Jonathan Drouin appears set to resume his professional hockey career.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have lifted the 20-year-old's suspension, and Drouin will report to the Syracuse Crunch for practice Tuesday morning, general manager Steve Yzerman announced.
Drouin, who made a trade request earlier this season, was suspended indefinitely and without pay by the Lightning on Jan. 15 for failing to report to a Crunch game in Toronto.
At the time, his agent, Allan Walsh, stated there was no reason for Drouin to continue with the organization.
The door was left open for his return after Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman chose not to trade Drouin prior to the NHL's deadline on Feb. 29.
Important to remember that Jonathan Drouin can still technically be traded. He just won't be eligible for NHL playoffs if it happens.
A return to game action, even at the AHL level, can only serve Drouin well in his quest to be dealt to another team, while Yzerman has said he's not eliminating the possibility of Drouin being called back up the NHL at some point this season.
Huberdeau missed the last six games with an upper-body injury, and was hurt one day before Barkov's return from a six-game absence with an upper-body injury of his own. The Panthers' top line last played together Feb. 8.
With 11 goals and 29 assists in 59 games, Huberdeau will need 14 more points in his team's final 17 contests to match his career high set last year.
Trailing the Tampa Bay Lightning by two points, the Panthers begin an important three-game homestand Monday. After hosting the Bruins, they'll be visited by a pair of teams vying for playoff spots in the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers.
With five weeks remaining on the NHL's regular season schedule, the race to secure a playoff spot should be kicking into high gear.
But are there any teams currently on the outside looking in that have a legitimate shot at one of the 16 postseason berths?
Eastern Conference
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings sit comfortably in the Eastern Conference wild-card spots, while a handful of teams are within six points of the latter. Only the Philadelphia Flyers, however, appear to have a decent shot at making up the difference.
Team
GP
Points
Playoff Chances (%)
Pittsburgh
65
76
87.2
Detroit
65
75
77.2
Philadelphia
64
71
32.8
Carolina
66
69
4.9
New Jersey
67
69
2.0
Ottawa
67
69
1.7
Detroit's minus-eight goal differential is also cause for concern, as the Red Wings are the only playoff team on the negative side of the ledger. But Philadelphia, which sits at minus-nine, isn't exuding much confidence in that area. All three teams, it should be noted, are positive possession clubs, with the Penguins (52) holding the advantage over Detroit (51.3) and Philadelphia (50.2) in terms of Corsi For at five-on-five.
What gives the Flyers somewhat of an advantage is their one game in hand on both Pittsburgh and Detroit, and even more on those below them in the standings. Philadelphia has three games remaining against their rivals from Pittsburgh, and two against Detroit, meaning all five games will carrying great significance for the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Western Conference
Out West, the situation appears to be more dire for teams on the outs.
Thanks to a recent hot streak, the Nashville Predators have all but locked down at least the first wild-card spot, leaving the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild to duke it out for the remaining "x" on the standings board.
Team
GP
Points
Playoff Chances (%)
Nashville
66
78
98.9
Minnesota
67
72
78.5
Colorado
67
70
20.3
Despite the slim two-point gap between the two clubs, the Wild appear to have a clear advantage over the Avalanche in this race.
On the surface, Minnesota's goal differential sits at plus-eight, while the Avalanche's sit at minus-14. And in terms of possession, Colorado is the league's worst in terms of Corsi For at five-on-five (44 percent), while the Wild rank 20th (48). Neither number bodes well for a long playoff run, but Minnesota seems to be the more solid bet to achieve enough regular season success to qualify.
So while there will certainly be some jockeying in terms of the final standings and playoff seeding, it would appear there's a good chance the 16 teams that will battle for the Stanley Cup have already been decided.
But if the 2014-15 Ottawa Senators taught us anything, nothing is decided until 82 games have been played by all 30 teams.
With the final stretch of the NHL season upon us, teams in and around the playoff bubble are battling for a spot in the postseason.
The 2015-16 campaign has featured some incredible performances and winning runs from several different teams, none of which would've been possible without some outstanding individual efforts.
1st season in NHL history with 3 double-digit win streaks Blackhawks and Panthers 12. Ducks 10. #elias#brylin#rafalski
Some players have been dominant all year long, while others have bumped their games up a notch in recent weeks to take their teams to new heights.
With under 20 games to go in each team's season, here are the top 10 players in the NHL right now:
1. Patrick Kane - Chicago Blackhawks
GP
G
A
PPP
CF%
67
38
51
32
52.2
The Blackhawks winger has scored at least a point per game in every month this season, and with 15 games to go, the sky's the limit for Kane, who set a new career high in points with a goal Sunday against the Red Wings.
The 27-year-old appears to be a lock for multiple NHL awards in June, and adding a fourth Cup in six years to his haul would make for one incredible month.
2. Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
GP
Record
GAA
SV%
SO
53
40-8-3
2.24
.922
2
Nine wins over the final 17 games of the Capitals season is all the Saskatchewan native needs to break Martin Brodeur's single-season wins record of 48.
It shouldn't be much trouble for Holtby, who already has two wins in March, and hasn't lost consecutive starts once this season.
3. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
GP
G
A
PPP
CF%
64
28
37
20
53.1
After a slow start saw him snubbed from the All-Star Game, no player has more been more productive than the Penguins captain since January's festivities in Nashville.
Crosby is back in form, as he leads the league with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) since the All-Star break. He's trying to help his team avoid a tough (but amazing) potential first-round playoff date with the league-leading Caps.
4. Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators
GP
G
A
PPP
CF%
67
11
57
24
51.76
There's little doubt that Karlsson will lead all defensemen in scoring for the fourth time in five years, but his offensive prowess could match a historic precedent.
If he remains in the top three in league scoring, the Senators blue-liner would be the first defenseman to do so since Paul Coffey, who recorded 138 points with Wayne Gretzky's Oilers in 1986.
5. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
GP
G
A
PPP
CF%
63
41
19
20
52.1
While Kane lurks just three goals behind, Ovechkin looks set to become the first player to lead the league in goals in four consecutive seasons since, of course, Gretzky.
Another Rocket Richard Trophy will likely mean little to the Capitals captain, whose season hinges on bringing Washington to its second Finals run in franchise history.
6. Jamie Benn/Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
Name
GP
G
A
PPP
CF%
Benn
67
32
40
22
55.2
Seguin
67
32
36
22
55.1
The league's best duo for the better part of two seasons rank as a dual entry once again, with nearly identical numbers in both scoring and Corsi For ratings.
The pair still sit in the top five in league scoring despite the Stars' offense falling asleep in January (23rd in NHL). The scoring has bounced back since, but the team's current goaltending situation may undo a terrific season from Benn and Seguin, who are both on pace for 80-point campaigns.
7. Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
GP
G
A
PPP
CF%
59
9
42
17
57.0
After scoring just three goals in his first 43 games, the Ducks captain came alive in February and has vaulted his team up the Western Conference standings.
Getzlaf recorded a league-best 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists) for the month, leading the Ducks on their current 18-1-1 run that's catapulted them to the top of the Pacific after they were last in the division on Christmas.
8. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals
GP
G
A
PPP
CF%
65
20
46
16
51.5
The story hasn't changed for Kuznetsov, who despite getting little power-play time, just keeps racking up points for the Capitals.
The 23-year-old is one of just two players who recorded at least 15 points in each of the past two months, with the other being in a slightly different age bracket...
9. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
GP
G
A
PPP
CF%
64
15
47
20
55.7
While Jaromir Jagr is beloved as the NHL's ageless wonder at 44, it's Thornton who's turned back the clock with 36 points in 28 games so far in 2016.
The 36-year-old is a full five years older than the closest, fellow top-10 scorer, who happens to be linemate Joe Pavelski. There must be something in the water in San Jose.
10. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
GP
G
A
PPP
CF%
31
13
21
8
53.1
If you're wondering who has the second-most points since the All-Star break after Crosby, look no further than the teenager in Edmonton.
While many thought it was far-fetched that McDavid could play himself into Calder contention, his 1.10 points per game trail only Kane in the NHL. Tuesday's overtime winner also proved he can come through in the clutch.
After being suspended by SKA St. Petersburg during the first round of the KHL playoffs, former NHL star Ilya Kovalchuk made a surprise return to the club Monday.
The winger, who was stripped of his captaincy, was back on the ice for the opening game of the team's second-round series against Dynamo Moscow.
Ilya Kovalchuk is back in the SKA lineup for the second round. This after the club had announced last week that he'd sit out the playoffs.
It was reported that SKA offered Kovalchuk $1 million to terminate his contract, and buyout discussions are still ongoing, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. Reports of turmoil between the player and club sparked rumors the forward would eye a return to the NHL.
After leaving his team down 1-0 in its opening-round series, St. Petersburg won its next four games without last year's Gagarin Cup MVP to advance to Round 2.
Kovalchuk retired from the NHL in 2013 with 12 years remaining on his contract with the New Jersey Devils, leaving $77 million on the table. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has noted that all 30 teams must unanimously agree to allow Kovalchuk to return to the league if he tries to come back within a year of playing professionally elsewhere. Should he sit out a full calendar year, he'll require only the Devils' consent.
Comfort food can be helpful when you're feeling down.
For Montreal Canadiens fans living through an up and very down season with their team, the chance to dig into a free Big Mac is worth even an embrace from Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara.
Sidelined with a finger injury since Jan. 22, Michalek - acquired as part of the Dion Phaneuf trade with Ottawa - is expected to play his first game with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday against Buffalo, and is excited to take to the ice with the likes of William Nylander, Nikita Soshnikov, and Zach Hyman.
"There is lots of talent, as everyone can see," Michalek told Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun. "I knew it coming here. I remember playing against (many of the Leafs prospects) in preseason and they looked good. I am excited to play with them.
"It’s amazing. They are so talented and really fun to be around. It’s a joy in the locker room, too. It has been tough for me coming in here being injured. It's going to be nice getting into games and getting to know my teammates that way."
Michalek remains under contract through to the end of next season at a salary cap hit of $4 million. He recorded six goals and four assists in 32 games for the Senators prior to the injury.
Devan Dubnyk isn't a fan of how the NHL reviews challenged goals.
Pulled from Sunday's loss to St. Louis after allowing three goals on 16 shots, the Minnesota Wild goaltender called into how the officials came to a decision on the second - scored by Ryan Reaves - which was challenged based on the view that the Blues were offside.
"It's so offside that both our defensemen stopped playing and all of a sudden they have twice as much room as they would because both our guys stopped playing," Dubnyk said after the game, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. "You have guys on the other bench that are laughing after the goal is called, and I mean, it’s just added to the list of interesting calls on challenges for everywhere around the league this year."
Head coach John Torchetti wasn't using the apparent offside as an excuse.
On Dubnyk's assertion Scandella/Brodin stopped playing bc they thought it was offside, Torch said you have to play to the whistle#mnwild
In Dubnyk's view, the review shouldn't be conducted by the official who already made the call, especially with the technology they'e been equipped with.
"You don’t have the guy on the ice making the call on an iPad that’s four inches big," he continued. "It doesn’t make sense. You got a lot of technology elsewhere that people can have a look at.
"Don't get me wrong, these are the best referees in the world hands down, but you're asking a guy to go look at a video in front of 20,000 people and overturn a call he just made. It doesn't make sense. There's enough technology to go elsewhere for it."
At the end of the day, three pucks got past him, and Dubnyk was a bit more succinct when it came to judging his own performance.
Dubnyk: "I've got to play better than that." #mnwild
Looking ahead to possible offseason moves involving Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Milan Lucic, James Reimer and more in your NHL rumor mill. THE BOSTON GLOBE: After noting the reasons why this year’s trade deadline was a dud, Fluto Shinzawa explains June is the more efficient month for making trades. “Teams have yet to set rosters or budgets […]
Notable game recaps, injury update and more in today’s collection of NHL headline links. CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Corey Crawford made 33 saves while Patrick Kane reached a career-high 89 points as the Chicago Blackhawks downed the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. Crawford’s performance this season is generating Vezina Trophy talk. He leads the league in shutouts (7), is […]
