NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 26, 2023
The Rangers overtake the Bruins for first place in the overall standings while the Kings gain ground on the first-place Golden Knights in the Western Conference. Details and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider scored twice and set up another to lead his club to a 7-4 rout of the Boston Bruins. Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists as the Rangers (15-3-1) supplanted the Bruins for first place in the overall standings with 31 points. Charlie Coyle scored twice for the Bruins, who also have 31 points but slipped into second overall with a record of 14-3-3. It’s the first time this season they’ve lost two straight games.
New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following the game, the NHL department of player safety fined Rangers captain Jacob Trouba $5,000.00 for high-sticking, which was actually a dangerous two-handed stick swing at Trent Frederic that struck the Bruins’ forward on his helmet. Frederic was fortunately not injured but Trouba should’ve received a suspension for his reckless action.
The Bruins, meanwhile, activated defenseman Matt Grzelcyk off long-term injury reserve and assigned rookie blueliner Mason Lohrei to their AHL affiliate in Providence.
The Los Angeles Kings blanked the Montreal Canadiens 4-0. Trevor Moore scored twice while Pheonix Copley turned aside 18 shots for the shutout as the Kings (13-3-3) moved into second place in the Western Conference standings with 29 points. Jake Allen stopped 26 shots for the Canadiens, who slipped to 9-10-2 on the season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings are now one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first overall in the conference. The Vancouver Canucks also have 29 points and won one more game than the Kings but the latter played three fewer games. Speaking of the Canucks and Golden Knights…
Third-period goals by Mikael Granlund and Mike Hoffman enabled the San Jose Sharks to hold off the Canucks by a score of 4-3. Granlund and Hoffman each had two points while Tomas Hertl collected two assists for the Sharks (4-15-2), who remain at the bottom of the overall standings with 10 points. Brock Boeser scored twice, J.T. Miller had three assists and Quinn Hughes collected an assist to extend his points streak to 11 games for the 14-7-1 Canucks.
Arizona Coyotes goaltender Connor Ingram turned in a 34-save shutout in a 2-0 win over the Golden Knights. Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse tallied for the Coyotes (9-9-2) to snap a three-game losing skid. Logan Thompson made 16 saves for the 14-5-2 Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore missed this contest with an upper-body injury. His status should be considered day-to-day.
The New Jersey Devils crushed the Buffalo Sabres 7-2. Devils captain Nico Hischier had a goal and an assist in his first game since being sidelined on Oct. 27 with an upper-body injury. Teammate Tyler Toffoli scored twice as the Devils (9-9-1) ended a three-game losing streak. Jeff Skinner and Kyle Okposo replied for the 9-10-2 Sabres.
Second-period goals by Noel Acciari and Erik Karlsson lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tristan Jarry made 31 saves as the Penguins improved to 10-10-0. Tyler Bertuzzi and Matthew Knies scored for the Leafs as they fell to 10-6-3.
The Philadelphia Flyers shut out the New York Islanders 1-0 on a shootout goal by Tyson Foerster. Samuel Ersson made 25 saves for the win as the Flyers moved up to 11-9-1. Ilya Sorokin stopped 40 shots for the 8-6-6 Islanders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers activated defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (lower body) off LTIR as he made his season debut in this contest. Meanwhile, the Islanders placed blueliner Adam Pelech and forward Matt Martin on LTIR and claimed defenseman Mike Reilly off waivers from the Florida Panthers.
Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist as the Colorado Avalanche doused the Calgary Flames 3-1. Ivan Prosvetov stopped 29 shots for the Avalanche (14-6-0), who’ve won six of their last seven games and sit in first place in the Central Division with 28 points. Mikael Backlund scored for the Flames as they dropped to 8-10-3.
Too much turkey and stuffing this weekend for bruins. 🦃🦃
The last 2 games for the Bruins might be a sign of where the team is headed this year. I never expected them to lead the league this season and a move to the middle of the pack seems more likely. I expect them to make the playoffs but they are not apt to be one of the top teams this year. Not that they were helped last year by being the ‘best’ team in the league as they seemed worn out and injured when the playoffs started last year…
Paul
I wouldn’t say they will be fighting for a play off spot. Top 3 in east would be my guess
Gloom and doom.
Fans are so thin skin.
One guy been tweeting how awesome the team is leading the league after a disappointing playoff, how great the Bruins are.
Last night he tweets its good we are not in first place remember what happen last year we used all our energy. Too funny.
That two handed swing by Trouba should’ve been a game or two suspension. That was no accidental high stick.
But don’t forget to fine MAF for his heritage mask.
Caper.
Fans are fickle. At least many I know You are right Trouba shoulda got suspended for that as it was intended. MAF. Should be banned for life. How dare he support a cause 😂
I miss Pengys rants about Parros every time he screws up an easy decision.
Me too..
Where is Pengy….?
On vacation somewhere nice…
Trouba should be suspended how many games?
From what I’ve seen, maybe every other game ?
Zero games. It was careless, but not malicious.
I don’t think Trouba is dirty. He just makes unnecessary hits. Great big ones at that.
Swinging a stick like a baseball bat at opposing players head/face is not malicious? What is malicious then?
Yeah, I hesitated commenting until I got to watch alternate angles. He wasn’t trying to strike Fred in the noggin.
At first I thought Trouba should sit for 25+. Now, not so much. He was carelessly tearing his stick away from Fred and glanced his helmet.
On the flip side, can you imagine how many games Marchand would get if he was in Troubas skates?