NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 27, 2023
The Panthers stay alive against the Bruins, the Kraken push the Avalanche to the brink, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers staved off first-round elimination by upsetting the Boston Bruins 4-3 on an overtime goal by Matthew Tkachuk. Sergei Bobrovsky kicked out 44 shots while Carter Verhaeghe had three assists for the Panthers. Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who hold a 3-2 series lead in this best-of-seven matchup as they return to Florida for Game 6 on Friday.
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was an entertaining game as the Panthers would take a lead only to have the Bruins quickly tie the score. Marchand had a chance to win it for the Bruins on a breakaway in the dying seconds of the third period but was stoned by Bobrovsky, who had his best game of this series with an outstanding performance.
Tkachuk’s goal was the result of a blunder by Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark as his clearing attempt from behind his own net wound up on Verhaeghe’s stick. Ullmark blocked Verhaeghe’s shot but Tkachuk buried the rebound.
The Seattle Kraken are on the verge of eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champions as they held off the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 to take a 3-2 lead in their first-round series. Rookie Tye Kartye’s first NHL playoff goal proved to be the winner while Philipp Grubauer stopped 26 shots. The series heads back to Seattle for Game 6 on Friday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Prior to Kartye’s goal, Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was hauled down from behind by Kraken defenseman Will Borgen but the infraction went uncalled. He lost the puck and slammed his stick angrily against the glass, yelling at the official. Moments later, the Kraken scored.
MacKinnon was still upset following the game. “I spin, I get five feet on a guy and he takes my feet out,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. It’s not 1975; I feel like that’s a trip” However, he acknowledged that losing his cool put his club at a disadvantage that led to the Kraken’s game-winner.
POSTSEASON HEADLINES
WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets won’t have their leading goal scorer Mark Scheifele for Game 5 tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights. He remains hampered by an upper-body injury suffered in the previous game between these two clubs. Winger Nikolaj Ehlers (upper body) is a game-day decision for the Jets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights hold a commanding 3-1 series lead and could end it with a win tonight in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS SUN: Speaking of the Golden Knights, William Carrier (lower body) could be in the lineup for tonight’s game. He hasn’t played since March 3.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars winger Joe Pavelski (upper body) is a game-day decision as his club faces off against the Minnesota Wild in Game 6 of their opening-round series. The Stars hold a 3-2 lead.
NEW YORK POST: Rangers star Artemi Panarin will be seeking his first goal of this postseason as his club faces the New Jersey Devils tonight in Game 5 of their first-round series which is tied at two games apiece.
THE SCORE: Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper denied what Red Wing coach (and former Lightning assistant coach) Derek Lalonde said about Bolts goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy on national TV.
Appearing on Sportsnet providing in-studio analysis, Lalonde claimed the Lightning restructured its defensive coverage during his tenure in Tampa Bay to compensate for Vasilevskiy’s apparent difficulty in tracking shots from long range.
Cooper suggested Lalonde made up the anecdote. “Sportsnet is paying him well to go give an opinion, so he’s got to make something up about that kind of stuff,” he said.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see if Lalonde will acknowledge Cooper’s comments when he appears tonight on Sportsnet for the Leafs-Lightning game. One of the hosts’ is bound to bring it up at some point.
TSN: Speaking of Toronto and Tampa Bay, Maple Leafs winger Michael Bunting completed his three-game suspension but will be a healthy scratch for tonight’s tilt between the two clubs.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: The NHL returns to Europe next season for the 2023 Global Series in Sweden. It will feature a four-day set of round-robin regular-season games involving the Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, Ottawa Senators and the Maple Leafs starting on Nov. 16 and concluding on Nov. 19.
THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson hoped to play for Sweden in the upcoming IIHF World Championships. However, he was unable to secure an insurance policy that would protect against the loss of future earnings if he suffered a debilitating injury during the tournament.
TRIBLIVE.COM: An undisclosed injury will prevent Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel from playing for the United States in the upcoming World Championships.
NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON: The Capitals confirmed defenseman Rasmus Sandin will play for Sweden in the Worlds.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Ducks hired Matt McIlvane as the new head coach of their AHL affiliate in San Diego. He’s spent most of his coaching career in Europe.
Good move Keefe. Bunting is way more “reliable” sitting in the press box.
Somebody is going to stick a microphone in his face. 😏
Boston 34-4-3 at home during the regular season. If Florida wins the series, it will mean they won 3 of 4 games in Boston.
Regular season means nothing.
Coach Montgomery over thinking things. Not sure what the logic of sitting Frederick and playing Lauko or Foligno over him.
There is a lot of praise for Bertuzzi and correctly so; however every game he has numerous turn overs and last night was no different as it lead to Florida first goal.
Goalie Bob played well but Boston didn’t crowd the net or take away his eyes.
I expect i much better game Friday and for the series to be closed out.
Ya Caper, tough to understand how an experienced guy like Bertuzzi still has those brain farts. He does so many things well on the offensive side plus he battles for every inch out there. And then….
I get it, happens to everyone sooner or later, but this is 3 that led directly to goals. Seems like something he could eliminate from his game, but why hasn’t he? Has to be frustrating for Monty because you want him out there on a regular shift.
Lauko made a big mistake after the B’s tied it at 2. Tkachuk of course, ummm, embellished? I prefer the term dive, and the refs seem to be slow learners with this guy. Frederic doesn’t make that mistake on a face off at center ice. Again I like the energy he brings, and he can skate, but so does Frederic and he has the wheels too.
B’s played well and had the better of the play by a lot. Both teams have now won a game they could have easily lost (B’s in game 1). 3-2 seems about right. I think the Bruins will be ready for game 6.
No offense Caper the idea of regular season means nothing is really odd. The regular season and playoffs are not the same at all.
The season being 82 games and everyone plays everyone twice is more a reflection of which teams are top teams and which aren’t. So over 82 games you have more real idea of what a team is rather than look at a team’s performance over a max of just 7 games.
The playoffs, for the most part, you have a team that’s a 1A vs a team that’s 1B like the case with this series. The Panthers did have a bad season, true, but they had their reasons. Maybe the difference of the playoffs have to do with a combination of coaching or maybe the team’s system and play style/construction, and of course player’s performance…but you can’t forget the refs can alter results to a greater degree than in the regular season since everything is magnified in the post season.
The short of it is this: There’s no easy outs. Everyone more or less deserve to be there and have an equal chance at going all the way. Your opponents will know you more than you do yourself. It’s completely not related to the regular season at all other than top teams on average get it done with more regularity than not. Enjoy the playoffs and hope luck is on your side when you need it…and you will need it.
Bruins…. Just a blip…. Cup winners all had to battle some push-back; set-backs??
Not likely to see a double brain fart… Ullmark AND Bertuzzi ; AND Bobo stealing a game… again
Really thought Marchand was ending it on that breakaway
The surprise of the night really is Kraken pushing Cup champs to the elimination point!!
I’m in no way counting series close outs tonight on the Strip and at Bay/The Gardner…. Expect the unexpected
I just can’t see the Bruins wasting this year away with a 1st round exit. I expect and echo Ray’s comment…they will be ready come Friday.
It will be bedtime for boboz and Florida.
.
🍁 Calgary Flames Fans Must be loosing there Mind’s they way Mathew Tkachuk has been playing Again this year in Florida……‼️😂🤣
As an Edmonton Oilers Fan, nothing make me more happy & Im not hearing from any of my Freinds in Calgary 😜