Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton announced Monday that the NHL won't suspend blue-liner Connor Murphy for his hit on Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak, according to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Murphy, who was ejected from Sunday's contest for the hit, won't be fined either, reports The Athletic's Joe Smith.

The NHL Department of Player Safety felt the head was not the main point of contact and thus did not schedule a hearing, Smith adds.

Cernak left the game and did not return but was a full participant in Monday's practice, and head coach Jon Cooper is "hopeful" Cernak can play Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Bryan Burns.

Murphy has never been suspended over his eight-year NHL career.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The National Women's Hockey League postseason is back on.

Four teams will compete in the semifinals on March 26, with the winners meeting in the single-elimination Isobel Cup final the next night, the NWHL announced Monday.

The top-seeded Toronto Six will face the fourth-ranked Boston Pride, and the No. 2-slotted Minnesota Whitecaps will clash with the third-seeded Connecticut Whale.

All three games will take place at Warrior Ice Arena, the Boston Bruins' training facility in Brighton, Massachusetts. All of the matchups will be shown on NBCSN, marking the first time a major U.S. national network will broadcast women's pro hockey league championship games.

The NWHL suspended play due to COVID-19 concerns on Feb. 3 - one day before the Isobel Cup playoffs were slated to begin. The league opened an abbreviated 2021 campaign in an isolated environment on Jan. 23 in Lake Placid, New York, but the Metropolitan Riveters withdrew from the bubble five days later following multiple positive tests. The Whale did the same on Feb. 1 despite having clinched a playoff spot.

The league will employ "enhanced health and safety protocols and enforcement" upon resuming play.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

I've inevitably cooled off a bit after an outstanding initial return on investment. However, it's the way I'm losing some of these bets that has me going full tilt.

The Panthers and Wild blew very late leads and lost in overtime last Monday. Los Angeles allowed the tying goal with 44 seconds left in regulation and lost in overtime Friday after missing a chance at an empty net. The Blues blew a 3-0 lead Saturday and fell in overtime. And the Stars came back from 3-0 down Sunday only to lose in a shootout off this ridiculous Pekka Rinne save:

We're at 74-60 (+14.45 units) on the season heading into Monday. Here's hoping for less terrible luck this week.

Golden Knights (-120) @ Wild (+100)
March 8, 8 p.m. ET

I'm ready to hurt again.

I was on the Wild in both of their games against the Golden Knights in Vegas last week. Having watched every second of those two contests, I can say they were very unlucky not to earn at least a split. Minnesota blew a 4-2 lead with less than eight minutes left in the first game thanks in part to Zach Parise's gaffe. In the rematch, the Wild owned 61% of the expected goal share at five-on-five and had 15 high-danger scoring chances to just nine for the Knights.

We've seen time and time again this year just how impressive Minnesota is, and the short line shows the market is starting to buy in. The Wild sit second in the NHL in expected goals for percentage at five-on-five, second in expected goals for per 60 minutes, and eighth in expected goals against per 60. The Knights rank 11th, ninth, and 14th, respectively. Vegas should be a pick'em at best in what's a prime revenge spot for Minnesota.

Pick: Wild (+100)

Kings (-120) @ Ducks (+100)
March 8, 10 p.m.

We had rotten luck betting Kings games over the weekend, but all will be forgiven with a win here. Their impressive 3-0 comeback Saturday ended a four-game skid. They've drastically improved at five-on-five over the past three weeks, ranking 11th in the league with a 51.86 expected goals for percentage during that span. L.A. ranked dead last during the first month of the season with a mark of 40.08%.

Meanwhile, the Ducks have been in a tailspin. Anaheim ranked 28th in expected goals for percentage at five-on-five (45.91%) during a recent nine-game losing skid (0-6-3). The Kings also hold a significant edge in special teams and are good value at such a short price here.

Pick: Kings (-115)

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. 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, despises how the NHL handles starting goalie announcements, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy was given a major penalty and subsequently ejected from Sunday's clash versus the Tampa Bay Lightning for a hit to the head on Erik Cernak.

Here's a look at the collision:

Cernak stayed down on the ice and went straight to the Lightning's dressing room. There is no update yet on his status.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety is likely to review the play. Murphy has never been suspended in his eight-year career.

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 8. Roster percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.

Trade for Jacob Markstrom

Team: Flames
Position: G
Rostered: 91%

Markstrom has only started one of the Flames' last seven games due to injury, and he owns an .855 save percentage over his last four appearances. His fantasy managers are possibly growing tired with the lack of availability and inconsistent play.

However, head coach Darryl Sutter's hiring should help Markstrom's outlook. The veteran bench boss is known for his hard-nosed mentality, but he's also going to help Calgary get its structure in order.

Although Sutter's last three seasons in Los Angeles resulted in just one playoff appearance, the Kings produced excellent underlying results during that time, leading the NHL in Corsi For percentage, expected goals percentage, and high-danger scoring chance percentage at five-on-five.

The Flames are talented enough on paper to make the playoffs in the North Division. With Sutter's ability to get the most out of his players, look for Markstrom to have a big second half.

Goalies are easy to stream in 10- and 12-team leagues, so I wouldn't recommend trading any of your valuable skaters for Markstrom. A goalie-for-goalie swap would be ideal.

Add Rickard Rakell

Team: Ducks
Position: LW/RW
Rostered: 24%

Rakell is finally having some luck fall his way, putting up more points in his last five games (nine) than he did in his first 20 contests (seven). The Ducks winger is 17th in the NHL in individual expected goals, so this type of offensive outburst is no fluke.

Anaheim plays four games this week, and two of them are against the San Jose Sharks, who allow the second-most goals against per game.

Add Alex Tuch

Team: Golden Knights
Position: LW/RW
Rostered: 37%

Tuch has eight goals in his last seven games but is somehow still available in well over half of leagues. Yes, he's due to come down to earth at some point, but it's a great idea to add him while he's rolling - especially since Vegas plays four times this week.

Drop MacKenzie Blackwood

Team: Devils
Position: G
Rostered: 63%

Blackwood was bailing out his team during the early part of the season, but the underlying numbers are starting to catch up to the Devils. New Jersey allows the third-most high-danger scoring chances against per 60 minutes at five-on-five, and Blackwood now has just one win with an .865 save percentage in his last seven games.

The 24-year-old is a good goalie, but he's in a poor situation. You'd be better off streaming goalies than relying on Blackwood right now.

Add Jake Oettinger

Team: Stars
Position: G
Rostered: 13%

Oettinger is starting his second straight game Sunday after recording a 21-save shutout Saturday. The 22-year-old has outperformed teammate Anton Khudobin so far this season (stats prior to Sunday's outing):

The Stars play four times this week - twice against the Chicago Blackhawks and twice against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Look for Oettinger to start at least two of those contests.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin believes the NHL's Department of Player Safety was too harsh on teammate Tom Wilson for his hit on Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo.

Ovi said Sunday that Wilson's seven-game suspension is "kind of a joke," according to Samantha Pell of the Washington Post.

Here's a look at the hit:

Wilson wasn't penalized on the play, which Ovechkin thought was the correct call.

The suspension is the fifth of Wilson's career.

Carlo was hospitalized but has since been released. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said Sunday that the blue-liner is "going to be out for a while."

Ovechkin's comments come three days after he was fined by the league for spearing the Bruins' Trent Frederic in the groin.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.