NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 27, 2024
Nathan MacKinnon regains the lead in the scoring race, Jonathan Marchessault sets a Golden Knights record, Zach Parise signs with the Avalanche, Brendan Gallagher receives a five-game suspension, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to regain the NHL scoring lead (84 points) in a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Logan O’Connor scored two goals and Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves for the 32-14-3 Avalanche, who hold first place in the Central Division with 67 points and sit third in the overall standings. Kevin Fiala scored for the struggling Kings (22-15-9), who’ve won just twice in their last 15 games and cling to the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 53 points.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon also extended his home points streak to 25 games, tying Bobby Orr for the second-longest home points streak to start a season. Wayne Gretzky holds the record with 40 games.
Speaking of the Avalanche, they signed free-agent winger Zach Parise to a one-year, prorated contract worth $825K with no performance bonuses. The 39-year-old Parise spent the last two seasons with the New York Islanders, tallying 21 goals in 2022-23. He’s considered an affordable short-term replacement for Tomas Tatar, who was traded last month to the Seattle Kraken after struggling offensively with the Avs.
Kings center Quinton Byfield missed the game due to an illness.
A hat-trick performance by Jonathan Marchessault powered the Vegas Golden Knights to a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers. Marchessault set a franchise record for most hat tricks with four. Adin Hill kicked out 36 shots for the 29-14-6 Golden Knights, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 64 points. Blake Wheeler had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (29-16-3) as they remain in first place in the Metropolitan Division with 61 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a difficult day for the Rangers. Defenseman Ryan Lindgren left this game with an upper-body injury in the first period. Center Filip Chytil suffered a setback in his recovery from a concussion when he suffered an upper-body injury in practice. Forward Nick Bonino cleared waivers and is expected to be sent to their AHL affiliate in Hartford following the All-Star break.
The Florida Panthers nipped the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on a shootout goal by Sam Reinhart, who also scored in regulation to push his points streak to 12 games. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 35 shots while Evan Rodrigues also scored for the 30-14-4 Panthers, who sit in second place in the Atlantic Division standings. Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin replied for the Penguins (21-17-7), who’ve won just three of their last 10 contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reinhart now has 36 goals on the season. He sits second in the league goal-scoring race, three behind Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews.
An overtime goal by Pavel Buchnevich completed a three-goal comeback by the St. Louis Blues in a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Buchnevich finished the night with two goals and an assist while Robert Thomas and Brayden Schenn each collected two points for the 25-20-2 Blues (52 points). They’ve won four straight and sit one point out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Oliver Bjorkstrand had a goal and an assist for the Kraken (28-18-10), who are three points out of that wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken forward Matty Beniers returned to action after missing five games with an upper-body injury.
HEADLINES
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher received a five-game suspension from the NHL department of player safety for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech on Thursday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I like Gallagher’s gritty style of play but that hit on Pelech was such an egregious cheap shot that I was surprised he received a telephone hearing, which guaranteed that he’d receive no more than five games. That should’ve been at least 10 games. There’s been no update on Pelech, who was helped from the ice and didn’t return.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Corey Perry will make his debut with the Oilers tonight against the Nashville Predators. Earlier in the week, he signed a one-year, $775K prorated deal with the Oilers.
TSN: Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele will miss tonight’s game with the Maple Leafs as he’s not ready yet to return to action from a lower-body injury.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed winger Owen Tippett to an eight-year, $49.6 million contract extension. They also signed forward Ryan Poehling to a two-year, $3.8 million extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Worthwhile signings by the Flyers. Tippett’s annual average value is $6.2 million while Poehling’s is $1.9 million. Both have fit in well on this rebuilding club that has exceeded expectations this season.
After struggling to earn a roster spot with the Florida Panthers earlier in his career, Tippett is reaching his potential as a top-six forward with the Flyers. The 24-year-old winger is second among the Flyers with 18 goals and tied for third with 30 points in 46 games. He has the potential to become a consistent 30-plus goal scorer.
Poehling, 25, has found a home in Philadelphia as a checking-line forward after failing to stick with the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Carolina Hurricanes activated goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov off injured reserve. He’d been sidelined since Jan. 11 after receiving a blow to the head against the Anaheim Ducks.
CBS SPORTS: Buffalo Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Bobby McCann (undisclosed) on injured reserve and are awaiting word on the status of forward Calle Jarnkrok, who injured his hand during practice on Friday.
NHL.COM: The department of player safety fined Arizona Coyotes defenseman Michael Kesselring $2,408.85 for cross-checking Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Maxwell Crozier.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Nashville Predator signed defenseman Kevin Gravel to a two-year, two-way contract extension worth $775K per season at the NHL level.
TORONTO SUN: Former Maple Leafs forward Wayne Simmonds hasn’t officially retired as an NHL player but is moving on with his life. “I had a great career. It was the best time I’ve ever had in my life,” said the 35-year-old Simmonds. “Right now, it’s family time.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Simmonds played 15 seasons with the Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils. In 1,037 games, he scored 263 goals and collected 263 assists for 526 points. He also had 22 points in 53 playoff contests.
A physical two-way winger, Simmonds’ best seasons were the eight he spent with the Flyers, scoring 20-plus goals six times (including two 30-plus goal campaigns) and exceeding 50 points four times.
The most important issue with Gally’s hit is the danger to Pelech. One can argue the length of the suspension one way or the other, but the so called Player Safety Committee is so inconsistent it’s difficult to assess relative to other hits, suspendible or not. Maybe Gally’s lack of previous offences helped him.
Suspension aside, a stupid act that nearly cost his team the game, and yet another needless penalty that the Habs are trying to get out of their players’ repertoire (Xhekaj, Pezzetta).
@LJ, some discussion on TSN also noted the previous history, or lack thereof, but also claimed the NHLPA has a finger in how suspensions are meted out. The comments implied that Player Safety’s “hands were tied”.
Craig Button, who is not my cup of tea, rightly pointed out that in balance of no previous record, Gallagher’s age and experience should be taken into account and held against him. As in, he should have known better.
And he really should have. Letter on his chest and all that.
Good cost effective signing by AVs. Would been a good Bruin
B’s -155 today against Flyers in Philadelphia…let’s see if they can stay out of the penalty box
Re; the Pen’s
Dont think the Pittsburgh Penguins are making the playoffs this year,
To many Old and Slow players on the team…
if it was not for Crosby putting then on his back they would be done weeks ago, its time for a re-build inPittsburgh 🤔
I think Pens UFA winger Jake Guentzel ends up in Vancouver or Winnipeg….❓ for a cup run with one of these teams
I bet they don’t trade Jake. My guess is the Pens will keep him in order to keep 87 happy.
Hey Randino,
last pens game i wached a few weeks ago was not good
I just had an other look at the pens roster and the forward and defence prospects ,
The reinforcements are Not coming from that group of prospects & No top 6 forwards there
Regarding the Team they are Very Old…
The Defence ? 3 of the top 6 d are 33, 33, 36 today later this year 34, 37 …😩
The forward group 8 out of 13 are aged 30 to 39 now and slowing down more than last year❗️
Trade cuboard is on empty side along w cap space
-They have $200,00 in cap space
-They have No 1st , 3rd , 5th pick in 2024 NHL Draft
-They Sit in 12th spot in the east
Why would Pens UFA winger Jake Guentzel Stay…⁉️
it will be a long Re-build in Pittsburgh for the Penguins 6-7 years
PS
Jake Guentzel or Elias Lindholm
end’s up with the Canucks or Jets… for 3 items
-A 1st pick from both
-Canucks Winger Andrei Kuzmenko
-Jets A 2nd pick, or a player
-A Prospect of some kind from both teams in a trade..?
Then the Canucks go shoping for a RD man like Calgarys Chris Tanev, but he is going to be in big demand from lots of teams…..
I heard his name mention in Edmonton a number of times, as the Oil need a good shut down RD/man but chances of the flames and oilers trading are Slim….
After watching 90% of their games this season the Boston Bruins are built for the regular seasons and probably not for the playoffs