Team Canada is off and running at the world juniors.

Alexis Lafreniere delivered a dazzling game-winner late in the third period to lift Canada to the 6-4 victory over the United States in the opening game of preliminary play.

More to come.

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The Chicago Blackhawks have lost a pair of key defensemen for the remainder of their campaign.

Brent Seabrook and Calvin de Haan have both been placed on long-term injured reserve ahead of season-ending shoulder surgery, the team announced Thursday. Seabrook is also scheduled for surgery on each hip in 2020.

Seabrook, 34, missed the club's last four games leading up to the Christmas break while receiving further medical evaluation for an undisclosed injury.

The veteran rearguard has seen his minutes decline over four straight seasons. He's recorded four points through 32 games in 2019-20 while averaging 18:09 of ice time per game. Seabrook has four-and-a-half years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $6.875-million.

Chicago acquired de Haan in a trade with the Carolina Hurricanes this past June. The 28-year-old played a key penalty-killing role for the Blackhawks, averaging 2:41 of shorthanded ice time per game. He also contributed six points in 29 contests while leading the club in both hits (93) and blocked shots (73).

Approaching the midway mark of the season, the Blackhawks sit last in the Central Division and rank 24th defensively, allowing 3.18 goals against per game.

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Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Michael Hutchinson wasn't putting any extra pressure on himself Saturday despite being mired in a lengthy losing streak.

Hutchinson made 29 saves in a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings to secure his first NHL win since January.

"This game, I tried not to overthink things and just relax and let the game come to me," Hutchinson said, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "I feel like I'm in a good headspace right now, so I came in relaxed, waiting for the game to come to me."

He added: "Once you do that, the team that we have, once we have a little momentum going, we're a tough team to stop."

Hutchinson had dropped six straight starts entering Saturday's contest, allowing four or more goals in each. The 29-year-old has split time between the Maple Leafs and the AHL's Toronto Marlies this season and admitted that the constant shuffle between teams hasn't been easy.

"It's a challenge. I think I was doing a good job about it," Hutchinson said. "Getting sent down is always difficult so then regaining and getting back into that good headspace is a process and you can't do it on your own."

The victory marked the first win for a Maple Leafs backup this season.

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Viktor Arvidsson has been given the green light.

The Nashville Predators forward will return to the lineup against the Boston Bruins on Saturday after missing the club's last 12 games with a lower-body injury, the team announced.

Arvidsson suffered the injury Nov. 23 against the St. Louis Blues when defenseman Robert Bortuzzo landed a pair of cross-checks to the Swede's lower back. Bortuzzo was assessed a four-game suspension.

The 26-year-old marksman has been the Predators' most consistent scorer, leading the club in goals during each of the previous three campaigns. Nashville posted a record of 6-3-3 in his absence.

Through 22 games this season, Arvidsson has recorded six goals and 15 points while logging an average of 17:13 of ice time per contest.

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Noel Acciari could fry an egg on his blade right now.

The Florida Panthers forward torched the Dallas Stars on Friday for three goals in a span of four minutes to complete the natural hat trick. Acciari also notched three tallies against the Ottawa Senators in a 6-1 win Monday.

The 28-year-old completed the feat with a shorthanded penalty shot in the second period, extending the Panthers' lead to 7-1.

Stars netminder Ben Bishop was pulled following the play after allowing four goals on five shots in the frame.

Acciari began his scoring surge with a nifty play in front to shovel home his first marker of the contest.

Just 32 seconds later, the Panthers found their hot hand once again.

With the two hat tricks, Acciari matched his entire goal total over 72 games last season in just five periods.

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Arizona Coyotes netminder Darcy Kuemper departed Thursday's contest against the Minnesota Wild after suffering an apparent injury late in the third period.

The 29-year-old puck-stopper kicked out his right pad to make what seemed to be a routine save, but he looked to be in pain afterward and had to be assisted off the ice.

Kuemper has been sensational between the pipes this season for an ascendant Coyotes club. Entering Thursday's action, he led all netminders (minimum 15 starts) in both goals-against average (1.97) and save percentage (.935).

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Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel won't get the chance to extend his point streak to 18 games.

The 23-year-old pivot won't play in Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers due to an upper-body injury, the team announced.

His absence will officially end his point streak at 17 contests, according to Adam Kimelman of NHL.com.

Eichel leads the Sabres in both goals (24) and points (50) through 35 games this season, and his 16 goals and 31 points during his streak were both league highs over that span. His run is tied for the second-longest point streak in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Gilbert Perreault's 18-game stretch in 1971-72.

Forward Conor Sheary will draw into the lineup in Eichel's absence.

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Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel won't get the chance to extend his point streak to 18 games.

The 23-year-old pivot won't play in Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers due to an upper-body injury, the team announced.

His absence will officially end his point streak at 17 contests, according to Adam Kimelman of NHL.com.

Eichel leads the Sabres in both goals (24) and points (50) through 35 games this season, and his 16 goals and 31 points during his streak were both league highs over that span. His run is tied for the second-longest point streak in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Gilbert Perreault's 18-game stretch in 1971-72.

Forward Conor Sheary will draw into the lineup in Eichel's absence.

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Arizona Coyotes forward Taylor Hall is embracing his warm welcome to the desert.

Hall, traded to Arizona by the New Jersey Devils on Monday, appreciated the city of Glendale's enthusiasm when told about billboards already in place to herald his arrival.

"That's awesome," Hall said, according to NHL.com's Alex Kinkopf. "That's one of the great things about what's going on here is that there seems to be a buzz building."

The Coyotes haven't made the playoffs since 2012, but the team sits atop the Pacific Division entering Wednesday's action and appears all-in on cementing its status as a contender.

"It's everything that I could've wanted with a midseason trade, to be honest," Hall said.

The 28-year-old has made the postseason just once in nine NHL campaigns, and he admitted Arizona's current position makes it an optimal fit.

"Not every day can you jump that many spots in the standings," he said. "I'm joining a group that's playing well, and I don't want to speak for anyone else, but hopefully, there's another level that we can get to while holding the top spot that we have in the standings."

Hall assisted on the winning goal in his Coyotes debut Tuesday, helping his new club capture its 20th victory of the season.

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Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov was ruled out in the second period of Saturday's contest against the Washington Capitals with an undisclosed injury, the team announced.

Kucherov blocked a heavy one-timer from Capitals defenseman John Carlson and looked to be in pain while hobbling to the dressing room.

Head coach John Cooper didn't offer an update on his blue-chip winger's status following the game, according to the team.

Kucherov recorded one assist and two shots on goal through 11:47 of ice time before departing.

The 26-year-old sniper entered Saturday's action with 10 goals and a team-leading 33 points in 29 games this season.

Kucherov authored one of the best campaigns in recent memory in 2018-19, leading the NHL with 128 points to capture both the Art Ross and Hart trophies.

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