NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 26, 2025

by | Feb 26, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 26, 2025

Check out the game recaps from a busy Tuesday night in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs overcame 3-0 and 4-3 deficits for a 5-4 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins. Mitch Marner scored twice, including the game-winner, and Morgan Rielly had a goal and three assists to surpass the 500-point plateau (502). Bruins winger David Pastrnak had two goals and an assist, extending his points streak to 15 games.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have won three straight and hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 74 points. However, they lost forward William Nylander and defenseman Chris Tanev to injuries. The Bruins (62 points) are 0-2-2 in their last four games and sit two points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

Florida Panthers forwards Sam Bennett and Aleksander Barkov had two points each to defeat the Nashville Predators 4-1. Bennett had a goal and an assist and Barkov two assists as the Panthers remain one point behind the Leafs in the Atlantic Division. Michael McCarron replied for the Predators, who lost team captain Roman Josi to an upper-body injury following a heavy hit from Bennett in the second period.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators general manager Barry Trotz said he’s talked to his players about his plans for the team over the next several years. If anyone isn’t interested in buying in, he said he’d try to move them. It’s something to keep an eye on as the March 7 trade deadline approaches.

The Tampa Bay Lightning pushed their win streak to six games with a 4-1 win over the slumping Edmonton Oilers. Brandon Hagel netted the game-winning goal, Nikita Kucherov picked up two assists, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 23 shots as the Lightning sit three points back of the Panthers in third place in the Atlantic Division. Leon Draisaitl scored his league-leading 43rd goal for the Oilers, who hold second place in the Pacific Division but have lost four straight games.

Calgary Flames forwards Martin Pospisil, Matt Coronato and Jonathan Huberdeau scored to beat the Washington Capitals 3-1. Alex Ovechkin scored his 883rd regular-season goal for the Capitals (84 points), who remain one point behind the first-overall Winnipeg Jets. The Flames (64 points) vaulted over the Vancouver Canucks into the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin needs 12 goals to break Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals. He joins Gordie Howe, Johnny Bucyk and Teemu Selanne as the only NHL players to score 30 goals in a season at age 39 or older. Ovechkin is the only player with nineteen 30-goal seasons. Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl returned to action after missing nine games due to illness and an upper-body injury.

The Detroit Red Wings got two goals from defenseman Simon Edvinsson to tame the Minnesota Wild 3-2. Marco Rossi and Jakub Lauko opened the scoring for the Wild before Vladimir Tarasenko scored, setting the stage for Edvinsson’s two goals. The Wings hold the first Eastern wild card with 66 points, while the Wild are third in the Central Division with 72 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wings announced before this game that forward Andrew Copp is out for the season following surgery on his left pectoral tendon. His recovery period is four to six months. Meanwhile, Minnesota center Joel Eriksson Ek is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The Wild also placed defenseman Travis Dermott on waivers.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko scored two goals and set up another in a 6-4 victory over the Dallas Stars. Adam Fantilli, Ivan Provorov and Dmitri Voronkov each collected two points as the Blues Jackets hold the final Eastern wild card with 64 points. Jason Robertson and Mikael Granlund each had two points for the Stars, who sit second in the Central with 76 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel missed this game as he remains in concussion protocol after being hit in the head by New York Islanders forward Casey Cizikas on Sunday. He’s expected to be sidelined for at least a week.

The Montreal Canadiens got a 20-save shutout from Sam Montembeault in a 4-0 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. Nick Suzuki and Patrik Laine each had a goal and two assists as the Canadiens (59 points) remain five points out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. The Hurricanes are in second place in the Metropolitan Division (70 points) but have lost five of their last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens winger Josh Anderson left the game with an upper-body injury after slamming into the boards in the third period. There was no post-game update on his status.

New York Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski scored two goals and collected an assist in a 5-1 win over the New York Islanders. Defenseman Urho Vaakanainen had a goal and two assists, and goaltender Igor Shesterkin kicked out 36 shots as the Rangers (62 points) are two points behind the Blue Jackets. Alexander Romanov replied for the slumping Islanders as they dropped their fourth straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sitting seven points behind the Blue Jackets, the Islanders’ playoff hopes are fading and could push GM Lou Lamoriello into sell mode. Isles forward Matt Martin (lower body) missed the game as he was placed on injured reserve.

Meanwhile, Rangers winger Chris Kreider missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. Defensemen Adam Fox and K’Andre Miller left the game with injuries late in the third period. Both were being evaluated following the game.

Utah Hockey Club forward Lawson Crouse scored the game-winner to nip the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1. Seth Jones opened the scoring in the first period for Chicago but Clayton Keller tied it for Utah in the second period. The win moves Utah (61 points) within three points of the Flames.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jones vented his frustration after the game over the Blackhawks’ performance, saying they haven’t improved since the start of the season. The 30-year-old defenseman went public last week about his desire to play for a contender, but his hefty contract and full no-movement clause remain significant obstacles in the path to a trade.

The St. Louis Blues crushed the Seattle Kraken 7-2. Robert Thomas extended his points streak to seven games with a goal and an assist, Zack Bolduc tallied twice, and Cam Fowler and Oskar Sundqvist each had a goal and two assists for the Blues, who moved within four points of the Western wild-card spot with 60 points. Vince Dunn and Jaden Schwartz replied for the Kraken.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Bobby Brink had a goal and three assists in a 6-1 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster each collected three points as the Flyers (59 points) got their third straight win to move within five points of the Blue Jackets. Philip Tomasino had the Penguins’ only goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins forward Bryan Rust was activated off injured reserve before this game.

Three unanswered third-period goals by JJ Peterka, Alex Tuch and Henri Jokiharju lifted the Buffalo Sabres over the Anaheim Ducks 3-2. Sabres center Dylan Cozens collected three assists. Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson tallied for the Ducks.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 25, 2025

by | Feb 25, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 25, 2025

Recaps of Monday’s games, uncertainty over future 4 Nations tournaments, updates on Matthew Tkachuk, Trevor Zegras suspended, the Ducks and Red Wings make a trade, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

JETS DOWN THE SHARKS, KINGS RALLY OVER THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Mark Scheifele lifted the Winnipeg Jets to a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Josh Morrissey tied the game for the Jets in the third period after Sharks forward William Eklund opened the scoring in the first period. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 17 shots for the Jets, while Vitek Vanecek kicked out 33 for the Sharks.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Scheifele scored his franchise-record 329th regular-season goal, surpassing Ilya Kovalchuk. The Jets picked up their 10th straight win to regain first place in the overall standings with 85 points.

Meanwhile, San Jose is 0-4-1 in their last six games, with only one victory in 13 contests. Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren missed this game with an upper-body injury.

Los Angeles Kings forward Quinton Byfield collected a career-high four assists as his club defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2. Trevor Moore tallied twice as the Kings scored four third-period goals. Brayden McNabb and Mark Stone replied for the Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights remain atop the Pacific Division with 74 points, while the Kings are third with 69 points.

HEADLINES

YAHOO! SPORTS: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told Rich Eisen that the league must consider where any future 4 Nations Face-Off tournament would fit into a busy schedule of international tournaments.

The league is riding high following the success of the 4 Nations tournament, which garnered millions of viewers. Bettman admitted the event’s success was “so quick and overwhelming”, saying they have a lot to consider and sort out, including what the All-Star Game will look like going forward.

Bettman said the 4 Nations was meant as a “quick appetizer” for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, followed by the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028 and every four years thereafter.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be difficult for the NHL to return to its previous All-Star Game format. Fans want to see more meaningful best-on-best international play rather than a gloried no-contact game where the players are just going through the motions.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers head coach Paul Maurice insisted that sidelined winger Matthew Tkachuk will play again this season, though he admitted he didn’t have a timeline for his return. Tkachuk suffered a lower-body injury playing for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off. TVA Sports Renaud Lavoie claimed the Panthers were concerned that Tkachuk’s season could be over as they awaited his medical results.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk appeared on The Tonight Show on Monday to discuss how much it meant to represent his country alongside his brother Brady.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Panthers, forward Eetu Luostarinen will miss Tuesday’s game against the Nashville Predators as he and his wife are expecting a child.

NHL.COM: The department of player safety handed down a three-game suspension to Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras for interference on Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen on Sunday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zegras leveled Rasmussen with a blindside hit to the head. The latter left the game and is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings made a trade on Monday, shipping goaltender Ville Husso to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations. The 30-year-old Husso is in the final season of a three-year contract with an average annual value of $4.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report suggested that the future considerations could be the Red Wings eating part of Husso’s cap hit, but PuckPedia shows no indication of salary retention on their part. This trade frees up cap room for the Wings to add a player or two by the March 7 trade deadline.

Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports this move doesn’t mean the Ducks are planning to trade goalie John Gibson. He says it provides experienced depth to their AHL affiliate in San Diego as that club pushes for a playoff spot.

NHL.COM: League commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the suspension levied on Minnesota Wild center Ryan Hartman for roughing Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle on Feb. 1. However, he reduced the suspension from 10 games to eight, making Hartman eligible to return to action on March 4.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos is mired in the worst slump of his NHL career. He’s gone nine consecutive games without a point.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stamkos’ production this season is well below his usual standards. He has 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points in 56 games, well below last season’s 40-goal, 81-point performance.

SPORTSNET: Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach will miss Tuesday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes with a lower-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Legendary New York Rangers broadcaster Al Trautwig has died at the age of 68. He’d reportedly undergone recent treatments for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Trautwig hosted USA Network’s NHL coverage in the 1980s and on Versus Network for several seasons. He covered the Rangers on MSG Network from 1989 to 2021. He also covered MLB’s New York Yankees and the NBA’s New York Knicks. Trautwig won numerous broadcasting awards, including national Emmys and a New York Sportscaster of the Year Award.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Trautwig’s family, friends, broadcast partners and the Rangers organization.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 24, 2025

by | Feb 24, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 24, 2025

A hat trick moves Alex Ovechkin closer to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, brothers Jason and Nicholas Robertson achieve a rare milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin continued pursuing Wayne Gretzky’s goal record with a hat trick in a 7-3 drubbing of the Edmonton Oilers. Dylan Strome had a goal and two assists and Aliaksei Protas collected three assists as the Capitals moved ahead of the Winnipeg Jets into first place in the overall standings with 84 points. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a goal and an assist for the Oilers (72 points), who sit second in the Pacific Division but have lost three straight games.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 882 goals, Ovechkin is 13 away from breaking Gretzky’s record.

The Dallas Stars got a hat trick from Jason Robertson to nip the New York Islanders 4-3. Jake Oettinger made 34 saves while Roope Hintz and Matt Duchene each had two assists as the Stars sit second in the Central Division with 76 points. Pierre Engvall, Kyle Palmieri and Anthony Duclair replied for the Islanders (57 points), who’ve lost four of their last five games and remain five points behind the Ottawa Senators for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders activated defenseman Scott Mayfield and Ryan Pulock off injured reserve for this game. Teammate Max Tsyplakov said he’s had no contract talks yet with Isles general manager Lou Lamoriello. His agent told a Russian news agency that the two sides are already in extension talks but Tsyplakov believes there’s plenty of time for that following the season. He’s eligible to become a restricted free agent on July 1.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nicholas Robertson tallied twice in a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Max Domi, Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe each had two points as the Leafs vaulted over the Florida Panthers into first place in the Atlantic Division with 72 points. Blackhawks forward Tyler Bertuzzi had two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Robertsons became the first pair of brothers to score multiple goals on the same night since Pavel and Valeri Bure did it on March 1, 2000.

Three unanswered second-period goals by Brayden Schenn, Colton Parayko and Dylan Holloway lifted the St. Louis Blues over the Colorado Avalanche 3-1. Jordan Binnington turned aside 28 shots for the Blues, who sit five points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the final Western wild-card spot with 58 points. Devon Toews scored for the Avalanche, who remain in the first Western wild card with 68 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Cale Makar assisted on Toews’ goal, becoming the third-fastest defenseman to reach the 400-point plateau (374 games played) behind Hall-of-Famers Bobby Orr (333 games played) and Paul Coffey (359 games played).

New Jersey Devils goaltender Nico Daws kicked out 29 shots for his first NHL shutout in a 5-0 victory over the Nashville Predators. Nico Hischier collected three assists while Jesper Bratt, Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes each had two points as the Devils sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 70 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bratt reached the 50-assist plateau for the second straight season while Hamilton and Ondrej Palat reached the 500-point milestone.

The New York Rangers got two goals from J.T. Miller to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3. Adam Fox scored the winning goal and Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves as the Rangers (60 points) moved within two points of the final Eastern wild-card berth. Ryan Shea scored two goals for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers winger Chris Kreider was a late scratch with an upper-body injury. Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk left this game in the first period with an undisclosed injury after being hit from behind by Rangers forward Matt Rempe.

An overtime goal by Patrick Kane lifted the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Kane finished with two goals and an assist while Lucas Raymond and Marco Kasper for the Red Wings, who hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 64 points. Cutter Gauthier tallied twice for the Ducks as their four-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen left this game in the second period following a blindside hit to the head from Ducks winger Trevor Zegras. There was no call on the play and it remains to be seen if Zegras will receive supplemental discipline from the league. Meanwhile, the Ducks recalled goalie Oscar Dansk as John Gibson was ruled out for this game with an upper-body injury

Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 36 shots as his club defeated the Seattle Kraken 4-1. Brandon Hagel had a goal and an assist for the Lightning (68 points), who’ve won five straight and sit third in the Atlantic Division. Shane Wright replied for the Kraken.

Calgary Flames defenseman Joel Hanley snapped a 2-2 tie to lift his club to a 3-2 victory against the San Jose Sharks. Nazem Kadri had a goal and an assist and rookie goalie Dustin Wolf made 27 saves for his 20th win of the season as the Flames (62 points) moved within one point of the Canucks for the final Western wild card. Macklin Celebrini and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Sharks, who’ve dropped 11 of their last 12 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames forward Connor Zary was held scoreless as he returned to action after being sidelined since Jan. 7 with a knee injury.

Speaking of the Canucks, they fell 2-1 to the Utah Hockey Club. Dylan Guenther snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period as Utah (59 points) moved within four points of the Canucks. Jake DeBrusk scored for Vancouver.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Utah placed defenseman Juuso Valimaki on waivers Sunday. The Canucks placed goaltender Thatcher Demko on injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 8 and recalled defenseman Victor Mancini.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: NHL alumni, celebrities and first responders participated in the Skate For LA Strong charity game at Crypto.com Arena to support relief efforts for the devastating wildfires in Southern California.

Hockey Hall of Famers Mark Messier, Rob Blake, Jeremy Roenick and Cammi Granato, singer Justin Bieber and actor Steve Carrell were among the notables suiting up for this game. Celebrity coaches included Snoop Dogg and Will Ferrell.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Matthew Tkachuk isn’t expected to travel with the Panthers for Tuesday’s game against the Predators in Nashville. TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie reported there is concern that Tkachuk could miss the remainder of the season due to a suspected groin injury, claiming the club is awaiting medical results.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk was injured during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. He missed the Panthers’ 2-1 loss to the Kraken on Saturday.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said there is no timeline for sidelined defenseman Hampus Lindholm to return to the lineup. He’s been out since mid-November following surgery to repair a broken kneecap. It seems unlikely he’ll be back before the end of the regular season.

Sweeney also said there is no timeline for blueliner Charlie McAvoy’s return after he suffered a shoulder injury during the 4 Nations Face-Off.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The absence of their top defensemen puts the Bruins at a disadvantage as they jockey for a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. They’re currently one point behind the Senators for that final spot.

TSN: The NHL confirmed it will stage its first decentralized draft at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles from June 27 to 28.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 23, 2025

by | Feb 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 23, 2025

The NHL regular season returned from its 4 Nations Face-Off break with 14 games on Saturday. Check out the recaps and more in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines

NHL.COM: The league-leading Winnipeg Jets got two goals by Gabe Vilardi and a shootout winner from Kyle Connor to nip the St. Louis Blues 4-3, extending their win streak to a season-best nine games. Vilardi scored the tying goal with 28 seconds left in the third period. Robert Thomas scored twice and collected an assist for the Blues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets sit first overall with 83 points and are the first team to reach 40 wins this season. They went with backup goalie Eric Comrie to give starter Connor Hellebuyck a break after he played three games for Team USA in the 4 Nations tournament. Blues starter Jordan Binnington was in the lineup for the Blues but served as backup for Joel Hofer. Binnington appeared in four games for Canada at the 4 Nations.

Speaking of the Jets, they signed forward Vladislav Namestnikov to a two-year contract extension. The average annual value is $3 million.

Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun scored two of five second-period goals in an 8-3 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Penguins, extending their points streak to seven games (4-0-3). Pierre-Luc Dubois had three assists for the Capitals, who hold first place in the Eastern Conference and sit one point behind the Jets in the overall standings. Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Danton Heinen replied for the Penguins.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL Images).

The Minnesota Wild overcame a 3-1 deficit to squeak past the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on an overtime goal by Marco Rossi. Wild forwards Matt Boldy and Marcus Foligno scored in the third period to force the extra frame. Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin each had a goal and an assist for the Red Wings as they hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 62 points. The Wild hold third place in the Central Division with 72 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was another milestone game for Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. He passed Roberto Luongo for the second-most games played by an NHL goaltender with 1,045. Hall-of-Famer Martin Brodeur holds the record with 1,266. Red Wings forward Andrew Copp left the game late in the second period with an apparent shoulder injury following a melee behind the Minnesota net following a thunderous bodycheck by DeBrincat on Wild defenseman Brock Faber.

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and center Tage Thompson each had two goals and an assist as their club thumped the New York Rangers 8-2. Jason Zucker picked up three assists and Ryan McLeod tallied twice as the Sabres erupted for five first-period goals, chasing Rangers starter Igor Shesterkin from the net before the end of the period. Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad scored for the Blueshirts (58 points) as they remain four points behind the Ottawa Senators for the final Eastern wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres rinkside commentator Rob Ray was struck in the face by a puck early in the first period. Sabres training staff attended to the former NHL enforcer, who finished the game. Sabres forward Jordan Greenway and defenseman Mattias Samuelsson were activated off injured reserve.

The Philadelphia Flyers got two goals from Owen Tippett in a 6-3 upset of the Edmonton Oilers. Sean Couturier and Matvei Michkov each had a goal and two assists for the Flyers (57 points) as they sit five points behind the Red Wings in the Eastern standings. Leon Draisaitl and John Klingberg each had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 72 points.

Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord stopped 26 shots to beat the Florida Panthers 2-1. Kaapo Kakko and Jared McCann scored for the Kraken while Eetu Luostarinen tallied for the Panthers, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 71 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk missed this game with a lower-body injury suffered during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Kraken captain Jordan Eberle returned to action after missing 40 games following pelvic surgery in mid-November.

The Dallas Stars got a 31-save performance from Casey DeSmith in a 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Matt Duchene and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist as the Stars (74 points) remain two points ahead of the Wild for second place in the Central Division. Jack Hughes had both goals for the Devils (68 points) as they sit two points behind the second-place Carolina Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Devils captain Nico Hischier returned to the lineup after missing six games with an oblique injury.

Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault broke a 1-1 tie in the third period to lift his club past the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Juuse Saros made 31 saves and Justin Barron also scored for the Predators. Sam Malinski had the lone goal for the Avalanche, who hold the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 68 points.

An overtime goal by Leo Carlsson gave the Anaheim Ducks a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Carlsson and Jackson Lacombe each finished with two points as the Ducks have won seven of their last eight games. Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie scored for the Bruins (61 points) as they sit one point behind the Senators for the final Eastern wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bruins winger David Pastrnak collected an assist to extend his points streak to 14 games. Ducks goalie John Gibson left the game following the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Carolina Hurricanes 6-3. Auston Matthews scored his 389th regular-season goal, tying Darryl Sittler for second-most in Leafs history. Pontus Holmberg scored twice and set up another while rookie Alex Steeves scored his first NHL goal as the Leafs (70 points) moved within a point of the first-place Panthers in the Atlantic Division. Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (70 points) as they sit second in the Metro Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Leafs winger Max Pacioretty missed this game with an undisclosed injury and will be sidelined for Sunday’s match with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher had a goal and an assist in a 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators to snap a three-game losing skid. Nick Suzuki picked up two assists and Sam Montembault turned aside 25 shots as the Canadiens (57 points) moved within five points of the Senators in the Eastern wild-card race. Tim Stutzle had a goal and an assist for the Senators as their losing streak reached four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Montreal winger Juraj Slafkovsky was a physical presence in this game, scoring a goal, fighting with Senators center Ridly Greig, and making a team-leading eight hits. Canadiens forward Emil Heineman returned to action after a 14-game absence with a lower-body injury after being struck by a car in Salt Lake City last month. Senators captain Brady Tkachuk missed this game with an undisclosed injury suffered during the 4 Nations tournament.

The Columbus Blue Jackets ended a four-game winless skid by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1. Zach Werenski had a goal and two assists to extend his home points streak to 22 games while Kent Johnson scored twice for the Jackets (62 points). They’re just behind the Senators, who have two more regulation wins. Craig Smith scored for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets fans sang Happy Birthday to Johnny Gaudreau Jr on his first birthday. His father was killed by an alleged drunk driver last August.

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty had a goal and two assists in a 5-3 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist for the Kings as they hold third place in the Pacific Division with 67 points. Barrett Hayton tallied the first hat trick in Utah’s short franchise history.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson returned to the lineup after missing four games with an injured finger.

The Vegas Golden Knights got 33 saves from Adin Hill to defeat the Vancouver Canucks 3-1. Brandon Saad snapped a 1-1 tie with his first goal for Vegas since signing with them on Jan. 31. The Golden Knights have won three straight and hold first place in the Pacific Division with 74 points. Jake DeBrusk scored for the Canucks, who hold the final Western wild-card spot with 63 points.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 22, 2025

by | Feb 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 22, 2025

The 4 Nations Face-Off championship draws big ratings in North America, top storylines for the remainder of the regular season, the Canucks sign Kevin Lankinen to a contract extension, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines

THE SCORE: The 4 Nations Face-Off championship game between Canada and the United States drew 16.1 million viewers across North America

It was the second-most-watched hockey game on the continent in a decade. Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers drew more viewers (16.3 million).

ESPN averaged 9.3 million viewers in the United States, peaking at 10.4 million, making it the network’s largest-ever hockey audience.

Sportsnet averaged 10.7 million Canadians tuning in for the championship game, peaking at 7.3 million viewers and averaging 5.7 million. It was the second-most-watched game for that network, with Game 7 of last year’s Stanley Cup Final reaching 15 million Canadians.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nearly a decade without a best-on-best tournament involving most of the NHL’s top talent whetted the fans’ appetite for the 4 Nations Face-Off. The players bought in and performed at their best. It also helped that the championship game was a closely contested match between the world’s biggest hockey nations as they resumed their ongoing rivalry.

NHL.COM: Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, the playoff race, and the March 7 trade deadline are among the top storylines for the remainder of the NHL regular season.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks signed Kevin Lankinen to a five-year, $22.5 million contract extension. The 29-year-old goaltender is currently on a one-year, $875K deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Starter Thatcher Demko’s knee injury and backup Arturs Silovs’ disappointing performance landed Lankinen his current contract. His efforts kept this struggling team in the Western Conference playoff race, earning him the long-term contract security he’d sought last summer.

Lankinen’s new contract raises questions about Demko’s future as he battles with injuries and inconsistency. The latter is a year away from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Speaking of the Canucks, center Elias Pettersson is dealing with an undisclosed injury suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off and is listed as day-to-day. Team captain Quinn Hughes (oblique injury) is doubtful for Saturday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (lower-body) isn’t expected to play in Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken.

TSN: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck won’t be playing in Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Blues. Morrissey is dealing with an illness that prevented him from playing for Canada in the 4 Nations championship game.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils captain Nico Hischier could return for Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars. He missed their last six games with an upper-body injury.

THE ATHLETIC: New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck suffered a broken finger playing for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The injury reportedly occurred during Monday’s game against Sweden. A source claims he’s not expected to miss any games.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner (shoulder surgery) will make his season debut on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Forward Kirill Marchenko (fractured jaw) and defenseman Dante Fabbro (concussion) will also return to action against the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This trio’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Blue Jackets. They’re one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

DAILY FACEOFF: Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby will miss the remainder of the regular season with an upper-body injury. Left winger Zach L’Heureux (upper body) is week-to-week.

Seattle Kraken defensemen Brandon Montour and Ryker Evans are expected to return to action in Saturday’s game against the Panthers. Team captain Jordan Eberle was upgraded to day-to-day. He’s been out since mid-November following pelvic surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken also moved center Yanni Gourde to long-term injury reserve retroactive to Jan. 4. He’ll be sidelined for another two weeks recovering from sports hernia surgery. It’s believed they’re putting him on LTIR to free up cap space for Eberle’s imminent return.

CALGARY SUN: Flames defenseman Tyson Barrie cleared waivers on Friday and was sent to their AHL affiliate.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 21, 2025

by | Feb 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 21, 2025

Canada defeated the United States in overtime to win the 4 Nations Face-Off. Check out the details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime as Canada defeated the United States 3-2 to win the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Team Canada center Connor McDavid celebrates his winning goal in the 4 Nations Face-Off (NHL.com).

Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett scored in regulation while Mitch Marner assisted on Bennett’s game-tying goal and McDavid’s OT winner. Jordan Binnington made 31 saves, including six in overtime, twice thwarting Team USA captain Auston Matthews on point-blank scoring chances.

Matthews finished with two assists, Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 24 shots for the United States.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid’s goal occurred because Matthews left him uncovered in the slot. Marner quickly fired a pass to the Edmonton Oilers superstar, who beat Hellebuyck high to the glove side.

On Bennett’s goal, Marner drew two defenders toward him as he entered the American zone, leaving the Florida Panthers forward open to snipe a top-shelf shot over Hellebuyck’s right shoulder.

All three Canadian goals were the result of shooting high on Hellebuyck. MacKinnon beat him on the stick side with a deflected shot through traffic to open the scoring.

MacKinnon was named tournament MVP, leading all scorers with four goals. Team USA defenseman Zach Werenski led the tournament with six points, followed by McDavid and Canadian captain Sidney Crosby with five points each.

Crosby joined Wayne Gretzky as the second player to captain two championship teams in NHL international tournament play. He also captained Canada to gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2015 IIHF World Championship.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some pundits believe this game was the passing of the leadership torch from Crosby to McDavid. The Oilers captain dismissed that notion, predicting Crosby would be leading Canada’s Olympic team next February.

THE ATHLETIC: Binnington silenced his doubters with his performance in this game, particularly in overtime. “He saved his best for last,” said Canadian head coach Jon Cooper. “That’s what winners do, and there wasn’t a chance I was not going to back the winner.”

Binnington was the only goalie play to every game for his country in this tournament.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Binnington had plenty of doubters (myself included) going into this tournament. He rose to the occasion and came through when Team Canada needed him most.

TSN: Canadian defenseman Josh Morrissey missed this game due to illness. He was replaced by Thomas Harley, who saw nearly 22 minutes of ice time and had the primary assist on MacKinnon’s game-opening goal.

SPORTSNET: Team USA defenseman Charlie McAvoy was released from hospital on Thursday following a procedure to treat an infection stemming from an upper-body injury suffered earlier in the tournament.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: An emotional McAvoy read out the starting lineup for his teammates in their dressing room before the game and was in attendance cheering them on.

THE SCORE: Winger Kyle Connor was a healthy scratch from this game, replaced by Chris Kreider. Connor leads all Americans in NHL scoring this season with 30 goals in 56 games but was held to one assist and one shot in three games in this tournament.

Canadian winger Mark Stone said he and his teammates felt the energy of their countrymen in this game. “Yeah, we wanted this one,” he said. “Forty million Canadians sitting at home, you feel that energy rooting us on. The pride we have to play for our country every time we get (the chance to wear) the flag on our chest, it’s a special feeling.”

Head coach Jon Cooper shared Stone’s sentiment. “I just hope Canada’s proud, because every player in that room is proud to be a Canadian,” he said. “Did we need a win? Not only our team, but Canada needed a win. And the players (carried) that on their shoulders and they took it seriously.”

DAILY FACEOFF: Canadian winger Brad Marchand shared his thoughts on American forwards Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, who took several verbal shots at Team Canada through the 4 Nations Face-Off.

“Sometimes when you shoot your mouth off in the media, it bites you,” said Marchand after the game. “You can do that during the season, but when it’s best-on-best, it’s different. They got a little ahead of themselves, but they’re great players. There’s not many guys who can do what they can do, and they’re very effective.”

“But when you start giving teams ammo, it can work against you as well,” he said. “They’re going to have long, great careers, and I think we saw how effective they can be at every level.”

ESPN.COM: Several United States players believe this tournament sent a message that Team USA has arrived and they’re just as good as Canada.

“I think I’d say it’s a pretty even playing field in my opinion,” said Auston Matthews. “It could have gone either way.” Zach Werenski shared that view. “We’ve proved tonight and to everyone that we’re right there with Canada,” he said. “It’s anyone’s game.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The United States has made tremendous strides over the past 25 years. In my opinion, their development program is the best in the world, tying them with Canada for the most World Junior Championships (five) since 2013, including their back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025.

Canada can justifiably savor this 4 Nations victory but they cannot take it for granted. A determined American team will be ready them at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

IN OTHER NEWS…

LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL: Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon provided an update on Shea Theodore. The Golden Knights defenseman suffered an upper-body injury during Canada’s opening game of the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Theodore is listed as week-to-week. McCrimmon indicated the blueliner could meet with the team’s medical staff this weekend to determine how long he’ll be sidelined.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames placed little-used defenseman Tyson Barrie on waivers. He’s appeared in only 13 games this season.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: The Islanders placed defenseman Dennis Cholowski on waivers to free up a roster spot for the returning Ryan Pulock.