NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 21, 2024
The Oilers defeat the Canucks to advance to the Western Conference Final, updates on the Eastern Conference finalists, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAP
NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers advanced to the Western Conference Final by holding off the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Game 7 of their second-round series. Second-period goals by Cody Ceci, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins gave the Oilers a 3-0 lead. Conor Garland and Filip Hronek replied for the Canucks in the third. The Oilers will face the Dallas Stars with Game 1 in Dallas on Thursday, May 23 at 8:30 pm EDT.
Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vancouver made this game interesting in the final minutes of the third period but it wasn’t as close as the score implied. Edmonton outshot the Canucks 13-2 in the first period and 27-12 after the second. The Oilers would’ve run away with this one if not for the heroics of Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs.
NHL PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars and Oilers will face off for the first time since 2003. They met six times between 1997 and 2003 with the Stars winning five of those series. They also went 2-0-1 in their three meetings this season. Oilers captain Connor McDavid is the best player in the world but the Stars have the goaltending edge thanks to Jake Oettinger.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As a Canadian, I’d like to see Edmonton defeat Dallas and go on to end my country’s long playoff drought. However, the Stars are the better-balanced team and expect they’ll take this series in six games.
TVA SPORTS: The Oilers eliminating the Canucks also affected the order of the 2024 NHL Draft. The Montreal Canadiens hold the Winnipeg Jets’ first-rounder that is now 26th overall. The 29th and 30th overall picks will belong to the losing clubs in the Conference Finals, with the 32nd overall pick belonging to the Stanley Cup champion.
NEW YORK POST: Rangers center Filip Chytil is making strides as he hopes to rejoin the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers. Chytil returned to action in Game 3 of the Rangers’ second-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes after being sidelined since November by a suspected concussion. However, an unspecified illness and “soreness” have since kept him out of the lineup.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Florida Panthers are working on their special teams play as they prepare for the Eastern Conference Final. All their players were on the ice for Monday’s practice, indicating they’re fully healthy for their upcoming series with the Rangers. Game 1 is in New York on Wednesday, May 22 at 8 pm EDT.
IN OTHER NEWS…
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: The Blackhawks expect their attendance will remain high for 2024-25 after a big increase this season. They ranked fourth overall in attendance, averaging 18, 836 fans with a season-ticket renewal of 96 percent. The popularity of rookie star Connor Bedard and the club’s marketing strategies are responsible for the improvement despite their losing season.
SPORT-EXPRESS: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nikita Zaitsev is expected to sign a multi-year contract with KHL team SKA St. Petersburg. The 32-year-old Zaitsev spent the past eight seasons in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and the Blackhawks, tallying 118 points in 482 games.
EISHOCKEY NEWS: Michael Bauer reports Marco Sturm confirmed his interest in coaching the San Jose Sharks. He is currently the head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign. Sturm said his agent will reach out to the Sharks to determine if there’s mutual interest. Due to league rules, no interviews have yet taken place.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sturm indicated his goal and dream is becoming an NHL head coach. He has a deep connection to San Jose, beginning his NHL playing career there. He spent nearly eight seasons with the Sharks before being shipped to Boston in November 2005 in the Joe Thornton trade.
Yeah, while it would be entertaining to finally see a Canada-based team bring back the cup, I’m afraid the Oilers (who I didn’t see getting past Vancouver) have gone as far as they’re able.
Dallas is simply too strong up and down the skating line-up with the added advantage of having arguably one of the two best goalies still in the playoffs – the other being in NY.
Personally don’t care about a Canadian Based team Winning. Team Canada i will cheer for; but i don’t ever see myself cheering for Montreal or Toronto. Not happening.
I do believe Edmonton maybe the team with the most Canadians on the roster.
Vancouver, watching the first period must’ve been frustrating for their fans. So much time defending, every single time they got the puck, dump it into Edmonton end and off for a line change. I started to wonder if it was a strategy. A 4 minute PP to generate some energy and it was bad, gave up a break away. For a moment i thought i was watching the bruins play.
I think the Edmonton / Dallas series will be closer then some are suggesting
That 4 minute PP, and nothing generated, not even a shot, was a key to the game IMO Caper. I was going to say turning point, but the Oil dominated from the get go, so just more of the same. Missed opportunity I guess.
George, agree with Caper, I think this will be a close series too. Dallas has to be the favorite, but the Oil can beat anybody.
I also think the Oil’s best game is better than Dallas best game, but Dallas plays their best game more often. When the Oil fell behind 3-2 in the series, by not bringing their best, they simply shut the Nucks down, and it wasn’t even close. Agree Caper, exactly what FLA did to BOS.
Oilers don’t get enough credit for that type of game. If they learned that they have to do it for every game against Dallas, they can win. Huge IF. That and if Skinner’s reset holds.
Can’t shake the feeling that McDavid is dealing with something, doesn’t look right.
Bouchard has proved his critics wrong, including myself, he can defend as well as bring the O. That contract will be expensive this off season. The guy has been clutch with offense at big times, and his coach had him out there to close out the game.
Great Game last night…
If the Oilers play like they can in the first 50 minutes of the game last night they can Beat Dallas who in the past have been tough to beat for the Oil…
Oilers 2nd year Goaltender Stu Skinner Played well in Goal, not many shot’s in the first 50 minute’s again thats tough for a young goaltender.
Then they came on in the last 10 minutes with Connor Garland lead the charge for the Canucks,
A number of Canucks looked like they were out of Gas last night❗️ there star player Elias Pettersson
did not play well with 1G & a couple of assists in 6 games
-Bouchard had an other Great game,
-Leon was leading the way again,-
-Connor looks like he is Not 100% But Still has 21 point’s in the playoffs…😝
Paul Coffey has the d playing well,
Sam Carrick has been great on the 4th line centre
Hollywood looks like he is starting to come into his own playing with Leon & Kanner on the 2nd line👌
Been a lurker on this site for 20 years always enjoying the banter from Lyle and the regulars. Stars have been battle tested more than any team this playoffs coming back to beat the Stanley Cup champions, beating the previous cup champs, and now against a great Oiler team. Oilers rolled through their usual team LA Kings. How battle tested are they? I give the edge to Dallas. The road they’ve taken, the mix of youth and veteran leadership, and finally goaltending will get them through. There’s also some inner fire starting with captain Benn all the way to future captain Johnston. They want to win so bad for Deboar, Pavelski, and Suter.
Stars in six.
Darksidecowboy, if I was betting actual $ and didn’t live in Edmonton, I take the Stars as well, but tack another game on and go 7.
I think this will be a great series, and might just come down to a bounce or 2 in OT, and I think we will see OT more than once. Might be some late nights and early mornings next couple weeks!
You watch the local news here, its 5 minutes news, 5 minutes weather, 20 minutes Oilers. This town is, and will be, hoppin’.
DSC, I picked Dallas to win the cup. Edmonton has the top end talent, Dallas has the depth and goaltending.
Wyatt Johnston 23rd overall two picks after the Bruins selected Fabian Lysell. Not only the bruins missed out on Wyatt, what a steal at 23rd.
Still routing for Seguin.
Trying to compare Dallas and Edmonton and how they got to the Conference Finals is, I have to agree, a crapshoot at best. Either could win with “unlikely” players stepping up, or day-to-day injuries like Henrique for Edmonton and Hintz for Dallas getting back into action, or a series-long hot goalie taking over – all things that have happened before in playoff history. You just never know.
Dallas got here over 13gp and eliminating the last two Stanley Cup winners Vegas and Colorado (combined seasonal point total of 205) while Edmonton’s route was in 12 gp over L.A. and Vancouver (combined seasonal point total of 208).
Edmonton’s top 2 F lines have combined for 32g 53a 85 pts and a +20 while the top 2 F lines for Dallas have combined for 25g 32a 57 pts and a +6.
Advantage Edmonton
Edmonton’s bottom 2 F lines have combined for 2g 6a 8 pts and a -9, while the bottom 2 for Dallas have combined for 9g 16a 25 pts and a +7.
Advantage Dallas
Edmonton’s D have combined for 11g 25a 36 pts and are E +/- while the Dallas D have 7g 14a 21 pts and are +15.
Advantage Edmonton offensively – advantage Dallas defensively.
Edmonton’s goaltending stats 2.87gaa 0.888 save % – Dallas goaltending 2.09gaa 0.918 save %
Advantage Dallas