NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 31, 2025
Alex Ovechkin reaches 890 goals, the Jets widen their lead in the overall standings and the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth changes hands again. Details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is five goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals. He scored his 890th goal in an 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres and also collected two points to finish the game with three points. Sabres forwards Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch each scored two goals for the Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Washington holds first place in the Eastern Conference with 103 points but has gone 0-2-1 in their last three games. Capitals head coach Spencer Carberry shook up his top-two in the third period, saying his team needs more from its top-six forwards amid a three-game skid.
The Winnipeg Jets widen their lead in the overall standings with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist and Connor Hellebuyck made 23 saves for the Jets (106 points), opening a three-point lead over the Capitals. Pius Suter scored for the Canucks (81 points), who remain six points behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Western Conference wild-card berth.
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki scored the winning goal and picked up two assists to double up the Florida Panthers 4-2. Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson set up three goals and Juraj Slafkovsky had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, who regained the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 77 points. Sam Reinhart and Seth Jones replied for the Panthers as they sit third in the Atlantic Division with 91 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson leads all rookies this season with 59 points. The Canadiens have the same points total as the New York Rangers but hold the wild card with a game in hand. Meanwhile, the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are tied in points but the latter holds second place in the division with 37 regulation wins.
The Toronto Maple Leafs opened a three-point lead atop the Atlantic Division (94 points) with a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Steve Lorentz broke a 2-2 tie, Mitch Marner scored his 23rd goal of the season, and Joseph Woll stopped 29 shots for the Leafs. Leo Carlsson tallied his 20th of the season for the Ducks.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Seth Jarvis scored two goals as his club downed the New York Islanders 6-4. Sebastian Aho had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes, who sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 94 points. Pierre Engvall tallied twice for the Islanders, who’ve gone 0-3-2 in their last five contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes are on a roll, winning 11 of their last 13 games. Meanwhile, the Islanders are three points behind the Canadiens for the final Eastern wild-card spot.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby’s overtime lifted his club to a 1-0 blanking of the Ottawa Senators. Tristan Jarry kicked out 31 shots for his first shutout of the season. Anton Forsberg turned aside 34 shots for the Senators (84 points) as they collected a point to sit seven points ahead of the Canadiens in the first Eastern wild-card position.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins played without forward Boko Imama as he underwent surgery on Friday to repair a torn bicep. His recovery timeline is four-to-six months.
Los Angeles Kings forwards Adrian Kempe and Warren Foegele each scored two goals to crush the San Jose Sharks 8-1. Team captain Anze Kopitar collected three assists as the Kings moved ahead of the Edmonton Oilers into second place in the Pacific Division standings with 91 points. Sharks rookie Cam Lund scored for the second straight game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kopitar notched his 316th multipoint game, moving ahead of Sergei Fedorov into ninth place all-time among NHL players born outside North America. Jaromir Jagr is the leader with 540.
Utah Hockey Club forward Alex Kerfoot had a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Mikhail Sergachev had a goal and an assist for Utah while Ryan Donato netted his 29th of the season for Chicago.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah defenseman Robert Bortuzzo returned to action after missing 35 games with a lower-body injury.
IN OTHER NEWS…
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers captain Connor McDavid (lower-body injury) will not travel with his teammates as they begin their four-game road trip. There is a slight chance he could rejoin the club before their road trip ends in Anaheim on April 7.
THE ATHLETIC’s Michael Russo reports Minnesota Wild forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek practiced for the first time yesterday, but their return to action remains to be determined.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Boston Bruins placed Patrick Brown and Vinni Lettieri on waivers. The Wild did the same with Brendan Gaunce and Devin Shore. If they are claimed off waivers, they will be ineligible to play in the postseason with their new teams following the trade deadline.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning must free up salary-cap space to sign prospect Isaac Howard to an entry-level contract.
Well, I suppose if you’re going to lose the second of a back-to-back 1 – 0 in OT, it’s fitting that it comes at the hands of a living legend in the sport. That was a great game to watch, with both teams enjoying distinct edges at different times of the game – Ottawa in the 1st period and Pittsburgh in the 3rd especially. Both goalies were sharp – and both under the gun for the most part this season.
If I have a gripe it was the hooking call on Greig that led to the pp goal by Sid … a bit chintzy IMO given the circumstances … but then, what would almost ANY NHL game be without some refereeing complaint? Bottom line: getting 3 of 4 points in a back-to-back at this stage when a lot of players are dragging their tails for different maladies isn’t too bad.
As for the rest of the games yesterday, I think it’s fantastic to see the growing parity – at least in the East where just 9 points separate the second WC spot from last place. Montreal’s clutch win in Florida puts them back into the 2nd WC position with the same number of points (77) as the NYR but with a game in hand. I still think they will take that spot and if they do, that will mean 3 playoff teams from last season are out (Boston, NYR and NYI) making room for newbies New Jersey, Ottawa & Montreal.
Out West it would appear that there will be two newcomers – St. Louis and Minnesota – with Vancouver and Nashville dropping out. So, league-wide, 5 new playoff teams. Not bad. That is growing parity in action.
Dumb move by FLA defenseman Niko Mikkola to take a slap shot down the ice from his own faceoff circle that made Habs d–man David Savard duck just in time.
It isn’t “illegal” but it is bad form, 1 second or so left, down 2 goals just slide it off your stick.
Considering they play again Tuesday night, he’s given the Habs a score to settle.
Considering how poorly the Habs have played recently they showed up yesterday and just might ride the “insult” into a WC.
Pretty sure everybody here has noticed over time how frequently teams play over their heads against better teams and ease off against equal or poorer ones and it’s a bad habit in a WC race.
I’ve certainly noticed it, habfan30 and, judging by our back-and-forth posts the past few days, so has LJ.
The fact that it has been ongoing for years has probably driven many coaches around the bend trying to figure out a way to maintain a consistency of effort and approach.
Ha George!!
Did I not predict only yesterday the Habs were about to embark on a 10 -0 run and roar into the playoffs?! Did I not say I never give up on the Habs?! Did I not say how consistent I have been on them?
I am shocked at your spotty memory!!!
Map out the parade route!
On another note, did you know that fans are not subject to having their urine samples tested for drugs like the players?
LJ. Pretty sure those were my predictions!!!
LOL … unlike the teams we faithfully follow, at least WE fans have consistency (of opinion)
I’m excited about this year. I really am,” Bruins team president Cam Neely said of the 2024-25 campaign back on Sept. 30. “I think Don [Sweeney] and his staff did a fantastic job this off season in identifying needs that we felt we were lacking to go for a deep run in the playoffs. … I think our record has shown that in the regular season. Now it’s just up to us to make it happen in the playoffs.”
Monty is doing a decent job with the Blues, just maybe it wasn’t the coach but it was the players …Great signs Sweeney a # 5-6 Dman & a #3 center now you’re stuck with them
Joe, I’m less critical of Sweeney and I don’t know what Neely actually does when it comes to player signings and those decisions. Maybe Seabass is clouding my judgement of him.
But I know that ownership has never been fans of down to the studs rebuilds. They want to be competitive year in and year out.
And to be fair, they were coming off a season where they had 109 pts to finish 2nd in the Atlantic.
Won a playoff round, and lost in RD 2 in 6 games to eventual Cup champs. IMO they were lucky to win 2 against FLA, as they got outplayed for most of that series, badly.
Many have posted on here that it was a mirage and due to goaltending, fair comment IMO. But, they still have one of the tenders that did that heading into season. He just didn’t play at the same level. Not even close. Not sure how you don’t try to improve coming off those results.
So now we see what they are, with mediocre tending. What do we get from Swayman next year?
This off season will be interesting to see what direction they go. Will the Jacob’s family give Sweeney his marching orders to keep trying to compete, or will they accept missing the playoffs for a few years, minimum, maybe more than a few if they really go full tear down.
Like George’s comments on Staios, what does Sweeney believe? Is it even his call on the direction of this off season?
I think he knows they are a mile away, or he wouldn’t have traded Carlo, an affordable quality, top 4, right shot D-man still young enough for a retool, and by all accounts wasn’t looking to get out of Boston.
We will see this summer.
Ray… last season the Bruins played Defense first it it went a long way to getting the Bruins to the record they had, it was Monty who said you can’t win every game 2-1 … so the Bruins let DeBrusk go with his offense and didn’t replace him or add goal scoring to this team … they got pushed around by the Panthers in the playoffs last season and thought they needed to get bigger and stronger which didn’t work .. they got slower
I don’t know what Neely actually does with the Bruins but he’s was the main reason they ( Bruins ) ran Tyler Seguin out of town
Ray,Joe Sweeneys biggest mistake was being to loyal to his players. Then trading them all at once the same year. These trades should have been made 3-4 years ago and trading one player at a time.He never replaced a center that was in the talent level of a Bergeron,Krecji. Lindholm has been a disaster. They need to find better centers to plug into the lineup than Zacha,Middlestadt,Lindholm,Poitras! You can play Zacha and Middlestadt at wings.
As I said yesterday, Ray, the Habs, Preds and Bruins are just a few teams with needs, cap space, and draft picks available to swing deals. Then there is the always overpriced free agent route.
Someone is going to hit big, but pay big to do so. And even then, look at the Preds signing at the beginning of this year and where it got them.
So Sweeney is just one GM that has a lot of work ahead of him.
Joe, the data suggests the Bruins were not a good defensive team last year either.
So at all strengths, the Bruins were 22nd in scoring chances against last year. This year they are 21st. So basically the same, slight improvement, and below average defensively. Goaltending is the difference.
Basically we don’t score enough and we don’t defend well. That would suggest we aren’t very good.
I don’t think a retool or pursuing UFA’s will get us where we want to be. Sweeney knows the data, better than we do. Not sure the Jacobs family wants to hear it, but we will see. I hope the son listens.
Sr, the B’s overachieved last year, went all in the year before. I would have done exactly the same. Well maybe not Lindholm at C.
Let me know where you think Sweeney will find the better C’s you mention. I think I know where you find the elite ones, top 5 of the draft. Lets hope for continued suck this year, and we get into the top 5 or 6.
The UFA centers are going to want Big $$… they don’t have the talent to trade for a center without trading McAvoy or Pasta … if they hit a top 8 draft pick in this years draft it better be a center and he’s going to have to be ready to play right away
RayBark,Joe, 2 top 6 centers were traded this year. J T Miller and Cozens.I don’t think the return on them was that good. Vancouvers big piece was The Rangers 3rd line center with concussion issues,and Ottawa traded a good but often injured player Norris for Cozens. Swayman might be on the table. His NTC kicks in on July 1.
Sr, Miller had a full NMC so he was choosing where he went and wanted to go back to NY.
I would think the B’s were in on Cozens, how could they not be. Would think that Zacha would have been the offer going the other way, even though Norris is younger and signed for longer. As well as a promising young D man to offset Bernard-Docker. Not sure the B’s had a comparable to him on D. Or a young forward, but again who do the B’s have to tempt Buffalo? Lysell maybe, but he isn’t worth much IMO or he would be in Boston playing. Maybe he finally gets called up now.
Depends whether BUF was stuck on getting a D man back. Regardless, if the B’s were in on Cozens, BUF liked OTT’s offer better.
But you’re right, those are the deals the B’s need to be able to pounce on. They need the young assets to do it, and the cap space as well. They had neither at this year’s trade deadline.
Other C’s that are now performing and were traded; Jack Eichel – needed major surgery – and Dubois who was struggling, a lot. Both were getting big $$ and term so were risky considering their issues. Both paid off so far as well.
Ray, last year on March 31 the Bruins had a record of 43 – 17 – 15 101 249 208 +41
In goals against that ranked them 2nd in the Atlantic back of only Florida (182) and better than Toronto and Buffalo (227 each), Tampa (237), Detroit (247), Montreal (249) and Ottawa (253).
In the Conference it ranked them 4th back of Florida, Carolina (199) and NYR (206).
This season, on March 31, their record is 30 35 9 69 193 244 -51. In the Atlantic that ranks them 6th ahead of only Montreal (246) and Buffalo (261), but back of Tampa (195), Florida (198),Ottawa (209). Toronto (219), and Detroit (232).
In the Conference it puts them 12th.
Joe,
Be careful of that kind of thinking – “it must be a center” – that’s how Kotkaniemi went third OA to Montreal in 2018, and gifted Tkachuk to Ottawa at number four.
With the way things are shaping up, the Senators could finish anywhere from their current 15th to 12th overall in the standings, meaning they’d likely be picking in the 18 – 21 range in the draft. And they must relinquish their 1st round pick either this year or next due to that Dadonov screw-up under Dorion.
Given that they must make their determination within 24 hours of the conclusion of the draft lottery for the year in question, do they postpone the decision to next year in anticipation of having even better results – OR, do it this year just in case they experience a relapse next season?
I’m sure the same conundrum is swirling around in the head of Staios and his decision will go a long way to revealing how he realistically sees the team’s development.
George, if I was Staios, I would go into the draft thinking the team is going to continue to improve, since that is the goal right?
But you’re right the decision will be revealing, I just don’t think he wants to reveal that he doesn’t trust this core to keep improving.
Unless his scouts really don’t like the back half of round 1 in this draft. It is all guessing at this point, but seems like many “draft analysts” aren’t real high on the quality of depth in this years draft.
Another distinct possibility – and depending largely upon them making the playoffs and how they perform down the stretch and in the playoffs – is an off-season trade of a C like Pinto or Greig (+?) and the possibility of it including a 1st round pick coming this way, either this year or next.
George with Ottawa`s draft position like you say being where it is and the fact this years draft is supposed to be on the weaker side. A weaker draft doesn`t necessarily mean that the player you draft won`t be as good as a strong draft. It might also mean it might take a player longer to develop to be as good. Either way the draft pick Ottawa has won`t make a difference for some time. Might be smarter to give up this years pick and maybe sign a couple of undrafted jrs., that`s what those development camps are for
Or like Toronto just did, college free agents, Luke Haymes an Ottawa kid had a good start with the Marlies and it cost Toronto nothing to sign him except one of their 50 contract allotments.
Yep. That route costs nothing of any significance outside of an ELC … as I said the other day , classic “nothing ventured … nothing gained.”
Didn’t the Marlies sign two of those recently?
Toronto signed both to ELC`s for next year then they both signed with the Marlies for the rest of this season and Haymes has gotten off to a good start with the Marlies
Next year’s draft is a deeper draft with better overall players. I would dump the 2025 draft over the ‘26. Plus teams in the development stage that the Sens are currently in, there is a likelihood of regression to consider. Lastly, you can’t do much with that first now other than pick with it or trade it (with limited returns) whereas the 2026 will have more value due to the draft pedigree as well as options such as adding at the trade deadline or an offseason trade. The 2026 pick will give you more options/time to figure out what this team needs now.
I am still in a state of disbelief after reading “The Winnipeg Jets widen their lead in the overall standings”. In September I believed they were a better team than the experts were giving them credit for, however, they have exceeded my expectations in their performance this year. They have been exceptionally consistent and are relying on more than top-notch goaltending to win games.
Hellebyck is on the verge of finishing the year with goalie stats that haven’t been seen in 40 years by leading the league in wins, shutouts, save% and GAA. He should be the front-runner for the Hart.
I plan on watching the Jets closely this week as they play LA and Vegas – two teams that are built from the defense out. Powerful steady d-men on both those teams and representative of playoff hockey. I am watching to see if the Jets can generate scoring chances against them at even strenght. The PP will be fine, there is no 3v3 OT in playoffs so success the Jets had in OT won’t translate to playoffs. Will they get to the net on the first two lines? Will there be secondary scoring?
agree 100% that Hellebuyck should be the front runner for the Hart.
Hope the Jet fans get to experience some playoff success this year. How about an ECF of Jest Vs Oilers!
They are both in the West, Ray. 😏😉
Haha, thanks Johnny.
It also hasn’t hurt, 2.0, that, whereas every other team had scheduled back-to-backs in double-digits, Winnipeg had just 7.
10 (Boston, St.L, Vanc)
11 (Cgy, Dal, Det)
12 (Chic, Col, Clb, Minn, NYI, NJ, SJ, Sea, TB)
13 (Buff, Pha, Vegas, Wash)
14 (Edm, Fla, L.A., NYR, Nash, Ott)
15 (Montreal)
16 (Toronto & Carolina)
Don’t think that doesn’t make a difference in terms of top goalie starts, not to mention injury situations.
Sorry, Winnipeg has had 8 – half that of Toronto and Carolina. Why?
its a little rich to hear an eastern conference fan lecturing a western conference fan about perceived imbalance in the schedule. Every team in the west gets less days off and less practices every year because of travel days required by the league labour agreement. While the sens are icing their bruises teams in the west are getting on a plane to somewhere.
Yes there is some benefit to having less back to back games but there is also benefit in not having to play 8 games in 16 days in different time zones for each game.
Bottom line is that the teams sign off on the schedule they are given every year, if the Jets have an advantage this year good for them. Are there any other excuses the Sens need to make this a successful year?
Who’s making excuses? Get off your high horse. I was simply pointing out a fact when it comes to gruelling back-to-backs.
Bottom line, those teams that had to play 15 or 16 have had a much tougher go of it than a team that had to endure 8. That’s it.
Ok – my mistake, it just sounds like excuses when you say that some teams have had a tougher go of it because of one factor in the schedule. My point is that every team ‘gets scheduled’ every year at some point. overall the balance is there. It is not so simple as looking for back-to-back games, counting them and then saying that the schedule isn’t fair. There are many factors and back to backs aren’t worth complaining about.
Again, who was complaining? I simply pointed out that disparity and suggested it had to have had an ad verse effect on those teams that played most of them as opposed to a team that played comparatively few.
A difference of 4 or 5 points at the end may not seem like much, but is something that might very well factor in for teams like Montreal, NYR or Columbus.
Just gotta say, rooting for your team to lose in order to get a better draft pick, takes most of the fun out of watching Bruin games.
But hey, so far so good!
Ray, it gets easier with time, trust me
LOL! That was a laugh, Habsman.
But it actually doesn’t … : -(
Bruins put Brown and Letteri
on waivers! More Providence boys on the way? Keep the trouts and the tankathon going.Ray the Bruins have 2 , first round picks in the 26 draft which is supposedly much better than this years.
George,
I’d make that trade of a pick for Pinto.
Don’t know what Staios and Hughes would settle on 1st or 2nd rounder but either is fine by me.
Pinto would be the Habs 2C if the trade materialized in my opinion.
I can see something like that happening habfan30. Again, as I say, largely dependent upon how he performs over the rest of the schedule and in the playoffs – if they get there.