NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 1, 2025
Recaps of Friday’s games plus the latest on Brady Tkachuk, Kirby Dach, Nick Foligno and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars rolled to a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Roope Hintz collected a career-best four assists, Jason Robertson had three points, Logan Stankoven tallied twice, and Wyatt Johnston scored to extend his home points streak to 11 games for the Stars, who sit second in the Central Division with 78 points. Warren Foegele and Trevor Moore replied for the Kings as they remain in third place in the Pacific Division with 70 points.
Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz. (NHL Images).
Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton scored twice and set up another as his club overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Minnesota Wild 5-2. Oliver Kylington picked up two assists for the Avalanche as they hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 72 points. Mats Zuccarello and Vinnie Hinostroza scored for the slumping Wild as they dropped their third straight game.
The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up their fourth straight win by nipping the New York Rangers 3-2. Matthew Knies broke a 2-2 tie in the third period, William Nylander netted his 34th goal of the season, and Anthony Stolarz made 33 saves as the Leafs regained first place in the Atlantic Division with 76 points. Mika Zibanejad had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who remain four points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 62 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Leafs announced they had placed winger Max Pacioretty on injured reserve.
HEADLINES
OTTAWA SUN: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk is confirmed to return to action when his club faces the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Tkachuk has been sidelined since the 4 Nations Face-Off with a lower-body injury. Sidelined forwards Josh Norris and Shane Pinto took part in practice on Friday and appear poised to return to the lineup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators need a boost to get them out of their five-game losing skid. Like the Rangers, they’re four points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot.
THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens center Kirby Dach underwent successful surgery on his right knee in Montreal earlier this week. He will miss the remainder of this season but is expected to be fully recovered for next season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s the same knee Dach had surgically repaired in October 2023. This latest injury raises questions over his once-promising future with the Canadiens.
DAILY FACEOFF: Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Cole Sillinger is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury.
NEW YORK POST: Islanders defenseman Mike Reilly has been cleared for contact as he continues his recovery from last November’s heart surgery.
STLTODAY.COM: The Blues signed defenseman Tyler Tucker to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $925K.
Habfan30, I feel bad for the hard luck that Kirby Dach has run into!I hope he doesn t become the next Ryan Johansen! Hopefully he recovers and becomes the player the Habs got in their trade with Chicago!
I doubt it to be honest.
There have been some superbly talented hockey players who have returned after multiple leg injurie, but they were never the same. Their greatness allowed them to continue at a high level, Orr, Savard.
Dach is very good not great, so after recovery he will probably be low to fair in today’s game with pace.
He’ll need to concentrate on learning new skills, eg face-off and defense.
Changes Evans value to the Habs short term.
You got that right, HF30. At least the part re Evans.
In fact Dach’s injury changes the Habs’ calculus significantly. It almost certainly means that the Habs will have to give up assets they otherwise would not have in order to acquire a 2nd line center for next season. Otherwise neither Laine or Demidov will have the seasons they can have and the Habs will remain a one line offence.
As for Dach, he was never “very good.” He has been a project since the Habs acquired him. His best season was 14 goals, scoring at a rate of one goal every 4 games.
He will now have the distinction of being injured more games than he has played with the Habs. This year he played nearly 70% of the season – more than enough to find his game. He found 10 goals along the way.
Worth the gamble at the time, time now to move on. He’s brittle, and as you note he will not now rise again to the current level, which is “meh.”
Let the speculation about acquirable centres begin.
Anybody know the complete list of the 10 brothers who played 1000 games?
I got the 7 pairs below but I can’t find the last 3.
Koivu Mikko & Saku
Hatcher Derian & Kevin
Sedin Henrik & Daniel
Staal Mark, Jordan & Erik
Niedermayer Scott & Rob
Courtnall Geoff & Russ
Schenn Brayden & Luke
If you go by pairs then Eric and Jordan
Jordan and Marc
Marc and Eric.
The bures maybe?
Hull? Mahovlich?
Richard, Rocket and Henri?
Russ and Jeff Courtnal
And a Marner takeaway.
I think I read a couple of the Sutter brothers? I was surprised that the Plagers were not on list. IP
Looked up thr Sutter: Brent and Ron both had over 1,000 games
Tony and Phil Esposito
I thought Hulls, Mahovlichs, Richards, Esposito too, but no.
Brent & Ron Suther is correct. I think there’s still at least one more.
Were Craig and Mike Ramsey brothers? If so, they both finished with the exact same number – 1,070
Cmmon’ Rangers
We needed you to at least get to OT last night. That would have had you outside top 13 picks and we’d get your 1st rounder (via Cannucks)
You’re at 13th overall pick right now; so we need you to start moving up
We don’t want you to move up too much though!!. Rangers making the playoffs, with perhaps a hot *Shesterkin; lookout!!
*Note though, it was a Shesterkin giveaway that lead to the go ahead goal
Brady and his brother Turtle both missed the whole week of play due to injuries from the 4 Nations. I guess being an idiot does have consequences. At least they made the talk show circuit and showed they are proud to be idiots.
bigbuck,Has Mcdavid been the same since the 4 nations series? Is Vegas happy that Theodore broke his wrist?Risk you run in that setting!
That was a funny one.
Craig Ramsay and Mike Ramsey were not brothers. Craig is from Canada and Mike from USA. Names spelled differently.
Thanks Gary.