NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 26, 2022

by | Jan 26, 2022 | News, NHL | 32 comments

Keith Yandle sets Ironman record but Flyers woes continue, the Panthers regain first place in the overall standings, injury updates for Erik Karlsson and Jason Zucker, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle set the NHL Ironman record by appearing in his 965th consecutive game but his club endured a franchise-record 13th straight loss by falling 4-3 to the New York Islanders. Zach Parise snapped a 3-3 tie in the third period for the Islanders.

Philadelphia Flyers defeneman Keith Yandle (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Yandle on his record-setting achievement. It’s among the few bright spots in a miserable season for the Flyers. Their ongoing tumble in the standings won’t result in another coaching change. They’re sticking with interim bench boss Mike Yeo and hired John Torchetti as an assistant coach. The club is expected to evaluate its coaching staff at season’s end. Tochetti could be Yeo’s successor as he replaced him as Wild head coach in 2016.

The Florida Panthers opened a two-point lead (63 points) over the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning atop the overall standings with a 5-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Mason Marchment scored twice and chipped in an assist for the Panthers. The Jets (41 points) are five points out of the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference.

A four-point performance by Joe Pavelski (two goals, two assists) powered the Dallas Stars over the New Jersey Devils 5-1. Roope Hintz scored for the fourth straight game while Braden Holtby picked up the win with a 38-save performance. They played without defenseman John Klingberg, who’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. With 46 points, the Stars vault into the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

The Pittsburgh Penguins tallied four straight third-period goals in a 6-3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust each had a goal and two assists while Kris Letang tallied twice. Coyotes center Nick Schmaltz scored twice and collected an assist. With 59 points, the Penguins sit one point behind the first-place New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins played without winger Jason Zucker as he underwent core-muscle surgery and will be sidelined indefinitely. He’s earning an annual average value of $5.5 million. The Penguins could use that as cap relief if he ends up on long-term injury reserve for the rest of the season, potentially allowing them space to become buyers at the March 21 trade deadline.

Sebastian Aho scored twice, including the winner in overtime, as the Carolina Hurricanes nipped the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3. Nolan Patrick had a goal and an assist for Vegas as they overcame a 3-1 deficit to force the extra frame. The Hurricanes sit one point back of the Penguins while the Golden Knights remain in first place in the Pacific Division with 53 points.

The Nashville Predators regained second place in the Central Division (57 points) by doubling up the Seattle Kraken 4-2. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist, Matt Duchene tallied his 20th goal of the season and Juuse Saros kicked out 33 shots for the Predators.

An overtime goal by Connor McDavid lifted the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers (42 points) move to within four points of the final Western wild-card spot. Spencer Martin made 47 saves in a losing cause for the Canucks, who sit one point behind the Oilers.

The Ottawa Senators got a hat trick from Tyler Ennis and a 32-save shutout from Matt Murray to blank the Buffalo Sabres 5-0. It was a costly win for the Senators as leading scorer Drake Batherson (34 points) left the game with an ankle injury after a questionable hit by Sabres goaltender Aaron Dell sent him crashing awkwardly into the boards. Dylan Gambrell also left the game in the first with an upper-body injury.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NBC SPORTS BAY AREA: San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson has surgery to repair a small muscle tear in his left forearm. He’s expected to be sidelined until at least mid-March.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks are battling for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Losing Karlsson will be a big blow to their blueline. He has 26 points in 33 games this season.

TSN: The Vancouver Canucks are reportedly close to naming Pittsburgh Penguins assistant general manager Patrik Allvin as their new GM. Allvin’s spent 16 seasons with the Penguins and worked for Canucks president Jim Rutherford during the latter’s tenure as Penguins GM.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators owner Eugene Melnyk isn’t pleased with the Ontario government’s COVID limitations on arena capacity. “They’re misinformed and they’re miscalculated. They should be challenged and they will be challenged.” The club was allowed to have 500 fans in attendance starting Monday, but they will play 11 games at home before restrictions are lifted to 50 percent capacity by Feb. 21.







32 Comments

  1. Bruins will lose tonight not enough to stay with teams like Carolina Florida and Colorado…get busy Sweeney stop exploring opportunities and act ..the time is now leftshot d and centre.

  2. Lyle, the Senators never did have a hat-trick from Kyle Turris 🙂 – I think you meant Tyler Ennis.

    • Fixed, thanks.

    • Kyle Turris, waived for the second time this year, talk about a fall from grace.

  3. Pens lose Zucker. So will be able to add at deadline. And sharks lose Eric. So they will most likely be a seller.

  4. The Leafs are also objecting to the limitations as set down by the Ontario Government.

    • That would be a given right? Both in the same province and in both their best interest to object. I think it’s good on both of them.

      • Of course. I only mentioned it because the blurb above seems to imply that Melnyk is the only one complaining.

  5. Oil/‘Nucks…. Spencer Martin shined…. Huge. Very exciting OT

    Pens/‘Yotes…. Did not start out so well but good come from behind Victory… McG was flying; Sid had 1G 2As; ERod broke his “slump” with 2 As…. So in all 👍👍👍

    That said….. B2B this weekend and Domingue won’t be back… so DeSmith has to start…. Danger danger Will Rogers.

    ….and Pens MUST try out Friedman or Riikola at 3RD. CR again a brutal night; on ice for 2 of 3 goals; and he lucked out again (4th time in last 7 games) with being credited as being ON the ice (+) when a goal was scored with CR 90’ away….. with a shift change and having just stepped on ice and not even at Centre ice when goal was scored…. So instead of -2 on night (which could easily have been -4, thank you Jarry) he only shows up as -1 for the game

    With Zucker out for balance of reg season (can’t see him back by YE)…. That’s $5.5 M in Cap that can go towards a 3RD and back-up upgrade (pending on Domingue recovery and how he plays when he returns); and depth Fwd (see how Staal does at Olympics)

    As a businessman I certainly feel for owners with very low gate revs due to Covid…. But as a paranoid (Covid) fan …. I am not going to games this year

    Re Btherson…. That looked awful. A suspension is in order…. But we’re talking clueless Parros here…. Who goes fine-happy on no injury slew foots and trips and completely ignores head shots with or without injuries (some are horrific injuries)

    I reiterate … Parros inconsistency is just setting up Wilson to potentially end a career (or a life)

    Bettman absolutely MUST replace Parros

    • Yeah Pengy … that injuries are a part of the game is bad enough when they occur through no one’s deliberate fault … and then pile up – but when some clueless goalie pulls the kind of crap he’s well-known for and puts a kid out long-term,m it’s time to throw the bloody book at him. But Parros won’t – he’s still recovering himself from a brain injury suffered years ago.

      • Hi George

        I don’t want to give any excuse for Parros (you cited old noggin hit for Parros)… he’s just plain irresponsible and not qualified for this important position

        Consistency is important (I’d argue mandatory)… he is not…. Not even close…. By a gargantuan amount

        What is worse however, is blatant blindness to some extremely overt (and highly dangerous) head shots

        He’s given out a handful of suspensions for slew foots and trips where felled player is uninjured , not near boards, not near net, not near any other player…. But head shots sending a player off for significant time… meh (to him) !

        That’s just 💩

        Bettman… how about hiring someone for that position who’s been on the receiving end of head shots and not the giving end…. Give Paul Kariya a call on his surf-board

  6. Sharks roll dice now to sell off Hertl and resign him in july? never mind his 26 pts in 33 games but he is playing over 23 minutes a game.

    • Hi ds

      Right now Sharks still “in the hunt”….. so can’t see them move Hertl in next couple of weeks

      But…..off it (out of it) at TDL (or significantly dropping in next 2-3 weeks)… Hertl flip with fingers crossed on a potential re-sign in summer…. A fair possibility IMHO

      If they are out of race… retaining 50% is just cash…. then Much higher “recruitment” pool… drives up price (in trade)

      • @Pengy yes no reason to move him when still in the race but in 2 weeks I think the writing will be on the wall in SJ

      • Hi ds

        You are probably right

        Next 4 Sharks games…@ Caps; @ Panthers; @ Canes; @ Bolts

        If They go O-fer …. Ouch!

  7. Karma for the goon Senators, what comes around …

    And when I think of Keith Yandle the word Ironman doesn’t immediately come to mind … Pincushion is more like it …

    impossible to trade Zucker now .. you know that Burkie wants some toughness and grit … got and get some …

    • The grunt speaks. Goons my ass. One guy and that makes them “goons?” Quit trying to come across in here like some hard-ass tough guy – because you simply try too hard and are, in reality, as tough as a sponge.

      • Wow. Looks like Ed struck a nerve…
        He has a point though. Sens are gooning it up pretty good this year. Fun to watch, don’t get me wrong, but goonish none the less.

      • Who, specifically? I kind of doubt it’s the entire team, so which players are “gooning” it up? Chabot? I doubt that, Norris? Batherson? Formenton? Mete? Zub? Holden? Ennis? Tkachuk maybe? He’s always played that way.

  8. Never liked the move from the beginning and call it hindsight if you may ….. Nick Foligno signing was a waste of $4 million on a two year deal

  9. Toughness and grit …. Bruins could use some of that they have nobody to protect their stars

    • ..maybe that’s where Foligno came in?

      • N Foligno…6′ ..200 lbs you’re probably right

    • That is exactly why the signed Foligno Whalercane. Is tough and has grit. Will throw them when needed, but not a fighter.
      You would just rather have those guys when they are 24, not 34. Takes a toll playing that way. Just can’t get to spots in time to make plays anymore.

      Might be playing hurt too. Get him healthy as you can come playoff time when games get tighter and less ice for everybody. Should have some value then.

      • 4 million per for what he offers is a lot of $$$$$ I think

      • Can’t argue against that comment Joe, agree 100%.
        Bad signing if it doesn’t improve.

      • Agree Joe, waste of cap space.

        That hit by Dell; he needs to suspended.

        Batherson is not expecting to be hit the goalie.

        extremely dangerous play; the next time Dell is out of the net standing there any forward going in should expect a shoulder from him and treat him accordingly. Thinking Milan Lucic here.

    • foligno’s a bum he couldn’t score on a team from the 4 arms retirement complex. Waste of money on this pug he is useless.

  10. Bruins fans

    IF …. big IF… somehow they could get Foligno to waive his NMC and big IF (big IF) Sharks would accept him in the deal….

    What is the additional offer (onto Foligno) to get Hertl @ 50%?

    Is it 1st (‘22) and Lysell ? More ?? Less?

  11. Milan Lucic ….. wish the Bruins could find another one

    • Would luv to have a guy like Lucic for the 4th line, unfortunately he is paid like a 1st liner.

      • like finding a Lucic type in the draft