NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 31, 2024

by | May 31, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 31, 2024

The Panthers are poised to eliminate the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Final, the latest on the Oilers and Stars, the Stanley Cup Final schedule is revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers are within a game of advancing to the Stanley Cup Final following their 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. Gustav Forsling, Anton Lundell, and Sam Bennett scored for the Panthers after Chris Kreider opened the scoring for the Rangers. Alexis Lafreniere got the Blueshirts to within one goal with 50 seconds remaining in regulation but they couldn’t get the equalizer before time expired.

The series returns to Florida for Game 6 on Saturday, June 1 at 8 pm EDT.

Florida Panthers forward Anton Lundell (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Florida dominated New York five-on-five for the third straight game. Kreider’s goal came shorthanded but the Panthers successfully killed off all three of the Rangers’ power-play opportunities.

Lundell’s strong all-around play in this postseason is drawing comparisons to teammate Aleksander Barkov.

Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin was once again his team’s best player, kicking out 34 shots and allowing them to get back into the game. Kreider (one goal, one assist) and Zibanejad (two assists) picked up their first points of this series but Artemi Panarin was held off the score sheet. Those three have just one goal between them in this series.

Filip Chytil returned to the Rangers lineup for this contest while Blake Wheeler was a healthy scratch.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Gerry Moddejonge believes this postseason could be Connor McDavid’s best opportunity to win a Stanley Cup with the Oilers. He and his club are two wins away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final following their convincing 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final, tying that series at two games apiece.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moddejonge acknowledges winning this series doesn’t equate to a certain Stanley Cup championship. However, he also points out that losing this series means they’ll have no chance of winning it this year. He believes McDavid’s chances of winning the Cup decrease year by year.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars head coach Pete DeBoer didn’t have a firm return date for Chris Tanev. “He’ll see the doctor, we’ll take some pictures today, and cross our fingers” said DeBoer on Thursday.

The 34-year-old defenseman was seen wearing a walking boot on his right foot as the club returned to Dallas for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final scheduled for Friday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That doesn’t sound good, though it could also be a precautionary measure. We’ll find out before game time if Tanev will suit up.

NHL.COM: The 2024 Stanley Cup Final begins on Saturday, June 8, at 8 PM ET. Follow the link provided for the full schedule.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If required, Game 7 will be held on Monday, June 24.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin has won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player “adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” Slavin previously won the award in 2020-21.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lady Byng Trophy is also sneered at by hockey fans who mistakenly equate “gentlemanly conduct” with a lack of physicality. In fact, it honors players who play a disciplined game at a high level. Recent winners include Anze Kopitar, Nathan MacKinnon, Aleksander Barkov, and Ryan O’Reilly.

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings named Newell Brown as an assistant coach on head coach Jim Hillier’s staff. He has a combined 27 years of coaching experience in the NHL, with his latest being a three-year stint as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks.

TSN: Former Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Mike Yeo was interviewed by Ottawa Senators general manager Steve Staios for a role with the Senators coaching staff. Yeo spent two years with the Canucks before stepping down earlier this week to pursue other opportunities.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 30, 2024

by | May 30, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 30, 2024

The Oilers rally back to defeat the Stars and tie the Western Conference Final at two games apiece, the latest on the Rangers and Panthers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers overcame an early 2-0 deficit to beat the Dallas Stars 5-2, squaring the Western Conference Final at two games apiece. Oilers captain Connor McDavid had three assists, Leon Draisaitl netted his 10th goal of this postseason, and Mattias Janmark scored the game-winner. Wyatt Johnston and Esa Lindell gave the Stars the early lead before the Oilers rallied. The series returns to Dallas for Game 5 on Friday, May 31 at 8:30 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It appeared the Stars were going to crush the Oilers until the latter got goals by Ryan McLeod and Evan Bouchard before the end of the first period. Janmark and Draisaitl blew the game open late in the second period with goals less than a minute apart and never looked back. Janmark’s goal was the Oilers’ first shorthanded tally of the postseason.

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (NHL Images).

The Oilers were the most physical of the two clubs, outhitting the Stars 47-23. They also held the edge in shots 29-22.

Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse’s struggles in this postseason made him the target of criticism from the Edmonton media. He had a shaky start to Game 4 but finished strong with one assist, 12 hits, and three blocked shots.

Sportsnet’s Kevin Bieksa defended Nurse and slammed the Edmonton media, calling them “meat” because, in his opinion, they’re “raw, dead and dumb.” I can appreciate Bieksa sticking up for Nurse but his remarks seemed designed to pick a fight with the Edmonton press. As a former Canucks defenseman, he knows what it’s like to play under a sometimes harsh media spotlight in a Canadian city.

Dallas defenseman Chris Tanev left the game in the second period after blocking a shot with his right foot. There was no postgame update on his condition but Stars coach Pete DeBoer hopes Tanev will be ready for Game 5.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

Dallas Stars arena DJ Jonathan “Slippy” Shipman drew criticism from Edmonton fans for playing “La Bamba” following the Oilers’ loss in Game 2 of this series. Shipman was unaware of the song’s importance to the Oilers and their fans. He publicly apologized and donated to the Ben Stelter Foundation, joining Stars fans who contributed $20,000.00 to the fund.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stelter was a six-year-old Oilers fan who coined the phrase, “Play La Bamba, baby,” during the club’s run to the 2022 Western Conference final. He died of cancer later that year.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers need their top three forwards – Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad – to regain their scoring touch heading into Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final with the Florida Panthers. They combined for just three assists in the previous four games. The series is tied at two games apiece.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Matthew Tkachuk was unfazed over Kreider grabbing the Florida Panthers winger’s mouthguard and attempting to toss it into the crowd following a heat third-period scrum in Game 4. “I told him it was the best play he made the whole game,” laughed Tkachuk on Wednesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk has a knack for getting under the skin of his opponents. That was a world-class chirp at Kreider, who’s been held scoreless in this series after netting seven goals and 10 points in his first 10 games of this postseason.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier was named USA Hockey’s College Player of the Year.

NASHVILLE HOCKEY NOW: The Predators brought back Mitch Korn to oversee their goaltending department. Korn spent 16 seasons with the Predators from 1998 to 2014.

DAILY FACEOFF: Minnesota defeated Boston 3-0 in the fifth and deciding game of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Finals, becoming the first team in league history to win the Walter Cup. Minnesota forward Tayler Heise was the first winner of the Ilona Kloss Playoff MVP Award.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Minnesota, who barely squeaked into the playoffs but would upset heavily favored Toronto in the semifinal to reach the Walter Cup Final.

The PWHL had a record-setting inaugural campaign that bodes well for its future. Everyone who played in this league is a winner, laying the foundation for what could become a vibrant and successful women’s professional hockey league.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 29, 2024

by | May 29, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 29, 2024

The Panthers defeat the Rangers to tie the Eastern Conference Final at two games apiece, the latest on the Oilers and Stars, the Blue Jackets formally hire Don Waddell as president and GM, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: Sam Reinhart’s power-play goal in overtime lifted the Florida Panthers to a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers, squaring the Eastern Conference Final at two games apiece.

Florida Panthers winger Sam Reinhart (NHL Images).

The Rangers opened the scoring in the first period on a goal by Vincent Trocheck. However, Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe scored to give the Panthers the lead in the second period. Alexis Lafreniere tied it for the Rangers in the third period.

This series returns to New York for Game 5 on Thursday, May 30 at 8 pm EDT.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Like Game 3, the Panthers controlled the play for most of this contest. They outshot the Rangers 40-23, out-attempted them 88-44, and had more high-danger scoring chances (16-6). They also went two-for-six on the power play while the Rangers were one-for-three.

Blueshirts goaltender Igor Shesterkin stole Game 3 for his club. He nearly did it again in Game 4. Meanwhile, his teammates Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider have yet to pick up any points in this series. Zibanejad’s careless pass to Blake Wheeler led to the latter’s penalty that set the stage for Reinhart’s game-winning goal.

Both clubs made changes to their lineups for this contest. The Panthers replaced forwards Nick Cousins and Ryan Lomberg with Kyle Okposo and Steve Lorentz while Wheeler replaced Filip Chytil for the Rangers.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Roope Hintz’s return to the Stars’ lineup in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final provided a big boost to his teammates. Sidelined by an upper-body injury during their last four playoff games, Hintz collected two assists in their 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers to take a 2-1 series lead.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has been struggling during this postseason. His plus-minus is a playoff-worst minus-12. Head coach Kris Knoblauch doesn’t put much stock in plus-minus but he believes Nurse can play better.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers need Nurse at his best if they hope to defeat the Stars and advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Meanwhile, Oilers defenseman Troy Stecher’s postseason is over. He will be undergoing surgery soon for an injured ankle.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: The Columbus Blue Jackets officially named Don Waddell as their new general manager and president of hockey operations. Waddell resigned last Friday as GM of the Carolina Hurricanes. He replaced Jarmo Kekalainen, who was fired by the Blue Jackets in February.

Former Blue Jackets president John Davidson will remain with the club in an advisory role. He served as interim GM following Kekalainen’s firing.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets hope Waddell will have the same success as he did with the Hurricanes. He played a key role in turning them into one of the NHL’s best clubs. During his tenure, the Hurricanes drafted Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis and Pyotr Kochetkov and brought in Brent Burns, Jake Guentzel, Brady Skjei, Frederik Andersen, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Dmitry Orlov through trades and free agency.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken named Dan Bylsma as their new head coach on Tuesday. He’s currently the bench boss of their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. They’re currently playing against the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL playoffs.

Bylsma is considering Jessica Campbell for a role on the Kraken coaching staff. She currently serves as an assistant coach for Bylsma with the Firebirds.

Campbell is a former Canadian women’s professional player and national team member who began her coaching career in 2017. She was an assistant coach for the Nuremberg Ice Tigers of Germany’s top pro men’s league and with the German Men’s National Team in the 2022 IIHF World Championships.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Campbell is also a trailblazer, becoming the first woman on the coaching staff of a men’s national team and the first woman to become a full-time AHL coach. If she joins the Kraken’s staff, she’ll become the first woman to coach in the NHL.

NHL.COM: New York Islanders captain Anders Lee is this season’s winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The award honors the NHL player “who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks and assistant coach Mike Yeo have parted ways. Yeo was part of their coaching staff for the past two seasons and was largely responsible for the team’s penalty kill. He was offered a one-year contract extension by the Canucks but he decide to explore other options.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: The Sharks signed highly-touted prospect Will Smith to an entry-level contract.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 28, 2024

by | May 28, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 28, 2024

The Stars rally to defeat the Oilers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, Rangers captain Jacob Trouba fined for elbowing, Dan Bylsma returns to the NHL coaching ranks, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: A hat trick by Jason Robertson powered the Dallas Stars to a 5-3 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the 2024 Western Conference Final.

The Oilers dominated the first period jumping to a 2-0 lead on goals by Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid. However, the Stars bounced back in the second with Robertson scoring twice and Wyatt Johnston giving them the lead.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

Edmonton forward Adam Henrique tied the game late in the second but Robertson tallied the game-winner at 11:54 of the third period. Miro Heiskanen added the insurance goal into an empty net.

Roope Hintz, Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin had two assists each and Jake Oettinger stopped 28 shots for the win. McDavid had a goal and an assist to become the fourth-fastest player in NHL history to record 100 playoff points, reaching that milestone in 64 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton appeared on the verge of a rout in the first period, outshooting the Stars 10-3 and controlling most of the play. However, the Stars maintained their poise, received solid goaltending from Oettinger, and overwhelmed the Oilers in the second, outshooting them 16-7 and holding their opponent without a shot on net through the first half of the period.

The Oilers caught a break on Henrique’s goal to end the second period with a tie. They outshot the Stars 13-3 in the third but Oettinger shut the door and Robertson sank the dagger with his third goal of the game.

Following the Oilers’ second-round series against Vancouver, McDavid said he and his teammates don’t make it easy for themselves. This game was another example of the inconsistency that could prove their undoing against a deep, talented, confident club like the Stars.

Henrique and Hintz debuted in this series after being sidelined by injuries suffered earlier in this postseason.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba received the maximum fine ($5,000.00) for elbowing Florida Panthers forward Evans Rodrigues during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. Trouba was assessed a minor penalty on the play.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is Trouba’s fourth fine and he’s been suspended twice. I detect a pattern here…

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Geoff Baker reports a source confirmed the Kraken will hire Dan Bylsma as their new head coach. Bylsma is currently the head coach of their AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bylsma coached the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2008-09 to 2013-14, guiding them to the Stanley Cup in 2009 and winning the Jack Adam Award in 2010-11. He also coached the Buffalo Sabres from 2015 to 2017.

Promoting Bylsma brings a degree of familiarity behind the Kraken bench. Joey Daccord, Shane Wright, and Tye Kartye are among a handful of their players who skated for their new head coach during their tenures in Coachella Valley.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the Sharks’ search for a new head coach has progressed to the second interview stage.

Sharks assistant coach Ryan Warsofsky has had two interviews and former Detroit Red Wings bench boss Jeff Blashill will have his second this week. Ontario Reign coach Marco Sturm has had one but there’s no indication if he’ll get a second.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 27, 2024

by | May 27, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 27, 2024

The Rangers take a 2-1 series lead over the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final, the latest on the Oilers and Stars ahead of Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Alex Wennberg gave the New York Rangers a 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the 2024 NHL Eastern Conference Final. Alexis Lafreniere and Barclay Goodrow scored two goals each as the Rangers took a 4-2 lead into the third period. However, Florida stormed back in the third on goals by Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling. Sam Reinhart tallied two goals for the Panthers.

Game 4 is in Florida on Tuesday, May 28 at 8 pm EDT.

New York Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the most exciting game of this year’s Conference Finals thus far. Reinhart opened the scoring in the first period, Lafreniere and Goodrow quickly gave the Rangers the lead, only to have Reinhart tally his second goal before the period ended.

Lafreniere and Goodrow gave the Rangers a two-goal lead in the second but the Panthers dominated the third period on their way to tying the game.

The Panthers controlled most of the play in this game. Sportsnet’s Luke Fox indicated they led the Rangers in shot attempts (108-44), shots (37-23), scoring chances (46-20), and high-danger chances (15-7). They also went two-for-six on the power play while successfully killing off the Rangers’ two man-advantage attempts.

Goaltender Igor Shesterkin made the difference for the Rangers. He stopped 33 shots to bail out his teammates with several clutch saves.

Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk collected two assists in this contest. He surpassed his father Keith in career playoff points 57-56.

Rangers captain Jacob Trouba delivered a high elbow on Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues in the second period. His elbow made contact with Rodrigues’ head, initially earning a five-minute major penalty before it was downgraded on review to a double-minor, drawing criticism on social media given Trouba’s prior history of questionable hits. The Panthers failed to score on the ensuing power play.

PLAYOFF NOTEBOOK

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson believes the Oilers should scratch checking-line forward Ryan McLeod from Game 3 of the Western Conference Final if Adam Henrique is ready to return from a nagging injury. McLeod has no points and 15 shots in 14 playoff games, averaging nearly 14 minutes per game. He hasn’t scored in his last 26 playoff games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matheson pointed out that Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch shook his roster earlier in this postseason. He switched struggling goalie Stuart Skinner for Calvin Pickard in Games 4 and 5 of their second-round series against Vancouver and scratched veteran winger Corey Perry for the entirety of that series. He could do the same with McLeod if Henrique is ready to return.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars center Roope Hintz is considered a game-day decision for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. Hintz has been sidelined by an upper-body injury since Game 4 of their second-round series against Colorado.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE SCORE: Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak scored the game-winning goal as Czechia blanked Switzerland 2-0 to win gold at the 2024 IIHF World Championships. Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kampf scored into an empty net and Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal stopped 31 shots as Czechia won its first gold at the Worlds since 2010.

Dostal was named the tournament’s top goaltender. Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala of Switzerland was named most valuable player. Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi of Switzerland was the top defenseman.

Sweden defeated Canada 4-2 to win the bronze.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle did not play in Canada’s bronze-medal game against Sweden. He was injured while blocking a shot in Canada’s semifinal game against Switzerland.

CALGARY SUN: Flames defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk is reportedly returning to Russia. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the 23-year-old Okhotiuk signed a two-year contract with KHL club CSKA Moscow. He’s a restricted free agent this summer, and the Flames can retain his NHL rights with a qualifying offer.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 26, 2024

by | May 26, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 26, 2024

The Stars down the Oilers to tie the Western Conference Final, the latest on the Panthers and Rangers ahead of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAP

NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final, tying the series at one game apiece. Stars captain Jamie Benn opened the scoring early in the first period but the Oilers’ Connor Brown tallied less than a minute later. Mason Marchment scored the winning goal early in the third period and Esa Lindell put the game away with an empty netter.

The series shifts to Edmonton for the next two games with Game 3 on Monday, May 27 at 8:30 pm EDT.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton dominated the first period, outshooting Dallas 16-4. Thanks to goaltender Jake Oettinger, the Stars’ defense weathered the storm, limiting the Oilers to 13 shots over the next two periods. They also held the Oilers’ top offensive players without a point.

The Oilers are puzzled by the lack of penalty calls on the Stars. Their lethal powerplay had just three opportunities with the man advantage in this series thus far. When asked about it, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch acknowledged it’s tougher to draw penalties in the playoffs. “The standard is the same for both teams. I’m not saying it’s unfair to us, but we would like the same standard.”

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: Rangers winger Jimmy Vesey is listed as week-to-week after suffering an apparent shoulder injury in Game 2 on Friday. Veteran winger Blake Wheeler could replace Vesey for Game 3 on Sunday in Florida at 3 pm EDT.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: New York winger Kaapo Kakko was a healthy scratch in Game 2, raising questions about his role with the team going forward in this postseason and perhaps beyond. He has two points in 11 games during this postseason.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers dropped Game 2 to the Rangers but received solid performances from Gus Forsling, Ryan Lomberg, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

THE SCORE: Reports indicate the Columbus Blue Jackets are poised to hire Don Waddell for their top hockey operations position. His exact title has yet to be determined.

Waddell resigned Friday as president and general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes.

IIHF.COM: San Jose Sharks defenseman Jan Rutta received a one-game suspension for elbowing Sweden’s Isac Lundestrom during Saturday’s game between Czechia and Sweden in the IIHF World Championships. Rutta will miss Sunday’s gold-medal game between Czechia and Switzerland.