NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 27, 2023
A milestone game for the Bruins’ David Pastrnak, the Kings set a franchise record, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak scored his 50th and 51st goals of the season in a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes overcame a 3-1 deficit to tie the game but the Bruins took it in a shootout on goals by Charlie Coyle and Jake DeBrusk. The Bruins tied a franchise record with their 57th win of the season and sit first overall with 119 points. Sebastian Aho tallied his 33rd goal of the season for the Hurricanes (47-16-9) as they sit second overall with 103 points.
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time Pastrnak has reached the 50-goal plateau. He’s the first Bruin to do so since Cam Neely in 1993-94 and the first player drafted and developed by the club to reach the milestone. Pastrnak also reached 600 career points.
The Los Angeles Kings extended their points streak to a franchise-record 12 games (10-0-2) with a five-goal first period to hold off the St. Louis Blues 7-6. Viktor Arvidsson and Adrian Kempe each scored twice while Drew Doughty netted a franchise record for defensemen with his 30th career game-winning goal for the Kings (43-20-10), who sit two points behind the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights with 96 points. Jordan Kyrou tallied twice for the 33-34-6 Blues.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings forward Blake Lizotte missed this game as he received a one-game suspension from the NHL department of player safety for cross-checking Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey in the face on Saturday. Morrissey received multiple stitches to his chin and lip.
Bruins forward A.J. Greer received a similar suspension for a similar infraction involving Montreal Canadiens forward Mike Hoffman, who also required stitches to close a gruesome cut on his chin.
One would assume the suspension in both incidents would’ve landed the offender more than one game for such a dangerous play. After all, hits to the head are supposed to be forbidden in today’s NHL, especially using the stick. It makes one wonder how seriously the NHL regards player safety when it hands down the equivalent of a slap on the wrist in these two cases.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares scored two goals in a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Joseph Woll made 23 saves for the win as the 44-20-9 Leafs sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 97 points. Tyson Barrie had a goal and an assist for the Predators (36-28-8) as they remain five points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 80 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators forward Matt Duchene left this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as week-to-week. This comes at a bad time for Nashville as they’ve dropped five of their last seven games. They’re already missing captain Roman Josi, who’s been sidelined for the past five games.
The Colorado Avalanche blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads before defeating the Arizona Coyotes 4-3 on a shootout goal by Valeri Nichushkin. Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist for the 43-23-6 Avalanche (92 points) as they sit one point behind the first-place Minnesota Wild in the Central Division. Clayton Keller scored the tying goal for the 27-34-13 Coyotes.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson scored two third-period goals to double up the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. Brock Boeser had a goal and an assist for the 34-34-5 Canucks, who’ve won 10 of their last 12 games. Lukas Reichel and Connor Murphy replied for the 24-43-6 Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews has resumed skating after being sidelined since Jan. 28 battling long-COVID symptoms. He could rejoin his teammates in practice soon with an eye on getting in some games before the end of the season. Meanwhile, Blackhawks defenseman Jarred Tinordi left this game with a hip injury that’s been nagging him for most of this season.
HEADLINES
MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens signed Harvard University winger Sean Farrell to a three-year entry-level contract. Chosen in the fourth round of the 2020 draft by the Canadiens, he’ll be joining the club for the remainder of this season.
CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed Harvard University winger Matt Coronato to a three-year entry-level deal. He’ll be joining the Flames for the rest of this season. They chose Coronato 13th overall in the 2021 draft by the Flames.
DAILY FACEOFF: Another Harvard University forward is making the leap to the NHL as Alex Laferriere is expected to sign an entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings and skate with them for the rest of this season. The Kings chose him in the third round of the 2020 draft.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Henry Thrun is another Harvard player heading to the big league as the defenseman signed a two-year entry-level deal with the Sharks. Chosen in the fourth round of the 2019 draft by the Anaheim Ducks, the Sharks acquired Thrun’s rights on Feb. 28 for a third-round pick in 2024.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If you’re wondering why so many Harvard University players are joining their NHL teams so quickly, it’s because their season ended when they were eliminated in the NCAA tournament on Friday.
Those players joined several others US college players who’ve recently joined their NHL teams. The Hockey News’ Tony Ferrari has a list of 10 intriguing entry-level signings.
With A J Greer getting a one game suspension only a few earlier the NHL player safety had no choice but give Blake Lizotte a one game suspension.
I agree there is no place for this and a one game suspension is a joke. A 3 – 5 game suspension would be a much better guideline.
It was a strange situation with Lizotte and Norrissey. As Lizotte was approaching JoMo dropped his gloves as though they had agreed to fight. While JoMo’s hands are down as he threw his gloves off he gets the x-check and Lizotte gets a noogie from Appleton.
Perhaps they considered it a bit of an exceptional circumstance because Jomo dropped the mitts? Good news is that it didn’t result in more serious injury.
Jets response was embarassing- a listless 5 minute PP that eventually got 1 in the late seconds of it. no up-tick in play intensity.
Funny that you didn’t mention that the Bruins gave Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand the day off and still won.
Because Pastrnak’s accomplishment is more newsworthy.
Just glancing thru some stats, this one kind of took me by surprise.
Leon Draisaitl has 45 goals this season tied for 4th with most goals.
28 of his goals are on the PP, the 28 pp goals is number 1 in the league follow by McDavid at 21
17 of his goals are even strength, that puts him in a tie for 66th place with 6 other players.
I’ll say Edmonton will be interesting to watch come playoff time, when historically they call less penalties as the series and playoff go along.
That might bode well for us as well, Caper, because our PP kinda stinks. The staff need to find a way to counter the 2 forwards coming high on the kill and blocking the shooting lanes. That newer style of killing penalties leads to too many odd man rushes against us. Patient puck play (not rushing the shot) and cross seam passes might work. Maybe Monte should watch some Oiler and Leaf videos. They seem to have it figured out. More shots from the D wouldn’t hurt.
Yes more shots from the D would be nice for the Leafs…fake shot? All day long.
Ron, I truly believe that this year is when the Leafs get that First Round monkey off their backs. If it’s Tampa – and it seems preordained – it won’t make any difference. They’ll take whoever they match up with this time, thanks to shoring-up of the D leading up to trade deadline. And the kid, Woll, looks tuned in. Matt who?
I agree, George. They’re ready for the next step. Maturation and a better team defensive structure is finally in place. This should be a hard team to bury in a 7 game series.
They don’t actually call fewer penalties in the playoffs, it’s slightly more actually, but basically the same as the difference is minor.
But, they do let more go, especially in the 3rd period and OT, at the same time. So what gets called all the time in reg season, doesn’t in playoffs. Or sure seems that way. It’s just more physical and more intense.
Hi Ray: I wondered about this, and a quick and lazy internet search seems to prove your correct:
https://soundofhockey.com/2021/06/12/data-dump-penalties-called-in-the-playoffs/
According to this article the difference is almost nothing, however. In the absence of someone else doing research I think we are left with the pedestrian observation that it just seems like there are fewer penalties because the stakes are higher with missed calls.
As the referees are graded by the NHL and only those deemed the by the league get playoff games one would think the quality of officiating is actually higher.
By the way Bruins fans, I wouldn’t be losing sleep over the Bs chances in the playoffs. They are different than the regular season but your team has been the best in the league since the puck dropped.
Ray Bark, interesting statement. You say actually more penalties (slightly) but more liberties are taken.
Hence less stuff gets called.
Either way, stay out of the box against Edmonton.
The Oilers have 79 pp goal and 31.6% success rate
Ottawa has the second most pp goals at 65
Toronto and LA are tied for second best percentage at 25.7%
https://soundofhockey.com/2021/06/12/data-dump-penalties-called-in-the-playoffs/
LJ you beat me to the punch lol.
I had to research since Ray said so.
interesting graphs.
That was an interesting link.
Especially the part about the % of calls against the leading team vs trailing in the 3rd. Which kind of makes sense as the trailing teams usually come out with a big push to start the 3rd.
Will have to see if it holds true this year.
I think the B’s need more movement on the PP once they are set up, and not just by passing it. Would like to see Pasta take it towards the slot from the half wall and fire it once and while to make them respect it which would open passing lanes. Same for March or DeBrusk. Right now they are taking away that pass for the one timer. Plus pounding it from the D when they collapse as suggested already.
Their zone entries need to get better too, they miss Hall when it comes to that. They don’t get set up enough as they should because of that.
The Leafs and the playoffs… that alot of Games for Matt Murray to stay healthy for…⁉️
Young Samsonov will end up carrying the Load for the Maple leafs…
I think, there d has improved a lot, However it will be how the 7 New Player can jell together in Toronto…. its goping to be a tough one Tampa are just hitting there Stride right now…..🤔
I have to agree that a one game suspension for Greer was unacceptable. That sort of activity needs to be severely punished so that players understand that there is no place in the league for it. Any sort of deliberate use of the stick that causes injury should be dealt with in the same manner.
I will say it again
Parros is going to effectively (by his non actions) end someone’s career; maybe life
Inconsistency and leniency is absolutely NOT the right qualifications to have for his position
“Player Safety” is in his title; and is the farthest thing from his actions
1 game for a cross-check to the face that certainly could break several bones ; and/or knock out several teeth ; and/or knock out a player and potentially give him a concussion…. Is just atrocious
Guys like Wilson will view this as a reward instead of a punishment…. “What…. I can end a guys career; and only lose about $13 K take-home AND I get a day off work? Sign me up”
Gary
Fire Parros; hire Kariya
crosscheck to head or face 1-2 games right now…
slew foot is zero
spit to the faceshield is 3
at least there have been no recent blind side headshots
No Tyler Kleven in the 10 intriguing ELCs? Come on.
Yeah, got a chuckle over that as well.
We are used to out team getting overlooked lol