NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 1, 2021
The Hurricanes remain perfect, Ryan Getzlaf becomes the Ducks’ all-time scoring leader and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes remain the NHL’s only undefeated teams by nipping the Arizona Coyotes 2-1. The Hurricanes extend their franchise-best season-opening win streak to eight straight games (8-0-0) Brett Pesce’s power-play goal late in the third period snapped a 1-1 tie. The Coyotes still seek their first win of the season with a league-worst 0-8-1 record.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not to belittle the Hurricanes’ impressive start but they feasted on rebuilding clubs (Coyotes), struggling teams (Leafs, Bruins, Islanders) and god-awful ones (Canadiens, Blackhawks) in October. They’ll face a tougher test in November with the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals on the calendar.
Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf (NHL Images).
Ryan Getzlaf collected an assist on Troy Terry’s game-winning goal to become the Anaheim Ducks’ all-time leading scorer (989 points) as his club doubled up the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. Adam Henrique, Kevin Shattenkirk and Cam Fowler each collected two points. Before the games, the Ducks placed Jakob Silfverberg on COVID protocol and announced Rickard Rakell is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
The floundering Canadiens are off to their worst start (2-8-0) since 1941-42. Cedric Paquette was ejected from this game for boarding Ducks center Trevor Zegras. The Habs also announced forward Mathieu Perreault has been sidelined with an eye injury for two-three weeks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Getzlaf on his achievement. He’s now just 11 points away from reaching the 1,000-point milestone. As for the Canadiens, they have no excuses for their poor performance. Yes, they’re missing Carey Price and Shea Weber while their depth at center remains an issue, but they lack the effort that got them to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.
The New York Rangers (6-2-1) picked up their fifth straight road victory by dropping the Seattle Kraken 3-1. Igor Shesterkin made 31 saves for the win, Adam Fox snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period and Barclay Goodrow had a goal and an assist. Jordan Eberle tallied for the Kraken.
Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist as the Los Angeles Kings overcame a 2-0 deficit to squeak past the Buffalo Sabres 3-2. Jonathan Quick (22 saves) picked up his first win of the season. Before the game, the Kings placed Viktor Arvidsson and Gabriel Vilardi in COVID protocol.
The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on a shootout goal by Jakub Voracek. Joonas Korpisalo kicked out 36 shots in regulation and overtime for the Jackets while Patrik Laine had a goal and an assist. P.K. Subban collected two assists for the Devils.
HEADLINES
THE ATHLETIC: Kyle Beach and his lawyer will be meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. Beach filed a lawsuit against the club over their handling of the sexual assault allegations against former video coach Bradley Aldrich in 2010. Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz instructed the club’s lawyers to see if they can reach “a fair resolution consistent with the totality of the circumstances.” The Blackhawks filed a motion last week to dismiss Beach’s case but the club indicated it was simply a procedural move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks’ motion could be a requirement in order to reach a settlement with Beach. We’ll see how things transpire in the coming weeks.
TRIBLIVE.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins placed defenseman Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel in COVID protocol.
STLTODAY.COM: The Blues did the same with goaltender Ville Husso.
THE SCORE: Minnesota Wild forward Brandon Duhaime won’t face supplemental discipline for cross-checking Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram on Saturday. He received a five-minute major penalty and a 10-minute game misconduct.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Speaking of the Wild, prospect Marco Rossi is thankful to be alive and playing hockey again after complications from COVID-19 earlier this year threatened his career and his life.
I think there’s a little belittling going on here. Canes have beaten Leafs and Preds, who both have same winning pct. as Vegas. Bruins, Isles and Blue Jackets all have better winning pct. than Tampa. Carolina has a good young team and along with Florida could’ be teams to beat in East.
No belittling at all, Slick. The Leafs, Preds, Bruins, Isles and Blue Jackets did not have the winning pctgs they do now when they lost to the Hurricanes. Or did you miss the wailing and gnashing of teeth over the Leafs coming out of Toronto only a week ago? Or certain Bruins fans giving themselves bruises jumping on and off the bandwagon in October?
I’m certainly not dismissing them as a force to be reckoned with in the East. I’ve been saying as much over the last two seasons.
It’s early. I still think the usual suspects will be in the hunt in the end. I don’t see Buffalo keeping up. Vegas at .500 could get worse before they get better depending on Eichel trade.
I don’t think Lyle or anyone else expects the Canes to go 82-0. They’ve beaten the teams that a good team SHOULD beat. Now let’s see how they’ll do against the teams a good team MUST beat.
I agree Slick62 … NHL history is replete with good teams that blew chances at finishing high in the standings by playing down to the level of their opposition early in the season and dropping points to the dregs.
Carolina is taking care of business. As for those teams on their looming schedule, each has also played games so far against early struggling teams – and have lost a few in the process.
Meanwhile, Frederik Andersen – now playing for half a million per less per year than his previous contract – has won 7 games while running up a sparkling 1.29gaa and a save % of 0.956, including a SO.
Will that likely continue as the season wears on? Of course not … but I’d bet dollars to donuts that, when the season ends, his stats will be among the best in the league.
As a die hard Carolina Hurricanes fan we are used to not getting any respect. 8-0-0 start by any standard is a great achievement. November schedule will be a better test but I think we’ll do o.k. Of course being a southern team puts us at a disadvantage because only the best teams come from Canada…..oh….did I say that?
snuffy1953 – usually only when there’s 1 team representing Canada which collects together the best of the best. 🙂
Nothing is certain and season starting records aren’t guarantees of season ending standings.
case in point 2015-2016 the Habs were 9-0 out of the gate and missed the playoffs.
Last year Montreal went 7-2-1 in their first ten. Had they started 2-8-0 they would have been on the outside looking in.
I don’t buy that the beginning of the season doesn’t matter. The only time a late season game is more meaningful than games 1-10 is if you had a lapse somewhere during the season and are making a push to make it up.
That’s why they play 82 games. The 1st is as meaningful as the last.
I hear you CaptainObvious. Last season – in a shortened schedule – Ottawa started 2-12-1 in their first 15 and, in the end, that ensured a rebuilding team would not qualify for the playoffs, despite going 21 16 4 over the last 41 of the 56 game schedule – a record in that span that was as good as several of the top teams.
Yeah, there will be some who will shrug that off as a bottom-feeder responding to no pressure. Which is ridiculous because we’re not talking the last 12-15 games of a regular season where that has happened often, but 41 games but 3/4 of that season.
Captain Obvious,
Who said the beginning of the season doesn’t matter???
If arguing is so important to you at least deal with what is actually said, which was, the beginning of the season record is no guarantee of season ending standings.
Slumps can happen at any point, injuries can happen at any point, organizational indiscretions can come up at any point, internal dissension can appear at any point.
Well by saying it guarantees nothing means?
I’d rather have Carolinas 8-0-0 start, Florida’s 8-0-1 start than Arizona’s 0-8-1 start, Montreal’s 2-8-0 start or Chicago’s 0-7-2 start!
What does a slow start guarantee? That you now not only have to at some point start winning at a pace of .700 plus and hope and pray the teams in front of you fall under .500?
I don’t think teams have the same mindset as “it guarantees nothing” attitude toward a quick / good start.
Sure, I think coaches don’t want to get too cocky about a great start, but they aren’t staying up late at night worried about what may happen 3 months from now. I’m positive, given the choice they’ll take the hot start.
Well, Captain Obvious, how did that exchange with Habfan30 work for you?
Did you realize that by having the mere temerity to reply with a different view you were arguing?
Others here might have interpreted you as engaging, debating, countering, rejoining, corresponding, rebutting or replying.
Still, we should count our blessings with the ever delicate, ever imperious Habfan30. At least this time he was just disagreeable and didn’t give us his legal pronouncements.
Yeah, lesson learned.
Sometimes I wish there was a block user feature on this site. Habsfool30 would be the 1st for me.
One thing is certain is that while there are no guarantees, starting the season on the right foot makes it easier the rest of the way through because you now have those banked points to fall back on while starting on a bad foot makes it much harder to come back when you are already behind on points.
Yes, there are also ups and downs throughout the season for some, but not all, and while anything can affect the final result clearly an opening stretch good or bad will more than likely play a huge part for any team fighting to make the playoffs in the final games.
Captain Obvious,
You continue to provide red herrings in your need to argue against the obvious statement:
“season starting records aren’t guarantees of season ending standings.”
Red herrings? Lmao. I give up buddy! You’re right. I’m sure at the end of the year Carolina will be dead last and Arizona and Montreal will be fighting it out for the presidents trophy game 82.
George O has frequently mentioned the Senator’s poor start and strong finish to buttress different positions.
Today being no different:
“Ottawa started 2-12-1 in their first 15 and, in the end, that ensured a rebuilding team would not qualify for the playoffs, despite going 21 16 4 over the last 41 of the 56 game schedule – a record in that span that was as good as several of the top teams.”
Ahead of 8 other teams in the league.
I would propose that’s a very good example of my statement that “season starting records aren’t guarantees of season ending standings.”
I would propose that if the season went to 82 games, the Senators strong kick could have gotten the team into the playoffs, with momentum.
Citing an exception to the way it generally works out for teams is definitely an example of your statement that there are no guarantees but the doesn’t make it the more likely or even an on average outcome.
TheFlyingV,
St. Louis Blues lost 7 of their first 10 games, last place in January and won the Stanley Cup in 2019.
There are quite a few exceptions with fast and slow starts not having the “expected” outcomes.
As you said,
“One thing is certain is that while there are no guarantees, starting the season on the right foot makes it easier the rest of the way”
Los Angeles Kings 2011-12 6-2-2
Chicago Blackhawks 2012-13 8-0-2
Los Angeles Kings 2013-14 6-4-0
Chicago Blackhawks 2014-15 6-3-1
Pittsburgh Penguins 2015-16 6-4-0
Pittsburgh Penguins 2016-17 7-2-1
Washington Capitals 2017-18 4-5-1
St. Louis Blues 2018-19 3-4-3
Tampa Bay Lightning 2019-20 5-3-2
Tampa Bay Lightning 2020-21 8-1-1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5jNnDMfxA
Whether or not the Carolina Hurricanes make the playoffs or go all the way or whatever – I choose to live in the moment. Right now things are good. It’s kind of like when I play poker and get dealt 2 aces in a Texas Holdem game. They don’t necessarily guarantee a win after all the cards are dealt but it sure felt good when I got them. 8-0-0