NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 18, 2024
The Devils defeat the Flyers in their Stadium Series matchup, Auston Matthews tallies another hat trick, and more from a busy Saturday in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The New Jersey Devils defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 in front of 70, 328 fans at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey in their NHL Stadium Series. Nico Hischier led the way with two goals and an assist, Nathan Bastian scored twice and Nico Daws made 45 saves for the 28-22-4 Devils (60 points), who sit two points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Owen Tippett tallied two goals for the Flyers (29-20-7) as they hold third place in the Metropolitan Division with 65 points.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (NHL Images).
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews netted his second straight hat trick and his sixth of the season in a 9-2 drubbing of the Anaheim Ducks. Matthews also collected two assists, Bobby McMann scored twice and added an assist and Timothy Liljegren picked up three assists as the Leafs (29-16-8) vaulted over the Tampa Bay Lightning into third place in the Atlantic Division with 66 points. Ryan Strome had a goal and an assist for the 19-33-2 Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews now has a league-leading 48 goals, nine more than second-place Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers. Leafs captain John Tavares missed this game with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day-to-day while defenseman William Lagesson left the game with an upper-body injury. The Ducks, meanwhile, activated Alex Killorn (knee surgery) off injured reserve for this game and placed winger Brock McGinn (upper body) on IR retroactive to Feb. 10.
Speaking of the Lightning, they were crushed 9-2 by the Florida Panthers as they picked up their fifth straight win. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett each had two goals and two assists while Carter Verhaeghe scored twice and picked up an assist for the 36-15-4 Panthers as they lead the Eastern Conference with 76 points. Brandon Hagel and Brayden Point scored for the Lightning (30-21-5) as they slipped into the first Eastern wild-card spot with 65 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Lightning forward Tanner Jeannot also didn’t play as he’s day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Los Angeles Kings rookie defenseman Brandt Clarke scored his first NHL goal in overtime to lift his club over the Boston Bruins 5-4. Anze Kopitar scored the tying goal late in the third period while Pierre-Luc Dubois picked up two assists for the 26-16-10 Kings, who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 62 points. James van Riemsdyk scored twice and collected an assist for the 32-12-11 Bruins, who had a 3-1 lead at one point in this contest. With 75 points, they sit second overall in the Eastern Conference.
A four-point performance by Mark Schiefele (one goal, three assists) carried the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Gabriel Vilardi scored two goals and picked up an assist while Connor Hellebucyk stopped 35 shots for the Jets (33-14-5) as they moved past the Colorado Avalanche into second place in the Central Division with 71 points. Noah Juulsen and Tyler Myers replied for the 37-13-6 Canucks as they remain in first place in the overall standings with 80 points.
The Edmonton Oilers nipped the Dallas Stars 4-3 on an overtime tally by Evan Bouchard, who finished the game with two goals. Leon Draisaitl and Corey Perry each had two points for the Oilers (32-18-1) as they’re perched in third place in the Pacific Division with 65 points. Matt Duchene had a goal and two assists for the Stars (34-14-7) as they hold first place in the Central Division with 75 points and sit second overall in the Western Conference.
Third-period goals by Seth Jarvis and Stefan Noesen gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Seth Martin turned aside 29 shots for the 32-17-5 Hurricanes, who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 69 points. Jonathan Marchessault replied for the Golden Knights (31-17-6), who sit second in the Pacific Division with 68 points.
Detroit Red Wings goaltender James Reimer turned in a 38-save shutout to blank the Calgary Flames 5-0. Patrick Kane and Lucas Raymond each had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings (28-20-6) as they hold the final Eastern wild-card spot with 62 points. Jacob Markstrom got the hook after giving up four goals on 12 shots as the 25-25-5 Flames (55 points) have lost three straight and sit five points behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Western wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A rough outing for Markstrom but he didn’t get much help from his teammates in this game. I’ll have more about the Flames in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
Speaking of the Predators, they rolled to a 5-2 win over the Blues. Juuse Saros kicked out 35 shots while Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly each had a goal and an assist for the 28-25-2 Predators (58 points) as they picked up their first regulation win in seven games. They sit two points behind the 29-23-2 Blues (60 points), who got goals from Jordan Kyrou and Nathan Walker.
The Washington Capitals kept their playoff hopes alive by downing the Montreal Canadiens 4-3. Aliaksei Protas snapped a 3-3 tie while Anthony Mantha had a goal and an assist for the 24-21-8 Capitals (56 points) as they sit six points behind the Red Wings. Nick Suzuki scored to extend his points streak to 10 games while linemate Juraj Slafkovsky collected an assist as his points streak reached eight games for the Canadiens, who dropped to 22-25-8 on the season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary left this game with a lower-body injury.
An overtime goal by Henri Jokiharju lifted the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. Casey Mittelstadt and Dylan Cozens also scored for the Sabres (24-26-4) while Joel Eriksson Ek and Declan Chisholm replied for the 25-23-6 Wild (56 points) as they moved to within four points of the Blues for that final Western wild-card berth.
Chicago Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist as his team downed the Ottawa Senators 3-2. Petr Mrazek made 40 saves for the 15-37-3 Blackhawks while Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist for the 22-27-5 Senators.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard has picked up from where he left off when he was sidelined on Jan. 5 with a fractured jaw. He now has three points in two games since his return to action and has regained the rookie scoring lead with 36 points.
A late goal by Boone Jenner gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Johnny Gaudreau, Yegor Chinakhov and Erik Gudbranson each had two assists for the 17-26-10 Blue Jackets while Anthony Duclair tallied twice for the 15-34-5 Sharks.
In the Jackets’ game, Dimitri Voronkov scored a goal to move into a tie for 2nd place among rookies for goals scored, this season.
Voronkov. Best rookie nobody outside the 614 knows. And that’s on a team with Adam Fantilli. Sad the NHL only promotes it’s special teams/players.
I’m not a fan of gimmicks and have expressed my dislike for 3v3 OT and shootouts, BUT I did like the players arriving at the Stadium Series donning Rocky and Soprano outfits.
On the other hand taking Hockey Night in Canada to the Law and Order template to promote a TV show is another reason to stop letting marketing people run the game.
Boston is hitting a little bit of a rough patch but that is expected! It took over a year and a half to feel the effects of Bergeron/ Krecji retirement!Their goaltending has camouflaged their inadequacies as a team! When their goaltending isn t spot on,they are apt to struggle!This team is really not far from a retool as we speak! Maybe the time is now! I do not see this team as it is constructed going deep in the playoffs!l hope they Don t sit on all their UFA S as the trade deadline nears! I am for retooling now and not praying for free agency this summer!
Mrb4 little sensitive this morning?
If you agree with Sr pov or not, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have merit.
Boston has 1 point per game player, 2 20 goal scores maybe end up with 4 Coyle and potentially Frederick.
Do you keep Debrusk, Grzelcyk, Forbort as your own rentals or do you move for assets.
Debrusk would bring the most back, Grzelcyk maybe a 2nd round pick and Forbort might as well keep him for the return.
Moving any of these players outside of Debrusk a little, doesn’t hurt the Bruins.
Vegas still has Boston as the 2nd best odds to win the cup.
If this team doesn’t play with structure and get A+ goaltending they are dead in the water.
Side note: Geekie between the second and third period had 5 opportunities with the puck, each time he was in a good scoring position and set to make an easy pass to setup a scoring chance. Each time he hung onto the puck to long and LA just knock the puck off his stick.
Caper
Regarding
Do you keep Debrusk, Grzelcyk, Forbort as your own rentals or do you move for assets. If you can package and get a better player I would do it. But trading for pics is a hell no This was supposed to be a down year for bruins with last year’s all in And they are killing it. So to trade away roster players for pics is never happening when the team is at top portion of the league that is how GM s lose their job Any Bruin fan should enjoy the ride. They will be reloading in summer ufa time and be even better. Side note I am not a Griz fan so trade him anytime you want.
Sr
Whatever you’re smoking stop smoking it 😎. Bruins are not rebuilding
Retool not rebuild,please look up the definitions!
Their main pieces are Pasta..McAvoy..Sway & a year or two more with BM… there’s a need to build around them after this season a decision will have to be made with their role players and young players
Top 5 in nhl after a 4 gm skid don’t retool… if you do gm gets fired. So lucky your not a gm
MrB4 & SR,
I think the Bruins are doing a Quick Re-tool through UFA period on July 1st… 👍
By adding
Lindholm as #1 Centre
Hanifin as Top 4 LD/man
and a 3rd pairing d/man
Then
Trading Ullmark for a good Scoring young Winger for the 2nd or 3rd line❓
They test drive what they have this season and fix it for next season through the UFA period, then they figure out what they want to sign….
Then potentially could have $32.5 M in Cap space to play with ……
They are in a Really good Spot…
One win in 5 games since the break all at home Dallas at home tomorrow against Dallas then is on to Edmonton & Calgary back to back with a trip to Vancouver… D is a weak link & goaltending has fallen off … is it a bad stretch or will this continue ?
Joe
Some tough games for sure. Should beat bolts. And kings. But that is way it goes sometimes those games had a playoff intensity to them As for Dallas. They have a team built for playoff success. Would not surprise me if they were in finals this year Getting back on road is probably best thing for bruins
Hey SR,
The Bruins are missing that #1 Centre position up front like a Lindholm that went to the Canucks
and a good top 4 LD /man like a Noah Hanifin❓
I dont think they go far in the playoffs maybe 2nd round this season…
Up Front,
Both Centre positions are being filled in by
Pavel Zacha & Charlie Coyle, Zacha is a better Winger that Centre, and Coyle is a 2nd line centre
$5.M Jake Debrusk has been a Bust this season 12 goals
The GM lets debrusk walk or signs him for less that he is making at $3M for a year or two
I think GM Sweeny sits back and dose his work July 1st …and brings in Home-boy Hanifin and his good buddy E.Lindholm for #1 Centre in as UFA’s🤔
he has $27.5M in Cap Spaces and if he move Ullmark he will have $32.5M in Cap Space👍
Make a trade with Ottawa or buffalo Carolina, NJ, LA for a young Scoring Winger, They all need Starting Goaltenders and send, $6.M Linus Ullmark the other way,
of course Have Swayman signed first, he is the only big re-signing
Then its $750, to $2.M player to fill rolls❓
We
I think you are spot on I believe Hanafin wants to be back in Boston. If they can get a decent value move Ullmark in off season. And hunt for a ctr fill in remaining with vets or youth
williew,I agree with many of your points! I would not letJDB walk for free! At least get something for him! His ego is way to big to sign for 3 million!I honestly think he would have been traded by now but Sweeney is hesitant in case he turns it around,and people will go back to the 2015 draft! Remember he wanted out and the jumped back in the pool when Cassidy got fired!
Bruins…In hindsight was HAMPUS LINDHOLM a good move ? Now 30 years old … 7 years left on contract at $6.5 million per with a NTC … stats this year 1 goal .. 18 assist .. 6’4” 220 lbs with 33 hits
Joe he played better yesterday! Hope he continues,problem is that only he and Mcavoy can play 5/5,Pp, and Pk! Forbort and Carlo can only play 5/5,Pk! Shattenkirk 5/5,Pp, Witherspoon 7th D and Grez can only play5/5!Need another D like Lindholm and Mcavoy that can play in all 3 phases!
Hopefully
That other d man will be Hanafin
Agree …and a tough Dman (Seeler) wouldn’t hurt … it will be a very interesting offseason see how the Bruins retool this team
Just a reminder for you Boston Fans; Boston was up 3 games to 1 over Florida with Zacha and Coyle as their 1st and 2nd C.
They loss 3 straight when Bergeron came back to early from injury and Monty forgot how to coach.
Regular season means nothing.
Caper.
I remember all too well😢
Shoulda rested 37 and 46 more as no need for rush back and should swapped Swayman a gm earlier IMHO