NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 8, 2024
A milestone game for Kings captain Anze Kopitar, Paul Maurice becomes the Panthers’ winningest coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings picked up their fifth straight win by taming the Minnesota Wild 4-1. Trevor Moore scored two goals and Adrian Kempe a goal and an assist for the Kings while Yakov Trenin replied for the Wild.
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a milestone game for Kings captain Anze Kopitar as he played in his 1,400th regular-season NHL game. The franchise leader in games played, the 37-year-old Kopitar needs 66 points to surpass Marcel Dionne (1,307 points) for most points by a Kings player. He’s their leading scorer this season with 31 points in 27 games.
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk tallied two goals to defeat the San Jose Sharks 3-1, making Paul Maurice the winningest coach in franchise history with 111 wins. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov also scored and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots. Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood kicked out 49 shots.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk has been red hot offensively of late, with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in his last six games.
The Washington Capitals overcame a 2-0 deficit to double up the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. Tom Wilson scored twice in the third period and Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (19-6-2), who sit in first place in the overall standings with 40 points. Canadiens winger Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist and sits among the league leaders with 17 goals.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wilson was struck on the left cheek by a shot from teammate Jakob Chychrun in the first period but remained in the game, icing his cheek on the bench between shifts. Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle returned to the lineup after missing the previous game due to illness.
Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele snapped a 2-2 tie in a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Kyle Connor and Mason Appleton each had two points for the Jets as they became the first team to reach 20 wins this season (20-8-0). Alex Vlasic and Alec Martinez replied for the Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Martinez left the game after being struck in the face by a puck in the third period. Earlier in the game, Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek left the game with a lower-body injury. Interim coach Anders Sorensen said Mrazek will be sidelined “for a little bit.”
The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 with Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust each getting a goal and an assist. Tristan Jarry made 25 saves for the Penguins, who’ve won five of their last six contests. Mitch Marner and William Nylander scored for the Leafs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Despite their sub-.500 record (.483), the Penguins (28 points) are jockeying with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Flyers for the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. Penguins forward Philip Tomasino missed this contest with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Leafs activated Max Pacioretty off injured reserve and placed defenseman Jake McCabe on IR.
An overtime goal by Pavel Zacha lifted the Boston Bruins over the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 for their fourth straight victory. Trent Frederic tallied twice and Brad Marchand netted the tying goal. Rookie Matvei Michkov scored twice for the Flyers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers coach John Tortorella benched winger Travis Konecny in the third period. “He was pulled by the (concussion) spotter, and then I stopped playing him,” said Tortorella, claiming Konecny was “undisciplined.” The move came after the Flyers forward took an interference penalty against Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues, spoiling the return of former Oilers Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg to Edmonton. Leon Draisaitl had two assists and Zach Hyman scored as the Oilers picked up their fifth win their last six games. Holloway and Jake Neighbours scored for the Blues.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holloway and Broberg signed offer sheets with the Blues this summer.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar scored the winning goal as his club nipped the Detroit Red Wings 2-1. Valeri Nichushkin also scored and Alexandar Georgiev turned aside 29 shots for the win. Lucas Raymond scored for the Red Wings, who’ve lost five straight.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche forward Ross Colton returned to action after missing 17 games with a broken foot. The Avs also placed winger Jonathan Drouin (upper body) on injured reserve.
The Utah Hockey Club scored five straight goals to beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2, handing the latter their sixth straight defeat (0-4-2). Michael Kesselring had a goal and an assist and Karel Vejmelka made 23 saves. Sabres rookie Tyson Kozak scored his first NHL goal.
New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau had a goal and two assists as his club held off the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3. Isles forwards Bo Horvat and Maxim Tsyplakov each had a goal and an assist. Andrei Svechnikov scored two goals for the Hurricanes, who’ve lost four of their last five games.
The Ottawa Senators got a 37-save performance from Linus Ullmark in a 3-1 win over the Nashville Predators. Claude Giroux scored what proved to be the winning goal and Tim Stutzle collected two assists. Fedor Svechkov replied for the Predators, who are winless in their last seven (0-4-3).
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: The New York Rangers officially finalized Igor Shesterkin’s eight-year, $92-million contract extension on Saturday. The deal begins next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The average annual value is $11.5 million. Shesterkin will earn over $15 million in actual salary in the deal’s first two years. He’ll earn $9.5 million in actual salary over the remaining four years. It also comes with a full no-movement clause for the duration of the contract.
THE SCORE: The Rangers will take time to name a new captain after trading Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
DAILY FACEOFF: Mark Scheifele, Zach Hyman and MacKenzie Weegar are among the potential injury replacement players for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.
NEW YORK POST: Tony DeAngelo is at peace playing in the KHL knowing that his NHL career is probably over. The 29-year-old defenseman spent eight seasons with the Arizona Coyotes, Rangers, Hurricanes and Flyers but couldn’t find a new NHL club this summer as a free agent. He signed with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg.
Winning 5 of 6 is good .
4 straight very good performances by Jarry is very promising.
Tied in points for last Wildcard spot (note more games played) is promising.
Beating the Leafs is fantastic; absolutely fantastic.
But lets not get carried away. Big changes are still needed. Defensively Pens still bad. More downs than ups for balance of season is expected.
Best quote in years:
From Hooks Orpik on December 6th :
“Grzelcyk might be the worst regular player for the Penguins since Jack Johnson. How does this guy keep playing big minutes, or any at all?”
Hooks, all Pens fans agree with you.
Even with another assist last night; he played brutal again defensively. Yikes! When he is defending in front of Jarry or Nedjelkovic (and Grzelcyk is rarely in that position like he’s supposed to be) he gets pushed around like a rag doll; even by very small players. Rarely in position on the Penguins’ side of Center ice; and has a big problem getting the puck out under pressure.
At least Jack Johnson could move other players if he wanted to.
Hooks Orpik? 🤣
One of the SB Nation writers. Also on other sites.
This quote was priceless (and oh so true)
Yohe, Kingerski , etc etc etc all post similar re Grzelcyk’s completely awful defensive playing.
yet Sully keeps marching him out there to hinder any sense of defensive play Pens may have
There used to be another guy on this site that hated Jack Johnson. He disappeared right about the same time as you appeared. (Kinda like Clark Kent / Superman)
He worded things eerily similar, things like “ hooks orpik”
I think you guys should get together! You have a lot in common. But he was Canadian, and obviously you’re American. An American that often uses words like “centre” instead of center… which is a bit unusual. But obviously you’re American. Because you’re pulling for the US in the 4 nations tournament.
Hooks Orpik writes for (amongst others) SB Nation.
Obviously a pseudonym
Re my absentee Canadian “mirror” ; one thing we don’t have in common:
He is a Leafs fan. I loathe the Leafs.
Perhaps we’re an MPD Jekyll and Hyde carrying dual passports; raising two families on either side of the boarder.
I believe my Canadian Jekyll counterpart is in his 60’s (??). Please tell him to get his butt down here; he’s got twin diapers to change.
I’m not s fan of it at 50. Lets see him do it.
I/we wish you a Merry Christmas
P.S. I’m not saying Grzylcyk is as bad as Johnson was. I am saying he’s presently our worst defensive defenseman; and it is not close.
As a Boston fan I Don t give credit to the Montreal Canadians often but I believe that Cole Caulfield belongs on team USA for the 4 nations tournament!At least at the expense of Vincent Trocheck!
We could change up many forwards.
Not to worry. Our goalies will shut the door tight. 3 wins then on to finals for a shutout victory by Hellybuck
I’m all in favour of the centres the US has chosen. After all, what’s important is the colour of the jersey. Let’s not over analyse the calibre of players the US has chosen. This would be just bad behaviour on our part.
I’m all in favour of discussing our favourite players. But we must honour their decisions.
I just hope the us is built to cheque! Either way I won’t spill a litre of tears if we don’t win. It’s not like we’ll miss by a kilometre, more like a milimetre.
I won’t harbour any bad feelings at all. We can’t just go with a he flavour of the moment.
I hope none of you think this was written in bad humour.
Good luck to our neighbour’s on the north!
Captain Obvious, do I detect a nod to the north in your use of the word “cheque”? Witty lad!
😀
Hard to argue that he not better the VT. That is true
I mean, as I said when someone argued Kreider. I’d take Robertson, Thompson and Keller over Trocheck, Kreider and Caufield.
Someone is always going to disagree with what players are or are not picked.
Not everyone will be happy.
No disrespect intended, but the summary of yesterday’s Flyers-Bruins games is not complete without mentioning Tortorella’s criticism of the refs. Some of their penalty calls against the Flyers were pure bunk. The Caps were also the beneficiaries of some weak calls against the Habs. Refereeing is a problem that won’t go away by being ignored.
It’s certainly not being ignored here, Howard, it’s been frequently mentioned on this site. There’s only so much room and so much time that can be devoted to it. If I posted every complaint about officiating (much of it justified) on this site there would be no room for other news!
Fair comment, Lyle. But doesn’t this make you wonder why referees are exempt from criticism by players or coaches? Being a professional should come with accountability.
It would slow the game down to have a challenge on calls like the CFL does, but why not one coach’s challenge per game on a penalty. That would be a safety valve and surely improve matters. After all, we have a coach’s challenge for off sides and goals.
Take it up with the so-called “department of player safety”, the head of NHL officiating, and commissioner Bettman. They’re the ones who call the shots. I’ve raised this issue more than once and so have many other pundits, bloggers and fans. It falls on deaf ears.
In the words of Iago: I am going to have a heart attack and die from that surprise.
Do you know if the NHL governors have raised this issue with the Commissioner, aka Gru?
If they have, LJ, it obviously didn’t get very far. The biggest beef this season is the inconsistency over goalie interference calls. It’s been growing for a while but it’s become an epidemic this season. Players and coaches are questioning what constitutes goalie interference. Not a peep from on high, who considered their officials “the best in the world”.
Penguins doing enough to just miss the playoffs but also to make sure they get a draft pick that isn’t top 10, interesting strategy.
Hi Brock
Not a big probability (of successful pick) jump picking 8th-11th over 12th-16th
That said; there is no defined strategy by Dubas
To get Crosby to re-up he committed to Crosby to making the team much better now.
Selling Eller for futures ; made team worse now and he traded with a Div foe and didn’t get an appropriate return
Not letting Sullivan go when he should have; just allows Sullivan to repeatedly march out defensive hazards instead of sitting them
Good move on Tomasino; but this won’t matter in the overall scheme this year
Winning 5 of 6 is an aberration
Don’t be surprised if there is a 5 losses in 6 games coming; perhaps more than one stretch like that
Media has repeatedly commented that Dubas will be moving our best defensive defenseman (Pettersson). There should be no surprise when Dubas gets s sub-par return on Pettersson. Team gets weakened now; and return is sub-par picks down the road.
Now if the miracle happens that Dubas waives Grzylcyk, Accairi, Hayes, Nieto replaced by younger , faster, and obviously much better WBS players; then maybe Pens can battle for pick 14-16 (with tiny chance of draft move up) and even a glimmer at WildCard spot; resulting in a stop to the attendance/viewership/merch sales slide.
Dubas is not however, known for miracles.
Failed as Leafs GM; and doing even worse as Pens GM.
Not saying Pens poor year has been because of having more back-to-back sets this year than anybody else; but I was shocked to find out the league disparity in back-to-back scheduling (to date) and that 12 teams have had less than 3 sets of Back to backs so far ; and 18 have less than 4 sets of Back-to-Backs.
If I did this correctly: these are the totals of Back-to-backs sets so far as of Dec 7:
Pens: 7
Sharks :5
Leafs:5
Caps:5
Preds:5
Ducks: 4
Sabres: 4
Canes:4
BlackHawks:4
Jackets:4
Oilers:4
Kings :4
Knights:4
Bruins: 3
Panthers:3
Wild:3
Devils:3
Isles:3 (but 4 by tonight)
Flyers :3 (4 by tonight)
Flames: 2
Avs:2 (will have 3 by tonight)
Stars:2
Wings:2
Habs:2
Blues:2
Lightning:2
Utah :2 (but 3 by Monday night)
Cannucks:2
Rangers : 1 (but 2 by Monday night)
Sens:1 (but 2 by tonight)
Jets:1 (2 by tonight)
Impressive, 8787, but surely the killer is 3 games in 4 nights.
I had a quick look to see if that occurs with any frequency and just for the Habs in the month of October they had two stretches of 3 in 4. There is another set of 3 in 4 coming in December.
Every other team will have that and it’s ridiculous to subject teams to that. You have to think the risk of injury goes up while the entertainment value for fans goes down.
Fully agree LJ
3 in 4 nights isn’t good at all.
For the back-to-backs, IF there must be so many; why not make the team doing back-to-back on most occassions; home team for both games. No travel in between for say 2 out of 3 of the back-to-backs.
Also, if there is travel; don’t have start times of the second game ; less than 24 hours after the first game started.
For instance, Isles/Pens play a home and home back to back on Dec 28th/29th
28th game starts at 7:30; 29th at 5:30. Both teams flying . It’s late Dec on the island for game 1; could be a bit of crappy weather; delays very well could happen; and both teams and entourage probably won’t get to the airport until closing in on midnight.
Why not make 28th game an afternoon game or at worst a 7 PM start; with the 29th to start at 7:30
This is not an isolated case. Many (all?) teams get these travel back to backs with 2nd game starting less than 24 hours after the first one.
Strange!
Here’s something to cheer you (all of us) up: with expansion it will only get worse.
The non playoff teams love this so they have less strenuous practices!