NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 9, 2022
Sidney Crosby tallies his 499th career goal, Brad Marchand could face another suspension, Tuukka Rask’s comeback could be over, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Sidney Crosby tallied his 499th career NHL goal and Danton Heinen scored twice as the Pittsburgh Penguins overcame a 2-0 deficit to double up the Boston Bruins 4-2. Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry made 43 saves for the win but was also on the receiving end of a punch and a stick to the head from Bruins winger Brad Marchand late in the game. Marchand received a match penalty and could face supplemental discipline for attempting to injure Jarry. David Pastrnak scored both Bruins goals.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
The Penguins are tied with the New York Rangers with 64 points but the latter holds second place in the Metropolitan Division with 30 wins while the Pens have 28. With 54 points, the Bruins remain four points behind the Washington Capitals, who hold the first wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins also lost captain Patrice Bergeron in the third period when he fell awkwardly into the boards following a collision with Crosby. He was assisted off and the Penguins captain received a minor penalty for roughing though the contact was minor and didn’t appear intentional on Crosby’s part. **CORRECTION: Crosby received the roughing penalty a minute later for a different incident.**
Speaking of the Capitals, they suffered their fourth loss in their last six games by falling 5-4 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Boone Jenner snapped a 4-4 tie late in the third period while teammate Patrik Laine scored twice and collected an assist. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin picked up an assist after emerging from COVID protocol yesterday.
Alex Pietrangelo scored to collect his 500th career NHL point while Laurent Brossoit kicked out 28 shots as the Vegas Golden Knights blanked the Edmonton Oilers 4-0. William Karlsson and Reilly Smith each had a goal and an assist. Oilers goalie Mike Smith made 24 saves in his first start since Jan. 5. The Golden Knights sit on top of the Pacific Division with 59 points while the Oilers (49 points) remain three points behind the Calgary Flames for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.
The Winnipeg Jets got a 28-save shutout from Connor Hellebuyck in a 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Mark Scheifele and Nate Schmidt were the goalscorers as the Jets (49 points) sit seven points behind the Flames. The Wild remain in third place in the Central Division with 59 points. Wild forward Marcus Foligno received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for kneeing Jets forward Andrew Copp in the head during their third-period scrap.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson had three assists and winger Conor Garland scored against their former club in a 5-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes. With 48 points, the Canucks are four back of the Flames.
Ottawa Senators winger Brady Tkachuk scored two goals as his club held on to down the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. The Hurricanes were down 4-0 but made it interesting with three goals in the third period. Anton Forsberg stopped 42 shots as the Senators have gone 5-2-2 in their last nine contests. The Hurricanes sit in first place in the Metropolitan Division with 65 points.
The New Jersey Devils snapped a seven-game losing skid by humiliating the lowly Montreal Canadiens 7-1. Michael McLeod scored twice for the Devils.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some pundits are wondering how many more embarrassing lopsided losses the Canadiens front office is willing to endure before they start making changes. Apparently, they’re willing to endure many more over the remainder of this season.
Trades seem unlikely at the moment because they probably prefer waiting until the March 21 deadline when they hope the value of their trade candidates is at their highest. A coaching change would have a more immediate effect but they committed to head coach Dominique Ducharme for the rest of the season and seem reluctant to change their minds.
The Canadiens have been walloped by injuries and illnesses to key players throughout the season. Ducharme hasn’t been placed in the best position as a coach to deal with these unique situations he’s faced since becoming their head coach. Nevertheless, they’re now mired in a toxic atmosphere. Many veterans appear to have tuned out Ducharme knowing he’s a goner at season’s end while their younger players are growing discouraged with the constant losing. That’s not going to help improve the club’s culture going forward.
Bottom line is the Canadiens are a laughingstock and an easy two points for most clubs, including those fading in the playoff race like the Devils. That’s not going to change over the remainder of this season. It might help improve the Canadiens’ chances of winning the draft lottery, but it’s not a healthy mood for a franchise facing what could be years of rebuilding.
HEADLINES
THE ATHLETIC: Sources tell Fluto Shinzawa that the Boston Bruins don’t expect Tuukka Rask to continue his comeback. He felt discomfort in his surgically repaired hip following his last game on Jan. 24 and has been on injured reserve. He could finalize his retirement in the next several days.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Rask is calling it a career he’ll be retiring as one of the top goaltenders in Bruins history. He backstopped them to two Stanley Cup Finals (2013 and 2019), won the Vezina in 2014 and was a finalist in 2020, and is their franchise leader in games-played for goalies with 564 and win with 308.
CBS SPORTS: Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Manson (finger) was placed on injured reserve yesterday.
TSN: The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Patrick Maroon to a two-year contract extension worth an annual average value of $1 million.
The St. Louis Blues signed defenseman Robert Bortuzzo to a two-year, $1.9 million contract extension.
THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tucker Poolman remains sidelined with headaches and migraines and continues to meet with doctors.
CBS SPORTS: Blues defenseman Scott Perunovich was placed on IR with an upper-body injury.
TSN: The Seattle Kraken claimed forward Austin Czarnik off waivers from the New York Islanders.
ESPN.COM: The Anaheim Ducks named Hall-of-Famer and former captain Scott Niedermayer as a special advisor to their hockey operations department.
NHL.COM: The Philadelphia Flyers yesterday named Daniel Briere as special assistant to general manager Chuck Fletcher.
Whew! what a debacle, Swayman’s got to put his big boy shoes on now and do a lot better than he did lastnight Saw him play in Providence a few days ago he was brilliant It’s obvious now Defence is the key, no fill-ins here they’ve got to get someone and quick after seeing them against the good teams Pits, Carolina and Florida. A good D man is something the bruins need desperately. Tuesday at times they looked like a bunch chickens in a room full of lions. March will be too late. Carolina’s up Thursday get off your lazy Keester Sweeney do Something now!
Are folks gonna give Sweeney some credit for signing Ullmark now that Rask’s comeback looks shaky at best?
Ray …. Kind of easy to look at it that way … if Rask came back and played lights out and healthy just maybe you would ask Ullmark if he wanted to be a #1 goalie somewhere else ….. of course why wouldn’t the Bruins see how Rask played before going there
Because they didn’t know in the off season Joe, that’s why.
I have defended that move on here multiple times when the news of Rask coming back came out, and will repeat what I said then.
He either would have went into the season with Swayman (a rookie with 12 games) and ? Vladar I guess. And count on Rask being healthy after major surgery at 34. Ask EDM how easy it is to find a starting tender if that didn’t work out.
Now they would be playing a rookie as their starter going into the stretch and the playoffs. He played it safe because he could. Turns out it was the right decision. He deserves credit for that just like he gets criticism for Foligno.
I agree. That 2nd goal where the puck comes completely out of Swayman’s weak glove. A nice stout defensemen would have totally helped there…
Marcus Foligno knee Adam Lowery not Andrew Copp. A 2 min. penalty for that is a joke. Foligino should have got 5 & a game for that kneeing. He should get a 10 game suspension but he won’t. Nhl are pathetic in giving out suspension it is really warrented.
Asking here, all Bruins fans; their honest estimate on what Marchand will get from Parros.
I think Parros will force Boston to trade Marchand, Pasternak and Swayman to Pittsburgh for Pettersson, Zucker and Desmith!
Boston holds 50% on all players and throws in a 1st.
😀
Ok. That was kinda funny.
He shouldn’t get anything Jarry deserved it.
8 games total … I’m good at this
Not a Boston fan.
Just wondering, what is wrong with that guy? All that talent and then he does something like this.
Why? Because he picks on non-physical players and gets away with it. I don’t blame him.
First off, Crosby did not receive a roughing minor regarding the play that Bergeron got injured on, their skates collided accidentally … Crosby received the minor later on after he hit the crossbar with a shot and was cross checked in the ribs by Grielcyk (sp, I know I mangled his name) Crosby turned and punched him and instead of being a man he turtled to the bench …
Now, as a Penguin diehard I am embarrassed by the pathetic non-response of the team I root for regarding Marchand the gutter rat (actually that’s an insult to rats everywhere) Yet again, Brian Burke had to be cringing wherever he was watching his soft powder puff team allow something like that to happen. Pens have the softest 6 defensemen in the league and should be ashamed of themselves. This was beyond pathetic. I have seen the gutter rat do much worse and I don’t expect any sort of supplemental discipline but the next time he picks on a physical player it will be the first time.
Can’t wait for the Boston fanboys to justify that behavior. Oh, did I mention that the Penguins were soft?
See above
Ed…I couldn’t agree with you more about 6 soft defenseman.. No one stood up to that little s**t Marchant come playoff time when it gets rough that doesn’t bode well.
That is why big, physical two time Stanley cup champion Luke Schenn would be an excellent addition to our defense.
The other night he hit Adam Lowry clean and hard in the corner 45 seconds later they were fighting and Schenn pit Lowry on his back.
The Penguins need that type of toughness back there. Schenn is physical and will drop the gloves with anyone o protect a teammate.
How does a team let a player crosscheck their keeper in the head and not pile on him?
and how does verbal jabbing cause a player to hit the goalie in the head….
Love Todd but he has to get a big one here
As a diehard Boston fan I feel that last night s Marchand s incident was selfish and pathetic.After seeing Bergeron going off the ice to be checked for a concussion that he reverts to this type of behavior is ridiculous.I agree Bergeron s injury was the result of incidental contact with Crosby As of standing up for each other tHE Bruins have been guilty of not standing up enough for their teammates also.The Penguins should of reacted to Marchands antics by physical confrontation.Not my favorite players but Wilson,Hathaway and Marcus Foligno and Brendan Dillon would not have stood for that.
I thought Marchand was hilarious. Especially when he wouldn’t let Jarry toss a puck to a kid in the stands.
Classic black hat move.
Suspending him would be an error.
Marchand may be the league’s most complete player… the hi lights and the lo lights in one package
Marchand is a talented wimp. Tbh, anyone not a Bruins fan will forget this guy even existed when he retires.
When you see Marchand, you think of Downey, C. lemieux, Cooke, Samuelsson, ciccarelli, etc,.
Hes been protected most of his career of his career from teammates. Someone will humble the guy before he’s gone.
I didnt see anything wrong with what Marchand did. The NHL keeps protecting their goalies, and Jarry threw that stick right at Coyles face, fortunately he missed and hit him in the chest. No penalty.
Marchand took maters into his own hands and stood up for his team mate. Jarry is a punk, he could have caused some real damage to Coyle on that play.
I assume this post is pure sarcasm. If no, you are the Bruins fanboy Ed was referring to.
Someone summed it up at another site. Marchand is who we think he is – he’s a dick.
Missed the last two minutes switched after the 4-2 score to watch Winnipeg vs Minnesota.
After watching the play several times; its the swing of the stick from Jarry across the midsection of Coyle that Marchand likely reacted to.
Yes Marchand antics are/is suspend able. My fellow bruins fans are not going to agree with me here, because the stick tap was very lite and then punch to the head is a penalty.
Marchand last year had this habit of putting his stick up on players shoulders around the head area to get a reaction, he was told to stop.
I don’t like the stick being used in the manner, the punch was worst then the stick tap; however, i think the stick crap needs to go and punching an unsuspected player. 10 games.
Crosby have a direct hand in putting two Bruins players out of the lineup for awhile.
Getting caught up in Bergeron skate no it wasn’t a penalty but Bergy hitting his head on the side boards isn’t good.
After Marchand punched Jarry in the head Crosby was right by Marchand and did nothing other then skate away. If Crosby had to at least grabbed Marchand or stood up for his goalie then the stick swing doesn’t happen. (sarcasm)
I complain all the time how soft i find Boston…. Pitts that non reaction was brutal, someone other then the league needs to stand up for Jarry.
Foligno kneeing to the head of Adam Lowry not Andrew Copp should result in a 4 game suspension.
Lets see how the inconsistent Parros handle this two incidents.
I did the same thing Caper after the empty net goal, except switched to Oiler game.
That didn’t go any better.
The move after the 2nd was hilarious SOP, thought it was great. The cheap shot punch to Jarry wasn’t IMO. Ya, he has a mask on, so will be fine, but still cheap and will add stupid. Doesn’t matter what he said to Marchand, and he did say something, but seriously? Stuff get said all game.
He lost his composure, and now his suspension will cost the B’s. And he will get suspended. Not even going to guess the amount of games. Who knows.
One word sums it up for me – Stupid.
I watched the foligno knee to lowry’s head after the scrap and i think he was reacting to lowry’s knee hitting foligno’s head while both were falling to the ice after the scrap.
Jets fans might be surprised but Lowry could be in trouble too.
Who knows what the Jedis at the department of player safety will come up with. Another new rule maybe?
Found some time to search for the clip of Jarry spearing Coyle, and watched it.
I take back what I said earlier and I agree with Rick, Jarry deserves it. Actually should have pulled his mask off then punched him in the head. That is the cheap shot that started it.
So you can spear a guy with a goal stick and nothing? I thought that is a match penalty? Deserves at least a fine.
Why would Crosby do anything other than skate away? He and Marchand are good friends and train together in Halifax during the off season. Nova Scotians stick together. Way to go, Sid. Way to go, Brad.
Pens reaction to marchand was perfect. They kept their cool. Didn’t do anything that would further hurt the team by avoiding any possible discipline. Marchand was hoping to get that reaction and the pens didn’t give him the satisfaction. They acted like men instead of children.
Chrisms, you certainly have a different take, reality was they didn’t act at all.
I thought Crosby was going to dummy Brad but, he did nothing. Lost a bit of respect for the guy.
FD, they’re a close-knit clique back that works out together in the off-season back home in Nova Scotia along with MacKinnon and now Batherson
Good caper. I’d have been disappointed if they did. I like to see d bags like marchand lose. And by failing to goad the pens he lost. I’m definitely proud of my pens today
Hi FD
See below…. Crosby , Guentzel, Dumo, Rusty all we’re facing away and didn’t see the Marchand punch. Their reaction was to the yelling …. Normal scrum reactions
Tanger was only one to see it… immediately reacted to get at Marchand but McCovy had already grabbed (and engaged ) Tanger
Pens did the right thing by skating away. Now the onus is on the league to take care of the issue. If they suspend him lightly, then the league sucks. Go get an enforcer and crush marchand in the next game.
I’d give him 5 games for the punch 5-10 additional games for the stick infraction.
Better Jarry 10 for his stick too Randino.
If the Ref sees that and calls it, the rest doesn’t happen.
Ray Bark, you do know the difference between a high stick and one that isn’t, right? But honestly, none of that matters. One person’s bad behavior doesn’t excuse another’s. Marchand lost his mind. You just can’t do that.
Chrism not sure what game you were watching; 22 seconds remaining in the game Marchand was going after Jarry for his two hander to Coyle.
He wasn’t trying to goad anyone. That part of your statement does not make any sense. What would be the benefit?
IMO it is really simple Randino, if you don’t want to get punched in the head, don’t spear guys. If you spear guys, good chance somebody punches you in the head. As it should be.
If the ref called it it doesn’t happen, he didn’t Marchand took care of it. He would do it again, as he should. Ya he lost it, guys get emotional when opponents cheap shot your team mates. Like you wouldn’t? I would, and I have.
Not sure what you mean by high stick? He speared Coyle in the mid section as he skated by the crease pursuing the puck. The Marchand stick was nothing other than cheesy.
Did you watch it?
Chrisma…I kind of agree with what you said but i also agree with Ed van Lmpe something should have ben done.
Your right most of the time look the other way but a punch to the back of your goalies head and a blatant stick to the face….there are some lines you don’t cross and Marchant did that penguins turtled
The Pens win again, the Oil lose again. Looking at the names of the players those teams iced last night, you can explain those outcomes only if Sullivan is really Solomon, and Jarry is really Carey.
Jim Carey the tender?
Actually serious, because I don’t know what you mean with that.
Probably means Carey Price
Thanks George, probably should have got that on my own!
Need more coffee, whatever kind it is.
Ray and George–I took a bit of license in suggesting more of a similarity in the pronunciation of their names than there actually is, but I did mean that Jarry is Carey Price. When I see the names of the players on the ice, I think the only way to explain how the Pens can be fighting for first and the Oilers struggling to make the playoffs is if the Pens are coached by a man of biblical wisdom and backstopped by a HHOF goalie in disguise.
Re no reaction from Sid and the rest of the Pens after the punch…. At first I was just as perplexed…. Then I watched the video again…. Sid is directly facing the boards (completely blind to the punch ); only Pens player to actually see the punch was Tanger and he went right at Marchand but McCavoy grabbed Tanger so he couldn’t get at Marchand
Dumo , Rusty, Guentzel were also facing away…. Their reaction would have also been only to the yelling that they heard…. so normal verbal scrum type of reaction
After the stick to the mask…. Pens quickly start moving towards Marchand…. But he’s immediately being escorted away by Smith (linesman) …. and Guentzel then starts to go to Marchand (who has Smith’s both hands on him escorting him off) and Smith tells Guentzel “don’t do it”…. At that point… any punch to Marchand and a Pen would have got a game and faced suspension
Didn’t like the non call on Crosby for interference or the makeup call a minute later …..BM deserves whatever he gets he needs to time it done but I do understand where’s he’s coming from he’s just not big enough to take care of business the right way …… Watching Bruins for a long time and this team right now is one of the top 5 softest teams I’ve seen…..
Tone it down