NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2019

by | Feb 5, 2019

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 5, 2019

Game recaps, Flyers reach a notable milestone, stars of the week, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines. 

NHL.COM: The Philadelphia Flyers became the second-fastest team in NHL history to reach 2,000 wins by downing the Vancouver Canucks 2-1. Flyers goalie Carter Hart made 41 saves to give his club their eighth straight win, moving them within five points of a wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler suffered a head injury during a 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers (Photo via NHL Images).

Canucks defenseman Alex Edler left the game after falling awkwardly and striking his face on the ice. Edler was sent to a hospital for a CT scan on his face and head. Goalie Thatcher Demko also suffered a leg injury during pregame warmups, while Sven Baertschi was sent back to Vancouver earlier in the day for tests potentially related to a concussion suffered five weeks ago.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Losing Edler for a significant period would be a devastating blow to the Canucks’ playoff hopes. Meanwhile, the Flyers are clawing their way back into the playoff chase after being given up for dead a month ago. 

Jake Muzzin collected his first points (one goal, two assists) with the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 6-1 drubbing of the Anaheim Ducks, handing the latter their fourth straight loss. Leafs forward Andreas Johnsson scored twice and set up two others. Ryan Kesler returned to the Ducks lineup after being sidelined for five games. 

Tyler Toffoli scored in overtime as the Los Angeles Kings edged the New York Rangers 4-3. Adrian Kempe scored two goals for the Kings while Mike Zibanejad set a Rangers’ record with a point in 10 straight team goals. 

A four-goal third-period enabled the Dallas Stars to squeak by the Arizona Coyotes 5-4 and pick up their fifth straight win. Tyler Seguin tallied the game-winner. Oliver Ekman-Larsson set a franchise record for Coyotes defenseman by scoring his 109th career goal. Stars forward Brett Ritchie was ejected from the game for a dangerous hit on Coyotes blueliner Alex Goligoski, forcing the latter from the game. 

Winnipeg Jets forward Jack Roslovic, Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart, and New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Feb. 3.

MONTREAL GAZETTE: Canadiens forward Paul Byron could be sidelined for weeks with an injured left forearm. 

TSN: Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andrei Sekera has been assigned to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors on a two-week conditioning stint. 

NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON: The Capitals yesterday announced the re-signing of backup goalie Pheonix Copley to a three-year, $3.3-million contract extension. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 23, 2018

by | Dec 23, 2018

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 23, 2018

Game recaps, injury updates, Sabres play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret hospitalized, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron’s four-point performance (including two goals) gave his club a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators, handing the latter their 10th straight road defeat. It was Bergeron’s first game since being sidelined by a rib injury on Nov. 16. One of his goals was the 300th of his NHL careers. Linemates Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak each had a goal and two assists.

Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron made a triumphant return to action with a four-point performance in a 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators (Photo via NHL Images)

Los Angeles Kings winger Ilya Kovalchuk scored twice, including the winner in overtime, to give his club a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. It was Kovalchuk’s first game since undergoing ankle surgery on Dec. 1. Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson faces a hearing with the league’s department of player safety over an illegal hit to the head of the Kings’ Austin Wagner, knocking the latter from the game.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Karlsson doesn’t have a history of this sort of thing. While the hit on Wagner wasn’t malicious, Karlsson could be fined or suspended a game or two.

Nikita Kucherov had a five-point performance (one goal, four assists) as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-3. With the win, the Lightning extended their points streak to 12 games (11-0-1). Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson both scored twice for the Bolts. Oilers captain Connor McDavid assisted on all of his club’s goals.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark made 40 saves to blank the Anaheim Ducks 3-0. The win was overshadowed by the news of long-time Sabres play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret being stretchered from the press box during the third period and hospitalized after feeling lightheaded.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jeanneret, 76, had a pacemaker inserted in 2014. The Sabres said they will provide an update on his condition as soon as one becomes available. Here’s hoping he makes a quick recovery. 

**UPDATE**

 

A two-goal performance by Mitch Marner powered the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers. Marner’s teammate Andreas Johnsson had a goal and two assists. Kevin Hayes had a goal and an assist for the Rangers. Leafs winger Tyler Ennis suffered a broken ankle after being struck by a slap shot by teammate Morgan Rielly.

Washington Capitals goaltender Pheonix Copley made 35 saves for his first NHL shutout as his club blanked the Ottawa Senators 4-0. The Senators were playing without starter Craig Anderson, who’s sidelined by an upper-body injury suffered during a 5-2 loss on Friday to the New Jersey Devils.

Sidney Crosby had three assists, Jake Guentzel scored twice and Matt Murray turned in a 39-save shutout to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. It was the Penguins’ third consecutive victory.

Phillip Danault tallied his first career NHL hat trick and Paul Byron scored in overtime as the Montreal Canadiens overcame a 3-2 deficit to edge the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3. Brandon Pirri scored twice for Vegas.

Florida Panthers winger Jonathan Huberdeau collected two assists for his 11th multi-point game in his last 14 as his team squeaked past the Detroit Red Wings 2-1. Panthers netminder Roberto Luongo made 33 saves. The Wings played without Andreas Athanasiou, who’s nursing an upper-body injury.

Cam Atkinson scored two goals as the Columbus Blue Jackets held on for a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, handing Flyers rookie goaltender Carter Hart his first loss of the season. Jackets winger Artemi Panarin had a three-point game.

The Calgary Flames dropped their third straight game, falling 3-1 to the St. Louis Blues. David Perron collected two points while teammate Jake Allen made 28 saves for the win.

Brad Richardson netted two goals late in the third period to lift the Arizona Coyotes to a 6-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche, who had overcome a 4-1 deficit with three third-period tallies. Alex Kerfoot scored twice for the Avalanche.

Alexander Radulov’s goal in the dying seconds of overtime gave the Dallas Stars a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, handing the latter their fourth straight loss. Stars forward Martin Hanzal missed the game due to soreness in his back.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hanzal only recently returned to action after recovering from offseason spinal fusion surgery. While this could raise some concern, it’s also possible he doesn’t want to rush returning to game shape. He’s expected back in the lineup Sunday. 

Winnipeg Jets backup Laurent Brossoit picked up his first career NHL shutout by turning aside 40 shots to nip the Vancouver Canucks 1-0. Mark Scheifele potted the winning goal late in the third period.