NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 15, 2022
The Penguins and Lightning clinch postseason berths, Auston Matthews hits the 100-point plateau, NHLPA votes to release findings of Kyle Beach investigation, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Jake Guentzel scored twice and set up two others and Sidney Crosby had a three-point game as they led the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders. With the win, the Penguins sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 97 points, securing a playoff spot for the 16th consecutive season. Zdeno Chara scored his first goal of the season for the Islanders while teammate Brock Nelson collected two assists.
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images).
The Tampa Bay Lightning clinched a postseason berth by nipping the Anaheim Ducks 4-3. Anthony Cirelli scored in overtime after Nikita Kucherov tied the game for Tampa Bay in the final seconds of regulation. Cirelli, Steven Stamkos and Alex Killorn finished the night with two points for the Lightning as they sit in third place in the Atlantic Division with 98 points. Adam Henrique scored twice for the Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy was pulled in the second period after giving up three goals on 13 shots, marking the first time he’s gotten the hook since March 2018. He’s 0-3-1 in his last five starts.
John Tavares collected three assists while William Nylander, Michael Bunting and Ilya Mikheyev each scored two goals as the Toronto Maple Leafs thumped the Washington Capitals 7-3. Auston Matthews picked up two assists to reach 101 points, becoming the third player in Leafs history to reach the 100-point plateau. The Leafs sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 102 points. John Carlson had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 92 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews sits fourth among this season’s points leaders and remains in first place in the goal-scoring race with 58. He joins Darryl Sittler and Doug Gilmour as the only Leafs with 100-point seasons.
St. Louis Blues forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Robert Thomas each collected five points in a 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Tarasenko tallied a hat trick and two assists while Thomas had five helpers. Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and two assists while Jordan Binnington got the win with a 35-save effort. With seven straight wins, the Blues sit in third place in the Central Division with 98 points.
Leon Draisaitl scored a hat trick and Mike Smith kicked out 30 shots as the Edmonton Oilers shut out the Nashville Predators 4-0. Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each had two assists for the Oilers as they sit in second place in the Pacific Division with 92 points. The Predators, meanwhile, cling to the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 89 points.
An overtime goal by Frederick Gaudreau lifted the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars. Kevin Fiala scored twice for the Wild while Jason Robertson netted both goals for the Stars. The Wild are tied with the Blues with 98 points but hold second place in the Central Division with a game in hand. The Stars, meanwhile, are tied with Nashville but hold the final Western wild-card spot because the Predators have more regulation wins.
The Vegas Golden Knights remain two points back of the Stars after snuffing out the Calgary Flames 6-1. Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson each had a goal and two assists while Logan Thompson made 35 saves for the win. The loss prevented the Flames from clinching a playoff spot. They remain in first place in the Pacific with 99 points, sitting seven up on the second-place Oilers.
Vancouver Canucks center J.T. Miller picked up five assists in a 7-1 drubbing of the Arizona Coyotes. Quinn Hughes picked up three assists while Vasily Podkolzin and Alex Chiasson each tallied two goals. The Canucks remain in the Western playoff chase with 84 points, five behind the Predators and Stars.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks captain Bo Horvat left the game in the second period after taking an Anton Stralman slapshot off his right ankle. He was seen following the game wearing a walking boot. No word yet on his status but his potential absence from the Canucks’ remaining games could be a big blow for their postseason hopes. Head coach Bruce Boudreau remains optimistic over his captain’s condition.
The Ottawa Senators netted three unanswered second-period goals to defeat the Boston Bruins 3-2. Tim Stutzle led the way for the Senators with a goal and two assists while Anton Forsberg made 40 saves. Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark left the game with an injury following the first period after taking a shot to the mask. No further word on his condition following the game. With 95 points, the Bruins remain three points ahead of the Capitals for the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic turned in a 46-save shutout to upset the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Moritz Seider, Adam Erne and Filip Zadina were the goal scorers. The loss leaves the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes just two points up on the second-place New York Rangers with 104 points.
The league-leading Colorado Avalanche picked up their eighth straight win by beating the New Jersey Devils 3-1. Pavel Francouz made 26 saves and Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who hold a four-point lead over the Florida Panthers in the overall standings with 114 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche need just two more wins to tie their single-season franchise record of 118 points.
Patrick Kane had a goal and two assists and Alex DeBrincat collected three helpers as the Chicago Blackhawks snapped an eight-game losing skid with a 5-4 victory over the San Jose Sharks to officially eliminate the latter from playoff contention. DeBrincat tallied the winning goal in the shootout as the Blackhawks handed the Sharks their eighth straight loss.
HEADLINES
SPORTSNET: The NHL Players’ Association executive board voted yesterday to release the findings of an independent investigation into the association’s handling of former Chicago Blackhawks winger Kyle Beach’s sexual assault allegations against the club’s video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. PA executive director Donald Fehr was contacted twice about Beach’s allegations against Aldrich. Fehr said he couldn’t recall the conversations but didn’t deny that they had taken place.
THE ATHLETIC: Anaheim Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek defended Ducks center Trevor Zegras’ lacrosse-style goals he’s scored this season, which drew criticism from some circles amid the widespread attention and praise those goals have garnered.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some “old school” critics can’t handle the fact that the game, like everything in life, is evolving and changing. Zegras’ goals aren’t against the rules and require a certain amount of skill to pull off. His critics accuse him of disrespecting the game or “hotdogging” but what he’s really doing is using creativity to score goals, which is what the game is about. Those supposed gatekeepers of hockey should be appreciative of Zegras’ skill and the positive attention it’s bringing to the NHL in its efforts to grow the game while entertaining the current fans.
ESPN.COM: Minnesota Wild center Ryan Hartman is flattered by the outpouring of donations to help him pay his $4,500.00 fine for recently flipping off Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane in a recent game. He indicated he can afford to pay off the fine and will donate the money sent by the fans to a pediatric hospital located two blocks from the Wild’s home arena.
STARTRIBUNE.COM: Former Minnesota North Stars forward Tom McCarthy passed away yesterday at age 61. McCarthy spent nine seasons in the NHL from 1979-80 to 1987-88, spending seven seasons with the North Stars and two with the Boston Bruins. He tallied 179 goals and 399 points in 460 games before injuries cut short his career, including a career-best 39 goals and 70 points in 66 games in 1983-84.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to McCarthy’s family, friends and former teammates.
Just like the ole Gordon Lightfoot song says “The captain wired in, he had water comin’ in
And the good ship and crew was in peril” In other words to quote an ole newfie saying “The #rse is gone out of ‘er”. Just pack up your hockey gear and maybe take up macramé or needlepoint, Hockey’s not the bruins forte they’re not getting out of this one. Swayman hasn’t just looked shaky, he’s lost it. This may be the worst powerplay since the turn of the century.
Bruins loose their starting goalie after taking shot of head Bruins Got to get healthy or 1 and done Power play is awol.
Bruins stink. Teams must be licking their lips for a chance to play these wannabes.
RWM
Pick a new team. You be 1st one saying how great they are when they go back on a roll
Your comments are 99.9% negative. Fire Sweeney. Ullmark a bum. Debrusk a bum. Sell off everyone. Except Swayman lol
Great to see Leafs beat the Thugs, and handily👍👍👍
The Sid-Guentz show was great to watch👍👍👍
The surprise of the night was the Knights drubbing the Flames… and doing so IN the Saddledome… that was a shocker tome. Not necessarily the win… it is nearing a point where all Knights’ games are “must” wins…. So I expected full tilt effort… but winning 6-1 on the road; while being out-shot 36-25…. That was unbelievable. Only got to see highlights…. and Thompson had several 10 bellers in those 35 (of 36) stops, and went 972…. Only 3rd star of game????😳😳😳
Re “The Vegas Golden Knights remain two points back of the Stars…”
True… but also only 1 point behind Kings, and Knights have a game in hand. ‘Nucks 4 points behind LA, with game in hand AND a H2H game upcoming with BOTH Stars and Kings
3 spots… 5 teams… coming down to the wire!!
Leon with a Tre (drei Tore) plus a post and just missed another…. Wow !!
If knights get in. I would not wish to play them in 1st rd if they are healthy
With you on that thought MrBruin4
Agreed on Vegas boys, the Oil can do themselves a huge favor by beating them tomorrow. Need LA to find a way to win some games down the stretch.
Bruins in the AM followed by Oil at 2 PM on SNWest. Gonna be a good Saturday!
RIP Mike Bossy, a true hockey legend, arguably the best pure goal scorer to ever play the game.
I happened to be in attendance that Saturday night in 1993 when his number was retired at the old Coliseum. The barn was loud and rocking that night.
The Isles are playing at the Bell Center tonight. Quite fitting that on the day of Bossy’s passing, his team is playing in his hometown.
Just saw that Howard
Condolences out to the entire Bossy family
He was, and remains, IMHO, NHL’s best pure goal scorer… 9 straight 50 goal seasons right from rookie season onward….. If not for bad back…12 or more straight 50+ goal seasons , and finishing career 2nd over-all in goals…. A reasonable outcome
Mike…. RIP
Bossy the only player to ever have 9 straight seasons of 50+ goals. One of the greatest goal scorers ever.
Drafted 15th overall in 1977 in a do over he be 1st. leaf fans Toronto passed on him twice, choosing John Anderson and Trevor Johansen.
Islander drafted John Tonelli in the 2nd round of the same draft.
Mr. Bossy not only one of the purest goal scorer of all time, one of the classiest individuals . RIP
Continued from yesterday:
Chrism,
Snarky sarcasm is awesome!
But you still didn’t answer the question. What team that Price would be willing to waive to could #1 afford him, or #2 need him @ 7.5 per?
Cue the jeopardy theme here.
Any of the teams Lyle mentioned looking for goaltending. Jersey buff warshington. If some salary is held maybe some salary sent back it’s absolutely doable. A healthy (big if) price could be enough to help jersey or buff take a step to competitiveness.
There are more teams that need goalies than their are available number one goalies this offseason. Montreal would not have to add a sweetener to move him. Would almost certainly have to hold a healthy hunk of salary
Which is why I said 50% will need to be retained. Not 3 million.
Washington has about 72 million tied up on 15 players next year. Add Price in at 7.5 that leaves them 4-5 million to fill 7 roster spots.
That’s out the window.
Buffalo or NJ? Raise your hand if you see Price waiving to go to either one of these teams?
Anybody?
I certainly don’t.
More teams that need goalies than there are available?
Fleury, Halak, Holtby, Campbell, etc. currently 46 ufa goalies at the end of this year. 42 rfa,s
Let’s say half of them aren’t worth a look. That leaves 44 available to possibly available.
Let’s cut that again in half saying they aren’t capable starters. That’s 22.
Are we saying there are more than 22 teams in need of 7.5 million per goaltender?
There are much better / cheaper options out there than Price at 7.5 per. Especially given his age, term, injury history.
And as caper and I have pointed out, that NMC kinda makes where he goes extremely limited. So him getting a “decent return” @ 7.5 per is out the window.
You goalie math was nonsense. Nobody can speak to his willingness to move to certain teams but him and he’s not exactly leaving a powerhouse organization. We’ve seen the cap gymnastics teams pull off so if warshington was so inclined they would have little problem figuring it out.
You are making the classic mistake of giving the collective gms of the nhl too much credit.
So again. I’ll place a bet. If he gets traded this summer, he will not require a sweetener ( I don’t consider taking a salary back in trade a sweetener) and will not require 50%.
Loser has to post the other is the smartest poster alive.
Put your ego where your thumb is?
I will take that bet Chrisms.
It’s easy for me because I already believe you are the smartest poster alive.
Your on ray ray!
Chrism, you’re forgetting Price NMC scratch the teams you just listed.
Nonsense would be using every and any team out there as an example of where he can be moved simply because the math works to justify your position.
What’s wrong with my goalie math? I actually think it was quite generous.
Every single one of the 88 have better number than Price does at the moment.
How many teams you have needing a 7.5 million dollar / often injured goaltender that while highly praised by die hard Price fans, hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype?
How many teams can or would be willing to afford him?
No, he isn’t on a powerhouse team. You see many players waive a full NMC to go to a team in worse shape, or a lateral team? Love to hear all about them!!! Please, by all means insert your long list of such moves in the reply!
“Don’t consider taking a bad contract back a sweetener” HUH? Lmao. What ? HUH?
So if they retain 3 million and take a 4-5 million contract back that’s not the same or worse than 50%? Okay, . Uhhhhhh I guess?
As far as your bet, nah. Nobody needs to inflate your already bizarre love affair with yourself. Let’s talk money bet. I mean Venmo is a beautiful thing.
How’s Seattle’s goaltending so far? Pretty sure Price would go there.
Sorry, Ray, Chrisms comes second. Try not to be so modest.
So that’s a no cap. Way to have confidence in yourself… duh!
Once again bcleaf fan, raise your hand if you think Price will waive to go to Seattle? Anybody?
No, zero chance Price waives to go to a floundering mess that is the Kraken. 5 years left on Grubauer at 5.9 (if he’s the reason Seattles failing hebehebe, who’s taking him?) and 2 years left on Driedger at 3.5 creates another obstacle.
Look deeper than “the dollars work”
Another swing, another miss!
Chrism, open up that piggy bank or shhhhhhhhg.
My condolences to the family of Mike Bossy.
In the Ottawa – Boston game last night. A play i have not seen before:
Boston dman shoots the puck around the back of his net before it reaches the other bruin dman it hit the refs skate, then as the Ottawa players skates in to pick it up, the ref decides to make a perfect skate kick of the puck to the Boston dman.
If the bruins had of went the length of the ice and scored; the Sens rightfully so would’ve been pissed.
Caper. No need to worry about that. Especially if bruins on the power play. 😜 they should just get healthy and work on specialty teams to be ready for playoffs
Never been a fan of the Michigan, yes it takes skill, but you may say I’m old school. I don’t care about showboating it adds entertainment value, so do goals.
My issue with the michigan is that it’s not a shot, it’s a throw/shovel. The player is not actively shooting the puck, they are carrying the puck on the blade of their stick and throwing the puck into the net.
I know people say “if it was easy everyone be doing it” the fact is not many people practice it. I imagine young fans are and becoming very adapt at it.
At a -23 maybe there is other things Zegras could practice to become better at.
Don’t care if it stays or go. The more it happens the less i’ll notice.
“A shot on net is any touch of the puck towards the net, that if not for the goaltender intervening, would result in a goal. Blocked shots don’t count. If someone shoots the puck and it’s tipped, only the “tip” counts as a shot, and the original shot becomes a “pass”.
It’s a shot and a goal by definition. Deal with it. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have posted your nonsense.
watching the b’s right now is like watching a Urkle and Horshack sing off. I’m not watching another Bruins game till Pasta an Hampus return
But will Pasta and Hampus sing?
Horshack and Screech from the grave as top pairing D; Urkle in net; Squiggy centering Lenny and Dwight Schrute on top line…. That could easily carry then to SCF
ha ha good one, had a good chuckle about that one
A sad day to bid good-bye to Mike Bossy , the best pure goal scorer these eyes have seen , and a kind and gentle man .RIP .
Funny all the whinging about Zegras ….the idea is to put the biscuit in the basket …lest we forget it is the entertainment business . a little zest adds excitement .
The officials will need to anticipate how to respond when his stick makes contact with an opponent. Will a penalty be called if the stick whacks the goalie in the head , or if blood is drawn is it 5 min as the stick is not high through inadvertence ?
I’d start Troy on Saturday he’s been the best goalie in the ahl this year. Swayman’s been God awful lately.