NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 19, 2022
The Canucks keep their slim playoff hopes alive, Cale Makar sets a franchise record, Johnny Gaudreau reaches two scoring milestones, the stars of the week are revealed and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Vancouver Canucks remained in the chase for the final Western Conference playoff berth with a 6-2 win over the Dallas Stars. Elias Pettersson scored twice and added an assist, Brock Boeser and Jason Dickson each had three points and Thatcher Demko made 28 saves. Roope Hintz tallied twice for the Stars while Jake Oettinger got the hook after giving up four goals on 19 shots. The Stars hold the final Western wild-card spot with 91 points. Winners of six straight games, the Canucks sit five points back.
Meanwhile, the Vegas Golden Knights’ efforts to gain ground on the Stars and widen their lead over the Canucks took a hit with a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Andrew Hammond kicked out 42 shots while Nathan Bastian had a goal and an assist for the Devils. The Golden Knights remain four points behind the Stars and are now just one point ahead of the Canucks.
Alex Ovechkin scored his 48th goal of the season and Marcus Johansson netted the game-winner as the Washington Capitals defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-2, snapping the latter’s nine-game winning streak. Ovechkin tied Teemu Selanne for the most goals in a season by a player aged 36-or-older. The Avalanche’s Cale Makar picked up an assist to set a franchise record of 83 points by a defenseman.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avs remain atop the overall standings with 116 points, two points up on the Florida Panthers. Earlier in the day, they announced defenseman Devon Toews will take the next four games off to recover from a couple of minor injuries before the playoffs. Having clinched a playoff berth over the weekend, the Capitals (96 points) are one point behind the third-place Pittsburgh Penguins in the Metropolitan Division.
Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau (NHL Images).
Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau scored two goals in a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Gaudreau passed the 600-point milestone and became the first player since Jaromir Jagr in 1995-96 to reach 85 even-strength points in a season. Matthew Tkachuk collected two assists as the Flames (103 points) hold a nine-point lead over the Edmonton Oilers for first place in the Pacific Division.
The Carolina Hurricanes downed the Arizona Coyotes 5-3 to take over sole possession of first place in the Metropolitan Division with 106 points. Max Domi and Nino Niederreiter each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes while Coyotes goalie Karel Vejmelka made 46 saves.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Hurricanes announced forwards Jordan Staal and Jesperi Kotkaniemi are day-to-day with injuries. Goaltender Frederik Andersen underwent an MRI yesterday for a lower-body injury and will be re-evaluated in a week’s time.
Seattle Kraken rookie Matty Beniers scored to collect his third point in his first three NHL games in a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn collected three assists. Senators captain Brady Tkachuk scored his 28th goal of the season.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko, Minnesota Wild winger Kevin Fiala and Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith are the league’s three stars for the week ending April 17.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: David Pastrnak, Hampus Lindholm and Linus Ullmark remained sidelined and won’t be traveling with the Bruins on their two-game road trip to St. Louis and Pittsburgh.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have clinched a playoff berth so there’s no need to rush those players back into action. They’ll want them healthy for the upcoming playoffs.
MLIVE.COM: Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin will miss his club’s final six games of this season after undergoing core muscle surgery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A disappointing end to Larkin’s season. He’s their leading scorer with 31 goals and 69 points, marking his best performance since his career-high 32-goal, 73-point effort in 2018-19.
NEW YORK POST: Islanders center Mathew Barzal was fined $2,500.00 by the department of player safety for making contact with Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner from the bench on Sunday. Barzal grabbed Marner’s jersey and held on to him for a couple of seconds.
TWINCITIES.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Marcus Foligno was placed in COVID protocol ahead of tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.
NEW YORK POST‘s Mollie Walker yesterday tweeted that Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko (lower body) is listed as week-to-week.
NHL.COM: Canadiens forward Michael Pezzetta received a two-game suspension for an illegal check on Capitals winger T.J. Oshie on Saturday.
TSN: Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch and recording artist Macklemore are joining the Seattle Kraken’s minority investor group.
WASHINGTON HOCKEY NOW: The Capitals will be bringing back their “screaming eagle” logo for 2022-23.
THE ATHLETIC: Long-time Flyers trainers Jim McCrossin and Sal Raffa are suing the club’s ownership claiming they were unknowingly exposed to cancer-causing chemicals used in Zambonis at the club’s training facility.
Without Pasta and Lindholm another loss for the b’s.
Everyday
Regurgitate and repeat.
You should ask your mom upstairs if it’s ok for you to have another thought in your head before you take your meds!
Lol. He was wrong again as per usual 😎
Great job for ‘Nucks keeping their playoff hopes alive;
kick in the g’nads for Knights…. Every time I flipped over and watched a few minutes, looked like the were pressing and The Hamburgler was putting up a wall…. Then I saw a goal that Lehner definitely should have had
Can either catch LA…. yep… no Doughty …
LA… 3 @ home v Hawks, Jackets, Ducks; on road… Ducks; Krakken ,* ‘Nucks
‘Nucks…home… Sens, Krakken, *Kings, road… Wild, Flames, **Oil
Knights…home to Caps, Sharks; road: Sharks, Hawks, ***Blues
*Last game of Season for Kings
**Last game of season for ‘Nucks.. Oil likely locked @ 2nd PAC Div then… resting players????
***Last game of season for Blues(if Blues 2 points or more up on Wild (Blues have tie-breaker)… then Blues locked in 2nd Central…. Resting players???
*Basically a must for ‘Nucks to win this in reg
This could come down to the games on 29/4….
‘Nucks @ Oil; Knights @ Blues
Sorry… Knights road game v Stars (who they are also trying to catch) NOT Sharks
Vancouver with their 6 consecutive win are closer to LA for third in the Pacific then they are to the wild card spot.
The Canucks are 4pts behind LA with a game in Hand. They also have a head to head coming up.
With a win tonight against Ottawa it will push Vancouver ahead of LV in the standings.
Should be some exciting hockey with LA, Nash, Dal , VG and Van fighting for 3 spots.
Agree Caper
This literally could come down to last night of season… and maybe even down to winning in OT????
La had a soft schedule on paper and should hold on based on that. But who knows for sure. Nuks have some tough games to win. Wild Flames la and oil Would be hell of a story
Today’s column overlooks that the Knights and Canucks are not only chasing a wild card spot, but also 3rd in the division, which is an automatic playoff spot. The Kings hold 3rd in the division, with one point less than the Stars, who hold the second wild card spot. So Vegas is 3 points out of the playoffs and Vancouver 4 points out.
Agree Howard
That said… and acknowledging Doughty out…. Kings have easier rest of Season…. But playoff appearance for Kings could be decided in their last game of the season (second last for ‘Nucks)…. @ Van
Re; Calgary winger Johnny Gaudreau Will be in the $10.million Dollar Range this summer when the flames go to sign him… maybe more he is there Best Winger
Matthew Tkachuk will not be fair behind him at $9-9.5 range …? But maybe for a 3 year deal range, as he will be a UFA then…… i think Tkachuk will be there next Captan and they may want to try to lock him up long term then…?
You keep hearing both brothers want to play together for the Home town Blues……..🤔⁉️
Demolition derby in st.Louis is only two hours away. The b’s will go ahead by 2 goals only to lose 4-2
I’m glad you talked to your mom!
Baby steps!!
Poops you did it again. Wrong 😑