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P.K. Subban’s charity and what we learned the past week in the NHL

Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban skates against the Wild in the first period.

Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban skates against the Wild in the first period.

(Jim Mone / Associated Press)
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Lessons learned from the past week in the NHL:

• We knew Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban had a good heart, based on his pledge of $10 million over seven years to Montreal Children’s Hospital. He continued his generosity recently by teaming with a charitable foundation to turn the hospital atrium — which is named for him — into a winter wonderland for ailing kids and their families.

The best part: He dressed up in a blue, snow-themed onesie and got his face and nails painted during the event. Most NHL teams have players who donate money or time to good causes, but Subban sets a shining example for athletes everywhere.

• Subban’s Canadiens are in free fall. The early-season league leaders held a players-only meeting Saturday after a 3-1 loss at Washington, their sixth straight defeat and 10th in the 11 games they’d played before they faced Tampa Bay on Monday.

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With goaltender Carey Price still out because of an apparent knee injury, Montreal traded troubled forward Zack Kassian to Edmonton on Monday for goalie Ben Scrivens, who will back up Mike Condon. Scrivens, a former King, was playing for Bakersfield of the American Hockey League. Edmonton kept nearly a quarter of his $2.3-million salary.

• You can go home again. Buffalo forward Jack Eichel, who grew up near Boston and was the No. 2 pick in last June’s entry draft, had two goals and two assists in the Sabres’ 6-3 comeback victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday in his first game against them at TD Garden. Eichel, of Chelmsford, Mass., played for the Junior Bruins and Boston University. He had 11 goals and 20 points in his first 35 games, fourth among rookies through Sunday’s games.

• The Florida Panthers mean business. They took over first place in the Atlantic Division on Sunday with their sixth straight victory, a 3-2 decision over the Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s the Panthers’ longest winning streak in more than seven years, but they’re not looking too far ahead.

“We’ve been on a pretty good run lately, but this is just Game 36,” veteran forward Shawn Thornton told the Miami Herald on Sunday. “I’m happy with where we’re at, but we have a long way to go. We just have to stay the course, keep playing smart.”

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