NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 9, 2024
Nathan MacKinnon builds his lead in the scoring race, Logan Couture laments the end of his season, the Kraken re-sign Jordan Eberle, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Valeri Nichushkin lifted the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists to match his career single-season high of 111 points as he opened a five-point lead in the scoring race. The Avalanche improved to 40-20-5 and sit third in the Central Division with 85 points. Brock Faber replied for the 30-27-7 Wild.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Nichushkin’s first game since entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program two months ago. Speaking of MacKinnon, his season-opening home points streak has reached 32 games.
The Winnipeg Jets blanked the Seattle Kraken 3-0 to remain ahead of Colorado in second place in the Central. Laurent Brossoit made 17 saves for the shutout while Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry and Nikolaj Ehlers scored for the 40-17-5 Jets (85 points) as they hold three games in hand over the Avs. Joey Daccord stopped 29 shots for the 28-24-11 Kraken.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken winger Jordan Eberle was the subject of considerable trade speculation leading to Friday’s trade deadline. However, he signed a two-year contract extension before this game worth an average annual value of $4.75 million.
Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 drubbing of the Anaheim Ducks. Chris Tanev scored his first goal since being acquired by Dallas while Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski each had a goal and an assist for the Stars (39-17-9), who remain two points ahead of the Jets and Avalanche in first place in the Central. Ryan Strome had a goal and an assist for the 23-37-3 Ducks.
The Arizona Coyotes upset the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 as Connor Ingram made 28 saves to tie the league lead in shutouts with six. Nick Bjugstad had a goal and an assist for the 26-33-5 Coyotes. With a record of 33-24-6, the Wings (72 points) cling to the first Eastern Conference wildcard berth but have lost four straight games.
HEADLINES
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks captain Logan Couture announced yesterday that his season is over. He’s still hampered by Osteitis pubis, a groin condition that limited him to just six games this season. Couture, 34, said he’s trying to live a normal life away from hockey. He’s hoping to be ready for next season but indicated his condition cannot be treated with surgery.
Noting his longtime teammate Tomas Hertl was shipped to the Vegas Golden Knights at yesterday’s trade deadline, Couture was realistic about getting moved to another club. “Who’s gonna trade for a guy who’s 35, making $8 million, and plays six games in a season,” he said. “You’re not gonna find any takers out there.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Couture’s condition could bring his playing career to an end. He’s hopeful of returning to action in 2024-25 but noted that it wasn’t guaranteed.
SPORTSNET: The Vancouver Canucks decided not to sign free-agent winger Phil Kessel. He worked out for the past month with their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said they decided the 36-year-old Kessel wasn’t a fit for their roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That probably spells the end of Kessel’s 17-season NHL career. He won three Stanley Cups, has 992 points in 1,286 career regular-season games, and holds the league’s Ironman record of 1,062 consecutive regular-season games.
SPORTSNET: Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane was fined $2,500.00 by the NHL department of player safety for unsportsmanlike conduct during Thursday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
NEW YORK POST: Rangers captain Jacob Trouba will be sidelined for two to three weeks with a lower-body injury.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Nashville Predators re-signed defenseman Dante Fabbro and forward Mark Jankowski to contract extensions. Fabbro gets a one-year deal worth $2.5 million while Jankowski inked a one-year, $1.6 million deal.
DAILY FACEOFF: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe and Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle were each fined $5,000.00 by the league for their actions during the March 7 game between the two clubs. McCabe was fined for his cross-check of Bruins captain Brad Marchand while Coyle’s was for cross-checking the Leafs’ Tyler Bertuzzi.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS’ Stephen Whyno reported the Florida Panthers claimed Tobias Bjornfot off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights, the Anaheim Ducks claimed William Lagesson from the Maple Leafs, and the Ottawa Senators claimed Boris Katchouk from the Chicago Blackhawks.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The Bruins placed defenseman Derek Forbort on long-term injury reserve with an undisclosed injury. Bruins GM Don Sweeney said Forbort’s season is “more than likely” over.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators forward Parker Kelly received a two-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of Los Angeles Kings defenseman Andreas Englund on Thursday.
Bruins….so Forbort takes a seat for the season and they bring in Peeke who’s a right Dman and has played in just 23 games this season and has a lifetime -60 +/- all for 2.7 million and 2 more years if it … bad move Sweeney
Joe he is 6’3″ 195lb shut down dman.
The bulk of his -60 came last year, he is a -2 this year in the 23 games played.
He will replace Shattenkirk who is also a -2 on a much better team.
Maybe a change of scenery, different system.
Boston was limited in what they could do.
Personally happy to see Lohrie or Lysell did not move.
Boston has good size throughout the lineup. We found out they can handle Toronto physicality and also hand out some blows.
The defense is suspect but left side Lindholm, Lohrei, Wotherspoon/Grzelcyk
Right side McAvoy, Carlo, Peeke
The Jackets were begging someone to take that contract and Sweeney obliged; even good GM’s make bad decisions
The Bruins have more LD than RD on their roster! Grezlyk,Lindholm,LOHREI ,Witherspoon. Rd are Mcavoy,Carlo,Shattenkirk,Peake! I Don t know about you but I Don t trust Carlo and his concussion issues making it deep into the playoffs!Mitchell as a RD never really panned out so it probably was not as bad a deal as it looks!
Just like with every trade, it’s going to take some time for the Avs’ new guys to integrate but they do have three days off to practice and begin to better learn how to play together. But they really need to stop with the dumb turnovers and giving up grade-A scoring chances if they’re going to make a run.
If the playoffs started today; Vancouver prize for being 1st overall would be a first round match up against Vegas.
At least 3 legitimate contenders will be eliminated in the 1st round – the 2 vs 3 matchup in every division not named “Metropolitan”. I expect Vegas to finish ahead of the Kings.
Was Coyle’s fine for the cross check that resulted in a minor because Bertuzzi ended up hit in the face by his own stick? Or was there another one that I missed? Because that seems like an unwarranted punishment to me. Are they like watching in slow motion to see how high Coyle’s stick was and guess where it was going to land if Bertuzzi didn’t block it and hit himself in the face? I wasn’t even sure that should’ve been a minor watching that game.
Marco I guess it’s natural that Burt’s stick just magically hit his face, right?