NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 22, 2023
The Golden Knights take a 2-0 series lead over the Stars, the Flames will name Craig Conroy as their new general manager, Filip Chytil injured at the World Championships, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2 on an overtime goal by Chandler Stephenson to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference Final.
Vegas rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to force the extra frame on goals by Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchessault while Adin Hill made 26 saves. Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson tallied for the Stars while Jake Oettinger stopped 21 shots.
The series shifts to Dallas for the next two games with Game 3 set for Tuesday at 9 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars had a better effort in this game compared to Game 1 and were within minutes of a 2-1 series-tying win. However, a poor clearing attempt by Ryan Suter late in the third period led to Marchessault’s tying goal, setting the stage for Stephenson’s game-winner.
For the second straight game, the Stars seemed unprepared for overtime. Stephenson’s goal came 1:12 into OT while Brett Howden’s winner in Game 1 came at 1:35.
TSN: Darren Dreger broke the news that the Calgary Flames are expected to name Craig Conroy as their new general manager later this week. Conroy has worked in the Flames’ front office since retiring as a player in 2011 and has been assistant GM since 2014.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This news has been well-received by Flames pundits such as the Calgary Sun’s Wes Gilbertson, Calgary Hockey Now’s Steve MacFarlane and Sportsnet’s Eric Francis. They cited his experience and familiarity with the front office, his great relationship with the club’s current prospects and his eye for future draft picks, and the possibility that he’ll bring in former Flames captain Jarome Iginla in a front-office role.
Conroy faces a busy agenda. He’ll have to find a new head coach, determine the futures of core players like Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin who are a year away from unrestricted free-agent status, and address their roster issues while working within limited salary-cap constraints.
NEW YORK POST: Rangers center Filip Chytil suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone after taking a stick to the face while playing for Czechia against Kazakhstan on May 14 in the IIHF World Championship.
The Rangers’ medical staff have been in touch with Chytil, who is now resting at home. They’re calling it an “upper-body injury”, claiming it won’t affect his offseason or training camp in September.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: What’s the point of the secrecy here? The Rangers’ season is over. Revealing the nature and severity of Chytil’s injury isn’t going to affect anything.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings forward Joe Veleno received a five-game suspension for kicking from the World Championship. Playing for Canada, Veleno stomped down hard with his skate on the leg of Switzerland’s Nino Niederreiter during Saturday’s game between the two clubs. The on-ice officially missed the infraction during the game and penalized Nieddereiter for retaliating against Veleno.
Niederreiter later said Veleno sought him out following the game to apologize. “He tried to apologize, but to do such a thing…he has to grow up,” said the Winnipeg Jets’ winger.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s no place in hockey for that dangerous tactic. Veleno’s fortunate he didn’t receive a longer suspension. As it stands, he’s out for the remainder of this tournament. The report indicates that Canada would have a maximum of five games to play.
DAILY FACEOFF: Philadelphia Flyers associate coach Brad Shaw is in the running for head-coaching jobs with the Anaheim Ducks and Washington Capitals.
I really thought the Stars would eke that one out. Hopefully the home crowd juices there game enough to make a comeback and make this a more competitive series.
Maybe Iginla will be their new coach?
Love is in the air! 😁
Two years ago, I would have taken Shaw over Larsen for the Jackets job. Good luck to him.