NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 12, 2025
Recaps of Tuesday’s games include a milestone for Sidney Crosby, the latest in the Mikko Rantanen trade drama, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Sidney Crosby scored two goals and Erik Karlsson tallied in overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins upset the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2. Tristan Jarry stopped 35 shots and Rickard Rakell had two assists for the Penguins. Pavel Dorofeyev and Noah Hanifin each had a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights as they sit first in the Pacific Division with 83 points.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby became the first player in league history to have multi-goal games against 31 different NHL franchises. Penguins defensemen Ryan Shea and Pierre-Olivier Joseph missed this game as they’re week-to-week with upper-body injuries. Forward Tommy Novak is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas tallied his first NHL hat trick in a 7-4 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Alex Ovechkin collected three assists and Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and two assists for the Capitals, who have won five straight games and hold first place in the overall standings with 94 points. Frank Vatrano, Pavel Mintyukov and Drew Helleson each had a goal and an assist for the Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: After a disappointing season with the Los Angeles Kings, Dubois has rediscovered his scoring touch with the Capitals. He has 57 points in 65 games, putting him on track to exceed his career-best 63-point performance with the Winnipeg Jets in 2022-23. He considers playing with Ovechkin in his quest to break the all-time goal record on a team that looks like a Stanley Cup contender the opportunity of a lifetime.
The Winnipeg Jets kept pace with the Capitals atop the overall standings with a 2-1 win over the New York Rangers. Vladislav Namestnikov and Gabe Vilardi scored and Cole Perfetti added two assists for the Jets (94 points). Mika Zibanejad scored for the Rangers (68 points), who sit two points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals sit ahead of the Jets with a game in hand. Meanwhile, Jets defenseman Luke Schenn admitted feeling a little overwhelmed after being traded twice within a day and a half. On March 5, he was acquired from the Nashville Predators by the Penguins, who flipped him to the Jets.
Speaking of the Blue Jackets, they dropped a 5-3 decision to the New Jersey Devils. Jesper Bratt had a goal and two assists, while Luke Hughes and Cody Glass each collected two points for the Devils, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 76 points. Mathieu Olivier scored twice for the Blue Jackets (70 points).
The Ottawa Senators opened up a little breathing room between themselves and the Blue Jackets by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2. Brady Tkachuk scored his 400th NHL point while Dylan Cozens scored to pick up his third straight point since joining the Senators at the trade deadline. The Senators have won four straight and hold the first Eastern wild card with 73 points. Jamie Drysdale and Rodrigo Abois replied for the Flyers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cozens seems rejuvenated since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres, providing a welcome jolt of energy to the Senators’ lineup.
Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky had a goal and two assists in a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield each had a goal and an assist and Sam Montembeault made 29 saves for the Canadiens, who sit two points behind the Blue Jackets. Filip Hronek had a goal and an assist for the Canucks (69 points), who remain one point behind the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild-card spot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. Canucks captain Quinn Hughes remained sidelined with a lower-body injury but could return to action for Wednesday’s game against the Flames in Calgary.
The Boston Bruins also sit two points behind the Blue Jackets after rallying to nip the Florida Panthers 3-2. Dmitry Kulikov and Mackie Samoskevich scored for the Panthers but the Bruins replied with third-period goals by David Pastrnak, Mason Lohrei and Pavel Zacha. The Panthers hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 83 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Former Bruins captain Brad Marchand skated with the Panthers during their gameday skate but remains week-to-week with an upper-body injury. The Panthers acquired Marchand at the trade deadline.
Los Angeles Kings forward Quinton Byfield scored for the fourth straight game in a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders. Darcy Kuemper turned aside 33 shots for the Kings, who’ve won three straight and sit third in the Pacific Division with 77 points. Anders Lee scored for the Islanders (65 points) as they remain five points behind the Blue Jackets.
The Carolina Hurricanes got their fifth straight win by downing the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1. Seth Jarvis scored to extend his goal streak to three games and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 23 shots for the Hurricanes, who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 82 points. Gage Goncalves scored for the Lightning, who are third in the Atlantic Division with 78 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov left this game near the end of the second period with an undisclosed ailment.
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves to nip the Colorado Avalanche 2-1, ending the latter’s six-game win streak. Mats Zuccarello scored in regulation and the shootout, while teammate Matt Boldy tallied the winning goal. Joel Kiviranta replied for the Avalanche.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild hold the first Western wild card with 78 points, while the Avalanche is third in the Central Division with 81 points.
The Nashville Predators picked up their fourth straight win with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist and Kieffer Bellows tallied the game-winner for the Predators. Patrick Giles and Collin Graf scored for the Sharks.
IN OTHER NEWS…
THE SCORE: Mikko Rantanen’s agent refuted the claim by Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour that the superstar winger didn’t want to play in Carolina.
Andy Scott said Brind’Amour was “completely misinformed”, claiming his client had an open mind when he arrived in Carolina but later felt that the Hurricanes weren’t a good fit “from a style-of-play standpoint.” Scott said it was “nothing personal” on Rantanen’s part, adding that his client respected Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes’ players.
The Hurricanes acquired Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche in January. After failing to agree to a contract extension, they shipped him to the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline. He signed an eight-year extension with the Stars.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Whatever the reason behind that situation, Hurricanes management did not ensure Rantanen was open to a contract extension before acquiring him from the Avalanche. They brought him in to improve their chances of winning the Stanley Cup, but ended up trading him to the Stars for a return that helps them long-term but won’t move them closer to the Cup this season.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Speaking of the Stars, forward Roope Hintz avoided a facial fracture when a puck struck him in the face during a weekend game against the Edmonton Oilers. However, he’ll be sidelined for five to seven days.
ROTOWIRE: Buffalo Sabres forward JJ Peterka is being evaluated for a lower-body injury. His status for Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings remains uncertain.
SPORTSNET: Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson underwent heart surgery during the 4 Nations Face-Off break in the NHL schedule. Born with a heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot, he had surgery to replace a pulmonary valve after it had stopped working properly by inserting a new valve into the one already in his heart.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Davidson for a swift recovery.
GeorgeO your Sens are flying high this morning over there recent stretch! Boston has completely flipped the script in one week going from one of the older teams to the second youngest in the NHL! You won t recognize their no name lineup with 7 of their 12 forwards making less than a million dollars each according to puck pedia!Thursdays nights game should be interesting! Fun playing with the dealers money!
And those new, young Bruins are playing like they are determined to stay in the top league! As I said the other day, don’t count them out of a playoff spot yet. Should be a good one in Ottawa tomorrow night.
There’s a lot of hockey left considering how tight the standings are and how many interdivisional games are left.
There are no sure things, teams that were out of it a week ago are right in it again.
Some might say that it makes first round matchups so dangerous in todays NHL compared to the “old days” in that the bottom teams are in playoff mode in the fight down the stretch.
Exactly – and in those tables I posted it’s easy to calculate the potential points left for each team by multiplying the home and away % points records established over 60+ games x the home and away potential points left to each.
This going right down to the wire in the East.
With anywhere from 15 to 19 games left by Eastern teams, and considering that ongoing playoff dog-fight, I thought it might be interesting to compare their % points records home and away:
Home Games % And Home Games Left
Carolina – .779 – 7
Columbus – .733 – 11
Tampa – .727 – 8
Washington – .706 – 7
Florida – .677 – 7
Ottawa – .667 – 11
Toronto – .641 – 9
Boston – .614 – 7
New Jersey – .581 – 10
Montreal – .563 – 9
NY Islanders – .533 – 11
NY Ranger – .530 – 8
Buffalo – .530 – 8
Pittsburgh – .530 – 8
Detroit – .515 – 7
Philadelphia – .456 – 7
Away Games & Away Games Left
Washington – .742 – 10
Toronto – .625 – 9
Florida – .597 – 10
New Jersey – .571 – 6
NY Rangers – .516 – 9
Detroit – .516 – 11
Montreal – .500 – 9
Ottawa – .485 – 7
NY Islanders – .485 – 7
Philadelphia – .484 – 9
Tampa – .484 – 10
Carolina – .468 – 10
Pittsburgh – .427 – 7
Boston – .403 – 9
Columbus – .382 – 7
Buffalo – .350 – 11
If each team finishes their remaining home and away games at the same % pace established over 60-odd games so far, this is how they will end up the season.
Now, of course there will be deviations as some could – and in a few instances very likely will – either get hot or noticeably stumble down the stretch, some over-achieving as young players try to establish jobs for themselves next season, and some under-achieving due to key injuries or suspensions (hello Florida).
It will be interesting to see how close it comes to these projections:
Atlantic
Florida – 105
Toronto – 104
Tampa – 100
Metropolitan
Washington – 119
Carolina – 102
New Jersey – 95
Wild Card
Ottawa – 95
Columbus – 91
Montreal – 87
NY Ranger – 86
Boston – 84
Detroit – 84
NY Islanders – 84
Philadelphia – 77
Pittsburgh – 77
Buffalo – 73
Since that Rantanen drama was so unique and odd, that after seeing what transpired behind the scenes makes complete sense now.
Basically the lesson to be learned is, if you’re a GM and a team allows you to talk to a player and that player says, “I’m just focusing on my current team and extending myself (career) to play here” I don’t think means trade for me and we’ll see once I’m there. It should be obvious it’s a “no, now go away”.
The 4 team list thing, the agent kinda gives it away that it might have been even less than four. His client could be stuck somewhere undesirable for 8 yrs since an extension will be expected and to work around that possibility (having no trade protection) he’ll tell any GM he won’t re-sign if it wasn’t one of the teams he considers as one of the best teams he can be a part of. A western team is the perfect landing spot for him.
As long ad Rangers finish out of playoffs but not past 19th overall place; AND Pens finish as low as pissible; I’m good with anything
The straight mapping of home/away percentages (of season up to this point ) to remaining schedule will give your above standings.
That said, there will be head to heads ; and current hot streaks that may shift a spot or 2
No ifs ands or butts:
Caps win Metro and Devils play Canes 1st round
I do believe Panthers win Atlantic with a Bolts/Leafs first round (ranking/home ice TBD)
I have pretty fair confidence in Sens getting in; and all non Habs fans are cheering for Jackets; but my gut is that Habs also get in.
I also believe Jets win Central with Stars v Avs 1st round (home ice TBD)
Pacific … I do see no change in top 3, and Kings finishing 3rd; but less comfortable in declaring Knights to win the Div.
Gut feeling is that Oilers WILL get their act together and put together a streak (too little too late? TBD)
West WC….Wild seems destined
But Flames, Cannucks, Blues, UTH…. TBD
Question for you; as you’ll have knowledge on the history.
There is a mathematical possibility of Cannucks AND Flames getting in; much higher odds (but not anywhere near certain ) of both Sens AND Habs in
When was the last time (has it happened?) that all Canadian teams got in?
No Tkachuk, Marchand or Ekblad for most, if not all, the rest of the regular schedule could play Hell with Florida’s finish.
Ron Moore,
The explanations regarding Rantanen coming out now are spin and face saving.
It was obvious from the get-go that Rantanen was going from a scoring off the rush to a dump and chase, Rantanen was aware.
I wasn’t the only one who said Colorado made off like bandits in the trade.
The owner (Dundon) is known to not only be meddling but having more ego than sense.
My personal opinion is that Rantanen was caught completely off guard by the trade and everything was out of his control so he was swept along, resigned to testing the UFA market.
8787, the last time all Canada-based teams made the playoffs was the 1986-87 series when there were just 6
Round 1
Quebec beat Hartford 4-2
Montreal beat Boston 4-0
Toronto beat St. Louis 4-2
Edmonton beat L.A. 4-1
Winnipeg beat Calgary 4-2
Round 2
Montreal beat Quebec 4-3
Detroit beat Toronto 4-3
Edmonton beat Winnipeg 4-0
Round 3
Philadelphia beat Montreal 4-2
Edmonton beat Detroit 4-1
Stanley Cup
Edmonton beat Philadelphia 4-3
There has never been a series involving all 7 current Canada-based teams
George: Interesting info, but the Canucks didn’t make the playoffs in 1987 so there was one Canadian team left out that year.
It would have been tough for all four Canadian teams in the Smythe Division to make it in the same season!
East Van Fan, lol … you’re right of course … thanks for the clarification … I thought I’d shorten the search by Googling “when was the last time all Canada-based teams made the NHL playoffs” and a reference to 1986-87 popped up … but instead of double-checking the season final standings just to make sure, I went with what popped up. Can’t trust the InterNet … LOL.
I should have just posted this link
https://thehockeywriters.com/every-canadian-team-remembering-1986/
Thanks George and East Van Fan
Long odds for it to happen this year; but it could
Oil, Jets, Leafs locked
Pretty fair hope in Ottawa
Logically at least one of Flames/Cannucks should sneak in
It’d be down to continued surge of Habs paired with a hiccup/stumble by Jackets; and a collapse by Wild out West, to have 9 US/7 Canadian franchises playoff mix this year
What’s the betting odds on that? -1,500?
If Cozens for Norris doesn’t get Kevyn Adams fired, I’m not sure what could… Burning down their arena? Not only is Cozens a better, younger player, Norris has been a boat anchor since he was massively overpaid. Even at half his cap hit, Norris would be a debatable acquisition. Woof!
Habfan30, agree with assessment and I would add that Tulsky knew Rantanan wouldn’t extend but brought him in to bolster the playoffs scoring anyway. The gave up Necas who was leaving next year and they didn’t have enough offense in the playoffs last year so what do you have to lose by taking a shot.
Then when they saw the half assed effort Rantanan put in for 14 games because he didn’t want to play Brind Amour hockey they cut their losses and moved him.
I don’t know where Dundon got involved but like you I’m certain he made one of the decisions and let Tulsky swing in the wind.
It seems that Ovechkin passed up an empty netter last night so that his younger teammate could get his first hat trick. How dare he get 3 assists on the night!
i
Sandman,that s what makes hockey players different than pro athletes in the NFL,NBA and MLB!
Really? I mean … really? So no examples of selflessness in those sports?
chrisms, there are obviously example of it. In the NBA when guys are on a heater and have a chance at a big game, they get fed by team mates too. So same thing.
Players have a chance to get over 1000 yards receiving or rushing, ya they get fed too. In the NFL Barkley had a chance to break the single season rushing record in the last game of the year, was healthy, but didn’t play so not to risk injury. He was totally cool with it, said he agreed with the , did it for the team.
Sac flies and bunts are pretty self explanatory.
Thanks Ray. That comment just seemed so … silly. Maybe sr was being sarcastic and it flew over my head?
I’m not a fan of Ovechkin by any means, but that will earn a hat tip from me. Well done, Sir.