Watch: Penguins honor ‘Mr. Game 1’ Jeff Zatkoff during return with Kings

Jeff Zatkoff will always be remembered in Pittsburgh as the goalie who earned the Penguins their first playoff win en route to a Stanley Cup in 2016.

Zatkoff backstopped the Penguins to a 5-2 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the opening round last spring.

Now a member of the Los Angeles Kings, Zatkoff was honored with a video by the Penguins during the first period of Friday's game.

He then raised a stick to the crowd from the bench, where he was serving as backup to Peter Budaj.

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Blackhawks’ Darling reveals Cubs-themed mask

When the Chicago Blackhawks travel to St. Louis to play the Blues at Busch Stadium on Jan. 2, goaltender Scott Darling has a surprise for the local fans which they may not be too happy about.

Darling's mask for the Winter Classic will commemorate the Chicago Cubs, adding fuel to the storied Cubs-St. Louis Cardinals rivalry, which is known around baseball as one of the sports' best.

The mask features Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, legendary announcer Harry Carey, and the famous Wrigley Field sign on the right side of the mask.

The Cubs won their first World Series since 1908 in November, defeating the Cleveland Indians in a best-of-seven series.

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Shaw sidelined with concussion-like symptoms

Montreal Canadiens forward Andrew Shaw will not dress for Friday's game against San Jose due to concussion-like symptoms which developed late Thursday afternoon, the team announced.

The Canadiens have not played since Monday's tilt with rival the Boston Bruins, during which Shaw was the recipient of a high hit delivered by Torey Krug.

Shaw left the game for examination but was able to return, while Krug avoided supplementary discipline reportedly based on the fact Shaw put himself in a vulnerable position on the play.

No timetable has been set for Shaw's return to the lineup, but he will not travel with the club for Saturday's game in Washington.

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Sharks’ Vlasic fined $5K for dangerous stick work on Karlsson

Marc-Edouard Vlasic will have to pay up.

The San Jose Sharks defenseman was handed a $5,000 fine - the maximum allowable under the CBA - for dangerous use of the stick against Senators captain Erik Karlsson, the NHL announced Friday.

The play occurred Wednesday, after which Karlsson said Vlasic "tried to pitchfork me in the face."

The incident caused a small scuffle, but was originally unnoticed by the game's officials.

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Stars’ Eakin suspended 4 games for hit on Lundqvist

Dallas Stars forward Cody Eakin has been suspended four games for charging Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

Eakin was assessed a five-minute major and was ejected for the collision in the first period Thursday.

The league stated Eakin didn't make a distinct effort to avoid contact, resulting in the decision.

Lundqvist wasn't injured on the play.

It's the first suspension of Eakin's career, and he's eligible to return Dec. 29 versus Colorado.

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Hoffman suspended 2 games for cross-checking Couture

Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman has been suspended for two games for cross-checking San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Friday.

As the video shows, Hoffman delivered a high cross-check toward Couture's back, making contact with the head after his stick rode up defenseman Brenden Dillon' stick.

While the play was deemed unacceptable and dangerous, Hoffman was cut somewhat of a break due to Dillon's stick.

Couture not being injured on the play, as well as Hoffman's clean record, also factored into the decision.

Hoffman will be eligible to return Dec. 20 in Chicago.

(Video courtesy: NHL.com)

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Zetterberg holds players-only meeting in ‘Road to the Outdoor Classics’ preview

Henrik Zetterberg, leader of men.

In a preview of the latest season of EPIX's "Road to the NHL Outdoor Classics," the Detroit Red Wings captain is seen holding a players-only meeting following a 4-1 loss to Arizona on home ice.

"We need our points. We all know that," Zetterberg said. "We all know where we are in the standings. These are the games we have to be better at. … It's going to be too late soon. We all know it."

The Red Wings, who sit five points back of third place in the Atlantic Division, will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Centennial Classic on Jan. 1.

The EPIX show premieres Friday at 10 p.m. ET.

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Okposo focused on Sabres but empathizes with Islanders’ struggles

Hockey bonds run deep.

Buffalo Sabres forward Kyle Okposo alluded to as much in advance of Friday's game against the New York Islanders, for whom he played 556 games over nine seasons after being drafted 28th overall in 2006.

It'll be Okposo's first game against his old club after signing with the Sabres this past summer, and while he has mixed emotions, all that matters in the end is securing the two points against an Islanders team that sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

"It's tough to see them struggle, but on the other side of the ledger I'm over here now and this is what I've got to focus on," Okposo said, per Joe Yerdon of NHL.com. "When I talk to those guys I just ask them how they're doing and hopefully their spirits are up. You don't like to see guys go through that, that you battled with and you grew up with.

"But when we play them it's going to be business as usual and everybody is trying to get two points out there. But you don't like to see those guys struggle or go through tough stretches like they are."

Okposo's Sabres have a 11-11-6 record through 29 games, good for 28 points, one ahead of the Islanders (11-13-5).

Neither team seems destined for the playoffs, but Friday's meeting could be an emotional affair all the same.

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Lightning’s Palat, Kucherov expected to miss next 2 games

Add Ondrej Palat's name to the list of Tampa Bay Lightning players sidelined with injuries.

Head coach Jon Cooper spoke to reporters on Friday noting that Palat - who left Wednesday's game against the Calgary Flames with an undisclosed injury - will miss Friday's game against the Vancouver Canucks and is likely to sit Saturday when the club rolls into Edmonton, according to Bryan Burns of TampaBayLightning.com.

Nikita Kucherov - who leads the team in scoring with 30 points - will follow suit after missing's Wednesday's game with a lower-body-injury.

The Lightning snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday and will look to win consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 17 and 19.

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Tanev returns after 20-game absence

The Vancouver Canucks blue line will have an added boost Friday when they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, as defenseman Chris Tanev is set to return to the lineup after missing 20 games with a lower-body injury, the team announced.

Tanev last played Nov. 2 versus the Montreal Canadiens in a 3-0 loss for the Canucks. He also missed the previous three games with a lower-body injury, meaning he has appeared in just one of the club's last 24 games.

Tanev has scored one point in seven games this season. The Canucks, who sit last in the Pacific with a 12-16-2 record, hope Tanev's return can bolster their lineup and improve their postseason chances. Vancouver sits six points shy of a playoff position.

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