NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 15, 2021

by | Mar 15, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 15, 2021

​Recaps of Sunday’s action plus the latest on Anders Lee, Erik Karlsson, Marcus Foligno and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: The New York Islanders picked up their ninth straight win by edging the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on a shootout goal by Oliver Wahlstrom. The Isles also extended their points streak to 12 games and sit atop the MassMutual Eastern Division with a league-leading 42 points. However, they also announced earlier yesterday that captain Anders Lee has been placed on long-term injury reserve retroactive to last Thursday, raising the possibility he could be unable to return for the regular season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That will allow the Islanders to exceed the $81.5 million salary cap by up to the equivalent of Lee’s annual average value ($7 million) if they wish to add players before the April 12 trade deadline. They’re already exceeding the cap with permanently sidelined defenseman Johnny Boychuk ($6 million AAV) on LTIR.

Dougie Hamilton and Nino Niederreiter scored as the Carolina Hurricanes extended their win streak to eight games by nipping the Detroit Red Wings 2-1. With the win, the Hurricanes (41 points) vaulted into first place in the Discover Central Division, one point ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson (NHL Images).

A three-goal third period lifted the Minnesota Wild to a 4-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist while Zach Parise collected two assists as the Wild (35 points) picked up their fourth straight win and moved within two points of the first-place Vegas Golden Knights in the Honda West Division. Wild forward Marcus Foligno missed the game with a lower-body injury and could be sidelined for a while.

The Ottawa Senators got two goals from Drake Batherson and rookie goalie Joey Daccord made 33 saves for his first NHL victory to hold off the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3. The Senators opened the scoring with two goals within seven seconds. Daccord got the start when Matt Murray was a late scratch with an upper-body injury. Zach Hyman tallied twice for the Leafs (40 points), who remain in first place in the Scotia North Division but have dropped five of their last six games.

Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky each had a goal and an assist to give the Colorado Avalanche a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. The victory gave the Avs 34 points, moving them into third place in the Honda West Division.

Alexander Radulov scored in a shootout as the Dallas Stars edged the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1. It was Radulov’s first game since being sidelined on Feb. 4. The Jackets (29 points) sit four points behind the fourth-place Chicago Blackhawks in the Discover Central Division.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Erik Karlsson is hoping the San Jose Sharks can avoid a roster rebuild and find a way to build with their current core group. “Obviously, I did not sign here to go through a rebuild or go through what I did for 10 years with Ottawa,” said Karlsson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson’s comments raised hackles among some Senators followers who pointed out the club reached the playoffs (including the 2017 Eastern Conference Final) in five of his nine seasons in Ottawa. During the same period, however, the club twice tore down its roster to rebuild with younger talent.

Karlson obviously wanted to play for a long-time contender and felt the Sharks were his best bet. Nevertheless, that might no longer be the case with their aging core of expensive veterans. He might not want to see the club rebuild but management could have little choice if they miss the playoffs this season.

THE SCORE: Chicago Blackhawks goalie Kevin Lankinen and forwards Pius Suter and Philipp Kurashev are among six little-known NHL players making names for themselves this season. Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe, Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud and Senators defenseman Artem Zub are also earning recognition for their efforts.

TSN: Five players – Edmonton’s Kyle Turris, Los Angeles’ Olli Maatta, New Jersey’s Will Butcher, the Islanders Jean-Gabriel Pageau and the New York Rangers’ Phillip Di Guiseppe – were on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list as of Sunday.

LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS: Anaheim Ducks forward Carter Rowney will be sidelined four-to-six months following surgery on his left knee.

 










Dynamic NHL Duos: Many Similarities Between Ovechkin/Backstrom and Howe/Delvecchio

by | Mar 14, 2021

Dynamic NHL Duos: Many Similarities Between Ovechkin/Backstrom and Howe/Delvecchio

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2021

by | Mar 14, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2021

Recaps of Saturday’s action, including the Lightning finally raising their Stanley Cup banner, plus the latest on Erik Karlsson, Keith Yandle and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

NHL.COM: Artemi Panarin collected an assist in his return to the New York Rangers lineup in a 4-0 victory over the Boston Bruins. Keith Kinkaid made 18 saves for the shutout while Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich each collected two points. The Bruins (32 points) maintain a three-point lead over the Philadelphia Flyers for fourth place in the MassMutual East Division. The Bruins played without winger Jake DeBrusk as he was placed on the league’s COVID-19 protocol list.

An overtime goal by Zach Werenski lifted the Columbus Blue Jackets past the Dallas Stars 4-3, giving the Jackets their first win in four contests. Jack Roslovic collected three assists while Max Domi had a goal and an assist for the Jackets (28 points), who sit five behind the fourth-place Chicago Blackhawks in the Discover Central Division.

Calgary Flames center Sean Monahan (NHL Images).

Two first-period goals by Sean Monahan gave the Calgary Flames a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Monahan now has 200 career goals. Jeff Petry tallied his league-leading 11th goal among NHL defensemen for the Canadiens (31 points), who hold only a two-point lead over the Flames in the Scotia North Division. It’s the Flames’ second straight win in as many games under new head coach Darryl Sutter.

Pittsburgh Penguins backup Casey DeSmith made 24 saves for a 3-0 blanking of the Buffalo Sabres, handing the latter their 10th straight loss. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby tallied his 10th of the season as his club (35 points) opened a three-point lead over the slumping Bruins for third in the East Division.

The New York Islanders picked up their eighth straight victory by edging the New Jersey Devils 3-2. The Isles overcame a 2-1 deficit on third-period goals by Kieffer Bellows as they maintained their lead in the East Division with 40 points.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 716th career goal as his Washington Capitals held off the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4. Ovechkin is one goal behind Phil Esposito for sixth place on the all-time goal-scoring list. Washington (38 points) sit two back of the first-place Islanders in the East Division. Capitals center Lars Eller left the game in the first period with an apparent injury to his right leg.

The Tampa Bay Lightning raised their 2020 Stanley Cup championship banner in front of 3,800 fans at Amelie Arena prior to defeating the Nashville Predators 6-3. Tyler Johnson and Blake Coleman each had a goal and an assist for the Bolts (40 points), who hold possession of first place in the Central Division with a game in hand over the Florida Panthers.

Speaking of the Panthers (40 points), they got two goals from captain Aleksander Barkov to double up the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. Before the game, the Panthers honored defenseman Keith Yandle for recently passing the 1,000 game milestone. They also hold a one-point lead over the third-place Carolina Hurricanes in the Central.

Third-period goals by Adam Lowry, Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Scheifele carried the Winnipeg Jets over the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2. The first-place Leafs (40 points) sit four points ahead of the Jets in the North Division but they’ve also dropped four of their five games.

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone tallied twice in a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Max Pacioretty scored and collected two helpers as the Golden Knights (37 points) sit in first place in the Honda West Division, four points up on the Minnesota Wild.

The Vancouver Canucks snapped the Edmonton Oilers’ four-game win streak with a narrow 2-1 victory. Tyler Myers scored the winner in the third period while Thatcher Demko kicked out 34 shots for the win. The Oilers (36 points) slip into third place in the North Division.

Evander Kane scored in his third straight game as the San Jose Sharks downed the Anaheim Ducks 3-1. Martin Jones made 26 saves for the Sharks.










NHL Betting: McDavid, Kane, and Matthews Top The Hart Charts

by | Mar 13, 2021

NHL Betting: McDavid, Kane, and Matthews Top The Hart Charts

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 13, 2021

by | Mar 13, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 13, 2021

​Recaps of Friday’s action plus updates on Nikita Kucherov, Artemi Panarin, Henrik Lundqvist and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid became the first player to reach the 50-point plateau this season in a 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. McDavid scored a goal and collected two assists while teammates Leon Draisaitl and Tyler Ennis each had a goal and an assist. With 36 points, the Oilers move four behind the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Scotia North Division and two ahead of the Winnipeg Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 51 points in 29 games, McDavid is seven points ahead of Draisaitl as the league’s leading scorer. He remains on pace to reach 100 points in 56 games.

Minnesota Wild rookie Kirill Kaprizov (NHL Images).

Minnesota Wild rookie Kirill Kaprizov tallied his first career NHL hat trick in a 4-0 blanking of the Arizona Coyotes. Cam Talbot picked up the shutout with 25 saves while Mats Zuccarello collected three assists. Kaprizov leads the Wild and all NHL rookies with 10 goals and 23 points. 

An overtime goal by Reilly Smith lifted the Vegas Golden Knights over the St. Louis Blues 5-4. Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury returned to the lineup after being taken off the league’s COVID-19 protocol list for a false positive test. The Golden Knights (35 points) sit two points ahead of the Blues and Wild in first place in the Honda West Division.

The Colorado Avalanche got a goal and an assist from Mikko Rantanen in a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Philipp Grubauer made 18 saves for the shutout while Kings netminder Cal Petersen made 44 stops. With the win, the Avs (32 points) opened a four-point lead over the Kings for fourth place in the West Division, sitting one behind the Blues and Wild.

San Jose Sharks goalie Devan Dubnyk kicked out 34 shots to shut out the Anaheim Ducks 6-0. Kevin Lebanc had a goal and two assists while Tomas Hertl, Evander Kane and Timo Meier each had a goal and an assist.

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: Good news for the Rangers as Artemi Panarin is expected to return to the lineup for today’s matinee against the Boston Bruins. Panarin was absent for nine games as he dealt with an unsubstantiated accusation by a former KHL coach claiming he assaulted a young Latvian woman in 2011.

CBS SPORTS: Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov has begun skating and remains on track to rejoin the club in time for the playoffs. He will miss the entire regular season due to offseason hip surgery.

SPORTSNET: Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan isn’t ruling out a possible return of Henrik Lundqvist later this season. The 39-year-old goaltender is recovering from heart surgery and recently posted a video of himself on the ice taking shots less than two months following the procedure.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacLellan acknowledged it’s “probably unlikely” but he seems to be leaving the door open if Lundqvist receives medical clearance to return to action.

The New York Islanders yesterday announced team captain Anders Lee is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That could put the Isles into the market for a forward leading up to the trade deadline depending on the severity of Lee’s injury.

TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury and will be reevaluated today.

Speaking of the Leafs, they traded defenseman Mikko Lehtonen to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for goaltender Veini Vehvilainen.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lehtonen was considered the best defenseman in Europe when the Leafs signed him. Maybe the “Finnish Bobby Orr” will have better luck in Columbus than he did in Toronto.










NHL Betting: Cale Makar Leads Norris Trophy Odds For Now…

by | Mar 12, 2021

NHL Betting: Cale Makar Leads Norris Trophy Odds For Now…