Community Picks: Ottawa Senators 0% vs Buffalo Sabres 0%

Neither have the Buffalo Sabres, though perhaps not for the right reasons. The visiting Senators can record a third straight victory and take the season series from the Sabres on Friday night. Sitting fifth in the Atlantic Division with some traffic also in the way of reaching a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, Ottawa (33-30-8) knows its chances of making a second straight playoff appearance are slim. Continue to Article

March 17, 2016 12:56:pm EST

Goalie fights are, by and large, awesome. And we almost had a little awesome in the Buffalo Sabres’ game against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.  At 19:30 of the second period, Lars Eller of the Canadiens came crashing into the crease of Sabres goalie Robin Lehner, and a scrum ensued. Lehner gave Tomas Plekanec a bit of a face wash, and then later grabbed the jersey of Michael McCarron. The Canadiens forward responded by grabbing Lehner’s mask and pulling it, which sparked more fun between the teams. McCarron and Sabres defenseman Zach Bogosian were given roughing and midconduct penalties. Lehner earned a roughing penalty himself.  As all of this played out, Montreal goalie Ben Scrivens was watching from across the ice. And waited. And waited. And, alas, he decided not to engage, which was probably for the best, as this would not have been Lehner’s first rodeo: Now that was a good old goalie fight! After the game, Lehner didn't throw punches -- he threw shade: "They play tough but they didn't do anything. I mean, drop the gloves." - Robin Lehner on the Canadiens. — John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) March 17, 2016 And: Robin Lehner just gave Ben Scrivens an open invitation to fight next season. #Sabres — Bill Hoppe (@BillHoppeNHL) March 17, 2016 And: Robin Lehner on Ben Scrivens: "If he won't stand up for their guys, come and join." #Sabres — Bill Hoppe (@BillHoppeNHL) March 17, 2016 Oh the next game between these two should be fun ... -- Greg Wyshynski  is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at  puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com  or  find him on Twitter.  His book,  TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK , is  available on Amazon  and wherever books are sold. MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY Continue to Article

March 16, 2016 10:24:pm EST

According to the NHL at its general managers’ meetings, there is finally a plan for an expansion draft should either Las Vegas or Quebec City or both join the League for the 2017-18 season.  The current plan, according to the NHL: Teams can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and a goalie, or eight skaters and a goalie. Rookies and second-year players are exempt. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said this isn’t “set in stone,” and he also said there are going to be a few wrinkles. “The other variation that makes this expansion draft different is we would contemplate having some thresholds based on salary to make sure that the expansion club can be competitive based on the ranges we have in the CBA. Teams would have some obligation to expose a level of salary. And in terms of drafting players, teams would have to draft a certain threshold of salary,” he said. Plus there’s that thorny question of no-move clauses and the expansion draft, but let’s go ahead and assume that if it’s not mentioned explicitly in the CBA that the no-move won’t prevent a player from being selected in the draft. So, all that said … what if we applied these standards to current NHL rosters? Imagine, for a moment, if the expansion draft was this summer. Using the rosters and contract information from General Fanager, who would have been available for a Las Vegas expansion team? (Because let's assume they get one and Quebec waits.) Keep in mind that unrestricted free-agents obviously don’t need to be protected, but RFAs do. Anaheim Ducks ( Roster ) We’ll assume the Ducks would protect Ryan Kesler, although that contract and cap hit would obviously be an attractive way to bait the hook. It’s defense where the Ducks are screwed: Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen and Hampus Lindholm, running the risk of losing Simon Despres? Bottom line: Say bye to Frederik Andersen? Arizona Coyotes ( Roster ) Outside of Klas Dahlbeck, the Coyotes have so many free agents that they’re basically covered. Obviously the top choice would be Chris Pronger, right? Boston Bruins ( Roster ) Would the Bruins expose Ryan Spooner? And on defense … keep Dennis Seidenberg, Torey Krug and Adam McQuaid and expose … Chara? Buffalo Sabres ( Roster ) Once again, the intrigue is on defense, where one of the expansion teams could have a slightly used Josh Gorges or Cody Franson. Calgary Flames ( Roster ) Again: Three defenseman can be protected. Which would have meant that Dennis Wideman and Deryk Engelland and Jyrki Jokipakka would have been exposed. Carolina Hurricanes ( Roster ) The Hurricanes would basically be untouched in an expansion draft now thanks to free agents and rookie exemptions. And Cam Ward can sign with Vegas on his own! Chicago Blackhawks ( Roster ) The Blackhawks, by all measures of logic, should expose Marian Hossa in an expansion draft, as he’s signed through 2021 and makes $5.275 million against the cap at 37. But then again, he’s Marian Hossa, so maybe they don't. Colorado Avalanche ( Roster ) Blake Comeau would be a forward one assumes the Avs would expose. On defense, it probably comes down to Francois Beauchemin vs. a younger defenseman. Columbus Blue Jackets ( Roster ) Friends, this is David Clarkson’s time to shine. And by “shine” we mean “please of please take this contract from us here’s a fifth-rounder how about now?” Dallas Stars ( Roster ) Ales Hemsky would be offered up to the expansion gods like a virgin sacrifice. But one assumes either Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi would be plucked from the Stars. Detroit Red Wings ( Roster) While Luke Glendening and a defenseman like Jonathan Ericsson or Mike Green could be available, wouldn’t an expansion team go for Jimmy Howard instead? Edmonton Oilers ( Roster ) Lauri Korpikoski or Matt Hendricks (grit!) would be available, although wouldn’t Vegas love a guy like Andrej Sekera to constantly make bad decisions offensively? Florida Panthers ( Roster ) Perhaps Vinny Viola can twist some arms and get Vegas to take a Dave Bolland off his hands. Los Angeles Kings ( Roster ) Vinny Lecavalier is the poster boy for big name expansion draft bait. Minnesota Wild ( Roster ) Thomas Vanek ($6.5 million) would be exposed like a Central Park flasher, but the Wild also have a numbers issue on defense that would lead to Marco Scandella being exposed with Suter, Brodin and Spurgeon protected. Montreal Canadiens ( Roster ) Again, defense is the target here. Andrei Markov (37) would likely be exposed as Subban, Emelin and Petry are protected. Nashville Predators ( Roster ) We’ll assume that Mike Fisher get exposed here over Mike Riberio, considering GM David Poile’s slavish dedication to the latter. But that might not matter when either Ryan Ellis or Mattias Ekholm could be available. Continue to Article

March 16, 2016 5:11:pm EST

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March 16, 2016 4:56:pm EST