NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 2, 2021
Recaps of Monday’s action, three stars of the week, plus the latest on Tony DeAngelo and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Chris Kreider broke a third-period tie as the New York Rangers downed the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1. Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists for the Rangers, who lost defenseman Brendan Smith to an upper-body injury during the first period. The Rangers were also playing without Kaapo Kakko, who’s on their COVID-19 protocol list. The Penguins were playing without defensemen Kris Letang (undisclosed injury, day-to-day) and Brian Dumoulin (undisclosed, long-term injury reserve).
Overshadowing the Rangers win was their statement indicating defenseman Tony DeAngelo has played his final game with them following a post-game altercation on Saturday with teammate Alexandar Georgiev. DeAngelo, 24, cleared waivers yesterday. The club also denied a recent rumor claiming DeAngelo had a rocky relationship with rookie defenseman K’Andre Miller.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers are reportedly working with DeAngelo’s agent to trade the blueliner. I’ll have more in the Rumors section.
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images)
The Boston Bruins tallied five unanswered goals to overcome a 3-0 deficit and defeat the Washington Capitals 5-3. David Pastrnak netted his first two goals of the season as the Bruins extended their points streak to six games (5-0-1). Capitals defenseman Zdeno Chara scored against his former team.
Yanni Gourde scored twice and Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning completed their two-game sweep of the Nashville Predators with a 5-2 victory.
A three-goal second-period outburst powered the Montreal Canadiens to a 6-2 drubbing of the Vancouver Canucks. Jeff Petry had a three-point performance (including two goals) and Corey Perry collected his 800th career NHL point. Defenseman Victor Mete made his season debut for the Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens earned this win with a dominating performance but the Canucks certainly didn’t help their cause with a lousy defensive effort.
Johnny Gaudreau scored in a shootout as the Calgary Flames edged the Winnipeg Jets 4-3. Gaudreau also tallied in regulation to extend his points streak to eight games. Kyle Connor scored twice for the Jets while teammate Blake Wheeler assisted on all three of his team’s goals.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko plus Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and forward Leon Draisaitl were the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 31.
The NHL department of player safety fined Minnesota Wild center Nick Bjugstad $5,000.00 for cross-checking Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Graves on Sunday.
The league also announced the rescheduling of four games involving the Vegas Golden Knights after three of their games were postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
NORTHJERSEY.COM: The New Jersey Devils’ next three games were postponed after four more players were added Monday to their COVID-19 protocol list. They have a league-high 10 players on that list, including Mackenzie Blackwood, Kyle Palmieri, Sami Vatanen, Andreas Johnsson, Travis Zajac and Pavel Zacha.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek could require surgery for a suspected right-arm injury after getting hurt during a collision with teammate Max McCormick during Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was placed on long-term injury reserve with a lower-body injury.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers placed forward Alex Chiasson on waivers.
Habs looking very good
Good come frim behind V by Bruins… Happy to have Pasta back?
Pens…. too bad they didn’t have the right to decline any Ranger penalties. PP was atrocious… they had better chances 5 on 5. Rangers played very well defensively …. Seshterkin was excellent
Dearest Peng,
The Pens PP is nothing that “my main man” Vince couldn’t cure!! Too darn bad that you don’t have a 1st rounder you could spare. (Thanks to Ex GMJR)
Your buddy, IP
Hi Iowa Prince
Yep that PP was awful
I just turned 60 and possibly I could improve it… LOL
Yes the injuries create changes to the PP1 and PP2 units…. but this was an issue pre Tanger (PP1) injury
It just isn’t good
Have the new assistant coaches changed things that much on the PP that Pens have yet to master them (the changes)?
Something has to be done
If this is just a pro-longed “blip” that will be rectified and things will return to “normal”… then I’d rather have the blip now than near end of season or playoffs (if they make it)
Pengy…..Hope you are well and staying safe. Was reading an article on PGH Hockey now and this was the writers summation not mine……
So all you critics out there I’m not starting a rumor here just showing the writers opinion which I totally agree with…
I know this will make Pengy a little sad because we disagree over this players value.
The article states and the WRITER OF THE ARTICLE SAYS that with Pierre Oliver Joseph playing so well the Penguins have a new trade chip…in defenseman Marcus Peterson which I agree with100%.
Look Dumolulin isn’t going anywhere, Pierre Oliver Joseph isn’t going anywhere, Mike Matheson will be impossible to move, and Jusso Rikola isn’t much of a drop off from Peterson
That leaves Marcus Peterson who is young, big, and could help someone. A bonus we unload $4.025 million in cap space.
Rikola who skates just as well and moves the puck well is $ 3million cheaper for the LHD on the third defense pairing.
He can help us get another piece up front like maybe a third line center hello penguins.
Best part of Bruin game was Frederic standing up to Wilson maybe he isn’t only sheriff in town Trent held his own. Great comeback they never give up.
I would actually give Frederic the decision Obe.
He landed a clean one early, which was the best shot of the bout IMO.
That practice in Providence paid off, poised and in control. Not an easy thing to do in that situation I am guessing.
B’s could have actually swept the Caps after falling behind by 3 in both. Crazy.
Ray and Obe, in away this season sucks. Players are getting a chance Lauzon, Zboril and Frederic.
Finally showing value and one will be lost in the expansion draft.
Frederic has other skills then his toughness if he could start plotting a couple of goals.
Lyle,
A quick change—need to change “Rangers” to “Bruins” in your 2nd paragraph regarding Boston win.
(it’s the old principal in me)
Done, thanks! Had Rangers on the brain following that lead-in.
Pens need to spend the next four days practicing their anemic Power Play, it’s beyond pathetic … and even though Letang was in a suit last night he still had three turnovers in the first period …
I know once upon a time the Penguins power play use to be phenomenal not it is pathetic for sure…
Todd Reardan hello you were brought in to fix the power play and the defense not make it worse..
I thought the Perry signing was ok despite not having seen much of him through the years.
Watching him with some regularity now gives me appreciation for his talent even in his declining years.
Those passes, tips, screens and the ability to be in the right place at the right time despite being achingly slow on his skates compared to the rest of the team is a testament to how good a player he is, and how much fun it must have been to watch him in his prime
habfan30 amazing what a couple years can do, when folks called Bergevin the worst GM in the league. This year he could be the top GM in the league.
Tough for me, being a Bruin fan and having a high dislike for the Canadians. They have 3 of my favorite players on that team. Price, Weber and Anderson.
Anderson trade for Domi. To bad it wasn’t Debrusk for Anderson. With that said Anderson has to stay healthy.
Caper,
I’ve always thought Bergevin was a good GM who continuously tried to improve the team and most moves were good.
He is very active behind the scenes and manages to keep it quiet ergo we don’t know what he’s doing till it’s done and I like that.
GM’s don’t always get it right and even the great one’s make mistakes, like picking Mark Napier in the draft instead of Mike Bossy
Caper, does Joe Sakic come to mind?
BCleaffan, yes it does another good example.
What about Mike Milbury? kidding.