NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2022

by | Apr 21, 2022 | News, NHL | 32 comments

Alex Ovechkin reaches 50 goals for the ninth time, the Golden Knights keep their playoff hopes alive while ending those of the Jets, the date for the 2022 Draft Lottery is revealed, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored twice, including his 50th goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough to prevent his club from dropping a 4-3 decision to the Vegas Golden Knights. Shea Theodore tallied the winner in overtime for the Golden Knights (89 points), who moved within two points of the Dallas Stars for the final Western Conference wild-card berth.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

Ovechkin, meanwhile, reached an important scoring milestone, joining Hall-of-Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy as the only NHL players to score 50 goals in nine seasons. His Capitals are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins with 97 points but the Penguins still hold third place in the Metropolitan Division on the basis of regulation plus overtime wins.

The Golden Knights’ win over the Capitals officially eliminated the Winnipeg Jets from playoff contention.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights head coach Pete DeBoer raised eyebrows by replacing starting goaltender Robin Lehner with Logan Thompson following the first period with the score tied at one after he gave up just one goal on 13 shots. DeBoer claimed the move was made to shift the momentum during the game.

Connor McDavid scored and collected two assists to lead the Edmonton Oilers over the Dallas Stars 5-2. The Oilers hold a four-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division with 96 points while the Stars failed to widen their lead over the Golden Knights. McDavid regained first place in the NHL scoring race with 113 points, two ahead of Florida Panthers winger Jonathan Huberdeau.

Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 25 saves as his club held on for a 3-2 upset of his former club, the Colorado Avalanche. Kraken rookie Matty Beniers picked up an assist to extend his points streak to four games. With the loss, the Avalanche drop to second place in the overall standings behind the Florida Panthers. Avs center Nazem Kadri returned to action after missing eight games with an upper-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Beniers only has four games of NHL experience but he’s not looking out of place with the Kraken. The second-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft appears to be on his way toward a bright future in Seattle.

Chicago Blackhawks winger Alex DeBrincat’s 40th goal of the season was also the game-winner as his club nipped the Arizona Coyotes 4-3 in overtime. The Coyotes have dropped eight in a row.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The 2022 NHL Draft Lottery will be held on May 10 at 6:30 PM ET, setting the order for the 16 teams that failed to qualify for the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Central Scouting’s final rankings will be released on May 5 while the annual Scouting Combine is set for May 29 to June 4 in Buffalo.

TSN: Evander Kane’s grievance hearing over the San Jose Sharks’ termination of his contract will require a second day. The date has yet to be determined.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry’s status remains “week-to-week” with a lower-body injury. His right foot appeared to be in a boot cast during their recent annual team photograph.

The Penguins also announced Amanda Kessel will be joining their executive management program. Kessel, an Olympic gold medalist in women’s hockey, is the sister of former Penguin and current Arizona Coyotes winger Phil Kessel.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark is expected to return to the lineup this weekend. He’s been sidelined since last Thursday with an upper-body injury. The Bruins are still waiting on sidelined winger David Pastrnak and defenseman Hampus Lindholm.

MLIVE.COM: Longtime Detroit Red Wings Zamboni driver Al Sobotka was reportedly fired because another employee caught him urinating into a drain used for ice runoff at Little Caesars Arena. He’s filed a lawsuit claiming he was discriminated against due to his age and disability.







32 Comments

  1. If Pasta, Hampus, Bergy, Marchy, Charley Mac, Charley C, Carlo, Houla, Jake, Orr, Espo, Cheesy, Pie Face, Hodgy, Cashman, and Bourque dont play, Bruins are done!!

    I think that covers it.

    We now return to our regular knowledgeable posters.

    • Is Pie-face MacKenzie?

    • Steve Kasper and Craig Janney

    • You nailed it. Gave me my morning chuckle 🤭 Ps you forgot to fire Sweeney

    • Hey you forgot Eddie, and Derek
      When I first saw this I laughed hysterically.
      The Color brown really brings out most of these posters noses.

    • Lyle it was posted At 9.14 am.

      • It, and the other posts have been removed. Yours should be fine

    • The B’s need Teddy Greene back for the playoffs, so he can bash in some faces! 🙂

      • Those were the days 😜

    • JZ

      Didn’t have you pegged as a Sr (but what do I know) like some of us other “old farts” here…. If you were there Pre Sobotka…. You must be approaching 70 (or more)???

    • Geez, sounds like the floor’s not the only thing that got pissed on…. Who’s the dink that reported him for such a thing, and why would the Wings hand out such an extreme consequence to a long-time employee? There must be more to this tale, me thinks.

      • With wings knowing of his condition. I have little doubt he will win his suit in court

  2. Watched the Oil/Stars Ganymede and Knights/Caps game

    In Knights/Caps game…. L’Ecuyer/Luxmore let basically EVERYTHING go (Huge advantage to the Thugsquad lead by the Thug trio of Wilson, Ovi, Hathaway…..both Ovi goals on plays where blatant non calls allowed the play to continue (on those plays they weren’t missed offences on Ovi… but he got away with at least 3 non-calls throughout the game)…..L’Ecuyer/Luxmore call only 2 trips and a hook…. and only because they were massively obvious. How does the league’s dirtiest player get away with soooooooo much?

    2 points to Knights… still alive in race. If they had lost in reg…. That just may have shut the door.

    In the Oil/Stars…. McD witnessed Hoobie Doobie Doo two days ago, do his thing and take over Art Ross lead…. So McD said….”Hoobie Doobie Don’t” (sorry had to. McD once again absolutely flying, reiterating he IS the best player on the planet right now

    Avs “Krakked” under pressure…. Now Cats all huddled in the Presidential suite (again… sorry, had to…. Not had my Tim’s yet)

    When my son texted me “Kessel now with Pens”…. I said WTFuddleDuddle …. alas… Amanda , not Oscar Meyer Phil

    Jarry in a boot cast…. NOT good…. Another Pens out in 1st round…. Pens better hope they don’t face Shesterkin round 1

    Re Sobotka firing and “He’s filed a lawsuit claiming he was discriminated against due to his age and disability.”… age/disability??? Alzheimers?…forgot where washroom was??

  3. Watched the Oil/Stars Ganymede and Knights/Caps game

    In Knights/Caps game…. L’Ecuyer/Luxmore let basically EVERYTHING go (Huge advantage to the Thugsquad lead by the Thug trio of Wilson, Ovi, Hathaway…..both Ovi goals on plays where blatant non calls allowed the play to continue (on those plays they weren’t missed offences on Ovi… but he got away with at least 3 non-calls throughout the game)…..L’Ecuyer/Luxmore call only 2 trips and a hook…. and only because they were massively obvious. How does the league’s dirtiest player get away with soooooooo much?

    2 points to Knights… still alive in race. If they had lost in reg…. That just may have shut the door.

    In the Oil/Stars…. McD witnessed Hoobie Doobie Doo two days ago, do his thing and take over Art Ross lead…. So McD said….”Hoobie Doobie Don’t” (sorry had to. McD once again absolutely flying, reiterating he IS the best player on the planet right now

    Avs “Krakked” under pressure…. Now Cats all huddled in the Presidential suite (again… sorry, had to…. Not had my Tim’s yet)

    When my son texted me “Kessel now with Pens”…. I said WTFuddleDuddle …. alas… Amanda , not Oscar Meyer Phil

    Jarry in a boot cast…. NOT good…. Another Pens out in 1st round…. Pens better hope they don’t face Shesterkin round 1

    Re Sobotka firing and “He’s filed a lawsuit claiming he was discriminated against due to his age and disability.”… age/disability??? Alzheimers?…forgot where washroom was??

    • Poor old fellow probably has a weak bladder or some other underlying medical issues.
      I sincerely doubt your musings.
      Sometimes we just hafta go. Piss on his coworker for ratting him out.

      • LOL…. had me laughin’ SOP 👍👍👍

    • Pengy didn’t know you even knew Avalanche were in the NHL?

      • Huh?

      • Tommyboy….

        Didn’t you know….Pengy knows everything…

  4. Wonder why the employee 🐀 Ed him out. Maybe he is a jerk to work with?

    • Are you saying that Ed is a 🐀????

      • Couldn’t find an emoji for dufus?

      • Ha.

  5. Chrisms…lol..no pun on the jerk chicken comment?

  6. Old Hockey Fan, I guess you are right, I’m beginning to understand that, LOL. GO AVS!!!!!

  7. Ovechkin would have had 50 last year but for the covid season

    • Jack I agree . I am far from an OV fan . But he has had Covid shorten seasons 2 lockouts . I am a huge Gretzky fan grew up in the late 70s fav players Gretzky Laffer and Bossy . But can’t help but admire how great OV is

    • He wouldn’t have gotten 50 this year. The condense schedule, three games in 4 nights.

      There is a reason why goals are up. Goaltenders are overused.

      • Caper I can’t argue against that . Scoring this year is way up and agree with your reasoning . But would never count OV out for 50 he is a pure goal scorer

  8. This offseason could be a brutal one for the Bruins almost everyone on the roster has term except PB ….. looks like if the Bruins are going to improve their roster they are going to have to do it by trades which might be a issue because there’s not much there to trade unless a goalie.a top forward or a #3 Dman is traded or the young top players they have in the organization …. UFA signings look out if the question

  9. Old hockey fan, Pengy doesn’t know everything that title belong to Mrbruin4 you just ask him He’ll tell ya.