NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 19, 2021
Connor McDavid widens his lead in the NHL scoring race, Mikko Rantanen enjoys a four-point performance and Robby Fabbri tallies a hat trick. Details and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Connor McDavid scored twice to lead the Edmonton Oilers to a 2-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. The Oilers have the same number of points (40) as the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Scotia North Division but the latter hold three games in hand. McDavid (58 points) extended his points streak to eight games and leads the NHL scoring race by nine points over teammate Leon Draisaitl.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is on pace for 98 points in 56 games this season.
Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).
Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen scored twice and added two assists in a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog each had a goal and two assists as Colorado peppered Wild goaltender Cam Talbot with 55 shots. Avs defensemen Cale Makar and Bo Byram returned from upper-body injuries that had sidelined each from multiple games. Wild defenseman Matt Dumba left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. The Avalanche (38 points) moves one point up on the Wild into second place in the Honda West Division.
A hat trick by Robby Fabbri enabled the Detroit Red Wings to hold off the Dallas Stars 3-2. It was a costly victory for the Wings as goalie Jonathan Bernier left the game in the second period with an apparent injury to his right leg. An update is expected on his condition today.
The New Jersey Devils held off the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 thanks to goaltender Scott Wedgewood’s 40-save performance. Devils forward Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist. Wedgewood got the call after starter Mackenzie Blackwood suffered an upper-body injury during warmups. No update was provided for his status. Earlier in the day, the Penguins placed forwards Evgeni Malkin and Teddy Blueger (undisclosed) on injured reserve. The Pens sit in third place in the MassMutual East Division with 37 points.
A new head coach didn’t change the Buffalo Sabres fortunes as they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Boston Bruins in their first game with Don Granato behind the bench. The Sabres fall to 0-11-2 in their last 13 games. David Krejci collected three assists for the Bruins, who sit one point behind the Penguins in the East Division.
The Philadelphia Flyers (33 points) moved to within three points of the Bruins by edging the New York Islanders 4-3. The Flyers blew a 3-0 lead but got the win on Oskar Lindblom’s second goal of the game late in the third period. Travis Konecny had three assists for the Flyers while Isles defenseman Nick Leddy had three helpers. Before the game, the Flyers announced defenseman Robert Hagg would be sidelined two-to-four weeks with a shoulder injury. The Islanders (42 points) remain in second place in the East.
An overtime goal by Seth Jones lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2. It was Jones’ second goal of the game. Carolina center Sebastian Aho countered with two goals. The Hurricanes remain in third place in the Discover Central Division with 42 points while the Jackets (31 points) climbed to within two points of the fourth-overall Chicago Blackhawks.
Speaking of the Blackhawks, they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bolts goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves for his 10th straight victory while Victor Hedman had a goal and an assist. The Lightning (44 points) opened a two-point lead over the Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for first place in the Central Division. Chicago center Dylan Strome scored in his first game since being sidelined a month ago by a concussion. The Blackhawks have dropped three straight.
The Nashville Predators got two goals from Calle Jarnkrok and a 40-save effort from Juuse Saros to edge the Panthers 2-1. Jonathan Huberdeau scored for the Panthers, who remain in second place in the Central.
Anaheim Ducks rookies Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras each scored their first NHL goals in a 3-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. Drysdale finished the game with two points while Adam Henrique tallied the game-winner. Clayton Keller and Conor Garland replied for the Coyotes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Drysdale and Zegras offer what could be a promising look at the Ducks’ future depending on what moves management makes to rebuild the roster.
TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen admits he’s been battling a nagging lower-body injury for the past six games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That news won’t silence Andersen’s critics but it explains his struggles since returning to action from the same injury that sidelined him for two weeks in the second half of February.
You had to figure the Flyers would rebound after that 9-0 pasting … but they damned near blew it.
Drysdale and Zegras… yes very promising for Ducks
The said it was only the third time in NHL history that an 18 year old D had two points in his first NHL game
McD…. something else…. and then some
Pens….. Hextall… you must do everything possible to get a 3C…. Sid can’t play 1C and 2C and 3C and 4C
Pens are now in big trouble due to Rutherford’s mismanagement of the cap … can’t trade any forwards (Zucker would have been gone if he hadn’t gotten injured) and the only d-man you could deal is Pettersson but that’s a problem because it’s only a matter of time before China Doll Doumalin gets hurt again and if you trade Pettersson then Mike Matheson becomes your top lefty d-man … ugh … so that leaves draft picks and prospects which Hextall is loathe to part with … Pens need a reboot after this season …
No mention of Krejci getting his 700th assist. The most underrated under appreciated player on the Bruins if not the league.
BBZ correct underrated and under appreciate even by some Bruin fans.
Congrats to Krejci
All good in the world again. Mckegg scored Debrusk scored. Whoa who! Yea baby!
Oh wait, we beat Buffalo. Single hand 👏
Steen and Ahcan looked pretty good outside of a couple mistakes neither should have much problem adapting to the NHL. I was surprised Ahcan had the strength to toss a couple bigger guys around. Freddy got hurt hopefully it’s minor. Let’s get Coyle on the shoot first program lol I think he’s trying to feed Smith too much. But Sweeny’ draft picks starting to make a difference which is good.
I don’t think Krejci is underappreciated or underrated as much as a victim of his own contract.
he was highly regarded at 3 million and 5 million but at 7 million, highest paid Bruin, not so much.
He is just one of many players living in the shadow of their contracts.
Montreal fans booed Patrice Brisebois mercilessly with the media calling him Breeze By, mostly on account of his contract. When he resigned with the Habs at the end of his career for much less money and much less ability, he became well liked.
I think Krecji’s contract has been fair and about right.
He just is compared to Bergy and his contract, which isn’t fair to Krecji as Bergy has been a bargain.
Good solid top 2 C.
I understand that to a point but he also plays in every situation he’s on the ice at the end of big games. Only weakness is he’s not physical but fir all he offers I’m fine with that. I believe DeBrusk is his longest line mate of his career. Revolving door definitely hurts his offensive stats. 8 th all time scorer on the bruins and the only player that when injured the Bruins have a losing record. And no offense but PB isn’t close to the same level of player as DK. Yes 7 mill is about 1 mill too much he just came off leading the team in points to win a cup. PC was terrible with the contracts. Giving money out like Halloween candy lol
Imagine Bruins 2 centers have played together the last 14 years.Good things must come to an end.Problem is that the B s have no top 6 center close in their organization.LAST 3 drafts,they have drafted only 3rd line centers.Frederic,Beecher,KURALY,Coyle all 3-4th line centers.Studnicka not strong enough yet to be a top 6 center.Where do we go from here?
DK46 scored his 700th point. He’s still a couple shy of 500 assists for his underrated career.
Mcdavid and than a big drop for best player in the league! Even defensively he is always buzzing around causing havoc very underrated for his defence
Can’t wait for him to join everybody’s dream team the Leafs!
Hi Mike/WH17
Unfortunately earliest McD joins (1/7/26) Leafs is exactly two years and 1 day past the last possible day AM is still a Leaf (30/6/24)
The two will never play for the same team outside of possibly an all-star game; or an NHL old timers game in the 2060’s