NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 5, 2025
Five-point performances by Leafs forwards Matthew Knies and Mitch Marner, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin continues gaining ground on the goals record, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs forwards Matthews Knies and Mitch Marner each had five-point performances in a 6-4 victory over the Boston Bruins. Knies scored his first NHL hat trick and added two assists while Marner had a goal and four assists. Leafs captain Auston Matthews had a three-point night after missing six games with an upper-body injury. David Pastrnak tallied twice for the Bruins as they lost their third straight game.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews and Marner comprise part of the Leafs’ Quarter-Century Team, joining teammate Morgan Rielly, former captain Mats Sundin, defenseman Tomas Kaberle, and goaltender Ed Belfour on the First Team.
Current Leafs William Nylander and John Tavares joined goaltender Curtis Joseph, forward Phil Kessel, and blueliners Bryan McCabe and Dion Phaneuf as part of the Second Team.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 872nd NHL regular-season goal and collected an assist as his club defeated the New York Rangers 7-4. Dylan Strome had a goal and two assists as the Capitals (55 points) held a three-point lead over the Leafs for first place in the Eastern Conference. Rangers winger Chris Kreider scored his 13th goal as his club has lost five of its last six contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin’s been on a tear since returning from a broken left fibula on Dec. 28, collecting four goals and five points in five games. He’s within 23 goals of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894.
The Edmonton Oilers doubled up the Seattle Kraken 4-2. Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl extended his points streak to 14 games with a goal and an assist and Viktor Arvidsson had two helpers as the Oilers have gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 contests. Chandler Stephenson and Jaden Schwartz replied for the Kraken.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl leads all NHL scorers with 29 goals this season. He’s poised to reach the 30-goal plateau for the seventh straight year. Kraken defenseman (and former Oiler) Adam Larsson left this game following the second period with an undisclosed injury.
Minnesota Wild forward Marco Rossi collected a career-high four assists in a 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Filip Gustavsson had a 21-save shutout while Matt Boldy and Mats Zuccarello each had three points as the Wild have won five of their last six contests. The Hurricanes have lost four of their last six (2-3-1).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rossi’s improved play silenced the trade rumors about the 23-year-old Wild center earlier this season. He’s sitting second among their scorers with 37 points in 40 games.
The Nashville Predators got a hat trick from Ryan O’Reilly to douse the Calgary Flames 4-1. Filip Forsberg and Fedor Svechkov collected two points each and Justus Annunen turned aside 31 shots for the Predators as they picked up their second straight victory. Mikael Backlund replied for the Flames as they dropped three of their last four games.
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone scored to collect his 600th regular-season point in a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Jack Eichel had a goal and an assist against his former team as the Golden Knights overtook the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the overall standings with 57 points. Jason Zucker scored for the Sabres as they go 0-2-1 in their last three contests.
Speaking of the Jets, they were upset by the Detroit Red Wings 4-2. Lucas Raymond had a goal and two assists while Dylan Larkin scored twice for the Wings as they picked up their fourth straight win. Josh Morrissey and Nikolaj Ehlers scored for the Jets as they’re winless in their last three (0-2-1).
The San Jose Sharks upset the New Jersey Devils 3-2. Cody Ceci scored the winning goal with 25 seconds remaining in the third period. Nikolai Kovalenko and Macklin Celebrini also scored for the Sharks as they picked up their second straight win. Nico Hischier and Paul Cotter scored for the Devils as their losing skid reached four games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks activated William Eklund off injured reserve for this game and placed defenseman Jake Walman on IR. Meanwhile, the Devils placed defenseman Nick DeSimone on waivers.
Los Angeles Kings winger Adrian Kempe’s third-period goal gave his club a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mikey Anderson also scored and Darcy Kuemper kicked out 34 shots as the Kings extended their winning streak to four games. Victor Hedman had the Lightning’s only goal as they’ve dropped three in a row.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings got a boost for this game as forwards Trevor Moore and Trevor Lewis came off injured reserve.
Shootout goals by Cole Caufield and Kirby Dach lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 upset of the Colorado Avalanche. Caufield also scored the tying goal in regulation and rookie goalie Jakub Dobes stopped 23 shots for his second straight win in as many games. Mikko Rantanen scored for the Avalanche as their six-game win streak ended.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montreal forward Patrik Laine (illness) and defenseman David Savard (upper-body injury) missed their second straight game. The Canadiens (39 points) have won seven of their last 10 games and sit one point behind the Ottawa Senators for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
The Dallas Stars nipped the Utah Hockey Club 3-2 on an overtime goal by Thomas Harley. Joel Oettinger made 33 saves while Matt Duchene and Wyatt Johnston each picked up two assists for their club’s fourth straight victory. Matias Maccelli tallied both goals for Utah as they’d lost six of their last seven games (1-4-2).
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov tallied two goals while Sean Monahan and Ivan Provorov had three assists each in a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues. With the win, the Blue Jackets are one point out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Jordan Kyrou scored a goal and two assists for the Blues, who sat two points out of the final Western wild-card position.
In the East just 7 points separates the last WC slot, currently held by Ottawa with 40 points in 38gp, from last-place Buffalo (33 points in 37gp.
In between are Columbus and Pittsburgh. each with 40 points and 40gp – Montreal with 39 pts and 39gp – Detroit and Philadelphia with 38 pts each and 39gp – NYR 35 pts in 38gp, NYI 35 pts in 39gp.
Compare that to the West where 16 pts separate the last WC slot (Vancouver 44 pts) and last-place Chicago (28 pts.
From my perspective it would be great to see both Ottawa and Montreal overtake Boston (44 pts in 41gp) and Tampa (42pts in 36gp).
“But let’s not get ahead of ourselves” I keep reminding myself – there’s still a long way to go.
If it remains this tight in the East come trade-deadline day, the one element that could be vastly different East and West is that, in the East there will be a lot more “buyers” than “sellers”
The Sens in Detroit on Tuesday will be a 4pt game! Get your popcorn ready!
Oh yeah, watched Wings last night in Winnipeg and they were full marks for that win, limiting the Jets to just 23 shots on Lyon.
Jets rang 4 shots directly off the posts. Red Wings had insane puck luck last night.
Heh, Brock. That “ping” sound is a goalie’s best friend. Patrick Roy used to have intense conversations with his goalposts and all he expected in response was the odd “ping.”
When asked about his observed “chats” Roy said he wanted the posts on his side and that it was part of his ritual, figuring it helped improve his game.
George O,Don t forget Tampa has played 2 less games than Ottawa ,3 less than Montreal and Detroit!If I was Boston I would be concerned because their schedule gets tougher and they have already played 40 games! They must be hoping to get a big lift on the return of Hampus Lindholm!
True Sr, but because Tampa has played less than anyone else also means their schedule gets a bit more cramped from here on. And they have lost 3 in a row where they have been outscored 9 to 4.
Penguins back in a playoff spot….well that is until they lose today at Carolina..
Interesting weekend for the Habs. They ended an opponents losing streak and another opponents winning streak. Lost the game I figured they’d win and won the game I figured they’d lose.
LOL, Howard. The Senators in a nutshell!
You just described Desharnais as well!
No update / take / opinion on the World Juniors?
Only thing I saw, Captain Obvious, was the reaction to some taking shots at the kids that WERE out there, doing their best. That sort of stuff is uncalled for … they answered the call, and many were thrust into roles with which they’re not familiar and on a world stage.
What gets me is Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada Senior VP, nobly saying “he buck stops here … it’s on me …” OK. What’s on him? Was it the wrong choice for coaching? Was it not bringing in some notable high-scoring players inexplicably left out?
It’s fine for writers like Don Brennan of The Citizen/Ottawa Sun to admonish anyone who dares to bring that up, asking how the kids who were selected must feel, and that Hockey Canada wanted to bring in players “with character.”
To use Brennan’s thinking, I wonder how that makes those left off must feel. Give – me – a – break. Don’t kid yourself, many on that team were probably wondering themselves why they were left off, being required to play against them in many cases.
The NHL is full of “character” players who, when you examine it closely, are likely 3rd/4th line hard-nosed checkers – and every team needs that element – the World Junior team included. But they also need players who are born scorers – something no coach can “teach” – and there were simply too many of that ilk not invited.
And Brennan, if you’re reading this, when you ask what makes those who decried their omission “experts” look in a mirror. And while you’re there ask “what makes those running Hockey Canada experts. The same failure two years running – this one “at home” – suggests somebody in that body is not up to snuff. Salmond? Who knows? No one is revealing who ultimately OK’s the choices and we’ll likely never know.
Great rant!
In case anyone is wondering where the Canadian players were drafted and by whom and when here’s a complete list. 10 were taken in Round 1, 5 in Round 2, 2 in Round 3, 1 in Round 4 and 4 are 17 or just turned 18 and so not yet drafted
Jack Ivankovic, G shoots L , Mississauga Steelheads OHL – 17y/o not yet drafted
Andrew Gibson, RD, St Ste Marie Greyhounds OHL Rd 2 42nd 2023 Detroit
Sam Dickinson, LD, London Knights OHL Rd 1 11th 2024 San Jose
Caden Price, LD, Kelowna Rockets WHL Rd 3 84th 2023 Seattle
Oliver Bonk, RD, London Knights OHL Rd 1 22nd 2023 Philadelphia
Tanner Molendyk, LD, Saskatoon Blades WHL Rd 1 24th 2023 Nashville
Beau Akey, RD, Barrie Colts OHL Rd 2 56th 2023 Edmonton
Gavin McKenna, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers WHL – 17 y/o not yet drafted
Bradly Nadeau, LW shoots R, Chicago AHL – Rd 1 30th 2023 Carolina out of U. of Maine
Brayden Yager, C shoots R , Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL Rd 1 14th 2023 Pittsburgh
Jett Luchanko, C shoots R, Guelph Storm OHL Rd 1 13th 2024 Philadelphia
Luca Pinelli, C shoots L , Ottawa 67s OHL Rd 4 114th 2023 Columbus
Berkly Catton, C shoots L, Spokane Chiefs WHL Rd 1 8th 2024 Seattle
Ethan Gauthier, RW, Drummondville Voltigeurs QMJHL Rd 2 37th 2023 Tampa
Calum Ritchie, C shoots R, Oshawa Generals OHL – Rd 1 27th 2023 Colorado
Porter Martone, RW, Brampton Steelheads OHL – turned 18 Oct 26 not yet drafted
Tanner Howe, LW, Calgary Hitmen WHL – Rd 2 46th 2024 Pittsburgh
Matthew Schaefer, LD, Erie Otters OHL – 17 y/o not yet drafted
Cole Beaudoin, C shoots L, Barrie Colts OHL – Rd 1 24th 2024 Utah
Easton Cowan, RW shoots L, London Knights OHL – Rd 1 28th 2023 Toronto
Mathieu Cataford, C shoots R, Rimouski Oceanic QMJHL – Rd 3 77th 2023 Vegas
Carter George, G shoots L, Owen Sound Attack OHL – Rd 2 57th 2024 Los Angeles
13 are from the OHL
6 are from the WHL
2 are from the QMJHL
1 from College ranks
That was the three nicest goals to complete a hatty that I’ve seen in quite a spell.
Knies, once fully developed should be a 30/30 or even possibly be a 40/40 player.
Great hands and imagination on that young fella.
Knies might be a 30/30 guy this year and one can see that he still has lots of room for growth. He may well turn out to be the best player chosen in the 21 draft. A consistent 40/40 is not out of the question for him. It`s gonna cost Toronto a bundle to keep him
Heh. And that’s always the “downside” (cap speaking), Yogi, of a young player breaking out in the season leading up to his becoming an RFA when a team is already top-heavy.
At his current pace he’s looking at a 30g 22a 52 pts season coming off an ELC of $925,000.
If he does that, do you think they can get him to sign a 3-year bridge at around $4.2 mil per?