Canucks forward Hansen won"t play vs. Coyotes

VANCOUVER — Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen will not play Monday against the Arizona Coyotes after briefly losing consciousness and collapsing on the bench Saturday in a game against the Calgary Flames.

After participating in the morning skate Monday, Hansen said he had been cleared to play against the Coyotes, but the Canucks later said he will not be permitted to play.

"In the process of reviewing Hansen’s test results the Vancouver Canucks in consultation with specialists have determined that further evaluation is required before he is cleared to play," the Canucks said in a statement. "Despite all tests being reported as normal, additional tests were ordered in the best interests of Hansen’s health and safety."

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Canucks forward Hansen won"t play vs. Coyotes

Flyers" Zepp"s hockey odyssey results in first NHL win

Rob Zepp was just looking for an opportunity.

After 13 seasons bouncing around hockey leagues in North America and Europe, the 33-year-old finally got his chance to play in an NHL game Sunday. Making his debut with the Philadelphia Flyers, he made 25 saves to backstop a 4-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre.

"I said to [his teammates] that I appreciate this more than anyone knows," Zepp said after the game Sunday. "I’ve been playing hockey for 26 years trying to get here. To be able to be here and play, the game wasn’t perfect, but then to get the win at the end like that was perfect."

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Flyers" Zepp"s hockey odyssey results in first NHL win

At the Rink: Penguins at Panthers

The Pittsburgh Penguins will go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen when they play at the Florida Panthers on Monday (7:30 p.m., SN).

The Penguins on Monday sent forwards Steve Downie and Brandon Sutter, along with goaltender Thomas Greiss, back to Pittsburgh to be tested for the mumps virus.

Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League to be the backup to Marc-Andre Fleury.

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At the Rink: Penguins at Panthers

Fantasy All-Access: Fisher stepping up for Predators

Every Monday, NHL.com contributor Matt Sitkoff identifies waiver wire pickups, roster trends, schedule notes and a prospect to watch in fantasy hockey.

The holiday season is upon us, and that means a perfect time to pass out some fantasy hockey gifts to some players in much need for a holiday boost.

We are giving the present of good health to Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry. He has been a fantasy stud with 22 points in 23 games, but has missed 12 games this season due to the mumps and a knee sprain. A healthy Perry will go a long way to a fantasy championship.

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Fantasy All-Access: Fisher stepping up for Predators

Devils forward Cammalleri returns to practice

New Jersey Devils left wing Mike Cammalleri, who has missed the past four games with a lower-body injury, returned to practice Monday, the team announced via Twitter.

Cammalleri was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 13 and is eligible to return to the lineup when ready. He was skating with Scott Gomez and Jaromir Jagr during practice on Monday, according to Northjersey.com.

Forward Patrik Elias and Martin Havlat did not practice because of illness. They are being tested for mumps and their status for Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., is unknown.

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Devils forward Cammalleri returns to practice

Around the League notebook for Sunday, Dec. 21

SUNDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

Colorado 2, DETROIT 1 (SO)

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Around the League notebook for Sunday, Dec. 21

Canada"s McDavid gets assist in return from injury

OTTAWA — Canadian forward Connor McDavid shook off the rust after a five-week layoff in a 5-2 win against Sweden in exhibition play for the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship on Sunday.

McDavid, 17, returned after breaking a bone in his right hand in a fight while playing for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League on Nov. 11 and had an assist on Canada’s fourth goal, scored by Shea Theodore, in front of 13,826 at Canadian Tire Centre.

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Canada"s McDavid gets assist in return from injury

Sabres turning early struggles into current gains

BUFFALO – Expectations can be a funny thing.

Before the season began for the Buffalo Sabres, it was expected by most outside of the organization they would be one of the worst teams in the NHL and a season-long contender to earn the first pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Through the first month-and-a-half of the season, the Sabres fit that description perfectly. Buffalo won three of its first 18 games and appeared to be well on the way to having the best shot to select top prospect Connor McDavid.

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Sabres turning early struggles into current gains

Peters: Hurricanes" Jordan Staal could return Dec. 29

NEW YORK — Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal is getting close to being 100 percent and is expected to make his season debut shortly after the holiday break, Hurricanes coach Bill Peters said Sunday.

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Peters: Hurricanes" Jordan Staal could return Dec. 29

Ducks" Perry back at practice, unlikely to play Monday

Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry returned to practice Sunday two weeks after sustaining a knee sprain, the team announced.

Perry, the NHL’s Hart Trophy winner in 2011, was injured Dec. 7 when he was hit by a hip check from Minnesota Wild defenseman Keith Ballard during the Ducks’ 5-4 win at Xcel Energy Center and was projected to miss 3-4 weeks.

"It’s coming along," Perry told the Ducks website. "I feel good. It’s nice to actually skate with other guys and have a goalie to shoot on. It was a long week all by myself, but those are things you have to go through in order to come back. It’s good to see everybody."

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Ducks" Perry back at practice, unlikely to play Monday

Canucks" Hansen expected to play Monday: report

Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen was held out of practice Sunday as a precautionary measure one day after briefly collapsing on the bench during a game against the Calgary Flames but is expected to play Monday against the Arizona Coyotes.

“Everything is good. He spent the night at the hospital – and it was just precautionary,” Canucks coach Willie Desjardins told the Vancouver Sun. “But at the time on the bench, you really didn’t know what it was. And that’s a problem. He just took a real hard hit and he was having trouble getting his breath and it wasn’t more than that. I think Jannik is good to go [Monday]. I don’t see any problem with him.”

Hansen was hit by Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman at 1:27 of the second period Saturday, and skated to the Canucks bench under his own power before slumping forward. Play was halted while the Canucks doctor rushed to attend to Hansen, who moments later was conscious and on his feet, and walked to the locker room with help from the medical staff.

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Canucks" Hansen expected to play Monday: report

McDavid set to return from injury in WJC exhibition

OTTAWA – Connor McDavid and Curtis Lazar can expect to see a lot of each for the next couple of weeks.

The Canadian forwards will be roommates during the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship and will play on a line together Sunday when McDavid, projected to be a top pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, returns to play for the first time since breaking a finger in a fight Nov. 11 while playing for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League.

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McDavid set to return from injury in WJC exhibition

Around the League notebook for Saturday, Dec. 20

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

LOS ANGELES 4, Arizona 2

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Around the League notebook for Saturday, Dec. 20

"Born leader" Landeskog grows with Avalanche

Tony Landeskog still has the story saved on his computer, the one he read over and over with his son, Gabriel:

"What it takes to be an NHL captain."

"We just printed that out and read through it," Tony told NHL.com. "It was what personality is important to be a captain."

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"Born leader" Landeskog grows with Avalanche

Fantasy Spin: Tanguay available under radar

How many players who lead their NHL team in scoring are largely un-owned in fantasy?

Not many, not many, but Colorado Avalanche forward Alex Tanguay (13 percent owned, LW) fits that bill and continues to fly under the radar. He had two goals and an assist in a 5-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, and has 22 points. That’s more than Jarome Iginla, Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog.

Did we mention he’s available in 87 percent of Yahoo leagues?

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Fantasy Spin: Tanguay available under radar

Canucks forward Hansen collapses briefly on bench

VANCOUVER – Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen left the game after collapsing briefly on the bench shortly after taking a hit early in the second period against the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

Hansen was conscious and on his feet moments later but had to be helped to the locker room by medical staff.

CBC reported that Hansen was being observed in the Canucks dressing room and was not taken to a hospital. It later said he was walking to the Canucks’ workout room.

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Canucks forward Hansen collapses briefly on bench

Is a hot streak coming for Capitals" Ovechkin?

NEWARK, N.J. — Here’s Alex Ovechkin‘s explanation of his highlight-reel goal in the third period at Prudential Center on Saturday:

"When you feel good, everything working well, those kinds of moments happen," Ovechkin said.

Here’s why that explanation, as mundane as it is, is telling of how Ovechkin feels about the game and how the puck feels on his stick:

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Is a hot streak coming for Capitals" Ovechkin?

At the Rink: Panthers at Penguins

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins’ defensive corps continues to thin.

Defenseman Christian Ehrhoff will not play against the Florida Panthers at Consol Energy Center on Saturday, and the ensuing two games, after exiting Pittsburgh’s game against the Colorado Avalanche with an undisclosed injury on Thursday. Defenseman Paul Martin was also absent during the Penguins’ morning skate.

Pittsburgh recalled defensemen Derrick Pouliot and Taylor Chorney on Saturday to fill the voids left by Ehrhoff and Martin. The Penguins are already without defensemen Olli Maatta (upper body) and Robert Bortuzzo (upper body), who have missed five and two games respectively.

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At the Rink: Panthers at Penguins

At the Rink: Lightning at Islanders

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The New York Islanders’ “Kid Line” is playing some grown-up hockey.

Brock Nelson, Ryan Strome and Anders Lee, each of whom is a first or second-year player, are a big reason the Islanders bring a 22-10-0 record into their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday.

Nelson and Lee did all the scoring Friday when the Islanders edged the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 at Joe Louis Arena. Nelson’s goal was his team-high 14th and Lee’s was his sixth. Strome has six goals and 21 points, and he’s a team-high plus-12.

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At the Rink: Lightning at Islanders

Around the League notebook for Friday, Dec. 19

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

NEW JERSEY 3, Tampa Bay 2 (SO)

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Around the League notebook for Friday, Dec. 19

Fantasy Spin: Stars move Eakin to top line

Forward Cody Eakin played on the Dallas Stars‘ first line Friday and he delivered like a top-line player in a 2-1 victory against the Calgary Flames.

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Fantasy Spin: Stars move Eakin to top line

At the Rink: Stars at Flames

CALGARY – The Calgary Flames insist they don’t need to work harder to snap a six-game losing streak. They just need to work a little smarter.

The Flames, who last won Dec. 4, plan to simplify things when they host the Dallas Stars at Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday.

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At the Rink: Stars at Flames

Canadiens forward Pacioretty day-to-day after injury

Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty is day-to-day after sustaining an unspecified injury in a 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

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Canadiens forward Pacioretty day-to-day after injury

Penguins" Maatta tests positive for mumps

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta has the mumps, the Penguins announced Friday.

Maatta, 20, has not played since Dec. 6 because of an upper-body injury. He has one goal and eight assists in 20 games. He also missed time earlier this season after having a cancerous tumor removed from his thyroid gland.

The Penguins also announced goaltender Thomas Greiss and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo tested negative for the mumps.

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Penguins" Maatta tests positive for mumps

Rangers center Brassard back at practice: report

New York Rangers forward Derick Brassard practiced Friday, according to the Rangers website. It was Brassard’s first team involvement since being diagnosed with the mumps Dec. 14.

Brassard missed the Rangers’ 5-2 win against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. Tanner Glass, who previously had been diagnosed with the mumps, took Brassard’s place in the lineup.

The Rangers next play Saturday at the Carolina Hurricanes.

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Rangers center Brassard back at practice: report

Around the League notebook for Thursday, Dec. 18

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps

Florida 2, PHILADELPHIA 1 (SO)

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Around the League notebook for Thursday, Dec. 18

Hot fantasy topics: Rinne, Shattenkirk shining

Here’s a look at five of the hottest topics in fantasy hockey right now.

1. The No. 1 fantasy player

Has anyone outside of fantasy owners that have him on their teams realized that Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne is the No. 1 overall fantasy player? His owners continually point out how amazing he’s been, but it’s been a quiet type of amazing. Rinne is the prime reason the Predators are having so much success this season, and it’s his consistency that separates him from every other goalie.

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Hot fantasy topics: Rinne, Shattenkirk shining

Positioning, speed keys to Red Wings" stingy defense

DETROIT – A big part of the Detroit Red Wings‘ success this season has been limiting their opponents’ shots on goal and scoring chances.

Detroit (17-7-8) is allowing an average of 27.4 shots per game entering Friday against the New York Islanders. That’s fourth in the NHL, trailing the Minnesota Wild (25.9). Tampa Bay Lighthing (27.2) and St. Louis Blues (27.2).

A key component of that is the spacing between the Red Wings’ forwards and defensemen when they are forechecking and their opponents are attempting to come out of their own zone with the puck.

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Positioning, speed keys to Red Wings" stingy defense

Gordie Howe condition improves: report

Gordie Howe has enough strength to be somewhat mobile, son Mark Howe told the Detroit Free Press on Thursday.

“It’s more of a shuffle, but he is making his way around under his own power,” Mark Howe said.

Gordie Howe, 86, has dementia and has had a series of small strokes since summer. He had a severe stroke on Oct. 26, and another serious stroke was feared on Dec. 1; however, tests showed Howe was dehydrated.

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Gordie Howe condition improves: report

Koivu celebrated for achievements on and off ice

MONTREAL – Saku Koivu is well aware of the mysteries of fate, having been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma prior to the 2001-02 season.

On Thursday, Koivu’s courage and determination in his life off the ice as well as on it was celebrated by the Montreal Canadiens. Chants of "Saku! Saku! Saku!" filled Bell Centre during a ceremony prior to Montreal’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

Koivu, who spent his first 13 NHL seasons with the Canadiens from 1995-2009, retired on Sept. 10 after five seasons with Anaheim.

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Koivu celebrated for achievements on and off ice

Penguins" Crosby returns against Avalanche

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby is in the lineup against the Colorado Avalanche at Consol Energy Center on Thursday.

Crosby missed Pittsburgh’s past three games with the mumps. He participated in the Penguins morning skate Thursday to test how he felt and said he felt well afterward but would talk with the medical staff before determining if he would play.

“When I saw that picture, that’s not what I looked like before I went on the ice,” Crosby said of a photo that circulated on Twitter of him with a swollen cheek. “It was just one of those things, we were well aware of it. Everyone did the right things to try to keep me and everyone else as protected as you can be. But it’s just something that sometimes you can’t do anything about it.”

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Penguins" Crosby returns against Avalanche

Canadiens to honor former captain Koivu

MONTREAL — Saku Koivu has reassuring advice for the next captain of the Montreal Canadiens that he himself received from the late Jean Beliveau.

Named to that role at the beginning of the 1999-00 season, Koivu was the Canadiens’ captain for 10 years, matching the team record set from 1961-71 by Beliveau, who passed away on Dec. 2 at the age of 83.

"When I first became captain here Monsieur Beliveau came to me and said, ‘You’re going to be fine. You don’t have to change, you got selected because of who you are’," Koivu said at a press conference at Bell Centre on Thursday. "And certain players and personalities fit that role and they’re comfortable with that, and whoever’s going to be captain here, I would say that just you have to be yourself.

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Canadiens to honor former captain Koivu

Jets" Stuart out until February with lower-body injury

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Mark Stuart will be out until February with a lower-body injury sustained in a fight Tuesday, the latest blow to an already depleted defense corps.

Jets coach Paul Maurice announced Stuart’s injury Thursday, according to the team Twitter account.

The Jets have already been playing without Jacob Trouba (upper body), Zach Bogosian (lower body) and Toby Enstrom (lower body). Trouba, Bogosian, Enstrom and Stuart made up their top-two defense pairs at the start of the season.

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Jets" Stuart out until February with lower-body injury

Fantasy top 30 goalies: Panthers" Luongo underrated

Every Thursday during the season, NHL.com’s Evan Sporer will provide you with in-depth analysis of goaltenders. From updated weekly top-30 rankings to trending players and more, Sporer will be your go-to guy for advice on fantasy goalies all season long.

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Fantasy top 30 goalies: Panthers" Luongo underrated

Devils defenseman Severson out 4-5 weeks

New Jersey Devils rookie defenseman Damon Severson has a hairline fracture in his ankle and is expected to miss between four-to-five weeks, the team announced Thursday.

Severson was a last-minute scratch Wednesday, when the Devils lost 2-0 to the Ottawa Senators at Prudential Center. He participated in the morning skate and took his regular turn in pregame warm-ups alongside defense partner Andy Greene, but was scratched in favor of Seth Helgeson.

Severson played in New Jersey’s first 32 games and has 12 points on four goals and eight assists.

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Devils defenseman Severson out 4-5 weeks

Canadiens to honor Koivu for work on, off ice

MONTREAL — The similarities are striking, albeit unmentionable.

A week after the Montreal Canadiens did a masterful job celebrating the life of the franchise’s greatest ambassador and captain, they will attempt to do it again Thursday for another giant figure in Canadiens history prior to their game at Bell Centre against the Anaheim Ducks.

No, Saku Koivu cannot be compared to Jean Beliveau. Nobody can.

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Canadiens to honor Koivu for work on, off ice