NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 17, 2023
The Bruins’ David Krejci collects three points in his 1,000th NHL game, the three stars of the week are revealed and the Wild sign Matt Boldy to a contract extension. Details and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Boston Bruins center David Krejci celebrated his 1,000th career NHL game with a three-assist performance in a 6-0 drubbing of the Philadelphia Flyers. Jeremy Swayman had a 29-save shutout while David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha each scored two goals as the league-leading Bruins (35-5-4) hold a 10-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes in the overall standings with 72 points. The Flyers dropped to 18-19-7 on the season.
Boston Bruins center David Krejci (NHL Images).
The New Jersey Devils picked up their seventh straight road win by downing the San Jose Sharks 4-3 on a shootout goal by Tomas Tatar. Jack Hughes scored with 10 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime and the shootout. With 61 points, the Devils (29-12-3) sit one point behind the Hurricanes in third place in the overall standings. James Reimer stopped 38 shots and Timo Meier had a goal and an assist for the Sharks as they fell to 13-23-9.
Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger kicked out 27 shots to blank the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0. Jamie Benn scored what proved to be the game-winner as the Stars (26-12-7) move into a tie with the Winnipeg Jets with 59 points. The Jets hold first-overall in the Western Conference with a game in hand. With 58 points, the 28-15-2 Golden Knights slipped to third overall in the conference. They also lost defenseman Alec Martinez to an undisclosed injury.
The Colorado Avalanche got two goals and two assists from Nathan MacKinnon in a 6-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Cale Makar scored twice and collected an assist for the 22-17-3 Avalanche (47 points) as they moved to within four points of the Calgary Flames for the final Western Conference wild-card berth. The Red Wings’ record slipped to 18-17-7.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche also welcomed back winger Valeri Nichushkin after a nine-game absence with an ankle injury.
Speaking of the Flames, they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Nashville Predators. Juuse Saros stopped 38 shots, including 21 in the third period while Roman Josi and Juuso Parssinen scored for the Predators as they improved to 20-17-6 and sit five points back of the Flames, who slipped to 21-15-9 on the season.
Third-period goals by Nick Paul, Brandon Hagel and Victor Hedman lifted the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Seattle Kraken by a score of 4-1, snapping the latter’s eight-game winning streak. With 57 points, the Lightning (28-13-1) moved to within two points of the Toronto Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division. The Kraken (26-13-4) remain two points back of the first-place Golden Knights in the Pacific Division.
New York Rangers goalie Jaroslav Halak made 24 saves in a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Barclay Goodrow and Kaapo Kakko each had two points as the Rangers improved to 25-13-7 to sit four back of the Devils in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 57 points. The Blue Jackets (13-28-2) have dropped four of their last five contests.
The Washington Capitals overcame a 3-0 deficit to down the New York Islanders 4-3 on an overtime goal by Dmitry Orlov. The Capitals (24-16-6) hold a four-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 54 points. The Islanders (23-18-4) are four points back of the Capitals with 50 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders weren’t happy that Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin went unpenalized for what they considered an illegal hit to the head of forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the second period. Pageau left the game briefly but did return to action. Meanwhile, Capitals forward Nic Dowd left the game in the first period with an apparent leg injury and didn’t return.
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel’s overtime goal lifted his club over the Anaheim Ducks 4-3. Guentzel, Evgeni Malkin and Jason Zucker each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (22-15-6), who hold the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference (50 points) with two games in hand over the Islanders. Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry each had two goals for the 12-27-5 Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta was a late scratch with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.
The St. Louis Blues collected their 2,000th franchise win by nipping the Ottawa Senators 2-1. Jake Neighbours and Noel Acciari scored for the Blues (22-20-3) as they also sit four points back of the Flames for the final Western wild-card spot. The Senators slipped to 19-21-3 and have dropped four of their last five games.
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk collected three assists in a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves for the Panthers (21-20-4) as they sit four points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot with 46 points. The Sabres dropped to 21-19-2 and have lost four of their last five games.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Seattle Kraken goaltender Martin Jones, Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 15, 2023.
TWINCITIES.COM: The Minnesota Wild yesterday announced the signing of winger Matt Boldy to a seven-year, $49 million contract extension. The average annual value of the contract, which begins in 2023-24, is $7 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boldy, 21, is in the final season of his entry-level contract. He wasted little time establishing himself as a promising playmaking winger, netting 39 points in 47 games as a rookie in 2021-22 and 29 points in 42 games this season.
The Wild obviously believes big things are in store for Boldy. This deal could turn into a long-term bargain if he meets those expectations. It will also have a more immediate effect on the club’s salary-cap payroll for 2023-24, leaving them with $9.3 million in cap space.
THE ATHLETIC: The Carolina Hurricanes reassigned goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Frederik Andersen’s recent return from injury meant they have to demote Kochetkov, who remains waiver-exempt this season.
THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks physician Dr. Bill Regan said there were two setbacks that stalled winger Tanner Pearson’s recovery from a hand injury that ended his season. He underwent two surgeries but the club didn’t reveal any details regarding the problems that arose during his rehabilitation due to patient privacy and confidentiality.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pearson’s situation raised questions and some criticism over the club’s handling of his treatment. The NHLPA is reportedly looking into the matter.
TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson has undergone season-ending shoulder surgery. His recovery is expected to take six months.
OTTAWA SUN: Potential owners of the Senators could have their first opportunity to review the club’s finances as early as Tuesday.
Congrats Berg…. 1,000 games and 3 points to boot on the night👍👍
Ovi…. Another hit to the head…. No call…. And we know Parros (who also did head shots) isn’t going to do anything about it. The no call just gets Wilson all that more excited…. Headshots open for business; no penalty…. Gives him incentive to permanently injure (maybe end their life) an opponent. This has to stop.
Re :Billy G— Boldy contract…. Billy G has gone Cukoo for Coa Coa Puffs
Boldy— less than 90 GP; on 23 G (82 game pace); likely with nice NHL future…. but 7 @ $7M when Boldy has no Arb rights; only 90 GP to go on; and most importantly Billy G has dead cap of $15 M next year and the year after
long term contract lock-ups to secure players that you Know for sure are key players; AND willing to pay a little extra now if you know there will be savings down the road….
None of that is certain for Boldy
Billy G’s bet…. willing to over-pay by $2M or so (bridge likely in the $4.5 M to $5.5 M range) for a couple of years because he thinks Boldy will be worth $10 M’ish in 3 – 5 years and beyond; all the while crimping an already tight Cap for the next 2 years?????
This, IMHO , is a mistake
He could have gone bridge…. power all with Billy G… no Arb rights for Boldy
Wild realistically do not have playoff hopes next year or in 24/25…. this year sitting OK now… but must go through Stars/Jets (not necessarily in that order) and then if somehow they do get by (low odds) try their hand at beating the winner of Pac Div; still no shot at beating Bruins (or the outside chance of Bolts back in for 4th SCF in a row)
This was a very very strange signing
Finally…. Pens…. Eke 2 points out in OT….. that’s great but also let’s Sully believe he can get by with that D core. 3 goals against; 2 CR on for; one absolutely directly his fault; the other he looked absolutely comical flopping on the ice 15 ‘ from the puck carrier; both legs in DeSmith’s crease, hampering full ability of DeSmith; and CR was key contributor to that GA. That goal was the go ahead goal by Ducks. If Rusty doesn’t come through 6 on 5 to send to OT….. loss to leagues 2nd worst team all on CR…. Effectively all on Sully for playing him …. And THAT would have to have forced Sully to send CR (at worst) to the press box. I’f have rather Pens lost and Sully finally realize just how bad CR is; change the D line-up (even if it meant bringing ip anybody. from WBS over CR) would benefit Pens in long run
Pettersson, Smith , P-O J looked great. Freidman solid. To be fair, Dumo not as bad as in December. It actually would have been better going with 5 D and spreading the minutes around
I love watching McDavid and MacKinnon fly around the ice, just blowing by players as if they are pylons on the ice.
But to watch a player like David Krejci, oh my goodness, It’s a beautiful thing, not gifted with elite speed, how he is able to slow down the pace and control the play and just when you think the defender is going to catch him, he sends a saucer pass, tape to tape.
I think Krejci is one of the most underrated players in the NHL. Krejci lead the playoffs in scoring twice.
The year Philly came back to beat Boston 4 straight it was no coincidence it was after David Krejci went out with an injury.
This game can be played with speed; but, its also a beautiful game when you see someone control it with pace and hockey iq.
Congrats to Krejci on his 1000 game. It’s a beautiful thing.
50 mill for an exotic snake farm!! What could go wrong? What could go right?
The Sens are playing like a group of exhausted men.