NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 26, 2024
The Oilers win their 15th straight game, Steven Stamkos and Brad Marchand reach notable milestones, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers picked up their 15th consecutive win by blanking the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0. Calvin Pickard turned in a 27-save shutout while Connor McDavid scored twice and collected an assist for the 28-15-1 Oilers, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 57 points. Petr Mrazek stopped 31 shots for the 14-33-2 Blackhawks as they dropped into last place in the overall standings with 30 points.
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos (NHL Images).
Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist to reach his 1,100th career NHL point in a 6-3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Nikita Kucherov regained first place in the scoring race (83 points) with a goal and two assists for the Lightning (26-18-5), who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 57 points. Clayton Keller had a goal and an assist for the 23-21-3 Coyotes (49 points) as they sit four points out of the final Western Conference playoff berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos is the 29th player in NHL history to record 1,100 points with a single team and the sixth active player to do so, joining Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, Patrick Kane (Chicago) and Los Angeles’ Anze Kopitar.
The Boston Bruins blew a 2-0 lead but defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on an overtime goal by Brad Marchand. David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist while Jeremy Swayman turned aside 35 shots for the 30-9-9 Bruins, who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 69 points. Thomas Chabot had a goal and an assist for the 18-24-2 Senators.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins are tied with the Vancouver Canucks in points but the latter holds first place in the overall standings with 32 wins.
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Alex Lyon made 30 saves to shut out the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0. Dylan Larkin scored to extend his points streak to 10 games as the Red Wings (25-18-5) hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 55 points. Samuel Ersson made 14 saves on 17 shots for the 25-18-6 Flyers as they’ve dropped four straight but remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 56 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Wings sent goalie Ville Husso to their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids on a conditioning stint. This is a positive sign that he could soon return to action as he’s missed the past 16 games with a lower-body injury.
The Carolina Hurricanes held off the New Jersey Devils 3-2 for their 10th win in their last 13 games. Teuvo Teravainen had a goal and an assist for the 27-15-5 Hurricanes (59 points) as they hold a three-point lead over the Flyers in second place in the Metro Division. Jesper Bratt scored to collect his team-leading 49th point for the 24-19-3 Devils (51 points) as they sit four points behind the Red Wings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils winger Ondrej Palat returned to action after missing 10 games with a lower-body injury. They also placed forward Jack Hughes on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 5 and placed defenseman Dougie Hamilton (torn pectoral) on long-term injury reserve. The latter move enables the Devils to exceed the salary cap by over $6.7 million, which will allow them to add a player or two by the March 8 trade deadline. They’re believed to be in the market for a goaltender and perhaps a defenseman.
An overtime goal by Thomas Harley left the Dallas Stars to a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Miro Heiskanen scored for the 29-13-6 Stars in his first game since being sidelined by an injury on Jan. 4. With 64 points, the Stars sit third in the Central Division. John Gibson made 40 saves for the 16-30-2 Ducks.
The Nashville Predators scored three third-period goals to nip the Minnesota Wild by a score of 3-2. Roman Josi had a goal and an assist while Ryan O’Reilly collected two assists for the 26-21-1 Predators, who hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 53 points. Kirill Kaprizov collected two assists while Joel Eriksson Ek tallied his 21st goal of the season for the 21-22-5 Wild.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Wild acquired defenseman Will Butcher from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Maxim Cajkovic. Butcher will report to the Wild’s AHL affiliate in Iowa.
Montreal Canadiens center Sean Monahan scored twice and collected an assist in a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist while Sam Montembeault kicked out 43 shots for the 20-21-7 Canadiens as they blew a 3-0 lead until Monahan’s game-winning goal. Noah Dobson collected three assists while Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat and Kyle Palmieri had a goal and an assist for the 20-17-11 Islanders (51 points) as they sit four points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher is expected to face supplemental discipline after receiving a match penalty for elbowing Isles defenseman Adam Pelech in the head. Pelech, who has a history of concussions, left the game and didn’t return. After winning their first game under new head coach Patrick Roy, the Isles have dropped two straight games.
The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Calgary Flames 5-2. Adam Fantilli, Yegor Chinakhov and Damon Severson each had a goal and an assist for the 14-23-9 Blue Jackets. Connor Zary and MacKenzie Weegar replied for the 21-22-5 Flames.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oliver Kylington returned to action for the Flames for the first time since May 2022 as he dealt with mental health challenges…Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau received a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Blue Jackets forward Jack Roslovic…Calgary forward A.J. Greer left this game with an injured left leg…Earlier in the day, the Flames lost Adam Ruzicka and Nick DeSimone to waivers. The Arizona Coyotes claimed Ruzicka while the New Jersey Devils picked up DeSimone.
Turning to the Blue Jackets, they activated Zach Werenski off injured reserve and demoted David Jiricek to their AHL affiliate in Cleveland. Werenski collected an assist in this game.
I’ve always liked Gallagher. A true leader and warrior who leaves it all on the ice and always plays hard and gives maximum effort. But that elbow last night was dangerous, stupid and unnecessary. Almost cost the Habs the game. That’s worthy of at least a five game suspension.
Nice to see one Habs fan describe Gallagher’s actions accurately. I think the number will be higher than five games though. That was brutal.
No in-hearing meeting called, so suspension will be less than 5 games. I can’t believe that his hit on Pelech was viewed as less egregious than David Perron’s earlier in the season that gave him (another 1000+ game NHL’er with no history of fines or suspensions) 6 games. Absolutely ridiculous.
Gallagher has been getting knocked down, crosschecked to every part of his body, never backing down rom anybody while not retaliating.
A pest who gets under the skin purely on his effort and drive to play in the dirty areas.
The hit to Pelech was totally uncharacteristic and I watched it over in disbelief.
The only good thing about it was the fans cheering Pelech when he got to his feet.
I love the guy but he definitely deserves a suspension.
You’re 100% correct HabFan. Over the years, Gallagher has played the game the right way and has never been treated fairly by the refs. I’ve seen him have numerous goals called back for goalie interference which were absolutely ridiculous. Such is the life of a super pest, a player that every team needs.
That being said, his action last night was inexcusable and call for a suspension.
Not sure Bruins blew a 2-0 lead Ottawa was given power play after power play and most were horrible calls Ottawa players falling like dominoes. Swayman was unreal and Brad sealed the deal in OT was a gutty effort hard playing down a man most of the game.
Re; Oilers game last night
Calvin Pickard played Very Well again,
He made a Great save on a Penalty Shot…👏👌
Young Hollaway looked good again last night hopfully he is starting to get his game back
Oilers now only 5 points behind Las Vegas with 4 games inhad over them….
Reading the comments on various tweets last night about the Gallagher elbow, the opinions varied with a ton of sarcasm.
Who knows what the dop safety will do anywhere from 5 plus games, to a maximum fine or maybe Parros doesn’t review it.
Point being there is no consistency when it comes to these type of plays.
That’s definitely a 5 gamer. I didn’t watch the game, was there any context to what Gallagher was thinking, a dirty hit earlier, a scrum, because that elbow was so deliberate. Hopefully Pelech doesn’t miss time.
Good question Caper, I didn’t watch it either.
I often call BS when folks say a player intentionally tried to hurt another player. I really wanted to make that argument here, because I believe it is exceptionally rare, but I can’t. Came from distance, blind side, and drilled him in the head. This was not a split second reaction to another player, he had time and made a decision.
Shades of Matt Cooke.
Gallagher will have telephone hearing so it’ll likely be 5 games or less
caper, RB,
There was no excuse for the elbow, he’ll be suspended, deservedly.
Agreed. Don’t like head shots irrespective of the jersey involved.
Ray Bark: I’ve been thinking that your Oil need a back up but see Pickard is 5 – 2. Is he good enough to go into the playoffs with as a back up, or is he benefitting from the Oil’s winning streak?
No way to sugar coat it. That hit was brutal and the exact type of hit that the NHL is trying to get rid off. I love Gallagher and his story but unfortunately his style and size has caught up to him. No where near a $6.5 million player( thanks Bergevin). The NHL should do us a favor and terminate his contract. 🤣
LJ, regarding Oil and Pickard, the answer is both. He has been getting the easier matchups mostly and both have been good.
Last night he made 2 huge saves, one on a penalty shot. Some other quality stops as well. But overall, not many high danger chances. Game probably should have been around 4-2 or 3-1 Oil. Both tenders played good.
Good for him, he’s earning some extra $$ in the big league, and will likely stay up even if Campbell keeps playing well in Bakersfield. My guess is he gets claimed if they send him down, at least until after the TDL. Plenty of teams in need.
Campbell getting called up scares me, not sure if the Oilers MGT feels the same way.
Did watch the Oiler game last night. Amazingly calm & workman like against a hard working Chicago team. The blue collar Oilers??
Ho hum, shut out.
15 straight wins, 11 straight allowing 2 or less.
I moved here during the decade of darkness. Today’s Oiler fan is weirded out. They won’t let themselves believe this team is actually this good. Too much scar tissue I suppose.
Hey Ray,
Its the Paul Coffey Effect….? A d/man Whisperer 🤔
When a Hall of Fame d/man says somthing to you
that when you listen, & do it,
Coffey treats people individually, You see that on the bench during games and at practice… you never see him screaming and carring on its alway’s a two way conversation and a pat on the back when they come back to the bench …
Whats that 10 games in a row under 2 Goals Against per game now….
Players and coaches both deserve credit IMO williew.
IMO when good coaches get canned, good players wake the F*** up. Woodcroft and Manson are good coaches.
Agree, when a HOF d-man tells you something, you listen. Especially when it is a similar message.
One big difference – Coffey hates off the glass and out, or dump in the corner when you get across center ice. Last resort only. He wants his guys to make plays. Which shows confidence in his guys, they have paid that back in spades.
Full credit to the hab fans on here. Shows you can love the player but dislike the play.