The Buffalo Sabres Green Team has again teamed up with the non-profit Cell Phones for Soldiers organization to provide troops serving in the United States military with cost-free methods of communication with their loved ones.

The collection drive welcomes donations of gently used mobile phones during the following home games at First Niagara Center:

Sunday, Dec. 29 vs. Washington

Saturday, Jan. 4 vs. New Jersey

Tuesday, Jan. 7 vs. Carolina

Thursday, Jan. 9 vs. Florida

In addition, donations can be made at any time during the promotion at Account Services, whose normal hours of operation at First Niagara Center are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Donated cell phones will be sent to Michigan-based ReCellular for recycling. For every donated phone, Cell Phones for Soldiers is able to provide two and a half hours of free talk time for deployed troops.

The Buffalo Sabres are dedicated to the sustainability of the environment in Western New York and Southern Ontario through the “Blue & Gold Make Green Initiative”. The organization is committed to creating programming to help our fans reduce their environmental footprint and at the same time, educate Sabres fans on conservation issues, teaching fans how to be greener, and directing them to additional resources where they can learn more about environmental issues.

The Green Program is presented by National Fuel’s Conservation Incentive Program, and proudly supported by the Sabres' Green Partner, Modern Recycling.

Germany captain Leon Draisaitl was suspended by the IIHF for one game for a hit from behind on the United States’ Andrew Copp during the teams’ game Sunday.

Draisaitl sat out Germany’s game Monday against the Czech Republic.

Copp was pursuing a puck in the Germany end 10 seconds into the second period when Draisaitl hit him from behind, driving him head-first into the boards. Draisaitl was assessed a major penalty for checking from behind and a game misconduct.

Draisaitl, a top prospect for the 2014 NHL Draft who plays for the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League, had two assists in Germany’s first three games.

At 5:06 of the third period in the Ducks/Sharks game, the Situation Room initiated video review because the puck entered the San Jose net. The referee informed the situation room that he had blown his whistle to stop play prior to the puck entering the net, therefore this is not a reviewable play. According to Rule 78.5 (xii) "Apparent goals shall be disallowed by the Referee when the referee deems the play has been stopped, even if he had not physically had the opportunity to stop play by blowing his whistle." No goal Anaheim.

At 19:52 of the third period in the Hurricanes/Maple Leafs game, video review confirmed the referee's call on the ice that Dion Phaneuf's shot crossed the goal line prior to the net being displaced. Good goal Toronto.

At 17:33 of the third period in the Penguins/Blue Jackets game, video review confirmed the referee's call on the ice that James Neal's shot entered the net in a legal fashion. Good goal Pittsburgh.

At 10:51 of the third period in the Penguins/Blue Jackets game, video review was inconclusive in determining whether Sidney Crosby's shot crossed the goal line. Therefore the referee's call on the ice stands. Good goal Pittsburgh.

As a team, the New York Islanders have not been able to build off what they accomplished last season, when they qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2007.

But right wing Kyle Okposo continues to make strides, so much so that the Minnesota native is meriting serious consideration to be named later this week to the United States roster for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Skating on the top line alongside Thomas Vanek and John Tavares, the 25-year-old ranks second on the Islanders with 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games. He had 24 points (four goals) in 48 games last season.

Okposo's 34 points have him in the top five among American skaters this season.

"It's in the back of your mind, obviously," Okposo said of making the Olympic team, which will be named immediately following the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Wednesday. "World Junior tournament is going on right now, so I've been following that a little bit. You think about the international competition a little bit, but I'm here with the Islanders, and I'm still going to keep playing well."

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Winterizing Michigan Stadium to host what could be more than 110,000 people for a major event in frigid conditions is one major obstacle the NHL and University of Michigan officials had to clear to pave the way for the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

Michigan Stadium is typically shut down for the winter after the Wolverines' final home football game. The water is drained from all the stadium facilities and the plumbing and electricity are turned off for fear that the cold weather would force a pipe to burst.

DALLAS -- After sustaining an upper-body injury late in a 6-5 shootout win Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues captain David Backes was scratched for a game Sunday afternoon with the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.

Backes, who is tied for the Blues lead in points with 30 (16 goals), logged 20:42 of ice time in the win against the Blackhawks.

St. Louis had two players who missed the Chicago game return to the ice: center Derek Roy, who missed the game due to illness, and center Vladimir Sobotka who was out with an upper-body injury.

SAN JOSE -- One day after being recalled from Worcester of the American Hockey League, Bracken Kearns will center the third line Sunday night at SAP Center for the San Jose Sharks when they face an Anaheim Ducks team that has won a franchise record 10 straight games.

Kearns has played one game for San Jose this season, Oct. 17 against the Dallas Stars, but he had 18 points and 13 assists (each team highs) at Worcester. Last season, Kearns played in one regular-season game for San Jose but was in the lineup for all seven against the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference semifinals.

"He was a very important player in that series, considering the injuries we were going through and suspensions," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said after the morning skate. "He was very capable of playing against a very good hockey club, and he's thrown into the fire again tonight that way against maybe the best team in the League right now."