Rickard Rakell scored twice and added an assist as the Pacific Division defeated the Atlantic Division 5-2 to win the championship game at the NHL All-Star tournament in Tampa Bay on Sunday night.
The Anaheim Ducks forward opened the scoring just before the one-minute mark of the first stanza, assisted on Drew Doughty's goal that held up as the game-winner later in the frame, then tallied again with less than three minutes left to put the game out of reach.
Brock Boeser chipped in a goal and an assist and was later named MVP of the tournament. Doughty and Johnny Gaudreau also picked up a goal and an assist apiece in the final, while Anze Kopitar had a couple of helpers.
Mike Green provided all of the offense for the Atlantic Division in the championship round, scoring twice in a losing effort.
The San Jose Sharks forward had an arthroscopic procedure performed Thursday afternoon to address an issue with his right MCL, general manager Doug Wilson revealed Thursday night.
The GM said no timetable has been established for Thornton's recovery, despite estimating Wednesday the 38-year-old would likely be out for several weeks.
Boyle has been one of the best stories of the NHL season, returning to action Nov. 1 after being diagnosed with leukemia. He has 11 goals and 17 points in 38 games.
This will be Boyle's first All-Star appearance in his 11-year career.
The improbable double-digit run of victories by the Colorado Avalanche is over.
A 4-2 victory by the Montreal Canadiens over the Avalanche ended Colorado's win streak at 10 games on Tuesday night.
The last time Colorado lost before Tuesday night's defeat was Dec. 27, 2017 against the Arizona Coyotes. The Avalanche started and ended the 10-game run with wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs that came 24 days apart.
The Dallas Stars had been showing signs of improvement since undergoing a major offseason overhaul, but after a decent yet unspectacular start, they're really clicking now.
Dallas has reeled off four wins in its last five games and eight in its last 11, including a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The team now sits in the first Western Conference wild-card spot, but it's not just Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn doing the heavy lifting.
After missing the playoffs a season ago, there are several factors that can explain why Dallas is finally putting the pieces together:
Defense
The biggest reason for the Stars' improvement isn't one of their marquee mainstays or free-agent acquisitions, but rather head coach Ken Hitchcock, who was brought back into the organization to replace the fired Lindy Ruff last spring.
Hitchcock's defensive emphasis has noticeably improved the club through 46 games, and has been evident on even the most basic levels:
Season
Goals Allowed/Game
Penalty Killing Percentage
2016-17 (League Rank)
3.17 (29th)
73.9 (30th)
2017-18 (League Rank)
2.72 (11th)
81.5 (15th)
The Stars are surrendering fewer shots on goal per contest, even as the rate across the entire league has risen:
Season
Shots Against/Game
League Average
2016-17
29.58
30.09
2017-18
29.35
31.67
Most importantly, they're limiting opposing scoring chances better than any other team after being one of the worst at doing so last season:
Season
Scoring Chances Against/60
League Rank
2016-17
29.2
28th
2017-18
25.71
1st
That's a stunning transformation, and the Stars' ability to limit opposing shots and scoring chances should continue, as the club ranks fifth in the NHL in expected goals against (73.17) at even strength.
Klingberg's development
John Klingberg had a mild setback by his standards in 2016-17, even though it was ultimately a productive campaign, but he's now taken his game to a completely different level.
Dallas' franchise defenseman followed up a 58-point season in 2015-16 with a 49-point effort last year, but he's piling up nearly a point per game (43 in 46 contests) so far in 2017-18, leading all NHL defensemen in assists and points while not getting much recognition for it.
Klingberg is driving possession at an even-strength Corsi For percentage of 53.66, compared to his 49.7 mark from 2016-17. That ranks him second best among Stars' skaters this season, compared to a mere 19th last year.
Considering how much better his team is playing on the defensive end and how well he's performing offensively, few are questioning Klingberg's defensive abilities, but they haven't actually been cause for much concern. In fact, his expected goals against compares favorably to some similar players.
Klingberg should certainly be in the Norris Trophy conversation if he continues to produce at or near this level, and even if he regresses, his development is a major reason why the Stars have made a leap themselves.
Radulov and that fearsome top line
Benn and Seguin are always going to be among the league's best at generating offense, but the addition of Alexander Radulov and the insertion of the ever-animated winger on Dallas' top forward unit has created a truly formidable trio.
Some questioned Stars general manager Jim Nill for signing the 30-year-old Radulov to a five-year deal last July, but it's paying off in spades right now, particularly since Hitchcock put Radulov alongside Dallas' two most explosive scorers.
The Russian forward has 17 goals and 42 points in 46 games, and he's helped bolster both Seguin's and Benn's production. Seguin's 0.48 goals per game so far would be a 50 percent improvement over last season, while Benn's goal and point averages are also up from 2016-17.
Dallas has possessed a potent double-pronged offensive attack for years, but Radulov has made it even better, and he's been a huge reason for the club's success so far this season.
The Dallas Stars had been showing signs of improvement since undergoing a major offseason overhaul, but after a decent yet unspectacular start, they're really clicking now.
Dallas has reeled off four wins in its last five games and eight in its last 11, including a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The team now sits in the first Western Conference wild-card spot, but it's not just Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn doing the heavy lifting.
After missing the playoffs a season ago, there are several factors that can explain why Dallas is finally putting the pieces together:
Defense
The biggest reason for the Stars' improvement isn't one of their marquee mainstays or free-agent acquisitions, but rather head coach Ken Hitchcock, who was brought back into the organization to replace the fired Lindy Ruff last spring.
Hitchcock's defensive emphasis has noticeably improved the club through 46 games, and has been evident on even the most basic levels:
Season
Goals Allowed/Game
Penalty Killing Percentage
2016-17 (League Rank)
3.17 (29th)
73.9 (30th)
2017-18 (League Rank)
2.72 (11th)
81.5 (15th)
The Stars are surrendering fewer shots on goal per contest, even as the rate across the entire league has risen:
Season
Shots Against/Game
League Average
2016-17
29.58
30.09
2017-18
29.35
31.67
Most importantly, they're limiting opposing scoring chances better than any other team after being one of the worst at doing so last season:
Season
Scoring Chances Against/60
League Rank
2016-17
29.2
28th
2017-18
25.71
1st
That's a stunning transformation, and the Stars' ability to limit opposing shots and scoring chances should continue, as the club ranks fifth in the NHL in expected goals against (73.17) at even strength.
Klingberg's development
John Klingberg had a mild setback by his standards in 2016-17, even though it was ultimately a productive campaign, but he's now taken his game to a completely different level.
Dallas' franchise defenseman followed up a 58-point season in 2015-16 with a 49-point effort last year, but he's piling up nearly a point per game (43 in 46 contests) so far in 2017-18, leading all NHL defensemen in assists and points while not getting much recognition for it.
Klingberg is driving possession at an even-strength Corsi For percentage of 53.66, compared to his 49.7 mark from 2016-17. That ranks him second best among Stars' skaters this season, compared to a mere 19th last year.
Considering how much better his team is playing on the defensive end and how well he's performing offensively, few are questioning Klingberg's defensive abilities, but they haven't actually been cause for much concern. In fact, his expected goals against compares favorably to some similar players.
Klingberg should certainly be in the Norris Trophy conversation if he continues to produce at or near this level, and even if he regresses, his development is a major reason why the Stars have made a leap themselves.
Radulov and that fearsome top line
Benn and Seguin are always going to be among the league's best at generating offense, but the addition of Alexander Radulov and the insertion of the ever-animated winger on Dallas' top forward unit has created a truly formidable trio.
Some questioned Stars general manager Jim Nill for signing the 30-year-old Radulov to a five-year deal last July, but it's paying off in spades right now, particularly since Hitchcock put Radulov alongside Dallas' two most explosive scorers.
The Russian forward has 17 goals and 42 points in 46 games, and he's helped bolster both Seguin's and Benn's production. Seguin's 0.48 goals per game so far would be a 50 percent improvement over last season, while Benn's goal and point averages are also up from 2016-17.
Dallas has possessed a potent double-pronged offensive attack for years, but Radulov has made it even better, and he's been a huge reason for the club's success so far this season.
The Montreal Canadiens forward was released from a local hospital Sunday and is now resting at home, according to the club.
Danault was hospitalized after taking a Zdeno Chara slap shot to the head in Saturday night's game against the Boston Bruins.
He stayed there overnight after being stretchered off the ice late in the second period.
Chara stood near Danault in the immediate aftermath as medical personnel attended to the Canadiens center, and then expressed remorse and concern for Danault in his postgame comments.
The Toronto FC forward is the son of Haitian immigrants, while Bolt hails from Jamaica, and Subban's parents are originally from the Caribbean.
President Donald Trump reportedly referred to African nations as "shithole countries" and suggested the U.S. should admit fewer immigrants from Haiti during a private meeting with lawmakers earlier this week.
The Toronto FC forward is the son of Haitian immigrants, while Bolt hails from Jamaica, and Subban's parents are originally from the Caribbean.
President Donald Trump reportedly referred to African nations as "shithole countries" and suggested the U.S. should admit fewer immigrants from Haiti during a private meeting with lawmakers earlier this week.
