NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 30, 2022

by | Nov 30, 2022 | News, NHL | 24 comments

Alex Ovechkin sets a goal-scoring record, the Kraken and Kings play the highest-scoring game thus far this season, the Stars re-sign Roope Hintz to a lucrative new contract, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Alex Ovechkin scored twice to surpass Wayne Gretzky for the most career road goals (403) in a 5-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Darcy Kuemper made 31 saves for the Capitals and Anthony Mantha collected two points for the Capitals (10-11-3). Nil Hoglander replied for the Canucks as they fall to 9-11-3.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gretzky scored 402 road goals during his career. Ovechkin now has 793 total career goals and needs just nine more to move past Gordie Howe (801) in second place on the all-time list. He currently has 13 goals in 24 games this season.

An overtime goal by Andre Burakovsky lifted the Seattle Kraken over the Los Angeles Kings 9-8 in the highest-scoring game of the season thus far. Burakovsky, Jared McCann and Matty Beniers each scored twice while Jordan Eberle collected four assists for the Kraken (14-5-3) as they picked up their sixth straight win. Kevin Fiala had four assists, Drew Doughty collected three helpers and Gabriel Vilardi tallied twice as the Kings drop to 12-9-4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a record-setting game for the Kraken, winning their franchise-best sixth consecutive game, scoring the most goals in one game and the most combined goals.

Winnipeg Jets winger Blake Wheeler collected a hat trick and picked up an assist as his club blanked the Colorado Avalanche 5-0. Connor Hellebuyck turned in a 40-save shutout while Mark Scheifele and Cole Perfetti collected three points each as the Jets improved their record to 14-6-1. Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev gave up five goals on 23 shots as his club fell to 12-7-1.

The Boston Bruins regained first place in the overall standings with a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, extending their league-record season-opening home wins streak to 13 games. Taylor Hall scored two goals while Jeremy Swayman kicked out 27 shots for the win. Steven Stamkos scored to pick up his 999th career point as his Lightning dropped to 13-8-1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins (19-3-0) are tied with the New Jersey Devils (38 points) but have a game in hand and have lost one fewer game. Before the game, they activated defenseman Derek Forbort and demoted Anton Swayman to their AHL affiliate.

Calgary Flames winger Dillon Dube had a goal and two assists while goalie Dan Vladar stopped 31 shots to defeat the Florida Panthers 6-2 and improve their record to 10-9-3. Sam Reinhart and Nick Cousins replied for the 10-9-4 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Matthew Tkachuk’s first game in Calgary since forcing a trade to the Florida Panthers during the offseason. He was honored by the Flames with a video tribute and a standing ovation by most Calgary fans but was booed every time he touched the puck in this contest.

An overtime goal by Brett Pesce gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov also scored for the Hurricanes (12-6-5) while Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel replied for the 11-8-4 Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins were furious following the game as an uncalled boarding penalty by Carolina winger Seth Jarvis on Bryan Rust led to Pesce’s goal.

The Philadelphia Flyers snapped their 10-game winless skid by downing the New York Islanders 3-1. Kevin Hayes tallied two goals and Carter Hart turned in a 23-save effort for the 8-10-5 Flyers. Noah Dobson replied for the Islanders as they drop to 15-9-0.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers winger Scott Laughton returned to the lineup following a four-game absence with an upper-body injury.

Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi’s scored in overtime as his club nipped the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 2-1. Colton Sissons also tallied for the Predators as they improved to 10-9-2. John Gibson made 39 saves and Troy Terry scored for the Ducks, who hold the league’s worst record at 6-15-2.

The San Jose Sharks blanked the Montreal Canadiens 4-0. Tomas Hertl scored twice and Kaapo Kahkonen made 28 saves for the shutout as the Sharks improve to 8-13-4. The Canadiens went 0-6 on the powerplay and drop to 11-10-1 on the season.

NOTABLE NEWS

DALLAS HOCKEY NOW: The Stars signed center Roope Hintz to an eight-year, $67.6 million contract extension. The average annual value is $8.45 million and goes into effect for the 2023-24 season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a big increase for Hintz over the $3.15 million AAV of his current contract. The 26-year-old was slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in July and would’ve also been a year away from unrestricted free-agent eligibility.

Hintz earned that big payday centering the Stars’ top line with wingers Jason Robertson and Joe Pavelski since 2020-21. He had 43 points in 41 games despite being hampered by injury during that COVID-shortened season. The Finnish center enjoyed a career-best 72-point performance last season and has 24 points in 22 games thus far in this campaign.

The Stars now have young core players like Hintz, Robertson, defenseman Miro Heiskanen and goaltender Jake Oettinger signed for at least the next two seasons.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Tempe City Council voted 7-0 in favor of the Arizona Coyotes’ proposed 16,000 arena proposal. The next (and potentially final) step will be a referendum by Tempe citizens to be held on May 16, 2023.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the Coyotes are willing to sign a 30-year non-relocation agreement if the arena proposal goes forward. The league will also bring an NHL draft or an all-star game to the new arena.







24 Comments

  1. Ol ovi lookin a bit salt n peppery there. Can he go long enough to break Gretzky?!?! Fingers crossed 🤞

    And a thirty year non relocation agreement? I think the sound you just heard was pengys bowls letting loose.

    • Whoosh…. And what a smell đź’©đź’©đź’©

  2. I actually don’t want Alex to break Gretzky’s record.
    His friendship with Putin kind of rubs me the wrong way. Will not respond to Who and What. The season’s still young but I can not find any flaws thus far in the b’s. I’m enjoying watching the team again. The combination of Mac and Hampus is one of the best combos in hockey

    • I think for many who don’t want to see it happen it’s not specifically the Russia part… it’s the non Canadian part.

      • I don’t know about that, Chris, my image of Bobby Orr went way down after the last election in the States, and a lot of Canadians have criticized Gretzky for his promotion of an online gambling site.

      • We’re not the chauvinists.

      • My observations of nhl social media would often contradict that George.

        And I must have missed orrs “transgressions “.

      • Orr made the bold right choice, just like he did all his life.

      • No…its the putin part. Try again.

      • People were posting anti ovi stuff long before Ukraine. Now he has been associated with Putin before that for sure. But I don’t think enough people cared. No… I’m convinced the majority of both Canadian fans and older fans both don’t want a non Canadian to trump Wayne but also don’t want to see someone from their generation get beat out by someone from a younger one. I’m also convinced that many who disagree have convinced themselves otherwise.

      • And what colour (see the difference in spelling) is the sky in your assured world?

        Here’s one Canadian who doesn’t give a rat’s ass who holds ANY frigging record. ALL records are meant to be broken.

      • Blue. Just like the color of the sky on mara.

      • Johnny Z: “Bold, right choice”? A man who supports terrorism in his own country just like his buddy Putin? Shame on Bobby, and shame on Ovi.

    • The season’s still young but I can not find any flaws thus far in the b’s. I’m enjoying watching the team again. The combination of Mac and Hampus is one of the best combos in hockey

      Say what?????
      After all the Sweeney Ullmark . Foligno Nosek. Smith bashing. Now that is a flip flop of John Kerry proportions

      • RWM is not cursed with consistency, just as long as he can convince himself that he’s right.

    • I’m with ya Rick, IF Ovie actually believes what he posted in the past and does still support Putin.
      But tough to know for sure as he has family in Russia including his parents.

      Not sure if you have seen or read about the all the “mysterious” deaths to Russian businessmen this year. Safe to say, not a great time to be a high profile Russian.

      • The smart ones got the Hell out when he announced his new draft plan for the military.

  3. Panthers…. Bobo is killing you

    Krakken…. You are almost surprising me as mych as Devils…. Almost

    Bruins…..just keep plugging…. The real deal

    Hintz…. Great signing by Stars

    Re “The next (and potentially final) step will be a referendum by Tempe citizens to be held on May 16, 2023.”…., lets hope that is not the final step…. Vote down 16/5/23…. Then relo to Houston for 23/24 season 👍🙏🤞

    Re

    “SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins were furious following the game as an uncalled boarding penalty by Carolina winger Seth Jarvis on Bryan Rust led to Pesce’s goal.”

    Yep

    Ref watches this…. Lifts whistle to lips; doesn’t blow it; turns; sees 4 Canes on ice (it’s OT… 3 on 3) lifts whistle to mouth; doesn’t blow it…. Then watches the 2 on Oh lead to the game winning goal…. Sully went balistic

    Pens were lucky to get late goal; send to OT for a point….but that (no call on boarding; no call on extra man… leading to 2 on Oh) was just ridiculous

  4. Interesting conversation on NHL radio yesterday.

    Bill the stat guy said TB had the puck for over 2 mins on a delayed penalty for too many on the ice against Buffalo.

    He says he was asked by friends; what would happen if the too many player, just stayed on the ice to make sure you touch the puck quicker and not giving the opponent longer advantage.

    I think natural instinct is to get off the ice, but if you can only be called once for too many men on the ice, your better to stay on and not give the opponent an additional advantage.

    • Excellent point Caper

      Natural instinct for sure is to get off (can’t return once you’ve left the ice)…. So stay on, and go full tilt at defending the attack

      On the flip side…. Pulling the goalie (for extra attacker) on delayed penalty …. If they score with the 6 on 5 I would still like to see a penalty (rule would need to change) …. teams can pull goalies at anytime to do a 6 on 5 (cite last minute if 1 goal games)…. the infraction is going to be called anyway….. Let it stand

      This gives a shot at a potential 2 goals scored against for a minor infractions…. And would likely result in less overall infractions

      Just a thought

      • Nice thought but the only thing that results in less infractions is the refs calling the game straight… not based on score, make up penalties, regular season vs playoffs, etc.

      • Hi Chrisms

        I agree that the biggest influence on infraction frequency is the consistency of reffing

        And it’s not just ref to ref; or what teams are playing; or what building they are in

        Same refs same game same building are often inconsistent throughout that game

        Still hi tendency to ref different in OT (far more gets missed/not called)…. And then there was s playoffs

        That said….. I truly believe if NHL rules committee did change the rule (so that a delayed penalty still gets calked (regardless if they score on 6 v 5) ; there would be less minors …. How much less??? But less

        Irrelevant whether infractions diminish…. Rule should be changed… penalty happened…. It’s just that a simulation aneous pull the goalie 6 on 5 resulted in a goal…. Wasn’t a PP…. still 12 skaters (6 each team) on ice… just now only 1 has the extra padding and much fatter stick

      • The only comment have to offer on the consistency – or lack thereof – when it comes to officials is that ’twas ever thus. I truthfully cannon remember an era where there wasn’t constant bitching from the fan base – and even the media.

        So, clearly, something else is at play here. Human error? The only way we’ll ever see an end to “we wuz robbed” is when science comes up with a programmed cyborg official who can skate.

  5. I was born in Ukraine, but still would love to see Ovi break the ‘Great One’s” record. The Great one messed up our Drive for Five back in ’84, and I still hold a grudge!