NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 24, 2023
The Oilers and Stars tie their first-round series while the Bruins and Hurricanes take commanding 3-1 series leads. Details and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Zach Hyman gave the Edmonton Oilers a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings to even their best-of-seven first-round series at two games apiece. The Oilers overcame 3-0 and 4-3 deficits with Evander Kane scoring the tying goal to send it into overtime. Jack Campbell got the win with 27 saves after replacing Stuart Skinner in goal following the first period. Leon Draisaitl scored twice and Connor McDavid had three assists for the Oilers while Viktor Arvidsson and Kevin Fiala each had two points for the Kings.
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Campbell had a horrible campaign with the Oilers, losing the starter’s job to Skinner. His performance in this game may have saved their season. At the very least, he prevented them from falling behind 3-1 in this series and facing elimination on home ice in Game 5 on Tuesday.
Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin scored twice as his club held off the Minnesota Wild 3-2 to tie their first-round series 2-2. Jake Oettinger made 32 saves and Roope Hintz collected three assists for the Stars while John Klingberg and Frederick Gaudreau replied for the Wild. The series returns to Dallas for Game 5.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars made the Wild pay on the power play scoring twice with Marcus Foligno in the penalty box. Foligno was not impressed with the officiating in this contest. He’s not the only player unhappy over how the games are being called as the complaints are being heard in every series thus far.
The Boston Bruins took a 3-1 lead in their series with the Florida Panthers with a convincing 6-2 victory in Game 4. Taylor Hall scored twice and set up two others, Jake DeBrusk tallied two goals and Linus Ullmark stopped 41 shots for the win. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett scored for the Panthers, who will try to stave off elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday in Boston.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ullmark and Tkachuk both received misconduct penalties late in the game as they nearly got into a fight following a scrum near the Bruins’ net.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis scored two goals in a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their series. Sebastian Aho had a goal and two assists, setting the franchise record for postseason goals with 20. Adam Pelech and Bo Horvat scored for the Islanders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was Horvat’s first goal of the series. He vowed that he would do better in contributing more meaningful offense for the Islanders, who’ll certainly need it as they’re facing elimination in Game 5 on Tuesday in Carolina. Meanwhile, Hurricanes forward Jack Drury left this game with an upper-body injury.
HEADLINES
NEW YORK POST: The Rangers lead their first-round series with the New Jersey Devils but there is concern over Artemi Panarin’s lack of goal production. The Bread Man only has two assists thus far in this series.
NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Sam Lafferty was fined $3,108.11 for cross-checking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ross Colton during Game 3 of their first-round series on Saturday.
DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Lightning, defenseman Erik Cernak will be sidelined for Game 4 tonight in Tampa Bay. He’s been sidelined since Game 1 after receiving an illegal hit to the head by Leafs winger Michael Bunting, who got a three-game suspension for his actions. Bolts coach Jon Cooper has not ruled out Cernak returning later in the series.
THE DENVER POST: There is no timetable for Valeri Nichushkin’s return to the Colorado Avalanche. He missed Game 3 of their series with the Seattle Kraken and returned to Denver for personal reasons.
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: The Blackhawks were one of the worst teams in the NHL but it didn’t adversely affect their attendance as previously feared. The club averaged 17, 167 tickets sold per game, ranking 20th overall and assuaging fears that ticket sales would plummet during the first season of the club’s rebuild.
A $3,108.11 fine?? Clearly a % of his salary … but it comes across like an ad for something at $199.99.
Best hockey I’ve seen from Taylor Hall in a long time.
Skated hard, drove to the net and made some nifty passes.
Yes I take Matthew Tkachuk on the Bruins; however yesterday he hurt his team more then he helped.
Thru 4 games 0 penalty minutes for Brad Marchand.
When Bergeron and/or Krejci is back, Foligno is the one to sit.
The series is 3-1 Boston and they’re fortunate to have that lead.
Ya, Hall’s got the pistons firing. Looks healthy.
Not sure Krecji is though. He missed the last 2 weeks of the season as well. I said he looked rusty, but seems like he is still injured and trying to play through it. Credit for being tough, but….
If he’s healthy, say 90-95%, play him. If he isn’t you can’t really. He can still help the PP, but other than that he can’t engage. IMO that means you can’t play.
Here’s hoping he heals and he gets back to playing like he can.
To say that the officiating has been brutal would be an understatement. McCauley was horrible again in the Isles-Canes game. The Isles came out strong in the first few minutes then Parise was penalized for goalie interference when he was pushed into Ranta. Then Pulock was called for boarding when Druy turned away just before the hit. Canes scored on 5 on 3 and it took the wind out of the Isles sails.
Howard have a look on the Marcus Foligno calls. Not sure what’s going on with the officiating but it needs improvement.
Caper and Howard, same crew that did game 3 Oil vs Kings. Hardly a gem.
After this round this crew needs to be eliminated.
Parise call was not correct. Wes gave Burns 2 mins for pushing Barzal too.
Most refs seem to be calling any borderline ‘boarding’ so even though Drury turned up they will keep calling that one
Im not sure what Matthew Tkachuk said to
Linus Ullmark ….⁉️
But it made Ullmark Real Mad Real quick…😤
Never seen him like that before…
But Tkachuk and is brother can get anyone going……..🤣
An other Very Good Game from young DeBrusk, 2 more goals and a strong performance again last night…
I can’t think of a player I dislike more than Matthew Tkachuk. Well Wilson, but other than that!
Cheapest of the cheap, snake of snakes, rat of rats.
What he did to Hathaway was targeted and brutal, with the immediate look to the ref to see if he got caught. Dirty fuq that he is.
Start Greer next game, and if we’re up by 2 or more with a few minutes left, Tkachuk will be out there as they need goals.
Take that POS out. With malice and payback in mind. I am absolutely fine with it, as he deserves it.
Sincerely,
Zach Kassian
Did you see him leave his spot to go down low and level Pasta while he was already engaged with a defenseman? Same thing he used to do to Kassian.
The kid is the dirtiest, but he sure can play. He’s without a doubt one of the smartest players on the ice whenever he’s out there. Shades of Marchand.
Sure did SOP, and it was exactly the same as Kassian. The cross check on Hathaway on the exact spot where there is no protection was probably greasier?? But the shot at Pasta was more dangerous. Not sure Marchand used to do the dangerous stuff, but perhaps my memory is faded or colored with black and gold.
And ya, he is really smart about. If he actually managed to get Ullmark to throw with him, that would have been a serious win for FLA.
I’m glad they give it back to him, but let boys do it, not the tender. Glad to see Carlo rip him from the scrum and throw him down. Carlo has been playing great by the way. Against the toughest competition and leads the team in PK minutes. He’s playing fast, physical and skating. Best I have seen him play, ever. All grown up I guess.
Ray, may I nominate Michael Bunting for your consideration ?
Ha ha!
Definitely in the running for the most improved(is that the right term?) rat of the year Iago. Likely the front runner.
So who had Campbell picked to save the Oiler’s season? He was great, 27 out 28 stopped, plus a couple 5 alarm chances.
Wow, feel good story.
I still start Skinner in the next one.
TSN turning point for the Oil last night?
Hey Ray,
Great Oilers Game last night, i think Coach Woody put it across nicely… Anyone taking Stupid Penalties would be riding the pine…😜
They played a much Smarter Game last night, after 29 & 97, The rest oilers forwards all played well Especaly Kane & Zack Hyman.
Not sure why they sat out Big Klim Kostin for the whole the 3rd..?
No Question Cambell Saved the day 100%, he did play Great i think they will come back with Stu….?
But they will play Cambell again they need to have him ready to go he cant sit every night…⁉️
Stu looked real happy for him also..👍
Well Willie, if Skinner is your starter, you play him IMO. I think Woody will to. Campbell is the backup, he came in and did his job. But its one game.
Woodcroft benched Desharnais last night too. Broberg got everyone of his final shifts. The speed of the game is highlighting his lack of same. Not an issue for Broberg.
Woody will get him back in I’m guessing but I think he stays with the 11-7 and Broberg gets more minutes because of his wheels and ability to defend speed.
Issue with panthers is 2 fold
Barkov playing like Bergy except Bergy is out. And goalkeeper battle is all Boston
I am pretty sure no one was picking panthers in this series
I didn’t even think they’d make the playoffs!
Where is Kevjam? i thought he be all over the Oil series?
I would put Oilers and Toronto in the same boat. Lots of offensive talent, thin on defense and suspect goaltending.
When i say suspect goaltending, doesn’t mean they can’t get hot and win but they can also throw up a bad goal or bad game.
Toronto and Tampa please go 7 games, lots of OT and come out of it with some banged up players.
They would certainly make an interesting cup finals.
Hey caper,
Sorry i cant agree with you regarding the Goaltending in Edmonton, Young Skinner has been very good, its the D thats letting them down⁉️
However
Our Defence has been Very ( Lackadaisical ) 😤
Especaly the so called 1st Pairing of Nurse and Especaly Cody Ceci , he Ceci has been Horable as a 1st pating RD-man…..,
and
$9.25 M dollar Nurse, he maybe be a 2nd paring LD man….
I would say Bouchard and Elkhom have played much Better in the first 4 games as a unit than
the so called 1st Parining of Nurse & Ceci
They need to address this RD spot in the off season 100% to get it Fixed….❓
Columbus has been bad for 22 years but I’m glad the 3rd largest city in the U.S. is doing OK since they had a bad season. BTW why the Jackets sucked all year they sold out 8 of their last 9 games. Very good fans in Columbus.
Hey Fred,
with your 1st round pick you have a Great chance of getting
Adam Fantilli
The Big 6′ 3″/195 lbs Centre…and still developing
Fantilli’ Is going to be a Great Centre in the NHL,
with his Size & Strength & His physical tools have always been the advantage Fantilli is going to be a Dandy for the CBJ……👌
If there has been one constant when discussing the previous night’s NHL playoff games in all the many years I have been following hockey – whether pre-Internet when gathering at the local pub or, since the advent of the Web, in sites like this – it’s the “atrocious” (or adjective of choice) officiating.
Which tells me that the complaining is a useless gesture because the perception will clearly ALWAYS be there that the officials missed this or missed that or deliberately looked the other way, yadda yadda. It certainly hasn’t changed in the 70-odd years I’ve been a fan.
Where’s D’mico, Kerry Frazier or “Donut” Don Koharsky when you need em?….Koharsky could ruin a game without much help!!! GO AVS!!!!
My favourite official of all time was Red Storey who refereed in both the NHL and the CFL (Canadian Football League), in addition to being an athlete of note in his younger days.
If he saw an infraction in a football game that had no bearing on the play, he’d often sidle up to the individual and say, quietly, “I saw that … I’m gonna call you later for something and when I do, no bitching …” And there wasn’t. The players loved him.