NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 24, 2024

by | Nov 24, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 24, 2024

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby nets his 600th career goal, Avalanche stars Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar each reach the 30-point mark, the Sharks retire Joe Thornton’s number, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

**UPDATE**

The St. Louis Blues fired head coach Drew Bannister and replaced him with former Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, signing him to a five-year contract.

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby scored his 600th career goal during a 6-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club. Dylan Guenther scored twice and collected an assist while Clayton Keller had three assists for Utah, snapping their three-game losing streak. The Penguins have dropped eight of their last 10 contests (2-5-3).

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby became the 21st player in league history to reach the 600-goal plateau. That goal was the only highlight in an otherwise lopsided loss for the struggling Penguins as they hover near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen had a goal and four assists in a 7-4 victory over the Florida Panthers. Cale Makar had two assists, Jonathan Drouin scored twice, and Valeri Nichushkin had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche, who’ve won seven of their last nine games. Florida forward Sam Reinhart scored his 16th goal of the season, tying the Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl for the league lead. The Panthers have lost five of their last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen has 32 points and Makar 30, joining teammate Nathan MacKinnon (35 points) to make the Avalanche the first team with three players reaching 30 points at this stage of the season since the 2005-06 Ottawa Senators.

Speaking of the Oilers and Draisaitl, they thumped the New York Rangers 6-2. Draisaitl tallied his 16th of the season and collected an assist while Connor McDavid scored twice and added an assist. Rangers winger Artemi Panarin scored both of his club’s goals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse scored a goal as he returned to action after missing three games following a violent hit to his head from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves.

The Buffalo Sabres doubled up the San Jose Sharks 4-2 as Alex Tuch broke a 2-2 tie with a shorthanded goal in the third period. Sabres defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Bowen Byram each collected two points as their club picked up their third straight victory. Fabian Zetterlund and Luke Kunin replied for the Sharks, who are winless in six of their last seven (1-3-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks retired future Hall-of-Famer Joe Thornton’s No. 19 in a pregame ceremony, joining Patrick Marleau as the only players to be so honored. He’s the franchise leader with 804 assists, second in points with 1,055, and third in games with 1,104.

The most touching moment of the ceremony was when former Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray told the story of how Thornton asked him one day to help him move a homeless mother and her two children into a local apartment, swearing Murray to secrecy. “That’s who the Thorntons are,” said Murray.

The Carolina Hurricanes lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 and lost goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov early in overtime to an upper-body injury following a collision with teammate Sean Walker. Sean Monahan got the game-winner in the shootout after Kirill Marchenko tied the game 4-4 late in the third period, giving the Blue Jackets their third straight victory. Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas each had two points for the Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour addressed Kochetkov’s injury during his postgame interview, saying it didn’t look good but would learn more later about the goalie’s condition. The Hurricanes are already short a netminder with Frederik Andersen sidelined until January following knee surgery.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov’s overtime goal lifted his club to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Sean Couturier and Noah Cates scored as the Flyers overcame a 2-0 deficit, snapping a two-game losing skid. Lukas Reichel and Pat Maroon were the goalscorers for the Blackhawks, who’ve dropped six of their last eight (2-5-1).

The Calgary Flames nipped the Minnesota Wild 4-3 on a shootout goal by Rasmus Andersson. Calgary had taken a 3-1 lead but the Wild rallied late in the third on goals by Brock Faber and Marco Rossi. The Flames have won four straight and five of their last six.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Marat Khusnutdinov missed this game with lower-body injuries. Kaprizov will be reevaluated when the Wild return to Minnesota on Sunday.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar picked up two assists as his club held off the Seattle Kraken 2-1, handing the latter their fifth straight road loss. Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored for the Kings while Brandon Montour replied for the Kraken.

A five-goal second period carried the Vegas Golden Knights to a 6-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev each had a goal and two assists for the Golden Knights to hold first place in the Pacific Division with 28 points. Brendan Gallagher had two assists for the Canadiens, who pulled goalie Sam Montembeault after he gave up five goals on 25 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights activated defenseman Nicolas Hague off injured reserve for this game. He’d been sidelined for three weeks with an undisclosed injury.

Vancouver Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk scored twice and added an assist as his club beat the Ottawa Senators 4-3, handing the latter their fifth straight loss (0-4-1). Kevin Lankinen turned aside 26 shots for the Canucks as they collected their third win in their last seven games. Claude Giroux and Drake Batherson each had two points for the struggling Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks captain Quinn Hughes was ejected from the game in the first period after receiving a match penalty for cross-checking Senators forward Josh Norris face-first into the boards. Norris briefly left the game to receive treatment for a cut to his face. It was Hughes’ first career major penalty.

The Boston Bruins collected their second straight win under new head coach Joe Sacco with a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Brad Marchand snapped a 1-1 tie midway through the third period and Jeremy Swayman stopped 19 shots for the win. Lucas Raymond replied for the Red Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin picked up his 300th career assist on Raymond’s goal.

Third-period goals by Matt Duchene and Roope Hintz lifted the Dallas Stars over the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2, giving the Stars franchise its 2,000th win. Duchene finished with two points and Jake Oettinger made 27 saves as the Stars have won five of their last six games. Lightning center Anthony Cirelli scored both of his club’s goals.

The New Jersey Devils picked up their fourth win in their last five games by downing the Washington Capitals 3-2. Tomas Tatar had a goal and an assist and Jake Allen turned aside 24 shots for the Devils. Matt Roy and Connor McMichael replied for the Capitals, who dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those losses coincide with the absence of team captain Alex Ovechkin, who leads the club with 15 goals but is sidelined up to six weeks with a fractured left fibula.

Three unanswered third-period goals by Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Roman Josi lifted the Nashville Predators past the Winnipeg Jets 4-1. Josi scored twice and Marchessault collected two points as the Predators picked up their third win in their last 10 games (3-5-2). Adam Lowry scored for the Jets, who lost defenseman Dylan Samberg with a broken foot after blocking a Stamkos slapshot in the second period.

The New York Islanders snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Brock Nelson had a goal and two assists, Kyle Palmieri tallied twice and Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves for the win. Jake Neighbours replied for the Blues.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 23, 2024

by | Nov 23, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 23, 2024

Recaps of Friday’s games, Blackhawks star Connor Bedard struggles to end his goalless streak, a unique honor for Joe Thornton, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1, securing the second-most wins through 20 games of a season in NHL history (17-3-0). Jets winger Kyle Connor had a “Gordie Howe hat trick,” scoring a goal, collecting an assist, and earning a fighting major following a scrap with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. Michael Bunting scored for the struggling Penguins, who’ve dropped seven of their last nine games (2-4-3).

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).

An overtime goal by rookie forward Jiri Kulich lifted the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Alex Tuch and Owen Power each had two points for the Sabres, who overcame a 2-0 deficit. The Ducks got goals from Drew Helleson and Isac Lundestrom and a 30-save performance from John Gibson as their three-game win streak ended.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Chicago Blackhawks sophomore center Connor Bedard is struggling to snap out of an 11-game goalless streak. His last goal was on Oct. 26 against the Dallas Stars. The 19-year-old center collected six assists during that stretch with five coming in two games.

“It’s been a tough stretch, and you just feel like you don’t have it or whatever, and you lose a bit of confidence and it just kind of goes on,” said Bedard, adding he could “name 100 things” when asked the reason behind his goal drought.

Bedard admitted he’s felt frustrated during this stretch. “I just don’t feel like I’m really doing anything. So just keep chipping away at it, I guess, and hopefully find my game again.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard’s comments raised concerns among Blackhawks observers, who called on management and the coaching staff to address their young star’s frustration.

The Blackhawks surrounded Bedard with veteran forwards like Tyler Bertuzzi, Taylor Hall, and Teuvo Teravainen to take some of the burden off their franchise player as they rebuild around him. However, their production is down this season. Younger forwards Philipp Kurashev and Lukas Reichel are also struggling to score.

Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson has been criticized in recent weeks for his handling of the roster. If things don’t improve soon, management could face pressure to shake things up behind the bench.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The city of San Jose has named Nov. 23 “Joe Thornton Day” ahead of the Sharks’ retiring his No. 19 before their game against the Buffalo Sabres. Thornton will join former teammate Patrick Marleau as the second player to have his number retired by the Sharks.

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken captain Jordan Eberle will be sidelined for at least three months following pelvic surgery on Thursday. He was injured during a Nov. 14 game against the Blackhawks.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Golden Knights signed forward Brett Howden to a five-year, $12.5 million contract extension. The average annual value is $2.5 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Howden, 26, earns $1.9 million this season and was slated to become an unrestricted free agent in July. He might’ve earned more elsewhere via free agency but opted for the long-term security. This benefits the Golden Knights as it’s a marginal raise over his AAV, fitting comfortably within their cap payroll over the next five seasons.

THE SCORE: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies for Sunday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club. He suffered an upper-body injury during Thursday’s game against the Golden Knights following a hit from Zach Whitecloud. Head coach Craig Berube said Knies is improving but offered no timetable for his return.

TORONTO SUN: Speaking of the Leafs, they signed Alex Nylander to a one-year, one-way $775K contract and recalled him from their AHL affiliate. In a corresponding move, they placed Knies on injured reserve. Alex is the younger brother of Leafs star William Nylander.

ROTOWIRE: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Cam York is slated to come off injured reserve and return to the lineup on Saturday against Chicago. He’s been sidelined by an upper-body injury since Oct. 24.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 22, 2024

by | Nov 22, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 22, 2024

A 13-goal game between the Blue Jackets and Lightning, Marc-Andre Fleury reaches another career milestone, updates on Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin and Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning combined for 13 goals with the Blue Jackets winning in overtime 7-6.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images).

Defenseman Zach Werenski had a five-point night with two goals (including the game-winner) and three assists, Sean Monahan had a goal and three assists and Kent Johnson tallied twice for the Jackets. Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov collected three assists to surpass the 900-point plateau.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets have won three of their last four games, snapping Tampa Bay’s three-game win streak. Lightning forward Nick Paul missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves in his 1,000th NHL start in a 5-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Frederic Gaudreau tallied twice and collected an assist for the Wild (13-3-3), holding second overall in the Western Conference with 29 points. Corey Perry had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who’ve dropped three of their last four (1-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Fleury also passed Patrick Roy for the third-most games played by a goaltender (1,030) in NHL history. He also shrugged off an embarrassing start when he whiffed on a clearing attempt that became the opening goal just 27 seconds into the game.

Oilers forwards Zach Hyman and Viktor Arvidsson missed this game due to undisclosed injuries. Hyman will miss four to seven days while Arvidsson was placed on injured reserve. Defenseman Darnell Nurse also missed this game due to a concussion.

Colorado Avalanche forward Miles Wood broke a 1-1 tie early in the third period as his club held on for a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Washington forward Pierre-Luc Dubois opened the scoring but Mikko Rantanen tied it for Colorado in the second period. Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev stopped 28 shots for the win in his first game since Nov. 13 after being sidelined by an injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals announced before this game that captain Alex Ovechkin suffered a fractured fibula and would be out for four to six weeks. That could jeopardize his attempt to break Wayne Gretzky’s goalscoring record (894) this season. Ovechkin needs 27 goals to reach 895.

The New Jersey Devils doubled up the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2. Jesper Bratt scored two goals and picked up an assist while Jack Hughes had three helpers for the Devils. Jack Roslovic and Andrei Svechnikov replied for the Hurricanes. The Devils and Hurricanes each have 28 points but the Hurricanes hold first overall in the Eastern Conference with three games in hand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Hurricanes announced goaltender Frederik Andersen will undergo knee surgery sidelining him for eight to 12 weeks. Andersen’s last game was an Oct. 26 win over the Seattle Kraken.

St. Louis Blues netminder Jordan Binnington made 22 saves in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Jake Neighbours netted the winning goal in a shootout. Alexander Wennberg scored both goals for the Sharks while rookie Yaroslav Askarov made 29 saves in his debut with the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a milestone victory for Binnington, tying him with Mike Liut for the Blues’ record of 151 wins.

The Boston Bruins got their first win under new head coach Joe Sacco as they nipped the Utah Hockey Club 1-0. Elias Lindholm scored the only goal while Joonas Korpisalo turned in a 21-save shutout. Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka stopped 30 shots.

A third-period goal by Connor Zary lifted the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers. MacKenzie Weegar had three assists while Yegor Sherangovich and Matt Coronato each had a goal and an assist for the Flames. Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin kicked out 46 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau reached a personal milestone with his 500th career NHL assist.

The Chicago Blackhawks upset the Florida Panthers 3-1. Blackhawks goaltender Petr Mrazek turned aside 32 shots while Nick Foligno had a goal and an assist. Panthers forward Sam Reinhart netted his 15th goal of the season, tying Ovechkin and Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl for the league lead.

Vegas Golden Knights netminder Ilya Samsonov made 38 saves backstopping his club to a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, handing the latter their fourth straight defeat (0-3-1). Ivan Barbashev had two assists for the Golden Knights while Linus Ullmark stopped 29 shots for the Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo missed this game with an upper-body injury. He’s listed as day-to-day.

The Senators are once again on the brink of falling into a hole in the standings too deep to climb out of. With 17 points, they’re second-last in the Eastern Conference. The good news is they’re only four points out of a wild-card berth but they must string some wins together soon or risk another lost season.

Third-period goals by Jonatan Berggren and Lucas Raymond lifted the Detroit Red Wings over the New York Islanders 2-1. Alex Lyon made 22 stops for the Red Wings while Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Red Wings announced that Hall-of-Famer Pavel Datsyuk had signed a one-day contract to retire officially as a Wing. He spent his entire 14-season NHL career with Detroit.

IN OTHER NEWS…

SPORTSNET: The NHL department of player safety released a video clarifying its rule regarding illegal hits to the head after three controversial checks resulted in two suspensions.

Those hits included Los Angeles’ Tanner Jeannot’s hit on Vancouver’s Brock Boeser (three-game suspension), Toronto’s Ryan Reaves on Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse (five-game suspension) and Vegas’s Zach Whitecloud’s hit on Toronto’s Matthew Knies (no suspension).

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs are cautiously optimistic that Knies won’t miss much time after leaving Wednesday’s game against the Golden Knights following that big hit by Whitecloud.

THE PROVINCE: The Vancouver Canucks returned forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki to their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. It suggests Brock Boeser may be close to returning to action. Boeser’s been sidelined since that hit by Jeannot on Nov. 7.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 21, 2024

by | Nov 21, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 21, 2024

Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho sets a franchise record, shutout victories for the Leafs, Sabres and Kraken, injury updates and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho set a franchise record for game-winning goals in a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Aho netted his 58th career game-winner, surpassing Ron Francis for the most in team history. He and teammate Jalen Chatfield each finished with two points as the Hurricanes (14-4-0) took over first place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points. Ryan Poehling replied for the Flyers.

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (NHL Images).

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll turned in a 31-save performance to shut out the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0. Rookie forward Fraser Minten opened the scoring with his first career NHL goal. William Nylander and Pontus Holmberg also scored for the Leafs and Mitch Marner collected two assists. Adin Hill stopped 23 shots for the Golden Knights.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a costly win for the Leafs as forward Matthew Knies left the game in the second period following a high hit from Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud. There was no postgame update regarding Knies’ condition. Whitecloud was initially assessed a five-minute major but that was rescinded upon review. Instead, he got a two-minute penalty for roughing Leafs defenseman Samuel Benoit in the ensuing scrum.

Speaking of injuries, the Leafs placed forward Max Domi (lower body) on injured reserve.

The Buffalo Sabres blanked the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned in a 24-save shutout. Jason Zucker scored the only goal. Kings netminder David Rittich turned aside 18 shots.

Seattle Kraken goalie Joey Daccord kicked out 24 shots in a 3-0 shutout of the Nashville Predators. Daniel Sprong, Brandon Montour and Yanni Gourde were the goalscorers and Chandler Stephenson collected three assists. Juuse Saros stopped 33 shots for the Predators, who received a bench minor penalty 43 seconds into the game for submitting an incorrect starting lineup to officials.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is just another symptom of a season that’s going horribly wrong for the Predators. Meanwhile, the Kraken completed their six-game homestand with a record of 5-1-0. Speaking of the Kraken, rookie forward Shane Wright was a healthy scratch for the second straight game after netting two points in 18 games.

The Dallas Stars defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-2. Jason Robertson had a goal and two assists while Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who’ve won four of their last five games. Mikael Granlund had a goal and an assist for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defensemen Ilya Lyubushkin, Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist left the game with injuries. Lyubushkin and Harley returned to action but Lundkvist did not.

HEADLINES

BLEACHER NATION: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones will be sidelined with an injured foot for four weeks.

TSN: Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine skated with his teammate in practice for the first time since being sidelined by a sprained left knee during a preseason game in September. Laine wore a non-contact jersey and left the ice after 15 minutes. He’s expected to make his season debut with the Canadiens sometime in December.

RG.ORG: Speaking of the Canadiens, don’t expect to see promising prospect Ivan Demidov make his NHL debut later this season. His KHL team, SKA St. Petersburg, has no intention of terminating the 18-year-old winger’s contract if their season ends before the Canadiens’. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov’s KHL contract won’t expire until May 31. Canadiens fans will have to wait for next season to potentially get their first look at the Russian winger in a Habs jersey.

DAILY FACEOFF: Utah Hockey Club goaltender Connor Ingram is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. They’ve recalled netminder Jaxson Stauber from the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners on an emergency basis.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom underwent minor back surgery to address a herniated lumbar disc. He and the club remain hopeful he’ll return to action with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. The Blue Jackets chose Lindstrom fourth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Blue Jackets, they sent defenseman David Jiricek to their AHL affiliate in Cleveland to make room for center Kent Johnson to be activated from injured reserve.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jiricek’s demotion has made him the subject of trade speculation. I’ll have more about that in today’s Rumors update.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 20, 2024

by | Nov 20, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 20, 2024

Recaps of Tuesday’s games, reaction to the Bruins firing head coach Jim Montgomery, and updates on Alex Ovechkin, Auston Matthews, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele tallied a hat trick in a 6-3 victory over the Florida Panthers. Morgan Barron scored two shorthanded goals and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 20 shots as the Jets set a franchise record for the most wins in their first 10 home games (9-1-0). Panthers forward Sam Reinhart scored his 14th goal to extend his points streak to 11 games.

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (NHL Images).

The Edmonton Oilers got three-point performances from Evan Bouchard, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to defeat the Ottawa Senators 5-2. McDavid had two goals and an assist while Bouchard and Draisaitl had a goal and two assists each. Tim Stutzle and Josh Norris replied for the Senators, who have just three wins in nine games thus far in November (3-5-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s been a rough month for Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark. He’s given up five goals in three of his five starts since Nov. 5. Before this game, the Oilers claimed winger Kasperi Kapanen off waivers from the St. Louis Blues.

Speaking of the Blues, they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Minnesota Wild. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice to extend his points streak to six games. Scott Perunovich and Jake Neighbours replied for the Blues, who’ve dropped six of their last seven games (1-5-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues center Robert Thomas collected an assist in his first game since suffering a fractured ankle on Oct. 22.

New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider snapped a 3-3 tie midway through the third period to give his club a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Mika Zibanejad, Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers. Canucks forward Elias Pettersson picked up two assists.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Canucks announced center J.T. Miller is taking an indefinite leave of absence as he deals with a nagging upper-body injury and the emotional toll it’s taken as he tried to play through the injury. Meanwhile, the Rangers learned that center Filip Chytil did not suffer a concussion after colliding with teammate K’Andre Miller last week. He remains listed as day-to-day but will join his teammates in Calgary as they prepare to face the Flames on Thursday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning got an overtime goal from Brayden Point as they overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2. The Lightning picked up their third straight win as Point finished the night with two goals in his first game since being sidelined by a lower-body injury on Nov. 3. Jesse Puljujarvi and Rickard Rakell scored for the Penguins, who have just two wins in their last eight contests (2-3-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby remains at 599 regular-season goals but collected an assist to surpass Joe Sakic for the sixth-most assists (1,017) with one franchise. He should pass Gordie Howe (1,023) and Mario Lemieux (1,033) to move into fourth place later this season. Passing Lemieux will also give Crosby the Penguins’ all-time assist record.

A shootout goal by Justin Kirkland lifted the Calgary Flames to a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders. Pierre Engvall opened the scoring for the Isles but Rasmus Andersson tied it in the third period. Dustin Wolf stopped 28 shots for the Flames while Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves for the Islanders, who have one win in their last five games (1-1-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov returned to action for the first time since being sidelined on Nov. 1 by an upper-body injury.

The Anaheim Ducks nipped the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 as Leo Carlsson broke a 2-2 tie midway through the third period. Alex Killorn had a goal and an assist and Trevor Zegras collected two assists as the Ducks won their third straight game. Jason Dickinson tallied twice and Connor Bedard had two assists for the Blackhawks as they’ve dropped five of their last six.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks starting goalie Petr Mrazek missed this game for personal reasons.

HEADLINES

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: The slumping Bruins (8-9-3) fired head coach Jim Montgomery on Tuesday. Associate coach Joe Sacco takes over on an interim basis. Hired in June 2022, Montgomery had a record of 120-41-23, reaching the playoffs twice and winning the Presidents Trophy in 2022-23 with an NHL record of 65 wins and 135 points. Montgomery won the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year for 2022-23.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As the Bruins struggled through the opening weeks of this season, the rumblings for change grew. Given the lack of suitable options in the trade market and the Bruins’ limited cap space, a coaching change was the only move they could make.

Boston Hockey Now’s Andrew Fantucchio and Christopher Hurley singled out several notable players who contributed to the Bruins’ sputtering performance.

They include the declining play of 36-year-old captain Brad Marchand following three offseason surgeries, superstar winger David Pastrnak’s lower-than-expected production, Jeremy Swayman’s shaky goaltending after protracted contract negotiations kept him out of training camp, and the disappointing efforts from free-agent additions Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov.

The Bruins might rebound under Sacco. However, there’s a growing feeling in Boston that management’s inability to offset the departures of key players like Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Zdeno Chara, Tuukka Rask, Linus Ullmark and Torey Krug since 2019-20 is the real reason behind the club’s decline. That could put general manager Don Sweeney on the hot seat if this club fails to improve under Sacco.

SPORTSNET: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is listed as week-to-week after suffering a lower-leg injury during Monday’s win over the Utah Hockey Club. He’ll undergo further evaluation on Wednesday in Washington. Ovechkin has 868 career goals, 26 behind Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894.

TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is in Munich, Germany, seeking treatment for an upper-body injury from a doctor he’s previously worked with. Matthews has been sidelined for six games and remains listed as day-to-day. He’s been accompanied to Munich by a team physician.

The Leafs also placed forward David Kampf (lower body) on injured reserve and called up forward Fraser Minten.

DAILY FACEOFF: New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier (back) and defenseman Brett Pesce (undisclosed injury) are listed as day-to-day.

The Vegas Golden Knights placed defenseman Ben Hutton (upper body) on long-term injury reserve and winger Mark Stone (lower body) on IR.

TSN: The Montreal Canadiens assigned forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard to their AHL affiliate in Laval on a long-term injury conditioning loan. He underwent surgery in July for a broken leg.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 19, 2024

by | Nov 19, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 19, 2024

An injury to Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin overshadows his second straight multigoal game, a milestone game for Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored twice in a 6-2 victory over the Utah Hockey Club but left in the third period with an injured left leg following a knee-on-knee collision with Utah forward Jack McBain. Dylan Strome and Brandon Duhaime each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (13-4-1), who moved into first place in the Eastern Conference with 27 points. McBain and Nick Bjugstad scored for Utah.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin tied Jaromir Jagr’s NHL record of most goaltenders scored on as Utah’s Connor Ingram became the 178th goalie to give up a goal to the Capitals captain. The 39-year-old Ovechkin leads all NHL scorers with 15 goals and sits at 868 career goals, putting him 26 goals behind Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894.

There was no update on Ovechkin’s condition following the game. Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said his captain was being evaluated and they’ll know more on Tuesday.

Off the ice, Utah had the highest single-day merchandise sale ever at the Delta Center. It was also the second-best single-game merchandise sale in NHL history.

San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini scored in overtime for his first NHL game-winning goal to nip the Detroit Red Wings 5-4. William Eklund tallied twice for the Sharks as they snapped a three-game winless skid (0-1-2). Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin had a goal and an assist as his club has dropped five of their last six contests (0-4-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sharks recalled goaltender Yaroslav Askarov to back up starter Mackenzie Blackwood in this contest. Backup Vitek Vanecek is still recuperating from an injury suffered during Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar sniped two goals as his club held off the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2. Casey Mittelstadt had a goal and an assist as the Avs picked up their fifth win in their last seven games. Owen Tippett and Tyson Foerster scored for the Flyers as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Referee Mitch Dunning was stretchered from this game following a violent collision with Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson. He was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons and his neurological functions were normal. Dunning was communicative and had control of his extremities.

The Montreal Canadiens got a 30-save shutout from Sam Montembeault in a 3-0 upset of the Edmonton Oilers. Brendan Gallagher, Kaiden Guhle and Jake Evans scored for the Canadiens, who’ve won three of their last four contests. Calvin Pickard turned aside 22 shots for the Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Oilers announced defenseman Darnell Nurse will be sidelined for five to 10 days after a hit to the head by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves on Saturday. Reaves received a five-game suspension.

The Canadiens honored broadcaster Pierre Houde in a pregame ceremony to commemorate his recent induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Shorthanded goals by Mathieu Olivier and Justin Danforth powered the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 5-1 upset of the Boston Bruins. Elvis Merzlikins kicked out 28 shots for the Blue Jackets while teammate Sean Monahan collected two assists. Charlie Coyle had the only goal for the Bruins, who were booed off the ice by their unhappy fans. They have just two wins in their last seven contests (2-3-2).

Anaheim Ducks winger Brett Leason had a goal and two assists as his club doubled up the Dallas Stars 4-2. Lukas Dostal stopped 34 shots for the Ducks as they’ve won three of their last four games. Esa Lindell and Matt Duchene scored for the Stars as their three-game win streak is over.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Dallas Stars forward Mason Marchment, and Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy were the league’s three stars for the week ending Nov. 17.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews continues to recuperate from an upper-body injury that has sidelined him since Nov. 3. The earliest he might return to action is Sunday against Utah.

TSN: Leafs forward Calle Jarnkrok underwent groin surgery and is considered month-to-month. He has yet to play a game this season.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: Islanders defenseman Mike Reilly will undergo heart surgery due to a preexisting condition that was discovered during treatment of a concussion suffered on Nov. 1 against the Buffalo Sabres. The heart condition is not related to the injury he suffered in Buffalo.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is listed as day-to-day due to illness.

THE SCORE: Chicago Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall admitted he was surprised to learn he was a healthy scratch for Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. He and head coach Luke Richardson have since spoken about the incident and cleared the air, with Richardson admitting he could’ve handled the situation better.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hall has struggled thus far this season with just six points in 17 games. He played only 10 games in 2023-24 before undergoing season-ending knee surgery.

STLTODAY: The Blues placed winger Kasperi Kapanen on waivers Monday afternoon. This move could signal one of their sidelined players is ready to rejoin the lineup.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils placed forward Nathan Bastian on long-term injury reserve and moved forward Curtis Lazar to injured reserve.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: The Sabres have sent goaltender Devon Levi to their AHL affiliate in Rochester and announced winger Jordan Greenway is week-to-week with a middle-body injury.

ROTOWIRE: The Winnipeg Jets removed defenseman Ville Heinola from injured reserve and sent him to their AHL affiliate for a conditioning stint. An ankle injury has sidelined him since training camp.