NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 12, 2023
The Hurricanes advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Stars push the Kraken to the brink of elimination, the Vezina Trophy finalists are announced, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 3-2 overtime victory over the New Jersey Devils to win their best-of-seven second-round series in five games. Jesper Fast tallied the game-winner, Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns scored in regulation and Frederik Andersen stopped 27 shots for the Hurricanes. Dawson Mercer and Timo Meier tallied for the Devils, who got a 36-save performance from Akira Schmid.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes await the winner of the Florida Panthers-Toronto Maple Leafs series. The Panthers hold a 3-1 lead in that best-of-seven series and could wrap things up with a win tonight in Toronto.
This was the most closely-contested game of the series following four lopsided contests between these two clubs. The Devils dominated the play for long stretches and had several opportunities to break the game open but failed to cash in on their scoring chances.
Steady goaltending from Andersen, a solid defense corps and experience made the difference in this series for Carolina. Depth forwards such as Fast and Jordan Martinook also stepped up offensively for the Hurricanes in this series.
The Devils may be disappointed over the outcome of this series but it doesn’t overshadow their significant improvement this season. They reached the playoffs for the first time since 2018, finishing third overall with a franchise-record 112 points. They also won their first playoff series since 2012 by eliminating the arch-rival New York Rangers in the first round. Led by young stars like Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, the Devils have a bright future ahead.
Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski (NHL Images).
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz scored twice and collected an assist in a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken to take a 3-2 lead in their second-round series. Jason Robertson collected three assists while Joe Pavelski tied Chris Drury for the most career game-winning playoff goals (17) by a US-born player. Adam Larsson and Jared McCann replied for the Kraken. Game 6 goes Saturday evening in Seattle.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 38-year-old Pavelski also became the oldest player to score at least seven times in a playoff series. Stars winger Mason Marchment missed this game after taking an elbow to the head in Game 4.
This game was much close than the score suggests as the Kraken narrowed Dallas’ 3-0 lead to 3-2 before Hintz put the game out of reach in the third period. The Stars should anticipate a tough battle from the Kraken in Seattle.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders and Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins are this season’s finalists for the Vezina Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL’s best goaltender.
The department of player safety handed down one-game suspensions to Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and Edmonton Oilers blueliner Darnell Nurse.
Pietrangelo’s punishment was for slashing Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl in Game 4 of their second-round series on Wednesday. Nurse’s is for instigating a fight with Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague with less than five minutes remaining in Game 4.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nurse was suspended because he instigated a fight within the final five minutes of Game 4. However, Hague reportedly asked the Oilers’ defenseman for the fight. I guess the thinking here is that Nurse could’ve refused but didn’t.
Pietrangelo made a deliberate attempt to injure with his lumberjack slash on Draisaitl. It was uncharacteristic of him and was apparently provoked by his anger over uncalled infractions during the game. Nevertheless, that doesn’t excuse what he did. While Draisaitl wasn’t injured on the play, Pietrangelo’s action should’ve merited more than a one-game suspension.
TSN: Joseph Woll will get the start again for the Toronto Maple Leafs when they face off tonight against the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of their second-round series. Ilya Samsonov remains sidelined by an upper-body injury. Matt Murray will serve as Woll’s backup.
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: As expected, the Flyers formally announced Keith Jones as their new president of hockey operations. They also confirmed that Daniel Briere is now their full-time general manager after serving in the role on an interim basis since March.
OTTAWA SUN: Actor Ryan Reynolds and the Remington Group won’t be submitting their $1 billion bid for the Senators. They reportedly sought exclusive negotiating rights with the National Capital Commission and the City of Ottawa to get a deal to build a new arena.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There are seven other groups that are anticipated to make bids for the Senators by the anticipated May 15 deadline.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Karl Subban, the father of former NHL defenseman P.K. Subban, has joined the group Ban Ads for Gambling to get ads for sports betting removed from hockey broadcasts. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has also called for a ban on the use of celebrities to sell sports betting.
A former school principal, Subban is concerned about children being exposed to gambling ads involving celebrities and NHL players.
CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: The Flames have reportedly blocked former general manager Brad Treliving from interviewing with other teams before his contract expires at the end of June.
The Devils just ran out of “playoff experience.” They’ll be a factor again next season.
“Exclusive negotiating rights” ??? What are they … nuts?
Kinda depends IMO George. We weren’t in the room, but I read the articles in the Sun, and they felt like they were negotiating against themselves. That’s pretty telling.
To me that sounds like they weren’t happy with the negotiating tactics by the NCC and the City. Was it being held like an auction, were the goalposts moving, were they being played against each other and being asked to go back to the well? Did they question the accuracy of the information being given to them by the folks negotiating for the NCC as a tactic to get them to go back to the well? This stuff happens by folks who think they are smarter than they are.
Basically they said, are we gonna do this or keep F’n around? It’s not like the Reynolds group haven’t invested a bunch of time and money already, so guessing this decision was not made lightly.
If that wasn’t the case then ya, it was an unreasonable ask. If it was the case the than the front runner, and who the NHL appeared to want, just dropped out and it’s too bad for Sens fans.
No George it’s not nuts, it’s to make sure they’ll have full control once it gets the go-ahead by the NCC and city officials. They don’t want to spend $1B then have to compete with rivals with bids on the development.
Plus I’m thinking Bettman prefers one of the quieter bidders than the big flashy ones. There’s still a lot of interest so it’s not really that big of a loss and wondering if the owner of the NBA’s Kings would make the most (NHL like) sense.
So, wouldn’t the others in the bidding want the same “exclusivity” and – if not – are they nuts?
I think the Reynolds group fit like a glove Ron.
Ties to the area and a proud Canadian, has been extremely successful in his own business ventures, a partner with deep pockets whose business is developing, he owns another sports team that started thriving when he took over, both on the field and revenue side, a celebrity who will bring attention in a very positive way as by all accounts he is a genuinely good dude.
What’s not to like? Checks every box IMO.
They are also saying another group involved may try bring him in. Not sure the right way for him to handle that?
Ron, I wonder how Snoop Dogg’s bid is going. Will it too, go “Up In Smoke” ?
No, they think they are Halliburton….
Right on K. Subban.
Betting ads before the game, during the game, first thing between periods.
It’s a pet peeve of mine from day one, all part of taking away from the enjoyment and analysis of the game.
I 100% agree habsfan. Promoting betting is an unacceptable method of generating revenue, and is a disservice to society. I despise them as much as I do those of ambulance chasing personal injury law firms trolling for litigants, and the fact that they are so prevalent in my Detroit area newscasts. One simply cannot watch the 11:00 news without seeing ads from 3 or 4 different lawfirms,
Habfan30 the league for years was against the gambling side. Now all I see if gambling ads.
Wait for the day someone tries to sue the league over their gambling addiction.
I agree it’s way too much.
The suspensions are spot in imo.
As a Rangers fan we get to see Henrik as a commentator and then repeatedly in the Betting ads. the man made 104million as a player and still took the ad gig…
I really dislike it as well. It’s very aggressive and I never thought of the negative impact on children who are the most likely be watching the televised games and listening to the bet line disguised as stats or analysis.
Is it this prevalent for other leagues too?
I fully agree. It’s already bad enough that sports “journalism” is constantly citing and referencing Vegas odds now in their articles instead of actually making their own educated predictions about playoff series.
I also cannot stand gambling ads that just show people constantly winning… I have seen the truth of gambling. Also stop showing rich celebs who have little to worry about with financial risk.
I agree Saint. Gambling organizations don’t stay in business by paying out more than they take in. There are 3 casinos in Detroit, and their profits are $1M+ each per day.
And that, Iago, probably says more about the suckers who throw their cash away hoping for a “big score” than the casinos themselves.
As the Irish proverb says “a fool’s money is not long in his pocket.”
The basic problem is, if the compulsive gambler didn’t have access to the casinos he or she would be seeking out the “underground” operations – which was prevalent everywhere before the advent of the casinos.
100% agree her. Also it’s a matter of time before one or more athletes in all sports are busted for shaving points or throwing games. Too much money out there.
That is a non classy move by Calgary after 9 years
Kent, yep.
Don’t know what the Flames are trying to prove but it sure makes them look small.
It’s within their right to do so. Treliving stepped down before his contract expired. Nevertheless, I agree that it looks petty.
Maybe it was done to protect the draft IP instead of “not on our dime your not”.
Probably the case, Ron. It wasn’t long ago that Ottawa fired one of Mann brothers, who was coaching their AHL team at the time, for “sharing” draft data with another organization.
Bingo, Ron! That’s exactly why they did it, though as I mentioned earlier, it does look petty. Still, they’re within their right to do so.
I never thought about that Ron, but OK, I kinda get it now.
Then again, if Treleving wanted to share draft data with another organization, stopping him from being hired elsewhere until after the draft won’t stop that. Back to petty.
I would be surprised if there wasn’t a clause in the contract that prevented you from sharing such info if no longer employed but still under contract by the flames.
As a winemaker I have to sign all sorts of stupid ndas and the like so I can only imagine stipulations in their contracts
Its unanimous, the gambling ads are shameful.Old Walter will be turning over in his grave to see, the former Great One now reduced to the Greedy little one ,schilling for the casinos in his green mohair suit.Shame. Like he needs more money. His legacy has been tainted forever . Where is the honour? Shame . Vanity and greed rule the day. Well done Karl we need more such courage.