NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 28, 2023
The Blackhawks upset the defending champion Golden Knights, the Kings rally to defeat the Coyotes, the Devils nip the Sabres, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Philipp Kurashev lifted the Chicago Blackhawks to a 4-3 upset of the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights, handing the latter their first loss of the season (7-0-1). Rookie Connor Bedard scored his third goal of the season for the 3-5-0 Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic left this game in the second period with an undisclosed injury following a high hit from Golden Knights forward Brett Howden. Speaking of the Blackhawks, forward Andreas Athanasiou was a healthy scratch from this contest.
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (NHL Images).
The Los Angeles Kings overcame a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Arizona Coyotes 5-4. Drew Doughty started and ended the rally for Los Angeles (4-2-1) with two goals, including the game-winner. Cam Talbot replaced Pheonix Copley in the Kings’ net after the latter gave up three goals on six shots. J.J. Moser had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes as they dropped to 3-4-0.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Credit the Kings for their comeback but the Coyotes let up after taking a 4-1 lead and it cost them the game. “We defended too much and we were not on our toes. We had no forecheck, no possession. We didn’t want to play with the puck. The other team played with the puck,” head coach André Tourigny said.
New Jersey Devils forward Erik Haula tallied twice, including the winning goal, in a 5-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Luke Hughes collected two assists while brother Jack scored to collect his league-leading 18th point of the season for the 4-2-1 Devils. Tage Thompson netted his fourth goal of the season and Rasmus Dahlin tallied his first as the Sabres fell to 3-5-0.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a costly game for both clubs. Devils captain Nico Hischier was forced to leave the game after suffering a head shot from Sabres defenseman Connor Clifton, who received a match penalty and faces a hearing with the NHL department of player safety. Sabres goalie Eric Comrie left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury.
The Carolina Hurricanes got a hat trick from Teuvo Teravainen and a 20-save shutout from Antti Raanta to blank the San Jose Sharks 3-0. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each collected two assists for the Hurricanes as they improved to 5-4-0. Kaapo Kahkonen made 37 saves for the 0-7-1 Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov skated in his first game since undergoing knee surgery in March. He was held scoreless in this contest.
Washington Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper kicked out 39 shots as his club nipped the Minnesota Wild by a score of 3-2. John Carlson scored in the shootout to give the Capitals (3-3-1) the victory. Ryan Hartman sniped his fifth goal of the season while Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 31 shots for the 3-3-2 Wild.
The Vancouver Canucks shut out the St. Louis Blues 5-0 on Thatcher Demko’s 22-save performance. Quinn Hughes scored two goals and J.T. Miller had a goal and two assists for the Canucks as they improved to 5-2-0. Jordan Binnington made 30 saves for the 3-3-1 Blues.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a fracture in his right hand. Meanwhile, blueliner Erik Brannstrom suffered a concussion from a hit during Thursday’s games against the New York Islanders.
NHL.COM: Ed Sandford, the Boston Bruins’ oldest surviving player, passed away earlier this week at the age of 95. The winger spent eight of his nine NHL seasons with the Bruins from 1947-48 to 1954-55. He split the following season between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks before retiring. In 503 regular season games, Sandford had 106 goals and 251 points as well as 13 goals and 24 points in 42 playoff games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Sandford’s family, friends and the Bruins organization.
With Chabot and Brannstrom both out it looks like Kleven will be up and both he and Bernard-Docker will see more ice time. The results could be interesting.
It seems like a lot of bad hits across the league ” head hits”. I haven’t seen a lot of them, except for the one from the Calgary defenseman. What’s going on? No need for that. In the NFL, too! These guys are so big and strong but they don’t know how to tackle a guy without aiming for the head. What is the case in hockey?
Re Sens d
With Chabot out yet a again..
The 26 yr old Chabot has never managed to play a Full Season since coming up to the NHL⁉️
It will be intresting to see how the Sen’s young 21 yr old Tyler Kleven the big young hard hiting d/man plays for the Sen’s👍
williew, that’s why I say, depending upon how the replacements function, that the results could be interesting. Specifically, what I mean is, if Kleven proves he belongs with his performance, Bernard-Docker shows enough over a long haul that he’s capable of at least holding down a 5/6 position, and the remaining D – Chychrun, Zub (he’ll be back sooner rather than later), Sanderson, Hamonic, – pick up the slack while Chabot is on LTIR, we could see Chabot being shopped around when he’s ready to return. On the other hand, if the re-structured D struggles, I doubt Chabot will be in the trade conversation when he gets back.
The wheels turn.
OK, I’ll get it off my chest. Early in the season though it is I see the Sharks getting the first round pick in their history. Please tell me there is a ‘generational’ player coming up in the 2024 draft.
Hud, early yet but here’s the current assessment and who to keep an eye on as the various seasons go by.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/sportsnets-2024-nhl-draft-prospect-rankings-first-edition/
The Sharks have ALMOST garnered the 1st overall but had to settle for the 2nd pick 3 time and the 3rd two times (mostly in the 1990s). They’re joined by the Wild, Canucks, Flames (Calgary), Ducks, Hurricanes among long-time franchises in never having a 1st overall and, of course, Vegas and Seattle.
For what it’s worth, here are the teams with more than one 1st overall pick
Canadiens 6; Sabres 4; Avalanche/Nordiques 4; Oilers 4; Islanders 4, Bruins 3, Red Wings 3; Minnesota/Dallas Stars 3; Devils/Rockies 3; Senators 3, Penguins 3; Lightning 3; Capitals 3, Atlanta Thrashers 2; Blackhawks 2; Panthers 2; Rangers 2. Maple Leafs 2
As far as I’m aware, that leaves the Flyers, Blue Jackets, Jets, Blues, Coyotes and Kings with just one 1st overall in their history.
I think it’s safe to say that, when you look at all the 1st overalls, there have been enough duds/disappointments (including some projected consensus “can’t misses that did) to say categorically that having the #1 isn’t a guarantee.
George…..
Thanks for the link and the comments.
Neat read George. Of note the pens only won the 1st overall pick twice. They traded up for the third. Wonder how many other 1st overalls have been traded?
Chrisms, the pick that landed Pittsburgh Crosby was obtained in a special lottery. As for getting the 1st overall through trade, there have been several:
California Golden Seals traded the 1971 1st overall to Montreal which picked Lafleur;
In 1975 the Flyers dealt Bill Clement, Don McLean and the # 18 pick to Washington for the 1st overall and took Mel Bridgman;
In 1980 Montreal traded Ron Andruff & Sean Shanahan to the Rockies for the exchange of 1st round picks in 1980 and took Doug Wickenheiser (rather than Denis Savard);
In 1982, ostensibly as compensation for Colorado’s signing of free agent Dwight Foster, the Bruins sent a 10th-round pick in exchange for a 2nd rounder and the swaping of picks in the first round, which turned out to be Gord Kluzak (passing on Brian Bellows, Phil Housley and Scott Stevens);
In 1983 the Minnesota North Stars traded Ron Meighan, Anders Hakansson, and their 1st round (# 15) to the Penguins for George Ferguson and the 1st overall, and took Brian Lawton, passing on Pat LaFontaine, Steve Yzerman and Cam Neely;
In November 1998 the Sharks sent Viktor Kozlov and a 5th rounder to Florida for what turned out to be the 1st overall and Dave Lowry. Months later, at the trade deadline, the Sharks dealt Andrei Nazarov and the swapping of 1st round picks (turned out to be # 1 for #. 2) to Tampa for Bryan Marchment and David Shaw – Tampa drafted Vincent Lecavalier;
In 1999, on draft day itself, the Canucks gave up Bryan McCabe and a future 1st round pick (turned out to be # 11) to Chicago for the # 4 pick overall, then sent that pick and two 3rd round pick to Tampa for the # 1 pick. The Canucks then dealt that to Atlanta for the # 2 pick and a 3rd round pick – Atlanta took Patrik Stefan;
In 2002, Columbus dealt the # 3 pick and the swapping of picks in 2003 to Florida for the #1 pick and drafted Rick Nash;
In 2003 Florida traded the # 1 and a 3rd round pick to the Penguins for the # 3 pick, a 2nd rounder and Mikael Samuelsson, and Pittsburgh drafted Marc-Andre Fleury
I forgot to mention that, in the Lafleur deal, California also sent Francois Lacombe to Montreal for their 1st round pick (# 10) and Ernie Hicke.
That was a sincerely fun read George! Ty!