NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – September 5, 2020
The Stars and Golden Knights will meet in the Western Conference Final. Check out the game recaps plus the recent notable news in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars advanced to the Western Conference Final by edging the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 in Game 7 of their second-round series. Stars winger Joel Kiviranta completed his first-ever NHL hat trick with the game-winner at 7:24 of overtime. Alexander Radulov scored twice for the Stars while defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Joel Klingberg each collected two assists and Anton Khudobin made 40 saves. Vladislav Namestnikov tallied twice for the Avalanche while Nathan MacKinnon was shut out for the first time in this series.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a very entertaining game that see-sawed back and forth between the two clubs. The story of the game, of course, was Kiviranta, a rookie with just one goal in 11 regular-season contests before his heroics as a replacement for the sidelined Andrew Cogliano in Game 7. Sometimes, the playoffs give us the unlikeliest of heroes.
The Stars will meet the Vegas Golden Knights in the Conference Final as the latter blanked the Vancouver Canucks 3-0 in Game 7 of their second-round series. The Golden Knights netted three unanswered third-period goals by Shea Theodore, Alex Tuch, and Paul Stastny, the latter two into an empty net as the Canucks went with an extra attacker in the dying minutes. Robin Lehner made 14 saves for the shutout while Vancouver netminder Thatcher Demko kicked out 33.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Through the first two periods it appeared Demko was going to steal this game as he did the previous two. Despite his best efforts, however, his teammates couldn’t muster any offense against a deep, talented Golden Knights club. Demko was dejected following the game but he had nothing to hang his head over. If not for his play, the Canucks wouldn’t have overcome a 3-1 series deficit.
The Golden Knights and Stars won’t have to wait long to face each other. Game 1 of the Western Conference Final begins at 8 pm ET on Sunday, Sept. 6.
NOTABLE HEADLINES
NOTE: We experienced some publishing problems from Wed, Sept. 2 to Fri, Sept. 4 that prevented us from publishing each day’s noteworthy headlines. Here’s a collection of the most interesting news during that period.
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Bruins winger David Pastrnak was hampered by a lower-body injury. It seemed to be related to his conditioning level following a month-long quarantine odyssey that prevented him from participating in Phase 3 training with his teammates.
TSN: Bruins captain Zdeno Chara indicated he’s committed to returning to the club next season. It would be the 23rd campaign of the 43-year-old blueliner’s NHL career.
SUN-SENTINEL: The Florida Panthers formally introduced Bill Zito as their new general manager.
TRIBLIVE.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins name former Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirden as a new assistant coach. It’s his second stint as a Pens assistant coach.
NHL.COM: St. Louis Blues assistant coach Marc Savard is stepping down and returning to Ontario to be with his family.
THE ATHLETIC: The Columbus Blue Jackets won’t be renewing the expired contract of assistant coach Paul MacLean.
THE SCORE: The NHL is launching a series of initiatives to combat racism and foster inclusion and diversity training within the league.
Was Markstrom torn in cheering/rooting for TD?
Wanting a win; but TD’s spectacular play (and wow was it ever) gave some to pause and think… can he be ‘Nucks starter making Markstrom expendable?
Does anybody know if TD is eligible for exposure to Krakken?
Ya, TD’s play has brought up that question Pengy.
Yes, I think he would need to be protected in the Krakken draft, but not an expert.
Looking at VCR’s cap, they have $9M in dead space in Ericksson and Luongo until after 21/22.
Pettersson and Hughes ELC’s both end after next season.
They might be wise to be frugal this off season, and patient.
I get that you would prefer both moving forward as you want a bigger sample size on Demko, but it is a really tough decision when you look at their cap. They need to sign some D & F too and they won’t all be cheap.
Markstrom’s best season was this last one, but Demko was pretty good in the reg season too.
They would then need to find another goalie if they let Markstrom go.
Will be an interesting call.
All else aside, I would have thought that any team, in a game 7, would muster more than 14 shots! Hell, that’s a total you see for a single period.
Either Vegas suddenly became checking demons or, to use one of Pat Quinn’s favourite expressions, the Canucks spent the night waiting for a pass from Dick Around.
Hi George
VGK’s have been unbelievable on the forechecking and shot suppression side. They have been spectacular at that for 5
of the7 games in the series
Knight’s should have won in 5 if it weren’t for the unbelievable acrobatics of TD
Knight’s dominated this game start to finish… 7-0 with another goalie in would not have surprised me
Let me just add that of those 14 shots; two came basically as clearing shots (from inside the ‘Nuck’s own zone) ; 1 more from outside the blue-line; and another two from wide angles just inside the blue-line in Knight’s zone… so let’s call it 9 shots. Also ‘Nuck’s had 11 full mins of PP; Knight’s shut them down; and got 3 shots of their own in that 11 mins
This was basically Knight’s v Demko…. and he WAS getting in their heads
Kudos abound to TD
I enjoy reading your posts George. Normally you seem to proffer reasonable and well though through comments. Clearly this one is not one of your best. It was obvious to many that the Canucks had come as far as they were going to go. They were exhausted and had nothing left in the tank. Vegas is a true contender and simply wore them down but it took seven games to do it. Many of us thought it would be much quicker. It gives us hope that the young core of this team is perhaps a little closer than we suspected. Hughes 20, Pettersson 21, Boeser 23, Virtanen 23, Demko 24 and Horvat 25 still have time. I take nothing away from Vegas….congrats and good luck. But to think Canucks fans are disappointed in their teams effort is not to fully appreciate the team or the fans. We will see where the team is at two to three years from now having had their first real experience of the playoffs. In the mean time I expect them to continue to entertain as they have done this season. Perhaps a little more than some other teams we could mention.
Dickie Dunn, I’m not about to start comparing teams – who’s best, who’s badder … like some schoolyard argument. Yeah, the Canucks surprised a lot of people – me included – but when you get to a game 7 you leave nothing on the table. Why would the Canucks be any more exhausted than the Knights? They both went through the same grind.
That wasn’t a condemnation of the Canucks or their season – just an obvious observations that 14 shots just isn’t going to cut it – not when, as Pengy points out, at least 5 came from well out.
If anything the “young core” dickie highlighted should have put energied the older team. The excitement should be there for nucks fans but also the reality that they laid a real stinker when it mattered most. Unlike the avs who went out with a fight and whose fans should be crushed but not ashamed…. nucks fans not so much.
I’d almost understand the exhausted thing of this were a normal season. These teams have been playing for a month after a 3-1/2- 4 month break!!!!
Hardly the same thing as a team playing a full schedule and hitting a few 6-7 game series.
Avs/Stars was very exciting back and forth but I thought Avs were going to win and overall a bit better than Stars
What a playoff debut for Kiviranta !! Injury replacement just like TD who puts on a show; just like TD
I agree with broadcasters that Compher’s penalty (that lead to the tying goal mid 3rd, and opened the game up) was not a penalty.
No penalty; no PPG…. no increased ooooomph to Stars….does Avs then hold them off and win?
Was hoping to see Mac K’s streak continue
I enjoy reading your posts George. Normally you seem to proffer reasonable and well though through comments. Clearly this one is not one of your best. It was obvious to many that the Canucks had come as far as they were going to go. They were exhausted and had nothing left in the tank. Vegas is a true contender and simply wore them down but it took seven games to do it. Many of us thought it would be much quicker. It gives us hope that the young core of this team is perhaps a little closer than we suspected. Hughes 20, Pettersson 21, Boeser 23, Virtanen 23, Demko 24 and Horvat 25 still have time. I take nothing away from Vegas….congrats and good luck. But to think Canucks fans are disappointed in their teams effort is not to fully appreciate the team or the fans. We will see where the team is at two to three years from now having had their first real experience of the playoffs. In the mean time I expect them to continue to entertain as they have done this season. Perhaps a little more than some other teams we could mention.
Just a thought—Is there any way that Marc Savard stepping away as an Asst. in St. Louis opens the door for Steen to retire and assume a role as coach for the Blues?? More cap savings…..
Does that coaching job pay millions?
LOL. Yeah, Puts a whole new slant on the old expression “take one for the team” – “take a bit over $5.5 mil for the team.” As Terry Bradshaw might say in a self-deprecating manner “he may be dumb but he ain’t stupid.”
Gotta give Iowa some credit. A good way to circumnavigate the cap. Could it ever happen? Say at Louis or ny want certain players cap hits off the books. Could they work out a deal where player retires then signs a front office 1 year deal at same cost? Then after that year they sign a new deal at market value. The nhl would hate it but is it specifically against the rules?
Hi Iowa Prince; George; Chrisms
No need to walk away from millions
Buyout… $2.4 M Cap savings; $1.2 M dead cap 21-22; Steen out just less than $1.2 M gross
Better option… Army politely “negotiates” / “has a heart to heart” with Steen… retire; will sign you as an assistant coach 3 @ $700K
Blues save $5.75 M in Cap; Steen out $300 K overall vs. Buyout; but still on Blues and transitions to coaching vs. emotional toll (embarrassment??) of buyout; . doesn’t have one more year of intense physical activity; replaces equipment with new suits
Doable
Vancouver has a young exciting core but they were no match for Vegas. If it wasn’t for some puck luck and unbelievable goaltending it would have been a sweep. If I’m a GM I make an unbelievable offer to Hugh’s next year the kid is crazy good.
So far, a lot better looking than his brother
Clearly Vancouver was over matched, out played in the Vegas series.
Reality it was boys against men.
Vancouver has a very good young core and a exciting goalie prospect.
The experience they say will prove to be very valuable.
Look like a TB vs LV final to me, can’t see anyone stopping them.
I believe this Tournament is the tournament of goalies. With so many backup or in Colorado third string goalie leading the way.
Dallas is the only team remaining without their number 1 goalie available and they will be gone in 5 at the max.
I dunno about that quick exit Caper. Taking them too lightly could backfire. Heiskanen has been lights out from the back-end, following closely by Klingberg, and they have five F in double digits not yet named Seguin (who has 7). The cagey Perry has to be sniffing one last shot at glory – not to mention Pavelski. In goal, Khudobin has stood up well in place of Bishop – who should benefit from a couple more days of rest – with a 2.94gaa and .909 save %
Not sure I would count out Dallas either I think Vegas has edge but Dallas has better offense.