NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 15, 2026
Anze Kopitar is the Kings’ all-time points leader, the Stars tie their franchise points streak record, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour reaches a coaching milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar scored twice to become the franchise points leader in a 6-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Kopitar passed Marcel Dionne with his 1,308th career NHL regular-season point.
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).
Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists, and Brandt Clarke had three assists for the 27-24-15 Kings (69 points), who slipped one point out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Nico Hischier scored twice and set up two others for the Devils (33-31-2).
The Dallas Stars blew a 2-0 lead, but Thomas Harley’s overtime goal gave them a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings to tie their franchise-record points streak of 15 games. Wyatt Johnston had a goal and an assist, while Michael Bunting scored his first goal since being acquired by the Stars at the March 6 trade deadline. Simon Edvinsson and Lucas Raymond replied for the 36-23-8 Red Wings, who cling to the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 80 points. Meanwhile, the Stars (42-14-10) hold second place in the Western Conference with 94 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings activated winger David Perron off injured reserve for this game. He’d been recovering from a sports hernia since Jan. 20. The Wing acquired Perron from the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline.
Carolina Hurricanes forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho each had a goal and an assist to double up the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in Rod Brind’Amour’s 600th career NHL regular-season game as a head coach. Jordan Martinook tallied the winning goal for the 42-18-6 Hurricanes as they sit atop the Eastern Conference with 90 points. Yanni Gourde and Charle-Edouard D’Astous scored for the 40-21-4 Lightning, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 84 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Lightning announced that defenseman Declan Carlile will miss the next four to five weeks with a lower-body injury.
Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist to reach the 30-goal plateau for the eighth time in his career in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Mark Scheifele collected two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 28 shots for the 27-28-10 Jets. Martin Necas scored for the Avalanche (44-12-9), who sit first in the overall standings with 97 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns played in his 990th consecutive NHL regular-season game, moving into second place on the league’s Ironman rankings. Phil Kessel leads with 1,064.
The Buffalo Sabres got the game-tying goal from Jack Quinn, who also scored the shootout winner to nip the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Owen Power also scored in regulation for the 41-20-6 Sabres, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 88 points. Dakota Joshua and Max Domi scored for the 28-27-12 Maple Leafs.
Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev tallied twice and collected an assist as his club blanked the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Adin Hill turned in a 21-save shutout while Mitch Marner and Mark Stone each had two assists for the Golden Knights (31-22-14), who regained first place in the Pacific Division with 76 points. Spencer Knight stopped 28 of 32 shots for the 25-30-11 Blackhawks.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin kicked out 46 shots in a 4-2 upset of the Minnesota Wild. Vladislav Gavrikov had a goal and two assists for the 28-30-8 Rangers. Matt Boldy and Danila Yurov scored for the Wild (38-17-12), who sit third in the Central Division with 88 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild captain Jared Spurgeon played in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game. He’s spent his entire 16-season NHL career with the Wild. Meanwhile, the Rangers activated team captain J.T. Miller off injured reserve for this game.
The San Jose Sharks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. Macklin Celebrini had two goals and an assist, and Collin Graf had a goal and two assists for the Sharks (32-26-6), as they regained the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 70 points. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki replied for the 36-19-10 Canadiens, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 82 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks forward Igor Chernyshov left the game in the first period when his face struck the ice following a hit from Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation and travelled with the club to Ottawa following the game for their Sunday game against the Ottawa Senators.
Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher was a healthy scratch for the first time in his 14-season NHL career. He’s expected to return to the lineup for Sunday’s matchup with the Anaheim Ducks.
Speaking of the Senators and Ducks, Linus Ullmark had a 23-save shutout to give Ottawa a 2-0 win over Anaheim. Michael Amadio and Thomas Chabot scored for the Senators (33-23-9). Ville Husso stopped 27 of 29 shots for the 36-27-3 Ducks, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 75 points.
A shootout goal by Fraser Minten gave the Boston Bruins a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Charlie McAvoy tallied twice for the 37-23-6 Bruins, who moved into the first Eastern wild-card spot with 80 points. Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin replied for the Capitals (33-27-8).
New York Islanders forward Simon Holmstrom scored twice as his club held off the Calgary Flames 3-2. Casey Czikas also scored while David Rittich turned aside 30 shots for the Islanders (38-24-5), who remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 81 points. Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman scored for the 26-33-7 Flames.
The Pittsburgh Penguins downed the Utah Mammoth 4-3. Noel Acciari broke a 3-3 tie while Anthony Mantha had a goal and an assist for the 33-18-15 Penguins, who hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 81 points. Dylan Guenther scored two goals for the Mammoth (34-27-6) as they hold the first Western wild card with 74 points.
Bobby McMann scored twice and picked up an assist in his debut with the Seattle Kraken in a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. McMann was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline. Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle each had three points for the Kraken (30-26-9) as they ended a four-game losing skid and sit one point behind the Sharks for the final Western wild-card berth. Evander Kane and Marco Rossi replied for the 20-38-8 Canucks.
The Columbus Blue Jackets pushed their points streak to nine games with a 2-1 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Kirill Marchenko scored in regulation and also tallied the game-winner for the 34-21-11 Blue Jackets, who are one point behind the Red Wings for the final Eastern wild card. Alex Bump replied for the 31-23-12 Flyers.
Late yesterday afternoon after Ottawa won 2-0 over Anaheim, I posted that and added the wish for a perfect day that losses come for Boston against Washington, the Islanders against Calgary, Columbus against Philadelphia, Detroit against Dallas and Pittsburgh against Utah.
Well, not only did Boston, NYI, Columbus and Pittsburgh each win, three were those damned 3-pointers – a point each for Washington and Philadelphia also still in the playoff mix – as well as for Detroit in their loss to Dallas.
Oh, and I didn’t win the 649 lottery either. If wishes were fishes we’d all cast nets. 🙂
Georgie I’m afraid your sens are dust in the wind. Mama-san how bout the bs!? Charlie has been incredible lately. in the ahl Providence that got multiple goals, from Soderstrom and Ty Gallagher. ty had a hat trick not that up about Soderstrom, Gallagher on the other hand might be someone to keep an eye out for. Providence now leading the league with 91pts. Chicka a boom.
If they lose later this afternoon to San Jose, La Pomme de Jean, I’m afraid you’re right.
But a win and they are 2 b/o Columbus, 3 b/o Detroit – with a game in hand – 3 b/ Boston, and 4 b/ NYI – again with a game in hand.
But let;s wait until they at least play the game.
6 games today/tonight with these *8 of the 12 teams all playing the second of a back-to-back:
StL @ *Winnipeg
*San Jose @ *Ottawa
*Anaheim @ *Montreal
*Toronto @ *Minnesota
Nashville @ Edmonton
Florida @ *Seattle
GeorgeO is OT even worth it anymore? Yesterday Boston/ Washington went to 18 shooters in the shootout before the game was decided. Both goalies could barely stand up. Is the wear and tear worth it,not to mention Ot loss points. Wonder what the readers feelings are on this.
Personally, Sr, I’d much rather go back to the straightforward ties of years past. If tied at the end of regulation, play a 5-minute sudden-death OT full strength (with penalties factored in of course) and if still tied at the end, each gets a point.
I have NO interest in contrived nonsense like 3 points for a regulation win, 2 if in OT.
But I’m not naive. I know it’s almost guaranteed that, if they ever do make changes in the way points are awarded, it will wind up with some convoluted crap like that.
I don’t mind the 5 minutes OT hate the shootout. No team sport event should be decided by a skills event. After watching the Bruins and Caps I like 4 on 4 better. Straight action, no skating backwards to change the lines, more action to get the puck not laying back.
Lyle Habs actually have 82 points now not 80.
Fixed
The current point system was contrived to actually give more of an appearance of “parity”, keeping the standings closer and at a higher inflated numbers because of the loser point. The 3 pts for a win in regulation would give a little more separation in the standings. However, the old system of actually recording ties seems to be a way a traditional “purist” would want.
To my way of thinking, Johnny Z … and, yes, I am one of those “dinosaur purists” … once the jockeying-for-position” stage of a season kicked in, you’d see far more intensity in a 5-minute OT from those teams absolutely needing 2 points.
George, or is it Dino? 😉
Your word not mine! 😁
I prefer Tyrranie. 🙂