The Predators should have approached the Feb. 29 trade deadline knowing Harvard's Jimmy Vesey would not be signing with the team, according to a source close to the family.

On Monday, Predators GM David Poile said the organization had already received confirmation from Vesey that he would sign after his collegiate season concluded at Harvard. Poile told reporters that he was "shocked" to learn of Vesey's decision to become an unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15 rather than signing with Nashville, the team that selected the forward No. 66th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft.

The Wild took a big step in locking down their fourth consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday, scoring three times in the third period to defeat the Blackhawks 4-1 at Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota won all five games against Chicago this season.

Devils goalie Cory Schneider is hoping to play at the Panthers on Thursday. It would be Schneider's first game since he sustained a grade 1 MCL sprain of his right knee against the Stars on March 4.

New Jersey is seven points out of a Stanley Cup Playoff spot with six games to play.

"We're going to play it by ear," Schneider said. "I'm not going to make any promises, but [Thursday] is probably the earliest and hopefully at least for sure by Saturday."

The Capitals dominated the third period to beat the Blue Jackets 4-1 Monday night and clinch the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs.

A three-goal third period allowed them to remain the only team without consecutive regulation losses, as much a testament to their season-long success as anything.

Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman will miss the rest of the regular season after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his left fibula Friday night.

Stralman left in the first period of the Lightning's win over the Islanders with the injury after getting checked by Anders Lee.

Coach Jon Cooper didn't rule out a return at some point in the playoffs. 

Senators owner Eugene Melnyk told reporters Tuesday that there would be "key changes" and "no one is safe" after the season.

"I'm looking at all of it -- right across the board. There's no one that's safe when you've had a year like we just did. There's no way," Melnyk said, according to TSN.

"The status quo will just get us there again next year. And this team cannot survive not making the playoffs. You can't just throw money at these things. We need to do it a different way, and I think we are."

Melnyk mentioned some specific decisions by Senators coach Dave Cameron that he did not like, adding fuel to the speculation that Cameron is on the hot seat.

Calling it a "season of learning a lot," Brett Yormark said he is pleased with the Islanders' first season in Brooklyn.

"We had to make some adjustments," said Yormark, the Chief Executive Officer for Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, which oversees business operations and marketing for the Barclays Center, home of the Islanders and the NBA's Nets "I live by the mantra you have to show progress, week to week, month to month, and I think we've done that in all areas of the business."

The Kontinental Hockey League says it will abolish its junior draft, which has struggled to become a hit with fans and suffered from talented young players opting to move to North America.

Of the past four No. 1 picks in the KHL draft, only one has gone on to play in the league, with two others opting for the Canadian junior leagues instead.

Penguins star center Sidney Crosby, Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quickand Calgary Flames center Sean Monahanhave been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending March 20.

FIRST STAR – SIDNEY CROSBY, C, PENGUINS

Crosby shared the League lead with 2-5—7 in four outings to help the Penguins (40-24-8, 88 points) extend their winning streak to six games and move into second place in the Metropolitan Division. He opened the week with one assist in a 2-1 shootout victory against the Islanders March 15. Crosby then registered multiple points in each of his next three games: 2-0—2, including the winning goal, in a 4-2 triumph over the Hurricanes March 17.

SECOND STAR – JONATHAN QUICK, G, KINGS

Quick went 3-0-0 with a 1.32 goals-against average, .953 save percentage and one shutout to help the Pacific Division-leading Kings (44-22-5, 93 points) post four victories and clinch their sixth playoff berth in the past seven seasons. He began the week by stopping all 32 shots he faced in a 5-0 triumph over the Blackhawks March 14.

THIRD STAR – SEAN MONAHAN, C, FLAMES

Monahan paced the NHL with five goals and tied for the League lead with seven points in four games to lift the Flames (31-35-6, 68 points) to a 3-0-1 record. He notched 2-1—3, including the winning goal, in a 7-4 victory over the Blues March 14.

Stars forward Tyler Seguin will miss three to four weeks with a cut Achilles tendon, the team announced Friday.

According to the team, it's a 15 percent cut of the tendon. With that timeline, Dallas GM Jim Nill said Seguin would return in time for the playoffs. Seguin underwent surgery Friday morning.