NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 15, 2023
Tuesday’s action saw the Bruins regain first place in the overall standings while the Ducks set a league record for comeback wins. Check out the recaps plus the latest on the Devils’ Jack Hughes, the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Boston Bruins (12-1-2) took over first place (26 points) in the overall standings with a 5-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists while Charlie McAvoy and Pavel Zacha each collected two assists. Victor Olofsson scored both goals for the Sabres (7-8-1), who also lost scoring center Tage Thompson for what could be a “significant” amount of time with an injured left wrist.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Losing Thompson comes at a time when the Sabres are struggling to gain some traction in the standings. They face a big challenge offsetting his absence if he’s sidelined for a long time.
Speaking of the Bruins, winger Jake DeBrusk has been having trouble finding the back of the net through the early going. Coming off a 27-goal performance last season, he’s managed just one goal in 14 games thus far.
Third-period goals by Radko Gudas and Adam Henrique lifted the Anaheim Ducks over the Nashville Predators 3-2, setting an NHL single-season record with their sixth comeback third-period win through the first 15 games of the season. John Gibson stopped 29 shots for the Ducks as they improved to 9-6-0 on the season. Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi scored for the Predators as they slipped to 5-10-0.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Predators placed forward Tommy Novak (upper body) on injured reserve. He’s expected to miss four to six weeks.
The Washington Capitals blanked the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0. Netminder Charlie Lindgren turned in a 35-save shutout performance while Dylan Strome, Connor McMichael and Beck Malenstyn tallied for the Capitals (8-4-2). Logan Thompson turned aside 28 shots for the Golden Knights (12-3-1), who sit atop the Western Conference with 25 points but slipped to second in the overall standings following the Bruins win over the Sabres.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby tallied a hat trick to lead his club over the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3. Crosby finished with four points while Erik Karlsson and Jake Guentzel each had a goal and an assist for the 8-6-0 Penguins. Elvis Merzlikins made 36 saves for the Blue Jackets (4-8-4) as they sit last in the Eastern Conference with 12 points.
Winnipeg Jets wingers Kyle Connor and Nikolaj Ehlers each tallied twice to defeat the New Jersey Devils 6-3. Josh Morrissey collected four assists for the 8-5-2 Jets as Connor moved into a tie with Toronto’s Auston Matthews for the league lead in goals with 13. Timo Meier, John Marino and Dawson Mercer replied for the slumping Devils (7-6-1) as they’ve dropped their third straight contest.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils got some good news as sidelined center Jack Hughes could return to their lineup as early as Saturday when they host the Rangers. However, team captain Nico Hischier (head) was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 27. Meanwhile, Jets defenseman Rasmus Kupari left this game in the first period with a possible shoulder or arm injury.
An overtime goal by Matt Duchene lifted the Dallas Stars to a 4-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes. Tyler Seguin tied the game late in the third period as he and Duchene each finished with a goal and an assist. Clayton Keller, Jason Zucker and Lawson Crouse scored for the 7-6-2 Coyotes while the Stars (11-3-1) won their fourth straight to sit atop the Central Division with 23 points.
The Calgary Flames got a 34-save performance from goaltender Jacob Markstrom in a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Nazem Kadri and Conor Zary scored for the Flames (5-8-2) while Gustav Lindstrom replied for the Canadiens, who dropped to 7-7-2.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle avoided a serious facial injury when he was accidentally clipped in the face by the skate of Flames center Elias Lindholm. Guhle went straight to the dressing room but returned to the game after getting treatment for a small cut to his mouth.
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington kicked out 30 shots to shut out the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-0. Jordan Kyrou scored two goals and Pavel Buchnevich collected two assists for the Blues (8-5-1), who’ve won three games in a row and five of their last six. It’s the third straight loss for the Lightning (6-6-4) and their second straight shutout loss.
The Florida Panthers picked up their fifth straight win with a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk each had two points for the 10-4-1 Panthers. Mike Hoffman, Tomas Hertl and Luke Kunin replied for the 2-13-1Sharks, who remain at the bottom of the overall standings with five points.
HEADLINES
TSN: NHL general managers discuss cut-proof equipment and tweaking the rules for regular-season overtime during their annual meeting in Toronto on Tuesday.
Interest in cut-resistant equipment came to the forefront of conversation following the death of former NHL player Adam Johnson after his neck was cut by a skate blade during an EIHL game in England on Oct. 28.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Johnson, British police have arrested EIHL player Matt Petgrave and charged him with manslaughter following a three-week investigation into the incident.
As for those tweaks to overtime, they could include a shot clock or preventing teams from continuously leaving the offensive zone to retain possession. NHL executive Colin Campbell said they haven’t considered a change to the format such as making the overtime period longer or eliminating the shootout.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’d ditch the shootout, have 3-on-3 20-minute overtime periods until there’s a winner and get rid of the “loser point”. What changes would you make? Let me know in the comments below.
TSN/EDMONTON JOURNAL: The NHL department of player safety fined Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl $5,000.00 for a dangerous trip on New York Islanders center Bo Horvat on Monday.
The Oilers also announced that forward Dylan Holloway could be out long-term after suffering a knee injury against the Islanders on Monday. They’ve also returned forward Raphael Lavoie to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.
CBS SPORTS: Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart is ready to return to action after missing the last five games with a mid-body injury followed by a bout with food poisoning.
THE PROVINCE: Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy is listed as week-to-week after suffering a leg injury during Sunday’s game against the Canadiens.
I’ve always thought that OT should start with 10 min of 4×4 hockey. Then go to 3×3 until it is decided.
Going right to 3×3 is odd. At least 4×4 is a valid hockey scenario.
I like this. I would add getting rid of the Bettman point or going to a 3-point system. The 3-point system would make for fewer teams fighting for wild card positions, but create more of a battle for the upper teams for the higher seeds. Which IMO would be more exciting.
Even keeping Bettman point, 3 points for regulation win would an upgrade.
The problem with extending games via OT is that teams regularly play back to back games, and sometimes 3 in 4 nights. The result of longer overtime periods will be increased injuries, and lousy games due to fatigue.
Think of how long the season is: exhibition, 82 games, then for half the league playoffs. I don’t like the current approach that much, but extending OT isn’t a sensible proposition for the reasons above.
I’ve never liked the shootout and extra point setup to decide games. I agree with Lyle that they should play 3 on 3 until there is a winner. There are so many opportunities to score 3 on 3 that there should not be any long overtime games…
I know ties are like kissing your sister, but I prefer it to the shootout.
Amen!! Dumbest damned “innovation” ever introduced in the annals of professional sport.
Wait … ok … 2nd dumbest after the DH
On the topic of dumbest innovation in sports, George, I would add the NFL kickoff which has had the effect of eliminating one of the most exciting plays in football. Just brutal.
Yeah, BCLeafFan, can’t fathom that stupidity, ostensibly introduced to “cut down” on concussions.
If that was the primary reason, show us stats on % of concussions that ensued from getting tackled when returning a kickoff as opposed to, say, a received catching a short pass with his back to middle linebackers.
Get rid of O/T and the shoot out as well.
Go to 1 point for a win, 0 points for ties and losses.
Games would be so exciting in the third period if teams were tied as it would be like sudden death in game 7 of the playoffs.
SL
I never had a problem with ties. Soccer games end in ties all the time and no one whines. But if overtime is a must, have 10 minutes of 4 on 4. If neither team scores, game over, each team gets a point. But ditch shootouts. No true major league sport allows games to be decided by a skills competition!
World Cup which is way bigger than a regular season hockey game has been decided many times on penalty kicks. It part of the game and if your team isn’t good enough to beat the other team in regulation, well then, you get it decided in the most unfavorable way for both the teams/players and fans. Win in regulation every game or else! 😅
FreightTrained, I agree with you on that. Go 3 vs 3 for 7 minutes and if no winner. It’s a tie, and both teams get the point.
I would like to see 2 pts win
1 for OT. Shootout is only used if teams are tied at end of year after calculating regulation wins. OT wins then shoot out wins No extra points for shootouts
That way they really do not mess up true standings. And fans get to see something exciting
I’ve been beating this dead horse for years, but I’ll toss it out again.
Every game is ‘worth’ the same: 3 points.
3 for reg win
2 for ot/so win (though I love the non-SO suggestions throughout the thread)
1 for ot/so loss
0 for reg loss
why some games are worth more than others remains mind-boggling to me.
Pretty sure no one had Bruins leading nhl week before thanksgiving. I know I didn’t
Keep it going boys
Why fix a problem that’s not there….3 on 3 is by far the most exciting hockey for fans to watch. Shot clock is ridiculous. Maybe and again, “maybe” put in the, “can’t leave the O zone once entered”…
This game isn’t going to grow with us super fans liking it more, it’s going to grow because a dad and a kid got tickets from dad’s company and they saw a 3 on 3 and a shoot out. That’s what they’ll talk about, not Patrice Bergeron’s stellar 200 foot game….sorry.
3-2-1 point system. No loser point. Keep shootout. Hockey purists rail against it but it’s another tool to try to attract casual fans which the nhl desperately needs. And even those purists are standing with everyone else to watch it.
IMO more 3on3 and fewer shootouts would attract the casual fans more.
What will attract the casual fans, even more, is if the NHL lets their star players show what they can do and not let the lesser players hook and hold them.
Agree, Kevjam … if that sort of soccer-emulation crap is what it takes to attract the “casual” fan then God help the game.
Technically, the keeper in soccer has as much chance of stopping a shot as the proverbial snowball in Hell. The biggest “thrill” comes when the doofus taking the shot boots it 5 feet over the top of the net or 8 feet wide. Yaaaayyy.
Lyle, no mention of the Hockey Canada 2018 WJ update? While it wasn’t much of an update it was something. And something they’re appealing?
Be nice if the police would finish up whatever they’re doing and not charging anyone with.
Dark G, agree it wasn’t much of an “update” — but, for the record for anyone interested, here are links to articles on the “update” from The Hockey News, the CBC, and Sportsnet
https://thehockeynews.com/news/hockey-canada-findings-of-report-into-2018-canada-junior-team-under-appeal
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hockey-canada-adjudicative-panel-investigation-2018-alleged-sexual-assault-1.7028017
https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/article/hockey-canada-findings-of-investigation-into-2018-canada-junior-team-under-appeal/
Interestingly, only the yahoos at Sportsnet managed to introduce some element of further confusion with this paragraph:
“All players from the 2018 team remain suspended by Hockey Canada and ineligible to play, coach, officiate or volunteer with Hockey Canada-sanctioned programs pending completion of the appeal. ”
ALL players??? Somebody better inform Makar and Batherson, to name just two, who are actively playing now in the NHL that they cannot engage in any event “sanctioned” by Hockey Canada.
Those two really don’t concern me much. From what I know there were “the five” and then “the big 3 Do-ers” who will be on the crap list. Whatever his name is, who broke the story claims to know who’s getting suspended for how long. I call bs on him knowing anything.
The victim settled “again” in August so you know she’s not pressing charges though the police could still be doing so without her cooperation.
It’s because it wasn’t much of an update that I didn’t bother posting it. I prefer waiting for something more concrete. If anyone else is interested in reading it, here’s the link:
https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/hockey-canada-findings-of-investigation-into-2018-canada-junior-team-under-appeal-1.2035662#:~:text=All%20players%20from%20the%202018,published%20Nov.%2014%2C%202023.
only in the nhl could backwards thinking reduce the setup for offense, because teams don’t have the skaters that could perform the setup.
how about a radical idea, after ties in regulation start with 3 round shootout, if it’s still tied up then go to 10 minute 3-on-3, then tie at the end if still tied up?
The point system isn’t changing it created exactly what Bettman wanted; more teams in the playoff hunt late into the season. meaning more bums in the seats later in the season.
3 vs 3 plenty of opportunities to score, games are long enough, don’t want to drag it on for too long.
Caper, I agree Bettman (the owners) won’t change for the reason you stated. Agree games are long enough, they won’t make them longer, nor should they.
But, as a fan, I would vote for the 3-2-1 points system. 3 for regulation wins only.
4×4 for first 5 min OT. 3×3 for next 5 min. Once team skates forward over a line, they must give up possession if they retreat back from that zone. Opposing team gets possession in their half of ice while opposing team starts in their half (no face off).
14 games played Erik Karlsson stats: 5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points, and +8 +- rating. Baffled Hockey writers claim Erik Karlsson’s contract is the Penguins worst contract.
Probably looking at that $10.5 mil cap hit which will continue for 3 more seasons after this, at thee end of which he’ll be pushing 37. Does anyone realistically expect him to still be playing at his current level for the next 3 seasons?
Yes George. I do.
Barring injury. He will continue to be the closest thing to Orr…since Orr. And had Orr’s knees not been destroyed how long would you have predicted he could play at that level? Add that he’s Swede and has some freakish Viking healing powers.
LOL. Well, there is that. Such as his severed Achilles … ironically at the hands (or more precisely razor-sharp “skate”) of perhaps THE dumbest, dirtiest player ever to don the jersey of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Well. Cooke was that George. Though ulf gives him a run for the money. But that play in particular was unequivocally an accident.
I agree speed. After getting him for a song he’s continued to dominate. Jarrys contract is far more riskier and carters is definitely the worst. I’m not sour on rakell yet but if this isn’t a slump then he could be up there too.
Kyle Conner is going to sniff 60 goals this year. That kid is incredibly talented and his release is as sneaky as I’ve seen in a spell. What a sniper!
Agree there Shoreorrpark. He is fun to watch and always dangerous anywhere in the offensive zone.
I just hope, for Winnipeg’s sake, that he doesn’t pull a DeBrincat leading into his UFA season a couple of years down the line and angle for a trade to Detroit 🙂