Vindication for Randy Carlyle.

That's one conclusion that could be drawn after Anaheim defeated the Maple Leafs on Monday, but the former Toronto head coach and current Ducks bench downplayed the personal implications of the result.

Carlyle served as head coach of the Maple Leafs over four seasons, guiding the club to a 91-78-18 record in 188 games, as well as the team's only playoff appearance since 2004.

He was fired during the 2014-15 regular season, and maintains he was never told why.

With the win, the Ducks kept pace with San Jose atop the Pacific Division standings.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Nashville Predators are hoping Filip Forsberg's recent game log is a sign of things to come.

Through October and November, the 22-year-old had scored a grand total of two goals, and had failed to hit the back of the net in five games to start December.

Forsberg did, however, record his third goal of the season in a win over St. Louis on Dec. 13, and recorded the game-tying goal - his fourth - in Monday's eventual shootout win over Philadelphia.

That marks two goals in his past five games, and a return to more expected levels of production.

While Forsberg's overall numbers are down from the past two seasons, what's encouraging is that his shooting percentage suggests a turnaround could be afoot.

Forsberg's shots per game are down for the season, but he is averaging 3.8 through nine December games, meaning better days should be ahead as his shooting percentage climbs closer to his career mark of 10.6

What's also encouraging is Forsberg remains productive in regards to assists, and he's on pace to match the career-high 37 posted in 2014-15.

Add it all up, and Forsberg could be in for a monster 2017, with a view to contributing when it matters most for the Predators, namely in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kevin Bieksa's night came to an early end after taking a deflected puck to the face.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Roman Polak attempted a shot early in the second period that caught Bieksa up high after the ricochet.

Bieksa left the ice for medical attention and was unable to return, per the Anaheim Ducks.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is not how Brian Elliott wanted to begin his first start in there weeks.

A shade over five minutes into the first period, the Calgary Flames netminder attempted to play the puck behind the net, but inadvertently bumped it off Josh Jooris' chest. Unable to recover in time, Elliott watched as Christian Dvorak scooped the puck and put it into the back of the net.

Elliott had not made a start since Nov. 28, having lost a foothold on the No. 1 gig to Chad Johnson. He had posted a save percentage of .886 in 14 appearances prior to Monday's game against the Arizona Coyotes.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're not sure about Auston Matthews' affinity for the service industry, but at the rink, he's an excellent tipper.

The Toronto Maple Leafs phenom scored against the Anaheim Ducks on a tremendous redirection Monday night, reaching out to tip in Nikita Zaitsev's shot with one hand on his stick.

It was Matthews' 15th goal of his rookie season in his 31st game.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sometimes, life is simply about playing with the hand you've been dealt.

The Carolina Hurricanes projected a game of solitaire on to the video board at PNC Arena while their game against the Detroit Red Wings was delayed due to an issue with the ice-cooling system Monday.

The issue was eventually fixed, but the arena staff still required time to restore the ice to its proper temperature before the game could begin.

It's unfortunate that an ice delay was in the cards, but good to see all hands on deck in addressing the issue.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Detroit Red Wings will have to wait to take to the ice.

Scheduled to begin play at 7 p.m. ET at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., the game has been delayed due to an issue with the cooling system.

At least one player has heard the delay will be significant.

That timeline was corroborated by the Red Wings' Twitter account.

Nearly 30 minutes after the game was supposed to start, progress has been made.

According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, there's a limit as to how long Detroit can wait, as the Red Wings are set to play Tuesday in Tampa Bay.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After six full seasons in the AHL, a journeyman forward appears to be on the verge of fulfilling a dream.

Pat Cannone will likely make his NHL debut for the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche after being recalled Monday from the club's AHL affiliate in Iowa.

"It's a great opportunity and I'm really looking forward to it," the 30-year-old said Monday. "Lot of emotions running high."

Wild forward Erik Haula is dealing with a nagging foot injury, and Zac Dalpe - his ideal replacement - is playing for Iowa on Monday in his first game since having knee surgery in November.

The Wild don't want Dalpe going back to back yet, meaning Cannone should get the opportunity to play for Minnesota on Tuesday, head coach Bruce Boudreau told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune.

He'd become the second-oldest Wild player to make his NHL debut behind Lubomir Sekeras, who was 31 when he first played for Minnesota in 2000, the Elias Sports Bureau confirmed to Russo.

The Bayport, N.Y., product's wife, Natalie, will be in the building on Tuesday, and his parents are attempting to make the trip.

"You play for (this), you work hard for (this)," Cannone said Monday. "It was a long time coming and I'm looking forward to the opportunity."

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Rangers will once again be without Rick Nash for an undetermined period of time because of a groin injury.

This according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, who reports the winger suffered a new groin injury early in overtime during Sunday's shootout win over the Islanders. The injury was suffered on the opposite side of Nash's groin from the injury that sidelined him for four games earlier in December.

He'll reportedly miss at least one game (Tuesday in Pittsburgh), after which the Rangers will have two days off until their next game on Dec. 23.

Nash had scored two goals in three games in his return, boosting his season total to 13 in 30 appearances.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You've heard it by now: The Columbus Blue Jackets are red-hot.

A perennial laughing stock, Columbus has drastically changed the narrative this season, currently riding a nine-game winning streak to go with the NHL's best winning percentage (.759).

So, what's changed?

Well, a bounce-back season from Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky and a refined players-first approach from head coach John Tortorella, for starters, but it's the rarely mentioned Cam Atkinson who's propelling one of the NHL's most potent attacks.

In 29 games this season, Atkinson leads Columbus with 31 points, four clear of Alexander Wennberg. Atkinson's 12 goals and 19 assists tie him with Pittsburgh's Phil Kessel for ninth league-wide, trailing the usual suspects of elite NHL point production.

What's more, Atkinson is the only player in the top 10 other than Sidney Crosby who hasn't reached the 30-game mark yet. Averaging 1.07 points per game this season, the 27-year-old is tied with for fifth with Nikita Kucherov in that respect, and trails only Vladimir Tarasenko, Steven Stamkos, Connor McDavid, and Crosby.

Last season, on the 27th-place Blue Jackets, Atkinson shared the team lead in points with Brandon Saad at 53 - a career high. During Columbus' nine-game tear, Atkinson has notched 11 points, putting him easily on pace to establish a new personal best.

Who knows when - or if - the Blue Jackets will cool off, but for the time being, any praise is well deserved.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.