NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 22, 2020
Jordan Eberle and Jared Spurgeon each tally hat tricks, the Jets acquire Cody Eakin from the Golden Knights, the Avalanche re-sign Pavel Francouz, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: On the night the New York Islanders honored John Tonelli, Jordan Eberle netted a hat trick to lead them to a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. The Islanders (74 points) hold the first wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. The Red Wings are officially eliminated from playoff contention. Earlier in the day, the Isles placed Cal Clutterbuck on injured reserve, while the Red Wings claimed defenseman Cody Goloubef off waivers from the Ottawa Senators.
Jared Spurgeon’s natural hat trick gave the Minnesota Wild a 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers (Photo via NHL Images).
Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon netted a natural hat trick to beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-3. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins collected three points for the Oilers. The Wild (65 points) sit three points out of the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Goaltender Pavel Francouz celebrated his two-year, $4-million contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche by kicking out 26 shots to blank the Anaheim Ducks 1-0. J.T. Compher scored the only goal as the Avs (77 points) move one point ahead of the Dallas Stars for second in the Central Division.
The St. Louis Blues (80 points) opened a three-point lead atop the Western Conference by beating the Stars 5-1, leaving the latter four points behind them. Blues defenseman Colton Parayko had a goal and two assists.
Mika Zibanejad scored and set up two others to lead the New York Rangers over the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2. Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho tallied his 35th goal of the season. With 68 points, the Rangers sit five points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Hurricanes (72 points) are one point behind the Jackets.
Chicago Blackhawks winger Alex DeBrincat scored twice in a 2-1 overtime win over the Nashville Predators. Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford made 42 saves for the win. The Predators (68 points) sit two behind the Calgary Flames for the final Western Conference wild-card spot. The Blackhawks made defenseman Erik Gustafsson a late scratch, prompting speculation he could be moved before the upcoming Feb. 24 trade deadline.
Speaking of the Flames, they blew a 3-1 lead to drop a 4-3 decision to the Boston Bruins. Patrice Bergeron scored twice and David Pastrnak had two assists as the Bruins (90 points) won their fifth straight and widened their lead atop the overall standings by five points over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mikael Backlund scored two goals for the Flames.
HEADLINES
WINNIPEG SUN/LAS VEGAS SUN: The Winnipeg Jets acquired center Cody Eakin from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2021.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Eakin is expected to center the Jets’ fourth line, providing an additional measure of experienced depth to their bottom-six forward lines. By shedding Eakin’s $3.85 million salary-cap hit, the Golden Knights freed up cap room for perhaps another deal before the upcoming trade deadline.
WGR 550: The Buffalo Sabres yesterday placed defenseman Zach Bogosian on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. If unclaimed by noon today, Bogosian will become an unrestricted free agent.
TSN: Ottawa Senators winger Bobby Ryan opened up about his alcohol addiction and his ongoing treatment. He’s returning to the lineup after being out of action for three months participating in the NHL player assistance program.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Ryan on his path forward.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand will be sidelined eight-to-ten weeks with a sprained and factured ankle.
The NHL Department of Player Safety fined Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen $5,000.00 for slashing and Senators forward Scott Sabourin over $1.881.00 for unsportsmanlike conduct.
TVA SPORTS: With Victor Mete and Xavier Ouellet sidelined by injuries, the Montreal Canadiens recalled defenseman Karl Alzner.
Good morning
AVS
Interesting on the signing of Francouz…I listened to a number of interviews from NHL reporters that that is more than just rumours to the talk of a Carey Price trade to the AVs …it seems as if there are some serious discussions going on there …whether or not it happens it seems as if Sakic is trying his best to do so !
Considering that the Avs have been quite this far with all the injuries they have …There has to be something going on deeper as this is a monumental year for them ..are they are hidiing in the weeds…
Sakic could be playing Bergevin and Gorton off each other as well….by saying to each of them listen Iam going to move these picks players and prospect to your competitor in your division if you dont make this deal with me …and vice versa…If Gorton makes his deal with Sakic …it could spell more trouble for the Habs to have another team on the rise in that division it will only push the HABS DOWN THE CHART EVEN FURTHER !!
JETS
Have always been a fan of the hard working Eakins …obviously he is not the same player as he once was with the Stars at his highest level but not far off either …love this character pick up by the jets …he has great hands as well ..but really bolsters some grit for the Jets as well.
Would have been wayyy better in a leaf uniform for Kerfoot sheeeeze!
LEAFS
Really hope the Leafs pick up some size if they deal Barrie …I really really hope the Leafs deal Barrie ..to Knights for Mcnabb …also played with Muzzin in his tenure with the Kings at times…
Really disappointing that the leafs did not make there BIG move if any last night so that any player acquisition could play tonight as they need every bit of help and every game counts.
As Lyle says up top in case anybody missed it …the Bruins came back from a 2 – 0 ans a 3 -1 deficit to beat the Flames …arggggg these guys just dont go away in any game ..LOL !
Cheers
The rangers and Montreal aren’t in the same division? The leafs have giving up the most 3 goal leads this year so I don’t think size is going to help! Lol leaf fans expecting a good return on Barrie is the strangest thing I’ve heard? He hasn’t looked good at all this year yet they think he’s going to get a first and a prospect in return?
@ bigbadbruins
Not sure where all of a sudden a Blake Coleman comes out of the wood work and demands a 1st and a few other pieces …Iam can reassure you at the start of this season ..you would not have been able to tell me who he was …
Barrie is known around the league to be a puck mover and did put up stats in his past to show he was a threat for offence on the back end ..these players regardless of his bad season this year are very far few and between for a D man ….and as you know D men are highly coveted right now …it is supply and demand ..so I do think its possible.
You have to ask that and tart there …
My mistake on the division statement I meant I i was loose with terms and should have said Conference…my bad …thx for pointing that out ..
As I always I have good things to say about the Bruins as they deserve it …
Not a chance teams are looking for good dmen not Barrie who if he’s not scoring ( like most of this year) is pretty useless on the ice
And yes I knew who Blake Coleman was lol
Hey Kal El, tough to deal Barrie with Rielly out isn’t it? When is he back any way? Huge loss when he got hurt.
I think the Leafs get it going again if they get decent goaltending.
To your point about the B’s, ya they have been getting wins, but have been fortunate health wise, knock on wood, so adding Kase helps because they are due. They are still top heavy, but it has been enough because they keep the puck out of their own net.
The only way Carey Price would end up wearing an Avs jersey would be if Danault or Domi were part of the deal as well. That would be a big contract to take on. Sakic has a responsibility to Nathan MacKinnon to keep him happy about deciding to take less than fair market value on his last deal. If he’s going to take on a big contract, it has to be for someone who substantially improves the team’s chances of winning it all. The Avs almost never go after another team’s established goaltender – though it’s funny to think that the last two times they did, it was for Roy and Theodore.
Lyle, you should have changed the wording of your blurb from “the Flames blew …” to “the Flames blow.” And left it at that. Quite possibly, all things considered, THE biggest disappointment of the year from pre-season expectations of any team, with the possible exception of San Jose.
I know, I know they currently hold down the last WC slot and there are still 20 games to play (for them), but there are 4 teams breathing down their necks, 3 of them with games in hand (Arizona is another, but they too can’t seem to put any kind of winning streak together and although they ‘re tied in points at 68 with Calgary they’ve also played 2 more games, and unless they do something before the deadline ends, I think they are history as well).
But back to the Flames. Their fans may hotly disagree with my opinion, but if so, please point to something positive from their offensive side – quite ordinary to date – that they think will kick into second gear down the stretch. Getting Giordano back on the D will certainly help, but I think they’re another that almost MUST do something over the next 3 days to stimulate the team.
Boston will play their 5th back to back game in the month of February tonight against Vancouver.
I know all teams play back to back but 5 sets in one month. That is a lot. On the positive they are 3-1 on the second game the lone lost came against Detroit who are now officially eliminated from the playoffs in February.
Right going to be a tough game for the B’s to get tonight although they are
a – $138 favorite ……got to lean Van tonight
And don’t look now, but the Rangers inched closer to the WC by knocking off one of the teams just ahead of them (Carolina) and today get the toothless Sharks at home while the Hurricanes play their back to back in Toronto.
Big game in TO tonight George. One the Leafs should get with CAR in a B to B on the road.
@ GEORGE
I thought you were a SENS fan …???
LOL
I am … sort of … hell, this is where I live so why not follow them a bit more closely than the others 🙂 … anyway, they aren’t part of the subject matter except for the bit about Yzerman claiming a warm body off them (Goulubef) and the blurb on Ryan facing up to alcoholic problems.
Wish him the best – that’s a tough battle that never really ends.