NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 7, 2024
The Golden Knights snap the Oilers’ 16-game win streak, Elias Lindholm and Andrei Kuzmenko scored in their first games with their new teams, the Blackhawks will host another Winter Classic game, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights ended the Edmonton Oilers’ win streak at 16 games by defeating the latter 3-1. Chandler Stephenson snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period, William Karlsson scored an empty-netter and Adin Hill made 30 saves for the 30-15-6 Golden Knights as they hold second place in the Pacific Division with 66 points. Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored for the Oilers (29-16-1) as they sit seven points behind Vegas in the Pacific Division with 59 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will add fodder to the growing rivalry between these two clubs. The Golden Knights also eliminated the Oilers from the second round of the 2023 playoffs during their march to the Stanley Cup.
Vancouver Canucks center Elias Lindholm (NHL Images).
Elias Lindholm had a memorable debut with the Vancouver Canucks, scoring twice in a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. J.T. Miller netted the game-winner in the third period while Quinn Hughes and Brock Boeser each collected two assists for the league-leading Canucks (34-11-5, 73 points) as they extended their points streak to 12 games (10-0-2). Jordan Martinook and Sebastian Aho replied for the 28-16-5 Hurricanes as they sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 61 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm was acquired from the Calgary Flames by the Canucks on Jan. 31.
Speaking of the Flames and memorable debuts, Andrei Kuzmenko scored in their 4-1 upset of the Boston Bruins. Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri each collected three points for the 23-22-5 Flames (51 points) as they moved within three points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Pavel Zacha scored for the Bruins (31-10-9) as they lead the Eastern Conference with 71 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzmenko was part of the return to the Flames in last week’s Lindholm trade with the Canucks. he had good chemistry skating alongside Huberdeau in this game. It’ll be interesting to see if the duo can maintain it over the rest of the regular season. Meanwhile, Flames forward Martin Pospisil received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking Bruins captain Brad Marchand in the face during the first period.
The New Jersey Devils downed the Colorado Avalanche 5-3, ending Avs center Nathan MacKinnon’s points streak at 14 games. Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Erik Haula each had two points for the 25-20-3 Devils (53 points) as they sit five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Jonathan Drouin collected two assists for the Avalanche (32-15-4) as they sit in second place in the Central Division with 68 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Devils activated forward Tomas Nosek off injured reserve for this game. He’d been sidelined for three months with an injured foot.
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry stopped 23 shots for his league-leading sixth shutout of the season to blank the Winnipeg Jets 3-0, spoiling Sean Monahan’s debut with the latter following his trade last Friday from the Montreal Canadiens. Kris Letang, Jeff Carter and Bryan Rust were the goal-scorers for the Penguins (23-17-7) as they sit five points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth with 53 points. The Jets are now winless in their last four (0-3-1) and sit third in the Central Division with 65 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for an illegal hit to the head of Penguins forward Noel Acciari in the second period. Acciari left the game with help from his teammates and was undergoing evaluation following the game.
The Dallas Stars got a 47-save performance from Jake Oettinger to nip the Buffalo Sabres 2-1, picking up their fourth straight win. Sam Steel broke a 1-1 tie in the third period for the 31-13-6 Stars as they hold first place in the Central Division with 68 points due to a game in hand over the Avalanche. Tage Thompson scored for the Sabres (22-24-4), who got 28 saves from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Sabres placed defenseman Mattias Samuelsson on injured reserve and activated blueliner Erik Johnson off IR.
A third-period goal by Noah Cates lifted the Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Travis Konecny also scored and Samuel Ersson stopped 20 shots for the 26-19-6 Flyers as they snapped a five-game losing skid and hold third place in the Metropolitan Division with 58 points. Carter Verhaeghe scored for the 31-15-4 Panthers, who sit second overall in the Eastern Conference with 66 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers forward Sam Reinhart was held scoreless as his 13-game points streak came to an end. The Panthers activated forward Nick Cousins off injured reserve while the Flyers activated winger Owen Tippett off IR for this game.
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Washington Capitals 5-2. Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky each scored twice, Cole Caufield picked up an assist to extend his points streak to 10 games, and Sam Montembault kicked out 37 shots for the 21-21-8 Canadiens. Alex Ovechkin tallied his 10th goal of the season for the 22-19-7 Capitals.
HEADLINES
NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: The Blackhawks will host the 2025 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field where they’ll face the St. Louis Blues. It will be the seventh time the Blackhawks have taken part in the Winter Classic.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Call it the Connor Bedard effect. The Blackhawks are the worst team in the league but the presence of their talented young rookie resulted in an 18.9 percent increase in home attendance through their first two months of the season, drawing an average of 3,005 more fans per game compared to the same period last season. The league is banking on a promising young Blackhawks team led by a healthy Bedard drawing a huge crowd at Wrigley and big TV ratings as a result.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Columbus Blue Jackets are one of only three NHL teams not to participate in an outdoor game. However, that could change as it’s believed they will host a 2025 NHL Stadium Series game against the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium on or around March 1, 2025.
TSN: The New York Rangers placed center Nick Bonino on unconditional waivers yesterday for the purpose of contract termination. He’s currently on a one-year, $800K deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chris Johnston reported Bonino might not have to wait long to land with a new NHL team as there have been inquiries. He must sign before the March 8 trade deadline to be eligible to play in the postseason.
NEW YORK POST: Speaking of the Rangers, captain Jacob Trouba returns to action on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He served a two-game suspension for elbowing Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev on Jan. 26.
Bruins game …. The way you beat the Bruins and it’s been this way for years is you play them with physicality, Flames were consistently in their face with no push back and you would think the way Neely played the game this wouldn’t happen. Bruins can get to the playoffs every season because they are built for the regular season, but if playoff style hockey is played then they are in trouble ……
The Bruins are also Slow compared to other teams which won’t bode well in the playoffs.
I watched the Boston game last night and came away with the thought that the Bruins could not handle physical play!Other than Frederick the only player to get involved physically was Mcavoy,which should not be the case! Forbort and Carlo are big players that play really small! They dressed a 4th line of smurfs including Heinen, Boyquist and Steen!Their goalies have bailed them out all year! The fact that they Don t have much cap space to make a deal should not hold them up! We are talking about a third pair D man and bottom 6 grinder to add to the mix!
Agree… their Captain was sent to the ice a couple of times last night and there was no pushback, gloves to the face won’t get it done, Bruins need to protect their star players and can’t… Freddy is a good player to have because he gets involved but he’s not going to scare anyone …
Ottawa should offer up Chychrun and a 2nd or Chychrun and Brannstrom for Dobson
re: SenFan11
You like Aerosmith? Dream On….
Isles are not trading Dobson. He is the best young D. we have…and the best pick since Barzal.
He is not an All Star yet, but is getting there.
Bruins are fine. Below average outing from Swayman Was big part of the loss. But last night flames out skated the bruins for the vast majority of the game. That usually means a loss regardless who you play
Agree MB4, the Flames cam out ready to go, and the B’s were on their heels for most of the 1st. Gave up quality chances, fell behind and couldn’t generate enough. Tender didn’t save them this time.
It isn’t because somebody on the ice didn’t punch Pospisil in the face.
Every time I watch them play like that I wonder is this when the slide starts when the lack of depth starts to catch up with them. Then they turn it around and put a winning streak together.
Might just be coming off a break and a vaca, so came out flat.
MB4, without Swayman last night the score could’ve been 7 or 8 to 1. Yes the Hanafin goal was soft, otherwise he kept them in the game.
Yes Boston was flat but that doesn’t excuse the lack of bush back.
They are big and soft.
Calgary hit, pushed and knocked them around with little to no answer it’s a concern.
All Star 1st games back are always tough,
Was shocked last night how the flames man handled the Bruins last night, they looked like the Bruins that got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs last season…….
They need some Grit on the d…..
AKA Chris Tanev
Swayman did not look good last night
neither did the 3rd & 4th lines for boston
I watched last night and I watch every Bruin game my 2 cents.
1 st Give Calgary credit played like they were on fire best I’ve seen them play.
2 nd Bruins don’t have a lot of top guys we’re picked the last two years to miss playoffs
3rd Bruins win when goaltending outstanding and Pasta leads them didn’t happen last night Swayman was just good.
4th Carlo can’t fight one more concussion and he’s done
Bruins will be fine they will always compete because most night nobody out works them
Obe
I agree with your post and Ww. Had a good point that bruins 4 th line was too small last night and out worked along with the 3rd line most shifts If bruins stay healthy they can beat anyone. If I was Sweeney I grab Maroon for the 4th line playoff run
Gee, I hope Pospisil didn’t damage his stick on that play. Just kidding, Bruins fans.
Bruins/Vancouver tomorrow should be interesting…. That Van D is large
Will enjoy watching that one whiskey in hand 🥃
Joe, i suspect a much better Bruins effort, after being booed a few times. Marchand and Pastrnak bench from the 4th goal on.
The lack of push back and when you look at the Bruins size they are a bigger team up and down the lineup than Calgary but they don’t play that way. Pastrnak threw the best hit for Boston last night.
They don’t need to fight but they need to use the body.
For sure .. don’t need to go out and fight anyone or everyone …Teams in the NHL know who they push around and who they think twice about it … Pasta..McAvoy.. Marchand are their best players and players need to step in when they are getting pushed around …Don’t see many Bruins players willing to do that, the bigger players don’t play up to their size
No better way to kill hot streaks than to suddenly make the league stop for a meaningless All Star Break 🙁
Oil losing is about the best thing an all star game gave me since I was 6.
The worst team in the league gets the Winter Classic game because they have an 18% increase in attendance because of Coner Bedard. Isn’t that sweet? The 3rd largest city in the US dropped the Hawks like a hot potato when they started losing and now another Winter Classic guess we should pencil them in for the #1 pick in the draft. Screw the 3 teams that haven’t had an outdoor game. Being a Jackets fan we can never increase our attendance 18% because we draw too well. We have no cups , 6 playoff appearances, and 1 playoff series win. That’s in 26 years. I forgot no outdoor game either.
Fred,
I feel your ‘pain’. I am surprised Islanders getting to play 2nd outdoor game. But it’s only because both against the Rangeez.
Good read article on Bos/Hockey/Now
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