NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 24, 2023
The Canadiens defeat the Sabres, the three stars of the week are revealed, plus the latest on Taylor Hall, Patrik Laine and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAP
NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen made 36 saves to backstop his club to a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Brendan Gallagher and Tanner Pearson each had a goal and an assist and Justin Barron tallied his first of the season for the Canadiens as their record improved to 3-1-1. Jeff Skinner replied for the Sabres as they fell to 2-4-0.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens defenseman David Savard left the game in the third period following a solid penalty-killing effort when he blocked two hard shots by Tage Thompson. One of them broke one of Savard’s skate blades but the other struck the blueliner on the left hand. An update on his status could be announced on Tuesday.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev and Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart are the league’s three stars for the week ending October 22, 2023.
THE SCORE: Chicago Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall is once again listed as week-to-week after aggravating a shoulder injury suffered on Oct. 11 against the Boston Bruins. He only missed one game at that time.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Columbus Blue Jackets placed forward Patrik Laine (upper body) on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 20. He suffered the injury after being elbowed in the head by Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, who is appealing a four-game suspension for the infraction.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Arizona Coyotes announced winger Jason Zucker is week-to-week with a lower-body injury that he suffered during Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
CAP FRIENDLY: Speaking of the Ducks, they placed defenseman Jamie Drysdale (lower body) on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 15.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils recalled defenseman Cal Foote from their AHL affiliate in Utica and placed forward Tomas Nosek (lower body) on IR.
WINNIPEG SUN: Jets head coach Rick Bowness has taken a leave of absence after his wife Judy suffered a seizure on Sunday. She was taken to a hospital where she is undergoing further testing.
NBC SPORTS BOSTON: Bruins rookie center Matthew Poitras is making the case to stick with the club for the entire 2023-24 season. A second-round pick by the Bruins in the 2022 draft, the 19-year-old Poitras has two goals and an assist in his five games thus far.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins can keep Poitras on the roster for four more games after which they must decide whether to retain him for the entire season or return him to the OHL’s Guelph Storm. If they keep him, his entry-level contract begins on his 10th game of the season.
It makes sense from a salary-cap perspective to return Poitras to the OHL. However, he’s made that decision difficult to justify given his on-ice performance thus far.
TSN: NHL veteran forward Sam Gagner signed a one-year AHL contract with the Bakersfield Condors, who are the minor-league affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers. The 34-year-old has played 1, 015 NHL games with seven NHL clubs including the Oilers. He’s also done previous stints in the AHL with Lehigh Valley, Toronto and Bakersfield.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report also indicated that Gagner is trying to resume his playing career after undergoing season-ending double hip surgery in March. He signed a PTO with the Oilers but didn’t appear in any preseason games as he continues to rehab.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ken Hitchcock and Ed Belfour were inducted Sunday into the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame. Hitchcock coached the Stars to the Stanley Cup in 1999 when Belfour was their starting goaltender. Hitchcock will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November. Belfour was inducted in 2011.
Poitras is making it hard no doubt. I think Heinen is waiting for the 9 games as well to sign when he gets sent back IMHO so far he deserves to stay but for cap reason moving forward is a good reason to save the entry deal 1 more year. Sweeney says if you earn it you get it. We will see if that holds up. Regardless he has been a great surprise bonus for bruins
Re; Buffalo & Goaltending…
If buffalo ever got a Starting #1 Goaltender…
They would be a very hard team to beat,
None of these three tenders are the answer in the next couple of years…..🤔
Both of these Two are Back up Goaltenders at best.
1/ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen,
2/ Eric Comrie,
#3 Young 21 yr old Devon Levi, He need’s 2 years in the AHL to develop and 2+ years in the NHL to inprovehis skill set.
Buffalo could easy take on bostons #1 Goaltender Linus Ullmark Salary of $5.M, and
Give a 1st pick and a good prospect and player
for either of Boston Goaltenders❓
That would also give Boston something to trade for a #1 centre big hole position they have…🤔
Montreal beat them last night!
Yes they did,
The habs are young and fast
Then you look at the Bufflalo team similar,
Buffalo’s Goaldending is a ugaly Big Hole
A win is a win – but October-November hockey is a lot like April-May baseball – the pretenders are separated from the rest starting about mid-December/mid-June.
The Habs won but they were outplayed by the Sabres.
Young team but the old guys did it last night, Gallagher, Pearson, Savard and Allen.
Rasmus Dahlin is a stud on both ends of the ice.
5 games played. All of them spaced out nicely with no back to back games. 3 players down already. Dach for the season, Savard “indefinitely” and Guhle day to day. Looks like whatever changes they made are not working. I say sign Kessel with the sole purpose of teaching these guys how to play without getting injured!! LOL
Laine is now on the IR. Has Andersson’s appeal been heard. It should be reviewed and he should be suspended for 10 instead of 4. The argument that he has never been suspended is total BS for that hit. What was he thinking? Let’s see I’m -3 for the night so let me take a run at Laine with 2 seconds left. We lose a player and you want your suspension lowered. That’s just ducky.
Bruins #51 has some wheels let’s hope he hangs and don’t wear down ..Bruins played a lite schedule to start season but are heavy on the puck and shooting puck on net… a legit 1st line center would get this team in the mix for a SC … Come on back PB