NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 13, 2025
The Oilers and Hurricanes take commanding 3-1 leads in their second-round series, Ken Holland is expected to be named the next GM of the Kings, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPPING MONDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES
NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner made 23 saves to shut out the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 4 of their best-of-seven second-round series.
Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (NHL Images).
Adam Henrique scored two goals and Evander Kane had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who hold a 3-1 lead in the series. Adin Hill stopped 29 shots for the Golden Knights.
The Oilers can wrap things up on Wednesday, May 14, in Las Vegas at 9:30 PM ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a dominating performance by the Oilers, especially in the fast-paced first period, where Henrique scored his goals as the action was end-to-end for most of that frame. They were physical from the start, generating plenty of traffic around the Vegas net, and played with consistent, determined energy that the Golden Knights couldn’t match.
Another effort like that by the Oilers in Game 5, and they’ll be heading to the Western Conference Final for the third time in four years.
Carolina Hurricanes forwards Sean Walker and Taylor Hall each had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals in Game 4 of their second-round series.
Frederik Andersen turned aside 19 shots for the Hurricanes, who’ve taken a 3-1 stranglehold on this series. Jakob Chychrun and Alex Ovechkin scored for the Capitals and Logan Thompson kicked out 32 shots.
The Hurricanes can win this series and advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in three years on Thursday, May 15, in Washington at 7 pm ET
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Washington had a strong start for the second straight game but failed to capitalize. The Hurricanes soon took over, dominating the Capitals over the remainder of the game. Ovechkin scored his first goal of this series on a 5-on-3 power-play, but the Hurricanes’ checkers have otherwise neutralized him.
HEADLINES
MAYOR’S MANOR: The Los Angeles Kings are expected to name Ken Holland as their new general manager this week. The announcement could come as early as Tuesday, May 13.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holland spent this season as an NHL operations department consultant. He has an impressive resume from his 27 years with the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers, including three Stanley Cups with the Wings and building the Oilers into a Cup Finalist last season.
The Kings have been a playoff club for the past four seasons, but were eliminated by the Oilers in the opening round four times. They’ll look to Holland to help them take the next step toward Cup contention.
NHL.COM: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi was fined $5,000 for boarding Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov during Game 4 of their second-round series on Sunday.
ROTOWIRE: Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues is questionable for Game 5 against the Leafs on Wednesday, May 14. He suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 4.
THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets hope to improve their struggling power play for Game 4 of their second-round series with the Dallas Stars. They are 1-for-13 with the man advantage through the first three games. The Stars lead the series two games to one.
DAILY FACEOFF: Top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna’s historic WHL points streak ended at 54 games. The Medicine Hat Tigers’ forward was held scoreless in a 6-2 loss to the Spokane Chiefs in Game 2 of the WHL Championship Series.
McKenna, 17, finished second among this season’s WHL scorers with 129 points in 56 games. He has 37 points in 16 playoff games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McKenna has been compared to Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid and Chicago Blackhawks’ star Connor Bedard. He is already expected to be the first-overall pick in the 2026 draft.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former NHL center Stefan Matteau has announced his retirement. The son of former NHL winger Stephane Matteau, Stefan was selected in the first round (29th overall) by the New Jersey Devils in the 2012 draft. He spent eight seasons with the Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche. Matteau had six goals and five assists for 11 points in 92 games.
The Oilers looked great last night. Skinner was certainly solid. This series should have been over already. Mistakes and bad bounces cost them Game 3. They seem headed on another run to the final.
With Skinner silencing his critics for now, I hope Hellebuyck can do the same in game 4 in Dallas to at least raise hope of an all-Canada Western Conference final.
Dallas, however, remains one of my picks for the finals – solid throughout – but the less I see of Vegas (and Florida) the better I like it.
Carolina is going to be tough for any team they meet from here on. Washington is done like dinner – and a candidate to tumble next season in the standings – most probably not OUT of the playoffs, but back among the fierce competition for the WC spots.
Stuuuuuuuuuu!
Good for him, he was getting roasted in this town and blamed for everything and the sole reason they lost last game, which he wasn’t.
When the Oil play that way, they are tough to beat. Great first period, highly entertaining. Oil were physical, got to the net and started messing with Hill who reacted the way they wanted him too.
Kane was a heat seeking missile. Frederic gave it a go with Hague who is a monster to deal with and hung in there without getting pummeled too bad. They killed their penalties.
The Canes are checking the Caps into the ice. Every inch is contested, line after line, all of whom can skate. Their PK is best in the playoffs and Anderson is playing great.
Cream is staring to rise to the top in second round again.
Go Jets tonight. Need Helley to play like he can.
Go Leafs tonight, need to attack more IMO. Get in Bob’s grill.
There were many stretches of hockey between Washington / Montreal where it looked like neither team belonged in the playoffs.
Ray Bark,Frederic held on in his fight with Hague,Barely. The last fight he had that was that one sided was with Jeannot. He went silent for a long period of time after that. He is a gamer though.
Ya Sr, have to give Frederic credit. Hague is 6’6″, 245 lbs. That’s a big, strong dude. And he manned up.
Hague dropped them first, and didn’t start swinging until Frederic got his off and engaged/grabbed on. Understandable delay on Frederic’s part and Hague was honorable that way. And then started trying to punch him in the head. Gotta luv hockey!
Oil didn’t have Kane or Frederic all year, they change that team, especially against big D like Vegas. Both guys can chip in offence too. Wonder if the Oil can keep Frederic at a reasonable #?
That first period was great. Had everything.
Ray Bark when you have 97 and28 you are never out of it. 2 of the top 10 players in the game for sure.
I’m shocked their isn’t much talk about Frederik Andersen. Old by any measure, he just keeps performing at such a high level and all we see is a brief mention. Dude is a marvel!
Someone explain to me like I’m 5 why at every Oilers game watch party it’s like a WWF cage match and they are all in Oiler jerseys?