NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 12, 2024
Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week are revealed, and injury updates on Thatcher Demko, Gabriel Landeskog, Aaron Ekblad and Josh Norris. Get the details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves for his fourth shutout of the season to blank the Washington Capitals 3-0. Neal Pionk, Alex Iafallo and Kyle Connor were the goalscorers for the 41-18-5 Jets, as they sit in second place in the Central Division with 87 points. Charlie Lindgren made 26 stops for the 30-24-9 Capitals as they remain three points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 69 points.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck also reached the 30-win plateau for the fifth time in his NHL career. Capitals forward T.J. Oshie returned to action after missing seven games with an upper-body injury. However, teammate Tom Wilson missed this game with an upper-body injury.
Speaking of that final Eastern wild-card spot, the New York Islanders slipped out of it after a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Adrian Kempe, Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore scored for the Kings (33-20-11) as they sit third in the Pacific Division with 77 points. Ilya Sorokin turned aside 22 shots for the 29-21-14 Islanders, who sit behind the Detroit Red Wings with 72 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE The Islanders and Red Wings have the same number of points, but the Wings hold the wild-card berth with more wins (33).
New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad scored his first even-strength goal in 30 games as his club downed the New Jersey Devils 3-1. Jonathan Quick made 19 saves for the 42-18-4 Rangers (88 points) as they hold first place in the Metropolitan Division and sit fifth in the overall standings. Simon Nemec scored for the Devils (31-30-4), who remain six points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot with 66 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zibanejad became the fifth player in Rangers history to score at least 20 goals in seven straight seasons, joining Jean Ratelle, Rod Gilbert, Vic Hadfield and Andy Bathgate. Meanwhile, Rangers forward Matt Rempe could face supplemental discipline after being ejected during the second period for elbowing Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in the head.
The St. Louis Blues upset the Boston Bruins 5-1 with Kasperi Kapanen scoring a goal and collecting two assists. Joel Hofer kicked out 36 shots for the 33-29-3 Blues (69 points) as they moved to within six points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. David Pastrnak tallied his 41st goal of the season for the Bruins (38-14-15) as they remain one point behind the first-overall Florida Panthers with 91 points.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha, and Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending March 10, 2024.
THE PROVINCE: Speaking of Demko, he’ll be sidelined for two to three weeks after suffering a knee injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see how well the Canucks handle the loss of their starting goaltender over that period. A healthy Demko is a crucial part of their Stanley Cup aspirations.
TSN: Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said team captain Gabriel Landeskog could return to action with what he called the “playoff timeframe.” The 31-year-old winger has been sidelined by a knee injury since the end of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. Bednar stressed that Landeskog won’t be rushing his timetable to return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That timeframe could be the start of the playoffs next month or the Stanley Cup Final in June if the Avalanche get that far.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators center Josh Norris will miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing a third surgery on his left shoulder following an injury on Feb. 27. He’s expected to be recovered in time for training camp in September.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a significant setback for Norris. Whether the 24-year-old center will be able to continue his playing career or be as effective as he once was remains to be seen.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a knee injury. Head coach Paul Maurice said the blueliner didn’t suffer any long-term damage.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers center Ryan Johansen is believed to be battling an injury or ailment that has prevented him from playing for their AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. Johansen also hopes to reconcile with Flyers coach John Tortorella as the two clashed when they were with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
ESPN.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Brendan Lemieux to a one-year, $775K contract extension.
SPORTSNET: The Arizona Land Department’s Board of Appeals will meet on Thursday to discuss a Phoenix site where the Coyotes hope to build a new arena.
As far as Landeskog returning, I say let him heal until next year if his career is at stake. Why risk it? It’s not worth it. As much as I want to see him in the line up, i’d rather see him not jump into playoff hockey without some regular season action. We’ll have to go it without him. I think the Avalanche realize that already? We’ll see how it all plays out. GO AVS!!!
Jean Ratelle, Rod Gilbert, Vic Hadfield and Andy Bathgate. Some good hockey names there and lots of old memories.
Jean Ratelle, saw him play, great backhand!!!
Saw all of them play tommy boy – I was a Habs fan(atic) back in those days, but loved watching the Rangers.
One of my all-time favourites was little Camille Henry (5′ 10″ 152 lbs – probably over-generous) who came close to 8 straight seasons of 20 or more goals, with only the 1959-60 seasons preventing the streak when he missed 21 of the 70 games and still scored12. His other results
57-58 – 32
58-59 – 23
60-61 – 28
61-62 – 23
62-63 – 37
63-64 – 29
In 1964-65 he had totaled 21 more for the Rangers before being dealt to Chicago where he added 5 in 22 gp.
His only check of the year and Tarasenko put Ekblad on the shelf! Trying times with Vancouver over Demko inlury! The Nucks have avoided significant injuries all yer!
George O, very interesting. you were before me. i never heard of Camile Henry, must have been a great hockey player but i did see the Rangers a lot on TV having lived in both NY/MA. i did see Ratelle play live on the Bruins and of course didn’t appreciate him when he was on the Rangers; however,did see those guys play on TV all the time: Gilbert, Hadfield, Park, Stemkowski, Giacommin, etc
Those guys were great hockey players and to see them must have been a treat. Ratelle was one hell of a hockey player. Great hockey stories, keep them coming!!!!
Best Rangers story came when Gump Worsley was a goalie on the team, playing most of the games and regularly facing upwards of 40-45 shots per game.
In a game in Toronto, between periods, he was being interviewed by Ward Cornell on TV and when Cornell asked him, “Gump, which team gives you the most trouble” Worsley replied without a blink “the Rangers.” The coach at the time, Firey Phil Watson, blew his cork.
That’s hilarious!!
Re; Sen’s center Josh Norris
Having a Third surgery on his left shoulder❗️
Over the Summer Norris Really needs to put more Mussel on before training camp if he can ?
to prepare for training camp in September.
The Kid is only 24-years old ,
Over the past 4 season he has averaged 45 games per season even taking out last year he is only at 57 Games for 3 seasons.
Shane pinto could slide into the 2nd line centre position and Speedster Greig could do third line centre or stay on the Wing
Looks like the Sens will pick top 6 in the NHL draft
there will be some Great Players at 4,5,6,7, Spot
listed as Sen’s needs i would pick 1or 2…🤔
1-Big offencive RD/man 6ft2 & 200.lb Artyom Levshunov, real need for the Sen’s
Or
2-Big centrte 6.ft3 & 215lb Cayden Lindstrom if they want to Replace Norris…
if they are picking 6-7th
3-LW, Cole Eiserman A big goal scorer
Or
an offencive RD-man like Zayne Parekh or Carter Yakemchuk’ who will go 11 to 15, if the first 2 are N/A…. they maybe able to trade down with Boston pick and a 2nd pick if they can find a trade partner
or trade The Boston pick back to them for Goaltender Ullmark or Trade with Nashville for Saros🤔