Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle extends the league’s January hat trick record, plus the latest on Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Elias Lindholm, Pavel Zacha, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle had a four-point night, including a hat trick, in a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Zach Werenski and Mathieu Olivier each had two points for the Blue Jackets (26-20-7) as they extended their win streak to four games. Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi each had two points as the Blackhawks (21-25-9) are winless in their last five games (0-3-2).

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coyle’s hat trick extends the league record for the most hat tricks in a calendar month to 31. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets are 7-1-0 since Rick Bowness took over as their head coach.

Blackhawks rookie defenseman Artyom Levshunov was a healthy scratch as the coaching staff is working with him to “reset some foundational things” in his game. The 20-year-old Levshunov leads all Blackhawks blueliners with 21 points in 52 games, but he also has a team-worst plus/minus of minus-27.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang missed practice on Friday for medical reasons. Malkin has been dealing with a shoulder issue since early December, while Letang recently missed two games with an upper-body injury.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins forwards Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha are listed as day-to-day with upper-body injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm and Zacha could miss the Bruins’ Stadium Series game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Sunday.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Lightning, owner and team chairman Jeff Vinik suffered a major leg fracture in a snowmobile accident while traveling with his family in Norway. He is expected to make a full recovery.

GRAND FORKS HERALD: Former NHL defenseman Tucker Poolman is learning to live with the rare autoimmune disease that prematurely ended his playing career.

Poolman, 32, spent five seasons in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks before his career ended in 2022-23 when he was diagnosed with Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy (AAG), which attacks the autonomic nervous system.

Now living in Grand Forks, Poolman is on medication and coaching high school hockey. He and his family intend to move to Brainerd, Minnesota, in the summer.

THE SCORE: John Matisz recently reported on why Canada has fallen behind in goaltender development.

One reason is that today’s aspiring goaltenders are being overcoached to the point where technique is getting in the way of their instincts. Another is the high cost of equipment and travel expenses for major-junior goalies, and limited playing time.