NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 8, 2025
The Jets set a franchise record for wins while ending the Blues’ franchise-record win streak, Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov reaches a significant milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets collected their franchise-record 53rd single-season victory by beating the St. Louis Blues 3-1, ending the latter’s franchise-record win streak at 12 games. Morgan Barron, Alex Iafallo and Adam Lowry scored for the Jets (110 points), opening a three-point lead over the Washington Capitals for first place in the overall standings. Pavel Buchnevich replied for the Blues, who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 93 points.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two assists in his club’s 5-1 win over the New York Rangers. Brayden Point scored twice and set up another and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 38 saves as the Lightning (96 points) sit two points behind the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division. The Rangers (79 points) remain six points back of the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 115 points, Kucherov is tied for first place in the scoring race with Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon. He also collected his 80th assist, joining Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey and Bobby Orr as the only players in NHL history to accomplish that feat in at least three consecutive seasons.
The Calgary Flames kept their playoff hopes alive by nipping the San Jose Sharks 3-2. Dustin Wolf stopped 29 shots while Adam Klapka, Jonathan Huberdeau and Matt Coronato scored for the Flames, who sit four points behind the Minnesota Wild for the final Western wild card with 87 points. Sharks rookie Will Smith scored twice and teammate Macklin Celebrini set the rookie franchise record for assists with 36.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: San Jose winger Tyler Toffoli missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The Sharks also announced defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin’s upper-body injury will sideline him for the remainder of the regular season.
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal kicked out 45 shots in a 3-2 upset win over the injury-depleted Edmonton Oilers. Cutter Gauthier tallied twice for the Ducks. Adam Henrique and Jeff Skinner replied for the Oilers (93 points), who remain four points behind the Los Angeles Kings in third place in the Pacific Division.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers forward Trent Frederic’s return from an ankle injury was short-lived. He missed this game after aggravating that injury during Saturday’s loss to the Kings.
Speaking of the Kings, they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Seattle Kraken. Matty Beniers and Brandon Montour scored and Joey Daccord turned aside 28 shots for the win. Quinton Byfield tallied his 20th of the season for the Kings.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings defenseman Drew Doughty was given time off from this game as he rests his surgically repaired ankle. Teammate Adrian Kempe left this game in the third period to attend to a personal matter. Forward Tanner Jeannot missed this contest with an undisclosed injury and is listed as week-to-week.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas are the league’s three stars for the week ending April 6, 2025.
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers have a growing list of injured players. Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Niko Sturm, Dmitry Kulikov and Gustav Forsling are sidelined, and the club could rest some of them for several games to ensure they’ll be fully healthy for the coming playoffs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers have already clinched a playoff berth so they have the luxury of giving some of these players an extra game or two to rest up over their remaining five games in the schedule.
It’s given rise to a silly conspiracy theory that they’re sandbagging the rest of the season to drop further in the standings, ensuring they draw the Toronto Maple Leafs as their first-round opponent.
If the playoffs started now, the Panthers would face the Lightning in the opening round. The theory suggests they prefer meeting the Leafs because they’re an easier opponent.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of playoff-bound teams with injury-ravaged rosters, the Avalanche hope to have sidelined defenseman Josh Manson and Samuel Girard and forwards Martin Necas and Jonathan Drouin back in the lineup later this week.
DAILY FACEOFF: Utah Hockey Club blueliner John Marino is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
TSN: The NHL and NHL Players’ Association continue their collective bargaining agreement negotiations this week in New York City. CBA talks between the two sides began last week. The current agreement expires in September 2026.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: League commissioner Gary Bettman hopes to get a new CBA in place as soon as possible, perhaps by the 2025 NHL Draft in late June. The recent relationship between the NHL and NHLPA lacks the rancor and mistrust that hampered previous CBA negotiations.
THE ATHLETIC: Meredith Gaudreau gave birth to her and late husband Johnny Gaudreau’s third child (a boy named Carter Michael Gaudreau) on April 1. Carter’s middle name is the same as his father’s.
Johnny and his brother Matthew were killed by an alleged drunk driver last August. The alleged driver faces charges including reckless vehicular homicide, aggravated manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My thoughts go out to the Gaudreau family. Here’s hoping Carter has a long and happy life.
TSN: Long-time NHL goaltender and broadcaster Greg Millen died on Monday at age 67. The cause of death was not revealed.
Millen spent 14 seasons as an NHL goaltender from 1978-79 to 1991-92 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. He played in 604 games, making 582 starts with a 3.88 goals-against average and a save percentage of .873.
Following his playing career, Millen went on to a long broadcasting career mostly with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and the NHL on Sportsnet.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Millen’s family, friends, teammates and broadcasting colleagues.
Condolences out to the Millen family.
RIP Greg
One of my all-time favorite Goalies, and one of my all-time favorite Whalers. He was a bright spot on some terrible teams back then. It’s a sad day.
Nice tribute article on Millen
https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/greg-millen-loved-life-and-laughs
Byfield goal was quite a feet
Getting a one handed double tip goal WHILE holding his opponents stick (not pushing it away, but actually holding it) with the other (and not being called)
Beautiful goal but really should have been a Byfield penalty
BTW, Rangers, START WINNING!!!
I’m fine with the Rangers not winning.
Same!
I only need them winning to get to 19th (no higher) in league
That gives Pens their 14th overall pick (pic is top 13 protected)
There’s a lot of that “goal that should have been a penalty” stuff going around.
Last Saturday night in the Habs Flyers game, just before Foerster scored to make it 3-2, he pitchforked Evans stick out of his hands. Once again the incompetent refs didn’t bother to call it.
Evans should know better. It’s hockey 101 that active sticks get attacked on the PK and Evans should have had a firm enough grip on his stick that it broke if that much force was applied to it. I have never seen that called even in my OT league. And ya, it happened to me. Ref laughed in my face when I complained and told me to hold on to my stick. Glad it did not impact the win.
It’s going to be interesting to see how the Senators approach this game tonight in Columbus. A win there and they lock up a playoff appearance after 7 years on the outside looking in, so the motivation is certainly there.
However, the Blue Jackets are not yet mathematically eliminated and, being among the top teams at home in terms of points % – a sparkling .662 – you know they are not about to roll over and play dead like an obedient puppy. They will be a handful. And in the face of that, the Senators might adopt the attitude “oh well, the rest of our games are at home … we’ll simply lock it up there.” Which could backfire with the Habs breathing down their necks and playing here on Friday in a first of a back-to-back (Montreal is in Toronto on Saturday).
And speaking of the Habs, they too host a team tonight desperate to hang in the race, the Red Wings who also won’t just toss in the towel.
Two interesting match-ups to watch closely.
Can’t forget about the Bruins needing a big loss tonight to solidify their 4th from last place position.
Exciting times!
Keep Pasternak in the locker room once he reaches 100 pts.
Of course, there’s also the possibility that Ottawa wins and Detroit wins, in which case
Ottawa clinches with 92 pts – 4 games left
Montreal remains at 85 pts with 4 games left
Detroit gets to within 4 of Montreal – 5 games left
Columbus stays at 77 pts – 5 games left
it won’t happen but nothing would please me more than montreal fans crying about missing the playoffs, Lane not winning rookie of the year either
If that is so, Dark G, you have a sad life.
One of the things I’ve learned on this site is the benefit of appreciating other teams’ players. Not appreciating Hutson’s ability to play at such a high level with such a small body and win puck battles with bigger players by smarts is your loss.
And I don’t think you will find any Habs fans would would be crying about missing the playoffs. Given where they are now that would be a disappointment.
But a mild one, given that not long ago they were nowhere near the playoffs in a year no one expected them to contend.
Wow I just checked , I can’t believe Bruins have dipped this far in the standings ..
Yes, I am a Leaf fan , but always have been passionate with the Bruins
Only SAN Jose , Chicago , Nashville are lower in the standings than the Bruins , Phillie is tied, with a gene in hand
This should allow the Bruins to draft Porter Morton’s – a true Bruin , inside and out ! A tough , rugged forward that can score ..
Now all they have to is figure out a way to trade for another pick in the mid – 1st round and draft Kashawn Aitcheson – defenseman , tough and can score
I read in a previous brief here , how the Bruins will have 21 million cap space to tweak their lineup and be contenders again !
It’s. it going to happen – Bruins don’t have the foundation , prospect as the Capitols and Blues to go that route .
Ken, if they pick 4th, I will be shocked if they don’t take a C. Haggens or Frolund and if a bit later McQueen.
They have so many offensive holes to fill I hope they take the best offensive forward. I know they need a center but if the Martone kid is around I would not shy away from taking him.Sweeney couldn’t t possibly miss on this one? Could he?
@Bark
Frolund is a Swede .., pretty to watch – cheap thrill
McQueen is fine , A centre , no where near the upside as Mortone
Mortone is a 18 yr old captain is a bruising , in your face player , with elite stats
Haggens is a Boston kid , small , skilled , rated at 2 – I think – hopefully goes before Boston’s pick is available
Mortone is money in the bank – A complete , all around player , A can’t miss prospect !!!
Sure thing Ken Cherry, so Hedman is a cheap thrill?
I typed Frolund vs Frondell, so there ya go.
I take the C all day, don’t care where they are from unless the W is a special player. Not the case on Martone IMO. Good, obviously, not that much better, if better at all.
Frondell was battling injuries, now healthy, and now playing great, against men as a 17 yr old.
@Bark
U R drafting position vs overall hockey perspective
U can call me Ken Cherry , or whatever U like
When it comes to the draft – can be unpredictable , but Mortone is a player to build around , a complete – 5 hole player
I have studied the draft , been passionate with it for many years !!!
McQueen interests me farther more than Frolund ..
Pastranak may want to play for a contender , not go through the growing pains , Bruins may consider something of this magnitude and seek another high 1st rounder —/ much, much more , as in a major haul for example Buffalo – who craves players that can play now
Like , I say for Bruins to just tweak their lineup , will only put them in neutral mode , not contending mode …
Mortone will prove my accuracy , skill level – analyzing JR talent in rapid fashion – 2 years
Your skill level analyzing JR talent is obviously amazing Ken, I shouldn’t have questioned you. Must take a lot of time flying around the world to watch these players. I just read scouting reports of guys who do.
Frondell was ranked top 3 to start the year, even 2nd in some, behind Haggens, battled injuries, struggled adjusting to pro game, got healthy got hot, (15 pts in last 10) showing the player he is.
I don’t concede that Martone is a better player, so not just drafting for position Ken. Martone developed physically at an early age, that advantage, against teenagers who haven’t, goes away in 3-4 years.
Even if it’s close, take the C who is producing against grown men. Not like Frondell is a little guy either.
Hey maybe both will be gone by the time the B’s pick.
McQueen is a centre – great upside
McQueen has suffered some kind of injury and had been projected to go higher in the draft
I am not aware of Frondell’s injuries …
Bruins can figure out a way to get both Mortone and McQueen , Kashawn Aitcheson – later in the first round of the draft .
A very difficult task