NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2024
The Canucks, Jets, Panthers and Rangers win the opening games of their first-round series, plus updates on William Nylander and Evander Kane in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: It was ’80s night for the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche as the Jets held off the Avs 7-6 in Game 1 of their best-of-seven opening-round playoff series. Kyle Connor and Adam Lowry each scored two goals and Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves for the Jets while Cale Makar had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche. Game 2 goes on Tuesday in Winnipeg starting at 10:30 pm ET.
Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I wasn’t kidding about this game being a throwback to the wide-open scoring of the 1980s. NHL Media indicates this was the second playoff game in league history where both teams combined for six-plus goals in multiple periods. The last time that happened was Game 1 of the 1982 division semifinals between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings.
Makar set a franchise record as the all-time leading playoff scorer among Avalanche defensemen with 68 points. He broke Sandis Ozlolinsh’s record of 65 points.
The Jets deserved this win but the Avalanche dominated the play. Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev’s poor play was their undoing. As Colorado Hockey Now’s Evan Rawal noted, the even-strength stats were in the Avs’ favor, out-shooting the Jets 39-19 and leading them in scoring chances (28-16) and high-danger scoring chances (10-7).
Hellebucyk was solid but gave up six goals as the Avs exploited the Jets’ porous defense. With better goaltending for the Avalanche, the outcome of this game might have been different.
Jets head coach Rick Bowness agreed. Following this game, Bowness said he’ll take the win though this game didn’t go as they drew it up.
The Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals 4-1 to draw first blood in their opening-round series. Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe opened the scoring with his first NHL playoff goal and Jimmy Vesey had a goal and an assist. Martin Fehervery replied for the Capitals while team captain Alex Ovechkin was held without a shot. Game 2 is Tuesday night in New York at 7 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers took control of this game with three quick goals in the second period. Their depth advantage was apparent in this contest, effectively neutralizing the Capitals’ offense and successfully exploiting defensive breakdowns.
Capitals defenseman Vincent Iorio left this game in the second period with an apparent shoulder injury following a hit from Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere.
Third-period goals by Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk enabled the Florida Panthers to hold off the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in Game 1 of their first-round series. Sam Reinhart opened the scoring for the Panthers while Brandon Hagel and Steven Stamkos replied for the Lightning. The two clubs face off again on Tuesday at 7:30 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers were the better team through most of this game, especially in the first period. Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy kept this game close, giving his teammates a chance to rally back when they were on their heels during the first 16 minutes of this game.
The Vancouver Canucks got three goals in the third period (two from Dakota Joshua) to overcome a 2-1 deficit and earn a 4-2 series-opening win over the Nashville Predators. Quinn Hughes collected two assists for the Canucks, who were playing their first playoff home game since 2015. Jason Zucker and Ryan O’Reilly replied for the Predators. Game 2 will be Tuesday at 10 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: After the game, Predators head coach Andrew Brunette blamed the loss on a defensive breakdown after the Canucks tied the game. He said it reminded him of his team’s similar problem earlier this season with shifts following a goal, blaming a lack of focus at a key moment.
IN OTHER NEWS…
THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reported sources claiming William Nylander awoke on Thursday morning with an issue that needed attention. There’s no indication it was the result of on-ice play during the final games of the regular season or an off-ice incident.
The Toronto Maple Leafs winger remained “pretty stiff” 48 hours later when his club faced off in Game 1 of their first-round series with the Boston Bruins.
Nylander skated in the Bruins practice rink on Sunday. However, Johnston indicated he appeared to be laboring early in the session and frequently hunched over while regrouping between drills.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs aren’t providing updates regarding their sidelined players. That’s generating speculation about the nature of the injury and its severity. It remains to be seen if Nylander will be ready to suit up for Game 2 on Monday at 8 pm ET.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Evander Kane revealed he’s been dealing with a sports hernia this season. The ailment recently flared up as his club prepares for their opening-round playoff series with the Los Angeles Kings, leaving him questionable for Game 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would also explain why Kane’s performance has been inconsistent this season.
THE MERCURY NEWS: San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier isn’t ruling out the possibility of a coaching change after his club finished last in this season’s overall standings. Asked if head coach David Quinn would return for a third season, Grier said he was still gathering information and would review everything before a decision is made.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A depleted roster this season didn’t make Quinn’s job any easier. Part of it was due to Grier’s offseason trades and injuries to key players such as Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl, with the latter traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on March 8.
Heh. A full house if white-clad fans – both inside and outside the arena – turn out expecting a hockey game and got a shinny game instead.
Holy porous D and goaltending Batman!
That, of course, will settle down – but it sure was fun to watch.
If there was one team with cup aspiration that needed to improve their goaltending at the trade deadline that would be Colorado.
You beat Hellebuyck 6 times and lose. yikes.
Their can’t be a single player on Colorado that feels safe with any lead with Georgiev in nets.
I had a different opinion then the folks on sportnet when saying Winnipeg doesn’t want to get in a run and gun with the Av’s. As long as Georgiev is in nets I play that style.
TB only two pp against Florida and the second one with just over a minute left in the game. This series doesn’t bold well for Tampa if the ref decided to just let them play.
Will Washington win a game?
Boston put out a PP unit with Danton Heinen, Kevin Shattenkirk and Pat Maroon on it. A total caphit of $2,625,000 for 3 players starting on your first pp unit. I’m not a fan of this setup. Shattenkirk i don’t mind.
Nylander had stiffness over 24hr…. well then
Georisieve is the correct spelling…
They have maxed out on what they are going to get from Heinen!
I get that teams want to show confidence in their starter, but the Avs must be discussing starting Annunen for game 2. Very little NHL experience, and the moment might get the better of him. Then it’s tough to go back to Georgiev if Annunen struggles as well. Tough call for the Avs.
Georgiev looked small in the net and his body language reminded me of Campbell when he was struggling in Edmonton. Can’t get into someone’s head from afar on a TV, but sure seems like a guy who is struggling with confidence and doesn’t trust his game right now.
And I thought the chicks dug Willie for his salad.
Yes what a crap first line pp!
Colorado set up your off season trade for Ullmark now!To bad you traded for Boyam,he would have been perfect in a one for one with Boston!
There could be a significant amount of goalies available this offseason. Don’t think any of them bring back a piece as valuable as a Bowen
Crap
Missed the “shoot out the lights” game . I’ll have to check out the highlights
I can’t believe I’m saying this; but I’m cheering for Rangers.
Purely for pool reasons. I went with logic/gut and drafted 8 Rangers and 2 Oilers.
I was going to load up on Dallas but I was 12th Pick (of 14 guys) and Robertson, Pavelski, Johnston and Hintz were already gone by the time of my first pick.
Got Panarin with 12th pick
I know as a Pens fan, picking a Ranger laden team is blasphemy (and I did get ribbed huge); but I’m just going on logic and ignoring the President’s trophy curse
Need Rangers to win 4 series, all high scoring; all preferably 6 or 7 games
Definitely one of the craziest games I’ve ever attended. Some really brutal turnovers by the Jets gave the Avs three free goals and 0% on the PK gave them 2 more. Jets definitely need to tighten up ASAP.
I feel the same about the Avalanche. As terrible as Georgiev is at least 3 of those goals are the fault of those in front of him. Easy “lay up” goals that should never happen? Manson give away, Scheifle standing all alone in the crease and wht is Makar pinching where he has no business doing so? Really terrible defensive decisions as well!!!
Hearing noise that the Bruins might go to Ullmark for game 2 tonight … don’t do it ..ride Sway till he loses and then think about making the shift..
Joe, I had that exact same discussion with my kid before the series started and again after Swayman stood on his head. Super tough call.
The traditional strategy is ride the hot tender and one guy all the way. But the clear #1 strategy has existed in the regular season as well, the splits in games really haven’t become a thing until the B’s started doing it with these 2 and it has been outstanding. So you could argue why change when it is proven to work so well? Even when one guy steals a game for you, they still stuck with it.
Last year Monty took some heat for not going to Sway sooner, but Linus didn’t pay the type of game that Swayman just did. Can he carry the load when he has never been asked to do it before?
My guess is Monty goes with Sway as it is the safer call and you won’t get 2nd guessed. If you lose Ullmark gets the next one. But you have a chance to go up 2 zip.
Before the playoffs I would have suggested rotate them, why F with what works. So is it just recency bias that I am now wavering or…?
Glad I don’t need to make that call.
Crazy game. Colorado’s speed gave the Jets fits all game long. And Lowry’s goal posts score was mind boggling. Of course Georgy has to be better, but the Avs D wasn’t a whole lot better than Winnipeg’s.
Definitely a game that neither team or coach was happy with.