NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 26, 2021
The Penguins move into first place in the East, Mika Zibanejad helps the Rangers keep their playoff hopes alive, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines
NHL.COM: Jake Guentzel scored the only goal as the Pittsburgh Penguins blanked the Boston Bruins 1-0. Tristan Jarry kicked out 30 shots for the shutout as the Penguins took over first place in the MassMutual East Division with 67 points, one up on the Washington Capitals. The Bruins, meanwhile, are in fourth place with 60 points.
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).
A hat trick by Mika Zibanejad carried the New York Rangers over the Buffalo Sabres 6-3. Kaapo Kakko scored twice and Adam Fox collected three assists as the Rangers sit four points back of the Bruins in fifth place.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers are hanging in there in the East but the Bruins have two games in hand.
Victor Hedman’s overtime goal gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Brayden Point collected three assists and Ondrej Palat had a goal and two assists for the Lightning (66 points), who move within one point of the second-place Florida Panthers in the Discover Central Division. Eric Robinson scored twice for the Jackets.
The Philadelphia Flyers edged the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on a shootout goal by Kevin Hayes. Claude Giroux scored twice in the third period to tie the game. The Flyers played without defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere as he’s sidelined 7-10 days with a sprained knee. The Devils are winless (0-9-1) in their last 10 games.
NBC SPORTS: Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle moved into second place on the NHL’s Ironman list after playing his 915th career game on Saturday. Doug Jarvis is the leader with 964 games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yandle has 7 more regular-season games remaining this season. After that, he’ll need 43 games next season to break Jarvis’ record.
NESN: David Backes spoke about retirement being a probability. The 36-year-old Anaheim Ducks winger’s contract expires at the end of this season. He’s in the midst of his 15th season, with four points in 14 games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Backes was a strong two-way forward in his prime with seven 40-plus point seasons on his resume. The first 10 years of his career were his best, all with the St. Louis Blues. Age and injuries, however, caught up with Backes in recent years.
NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: The Blackhawks signed defenseman Riley Stillman to a three-year contract with an annual average value of $1.35 million. He was acquired in a trade with the Florida Panthers earlier this month.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stillman, 23, is a physical defenseman who struggled to crack the Panthers’ blueline. The Blackhawks, however, are impressed enough with his play thus far to make an affordable investment in his future. His new contract won’t break the bank for the Hawks, who have $73.4 million invested in 19 players for 2021-22 (stick tap to Cap Friendly). They’ll get cap relief if needed with Brent Seabrook ($6.875 million) on permanent long-term injury reserve.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators forward Artem Anisimov was nearly pressed into service as an emergency goaltender during their game on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks after Anton Forsberg and Matt Murray were sidelined by injuries. Marcus Hogberg finished the game for the Senators.
LE JOURNAL DE MONTREAL: Former Canadien Gilles Lupien has been given only five months to live in his battle with intestinal cancer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Lupien and his family. He spent five seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Hartford Whalers from 1977-78 to 1981-82, winning two Stanley Cups with the Canadiens. He became a player agent, representing such notables as Roberto Luongo, Corey Crawford and Sean Couturier.
Re…Mikko Z …. first 27 games this season …. 11 points, minus 5
Last 22 games …. 34 points (1.55 PPG) and PLUS 13
I call that turning things around 👍👍
Pens/Bruins…. not a fan of very low scoring games…. great performances though by 2 goaltenders 👍👍
Certainly glad with the outcome; but this could also have gone 1-0 the other way or ended in OT; either team winning
Great Sid/Guentz connection on goal 👍👍👍
For Tuesday’s game ; I think that Swayman played so well yesterday ; that a nice gesture by Cassidy would be to give the Anchorage lad the night off…. I fully support Cassidy if he so choses to do this. You know what…. the Perfection line has worked very hard recently…. Cassidy, let them have the night off as well 👍👍
Bolts…. Point gets 3 primary assists including setting up the OT winner 10 seconds into OT; and not even one of the 3 stars??
With the exception of about ten minutes of the third the bruins were awfull, why does Coyle keep getting a free pass? They have to sit him I’d also like to see Debrusk ride the pine but, then again if they did that they might send up Kulhman or Zachary again those two are useless. The only bright spot , the play of Swayman if it wasn’t for him it could have easily have been 4-0 or more. I’m getting that Oh oh feeling again. Car 54 Where are you?
Pengy, Zib had a well publicized case of covid that seemed to have lingering effects. Wasn’t as much a case of “turning it around” as just getting back to normal.
Thanks Slick
Had completely forgotten about that
Certainly doing well now 👍👍
Yessss. Go Penguins!
Here we go Bruins fans, my Pens shut you down so I guess it’s time to trade everybody again not named Pasternak, Marchand or McAvoy …
Hahaha. Good one, Ed.
Yuck ,yuck yeh good one Eddie When I read that this morning I almost Guffawed myself right off my stratolounger! if the bruins don’t win Tuesday I’ll eat my day glow jockey shorts!
Pen the game was a good was low scoring zero penalties until late in game and don’t get me wrong it probably didn’t change out come but last game Crosby does chicken and now Jake wow actors. If this is a first round matchup I think I like it should make for great hockey as long as leave the theater out of it but I guess the oscars were on last night not that I would ever watch that crap. Swayman is the real deal wow the kid is calm and smooth future looks bright for Bruins Tenders.
The game itself was boring. Not much happening; Penguins had the better chances and seem to want the puck more then the Bruins.
The amount of hockey these guys are playing it just waters down the game.
Good thing for most not paying to watch these games.
Coach should start sitting guys if nothing more then giving them a rest. Mental fatigue has set in.
maybe the best retirement announcement I have ever seen or heard
a player you love as a team mate and hate to play against
https://twitter.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1386666392422948868?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1386666392422948868%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tsn.ca%2Fchicago-blackhawks-andrew-shaw-retires-at-age-29-1.1629872