NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 11, 2024
Recaps of Thursday’s games include milestone games for Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini and the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin. Get the details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut but his San Jose Sharks blew a three-goal lead to fall 5-4 to the St. Louis Blues. Brayden Schenn tallied the winner in overtime for the Blues after teammates Radek Faksa, Ryan Suter and Justin Faulk scored in the third period. Tyler Toffoli also had a goal and an assist for the Sharks.
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The first-overall pick in this year’s draft, Celebrini (18 years, 119 days) became the third-youngest player to notch multiple points in his NHL debut, following Nathan MacKinnon (18 years, 31 days) and Bobby Carpenter (18 years, 67 days).
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin collected two assists, including the 800th of his NHL career, in a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby also picked up two assists, Anthony Beauvillier tallied twice, and Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist. Alex DeBrincat scored two goals and picked up an assist for the Red Wings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A solid bounce-back effort for Pittsburgh following their 6-0 season-opening loss to the New York Rangers the night before. Penguins netminder Joel Blomqvist picked up his first NHL win with a 29-save performance.
Shaky goaltending and sloppy defensive play continue to be a problem for Detroit, who pulled goalie Ville Husso after he surrendered four goals on 14 shots. Red Wings defenseman Jeff Petry left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury.
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar had a natural hat trick to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 3-1. Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper got the win with a 32-save performance. Alex Tuch scored for the Sabres, who’ve dropped their first three games of the season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres dominated the first two periods and took a 1-0 lead into the third before the wheels fell off.
The Boston Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-4 for their first win of the season. Elias Lindholm and Cole Koepke each had a goal and two assists, Mark Kastelic scored twice, and Jeremy Swayman made 20 saves in his season debut for the Bruins. Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher had two goals and rookie defenseman Lane Hutson collected two assists.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Defensive mistakes continue to plague the Canadiens while goalie Cayden Primeau’s weak glove hand remains an issue.
Canadiens prospect Oliver Kapanen made his NHL debut in this game. A loophole in the IIHF transfer agreement with the NHL could enable the Habs to send him to their AHL affiliate in Laval instead of returning him to his Swedish club if he stays on their roster for 60 consecutive days.
Linus Ullmark kicked out 30 shots in his debut with the Ottawa Senators in a 3-1 win over the Florida Panthers. Tim Stutzle netted two goals as Travis Green picked up his first win as head coach of the Senators. Gustav Forsling replied for the Panthers, who also lost captain Aleksander Barkov to a lower-body injury late in the third period as he attempted to prevent Stutzle’s empty-net goal. He’ll be reevaluated on Friday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ullmark looked sharp in this game, especially in the third with the Panthers outshooting the Senators 16-9.
The Toronto Maple Leafs doubled up the New Jersey Devils 4-2. Max Pacioretty scored his first goal with the Leafs while rookie goalie Dennis Hildeby won his NHL debut with a 23-save effort, giving Craig Berube his first win as Leafs coach. Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier replied for the Devils.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs stars Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner have been held scoreless through their first two games of this season. Meanwhile, the Devils announced defenseman Santeri Hatakka underwent successful shoulder surgery on Thursday but released no timetable for his return.
Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment scored twice and Logan Stankoven had three assists as their club held on for a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. Jonathan Marchessault had two assists in his debut with Nashville and Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist for the Predators.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Steven Stamkos and Brady Skjei were held scoreless in their first games with the Predators.
The Utah Hockey Club picked up their second straight win by nipping the New York Islanders 5-4. Dylan Guenther scored twice, including the winner in overtime. Josh Doan tied the game for Utah with less than two minutes remaining in the third period. Anthony Duclair had a goal and an assist and Noah Dobson two assists for the Islanders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Special teams made the difference for Utah, going two-for-two on the power play and killing off five of six penalties.
Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Filip Gustavsson turned aside 31 shots for the Wild. Kent Johnson had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets also announced yesterday that captain Boone Jenner underwent shoulder surgery on Wednesday and could be sidelined for six months.
IN OTHER NEWS…
TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning’s home opener on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes has been postponed in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Their season-opener is on Friday against the Hurricanes in Raleigh, NC.
CBS SPORTS: Speaking of the Hurricanes, they moved Jesper Fast (neck) to long-term injury reserve.
TSN: The Winnipeg Jets placed goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen on waivers. Eric Comrie will back up starter Connor Hellebuyck.
SPORTSNET: The Edmonton Oilers placed forward Raphael Lavoie on waivers. It’s the third time he’s been on waivers this week, starting with the Oilers losing him to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, only to reclaim him off waivers on Wednesday.
TSN: Donnie Marshall, the last surviving member of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty of the late-1950s, passed away at age 92.
Playing his first NHL game in 1951-52, Marshall entered his first full season in 1954-55, winning five straight Stanley Cups with the Canadiens from 1955-56 to 1959-60.
He also played for the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs before retiring at the end of the 1971-72 season. He finished with 265 goals and 324 assists for 589 points in 1,176 regular-season games and 23 points in 94 playoff contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Marshall’s family, friends and former teammates.
Geez … you have to feel sorry for the Blue Jackets – now Jenner gone for 6 months
True, but it could be worse. They Minnesota fight for every point, last night. If they play like that every game, they could surprise a lot of people. Oh, and none of Minnesota’s goals were ones Elvis would want back. He actually looked like a $5.4MM goalie.
As the old saying goes, Paul, one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity. You just never know who will rise seemingly out of nowhere and surprise the Hell out of everybody.
I always think of that old story of NY Yankee 1st baseman Wally Pipp telling the manager he couldn’t play that day because he had a headache. In came a rookie named Lou Gehrig .. and he never missed another game at 1st for years … until that damned disease hit.
I know it s early but Utah s Guenther looks like a sniper! His contract that he signed starting in 25-26 may have been a smart business decision by Utah! 4 goals in 2 games is a nice start for the 21 yr old kid!
Ya Sr, he looks like one because he is one. Edmonton kid who played with his hometown Oil Kings in Jr, so saw him quite a few times. Great poise with the puck, high offensive IQ, and absolutely lethal with his shot.
He is one of my grandsons favorite player, so took them to quite a few Oil King games and he is now a Utah fan, so will take him to an Oiler game when they come to town. Watching him in Jr and you just knew he would be good at the next level. He calmly and coolly would stick daggers into the opposition on a regular basis.
He has produced at every level, and had 18 G and 35 pts in 45 games last season. He knows he is good too
Re; Guenther
When he played here his JR with the Edmonton Oil King’s he was a big goal scorer, now he has made the team full time look for him to get lots of points
this kid is very good…đź‘Ť
Florida pushed hard in the 3rd … as expected … outshooting Ottawa 16 – 9, but you could see the Senators doubling their own efforts after each uplifting save by Ullmark. Overall, the shots and chances were about even – 31 on Ullmark – 30 on Brobovsky on a tight 2-1 games (not counting the empty-netter).
The Chabot – Jensen (+2) tandem looks to be a good combination, and the veteran Hamonic – who reportedly came to camp in his best shape in years – was solid alongside rookie Tyler Kleven with the 3rd pairing turning in a solid 16.54
No points from newcomers Amadio, Cousins, Gregor or Perron but each was noticeably better in defensive coverage than those they replaced.
Yeah, I know …. 1 game … just 81 to go! 🙂
Ullmark gives them that little shot of confidence. Players realize they have a chance to win, the effort goes up. Blocking a shot still hurts, but all of a sudden more of the players are willing to do it. It`s the little things players are more willing to do when they get a little more confident and start to believe in themselves. It may only be the first game but it`s a start
Yes, completely forgot about the shot-blocking efforts last night … thanks for the reminder Yogi. Indeed, haven’t seen that very much in evidence in Ottawa in recent years. Did Tanev do that last night? It’s his specialty.
I didn’t get to see any of the Leafs game – blacked-out in this region – but watching the talking heads later going over the various games, they made it sound like an area of real “concern” that Matthews, Marner and Nylander don’t have a goal “yet” – 2 bleeding games in, including one where they fired 47 shots at a goalie who stood on his head in a 1-0 win, and another where they should have been enthusiastic instead about the secondary scoring from McMann, Pacioretty and Lorentz.
Speaking of Lorentz, isn’t it time for someone to point out to ESPN that he is a F – not a D. As they did in the pre-season they continue to list him among the D in their box scores
https://www.espn.com/nhl/boxscore/_/gameId/401687614
and even list him as D in their player feature page
https://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3939658
The hockey data-base, meanwhile, show him as a C – is he playing C or LW?
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=170262
So far Tanev comes exactly as advertised and he seems to be partner Reilly`s needed. Hopefully he can stay healthy (knock on wood) enough to last the 6 years of his contract. Matthews hit 3 crossbars in the Montreal game. Jersey did a pretty good job of keeping them in check. Matthews like most goal scorers will get his share, same as Willie. Plus they`re adjusting to Berube`s North South style of play. Matthews play might be trying to adjust to having the “C” on his Jersey. Once they get adjusted they`ll be ok
Oh, of that I have no doubt. Just that listening to to the panels you’d think it was time to panic – lol.
Re; Sen’s
only the first game but lots to like.
Watched the game last night it was all sen’s in the 1st, 3rd period Ullmark got peper with shots but played great looks like the sens fans gave him a standing o…..
in the interview after the game he sais it gave him Goose bumps..đź‘Ź
Shane Pinto scored a beauty and was a force out there all night, Timy Stutzle got 2 goals, his first was a beauty and was a force out there all night.
Young d/man Tyler Kleven had big hit in the first… played a good game for his 1st in the NHL
The new players in the bottom six played well, the d will need time to gell, however L.U. was there story best goaltending they have had in years…
As Kleven gets more comfortable going out there every night for 14+ minutes, and he retains his physical game, he could creep into the Calder conversation.
Truly the end of an era in Montreal with Marshall’s passing. He was the last survivor of the 12 players who played on all 5 consecutive Cup winners.
There are still three surviving players who played regular or semi-regular roles on some of those Cup winners. Marcel Bonin, Phil Goyette and Andre Pronovost. But the 12 who are eternally bound together as 5 in a row winners have now all passed into history. May they Rest In Peace.
I know Cayden Primeau was considered a hidden gem, 7th round pick and high marks in US college hockey but qI have never seen much in him.
He’s wildly inconsistent and I don’t understand the fear of waiving him last year
He plays a great game followed by some iffy ones, last night was a weak performance. He let in a number of weak goals and made a pug like Kastelic look like a sniper
It may come back to bite me but I rued the day they kept Primeau over Allen.
He sounds like Korpisalo
My favourite thing about Ullmark last night was that not only did he look sharp… he looked like he was having a lot of fun.
I don’t think since Anderson have a seen such a calming effect from the net.
Just game one, but it sure felt nice to start with a win.
Congrats Malkin on 800 Assists
Much better effort by Pens; but let’s be clear; Wings are NOT Rangers
So far Beauvillier with Crosby is working well.
Still 10 goals against in 2 games; only 1 was stoppable. Defensively Penguins are brutal and leaving Jarry and Blomquist out to dry
O’Connor who was brutal defensively in game 1 had (as expected) a great turnaround game. I expect Game 1 was an anomoly.
Unfortunately I think Sully will once again be blind to all the extremely poor play by Hayes and Accari for two full games just because of 1 very good shift last night. One shift of very good play amongst all other shifts in the dumper; does not look good
Sully; here’s another coaching tip; don’t put your absolutely weakest defensive player and by far slowest skater on the team; on a 5 on 3 PK. It immediately becomes a 5 on 2 . End result as expected.
When Rust returns, Accari must wear a tie and sit in the press box
True, theSaint … but let’s not forget that last season they started 3 -1. After losing the season opener to Carolina 5 – 3 (incl. an empty-netter), they then beat Pha 5-2, TB 5-2 and Washington 6-1, overall outscoring the opposition 19 – 10.
Then they lost 6 of their next 8, outscored 33 – 19 as the inconsistency took over – both in goal and their overall defensive “system.
If they can just remain as consistent in both facets as they were last night, I don’t think we see a repeat of last season. Their decent offense of last season will, at the same time, improve exponentially with full seasons from Pinto and Norris, a return to form of Stutzle, and increased secondary scoring from Perron, Amadio, Gregor and Cousins, along with Gaudette.
Yes, it all feels different. Last night the team actually had some swagger which has been absent for YEARS.
I am looking forward to the next few games to see if I am right… we have been snake bitten a few times, so I am cautious with my optimism…
Saint remember this is a marathon not a sprint! Happy for Ullmark is one of the good guys in the game!
haha, oh don’t I know it. but starting the marathon on the right foot is definitely nice.
I know it is early but I like the Sens playoff chances ahead of Buffalo,,Montreal,Detroit,not sure they are in the class of TB,Fla.,Toronto,and Boston
Not sure many on this site are interested but the Blues on the road have overcome a 2 goal and 3 goal deficits to win. Broberg is playing top pair minutes in every situation and Holloway looks like he can play on any line.
The team is bigger, faster, more physical and more skilled than last year. The depth additions of Faska and Texiere look good. Not sure about the Suter move at some point it’s time to let it go.
Big test tonight against Vegas but I’m optimistic that they will contend for the playoffs in a very tough Central division.
As a Habs fan, here is my critique of the Bruins play last night.
For what this team lacks in speed & mobility, they more than make up for with size & grit. The wing span & stick length, of especially their D-men make it incredibly difficult, if not almost impossible for average &smaller sized, mobile opposition players to get around them.
Was there another player on the ice having more fun than Swayman last night??? Every TV shot of him you could see him grinning or laughing with a twinkle in eye. At one point he also joined into the physicality by knocking Suzuki on his keister, while hovering just outside of Swayman’s crease. When the last line of defense is relaxed & having fun, it reduces the stress level of the entire & builds confidence.
It looked to me like they made far more difficult for the Habs to drive the net than they did for the Panthers on Tuesday night.
As for the Habs, goaltending was certainly the difference between Wednesday night’s game & last night’s game. That said, I am not going to throw Primeau in the meat grinder for having one bad game, especially in Beantown’s season opener. I am confident he will bounce back as the season progresses.
The Sabres have issues to resolve if they want to trend upward in wins.
Three goals on 87 shots in three games compared to 10 goals against on fewer shots against is bad.
Some Sabres have a work ethic problem. They are not showing up to play. Dylan Cozens is one of those problem players.
Lindy Ruff should have seen enough bad games recently. His effective coaching to get his team moving could be a necessary welcome change.