NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 13, 2025
A milestone performance by the Red Wings’ Patrick Kane, a record-setting game for the Kraken’s Brandon Montour, Mikko Rantanen explains why he chose the Stars, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane scored twice and collected three assists in a 7-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Alex DeBrincat had a goal and three assists and Marco Kasper tallied two goals for the Red Wings (68 points), who snapped a six-game losing skid and sit two points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Tage Thompson and Zach Benson each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who’ve dropped seven of their last eight games.
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: At 36 years and 113 days, Kane became the fourth-oldest player in Red Wings history to record a five-point game, joining Brett Hull (37 years, 170 days), Alex Delvecchio (37 years, 27 days) and Brendan Shanahan (36 years, 324 days).
The Seattle Kraken overcame a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 5-4. Brandon Montour scored four seconds into overtime to complete a two-goal, four-point performance. Jordan Eberle had three assists for the Kraken. Juraj Slafkovsky scored two goals for the Canadiens, one point behind the Blues Jackets in the Eastern wild-card race.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montour set the league record for the fastest overtime goal. Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson had two assists to become the first rookie to reach 50 points this season.
A shootout goal by Conor Garland lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames. Canucks center Elias Pettersson scored the tying goal and team captain Quinn Hughes had an assist in his return from a lower-body injury. Jonathan Huberdeau netted two goals for the Flames. Both teams have 71 points but the Flames hold the final Western Conference wild-card spot with a game in hand.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames captain Mikael Backlund left this game after the first period with an upper-body injury. Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson left the game during the first with an undisclosed injury.
The Utah Hockey Club nipped the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 as Dylan Guenther snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period, finishing the game with two points. Utah sits two points behind the Flames in the Western wild-card race. Alex Killorn and Mason McTavish replied for the Ducks.
HEADLINES
THE SCORE: Mikko Rantanen explained why he felt the Dallas Stars were a better match than the Carolina Hurricanes. He was dealt to Dallas at the trade deadline after informing the Hurricanes that he wouldn’t sign a contract extension. He inked an eight-year extension with the Stars.
Rantanen explained that he felt the Stars’ style of play was the best match for him. “Dallas was a better fit on the ice, a style of play similar to Colorado,” he said. The 28-year-old winger spent nearly 10 seasons with the Avalanche, where he blossomed into a scoring star.
He also felt the Hurricanes would get a better return for him in the trade market if he did a sign-and-trade, making it better for them rather than staying as a rental player and departing as a free agent on July 1. “But I want to make it clear I was open-minded in Carolina and really thought about staying there.”
SPORTSNET: New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said Dougie Hamilton will be sidelined for the rest of the regular season and possibly the playoffs with a lower-body injury. He didn’t rule out the possibility of the 31-year-old defenseman returning in the second round if the Devils get that far, but he wasn’t planning for it.
Hamilton suffered the injury late in the first period against the Stars on March 4.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the second devastating blow the Devils have received within a week. On March 5, superstar center Jack Hughes underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.
TSN: The New York Rangers signed backup goaltender Jonathan Quick to a one-year, $1.55 million contract extension.
AZCENTRAL.COM: Former Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo is suing the Arizona Board of Regents for a $3.5 million security deposit paid to Arizona State University.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Meruelo believes it’s not his fault he had to break his three-year lease with Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena. He pocketed nearly $1 billion after selling off the team last year.
Really tough luck for the Devils with injuries to Hughes and Hamilton! You know hockey people will just plug in the phrase next man up! Tonight’s Ottawa / Boston game pairs Swayman vs Ullmark! Interesting to see if Boston continues to have success with their no name lineup! Sens have the best center situation in the league with Stutzle,Cousins and Pinto!Brady Tkachuks stalk is never higher after his performance in the 4 nations tourney and his role in Ottawa!
SR that is a good center situation but I think maybe Colorado has the edge with Nate Nelson Coyle and Drury.
Oh you know someone was going to call it out…might as well as been me haha.
How about your Oilers 1Oilerfan!
McDavid
Draisaitl
RNH (if they choose to, but they lack scoring wingers so playing with McDavid)
Henrique
Frederic – some folks are thinking 4C come playoff time, but options on the wing too.
Ryan 4C or depth.
Savoie a year away, but again, likely starts on wing.
IMO they are deep and nobody can touch the top 2 guys in quality.
Ray certainly true if RNH plays center but he more often ends up on wing these days.
What ideally should be is
Mcdavid
Leon
RNH
Henrique
And by that yes. I’d put hat up there with Colorado’s 4 any day.
Ray Bark it seems I am so used to seeing Leon jump up on Mcdavids line that I don’t t split them up! I hope that Frederic does well,he s a good kid,outstanding athlete!
Yesterday I posted tables showing the points % pace to that point of each team in the East for their home and away games. Here’s the same info for each team in the West, up to and including last night’s games
Home Games % And Home Games Left
Los Angeles – .821 – 13
Winnipeg – .788 – 8
Dallas – .766 – 9
Vegas – .750 – 7
Colorado – .677 – 7
Edmonton – .636 – 7
Calgary – .621 – 8
Nashville – .578 – 11
Minnesota – .517 – 11
Vancouver – .516 – 9
St. Louis – .516 – 9
Utah HC – .500 – 8
Anaheim – .500 – 9
Seattle – .500 – 7
Chicago – .418 – 9
San Jose – .323 – 9
Away Games % & Away Games Left
Minnesota – .671 – 6
Winnipeg – .636 – 8
Edmonton – .581 – 10
Dallas – .578 – 9
Vancouver – .576 – 8
Utah HC – .563 – 9
Colorado – .547 – 9
St. Louis – .546 – 8
Vegas – .533 – 11
Calgary – .484 – 10
Anaheim – .470 – 8
Los Angeles – .443 – 6
Seattle– .406 – 9
San Jose – .329 – 7
Nashville – .313 – 7
Chicago – .288 – 8
As with the East yesterday, and again acknowledging that many factors can enter into the picture to alter the outcome, it will be interesting to see how many finish as follows, based upon the premise that the same points % pace established over 60+ games continue over their remaining games
Western
Winnipeg – 117
Dallas – 110
Colorado – 101
Pacific
Vegas – 105
Los Angeles – 103
Edmonton – 100
Wild Card
Minnesota – 97
Calgary – 91
Vancouver – 89
St. Louis – 88
Utah HC – 87
Anaheim – 80
Seattle – 74
Nashville – 74
Chicago – 62
San Jose -= 54
Lyle, who held the record for the fastest OT goal before Montour broke it last night?
Per Guinness:
The fastest overtime goal scored in an NHL match is 6 seconds, achieved by five players: Mats Sundin (SWE) on 30 December 1995, David Legwand (USA) on 9 March 2006, Alex Ovechkin (Russian Federation) on 15 December 2006, Andreas Athanasiou (Canada) on 3 January 2018 and William Nylander (Sweden, b. Canada) on 24 January 2018.
Thanks LJ. Going to be pretty tough to beat 4 seconds!
The old record lasted just about 30 years!
You have to remember before 2016 it was 5 on 5 not 3 on 3
That’s true too … easy to forget those kinds of details
Would it be accurate to say the Canadiens overcame a two goal deficient before the Kraken overcame a 4-2 deficient?
That OT goal was somewhat iffy as Montour was over the red line at puck drop, he should have been made to back up.
On the other hand Slafkovsky’s goal , despite review was kind of iffy.
It was a smart preset play, credit to Kraken coaching staff.
No he wasn`t both of his skates were clearly on the Seattle side of centre ice when the puck hit the ice. He just timed it perfectly, they caught Montreal napping. No iffy at all, Stephenson and Montour knew what they were doing, give them the credit
Should the final standings East and West be close to the projections shown yesterday (East) and this morning (West). here are the overall standings on that basis. With Ottawa projecting to be picking 18-21 in the draft, I can see Staios opting to relinquish this year’s 1st pick in that Dadonov penalty (unless Gary reconsiders)
Washington – 119
Winnipeg – 117
Dallas – 110
Florida – 105
Vegas – 105
Toronto – 104
Los Angeles – 103
Carolina – 102
Colorado – 101
Tampa – 100
Edmonton – 100
Minnesota – 97
New Jersey – 95
Ottawa – 95
Columbus – 91
Calgary – 91
Vancouver – 89
St. Louis – 88
Utah HC – 87
Montreal – 87
NY Rangers – 86
Boston – 84
Detroit – 84
NY Islanders – 84
Anaheim – 80
Philadelphia – 77
Pittsburgh – 77
Seattle – 74
Nashville – 74
Buffalo – 73
Chicago – 62
San Jose – 54
The fastest three goals – still 21 seconds, Bill Mosienko ?
Oh yeah, will never forget that night in 1952 (I was 14). I was listening over WNBC radio out of New York (with an aerial it came in like a local station). Last game of the year and the Hawks were – let’s just say, pretty bad – and the Rangers weren’t much better. The score was something like 6-1 or 6-2 in the 3rd when Mosienko began the greatest hat trick ever early in the period, and the Hawks went on to win the game 7-6 with 2 late goals from Sid Finney.
I was a Habs follower in those days, but had a soft spot for the poor Hawks.