NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 6, 2022
The Avalanche take a 2-0 series lead over the Predators while the Panthers, Rangers and Stars even their respective series at a game apiece. Check out the details and other news in the NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Cale Makar lifted the Colorado Avalanche over the Nashville Predators 2-1 to give them a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven opening-round series. Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring for the Avalanche while Yakov Trenin replied for Nashville. Predators goalie Connor Ingram made 49 saves.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If not for Ingram this could’ve been another blowout loss for the Predators. They must get their offense going as the series shifts to Nashville for Games 3 and 4 or risk getting swept by the powerful Avalanche.
The Florida Panthers evened their first-round series with the Washington Capitals at a game apiece with a 5-1 victory. They got three unanswered second-period goals by Mason Marchment, Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe while Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves for the win. Capitals netminder Vitek Vanecek got the hook after giving up five goals on 19 shots.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The suffocating defense that worked so well for the Capitals in Game 1 vanished in this contest. They also missed rugged winger Tom Wilson as he was sidelined by a lower-body injury. All five Panthers’ goals came at even strength. This series shifts to Washington for the next two games.
New York Rangers forwards Artemi Panarin and Frank Vatrano each had a goal and two assists to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2, squaring their opening-round series at one game apiece. Igor Shesterkin kicked out 39 shots for the win. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins as this series heads to Pittsburgh for the next two contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins need more from their secondary scorers. Almost all their goals in this series have come from the Crosby line. Meanwhile, Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin missed Game 2 with a lower-body injury. Rangers winger Barclay Goodrow and defenseman Ryan Lindgren were also sidelined by injuries. Goodrow (lower body) is listed as week-to-week.
The Dallas Stars got a 29-save shutout from Jake Oettinger to blank the Calgary Flames 2-0, tying their first-round series 1-1. Joe Pavelski and Michael Raffl were the goal scorers. Flames netminder Jacob Markstrom stopped 21 shots.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A big win for the Stars thanks to young Oettinger’s goaltending. He’s tied with Markstrom for the best goals-against average (0.50) thus far among postseason netminders.
HEADLINES
TSN: Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was fined $5,000.00 for slashing Carolina Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov in Game 2 of the first-round series on Wednesday. Marchand’s teammate Derek Forbort also received a $5,000.00 fine for high-sticking Hurricanes winger Teuvo Teravainen.
SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Bruins, defenseman Hampus Lindholm has been ruled out of Game 3 on Friday. The club also confirmed Jeremy Swayman will get the start in that game.
THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Speaking of the Hurricanes, goaltender Antti Raanta skated with his teammates today but his status for Game 3 is uncertain. He left Game 2 after being shaken up in a collision with Bruins winger David Pastrnak.
THE SCORE: Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour believes the Bruins are deliberately targeting his goaltenders. “It can’t get any more obvious,” he told reporters following Game 2.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: NHL headquarters could issue a warning to both clubs about running goalies. Brind’Amour could also get a call about his comments.
NHL.COM: Center Shane Wright of the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs is the No. 1 prospect among North American skaters according to NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings of this year’s top prospects. Left winger Jural Slafkovsky of TPS in Finland is the top European skater.
NORTHJERSEY.COM: The New Jersey Devils confirmed Lindy Ruff will return next season as head coach. The announcement comes a day after they announced they were parting ways with assistant coaches Mark Recchi and Alain Nasreddine.
PHILLY.COM: The Flyers have added Sami Kapanen and Kyle Shero to their scouting department.
That Calgary-Dallas series looked to be headed for a second-straight 1-0 game until Raffi potted an empty-netter late in the game. Strange stuff because when you look at their respective seasonal stats this one seemed headed for a Calgary blowout.
With 293 goals scored, the Flames ranked 4th in the entire league while Dallas, ranking 20th in the league with their 238 goals, is the only playoff team with a seasonal minus goal differential (-8). The next lowest is L.A. (+3), while after that it ranges from Washington’s +30 to Florida’s +94, with Calgary sitting 2nd with a +85.
And looking at the D stats for Dallas, there’s no one there who’ll ever be mistaken for a Norris candidate: Lindell +4, Heiskanen +3, Suter +1, Hakenpaa +1, Harley -4, Hanley -13, Klingberg -28.
Yes, the goalies have been very good obviously, but neither team has managed to apply heavy pressure, with Calgary firing 26 and 29 sog in the 2 games, while Dallas has managed 16 and 22.
It seems both coaches have their teams playing an exceptionally tight checking game, and when this one is done it could go into the books as one of the lowest-scoring playoff series ever.
Love to hear what Flamesfan thinks.
Look at Gaudreau, Tkachuk, and Lindholm’s regular-season stats and playoff stats. All three of them decline in the playoffs. This is why I have a hard time seeing the Flames doing much in the playoffs. Dallas’s strength is their defensive play and taking away the rush attempts. Creating scoring chances on the rush is what Calgary likes to do. I expect Dallas in 7.
If you compare Gaudreau, Tkachuk, and Lindholm’s regular-season stats to their playoff stats you will see a decline in their playoff production. Dallas’s strength this season was their defensive play and they were also one of the NHL’s lowest-scoring teams. Dallas is also really good at preventing their opponents from creating on the rush chances and staying in front of their opponent. Calgary’s whole style of play is scoring off the rush from their defensemen getting the puck up to their forwards, which Dallas isn’t letting them do. This is why I picked Dallas in 7, but I am also an Oilers fan. LOL
Heh, I get that aspect KevJam. But it’s rare to find any player with a significant number of each of regular-season and playoff games who don’t show a dip – mainly because, once the playoffs start, they’re no longer able to bloat their stats with games against the dregs of the league.
Take the two superstars who recently died – Bossy and Lafleur – who, incidentally, had fewer bottom dwellers to feed off of than today’s stars.
Over his 752 career seasonal games, Bossy boasted a 0.76 goals-per-game while over 129 playoff games that dipped to 0.66.
Lafleur’s seasonal record over 1,126 gp is 0.50 and in 128 playoff games it dipped to 0.45.
The bruins chances of winning tonight? little and none #1 Swayman has to play lights out # 2 get the 1st goal. Once this series is done and it will before end of Sunday. The bruins need to clean house Everybody in managements got to
Go aka for the main core exception of Pasta and Mac
You forgot to insist that Lurch and the worst GM in hockey would be fired as soon as it was over. Can’t start my day without that! Oh, maybe it’s in the rumors section.
Hi Rick,
The Bruins Problem is on there Defence,
I said it a few times during the season… and at the trade deadline they needed to go after an Offencive d/man🤔
They have Major trouble moving the puck out of the zone and on the PP… They Really Miss Krug on the D & there PP
Bruins young goaltender Swayman will start tonight he will help them out a bit …..But but the Canes looking like they are rolling now even if there Top goaltender Anderson has not played a game yet….⁉️
Cans in 4 or 5👍
Thanks Rick, almost every time you guarantee a loss, or almost guarantee a loss, they win.
Keep it up!
Ray, I have a feeling Rick is one of those who predicts disaster for his team of choice hoping against hope that he’s proven wrong and quite willing to accept the digs if that turns out to be the case. Over the years I have run across more than a few with the same curious approach, including a now-deceased long-time friend who was a Red Wings fan. Sort of like applying reverse psychology.
I actually get that George, in fact I am a cup half empty fan myself. Usually expecting the worst while hoping for the best at the same time. Managing my own expectations perhaps?
I have 3 Bruin jerseys, first 2 failed, will have to wear the 35 yr old one that must have shrunk.
And yet I don’t consider myself superstitious, as I know it won’t work. In fact I almost always record the game and start an hour late so I can skip commercials.
Ray, while I’ve never been superstitious I have always been a little stitious.
Can anyone please explain to me why Central Scouting sees fit to still rank prospects according to categories like North American skater, North America goalies rather than grouping all prospects together like everyone else does. The days of European players preferring to stay home rather than coming to the NHL are long over.
Well, for one thing, it divides those who, if drafted at a certain age in North America, cannot be sent to an AHL or ECHL team for “seasoning” but must be sent back to their Junior team, whereas that does not apply when it comes to European players.
I suppose if it comes down to a pick where 2 players are regarded as almost equal in potential, a team might choose to go with the European player if they feel he’d benefit more from “grooming” at the minor pro level.
Hi George
I think (could be wrong) the restriction to being sent back to Jr club only applies to players in the 3 Canadian Jr. leagues and not for USHL players or players in the USA development program…. Anybody here know that answer??
Heh, Pengy. Good question. As this site illustrates, the overall “drafted player rules” are nothing short of a dog’s breakfast. This site (Meltzer’s 411 – from a Flyer’s source) shows that clearly, and when it comes to AHL options it does not mention the USHL/USA Development structures – here’s an excerpt
https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/meltzers-411-drafting-rights–philadelphia-flyers/c-307757112
The AHL’s age eligibility rules are a frequent source of confusion. It is often stated that players under the age of 20 are ineligible for the AHL. This is only partially true, because it pertains specifically to players drafted from the OHL, WHL and QMJHL. The age cut-off does NOT apply to players that NHL teams sign out of the NCAA or European leagues.
When the NHL and WHA merged, there was a concern that lowering the Draft age would be ruinous to the CHL (in many cases, NHL owners also had financial stakes in junior teams, but there was also a concern that too many players would be taken early from the NHL’s primary source of drafted talent and stashed in the AHL to develop).
As a means of compromise, a rule was set that 18-year-old and 19-year-old CHL affiliated players could play in the NHL following their Draft selection (if they were advanced enough to earn a roster spot) but could not play in the AHL until there were 20. The same rule still applies 40 years later, although there have periodically been proposals to alter the system.
The AHL age rule has never applied to players signed out of Europe or the NCAA. Where it gets especially confusing is where it pertains to drafted and signed players whose rights belong to European teams but who are loaned out by their European teams to clubs in the CHL in the season immediately leading up to their NHL Draft year.
Which set of AHL age rules apply, the CHL or European signee rules? The answer is that the European rules (no age restriction) applies. That is how Toronto Maple Leafs 2018 first-round pick Rasmus Sandin was able to play in the AHL in 2018-19 despite having spent the 2019-20 season in the Ontario Hockey League. “
Hi George
I’d love to see draft age go up to 19; not to resolve some of the “going back to Jrs” rules; but just for the reason that I think it will be better overall for the sport
There are players that get drafted at 17 (B-Days post draft up to and including 15/9) ; and players who are late bloomers, didn’t get drafted previous year7; and B-days after 15/9… so approaching 20
So very few players actually play as 18 year olds in the NHL every year…. Almost all are top 5 draft picks…. The last time a 2nd rounder played more than a handful of NHL games as an NHLer, I believe; was ROR
NHL could transition to a 19 year old draft…
Yr 1 of transition… round 1 …. anybody 18 by 15/9; round 2… anybody 18 at 15/9; but 19 by 31/12; all other rounds…. Must be 19 by 15/9
Yr 2…. first round as Yr1 transition; round 2 and on…. Must be 19 by 31/12
Yr 3++…. All rounds must be 19 as at 31/12
I will 2nd that Pengy!
Raise the draft age to 19.
Pengy and Ray, from a development standpoint – not to mention keeping the better players in Major Junior for one more year and therefore pleasing the owners in those leagues – I suppose it makes sense.
But put yourself in the position of the young man who, at 19, can serve his country in the military and, very soon, may well be entitled to vote. Here he is, in the occupation he chose, making coffee money and change in Major Junior and suddenly seeing an opportunity to suddenly earn close to 3/4 of a million in an ELC deal closed to him due to an arbitrary ruling change.
I think fair employment advocacy groups, not to mention shark lawyers, would have a field day with that in courts since no other occupation is technically closed to 19 year olds.
Even the AHL minimum of $51,000 looks a helluva lot better than slinging hamburgers at a McDonald’s or pouring coffee at a Tims at age 19 – employment which is not arbitrarily closed to them because they are “only 19.”
Hi Howard,
I think (not sure) that it is because there is a separate scouting system in Europe vs NA….. that is the scouts reporting their analysis on the Jr players in Canada and the US , don’t go to games in Europe, and watch only a handful remotely. Visa versa for the European scouts…. Travelling to and watching almost entirely the Jr games in Europe; and likely not getting to any NA games
Both sets of scouts would get to view international games…U17, U18, World Jrs; Hilinka Gretsky, select series …. But that is limited samples and only of top say 30 players of each country
That’s just my guess as to why the separation of listing
There are some sites that have combined rankings
Pengy, almost all sites have combined rankings. As do all teams notwithstanding that they also use different scouts for different regions, including within North America. Can’t understand why CSB can’t join the 21st century.
George, the teams know who can or cannot be sent to the AHL. Respectfully, this doesn’t seem like a reason to not have combined rankings.
Hi Howard
Thanks
Excellent point
I’m stymied (again…LOL) re rationale as to why they can’t join the 21st Century…. They sound like my mom, who actually still has one of her home-line phones as a rotary dial
Howard, you’re right – the teams know – or they damned well better – but these annual lists are also gobbled up by the large fan base around the world, and if there’s a fan out there who completely understands that quagmire he or she should be signed up by one of the hockey outlets 🙂
Well well well…. 6 of eight series tied…. and Predz took Avs to OT…. So could have been 7 of 8
Long series? That would be very good for NHL viewers
Pens v Blueshirts…. ‘Twas but a pipe dream to think Pens could go up 2-0 in series with (1) Shesterkin in net (2)almost zero scoring beyond top line; (3) Jarry, Rakell, Dumo, DeSmith out; and CR playing
….. but a split in the Big Apple…. Now Best of 5, with home ice advantage….. gotta be glad for that
Last night certainly not on Domingue … only one you can really hang on him is Vitrano’s ….. Domingue didn’t play the angle well. Other than that…. He had some very timely saves . D certainly didn’t help him out… own goal, tip goal (player not covered)
The star of the show…. Shesterkin …. HART…. I repeat … HART….. he is something else
Both teams had spurts; shots nigh even
The scales tilted by Shesterkin…. Did I mention …. Hart
Caught the last period and OT of Avs/Predz….. Kudos to Ingram…. Don’t know much about him…. But shows only 3 NHL games was calledvp up on an emergency basis, and was playing in ECHL 3 seasons ago…. But goes 49 of 51….961 last night against the highly potent offence of the Avs. 👍👍👍
🤞 for Game 1 Leafs showing up in TBay tonight
Re Bruins/Canes…. Things will be rockin’ tonigt in Beantown…. I think Bruins win
@pengy
man Sid is still a great player
Malkin looks like he is playing hurt but he keeps taking the skates out of opposing players. Rooney in the 3rd was the most obvious.
Rangers still looking to pass too much and with that 3-1 lead kept the game too open with the back and forth. But Igor… Pens came out on fire to start the 3rd… Igor won it in those first 5 minutes.
Hi ds
Agree fully
Sid (and Guentzel and Rusty)… basically summing up the Pens O
Shesterkin is just something else
Rangers very good….. but Shesterkin ….just spectacular
To me… he has worked so very hard this year… and boneheads PHWA are likely to vote incorrectly for the Hart…. For those reasons… I fully believe Shesterkin has earned himself a very nice long vacation…. He can start today…. I am fully behind this very warranted gift to him
I am more than willing to fly out , just to help him pack. I can arrange for his flights and vacation hotel rooms…. How does Hawaii sound??
Avalanche escape with a win in OT. That Ingram kid was unbelievable! I hate those kind of games because the Avalanche were dominating but because of Ingram it could have gone the other way. Makar was awesome the whole game and MacKinnon too! Stupid penalty by MacKinnon though during the game. The Avalanche will need to keep bringing that effort in Nashville. GO AVS!!!!!!
Boston will win tonight and Rob “the whiner” Brind’Amour will whine again and again. Same old routine.
You had 9 pp, 3, 5 on 3 you got a pp after every scrum
When the last time you seen a team with 3 5vs3 in one game and without them 2 5vs3 goals does the Canes win?
Ya, Rod the Bod is workin’ the refs.
Agree on the scrum point, seemed like everyone was doing the same thing to me, not sure why the B’s kept getting singled out.
They did get the Pasta Raanta call right on the ice a major penalty would have been a major mistake IMO.
Can’t believe he is hurt? Seemed like a glancing blow to me. At first I thought he was just trying to sell the call. Maybe still is.
Unfortunate if he is actually hurt, but call me skeptical.
Brind’Amour isn’t the first coach to adopt the tactic of playing the refs and certainly won’t be the last. The record book if full of Stanley Cup winning coaches – some in the HofF – that were notorious for repeatedly going down that road.
Some that jump to mind include Scotty Bowman, Al Arbour, Punch Imlach, Mike Babcock
True George, but it’s still annoying haha…
As a Bruins fan transplanted to North Carolina I’ve taken a bit of an interest in the Canes this year as well (I can actually get all of their games on TV). They are a good team and pretty easy to root for, but I wish they hadn’t drawn my Bruins in the first round!
In every sport, play the ref, not the rules.
I must say, so far, the refs have discovered they actually have a whistle. Will it last?