NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 10, 2024
Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury defeats the Penguins on the night commemorating his two recent career milestones, the Rangers and Oilers pick up victories in Friday’s action, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: On the night the Minnesota Wild honored Marc-Andre Fleury for recently reaching the 1,000-game and 552nd career win milestones, he backstopped them to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 34-save performance.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).
Kirill Kaprizov broke a 2-2 tie in the third period and also collected an assist while Matt Boldy and Jonas Brodin each had a goal and an assist for the 23-23-1 Wild (51 points) as they moved within three points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Reilly Smith and Sidney Crosby scored against their former teammate as the 23-18-7 Penguins (53 points) remain five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game could also be Fleury’s last against the Penguins, with whom he played 13 of his 20 NHL seasons. The 39-year-old goalie is in the final year of his contract amid speculation he could retire at the end of this season.
Wild defenseman Brock Faber set franchise records for single-season assists (27) and points (31) by a rookie defenseman. This game also had a bit of controversy as Kaprizov scored after the puck seemed to rebound off the netting above the glass behind the Penguins’ goal. The on-ice officials didn’t see it and a video review following a coach’s challenge proved inconclusive.
Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane tallied a hat trick in a 5-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Connor McDavid collected three assists for the Oilers (30-16-1) as they sit third in the Pacific Division with 61 points. Ryan Strome tallied twice and Adam Henrique had two assists for the 18-31-2 Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks goaltender John Gibson left this game following the second period with a lower-body injury. The Ducks also played without center Mason McTavish as he missed this contest with an upper-body injury.
The New York Rangers blew a 3-1 lead to the Chicago Blackhawks before winning the game 4-3 on an overtime goal by Mika Zibanejad. Chris Kreider and Adam Fox each had two points while Igor Shesterkin stopped 28 shots in his first start since Jan. 26 for the Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers (33-16-3) as they moved into second place in the Eastern Conference with 69 points. Alex Vlasic, Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson scored for the 14-35-3 Blackhawks.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens center Alex Newhook will return to the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars after being sidelined since Nov. 30 with a high ankle sprain.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Newhook’s return is timely considering the Canadiens traded center Sean Monahan last Friday to Winnipeg. He had seven goals and 13 points in 23 games but had points in four of his previous seven contests at the time of his injury.
CBS SPORTS: St. Louis Blues winger Kasperi Kapanen returns to action on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. He’d missed the last seven games with a lower-body issue.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Calgary Flames placed goaltender Dan Vladar on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and recalled netminder Dustin Wolf from their AHL affiliate.
Calgary is in a tough spot now,while they might be playing their best hockey of the year!Shortly they are going to make a decision on Tanev and Hanifan,which will weaken their defensive corps! Include Markstrom also!Interesting to see how Conroy handles this situation!
He will either have them extended or moved. Won’t keep as own rental. The money is on selling
Re; Fleury in his 1,00 game agaist the pens
Classy move by the Pen’s last night for
Marc-Andre Fleury, Sid & co gave a beautiful painting with Fleury with some of his old Pen’s team mates…
Who scored the first goal in MAF… yes his good buddy Sid the kid…But the Wild win 3-2….👍
Why didn’t Shesterkin get a match penalty?
Hitting an opponent with the blocker in attempt to injure is exactly what he did by punching at Foligno’s head.
I’ll fix this … looks like the Bruins didn’t show for the Caps today
Honestly thought we would see more games like this w/out Bergeron and Krecji! Goaltending can t save you when you don’t score!
If Peron got 6 games and Gallagher gets 5, then how many does Reilly deserve? The play was over and he had to skate to the corner to deliver a cross check to Greig’s head. He had plenty of time to consider his actions and did it anyway. All because of an empty net goal. If you didn’t like the how Greig made,the shot, skate to the,corner and shove him. There is no place in the game for what Reilly did ( despite what Sheldon Keefe thinks) and justice should be served. If he doesn’t get at least 6 its a travesty