NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 9, 2020
Auston Matthews sets an NHL record for American-born players, Logan Couture sidelined, the Flames re-sign Rasmus Andersson, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews became the first American-born player to score 30 goals in each of his first four NHL seasons in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Matthews reached the milestone by scoring twice against the Jets, who took the game on Blake Wheeler’s game-winner. With the win, the Jets hold the first wild-card berth (52 points) in the Western Conference. Before the game, Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly admitted he’s been playing through a lower-body injury this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews is the first American-born player to score 30 goals in each of his first four NHL seasons (Photo via NHL Images).
Kevin Hayes’ shorthanded second-period goal proved to be the game-winner as the Philadelphia Flyers held off the Washington Capitals 3-2, snapping a four-game losing skid.
The Dallas Stars picked up their fifth straight win by edging the Los Angeles Kings 2-1. Anton Khudobin made 30 saves while Jamie Benn and Blake Comeau scored within 37 seconds in the second period.
HEADLINES
NBC SPORTS BAY AREA: San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture reportedly fractured an ankle during his club’s 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. He’s listed as week-to-week and could be sidelined for at least six weeks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Losing their leading scorer could be the death blow to the Sharks’ fading playoff hopes.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Blackhawks goaltender Robin Lehner is ready to return from a knee injury, but center Dylan Strome will miss at least one game with a sprained ankle.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Despite Corey Perry’s suspension, the Anaheim Ducks still intend to honor his tenure with the club during tonight’s game against the Dallas Stars. Perry spent 14 seasons with the Ducks, helping them win the Stanley Cup in 2007 and winning Hart and Maurice Richard trophies in 2011. He signed with the Stars last summer after the Ducks bought out his contract.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perry’s chippy style of play aside, he was one of the best players in Ducks’ history. He sits second in games-played (988) and goals (372) and third in assists (404) and points (776). For a time, he was also among the league’s elite scorers.
TWINCITIES.COM: Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba donated $11.2K to help with Australia’s wildfire relief. He spent over two weeks last spring touring the country’s east coast and credits the experience with helping him mentally overcome a pectoral injury that cost him half of last season.
CALGARY SUN: The Flames re-signed defenseman Rasmus Andersson to a six-year contract extension worth an annual average value of $4.55 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson, 23, has quickly established himself as a key member of the Flames’ defense corps. This is a good move by management, locking him into a long-term deal that could become a bargain as he continues his development as a top-pairing rearguard.
TSN: Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Cousins was fined over $2,600.00 for boarding Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green.
New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren won’t face supplemental discipline for his hit on Colorado Avalanche winger Joonas Donskoi.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maybe the department of player safety decided he suffered enough punishment after getting his butt kicked by Nazem Kadri following that hit.
TRIBLIVE.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins placed Joseph Blandisi on waivers.
STLTODAY.COM: Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington has agreed to a shootout challenge with pop star Justin Bieber with the proceeds going to a charity of the winner’s choice. It appears the challenge will take place during the offseason.
MLIVE.COM: Detroit Red Wings fans sang “O Canada” prior to Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens after the anthem singer’s microphone malfunctioned.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Classy move by Wings fans.
“While there was significant head contact on this play, Lindgren took a proper angle of approach, did not extend outward or upward and hit through Donskoi’s core,” the DOPS said in a release. “Therefore, under Rule 48.1 (i), the head contact was determined to be unavoidable.”
Maybe that’s why they didn’t suspend him?
I’m not saying Lindgren wins this fight… but did he have half a chance being unsuspectingly cross checked from behind and just pummeled before he could understand what was going on?
He didn’t have a chance.
He might have held his own, had Kadri squared up properly, but there isn’t much he could do, once he was savagely attacked by Kadri.
George Parros isn’t doing a good job.
The Perry and Cogliano suspensions have proved that to me.
He clearly plays favorites as if he is making his decisions based on personal feelings or past experience.
Got to be kidding me. “Savagely attacked”
Lindgren got what he deserved. A rookie finished high and heavy with a hit, injuring a player.
That is exactly what fighting is supposed to do in hockey. Deter the opposition from taking advantage.
If you did not like that, you do not like fighting.
If the NHL was serious about eliminating headshots, that should also be a suspension.
The whole player safety thing is so inconsistent, and what is or isn’t a suspension and the random amount of games and only if someone gets hurt and not intent.
Blah blah blah. Same old same old.
I don’t know that I’d use savagely attacked…. but he didn’t have a chance in that fight…
I also don’t know about “got what he deserved “. That’s bs. No call on the ice, no discipline after. There wasn’t any intent to injur… if you don’t like that hit, you must not like hitting….
I never said anything about liking or disliking fighting, or what happened during the whole set of events.
Donskoi got drilled with a beautifully violent (and clean) hit.
He was eligible to be hit and no lines were crossed.(maybe)
Kadri’s reaction was perfectly fine and accepted in today’s NHL.
But you can’t call it anything less than savagely attacked, cause that was what it was.
He attacked an unwilling combatant and did some damage, and got some retribution. A pound of flesh, if you will?
I was fine with it.
Wasn’t fine with the lack of response by the Rags though.
Can’t watch your buddy get pounded and not give Kadri some of his own medicine.
He’s not that tough.
So joe. Having kadri on the bench with his known toughiness deterred the hit? I must have missed something
I will break it down.
Lindgren went headhunting. (Like Spark said, threw a violent hit)
Kadri goes after Lindgren and punches him multiple times. Chrisms: the deterrent is not Kadri. The deterent is getting punched in the face because it hurts.
This is what is called “players policing themselves”
Chaas: getting the gloves off is part of a hockey fight. Lindgren should have been ready if he is going to try to end someone’s night with a hit like that.
That hit is at best borderline in today’s NHL and fighting is on it’s way out. The NHL needs to decide what they want the game to look like.
I just get confused by the mini outrage and hyperbole that surrounds these events.
Lindgren got smoked because Kadri cross-checked him, then punched him in the face before the former had his gloves off. Old school thuggery, the likes of which this game no longer needs.
Wow! That kinda sounds like a savage attack.
Anderson signing is a very very good indicator of expected contract for Pettersson
Setting aside the righty/lefty; same age ; both second round picks; Pettersson picked slightly lower; almost all stats very close with Pettersson on the better side for almost all of them
Anderson heavier and hits a bit harder; Pettersson taller and much much swifter
Add to that Pettersson technically doing Pens a “favour” by signing for same as last year just so they could fit all into cap ; and Jimbo publicly inferring that they will pseudo “make it up to him”….
Im thinking $4.6 M – $4.8 M for 6
Transparency here …. I’ve been a huge fan of Petterrsson’s acquisition since the start
…. but statistically he (Pettersson) is similar (but slightly) better than another (Anderson) same aged player; who plays similar minutes
BTW , even though relatively small sample size ; Pettersson Letang combo excellent …. from Gretz at SBNation:
“Letang and Pettersson have only played 108 minutes next to each other the past two seasons, but their numbers together (in an admittedly very small sample size) are …..54 percent shot attempt share; 70 percent goals for”
That’s slightly better than Dumo/Tanger (albeit much bigger sample size… 2,800 mins)… 55 % CF and 54% GF
Not too shabby
To compare …. Letang with JJ (from same source)…..
330 minutes ; 49 % and 44 %
Cheers
I love Lyle for picking the picture where Mathews looks like John Wayne Gacy. Great choice.
LOL
Ha
Funny , no one finds it terrible that the Ducks bought out Corey Perry.
He only needed 12 more games for 1000 in a duck uniform.
Babcock took abuse for Modano missing 1500 by 1 game.
Modano only played for Detroit 1 year .
Corey Perry helped them win a cup.
Guess it depends on who you love and who you hate.
Not comparable but nice try.
Sure it is. Modano deserted the Dallas stars. Might be cause Modano was American.
Perry was a loyal player he didn’t desert.
Oh I guess you’re right
I thought Perry got bought out for cap reasons?
Modano got sat for multiple games with DET firmly entrenched in their playoff position because?
I have no idea why, nobody does but Babcock.
Dick move vs financial one.
Perry got his games, his money and a tribute. Jersey will be retired.
Modano got screwed.
I usually defend Babcock, not on this one.
I thought it was terrible, Vinnie.
Kadri is a punk that’s why suspended multiple times very dirty player and not talking about his last fight cuz never saw it. He usually attacks with his stick to someone’s face. He will get his someone will drop their gloves and square up fairly and kick his a$$ hope it witness it. Should be a great race between Pasta and Matthews been fun to watch so far.