NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 22, 2026

by | Mar 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 22, 2026

Lighting winger Nikita Kucherov takes over the scoring lead, a five-point night for Canadiens winger Cole Caufield, the Predators move into a playoff berth, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov scored two goals and collected two assists in a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Anthony Cirelli tallied twice for the 43-21-4 Lightning, who sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 90 points. Oilers captain Connor McDavid netted his 399th career regular-season goal as his club sits in second place in the Pacific Division with a record of 34-28-9 (77 points).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 118 points, Kucherov surpassed McDavid for the lead in this season’s scoring race. Speaking of McDavid, he acknowledged that his struggling club is fortunate to be playing in the weak Pacific Division. “It’s a bit of a pillow fight right now,” he said.

Meanwhile, sidelined Oilers star Leon Draisaitl has returned to his native Germany to receive treatment for his lower-body injury from renowned sports doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt. Draisaitl hopes to be healthy in time for the postseason.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield (NHL Images).

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield had a hat trick and two assists as his club pulled away from the New York Islanders by a score of 7-3. Nick Suzuki had four assists, Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice and set up two others, and Kaiden Guhle had a goal and two assists for the Canadiens (38-21-10), who hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 86 points. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored his 22nd goal of the season for the Islanders (39-26-5), who are one point out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 83 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 43 goals, Caufield sits two behind Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for this season’s goal-scoring lead. Meanwhile, Schaefer needs one goal to tie Hall of Famer Brian Leetch for the most goals by a rookie defenseman.

The Nashville Predators hold the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference after a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Steven Stamkos led the way with two goals and an assist while goaltender Justus Annunen kicked out 39 shots for the 32-28-9 Predators (73 points). Shea Theodore replied for the Golden Knights (31-25-14), who sit one point behind the Oilers in third place in the Pacific Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators have come a long way from being dead-last in the Western Conference on Dec. 1. Stamkos regaining his scoring touch has played a big part in their resurgence. After finishing last season with 27 goals in 82 games, the 36-year-old sniper has 33 goals in 69 games.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski collected three first-period assists as his club defeated the Seattle Kraken 5-2, extending their points streak to 12 games (8-0-4). Cole Sillinger had a goal and two assists for the 37-21-11 Blue Jackets, who sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 85 points. Kaapo Kakko had a goal and an assist for the Kraken (31-29-9), who sit two points back of the Predators for that final Western wild card.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their fourth straight victory with a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Zach Benson had a goal and an assist while Tage Thompson tallied his 36th goal of the season for the 44-20-6 Sabres, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 94 points. Artemi Panarin scored for the Kings (28-25-16), who’ve dropped four of their last six games to sit one point behind the Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes in points, but the latter holds first place in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 41 saves to backstop his club over the Detroit Red Wings 4-2. Morgan Geekie collected three assists while David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm each had a goal and an assist for the Bruins (39-23-8) as they hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 86 points. Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat scored for the 38-24-8 Red Wings, who cling to the final Eastern wild card with 84 points.

A shootout goal by Sidney Crosby lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Erik Karlsson tallied twice for the Penguins (35-18-16) as they hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 86 points. Brad Lambert had a goal and an assist for the 28-29-12 Jets (68 points), who sit five points out of the final Western wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins defenseman Samuel Girard returned to the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury. Jets blueliner Neal Pionk was back in action after being sidelined for 23 games with a lower-body injury.

The Minnesota Wild nipped the Dallas Stars 2-1 on an overtime goal by Vladimir Tarasenko. Bobby Brink scored in regulation and assisted on Tarasenko’s goal for the 40-19-12 Wild, who sit third in the Western Conference with 92 points. Jason Robertson tallied for the Stars (43-15-11), who sit second in the West with 97 points.

Third-period goals by Michael Amadio and Ridly Greig enabled the Ottawa Senators to hold off the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 5-2. Tim Stutzle netted his 32nd goal of the season for the Senators (34-24-9) as they sit three points back of the Red Wings for the final Eastern wild card with 81 points. John Tavares and Easton Cowan replied for the 29-29-13 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was struck in the throat by a high shot from teammate William Nylander during warm-ups. He was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons. The Leafs also played without defenseman Morgan Rielly, who suffered a lower-body injury on Friday against the Hurricanes.

The Philadelphia Flyers picked up their seventh straight road win with a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Three unanswered third-period goals by Christian Dvorak, Travis Sanheim, and Noah Cates sealed the deal for the 34-23-12 Flyers (80 points), who sit four points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth. Dmitry Orlov scored for the Sharks (32-30-6), who’ve lost four in a row and sit three points out of the final Western wild card.

St. Louis Blues winger Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Defenseman Logan Mailloux picked up two assists for the 28-30-11 Blues. Filip Hronek scored for the 21-40-8 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues announced that defenseman Tyler Tucker is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The Canuck activated defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph off injured reserve, but he didn’t play in this game.

IN OTHER NEWS…

CALGARY SUN: Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer faces a disciplinary hearing for boarding Flames forward Connor Zary on Friday. Greer was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. Zary left the game with an upper-body injury and did not return. There was no update on Zary’s condition, but head coach Ryan Huska said after the game that he was moving around.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers center Noah Laba (lower-body injury) and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen (upper body) are listed as week-to-week. Both players were sidelined during Wednesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

SI.COM: Chicago Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell could make his NHL debut this week after his Swedish team (Djurgardens IF) had its season end with a 3-1 loss to Malmo. Frondell was chosen third overall by the Blackhawks in the 2025 NHL Draft.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 21, 2026

by | Mar 21, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 21, 2026

The Avalanche are the first club to reach 100 points and clinch a playoff spot this season, the Hurricanes regain sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche are the first team to reach the 100-point plateau and to clinch a playoff berth after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. Martin Necas had a goal and two assists, and Nathan MacKinnon collected three assists for the 45-13-10 Avalanche. Wyatt Kaiser replied for the 26-31-12 Blackhawks.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 114 points, MacKinnon is tied with Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov for second place in the scoring race. Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid leads the pack with 115 points. Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier and forward Andrew Mangiapane missed this game with unspecified injuries.

An overtime goal by Alexander Nikishin lifted the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, giving them sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with 94 points. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each collected two points for the Hurricanes (44-19-6). John Tavares and William Nylander each scored their 24th goals of the season for the 29-28-13 Maple Leafs.

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Utah Mammoth 4-1. Alex Killorn had a goal and two assists, Ryan Poehling scored and picked up an assist, and Lukas Dostal stopped 29 shots for the 38-27-4 Ducks, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 80 points. Dylan Guenther scored his 34th goal of the season for the Mammoth (36-28-6), who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 78 points.

Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson made 30 saves in a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Ryan Leonard and Aliaksei Protas scored for the Capitals (35-27-8). Jack Allen turned aside 26 shots, and Jesper Bratt scored for the 35-32-2 Devils.

The Calgary Flames downed the Florida Panthers 4-1. Victor Olofsson scored his first goal with the Flames since being acquired at the trade deadline, and Blake Coleman picked up two assists for the 28-34-7 Flames. A.J. Greer scored for the Panthers (34-32-3) before receiving a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for interference after hitting Flames forward Connor Zary from behind in the third period. Zary left the game with an upper-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was no postgame update on Zary’s condition. Greer could face supplemental discipline for his actions.

Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola left the game after injuring his left leg. Panthers forwards Anton Lundell and Mackie Samoskevich miss this game with undisclosed injuries. They are considered day-to-day.

Flames forward Ryan Strome didn’t pick up any points in this game, but he’s had a positive effect on the lineup since his acquisition from the Anaheim Ducks before the March 6 trade deadline. The 32-year-old center saw limited playing time with the Ducks, putting up nine points in 33 games. He has five points in eight games with the Flames.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli is expected to miss some time with a lower-body injury.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers forward Trent Frederic has been sidelined with an unspecified injury. There is no timeline for his return.

CBS SPORTS: Los Angeles Kings forward Joel Armia has been activated from injured reserve.

TSN: The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Victor Mancini to a two-year, $1 million contract extension.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 20, 2026

by | Mar 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 20, 2026

The Blue Jackets ride an 11-game points streak into a playoff berth, Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is challenging for the scoring title, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews undergoes knee surgery, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Columbus Blue Jackets extended their points streak to 11 games (7-0-4) and moved into third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Adam Fantilli scored two goals while Zach Werenski collected three assists for the 36-21-11 Blue Jackets (83 points). Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (28-33-8), who have dropped three straight games.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk scored with 13 seconds left in the third period to nip the New York Islanders 3-2. Shane Pinto and Warren Foegele also scored for the 35-24-9 Senators (79 points), who are five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Matthew Schaefer and Brayden Schenn tallied for the Islanders (39-25-5), who dropped one point behind the Blue Jackets, and out of a playoff berth with 83 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to score 50 points in a season. With 21 goals, he’s two shy of tying Brian Leetch for the most goals by a rookie blueliner.

Speaking of the Islanders, their AHL affiliate will move from Bridgeport, Conn., to Hamilton, Ontario in 2026-27.

Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli each had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Darren Raddysh and Brandon Hagel each had a goal and an assist for the Lightning (42-21-4), who hold second place in the Atlantic Division with 88 points. Marco Rossi collected two assists for the 21-39-8 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov’s three-point performance moved him within one point of Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid for the scoring title. McDavid has 115 points while Kucherov has 114. The Lightning winger won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s scoring champion in each of the last two seasons. He also won the award in 2018-19. Kucherov hopes to join McDavid, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Phil Esposito, Jaromir Jagr, and Stan Mikita as the only players to win the Art Ross Trophy four times.

Speaking of McDavid, he and his Oilers were blanked 4-0 by the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky turned in a 21-save shutout while Cole Reinhardt, A.J. Greer, Anton Lundell, and Carter Verhaeghe scored for the 34-31-3 Panthers. Connor Ingram stopped 19 of 23 shots for the Oilers (34-27-9, 77 points), who are one point behind the first-place Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Oilers placed Leon Draisaitl (lower body) on long-term injury reserve and recalled forward Roby Jarventie from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.

Buffalo Sabres goalie Alex Lyon made 23 saves to shut out the San Jose Sharks 5-0. Sam Carrick tallied twice, and Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and an assist for the 43-20-6 Sabres, who have won 11 of their last 12 games to sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with 92 points. Alex Nedeljkovic gave up five goals on 16 shots as the Sharks (32-29-6, 70 points) dropped their third straight game. They are two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes, but the latter holds the conference lead with a game in hand.

Speaking of shutouts, Utah Mammoth netminder Karel Vejmelka turned aside 28 shots in a 4-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Clayton Keller scored two goals for the Mammoth (36-27-6), who hold the first Western wild card with 78 points. Adin Hill got the hook after giving up three goals on his first three shots as the Golden Knights (31-24-14) sit third in the Pacific Division with 76 points.

Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat scored the winning goal and collected two assists in a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, handing the latter their third loss in their last four games. John Gibson made 32 saves for the 38-23-8 Red Wings, who hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 84 points. Juraj Slafkovsky scored his 25th goal of the season for the Canadiens (37-21-10) as they cling to third place in the Atlantic Division with 84 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings center Andrew Copp also scored as he returned to action following a three-game absence with a lower-body injury. Canadiens winger Josh Anderson missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

The Boston Bruins thumped the Winnipeg Jets 6-1. David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to eight games while Pavel Zacha, Viktor Arvidsson, and Lukas Reichel also had a goal and an assist each for the Bruins (38-23-8), who hold the first Eastern wild card with 84 points. Jonathan Toews scored for the 28-29-11 Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens hold third place in the Atlantic over the Bruins and Red Wings because they have a game in hand. However, they could soon find themselves outside the playoff picture if they continue to stumble.

A shootout goal by Trevor Zegras gave the Philadelphia Flyers a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Noah Cates and Matvei Michkov each had two points for the 33-23-12 Flyers. Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist for the Kings (28-24-16), who picked up a point to move one point ahead of the Seattle Kraken into the final Western wild card with 72 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers got the win without Sean Couturier, Luke Glendening, and Denver Barkey, who were sidelined by injuries.

Speaking of the Kraken, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Nashville Predators. Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists while Justus Annunen kicked out 26 shots for the Predators (31-28-9), who are one point behind the Kings in the race for that Western wild-card berth. Frederick Gaudreau replied for the 31-28-9 Kraken, who’ve lost six of their last eight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators starting goalie Juuse Saros missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

The Chicago Blackhawks upset the Minnesota Wild 2-1. Spencer Knight made 28 saves while Ilya Mikheyev and Connor Bedard scored for the 26-30-12 Blackhawks. Nico Sturm tallied for the Wild (39-19-12), who hold third place in the Central Division with 90 points, but have lost four of their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

HEADLINES

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews underwent a successful repair surgery for his torn left MCL. His recovery time is 12 weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews was injured last week by a deliberate knee-on-knee hit by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas, who received a five-game suspension for his actions. While Matthews’ season is over, Gudas could return to action as early as next Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The punishment really doesn’t fit the crime, does it?

HOCKEY 24/7: Frank Seravalli reports sources indicate the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery will be held on May 5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league hasn’t officially confirmed this, but it would be in line with last year’s lottery, which was also held on May 5. The New York Islanders won that lottery, going on to select Matthew Schaefer with the first-overall pick during the draft the following month.

DAILY FACEOFF: Ryan Johansen announced his retirement after a 13-season NHL career with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, and the Colorado Avalanche from 2011-12 to 2023-24.

Johansen had 202 goals and 376 assists for 578 points in 905 regular-season games. He also had 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points in 67 playoff games.










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.