NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 11, 2022
More scoring milestones were reached by Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, Jordan Staal collected his first hat trick in years, the Wild stage a six-goal comeback against the Kings, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Sidney Crosby scored twice, including the winner in overtime, as the Pittsburgh Penguins nipped the Nashville Predators 3-2. With three points, Crosby reached the 1,400th career-point plateau in his 1,100th career NHL game. Rickard Rakell collected three assists for the Penguins, who sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 94 points. The Predators, meanwhile, hold the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 87 points.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin could face supplemental discipline after cross-checking Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki in the mouth. Malkin received a double minor as Borowiecki left the game after losing several teeth.
The Washington Capitals got unanswered third-period goals from Lars Eller and Alex Ovechkin to double up the Boston Bruins 4-2. Ovechkin’s goal was his 45th of the season and was his 100th career goal in the month of April, tying Wayne Gretzky for the most career months with 100-plus goals. With 90 points, the Capitals hold the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference and sit five points behind the Bruins.
Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal tallied his first hat trick since April 18, 2012, to lead his club to a 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. With the win, the Hurricanes hold a two-point lead over the New York Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division with 102 points. The Ducks, meanwhile, were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
The Minnesota Wild scored six unanswered goals to overcome a three-goal deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 6-3. Jared Spurgeon and Matt Boldy each had a goal and an assist while Kirill Kaprizov scored his 42nd goal to tie the franchise single-season record. The Wild are tied with the St. Louis Blues with 94 points but the Wild hold second place in the Central Division with a game in hand. The Kings, meanwhile, cling to third place in the Pacific Division with 86 points, two up on the Vegas Golden Knights.
A 28-save performance by Brian Elliott enabled the Tampa Bay Lightning to shut out the Buffalo Sabres 5-0. Ondrej Palat had a goal and an assist as the Lightning moved back into third place in the Atlantic Division with 96 points, one ahead of the Bruins.
Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson scored two goals in a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Roope Hintz collected three points for the Stars (86 points), who sit one point behind the Predators in the final Western wild-card spot. Patrick Kane and Kirby Dach each had two points for the Blackhawks.
The Winnipeg Jets kept their faint wild-card hopes alive by holding off the Ottawa Senators 4-3. Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and two assists while Kyle Connor, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Paul Stastny each had a goal and an assist. Brady Tkachuk scored twice and chipped in an assist for the Senators. With 79 points, the Jets are seven points behind the Stars.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a costly win for the Jets as center Mark Scheifele left the game near the end of the second period following a high hit from Senators forward Parker Kelly. He will not play in tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.
IN OTHER NEWS…
THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken signed top prospect Matty Beniers to a three-year entry-level contract. Beniers, 19, was their first-round pick (second overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Speaking of teams signing prospects, the Flyers inked Bobby Brinks to an entry-level deal. The 20-year-old right winger helped Denver defeat Minnesota State on Saturday to win the NCAA championship.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins signed winger Oskar Steen to a two-year, one-way contract worth an annual average value of $800K.
Can the defense be that bad without Lindholm when Forbort’s in the lineup the answer is apparently yes 2 of the worst editions (free agent signings )were Forbort and Foligno. Sunday Forbort was about as helpful as a life coach in a room full black mambas. He needs to sit on the pine for awhile. Ahcan is a bit bigger a lot stronger and after watching him in providence a couple times He is very good offensively, good defensively all he needs is longer look. And yes they should have gone with Swayman.
RWM. Forbert stunk yesterday no doubt. But to say they should have started Swayman over Ullmark after the game he played us pure. Poo poo
As for Achan 5 ft 9 180 lbs.
Forbert 6ft 4 217lbs Power play sucking is why bruins lost no other reason
Boro lost several teeth? Did he even have several teeth to lose before the game started?
That was priceless.
As some of you may know I am a Pens diehard and still can’t believe that wasn’t a major and a game misconduct. If I’m dishing out punishment Geno sits for ten games, no appeal. The slash was bad enough but …
Little heavy on the suspension suggestion in my opinion. Maybe 2 or 3 games. I liken it to the Mathews crosscheck. Plus, Malkin has a suspension history. Albeit once, but still some history
Is this the new way of announcing? Watching yesterday Nationally Televised Boston – Washington game. The play by play, color commentator and penalty box guy. Just start talking nonsense while the play is on. Nothing relevant to the action on the ice. ie what were nicknames of guys on team you play with.
This type of banter isn’t what i want during the action on the ice.
I know i’m old and maybe more of a traditionalist than i thought. Do folks like the game called or not called this way? does it bring in younger fans?
And how about Brendan Burke telling everyone that Tanner Jeannot was fighting Matt Benning in the Pens/Preds game? Burke is the full time announcer for the Islanders and you mean to tell me that he doesn’t know that Benning plays for the Preds??? We need Doc & John Forsland back, and please dump Liam McHugh and bring Tappen back … and somebody give Gretzky a Red Bull right before air time …he has a personality of a potato chip.
Gretzky looks and acts like he starred in Dopesick
Great for Sid …congrats, and the OT winner… great for Pens
Gino will be out for a couple… bonehead-move; and Pens already challenged recently at potting goals… so D MUST be tight…. Which absolutely mandates CR in press box…. Another costly mistake costing a goal yesterday; with another 3 that could have lead to goals were it not for Pettersson and DeSmith bailing him out. Sully… do what is right for the team… sit him
Next 2 games… B2B v Isles… no Gino….. Caps knocking on the door
If you watched the game it was Pettersson who screwed up .. but you have a personal vendetta against Ruwheedl and it is unwarranted. But he’s no Carson Soucy, I’ll give you that …
No Ed…
Predz had possession for a 1/2 doz seconds and were about to move the puck up … CR was supposed to back up on his side to prevent any potential 2 on 1…. CR actually idiotically moved forward; then Pettersson toe-picked….If CR had properly backed up … Duchene then off balance and wide must also then get around CR…. likliehood of goal tremendously mitigated
CR did this same move 4 times yesterday…. causing 4 2 on 1’s…. Pettersson saved the day twice; DeSmith another; and as you know… Pettersson toe-picked on one… which lead to the Duchene goal
CR left his man uncovered in front of DeSmith multiple times yesterday; shot the puck down the ice (un-rushed unprovoked) 4 times yesterday; and screwed up at least 3 break-out passes
I am biased no doubt…. But anybody watching the Pens the last 3 months can see that CR is (at best) their 6th Dman on the depth chart…. And from the handful of games I’ve seen of WBS and from his fantastic stats…. P-O J far far superior to CR
They are not keeping CR for his offence…. Absolutely lowest PPG of any Pen playing > 4 games this year
Sully has benched Pettersson after having a spectacular game and in same game in which CR cost a goal and almost 2 more….. Sully is either completely blind to CR play AND/OR CR has compromising blackmail material on Sully AND/OR Pettersson has made an inappropriate Pass at Kate Sullivan
Sully has made healthy scratches of all his bottom 6 Fwds; has healthy scratched Pettersson and Friedman…. But plays in with the very costly CR
This type of coaching has already lead to 2 out-in-first round series (JJ) …. this coaching stance should absolutely NOT be duplicated
Dumo has also been struggling and a couple of games from the high up press box vantage point could very well benefit his play and confidence
Why not try 3 or 4 games with…
Tanger/Matheson
Marino/Pettersson
Friedman/ P-O J
“ CR is (at best) their 6th Dman ”
Should have been 7th (at best) NOT 6th….,
Tanger, Matheson, Marino, Dumo; Pettersson ; Freidman all superior D-Men
P-O J play….. even as a D …. 6 points behind top WBS point-getter; but P-O J a D; and played 12 games less…. I’ve watched about a half dozen WBS games…. P-O J shines…. Easily a better player than CR…. Putting CR…. 8th on Depth (at best)… with many costly mistakes over last few weeks…. And Sully still plays him….. very strange