NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 4, 2020

by | Mar 4, 2020 | News, NHL | 9 comments

Sidney Crosby reaches an assist milestone, Kyle Connor and Kevin Fiala extend their goal streaks and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM:The Boston Bruins widened their lead atop the overall standings by edging the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk scored for the Bruins (96 points), who sit nine points over the Lightning for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Third-period goals by Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz lifted the St. Louis Blues to their eighth straight win by downing the New York Rangers 3-1. The Blues (90 points) hold a three-point lead over the Colorado Avalanche for first place in the Western Conference. With 74 points, the Rangers remain four points out of an Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby collected his 800th career assist in a 7-3 win over the Ottawa Senators (Photo via NHL Images).

Bryan Rust’s hat trick powered the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Ottawa Senators 7-3 to snap a six-game losing skid. Evgeni Malkin collected four assists while Sidney Crosby (one goal, two assists) picked up his 800th career assist. The Penguins (82 points) sit one behind the Philadelphia Flyers for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby became just the sixth player in NHL history to reach 800 assists in less than 1,000 games.

Vegas Golden Knights netminder Robin Lehner made 27 saves in a 3-0 shutout of the New Jersey Devils. Max Pacioretty and William Karlsson each had a goal and an assist. The Golden Knights (82 points) have won nine of their last 10 contests and sit atop the Pacific Division.

Alex Chiasson’s overtime goal gave the Edmonton Oilers a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars. Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen kicked out 42 shots as Edmonton (80 points) remains two back of the Golden Knights, while the Stars (82 points) remain in third place in the Central Division. Oilers winger James Neal returned to the lineup for the first time since being sidelined by a foot injury on Jan. 29.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor scored twice and set up another to lead his club over the fading Buffalo Sabres 3-1. Connor’s goal streak has reached four games as the Jets (74 points) moved into the second wild-card berth in the Western Conference. The Sabres have dropped four straight.

Kevin Fiala extended his goal streak to five games as the Minnesota Wild dumped the Nashville Predators 3-1. Wild goalie Alex Stalock made 37 saves as the Wild (73 points) moved one point ahead of the Predators to sit one point out of a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Preds have dropped three straight games.

A three-goal third period carried the San Jose Sharks to a 5-2 upset of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Evander Kane scored twice for the Sharks. With 78 points, the Leafs sit in third place in the Atlantic Division. Leafs center Auston Matthews tallied his 46th goal to move into second place among this season’s goal-scoring leaders.

The Montreal Canadiens rolled to a 6-2 victory over the slumping New York Islanders, who’ve won just two of their last 10 games. Isles defenseman Johnny Boychuk left the game in the third period after being inadvertently struck in the face by the skate blade of Canadiens winger Artturi Lehkonen. Boychuk suffered a facial cut but his eyesight was unaffected. Canadiens winger Tomas Tatar left the game early in the first with an upper-body injury. The Isles (78 points) cling to the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens (71 points) sit seven points behind them.

A four-goal second period lifted the Chicago Blackhawks to a 6-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, Dylan Strome tallied two goals and collected an assist.

HEADLINES

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand will be sidelined eight-to-ten weeks following surgery to repair an ankle sprain and a hairline fracture.

THE SCORE: Carolina Hurricanes goalies Petr Mrazek (concussion) and James Reimer (lower-body injury) are expected to miss at least another week. The Hurricanes are winless since Mrazek and Reimer were sidelined.

VANCOUVER SUN: Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers and Quinn Hughes are questionable for tonight’s game against the Arizona Coyotes.

SPORTSNET: Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said head coach Claude Julien will return behind the bench next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens fans are calling for Bergevin and Julien to be fired as the club is on the verge of missing the playoffs for the third straight year. Neither guy is going anywhere, but this off-season and the Canadiens’ performance in 2021-22 will determine if they still have their jobs a year from now.

The Nashville Predators have opened the doors of their arena to people affected by the tornado that ripped through the city early Tuesday morning. At least 19 people were killed and 40 buildings were destroyed.







9 Comments

  1. Despite our resident expert on all things TML, who assured us all with his wisdom that egg laying for the season was over after the Carolina game,, they laid another egg: and will continue to do so cuz that’s what they like to do.

    I suggest our resident expert on all things TML contact Kyle Dubas/ Sheldon Keefe and ask them to explain to you why s++t happens

    • What there’s still someone who believes in Dubas and his yes man. I will admit one thing Dubas can bulls^^t with the best of them

      • @ Bob: He’s good at it isn’t he ! He’s got that dumb , innocent look about him that makes you wonder is it Kyle Dubas or Harry Potter!

      • @Joey yep he is the first couple of times I gave him credit for admitting it. Then after a while you realize he’s just yanking your chain and his arrogance starts to show. You can almost hear him say under his breath I don’t understand this worked in peewees

  2. I called Dubas and they are surprised they lost. They expected to win all their remaining games.

    • Does that include playoffs Vinnie or just til the end of the regular season?
      Yes all teams lay eggs.
      My B’s got sh**kicked by VCR 9-3 a couple weeks back, and followed that up with a lackluster 5-2 loss to Calgary.
      Then got it going again.
      Leafs need their top 2 D back as they lack experienced depth.
      Leafs will be fine and get in if they get healthy, what they do against TBay or BOS once the playoffs start is another thing. But it’s a fresh start when your in so you never know.

      • Well Ray , it would be pretty amazing if they went undefeated the rest of the way. They lost last night, San Jose was better. I hope its better when Muzzin and Reilly get back. Regardless the forwards have to help. If they don’t they won’t do well.
        The player I can’t wait for is Mikheyev. He is a good player. That way Kerfoot can play 3rd line center. That’s where he has been effective.
        I don’t think Kerfoot plays well with Tavares. I think Spezza would be a better fit with Tavares

    • Well it seems the head fits the door on this website

  3. Blues just keep rolling!…avs are a mash unit …lineup 40% Colorado eagles…..not sure they can keep pace….