NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 5, 2025
The Jets eliminate the Blues, the second-round playoff schedule is released, the draft lottery will be held on Monday evening, and the latest on Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry scored the winning goal in double overtime of Game 7 to defeat the St. Louis Blues 4-3, eliminating the latter in seven games.
Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry (NHL Images).
The Blues went into the third period holding a 3-1 lead on goals by Jordan Kyrou, Mathieu Joseph, and Radek Faksa. However, the Jets stormed back late in the period. With goaltender Connor Hellebuyck pulled for an extra attacker, Vladislav Namestnikov scored with 1:56 remaining and Cole Perfetti netted his second of the game with 2.2 seconds left.
Hellebuyck shook off a shaky start to finish with 26 saves, while Blues netminder Jordan Binnington kicked out 43 shots.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was one of the most exciting playoff games I’ve ever seen.
The Blues were on the verge of victory until the Jets’ stunning comeback. What’s more, the Jets were playing with first-line center Mark Scheifele out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury, and top-pairing defenseman Josh Morrissey left the game in the first period with an injury. Neal Pionk logged 46:15 minutes of ice time, collecting three assists.
Winnipeg overcame a poor start, outshooting St. Louis 44-22. Binnington was solid between the pipes for the Blues, but the Jets beat him with three of their four goals coming on deflected or tipped-in shots.
The Jets advance to meet the Dallas Stars in the second round, with Game 1 in Winnipeg on Wednesday, May 7, at 9:30 pm ET. The Stars could have sidelined top-pairing defenseman Miro Heiskanen and first-line winger Jason Robertson back in their lineup at some point in this series. Both players are recovering from knee injuries.
The second round begins on Monday with Game 1 of the Toronto Maple Leafs facing the Florida Panthers in Toronto at 8 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link for the full schedule of all four second-round series.
The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery will be held live at NHL Network studios at 7 pm ET.
Matthew Schaefer is considered the favorite to become the first-overall pick. The 18-year-old Erie Otters defenseman said he’s “pumped up” for the lottery. “I would be lucky to be selected by any of the teams,” said Schaefer. “I’m sure everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Other notable prospects who could go first overall include center Michael Misa of the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, center Anton Frondell of the Swedish Hockey League’s Djurgardens IF, and Boston College center James Hagens.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Hockey Canada announced Sunday that Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been added to their roster for the upcoming IIHF World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden, and Herning, Denmark from May 9 – 25.
SPORTSNET: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon will reportedly join his long-time friend Crosby on Canada’s roster.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canada’s roster will receive a considerable lift with the additions of Crosby and MacKinnon. It also allows those two to reacquaint themselves with the larger ice surface in European rinks ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
NHL.COM: Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk skipped practice on Sunday, but he is expected to be in the lineup for Game 1 of their second-round series with the Maple Leafs.
THE ATHLETIC: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov believes everything regarding contract extension negotiations with management will work out. The 28-year-old winger has a year remaining on his contract, and the Wild can re-sign him to a league-maximum eight-year deal as early as July 1.
“We’ll see,” said a smiling Kaprizov. “I love everything here. It should be all good.” The superstar has frequently said he loves Minnesota and playing for the Wild.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaprizov is poised to become one of the highest-paid players in the league. Wild owner Craig Leipold has said his club is prepared to pay top dollar to keep him in Minnesota.
TSN: Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek played through a core muscle injury and will undergo surgery next week. He anticipates he’ll be recovered in plenty of time for the start of next season.
The BLUES future looks BRIGHT but today my world is DARK. You are so correct Lyle–what an exciting game and series! Proud of the Blues turn around this season and playoff effort (except for 3 minutes)
IP
Wow!!! That was, as Lyle indicates, one of the most exciting playoff games ever. Brings back memories of the 1979 “Too Many Men on the Ice” Habs-Bruins game when Guy Lafleur tied it late, but not that late, and Yvon Lambert won it in OT.
Someone joked that the Jets are better off with no goalie in nets than with Hellebuyck. But all credit to the team and the goalie. They didn’t quit. In the first period, Hellebuyck was shaky – and not just on the goals. He was clearly fighting the puck. He had no confidence in himself and the team had no confidence in him. But they turned it around in time to save their season.
One particular play that no one seems to be talking about now. With about 40 seconds left, Buchnevic had the puck near the center ice line. He had the time and space to skate over the line and get the puck deep, thus taking up time. Instead he went for the empty net and icing resulted. The look on Monty’s face was priceless. He was certainly not pleased. That saved precious seconds for the Jets and likely made the difference.
The Jets are my team now for the playoffs. I hope they go all the way.
Not the memory that came to me after that game Howard, but thanks so much for bringing it up this AM.
Danny Gallivan was so happy he probably peed his pants.
Amazing game, great for the fans in WPG. There have been quite a few this playoff season, especially out west.
What the Jets did, with out 2 critical players, and a tender that has been struggling almost the entire series, deserves a huge stick tap.
Guys like Pionk and Lowry. Pionk played over 46 minutes. That is unreal. Samberg, who doesn’t make the highlight packages, played 44.
They never quit. Outstanding.
Howard, my favourite playoff memory for a series is 1971, where the Habs beat a Bruins team that finished the season with 121 points, 24 more than Montreal. Enter Ken Dryden. Sadly it was also exit Jean Beliveau, who retired after the Cup win.
Anyone else remember this?
Sure do, LJ! I was eight years old and a Bruins fan because every kid in 1971 was a Bobby Orr fan. Then the Canadiens and Dryden upset them, and in my eight-year-old logic, any team that could beat Orr and the Bruins had to be a great team! I became a Canadiens fan, and stayed that way. And Dryden became my favorite player.
Ahh yes, the good old days! It’s great to reminisce isn’t it?
I was that 6 yr old Bobby Orr fan, so it is also seared into my memory. And only a year after my fondest memory of Bobby soaring through the air after scoring the cup winner. Worked out great!
The foreshadowing of that moment to the later years of out of nowhere or, or all of a sudden he’s really good, tenders playing in Montreal and beating a heavily favored Bruin team is kind of amazing.
Steve Penny.
Who?
Steve Penny, whoever the F he is, beat a heavily favored 1st place Bruins team while standing on his head in 1984 playoffs.
Jose Theodore, while mildly successful, led an 8th seed MTL over the 1st place Bruins. And made, what is without a doubt, the luckiest save in playoff history.
https://www.google.com/search?q=jose+theodore+save+vs+boston&sca_esv=8e26205c2bafb5f9&rlz=1C1GCEU_enCA1122CA1122&ei=d_0YaKfcCIu9ptQP6tPlgQ0&start=10&sa=N&sstk=Af40H4X9Fn-F0IQwOq5DPMqdMVQJY8Dm7AShN9lTdwZR1qhxHVJCu9Cc9mttKpDK9wdI6tXegcXQF5UVS4BQeZ1Y38s9E9HSs3t7qA&ved=2ahUKEwjn88yM9YyNAxWLnokEHeppOdAQ8tMDegQICBAG&biw=1920&bih=919&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:d0b7c4c8,vid:5fhXZss4NWo,st:0
Seriously? Again?
The only good news in all of this is the Habs have used up all their good fortune for at least another 20 years against Boston, so shouldn’t have to see that crap again for a long time.
Great series LJ,
Phil Esposito claimed Dryden was a thieving giraffe lol.
Incredible game 2 with Bruins leading 5-1 and Beliveau put the Habs on his back and turned it into a 7-5 win
Yes LJ I remember it very well. I was 7 years old then and a huge Habs fan. I remember Game 7 of the final in Chicago as well. Lyle, you made a wise decision in switching to the Habs.
I first thought of 1979 because of the similarity. Late tying goal and then OT winner in Game 7.
I’m a huge Dryden fan as well. For my money, the one all time goalie I’d want in a big game with everything on the line. The next year, I went with my father to a Knights of Pythias dinner where Dryden was being honored. My dad took me up to the table to get his autograph. He couldn’t have been nicer. A real gentleman.
Pretty shrewd thinking for an 8 year old, Lyle.
I will reveal a secret (Much Shame!):
I was a Leafs’ fan as a young lad. The Big M was my favourite player, and I followed him to Detroit, and then Montreal. When he left for the WHA I said, enough, and stayed a Habs fan. Another shrewd idea, albeit I was a wee bit older than 8 😉
Remember Habs fans, the Habs have a stake in the lottery tonight. They own Calgary’s pick, which is at #16. There’s a 1.1% chance of moving up to #6.
Obviously, this won’t keep us glued to our TV sets like the past few years. But it’s worth taking some note of. For the first minute at least.
Howard, I am not entirely sure but I think if Calgary wins the lottery and that pick moves into the top ten then Montreal gets the Florida pick that was traded to Calgary. I could be wrong. The trade conditions were complicated.
Howard and Edb,
The Calgary pick is lottery protected so if Calgary moves up the Habs get the FLA first round pick which will be a late first rounder, 22 as of now but depending on how far the Panthers go will probably be later.
In that case we’d better hope they stay at 16.
That was the most insane game I’ve ever attended, truly remarkable. Go Jets Go!
Right-on, Brock! Cool that you were there.
The Blues liked to me like they were running out of gas.
As the third period went on and thee OT occurred Winnipeg glad much more jump in their legs.
Much like the Edmonton LA games where Edmonton simply tired out LA and took over late in games.
What a tip by Perfetti.
Not sure which tip Jeff, but ya, good for the young man too come up big.
That first one on the PP sure looked like something they practiced because of the way Conner passed/shot it. That was intentional at that speed. Executed to perfection.
Jets need Helley to find it to beat Dallas. Need Schieffele and Morrisey too, especially Dallas get Heiskanen and Robertson back.
Want the best on best, but either way, should be a good series.
Truly one of the best playoff come backs ever. A gem to watch no doubt
Had to be the best playoff game since the Stars game the night before.
Hockey world can see what the difficulty of coming out of the Central is like?
IP has a good point , ” except for 3 minutes” that is all it takes in hockey for your team to be shown the door. Everyone is talking about Rantanen revenge but it’s really irrelevant. It’s the Avalanche pattern of mental lapses that cost them the series: not scoring on a 4 min PP, not scoring on another to finish a 3rd period, leaving the slot wide open for a guy like Rantanen to walk right down main street uncontested and taking bad penalties @ critical time. The little things are self induced mental mistakes, wether it is 3 minutes or 12 minutes? Recognize it in TB v Florida, too. TB was dominating that game an all of the sudden Florida scores 2 quick ones and it’s about all over after that
Leaving out Colorado,I honestly think these are the 8 best teams left in the playoffs!
Bruins will probably end up with pick 5 or 6 but would like to see 1 or 2……LOL
The Boston Bruins traded Ken Dryden to the Montreal Canadiens, along with Alex Campbell, in exchange for Paul Reid and Guy Allen. The trade occurred on June 28, 1964, just days after the Bruins had drafted Dryden 14th overall. Dryden ultimately chose to pursue college hockey at Cornell University, and later signed with the Canadiens. …..Worked out well
Who knew this Joe?
What do you make of that Ray?