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.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 24, 2025

by | Mar 24, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 24, 2025

The Kings set a franchise record and overtook the Oilers in the standings, another milestone for Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Los Angeles Kings extended their home points streak to a franchise-record 14 games (11-0-3)by thumping the Boston Bruins 7-2. Quinton Byfield had a goal and an assist to extend his home goal streak to seven games and his home points streak to nine. Tanner Jeannot, Adrian Kempe, Joel Edmundson and Brandt Clarke each collected two points as the Kings moved ahead of the Edmonton Oilers into second place in the Pacific Division with 87 points. Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie replied for the Bruins, who’ve lost six in a row.

Los Angeles Kings forward Quinton Byfield (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings and Oilers each have 87 points but the former has a game in hand.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby collected two assists for his 16th season with 20-plus multi-point games in a 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers. Aleksander Barkov scored in the shootout as Florida overcame a 3-1 deficit. Sam Reinhart scored twice for the Panthers, who took over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with 89 points. Brian Rust scored two goals and added an assist for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby is tied with Hall-of-Famer Marcel Dionne for the second-most seasons with 20 or more multi-point games. Wayne Gretzky is the leader with 18.

The Vegas Golden Knights got a 35-save performance from goaltender Ilya Samsonov to double up the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2. Vegas forward Tomas Hertl scored his 31st of the season before leaving in the third period with an upper-body injury. Nikita Kucherov scored his 30th of the season for the Lightning, who remain third in the Atlantic Division with 85 points. The Golden Knights are first in the Pacific Division with 92 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hertl was hit from behind by Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg into the end boards, injuring his right arm. He will be reevaluated on Monday and an update on his status could follow on Tuesday.

A hat trick by winger Taylor Hall powered the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Frederik Andersen stopped 35 shots for the Hurricanes, who’ve won nine of their last 10 games and sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 90 points. Alex Killorn and Trevor Zegras scored for the Ducks.

St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou reached the 30-goal plateau for the third straight season in a 4-1 win against the Nashville Predators. Robert Thomas had three assists and Jordan Binnington made 31 saves as the Blues (81 points) picked up their sixth straight victory to move four points ahead of the Calgary Flames in the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators.

The Buffalo Sabres upset the Winnipeg Jets 5-3. Ryan McLeod had a goal and three assists and James Reimer turned aside 33 shots for the Sabres. Nino Niederreiter, Colin Miller and Nikolaj Ehlers replied for the Jets (100 points), who remain two points behind the Washington Capitals for first place in the overall standings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets need one point to become the second team to clinch a playoff spot. Sabres winger Jordan Greenway left this game in the first period with a lower-body injury.

Chicago Blackhawks sophomore Connor Bedard reached the 20-goal plateau for the second straight season in a 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Ryan Donato scored two power-play goals and Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and two assists for the Blackhawks. Travis Konecny and Jamie Drysdale each had a goal and an assist for the Flyers, who’ve lost five straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 19-year-old Bedard joined Eddie Olczyk as the second Blackhawks teenager to record multiple 20-goal seasons.

IN OTHER NEWS…

SPORTSNET: Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko could return to action for Monday’s game against the New Jersey Devils. Demko has been sidelined for a month with a lower-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks need all the help they can get after going 1-2-1 in their last four games, dropping them out of the final Western wild card. They have recalled Aatu Raty on an emergency basis with forwards Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander questionable for Monday’s game after injuries forced them from Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers.

DAILY FACEOFF: The slumping Columbus Blue Jackets will get a boost with center Sean Monahan and defenseman Erik Gudbranson set to return from injuries. Monahan missed 28 games with a wrist injury while Gudbranson’s been out since Oct. 15 with a shoulder injury.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings coach Todd McLellan is questioning the commitment level of his players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With two wins in their last 11 games, the Wings are mired in a lengthy slump that sent them tumbling in the standings, sitting five points out of the final Eastern wild card.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils coach Sheldon Keefe singled out defenseman Johnathan Kovecevic following his club’s 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. “Kovacevic just needs to play better, that would help,” he told reporters. The 27-year-old defenseman recently signed a five-year, $20 million contract extension.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: US tariffs against Canada could affect the value of the Canadian dollar, which would affect the hockey-related revenue earned by the seven Canadian NHL franchises. That would also impact the league’s salary-cap projections going forward.

Players on Canadian teams are paid in US dollars. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman recently acknowledged the fluctuating currency exchange brought on by the tariffs could affect the seven Canadian franchises. He said the league is prepared to make adjustments if necessary but they’re hopeful that their current projections will remain on track.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 16, 2025

by | Mar 16, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 16, 2025

Alex Ovechkin is within eight goals of breaking the all-time goals record, Sidney Crosby reaches another milestone, the Rangers regain a playoff spot, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin tallied his 887th regular-season goal in a 5-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. Ovechkin also collected an assist while teammates Tom Wilson, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Lars Eller each had two assists. Macklin Celebrini replied for the Sharks.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals are tied with the Winnipeg Jets with 96 points but the latter holds first place in the overall standings with 46 wins.

The Pittsburgh Penguins extended their winning streak to four games by defeating the New Jersey Devils 7-3. Connor Dewar scored two goals and Philip Tomasino had a goal and an assist for the Penguins. Jesper Bratt had three assists for the Devils, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 78 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby collected an assist to tie Wayne Gretzky for fourth place for most points with one franchise with 1,669. Gordie Howe leads the pack with 1,809, Steve Yzerman is second with 1,755, and Mario Lemieux is third with 1,723.

The Ottawa Senators collected their sixth straight win by doubling up the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2, handing the latter their fifth loss in their last six games. Three answered goals by David Perron, Claude Giroux and Michael Amadio gave the Senators the win. William Nylander and Auston Matthews scored for the Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs slipped to third place in the Atlantic Division with 81 points, with the Senators (77 points) only four points behind, holding the first Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli scored two goals in a 6-2 victory over the Boston Bruins. Victor Hedman, Nick Paul and Darren Raddysh each had a goal and an assist as the Lightning tied the Leafs with 81 points. Elias Lindholm and Marat Khusnutdinov scored for the Bruins (68), who sit four points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning holds second place in the Atlantic Division with 33 regulation wins, while the Leafs have 31.

Speaking of the final Eastern wild card, the New York Rangers (72 points) took sole possession of that position by blanking the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0, knocking the Jackets (70 points) out of that spot. Igor Shesterkin had a 21-save shutout,t while Vincent Trocheck scored twice. The Blue Jackets have dropped five of their last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers defenseman Adam Fox collected an assist in his return from an eight-game absence with an upper-body injury. The Blue Jackets have been this season’s feel-good story by exceeding expectations to contend for a playoff berth. However, they’ve been wobbling over the past half-dozen games and are in danger of falling further behind the Rangers and Canadiens.

The Montreal Canadiens kept pace with the Rangers with a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist and Sam Montembeault made 21 saves as the Canadiens sit one point behind the Rangers and one point ahead of the Blue Jackets.

Speaking of wild-card races, the Vancouver Canucks (73 points) hold a two-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final Western berth following a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Elias Pettersson, Conor Garland and Pius Suter each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks. Ryan Donato had two assists for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks center Filip Chytil left the game after being hit from behind into the boards by Blackhawks forward Jason Dickinson, who was not penalized. There was no postgame update on his condition. Blackhawks star Connor Bedard received his second straight 10-minute misconduct following a scuffle late in the third period.

St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou tallied a hat trick to lead his club past the Minnesota Wild 5-1. Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who are 8-2-2 in their last dozen games and sit two points behind the Canucks. Jake Middelton scored for the Wild, who hold the first wild-card spot with 79 points but have only three wins in their last 10 contests.

The Los Angeles Kings nipped the Nashville Predators 1-0 on an overtime goal by Quentin Byfield, extending his goal streak to six games. Darcy Kuemper turned in a 24-save shutout as the Kings (81 points) moved one point ahead of the Edmonton Oilers into second place in the Pacific Division. Justus Annunen turned aside 20 shots for the Predators.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov made 26 saves to blank the Philadelphia Flyers 5-0. Mark Jankowski tallied twice while Sebastian Aho and Taylor Hall each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, who won six straight games and hold second place in the Metro Division with 86 points. The Flyers have lost six of their last seven games.

The Buffalo Sabres upset the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 on a shootout goal by Alex Tuch. Rasmus Dahlin scored the tying goal with 14 seconds remaining in the third period. Adin Hill stopped 37 shots for the Golden Knights, who hold first place in the Pacific Division with 86 points.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2025

by | Mar 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 14, 2025

A milestone for Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Golden Knights center Jack Eichel sets a franchise record, the latest on next season’s schedule, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky picked up his 424th NHL regular-season win as he and his teammates nipped the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Bobrovsky stopped 23 shots and Sam Bennett scored twice for the Panthers, who’ve won seven of their last eight games and hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 84 points. John Tavares and Max Domi replied for the Leafs, who sit four points behind the Panthers in second place in the division.

Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky holds sole possession of 10th overall among goalies for career wins. He’s 13 wins behind Jacques Plante, who holds ninth place. Martin Brodeur is the all-time leader with 691 victories. Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev returned to action after missing six games with an upper-body injury.

The Vegas Golden Knights blanked the Columbus Blues Jackets 4-0, extending their points streak to seven games. Adin Hill turned in a 27-save shutout performance while Brandon Saad, Tomas Hertl and Nicolas Roy each collected two points for the Golden Knights, who sit first in the Pacific Division with 85 points. The Blue Jackets hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 70 points, but they’ve lost four of their last five games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Golden Knights center Jack Eichel collected an assist to set the single-season franchise points record with 79.

A four-goal first period carried the Ottawa Senators to a 6-3 win over the Boston Bruins. Drake Batherson scored twice and collected an assist while goaltender Linus Ullmark made a highlight-reel glove save as the Senators hold the first Eastern wild-card spot with 75 points. David Pastrnak tallied his 34th goal for the Bruins, who sit two points behind the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk sat out the final minutes of the game with a hip injury. Head coach Travis Green said Tkachuk tweaked his hip but expects he’ll be all right.

An overtime goal by Braden Schneider lifted the New York Rangers over the Minnesota Wild 3-2. Igor Shesterkin turned aside 26 shots as the Rangers sit behind the Blue Jackets with 70 points. Wild captain Jared Spurgeon collected two assists as his club holds the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers forward Arthur Kaliyev left the Rangers during this road trip to undergo further evaluation and testing for an upper-body injury.

New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt had a goal and two assists in a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Brett Pesce had a goal and an assist as the Devils sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 78 points. Edmonton forward Leon Draisaitl scored his league-leading 47th goal to extend his points streak to 16 games. The Oilers cling to third in the Pacific Division with 78 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers have been in a funk of late with just three wins in their last 11 contests.

Meanwhile, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman filed a motion to quash a subpoena for him to be deposed in the case of John Doe vs the Chicago Blackhawks. Bowman and other former Blackhawks employees have been issued subpoenas to sit for depositions from John Doe’s attorneys.

Bowman claims he was not properly served the subpoena because his home is in Edmonton, not Chicago, and the court doesn’t have any personal jurisdiction over him for several reasons, including that he is a resident and citizen of Canada.

The former Blackhawks player is suing the franchise for failing to act when informed of sexual assault allegations against former team video coach Brad Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bowman was general manager at the time.

Los Angeles Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper had a 21-save shutout to defeat the Washington Capitals 3-0. Quinton Byfield scored to extend his goal streak to five games and Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist for the Kings, who’ve won four straight and vaulted over the Oilers into second place in the Pacific Division with 79 points. The Capitals slipped into second place in the overall standings with 94 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals are tied with the Winnipeg Jets but the latter holds first overall with 45 wins.

The Philadelphia Flyers snapped a five-game losing skid with a 4-3 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bobby Brink had two goals and an assist in regulation and Owen Tippett netted the winning goal for the Flyers. Jonas Johansson stopped 26 shots for the Lightning, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning recalled Cam Atkinson from their AHL affiliate in Syracuse to replace ailing winger Nikita Kucherov. Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry kicked out 33 shots in a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Blues. Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust each had a goal and an assist as the Penguins collected their third straight win. Blues netminder Jordan Binnington was pulled after giving up four goals on 19 shots. With 69 points, the Blues sit two points behind the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild card.

The San Jose Sharks ended a three-game skid by doubling up the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. Collin Graf tallied twice and Will Smith had a goal and an assist. Frank Nazar and Ilya Mikheyev replied for the Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blackhawks center Connor Bedard received a 10-minute misconduct for abuse of officials. No explanation was given by the referee and Bedard looked confused when the call was made. After the game, the Blackhawks star said it was for something he said to the official regarding an uncalled trip by Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro.

IN OTHER NEWS…

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the 2025-26 NHL schedule is tentatively slated to open on Oct. 7 with the 2026 Stanley Cup Final end around June 21-22 at the latest. The schedule is to accommodate the Winter Olympic break plus the All-Star Game.

Meanwhile, the 2026-27 season could see an 84-game regular season with a shortened preseason, with the regular season beginning in late September with the playoffs ending in late June. It would better accommodate breaks for the Olympics and World Cup of Hockey while reducing the number of back-to-back games that teams currently face.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Changes to the regular season and playoff formats are expected to be part of the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA expires in September 2026 but a new agreement is expected to be in place well before then, avoiding the possibility of another work stoppage.

Removing the requirement of playing at least one game in every NHL arena doesn’t appear very popular. Some teams don’t want to go two years without seeing a superstar like Connor McDavid or a popular draw like the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadiens.

Canceling the All-Star Game has also been discussed. It won’t happen next year as the New York Islanders have already been announced as the host team for the 2026 game. However, the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off has prompted talks about changing course. LeBrun wonders if they’ll consider scrapping the ASG during Olympic years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The NHL All-Star Game has been a pathetic joke for four decades. Only the team hosting the event sees any benefit. It’s a ratings dud, and those fans who tune in seem to be “hate-watching” so they can dump on the event in real time on social media.

I’d like to see an Olympics-4 Nations-World Cup-4 Nations format.

CALGARY SUN: Flames center Connor Zary received a two-game suspension by the NHL department of player safety for a late, retaliatory hit on Vancouver Canucks defenseman Elias Pettersson on Wednesday.

ROTOWIRE: Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov will miss Friday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings with an undisclosed ailment.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 7, 2025

by | Feb 7, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 7, 2025

Another goal for Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin in his ongoing quest for the all-time goals record, a milestone game for Leafs winger Mitch Marner, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his 879th regular-season goal as his club nipped the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3. Jakob Chychrun had a goal and an assist for the Capitals as they regained their hold on first overall with 79 points. Matvei Michkov tallied twice for the Flyers, who’ve dropped seven of their last eight games.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin sits 16 goals from Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894. The Capitals and Winnipeg Jets have 79 points but the Caps have a game in hand.

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner collected his 500th career assist in a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves for the win in his first game since being sidelined by a knee injury on Dec. 12. Eeli Tolvanen replied for the Kraken as they’ve lost five of their last six games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner also returned to action after missing Tuesday’s game against the Calgary Flames with a lower-body injury. He’s second among this season’s assist leaders with 55. The Leafs sit second in the Atlantic Division with 68 points.

The Colorado Avalanche doubled up the Calgary Flames 4-2. Martin Necas scored twice and collected an assist, Nathan MacKinnon had three assists, and Cale Makar tallied his 20th goal of the season. Flames rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf made 30 saves.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon regained the lead in the points race with 83, sitting two ahead of Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. The Avalanche holds the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 66 points while the Flames (59 points) are two out of the final Western wild-card spot. Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson missed this game with a lower-body injury and is expected to miss Friday’s game against the Oilers.

A penalty shot goal by Drew O’Connor lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 2-1 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks. Dakota Joshua also scored and Thatcher Demko stopped 33 shots for the Canucks (61 points) as they regained the final Western wild card. Tyler Toffoli scored his 20th goal for the Sharks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks captain Quinn Hughes remained sidelined with a lower-body injury. 

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk scored with 12 seconds remaining in the third period to beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2. Tkachuk finished the night with two goals and an assist as the Panthers hold a one-point lead over the Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division. Zack Bolduc had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who are 1-5-1 in their last seven contests.

The Vegas Golden Knights ended a four-game losing skid with a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. Nicolas Roy, Shea Theodore and Jack Eichel scored for the Golden Knights as they sit in second place in the Pacific Division with 70 points. Ondrej Palat replied for the Devils, who are third in the Metropolitan Division with 66 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: New Jersey goalie Jake Allen made 37 saves in this game. The Devils also placed captain Nico Hischier on injured reserve retroactive to Jan. 25.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point had a goal and two assists to down the Ottawa Senators 5-1. Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov picked up two assists for the Lightning, who moved ahead of the Senators into third place in the Atlantic Division. Michael Amadio scored for the Senators as they dropped into the first Eastern wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning and Senators each have 62 points but the Lightning have three games in hand. Senators forwards Shane Pinto and Josh Norris and Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli missed this game due to injuries.

The Minnesota Wild got a 37-save performance by Filip Gustavsson to squeak by the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1. Yakov Trenin and Vinnie Hinostroza were the goal scorers for the Wild, who sit third in the Central Division with 68 points. Sebastian Aho replied for the Hurricanes, who hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 68 points but have dropped three straight games.

An overtime goal by Dylan Guenther lifted the Utah Hockey Club to a 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Lawson Crouse and Olli Maatta also scored for Utah while Justin Danforth and Ivan Provorov replied for the Blue Jackets, who sit one point out of the final Eastern wild-card spot with 60 points.

IN OTHER NEWS…

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The short-term outlook for Penguins captain Sidney Crosby as he nurses an injured left arm/shoulder. He mostly worked out on his own during practice on Thursday and rarely shot the puck. Crosby was injured during Tuesday’s loss to the New Jersey Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby is also the captain for Canada in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. His injury raises questions over whether he’ll participate in the tournament.

SPORTSNET: The availability of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes for the 4 Nations tournament remains uncertain. Hughes is part of Team USA’s roster but he’s been nursing a lower-body injury.

THE SCORE: Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard is ignoring criticism of his play as he struggles through a sophomore slump. “I’m not watching broadcasts or anything. I’m playing hockey…I couldn’t really care less, to be honest, what people on the outside think of me or of us.”

Former NHLer Paul Bissonnette and Hall of Famer Mark Messier criticized Bedard’s recent performance. Bissonnette said he looked like he was playing pond hockey during a recent game against the Edmonton Oilers while Messier said the lack of consequences for his poor play would hurt team morale.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bedard’s in a tough spot this season, playing on a rebuilding club showing no sign of improvement. Meanwhile, opponents have adjusted to his style of play since last season. As the face of the franchise, Bedard is shouldering the burden of their offense and the expectations of Blackhawks fans. That’s a hell of a weight to carry for a 19-year-old.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 14, 2025

by | Jan 14, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 14, 2025

Notable milestones for Connor McDavid, Connor Bedard and Flames rookie Rory Kerins, the Flyers reveal their Quarter-Century team, the three stars of the week are announced, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid celebrated his 28th birthday by scoring the game’s only goal in a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Stuart Skinner turned in a 30-save shutout as the Oilers collected their sixth win in their last seven games, sitting in second place in the Pacific Division with 57 points. Darcy Kuemper stopped 29 shots for the Kings, who remain four points behind the Oilers in third place in the division.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid tied Glenn Anderson for the most game-winning goals (72) in franchise history.

Chicago Blackhawks sophomore center Connor Bedard scored to reach his 100th NHL point but his club fell 5-2 to the Calgary Flames. Calgary rookie Rory Kerins collected two assists in the first period, becoming the fifth rookie in Flames history with multiple assists in his NHL debut. Jakob Pelletier scored twice and set up another as the Flames won three straight, vaulting over the Vancouver Canucks into the final Western Conference wild-card spot with 49 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks remain mired at the bottom of the NHL standings. Bedard expressed his frustration again as the losses kept mounting.

“It’s been hard. It’s been a lot of games to lose. It weighs on you,” Bedard said following the game. “Yeah, I mean, just keep trying to find a way, trying to get better every day. But it’s hard.”

Bedard wants to win and help the Blackhawks return to their glory days. The Blackhawks brought in veteran players to take pressure off him and his young teammates as they develop their game. However, management must do more to alleviate that burden. Being in contention to win the draft lottery every year is not the best path forward.

Flames forward Martin Pospisil received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for boarding Blackhawks winger Taylor Hall midway through the second period.

The Philadelphia Flyers got two goals from Noah Cates to upset the Florida Panthers 4-2. Cates snapped a 3-3 tie midway through the third period as the Flyers overcame a 3-1 deficit. Sam Reinhart scored twice for the Panthers to move into second place in the league goalscoring race with 27.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers unveiled their Quarter-Century Team on Monday.

The First Team comprises forwards Claude Giroux, Simon Gagne, and Mike Richards, defensemen Eric Desjardins and Kimmo Timonen, and goaltender Roman Cechmanek. The Second Team comprises forwards Sean Couturier, Jakub Voracek and Daniel Briere, defensemen Chris Pronger and Ivan Provorov, and goalie Brian Boucher.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes, and right wing Patrick Kane of the Detroit Red Wings are the league’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 12, 2025.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar denied recent reports claiming team captain Gabriel Landeskog’s comeback attempt was hampered by swelling in his surgically repaired knee. The Avs also reactivated goaltender Scott Wedgewood off injured reserve.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Landeskog’s last NHL game was Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. He’s undergone two knee surgeries since then and is working on resuming his NHL career.

OTTAWA SUN: Senators owner Michael Andlauer completed the sale of the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs to Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman and his family. Andlauer is focusing solely on the Senators. It’s believed he received $20 million for the Bulldogs.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek has returned from his AHL conditioning stint. He’s a game-day decision for tonight’s contest against the Winnipeg Jets. The Canucks placed defenseman Erik Brannstrom on waivers.

TSN: The Columbus Blue Jackets signed forward Zach Aston-Reese to a one-year extension worth $775K.