Sedin: ‘Our powerplay killed the momentum’

That wasn't how the Vancouver Canucks pictured their Saturday night going.

Falling 4-2 to the Florida Panthers, Canucks forward Daniel Sedin was quick to the point to the team's ineffective man advantage as a key reason for the loss.

"In the first two periods, our powerplay wasn't good enough. I think we killed all of the momentum we had 5-on-5," Sedin told reporters. "We get out on the powerplay and nothing happens. We have to be better than that."

The Canucks' powerplay went 0-for-4 on the evening, including three consecutive missed opportunities in the middle frame.

At 14.6 percent, the Canucks powerplay unit ranks 25th league-wide.

"It's not about scoring goals, but getting shots and getting momentum for our team," Sedin added. "We lost on every powerplay we had in the first two periods."

With the loss, the Canucks dropped to 12-14-2 through 28 games and sit in sixth place in the Pacific.

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Stars’ Oleksiak faces hearing following headshot on VandeVelde

Dallas Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Sunday after a controversial hit on Philadelphia Flyers forward Chris VandeVelde, the league announced.

In the third period of Saturday's win over the Flyers, Oleksiak appeared to catch VandeVelde with an elbow to the head as he cut through the offensive zone.

In 13 games this season, Oleksiak has recorded three goals and one assist.

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Boudreau ‘extremely happy’ with Graovac’s improvement

That's quite the improvement.

Speaking with reporters Saturday, Minnesota Wild coach Bruce Boudreau spoke glowingly about Wild forward Tyler Graovac.

"To me, he's a 100 per cent different player (since training camp)," Boudreau said. "I know (general manager) Chuck (Fletcher) told me that he was a good possibility and that he's a strong guy, but I just didn't see anything. I was a little disappointed."

Related: Boudreau not asking Graovac to 'pull an Auston Matthews' in 1st game

Failing to make the big club out of camp, Graovac found his game while with Iowa, home of the Wild's AHL affiliate, scoring four points in six games. That performance earned him a recall back to the big club.

"We brought him up and I think he's been excellent," Boudreau added. "He's responsible. He was on for one goal against in Edmonton, but other than that he's been real good, working with two big guys and sort of backing them up on every occasion. I've been extremely happy."

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Bibeau to make NHL debut Sunday

It's Antoine Bibeau time in Toronto.

The 22-year-old netminder will make his NHL debut Sunday when the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Colorado Avalanche, coach Mike Babcock confirmed.

Bibeau has appeared in 13 games this season with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, posting a 6-5-3 record alongside a .907 save percentage.

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Borowiecki to have hearing with player safety after boarding Toffoli

Ottawa Senators defenseman Mark Borowiecki is scheduled to have a hearing Sunday for boarding Los Angeles Kings forward Tyler Toffoli, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced.

Borowiecki was given a five-minute major for the hit, and consequently was forced to drop the gloves following the collision.

Toffoli, meanwhile was unharmed on the play.

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Avs’ Landeskog on 10-1 loss: ‘We got our ass whooped’

Gabriel Landeskog isn't a happy man.

"Disappointing probably doesn't even do it justice either," the Colorado Avalanche captain told reporters following his team's 10-1 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. "It was embarrassing. We got our ass whooped tonight."

It was an ugly night all around for the Avalanche, who allowed six goals in the first period alone. Goaltenders Semyon Varlamov and Calvin Pickard both let in a handful of goals.

"Obviously, they're a good team. They're a fast team and they came out and they played hard and took it to us," Landeskog added, "But you've got to be able to withstand a little bit of pressure as well."

With the loss, the Avalanche fell to 10-15-1 on the season, and sit dead last in the NHL with 21 points in 26 games.

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Canadiens come full circle in double-digit blowout win

What goes around comes around, they say.

On Nov. 4, the Montreal Canadiens were the laughing stock of the NHL following a 10-0 drubbing at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Just over a month later, the Habs are on the other end of the spectrum thanks to a 10-1 shellacking of the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.

The Facts

  • The Canadiens are the first team since the 2005-06 Buffalo Sabres to allow 10 and score 10 in the same season.
  • The last time Montreal scored nine goals at home was 1994.
  • 10 goals is a new Bell Centre record.
  • Montreal scored six goals in a period for the first time since Dec. 17, 1992, versus the ... Quebec Nordiques.
  • The Canadiens started with five goals in the opening 8:41, the last time Montreal scored five goals in the first 10 minutes of a game was Feb. 14, 1990.
  • Carl Soderberg and Mikhail Grigorenko were the only Colorado players that weren't a minus, in a combined 1:12 of ice time.

The Numbers

5: The amount of points for captain Max Pacioretty, including a career-high four goals.

28: The number of scoring chances Montreal created.

.625: Semyon Varlamov's save percentage after allowing six goals on 16 shots.

9: Even-strength goals for the Canadiens.

- 40: Colorado's combined plus-minus on the night.

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Berube makes long-awaited season debut

There was a Jean-Francois Berube sighting on Saturday.

The New York Islanders' third-string goalie drew into the lineup after starter Jaroslav Halak allowed six goals on 38 shots versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Berube filled in for the final 5:37, facing one shot. With the stop, he ended the night with a perfect save percentage. Not bad.

He hadn't seen any ice time this season after splitting last season between New York and Bridgeport, home of the Islanders' AHL club.

Earlier this season, agent Allan Walsh, who represents both Berube and Halak, called for the latter to be traded in an effort to clear New York's crowded crease.

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Report: Crosby underwent concussion protocol

Sidney Crosby was called to the NHL's quiet room.

Facing the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Penguins center was forced to undergo the NHL's newly mandated concussion protocol after a hit into the boards by Lightning defenseman Luke Witkowski, reports Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

But it wasn't all bad for Crosby, who later returned to the game and grabbed a pair of goals to recapture the NHL lead with 20 tallies on the season.

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Report: Sabres don’t want to move on from Girgensons

The Buffalo Sabres aren't ready to move on from Zemgus Girgensons.

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Sabres have received inquiries on Girgenson's availability, but aren't prepared to sell low on the Latvian forward, despite his struggles.

Girgensons has been limited to five points in 27 games this season, after finishing with 18 points last season and 30 points the year prior. The Sabres drafted Girgensons 14th overall in 2012.

Girgensons' ice time has dropped in recent weeks, playing more than 10 minutes just once in his last seven games:

Date Opponent Points TOI
Nov. 25 Capitals 0 9:07
Nov. 29 Senators 0 7:23
Dec. 1 Rangers 0 9:40
Dec. 3 Bruins 0 8:39
Dec. 5 Capitals 1 8:07
Dec. 6 Oilers 0 9:08
Dec. 9 Captials 0 10:07

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