NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 6, 2025

by | Feb 6, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 6, 2025

Recaps of Wednesday’s games, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby injured, the Canucks re-sign Marcus Pettersson, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: A shorthanded third-period goal by Chris Kreider lifted the New York Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Mika Zibanejad collected two assists for the Rangers (56 points) as they picked up their second straight win to move within four points of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Bruins winger David Pastrnak scored to collect 25 points over the past 12 games. However, his club remains just outside the Eastern wild card with 60 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins held a 2-1 lead going into the third period but Vincent Trocheck tied it early in the frame, setting the stage for Kreider’s game-winner. Pastrnak’s doing the heavy lifting for the Bruins’ anemic offense. They’re sitting 25th overall with a 2.75 goals-per-game average.

Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman scored in overtime to nip the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3. Leon Draisaitl and Jeff Skinner each had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 72 points. Ryan Donato and Teuvo Teravainen each had two points for the Blackhawks.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl is making a strong case for the Hart Memorial Trophy. He continues to lead all goal scorers (38) and has surged ahead of Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for the points lead with 81. Blackhawks center Jason Dickinson left this game in the second period with an injured left leg. Head coach Anders Sorensen said Dickinson will be reevaluated on Thursday, adding “It doesn’t look good.”

The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-3. Kevin Fiala tallied twice and Quinton Byfield collected three assists as the Kings sit third in the Pacific Division with 62 points. Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier and Logan Mailloux replied for the Canadiens, who’ve dropped six of the last seven contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens (55 points) remain five points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot with two games remaining before the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

HEADLINES

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is being evaluated for an upper-body injury suffered during Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Crosby appeared to injure his left arm after colliding with Devils forward Erik Haula and defenseman Luke Hughes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby missed practice yesterday, raising concerns about whether he can participate in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. He’s the captain of Team Canada in that tournament.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks signed Marcus Pettersson to a six-year contract extension on Wednesday. Acquired on Saturday from the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 28-year-old defenseman’s new deal is worth an average annual value of $5.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks president Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin knew Pettersson from their days with the Penguins, signing him to his current contract in 2020. They consider the lanky blueliner “a calming presence” on the Canucks blueline.

Pettersson receives a raise of about $1.5 million annually over the $4.083 million on his present deal. He might have received much more had he gone to market on July 1, especially with the salary cap jumping from $88 million to $95.5 million, but he opted for term security. Pettersson also gets a full no-movement clause in the first three years of the deal.

DAILY FACEOFF: Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane set an NHL record during Tuesday’s 5-4 win over the Seattle Kraken. He scored his 53rd career shootout goal to become the league leader in that category, surpassing former Chicago Blackhawks teammate Jonathan Toews.

TSN: According to Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff, center Dylan Cozens missed practice on Wednesday with a “lower-body aggravation”.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was no indication of how long Cozens will be sidelined, but Ruff didn’t indicate that it was serious. The young center has been the frequent topic of trade rumors this season. You can read the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

The National Hockey League Players’ Association is appealing Ryan Hartman’s 10-game suspension. The Minnesota Wild center received that punishment from the NHL’s department of player safety for driving Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle’s head into the ice following a faceoff.

The Wild also claimed forward Vinnie Hinostroza off waivers from the Nashville Predators.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2025

by | Feb 5, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2025

Alex Ovechkin moves closer to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, the Jets remain in sole possession of first overall, William Nylander’s hat trick lifts the Leafs to victory, and more from a busy Tuesday evening in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin moved closer to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record with an empty-net goal in the final second of the third period in a 6-3 win over the Florida Panthers. Logan Thompson made 30 saves and Nick Dowd had a goal and two assists for the Capitals, who lead the Eastern Conference with 77 points. Sam Bennett had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who sit atop the Atlantic Division with 67 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin has 878 regular-season goals, moving within 17 of breaking Gretzky’s record of 894. The Capitals extended their home points streak to 14 games. Meanwhile, Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk looks forward to a potential playoff matchup against the Ottawa Senators and his younger brother Brady.

The Winnipeg Jets picked up their seventh straight win by blanking the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0. Eric Comrie turned in a 29-save shutout while Nino Niederreiter had a goal and an assist for the Jets, who lead the overall standings with 79 points. The Hurricanes have dropped their second straight game and sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 68 points.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (NHL Images).

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander’s hat trick carried his club to a 6-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. Leafs captain Auston Matthews collected three assists as the Leafs moved within one point of the Panthers in the Atlantic Division. Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri and MacKenzie Weegar each collected two assists for the Flames, who lost four of their last six contests and cling to the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 59 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs winger Mitch Marner missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists in a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Leon Draisaitl scored his league-leading 37th goal and Connor Brown tallied the winner in overtime for the Oilers, who sit atop the Pacific Division with 70 points. Jordan Kyrou and Colton Parayko replied for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl has 79 points, one back of league leader Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. Blues defenseman Nick Leddy returned to action after missing 49 games with a lower-body injury.

A shootout goal by Patrick Kane lifted the Detroit Red Wings over the Seattle Kraken 5-4 to extend their win streak to seven games. Lucas Raymond scored his 21st goal of the season as the Wings hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 61 points. Shane Wright tallied twice for the Kraken.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko stopped 25 shots to shut out the Colorado Avalanche 3-0. Jake DeBrusk, Brock Boeser and Drew O’Connor scored for the Canucks, who sit just behind the Flames for that final Western wild card with 59 points. Avalanche netminder Mackenzie Blackwood turned aside 28 shots as his club holds the first Western wild-card berth with 64 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks got the win without captain Quinn Hughes. He missed his second straight game with an undisclosed injury suspected to be in his abdominal area.

The Tampa Bay Lightning held off the Ottawa Senators 4-3, snapping the latter’s five-game win streak. Third-period goals by Brandon Hagel and Ryan McDonagh secured the win for the Lightning as they’re clinging to the final Eastern wild card with 60 points. Linus Ullmark made 34 saves in his return to action as the Senators hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 62 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Ullmark’s first game since being sidelined by a back injury on Dec. 22. His teammate Shane Pinto left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury while Lightning forward Nick Paul departed in the same period with an undisclosed injury.

Boston Bruins goalies Jeremy Swayman kicked out 35 shots in a 3-0 shutout of the Minnesota Wild. Charlie McAvoy, Trent Frederic and Morgan Geekie tallied for the Bruins, who sit just behind the Lightning with 60 points. Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 32 saves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild activated defenseman Jonas Brodin from long-term injury reserve and forward Marcus Johansson from injured reserve for this game.

The New Jersey Devils got two goals from Jack Hughes to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in a shootout. Timo Meier scored the game-winner and Jesper Bratt collected two assists as the Devils (66 points) sit two points behind the Hurricanes in third place in the Metropolitan Division. Rickard Rakell and Kevin Hayes scored for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler left this game with an injured right leg in the first period. Following the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Siegenthaler is expected to miss some time.

New York Islanders center Brock Nelson broke a 1-1 tie in the third period as his club defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1, handing the latter their fourth straight loss. Bo Horvat also scored and Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves for the Islanders, who sit three points behind the Lightning with 57 points. Brandon Saad scored his first goal for the Golden Knights since joining them as a free agent last week. They sit second in the Pacific Division with 68 points.

Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson stopped 26 shots in a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars. Cutter Gauthier and Trevor Zegras scored for the Ducks, who’ve won five of their last six contests. Colin Blackwell replied for the Stars, who sit second in the Central Division with 69 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gibson became the first goaltender to play 500 regular-season games for the Ducks. Before this game, the Stars announced that defenseman Miro Heiskanen underwent knee surgery on Tuesday and is listed as month-to-month. They also played without forward Mavrik Bourque as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their fourth straight win by beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. Alex Tuch netted two goals and an assist and Jason Zucker had two assists for the Sabres. Kent Johnson and Ivan Provorov scored for the Blue Jackets as they slipped out of a wild-card spot in the East with 59 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The injury-wracked Blue Jackets played without defenseman and scoring leader Zach Werenski, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Sabres were without center Tage Thompson, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

A shorthanded goal by Joel Armia with 4:04 remaining in the third period gave the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Sam Montembeault made 27 saves while Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook each had two points for the Canadiens (55 points) as they’re five points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Sharks forwards Macklin Celebrini and Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens prospect Ivan Demidov set the KHL single-season scoring record for an under-20 player with 43 points. Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov held the former record of 42 points.

The Utah Hockey Club defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Dylan Guenther scored with one second remaining in overtime to finish with two goals and an assist. Mikhail Sergachev had a goal and two assists for Utah to end their five-game losing skid. Samuel Ersson made 39 saves for the Flyers, who’ve lost four straight.

IN OTHER NEWS…

DAILY FACEOFF: Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson is day-to-day with an injured finger.

The Nashville Predators placed forward Vinnie Hinostroza on waivers.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers forward Adam Edstrom will miss the next six to 10 weeks with a lower-body injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 4, 2025

by | Feb 4, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 4, 2025

The Senators pick up their fifth straight win, the three stars of the week, Wild center Ryan Hartman suspended, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Ottawa Senators collected their fifth straight win by downing the Nashville Predators 5-2. Three unanswered third-period goals by Shane Pinto, David Perron and Ridly Greig carried the Senators (62 points) to victory, opening a three-point lead over the Detroit Red Wings for third in the Atlantic Division. Predators goalie Juuse Saros stopped 34 shots while teammate Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist.

Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators captain Roman Josi set the franchise record for games played with 957. Senators center Tim Stutzle became the youngest player in franchise history to reach the 300-point milestone (23 years, 19 days) and the third fastest to do so (338 games played), sitting behind Jason Spezza (277 games) and Alexei Yashin (332).

Senators forward Josh Norris missed this game as he’s sidelined for several weeks with a mid-body injury. Predators forward Luke Evangelista didn’t play as he’s listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson, and Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson are the league’s three stars for the week ending Feb. 2, 2025.

Minnesota Wild center Ryan Hartman received a 10-game suspension from the department of player safety for roughing Senators center Tim Stutzle on Saturday, driving Stutzle’s head into the ice following a faceoff draw.

DAILY FACEOFF: New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal is sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury and defenseman Scott Mayfield is day-to-day (lower body).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Barzal and Mayfield join injured teammates Noah Dobson, Ryan Pulock, Semyon Varlamov, Mike Reilly, and Marcus Hogberg. Those lengthy absences threaten to derail the Islanders’ efforts to secure a playoff spot.

NHL.COM: Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko is sidelined indefinitely with a broken jaw.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jackets are already missing Sean Monahan, Yegor Chinakhov, Erik Gudbranson and captain Boone Jenner, though the latter is expected to return to the lineup later this month. Marchenko’s absence is a significant blow. The 24-year-old winger is the Jackets’ leading goal scorer (21) and is second in points with 55.

CBS SPORTS: Colorado Avalanche winger Valeri Nichuskin (lower body) was placed on injured reserve.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The White House honored the defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers in a ceremony yesterday.

THE TENNESSEAN: Former Nashville Predators forward Martin Erat was charged with DUI and leaving the scene of an accident in Nolensville, Tennessee on Saturday. No injuries were reported during the incident.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 3, 2025

by | Feb 3, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 3, 2025

A milestone game for Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon is the first player to reach 80 points this season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick made 34 saves in a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, becoming the first US-born netminder to reach the 400-win milestone. Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad each had a goal and two assists and J.T. Miller collected two assists for the Rangers (54 points), who sit five points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Jack Eichel scored both goals for the Golden Knights (68 points), who are 1-2-2 in their last five games and remain in second place in the Pacific Division.

New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller is wasting little time making a positive impact on the Rangers. He has four points in his first two games since the Blueshirts reacquired him from the Canucks on Friday. It may have helped the struggling Zibanejad regain his scoring touch after being shifted to right wing on the Rangers’ top line alongside Miller and Zibanejad.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored to become the first player to reach 80 points this season as his club blanked the Philadelphia Flyers 2-0. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 24 shots for the shutout as the Avalanche picked up their second straight win and hold the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 64 points. The Flyers have dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon holds a three-point lead over Edmonton’s Leon Draisailt in the points race. He also leads all players with 60 assists.

Dallas Stars forward Evgenii Dadonov tallied twice in the third period in a 5-3 win over the Blue Jackets. Wyatt Johnston and Thomas Harley each collected two assists as the Stars collected their fifth straight win and sit second in the Central Division with 69 points. Blue Jackets defenseman Dante Fabbro and forward Kirill Marchenko left the game due to injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets weren’t pleased with the officiating in this game, questioning two of the Stars’ goals and Stars forward Mason Marchment going unpunished for elbowing Fabbro in the face. Marchenko was sidelined after taking a puck to the chin while sitting on the bench. Stars forward Mavrik Bourque also left this game in the third period when he was struck in the face by the puck.

Blue Jackets winger James van Riemsdyk played in this game despite losing four teeth during Friday’s game against Utah when he was crosschecked by Ian Cole. He returned to action after receiving 30 stitches, then underwent surgery following the game when an x-ray revealed one of his missing teeth was lodged in his bottom lip.

The Florida Panthers got a hat trick from Carter Verhaeghe to beat the New York Islanders 6-3, snapping the latter’s seven-game win streak. Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov picked up three assists as his club has won three straight and hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 67 points. The Islanders sit four points behind the Blue Jackets with 55 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders played without forward Mathew Barzal and defenseman Scott Mayfield. They were sidelined by injuries during Saturday’s win over Tampa Bay.

An overtime goal by Alex DeBrincat lifted the Detroit Red Wings over the Vancouver Canucks 3-2, giving the red-hot Wings their sixth straight win. DeBrincat also scored in regulation to finish the night with two goals, vaulting over the Blue Jackets into the first Eastern wild-card berth with 59 points. Filip Chytil scored in his first game with the Canucks since being acquired from the Rangers on Friday. The Canucks (57 points) sit two points behind the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings activated Patrick Kane off injured reserve and placed forward J.T. Compher on IR. Wings defenseman Jeff Petry underwent surgery and will be sidelined for six to eight weeks. He’d been sidelined since Jan. 2.

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes was a late scratch from this game with an undisclosed injury. Teammate Kyle Sherwood returned to action after missing four games due to injury.

Speaking of the Flames, they nipped the Seattle Kraken 3-2. Jonathan Huberdeau scored his 20th goal of the season while Morgan Frost scored his first goal with the Flames since being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday. Kaapo Kakko and Brandon Tanev scored for the Kraken, who’ve lost three of their last four games.

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson had a goal and two assists in a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils. Thompson left the game in the third period following a blindside hit by Devils forward Stefan Noesen, who was ejected as a result. Paul Cotter scored two goals for the Devils as they sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 64 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ruff told reporters after the game that Thompson passed each test in the NHL’s concussion protocol. He’ll be held out of Monday’s practice as a precaution.

The Anaheim Ducks overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. Alex Killorn snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period as the Ducks picked up their fourth win in their last five games. The Canadiens (53 points) are winless in their last five games (0-4-1) and six points behind the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens are plummeting back to earth following a five-week streak where they were among the hottest teams in the league, winning 13 of 17 games from Dec. 17 to Jan. 21.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou snapped a 1-1 tie to give his club a 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Jordan Binnington stopped 24 shots to snap a four-game losing skid. Utah has lost five straight.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reported last week that the skyrocketing salary cap has raised concern that it could create a new era of have-and-have-not teams, in which bigger markets gain a financial advantage to outspend smaller markets unable to spend toward the cap. It could invite renewed discussion of enhanced revenue sharing in the next round of collective bargaining slated to begin this month.

TVA SPORTS: Canadiens winger Patrik Laine confirmed he became addicted to video games as a refuge during a dark period following the sudden death of his father. He found they briefly eased his anxiety before he hit rock bottom, forcing him to seek help from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

Laine is doing better in Montreal, regaining his love of hockey and finding solace in religion with his fiancee Jordan Leigh.

He also believes his critical comments about the Columbus Blue Jackets prompted his former teammates to target him during his first game against them in December. He regrets those remarks, and won’t say anything negative about another organization again.

OTTAWA SUN: Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman will receive an in-person hearing with the league’s department of player safety for his attempt to injure Senators center Tim Stutzle on Saturday.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Senators, they’ve returned goalie Leevi Merilainen to their AHL affiliate in Belleville. Starter Linus Ullmark is expected to return to action after being sidelined by a back injury since Dec. 22.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 2, 2025

by | Feb 2, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 2, 2025

Recaps of Saturday’s games, the three stars and rookie of the month for January are unveiled, the Sharks trade Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci to the Dallas Stars, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING SATURDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak tallied a hat trick and collected an assist in a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Brad Marchand, Matthew Poitras and Pavel Zacha each collected two points for the Bruins (58 points), who sit behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. J.T. Miller scored twice in his first game with the Rangers since they reacquired him from the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The loss leaves the Rangers (52 points) six points behind the Lightning. Blueshirts forward Jimmy Vesey was a healthy scratch for the ninth straight game. He recently lamented that his situation left him feeling he had “no role or purpose” with the team but head coach Peter Laviolette insists he remains an important part of the roster.

Meanwhile, the Lightning dropped a 3-2 decision to the New York Islanders. Tony DeAngelo scored in overtime and Adam Boqvist netted his first goal with the Isles since being claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers. Jake Guentzel and Nikita Kucherov replied for the Lightning (58 points), who cling to the final Eastern wild-card spot with three games in hand over the Bruins. The Islanders (55 points) have won seven straight and are three points back of the Bolts.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders are on a tear despite being walloped by injuries. They announced on Saturday that goaltender Semyon Varlamov remains sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury. He joined goalie Marcus Hogberg and defensemen Ryan Pulock, Noah Dobson and Mike Reilly on injured reserve.

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice collected his 900th NHL win as his club beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1. Sam Reinhart had a goal and two assists while Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe each picked up two points for the Panthers (65 points), who hold a one-point lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division. Blackhawks forward Logan Slaggert opened the scoring just seven seconds into the game, setting a franchise record for the fastest game-opening goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maurice becomes the fourth coach in league history to reach the 900-win milestone. Meanwhile, Barkov joined Jari Kurri and Teemu Selanne as the third Finnish player to record 200 multi-point games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy returned to action after missing 13 games with a groin injury.

The Winnipeg Jets got an overtime goal from Josh Morrissey to nip the Washington Capitals 5-4, giving the Jets 77 points and a two-point lead over the Capitals for first place in the overall standings. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tallied his 877th NHL regular-season goal. Morrisey finished the night with two goals while Cole Perfetti and Dylan Samberg each had a goal and an assist for the Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin is 18 goals from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894.

Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson had a goal and three assists while goalie Leevi Merilainen made 16 saves in a 6-0 shutout of the Minnesota Wild. Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson each had a goal and two assists for the Senators, who picked up their fourth straight win and sit third in the Atlantic Division with 60 points. The Wild’s three-game win streak ended as they remain third in the Central Division with 66 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forward Ryan Hartman received a match penalty for intent to injure Stutzle following a face-off draw when he pushed Stutzle’s head into the ice. The Senators center received treatment for cuts above his left eye and finished the game.

The Toronto Maple Leafs scored three first-period goals and Mitch Marner tallied what proved to be the game-winner in the third as they held off the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. Marner and teammate Auston Matthews each had two points while Joseph Woll kicked out 45 shots for the win. Evan Bouchard and Brett Kulak each had two points for the Oilers, who remain in second place in the Pacific Division with 68 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm missed this game due to illness. Leafs blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson left this contest after the second period with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, Leafs rearguard Jani Hakanpaa ended his comeback bid for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off as he continues to deal with a lingering knee injury.

Los Angeles Kings winger Kevin Fiala scored twice in a 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. Phillip Danault and Quinton Byfield each picked up two points for the Kings, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 60 points. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Eric Robinson scored for the Hurricanes as their seven-game points streak ended, leaving them second in the Metropolitan Division with 68 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Hurricanes’ Brent Burns collected an assist to become the 13th defenseman in league history to reach the 900-point milestone. He’s the only active blueliner on that list. Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov missed this game with an upper-body injury.

The Detroit Red Wings picked up their fifth straight win by dousing the Calgary Flames 3-1. Cam Talbot turned aside 33 shots while Dylan Larkin, Simon Edvinsson and Andrew Copp tallied for the Red Wings (57 points), leaving them one point out of the final Eastern wild card. Nazem Kadri scored for the Flames, who’ve lost three of their last four contests and cling to the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 57 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 25 shots for his first shutout of the season in a 3-0 victory over the Nashville Predators. Sidney Crosby extended his goal streak to four games, Philip Tomasino scored against his former club for the first time and Bryan Rust netted his 20th of the season. The Predators have dropped four straight.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski were the league’s three stars for January 2025. Calgary Flames goalie Dustin Wolf was named Rookie of the Month.

The Dallas Stars acquired center Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a first-round pick and a conditional third-rounder in the 2025 NHL Draft.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Granlund and Ceci are slated to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. Granlund was reportedly interested in signing an extension with the rebuilding Sharks, but general manager Mike Grier opted to move the pair to stockpile draft picks, giving his club two first-rounders this year.

Dallas made this move to bolster their roster for a potential Stanley Cup run this season. Granlund has 45 points in 52 games, putting him on pace to reach 60 points for the second straight year. Ceci is an experienced right-shot defenseman who’ll provide depth on the right side of the Stars blueline.

The Stars put center Tyler Seguin and defenseman Nils Lundkvist on long-term injury reserve to free up cap space to acquire Granlund and Ceci. Seguin underwent hip surgery in December and could return to action during the playoffs, when salary-cap constraints no longer apply. Lundkvist is done for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks GM Patrick Allvin met with the media on Saturday to explain why his club traded J.T. Miller to the Rangers on Friday. He felt he had no choice but to move the 31-year-old center for his own well-being and the sake of the club’s culture, which had been upset by a rift between Miller and Elias Pettersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Miller got off to a great start in his first game back with the Rangers by scoring two goals. All eyes in Vancouver will be on whether Pettersson regains his scoring touch after struggling through the first half of this season.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Canucks, they placed winger Philip Di Giuseppe on waivers.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 1, 2025

by | Feb 1, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 1, 2025

Game recaps, the Penguins ship Marcus Pettersson to the Canucks in a multiplayer deal, analysis of J.T. Miller trade, Brandon Saad signs with the Golden Knights, updated salary-cap projections, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S NHL GAMES

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Zach Werenski lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 3-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Kirill Marchenko and Kent Johnson scored as the Blue Jackets overcame a 2-0 deficit, setting the stage for Werenski’s game-winner. The Jackets picked up their third straight win and hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 59 points. Nick Schmaltz and Alexander Kerfoot scored for Utah, who are winless in their last four games (0-2-2).

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah sophomore center Logan Cooley missed this game as he’s sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

Cooley is also part of Utah’s Quarter Century Team. He’s on the First Team with fellow forwards Dylan Guenther and Clayton Keller, defensemen Michael Kesselring and Mikhail Sergachev and goaltender Karel Vejmelka. The Second Team features forwards Nick Schmaltz, Alex Kerfoot and Jack McBain, defensemen Ian Cole and Olli Maatta, and goalie Connor Ingram.

A four-goal first period lifted the Colorado Avalanche over the St. Louis Blues 5-0. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 19 shots for the shutout, Jonathan Drouin had a goal and an assist, and Nathan MacKinnon collected his league-leading 60th assist as the Avalanche hold the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 62 points. The Blues (50 points) have lost four straight and sit seven points out of the final Western wild card.

Buffalo Sabres forward Jiri Kulich snapped a 3-3 tie late in the third period to give his club a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators. Kulich finished with two goals and teammate Rasmus Dahlin collected two assists for the Sabres. Predators defenseman Brady Skjei had a goal and an assist in a losing cause as his club has dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres inducted Rob Ray into their Hall of Fame in a pregame ceremony. Ray spent nearly 14 seasons as an enforcer with the Sabres from 1989-90 to 2002-03, becoming one of the most popular players in franchise history.

Predators goaltender Juuse Saros missed this game due to an illness while teammate Luke Evangelista returned to the lineup following an eight-game absence with a lower-body injury.

The Dallas Stars picked up their fourth straight victory by downing the Vancouver Canucks 5-3. Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson each had two goals and an assist for the Stars (67 points), who sit one point ahead of the Minnesota Wild in second place in the Central Division. Conor Garland, Jake DeBrusk and Carson Soucy replied for the Canucks (56 points), who remain one point behind the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars placed defenseman Miro Heiskanen (knee) on injured reserve earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Canucks captain Quinn Hughes was banged up during this game. He told reporters following the game he’ll see how he’s doing over the next 48 hours.

The Canucks made bigger news off the ice on Friday. Read on to find out.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins traded defenseman Marcus Pettersson and winger Drew O’Connor to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent Desharnais, prospect forward Melvin Fernstrom and a conditional 2025 first-round pick that originally belonged to the New York Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This move came on the heels of the Canucks trading center J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers. That first-round pick sent to the Penguins was part of the return the Cancusk received in the Miller deal.

Canucks president Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin were familiar with Pettersson and O’Connor during their tenure with the Penguins. Both are eligible to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 but could end up signed to contract extensions.

Heinen and Desharnais were off-season additions for the Canucks who didn’t pan out. Both have a year remaining on their contracts at a combined cap hit of $4.25 million, making them affordable stopgap additions for the retooling (rebuilding?) Penguins. The prize for the Pens is the conditional first, which is top-13 protected. They now have two first-rounders in this year’s draft.

THE PROVINCE: Patrick Johnston reports the hope for the Canucks in the wake of the Miller trade is Elias Pettersson will regain his scoring touch. A rift between the two players was blamed for the decline in both players’ performances.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes Miller’s return to the Rangers is what the struggling club needs now and for the future. He will make them more formidable and consistent at center, keeping their Stanley Cup window open.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see how this deal affects both clubs over the remainder of this season and the foreseeable future.

LAS VEGAS SUN: The Vegas Golden Knights signed Brandon Saad to a one-year, $1.5 million contract on Friday. The 32-year-old winger became a UFA on Friday following the termination of his deal with the St. Louis Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights are considered a Stanley Cup contender but they’ve been struggling recently. Saad could regain his scoring touch in Vegas, which could improve their offensive punch and his stock in this summer’s free-agent market.

NHL: The league and the NHL Players’ Association announced their projected payroll ranges for the next three seasons.

The upper limit is expected to reach $95.5 million for 2025-26 with a lower limit of $70.6 million. For 2026-27, the upper limit could reach $104 million with the lower limit at $76.9 million. For 2027-28, the upper limit could be $113.5 million with the lower limit at $83.9 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those numbers could be adjusted up or down depending on hockey-related revenue (HRR) fluctuations. Nevertheless, those projected figures indicate a significant rise in the cap after several stagnant years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Big-market teams will be delighted with those increases as they build and maintain their rosters. However, this will inevitably result in bad contracts, as some teams overpay to retain or add big-name talent.

Meanwhile, some small-market clubs could have difficulty reaching the cap floor. Revenue sharing will help but it’s unlikely to get them to the cap ceiling. That could become an issue in the next round of collective bargaining scheduled to begin later this month.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken center Yanni Gourde underwent successful surgery to repair a sports hernia. He’s expected to be sidelined for five to seven weeks.

Gourde, 33, is UFA-eligible this summer and was frequently the subject of trade rumors. However, he’ll be out until after the March 7 trade deadline, which could see him finish the season with the Kraken.

DAILY FACEOFF: San Jose Sharks forward Nikolai Kovalenko is sidelined indefinitely with an upper-body injury.

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers recalled goaltender Aleksei Kolosov on Friday and placed defenseman Egor Zamula (upper body) on injured reserve.

NEW YORK POST: The Islanders claimed defenseman Adam Boqvist off waivers from the Florida Panthers.