NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 2, 2024
A record-setting game for two Canucks, the Bruins win their Centennial Game, the three stars of the month and Rookie of the Month are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: A hat-trick performance by Jake DeBrusk lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. DeBrusk scored in overtime to complete the hat trick and also collected an assist.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson each had three assists, with Hughes collecting his 311th career assist to break the previous franchise record (310) for defensemen held by Alex Edler. Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen made 27 saves to become the first netminder in league history to start the season with a 10-0-0 record on the road.
Detroit forwards Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin and Marco Kasper each had two assists. Red Wings goalie Cam Talbot left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Meanwhile, in Vancouver, Canucks fans are keeping J.T. Miller in their thoughts, chanting his name during WWE’s Survivor Series at Rogers Arena. Miller has been on an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons since Nov. 19.
The Boston Bruins celebrated their 100th anniversary by thumping the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 in their Centennial Game. Bruins winger David Pastrnak scored in his 700th regular-season NHL game while teammates Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle each tallied two goals. Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored twice and sits third among NHL goalscorers with 16.
Dallas Stars winger Mason Marchment’s backhand goal broke a 1-1 tie as his club defeated the Winnipeg Jets 6-3, handing the latter their third straight loss. Wyatt Johnston and Roope Hintz also scored and Jake Oettinger stopped 26 shots for the Stars. Adam Lowry scored for the Jets (36 points), who slipped into second place in the overall standings behind the Minnesota Wild (36 points) based on games played and win percentage.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets have cooled considerably following a red-hot start that saw them win 17 of their first 20 games, dropping four of their last five games. Winger Nikolaj Ehlers missed this game with a lower-body injury.
The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3. Sean Monahan led the way with a goal and an assist and Zach Werenski had two helpers to extend his points streak to eight games. Blackhawks center Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets (11-9-3, 25 points) extended their points streak to six games (5-0-1) and sit two points out of the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.
Shootout goals by Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras gave the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. Terry had three assists in regulation and Frank Vatrano tallied twice and collected an assist for the Ducks. Senators captain Brady Tkachuk scored two goals as his club has dropped seven of their last nine contests (2-5-2).
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck are the league’s three stars for November 2024.
San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini was named Rookie of the Month for November 2024.
ESPN.COM: Colorado Avalanche forward Miles Wood is considered month-to-month with an upper-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve on Thursday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wood had already missed seven games earlier in the season with an upper-body injury.
George question for you, does Ottawa not have any bargain basement bench warmers in their system. I listened to the last half of Ottawa`s game last night and looking at the box score, it seems Ottawa called up Ostapchuk to warm the bench. I`m sure the kid appreciates the bigger pay check, but wouldn`t a 21 year developing centre be better off playing in the minors than riding the pine right now. He got 12 shifts in for only 6:28, that`s barely 30 seconds a shift. Every game now It seems there`s another reason to not like Green as a coach
All my attempts to give Green the benefit of the doubt are all flying out the door… he is incredibly irresponsible with his player use.
Mason Marchments backhander last night was a beauty. If you didn’t see it, go find the highlights.
Six or seven minutes is not unusual for fourth line players. Does Ostapchuk have the skills to play higher in the lineup?
If you`ve just turned 21 and drafted 39th in 21 and the team has already designated you nothing more than a 4th line player then somebody in your scouting staff needs to go, along with a couple of the development staff. No, this kid has the capability to be a top 6 forward, the issue seems to be with Green. He`s not a coach I`d hire from his time in Vancouver
Hard not to get “thumped” when your goalie gives up 3 goals in a couple of minutes.
Cayden Primeau was “all that” in college but mostly a no-show in the NHL.
25 y/o and still loses his net, if I’ve been noticing it for years I’m sure scouts are too.
Every now and then Primeau has a good game but I’d be shocked if any team grabbed him if he was waived.
I suspect we are seeing a rare phenomenon: a goalie who is being held onto by an NHL team so as not to impede the development of their AHL goalies.
If that isn’t the answer I’m not sure why the Habs are holding onto Primeau, whose sparking .844 save percentage is 75th out of 79.
Matheson played poorly as well against the Bs, and Dach continues to suck but it must be dispiriting for the rest of the team when their goalie for the game only stops shots that hit him.
HF30. Fully agree but the team in front of him has a lot to be desired. Pitiful effort during that span but I agree it would have been nice to get a timely save. Maybe the top brass sees something in Primeau that we don’t but I would not shed any tears if we lost him to waivers. There is no need to panic as this season is lost but it would be nice to see if any of the goaltenders in Laval are NHL ready.
Well, they could have kept Jake Allen while grooming younger goalies.
Matheson had a bad game but I seriously wonder if moving him side to side isn’t messing him up.
Dach missed almost a year and a half and his game is beginning to come around, we’ll see in the second half of the season.
I like the push back in periods 2 and 3.
If the top brass see something in Primeau its in practice or in the locker room, not in game play with the Habs or Rocket.
Habs Fans! Boston has struggled mightily to score against the entire NHL but you guys! 2 games against Montreal they have scored 12 goals! Your rebuild,retool,restructure could use the Fowler kid playing at Boston College right now!!