Mark Pavelich, a member of the "Miracle on Ice" 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey team and veteran of 355 NHL games, has died at 63.

"We send our condolences to his family, friends, and the countless young players who he and his 1980 Team USA teammates inspired to play our game," the league said in a statement.

The playmaker for Team USA recorded seven points in seven games at the Olympics in Lake Placid, and Pavelich assisted on Mike Eruzione's famous game-winning goal that defeated the Soviet Union in the semifinals.

Pavelich died at a residential treatment center in Minnesota, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. He was there under civil commitment after a violent assault on his neighbor in 2019.

Following the assault, Pavelich was deemed mentally ill and dangerous, and his family is convinced he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Pavelich's cause of death is unknown, and the degenerative brain disease can only be diagnosed posthumously.

In addition to starring for Team USA, Pavelich also logged five seasons with the New York Rangers, notching 133 goals and 185 assists over 341 games. He set a rookie franchise record with 76 points in 1981-82.

He also briefly played for the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks.

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The Buffalo Sabres are in the midst of yet another disappointing season, and general manager Kevyn Adams expressed his frustration with the team's lack of progress.

"I'm angry. I would hope all of you are," Adams said, according to Buffalo News Sport's Mike Harrington. "I would hope all our fans are because that means you care. ... I've been empowered by Terry and Kim Pegula to fix this and that's what I'm going to do."

The Sabres made a number of big moves during the offseason, including the additions of top free agent Taylor Hall and depth piece Eric Staal. Many expected those acquisitions to finally push Buffalo to contender status, but the team once again finds itself near the bottom of the standings.

With a 6-12-3 record, the Sabres rank third-last in the league in points percentage and goals per game (2.19). Head coach Ralph Krueger is in his second year at the helm, and Adams didn't dismiss the notion that his job may be in jeopardy.

"Everything is being evaluated. (Krueger) understands the situation we're in is unacceptable," Adams said when asked why a coaching change hasn't been made yet, according to Harrington. "The players do. Everybody does. It's just flat-out not good enough."

The general manager is reportedly aggressively trying to make a trade to improve his club. Franchise center Jack Eichel has expressed his displeasure with the club's performance in the past, but Adams said he hasn't requested a trade, according to Harrington.

The team's top players have struggled to produce so far in 2021. Eichel and Hall have just two goals apiece, and Jeff Skinner has collected just one assist while also being a healthy scratch for several games.

Buffalo hasn't reached the postseason since 2011.

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Thursday's bets weren't looking great early, but the Flyers and Rangers both erased deficits for comeback wins, padding our bankroll in the process. I added the Stars as a play on Twitter, which was a loser. So we didn't quite sweep, moving to 70-54 (+17.16 units).

Here's what I'm looking to bet this weekend:

Blues (-135) @ Kings (+115)
Mar. 5, 9 p.m. ET

Initially, I had the Kings down as a bet for Saturday, with these teams scheduled for a back-to-back series to begin the weekend. But it turns out Ville Husso will start on Friday for the Blues, with Jordan Binnington going on Saturday. So we're betting the Kings tonight!

There's excellent value on Los Angeles here with Husso in net for the visitors. The 25-year-old is really struggling this season, allowing four-plus goals in three of his five starts. Over seven appearances he's posted a miserable 3.82 goals-against average and a .879 save percentage while ranking 58th out of 59 goalies in both GSAA/60 and GSAx/60 (minimum five outings).

The Blues simply aren't playing well enough to justify this price with Husso in net. They've managed just 47.01% of the expected goal share at five-on-five over their last seven games while generating only 2.08 xGF/60, ranking 24th and 26th, respectively, in those categories during that span. Conversely, the Kings have posted a respectable 51.44% mark over the same stretch.

There's also a strong chance Cal Petersen starts for the Kings after Jonathan Quick was in the crease for Wednesday's loss. He's been a top-five goaltender this year by just about every metric, and Petersen's presence would make this an even bigger bargain than it already is with Husso between the pipes for St. Louis.

Pick: Kings (+115)

Rangers (-120) @ Devils (+100)
Mar. 6, 1 p.m.

If you tailed Thursday's article then we cashed together on the Rangers, and while it was a 6-1 drubbing, we were a bit fortunate. The Devils were dominant in the first half of this game, leading 1-0 and outshooting the Rangers 17-6 when Chris Kreider's power-play goal evened the score.

The goal seemed to deflate the Devils, who didn't recover. However, New Jersey dominated the underlying metrics, owning 62.15% of the expected goal share at five-on-five, and posting a 64.32 CF%. Igor Shesterkin was excellent as usual, while it was simply an off night for MacKenzie Blackwood, who allowed four goals on just 15 shots before Aaron Dell gave up two on four in relief. The Rangers scored six goals on just 1.83 expected.

Generating offense has been an issue for the Rangers without Artemi Panarin, as they've managed just 1.93 xGF/60 over their last three games. For perspective, the Red Wings rank 30th in the NHL this season with a mark of 2.35 xGF/60. The Rangers will regress, while the Devils are in for a much better day here if they replicate their five-on-five success.

Alexandar Georgiev is also starting for the Rangers after Shesterkin was hurt toward the end of Thursday's game. Combine the downgrade in goal for the visitors with a much better outing for Blackwood after a sure outlier on Thursday, and we're getting good value with the hosts in a big revenge spot. Let's just hope and pray New Jersey can stay out of the box.

Pick: Devils (+100)

(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.

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Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning says head coach Travis Green's job is safe for now.

Green is in the final year of his contract and has guided the Canucks since 2017-18. Vancouver currently sits second last in the North Division at 10-15-2 while having played more games than all of their Canadian opponents.

Benning also addressed the possibility of making a trade to improve the club Friday. He added his team has to "figure this out from within," as new players would have to quarantine for two weeks and then get their conditioning back, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

The GM said in November he'd begun negotiating a contract extension with Green but the COVID-19 pandemic was limiting their ability to finalize it.

Vancouver missed the playoffs in Green's first two seasons behind the bench but made it in 2020, bouncing the Minnesota Wild out of the qualifying round before knocking out the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in the next stage.

The Canucks came within one win of reaching the Western Conference Final, losing their second-round series to the Vegas Golden Knights in seven.

Green has a record of 112-118-30 behind the Vancouver bench.

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Darryl Sutter will officially begin his second stint as head coach of the Calgary Flames early next week and the veteran wants this tenure to be different from last.

"For me, it's unfinished business," Sutter said during media availability on Friday, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.

Following a 7-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night, Geoff Ward was fired as head coach. Sutter, 62, was immediately named successor.

While it's Sutter's job, the bench boss will have to go through protocol and will not be eligible to coach until practice on Tuesday, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Assistant coach Ryan Huska will run the bench this weekend against the Edmonton Oilers and Senators.

Sutter originally became head coach of the Flames in the midst of the 2002-03 campaign. The next year, while also acting as the team's general manager, he helped lead the club to a Stanley Cup Final, which they lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After the lockout the following season, Sutter's Flames won the Northwest Division with a 46-25-11 record but ultimately lost in the opening round of the playoffs. Sutter stepped down as head coach at the end of the campaign, citing difficulties handling both roles.

From 2002-06, Sutter managed the Flames to a 107-73 record with 15 ties and 15 overtime losses. Since then, Sutter head coached the Los Angeles Kings from 2011-17, winning two Stanley Cups and boasting a 225-147-53 record.

The Flames are currently fifth in the North Division with an 11-11-2 record and minus-7 goal differential.

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Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams wants to make a deal to improve his lackluster club.

"Adams is trying. He's working aggressively looking for a trade," TSN's Darren Dreger said Friday on WGR 550. "He's looking to upgrade in every possible scenario, it's just like every other (general) manager that's struggled."

Dreger added that while Adams is extensively working the phones seeking a move, that effort isn't leading to any serious discussions.

"Lots of conversations, but really no substance to the conversations for a myriad of reasons," Dreger said.

One hurdle to any trade is the quarantine players would potentially be required to enter upon switching squads. There are also restrictions prohibiting non-essential travel at the border between Canada and the United States.

The Sabres were expected to take a step forward in 2021 after Adams signed prized free agent Taylor Hall to a one-year contract and acquired veteran center Eric Staal in a trade with the Minnesota Wild during the offseason. However, Buffalo has struggled mightily this campaign, ranking third-last in the NHL in points percentage while going 6-12-3 through 21 games.

Last month, the Sabres were forced to remain idle for two weeks amid a COVID-19 outbreak that followed two games against the New Jersey Devils, who had just experienced their own outbreak.

Nevertheless, several key Buffalo players have underachieved in 2021. Captain Jack Eichel has produced only two goals in 19 games, despite amassing a team-high 14 assists. Hall has collected only two markers in 21 contests. And Jeff Skinner, who carries a $9-million cap hit through 2026-27, has managed just one point (an assist) in 18 games, and he's repeatedly been a healthy scratch.

Making matters worse, Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark - who had played well this season considering how poorly the club is performing - will be out for a month after suffering an injury last week.

Buffalo hasn't made the playoffs since 2011 when it lost in the first round for the second straight season.

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Brent Seabrook can no longer play as a result of injuries he sustained throughout his career, the longtime Chicago Blackhawks defenseman announced Friday.

"After several surgeries, countless hours of rehab, and training to get back on the ice at the level of my expectations, it will not be possible for me to continue playing hockey," Seabrook said in a statement. "This is what is best for me and my family."

Seabrook has a long-term issue with his right hip, team physician Dr. Michael Terry confirmed.

The 35-year-old played his entire 15-year career with the Blackhawks, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013, and 2015. He ranks third on the franchise's all-time games played list behind the legendary Stan Mikita and current Chicago blue-liner Duncan Keith.

Seabrook was unable to play a single game in 2021 as he attempted to recover from surgery to both hips and his right shoulder. He underwent those procedures over a three-month span from December 2019 to February 2020, and couldn't return to play for the Blackhawks upon the NHL's resumption of the 2019-20 season over the summer.

Chicago general manager Stan Bowman said last month that the team was "very concerned" for Seabrook. The GM effusively praised the now-former rearguard Friday, stating the Blackhawks wouldn't have won the three aforementioned titles without him while calling him one of the best players the team has ever had.

"Brent embodied all the qualities of a true leader," Bowman added. "Serving as an alternate captain, Brent's presence was consistently felt in the locker room. He embraced the role of mentor to young players, taking them under his wing and making them feel important. His voice was a constant in the room and he brought so much more than just his on-ice skills."

Seabrook collected 103 goals and 361 assists in 1,114 regular-season games, adding 20 markers and 39 helpers across 123 playoff contests. He scored three postseason overtime winners, including the one that eliminated the Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 of the 2013 Western Conference semifinals and the one that gave the Blackhawks a 6-5 victory over the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final.

Seabrook also succeeded internationally, helping Canada win gold at both the 2010 Olympics and the World Junior Championship in 2005. Chicago drafted Seabrook 14th overall in 2003.

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