The hits keep coming for the Montreal Canadiens, as the team announced Monday that captain Max Pacioretty will miss four-to-six weeks with a knee injury.

Pacioretty sustained the injury Friday against the New York Islanders. He left midway through the second period and did not return.

Given the time frame, Pacioretty could be sidelined for the remainder of the season. The Canadiens sit 10 points back of a playoff spot, with their final regular-season game scheduled for Apr. 7.

Through 64 appearances in 2017-18, Pacioretty has recorded 17 goals and 20 assists. His 37 points rank third on the team.

Pacioretty's injury is just the latest blow for the Canadiens, who already lost blue-liner Shea Weber for the remainder of the season following foot surgery, while star netminder Carey Price is sidelined indefinitely with a concussion.

On Monday, Montreal also announced that rookie defensemen Victor Mete will miss six weeks after fracturing his finger versus the Islanders.

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Steven Stamkos was red hot Saturday, as the Tampa Bay Lightning captain picked up a career-high five points in a 7-6 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Stamkos wasn't the only member of the Lightning with the hot stick, either.

Linemate Nikita Kucherov, who returned to the lineup after a two-game absence, tallied three assists, including a perfect set up on a two-on-one break with Stamkos that fooled Flyers netminder Petr Mrazek.

Stamkos then added to his afternoon by sealing the shootout winner.

Tampa Bay blue-liner Victor Hedman also notched four points.

The Lightning's next game comes Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.

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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is ready to go.

The Edmonton Oilers forward is set to return to the lineup Saturday against the New York Rangers after missing 18 games with an upper-body injury, he confirmed to David Amber of Hockey Night in Canada.

In line rushes Saturday, Nugent-Hopkins was paired with wingers Mike Cammalleri and deadline addition Pontus Aberg.

In 46 games this season, Nugent-Hopkins has tallied 16 goals and 15 assists.

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Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty has returned to Montreal for further evaluation after he sustained a lower-body injury against the New York Islanders on Friday.

The injury will keep Pacioretty out of the lineup for Saturday's contest against the Boston Bruins. It will mark the first game he has missed this season.

Pacioretty has recorded 17 goals and 20 assists in 64 games.

Also headed back to Montreal for evaluation is rookie defenseman Victor Mete, who injured his hand Friday.

Mete has tallied seven points in 49 games this year. He was also a key contributor in Canada's gold medal win at the world juniors.

No timetable has been announced on when either will return to the lineup.

The Canadiens sit third-last in the Eastern Conference with a 25-29-10 record in 64 games.

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Steve Mason is ready to return to game action and will get a chance to get back up to speed with a conditioning assignment with the AHL's Manitoba Moose.

The Winnipeg Jets netminder has been sidelined for the past 20 games due to a concussion. His last appearance came Jan. 9 against the Buffalo Sabres. It was the second head injury Mason has suffered this season.

No timetable has been announced on when Mason will rejoin the Jets, but conditioning assignments are only permissible for a maximum of two weeks.

Mason has posted a 3-6-1 record with a .897 save percentage in 11 games this season. He has not suited up for an AHL contest since 2008-09 when he appeared in three games with the Syracuse Crunch.

The 29-year-old is under contract through 2018-19, carrying a $4.1-million cap hit.

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Nobody has been a bigger mainstay in Washington than Alex Ovechkin.

Competing in his 984th career game Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Capitals captain became the franchise's all-time leader in games played, passing former Caps blue-liner Calle Johansson:

Meanwhile, Ovechkin is also the franchise's all-time leader in goals (596) and points (1,105). Teammate Nicklas Backstrom sits first in assists with 570, with Ovechkin in second at 509.

Through 62 games this season, Ovechkin has tallied 38 goals and 32 assists.

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Ryan McDonagh hopes to make his debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning in about a week.

The former New York Rangers defenseman has been sidelined for the past nine games with an upper-body injury.

The Lightning acquired McDonagh on Monday in exchange for forward Vladislav Namestnikov, prospects Libor Hajek and Brett Howden, a first-round pick in 2018, and a conditional first rounder in 2019.

In 49 games with the Rangers this season, McDonagh netted two goals and 24 assists.

The 28-year-old is signed through the 2018-19 campaign.

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Patrick Maroon will have fond memories of Edmonton.

So much so that the new member of the New Jersey Devils is open to returning to the Oilers should he reach unrestricted free agency this summer.

"Nothing but good things to stay about this organization," Maroon said, as per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The veteran forward has played alongside Oilers superstar Connor McDavid since arriving in Edmonton in 2015. Last season, he posted a career-high 27 goals and 42 points.

Maroon, 29, carries a $1.5-million cap hit this season. Given he's tallied 30 points through 57 games this year, he could be due a sizable raise come July.

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The Ottawa Senators plan to offer captain Erik Karlsson a contract extension if he remains with the team this season, GM Pierre Durion told Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch.

While Karlsson is still in Ottawa following Monday's trade deadline, several teams were reportedly interested in acquiring the superstar blue-liner.

"Erik is a franchise player and we felt there was no franchise deal out there," Dorion told Garrioch.

Karlsson can sign an extension with the Senators as early as July 1, but the possibility remains that the team could consider trade options prior to that day, potentially at the June draft.

In 56 appearances this season, Karlsson has five goals and 37 assists.

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The Calgary Flames acquired depth forward Nick Shore from the Ottawa Senators on Monday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.

In exchange, the Senators acquired a seventh-round draft pick in 2019, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.

Shore appeared in six games with the Senators this season, collecting one assist. Ottawa recently acquired him in the deal that sent Dion Phaneuf to the Los Angeles Kings.

In 49 games with the Kings this season, Shore registered four goals and 11 assists.

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