NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 28, 2025
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby sets a notable offensive record, Nikita Kucherov leads the Lightning with a four-point game, the Blues strengthen their hold on the final Western wild card, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPPING THURSDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby broke Wayne Gretzky’s record of consecutive seasons averaging a point-per-game in a 7-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Jiri Kulich scored twice for the Sabres while Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Rasmus Dahlin, Bowen Byram and Peyton Kreb had two points each.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby has 20 consecutive seasons averaging a point-per-game. That’s an impressive display of offensive consistency, especially at this stage of his career on a team rebuilding its roster.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves to shut out the Utah Hockey Club 8-0. Victor Hedman had a goal and two assists while Jake Guentzel and Oliver Bjorkstrand each scored twice for the Lightning (89 points), who moved within one point of the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning are tied with the Florida Panthers in points but the latter holds a game in hand.
Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they overcame a 5-3 deficit in regulation to the San Jose Sharks but fell 6-5 on shootout goals by Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini. Tyler Toffoli scored twice and picked up an assist for the Sharks. William Nylander tallied twice and Mitch Marner collected three assists for the Leafs, who sit atop the Atlantic Division with 90 points.
The St. Louis Blues strengthened their hold on the final Western Conference wild-card berth by nipping the Nashville Predators 3-2, picking up their eighth straight win. Dylan Holloway scored two goals, including the game-winner in the third period. Robert Thomas had two assists for the Blues (85 points), opening a five-point lead over the Vancouver Canucks. Fedor Svechkov and Brady Skjei scored for the Predators, who’ve been officially eliminated from the playoff race.
Minnesota Wild forward Frederick Gaudreau scored twice and Matt Boldy had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals. Filip Gustavsson stopped 28 shots for the Wild, who remain two points ahead of the Blues for the first Western wild card. Matt Roy and Brandon Duhaime replied for the Capitals, who remain in first place in the overall standings with 103 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin was held off the score sheet and remains six goals from breaking Gretzky’s all-time goals record of 894. Following the game, Ovechkin led his teammates in a handshake lineup for Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who is expected to retire following this season.
The Dallas Stars got a 46-save performance by backup goalie Casey DeSmith to beat the Calgary Flames 5-2. Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene, Mikael Granlund and Mason Marchment each collected two points for the Stars, who picked up their fourth straight win to sit second in the Central Division with 98 points. Nazem Kadri scored both goals for the Flames (79 points), who sit six points back of the surging Blues in the Western wild-card race.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames had two goals disallowed, leaving them feeling like the referees robbed them. They also lost forward Connor Zary as he left the game early in the third period favoring his left knee after colliding with Rantanen.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark turned aside 31 shots as his club held off the Detroit Red Wings for a 4-3 victory. Michael Amadio scored what proved to be the game-winner as the Senators (81 points) opened a six-point cushion over the Montreal Canadiens in the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Lucas Raymond had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings, who remain three points behind the Canadiens with 72 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game featured two teams going in different directions. The Senators have won eight of their last 11 games while the Red Wings have only three wins in their last 14 contests.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens (75 points) blew a golden opportunity to expand their lead in the final Eastern wild-card spot by dropping a 6-4 decision to the Philadelphia Flyers, who had fired head coach John Tortorella earlier in the day. Sean Couturier and Matvei Michkov each had two goals and an assist for the Flyers, who got their first win under interim coach Brad Shaw. Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson picked up two assists, becoming the first rookie defenseman since 1985-86 to have 50 assists.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, Flyers general manager Daniel Briere spoke to the media about the decision to fire Tortorella. He claimed a number of reasons led to the decision, not just Tortorella’s comments on Tuesday expressing frustration over the club’s losing skid in recent weeks. He declined to get into the specifics, saying it wouldn’t be fair to his former coach.
Flyers defenseman Cam York was benched for the entire game against the Canadiens. Shaw claimed it was for disciplinary reasons but didn’t go into detail.
The last rookie defenseman to reach the 50-assist plateau was Gary Suter with the Calgary Flames. He went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy that season.
Colorado Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood had 22 saves to blank the Los Angeles Kings 4-0. Martin Necas scored twice and picked up an assist while Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to extend his home points streak to 23 games. The Avalanche sit third in the Central Division with 93 points, while the Kings are second in the Pacific Division with 89 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon (108 points) holds a three-point lead over Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov atop the points race. Kings forwards Alex Turcotte and Tanner Jeannot missed this game as they’re day-to-day with undisclosed injuries.
A five-goal second period carried the Seattle Kraken to a 6-1 upset of the Edmonton Oilers. Jaden Schwartz scored twice and Joey Daccord kicked out 36 shots for the Kraken. Zach Hyman scored for the Oilers, who remain third in the Pacific Division with 87 points.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NHL.COM: Boston Bruins defenseman Michael Callahan was fined over $2,000.00 by the department of player safety for cross-checking Anaheim Ducks forward Jansen Harkins on Wednesday.
NEW YORK POST: Rangers forward Matt Rempe is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
After playing short-handed for virtually half the 1st period (5 – 0 in the penalty calls), and eventually taking a 3-0 lead, the Senators then had to hang on for dear life to hold off the desperate Red Wings, including the gift of a goal-post on a shot by DeBrincat in the dying seconds.
But they did it. However, that game was a classic example of why – if I had my druthers – I’d rather see them playing the top teams down the stretch, as those in the fight for the 2nd WC slot have naturally raised their games and have no intention of rolling over and playing dead, and so match them with equal intensity (Montreal, Columbus, Detroit., NY Rangers, NY Islanders), while those resigned to missing the playoffs (Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Buffalo) play without pressure of any sort (as Montreal discovered last night).
If going head to head with a Florida, Tampa, Toronto, Washington, Carolina or New Jersey in these final games, at least THEY have the advantage of being the only “desperate” team on the ice.
Some teams play desperate George, Others, like the Habs recently, dissipate.
A losing streak can hide in improbable comebacks and it sure seems like the Habs – now in the middle of their third prolonged losing streak – are displaying their true form. Of itself helpful for next season, but deflating now.
Big congrats to Crosby
Great goal and 20of20 seasons averaging PPG+, breaking Gretzky’s record.
I had a gut feeling he was going to get it last night and had considered doing the 7 1/2 hour round trip to see it live. But I have to work today; so enjoyed that moment from my own family room instead.
Crosby will probably finish this season in/around 1,685 points; which would have conservatively been 1,855 points (putting him 4th ever this year) if not for Steckel. 2nd overall would have been done by end of next season.
Can anyone argue; as at now; Crosby definitely top 5 all-time NHL players.
I believe only Orr, Gretsky and Mario are for sure better (as at now) than Crosby
I see the argument for Howe ahead of Crosby; for now.
That said; as I laid out above; no Steckel hit; and Crosby passes Howe, Messier and Jagr , next season; into 2nd overall only behind Gretzky in points.
Wouldn’t that have edged him into top 4 best hockey players all-time????
8787, The sport of hockey needs iconic players like Crosby playing in the playoffs! I would hate to see him miss out as he rides off into the sunset. Hope he considers another team.
Might as well just hope the pens make the playoffs in the next few cause he ain’t goin nowhere
Hi Sr
Fully agree
Without Dubas actually doing his job (making team better… AS HE PROMISED TO CRISBY TO GET HIM TO RE-up); Crosby won’t play another Penguins playoff game
Penguins CAN make playoffs next year; but Dubas must get team younger, faster, bigger (overall) and much better defensively
Not as hard as it sounds
Kicking out about 3;
Not re-signing blunder kings
Re-up all Pend RFAs
Offer sheet (or 2)
Prudent (as compared to his usual idiotic ones) signing of UFAs (28 or younger)
If team doesn’t improve; I absolutely don’t blame Crosby for going to a contender
There you go again 87 with the Dubas promised Crosby thing.
Since you are repeating yourself I will too.
1- you have no clue what was discussed, and only the people in the room do.
2 – even if he did, which I seriously doubt, that would mean Crosby believed him totally and is now angry it didn’t happen That would mean Crosby is an idiot or a child. He is obviously neither.
These are experienced, intelligent, professionals who both know exactly where the Pens are.
C’mon man!
Dubas actually publicly stated that
I doubt he is going to lie in public and say he promised Crosby that; when he didn’t actually say that to him privately
Why would he?
He wouldn’t
Here is what Crosby said about that conversation. If you have a quote from Dubas, I will stand corrected.
“I think that was reassuring,” he told reporters Monday. “Just based on what we discussed as far as there’s still hunger from the organization and ownership to win and a commitment there. … I feel like as players, for all the different guys that have played here over the course of the time that I’ve been here, it’s something that you build as a culture, something that I think (is) ingrained.
“Missing the playoffs for a couple of years, not being in it, is difficult. You want to try to find every way possible to get back in there and make sure that we compete for the Stanley Cup. So, I think that was reassuring to hear, and that helped.”
So, according to Crosby, it was a word salad about hunger, and a commitment to try and get better. Meaning, not going to tear it to the studs and are going “try” to be competitive.
IMO a far cry from promising anything, and Crosby knows that too.
Sure looks to me like Crosby wants to stay, but doesn’t want to suck to Chicago levels. Fair enough, and they don’t.
Hi Ray
Sorry I watched Dubas say it; but don’t have a way of getting that tape
Directly from Crosby’s quite you gave though:
“Missing the playoffs for a couple of years, not being in it, is difficult. You want to try to find every way possible to get back in there and make sure that we compete for the Stanley Cup. So, I think that was reassuring to hear, and that helped.”
When Crosby said that the couple of years (missing playoffs) he was referring to had already happened (‘23 and ‘24)
“We compete for Stanley Cup” was a hope for upcoming (final years he just signed for)
He was promised by Dubas that the team would be made better; and enough to give him (Crosby) at least a fighting hope at a chance to get to a Cup (meaning must be playoff bound)
In absolutely no way was Crosby saying he knew he’d never play another playoff game with Pens and was accepting that his last 5 years as a player , he’d miss the playoffs, and embraced being bottom feeders during a rebuild in his twilight years
Dubas promised him hope
Dubas has yet to come through on that
Sid will be in the too 5 when he finishes.
Neat to see him break gretz record and Ovi going to break gretz goal record.
If he can stay healthy he has 3 cups tons of international success.never lost actually individual awards. Golden goal 4 nations olympics canada cups
700 goals possible 1800 points probable.
Gretz Orr Lemieux Howe Crosby
Calgary had two goals called back, Edmonton had one. Why doesn’t Gary say he hates Alberta and leave it at that.
Did everyone hear it? That was the sound of the Flyers removing the cork and the Canadiens season going down the drain. Some positives this season with the emergence of Lane Hutson, less man games lost due to injury and playing meaningful games into late March.
But last night again exposed the need for a goaltender. Not fair to put this entirely on Dobes as it is hard for any goalie to step in while rusty let a lone a rookie but his play reminded me of Primeau last night. Montembeault’s play deteriorates when he is overplayed so a reliable backup is just as important as a #2 center for next year. 2024-2025 season RIP.
Cheer up! You have Fowler on the way! He will be there in 2-3 years!
Dobes was rusty to begin the game and it showed, letting in an easy one but he settled down as the game wore on.
Didn’t help that they pla3on 5 for a minute and a half.
Didn’t help that they lost a review on a powerplay goal so were back on the pk.
blah blah, bottom line they lost and its all that really counts.
Flyers had nothing to lose and frequently there’s a short bump after a coaching change.
Side note in the last couple of ganes they have made some strategic defensive changes that need the kinks worked out. They are sending 2 D to the counters and relying on a C to cover the slot and a F to cover cross seam/point shots.
There were some noticeable miscommunications that need to be taken care of.
WC teams fasten your seatbelts.
JZ,
Fowler is just another hotshot college goaltender for now.
Most goalies at this stage don’t progress as hoped, case in point Cayden Primeau.
Some falter when they rise to the AHL and others can’t handle the jump to NHL.
All to say he is a great prospect but not banking the farm on him yet.
Habfan30,there are 2 hotshot ex college goalies playing pretty well in the NHLOttenger/ Boston University/Dallas,Helleybuck,UMass Lowell,Winnepeg,I will hold my opinion on Swayman,UMaine, Boston!
I have wondered about the goaltending myself, Habsman67. Dobes has looked like a deer in the headlights in his past few starts but both he and Montembeault have also made some big saves to keep the games in reach – at least temporarily.
Sometimes a game is a season, and like you I think last night told us 82 games worth.
Habsman67, I wouldn’t toss in the towel just yet. As I post above, the Flyers are one of those teams with absolutely no pressure, and those teams can be the most difficult to play against in the closing games.
Where the Habs and their closest pursuers are concerned, none have been on any kind of hot streak over their past 10, but at least Montreal has been more or less keeping pace with their current biggest threat – the Islanders:
NYI – 4-3-3 11 – 74 pts 11 games left
Mtl – 3-3-4 10 – 75 pts 11 games left
NYR – 3-6-1 7 – 74 pts 10 games left
Det – 3-7-0 6 – 72 pts 10 games left
Clb – 2-7-1 5 – 73 pts 12 games left
Ottawa’s win over Detroit last night (7 – 3 – 0 in their past 10) may have put them 6 up on Montreal and both with 11 games left, but if this season has taught us anything, it’s that things can go south just as suddenly as any recent win streak.
This will go to the wire, and while the Habs might indeed miss the cut, it is going to be extremely close at the end and I wouldn’t be too quick to count them out.
Hi George O. I appreciate your optimism but I didn’t do any tossing of any towels – the Habs did that last night by playing a stinker of a game from the net out. I posted last week that Montreal needed at least 4 points in this current 4 game road trip against the Blues, Flyers, Hurricanes and Panthers. I thought that given the long slump the Flyers were on, this game would be a guaranteed 2 points and somehow they would have to scrounge up a win against the other 3 teams or 2 OTL. It now looks like they will go home with zero points. This team played so well coming off the break and makes me question their conditioning and/or their commitment to winning. I also mentioned in that post that their goaltenders would have to steal a game and both of them wet the bed. Your team is in because they embraced the challenge. Mine is out because they couldn’t. Again RIP 2024-2025 Habs season.
Bu they’re not out … at least not yet. As I say elsewhere, it’s far better for teams like Montreal – i.e., in the thick of a playoff race – to be facing top teams like Carolina and Florida who are comfortably in a playoff spot and so under no expectations and more in the mode of resting players nursing dings, or even each other, than against those who know they have no chance and so who are playing with no such pressure. Philadelphia, last night, is a classic example of that – something Ottawa experienced in Buffalo recently and could so again when they go into Pittsburgh tomorrow (I think).
I bet the Habs do well against Carolina and Florida.
George O., I see it a little different. Yes, of course, on any given night any team can beat any other and that is why they actually play the game even though it may look like a mismatch on paper. Take St Louis for example. They were in the same predicament that Montreal was in when they played each other earlier this week – both were holding on to the final wild card spot. St Louis came out guns ablazing and Montreal laid an egg. Ok, fine, every team is entitled to an off night. They then go to Philly, a team which had been playing abysmally, and lose- there is no excuse for that. If you can’t beat that team in that circumstance then you have no business being in a playoff race. Sure Philly may be looser and have nothing to play for but they had only won once in their last 11 games – other teams seemed to have found a way to beat them.
Ray, from yesterday too late in the day for me to reply, you asked what I thought of Sweeney’s last decade in Boston. This is my best attempt at a thoughtful and sincere response.
After 2019 the Bs just didn’t do well in the playoffs. What was telling about 22-23 was not the record breaking regular season, it was the opening round playoff loss. It was IMO confirmation of a losing trend. I said as much back then. The expectations should change once you keep making the playoffs.
22-23 also saw March’s point total drop 13 points, the start of his decline. Krejec was tailing off and Bergeron was having trouble staying healthy. The cracks were starting to show.
That Sweeney didn’t react sooner and bring in difference makers might have been too much loyalty to the old guard, or it might have been things out of his control (behind the scenes ownership interference, UFAs not wanting to come to Boston?).
I looked at the Bs acquisitions at the trade deadline over the above period and just didn’t see anyone that made me go “wow.” And clearly none made a difference. I also looked at the B’s early round draft picks from 2019 forward. I see no one who looks like a bright star — so far.
More recently: Lindholm is a defensive center and the Bs need offence. Why sign him? And a big why sign Zadorov for the $ and term they did? And not to pile on, but the Bs prospect pool has been rated amongst the worst.
Conclusion? I often express opinions here in a declarative tone but I also understand there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that I don’t know. But in this long winded response I don’t see Sweeney realizing the Bs window was rapidly closing and doing much about it.
Despite this, Hockey Canada selected Sweeney GM for the 4 Nations. Brisebois and Nill were options. Those who know far more than I chose Sweeney.
Washington turned a steady decline around in one off season, and the Bs have cap space and draft picks for next year. Sweeney will soon answer your question in his own declarative tone.
What Washington have done in one year is simply amazing. It’s also unusual – most franchises need years and years to become competitive again.
I’d point out as well what St Louis has done this year and suggest that a key part of their resurgence has come via offer sheets that have both been home runs. Holloway and Broberg have become key players for the Blues and the cost was draft picks that may or may not ever pan out.
GM’s around the league will have taken note – I expect many more offer sheets this summer.
Thanks for responding LJ and actually putting thought into it. I get what your saying, and I’m probably in the minority, and most folks would agree with your post completely.
I guess I’m more pragmatic or simply have lower expectations of GM’s, maybe I shouldn’t be like that.
I think this term is for politics, but applies to NHL GM’s too. It is the art of the possible. Meaning focus on what you can realistically accomplish. Reality is, you can only sign or trade for players that are available. Elite top line (C’s) or top pair guys, the guys you have consistent playoff success with, almost always are found early in the draft. If you win, you have to get lucky to find one later in the draft. Or pay the big $$ as UFA’s, and they don’t even become available often.
Or to quote Holland, you need to keep getting in and giving yourself a chance. Sweeney did that, until his best players aged out. Bergeron, Chara and Krecji.
In 2023 both Bergy and Krecji got hurt late, killed their chances, and Florida was/is a really, really good team. They get a say in the matter too. Injuries happen. Hence the keep giving yourself a chance quote.
The B’s lack assets as they went for it every year, as we would want them too. They knew the window was closing in 23.
Washington is the anomaly. Plus had the benefit of large LTIR money. The key was they took a chance of players that were failing and thought to be a bad contract – Dubois. On this site he was commonly referred to as a bust, or a cancer. He’s killing it. Chychrun – Fragile, injury prone. Killing it. A bit lucky or smart? I dunno.
But they had the space (LTIR) and used it to great effect. But more teams had cap problems, there won’t be as many opportunities for that now with the cap going up large.
Can Sweeney try that? Maybe. Different environment. I think it might be a mistake as the B’s are worse today than the Caps were last year IMO.
I would cool my jets, accrue assets keep some space so you can react when the opportunity presents itself. See where you are after this year, and assess again.
They need young affordable players, it takes a while to accrue them. Start now.
This will require patience and error on the side of the future for a couple/ 3 years.
Long winded as well!
I actually look forward to the day when the Bs and the Habs have good teams at the same time and can go at it again competitively. Your hatred of the Habs and mine of the Bs is IMO essential to enjoyment.
Without that extra layer the passion and the joy of victory just isn’t the same. One might as well just do cross word puzzles.
Meanwhile, I am pulling for the Oil, even though their Cup win would cost me $50. Perhaps we have a demilitarized zone there.
LJ, I will cheer for every Canadian team that qualifies as we haven’t won a cup up here for so long. Hopefully they all have success. Starting with my local Oilers.
Then the Jets & Sens. Any other western team that gets in, followed by the Leafs and MTL.
Hopefully it happens this year, so I am not forced to cheer for the arch rival Habs.
And yes, having both our teams good at the same time, would be a treat again. The emotion and intensity of those battles are unlike anything else I have ever watched. And I mean the fans.
Don t look now but Buffalo might finish ahead of Boston,Pittsburgh and Philly in the Eastern Conference.In the western conference Nashville, Seattle,San Jose,Chicago are a little weaker. The top 6 in the Western Conference seem stronger than the top 6 in the Eastern conference to even things out! Injuries as always could have a big effect in success in the playoffs?
SR that’s so like the Sabres. Finally start playing the way they should have at the beginning of season. Say goodbye to a top 5 pick. Lindy burned out UPL and finally started to play James Reimer. Similar to when Craig Anderson was with Sabres , he gives the team defense a boost of confidence.
I just hope this doesn’t give Sabres fans false optimism for next season.