NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 2, 2024
The Kraken defeat the Golden Knights in the 2024 Winter Classic, the three stars of the week, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
NHL.COM: The Seattle Kraken got a 35-save performance from goaltender Joey Daccord to blank the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in the 2024 NHL Discover Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. A sellout crowd of 47, 313 fans saw Daccord pick up the first-ever shutout in Winter Classic history.
Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord (NHL Images).
Eeli Tolvanen, Will Borgen and Yanni Gourde were the goal scorers as the Kraken picked up their fifth straight win, extending their points streak to a franchise-record nine games (7-0-2). Logan Thompson made 24 saves for the Golden Knights.
With the win, the Kraken improved to 15-14-9 (39 points) and sit one point behind the Arizona Coyotes for the final Western Conference playoff berth. With a record of 22-11-5, the Golden Knights sit third overall in the Western Conference with 49 points.
Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho, New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin and New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 31, 2023.
STARTRIBUNE.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov and goaltender Filip Gustavsson are both sidelined for at least a week. Kaprizov suffered an upper-body injury on Saturday and Gustavsson had a lower-body injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild will have to make do without their leading scorer (Kaprizov) and their starting goaltender (Gustavsson) as they face the Calgary Flames, Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets this week.
CBS SPORTS: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Haydn Fleury (hand) has been placed on long-term injury reserve.
DAILY FACEOFF: New York shut out Toronto 4-0 in the inaugural game of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Ella Shelton scored the first goal in league history during the first period. Third-period goals by Alex Carpenter, Jill Saulnier and Kayla Vespa secured the win for New York.
The game was held at Toronto’s Mattamy Athletic Centre (formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) in front of a sellout crowd of 2,537 fans. The fans remained until the game ended and gave both clubs a standing ovation.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Here’s hoping the PWHL has a long and productive future. Women’s hockey needs to have a thriving professional league.
Excellent to see a sellout….but 2,537 is a sellout?
Was Maple Leaf Gardens cut back by 85%?
I guess the folks at the PWHL aspire to the Coyotes barn.
The rink at the Gardens sits above a giant Loblaws store on the main level and is the home base for Metropolitan Toronto University, formerly Ryerson.
I’m sure Toronto’s PWHL team will play in a different arena next year. They could have sold double the season tickets for this year easily. All the home games are sold out and I imagine any scalpers did well yesterday.
They had a huge lineup around the block for this game.
I watched the game and I will watch more going forward.
I was entertained.
The Wild are in a tough spot missing both
the leading point getter Kirill Kaprizov & there Starting Goaltender Filip Gustavsson Both sidelined for at least a week+😳
The Final 7 & 8th playoff birth Race
The Wild, Flames, Blues, Krakin, Oilers, AZ, & Pred’s All within 36 to 40 points of each other…
The 6th Spot LA Kings have 45 points and 3 to 4 games in hand over the rest of these teams❗️ that are Fighting for the 2 final playoff Spots 7th & 8th in the West Conference
its going to be an intresting 2 months who will lock up these two spots….❓🤔