NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 6, 2022
The Lightning win Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, Patrice Bergeron wins a record-setting fifth Selke Trophy, Evander Kane receives a one-game suspension, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Ondrej Palat scored with 42 seconds remaining in regulation to left the Tampa Bay Lightning over the New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Rangers took a 2-0 lead on power-play goals by Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider but the Lightning rallied as Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos tallied with the man advantage. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 saves for the win while Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin stopped 48 shots. Game 4 goes Tuesday night with the Rangers holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the most entertaining game of this series. The Lightning seemed poised to drop their third straight after falling behind by two goals but showed the heart of a champion to take control of the game midway through the second period and pulled out the win. They needed their best players to step up and they did.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).
Nikita Kucherov was a factor in all three of the Lighting goals and was a notable presence throughout this game. Defenseman Victor Hedman also had a solid performance at both ends of the ice, picking up two assists and logging over 24 minutes of ice time. Palat, meanwhile, set a franchise record with his 10 postseason game-winning goal.
The Rangers not only lost the game but also Ryan Strome as the veteran center suffered a lower-body injury following a cross-check in the lower back by Palat. His status for Game 4 is uncertain.
Rangers coach Gerard Gallant intends to speak with NHL goaltending supervisor Kay Whitmore over the Lightning’s treatment of Shesterkin. Corey Perry was penalized for slashing and Riley Nash was whistled off for goaltending interference as the Bolts attempted to generate more traffic in front of Shesterkin to knock him off his game.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for a record-setting fifth time. He has also been a finalist six other times.
Bergeron also revealed he had undergone surgery to repair a tendon in his right elbow. His anticipate recovery period is 10-12 weeks.
Whether Bergeron returns with the Bruins next season remains to be seen. He’s an unrestricted free agent this summer and hasn’t decided yet if he’ll return for another season or retire. He indicated he intends to take all the time he needs to reach the right decision.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Bergeron for his well-deserved record-setting Selke win. If this season was indeed his last he’s going out as the greatest defensive forward in NHL history.
Bergeron will be fully recovered in time for training camp if he decides to return. The amount of time he’s taking to reach that decision will determine what moves management makes during the offseason.
Some Bruins fans are calling for Bergeron to make up his mind about his plans. The concern over his status and its effect on the Bruins’ plans for next season is understandable. However, the 36-year-old center has given everything to this franchise. He should be allowed all the time he needs to determine if he’ll return or hang up his skates. Any concerns about the Bruins’ lack of depth at center should be directed at management, not their captain.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Evander Kane received a one-game suspension by the NHL’s department of player safety for boarding Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kadri is out for the remainder of this series with a suspected broken thumb. The Oilers will also be without winger Kailer Yamamoto for Game 4 tonight after suffering a concussion from a hit by Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog. The Avalanche holds a 3-0 lead in the series and can wrap things up with a win tonight.
SPORTSNET: Wayne Gretzky’s last game-worn Edmonton Oilers jersey sold for $1.452 million US at Grey Flannel Auctions yesterday. It’s the most ever paid for a game-worn hockey jersey.
NHL.COM: Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said his club is planning on using all seven of the picks in the first two rounds of the 2022 NHL Draft. They hold three selections in the first round, including the No. 3 pick, and four in the second. Armstrong isn’t ruling out packaging some of those picks to move up in the draft order.
This might have been an aging champion grabbing for a life preserver, but tha’s not what it felt like in the building. Lighting were better in the first than in either of the two NY games, better in the second than the first, and almost back to their game in the third. The experience was marred by zebras who arrived in a clown car. Memos: Lightning, keep the damn sticks down. When you play your game, PP is all they got. NY Giants, if you tackled as well as the Rangers, you’d be in the conference finals too. And Igor has a future on Broadway when he’s done playing goal.
Igor was good when he wasn’t diving, Vasy was Vasy — and if he stays Vasy it could well be a long series. They sure look different to get similar results.
The best players were the best players. Trouba was collecting scalps, served 6 minutes that could have been 12. He is trying to hurt people, and it cost his team tonight. 3 uncalled elbows.
The Lightning are in one of those times when nothing is going in for a lot of the players; they are working hard to get the looks they want, then no joy. But they are persistant, and it just possible the Rangers can’t continue to operate with near perfect offensive synch; the Lightning slowed them down a lot but a couple of theeir power plays were terrifying.
I like the Lightning trend line. I like that Lightning have found their process. They can be very disciplined, and, like the Rangers in game 1, have world class talent that can explode at any time.
The NY kids looked more like kids; line rushes are more fun than getting cycled on.
Tuesday night will be fun. Going back to NY 2-2 would be a new level of pressure test for the Rangers,
and just another step on the path to history for the Bolts on a road they’ve traveled a couple of times
Tampa certainly kept the pedal to the metal – 51 SOG! In Regulation!! Sheesh.
Yeah, you have a point, Richard. There are, however, calls missed on both sides. And, yes, Shesty should be called for embellishment. Trouba has had his elbows coming up on several occasions since the Crosby hit, and Dollars over Player Safety is, of course, more concerned about dollars.
I think the Bolts have found their game in front of their fans and that is good to make this a much better series. The line of Alex Killorn, Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel was on the ice for 24 chances-for and just five chances-against at even strength for a CF% of 82.8%. Just an incredible game for that trio that mixes speed and tenacity. I love this line.
And I have to add: I am really hoping Palat is a Red Wing next year!
cmon Corey Perry knows what he is doing
Why was Perry’s stick in his face for him to be able to embellish that hit? What is the excuse for the other times he was run , bumped and disrupted? “ Igor was good when he wasn’t diving,”
He’s also Igor when not catching sticks to the face or being run at.
Beyond ridiculous!
“ When you play your game, PP is all they got”
Hmmmm, that’s interesting. Considering NY scored a total of 3 pp goals and 8 5v5 in this series. Ranger have gone 3-12 (game one was 1-6, the pp goal being the 6th goal of the game) Tampa has gone 4-7 in the series. Excellent observation! But you may have that thought reversed!
So basically, once again, the only way NY wins or loses a game is by some supernatural event or conspiracy? Got it!
And not a chance the NHL suspends a household, marquee player like Trouba! Duh. That’s part of this year’s conspiracy!
Thanks NHL!
Richard “When you play your game, PP is all they got.” are you referring to how the rangers played?
Tampa wasn’t allow to play there game in NY and the Rangers left them off the hook yesterday.
Give credit where credit is due. Tampa got outplayed in game one and two.
Strome sure looked like he pulled a quad trying to twist away from Palat and a was step away after an inconsequential touch; had a good view; extreme pain, dropped stick, straight to the room. DId not seem like injury due to contact. – Later how did Goodrow come back to skate after taking a Hedmon 98mph slapper flush on the boot? He might have a foot that needed work when the skate came off after the game.
Yeah, that hit did not cause an injury. I had a player try to duck a hit from me in a game when I was a teen, and I just brushed him, but somehow when he twisted he broke his leg trying to escape me.
Nothing like a fan from team that won game- whining about refs. And I thought Pens fans where bad. Lol. Can’t believe refs didn’t catch just 1 of those 6 vicious elbows. Yet, somehow ref out in neutral zone spotted a hold on Trouba down below the goal line at start of 3rd. Don’t down how red down low,10 ft from play, somehow missed it! Enjoy the win Dick. Lol
Agreed – a phantom hold make-up call from previous transgressions — I didn’t say the refs were terrible for or against one of the teams, I said they were terrible. Missed calls, non-calls, bogus calls, and, not shown on TV, McCaully spending a lot of finger in the face time berating players. I thought they were trying to manage the game, not just call it.
I was reading a comment the other day thanking the bruins for K’Andre Miller (the first round pick for Nash) and Ryan Lindgren the throw in for the Nash Trade.
Matt Belesky, Ryan Spooner, Ryan Lindgren a1st & 7th round pick for Nash.
Ryan Spooner got traded from the Rangers to Edmonton for Ryan Strome.
Shows you the cost of going for the cup and you don’t know how the futures will develop.
Doesn’t always work out though as Boston traded Cody Payne, Lane McDermid and a conditional 2nd which moved to a 1st round pick who Dallas selected Jason Dickerson now playing in Vancouver.
And Nash was a great fit with Boston but he got injured again on that run. Boston advances one more round with Nash imho.
Rangers also got fleeced in the McDonagh/JT Miller trade so the universe stays balanced.
If Nash never got a Mellon head with bruins. He was most likely going to resign with bruins He was what they needed at the time and fit in perfect with the team you can never know what the future will hold
Mrbruin4, at the time i remember hearing rumors that Nash was going to sign back with Columbus.
Bergy is in the top five bruin players of all time. and for my money he still the best bruin playing here in 2022.Because of his amazing play and contribution he should be given a little extra time.
But if you’re talking another month no way. If it were different circumstances of course take all summer, but because of the Brad, Mac. Matt, not to mention the Krecji situation. He has got to do some serious thinking over the next few weeks. as it stands right now with all the injuries’ and everything else that could go wrong on top of that, this team couldn’t beat a lower level ahl squad. They are ripe for the picking. Time is a factor.
None of the things you’ve mentioned are Bergeron’s problems or fault.
He’s been giving it his all for this franchise since he was 18 years old. He deserves all the time he desires in making his decision.
Let Sweeney figure it out on his own.
1. Orr
2. Shore
3. Bourque
4. Bergeron
5. Esposito
6. Bucyk
7. Middleton
8. Chara
9. Neely
10. Oates/Marchand
Sweeney?! He doesn’t know his yin Yang from his elbow. I agree with most of your list however, unlike you I never had the pleasure seeing Shore play I’d put espo one slot ahead of Espo. Espo to me was very underrated. And Oates was and is one of best passers in hockey period.
What’s nice list….bit of a bitter pill. One would think a team that at one time or another had those truly hall of famers and two that are basically in the same stratosphere as Gretzky… won so little.
If Bergy let’s Sweeney know before UFA period great.
If he doesn’t Sweeney will act as if he isn’t coming back.
Bergy also understands this and wouldn’t expect anything different.
They are both pros and know the drill.
If he decides to come back after, then he does. If he goes elsewhere, then he does. If he retires, than he does.
Is there a Krecji situation, I thought he left last year? I haven’t heard anything about him.
I would have Chara at 5.
I think PB should let the Bruins know what he’s doing before the UFA period starts I believe its 7/13……I could be wrong but DK let the Bruins know he wasnt coming back way after last years UFA signing period started …….
who would win in a fight back in the day ?
Lyndon Byers or Jay Miller
Here’s something from Twitter my son sent me. Side by side views of Kane hit vs Crosby cross checking Lindgren into boards. Crosby didn’t even get a penalty. Lindgren went to locker room. https://twitter.com/the_teknic/status/1533484786102292480?s=21&t=Yarp3IdAvfIUrABUPBNzGQ
ref wears sids #
sid is an all time great but he banter with the refs is a sort of entitlement
messier was similar
So long, Bruce. Hello, Claude or Savard.