NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 30, 2024
Recapping the action of Friday’s 14 games in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S NHL GAMES
NHL.COM: Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny scored two goals as his club upset the New York Rangers 3-1. Bobby Brink also scored and Ivan Fedotov stopped 22 shots for the Flyers as they moved into the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference with 25 points (11-10-3). Vincent Trocheck replied for the Rangers, who’ve lost five in a row and hold the first Eastern wild-card spot with 25 points (12-9-1).
Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers look nothing like the dominant club that won the Presidents’ Trophy last season. General manager Chris Drury miscalculated if he felt that publicly shopping some of his veterans in the trade market would light a fire under this team. I’ll have more about that in today’s Rumor Mill update.
Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon scored twice as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 20 saves as he remains unbeaten in regulation (5-0-1) this season. Ryan Donato tallied both goals for the Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blackhawks announced backup goaltender Laurent Brossoit will remain sidelined for another six weeks after undergoing a second procedure on his right knee.
The Vancouver Canucks blew a 3-1 lead but got a 4-3 overtime victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Connor Garland had two goals (including the winning goal) and an assist and Kevin Lankinen turned aside 31 shots for the Canucks. Sabres forward Dylan Cozens had a goal and an assist.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres forward Sam Lafferty left this game with a lower-body injury.
Power-play goals by Dougie Hamilton, Timo Meier and Jack Hughes carried the New Jersey Devils over the Detroit Red Wings 5-4. Hamilton, Meier and Hughes each finished with two points. Red Wings forward Vladimir Tarasenko also had a goal and an assist while teammate Lucas Raymond scored to extend his goal streak to five games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Tomas Tatar left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury. His status is unclear for Saturday’s game against the Washington Capitals. The Devils sit atop the Metropolitan Division with 34 points.
The Washington Capitals overcame a 4-2 deficit to defeat the New York Islanders 5-4 on an overtime goal by Jakob Chychrun. Tom Wilson had two goals, Dylan Strome scored a goal and two assists and Connor McMichael had three helpers for the Capitals. Simon Holmstrom scored twice and Anders Lee had a goal and two assists for the Islanders, who have only two wins in their last 10 games (2-4-4).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau was a last-minute scratch as he’s dealing with a lower-body issue.
Three unanswered third-period goals by A.J. Greer, Anton Lundell and Sam Bennett carried the Florida Panthers over the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 6-3. This was Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad’s 700th career NHL regular-season game. Seth Jarvis, Sean Walker and Eric Robinson scored for the Hurricanes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win moves the Panthers into first place in the Atlantic Division with 29 points, one ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Columbus Blue Jackets extended their points streak to five games (4-0-1) with a 5-2 upset of the Calgary Flames. Adam Fantilli scored two goals, and Kirill Marchenko had a goal and two assists for the Blue Jackets. Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri replied for the Flames.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski extended his points streak to seven games with a goal and an assist.
An overtime power-play goal by Brayden Point gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning while Roman Josi netted both goals for the Predators, who’ve dropped three straight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nashville winger Steven Stamkos wasn’t pleased with his club’s work ethic against his former team. It’s been a difficult season for Stamkos with seven goals and 12 points in 24 games since signing with the Predators this summer.
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Erik Portillo turned aside 28 shots in his NHL debut to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 2-1. Alex Turcotte and Alex Laferriere scored for the Kings while Ryan Strome replied for the Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings placed center Akil Thomas (undisclosed) on injured reserve ahead of this contest. He was injured during Monday’s 7-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks.
San Jose Sharks rookies Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith each had a goal and an assist in an 8-5 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Ethan Cardwell tallied his first NHL goal for the Sharks and Jake Walman tallied twice. Kraken center Chandler Stephenson had a goal and two assists and teammate Shane Wright potted two goals.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks are still rebuilding and aren’t expected to be a playoff club this season. Nevertheless, promising youngsters like Celebrini, Smith and William Eklund and veterans like Mikael Granlund, Tyler Toffoli, Mackenzie Blackwood and Alexander Wennberg have turned this group into an entertaining team. It’s a refreshing change from the moribund bunch that floundered at the bottom of the standings in 2023-24.
The Pittsburgh Penguins got a game-winning goal from recently acquired winger Philip Tomasino to nip the Boston Bruins 2-1. Penguins winger Rickard Rakell also scored and Tristan Jarry got the win with a 31-save performance. Charlie Coyle scored for the Bruins as Jeremy Swayman stopped 33 shots.
Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden scored twice, including the game-winner, in a 4-3 win over the Winnipeg Jets. It’s the first time Howden has reached 10 goals in a season. Ivan Barbashev also tallied two goals for the Golden Knights, who sit atop the Pacific Division with 33 points. Cole Perfetti scored twice for the Jets, who’ve dropped three of their last four games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Winnipeg remains atop the overall standings with 36 points but they’ve cooled from their red-hot start of 17 wins in their first 20 games. The Jets activated defenseman Logan Stanley off injured reserve for this game.
Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment scored two goals and collected an assist as his club defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-3. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin each had a goal and an assist for the Stars while Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar each had two points for the Avalanche.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars center Roope Hintz returned to action after missing the club’s previous game with an undisclosed ailment. However, teammate Logan Stankoven missed this game with a minor injury and is listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury.
An overtime goal by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins lifted the Edmonton Oilers over the Utah Hockey Club 4-3. His teammates Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each had a goal and an assist, Evan Bouchard had two assists and Calvin Pickard kicked out 28 shots for the win. Alexander Kerfoot, Logan Cooley and Lawson Crouse scored for Utah.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah defenseman Maveric Lamoureux missed this game as he’s sidelined for four-to-six weeks with an upper-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.
IN OTHER NEWS…
TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs forwards Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies will return from injuries in Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
STLTODAY.COM: The St. Louis Blues activated defenseman Philip Broberg off injured reserve. He could return to action on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
It is excruciating watching this Boston team! If Marchand or Pasternak aren t on the scoresheet they cannot win a game! The winning goal last night was awful as it creeped underneath Swayman s pad! It s about the ROSTER, not the coaches!
It was a game of many missed passes/assignments and fumbling all around on both teams.
The game should have been just a 10 minute 1 on 1 , Jarry vs Swayman
Both goalies were the best players on the ice
With that early goal I was expecting s 7-2 Bruins V
Then things settled down
I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a review of a Penalty , confirming that Penalty and adding an opposing player (not on the ice) penalty.
Right call; strange way to get there!
I hear your frustration Sr … just hope your team isn’t embarking upon a similar long, agonizing stretch currently being experienced by Buffalo (13 years), Detroit (8 years) and Ottawa (7 years, which began the year after they took the eventual cup winners – Pittsburgh – to 7 games in the Eastern final, losing it in double-OT). We thought we still had the makings of a pretty good team heading into 2018-19 … but things fell apart a lot faster than any of us envisaged.
Each season since then, especially the last 2 or 3 when we entered each new campaign with some element of optimism, the wheels would fall off almost always around the same time – mid December and early in the following New Year, best described by Bruce Garrioch in his column this morning:
“A season ago, the Senators unraveled when they headed west. From Dec. 14 to 21, they lost five straight on the road, falling to St. Louis, Dallas, Vegas, Arizona and Colorado. In another stretch early in January, Ottawa lost another five straight, including western stops in Vancouver, Seattle, Edmonton and Calgary. In March, the Senators had the same road swing as they’re on now, losing 2-1 in Anaheim, 4-3 in Los Angeles and 2-1 in San Jose.”
For them to have any hope of getting back to playoff hockey, they cannot go through prolonged periods like that again. They almost have to win today in L.A. and/or Anaheim tomorrow and with a lot better effort than the one they trotted out the other night in San Jose which they had no business winning. Then, when they return him, they cannot lay the “first game at home after a road trip rotten egg” against Detroit on December 5, followed by Nashville on December 7, the Islanders on December 8 and the Ducks on December 11.
This stretch IS their season.
Oh man. In a tough season for a pens fan you just reminded me of Kunitzs goal in ot that series. I was jumping around a hotel room on vacation screaming. Good times. Thanks for the smile this am George.
Heh. You’re welcome, Chrisms. Funny thing is, I think whichever team won that series was going onto win the cup that year. That was a helluva series.
SR,
Re Canucks d, & Boston & Preds…
Could Boston or the Preds be a landing spot for Hoglander..? both teams could do with a LW❓
he is still young with lots potential
From the Preds, A pick & or d/man, Luke Scheen ❓
From Boston maybe a Morgan Geekie or A d/man❓
Looking at the Nhl standings it has Boston at:
25gp 11-11-3 25pts .500
I look at it that Boston won 11 games of 25gp .440
It provides me of a more realistic view of how the bruins are playing.
Well, caper,l a % pace is a good indicator as to whether or not a team has ANY hope of making the playoffs. .500 the whole way will get you 82 pts – wins and OT/SO losses included – and that simply won’t do it.
Last season, for all 4 WC teams, the average % pace was .588. Where Boston is concerned, with 25 points out of a possible 50 so far, they’d need 71 points the rest of the way – or a jump to a .623 % pace – in order to just get within the WC grouping.
Do you think they’re capable of that?
George I agree with your statement overall but this year could be a little different.
Looking at the east winning % Columbus holds down the second wildcard spot with .523 winning % at that pace Columbus would finish with 86pts
If one of these bottom feeders like Boston can go on a run they maybe able to distance themselves. On the other hand it could stay this way down to the wire.
I think you have to be sure who you identify as your core players,especially if you give out 8 year contracts with NTC and NMC clauses!I thought Ottawa was smart giving out long term contracts to Stutzle,Norris,Chabot,Tkaczuk,Sanderson! Now I m not so sure!What do you think George O?
What was the alternative? Give out shorter deals thereby giving them access to UFA status a lot sooner in their careers, at which point they would have had to compete with a host of other teams had they been producing or, in the case of the D, playing at the level expected when drafted?
It’s a gamble all teams have to calculate when the time comes – lock them up long-term or allow them to test free agency a lot sooner. No one has a crystal ball, unfortunately, to see how player X will be performing in 3 – 4 years after being signed, and when they originally draft these guys in the top 10 or so they do so because their early assessment is “he’s going to be a good one.”
Second-guessing and hindsight is about .10 cents a pound.
When the Habs started the rebuild I was hoping they’d let “the kids” have a run at the AHL Calder and graduate to the NHL as winners.
My trepidation was too many years of losing getting imprinted and consequently expecting to lose instead of expecting to win.
I wonder if that isn’t what has happened to these teams that have failed to make the playoffs for so many years,
Buffalo, Detroit and Ottawa should be up ahead of aging, sliding Boston and Tampa yet they can’t seem to get over the hump.
I hate to say it but Winnipeg is showing some signs of the trajectory the last team had that shared this hot start.
Right around Xmas that Sens team just blew out all their tires and went free fall. I truly hope that the Jets avoid this ending.