Sidney Crosby has little, if anything, left to prove, though he hopes he gets another chance to take the biggest international stage in hockey.

Standing in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain fit right in; his career accomplishments to date are already worthy of induction.

He was there along with Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and general manager Jim Rutherford as the Penguins' 2017 Stanley Cup ring was added to a display celebrating current and past champions. It marked Crosby's third trip to Toronto for this purpose, having previously won the Cup in 2009 and 2016.

The championships represent just a portion of Crosby's achievements. He's also collected a bevy of individual awards - including the Art Ross, Maurice Richard, Ted Lindsay, Hart, and Conn Smythe trophies - and shone in international play. He won a pair of Olympic gold medals with Canada, highlighted by the famous "golden goal" at the Vancouver Games in 2010.

But as the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea draw near, the hockey world is still coming to terms with the reality that NHL players won't participate for the first time since 1998, meaning Crosby won't get the chance to add a third gold medal to his three Cup rings.

He said it's not top of mind at the moment, but the disappointment will become more pronounced as the opening ceremony approaches.

"It's something you probably don't think about as much now, but I think as it starts to approach and you start talking about it a little more, it's something you probably think about," Crosby told theScore. "It's too bad, it's unfortunate, but maybe the next time. Hopefully it works out that we get there another time."

The next Olympics are scheduled for 2022 in Beijing, China, a location that would make sense for the NHL. The league played a pair of preseason games in China this year, and exposing top-tier NHL talent to a vast, untapped market would help grow the game on a global stage. Crosby will be 34 then, and ideally he'll have plenty of hockey left.

In lieu of making the trip to South Korea, he'll join a throng of Canadians who'll tune in from afar, cheering on whoever takes the ice for his country.

"Oh absolutely, yeah," Crosby said when asked if he'll be watching. "I'll be glued to obviously hockey, but all the events. You're pulling for your country and pulling for everyone to do well there."

In the meantime, Crosby will try to help the Penguins improve upon a 13-10-3 start - a record that has them clinging to a wild-card playoff spot - with a view to returning to the Hall of Fame this time next year as a three-time defending Cup champion.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In what should be a battle between two of the NHL's top goalies, Sergei Bobrovsky heads into Montreal with the clear upper hand over Carey Price.

Winners of six in a row, the Columbus Blue Jackets visit the Canadiens on Monday with a goalie who's been nearly perfect as of late.

True to form, Bobrovsky - the reigning Vezina Trophy winner - isn't phased by the prospect of going head to head with Price.

"I don't focus on who plays (in the other net)," Bobrovsky told the team's website. "I just focus on my stuff, and (doing) what I should do. Obviously, I love to win, so there is the competition (factor). You want to win."

Price has been injured this season, but made his return to the lineup Saturday and posted a shutout against Buffalo.

Still, Bobrovsky has clearly been the better goalie since the beginning of 2015-16:

Over his career, Bobrovsky has posted a record of 8-4-1 with a .935 save percentage against Montreal, while Price is 6-3-1 with a .923 save percentage in 10 career games against the Blue Jackets.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens will be without Shea Weber for Tuesday's game against the Dallas Stars due to a lower-body injury.

It will be his second game missed in recent weeks.

The injury is even more noteworthy considering Montreal is set to visit Weber's old team - the Nashville Predators - on Wednesday.

Through 20 games, Weber has recorded four goals, nine assists and 60 shots while averaging 26:07 a night.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Montreal Canadiens will be without Shea Weber for Tuesday's game against the Dallas Stars due to a lower-body injury.

It will be his second game missed in recent weeks.

The injury is even more noteworthy considering Montreal is set to visit Weber's old team - the Nashville Predators - on Wednesday.

Through 20 games, Weber has recorded four goals, nine assists and 60 shots while averaging 26:07 a night.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A trip to eastern Canada appears to have been just what the Arizona Coyotes needed.

Less than a week ago, Arizona had not won a game in regulation all season, posting a record of 2-15-3 with an overtime and shootout win to their credit. But, after kicking off a four-game Canadian road trip with a loss in Winnipeg, the Coyotes reeled off a trio of victories as they moved through Quebec and Ontario.

First, Arizona scored a pair of third period goals to cap a comeback over the Montreal Canadiens, finally earning their first regulation win of the season. Next up was the Ottawa Senators, who the Coyotes defeated in overtime on the strength of an Anthony Duclair hat trick.

And on Monday, Arizona spoiled hometown boy Auston Matthews' 100th career game by defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, picking up another regulation victory in the process.

Even with the three-game streak, the Coyotes remain in the NHL's basement, but defeating a trio of 2017 playoff teams while on the road is no small feat for a young club.

Now they return home for games against division rivals from San Jose, Los Angeles and Vegas.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There were 13 games on Saturday's schedule, and no shortage of drama around the NHL.

Here are five of the best photos with a brief setting of the scene for each.

1. McDavid's lament

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

The Edmonton Oilers fell hard to the Dallas Stars in an afternoon tilt, a game in which superstar center Connor McDavid's performance was a mixed bag.

He recorded a goal, two assists, and three shots in 17:42 of ice time, but finished with a minus-2 rating, and his line was on the ice for more shot attempts against than for.

In fairness, one man can only do so much, and he's clearly not the problem in Edmonton.

2. Original 6

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Prior to puck drop in Montreal, the NHL honored its Original Six franchises by having (from left to right) Dave Keon, Ray Bourque, Denis Savard, Yvan Cournoyer, Frank Mahovlich, and Rod Gilbert participate in a ceremonial puck drop.

To please the home crowd, Savard and Mahovlich ditched their respective Chicago and Detroit jerseys in favor of their old Canadiens colors.

3. Ovi down

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

A scary scene unfolded in Washington as Capitals franchise winger Alex Ovechkin crumpled to the ice after taking a puck to the face.

Ovechkin bled quite profusely and was forced to leave the game for medical attention, but was able to return for the third period.

4. Crawford appears to escape injury

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford briefly exited an eventual win over the Pittsburgh Penguins after getting knocked in the head by Evgeni Malkin.

Malkin was penalized for goalie interference. Crawford quickly returned to the crease after being checked by team doctors in the locker room.

5. Auston's all smiles

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Sidelined for four games with an upper-body injury, Auston Matthews made his return to the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup Saturday, and scored his team's fifth and sixth goals of the night in a romp over the Canadiens.

He now has 12 goals in 17 games, and sits in a tie for the NHL's fourth-highest goal total (12) despite the time missed.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien's hands are tied after a 6-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

In his perfect world, he'd be able to put his players through a grueling practice or bag skate, but the NHL's collective bargaining agreement prohibits him from calling the Canadiens to the rink Sunday.

"The CBA says they get four days off a month, and they've got tomorrow off," Julien said after the game, according to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN. "There was a time when you could react. You can't anymore. They got the day off tomorrow, and on Monday we leave (for back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday).

"So I gotta continue to find ways - through video, through making guys accountable - because a punishing skate for us on Monday would do what for us on Tuesday and Wednesday? That's where we are now in this league. So we need to evolve in the game. Maybe back in the day, there was a time where we could do (a punishment skate). It's a lot harder today than it was back then."

The loss dropped Montreal to 8-11-2, much further down in the standings than the Canadiens expected to be at any point this season.

Things aren't about to get easier during their back-to-back in Dallas and Nashville.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's been quite a whirlwind start to the season for Antti Niemi.

The veteran goaltender was called into duty late in the Montreal Canadiens' blowout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, officially becoming the fifth goalie in NHL history to play for three teams in a season.

Here's the rest of the list:

Niemi began the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who placed him on waivers after three games. He was claimed by the Florida Panthers, placed on waivers again just under three weeks later, and then claimed by the Canadiens.

Seeing as it's November and both Carey Price and Al Montoya are currently injured, it's quite possible Niemi won't finish the season in Montreal, thereby giving him an opportunity to join a fourth team. His .822 save percentage heading into Saturday, however, may prove to be prohibitive at some point.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Auston Matthews is back.

The Toronto Maple Leafs star center is in the lineup for Saturday's game in Montreal against the Canadiens, ending a four-game absence due to an upper-body injury.

Toronto posted a record of 4-0-0 without Matthews, but the Leafs will gladly welcome him back given the 10 goals and nine assists he recorded in 16 games prior to the injury.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is believed to have recently met with Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta to discuss the viability of a team in that city, according to Katie Strang of The Athletic.

The meeting reportedly took place within the past few weeks, although Bettman would not confirm when contacted by The Athletic.

He did say the league is not looking to relocate any teams at the moment, but added a caveat in regards to Houston.

"If Houston were to express an interest in having an NHL franchise, under the right circumstances, it's something we might want to consider," he said.

Fertitta purchased the NBA team back in September for a reported $2.2 billion, and has expressed a strong interest in bringing an NHL club to Houston.

The Rockets play at the Toyota Center, which opened in 2003 and can hold 17,800 when fitted for a rink.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.