NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 20, 2022

by | Mar 20, 2022 | News, NHL | 17 comments

A record-setting night for Filip Forsberg, the Bruins attempt to sign recently-acquired defenseman Hampus Lindholm, Tyler Bertuzzi speaks out about trade rumors, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg tallied his franchise-record 211th career goal (and tied his single-season personal best of 33 goals) in a 6-3 defeat of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Predators captain Roman Josi collected three assists to become the first NHL defenseman since Paul Coffey and Al MacInnis in 1990-91 to reach 75 points in 60 games. Leafs winger Mitch Marner scored twice and teammate Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist in his return from a two-game suspension. With 76 points, the Predators hold a four-point lead over the Vegas Golden Knights for the first Western Conference wild-card berth while the Leafs (83 points) remain one point behind the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division.

Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs winger Ondrej Kase left the game in the second period after taking an elbow to the head by Predators forward Matt Duchene. He has a history of head injuries and there was no immediate update about his condition.

Speaking of the Lightning, they dropped a 2-1 decision to the New York Rangers when Mika Zibanejad snapped a 1-1 tie with just 16 seconds remaining in the game. Igor Shesterkin made 28 saves for the win as the Rangers completed a sweep of their season series against the Lightning. The Blueshirts sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby enjoyed his 87th career multi-point game with two goals to lead his club over the Arizona Coyotes 4-1. Coyotes forward Clayton Keller scored to extend his points streak to eight games. The Penguins sit two points ahead of the Rangers for second place in the Metro Division and are three points behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes.

The Golden Knights, meanwhile, got a 38-save performance by goaltender Logan Thompson (19 of them in the third period) in a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Alex Pietrangelo had a goal and an assist for Vegas (72 points) as they opened a three-point lead over the Dallas Stars for the final Western wild-card berth. The Kings sit in second place in the Pacific Division with 76 points.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists to lead his club over the New Jersey Devils 6-3. The Oilers tallied four unanswered third-period goals to overcome a 3-2 deficit and pick up their fifth straight win, sitting two points behind the Kings in third place. Evander Kane scored twice for the Oilers while Jesper Bratt netted two goals for the Devils.

The Calgary Flames dealt a blow to the Vancouver Canucks’ playoff hopes by beating the latter 5-2. Matthew Tkachuk led the way with a goal and two assists for the Flames, who sit atop the Pacific Division with 84 points. The Canucks sit five points out of the final Western wild-card spot with 67 points.

Late goals by Ryan Hartman and Jordan Greenway lifted the Minnesota Wild to a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Cam Talbot made 21 saves for the win as the Wild have victories in four of their last six contests. They sit one point behind the St. Louis Blues in the Central Division with 76 points.

The Columbus Blue Jackets got two-point performances from Patrik Laine, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Gustav Nyquist and Emil Bemstrom to hold off the Blues 5-4. David Perron had a hat trick for St. Louis.

New York Islanders center Brock Nelson tallied a hat trick as his club doubled up the Dallas Stars 4-2. Semyon Varlamov made 37 saves for the Isles, who’ve gone 5-0-1 in their last six games. The Stars are three points out of the final Western wild-card berth.

Montreal Canadiens goalie Jake Allen made 29 saves for his first win since Nov. 27 in a 5-1 drubbing of the Ottawa Senators. Jake Evans had a goal and an assist while Cole Caufield extended his goal streak to four games.

A four-goal outburst in the third period carried the Seattle Kraken over the Detroit Red Wings 4-2. Yanni Gourde tallied twice for the Kraken.

HEADLINES

TSN: The Boston Bruins are reportedly attempting to sign Hampus Lindholm after acquiring him yesterday from the Anaheim Ducks. Pierre LeBrun reports it’s believed to be an eight-year contract extension that could be completed Sunday. Chris Johnston followed up indicating the annual average value is $6.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It would be a reasonable cap hit for Lindholm. His current annual average value is over $5.2 million. He might’ve received more on the open market this summer.

The contract term was a sticking point in Lindholm’s contract talks with the Ducks and led to his trade to Boston. Signing an extension with the Bruins gives him an extra year on his contract he otherwise wouldn’t have received in this summer’s unrestricted free agent market.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The full details of Claude Giroux’s trade to the Florida Panthers sees the Flyers receive winger Owen Tippett, a conditional 2024 first-round pick and a 2023 third-round pick. The Panthers also received minor-league forwards Connor Bunneman and German Rubtsov and a 2024 fifth-round pick. The Flyers retained 50 percent of Giroux’s $8.275 million cap hit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The details of the trade tended to dribble out during the course of the evening. You can read my reaction to the trade at this link.

MLIVE.COM: Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi dismissed recent trade rumors, making it clear he’s committed to the club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bertuzzi is replying to a recent rumor claiming he’d welcome a move to another club. General manager Steve Yzerman has made no comment about Bertuzzi or any of his other players as Monday’s trade deadline approaches.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Carolina Hurricanes winger Nino Niederreiter received a one-game suspension for slashing Washington Capitals Axel Jonsson-Fjallby on Friday.







17 Comments

  1. If Donny does another move hopefully he can throw Foligno in the mix he does absolutely nothing. Sort like reading a Mr bruin post.

    • “Do nothing Sweeney” does it again.
      Got the best D on the market.

      Not enough to get them to the promised land IMO, but chances have just improved.

      Good player. Wonder where he plays? Guessing with McAvoy, but might go shut down pair with Carlo to free up O zone minutes for Charlie. Will see.

      Going to be real tough to get 3 a night against the B’s consistently come playoff time. The question is can they get 3? Might have to win some 2-1 games when it gets tight.

      More than 1 way to skin a cat I suppose.

      • Ray. That was a great trade no doubt. Especially if extended like they are saying. Sweeney will add 2 more pieces by 3 pm tomorrow Still will be a tough run though

      • Ya waiting til next year not a good plan MB4, so give it another go with this core.
        Only real option if the goal is to win a cup which it is for this group.

        I don’t see any replacements for Bergy in the pipeline, so off we go!

      • Bruins biggest weakness is taken care of. Now get Monahan for 2nd line center and your deadline deals were a success assuming the Lindholm extension occurs.

    • Lol. Ya Foligno has full NMC. Ain’t going anywhere.
      Maybe add Ulmark to. Oh ya he has full NMC. Both for Eichel as he coming to Boston
      Can’t remember who posted it can you???

      • Where he’d probably be back on the IR … as he is in Vegas.

  2. Good win for Pens, tough loss for Leafs….

    Shesterkin showed his stuff again last night (he scares me) ; and Rangers still have Uber room and a fair sized prospect/pick cupboard for moves

    Panthers loaded , Bolts loaded, Canes already good; Big bad Bears are tapping on Leafs shoulders…..

    So….Leafs and Pens…. Picks/prospects for true UFAs should definitely NOT be done today or tomorrow… UFA in UFA out…👍👍

    Futures for term 👍👍

    Futures for UFA back end players that you are confident you can extend and fit in next year (much like it appears Bears are going to be able to do with Lindholm) 👍👍

    With things “tightening in the East” with the all but certain “play-off 8”…..no first round playoff Match-up of those 8 can mathematically be eliminated…

    Leafs could end up travelling to Raleigh , the Big Apple, or even Steeltown for opening game first round (meaning Bruins would have passed them , Panthers finished first in East; Leafs play Metro winner [as at now likely Canes, but could be Rangers or Pens])

    3 points separate Bruins-Leafs-Bolts…. so Leafs travelling to Beantown for opening game (albeit very unlikely ) is not an impossible outcome

    Pens v Leafs (quite a long-shot) first round…. guarantees one of my two fav teams getting to round 2 👍👍

    Both out first round …. A possibility… 💩👎💩👎💩

    • “ Futures for UFA back end players that you are confident you can extend and fit in next year ” was meant re Leafs

      Futures for term (or UFAs that can/will be re-upped)…Pens could do that for a Fwd or back end

    • Looks Like an other First Round Exit for the
      Toronto Maple leafs….❗️

      All my Boston buddie’s are just loving and hopping to meet the the Leafs Again in the first playoff round for there warm up Again… Kyle Dubas is gone bye May 1st at this Rate for sure this year….😂

      • Hi Williew

        I’m certainly not saying Leafs are out first round for sure…. But it’s not looking good…

        Most likely opponent is Bolts…. their Goaltending and D is leaps and bounds better than Leaf’s…. Very tough to see a V there

        Next most likely match-up …. Cats… to me their vulnerability (outside of multiple injuries) is if Bobo goes down (Knight I’m not confident can carry them
        onward and upward despite their prolific scoring….Tough to conclude Leafs over Cats in a 7 game series

        I see Canes over Leafs more likely than the reverse

        Shesterkin can easily close down Leafs offence

        Leafs easily over Caps IMHO…. But that match-up (although mathematically possible) is extremely unlikely to happen

        Leafs best chance first round match-ups is the longer shots of playing either Bruins (2nd v 3rd ATL…. meaning Cars or Bolts dropping to WC spot…..mmmmmm…no); or Pens (Pens win Metro, Leafs 1st WC spot; or Leafs win Atl, Pens in WC spot)

        Either of those two are likely toss-up outcomes; and likelihood of those match-ups are very slim

        What’s the odds of Leafs winning the Atl to play Caps???

      • Pengy, buy a LottoMax – better odds.

      • I did yesterday George…. Haven’t checked my numbers yet…. Did someone win the $65 M?

  3. This give was alot, with that said Lindholm instantly becomes Boston top LD.

    Read Boston was wanting Chychrun and it was between them and LA.

    LA up their offer, so Sweeney circled back to Anaheim to make sure he didn’t lose out on both.

    Personally if that package had of landed Chychrun I would of loved it a whole lot more.

    8yr at $6.5 if accurate not a bad deal. Don’t like the term. Lindholm wouldn’t sign in Anaheim for 5yrs so you knew it was going to be at least 7.

    Sweeney kept his two top prospects that is a plus.

    Now can he get a 2nd line C or an improvement over Haula ie Copp. Plus, another dman with Snarl.

    The Bruins are a better team today than they were yesterday.

    The only way Sweeney gives up all those assets is if he fully expects to be able to sign Lindholm.

    I read Lindholm agent is Cluade Lemieux. Him and Cam in the same room. Lol

    • I read Lindholm agent is Cluade Lemieux. Him and Cam in the same room. Lol…..Wouldn’t mind sitting in on that …agree B’s need to bring in a playoff type winger or D …. to settle things down when needed it’s been a issue for them the last 4 playoff years

    • Hi Peggy,
      I really dont think the 🍁Maple Leafs are beating any one in the playoffs this year, The East looks like a Blood Bath..⁉️
      The Leafs are just Too Inconsistent and the Florida teams are Powerhouses … Along with Carolina, and the NYR their goaltender can win game on his own….!

      if the Maple Leafs dont get there #1 Goaltender
      Jack Cambell back before it starts they are done..
      These d is Very Suspect to it very Medioce, and there bottom 3 young guys are are so..so..the d is not build for a playoff Run🤔

  4. Bertuzzi won’t have a say if he is traded if it fits in the Yzerplan. Stevie needs to package him up with Zadina and a couple picks and make a play for the Rangers Lafreniere