NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 19, 2026

by | Mar 19, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 19, 2026

Sidney Crosby returns to action for the Penguins, Alex Ovechkin ties another scoring record, the latest from the general managers’ meetings, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: A seven-goal third period set the stage for Sean Walker’s overtime goal from a beautiful set-up by Sebastian Aho as the Carolina Hurricanes nipped the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-5. Jackson Blake had a goal and two assists while Nikolaj Ehlers collected three assists for the Hurricanes (43-19-6), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 92 points. Erik Karlsson scored twice and picked up an assist, and Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist in his return to action for the 34-18-16 Penguins, who are in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 84 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby suffered a lower-body injury during the Olympics that sidelined him for 11 games. Before this game, the league fined Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis $5,000 for high-sticking Columbus Blue Jackets winger Conor Garland on Tuesday.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tallied his 25th goal of the season, and Cole Hutson scored in his NHL debut in a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. Logan Thompson made 34 saves for the Capitals (34-27-8). Tim Stutzle replied for the 34-24-9 Senators (77 points), who remain five points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin reached the 25-goal plateau for the 20th time, tying him with Gordie Howe for the most in league history. In case you’re wondering, he holds the record for the most 30-goal seasons with 19. Hutson is the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson.

A shootout goal by Wyatt Johnston lifted the Dallas Stars over the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Jake Oettinger stopped 33 shots, and Jason Robertson scored for the 43-15-10 Stars, who sit in second place in the overall standings with 96 points. Cale Makar tallied his 20th goal of the season for the Avalanche (44-13-10), who hold first overall with 98 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Entering 2026, the Avalanche were so far ahead in the overall standings that some observers wondered if they’d break the Boston Bruins’ 2022-23 record for the most wins (65) and points (135). However, they’ve stumbled since Jan. 4 with a record of 13 wins, 11 losses, and three overtime losses.

The Philadelphia Flyers upset the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 on an overtime goal by Noah Cates. Dan Vladar kicked out 34 shots while Luke Glendening and Owen Tippett scored in regulation for the 32-23-12 Flyers. Cutter Gauthier had a goal and an assist for the 37-27-4 Ducks, who hold first place in the Pacific Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Trevor Zegras’ first game in Anaheim since being traded last summer to the Philadelphia Flyers. He spent five seasons with the Ducks and received a loud ovation from the fans when a tribute video was played during a TV timeout.

Before this game, the Ducks announced that forward Ross Johnston will miss the next three to four weeks with a lower-body injury. Meanwhile, Ducks play-by-play man Steve Carroll will retire at the end of this season. He’s been calling their games for 27 seasons.

A shootout goal by Joel Farabee gave the Calgary Flames a 2-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Connor Zary scored in regulation while Devin Cooley turned aside 26 shots for the 27-34-7 Flames. Dylan Holloway replied for the 27-30-11 Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blues matched a league record with three successful coach’s challenges.

New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes had a goal and two assists to lead his team over the New York Rangers by a score of 6-3. Connor Brown also had a goal and two assists for the 35-31-2 Devils. Mika Zibanejad, Vladislav Gavrikov, and Conor Sheary scored for the 28-32-8 Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speaking of Hughes, he wasn’t happy that his Olympic “golden goal” puck and that of Team USA women’s team scorer Megan Keller were being held in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He called it “bulls**t” and felt the pucks belonged to the players who scored those goals.

Hughes walked back his comments on Thursday, claiming he’s honored that the puck is in the Hall. “It’s like the most special place in hockey,” Hughes said. “So yeah, I’m honored that it’s there. Obviously, I think things were taken crazy (this week). That’s just the way I felt.”

Meanwhile, Hockey Hall of Fame curator Phillip Pritchard said the puck “was never Jack’s to own.” He explained that the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation stage the Olympic Games. Since 1998, the IIHF has been responsible for collecting, authenticating, and preserving items from the Olympic and world championship tournaments. It was the IIHF that officially donated Hughes’ golden goal puck to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Players who score milestone goals in the NHL are typically allowed to keep the pucks and gear for themselves. The Hall will frequently request items for its collection, but there’s no guarantee that the player or team will donate them.

That’s why Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin kept the puck from his record-breaking 895th goal last season. However, he donated his gear from that game to the Hall last summer.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman continues to swat aside calls for changes to the playoff format, claiming he’s “more than comfortable” with the current setup. Bettman made those remarks to reporters as this week’s three-day meetings of general managers wrapped up on Wednesday.

Things got a bit spicy during the GM meetings when Anaheim Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek sought further clarification on a controversial goaltender interference ruling that went against his team in a recent game against the Ottawa Senators. He reportedly didn’t sound very satisfied with what he heard.

Russia’s participation in the 2028 World Cup of Hockey remains in doubt if that country’s war with Ukraine continues. Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly denied a report from Czechia claiming Sweden, Finland, and Czechia wouldn’t participate if Russia does.

Bettman also defended the department of player safety after it received widespread criticism for the five-game suspension handed to Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who is out for the rest of the season as a result.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bettman and Daly discussed other topics, but these were the main points worth passing along. Nothing of any real surprise, other than Verbeek raising a stink about the goaltender interference rule.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers placed winger Brad Marchand on long-term injury reserve with an undisclosed injury. He’s been sidelined since March 6, raising doubts as to whether he’ll return before the end of the season.

DAILY FACEOFF: The New York Islanders signed winger Cole Eiserman to an entry-level contract.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators signed forward Zachary L’Heureux to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $875,000.

HOCKEY 24/7: Penn State forward and potential 2026 first-overall draft pick Gavin McKenna is among the 10 candidates for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 18, 2026

by | Mar 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 18, 2026

Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov has a five-point game, Oilers center Leon Draisaitl is out for the rest of the regular season, Canadiens winger Cole Caufield tallied his 40th goal of the season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov scored a hat trick and collected two assists in a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Brandon Hagel had a goal and two assists for the Lightning (41-21-4), who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 86 points. Bobby McMann and Jared McCann replied for the 31-27-9 Kraken, who hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 71 points.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov overtook Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for second place in the scoring race with 111 points, sitting four points behind Edmonton Oilers captain Nathan MacKinnon.

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-3. Max Jones scored the tie-breaker, and Zach Hyman netted the insurance goal for the 34-26-9 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 77 points. Kiefer Sherwood and Dmitry Orlov each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (32-28-6), who sit one point behind the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Oilers announced that center Leon Draisaitl will miss the remainder of the regular season with a lower-body injury. Draisaitl sits second among Oilers scorers with 97 points and fourth among NHL scorers, so his absence will be a significant test for the Oilers as they attempt to nail down a playoff berth in the Western Conference.

An overtime goal by Cole Caufield lifted the Montreal Canadiens over the Boston Bruins 3-2. Caufield and Nick Suzuki each finished with a goal and an assist, while Jakub Dobes stopped 26 shots for the Canadiens (37-20-10) as they continue to hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 84 points. Pavel Zacha scored both goals for the 37-23-8 Bruins, who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 82 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time that Caufield has reached the 40-goal plateau, making him the first Canadien to do so since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94. Caufield also holds second place among NHL goal scorers this season, five goals behind Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon.

Before this game, the Canadiens announced that winger Kirby Dach would be sidelined for two to four weeks with an upper-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets pushed their points streak to 10 games with a 5-1 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. Charlie Coyle had a goal and three assists while Jet Greaves turned aside 27 shots for the red-hot Blue Jackets, who improved to 35-21-11 and sit one point behind the Bruins and the idle Detroit Red Wings in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Andrei Svechnikov scored for the Hurricanes (42-19-6) as they cling to first place in the East.

Speaking of red-hot teams, the Buffalo Sabres blanked the Vegas Golden Knights 2-0 to pick up their 10th win in their last 11 games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves for his first shutout of the season while Josh Doan and Josh Norris were the goal scorers as the Sabres (42-20-6) remain in second place in the Eastern Conference with 90 points. Adin Hill stopped 23 of 24 shots for the 31-23-14 Golden Knights, who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 76 points.

The Minnesota Wild blew a 3-1 lead before downing the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on an overtime goal by Mats Zuccarello. Marcus Johansson had a goal and two assists, and Brock Faber picked up three assists for the 39-18-12 Wild, who are in third place in the Central Division with 90 points. Frank Nazar and Louis Crevier each had a goal and an assist while Connor Bedard collected two assists for the 25-30-12 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek missed this game with a lower-body injury and is expected to remain sidelined for at least two more games.

New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal had three assists while Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Brayden Schenn scored his first goal since being acquired by the Islanders (39-24-5) at the trade deadline. The Isles sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points. Steven Lorentz replied for the 29-28-12 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Islanders announced the signing of defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson to a three-year entry-level contract. Aitcheson, 19, was chosen 17th overall by the Islanders in last year’s draft. He has 70 points in 54 games with the OHL’s Barrie Colts. The New York Post reports he’ll likely only play for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport once his junior season ends.

The Nashville Predators got a 36-save performance from goalie Juuse Saros to nip the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 on a shootout goal by Ryan O’Reilly. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist for the 30-28-9 Predators (69 points), who sit two points behind the Kraken for the final Western wild-card spot. Kyle Connor had three assists for the Jets (28-28-11), who are four points back of the Kraken.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson tallied twice to snap a 20-game goalless drought in a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Marco Rossi and Brock Boeser each had three points for the 21-38-8 Canucks. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett replied for the 33-31-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson also reached the 200-goal milestone in this game.

HEADLINES

TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews’ season-ending knee injury has NHL stars such as Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Matthews’ teammate John Tavares pushing for change in the NHL’s department of player safety.

Matthews was injured following a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas. A repeat offender, Gudas received a five-game suspension from the league, which Matthews’ agent called “laughable and preposterous”.

Department head George Parros defended his staff on Tuesday. He stood by the five-game suspension, expressing confidence in the hard work his staff puts in to reach their decisions.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That doesn’t excuse the fact that the DOPS got it wrong, very wrong, by handing Gudas what amounted to a slap on the wrist for ending Matthews’ season with a blatant cheapshot.

The on-ice officials made the right call by handing Gudas a major penalty and a game misconduct. However, Parros and his group made the latest in a long series of confusing decisions that have amounted to growing frustration and calls for change around the league. Whether anything will come of it remains to be seen.

ESPN.COM: New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes wants the Hockey Hall of Fame to give him back the puck from his gold-medal-winning overtime goal for Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“I’m trying to get it. Like, that’s bulls**t that the Hockey Hall of Fame has it, in my opinion. Why would they have that puck?” Hughes said, adding that he wants to give the puck to his father.

The Hockey Hall of Fame has begun displaying Hughes’ “golden goal” puck and that of Megan Keller, whose overtime goal won gold for Team USA’s Women’s hockey team. “I don’t see why Megan Keller or I shouldn’t have those pucks,” Hughes said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not a good look for Hughes. Those pucks represent two great moments in hockey history and are on display for all hockey fans to enjoy.

Keller hasn’t made a similar comment, leading one to assume that she has no issue with her golden goal being displayed in the Hall.

Sidney Crosby’s “golden goal” from the 2010 Winter Olympics has been on display in the HHoF for years. Crosby has never asked for it to be returned to him.

TSN: Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins forward Blake Lizotte will miss the last four weeks of the Penguins’ season with an upper-body injury.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed prospect center Cole Knuble to an entry-level contract. The 21-year-old is the son of former NHL forward Mike Knuble.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 17, 2026

by | Mar 17, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 17, 2026

Recaps of Monday’s action, the host cities for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey are announced, the three stars of the week are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Evgeni Malkin had two goals and an assist in his return from suspension to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 7-2 drubbing of the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. Erik Karlsson had a goal and two assists, and Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist for the 34-18-15 Penguins, who hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points. Nathan MacKinnon tallied his league-leading 45th goal of the season for the Avalanche (44-13-9).

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Malkin served a five-game suspension for slashing Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin. Brent Burns also scored for the Avalanche, netting his 271st career NHL regular- season goal to move past Bobby Orr into seventh place on the list of most goals by a defenseman.

Third-period goals by Jack McBain, Kailer Yamamoto, Michael Carcone, and Lawson Crouse lifted the Utah Mammoth over the Dallas Stars 6-3, snapping the latter’s 15-game point streak. With the win, the Mammoth improved to 35-27-6, holding the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 76 points. Sam Steel, Wyatt Johnston, and Adam Erne replied for the Stars (42-15-10), who sit second in the overall standings with 94 points, three behind the Avalanche.

Los Angeles Kings winger Artemi Panarin had an assist in his first game against the New York Rangers in a 4-1 win over his former club. Alex Laferriere had a goal and two assists, and Mikey Anderson netted a goal and an assist for the 28-24-15 Kings, who sit just behind the Seattle Kraken for the final Western wild-card spot with 71 points. Vincent Trocheck scored for the 28-31-8 Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panarin received a standing ovation from the Madison Square Garden crowd. The 34-year-old winger spent the best seasons of his career during his nearly seven years with the Rangers, with 205 goals and 402 assists for 607 points in 482 regular-season games. He’s sixth among NHL scorers during that period.

The Kings have the same amount of points as the Kraken, but the latter holds that wild card with a game in hand. They also have three more wins than the Kings. Meanwhile, Kings winger Adrian Kempe missed this game as he’s day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Calgary Flames 5-2. Patrick Kane tallied twice, and Alex DeBrincat collected three assists for the 37-23-8 Red Wings, who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 82 points. Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato scored for the 26-34-7 Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings are tied with the Montreal Canadiens in points, but the latter holds third place in the Atlantic Division with two games in hand.

An overtime goal by Paul Cotter lifted the New Jersey Devils to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins. It was the second of two goals by Cotter while Jack Hughes collected three assists for the 34-31-2 Devils. David Pastrnak scored twice for the Bruins (37-23-7), who hold the final Eastern wild card with 81 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hughes passed the 400-point milestone (402). He became the fastest player in Devils history to reach that mark, doing so in 414 regular-season games.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The NHL and NHL Players Association announced the host cities for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. Calgary and Edmonton will be the North American hosts, while Czechia’s capital city of Prague will be the European host.

The tournament will be held during the 2027-28 season, with 17 games in 13 days held in February 2028.

THE ATHLETIC: Speaking of the World Cup of Hockey, Canada will have a new general manager as Doug Armstrong has stepped down from the role. Armstrong is the GM of the St. Louis Blues, but he will hand over that job to assistant general manager Alex Steen at the end of this season.

NHL.COM: New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere, Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, and St. Louis Blues winger Jimmy Snuggerud are the league’s three stars for the week ending March 15, 2026.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers center Leon Draisaitl will be sidelined with a lower-body injury. Head coach Kris Knoblauch isn’t sure how long Draisaitl will be out of the lineup.

TVA SPORTS: Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said winger Kirby Dach’s recent upper-body injury isn’t expected to be a long-term issue.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Washington Capitals recently signed prospect defenseman Cole Hutson to a three-year entry-level contract. He’s the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson.

The Chicago Blackhawks signed prospect forward Sacha Boisvert to a three-year entry-level deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson and Boisvert played for the Boston University Terriers, whose season ended on Saturday when they were eliminated by the Connecticut Huskies in the Hockey East quarterfinals.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 16, 2026

by | Mar 16, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 16, 2026

Oilers star Leon Draisaitl injured against the Predators, the Ducks take over first place in the Pacific Division, the Kraken regain the final Western wild-card spot, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Nashville Predators 3-1, but lost forward Leon Draisaitl as he left the game after the first period with an apparent injury. Draisaitl opened the scoring, and Connor McDavid collected three assists for the 33-26-9 Oilers, who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 75 points. Fedor Svechkov replied for the 29-28-9 Predators (67 points), who are four points out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth.

Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said Draisaitl’s injury didn’t seem too bad, and he’s not expected to be sidelined long term. Meanwhile, McDavid sits atop the NHL scoring race with 114 points.

McDavid also called out the league over the wrist-slap suspension handed down to Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas for injuring Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. While he understands that the department of player safety has a difficult job, he felt that the level of frustration around the league about the suspension process suggests there’s room for improvement.

Anaheim Ducks forwards Leo Carlsson and Troy Terry each had three points as their club overcame a 3-2 deficit for a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Cutter Gauthier tallied the winning goal for the Ducks (37-27-3), as they regained first place in the Pacific Division with 77 points. Nick Suzuki had a goal and an assist for the 36-20-10 Canadiens, who cling to third place in the Atlantic Division with 82 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored his 39th goal of the season. He’s second to Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, who leads all goal scorers this season with 44. Meanwhile, Canadiens forward Kirby Dach left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no word postgame regarding his condition.

Ducks center Mason McTavish was a healthy scratch from this game. He had two assists in his last 12 games.

The Seattle Kraken regained the final Western wild-card spot (71 points) with a 6-2 victory over the Florida Panthers. Kaapo Kakko had a goal and two assists while Bobby McMann was among five other Kraken players with a goal and an assist as they improved their record to 32-27-9. Vinnie Hinostroza and Eetu Luostarinen scored for the 33-30-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McMann had three goals and two assists for five points in his first two games with the Kraken. Meanwhile, the Panthers played without Sam Reinhart, who is sitting out their current four-game road trip recovering from an undisclosed injury.

Ottawa Senators winger Drake Batherson tallied twice, including the game-winner, in a 7-4 win over the San Jose Sharks. Brady Tkachuk, Fabian Zetterlund, and Warren Foegele each had a goal and an assist for the 34-23-9 Senators (77 points), who are three points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Tyler Toffoli and Mario Ferraro each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (32-27-6), as they slipped one point behind the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks played without forward Alex Wennberg, who is nursing an upper-body injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bo Groulx scored twice for his first multipoint NHL game in a 4-2 upset of the Minnesota Wild. Anthony Stolarz kicked out 36 shots for the 29-27-12 Maple Leafs. Vladimir Tarasenko scored both goals for the Wild (38-18-12), who sit third in the Central Division with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Maple Leafs signed goaltender Artur Akhtyamov to a three-year, $2.7 million contract extension.

The Winnipeg Jets kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Haydn Fleury had a goal and an assist while Eric Comrie made 29 saves for the 28-28-10 Jets (66 points), who are five points behind the Kraken. Dalibor Dvorsky and Dylan Holloway scored for the 27-30-10 Blues.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 15, 2026

by | Mar 15, 2026

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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2026

by | Mar 14, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2026

The Kings defeat the Islanders, the Blues upset the Oilers, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is done for the season as Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas is suspended, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar scored to move within one point of Marcel Dionne’s franchise points record in a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders. Trevor Moore and Adrian Kempe also scored, and Darcy Kuemper stopped 21 shots for the 27-23-15 Kings, who moved into the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 69 points. Emil Heineman scored both goals for the 37-24-5 Islanders, who remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dionne has 1,307 regular-season points while Kopitar has 1,306. Kopitar leads the franchise with 1,504 regular-season games and 858 assists. With 17 games left in the regular season, Kopitar has plenty of time to set the Kings’ points record.

The St. Louis Blues overcame a 2-0 deficit to upset the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 on an overtime goal by Robert Thomas. Cam Fowler had a goal and an assist while Joel Hofer kicked out 36 shots for the 27-29-10 Blues, who are 6-0-1 in their last seven contests. Kasperi Kapanen and Connor McDavid replied for the Oilers (32-26-9), who sit third in the Pacific Division with 73 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins missed this game for personal reasons. The Oilers placed Colton Dach on long-term injury reserve.

HEADLINES

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will miss the remainder of this season with a Grade 3 tear of his medial collateral ligament in his left knee, the result of a knee-on-knee hit by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas on Thursday.

The NHL’s department of player safety suspended Gudas for five games.

THE ATHLETIC: Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver, called Gudas’ suspension “laughable and preposterous.”

“This decision results in a further loss of confidence in the disciplinary process for all players,” Moldaver said. “Players and fans deserve better. The player safety department should be suspended.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moldaver is correct. Gudas went out of his way to deliberately injure an opponent. He had been suspended four times before this incident, and he received a slap on the wrist for ending Matthews’ season.

The so-called “department of player safety” has been a joke for years. Players like Gudas contribute nothing to the league. He and his ilk are an embarrassment, and have no place in a supposedly professional league.

Sadly, this is just more of the same from a league with a “player safety” department that lets perpetrators off lightly for deliberately injuring opponents.

NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators will face the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2026 NHL Global Series in Germany. The two-game regular-season series will be played in Dusseldorf on Dec. 18 and Dec. 20.

THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns tied Keith Yandle for the second-most consecutive games with 989. Burns, 41, reached that mark during Thursday’s game against the Seattle Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Phil Kessel holds the NHL Ironman record with 1,064 regular-season games.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres winger Alex Tuch (day-to-day, lower-body injury) could return for Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson could miss that game with an undisclosed injury.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens made a minor-league trade that will have implications for their goaltending. On Friday, they acquired goaltender Hunter Shepard and forward Jake Chiasson from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Riley Kidney.

Shepard will be reporting to the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Laval. That means that recently recalled goalie Jacob Fowler will likely remain with the Habs for the rest of this season.

RATINGS.COM: Speaking of Fowler, he had an interview with Marco D’Amico before the Canadiens recalled him. The 21-year-old netminder spoke about his 10-game tenure with the Habs earlier this season and was hoping to return to the club as soon as he could.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With Samuel Montembeault struggling and no help coming from the trade market, the Canadiens need someone reliable to share the goaltending duties with Jakub Dobes. Fowler played well in his return on Thursday with a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The San Jose Sharks recalled goaltender Laurent Brossoit from their AHL affiliate. Starter Yaroslav Askarov suffered a lower-body injury before Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins. The injury isn’t considered serious or long-term, but it’s uncertain if he’ll be ready to return for Saturday’s game against the Canadiens or Sunday’s matchup with the Ottawa Senators.

THE MERCURY NEWS: Speaking of the Sharks, they signed forward Ty Dellandrea to a two-year, $3.25 million extension.