NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 26, 2019

by | Mar 26, 2019

Game recaps, Lightning win their 59th game, Predators clinch a playoff berth, stars of the week, Capitals visit the White House, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines. 

NHL.COM: The Tampa Bay Lightning became the fourth team in NHL history to win 59 games in a season by erasing a 4-2 deficit to beat the Boston Bruins 5-4. Steven Stamkos scored two goals and Anthony Cirelli netted the game-winner with 53 seconds remaining in regulation. Earlier in the day, the Lightning revealed defenseman Dan Girardi (lower-body injury) is sidelined indefinitely. 

Four goals by John Tavares helped the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 7-5 (Photo via NHL Images).

A four-goal performance by John Tavares powered the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 7-5 victory over the Florida Panthers. With 45 goals, Tavares sits second among the league leaders. Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman each had three points for the Leafs while Jonathan Huberdeau and Jayce Hawryluk each scored twice for the Panthers. The Leafs (96 points) are five behind the Boston Bruins for second in the Atlantic Division. 

Zach Sanford had a goal and an assist as the St. Louis Blues downed the Vegas Golden Knights 3-1, preventing the latter from clinching a postseason spot. With 90 points, the Blues sit two points behind the Nashville Predators for second in the Central Division. 

The Nashville Predators secured a playoff spot by blanking the Minnesota Wild 1-0. Juuse Saros made 29 saves for the shutout and Ryan Johansen tallied the only goal. With 92 points, the Predators sit two behind the Central Division-leading Winnipeg Jets. The Wild (79 points) remain two back of the Colorado Avalanche for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Speaking of the Jets, they dropped a 5-2 decision to the Dallas Stars. Tyler Seguin and Radek Faksa each scored twice for the Stars (84 points), who opened a three-point lead over the Avalanche for the first Western wild-card berth. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins (95 points) moved to within a point of first place in the Metropolitan Division by defeating the New York Rangers 5-2. Teddy Blueger tallied twice as the Penguins overcame a 2-0 deficit. Phil Kessel also collected two assists. Earlier in the day, the Rangers announced winger Jesper Fast (shoulder injury) will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. 

Jack Campbell had a 42-save shutout as the Los Angeles Kings upset the Calgary Flames 3-0. The Kings played without winger Ilya Kovalchuk, who remained back in Los Angeles to work with the club’s development and skills staff. GM Rob Blake said the decision was not based on Kovalchuk’s comments last week complaining about his declining ice time under coach Willie Desjardins.

Earlier in the day, Kings defenseman Drew Doughty created a pre-game stir by saying he has no respect for Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk, who clashed with Doughty in previous contests. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kovalchuk was going to be a healthy scratch during the Kings’ three-game road trip so apparently it was a mutual decision (based on his suggestion) to remain in Los Angeles. I’ll have more on Kovalchuk and the Kings later this morning in the Rumors section. 

The San Jose Sharks suffered their sixth straight defeat by falling 3-2 to the Detroit Red Wings. The loss leaves the Sharks six points behind the Flames for first place in the Pacific Division and the overall Western Conference standings.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider kicked out 45 shots backstopping his club to a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Pavel Zacha had a goal and an assist. The Sabres have dropped 12 consecutive road games. 

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor, Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos, and Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending March 25, 2019.

The White House and President Trump yesterday welcomed the Washington Capitals to commemorate their 2018 Stanley Cup championship. Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny attended the event on crutches and is considered sidelined long-term with an injured left leg. 

NEWSDAY: New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz became the fourth coach in league history to reach 1,600 regular-season games during his club’s 2-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 25, 2019

by | Mar 25, 2019

Check out last night’s game recaps in the NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky picked up his seventh shutout of the season by blanking the Vancouver Canucks 5-0. Josh Anderson collected three points for the Jackets (86 points), who snapped a three-game losing skid to move within two points of the Montreal Canadiens (88 points) for the second Eastern Conference wild-card position. 

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky picked up his seventh shutout of the season in a 5-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks (Photo via NHL Images).

An overtime goal by Andrei Svechnikov gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 2-1 victory over the Canadiens. With 91 points, the Hurricanes sit in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of Montreal. 

The Washington Capitals (96 points) maintained their one-point lead over the New York Islanders for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division by downing the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1. Braden Holtby turned in a 35-save performance for the win. The loss leaves the Flyers (80 points) eight points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Speaking of the Islanders, Robin Lehner made 31 saves on route to a 2-0 shutout of the Arizona Coyotes. Jordan Eberle and Brock Nelson were the goal scorers. The Coyotes (79 points) sit two points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the final wild-card berth in the Western Conference. 

The Chicago Blackhawks kept their playoff hopes alive by edging the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Duncan Keith potted the winning goal in overtime for the Blackhawks (76 points), who sit five back of the Avalanche in the chase for the final Western Conference wild-card spot. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 24, 2019

by | Mar 24, 2019

Game recaps, Bruins and Jets clinch playoff berths, Bruins re-sign Zdeno Chara, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: The Boston Bruins clinched a postseason spot by thumping the Florida Panthers 7-3. Bruins captain Zdeno Chara had a big day, becoming the 22nd defenseman in NHL history to reach 200 career goals and re-signing a one-year contract extension. The new deal is worth $2 million in base salary plus $1.75 million in performance bonuses. Meanwhile, the Bruins got some bad news earlier in the day when it was revealed Sean Kuraly will be sidelined a month with a fracture in his right hand.

Boston Bruins re-sign captain Zdeno Chara to a one-year extension (Photo via NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chara’s new contract is a reasonable one for both sides. The Bruins keep their captain in the fold for another season to maintain stability and leadership on their blueline. Chara gets a fair deal for a player of his declining (but still effective) skills.

The move also provides the Bruins with salary-cap flexibility. With over $68.6 million invested in 19 players, that should provide sufficient room to re-sign restricted free agents Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, and Danton Heinen, who are all coming off entry-level contracts. 

The Winnipeg Jets (94 points) secured a playoff berth by blanking the Nashville Predators 5-0. Kyle Connor netted a hat trick while Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 33 shots for the shutout. The Jets also hold a four-point lead over the Predators for the top spot in the Central Division.

Mark Giordano had a goal and two assists to give the Calgary Flames a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Giordano now has points in seven straight games. The Flames (101 points) have a six-point lead over the San Jose Sharks for first place in the Pacific Division and the overall Western Conference standings.

The Colorado Avalanche (80 points) moved ahead of the Arizona Coyotes into the final Western Conference wild-card berth by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. Colin Wilson had a goal and an assist for the Avs, while the Blackhawks (74 points) slip six points behind Colorado. The Avs played without winger Mikko Rantanen, who sat out the game with an undisclosed injury and will miss today’s contest against the Hawks.

The Arizona Coyotes (79 points) dropped one point out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference by falling 2-1 to the New Jersey Devils in a shootout. Pavel Zacha tallied the winner for the Devils. The Coyotes are winless in their last four contests.

Josh Bailey scored twice, including the go-ahead goal, as the New York Islanders doubled up the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2. The Islanders (93 points) move within one of the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division while the Flyers (80 points) are seven points out of a playoff berth in the East.

The Carolina Hurricanes (89 points) remain two ahead of the Montreal Canadiens for the first wild-card spot in the East by defeating the Minnesota Wild 5-1. Teuvo Teravainen had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes, while the Wild (79 points) slip one behind the Avalanche in the Western Conference wild-card chase. Wild winger Zach Parise missed the game with a lower-body injury.

Brendan Gallagher, Max Domi, and Tomas Tatar each had three-point performances as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 7-4. With the win, the Canadiens (87 points) hold a three-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern wild-card spot. Gallagher tallied his career-high 33rd goal of the season. The Sabres are now officially eliminated from postseason contention.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Brayden Schenn each had a goal and an assist as the St. Louis Blues held off the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3. With 88 points, the Blues sit two back of the Predators for second in the Central Division. Lightning center Brayden Point scored his 40th of the season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (93 points) remain tied with the Islanders for second in the Metro Division after nipping the Dallas Stars 3-2. Jared McCann scored twice for the Penguins, including the game-winner in the third period. The Stars (82 points) sit two points above the Avalanche in the first wild-card spot in the West. Stars center Jason Spezza was a healthy scratch for the second time in a week.

The New York Rangers upset the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on an overtime goal by Ryan Strome. Despite the victory, the Rangers are officially eliminated from playoff contention. The Leafs (94 points) have won just four of their last 10 games.

Anthony Mantha scored twice, including the winner in overtime, as the Detroit Red Wings surprised the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2, snapping the latter’s four-game winning streak. Vegas sits five points behind the Sharks in the Pacific Division. Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson missed the game with a lower-body injury.

Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson made 26 saves to pick up his first victory since Dec. 17 by edging the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. Brady Tkachuk tallied two goals, including the winner in overtime. The Oilers (74 points) are six points behind the Avalanche for the final Western playoff spot. A lingering back injury prevented Senators forward Zack Smith from playing in this game.

Speaking of the Oilers and Senators, Ken Hitchcock is receptive to the idea of returning behind the Edmonton bench next season. Meanwhile, the Senators confirm their intention to hire a president of hockey operations to provide assistance to general manager Pierre Dorion, who continues to have the full support of team owner Eugene Melnyk.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Remains to be seen if the eventual new Oilers general manager wants Hitchcock back. He might prefer bringing in his own bench boss. As for a new hockey ops president for the Senators, that move will take some of the burdens off Dorion, allowing him to focus on rebuilding the roster.

The Los Angeles Kings downed the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 on a shootout goal by Anze Kopitar.

NBC SPORTS: Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has been dealing with an upper-body injury that’s been bothering him for a while. His status for today’s game against the Vancouver Canucks remains unclear.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bad enough for the Blue Jackets to be slumping when they’re trying to secure a wild-card spot. Having their starting goalie hampered by an injury makes matters potentially worse. 

DENVER POST: NHL referee and Colorado native Brad Watson has retired after 23 seasons. He worked 214 playoff games and eight Stanley Cup Finals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Watson in his retirement. 

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 23, 2019

by | Mar 23, 2019

Game recaps, plus the latest on Braden Holtby, Ryan Kesler, Chris Kreider and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: The Minnesota Wild regained hold of the final Western Conference wild-card berth by edging the Washington Capitals 2-1. Luke Kunin broke a 1-1 tie with the winning goal in the third period for the Wild (79 points), who hold a one-point lead over the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes. The Capitals played without defenseman Michal Kempny, who is sidelined indefinitely with a leg injury.

Speaking of the Capitals, goaltender Braden Holtby said he will respectfully decline the invitation to the White House on Monday to celebrate the club’s Stanley Cup championship. “It’s one of those things that we have to think about, but with me, I’ve got to stay true to my values, and I’m going respectfully decline the offer,” Holtby said. Brett Connolly and Devante Smith-Pelly have also declined the invitation.

Jakob Silfverberg’s overtime goal gave the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks (Photo via NHL Images)

Jakob Silfverberg’s overtime goal gave the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Rickard Rakell scored twice for the Ducks, as he and Silfverberg each collected three points. The Sharks (95 points) sit four behind the Calgary Flames for first place in the Pacific Division and the overall Western Conference standings. Earlier in the day, Ducks general manager Bob Murray gave updates on forwards Ryan Kesler (hip) and Patrick Eaves (post-viral syndrome), indicating both players could be done for the season. 

TAMPA BAY TIMES: The NHL’s department of player safety suspected Lightning forward Yanni Gourde two games for a hit to the head of Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal. 

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Turns out Oilers winger Tobias Rieder wasn’t okay with being singled out by team CEO Bob Nicholson for the club’s woes this season, despite Nicholson subsequently saying he and Rieder later laughed it off. “I think it’s kind of disappointing and I’m offended by it,” said Rieder, who added Nicholson spoke with him again and he’s accepted the CEO’s apology. Rieder said he wants to put this behind him and move on. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE:  Rieder will be moving on all right. He’s a restricted free agent but Nicholson said the club won’t re-sign him. Rieder has the support of his teammates, who credit him for his hard work despite his offensive struggles this season. 

NEW YORK POST: Rangers winger Chris Kreider is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. 

STLTODAY.COM: St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington has crossed the 28-game threshold, meaning he’ll become a restricted free agent this summer instead of a Group 6 UFA. “Binnington is 25 and in his sixth full season of pro hockey. But since he was under contract during the 2012-13 season, a lockout year in the NHL in which only 48 games were played, the number of games played to determine his free agency status was pro-rated down to 26.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, there’s no risk of Binnington hitting the UFA market if he and the Blues fail to agree to a new contract by July 1. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. While he could sign an offer sheet from a rival club, there’s a low probability of that happening. If he or the Blues file for arbitration he’d be ineligible to receive an offer sheet. 

TSN: Friday was another busy media day for Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk. He called out his management for doing “a terrible job” in explaining the club’s rebuild plan to the fans, criticized Ottawa mayor Jim Watson for suggesting Melnyk was difficult to work with after negotiations for a new arena at LeBreton Flats fell through, and trolled the Toronto Maple Leafs rebuild by claiming they forgot about defense.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If the Senators did a “terrible job” explaining their rebuilding plan, the responsibility lies at the top with Melnyk. He claimed he kept his mouth shut regarding Watson and in the same breath claimed Watson was lucky he did so while saying the mayor’s comments were counterproductive. That’s hardly going to win Melnyk any support among Senators fans or local voters.

Melnyk didn’t call out the Leafs by name but everyone knew who he was referring to with his remarks about a team that’s been patching up its roster “for 53 years.” While he has a point about the Leafs defense, he’s not in the best position to criticize a provincial rival that’s sitting 37 points ahead of his club in the standings. 

What appears to be fake Twitter accounts claiming to be Senators fans supporting Melnyk also popped up on Friday. So yeah, kind of a weird day for the Senators. 

TORONTO SUN: Speaking of the Leafs, head coach Mike Babcock dismissed rumors of a rift between himself and GM Kyle Dubas following Babcock’s recent complaints about the roster depth. “If there was any slap at anyone, it sure wasn’t intended and that’s not what I meant to say.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The club’s recent struggles and the absence of several injured players probably have folks looking too closely at Babcock’s remarks for signs of dissatisfaction with management. 

THE ATHLETIC (subscription required): Craig Custance with the story of how The Internet Hockey Database aka HockeyDB.com came into being and how it’s become the most reliable source for statistical information among fans and pundits. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I discovered HockeyDB 20 years ago and it remains among my most invaluable research tools. I highly recommend it. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 22, 2019

by | Mar 22, 2019

Game recaps, Timo Meier fined, Jean-Gabriel Pageau suspended and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines. 

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov had his second consecutive two-goal game leading his club to a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. With the loss, the Coyotes slide into a tie with the Colorado Avalanche (78 points) for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Panthers sit seven points out of a playoff berth in the East. 

Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand had three assists in a 5-1 win over the New Jersey Devils (Photo via NHL Images)

Patrice Bergeron scored twice and Brad Marchand collected three assists as the Boston Bruins downed the New Jersey Devils 5-1. The Bruins (96 points) hold a six-point lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division. Speaking of Marchand, the well-known trash talker lobbed some good-natured verbal bombs at NBC Sports’ Joe Haggerty before last night’s contest over a recent column in which Haggerty wondered if the Bruins are a better team without defenseman Torey Krug. 

Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman each had three points to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 6-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Lightning forward Yanni Gourde could face a suspension after receiving a match penalty for a hit to the head of Hurricanes center Jordan Staal, who left the game briefly as a result. The Lightning now has a league-leading 58 wins and 120 points, while the Hurricanes (87 points) hold a two-point lead for the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot. 

The Montreal Canadiens (85 points) regained the second Eastern wild-card berth by blanking the New York Islanders 4-0. Canadiens goaltender Carey Price kicked out 28 shots for the shutout while the Isles (91 points) are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division. 

Ivan Barbashev tallied his first career NHL hat trick as the St. Louis Blues clipped the Detroit Red Wings 5-2. Thomas Vanek scored both goals for the Wings. The Blues have points in their last four games and hold third place in the Central Division with 86 points. 

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby’s shootout goal lifted his club to a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators. The Penguins are now tied with the Islanders (91 points) for second place in the Metro Division. 

Carter Hart made 40 saves to backstop the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Sean Couturier had a goal and an assist for the Flyers (80 points), who sit five points out of a playoff spot in the East. The Blackhawks (74 points), meanwhile, remain four points out of a wild-card position in the West. 

The Colorado Avalanche moved into a tie with the Coyotes by beating the Dallas Stars 3-1. Philipp Grubauer turned aside 40 shots while Tyson Barrie collected his 300th career point for the Avs. The Stars (82 points) still hold the first Western wild-card spot. 

Matthew Tkachuk and Garnet Hathaway each had a goal and an assist in the Calgary Flames 5-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. With 99 points, the Flames hold a five-point lead over the San Jose Sharks for first place in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference standings. Flames forwards Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett both returned to action after being sidelined by injuries. The Senators played without center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who received a one-game suspension for boarding Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ashton Sautner. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets (84 points) fell behind the Canadiens in the Eastern wild-card race by dropping a 4-1 decision to the Edmonton Oilers. Leon Draisaitl collected three assists for the Oilers (73 points), who sit five points out of a Western playoff spot. 

Malcolm Subban made 20 saves for his first career NHL shutout as the Vegas Golden Knights downed the Winnipeg Jets 5-0. William Karlsson and Reilly Smith each scored twice for the Golden Knights (89 points), who sit third in the Pacific Division.

The San Jose Sharks dropped their fourth straight game by falling 4-2 to the Los Angeles Kings. With 94 points, the Sharks sit five behind the Flames. Earlier in the day, Sharks forward Timo Meier was fined $2,000.00 for diving by the Department of Player Safety.

OTTAWA SUN: During an appearance yesterday on Toronto’s Sportsnet 590, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said the key for his club is to identify who his club’s true fans are. “For our fans, our real fans, we’re doing the best we can and all you can do is just keep doing what you’ve been doing,” he said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So Melnyk is asking Senators fans to stay away and keep up their #MelnykOut campaign? Because that’s what the real fans are doing. They’re fed up watching promising rosters being torn apart because of the constant parade of their best players out of Ottawa. 

NEW YORK POST: Rangers forward Jesper Fast may have played his final game this season. He’s been nursing a shoulder injury for the past three months. 

SPORTSNET: The Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks will open next season with a game in Prague on Oct. 4. The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning, meanwhile, will face off in two November contests in Stockholm. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 21, 2019

by | Mar 21, 2019

Game recaps, Connor McDavid tops NHLPA poll, Wings re-sign Jimmy Howard, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: Andrei Vasilevskiy made 54 saves and Victor Hedman scored in overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 5-4 victory over the Washington Capitals. Nikita Kucherov scored two goals while Steven Stamkos had a goal and two assists. The Lightning played without defenseman Dan Girardi, who’s sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury. Capitals defenseman Michal Kempny left the game in the second period after injuring his left leg. Despite the loss, the Capitals (94 points) hold a three-point lead over the New York Islanders for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. 

Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews tallied his 35th goal of the season and his 200th career point in a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres (Photo via NHL Images)

Auston Matthews tallied his 35th goal of the season and his 200th career NHL point as the Toronto Maple Leafs doubled up the Buffalo Sabres 4-2. John Tavares also had a goal and an assist for the Leafs (93 points), who sit four points behind the Boston Bruins for second in the Atlantic Division. 

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck picked up his first shutout of the season by blanking the Anaheim Ducks 3-0. Hellebuyck made 29 saves while Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Nikolaj Ehlers were the goal scorers. Jets defenseman Joe Morrow returned to action for the first time since being sidelined in mid-February by a lower-body injury. With 92 points, the Jets hold a three-point lead over the Nashville Predators for first place in the Central Division. 

Despite a four-goal third period by the Ottawa Senators, the Vancouver Canucks went on to defeat them by a scored of 7-4. Alexander Edler collected three assists, Loui Eriksson had a four-point performance and Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson each scored twice for the Canucks. Dylan DeMelo had three helpers for the Senators. 

NHLPA: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid was voted the NHL’s best forward in this season’s NHLPA player poll. The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman was voted the best defenseman and the Montreal Canadiens’ Carey Price was the best goaltender. 

MLIVE.COM: The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed goaltender Jimmy Howard to a one-year contract extension worth $4 million. The deal comes with a $1.1-million bonus if the Wings reach the playoffs next season but doesn’t include a no-trade clause. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I noted yesterday, this is a fair deal for both sides. Another solid season by Howard could earn him another contract with the Wings after next season. The deal also gives the Wings time to find a suitable replacement for Howard in the near future. 

DETROIT FREE PRESS: Red Wings forward Jacob de la Rose is doing well but will undergo further examination following a cardiac episode on Tuesday. 

The New York Islanders announced center Valtteri Filppula will be sidelined four weeks with an upper-body injury. Jordan Eberle is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.