NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 22, 2020

by | Jan 22, 2020 | News, NHL | 2 comments

Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville returns to Chicago, Artemi Panarin to miss the upcoming NHL All-Star Game, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville made a triumphant return to Chicago as his club edged the Blackhawks 4-3. Quenneville, who coached the Hawks from 2008-09 to 2018-19, was honored by the club during the game. The Panthers’ victory was powered by Frank Vatrano’s hat trick, giving them six straight wins. Before the game, the Blackhawks honored Patrick Kane for reaching 1,000 career points. Earlier in the day, eyebrows were raised when Blackhawks’ stars Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith had a physical altercation during practice. Toews downplayed the incident as “just some friendly wrestling.”

Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville picked up a win in his return to Chicago (Photo via NHL.com)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers (61 points) maintain their hold on third place in the Atlantic Division, while the Blackhawks (54 points) remain three points out of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Justin Williams scored two goals to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Teuvo Teravainen collected three points while Andrei Svechnikov had two assists. The slumping Jets have dropped three in a row.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Williams doesn’t look rusty after taking over half the season off. His return seems to have provided an extra spark for the Hurricanes. The Jets, meanwhile, are three points out of a Western Conference wild-card spot.

The New York Islanders doubled up the New York Rangers 4-2. Thomas Greiss made 40 saves and Josh Bailey had a goal and two assists. Isles center Mathew Barzal was benched during the third period by coach Barry Trotz for not playing within the team framework. Rangers all-star winger Artemi Panarin missed this game with an upper-body injury. He’ll be replaced at the upcoming 2020 NHL All-Star game by teammate Chris Kreider.

Third-period goals by Jake DeBrusk and David Krejci lifted the Boston Bruins to a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

Brian Elliott had a 19-save shutout as the Philadelphia Flyers blanked the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0. The Flyers have won four of their last five contests.

SUN-SENTINEL: The 2021 NHL All-Star Game will reportedly be hosted by the Florida Panthers.

DETROIT FREE PRESS: Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha could miss the remainder of the season with an injured rib cage and shoulder. His last game was Dec. 21 against Toronto.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 24 points in 29 games, Mantha was on his way to eclipsing last season’s 25-goal, 48-point performance in 67 games. His absence is among the reasons behind the Wings’ struggles this season.

CBS SPORTS: Nashville Predators forward Colton Sissons was assigned to their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee on a conditioning stint.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Brandon Manning received a five-game suspension by the AHL for uttering a racial slur during a recent game.

 







2 Comments

  1. Good show by the Bruins last night, Vegas wanted to skate with the B’s instead of using their effective checking game ….

  2. Pens/Phi last night

    OK, stating the Captain obvious— can’t win if you don’t score— noted and true

    However, ONCE AGAIN— JJ huge negative impact on goaltending/save percentage

    TJ for whole night: 931 save percentage

    TJ save percentage when JJ OFF the ice last night ——1000 (perfect)

    TJ save percentage when JJ was on the ice last night: 778

    This is now a full month in which each game that JJ has been ON the ice ; the save percentage is lower (much in fact) for EITHER goalie, than when JJ was on the bench.

    Last night’s GAs— JJ with 2 different D partners— guess what; it wasn’t them!!!

    So with JJ off the ice— both team’s goalies would have been perfect… which means that the game could have at least gone to OT; where Pens gain at least a point 🙁

    Jimbo/Sully; you are failing the eye test so let’s just simplify things for you:

    1) Save percentage for either MM or TJ was greater with JJ on ice vs Off ice; in ONLY 4 games all year; that’s it…. all 4 games BTW … he was bottom pairing

    2)Dumo– save percentage for either goalie was higher with him On the ice vs off the ice in every game he played; but 2; that’s it.

    3) Tanger stats w/o JJ; astronomical compared to with JJ

    4) Shultz stats w/o JJ: astronomical compared to with JJ

    5) Marino stats w/o JJ: astronomical compared to with JJ

    6) Petterson stats w/o JJ: astronomical compared to with JJ

    7) Riikola stats w/o JJ: astronomical compared to with JJ

    8) Ruhweedel stats w/o JJ: much much better compared to with JJ

    9)All (yes all) Pens forwards ; better stats when JJ on bench than when on ice with them. Corsi, XGF , XGA; and on and on and on

    10) If Pens play JJ top D in playoffs: absolutely ZERO chance at a Cup

    11) If Pens play JJ middle D pairing in playoffs; extremely high percentage that Pens don’t get to ECF let alone cup

    12) If Pens don’t play JJ in a single game in the playoffs; and rest of team healthy; even w/o any new forwards acquired: Odds of getting to ECF are tremendously better than if JJ plays even only a single game

    13) JJ has created unforced icing on more occasions this year than ALL other Pens combined

    Jimbo/Sully— please read points 1 to 13 above and friggin do the right thing…. if you can’t find a taker (which is almost virtually impossible) you have a very very easy solution… press box; or even better: waive and also save another $1.08M (annual rate) in Cap

    Wake up and smell the coffee

    Rant over