NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2020
Game recaps, injury updates and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Mikko Rantanen tallied his second career NHL hat trick as the Colorado Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2. Linemate Nathan MacKinnon picked up two assists.
Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen picked up his second career NHL hat trick in a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils (Photo via NHL Images).
The Buffalo Sabres took a 3-0 lead over the Florida Panthers and held on for a 3-2 victory. Sam Reinhart and Marcus Johansson each picked up two points for the Sabres. Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled after giving up three goals on seven shots, further highlighting what’s been a miserable performance this season by the former two-time Vezina Trophy winner.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky’s stats are truly horrid, sporting the second-worst goals-against average (3.33) and seventh-worst save percentage (.895) among NHL goalies with at least 15 games-played this season. To say this is not what the Panthers expected from Bob when they signed him last summer to a seven-year, $70-million contract is an understatement.
A three-goal third period carried the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Victor Hedman picked up two assists for the Lightning, who’ve won six straight and moved into third place in the Atlantic Division.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was only a matter of time until the talent-laden Lightning overcame their slow start to the season and surged back among the playoff contenders.
An overtime goal by Eric Staal gave the Minnesota Wild a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Staal’s teammate Zach Parise made contact with Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck in the crease but it was ruled he was shoved into Hellebuyck. Jets coach Paul Maurice disagreed with the call but withheld further criticism of the officiating. “It’s goalie interference all day long for me and there’s not a lot of gray area on that one, but I’m not giving them any money. Not one dime,” he said in his postgame press conference, referring to recent fines levied at Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella for his tirade last week against officials.
Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller scored two goals in a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. It was a costly victory for the Coyotes as goaltender Antti Raanta left the game with a lower-body injury following the second period.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coyotes starter Darcy Kuemper is still sidelined with a lower-body injury. They’ll be hoping Raanta won’t be sidelined for long.
The Vancouver Canucks extended their winning streak to seven games by nipping the New York Rangers 2-1. Jacob Markstrom made 38 saves for the win as Tyler Myers tallied the game-winner late in the third period.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks have recovered nicely from what appeared to be another season-threatening swoon a month ago. They’re now third in the Pacific Division with 50 points.
Mike Smith’s 35-save performance carried the Edmonton Oilers over the slumping Boston Bruins 4-1. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl scored for the Oilers while Bruins winger David Pastrnak tallied his league-leading 31st goal. The Bruins have won just four of their last 15 games (4-5-6).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Once again, the Bruins lack of secondary scoring is coming back to haunt them. Expect general manager Don Sweeney to try and address that issue in the coming weeks.
The Vegas Golden Knights overcame a 3-0 deficit to edge the St. Louis Blues 5-4 on an overtime goal by Chandler Stephenson. Vegas has won four straight. Blues winger David Perron had a three-point performance.
Toronto Maple Leafs backup Michael Hutchinson turned in a 33-save shutout in a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner each had two points.
Brandon Tanev’s overtime goal lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. The Penguins have won eight of their last 10 while the Canadiens are winless in their last five (0-4-1). Artturi Lehkonen tallied twice for the fading Habs.
The San Jose Sharks held off the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2, ending the latter’s 12-game points streak. Kevin Labanc potted the game-winner while Zach Werenski scored both Blue Jackets goals.
The Nashville Predators snapped a three-game losing skid by downing the Los Angeles Kings 4-1. Predators captain Roman Josi extended his points streak to nine games by collecting two assists. Kings defenseman Alec Martinez returned to action for the first time since having his wrist slashed by a skate blade on Nov. 25.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Blackhawks goaltender Robin Lehner is day-to-day with lower-body injury suffered during Thursday’s loss to the Canucks.
CBS SPORTS: Anaheim Ducks winger Ondrej Kase missed practice yesterday tending to a bone bruise.
“SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was only a matter of time until the talent-laden Lightning overcame their slow start to the season and surged back among the playoff contenders.”
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in the third period.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks have recovered nicely from what appeared to be another season-threatening swoon a month ago. They’re now third in the Pacific Division with 50 points.”
Not a mention of the biggest turnaround in hockey this year😉
Matt Murray started in the Penguins win. Tanev overtime winning goal again.
Big win for Pitt but cost me a $187 proline ticket lol.
Florida is learning what Columbus already knew. That a major factor in Bob’s success was the Blue Jackets’ strong and deep blueline corps, which the Panthers lack.
Ages for top Bruins players before the 20-21 season starts and looking forward no replacements on this current roster or in the minors except Pasta … Bergeron 35,Krejci 34,Marchand 32,Chara 43,Halak 35, Rask 33
That’s grim. Definitely time to sell the farm and go for it.
I have been beating that drum for a while.
So, should we sell it all off and build through the Lottery like Pitts, Chi, Tor, Col, Fla, etc have done?
3 finals appearances in this decade.
All good things come to an end.
Sorry if I’m being snarky.
Rough day for Boston sports, yesterday.
The Bruins had a shot and a very good one with their 15-16 draft to retool before their core got on the down turn , Sweeney and company dropped the puck there
So what’s the solution for not picking the right player at a draft that happened 4 years ago?
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Anyone notice all of the points Charlie McAvoy has put up this year?
Looks like he could step in for Krug without flaw, right? Nope!
They’re 2nd in the league at the halfway point. I’d have taken that if it was offered in November.
I’d say, calm down, and let’s see what happens.
Haha….Pat’s stink…blow it up
@FD, Leafs fan, right?
You’re the resident expert on stinking teams, no?
Yes actually. Yes you should
Shoreorrpark, not saying sell it all off, but you may not have been addressing that question to me.
I am saying go for it this year and next. Got to give to get, and they aren’t in a position to trade from the roster.
If Bergeron and Krecji don’t slow down through their mid 30’s, they will be the first. Try to keep Vaak and Studnicka, but the rest of the prospects need to be in play. The only prospect they have with a hope of being a 1 or 2C is Studnicka.
3-5 years out, as it sits today, is really shallow up front.
Agree we need to stop complaining about the 2015 draft. Zboril could still become a solid NHL player as well. Tools are their.
Chara, Marchand, and Bergeron are 3 of the 8 active players in the top 100 all-time plus/minus leaders, according to hockey-reference.com. Hossa is included in those 8, though he’s hardly active. Kreici is number 161. If Joe Thorton would have remained a Bruin, the team eould hava 4 of the 8. What a fantastic group, and what a great loss it will be for the Bruins when they are claimed by Old Age.
Hahah…leafs stink, Pat’s stink…blow it up!
Bruins draft from 15 on to present time hasn’t been what anyone would call a strength….maybe trading McAvoy for a much needed winger is a option and keeping Krug
Shoreorrpark, Boston is always competitive surprised you’re sour today.
I am not a strong believer in moving star players for draft picks. Don’t care what people say drafting is a crap shoot.
Funny I think they sit second overall and people are hitting the panic button. Meanwhile the team is probably just bored
Cassidy seems to have a issue with DeBrusk sent him a message by sitting him down week ago during game and I guess message wasn’t read cause he sat him down again yesterday ..DeBrusk likes to score goals but doesn’t like to do the dirty work …coach did take notice