NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 12, 2025
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck reach new milestones. Get the details plus recaps from a busy Saturday in the NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored an empty-netter for his 873rd NHL regular-season goal in a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ovechkin added an assist to finish with two points while Logan Thompson got the win with a 32-save performance as the Capitals regained first place in the overall standings with 61 points. Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators, who’ve dropped five of their last seven games.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin needs 22 goals to break Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894. He also joined Gordie Howe and Ron Francis as the only players in NHL history to record 20 20-goal seasons. Howe is the all-time leader with 22 seasons. Before this game, the Capitals placed goalie Charlie Lindgren (upper body) on injured reserve and recalled netminder Hunter Shepard.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 22 saves for his league-leading sixth shutout of the season to blank the Colorado Avalanche 3-0. Nikolaj Ehlers scored two goals and Mark Scheifele collected his team-leading 25th goal. Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves for the Avalanche as they dropped into the first wild-card berth in the Western Conference with 53 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck tied his franchise record for most shutouts in a season and tied Craig Anderson for the third-most shutouts by an American goaltender (43) in NHL history. He trailed Jonathan Quick (62) and Ryan Miller (44). The Jets lead the Western Conference with 61 points but sit second in the overall standings as the Capitals have a game in hand.
An overtime goal by David Pastrnak lifted the Boston Bruins to a 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers. Pastrnak finished with 2 goals and an assist while Jeremy Swayman kicked out 40 shots for the Bruins as they snapped a six-game winless skid (0-5-1) and cling to the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 47 points. Sam Reinhart tallied twice for the Panthers, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 53 points.
The Seattle Kraken scored six unanswered goals to defeat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2. Kaapo Kakko led the way with two goals while Joey Daccord turned aside 33 shots as the Kraken ended a four-game winless streak (0-3-1). Sam Lafferty and Jack Quinn scored for the Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kakko had 10 points in 30 games before the New York Rangers traded him last month to Seattle. He has seven points in 10 games with the Kraken.
Ottawa Senators rookie goaltender Leevi Merilainen made 29 saves for his first NHL shutout in a 5-0 rout of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Claude Giroux collected three assists for the Senators as they ended a four-game winless stretch (0-3-1). Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic gave up five goals on 17 shots and was replaced by Tristan Jarry in the second period.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 43 points, the Senators are three points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot, sitting one point back of the Penguins.
The Vancouver Canucks blanked the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0. Kevin Lankinen stopped 20 shots for the shutout while Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood tallied for the Canucks (48 points) as they maintained their grip on the final Western wild-card berth and ended a four-game winless skid (0-2-2). It’s the Leafs second straight defeat following a five-game win streak but they remain first in the Atlantic Division with 56 points.
A shootout goal by Jason Robertson gave the Dallas Stars a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Jamie Benn scored in regulation and Jake Oettinger stopped 30 shots to extend their win streak to seven games. Canadiens winger Patrik Laine scored his ninth power-play goal of the season as he returned to action after missing four games with flu-like symptoms while Samuel Montembault kicked out 34 shots.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens and Penguins each have 44 points, leaving both clubs two points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Montreal’s win streak ended at three games but they have points in their last four contests.
Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves made 31 saves as his club extended their win streak to a season-high four games with a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Adam Fantilli and Cole Sillinger scored for the Blue Jackets. Colton Parayko replied for the Blues, who’ve dropped three of their last four contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets hold the final Eastern wild-card spot with 46 points.
The New Jersey Devils got an overtime goal by Stefan Noesen to nip the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. Ondrej Palat and Jack Hughes scored in regulation for the Devils while Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov replied for the Lightning.
Philadelphia Flyers netminder Samuel Ersson made 22 saves to shut out the Anaheim Ducks 6-0. Travis Konecny had four assists while Jamie Drysdale had a goal and an assist against his former club. Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier was heavily booed and jeered by Flyers fans in his first game in Philadelphia. His refusal to play for the Flyers led to his trade to the Ducks for Drysdale last January.
A third-period goal by Zach Hyman capped a three-goal rally by the Edmonton Oilers in a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Leon Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin each collected two points as the Oilers sit second in the Pacific Division with 55 points. Nick Foligno and Teuvo Teravainen each had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers winger Jeff Skinner was a healthy scratch for the second time in seven games. The 32-year-old has seven goals and 15 points in 40 games, putting him on pace for one of his lowest-scoring seasons.
New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal scored with 1:25 remaining in the third period to lift his team over the Utah Hockey Club by a score of 2-1. Brock Nelson scored the tying goal earlier in the third period after Nick Schmaltz opened the scoring for Utah in the second period. The Islanders have won three straight while Utah is 1-2-1 in their last four.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders starter Ilya Sorokin missed this game due to illness. Jakub Skarek was called up as an emergency backup for Marcus Hogberg.
The Calgary Flames held off the Los Angeles Kings 2-1, snapping the latter’s five-game win streak. Calgary goalie Dustin Wolf turned aside 31 shots while Matt Coronato and Jonathan Huberdeau were the goal scorers as the Flames (47 points) remain one point behind the Canucks for the final Western wild-card berth. Jacob Moverare scored for the Kings, who remain in third place in the Pacific Division with 53 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames unveiled their Quarter Century Team before this game.
The First Team comprises forwards Jarome Iginla, Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk, defensemen Mark Giordano and Robyn Regehr, and goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff.
Forwards Sean Monahan, Craig Conroy and Mikael Backlund, blueliners Rasmus Andersson and Dion Phaneuf, and goaltender Jacob Markstrom made up the Second Team.
New York Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin stopped 29 shots while Vincent Trocheck and Adam Edstrom scored in a 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Mark Stone opened the scoring for Vegas, who’ve lost two straight but remain in first place in the Pacific Division with 59 points. The Rangers are 4-1-1 in their last six contests.
The Minnesota Wild got a 36-save performance by Marc-Andre Fleury to beat the San Jose Sharks 3-1. Mats Zuccarello had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who’ve won five of their last six games. William Eklund replied for the Sharks, who’ve dropped three straight.
Some strange games last night. Boston only manages 18 shots on Bobrovsky but puts 4 behind him while Swayman is deluged with 43 and stopped all but 3. This is the kind of goalkeeping they’ve been waiting for since the season began, and if Sweeney can address the offensive shortcomings and Swayman gets into a consistent groove over the 2nd half, they’ll be OK.
The Senators go into Pittsburgh on the heels of a 4-0 thumping at the hands of last-place Buffalo, following which they were booed off the ice, start rookie goalie Levi Merilainen against a Penguins team that had just upset the high-powered Oilers 5-3 with Nedeljkovic stopping 40 of 43 shots in a game that saw a scoreless 3rd, and thumped Pittsburgh 5-0 with Nedeljkovic being pulled after giving up 5 goals on just 17 shots in a game that saw a scoreless 3rd! And not a good day for Pittsburgh sports fans whose Steelers lost to Baltimore 28-14.
The Leafs are shut out at home 3-0 by the Canucks with one goal coming in each period at the 0.31, 18.12 and 0.47 marks on just 18 shots total on Hildeby while Toronto could only muster 20 on Kevin Lankinen, a goalie who sat on the UFA list pre-season for quite a while before Vancouver “graciously” offered him a pto and eventually gave him a contract. This was a guy who had decent stats in Carolina and who I kept hoping Ottawa would sign as a back-up to Ullmark.
And my pre-season prediction that, in the East at season’s end, there will be fewer points between the last WC team and the last place team in the Conference than we’ve seen in many years, is looking better and better, with just 5 points separating second-last Philadelphia and Columbus, who holds down the 2nd WC spot, only 1 point themselves out of the first WC spot (currently held by Boston) and also just 1 behind Tampa who sit in 3rd place in the Atlantic with the same number of points (47) as Boston (but who have played 5 less than the Bruins while Columbus has 2 in hand on Boston.
And something I hadn’t been aware of when it comes to Pittsburgh-Ottawa confrontations until I read it in Garrioch’s column in the Ottawa Sun this morning is “It was also the Senators’ sixth straight win against the Penguins and it couldn’t have come at a better time because Pittsburgh is one of the clubs Ottawa is battling for the final wildcard playoff spot in the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference. Ottawa hasn’t lost to Pittsburgh since Jan. 20, 2023.”
I told you yesterday that anything was possible in this game including s blowout by either team and it all depended “which Pens Team” showed up.
Well this wasn’t the Pens team in Period 1 vs Oilers
This was the Pens team that has often showed up this year…. without a defensive bone in their body
First shot goes in.
This has happened several times this year and to all 3 Pens goalies.
It’s not on the goalies.
Today (vs Lightning) again expect the unexpected
You never know what you’ll get
It’s like the mantra for the snack food “Bits and Bites”
You never know what you’re going to get
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h2nwg5DV63E
Further on Lankonen, they only signed him for this season at a bargain-basement rate of $875,000. All he’s done in his 29gp so far is post a 2.51gaa and 0.906 save % while going 16-7-6 – a .655 points % which is significantly better than their overall .571 points %, dragged down by Demko’s 2-2-3 record (3.17gaa ,883 save %) and Silov’s 1-4-0 record (4.11gaa .837 save %). With those two combined and their 3-6-3 9pts over 12gp, the team has sputtered along at a .375 pts %. And Demko costs $5 mil off he cap.
They won’t be able to re-sign Lankonen on the cheap next season and I bet he tests the market again.
Boston really needs to do a rebuild instead of trading away draft picks for temporary help. This season has shown that they have hit a wall trying to be competitive every year. Just making the playoffs with a first round exit isn’t getting them any closer to a cup…
Hey Paul, A big NO to a rebuild. A retool is ok. Tearing it all down could last a decade and is no guarantee of success. Check out this article on Sports Net: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/why-nhl-teams-should-reconsider-teardown-rebuilds-and-prioritize-winning/
Paul H in order to have a rebuild you need young prospects to replace the older players! Boston has very few players like that in the system due to repeatedly trading draft picks!I would build around their core in their 20 s!The problem is that they need to trade some of those guys!They are beating up Frederic this year but has he been any different than say Coyle or Zacha! The last UFA they let walk Debrusk has 17-18 goals for Vancouver!The biggest need in the organization is a young first line center! Lindholm is not that guy!
Re; Ottawa Senators 5-0
Rookie goaltender Leevi Merilainen,
had his first shut out against the Pen’s last night look like he played great…👍
George,
They my have just found the back up goaltender for next year in there own back pocket⁉️
Going G5 GA,2.42 SV% 0.911
they may as well play him quite a bit too see how he does after 20-25 games….
Im sure they will still have to sign a back up who can float up & down from the AHL also so they have 3 goaltenders as $2.5M Anton Forsberg will not be back…..
George O you’re absolutely correct about the east wc race. Literally the only team out of it is Buffalo and they are a mess. The race in the west is looking more and more like a Flames/Canucks duel. Who knows how Vancouver will come out after the drama twins are dealt someplace?? I don’t see a lot of the Kraken games because of west coast time but when I do they look real solid. Yet their place in the standings says something else? Wondering if any Seattle fans care to chime in on what seems to be their problem? Should at least be vying for a playoff spot by now I would think.
Ducky 10, Daccord gives them a chance to win on most nights with a decent 2.45gaa and .914 save % in 25gp with a 13-9-2 record.
It’s when they have to go to the backup that the wheels fall off – Grubauer 3.62gaa .875 save % 5-13-1 in 19gp
The Avalanche showed no urgency or fight in the offensive zone against a very good Winnipeg team; that is what concerns me going forward? It is one thing to put up 6 or 7 on depleted teams because of all the skill we have which I am grateful for; however when other teams challenge the Avalanche speed/skill, we often fall short. Quit jacking around with the puck 5×5 and PP . Get it to the net. They are hell bent on passing the puck into the net. They don’t even make life difficult for hellebuyck. Just give him an easy night. I’m not sure he even made any really difficult saves, perhaps 1 or 2? Not really more than that
The Habs/Dallas game was a bit of a surprise. The past few years have followed a steady pattern, Dallas blowout.
Dallas is too heavy, too disciplined, too good a mix of youth and veterans. In short , a very one sided relationship.
Last night’s game was very evenly played, Oettinger stood on his head , like he often does, and the game went to shoot out.
Habs showed they have arrived and the second half of the season will be very interesting.
Laine came back after missing a few games, and promptly had 3 giveaways on one shift then redeemed himself with yet another pp goal, some heavy hitting and fierce backchecking. This guy just keeps on surprising.
There’s a feeling in the air that has been missing for decades, Hutson and Laine touching the pucks brings folks out of their seats.
I watched a lot of that game, Habfan30, and continue to be impressed with the overall play of the Habs, which has seemingly settled into a consistency that will bode well for them in the second half.
The fact Dallas chose to start Oettinger in nets was, to me anyway, an indication that they figured Montreal to be the tougher half of their back-to-back, with back-up deSmith going against Ottawa tonight.
Re; Hab’s
When the get that young Russian over here Ivan Demidov for next Season, It sounds like he is a scorer and very offencive gifted to add to there top 6…. Habs have lots of good young forward prospects.
for there 3rd line and team leadership, i could see the habs trading for 2nd pick for
Ryan O’Reilly🤔
looks like the Hab’s have found the back up goal tender 23 yr old Jakub Dobes who has posted in 3 games some great numbers
G3 GA, 0.97 SV%, .959👌
Willie, O’Reilly at 33 does not fit into the Habs plans. Their third line center is Evans, whom they will keep for the rest of the season if not extend him into the future.
They also have Kapanen and Beck as centers who will fight for a roster spot next year, with Dvorak gone.
Yes, it’s a pleasant streak the Habs are on after several years of misery, HF30. They even played well without Savard and Laine in the line up against Washington.
You will have noted the thrust of Hughes’ comments in his press conference: a disinclination to change the line up, meaning Evans – and possibly Armia! – being resigned.
I also feel much better about their goaltending depth with Dobes. Two weeks ago had Montembeault been hurt it would have meant season over.
Were I Hughes I would bring up either Roy or Beck the next time a forward is injured, and one of the young D. Pezzetta and Struble have shown they can’t play without taking penalties and both get so little ice time it taxes the other players.
Still, two weeks is not a season, so I have guarded optimism.
Lyle,
Im thinking a little more Leadership up from Front, if the Hab’s in adding Ryan O’Reilly for 2.5 yrs
to help out the All the young forwards…❓
they are going to have to do that on there d,
Also as there are 4 d men 21 to 23yrs old
msybe a LD man 29 to 30 to help out for a couple of years…❓
Except, in the 1st round of the playoffs last season, and following a 7-0 win in the opening game against Colorado, Hellebuyck looked more like a sieve the rest of the way, losing 4 straight by scores of 5-2, 6-2, 5-1 and 6-3. That’s 22 goals allowed in 4 games – or 5.5 goals per game and a save % of .847!
Search for it? It was headline news in Winnipeg with one pundit flat out saying he’s not a playoff goalie. How the Hell do you go from a 7-0 SO in game 1 to atrocious stats like that? And it wasn’t as if Colorado mounted a consistent barrage of shots per game in games 2 to 5.
Like it or not, when a team or a player is either part of the subject matter, or mentioned by someone despite not being part of the subject matter, I feel no reluctance to weigh in. And as far as I can see Tkachuk and the Senators’ lack of playoff action over the past 7 seasons is not part of the subject matter … but unless you’ve been to the moon in recent weeks, you had to have seen my criticism of their shortcomings whenever they ARE part of the subject matter. And I don’t dump on anyone else who offers a critical view.
Quit being so bloody thin-skinned. Facts are facts.
Don’t forget. Hoisting the cup is Made up of 35% puck luck 35%. Health among other things. League is full of parity now. Exactly what the cap is supposed to do
Toronto loses 3-0 to a very tired Canuck team that was on the 2nd game of a back to back and flew into Toronto in the early hours of the game day. The fans booed them off the ice for stinking the joint out. Marner and Matthews then each get up in front of reporters post game and claimed they played good. Roughly 4.5 minutes of PP time and couldn`t even muster a shot on goal. The Athletic gave the Matthews line a “C” grade while giving the Tavares line a “C-” grade but admitting the Tavares line played better. Figure that one out. But only in Toronto can 2 of the highest paid players stink the joint out for the 3rd straight game get booed off the ice and have the balls to say they played good. Yep only in Toronto