NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 22, 2024
Four-assist performances from the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov and the Oilers’ Connor McDavid, a hat trick for the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov assisted on each of his club’s goals in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Brayden Point scored twice to reach the 40-goal mark as the Lightning extended their win streak to five games. With a record of 38-25-6, they hold the first Eastern Conference wildcard berth with 82 points. William Eklund replied for the 16-46-7 Sharks.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov leads the scoring race with 122 points, opening a five-point gap over Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon. Lightning winger Anthony Duclair scored against his former team, reaching the 20-goal plateau for the fourth time in his career. Since being acquired by the Lightning before the March 8 trade deadline, Duclair has four goals and seven points in five games.
The Edmonton Oilers erupted for five unanswered third-period goals to crush the Buffalo Sabres 8-3. Connor McDavid collected four assists while Zach Hyman and Mattias Ekholm scored two goals each for the 42-21-4 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 88 points. JJ Peterka tallied two goals for the 33-33-5 Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hyman is just two goals away from reaching the vaunted 50-goal plateau for the first time in his career. Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (Hyman’s former teammate) leads the league this season with 57 goals.
New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin collected the third hat trick of his NHL career in a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Jonathan Quick made 24 saves as the Rangers (46-20-4) moved within one point of the league-leading Bruins with 96 points. Justin Brazeau had a goal and an assist for the 41-15-15 Bruins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Quick picked up his 391st career win to tie Ryan Miller for the most NHL victories by an American-born goaltender.
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored twice in his triumphant return to the lineup to beat the New York Islanders 6-3, leaving the latter winless in their last six games (0-5-1). Andrew Copp also had two goals and Christian Fischer had a goal and two assists for the Red Wings (36-28-6) as they opened a three-point lead over the Washington Capitals for the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot with 78 points. Mathew Barzal netted his 21st goal for the 29-25-15 Islanders as they slipped five points behind the Wings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin missed the last eight games with a lower-body injury. During his absence, the Wings went into a tailspin that threatened to derail their playoff hopes. They’re a different team when their captain is in the lineup.
The Vancouver Canucks gained ground on the Bruins in the overall standings with a 4-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Nikita Zadorov scored two goals for the Canucks (44-18-8) as they sit one point behind the league-leading Bruins. Juraj Slafkovsky scored to extend his points streak to six games for the Canadiens (25-32-12), who are winless in their last four games (0-2-2).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slafkovsky remains a bright spot for the Canadiens this season. He had just eight points in his first 31 games but now has 30 points in his last 38 contests. Speaking of the Canadiens, they announced that Joshua Roy will be sidelined for four to six weeks with an upper-body injury.
Speaking of gaining ground in the overall standings, the Carolina Hurricanes moved to within three points of the Bruins by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on an overtime goal by Seth Jarvis. Frederik Andersen stopped 30 shots for the 44-20-6 Hurricanes (94 points) as they’ve won five straight games. Travis Konecny netted his 28th goal of the season for the Flyers (35-26-9), who remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers captain Sean Couturier was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. Flyers head coach John Tortorella declined to discuss Couturier during a pregame interview. However, benching his captain has drawn plenty of media attention as rumors grow of a possible rift between the two.
The Nashville Predators continue to tighten their grip on the first Western Conference wildcard berth as they blanked the Florida Panthers 3-0. Kevin Lankinen kicked out 33 shots for the shutout and Filip Forsberg tallied twice for the 41-25-4 Predators (86 points) as they extended their points streak to 16 games with their fourth straight win. Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 34 shots for the 45-20-4 Panthers (94 points) as they’ve lost three straight and sit three points behind the Bruins in the overall standings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers were without team captain Aleksander Barkov as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Speaking of the Western Conference wildcard spots, the Vegas Golden Knights cling to the final berth following a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Keegan Kolesar snapped a 1-1 tie and Chandler Stephenson netted the insurance goal for the 37-25-7 Golden Knights (81 points). Jaden Schwartz replied for the 28-28-12 Kraken.
The New Jersey Devils got two power-play goals from Jack Hughes to defeat the Winnipeg Jets 3-1. Nico Hischier and Timo Meier each had a goal and two assists for the 34-32-4 Devils. Nikolaj Ehlers replied for the Jets (44-20-5) as they remain in first place in the Central Division with 93 points.
St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou had a goal and two assists to keep their playoff hopes alive in a 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Jake Neighbours scored twice and Joel Hofer made 37 saves for the 37-30-3 Blues (77 points) as they sit four points behind the Golden Knights for that final Western wild-card berth. Mark Kastelic and Dominik Kubalik scored for the 28-36-4 Senators.
The Anaheim Ducks snapped a seven-game losing skid by blanking the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Lukas Dostal stopped 29 shots for his first NHL shutout while Alex Killorn scored two goals for the 24-43-3 Ducks. Arvid Soderblom made 21 saves for the 19-46-5 Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks center Leo Carlsson left this game in the second period following a knee-on-knee collision with the Blackhawks Alex Vlasic. There was no postgame update on his condition.
IN OTHER NEWS…
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson was offered an in-person hearing by the NHL department of player safety for high-sticking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Noah Gregor on Thursday. Wilson faces the possibility of a suspension beyond five games.
CALGARY SUN: Flames goaltender Dan Vladar will undergo season-ending hip surgery next week. He’s expected to be ready for the start of next season.
McDavid and Kucherov both on 4 Assist nights; wow!
I think McDavid makes up the stagger (2 games in hand) in the points race on MacKinnon; but it is tough to see him catch Kucherov.
Using last 25 games PPG for each of them : McDavid 2.17, Kucherov 2.1, MacKinnon 1.88 and games remaining, extrapolates to
Kucherov 149
McDavid 145
MacKinnon 142
That said; injuries or mini slumps for any of them and the race is not over
I personally believe Kucherov wins the points race
MVP of the league? Hard to argue that the most dynamic and explosive player in the world (and for the last few years) is not the league’s MVP …. So McDavid for me
That said; Hart is NOT for the “League’s MVP” or “League’s MOP” but is handed out to (by definition):
“Hart Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.”
Most valuable to HIS team
So for Hart; with that definition; on top of those 3 above; Pasta , Panarin, Reinhart, and maybe even Mathews should be considered.
Add to that insanity; it is only a select few that actually vote on this award. It’s the PHWA that votes; and of those only a select few.
And the voting representation is not “even” across all teams (32 teams would mean about 3% representation in voting). Toronto always has the highest number of voting members; and by a huge margin; due to the fact that so many more PHWA members cover the Leafs.
These voters SHOULD be unbiased; but no way all of them are; AND even knowing the true definition of these awards; many of the PHWA voters still cast their votes for League MVP/MOP.
For this reason…. This year is likely a toss up… are we going to get another tie in voting? (Theodore/Ingila in ‘02)?
To me, the player “most valuable to HIS team” more than others “most valuable to THEIR team”:
1st: Literal flip of coin McDavid/Pasta
Now if the miracles of all miracles ( I think odds are now at 3.1%) happens and Penguins make playoffs; it will be on the back of Crosby; so he should get some 3rd, 4th, 5th place votes.
Is Crosby more valuable to Penguins by literally carrying the team and miraculously getting them into the playoffs (if they make it); than others above are to their teams when their teams were already expected to be playoff bound all season? Just food for thought.
Lindsay award to me is more important as the players themselves vote…. and no one else should know better than the players:
“most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL players association”
To me, Lindsay should go to McDavid.
You say unbiased and in the next sentence call for Crosby? Lol
Sorry, way more worthy candidates than Crosby.
In no specific order:
Hellebuyck
Q. Hughes
Mathews
Kucherov
Mcdavid
Mackinnon
Pastrnak
Panarin
JT Miller
Point
Way ahead regardless of Pittsburgh making it or not.
My vote (I don’t get one) but the clear cut winner today would be Hellebuyck.
Why? Without his play, Winnipeg is nowhere near where they sit in the standings.
Sorry if my post came across as voting for Crosby as winner.
I do believe that he already deserves a few 4th, 5th place votes already (that’s on some PHWA voters’ (who actually vote by true definition of award) cards giving him a 4th or 5th placed vote; they don’t put just one name down on their ballot; they put ranked votes.
And again this is based on true definition of the award …. “Most valuable to HIS team” and NOT League MVP/MOP
I truly believe Crosby has done more for Pittsburgh than say Reinhart has for Panthers; and more for Penguins than any other player on say 2/3rds of the NHL teams (their player doing the most for that team).
Crosby to Pittsburgh way more than any player (to his team) on say: Columbus; Arizona; Detroit; Montreal, etc etc etc
I had forgotten about Hellybuck. My bad. Don’t get to see as many Western Conference games
This will come down to (1) ranking of votes by the few PHWA members (; (2) skewed voting membership (BTW heavily skewed membership in Eastern Conference); but most importantly (3) erroneous bias in favour of voting for League MVP/MOP over true definition of award,
With you on vote consideration of Hughes (another Western Conference guy I forgot) . Sorry about that.
Definitely not with you re: Miller. Hughes by far more valuable to Canucks than Miller.
I do think players (Lindsay) will vote heavily for McDavid/MacKinnon/Kucherov trio and my guess is that they land on McDavid
4th place in Lindsay likely to be one of Hughes, Hellybuck, Pasta; Panarin; Mathews (NOT listed in order BTW)
Ya, I wouldn’t have Crosby in the top 5 this year.
8787, you are making the exact same argument, even posting the language of the award criteria, as…… Pengy! Also the MOP vs MVP thing. Same deal. So how do you thing the Argos will do this year?
So if you aren’t Pengy, it’s almost like you are going out of your way, to seem like Pengy. Which is a bit weird, but I also respect the dedication to the task. Or you’re just Pengy, and how ya doin’!
valuable = best. Or the definition – a thing that is of great worth. Isn’t the best, worth the most?
How the heck are folks who vote supposed to quantify who is “most valuable to HIS team”. Way to subjective.
So the voters should pick a really good player, who’s team mates are not quite as good as the rest of the really good players?
And oh yeah, the player’s team has to make the playoffs, as some media folks have said to justify their votes. Counterintuitive anyone?
You might be right Pengy, that is how the voters will look at it. But I think it’s a dumb way to determine who gets the leagues most prestigious award.
Rant over.
CO, I have the Vezina going to Hellebuyck but i don’t have him in the top 3 for the Hart.
Hellebuyck isn’t the only reason Winnipeg is winning, they also play a strong defensive game and push alot of shots to the outside. This team is also deep up front.
Winnipeg has 10 players with 10 plus goals, which doesn’t count Monahan with 8 goals and Toffoli 4 goals in a Winnipeg uniform, as you know both players have more then 10. Monohan 21 goals and Toffoli 30 goals.
The jets are a very good team and can throw out 4 lines that are tough to play against.
I’d argue for crosby to be in the conversation had he continued to carry the team on his back even after Jake’s trade. He hasn’t.
Hi Ray
Rant acknowledged
Valid points
I agreed with him then ; and I would think he’s not changed his mind.
Need you to speak up here Pengy as I’m once again being mistaken as you.
We agree on some things; mostly Penguins issues; probably all Crosby issues. We are mostly in synch with thoughts on Johnston except I don’t HATE him like you. I’m definitely not a hater of Ruhweedel like you. Not a superstar by any stretch; and yes agree he sometimes goes on wrong side and he’s not very big; but he’s a steady average 3rd pairing guy that gives all every game. I will never ever be a Leafs fan.
Ray
Not sure who the Argos is or what thing he/she will be doing?
Re “How the heck are folks who vote supposed to quantify who is “most valuable to HIS team”. Way to subjective.”
They shouldn’t “quantify” per se. This IS a subjective award.
I truly believe most of the PHWA voters will disregard the actual definition; and will end up ranking their votes for League MVP/MOP; and for that reason; I believe they (as a whole) will have the majority of their collective first, second, and third placed votes for McDavid or MacKinnon or Kucherov…. Big stats, big headlines will lead to biased voting to go their way
Will Hughes, Panarin, Hellebuck, Mathews, Reinhart get 1st, 2nd , 3rd placed votes…. Of course; just not as many as McDavid/MacKinnon/Kucherov
This is a subjective thing and I wouldn’t put it past a PHWA voter who covers Penguins to give Crosby a 3rd place vote; with others giving him a 4th or 5th (not many but s few).
That’s my thought now
However, if the miracle does happen (3% chance now) and Crosby somehow vaults Penguins to make the playoffs; then he’ll get a few more 4th and 5th votes
If I vote by heart and don’t care of repercussions; of course I vote for Crosby
If I vote for national pride without care of repercussions then of course my vote would be for Hughes or Hellybuck or Mathews
Me voting with only using the proper Hart definition…. The answer is different again
Me voting for League MVP/MOP; different votes again
In summary, I’d think with an extremely high degree of pribability that
The PHWA voters based in Toronto will have Mathews as number 1 on their card; then rank 2nd and onward with their beliefs on League MVP/MOO thereafter;
Any PHWA voters from Winnepeg will have Hellebuyck as #1; Edmonton based will have McDavid as #1; Rangers base…Panarin; Avs based… MacKinnon; Boston… Pasta etc
For the 20-25 franchises (including Pittsburgh) who don’t have a true contender for this award…. They’ll have their top “local” guy on ballot somewhere in the 3rd-6th ranking spot to show local pride and “appease” local support; and likely vote top two slots in order of who they truly believe is the League’s MVP/MOP
1st place votes count more than second that count mote than 3rd…. Score is tallied….. that’s how yhey got the ‘02 tie Inginla/Theidore; tie broken as Theodore had 2 or three more 1st placed votes than Iginla)
This year will be interesting
There is likely a much tighter race for Norris
I would have to disagree with 8787’s comment about Crosby being way more important to his team than anyone on Detroit. Larkin has been to Detroit at least as important to his team as Crosby to his. If “important to his team” is the criteria, the put Larkin right up there with Crosby. But I would put Kucherov, McDavid, MacKinnon, Pasternak, and Hellebuyck above both Crosby and Larkin, probably a few others too.
Hi Iago
I don’t challenge Larkin as most valuable to Detroit
I do cede he does a ton of workload for the team
Larkin to Detroit vs Crosby to Pittsburgh; close; but I choose Crosby to Pittsburgh
But heh; I live in Pittsburgh, you live in Detroit; so
1) we are both more familiar with our “local” guy
And
2) have our own built in local bias
Neither are winning Hart so our points are moot
Me going with Hellebuyck is definitely going off most valuable to HIS team.
And I disagree with your take on Miller. Arguably 3 canucks could be in this conversation. Pettersson, Hughes and Miller.
Take any one of them off that team and they probably look a lot different today.
Agree with Ray, not only is Crosby not in the top 5, I don’t think I’d put him in the top 20 today.
And certainly not based on near impossible hypotheticals.
Without using hypotheticals, I’m putting at least 20 players before him today.
This is a lot of the Penguin fan talking here.
As a Ranger fan, I’d certainly put Panarin in the conversation, but I’m putting 5 players in front of him at least.
If Panarin isn’t a top candidate, zero chance Crosby has a snowballs chance in hell.
Basing all of this on reality rather than hypotheticals. I go with Hellebuyck.
Agree with you re Crosby and 20 or so ahead regarding League MVP/MOP
I was talking re true definition of award (which I doubt more than a handful of PHWA voters will actually base their vote on; and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were PHWA voters who actually though the definition of the award was for League MVP/MOP)
Re Hughes/Miller/Pettersson
Sorry, I have to go Hughes first.
Miller and Petterson are very valuable to Cannucks; but to me; not as much as Hughes is
Re “Take any one of them off that team and they probably look a lot different today.”
Absolutely
But my contention is that a Hughesless Canucks team finishes behind a Millerless Cannucks team OR a Pettersonless Canucks team
We’re all hockey fans here; all keen armchair GMs; all with our own beliefs and biases
I just would not put Petterson or Miller ahead of Hughes
One of those three will be #1 ranked on the ballots from the PHWAs members voting that are based in Vancouver
For me the Hart goes to Kucherov by a mile. Tampa has scored 244 goals so far and Kucherov has been involved in 122 of them. 50% of his teams total production.
Goals created per game, Kucherov is first ahead of MacKinnon, McDavid is 4th.
Points per game Kucherov is first.
Goals created total Kucherov is first over MacKinnon, McDavid is 5th.
When you factor in Vasy has been average, Stamkos and Hedman are not having their typical years, if not for Kucherov Tampa would be a non factor.
TLDR
8787,
I agree that neither Crosby of Larkin will be the MVP.
And maybe there are two other things we might agree on:
1 – Without Crosby in Pittsburgh, or Larkin in Detroit, both teams might be battling SJ & Chicago for the leagues worst record this year.
2 – If Crosby didn’t lose so much time injured in 2011 – 2013, Pittsburgh probably has at least one more Cup to their name, maybe more.
Boston Bruins… there’s no doubt that the NYR are a better team, better D.. better O.. better special teams ..Bruins came out with jump but got a push back in the middle of the 1st period and didn’t recover ..this is my opinion… the overall team D is suspect with # 25 & # 27 are very overrated
Bruins…. Its very possible that after this stretch of games that the Bruins could finished in 3rd or 4th place in the East .. with NYR..Florida..Carolina jumping them
Joe don’t get to caught up on the regular season. I wouldn’t say Boston was out played , it was a good balance game and Rangers got two breaks on Panarins goals.
Boston top 10 restriction is officially removed, the worst they could finish in the standing today is 11th.
Not quite shore what Lindholm was doing on the the Fox goal, he was over in the far right corner and had to skate pass Carlo to try and get back in position, a little to late.
Swayman needs to recapture his game! I too feel the defense is suspect and not just 48! Can t leave Lohrei and Wotherspoon out of the lineup too long!I feel that 73 is trying to do to much all over the ice! Forcing things that aren t there! Please tell him to shoot the puck,to unselfish!
I’m with Joe, I thought after the 15 minutes, the B’s got seriously out played.
Swayman’s turn to struggle a bit, he’ll likely bounce back just like Ullmark did. I would simply rotate the 2 of them in the playoffs just like they did during the season. Historically teams ride one guy but I have no idea why you would change when it works so well.
Caper, I’ve never placed a sports bet (other than horses) in my life, but I’m going to put a hundred on the Jets. I totally agree with your assessment of the team, and right now, they have the best goalie of the year in net with a strong backup. That is one tough and thorough line up!
Rock …. Look at the price you get on a $100 bet for a Jets/Canes ..SC final
Re; Eastern Confrence
over the next 2 seasons your going to see these 4 young teams in the playoffs locking down the 6,7,8th spots
NJ,
all they need is a starting Goaltender
Hab’s
a couple of tweaks
Sabers,
1 older shut down d/man
Ottawa
A starting Goaltender,
A Big Shut down d/man
The old boy Teams will go into a Re-build
NYI, Pen’s, & Cap’
I keep hearing the Sabres will make this jump, I stopped listening about 3-4 years ago.
Hold on to that thought on the 4 young teams! They need to learn how to win,not play just well enough to lose!Start in Goal,they all need a major upgrade there!Next is coaching,a revolving door in NJ, and Ottawa, Montreal hires a guy who never coached before and the Detroit guy looks like a character in the Wizard of Oz!
The Sens are just laughable now. I secretly hope they are tanking on purpose but I honestly think they are just hopeless.
Geeeesh, MacKinnon could possibly get 10 points alone tonight? However, don’t really care if he gets Hart, we want the Stanley Cup, that’s the trophy he wants, too. GO AVS!!!!
Ya Tommy Boy, Mack is playing as good as anybody. And McDavid really only cares about the cup too. Although I’m sure he would prefer both!
I think Mack and McDavid are the 2 best forwards in the NHL, year in, year out. Has to be a C doesn’t it, unless the W is really far ahead in offense?
For the Hart, those 2, Kucherov because of what Snold49 said, which was a good point and had no idea how much more he had than the rest of the team, Pasta (similar carrying of the load) and Hellebuyck, who I also never thought of because he’s a tender.