The Buffalo Sabres went off for five goals in Thursday's clash with the Carolina Hurricanes, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory.

Buffalo dropped a 6-5 decision in overtime, marking the eighth time over the past 10 games that the team has given up at least four goals. Following another frustrating performance, forward Sam Reinhart voiced his displeasure with the club's goaltending of late.

"We can't expect to win hockey games 6-5, 7-6," Reinhart said, according to The Athletic's John Vogl. "We need more from our goalies and we need it from the start of hockey games. It's frustrating."

The Sabres have averaged 4.5 goals against per game over their last 10 contests, the highest mark in the league during that stretch. As to be expected, Linus Ullmark's and Carter Hutton's numbers in that time aren't pretty:

With Thursday night's loss, the Sabres now sit four points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite recent comments from Mitch Marner's agent suggesting contract talks with the Toronto Maple Leafs hadn't gone smoothly this past summer, the star forward insists his feelings toward the organization remain wholly positive.

"Me and my family love it here, my agency loves it here. It's a great place to play hockey. We have a great management, we have a great team in this locker room," Marner told reporters, including TSN's Mark Masters, on Wednesday. "We all want, including myself, to be a Leaf for a long time and I'm sure that will happen."

Marner's agent, Darren Ferris, said Tuesday that the Maple Leafs had lowballed his client in contract talks. He clarified on Wednesday that his comments were in relation to initial talks in the summer and that things have actually been rather positive since.

Immediately after Auston Matthews' new five-year extension was announced Tuesday, speculation turned to what Marner could command on his pending deal. However, Marner and Ferris have been adamant that they won't negotiate a contract until after the season.

"There's really no rush for anyone, I think the Leafs know that as well," Marner said. "A deal is going to get done eventually. It's nothing to rush upon. I think like Kyle (Dubas) will probably tell you, our goal is here is to be a Maple Leaf for a long time and win a lot of Cups here. I'm sure that will happen eventually.

"I'll let Kyle and my agent talk. I've kind of told both parties that I don't really want to be informed until something's about to happen."

The 21-year-old is in the midst of a banner year in Toronto with 65 points in 53 games, a 100-point pace that would shatter his career high of 69 set last season. Those numbers will fetch a pretty penny whenever talks pick up again, but Marner maintains he's only concerned with one thing.

"As long as I am here next training camp that's all that really matters," he said.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Ottawa Senators have staked out a long-term plan for success and it includes undergoing some major spending.

The team held a corporate event in Toronto on Tuesday for close to 200 people, including sponsors and partners. Owner Eugene Melnyk said that following another year or two of rebuilding, the team plans to start spending towards the salary cap in an attempt to go on a five-year run.

"The Senators will be all-in again for a five-year run of unparalleled success - where the team will plan to spend close to the NHL’s salary cap every year from 2021 to 2025," the team stated in a release summarizing Tuesday's event. "He reiterated that the Senators' current rebuild is a blueprint on how to bring the Stanley Cup home to its rightful place in Ottawa."

Ottawa currently boasts the eighth-smallest projected cap hit this season at just over $72 million. Meanwhile, the club also sits last in the league standings, one spot lower than they finished during the 2017-18 season.

The Senators haven't made the playoffs since the 2016-17 campaign when they were eliminated in the Conference Final by the Pittsburgh Penguins in double overtime of Game 7.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Wild captain Mikko Koivu will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee during Tuesday's game against the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced.

The 35-year-old is expected to undergo surgery on Friday.

It's a devastating blow for Minnesota. Koivu averages the third-most ice time among Wild forwards, ranks tied for second on the club with 12 power-play points, and is tied for the team lead in takeaways with 35. In 48 games, he's tallied eight goals and 29 points.

The Wild hold a three-point advantage over the Vancouver Canucks for the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the day that saw Auston Matthews handed a hefty five-year contract extension worth north of $58 million, not everyone is getting the impression the team is looking to pay its stars generously.

With Matthews signed, eyes now turn to pending restricted free agent Mitch Marner. Marner's camp has already gone on record stating they will not negotiate a contract in-season. His agent, Darren Ferris, revealed Tuesday that stance is due to a severe undervaluation by the Maple Leafs in prior discussions.

"So far they've been trying to lowball (Marner)," Ferris said, according to Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star. "That's the reason we've come to this point."

Unlike recent deals signed by Matthews and William Nylander, Ferris said the club has asked Marner to meet it halfway on a team-friendly pact.

"Nobody else is taking a discount. And now you're asking (Marner) to take one again? It's nonsense," Ferris said. "Mitch already did them a favor on the entry-level deal."

When Marner signed his entry-level contract, his camp was told it was team policy not to hand out schedule B bonuses to players, according to Ferris. Just over a year after Marner signed, however, Matthews agreed to a contract that included them.

Speaking Tuesday, Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas was firm in saying Marner would be with the team long-term. As for Ferris, he insists that when it comes to putting pen to paper, the ball is in the Maple Leafs' court.

"Mitch will get what Mitch is due. But as far as the Maple Leafs, it's up to them how they value him. If it works out with them, it works out," Ferris said. "We'll see at the end of the year what their position is and whether they're motivated to sign Mitch or not. It's totally up to them."

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On the day that saw Auston Matthews handed a hefty five-year contract extension worth north of $58 million, not everyone is getting the impression the team is looking to pay its stars generously.

With Matthews signed, eyes now turn to pending restricted free agent Mitch Marner. Marner's camp has already gone on record stating they will not negotiate a contract in-season. His agent, Darren Ferris, revealed Tuesday that stance is due to a severe undervaluation by the Maple Leafs in prior discussions.

"So far they've been trying to lowball (Marner)," Ferris said, according to Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star. "That's the reason we've come to this point."

Unlike recent deals signed by Matthews and William Nylander, Ferris said the club has asked Marner to meet it halfway on a team-friendly pact.

"Nobody else is taking a discount. And now you're asking (Marner) to take one again? It's nonsense," Ferris said. "Mitch already did them a favor on the entry-level deal."

When Marner signed his entry-level contract, his camp was told it was team policy not to hand out schedule B bonuses to players, according to Ferris. Just over a year after Marner signed, however, Matthews agreed to a contract that included them.

Speaking Tuesday, Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas was firm in saying Marner would be with the team long-term. As for Ferris, he insists that when it comes to putting pen to paper, the ball is in the Maple Leafs' court.

"Mitch will get what Mitch is due. But as far as the Maple Leafs, it's up to them how they value him. If it works out with them, it works out," Ferris said. "We'll see at the end of the year what their position is and whether they're motivated to sign Mitch or not. It's totally up to them."

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Edmonton Oilers have activated defenseman Oscar Klefbom off injured reserve, the team announced Tuesday.

The 25-year-old has been sidelined with a hand injury since Dec. 11 and has missed the team's last 21 games. The Oilers have gone 6-12-3 over that stretch, recording the fourth-fewest points in the league.

Despite his lengthy absence, Klefbom's 15 points in 31 games still rank second among all Oilers defenders.

Edmonton enters Tuesday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks just three points back of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler will miss at least a week with a concussion, head coach Travis Green announced Tuesday.

The 32-year-old got tangled with Jakub Voracek and fell awkwardly, striking his face on the ice midway through the third period of Monday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers. He had to be assisted off the ice sitting upright on a stretcher.

The defenseman avoided any facial fractures but did require some stitches, Green told reporters, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti.

Edler has been the Canucks' most consistent blue-liner this season, leading the team in ice time and blocks while leading all Vancouver defenders with 20 points.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alex Edler had to be stretchered off the ice midway through the third period of Monday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Edler got tangled up with Flyers forward Jakub Voracek while trying to break up a pass. Then he fell awkwardly, hitting his face off the ice.

He was sitting up straight on the stretcher while being taken off the ice.

Head coach Travis Green said postgame that Edler has gone for X-rays on his face. However, the team doesn't have any further updates on his status.

The 32-year-old leads the team in ice time and blocks, and his 20 points pace all Canucks defenders.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ottawa Senators forwards Matt Duchene and Mark Stone remain undecided about testing free agency this summer.

The 28-year-old Duchene will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and understands he'll have to make a decision on his future with Ottawa before the Feb. 25 trade deadline. If he doesn't, they could deal him.

"The biggest thing is, if I don't have an answer for them, I would expect that they'll make a move," Duchene said, according to Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun. "You can’t really afford to let guys go for nothing anymore in this league, or probably ever; you couldn't do that. I understand that's the situation.

"At the end of the day, I need to be sure of what I'm doing and it's a process right now that I'm evaluating. It's not an easy one because it's the first time I've ever been in this situation. It's really hard to make in mid-season. I'm taking my time, as much time as I have here, and I'll see what happens. But we're not at that point yet.”

Stone, also a pending UFA, knows the Senators could give each player a deadline to decide whether or not they intend to re-sign with the team.

"Yeah, for sure, but at the same time it's going to be done privately," Stone said. "I'm not going to do it through (the media)."

Duchene is in his second season with the Senators after being acquired last year from the Colorado Avalanche. Stone, meanwhile, has played his entire five-year career in Ottawa. Both players have the potential to become UFAs for the first time in their respected careers.

Stone and Duchene currently sit first and second in team scoring with 50 and 47 points, respectively.

Copyright © 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.