Former NHL goalie and current Florida Panthers executive Roberto Luongo caught wind of the Buffalo Sabres' needs between the pipes and jokingly insinuated that he could strap the pads back on.

The Sabres are currently down their top six netminders after Michael Houser entered COVID-19 protocol Friday.

Here's a full list of the team's shelved goaltenders:

Buffalo is scheduled to play the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday and the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

Anderson and Tokarski were full participants in Friday's practice. However, Tokarski hasn't played since Nov. 29, and the team said he's been dealing with "COVID fog" issues, according to The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington. There's a chance he could play in one of the two upcoming games.

"I think it's possible. But I don't know," Tokarski said. "It's a day-to-day thing. As everyone's been telling you, I wish we could give you more. But that's actually the honest truth with it. Because some days you feel something, some days you don't, and we're working together with the doctors and coaches and staff to make up a plan that is good for everyone, good for the team, good for myself, health-wise."

Anderson hasn't played since Nov. 2, but the team isn't intent on rushing the 40-year-old back until he's ready.

"The medical team will clear them to go when they feel that they're comfortable with what they've gone through from the component of injury and recovery," head coach Tony Granato said.

"And that's what this is all about: ramping it up. Because they haven't participated in much practice with the shots and the traffic and the physicality ... and they need that. They need that for their own peace of mind to say that, 'OK, I can handle a game right now.' And they just hadn't had much of that."

The Sabres have Mat Robson and Charles Williams in the AHL, although neither of them is on an NHL contract.

Buffalo's six goalies have combined for a .905 save percentage and a 3.30 goals-against average in 42 games this season.

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Ontario will launch its open market for private, regulated operators to offer single-event sports betting this spring, iGaming Ontario (iGO) announced Friday.

Private gaming operators that have registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and have executed an operating agreement with iGO can begin offering their games to players in the province on April 4, as per the release.

"Consumers can be assured that companies who successfully enter the new Ontario market will have met rigorous standards of game and operator integrity, fairness, player protections and social responsibility, allowing all players to play with confidence," Martha Otton, iGO executive director, said in a prepared statement. "Prevention of underage access, ensuring compliance with applicable laws including anti-money laundering rules and regulations, and measures to enable more responsible gambling are just a few of the assurances consumers can expect in the new market as of April 4."

Residents in Canada's largest province aged 19+ will be able to place legal wagers through private, regulated operators on professional sports in time for such marquee events as the NHL and NBA playoffs, and golf's Masters Tournament.

Ontario's population of nearly 15 million is larger than all but four U.S. states (California, Texas, Florida, and New York).

The Canadian federal government cleared the way for private, legal single-game sports betting with the passage of Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, in the Senate of Canada in June.

Previously, single-game sports betting had been legal in the country but only via parlay wagers. Canadians will now have the ability to bet on single-game matches across sports (excluding horse racing), with the government set to collect taxes on estimated billions of dollars currently being wagered illegally.

Tap here to sign up and receive updates on when theScore's sportsbook, theScore Bet, will go live in Ontario (19+).

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Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar announced Friday that Nathan MacKinnon will miss the next three games with a facial fracture and a concussion, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh.

It's unclear if the 26-year-old will miss the All-Star Game next week.

MacKinnon sustained the injuries during a collision with Boston Bruins forward Taylor Hall in the first period of Wednesday's contest. Hall knocked the shaft of MacKinnon's stick with his shoulder as the center tried to exit the zone, hitting MacKinnon in the face and causing him to fall to the ice.

MacKinnon was bloodied on the play, and the Avalanche later announced he wouldn't return to the contest.

Colorado will face the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday, and the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 1.

Here's how the Avalanche will look without him:

MacKinnon is currently the team's third-leading scorer with 43 points in 31 games this season. He was named captain of the Central Division's All-Star roster.

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With 16 games over the next couple of days, we're heading for a busy weekend of hockey.

Let's dive into some of my favorite plays.

Wild (-125) @ Rangers (+105)
Jan. 28, 7 p.m. EST

This game is the headliner of tonight's schedule. It features two of the league's top eight teams in terms of points percentage, including a Rangers side that sits fourth in overall points.

However, it's not a side that appeals most to me. It's the total because I like the under. Igor Shesterkin was given the night off on Thursday, which means he's fresh and ready to go for this heavyweight clash. Goaltending is the best friend of unders - and nobody provides better than Shesterkin.

He owns a .937 save percentage and leads the NHL in goals saved above expectation, sitting at +23.4 through 26 games.

He has conceded two goals or fewer 16 times (62%) and given up more than three goals on just four occasions. Even in defeat, Shesterkin has a habit of limiting the damage dealt.

On the flip side of things, the Wild haven't been nearly as dangerous offensively away from home. At five-on-five, they sit 17th in goals per 60 and 22nd in expected goals per 60. They are average or below in both categories. Without the ability to get their stars in optimal matchups, I don't see them breaking this game open against Shesterkin.

While Cam Talbot is certainly not Shesterkin, he should be able to hold his own at the other end of the rink. He owns a respectable .910 save percentage and has performed at expectation based on the difficulty of his workload.

Don't expect fireworks in this contest.

Bet: Under 6 (-105)

Maple Leafs (-230) @ Red Wings (+185)
Jan. 29, 7 p.m. EST

The Maple Leafs are a well-oiled machine right now. They own a 7-2-1 record over the last 10 games despite ranking 31st in team save percentage at five-on-five during this stretch. They haven't gotten anything close to average goaltending, but it hasn't mattered as the wins continue to pile up.

I don't see that changing Saturday in Detroit. The Maple Leafs have controlled 59.44% of the high-danger chances over the last 10, which slots them fourth in the NHL. Winning the chance battle that dramatically makes any team dangerous - especially one with the firepower of Toronto.

The Red Wings sit at the other end of the totem pole. Their share of the high-danger chances (41.55%) over the last 10 ranks them ahead of only the Canadiens, Blue Jackets, and Sabres. Not ideal.

Opponents are taking it to the Red Wings in the chance department every night. The Leafs should have their way against a struggling team that will find itself in the latter half of a back-to-back.

Bet: Maple Leafs in regulation (-140)

Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.

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Drake Batherson is expected to miss at least two months with a high ankle sprain after taking a controversial hit from Buffalo Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell during Tuesday night's contest, Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith announced Thursday.

Dell sent the 23-year-old forward crashing into the boards with a lowered shoulder during the first period of the Senators' 5-0 victory. The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Dell for three games on Wednesday.

Smith said that despite the setback, Batherson is in good spirits.

"He's just that kind of kid, and you're going to miss that around the room win, lose, or draw," Smith said to the media Thursday. "His attitude, he's coming around in the league, the way he can make plays. We're going to miss him in all areas."

Batherson leads the Senators with 34 points in 31 games. He was slated to represent Ottawa in the All-Star Game next month before the injury.

Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will fill his spot on the Atlantic Division squad.

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Upon his return from a wrist injury, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault immediately gave up a goal of the year candidate to Anaheim Ducks rookie Trevor Zegras.

But even Montembeault had to respect Zegras' sensational effort.

"I hadn't played in a week and only had one practice, so I would have liked to have had a different type of shot as a first shot," Montembeault said postgame, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu. "But it was a really nice goal, have to tip your cap to him."

Zegras stunned the Canadiens by scoring a lacrosse-style Michigan goal early in the second period. The move typically involves a player picking the puck up while stationed behind the net, but Zegras did it casually in stride.

This is Zegras' second jaw-dropping play this season. Earlier this campaign, he went viral for making an alley-oop pass from behind the net, which teammate Sonny Milano batted in out of midair.

Zegras joked postgame that he was trying to deflate the non-existent crowd at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens are one of the only NHL teams that currently has no fans in the stands due to local COVID-19 restrictions.

"Honestly, I just tried to take the crowd out of it. ... (The) atmosphere was pretty crazy tonight," Zegras said. "It was one of those things to try to get the crowd out of it, for sure."

Montembeault entered the game in relief of Cayden Primeau, who allowed three goals on nine shots. Despite losing 5-4, Montembeault laughed at the fact that he'll probably have to relive the goal plenty of times in the coming days.

"I'm going to see myself on TSN or ESPN for a week, so not happy about that," Montembeault said. "But it was a great move."

Zegras has now tallied 12 goals and 20 assists in 40 contests this season, firmly entrenching himself in the Calder Trophy conversation.

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New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox is day-to-day after suffering an upper-body injury Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, head coach Gerard Gallant said postgame, according to the New York Post's Mollie Walker.

Gallant added he's "sure it's a minor injury."

Fox left the contest early in the third period and didn't return after getting pinned against the boards by Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.

The reigning Norris Trophy winner is having another sensational season, as he leads all NHL defensemen with 47 points in 44 games.

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The Edmonton Oilers are signing forward Evander Kane to a contract for the remainder of the 2021-22 season, reports Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The deal will contain a $750,000 salary, a $625,000 signing bonus, an approximate cap hit of $2.1 million, and a full no-movement clause, Friedman added.

The agreement between Kane and the Oilers is only verbal at this point, as the contract still needs to be signed, per TSN's Darren Dreger.

Kane was suspended 21 games earlier this season for violating the NHL/NHLPA's COVID-19 protocol. His previous contract with the San Jose Sharks was then terminated "for breach of his NHL Standard Player Contract and for violation of AHL COVID-19 protocols."

More to come.

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