NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 2, 2022
The Oilers match their longest home win streak, the Sabres honor long-time broadcaster Rick Jeanneret, the three stars and top rookie for March are announced and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers tied their franchise-record home win streak at nine games with a 6-5 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues, who overcame 4-1 and 5-3 deficits to force the extra period. Connor McDavid scored twice, including the game-winner. Zach Hyman also had two goals and Evander Kane had a three-point night for the Oilers (83 points) as they sit one point back of the second-place Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division. Pavel Buchnevich tallied twice for the Blues, who are in third place in the Central Division with 84 points.
Buffalo Sabres honor broadcaster Rick Jeanneret (NHL.com).
The Buffalo Sabres honored long-time broadcaster Rick Jeanneret with a pre-game banner ceremony before going on to defeat the Nashville Predators 4-3. Jeanneret, the voice of the Sabres since 1971, is retiring at the end of this season. Tage Thompson scored twice for the Sabres while Ryan Johansen had two assists for the Predators, who remain in the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 82 points.
Jack Eichel scored two goals to lead the Vegas Golden Knights to a 5-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Evgenii Dadonov collected two assists as the Golden Knights regained the second Western wild-card spot with 80 points.
The Tampa Bay Lightning got two goals from Ross Colton to down the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. Colton and Nick Paul each finished the night with three points as the Lightning picked up their fourth straight victory to move into second place in the Atlantic Division with 92 points. During a break in the action, the Lightning honored Blackhawks forward Tyler Johnson with a video tribute. Johnson was a member of the Bolts for nine seasons before being traded last summer to the Blackhawks.
New York Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov made 27 saves to shut out the New York Rangers 3-0. Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin and Mathew Barzal were the goal scorers. The Rangers (93 points) remain one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins in second place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Anaheim Ducks got a 22-save shutout from Anthony Stolarz to blank the Arizona Coyotes 5-0. Trevor Zegras netted his second lacrosse-style goal of the season while Isac Lundestrom tallied twice and picked up an assist as the Ducks snapped their 11-game winless skid.
Ottawa Senators forward Mathieu Joseph scored his first NHL hat trick in a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Mads Sogaard made 27 saves for his first NHL victory. Lucas Raymond netted both Red Wings goals.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi, Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau, and Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky are the NHL’s three stars for March 2022. Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield was named rookie of the month.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Josi had 28 points in 14 games through March to overtake the Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar as the leading scorer among defensemen with 81 points. The Predators captain is making a strong case for his second Norris Trophy. Caufield, meanwhile, continues to blossom since Martin St. Louis took over as Canadiens coach in February, picking up 15 points in as many games last month.
TWINCITIES.COM: Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov could break the franchise single-season points record in tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. With 83 points, Kaprizov is tied with Marian Gaborik.
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: An illness could bring Flyers defenseman Keith Yandle’s 989-game Ironman streak to an end if he’s unable to suit up tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yandle broke the original Ironman record of 964 earlier this season.
While that was a nice NHL debut for the giant (6′ 7″) Mads Sogaard in goal for the Senators last night, I hope fans don’t get ahead of themselves in expectations. Regardless of whether Murray comes back to start another season in the nets or not, Sogaard will be the starter in Belleville for at least one more season.
They can, however, be enthusiastic about Mathieu Joseph who is going to be a fixture at RW. And this is motivated not just by the hat-trick but also the beautiful short-handed set-up for Watson’s opening goal. Nice pick-up from Tampa Bay in the Nick Paul deal (who’s also settling in nicely with the Cup champions – although retaining him beyond this season could be problematic in terms of cap space).
Hey, George
I’m very familiar with Sogaard having watched his entire junior career.
No doubt in my mind that you have a good one in Mads. Good kid. Good goalie.
No doubt he’s the best among their goalie depth ShoreOrrPark – taken 37th overall in Round 2 of the 2019 draft – he only turns 22 next Dec, so another start in the AHL with Belleville won’t do him any hard … but he’ll be up again sometime next season and this time to stay.
Behind him they have Kevin Mandolese, from Cape Breton in the Q, now at Belleville, Michael McNiven, plucked off the waiver list from Montreal somewhere in their system, and Leevi Merilainen from Finland, currently with Kingston of the OHL.
And, of course, Gustavsson – another huge goalie back down in Belleville where he’d better re-find his game or he’ll be history.
And still in the mix is Matt Murray who, frustratingly, has had some damned good outings this season but who just can’t stay off the IR – and always for something different, and Anton Forsberg, just re-signed before hitting UFA status.
But Sogaard is the bright hope for the future from everything I’ve heard around here.
I hear he had to make sure his parents were up early in the morning in Denmark to watch his debut in Detroit.
That first Detroit goal he’d probably like to have back … but after that he was solid.
The senators are so bad even their hockey cards are blank.
Binnington was pulled after giving up 4 goals to the Oilers in the 1st—-I’m afraid that the only solution is a demotion ($6 million) to Springfield and promote Charlie Lindgren. Binnington’s freefall is hard to understand, and harder to watch.
Hi IP
He certainly did not look great last night….. but Oil were certainly pressing
BTW …I love the high scoring games
Pengy, maybe all the more reason to keep Ruhwedel in the line-up – if you like high-scoring games wouldn’t that make it necessary to Pittsburgh to pile up the goals if he’s as bad as you say. 🙂
Hi George
No… no advantage , and buckets of disadvantages for having him in the line up
Pens are not built to out gun the likes of the Avs
Best we can hope for (If Sully still stubbornly refuses to sit him) is CR only on ice when JJ is
Yes CR is that bad
He does reasonably well after being in press box for a month or so…. He gets perspective and where to play….. he started out the year OK….
Since early Jan, his wandering (into Dmate’s corner while D-Mate already engaged with puck carrier, AND leaving his own man uncovered in-front of net) has tremendously increased. His unforced icing…. Has increased. His break-out passes…. Getting worse. On the occasions that he is actually “with” his man in-front of Jarry or DeSmith…. he almost always lets the forward get the upper hand position on him
The point is… Sully has options…. Pettersson, Freidman, P-O J….. and he’s not using those options; to the detriment of the team
I have seen every single Pens game this year…. Sully has sat (during games) EVERY single D-Man (Tanger included) multiple times…. Multiple times
He has sat CR for one single pairing shift all year
Even in games when CR was to blame for multiple GAs…. Which has happened at least 6 times…. Sully doesn’t sit him
Something is up
Re: Binnington
The Blues Starter Goaltender has a
“No Trade clause”
for the Next 5 years after this Year.❗️
-1 year at $6. Mill
-2 years at $7.5 Mil
-2 years at $6. Mill
Villi Husso the Blues UFA Goaltender wants to be a Starter and will have lots interest in July i dont think the Blues can afford both…..⁉️
Caught the Oil game last night
I’m still in awe watching McD….. kid can fly. For sure the most talented and best hockey player on the planet right now
Oil acquisition of Kane…. (1 G 2 A last night ) has certainly been a great investment…
His 82 G pace….. 44-27-71 and +38…… and he adds grit.
Actual cash outlay by Oil ~ $900 K….. Cap hit $2.1 M
Re Leafs v Flyers… Do NOT go into this game with overconfidence…. You (Leafs) don’t have tha back end to support over-confidence
Pens in the Mile High city…. Sully…. I can’t stress how easy this prudent and logical move is…. I don’t know what compromising material he has on you… but you must put the best roster forward when playing on the road v the league’s top teams.
I don’t know why you refuse to sit him …. 3 goals all on him from last two games v Rangers; another one on him v Wild
You can’t be putting him in there for offence…. He is absolutely lowest PPG for all Pens playing more than 3 games this year
You can’t be playing him because he clears the front of the net….. first of all…. He mostly forgets where the front of the net is; but when he does randomly find himself in front of Jarry or DeSmith…. He can’t physically move the forwards out… he just can’t
You can’t be playing him for his crisp breakout passes…. Least accurate on the team
You can’t be playing him for his multiple unforced icings per game… who would?
You can’t be playing him due to injuries….. you made Pettersson a healthy scratch…. And he is far better. You also have the option of P-O-J
You can’t be playing him because you want Leftie- Rightie balance… as you’ve played him on LD and RD; and you have had him out there (sporadic shifts) with Tanger and Marino…. So doubling up on Righties
Freidman has certainly played his way on to the roster…. Play him
So…. then the most logical thing to do is have your other Dman be either Pettersson or PO-J
No one challenges that the man isn’t a nice person; no one challenges that he is not a good team-mate…..no one!!!!
What is so brutally apparent is that at the very best he is 9th on Pens D Depth chart; has been and continues to be costly on defence and for the whole team…. Yet you continue to play him
For the better of the team….. sit him for a couple of weeks (Pens need to hope and pray for home ice v Rangers) And for sure don’t play him in the playoffs …. You saw how costly he was vs those same Rangers
Pengy, what did you do? Keep the comments posted on Johnson and just resurrect them and simply exchange Ruhwedel for Johnson (even though you don’t mention him by name I think we all know who you mean)? Sure looks like that.
Come on, man, it is getting monotonous – and be certain that no one associated with the Penguins is reading this stuff.
I’m hoping they are reading it…. LOL
Sully seems to be either completely blind (to him) or somehow has been compromised (blackmailed) by him
There is no other comprehensible reason for a coach to do this
Pens fans already witnessed two series out in round 1 repeatedly playing a player that costs games
Sully was asked repeatedly by his assistant coaches NOT to play JJ…. he did…. That mistake cost the series
Then those coaches got fired
I’m really hoping Burkie has a heart-to-heart with Sully on this…. This type of player is exactly what Burkie despises
If he is played today…. Perhaps there can be a gettlemen’s agreement between coaches…. Only timeJJ is on ice is when CRis and visa versa…. Evens the tables
Who said, “once you begin to think like fans, you’ll end up sitting with them?
Holds true.
Pengy, one Leaf who will be under watchful eyes is Jack Campbell, who’s expected to start vs the Flyers. Be interesting to see how the Fs handle the back-checking duties.
I have no doubt they’ll beat Philadelphia – but if the game is one of those hell-bent-for-election 7-4 type results that won’t do his state of mind any good.
Hi Ron
Not sure…. Who did say it
Hi George
Yes I like high scoring games
Yes… 7-4 , 7-5 , 7-6…. For Campbell not good
We’ll see how things go
Ron, I believe that was NFL coach Buddy Ryan who said “If you listen to the fans, you’ll be sitting up there with them.”
Pengy, you mean like the Florida-NJ game this afternoon – 7-6 Florida – whoof – and Brobovskly was in for all 6 goals with Knight coming in to stop the last 6 Jersey shots.
Defense was only a rum,or in that one.
It has been reported that Yandle will be a “healthy scratch” tonight.
Hi FD…. They actually said “Healthy Scratch” vs “Scratched due to non-Covid related illness”?
Reports were out that he was sick but not with Covid
I’m guessing Phill is happy???
Penny, I’m sure you’ve seen it by now but just incase…
https://www.tsn.ca/keith-yandle-philadelphia-flyers-ironman-streak-ending-1.1779884
Thanks FD
Yes I’d seen that but actually on TV yesterday they had said that he had got sick over the road trip and was likely going to miss today’s game ending the streak
Just watched them discuss it now and “healthy scratch” by definition is a scratch when not on IR, LTIR, but CAN include non Covid related illness
Either way… he’s luck he got this far…. Several times in his last few games as a Panther they were going to make him a healthy scratch but he lucked out 3 or 4 times with injuries to other D and a few “change of heart” (pressure??) decisions
No one is happier than Phill… if healthy… he’ll take over #1 in late October
Still nothing in comparison to Jarvis… streak…. 964….. how many games did he play in …. 964…. Never missed a game
Ron, I believe that was NFL coach Buddy Ryan who said “If you listen to the fans, you’ll be sitting up there with them.”
*Pengy