NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 7, 2024
Marc-Andre Fleury ties Patrick Roy for career wins, Sam Reinhart and Zach Hyman have hat-trick performances, Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard is sidelined with a fractured jaw, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves for his 551st career NHL win in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Fleury is tied with Hall-of-Famer Patrick Roy for second on the all-time wins list. Marco Rossi scored the game-winner while Matt Boldy and Brock Faber each collected three points for the 17-17-4 Wild (38 points), who sit three points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Cole Sillinger tallied all three goals for the 13-19-9 Blue Jackets.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).
Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart collected a hat trick as his club picked up its seventh straight win by dropping the Colorado Avalanche 8-4, snapping the latter’s four-game win streak. Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk each had four points and Carter Verhaeghe had three for the red-hot Panthers (25-12-2, 52 points) as they moved within two points of first place in the Eastern Conference. Mikko Rantanen and Valeri Nichushkin each had two points for the 25-12-3 Avalanche (53 points) as they remain one point out of first place in the Western Conference.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche played without defenseman Bowen Byram. He’s expected to miss “a handful of games” due to a lower-body injury suffered on Thursday against the Dallas Stars.
Speaking of hat tricks and seven-game win streaks, Zach Hyman’s three goals continued the Edmonton Oilers’ winning ways in a 3-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Evan Bouchard collected three assists while Stuart Skinner made 29 saves for the 20-15-1 Oilers (41 points), who moved into a playoff spot for the first time this season as they hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Anton Forsberg turned aside 43 shots for the 14-21-0 Senators as their losing skid extended to three games.
A third-period goal by Travis Konecny lifted the Philadelphia Flyers past the Calgary Flames 3-2. Morgan Frost had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (20-13-6) as they snapped a four-game losing skid and sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 46 points. Jacob Markstrom turned aside 39 shots for the 17-17-5 Flames as they are two points out of a Western wild-card spot.
The Boston Bruins rolled to a 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Trent Frederic tallied two goals while David Pastrnak, Hampus Lindholm and Matthew Poitras each collected two points as the Bruins 24-8-6 sit atop the Atlantic Division with 54 points. Brayden Point netted two goals for the 19-17-5 Lightning as they sit one point out of the final Eastern wild-card berth with 43 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins have the same number of points as the New York Rangers and the idle Winnipeg Jets. However, the Jets hold first place in the overall standings with 23 regulation wins while the Rangers are second overall with 21 regulation wins. The Bruins have fewer victories.
Speaking of the Rangers, they suffered a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on a shootout goal by Cole Caufield. Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck each had a goal and an assist as the Rangers overcame a 3-0 deficit but Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault kicked out 45 shots for the win. The Rangers (26-10-2) hold first place in the Eastern Conference while the Canadiens improved to 17-17-5.
The Vancouver Canucks held off the New Jersey Devils by a score of 6-4. J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson each had two goals and an assist while Quinn Hughes collected three assists for the Canucks (25-11-3) as they hold first place in the Pacific Division with 53 points and sit one point out of first place in the overall standings. Colin Miller tallied twice for the 21-15-2 Devils as they cling to the final Eastern wild-card spot with 44 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler left this game with a broken foot from a blocked shot. The Devils also played without Timo Meier as he was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 30 while Jack Hughes missed this game with an upper-body injury suffered during Friday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Canucks defenseman Carson Soucy returned to action nearly two months after being sidelined by a fractured leg. However, blueliner Nikita Zadorov is out with an undisclosed injury while Phillip Di Giuseppe was placed on long-term injury reserve.
A 40-save performance by goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen gave the Buffalo Sabres a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Zemgus Girgensons scored the game-winner for the 17-19-4 Sabres. Rickard Rakell replied for the Penguins (19-15-4) as they sit two points out of a wild-card berth in the East with 42 points.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander scored two goals and an assist in a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, handing the latter their 11th straight loss. The 20-10-7 Leafs sit third in the Atlantic Division with 47 points while the Sharks (9-28-3) remain at the bottom of the overall standings.
The St. Louis Blues nipped the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 thanks to a 29-save effort by goaltender Jordan Binnington. Brayden Schenn netted the winning goal in the shootout as the Blues (20-17-1) sit just outside the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 41 points. Teuvo Teravainen scored for the 22-13-5 Hurricanes as they extended their points streak to six games and sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 49 points.
Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg scored twice in the third period as his club held off the Dallas Stars 4-3. Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist each had two points for the 22-17-1 Predators as they hold the first Western wild-card spot with 45 points. Jason Robertson and Thomas Harley each had two points for the Stars (22-11-5) as they hold third place in the Central Division with 49 points.
The Vegas Golden Knights got two goals each from Jack Eichel and Nicolas Roy in a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders. Logan Thompson stopped 28 shots for the Golden Knights (23-12-5) as they hold second place in the Pacific Division with 51 points. Mathew Barzal and Matt Martin replied for the 18-11-10 Islanders as they hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 46 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud missed this game with an undisclosed injury.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: The Chicago Blackhawks placed rookie star Connor Bedard on injured reserve after he suffered a fractured jaw during Friday’s game against the Devils. There is no timetable for his return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks already have several players sidelined by injuries with Bedard now their ninth player on injured reserve. He could return sometime in mid-February at the earliest but he’s almost certain to miss the 2024 All-Star Game on Feb. 3.
NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: The Blackhawks acquired forward Rem Pitlick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
ARIZONA SPORTS: The Coyotes recalled forward Dylan Guenther on an emergency basis with winger Jason Zucker serving a three-game suspension.
MAYOR’S MANOR: Los Angeles Kings backup goaltender Pheonix Copley is out for the season following successful ACL surgery.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings are using Aaron Dell as Copley’s replacement but they could go into the trade market for a goaltender before the March 8 deadline.
The highlight of the night might be Fleury’s spectacular save that led to Minnesota’s tying goal. He was leaving the ice for an extra attacker, reversed course and sprawled back into the crease to stop an empty net goal. Minnesota won in overtime.
Hall of Fame stuff from the Flower. Well worth a look.
He didn’t make a save on that. Danforth’s shot went wide
Congrats to Fleury, next you pass one of the goalie GOATS…please don’t pass my all-time favorite Marty Brodeur though!!
Sad to see Bedard injured like that, I watched that game and the hit was clean yet unfortunate.
Much like gretzkys points record I don’t think Marty gets passed ever. But I love seeing maf get this record. I’m be if the truly nicest coolest humans to play the game.
In 2011 when the Bruins won the cup their top score was Looch with like 60 points they were a solid team but no superstars. Tim Thomas and Rask were probably their best performers that year. Krech had a great playoffs and they played for each other and won 3 – 7 game series. I kind of see the same type of team this year great goaltending only difference is Pasta is world class. Guys like Trent and Charlie Coyle having solid years. Can’t lie I didn’t see them tied for first did say before that they had to much talent to be at bottom where the so called pros had them actually for last 2 years. 2011 team was also meaner and a lot more physical maybe need to add one solid tuff guy like a Frederic that can contribute.
Looch and Krecji had 62 pts. Each!
Are you advocating they get Lucic back into the lineup?
The 2011 Bruins team had a solid defensive team top to bottom opposing teams weren’t allowed to carry the puck from the blue line in they had to shoot it in & agree that team was intimidating…. Tough D and 4-5 tough forwards… my favorite Bruin team team and that’s going back to 1970…
Thomas won the Conn Smythe and Vezina that year and deserved them. His performance in the finals was historic IMO.
Ya they were intimidating too, Chara may have been the best defender and toughest guy in the the NHL in those days.
Helped that Vancouver kept diving and embarrassing the refs in first 2 games, because they let a lot more go after that because they had too.
They had 12 guys with 10 or more goals on the team!
Oddly enough the Habs win over the NYR wasn’t as close as the score indicates or what the stat line reads.
The Sportsnet team who rarely speaks favourably about the Habs seemed surprised at how they were outshot considering they had by far more and better scoring chances.
From a fan’s perspective, in a year in which little is expected other than growth, watching Slafkovsky play is a pleasure, this kid is improving his game week to week.
This team is being built properly and shows character in its ability to come back in games and rebound after bad losses.
Its a welcome change in Montreal where for too many years kids got stapled to the bench or banished to the stands for mistakes….as if it was still the glory years .
I still think the Habs will regret not drafting Cooley 1st!
The Habs do not need another small player, particularly at center. Part of the Habs strategy was drafting a big player after years of being undersized, and another part was that Dach would be a good #2 C with size. What was not factored into the decision was Dach apparently being made of glass.
The oilers have climbed all the way out of the massive hole they dug for themselves. Knoblauch the first coach in nhl history with two 7 game winning streaks in first 25 games . I was not happy or impressed with the move , especially the timing and thought they would regret moving on from woodcroft.
No one happier I was wrong than myself , more guys with defined roles, Mcdavid and ekholm healthy is the biggest reason behind turn around but the play of nurse under new coach , Bouchard with a healthy ekholm , McLeod, Hyman , nuge on special teams , the pk in general , skinners play all significant factors. Still believe they need to add a goalie to pair with skinner at the deadline and continue to grow and improve but arrows up in a lot of areas not just Mcdavid and the power play. The last number of the seasons Mcdavid and the oilers have been consistently much better in the second half , I think they could still chase down the division.. Go oil!
Craig, how much of a role has Paul Coffee played in helping the defense?
Caper
Quite a bit I would say. Nurse has really benefitted from the change the most I think, but all the d man are being told to move the puck quickly , join the rush , try to make a play rather than rap it up the boards , don’t be scared to make the odd mistake, that has allowed the confidence to build. (The w’s help too) I really think the health of ekholm is the biggest single factor , we seen last year what he and Bouchard can do together, among the best pairs in the league IMO, can play against anyone and reduces some of the heavy minutes and matchups from nurse ceci. Without healthy ekholm , Bouchard and that other pairing take a step back overall
Ya, what Craig said.
Bouchard, is playing with may more confidence, he seems to have benefited the most IMO.
The Oil will get an injury on the backend sooner or later one would think, and would be really interesting to see what Broberg can do with some coaching from Coffey as well. Many folks think Coffey’s approach is exactly how Broberg needs to play to reach his potential. His AHL coach recently called him a horse as he is playing big minutes and thriving in Bakersfield. I think that playmaking mentality is being pushed down on the farm as well.
If he does thrive, it means an interesting decision for next off season on Oil’s blueline.
I don’t disagree with Bouchard either Ray , I just think Ekholms health is the bigger factor in bouchards play. He was always making plays and not afraid of the mistake lol. Nurse has played the best hockey I’ve seen him play in years , night in , night out since the change. I would also love to see Broberg up under Coffey , but with what Vinny D provides they need him in the lineup right now and Broberg playing the minutes he is will pay dividends when that injury strikes… I really hope he is not included in any trades. I would add a hefty price to get rid of Campbell but I wouldn’t add Broberg. What are your thoughts on that ray ? I wouldn’t be opposed to a 1st or maybe bourgault if they could get rid of the whole contract. Steep but possibly required
That is the big question Craig, what will it cost. Holland already knows what has been asked so far, and hasn’t pulled the trigger, so thinking a lot. My concern is that it costs more than a 1st or Bourgault due to the term. Who knows the ask, but guessing they are hoping for a desperation move. I would be fine if they moved a 1st or Bourgault to move Campbell’s contract.
Holland would prefer to use assets to address other depth I would think. Maybe we get a look at Rodrigue before year is over too. D the Oil have to move him now? I dunno, that’s a tough call.
Agree, I wouldn’t want to include Broberg either. Too much upside. Sounds like he can play his off side, but I hope he is getting those reps on the farm. They will likely need need him at some point.
Re Paul Coffey
I think when a Hall of Fame d/man Speaks to you as your Coach….You Listen, You do exactly what he says 👌
When they all see Nurse, Elkholm getting direction from Coffey they all follow…. its been a 360 turn around on the Oilers d…..
Thats helped Skinner out as the forwards have also started to come back and help out the d/….
before it was Run & Gun
Now the young goaltender Stu Skinner is
12 & 3 in his past 15 games
GA 2.24
SV% is .918
👏 👏
Pickard has also played well as a back up.
PS
I also did Not like the move at the time, when the
Oil moved out Woody as Coach…., But i was also wrong
Williew were you wrong? Maybe the only change the Oilers needed was adding Coffey?
Coffey along with healthy star players.