NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 16, 2024
Hat trick performances by the Leafs’ Auston Matthews and the Rangers’ Chris Kreider, the Canucks expand their lead in the overall standings, Connor Bedard returns to action for the Blackhawks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews tallied his fifth hat trick of the season as his club nipped the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on an overtime goal by William Nylander. Mitch Marner collected three assists for the Leafs (28-16-8) as they hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 64 points. Travis Konecny had a goal and an assist for the 29-19-7 Flyers (65 points) as they hold third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews now has a league-leading 45 goals on the season, six more than Florida’s Sam Reinhart in second place. The Leafs center also set a franchise record with his 72nd multi-goal game.
New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider’s hat trick led his club over the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 7-4. Adam Fox collected four assists while Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad each had three points for the 35-16-3 Rangers, who picked up their sixth straight win as they lead the Metropolitan Division with 73 points. Cole Caufield scored twice while Juraj Slafkovsky had a goal and an assist for the 22-24-8 Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a costly win for the Rangers as winger Blake Wheeler left the game in the first period with an injured leg following a hit by Montreal defenseman Jayden Struble. He was helped off the ice by teammates before heading down the tunnel on a stretcher. There was no postgame update on his condition. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Slafkovsky set a franchise record for the longest Canadiens points streak by a teenager.
Elias Lindholm scored two goals as the Vancouver Canucks became the first team to reach 80 points this season with a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Elias Pettersson picked up three assists and Thatcher Demko stopped 27 shots for the 37-12-6 Canucks as they’ve won three straight games. J.T. Compher scored for the Red Wings (27-20-6), who hold the final Eastern wild-card spot with 60 points but have dropped three of their last four games (1-2-1).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Red Wings announced that goaltender Ville Husso is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Chicago Blackhawks rookie star Connor Bedard collected an assist in his return to action but his club fell 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Bedard missed 14 games with a fractured jaw. Sidney Crosby tallied twice for the Penguins (24-20-7) as they moved to within five points of the final Eastern wild-card spot with 55 points. Philipp Kurashev scored for the 14-37-3 Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Earlier in the day, the Penguins announced that winger Jake Guentzel will be sidelined for three to four weeks with an upper-body injury. I’ll have more about Guentzel in today’s Rumor Mill.
The Florida Panthers took over first place in the Eastern Conference by blanking the Buffalo Sabres 4-0. Anthony Stolarz kicked out 45 shots for his first shutout of the season while Carter Verhaeghe scored two goals for the 35-15-4 Panthers (74 points) as they picked up their fourth straight win and their 10th straight road victory. Eric Comrie turned aside 27 shots for the 23-26-4 Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers and Boston Bruins each have the same amount of points but Florida has more wins. Meanwhile, Comrie got the start for the Sabres as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Speaking of the Bruins, they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Seattle Kraken. Matty Beniers had a goal and two assists while Joey Daccord stopped 36 shots for the Kraken (23-21-10) as they moved to within four points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 56 points. David Pastrnak netted his 34th goal of the season for the 32-12-10 Bruins, who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov scored twice and collected an assist as his club defeated the Colorado Avalanche 6-3. Kucherov leads the league with 94 points while his Lightning (30-20-5) picked up their third straight win. They hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 65 points. Bowen Byram scored two goals while Nathan MacKinnon had two assists to sit four points behind Kucherov in the scoring race. The Avalanche (33-18-4) hold second place in the Central Division with 70 points.
The Dallas Stars (34-14-6) have a four-point lead over the Avalanche with 74 points after crushing the Nashville Predators 9-2. Wyatt Johnston scored twice and collected two assists, Matt Duchene tallied twice against his former club while Tyler Seguin and Ty Dellandrea each had three points. Cole Smith and Tommy Novak replied for the 27-25-2 Predators (56 points) as they sit four points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators have won just three of their last 10 games and are in danger of falling further out of the playoff race. That’s stoked recent trade speculation regarding goaltender Juuse Saros, which I’ll feature in today’s Rumor Mill. Meanwhile, Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury.
St. Louis Blues forwards Jake Neighbours and Robert Thomas each had a goal and two assists in a 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Jordan Binnington made 35 saves for the Blues (29-22-2), who’ve won eight of their last 10 games and hold the final Western wild-card berth with 60 points. Connor McDavid picked up three assists for the 31-18-1 Oilers as they remain in third place in the Pacific Division with 63 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid is in third place in the scoring race, sitting nine points back of MacKinnon and 13 behind Kucherov. He’s tallied three or more points in five of his last seven games.
The Los Angeles Kings (25-16-10) maintained their hold on the first Western wild-card spot (60 points) by nipping the New Jersey Devils 2-1. Quinton Byfield broke a 1-1 tie in the third period while David Rittich stopped 26 shots for the Kings. Tyler Toffoli replied for the 27-22-4 Devils (58 points) as they remain two points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings welcomed back winger Viktor Arvidsson as he made his season debut following his recovery from an injured back.
San Jose Sharks forward Filip Zadina scored twice and collected two assists to lead his club to a 6-3 upset of the Calgary Flames. Luke Kunin tallied two goals and Justin Bailey had a goal and two assists for the 15-33-5 Sharks. Chris Tanev had two assists for the Flames (25-24-5) as they remain five points out of the final Western wild-card spot with 55 points.
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler and winger Frank Vatrano each had a goal and two assists in a 5-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. Mason McTavish scored twice for the 19-32-2 Ducks while Claude Giroux replied for the 22-26-2 Senators.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks goaltender John Gibson left the game after the second period with an upper-body injury.
Bruins…. Well it looks like the Bruins are now playing the way I thought they would …not much secondary goal scoring after 54 games looks like they are going to have three players scoring over 20 goals by season end . the D isn’t that good, the goaltending is starting to fall off, PP with no legit 1st line center isn’t getting job done, no team toughness …. I hope not but this team is looking at a 1st rd exit in the playoffs
At least they’re giving their fans SOME hope.
The Senators recently headed into a 3-game stretch against teams doing even worse than they with hopes for a playoff berth ranging from slim to none.
They started off winning a game in which, based on the full 60 minutes, they should have lost to Columbus at home … but wound up wining 6-3 simply because the Columbus goalie was worse than theirs.
Last night they were at home again to another dud – Anaheim – only this time, again outplayed for the most part, they were blown out 5-1.
Now they head to Chicago with all, even the faintest, hope of salvaging the season out the window. Chicago will again blow them away.
There is not ONE player on this roster that I would consider “untouchable” – not ONE. If Staios and Andlaur can see deals that would completely change the culture going forward involving players coming in through deals that want to play to the level of their bloated contracts, I would pull the trigger.
Of course that is not going to happen … they’ll continue to stumble along – full of “promise” (I’d use another noun) for the rest of this season … and on into 2024-25.
George, what moves can they do? Like where is the biggest needs and how can you fix them. I know goaltending is one of them again and like many teams, they are not alone in that need.
If it’s D, then who goes and who stays? It looks like the Sens are in the wait and see phase of a rebuild where you will see just how bad or good the team is. With the trade deadline right around the corner, do you have a good enough feel of the team to know exactly what you need going further or do you standby your players for now and make changes in the offseason, like rebuilding the coaching staff, etc? I ask because we both know they are in a critical phase where wrong moves will cost them dearly so correctly prioritizing needs is a must now otherwise you’ll fall victim to the cap…ie handcuffs and anchors.
I dunno… I am more feeling like they resemble last year’s Canucks team. Lots of good players with flashes of promise but just not gelling.
A few dead weight players gone (I mean… look at the weak defense last night with two of the top guys out, and having to call up Guenette JUST because he manages to fit under the cap that Dorion hogtied this team with…)
There will be moves, but I don’t think anything drastic. Weak players will finally be gone, the cap room will greatly increase, and the hope is that a new coach and a healthy roster can turn all of this around.
That said… there isn’t anything wrong really with getting rid of one of the big “stars” especially when there are players with heart on the ice. I would trade a Josh Norris for another Shane Pinto any of the year. That guy is a difference maker.
My point exactly, theSaint. Little point in including Pinto in my diatribe … his contract, when signed, won’t be anywhere near those hauling in $8 mil + – not yet anyway.
Norris dealt? By all means. Chabot? If there’s a taker, do it. Certainly Taraseno at the deadline for the best deal offered (there will be a few teams ready to take him on as a rental – he still knows where the net is, at least, and that will appeal to the more obtuse among the GMs thinking this could be “their year with a touch more scoring.”
Kubalik for sure and for whatever you can get back. Hamonic? Same thing. Brannstrom? If there’s a taker, pull the plug. Then bring up Guenette and Kleven to finish the season. Korpisalo? Again, if there’s a taker do it. Finish with Forsberg and one of the kids in the minors.
They are NOT going to even get close to a playoff birth … and why even try by hanging onto the expendable UFAs and wind up with a draft pick near the top of the bottom third?
If, after the deals are made, they spiral down to nearer the top 6 or 7 in picks they can then choose to keep this coming pick as they have 3 years to decide which one to relinquish for the Dadenov gaffe.
If the replacements and call-ups play well enough to the point whereby the team becomes a “spoiler” and so finishes higher up in the standings, at least that’s a ray of hope heading into a new season.
Nether Staios nor the new owner owes squat to the roster assembled by Dorion. THAT, we know, despite the “promise” has shown NO inclination to grasp the concept of “consistent effort.” Last night’s game emphasized that.
@ George, you are not wrong there. Everyone you named I agree should be gone as soon as feasible.
But as far as saying no one is untouchable… I think Tkachuk, Stutzle, Giroux, Pinto, and Sanderson would be on my list of untouchable.
After that… if the trade looks good, do it.
When I say no one is untouchable I include the players you list only in the context that the offers would need to be over-the-top – which, as I say, will not happen anyway.
I’d say the same for the likes of McDavid and Matthews … if offers came in that were simply stunning in the overall; scheme of things, a GM would be nuts not to consider them.
What I’m getting at is, in the realm of professional sports NO ONE should openly be regarded as “untouchable.”
From a guy on the outside, I think OTT will be better next year if they don’t change anything and that includes trading Tarasenko, and if you can get anything for Kubalik while holding 50%, take it.
I sort of agree with The Saint, they are an odd team, and while I don’t think they will be leading the league like the ‘Nucks, I think they will be much better, if they get some competent tending. I think the biggest thing for VCR was Demko and Tocchet. Demko is healthy and playing great again, and Tocchet has the respect of the team and has them playing the right way, or at least good for a youngish team.
Their goal differential is flat, which suggest still in the hunt and middle of the pack. Their “fancy stats” suggest that should be even better, at 5 on 5.
The special teams are no good, and their tending is worse.
The next coach is a huge hire, need a D first kinda guy and Korpisalo ain’t Demko. Not even close.
The latter is the harder part. Make a deal with BOS in the off season. If that doesn’t highly unlikely scenario doesn’t happen? I dunno, hope for internal improvement in net? Another UFA dart throw but less expensive? I call everybody, which I am sure Staois is.
Re; the Sen’s
if they lands in the bottom 6 somewhere in the NHL Draft,
I would do a nice package for 28 yr old Juuse Saros…?
1-The Sen’s 1st pick in the draft, right now they have the 5th pick….👌
2- Erik Brännström 24 yr old LD/RD man
3- Lassi Thomson top prospect RD man
4/ and maybe a 3rd round pick if the going gets tough
The Preds Need younger d/men,
there top 4 is Very Old @ 32, 33, 34, & 34,
Thats right now….add a year on to each one for this year
The Top 4 d/men coming up are all LD/men….⁉️
Players to Trade out are
1/Vladimir Tarasenko, comeing back a 2nd pick
2/Dominik Kubalik coming back a 3rd pick
3/Erik Brännström in a package for a goaltender?
4/ Joonas Korpisalo…for i dont know but he needs to go..❓
Hopefully young 23 yr old Mads Søgaard will be ready for the NHL by next season as a backup..🤔
Joe
They need to pick up the PP and PK. And will be fine. Another avg game for Swayman as well East is wide open for anyone. If anyone said bruins be tied for 1st in the east after Valentine’s Day they would have been laughed at Bruins doing more than anyone thought they could Look at both Sabres and Sens both were supposed to challenge for playoffs yet won’t get a sniff. Hard on the fans for sure
What did you think it was going to look like after Bergeron and Krecji retiring? It all goes back to 2 things,not trading Debrusk and not replacing your 1st and 2nd line center for over 12 years!As a GM, you cannot fall in love with your players! In the case of Debrusk,Sweeney is afraid to trade him because if he pans out,people will bring up the2015 draft all over again!
Seems kinda easy to say they should have replaced their top two centers when both are in the very good to elite ranking without suggesting how or with who?
I guess one can answer that with successful drafting but again, luck needs to be on your side or something for that to happen because exceptions are not the rule.
I don’t claim to know what the answer is other than when you have a stud horse like the Bs have had you run them until they can’t anymore. Hopefully you have enough support to win which they have.
Sr, IMO, Sweeney isn’t thinking about a draft from 9 years ago when he is making decisions today. It was his 1st year as GM, and fuq’d it up. If you think guys in jobs like that dwell on mistakes from close to a decade ago, I think you are making a mistake. Everybody makes them including the GM. You know who usually knows that best? Guys like Sweeney who get to that level.
The reason he hasn’t traded or re-signed DeBrusk is the same reason plenty of UFA’s don’t. 1 – they are tied for first place, so he isn’t trading away roster players without a better one coming in. 2 – they haven’t agreed on a contract, and he isn’t going to overpay him for what he brings. We will see if they get to a # both can accept.
Pretty simple really.
Nice to see some sunshine on this board this AM MB4!
Started off pretty negative on here, gotta say.
Yes, I’ll take where the B’s are in the standings in a heartbeat.
My only hope is they don’t give up any quality assets at the TDL. They really only have 2 worth a good return, and maybe 2 more that will get something OK. We have no “high end” prospects. Need to be pragmatic about this IMO. And we need some young, inexpensive quality players coming up and into the lineup. The UFA market can’t fill every hole.
A lot of teams would like to have Boston’s problems.
I’m not going to get bent out of shape over losing a hockey game.
Boston was by far the better team last night. Jvr and Coyle both missed empty nets. McAvoy and Pastrnak hit iron. Carlo falls down leading to a 3 on 1 and Dacood played extremely well.
Remember what happen last year to the team that has the best record in the history of the NHL.
BTW that team they lost to is now in 1st place, just to show you they were and are a good team.
The Seattle Kraken!
Everyone wants to look @ goaltending issues with the Avalanche. I AGREE, ITS PROBLEMATIC! But to me it’s obvious that last night they gave that game away on “a silver platter” due to their horrendous defensive effort? That is the Avalanche big dilemma, they give up soft easy goals. The whole team is responsible!! Don’t blame Annunen and Georgiev. If they want to see what they have in Annunen, let him play. He was solid, the team let him down. He didn’t let the team down !!!