NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 24, 2024
The Predators set a franchise-record points streak, the Canucks and Rangers continue their push for the Presidents’ Trophy, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Nashville Predators extended their points streak to a franchise-record 17 games (15-0-2) by blanking the Detroit Red Wings 1-0. Juuse Saros turned in a 23-save shutout and Filip Forsberg scored the only goal for the Predators (42-25-4) as they hold the first Western Conference wildcard berth with 88 points. Alex Lyon stopped 31 shots for the 36-29-6 Red Wings as they cling to the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot with 78 points.
Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Forsberg also dropped the gloves with Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider in a rare fight between NHL stars. It was Forsberg’s third career scrap and Seider’s first. Meanwhile, the Predators’ points streak is the league’s longest this season.
Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander tallied twice in a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames. Canucks center Elias Lindholm scored against his former club as the Canucks improved to 45-18-8 to move into first place in the overall standings with 98 points. A.J. Greer assisted on both Flames goals as his club’s record dropped to 33-31-5.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm has been struggling to score since the Canucks acquired him on Jan. 31. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the 29-year-old center will be meeting with a specialist this week as he and the Canucks manage his undisclosed injury on a day-to-day basis.
The New York Rangers rallied to down the Florida Panthers 4-3 on a shootout goal by Artemi Panarin, who scored twice in regulation, including the tying goal late in the third period. The Rangers improved to 47-20-4 to sit second overall with 98 points. Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe had a goal and an assist each as the Panthers (45-20-5) are winless in their last four games (0-3-1) and slipped to fifth overall with 95 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks hold first overall with 39 regulation wins over the Rangers’ 38.
Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins (41-16-15) tumbled out of first overall into third with 97 points following a 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Tyson Foerster snapped a 2-2 tie late in the third period and Travis Konecny scored two goals for the 36-29-9 Flyers as they remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 81 points. Bruins forward Justin Brazeau scored to extend his goal streak to three games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers captain Sean Couturier returned to action after being a healthy scratch from the last two games.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann scored twice and collected an assist in a 6-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Pontus Holmberg also had two goals and Auston Matthews netted his league-leading 58th goal of the season for the 40-20-9 Maple Leafs, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 89 points. Oilers winger Zach Hyman moved into second place in the goalscoring race with his 49th of the season as his club (42-22-4) sits second in the Pacific Division with 88 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov left this game in the third period with what appeared to be an injured left leg. After the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe said he believes Samsonov will be fine. Meanwhile, Leafs winger Tyler Bertuzzi missed this game with an illness.
An overtime goal by Vladislav Gavrikov lifted the Los Angeles Kings over the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3. Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar had two points each for the 37-22-11 Kings, who sit three points back of the Oilers in third place in the Pacific Division with 85 points. Steven Stamkos scored twice in the third to force overtime for the 38-25-7 Lightning as they hold the first Eastern wildcard with 83 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov collected an assist for his league-leading 123rd point of the season.
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel scored two goals to reach 500 career NHL regular-season points in a 4-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Daniil Tarasov kicked out 43 shots for the Blue Jackets. The Golden Knights hold the final Western wildcard with a record of 38-25-7 (83 points) while the Blue Jackets slipped to 23-36-12.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill left this game with an undisclosed injury in the third period. There was no update on his condition following the game.
The St. Louis Blues kept their playoff hopes alive with an overtime goal by Brandon Saad to nip the Minnesota Wild 5-4. Jordan Kyrou tallied a hat trick and Pavel Buchnevich picked up three assists for the 38-30-3 Blues as they sit four points behind the Golden Knights with 79 points. Marco Rossi scored two goals for the 34-28-9 Wild.
Speaking of keeping playoff hopes alive, the New York Islanders ended a six-game skid with a 6-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Cal Clutterbuck scored twice while Mathew Barzal and Hudson Fasching had a goal and two assists each for the Islanders (30-25-15) as they’re three points back of the Red Wings with 75 points. The Jets dropped to 44-21-5 but hold third place in the Central Division with 93 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck got the hook in the second period after giving up five goals on 26 shots. However, it’s fair to say that his teammates let him down, playing terribly in front of him.
The Ottawa Senators ended a three-game skid by downing the New Jersey Devils 5-2. Brady Tkachuk, Thomas Chabot and Mathieu Joseph collected two points each for the 29-36-4 Senators. Jesper Bratt and Tomas Nosek replied for the 34-33-4 Devils.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No disrespect to the Senators but the Devils should’ve taken this must-win game. With 72 points, they’re six points out of the final Eastern wildcard berth. Losing to one of the league’s worst teams could be the final nail in the coffin for the Devils’ postseason hopes.
A four-goal rally culminated in a 5-4 overtime victory for the Chicago Blackhawks over the San Jose Sharks. Seth Jones scored twice, including the game-winner for the 20-46-5 Blackhawks. Fabian Zetterlund and Thomas Bordeleau scored two goals each for the 16-46-8 Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is a season of suck for the Sharks but there is a glimmer of hope for their future. Top prospect Will Smith scored four goals for Boston College in a 6-2 win over Boston University to win the NCAA Hockey East Championship. Smith leads the NCAA this season with 67 points.
San Jose s best hope is for Smith to befriends with Celebrini so he joins him on the Sharks! Smith and Celebrini would make up 2/3 rds of a good line!
Bruins are a different team pre ASB and post ASB ….goaltending has dropped off some and team D isn’t playing well… their play in the last 1 or 2 minutes of a period is terrible…I can see a 4th place finish in the East
Joe,I honestly thought they would be 7-8 seed with their goaltending being the difference! When all is said and done,that s where they could fall,especially if their goaltending becomes average! 88 and 63 not being on the scoresheet is troubling!
Sr…….BM is going to be 36 in May with a year left on contract, probably getting near the end for him, after this season a year or two tops
Joe they have 2 players in the AHL Merkulov who is 5th in scoring and Lysell who at 20 yrs old is one of the youngest players in the AHL and he is14th in scoring! The youth movement is not far away!
Why do all NHL teams (seemingly) keep overpaying for average talent when they have young (cheap) prospects (early 20’s, not 17yo’s) in their systems and give these longish contracts (4×4 or 5×4 etc…) then find themselves losing. Why not bring in the younger ‘prospect’ on cheap contract and they sink or swim, The teams are losing anyway with the overpaid ‘veterans’. A year or two later they then have terrible even older veterans still on these contracts no one will take and have to somehow ‘fit’ their new prospects into tight salary cap. This is a serious question. Just pay cheap contracts to prospects and see how they play in NHL once and for all (the expensive veterans play just as badly as the young prospects but just cost ALOT more). They all (GMs) seemingly do the same behavior and no one breaks out and just plays their younger talent (salary floor being understood). Are they afraid of breaking from the herd?
Good point Jeremy, and there was at least one team who did exactly as you suggested. When asked why Detroit added no players at the TDL, Steve Yzerman referred to the high cost of adding depth, and stated that his team would rely on their AHL depth rather than overpay for 4th line forwards, 3rd pair defensemen, or a depth goalie.
Lyle, you won’t get an argument from me when you you describe Ottawa as “one of the worst teams” – I think I’ve underscored that sentiment on numerous occasions.
However, the facts show that N.J. is barely marginally better to this date.
They sit with 72 pts after 71 gp with a 34 33 4 record scoring 231 goals while giving up 244.
Ottawa, with 69 gp, has a 29 36 4 record and 62 pts, scoring 220 goals while relinquishing 246.
So, after 4/5 of a season a 10 point margin while playing 2 more games with 5 more wins and 3 less losses, 11 goals for more and only 2 goals against less suggests – to this viewer at least – that the teams are close to being identical and that N.J. is not that far off from being among “the worst in the league.”
GeorgeO, you know the saying “you are what your record says you are.”
George, with Chabot, Sanderson and Chychrun left shot dman. Both Chabot and Sanderson under long term contracts and $8m and $8.5m. Knowing Chychrun is playing his off side. Do you think they might be a trade coming? Sanderson isn’t going anywhere.
As I’ve posted several times, caper, Andlauer – and especially Staios – have NO attachment to any among a roster built by Dorion.
Having said that, unless someone makes what can only be termed a mind-blowing offer it’s clear Sanderson, Tkachuk, Stutzle, Batherson, Pinto, Zub, Greig and Giroux will be part of the roster next season. Nor would I deal Joseph, Bernard-Docker nor Chychrun, although a “decent” offer for each would have to be considered.
EVERYONE else is available for the right return as the team absolutely needs a change in “character” through either trade or free agent signings.
A combination of the Tarasenko deal and the expiry of other UFAs and buy-outs/withheld cap, not to mention the $4.5 mil increase in the cap, gives Staios just over $21 mil to spend this summer.
He MUST focus on the bottom 6 Fs, a couple of hard-nosed D AND the goalie tandem. Otherwise, they’ll be headed for an 8th straight year out of the playoffs.
Should be a snap!
George you named 11 players as guys that could be traded if a mind-blowning offer is made. Like you, I doubt that happens simply because a majority of them won’t be valued as such by anyone else.
With new ownership/leadership, it will take about 5 more years (give or take a couple) before we see what this team is all about and have fully imprinted their identity the new ownership wants. Until then, they will tease and heartbreak their fans.
George interesting you left Chabot name off your list.
The answer to my question then is, you would prefer to see Chabot moved.
Yes. With Kleven and Guenette showing signs of moving up full-time and/or a hard-nosed D or 2 hopefully obtained through trade or off the UFA list, I would hope Staios can find someone interested in Chabot – along with Brannstrom.
What Both NJ & Sen’s have in common
is
No Starting Goaltender, if you dont have a starter in net your going no where
Ether Chabot, Or Chychrun is getting traded for a Goaltender 100% …..Named
Ullmark or Saros
\
Then they will look for a top 4 Rd/man more than likly the X Calgary Flame Or a RD UFA
on July 1st.
Re the Oilers,
They need to put Way more effort into the 1st & 2nd periods and not just turn it on for the 3rd period like they have been doing now for a month….❗️
if the forwards started to come back and play a
little defence like the did in the 3rd that would help out…🤔