NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 28, 2025
The Penguins part ways with head coach Mike Sullivan, Oilers and Blues tied their playoff series while the Capitals and Hurricanes took stranglehold leads in their respective postseason rounds. Check out the recaps and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
**BREAKING NEWS**
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas announced this morning that the club and head coach Mike Sullivan have agreed to part ways. Sullivan took over as head coach in December 2015. He guided them to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sullivan had a year remaining on his contract and had intended to honor it. It’ll be interesting to learn what brought about this development and where Sullivan’s next coaching job will be. It’s rumored the New York Rangers could be interested if he became available.
NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl scored his first NHL playoff overtime goal as his club overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in Game 4 of their opening-round series, tying it at two games apiece.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (NHL Images).
The Kings opened a 2-0 lead on goals by Trevor Moore and Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala made it 3-1 after Corey Perry got Edmonton on the board. Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard scored two unanswered third-period goals to set the stage for Draisaitl’s OT winner. Calvin Pickard made 38 saves for the Oilers while Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped 44 shots.
Game 5 of this best-of-seven series is Tuesday, Apr. 29, at 10 pm ET in Los Angeles.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bouchard has been clutch for the Oilers in this series. The puck-moving blueliner had three assists in Game 1 as the Oilers’ rally fell short in a 6-5 loss. He also scored twice (including the winning goal) in Game 3.
The St. Louis Blues scored three unanswered second-period goals en route to a 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of their first-round series, tying it at two games apiece.
Jake Neighbours led the way with a goal and two assists and goaltender Jordan Binnington kicked out 30 shots for the Blues. Kyle Connor scored for the Jets, who replaced Connor Hellebuyck with Eric Comrie early in the third period after Hellebuyck gave up five goals on 18 shots.
Game 5 of this series returns to Winnipeg on Wednesday, Apr. 30, at 9:30 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the second straight game Hellebuyck gave up five goals. Jets followers are worried that the two-time Vezina Trophy winner could suffer another meltdown like last year against the Colorado Avalanche and in 2023 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Blues are getting plenty of production from their defensemen in this series. Cam Fowler picked up an assist in Game 5 for his team-leading eighth point. Colton Parayko had two assists and Justin Faulk scored, giving them three points each in four games.
Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker left this game after injuring his right leg (knee?) in the second period. There was no immediate postgame update, but he could miss the remainder of this series.
Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov scored his second NHL playoff hat trick to lead his club over the New Jersey Devils 5-2 in Game 4 of their first-round series.
Jaccob Slavin and Brent Burns also scored for the Hurricanes, who took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Nico Hischier and Timo Meier replied for the Devils.
The Hurricanes can wrap this up in Game 4 on home ice in Raleigh on Tuesday, starting at 7:30 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Svechnikov is the only player in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history to score hat tricks in the postseason.
Canes goaltender Frederik Andersen left this game in the second period with an undisclosed injury following a collision with Meier. He was replaced by Pyotr Kochetkov, who stopped 14 of 15 shots. Andersen will be evaluated on Monday and an update on his status should soon follow.
The Washington Capitals scored four unanswered third-period goals (two of them empty-netters) for a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of their series.
Andrew Mangiapane snapped a 2-2 tie for Washington with 3:37 remaining in the third period. Forward Brandon Duhaime tallied twice for the Capitals. Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield scored on the power play for the Canadiens while rookies Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov each collected two assists.
The series returns to Washington for Game 5 with the Capitals holding a 3-1 lead. They can wrap it up on Wednesday starting at 7 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals forward Tom Wilson’s physical play made the difference in this contest. His thunderous (but clean) bodycheck on Montreal defenseman Alexandre Carrier in the third period resulted in a turnover that led to Duhaime’s tying goal. It also knocked Carrier out of the game with an undisclosed injury, leaving the Canadiens without their best all-around defenseman at a critical juncture in the game.
Capitals starting goaltender Logan Thompson returned to action in this contest after an injury forced him to leave Game 3 in the third period. Canadiens starter Sam Montembeault remained sidelined by a lower-body injury suffered in Game 3 and is considered day-to-day. Jakub Dobes took his place in Game 4, stopping 21 shots.
One bright spot for the Canadiens was the performance of their top power-play unit of Slafkovsky, Hutson, Demidov, Caufield and Nick Suzuki. Those young guns continue to give their fans a tantalizing glimpse at a promising future for this club.
Go Daddy Firewall……
That is what I get on my other computer when attempting to read Rumours.
If you don’t want me to read send me an email.
You have it on my post.
I’m not blocking you, nor am I seeing the same issue. I’ve check my settings and everything is working fine. Are you able to read the rumors on one of your computers but not the other?
Send me a screenshot of the issue to spectorshockey@gmail.com.
Lifelong Leaf fan here but any playoff season these days needs the Oilers in it. Here’s hoping they keep it rolling.
Ya, it is exciting hockey BCLeaf Fan.
Oilers still giving up to many chances to my liking, mostly from bad turnovers, but they are generating even more than they are giving up. Especially the high danger variety.
Kuemper gave up 4 last night, but actually played really well.
Bouchard is an enigma. He makes another mistake that led to a goal leaving his partner out to dry. And then pumps in 2 in the 3rd.
Can the Oilers outscore their mistakes is the question. Thant hasn’t worked since the 80’s and the Oiler teams from that era. So methinks they will need to tighten it up if they want to make another run to the finals. They did it last year, different team this year.
That and start better, can’t expect to keep making the 3rd period comebacks.
Penguins and head coach Mike Sullivan agreed to part ways.
Pretty hard for Sullivan NOT to agree if Dubas told him he would not be back regardless.
I`m wondering if Keefe steps down in NJ in a few days, it wouldn`t surprise me. Dubas loves his yes men
George O..My understanding was Sully had some demands non negotiables which Dubas didn’t agree with.
Hello New York Rangers for Sullivan.
Tochett or Karyle heading to Pittsburgh !
Sully is a great coach and while Dubas has done a solid jobs with picks, prospects and some trades…he has failed to build a decent defense corp…awful
Good Lord Bouchard is going to get paid this summer. IMO he lands at 10.5 AAV on an 8 year deal.
Brian, this season Oiler fans would have said don’t pay it as he struggled repeatedly with bad turnovers and a lack of urgency when defending. Especially after his own mistakes. He has been a lightning rod this year, and kind of deserved it.
But he puts up points. And does it in the playoffs, he did last year too.
But he is also getting major minutes with McDavid on the ice, as it plays to his strengths, and part of a loaded PP. I know that they call the D at the top of the umbrella the PP QB, but that PP runs through McDavid. So are his stats padded? He can shoot it and make some great passes, but he takes careless chances at the wrong spot on the ice.
They could 2 year bridge him, but that takes him to UFA. So risky.
I dunno, tough call. You could call him “elite” offensively, the numbers justify it. But it would also be fair to call him below average defensively. But that is harder to quantify with data, especially in arbitration, which could happen.
Get him for $9.5??
I think your right he gets $10.5, and Oiler fans will complain about it for 8 years.
Maybe, Ray. But then maybe the Oilers’ brass sits down and looks at what 10 million gets them in other assets. Not been watching the Oil, but it occurred to me that whatever they do in the off season has to increase their depth.
McDavid and Draisatl are still “in their window” for winning a Cup but one surely has to ask how many more shots they get before it slides away,
Be an interesting summer for a lot of teams …
Gotta pay Bouchard. Lock him up 5 plus seasons.
Further….the Oilers committed to Bouchard long term when they let Broberg go to Stl.
1Oilerfan, I don’t think they made a conscious decision to let Broberg go and commit to Bouchard, more like they left themselves exposed and it burned them. Also not knowing if Kane would be back in season, which he wasn’t, tied their hands. They could have matched Broberg and Holloway as they had the Ceci deal in their pocket.
They should offer sheet ex Oil King Neighbors.
LJ, ya they could use the money somewhere else, but when you look at pending UFA RD’s, the cupboard is pretty empty. Which leaves a trade. Which IMO means trade Bouchard for another more defensively conscious RD. Or a larger deal, which is even more rare. Like who?
What is a comparable that is available and a team that would do it? Not like shopping at Canadian Tire as there isn’t available inventory.
Won’t be easy, which is why most teams keep their guys.
Scratch that Neighbors part, he signed an extension already.
Ray I tend to agree with you on this. IMO that Chycrun contract is a very solid comparable, however Bouchards agent simply has to point to the contract given to Nurse. If the Oil can get him at 9.5, that would be a win. As a Blues fan, the minute they let Broberg go, I thought they are going to be in a rough spot with the Bouchard contract negotiation. Totally understood the Broberg decission, still have zero idea why they let Holloway go……
All good points Brian, and ya it is similar to the Nurse situation in that they couldn’t afford to lose him. Tough to criticize Holland for that as the Klefbom injury and retirement because of them put them in that spot on the left side. Can’t control that.
I don’t understand not matching Holloway either. Don’t get it, at all. He wasn’t scoring like he is now, but we could all see the potential with him.
I also have to think Holland doesn’t sign both Skinner and Arvidsson until he had the Broberg and Holloway deals done. Too experienced to expose the Oilers like that.
But hey it’s done, my Bruins are in the tank, so go Oilers. When they turn it on these playoffs it’s something to see. Dominant. So just maybe they get it going and start rolling a bit?
Might want to get a faster start next game. The Kings might be thinking what could have been or at least WTF? Tough way to lose a couple games, and they almost blew game 1 too.
Re Sully ousted? (agreed to part ways???)
This is very good for Pens and Pens fans.
Sully did a great job for years but literally lost his way over the last 3 years:
–roster choices [who sits in box as well as 23 chosen at beginning of year);
–line-up changes not warranted and line-up changes necessary, ignored;
–hyperactive and spasmodic line combo and D pairing changes in almost every game; mostly to the detriment of the club
–TOI choices: this he failed at miserably these last 3 years. Sit a player who is detrimental, don’t increase his minutes.
Best choice as a coach (again I realize past behaviour but has apologized, has “sat on the sidelines” and Bowman has already had a job all of 24/25!!!)– Quenville
Best available coach not with suspension baggage over his head: Gallant
Either of those, with prudent moves over the summer; and Pens back in playoffs this year.
Tochett would also work well
I would not make Quinn the Head Coach. He demonstrated equally bad decisions (to Sully, see above ) with the D pairings, and special teams’ line ups.
Move Hayes and Accairi for whatever it takes; and don’t re-up Gryzylcyck or Nieto
re-up all current RFAs
Retain 50% more on Karlsson for a return of a young NHLer with term and prospect
Do the same (as Karlsson) for 1 one of Rackell or Rust for similar return
Bring up : Pickering, Koivenen, Poulin, Howe
Make an offer sheet or two
sign no UFAs over 28, under 6′, under 195
Above with Quenville or Gallant or Tochett behind the bench; and Pens are in the playoffs in 2026
Just sparing changes to line-up in off-season and Quinn or Carle or similar behind the bench; and Pens will finish likely worse than this year.
Dude. No. Apologizing for turning your head to rape. Rape. In the name of winning a sport. Yes a multimillion dollar sport. But a sport. What if he was the coach of one of your ungodly amount of twins? Would you accept an apology? Would that be enough so long as a team you root for wins? Sandusky taught this state a horrible lesson. How could you champion another?
Really well said Chrisms.
Folks talk about second chances, and I agree very often. But some things are more serious that others, and I put this situation on the way more serious list.
Coach Q made his money, lots of it, he doesn’t need a job to survive. Coaching in the NHL isn’t a right, it’s a privilege. How about he at least starts in the minors if he loves coaching so much.
Hey, he did his time/suspension, too short IMO, and same story for Bowman. Should have been longer for him too.
The NHL lifted it so go ahead I guess, but if it was my team, no way in hell I am bringing him in.
The people in the Sandusky case who turned their heads to it also should have paid a bigger price. A specific congressman comes to mind.
Yup. Well said Ray.
Gawd, man, this sort of beer pub fantasy league crap – (just do this … just do that … get rid of the slugs for young good prospects with term … sign this coach … bench players) … if it were THAT easy teams could pick GMs/coaches off the street and pay them minimum wage. Give – it – a -rest, PLEASE.
George I agree with you on too much this and that from 8787 but the Penguins fix is easy. The Capitals did it and they were crap last year.
you have $26 million in cap space use it wisely. A couple UFAs that are available…get a goalie that’s it
yes we missed the playoffs three years in a row three years ago 1 point 3 3 years ago this year like 8 9\\doable.
But isn’t this site for that very thing George?
Howe torn ACL out all year. 9 month recovery
Your point is well taken Chrisms
From what I’ve read about it; I actually hold Bowman more accountable
Was it not Bowman that turned a blind eye and hushed it up; and Quenville only found out about it far down the road?
If I have that wrong; I humbly apologize
I in no way take rape lightly
Not sure how this post ended up here
Was responding to Chrisms
Smile like a butcher’s dog. It is a great day for hockey.
Congratulations and good riddance to Mike Sullivan. Not effectively coaching a team to win with regressions over seven seasons have consequences. Sullivan will coach again. He will need to do better wherever he goes.
The Penguins are ready to win again with the right coach committed to winning and hoisting the Stanley Cup. Bruce Boudreau, Peter Laviolette, or RIck Tocchett (if available) would be great hires.