A ban placed on Russia by the International Olympic Committee ahead of the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea has not deterred Ilya Kovalchuk.

As far as he is concerned, anyone who is able should make the trip to South Korea.

"We all perfectly understand that the IOC decision is pure politics and we understand against whom it is directed," Kovalchuk said, according to Reuters.

"It was clear that there would be such a decision. But if the athletes go there, it will unite the country. All clean athletes must go."

A ruling banning the Russian Olympic committee in 2018 was made Tuesday as a result of widespread and systemic doping, but individual athletes and teams may still compete as Olympic Athletes of Russia under a neutral flag.

Whether Russia attempts to prohibit the KHL from allowing its players to participate remains to be seen, however.

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Mathew Barzal is the NHL's most productive rookie since the beginning of November, and he's vaulted to the top of the rookie scoring leaders as a result.

The New York Islanders forward recorded a goal and an assist in a loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, giving him a total of four goals and 15 assists in 15 games since Nov. 1.

Those 19 points are the most among all rookies in that period of time, with Vancouver's Brock Boeser (16 points in 17 games) and Chicago's Alex DeBrincat (14 points in 15 games) trailing just behind.

Arizona's Clayton Keller was tabbed as the early Calder Trophy favorite, but he's cooled off a bit and Boeser is the standout at the moment, averaging a point per game. Barzal's 0.96 average isn't far behind, though, and the rookie-of-the-year race is shaping up to be a tight one.

In regards to Islanders history, Barzal is the fourth rookie in club history to reach the 25-point mark through the first 27 games of a season, following Mike Bossy, Pat LaFontaine, and Bryan Trottier, according to NHL PR.

Barzal was selected 16th overall in 2015 with a pick acquired from Edmonton.

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Sweden apparently won't have the luxury of dressing one of the NHL's top rookies at this year's World Junior Hockey Championship, as the New Jersey Devils won't loan forward Jesper Bratt to the team, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

The 19-year-old burst on to the NHL scene this season after being selected in the sixth round in 2016 and sits tied for ninth in rookie scoring with nine goals and 19 points in 27 games.

Meanwhile, Sweden - who named their preliminary roster Wednesday - is still waiting to get word from the Buffalo Sabres as to whether forward Alexander Nylander will be made available.

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Jacob Markstrom can finally say he knows what a shutout feels like in the pros.

The Vancouver Canucks goaltender picked up his first-ever shutout in the NHL on Tuesday night, stopping 30 shots in a 3-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

He did so in his 115th career start and his 129th career game, thereby avoiding infamy.

Markstrom entered Monday's contest a mere four games short of Pokey Reddick's dubious all-time record for most games played without recording a clean sheet, as documented by Sportsnet's Sean McIndoe earlier Tuesday.

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It took nearly 30 games, and it was almost nullified upon review, but it finally happened.

A Buffalo Sabres defenseman scored a goal for the first time this season when Jake McCabe fired one in from the point late in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday night.

The goal was challenged by the Avalanche, who believed the Sabres were offside when Johan Larsson touched the puck on the zone entry (and it initially appeared they were correct), but the NHL ruled the play was onside.

"After reviewing all available replays and consulting with the linesman, NHL hockey operations staff confirmed that all Sabres players tagged up at the blue line prior to Johan Larsson touching the puck in the offensive zone, rendering the play onside," the league explained. "Therefore the original call stands - good goal Buffalo Sabres."

The Avalanche were assessed a delay of game minor penalty for losing the challenge.

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The New Jersey Devils stand alone atop the NHL's most competitive division.

With an impressive 4-1 road victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, the Devils leapfrogged their opponent for top spot in the Metropolitan - an outcome no one could have predicted more than a quarter-way through the schedule considering New Jersey placed dead last in the Metro a season ago by a 17-point margin.

Helping prop up the Devils' surprising start is a dominant road record, as Tuesday's win was New Jersey's 10th away from home - a mark tied for first in the NHL.

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San Jose Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon has been suspended one game for his slash on Washington Capitals defenseman Madison Bowey in Monday's game, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.

(Video courtesy: NHL.com)

As mentioned in the video, even though Dillon isn't a repeat offender, he was assessed a suspension because the slash was deemed pure retaliation, rather than an attempt to retrieve the puck. He was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct on the play.

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Patrik Laine's ultra-quick release netted him a milestone Tuesday night.

The Winnipeg Jets scorer rifled home a one-timer on a two-man advantage for his 50th career goal in his 101st NHL game.

Laine became the third-fastest player to reach the 50-goal plateau in the post-lockout era, joining Alex Ovechkin and Auston Matthews, according to Sportsnet.

Ovechkin needed only 78 games to hit the mark before finishing with 52 goals in his 2005-06 rookie season. Matthews potted his 50th career marker in November on a penalty shot in his 96th game.

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