In what may be a preview of a postseason series, Corey Perry is having a historic night for the Anaheim Ducks as they face the Pacific-leading Los Angeles Kings on Sunday.
After scoring goals in the first and second period to keep the game tied, Perry capped off his ninth career hat trick to give his team a 3-2 lead - and passed Paul Kariya for the second-most three-goal games in Ducks history.
It's raining hats for Corey Perry @AnaheimDucks pic.twitter.com/vOkQyY6PaR
— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) February 29, 2016
Perry's night wasn't finished there - he would pick up an assist on a David Perron goal under five minutes later that increased the Ducks' lead to two. The 31-year-old's outburst comes after a four-game pointless drought, with all four of those games against non-playoff teams.
He needs four more tricks to catch arguably the greatest Ducks player of all time.
Most Regular-Season Hat Tricks, @AnaheimDucks History:
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 29, 2016
13 – Teemu Selanne
9 – Corey Perry
8 – Paul Kariya
(via @EliasSports)
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Lou Lamoriello just keeps selling players and adding draft picks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Daniel Winnik and a fifth-round pick in 2016 to the Washington Capitals on Sunday in exchange for forward Brooks Laich, defenseman Connor Carrick, and a second-round pick in this year's draft, the teams announced.
This is the second consecutive season the Maple Leafs have dealt Winnik at the trade deadline: They traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins last year before he re-signed in Toronto as a free agent. The 30-year-old will now have an opportunity to win the Cup with the league-best Capitals.
There was no salary retained in the deal, meaning the Leafs will pay Laich's full $4.5-million deal for the rest of this season and next.
Toronto's ability to take his full salary is believed to have earned the Leafs the second-rounder - which gives them eight picks in the first four rounds of June's draft.
By shedding Laich's salary, the Capitals now have around $2.2 million in cap space heading into Monday's trade deadline, and gives them more room to use this coming offseason.
For the Caps, shedding Laich's contract from next season helps in re-signing other players (Johansson, Wilson, Orlov among RFAs...)
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) February 29, 2016
The 32-year-old, who was waived Saturday in an attempt to clear cap space, has a goal and six assists in 60 games this season.
Carrick, 21, was a fifth-round selection by the Capitals in 2013. The right-handed blue-liner has a goal and five assists in 37 career NHL games. He's spent the majority of this season with the AHL's Hershey Bears.
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After acquiring a pair of forwards in Teddy Purcell and Jiri Hudler on Saturday, the Florida Panthers are apparently now on the phones looking to trade one of their forwards away.
The Panthers have reportedly received "at least two offers" for Brandon Pirri, with the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, and Anaheim Ducks all "in the mix" for his services, TSN's Gary Lawless reported Sunday night.
The Panthers are seeking either the best projected second-round pick or a package of a third- and fourth-round selection in return for the 24-year-old.
Pirri has 24 points in 58 games this season, but has not played since Feb. 13 after suffering an ankle injury. He was originally expected to miss three-to-four weeks of action.
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The Dallas Stars' search for a defenseman continues ahead of Monday's trade deadline, and a new name has entered discussions.
One day after it was reported the Stars were interested in Vancouver Canucks blue-liner Dan Hamhuis, TSN's Darren Dreger tweeted Sunday that Dallas "remains focused" on adding either Hamhuis or Kris Russell of the Calgary Flames.
Dreger added that the Stars "have a lot of time for Russell," who has 15 points in 51 games this season. The Flames are hoping to receive a pair of second-round picks in exchange for the 28-year-old.
Hamhuis, meanwhile, reiterated his desire to return to Vancouver if he is moved, telling The Canadian Press on Sunday that he'd like a situation similar to that of Arizona Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette.
The center was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks ahead of last season's trade deadline, won a Stanley Cup, and returned to Arizona in the offseason.
The Stars have not made a trade since acquiring Patrick Sharp from the Blackhawks last July.
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In an already injury-riddled season, Tampa Bay Lightning fans were fearing the worst after forward Tyler Johnson was struck in the head by an Adam McQuaid clearing attempt during Sunday's game against the Boston Bruins.
The 25-year-old left a large puddle of blood on the ice before leaving for the dressing room. Though the injury appeared gruesome - the puck struck Johnson just above the eye - head coach Jon Cooper told reporters Johnson should be fine.
"Hopefully, he's going to be OK," Cooper said postgame. "He was getting stitched up when we came off the ice."
After a breakout 72-point campaign last season, Johnson has struggled this season with just nine goals and 16 assists in 49 games.
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