NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 28, 2025

by | Jan 28, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 28, 2025

Recaps of Monday’s games, the Sharks unveil their Quarter-Century Team, the mid-season Rookie All-Stars are revealed, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond had a goal and three assists as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 5-2. Marco Kasper tallied twice and collected an assist as the Wings (53 points) sit two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Kevin Fiala and Quinton Byfield scored for the slumping Kings (58 points), who hold third place in the Pacific Division but have dropped six of their last eight games.

Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a big night for Detroit forward Dominik Shine. The 31-year-old forward made his NHL debut after spending nine seasons with the Red Wings AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. He saw 9:50 minutes of ice time and logged two hits and a blocked shot.

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty hopes he’ll get an opportunity to replace Alex Pietrangelo for Team Canada in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. Doughty’s been sidelined with a fractured ankle since preseason but hopes to return to action in time for the tournament. Pietrangelo withdrew citing an injury.

The Vancouver Canucks got two goals from Conor Garland in a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Quinn Hughes picked up two assists while Tyler Myers and Pius Suter had two points each as the Canucks (54 points) moved to within one point of the Calgary Flames for the final Western Conference wild-card spot. St. Louis goalie Jordan Binnington gave up three goals on 18 shots and was replaced by Joel Hofer in the second period. The Blues have lost three straight and sit four points back of the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues traded Scott Perunovich to the New York Islanders for a conditional fifth-round pick in 2026. The 26-year-old defenseman played sparingly for the Blues as injuries and inconsistent play frequently sidelined him. The Isles hope a change of scenery will improve his performance as they bring him in to replace Ryan Pulock, who is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

Meanwhile, Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored in his return from a three-game suspension to double up the Seattle Kraken 4-2. Mattias Ekholm had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who’ve won seven of their last nine games to sit atop the Pacific Division with 67 points. Eeli Tolvanen and Vince Dunn replied for the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (75 points) collected an assist to move within two points of Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead in the points race.

The Philadelphia Flyers got a two-point performance from Scott Laughton (one goal, one assist) in a 4-2 upset of the New Jersey Devils. Travis Konecny and Rasmus Ristolainen each had two assists while Samuel Ersson stopped 31 shots as the Flyers (52 points) moved within three points of the final Eastern wild-card berth. Dougie Hamilton and Timo Meier scored for the Devils, who are third in the Metropolitan Division with 62 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers captain Sean Couturier missed this contest due to illness.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini snapped a 1-1 tie to nip the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1. Mikael Granlund also scored and Yaroslav Askarov made 29 saves as the Sharks snapped a six-game losing skid. Sidney Crosby replied for the Penguins, who’ve lost seven of their last nine and are seven points behind the Lightning.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins placed sidelined center Evgeni Malkin (undisclosed) on injured reserve and recalled winger Jesse Puljujarvi. Meanwhile, Fenway Sports Group is reportedly looking to sell a minority stake while retaining a controlling stake in the team.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: The Sharks unveiled their Quarter-Century Team on Monday.

Forwards Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski highlight the First Team, which includes defensemen Brent Burns and Marc-Edouard Vlasic and goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.

The Second Team features forwards Logan Couture, Tomas Hertl and Owen Nolan, defensemen Erik Karlsson and Dan Boyle, and goaltender Martin Jones.

Sharks center Macklin Celebrini and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf are among the players chosen for the NHL’s midseason Rookie All-Star Team. The roster also comprised Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov, Dallas Stars forward Logan Stankoven, and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Nolan Allen.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, and Utah Hockey Club forward Barrett Hayton are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 26.

TSN: Mikko Rantanen said he was blindsided by the blockbuster trade that sent him from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. The pending unrestricted free-agent forward said he was willing to accept a significant discount from his market value to stay with the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rantanen’s discount wasn’t significant enough to keep him in Colorado. Pierre LeBrun reported the two sides discussed a contract extension but the club believed the gap between them couldn’t be breached, leading to the trade.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Washington Capitals signed goaltender Logan Thompson to a six-year, $35.1 million contract. The average annual value is $5.85 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Thompson’s getting a significant raise over the $766,667 he’s earning this season. He’s been outstanding for the Capitals since his acquisition from the Vegas Golden Knights last summer. Management must also decide the fate of backup goalie Charlie Lindgren, who is UFA-eligible and playing well in his contract year.

TAMPA BAY TIMES: Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg received a two-game suspension from the department of player safety for an illegal hit on Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher on Saturday.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: An immigration issue is delaying Oilers defenseman John Klingberg from joining the team. He’s expected to make his season debut later this week.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Buffalo Sabres placed winger Nicolas Aube-Kubel on waivers.

TSN: The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have informed the International Ice Hockey Federation they intend to move forward on the 2028 World Cup of Hockey without IIHF involvement. They hope to announce the World Cup during the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators created a furor among their fans when team mascot Spartacat donned a jersey that was half-Senators and half-Quebec Nordiques as part of the club’s announcement it would play two preseason games this fall in Quebec City.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The outrage among Sens fans reached the point where team president Cyril Leeder took to social media to apologize for their mascot’s split jersey and allay concerns that the club might be relocating.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 21, 2025

by | Jan 21, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 21, 2025

Recapping Monday’s games, Oilers captain Connor McDavid suspended, the Avalanche reveal their Quarter-Century Team, the three stars of the week, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist to lead his club to a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, ending the latter’s nine-game home win streak and handing them their fourth loss in their last five games. Kevin Hayes and Anthony Beauvillier also had a goal and an assist each for the Penguins (48 points), who sit four points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Adrian Kempe tallied his 23rd goal of the season for the Kings, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 55 points.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings honored firefighters and first responders during a pregame ceremony in their first game in their downtown arena since wildfires devastated large parts of Los Angeles.

Crosby reached a notable milestone, reaching the 50-point plateau for the 18th time in his NHL career. The Penguins got the win without winger Rickard Rakell, who returned to Pittsburgh for family reasons.

The Utah Hockey Club upset the Winnipeg Jets 5-2. Barrett Hayton had a goal and two assists as his club picked and Logan Cooley scored to extend his goal streak to four games as Utah picked up their second straight win. Nino Niederreiter and Dylan DeMelo replied for the Jets (65 points), who’ve lost two straight and remain two points behind the league-leading Washington Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets head coach Scott Arniel wasn’t happy with his club’s performance, calling the loss their most embarrassing game of the season. Utah forward Clayton Keller took a puck to the face during the second period but returned before the end of the frame after receiving several stitches. “That’s a hockey player, eh?,” said Utah coach Andre Tourigny.

An overtime goal by Sebastian Aho gave the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Frederik Andersen made 23 saves in his first game since Oct. 26 when he suffered a knee injury requiring surgery on Nov. 22. Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek kicked out 44 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was also Andersen’s 500th in the NHL. Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal reached a significant milestone as this was his 1,300th NHL regular-season game. Staal scored to reach 700 regular-season points.

The St. Louis Blues blew 3-1 and 4-2 leads before defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 on a shootout goal by Brayden Schenn. Jordan Binnington stopped 28 shots and Jordan Kyrou collected two assists for the Blues (50 points), who moved within one point of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore collected four assists as his club dropped their fourth straight game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights cling to first place in the Pacific Division with 62 points. Following this game, head coach Bruce Cassidy singled out goaltenders Adin Hill and Ilya Samsonov. “We need better play out of the goaltending position right now,” said Cassidy.

Toronto Maple Leafs forwards Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies each collected three points in a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Leafs captain Auston Matthews scored to extend his goal streak to four games as his club picked up their third straight win and sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with 62 points. Nick Paul tallied twice for the Lightning, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 53 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner surpassed Hall-of-Famer Borje Salming for the most multi-assist games in franchise history with 123. Leafs winger Max Pacioretty missed this contest with an upper-body injury

The New York Islanders got two goals from Bo Horvat to down the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1, snapping the latter’s seven-game points streak (6-0-1). Mathew Barzal had two assists for the Islanders. Kent Johnson replied for the Blue Jackets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson left this game early in the third period with an injury to his right leg following a hit from Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger. There was no post-game update on his status.

Boston Bruins center Charlie Coyle tallied twice in a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Coyle finished with three points while David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Elias Lindholm each had a goal and an assist for the Bruins. Will Smith scored and collected an assist for the Sharks, who have lost three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The win vaulted the Bruins (52 points) one point ahead of the Blue Jackets into the final Eastern wild-card berth. The Ottawa Senators also have 52 points but hold the first wild-card spot with two games in hand over the Bruins.

Third-period goals by Yakov Trenin and Brock Faber lifted the Minnesota Wild over the Colorado Avalanche 3-1. Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 26 shots as the Wild snapped their three-game losing skid. Nathan MacKinnon replied for the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild sit second in the Central Division with 60 points while the Avalanche hold the first Western wild-card spot with 57 points.

Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann had a goal and two assists in a 6-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Chandler Stephenson and Adam Larsson each had a goal and an assist as the Kraken picked up their fourth win in their last six games. Tage Thompson and Jason Zucker each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who’ve dropped three of their last four games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jiri Kulich returned to the Sabres lineup after missing the last two weeks with a lower-body injury.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid received a three-game suspension for cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid’s cross-check resulted from Garland pinning him to the ice for over 10 seconds late in the third period with no call from the on-ice officials. I don’t believe this suspension is justified.

However, McDavid should’ve received a suspension for his sneaky elbow to the head of Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson on Jan. 15, which went unpunished by the officials and the league. Johansson remains on injured reserve.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers received a three-game suspension for cross-checking Oilers blueliner Evan Bouchard. The incident occurred in the scrum following McDavid’s cross-check on Garland.

The Colorado Avalanche unveiled their Quarter-Century Team on Monday.

Goaltender Patrick Roy, defensemen Adam Foote and Cale Makar, and forwards Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Nathan MacKinnon comprised the First Team.

The Second Team featured forwards Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog and Milan Hejduk, defensemen Rob Blake and Erik Johnson, and goaltender Semyon Varlamov.

Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson, Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg, and Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak are the league’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 19, 2025.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Former NHL winger Marcel Bonin recently passed away at age 93. Bonin played 454 goals with the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens from 1952-53 to 1961-62, tallying 97 goals and 175 assists for 272 points. He also had 25 points in 50 playoff games, winning a Stanley Cup with Detroit (1954-55) and three more with the Canadiens between 1957-58 and 1959-60.

NHL.COM: Former NHL coach Tom McVie passed away at the age of 89. McVie was a long-time minor-league player from 1956-57 to 1973-74. He coached the Washington Capitals from 1975-76 to 1978-79, the Winnipeg Jets from the 1979 WHA playoffs through 1980-81, and the New Jersey Devils from 1990-91 to 1991-92.

McVie was an assistant coach with the Boston Bruins from 1992-93 to 1994-95. He spent the past 30 years as a Bruins ambassador.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to the families and friends of Bonin and McVie.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 17, 2025

by | Jan 17, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – January 17, 2025

Should the Blackhawks trade for Elias Pettersson or move out Seth Jones? What the latest on Mikko Rantanen, Ryan O’Reilly and John Klingberg? What’s going on with the Devils, Jets and Blues? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE BLACKHAWKS

THE ATHLETIC: Mark Lazerus believes the Chicago Blackhawks should do everything they can to acquire Elias Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks.

Lazerus noted the Blackhawks need to bring in help for young franchise star Connor Bedard. He believes the 26-year-old playmaking center could fit in well with the rebuilding ‘Hawks, suggesting they have the pieces to make a competitive trade offer to the Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks also have the cap space to absorb Pettersson’s contract with its $11.6 million annual average value through 2031-32. He’s the right age to play a long-term active role with their young players.

Pettersson’s no-movement clause begins on July 1. Whether the Blackhawks will take up Lazerus’ advice before then remains to be seen.

TSN: Darren Dreger reports teams are calling the Blackhawks about Seth Jones. The 30-year-old defenseman is signed through 2029-30 with an average annual value of $9.5 million and has a full no-movement clause.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones (NHL Images).

Dreger said Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson isn’t shopping Jones. Nevertheless, teams are inquiring about his availability.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Those teams likely want Davidson to retain half of that cap hit or to take back an expensive contract. Another option would be to involve a third team to spread the cap hit around. This could become an offseason move assuming Jones agrees to be traded.

CONTRACT TALKS STALLED BETWEEN THE AVALANCHE AND RANTANEN.

THE SCORE: Sean O’Leary cited Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reporting contract extension talks between the Colorado Avalanche and winger Mikko Rantanen have reached an impasse.

Seravalli claims the Rantanen camp seeks a contract in the range of the $14 million annual cap hit the Edmonton Oilers will be paying Leon Draisaitl starting next season. Avalanche management prefers the 28-year-old winger sign something close to teammate Nathan MacKinnon’s $12.6 million AAV.

The Avalanche have no interest in trading Rantanen if he’s not signed by the March 7 trade deadline. Contract talks are expected to resume following the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in early February.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers suggested the Avalanche might put Rantanen on the trade block before the deadline. This report should bring those rumors to an end. If the Avalanche hope to stage a Stanley Cup run this spring they need Rantanen in the lineup.

PREDATORS LISTENING ON O’REILLY BUT AREN’T SHOPPING HIM

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports the Nashville Predators aren’t actively shopping Ryan O’Reilly. The 33-year-old two-way center has two seasons left on his contract with an AAV of $4.5 million.

Given their placement in the standings, the Predators have no choice but to listen to trade proposals provided teams are wasting their time with low-ball offers. O’Reilly lacks no-trade protection but the Preds are treating him like he has a full no-movement clause, leaving the final decision up to him.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: “So, you’re saying there’s a chance…” Seriously, it’s unlikely anyone will come up with a suitable offer that will make O’Reilly agree to be traded, and the Predators seem fine about that. Still, stranger things have happened.

SEVERAL TEAMS INTERESTED IN KLINGBERG

THE ATHLETIC: Chris Johnston reports the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Dallas Stars are among several teams interested in John Klingberg. The 32-year-old defenseman is attempting to resume his NHL career after undergoing a hip resurfacing procedure in December 2023.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Nick Barden cites TSN’s Bob McKenzie reporting a decision about Klingberg could come within the next two days. He said the Oilers, Stars and Leafs are very much in the mix.

TORONTO STAR: Nick Kypreos believes it’s a long shot the Leafs will gamble again on Klingberg. It would cost them a roster spot and Kypreos doesn’t see them moving Klingberg ahead of Philippe Myers or Conor Timmins. He thinks the Oilers have a more pressing need for him.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reports the Oilers are kicking tires on Klingberg. He speculates the cost of signing the blueliner would be a one-year, prorated deal worth $800K. Matheson believes the Stars need a puck-moving rearguard like Klingberg more than the Oilers, who need another physical Mattias Ekholm-type defender.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Klingberg began his NHL career with the Stars and spent his best seasons with them. They have limited cap space right now which would make him an affordable fit. However, they’re expected to spend big in the trade market when they place Tyler Seguin and his $9.85 million AAV on long-term injury reserve.

DEVILS INTERESTED IN A CENTER

THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald would like to add a center to his roster before the March 7 trade deadline. He wouldn’t reveal which players he’s targeting but he will be assessing his options. LeBrun noted that Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly, Seattle’s Yanni Gourde and Philadelphia’s Scott Laughton (who’s played mostly on the wing this season) are among the notable names in the rumor mill.

UPDATES ON THE JETS AND BLUES

Darren Dreger speculates the Winnipeg Jets might not need to go shopping for a center before the March 7 trade deadline. They like what they’ve seen of captain Adam Lowry filling in for sidelined Vladislav Namestnikov as a second-line center. They could have the flexibility to pursue the best forward available if they stay healthy.

Dreger reports that St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong has told his players that he expects a better effort from them this month. He’s not making threats but has let them know he could shake things up if things don’t improve soon. The Blues are currently battling for a wild-card spot in the Western Conference.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 17, 2025

by | Jan 17, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 17, 2025

Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner and Victor Hedman reach notable offensive milestones. Read on for the details and much more from a busy Thursday in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored the only goal in a 1-0 overtime victory over the Ottawa Senators. Goaltender Logan Thompson made 25 saves for his second straight shutout victory as the Capitals picked up their third straight win to take over first place in the overall standings with 65 points. Leevi Merilainen stopped 26 shots for the Senators (48 points) as their three-game win streak ended, leaving them one point behind the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin has 874 NHL regular-season goals, leaving him 21 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894. Merilainen became the 179th NHL goalie that Ovechkin has scored against, breaking Jaromir Jagr’s record of 178. Meanwhile, Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot missed this game as he’s day-to-day after taking a puck to the face during Tuesday’s 2-0 win over the New York Islanders.

The Edmonton Oilers overcame a 3-0 deficit with four unanswered goals to nip the Colorado Avalanche 4-3. Oilers captain Connor McDavid tied the game with his 20th goal of the season and Evan Bouchard tallied the game-winner as the Oilers moved into a tie with the first-place Vegas Golden Knights (61 points) in the Pacific Division. Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals for the Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid became the sixth player in Oilers history to reach the 20-goal plateau nine times, joining Glenn Anderson, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier (10 times), Leon Draisaitl and Wayne Gretzky (nine times). The Oilers sit second in the Pacific because the Golden Knights hold a game in hand.

Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard returned to the lineup after missing three games with an upper-body injury.

An overtime goal by William Nylander lifted the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Auston Matthews tallied twice and Mitch Marner had two assists for the Leafs, who sit first in the Atlantic Division with 58 points. Nico Hischier scored two goals and Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist for the Devils to extend their points streak to four games (1-0-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner became the fastest player to reach 700 points in Leafs history, reaching that milestone in 622 games, breaking Darryl Sittler’s record of 666. Leafs center John Tavares missed this game as he’s week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jake McCabe had two assists in his return from a four-game absence with an upper-body injury.

The Tampa Bay Lightning got a shootout goal from Jake Guentzel to down the Anaheim Ducks 4-3. Guentzel also scored in regulation while netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 34 shots for the Lightning. Troy Terry scored the tying goal in the third period and Lukas Dostal made 32 saves as the Ducks have one win in their last six contests (1-3-2).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman collected an assist to become the first player in franchise history to reach the 600-assist milestone. Lighting blueliner Erik Cernak left this game in the first period with an undisclosed injury.

Winnipeg Jets blueliner Dylan DeMelo scored with 27 seconds remaining in the third period to beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1. Mark Scheifele tied the game with his 27th goal of the season as the Jets are tied with the league-leading Capitals with 65 points. Matty Beniers scored for the Kraken, who’ve won twice in their last eight games (2-5-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeMelo was playing in his 600th NHL regular-season game. The Capitals hold first over the Jets with a game in hand.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski collected an assist to extend his home points streak to 18 games in a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. James van Riemsdyk scored twice as the Blue Jackets (50 points) have won six straight and vaulted over the Boston Bruins in the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Tyler Toffoli replied for the Sharks, who’ve dropped four of their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Considering everything the Blue Jackets have endured since last year (management and coaching changes, trading Patrik Laine, the sudden death of Johnny Gaudreau, and injuries to Boone Jenner, Erik Gudbranson and Sean Monahan), their surge into a playoff berth has been impressive. Even general manager Don Waddell is surprised by their performance in recent weeks.

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Dallas Stars 3-1 to extend their points streak to six games (5-0-1). Jakub Dobes made 32 stops to pick up their fourth straight win in as many starts while Juraj Slafkovsky, Alex Newhook and Joel Armia scored for the Canadiens (48 points) as they also sit one point out of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Jason Robertson scored for Dallas, who sit third in the Central Division with 57 points. The Stars played without Roope Hintz, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Stars also unveiled their Quarter-Century Team on Thursday.

The First Team comprises forwards Mike Modano, Jamie Benn and Jere Lehtinen, defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Sergei Zubov, and goaltender Marty Turco. The Second Team comprised forwards Joe Pavelski, Tyler Seguin and Brenden Morrow, defensemen John Klingberg and Esa Lindell, and goaltender Ed Belfour.

Detroit Red Wings goalie Cam Talbot kicked out 41 shots (including 23 in the third period) in a 5-2 upset of the Florida Panthers. Dylan Larkin tallied twice and collected an assist while Lucas Raymond had two helpers as the Red Wings sit three points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth with 46 points. Anton Lundell and Evan Rodrigues scored for the Panthers, who pulled goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in the second period after he gave up four goals on 15 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov received a notable honor from his home country of Finland. It was announced that the Finnish Association of Sports Journalists named Barkov its Sportsman of the Year for 2024, making him the first hockey player to receive that award.

The Los Angeles Kings thumped the Vancouver Canucks 5-1. Alex Turcotte scored twice and set up another as the Kings took over third place in the Pacific Division with 55 points, ending a two-game losing skid. Filip Hronek scored for the Canucks, who have two wins in their last 10 games (2-5-3).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet wasn’t pleased with the performance of center J.T. Miller. “He’s struggling. He’s caught in between,” he said in his postgame interview. “You know, it seems like every time he’s on the ice, something bad happens.” Miller’s been the subject of trade rumors amid reports of a rift with center Elias Pettersson.

Three unanswered third-period goals by Reilly Smith, Chris Kreider and Artemin Panarin gave the New York Rangers a 5-3 victory over the Utah Hockey Club. Panarin finished with two goals as the Rangers extended their points streak to six games (4-0-2) to sit four points behind the Bruins for the final Eastern wild-card spot. Matias Maccelli tallied twice for Utah, extending their losing skid to three games.

St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn scored twice and Dylan Holloway picked up two assists to douse the Calgary Flames 4-1. The Blues swept the two-game series and are 7-3-0 in their last 10. Yegor Sherangovich replied for the Flames, who hold a one-point lead over the Blues and Canucks for the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

The Philadelphia Flyers held off the New York Islanders 5-3. Sean Couturier had a goal and an assist while Travis Konecny had three assists for the Flyers, extending their points streak to four games (3-0-1) and sitting within three points of the final Eastern wild-card spot. Islanders captain Anders Lee scored his 20th of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers center Ryan Poehling left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury following a hard hit from Islanders winger Maxim Tsyplakov.

Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg scored his 300th NHL regular-season goal in a 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Forsberg also extended his goal streak to four games while teammate Steven Stamkos scored the winner in the shootout. Connor Bedard scored and Tyler Bertuzzi had two assists for the Blackhawks.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 10, 2025

by | Jan 10, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 10, 2025

Sidney Crosby moves up the all-time points leader list as the Penguins reveal their Quarter-Century Team, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski extends his home points streak, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby scored a goal and picked up two assists to move into ninth on the NHL all-time points list, leading his club over the Edmonton Oilers 5-3. Bryan Rust also had a goal and two assists and Alex Nedeljkovic kicked out 40 shots as the Penguins snapped a four-game winless skid (0-3-1). Leon Draisaitl tallied twice and Connor McDavid collected three assists as the Oilers’ win streak ended at four games.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby has 1,643 career regular-season points, surpassing Hall-of-Famer Joe Sakic (1,641). He’s 80 points behind Penguins legend Mario Lemieux (1,723).

Crosby is also part of the Penguins’ First Team as they revealed their Quarter-Century Team, joining forwards Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel, defensemen Kris Letang and Sergei Gonchar, and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Lemieux was on the Second Team with forwards Phil Kessel and Chris Kunitz, defensemen Brooks Orpik and Brian Dumoulin, and goaltender Matt Murray.

Some might be surprised to see Lemieux on the Second Team. That’s because his greatest seasons were between 1984-85 and 1996-97 before he retired for the first time. He’d be on the First Team of the Penguins’ All-Time Greatest Team.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski extended his home points streak to 16 games with a goal and an assist in a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Rookies Denton Mateychuk and Luca Del Bel Belluz also had a goal and an assist each as the Blue Jackets hold the final Eastern wild-card berth with 44 points. Eeli Tolvanen scored both Kraken goals as they’re winless in four games (0-3-1).

A hat trick by captain Jordan Staal carried the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, snapping the latter’s five-game win streak. Jordan Martinook collected three assists and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 30 shots for the Hurricanes. Nick Robertson, William Nylander and Auston Matthews scored for the Leafs.

The Dallas Stars picked up their sixth straight win with a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Jason Robertson had two assists and Casey DeSmith made 27 saves as the Stars sit third in the Central Division with 53 points. Morgan Frost scored for the Flyers as they’re 0-3-1 in their last four contests.

A 30-save shutout from Ilya Sorokin allowed the New York Islanders to upset the league-leading Vegas Golden Knights 4-0. Brock Nelson scored and added an assist while Isles captain Anders Lee scored in his 800th NHL game. The loss snapped the Golden Knights’ three-game win streak, leaving them one point ahead of the Winnipeg Jets with 59 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sorokin became the third goaltender in Islanders history to reach the 20-shutout plateau, joining Glenn Resch (25) and Billy Smith (22). It shouldn’t take long before he surpasses those two.

Colorado Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen each had a goal and an assist in a 6-1 drubbing of the Minnesota Wild. Logan O’Connor also had a goal and an assist for the Avalanche. Zach Bogosian tallied the Wild’s only goal as their four-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild were without several key players as Kirill Kaprizov, Jared Spurgeon, Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin are sidelined by injuries.

An overtime goal by Sam Carrick (the first of his NHL career) lifted the New York Rangers over the New Jersey Devils 3-2. Igor Shesterkin made 21 saves as he returned from a four-game absence due to injury while Adam Fox had a goal and an assist for the Rangers. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt scored for the Devils, who’ve dropped five of their last six.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers also got some positive news about Filip Chytil. The upper-body injury he suffered on Tuesday against the Stars might not be as serious as originally feared. Chytil skipped practice on Wednesday but participated in the club’s optional skate on Thursday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning downed the Boston Bruins 4-1, handing the latter their sixth straight defeat. Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 11 of his 27 saves in the third period. Empty-net goals by Brandon Hagel and Brayden Point clinched the victory for the Lightning. Mason Lohrei scored for the Bruins.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves in a 4-0 blanking of the Ottawa Senators. Jack Quinn scored two goals and Ryan McLeod had a goal and two assists for the Sabres. The Senators have dropped six of their last seven games (1-5-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators fans booed their team off the ice following this contest. Before their current slump, they held the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with a record of 18-13-2 (38 points). They’re currently three points out of that spot with a record of 19-18-3.

The Senators also lost winger Noah Gregor, who left the game with a lower-body injury.

Four straight first-period goals powered the St. Louis Blues to a 6-2 romp over the Anaheim Ducks, ending a two-game losing skid. Robert Thomas scored twice while Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich each had a goal and an assist for the Blues. Ducks goalie John Gibson replaced Lukas Dostal early in the second period after the latter gave up six goals on 22 shots.

IN OTHER NEWS…

TSN: Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine remains sidelined with flu-like symptoms. His last game was on Dec. 31.

DETROIT FREE PRESS: Red Wings goaltender Alex Lyon is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Nashville Predators forward Luke Evangelista will be sidelined for four weeks with a lower-body injury.

DAILY FACEOFF: Utah Hockey Club recalled goaltender Connor Ingram from his two-week conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate in Tucson.

ESPN.COM: As Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin chases Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, Greg Wyshynski profiled Mike Knuble, the only NHL player to be a teammate of both men.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 4, 2025

by | Jan 4, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 4, 2025

A big night for Blues winger Brandon Saad, Oilers star Leon Draisaitl extends his points streak, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: St. Louis Blues winger Brandon Saad tallied a natural hat trick as his club blanked the Ottawa Senators 4-0. Goaltender Jordan Binnington turned in a 20-save shutout for the Blues (42 points), who’ve won four of their last five to move within two points of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. The Senators (40 points) have dropped four of their last five but still cling to the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

St. Louis Blues winger Brandon Saad (NHL Images).

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl extended his point streak to 13 games by scoring the winning goal with 1:35 remaining in the third period in a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse had a goal and an assist. Brett Leason and Jackson LaCombe replied for the Ducks as their three-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Draisaitl leads the league with 28 goals. Oilers captain Connor McDavid saw his 12-game points streak end.

The Nashville Predators got a 27-save shutout by Juuse Saros to end a three-game losing skid by downing the Vancouver Canucks 3-0. Steven Stamkos, Gustav Nyquist and Colton Sissons were the goal scorers, with the last two being empty-net goals. Canucks netminder Kevin Lankinen stopped 16 of 17 shots as his club has lost three of their last four (1-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vancouver starter Thatcher Demko missed this game due to back spasms, forcing them to recall goalie Arturs Silovs on an emergency basis. The Canucks (44 points) hold a one-point lead over the Calgary Flames for the final Western wild-card spot.

Shootout goals by Sam Reinhart and Anton Lundell lifted the Florida Panthers to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Gustav Forsling and Matthew Tkachuk scored in regulation while Spencer Knight made 29 saves for the Panthers. Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell replied for the Penguins, who are tied with the Senators with 40 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators hold the final Eastern wild-card berth with two games in hand and two more victories (19 to 17) than Pittsburgh. Penguins forward Philip Tomasino left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury.

The Chicago Blackhawks snapped a five-game losing skid by doubling up the Montreal Canadiens 4-2, ending the latter’s three-game win streak. Arvid Soderblom kicked out 38 shots and Nick Foligno tallied two goals for the Blackhawks. Canadiens winger Cole Caufield netted his 20th of the season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens were the dominant team for most of this contest but Soderblom was outstanding and Foligno was clutch for the Blackhawks. Pat Maroon lost a scrap with Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj in the first period but got the last laugh in the third with the game-winning goal.

The Blackhawks called up Colton Dach for this game. It was the first time he and his brother (Canadiens forward Kirby Dach) faced each other in NHL action.

HEADLINES

RG.ORG: Philadelphia Flyers rookie winger Matvei Michkov admits he’s still learning to adapt mentally and physically to the grind of his first NHL season. He said his English is improving and he is learning a lot from head coach John Tortorella despite the language barrier.

Michkov indicated he has a good relationship with his rival, Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard. “He’s a good player and a good guy,” said the Flyers winger. “It’s exciting to watch players like him.”

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton was fined $2,000.00 for embellishment by the department of player safety. The incident occurred during a game against the New York Rangers on Dec. 23.

THE SCORE: The Colorado Avalanche hope goaltender Scott Wedgewood will only be sidelined for a couple of weeks. He suffered a lower-body injury on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Wedgewood is still being evaluated.

SPORTSNET: Winnipeg Jets center Mason Appleton (lower body) was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 28.

NBC SPORTS BOSTON: The Bruins signed forward Mark Kastelic to a three-year contract extension. The average annual salary is $1.567 million.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs signed defenseman Phillipe Myers to a two-year deal worth $850K per season.

SPORTS MEDIA WATCH: Tuesday’s NHL Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Blues at Chicago’s Wrigley Field averaged 920,000 viewers, the smallest TV audience in the annual outdoor game’s history.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The game involved two opponents not considered among this season’s elite teams. The Blackhawks are rebuilding while the Blues are battling for a wild-card spot. It was a lopsided affair with the Blues winning 6-2.

The league also staged this game on New Year’s Eve rather than New Year’s Day as it used to and did a poor job publicizing the event.

NHL.COM: Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk and Hall-of-Fame goaltender Roberto Luongo highlighted the Florida Panthers’ Quarter-Century Team.

Joining Barkov, Tkachuk and Luongo on the First Team are winger Jonathan Huberdeau and defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling.

Hall-of-Fame winger Pavel Bure joined forwards Sam Reinhart and Olli Jokinen, defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Robert Svehla and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on the Second Team.