NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 30, 2023
Leafs captain John Tavares and Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns pick up wins in their respective milestone games during a quiet Sunday for NHL action. Check out the details in the Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares collected two assists in his 1,000th career NHL game in a 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals. The Leafs blew the game open in the second period with four goals.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares (NHL Images).
Morgan Rielly’s first goal of the season proved to be the game-winner as the Leafs improved to 31-12-8 to sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 70 points. Nicklas Backstrom tallied his first of the season for the Capitals (26-20-6) as they hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 58 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs defenseman TJ Brodie (rib) was activated off injured reserve for this game. He’d been sidelined since Jan. 9.
Meanwhile, Leafs goaltender Matt Murray missed this game with an ankle injury. He will be sidelined until after the upcoming All-Star break.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns picked up an assist in his 1,300th career NHL game as his club beat the Boston Bruins 4-1, handing the latter their third straight loss. Sebastian Aho tallied his 21st goal of the season as the Hurricanes (32-9-8) sit atop the Metropolitan Division and second in the overall standings with 72 points. The 38-7-5 Bruins hold a nine-point lead in first overall with 81 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins had never lost consecutive games this season prior to the start of this losing skid on Jan. 26 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. They did pick up a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
NOTE: With the All-Star Break approaching on Feb. 2-5, we can expect a light schedule of games up to Wednesday. There’s only one game on Monday, Jan. 30 as the St. Louis Blues visit the Winnipeg Jets.
Three games are slated for Tuesday, Jan. 31 as the Los Angeles Kings visit the Carolina Hurricanes, the Ottawa Senators journey to Montreal to face the Canadiens, and the Columbus Blue Jackets host the Washington Capitals.
On Wednesday, Feb. 1, the Hurricanes head to Buffalo to meet the Sabres while the Boston Bruins will face off against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
If Matt Murray sneezes too hard, is there a possible risk of possible injury?
Didn’t I raise that question yesterday?
That’s probably where he got the joke from, George.
I’ve torn cartilage in my ribs after a huge sneeze. It can happen to any of us.
It was not a fun time. lol
Murray is a Fine China Tea Cup…❗️ look at him wrong and there is a Crack
Wonder if the Maple Leafs will look for a Experived older 3rd goaltender knowing Murrays injury record….
what are they 50-50 to get out the first round🙈
It would be Funny if they play the islanders in the first round…. Lou there it is !!
3 in a row against heavy forechecking teams. The boys appear to be on their extended break.
Yesterday was just a brutal game to watch, thought it would be after playing a night game then a late afternoon game after travel.
These three games confirm for me they need some grit on the back end.
Five games in eight days. The last was played less than 24 hours after the previous game. AKA a scheduled loss.
The NHLPA needs to get this schedule fixed on the next CBA. This type of schedule is a reason for the increase in injuries.
It has been difficult to watch them play lately but it is not surprising. They had to have a letdown sooner or later, better now than at the end of the season. Poor passing, poor decision making, trying to do too much individually, shooting when they shouldn’t ,not shooting when they should. Hopefully the break will help them to clear their heads…
Hey, they are a great team but even great teams have bumps in a long season … also, as good as they are they are not invincible. NO team in the league is.
Rest in peace, Bobby Hull.
10AM, Alberta Time
Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, the Golden Jet, dies at age 84