NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 24, 2022
The number 13 proves to be lucky for the Panthers, the Blues extend their points streak, Sidney Crosby ties Jaromir Jagr for the second-most 30-goal seasons in Penguins history, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers set a franchise record with their 13th consecutive win by downing the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on an overtime goal by Brandon Montour. Claude Giroux had a goal and two assists, Aleksander Barkov had a goal and an assist and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 34 shots. Mitch Marner and Justin Holl scored for the Leafs while teammate Auston Matthews was held scoreless in his return to the lineup after missing three games with an undisclosed injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers also set an NHL record for the most overtime goals in one season with 13. They have opened a four-point lead over the Colorado Avalanche in the overall standings with 120 points. Meanwhile, Toronto picked up a point and sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 109 points. Leafs rookie winger Michael Bunting is expected to miss some time after leaving the game with a lower-body injury.
An overtime goal by Justin Faulk lifted the St. Louis Blues over the Arizona Coyotes 5-4 to extend their points streak to 15 games (13-0-2). Faulk finished the game with two goals and an assist. Coyotes rookie winger Bokondji Imama tallied his first career NHL goal. The Blues are tied with the Minnesota Wild with 107 points but the latter holds second place in the Central Division with a game in hand.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
Sidney Crosby tied Jaromir Jagr for the second-most 30-goal seasons in Pittsburgh Penguins history as he led his club over the Detroit Red Wings 7-2. Crosby has ten 30-goal campaigns and sits one back of franchise leader Mario Lemieux. Evgeni Malkin scored twice and Kris Letang had a three-point performance as the Penguins opened a two-point lead over the Washington Capitals for third place in the Metropolitan Division with 101 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings forward Filip Zadina missed this game and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season with appendicitis.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos scored multiple points for the fifth straight game in a 6-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. Stamkos had a goal and two assists and has 13 points in his last five contests. Nikita Kucherov also had three points as the Lightning (104 points) sit five points back of the Leafs in third place in the Atlantic Division. Predators captain Roman Josi scored to become the first defenseman to reach 90 points since Raymond Bourque in 1993-94.
The Carolina Hurricanes got an overtime goal by Seth Jarvis to nip the New Jersey Devils 3-2. Hurricanes rookie goalie Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves for the win in his first NHL game. With the win, the Hurricanes opened a two-point lead over the New York Rangers atop the Metropolitan Division with 110 points.
Speaking of the Rangers, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Boston Bruins. David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist in his return to the Bruins lineup after missing eight games with an undisclosed injury. The Bruins hold a two-point lead over the Capitals for the first wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference with 101 points.
Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm scored his 40th goal of the season in a 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Chris Tanev collected three assists, Dillon Dube scored twice and Johnny Gaudreau collected two points for the Flames, who sit in first place in the Pacific Division with 108 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The loss leaves the Canucks’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread. With 87 points, they’re six behind the Dallas Stars for the final wild-card berth. The Stars need just one point to eliminate the Canucks from postseason contention.
Speaking of the Stars, they overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Roope Hintz tallied twice and Jake Oettinger kicked out 30 shots for the win. Kraken rookie Matty Beniers was held pointless for the first time in six games.
The Los Angeles Kings improved their chances of securing a playoff spot by doubling up the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Anze Kopitar, Quinton Byfield and Arthur Kaliyev each collected two points as the Kings hold a seven-point lead over the Vegas Golden Knights for third place in the Pacific Division with 96 points. Trevor Zegras scored to set the Ducks rookie points record with 58.
The Ottawa Senators defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-4 with rookie forward Mark Kastelic scoring his first two NHL goals and Anton Forsberg making 44 saves. Canadiens rookie Cole Caufield scored his 20th goal of the season and Rem Pitlick tallied twice. Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot was held scoreless in his first game since breaking his hand on March 16.
Forwards Jeff Skinner and Tage Thompson each had a goal and an assist as the Buffalo Sabres extended their win streak to four games with a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders.
San Jose Sharks winger Timo Meier scored his 34th goal of the season in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Kaapo Kahkonen got the win by stopping 27 shots.
IN OTHER NEWS…
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner missed practice for the second straight day amid speculation he requires season-ending knee surgery. The Golden Knights have declined to comment and remain hopeful he’ll play tonight against the San Jose Sharks.
WINNIPEG SUN: Jets forwards Mark Scheifele and Cole Perfetti have been shut down for the season due to nagging injuries.
CBS SPORTS: An upper-body injury could sideline Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba for the remainder of the regular season and possibly the first game of their opening-round series against the Blues.
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: The Flyers have ruled all their injured players except for Nick Seeler are sidelined for the season. That list includes Cam Atkinson, Carter Hart, Rasmus Ristolainen, Sean Couturier and Cam York.
13 straight wins…. And another in comeback fashion…. Currently 4 points up on Avs for Prez trophy; AND they will be getting their star D-Man back for the playoffs (“sometime in round 1”)….Cats are something…. Kudos where kudos are due…. Zito
Are they going to make it 14 in a row v Bolts today??
Leafs played pretty good; just couldn’t hold the lead. Take the single point👍👍
During the intermission (Leafs v Cats) there was a Panel discussion re who should get Hart.
The focus was once again on who was “Leagues best player” and not “most valuable to HIS team” (actual definition of Hart).
A few days ago, Dave Poulin (who will have a ballot this year) said that he WOULD be voting for “leagues best player” and not “most valuable to HIS team”. Dredger hinted that he would also be voting similarly
Last nights panel (all employed by same owners as Leafs) …. basically compared (merits of McD, Draiseitl, Johnny Hockey; Hoobie [actually had pictoral of them with their points total] ) to Mathews. They kept harping on points… what if X gets so many points by end of year, etc etc. Only Friedman, near end of discussion, mentioned Jossi.
As they were going to commercial break, it was only David Amber , who tangentially mentioned that Merrick (away with sons hockey tourney ) would be watching and angry that the panel didn’t even mention Shesterkin. Amber said re Shesterkin (again last words just before going to commercial)….”who is also in the conversation
This to me is mind boggling
“Most valuable to HIS team”… should be (in order)…. Shesterkin; Jossi; Johnny Hockey
IF (incorrectly…..NOT by definition) …. they (PHWA) vote “Best player in the League”…..wouldn’t the best player “on the planet” (McD) also be the best player in the NHL???? 🤪🤨🧐🤓
Re Lehner and possible season ending surgery…. Knights chances of playoffs are getting smaller (With Stars and Kings V’s yesterday)…. so in reality it may be Lehner getting surgery a week earlier (than off-season)
Good win for the b’s & as long as they don’t meet the Panthers, Carolina, St. Louis, The Leafs, oilers, Tampa, Avs, Rangers, or Pens in the post season they should do okay.
Wild and Kings
Seeing how often you’ve jumped off and on the Bruins bandwagon, Rick, I hope you’ve got good medical insurance…;)
LOL 😂
$5, says we win it all this year.
Bruins vs Flames in the finals.
SOP that’s a lot of dough to be throwing around, Glad your confident. I just don’t think that Sweeney did enough. Best addition yet Lindholm. Worst Forbort and the almost useless Foligno.
Pfffttt. $5 is nothing. I’ve got 6 or 7 of them in my wife’s purse.
Getting Lindholm was nothing short of fantastic.
Jolly Jumper Jr will pay dividends come playoff time. Although he has had a poor regular season, I’m banking on the intangibles he brings to the table to make him a valuable addition in order to win 16 games that matter.
The players love him.
Think Mark Recchi.
Disagree SOP.
Flames won’t get past the Oil if they meet in playoffs.
Here’s hoping we see a new era of the Battle of Alberta start this year.
If looking for a long shot team to throw some $ on, I would pick the Oil. Playing great in 2nd half.
I’ll take some of that….
Forbort has been exactly what he was signed to be. Overpaid by a bit, but was a UFA so expected, but the term is reasonable.
He has more PK minutes than any other player on B’s as well as the highest % of D zone starts on the blue line. So Cassidy thinks he can defend, which is what he was signed to do. He ain’t in BOS to run the PP.
The Hall signing was a shorter deal and fair.
Haula is a bargain, great signing.
Nosek is what he is paid to be. Win draws and defend and take shifts starting in your own zone.
Lazar was thought to be a throw in as part of Hall trade, but is also a valuable player.
The B’s 4th line eats tough minutes against high quality players and don’t get buried. That has real value IMO.
Ullmark has been very good in 2nd half of season and solid overall. So another good get in a tight tender market. And they really needed a tender with Rask future cloudy.
Nice job by Sweeney overall, he will get an extension IMO regardless if the win a RD or not. And they may not, lots of high quality teams in the East.
I don’t think the Oil have the D to make a long run, Ray. Real nice forward group, and I think Smith will play like he can, but that D is suspect. 1 or 2 injuries back there and it’ll be over.
Fair point on the D SOP.
Plus a couple depth guys are hurt in Bakersfield, so if they get hit on the blue line you have a 20 yr old Broberg and that’s about it. Kid has the tools but not the reps.
Hi Ray…. Certainly looking like a fair possibility of Oil/Flames in WC semis
That series (if it does come to fruition)…. Will be excellent
Certainly if there is an injury to Markstrom…. Advantage has to be to Oil
Goalies healthy…. It, IMHO, will come down to defence (as many series do in playoffs) rather than the potency of Johnny Hockey/Tkachuck/Lindholm/Mang vs McD/Leon/Kane/RNH/Hyman
This series (if it happens) will sell out bars all across AB
I wouldn’t wager either way… regardless of posted betting odds… to me… series is a toss up (again unless Markstrom goes down…. in which case…. to me… Oil would have to be massively favoured)
Now of course…. This assumes no upset (WC v Flames and/or Kings [likely opponent] v Oil)
I’m less confident that an AB team is in SCF…. to me… Avs still strong fav (certainly not unbeatable by a team in the West; just strongly favoured) to represent the West in the SCF
Ya, Avs have to be the favorite, but if the odds were right I might plop some $ on a long shot Oil bet.
Last 3 games head to head – Avs win in OT no 3 on 3 in playoffs. Avs win in a shootout. No shootout in playoffs. Oil win in reg.
They play them tough.
Avs might also get Vegas in RD 1. Vegas still in it for last WC spot and play Dallas on Tuesday. Huge game.
Great reward for winning the west if it happens.
Good points Ray
Knights may or may not have Lehner
W/o Lehner….. hard to see them get in playoffs let alone win around
Ray, the Oilers also got the best signing of any ufa. Yes that’s Evander Kane 20g in 39 games played. Came in rusty haven’t play in awhile.
Kane adds skill, toughest and speed; only cost $2.1m curious do the Oil fans cheer when he scores or throw a hit?
Make no mistake about it Kane is part of the reason why the Oilers are where they are in the standings.
True that Pengy. Tough to go into the playoffs with Thompson as your starter.
But, he has been their best tender, by quite a bit, albeit really small sample size.
Absolutely Caper. He changed the dynamic of the team up front.
Big, fast, physical, and on ice attitude. He backs down from no one. And oh yeah, he scores goals too.
On the ice he was exactly what they needed and didn’t have.
My issue with him was never his on ice play, my only concern was always anything more than a 1 year deal. No issues with off ice so far either.
Still a gamble long term IMO. Holland will get pressure to sign him again, and not just from the fans, but also his best player. Not sure where they find the money?
I have never been able to predict the future, other than past is prologue.
I think he is a big factor, as in the coaching change, as is the leadership committing to team structure in a big way. IMO the last point is the most important.
Weren’t they guaranteed to lose yesterday Rick and you weren’t watching the game because of that. Good thing Sweeney knows way way way more about hockey then you’ve proven to know.
Bruins got hammered last night. Just like they did against the blues the other night. Let us hope it continues lol
I think Rick is a Leaf fan in disguise. He has bandwagon jumping down to a science.
He very well could be…….
Florida has a + 104 goals differential ; just for context Arizona has a -110 and Montreal -105
Ok, anyone who saw the Wings Pens game saw one of the weirdest calls in years.
Refree lost site of puckwhich he thought Griess had covered but did not. Malkin saw puck and put into the net. The refree had blown the whistle, but the ruling was Malkin was in the process of shooting the puck while the whistle was blown and gave the Pens a goal. I have never seen this ruling.
My question does this now take the ruling intent to blow the whistle before a puck is put into the net, moot?
Has anyone else seen or heard of this ruling?
I have seen several times when the same situation was ruled no goal. They even went to the headphones and presumably was talking to Toronto.
Goal made the score Pens 5 to Wings 2, and did not change anything, but it seems like this situation may be a problem in the playoffs
In the playoffs the refs might not lose sight of the puck but the rulebook will disappear.