A photographic look at the National Hockey League on Thursday, December 5, 2013
Vancouver Canucks' Kevin Bieksa attempts to shoot a puck through the football uprights during a media availability to promote the 2014 NHL Heritage Classic in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday December 5, 2013. The NHL hockey game between the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators is scheduled to be held on March 2, 2014 at B.C. Place stadium.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
A moment of silence for Nelson Mandela is observed prior to the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins NHL hockey game in Montreal on Thursday, December 5, 2013.PAUL CHIASSON/The Canadian Press
New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault behind the bench during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center.KEVIN HOFFMAN
New York Rangers left wing Rick Nash (61) scores on Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller (30) in a break away during the first period at First Niagara Center.KEVIN HOFFMAN
Pittsburgh Penguins' Brooks Orpik (44) checks San Jose Sharks' Tyler Kennedy (81) in the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013.GENE J. PUSKAR/The Associated Press
Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher goes up against Boston Bruins' Zdeno Chara during first period NHL hockey action Thursday, December 5, 2013 in Montreal.PAUL CHIASSON/The Canadian Press
Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) gets tangled up with Dallas Stars defenceman Trevor Daley (6) who is injured on the play at Air Canada Centre.TOM SZCZERBOWSKI
Dallas Stars defenceman Trevor Daley (6) lies on the ice after injuring his ankle in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.TOM SZCZERBOWSKI
Boston Bruins' Johnny Boychuk is carried off the ice after taking a hit from Montreal Canadiens' Max Pacioretty during first period NHL hockey action Thursday, December 5, 2013 in Montreal.PAUL CHIASSON/The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec (31) sits in under the net as Jets and Florida Panthers battle in the first period at BB&T Center. Florida won 5-2.ROBERT MAYER
Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Jayson Megna (59) celebrates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center.CHARLES LECLAIRE
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) watches as defenceman Marc Staal (18) pokes the puck away from Buffalo Sabres left wing Marcus Foligno (82) during the second period at First Niagara Center. The Rangers won 3-1KEVIN HOFFMAN
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri (43) draws a penalty as he is taken down by Dallas Stars defenseman Sergei Gonchar (55) in front of the Dallas net in the second period at Air Canada Centre. The Leafs won 3-2 in overtime.TOM SZCZERBOWSKI
St. Louis Blues' Jaden Schwartz, left, watches as a shot by teammate Jay Bouwmeester slips past New York Islanders goalie Anders Nilsson, center, of Sweden, and Travis Hamonic, right, for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, in St. Louis.JEFF ROBERSON/The Associated Press
Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Chris Kunitz (14) fires a shot past San Jose Sharks' Justin Braun (61) and San Jose Sharks goalie Antti Niemi (31) for a second-period goal during an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. The Penguins won 5-1.GENE J. PUSKAR/The Associated Press
Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) falls over backwards to stop a shot by the Minnesota Wild during the third period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. The Wild beat the Blackhawks 4-3.ANN HEISENFELT/The Associated Press
Colorado Avalanche's Tyson Barrie (4) and PA Parenteau (15) celebrate a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during second period NHL hockey action in Edmonton, Alta., on Thursday December 5, 2013.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
St. Louis Blues centre Vladimir Sobotka (17) is checked into New York Islanders goalie Anders Nilsson (45) by Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic (3) during the third period at the Scottrade Center. The Blues defeated the Islanders 5-1.JEFF CURRY
Boston Bruins defenceman Dennis Seidenberg (44) is checked by Montreal Canadiens defenceman Raphael Diaz (61) during the third period at Bell Centre. Montreal won 2-1.JEAN-YVES AHERN
Colorado Avalanche Tyson Barrie (4) checks Edmonton Oilers David Perron (57) during third period NHL hockey action in Edmonton, Alta., on Thursday December 5, 2013.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal by forward Taylor Hall (4) during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Rexall Place. The Oilers won 8-2.PERRY NELSON