theScore's new series, "The Noise," is published every Monday. It kicks off each week with a quick look at five teams or players making headlines, good or bad.

Battling in the Pacific

A busy weekend saw 26 games spread over three days, with two of those contests coming as the Anaheim Ducks toured through Alberta.

Picking up a point in an overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers before capturing a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames a night later, the Ducks have secured points in 11 straight contests (8-0-3), leaving just three points on the table in the process.

That performance has pushed the Ducks to the top of the Pacific, where their 99 points stands two ahead of the Oilers. A division win would mark five in a row for Anaheim.

Better yet? Saturday saw the return of starter John Gibson, who has been limited to one game since mid-February due to a complicated lower-body injury. Gibson turned aside 34 of 37 shots against Edmonton.

Weekend at Bergeron's

A pair of weekend wins will likely see the Boston Bruins avoid three straight playoff misses, as Boston captured key wins over the Florida Panthers and the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Bruins missed the playoffs the past two campaigns, and have only missed three straight once in franchise history - an eight-year drought from 1960-68. But it does't appear the Bruins will be on the outside this spring.

In a tight divisional race, the Bruins sit second in the Atlantic with 92 points, with three games left on the season. Credit center Patrice Bergeron, who was the team's most valuable player on Saturday and Sunday, leading the way with two goals.

Rewriting the record books

The Toronto Maple Leafs appear playoff bound, and can thank the kids for that. The trio of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander all scored in Saturday's crucial 5-4 win over the Detroit Red Wings, marking just the second time this season all three have tallied in the same contest.

Matthews scored twice, pushing his total to 38 on the year to tie Peter Ihnacak for the franchise record for goals by a freshman. How does Matthews stack up all-time? Just 19 players in league history have scored more in their first season. Matthews will have the chance for goal No. 39 Monday against the Buffalo Sabres.

As for the Maple Leafs, the squad has five games remaining and sits third in the Atlantic with 91 points. Toronto last made the postseason in 2013, while an appearance this spring would mark just their second in the past 12 seasons.

Phenomenal point streak

A three-point outing for Connor McDavid against the Ducks on Saturday pushed the Oilers captain to 94 points on the season, as he now carries a seven-point lead on Patrick Kane for the top spot in the scoring race.

Saturday's performance extended McDavid's point streak to 10 games, a stretch that has seen the phenom put up six goals and 13 assists. Even more impressive? Teammate Leon Draisaitl has been nearly as dominant over the same stretch, with 18 points to his credit.

The Art Ross may not be the only hardware McDavid takes home this season. Already clinching a postseason berth, the Oilers will make their first playoff appearance since 2006, snapping a 10-year drought. Returning the Oilers to relevancy should put McDavid in the conversation for Hart Trophy honors as well.

Late surge in Tampa

A last minute playoff bid by the Tampa Bay Lightning could soon become even more interesting with captain Steven Stamkos on the verge of returning to the lineup.

Stamkos has been sidelined for the past four months following a devastating knee injury, and his return could be the perfect boost to push the Lightning into the playoff picture. Tampa Bay sits three points back of the Ottawa Senators for the East's second wild-card seed.

The Lightning helped themselves by capturing three of four points over the weekend, grabbing a point Saturday in an overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens, followed up by a 6-3 smashing of the Dallas Stars on Sunday. The team is back in action Tuesday against the Bruins, and may have Stamkos in the mix. Still, the Lightning will have their work cut out for them, with just four games remaining and a three-point gap to make up.

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Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff race, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.

All the action comes from the East, where three playoff positions remain up for grabs, and six teams saw decent swings Thursday night.

Even a victory wasn't enough for the Tampa Bay Lightning to make up ground in the playoff chase, with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins - both ahead of Tampa Bay - picking up wins. The Lightning now sit three points out of the playoff picture, with just six games remaining.

Little changed in the opposite conference, where three playoff seeds also need to be locked down. The Los Angeles Kings, the lone outside team still in the mix, sit 10 points back of the next club, the Nashville Predators, who lost Thursday night:

To see percentages for the entire NHL, visit Sports Club Stats.

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Steven Stamkos is inching closer to a return.

The Tampa Bay Lightning captain's injury timeline is now considered day to day, coach Jon Cooper told Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times.

Stamkos has been sidelined for more than four months after suffering a knee injury, with his last game coming Nov. 15 against the Detroit Red Wings.

At Lightning practice Wednesday, Stamkos skated on a line with Yanni Gourde and Adam Erne while also working with the second power-play unit.

Tampa Bay remains in the thick of the playoff race, three points back of the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card seed with one game in hand.

The Lightning have seven games remaining, and while Stamkos won't play in Thursday's contest against Detroit, he has not yet been ruled out for Saturday.

Stamkos has registered nine goals and 11 assists in 17 games this season.

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Carey Price is climbing the ranks.

The Montreal Canadiens netminder set another high mark following Tuesday's victory over the Dallas Stars. The win was Price's 35th on the season, and he became just the third goaltender in team history to pull off that feat three times:

It's been a season of accolades for the franchise netminder. Last month, Price leapfrogged Dryden for third all time on the franchise wins list. He now ranks behind only Plante and Patrick Roy.

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Vegas does it in style.

Bill Foley, owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL's newest franchise, confirmed to Yahoo's Josh Cooper that the summer expansion draft will be a made-for-TV special.

"We're going to be integrated into the NHL awards ceremony so it's going to be on live national TV," Foley said. "They're going to do an NHL award and then they're going to cut back to us and we're going to announce a couple of expansion drafts and have some jumbotron video of the guys we're drafting."

The NHL Awards have been in Sin City since 2009, usually held at a world-class hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. A venue for this year's ceremony in June has not yet been named, but if it were up to the Golden Knights owner, the team's new home, T-Mobile Arena, could play the perfect host.

"We have 88 days until the expansion draft and to do our announcement, that's going to be a gigantic event for us in Las Vegas at (T-Mobile Arena)," Foley added. "We're going to try to fill the arena to the extent we can fill every seat so people can really see what's going on with the expansion draft."

As for the Golden Knights, general manager George McPhee will soon have his chance to pore over each team's protection list, due June 17. The Golden Knights will submit their chosen players June 20, with selections announced the following day, evidently before a television audience.

Related: Vegas Golden Knights' expansion mock roster

Each team can protect either four forwards and four defensemen or eight skaters of any combination. Teams must also expose one goaltender.

Odds are the Golden Knights will be able to pick off a few quality players, which bodes well for Foley's goal of a Stanley Cup in six years.

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Andrei Markov is among the legends.

The Montreal Canadiens defenseman picked up point No. 572 in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars, drawing an assist on Artturi Lehkonen's third-period goal.

The helper moved Markov into a tie for second place in all-time scoring by Montreal blue-liners:

The Canadiens drafted Markov in the sixth round of 1998. He made his NHL debut two seasons later and has spent his entire career with the Montreal organization, becoming one of the best blue-liners in franchise history over that time.

"He's just got such a good mind for the game, the way he does things," Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty told Eric Engels of Sportsnet. "He's just got little techniques; the way he holds his stick in certain situations; the passes he makes. I said to Alex Galchenyuk I never want (Markov) to retire because that's at least 10 goals a year, and the left shots all feel the same."

The 38-year-old Markov is a pending unrestricted free agent, but there is little doubt he'll explore other opportunities this summer, leaving the only team he has ever known.

Thankfully, the captain doesn't have to worry.

"I'm not planning to retire," Markov said. "I'm planning to continue playing, as long as I enjoy playing."

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Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."

Canadian clubs' lineups are studded with highly talented - and highly expensive - players, but rosters still feature some who offer a better bang for the buck.

They don't always get their due credit, so here are seven players across the country providing great value to their squads:

Calgary Flames

Few players have skated under the radar like Flames forward Mikael Backlund, who's emerged as a key pivot for Calgary this season. The club's general manager, Brad Treliving, believes the Swedish center's name should be in the conversation for the Selke Trophy honoring the league's top defensive forward.

Backlund hasn't been shy at the other end of the rink, either. Tallying 50 points on the season, he's already eclipsed a career high in production with six games left to be played. Backlund sits third in Flames scoring, behind only Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, while his roughly $3.6-million cap hit ranks fifth among Flames forwards.

Edmonton Oilers

Patrick Maroon's ability to find chemistry with phenom Connor McDavid has certainly paid off on the scoresheet, as he's already tallied 25 times in 75 contests this season.

Coming into the year, he'd posted 34 goals in 220 career games. The Oilers added Maroon at last year's trade deadline, and though the transaction made little noise in the headlines, it's quickly paid off for the club. Not a bad return for a player signed for $1.5 million through next season.

Montreal Canadiens

Acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks at last year's trade deadline, Quebec-born Phillip Danault has impressed since his return to his home province. Danault plays a critical role down the middle for the Canadiens, and has scored 35 points in 75 games this season while doing so.

The best part? Danault is providing production on a cap hit of less than $1 million. The 24-year-old is already on his second contract, having spent part of the past five campaigns toiling with the Blackhawks organization.

Ottawa Senators

In a pinch, with Craig Anderson away from the club, the Senators threw their season to Mike Condon, sending a fifth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins to acquire the netminder. The second-year stopper has more than impressed.

It's a familiar role for Condon, who took over the crease in Montreal a year ago after starter Carey Price was lost to injury. His success has pushed the Senators to compete for the top spot in the Atlantic, and he's done it at a bargain-basement price of $575,000.

Toronto Maple Leafs

With the spotlight on Auston Matthews and Co., James van Riemsdyk has been the steady veteran for the Maple Leafs, producing at a near career high.

Through 74 games, Van Riemsdyk has secured 55 points. A late push could see the savvy winger tie his career-best 61 points, a mark set two years ago in his second season in Toronto. Signed through next season at a cap hit of $4.25 million, Van Riemsdyk provides the Maple Leafs with affordable and reliable offense, and potentially an even more valuable trade chip.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks unearthed value when they acquired Markus Granlund from the Flames last February. The deal sent former first-rounder Hunter Shinkaruk to Calgary, but Vancouver liked the potential it saw in Granlund.

That belief has quickly paid off: The 23-year-old sits fifth in Canucks scoring this season, while only Bo Horvat has outpaced him in the goals department. Through his first full season in Vancouver, Granlund has put together 19 goals and 13 assists in 69 games. The Finnish forward is signed through next season at $900,000.

Winnipeg Jets

Any high-end offense from the bottom six is often a bonus, so the Jets are getting supreme value when it comes to center Adam Lowry.

The 23-year-old forward is emerging as a player with some flash in his third full season with Winnipeg. Lowry's found the back of the 14 times this season, placing him sixth in team goal-scoring. He's doing it affordably to boot, as Lowry is signed through the next two seasons with a cap hit of about $1.13 million.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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Every Tuesday, theScore's editors will examine the fortunes of the north's seven NHL franchises. Welcome to "O Canada."

Canadian clubs' lineups are studded with highly talented - and highly expensive - players, but rosters still feature some who offer a better bang for the buck.

They don't always get their due credit, so here are seven players across the country providing great value to their squads:

Calgary Flames

Few players have skated under the radar like Flames forward Mikael Backlund, who's emerged as a key pivot for Calgary this season. The club's general manager, Brad Treliving, believes the Swedish center's name should be in the conversation for the Selke Trophy honoring the league's top defensive forward.

Backlund hasn't been shy at the other end of the rink, either. Tallying 50 points on the season, he's already eclipsed a career high in production with six games left to be played. Backlund sits third in Flames scoring, behind only Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, while his roughly $3.6-million cap hit ranks fifth among Flames forwards.

Edmonton Oilers

Patrick Maroon's ability to find chemistry with phenom Connor McDavid has certainly paid off on the scoresheet, as he's already tallied 25 times in 75 contests this season.

Coming into the year, he'd posted 34 goals in 220 career games. The Oilers added Maroon at last year's trade deadline, and though the transaction made little noise in the headlines, it's quickly paid off for the club. Not a bad return for a player signed for $1.5 million through next season.

Montreal Canadiens

Acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks at last year's trade deadline, Quebec-born Phillip Danault has impressed since his return to his home province. Danault plays a critical role down the middle for the Canadiens, and has scored 35 points in 75 games this season while doing so.

The best part? Danault is providing production on a cap hit of less than $1 million. The 24-year-old is already on his second contract, having spent part of the past five campaigns toiling with the Blackhawks organization.

Ottawa Senators

In a pinch, with Craig Anderson away from the club, the Senators threw their season to Mike Condon, sending a fifth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins to acquire the netminder. The second-year stopper has more than impressed.

It's a familiar role for Condon, who took over the crease in Montreal a year ago after starter Carey Price was lost to injury. His success has pushed the Senators to compete for the top spot in the Atlantic, and he's done it at a bargain-basement price of $575,000.

Toronto Maple Leafs

With the spotlight on Auston Matthews and Co., James van Riemsdyk has been the steady veteran for the Maple Leafs, producing at a near career high.

Through 74 games, Van Riemsdyk has secured 55 points. A late push could see the savvy winger tie his career-best 61 points, a mark set two years ago in his second season in Toronto. Signed through next season at a cap hit of $4.25 million, Van Riemsdyk provides the Maple Leafs with affordable and reliable offense, and potentially an even more valuable trade chip.

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks unearthed value when they acquired Markus Granlund from the Flames last February. The deal sent former first-rounder Hunter Shinkaruk to Calgary, but Vancouver liked the potential it saw in Granlund.

That belief has quickly paid off: The 23-year-old sits fifth in Canucks scoring this season, while only Bo Horvat has outpaced him in the goals department. Through his first full season in Vancouver, Granlund has put together 19 goals and 13 assists in 69 games. The Finnish forward is signed through next season at $900,000.

Winnipeg Jets

Any high-end offense from the bottom six is often a bonus, so the Jets are getting supreme value when it comes to center Adam Lowry.

The 23-year-old forward is emerging as a player with some flash in his third full season with Winnipeg. Lowry's found the back of the 14 times this season, placing him sixth in team goal-scoring. He's doing it affordably to boot, as Lowry is signed through the next two seasons with a cap hit of about $1.13 million.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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When the Montreal Canadiens fired coach Michel Therrien on Feb. 14, the hope was that his dismissal would provide a wake-up call for a club that had found itself way off track.

In the week leading up to Therrien's firing, the Canadiens dropped five of seven contests, collecting just three points along the way, with the former bench boss's tenure coming to an end following a 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins.

The course has largely been corrected since the change, with the Canadiens earning a 11-5-1 showing under new coach Claude Julien. But did the switch also cost the Canadiens one of their top scorers?

After tallying 14 goals through the first part of the campaign, Alexander Radulov looked to be well on his way to a 30-goal finish, and the Canadiens appeared to have found the top buy of the offseason.

But since the coaching change, Radulov has registered just a single goal, coming in a four-point romp against the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 27.

Take that a step further and Radulov has scored just two points in the other 13 games under Julien. To note, he missed three contests at the start of March in dealing with a lower-body ailment, but it's hard to ignore Radulov's steep drop in production.

Certain players work better with certain coaches, and that's a question that Canadiens will need to know the answer to before putting pen to paper on a long-term extension with the pending free agent.

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If the NHL doesn't go to the Olympics, neither will Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson.

That's the stance of team owner Eugene Melnyk, who on Friday stated the star defenseman won't have his blessing to go to Pyeongchang in the absence of NHL participation at the Winter Games.

"No, no, it would be no, a flat no," Melnyk told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen. "I talked to (former Senators captain Daniel) Alfredsson about it and he understands the player would want to (attend), but I'm not going to risk that."

Melnyk referenced former Senators goaltender Dominik Hasek, who participated in the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy, only to suffer an injury and never return to the Ottawa crease.

"Can you imagine if (Karlsson) goes and he gets a permanent injury? You know what I'm saying? That's my view," Melnyk added.

Melnyk's statement differs from at least one of his NHL brethren. Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis has said he'll allow superstar Alex Ovechkin to leave the Capitals to play for Team Russia, even if the NHL opts out of Pyeongchang.

As for the NHL, negotiations between the league, the IIHF, and the IOC appear to be at a stalemate. Earlier this month, commissioner Gary Bettman described the owners' position on the Olympics as "somewhere between fatigue and negativity."

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