NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 14, 2022
The Avalanche sets franchise records in a lopsided win over the Kings, Martin St. Louis clarifies his future plans with the Canadiens, the Flames are poised to clinch a playoff berth and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche set franchise records with their 53rd win of the season by crushing the Los Angeles Kings 9-3. Nathan MacKinnon had a hat trick and collected two assists, Cale Makar had a goal and three assists while Valeri Nichushkin and Nicolas Aube-Kubel each scored two goals. The Avalanche also set a franchise record with their 29th home victory, sitting on top of the overall standings with 112 points.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avs’ franchise record for points in a season is 118 in 2000-21. With nine games remaining in their schedule, they can break that record with four more wins. The Kings, meanwhile, cling to third place in the Pacific Division with 88 points, holding a three-point lead over the Vegas Golden Knights.
New York Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev made 28 saves to shut out the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0. Kaapo Kakko scored twice while Jacob Trouba and Barclay Goodrow each had two assists. With 102 points, the Rangers sit two points behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers suffered their 40th loss of the season, marking the second time in franchise history they’ve reached that level. They dropped 48 games in 2006-07.
The Columbus Blue Jackets got two goals from Jack Roslovic and three points from Patrik Laine in a 5-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis indicated he’d like to return behind the Habs bench following yesterday’s morning skate. He said he was brought in to finish the season and that’s where he was putting his focus, but added his goal would be to be back with the club next season.
St. Louis was clarifying earlier comments where he seemed to suggest he might not return after this season, raising some concern among Canadiens fans. He’s in his current position on an interim basis but general manager Kent Hughes recently said he’d like to keep him on as their full-time bench boss.
HEADLINES
CALGARY SUN: The Flames can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Vegas Golden Knights tonight. They sit in first place in the Pacific Division with 99 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: They’ll have their hands full against a determined opponent battling for a wild-card spot.
SPORTSNET: The NHL department of player safety fined Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman $4,250.00 for unsportsmanlike conduct for flipping off Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane on Tuesday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hartman can afford that fine but that hasn’t stopped Wild fans (and Kane’s estranged wife Anna) from chipping in to an online fund to help him pay it off. I suspect he’ll donate that money to charity.
NEW YORK POST: Vitaly Kravtsov will not be joining the Rangers for the upcoming playoffs. However, he remains in good standing with the organization and plans are being made for him to come to New York this summer to get an early start on training camp. Kravtsov, 21, spent this season on loan to the KHL after refusing to report to the Rangers’ AHL affiliate last fall.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kravtsov was a hot topic for early-season trade speculation. He could resurface in this fall’s rumor mill if he fails to secure a full-time roster spot with the Rangers. It’s also possible he gets traded during the offseason if the Rangers get a suitable trade offer.
NHL.COM: Boston’s Fenway Park will host the 2023 NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 2 as the Bruins face off against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.
THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel makes the case for Toronto Maple Leafs winger Michael Bunting to receive votes for the Calder Memorial Trophy despite the 26-year-old rookie’s age and his previous (albeit limited) NHL experience with the Arizona Coyotes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I consider Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider and Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras as the front-runners for this award, with Seider my choice as rookie of the year.
I acknowledge Siegel’s point that Bunting had to rise to the challenge of dealing with the pressure of playing alongside superstars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner in hockey’s biggest market. However, Seider and Zegras are already establishing themselves as invaluable players on rebuilding clubs lacking big-name talent.
The Leafs would still be a playoff club this season regardless of whether Bunting played on their top line. Seider and Zegras, however, are budding impact players already playing important roles on their respective teams.
TSN: The Chicago Blackhawks signed forward Reese Johnson to a two-year contract extension with an annual average value of $800K.
Redtail has some excellent twilight specials coming up next month for those b’s with a faraway fairway in their eyes. B’s continue their losing ways tonight in Boston. Without Pasta and Hampus the bruins are lost
Rick it’s funny that you include Lindholm all of 7 games with the bruins in your comments. The Bruins with 45 wins now can’t win unless the guy that be here for a few games is in the lineup.
My concern would be their play against heavier teams.
It was the MacK-Makar show last night…. This team; like the Cats; can score…. And in bunches
MSL returning as Habs coach next year , IMHO, would be very good for Habs
Re the detractors on Bunting consideration for Calder…. and setting aside that the young German RedWing IMHO is the true best rookie…. I get these concerns
Yes… if Bunting was born 36 hours earlier, OR if he had played 4 less games in Arz… he doesn’t qualify to be considered as a rookie
Kaprizov and the Breadman had both played 6 years of professional hockey ; Nabokov, had 7 pro years; Ovi 4…. and then they won the Calder
So by definition… Bunting is a “rookie”; as were, Kaprizov, Breadman, Nabokov, Ovi…. also by definition “rookies”….
But are they truly “rookies”???
This argument will go on until a “definition” change is made
This also goes to point re Hart… “most valuable to HIS team”… and many of those voting on this award, including Freidman have admitted to voting in the past for “the Leagues best player” over “most valuable to HIS team”
Then let’s add to it…. Why are PWHA members voting on this??? wouldn’t you think the players … who skate with and against these nominees , know who is best??
Sometimes in life you just got to shake your head and ask WT (add your own word). So Ryan Harman gets fined for flipping off Evander Kane. I watch too much hockey and often times see players getting into a fight and throwing the F bomb right next to the glass where I am sure every fan within ear shot can hear that “terrible” word but flip a guy off and that is unsportsmanlike conduct. Do the player safety folks just have too much time on their hands that they make up rules as they go along just to get some money. Maybe they get a percentage of the take but my goodness this fine is absurd !!
Lets not sell Bunting too short here. He does some other tangibles the other two mentioned do not do.
He draws penalties in a very smart manner and is poised when doing so. His plus minus is miles ahead of the others and I get it playing with the superstars he may go a little un-noticed and like the other two mentioned nominees.
Bunting also plays against the top perfomers of the opposition.
I just feel it should be a closer race than some may think but most likely Seider takes it as he does also stand up physically to opponents in a noble way.
and he also has this…..
Quote from Lidstrom – Mo Seider has Nicklas Lidstrom’s attention: “I wasn’t as good” at same age
https://t.co/6CcHCsR3zP
I don’t understand how Bunting can be eligible for the Calder.
Evan Bouchard, drafted in 2018, isn’t eligible this season even though he just played in 21 NHL games prior to this season and is only 22 years old.
I’m not saying that Bouchard would be ahead of Seider in the Calder race, but he would be in the conversation.
Hi KevJam
To be a rookie:
1) must not have had 26th birthday as of 15/9/21
2) played no greater than 25 games in the previous season OR more than 10 in any 2 preceding seasons
He turned 26 on 17/9/21
He played 5 games in 18/19 and 21 last year
If he had played 5 more games in 18/19; OR 4 more games last year; OR born 36 hours ealier (apparently he was born in the morning)… then he would not qualify as a rookie
I does a man good to see Philly where they are at.
Tanner Jannott should win the Calder.
*Jeannot
the hunger appears to be there and the Avalanche have made a commitment to cleaning up their
defensive flaws and if healthy, I feel sorry for the rest of the NHL. GO AVS!!!!!!!!