NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 15, 2025
The Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski’s home points streak puts him in elite company, Canadiens rookie Lane Hutson extends his lead in the rookie points race, the Bruins reveal their Quarter-Century Team, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPPING TUESDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski scored twice to extend his home points streak to 17 games in a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko scored in a shootout as the Blue Jackets won their fifth straight game. Bobby Brinks and Owen Tippett replied for the Flyers as their two-game win streak ended.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Werenski’s streak puts him in elite company among NHL defensemen. He joins Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Phil Housley, Brian Leetch, Ray Bourque and John Van Boxmeer with the longest home points streaks (17-plus games). Orr remains the all-time leader with 25 games. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets (48 points) hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson collected three assists to widen his lead in the rookie scoring race as his club downed the Utah Hockey Club 5-3. Kirby Dach scored twice and Cole Caufield tallied the winning goal for the Canadiens, who’ve won 10 of their last 13 games (10-2-1) and sit two points behind the Blue Jackets. Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz each collected two assists for Utah as they’ve dropped four of their last five games (1-3-1).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson leads all rookies with 35 points, four points ahead of Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks.
Canadiens winger Emil Heineman was struck by a car while walking in Salt Lake City and will be sidelined for three to four weeks recovering from his injuries. Meanwhile, Utah HC activated John Marino off injured reserve for this game. The 27-year-old defenseman was making his season debut with Utah after recovering from back surgery. He was acquired from the New Jersey Devils last June.
The Nashville Predators won their 1,000th game with a 5-3 upset of the Vegas Golden Knights. Steven Stamkos scored twice and collected an assist and Jonathan Marchessault got an assist in his first game against his former team since signing with the Predators last summer. Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev collected his first NHL hat trick as his club has dropped three of its last four games.
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson made 19 saves to shut out the Anaheim Ducks 3-0, extending their points streak to eight games (5-0-3). Brandon Duhaime, John Carlson, and Ethen Frank were the goalscorers for the Capitals as they hold first place in the overall standings with 63 points. The Ducks have dropped four of their last five contests (1-3-1).
A natural hat trick by Kyle Connor within a 6:38 span in the first period carried the Winnipeg Jet to a 6-1 romp over the Vancouver Canucks. Connor also collected an assist while Gabriel Vilardi collected three helpers. Nils Hoglander scored for the struggling Canucks as they’ve lost five of their last six contests (1-3-2).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets also have 63 points but the Capitals hold a game in hand. Meanwhile, the Canucks (48 points) remain one point behind the Calgary Flames, who hold the final Western Conference wild-card spot.
Speaking of the Flames, they dropped a 2-1 decision to the St. Louis Blues. Radek Faksa broke a 1-1 tie midway through the third period and Jordan Binnington stopped 26 shots as the Blues sit three points behind the Flames and two behind the Canucks. Kevin Bahl scored for the Flames.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon collected two assists to reach his league-leading 70th point as his team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to nip the New York Rangers 3-2. Artturi Lehkonen scored with 1:13 remaining in regulation and Devon Toews tallied the winning goal in overtime for the Avalanche. Sam Carrick and Adam Edstrom scored for the Rangers, extending their points streak to five games (3-0-2).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers activated Chris Kreider (upper body) off injured reserve for this game. Blueshirts center Filip Chytil returned to action after missing the last two games with an upper-body injury.
The Boston Bruins built an early 4-0 lead on their way to a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightnings. David Pastrnak scored his 20th goal of the season and collected two assists and Jeremy Swayman kicked out 43 shots as the Bruins won their second straight game. Connor Geekie and Victor Hedman scored for the Lightning.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning center Brayden Point was scratched from this game for missing a team meeting earlier in the day. Meanwhile, the Bruins placed defenseman Charlie McAvoy and center Mark Kastelic on injured reserve, blueliner Hampus Lindholm on long-term injury reserve, and recalled center Matthew Poitras and defenseman Michael Callahan from their AHL affiliate in Providence.
Dallas Stars forwards Matt Duchene and Logan Stankoven each had three points to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1, handing the latter their fourth straight loss. Jake Oettinger turned aside 27 shots for the Stars, who’ve won eight of their last nine contests. Auston Matthews scored for the Leafs, who were booed off the ice by their fans following this game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars center Roope Hintz left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no postgame update about his condition.
Shootout goals by Aleksander Barkov and Anton Lundell gave the Florida Panthers a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Jesper Boqvist scored in regulation for the Panthers while Nico Hischier tallied his 20th of the season for the Devils.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Leevi Marilainen made 24 saves for his second shutout in three games in a 2-0 win over the New York Islanders. Adam Gaudette and Artem Zub scored for the Senators, who’ve won three straight and sit one point out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Marcus Hogberg stopped 25 shots for the Islanders as their three-game win streak is over.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot left this game in the first period after being struck in the face by a shot from Islanders blueliner Adam Pelech. He was ruled out of the rest of this game for precautionary reasons.
Three unanswered third-period goals by Jamie Oleksiak, Eeli Tovanen and Kaapo Kakko lifted the Seattle Kraken over the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2. Philip Tomasino and Bryan Rust scored for the Penguins, who have one win in their last eight (1-4-3).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins activated Evgeni Malkin from injured reserve after missing four games with an upper-body injury and sent winger Jesse Puljujarvi to their AHL affiliate in Wilke-Barre/Scranton. The Penguins also released a statement indicating Malkin’s home was burglarized on Saturday and his three Stanley Cup rings were stolen.
The San Jose Sharks clipped the Detroit Red Wings 6-3, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal and two assists for the Sharks while Vladimir Tarasenko tallied twice for the Red Wings, who also lost forward Tyler Motte in the second period to an upper-body injury.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: The Boston Bruins revealed their Quarter-Century Team on Tuesday.
Forward Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Brad Marchand, defensemen Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy, and goaltender Tim Thomas comprised the First Team.
Forwards Joe Thornton, David Pastrnak and Milan Lucic, defensemen Torey Krug and Dennis Seidenberg, and goaltender Tuukka Rask made up the Second Team.
The schedule for the 4 Nations Face-Off and the full team rosters were released on Tuesday. The series will be held from Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston with teams of NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States.
Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe was fined $5,000.00 by the department of player safety for slew-footing Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid during Monday’s game between the two teams.
SPORTSNET: Former NHL defenseman Tony DeAngelo’s contract with KHL club SKA Saint Petersburg was terminated for family reasons.
The Senators-Islanders game played out pretty much as I expected with NY playing their tight-checking style and shots on goal at both ends kept to a minimum in a 2-0 Ottawa win (including an empty-netter). The rookie Merilainen registered his 3rd straight win with his second SO of the 3, giving him 3 on the season.
There were, however, a couple of scary moments for Ottawa when Chabot took a deflection just under his visor half-way through the 1st and left the ice bleeding profusely. He didn’t return and is probably doubtful for their next game at home tomorrow against Washington. The other saw Norris take a shot on the foot or ankle in front of the Islanders’ net, and it wasn’t encouraging to see him crawling off the ice as play went on. He had to be helped down the hallway and again, the initial reaction was “oh-oh … yet another injury.” Thankfully it was a “stinger” which apparently can make your whole leg feel like it’s on fire, and he was quickly back after walking it off and immediately went out for another shift, even getting an assist on Zub’s empty-netter late in the 3rd to seal the win.
They needed that one simply to stay in the hunt as Columbus, Boston and the Habs all won their games as well, while the Rangers and Flyers both salvaged a point in their games.
Tight doesn’t even begin to describe the East where just 8 points separates 3rd place in the Atlantic (currently held by Tampa with 49 points – same as Boston (first WC) but with Tampa having 4 games in hand) from second-last NYI. The red hot Blue Jackets (8-2 in their last 10), are just 1 point back of the Bruins with a game in hand, Ottawa next with 47 pts and 1 in hand on Columbus and 3 on the Bruins, followed by the Habs with 46 pts and the same number of gp as Ottawa. Then, at 44 points, you have Detroit (43gp), Philadelphia (45gp) and Pittsburgh (46 gp), the Rangers with 43 pts (43gp), and the Islanders (41pts after 43 gp).
Of all the teams mentioned above, only Tampa (+34) and Ottawa (+4) are on the plus side in goal differential. Pittsburgh is the worst in that category at -36, followed by Boston (-22), Philadelphia (-19), NYI (-17), Detroit (-15), Montreal (-12), NYR (-10) and Columbus (-1), but each of Detroit, Montreal and especially Columbus have been steadily whittling down those minus numbers.
Reality check for fans and pundits gushing over Jake Evans production.
He’s playing the same game as always, strong defensively, strong on the forecheck, strong on the pk, and back to limited ability to put the puck in the net.
Lately he’s been creating the same opportunities for himself, creating 2 on 1 and shooting the puck.
That puck was surprisingly going in the net, now it’s back to normal, .
I like the guy and recognize the value his kind of bottom 6 player brings to the team, but at a bottom 6 cost.
Utah HC is a well coached team, André Tourigny has done a very good job there,
That’s the way I see it too.
But what a surprise Hudson has been – to me at least. At the beginning of the season I saw him in shorts and he had the legs of a sparrow. I saw no chance of him being able to compete with such a small body.
He has clearly learned how to manage the size difference, and I’m amazed how competitive he is in puck battles. Not sure I have ever been so wrong about a player, unless it was about Caulfield being too small.
Humble pie never tasted so good.
Well, another 20 minute performance, with extensive defensive struggles allowing another non playoff team to come from behind in the third and win it.
Basically tied points percentage-wise with Islanders with 7 teams (with better winning percentages) ahead of them vying for 2 spots, and about to go on a very tough road trip.
Add to that, a GM that has lost almost every single trade he’s made for the team, and the rampant assurances by local media that their best defenseman will definitely be moved by TDL.
Well, it’s over for the Pens
There were embers of hope. Now gone.
Soon we’ll start hearing some pundits “Landeskog is not returning, Sid is going to join MacKinnon for another cup run”
Thanks a bunch Dubas. Moron.
Dubas is only partially to blame for the Penguins current struggles. He inherited a nearly empty prospect pool because previous GMs traded away draft picks for unsuccessful playoff runs and thereby mortgaging the future.
It’s past time for a total rebuild in Pittsburgh and Dubas might be the right man for the job.
Oh! Werenski for the Norris!
Yes, Paul, partly to blame but Dubas did trade Guentzel and didn’t get much back and also decided to keep Malkin when he could have gotten decent picks back. So that’s a hefty chunk of partial.
It will be interesting to see how the voting goes for the Norris. Werenski deserves consideration but not sure how much credit is given to players in small markets. Not fair, but that’s the way it seems to go.
Paul…I agree with you on Dubas (Unlike 8787) he inherited a mess from those slugs Hextall/Burke…..the cupboard was bare..
Bunting Lizotte Tomasino. Beauviller all solid moves and pick ups.
The farm system has improved with former Denver Captain Tristan Broz leading Wilkes barre in scoring
as well as
Rutger Mc Groarty
Ville Koiuvunen who is second in scoring,
Emil Benstrom playing well,
Vasily Ponomarev,
Tanner Howe 19 is a beast and he wont to be far off.
Sergi Musahrev is a goalie and is the real deal only 20 best goalie is the whole system.
All will be up with in a year some at the end of this year.
Not to mention young 20 year old d-man Owen Pickering is up with the Penguins right now playing well.
Future isn’t
Yes correct Paul, he did inherit big problems
That in no way excuses him from (1) losing almost every single Pens’ trade he’s made; (2) signing poor re-tread UFAs and signing them to longer term and/or much higher AAV than merited; (3) signing long contracts and severely overpaying for them
Sully is not innocent in this by any stretch. He is dealt the cards by Dubas (and former GMs) but line combos, D-pairings, ice-time; games in the press box; is all on him. And he has done a very poor job of it.
I can’t think of any other coach that rewards poor (and costly) play with increased time and moving up the line-up.
You can’t get into playoffs by only relying on Crosby, Rackell, Pettersson, Rust and while simultaneously allowing all 3 of your goalies to be repeatedly hung out to dry; and repeatedly letting the same players get away with only putting in an effort for 1/2 the game and only in 1/2 the ice surface and by repeating the same errors over and over again.
Re Dubas. He personally (and publicly said so) told Crosby that he would improve the team. This was to get Crosby to finally re-up; and Crosby once again helped the Pens (and Dubas) by taking a pretty fair hometown discount.
We can now use the proverbial “ Liar Liar pants on fire” saying.
It was a known lie by Dubas to start with.
Crosby trusted him; and has done everything possible he can to nudge Pens into the playoffs.
The end result is no more playoffs until well past Crosby’s tenure with Pens; and picking in the 7th to 14th spot this June
We’ll keep all our fingers and toes crossed for McKenna (‘26) and Dupont (‘27)
and maybe top 2 or 3 in ‘28
Think of Pens drafting in ‘04, ‘05, ‘06!
Cups in ‘09, ‘16, ‘17
So maybe Pens get to the cup finals in ‘34 or ‘35
Just a bitter Pens’ fan
“ Re Dubas. He personally (and publicly said so) told Crosby that he would improve the team. This was to get Crosby to finally re-up; and Crosby once again helped the Pens (and Dubas) by taking a pretty fair hometown discount.”
How do you promise to improve the roster (after free agency frenzy that lasted 4 hours) with not much cap space and with no significant prospects?
Crosby should have seen that writing on the wall.
Hi BlacknGold
See my response above to Paul
Broz is not leading the WBS team
The best two players on WBS are Katchouk and Bemstrom, both far better than at least 2 forwards on Pens. They’ve been blocked from coming up.
Mcgroaty trade was lost. Chevy HAD to move an asset that literally had Zero value to Jets. Zero. He publicly said he would NOT sign with Jets.
Chevy HAD to sell; Dubas literally didn’t even HAVE to take the call; but more importantly had all the negotiating power at time of trade (he already had an asset that DID have value to the Pens).
No ifs snds or buts, Dubas should have got something; ANYTHING ; extra in the trade. Even if it was a 5th rounder in ‘27
Chevy traded a zero value asset and got an identical draft order player, one year younger (so UFA 1 year later… ownership by Jets, one year longer [Pens on McGroart])
McGroarty certainly hasn’t been lighting it up in WBS :
5-12-17 and -6 in 30 GP.
You’ve listed Koivenen as 2nd in scoring. He’s actually 4th. Again, the best two players in WBS are Katchouk and Bemstrom
Yes Tanner Howe seems (at least as at now) to have a fair upside.
The only positive and/or neutral deals/moves that Dubas has done (other than lying to Crosby to get him to re-up AND at below market value) is
P-O J, Tomassino, Glass
8787 … if, as you say, Dubas is indeed a moron when it comes to being an NHL GM, then you could also look at and say, he wasn’t lying if he truly thought the moves he made – and retaining Sullivan – were the correct ones.
@8787
I agree with you the Penguins were playing better and now uuuggghhhhh..LOL
Blowing leads, inconsistent goaltending.
Horrible in OT and shootout games.
This upcoming 7 game road trip with Buffalo Washington Los Angeles Anaheim San Jose Seattle and Utah is the season… They must win 4 or 5 or they are done…
Bring on the 4 nations tournament !!
BlacknGold
It is NOT a goalie issue with Pens
Their numbers completely reflect the extremely poor defensive game (forwards as well as D) put in front of them game in game out
Put Hellybuck in Pens net and you’ll get a few more wins; but his (Helleybuck’s) numbers would plummet; and definitely not enough extra wins to get them in the playoffs
We’ve needed a rightie D all season…., no movement on that front
Sullivan over and over and over again failed to sit/discipline failures in overall defensive play and actually rewards same with more ice-time and escalation up the roster chart
An Acquisition of a Rightie D earlier in the season; with concurrent sending down (to WBS) at least 2 currently on roster and replacing with 2 (or more) from WBS; with appropriate sitting/pressbox/ice time etc relative to performance; and Pens ARE in a playoff spot right now
This is NOT on our goalies
8787, yesterday after your thoughts that, in the East, it would take 88 points to make the WC cut, and possibly 90 or 92, we did some back and forth calculations on what it would take for each team currently in the hunt to reach those levels, on a points % basis.
For the West you figured 94 would be the cut off so I thought why not take a look at what pace those teams would need to play at over the 2nd half, compared to their 1st half pace, in order to get there:
Colorado – currently .622 – .524
Calgary – currently .573 – same pace
Vancouver – currently .561 – .585
Utah – currently .524 – .622
St. Louis – currently .512 .634
Anaheim – currently .476 – .671
Seattle – currently .451 – .695
Nashville – currently .462 – .744
San Jose & Chicago – currently .366 – ,781
Barring some miraculous turnaround, it’s safe to say the bottom 5 will be playing for jobs. Utah and St. Louis are in tough, but still plausible depending perhaps upon trades BEFORE the deadline date. The fight out there will be between Colorado, Calgary and Vancouver, and again, the difference at the end could relate to deals made – or not made.
George
It’s always good to read your posts, informative and on the money. I find that some people on here come off as mad. Suggesting one sided
Trades because they tend to overvalue players on the teams they cheer for.
Thanks for the complement Jerseyjohnny … one thing I do try to do is keep things realistic as opposed to fantasy-league transactions.
What I’m trying to do now is get a handle on what constitutes “trolling” and “rude” so I don’t upset the more tightly-wound personalities in here.
I gather from your moniker that you’re a Devil’s fan … that’s one team I see as a definite dark horse for the Cup. Solid up and down that line-up. I wouldn’t be keen on meeting them in Round 1.
@8787 You said goaltending wasn’t the problem weeeelllllll it is Tristan Jarry got waived today by the Penguins.
Dubas had a press conference and he said they gave him a good leash to prove himself after the conditioning stint in the ahl … he played 17 of 27 games…
8-8-4 886 save % has given up a goal seven times on the first shot of the game, he gave up a weak goal to give Seattle a s1-0 lead, awful in shootouts,,
so we will see doubt he gets claimed but who knows..
Dubas faced the music, said he tried to help Jarry in anyway, realized sticking with this any further would be even a bigger mistake, and the decision to sign him long term was his and a mistake
…And Werenski probably won’t even get a sniff at the Norris.
Pupinabox, with 50 pts in 44gp (15 of them goals) he damned well better be.
Sr, Swayman stood tall again, facing another 40+ shots and stopping 43 of 45 against Tampa. Meanwhile, their maligned offense put 4 past Vasilevsky on just 22 shots (two were empty-netters).
We’ve been talking a lot lately about the tight race from the WC slots down, but as of this morning Boston and Tampa are just 7 and 6 pts back of 1st place Toronto and 2nd place Florida, and Columbus just 8 and 7 pts back.
GeorgeO, absolutely right on Swayman! Poitras called up from Providence and had a nice game! Don t see Korpisalo getting much playing time until next week when Boston has 4 games!Still think they need to add a forward with some offensive touch
Reading that Emil Heinamen was struck by a car in SLC is horrible news and I certainly hope he is okay….but having lived in SLC for 10 years, (a while ago)… this story doesn’t surprise me in the least….worst drivers in the entire USA are in Utah…again, not making light of this, I hope Emil recovers quickly.
It doesn’t sound like it’s too serious, though bad enough to take him out of the lineup for a few weeks. Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis joked about it, claiming the car was totaled by running into Heineman, so evidently it’s not serious.
Well that is good to hear.
And I’ve said it before, hockey in Utah will not work (unless they win)…I ran a radio station there and talked about hockey all the time in my show…I was invited to come to some Grizzlies games and host the intermission from the ice…. never more than 1200 people there for a game… no one cares about hockey in utah…. it’s the bright shiny new toy this year… just watch what happens if they have another year like this one…just sayin’
Fine. Just don’t accuse me of trolling and of being rude.
But I guess you missed that.
Full disclosure I’m a die hard Blues fan, I had season tickets from day one in 67 when I was a senior in high school and maintained them in one form or another until 88 when I moved to New Orleans. I still believe that they are heading to a era where they will be contenders every year but that era is probably a couple of years away. Regardless my point I want to make is this year I’m also rooting for 2 other teams as well.
They are the Blue Jackets and the Senators. The Jackets because they have overcome circumstances that could have allowed them to feel sorry for themselves, instead they continue to play hard and from what I see are very entertaining to watch. Werenski should definitely be a Norris favorite.
And Ottawa because of their talent and their very loyal and long suffering fan base. 2019 was one of the best times in my life and I want Sens fans, especially you George, to experience that feeling.
And Starsfan regarding your Utah driving comments, I lived in St. Louis, New Orleans, Chicago, Albuquerque, and traveled for work all over the Midwest and parts of the east and west coast as well as all of Florida and you can pretty much take any of those places and fill in the blank as the worst drivers in the world. Add Dallas and Houston in there as well. People don’t know how to drive properly anymore anywhere. As great as an innovation that cell phones and t he web are, they have ruined the driving experience.
Finally if Hellebuyck isn’t in the conversation for the Hart trophy then something is wrong with the nomination process. He is simply outstanding nearly every night. If he played in a big media area in the states he’d already have a statue.
The tournament is less than a month away and you still can’t buy a jersey… The NHL management is a total joke.
I believe and could be wrong but it’s the Leafs third loss in a row not forth. A bit of foreshadowing, eh?
So, when you post something, any response is off limits?
Like Hell.
@ 8787 It certainly is a goalie issue among many other things. Tristan Jarry has once again been the model of inconsistency. He has allowed so many soft goals and badly timed blunders its unreal.
Nedeljkovic hasn’t been super either.
If we had even John Gibson we don’t lose half of these shootout or overtime games which is a lot of extra points.
I was at cranberry / Lemieux complex for training camp this year and Tristan Broz, Tanner Howe Rutger Mc Groarty and Ville Kovunen are close and good young player
Wilkes barre Penguins
Emil Bemstrom 15 goals 17 assists 32 points
Ville Koivunen 19 goals 17 assists 27 points
Tristan Broz 12 goals 7 assist 19 points
Vasily Ponomarev 8 goals 13 assists 19 points
Rutger Mc Groarty 5 goals 12 assists 17 points
You have young Tanner Howe killing it in juniors he had an amazing Nhl training camp was ultra close.
Harrison Brunicke 19 year old defenseman voted to Canadian Junior team Nate Clurman defenseman came up played a couple games with the Penguins did well.
Our goalie system has Joel Blomqvist, Filip Larsson and the best of the bunch Sergi Musharev!
So the youngsters in the Penguins farm are really close…and the fut
I agree with you 100 % Accari Nieto and Graves have been busts.bad choices..but what GM has hit on 100 % of all their decisions..
Sully has not been dynamic and tolerated some s**t play also agreed 8787 and is too loyal to some on this roster
But to say Dubas is a moron isn’t fair he HAS rebuilt the farm and it is much stronger, he has more draft picks, and acquired younger guys like Lizotte, McGroarty, and Tomasino..
This 7 game swing will decide it all @ Buffalo, Washington, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose Seattle, and Utah…we must win 4 if not 5 of those games.
Very close to teams naming rosters for the4 nations series!Injuries will play huge parts! Mcavoy going on IR is an example!Anyone know when rosters will be named!