NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 27, 2023
The Bruins and Avalanche suffer their first losses and Senators’ center Shane Pinto is suspended for a gambling violation. Details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Anaheim Ducks overcame a 3-1 deficit to upset the Boston Bruins 4-3, snapping the latter’s season-opening win streak at six games (6-0-1). Mason McTavish scored in overtime while Troy Terry and rookie Leo Carlsson each had a goal and an assist for the 3-4-0 Ducks. Charlie McAvoy collected three assists while David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist for the Bruins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery indicated winger Jakub Lauko (facial injury) will be sidelined for at least a week while winger Milan Lucic (lower body) will be out for at least two weeks.
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry turned in a 31-save shutout in a 4-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche, ending the Avs’ 15-game road win streak and their season-opening six-game win streak. Reilly Smith scored two goals for the Penguins (3-4-0). The Avs (6-1-0) remain in first place in the Central Division with 12 points.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas (NHL Images).
An overtime goal by Martin Necas lifted the Carolina Hurricanes over the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Necas finished the game with two goals and an assist as the Hurricanes overcame a 2-0 deficit to lift their record to 4-4-0. Oliver Bjorkstrand had a goal and an assist and Joey Daccord stopped 42 shots as the Kraken blew a 2-0 lead and dropped to 2-4-2.
The Montreal Canadiens got an overtime goal from Cole Caufield in a 4-3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets, who led 3-1 at one point before the Habs staged their comeback. Caufield and linemate Nick Suzuki each had a goal and two assists while Sam Montembeault turned aside 33 shots for the 4-2-1 Canadiens. Emil Bemstrom tallied twice while Jack Roslovic had a goal and two assists for the 3-2-2 Blue Jackets.
Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped 35 shots to backstop his club over the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 4-1. Nino Niederreiter and Mason Appleton each had a goal and an assist for the Jets (4-3-0) as they extended their win streak to three games. Lucas Raymond replied for the 5-2-1 Red Wings.
Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Jonas Johansson turned aside 23 shots for his second straight shutout in a 6-0 defeat of the San Jose Sharks. Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev and Nick Perbix each collected two points for the 4-2-2 Lightning. The Sharks are still seeking their first win of the season as they sank to 0-6-1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lack of scoring punch has hampered the rebuilding Sharks. They’ve managed just eight goals thus far.
The Toronto Maple Leafs got a goal and an assist from Morgan Rielly to defeat the Dallas Stars 4-1. Joseph Woll made 31 saves as the Leafs improved to 5-2-0. Mason Marchment replied for the 4-1-1 Stars.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury. He will be re-evaluated on Friday.
New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson snapped a 2-2 tie with a third-period goal as his club nipped the Ottawa Senators 3-2. Bo Horvat and Cal Clutterbuck gave the Islanders (3-2-1) a 2-0 first-period lead but the Senators (3-4-0) rallied to tie it on goals by Claude Giroux and Jakob Chychrun.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom was stretchered from the game in the second period when he struck his head on the ice following a hit by Clutterbuck. Following the game, the Senators released a statement indicating the blueliner was alert, had full use of his extremities, and was transported to a hospital for further observation and testing.
The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Minnesota Wild 6-2. Flyers rookie Bobby Brink scored the first two goals of his NHL career while Cam Atkinson had three assists and Travis Sanheim had a goal and two assists for the 4-2-1 Flyers. Dakota Mermis and Marcus Foligno replied for the Wild as they slipped to 3-3-1.
New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick made 29 saves to blank the Edmonton Oilers 3-0. Adam Fox, Braden Schneider and Artemi Panarin each collected two points as they improved to 5-2-0. The Oilers sank to 1-5-1 on the season.
St. Louis Blues netminder Joel Hofer stopped 27 shots for his first NHL shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames. Oskar Sundqvist had a goal and an assist for the Blues as they improved their record to 3-2-1. The Flames, meanwhile, dropped to 2-5-1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following the game, Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov offered a blunt apology for his club’s poor performance this season. “We’re playing like shit now,” he said.
It’s a grim time for Alberta’s NHL franchises. The Oilers entered this season considered among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup while the Flames were hoping to rebound from last season’s disappointing result.
HEADLINES
OTTAWA SUN: The NHL yesterday announced a 41-game suspension of Senators center Shane Pinto for activities that violated the league’s gambling rules.
In a statement, the league indicated that Pinto didn’t wager on NHL games but offered no insight into the reasons behind the lengthy suspension. However, league sources stated that Pinto’s online gambling account in the United States was flagged by a company that is a partner with the NHL because of unusual activity. They contacted the league, which launched an investigation into the matter. It’s believed they found evidence connecting Pinto to a third-party bettor.
The 22-year-old Senators center issued an apology in which he took full responsibility for his actions. Meanwhile, the NHL Players Association was aware of the investigation and will not be appealing the suspension.
Pinto remains a restricted free agent as he was in the midst of contract talks with the Senators before the suspension, which is retroactive to the start of the club’s season. The earliest he can return to action is Jan. 21 against the Philadelphia Flyers. However, it’s not expected he’ll be back that soon as he’ll need time with the Senators’ AHL affiliate to get back into game shape.
The Senators said they would welcome Pinto’s return following his suspension. They called him a “valued member of our hockey club” and will provide support for him to “address his issues.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL is criticized for not revealing the details that prompted Pinto’s lengthy suspension. There is also concern that he’s being punished by a league that has almost gone overboard with its recent embrace of legalized gambling. In addition, it raises questions about the NHL’s gambling policy regarding its players.
There are also questions over how Pinto’s suspension will affect his contract talks with the Senators and their efforts to free up cap space to sign him. I’ll have more about that in today’s Rumors update.
MLIVE.COM: Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron is mourning the shooting tragedy in Lewiston, Maine that left 18 people dead and many others wounded. Perron played his final year of junior hockey with the Lewiston MAINEiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2006-07 and still has friends in the area.
THE SCORE: Zach Kassian announced his retirement after 12 NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Arizona Coyotes. In 661 regular-season games, Kassian had 92 goals and 111 assists for 203 points along with 913 PIMs. He also had nine points in 45 playoff games.
Suspended players still count against the cap, so this doesn’t actually help him get signed. Although, if Ottawa knew the investigation was ongoing, holding out till the punishment came down makes a lot more sense.
In passing on NHL Radio they said Pinto was happy the Sens have kept it quiet this long.
So all that speculation on who was going to be traded to sign Pinto was an exercise in futility! 😆
johnnyZ – an exercise in futility indeed – something like Smith’s efforts to get the players to play a system HE thinks will work with the talent at hand, instead of formulating one that takes advantage of their talents. One thing is certain, his “system” hasn’t worked with any consistency in his time at the helm.
Bruins ….Blowing a 2 goal lead with 2 minutes left to go in game stings & then they don’t smell the puck in OT … By season end this will end up being a .500 hockey team. Lindholm & DeBrusk need to wake up … the season has started
Bandwagon talk one game doesn’t give any indication of being a none playoff team lol 82-0 is off the board lol
81-0-1 is right there for the taking.
They would have won last night, but Zacha was looking for an offensive breakout when he should have stuck to the plan and shoveled the friggin puck off the wall and out x4.
A 60-minute defensive commitment wins games. Let’s hope it was a momentary lapse because outside of that, he’s looked real swell so far.
As a bruins fan I like Debrusk but I think he takes too many nights off lack of effort it might be time to trade him to someone like oilers who he would be up to signing an extension with maybe a huge trade including Ullmark for nugent Hopkins and Bouchard
Something about a 41 game suspension for gambling stinks when he wasn’t gambling on NHL games, especially when the NHL is making money from gambling. We all need more info on this suspension as it does not appear justified…
neither the player nor the PA appealed the punishment so you know something was up. sounds like Pinto was having someone else place bets on NHL games for him
it is a double standard though, considering the NHL deals with betting sites and casinos, including advertising, arena names and logos on uniforms/helmets for such casinos/sites
NHL will never give up money but they should consider ending all partnerships with betting sites and casinos. Prevent active players from marketing deals with such sites/casinos
IMO this isn’t a double standard.
Not only is the NHL making money off gambling, the players are too as hockey related revenues are split 50/50. Sure seems hockey related, but if I am wrong about that, please correct me.
These rules are in the player’s contract. If players break those rules it’s on them. If they don’t inform themselves, or didn’t bother to pay attention when it was explained to them, then that is on the player too.
I fully understand why sports leagues have these rules, and the NHL isn’t alone. In the NFL a Lion’s player, Williams, just finished serving his suspension for gambling as well.
I don’t hear Pinto making excuses, so guessing he gets it.
The question then is – why did he think he could get away with it? Is he that obtuse?
Or maybe just simply wasn’t paying attention George. Who knows. Guessing players will now.
Avalanche might as well have stayed at the hotel last night because they sure we’re not interested in competing against the Penguins; totally lost every battle for pucks and consistently turned the puck over with the slightest pressure. They must have been out partying the night before reading their press clippings @ 6-0? So, they got what they deserved! GO AVS!!!!
Tommy, how’s Drouin playing these days??
The Bruins, tried so hard to score an empty net goal.
Maybe if they tried to just get the puck out of the zone, they would’ve won the game.
Caper, yep.
From what I am seeing in these first weeks… I think DJ Smith really needs to go. He’s a good coach but he isn’t taking this team to the next level. Things are falling so flat. They need some new energy injected into this group.
Agree. Although I’ve posted recently that, if the inconsistent goaltending/defensive lapses continue on into mid-November changes should be forthcoming, there’s absolutely NO reason for the new owner to sit and watch the team sputter out of the gate- again – watch the attendance dip -again – and not move to get HIS choices at both the GM and coaching levels. The talent is there – clearly they are not responding to whatever “system” Smith thinks is the right approach.
Right at the moment it’s deja vu all over again.
GeorgeO, I don’t know what the coach has or hasn’t done.
If he hasn’t done this it be worth trying.
Have a meeting with Tkachuk, Norris, Stutzle, Chabot and Chychrun and see what kind of system they want to play and come up with a plan.
This team is to good to be faltering.
Agreed on these sentiments. The challenge is finding a good replacement before sending Smith packing. Appointing one of the assistants will likely mean more of the same , Capuano would get consideration, but I would prefer they look elsewhere . The problem with making this change mid year is most of good coaches are spoken for in the summer.
Don’t get me wrong a change would be good but only if they have someone capable to step in.
This is exactly how I feel. If it were “just a slow start to the season” I would not worry, but it’s carrying on a pattern from last couple seasons. Young teams OFTEN outgrow their coaches and require a newer perspective.
Dorion’s weird missteps the last couple years just seem to be failing the team in getting over the hump into real contention. This team is PRIMED to be dominant.
@ Fergy22 I wasn’t just spittin chiclets when I mentioned Patrick Roy yesterday… he has a LOOONG history with Michael Andlauer…
You’re joking about asking the players how they want to play right? At that point they should also create the lines and dish out playing time.
Outrageous! LOL Ask the players. I don’t know how much other hockey you watch caper but teams generally play similar systems. There isn’t one team playing one system and another team playing their system. It’s just the execution of the system that makes the difference and the players executing them or in the case of Ottawa not executing them…also keep in mind the opposing teams also want to dictate the play to handicap the other team. Suggestion let the players dictate how to play we need coach for? Country club anyone?
Ron Moore – who made THAT suggestion?
George I’m sure it’s had to be an attempt at a joke and I can’t tell because he usually isn’t this fanatical.
When you are promoting betting on a game during the game Pinto may be first in a long line. Can’t go a day without these sites telling me I can bet on anything. It’s sad.
Gretzky seems to think it’s OK.
Gambling is everywhere already. You can bet on sports at your local 7-11, and have been able to for over 20 years. There are casinos all over the place, and VLT’s in bars.
If you want to bet, then bet. If you don’t, then don’t.
I agree with Ray. If you decide to bet then bet, if not then don’t but if you do…just don’t ask EK for any tips !