NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 8, 2025
Mikko Rantanen leads the Stars to a Game 1 victory over the Jets, the Leafs take a 2-0 series lead over the Panthers, the Utah Hockey Club gets a new name, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES
NHL.COM: Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen tallied his second straight hat trick to lead his club to a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 1 of their best-of-seven second-round series.
Jake Oettinger stopped 29 shots for the Stars. Nino Niederreiter and Mark Scheifele replied for the Jets.
Game 2 is Friday, May 9, in Winnipeg at 9:30 pm ET
Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Rantanen’s second hat trick in these playoffs, making him the first player in league history to have multiple three-goal periods in the same postseason. He’s also the fourth player to have two at any point in his NHL career, joining Wayne Gretzky, Maurice Richard (three times) and Tim Kerr (twice). He currently leads all scorers in this postseason with eight goals and 15 points.
Scheifele returned to action after being sidelined since Game 5 of the Jets’ first-round series against the St. Louis Blues. Stars winger Jason Robertson made his debut in this postseason after being sidelined since Apr. 16 by a knee injury.
The Toronto Maple Leafs nipped the Florida Panthers 4-3 to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round series.
Mitch Marner snapped a 3-3 tie while Max Pacioretty and Max Domi each had a goal and an assist. Anton Lundell had a goal and an assist for the Panthers.
The series shifts to Florida for the next two games. Game 3 is Friday, May 9, at 7 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs coach Craig Berube wanted his players to avoid seeking retribution against Panthers forward Sam Bennett for his elbow to the head of Anthony Stolarz that took the goaltender out of Game 1, sidelining him from this contest.
They followed Berube’s instructions, focused on beating the Panthers on the score sheet, and put themselves in a position where they can take a more commanding series lead on Friday.
Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad made his series debut after serving a two-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel. He collected an assist and had a plus/minus of plus-2.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: The Utah Hockey Club finally has a new brand name. After a 13-month process, including fan surveys garnering over 850,000 votes, their new name is the Utah Mammoth.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy is shaking up his top-two forward lines for Game 2 of his club’s second-round series with the Edmonton Oilers.
William Karlsson moves from left wing on the first line to centering Reilly Smith and Brett Howden on the third line. Ivan Barbashev fills that vacant spot on the first line alongside Jack Eichel and Mark Stone.
On Tuesday, the Golden Knights dropped a 4-2 decision to the Oilers in Game 1. Game 2 is Thursday in Las Vegas at 9:30 pm ET.
THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres have hired Eric Staal as special assistant to general manager Kevyn Adams. Staal, 40, retired as a player in 2023 after playing 18 seasons with six teams, including a brief tenure with the Sabres in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This move could be a part of what Daily Faceoff reported is a long-overdue effort by the Sabres to expand their front office. This club has missed the playoffs for 14 straight years, partly because they have one of the smallest front-office staffs in the league.
TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning signed backup goaltender Jonas Johansson to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.25 million.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators owner Michael Andlauer wrote an open letter to the club’s fans to thank them for their support this season. The franchise qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2017, and Andlauer promised the fans that better things are ahead.
Very bad reffing last night.
“Embellishment” as defined in the rules:
“a player exaggerating an infraction from an opposing player to try and draw a penalty.”
Rodrigues was hit from behind , right on the numbers; full force; and his face crushed into the glass.
He could have sustained serious injury. Didn’t. But could have.
A 4 minute boarding penalty was appropriately called.
AND then Rodrigues gets an embellishment call!?!?!?
ARE YOU F?$/king KIDDING ME?
Absolutely brutal.
After they (refs) realized they blew that call (completely screwed the pooch on that call); things started getting way out of hand. Not calling anything at all, followed by calling phantom things.
These refs better be reviewed.
Consistency is paramount. This is the playoffs. Brutal calls and missed calls have a direct impact on the outcome of games; and series.
We’re returning back to the “little Joe phantom call” days where a team was eliminated solely on a blown call.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&sca_esv=177fae3e0b1a050b&q=incessant+complaining+about+sports+officiating&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_2oGT-5ONAxVOKVkFHdbJLbMQBSgAegQIDxAB&biw=1920&bih=899&dpr=1
Did you watch the game?
You actually believe that was a dive by Rodrigues?
If he wasn’t a hockey player Rodrigues would be on some Olympic team as a diver … or do you watch any of their games?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJX2oDUyoAK/
George didn’t comment on the dive with the link 87, he commented on the constant complaints about the refs.
Yes the embellishment call was a mistake IMO. And the refs got it wrong.
But here’s the thing, refs are human, and like all humans they make mistakes. Refs have been making mistakes, just like the players and coaches do, forever. And no, it isn’t worse this year.
With regards to your constant comments and complaining about them, it’s more like – no sh*t Sherlock – just catching on? We all know that already and constantly whining about won’t change anything.
And in fairness to the refs, the Panthers are cheesy A-holes who cheap shot guys and dive, so they can’t get pissy when the refs stop believing them.
F those guys.
I don’t even see a penalty on the hit. If a player turns his back he will be hit from behind. He obviously saw the hit coming as he had time to get his hands up to protect his face from smashing into the glass. The embellishment might have been a culminating effect since we all know how the Cats play, ie cheap shots and embellish retaliations.
I’m so happy that non-call was so triggering to a hater like yourself.
Noted Ray
No challenge here re my constant ragging of refs
Fully agree,
Refs are human,
Humans err
Refs err
I realize this game is very fast and they have to make calls on the spur of the moment. Mistakes can and will happen.
That said, I don’t believe in make up phantom calls
Both teams had been warned about the diving prior to the call. BOTH. Both teams were guilty of it. BOTH.
I wouldn’t put it past (nor blame the refs) if they said (to both teams); “that’s it, no more dives, next one no matter what, gets called”
I’m good with that. Call all dives for that matter.
The Rodrigues hit was in no way; literally no way; a dive or an “embellishment”. NOT AT ALL. Not s chance.
Had he and at least 5 other players (both teams) earlier in the game, tried to draw a call…Yes they had.
This was a brutal call. Absolutely brutal.
Are there Panthers cheap shot artists . Yep. Tkachuck, Bennet , Ekblad to name 3.
Certainly not even close to the Caps (where it is literally a requirement (on their job spec so to speak) not an exception, to be a cheap shot artist); but Panthers are top 5 in league for sure. No challenge there.
There was no call for goaltender interference in the previous game which eventually led to Stolarz missing last night’s game.
That was an obvious call not done
Many are missed
As you said, their human, they err like all of us
My bugaboo is not the truly “missed” (errors) calls or mistaken “phantom” calls (errors)
It’s the apparent deliberate phantom calls and deliberate “turning a blind eye” non calls that are wrong
The Rodrigues call was NOT done in error. Absolutely in no way could that be mistaken for a dive. Zero chance that call was by mistake.
Refs deliberately called it to make a point and perhaps as a make-up call for something missed earlier in game or for the goalie interference of previous game
Bad call. Bad message. Wrong on all counts.
Yet even after that call; diving continued in the game; and wasn’t called.
Refs lost decisive control of the game.
Not good in s regular season game. Potentially catastrophic in the playoffs.
The “Little Joe” phantom call that lost a series was a human error. It was sad, but it was an error. Human!
The Rodrigues call was not in any way an error, or s mistake.
Absolutely impossible for that.
It was a make-up call/send a message call; plain and simple
“The Rodrigues hit was in no way; literally no way; a dive or an “embellishment”. NOT AT ALL. Not s chance.”
How the Hell do you know that sitting on your couch probably hundreds if not thousands of miles away? The officials were – literally – several feet away and totally familiar with the antics of Rodrigues – hardly a first-time offender in knowing how to prepare for a hit like that and make it look like he was pole-axed.
Not only are you – in your own mind – a better judge of talent than the GM of a professional team – but now you’re an expert on officiating and how easy a job it is.
Give me an effing break!
Not only is constantly complaining about something that isn`t going to change annoying. The even bigger problem is that people make comments that they know what other people are thinking, like the refs made the call deliberately. You don`t know squat about what the refs were thinking, you just like to complain. I`ve had the pleasure of trying to ref a few minor league games (peewee) and I can tell you, even with 12 year olds, it`s not easy at times. Am I happy with the refs all the time, hell no, but I`m smart enough to realize that complaining all the time just makes you look stupid. For what the responsibilities of refs and linesmen have at the NHL level, they`re grossly underpaid compared to the players and coaches get. Most whiners don`t seem to realize the speed at which everything happens on the ice. 2 refs watching 12 players and 2 benches trying to take any advantage they can. One thing I`ve noticed over the years is that, the best place to hide something is right in front of you, because it`s the last place most people look
The Wooley Mammoths…..???
Sam the Sham circa 1965…..Wooley,pully
Watch the video.
Hadn’t heard of it.
Just looked it up.
LOL
Wonder if they’ll play it at thr arena during commercial breaks/intermissions?
Is the guy still alive? He’d have to be 90 minimum
Just looked him up.
He’s alive! 88
Got to bring him out for home opener.
I’d never heard of him or the song; it was released 9 years before I was born
It’s wooley bully.
The Chipmunks version
Listen Pengy or what you call yourself now what is it 8787 your constant crying about the leafs and refs isn’t fooling anyone as far as the refs it’s been going both ways in the series maybe concentrate on Pittsburgh for awhile
Amen to that, Man on tv – see the link I posted above. “incessant” doesn’t even begin to describe him.
Safe to say Rantanen is getting comfortable in Dallas.
Got to hand it to their D. Much maligned Codi Ceci played 24:33 in a win. That will go down when Heiskenen gets back, but good for him. Plus the young guy Harley who we got exposed to in 4 nations played over 25. Big kid who can really skate and is composed with the puck. He is 23 and looks like a 5 year vet.
Dallas is sure good at developing their prospects.
Lindell played over 27, signed at $5.25 long term. A steal.
If Rantanen keeps producing and they get Heiskanen back and healthy, gonna be tough to beat.
Hard for Rantanan to have 3 hat tricks yet only have 8 goals Lyle. Last time
I checked you would need 9!
That’s right, and that’s because I mistakenly wrote he had his third hat trick of this postseason when I meant to write it was his second. I’ve amended it accordingly.
Rantanen could beat Carolina in the finals and put his other 2 teams that he played both Colorado and Carolina to rest. Basing this on Toronto s past history.
Wouldn’t that be something Sr.
Carolina has had mild success in the playoffs, but also a team that has been really good for quite a while now, but can’t seem to get over the hump. But have to respect how those guys play, relentless bunch.
Canes vs Leafs ECF would be cool, no FLA teams for a change.
A Dallas vs Oilers rematch in the WCF looks like a possibility again. The way these teams were banged up heading into the playoffs made it seem unlikely, and yet here they both up 1-0.
That game last night was a very good win for the Leafs. You couldn’t say what we’ve been harping on year after year after a win that they got last night. That’s how you win playoff hockey. If they have two more games in them like that, there’s no telling how far they will go. Very entertaining and exciting games. I think how hard the Cats came out, they really wanted to tie this up going home to really shut the Leafs out.
And a special note for Patches, who was so close to having his career ended, to wear 67 and be this prominent when he’s on the ice physically as well as helping on the score sheet deserves some props. Hope he keeps this going… speaking of going on, regardless of how this Leafs team finishes in the playoffs, would you run it back again? Keep in mind the fate of the Avs after they lost their star winger.
Ya good win for the Leafs, but IMO they got a bit lucky. The more the game went on the more the Panthers took it to them. If the rest of the games have the ice tilted that much in Florida’s favor, this series isn’t over.
All good, the Leafs could use a little playoff luck for a change, they got one they shouldn’t have last night.
I get the patience side of the game, defend the fort and all that, but IMO they need to start generating more chances like they did in the first 2 periods of game 1.
I think Berube and the players knows that too, so expect they will.
All these years Ray you might of noticed that teams have tendency to sit back and try to protect that 1 or 2 goal lead in the 3rd. Of course then a team does that the other team always gets the momentum, the defending team is giving it to them. The team taking their foot off the gas hands the momentum to the other team. This has been Berube`s biggest complaint with his team, if you go by his post game comments and yet, it still happens. It doesn`t make the opposition any better, you`re just giving them more chances to get back in the game.
Fair point Yogi, and ya, happens very often. Just human nature I suppose, but playing with fire. Especially against Florida who out chance almost everyone already.
Having 2 quality tenders is kind of a big deal, like that toes save by Wall. Flippin’ huge.
That`s for sure Ray and you`d think after a team gets burned a couple of times by taking their foot off the gas they`d learn, nope. It`s not like the Leafs are the only team that does it, all the teams. Going into a defensive shell does work most of the time, but dam awful on the nerves.
Like I said early on this season Ron … the Leafs LOOK like a different bunch under Berube’s coaching, and could go very deep.
And right there near the top of their points producers – again – is Mitch Marner.
While Marner has been more involved in this years playoffs. His blistering floater from the point shows that shooting the puck from anywhere leads to good things. Still wish Marner would`ve said yes to the Carolina trade, can you imagine Rantanen on the Leafs right now. Marner at the same money as Willie would be OK, anything more than that, he`s not worth it, neither is Matthews. This is the 1st Leafs team where the bottom 3 lines have carried the team
Yogi, in all honesty I can’t envisage Rantanen as a Leaf … I’m still visualizing him as a Senator and wondering what Carolina would have wanted from Ottawa in exchange. lol
George you have to remember he had a NMC clause and he gave Carolina a list of 4 teams he go to and resign. Carolina first asked for Knies and Treliving said no, then they asked for Marner. Going by that my guess would`ve been Brady if Ottawa would`ve been on that list. Knies and myself are both glad that Tre turned that offer down. Marner for Rantanen was a deal I`d make all day long, everyday
Joel Quenneville hired by Anaheim, glad I`m not a ducks fan
You and me both. As I posted n the other thread, wait until they see the negative reaction from hostile elements of crowds around the league next season including – I hope – Anaheim crowds.
Dumb, dumb move. And just one twit hoping it could have been Pittsburgh.
Yogi that tells you a lot about Pat Verbeek. Young team,bad choice for many reasons!
Kunin was actually doing a good job in Anaheim, but apparently he wasn`t that popular. When Treliving canned Keefe, Quenneville was rumoured to be a candidate. I thought please no, that`s a move Harold would`ve made, just to piss everybody off