NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 9, 2022
The Panthers earn another comeback win, the Avalanche’s Cale Makar downs the Jets in overtime, 2021 first-overall pick Owen Powers signs with Sabres, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers earned their third multi-goal comeback victory for the third time in their last four games by defeating the Buffalo Sabres 4-3. Sam Bennett netted the winner in the third period while Aleksander Barkov and Claude Giroux each had two points as Florida overcame a 3-1 deficit to pick up their league-leading 30th home win. With 106 points, the Panthers hold a six-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Speaking of the Hurricanes, they failed to pad their lead in the Metropolitan Division after falling 2-1 to the New York Islanders. Kyle Palmieri tallied the game-winner with 15 seconds remaining in regulation after Carolina center Vincent Trocheck tied the game 32 seconds beforehand. The Hurricanes remain two points up on the New York Rangers for first place in the division.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images).
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar tied a franchise record with his third overtime goal of the season in a 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, Andre Burakovsky and Alex Newhook finished the night with two points each as the Avalanche hold first place in the overall standings with 108 points. Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers each had two goals and an assist as the Jets (77 points) kept their fading playoff hopes alive to move within seven points of the Dallas Stars for the final Western Conference playoff berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets captain Blake Wheeler missed this game after suffering an undisclosed injury during Wednesday’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
The St. Louis Blues overcame a 3-1 deficit to tame the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on an overtime goal by Robert Thomas. Ville Husso kicked out 35 shots for the win as the Blues moved into a tie with the Wild with 92 points, though the latter holds second place in the Central Division with a game in hand. Kirill Kaprizov tallied his 41st goal of the season and only needs one more to tie the franchise record.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No sophomore slump for Kaprizov following his Calder Memorial Trophy season. He’s among the league’s top-10 scorers, proving worthy of the $9 million per season cap hit on his contract while breaking the Wild’s single-season points record.
An overtime goal by Charlie Coyle lifted the Boston Bruins over the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. Jake DeBrusk opened the scoring and got the primary assist on Coyle’s goal while Linus Ullmark stopped 29 shots for the win. The Bruins moved into third place in the Atlantic Division with 95 points, one ahead of the Lightning.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins got the win with winger David Pastrnak and defenseman Hampus Lindholm on the sidelines. Speaking of the Bolts, they’ve dropped four straight after four consecutive wins.
HEADLINES
WGR 550: The Buffalo Sabres signed top prospect Owen Power to a three-year entry-level contract. Power was the Sabres’ first-round pick (first overall) in the 2021 NHL draft.
NHL.COM: The Columbus Blue Jackets inked prospect Kent Johnson to an entry-level deal. They selected him with the fifth-overall pick in last year’s draft.
THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks have secured their backup goaltender for next season by signing Spencer Martin to a two-year, one-way contract.
NHL.COM: The NHL department of player safety fined Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane $5,000.00 for kneeing Los Angeles Kings defenseman Sean Durzi during Thursday’s game between the two clubs.
Nashville Predators forward Colton Sissons was fined $2,500.00 for spearing Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris on Thursday.
NEW YORK POST: Rangers forward Tyler Motte is sidelined for the near future with an upper-body injury. He’s expected to return before the end of the regular season on April 29. Forward Filip Chytil is also out with an upper-body injury but is expected to return to action soon.
NHL.COM: Minnesota State goaltender Dryden McKay is the 2022 winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the top college hockey player in the United States. The undrafted McKay will be free to sign with any team following the national championship game on Saturday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKay is named after Hall-of-Fame goaltender Ken Dryden and wears the same number (29) in his honor.
Was flipping channels last night and actually just caught last 2 mins of the Canes/Isles game
I think it’s the first time I’ve seen a shutout lost in the last minute accompanied by a turnaround late goal in the same last minute , to secure the victory…and then Terevainan is alone (wth puck) right in front of net with only 6 seconds left to possibly send it to OT, only to miss the net…. what a sea-saw of emotions for fans and players all in the last minute
Bolts sliding…. Or are they reserved in assessing not getting home-ice and preferring chances on road in Raleigh or The Big Apple?
Geez…. 3 weeks ago things were shaping up for Leaf’s opening in TBay; Pens likely heading to Rangerland
Now things tighten; and with Bruins forging , Rangers forging and with two more H2H (12/4 & 26/4) Canes @ Rangers; AND final Leaf game hosting Bruins….opening series could be….
Pens in Raleigh
Leafs in Beantown
Rangers hosting Bolts
and the all but already locked down…. Caps in Sunrise
Very interesting East
As much as I dont want the Rangers running into Vasil to start the playoffs they will need to be firing on all 4 lines to have a chance against the Canes IF they advance to the 2nd round. Rangers vs Pens I still see as the match up-that series will be decided on who is injured and if Jarry keeps his head.
Can the Caps shutdown the Panthers at all? That top 9 never relents with scoring chances.
Leafs vs Bruins yes all day please.
Hi ds
I (as a Pens fan) would much rather face Canes…. Shesterkin Shescares the Shesh#%t out of me
Can’t see Caps over Cats
Bolts have been faltering… are they playing rope-a-dope? Tired?
Unless both Bobo (who has been faltering) AND Knight falter big time…. Cats out of East still a good bet
2-1 lastnight for the B’s take that RWM. And they did it without David and Lindholm
If you are betting on hockey. Just bet the opposite of what RWM posts. You will make some serious coin 💵
Actually I agree with him on some of his comments. But he always seems to go to the extreme. I love the Bruins and I don’t agree with firing Sweeney. But I have been a bit confused and frustrated with some of his moves over years.
Hi Peggy,
That NYR Shesterkin is a hell of a goaltender,
watched the game highlights and loved how he gave the pens the finger after the 3-0 Win on Thursday night.. he has Jam that kid for sure and the Rangers will be hard to beat…
15 goals in the last 23 games for Jake Debrusk.
I most excited about his refound physical play.
Maybe one is linked to the other.
Bruins celebrated like they want Toronto in the first round.
Tampa players slamming sticks after the loss. Seem like they want Toronto in the first round.
There going to be good hockey teams going home after the first round.
God Help the Toronto Maple Leafs if the match up with Boston Or Tampa Bay in the first round…
Regarding young DeBrusk’s play…❗️
Im shocked at how well he has played Physicaly and how involved he is chasing the puck and how many goals he has Scored 15 goals in the last 23 games…
not sure what happend here, i know he signed a new contract but its got to be more that that….⁉️
From a Maple Leaf standpoint
Florida
Tampa
Boston
Carolina
Does it really matter who they line up against
All stiff competition
I personally like Boston vs Toronto matchups vs a pond hockey matchup against Florida
Toronto has the greatest player in the world at the moment , unstoppable other than kryptonite …
Bruins will use goon tactics , a game Simmons enjoys !
He can get some playing time !
That last line is very true Caper, hopefully not the B’s. Get healthy. Big win last night, played Bruin’s hockey.
Willie, I think it is as simple as Cassidy giving him a wake call. He woke up, started playing really well, got an opportunity on top line and has taken advantage of.
Good for him.
Ray,
I think its something more that that…?
DeBrusk has been benched & put in the press box early on this year and put on the 4th line
Now he scored 15 goals in the last 23 games…
I think there is more to this one than we know…?