NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 13, 2026
A milestone game for Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, the Islanders are eliminated from the playoff race, Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby face each other for the 100th time, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki scored and collected an assist to surpass 100 points in a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders, eliminating the latter from the playoff race. Alex Newhook and Zachary Bolduc also each had a goal and an assist, Lane Hutson had two assists, and Jacob Fowler made 30 saves for the 48-23-10 Canadiens, who sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 106 points. Casey Cizikas replied for the 43-33-5 Islanders.
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Suzuki is the fifth player in Canadiens history to reach the 100-point plateau, and the first to do so since Mats Naslund in 1985-86. Meanwhile, Hutson tied Larry Robinson for the most assists in a season (66) by a Canadiens defenseman.
The Habs called up defenseman David Reinbacher to replace blueliner Noah Dobson, who is out for at least two weeks with an upper-body (thumb) injury. Reinbacher collected an assist on Newhook’s goal for his first NHL point.
The Washington Capitals blanked the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 in the 100th head-to-head game between Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. Ovechkin collected an assist, Connor McMichael scored twice and picked up an assist, and Logan Thompson had a 24-save shutout for the 42-30-9 Capitals (93 points), who are one point behind the 41-27-12 Philadelphia Flyers (94 points) for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Stuart Skinner stopped 23 of 25 shots for the 41-24-16 Penguins (98 points), who have already clinched second place in the Metro Division.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is in the final season of his contract. Capitals fans chanted “one more year”, but the 40-year-old winger still hasn’t decided if he’ll return. Nevertheless, this game felt like it was the final matchup between Ovechkin and Crosby.
The Capitals kept their playoff hopes alive, but they must win their final game, while the Flyers must lose their last two games in regulation.
The Columbus Blue Jackets’ playoff hopes suffered a blow as they dropped a 3-2 decision to the Boston Bruins. Mark Kastelic snapped a 2-2 tie, Sean Kuraly had a goal and two assists, and Joonas Korpisalo stopped 33 shots for the 44-27-10 Bruins (98 points), who hold a one-point lead over the Ottawa Senators for the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Mason Marchment and Adam Fantilli replied for the Blue Jackets (40-29-12), who sit two points behind the Flyers, who hold a game in hand over the Blue Jackets and Capitals.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins top prospect James Hagens made his NHL debut and collected an assist. The Bruins also scratched veterans Charlie McAvoy, Pavol Zacha, Victor Arvidsson, and Hampus Lindholm from this game.
The Blue Jackets will be eliminated if the Flyers pick up one point in their final two games.
Speaking of the Senators, they fell to the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on an overtime goal by Nico Hischier, who finished with two goals and an assist. Dawson Mercer had a goal and an assist for the Devils. Michael Amadio, Shane Pinto, and Fabian Zetterlund scored for the Senators (43-27-11), who hold the second Eastern wild card with 97 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins and Senators have already punched their tickets to the postseason. Both clubs are now jockeying to determine who their first-round opponents will be. Both clubs have one game left.
Senators captain Brady Tkachuk missed this game with an undisclosed ailment, believed to be an upper-body injury suffered during Saturday’s 3-0 win over the Islanders. He will likely sit out their regular-season finale against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, but is expected to be ready for the upcoming playoffs.
An overtime goal by Marco Rossi lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-3 upset of the Anaheim Ducks. Rossi, Brock Boeser, and Jake DeBrusk each finished with a goal and an assist for the Canucks. Cutter Gauthier scored twice to reach the 40-goal plateau for the 42-32-6 Ducks, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 90 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier is the first Duck to score 40 goals in a season since Corey Perry in 2013-14. The Ducks can clinch a playoff berth if the Nashville Predators lose in any fashion to the San Jose Sharks on Monday. The Predators are four points behind the Ducks, with both clubs having two games left.
The Calgary Flames upset the Utah Mammoth 4-1. Brayden Pachal had a goal and two assists while Dustin Wolf kicked out 28 shots for the Flames. Lawson Crouse replied for the 42-32-6 Mammoth (90 points), who hold the first Western Conference wild-card spot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth clinched a playoff berth last week. This was defenseman MacKenzie Weegar’s first game in Calgary since he was dealt to the Mammoth before last month’s trade deadline. He received a warm standing ovation from Flames fans following a video tribute.
IN OTHER NEWS…
THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar will miss the next two games after suffering facial fractures and a corneal abrasion from being struck by a puck during Saturday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: The Sabres hope to have Noah Ostlund back for the playoffs. The 22-year-old rookie forward missed the last eight games with an upper-body injury.
SPORTSNET: Hockey Night in Canada broadcaster Scott Oake signed off for the last time on Saturday. The long-time host of the program’s “After Hours” interview show began his broadcasting career in the 1970s and has worked with Hockey Night in Canada since the 1980s.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oake will devote his time running The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, named in honor of his son, who died in 2011 after struggling with addiction, and the Anne Oake Recovery Centre, which is under construction and will offer 75 beds for women in recovery.
Best wishes to Oake and his family in his new endeavors.
Needed those two pts. Do not want to play Tampa or Colorado, auto out, but I do think the bruins stand a good chance with either Carolina or Buff.. Hagens fit right in I just wish they would have stuck him in a couple of games sooner, nice passes, played a sound game had an assist and almost had a goal. This could change before the end of the week but right now looks like Boston is in the top Wild card slot Ottawa’s second.
The Bruins can’t face Colorado in the 1st rd because they are in different conferences. They will face whoever wins the Atlantic or Metropolitan Division depending on which wildcard position they hold.
Not only did Tkachuk sit that one out in Jersey, so too did their leading points producer Stutzle, along with D Sanderson, Chabot and Kleven and goalie Ullmark (he was the back-up).
Other established playoff teams will be doing that over their final games, but only out of necessity (one would hope) if they’re playing against a team still fighting to get in.
For example tonight in the East, where a Flyers win would eliminate both Washington and Columbus (an OT/SO point also puts Columbus out), the Habs have to go with their best line-up.
Out West, 4 teams are still in the hunt for the second WC spot – currently held by L.A. with 87 points and who have 3 games left – Nashville, with 2 to go, sits 1 back with 86, while Winnipeg and San Jose are both 5 b/o of L.A., and also with 3 game each to go.
Tonight, San Jose & Nashville go head to head in Tennessee so no one gets a night off there. A loss of any sort by San Jose eliminates them, while a loss by the Predators does not mean elimination unless L.A. wins their game tonight in Seattle, who also need to dress their best line-up for that one. Same with Vegas who host the Jets tonight.
George
I think the habs will put the line up that is best for them going into the playoffs. If they decide to rest players that is a strategic choice. Not one to help another team get in or out. I think same applies to all teams On a separate note. Looks like leafs tanked enough to keep their pic from bruins which sucks for my bruins
Weird look as Tkachuk got the baby deer legs after taking a stick to the neck. Some say there’s some sort of Vulcan Nerve Pinch in there that happened to him.
Other’s are saying vertigo. It better not be. Vertigo can take a lifetime to go away. Ask David Duval.
Round one seats per game in the 300’s for season ticket holders are 111$. Tax in. No parking.
GO SENS GO
Canes year?Can they avoid Tampa ECF?
2025 lost to Russian goalie
2024 lost to Russian goalie
2023 lost to Russian goalie
2022 lost to Russian goalie
2021 lost to Russian goalie
The Tkachuk injury was a strange one. Contact didn’t seem that bad but he was wobbled. Hopefully not a concussion. Does league still have spotters? Surprised he went back on ice after having trouble getting back to bench.