NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 14, 2020
The Lightning picked up their ninth straight victory, Zach Sanford scored four goals in a losing cause for the Blues, Zack Kassian in hot water again, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning picked up their ninth consecutive win by dropping the Edmonton Oilers 3-1. Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy extended his franchise-record points streak to 20 games. Oilers winger Zack Kassian could get a call from the NHL department of player safety for kicking the Lightning’s Erik Cernak in the chest with his skate during a first-period scrum. Cernak was unhurt in the incident. The Bolts played without Nikita Kucherov, who remains sidelined with a lower-body injury. The Lightning (81 points) move within a point of the Boston Bruins for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and the overall standings.
Edmonton Oilers winger Zack Kassian kicked Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak in the chest with his skate on Thursday (Photo via NHL Images)
Zach Sanford’s four-goal performance wasn’t enough to prevent the St. Louis Blues from dropping a 6-5 overtime decision to the Vegas Golden Knights. Jonathan Marchessault scored twice, including the winning goal, while teammate Max Pacioretty also netted two goals. The Golden Knights (66 points) sit third in the Pacific Division.
Cam Talbot turned in a 44-save performance as the Calgary Flames shut out the Anaheim Ducks 6-0. Mikael Backlund and Mark Jankowski each scored twice as the Flames (66 points) hold the first wild-card spot in the West.
Tyler Seguin’s goal early in the third period proved to be the winner as the Dallas Stars held off the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen made 16 saves in his first game since suffering a neck injury on Feb. 3. Leafs forward Andreas Johnsson left the game with what’s being called a serious knee injury. Stars center Andrew Cogliano played his 1,000th career NHL game. Earlier in the day, the Stars placed winger Alexander Radulov (upper body) on injured reserve while the Leafs placed goalie Michael Hutchinson on waivers.
Craig Smith tallied his first NHL hat trick and Juuse Saros turned in a 31-save shutout as the Nashville Predators blanked the New York Islanders 5-0. With 61 points, the Predators move to within three points of the Coyotes for the final Western Conference wild-card berth.
Philadelphia Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk scored and set up two others to lead his club over the Florida Panthers 6-2. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled after giving up three goals on nine shots. The Panthers (66 points) remains two points behind the Leafs for third in the Atlantic Division.
Buffalo Sabres rookie Victor Olofsson scored twice, including the game-winner, as the Buffalo Sabres upset the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3. It was Olofsson’s first game since being sidelined by a lower-body injury on Jan. 2. Sabres captain Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists. The Jackets (71 points) hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Washington Capitals overcame a 2-0 deficit to edge the Colorado Avalanche 3-2. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was held scoreless for the third straight game and remains two goals shy of 700 for his career.
Wayne Simmonds scored twice as the New Jersey Devils tallied four unanswered third-period goals in a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Earlier in the day, the Devils placed defenseman Sami Vatanen (undisclosed) on injured reserve.
A two-goal first period enabled the Ottawa Senators to nip the Arizona Coyotes 3-2, snapping their six-game losing skid. The Coyotes (64 points) cling to the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
Shootout goals by Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin gave the New York Rangers a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. Panarin also tallied a goal and an assist in regulation. The loss keeps the Wild (61 points) three back of the Coyotes.
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara was fined $5,000.00 by the NHL department of player safety for cross-checking Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher in the face on Wednesday.
After a few years of reputation restoring, Zack Kassian is reverting to form. That was one of the dumber things I’ve seen, proving, once again, that hair isn’t the only thing missing from his head.
Yeah, he struggles with containing his emotions, most of the time.
I call no suspension.
It wasn’t malicious, it was more of a “get the heck off of me” push with with a freshly sharpened peice of steel. I’m guessing 5/8″ hollow, not that it matters.
Kassian should be suspended forever. He kicked an opponent in the chest with his skate. What if it had hit him in the throat .
Need to stop this nonsense now
Woah, it’s not like he cross checked someone in the throat or anything.
$2,500 fine. No suspension.
A crosscheck to the throat is only 5k, so I can imagine a skate to the chest would be a whole lot worse
Wouldn’t be*
It’s agreed then. We both blame the Leafs for Chara’s and Kassian’s momentary lapses of right and wrong.
All roads lead to Hogtown.
Seems like Chara doesn’t like Montreal….didn’t break anyone’s face or neck this time though.
Those Habs got what they deserved.
I like Gallagher, but I’d like to see Chara toss him and that stupid Domi over the glass.
Kassian will be suspended. 100%. The rule is unambiguous.
Was he trying to hurt him, no, but it doesn’t matter. Can’t use your skate, if you do you will be suspended.
Suspended forever seems just a tad over the top. His last suspension for thumping Tkachuk was likely applauded by every player in the NHL that wasn’t his brother. I thought Tkachuk deserved it and should have been suspended.
This was stupid, not malicious.
5 games minimum…. Dangerous play, even if it was a love tap!
Shoreorrpark, you didn’t get anything for Valentine’s did you. lol
I’m just having fun, Vinnie. You can’t kick an opposing player, and no, no I didn’t.
Happy valentine’s day to you though.
Well, Happy Valentine’s Shoreorrpark.