Spare a thought for Ron Hainsey.

The Carolina Hurricanes defenseman was dummied by Ondrej Palat on Saturday night, as the Tampa Bay Lightning forward went from his zone to the other to score a marvelous goal.

Speed, skill, and one hell of a shot. It had it all.

Palat has two against Carolina, his ninth and 10th of the season.

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Alex Ovechkin spent five minutes in the penalty box for boarding Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller on Saturday.

Miller was forced to leave the game and appeared to be favoring his right shoulder which had been surgically repaired last February.

The nature of the injury may have played a role in the penalty call.

Still, the incident may be reviewed by the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

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Brooks Laich's time in Toronto won't be in vain.

The former much-loved Washington Capitals forward was traded to the Maple Leafs last week, and it was difficult for him to accept, as the first-place Caps are Stanley Cup favorites. But after Saturday, Laich's got a story to tell.

Laich assisted on the first NHL goal of William Nylander's career Saturday night, and the 32-year-old has a history with William's father, Michael Nylander, as the two played together for the Capitals.

Related: VIDEO - Nylander snipes for 1st NHL goal

In fact, Laich assisted on the final goal of Michael's career, on April 5, 2009, against the Atlanta Thrashers (may they rest in peace).

"Uncle Brooks" will be telling this one for a while.

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Brendan Gallagher played less than five minutes before suffering an injury Saturday night.

The Montreal Canadiens forward left the game against the Winnipeg Jets in the first period, and his club announced in the first intermission that he would not return.

He appeared to take a Max Pacioretty shot in the hand before departing, but the Canadiens classified the injury as a lower-body ailment, and it's more likely to have occurred when Gallagher's skate got caught with that of Jets forward Marko Dano, causing the Canadiens winger to do the splits.

(Courtesy: Sportsnet)

Gallagher missed 17 games earlier this season with a pair of broken fingers.

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Los Angeles Kings forward Kris Versteeg suffered an upper-body injury during the first period of the Kings' 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.

Originally listed as questionable to return, Versteeg's day ended late in the first period, two shifts after being involved in a line brawl and dropping the gloves with Rickard Rakell.

Versteeg was appearing in his second game with the Kings after being acquired from Carolina prior to the trade deadline for a pick and a prospect.

The severity of the injury has not yet been disclosed.

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Young William Nylander is on the board.

The prized Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, only 19, scored his first NHL goal on Saturday, going shelf blocker side on Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson.

The goal comes in Nylander's fourth career game. It's his first point in the league, too, as he was held off the scoresheet in his first three games, recording seven shots.

But Nylander - admittedly a bit starstruck earlier in the week when the Maple Leafs visited the Washington Capitals - hasn't looked out of place in hockey's top league.

Finally, Maple Leafs fans have something to look forward to. And they'll get used to that display of skill easily.

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Grab some Kleenex.

The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed former captain Dion Phaneuf back to the Air Canada Centre for the first time since a February trade, and the hosts pulled out all the stops.

Well, more stops than they did for Phil Kessel.

Related: Alter: Phaneuf feeling 'mixed emotions' before facing Maple Leafs in Toronto

Phaneuf got the tribute-video treatment, and a standing ovation, and the show of support left the usually stonefaced defenseman fighting back some serious emotion.

Phaneuf was booed immediately Saturday, the puck coming to him off the opening faceoff. He's the enemy in Toronto now. But Maple Leafs supporters gave the man who wore the "C" for 397 games some love, and it was clearly appreciated.

"That tribute clearly meant something to Dion," tweeted TSN's Mark Masters.

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Radko Gudas isn't known for getting the best of opposing goalies.

Heading into Saturday's game against Columbus, the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman had yet to score a goal this season, while posting 98 penalty minutes in 57 games.

Naturally then, he beat Curtis McElhinney from center ice to throw that monkey off his back.

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Eighteen-year-old hockey phenoms may have to worry.

The NHL is always looking at ways to improve, according to Pat LaFontaine, a Hall of Famer who now works for the league, and one idea is to raise the draft age from 18 to 19.

"We're exploring many ideas in improving conditions for player development," LaFontaine told ESPN's Joe McDonald, "and raising the draft age is one of many things that we're looking at, and those discussions remain very preliminary."

The latest player to start his career as an 18-year-old was Edmonton Oilers phenom Connor McDavid, last year's first overall pick. He turned 19 on Jan. 13. And with 34 points in 30 games, it's clear he can play.

McDavid's teammate Taylor Hall doesn't think the draft age needs to be changed.

"No. I think it's fine where it's at," Hall said. "You're seeing kids come in and do great things in this game. When you're 18 you should be able to work and seek employment however you want, so I think it's fair."

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also began his career in Edmonton at the age of 18.

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The Dallas Stars will likely face a pair of Canadian clubs without their best defenseman.

Head coach Lindy Ruff didn't expect John Klingberg to join the team for its two-game road rip, beginning Sunday in Ottawa against the Senators and wrapping up Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

"I don't think (he'll travel),” Ruff said, according to Mark Stepneski of the Stars' official website. “But if he responds well to treatment there's a chance - if he doesn't travel - he could join us. He's not traveling with us (to Ottawa)."

He's day to day with what the team is calling a lower-body injury, suffered early in Friday's win over the New Jersey Devils. After the game, Ruff said the injury should be of the short-term variety.

Klingberg didn't practice Saturday but underwent some tests.

"Nothing conclusive with the tests, which is good," Ruff said. "So, we just go day to day with him and see where he is at."

Klingberg leads all Stars' defensemen with 53 points, and ranks first among all skaters on the club with 43 assists in 66 games.

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