The Islanders will now host the Leafs on Jan. 22 and travel to Toronto on April 17. Due to provincial regulations in Ontario, the Leafs wouldn't have been able to host fans against the Islanders at Scotiabank Arena if their Jan. 22 matchup went on as originally scheduled.
Additionally, the league postponed two Jan. 18 matchups between the Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets as well as the Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. As a result, the Flyers-Islanders contest, which was originally set for Nov. 30, will now be played Jan. 18.
Both players are being retested. Their status for Wednesday's contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs won't be known until game day.
They were held out of practice for precautionary reasons, according to Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels.
McDavid also missed morning skate Monday, but Tippett said the 24-year-old was just resting prior to the Oilers' game against the New York Rangers and that it wasn't a COVID-19 scare. McDavid played almost 19 minutes during Edmonton's 4-1 loss at Madison Square Garden.
He leads the league with 53 points in 33 games while averaging over 22 minutes of ice time a night. McDavid's absence would be a massive blow to the struggling Oilers, who are currently riding a four-game winless streak.
Ryan has registered two goals in 30 contests so far this season.
McDavid previously tested positive for COVID-19 and experienced mild symptoms back in October 2020.
The Maple Leafs find themselves in a similar situation prior to Wednesday's matchup.
Star center Auston Matthews tested positive on a rapid test Monday. He also took a PCR test Monday and the results came back negative Tuesday. He is awaiting further test results and hasn't been ruled out of the game against Edmonton.
The 28-year-old sustained the injury in the first period of Sunday's contest against the Washington Capitals. He exited after getting hit up high by a deflected puck.
Hamilton was taken to hospital for evaluation after the incident, and assistant coach Alain Nasreddine initially said he was doing OK.
The Devils announced earlier Tuesday that the blue-liner was still in New Jersey and would miss Tuesday's contest against the Boston Bruins.
Hamilton, the crown jewel of the franchise's offseason additions, leads all New Jersey defensemen with 20 points in 30 games while averaging over 21 minutes of ice time a night.
He was placed on the IR retroactively to Jan. 2 and will be out until at least Jan. 9. The team will likely have a clearer idea of Hamilton's timetable after his his surgery is complete, according to beat reporter Amanda Stein.
The team also announced Tuesday that goaltender Jonathan Bernier will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing successful hip surgery. The issue has impacted Bernier since training camp, and head coach Lindy Ruff said earlier in January that he was "worried" about the 33-year-old's long-term health.
Bernier put up a .902 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average across 10 appearances this season.
There was one piece of good news in New Jersey, as forward Tomas Tatar is set to return to the lineup Tuesday after a three-game absence while in the COVID-19 protocol.
A pair of Anaheim Ducks legends are helping the franchise find its next general manager.
Hockey Hall of Famers Paul Kariya and Scott Niedermayer are part of the organization's GM search committee, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
The group is rounded out by team CEO Michael Schulman, president of business operations Aaron Teats, and owners Susan and Henry Samueli.
Kariya, selected fourth overall in 1993, was the first draft pick in team history. He became an instant superstar, recording 669 points in his 606 games across nine seasons in Anaheim. He also served as captain for seven campaigns and led the team to the 2003 Stanley Cup Final.
Niedermayer played his final five seasons with the Ducks after joining the team as a free agent. The defenseman captained the franchise to its lone Stanley Cup title in 2007 and also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He recorded 264 points in 371 regular-season games in Anaheim.
Both players' numbers were retired by the club. They're two of only three Ducks to receive the honor. Teemu Selanne is the other.
Longtime Ducks GM Bob Murray resigned from his post in November. Jeff Solomon is currently serving as interim GM.
Matthews had tested positive from a rapid test Monday, though Keefe admitted at the time that the club has seen those return false positives before.
The star center was held out of Tuesday's practice for precautionary reasons as he awaits another test. He's not ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Matthews leads the Maple Leafs with 20 goals and 33 points in 28 games this season.
Keefe added that assistant coach Dean Chynoweth is confirmed positive.
The Blue Jackets are playing their worst hockey of the season. They've won only three of their last 10 games and, at five-on-five, have controlled just 41.91% of the expected goals over that span, which ranks them 31st.
They'll get a key player back in Oliver Bjorkstrand but will lose a pair of important pieces in Zach Werenski and Elvis Merzlikins. Columbus was already thin on defense so not having Werenski, who averages well over 26 minutes per game, is crushing.
Merzlikins is clearly the best goaltender on the roster. The Jackets can ill afford to lose him, especially against such a strong opponent.
The Lightning have amassed 110 high-danger chances over the last 10 games. Only three teams have generated more. Suffice to say, Tampa Bay should be able to expose Columbus' shaky defense and questionable goaltending.
I think the Lightning, who have lost three straight, will be out for blood in this one. Expect them to capitalize on an advantageous matchup and win inside regulation.
The Predators are the hottest team in the NHL. They enter play with an 8-1-1 record over their last 10 games, which is equaled by two sides but bested by zero.
They are full value for their recent string of success. Nashville has owned teams at five-on-five, controlling 58.38% of the expected goals.
A lot of that stems from their ability to dominate the high-danger chances. The Predators rank 12th in Grade A looks in this span, while no team has given up fewer. Essentially, they've been above average at creating dangerous opportunities and better than anybody at preventing them.
The Golden Knights are no pushovers - even when undermanned - but I think the wrong side is favored here. Vegas doesn't have Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, or Robin Lehner, and Jack Eichel is not yet ready to return. Those are key players to be missing when going up against a complete, red-hot team like Nashville.
I don't expect a cakewalk but do back the Preds to win for the ninth time in 11 games.
Bet: Predators (-105)
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
We have a huge eight-game slate on the docket tonight, which means there are plenty of shot props to comb through.
Shot props have been very profitable this season - my record sits at 92-73 for +16.45 units - so let's hope that continues tonight.
Brad Marchand over 2.5 shots on goal (-110)
Brad Marchand has been one of the NHL's most consistent shot generators lately, registering at least four - yes, four - shots in seven of his last eight games. Marchand's not just going over the number - he's doing so comfortably.
While the New Jersey Devils have defended better recently, they're still not a great defensive team. The Devils will also be without star Dougie Hamilton on the back end, which should make them more susceptible to spending time in the defensive zone.
I also like that David Pastrnak - a very trigger-happy player - is off the top line. With him on a different line, there's more puck to go around for a guy like Marchand.
Victor Hedman over 2.5 shots on goal (-130)
Victor Hedman is one of my favorite targets. He's a willing shooter, and he logs so many minutes that he's in play every single night regardless of opponent. This time around, Hedman just so happens to find himself in a dream matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
No side has allowed more shots, at five-on-five or overall, than the Blue Jackets over the last 10 games - they're getting peppered by anyone and everyone.
To make matters worse, the squad is now without defenseman Zach Werenski. The star rearguard averages well over 26 minutes for Columbus, so suffice to say, the unit's going to feel that loss.
Hedman has registered three shots or more in six of his last seven and eight of the last 10. I like him to stay hot and come through again tonight.
Todd Cordell is a sports betting writer at theScore. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @ToddCordell.
Rossi, the Wild's ninth overall pick in 2020, leads the Iowa Wild with 23 points in 21 contests this season. The 20-year-old forward experienced complications from COVID-19 last year and was shut down for the 2020-21 campaign after being diagnosed with myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle.
Minnesota drafted Boldy 12th overall in 2019. The forward has four goals and six assists in 10 games with Iowa in 2021-22.
Rossi and Boldy are set to make their NHL debuts when Minnesota takes on the Boston Bruins on Thursday, according to The Athletic's Michael Russo.
The Wild are on a five-game winless streak and have been forced to deal with a slew of injury- and COVID-19-related absences.
In our third edition of the 2021-22 Calder Trophy Power Rankings, we welcome two first-timers to the list and introduce a new, but perhaps predictable, owner of the top spot.
COVID-19 outbreaks and postponements across the league made it harder to gauge performances over this past month, but without further ado, here are the league's top five freshmen now that the calendar's flipped.
5. Tanner Jeannot, Predators
Frederick Breedon / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Previous rank: N/A
GP
P
ATOI
XGF%
33
20
15:40
49.01%
Jeannot is an unheralded story beginning to make his mark in the NHL. The 24-year-old winger went undrafted and spent four years in junior before bouncing between the AHL and ECHL. He recorded a modest seven points in 15 games for the Predators last season, but he's evolved into a key contributor for a resurgent Nashville squad this campaign.
Jeannot is tied for the rookie lead in goals (10) and tops every player on our list with 1.3 goals per 60 minutes at even strength. It's worth noting that Jeannot is shooting an unsustainable 19.2% this year, but he deserves recognition after pacing all rookies in points over this past month.
4. Anton Lundell, Panthers
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Previous rank: N/A
GP
P
ATOI
XGF%
28
16
16:29
52.73%
Lundell is a long shot to win the award at season's end, but he'll be a dark-horse candidate to be a finalist if he keeps up his recent form. The 12th overall pick from 2020 ranks second in rookie scoring since our last Calder list, and all nine of his points in that span came at even strength.
Lundell has also posted sparkling underlying numbers, which isn't an easy feat for a 20-year-old center still testing the NHL waters. He's hard-pressed to garner national attention on a Panthers team rife with stars, but Florida appears to have another gem in its system.
3. Moritz Seider, Red Wings
Michael Martin / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 3rd
GP
P
ATOI
XGF%
33
21
22:27
47.44%
Seider continues to log huge minutes and put up points, but his underlying numbers took a massive hit over the past month with a miserable 38.38% expected goals rate across 11 games. The rearguard managed a 54.86% actual goals clip in that same span to minimize the damage, but Seider will have to pump his numbers back up if he wants to take home some hardware at season's end.
All that said, it's typical for young defensemen to endure highs and lows while figuring out the league. Seider still ranks third in rookie scoring this season and possesses all the tools to become Detroit's No. 1 blue-line option for years to come.
2. Lucas Raymond, Red Wings
Brian Sevald / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 1st
GP
P
ATOI
XGF%
33
28
17:28
48.13%
For the first time this year, Raymond's fallen off the top of the podium. The Detroit dynamo still leads all rookies in scoring, but his points-per-game clip dropped last month. He's also seen his underlying statistics drastically plummet as well.
Since our last installment, Raymond managed only one goal and fired just 14 shots on net. He may have hit a rookie wall, but it still wasn't an easy decision to drop him a spot. He's neck-and-neck with our top candidate in many statistics this season, and he's by no means out of the Calder race.
1. Trevor Zegras, Ducks
Bill Wippert / National Hockey League / Getty
Previous rank: 2nd
GP
P
ATOI
XGF%
30
25
17:08
55.62%
Zegras has officially arrived. The Ducks' brightest star produced 11 points over 10 games last month and went viral for arguably the highlight of the year after his alley-oop assist to teammate Sonny Milano. Whether they lead to goals or not, the dazzling plays he pulls off on a nightly basis help grow the game and will certainly carry significant weight for Calder voters.
Zegras also plays fundamentally sound hockey at both ends of the ice, and he's in the positives in all the key advanced metrics. Rookie of the year will be his if he keeps producing at this rate and helps an underdog Anaheim squad reach the playoffs.
