NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 26, 2023
The Leafs, Hurricanes and Blues Jackets each collect 3-2 overtime wins, the surging Kraken take over first place in the Pacific Division, the Avalanche and Sharks make a four-player trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner scored 19 seconds into overtime in a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers after teammate Timothy Liljegren tied it late in the third period. The Leafs improved their record to 30-11-8 and are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes with 68 points. Filip Chytil tallied twice for the 26-14-8 Rangers as they sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 60 points.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).
Speaking of the Hurricanes, they got an overtime goal from Martin Necas to beat the Dallas Stars by a score of 3-2. Sebastian Aho scored his 200th career NHL goal as they extended their points streak to six games. The Hurricanes (30-9-8) sit second overall in the overall standings with two games in hand over the Maple Leafs. Jason Robertson scored his 33rd goal of the season for the 28-13-9 Stars as they hold a two-point lead over the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Western Conference with 65 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen left this game following the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no post-game update as to the severity of his injury. He was activated off long-term injury reserve on Jan. 11 after missing over two months with a lower-body injury.
The Columbus Blue Jackets also picked up 3-2 overtime victory by downing the Edmonton Oilers thanks to Kent Johnson’s winning goal. Joonas Korpisalo made 34 saves as the Blue Jackets improved to 15-30-3 on the season. Zach Hyman tallied his 25th goal of the season for the 27-18-4 Oilers, who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 58 points.
Seattle Kraken winger Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice and Jared McCann collected three points to crush the Vancouver Canucks 6-1 and move into first place in the Pacific Division with 61 points. It was the first loss for Rick Tocchet since taking over as Vancouver’s head coach on Sunday. The Canucks slipped to 19-26-3.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken rookie Matty Beniers left the game with an upper-body injury. No update was provided as to his condition.
The Ottawa Senators got goals by Shane Pinto and Claude Giroux to hold off the New York Islanders 2-1, handing the latter their sixth straight loss. Brock Nelson replied for the Islanders (23-22-5) as they sit five points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot with 51 points. The Senators improved to 21-23-3.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello shouldered the blame for his club’s struggles this season. He also expressed confidence in his coaching staff. Meanwhile, Senators goaltender Cam Talbot left the game midway through the second period with a leg injury. The club is expected to have an update on his condition on Thursday.
HEADLINES
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW/SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Colorado Avalanche acquired defenseman Ryan Merkley and forward Matt Nieto from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for defenseman Jacob MacDonald and forward Martin Kaut.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nieto previously played for Colorado from 2016-17 to 2019-20 and is being brought in to improve the Avalanche’s penalty kill. Merkley and Kaut are two young players in need of a fresh start after struggling to stick with their former clubs. Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now believes MacDonald’s inclusion in this swap suggests sidelined defensemen Bowen Byram and Josh Manson could be returning to the Avs’ lineup soon.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry will be sidelined with an undisclosed injury until after the upcoming All-Star break. The club recalled goalie Dustin Tokarski.
CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: Flames defenseman Chris Tanev (upper-body injury) is also sidelined until the All-Star break.
ARIZONA SPORTS: Coyotes signed defenseman Juuso Valimaki to a one-year contract extension worth $1 million. He was also fined $4,189.19 by the NHL department of player safety for slashing Anaheim Ducks forward Max Jones.
Filthy play by Tyler Meyers last night. I hope Beniers is OK. The kid is a budding star and real fun to watch.
Nice debut by Ridley Greig last night, playing 14 minutes between DeBrincat and Giroux, and picking up an assist on Giroux’s goal. Mathieu Joseph, just off IR, started at RW on the 1st line with Stutzle and Tkachuk, but later in the game Batherson returned to that slot. Pinto, back up to the 2nd line C position, also scored.
This time, instead of postponing the game it went ahead despite the blizzard outside – but that affected attendance.
Very nice debut indeed, he’s the real deal George. He also led the team with 8 SOG. I hope they keep him up for the rest of the season.
Fergy, they almost have to keep him up.
With Norris done for the season, and although they had Greig at C between DeBrincat and Giroux last night, you have to think – with his size but aggressive play – he’s be more ideally placed at his natural LW position on the 3rd line.
Stutzle will C for Tkachuk and Batherson for the bulk of the rest of this season, with Pinto moving back into the # 2 C slot between DeBrincat and Giroux, probably Brassard centering the 3rd line between Grieg and Joseph and Gambrell on the 4th line between Kelly and Watson.
What I am surprised at is the decision to call up Mandolese to replace Talbot in the line-up. His AHL stats of a 3.39gaa and 0.866 save % are very pedestrian, and although he’s fatred better in 6 ECHL gp (2.45gaa and 0.927 save %) that’s a helluva jump from there to the NHL. Big Mads Sogaard was doing a bit better in the AHL with a 3.02gaa and 0.904 save % – why not call him up to back Forsberg?
George I would not read anything into the Mandolese over Sogaard call up. If Talbot is out for a prolonged period or traded at the TDL I can see KM going down and Sogaard getting a call up. MS is playing in Belleville while KM will be riding the pine in Ottawa. Development wise I would rather be playing.
Great Chant in Seattle last night at the game with a 6–1 win for the Seattle Kraken over the Canucks 🥶 The Kraken Fan’s Sining it Very Loud
BRUCE THERE IT IS….💥
Rick Tocchet seen the Real Vancouver Canucks last night…..🥶
No wonder Canucks RW Andrei Kuzmenko only wants a 1 or 2 yr bridge deal in Vancouver so he can get out if its a Complet MESS….🤔
Smart Guy.
Tyler Myers hit young Kraken rookie Matty Beniers with a viscus cross check to the side of his head, Beniers head hit the ice❗️Then he missed the rest of the game…..🤮
Myers only got 2minute penalty….?
Hi Willie
Re “No wonder Canucks RW Andrei Kuzmenko only wants a 1 or 2 yr bridge deal in Vancouver so he can get out if its a Complet MES”… per CapFreindly he’s UFA 1/7…. He doesn’t have to bridge… if he wants out of ‘Nucksland, he cleans out his locker and walks out the door 1/7; signs with any team…. And there will be bidders
Would love him in Blue and White or “the other” (non Bruin) Black/Gold/White jersey
Hi Pengy,
Yes 100%….👍
News out of Vancouver yesterday was he wants a 1or 2 year deal, his agent is saying this Gong show more that likley it turns into a Re-build depending what the get for the big forwards… Bo is still out of there.
He would look Great on the Oilers 1st or 2nd line with 97 or 29 as a RW as we really dont have a bonified top 6 RW in Edmonton⁉️
Nice of Zibanejad, Miller and Panarin to just let Marner skate by in ot. They almost deserve an assist each.
Not sure why Fox wasn’t out there and Miller was?
Zibanejad literally froze.
Gallant needs to make some changes. That 1st pp went from lethal to putrid. Yet nothing is being done.
Awful.
How many times have they blown a lead to lose in OT?
How many times do they think they can climb back in a game from behind or sit on one goal leads? (Not last night, generally speaking)
Well, a lot last year, but as I said last year, that’s problematic. Those odds don’t work in their favor. And certainly won’t work in the playoffs. As it didn’t last year.
Kakko and Chytil have been the bright spots, but this team needs to tighten up.
CO I can understand your frustration but that was one heck of a beauty! You can see why this guy has been nothing short of amazing for the past three years now. It’s not like if it wasn’t for a quarter of an inch lower, Tavares would have won it in the dying seconds…that was what I was hoping for. I guess seeing Marner solo effort dancing around the goalie Bobby Orr style goal was a nice consolation prize.
In short the Leafs didn’t have their best game and the Rangers had a worse one.
Yeah, Kreider missed an open net tap in in the 2nd, and someone else missed ? Can’t remember who.
Zibanejad is much better than that defensively. Panarin, not so much. Literally froze like a deer in headlights.
Awful, and somehow Toronto managed to do all that after a change 19 seconds in?
That just can’t happen.
It looked like Zibanejad had put down roots.
Tonight is the start of the toughest 4 game stretch the Bruins will face all season and all on the road.
TB, Fl, Car and Tor
With no back to back losses in their first 47 games, this stretch has the making of Boston first losing streak of the season.
Well they’re due Caper.
They haven’t been as dominant lately and tending has won them some games.
Hard not to get into cruise control a bit the way the season has gone for them so far. A little adversity down the stretch wouldn’t be the worst thing IMO.
As Captain O states above, need to tighten it up this time of year.
Splitting hairs, I know, but this season has a feel of the last kick at it before Bergy and Krecji hang em up. Or at least they have playing like it is, most of the season.
Go B’s!
Do you think the Bs play up to any of these teams more than any other? Like would they see one team as more of a challenge or someone they could handle over another thus play differently than they do with other teams?
I think all teams do Ron, B’s no different.
Look at the Oil last night.
Hi Caper
Certainly valid d re tough nrxt stretch…. But
Bruins are top dog in League right now ; and….
Even if the Miracle zero points in next 4 happens (not)…. Bruins will still be first in the League
Yes 4 game road trip but only 1 B2B; day in between Bolts & Cats (for 1 hour flight); 2 off between Canes and Leafs match ups
I suspect the Canes (seeing as it is 2nd of B2B) to be toughest tilt
Regardless …. 31 other teams would love to be in the position Bruins are in right now
Ray, i’m thinking the same way.
Does seem players are playing at a elite or at least consistent level in their later years.
I wont be surprised either way.
I think this will be like a 4 game road playoff series.
Both TB and Tor want to gauge against Boston; Carolina wants to show they’re top dog and Florida playing desperate hockey for a playoff spot.
Pengy, yes they will still be in 1st but the team has worts, as much as it’s a measuring stick for the other teams it also a measuring stick for Boston. They will also be playing a couple of different style teams.
Re Ottawa Game last night,
This kids Greig is going to be Great for the Sen’s..
he never Stops he Go’s and Go’s all night always has been like that.
Ridly Greig said it was “pretty crazy” to think
Having Giroux as a linemate was thrilling, Greig idolized the longtime Flyers captain when he was growing up❗️.
Last night he pasted it to Giroux he Scored,
after the celebration, Giroux then sent young Greig to the bench First…to celebrate his First NHL point the assist first with his team mates….
What a Very Classy Guy Glaude Giroux is…..👏👌❗️
Re Sharks/Avs trade
I dn’t know anything re MacDonald; buy quick glance at trade…. didn’t Avs win that players for players swap?
Avs and Sharks fans ???
Re Jarry injured again 💩💩💩
Nice to see a real hockey trade finally, even if it’s not household names.
Should be a very interesting game in TB tonight with the B’s being a slight favorite… expect TB to bring the heavy game
🍁 Canucks RW Andrei Kuzmenko signs a 2 year deal This afternoon for $5.5M.
Now it
Looks like Bo is Moving East Or he will test the UFA Market out in July …⁉️ ❓❓