Batherson back in COVID-19 protocol following 4-point game

Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson finds himself back in COVID-19 protocol less than 24 hours after tying a career-high with four points in a victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Senators placed the 23-year-old on the list before their game against the Calgary Flames on Sunday. Andrew Agozzino is making his season debut in Batherson's place.

Batherson tested positive Saturday but was cleared to play in that evening's contest following further testing. He leads the Senators with seven goals and nine assists over 14 games this season.

Senators defenseman Nikita Zaitsev was activated off the list Saturday morning but Ottawa put him back in the protocol before the game. He was the club's ninth player to be given that designation.

Being in COVID-19 protocol isn't necessarily indicative of a positive test.

The severely shorthanded Senators snapped a six-game losing skid Saturday with their victory over the Penguins.

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

Penguins activate Crosby, Dumoulin, Ruhwedel, Pettersson off COVID-19 list

The Pittsburgh Penguins have activated captain Sidney Crosby and defensemen Brian Dumoulin, Chad Ruhwedel, and Marcus Pettersson from the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list, the team announced Sunday.

Pittsburgh re-assigned forward Drew O'Connor, defensemen Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Juuso Riikola, and goaltender Louis Domingue to the AHL in corresponding moves.

Crosby has appeared in just one game for the Penguins this season. The 34-year-old center missed Pittsburgh's first seven contests while recovering from offseason wrist surgery before landing on the COVID-19 list.

The shorthanded Penguins lost 6-3 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Pittsburgh will face the Washington Capitals on Sunday night with Crosby, Dumoulin, Ruhwedel, and Pettersson projected to be in the lineup.

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

Capitals re-sign Dowd to 3-year contract

The Washington Capitals re-signed forward Nic Dowd to a three-year contract carrying an average annual value of $1.3 million, the team announced Sunday.

The 31-year-old is in his fourth campaign with the Capitals. Dowd has recorded one goal in nine contests this season while averaging 12:28 of ice time per game. He also leads the club in face-off percentage (56.4).

Dowd set a career-high 11 goals last season in 56 contests. He's posted 36 markers and added 43 assists across 316 career games.

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

Iginla doesn’t feel robbed of Hart Trophy, Stanley Cup: ‘It’s sports’

Set to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla seems to be at peace with how his NHL career played out.

Iginla was one of the most dominant players of his generation and amassed an impressive collection of awards and accomplishments. A six-time NHL All-Star, two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner, and two-time Olympic gold medalist, he notched 625 goals and 675 assists in 1,554 regular-season games and 68 points in 81 playoff contests.

But two of the most coveted trophies in hockey - the Hart Trophy and the Stanley Cup - slipped right through his fingers. Asked if he feels robbed of either, Iginla had a simple answer.

"No, it's sports," the 44-year-old said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Francis.

"I wasn't (robbed). With the Hart Trophy, I would have loved to have won it. It's an opinion. When I saw how close it was, that I was tied (with Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jose Theodore), I was still thrilled to be there. What an honor."

Theodore and Iginla tied in Hart voting in 2002 with 434 points apiece. Iginla had produced one of the most dominant seasons of his career in 2001-02, leading the NHL with 52 goals and 96 points in the height of the dead puck era. He won the goal-scoring race by 11 tallies, with Bill Guerin, Glen Murray, and Mats Sundin tying for second with 41.

Theodore ultimately claimed the award because he received 26 first-place votes to Iginla's 23.

Iginla also came within inches of winning the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 2004. Holding a 3-2 series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary appeared to score the go-ahead goal late in Game 6, but the referees deemed that the puck didn't cross the goal line. The Lightning went on to win in double-overtime before taking the series in seven games.

"The Stanley Cup obviously hurt more," Iginla said. "That was a stinger."

Despite coming narrowly close to both accolades, he prefers to reflect on everything he did accomplish during his illustrious 21-year career.

"To play until I was 39 and play on Team Canada with players like (Steve) Yzerman, (Mario) Lemieux, (Joe) Sakic, (Sidney) Crosby ... it was so cool," Iginla said. "So, I don't feel like I was robbed at all. I never think that way."

He added: "I got lots of good bounces in different ways and in games, and we won championships. Memorial Cups and World Juniors. I got to throw my gloves in the air like I was 10 years old again. There are so many things to reflect on and be thankful for, and that is sport."

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

Watch: Vasilevskiy’s stellar save leads to Point’s pretty OT winner

Andrei Vasilevskiy's spectacular stop allowed Brayden Point to net an impressive overtime winner against the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.

Vasilevskiy slid across the crease to absolutely rob Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad about a minute into the extra frame.

Then, just over a minute later, Point flew in on a breakaway off a stretch pass from Ondrej Palat and tucked home the winner on the backhand.

Florida scored two goals in a 36-second span during the second period to erase Tampa Bay's 2-0 lead before the Lightning prevailed in the 3-on-3 session.

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

Golden Knights’ Stone returns to lineup vs. Canucks

The Vegas Golden Knights have their captain back.

Mark Stone is back in the lineup on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks, according to The Athletic's Jesse Granger.

He had been sidelined with a lower-body injury since Oct. 14. He was seemingly in some discomfort after taking a shot in the offensive zone against the Los Angeles Kings and was helped to the locker room.

Though the details surrounding Stone's ailment were unclear, the 29-year-old was able to avoid surgery.

Stone took part in line rushes alongside Chandler Stephenson and Evgenii Dadonov earlier Saturday.

His return is welcome news for the battered Golden Knights and their top line, which is also missing Max Pacioretty who is week-to-week with a fractured foot.

Stone has put up three assists in two games this season. The Golden Knights are 8-6-0 to start the year.

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

Sens’ Zaitsev back in COVID-19 protocol hours after coming off list

The Ottawa Senators returned defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to COVID-19 protocol Saturday night after taking him off the list in the morning.

Zaitsev was initially activated two days after landing in the protocol. He was Ottawa's ninth player on the list at the time.

Senators forward Drake Batherson tested positive Saturday but was cleared to play in the evening's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins after having more tests, according to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.

Jacob Bernard-Docker is making his season debut in place of Zaitsev.

Forward Shane Pinto and blue-liner Artem Zub are also in the lineup after coming into the contest as game-time decisions due to injuries.

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