NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 7, 2025
Another goal for Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin in his ongoing quest for the all-time goals record, a milestone game for Leafs winger Mitch Marner, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 879th regular-season goal as his club nipped the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3. Jakob Chychrun had a goal and an assist for the Capitals as they regained their hold on first overall with 79 points. Matvei Michkov tallied twice for the Flyers, who’ve dropped seven of their last eight games.
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin sits 16 goals from Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894. The Capitals and Winnipeg Jets have 79 points but the Caps have a game in hand.
Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner collected his 500th career assist in a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves for the win in his first game since being sidelined by a knee injury on Dec. 12. Eeli Tolvanen replied for the Kraken as they’ve lost five of their last six games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner also returned to action after missing Tuesday’s game against the Calgary Flames with a lower-body injury. He’s second among this season’s assist leaders with 55. The Leafs sit second in the Atlantic Division with 68 points.
The Colorado Avalanche doubled up the Calgary Flames 4-2. Martin Necas scored twice and collected an assist, Nathan MacKinnon had three assists, and Cale Makar tallied his 20th goal of the season. Flames rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf made 30 saves.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon regained the lead in the points race with 83, sitting two ahead of Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. The Avalanche holds the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 66 points while the Flames (59 points) are two out of the final Western wild-card spot. Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson missed this game with a lower-body injury and is expected to miss Friday’s game against the Oilers.
A penalty shot goal by Drew O’Connor lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 2-1 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks. Dakota Joshua also scored and Thatcher Demko stopped 33 shots for the Canucks (61 points) as they regained the final Western wild card. Tyler Toffoli scored his 20th goal for the Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks captain Quinn Hughes remained sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk scored with 12 seconds remaining in the third period to beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Tkachuk finished the night with two goals and an assist as the Panthers hold a one-point lead over the Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division. Zack Bolduc had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who are 1-5-1 in their last seven contests.
The Vegas Golden Knights ended a four-game losing skid with a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Nicolas Roy, Shea Theodore and Jack Eichel scored for the Golden Knights as they sit in second place in the Pacific Division with 70 points. Ondrej Palat replied for the Devils, who are third in the Metropolitan Division with 66 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: New Jersey goalie Jake Allen made 37 saves in this game. The Devils also placed captain Nico Hischier on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 25.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point had a goal and two assists to down the Ottawa Senators 5-1. Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov picked up two assists for the Lightning, who moved ahead of the Senators into third place in the Atlantic Division. Michael Amadio scored for the Senators as they dropped into the first Eastern wild-card spot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning and Senators each have 62 points but the Lightning have three games in hand. Senators forwards Shane Pinto and Josh Norris and Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli missed this game due to injuries.
The Minnesota Wild got a 37-save performance by Filip Gustavsson to squeak by the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1. Yakov Trenin and Vinnie Hinostroza were the goal scorers for the Wild, who sit third in the Central Division with 68 points. Sebastian Aho replied for the Hurricanes, who hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 68 points but have dropped three straight games.
An overtime goal by Dylan Guenther lifted the Utah Hockey Club to a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lawson Crouse and Olli Maatta also scored for Utah while Justin Danforth and Ivan Provorov replied for the Blue Jackets, who sit one point out of the final Eastern wild-card spot with 60 points.
IN OTHER NEWS…
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The short-term outlook for Penguins captain Sidney Crosby as he nurses an injured left arm/shoulder. He mostly worked out on his own during practice on Thursday and rarely shot the puck. Crosby was injured during Tuesday’s loss to the New Jersey Devils.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby is also the captain for Canada in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. His injury raises questions over whether he’ll participate in the tournament.
SPORTSNET: The availability of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes for the 4 Nations tournament remains uncertain. Hughes is part of Team USA’s roster but he’s been nursing a lower-body injury.
THE SCORE: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard is ignoring criticism of his play as he struggles through a sophomore slump. “I’m not watching broadcasts or anything. I’m playing hockey…I couldn’t really care less, to be honest, what people on the outside think of me or of us.”
Former NHLer Paul Bissonnette and Hall of Famer Mark Messier criticized Bedard’s recent performance. Bissonnette said he looked like he was playing pond hockey during a recent game against the Edmonton Oilers while Messier said the lack of consequences for his poor play would hurt team morale.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard’s in a tough spot this season, playing on a rebuilding club showing no sign of improvement. Meanwhile, opponents have adjusted to his style of play since last season. As the face of the franchise, Bedard is shouldering the burden of their offense and the expectations of Blackhawks fans. That’s a hell of a weight to carry for a 19-year-old.
So the big question is…. Was ovis goal into an empty net or not!?!?
It was a thing of beauty for the clowns in the audience.
LoL. I admit I had that thought.
Speaking of the Capitals, I hadn’t realized that they are the only one of 32 teams not to have a representative at the 4 Nations
https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/43735959/no-capitals-4-nations-face-get-rest
if cbj would trade jenner what could they reasonably expect to get back for him. i know toronto needs a top 6 center and jenner can play center. dont think cbj would trade him but im just wondering.
Who’s playing 3rd line center to have Jenner take a top 6 spot, Tavares or Mathews?
And where does it say Columbus is interested in trading him?
Especially since they haven’t had him since pre-season, so getting him back in the line-up following the 4 Nations break will be like adding a top-flight scorer to an already potent offence.
Thank you, CO.
Good Lord Marner is going to get a nice contract. His current contract was signed at 13.37% of the Cap, when he signed. Lot of contract comparable’s out there to Pasta 13.47% and Breadman 14.29%.
If Marner’s agent pushes for a 13.50% contract, that is going to carry an AAV of roughly 12.9 over the course of 5 seasons.
However you have to think he is going to push for a comp compared to Matthews and Panarin. Over the past 5 seasons, PPG Matthews 1.28, Panarin and Marner 1.27
IMO his agent will push for a contract at 14% of the cap, which will put him at 13 – 13.4 AAV.
Should be a fun summer!
Tavares’s contract is up this year. Hopefully he’ll re-sign at a rate that matches his age. The salary cap increase should help as well.
It’s significant to note that Marner still piles up the assists when Matthews (so far) is scoring at a much lower rate.
Fans, particularly Leaf fans, keep harping about Marner and his big contract. He earns his money and always has.
If he becomes a free agent, he will sign an equally big contract with another team.
Side note re Colorado/Carolina trade.
Rantanen- 1g-1a-2pts
Necas- 3g-5a-8pts
Drury-2g-0a-2pts
Side note 2 Jake Allen has 20 starts and the NJD are a playoff team. With Markstrom out for a while yet and the NJD looking good, the Habs may realistically have the trade return a 2nd round pick, something i wouldn’t have bet on. (condition was Allen getting 40starts or NJD making the playoffs, 3rd round pick becomes a 2nd )
I’m not worried about Bedardas the kid has talent , the expectations are unrealistic with the draft getting hyped all year to catch a superstar among the top picks.
There isn’t a team in the league that wouldn’t welcome Bedard,
jenner can also play w.
Exactly has he had a 5 on 5 goal yet this yr
After Blues last minute loss again last night (10 seconds), please hide all my knives and other sharp objects.
IP
Fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, ARGH!
Hey, shout out to Zach Werenski hitting 20 game home point streak with an assist last night (not on an EN, c’mon, that’s kinda funny).
5 more to tie Bobby Orr. Only behind Paul Coffey, Phil Housley and Orr.
I get a kick out of Bissonnette and even Messier regarding Bedard! Bissonnette would not make a college team if he were playing today and Messier comment about lack of consequences for his poor play! How about all the players who get their doors kicked in and seeing guys like Ovi and Pasternak who have been out to lunch all game,but get left on the ice to pad their stats with eng? Don t you think those guys would like that opportunity to increase their stats for contracts?Bedard at 19 yrs old is playing for a team that should have a fire sale March 7!