Philadelphia Flyers Daily Clips – March 4, 2014

FLYERS Headlines

1. Philadelphia Inquirer – Holmgren might stand pat at NHL trade deadline 2. Philadelphia Daily News – Capitals' Orlov gets 2-game ban 3. Philadelphia Daily News – Holmgren on the deadline clock 4. Philadelphia Daily News – Frequent Flyers: Flyers pursuing Kesler? 5. CSNPhilly.com – Flyers show grit in third-period rally vs. Caps 6. CSNPhilly.com – Flyers notes: Hall, Mason shut down Caps' PP 7. CSNPhilly.com – Caps' Orlov suspended 2 games for hit on Schenn 8. CSNPhilly.com – 3 Stars: Giroux, Flyers erase 2-goal third-period deficit in Washington 9. CSNPhilly.com – 10 Observations: Recapping Flyers' big weekend 10. Bucks County Courier Times – Confident players not sweating trade deadline 11. Camden County Courier-Post – For Flyers, standings, playoff spots fluctuate daily 12. HockeyBuzz.com – Meltzer's Musings: Special Teams Key Latest Comeback Win 13. ESPN.com – Dmitry Orlov suspended 2 games Washington Capitals Headlines (FLYERS opponent tomorrow)

1. The Washington Post – Dmitry Orlov suspended two games for boarding Flyers’ Brayden Schenn 2. The Washington Post – Washington Capitals find no comfort in a two-goal lead

Flyers Cup Headlines

1. Bucks County Courier Times – Strong third period lifts Upper Moreland into second round of Flyers Cup playoffs 2. Bucks County Courier Times – CR North needs 2 OTs to topple Manheim Township 3. Bucks County Courier Times – Neshaminy rallies for Flyers Cup win 4. Delaware County Times – Ice Hockey: Springfield cruises in Flyers Cup opener NHL Headlines

1. NHL.com – Blue Jackets end Maple Leafs' home streak 2. NHL.com – Wild make it five in a row with win over Flames 3. NHL.com – Stars edge Sabres for Ruff's 600th win 4. NHL.com – Carter's goal gets Kings past Canadiens 5. NHL.com – Daily Primer March 4 6. NHL.com – Blue Jackets' Murray leaves game with injury 7. NHL.com – Canadiens put goalie Carey Price on injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 26 8. NHL.com – Blackhawks F Marian Hossa out for 2 to 3 weeks with upper-body injury 9. NHL.com – Deadline Primer: Brodeur, Callahan, Kesler big names 10. NHL.com – Blackhawks agree to terms with Bollig on extension 11. NHL.com – Oilers sign Scrivens to two-year extension 12. TSN.ca – Insider Trading: Latest on Kesler, Callahan and Spezza 13. ESPN.com – Handing out the NHL hardware 14. ESPN.com – Cross Checks Blog: Rumblings: Stars, Wings mulling deals? 15. ESPN.com – Cross Checks Blog: Will Brodeur be the next goalie traded? 16. The Province – The 10 players most likely to get dealt before NHL trade deadline FLYERS Articles

1. Philadelphia Inquirer – Holmgren might stand pat at NHL trade deadline

Sam Carchidi

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren continued to work the phones Monday, looking for ways to improve his surging team before Wednesday's 3 p.m. trade deadline. That said, Holmgren is happy with the team he has assembled. The Flyers have gone 31-17-6 since their franchise-worst 1-7 start and are on their best roll of the season. They overcame a 4-2 third-period deficit Sunday in Washington and jolted the Capitals in overtime, 5-4, to register their sixth win in the last seven games. The win pushed them ahead of the New York Rangers and into second place in the Metropolitan Division. So while Holmgren is trying to make upgrades, he isn't in desperation mode. Far from it. "I like our team and would not be disappointed if we were to stand pat," he said on Monday. The Flyers' defense is their biggest concern. It lacks speed and has not done a good job clearing bodies in front of goalie Steve Mason. Winnipeg's Dustin Byfuglien, a 6-foot-5, 265-pounder, is among the defensemen who may be moved by the deadline. Other defensemen who are available include Buffalo's Christian Ehrhoff and Tyler Myers, the Islanders' Andrew MacDonald, Dallas' Trevor Daley, and Ottawa's Chris Phillips. The Flyers' old flame, Nashville's Shea Weber, is not expected to be moved, but it is worth noting that if the lowly Predators were to deal him, they would likely do it before his $14 million deal - including a $13 million signing bonus - kicks in for next season. Defenseman Andrej Meszaros, who can become a free agent in July, is among the Flyers drawing interest, and Holmgren must decide whether to deal him or keep the veteran for the stretch run. On Wednesday, the Flyers and Capitals will complete their home-and-home series, this time at the Wells Fargo Center. "It was a great game. Emotional. Lots of scrums," said winger Jake Voracek, who scored a late power-play goal and set up Claude Giroux's game-tying tally with 1 minute, 5 seconds left in regulation. "Kind of like a playoff game, and we have to be ready Wednesday again." Washington will be without Dmitry Orlov. The NHL suspended the defenseman Monday for two games for boarding Brayden Schenn in Sunday's game. Orlov scored two goals Sunday. Breakaways Goalie Cal Heeter, who served as Steve Mason's backup during the last two games, was returned to the Adirondack Phantoms. Ray Emery has recovered from a lower-body injury and can play when needed, Holmgren said.

2. Philadelphia Daily News – Capitals' Orlov gets 2-game ban

Frank Seravalli

Nine fights. Two hundred and eighty-six penalty minutes. Five game misconducts. Now, finally, we can add one suspension to the Flyers' and Capitals' juicy first-season series as Metropolitan Division rivals. That's because Washington defenseman Dmitry Orlov was suspended for two games yesterday by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for boarding Brayden Schenn during the Flyers' come-from-behind win Sunday at Verizon Center. Orlov will miss tomorrow night's rematch against the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center - their second nationally televised grudge match in a row. He will also forfeit $7,076.92 in salary as a result of his vengeful hit from behind on Schenn. With less than 10 minutes to play in the third period, Orlov sought revenge from Schenn for a legal check just seconds earlier on the same play. Trailing by two goals, the Flyers received a 5-minute power play for the major penalty, scored once, and used the momentum to tie the game with 1:05 remaining in the contest. Unlike earlier in the season, when Washington's Tom Wilson avoided a suspension after another questionable hit on Schenn from a game on Dec. 17, justice was served for the Flyers yesterday. Back in December, NHL senior vice president Brendan Shanahan ruled against punishment for Wilson because Schenn turned his back just before contact. In this case, Schenn also turned his back, but Orlov's intent clearly played a role. "The onus is upon Orlov to avoid this check entirely or, at the very least, to minimize it," the NHL's Patrick Burke said in a video explanation online. "Instead, recognizing that it is Schenn, Orlov retaliates to the earlier hit." The Flyers, who sit in second place in the Metropolitan for the first time all season, are 2-1-1 against the Capitals this season. Their Nov. 1 blowout loss, with multiple fights, was one of the turning points of their season - with Ray Emery skating the full length of the ice to pound Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby. Washington recalled defenseman Jack Hillen yesterday from AHL Hershey to replace Orlov in the lineup. Slap shots Goaltender Cal Heeter was returned to AHL Adirondack yesterday, signifying Ray Emery (lower-body) is ready to return to the lineup after leaving last Thursday's game with an injury. Heeter backed up Steve Mason for both games over the weekend . . . The Penguins-Blackhawks Stadium Series game at Soldier Field on Saturday averaged 2.8 million viewers in prime time on NBC, the highest-rated non-Winter Classic regular-season game in history.

3. Philadelphia Daily News – Holmgren on the deadline clock

Sam Donnellon

Homer is on the clock. Two weeks after Sam Hinkie gutted most of the remaining fiber of the woeful 76ers, 3 weeks after Ruben Amaro Jr. flew to Florida with his fingers and toes crossed, it is Paul Holmgren's turn to restore our lost confidence - or relinquish any that remains. Howie Roseman? He made some nice re-signings last week, but his next big splash will come with the NFL draft in early May. This week belongs to the Flyers general manager who, like Amaro, has been toasted and roasted by fans over a tenure that is now in its eighth season. Like Amaro's, his moves and trades have led to near titles and playoff appearances as well as spectacular crashes and flops. Like Amaro, he could use a win or two, and soon. The NHL trade deadline is tomorrow at 3 p.m. The Flyers, resurgent under first-year coach Craig Berube, are back in the dogfight for a potential playoff spot, and could sure use a push. Holmgren, I was told when I tried to speak with him yesterday, has been on the phone attempting to do just that. He's getting scoring. He's getting goaltending. He could use another blue liner, particularly one like Winnipeg's Dustin Byfuglien, a 6-5 Mack Truck best known in these parts for battling with Chris Pronger during the 2010 Stanley Cup finals - the apex of Holmgren's tenure to this point. When Homer traded away the farm to get Pronger during the summer of 2009, he did so under the premise he would get a few runs from the mid-30s defenseman. He might have, too, if not for Pronger's career-ending eye and head injuries. But then again, Amaro didn't plan on Roy Halladay's rapid decline or Ryan Howard's two-season injury woes or Carlos Ruiz' Adderall issues or . . . you get the gist. But the job is about thinking on your feet, about rescuing bad situations. Pat Gillick's early tenure was marked by watching Billy Wagner walk and signing Freddy Garcia and Adam Eaton to big free-agent contracts. As bold as Hinkie's plan is, his resume gives little clue as to whether he has the acumen to make it work. And we're still not quite sure whether Howie really knows how to draft and sign players, or whether Chip really knows how to coach 'em. In fact, there's a ton of uncertainty about all our GMs these days. At times in the past, our beam has narrowed onto one of them. Rarely has it been like this, the men in charge of the four pro sports in this town engaged in a sort of Russian roulette, each replacing the other as the subject of civic second-guessing and downright vitriol, before the next one's actions or inactions push them out of public view until it is their turn again. There is no order to it, no season for it. Holmgren replaced Roseman when his Stanley Cup-caliber coach was fired three games into a hockey season that had all the makings of a house-cleaning disaster. Hinkie took some heat off Amaro and his underwhelming hot-stove moves 2 weeks ago when he conducted the NBA equivalent of donating unwanted clothes to the Salvation Army, trading away three players for second-round picks that he hopes will increase his purchasing power ever-so-slightly in the offseason. Did I say offseason? Oops, sorry. This is the Sixers' offseason, just as the summer of 2012 was for the Phils, when they traded away two All-Star-caliber outfielders for the equivalent of second-round picks. But whereas Hinkie's in-season offseason is purposefully aimed at a more promising future 2 or 3 years from now, Amaro's summer clearance of Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence that season now seems premature, given his current commitment to now, not later. He is crossing any and all remaining digits that 36-year-old Marlon Byrd will continue his renaissance and that Domonic Brown can repeat the solid season he finally put together last summer, at age 25.

I say remaining digits because the Phillies GM has already used both hands and most of his toes this spring on his aging core and some high-risk pitching bets. In that, he is not unlike Holmgren, who used a big chunk of cap space last summer on free-agent defenseman Mark Streit and forward Vinny Lecavalier after buying out the contracts of wildly popular forward Danny Briere and wildly unpopular goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov - whose $7 million annual deal triggered many of the moves that have led to Holmgren's unpopularity. The Flyers began the season 1-7, scoring 11 goals in those games. Of the 4,400 readers who responded to a philly.com poll at the time, 93 percent said Holmgren should follow Laviolette out the door. Even owner Ed Snider, while issuing a tepid vote of confidence, made it clear that Homer needed to fix things quickly - or else. Lecavalier's overtime winner Sunday was his 14th goal of the season but second in as many games. Like the team, he seems to be gaining health and momentum at the best time. The Flyers were an easy team to play against in October. They are the polar opposite these days. They're getting scoring. They're getting goaltending. They just need a little push. Homer is on the clock. You other three GMs, take a breather. 4. Philadelphia Daily News – Frequent Flyers: Flyers pursuing Kesler?

Frank Seravalli

Last week, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said he didn’t envision making any major moves before Wednesday’s trade deadline. His stance apparently changed over the weekend, once word leaked that center Ryan Kesler may be on his way out of Vancouver. Two league sources told the Daily News that the Flyers have tabled a "substantial offer” to try and pry Kesler from the Canucks. They have also asked about acquiring Vancouver defenseman Alexander Edler, who is reportedly on the market, as part of a larger trade - though that combined price is steep. At this point, a little more than 24 hours shy of Wednesday’s 3 o’clock finish line, any deal of this magnitude seems rather unlikely. There are numerous obstacles in the way. For one, any trade involving Kesler would be a team-altering hockey trade, and not your standard “rental”-type deal often consummated around the deadline. This blockbuster would also require serious salary moving both ways for each team remain cap compliant - and they usually take time to put together. Plus, the Flyers clearly are not the only player pursuing Kesler. Numerous teams, including Pittsburgh, Toronto, Chicago, Boston and even Columbus have inquired with Canucks general manager Mike Gillis about Kesler. According to a report in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Penguins view the Flyers as their chief competition for Kesler. The report says the Penguins have offered Brandon Sutter, Simon Despres, and their first round pick. In such hot pursuit of Kesler, Penguins general manager Ray Shero has even softened his stance on letting go top defensive prospect Derrick Pouliot, a first round pick in 2012 - perhaps with knowledge of the Flyers’ most-recent offer.

“Shero is said to be as aggressive in this pursuit of Kesler as he has any player at seven previous deadline periods,” the Tribune-Review’s Rob Rossi reported. When Shero wants something, he usually find a way to get it. Last year, Calgary forward Jarome Iginla chose to be traded to Pittsburgh instead of Boston at the last minute. It is important to keep in mind here that Kesler did not request a trade. He has lucrative, off-ice sponsorships in Vancouver that earn him well above his $5 million salary. This would also signifiy the Canucks are willing to pull the chute on their injury-plagued season with 19 games left despite being only two points out of a playoff spot. As we saw last season with Roberto Luongo in Vancouver, Gillis is surely in a position of leverage. However, a source says former Flyers coach Peter Laviolette was actually among those who became close to Kesler with Team USA at the Olympics and passed on word that he might not be entirely happy in Vancouver. Kesler, 29, holds the keys in this negotiation with a full no-trade clause. The Penguins are reportedly his first choice destination, with Philadelphia serving as his backup plan. Numerous reports stated Kesler - a Michigan native - is not interested in a trade to another Canadian market. The price for Kesler, who has two full seasons left at a cap-certain number of $5 million, remains high heading into Wednesday. It is very possible Kesler remains in Vancouver. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported on Monday night that the Canucks are seeking an established NHL center between the ages of 20-25, preferably a forward prospect, and a first round pick in exchange. For the Flyers, that would likely mean parting ways with a center like Brayden Schenn. Though Holmgren does not have a burning desire to trade anyone on his roster, reiterating Monday he likes his team as assembled, the Flyers would much rather move Schenn than Sean Couturier. It is unclear what Gillis would require to part with both Kesler and Edler in the same deal. Edler, 27, is in the first year of a 6-year, $30 million deal which also provides a cap-certain hit of $5 million, while the cap is rising significantly next season. He, too, holds a no-trade clause. Edler was a true bright spot for Sweden at the Olympics, often playing ahead of Coyotes star Oliver Ekman-Larsson. He is the puck-moving defenseman the Flyers truly need to add. As for Kesler, a one-time 40-goal scorer, the Flyers’ need for him is less pressing. Sure, he is a consummate, two-way forward with a slew of intangibles and legitimate scoring prowess. But they also already have one big-name player, Vinny Lecavalier, playing out of position on the wing because of a logjam down the middle. Plus, Schenn - set to become a much cheaper restricted free agent this summer - has similar points this season as Kesler, despite being 7 years younger. With the 5th-most wins in the NHL since Nov. 7 (28-14-5), the Flyers are seemingly just as content staying put at the deadline. Yet, they are involved - again. They love Kesler’s competitiveness at both ends of the ice. In 2006, Flyers general manager Bob Clarke signed Kesler to an offer sheet, stunning the market with a hostile offer for relatively unknown player at the time. The Flyers' next general manager has watched Kesler blossom into one of the NHL’s most well-rounded players. Perhaps, the Flyers could be on the scent simply to make sure rival Pittsburgh doesn’t become a deeper team overnight without significant cost. We'll see who's bluffing.

5. CSNPhilly.com – Flyers show grit in third-period rally vs. Caps

Sarah Baicker

Slowly but surely, things started to go the Flyers’ way on Sunday. They were still trailing the Washington Capitals, 4-2, but something on the ice had changed. The Flyers were finally chipping away at the Caps’ control, making goalie Braden Holtby work while putting together some solid scoring chances. And then Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov incurred a five-minute boarding major for a hit on Brayden Schenn. The Flyers were given the gift of a lengthy power play -– and Schenn escaped unscathed. “I think the momentum was on our side after that,” Vinny Lecavalier said. “We played the way we know how to play and we have played in third-period pushes. Just getting in deep and playing in their zone and getting some offensive zone time. We get opportunities like that, it went well.” Orlov took the penalty at 9:33 of the final period. Jakub Voracek scored at 11:58, and the Flyers’ command of the game was cemented. While Steve Mason kept the Flyers in the game for the first 20 minutes, suddenly it was Holtby who had to work to keep the Caps from faltering. “Even before we got the five-minute, the guys were carrying the majority of the play,” Mason said. “When you have a five-minute power play, you have to make sure that you get at least one [goal] on it. Two would have been a bonus. “For the guys to come through the way they did says a lot. At this point in time, that’s what’s expected of the leaders on this team.” After the power play ended, the Flyers kept up their pressure. Hard work led to Claude Giroux’s goal with 1:05 left in regulation that forced the game to overtime. But it was the change of momentum that happened over the course of Orlov’s penalty that really set the Flyers in a new direction. “We knew if we were going to play like we did in the first period, we were going to get our butt kicked,” Voracek said. “We came out very hard, drove the net, had a lot of shots on the net. We knew if we were going to keep playing like that, we should be able to win the game.” To coach Craig Berube, the Flyers were able to execute on that third-period power play exactly how he asks them to. They were able to use all five skaters on the ice and hold the puck deep in the Caps’ zone. “Our power play has looked good since we came back from the break,” Berube said. “I was excited because we had five minutes [on the power play]. I think both units have been doing a good job of getting pucks to the net with traffic. That’s how we score on the power play.” Even though they were trailing by two, the Flyers never believed they were out of it on Sunday. While in the past they've limped through power-play opportunities, they used Orlov's major as a turning point and were rewarded with two critical points in the process. “We never gave up,” Mark Streit said. "And I think that’s the bottom line.”

6. CSNPhilly.com – Flyers notes: Hall, Mason shut down Caps' PP

Sarah Baicker

The Washington Capitals' power play had been almost unstoppable since the team’s return from the Olympic break. Heading into Sunday’s game, the Caps had scored four power-play markers in eight chances since the NHL’s season resumed. And even after the Flyers’ 5-4 overtime victory, the Caps' power play was ranked second in the league. The Flyers, though, put an end to that hot streak. “We just wanted to take away options, keep them on the perimeter as much as possible,” Adam Hall said. “They’ve got a lot of really big one-timers out there, so you try to take those away and win faceoffs, try and break up their momentum as much as possible.” That’s exactly what the Flyers did. The Capitals were 0 for 6 on the man advantage -- and, for good measure, Hall added a shorthanded goal in the second period that went a long way in recapturing the game’s momentum. The Flyers' penalty kill is now ranked seventh in the NHL. “We try and take a lot of pride in [our penalty kill],” Hall said. “The less penalties we have to kill off the better, we have to get more momentum that way. But it’s a challenge and we look forward to doing well. Our goaltender’s our best PK'er by far, but if we can do a better job keeping them to low-priority, low-percentage plays on the perimeter and breaking up plays, that’s just going to help us.” Steve Mason was particularly adept at keeping Alex Ovechkin in check. The Caps’ sniper is notoriously dangerous on the power play, but Mason knew exactly how to deal with him. “You’re not exactly cheating towards him, but you definitely know where he is at all times,” Mason said. “For the majority of their power plays, they definitely try to feed him the puck and when he gets ahold of it, he knows where it’s going, and you just try and get in good position when it’s coming from that close.” Orlov’s hit The Flyers were awarded a five-minute power play when Dmity Orlov boarded Brayden Schenn at 9:33 of the third period. The hit was a scary one, with Orlov clearly leaving his feet as he made contact with Schenn -- who was facing the boards and somehow went unharmed. Orlov will have a phone hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety Monday afternoon and could face up to a five-game suspension. Flyers coach Craig Berube wasn’t too put off by the hit, however. “It’s hockey, man,” he said. “Guys play hard, things happen. Nobody likes a hit from behind, never have from when I played the game 'til now. It’s always a dangerous hit, but it happens. It’s a fast game out there and things happen.” Downie’s game Steve Downie did not have his best game of the season Sunday afternoon.

The Flyers’ forward incurred a tripping penalty in the first period, a high-sticking double-minor in the second period and a roughing minor in the third. But Berube didn’t seem too upset. He has, at times this season, come down hard on Downie’s game. “I think he’s playing a hard game,” Berube said. “Intensity. Hard on the puck and being physical and making support plays like he does. He knows he can’t take a high-sticking penalty like he did, and the trip penalty. He had two of those. “Those are penalties you can’t take and he knows that, but he’s playing hard.” Hitting the gas The Flyers were outshot 17-6 after the first period, but turned their game on in the 40 minutes that followed. They outshot the Capitals 30-12 throughout the rest of the game, including overtime. Not as bad as you think Though the Capitals let go of yet another two-goal lead (it’s been a consistent problem for them this season), they've now recorded a point in five consecutive games. The Caps are 4-0-1 in that span. They’re also 5-1-2 in their last eight games. Loose pucks Schenn was 6 for 7 on faceoffs and 18 for 21 over the weekend, including the game against the Rangers. ... Schenn also led the Flyers with five hits against the Caps. ... Hall’s goal was his fourth of the season, the most he’s had in a season since 2010-11 (he had seven). ... The Flyers are now 7-17-3 when trailing after two periods. 7. CSNPhilly.com – Caps' Orlov suspended 2 games for hit on Schenn

Sarah Baicker

Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov was suspended two games for boarding Brayden Schenn in the third period of the Flyers' 5-4 overtime win over the Caps Sunday. Orlov received a five-minute major at the time of the hit, which occurred 9:33 into the third period. Schenn was not injured on the play. Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement and based on his salary, Orlov will forfeit $7,076.92. That money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. "Shortly after legally checking Orlov behind the Washington net, Schenn is in pursuit of a loose puck that has been chipped back into the Capitals' zone," the NHL's video explanation states. "Orlov tracks from Schenn from behind, and then launches into him with significant force, driving up and through Schenn's numbers, and causing him to crash violently into the glass. this is boarding." Schenn was aware of Orlov's approach, but that doesn't make the hit legal. The retaliatory nature of the hit also played into the league's decision to hand down the suspension. "It's important to note that, although Schenn has turned his back to Orlov, he does not do this immediately prior to or simultaneous with the check," according to the video. "Therefore the onus is upon Orlov to avoid this check entirely, or at the very least, to minimize it. Instead, recognizing that it is Schenn, Orlov retaliates to the earlier hit by exploding up and into the hit to deliver a violent check."

Just over two minutes into the power play the Flyers received for the hit, Jakub Voracek scored to bring the Flyers within one. That span of the third period solidified the Flyers' takeover of the game's pace. Claude Giroux went on to score with 1:05 left in regulation to force overtime. Orlov, 22, also scored two goals in the game. He has never been suspended in his 101-game NHL career.

8. CSNPhilly.com – 3 Stars: Giroux, Flyers erase 2-goal third-period deficit in Washington

The700Level.com

The Philadelphia Flyers’ 5-4 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center on Sunday as told from the perspective of three players. 3. Vincent Lecavalier The 33-year-old has been something of a disappointment in the first of a five-year deal he signed with the Flyers over the summer, but he came up big when it mattered most on Sunday. Lecavalier’s wrist shot from the blue line in overtime seemed innocent enough, as the broadcast noted, but it might’ve deflected off of something on the way in, and the goaltender never really saw it regardless. Kimmo Timonen jumping out of the shot’s path was a nice touch as well. 2. Braden Holtby It’s a little unusual for a goaltender to surrender five goals in a losing effort and still be considered one of the game’s three stars. That being said, it’s hard to blame the Caps netminder for much of what transpired. Holtby stopped 31 of 36 shots all told, but 11 of those opportunities came on the power play, including nine in the third period. The Capitals can thank Dmitry Orlov for that, as his dirty hit from behind on Brayden Schenn resulted in a five-minute major. Holtby managed to keep the damage to a minimum there, just one goal to cut Washington’s lead to one. The orange and black kept the pressure on though and were finally able to tie the score after pulling the goaltender for an extra skater. As a matter of fact, Holtby was sensational more than a few times, and were it not for some acrobatic saves, the final tally would’ve looked a lot worse. Hate to give him the nod over Flyers goalie Steve Mason, who was also pretty good himself while shutting down 25 of 29 Capitals attempts, but Holtby is deserving. 1. Claude Giroux The captain paced his Flyers teammates in just about every way imaginable. Giroux lit the lamp twice—his 20th and 21st of the season—including the redirection past Holtby to force the game into overtime. Giroux also added an assist on Jakub Voracek’s power-play goal in the third period to bring Philly within one. Besides leading the way with his scoring, Giroux also topped his Flyers teammates with five shots on goal, 14 faceoff wins, 22:15 in ice time. He was second in hits with four. Great game for the captain. Great win for the Flyers.

9. CSNPhilly.com – 10 Observations: Recapping Flyers' big weekend

Tim Panaccio

When the post-Olympic stretch run began last Thursday, the Flyers were facing 23 games in 46 days with 14 at home. Big thing was, three games in four days –- two against key Metropolitan Division rivals. The mini-hump is over after a critical weekend where the Flyers swept the Rangers and Capitals but now face a sluggish week with just two games over six days. Here are 10 observations from this past weekend: 1. Relentless The Flyers were just that in the third period vs. the Caps, tying the game after trailing by two goals. Dmitry Orlov’s reactionary five-minute major on Brayden Schenn led to a Jakub Voracek power-play goal, then Claude Giroux tied it on his deflection of Voracek’s shot. The Flyers didn’t give up and eventually win on Vinny Lecavalier’s goal in overtime. 2. The Captain Giroux was angry much of the afternoon because of Tom Wilson's charging into Steve Mason early in the game, then Orlov's running Brayden Schenn, plus Wilson's punching Giroux in the middle of the game. That anger carried over into Giroux’s offensive game in a positive manner, unlike Steve Downie, who seems incapable of channeling anger into something positive on the ice. Channeling anger into something constructive on the ice is part of team discipline. 3. Lecavalier The veteran centerman hates playing left wing and feels uncomfortable shooting from that side. On the power play, Lecavalier will always drift toward the middle because that is his natural spot. In overtime, however, he had no choice but to move left, and got a drop pass from Kimmo Timonen, then shot behind his screen to win it. Lecavalier can score from the left side, yet seems to need convincing. Maybe this accomplishes that. Also, that’s the third time this season Lecavalier has scored in back-to-back games. Perhaps more than any other Flyer, the break in the schedule did him some good. His game-winner was his 900th career point. 4. Holtby Braden Holtby was unconscious in net for the Caps. That split save he had in the second period to deny Wayne Simmonds his 20th goal was surpassed only by the lunging poke check on Giroux’s open net backhander minutes later. Too often, the Flyers would get frustrated, but they stuck with it. They did the same against Henrik Lundqvist. Though they burned him for two goals on the first four shots of the game and it gave them confidence they were going to score some goals. 5. Faceoffs The Flyers were dominant off the draw against the Caps. Through two periods, the Flyers dominated Washington, winning 63 percent of the draws, and they finished at 62 percent. Against the Rangers, they won 56 percent of the draws in the game. Win the draw, you’re not chasing the game -- you dictate it. 6. Energy swings You could plainly see it occurring in each of the three games since the Olympic break ended. Given their hard practices during the break, then the ramped up schedule once the break ended, the Flyers seemed to lose, then find their legs throughout the games.

7. Indecisiveness Luke Schenn still seems indecisive at the net, staring down shots from above the circles. He has a tendency to block the goalie’s vision while watching the shooter instead of blocking the shot. If you’re not going to block the shot, get out of the way. That’s what happened on Orlov’s goal in Washington. Schenn (minus-2) was uncertain whether to block, screened Mason, then turned after Orlov shot and Mason lost track of the puck. Overall, the Flyers' defense did too much standing around that first period. They were passengers, not participants, and coach Craig Berube told them that between periods. 8. Discipline Zac Rinaldo clipped Wilson, who ran into Mason. It was Rinaldo’s elbow that was partially –- not entirely -- responsible, but the Flyers got a power play and a goal out of it. Still, tempers were boiling over after Wilson charged Mason. So what happens? Luke Schenn hits Jason Chimera after the whistle, giving the Caps another power play and they get a go-ahead goal three seconds after the power play ended. Luckily, the Flyers' penalty killers were outstanding this weekend, killing off 8 of 9 power plays. The Flyers had a strong opening to the second period against Washington, generating speed, offense and good scoring chances and then Downie buried John Erskine up against the glass with a high-stick, double-minor, giving the Caps a four-minute power play. Downie had played a good game against the Rangers before that. The Caps had five power plays through two periods, which is far too many. Downie was on the ice during a crucial five-minute power play at the end of the game -– why was he even out there? -- and the first thing he did was get into a scrum with two players. The fact the Flyers remain undisciplined in close games this late in the season is troubling. 9. 60 Minutes In all three games since the Olympic break, the Flyers have played bits 'n pieces of hockey, but not a full 60-minute game. Against San Jose and the Rangers, the Flyers played poorly in the second period after strong starts. Against the Caps, they were brutal in the first period, and terrific for half of the second period. The Flyers collapsed in the second half of the stanza, however, perhaps showing the strain of three games in four days. Stretch runs require consistency and so far the Flyers are struggling to find it through three periods. 10. Goaltending Their goaltending -- meaning Mason -- is giving the Flyers a legit chance to catch up, which is encouraging. Mason had some key saves in the Caps’ win and kept the Flyers in striking range to get the game tied in the third period. Giving your team a chance when things aren’t perfect is all any coach expects of a goaltender. Mason has delivered. 10. Bucks County Courier Times – Confident players not sweating trade deadline

Wayne Fish

Nothing loosens up a pre-trade deadline locker room like a couple big wins over neck-and-neck division rivals. Including four straight victories before the Olympic break, the Flyers have taken six of their last seven games to move into second place in the Metropolitan Division. If that counts for anything, it should at least make Flyers management think twice about making any significant changes to the roster. Chemistry can be a subjective thing but the Flyers appear to be on the same page right now and bringing on board some outside talent before Wednesday’s 3 p.m. NHL transaction deadline could affect that synergy.

The Flyers looked like a pretty loose bunch strolling out of the locker room after Sunday’s gutsy 5-4 overtime win over the Caps in Washington, completing an impressive weekend performance which included a 4-2 win over the Rangers. All this would appear to put general manager Paul Holmgren somewhat in a position of strength as he fields whatever offers he might be getting from general managers around the NHL. If anything is about to happen, there are some decisions to be made, such as whether the Flyers are looking for short-term help (like a rental) or something long-range that will make them better for years to come. Serious contenders usually aren’t worried about the latter. They’re more concerned with bolstering their lineup – filling a perceived hole – for the stretch drive and a possible playoff run. The Flyers had Monday off after the back-to-back games but when they return on Tuesday, the mood should be somewhat light. There’s no reason to believe that any of the team’s key players will be changing addresses. “There have been no comments or discussions about the trade deadline,’’ Jake Voracek said. “This is a very quality team, we have to focus on the ice. We lost to San Jose the first game back (from the Olympic break) but I think we made a statement the last two games. That’s huge for us.’’ If the Flyers are going to try to upgrade anything, one would think it would come on defense. Offense would not appear to be a problem. The Flyers are one of only two NHL teams (Colorado the other) with at least six 15-goal scorers. . .and Vinny Lecavalier, who has 14, could be joining that group shortly. Coach Craig Berube says he doesn’t feel the need to talk to the team about not worrying about the trade deadline. It’s something that no one but Holmgren can control. “There is nothing I can say,’’ Berube commented. “I don’t know anything, nobody does. “That’s part of the game, you have to deal with it as a pro.’’ Orlov suspended: Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov received a two-game suspension on Monday for his boarding hit on the Flyers' Brayden Schenn during Sunday's game at the Verizon Center in D.C. Orlov received a five-minute major penalty on the play. Schenn was able to finish the game. Short shots: Goaltender Cal Heeter, who was brought up from Adirondack on Friday to fill in for injured Ray Emery (lower body), was returned to the Phantoms on Monday. Emery is expected to be ready for Tuesday’s practice and be available for Wednesday night’s home game against Washington. . . Bizarre stat of the day: The Flyers picked up two more power-play goals on the road Sunday, pushing them into third in the NHL rankings at an eye-popping 25.2 percent away from home. But, at the Wells Fargo Center, it’s quite a different story. They are ranked 24th in the league at just 14.3 percent. Maybe someone should bring home some ice chips from a road rink and sprinkle them on the WFC surface after Lauren Hart sings the national anthem.

11. Camden County Courier-Post – For Flyers, standings, playoff spots fluctuate daily

Dave Isaac

Make no mistake about it, the Flyers know exactly how important their last two wins are. By beating the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals, the Flyers went from hanging onto a playoff spot by a string to leapfrogging into second place in the Metropolitan Division. In a tight playoff race, the Flyers have been doing a whole lot of scoreboard watching recently. “Well, we have it in our faces every day at Skate Zone,” Vinny Lecavalier said with a laugh. “It’s there in practice in every single room. Even if you don’t want to look at it, you kind of have no choice.” The Flyers knew entering this portion of their schedule that things would change quickly. They are in the midst of a stretch of seven games in which six are against division opponents. “Those games are four-point games,” Claude Giroux said after Sunday’s win over Washington. “It’s us and them. There’s a couple teams right behind us, but we’re kind of fighting for that playoff spot.” Instead of a game like this Saturday, when the Flyers will go to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs, the division games can change the standings in a heartbeat. Such is life in the new NHL. “Honestly, since the lockout (in 2004-05), there’s a lot of parity with the salary cap,” Lecavalier said. “Every year it’s gotten closer and closer and closer. There’s 10, 12 teams that are involved. It makes it pretty exciting for the fans and the players. You want to be in the top two or three.” And, for now, they are. It’s a rare day that the standings don’t change among those top teams, but Monday they did not. The Pittsburgh Penguins are on solid ground in first place in the Metropolitan Division. Those second, third and fourth-place teams are all up for grabs. With a pair of wins this weekend, the Flyers have made life a little easier for themselves. “This team is a very quality team,” Jake Voracek said. “We are focused about what we have to do on the ice. We lost to San Jose the first game back (from the Olympic break), but I think we made big statements with these last two games and that’s huge for us.” Luckily for the Flyers, neither the Rangers nor Capitals play tonight, either. For at least one more day, the Flyers will sit in second place. • Giroux’s hot streak continues: Don’t look now, but here comes Giroux up the NHL points leader list. Heading into Monday’s action, Giroux was tied for eighth in the league in scoring, thanks to his three-point performance Sunday. The Flyers captain had two goals and an assist in the win over the Capitals. It was his fourth game this season with three or more points. In the Flyers’ recent hot streak of winning six of their last seven games, Giroux has been the leader the Flyers need.

In his last 14 games, Giroux has 19 points. “For the guys to come through the way they did says a lot,” goalie Steve Mason said after the win in Washington. “At this point in time, this is what’s expected of the leaders on this team. They need to come through, and they did (Sunday).” • Orlov suspended two games for hit on Schenn: Washington defenseman Dmitry Orlov was suspended two games for his hit on Brayden Schenn Sunday. Orlov, who was given a five-minute major in the game, had a phone hearing with the league Monday. The league considered an earlier hit by Schenn on Orlov when coming to its decision and also that Orlov knew it was Schenn he had lined up in the corner. “The onus is on Orlov to avoid this check entirely or, at the very least, to minimize it,” NHL director of player safety Patrick Burke said in an explanatory video. “Instead, recognizing that it is Schenn, Orlov retaliates to the earlier hit by exploding up and into the hit to deliver a violent check.” The first game of Orlov’s suspension will be Wednesday’s rematch. He also will forfeit $7,062.92 in salary in addition to the suspension. • Heeter returned to minors: The Flyers returned goaltender Cal Heeter to the Adirondack Phantoms. He was loaned to the Flyers over the weekend on emergency conditions as Ray Emery sat out with a lower-body injury. 12. HockeyBuzz.com – Meltzer's Musings: Special Teams Key Latest Comeback Win

Bill Meltzer

SPECIAL TEAMS KEY LATEST FLYERS COMEBACK The Philadelphia Flyers wake up this morning in second place in the Metropolitan Division, following weekend victories on Saturday afternoon against the New York Rangers (4-2) and Sunday afternoon against the Washington Capitals (5-4 in overtime). Coupled with the Rangers' 6-3 loss at home last night to the Boston Bruins, the Flyers have moved from third to second place in the Metro. The Flyers are 2-1-0 since the Olympic break and 7-3-0 over their last 10 games. That has put them in the driver's seat in the playoff chase. Of course, things could still change in a hurry. The race is too tight for any team to afford even a modest losing streak. Yesterday in Washington, the Flyers bettered their single-season franchise record for games won after trailing at some point in the third period. The two-goal comeback in the third period and overtime victory marked the team's 11th win when trailing in the third period and seventh (7-17-3) when trailing at the second intermission. Special teams were at the root of the victory. The Flyers used power play goals by Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek and a shorthanded tally by Adam Hall to key multiple comebacks over the course of the game. Washington led by scores of 1-0, 2-1 and 4-2 at various junctures of the match. The last time the Flyers played the Capitals, a reckless major penalty proved very costly to Washington. In the second period Tom Wilson charged at Brayden Schenn (the penalty was called boarding), putting his team shorthanded for five minutes. The Flyers scored twice to turn a 2-2 game into a 4-2 lead.

Yesterday, Orlov went from hero (two goals) to goat after getting tossed from the game for boarding Brayden Schenn at 9:33 of the third period. Voracek blasted home a shot from the right point to cut the Washington lead to 4-3 and put the Caps on their heels for the rest of the game. With Steve Mason pulled for an extra attacker, Giroux scored his second goal of the game to force overtime. The Flyers only forged ahead when Vincent Lecavalier scored his overtime game-winner on a shot that deflected off Caps' defenseman Karl Alzner. Giroux finished the game with two goals and an assist. Voracek had a a goal and two assists. Kimmo Timonen racked up three assists, including dishing the puck on the rush to Lecavalier on the overtime goal. Philly benefited from a pair of favorable video reviews after on-ice no-goal rulings by the referees. Giroux's first goal went in off the goal post and then rocketed out of the net. Later, with the Flyers trailing 2-1, a puck leaked through Mason and was reeled in by Mark Streit as it crossed the goal line. With the puck airborne and tilted, it could not be conclusively determined if the puck had entirely crossed the line (although it probably did). That was not enough evidence to overrule the call on the ice. Washington was the better team in the first period by a wide margin. The Flyers, who got outshot by a 17-6 margin, were losing too many puck and body/stick positioning battles early in the game. That contributed to the Dmitry Orlov goal (at the end of a long cycling shift) and Marcus Johansson (outworking Nicklas Grossmann near the net) goals that gave Washington their 1-0 and 2-1 leads. After the first period, Philly dictated the majority of the play even when the scoreboard was not in their favor. The Flyers outshot the Caps by a 30-12 margin over the final 42:45 of the game, including 16-3 in the third period and overtime. As well as Steve Mason played on Saturday against the Rangers, yesterday's game was not one of his best performances of the season. It wasn't so much that he let in soft goals but he was not tracking or controlling pucks as well as he does when he has his A game going. Meanwhile, the defense in front of the goaltender was poor in the first period but improved as the game moved along. For the most part, though, the Flyers had to score their way to victory in this uneven game. During the stretch drive and playoffs, all that matters is whether you win. Sometimes you have to win a tight-checking game, sometimes you need to win a track meet. The Flyers of recent years have been better equipped to win the latter type of game. No matter what happens on Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center when the Flyers and Capitals complete their season series and finish their home-and-home set, Philadelphia will remain ahead of Washington in the standings at the end of the game. The Capitals have only won 21 times to date in regulation or overtime -- eight of their wins are via shootout -- and they are far behind the Flyers (29 ROW) and every other team in the playoff hunt in the first tiebreaker. The Flyers, Rangers, and Capitals have all played 62 games to date, with 20 remaining on the regular season schedule. Philly has 70 points to the Rangers' 69 points and the Caps' 68 points. Fourth-place Columbus is five points behind the Flyers with two games in hand, while the Devils also have 65 points but have played the same number of games as Philly. Sixth-place Carolina (61 games played) may be trade deadline sellers after dropping their fifth consecutive game and falling nine points behind the Flyers and seven points behind the Detroit Red Wings (60 games played) for the final wildcard spot.

Yesterday's game was the final one for the Flyers before Wednesday afternoon's trade deadline. The team will take today off after playing back-to-back games and three in less than four days. Tomorrow they will practice and try to avoid distractions. Wednesday is a game night. We have reached the time of year where the road is bumpy and the short-range outlook can change quickly from game to game. That's not just for the Flyers, though. That's for most every team. The stretch drive and playoffs are not for the faint of heart. ********* CASINO ROYALE FUNDRAISER WITH FLYERS ALUMNI On Sun. March 9, starting at 5 p.m., Abrams Hebrew Academy will hold its annual Fund Raising Dinner and Casino Royale Night at Congregation Beth El in Yardley, PA. Special guests for the night will include Bernie Parent, Brian Propp, Bill Clement, Joe Watson and Bob "the Hound" Kelly. Apart from the dinner and casino event, there will also be a host of items available via auction, including a signed stick by all three members of the Flyers' legendary LCB line (Reggie Leach and Hall of Famers Bob Clarke and Bill Barber), boxes of Bernie Parent's signature cigar line, a handsome Clarke lithograph and many more goodies. All proceeds go to benefit the school. My nephew, Sammy Sherman, attends Abrams and my sister, Liza, helped to organize the event and line up the Flyers alumni guests. The slogan for the event is "Help Abrams Make Its Goal." 13. ESPN.com – Dmitry Orlov suspended 2 games

Associated Press

Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov has been suspended by the NHL for two games for boarding Philadelphia Flyers forward Brayden Schenn. The suspension, announced on Monday, will cost Orlov $7,076.92 in salary. Orlov launched into Schenn during the third period of Sunday's game and he was assessed a major penalty. The infraction helped the Flyers rally from a 4-2 deficit for a 5-4 overtime win. After the suspension was announced, the Capitals recalled defenseman Jack Hillen from Hershey of the AHL. Hillen had been with Hershey for a conditioning stint after rehabbing a fracture in his right leg. Washington Capitals Articles (FLYERS opponent tomorrow)

1. The Washington Post – Dmitry Orlov suspended two games for boarding Flyers’ Brayden Schenn

Katie Carrera

Dmitry Orlov has been suspended two games for boarding Flyers’ forward Brayden Schenn in the third period of Sunday’s game, leaving the Capitals without one of their top-four defensemen for a key set of back-to-back games this week. The NHL’s department of player safety deemed Orlov’s hit a “violent check” and continued a season-long trend of penalizing those who choose to drive players into the boards from behind.

Orlov, 22, will forfeit $7,076.92 in pay and is eligible to return to the lineup on March 8 against Phoenix. It is the first suspension in the defenseman’s career, which spans 101 regular season games over the past three years. In a video explanation of the suspension, the NHL’s department of player safety outlines the retaliatory nature of Orlov’s hit which was preceded by a clean check from Schenn against the Capitals’ defenseman 10 seconds earlier on the same shift. “Orlov tracks Schenn from behind and then launches into him with significant force,” the NHL said. “Driving up and through Schenn’s numbers and causing him to crash violently into the glass.” While Schenn turned and saw Orlov coming as he approached the loose puck in the corner, the NHL makes it clear that does not give the blueliner “the green light” to leave his feet and deliver a check from behind. “The onus is upon Orlov to avoid this check entirely or at the very least to minimize it,” the league said in its explanation. Orlov received a five-minute major penalty for boarding at 9:33 of the third period Sunday, an infraction that shifted the game in the Flyers’ favor and allowed them to mount a comeback en route to a 5-4 overtime win. Now not only did the hit cost the Capitals a chance to close out a victory, but it will test their blueline depth in games at Philadelphia and Boston Wednesday and Thursday. Jack Hillen could ready to return to the lineup after missing five months with a fractured tibial plateau in his right leg, making filling in for Orlov a simple matter of activating the 28-year-old from long-term injured reserve. If not, the logical recall options from the AHL’s Hershey Bears are likely prospect Nate Schmidt or journeyman Julien Brouillette. 2. The Washington Post – Washington Capitals find no comfort in a two-goal lead

Katie Carrera

Had you told the Washington Capitals in advance that coming out of the Olympic break they would capture five of six points available in their first three games, they would have viewed it as a step forward in their quest to reach the playoffs for a seventh straight season. But lurking below the surface of those results is one of the Capitals’ most self-destructive patterns: their tendency to blow two-goal leads. They’ve done it three times in the three games since resuming their schedule, and on Sunday it cost them a chance to surpass the Philadelphia Flyers, another team vying for a postseason berth, in the standings. “It hurts because we blew a lead. It’s the wrong way,” Coach Adam Oates said. “At this point in time, you’re supposed to be better than that.” All told, the Capitals have squandered two-goal leads 11 times in 10 different games this season. They’re 4-3-3 in those contests, meaning the lapses have cost them nine standings points — a quantifiable and significant amount of failed potential for a team that is currently on the outside of the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture and doesn’t own any tiebreakers. That this latest blunder came against the Flyers only added to the ugliness of the trend. Washington established a 4-2 lead with 3 minutes 37 seconds to go in the second period of the matinee game, but after that would be outshot 19-4 by the time Vincent Lecavalier scored the game-winner for the Flyers in overtime. Over that same span, Philadelphia recorded 43 total shot attempts (shots, blocks and misses combined) to the Capitals’ 11.

Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov’s retaliatory hit and resulting five-minute major penalty for boarding in the third period certainly played a major role in creating the discrepancy. The Capitals were outshot 13-0 and out-attempted 28-3 from when he was penalized with 10:27 left in regulation. But Washington had little response to the Flyers’ push before that infraction or after the penalty expired. “It was embarrassing,” goalie Braden Holtby said. “I don’t know what it is. We didn’t play a game today that we should have won. We were lucky to get to overtime. When a game’s on the line like that, when we have a lead, we need to lock down and play defensive hockey and we’re not doing that.” Players acknowledge that they’re susceptible to lulls in their game once they’ve established a multi-goal lead. They inherently want to protect the lead, but retreating into a defensive shell only works if the defense can hold up to that pressure. Washington’s play in its own end has been suspect most games this season, but that hasn’t prevented the team from trying to protect the lead rather than build on it . “There’s a very fine line once you’re up two,” forward Jay Beagle said. “You have a two-goal lead, so you want to play a little bit more defensive. But in the other sense, in doing that you spend most of the time in your D zone, which is going to result in some goals. So I think we’ve just got to keep our foot on the gas and keep charging at them and keep pushing the pace to them.” Yet that rarely occurs. The Capitals take only 44.1 percent of the shots at even strength when they’re leading by two or more goals this season according to ExtraSkater.com, a Web site than analyzes NHL statistics. That means that when they’re up by two or more goals, the Capitals allow their opponents to fire more than 55 percent of the shots. Saturday, in their 4-2 win over the Bruins, the Capitals hung on to their lead but attempted only five shots to Boston’s 10 in the final 9:07 after going up by two. In the first game out of the break, at Florida on Thursday, the Capitals gave up a pair of two-goal advantages before winning, 5-4. After Washington went up 2-0, the Panthers outshot the visitors 10-5 and out-attempted them 16-5 over the next 12:30 of play until they tied the game. The Capitals re-established a two-goal lead, at 4-2, late in the second period but then let Florida control the pace again. The Panthers outshot them 7-4 and out-attempted them 13-5 over 11:24 of play as they worked to knot the game at 4. “It’s not good enough. We’re up two goals,” forward Marcus Johansson said. “There’s no reason to change anything when you’re up two goals. I think you should play the same way. It doesn’t call for anything else.” Following the wins in Florida and Boston, the Capitals talked about learning to stay on the offensive when they have a lead. All that chatter didn’t prevent a letdown from happening again against the Flyers, though, and this time it resulted in a damaging defeat. “We’ve done it too many times. We almost don’t want two-goal leads the way we’re playing with them right now,” forward Eric Fehr said. “I don’t know what it is, if we shut our brains off for a little bit or think the game’s over. In this league, we should have learned by now the games are far from over.” Capitals note: Orlov has been suspended two games for boarding Flyers forward Brayden Schenn in Sunday’s game, leaving the Capitals without one of their top-four defensemen for a key set of back-to-back games this week. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety deemed Orlov’s hit a “violent check” and continued a season-long trend of penalizing those who choose to drive players into the boards from behind.

Orlov, 22, will forfeit $7,076.92 in pay and is eligible to return to the lineup on Saturday against Phoenix. It is the first suspension in the defenseman’s career, which spans 101 regular season games over the past three seasons. Flyers Cup Headlines

1. Bucks County Courier Times – Strong third period lifts Upper Moreland into second round of Flyers

Cup playoffs

Bill McFarland

Upper Moreland scored four goals in the last period to claim a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Downingtown West on Monday night in first-round action in the Flyers Cup Class A ice hockey tournament at the Bucks County Ice Sports Center. The Bears will face West Chester Rustin in Wednesday’s second round. “(Before the third period) I told the kids that we had 16 minutes left,” said Upper Moreland coach Michael Angelo. “I told them to have some fun and to put the puck into the net. Our kids came out real fast in the third period.” The coach, however, couldn’t have expected his players to interpret him so literally. The Golden Bears were trailing 1-0 heading into the final frame, due to a second-period goal by the Whippets’ Chris Fabry, but they scored twice in the first minute of play. Eight seconds into the third, Colton Arizini converted a rebound from a Nick Park shot to even the score at 1-1, and the Bears added another goal 43 seconds later to take a 2-1 lead. Sean Lloyd passed the puck from the left to Jordin Holmes, who was just to the right of the crease, and Holmes pushed it past Downingtown West goalie Thomas Cliggett. “We realized that we had to do something to get back into the game,” said Arizini. “We needed (those goals). They kept everyone going. That was a turning point.” But Downingtown West wasn’t done and when Alec Higgins scored for the Whippets to tie the score again at 2-2 with 6:02 left in regulation, it was beginning to look like overtime. “That’s when we knew that we had to step it up a little because we were still in the game,” said Arizini. With 4:22 left, the Bears’ Lloyd was headed toward the goal from center ice when a Downingtown defender somehow separated Lloyd from the puck. But it went to Arizini who poked it between the left upright and the goalkeeper to give Upper Moreland a 3-2 lead. “The puck just happened to drop back to me,” said Arizini about his second score. “I saw the opportunity, so I took the shot.” Downingtown West made a questionable decision that led to the final goal. The Whippets called time with 1:49 left in the game. When play resumed, there was an extra man up front at the expense of goalie Cliggett. Seven seconds later, Upper Moreland’s Matt Iehle slipped the puck into the empty net to complete the scoring. “I told the guys that every single shift mattered,” said Angelo. “If we won more shifts, then we would win the game. Everybody on this team hustled their butts off tonight.”

2. Bucks County Courier Times – CR North needs 2 OTs to topple Manheim Township

Rick Woelfel

A long night had a happy ending for Council Rock North. Justin Fricke scored 1:26 into a second overtime period, giving the Indians a 4-3 win over Manheim Township on Monday night in a Flyers Cup Class AA play-in game. Council Rock North (9-10-2), the 15th seed in the tournament, will face second seed Central Bucks South in a first-round game Wednesday night at Warwick. Colton Snow scored two goals for the Indians, the second of which gave North a 3-2 lead in the third period. On that one, the net came off its moorings around the time the puck entered the net. After the game the officials indicated the puck had crossed the goal line before the net was dislodged. It took just 1:13 for the Blue Streaks to score the equalizer when Ethan Beeauchamp scored the tying goal with 9:50 left in regulation. Around that point the pace of the game picked up considerably but neither team could capitalize on its opportunities. Manheim Township had the better of things in the first period, Council Rock North did not get its first shot on goal until 4:40 left in the opening session. Snow scored the game’s first goal (1:43) in the second period when he stole the puck at the Manheim blue line and beat goaltender Brandon Davis. “The first half we didn’t play good,” said North coach Eric Tye. “At the same token they had some offensive pressure, they got seven shots, we only had three, but after the first period. We changed a couple guys on a couple lines”. Adam Eby tied the game for Manheim Township (5:31) in the second period, when he scored on a rebound of a shot that caromed all the way out to the left faceoff circle. Eby blasted the puck past North goaltender Kyle McQuillan, who appeared to be partially screened on the play. Matthew Milne gave the Blue Streaks the lead with 4:38 left in the period, before Sam Kroh scored for North to tie the game (3:26) in the third period. And that set up the dramatic finish. Both goaltenders were superb with McQuillan making 36 saves and Davis 28.

3. Bucks County Courier Times – Neshaminy rallies for Flyers Cup win

Jason Renard

Neshaminy’s ice hockey team was running out of time in a win-and-you-are-in situation Monday night. Playing host to Wilson in the Class AA play-in game of the Flyers Cup, the Bulldogs had a two-goal lead heading into the final period at The Rink at Warwick. That’s when Neshaminy buckled down, mounted a comeback, and came off the ice with a 6-5 victory. With the win, 13th-seeded Neshaminy will face fourth-seeded Souderton on Wednesday night in the first round of the Flyers Cup playoffs. “I have believed in our team all year long, and it’s more of a confidence booster for them now — they believe the same thing I have believed all year long,” said Neshaminy coach Dan Van Buskirk.

“This is a great win for us, a big win for us and now we play Souderton in the first round who beat us up pretty good the last time we played them (11-1 loss). That was another game where we came out and scored a quick goal, and then went flat. Hopefully, we will come out and play a complete game this next time.” Neshaminy came out hot, scoring just 1:45 into the contest when Ian Dixon lit the lamp off an assist from Nick Foster. Wilson answered, scoring a goal less than a minute later by Michael Simmerman, who scored his second goal of the game five minutes later to put the Bulldogs up 2-1 after 16 minutes of play. In the second period, the Bulldogs scored two more goals to extend their advantage to 4-1 before Nick Verdi cut into the deficit when he rippled the net off an assist from Eric Graham with 59 seconds left on the clock. “The motto on our bench was that we needed to get back in this game,” said Verdi, who finished with one goal and an assist. “We were doing all the right essentials, but everything just wasn’t clicking for us. Once we got a goal in, our confidence started building back up and everybody’s heads were back up and we ended up pulling through at the end of the game. I was really impressed with how we reacted as we started coming back in the game.” Verdi’s goal at the end of the second period vaulted Neshaminy into the final period where it tied the score at 4-4 on goals by Nick Sabatini and Graham. The Bulldogs responded and put one in the cage to regain the lead at the 8:30 mark, putting the pressure back on the host team. “Between the second and third period I told the guys that this was their opportunity,” said Van Buskirk. “This is make it or break it and up until then we felt that we weren’t getting some of the calls going our way, and we could let someone take something from us, or we could overcome and worry about what we could control and just play our game.” That’s when Neshaminy took over and controlled the last six minutes of play in Wilson’s end of the ice. Working a power play, Dixon took a pass from Matthew Kaleck for the game-tying goal, and then with 2:30 left in regulation, Sabatini recorded the game-winner to keep Neshaminy’s season alive. “(Nick) Foster (assist with Verdi) always has his head up the whole game and is looking for a good pass and when I came through the middle he connected with me and I got the goal,” said Sabatini. “We’re real quick to put our heads down as a team, but we tried to keep the momentum up, keep the players up, and just keep skating hard.” The Bulldogs were outshot 38-29, with Neshaminy’s goaltender, Matt Sheley, coming up big with 24 saves. 4. Delaware County Times – Ice Hockey: Springfield cruises in Flyers Cup opener

Tom Coll, Ryan Brawley and Tyler Riddle scored one goal each in the third period to lift fourth-seeded Springfield to a 6-2 triumph over No. 13 Hershey in the first round of the Flyers Cup A tournament at IceWorks Monday night. The win sends the Cougars into Wednesday's quarterfinals against the winner of Tuesday's game between No. 5 Lower Merion and No. 12 Archbishop Wood.

Springfield scored the first three goals of the game to take control and put it away with that three-goal barrage in the third period. Tyler Riddle led the offense with two goals and one assist. Brawley also scored twice for the Cougars. Kyle Riddle added one goal and one assist, while Rich Brown dished out two assists. Goalie Bryan Biehl stopped 23 of 25 shots to get the win. In other A action: Lansdale Catholic 7, Garnet Valley 5: Anthony Valerio and Mike Longhitano scored 4 minutes and 11 seconds apart in the third period to lead the 14th-seeded Crusaders to a stunning upset of the third-seeded Jaguars. Valerio converted a pass from Andrew Hart with 7:27 left in the game to break a 5-5 deadlock. Hart fed Longhitano for an insurance goal with 3:16 remaining. Valerio had one goal and three assists. Longhitano added one goal and two assists, while Hart had three goals and two assists. The Crusaders get sixth-seeded Henderson, a 6-1 winner over William Tennent, in Wednesday's quarterfinals at IceWorks. Joseph D'Angelantonio led Garnet Valley with two goals and one assist. Dylan Ely tallied twice and Nico Gricco added one goal and two assists for the Jaguars. Unionville 3, Sun Valley 2: The 16th-seeded Vanguards gave the No. 1 Indians all they could handle. Unionville needed three goals in the second period to avoid the upset. A goal by Zachary Lyons with 1:24 left in the third period gave Unionville a 3-1 lead it would not relinquish. Unionville faces No. 8 West Chester East, which defeated No. 9 Wissahickon, 9-1, Wednesday's quarterfinals. Casey Crockett tallied both goals for Sun Valley. His first score, off a feed from Zachary Malorgio, gave the Vanguards a 1-0 lead in the first period. Crockett scored on the power play in the third period with assists from Tanner Wetten and Ricky Walsh. Goalie Paul Sykes stopped 34 of 37 shots, including 30 of 33 in the second period. NHL Articles

1. NHL.com – Blue Jackets end Maple Leafs' home streak

Joe Yerdon

The Columbus Blue Jackets simply have the Toronto Maple Leafs number this season. Artem Anisimov's goal at 12:38 of the second period proved to be the game-winner in the Blue Jackets' 2-1 victory against the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre on Monday night. Anisimov shook off a hit from Maple Leafs defenseman Cody Franson, got up and received a pass from defenseman Nikita Nikitin to snap a wrist shot past Toronto goalie James Reimer for his 16th goal of the season. It also extended Anisimov's goal streak to three games.

"That's what you want to see," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards said of Anisimov. "He's a guy that I trust because he's smart. He's responsible. It's nice because there's talent there too, there's skill. It's nice to see him finish and score a goal, but also create and generate some opportunities." The Blue Jackets won all three games against the Maple Leafs this season and snapped Toronto's seven-game home win streak and extended their winless streak to three games. Reimer stopped 31 shots in the loss. The start was his first since Jan. 25. "This one was a weird one," Reimer said. "Besides an injury, I don't know if I've ever had this much time in between starts. With the Olympic break and being away from the game, it honestly feels like almost a second season. It doesn't feel like five weeks between games, it felt like the start of a new season." The Maple Leafs nearly got on the board first when Phil Kessel fired a shot that got through Blue Jackets Sergei Bobrovsky at 9:15 of the first period. The puck came loose through Bobrovsky (28 saves) and sat on the goal line before it was swept away by Blue Jackets forward Ryan Johansen. The play was reviewed by the NHL and video replay confirmed the puck did not cross the line. "A lot of the momentum that was generated [by the Maple Leafs], a lot of it was power play or it was the one line, it was the Kessel and [James] van Riemsdyk line." Richards said. "I think we got back to getting it in deep. We changed a couple things in the neutral zone so we could generate some speed and get in on the forecheck. I think that helped." The second period saw the game turn in the Blue Jackets' favor. Columbus defenseman Dalton Prout put Columbus ahead with his first goal of the season at 9:44 of the second period. Prout let a slap shot loose from just inside the blue line and beat Reimer, who was screened by forward Mark Letestu. "I had all kinds of time and I just figured I had to get it on net," Prout said. "There was a really good screen and it found its way through." The goal was Prout's second of his career and first since April 18, 2013 against the Los Angeles Kings. Anisimov's goal made it 2-0 and the Blue Jackets outshot the Maple Leafs 12-5 in the second. The fans at Air Canada Centre booed the home team off the ice at the end of the period. "That's a good sign when you're on the road," Richards said. "It's not pleasant when you're at home. We've all been in that position, but when you're on the road and you hear the boos come out, you know you're doing the things you need to do." Mason Raymond got the Maple Leafs within one at 15:45 of the third period. Joffrey Lupul dropped a pass to Raymond, who let a slap shot fly from the faceoff circle that beat Bobrovsky up high for his 17th goal of the season. Despite a flurry of chances at the end of the game, the Maple Leafs couldn't come up with the tying goal. "He's sick," Johansen said of Bobrovsky. "That guy there, he's always there for us. He's always keeping us in games."

Blue Jackets defenseman Ryan Murray left the game after the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. "I don't sense that it's serious," Richards said. "It might be something that keeps him out." 2. NHL.com – Wild make it five in a row with win over Flames

Dan Myers

At times Monday against the Calgary Flames, it wasn't pretty for the Minnesota Wild. But in the end, it was enough. The Wild scored twice in the third period and defeated the Flames 3-2 at Xcel Energy Center, running their season-long winning streak to five games. The win was Minnesota's third straight out of the Olympic break and gives the Wild 75 points and a nine-point cushion on a wild-card spot on both the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks. Minnesota, which currently holds the top wild-card position in the Western Conference, is seven points clear the Dallas Stars, the conference's second wild-card team. "We said we wanted to get off to a real good start [after the Olympic break]," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "We also said we wanted to get better every game. I don't feel we got better in this game, but we can use this game to get better the next game." Yeo said he expected the game Monday to be a grind-it-out affair, and he was right. Each team was sluggish in a scoreless first period and after trading goals in the second, the Wild scored the first two goals of the third period to claim a 3-1 lead. Zach Parise was credited with what proved to be the game-winner on a tip-in from the doorstep with 5:16 remaining in regulation. At the time, it looked like nothing more than an insurance goal and put the Wild ahead by two. But Calgary's Mark Giordano took a pretty pass from Markus Granlund in the left circle and blasted a one-timer past Darcy Kuemper at 16:01. The Flames pulled goaltender Reto Berra with over a minute remaining and had quality zone time, but could not find the tying goal. "Tonight, I don't think we were at our best. I don't think we played at a level we need to play," Parise said. "But, it doesn't matter when you look back at the score. We won the game and that's what's important." Kuemper, named the NHL's Third Star of the Week earlier in the day, wasn't spectacular but made several timely saves. He stopped 21 shots, including eight in the final period, to earn his 11th win of the season. "As a goalie, it was tough, going long spurts without any action," Kuemper said. "I was just doing my best to stay mentally into it. I felt pretty good for the most part." Minnesota got on the board first when Matt Cooke stole the puck away from Berra behind the net and chipped it to Kyle Brodziak on the goal line. Brodziak dragged the puck to the crease and fired into an open net for his fifth of the season at 9:02 of the second.

"That first goal, that's for sure my mistake," Berra said. "I feel bad for the team because they played really hard tonight and we had a chance to win." Calgary tied the score later in the period when a soft shot from the right half-wall by Dennis Wideman deflected off Wild captain Mikko Koivu in the slot and right to Mike Cammalleri in the left circle, where Cammalleri rocketed a shot past a sprawling Kuemper for his 14th of the season and first in 10 games. "You always know he's going to show up to work," Calgary coach Bob Hartley said of Cammalleri, who may have played in his final game with the Flames with the NHL Trade Deadline set for 3 p.m. ET Wednesday. "It was nice to see that loose puck go right to his stick. Sometimes, the puck doesn't come to you at the right time, but tonight the timing was great." Minnesota took a 2-1 lead early in the third on a power-play goal by Jared Spurgeon. The goal was his second of the season and first since Oct. 8. In the first-ever NHL game between the brothers Granlund, older brother Mikael netted two assists for the Wild. Markus assisted on Giordano's goal, which was his first NHL point in his third career game. Berra made 24 saves for Calgary. "It's sad, because we worked so hard. But I feel like we gave the three goals," Hartley said. "It seems like every time we made a big mistake, they made us pay." Koivu returned Monday after missing 17 games with a fractured ankle. He was held scoreless and was a minus-1 in 19:21 of ice time. Minnesota is now off until Saturday when they play the Stars at American Airlines Arena in the front end of back-to-back games. It's a rare extended break during the regular season's final stretch, which put a premium on getting a win Monday. "You never want to go into those long breaks with a loss," Parise said. Calgary returns home for a two-game set against Eastern Conference foes beginning Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators. 3. NHL.com – Stars edge Sabres for Ruff's 600th win

Steve Hunt

Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff registered his 600th victory as an NHL coach in a 3-2 win against the club Ruff used to coach, the Buffalo Sabres, on Monday night at American Airlines Center. "It means I'm on my way to 700. I said to somebody, probably 30 more losses and I've got 500 of those too," Ruff said. "I think it means I've had a lot of good players. I've coached a lot of good players. I had some real good teams. Those wins for the most part belong to the guys on the ice who go out and get them for you. Guys went out and got one for me tonight." Rookie wing Alex Chiasson scored the game-winner for Dallas at 10:25 of the third period when a shot from Stars captain Jamie Benn deflected off Chiasson's right leg for a power-play goal. "I wish it went off my stick," Chiasson said. "It hit me in the shin guard there. I think once they start going in, hopefully I can stay hot and put a streak together."

Dallas (29-22-10, 68 points) received two assists from Ray Whitney and Kari Lehtonen stopped 21 shots to end Buffalo's three-game winning streak. "Whitney played well there. He made a play on the first goal, and he was in on the last one," Ruff said. "He had two or three good opportunities himself." Buffalo received two goals from Tyler Ennis and two assists from Matt Moulson. "[We need] better starts. We got in a hole early," Ennis said. "They took it to us. We took penalties and they really dominated us in the first period. Jhonas [Enroth] played great, but we need a better start." Despite being outshot 16-5 in the opening period, Buffalo led 1-0 at the first intermission after Ennis scored with 2:43 remaining in the period. After Jordie Benn turned the puck over at the Dallas blue line, Drew Stafford collected the puck, dashing up the left side of the ice before feeding Ennis, who finished with a one-timer over Lehtonen's glove for his 15th goal of the season. "I thought Jhonas gave them a heck of a first period," Ruff said. "We had 10 or 11 pretty good opportunities. Then we end up making a mistake, and we're down 1-0." Dallas had a chance late in the first period when Cody Eakin rang a one-timer from the left point off the post at 16:39. The Stars answered quickly in the second period when Jordie Benn redeemed himself with his third of the season 1:30 into the period. Benn beat Enroth with a slapper from the left point to tie the game early in the second. Dallas then took their first lead late in the second when Alex Goligoski scored his first goal in 47 games with 5.1 seconds remaining. Ryan Garbutt deflected a shot from the right point by Trevor Daley, a shot which rang off the right post. Shawn Horcoff got the ensuing rebound and slipped the puck to Goligoski, who finished for his third of the season at 19:54. Getting goals from two defensemen in Jordie Benn and Goligoski was a big positive for the Stars, who usually lean heavily on captain Jamie Benn, second on the team with 54 points (32 assists) and center Tyler Seguin, who leads Dallas with 57 points (33 assists). "It's usually the Benn-Seguin show," Jordie Benn said. "It's nice when someone else can chip in." Buffalo (18-35-8, 44 points) pulled even early in the third when Ennis scored his second of the game off a carom. Moulson deflected Jamie McBain's wrister, which ended up striking the end boards. Ennis was waiting at the right post and quickly flipped the puck in to make it 2-2. The Stars then pulled ahead to stay at 10:25 of the third when Chiasson got in front of Benn's shot for his first goal on 12 games. Dallas went on the power play at 8:40 when Matt D'Agostini was whistled for hooking. Enroth stopped 36 shots for Buffalo.

"The first couple periods, I didn't think we were in the game at all and if it wasn't for Jhonas, I don't think that the score would have been as close as it was," Sabres interim coach Ted Nolan said. "I thought in the third period we played a bit better. We took a bad penalty again. They capitalized and that was the difference." Dallas defenseman Brenden Dillon returned to the blue line after missing a 4-2 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday with a lower-body injury. Ruff felt his team definitely got a boost from Dillon's return. "He's a big piece. We missed him the other night," Ruff said. "He's a horse on defense. He plays a physical game and he skates well." 4. NHL.com – Carter's goal gets Kings past Canadiens

Curtis Zupke

It became clear early on that not much was going to be yielded by the Los Angeles Kings and Montreal Canadiens. They combined for 13 shots through 30 minutes and things didn't loosen up until the third period. That's why it seemed like the seas parted when Anze Kopitar tossed a pretty backhand pass to Jeff Carter, whose 250th career goal allowed the Kings to beat Montreal 2-1 at Staples Center on Monday night. Carter one-timed it into an open net 4:14 into the second period for a power-play goal and L.A. scratched out its fifth straight win. The Kings continued to taper for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and again they were anchored by goalie Jonathan Quick, who improved to 4-0-0 with 90 saves on 93 shots in his past four games. He recorded his first career win against Montreal in three tries. Playoff hockey? "It's getting there, right?" Kings forward Justin Williams said. "We're under 20 [games left]. I look around our room, and I know I have confidence in everyone and I know they feel the same. When push comes to shove, it's time to show up, and we're getting close to that time." The Canadiens began a four-game stretch away from home with a poor performance on special teams. Their fourth-ranked penalty-killing unit allowed Carter's goal, which came with Ryan White serving one of two penalties taken 200 feet from Montreal's net. The Canadiens had one shot on goal on three power plays and didn't get into a rhythm until the third period against a Kings team that specializes in third-period closeouts. L.A. is 123-11-1 in the past 135 regular-season games in which it led after two periods. "I didn't like our special teams tonight," Montreal coach Michel Therrien said. "Penalty kill needs to be better. Power play was good lately, but tonight we didn't generate enough." Montreal doesn't play L.A. often, but Therrien called the Kings the "best defensive team in the League," and that was the sentiment in the Canadiens' dressing room after they got a taste of L.A.'s grind-it-out style. The Kings held the Canadiens to 18 shots, their second fewest this season and lowest since Dec.15. Monday also marked the 41st time this season the Kings allowed two goals or fewer in a game. "It was very playoff-type hockey," Montreal goalie Peter Budaj said. "They're a good team. They don't allow you to generate a lot of offense. They play a really good structured game and Quick made some big saves too. It

was a disappointing game for us because I think we were right there with them. Maybe one or two lucky bounces." Montreal's goal came on a fluke bounce, but it was the result of a good shift by P.K. Subban, who started the possession in L.A.'s end and sent a shot from the right wall that Quick redirected to the skate of Jarret Stoll and into the goal at 14:45 of the first. The Kings enjoyed a dominant start and scored on a rush when trailer Jake Muzzin beat Budaj with a wrist shot 1:54 into the game. It was a rather soft goal by Budaj, who otherwise got Montreal through a third-period push. Budaj didn't appear to have much chance on Carter's goal, but he took part of the blame. "I read it there," said Budaj, who made 20 saves in his fourth straight start. "I read that play. I was there, and the puck went right through my body, through the seven-hole. It was unfortunate because I felt I was right there." Budaj's starts might be numbered. Carey Price (lower body) was placed on injured reserve before the game, although he can be eligible to play Wednesday when Montreal visits the Anaheim Ducks. The move was reportedly done to open up a roster spot. Asked if he's preparing to play more games, Budaj said, "You have to ask Carey." Los Angeles came inches from taking a 3-1 lead at the end of the second when Drew Doughty hit the post and Kopitar missed an open net on a power play. But a one-goal lead is all Quick needs. He has a 1.79 goals-against average and three shutouts in 19 games since he came back from a groin injury. "You want to make it as tough as possible for the other teams to score, and I think we did a great job of that tonight on the penalty kill and 5-on-5," Quick said. "We didn't give up much. We didn't give up many opportunities. We want to stick to playing that way." It was L.A.'s first home win against Montreal since March 8, 2003. Stoll played in his 700th game and Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty played in his 300th. 5. NHL.com – Daily Primer March 4

NHL.com

Ryan Miller has already played his last game with the Buffalo Sabres. Will Tuesday be the last time we see Martin St. Louis skate for the Tampa Bay Lightning? With the NHL Trade Deadline set for Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, there's a chance St. Louis could be moved. That's why all eyes will be on the Lightning on Tuesday when they visit Miller and the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2). Here's a closer look at the action Tuesday: Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins -- The Panthers will aim to finally solve the Bruins in the fourth and final game between the teams this season. Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask is 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in three games against Florida. The Panthers have lost seven of their past 10 games, but rallied for a 5-3 win against the New York Islanders on Sunday. After coming out of the Olympic break with back-to-back losses, the Bruins cruised to a 6-3 victory against the New York Rangers on Sunday.

Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils -- It's the first of two games between these teams this week; they will also face each other at Joe Louis Arena on Friday. Martin Brodeur will start for the Devils in what could be his last game with the franchise. Brodeur could be moved before the NHL Trade Deadline, which is set for 3 p.m. ET Wednesday. Detroit will be seeking its third straight victory. Dallas Stars at Columbus Blue Jackets -- Stars coach Lindy Ruff recorded his 600th career victory Monday, when Dallas beat the Buffalo Sabres by a 3-2 score at American Airlines Center. The win also allowed the Stars to move into sole possession of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks. Columbus moved within a point of the final playoff spot in the East on Monday, when they edged the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 at Air Canada Centre. Blue Jackets defenseman Ryan Murray sustained a lower-body injury in the loss and is unlikely to play Tuesday. Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks -- Colorado enters having won two games in a row and three of its past four. The Avalanche (83 points) are also three points behind the Blackhawks (86) and St. Louis Blues (86) for the Central Division lead. The Blackhawks, who will be without Marian Hossa for up to three weeks, snapped a two-game skid Saturday night at Soldier Field with a 5-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the final game of the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series. Tampa Bay Lightning at St. Louis Blues -- The Blues play their first game at Scottrade Center since acquiring goaltender Ryan Miller and forward Steve Ott from the Buffalo Sabres last Friday. Miller won his Blues debut on Sunday against the Phoenix Coyotes. The Lightning are wrapping up a four-game road trip and are inching closer to the return of superstar Steven Stamkos. This could also be the final game in the Lightning uniform for captain Martin St. Louis, who has been the subject of trade rumors. Pittsburgh Penguins at Nashville Predators -- The Penguins saw their lead over the Boston Boston Bruins for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference shrink to three points after the Bruins beat the New York Rangers on Sunday night. Predators goalie Pekka Rinne is expected to make his first start since Oct. 22. Nashville gets him back from a lengthy injury ordeal at a time when it's desperate to start stringing together wins. Rinne stopped 33 of 35 shots in two American Hockey League games during a conditioning stint. New York Islanders at Winnipeg Jets -- Likely the last game as Islanders for left wing Thomas Vanek and defenseman Andrew MacDonald, who are set to become unrestricted free agents this summer. New York is beginning a four-game road trip after losing two home games over the weekend. Winnipeg is 11-3-1 since Paul Maurice replaced Claude Noel as coach and trails the Dallas Stars by two points for the final playoff spot in the West. Vancouver Canucks at Phoenix Coyotes -- Vancouver has lost nine of its past 10 games, the latest a 4-2 decision to the Ottawa Senators at the 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at BC Place on Sunday. The Coyotes are winless in their past four games and blew a 2-0 lead en route to a 4-2 loss against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. Phoenix defenseman Keith Yandle has points in four of his past five games (one goal, four assists). Ottawa Senators at Edmonton Oilers -- Ottawa plays the second of a four-game road trip after beating the Vancouver Canucks at the 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at BC Place on Sunday. Senators defenseman has three goals and two assists over the past five games. Edmonton has lost three in a row, but received some good news Monday when goaltender Ben Scrivens signed a two-year contract extension. Carolina Hurricanes at San Jose Sharks -- Carolina has lost five in a row and is falling out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes enter Tuesday seven points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final postseason invitation. San Jose returns home after going 2-1-0 during a three-game road trip last week. The Sharks will play four straight against clubs from the East, beginning with Carolina and ending on Mar. 11 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sharks center Joe Pavelski has three goals and two assists over the past three games.

6. NHL.com – Blue Jackets' Murray leaves game with injury

Joe Yerdon

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ryan Murray left the game Monday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a lower-body injury and will not return. Murray, 20, played 4:51 of the first period. His final shift of the game came with 1:47 remaining. In his rookie season with the Blue Jackets, Murray has played 60 games and has three goals and 17 assists. "I don't sense that it's serious," Columbus coach Todd Richards said after the game. "It might be something that keeps him out." Columbus is also missing defenseman Fedor Tyutin, who is on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. 7. NHL.com – Canadiens put goalie Carey Price on injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 26

The Canadian Press

Montreal goaltender Carey Price has been placed on the Canadiens' injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 26. Price suffered a lower-body injury at the Sochi Olympics, where he had a 24-save shutout in Team Canada's 3-0 gold-medal victory over Sweden. A spokesman for the Canadiens told The Canadian Press that the move does not reflect a change in the status of Price's injury, which is still day to day. The move was made to free up a roster spot. Price can be returned to Montreal's roster as early as Tuesday and he could play against the Ducks in Anaheim on Wednesday if he's ready to return. 8. NHL.com – Blackhawks F Marian Hossa out for 2 to 3 weeks with upper-body injury

The Canadian Press

Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa will miss two to three weeks after he left Saturday night's 5-1 victory over Pittsburgh with an upper-body injury. It was unclear when exactly Hossa was injured. He took a hard hit from Penguins forward Craig Adams during Chicago's second power play of the first period at Soldier Field. The injury is a big blow for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who lead the league with 213 goals this season. The 35-year-old Hossa has 24 goals and 26 assists in 57 games. Coach Joel Quenneville says Monday that Brandon Saad probably will take Hossa's spot on the right side on Chicago's top line, which also includes centre Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp. Quenneville says the injury also gets Peter Regin back in the lineup after he was scratched against Pittsburgh. 9. NHL.com – Deadline Primer: Brodeur, Callahan, Kesler big names

Dan Rosen

The most decorated goalie in NHL history, the captain of one of the League's most celebrated franchises, and one of the grittiest centers in the game might all have to change their addresses later this week. The NHL Trade Deadline is set for 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday and three of the most intriguing players being discussed in possible trades are New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, New York Rangers captain Ryan Callahan, and Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler. There were, however, some interesting plot twists Monday regarding Brodeur and Callahan. Brodeur was announced as the Devils' starting goalie for their game Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings at Prudential Center, and Callahan reportedly lowered his contract demands as negotiations toward an extension continue with the Rangers. Where that leaves the Devils goalie and the Rangers right wing come Wednesday is still a mystery. Brodeur, the NHL's all-time leader in wins and shutouts, among other statistical categories, has played his entire 21-year career with the Devils. However, with Cory Schneider entrenched as the No. 1 goalie in New Jersey, Brodeur has repeatedly said all season that he would be open to a trade if it gives him a chance to play more and helps the Devils in the long run. Brodeur has been talked about in rumors involving the Minnesota Wild, a team that needs to solidify its goaltending for a push toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Wild seem like the perfect fit for Brodeur because they would likely provide an opportunity for him to play more than he is with the Devils. The Wild have been riding rookie Darcy Kuemper, who has played well (10-3-2, 2.20 goals-against average, .924 save percentage) and looks like he might be a future No. 1 goalie. However, can Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher rely solely on Kuemper once the playoffs come around, especially with no reliable No. 2 option behind him right now? Probably not. Josh Harding was a great story earlier in the season, but his multiple sclerosis has put him on the shelf. Niklas Backstrom has had injury issues all season and the Wild can't bank on him as a legitimate option should Kuemper falter. Brodeur could split time with Kuemper down the stretch. It would essentially be an open competition for the No. 1 job in the playoffs. However, it's not clear if Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello wants to pull the trigger on a trade that would ship the most important player in the history of the franchise out of the only organization he has ever known. Lamoriello hasn't said anything publicly to declare his intentions one way or another, and he likely won't. The Wild, though, should be targeting other goalies as well, such as Jaroslav Halak. It doesn't seem likely that the marriage between Halak and the Buffalo Sabres will last more than just a few days. Halak is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent following the season and the Sabres, who acquired the goalie in last week's blockbuster that sent Ryan Miller and Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues, are clearly in the sellers' category with the deadline approaching. Provided Halak and Brodeur are available, it might come down to what the Wild would have to pay or be willing to pay to acquire either of them. Fletcher would be in a position to choose the cheaper option if this is the route he goes down.

Callahan's situation is about dollars and sense, but how much are the Rangers willing to spend to keep their captain? Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com and TSN reported Monday that Callahan has come down on his term from his original demand of seven years and is now asking for six, but he's still looking for in the neighborhood of $6.5 million annually. The money is too rich for the Rangers, who may be concerned about the long-term viability of Callahan considering the style he plays. Callahan has already missed time this season because of injuries to his shoulder, wrist and left knee. If the sides can't come to terms on a new contract by Wednesday, the Rangers will likely trade their captain even though they're in the playoff race in the Metropolitan Division and Callahan is playing on their second line. Kesler is another big name to monitor. Could he be on the move out of Vancouver? A Kesler trade seemed farfetched before the Olympics, but the Canucks are still struggling and could be in line for a shakeup. There is obviously plenty of interest in Kesler, so much so that TSN's Darren Dreger reported Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero will try to do anything he can to acquire the gritty center before the deadline. Imagine if the Penguins had a lineup down the middle that included Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kesler? In fact, with Brandon Sutter as well, it would make sense to move Kesler to Crosby's right wing. The Red Wings would also seem like a great landing spot for Kesler, who is from Livonia, Mich., approximately 20 miles from Joe Louis Arena. However, Canucks GM Mike Gillis has to be willing to deal here, and it would have to be a blockbuster because Kesler is signed for two more seasons after this one with a reasonable $5 million salary-cap charge. Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny is in a similar situation as Callahan. The Denver Post reported over the weekend Stastny might be traded if he and the team can't agree on a new contract or at least make headway toward one before Wednesday. The Avalanche are a playoff-bound team and are understandably leery about disrupting their chemistry, but they also don't want to lose Stastny for nothing in the offseason. It's a bit more cut and dried with New York Islanders left wing Thomas Vanek, and Sabres forwards Matt Moulson and Chris Stewart. The Islanders and Sabres are not playoff-bound this season. Vanek and Moulson are targeting big paydays when they hit the free-agent market on July 1. There will be no hometown discounts given, so it makes sense for them to be on the move before the deadline. Stewart is signed through next season with a salary-cap charge of $4.15, but Buffalo GM Tim Murray might be intent on moving him for more future assets to help his rebuild. The Los Angeles Kings have been the rumored destination for Vanek. It makes a lot of sense for Kings GM Dean Lombardi to try to get him. Despite their 3-0 record since the NHL returned from the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the Kings are still 28th in the NHL with 2.32 goals per game. Vanek would give L.A.'s offense the jolt it needs similar to what Jeff Carter did for the Kings two years ago. Vanek has 44 points in 47 games with the Islanders and is coming off a three-point game in a loss to the Florida Panthers on Sunday.

The Kings, though, could also be targeting Moulson, who used to be part of the organization and is goalie Jonathan Quick's brother-in-law. However, Shero is never shy in these situations and he might want to get in on the Moulson sweepstakes. Either way, Moulson appears to be in a good situation as a guy who could go play with his brother-in-law in L.A. or with Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh. The Buffalo News reported Sunday the Ottawa Senators are interested in Stewart. Murray, of course, has ties to the Senators as he came to Buffalo earlier this season after seven years as the assistant GM in Ottawa. He is keenly aware of the Senators' prospects and draft picks available. Here are some other names to watch with the deadline approaching: * Edmonton Oilers forward Ales Hemsky is expected to be traded before the deadline. Hemsky is in the final year of his contract and doesn't appear to have a future in Edmonton. The Oilers also might try to move goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, forward Ryan Smyth and defenseman Nick Schultz. * In addition to Vanek, the Islanders might be inclined to move defenseman Andrew MacDonald, who has an expiring contract. * Schultz and MacDonald could be intriguing options for the Boston Bruins, who are in the market for veteran help on the blue line because of injuries to Dennis Seidenberg and Adam McQuaid. Seidenberg is out for the season and the Bruins aren't sure when McQuaid will be ready to return to the lineup. He missed his 11th straight game Sunday with an injury in his groin/hip region. * Calgary Flames forward Mike Cammalleri could be an intriguing rental option for contending teams looking for some offense. He's scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the season. * Nashville Predators general manager David Poile has to consider what he wants to do with forward David Legwand, who has played his entire career with the organization. Nashville has ground to make up in the playoff race and Legwand is headed toward unrestricted free agency this summer. He could be a good pickup for a team looking to bolster its center depth, but Legwand would have to waive his no-trade clause to be dealt. 10. NHL.com – Blackhawks agree to terms with Bollig on extension

NHL.com

The Chicago Blackhawks on Monday agreed to terms with forward Brandon Bollig on a three-year contract extension. Terms were not released by the team, but according to reports it has an average annual value of $1.25 million. "I was hoping it would happen," Bollig said. "Obviously we've been talking and my contract was up after this year, and I was hoping I would remain a Blackhawks and it worked out for me." Bollig has six goals and 12 points this season in 62 games after going scoreless in 43 NHL games prior to this season. He also leads the team with 138 hits and 69 penalty minutes. "We take a great amount of pride in having watched Brandon come up through our system and become a big part of our lineup on a daily basis," Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said. "We are pleased to be able

to come to this agreement with him, ensuring that he will remain a part of our organization. We look forward to seeing his continued development with the Blackhawks." Bollig spoke about working during the offseason to improve himself as a player. "This summer I stayed here and trained and utilized all the things in this organization that we have to make us better," Bollig said. "Our strength coach and our skills and skating coach were huge for me. It was kind of all the little things, the skill part of it and I think confidence is a big part. Coming into the season, for whatever reason, my mind kind of changed. Last year, I obviously enjoyed the success, but as far as my own personal game, I kind of let that stay behind me and focused on a new part of my game and expanding my role." Bollig has been a key fixture on the fourth line this season with Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith. "It's huge. Obviously point production isn't what we're out there for, but the role we've been playing, as far as playing against other teams' top two lines is huge for us. And that's giving us those valuable minutes on the ice and a good important role on the team," Bollig said. "It's nice as a fourth line that we have responsibility and I can only hope that it stays the same." Bollig, 27, was signed as a free agent on April 3, 2010. NHL.com correspondent Brian Hedger contributed to this report 11. NHL.com – Oilers sign Scrivens to two-year extension

NHL.com

The Edmonton Oilers signed goaltender Ben Scrivens to a two-year contract extension Monday. Terms were not disclosed, but ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reports it's worth $2.3 million per season. Scrivens was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Los Angeles Kings in the offseason in the Jonathan Bernier trade. The Oilers acquired him in mid-January for a third-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft. "It's a great opportunity. Now the real work begins," said Scrivens, an Alberta native. "It's great to be here in Edmonton playing at home." Scrivens is 10-9-4 this season in 26 games for the Kings and Oilers. He leads the NHL with a .934 save percentage and is third with a 2.02 goals-against average and four shutouts. "I'm comfortable here. I made a decision that's best for me career-wise and family-wise," he said. "I'm extremely excited." In his third start for the Oilers, Scrivens set an NHL record for saves in a shutout with 59 against the San Jose Sharks. "He's done a great job," captain Andrew Ference said. "It's good for him and good for us." Scrivens, 27, has a career record of 21-23-6 with a 2.49 GAA, .921 save percentage and six shutouts. 12. TSN.ca – Insider Trading: Latest on Kesler, Callahan and Spezza

Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger, Pierre LeBrun

Of all the names out there who could realistically be dealt by Wednesday's deadline, Ryan Kesler remains No. 1 on the most desired list. And while we're not sure if they're any closer to a deal, we now have a defined price. What is that? Bob McKenzie: We also know he's got the No. 1 highest price on the trade market right now of anybody. And that defined price is three significant components. No. 1, a 20 to 25-year-old established National Hockey League centre, who could immediately step into the lineup and fill much of the void created by the loss of Kesler. No. 2, a top-end prospect. Preferably a forward, but if it was a defenceman it would give the Canucks flexibility to trade one of their existing defenceman down the road. And No. 3, a first-round pick. If the Vancouver Canucks don't get close to that package for Ryan Kesler, I do not believe they'll trade him. If they do get offers along those lines they are going to seriously consider it. Darren Dreger: You can add the Toronto Maple Leafs to the list of many teams who have expressed interest and have talked to Vancouver Canucks' mangement about Ryan Kesler, but as Bob identifies, the asking price is very, very lofty. So in Toronto Maple Leafs terms, if a deal were to be reached it would likely include Nazem Kadri. It would likely include either Jake Gardiner or Morgan Rielly and that first-round draft pick. And if Morgan Rielly is must as part of this deal then it's unlikely it happens. Ryan Callahan and the Rangers continue to try and get a contract done and the message has always been, 'sign a contract or you're gone.' Has that perhaps forced them to move a little closer? Pierre LeBrun: Well the Ryan Callahan camp has moved. They've been doing the movement here of late. They've gone from seven years to six years, which was a major sticking point. They've reduced their asking price financially, it's south of $6.5 million now. So really, there's less than half a million between the Rangers offer of $6 million a year times six and Callahan's latest offer. As far as Callahan is concerned it's up to the Rangers now to respond from that offer that was made on Friday. But again, the clock is absolutely ticking. Most people around the Rangers believe they will not budge from six times six. Callahan feels he's just made his move. Ottawa GM Bryan Murray quick to deny Jason Spezza trade chatter out of Ottawa, but his name did come up in conversations? Dreger: Right, and a bit of a sketchy denial by Bryan Murray of the Sens, but in saying that I think we have to keep it in perspective here. Are the Ottawa Senators shopping their captain? Absolutely not. But a couple of teams have recognized that Spezza's name was brought up in a general sense, in a bigger dialogue. Now is there a time to create a trade of this magnitude before Wednesday? Very, very unlikely. But do we see a day where Jason Spezza absolutely gets traded? No question about that. But Bryan Murray and the Sens have spent a lot of time this season trying to find a winger to play with Spezza, so this is all part of the general dialogue that happens this time of year. McKenzie: Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray trying to get Chris Phillips signed. They've extended a one-year offer to Phillips, he's looking for a two-year deal. If they can't come to an agreement on a one-year deal then Chris Phillips could very well be in play between now and 3pm at the deadline. Also on the Ottawa front, when the Buffalo Sabres acquired Chris Stewart from the St. Louis Blues on Friday, a lot of us thought there was going to be a very quick flip where Stewart would go to Ottawa and prospects would come back the other way. Right now the talks are very cool between Buffalo and Ottawa. Not to say that it couldn't happen, but it's not close to happening at this point. And Stewart is not the only newly-acquired Sabre who might be flipped.

LeBrun: Let's put it this way, I don't think Buffalo wants to acquire a rental, which is what they got in Jaroslav Halak. They are trying to move him. Minnesota has poked their nose in there, but the Minnesota Wild trying to look for a goalie has looked at a number of options. Halak is one, Martin Broduer is another option. Now, no one knows what Lou Lamoriello has in his mind when it comes to Martin Brodeur. I dont know if Martin Brodeur, at this hour, knows himself in terms of whether or not Lou Lamoriello will trade the NHL's all-time winningest goalie, but Minnesota I think would be a fit that Marty Brodeur would accept a move to. Buffalo might be the epicentre of TradeCentre. Might Ehrhoff be traded? Dreger: Well there's a lot of interest in Christian Ehrhoff, as there is in Tyler Myers. In Ehrhoff you get a bit more experience. I know the Detroit Red Wings would like to beef up their blue line. There's some interest in Christian Ehrhoff but Kenny Holland is trying to hold on to what he has in his youth, so the asking price is going to have to come down. What about L.A.'s search for a scorer? LeBrun: Well they've been at it longer than anyone but haven't made that deal. The price is too high is what I was told today. Yes there's still interest in Matt Moulson in Buffalo, yes there's still interest in Mike Cammalleri and a couple other rentals, but unless the price comes down I think L.A. won't do anything. It really has to come down by Wednesday for them. And a new name on the list. McKenzie: Stephane Robidas of the Dallas Stars. Injured until mid-March, not expected back in the lineup, but a lot of contending teams, teams like the Anaheim Ducks, the Boston Bruins would like a veteran defenceman prsence on a contedning team. Lot of interest in Robidas. 13. ESPN.com – Handing out the NHL hardware

Scott Burnside

At last, we can truly and verily report we are at the quarter pole. That's right, the NHL season has reached the final turn, and with just a quarter of a season to play and so much undecided, here's a look at our award winners at this late stage. Hart Trophy: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins Sorry to be predictable, but this is a runaway. Crosby continues to set the standard for greatness, leading the NHL scoring race by 11 points over Phil Kessel and leading the league in assists with 51 (to go with his 29 goals). Oh, sure, different players have taken a run at the top perch: Alex Steen, Patrick Kane, Ryan Getzlaf, Jonathan Toews and Alexander Ovechkin, who continues to crush the competition in goal scoring. This is Crosby's trophy, though, barring something dramatic happening in the final quarter. Runners-up: Getzlaf, Toews Norris Trophy: Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild For a long time, we liked Duncan Keith of the Blackhawks to capture his second Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman, and the second-leading scorer among blueliners this season may yet get there. But right now we're giving the nod to the guy who should have won it last season. The strong play of the Wild and the leadership role played by Suter in keeping his team afloat in spite of injuries to key personnel -- including captain Mikko Koivu, Zach Parise and Josh Harding -- push him ahead of Keith as we head down the stretch. Suter continues to log more ice time per game than any player in the NHL, by a wide margin, including a healthy 2:34 average on the penalty kill. Runners-up: Keith; Shea Weber, Nashville Predators

Vezina Trophy: Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay Lightning This is as tough a category as there is in terms of major awards. Carey Price has had an outstanding season for Montreal (and his Olympic performance reinforced his status as an elite NHL netminder), Tuukka Rask has done everything the Boston Bruins have asked, and Henrik Lundqvist has been his usual brilliant self for the New York Rangers after a so-so start. Look at Bishop's numbers, though. He's at or near the top of all the main statistical categories, including the most important: wins. It's hard not to dub him our netminder of the year (or netminder of three-quarters of a year), especially given the way the Bolts have maintained a healthy grip on a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division despite myriad injuries and other distractions. Runners-up: Price, Rask Calder Trophy: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche The first overall pick from last June's draft is turning the Rookie of the Year race into a runaway, as MacKinnon piles up the points for an Avs team that continues to exceed expectations. It's not just that he's running away with the rookie points race, although that's a factor (his 49 points are 12 more than surprising Tampa rookies Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat). For us, it's the fact that MacKinnon seems to be getting better all the time. As of Monday, MacKinnon is enjoying a 11-game point streak and had points in 13 of his past 14 games, including five multipoint efforts. MacKinnon, playing most recently with captain Gabriel Landeskog and veteran Paul Stastny, also leads all first-year players with five game-winning goals and leads in points, goals, assists and power-play goals. Runners-up: Johnson; Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg Jets Jack Adams Trophy: Dan Bylsma, Pittsburgh Penguins As usual, there are a lot of intriguing choices when it comes to picking the Coach of the Year. This is an award that usually goes to a coach who gets a lot out of a little, which often precludes the coaches of top-end teams, fair or not. There are guys this year like Jon Cooper in Tampa and Patrick Roy in Colorado who deserve attention for getting their teams into the thick of the playoff discussion, but for us it comes down to two coaches of top teams: Bruce Boudreau of the league-leading Anaheim Ducks and Dan Bylsma of the Eastern Conference-leading Pittsburgh Penguins. Given the injury/suspension issues Bylsma has had to confront with the Penguins this season, we'll go with the Pittsburgh coach to earn his second Jack Adams award. Runners-up: Boudreau, Cooper Frank J. Selke Trophy: Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins The award given to the league's best defensive forward is among the most prestigious in the NHL, and always one of the hardest to narrow down to a group of deserving finalists. Anze Kopitar continues to do yeoman's work for a Los Angeles Kings team that has the stingiest defense in the NHL. Toews is in the hunt, for sure, after his first-ever Selke win in last year's lockout-shortened season. And what about other elite players like Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings or even Crosby, given their dedication to the two-way game? For our money, though, the Selke goes to the man who has won more faceoffs than anyone in the NHL this season and consistently is asked to shut down opposing teams' top offensive units. Bergeron, a former Selke winner, is a big reason the Bruins rank first in the Eastern Conference and second in the league in goals allowed per game. Runners-up: Kopitar, Toews 14. ESPN.com – Cross Checks Blog: Rumblings: Stars, Wings mulling deals?

Pierre LeBrun

You know I'm intrigued by bubble teams at this time of year -- it's my favorite thing to write about. The Dallas Stars are another team on the bubble, hanging on to a playoff spot by the slimmest of margins. But it's not posing any issues for Stars general manager Jim Nill. He's got a clear plan, regardless. He's open to hockey deals, yes, but he's not going to trade for any pending UFAs.

"Correct, we're not going to be in the rental market," Nill told ESPN.com Monday. "But if there's a hockey deal that makes sense, we'll look at it." He's got pending UFAs of his own, such as veteran winger Ray Whitney and center Vernon Fiddler. Given where the team is right now, the sense is he trades those types of players only if the deal makes sense. He wouldn't do it for the sake of gaining a limited asset in return. "We're open for business, I'm always looking at things, but I'm not rushing to do something just to move a body to get a pick," Nill said. Veteran defenseman Stephane Robidas, out since late November with that horrific leg injury, could be on the mend and is an interesting trade target for a contender, something TSN colleague Darren Dreger brought up Sunday on air. My sense is Nill likely will get a read off Robidas, both in terms of his health -- there's a thought he could return within two or three weeks -- and what his wishes are in terms of staying put or moving on. I think there's so much respect for what Robidas has done in Dallas that the GM would take the player's lead there. But that's just my read on it. Meanwhile, Nill is excited by his team, which has picked it up in the second half to try to get into the playoff race. "We've had a lot of guys take a step in their game," Nill said. "You saw Jamie Benn in the Olympics, Tyler Seguin has become a big part of this team, Erik Cole has taken charge, Jordie Benn on the back end, Trevor Daley and Alex Goligoski are playing well, so guys have bought into it. A lot of credit goes to the coaching staff, they've done a good job. There's some real excitement in our room." Blackhawks standing pat? Things can always change with one phone call, but the feeling I get is that despite the St. Louis Blues' big blockbuster trade on Friday, the rival Chicago Blackhawks will stick with their group as is. The Blackhawks picked up Peter Regin before the Olympic break and Kris Versteeg earlier in the season, and unless something falls in their lap -- which is still possible before Wednesday -- word on the street is that the defending champs like their team and don't feel compelled to act. I don't blame them. What's not to like? Wings chasing Ehrhoff? The Red Wings are believed to be among the teams interested in defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, whom the Sabres are shopping. He's got seven more years on his deal after this season, at a $4 million cap hit. What's better, though, is that $22 million of that 10-year, $40 million deal will have been paid off by the end of this season because it was front-loaded. I don't think the Wings would overpay to get him, but he would fill a need for a top-four, offensively minded defenseman. Waiting for Phillips Still no word as of Monday afternoon on Chris Phillips and a decision after being offered a one-year contract extension by the Senators.

It's believed Phillips wanted a two-year extension. If he doesn't sign, Ottawa could trade him before Wednesday's deadline. As reported last week, the Boston Bruins have interest in Phillips but it's not clear whether Ottawa would be willing to deal him to a divisional rival. The Bruins also are interested in Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald, among others. MacDonald is a solid, two-way guy who's a pending UFA, and it's clear the Isles are going to move him. 15. ESPN.com – Cross Checks Blog: Will Brodeur be the next goalie traded?

Pierre LeBrun

The big fish is gone in Ryan Miller but he likely won't be the only goalie traded in the next few days. For starters, what becomes of the NHL's all-time winningest netminder? The Minnesota Wild seem like the perfect fit for Martin Brodeur, who no doubt would welcome being reunited with old New Jersey pal Zach Parise. The Wild have been getting solid goaltending from rookie Darcy Kuemper and he looks like he can be a No. 1. But what if he falters, as some rookies do, or gets hurt? Niklas Backstrom has been battling injuries all season and is unreliable. Josh Harding was fantastic until his MS flared up again. You feel for him, by the way. But the Wild are playoff-bound and need assurances in net. They looked in on Buffalo before Miller was ultimately traded to St. Louis. I never felt the Wild were ready to get into that kind of blockbuster. But Brodeur or, possibly, Jaroslav Halak (now in Buffalo) are both UFAs July 1 and present certainly smaller investments in terms of what it would take to get them. Thing is, we still haven't heard from Papa Lou in all this, have we? Veteran Devils GM Lou Lamoriello has kept his intentions rather quiet on what he's going to do with Brodeur, a Hall of Fame backup to Devils starter Cory Schneider. This is a delicate one, for sure. Brodeur is the most important player in Devils history. On the outside looking in, it just feels to me as if Brodeur is ready to move on. He certainly hasn't shied away from the subject all season long, but always adding that only if Lamoriello felt it was the right thing to do. To me, it's clear Minnesota would top Brodeur's list. He's got a shot to play games alongside Kuemper plus, aside from the Parise connection, there's the fact Brodeur's twins are at Shattuck St. Mary's school there. It all ties up in a nice bow, really. But first, Lamoriello has to want to make the move. Secondly, I don't think the Wild are interested in breaking the bank in terms of what it's going to take to get a goalie in. So if Halak is cheaper ...

Plus, there are other goalie options. You've got Viktor Fasth in Anaheim, who I believe is available, Tim Thomas in Florida, Justin Peters in Carolina, Ilya Bryzgalov in Edmonton et al. A source this past weekend simply told me the Wild were kicking tires on different goalie options. Still, none of those guys above carry the buzz of acquiring the NHL's all-time wins leader in Brodeur. The latest on Callahan Sources confirm that Ryan Callahan has softened somewhat of late in his contract demands, but as of Monday morning he's still not close to a deal with the Rangers. Recently, the Rangers captain dropped his term request from seven years, which had been a major sticking point, to six years, sources confirmed. But the money he's asking, somewhere just south of $6.5 million, a source said, remains too much money for the Rangers, who I believe would do a six-year, $6 million per year contract. Doesn't seem as though they're that far apart at this point. But if that remaining gap doesn't close further over the next couple of days, the Rangers seem intent to trade him. Just doesn't seem right to see Callahan wear another uniform. Hopefully both sides can further reduce this gap. 16. The Province – The 10 players most likely to get dealt before NHL trade deadline

Stephen Whyno

The NHL's trade deadline is Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET. Now that the biggest fish, Ryan Miller, has already been traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the St. Louis Blues, here are the 10 players most likely to get dealt before time runs out: Thomas Vanek The New York Islanders gave up Matt Moulson along with a first- and a second-round pick to get Vanek earlier this season. It's safe to say general manager Garth Snow's gamble did not pay off. After Vanek rejected a contract offer to stay on Long Island, it's up to Snow to cut his losses and build toward the future, when franchise centrepiece John Tavares is back and healthy. Jaroslav Halak Buffalo got Halak from St. Louis in the Miller trade and could easily flip him for more assets. The Minnesota Wild are looking for a goaltender with so much uncertainty surrounding Josh Harding and not a long resume on rookie Darcy Kuemper. Halak could even see the Blues in the first round if that were to happen. Matt Moulson Former Sabres GM Darcy Regier was the one who pulled the trigger on the Vanek trade that brought in Moulson plus-picks. But new GM Tim Murray could take the next step if he gets another first-round pick or something close for the 30-year-old winger. Moulson put up 11 goals and 16 assists in his first 43 games in Buffalo, so his value is pretty good. Ales Hemsky

It may finally be time for the last Oilers player who was on the 2006 Stanley Cup final team to go. GM Craig MacTavish made it abundantly clear last summer he was trying to trade Hemsky, but his US$5.5-million salary and $5 million cap might not seem so bad as a late-season rental. Martin Erat Sent from the Nashville Predators to the Washington Capitals for prospect Filip Forsberg and grinder Michael Latta at last year's deadline, Erat asked for a trade earlier this season after being on the fourth line and in the press box as a healthy scratch. Erat has one year left at a cap hit of $4.5 million, but the Capitals might have to suck up some of that and take a mid-round pick just to move on. Ryan Kesler Rumours that Kesler wanted out of Vancouver came just after he returned from Sochi, where he suffered a hand injury while playing for the United States. An injury to Daniel Sedin suffered during the Heritage Classic could keep GM Mike Gillis from making any move involving Kesler, but there should be no shortage of demand for the strong two-way centre. Chris Stewart Buffalo's First Niagara Center might as well have a neon "For Sale" sign on it, and that includes the recently acquired Stewart who was also part of the Miller trade. Among the five true so-called "sellers," the Sabres have the most assets and therefore could end up with the biggest windfall. Or they could keep the 26-year-old who has one year left on his deal at a cap hit of $4.15 million. Christian Ehrhoff If there’s anyone Murray and the Sabres have time to move it's Ehrhoff, who's in the third season of a US$40-million, 10-year deal. That length of contract could make the 31-year-old defenceman more valuable or hinder a deal, depending on the viewpoint, but with the salary cap going up he's locked in at $4 million for the length of it. Andrew MacDonald The NHL's leader in blocked shots — no one else is even close — also possibly has best value of any defenceman with a salary of US$575,000 and cap hit of $550,000 in the final year of his contract with the Islanders. MacDonald is due a big raise in the off-season, maybe in the neighbourhood of $4 million annually, and he's a strong defensive option as a rental or long-term piece. Henrik Tallinder At a cap hit of $3.375 million, the 35-year-old is the perfect low-risk rental for a contender in need of some help on the blue-line. With plenty of other pieces to trade, the Sabres might not need much for Tallinder, either, as they likely wouldn't re-sign him this summer anyway. Others potentially on the move: Ryan Callahan, Rangers; Mike Cammalleri, Lee Stempniak, Flames; Brad Boyes, Panthers; Ryan Smyth, Corey Potter, Oilers; Martin St. Louis, Lightning; Chris Phillips, Senators; Cam Ward, Hurricanes; Martin Brodeur, Devils.

– FLYERS –