VANCOUVER Matt Martin Jersey Womens , British Columbia — After being demoted to the minors, Sam Gagner was not expected back with the Vancouver Canucks anytime soon — if at all — this season. Now, he is in demand.Gagner is expected to suit up for his first NHL game of 2018-19 with the slumping and injury-riddled Canucks (10-10-2) on Monday when they host the Winnipeg Jets (11-5-2). The 29-year-old was recalled from the minors Sunday as the Canucks continued to reel from health problems.Article continues below ...“The team is playing fun hockey,” Gagner told Postmedia. “I’m excited to help them wherever I can. I’m excited to be back in the NHL.”The veteran forward was caught on the wrong end of Vancouver’s youth movement following the preseason. The Canucks opted to loan him to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League even though he is in the second season of a three-year, $9.45 million contract. It’s a one-way deal, so he has earned an NHL salary at the lower level.Gagner, who was placed on waivers and subjected to unsuccessful trade attempts before the demotion, justified his big salary in the minors by producing 15 points in 15 games. Coach Travis Green indicated that he could play multiple forward roles. Gagner has played both center and wing with Vancouver and other clubs.“He gives us another centerman option,” Green told reporters. “He’s a right shot on the power play. All reports were he was playing well.”The Canucks as a team, though Seth Griffith Jersey Womens , have not been up to snuff. Vancouver has lost five straight games and been outscored 16-7 in the past four. Gagner will become the latest addition to a list of players pulling diverse duty.“We’re squeezing everyone and everyone is giving as much as they can,” said Green. “One night, we got a guy on the fourth line and the next night he’s on the first line. I love the way our guys are working and competing.”Gagner’s recall is an attempt to help make up for missing injured forwards Brock Boeser (groin), Sven Baertschi (concussion), Jay Beagle (arm) and Brandon Sutter (shoulder). While Green tries to create more offensive juice, the Canucks also want to get better defensively. They have struggled to control other teams’ breakouts, as they did again Saturday in a 3-2 home loss to Montreal.“It’s something we talked about,” center Bo Horvat told reporters. “Play direct — not making it a track meet out there.”“It comes down to being able to defend,” added defenseman Ben Hutton. “Get back to the way we’ve been playing.”The Jets, 6-3-1 in their last 10 games Jack Roslovic Jersey Womens , have been playing well defensively of late. They have averaged two goals against in their past eight games.But Winnipeg is still wary of Canucks rookie sensation Elias Pettersson, 20, who is the only dangerous Vancouver player right now. He has produced 11 goals and seven assists in his first 16 NHL games.“Finding him will be a challenge,” Jets coach Paul Maurice told reporters. “He’s a special young man.”Jets defenseman Ben Chiarot called Pettersson a “pretty fun guy to watch.” “(He’s) someone we’ll adjust to once we get out there and see what he’s trying to do,” Chiarot told reporters.However, at least one Jet does not want to give Pettersson special attention.“I don’t watch a lot of video on solo guys,” goaltender Connor Hellebuyck told reporters. “It’s a team game and I know what I’m going to get — and I prepare the same way for every guy.” SUNRISE, Fla. — Lately, it’s been domination by the Buffalo Sabres and frustration by the Florida Panthers.On Friday night, the Panthers will host the Sabres (17-7-2) Scott Mayfield Jersey Womens , who had won 10 straight games until losing an epic 5-4 battle at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.The Panthers (9-10-4), meanwhile, are nearly halfway through a crucial eight-game home stretch. They are 1-1-1 so far and have given up some painful goals late in games.Article continues below ...On Saturday night, the Panthers appeared to have a win over the Chicago Blackhawks. However, Chicago scored with just 1.8 seconds left in regulation and then got the overtime goal to stun the Panthers.Then, on Wednesday, the Panthers lost 3-2 to the Anaheim Ducks, allowing the deciding goal with 1:28 left in the third period.“We’ve had a couple of tough bounces,” Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle said. “Those things come and go in waves. We just have to continue to stay in our system, and it will work itself out.”But the Panthers Max Domi Jersey Womens , who are tied for last in the 16-team Eastern Conference with 22 points, must feel a sense of urgency now that they have played roughly one-fourth of their season (23 games out of 82).Indeed, Panthers winger Jonathan Huberdeau said that giving up the late goal to the Ducks left a bitter taste.“It’s frustrating,” he said. “We battled a full 60 … It’s tough.”Things have been much happier for the Sabres, who had won seven of the 10 games in their streak in overtime. The Sabres finished last season with the worst record in the NHL but have found the winning formula so far this time around.The Sabres were so bad last season that they trailed the Panthers by 34 points in the standings … and the Panthers didn’t even make the playoffs.This season, the Sabres are fourth in the latest NHL power rankings put out by ESPN.com and also by CBS. The Panthers are 26th in the ESPN rankings and 21st by CBS.One of the keys for the Sabres is Rasmus Dahlin, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft who leads the league’s rookie defensemen with 13 points, including 11 assists.“We want to change this together,” Dahlin said of Buffalo’s transformation, so far at least http://www.officialsabres.com/authentic-adidas-jack-eichel-jersey , from last-place club to legitimate Stanley Cup contender.Dahlin had been on the ice for a team-best 12 goals during the just-concluded 10-game win streak.But it’s not just Dahlin. Goalie Carter Hutton had won eight consecutive games until losing on Thursday, the penalty kill has been outstanding, left winger Jeff Skinner leads the team with 19 goals, and center Jack Eichel tops the Sabres with 25 assists.On Friday night, on short rest, the Sabres will look to start a new streak … against a desperate Panthers team.