NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 27, 2024
The Rangers become this season’s first team to reach 100 points and clinch a playoff spot, Artemi Panarin and David Pastrnak reach the 100-point plateau, Josh Doan has a memorable NHL debut with the Coyotes, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The New York Rangers became the first team to clinch a playoff berth and to reach 100 points this season as they nipped the Philadelphia Flyers 6-5. Adam Fox scored in overtime, Artemi Panarin collected three assists and Alexis Lafreniere tallied twice for the 48-20-4 Rangers. Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton had a goal and an assist each for the Flyers (36-27-10) as they cling to third place in the Metropolitan Division with 82 points.
New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin (102 points) reached the 100-point plateau for the first time, sitting fourth among this season’s leading scorers.
Third-period goals by Trent Frederic and Pavel Zacha lifted the Boston Bruins to a 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers. Zacha, David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy each had a goal and an assist for the Bruins (42-16-15) as they sit third in the overall standings with 99 points. Sam Reinhart netted his 51st goal of the season as the Panthers (46-21-5) slipped to fifth overall with 97 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak reached 100 points for the second straight season and sits fifth in the scoring race.
Josh Doan scored two goals (including the game-winner) in his NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes as they defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2. Matias Maccelli and Nick Schmaltz had a goal and an assist each for the 30-37-5 Coyotes. Boone Jenner and Zack Werenski had a goal and an assist each for the 23-37-12 Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doan is the son of former Coyotes captain Shane Doan, who was in attendance watching his son’s first NHL game.
Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston scored twice and collected an assist in a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. Jamie Benn had a goal and two assists for the Stars (45-19-9), who sit second in the overall standings with 99 points. Mikael Granlund picked up two assists for the 16-47-8 Sharks.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews scored his 59th goal of the season but his club fell 6-3 to the New Jersey Devils. Jack Hughes tallied twice and Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Curtis Lazar had three points each as the Devils (36-33-4) kept their playoff hopes alive with 76 points, who sit five points back of the Capitals. William Nylander and Tyler Bertuzzi replied for the 40-22-9 Leafs, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 89 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe roasted his club in his postgame presser, ripping their “immature” performance in this contest. They also played with defensemen Morgan Rielly and Joel Edmundson. Both players are day-to-day with injuries.
The Edmonton Oilers downed the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 on an overtime goal by Zach Hyman, who now has 51 goals on the season. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid each collected two points for the Oilers (43-23-4), who sit second in the Pacific Division with 90 points. Sean Monahan scored his 22nd goal of the season for the Jets (44-22-6), who have 94 points but are winless in their last four games (0-3-1).
Two goals by Dylan Strome, including the winner in overtime, lifted the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. John Carlson collected two assists for the Capitals, who improved to 36-26-9 (81 points) to hold the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot. Patrick Kane scored the game-tying goal and Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings (36-29-7) as they dropped two points behind the Capitals.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: These clubs are going in different directions in the battle for that wildcard berth. The Capitals are surging with seven wins in their last 10 games while the Red Wings have just three victories in their last 10.
The Nashville Predators scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 on an overtime goal by Roman Josi. Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists each for the Predators (43-25-4) as they hold the first Western Conference wildcard berth with 90 points. William Karlsson and Anthony Mantha each had a goal and an assist for the 39-25-8 Golden Knights, who hold the second Western wildcard with 86 points.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists and Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 38 shots in a 4-1 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes, snapping the latter’s seven-game points streak. Dmitry Orlov replied for the Hurricanes as they slipped to 45-21-7 (97 points) to remain three points behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers. The Penguins improved to 31-30-10.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins also honored Jake Guentzel with a video tribute highlighting his nearly eight seasons in Pittsburgh before his trade to Carolina earlier this month. Following the game, Guentzel told reporters he intended to re-sign with the Penguins but he felt management had other ideas. The 29-year-old winger will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Speaking of upsets, the Montreal Canadiens downed the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 to end the latter’s nine-game win streak. Sam Montembeault made 27 saves while Nick Suzuki and Joel Armia scored for the 27-32-12 Canadiens. Nathan MacKinnon scored to extend his home points streak to 35 games and his overall streak to 19 games for the Avalanche (46-21-5), who sit two points behind the Central Division-leading Stars with 97 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon is tied with Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov in the scoring race with 123 points but Kucherov holds two games in hand. Suzuki reached a single-season high of 67 points and is one goal from reaching 30 in a season for the first time. Meanwhile, linemate Juraj Slafkovsky set a franchise record for the most points by a teenager (40) in a single season. Slafkovsky turns 20 on March 30.
The Chicago Blackhawks got two goals from Jason Dickinson to defeat the Calgary Flames 3-1. Petr Mrazek kicked out 38 shots while rookie Landon Slaggert collected two assists for his first NHL points as the Blackhawks improved to 21-46-5. MacKenzie Weegar replied for the 33-33-5 Flames.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dickinson reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his nine-season NHL career.
Seattle Kraken forwards Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen each had a goal and two assists to blank the Anaheim Ducks 4-0. Joey Daccord picked up the shutout with 12 saves for the 29-29-13 Kraken. Trevor Zegras was held scoreless in his return to the Anaheim lineup since fracturing an ankle in early January. The Ducks dropped to 24-44-4.
Congratulations out to the Rangers for being first team to lock up a playoff spot. Still could be caught by Canes for first in Metro and even though neither team would publicly say it, you’d think they’d both rather play Flyers or Capitals first round than Tampa Bay or Leafs (if Tampa catches them)
Penguins,
Let me reiterate…. The memo said Tank. How can you get 3 of 4 points from Avs and Canes but absolutely falter playing middle pack or lower teams
A regulation loss last night (which was the expected outcome) they’d be in 8th worst spot this morning with 6% chance at Celebrini, 12% chance of picking top 2. Now they are 11th worst (only 3% Celebrini chance, 6% top 2)
Rise 1 more spot and SJ gets this year’s pick
We needed last nights effort for the last month and they’d be 3rd in Metro now.
Crosby’s 7 points in last 2 games just beefs up his resume for McFarlane/Sackic
It’s going to be a race to the wire for the Art Ross:
This morning MacKinnon and Kucherov tied with MacDavd (2 games in hand on MacKinnon, 1 game in hand on Kucherov) only 4 points behind. Using their last 25 individual games averages and extrapolating to season end:
McDavid (2.08 PPG over last 25)-144
Kucherov (1.92 PPG over last 25)-142
MacKinnon (1.76 PPG over last 25)-141
With a one point differential between Philly and Washington, and 10 / 11 games to go, who knows where the seeds land?
A bit of a dangerous mindset for teams to go in fearing one team over another. A bit of a defeatist attitude no? How do you sell that to your players and still expect them to complete for you?
NY doesn’t seem to have that attitude. They’re down 3 starting d-men, and 5 total regular roster players. If NY wanted to drop a few, nobody would blink about it.
But again, not a mindset I’d want from my players. They want that #1 seed and spoke about it last night. You’re going to have some difficult match ups. Postponing them isn’t a good idea.
Agree
Finishing first is priority
No way they would say it differently out loud
My intent was to show what I feel is likely in the back of players minds…
Philly and Washington are easier opponents than Tampa Bay and Toronto are
You still have to win 4 rounds; but to win later rounds; you have to at first win round 1; build momentum; then move through the rounds
Again, won’t ever be said publicly , or even privately between teammates; but it has to be (at a minimum subconsciously) on some players’ minds
The same goes for Penguins et al who won’t utter the “tank” word; but obviously know their future is better with a lower finish as well as knowing (now) that playoffs have gone b-bye already, this year
Good teams can lose on the first round, so in theory, you would rather play the least good opponent early, as the better teams can get upset in RD 1. That is why the seed them after all.
But, you can’t sacrifice your own team play to do it. The most important thing you need to do to win in the playoffs is play well. And you do that by playing well heading in. Or at least that is how it usually works. Or at least what we have been led to believe.
If someone has the time to dig into recent history, I would like to know if it is even accurate. Do teams that finish the season hot do better in the playoffs historically?
Maroon must have been drooling thinking about playing in a Bruins – Panthers game! Right up his alley!
Sr… how tough is he going to be after back surgery ? There were a lot of other tough guys the Bruins could’ve went after but they chose him …. I would’ve rather have had Ross The Boss… ML was so happy to get back here in Boston and one night out ruins it
So pissed at ML!He would have been a god in Boston come playoff time!Still think Maroon will have a presence! 10-12 minutes a night!
Schedule makers are at it again with the Bruins and I’m sure it’s with other teams too …Bruins on a back to back nights with FL (Tues ) .TB (Wed ) .. TB hasn’t played since Sun …Bos & TB are both off Thurs & Fri this week so question is why wasn’t this game scheduled for Thurs ?
Wow! Zach Hyman is one of three players this season to score 50 goals. Could be as many as 6 this season. 6 in the entire NHL.
For some reason is success has negatively triggered some folks.
I don’t care if you come from a rich family and you had benefits that most of us didn’t.
You score 50 goals in the NHL, that is quite the feat. Congrats to Hyman, Reinhart on 50 goals season. Toronto fans be happy you have a generational talent who makes scoring goals look easy. Don’t take Matthews for granted.
Hyman is proud of his heritage and good on him, the Nhl been around for over 100 years and he is the first Jewish player to score 50 goals, this is a proud occasion for them and they are right to celebrate his accomplishments.
There is a lot of players in the nhl who come from money or parents who played pro; I won’t deny that it is an advantage but it doesn’t get you into the Nhl.
Scoring goals in the NHL doesn’t happen because you come from money; it comes from having skill.
His strong work ethic doesn’t hurt too.
Right on, Caper.
I can say nobody in Edmonton talks about how much $ his family had. I live here and didn’t know until I read your post Caper. Couldn’t care less, and anybody who does is an idiot.
They care about whether he can help the Oil win. He is a fan favorite as he works his butt off, and by all accounts is a great team mate.
Good signing by Holland.
I like how he’s a children’s author. He seems like a top drawer kinda fellow. He’s really good at hockey too. Strong motor.
I was one of those Habs fans who wanted them to take Shane Wright #1. Obviously way too early to tell and it’ll be years before we know if the right choice was made, but picking Slaf looks like a wise decision now.
So watched the B’s game and Oiler game last night. Both games were solid entertainment.
B’s got out played, again, but got 2 points. Kinda how they roll.
Oil outplayed the Jets, and almost didn’t get the win. Kinda how they roll.
Both games were physical as we push to the playoffs, physical play is picking up. Just gotta say, the Jets Oil game was faster and seemed a bit more intense. Couple scraps. Well played.
I like Dillon in WPG. Big strong guy who plays the right way. He is 33 and a pending UFA, so getting up there, but depending on what he wants for $ and term, fits what the B’s need.
Ray….wanted the Bruins to chase after Dillon after the 2021 season…… Bruins had a little push back last night but look at who was doing it ….#27 & #63, where was Freddie and Lauko ?
Outplayed,they gave up 19 shots on net!
Ya the shots were identical at 21 each.
Florida had 60% of the scoring chances and 60% of the high danger or slot chances.
That is out played IMO.