Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Erik Kallgren recorded a 35-save shutout in the first start of his NHL career Tuesday night in a 4-0 defeat of the Dallas Stars.
Kallgren received a warm welcome when he entered the Maple Leafs' locker room postgame.
"I don't know. I'm going to take this very day-by-day," Kallgren said postgame when asked if he thinks he can keep it up with the Leafs, according to The Leafs Nation's David Alter. "I've been called up less than a week ago. I'm still just trying to enjoy this; try not to think too much."
Head coach Sheldon Keefe wasn't quick to commit to giving Kallgren a string of starts after the Swede's impressive debut.
The club summoned Kallgren to the crease after Petr Mrazek allowed four goals against the Buffalo Sabres in Sunday's Heritage Classic game. Regular starter Jack Campbell remains sidelined with a rib injury.
The Leafs' goalies have struggled mightily over the last couple of months, with the team surrendering 39 goals in its previous eight games.
Kallgren, 25, had played just 30 minutes of NHL hockey before Tuesday's start, making 10 saves on 11 shots against the Arizona Coyotes last week. He's managed a .904 save percentage and 3.02 goals against average in 26 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies this season.
One future Hockey Hall of Famer leapfrogged another on Tuesday night, as Alex Ovechkin scored the 767th goal of his career against the New York Islanders to move past Jaromir Jagr on the NHL's all-time goals list.
The Washington Capitals captain tied Jagr with a pair of goals, including an empty-netter, during a victory over the Calgary Flames last week. Ovechkin passed Jagr in 477 fewer games played.
Here's an updated list of the league's top scorers:
Rank
Player
Goals
Games Played
1
Wayne Gretzky
894
1487
2
Gordie Howe
801
1767
3
Alex Ovechkin
767
1256
4
Jaromir Jagr
766
1733
5
Brett Hull
741
1269
Jagr was one of the first to congratulate him, but he joked that he hasn't officially retired from hockey yet and might have to return to the NHL to start chasing Ovechkin. The 50-year-old has been playing professionally in his native Czech Republic since 2018.
A very special congratulations from Jaromir Jagr to Alex Ovechkin (plus a little surprise at the end). 😉 pic.twitter.com/HGgSlqRTaQ
The Sharks are looking to acquire a second-round pick plus another selection or prospect, LeBrun adds.
The 26-year-old is in the final year of a two-way contract that pays him $725,000 at the NHL level. He's been a revelation for the Sharks this season, slotting into the left side of the team's top-four and logging big minutes alongside Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns.
Middleton has three goals and six assists in 41 games this season. He's averaged 19:01 minutes of ice time per game and ranks second on the team with six blocked shots per 60 minutes. He'll be a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the season.
After just one NHL game on Monday night, we have 11 to look forward to Tuesday evening.
There's a ton of value on the board so let's waste no time getting to a few of my favorite plays.
Jack Eichel over 3.5 shots (-118)
Jack Eichel is one of the most consistent shot generators in the NHL right now. He's generated at least four shots on goal in seven of his last nine games, leading the Vegas Golden Knights in attempts (55), shots (38), and scoring chances (30) during that span. With several key players out of the lineup, a ton of responsibility has fallen on Eichel's shoulders.
That's a recipe for success with his shot props, especially in positive matchups - such as Tuesday night's game against the Winnipeg Jets. Only five teams have conceded more shots to centers this season. Look for Eichel to take advantage.
Brendan Gallagher over 2.5 shots (-106)
The Arizona Coyotes are one of the ideal teams to target on a nightly basis. They give up shots at an insane rate at the best of times. And they're in the latter half of a back-to-back without their best defenseman Jakob Chychrun.
At five-on-five, Arizona has allowed a whopping 68 attempts per 60 over the last 10 games.
That's music to the ears of Brendan Gallagher. He's a volume shooter who has done his best work at home, going over his total 62% of the time (compared to 45% on the road).
His home success should continue in this game.
Patrice Bergeron over 3.5 shots (-125)
Patrice Bergeron is firing on all cylinders. He's averaged an absurd 4.8 shots per game over his last 10 while going over the number (3.5) seven times in that span. League-wide, only Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews have generated more shots over the last 10.
Now Bergeron finds himself in an advantageous spot against the Chicago Blackhawks. Only five teams have allowed more shots to centers on a per game basis. Unsurprisingly, Bergeron teed off on them last time the two sides met; he had seven shots on target and attempted nine. This line is short.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
We backed the Boston Bruins on the puck line against the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, and the Bruins did everything but cover.
They were by far the superior team, controlling 58% of the shot attempts, 60% of the expected goals, and 62% of the scoring chances. They fully deserved their win and were unlucky the game was even close.
I expect Boston to be the decisively better side again in this game. Its current form is remarkably good, and the team is full value for its 8-1-1 record over the last 10 games, sitting second in expected goal share (57.71%).
Chicago won four of its last 10 and sits 26th in five-on-five expected goal share over that period. Suffice to say, Boston is playing at a significantly higher level.
While Linus Ullmark isn't Jeremy Swayman, the Swede is more than capable of matching this year's version of Marc-Andre Fleury. Ullmark has conceded around 0.20 goals more than expected per start while Fleury sits at around 0.40.
There really aren't many - any? - edges for Chicago in this game. Back the Bruins to pick up another win inside 60.
The Vegas Golden Knights feel like a sinking ship right now. The injuries continue to pile up at an alarming rate, which makes it very difficult to get a result on any given night.
While the injuries are a real cause for concern and help justify the losses piling up, I think the Golden Knights have been a little unlucky of late. Healthy players or not, they're playing better than the results suggest.
Over the last 10 games, they rank third in five-on-five shot share and fourth in expected goals. They're routinely getting the better of the chances.
Their shooting percentage during that span ranks 29th, and that's hurt them. It doesn't matter how many chances you generate if you can't finish any of them.
The good news is the Winnipeg Jets have just the ailment the Golden Knights need: poor goaltending. Winnipeg's goaltenders have combined to post a sub-.900 save percentage over the last 10 games.
Every Stanley Cup contender would love to acquire a superstar talent ahead of Monday's trade deadline. But, let's face it, that's not happening.
Below, we run down dream fits between available players and contending teams that straddle the line between the best-case scenario and what's realistic.
For this particular exercise, any NHL team in the top 10 in points percentage is considered a "Stanley Cup contender." OK, here we go ...
Colorado Avalanche
Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty Images
Did the Avalanche already find their dream fit? On Monday, the NHL's top team acquiredJosh Manson from the Anaheim Ducks, adding a dash of physicality to a blue line that's stacked with elite skaters and playmakers.
Injuries are starting to pile up for Colorado, complicating general manager Joe Sakic's life ahead of the deadline. If captain Gabriel Landeskog is ultimately deemed out for the rest of the regular season, Sakic will have enough salary-cap space to pursue a big-ticket forward like Claude Giroux or Brock Boeser.
At the moment, given the uncertainty with Landeskog, Sakic's measured approach to player acquisition, the Avs' wide-open contention window, and the Manson trade, we think it's more likely the GM goes after two mid-tier forwards, starting with the Chicago Blackhawks' Energizer Bunny, Brandon Hagel.
A high-compete winger with scoring touch, Hagel would add a little spice to a tremendously fast and skilled forward group. Equally important, his contract ($1.5-million cap hit this year and next) is good value. The extra season would make the steep acquisition price worth it for the Avs.
As for a second target, the Avs could try to pry Nick Paul from the Ottawa Senators.
Carolina Hurricanes
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Through 59 games, the Hurricanes are second in the league with a .737 points percentage. They're a well-coached squad with no glaring weaknesses.
That said, if GM Don Waddell were to nitpick, he'd surely identify the defense corps as an area that could be upgraded in one respect: offensive pop. Tony DeAngelo is the club's lone offensively minded defenseman and he's currently injured, with a return timeline set for late March/early April.
That leads us to John Klingberg. The 29-year-old smooth-skating Dallas Star could be a wonderful complement to DeAngelo and Brett Pesce on Carolina's right side. Adding Klingberg would probably send Ethan Bear to the press box, which, while unfortunate for Bear, would be a sign of enviable depth.
The Canes don't typically chase pending UFAs at the deadline, and the team doesn't have the cap space right now to absorb Klingberg's $4.25 million AAV. However, the timing is right for the organization to step out of its comfort zone. Waddell has enough picks and prospects for an enticing deal, and there are bottom-feeding clubs that could take on some of Klingberg's salary.
Florida Panthers
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Do the Atlantic-leading Panthersneed to add anything? Not necessarily. Should they? Absolutely.
Florida has been firing on all cylinders all season long, but we're of the opinion that they should go big-game hunting and land Giroux. The 34-year-old All-Star is the biggest name available and could easily be the most impactful. Giroux has 42 points in 56 games for a lowly Philly squad this season, and it's fair to assume he'd be raring to go for a contending team playing high-stakes hockey down the stretch.
It would be very entertaining for the Panthers to build a Globetrotter-type offense, and they have the assets to make a trade work for both sides. Florida doesn't have much draft capital this year, but it has all of its picks in 2023, along with quality roster players (Patric Hornqvist, Frank Vatrano, Lucas Carlsson) and high-profile prospects (Grigori Denisenko, Owen Tippett) to build a desirable package for the career-long Flyer.
Toronto Maple Leafs
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The Maple Leafs' deadline philosophy, at least in the eyes of fans and pundits, has drastically shifted of late. At first, Toronto appeared poised to pursue an impact forward, but it's become clear that the club needs to concede fewer goals to have any realistic chance in the Atlantic Division playoff gauntlet.
Adding a goaltender is one potential solution. However, finding a suitable and available netminder within a time crunch is easier said than done. Another idea is acquiring a blue-liner (or two) who would make Toronto's slot more difficult for opponents to breach.
We're of the mind that Kyle Dubas should call up old colleague Lou Lamoriello and pry Scott Mayfield from the New York Islanders. The Leafs need a player who can help clear the dangerous areas of the D zone and insulate whichever Toronto goalie gets his confidence back first. Mayfield is a stay-at-home, stabilizing presence on the back end and a clear upgrade over Timothy Liljegren, Justin Holl, and Travis Dermott.
Mayfield also makes only $1.45 million through 2023. That may make it difficult to convince the Islanders to move him, but what a difference it could make for a slumping Toronto squad.
New York Rangers
Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images
The Rangers have more room on their books than any contender and should try to catch lightning in a bottle while Igor Shesterkin is playing out of his mind. New York could benefit from shoring up its third defensive pairing, but its clearest need is a top-six winger, specifically to play the right side on a line with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome.
Rickard Rakell's a terrific candidate. He'd be a rental, yet he carries a modest $3.79-million cap hit. He drives play offensively and has the skill set to complement Panarin's elite hockey IQ and playmaking. It's hard to view New York's attack as a problem, but Rakell would be replacing Dryden Hunt on the second line. That's a clear improvement. The Ducks winger could also add some firepower to a second power-play unit that lacks experience.
Calgary Flames
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The heart says bring back former captain Mark Giordano for a Cup run, but the Flames made the 38-year-old expendable this past offseason for a reason: They're set on the back end. The Flames might be set everywhere, for that matter, and having already acquired Tyler Toffoli, they'll probably be quiet at the deadline.
For the sake of this exercise, though, we see a match between Calgary and Calle Jarnkrok. The versatile, tight-checking forward is the type of player whose strengths seem to be maximized by Darryl Sutter's schemes and systems, and he would fortify one of the club's bottom-six center spots. Making him even more attractive to the cap-strapped Flames, Jarnkrok accounts for only $2 million against the cap before hitting unrestricted free agency this summer.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Icon Sportswire / Getty Images
Boy, the Penguins certainly could use a sharp-shooting winger.
If he's available, Dominik Kubalik of the Blackhawks makes a ton of sense. The 26-year-old Czechia native may be having a down year, but he's armed with a wicked shot and has plenty of experience sharing the ice with stars like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. A pending RFA with arbitration rights, Kubalik scored 30 goals in 68 games in 2019-20 as an NHL rookie.
Picking up Kubalik wouldn't be groundbreaking. But that's OK. The Pens could make two or three medium-sized deals instead of one whopper in order to deepen their lineup while preserving their upcoming first-rounders. Don't forget, the Pens are in limbo: Malkin, Rust, and longtime No. 1 defenseman Kris Letang are all set to become UFAs at season's end.
Boston's top target should be Jakob Chychrun of the Arizona Coyotes. Yes, Chychrun suffered a lower-body injury over the weekend - ironically against the Bruins. And yes, it will sideline him for 2-4 weeks, which is not ideal. Yet the fit is still there.
A three-zone defenseman who can play both sides, Chychrun moves the needle like McAvoy. He's 23 and under contract through the 2024-25 season at a team-friendly $4.6 million AAV. He would boost Boston's chances of winning this year and then help keep the contention window open.
There also seems to be a fit from a transactional perspective. Forward Jake DeBrusk has requested a trade out of Boston, and the Coyotes - deep in a rebuild and about to start playing in a 5,000-seat arena - are on a desperate search for NHL-caliber players under team control. DeBrusk is a 25-year-old pending RFA who could flourish with a change of scenery.
Of course, the package going to Arizona would include several impact pieces, namely a first-round pick. The Bruins have their firsts in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Tampa Bay Lightning
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Lightning GM Julien BriseBois has been aggressive at each of the past two trade deadlines, shipping out first-round picks to nab the role players he wants. Back-to-back Stanley Cup rings indicate his strategy works.
Tampa Bay doesn't have many flaws, but BriseBois seems to prioritize targeting flexible players that can be deployed in all situations. Andrew Copp of the Winnipeg Jets would fit the bill as the Bolts look to become the first franchise to three-peat since the Islanders in the early 1980s. He's on an expiring contract ($3.64 million AAV), and his current club is swiftly falling out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
Copp is in the midst of a career offensive season, so Tampa would have to pony up to get him. Regardless, the 27-year-old can play center or wing and has a history of strong advanced metrics at both ends of the ice. He's also a physical presence and could anchor a battle-tested, pain-in-the-ass third line in between veterans Patrick Maroon and Corey Perry.
St. Louis Blues
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Marco Scandella played 19:53 against the Jets on Sunday night, lining up mostly alongside Colton Parayko on the Blues' top defense pairing. Important context: St. Louis doesn't have any star blue-liners injured.
Scandella is a perfectly capable NHLer, but he shouldn't be facing stiff competition for a third of the game. And that's precisely why Ben Chiarot would be a fantastic fit for the Blues. The battle-tested Montreal Canadien could be slotted on Parayko's left side while Torey Krug and Justin Faulk do their thing as an overqualified second pair and Scandella moves down the depth chart.
The Blues rank in the top 10 in several key categories, including goals for per game, goals against per game, power-play percentage, and penalty-kill percentage. They're a quality squad with a diverse group of forwards and two goaltenders in Ville Husso and Jordan Binnington who can hold down the fort.
What's missing is defensive depth, and acquiring pending UFA Chiarot - for a package starting with a first-rounder or A-level prospect - would fix that issue.
Boston Bruins defenseman Derek Forbort hit Chychrun awkwardly into the boards Saturday night.
The 23-year-old is among the top players rumored to be moved ahead of the March 21 trade deadline. The St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Bruins are reportedly among the serious contenders for his services.
Chychrun has recorded 21 points in 47 games this season. He's signed for three more years at a $4.6-million cap hit.
