For the second time in three games, the Nashville Predators forward recorded a hat trick, with his latest three-goal outburst coming in succession during the second period of Saturday's contest against the St. Louis Blues.
The goal that completed Forsberg's natural hat trick also spelled the end of Jake Allen's afternoon in net.
Forsberg now has 12 goals in his past 11 games, and a total of 26 on the season, which ties his career-high mark from last year.
OTTAWA - Matthew Tkachuk had a goal and four assists to lead the London Knights to a 5-1 victory over the Ottawa 67's on Saturday at TD Place.
Aaron Berisha and Christian Dvorak scored two goals apiece for the visitors, who improved to 43-13-...
This isn't the first time Ayres has got the call from the AHL team, having previously served as a backup to Jonathan Bernier with the Marlies in December. In fact, Ayres has been practicing with the Marlies for three years.
"I've been on the ice with injured players, healthy scratches," Ayres said in December, according to Sportsnet's Joe Pack. "I practiced with the black aces every single day three years ago. I've been in full team practices when goalies get called up or get injured. I know a lot of guys on the team and they used to tease me, 'You practice all the time, but you're never going to get into a game.'"
Ayres said he thought it was a joke back in December when he was told the Marlies needed his services. It took Maple Leafs assistant general manager and Marlies GM Kyle Dubas to make Ayres a believer.
"'No Dave, we're not joking. Throw your great in the truck and get rolling,'" is what Ayres said Dubas told him when the team gave him his first tryout contract.
So, this isn't Ayres' first rodeo. But the Maple Leafs and Marlies must surely be holding their breath.
SUNRISE, Fla. - The Florida Panthers acquired forward Jiri Hudler from the Calgary Flames on Saturday, giving up a second-round draft pick this year and a fourth-rounder in 2018.
The deal was announced during Florida's game at Columbus.
Hu...
Kindl, who is in the third season of a four-year, $9.6-million deal, has been back and forth between Detroit and the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins this season.
The 29-year-old recorded two goals and four assists in 25 games with the Red Wings.
Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello addressed the media Saturday afternoon after trading James Reimer - his best goaltender - to the San Jose Sharks in a four-player deal that netted his club a conditional 2018 fourth-round draft pick.
Lamoriello talked about the return - mainly the draft pick that could, at best, turn into a third-round selection - since many Maple Leafs supporters aren't too happy with it.
On return for Reimer, Lamoriello said there was not a "real need" for a goalie on playoff teams, or there were cap constraints at his price.
With Reimer's contract expiring and Toronto playing out the stretch with a roster already resembling that of an AHL team, Lamoriello said it's time to look to the future in goal, specifically in Sparks and Antoine Bibeau.
"We needed to take a look at our minor-league goalies who are playing extremely well," he said, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli.
Garrett Sparks will be in Montreal tonight as the #Leafs backup. Lamoriello said they want to find out what Sparks "can or can't bring."
Sparks played five games for Toronto this season, winning three, and recorded a shutout and .915 save percentage. Only 22, he has a .925 save percentage in 20 games with the AHL's Toronto Marlies this season. Drafted 190th overall in the seventh round in 2011, Sparks could be the goalie of the future. Lamoriello wants to find out.
"We have to take a look at Sparks right now and see if how he performed earlier is the real thing," Lamoriello said, according to The Canadian Press' Jonas Siegel.
Bibeau will turn 22 in May and was a sixth-round pick, 172nd overall, in 2013. He has a .904 save percentage in 25 games with the Marlies this season, after posting a .913 save percentage in the AHL in 31 games last season. He's yet to see NHL action.
Lamoriello says possibility that pending UFAs could re-sign in summer despite being traded now is something he keeps in mind
PHILADELPHIA - Claude Giroux scored one of Philadelphia's three first-period goals for his 500th career point and Mark Streit had three assists to lead the Flyers to a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.
Scott Laughton, Sam Gagn...
Purcell is the second player acquired by the Panthers Saturday. Earlier in the day, Florida traded a pair of draft picks to the Calgary Flames for forward Jiri Hudler.
#FlaPanthers have added a little over $2m in true salaries in Hudler ($1m) and Purcell ($1.125m)
The deal was expected to include Nikolay Prokhorkin, a forward currently playing with Ufa Salavat Yulayev who has registered 20 goals and 38 points in 58 games this season.
Prokhorkin (rumored in now failed LA-EDM trade) has had history of transfer issues. Lot of on/off again to NA, KHL team interfered and more.
"We want to thank Jiri for his years of service with the Flames. He is tremendous player and teammate. We wish him the very best of luck with his new club," Flames general manager Brad Treliving said. "As we continue to build our team, these picks will be valuable assets to us and also valuable capital in the market place."
Hudler, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, is in the final season of a four-year, $16-million deal.
The 32-year-old has 10 goals and 25 assists in 53 games this season after recording a career-high 76 points last season.