NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 29, 2021
Recaps from another busy night of action and more in the NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Patrice Bergeron scored two goals as the Boston Bruins defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 to sweep their two-game series. The Bruins have now won four in a row. Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk was forced to leave the game with a lower-body injury.
New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere (NHL Images).
2020 first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere’s first career NHL goal came in overtime as the New York Rangers snapped their five-game winless skid by downing the Buffalo Sabres 3-2. Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist for the Rangers while Sabres winger Sam Reinhart also had a goal and an assist.
The Philadelphia Flyers swept their two-game series with the New Jersey Devils with a 3-1 victory. Goaltender Carter Hart made 33 saves for the win while teammate Claude Giroux netted his first goal of the season.
John Carlson scored the game-winner as the Washington Capitals overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat the New York Islanders 6-3. Conor Sheary scored twice and Zdeno Chara tallied his first goal with the Capitals as they extended their points streak to eight games. Islanders captain Anders Lee played his 500th career NHL game while teammate Josh Bailey (872 games) tied Clark Gillies for fourth on the Islanders all-time list.
The Carolina Hurricanes nipped the Tampa Bay Lightning 1-0 on an overtime goal by Martin Necas. It was the Hurricanes’ first game since Jan. 18 after several players wound up on the club’s COVID-19 protocol list.
A shootout goal by Alexandre Texier lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Florida Panthers 3-2, snapping the latter’s three-game win streak. Max Domi and Mikko Koivu each tallied their first goals with the Jackets.
The Montreal Canadiens remain unbeaten in regulation (5-0-2) after doubling up the Calgary Flames 4-2 in their first home game of the season. Tyler Toffoli tallied a shorthanded goal while Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jonathan Drouin each had two assists.
A three-goal first period powered the Minnesota Wild over the Los Angeles Kings 5-3. Marcus Johansson had a goal and an assist while teammate Kevin Fiala was ejected for boarding Kings defenseman Matt Roy, who left the game and was still being evaluated by the game’s end. Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty each had two points for the Kings.
The Dallas Stars are 4-0-0 to start the season after defeating the Detroit Red Wings 7-3. Goaltender Jake Oettinger made 20 saves for his first career NHL victory. Miro Heiskanen and Denis Gurianov each had three-point performances for the Stars. Wings goalie Jonathan Bernier left the game in the second period following a collision with teammate Anthony Mantha.
Philipp Grubauer’s 21-save shutout performance backstopped the Colorado Avalanche over the San Jose Sharks 3-0. Nazem Kadri scored twice for the Avalanche.
The Arizona Coyotes nipped the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 thanks to a two-goal performance by Christian Dvorak.
Braden Holtby turned aside 36 shots to give the Vancouver Canucks a 4-1 victory over the slumping Ottawa Senators to sweep their three-game series. Brock Boeser scored twice and set up another for the Canucks. The Senators have dropped seven straight games.
Auston Matthews snapped a 3-3 tie with a power-play goal as the Toronto Maple Leafs held on for a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Jason Spezza had a goal and an assist for the Leafs while Leon Draisaitl scored twice for the Oilers. The Leafs have won four straight games.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Vegas Golden Knights game against the St. Louis Blues was postponed due to some recent positive COVID-19 tests within the organization. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was added to their COVID-19 protocol list.
NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: The Blackhawks signed defenseman Madison Bowey to a one-year, two-way contract.
THE DETROIT NEWS: Former Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard officially announced his retirement.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reports of Howard’s retirement plans circulated last week. He spent his entire NHL career with the Wings. Best of luck to him and his family in their future endeavors.
If nothing else the Pittsburgh Penguins possess the two biggest turnover machines in hockey, Malkin & Letang … I feel badly for Mike Sullivan … he is saddled with core players who consistently throw the puck wherever they please and will most likely be fired at some point, in season or after when a GM is hired … President David Moorehouse is also a huge issue, he is a businessman who likes to stick his nose into hockey operations where it doesn’t belong … Pens are a mess right now …
Ed remember who they played the last two games the Bruins pretty stacked team even with Pasta and Jake out Bergie and Bad Brad control most games hard to win shooting less than 20 shots.
The Bruins look really good right now. Penguins just couldn’t match their relentless forecheck.
Any team look better than Boston right now?
Hi BCLeafFan
Agree… Bruins (note : sans Pasta) were really good
Re “ Any team look better than Boston right now”
Better? not sure…. but I think “on par”…. Habs
Habs v Bruins in SC semi-finals ??
There is a chance (as format of semis and placement [1 v 4 ? or geographical “east v west” ? ] has, I believe, not been finalized) that a SC final could be Bruins v Habs
That would be a sight
BC, not that I can see. B’s are motoring.
We’ll see how the B’s do against the Big Bad Caps next.
They have owned the B’s and recently have knocked them around pretty good.
Plus will be playing for Z.
Should be interesting.
Letang played better then the first game against Boston, which he was brutal.
Next day the GM quits because the ownership won’t let him trade him.
Well…. Pens played bad 🤬😡😢😭💩
But… from my standpoint… I was watching a very very good Bruins team… stealing a quote from Letterkenny (great show if you get a chance to see it)…”forecheck, back check, paycheque” !!
Bruins did an excellent job all around containing Pens and had some excellent precision passing
Note all this w/o Pasta!!!
Methinks I was watching the ‘21 “new” Metro Div champs
Perhaps the Sweeney “no move is a good move” stance is paying off???
Plus for Pens…. I’m liking P-OJ’s efforts and poise; Marino , who had played awful for the first few games; had a much better night last night
But…. after Zucker had a 2 point night; he was once again back to his missed passes (giving/receiving).. well off on that; and shooting accuracy deplorable; Gino uninspired; Rusty was off; Ruhweedel was his usual abysmal self; Sid was getting visibly frustrated; the list goes on and on
Note : Jarry save percentage low last night; but 2 were completely unstoppable and a third was a very tough save; he was also pretty dang good on a couple of saves; .. in other words… numbers not reflective of his play
Re “ The Blackhawks signed defenseman Madison Bowey to a one-year, two-way contract.”
WTF…. Jimbo didn’t sign a LHD (needed)… so he goes out and signs Weber (RHD) … smaller, slower, worse (in play); and 7 years older; than Bowey (also an RHD)
W T F ??
As I’m sipping my late morning coffee I noticed Matt Grzelcyk has already been ruled out for the Saturday game which isn’t a good sign it’s what happens when you’re a 5’8” 175 lb Dman in the NHL
You might have a hard time convincing Sweeney of that Joeman.
He was 5 10, 180, and played over 1100 games in the NHL, when the league was more physical.
Sweeney had a lot of protection…. Matt not so much
Is Penguins coach Mike Sullivan out of his mind? If not, why has he made a defenseman as horrible as Letang annually among the league leaders in ice time? Or is he perverse, and so makes Letang play almost half of every game till he is too weak to play any way but horribly ?
PENS were a shadow of themselves against bruins.had to be expected after seeing their d corps last night.I do like the Marino kid!b s don t trade Bork as I am hearing,substitute Kase instead.Can t stay in lineup and is slow.