Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland said the salary cap is the biggest hurdle to making moves prior to the March 3 trade deadline.

"Whether it's forwards or defense, it's my job to be aware of who is available and eventually what the price might be," Holland said on TSN's "Got Yer Back" podcast Wednesday.

"(Regardless) of names, we're dollar in, dollar out, so (if) we start bringing in people with big cap numbers, we're going to have to do some real gymnastics here to move people out. When you're in a (long-term injury) situation like we are, it's much more difficult at the trade deadline. I would like to do something. Am I convinced I will do something? I don't know."

The Oilers have $1.125 million in wiggle room, according to Cap Friendly, but they face an impending roster move as Kailer Yamamoto's $3.1-million cap hit can be activated off long-term injured reserve as early as Saturday.

"Once Yamamoto comes off LTI and no one else goes on, I've got some real difficult decisions to make," said Holland. "All of our bottom-of-the-roster players are going to be involved in that decision to decide. They all can't stay."

The Oilers positioned themselves to be buyers at the deadline with an 8-1-1 run ahead of the All-Star break. Edmonton holds the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference but is only two points off the Pacific Division lead with games in hand on two of three teams ahead of it.

At last year's deadline, the Oilers made a pair of depth acquisitions in Derick Brassard and Brett Kulak. It's unclear which direction Holland will go this time around, but Edmonton has recently been linked to Chicago Blackhawks blue-liners Jake McCabe and Connor Murphy.

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Tuesday night was another split for our best bets. The Edmonton Oilers picked up a relatively sweat-free regulation win over the Detroit Red Wings, but the Colorado Avalanche blew their lead late in Pittsburgh and could not get the job done in overtime.

Let's take a closer look at three plays that stand out for Wednesday's pint-sized slate.

Wild (+115) @ Stars (-135)

Going with the under on a low total (5.5) is a scary proposition when snipers like Kirill Kaprizov and Jason Robertson are featured in a game ... but that's just what we're going to do!

These teams are all about defense. No side has been better at limiting high-danger chances at five-on-five this season than the Minnesota Wild. That's right - not even the Boston Bruins or Carolina Hurricanes have prevented quality scoring opportunities more efficiently.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars have flipped the switch lately, ranking first in high-danger chances against per 60 over the last 10 games. The Stars are giving up nothing right now.

Strong chance suppression alone isn't enough to get me on the under when guys like Kaprizov and Robertson can simply take advantage of any opportunities that come their way. I also need goaltending, which this game should have in spades

Filip Gustavsson has been one of the league's biggest surprises between the pipes, owning a .922 save percentage in a season where the league average sits at .901.

As good as those numbers are, his goals saved above expected mark looks even better. Only Linus Ullmark, Ilya Sorokin, and Juuse Saros rank ahead of Gustavsson on a per-game basis.

Gustavsson's expected counterpart Jake Oettinger is sitting right there with him. Oettinger's save percentage ranks a little higher at .925, but he lags just behind in GSAE.

But both goaltenders have been extremely good, no matter the metric you look at. With Gustavsson playing behind one of the NHL's best five-on-five defenses this season and Oettinger backing one of the league's best five-on-five defenses of late, goals should come at a premium in this one.

Bet: Under 5.5 (+100)

Jason Robertson over 3.5 shots (-120)

Robertson is about as good as it gets on home soil. He has piled up 115 shots in Dallas this season, which is more than all but David Pastrnak and Timo Meier have amassed in their own buildings.

Robertson has averaged 4.6 shots per game in Dallas and hit the over on his shot total a whopping 68% of the time. That's a big step up from his numbers on the road, where he finds success only 44% of the time.

While the Wild are a strong defensive team, they have a couple weaknesses that play into Robertson's hands.

Chief among them is their inability to stay out of the box. Only six teams have spent more time shorthanded on a per-game basis. If we isolate the last 10 games for a better idea of the current picture, that list shrinks to three.

Minnesota tends to take more than its fair share of penalties, and Robertson will benefit from that the most - his bread and butter is hammering pucks on the power play.

It's also worth noting Robertson has generated at least five shots on goal and eight attempts in four straight meetings against the Wild.

Miro Heiskanen over 2.5 shots (-120)

We're double dipping with the Stars and backing Miro Heiskanen as well. Heiskanen is a favorite go-to defender because he often doesn't even need to be efficient to get the job done - he logs more than 25 minutes per night.

Like Robertson, Heiskanen has been a completely different animal on home ice. The smooth-skating rearguard has generated three shots or more 70% of the time at the American Airlines Center.

The Wild's defensive prowess hasn't slowed Heiskanen down in recent games, as he's gone over his shot total in four of the last five against Minnesota.

In a clash between the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds in the Central Division, Heiskanen should get all the ice he can handle in a game of such importance - especially considering he has only had to suit up once since January 27th. He should be well-rested and ready to go.

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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Patrick Kane isn't quite ready to end his time with the Chicago Blackhawks, but he's planning on soaking in every remaining moment at the United Center before the March 3 deadline, just in case.

"You’ll probably cherish these five games a little more before the deadline just not knowing what’s going to happen," Kane said before Tuesday's contest, according to The Athletic's Scott Powers.

"It’s always exciting playing at home, always love playing at the United Center in front of the crowd here. Yeah, kind of wish you had a little bit more time here this month, but it is what it is, and cherish all these games."

Kane has been linked to trade discussions all season as he plays out the final year of his contract with the rebuilding Blackhawks. He has a full no-movement clause, so whether he departs is up to him. That said, he's yet to decide - but the deadline is around the corner.

"It’s tough to decide if we’re getting to that point yet, so I think there’s definitely opportunities out there that are intriguing and could be exciting," Kane said recently. "We'll see."

Kane is amid the least productive season of his career, with 35 points in 46 games. Still, he's expected to garner plenty of interest from contenders due to his impeccable playoff resume. In 136 career postseason games, Kane's registered 132 points, including 11 game-winning goals, along with three Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who has a matching contract with Kane, is also rumored to be on the move but hasn't decided on his future yet, either.

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Sidney Crosby settled into his chair last Friday, gazed at a group of eager reporters, and flashed his patented aw-shucks grin. His plain outfit - white T-shirt, black jeans, comfortable sneakers - matched his tidy mop of hair and scruffy yet short beard. He very much looked like Sid the Kid, only a little older now.

In a stately, unimpeachable kind of way, Crosby is still the NHL's lead ambassador. His play remains elite. His words continue to carry weight. He just happens to be 35 years old and in the middle of his 18th pro season.

At All-Star Weekend in Sunrise, Florida, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain was asked about playoff races, the postseason format, and sharing the ice and a dressing room with longtime frenemy Alex Ovechkin. The conversation eventually turned to 26-year-old Connor McDavid - who surpassed Crosby as the consensus best player on the planet a few seasons ago - then to 17-year-old Connor Bedard.

"I had a chance to skate with him last summer and, yeah, just no weaknesses," Crosby said of Bedard, the next hockey phenom out of Canada. "It's pretty cool to see someone at that age be as dominant as he is."

Survey NHL stars about late-career Crosby and similar responses flow in: It's pretty cool to see someone at that age be as dominant as he is.

"The longevity," Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar said.

"One of the most complete players in the game," said Nathan MacKinnon, Makar's teammate and one of Crosby's closest pals.

"He has that presence when he steps on the ice. You just know he's out there, and there's only three or four guys like that in the entire league," Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. "He still has that aura."

Added Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson: "He's the captain and the guy you'd want on your team - 10 times out of 10."

Born on Aug. 7, 1987, Crosby is the 42nd-oldest player among the 945 to appear in at least one NHL game this season. Overall, he's tied with Mikko Rantanen for 10th in points (61 in 50 games) and is on pace to record his seventh 100-point season. The only players aged 35 and older enjoying campaigns on par with Crosby's? Ovechkin and Patrice Bergeron.

Crosby has evolved as the sport's skill level and pace of play have ratcheted up during the salary-cap era. As McDavid put it, Crosby has made a habit of introducing "little tweaks" to delay any meaningful decline, seemingly always adjusting before the opposition can key in on a flaw. "Little different things here and there to keep opponents guessing," McDavid said. "He's done that time and time again. It's amazing to see."

In 2023, Crosby is slightly less dynamic and physical than his younger self. Yet the foundation and spirit of his game have barely changed. The two-way center with three Stanley Cup rings, a pair of Olympic gold medals, and a trophy case full of individual awards is still one of the NHL's smartest, most efficient players and a feared, below-the-hash-marks grinder.

"He's like a little bull," Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl said of the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Crosby's low center of gravity. "He's so strong on his skates. You can't knock him over. He's just so balanced."

"He can kill you in so many different areas, whether it's puck protection in the corner or net-front battles tipping pucks," said the 24-year-old Makar, who grew up idolizing No. 87 for his hockey IQ. "You always have to be aware of where he is."

"You could hit him as hard as you want, and he's not getting off that puck," said Adam Fox, a defenseman for the Metropolitan Division rival New York Rangers. Fox later added: "His brain isn't slowing down, either. He's one of the toughest guys to defend in the league."

Concussions disrupted the first half of Crosby's career, forcing him to consider retirement for a stretch in his mid-20s. A decade later, there don't appear to be any red flags surrounding his health. The passion to compete still burns bright, and the motivation to chase a fourth Cup remains alive. He'll be a month shy of 38 when his 12-year, $104.4-million contract expires in 2025.

"The second half of his career, he's stayed really healthy. I don't know when he's going to stop playing," MacKinnon said of Crosby, adding that the fellow Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native is "a little bit more chill" as a veteran star.

Which part of Crosby's repertoire does MacKinnon nerd out on?

"The way he thinks the game. And that's in his own brain, so you can't really copy that," MacKinnon said. "But he plays at his own pace out there. He really controls the tempo of the game when he's on the ice, which is hard to do. It's not always with his speed or his power, just the way he's always in the right spots."

The relaxed setting of All-Star Weekend offered a rare in-season opportunity to mingle with rivals. Crosby's hockey stick was an item of curiosity for several players. The shaft is short and stiff, and the blade sports hardly any curve. The tool used to pot 1,470 points in 1,158 career games, not to mention the 2010 Olympic golden goal for Canada, is both iconic and an anachronism.

"Anything that had the Crosby name on it, I wanted in my hands," Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner, 25, said of using Reebok sticks as a kid. "It's cool now to be in the locker room with him and be kind of shooting the crap."

Asked if he'd ever use Crosby's stick in a game, Larkin laughed and said "no chance." It simply doesn't have enough whip or flex. Larkin would rather marvel from afar, as would Elias Pettersson.

"When I was like 16, 17," said the 24-year-old Vancouver Canucks forward, "I switched to a more straighter blade. I played my worst hockey. I could barely shoot. I learned my lesson."

Along with Draisaitl and Patrick Kane, Crosby is on the shortlist for best backhand in the NHL. "His backhand and forehand, it's almost the same thing," said David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins. Crosby often combines quick footwork and extreme leg power - his thighs, for one, are legendarily large - to befuddle defenders and then deliver a nifty backhand pass or shot.

"He's competitive as hell," Marner said.

New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson notes Crosby couldn't have maintained a world-class standard for nearly two decades if he didn't obsess over his craft on a daily basis, honing in on the smallest of details. "The fact that Sid is having another big year doesn't surprise me," he said.

McDavid and local favorites Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov attracted plenty of attention last week in South Florida. However, Crosby and Ovechkin, faces of the league for so long, were the true rock stars behind the scenes. They remain untouchables, hockey celebrities to many of their peers.

"You say hi, but at the same time, they are big names. You don't want to bother them too much, right?" said Pastrnak, who's in his ninth NHL season and is fourth in league scoring.

"Anytime you get to talk to and be in the presence of somebody like that, that's such a legend, it's pretty awesome," Makar said.

"One day they won't be here, and it won't feel like an All-Star Game," MacKinnon said.

Jack Hughes has lost count of the number of times his New Jersey Devils have faced off against Crosby and the Penguins. The teams played each other on eight occasions in the 2020-21 pandemic-shortened season alone. Yet the shine of lining up across from Crosby hasn't worn off.

"He's still got it," the 21-year-old said. "You walk into Pittsburgh, and you're playing Sid. He was the best when I was growing up.

"It's pretty cool he's still doing it at this age."

John Matisz is theScore's senior NHL writer. Follow John on Twitter (@MatiszJohn) or contact him via email (john.matisz@thescore.com).

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Welcome to the fourth in-season edition of theScore's 2022-23 Vezina Trophy rankings. We have one surging newcomer on this list, while four positions remain unchanged from last month. The All-Star break left us with a smaller sample size than usual, making it difficult for our candidates to separate themselves from their peers.

GSAA = Goals saved above average
GSAx = Goals saved above expected

5. Juuse Saros, Predators

Previous rank: N/A

The Predators are having anything but a spectacular season statistically, but Saros' Herculean efforts have kept the club in the postseason hunt coming out of All-Star festivities, where he represented the Central Division. Saros ranks fifth in GSAA and second in GSAx and has been particularly hot since our previous rankings on Jan. 4, posting a 6-4-0 record with a .926 clip over that span while facing nearly 40 shots per game.

Saros' workload isn't likely to slow down, either, as Nashville ranks 27th in expected goals against per 60 at five-on-five this season. It's a tall order, but if he can drag the Predators into the playoffs, he absolutely deserves to be a Vezina finalist for the second consecutive year.

4. Jake Oettinger, Stars

Previous rank: 4th

Much like the All-Star Game did, we're slightly snubbing Oettinger by keeping him fourth on our list.

The Stars' No. 1 is having a fantastic season and ranks near the top in all the key statistics. However, the 24-year-old's easier work environment counts against him in our criteria. Dallas is among the league's top teams in expected goals and shots against, so Oettinger's individual numbers are slightly below his closest comparable and No. 3 on our list.

This is no slight on Oettinger's season. He has great odds of being a finalist by season's end, but he'll need to clearly usurp the candidate directly above him on this list to warrant full consideration and shoot up the rankings.

3. Connor Hellebuyck, Jets

Previous rank: 3rd

As we alluded to, Hellebuyck and Oettinger have mostly been interchangeable this season. Despite the Jets stalwart's rocky month, he maintained a slight edge in our rankings largely because he's routinely the busier of the two. Hellebuyck's faced roughly 150 extra shots than Oettinger along with 12 full expected goals against with only one more appearance than his closest counterpart. Their rankings could go either way at this point, but Hellebuyck deserves credit for making the most out of a more difficult situation in goal.

Dallas and Winnipeg are locked in a dogfight for the Central Division crown, and their final positions in the standings may also determine which superstar netminder gets more love by the time Vezina votes are tallied.

2. Ilya Sorokin, Islanders

Previous rank: 2nd

Sorokin's Vezina case is well-advertised: He's a world-class goalie doing yeoman's work between the pipes for a team on the outside looking in of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

As we've stated all year, Sorokin's hopes of winning some individual hardware likely hinge on a surprise run to the postseason. The Islanders recently made the chase for spring hockey much more interesting with their acquisition of Bo Horvat, who should add some much-need scoring punch to their 21st-ranked attack and, in turn, provide Sorokin with some more run support.

Sorokin's too talented for his sterling individual numbers to take a significant hit, so some increased team success for the remainder of the schedule could make him the favorite to win the award in a few months.

1. Linus Ullmark, Bruins

Previous rank: 1st

Ullmark lost consecutive starts for the first time all season this past month and dropped three of eight appearances through the Bruins' first "slump" of 2022-23.

However, the Atlantic Division All-Star still posted a .930 clip and minuscule 2.04 goals against average along the way, so he hangs on to the top spot in our rankings. Ullmark has the underlying and conventional stats behind him to solidify his status as this season's top goalie, and it'd take an incredibly pedestrian stretch run for the Swede to fall off his perch.

(Stats source: Evolving Hockey)

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Bo Horvat expressed his gratitude to New York Islanders supporters after they chanted the trade acquisition's name during his home debut with the club Tuesday night.

"It was pretty amazing," Horvat said postgame. "I haven't had a chant like that in a building that loud in, I don't think ever."

The fans at UBS Arena gave Horvat a standing ovation after he scored his first goal for the Islanders in his second game with the squad.

"(It) definitely felt good to get (the goal) in my first game at home," Horvat said.

Spectators chanted his name again following New York's 4-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken.

Horvat later expanded on how much it meant to get a warm welcome in his new home.

Islanders forward Mathew Barzal set up Horvat's goal and said the newcomer's arrival has put some pep in his step.

"I feel like I have a little extra juice," Barzal said, according to AM New York's Joe Pantorno.

The Islanders landed Horvat in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 30. He represented his new club at the All-Star game in Florida before even suiting up for the Isles due to the timing of the swap. New York signed the 27-year-old to an eight-year contract extension Sunday, and he made his debut with the team in a road win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.

Horvat was a pending unrestricted free agent before inking his new pact. He ranks among the league's goal-scoring leaders with 32 tallies in 51 games this season. He also has 23 assists.

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Cale Makar was none too pleased that a dangerous-looking collision with Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jeff Carter went without a penalty in the Colorado Avalanche's overtime loss Tuesday.

"Pretty blindside," the defenseman said, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh. "The ref said apparently we ran into each other, but I don't know how that's possible. He was coming down the ice."

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was similarly upset with the non-call.

"(Carter) skated right through his head," Bednar said, via Baugh. "That's what I saw."

Carter's shoulder caught Makar high midway through the third period. The officials ruled the collision incidental contact, and Carter wasn't assessed a penalty on the play. Makar was forced to the locker room but returned prior to the end of regulation.

Pittsburgh's Bryan Rust tied the game with 3:38 remaining in the third period before Kris Letang won it in overtime.

Colorado is 27-18-4 on the campaign and ranks fourth in the Central Division. The Avalanche face the Lightning on Thursday in the first contest between the two teams since Colorado defeated Tampa Bay in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

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