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 – December 3, 2024

by | Dec 3, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 3, 2024

Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week are revealed, and the latest on Alex Ovechkin, Jeff Skinner, Patrik Laine and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt had a goal and three assists in a 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers, handing the latter their sixth loss in their last seven games. Jack Hughes scored twice and picked up an assist while Jacob Markstrom kicked out 38 shots as the Devils (17-9-2) moved into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with 36 points. Rangers winger Chris Kreider tallied his 10th goal of the season.

New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin lost his fifth straight game for the first time in his career. Teammate Brett Berard missed this game with an upper-body injury.

The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. Auston Matthews scored his first goal since returning from a nine-game absence with an undisclosed injury while teammate Mitch Marner collected two assists in his 600th NHL regular-season game. Lukas Reichel replied for the Blackhawks, who remain last in the overall standings with 18 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have won nine of their last 11 games (15-7-2) and took over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with 32 points.

Dallas Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith stopped 34 shots for a 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Evgenii Dadonov and Jamie Benn scored for the Stars as they picked up their third straight win. Nick Schmaltz scored for Utah.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game began, the Stars announced forward Tyler Seguin (lower body) was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 1.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, and Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun were the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 1.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini was also the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November 2024.

TSN: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skated by himself before his club’s practice on Monday as he works his way back from a broken left fibula suffered on Nov. 18. He’s expected to return to action by late December or early January.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Jeff Skinner was fined $2,000.00 by the league’s department of player safety for embellishment during a recent game against the New York Rangers.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens sent winger Joshua Roy back to their AHL affiliate in Laval, which suggests Patrik Laine’s season debut could be imminent. The 26-year-old left winger has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during preseason play.

TSN: The Florida Panthers recalled goaltender Chris Driedger as starter Sergei Bobrovsky will miss their two-game road trip to be with his wife, who is expecting a baby.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes signed goaltender Dustin Tokarski to a one-year, two-way contract. He was immediately placed on waivers for assignment to the AHL.

ROTOWIRE: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Oliver Kylington is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury. They also placed forward Ross Colton (lower body) on long-term injury reserve but he could return to action at some point during the Avalanche’s upcoming five-game road trip.

SPORTSNET: The Calgary Flames placed forward Justin Kirkland (lower body) on injured reserve.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings called up goaltender Sebastian Cossa on an emergency basis with regular netminders Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon sidelined by lower-body injuries.

SPORTSNET: Canada released its camp roster for the upcoming 2025 World Junior Championship. Notable omissions include Ottawa Senators prospect Carter Yakemchuk, Utah Hockey Club’s Tij Iginla, and Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke was also passed over. Four of the top nine picks in the 2024 NHL Draft were not selected for Canada’s roster.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 2, 2024

by | Dec 2, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 2, 2024

A record-setting game for two Canucks, the Bruins win their Centennial Game, the three stars of the month and Rookie of the Month are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: A hat-trick performance by Jake DeBrusk lifted the Vancouver Canucks to a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. DeBrusk scored in overtime to complete the hat trick and also collected an assist.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).

Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson each had three assists, with Hughes collecting his 311th career assist to break the previous franchise record (310) for defensemen held by Alex Edler. Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen made 27 saves to become the first netminder in league history to start the season with a 10-0-0 record on the road.

Detroit forwards Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin and Marco Kasper each had two assists. Red Wings goalie Cam Talbot left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Meanwhile, in Vancouver, Canucks fans are keeping J.T. Miller in their thoughts, chanting his name during WWE’s Survivor Series at Rogers Arena. Miller has been on an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons since Nov. 19.

The Boston Bruins celebrated their 100th anniversary by thumping the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 in their Centennial Game. Bruins winger David Pastrnak scored in his 700th regular-season NHL game while teammates Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle each tallied two goals. Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored twice and sits third among NHL goalscorers with 16.

Dallas Stars winger Mason Marchment’s backhand goal broke a 1-1 tie as his club defeated the Winnipeg Jets 6-3, handing the latter their third straight loss. Wyatt Johnston and Roope Hintz also scored and Jake Oettinger stopped 26 shots for the Stars. Adam Lowry scored for the Jets (36 points), who slipped into second place in the overall standings behind the Minnesota Wild (36 points) based on games played and win percentage.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets have cooled considerably following a red-hot start that saw them win 17 of their first 20 games, dropping four of their last five games. Winger Nikolaj Ehlers missed this game with a lower-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3. Sean Monahan led the way with a goal and an assist and Zach Werenski had two helpers to extend his points streak to eight games. Blackhawks center Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets (11-9-3, 25 points) extended their points streak to six games (5-0-1) and sit two points out of the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

Shootout goals by Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras gave the Anaheim Ducks a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. Terry had three assists in regulation and Frank Vatrano tallied twice and collected an assist for the Ducks. Senators captain Brady Tkachuk scored two goals as his club has dropped seven of their last nine contests (2-5-2).

IN OTHER NEWS…

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas, Colorado Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen, and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck are the league’s three stars for November 2024.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini was named Rookie of the Month for November 2024.

ESPN.COM: Colorado Avalanche forward Miles Wood is considered month-to-month with an upper-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wood had already missed seven games earlier in the season with an upper-body injury.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 5, 2024

by | Nov 5, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – November 5, 2024

Shutout victories for the Devils and Kings, the three stars of the week are announced, and the latest on Connor McDavid, David Pastrnak, Connor Hellebuyck, Macklin Celebrini and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen made 31 saves to shut out the Edmonton Oilers 3-0. Stefan Noesen, Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier were the goal scorers as the Devils have won three of their last four games. Bratt also collected an assist to finish the night with two points.

New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers got some good news earlier in the day when captain Connor McDavid took part in an optional skate. McDavid was expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks with an ankle injury suffered last Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, he indicated he might be ready to return to action this Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.

Allen is closing in on a personal milestone. He needs two more victories to reach the 200-win plateau.

The Los Angeles Kings got a goal and an assist from Adrian Kempe and 16 saves from Darcy Kuemper to blank the Nashville Predators 3-0, handing the latter their third defeat in their last four games. Anze Kopitar and Kevin Fiala also scored for the Kings.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas, and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby were the league’s three stars for the week ending Nov. 3.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins winger David Pastrnak downplayed his third-period benching during his club’s 2-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. “I’ve got to be better, and I take full responsibility,” he told reporters on Monday. “I’m just moving on. Yesterday was yesterday, and I never looked back. I just came in today and worked on my game.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak leads the Bruins in scoring with six goals and 11 points in 13 games but was held scoreless in five games and has been inconsistent in other areas of his play.

Speaking of the Bruins, they signed Tyler Johnson to a one-year, $775K contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The 34-year-old forward joined the Bruins in training camp on a professional tryout offer but had to wait a month until the club accrued sufficient cap space to sign him. He spent the interim participating in practices with the Bruins.

WINNIPEG SUN: Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is getting weary in his efforts to get more clarity from the league regarding goalie interference rules. “If it’s not going to get anywhere, I might have to move on to the next guy, pass it on. I’ve tried to help, I’ve tried to make it more black and white.”

Hellebuyck’s comments come after the Jets’ 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. Lightning forward Conor Geekie shoved Hellebuyck’s pad out of the way, allowing teammate Brandon Hagel to score. The Jets raised a coach’s challenge claiming goalie interference but the call on the ice stood.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hellebucyk is understandably tired of banging his head against this brick wall. The maddening inconsistency regarding what constitutes goalie interference is part of the ongoing decline of NHL officiating.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini is expected to return to action on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 18-year-old center has been sidelined since opening night after re-aggravating a hip injury he’d been nursing since training camp.

Speaking of the Sharks, forward Ty Dellandrea is also expected to be good to go for Tuesday’s game against Columbus. He’s been sidelined by an injured hand since late October.

NHL.COM: Valeri Nichuskin has been cleared to return to practice with the Colorado Avalanche. The 29-year-old winger will return to action on Nov. 15 against the Washington Capitals.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nichushkin is completing a six-month suspension as part of Phase 3 of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reports Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (knee injury) is “in the last stages of hurdles that need to be cleared before he can return to practice. There’s still no timetable for his return but Dhaliwal indicates he made “very good progress.”

STLTODAY.COM: Blues defenseman Philip Broberg will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a lower-body injury (right leg).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Broberg was on a tear to start the season with nine points in 12 games, sitting second among Blues scorers.

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: The Penguins face a decision regarding their goaltending with Tristan Jarry’s two-week AHL conditioning stint ending on Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jarry is expected to return to the Penguins with Alex Nedeljkovic as his backup. Promising netminder Joel Blomqvist is waiver-exempt and will likely be returned to their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers swapped minor-leaguers on Monday with defenseman Ronnie Attard heading to Edmonton in exchange for blueliner Ben Gleason.

 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2024

by | Oct 22, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 22, 2024

The Leafs down the Lightning, the latest on Panthers center Anton Lundell and Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, and injury updates on Anthony Duclair, Alexis Lafreniere and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 in the only NHL game on Monday. William Nylander scored twice and collected an assist, Auston Matthews scored for the third straight game and Anthony Stolarz made 32 saves for the Leafs. Nick Paul and Brayden Point replied for the Lightning, who pulled goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy after he gave up four goals on 14 shots.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: George Richards reports Panthers center Anton Lundell is gaining more recognition for his two-way play. He’s performed well filling in for sidelined captain Aleksander Barkov on the Panthers’ first-line centering Sam Reinhart and Eetu Luostarinen.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lundell started drawing attention around the league during the Panthers’ run to the Stanley Cup last spring, earning the nickname “Baby Barkov”. The 23-year-old is off to a hot start this season, sitting second in team scoring with eight points in seven games.

Lundell will move out of that first-line role when Barkov returns but he’s shown that he can handle top-line minutes when required.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Lane Hutson is settling in well with the Canadiens. The 20-year-old defenseman has four assists in his first six games while averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game, including over 30 minutes during the Canadiens’ 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson began this season among the favorites to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. It remains to be seen how the rest of his season pans out but he’s off to a good start, drawing positive reviews from his coaches, teammates and Canadiens fans for his creativity and puck-possession skills.

NEW YORK POST: Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said winger Anthony Duclair will be sidelined for a while. He injured his right leg during Saturday’s game against the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lamoriello also said the injury won’t end Duclair’s season. Nevertheless, his absence will deplete the Isles’ popgun offense.

Rangers winger Alexis Lafreniere missed practice on Monday with an upper-body injury but skated on his own after the session ended. He’s listed as day-to-day and isn’t expected to miss much time.

SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks GM Mike Grier said Macklin Celebrini is expected to be out for at least two more weeks as he recovers from a hip injury. The 18-year-old rookie center suffered the injury during training camp but played in the Sharks’ season opener on Oct. 10.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Grier indicated that Celebrini’s injury was an off-and-on issue, adding the youngster claimed he felt great in the lead-up to their season opener.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Kraken placed defenseman Vince Dunn (upper body) on long-term injury reserve retroactive to Oct. 17. The earliest he can return to action is Nov. 12.

OTTAWA SUN: Goaltender Linus Ullmark (strain) and center Ridly Greig (upper-body injury) are expected to return to action in Tuesday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils sent defenseman Seamus Casey to their AHL affiliate in Utica after eight games. Head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated the return of sidelined defensemen Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce is imminent.

DAILY FACEOFF: Vegas Golden Knights winger Victor Olofsson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury suffered during last Tuesday’s game against the Washington Capitals.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Ryan Kennedy reports a source told him the next NHL collective bargaining agreement could include a rule permitting AHL eligibility for 19-year-old Canadian Hockey League (CHL) players.

Under the current CBA, CHL-eligible players must be 20 years old by Dec. 31 of the select calendar year or have played four years of Junior A hockey to become eligible for pro hockey in the AHL. Unless 18- and 19-year-old players play more than nine NHL games, they must return to their CHL team, which retains their rights until age 20.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 19, 2024

by | Oct 19, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – October 19, 2024

Three Jets have four-point performances against the Sharks, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Cole Perfetti, Neal Pionk, and Vladislav Namestnikov each collected four points to lead the Winnipeg Jets over the San Jose Sharks 8-3. Perfetti had two goals and two assists while Pionk and Namestnikov each had a goal and three assists. Jets winger Nikolai Ehlers also scored two goals and picked up an assist. Tyler Toffoli had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who are winless in their first five games (0-3-2).

Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets (4-0-0) are among three teams still unbeaten this season, joining the 4-0-0 Calgary Flames and 3-0-0 Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Sharks could also be without sidelined rookie Macklin Celebrini (hip injury) longer than expected. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported Friday that the 18-year-old center could be out for another couple of weeks.

An overtime goal by Nathan MacKinnon lifted the Colorado Avalanche to their first win of the season with a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. MacKinnon’s goal came after Ducks winger Troy Terry tied the game with 13 seconds left in the third period. Mikko Rantanen collected three assists and Ross Colton tallied twice for the Avalanche. Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal kicked out 45 shots.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Ducks announced forward Isac Lundestrom is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

The Carolina Hurricanes scored four straight goals, including two on the power play, to down the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1. Frederik Anderson made 25 saves while Martin Necas and Jesperi Kotkaniemi each had two points for the Hurricanes. Joel Blomqvist stopped 35 shots and Drew O’Connor scored for the Penguins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and center Lars Eller ripped their team’s performance following this game. “They worked harder than us, and they got rewarded for it,” said Letang. “There were so many things that needed to be better,” Eller said. “The attitude, the energy, the execution.”

HEADLINES

OTTAWA SUN: Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (lower-body strain) said he felt better yesterday following practice. However, it remained uncertain if he’ll return to action against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Ullmark’s last game was a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens last Saturday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates Ullmark and the Senators are being careful to avoid aggravating that injury. It’s best to ensure he’s 100 percent given how much they rely on him this season.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens defensemen Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle are day-to-day with upper-body injuries, forcing the Habs to recall Logan Mailloux from their AHL affiliate in Laval. Meanwhile, winger Juraj Slafkovsky suffered an apparent shoulder injury during practice on Friday and is questionable for Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders.

THE SCORE: Utah Hockey Club head coach Andre Tourigny said defenseman John Marino will be sidelined for months with an upper-body injury. He was acquired in June from the New Jersey Devils but his injury has prevented him from joining his new teammates.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Adam Kierszenblat believes the absence of Dakota Joshua is a key factor behind the Vancouver Canucks’ slow start. The 28-year-old energy forward is still recovering from offseason surgery for testicular cancer.

DAILY FACEOFF: Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Motte is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

RG.ORG: NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly believes the best Russian hockey players still want to play in the NHL.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 the country has been banned from participating in International Ice Hockey Federation tournaments. The NHL also suspended its transfer agreement with the KHL.

That’s led to speculation NHL teams could attempt to cut side deals for unofficial transfers of Russian prospects from the KHL to the NHL. Daly denies this, saying the top Russian talent wants to come to the NHL because it’s the elite league for the world’s best players. That includes players buying their way out of KHL contracts.

There’s also been conjecture suggesting some KHL clubs are limiting the playing time of young NHL prospects like SKA St. Petersburg winger Ivan Demidov, a top prospect of the Montreal Canadiens. His coach disputes the accusation, saying ice time for young players is based on merit.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: KHL teams tend to limit the ice time of promising young players until they’re better established. Philadelphia Flyers fans were concerned early last season over the playing time of winger Matvei Michkov before St. Petersburg loaned him to HK Sochi.