NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 1, 2024
The Avalanche and Hurricanes advance to the second round, the Leafs and Predators avoid elimination, the Calder Trophy Finalists are announced, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Winnipeg Jets 6-3 to win their best-of-seven opening-round series four games to one. Mikko Rantanen scored twice and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 34 shots for the Avalanche. They await the winner of the Dallas Stars-Vegas Golden Knights series.
Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Georgiev silenced his critics (including me) with his performance during this series. After giving up seven goals on 23 shots in Game 1, he allowed eight in the next four games with a .931 save percentage.
Winnipeg entered this series tied with the Florida Panthers for the fewest goals-against per game (2.41). Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is a Vezina Trophy finalist who won the Jennings Trophy as the goalie who played a minimum of 25 games for the team allowing the fewest regular-season goals.
However, the Jet couldn’t contain the Avs’ offense, finishing this round with the highest goals-against per game (5.40) while Hellebuyck allowed the most goals (24) among all first-round goalies thus far. They are also the first team in NHL playoff history to allow at least five goals in five straight games in a postseason round.
Three unanswered third-period goals gave the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders to take their first-round series four games to one. Jack Drury scored the winning goal and Seth Jarvis had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes, who will face the New York Rangers in the second round.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carolina’s offensive depth proved too much to contain for the Islanders. Credit Isles goaltender Semyon Varlamov for keeping his club in most of these games but his teammates lack the scoring punch to hand with the Hurricanes.
An overtime goal by Matthew Knies lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Boston Bruins 2-1 in Game 5 of their first-round series. Jake McCabe also scored and Joseph Woll made 27 saves for the Leafs. Trent Frederic replied for the Bruins as they hold a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 is Thursday, May 2 at 8 pm EDT.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the Leafs’ best game of the series. Woll’s steady goaltending gave them confidence and they did a good job containing Boston’s leading scorers. The Bruins at times appeared flat during this contest while the Leafs were fighting to keep their season alive.
The Leafs got the win without top center Auston Matthews, who missed this game with an undisclosed illness.
The Nashville Predators overcame a 1-0 deficit to beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 in Game 5 of their first-round series on goals by Roman Josi and Alexandre Carrier. Juuse Saros made 19 saves for the win. Nikita Zadorov scored and Arturs Silov turned aside 20 shots for the Canucks, who hold a 3-2 lead in this series. Game 6 is Friday (start time TBA).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a goaltender’s duel through the first two periods. It looked like the Canucks were going to put this one away following Zadorov’s goal but the Predators refused to quit.
The Predators caught a break on Josi’s goal as the puck squirted behind Silov. The Canucks goalie tried to roll over to cover the puck but was inadvertently pushed during a goalmouth scramble, knocking the puck across the goal line.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber, and New Jersey Devils blueliner Luke Hughes are this season’s finalists for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the finalists. Bedard is considered the favorite to win but Faber could make this interesting. He enjoyed a strong debut with the Wild, finishing among the rookie leaders in points and sitting among the league’s top-10 skaters in time on ice per game.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: T.J. Oshie said he has much to consider regarding his future as a player. The 37-year-old Washington Capitals winger said he’s been dealing with chronic back issues for years among other ailments.
Oshie has a year left on his contract. He said he’d love to play next season but needs assurances that he can do so without his back giving out. The Capitals winger intends to seek treatment during the offseason.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oshie has never played a full NHL season due to injuries. He saw action in only 52 games in 2023-24.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers captain Sean Couturier recently changed agents and is now represented by Pat Brisson. One reason behind the change could be due to his former agent criticizing Flyers coach John Tortorella for benching Couturier for two games. The veteran center took responsibility for his poor play leading to his benching.
Speaking of the Flyers, top prospect Matvei Michkov might be able to join the club next season if the KHL allows him out of his contract with SKA St. Petersburg. Michkov’s contract runs through 2025-26 but SKA chairman Alexander Medvedev said he has a good relationship with the Flyers front office and has regularly spoken with them.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s nothing set in stone here but Medvedev said a decision on Michkov’s future could come by the end of June.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot could undergo wrist surgery in the coming weeks. The recovery time would be between two and three months.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The sooner Chabot has the surgery the more likely he’ll be fully recovered in time for training camp in September.
DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Senators, they reportedly interviewed Travis Green for their vacant head-coaching position. Green is currently the interim coach of the New Jersey Devils.
THE ATHLETIC: And speaking of New Jersey, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas denied speculation that head coach Mike Sullivan could become the next Devils head coach. Dubas said the Devils haven’t sought permission to speak with Sullivan nor have they been granted permission.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This sounds like another example of the hockey media “telephone” game. A pundit wonders whether Sullivan would be interested in coaching the Devils because he’s friends with their general manager. People start talking about it and it morphs into Sullivan trying to get out of his contract with the Penguins to coach the Devils.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens winger Juraj Slakovskiy is undergoing some medical procedures in Montreal. It will delay him joining Slovakia at the upcoming World Championships in Czechia but isn’t expected to prevent him from playing in the tournament.
Paul Friesen is clearly correct when he writes “Jets can’t win a cup the way they’re built … regular-season success … first-round flop ,,, rinse and repeat.”
Horrible performance in overall team defense and in goal … by the consensus Vezina winner!
Much the same description has been used in assessing the Leafs’ structure … except they are clearly not ready to toss in the towel just yet. Good on young Woll and Knies for clutch performances in an elimination game without their top F. And now the seeds of doubt have been planted in the minds of the Bruins.
Carolina did what everyone expected, while Nashville prolonged their season in what has become the lowest-scoring, tightest series. Good hockey all-around in that one.
Paul Friesen is a complete joke and universally hated in Winnipeg.
I know nothing about the guy Brock, but what did he say that isn’t factual?
And he certainly wasn’t alone
https://theathletic.com/5462499/2024/05/01/winnipeg-jets-avalanche-nhl-playoffs-round-1/
He writes for the Winnipeg Sun, which isn’t even a physical paper anymore, and all he does is click farm by writing articles constantly crapping on the Jets. Whether or not a broken clock is occasionally right is unimportant, Friesen is completely loathed in Winnipeg and 99% of Jets fans wish he would retire from his minimum wage gig.
OK, I can understand a general fan loathing of a local sports columnist – Simmons is equally loathed amongst Leafs fans … but even if he were so disposed, what positives could he write about following that series?
After winning the opener in a 7-6 nail-biter, the Jets then lost 4 straight, giving up at least 5 goals in every game and outscored 22 – 8.
From your perspective – or other “peg fans in here – was this solely on the goalie – the defensive structure in front of him – or a combination of both?
Just saying he was literally foaming at the mouth, waiting for this collapse. Even if the Jets had done decently he still would have written about how they’re going to lose certain UFAs and how the coaching future is unclear. No matter what he will find a negative angle, and unfortunately the Jets served him this one on a silver platter.
Joseph Woll suffered a high ankle sprain earlier this season
He wasn’t fully recovered coming back , up to that point , performing brilliantly !
Woll could maybe steal this series ?!?!?!
Stranger things have happened Ken. Speaking of “Ken” it was another rookie named Ken – Dryden – who broke the hearts of the Bruins in a playoff series years ago.
Re the Chabot wrist injury and pending surgery, this is just one more manifestation in an ongoing litany of one injury after another.He missed 10 games with a hand injury suffered on Oct 28 … then, after returning Dec 5, missed another 10 with a leg injury … hung around until a game in Anaheim March 7 which he left limping – 5 more games down the drain … returned for 6 games then missed 4 more when it became clear that injury hadn’t properly healed.
All told he played in just 51 of the 82 games and still managed 9g 21a 30 pts averaging 23 minutes a game, sporting a minus 3 – not bad considering the team, as a whole, was a minus 26 – with a couple of players (Chychrun and Kubalik) in the minus 30 range.
I think talk of trading Chabot should be shelved for now – at $8 mil per off the cap for 4 more seasons, the cost of what would be necessary “sweeteners” to find a taker would be prohibitive.
All Staios can do now is make sure this surgery is performed sooner rather than later and hope Chabot can stay in the line-up through a combination of conditioning and reduced minutes in a proper system instilled by whoever the new coach will be. All augmented by adding to the team D depth either through free agency or other trades.
Re; Sen’s d
Todays anouncment regarding Wrist injury Surgery to D/man Chabot who will be out 3 months
You can forget about trading Chabot now…100%
Look’s like its Jackob Chychrun that will get Traded now for a RD/man…❓and or Picks…..🤔
Who could be the Top RD men they go after….
A couple of (UFA) RD men…..
1/ Brandon Montour
2/ Brett Pesce
3/ Chris Tanev
4/ Joel Edmundson
&
A couple of RD trade partners
1/ Blues want to move out some d/men to get younger…Colton Parayko
2/ Seattle, not sure what way Franics is going with his team 4 of the d are in there 30’s ( Adam Larsson )
3/ Hawks may want to get younger on d….
Connor Murphy’
🤔
I expected Toronto to win last night, if wasn’t for the play of Swayman the game would’ve been over in the first period.
The bruins, didn’t play their game, couldn’t make a pass even though there was no pressure.
Monty over thinking things, won the last two games and decide to take out Shattenkirk for Grzelcyk and Beecher out for Brazeau. Beecher offers more speed and one of Boston best face off man. These move didn’t contribute to the loss. Only having 2 shots on net at home in the first period, show Boston was playing tight and scared of losing.
Who had Hellebuyck ranked 20th of 21 goalies in gaa and 19th of 21 in sv% he wasn’t the reason they loss but he didn’t help them win. Hellebuyck is a great regular season goaltender but can’t get it done in the playoffs.
Please don’t bring back Rick Bowness. Mark Scheifele comment after the game in Colorado; they made changes to their system and we did not.
Rumbling: Jon Cooper “We might as well put skirt on them.” a little outcry on line but not much. Can’t help but wonder if Mike Babcock made that statement would it get swept under the rug in the same manner.
Caper … don’t mind Brazeau moving in but use him where he plays better along boards and in front of net not in middle of ice … Beecher needed to play … I wouldn’t put it past Monty to play Ullmark in game 6..
In my case I did predict Toronto in 6 – – if it does go 7 it’s a toss-up
Tommy boy, Scheifele comments was after the game in Colorado and he was referring to Colorado changed their style of play against Winnipeg, as you know Winnipeg had no issue handling the Av during the regular season.
However Winnipeg didn’t change their style of play to give them any advantages.
Winnipeg allowed the fewest goals in the regular season and the most in the playoffs. If you want to give Bowness the credit for the regular season, then you also have to give him the blame for the playoffs. He didn’t adapt.
Same as Hellebuyck going to win the Vezina great regular season, playoffs was a bust.
Caper, shouldn’t Scheifle worry about covering his man more than other things? Wasn’t Trenin his man going to the net. Seems to me he was sleeping on that one? Bowness also said on TV timeout that they went over coverage in the d zone when Nichushkin shot that into a wide open net before the game. I don’t know how you blame the coach for stuff like that? Jets are a good tough team but defensively they couldn’t handle the Avalanche. Colorado is a juggernaut once they crank it up defensively, then they come in waves? If they commit to the defensive side of it, they are tough to beat. When they don’t, they are beatable. Congrats to the Avalanche!
Easy to blame the Coach caper. They have a plan and players have to execute the plan on the ice? Blame Bowness if you like but he’s a good hockey coach and I am sure he knows more about hockey than you or me!!!
Bruins played a little better as the game went on last night but their handling of the puck was terrible and that 1st period they played for being a SC playoff game was terrible … B’s got destroyed on faceoffs .. this is a huge area that needs to be addressed in the upcoming offseason…
They seemed to be fighting the puck all night. (or so the saying goes) It was bounces, in their feet, not on their sticks. It honestly looked like bad ice.
The Islander series also went the way I thought it would go but it was WAY closer than it should have been. Some horrendous puck luck and bounces and that series could be tied and continuing. Carolina better get their crap together.
Chabbot was run into the ground playing between 30-40 minutes a night by the previous coach who shouldn’t even be back in the league as an assistant. (but somehow is)
Pitt sports radio were talking about jersey trading for sully. Is that a thing in the nhl? Granted most pitt sports radio hosts know football and baseball but generally repeat what they read elsewhere when it comes to hockey. But still. I’m curious.
chrisms, prior to the 1987 draft the Nordiques dealt coach Michel Bergeron to the NYR for their 1988 1st round pick and $75,000 – the first and only time an NHL coach was traded.
In the 1988 draft Quebec took RW Quebec-born Daniel Dore with the pick, 5th overall – and he played a total of 17 NHL games. After him went Martin Gelinas, Rod Brind’Amour, Jeremy Roenick, Teemu Selanne!
Just to give you some idea about the state of the Q in those days – it was a pure, wide open shooters league boasting stats that, on the surface, looked enticing to NHL GMs, but looks are deceiving.
Dore wasn’t even the leading points producer on his team that year, with 33g 58a 91 pts – and Quebec took him 5th overall.
The top points producer was Steve Chartrand, whoch ad 74g 83a 157 pts and he went to Toronto in the 12th round. And never played an NHL game.
Next was Martin Bergeron who had 55g 81a 136 pts and he went to the NYR in the 5th round. He, too, never got a taste of the NHL.
Then came Daniel Maurice who had 46g 72a 118 pts and he went to Chicago in the 10th round – and never got to the bigs.
The one thing that Dore had that the others didn’t was size – 6’3″ 200 lbs
Nifty!