NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 9, 2022

by | Oct 9, 2022 | News, NHL | 11 comments

Recaps of Saturday’s preseason games, the Flames extend coach Darryl Sutter’s contract, Kyle Okposo is the Sabres’ new captain, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PRESEASON GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Nashville Predators defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-2 to sweep their two-game NHL Global Series in Prague, Czechia. Second-period goals by Filip Forsberg and Nino Niederreiter lifted the Predators past the Sharks while Kevin Lankinen made 31 saves for the win.

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (NHL Images).

Auston Matthews and William Nylander each scored twice while Mitch Marner and Morgan Rielly each picked up three assists as the Toronto Maple Leafs rolled to a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

A hat trick by Vladislav Namestnikov carried the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Corey Perry collected three assists while Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 27 shots for the Lightning.

The Los Angeles Kings beat the Anaheim Ducks 6-3. Arthur Kaliyev led the way with a goal and two assists. Ducks netminder John Gibson left the game after the first period with an upper-body injury after taking a shot off his mask. An update on his condition is expected on Sunday.

Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello each had three-point performances to lead the Minnesota Wild over the Dallas Stars 5-1. Marc-Andre Fleury picked up the win by stopping 22 shots.

St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington made 24 saves to shut out the Chicago Blackhawks 6-0. Ivan Barbashev tallied twice for the Blues.

The Ottawa Senators swept their two-game Kraft Hockeyville series with the Montreal Canadiens with a 3-2 win thanks to an overtime goal by Drake Batherson. The Canadiens were winless in preseason play with an 0-6-2 record.

An overtime goal by Dylan Strome lifted the Washington Capitals over the Columbus Blue Jackets by a score of 4-3. Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper got the win with a 36-save effort while teammate John Carlson collected three assists.

The New Jersey Devils got two-point performances from Jack Hughes and Alexander Holtz to top the Boston Bruins 5-3. David Krejci picked up two assists for the Bruins.

A 28-save performance by Ilya Sorokin helped the New York Islanders defeat the New York Rangers 3-1. Josh Bailey had two assists for the Isles. Rangers winger Sammy Blais left the game in the first period and didn’t return but head coach Gerard Gallant said Blais “should be fine.”

The Vegas Golden Knights downed the Arizona Coyotes 5-1. Reilly Smith and Paul Cotter both had two assists on the night.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those were the final games of the 2022 preseason. The regular season opens on Tuesday, Oct. 11 with the Tampa Bay Lightning facing off against the New York Rangers while the Vegas Golden Knights visit the Los Angeles Kings.

HEADLINES

CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: The Flames yesterday announced that head coach Darryl Sutter had agreed to a two-year contract extension that begins next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise there. The Flames made significant improvement after Sutter took over as head coach during the 2020-21 season. Management sees this team as a Stanley Cup contender and wants an experienced, steady hand behind the bench.

WGR 550: The Buffalo Sabres named Kyle Okposo as their new team captain with Zemgus Girgensons and Rasmus Dahlin as their alternate captains. Okposo is the 20th captain in Sabres history and the first since Jack Eichel was stripped of the captaincy prior to trading him last November to the Vegas Golden Knights.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames defenseman Juuso Valimaki, Detroit Red Wings center Austin Czarnik and Pittsburgh Penguins blueliner Mark Friedman are among those placed on waivers on Saturday. Teams have until noon ET on Sunday to claim them.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens claimed defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic off waivers Saturday from the Winnipeg Jets.

TSN: Andrea Skinner has stepped down as interim chair of Hockey Canada’s board of directors. The organization has been losing sponsors and support from provincial organizations over its mishandling of sexual assault allegations leveled against several players on Canada’s 2003 and 2018 World Junior teams.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner’s departure is a start but there needs to be a complete overhaul of Hockey Canada’s leadership.







11 Comments

  1. Ullmark was bloody ullfull. Lastnight looked like Stanley Cup contenders vs hockey pretenders.
    Patrice good, Pastrnak good, New Jersey are not Cup ready yet, although they were a lot better than Boston. Even though Foligno probably played his best game yet he’s going to revert back to invisible Nick in future games have no confidence in this guy whatsoever. I’d still try and get someone like Chychrun or Hanifin. Lindholm looked good

  2. Curious question: what does one think should happen to the players involved in the 2018 world junior scandal?

    If and when the names come out; should the NHL suspend the players, can they suspend the players, how will the team of the player(s) react.

    One team potentially has two players involved. Other than dragging these players thru the mud, can anything be done?

    • Very sensitive subject. I was under the impression that when the young women agreed to a settlement that names would not be released and subsequent charges were dropped. Correct me if I’m wrong please.

    • What can be done, legally, other than public shaming and ridicule?
      The players will be called Gross pigs and much harsher words than I can submit here, but it’ll be like the Pat Kane episodes. It’ll be brought up now and then to support arguments about character or whatnot.

      It’ll most likely be business as usual after it does it’s time in the media circuit. Lovely distraction for folks not involved.

      • Well I believe that it would make their contracts null and void. They will likely be let go by their current team without getting signed by anyone else. KHL bound is my guess.

  3. Well if there are no charges laid and no names released you can’t punish people by rumors. Lots of opinions on this case but that’s all the are and cannot be acted upon.

  4. Habs probably pretty happy to get Kovacevic off the waivers. Not fully tested, but big young and (somewhat) mobile RHD are hard to find. Was hoping he might fall to the Canucks but not surprised he didn’t.

  5. Sweeney has finally has done something right he placed the human pylon Foligno, Reilly and Wagner on waivers. I like Wagner he gives it all he’s got, Reilly is a bit of surprise. My heart sores like a bored bird. Right after these moves, Sweeney went back to his cage and immediately locked the door.

    • He’ll clear, Rick. Then he’ll suit up against Washington. Then you can go back bashing him

  6. If I see that guy in the lineup Weds I won’t be watching. You could throw a gold fish walker out on the ice and it would be more useful.

    • Bruins no care if you watch lol