Forward Gustav Nyquist and defensemen Seth Jones and Ryan Lindgren were on the move on Saturday as three Central Division teams got a jump on the NHL’s looming trade deadline. The Colorado Avalanche got the ball rolling with another splash by acquiring Lindgren and winger Jimmy Vesey in a trade with the New York Rangers.

Joey Daccord made 26 saves, and the Seattle Kraken defeated the Florida Panthers 2-1 at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday. Kaapo Kakko and Jared McCann scored for the Kraken (25-29-4). Shane Wright had two assists.

The Pittsburgh Penguins lost a potential Erik Karlsson suitor Saturday when the Florida Panthers reshaped the NHL trade market with a blockbuster for Seth Jones. The New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche swung a big deal,

Rangers' forward Matt Rempe elbowed Predators' defenseman Nick Blankenburg in the head in the first period on Sunday, which may prompt a suspension.

This week, some teams have jumped ahead of the trade deadline. Yesterday, there was a big trade between the Florida Panthers and the Chicago Blackhawks.

The New York Rangers are withholding winger Reilly Smith from the lineup Sunday against the Nashville Predators for roster management purposes, according to the New York Post's Mollie Walker. Smith is the only pending unrestricted free-agent forward remaining on the Rangers' active roster.

Nate Schmidt and Carter Verhaeghe had third-period goals, Anton Lundell had a goal and two assists and the Florida Panthers topped the Edmonton Oilers 4-3.

It was a tough news conference for New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette as he explained that defenseman Adam Fox and K'Andre Miller were being evaluated after both suffered injuries.

The Atlantic-leading Toronto Maple Leafs continue their four-game road trip with a stop at Madison Square Garden to face the New York Rangers on Friday.

FILE - New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) brings the puck up the ice during the third period of Game 1 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference Stanley Cup playoff finals against the Florida Panthers, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

Nate Schmidt and Carter Verhaeghe had third-period goals, Anton Lundell had a goal and two assists and the Florida Panthers topped the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. Uvis Balinskis also scored for Florida, which jumped Toronto for first in the Atlantic Division.