NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 21, 2022

by | Jun 21, 2022 | News, NHL | 6 comments

The Lightning defeated the Avalanche in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, the latest details on the Stars’ reported hiring of Pete DeBoer, the Canucks sign KHL star Andrei Kuzmenko, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning avenged their lopsided Game 2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche with a convincing 6-2 win in Game 3 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (NHL Images).

A four-goal second period blew the game open for the Lightning, chasing Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper after he gave up five goals on 22 shots. The Bolts also got a 37-save performance from Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Nick Paul scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the second period after returning from a first-period injury. Steven Stamkos, Ondrej Palat and Pat Maroon each had a goal and an assist while Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman both collected two assists. Gabriel Landeskog scored both Avalanche goals.

Game 4 is on Wednesday in Tampa Bay with the Avalanche holding a 2-1 series lead.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As we’ve come to expect, the Lightning once again rose to the occasion in a must-win contest. They didn’t panic when the Avalanche opened the scoring for the third straight game, pouncing on defensive miscues and playing a much more physical style to neutralize their opponent’s speed. Vasilevskiy was outstanding, shrugging off his poor performance in Game 2 and making several big saves to pick up the win.

This game got chippy as it went on. Several roughing penalties were handed out and there was a fight late in the third period between the Lightning’s Ross Colton and the Avalanche’s Logan O’Connor.

It was a potentially costly win for the Lightning as Kucherov left the game in the third period following a cross-check by Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews. No update was given on his condition following the game. They were already playing without Brayden Point, who sat out this contest after returning from a lower-body injury to play in the first two games.

The Avalanche were without forwards Nazem Kadri (thumb injury) and Andre Burakovsky (injured hand) for this game. Both are listed as day-to-day.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Dallas Stars and former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer are working on a four-year contract expected to be worth over $4 million per season. The deal hasn’t been finalized and signed yet but it’s expected to be done soon.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks have signed KHL star Andrei Kuzmenko to a one-year contract. He’ll earn a base salary of $855K along with bonuses that could take him up to $1.95 million. The contract will be officially filed with the NHL on July 13.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzmenko is a 26-year-old left wing who tallied 53 points in 45 games this season with SKA St. Petersburg. He’s considered a smart, gifted playmaker. If he plays up to expectations he’ll provide offensive depth among the Canucks’ top-six scorers.

NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON: The Capitals signed forwards Brett Leason and Beck Malenstyn to two-year contracts. Leason’s is a one-way deal worth $750K in 2022-23 and $800K in 2023-24. Malenstyn’s is a two-way deal next season and a one-way deal worth $775K.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators will play the Montreal Canadiens in two Kraft Hockeyville training-camp games in Gander, NL on Oct. 6 and Bouctouche, NB on Oct. 8.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers are reportedly interested in adding Finland’s national coach Jukka Jalonen to their coaching search.







6 Comments

  1. You knew it wasn’t going to be Colorado’s night on Tampa’s 2nd goal by Palat when Kuemper – although moving to his right to cover a beautiful pass to Palat – for some reason came out his net to cut the angle but bent over almost double… so Palat simply fired it over him into the top of the net.

    And Nick Paul continues to show his worth so far in the playoffs … and there were some who voiced the opinion, prior to the trade from Ottawa, that he was “overrated.”

  2. Guessing rumors will pick up in Van. Adding Kuzmenko, who was a teammate of Podkolzin, will push someone out of top 6/9. Miller? Garland? Maybe Pearson?

    • Am I the only one who thinks that the Kuzmenko signing is much ado about very little? He was never drafted, was basically an average player in a second tier league for several years. Suddenly, at the age of 26, he has a breakout season and everyone is looking at him like the next best thing. Sorry Canucks fans, but odds are that he’ll be a bottom six winger at best. Most of those KHL free agents do not pan out. Artemi Panarin is the rare exception.

      • From what I have heard, he is really weak in the defensive zone. Not the type of player a team needs when they are already weak defensively.
        The Canucks are adding another small skilled non-physical forward. Miller is their biggest forward in their top 6 and there are lots of rumours he may be traded. If so the Canucks should get a big physical top 6 forward in return.

      • if I had to draw a comparison I would see him as a Dadonov type of player. Dadonov has put up some ok numbers but he does not get involved unless the puck is on his stick. No forecheck , no back check , no body check .
        His incentive is a 1 year ELC to prove he can produce in the NHL.

  3. Like a japanese SF movie; you kill the monster early in the movie and he slips into the sea, only to arise later while you are celebrating, somehow having become radioactive and with lightning bolts dancing around his head. Wearing Number 88.
    Oh no. Its Vasylarceny, and its still alive. Compher had bad dreams.
    Could do without the bad hits on the best players. If one of the M&M boys gets a tough hit Colorado will know why; Kuch had to play a prior final with a broken rib from a similar effort.
    It’s only a series if the Lightning continue to get better at frustrating the Avs; they still looked lethal even tho the got nothing 5v5. But there is a rumor around that they are fair weather flyers, and that handling adversity is a capability they are trying to prove this year; this is the first they have seen.