Stamkos, Killorn, Hayes fined $5000 each for unsportsmanlike conduct

Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Steven Stamkosand Alex Killorn as well as New York Rangers forward Kevin Hayes have each been fined $5,000 by the NHL for unsportsmanlike conduct during Thursday's game.

The incident was initiated by Hayes who sprayed Killorn with water from the Rangers' bench before a faceoff. Killorn reacted by jabbing Hayes with his stick a couple times. Stamkos also got involved after Killorn was given a slashing minor by spraying water in the direction of the Rangers' bench. 

The incident, which occurred three minutes into the third period, also sparked a fight betweenSteven Kampfer of the Rangers and Lightning forward J.T. Brown.

Rangers forward Kevin Hayes out 2-3 weeks

New York Rangers forward Kevin Hayes had an MRI Monday morning and will be sidelined for 2 to 3 weeks with a lower body injury.

Hayes was "limping stiffly" in the Rangers locker room in the Rangers' 1-0 overtime win on Sunday against the Detroit Red Wings, and had a brace on his left knee/leg.

Hayes (6'5", 215 lbs.) has posted 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points in 47 games with the Rangers this season. He has a plus-18 plus-minus rating, along with 10 penalty minutes this season.

Nikita Kucherov leads 'Three Stars' of week

NEW YORK -- Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford and New York Rangers center Kevin Hayes have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Nov. 6.

FIRST STAR - NIKITA KUCHEROV, RW, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Kucherov shared the League lead with 3-4-7 in three contests to guide the Lightning (7-4-1, 15 points) to five out of a possible six standings points and second place in the Atlantic Division. He matched a career high with 2-2-4, including the game-winning goal, in a 6-1 victory over the New York Islanders Nov. 1. Kucherov added one assist in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins Nov. 3 before closing the week with 1 1-2, his third multi-point performance of the campaign, in a 4-1 triumph over the New Jersey Devils Nov. 5. The 23-year-old Moscow, Russia, native ranks third in the NHL with 15 points in 11 games this season, including a League-high 11 assists.

SECOND STAR - COREY CRAWFORD, G, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Crawford went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average, .971 save percentage and one shutout as the Blackhawks (9-3-1, 19 points) picked up four wins in four games to move into first place in the Central Division. He made 33 saves in a 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames Nov. 1, earned his 21st career shutout with 38 stops in a 4-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche Nov. 3 and turned aside 31 shots in a 3-2 triumph over the Dallas Stars Nov. 5. The 31-year-old Montreal native owns a 6-3-1 record in 10 outings this season, ranking in the top 10 in the NHL in wins (t-4th), goals-against average (8th; 2.01), save percentage (7th; .936) and shutouts (t-3rd; 2).

THIRD STAR - KEVIN HAYES, C, NEW YORK RANGERS

Hayes scored in all four of his appearances to share the League lead in goals (4 2-6) and propel the Rangers (10-3-0, 20 points) into second place in the NHL's overall standings with a perfect 4-0-0 week. He picked up one goal in a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Blues Nov. 1 before equaling a career high with 1-2-3 in a 5-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers Nov. 3. Hayes again scored in a pair of 5-2 triumphs (Nov. 5 at BOS and Nov. 6 vs. WPG), including the shorthanded, game-winning goal in his hometown of Boston. The 24-year-old Dorchester, Mass., native ranks second on the Rangers with 6 6-12 in 13 games this season and shares second place in the NHL with a +13 rating.

- NHL Public Relations

Hayes to be scratched by Rangers against Lightning

"The Neutral Zone" Roster Report

Kevin Hayes

New York Rangers right wing Kevin Hayes will be a healthy scratch when the Rangers play the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN).

Hayes has six goals and 17 points in 37 games this season, after scoring 17 goals and 45 points in his first full NHL season.

"I think we all have our tipping points, and I think Kevin has had an extra-long leash, especially considering [Derek Stepan] was out for quite some time," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault told the New York Post on Tuesday after practice in Nashville, where New York lost 5-3 to the Nashville Predators on Monday. "But there's just nothing going on. At the end of the day, we're at the point now where we have to make some decisions in the best interests of the team.

"When you go through a season, there are phases when you're trying to develop, you're trying to work, as you're trying to win; winning is obviously the final component to everything. But in those early on there, you're trying to figure out and find out about people. In Kevin's case, I think we made it clear our expectations about him and what we felt he could do were very high. Obviously, he hasn't lived up to that."

"My game isn't nearly where I want it to be," Hayes told the New York Post. "Goals and aspirations coming into a season ... and I haven't even come close to mine. I'm struggling right now, so take it day by day, see how it goes."

The Rangers started 16-3-2 but are 4-10-2 in their past 16 games and are 12 points behind the first-place Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division.