NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 25, 2022
The Oilers push the Flames to the brink of elimination, the Rangers tie their series with the Hurricanes, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers held off the Calgary Flames 5-3 in Game 4 of their second-round series to go up three games to one. Evander Kane and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each scored two goals, Leon Draisaitl collected three assists and Connor McDavid had two helpers. The Oilers can wrap up the series in Game 5 on Thursday in Calgary.
Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames overcame a shaky first period where they fell behind 3-0 to tie the game as Rasmus Andersson’s long shot from inside his own blueline eluded Oilers goaltender Mike Smith. However, the Oilers regained the lead on Nugent-Hopkins’ second goal late in the third and Kane put it away with an empty-netter.
It was a well-deserved win by the Oilers, taking advantage of the ongoing inconsistency of Calgary goaltender Jacob Markstrom and the defensive breakdowns by his teammates. Flames defenseman Chris Tanev returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury on May 13 against the Dallas Stars. He did his best but was favoring the shoulder throughout the game.
#NHL is aware of this clip and the apparent targeting of #LetsGoOilers Leon Draisaitl’s ankle. Safe to say Player Safety / Hockey Ops / Officiating Depts are in communication and will keep an eye out for the same in Game 4 and beyond. https://t.co/xIEdaEPqz7
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 24, 2022
The New York Rangers tied their series with the Carolina Hurricanes at two games apiece following a 4-1 win at home in Game 4. Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin made 30 saves while teammate Andrew Copp had a goal and two assists while Adam Fox and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and an assist. The series returns to Carolina for Game 5 on Thursday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the Rangers’ best game of this series as they dominated the Hurricanes for most of this contest. The loss continues the Canes’ inability to win on the road in this postseason. They got away with it against the Boston Bruins in their first-round series but it could prove costly if the Rangers should win Game 5.
HEADLINES
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ashley Cave, wife of Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri, shared a sample of the racially charged threats her husband received through the Jazzy Kadri Instagram account. The messages target Kadri’s Lebanese-Canadian heritage and his Muslim faith. Kadri received these threats following a collision with Jordan Binnington in Game 3 of their second-round series that sidelined the St. Louis Blues goaltender for the remainder of the series.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those messages were disgusting and unacceptable. Regardless of Kadri’s suspension history or whether you believe he intentionally tried to injure Binnington (which I don’t believe he did), he doesn’t deserve that hateful vitriol. No one does. Racism has no place in our society and we shouldn’t stand for it.
NHL.COM: Speaking of Kadri, Blues winger David Perron was fined $5,000.00 by the league’s department of player safety for crosschecking the Avalanche center in Game 3.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perron also narrowly missed nailing Kadri with an elbow to the head after the Avs forward scored his second of three goals in that game. He and his Blues teammates need to rein in their tempers or risk losing this series.
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: The Flyers have interviewed former Columbus Blue Jacket coach John Tortorella for their vacant head coach position.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers are also set to meet with former New York Islanders bench boss Barry Trotz later this week.
With the Panthers having been eliminated from the playoffs last night, the #LetsGoBuffalo Sabres now know where they will be picking with all three of their 2022 1st RD picks. No. 9 (own) No. 16 (from Vegas for Eichel) No. 28 (from Florida for Reinhart)https://t.co/950OhwVqcp — CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) May 24, 2022
Lyle, totally agree with your analysis. Blues are not “reigning” in their emotions. They were like that last year when the Avalanche swept them. They’re healthier this year with Perron and Tarresenko feeling better. Why don’t they try to fight Landeskog? Because they will get their ads ass handed to them! If Schenn was going for a loose puck and took out Kuemper, they would be saying, it was just a good hockey play and he was going hard to the net? But since its Kadri, some Blues fans bring race and his “reputation” into it! Hope we eliminate them tonight. GO AVS!!!!!!
Nice recovery by the Oilers after that bizarre game tying goal. But what is it with Oiler players named Smith always seeming to be involved in bizarre goals against at key moments of playoff games against the Flames?
I once met a man with a wooden keg named smith.
I’m no fan of Kadri, likely because he doesn’t play for my Wings. I mock him. I cuss him. I laugh at his suspensions.
That being said…
This is disgusting. Brutal. If I was in the stands sitting next to any of these individuals making these comments, you better believe your comments would be met with my own version of “extreme prejudice”.
I’d LOVE to see the Blues (players and management) respond to these idiot’s comments in regards to Kadri.
Just GROSS!!!!
It shows what these “individuals” are made of… Just like Kadri showed what HE’S made of with his play thus far.
Chrisms and Howard….didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation. I meant to vent in my own little rant! Apologies!
Hi Howerd,
its a bad trait of the Edmonton Oilers have when they get ahead…
They know they can score a wil, and they take there foot of the gas…… this crap has been going on with the Oilers for 3-4 years now and you can see it happing….⁉️
Maybe they need to get Mark Messier Back into the dressing Room to have a Scary Chat with them behind closed doors?
Just to set them Straight❗️😂
PS
Mike Smith eye sight is not that good before the Blue line….
Carolina, can’t lose at home but can’t win on the road.
I think the bigger concern for them at the moment is they can’t score.
They have 6 goals in 4 games against the Rangers.
Teuvo Teravainen is their top point getter with 3g 7a in 11gp good for 20th spot in the playoff point leaders.
They have 2 players with 4g; Aho and Niederreiter
With that said keep winning at home and you’ll see them in the Cup finals.
thats some bush league ankle swats by Calgary on Leon
I counted 6 whacks total, 3 different guys.
I did too. Disappointed in Sutter, as this surely tactic did not occur spontaneously to three Flames players on the same shift.
By the way, Ray, per your question to Pengy about McDavid being the the best player versus the most valuable to his team:
The Hart trophy goes to the player to the player “adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.” It does not say to the best player in the league. It’s a fine distinction this year as McDavid is both (he is killing the Flames).
Perhaps the distinction is easier to appreciate by thinking of Crosby and the Penguins. There were times when Crosby was hurt and Malkin actually played better and carried the team. Crosby was the best player in the league for a long stretch but the Pens’ depth allowed them to carry on without him.
Or, closer to home for you, Draisatl won the Hart in 2020. Was he a better player than McDavid?
Yes LJ, IMO Draisaitl was better than McDavid last year and was the best player in the NHL, so the most valuable to his team.
This year McDavid has been the best player in the NHL, and hence, most valuable to his team.
At least that is how I adjudge it!
Interesting, don’t teams target players if they know they have a sore shoulder or other body injuries.
That’s the rumor Caper, although I have never seen anything so obvious as this. In fact I can’t think of a single incident, although I would bet they exist. Perhaps we just read more into it because that is the reason NHL teams give for not disclosing injuries in detail.
IE – Tanev is playing with a bum shoulder last night, and he didn’t get hit any more often than usual. He took hits like everybody else, but nothing that stood out as unusual or targeted.
I have never witnessed anything like what that sequence was. If you have examples, would like to see it.
Players don’t take their sticks and slash at the injured player’s shoulder. If they did they would probably get called for slashing or high sticking. You just make more of an effort to check them when given the chance. Just like what Kassian and Archibald did to Tanev. You didn’t see any Oilers players slashing at Tanev’s shoulder.
Lol KevJam.
last night the Oilers were just to much for the flames again, But as usial the Oilers took there foot of the Gas after the first…❗️
Last night Flames defenseman Chris Tanev returned to the lineup, but he looked like he was 60% ready to play bye the 3rd period he was done….
after a hit in the flames end. The flames should have not played him against the oilers last night you could see he was not ready.
Woody the New Oilers coach had them firing on all lines again last night, every line did what they were suppose to do
Big d/man Nurse needs to work on his offencive skill in the off season he goofed up one way to many chances at lease 5 very good ones….
Can wait for Game 5 on thursday night down in Calgary
Comments have been reenabled. My apologies for the downtime.