considered if he can find his way off the fourth line, though.
Josh Wegman has been theScore's resident fantasy hockey expert since 2015. Find him on Twitter @JoshWegman_.
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the club announced Sunday.
Merzlikins suffered the ailment during Saturday's contest against the Nashville Predators. He left the game after apparently hurting his left arm while making a save at the beginning of the third period.
Merzlikins is down on the ice after his last save. He’s been attended to by trainer Mike Vogt. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/h6l4lJwQ8K
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 21, 2021
The 26-year-old stopped 35 of the 39 shots he faced prior to exiting. He's appeared in nine games this season, owning a 3-3-1 record alongside a .917 save percentage.
The Blue Jackets recalled goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks from the AHL and added him to the club's taxi squad earlier Sunday. He'll likely share the crease with Joonas Korpisalo in Merzlikins' absence.
Korpisalo has struggled out of the gate this season, recording a .889 save percentage and a 3.46 goals-against average through 13 appearances.
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
It's Trevor Zegras time.
The Anaheim Ducks recalled their prized prospect from the AHL's San Diego Gulls on Sunday, the team announced.
Zegras was named MVP of the World Junior Hockey Championship in January after guiding the U.S. to a gold medal. He led the tournament with 18 points in seven games.
The 19-year-old enjoyed a smooth transition to the pro level, as he recorded four goals and five assists in eight contests with the Gulls.
The Ducks selected Zegras ninth overall at the 2019 NHL Draft.
Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.