NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 3, 2021
The Lightning edged the Red Wings, Connor McDavid closes in on 100 points, three former Blue Jackets talk about their time with the club, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in Sunday’s only game. Blake Coleman had a goal and an assist while goaltender Christopher Gibson picked up his first NHL win since 2017-18. The Lightning are tied with the Florida Panthers with 73 points but hold second place in the Discover Central Division with a game in hand.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images)
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is just 13 points away from reaching 100 points with seven games left in the club’s regular-season schedule. McDavid, however, isn’t concerned about whether he’ll reach that number by season’s end.
“Personally, it’s a number,” said McDavid. “Obviously, it’d be kind of different to be able to do it in a shortened season, but I’m not going to change anything. I’m just going to keep playing my game, and if I get there, I get there. And if not, whatever.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Given McDavid’s low-key personality, we shouldn’t be surprised that he’s downplaying this. It’s a milestone for this season that he’d probably like to reach but he’s not going to lose sleep over it if he doesn’t. Nevertheless, it would put a nice exclamation point on this NHL season if he can do it.
THE ATHLETIC (subscription required): Aaron Portzline interviewed three former members of the Columbus Blue Jackets over their experiences. The city and the club are getting a worrying reputation as a place no one wants to play for after several high-profile players departed via free agency and trades.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: An interesting piece about the team and of the city as a hockey town. The players were mostly positive about their time with the Jackets. However, they felt the club’s hardball approach to contract negotiations with restricted free agents contributed to the recent departures of several former teammates.
Speaking of the Jackets, they signed 2020 first-round pick Yegor Chinakhov to a three-year entry-level contract.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars face some questions as their playoff math for this season becomes more difficult. They must decide if it’s worthwhile for Tyler Seguin to return to the lineup after missing the entire season thus far recovering from offseason hip surgery. Meanwhile, Roope Hintz is battling a lower-body injury that could require surgery when this season is over.
TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl will miss tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens after taking a puck to the mouth during Saturday’s win over the Vancouver Canucks.
NEW YORK POST: It appears the Rangers and Islanders played their final game at Nassau Coliseum. The Isles will be moving to their new arena at Belmont Park next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It will be the final game unless the Rangers somehow manage to overtake the fourth-place Boston Bruins in the MassMutual East Division. With the Bruins (66 points) sitting eight points ahead with two games in hand, I don’t like the Blueshirts’ chances.
OTTAWA SUN: The Senators’ 3-2 loss to the Canadiens on Saturday officially eliminated them from playoff contention.
Heh. Before the season started – and certainly after the first 15 games – most of us, if not all of us, thought the Senators would be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs long before their final 6 games.
I dont know if anyone mentioned anything other than not finishing better than last but I’m wondering if the Nucks finish lower than them. Ottawa is playing good, Vancouver on the other hand isn’t and with their schedule being what it is, I’d bet the Sens finish ahead of them at this point.
George, I remember everyone talking about Ottawa being dead last and Montreal winning the off-season, whatever that means. I guess there’s a reason they actually play the games.
Well fcl, after their first 15 games they were exactly that – dead last – with a record of 2 12 1 5pts 32gf 63ga for a -31 and a 0.167 winning %
Since then, following a series of roster moves, they’ve gone 17 15 4 38 pts 109gf 114ga for a -5 and a winning % of 0.528.
Now they sit 26th out of 31 and could move up another couple of slots before it ends. Overall they now rank 18th in the league in terms of goals for, and for goals against there are now 7 teams with worse records and 4 others within reach.
As I said the other day, had they just been able to forge a .500 record against Edmonton, they’d be in the playoff hunt. But at least the signs are encouraging. Now if Mr. Melnyk can stay in his Caribbean reserve and allow Dorion to do what is necessary in the off season, they will be a much improved opponent next season. Playoffs? Probably not yet … but with the right additions it could be very close.
The Rangers would have to win their final 4 games, with at least 2 of them not requiring a shootout, and the Bruins would have to lose their final 6 in regulation. Yeah, I don’t like their chances either.
It’s a shame NY started so bad this year. They had a much better 2nd half , as they did last year prior to the lock down.
They have a ton of cap space coming there way and a few solid D-men in the pipeline that will get a look next year. Lundkvist being on the top of that list. And another top 15 pick coming there way.
It is probably time to walk away from Quinn. And I don’t think they need to look further than than AHL squad that took over for a few games in the NHL staffs absence.
Love the way Kravstov looks already. May be time to shuffle some wingers out the door. Buchnevich? Don’t think they need to tie him up more than a year or two.
Their way, not there way! Ooops.
Now that the playoff teams are almost set. I was wondering how last year divisional playoff teams faired this season as far as making the playoffs
the following divisional playoff teams made it this season
Met Div
Wash
Pitts
Car
Nyi
Atl Div
Bos
TB
Tor
Fld
Mtl
Cen Div
St.L
Col
Nash
Wpg
Min
Pac
Veg
Edm
Pacific only has 2 but one of them certainly could be holding Lord Stanley at the end of the day.
Columbus should get the great much needed shot in the arm to make them a much more desirable team to play for when tortorella is given his pink slip at the end of the season. Blue Jacket fans deserve this and hopefully this team deliver.
As for players reportedly mostly positive about their time with the Jackets, smart players don’t burn their bridges. Look at Foligno – praising a team (whether deservedly or not) and city that he could very well sign with again at the end of this season.