NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 22, 2024

by | Dec 22, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 22, 2024

Check out the recaps of Saturday’s action and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 19 saves for his league-leading fourth shutout of the season to blank the Minnesota Wild 5-0. Cole Perfetti had a goal and two assists as the Jets sat atop the overall standings with 49 points. It’s the fourth straight loss for the Wild.

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebuyck tied Jonathan Quick and Tim Thomas for the most shutouts in one calendar year by an American NHL goaltender.

Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand scored to extend his points streak to nine games in a 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Charlie Coyle and Morgan Geekie also scored for the Bruins, who hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 38 points. JJ Peterka replied for the Sabres, who are winless in 13 straight games (0-10-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: So much for the Sabres’ hopes of reaching the playoffs. Stick a fork in ’em, they’re done. What a waste.

The New York Islanders upset the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3. Bo Horvat led the way with a goal and two assists and Anthony Duclair had an assist in his return to action after missing 28 games with a leg injury. William Nylander scored twice for the Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs captain Auston Matthews missed this game as his status remains uncertain after re-aggravating the upper-body injury that sidelined him for nine games in November. Meanwhile, the Leafs sent goaltender Matt Murray back to their AHL affiliate and recalled Dennis Hildeby to back up Joseph Woll.

An overtime goal by Leon Draisaitl lifted the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Connor McDavid collected two assists as the Oilers have won seven of their last eight games. Rookie goalie Yaroslav Askarov kicked out 38 shots for the Sharks as they’ve dropped seven of their last eight (1-6-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl moved into second place in the NHL scoring race with 51 points, four behind Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson scored 15 seconds into overtime to beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-4 in an entertaining back-and-forth contest. Shane Pinto scored twice and collected an assist for the Senators as they picked up their sixth straight victory, winning eight of their last nine games. Quinn Hughes had a goal and two assists and Brock Boeser tallied two goals for the Canucks, who’ve dropped three straight (0-1-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators (38 points) hold a three-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Canucks (39 points) hold the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

Speaking of the Penguins, they were blanked 3-0 by the New Jersey Devils. Nico Hischier had a goal and two assists while Jacob Markstrom only had to make 12 saves for the shutout. Tristan Jarry stopped 25 shots for the Penguins. The Devils sit first in the Eastern Conference with 47 points, two back of the league-leading Jets.

The Vegas Golden Knights picked up their seventh win in their last eight games with a 6-2 win over the Seattle Kraken. Golden Knights captain Mark Stone had a goal and two assists as his club sits in first place in the Pacific Division with 47 points, two behind the league-leading Jets.

Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg scored in overtime to nip the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. Predators winger Filip Forsberg had two assists while captain Roman Josi collected an assist in his return to a lineup after missing four games with a lower-body injury. Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere scored as the Kings overcame a 2-0 deficit to force OT.

Calgary Flames forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Blake Coleman, Matt Coronato and Connor Zary each had a goal and an assist to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4. The win pushed the Flames (39 points) into the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Blackhawks forwards Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi finished the night with three points each.

The Montreal Canadiens picked up their third straight win by downing the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 to sweep their home-and-home series. Patrik Laine scored his eighth straight power-play goal while Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson each collected two assists. Joe Veleno tallied the Wings’ only goal as they dropped their third straight game.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett scored in overtime and collected three assists in regulation in a 5-4 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Travis Konecny had three assists and Morgan Frost tallied two goals for the Flyers to snap their three-game losing skid. Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov collected two assists.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: New York Rangers forward Matt Rempe was offered an in-person hearing by the league’s department of player safety for boarding and elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen during Friday’s game between the two clubs.

The hearing will take place over Zoom on Sunday. Rempe could face a suspension of six games or more.

DAILY FACEOFF: Former NHL players Sam Gagner, Josh Jooris and Matt Irwin will be part of Canada’s roster for the upcoming Spengler Cup tournament in Davos, Switzerland. Canada has won the tournament a record 16 times but hasn’t taken home the title since 2019.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Christmas holidays are the most wonderful time of the year for international tournaments with the Spengler Cup and the World Junior Championships.

MLIVE.COM: Long-time Detroit sports broadcaster John Keating announced his intention to retire at the end of the Red Wings season. He’s covered the Red Wings and MLB’s Detroit Tigers since 1997.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 21, 2024

by | Dec 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 21, 2024

The Sabres’ winless skid continues as Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray returns to action after a long absence, the Rangers down the Stars, Patrik Laine gets another power-play goal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres’ winless skid reached 12 games (0-9-3) as they dropped a 6-3 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Oft-injured goaltender Matt Murray made 24 saves for the win in his first NHL game since April 2, 2023, William Nylander had a goal and two assists, and John Tavares collected two assists to reach 600 for his career. JJ Peterka, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres.

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Change must come for the Sabres. It’s too late to save their season but they cannot continue beyond 2024-25 with the current management and roster. It is painful watching this once proud franchise remain a laughingstock for 14 seasons with no end in sight.

Sabres fans don’t have to worry about franchise relocation under owner Terry Pegula. That’s the only good thing I can say about this team. The rest is neverending mismanagement, a revolving door of coaches, and former players who blossom into winners elsewhere.

Turning to the Maple Leafs, Murray was the night’s feel-good story with his triumphant return after battling injuries that threatened to end his career. He’ll likely only be in the lineup until Anthony Stolarz returns from knee surgery in late January but it was still a solid performance on his part.

Meanwhile, Leafs head coach Craig Berube said team captain Auston Matthews is still fighting through the upper-body injury that sidelined him for nine games earlier this season. Matthews scored his 11th goal of the season against the Sabres. Berube said the club is working with their captain to take measures to ensure they manage his condition properly, including having him skip their morning skate on Friday.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 41 shots as his club snapped a three-game losing skid by beating the Dallas Stars 3-1. Vincent Trocheck had a goal and an assist while the Rangers successfully killed off eight penalties. Roope Hintz tallied for the Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win moves the Rangers (33 points) within three points of the Ottawa Senators for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. The Stars have dropped five of their last eight contests.

Rangers winger Artemi Panarin collected an assist as he returned to action after missing two games with an upper-body injury. Blueshirts call-up Matt Rempe received a major penalty and game misconduct for boarding Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who was shaken up but returned to the game.

Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine struck again on the power play with the game-winner in a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Emil Heineman and Jake Evans each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens. Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen collected two assists while teammate Cam Talbot made 29 saves as he returned to action after missing two games with a lower-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Laine has seven goals (all on the power play) and eight points in as many games since returning from a knee sprain.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists to double up the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Cale Makar and Valeri Nichushkin each had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche, who’ve won seven of their last 10 games. Leo Carlsson and Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks.

The Washington Capitals (46 points) regained first place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Charlie Lindgren got the win with 24 saves, including a windmill glove save on Hurricanes forward Tyson Jost that brought Washington fans to their feet. Aliaksei Protas, Jakub Vrana and Connor McMichael scored for the Capitals while Seth Jarvis replied for the Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capital captain Alex Ovechkin (fractured fibula) shed his non-contact jersey in practice yesterday in another sign that he’ll soon be ready to return to action sometime following the upcoming holiday break. Teammate Lars Eller remains sidelined by illness and won’t play in their remaining games before the holiday break.

An overtime goal by Aleksander Barkov lifted the Florida Panthers over the St. Louis Blues 2-1. Barkov also set up Uvis Balinskis’ first NHL goal to tie the game 1-1 in the second period. Oskar Sundqvist scored for the Blues as they’ve dropped three in a row (0-2-1).

The Utah Hockey Club extended their points streak to seven games (6-0-1) with a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Dylan Guenther tallied twice for Utah as teammate Karel Vejmelka turned aside 28 shots. Mats Zuccarello scored for the Wild as they’ve lost three straight contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild defenseman Brock Faber played in this game, showing no ill effects from being struck in the throat by a shot during Wednesday’s game against the Panthers. As for Utah (37 points), they moved within one point of the Vancouver Canucks for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

HEADLINES

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders activated winger Anthony Duclair (lower body) off long-term injury reserve ahead of Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Chicago Blackhawks placed center Craig Smith (back) on injured reserve.

RG.ORG: Nikolai Kovalenko admitted he was surprised by the trade that sent him from the Colorado Avalanche to the San Jose Sharks. He was part of a deal in which the centerpiece was the Sharks sending goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to the Avalanche for goalie Alexandar Georgiev.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kovalenko’s adjusting well to the move. He has five points in as many games with the Sharks after netting eight in 28 games with the Avalanche.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley will miss the next two games with an undisclosed injury after blocking a shot in Wednesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

THE SCORE: Speaking of the Jets, Scott Stinson points out attendance remains a problem in Winnipeg the club’s red-hot start to the season. Their average attendance this season is a little under 14,000 after 15 home games, playing to just over 90 percent capacity, which is only better than seven other clubs.

Stinson cited a report indicating the Jets season-ticket base increased to just over 10,000 from last season’s low of 9,500. Still, it remains well below the 13,000 the league and team ownership believe is necessary to keep the team sustainable.

Low corporate support (20 percent of season ticket sales compared to the average of 50 percent for other clubs) is seen as one factor. Stinson suggests another could be Jets fans taking a wait-and-see approach to the club’s performance after several seasons without much playoff success.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The local economy could factor in those struggling season ticket sales. Ticket prices have risen to where they’re out of reach for some Jets supporters.

Winnipeg is a hockey town and loves the Jets but if the season ticket issue persists it could one day threaten the team’s future in its present location.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 20, 2024

by | Dec 20, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 20, 2024

Recaps of Thursday’s games, Rangers GM Chris Drury meets with his team to clear the air following two recent trades, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust each had four points in a 5-4 win over the Nashville Predators. Rust scored twice (including the winner in overtime) and Crosby snapped a 10-game goal drought as the Penguins (35 points) remain one point behind the Ottawa Senators for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Filip Forsberg and Brady Skjei each had two points for the Predators, who remain at the bottom of the overall standings with 25 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators placed captain Roman Josi on injured reserve and activated blueliner Jeremy Lauzon for this game. Josi is expected to be sidelined for at least one week.

Meanwhile, the Senators got an overtime goal by Brady Tkachuk to defeat the Calgary Flames 3-2. Goaltender Linus Ullmark turned aside 29 shots for his seventh straight win as the Senators have won five straight games. Blake Coleman and Jonathan Huberdeau scored for the Flames (37 points) as they remain one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the final Western Conference wild-card berth.

The Avalanche netted three unanswered third-period goals to double up the San Jose Sharks 4-2. Joel Kiviranta tallied the winning and insurance goals and Mackenzie Blackwood made 32 saves in his first game against his former club. Luke Kunin had two assists for the Sharks.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins kicked out 40 shots to backstop his club over the New Jersey Devils 4-2, ending the latter’s three-game win streak. Sean Monahan had two goals and an assist for the Jackets as they snapped a five-game losing skid. Luke Hughes and Timo Meier replied for the Devils, who remain in first place in the Eastern Conference with 45 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Jack Hughes fired a career-high 13 shots on Merzlikins, who robbed him of two sure goals with spectacular saves. That effort earned Hughes the praise of Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe, calling his effort “outstanding”.

Los Angeles Kings forwards Anze Kopitar and Kevin Fiala each tallied twice in a 7-3 romp over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Kings (42 points) have won eight of their last 10 games (8-1-1) and sit three points behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division. Tyson Foerster scored two goals and collected an assist for the slumping Flyers as they’ve dropped three straight.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers head coach John Tortorella made Cam York a healthy scratch, saying the 23-year-old defenseman has struggled in his last 12 games since returning from an upper-body injury on Nov. 23.

Speaking of the Golden Knights, William Karlsson snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period as they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-1. Brett Howden had a goal and an assist as Vegas has won six of their last seven contests. Teddy Blueger replied for the Canucks, who’ve won two of their last seven games (2-3-2).

The Edmonton Oilers overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Boston Bruins 3-2 on an overtime goal by Mattias Ekholm. Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid scored in the third period to set the stage for Ekholm’s heroics in OT as the Oilers have won six of their last seven games and 10 of their last 13. Elias Lindholm and Mark Kastelic tallied for the Bruins, who hold the first Eastern wild-card spot with 38 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers winger Viktor Arvidsson returned to the lineup after missing 15 games with an undisclosed injury. Meanwhile, the Bruins placed forward Tyler Johnson on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract. The 34-year-old center signed a one-year contract on Nov. 3 but appeared in nine games, collecting two points.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov collected two assists to extend his points streak to nine games in a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 31 shots and Gage Goncalves tallied his first NHL goal as the Lightning won their fourth straight game. Pavel Buchnevich replied for the Blues as they’ve dropped four of their last five (1-3-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning played without defenseman J.J. Moser as he’ll be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks with a lower-body injury. An illness forced Blues rearguard Philip Broberg to be sidelined for this game.

The Chicago Blackhawks picked up their third straight win by downing the Seattle Kraken 3-1. Ilya Mikheyev scored twice and Nolan Allan got his first-ever NHL goal. Ryker Evans replied for the Kraken.

HEADLINES

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL holiday roster freeze is in effect from Dec.20 to 12:01 am on Dec. 28.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury addressed the entire team for the first time before their practice on Thursday. Afterward, the club engaged in a fun, energetic session that concluded with a full-team shootout game.

Following practice, Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck met with the media to deny a report claiming a recent players-only meeting was to criticize Drury. “That could not be further from the truth,” he said. “When we have closed-door meetings in here, it’s about us. It’s about what we can do.”

The Rangers have been the hot topic of speculation among pundits and fans in recent weeks following their slide in the standings and Drury’s league-wide memo last month indicating he was willing to entertain trade offers for certain players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jacob Trouba was on Drury’s list and was shipped to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6. Winger Kaapo Kakko was traded to Seattle on Wednesday but it’s not known if he was also on that list.

The report indicated a lighthearted mood among the players during practice following their meeting with Drury. Whether this marks the moment the Rangers snap out of their funk remains to be seen.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: The Islanders placed goaltender Semyon Varlamov on long-term injury reserve, potentially clearing the way for sidelined winger Anthony Duclair’s return on Saturday.

SPORTSNET: Buffalo Sabres winger Jordan Greenway will be sidelined long-term following surgery for a middle-body injury. There is no timetable for his return but head coach Lindy Ruff expects he’ll be back later this season.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings sent goaltender Ville Husso to their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. The move suggests sidelined netminder Cam Talbot will soon return to action.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Minnesota Wild placed forward Yakov Trenin (upper body) on injured reserve.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 19, 2024

by | Dec 19, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 19, 2024

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, the Rangers trade Kaapo Kakko to the Kraken, the Predators ship Alexandre Carrier to the Canadiens, Blake Wheeler calls it a career, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Dallas Stars 5-3. Joseph Woll kicked out 36 shots and William Nylander scored twice as the Leafs (20-10-2) have won four of their last five games to sit first in the Atlantic Division with 42 points. Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger got the hook after the second period, giving up four goals on 12 shots.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars captain Jamie Benn set a franchise record playing in his 1,143rd NHL regular-season game, surpassing Hall-of-Famer Mike Modano. The Stars placed defenseman Matt Dumba (upper body) on injured reserve and recalled Alexander Petrovic.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk tallied two goals and teammate Aaron Ekblad had a goal and two assists in a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Sergei Bobrovsky got the win with a 26-save performance. Marco Rossi netted the Wild’s only goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Panthers (20-11-2) are tied with the Leafs but the latter holds the division lead with a game in hand. Wild defenseman Brock Faber left the game in the final minute after being struck in the face by the puck. There was no postgame update regarding his condition.

The Detroit Red Wings beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-4 on a game-winning goal by Patrick Kane, who finished the night with two points. Lucas Raymond and J.T. Compher also had a goal and an assist each for the Red Wings, who’ve won three of their last four. Flyers captain Sean Couturier picked up two assists as his club remains two points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 32 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvidsson left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury. There was no postgame update on his condition.

Anaheim Ducks winger Troy Terry scored with 26 seconds remaining in the third period to lift his club to a 3-2 upset of the Winnipeg Jets. Frank Vatrano tallied twice for the Ducks, including the tying goal midway through the third period. Gabriel Vilardi and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets, who remain in first place in the Western Conference with 47 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers picked up an assist in his return to action after missing nine games with a lower-body injury.

An overtime goal by Mikhail Sergachev gave the Utah Hockey Club a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Utah HC overcame a 2-0 deficit on goals by Clayton Keller and Dylan Guenther. Danton Heinen and Dakota Joshua scored for the Canucks as Thatcher Demko stopped 28 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah (35 points) has won five of their last six games, including their last three contest. They’re one point out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth.

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST/SEATTLE TIMES: The New York Rangers traded Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, a third-round pick and a sixth-rounder in the 2025 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kakko was the second-overall pick in the 2019 draft. He was projected to become a top-six scoring winger but struggled to meet expectations with the Rangers. That made the 23-year-old winger the frequent subject of trade speculation since last season.

The Kraken made this move to boost their offense. They hope a fresh start away from New York’s harsh spotlight will help Kakko become a reliable scorer.

Borgen, 28, was an original member of the Kraken. He’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Rangers fans aren’t pleased with the return. However, it reflects how much Kakko’s value declined since his career-best 40-point performance in 2022-23.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW/THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators traded defenseman Alexandre Carrier to the Montreal Canadiens for blueliner Justin Barron.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens had sought an experienced top-four defenseman with a right-hand shot since October. Carrier reached a career-high 30 points in 2021-22 and 20 points last season but his specialty is killing penalties. The 28-year-old is in the first season of a three-year contract with an affordable average annual value of $3.75 million.

Carrier was the subject of trade speculation last season before re-signing with the Predators. However, their struggles this season have forced general manager Barry Trotz to shake things up. This trade is his fourth since Nov. 25, which included shipping Philip Tomasino to Pittsburgh and swapping Scott Wedgewood for Justus Annunen with Colorado.

Barron struggled to crack the Canadiens lineup full-time. The 23-year-old is younger than Carrier and more of a puck-moving defenseman. Barron is also more affordable for the Predators with an AAV of $1.15 million.

TRIBLIVE.COM/STLTODAY.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins reacquired defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph from the St. Louis Blues for future considerations.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Joseph began his NHL career with the Penguins, spending four seasons with them before signing a one-year contract with the Blues as an unrestricted free agent. He became the odd man out with the Blues following their acquisition of Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Penguins needed some short-term blueline depth with Marcus Pettersson sidelined week-to-week and reserve blueliners Sebastian Aho and Jack St. Ivany hobbled by injuries.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks goaltender Vitek Vanecek is sidelined for at least two weeks with an upper-body injury after being struck by an errant puck while sitting on the bench during Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. They’ve recalled netminder Yaroslav Askarov from their AHL affiliate.

THE ATHLETIC: Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro’s lower-body injury isn’t as serious as feared. He’s expected to miss a few games with what GM Don Waddell called a charley horse.

WINNIPEG SUN: Former Jets captain Blake Wheeler is hanging up his skates. During an appearance this week on the Beyond High Performance podcast, the 38-year-old left winger said he could no longer face the grind of an 82-game NHL season.

“It’s just the emotional, get up 82 times – I don’t want to do that. There’s only so much gas in the tank for that,” said Wheeler. He’s been an unrestricted free agent since July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wheeler played 16 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers, with 13 of those seasons with the Thrashers/Jets. He was captain of the Jets from 2016-17 to 2021-22.

Wheeler tallied 321 goals and 622 assists for 943 points in 1,172 regular-season games, including back-to-back 91-point performances in 2017-18 and 2018-19. He also had 45 points in 66 playoff games.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 18, 2024

by | Dec 18, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 18, 2024

A hat trick for Patrik Laine, a record-setting milestone for Connor Hellebuyck, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: Patrik Laine tallied three power-play goals for his 11th career hat trick as the Montreal Canadiens thumped the Buffalo Sabres 6-1. Juraj Slafkovsky had a goal and an assist while Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson each collected two assists. Dylan Cozens has the Sabres only goal as their winless skid stretched to 11 games (0-8-3).

Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The pep talk the Sabres received from team owner Terry Pegula on Monday landed on deaf ears. Their defensive play was atrocious, especially on the penalty kill. Laine was left undefended on all three goals from his wheelhouse at the top of the faceoff circle. He has six goals and seven points in his seven games since returning from a sprained knee.

Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets became the fastest American-born goaltender to reach 20 wins in a season as he backstopped his club to a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Hellebuyck made 32 saves as Adam Lowry tallied the game-winner with 1:13 remaining in the third period. Kyle Connor scored twice and Mark Scheifele had a goal and an assist for the Jets. Macklin Celebrini and Tyler Toffoli each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks backup goalie Vitek Vanecek left the game in the second period when he was struck in the face by an errant puck while sitting on the bench. There was no postgame update on his status. Before this game, Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky was fined $25,000.00 by the league for “inappropriate conduct” during Saturday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club.

The Jets also made history when they signed prospect Kevin He to an entry-level contract. Chosen by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, He is the first Chinese-born player to sign an NHL contract.

Nashville Predators netminder Juuse Saros had a 25-save performance to shut out the New York Rangers 2-0. Jonathan Marchessault and Adam Wilsby were the goal scorers, with the latter getting the first of his NHL career. Igor Shesterkin made 30 saves for the Rangers, who’ve lost three straight games and five of their last six.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers winger Kaapo Kakko returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch from Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Blues. He didn’t hide his frustration over the situation. “I know you’ve got to do something as a coach when you’re losing games, but I think it’s just easy to pick a young guy and boot him out. That’s how I feel, to be honest,” he said, adding that he hasn’t been the worst player on the Rangers roster.

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 32 shots in a 4-0 shutout of the New York Islanders. Sebastian Aho and Shayne Gostisbehere each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes. Isles netminder Ilya Sorokin made 19 saves as his club has lost three of their last four.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3. Jake Guentzel had a goal and an assist to extend his goal streak to seven games and Nick Paul had a goal and an assist as the Lightning have won three in a row. Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko collected two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury. He has seven points in 17 games since being claimed off waivers by the Jackets on Nov. 10.

An overtime goal by Rickard Rakell lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Rakell and Michael Bunting each had two points while Alex Nedeljkovic turned aside 29 shots for the win. Adrian Kempe and Alex Turcotte replied for the Kings.

New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen scored in his 400th regular-season game as his club beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1. Jake Hughes picked up two assists as the Devils leapfrogged the Washington Capitals into first place in the Eastern Conference with 45 points. Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils forward Curtis Lazar was activated off injured reserve for this game. He’d been sidelined by a lower-body injury since Oct. 27.

Speaking of the Capitals, they dropped a 3-2 decision to the Chicago Blackhawks. Ilya Mikheyev, TJ Brodie and Ryan Donato netted three unanswered third-period goals as the Blackhawks picked up their second straight victory. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Andrew Mangiapane scored for the Capitals as they’ve lost two straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals received approval from the Washington D.C. city council to conduct a major arena renovation to Capital One Arena earlier in the day.

David Pastrnak scored in overtime as the Boston Bruins nipped the Calgary Flames 4-3. The Bruins forced the extra frame with unanswered third-period goals by Morgan Geekie and Marc McLaughlin. Matt Coronato, Nazem Kadri and Ryan Lomberg scored for the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Calgary Flames signed defenseman Brayden Pachal to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.187 million.

The Ottawa Senators picked up their fourth straight win by blanking the Seattle Kraken 3-0. Linus Ullmark stopped 30 shots for the shutout while Shane Pinto, Noah Gregor, and Tim Stutzle were the goal scorers. Kraken goalie Joey Daccord made 24 saves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 34 points, the Senators hold a one-point lead over the Penguins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz will be out for four to six weeks as he’ll undergo a procedure to remove a pebble-sized bump from the back of his knee.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Leafs, they’ve sent forward Fraser Minten to their AHL affiliate and activated forward David Kampf off injured reserve.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Zach Hyman missed practice on Tuesday as he had a medical appointment regarding his broken nose. He suffered the injury during Monday’s loss to the Florida Panthers when a shot from teammate Evan Bouchard struck him. Hyman is expected to be in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vegas Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. 

DAILY FACEOFF: Colorado Avalanche forward Chris Wagner and New Jersey Devils forward Justin Dowling were placed on waivers yesterday.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 17, 2024

by | Dec 17, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 17, 2024

Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week, an update on Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Florida Panthers nipped the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 in their first game since Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Carter Verhaeghe snapped a 5-5 tie in the third period and Sam Reinhart tallied his 20th of the season for the Panthers as they ended a two-game losing skid. Zach Hyman scored two goals and Connor McDavid collected three assists for the Oilers as their five-game win streak ended.

Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: An entertaining game between the 2024 Cup Finalists. Defensive breakdowns proved costly for Edmonton, who blew a 4-2 lead. Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl had a goal and an assist in extending his multipoint streak to six games. Hyman left the game in the second period after being struck by a puck under his visor but returned in the third period sporting a fishbowl visor protecting his face and swollen nose.

Vancouver Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood collected his first NHL hat trick in a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko stopped 30 shots for his first win of the season since his season debut last week. Valeri Nichushkin replied for the Avalanche as they cling to the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 36 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks fans serenaded Sherwood after he scored his third goal by chanting his name as he sat on the bench.

Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz tallied twice and Jason Robertson collected two assists to defeat the Washington Capitals 3-1, snapping the latter’s 10-game road win streak. Dylan Strome replied for the Capitals, who remain in first place in the Metropolitan Division with 44 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars rookie defenseman Lian Bichsel scored the winning goal as he makes the case to remain in the lineup. Called up to provide blueline depth as injuries and illness struck their blueline corps, the 20-year-old has two goals in three games, averaging over 15 minutes of ice time per game.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, and Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 15, 2024.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson is listed as week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson’s been Pittsburgh’s best defenseman this season. He’s also been considered a prime candidate to be moved if the Penguins become sellers at the March 7 trade deadline. How long Pettersson is out of the lineup and his performance once he returns will be closely monitored by contenders seeking blueline depth in the New Year.

TSN: Detroit Red Wings forward Jonatan Berggren was fined $2,148.44 by the NHL’s department of player safety for cross-checking Toronto Maple Leafs forward Conor Dewar on Saturday.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Minnesota Wild placed forward Devin Shore on waivers.

SPORTSNET: Zach Dietz’s efforts to get to Canadian Tire Centre to join the Ottawa Senators as an emergency backup goaltender (EBUG) recently went viral. The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees’ goalie and his girlfriend were stuck in traffic so Dietz grabbed his gear, left his car, and was filmed sprinting toward the arena. A couple later picked him up in an SUV and drove him the rest of the way.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dietz replaced an injured Anton Forsberg but his services weren’t required as Linus Ullmark backstopped the Senators to a 3-2 overtime win over the Penguins.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Former Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz has announced his retirement at age 34. He spent 12 seasons in the NHL with the Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken from 2012-13 to 2023-24.

Schultz won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins and had a career-best 51-point performance in 2016-17. He had 324 points in 745 regular-season games and 42 points in 81 playoff contests.