NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 16, 2021
Recaps of Thursday’s action include milestones for Tuukka Rask and Nicklas Backstrom, the Canucks’ Friday game is postponed plus the latest on Steven Stamkos and Jack Eichel in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Taylor Hall scored his first goal with the Boston Bruins and Tuukka Rask picked up his 300th career NHL victory after returning from injury in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders. Brad Marchand scored twice for the Bruins, who sit fourth in the MassMutual East Division with 52 points. The Islanders are in second place with 58 points.
Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (NHL Images).
The Washington Capitals failed to widen their lead over the Isles as they were upset 5-2 by the Buffalo Sabres. Washington center Nicklas Backstrom picked up an assist in his 1,000th career NHL game. Anders Bjork had a goal and an assist for the Sabres. The Capitals remain atop the East with 60 points.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin picked up his second straight shutout over the New Jersey Devils with a 4-0 victory. Artemi Panarin scored two goals as the Rangers (48 points) remain four points behind the Bruins and two ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Speaking of the Flyers, they got shootout goals from Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1. Carter Hart kicked out 31 shots for the Flyers. The Penguins are in third place with 57 points, one back of the second-place Islanders.
The Carolina Hurricanes moved into first place in the Discover Central Division by downing the Nashville Predators 4-1. Andrei Svechnikov and Vincent Trocheck each had a goal and an assist to give the Hurricanes 60 points in the standings. The Predators, meanwhile, are in fourth place with 49 points.
An overtime goal by Victor Hedman gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers. Alex Killorn had a goal and an assist for Tampa Bay. The Lightning also announced they placed captain Steven Stamkos on long-term injury reserve with a lower-body injury retroactive to April 9. Tampa Bay also has 60 points but sits second in the Central on the basis of games played while the Panthers are one point behind them.
Jakub Vrana scored his first goal with the Detroit Red Wings as they upset the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. Troy Stecher also scored two goals for the Wings to extend their win streak to three games. The loss leaves the Blackhawks (45 points) four points behind the Predators.
The Dallas Stars kept their playoff hopes alive by dropping the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Denis Gurianov scored twice and collected an assist as the Stars are one point back of the Blackhawks.
Two-goal performances by Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connors carried the Winnipeg Jets to a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto center Auston Matthews missed the game with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day-to-day. The Jets (57 points) moved to within three points of the first-place Leafs in the Scotia North Division.
THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks’ scheduled game tonight against the Edmonton Oilers was postponed because of player preparation concerns. The Canucks last played on March 24 and their schedule was postponed on March 31 by COVID-19.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s speculation Saturday’s game could also be postponed. It wouldn’t surprise me if it takes another week before the Canucks can safely ice a healthy roster. This latest postponement came about after the players raised concerns with the NHLPA that they hadn’t fully recovered in time for Friday’s contest with the Oilers.
WGR 550: Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams denied reports claiming team captain Jack Eichel would soon undergo surgery to repair a season-ending herniated disk in his neck. He said Eichel will continue to rehab the injury and he’ll be reevaluated in May.
If I was 10 again and was watching last night’s Leafs game I might have said ….. “uh oh, Spaghettios “…. the downfall of Leafs has started
That’s because a 10 year old lives in the here and now and is blind to dips/valleys that happen
This is a dip…. was a bad performance; but this dip won’t last so all good
Carter Hart… 😡🤬💩…. would like to have had him keep his poor play continue…. but that didn’t happen. Great saves at either end 👍👍👍
Still not a fan of low scoring games
Got a point when Isles and Caps last st in reg 👍👍
If you didn’t see it… try snd watch the clip of Sid’s goal.,, the goal itself was not the spectacular part…. the Goal AND assist by Sid’s sticks (on the same goal… I’d never seen it before) ; AND his lending his stick; then absolutely booting to get another with equipment manager leaning way out over boards; stick hand off while Sid’s going high 20’s MPH; then zipping to net…, that’s the highlight… take a look if you get the chance
Only 2 games in from the trade deadline but it looks like Sweeny’s moves made a massive difference in the teams play. Lazar has been awesome energizing the 4th line. Reilly looks like Ott screwed up moving him. Smart high percentage plays great in all 3 zones. On to Hall. What a difference in his overall play from his first to second game. Once he gets used to the system and playing with Smith and DK that line may be just as dangerous as the first line. His speed on that line is refreshing. What a goal for his first in a Bruins uniform. This is a different team the life theses additions have added is so much fun to watch. Reminiscent of 2011 with the physicality as well. Once they get Carlo back and if they can stay healthy I see no reason they can’t do some serious damage in the playoffs. Looks like Buffalo didn’t do too bad with Bjork racking up a goal and assist to help them beat the caps. But on to tonight NYI are gonna bring it so they better be ready we need to rack up wins from those games in hand.
It wasn’t a question of “screwing up” when it came to moving Reilly, Bergyboyzzz. Probably more a question of sounding out he and his agent as to what they expect to get in term and cap hit when he becomes a UFA at season’s end over and above his current $1.5 mil, and deciding they didn’t want to go that high and that long.
Not only does Dorion have to settle with his RFAs Tkachuk, Batherson, Amadio, Zub, Mete and Hogberg, he has a fairly decent D depth corps in Chabot, Zaitsev, Zub, Josh Brown, Brannstrom, Bernard-Docker, Mete, Thompson, Jake Sanderson, Alsim, Tychonick and Guenette.
Over the course of whatever term Reilly and his agent might be seeking, several of the foregoing not yet in the NHL will – hopefully – be pushing for jobs. So moving a pending UFA now is a lot easier than trying to later move one who turns 28 in July and who could be in the midst of a 4 or 5 year deal paying closer to $3 mil per when roster room needs to be cleared.
I liked Reilly’s game – and I believe Smith and Dorion did too – but once the decision to move him was made, at least he went to a team that needed immediate help on the blue line. I hope he and Boston go very deep in the playoffs … and I believe they can.
Yes I knew all that not sure how much he’s looking to get paid next yr but this was definitely a steal for the bruins. Kid really developed well under Ott coaching staff. He owes them a lot of credit for getting him over the curve into the next level.
Never underestimate the Isles ability to screw Rangers whenever possible.
The Maple Loaves lost night, the sky is falling …
and you Bruins fans are more wishy washy than a do it yourself car wash … it brightens my morning reading your flip flopping here, thank you
Carolinas best line last night was Staal, Foegle and Niederreiter.
Staal doesn’t get the recognition he deserves in the Selke voting. This years format will probably make it worse. BrindAmour won it a couple of times but Jordan Staal is the best defensive forward to ever put on a hurricanes jersey.
If I am Bergevin I would be seriously watching Eichel’s recovery and if complete offer Suzuki and KK plus if necessary a draft pick for Eichel. I would also resign Danault to retain some strength up the middle.
Not sure whether that is brilliance, desperation or frustration (well … there is a ton of frustration) but it gives the Habs a 25 year old established offensive center – the unicorn they have been vainly pursuing – whilst the Sabres get two young and promising centers who would help with their rebuild.
It does risk letting at least one gem go but do Suzuki and KK struggle again next year to hit their stride? At some point with Price and Weber’s age and unmoveable contracts have to be factored in.
My only pause point would be Eichel’s durability as he has yet to finish a complete season.
That is not even close to enough for Eichel, not even half way there with that offer. 2 unproven bottom 6 Cs. Please be serious if you wish to be taken seriously. MTL has no top line talent to offer for a superstar calibre player.
Plus Eichel won’t be happy going from one sinking ship to another and would demand a trade from Mtl back to US.
Not a spine injury expert LJ, but a herniated disk seems like an injury that can persist/come back.
Hope not for his sake.
LJ.
You need to consider Eichel’s $10 million cap hit for 5 more years after this one and need to send not KK and Armia but guys like Drouin, Anderson, Toffoli, or Price.
Crazier things have been offered up. The Habs offered their entire 1984 draft year to the Penguins for the rights to draft Mario Lemieux and it was agreed till the Penguins made a last minute ask, the #1 1985 pick and Serge Savard backed out.
ughh, mean KK and Suzuki. not Armia.
For the second time this week Zack Hyman swings his stick high at an opponent & only a fine to be had!!!!
NHL is regressing violence wise.
I agree that Hyman was wrong in the play and he should be accountable more than what he got. Having said that, NHL should also look into Pionk and his usage of his lumber. To whack a guy two handed on the back side of the legs where there is virtually no protection should also be looked on as possible attempt to injure. The league should set a rule where the usage of sticks should be limited in a vulnerable places, this will eliminate players like Hyman retaliating in the first place.