NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 7, 2022
The Bruins bounce back against the Hurricanes while the Leafs, Oilers and Wild take 2-1 leads in their respective first-round series. Details and much more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Boston Bruins doubled up the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 in Game 3 to pick up their first win of the series. The Hurricanes now hold a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series. Brad Marchand had a goal and two assists, David Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle each had two points while rookie goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves for his first-ever NHL playoff victory. Game 4 will be on Sunday, May 8.
Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The reunited “Perfection Line” of Marchand, Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron made their presence felt in this contest. Swayman showed no sign of nerves stepping into this contest after being the backup in the first two games.
There was a scary moment for NHL off-ice official Joe Foley as a pane of glass was accidentally knocked loose by Bruins fans and fell on him while he was working in the penalty box. He was taken off on a stretcher and sent to a local hospital for observation, where he is reportedly all right and is expected to recover.
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell made 32 saves to help his club hold off the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 in Game 3 of their opening round series. They led Tampa Bay two games to one. Pierre Engvall collected three assists while Ilya Mikheyev tallied twice for the Leafs. Ondrej Palat had a goal and an assist for the Lightning. The two clubs square off in Game 4 on Sunday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning cut Toronto’s 3-0 lead to 3-2 early in the third period but Campbell’s goaltending and Mikheyev’s two late goals sealed the win. The Leafs’ depth players stepped one as their big guns (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares) were held to just one assist in this contest.
The Edmonton Oilers got a hat trick from Evander Kane in their 8-2 drubbing of the Los Angeles Kings in Game 3 to go up 2-1 in their first-round series. Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins each scored two goals and an assist while Mike Smith turned in a 44-save performance for the win. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick got the hook after giving up four goals on 17 shots.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: After a narrow 4-3 loss in Game 1, the Oilers have outscored Los Angeles 14-2 over the next two games. This series will be over quickly at this rate if the Kings fail to neutralize the Oilers’ offense. They’ll get the opportunity in Game 4 on Sunday.
Minnesota Wild netminder Mark-Andre Fleury made 29 saves to backstop his club to a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 3 to go up two games to one in their first-round series. Jordan Greenway opened the scoring just 39 seconds into the first period. Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek each had a goal and an assist for the Wild.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues’ banged-up blueline suffered another blow as defenseman Torey Krug left the game with a lower-body injury. They were already playing without Robert Bortuzzo and Nick Leddy as both are sidelined by upper-body injuries.
HEADLINES
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins backup goaltender Casey DeSmith underwent core-muscle surgery on Friday and is out for the remainder of the playoffs. With starter Tristan Jarry still rehabbing an injured foot, the Penguins will turn to Louis Domingue in Game 3. Domingue replaced DeSmith during their series-opening 4-3 triple overtime win over the New York Rangers. The series is tied at a game apiece with Game 3 on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
TRIBLIVE.COM: In other Penguins news, winger Jason Zucker (lower-body injury) will be a game-time decision for Game 3. Winger Rickard Rakell (upper-body injury) and defenseman Brian Dumoulin (lower body) are listed as day-to-day.
ESPN.COM: Nashville Predators starter Juuse Saros has been ruled out for Saturday’s Game 3 against the Colorado Avalanche. Connor Ingram is expected to get the start for the Predators, who are down 2-0 to the Avalanche in their first-round series.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ingram made 49 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 2. He must maintain that level of performance and hope his teammates’ popgun offense can improve if the Predators are to get back into this series.
NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON: Capitals winger Tom Wilson remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury. It’s uncertain if they’ll start Vitek Vanecek or Ilya Samsonov in goal tonight for Game 3 against the Florida Panthers.
THE ATHLETIC: Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone will undergo further tests and research to attempt to address a nagging back injury that hampered his performance this season.
DAILY FACEOFF: cited Cap Friendly indicating only six teams (Bruins, Lightning, Golden Knights, Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, and Winnipeg Jets) will have the full $82.5 million salary-cap payrolls to spend in 2022-23. Fourteen clubs will be affected by performance bonuses exceeding this season’s $81.5 million cap and being applied to next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Click on the link above for the full list. It ranges from as low as $25K (Avalanche) to as high as $1.25 million (Vancouver Canucks).
OTTAWA SUN: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said there isn’t a “for sale” sign in front of the Senators. There was speculation the club could be sold following the death of owner Eugene Melnyk in March. Bettman said it will be up to Melnyk’s daughters what they wish to do but indicated the club isn’t on the market and there are “no problems”.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators are being by a three-man group that has had a hand in running the club for several years. They will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
TSN: Speaking of Bettman, he said former NHL coach Joel Quenneville hasn’t approached him about returning behind the bench. Quenneville resigned as coach of the Florida Panthers last fall for his role in the Chicago Blackhawks’ mishandling of Kyle Beach’s sexual assault allegations against a former video coach in 2010. Part of the conditions surrounding any plan for his return to the NHL coaching ranks is approval from the league commissioner.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There were recent rumors Quenneville was either contemplating a return or that a club was interested in hiring him.
NHL.COM: The dates for the announcements of the NHL Award finalists have been released, starting with the James Norris Memorial Trophy on Monday, May 9. Click the link for the complete list. The winners will be revealed during the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final.
Pengy, a couple of days ago I offered the opinion that, IF the Leafs won game 2 the series could be over in 5. Then the pk went for a fatal snooze. Last night they – and Campbell – redeemed themselves big time and so I still think it could be over in 5.
Meanwhile, the Bruins – specifically Marchand – demonstrated that they are not about to toss in the towel regardless of who is the opposition.
And Kane is busy building up his case for a lucrative new contract.
As much as I respect the Lightning as they are really one of the best teams of this generation, I have to say one thing from looking at their faces last night.
They look terrified.
Frank, they have won eight series in a row. I don’t think they are terrified.
Jack Campbell – keep it going. Another positive for the Leafs – the depth players are playing well; Dubas deserves a lot of credit for that.
Keep grinding, boys, a long way to go.
How quickly to forget the 3-1 series lead against the Habs last year, i would think the Maple Leafs would be the ones terrified having a series lead
Kane has been an absolute force down the stretch and into the playoffs. Obviously playing with mcdavid helps but he has been elite . Physical , net presence , goal scoring , a touch of nastiness , pk .
Smith responded big time to that game 1 gaffe and this is the best I’ve seen the oilers play in a long long time, and mcdavid and draisaitl are logging season low minutes not being overtaxed. The d pairings are balanced all seeing between 18 and 22 minutes last night and playing well. Woodcroft has really maximized this teams potential and I love his coaching style and thought process , well suited for playoff time .
More sketchy officiating in the Bruins/Canes series last night. Linesman calling major penalties where there aren’t any is the latest blunder.
Keith Jones is terrible as a color commentator.
I strongly dislike Vince Trocheck and Tony DeAngelo.
That is all.
Trocheck may be your 2C next year! LOL
Why didn’t the bruins take a crack at Kane? he’s been on a mission this season, when he’s right he is almost unstoppable. The canes down to third goalie if ever there’s an opportunity to take advantage of the situation that time is now.
Rick, thanks for the post yesterday that helped propel the Bruins to victory last night.
Asking for same tomorrow.
Not above begging.
Lol
Lol, this is exactly what I thought about when I saw that score!
Yahtzee. One more time for tomorrow please.
They didn’t go after Kane because they have the worst GM in hockey and Lurch as a president. Since both will be fired after they get swept in this series they didn’t feel the need to do anything except sit back and wait for the axe to fall. Duh.
Hope your ankles and knees are alright from all this jumping you’re doing.
Rick, they might yet have a crack at him – especially if he keeps this up throughout the playoffs.
Right now, Holland is committed to 16 players at a cap hit of $76,164,795 leaving him just $6,335,205 to sign 7.
Two of his 3 RFAs (Puljujarvi and Yamamoto) have arbitration rights and both are coming off cap hit of $1,175,000. Their new deals alone are going to take care of that $6,335,205 – and then some. Add in RFA McLeod, coming off $834,167, who will likely be seeking something in the $1.5 range at least.
In addition to Kane, his other UFAs are Archibald, Brassard, Russell, Kulak, Koskinen and Turris. Only Kulak will likely be re-signed, while – if not bringing back Koskinen (currently costing $4.5 mil) – he’s going to have to find a solid netminder.
Unless there’s a major overhaul elsewhere among the signed contracts, I just don’t see how he’s going to flesh out his roster, never mind re-signing Kane who’s going to be seeking – and will easily get – at least $7 mil.
That’s the issue George.
Skinner will be in EDM next year as he has to clear waivers starting next season, and he will get claimed. So now or never, plus they need a tender. 1A &1B scenario if I had to guess, and he has been solid when getting an opportunity in NHL.
So will save some $ there, but not enough to sign Kane unless he takes a big discount, which why would he as he filed for bankruptcy protection not long ago. So depending what he owes, likely needs some dough.
B’s have same issue. If DeBrusk still wants to move they can, but IMO there are other teams that can offer Kane more.
Totally agree Ray – that’s why I phrased it as “they might get a crack at him” to give Rick some hope. It implies, of course, that Sweeney would need to do some major re-shuffling of his deck.
Indeed, as I posted a few days ago, he’s already faced with that if it’s his intention to re-up Bergeron. He has 20 signed for next season at a cap cost of $78,179,167, which only leaves him $4,320,833 to sign 3 – and there’s no way he gets Bergeron to return for $4 mil and plays the season with a 20-man roster – 2 of which have to be goalies.
If Kane can be had for $7 mil, and Bergeron agrees to return for, say, $5.5 mil (and that may be a stretch), with the 3rd being an ELC elevation from within at $750,000, the total cost of $13,250,000 minus the $4,320,000 he has on hand, means he’d need to free up $8,930,000 through trades. And none of them could bring back salaried players with term.
Right off the bat, forget about hoping someone takes Foligno and his $3.8 mil can hit – no one is that dumb. That leaves DeBrusk who would clear $4 mil, leaving $4,930,000 to move. I think any team looking for 3rd/4th line C depth would take Smith and his $3.1 mil hit (1 year to go), leaving $1,830,000 to move.
The problem creeping in at this stage is that now he’d have 3 more roster spots to fill which theoretically could be done with ELC elevations if, say, Grzelcyk and his $3,687,500 deal was moved.
Sorry to outline this Pengy-like convoluted “solution” which has as much chance of happening as the proverbial snowball in Hell – just outlined to show the extent to which Sweeney would have to go in order to bring back Bergeron AND sign Kane. Now, should he find a taker for Taylor Hall and his $6 mil cap hit (3 more years to go) – maybe it can be done.
Of course, he could move Marchand – and I’m sure Dorion would be all over that like fleas on a dog. 🙂
Good win last night. Doesn’t matter who in the other net, scoring goals build confidence.
Forbort when playing his game, stay back, block shots, clear the front of the net is a strong player. 9 block shots last night.
Connor Clifton had more ice time then Grizz last time. Maybe because of his willingness to throw the body.
Ya Caper, PP got going.
Interest stat: High danger chances overall were only 7-6 BOS. 5 on 5 were tied at 2.
Tight game.
B’s finally got a flippin’ lead. Announcers said it was the first time all YEAR vs Canes. Wow.
Allows you to play guys like Forbort a whack. He had over 23 minutes last night.
Need the lead early again. Win the next one and we have a real shot at this. Gonna be a battle.
Go B’s!
Congratulations to the Estevan Bruins on their SJHL championship win over the Bombers of Flin Flon!
I like the fact that we overcame that dreaded “3-1” deficit and stayed victorious. Soup opened a can of whip ash saves as Tampa pressed in on us hard.
Also have to credit to that 4th line and the way we employed the approach to this game with out our fisticuffers.
Engvall giving the pass of to Mikheyev on an open net in order for him to get his first NHL playoff gooal was truly unselfish and it payed off again for Mik who scored another. Both of these players and their speed have really stepped up rather than stepping out!
Yes being up in a series 2-1 gives the greater odds towards escaping the series as a winner but you can’t let off the gas just because of that fact and this team has a different all or nothing vibe to it! Awesome!!
p.s – really astonished that the flames are drying up in the scoring department and they must be getting slivers from holding their sticks too tight now.
For the greed for my drafts, I hope they do better and still feel they can bust a move and get that scoring touch back into their flame,…I mean game 😉
Looks like Florida is choking again – how else do you explain losing 6-1 to Washington? Yeah, maybe 3-2 or 4-3 – something along those lines you could say OK – it happens with a bounce here and a deflection there – but 6-1!! They blow this series and there’s going to be a LOT of questions in Florida to add to the Disney fiasco!