NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 21, 2024
The Panthers and Rangers extend their win streaks as they jockey for first place in the Eastern Conference, the league-leading Canucks drop their third straight game, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers regained sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-2 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators. Anton Lundell netted the winning goal while Brandon Montour had a goal and an assist for the 37-15-5 Panthers (78 points), who’ve won six straight games and sit two points back of the league-leading Vancouver Canucks. Thomas Chabot and Tim Stutzle replied for the 23-27-3 Senators as they overcame a 2-0 deficit.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (NHL Images).
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin kicked out 41 shots to backstop his club over the Dallas Stars 3-1, extending their win streak to eight games. Kaapo Kakko scored what proved to be the game-winner for the Rangers (37-16-3) as they sit atop the Metropolitan Division with 77 points, one behind the Panthers. Miro Heiskanen tallied for the 34-15-8 Stars, who sit in first place in the Central Division with 76 points.
The Vancouver Canucks lost their third straight game by falling 3-1 to the Colorado Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon collected an assist to extend his season-opening home points streak to 27 games while Ryan Johansen tallied twice for the 35-18-4 Avalanche (74 points) as they sit second in the Central and two points back of the Stars. J.T. Miller scored for the slumping Canucks (37-15-6).
Winnipeg Jets forwards Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi each had three points in a 6-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Laurent Brossoit stopped 36 shots as the Jets (34-15-5) sit third in the Central with 73 points. Marco Rossi netted two goals for the 26-24-6 Wild (58 points), as they remain two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth.
The Nashville Predators defeated the Vegas Golden Knight 5-3. Kevin Lankinen got the win with 23 saves in his first start since Jan. 27 while Roman Josi collected two assists for the 29-25-2 Predators as they moved into a tie with the St. Louis Blues with 60 points. Adin Hill made 35 saves for the Golden Knights (32-18-6) as they sit second in the Pacific Division with 70 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights captain Mark Stone left this game with an upper-body injury. There was no postgame update on his condition. Meanwhile, the Blues still hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth with a game in hand.
New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech scored in overtime to lift his club to a 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, who overcame a 4-2 deficit to force the extra period. Pelech, Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson each had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (23-18-14) as they sit four points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot with 60 points. Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson picked up an assist for his 800th career NHL point for the 24-21-8 Penguins.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tallied two goals and added an assist to beat the New Jersey Devils 6-2. Connor McMichael also scored twice while Dylan Strome had a goal and two assists for the Capitals (25-21-8) as they sit six points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth with 58 points. Alexander Holtz and Erik Haula replied for the 28-23-4 Devils (60 points), who are four points out of that Eastern wild-card spot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals center Nic Dowd left in the first period with an upper-body injury and didn’t return. Before the game, the Devils placed goaltender Vitek Vanecek (lower body) on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 10 while activating defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler.
The Los Angeles Kings got two goals from Pierre-Luc Dubois as they cruised to a 5-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Quinton Byfield and Drew Doughty each had two points for the Kings (28-16-10) as they’ve won six of their last seven and hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 66 points. Adam Boqvist replied for the 17-27-10 Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings winger Viktor Arvidsson left in the third period with a lower-body injury.
HEADLINES
TORONTO SUN: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the five-game suspension for Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly for high-sticking Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig on Feb. 10.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rielly’s absence hasn’t hurt the Leafs as they’ve won four straight since his suspension.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed forward Michael Rasmussen to a four-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $3.2 million.
DAILY FACEOFF: The St. Louis Blues placed defensemen Justin Faulk and Scott Perunovich on injured reserve.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Flames defenseman Oliver Kylington is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer but there’s no talk of the 26-year-old getting traded. After missing 21 months dealing with mental health issues, his comeback has sparked mutual interest in a contract extension.
DAILY FACEOFF: Chicago Blackhawks winger Zach Sanford and San Jose Sharks defenseman Jacob MacDonald were placed on waivers yesterday. Teams have until noon ET to claim them.
TSN: The AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack released former NHL forward Artem Anisimov from his professional tryout agreement in January. He had one goal and three assists in 18 games with the Wolf Pack.
THE MERCURY NEWS: Former San Jose Sharks captain Patrick Marleau is part of the Bay Sports Area Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. He will be inducted on May 6, becoming the second Sharks player to be honored, joining Owen Nolan.
I guess the “Arty Party” is finally over. Enjoy retirement Anisimov.
Tough game by the Sens to get at least a point out of that.
Dark G, that comeback from a 2-0 deficit to get 1 point in OT in the second of back-to-backers against a top team underscores my ongoing rant about the Senators – i.e., the inability of this group to develop the mindset that they must put out maximum effort in every game – win or lose, the one ingredient in their game that has to be there every game is EFFORT.
Fans can understand and forgive gaffes in puck handling that lead to losses – as long as the gaffes are not repeated relentlessly (i.e., LEARN from them) … but visible lack of effort is inexcusable. That was front and center in recent losses to teams below them in the standing (Anaheim and Chicago) and even in a game they were lucky to win (Columbus).
Engaging in a bit of “what if” – they knew, 5 games back, that they absolutely had to go on a winning streak if they harbored any hope of challenging for a playoff spot.
Had they put out the same effort against each of Anaheim (at home) and in Chicago s they just did against Tampa and Florida, they’d find themselves this morning with 57 pts – ahead of both Buffalo and Montreal and a whopping 11 back of Detroit – but with 2 games in hand and still with 29 games to go.
Still a monumental challenge, of course, but with at least an outside chance thanks to consistent effort.
Now it’s just a pipe-dream. For the 7th year in a row … and with speculation rising in the local media – if you can believe it – about embarking upon another re-build. Jaysus!
George, Sabres fans feel your pain. I thought Buffalo, Ottawa & Detroit would be the teams fighting for the 2 wild card spots. Instead, Buffalo started the season flat and is still struggling with inconsistency – no playoffs in 13 seasons. Maybe a Buffalo/Ottawa merger (ala. Cleveland & North Stars) might produce a playoff team!
Heh Harry O… now, while a precedent for a merger has been established as you point out, I doubt Andlaur forked over three quarters of a billion dollars only to see ownership tangled up with Pegula – and I’m sure Pegula feels the same way.
Anyway, one of the conditions of the sale was that the franchise could not be moved out of Ottawa. Whether that’s in perpetuity only the lawyers know for sure … but it’s safe to say they’re here for the foreseeable future anyway.
The thing is, the incompetence of both franchises – which continue to draw decent crowds in spite of the on-ice futility – can be directly related to poor roster decisions by management, and coaching.
Almost certain to miss the playoffs for the 7th straight year, Ottawa will have seen 3 GMs (Dorion and whoever is hired in the off-season by current interim GM Staios), and 5 coaches (Guy Boucher, Marc Crawford, D.J. Smith, Jacques Martin and whoever is hired in the off-season).
Buffalo, out of the playoffs since 2010-11, will have seen 7 coaches (Lindy Ruff, Don Rolston, Ted Nolan, Dan Bylsma, Phil Housely, Ralp Krueger and Don Granato) and 4 GMs (Darcy Regier, Tim Murray, Jason Botterill, Kevin Adams).
Each with their own unique philosophy about how to assemble and run a franchise. Small wonder futility has ensued within each.
@George
correction… Staios is no longer “interim” as he was made permanent GM a few months ago.
The problem is that Staios can do NOTHING right now with how badly Dorion handled the cap space.
That one slipped by me – thanks theSaint. Pretty much agree totally with what you say.
OK so, going forward into yet another off-season of soul-searching (or navel gazing) following yet another disappointing season, and despite my recent contention that NO player – anywhere – should be publicly labelled “untouchable,” I can see Staios intending to keep, off the current roster, 8F (Tkachuk, Batherson, Stutzle, Norris, Giroux, Joseph, Greig and Pinto), 5 D (Chabot, Sanderson, Chychrun, Zub and Bernard-Docker (who’s been playing very well the past 10 games or so), along with goalie Forsberg.
Of course that could change in an instant if he receives an offer too good to refuse for any of the above – but I doubt that transpires.
If he is thinking along those lines that would mean Tarasenko ($5 mil) Kubalik ($2.5 mil), Kastelic $835,000), Kelly ($762.500) up front, Brannstrom $2 mil) and Hamonic ($1.1 mil) on D, and goalie Korpisalo ($4 mil) are off the books. Those, along with $4,145,833 in dead cap space (buyouts/withheld) disappearing and the projected $4.2 mil in increased general cap. Staios will have $24,543,333 with which to accommodate and players brought back in trades and do some UFA shopping.
Grunts like Kastelic Kelly, Hamonic, and Kubalik won’t bring back much more than low draft picks and/or AHL fills, and we might see someone like Jarventie and Kleven earn promotion at training camp, so Staios will have a nice pocketful with which to get involved.
Let’s just hope HE gets it right.
@ George yes I agree with your assessment.
One issue: who will take Korpisalo? He asn’t done anything to make him considered a missing piece for anyone. I hate the idea of yet another buyout taking up space again tough…
I agree with all the ones you consider unteachable however there is something about what I have seen in Parker Kelly that makes me hope he sticks around as long as it’s for the same type of money.
Yeah, have to admit Kelly – like Bernard-Docker on D in the 5/6 role – has shown he can be a very useful bottom 6 F. They’ll likely keep him on some sort of bridge deal at a modest increase.
Bruins … 4 games 6 nights on the road, going to find out how this team responds …
Re; The Sen’s
I dont see the young Sen’s making the playoffs this year they are to far back, I think they will be trading out
Tarasenko, Kubalik’, and maybe young d/man
Erik Brännström and maybe Anton Forsberg..
and doing a quick re-tool
the other guy i wonder about is Travis Hamonic…❓
I think one of The biggest issue with the Sens is Goaltending, there Starter Joonas Korpisalo with
4.3 years left at $4.M PA ❗️has Brutal numbers this season
G, 37 GA,3.40 SV% ,0.887
The Hot goaltending market i can see them trading Anton Forsberg at the deadline with his $2.75M cap hit, there are 2 X 23 yr old really to give them a chance to develope
The other position is there RD, they need a big physical aggressive guy in that 2nd pair a good defencive d/man like a Tanev…🤔
i can see 2 new d/men in Ottawa next season 1 one the RD 2nd pair & 1 LD on the 3rd pair
williew, There’s no reason to deal Forsberg – he’s a decent back-up who gives them excellent tending IF used only as a back-up. It’s when he’s forced into playing part of the 2-goalie equal-sharing role that he falters.
He has 1 year to go at a reasonable $2,750,000 cap hit before becoming a UFA at age 33 … and by then hopefully one of the kids in the system (there are 3 of them) will have earned his way into the top roster. If not, find another back-up when the time comes.
Korpisalo has had almost as many good games as he has bad ones (he’s lost quite a few where he’s held the opposition to 3 or less goals but still lost), and is durable. Now, while 4 years to go at $4 mil per off the cap might be an obstacle for teams needing a goalie – but with cap issues of their own – if Ottawa withheld $1 mil per it might be feasible (they do have over $4 mil in dead cap coming off the books at season’s end).
Why wasn’t Chris Kreider’s empty net goal counted? It was in with .2 on the clock.
Maybe appeal to the commissioner……..
BCLeaf Fan, solid.
Hey George,
If the deal forsberg, they save $2.M in salary for next year both Sens goaltender prospects kids are 23….
Or they sign a back up for $1.M…❓
I’m really not sure how or what they will do with Korpisalo 4 years at $4.M left
With LA that has a bit of a goaltending problem they really have 3 back up goaltenders.
Talbot now hitting the wall David Rittich a life long back up has played very since he call up from the AHL….🤔
Phoenix Copley on LTI…
They need an other tender,
Wonder if the look at Sen’s
Korpisalo….⁉️
We can only hope.
Hi George. Yes, I was only being facetious about a merger, but I do think the pieces are there to turn two “flawed” teams into one very good team. Looking to next season both teams need to make some hard decisions to break their losing cycles. I’m betting on Ottawa.
Not sure who said it on here, but they suggested the Leafs would rally around Reilly and use it as motivation to get it going. Then took his shots from various folks.
He was right.
I said the Sens poked a teddy bear and woke the bear.
Most folks scoffed.
Avalanche much better effort defensively last night; however Vancouver missed some wide open opportunities, I believe? That’s more like it!!!
I was wrong about Buffalo and Ottawa this year; thought they. would be ready to really challenge for playoffs. Can’t figure? Watching them play, they got some serious talent on both teams. Perhaps, youngsters trying to figure it out
Seems like some of the teams expected to be good are turning up a notch of late, and some teams that started well, then slumped, are getting it back on track.
FLA, NYR, DAL, WPG, LAK, FLA.
I expect EDM to come out ready to go tonight against my B’s, then BOS gets a back to back against a CGY team that is playing well of late. I will be there for that one, hope they have their legs.
Cream might be starting to rise. Wondering if the B’s, who have been punching above their weight a little bit IMO, can keep the pace. Stretch run should be good!
Could be wrong but it looks like the Bruins are coming back to earth …D is overrated, but not getting much help from the Forwards ..goalies are still playing well, goal scoring seems to be done by 4- 5 players, they have no toughness at all …
Game Time 10 pm EST …for this old timer it’s going to be tough to get to the end of game