NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2024
The Oilers’ Zach Hyman tallies his fourth hat trick of the season, the Avalanche stage a three-goal comeback against the Canucks, an update on Flyers center Ryan Johansen, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman collected his fourth hat trick of the season in a 7-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Leon Draisaitl had a goal and three assists while Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists to extend his home points streak to 26 games for the 40-21-3 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 83 points. Ivan Miroshnichenko and Connor McMichael replied for the 30-25-9 Capitals (69 points), who remain three points behind the New York Islanders for the final Eastern Conference wildcard berth.
Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hyman (46 goals) became the first Oiler to score four hat tricks in a season since Wayne Gretzky in 1986-87. Meanwhile, McDavid (106 points) moved within one point of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov for second place in the scoring race. Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon leads all scorers this season with 115 points.
Speaking of MacKinnon and the Avalanche, he had a goal and an assist as his club overcame a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on an overtime goal by Valeri Nichushkin. Mikko Rantanen also had a goal and an assist and Cale Makar collected two assists for the Avalanche (42-20-5), who moved into first place in the Central Division with 89 points. J.T. Miller and Nikita Zadorov each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks (42-17-8) as they hold second place in the overall standings with 92 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche have the same number of points as the Dallas Stars but they hold first place in the division with two more wins.
The Nashville Predators extended their points streak to 13 games by doubling up the Winnipeg Jets 4-2. Roman Josi and Gustav Nyquist each had two points and Jason Zucker scored his first goal since joining the Predators at the trade deadline. With a record of 38-25-4, the Predators hold the first Western Conference wildcard spot with 80 points. Alex Iafallo and Mason Appleton scored for the Jets (41-19-5) as they slipped to third place in the Central Division with 87 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets center Mark Scheifele missed this game due to illness.
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington kicked out 40 shots in a 3-1 upset of the Los Angeles Kings. Alexey Toropchenko, Jake Neighbours and Brandon Saad scored for the Blues (34-29-3). Adrian Kempe had the only goal for the 33-21-11 Kings as they hold third place in the Pacific Division with 77 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This season has been Binnington’s best since his 2019-20 sophomore campaign. He’s kept his temper in check and is more focused on his game.
HEADLINES
THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz reports Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan Johansen is undergoing testing to determine the severity of an apparent hip injury. The Flyers were unaware of Johansen’s condition when they acquired him last week from the Colorado Avalanche. The 31-year-old center appeared in all 63 of the Avalanche’s games before he was traded.
There was speculation the Flyers could buy out the final season of Johansen’s contract. He carries an average annual value of $8 million, with half of it retained by the Nashville Predators as part of the condition of trading him to the Avs last summer.
The severity of Johansen’s injury could prevent any potential plan to buy him out this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A player cannot be bought out if he’s receiving treatment during the buyout period in June for an injury that occurred during the season.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Tempers flared between Red Wings teammates Ben Chiarot and Lucas Raymond during practice on Wednesday. Both players got into a scuffle and had to be separated by their teammates.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blame the Red Wings’ six-game losing skid that threatens to derail their playoff hopes for this season. Wings forward Patrick Kane believes this might be a positive development that helps get the club back on track.
SPORTSNET: New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler will be out for an extended period. He suffered a concussion when he was elbowed by New York Rangers center Matt Rempe, who received a four-game suspension.
NHL.COM: Pat Maroon remains week-to-week after the Boston Bruins acquired him last week from the Minnesota Wild. He underwent back surgery on Feb. 7 with a recovery timeline of four-to-six weeks.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Bruins, Andrew Peeke will debut with the club after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets last week. Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (illness) will not be traveling with the team to Montreal for Thursday’s game against the Canadiens.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs signed forward Bobby McMann to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $1.35 million.
Pike s Peeke makes his debut for the Bruins tonight! His career started out strong and then for whatever happened he only played 23 games! Great opportunity to show the group how good it is to be in an organization that competes in the playoffs every year and get away from the carnival in Columbus! This could end up being a steal for Boston with their structure and goaltending backing him up!
Having watched just about every NHL game Peeke has played, here’s what you are getting, a shot block machine that will do some really stupid things. He’s will make a hit or two the same way 90% of the league does. All for the low, low price of that contract. I think the carnival has moved East a little.
Pat Maroon … I guess the real question to ask is why would the Bruins trade for a player who had back surgery in Feb and expect him to be 100% by playoff time it makes no sense, there were other players available that do what he does and they traded for damage goods. Montgomery noted that Maroon has not started skating since coming to Boston, and called Maroon “week-to-wee…..
Joe, the reason is his cap hit is $800K, which isn’t hitting them yet as he is on LTIR.
And he only costs a undrafted minor leaguer we have never heard of, and a conditional 6th rd pick. If he doesn’t play in a game during the playoffs Minny doesn’t get the pick.
He isn’t afraid to scrap, has better hands than Lucic or some other pugs that have been mentioned on here as an add to make the B’s “tougher”. The play won’t die with him if you give him the puck. It might even come back to you.
Plus he has150 games of playoff experience, including 23 goals and multiple cups. Good guy to have around even if he doesn’t play in the playoffs, and if he doesn’t it cost the B’s nothing. Unless folks think Luke Toporowski will turn into a quality NHL player.
Again he had back surgery in Feb …everything I read it’s a 3-4 months recovery time .. if he doesn’t play what good is he ? They needed a healthy player who can do what he does at 100% and they don’t have it
Ray…. Bruins probably could’ve had LIAM O’BRIEN a pending UFA who makes less money and does the same thing on the ice as Maroon and is 6 years younger and is healthy
Joe, I don’t know when Maroon will be back, but the B’s obviously think he will be in time for the playoffs.
I think one of the reasons they could get him and Peeke, was because Maroon was on LTIR.
No offense to Mr O’Brien, but, just judging from his body of work, I don’t think he brings what Maroon brings to the game, even with the age difference.
Maroon is slow, but he can play the game down low.
Of all the things that have surprised me this year, I never would have bet on Zach Hyman turning into a 50 goal scorer at age 31. Did anyone see this coming?
Folks here in Edmonton probably though it was possible Kevin, he did get 36 last year.
When you play the vast majority of your shifts with McDavid or Draisaitl you will get opportunities to score. I think 75% of them have been within 5 feet of the crease. The guy has had a least 3 goals disallowed this year as well. It might actually be higher than that.
He works his ass of in games and in practice and keeps getting better, great signing by Holland.
Hyman lite got his first last night, hopefully that breaks the seal.
what a great comeback win for the av’s…playing a back to back down 3-0 could have just packed it in…
Middlestadt, Manson, Nichushkin, Colton, Duhaime, were pretty darn good and Georgiev with a good save late in the game were the best part of last night
Re; the Oil & Caps game last night
Was a very entertaining game, 5 goals in the 1st period.
Stu Skinner played Great he made some fantastic saves during the ganme especaly the save against OV…..👌
#97 looked like he was just Crusing last night
Leon had a great game. Zack did his thing in front of the net for 3 goals
The new guys all looked good last night getting seteled in to the Oilers Game System