The "Ghost Bear" will be invisible during Thursday's game against Montreal.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, along with rookie forward Travis Konecny, will be scratched for Thursday's game against the Canadiens.

The 2016 Calder Trophy runner-up has not scored in 27 games, but is most frustrated with his play in his own zone.

"It’s definitely frustrating, but it’s more frustrating to be on the ice for goals against," Gostisbehere said Wednesday, per Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post. "I really don’t care about points or scoring goals. My first job is to play defense. Sometimes the way the pucks are going in the net I feel like I have bad luck, but again I can’t just use that as an excuse. I just look at that and say I can do a lot better myself."

Gostisbehere is well off the 17-goal, 46-point performance recorded in 64 games as a rookie last season, but it's not for a lack of effort. His shot rate is identical, but his shooting percentage is way down.

In five-on-five play, Gostisbehere is a positive possession player, with a Corsi rating of 53.69, highest among all Flyers defensemen. Meanwhile, his Goal For percentage sits at 33.96, the lowest among Philadelphia players at his position.

Add it all up, and the Flyers are routinely recording more shot attempts then the opposition with Gostisbehere on the ice, but are also getting drastically outscored.

Certainly there's some bad luck at work there, and the hope appears to be a night in the press box will give him a fresh view of what's going on during the game.

Gostisbehere, by the way, will be honored Friday at the Philadelphia Sports Writers Award Dinner as local athlete of the year while the Flyers are clinging to the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

(Advanced stats courtesy: Puckalytics)

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Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Thursday, Feb. 2 (all advanced statistics courtesy of Corsica.Hockey and apply to 5v5 situations):

Dynamic Duos

• LW Ondrej Palat (53K) & RW Nikita Kucherov (69K), Lightning (vs. Senators): The Lightning's top line with these two wingers centered by Vladislav Namestnikov own a Corsi For rating of 58.47 percent in any venue. The Senators possess a CF% of just 47.86 while on the road. Tampa Bay's trio is expected to score 3.45 goals per 60 minutes of 5v5.

• LW Patrick Marleau (40K) & C Logan Couture (46K), Sharks (at Canucks): Marleau has completely turned his season around since the beginning of December, with a further surge since Monday, Jan. 23, during which he has compiled 18 shots on goal in four games. In just under 36 minutes played with Couture and RW Mikkel Boedker, the trio has a CF% of 55.56.

• LW Patrick Sharp (38K) & C Devin Shore (29K), Stars (vs. Jets): Sharp and Shore were part of the Stars' most common forward trio at 5v5 in their most recent game, a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The two also see time on the second power-play unit. In over 81 minutes with C Radek Faksa the trio has averaged just 3.69 scoring chances per 60 minutes, but the two have combined for six points and 12 SOG in their past two games.

Goalie Breakdown

• TARGET - Carey Price (84K), Canadiens (at Flyers): While Price has been stuck in his worst stretch of play in recent memory, he will receive some help Thursday, as C Alex Galchenyuk rejoins the Canadiens' lineup. He'll center the team's second line, providing additional depth to defend against Philadelphia's stellar top-six forward group.

• BARGAIN - Corey Crawford (79K), Blackhawks (at Coyotes): Crawford comes with a low expected save total against an Arizona team averaging just 28.03 shots per 60 minutes, but he has high win and shutout likelihoods with the Coyotes averaging just 6.69 scoring chances with an expected goal rate of 2.25 per 60.

• FADE - Ondrej Pavelec (86K), Jets (at Stars): Don't be fooled by Pavelec's 3-2 record in five starts since rejoining the Jets, he has allowed at least three goals each time out and has made a high of 24 saves in his past three starts. The disappointing Stars still average more than eight scoring chances per 60 minutes.

• CONTRARIAN - Cam Talbot (86K), Oilers (at Predators): Talbot allowed four goals on just 19 shots in his most recent starts, against the Minnesota Wild. It snapped a stretch of seven starts in which he allowed more than two goals just once. The Predators average 31.74 SOG but just 6.79 scoring chances per 60 minutes. He has the opportunity for a high save total.

Bargain Plays

• LW Ryan Dzingel (25K), Senators (at Lightning): Dzingel scored two goals in Ottawa's most recent game, nothing three SOG in 14:34. He's playing almost exclusively with C Kyle Turris and RW Bobby Ryan at 5v5, providing additional upside. The Lightning allow an adequate 7.10 scoring chances per 60 minutes.

• C Brian Boyle (27K), Lightning (vs. Senators): Boyle has at least one shot on goal in 12 consecutive games, tallying four or more on four occasions. He has played at least 15 minutes in five straight, while working on the left side of C Valtteri Filppula and LW Jonathan Drouin. The Senators allow 59.14 shot attempts per 60 minutes of 5v5.

• D Ivan Provorov (28K), Flyers (vs. Canadiens): The Canadiens own a bottom-third penalty kill and they're tied for the third most times being short handed. Provorov operates on the second power play, with the only slightly more expensive Mark Streit. Provorov has 19 SOG in his past five games.

Top Fades

• D Victor Hedman (51K), Lightning (vs. Senators): Hedman has notched more than two SOG in just one of his past 11 games. He did tally three assists last time out, snapping a four-game point-less streak. There are more appealing options at far lower salaries.

• RW Patrick Kane (75K), Blackhawks (at Coyotes): Kane has the highest upside of anyone from the Blackhawks, but with such an appealing matchup owners are better off seeking value from the team. Kane hasn't had a multi-point outing any of his past six games, a requirement at his lofty salary.

• LW Daniel Sedin (62K), Canucks (vs. Sharks): Sedin has been shooting at inconsistent rates, and he hasn't had a multi-point game since Dec. 6. With hits and blocked shots not being a regular part of his game, his floor and ceiling are both too low for his salary.

Contrarian Options

• C Derek Stepan (50K), Rangers (at Sabres): Stepan has just two assists in his past five games, but he has multiple shots on goal in four of those, and he hasn't played less than 18 minutes since Jan. 4. His trio with Ws Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider played over 22 percent of all 5v5 minutes in the Rangers' most recent game.

• D Kevin Shattenkirk (42K), Blues (vs. Maple Leafs): Stars puck-moving D John Klingberg was featured here ahead of his Tuesday matchup with the Maple Leafs. While he failed to record a shot, he did pick up an assist and log over 20 minutes. Shattenkirk follows the same mold with plenty of ice time ahead of him. He has three goals and seven assists in January.

• LW Alexander Steen (53K), Blues (vs. Maple Leafs): Steen isn't even the most popular LW on his team, let alone the entire slate. He did have six goals and eight assists in January, making him one of the most productive. His six goals came on just 18 SOG, but he did top 18 minutes in each of his past four games.

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Each week, theScore looks at the teams, players, and other hockey figures trending upward and taking a step back. This week, we're examining the NHL's most recent replacement head coaches.

▲ Mike Yeo

Ken Hitchcock's firing means Yeo takes over the St. Louis Blues a little earlier than he - or anyone else - was expecting, and he'll do so with the club in relative free fall.

It wasn't Hitchcock's fault that the Blues had the worst goaltending in the NHL, nor will it be Yeo's, but it will be the new bench boss' responsibility to right the ship until and unless general manager Doug Armstrong is willing to make a move to improve the team's netminding woes.

Yeo has enough previous head coaching experience with the Minnesota Wild and associate coaching time learning under Hitchcock to be fully prepared for this role.

He's expected to lead the Blues for three more seasons after this one, so while there's certainly pressure to make the playoffs and match last season's Western Conference Final run, Yeo can take comfort in knowing he was hand-picked and groomed for this opportunity.

▼ Tom Rowe

Coaching changes often rouse teams regardless of whether it's a necessary move, but that awakening simply hasn't happened in Florida.

When the Panthers fired Gerard Gallant and named general manager Tom Rowe the interim head coach for the rest of the season, it was a puzzling move, not only because of Gallant's abrupt departure but also because his replacement occupied a desk in the front office.

Rowe isn't without coaching experience, but the skepticism appears to have been warranted. The Panthers have reeled off two straight wins, but they're 11-10-9 in the 30 games since he took the reins. For those scoring at home, that's really 11-19, or eight games below .500.

The defending Atlantic Division champions find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in - two points back of the Philadelphia Flyers for the second wild-card spot in the East, and one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have three games in hand.

▲ Doug Weight

The New York Islanders look like an entirely new team under Weight, who was elevated to the head coaching position when Jack Capuano was fired last month.

They're 5-0-1 with Weight behind the bench, rising from last place to within three points of the Flyers for that final playoff position in the parity-riddled Eastern Conference.

The Islanders have outscored opponents 19-10 in the first six games of the Weight era. Like Yeo, he was groomed for the job, but, unlike his Blues counterpart, his tutelage came as an assistant coach. Either way, he's proving that experience paid off.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are embracing their golden side.

The club has unveiled the full "Pittsburgh gold" uniform to be worn during the NHL Stadium Series game at Heinz Field on Feb. 25 against rival Philadelphia, as modeled by winger Bryan Rust.

"I love the color," Rust said on the team's website. "I think I like the bright yellow helmets the most. It's something different … something you don't see too often."

The jersey will also feature two patches - one to commemorate participation in the Stadium Series and another paying tribute to Pittsburgh as the "City of Champions."

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The Los Angeles Kings are in a playoff spot, and it's largely thanks to Jeff Carter.

The veteran center scored a pair of goals in Wednesday's win over Colorado, and continues to carry the offensive load for a roster that's otherwise struggling to put the puck in the net.

Carter has now scored 26 goals in 51 games, two behind Sidney Crosby for the league lead and one ahead of reigning Richard Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin.

That Carter is on pace for 42 goals over the course of 82 games is significant on a personal level, seeing as he's topped the 40-goal mark only once in his previous 11 seasons (46 in 2008-09). But what's even more striking is where the Kings would be this season without his hot stick.

Carter's 26 goals account for exactly 20 percent of Los Angeles' total to date, as the Kings rank 21st among all teams with 130 goals through 51 games.

Winger Tanner Pearson is the only other King to hit double-digits in goals so far this season (15), and Carter is quite simply skating laps around the rest of his teammates.

• 8 goals: Drew Doughty, Tyler Toffoli
• 7 goals: Alec Martinez, Dustin Brown, Jake Muzzin, Trevor Lewis

To be fair, Toffoli - who led the Kings with 31 goals last season - has missed several games due to injury, but that only highlights how important Carter's scoring has been, especially when one considers star center Anze Kopitar is on pace for only 10 goals despite averaging 25 for every 82 games played over the course of his career.

Carter, then, is putting himself in line to challenge for the Richard Trophy as the NHL's highest goal scorer, but the rate at which he's carrying the Kings offense warrants serious Hart Trophy consideration should Los Angeles be able to hold on to a playoff spot.

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Jarome Iginla wants out.

In an interview with Puck Daddy before the Colorado Avalanche were shut out by the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, Iginla confirmed that he hopes to be dealt to a postseason contender before the March 1 trade deadline.

"I would like to, at the deadline, go somewhere," Iginla, 39, said. "I would like to be in the playoffs. I would hope that there is some opportunity to go and play in the playoffs.

"Those are the best games, the most fun for sure, and you have a chance to win. So no, I haven't given up on that chance to win."

Iginla has briefly functioned as a rental commodity, pursuing the championship that has eluded him since his rookie season in 1996-97 with two short stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins in 2013 and 2014 following his 16 seasons with the Calgary Flames.

He chose stability over the chase in the summer of 2014, signing a three-year, $16-million contract with the Avalanche, a deal set to expire this summer.

Iginla said he hasn't approached management with a formal request to be dealt, but suggested that it's implied based on his age, contract status, and the direction of the last-place Avs.

"I have enjoyed it (in Colorado) and there are lots of great young guys here, and I think it's going to be a promising future. But yeah, my window is not the same as the other guys for sure."

The Avalanche are one of a few obvious sellers with the deadline now less than a month away. The club will likely have to retain a considerable portion of Iginla's $5.33-million salary to facilitate a deal.

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Finally rocked.

Devan Dubnyk was beaten five times for the first time this season Wednesday night in Calgary, as the Flames jumped on the Minnesota Wild on the second night of a back-to-back, defeating the Western Conference leader 5-1.

The Vezina Trophy front runner, who rode a 20-2-2 stretch coming in, allowed two or fewer goals in 27 of his 38 starts entering the contest. Before the loss, he had more shutouts (five) than starts where he allowed more than three goals.

But despite the positive results, Dubnyk's game-to-game trajectory suggests this was a long time coming. Five weeks to be exact.

Each of his five starts where he's allowed at least four goals this season have come since the holiday break, and during a 13-game run where he's stopped the puck at a pedestrian .903 rate.

He entered the holiday freeze with a spectacular .948 save percentage.

With Braden Holtby riding an upward trend, sporting better than a .935 save rate over the previous two months, and Sergei Bobrovsky's numbers remaining comparably solid, we might have a Vezina race after all.

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Progress lost in the standings seems trivial right now for the Boston Bruins.

Tuukka Rask and Patrice Bergeron hobbled off the ice Wednesday, injured in the club's 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals.

Appearing to hurt himself while over-extending to make a save, Rask told Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe he "popped his groin."

Most of the concern, however, was focused on the captain. Bergeron was able to return briefly after blocking a slap shot from Matt Niskanen with the inside of his knee early in the third, but was unable to finish the game. He walked with a "heavy limp" afterward, according to Shinzawa, and was not made available to speak with the media.

Claude Julien didn't offer an update on Bergeron, telling reporters it's "hopefully better than worse," reports AP's Stephen Whyno.

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