The World Cup runs Sept. 17 through Oct. 1 in Toronto.
Canada, the U.S., Czech Republic, and Team Europe comprise Group A, while Russia, Finland, Sweden, and Team North America make up Group B. The final will be a best-of-three.
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - Chase Witala scored twice in regulation and had the only goal of the shootout to lift the Prince George Cougars over the Vancouver Giants 5-4 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League action.
Jesse Gabrielle and Joseph Carvalh...
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Connor McDavid scored his second goal in overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night in an anticipated matchup against another top rookie, Jack Eichel.
Cam Talbot made 31 saves f...
BUFFALO, N.Y. - For much of last season, it looked like Connor McDavid might end up with the Buffalo Sabres. The first overall pick in last year's NHL draft got to show the city what it's missing on Tuesday night.
McDavid scored twice, includ...
WINNIPEG - Reilly Smith is still thankful the Florida Panthers have injected new life into his hockey career.
Smith, who was traded from Boston last summer, showed that gratitude by scoring a pair of goals as the Panthers got by the Winnipeg ...
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Shea Weber said he was a little nervous coming back from a three-game absence. It didn't show on the ice.
Weber had a goal and two assists and the Nashville Predators beat the Dallas Stars 5-3 Tuesday night.
Weber has 12...
The Dallas Stars thought they addressed their big area of weakness, goaltending, in the offseason, but shaky play between the pipes continues to haunt the club.
The Master Plan
After his club finished next to last in team save percentage last season (.895), general manager Jim Nill decided to compliment incumbent Kari Lehtonen with the acquisition of Antti Niemi from San Jose.
At the time, Nill contended the NHL had become a two-goalie league, and that a healthy measure of competition would be beneficial for both Lehtonen and Niemi.
The GM was so confident in this philosophy that he, with the blessing of owner Tom Gaglardi, put pen to paper on a three-year, $13.5-million contract for Niemi, even with Lehtonen already signed through to the end of 2017-18 with a cap hit of $5.9 million.
Add it all up, and the Stars entered the season with a supposed 1A/1B goalie combo carrying a combined salary cap hit of $10.4 million.
Where They Stand
With 17 games remaining in the regular season, the Stars have posted a record of 38-20-7, good for a share of the Central Division lead in points along with Chicago and St. Louis.
Following a loss to Nashville on Tuesday, however, Dallas has gone 3-5-2 over the past 10 games, allowing 40 goals against over that span.
It's an ugly stretch, and it certainly hasn't helped the overall numbers posted by Lehtonen and Niemi to date.
Player
Games Played
Record
Save %
GAA
Shutouts
Antti Niemi
42
22-12-6
.903
2.72
3
Kari Lehtonen
31
16-8-1
.906
2.93
1
What's boosting the Stars is their elite-level offense, which ranks first in the NHL with 209 goals, four more than Washington, albeit in three more games played.
That's all well and good, but Dallas finished last season in the second spot in terms of goals for (one behind Tampa Bay) yet failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing the regular season with a plus-1 goal differential.
The Outlook
Based on the NHL's current playoff format, the Stars would have to beat two divisional opponents to advance to the Western Conference finals. Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, and Minnesota have better team save percentages to date, and even Colorado's goalies - a team now on the outside looking in - have performed better than the Stars' duo.
At present, only five teams have allowed more goals than the Stars, and while the addition of the shot-blocking Kris Russell is expected to shore up the defense, the Stars' strong regular season could very well translate into a first-or second-round playoff exit if the goaltenders don't improve.
VAL-D'OR, Que. - Timo Meier had two power-play goals — including one in overtime — as the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies rallied past the Val-d'Or Foreurs 6-5 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action.
Jean-Christophe Beaudin also had a p...
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Connor McDavid scored his second goal in overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night in an anticipated matchup against another top rookie, Jack Eichel.
Cam Talbot made 31 saves f...
With a 5-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, the Music City squad pushed its recent record to 7-0-3, tying a franchise record with points in 10 consecutive games.
Nashville's past three wins, all in regulation, have come against Chicago, St. Louis, and, now, Dallas, all teams that sit ahead of the Predators in the Central Division standings.
The latest win helped the Predators secure their hold on the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, and their upcoming schedule appears conducive to at least a few more wins.
Next six games: vs NJD at COL at WPG at CGY at VAN at EDM
While Nashville remained quiet at the trade deadline, the addition of Ryan Johansen earlier in the season and, more importantly, the resurgence of Pekka Rinne, have given the Predators the look of a legitimate challenger come playoff time.