NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 12, 2022
The Oilers win their first game under new coach Jay Woodcroft, Brad Marchand to appeal his six-game suspension, Flyers center Sean Couturier undergoes season-ending surgery, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers won their first game under new head coach Jay Woodcroft by downing the New York Islanders 3-1. Connor McDavid collected two assists, Mike Smith made 37 saves and Zach Hyman scored what proved to be the winning goal. With 51 points, the Oilers are four behind the Anaheim Ducks for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).
An overtime goal by Jason Robertson lifted the Dallas Stars to a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Robertson reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his young NHL career while teammate Jamie Benn had a goal and an assist. Jets center Mark Scheifele also had a goal and an assist. The Stars sit one point ahead of the Oilers and three behind the Ducks while the Jets (46 points) are nine points out of a wild-card spot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets have dug themselves a deep hole in the Western Conference standings. They could become sellers if they haven’t gained ground by the time the calendar flips to March.
The Ducks, meanwhile, dropped a 4-3 decision to the Seattle Kraken. Jordan Eberle broke a 3-3 tie late in the third period while teammate Ryan Donato scored twice for the Kraken. Ducks forward Isac Lundestrom tallied two goals.
Steven Stamkos scored two goals as the Tampa Bay Lightning held off the Arizona Coyotes 4-3. Teammate Corey Perry netted his 399th career goal. Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes. With 68 points, the Lightning sits one point behind the first-place Florida Panthers in the Atlantic Division.
HEADLINES
TSN: The NHL Players Association has filed an appeal on behalf of Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand over the six-game suspension he received by the NHL department of player safety. Marchand was handed the ban for roughing Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry and then high-sticking him on his mask during Wednesday’s game between the two clubs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marchand’s suspension history likely contributed to his latest punishment. League commissioner Gary Bettman will review the appeal and determine if it will stand or be reduced.
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: Flyers center Sean Couturier underwent season-ending back surgery on Friday. A decision whether Ryan Ellis (lower-body) will require surgery could be made in the coming weeks. Center Kevin Hayes could require a third abdominal surgery after having fluid drained from his adductor on Jan. 18.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Injuries to those three key players are significant reasons why the Flyers are on the cusp of missing the playoffs for the second straight year.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said he’d like to bring former client Vincent Lecavalier into the organization in some capacity. “It’s not going to be assistant GM, despite all the rumors,” said Hughes. “But if we can find a way to do it then we’d absolutely like to do it.”
NEW YORK POST: Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko will remain sidelined for another both with an unspecified upper-body injury.
TORONTO SUN: The Leafs yesterday signed Joseph Woll to a three-year contract extension on Friday. He’s currently playing for their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. The first year of the deal is a two-way contract and becomes a one-way deal in the final two years.
The Leafs also got some good news on forward Ondrej Kase, who was shaken up during Thursday’s game against the Calgary Flames but could return to the lineup on Saturday.
The bruins will lose today, Ottawa showing some life, bruins lifeless. I also believe March will win his appeal and very well should that suspension is unfair I’ve seen players this season do worse and they get away Scott free. My last prediction for today the bruins will miss the playoffs Detroit will get in.
Not too sure about that. The Senators are playing well right now – but they almost need SO goaltending to get a win with the bulk of their offense (Batherson, Norris and, to some degree, Pinto) on IR. All the opposition needs to do is neutralize Tkachuk, Formenton and Connor Brown – the rest have trouble putting the puck in the ocean from the shore.
Mind you, the Bruins are without some pretty potent offense themselves. Hell, this could be 0-0 heading into a shoot-out.
See what I mean Rick? 2 straight games with excellent goaltending from Murray – but anemic when it comes to offense if the opposition stifles Tkachuk, Formenton and Connor Brown. Which the Bruins did effectively.
Actually, after that display against Carolina I fully expected the Bruins to come out the way they did. Even without two of their best Fs.
Marchand is only 1/2 right. Crossed over when he sticked Jarry in mask. He will serve all 6
If he did that in mens league probably still be hospital
Why would the officials endanger themselves to break up the sort of brawls that a lot of people would have found appropriate? The officials should keep out of it and let the players do the manly thing, each player avenging the wrongdoing that was done to his teammate until all combatants except the winner had either submitted or were unconscious on the ice. That would be the honorable way of settling these issues. Real men don’t fight only when they expect that the fight will be broken up before anybody gets hurt.
Ryan Reaves is the most valuable player in the NHL.
Snicker
That will be a monumental collapse and would make the Bruins replace their management team.
Rick, you’re so negative you could be a Leaf fan. Agree on Marchand, he deserves six games just because, but Bettman knows the deal with Boston so it’ll be three or four.
I read about the appeal this morning and a little imagination daydream bubble grew over my head.
Gary: Brad… enough is enough. Not only do you get six games I’m also giving you two more for whining about it!”
Falling to his knees (thus making him eye level with Gary) Brad: oh please please Gary. Don’t do it! I promise I’ll stop my turdburgling! (Breaks down weeping)
Gary: Get out of my office. You disgust me.
Aaahhhhh. What a nice way to start the day.
Nice to see I’m not the only one on here that likes to get high.
That was well done Mr. Chrisms.
Although I still disagree that he should have got 6, but understand it.
Would have been a full on line brawl in men’s league (is there mixed hockey leagues?). Both sides would have thought they were right.
IMO
Full marks for a restrained response Ray.
Huge win for Edmonton. Just 4 back of Anaheim and L.A., they also have 4 games in hand on the Duck and 2 on the Kings. Of course, now they have to start showing some consistency.
39 yr old Smith looked like the 38 yr old Smith.
LOL. Well, that’s precisely where the consistency needs to start.
Yep
Woodcroft shortened shifts too.
Yeah, that could be a significant factor too. It seems most coaches, when a losing skid crops up, wind up lengthening it by playing their star players to exhaustion with long and more shifts.
Ottawa coaching has been guilty of that with players like Chabot and Tkachuk, and it’s no secret both have been contributing more as a direct result of having their shifts reduced … and less of them.
Give the gutter rat back to Boston now, they stink anyway.
Does anyone besides me see the hypocrisy when the NHLPA files an appeal of a suspension? Forget about the Marchand/Jerry incident. I’m just talking in general – it happens all the time. A player gets suspended, the NHLPA appeals but where does that leave the victim. Does he get to appeal the appeal – NO. I understand that the perpetrator and the victim are both dues-paying members but why can’t the association just stand up for the injured party and say they agree with the original punishment. Opinions?
Don’t all unions consistently go the defense of their lowest common denominator?