NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 6, 2024
Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk has a five-point game, Oilers forward Zach Hyman scores twice in his return from an injury, and the Blackhawks fire head coach Luke Richardson. Get the details on these stories and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk had a five-point performance (one goal, four assists) as his club recovered from blowing a 3-0 lead for a 7-5 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Sam Reinhart (one goal, two assists) snapped a 5-5 tie with 1:59 remaining in the third period as the Panthers extended their points streak to five games (4-0-1). Flyers forward Owen Tippett tallied twice within 23 seconds in the second period while teammate Matvei Michkov collected three assists.
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).
The Edmonton Oilers got two goals each from Zach Hyman and Leon Draisaitl to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3. Oilers captain Connor McDavid had four assists to move into the top 10 in the points race with 35. Draisaitl had 19 goals, tying Reinhart for the league lead in that category. Cole Sillinger had a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hyman returned to action after missing five games with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, there is no timetable for Victor Arvidsson’s return to the Oilers lineup. He’s missed nine games with an undisclosed injury.
A five-goal first period powered the Tampa Bay Lightning to an 8-1 drubbing of the San Jose Sharks. Brayden Point picked up four assists, Brandon Hagel scored two goals, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 20 saves for the Lightning. Alexander Wennberg scored for the Sharks as their three-game streak ended.
The Carolina Hurricanes got a four-point performance from Andrei Svechnikov (one goal, three assists) as they defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-3, snapping a three-game losing skid. Martin Necas had a goal and an assist to take over the lead in the NHL scoring race with 41 points, one point ahead of Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon. Avalanche winger Valeri Nichushkin scored twice.
An overtime goal by Adam Lowry lifted the Winnipeg Jets to a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Connor Hellebucyk turned aside 28 shots while Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey and Gabriel Vilardi each collected two points as the Jets ended their four-game losing streak. Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens replied for the Sabres, who are winless in their last five contests (0-3-2).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres played without team captain Rasmus Dahlin, who remains sidelined with back spasms.
Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine scored for the second straight game as his club blanked the Nashville Predators 3-0. Samuel Montembeault turned in a 29-save shutout and Jake Evans had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens. Justus Annunen stopped 27 shots as the Predators have lost six straight games (0-3-3).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Montembeault, his selection to Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off in February had one observer suggesting his inclusion was to appease Hockey Quebec officials unhappy over the lack of Francophones on the team. A Hockey Canada official dismissed this theory, pointing out that the Canadiens goalie backstopped Canada to a gold medal in the 2023 IIHF World Championship. “Montembeault deserves to be there,” said the official.
The Predators played without center Ryan O’Reilly, who is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (lower body) was placed on injured reserve.
Ottawa Senators forward Josh Norris tallied twice in a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Norris broke a 1-1 tie with 43 seconds remaining in the third period. Linus Ullmark turned aside 19 shots for the win. Alex DeBrincat scored for the Red Wings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators honored the “Pizza Line” of Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley in a pregame ceremony. They were among the league’s highest-scoring lines from 2005-06 to 2008-09. The trio earned their nickname from a promotion by the Pizza Pizza franchise rewarding those attending Senators home games with a free slice if the club scored five goals. It happened so often that the minimum was raised to six goals.
Red Wings forward Patrick Kane returned to the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury.
The St. Louis Blues nipped the Calgary Flames 4-3 on an overtime goal by Colton Parayko. Jordan Binnington kicked out 36 shots and Robert Thomas netted a goal and two assists for the Blues, who are 4-0-1 under head coach Jim Montgomery. Flames blueliner MacKenzie Weegar had a goal and an assist.
Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn had a goal and two assists to lead his club to a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders. Fellow blueliner Adam Larsson collected three assists while goalie Joey Daccord stopped 27 shots. Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin got the hook after giving up four goals on 13 shots. The Isles have won only twice in their last 10 games (2-5-3).
HEADLINES
CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: The Blackhawks fired head coach Luke Richardson on Thursday after the club compiled a record of 8-16-2. Anders Sorensen, who was the head coach of the Blackhawks AHL affiliate in Rockford, takes over from Richardson on an interim basis. Blackhawks assistant general manager Mark Eaton takes over the coaching duties in Rockford.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks brought in several veterans during the offseason to bolster their roster but the club only seemed to get worse. Franchise player Connor Bedard struggled to score, raising concerns that he could be growing frustrated with the team’s performance.
Speculation over which former NHL coach might take over as the Blackhawks’ full-time bench boss has already begun. Candidates could include Jay Woodcroft, Todd McLellan, Dave Hakstol and Gerard Gallant.
THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko could be getting closer to his season debut. He’s been sidelined since the 2024 playoffs with a knee injury. On Thursday, Demko told reporters that he felt ready to go. However, he’s not expected to be between the pipes on Friday when the Canucks face the Columbus Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks won’t rush their Vezina Trophy finalist into the lineup. They’ll want to be sure he’s 100 percent before green-lighting his return to action. Nevertheless, it sounds like he’s close to rejoining his teammates.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton will play in his 800th career NHL regular-season game on Friday when his club meets the Seattle Kraken.
TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jani Hakanpaa underwent a “minor procedure” on his knee but is expected to return to the lineup soon. He’s been limited to two games this season and last played on Nov. 16.
Home cooking good for Montgomery 4-0-1 and Sacco 5-2,although schedule get s tougher in Boston with a western Canada trip next week! Who would want the Black Hawks job?
With Sorensen taking over in Chicago, gotta wonder if the team will call up Nazar who is killing it in the AHL. The veterans in Chicago are clearly not meshing with Bedard, so maybe its time to see what the young guys can do together.
Re; Nashville
2 points out the basement (31st)
Dont see them making the playoffs now they would have to go on a Major winning streek to get there
I wonder when they are going to start trading player’s out….🤔
They have 3X1st picks in the 1st round today…
theres will be top 5,pick
Vegas pick and 1 more thats before they start trading players out for
Top Prospects or 1st picks to speed up the Re-build
i see lots of 3 way trades hear
>Steven Stamkos…
im sure he is not into a 5 year re-build…❓
>Jonathan Marchessault… Boston could be after him for there 1st line winger spot…❓
>Juuse Saros, Hab’s could be after him with a 1st pickand good young d/man…❓
>Ryan O’Reilly, would look good one the s
Sen’s or Sabers teams as they both need older leadership……❓
i think they could get some really good picks and A top prospect for these guys…🤔
The GM has said they are absolutely not trading any of the new guys they just acquired (Stamkos, March, Skjei) and Saros was just signed to a new 8 year contract that starts NEXT year.
Williew,Nashville is in the same boat regarding trading players as the Boston Bruins! Anyone of any substance that could be a part of a great deal are untouchable! Pretty much everyone’s top 6 forwards and 4 defensemen just don’t get moved anymore!All those guys mentioned in Nashville will not be moved!Trotz would never get another free agent to sign there if they moved any of their guys!
SR, & foleyd7
The Bruins have Morgan Geekie Who on ever other team would be A 3rd liner 100%❓
He Can’t Score…. He is on the Wing on the 1st Line…..in Boston in there past 7-9 games are scoring Under 2 goals per game…👀
Geekie in the last 5 seasons has scored Under
9 goals in 5 seasons….?
They need to fix it Sooner than Latter if they want to go any where in the playoffs this season❓
Regarding a good trade it has to be good for both teams, a top 6 forward or a top 4 d man,
you have to give up a 1st or A 2nd pick and a top prospect or a younger d man…..🤔
Preds GM Tortz does not want to come out and say who he is trading right now, but im sure he is working the phones to see what the intrest in any of his players…? the preds are in the toilet
31st place, Torts did say if this is not working he Will make trade’s that was about 12-13 days ago..? and do a Re-tool, Re-build
Just look what NYR young GM Chris Dury and what he said to the Meidia, Now the Team is in Turmoil, he said 3 the names of players….
And now thats All the players are thinking About All the time where they are going Next😩
I think the Captian Jacob Truba will be first to go,
The 2nd will be young 22 or 23 yr old Kaapo Kakko his name has been out there forthe past 2 yrs getting traded…
3rd will be Big winger Chris Kreider, but at
$6.5 for the next 2-3 yrs NYR will have to hold about $1.5 to $2M of his salary back if not that will really limit him to where he can trade
him to …❓🤔
I think Ottawa & Buffalo will be intrested in big winger Chris Kreider if they hold money back in a trade and salary player of some kind coming the other way…..❓
The NYR GM need’s to take a page out of some of the better GM’s pages like 2 of his buddys
Steve Y & Joe Sakic lots of the older GM’s
he should have said he maybe open to a trade and leaving it at that on the Quiet…..❓🤔
Some Habs Notes:
They’ve got to find a way to extend Jake Evans. He’s been dynamite on the penalty kill and he’s chipping in some offense as well. He obviously won’t be a big scorer but he can be a guy getting 30 or so points a year. Loves playing in Montreal. He will get a raise, but you obviously have to worry about overpaying.
I always figured that Armia would be gone sooner rather than later. But I’m now thinking the Habs might try to re-sign him. He won’t provide a lot o offense but he’s been very valuable on the penalty kill. But he’s obviously have to accept a cut in his $3.4m. AAV.
I don’t believe Monty was chosen just because he’s French. Has more to do with the less than stellar competition. And his experience at the world tournament. But Thompson would have been a better choice.
Finally, folks have been clamoring for the Habs to bring in a former head coach to assist St. Louis. Anyone up for the return of Luke Richardson?
I was thinking the same thing. Hab’s defense has been terrible. Maybe Luke can help with that or at least bring some stability.
Howard,
The Hab’s need to have 3 older good d/men to help train and develope the young guys
They have Mike Matheson as there 1st pair LD,
Savard will be traded there RD,
they need to pick up 2 more RD for there top 2 pairing’s …?
They have lots of LD on the team
young dynamo, 20 yr old LD Lane Hutson
and 3rd pairing LD 23 yr old Arber Xhekaj
on
RD they have 22 yr old Justin Barron whpo mybe trade bate…❓
I think they will also need a better goaltender,
Sam Montembeault is Very Very Inconsistant from the UFA market,
in 2025 there are 2 very good ones
like Adin Hill and Logan Thompson
Both very good and both UFA in 2025…. However
they may have to pay them $6.M to $7.M to get one of them…..❓your thoughts……
Howard. Certainly agree that Montreal should look at bringing Richardson back. Players seemed to respect him and played well for him in the playoffs when Ducharme was ill. Gerard Gallant would also make an excellent assistant coach if he were interested. As far as Evans and Armia go, I see them as 4th line players. That is not a knock on them because a good team will need good 4th line players, but, they need to be payed like 4th line players and I think both will want more money than that. The other way of looking at it is that this current team makeup is not a playoff team so bringing back the same players with the same coaches will likely get you a very similar result. If they don’t accept 4th line salaries, maybe it is time to move on. Hopefully Beck, Kapanen, Tuch etc are ready.
I’d like to see Richardson back with the Habs but would he not have to accept both a reduced role and a pay cut, given he’s still being paid by the ‘Hawks?
Besides, I have seen improvement in the Habs defensive game the past 6 games: no blow out losses, shots against down, in games win or lose. At least with Primeau not in net.
Yes to retaining Evans, he is versatile and even at an slight overpay won’t confound Montreal’s cap. Armia is playing well but in a reduced role. He has never been the scorer he could be, and he and Dvorak have to go to make room for Kapanen and Demidov.
As for the rumour that Montembeault’s selection was to appease Hockey Quebec, what a pile of steaming hot stuff. John Shannon can share a table with Georges Laraque at the Bonehead Pub, beer $10.00, malarkey free.
Montgomery has clearly had an effect and I’m sure it has helped that Broberg is back as well