NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 13, 2021
Recaps of Monday’s action following the trade deadline, the stars of the week are revealed, the Kings re-sign Alex Iafallo, the Flyers re-up Scott Laughton, and much more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon extended his points streak to 10 games with a goal and an assist as the Colorado Avalanche held off the Arizona Coyotes 4-2. Mikko Rantanen scored twice for Colorado as they’ve won 16 of their last 19 contests. With 62 points, the Avalanche sit atop the Honda West Division and the NHL’s overall standings. The Coyotes (43 points) remain one point back of the fourth-place St. Louis Blues.
Vegas Golden Knights winger Max Pacioretty (NHL Images).
Vegas Golden Knights winger Max Pacioretty netted his 300th career NHL goal as his club scored four unanswered goals to beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-2. The Golden Knights remain four points behind the first-place Avs in the West Division.
A franchise-record 46-save shutout performance by Anthony Stolarz carried the Anaheim Ducks over the San Jose Sharks 4-0. Alexander Volkov scored two goals for the Kings. The loss leaves the Sharks (40 points) four points behind the Blues.
The Montreal Canadiens doubled up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to snap Leafs goalie Jack Campbell’s 11-game winning streak. Montreal winger Tomas Tatar scored twice while Leafs star Auston Matthews tallied his league-leading 32nd of the season. The Canadiens sit in fourth place in the Scotia North Division with 45 points, 14 back of the first-place Leafs.
Ottawa Senators winger Brady Tkachuk tallied two goals in a 4-2 upset of the Winnipeg Jets. Senators forward Connor Brown extended his goal-scoring streak to eight games. The Jets remain in second place in the North with 53 points.
An overtime goal by Brandon Hagel gave the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Patrik Laine scored twice for the Jackets, who sit eight points behind the fourth-place Nashville Predators in the Discover Central Division. The fifth-place Blackhawks, meanwhile, sit just two points back of the Predators.
The Detroit Red Wings spoiled the 1,000th career NHL game of Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal by dropping the Hurricanes 3-1. Wings goaltender Jonathan Bernier made 37 saves as his teammates tallied three third-period goals. The loss leaves the Hurricanes tied with the Tampa Bay Lighting with 58 points but the latter holds first place in the Central Division on the basis of wins.
The NHL postponed Monday’s game between the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild. The game is rescheduled for May 12.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz are the three stars for the week ending April 11, 2021.
LOS ANGELES TIMES: The Kings signed forward Alex Iafallo to a four-year contract extension worth an annual average value of $4 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Contract talks between the Kings and Iafallo went through most of Monday before an agreement was reached before the 3 pm ET trade deadline. Having traded long-time veteran forward Jeff Carter to Pittsburgh, the Kings cleared sufficient cap room to keep the 27-year-old Iafallo as they continue their rebuild.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers signed forward Scott Laughton to a five-year contract extension worth an annual salary-cap hit of $3 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like Iafallo, Laughton’s contract talks carried on until close to the trade deadline. Both players were considered potential trade candidates if their respective teams failed to re-sign them before the 3 pm ET deadline. This is an affordable signing by the Flyers, retaining a versatile, energetic 26-year-old player who could help them rebound from this difficult season going forward.
WIVB.COM: Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said Jack Eichel will remain sidelined for a while. The Sabres captain has been out since March 7 with an upper-body injury. With 15 games remaining, this could be season-ending for Eichel.
THE ORANGE COUNTRY REGISTER: Anaheim Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm could miss the remainder of the season with a fractured wrist suffered on Feb. 27 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Branden Tanev could be sidelined for the rest of the regular season with an undisclosed injury.
OTTAWA SUN: The Senators claimed defenseman Victor Mete off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens.
NJ.COM: The Dallas Stars claimed blueliner Sami Vatanen off waivers from the New Jersey Devils.
I believe Connor Brown is the Brown from the Sens that is scoring like mad. I know it can be confusing because the Sens have so many Browns.
Hi JJB
Yeah I think Connor Brown has goals in 8 (maybe 7?) straight games
In a way , the Senators probably wish it has been Logan Brown. If he doesn’t get in some games in the last 13 he’s likely gone in the off season.
I see Mete was inserted in the line-up straight away – bit surprising as I thought Bernard-Docker might get a look against a top team, although I must say Mete fitted in quite well. The guy does have wheels – as does the rest of what’s left of the Senators D. No statues left as all used last night can skate – as can Bernard-Docker and Thompson … and Sanderson who’s going back to college for 1 more year.
I wish Mete well, George, and yes he does have wheels. Just manage your expectations. His short comings will become apparent and while the difference between Reilly and Mete isn’t huge you will surely see it shortly – no pun intended.
I believe you’re bang on LJ … which is why I say I was a bit surprised that he was thrust into the line-up right off. To me, after moving out 3 D the last 2 days I saw the Mete claim as a purely depth move for the balance of this season and that the team would be better served seeing how Bernard-Docker, Thompson and Brannstrom stack up against NHL opposition.
Looking at the differences between Reilly and Mete from a purely statistical aspect, I don’t see much f a future for Mete here. All indications are that, if Dorion is going to make a big move in the off season it will be designed to use his cap advantage to bring in a Top 4 D from a team needing to clear space to sign RFAs and/or UFAs they wish to retain.
Reilly – 6′ 1″ 200 lbs turns 28 in July – taken in the 4th round 89th overall – 244 NHL gp 8g 64a 72 pts which works out to a seasonal average of 24 pts – he’s been a – D-man 6 times in his career
Mete – 5′ 9″ 184lbs – turns 23 in June – picked in 4th rd 100th overall – 186 NHL gp 4g 30a 34 pts which works out to a seasonal average of 15 pts per season – has never been a – D-man at any stage of his career.
George,
You’re going to love Mete, he has a lot more than wheels.
He has high hockey IQ
He has an excellent gap
He has an active stick
He carries the puck well and never gets caught up ice.
He has a consistent game, no peaks or valleys.
He has no shot
He is unable to be physical in front of the net or corners.
He usually comes up with the puck in the corner though.
He needs a big physical partner, his best hockey in Mtl was with Weber. IMO that was also Weber’s best hockey.
I will admit openly that I hold a minority opinion about this fellow but you’ll see for yourself. I do see his shortcomings and mentioned them, but in the overall scheme they are offset by his talent.
I hope you’re right habfan30 … I’m prepared to be patient and it looks as though Dorion and Smith will give him a good shot.
I do recall seeing him a lot as a junior with London (a teammate of Formenton) against the ’67s and he certainly impressed then, And, as I pointed out, despite his small size for a D-man, he’s never been a minus player anywhere in his career. He certainly seems keen on being here from what I read in the Ottawa Sun.
Mac K and the Avs keep ploughing on; and Knights win again
I am really thinking that the Knights Avs series will be the best series of all 15 including the semis and finals
AM another goal 👍👍
Campbell streak over and sub-par performance by team 👎👎
Biggest single trade winner yesterday….. Stevie Y…. held all the cards…. drove up the price….. and winner winner chicken dinner….got a twofer , plus 1st and second, prime player flip is younger and better stats this year, saved closing in on $13M in out year cash commitments
Look what he build in TBay
His eye is on the long game and building for the future…
12 picks this year, 7 in first 3 rounds
In ‘21&’22 combined ….. total of 8 picks in first 2 rounds.
Has less than $33M committed next year
Has 11 RFAs …. 9 of which should be fairly easy and reasonably quick to re-sign
Will have buckets of space and flex next year for more side deals
Has fair chance of losing a minimally impactful player to Kraken w/o needing to do a side deal
Wings and Sens have bright futures
I think Detroit is in the infant stages of a total rebuild. Hard at o tell if their future is bright by simply amassing picks.
They have a few good pieces, but beyond those few it will be an ugly process going forward. I think they are 2-3 years at minimum from being out of the cellar.
Detroit isn’t exactly in the same category as the Sens , Rangers and Kings.
Hi CO
Concur
Sorry if I inferred sooner than that re Wings having a bright future
What I meant is that the building blocks and assets (eventually leading to roster players) are there… with a talented and proven visionary at the helm
For sure Sens and Rangers will be pressing at/near the top much sooner than Wings
I don’t see a tremendous window lag (Wings behind Kings)
In 5 years a Sens v Wings East Div finals ; and winner meeting Rangers in ECF… is certainly not an unfathomable outcome
I’m not as familiar (and therefore lack confidence in predicting down the road for) Kings
For sure in those years Pens will be rebuilding ; and Leafs better have (🤞🙏🤞🙏🤞🙏) won a cup in their window (‘22 – ‘24)
Ya, gonna take a while in Detroit. 2-3 years is optimistic IMO.
They could use a lottery ball to go their way too, not this year but next, and then the one after that.
Some super high end talent right at the top, at least that is how they look today.
Wright and Bedard.
Re “ Branden Tanev could be sidelined for the rest of the regular season with an undisclosed injury.”…. certainly not good to hear
Fingers crossed he returns sooner; but worst case, that he’s fully healthy and available for the full playoffs
Pens most man-games lost 🤬😡😭💩🤬😡😭💩
It’s odd how a player’s world can be turned upside down. There are big name players that have gone from stud to dud, but there are small names in the same position.
A couple of years ago he was a sought after puck moving defenceman who could quarterback a powerplay.
The Habs were actively trying to get him but couldn’t pry him away from Chicago and he went on to a 60 pt season. A dip the next year, trade to Calgary for a playoff run.
He parlayed that to a $3 million contract and proceeded to face plant.
The Habs picked up Erik Gustafsson yesterday for a 7th and 50% retained.
Do offensive defencemen like Gustafsson and Gostisbehere lose their mojo or does coaching stifle them.
I’m curious to see which Gustafsson the Habs get, it might give a boost to Gostisbehere’s career.
Petry is going to get the power play time so Gustafsson will not return to 60 point form. Offensive defencmen like most Offensive players get a big chunk of there points on the Power Play. Even McDavid, Draisaitl ect. A perfect example is Tyson Barrie. He was second to Morgan Reilly in power play time so his production took a nose dive and everyone says he’s finished. He goes to Edmonton where he’s once again the number 1 power play guy and surprise. It’s why everyone laughed at me this year when I took him in the hickey pool this year and said he was going to stink it up in Toronto. Same goes with forwards and the perception that because they are in there early 30’s they all of a sudden suck. Young guys start getting there power play time so there production drops. Early 30’s with the eating and exercise regiments that players have now is not old. It’s has everything to do with how that player is used.
Gustafsson is a better option than Mete or Oullette . He was brought in incase of injuries. He will be their #8 Dman .
Once Chariot is back it will be Merrill who will become there #6 Dman & Kulak will move to #7 all barring no more big injuries on the blue line.
Eight very capable NHL Dmen is not a hinderance during a condensed year.
Romanov is the smallest of the eight & he is built like a tank.
If Hall plays well and the Bruins want to sign him to a new contract one of the Bruins big ticket UFA ‘s won’t be back next season Rask or Krejci and have to believe it’s Rask that’s out …..don’t think any of these players will be looking for a team friendly deal
Chuck Fletcher is exactly like his old man, all sizzle and no steak …
Not to take away from Auston Matthews ability as a pure goal scorer, but I do have to question if the big guy lights the lamp as often this season if he doesn’t have Wizard Mitch creating the magic he does for Matthews???
That Matthews goal last night was all Marner, all Auston had to do was place his blade on the ice. Marner controlled the play, found the lane & the angle & shot the puck off of Matthews blade. Kinda Gretzky like, as he made 50 goal scores out of the guys who just stood by the net.
As a Habs fan I would take Mitch Marner on my team ahead of any other player on the Leafs roster.
You mean like his rookie year when he scored over 40 goals with limited power play time, minutes and mitch marner was with Tavares. Is that what you mean?
I have another question about the Habs – Leafs game last night.
When has it become acceptable for a player to choke up to the top of his stick & take a baseball swing at another player with his stick???
Is it only a penalty if contact is made???
Uwey,
NHL Official Rules- 2020-2021
Rule 61 – Slashing
61.1 Slashing – Slashing is the act of a player swinging his stick at an
opponent, whether contact is made or not.
Non-aggressive stick
contact to the pant or front of the shin pads, should not be penalized
as slashing. Any forceful or powerful chop with the stick on an
opponent’s body, the opponent’s stick, or on or near the opponent’s
hands that, in the judgment of the Referee, is not an attempt to play
the puck, shall be penalized as slashing
One more time congratulations to Milan Lucic on your 1,000 game tonight another of my long line of favorites that the Bruins moved out …. the legit power forward