NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 23, 2026
The Flyers take a commanding series lead over the Penguins, the Stars win in double overtime over the Wild, the Ducks tie their series with the Oilers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines
RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION
NHL.COM: The Philadelphia Flyers are on the verge of sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins following their 5-2 victory in Game 3 of their best-of-seven first-round series. Trevor Zegras and Noah Cates each had a goal and an assist while Dan Vladar stopped 28 shots for the Flyers, who can wrap up this series in Game 4 on Saturday, starting at 8 pm ET. Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson scored for the Penguins.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers drew on the energy from their fans, who were enjoying the first playoff game in Philadelphia since 2018. The Flyers were in the 2020 playoffs, which were held in a COVID bubble in Toronto.
A second-period scrum involving all five skaters from both clubs resulted in Zegras scoring his first NHL playoff goal on the ensuing power play, tying the game 1-1. The Flyers took over the game after that, putting them in a position to eliminate their archrival on Saturday.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby collected an assist on Malkin’s game-opening goal to become the fifth-highest-scoring player in NHL playoff history with 202 points.
Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston scored in double overtime to give his club a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild, and a 2-1 lead in their opening-round series. Stars forwards Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene each had a goal and two assists, and Jake Oettinger made 28 saves. Marcus Johansson, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Michael McCarron replied for the Wild. Game 4 will be in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Saturday at 5:30 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Marcus Foligno claimed the Stars couldn’t hang with his club at 5-on-5. He has a point, as the Stars tallied three of their four goals (including Johnston’s game-winner) on the power play, but that’s also an indictment of the Wild’s penalty killing. Of the Stars’ nine goals in this series, six have come with the man advantage.
Wild forwards Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin missed this game due to injuries. Zuccarello’s been sidelined by an upper-body injury after playing in Game 1, while Trenin left Game 2 with an upper-body injury.
The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-4 to knot their first-round series at one game apiece. Cutter Gauthier snapped a 4-4 tie and finished the game with two goals and an assist, Alex Killorn had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Poehling tallied twice for the Ducks. Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, but teammate Connor McDavid was held off the scoreboard for the second straight game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid briefly left this game with an ankle injury. He downplayed it after the game, claiming it was fine. What isn’t fine is Edmonton’s power play, which has been held scoreless in six opportunities thus far. Oilers forward Jason Dickinson missed this game with an undisclosed injury.
Anaheim goaltender Lukas Dostal stopped 33 goals for his first NHL postseason victory. Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas missed this contest with an undisclosed injury.
This series moves to Anaheim for the next two games, with Game 3 on Friday at 10 pm ET.
HEADLINES
MLIVE.COM: Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman and head coach Todd McLellan will address the media today.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This will dispel speculation about whether both men might lose their jobs after the Red Wings extended their playoff drought to 10 years.
TSN: Hall of Famer Chris Pronger said he has not spoken with the Toronto Maple Leafs about the role of general manager.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken general manager Jason Botterill and team CEO Tod Leiweke said they’ll leave “no stone unturned” in their efforts to improve the franchise. Botterill said that head coach Lane Lambert will be retained.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That dispels conjecture about the futures of Botterill and Lambert after the Kraken missed the playoffs for the third straight season.
TSN: Washington Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin underwent surgery on an ACL tear in his right knee on Tuesday. He will be sidelined between six to nine months.
ROTOWIRE: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous travelled with the team to Montreal. D’Astous was sidelined with an undisclosed injury after he was hit by Canadiens winger Josh Anderson in Game 1.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven could return to the lineup for Game 3 of their first-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s been sidelined with a broken jaw since Apr. 2.
TSN: Former NHL forward Trevor Lewis announced his retirement.
Lewis spent 17 seasons in the NHL, 14 of those with the Los Angeles Kings, with whom he won two Stanley Cup championships. He also spent two seasons with the Calgary Flames and one season with the Winnipeg Jets. From 2006-07 to 2024-25, he had 104 goals and 133 assists for 237 points in 1,034 games, and 28 points in 106 playoff contests.
Getting LD Kleven back tonight will certainly help solidify the 3rd pairing, and if RD Zub is also good to go (he’s a game-time decision), that would give the Senators their complete normal D set-up in these playoffs.
In that event Sanderson-Zub would be rthe first pairing, Chabot-Spence the second, and Kleven-Matinpalo the third, with Thomson likely dressed as the 7th D.
If Zub isn’t ready yet, it’ll be Sanderson-Matinpalo – Chabot-Spence – Kleven-Thomson, with maybe LD Gilbert dressed as the 7th D.
One way or the other, they need their best effort all-around tonight, including no brain-fart dumb penalties to prevent falling into the Penguins’ hopeless situation.
A few days ago in the Round 1 predictions thread, several picked Pittsburgh in 7. Still a possibility I guess … but boy, talk about doing things the hard way.
But let’s give the Flyers some credit here. There’s a reason they were the hottest team — in the league — over each team’s final 20 games of the season and in their case it was virtually a playoff atmosphere throughout.
I’m not surprised they’re up 3-0.
For the record, the only ones to see the Flyers winning this series were tommyboy, 1Oilersfan and Lyle & his colleagues in The Bleacher Report.
Hmm George,
I picked the Flyers to win also.
I also picked the Sens to beat Carolina.
Sorry about that habfan30 – when I posted that above I was looking back only at the April 18 thread 2026 Stanley Cup First Round Predictions thread.
Your Flyers pick must have been in another thread that day – or another day.
I’m. Ot convinced Zub will even be close for tonight. He hasn’t skated since his injury, which is so weird as I originally thought it was upper body. Regardless, if Kleven can get back in, it helps tremendously. Hopefully home ice will give them the energy and matchups they need to beat a good team. An early goal would be great. Stutzle was snake bitten last game, so an early goal by him to get the barn rocking and vibes high would be fantastic.
I’m out in Victoria BC, so it’s always tricky getting home from work to see the eastern games, but this one will be a must watch.
Not to toot my own horn too much George but I also predicted the flyers to beat the Pens (April 15th thread i think). I saw the flyers play towards the end of the season a couple of times and they were playing great hockey. Tochet has that team playing hard and solid defensively l. Vladar has really stepped up.
Go SensGo😃
Interesting to see how teams respond at home. If the game gets away from itself like Boston 4-0 the other night the Buffalo crowd went absolute silent and there was even some booing of the home crowd to their team! Looks like 2 great series being Minnesota./ Dallas and Montreal/ TB likely to go 7!
@George
Bad luck is the only way to describe the Ottawa series
I have never witnessed a nhl playoff where teams are so evenly balanced ..
Who knows , Anaheim might even upset the Oilers, talk about a stir in the hockey world if this were to happen
Montreal is vastly improved , a predicted lengthy series
To get has Philadelphia firing on all cylinders .. I am not a Dubas fan
Bostons retool has been more than effective
The Minnesota vs Dallas series is do evenly matched
Will Tortorella explode if this series turns to Utah’s favour
If the Oilers lose, the stir should be the immediate
firing of their ENTIRE management crew.
Who knew that a CEO that got all his experience in
Toronto would not know about winning.
Seems like a bit of an over reaction Alan.
It’s hockey, upsets happen sometimes. So even if they do lose this series, freaking out probably isn’t a good plan.
When over the last 2 years, and 8 rounds of playoffs, have the Oilers ever started a series 2-0? They have won 6 of those.
Oilers have scored 4 even strength goals in each game. You should win both of those if they defend to their capability. They haven’t. Turn overs, with their best player making the most egregious one last night.
The best PP in the NHL over the last 5 or so years doesn’t have a goal. Not normal. Fair to expect it turn around.
McDavid doesn’t have a point. Guess is he is putting too much pressure on himself and squeezing it a little. As soon as he sets up a goal, he will calm down and off he goes. Again.
I would drop $100 on the Oil to win this series without too much concern. Solid bet.
Thankfully the Oil don’t panic as easily as some of the fans, sheesh. Stay out of the dressing room Alan!
Unless, McDavid is hobbled. Fair to say that would be a problem.
My guess is they play better on the road, kinda like they usually do come playoff time.
Bruins .. even pick tonight thought the Bruins would be a favorite I believe they are 4-2 thus far against the Sabres this season .. Bruins strong forechecking … score on PP and shutdown PK … don’t allow Buff long stretches on time in the B’s D Zone will go a long way of getting them to next round
Bruins …. Sweeney do over at trade deadline ..
brought in a Dman with size and toughness that plays D in front of net for the end of regular season and the playoffs ?
If the bruins win tonight this might be a quicker series than most thought, what I can’t understand is the Pitts/flyers series I thought that would go 6 or 7 but I think Philly is sweeping. And hopefully he’s not playing hurt but if Connor’s labouring that would be a disaster for the oilers. Looking forward to the game tonight.