NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 7, 2020
Remembering Henri Richard, the Jets move into a wild-card berth and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Henri Richard, who won a record-setting 11 Stanley Cups as a player during his 20-year career with the Montreal Canadiens, died yesterday at age 84 of Alzheimer’s disease. The younger brother of Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Henri carved out his Hall-of-Fame career as a skilled two-way center. A 10-time All-Star, Richard captained the Canadiens from 1971-72 to 1974-75, won the Masterton Trophy in 1974, and was voted one of the NHL’s 100 greatest players in 2017. He also played a franchise-record 1,258 games with the Canadiens and finished third all-time among Habs scorers with 1,046 points.
Henri Richard was one of the Montreal Canadiens’ greatest players (Photo via NHL.com).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’m old enough to recall seeing Richard play with the Canadiens whenever they appeared on Hockey Night in Canada in the early-70s. With his grey hair, the Pocket Rocket looked so old to my very young eyes back then, but he impressed me with his skating and puck-moving skills. Richard was the quintessential two-way center and one of the Canadiens’ all-time greats. Had the Selke Trophy existed during his playing career, he would’ve won it multiple times. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and former teammates.
GAME RECAPS
Connor Hellebuyck turned in a 29-save shutout as the Winnipeg Jets (76 points) blanked the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0 to move into the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers each had a goal and an assist. The Golden Knights (82 points) remain two ahead of the Edmonton Oilers for first place in the Pacific Division.
Matthew Tkachuk collected three assists in the Calgary Flames 3-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. With the win, the Flames (79 points) to within one point of the second-place Oilers in the Pacific. Taylor Hall had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes, who slip two points behind the Jets.
Zack McEwen tallied twice while J.T. Miller and Antoine Roussel each had a goal and an assist as the Vancouver Canucks trounced the Colorado Avalanche 6-3, snapping a four-game losing skid. With 76 points, the Canucks hold the first wild-card berth with two games in hand over the Jets.
Make it three straight losses for the Toronto Maple Leafs in California as they fell 2-1 to the Anaheim Ducks. John Gibson made 26 saves for the Ducks before leaving midway through the third with an undisclosed injury. Leafs defenseman Cody Ceci returned to the lineup after being sidelined for a month. With 79 points, the Leafs still hold a playoff spot, sitting third in the Atlantic Division.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If it wasn’t for the inept Florida Panthers, the Leafs would be in real danger of falling out of a playoff spot. Maybe the knowledge that the stumbling Panthers probably can’t catch them explains the Leafs’ lifeless effort in California.
The New Jersey Devils upset the St. Louis Blues 4-2, snapping the latter’s eight-game winning streak. Devils goaltender Cory Schneider kicked out 31 shots. The Blues (90 points) hold a two-point lead over the Avalanche for first place in the Western Conference standings.
Detroit Red Wings goalie Jonathan Bernier turned aside 32 shots in a 2-1 upset of the Chicago Blackhawks. Tyler Bertuzzi and Robby Fabbri scored for the Wings, while Patrick Kane replied for the Blackhawks (70 points), who failed to gain ground in the playoff race, sitting six points out of a wild-card spot in the West.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NBC SPORTS: Panthers winger Evgenii Dadonov won’t face supplemental discipline for elbowing Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo on Thursday night.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers re-signed forward Josh Archibald to a two-year extension worth $1.5 million annually.
THE SCORE: The NHL is urging its players to limit contact with fans due to the coronavirus.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Good idea. Too bad the league doesn’t make a similar plea every year during flu season.
STLTODAY.COM: The Blues signed a five-year affiliating agreement that starts next season with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds.
Great loss to the hickey world.
Lyle,
I too as a young lad remember him flying around the rink and seeing his grey hair I thought he was way older than my own dad (turns out my dad was almost 9 years older than him)
Pocket Rocket RIP
Did he do a lot of necking in his life as well? Truly a great man
Didn’t get it; then re-read my post
🤓🤪 LOL
Weak eyes; single fat finger typing on iPhone ; and not proof-reading…, my excuses
I guess the hickies I got 4 decades ago must have sucked my minimal brain dry
🥴
Well certainly disappointing for my two favourite trams after their recent California swings.
Between them …..playing 6 games against those Cal teams (who will be golfing in April); getting only 1 point of a possible 12 and getting outscored 18-5
😡😞😢☹️
Relax leafs fans and sorry Flyers fans, but nothing that has transpired to date is indicative of what is going to happen in playoffs. For playoff bound teams it is all about how you are playing when the playoffs start. This will be determined in the last 4 weeks of the season which are about to start with double emphasis on the last 2 weeks of the season. The 4 best records considering the emphasis on last 2 weeks from here on out are your Stanley Cup favorites. Full Stop.
This is encouraging news for Habs and Sabres fans alike.
Wendell, agree it doesn’t really matter what they do now. It actually doesn’t matter until the playoffs start.
Last 2 weeks last season the B’s were 500. Got to game 7 of finals. In 2011, when they won the cup similar last 2 weeks, and actually had a losing record in March/April.
Finished high in the standings both seasons though.
Need to be good, deep, healthy and a hot tender. Then you have a shot.
Must be open season on Bruin players; first Rask gets an elbow to the head, not even a penalty on that one and was concussed and missed time
Now Carlo takes a deliberate elbow to the face and that’s ok to.
Time for Don Sweeney and or Bruce Cassidy to start making a public out cry and denouncing these actions.
Any idea why they reduced the penalty after reviewing it for several minutes?
I’ve seen that happen twice against us this year.
Crazy time of year to be trying something like that.
I have no issues with reviewing plays to get the right call or reversing bad calls, but they didn’t get that one or the puck over the glass calls right.
Transparency isn’t an ugly word, NHL. Fill us in a little, now and then so I’m not left asking my wife and dogs, “wtf is happening?”
SOP, my dog, Bob, has stopped watching hockey with me.
I tried to explain it wasn’t him, he didn’t care.
Lol. Sounds like Bob has had enough.
My dog Rose loves watching, mostly because I let her sit with me and force high fives when we score.
The puppy, Boris wants to do everything she does, so I bought a bigger couch.
Awww! I should get another one.
Everybody needs a dog.
Some of my best friends ever, have been dogs.
We had a therapy dog for my youngest son.
She was an absolute beauty. Smartest dog I’ve even known.
Geez I miss her.
Best dog I ever had was a female too. Rescue at 1 year old. All black Rottie, Border Collie, other mix. Good size, had an edge at first with other dogs, dominant to the nth degree, came around after about 6 months.
Every command instantly, no leash required. Cancer at 8, cried like a baby.
Bob is an absolute fool, but every day is the best day of his life. Total nutbar.
I’ve lost 2 to Cancer.
Hardest thing ever, is holding them as they pass peacefully.
Now I’m bummed right out.
As a non dog person I can’t stand dog people. Poopin on my lawn. But I’m jealous of the dog relationship. Can’t own one now due to work and family… thinking dog will be a retirement effort.
I encourage you to save a good boy or girl from a shelter, whenever you decide to do the best thing you’ll ever do.
They deserve good people.
That’s how I got my kitties. And I love / loved them. Good call.