NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 9, 2025
The Senators clinch their first playoff berth since 2017, the Capitals clinch the Metropolitan Division, the Canucks stage a history-making comeback, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators clinched their first playoff berth since 2016-17 despite a 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Fabian Zetterlund and Thomas Chabot scored for the Senators, who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 90 points. Kent Johnson, Justin Danforth and Mathieu Olivier each had two points for the Blues Jackets (79 points), who sit eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern wild card.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to the Senators for ending their long playoff drought. The past several years have seen them go through an ownership change and a painful, at times fitful rebuilding process.
Speaking of the Canadiens, they moved a step closer to clinching the final Easter wild-card spot by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. Sam Montembault made 35 saves (including 22 in the first period) while Nick Suzuki, Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher each had a goal and an assist as the Canadiens (87 points) picked up their sixth straight win to sit eight points above the Red Wings, Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and New York Islanders.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montreal’s win assured the Senators of a playoff berth. It was the Canadiens’ sixth game in nine days, making their current win streak more impressive. The Wings, Jackets, Rangers and Isles all have a game in hand but the Habs need three points in their remaining four games to punch their ticket to the postseason.
Earlier in the day, the Canadiens signed highly-touted prospect Ivan Demidov to a three-year entry-level contract hours after he was released from his KHL deal. Demidov could be in the Canadiens’ lineup as early as Friday when they face the Senators. The way Demidov’s contract is structured, the first year will be used up regardless of the number of games played. He can also return to his KHL team next season if he fails to secure a roster spot with the Canadiens.
Buffalo Sabres goaltender James Reimer made 33 saves to shut out the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0, handing the latter their third straight loss. Tage Thompson scored his 44th goal for the Sabres, who were officially eliminated from the playoffs for the 14th straight season. The Hurricanes remain second in the Metropolitan Division with 96 points. Their loss to the Sabres ensured the idle Washington Capitals clinched the division crown.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi missed this game with an undisclosed injury and is expected to be out for at least a week.
The Vancouver Canucks staged a history-making comeback against the Dallas Stars with three goals within the final minute of the third period before winning the game 6-5 on an overtime goal by Kiefer Sherwood. Pius Suter scored two of those last-minute goals and Conor Garland collected three assists for the Canucks (85 points), who staved off elimination from the Western Conference wild-card race. Mikael Granlund had a goal and two assists for the Stars, who sit second in the Central Division with 106 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks are the first team in NHL history to erase a three-goal deficit in the final minute of regulation. They are six points behind the Minnesota Wild in the Western wild-card race.
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists in a 7-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Pastrnak reached the 100-point plateau for the third straight season with 16 points in his last seven games. The Devils hold third place in the Metro Division with 89 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a history-making performance for Pastrnak, joining Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito as the only Bruins to record three straight 100-point seasons. He’s also the first Czech-born NHL player to do so. Jaromir Jagr had five 100-plus point campaigns but never did it in three consecutive seasons.
Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton has been sidelined since March 4 with a lower-body injury. He’s skating on his own and could return to the lineup for the first round of the playoffs.
Third-period goals by Eetu Luostarinen and Carter Verhaeghe lifted the Florida Panthers over the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1. John Tavares scored his 37th goal of the season for the Leafs, who remain first in the Atlantic Division with 98 points. The Panthers sit four points behind the Leafs in third place.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: So much for the silly conspiracy theory that the Panthers were sandbagging the rest of their schedule to finish lower in the standings to ensure they face the Leafs in the first round. Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart and Gustav Forsling returned to the injury-ravaged Panthers lineup for this game.
The Colorado Avalanche overcame a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Third-period goals by Valeri Nichushkin and Jimmy Vesey set the stage for Charlie Coyle’s game-winner in the shootout. With 100 points, the Avalanche sit third in the Central Division. William Karlsson and Brayden McNabb scored for the Golden Knights, who sit first in the Pacific Division with 103 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nathan MacKinnon picked up an assist for his 116th point, moving one ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov into first place in the scoring race. He also has 1,015 points in 870 regular-season games, tying him with Joe Sakic for the Denver-based Avalanche scoring record. Sakick also reached that milestone in 870 games.
Golden Knights center Jack Eichel missed this game with an upper-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson scored his 200th goal as his club blanked the Chicago Blackhawks 5-0. Tristan Jarry turned in a 26-save shutout and Kevin Hayes collected two goals for the Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pittsburgh rookie Rutger McGroarty left this game in the second period with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot by Blackhawks center Connor Bedard. Penguins forward Blake Lizotte missed this contest with an undisclosed injury.
The Nashville Predators nipped the New York Islanders 7-6 on an overtime goal by Fedor Svechkov. Steven Stamkos and Michael Bunting scored late in the third period to set the stage for Svechkov’s game-winner. Simon Holmstrom scored twice and set up two others for the Islanders, who sit eight points behind the Canadiens in the Eastern wild-card chase.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders starting goalie Ilya Sorokin missed the third period for precautionary reasons with an upper-body injury. Head coach Patrick Roy said Sorokin should be ok but they didn’t want to take any chances.
The Utah Hockey Club defeated the Seattle Kraken 7-1, setting a franchise record for the most goals in one game since moving to Utah. Dylan Guenther and Mikhail Sergachev each had three points as Utah (84 points) sit seven points behind the Wild in the Western wild-card race.
IN OTHER NEWS:
WINNIPEG SUN: Jets prospect Chaz Lucius announced his retirement after being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is a group of inherited disorders that affects the skin, joints and blood vessel walls.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lucius’ dream of becoming an NHL player reached a sad, sudden end. Here’s hoping he finds success elsewhere in the game or in whatever non-hockey endeavor he chooses.
CALGARY SUN: Flames top prospect Zayne Parekh signed his entry-level contract on Tuesday. With the Flames chasing a playoff berth, the young defenseman might not get a chance to see any playing time during the club’s final five regular-season games.
DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL player Brendan Lemieux was suspended four games in Switzerland’s National League playoffs after punching a linesman in a scrum during a postseason game against ZSC Lions.
TSN: Alex Faulkner, the first Newfoundland-born player to compete in the NHL, passed away in Bishop Falls at age 88. Faulkner made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1961-62 season. He went on to play 100 games with the Detroit Red Wings from 1962-63 to 1963-64.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Faulkner’s family, friends and former teammates. He blazed the trail for 30 other Newfoundland-born players to reach the NHL, including Michael Ryder, Daniel Cleary, Ryane Clowe, Teddy Purcell, Alex Newhook and Dawson Mercer.
Despite the Ottawa loss to Columbus (which did NOT surprise me as I indicated yesterday), the Senators clinched a playoff spot when Detroit went down to the Habs, who can now move to within 1 of Ottawa with a win here on Friday. If Ottawa doesn’t really care who they meet in Round 1 – it could be Toronto or Tampa if they hold the first WC, or Washington if the Habs pass them – they can now rest any players nursing dings – especially Tkachuk, who they’ll need at 100% in the playoffs.
Toronto, after losing in Florida last night, are just 2 up on Tampa, and they meet tonight in Tampa – but even if the Lightning win in regulation time, Toronto would still hold 1st place by virtue of 1 more win. A SO or OT game and the Leafs hold by 1 point.
The NHL.com standings do not yet show Buffalo as eliminated – but they are, with 76 points and only 10 possible points left to them which, even if they won all 5, would still leave them short by 1 even if Montreal lost all 4.
The Habs are tantalizingly close to clinching with the NYR, NYI, Detroit and Columbus each 8 points back and each with a possible 10 points left to them in the schedule – so one of them would almost have to sweep or lose just 1 while Montreal lost all 4 left to them. Not bloody likely. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing them win in Ottawa on Friday. That would ensure 3 Canada-based teams in the playoffs in the East.
Out West, it’s hard to believe that, at 93 points, the Oilers still haven’t clinched, but Calgary, 6 points back, and both with 5 games left, could technically catch them with a sweep while Edmonton loses them all. Again, not bloody likely. Calgary, however, could still grab that 2nd WC spot as they are 4 back of the Wild and with a game in hand. Vancouver and Utah are hanging in by the proverbial thread. Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg in would mean 6 of the 7 franchises are in the hunt.
Woa George, I also wouldn’t mind Montreal making them the playoffs, but I’d much rather see us beat them, and they can punch their ticket on the Leaf’s dime 🙂 I’d like to win one against les Habitants this season.
Kudos to the Sens, they came together, and Staois deserves a lot of credit for his wheeling and dealing. Looking forward to seeing Chabot, Chucky and Stutzle getting a taste of the playoffs, where anything can happen!
I join you in wishing for a Habs victory Friday, George.
Give your buddy Staios a call and sell him on the virtue of a well rested set of players for the playoffs.
An Ottawa-Washington match-up in Round 1 could be interesting. The Capitals won 2 of 3 this season, but they were all close
Washington 1-0 in OT
Ottawa 5-4 in OT
Washington 5-4 in a SO
I remember Faulkner. He (1936), Joe Lundrigan (1948) and Doug Grant (1948) were all born in Newfoundland when it was still a British Crown Colony (Newfoundland became a province on March 31, 1949 and later became Newfoundland & Labrador)
https://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/province/nhl-players-born-in-newfoundland-and-labrador-career-stats.html
Biggest meltdown in NHL history. Not sure if I’m happy that they are pulling this crap before the playoffs or really worried that this is becoming a trend of losing games in OT, when they should have won them in regulation…. Congrats to the Canucks for not giving up.
Now that is sportsmanship!
So any expectations are being put on Demidov it’s exciting to see if he lives up to the hype.
Last year when the Habs were out of the playoffs. Hutson and Mailloux were brought up for a look.
Hutson was surprising and we fans were left wondering if the kid was for real.
Same thing will happen now with Demidov and it sure would boost the rebuild if he had a similar impact.
Wings played well and the Habs were awful, 5 games in 8 nights can do that. With that being said “good” teams find a way to win ugly and they found a way.
Sam Montembault played a great game, again. This kid has done nothing but consistently improved his game since being picked up on waivers. I’ve liked him from the get-go for his attitude and learning curve, steadily improving to become a #1 goalie.
It’s a hard position in Montreal as the franchise has been blessed with hall of fame goalies to be compared to.
Hope we get to see Demidov on Friday here.
George O. Your welcome for last night and congrats on making the playoffs! Now if you can return the favour on Friday night it would be greatly appreciated!!!
LOL. Thank you very much, Montreal.
As I say elsewhere Habsman67, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Habs clinch here on Friday. They’ll certainly have a large portion of the crowd cheering them on.
Now that the Senators are in, and since it doesn’t really matter who they face first (it will be a good one, one way or another), I doubt we;ll see Tkachuk in the lineup, along with anyone else who has been playing while nursing a ding of some sort. Only makes sense.
As a Tor fan I’m glad of 2 things today, good for Ott, always want CDN teams in, and thanks to Van and Dal. I now can’t even remember any other team losing when up by 3 late….
That was certainly one for the books, tb. There was also the “miracle on Manchester” in the 1982 playoffs when the 63-point Los Angeles Kings, down 5 goals early in the 3rd to the 111-point Edmonton Oilers, won 6-5 in OT on a goal by Dean Evans.
This site is interesting
https://records.nhl.com/records/team-records/comeback-wins/wins-after-trailing-by-four-goals-in-third-period-all-time
Ah, was more referring to one particular 3 goal collapse late. When it was 4-1. Unrelated but nice to see Reimer get a win last night… I know it also happened to the bad guys a couple years later but I’m classy for a Toronto fan so wouldn’t bring that up.
A few quick ones……..
1. Dave Pastrňák should win the MVP. Nearly 50% of the Bruins total goals are scored, or set up by him.
He has cleared 100 points playing with Geekie and Zacha. That’s silly numbers.
2. Mathieu Olivier is having an excellent season. (along with the rest of the Blue Jackets) he’s quietly putting up a 20 goal season while being the undisputed heavyweight in the league.
I’m glad he was recognized for his efforts by signing a new deal.
3. Great fight by the Jackets all season. Bravo!
4. Alex Faulkners nephew thought me to play golf. He always said Alex’s brother, George was better, but couldn’t break in on the blue line in Montreal at the time.
SOP, surprised a Newfie could teach anything?
Plenty of those folks out here in Alberta, and to a man, solid guys.
Those boys can drink beer and have some crazy in ’em. Always a good time!
You haven’t lived until you’ve been screeched and required to kiss a cod-fish while visiting the Rock, Ray.
SOP: I was just about to post admiration for Pastrňák. He has put up those #s almost by his onesie.
MVP is out of reach, as the award seems always to go to a player whose team is at least in the playoffs, if not a strong contender. Doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get his due somehow.
I was nodding my head to your comment yesterdayabout the Habs mediocre goal tending, and Montembeault must have read it too. One game doesn’t make him Carey Price but 22 saves in a period was not too shabby.
Critiquing the Habs goalies I wouldn’t say mediocre … more like inconsistent … and as experience has shown here in Ottawa, THAT can be much more frustrating.
Sam isn’t a poor goalie by any means or metric……he’s just average. We’ve all seen average goalies catch lightning in a bottle and go off on amazing runs. Can your guy do it? I’m betting he can hold the fort for a round at least.
Anything can happen once the seeding is set.
SOP, Pasternak is certainly a superstar but players on last place teams don’t win MVP. They could have finished last without him
Not the most dynamic way to clinch the playoff spot, but you cannot deny the intensity and desperation that CBJ was playing with compared to the Sens.
Regardless of that, I am so damn happy to see Ottawa back in the post season. The only issue I have now is that I am have forgotten how to handle the playoff stress…
theSaint, long, long ago I came to grips with the fact that, when it was all over, whether or not my team of choice won or lost was not going to make any difference whatsoever in my daily life or those close to me … so I became totally pragmatic when it came to the success … or failure … of the sports team in question.
Enjoyed it if and when they won … shrugged it off quickly if they lost – wait’ll next year!. 🙂
hey George, when I have my wits about me I am usually able to do that… but something magical about this darn game just sometimes sweeps me up! I just find myself getting so excited!
Same with the 4 Nations Cup which I much maligned before it started and then…oops… I am watching and getting pumped!
RIP Ray Shero
I see Montembeault as a first string goalie who has the most important stat of not being responsible for losing games.
He’s won 30 and tied another 6 despite having no decent backup till late in the season with the arrival of Dobes.
The team plays with confidence in front of him and for the most part he earns it.