Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg is the NHL's first star for the week ending Feb. 28 - and that should come as no surprise.
Forsberg is on fire. He scored two natural hat tricks last week in four games, adding an assist, leading Nashville to four straight wins. After not being able to find the back of the net in the first half of the season, Forsberg's scored 12 goals on 46 shots. He has 26 goals and 20 assists in 63 games.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan was named second star of the week. He had six points in three games, as Tampa Bay enjoyed an undefeated week, as well.
Callahan's had a mostly disappointing season, with 10 goals and 18 assists, but he's been money in February, with five goals and nine assists in 13 games, as the Lightning march toward the playoffs.
The third star of the week is Montreal Canadiens goaltender Mike Condon, who went 2-0-1 in three games, with a .949 save percentage.
Condon was integral in Montreal's 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals, and was exceptional Saturday, as the Canadiens continued their dominance of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Filling in for Carey Price, Condon's struggled most of the season, but he has a respectable .913 save percentage in seven February starts.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
Edmonton Oilers forward Benoit Pouliot may be out of the lineup for a while.
It's believed that Pouliot suffered a separated shoulder during the third period of Sunday's game against the New York Islanders, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Adding fuel to the report is Pouliot arriving to the rink Monday with his right arm in a sling.
Pouliot has recorded 14 goals and 22 assists in 55 games for the Oilers this season.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
Eric Staal hit the ice Monday morning as a member of the New York Rangers after Sunday's big trade.
Following practice, head coach Alain Vigneault met with the media and said he expects the longtime Carolina Hurricanes captain to play center in New York.
"I do envision Eric playing in the middle," he said. "With Eric, you're talking about an elite player, been captain of his team, and will bring his leadership to the room.
"There's no doubt our players are excited about Eric."
The Rangers host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night, so Staal will make his debut. But with Jesper Fast ill and out of the lineup, Staal will likely start on the wing.
There are questions, if Staal eventually moves to center, because the Rangers already employ Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard.
If Staal plays C, who moves to the wing? I still think he eventually is a wing. Hayes hasn't fit at RW. Brassard and Stepan aren't wings.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 29, 2016
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo will have a hearing for the illegal check to the head he delivered on Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette this past weekend, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced.
Rinaldo didn't leave his feet, or take a violent run, but certainly made contact with the chin of Paquette first as he attempted to separate the player from the puck in the defensive zone.
Rinaldo has been suspended on multiple occasions by the NHL, which will factor into the bureau's decision. He will, however, apparently avoid a ban in excess of five games, as Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe reports that it will be a phone hearing.
Rinaldo was placed on waivers Sunday.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
It's been a difficult season for the Montreal Canadiens, but they received some very good news Monday morning.
Carey Price, who has been limited to only 12 games this season, was back on the ice in full gear as he continues to make strides in his recovery from a long-term lower-body injury.
Price has not played since sustaining the injury on Nov. 25 against the New York Rangers.
#canadiens Carey Price skated for 45 minutes. Was pushing hard. #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) February 29, 2016
The 28-year-old goalie was enjoying yet another Vezina Trophy-caliber campaign, posting a record of 10-2-0 with a 2.06 GAA and .934 save percentage before going down with the injury.
Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.