Atkinson beats Condon with fluky chip shot

Just how Cam Atkinson drew it up.

The Columbus Blue Jackets forward was the beneficiary of a Mike Condon blunder on Sunday night. Atkinson scored his 22nd goal of the season after his shot tipped off Bobby Ryan's stick, bounced off the glove of Condon, and hopped over the goaltender's head and into the net.

It wasn't pretty, but they all count.

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Rangers rip Red Wings’ ‘garbage’ ice

The New York Rangers didn't enjoy their stay at Joe Louis Arena.

Following New York's 1-0 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, the Rangers took to the microphones to voice their frustrations with the ice quality in the opposition's barn.

"I know the ice was the same for both teams, but the quality of the ice today was just horrendous," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault told reporters. "When you can't put two passes together because the puck is bouncing all over the place, it makes it very hard on players who have some skill and to put that skill on display."

It was a sleepy game between the two sides, with the game featuring a single goal and a combined 40 shots. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist turned aside all 21 shots he faced for his 61st career shutout.

Rangers forward Chris Kreider doubled down on the ice accusations, calling the playing surface "garbage," according to Steve Zipay of Newsday.

It is the final season in the iconic arena for the Red Wings, home to the club since 1979. The club will head to its new digs, the Little Caesars Arena, at the start of next season.

Unfortunately for the Rangers, their due one more visit in Detroit this year, as the two sides link up in Michigan on March 12.

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Bruins’ offense goes extra cold at the wrong time for Julien

The Boston Bruins haven't been scoring all season. But they've been even more inept of late, and that has to be driving head coach Claude Julien crazy, as rumors of the precarious state of his employment swirl.

Boston dropped its fourth game in a row Sunday, a 5-1 decision in which the Bruins out shot the Pittsburgh Penguins 45-36.

Matt Murray shut the door.

The Bruins have a 75 to 58 advantage on the shot clock over their past two games, and have only one goal to show for it in back-to-back losses. Boston was shut out 1-0 by Chicago on Friday.

Julien's squad went into Sunday's game averaging 2.4 goals per game, ranking 24th in the league, but save for a couple of outbursts over their past six contests, five of which the Bruins have lost, they're having even more trouble than usual scoring.

Date Result Shots For SH% Opponent
Jan. 12 L 2-1 36 2.77% Predators
Jan. 14 W 6-3 39 15.4% Flyers
Jan. 16 L 4-0 32 0% Islanders
Jan. 18 L 6-5 (SO) 33 15.1% Red Wings
Jan. 20 L 1-0 30 0% Blackhawks
Jan. 22 L 5-1 45 2.22% Penguins

Math is hard, but that's only 13 goals in six games, 11 in two of them, the games in which the Bruins got at least a point. Boston has two goals in its last four regulation losses.

It's bad.

But you can't say Julien's guys aren't trying. The Bruins have out shot their opponents in each of their last six games, averaging 35.8 shots per game; the puck simply isn't going in the net.

Boston's played the most games of any team in the league so far, 50, and sit 23-21-6. The club's in playoff position as the third seed in the Atlantic Division, but the Toronto Maple Leafs - one point back - have a whopping six games in hand.

Detroit, four points behind, has three games in hand, and the Red Wings will be in Boston to face the Bruins on Tuesday, in yet another big game for the black and gold.

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Rask leaves game after suffering migraine

The Boston Bruins fell 5-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, but the biggest loss may have come between the pipes.

Midway through the second period, Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask pulled himself from the game, citing vision problems. Backup Zane McIntyre came into the game in relief, allowing three goals on 14 shots as Boston posted its fourth-straight loss.

Following the game, Rask confirmed he suffered a migraine and was unable to continue playing. Its a familiar ailment for the Finnish goaltender, who experienced a similar case in March 2015.

The Bruins return to the ice Tuesday versus the Detroit Red Wings, however, it is not yet known if Rask will be in the lineup. Rask has appeared in 39 games this season, posting a 22-12-4 record and a .920 save percentage.

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Conor Sheary on some kind of streak

It's not hard to fly under the radar in Pittsburgh.

The club has some of the most gifted offensive talents around, but very quickly Conor Sheary is emerging from the shadows as yet another goal-scoring dynamo for the Penguins.

With another sizzling performance on Sunday - that saw Sheary net two goals and add an assist against the Boston Bruins - the 24-year-old is now up to 17 goals and 34 points in 39 games this season.

Sheary can really thank a recent hot streak for his dramatic shot up the scoring ranks. Thanks to Sunday's output, Sheary is now riding a four-game point streak that includes three two-goal games and sees him with nine points in that span.

However, it doesn't stop there. Since Dec. 27 - a stretch of 11 games - Sheary has amassed 15 points. He has also matched John Tavares of the New York Islanders for the most goals in the month of January (eight) and has the second-highest points per game total this month - with Patrik Laine's inflated six points in three games leading the way.

Of course, Sheary has had the chance to play alongside Sidney Crosby which has certainly helped in his production. Nevertheless, Sheary is firing on all cylinders - like it seems everyone is doing these days in Pittsburgh - and is just another reason why the Penguins cold be poised to repeat as Stanley Cup champs this spring.

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Dubnyk’s hot start runs cold through January

It's been a rough month for Devan Dubnyk.

The Minnesota Wild netminder, who has put up spectacular performances since arriving in St. Paul two years ago, is having a very average January.

Month GP Record GAA SV%
October 7 5-1-1 1.43 .952
November 10 4-5-1 1.81 .942
December 11 10-0-1 1.69 .941
January 7 6-1-0 2.58 .906

While Dubnyk is still scoring wins - he's lost just one of seven games through January - the performance hasn't been as pretty.

After posting scorching numbers through the season's first three months, things have run cold in January. On the month, 23 goaltenders have taken the ice as often as Dubnyk, with the Wild goalie running middle of the pack among that group, ranking 12th.

How Dubnyk finishes the month will be worth following, particularly with one of Minnesota's better defenders, Jonas Brodin, now on the shelf with a broken finger. In Brodin's two-game absence, the Wild have come away with a pair of victories but have allowed three goals in both affairs, something coach Bruce Boudreau would like to see less of.

It will be up to Dubnyk to tighten up his play in goal, as backup Darcy Kuemper hasn't been a reliable No. 2 this season. Through nine games on the year, Kuemper has come away with a 5-2-2 record but holds an ugly .901 save percentage and a bloated 3.30 GAA.

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Lundqvist makes history with 20th win of the season

Say what you want about this season, but they don't call Henrik Lundqvist the King for nothing.

The 34-year-old turned away all 21 shots he faced in Sunday's 1-0 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings to pick up his 20th win of the season.

In doing so, Lundqvist became the first goalie in NHL history to begin his career with 12 straight 20-win seasons.

After a trio of shaky contests over the last week and a half that saw him give up at least four goals per game and 16 overall against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Dallas Stars, the New York Rangers goalie appears to be settling back in.

He has now posted back-to-back wins, stopping 44-of-46 shots in those games. The King's next milestone will be his 400th career win, which he will achieve with just six more victories.

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Report: Team requests permission to talk to Capuano

Jack Capuano may not be unemployed for long.

The former New York Islanders bench boss, who was fired by the club Tuesday, has piqued the interest of at least one NHL club, Arthur Staple of Newsday reports.

While the inquiring team is unknown, only two clubs are currently without a head coach - the incoming Vegas Golden Knights, who will join the NHL next season as an expansion club, and the Florida Panthers, where general manager Tom Rowe doubles as interim head coach after the firing of Gerard Gallant.

Interested suitors require the Islanders' permission to speak with Capuano, given he is still under contract until the end of the 2016-17 campaign. It is unknown whether Capuano has been contacted regarding a head coaching position or an assistant role.

Capuano manned the Islanders' bench since 2010-11, posting a 227-192-64 record through his time in New York. Last spring, he guided the Islanders to their first playoff series win since 1993.

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Backstrom streaking into thick of scoring race

January has been rather kind to Nicklas Backstrom.

The Washington Capitals' center is the hottest scorer in the NHL right now, currently riding a nine-game point streak in which he's collected five multi-point efforts and 16 points overall.

The surge has pushed him into a tie with Vladimir Tarasenko for the fifth-highest output across the NHL with 46.

As it always has, it's Backstrom's playmaking ability that's driving his production. With two assists Saturday versus Dallas, the 29-year-old tied Patrick Kane with 33 helpers, second only to that Connor McDavid fellow.

Backstrom's playing at a point-per-game pace, and if he keeps it up, an 82-point total would be his highest mark since netting 101 in 2009-10.

Not only is Backstrom's streak impressive, it holds significance. In Ottawa on Jan. 7, Backstrom recorded his 500th career assist - the first Capital to do so. Then two games later versus Pittsburgh, he proved to be Alex Ovechkin's catalyst for the umpteenth time, notching the primary assist on his perpetual linemates' 1,000th career point.

All this in the midst of the Capitals winning 11 of their past 12 games.

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3 teams that should try to acquire Radim Vrbata

Need a winger? Call the Arizona Coyotes.

The "For Sale" sign is up once again in the desert, with the Coyotes poised to miss the postseason for the fifth straight season. That means changes, and likely a new address for right-winger Radim Vrbata.

A pending unrestricted free agent, the 35-year-old Vrbata is in his third tour of duty with Arizona after he rejoined the Coyotes in the offseason.

Through 46 games, the Czech-born winger is the club's leading scorer, with 33 points, capped by Saturday's four-point outing against the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's been a hot month for Vrbata, who has nine points through nine games in January.

That makes an attractive asset for the Coyotes, and a nice addition on the wing for teams looking to bulk up for the playoffs. With that, here are three teams that should think about adding Vrbata's scoring touch:

Boston Bruins

The Bruins are at risk of missing the postseason for the third straight season. That sort of failure hasn't happened in Beantown since 1967, when the Bruins missed the playoffs eight years in a row.

There is desperation in Boston amid rumors of the future of coach Claude Julien, with the Bruins being just a single point above the final wild-card spot, and the team struggling to produce offense up front. With 122 goals on the season, Boston ranks 21st league-wide, seemingly reeling from the loss of scoring winger Loui Eriksson, who left in free agency.

A closer looks shows the Bruins have struggled up the middle, with centers Patrice Bergeron and David Backes having among the worst seasons of their careers. Could their performances turn around with Vrbata on the wing? We'll know for sure after the March 1 trade deadline.

Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina could use some help on the right side. Only two Hurricanes currently outpace Vrbata - Jeff Skinner and Victor Rask - who make up two-thirds of Carolina's top line. There's an opening on the right side, and Vrbata could be a better fit than the likes of Elias Lindholm and Lee Stempniak. The three could push Carolina to its first playoff berth since 2009.

A short stint in North Carolina would mark a reunion for Vrbata, who spent parts of three seasons in Raleigh. He was traded from Colorado to Carolina at the 2003 deadline, then shipped to Chicago in December 2005.

If budget issues are a concern for the Hurricanes, Carolina is in luck, as Vrbata carries a cap-friendly bonus-laden contract. The deal has a $1-million base salary, plus various other payouts. Vrbata has already reached the games played benchmarks, and is on pace to soon cash in on another $500,000 when he nets either his 20th goal or 40th point. If the Hurricanes win it all with Vrbata in tow, he'd max out at $3.25 million.

Condition Payment
Base salary $1 million
10 games played $250 000
30 games played $250 000
20 goals or 40 points $500 000
If make playoffs $250 000
Playoff round win $250 000 per round

Ottawa Senators

Senators general manager Pierre Dorion hasn't been shy about his desire to add some more scoring to his club, and Vrbata could be just what the doctor ordered.

The Senators hold down the second spot in the Atlantic Division, but with just 116 goals on the season, Ottawa owns a minuscule plus-three goal differential, while the club has only outscored seven teams league-wide.

The Senators could use a boost at right wing. At 33 points, Vrbata has nearly doubled the production Ottawa's top right triggerman, Bobby Ryan, who has 18 on the year. Fellow right-winger Mark Stone and defenseman Erik Karlsson are the only Ottawa skaters to outscore Vrbata this season.

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