NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 14, 2025
The Jets clinch the Presidents’ Trophy, the Blue Jackets and Flames remain alive in the playoff race, Nikita Kucherov is this season’s scoring champion and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets clinched the Presidents’ Trophy despite a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. It’s the first time in franchise history the Jets have won this award, sitting atop the overall standings with 114 points.
Corey Perry had a goal and an assist and Connor McDavid collected two assists for the Oilers, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 99 points. They will face the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round of the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Alex Iafallo scored for the Jets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the Jets for winning their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy. They will attempt to become the first team since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks to finish first overall and go on to win the Stanley Cup when the 2025 playoffs begin on Saturday.
Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg left this game after being struck on the left knee by a shot from McDavid. Jets coach Scott Arniel later said that he thinks Samberg will be okay. Meanwhile, the Jets are awaiting word on the status of winger Nikolaj Ehlers after suffering a foot injury against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.
The Jets clinched because the Washington Capitals (109 points) lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Adam Fantilli scored two goals while Jet Greaves made 29 saves in his second straight start in as many days for the Jackets (85 points), who kept their playoff hopes alive by sitting three behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 43rd goal of the season and the 896th of his NHL career as his club will finish the season in first place in the Eastern Conference.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets and Canadiens each have two games left. The latter can clinch that final wild card with a win in regulation, overtime or shootout against the Blackhawks on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames avoided elimination with a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Yegor Sharangovich tallied twice and Dustin Wolf stopped 28 shots for the Flames (92 points), who sit two behind the St. Louis Blues for the final Western Conference wild-card spot with a game in hand. Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who are assured the best odds to win the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with the worst record in the league. The lottery is expected to be on May 5 or 6.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flames, Blues and Minnesota Wild play on Tuesday, with the latter two having played 81 games each. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Wild (95 points) need a point against the Anaheim Ducks to clinch a berth. The Blues (94 points) need a regulation win against the Utah Hockey Club to clinch. Calgary must defeat the Vegas Golden Knights and “get help”.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov will win the Art Ross Trophy as his club defeated the Buffalo Sabres 7-4. Kucherov scored two goals and added an assist, Jake Guentzel tallied twice, and Brandon Hagel had three assists for the Lighting, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 100 points. Rasmus Dahlin picked up two assists for the Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 119 points, Kucherov will become the scoring champion for the second straight season and the third time since 2018-19. Nathan MacKinnon (116 points) finished second for the second consecutive year as his club’s regular-season schedule ended on Sunday. Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (106 points) sits third and Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (104) is fourth.
Speaking of the Lightning, they called up Conor Geekie with Oliver Bjorkstrand listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Sabres defenseman Owen Power missed this game with a lower-body injury and he’s not expected to play in their remaining two games.
The Colorado Avalanche scored four unanswered third-period goals to double up the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Charlie Coyle had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche, who finished the season third in the Central Division with 102 points. Mason McTavish scored his 22nd goal for the Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche rested several key players during their final two games. Nathan MacKinnon is dealing with a minor undisclosed ailment while Ryan Lindgren, Jonathan Drouin and Josh Manson are nursing injuries. Cale Makar and Ross Colton also didn’t travel with the Avs on their final road trip of the regular season.
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored his 399th NHL regular-season goal in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Morgan Rielly collected three assists as the Leafs hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 104 points. Sebastian Aho replied for the Hurricanes, who are second in the Metropolitan Division with 99 points.
An overtime goal by Tim Stutzle lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3. Stutzle finished the game with two goals and an assist for the Senators, who hold the first Easter wild card with 94 points. Garnet Hathaway had a goal and an assist for the Flyers.
New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin turned in a 25-save shutout in a 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils. Bo Horvat scored for the Islanders. The Devils sit third in the Metro Division with 89 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Paul Cotter has a hearing scheduled on Monday with the NHL department of player safety for an illegal check on Isles defenseman Adam Pelech.
The Boston Bruins beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1. Morgan Geekie scored for the fifth straight game while David Pastrnak collected two assists to extend his multi-point streak to five games. Rickard Rakell scored his 35th goal of the season for Pittsburgh.
IN OTHER NEWS…
NEW YORK POST: Calvin de Haan isn’t happy with how the Rangers managed his playing time. Acquired at the trade deadline, he was a healthy scratch for the past 18 games.
When asked how he’s been treated by the Rangers during an optional practice on Sunday, de Haan didn’t mince words. “It’s f**ked,” he replied.
The Rangers informed the media that de Haan would speak with them at the end of the season. He took to social media to explain the situation, saying his brief remark was based in frustration over his lack of playing time. He also said he would’ve preferred a media scrum setting to chat about how his time with the Rangers has gone.
THE PROVINCE: Derek Forbort suffered a fractured orbital bone following a late punch by Minnesota Wild forward Yakov Trenin to the face of the Vancouver Canucks blueliner when he was lying defenseless on the ice following a fight between the two players on Saturday. Trenin will not face supplemental discipline.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom will miss their final three games of this season with an undisclosed injury.
TSN: The Minnesota Wild signed prospect defenseman Zeev Buium to a three-year entry-level contract. He was selected 12th overall by the Wild in last year’s draft.
Great to see both East and West having meaningful games right down to the wire – both with a playoff position at stake and towards draft positions.
Of the 6 games tonight, 5 of them could impact draft positions while Chicago at Montreal could finalize the playoff structure in the East if the Habs (88 points) win, as that would eliminate Columbus (85 points). But they’d better not take anything for granted against the Hawks because, should they lose and Columbus wins in Philadelphia tomorrow, it’s a 1 point margin and Montreal finishes at home Wednesday against Carolina while the Blue Jackets are at home Thursday in their finale against the NYI.
The big night in the West is tomorrow when both Minnesota (95 points) and St. Louis (94 points) play their final games – the Wild at home to Anaheim and the Blues hosting Utah – while Calgary is at home to Vegas. Wins by the Wild and Blues eliminate the Flames, regardless of what they do against the Golden Knights. But if, say, Utah be ats St. Louis and the Flames win, St. Louis and Calgary are tied at 94 points, and although the Blues would still hold the 2nd WC spot by virtue of wins, Calgary could eliminate them with a win or OT/SO loss Wednesday in L.A.
Nail-biting and scoreboard-watching time among several fan bases. Can’t ask for anything better.
Meanwhile, for the first time in NHL history, the playoffs will not feature any of the 4 U.S.-based “original six” teams as Chicago, Boston, Detroit and NYR are all off to the golf courses.
Did you guys see McKennas shortie last night?
Holy moly, what a creative kid.
That had a couple of defenders deked out of their shorts, all right.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIaJgqKx2Ro/
de Haan has watched a terrible defensive system Rangers rollout other D that no one wanted
de Haan looked good in his brief Ranger ice time compared to EVERY other left handed dman not named Jones(who sits too)…… he at least can make an outlet pass….
Obviously a long way to go but Matthews is just about exactly where OV was when he got his 400th.
Except Ovechkin isn’t finished. Turning 40 in September, he has 43 goals this season, and will be back next season for the final year of his contract. Who knows after that if he’s still productive and enjoys playing the game.
Matthews, turning 28 in September, has 31 goals this season.
Sorry George, didn’t mean he was going to do it obviously, just saying Matthews is almost exactly the ssame amount of games as OV to hit 400. It’s only the 5th or 6th fastest to that point so obviously it gets harder the further you go. I’m a Leafs fan and although Matthews is still having a great year there seems to be some pretty consistent issues, his shot isn’t what it was and he’s had issues several times. OV is a workhorse, his scoring pace even now is ridiculous.
I know tb – wasn’t implying that – I just wanted to emphasize that the final target could be a lot closer to 1,000 before he retires.
Given that both are prolific goal scorers, perhaps the biggest difference I see between the two is in the physical aspects of the game – Ovie has often created his own space with crushing bodychecks, and he’s a virtual tank out there. That does not describe Matthews in any way. However, don’t give him room in the slot because, most of the time, if he gets the puck there it’s in your net.
Both exciting scorers in their own way.
If you are you comparing both players at the same time in their careers, they are more similar than not. We have had the luxury of seeing Ov’s career so its pretty easy for one to have your take especially since with AM is a very distant long shot he can do it, sort of similar to what most believed about Ov. The bottom line is something you mentioned before, it longevity and the ability to play. They both can shoot it in the net it will come down to how many games will AM be playing total. If AM is still playing at the same age as Ov has, I’d bet he either beat him or be close enough to have the hockey world buzzing. I hoping he does and would be fitting an American doing it the next round.
Matthews is well ahead of Ovie at this point of his career. The big question is can Matthews continue the pace and can Matthews produce the entire approximately 1450 games that will be needed and you have to remember Ovie`s not finished. He still has 1 more year on this contract to which he`s said he plans on honoring.
Another little tidbit, another first for the NHL. First time the 4 original 6 American teams have missed the playoffs the same year. Impossible before expansion, but still took 58 years to happen