NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 14, 2022
The Panthers eliminate the Capitals while the Rangers and Stars extend their respective first-round series to Game 7, the Ted Lindsay Award finalists are announced, Bruce Boudreau returns as Canucks coach and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: For the first time since 1996, the Florida Panthers are advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Carter Verhaeghe’s overtime goal lifted Florida to 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 6 to take their first-round series four games to two. Claude Giroux had a goal and two assists while Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 34 shots for the win. Washington’s T.J. Oshie scored to force overtime in the third period after his Capitals squandered 1-0 and 2-1 leads.
Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Verhaeghe was the Panthers’ most valuable player in this series, leading them with six goals and six assists for 12 points and tallying three straight game-winning goals.
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin shared the view of his teammates that they gave away the series after blowing a 2-1 series lead and failing to hold leads in the final three games. “It’s on us. It’s on me, on Backy (Nicklas Backstrom), on Osh (Oshie), on Carly (John Carlson), it’s on everybody. Kind of a f**ked up situation,” said Ovechkin.
The absence of power forward Tom Wilson was another contributing factor to the Capitals’ loss. He was sidelined by a lower-body injury in Game 1 and never returned to the series.
There will be a seventh and deciding game in the opening round series between the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider each scored twice and Adam Fox collected four assists in Game 6 as New York rallied to beat Pittsburgh 5-3. The Penguins led 2-0 after the first period but fell behind 3-2 before Evgeni Malkin tied it before the end of the second. Kreider got the game-winner late in the third and Andrew Copp added the insurance goal. Game 7 goes Sunday in New York.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby missed this game with an upper-body injury and remains questionable for Game 7. Rickard Rakell remained out of this contest as he’s still recovering from a concussion suffered in Game 1.
With starter Tristan Jarry finally healthy, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan must decide if he’ll put him in for that final game or stick with Louis Domingue, who’s carried the load since taking over for a sidelined Casey DeSmith during overtime in Game 1. Jarry is the better goalie but he hasn’t played since suffering a foot injury in mid-April. Domingue’s done his best but he has given up some questionable goals for the Penguins.
The Dallas Stars ensured there will be a seventh game against the Calgary Flames with a 4-2 victory in Game 6 of their series. Jake Oettinger kicked out 36 shots, Roope Hintz got a goal and an assist and Miro Heiskanen scored the game-winner for the Stars. Flames defenseman Michael Stone had a goal and an assist. The series returns to Calgary for Game 7 on Sunday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars got it done by outshooting the Flames 30-20 in the final two periods and another outstanding performance by Oettinger, especially in the third period. Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov could face supplemental discipline after he laid out Stars forward Luke Glendening with an elbow to the head.
HEADLINES
NHLPA.COM: Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid are the 2022 finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award as this season’s most valuable player as voted by the NHLPA membership.
THE PROVINCE: Bruce Boudreau will return next season as the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. Boudreau explained the delay in exercising the option year of his contract was due to personal arrangements, including the well-being of his 90-year-old mother in Toronto.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers star Leon Draisaitl could be nursing an injured right ankle or knee as he and his teammates prepared to face the Los Angeles Kings in Game 7 of their opening-round series tonight.
CAP FRIENDLY: A $100K performance bonus for Tyler Bozak has pushed the St. Louis Blues salary-cap bonus overage to $1.1 million. Bozak could earn another $150K bonus if the Blues reach the conference final.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bonus overages are applied to next season’s salary-cap payroll.
It may have been the general consensus that the “weakest” among the 8 Eastern playoff teams were the Washington Capitals, and the odds-on favourites were the Florida Panthers, but one thing that series showed is that there’s not a whole lot of difference 1 to 8.
Yes, the “loaded” Panthers won the series 4-2, including a 5-1 thumping of the Capitals. but they too were thumped 6-1, and overall they managed to outscore Washington 20-19, averaging 3 goals a game for and against. And, personal feelings aside, the Caps were without a pretty important cog, Wilson, for most of the series. Regardless of how some view him, and there’s no doubt he can go way over the line, the guy is still dangerous offensively.
Hi George
Re Wilson and “ the guy is still dangerous offensively”
Take out “offensively” …. Pure and simple…. That’s what he has been like since he was in his teens
I am so worried that Parros remaining in his position will result in Wilson ending a career and perhaps even a life
Cats limited playoff experience… jitters, etc… we’re a great contributor to the series going 6
The (Cats) started to get more confident and their regular season swagger back
Bobo had a couple of pretty rough games
Kudos to Ekblad finishing game on one leg
With this series win; confidence builder; should be much better v Bolts or Leafs
The next round will likely come down to Bobo v Vazy or Bobo v Soupy; more than overall team match ups
As you like to say – we’ll agree to disagree.
I’ll agree with that, I too agree to disagree with your points pengy. It’s a way too simplistic view, which you can also disagree with my take.
On another note, what info do you have pengy that makes you view Matthews not MVP material? The media hype machines in Toronto all think he’s worthy of being in the same sentence of one of the best this year, last year too but no one’s counting that; also this year, his peers have also nominated him as one of the 3 best/top layers in the league. The real question is, can any nominated players for either award will their team over the finish line (which sadly might be just getting to the next round) be the final determining factor? Well, whatever the case may be, all these players deserve their accolades.
Another game seven for the Leafs…another heartbreak for the kids!Like I said way back in December, this is the last time we’ll see this team together. Win or lose this team is gonna have to make changes. The only saving grace is that this is a good team with cap constraints versus a non playoff team.
Swagger? Washington pumped 37 shots at Bobrovsky and it had to go to OT before pulling out the win against the 8th seed. I didn’t see any swagger.
Ron, when you say “Win or lose this team is gonna have to make changes” you ain’t just whistling Dixie. Right now CapFriendly’s listing for the Leafs showing $80,208,950 committed to 24 with just $2,291,050 in reserve is totally misleading since 9 of the 24 are these call-ups for the playoffs, most of whom will be back in the AHL next season: Abruzzese, Ovchinnikov, Steeves, Holmberg, Robertson, Anderson, Kral, Hollowell and Dahlstrom.
Collectively , their contracts total 7,203,934 off the cap so, really, what we’re actually looking at is commitment to 15 with $9,494,984 to sign 8.
Where it starts to get dicey is when you factor in these 4 RFAs who will all need new deals and so are not included in CapFriendly’s projection: Kase and Engvall, both with arbitration rights and coming off $1,250,000 each, Sandin ($894,167) and Liljegren ($863,333). This season their cap hits totalled $4.2 mil so, if all are re-upped with raises you’re looking at a total of around $6 mil. Now they’re down to around $3.5 to sign 4. Of their UFAs, you would think they’d want to bring Lyubushkin back (coming off $1,350,000). And there’s still Giordano ($3,375,000) and, of course, Campbell ($1,650,000).
You’re probably looking at $8 to $9.5 mil for those 3, which means they’ll have no choice but to move a couple of those big contracts and, if and when they do, there can’t be any big ticket deals coming back. High-end prospects and/or draft picks will be the returns. All this, of course, is based upon IF they retain all 4 RFAs and/or the 3 UFAs. Interesting times ahead.
Hi Ron
Re “Matthews not MVP material”
I’ve never said that
My contention is with the Hart…. Which is listed/defined as “Most valuable to HIS team”
No doubt AM most valuable to Leafs
That said…..
Shesterkin is definitely more valuable to Rangers (remember this voting is solely done for regular season ) than AM is to Leafs or McD to Oil
Jossi is more valuable to Predz than AM is to Leafs or McD to Oil
There is a possible argument to be made that Johnny Hockey is more valuable to Flames than AM is to Leafs or McD to Oil
The Hart is voted on by the PHWA … and many (including Freidman) have admitted to erroneously(accidentally on purpose ?) casting their Hart vote for “League MVP” instead of the proper “Most valuable to HIS team”
Now Lindsay Award…. “awarded annually to the NHL’s most OUTSTANDING player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHLPA”
Different wording…. different people casting the votes making the decision
My contention is that AM should definitely not win the Hart (Shesterkin should) and at best be third…. Josi more valuable to Predz than AMto Leafs
Now that said … Shesterkin “should” win…. And by “should” I mean “absolutely deserves to” and not “is mostly likely to” …. BUT….. huge BUTs BTW…. (1) PHWA is voting (2) many don’t vote for proper definition and (3) massively disproportionate actual voters work for Rogers/SN/TSN/Bell Media (same ownership as Leafs) and/or are other media reporting in Toronto; and (4) we also must consider that more than 2/3rds of those PHWA voters are American (certainly not saying they’ll vote on Flag lines, but if there are any [outside of those reporting on Rangers and Leafs] weighing Shesterkin and AM … I think nod goes to AM) …..So if AM gets Hart ….. over Shesterkin…. I think 1 through 4 are the reasons
Now Lindsay….. the best player on the planet is McD…. This award is voted on by players. Players pole just a couple of weeks ago…. McD…. I’d be shocked if McD didn’t win Lindsay; AM second in voting
Hi George
Re “Swagger? Washington pumped 37 shots at Bobrovsky and it had to go to OT before pulling out the win against the 8th seed. I didn’t see any swagger.”
Fair point re numbers from Washington
My point is wrt to what I perceived from Cats offensively…. not defensively
Sorry, my statement was vague and I see now how it came across as the overall viewpoint of Cats and not just the offence…. Which is what I meant
Sorry… brain fart
Pens v Rangers
It appears pretty clear that the series ended the moment Crosby was forced to leave game 5
Up 3 games to 1; up 2-0 in game 5 ….. to lose the series …. They’d need to implode in that game; and lose the final 3…. Sid in… it just does not happen…
Sid exits game 5…. Energy boost to Rangers… dominate… easily take game 5
Game 6 (in Pitt BTW)…. Pens just can’t do it sans Sid…. Rangers outplayed Pens
Unless a miracle happens…. Sid back and/or Jarry back (and he stands on his head)…. Rangers advance
The E-Rod penalty did NOT cost the Pens the game as some seem to be alluding. Yes , stupid retaliation penalty; and Rangers scored on PP.
They didn’t lose because of Domingue on Kreider goal # 2
The Pens lost because they were outplayed. Plain and simple.
Sid out is not only their best player (and by far this series) out; but his absence also forced weird lines; resulting in discombobulation
That roster yesterday; with that effort…. Was just not up to matching Rangers. NOT.
Unfortunately the “Igor” “Igor” “Igor” chants backfired as he had a good game AND had a spectacular assist on Kreider’s 1st goal
If Sid healthy and in; and Jarry in….. Pens have a chance
Otherwise….. handshakes and Golf
Sully… this is game 7…. YOU alone have final say re line up….. put the best line up you can out there… this means you must sit Ruhweedel. On for 2 again yesterday; and solely responsible for the Shesterkin assisted goal. He just has zero hockey sense for so many stretches of the game. 5 times had puck in end and didn’t get out…. unecessessarily causing prolonged D zone time. 4 unforced shots down the ice to no Pen…. Resulting in two icings. So many off target passes. Again at times leaving coverage to be alone in no man’s land and/or join Freidman already engaged with puck carrier on Friedman’s side… leaving his own man uncovered free and clear. Sully… this is do or die…. So… DO play a roster that is void of #2…. What have you got to lose? Oh yeah…. The season.
Great to see Cats advance
I’m guessing all Flames fans have taken Oettinger off their Christmas lists? Cheering for Pens and Flames win Sunday
Tonight
Go Leafs Go
Go Oil Go
Go Bruins Go (ya I said it, so sue me)
I will not be surprised at all if 2 (or even 3) of tonight’s games go to OT
@Pengy
Do you want a cold Jarry over Louie at this point?
Sullivan is a great coach. I’d take him over Gallant everytime.
Sid play tomorrow?
Rangers(Chytil and Trouba) lost coverage on goal #2 and Trouba gave away #3.
Good weekend to be a hockey fan
Hi ds
Responses below:
Re cold Jarry or Louie …. Start Jarry, Louie as back-up ready to go in if “cold Jarry” falters
Sullivan v Gallant…. Would Gallant have played CR in the playoffs???….. I doubt it…. There is my answer. Overall… Sully has a sound coaching style… but does refuse to act on repeated mistakes and requests by assistant coaches and all Pens fans for sitting players (cite the JJ debacle; site CR this year and especially in playoffs)
Re: Rangers(Chytil and Trouba) lost coverage on goal #2 and Trouba gave away #3….. will gladly start you 1-0 in game 7 if you trade for; and play (minimum 12 mins)…. Ruhweedel
Good weekend to be a hockey fan…. Yes if Leaf’s and Pens win…. Both lose…. Not a good weekend for this hockey fan
Jossi top 3 for Lindsay (voted on by players) rightfully so ; but doesn’t make top 3 for Hart (most valuable to HIS team) which is voted on by PHWA members?????
Predz made playoffs solely on the back of Jossi
Jossi IMHO much more valuable to Predz; than AM (to Leafs) or McD (to Oil)
??????????
Tough choice. Preds don’t make playoffs without Josi….same to Oilers without McDavid. Without AM, Toronto makes playoffs as a wild card, but are eliminated in 4 or 5 games.
Hi Iago
Fair point re Oil sans McD
Leafs sans AM… Bruins likely ahead of them so yes WC prob
That said….I stand firm on
Jossi (to Predz) much > AM (to Leafs)
Jossi (to Predz) > McD (to Oil)
I agree Pengy….I think Josi should get the Lindsey and Norris. He had a monster season, especially with the Preds, since they are a much lower scoring team than Colorado. Makar is top notch, but Josi was just a bit better this season.
Game 7 weekend!!!!!
5 of 8 going to game 7 should some exciting hockey.
The first game will set off my mood for the weekend.
Just have to win one on the road. Easier said then done.
We want Igor? We want Igor?
Go with Jarry. Despite the injuries pens have hung in the series. One in which they were the underdog. I feel pretty good about my team right now.
Hi Chrisms
As I said above
Cold Jarry to start, worth try over “warm Domingue”
If he (Jarry) falters… throw in Louie…. It’s game 7…. Pull out all the stops
Would love Sid back…. Huge longshot
Sully MUST put forward line-up for best chance to win game 7
To me that’s Zoho in instead of O’Connor
And… all hyperbole ,all joking aside…. You and I don’t see eye to eye on him…. But CR absolutely must not play…. He was costly through the year… this series… very costly…. Last night…. Extremely costly
If Dumo good to go…. Dumo in, CR out
Dumo still injured…. ANYBODY in , CR out
CR is playing in a complete fog
This is a must win game 7… Sully must do what is right
Beaulieu is healthy; P-O J could be called up…. Both give gargantuan better chances for aPens V over CR
I know you like CR
This is not about him as a person,or team-mate
It’s about any chance at Vfor game 7…. Pull out all stops…. CR needs to sit
I don’t like cr. But I don’t hold him to a standard beyond bottom pair defenseman. He is in no way the reason the pens are on the brink.
Hi Chrisms
Correct… he is not the sole reason they are n the brink
He is a contributor to that
So are those not scoring
So are key injuries to Dumo, Rakell
Big reason… no Sid
That said… CR is absolutely too dangerous to play in this key game 7….. yikes
Friedman is a gamer and solid depth D.
Matheson skates like the wind but his D play is inconsistent. I dont notice CR as much as Pengy is glued to him.
Rangers have Nemeth who if he misreads a play is dead in the water.
Tradesies ….. Nemeth for CR
Willing to throw in JJ’s stat sheets for 2 years as a Pen
Very hard to type right now as I bit off all my finger nails and have been biting my fingers right to the bone.
That above statement could play out IF…..My Leafs have to play in OT tonight.
I strongly feel though (not to slight tampa) but I feel the Leafs are totally going to lay it all on the line (like auston said…) ……..
….”What’s in the past is in the past man. We can’t change that now. It’s about this next game and going out there with a purpose, and with details, and just competing for 60 minutes or whatever it takes. We just gotta put our balls on the line and go for it.”
Maybe tonights theme song should be – ACCEPT- BALLS TO THE WALL.
Ya a little nervous here but pretty damn positive the Leafs are going to shine.
Let us all now bow our heads and read siliently but fill our hearts passionately for a positive outcome as we pray to the Hockey Gods.
A Hockey Player’s Prayer
Our Father who art in the rink,
Hockey be thy name.
Thy will be done, the Cup will be won
On ice, as well as in the stands.
Give us this day, our hockey sticks
And forgive us our penalties
As we forgive those who cross-check against us.
And lead us not into elimination
But deliver us to victory.
In the name of the fans
And thy holy sport.
Amen!
MAKE IT HAPPEN!
GO LEAFS GO!!!
DJ, that hockey prayer is great!
I Want My Curtains Back- I do not own the rights to those words/prayer but yes it is great! Maybe I will come up with my own prayer right now…..
Our Hockey Gods
Whos’ Art was on thy rink but is now played in Heaven
Victory is your names and victories shall be passed upon us
You have passed many pucks before and assisted on great goals, super saves, passionate plays and timely puck luck bounces that have swayed scoreboards which have lit the heavenly skies
We The Leaf fans ask for your Help,Guidance and Strength as Your fingertip vision shall cast brilliantly below towards our Beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, from the start of game until the final horn blows.
We skate to you and pray humbly, graciously and gratefully Oh Thy Great Hockey Gods while bowwing and BeLeafing all the powers plans and paths it takes to gain this victory tonight.
We pray in the spirit of hockey,….. Amen and GO LEAFS GO!
If for no other reason but to end the narrative that they can’t get it done…like it’s easy. This holds true for the oil players as well. I still think it’s tough to expect so much from young players that from day one had lofty expectations placed on them. I think it optically worse when your main core is made up of such young players that all had to “grow up” together and experience these pains one the same team vs one that has already experienced such disappointments. It unfairly gets magnified the more players make up your (core) team.
With that said, let’s hope they both manage to do what the Panthers have done since ‘98 and advance even though in either case it only feels that long or longer.
Tonight/today I see
Leafs over Lightning (that scream we’ll hear when it’s over will be a very large monkey scurrying for the trees)
Oilers over Kings (IF Edm can get an early big lead – if it’s tight heading into the last half of the 3rd Quick will get into Oilers heads much more than Smith will the Kings)
Bruins over Carolina (match-ups and Brind’amour whining be damned – Marchand and Bergeron will rise to the occasion once again)
George I agree with yor hat trick and all three goals…I mean, points and picks, 😉
Still got a feeling about Leafs, absolute coin toss IMO. Huge accomplishment to knock off champs if they do.
Canes have been dominant at home, B’s back to healthy. Can a rookie tender steal on for us in a game 7? Would have to pick Canes unless Swayman steals it.
EDM should win, crowd should be jacked. Unless Draisaitl can’t skate, or is at 50% which is how he looked after the injury last game. Then we have a problem.
Don’t do anything crazy Smitty and Oil should pull it off even with a wounded Leon.
Hi DJ
Like your A Hockey Player’s Prayer👍👍👍👍
I think it’s my age re not biting my nails over this
I do barely remember sitting on my dad’s knee watching the ‘67 Cup (20” 100 lb B&W box)…. so my patience has just been numbed for 5 1/2 decades
As a younger man…. I felt the Gretsky high stick to Dougie, cutting his face…. Was the penultimate kick to the gonads of the entire Leafland/Leafdom
In case you didn’t know… high stick cutting a face then… was an automatic 5 min Major, and not a double Minor….Leafs were up in the series; up in the game… win their in Cup v Habs
No call on Gretsky….instead of being ahead in deciding game AND having 5 min PP…. Gretzky contributed on tying/winning goals that game and was key in the win in Game 7
If Leafs win tonight…, fantastic…. I still say they just can’t beat Avs; and have strong doubts re beating Cats; or Canes…. If Shesterkin gets regular season mojo back… Rangers over Leafs would not be an upset. If somehow a miracle happens and Pens win tomorrow ; a full healthy Pens team with Jarry in the pipes…. V Leafs …. Toss up IMHO
My hopes are realistically on a cup in ‘23 or ‘24…. No cup in either…. Retool time…. As AM walks out of the Leafs dressing room for good on 1/7/24
Go Leafs Go
I respectfully will agree to disagree with all you said…100%.
I even though I bet the Canes to win the SC …. Let’s Go Bruins (not Brandon )
Hey Lyle, I think you should watch your own link on the Zadorov hit. He makes contact with his shoulder not an elbow. Maybe you should consider amending your link as it sounds a lot dirtier than it was.
Parros says… “Zadorov, get your TEAMS app loaded…we need to talk”
This is the right thing to do
The outcome of the meeting is TBD… but having a meeting is mandatory
No call at all Parros to Trouba … absolutely the wrong thing
Gary… Fire Parros …. It’s easy and legally justifiable …. He is not doing what he is mandated to do
Remember ….”player safety” is in his title
Yes, hockey play at high speed . Taller player hits short player not head hunting.
Parros didn’t call about the slewfoots as Sutter pointed out.
Seems the media outrage is dependent on which team the player plays for.
Bingo Sparky! I agree totally – enough with the whining. Please!
Is that the last time we’ll see #37 in a Bruins uniform ….this has the looks of a brutal offseason for the Bruins