NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 12, 2022
The Jets keep their playoff hopes alive, Evgeni Malkin is suspended, Drew Doughty is done for the season, the three stars of the week and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets got third-period goals from Evgeny Svechnikov and Adam Lowry to double up the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in the only game on Monday’s schedule. Jets forward Paul Stastny reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time since 2013-14. With the win, the Jets (81 points) move to within five points of the Dallas Stars for the final Western Conference playoff berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rookie Morgan Barron collected his first two points since joining the Jets at last month’s trade deadline from the New York Rangers in the Andrew Copp deal. Meanwhile, his younger brother Justin missed his third straight game with the Montreal Canadiens with a suspected broken right ankle that could finish his season. Like his older brother, the younger Barron was also traded on deadline day. The Canadiens acquired him from the Colorado Avalanche in the Artturi Lehkonen trade.
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The NHL department of player safety handed down a four-game suspension to Penguins center Evgeni Malkin for his “retaliatory and aggressive” crosscheck on Nashville Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki on Sunday. It’s the second time in Malkin’s NHL career that he’s been suspended for a stick infraction.
LOS ANGELES TIMES: Kings defenseman Drew Doughty will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing wrist surgery on Monday. He’s expected to be fully recovered in time for training camp in September.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doughty is the Kings’ top defenseman. His absence could cripple their efforts to secure their first playoff berth since 2017-18. The Kings are clinging to third place in the Pacific Division with 86 points, two points ahead of the surging Vegas Golden Knights.
NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson, and Florida Panthers winger Jonathan Huberdeau are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending April 10.
THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has not yet returned to on-ice activities in his recovery from knee surgery. However, he’s still expected to return to action when the playoffs begin in early May.
TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin (knee injury) has resumed solo skating but there’s still no timetable for his return to the lineup. Leafs winger Ondrej Kase remains sidelined with a concussion.
STLTODAY.COM: Blues defenseman Torey Krug could return to the lineup tonight against his former club, the Boston Bruins. He’s missed the last 10 games with an upper-body injury.
MLIVE.COM: Sam Gagner is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer but hopes to return with the Detroit Red Wings next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings reportedly appreciate the 32-year-old Gagner’s experience, leadership and two-way skills. He’s on a one-year, $850K contract and should be an affordable re-signing if they wish to bring him back next season.
THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens reports sources indicate Dallas Eakins will return next season as head coach of the Anaheim Ducks.
Unless Hampus or Pasta’s back and Swayman’s in the net another loss for the bruins 3-1. For the blues
Look like Swayman will get the start but no Pasta Lindholm Griz tonight
Boy wonder… Jake DeBrusk may step up again for the Bruins Tonight…
JD has scored more the Hot-Cold Taylor Hall so far this season…..⁉️
There is only 3 teams left fighting for two playoff spots
LA, LV and Dal
LA and LV fighting for third or second wildcard
Dal 2nd wildcard
LA 8 games remaining only 1 against a playoff team (col) no head to head
LV 9 games remaining 5 against playoff teams (Cal, Edm, Wash, Dal, St.l) 1 head to head Dal
Dal 10 games remaingin 5 against playoff teams (TB, Min, Edm, Cal, LV) 1 head to head against LV
LA and Dal are the only two teams in playoff position with a negative goals for / goals against differential LA -2 Dal -3. LV who sits just on the outside of the bubble has a +18
Last night it was rumored that Vegas will activate Stone today.
Isn’t that a change of Fortune with LA losing Doughty and LV potentially getting Stone.
Interesting to see the cap gymnastics
Actually, 4 teams fighting for 3 spots. The Predators are only 1 point ahead of Dallas for the 1st WC spot, 3 ahead of Vegas for the 2nd. They’re position is hardly secure.
Howard, maybe i jump ahead, i was giving Nashville the win. With the 3pts over Vegas and 10 games remaining.
Closer look at their remaining 10 games, the have the toughest schedule with 7 games against playoff teams.
They are not a given.
Hi Howard and Caper
I posted the above , then site seemed to go down… but showing after Howard’s post…. Sorry …. Certainly not wanting to duplicate Howard’s post… I just hadn’t seen it (Howard’s post) when I did send it
Apologies
Hi Caper
Don’t forget Predz
Only 1 point up on Stars and Kings; only 3 up on Knights
Predz still have 7 games v Play-off teams (1 more v Avs; 2 v Flames; 1 vs each of Wild, Blues, Oil, Bolts)…..and only 3 games v non-playoff teams… (1 each v Yotes, Hawks, Sharks)
Predz NOT safe yet
But the Canucks are planning to run the table in there last 9 games and sneak in. 😉
Hi IWMCB
Mathematically possible …. I’ll give ‘Nucks that
Re Gino and 4 games
On the one hand I am glad to see the clamp down on malicious hits etc. This should (better) send a strong message.
This type of punishment should have been given out earlier (this year and last) and been consistent. Wilson, Hatheway, Ovi still get away with too much; and I believe that Wilson is one move away from ending a career (Life maybe !!)
This will hurt the already floundering Pens, but they’ll still make the playoffs…. Their first round opponent may change
I am fully against what Gino did. I’m fully against hits to the head, blindside hits , hits from behind into the boards. If this suspension turns out to reduce the above infractions… all good
But…. Mr. inconsistency (and that is putting it politely)…. Parros…. Must be firm and consistent from now on. His inconsistency (it is literally all over the map) has lead to many injuries this year.
This is where I have an issue with Gino’s suspension. To me… his actions were the same as with Mathew’s….Mathew’s force at the neck… all stick…. Could have broken his neck…. It didn’t and he jumped right up. Malkin had similar force but had a combo of glove and stick in the force and caused a load of damage. The intent and possible outcome of the infraction should be the primary indicator of suspension…. Not the actual outcome. If the Young Swede had actually broken his neck and out for season (career)…. Would Parros have given AM 10 games? There have been slew foots with fines and slew foots with suspensions (some with no injuries at all, a couple that had awkward falls… out for a few games).
Parros…. Just be firm and consistent …. That is all that is required
Better still…. Gary…. Fire Parros and put in that position NOT another NHL thug, but someone who was consistently on the other end of thug damage…. Say… Paul Kariya
I like the idea of Paul Karya being in charge of DPS.
I guarantee Kariya would be more consistent and would definitely be less tolerant of the likes of Wilson, Hathaway, Ovi
These same inconsistencies spared Crosby of a suspension for his bs WrestleMania toss on Fehervary.
No challenge from me on that
Parros is brutal…. No rhyme or reason to his suspensions/fines/let slides
He’s got to go
His title has “Player Safety” in it…. And his actions and inactions are the farthest from ensuring player safety
I jnow I have repeatedly said it, but I will say it again… Wilson is one hit away from ending a career and possibly a Life…. Had Parros been firm and consistent throughout his tenure… my feeling that Wilson is close to ending a career (or Life) would be extremely remote
Parros is NOT the right candidate for the job
4 games is not enough , if he had done that to a star player he would have got double what he did. The 4 games should be served in the playoffs, more consequential. Players may think twice if they know they will sit post season games for infractions made in the last 10 games of the season.
Hi Fergy22
See my posts above
The length of suspension; who it is on; who was hurt; pre-season, near end of season, during playoffs…. Not the issue
The issue is the randomness of repercussions for these actions
Fines vs suspensions for basically identical infraction; Blindly disregarding giving out well warranted and lengthy suspensions; and inconsistent suspensions for basically identical acts are the issue
Parros is the issue
Get someone in there with brains, hutzpah, logic, and with the true delivered mandate of overall player safety in mind
Those 4 qualities are NOT on Parros’ resume
They will never be
Get him out
Evgeni Malkin.. 2 suspensions … 3 fines he’s going to catch BM soon
Bruins a -124 other night in Washington … tonight -128 at home against the Blues ….