NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 28, 2024
The Islanders and Lightning stave off elimination, the Bruins push the Leafs to the brink, and the Stars cut their series deficit in half against the Golden Knights. Check out the latest in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The New York Islanders staved off elimination with a 3-2 victory in Game 4 over the Carolina Hurricanes on a double-overtime goal by Mathew Barzal, who finished the game with two goals. Semyon Varlamov kicked out 42 shots for the Islanders while Seth Jarvis and Stefan Noesen scored for the Hurricanes, who hold a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven opening-round series. Game 5 is Tuesday, Apr. 30 in Carolina starting at 7:30 pm EDT.
New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders played desperation hockey to keep their season alive. It was Barzal’s best game of the series while Varlamov was outstanding between the pipes. The Hurricanes still dominated the play for long stretches in this game. They’ll be determined to finish this series in front of their fans in Raleigh.
Steven Stamkos scored twice and Nikita Kucherov collected three assists for the Tampa Bay Lightning to avoid being swept from the first round by dropping the Florida Panthers 6-3. Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel and Victor Hedman each had three points for the Lightning. Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart and Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored for the Panthers to cut the Lightning’s lead to 4-3 before Stamkos and Nick Paul put the game out of reach. The Panthers hold a 3-1 lead in this series, which returns to Sunrise, Florida for Game 5 on Monday, Apr. 29 at 7 pm EDT.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning got a big lift with the surprising return of defenseman Mikhail Sergachev for his first game since breaking his left leg in February. He collected an assist on Hagel’s second goal of the game. The Bolts’ power play was a big factor, going two-for-five with the man advantage.
The Boston Bruins are a win away from eliminating the Toronto Maple Leafs following their 3-1 victory in Game 4. Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist and Jeremy Swayman stopped 24 shots for the Bruins, who hold a 3-1 series lead and can wrap things up on Tuesday in Boston starting at 7 pm EDT. Mitch Marner scored his first of the series for the Leafs while an illness forced Auston Matthews from the game after the second period.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins did a masterful job shutting down the Leafs offense. They also went one-for-three on the power play and killed off three penalties. Ilya Samsonov gave up three goals on 17 shots and was replaced by Joseph Woll for the third period.
The Leafs’ frustration was evident as the game progressed, culminating in TV cameras catching Matthews, Marner and William Nylander in animated conversation on the bench. After the game, the players denied any tension between them but it’s apparent they’re struggling to find a way to beat the Bruins.
Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston scored twice, including the winner in overtime, in a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, reducing their deficit in this series to two games to one. Miro Heiskanen scored to give the Stars a 2-0 lead before Brayden McNabb and Jack Eichel tied the game to force the extra frame. Jake Oettinger made 32 saves for the Stars while Logan Thompson stopped 42 for the Golden Knights. Game 4 goes on Monday in Las Vegas with a 9:30 pm EDT start.
PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK
WINNIPEG SUN: Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon is listed as day-to-day and received no structural damage to his left hand after being cut by a skate blade during a scuffle at the end of Game 3 of their first-round series with the Colorado Avalanche.
THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators defenseman Spencer Stastney is week-to-week with an upper-body injury after being hit by Vancouver Canucks forward Dakota Joshua during Game 3 of their first-round series on Friday.
Predators forward Michael McCarron was fined $2,000.00 for goaltender interference after knocking down Canucks goaltender Casey DeSmith behind his net during Friday’s game between the two clubs.
IN OTHER NEWS…
DAILY FACEOFF: Jaromir Jagr intends to play for his hometown team Rytiri Kladno in 2024-25 but indicated it will be his last professional season. The 52-year-old played just 15 regular-season games for Kladno this season, spending two months in the United States as the Pittsburgh Penguins retired his No. 68. He also became the oldest player to score a goal in professional hockey, surpassing the legendary Gordie Howe.
Islanders,Tampa putting off the inevitable! Toronto in need of a heart transplant! No matter who they add at the deadline ,same old leafs!
Absolutely didn’t see game 4 of Bruins/Leafs going in that direction … B’s need to close this out in game 5 … we’ve seen this show before in the past … lose game 5 there will be a game 7
Of all the series where a team is down 3-1, the most impressive in my view have been the dogged NYI . In the 4 games played, and not counting 2 empty-net goals, they have been outscored 11-9, with a game to game average score of 3-2 in favour of Carolina.
In the category shots on goal, Carolina is ahead 32 – 28.
On the season the Hurricanes finished 17 points ahead of the NYI, scoring 279 while giving up 216 for a differential of +63. The Islanders, a WC entry, scored 246 while relinquishing 263 for a differential of -17.
Many called for a 4-game. dominating sweep. It has been anything but. A lot of credit for that has to go to Roy who has his team playing full out for 60 minutes every night – and 61.24 last night.
I’d love to see them take game 5 in Carolina.
Bottom line,they play just well enough to lose!
Granted … but they give every ounce of what combined ability they have in doing so, and the opposing team is never going to win in a waltz.
What jarred me after the Leaf s-Boston game was the fact that that marked the SIXTH straight playoff game loss at home for the Leafs.
Oh, and good to see Dallas finally win one – IN Vegas.
Something else that had me going “WHAT ….” was this from Hornby’s column this morning
“The Bruins head back to Massachusetts with a 3-1 lead and on the verge of a seventh straight series win over Toronto since 1959. While the Leafs twice came back against Boston to force a seventh game in 2013 and ‘18, they ultimately fell when the B’s invoked their Causeway Street advantage. This edition appears to have no intention of letting up. ”
Holy crap! I was NOT aware of that fact – 7 straight series losses to Boston dating back to 1959 – 65 years!!
Just out of curiosity – were any Leafs fans in here aware that they just lost their 6th straight home playoff game and that they hadn’t beaten Boston whenever they faced them in the playoffs dating back that far?
What the heck is at work here? A hockey reversal of the Curse Of Ruth?
Hey George I brought that up recently that the Leafs owned the Burins up to 1959 winning 8 straight series and I thought the Bs has won the next 8 making this series the rubber match. 😜
I’d be surprised if Boston doesn’t close this out on Tuesday which should benefit the Leafs despite getting eliminated.
There should be big changes for this current iteration of this Leafs team from executives down if/when they fold next week. I really can’t see this go on much longer for this team that keeps racking up franchise records both positive and negative ones.
I’m surprised that they still have the same issues with a revolving supporting cast which to me, only proves the point that move intensive restructuring is needed and is clear what is needed. Going 4-12 at home ice (advantage?) should scream at you something’s up and it clear where to start.
If somehow the Bs choke again like last year and the Leafs win – don’t hold your breath on that – everyone will over look this and continue on but I think regardless, changes are needed executive level down. This team is very purposeless.
Ron, I missed that 8 and 8 post. Unbelievable stuff.
With a grandson and daughter-in-law both being diehard Leafs fans, I truly feel empathy for the loyal (to a fault sometimes) long-time fans of the team (so-called “national” sports personalities aside – lol).
In Ottawa’s case it’s been seasonal ineptitude at all levels for 6 seasons now, so we can’t even lament playoff failure.
At least the contracts of Muzzin, Murray and Klingberg are off the books. And, as you say, there needs to be “big changes for this current iteration of this Leafs team from executives down if/when they fold next week.”
The roster shake-up isn’t going to be easy to engineer on the surface though, with all the limiting clauses facing Treleving:
Matthews – NMC
Tavares – NMC
Marner – NMC
Nylander – NMC
Bertuzzi – NMC
Domi – M-NTC
Kampf – M-NTC
Jarnkrok – M-NTC
Rielly – NMC
Brodie – M-NTC
Edmundson RS M-NTC
Reaves – 35+ limitation
None among Matthews, Nylander nor Rielly are – or need to – go anywhere. And I still like Marner’s game when he’s healthy. Trying to play at this pace while still recovering from a high-ankle sprain is damned near impossible for a kid who relies on speed and maneuverability. He shouldn’t be going anywhere either – even if he would waive his NMC.
But how the heck do you a) move any of those others unless they waive and b) find takers with so many teams up against the cap?
Toronto needs a heart transplant, while Tampa simply follows #91. A goal a game since the trade deadline. 5 in 4 in the playoffs. To those who watch the team follow him, not a candidate for “asset management”. Meanwhile, Florida has built a team that is big, fast, deep, and talented, They are also the dirtiest team I’ve seen in a while; compared by Tampa media to the Broad street Bullies, or Canada in the Summit…..with grudging admiration by announcers who played, respectively, for the Broad Street Bullies & Canada in the Summit Series. They got called for a few and paid the price, but I do think the league has to draw the line on the crosschecks to the head and spears to the groin. 99% of the physical play is stuff my team could do pretty well before salary cap hell and the refs are a fiddle to be played to find out where the line is for each game, but there were three really dangerous intent-to-injure plays that would be suspensions in the regular season.
It’s a very easy red line to call out; pretty much any amount of banging bodies in open ice is OK, the stick as a weapon is not.
My Lightning got a couple of breaks, at home, as small guys drew penalties from big guys just doing their playoff job, but the Panthers should be down two on the roster next game for stuff that should never be part of the game.
Same stuff the pulled on Boston last year and got away with. The league has to realize that fans pay to see the stars play not the thugs. These guys need big fines or suspensions.
Richard, when Florida is losing they love to take cheap shots late in the game. Mindset is who cares about a 2 minute minor or major when there is less then a couple minutes left and they can’t win.
Once upon a time this would mean “one of yours for one of ours” next game. REf’s & leagues don’t have that perspective. If you are gonna defer to an off-ice discipline office, they oughta do their job. I don’t want to see Jeannot do a Bobby Clarke on one of the Panther forwards, I want to watch hockey. But absent discipline, the guy who took a stick to the head of Kuch should not finish game 5.
Well, the ship of asset management and Stamkos sailed at the deadline. So that is a dead issue.
The issue facing the Lightning now is, did they just let him walk for nothing?
Again, personally I believe he re-signs. But I also don’t believe it’s the right thing for the organization or the player.
Montgomery vs Keefe
Who’s coaching skill do you appreciate the most !!!!
Swayman vs Samsonov is lopsided as well
Ken, to be fair to Keefe here is the production so far by each time in terms of T op 2 and Bottom 2 lines, and D
Toronto’s Top 2 lines (minus Nylander for the most part) have provided 5g 7a 12 pts so far, which is far below that of Boston’s 2 lines that have 9g 12a 21 pts
The Leafs are also being badly outplayed where the bottom 2 lines are concerned, with those of the Bruins having 4g 3a 7 pts to the Leafs 1g 2a 3 pts.
From their D the Bruins have received 1g 7a 8pts while the Leafs have 0g 4a
In goal, as you say, it’s no contest.
But Keefe has to play the cards dealt to him for the season by Shanahan and whoever is serving as GM as dictated by cap limitations – currently $83,500,000 – and does have to play 4 lines and 6 D and his choices in goal are the experienced Samsonov (who hasn’t been playing badly at all) and a raw rookie.
To put it in perspective, the Toronto line-up is the result of having committed 66% of their cap on their 6 top paid players, while the Bruins have limited their top 6 to 52% of the cap. While has given Sweeney $39,875,000 to spread out over 17 players, while Treleving has had to the same with $28,384,634.
“by each team …” – bloody auto-correct
I think if someone brings up how much cap is allocated to their core must also bring up the fact that the cap went flat for a few years which exacerbated the imbalance in cap allocation.
I think whenever someone ignores how much and why this has hurt this team is not painting a full picture and thus missing as an important point as the fact they are trying to make. Like you can’t make that point at all if the cap didn’t stay flat as long as it has and when it did. If you want to argue otherwise, that’s fine, my points are still valid.
@George
Special teams , PP, PK
Montgomery strategy overall – blanket on the Leafs
3 goals on 17 shots vs Samsonov
Swayman is a wall in net – money goaltender
Only hope – Joseph Woll – becomes the next Ken Dryden on Tuesday , Leafs regain their confidence
But Ron, the cap issue has been the same for every team.
I’ve had a very quick look at a few other NHL teams cap allocation % for their top 5 players. Toronto is the highest (no surprise), but the difference isn’t huge compared to Tampa, Vegas or Florida, as just a small survey.
The principle reason for the Leafs failure in the playoffs is that their Core 4 don’t score, while other teams’ big name players do.
So you (and everyone else) are correct: changing the team, and breaking up at least one of the core 4, has to happen.
I do get that … but that applied to ALL teams. Boston, during the Covid flat-cap era, still had guys like Bergeron and Krejci to deal with contract-wise, and cup=winning teams like Tampa and Colorado also had to build their 23-man rosters with the same flat-cap limitations.
They all paid out some pretty big cap hits … but never to the high % on 6 players as that forked over by the Lamoriello/Dubas combination, all rubber-stamped by Shanahan.
For the record, here is the % Of Cap Spent On Their Top 6 Paid Players By Playoff Teams
Toronto – 66%
Tampa – 64%
NY Rangers – 60%
Dallas – 60%
Los Angeles – 58%
Florida – 57%
Edmonton – 56%
Vegas – 55%
Colorado – 55%
Boston – 52%
NY Islanders – 51%
Vancouver – 49%
Carolina – 48%
Nashville – 47%
Washington – 46%
Winnipeg – 45%
Interestingly the top 2 – Toronto and Tampa – are facing elimination in round 1. while Dallas is in tough against Vegas, having lost their opening 2 at home (although they began to scratch back by winning game 3 in Vegas). The Rangers should have no problem dumping probably the weakest of the playoff teams, but we’ll see how they do in round 2.
Which are the two worst performing teams in the 1st round, and… which of the two do you think would win their head-to-head matchup?
Which is the most disappointing team? Ye who has failed to live up to the hype?
Max Domi, the gift that keeps on giving.
Less than 5 minutes left in the game and Keefe puts Reaves on the ice… thank you.
The video clip, the funniest part to me is Bertuzzi just sitting there stoned face.
The series isn’t over, the difference is the special teams, the Bruins are winning both.
Has to be Swayman in game 5
Just perspective Boston loss 3 of 4 on home ice last year and is 1 of 2 on home ice this year. Seem like the road is the place to be.
Yeah, Bertuzzi just sitting there was pretty funny. I’m glad Lyle shared the link regarding the frustrated leafs – I missed that moment during the game. Also, Marner throwing his gloves and after the game informing the interviewer that “we’re grown men.” Any time you have to remind people that you’re a grown man you’re in bad shape… haha
Within a month or two of his last game, the HHOF should immediately induct Jagr in his own class. He deserves the full spotlight and will take it anyway, no need to shoehorn others alongside his moment.
Has anyone ever seen a player leave the game because he was sick of his teammate 🤔
No, but sometimes tracksuits get thrown into the showers.
Same Leafs Story as last number of years….🙈
Mitch Marner played Terrible Again last night maybe his worst game of the year…He looked like he was not trying at all last night i would have sat him on the end of the Bench….😳
When are the Leafs going to wake up and realize they cant spend 50% of the Salarys on 4 players⁉️
The Leafs need to Add 2 TOP 4 d/men to help out Morgan Reiley & Jake McCabe
use Benoit, Joel Edmundson as 3rd pairing
and
one of Ilya Lyubushkin or Conor Timmins or Timothy Liljegren as 7th d/man ? , trade the left overs….
Goaltening has been very good, Swayman and Samsonov, if the Leafs had a D core it would be tighter match
Why are the Leafs Playing that Goon Ryan Reaves ❓
Boston Wrap it up back home for Game five & Leafs book some Golfing
It’s still a seven game series.
The best Leafs are sick and far from 100% and they’re still getting some decent looks.
Fingers crossed, but I ain’t counting any chickens.
Sop if we’ve learned anything it ain’t over until it’s over.
Bruins up 3-1 it’s time to worry
Joe, that was a very different kettle of fish as Florida and Boston were as evenly matched as possible over 82 games, with Florida finishing with 110 pts 268gf 200ga +68, and Boston 109 pts 267gf 224ga +43
In the first 4 games of their series, after which Boston led 3-1 and outscored Florida 16 to 11, the last 3 went to Florida, who outscored the Bruins 15 to 11. Overall it was 27 – 26 in favour of the Bruins. As close and as tight as was the season.
Toronto ain’t Florida.
George, those season stats were from this year, not last year when Boston ran away with the President’s Cup. 135 points vs 92 for the Panthers.
No, Florida and Boston were not evenly matched last year when Florida overcame a 3-1 deficit.
However, I agree with your conclusion, Toronto ain’t Florida.
Thanks Hammer … I searched NHL Final Standings 2022-23 …. I think … lol … anyway, we agree … whether Florida last year or this … they are a far better overall team than the Leafs who have to primarily rely on 2 lines – maybe 3 D deep and goalies not among the top echelon. I just don’t see them coming back from a 1-3 deficit to force a 7th game. If that ever happened we’d be witnessing the sudden transformation of half their roster.
Sheldon keefe deserve as much or more criticism than anyone .
Just a few examples.
He decided to put Robertson on a 4th line to add scoring punch , paired with reaves and kampf??? If Robertson in for that purpose , in that spot , get reaves out .
Refuses to try anything with the PP, granted Willie coming back was a new look but do something . Boston coach has no problem separating Marchand and pasta, flips back to them in big moments on the Pp but willing to try anything to spark the unit.
Has reaves on the ice , less than 5 minutes to go, down 2.
Doesn’t pull the goalie or even think about it , 5 mins left , PP, down 2.
He saw no issue with the effort last night , Morgan Reilly sure didn’t agree if you listen to his presser.
Keefe hasn’t outcoached an opposing coach in his career in Toronto in the playoffs . Including the likes of CLB and MTL, who were not even in the same league talent wise .
He brought in Brodie last night , -2.