NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 5, 2021
Alex Ovechkin reaches more scoring milestones, the Wild and Rangers extend their points streaks, plus updates on Igor Shesterkin, Mitch Marner, Charlie McAvoy and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Alex Ovechkin scored his 750th career goal and his 118th game-winner as the Washington Capitals downed the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1. He’s now 16 goals behind Jaromir Jagr for third place on the all-time goal-scoring list, tied for third with Phil Esposito for the most game-winning goals, and tied with Jagr, Marcel Dionne, Brett Hull and Mats Sundin for the third-most consecutive 20-goal seasons. The Capitals played without Trevor van Riemsdyk, joining teammate Nic Dowd in COVID protocol.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).
Kirill Kaprizov’s shootout goal lifted the Minnesota Wild over the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3, extending their winning streak to six games while snapping the Leafs’ five-game streak. The Wild (35 points) hold a seven-point lead over the St. Louis Blues for first place in the Central Division. Jason Spezza scored twice and added an assist as the Leafs overcame a 3-0 deficit. Leafs winger Mitch Marner missed this game following a collision in practice with teammate Jake Muzzin. He’s also expected to miss Sunday’s contest with the Winnipeg Jets.
The New York Rangers picked up their sixth straight victory by holding off the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2. Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome each had a goal and two assists while Alexandar Georgiev picked up the win with a 25-save performance. Earlier in the day, the Rangers placed goaltender Igor Shesterkin (lower body) on injured reserve. Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane and Seth Jones each had two points.
Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart’s shootout goal gave his club a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Blues, marking the third straight game the Panthers overcame a deficit to claim victory. Maxim Mamin tallied twice for the Panthers while Blues goalie Ville Husso made 48 saves. With 37 points, the Panthers return to first place in the overall standings.
Jake Guentzel extended his points streak to 12 games with a hat trick and an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists and Kris Letang chipped in three helpers. The Canucks sit at the bottom of the Pacific Division with 18 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks fans expressed their displeasure late in the game by calling for general manager Jim Benning to be fired. Whether the club’s ownership takes them up on their suggestion remains to be seen.
The Tampa Bay Lightning nipped the Boston Bruins 3-2 on an overtime goal by Steven Stamkos. Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy kicked out 37 shots for the win. The Bruins forced the extra frame on goals by Charlie Coyle and Curtis Lazar. Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy missed the game with a non-COVID-related illness.
An overtime goal by Moritz Seider lifted the Detroit Red Wings over the New York Islanders 4-3, leaving the latter winless in 10 straight games. Oliver Wahlstrom tallied twice for the Isles while the Wings have won five straight.
The Ottawa Senators blew a 5-2 lead but an overtime goal by Brady Tkachuk gave them a 6-5 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle each scored twice and added an assist.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Teuvo Teravainen scored twice and Vincent Trocheck had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 drubbing of the Buffalo Sabres. Sebastian Aho collected three assists for the Hurricanes as they snapped a three-game losing skid. Carolina winger Andrei Svechnikov was a late scratch with an injured finger.
Filip Forsberg’s overtime goal gave the Nashville Predators a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Predator forward Luke Kunin had a goal and an assist. Canadiens goalie Jake Allen stopped 40 shots while teammate Cole Caufield had two assists. Earlier in the day, the Canadiens claimed defenseman Kale Clague off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. They’re also rumored to have player agent Kent Hughes on their radar as a potential general manager candidate though they haven’t yet contacted him about the job.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes is a bilingual Montreal native whose clients include Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron and Penguins defenseman Kris Letang.
When you’ve got team full of ahlers and not very good ones at that what can expect against the Lightning?!? The day I wake up and no longer see the likes of Anton Blidh and Karson Kuhlman etc. Is the day this team will be ready for a long run in the playoffs . Sweeney’s last season, count on it. Sweeney’s next trade will be his defining moment and it better be something for the ages.
Not a good take, Rick.
We’ve outplayed everyone We’ve faced. Just aren’t burying the puck.
Everything will be fine. Hang in there.
This team will be in last place before end of January.They are terrible.
Bruins lose one game in a row and the sky is falling … win two in a row and start planning the parade …
Ed, he’s talking about the Bruins…not the Leafs.
FD parade route already planned I can send you a box of crayons so you can plan your team”s…or….never mind.
Hey Ron, how bout a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re gonna get…unless it’s the playoffs and you know what you’re gonna get with the Leafs.
I’ve been let down to many years to trust this team.
I hope I am wrong this year!……..(echo)
Looking at their accomplishments over their careers, I’d say both of Kent Hughes’ clients, Letang and Bergeron, have been underpaid for years. Perhaps, that would lead the Canadiens to believe that Hughes as general manager would bring them a value-packed roster. Perhaps, it would cause them to glamorize him as a candidate that could convince his clients to become Canadiens after this season, when they become UFAs. Perhaps, though, underselling his clients means only that Hughes is a poor negotiator in either of the languages he speaks. That’s not a good thing for a team about to rebuild.
If the Habs are “rumored” to be thinking of Hughes based on his being from Montreal and living in the Boston area, I’ll throw another hat in the ring.
Alex Lafreniere’s agent is a Montrealer, played college hockey, has degrees in both Finance and Law. Interned with the Habs before the Bergevin years.
Gorton knows Émilie Castonguay and would strike a marker for diversification.
Benning and green are gone replaced by Bruce boudreau.