NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 5, 2018

The Washington Capitals within one game of winning the Stanley Cup. Details and more in your NHL morning coffee headlines. 

NHL.COM: Evgeny Kuznetsov collected four assists and T.J. Oshie had a goal and two assists to lead the Washington Capitals to a 6-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby had another solid outing with 28 saves. James Neal and Reilly Smith tallied for the Golden Knights. Game 5 goes Thursday in Las Vegas with the Capitals holding a 3-1 series lead. 

Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov collected four assists in his club’s 6-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights didn’t lack for quality scoring chances, especially early in the first period. The game seemed to turn after Neal, with an open net, clanked a shot off the post. The Capitals struck for three goals in the first and entered the third period with a 4-0 lead. The Golden Knights did make it interesting in the third by cutting the lead to 4-2 before the Capitals put the game away. Washington’s special-team play made the difference, going three-for-five on the power play and killing off four penalties. 

LE JOURNAL DE MONTREAL: cites TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie reporting contract negotiations have not started yet between the Montreal Canadiens and captain Max Pacioretty, who is a year away from unrestricted free agent status. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: TSN’s Darren Dreger last week reported the two sides had engaged in preliminary discussions regarding a contract extension. 

TRIBLIVE.COM: Player agent Allan Walsh shot down speculation his client, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Dominik Simon, might play in the KHL next season if unable to reach agreement on a new contract with the Penguins. Walsh maintains Simon’s priority is playing in the NHL. 

SPORTSNET: Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee has pleaded not guilty to sexual harassment allegations in Buffalo. 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Former NHL defenseman James Wisniewski was hospitalized last Friday with broken ribs following a single-car accident outside Columbus. PGA golfer Bud Cauley was also seriously injured. Both men are reportedly in stable condition. 

VANCOUVER SUN: It’s been 10 years (May 29) since Canucks defenseman Luc Bourdon was killed in a motorcycle crash in New Brunswick. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Has it really been that long ago? It only seems like a year or two since Bourdon’s tragic passing. Such a shame that a young man with a promising future in the NHL had his life cut short. 

TSN: NHL referee and amateur golfer Garrett Rank has qualified for the U.S. Open.