NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2022

by | Apr 22, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2022

​The Golden Knights become the first team to clinch a playoff berth, Patrick Marleau reaches another milestone for games played, plus the latest on Jonathan Toews, Conor Garland and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights became the first team to clinch a berth in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs by downing the San Jose Sharks 5-2. Jonathan Marchessault led the way with two goals and two assists for the Golden Knights, who sit atop the Honda West Division and the overall standings with 68 points. San Jose forward Patrick Marleau reached another milestone, playing in his 900th consecutive NHL game. The Sharks (41 points) remain four points back of the fourth-place Arizona Coyotes.

Jonathan Marchessault’s four-point performance in a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks helped the Vegas Golden Knights clinch a 2021 NHL playoff berth (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marleau recently broke Gordie Howe’s NHL record for most games played with 1,768. His Ironman streak is also impressive, becoming just the fourth player in league history to play 900 consecutive games. The leader is Doug Jarvis (964), followed by Garry Unger (914) and Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle (913), with the latter poised to tie Unger in tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Speaking of the Coyotes, they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Minnesota Wild. Kirill Kaprizov set the Wild record for most goals by a rookie with 19 while Cam Talbot kicked out 39 shots for the win. With 61 points, the Wild sits three points behind the second-place Colorado Avalanche. Coyotes winger Conor Garland missed the game following a lower-body injury suffered in practice earlier in the day.

Montreal Canadiens winger Josh Anderson scored twice as his club held off the Edmonton Oilers 4-3. Edmonton captain Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists as the Oilers (56 points) sit one point behind the second-place Winnipeg Jets in the Scotia North Division. The Canadiens, meanwhile, sit fourth with 49 points, opening an eight-point lead over the Calgary Flames. Oilers winger Zack Kassian left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury. 

The Chicago Blackhawks overcame a 4-1 deficit to drop the Nashville Predators 5-4 on an overtime goal by Brandon Hagel, who also collected two assists. The Predators sit in fourth place in the Discover Central Division with 52 points while the Blackhawks sit three back in sixth.

HEADLINES

The NHL extended the West Division schedule to May 13 to accommodate postponed games involving the Avalanche.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL hopes to start the 2021-22 season on Oct. 12, which is one week later than in a normal year. Training camps would open on Sept. 22 if there are no COVID-related delays.

The league cannot say for certain when the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs will begin due to the in-season delays some teams have dealt with this season.

The NHL still intends to participate in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics provided an agreement is reached with the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee.

The 2021 NHL Draft (July 23-24) will be held virtually for the second straight year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That means it’ll probably take over seven hours again to complete the second day of the draft unless the league sets a more rigid timetable for each team to make their selections.

LAS VEGAS SUN: Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner accused the NHL of lying to the players regarding its policies on COVID-19 restrictions and vaccinations. He claimed the league told them restrictions would ease if a certain threshold of vaccinations were achieved.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly denied Lehner’s claim, saying loosened restrictions were previously discussed internally and with the NHL Players Association but no decision was reached or communicated to the players.

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO: Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is likely done for the remainder of this season as he continues to battle an illness that’s left him drained and lethargic. However, his health is improving and he’s expected to return next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Best wishes to Toews as he continues his recovery.

CBS SPORTS: Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart will miss his club’s next two games due to a knee sprain.

TSN: A settlement in principle has been reached between the NHL and Kelli Ewen, widow of former player Todd Ewen, over the wrongful death lawsuit she filed against the league in 2019. The suit alleges Todd’s suicide in 2015 was linked to the league allegedly downplaying the potential long-term effects of repeated head trauma and profiting from a culture of on-ice violence.










NHL West Division Odds: Vegas and Colorado Battle Once More

by | Apr 21, 2021

NHL West Division Odds: Vegas and Colorado Battle Once More

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2021

by | Apr 21, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2021

​Recaps of Tuesday’s action features a high-scoring win for the Penguins and the Canucks winning their second straight game coming out of their COVID-19 pause. Details and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: A four-point performance by Anthony Beauvillier (one goal, three assists) carried the New York Islanders over the New York Rangers 6-1. Josh Bailey scored two goals and set up another as the Islanders tied the Washington Capitals with 62 points, though the latter holds first place in the MassMutual East Division on the basis of regulation wins. Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba left the game in the first period following a hit by Matt Martin. The Blueshirts (52 points) are six points behind the fourth-place Boston Bruins.

New York Islanders forward Anthony Beauvillier (NHL Images).

The Pittsburgh Penguins took a 6-0 lead into the third period against the New Jersey Devils but struggled to hang on for a 7-6 victory. Jeff Carter scored his first goal for Pittsburgh after being acquired last week from the Los Angeles Kings while teammates Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust each had a goal and an assist. Devils defenseman Will Butcher collected three assists. The Penguins (61 points) sit one back of the Washington Capitals and the Islanders. The Devils played without P.K. Subban as the defenseman was placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.

Tuukka Rask turned in a 32-save shutout as the Boston Bruins blanked the Buffalo Sabres 2-0. Brad Marchand and Connor Clifton were the goal scorers as the Bruins (58 points) won their fifth straight game and sit three points behind the third-place Penguins.

The Carolina Hurricanes got a goal and an assist from Nino Niederreiter to down the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1. The Hurricanes sit in first place in the Discover Central Division with 65 points while the Lightning sits three points back in third place.

Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight made 33 saves in his NHL debut backstopping his club to a 5-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sam Bennett scored twice while Jonathan Huberdeau and Anthony Duclair each had three points. The Panthers are tied in points with the Hurricanes but the latter holds two games in hand. Blue Jackets forward Max Domi was a healthy scratch for the second straight game.

The Dallas Stars extended their points streak to eight games (6-0-2) by dropping the Detroit Red Wings 5-2. Rookie Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist as Dallas (50 points) sit one point behind the fourth-place Nashville Predators in the Central. Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen missed the game with a lower-body injury.

A four-goal third period carried the Vancouver Canucks over the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 for their second straight win over the Leafs since returning from their COVID-19 pause. Tanner Pearson and Brandon Sutter each scored twice for the Canucks. John Tavares tallied two goals for Toronto, who remain atop the Scotia North Division with 61 points but are winless in their last five games. Leafs defenseman Zach Bogosian left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 as Andreas Athanasiou and Blake Lizotte each had a goal and two assists. The Kings (40 points) sit five points behind the fourth-place Arizona Coyotes in the Honda West Division.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is sidelined at least a week with a concussion suffered during Monday’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen was placed on the COVID-19 protocol list, joining goaltender Philipp Grubauer and winger Joonas Donskoi.

TSN: Roberto Luongo was named general manager for Canada’s men’s team at the 2021 World Championships. Shane Doan is also part of the management team.










NHL Central Division: A True Three Ring Circus for Bettors

by | Apr 20, 2021

NHL Central Division: A True Three Ring Circus for Bettors

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 20, 2021

by | Apr 20, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 20, 2021

​Patrick Marleau sets the league record for most games played, Kirill Kaprizov sets a franchise record, the stars of the week are revealed, Alex Edler is suspended and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines

NHL.COM: Patrick Marleau played his 1,768th career game to pass Gordie Howe for the most in NHL history as his San Jose Sharks dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Vegas Golden Knights. Mark Stone scored twice as Vegas overcame a 2-0 deficit to force overtime and the shootout. Alex Tuch scored the game-winner. With 66 points, the Golden Knights move two points up on the Colorado Avalanche into first place in the Honda West Division.

San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau (NHL.com).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to Marleau on his remarkable achievement. His record won’t be broken anytime soon. The closest active players are aging stars Joe Thornton (1,669) and Zdeno Chara (1,598).

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov scored to set the single-season franchise record for points (37) by a rookie in a 5-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who sit third in the West Division with 59 points. The Coyotes (45 points) hold a one-point lead over the St. Louis Blues for the fourth-and-final playoff spot.

Four unanswered third-period goals powered the Edmonton Oilers over the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. Connor McDavid led the way with a goal and two assists. Canadiens goaltender Carey Price left the game after the first period with an upper-body injury suffered following a collision with Oilers forward Alex Chiasson. Edmonton forward Jujhar Khaira also departed in the first following a hit by Montreal defenseman Alexander Romanov. The Oilers (56 points) moved within a point of the second-place Winnipeg Jets in the Scotia North Division while the Canadiens are fourth with 47 points.

The Calgary Flames missed an opportunity to gain ground on the floundering Canadiens as they were upset 4-2 by the Ottawa Senators. Connor Brown scored twice and Matt Murray made 26 saves for the Senators. The Flames remain six points back of the Habs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators did the Canadiens a favor by beating the Flames. The Habs have won just three of their last 10 games and would be out of a playoff spot if the Flames weren’t having their own difficulties. Barring a dramatic turnaround in their fortunes, the Canadiens will likely back into the postseason and become first-round roadkill.

An overtime goal by Yanni Gourde lifted the Tampa Bay Lightning over the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2. Tampa Bay blew a 2-0 lead as the Hurricanes rallied back to force the extra frame. The Hurricanes remain in first place in the Discover Central Division with 63 points, holding two games in hand over the Florida Panthers. The Bolts, meanwhile, remain a point behind both clubs.

Speaking of the Panthers, they got two goals from Frank Vatrano to double up the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-2. Sam Bennett tallied his first goal with the Panthers since being acquired from Calgary at the trade deadline. Jackets forward Max Domi was a healthy scratch.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The race for first place in the Central could be closely contested for the remainder of the regular season.

The Nashville Predators got a big two points in a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Calle Jarnkrok and Luke Kunin each had a goal and an assist for the Predators, who hold fourth place in the Central with 51 points while the Blackhawks sit four points back.

A shootout goal by Denis Gurianov gave the Dallas Stars a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. With 48 points, the Stars moved past the Blackhawks into fifth place.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Dustin Tokarski, New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin, and Vegas Golden Knights winger Mark Stone are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending April 18.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alex Edler received a two-game suspension by the NHL department of player safety for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman on Sunday.

TORONTO STAR: Hyman will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a sprained knee.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs are likely breathing a sigh of relief that Hyman’s injury wasn’t more serious than it is. He should be recovered in time for the playoffs in a month’s time.

NJ.COM: The Devils signed 2020 first-round pick Alexander Holtz to a three-year entry-level contract.










NHL East Division Remains Toughest To Predict Winner

by | Apr 20, 2021

NHL East Division Remains Toughest To Predict Winner