Warning: Story contains course language

Fresh off a four-point performance in a Stanley Cup Final rematch against the Vegas Golden Knights, Evgeny Kuznetsov wasn't going to waste his time with player rankings.

After his dominant effort, which featured one goal and three primary helpers, Kuznetsov was asked if he's ever considered himself a top-five player in today's NHL.

"No, no. I don't give a shit about that," he said, per Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.

While he can't be bothered with his place among the league's best, Kuzentsov's recently built a compelling case to put his name in the conversation he doesn't want to have. After recording a career-high 83 points in the 2017-18 regular season, the Capitals top center went on to lead all players in postseason scoring with 32 points in 24 games as Washington captured its first championship in franchise history.

The 26-year-old's follow-up act is off to a grand start, too, notching seven points in the first three games.

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The Anaheim Ducks got a big boost on Wednesday night when Ryan Kesler was cleared to play against the Arizona Coyotes.

Kesler missed the Ducks' first three regular-season games while dealing with his bothersome hip, which required surgery in June 2017.

He was cleared for contact in September but didn't receive medical clearance to play in a game until Wednesday.

The 34-year-old missed essentially the first half of the 2017-18 season with the injury, returning in late December and producing 14 points in 44 contests before suiting up in all four of Anaheim's playoff games.

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Vegas Golden Knights forward Paul Stastny will miss at least the next three games due to a lower-body injury, head coach Gerard Gallant said Wednesday, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.

Stastny will be re-evaluated when the team returns to Vegas at the conclusion of its five-game road trip that wraps up Saturday in Philadelphia.

While the team didn't disclose how the injury occurred, it's expected it came during a collision in the final minutes of the club's 4-2 loss against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

Stastny has gone pointless in his first three games as a member of the Golden Knights.

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The New York Rangers' highest-paid defenseman is expected to take in Thursday's game against the San Jose Sharks from the press box.

After watching his team start the season with three straight losses, rookie head coach David Quinn will shake up his lineup, and it's expected defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk will be a healthy scratch, according to Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post.

The 29-year-old, who's making $8 million this season, said he understands the decision even if he isn't happy about it.

"You have to learn from it, obviously. I'm not a guy that would take that the wrong way and mope about it," Shattenkirk said. "It's the NHL; if you're not playing well, there are guys that are playing well. Tony DeAngelo played a phenomenal game the (Sunday) night (in Carolina). He's earned a spot on the roster. I think all the 'D' have earned a spot on the roster, and I'm probably the guy that needs to fight a little bit harder to get my spot back. It's on me, for sure.

"I know that it's a process, but this is probably a good little kick to get me going and get me out of this - I don't want to say slump - but just get my confidence back and start playing the game I know I have."

After playing 20:41 in the club's season opener against the Nashville Predators and then 22:23 against the Buffalo Sabres, Shattenkirk had his minutes slashed in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, playing just 7:29. Through the first three games, Shattenkirk has gone pointless and is a minus-4.

Last season, Shattenkirk suffered a torn meniscus in training camp and was subsequently limited to just 46 games in his first year with the Rangers. It's an injury Quinn feels Shattenkirk is still dealing with.

"He and I have talked about playing with more urgency, and I think he's still a little bit hesitant because of what happened last year. He's got to get his confidence back. He's going to have every chance to get his confidence back. This is a process. This isn't a punishment."

The Rangers are one of three teams yet to record a single point on the season.

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Warning: Story contains coarse language

Claude Giroux did not mince words when asked about the Philadelphia Flyers' effort in Tuesday night's 8-2 drubbing at the hands of the San Jose Sharks in his club's home opener.

"I just think we played like shit tonight," the Flyers forward told reporters postgame, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. "The score shows it. We just left our goalie to dry and (Brian Elliott) played a good game, he didn’t deserve that and it’s on us."

Elliott allowed all eight Sharks goals on 48 shots.

The Flyers were outshot by 15 and committed twice as many giveaways (14-7). San Jose also held a 59.57 to 40.43 edge in five-on-five Corsi For percentage, according to Natural Stat Trick.

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The San Jose Sharks blew out Philadelphia 8-2 on Tuesday night, and Flyers goaltender Brian Elliott was left in for all eight of the markers.

The last time San Jose scored eight goals in a game was Oct. 8, 2013, in a 9-2 victory over the New York Rangers.

Elliott faced 48 shots in the loss.

He has started all three of the Flyers' games so far in 2018-19, allowing two goals in a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night, and four more in a 5-2 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

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