NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 8, 2025
Milestone games for Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Leafs captain Auston Matthews, the Wild unveils their Quarter-Century Team and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves for his 300th NHL regular-season win by downing the Nashville Predators 5-2. Kyle Connor’s 23rd goal of the season was the game-winner while Mark Scheifele and Adam Lowry collected two assists each as the Jets snapped a three-game losing skid while the Predators’ two-game win streak ended.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck is the third-fastest goaltender to reach the 300-win plateau, accomplishing the feat in 538 games. He trails Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy (490 games) and Hall-of-Famer Jacques Plante (521).
It was a costly game for both clubs. Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey left the game early in the second period with a lower-body injury. They were already missing a blueliner in this contest as Colin Miller is sidelined with a fractured larynx for at least two weeks. Meanwhile, Predators forwards Steven Stamkos (undisclosed) and Luke Evangelista left this game with injuries.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored a goal and collected an assist for his 200th career multipoint game in a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Matthew Knies snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period, Mitch Marner and John Tavares each had two points and Joseph Woll stopped 30 shots for their fifth consecutive win. The Flyers got both goals from winger Travis Konecny as they’ve dropped three straight.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews is the fastest US-born player to reach 200 multipoint games, having done so in 589 games. The Leafs are tied with the idle Washington Capitals with 56 points but the latter holds first overall in the Eastern Conference with two games in hand.
The Dallas Stars extended their points streak to seven games (6-0-1) by nipping the New York Rangers 5-4 on an overtime power-play goal by Jamie Benn. Thomas Harley finished the night with three points, including the game-tying goal late in the third period as the Stars overcame 3-0 and 4-3 deficits. Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck each tallied twice and Artemi Panarin had three assists for the Rangers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury following a hard hit from Rangers forward Sam Carrick. Meanwhile, Stars winger Mason Marchment remains sidelined after undergoing surgery for a facial injury suffered on Dec. 27 and remains week-to-week.
Rangers center Filip Chytil left this game in the second period with an upper-body injury. Winger Chris Kreider (upper body) missed this contest as he was placed on injured reserve.
An overtime goal by Patrick Kane lifted the Detroit Red Wings over the Ottawa Senators 3-2, giving the Wings their fifth straight win. Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin scored to extend his goal streak to four games. Thomas Chabot and Brady Tkachuk replied for the Senators, who’ve dropped five of their last six contests (1-4-1).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win gives the Senators 41 points, putting them one point out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. The Red Wings are right behind them with 40 points. Wings goaltender Alex Lyon left this contest following the first period with an upper-body injury. Senators defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker missed this game with a high-ankle sprain and is expected to miss some time.
The Edmonton Oilers blanked the Boston Bruins 4-0. Adam Henrique tallied two goals, Connor McDavid scored to end a two-game point drought, and Stuart Skinner made 26 saves as the Oilers picked up their fourth straight win. Jeremy Swayman turned aside 35 shots for the Bruins as their losing skid reached five games (0-4-1).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner was not awarded the shutout as he briefly left in the first period for concussion protocol following a collision with Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov. He returned to finish the game.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point scored with 52 seconds remaining in the third period to lift his club to a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, snapping a four-game losing skid. Andrei Vasilevskiy kicked out 30 shots as the Lightning hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 44 points.
The Columbus Blue Jackets (42 points) hold the final Eastern wild-card spot as they nipped the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3. Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko scored in the shootout and Dmitry Voronkov tallied twice in regulation for the Blue Jackets, who’ve won three of their last four games. Rickard Rakell scored twice and Sidney Crosby picked up two assists as the Penguins sit just behind the Blue Jackets in the standings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both clubs have 42 points but the Jackets hold a game in hand and have 18 wins while the Penguins have 17. Penguins center Evgeni Malkin missed this game with an upper-body injury. Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan left in the third period with an upper-body injury.
Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone had a goal and an assist as his club doubled up the San Jose Sharks 4-2 for their ninth win in their last 10 games. Tomas Hertl scored against his former club and Shea Theodore had two assists as the Golden Knights lead the league with 59 points. William Eklund and Timothy Liljegren replied for the Sharks as their two-game win streak ended.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks forward Nico Sturm missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.
The Minnesota Wild overcame a 4-2 deficit for a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues, extending their win streak to four games. Jake Middleton had a goal and an assist in his first game back from an upper-body injury while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 15 shots for the win after Filip Gustavsson gave up four goals on 18 shots. Dylan Holloway and Justin Faulk each had two assists for the Blues.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild defenseman Brock Faber left this game with an upper-body injury in the first period. There was no postgame update on his condition.
Calgary Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau’s overtime goal gave his club a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Dustin Wolf made 26 saves for the Flames (45 points), who sit right behind the Vancouver Canucks for the final Western wild-card berth. Alex Killorn and Mason McTavish scored for the Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks also have 45 points but hold that wild card with a game in hand. Flames center Conor Zary left the game in the second period following a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson, who received a major penalty and a game misconduct.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: The Minnesota Wild’s Quarter-Century Team was unveiled on Tuesday.
Forwards Kirill Kaprizov, Marian Gaborik and Mikko Koivu, defensemen Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon, and goaltender Nicklas Backstrom comprised the First Team. Forwards Joel Eriksson Ek, Zach Parise, and Andrew Brunette, blueliners Nick Schultz and Ryan Suter, and goalie Devan Dubnyk formed the Second Team.
DAILY FACEOFF: The New York Islanders placed forward Simon Holmstrom on injured reserve.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Seattle Kraken activated goaltender Joey Daccord off injured reserve.
While a win by Ottawa would have been preferable, of course, I did say a couple of days ago that what they needed, in the final game in Detroit of the 9-game road marathon, was at least 1 point to ensure a .500 road trip in order to have any chance of remaining in the hunt heading into the 2nd half. They got the 1 point, giving them 9 out of a possible 18 – exactly .500 – scoring 21 while giving up 25 (averages of 2.3gf and 2.8ga). All things considered, given their # 1 goalie hasn’t been available since the 2nd period of the 4th game in against Edmonton, and losing two RD – Hamonic out 2-4 weeks with a knee injury and Bernard-Docker out indefinitely with the dreaded high ankle sprain – it could have been worse.
As of this morning, with 39gp, they sit 1 point back of the 2nd WC slot, currently held by Columbus and have 2 games in hand on the Blue Jackets, as well as 1 point behind Pittsburgh on whom they have 3 games in hand. And they’re only 3 back of Tampa Bay, although the Lightning do have 1 game in hand, having played 38, the fewest in the league.
In points (41), Ottawa is tied with Montreal with a game in hand, and in the Division are only 4 back of Boston and 4 games in hand. Detroit is right there with 40 points and have played 40 games. Philadelphia, after 41gp, is just 3 back of Columbus and the NYR and NYI, after 40gp each, are 4 back of that last WC spot, while last place Buffalo is 7 back after 41gp. And they’re up next for Ottawa in the Senators first game at home since the 3rd week of December. This is looking more and more like what I figured the East would be this season at the end – the fewest points between the last WC spot and last place in the Conference than we’ve seen in many years.
But unless Ullmark can get back soon and deals made to shore up the D, for Ottawa it will all be for nothing since they won’t remain in the upper portion of the mix for long if they have to rely on Forsberg and one of the rookies, and go with 2 call-ups from the AHL on the right D side. It’s certainly not encouraging, but you just never know how call-ups will respond when they get an extended chance. We’ll soon find out because Buffalo is no longer a pushover, playing very well lately. And something else they need to correct is their penchant for allowing the 1st goal of a game, since they’re a pathetic 4-14-2 when that happens.
Ottawa will have to look for another goaltender with not much being out there. A 3rd stringer from most teams roster. Then would this 3rd stringer be any better than the rookie they have now.
That’s exactly it, Alan. There is absolutely NO point in giving up assets to acquire a goalie who is marginally – if at all – better than what they have.
George O,the East is going to be a dogfight! Boston is going south and not only to Fla.this week quickly! They have one of the worst forward groups in the NHL! I think they are praying for Hampus Lindholm to save them! You guys, Detroit, Pitt., Buffalo,CBJ,Montreal,take your pick! Looks like TB for the third spot in the Atlantic!
Sr, while Boston is struggling now, they still have time to make adjustments, and as we edge closer to trade deadline day on March 7, I think we’ll again see a flurry of deals well before that date, especially if, in the East, the NYR, NYI and Buffalo have fallen any further behind by the time we reach February – just 3 weeks away – joining Nashville, San Jose and Chicago as sellers. And, with Ottawa’s growing injury list (7 regulars out as of today), and unless Anaheim and Seattle start to string some lengthy win streaks together, they all might join that company. That could mean at least 9 teams looking to unload and regroup for next season, so the potential is there for some significant trades.
Sr
Bruins are in a free fall but with tough games ahead 2 vs TB one FL. One Ottawa. If they can manage to win those the fire has been greatly reduced but I am not going to hold my breath as they say
I always assumed bruins would be fighting for one off the 2 wc spots but they veered get their đź’© together or will be on outside looking in
CBJ-PIT was actually a fun game. Dimitry Voronkov, best monster forward nobody outside of the 614 has ever heard of.
Monster is right – 6’5″ 230lb rookie LW taken in the 2019 draft in Round 4 – 114th overall. Pretty astute pick. And certainly in the mix for the Calder.
He played 75 games last year so don’t think the Calder is in his future. One day the League and Networks will acknowledge Cbus actually has a team and maybe show a game outside of Ohio. Like I said, nobody knows him.
Yeah, I should have picked up on that, Pupinabox. He’s having a damned good sophomore year, though, avoiding the so-called jinx.
The East is tight though overdue, Ottawa, Detroit and Buffalo have been rebuilding for years and are at a make it or break it stage of resigning to losing or breaking through.
Montreal is rebuilding seem to be on the hump faster but realistically aren’t there yet.
Boston and Tampa should have been overtaken already, both are long in the tooth and have empty pipelines.
It should be tight for a while as these young teams break through at the same time and take control of the Atlantic.
Habfan
I would put Sens ahead of Habs in their rebuild by a lot Habs similar to wings Sabres simply stink as usual Bruins are on a downward. But bolts could very well challenge for division. Time will tell
MrBruin4,
It doesn’t matter where the Habs are, point is that 4 teams are rebuilding, packed with young talent, with more on the way.
Some of those 4 teams should be there already and all of them will be fighting for top spot for the foreseeable future.
Carolina already had a brutal January schedule with three backs but the NHL schedulers added a make up game with Tampa between two of the back to backs resulting in 5 games in 7 days. Im surprised the players union doesn’t have a stipulation in the CBA to prevent that from happening.
No mention of the Zary injury; it could be season ending
David Ginther: Zary’s injury is mentioned.
Frederic fight should have given a spark,instead in went the other way! I feel Boston is in for a culture change on the club! This group looks extremely stale and uninspired! And Sweeney it isn t the coaches fault anymore!
The Frederic fight was stupid, he flipped over a clean hit from 39y/o Corey Perry, cross checked him repeatedly and face washed him begging for a fight.
You don’t spark your team by jumping an old guy and Oilers showed him why with a quick pp goal. game over.
It really was a bad look, and a stupid thing to do.
Sell him at the deadline, Donald Sweeney. Get rid of the rest of the “supporting cast” while you’re at it.
Me thinks it’s time to turn the page on the last decade+, and prep for the next one.
It was a very good run.
Shoreorark,the problem now is the supporting cast isn t going to get you much!All the guys that you should move have NTC and NMC thanks to Sweeney,who gave them out!
Some may waive them, Sr, once they see a general teardown and re-build is in the cards.
Reminds me of your guy X Z man who has a couple of shoulder surgery’s from his fights!
I know one who will be salivating over the news that Daniel Sprong is available – again – Seattle just put him on waivers. Dubas should expect a nudge any moment now! LOL
If bruins make playoffs it will be considered a win by ownership. The retool should start but bedsides Freddy at deadline they have too many middle players with ntc so the job will be much harder. I am ok even flipping 63 for assets send him to the team of his choice like they did with Bourque and bring him back if he want to come back Bruins really need another star forward to complement pasta. Poney up for top hfa line mikko. Marner etc. if they make ufas Even though the $$ will be 14ish per year
Agree 100% with that entire post MB4, especially the first sentence.
Sweeney has a contingency plan I’m sure, but his focus is still on trying to get into the playoffs.
We’ll see if it becomes obvious that he needs to change that focus over the next 6-7 weeks.
Starting to get more concerned, last night was not good, and that is after 4 other games of not good.
Late to the party here but, looking ahead to the trade deadline, a lot of GM’s will be planning to be buyers and/or sellers depending on how things go in the next while. There’s so much flux in the standings that teams could change their minds more than once by the deadline.
I have a good friend who’s a die-hard Habs fan and he is finally excited about the team again. I don’t blame him – Montreal has beaten some good teams during their hot streak.
Red Wings fans must be happy about the coaching change there and the winning streak that has followed.
One thing that has continued throughout the league are injuries and, with the schedule full of back to backs (thanks, Four Nations), we can’t expect that to change. Team depth is more important than ever, especially on the blue line and in net.
Another reason to expect plenty of trades before the deadline. Can’t wait.