NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 13, 2024
The Panthers push the Bruins to the brink of elimination, the Canucks regain the lead in their series with the Oilers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers overcame a 2-0 deficit to nip the Boston Bruins 3-2 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven second-round series. The Panthers got a controversial game-tying goal from Sam Bennett after he cross-checked Bruins center Charlie Coyle into goalie Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins challenged for goaltender interference but the goal was upheld. Nearly four minutes later, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov scored the winning goal. David Pastrnak and Brandon Carlo scored for the Bruins.
The series returns to Florida for Game 5 on Tuesday, May 14 at 7 pm EDT.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bennett was already Public Enemy No. 1 among the Bruins and their fans for his questionable hit on Brad Marchand in Game 3 that sidelined the Boston captain from this contest. There was no immediate explanation from the league as to why Bennett’s goal was allowed to stand.
Boston’s lack of offense in this series has put them on the verge of elimination. Since the Bruins’ 5-1 victory in Game 1, the Panthers have limited them to two goals or less over the past three games. If they don’t address this by Game 5, they’ll be emptying their lockers by Thursday.
Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser (NHL Images).
Two-goal performances by Brock Boeser and Elias Lindholm and a 42-save effort by Arturs Silovs gave the Vancouver Canucks a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of their second-round series. Boeser also collected an assist to finish the night with three points. Mattias Ekholm, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard replied for the Oilers. Game 4 is on Tuesday at 9:30 PM EDT with the Canucks holding a 2-1 lead in the series.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers outshot the Canucks 36-7 during the second and third periods but Silovs’ strong goaltender enabled his club to hold off the Oilers. Lindholm’s goal late in the second made the difference after Draisaitl cut the lead to 3-2 earlier in the frame.
Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner gave up four goals on 15 shots and was replaced by Calvin Pickard for the third period. That’s raised criticism over Skinner’s performance in this series and questions about whether Pickard will get the start in Game 4.
Canucks defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Carson Soucy could face supplemental discipline for cross-checking Oilers captain Connor McDavid at the end of the game. Zadorov hit McDavid from behind while Soucy nailed the Oilers star in the face. Soucy got a two-minute minor with no time left on the clock. McDavid appeared to be unhurt following the incident.
Oilers forward Adam Henrique missed Game 3 with a nagging ankle injury. He missed Game 1 but returned to action in the following game.
PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK
NEW YORK POST: The Carolina Hurricanes have yet to decide if Frederik Andersen or Pyotr Kochetkov will get the start for Game 5 of their second-round series against the New York Rangers on Monday. Andersen played in three of the last four games but gave up a soft goal to tie Game 4 before Brady Skjei scored to give the Canes a 3-2 victory. The Rangers hold a 3-1 lead in this series and can wrap it up tonight.
The Rangers, meanwhile, are hopeful that center Filip Chytil will play in Game 5 after being sidelined from the previous game by an illness. Chytil skated in Game 3 in his first game since suffering a suspected concussion in November.
IN OTHER NEWS…
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Nicklas Backstrom denied false reports out of Sweden claiming the Washington Capitals center was not really injured but instead refused to play because of a “big schism” with head coach Spencer Carberry.
Backstrom, 36, appeared in eight games this season before taking an indefinite leave of absence related to his hip resurfacing procedure in June 2022.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Backstrom’s hip condition is well-documented. If healthy, he is contractually bound to play. Refusal to do so would violate the terms of his deal. The Capitals wouldn’t grant him a leave of absence because of a supposed dispute with the coach.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The International Ice Hockey Federation announced sanctions on Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov, his former KHL team CSKA Moscow, and the Russian Ice Hockey Federation for their roles in disregarding the contract he originally signed with the Flyers last season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This won’t affect Fedotov’s new contract with the Flyers after CSKA released him from their deal earlier this year. He will be banned from playing in IIHF-sanctioned events for three years.
The Oilers score 3 goals on 45 shots on a raw rookie while their veteran goalie is giving up 4 on 15 shots.
That alone should tell them that, even if they get past Vancouver, short of a miracle turn-around by their goaltending they will not get past Dallas or Colorado. 8gp by Skinner – 3.22 g a and save % of 0.877.
Yeah… losing a goalie battle to a third stringer… with their offense? Bad bad look.
Ya they lost the tending battle last night George. Some posts helped Silovs as well.
It’s the classic question where Skinner wasn’t really to blame on any of the specific goals, but sure would have been nice to see him stop one of them, like the best guys do. Same thing in game one, where if I recall he did let in a soft one. He has had long stretches this season where he has been very, very good, but haven’t seen that in this series.
Super tough call for Knoblauch. Show faith in your guy and have his back, roll the dice with Pickard. My guess is he goes with the former. And also addresses and speaks about cleaning up the mistakes in their own end. McDavid loses his guy on a goal (maybe a miscommunication with Eckholm, but either way and F up) and what was Foegole looking at? Couldn’t tee it up better for Boeser in the slot.
If the Oil dominate the Nucks like they have in the last 2 games, other than in net, the Oil win this going away. Which is what I think will happen.
It was only the other day i commented on the number of picks (interference) that Florida runs and that Boston should do the same.
Yesterday both teams were called twice each for the infractions. Many other still occurred but i guess you can’t call them all.
Spending 8 minutes of the third period in the penalty box doesn’t help.
I didn’t think they were going to win the goalie interference call but i didn’t have an issue with the challenge. Obviously the Bruins thought there was enough there.
Funny how Boston starts putting pressure on Florida defense and they cough up the puck, create turnovers etc. Need more of that and not just from one line.
That was one of Boston better game and came out o the wrong side.
Agree it was one of the better games Caper, I thought they might even pull it out and even the series. But they still got dominated. Outshot by double, out chanced by double, almost double in chances from the slot.
3 straight games of the same. IMO we look like a team that is willing to get in the fight and play hard, but just don’t have the horses to compete. If Swayman doesn’t steal the game, and he played really well, we lose.
Still have a chance, slim as it is, but wouldn’t bet the farm on it.
I thought it was a good challenge too, the reason given by the announcers was that they didn’t think Swayman could have stopped it either way, so a goal. Not sure if that is accurate as to the league, but if so, not a fan of that reasoning.
The only place Boston is stronger is in the net! Fla.dominates at forward and defense!
I don’t have a dog in this fight.
I’d like for an “expert” to try and explain the lack of suspension on Bennett.
Yeah I get it, it’s the playoffs.
That doesn’t seem to hold water.
Help please
Ol 82 guy otherwise known as GeorgO younger Brother.
No expert; however the play must not be suspension worthy.
Bennet has done this play two playoff in a row and both players ended up with a concussion. If that alone doesn’t make the NHL player safety an issue on this play, i don’t know what to say.
The sole purpose on the Bennet sucker punch is to cause injury. It isn’t a physical play, it’s a dirty sucker punch to an unsuspecting player.
If that isn’t cover in the rule book, then it needs to be.
I read a comment by a Leaf fan asking what the over/ under would be if Kadri had pulled the Bennett stunt?
He figured 11 games. Pretty funny.
The only place Boston is stronger is in the net! Fla.dominates at forward and defense!
and in challenges, for two series now, and in questionable plays. Alley cats stretching the meaning of “playoff hockey”.
I’d love to see a new rule adopted for the playoffs where minor and major penalties carry over to the start of the next game. Might keep some of the end of game cheap shots down.
Suspensions carry over.
What suspensions? 😬
Carry over minor and/or major’s to next game in series…. won’t happen, but I agree it is a great idea
Cross check to the face after final whistle…. 2 mins, 4 mins, 5 mins…. absolutely useless in prevention.
If there is a suspension handed out…. then it has been dealt with
Otherwise, any game in the playoffs, any player can do anything after final whistle, to any player.
Again, I don’t expect this to be changed; but I do like your idea.
This cross check to the face (Soucy in this example) is not limited to Cannucks/Oilers. Many games this year and every year; have something done at the end of the game.
Very few teams (if any) haven’t done this type of thing on more than one occasion.
I remember watching that Silovs kid in the World Juniors (or was it U18?)
Anyway… he was lights out. All the time. When I saw that Vancouver had the two major injuries to their netminder, I had strong feeling… almost KNEW… he would somehow be the difference.
The kid has “number one goalie” written all over his play on many levels now.
Sorry I was off on both… it was the IIHF Championships and he was pretty much the reason Latvia medaled for the first time:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_IIHF_World_Championship
Oilers vs Cannucks.
Total domination by Oilers….. except…. for in net.
Silvos was lights out (did get the help of 5 posts/cross bars but as any goalie will tell you… that is not a shot on net) ; but was fantastic.
I can’t (and won’t) say that Skinner is responsible for the loss. Should he have saved all of them. No, can’t say that. He definitely was guilty on one.
Silvos was just great. Plain and simple.
An aside. Don’t understand the Oiler bench minor when big Zadorov pushed Kane into his own bench and kept pushing him and pushing him to keep him there.
Did Knoblauch give Rooney an F-Bomb? Didn’t see anything???
Anybody know why they got the bench minor?
They were holding Zadorov’s stick. Not sure if it was Kane or someone else but Zadorov was trying to get his stick free (and also throwing some extra weight on Kane). Seemed like a reasonable offsetting call to me.
Thanks
That makes sense and reasonable
Was definitely not Kane, they showed him holding back his teammates from retaliating. Must have been a player (or 2) to his left
Cheers
I can’t believe as a Pens fan that I am saying either of these statements.
Cheering for Canes tonight
Cheering for Rangers in 7
Only because of points in my draft pool and I’m loaded with Rangers
Canes selected in this pool are spread out over many guys. With me loaded with Rangers, and no other guy in this pool with more than 3 Rangers; I’m hoping for 7-6 or higher games in this series; every Ranger goal with 2 assists.
It was great that Rangers won the first round; but winning in 4; less points for the guys I have.
Winning tonight in 5 almost the same issue.
Need loads of Rangers goals.
Re Boston,
They have 2 areas major areas they need to fix,
1st / The 2nd paring LD position
Replacing UFA Matt Grzelcyk the smaller 5.ft 9 LD man
Trade Ullmark ( sign & Trade ) to Ottawa along with Justin Brazeau for
LD man Jackob Chychrun & Back up goaltender Anton Forsberg
Chychrun would help with boston offence from the d and give them a moble d/man
2/ 1St & 2nd line Centre’s ,
They need this to help with the Scoring…
Then
Move the 2 wingers they put at centre Back to Wing……🤔
Who is out there thats good and affordable for the Centres …
-1/ 30 yr old Chandler Stephenson
-2/ 29 yr old Sean Monahan
More expencive options
-3/ Steven Stamkos, but i think he stays in Tampa ❓
-4/ 28 yr old Sam Reinhart but he stays in Florida❓
And
out in left field
you have 30 yr old Canucks Elias Lindholm….🤔
He has not done great in Vancouver since comeing over from the 🔥
Willie, depends on the $’s and term but I would have no issues signing Lindholm if I was Boston. New team and dealing with an injury when he came to Van. Took time off, healed and looks like the player they traded for in the playoffs. Eating some tough minutes and producing.
He will have options, so price likely gets driven up, also not sure how he views Boston or where he wants to go.
Williew one of the problems that they faced is that they did not have enough resources to trade for Hanifan and Lindholm! I think they thought they would get by with what they had and they would sign both as UFAs this summer!
What I cannot understand about the McDavid double crunch was how the entire Oilers bench did not swarm the ice ….its the best player in the world on your team……….
i dont love a hockey circus but the Oilers needed to be a little ‘more’
ds, because they all would have got suspended for leaving the bench.