NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 13, 2025
The Oilers rally to defeat the Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck wins the Hart and Vezina trophies, Kings captain Anze Kopitar wins the Lady Byng Trophy, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
OILERS RALLY, DEFEAT THE PANTHERS IN GAME 4 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL
NHL.COM: Leon Draisaitl’s overtime goal gave the Edmonton Oilers a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, tying the series at two games apiece.
The Panthers dominated the first period, with Matthew Tkachuk scoring twice and Anton Lundell tallying to take a 3-0 lead, putting the Oilers on the verge of collapsing as they did in Game 3. After swapping out starting goalie Stuart Skinner for Calvin Pickard, the Oilers tied it on goals by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Darnell Nurse, and Vasily Podkolzin.
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).
Edmonton took the lead with just over six minutes remaining in the third period on a slapshot by Jake Walman. However, Florida pulled goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for an extra attacker and cashed in as Sam Reinhart tied it with 20 seconds remaining in the period.
The Panthers nearly won it in overtime when Sam Bennett hit the crossbar. Moments later, Draisaitl hopped onto the ice, skated into the Panthers’ zone, and shoveled a one-handed backhander that deflected off Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola past Bobrovsky.
This series returns to Edmonton for Game 4 on Saturday, June 14, at 8 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That was one of the greatest Stanley Cup Final games I’ve ever seen. Edmonton seemed done like dinner after the first period, and Florida appeared on the verge of taking a 3-1 stranglehold on the series.
The Panthers completely controlled the first period, outplaying Edmonton to take what seemed an insurmountable three-goal lead. Skinner couldn’t be faulted for those goals, which were the result of his teammates’ sloppy play. Swapping him for Pickard felt like a desperation move, but it helped to settle the Oilers down. He was steady throughout the rest of the game, stopping 22 of 23 shots.
Draisaitl set an NHL record for the most overtime goals (four) in a single postseason. The Oilers shook up their lineup before the game, sitting forward Viktor Arvidsson and defenseman John Klingberg in favor of Jeff Skinner and Troy Stecher.
After the game, Draisaitl praised teammate Corey Perry for rallying his teammates following the first period. “Corey spoke up. When he speaks up, you listen, and you do what he says. We did a great job of grabbing it, grabbing some momentum and keeping it.”
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is the winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Vezina Trophy for 2024-25. He’s the first goalie to win both awards since Carey Price in 2014-15, and the only active three-time winner of the Vezina.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No surprise here, as a photo of Hellebuyck with both trophies was recently leaked on social media. Nevertheless, he was a deserving winner. He was the best goaltender in the league this season and was considered the front-runner for the Hart Trophy.
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for the third time in his career, taking only two minor penalties this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hockey followers often deride the Lady Byng Trophy because it rewards “gentlemanly play”, which is a quaint early 20th-century way of saying the winners play a strong, disciplined game. The 37-year-old Kopitar remains among the most respected two-way players in the game, whose play remains worthy of recognition.
Hellebuyck and Jets winger Kyle Connor were named to the 2024-25 First All-Star Team, joining Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar, Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski.
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, defenseman Victor Hedman, and winger Brandon Hagel were part of the Second All-Star Team. Joining them were Oilers center Leon Draisaitl, Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes.
Calder Memorial Trophy winner Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens and 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks were among the players named to the 2024-25 NHL All-Rookie Team. They joined Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf, Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov, Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk.
Former NHL star and future Hall-of-Famer Jaromir Jagr won a regional Emmy Award for his work as a producer and writer on last year’s broadcast of his jersey retirement ceremony by the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.
No wonder some coaches get prematurely grey! Talk about your peaks and valleys performances. After that absolute stinker – at home – in game 3, going down 3-0 in the first, and pulling your goalie. again. Then giving up 3 straight in the second to let them tie it. Then taking a lead in the third with less than 7 minutes to go, only to cough up the tying goal with 20 seconds left, sending it to OT … again. And then getting home ice advantage back with the OT winner just past the half-way mark of OT.
Not hard on the nerves …. nah.
Lol. That’s my take on that game as well.
Very entertaining and enjoyable game to watch. I’m really liking this final series.
Ya SOP, I suppose I “like” it, but George is right, flippin’ stressful. Can you like something like that? I dunno what the correct word is.
If you PVR games like I do, usually start 30-45 minutes after puck drop as that is how my schedule often works and don’t like commercials, you can’t go outside with dogs or something during the game as you can spoil what happens. Heck, even if it is paused for a piss and some windows are open you can hear a celebration of an Oil goal from the neighbors. Crazy.
Two words – “emotionally exhausting” – come to mind, Ray, and I’m sure that applies to the players as well. Which could explain the often resulting game to game peaks and valleys.
We saw it in the Toronto-Florida series.
Oilers started to look tired in OT too George. Or at least that was my perception. They could use a solid 4-1 win or something to get off the roller coaster because you’re right, if it is exhausting for us, I can’t imagine the players.
Crowd should have the Oil jacked with adrenalin to start the game on Saturday. Plenty of travel in between too, both teams might start feeling it.
Let’s just hope the drained emotion doesn’t lead to another game 3, despite it being at home and with the opening backing of an exuberant crowd – inside and out! It happened to Toronto – with the same kind of backing – a couple of times.
So glad both teams got back to playing hockey! Great game!
These finals are a fantastic series.
Edmonton (tossing game three aside) has proven these playoffs by multiple comeback wins that they don’t give up. They tend to improve as series and wear out their opponents as games go on.
Florida has proven these playoffs that they may start slow. (Going down 2-0 vs Toronto for example) But they analyze their opponent make adjustments and start dominating games.
Makes for a fantastic series as neither team is frantically looking for answers but confidently providing them.
Skinner could certainly be faulted on the second goal. He fumbled a weak shot that he should have frozen for a whistle and the Panthers scored on the rebound.
Quite a comeback for the Oilers. Showed a lot of heart.
Sure but the high-scoring chances for the Panthers in the first were insane. Score could have easily been 6-0 if it weren’t for Skinner. That said, I think we have seen the last of him in these playoffs.
He did make some great saves early on. But after letting in the first goal on the 5 on 3, his confidence seemed to drop and he was fighting the puck.
Kyle Connor 1st team Allstar and benched for the 4 nations…
Okay, so Knoblach pulls his starting goalie after a dismal first period… DeBoer pulls Oettinger after a few minutes in the first period, both to invigorate their team…”IF” the Stars had come back the way Edmonton did, NO ONE would have questioned the move….Knoblach is praised for making the right decision, DeBoer loses his job. Crazy game we all love!
I don’t know if Deboer lost his job so much as making the switch but the manner he did it (appsar uncertain) and the comments that followed …twice.
Also on one side you have Otter…a top 5 goalie in the league easy….vs Skinner who depending on the day plays like a top 5 or an echl goalie lol.
But yes…in the end a crazy game this sport is and why most of here feel it’s the best one at that.
Deboar panicked. He called a time out and then gave his starting goalie the hook when he was skating back to the net. Then he blasts him after the game. He wrote his own exit.
Starsfan, have to agree with you. I was thinking the same. The coach always takes the hit though as unfair as it is. That’s surprising that Dallas let him go to me? The players are to blame for losing to the Oilers just like the Avalanche are to blame for losing to the stars
Oilers are impressive. They were working O/T. two great teams going at it. That was one wild game, could have gone either way
I think the body language and the time DeBoer pulled Ottinger was the main issue with DeBoer. Plus Skinner isn’t the on the same level as Ottinger, and Pickard is 6-0 in these playoffs.
2 very different circumstances.
Starsfan, unlike De Boer who openly blamed Oettinger, the Oilers’ coach has pulled his goalie without fanfare.
The Stars’ decision is probably best-described in this June 6 article by Sean Shapiro where he says ”(De Boer) pulled his starting goalie Jake Oettinger after the goalie allowed two goals on two shots, and did so in dramatic fashion during a timeout, before doubling down on his decision after the game.
Taking the shot at Oettinger and not taking the time to talk with him, opened up the floodgates for others to air their grievances.”
https://www.shapshotshockey.com/p/the-stars-fired-pete-deboer-here
Hell of a game last night. Great for any hockey fan regardless of what team they cheer for. Bennett hits crossbar. In ot and a few mins later Leon slides a fluke in for the win. After the 1st oil looked done. Koodo to them. Let’s take this to 7 with OT winner. By 63😎
Not that anyone would care except Oiler fans on this but it is a bit head scratching that Nate gets 1st all star nod over Leon who won the rocket, comparable ppg, and finished 2nd in hart voting well ahead of Nate.
Make that make sense. Somewhat lucky for these clowns Leon didn’t win the hart, cause then I think it would get some press.
And last note about the awards…Kuch again nabs art Ross and again no hart trophy for his troubles.
I wonder how many hart trophies Gretz wouldn’t have won if these people voting today were voting then. This is not to say helle wasn’t deserving this year there just seems to be a trend to where the impact of leading the league in points doesnt hold the same weight it once did by the voters.
Do the same people vote on the first and second team all-stars and the awards? Or are they two different groups voting?
Hey MB4, Pickard got a piece of Bennett’s shot, which then hits crossbar, game & likely series saving save. Not trying to nit pick, just giving Pickard some credit.
Happy to see Marchand playing better and getting recognized again for the type of player he is. But F the Panthers. Can’t stand those guys.
Not a fan of tenders winning the Hart, they don’t play enough games IMO. McDavid was tied for 2nd in PTS/Game but missed a bunch at 67 games played, so wasn’t considered. Fair enough and makes sense, but he played more than Helley.
Also WPG had the best goaltending environment in the NHL according to Kevin Woodley who does the deepest dive into tenders. So I value his opinion. Great consistent tender, I get it, but MVP? Any of Mac, Kuch or Drai would have been better choices IMO.
Ray Bark – Bucky is not a poplular figure around the league right now. He was the starting American goalie at 4-nations, he fell apart in the playoffs, he turned people off when he said that he has studied goaltending more than anyone else in history (what an American thing to say). All these things are true – it is also true that he had a hell of a season.
Helle played more minutes than anyone else in the league even when you subtract the time the jets spent in the attacking zone. Nothing against Kucherov as he is also a deserving candidate for leading the league in scoring but Helle’s achievements this season were historic/unprecedented. Unprecedented is the only way a goalie gets the Hart.
an aside: knowing Hellebyck it is probably true that he has studied the art of goaltending extensively and maybe more than anyone. If there was a way to measure that I would bet on Tretiak to win that one.
While I would like to see Marchand score a game 7 OT winner, I would rather it be on his own net, and then he skates away ripping off his jersey to reveal the spoked B underneath…
That, TimP, would be outstanding!
It’s a good thing, I suppose, that awards like the Vezina and Hart don’t take into account playoff performances.
George O . I wonder if they don’t make this a new award . It might overtake the Hart trophy as the most prestigious award .
Can still have the regular season and playoffs award but combined one may be interesting .
Just a thought but will bet very slim chance with 32 teams and expansion looming someone would win all 3 . If so wow that would be an amazing achievement.
“That was one of the greatest Stanley Cup Final games I’ve ever seen.”
Thanks for rubbing that in Lyle. I missed the game due to the weird schedule. LOL
On Monday I made plans with the family for Thursday thinking that game 4 would be on Wednesday.
I got home minutes after the OT goal.
I typically don’t care about hockey once my team is elimination but this series is compelling. More plot twists than a Jed Mercurio story.
Go Oil!
And, how often will we see McDavid left off the all star selections and it doesn’t seem wrong?
How much do you all think the Panther’s paid Kelce and Swift to attend the game last night? LOL
KevJam,good marketing tool to draw fans in,especially with the awful market that the NBA is drawing in their finals.Hockey can use all the publicity they get with their tiny TV contract that is huge in the NBA,NFL and MLB.
She might know Jeff Skinner? I have no idea if accurate, but that’s the word around here.
There is a picture of Jeff Skinner giving Swift a Skinner Hurricanes jersey. Swift probably doesn’t remember it and/or doesn’t know that Skinner plays for the Oilers. lol
Congrats to Helleybuck.
No surprise; definitely deserved
Re Oil/Panthers…. 3 spectacular and fantastic viewing games; one out of control blow out
This series , now at 2-2 and now a best of 3; just due to the fact there was 3 OTs; could have been over last night; OR just as mathematically possible; Oilers up 3-1; going home for potential Cup win tomorrow
Appropriate at 2-2
Karma-wise; Oilers deserved the win last night:
Surprised no one has mentioned the missed the 2 high sticking calls (noting that 2 were called on Oilers in first) on Panthers; including the 3-0 goal : blatant high sticking not called; 1 second later, pass to front; 3-0; instead of 2-0 and Oilers on a PP
Then no call on the Bouchard boarding (even though refs chatted about it). As mentioned in broadcast, definitely not a head shot; but “ 100% a penalty, they missed that one”
Not in any way saying the missed calls were deliberate; just missed, and just speaking only re “Karma”; appropriate that Oil won and the series now tied
I expect nothing less than full tilt energy tomorrow night
The Refs got together to discuss if Booch shoud get an embellishment penalty.
Embellishment???
How do you “act” being hit from behind into boards?
Some of us choose not to dwell on “missed calls.” What absolute difference does it make after the fact to whine about it?
They are, simply put, part and parcel of pro sports, and the ONLY way you’re going to get to “call perfection: is if and when AI is factored in. And when that happens I stop watching.