NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 23, 2025

by | Apr 23, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 23, 2025

Results of Tuesday’s playoff action, the Islanders part ways with GM Lou Lamoriello, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk scored twice and collected an assist in a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series. Tkachuk had been sidelined with a groin injury since the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.

Nate Schmidt tallied twice and forwards Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett each had a goal and an assist for the Panthers. Jake Guentzel and Brayden Point replied for the Lightning. Game 2 is Thursday, Apr. 24, at 6:30 pm ET in Tampa Bay.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tkachuk and the Panthers played like defending Stanley Cup champions. They haven’t lost that tenacious work ethic that made them back-to-back Cup finalists, something the Lightning must match if they hope to win this series.

An overtime goal by Max Domi gave the Toronto Maple Leafs a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, and a 2-0 lead in their first-round series. John Tavares had a goal and an assist and Anthony Stolarz stopped 26 shots for the Leafs. Brady Tkachuk and Adam Gaudette scored for the Senators. This series shifts to Ottawa for the next two games with Game 3 starting Thursday at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time the Leafs have had a 2-0 lead in a playoff series since 2002. The Senators had a better effort in this game but they’ll need more in Game 3 to avoid going into a much deeper hole.

The Leafs looked like they would run the Senators out of the building in the first period but took their foot off the gas in the second. That led to Tkachuk’s flukey goal, setting the stage for Gaudette’s tying goal in the third.

The Minnesota Wild opened a 4-0 lead that resulted in a 5-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, tying their series at a game apiece. Kirill Kaprizov scored twice and set up Matt Boldy, who finished the night with two points. Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl scored for Vegas. The series moves to Minnesota with Game 3 on Thursday starting at 9 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaprizov’s long pass to Boldy for the latter’s breakaway goal was a thing of beauty. The Golden Knights played better than the score indicates, but their defensive breakdowns and turnovers were their downfall.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped 25 shots in a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils to open a 2-0 series lead. Jordan Martinook scored the winning goal and set up Seth Jarvis for the empty-net insurance goal. Jesper Bratt scored for the Devils. This series moves to New Jersey with Game 3 on Friday, Apr. 25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a better effort by New Jersey than Game 1, but they were frustrated by Andersen’s goaltending and the Hurricanes’ stifling penalty kill. Devils forward Timo Meier had a golden opportunity to make it 2-2 in the third period but whiffed on the bouncing puck. Devils defensemen Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon missed this game due to injuries suffered in the previous game.

HEADLINES

NYI HOCKEY NOW: The Islanders announced yesterday that they were not renewing the contract of team president and general manager Lou Lamoriello. The status of assistant GM Chris Lamoriello and head coach Patrick Roy remains uncertain.

Russ Macias believes the Islanders’ stagnation since 2021 and several mistakes by Lamoriello led to his downfall. It led to a decline in attendance and a revolving door of coaches that finally forced ownership to make a change.

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears listed former Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland, Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM Brandon Pridham, former Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis, and former Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin among the potential candidates to replace Lamoriello.

Sears also pondered Roy’s future as head coach under Lamoriello’s replacement. A team spokesman said the plan is for Roy and his coaching staff to meet with the new GM and take it from there.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello did a fine job in his early years as Isles GM, building up the club into a back-to-back Conference finalist in 2020 and 2021. However, the decline began with the departure of head coach Barry Trotz in 2022 and accelerated as Lamoriello stubbornly stuck with his aging core.

THE ATHLETIC: Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen’s been through a lot since January, changing teams twice and participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off. He’s been trying to adjust to the upheaval but the Stars need him to regain his form if they’re to stage a Stanley Cup run this spring.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary’s season is over after undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee. He suffered the injury during the Capitals’ second-last game of the regular season.

TSN: Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher’s absence from practice on Tuesday raised eyebrows. However, head coach Martin St. Louis said Gallagher will be fine. The Canadiens face the Capitals in Game 2 of their first-round series on Wednesday. The Capitals took Game 1 by a score of 3-2.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Sidelined Oilers Evander Kane and John Klingberg could be options for Game 2 of their series against the Los Angeles Kings. Klingberg is considered “a very good possibility”, according to head coach Kris Knoblach. The Oilers were beaten 6-5 in the opening game.

NEW YORK POST: Five members of Canada’s 2018 World Junior team pleaded not guilty Tuesday to sexual assault in a London, Ontario court. The jurors who will hear their case were selected yesterday.

Dillon Dube, Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton were charged last year for an incident that allegedly occurred in June 2018. McLeod faces an additional charge of being a party to the offense of sexual assault.

DAILY FACEOFF: The list of potential witnesses includes Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, Ottawa Senators forward Drake Batherson, and St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2025

by | Apr 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2025

In today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines: recapping Monday’s playoff action, the Kraken make coaching and management changes, plus the latest on the Canucks, Rangers, and Red Wings as they head into the offseason.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings blew 4-0 and 5-2 leads before nipping the Edmonton Oilers 6-5 in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series.

Phillip Danault scored twice, including the winning goal with 42 seconds left in the third period. Kings forwards Adrian Kempe and Andrei Kuzmenko each had a goal and two assists. Oilers captain Connor McDavid led his club’s comeback with four points, including the tying goal. Evan Bouchard picked up three assists. Game 2 is Wednesday, Apr. 23, in Los Angeles, with a 10 pm ET start.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A wild game that seemed poised for a blowout win by the Kings until Edmonton made it interesting in the third with McDavid leading the way. It certainly wasn’t a defensive masterpiece, with goalies Darcy Kuemper of the Kings and Stuart Skinner of the Oilers looking shaky at times, whilst both clubs committed costly blunders in their own zones.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored two goals (including his first NHL playoff overtime goal) to down the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in Game 1 of their opening round series. The Capitals jumped to a 2-0 lead before the Canadiens tied it on goals by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, with rookie defenseman Lane Hutson collecting two assists. Game 2 is Wednesday, starting at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals dominated the first two periods as their postseason experience was on display during that stretch. Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault was sharp, keeping his team in the game until they gained their footing and rallied back.

The Winnipeg Jets squeezed past the St. Louis Blues 2-1 with Kyle Connor breaking a 1-1 tie early in the third period. Mark Scheifele also scored and Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves for the Jets, who take a 2-0 lead in the series. Rookie Jimmy Snuggerud scored his first NHL playoff goal and Jordan Binnington stopped 20 shots for the Blues. The series shifts to St. Louis for Games 3 and 4 with the next match scheduled for Thursday, Apr. 24, at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both games have been closely contested and could’ve gone the Blues’ way with some puck luck. Scheifele (five points) and Connor (four points) have stepped up to lead offensively for the Jets, with the latter tallying both winning goals.

An overtime goal by Colin Blackwell gave the Dallas Stars a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, tying their series at a game apiece. Jake Oettinger turned aside 34 shots and Tyler Seguin scored his first goal since returning from hip surgery. Mackenzie Blackwood made 35 saves and Logan O’Connor had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche. Game 3 is Wednesday at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Avalanche created a stir before the game by announcing captain Gabriel Landeskog was activated off long-term injury reserve. He was not in the lineup for Game 2, but he appears a step closer to appearing in this series at some point. Due to knee surgeries, Landeskog hasn’t played since Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

HEADLINES

THE SEATTLE TIMES: The Kraken announced Monday they fired head coach Dan Bylsma after one season on the job. They have reportedly reassigned general manager Ron Francis to team president, with assistant GM Jason Botterill taking over the management job.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kraken missed the playoffs for the second straight year under Bylsma, finishing 20 points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Francis had recently come under criticism for the club’s stalled improvement, including last summer’s expensive signings of center Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Brandon Montour.

The Kraken reached the playoffs in their second season, but that set heightened expectations they have struggled to meet. Botterill has management experience, serving three seasons as GM of the Buffalo Sabres from 2017 to 2020. Time will tell if he’ll have better luck in Seattle than he did in his brief tenure in Buffalo.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford raised eyebrows during his end-of-season press conference, saying team captain Quinn Hughes hopes to one day play alongside brothers Jack and Luke, who play for the New Jersey Devils.

Rutherford said a reunion of the Hughes brothers is partly out of the Canucks’ control. He added that bringing Jack and Luke to Vancouver would be within the club’s control, adding that he had to be careful with tampering and left it at that. Rutherford also said his club cannot afford to lose Quinn and would do everything they could to keep him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford wasn’t saying his club was trying to bring Jack and Luke to Vancouver. He also wasn’t saying Quinn wants out of Vancouver.

It’s unlikely that Rutherford gets his fingers slapped for any violation of the league’s tampering rules. Realistically, such a move is highly doubtful. I’ll have more about that in today’s Rumor Mill.

Quinn Hughes has two years remaining on his contract with the Canucks. Whatever Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin do this offseason could determine whether he remains in Vancouver beyond 2027.

Rutherford also said the Canucks won’t pick up the option year in head coach Rick Tocchet’s contract. If he returns next season, it’ll be on a new long-term deal. Tocchet is at his Las Vegas home, taking a breather and mulling things over. He could make his decision later this week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rutherford and Allvin are keen to keep Tocchet behind the Canucks’ bench. They commended him and his coaching staff for their handling of a difficult season, including a major rift between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller that led to the latter’s trade to the New York Rangers in January.

Speaking of Pettersson, the club plans to stick with the struggling center, hoping a stronger off-season training regimen will help him regain his high-scoring form. Allvin is keeping his options open, but insists the team still has faith in Pettersson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks options will narrow considerably when Pettersson’s no-movement clause kicks in on July 1.

TSN: The Canucks also intend to let Brock Boeser reach this summer’s free-agent market on July 1. However, they haven’t ruled out bringing him back if he doesn’t find a better deal elsewhere.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Boeser could return to the Canucks after July 1 on the latter’s terms. However, there will be teams with plentiful cap space seeking scoring depth who could be willing to meet his asking price.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider underwent surgery on Apr. 17 to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder that’s been nagging him for the past two years. He can resume skating in three months.

Rangers winger Chris Kreider revealed he suffered back spasms in November and vertigo in December. He also injured his left hand in February following the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which could require surgery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those issues explain why Kreider’s production dropped significantly this season, making him the subject of trade speculation.

The Rangers don’t intend to approach former NHL coach Joel Quenneville about their vacant head-coaching position. It’s believed there is a mutual recognition that it would not be the best landing spot for his potential return to the NHL coaching ranks.

THE SCORE: Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin believes management’s inaction at the trade deadline didn’t help the club gain momentum in the playoff race. Their only move was acquiring goalie Petr Mrazek and forward Craig Smith from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for center Joe Veleno. The Wings wound up missing the postseason for the ninth straight year.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin’s frustration over the club’s long playoff drought could raise further questions about general manager Steve Yzerman’s efforts to build this club into a postseason contender.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2025

by | Apr 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 21, 2025

Recaps of Sunday’s playoff action, plus the latest on Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Pierre-Luc Dubois and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: “The Battle Of Ontario” resumed after 21 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs getting a convincing 6-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Mitch Marner had a goal and two assists and Anthony Stolarz stopped 31 shots for Toronto, who went 3-for-6 on the power play. Leafs forwards William Nylander and John Tavares each had a goal and an assist and Auston Matthews collected two assists. Drake Batherson and Ridly Greig replied for the Senators. Game 2 of this series is Tuesday, Apr. 22, at 7:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators swept the three-game regular-season series, but the Leafs’ experience in postseason play was evident in this contest. They were tenacious on the forecheck, their “Core Four” of Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares stepped up, and they didn’t shy away from the Senators’ physical style, seizing the opportunity with the man advantage.

The Senators will have to regroup and focus on a more disciplined effort. They’ll also need a better performance from goaltender Linus Ullmark, who continues to struggle in postseason play.

Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl had a goal and an assist to double up the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in Game 1 of their opening-round series. Brett Howden tallied twice and Adin Hill turned aside 18 shots for the Golden Knights. Matt Boldy scored both of the Wild’s goals and Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves. Game 2 of this series is Wednesday, Apr. 23, at 11 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the most closely contested game of the evening. There weren’t many penalties, but the Golden Knights made the most of their opportunities, going 2-for-2 with the man advantage.

NHL linesman Bryan Pancich left this game in the second period following an accidental collision with Howden. Backup official Frederick L’Ecuyer replaced Pancich for the remainder of the game.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven scored two goals in a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Taylor Hall picked up two assists and Frederik Andersen made 23 saves as the Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead in this first-round series. Nico Hischier scored for the Devils. Game 2 goes Tuesday, Apr. 22, at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The score flattered New Jersey as Carolina dominated most of this game. It got worse for the Devils as Brenden Dillon and Cody Glass left the game with injuries. Glass was accidentally struck on the knee by teammate Jacob Markstrom as the Devils’ goalie attempted to whack Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov with his stick.

HEADLINES

SI.COM: Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told reporters not to read too much in Gabriel Landeskog’s absence from practice on Sunday, saying the team captain remains on his own recovery schedule. However, he didn’t rule out Landeskog replacing injured winger Ross Colton for Game 2 of their series against the Dallas Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Landeskog’s last NHL game was Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup. He’s been sidelined since by knee surgeries but recently completed a two-game conditioning stint with the Avs’ AHL affiliate as he attempts a comeback.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars need winger Mikko Rantanen to be a bigger factor in their series against his former team. On Saturday, he was held scoreless in their 5-1 loss to the Avalanche in Game 1.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy said he felt like he played last season on one leg following back surgery in 2023. He claims he’s feeling like he’s back to his old self this season and has a clear mind entering the playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The improvement in Vasilevskiy’s performance contributed to the Lightning’s improvement as a team this season, rising from sixth overall in the Eastern Conference in 2023-24 to third overall this season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois credits head coach Spencer Carbery with helping him regain his focus and form. The 26-year-old Dubois has become one of the league’s best two-way centers and a beloved leader in the Capitals’ dressing room. Dubois and his teammates face the Montreal Canadiens with Game 1 of their first-round series starting Monday.

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers winger Jeff Skinner looks forward to his first playoff game in his 15-season NHL career when he and his teammates meet the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their first-round series on Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Skinner played for the Hurricanes when they struggled throughout most of the previous decade. He also played for the hapless Buffalo Sabres until they bought out his contract last summer. His postseason drought was 1,078 regular-season games.

ROTOWIRE: Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot remains week-to-week with an undisclosed injury.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets are prepared for another physical contest with the St. Louis Blues when the two clubs face off for Game 2 of their first-round series on Monday. The Jets won Game 1 5-3 but were outhit 53-33.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 20, 2025

by | Apr 20, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 20, 2025

The Jets and Avalanche take the opening games of their respective series, the Rangers and Ducks fire their head coaches, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING SATURDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Kyle Connor scored the winning goal with 1:36 remaining in the third period as the Winnipeg Jets defeated the St. Louis Blues 5-3, taking a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven opening round series.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor (NHL Images).

Connor and Mark Scheifele each had a goal and two assists as the Jets scored three unanswered third-period goals to overcome a 3-2 deficit. Robert Thomas, Oskar Sundqvist and Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues. Game 2 is Monday, Apr. 21, in Winnipeg starting at 7:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Game 1 was anything to go by, this should be a fast-paced, entertaining series. The Blues set a physical tone, outhitting Winnieg 53-33. However, the Jets adapted and took control of the game in the final period.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and collected an assist to lead his club to a 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars to take a 1-0 lead in their first-round series. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots for the win in his first-ever NHL playoff game.

Roope Hintz tallied for the Stars to make it 2-1 in the third period before the Avalanche pulled away with three goals. Game 2 is Monday in Dallas at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon was outstanding as usual, but Blackwood was the real star of this one for the Avs, coming up with several big saves to frustrate the Stars.

Avalanche forward Ross Colton left this game in the third period with a lower-body injury. An update on his status is expected Sunday. Meanwhile, sidelined Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen attended Saturday’s morning skate and has been upgraded to day-to-day. He’s been out since undergoing knee surgery in late January.

HEADLINES

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers fired head coach Peter Laviolette on Friday. Hired in 2023, Laviolatte guided the Blueshirts to the 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy, but the club struggled this season and missed the playoffs. They are seeking their fourth head coach since 2021.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks relieved Greg Cronin of his duties as head coach after two seasons. The rebuilding Ducks improved by 21 points over last season but missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Laviolette firing was expected, given his inability to cope with the turmoil within the team as management attempted to remake the roster during this season. However, the Cronin firing was a surprise because of the Ducks’ notable improvement this season.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk was a full participant in practice on Saturday as his club prepares for Game 1 of their first-round series with archrival Tampa Bay Lightning. The power forward has been sidelined with a groin injury since the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning-Panthers series begins on Tuesday. Barring a setback, expect Tkachuk to return to action in Game 1.

DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Lightning, winger Oliver Bjorkstrand will miss that series with the Panthers because of a lower-body injury.

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe were back in their usual spots on the blueline during Saturday’s practice. Both rearguards had been sidelined with injuries heading into the postseason.

DAILY FACEOFF: Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson revealed he played the final 12 games of the regular season with a broken fibula after blocking a shot during a March 25 game against the Seattle Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Andersson kept playing because he was trying to help his club stay in the playoff race. While those efforts were unsuccessful, his toughness and will to win are among the reasons why management hopes to sign him to a contract extension this summer.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders forward Mathew Barzal and goaltender Semyon Varlamov are expected to be ready for training camp in September. Knee surgeries sidelined both players and their absence was partly responsible for the Isles missing the playoffs.

THE SCORE: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to miss the start of next season after undergoing arm surgery. His last game of this season was March. 11.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ristolainen’s improved performance before his injury was among the few bright spots for the Flyers this season.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: Sabres defenseman Owen Power won’t require surgery on his injured left knee. He’s been told to stay off the ice for two months, which shouldn’t interfere with his offseason training.

Meanwhile, Sabres forward Josh Norris revealed a torn oblique muscle limited him to just three games with the club following his March 7 trade from the Ottawa Senators.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators winger Jonathan Marchessault was critical of head coach Andrew Brunette’s offensive system. “Clearly, it didn’t work,” he said, adding that there had to be adjustments before next season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators were among this season’s worst offensive teams despite the additions last summer of scoring forwards Marchessault and Steven Stamkos. That inability to score occasionally sparked speculation over Brunette’s job security.

TSN: The Edmonton Oilers signed defenseman Ty Emberson to a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 19, 2025

by | Apr 19, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 19, 2025

The Stanley Cup playoffs begin on Saturday, a brief look at each of the postseason teams, the league sets a new season attendance record, and updates on Roman Josi and Elias Pettersson in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HEADLINES

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets hope to soothe the bad memories of recent early postseason exits as they face off against the St. Louis Blues in their first-round series, with Game 1 starting Saturday. Since reaching the Western Conference Final in 2018, the Jets have advanced to the second round only once.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets face higher expectations after winning the Presidents’ Trophy this season for the first time in franchise history.

STLTODAY.COM: Blues center Robert Thomas returned to practice on Friday and is ready to go for Game 1 against the Jets. Thomas left Tuesday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club with a lower-body injury.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars will be without leading scorer Jason Robertson when they open their first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. He’s listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury (right knee) suffered during Wednesday against the Nashville Predators.

Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars are also without top defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who had knee surgery in February.

THE DENVER POST: The Avalanche spent most of this season with key players like Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin sidelined. However, they’ll have a healthier lineup going into their series with the Stars. Head coach Jared Bednar wouldn’t say if Landeskog will be in the lineup for that game but everyone else could be available.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk looks forward to leading his club in playoff action for the first time. Their upcoming series with the Toronto Maple Leafs will be Tkachuk’s postseason debut.

SPORTSNET: With salary-cap constraints lifted for the playoffs, the Maple Leafs could work veterans Ryan Reaves, Max Pacioretty and Jani Hakanpaa back into their lineup at some point against the Senators. Sidelined players Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe and David Kampf could be good to go for Game 1 on Sunday.

VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: The Golden Knights need Alex Pietrangelo, Brett Howden and Jack Eichel to be at the top of their game if they hope to stage a Stanley Cup run this season. They face the Minnesota Wild in the opening round beginning Sunday.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Wild rookie defenseman Zeev Buium could be in the lineup for Game 1 against the Golden Knights. During practice on Thursday, the 19-year-old blueliner took line rushes with Zach Bogosian on the Wild’s third defense pairing and was running their top power-play unit.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: New Jersey Devils starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom won’t be taking this postseason run for granted. His last playoff appearance was in 2022 with the Calgary Flames. Markstrom and the Devils face the Carolina Hurricanes with Game 1 beginning Sunday.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, they’ll need winger Andrei Svechnikov, defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, and goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov to step up against the Devils come Game 1.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Washington hopes to put their rough finish to the regular season in the rearview as they meet the Montreal Canadiens in their first-round series starting Monday. The Capitals finished atop the Eastern Conference standings but dropped eight of their final 12 regular-season games.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens defenseman David Savard announced his intention to retire following the postseason. He’s served as a mentor for one of the youngest teams in the NHL.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This could provide additional motivation for the Canadiens, rallying around Savard as they attempt to stage a bit of a playoff run for their beloved teammate.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Los Angeles Kings forward Alex Laferriere hopes to make a positive impact in the upcoming postseason series with the Edmonton Oilers. He’s a physical forward who has steadily improved since his NHL debut in 2023-24, finishing this season with 42 points and 124 hits.

TSN: Sidelined Oilers Jake Walman and Trent Frederic were on the ice for practice on Friday. Walman’s been out since April 7 with an undisclosed injury, while Frederic’s been sidelined with an ankle injury since April 5. The Oilers face the Kings with Game 1 starting Monday in Los Angeles.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: The Lightning must wait until Tuesday to start their opening-round series with arch-rival Florida Panthers.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Matthew Tkachuk could return to the Panthers’ lineup for Game 1 against the Lightning. He’s been sidelined by a groin injury suffered during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February.

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: The league set a new regular-season attendance record of 23,014,458, surpassing the previous high of 22,873,142 set last year. That figure represents 96.9 percent of capacity.

Those figures included the 2025 Winter Classic at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, the Stadium Series between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium, and the Global Series games in Czechia and Finland.

The Montreal Canadiens led all teams in total attendance, with sellout crowds of 21,015 at the Bell Centre for all 41 home games.

SPORTSNET: The Vancouver Canucks expect center Elias Pettersson to report to training camp in better shape for next season. He was in disappointing condition reporting to camp last September, which he attributed to a sore knee that affected his summer training.

THE TENNESSEAN: Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi confirmed he’d been sidelined by a concussion following a hit from Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett on Feb. 25. Josi said he’s progressed well in his recovery and will be ready to play at the start of next season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 18, 2025

by | Apr 18, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 18, 2025

Recaps of the final night of this regular season, Nikita Kucherov wins the Art Ross Trophy while Leon Draisaitl takes home the Maurice Richard Trophy, the full schedule for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust scored twice to reach the 30-goal plateau for the first time in a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had two points to reach the 90-point plateau (91) for the third straight season. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin potted his 897th regular-season NHL goal as his club finished in first place in the Eastern Conference standings with 111 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: What’s impressive about Crosby reaching 90 points for the third straight season is that he did it at an age (37) when a normal player would be in decline or retired. The same can be said for the 39-year-old Ovechkin, who finished this season with 44 goals.

Ovechkin was honored by the Penguins for breaking the goal-scoring record, receiving a standing ovation from the Pittsburgh crowd. The club also gifted him a Rolex watch, with Crosby and teammate Evgeni Malkin presenting it to him following the game.

The Capitals’ captain also silenced rumors that he might retire at the end of this season. “I’m not retiring yet,” he said. Ovechkin has a year remaining on his contract and intends to honor it.

Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff got the 900th regular-season win of his career as his club held off the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4. JJ Peterka and Alex Tuch each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, while Flyers rookie winger Matvei Michkov scored twice.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ruff is the fifth coach in NHL history to reach 900 wins, joining Scotty Bowman (1,244 wins), Joel Quenneville (969), Paul Maurice (916) and Barry Trotz (914).

The Toronto Maple Leafs overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on an overtime goal by Scott Laughton. Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies each had two assists for the Leafs, who finished atop the Atlantic Division with 108 points. Alex DeBrincat netted his 39th goal of the season for the Red Wings.

Four unanswered third-period goals lifted the Ottawa Senators over the Carolina Hurricanes 7-5. Drake Batherson had two goals and an assist, Adam Gaudette scored twice, while Tim Stutzle and Dylan Cozens each had a goal and two assists for the Senators. Hurricanes rookie Skyler Brind’Amour (son of head coach Rod Brind’Amour) scored his first NHL goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk returned to action after missing eight games with an upper-body injury but left in the second period after taking a stick to the face. Tkachuk later said it was for precautionary reasons and he’ll be ready to face the Maple Leafs when their series begins on Sunday evening.

The Columbus Blue Jackets ended their season with their sixth straight win by downing the New York Islanders 6-1. Jet Greaves made 36 saves in his fifth straight start while Adam Fantilli scored his 31st of the season for the Jackets, who finished two points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Hudson Fasching scored for the Islanders.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets could’ve gone through the motions after their playoff hopes were dashed the night before. Instead, they were determined to end this season on a high note.

This team persevered through offseason tragedy and could be a playoff club next season if management addresses its roster weaknesses.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin ended his club’s season with a 27-save shutout performance in a 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Mika Zibanejad scored two goals for the Rangers. The Lightning finished second in the Atlantic Division with 102 points.

The Calgary Flames finished their season with a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Dan Vladar stopped 30 shots, Nazem Kadri scored twice to reach a career-high 35 goals, and Sam Morton and Zayne Parekh each scored in their NHL debuts for the Flames. Taylor Ward also scored in his first NHL game as his Kings finished second in the Pacific Division with 105 points.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The league released the full schedule for the upcoming first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It begins on Saturday with the Winnipeg Jets facing off against the St. Louis and the Dallas Stars meeting the Colorado Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow the link provided for the full schedule.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is this season’s winner of the Art Ross Trophy with a league-leading 121 points. It’s the second straight season he’s won the award and the third time since 2018-19. Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers won the Maurice Richard Trophy for the first time as the league’s leading goal-scorer with 52.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl was the only player to crack the 50-goal plateau this season. Seven others finished with over 40 goals.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Connor Bedard addressed rumors he wasn’t happy playing for the rebuilding Blackhawks.

“I’m a pretty mild-mannered guy and if I look a little sad on the bench or something, maybe people can take it out of context,” said Bedard. “I’ve said it so many times, I love being here and the city, the people.”

Bedard acknowledged that the club is rebuilding and it is sometimes frustrating as the losses pile up. However, he also cited the positivity around the team, especially with promising players like Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov joining the roster.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks management will attempt to bolster the roster this summer around Bedard through trades and free agency. Nevertheless, their future lies with their youngsters.

Bedard had 67 points in 82 games despite the sometimes frustrating stretches of the season. Nazar steadily improved throughout this season. Moore, Rinzel and Levshunov showed potential in their brief appearances down the stretch.

BLACK N’ GOLD HOCKEY: cited The Boston Herald’s Steve Conroy reporting Bruins center Elias Lindholm said he suffered a back injury during training camp which contributed to his disappointing performance this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindholm played all 82 games for the Bruins but finished with 47 points.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets signed defenseman Neal Pionk to a six-year, $42 million contract extension. Pionk, 29, was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The average annual value of the contract is $7 million.

TSN: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini has committed to playing for Canada at the IIHF World Championships in May.

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers winger Jesse Puljujarvi received a two-game suspension by the department of player safety for an illegal hit to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mitchell Chaffee.

KSL SPORTS: Utah Hockey Club winger Michael Carcone expects to head to free agency on July 1. After meeting with management and coaching staff, he doesn’t expect to reach an agreement on a new contract.