NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 30, 2023
Aleksander Barkov ties a Panthers record, the Avalanche win but Nathan MacKinnon’s point streak ends, the Devils move into an Eastern Conference wild-card spot, the Blue Jackets upset the Leafs, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Aleksander Barkov collected three assists and Sam Reinhart scored two goals as the Florida Panthers nipped the New York Rangers 4-3. Barkov tied the Panthers franchise record for career assists (415) while his club improved to 21-12-2 (44 points) to move within two points of the first-place Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division. Artemi Panarin netted his 20th goal of the season for the 24-9-1 Rangers, who remain atop the overall standings with 49 points.
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reinhart is having an impressive performance in his contract season. He sits fourth among the league’s goal-scoring leaders (23) and 10th in points in 44. Meanwhile, sidelined Rangers center Filip Chytil has returned to his native Czechia for the next step in his recovery from a suspected concussion suffered on Nov. 2.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon’s point streak ended at 19 games in a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Ryan Johansen opened the scoring and collected an assist on Devon Toews’ game-winner for the 22-11-3 Avalanche as they hold first place in the Central Division with 47 points. Robert Thomas scored for the 18-16-1 Blues (37 points) as they sit two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 56 points, MacKinnon remains two behind Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, who leads the league with 58 points.
An overtime goal by Johnny Gaudreau lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 6-5 upset of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Gaudreau also collected two assists as did defenseman Damon Severson while rookie Adam Fantilli netted the game-tying goal for the 12-18-7 Blue Jackets. William Nylander had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to 13 games while Auston Matthews potted his league-leading 29th goal of the season for the Leafs (17-9-7), who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 41 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a rough night for goaltenders in this game. Blue Jackets starter Elvis Merzlikins left the game following the first period due to illness and was replaced for the duration by Spencer Martin. Meanwhile, it was another tough outing for the Leafs’ Ilya Samsonov, whose struggles are raising concerns in Leafs Nation. I’ll have more about that in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
Speaking of overtime, Lucas Raymond scored as the Detroit Red Wings downed the Nashville Predators 5-4. Red Wings winger Alex DeBrincat (one goal, two assists) had a “Gordie Howe hat trick” (goal, assist, fighting major), Jake Walman scored twice and set up another and Patrick Kane had two assists for the 17-15-4 Red Wings (38 points), who moved within two points of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Filip Forsberg and Gustav Nyquist each tallied twice and collected an assist for the 19-16-1 Predators, who hold the final Western wild-card spot with 39 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings goaltender Alex Lyon made 33 saves in his return from a midsection injury that had sidelined him since Dec. 16.
The New Jersey Devils cruised to a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Jesper Bratt had a goal and three assists while Jack and Luke Hughes each had a goal and two assists for the 19-13-2 Devils, who moved into the final Eastern wild-card spot with 40 points. Drake Batherson and Jacob Bernard-Docker replied for the 13-18-0 Senators, who remain mired in the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with 26 points.
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz scored in overtime to complete his hat trick to top the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4. Jamie Benn, Joe Pavelski and Jason Robertson each had two points for the Stars (21-9-4) as they sit one point behind the Avalanche in the Central Division with 46 points. Tyler Johnson scored twice for the 11-22-2 Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks forward Taylor Raddysh left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury and will be re-evaluated on Saturday. Meanwhile, Nick Foligno has indicated his willingness to sign a contract extension with the Blackhawks. The 36-year-old forward is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July.
The New York Islanders rolled to a 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Jean-Gabriel Pageau had two goals and two assists while Julien Gauthier had two goals and an assist for the Islanders (17-9-9), who sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 43 points. Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored for the 17-11-5 Capitals as they slipped out of a wild-card berth with 39 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov missed this game with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, Capitals netminder Charlie Lindgren and defenseman Martin Fehervary left this game with injuries during the opening minutes of the first period.
Arizona Coyotes goalie Connor Ingram made 28 saves to shut out the Anaheim Ducks 2-0. Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse were the goal scorers as the Coyotes (19-14-2) hold the first Western wild-card berth with 40 points. John Gibson stopped 30 shots for the 13-22-0 Ducks.
An overtime goal by Justin Schultz gave the Seattle Kraken a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Vince Dunn scored the game-tying goal for the 14-14-9 Kraken (37 points), who extended their points streak to eight games and sit two points out of the final Western wild-card spot. Travis Konecny scored for the Flyers (19-11-5), who remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 43 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Andre Burakovsky rejoined his teammates for the first time since being sidelined by an upper-body injury on Dec. 7.
IN OTHER NEWS…
SPORTSNET: Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky practiced with his teammates on Friday, showing no ill effects from the hit to the head he received from Carolina Hurricanes forward Stefan Noesen on Thursday. Slafkovsky was placed in concussion protocol following the hit, which the referee told the winger was a hit to his chest.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The replay clearly showed Noesen struck Slafkovsky in the head. Some pundits and fans believe Noesen should’ve been penalized or received supplemental discipline while others blamed Slafkovsky for putting himself in a vulnerable position. This incident might “rekindle debate” about such hits but nothing will happen and this will die down until the next headshot takes place. Wash, rinse, repeat.
St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk will miss Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a lower-body injury.
CBS SPORTS: The Anaheim Ducks placed forward Leo Carlsson (knee) on injured reserve. He will be sidelined for three to five weeks.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres assigned Tyson Jost to their AHL affiliate in Rochester after he cleared waivers.
TSN: Former NHL forward Nick Ritchie received an eight-game suspension by Finland’s Liiga for a series of gloved punches to the head of an opponent.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL’s department of player safety likely would’ve fined him $5,000 and sent him on his way.
Former NHL forward Reggie Savage died last Sunday of cancer at age 53. He played 34 games with the Washington Capitals and Quebec Nordiques from 1990-91 to 1993-94, spending the bulk of his pro career from 1990-91 to 2004-05 in the AHL, IHL, ECHL, UHL and in Italy and Switzerland.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Savage’s family, friends and former teammates.
That Noesen hit to Slafkovsky was a clear shot to the head, I don’t know how that play can be interpreted as putting himself in danger, Slafkovsky even raised his head before impact.
I’m surprised there wasn’t any supplementary discipline
On the other hand, good on the Habs for pulling the kid out of the game to be checked out despite his not wanting to leave..
Not sure why you’re surprised, HF30. We’ve seen so many clear examples of bad hits that go unpunished year after year from this Mickey Duck league and its laughably named Player Safety Department.
Even even tempered Lyle’s comments about this were sardonic.
That’s a clean hit all day long he needs to know that being aware of where and what situation he’s in at every second of a game and Noesen isn’t a dirty player.
I’d like to see the replay on the hit.
I didn’t see it the same way.
Here you go 82: Clear to me:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/hit-on-canadiens-slafkovsky-rekindles-debate-over-rules-on-head-contact/
LJ
So you agree it was dirty?
I confess that I’m not the hockey guru of clean vs dirty hits.
However, it APPEARS to me that the hit wasn’t targeting his head and contacted the chest first.
Y e p – clear head contact. And, if a player makes an upward thrust movement that results in secondary head contact, it is no excuse. Stay low and hit the shoulder or side or chest.
It does seem that the NHL isn’t going to change until someone suffers a serious career ending injury, maybe followed by lawsuits or criminal prosecution.
82, you see two different perspectives here in the replies, where posters can look at the hit time and again.
Yes, IMO it is clear the shoulder hit the player’s head first. Not to send this down a rabbit hole, I don’t think the player intended that. So I’d call a penalty on the play at the least, I just wouldn’t call it dirty, aka intent to injure.
Samsonov is struggling for the Leafs but his team-mates were far worse than him last night.
Leafs looking like a 1st round Exit Team Again this season⁉️
An Poor performance all round,
No goaltending help on the Horizon,
No Cap Space,
only 2 picks left out of 6 in the next 3 years for 1st & 2nd round picks
Time for a Re-set & New game plan in Toronto
For Toronto fans sake, let’s hope that Treliving can convince Tavares to turn in his Maple Leaf pj’s and accept a trade. That would allow them to re-sign Nylander and maybe have a few bucks left over to bolster their back end. It would also allow Toronto to get out of the worst UFA signing in the entire NHL over the past 10 years (well, OK, maybe the Jack Campbell contract is just as bad).
I’m pretty sure the Leaf is stuck with pajama boy.
2 Lago who would be interested in JT with that contract?…3rd line talent for $11m that won’t happen
Trading Tavareswould involve 40% – 50 % retention. I agree no one takes on the whole thing.
MacKinnon streak ends, who cares? Gives away the puck on a consistent basis! Last night was a doozy, break away goal for Thomas. The Avalanche continue to force plays that aren’t there? They were fortunate to escape with the “W”! The Blues must have missed the net a half dozen times; especially in the 1st!!!!
“while others blamed Slafkovsky for putting himself in a vulnerable position”
Aren’t the people who say this victim shaming?
The Leafs are terrible defensively so, of course, it’s John Tavares’s fault.
You Islander fans, of which there seem to be fewer and fewer these days, might want to quit whining and take a serious look at Uncle Lou’s roster instead.
LJ,
A good hockey discussion without name calling.
Enjoyed it thank you.