NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 2, 2026

by | May 2, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 2, 2026

The Sabres and Golden Knights advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Lightning force Game 7 with the Canadiens, the Jack Adams Award nominees are announced, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ACTION

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres picked up their first playoff series win since 2007 by defeating the Boston Bruins 4-1 in Game 6 to win their best-of-seven first-round series four games to two. Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Zach Benson each had two points, Mattias Samuelsson scored the winning goal, and Alex Lyon stopped 25 shots for the Sabres, who await the winner of the Tampa Bay Lightning-Montreal Canadiens series. David Pastrnak replied for the Bruins.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Buffalo’s speed and scoring depth made the difference in this series against the defensive-minded Bruins. Alex Lyon also stabilized the goaltending for the Sabres, replacing a struggling Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as the starter after Game 2 and winning three of the next four games.

Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy was ejected from the game late in the third period for slashing Benson after the latter slewfooted him to the ice. Following the game, Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov told reporters he played through a torn MCL suffered during Game 3 of this series.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner (NHL Images).

Vegas Golden Knights winger Mitch Marner scored twice and collected an assist to lead his club to a series-winning 5-1 victory in Game 6 of their first-round series against the Utah Mammoth. Brett Howden extended his goal streak to three games while Carter Hart made 22 saves for the Golden Knights, who took this series in six games and will face the Anaheim Ducks in the second round. Kailer Yamamoto scored for the Mammoth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner silenced critics of his playoff performance with a clutch effort in this contest. It was a heartbreaking lopsided loss for the young Mammoth, who had played well through the first five games, but the Golden Knights’ experience and solid defensive play tilted this series in their favor.

The Tampa Bay Lightning nipped the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in Game 6 of their first-round series, forcing a seventh and deciding game back in Tampa Bay on Sunday. Gage Goncalves scored in overtime while Andrei Vasilevskiy had a 30-save shutout for the Lightning. Jakub Dobes stopped 32 shots for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This has been the best series of the opening round. This physical, fast-paced, closely contested tilt between these evenly matched teams should be going the distance. Every game has been decided by one goal, with four of them requiring overtime. Each contest could have gone either way.

HEADLINES

NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: Game 1 of the second-round series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes is Saturday in Raleigh at 8 pm ET.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes winger Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman Alexander Nikishin are expected to play in Game 1 against the Flyers. Both players were injured during the Hurricanes’ first-round series against the Ottawa Senators.

NHL.COM: Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres are the finalists for the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year, as voted by the National Broadcasters’ Association.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Congratulations to three worthy finalists. Cooper has never won this award despite his many years of success with the Lightning. Muse is a finalist in his first-ever season as an NHL head coach. Ruff won the award in 2005-06 during his first tenure with the Sabres.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said he hasn’t thought about signing a contract extension this summer. The 38-year-old superstar has completed the first season of his two-year contract. “I haven’t thought that far ahead, but we’ll wait and see,” Crosby said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby likely wants to find out what general manager Kyle Dubas’ offseason roster plans will be, and whether they include negotiating an extension.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Evgeni Malkin said he’ll sign with another NHL team if the Penguins don’t re-sign him this summer. The 39-year-old forward is completing a four-year contract with an average annual value of $6.1 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’ll be interesting to see how Crosby reacts if his long-time teammate ends up signing elsewhere this summer.

THE ATHLETIC’s Josh Yohe reported Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs was dealing with a knee injury during the first-round series against the Flyers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As Yohe observed, you’d never know Silovs was playing hurt based on his performance in that series.

SPORTSNET: Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen was fined $5,000 for cross-checking Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov in Game 6 of their first-round series on Thursday. The Wild won that game and eliminated the Stars.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The St. Louis Blues signed winger Dylan Holloway to a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $7.75 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holloway signed a two-year offer sheet with the Blues two years ago that went unmatched by the Edmonton Oilers. It was a costly loss for the Oilers, as the speedy 24-year-old winger has been a good fit with the Blues. He netted a career-high 63 points in 77 games last season, and had 51 points this season despite missing 23 games with an ankle injury.

CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Blackhawks center Connor Bedard won’t be playing for Canada in the upcoming IIHF World Championship. The 20-year-old center is currently rehabbing a shoulder injury.

SPORTSNET: The Toronto Maple Leafs had hoped to interview Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois as part of their ongoing search for a new GM. However, the Lightning denied them permission.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: The Devils announced they are parting ways with assistant general manager Dan MacKinnon and senior advisor Chuck Fletcher.

THE ATHLETIC: Jed Ortmeyer is out as the New York Rangers’ director of player development.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 30, 2026

by | Apr 30, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 30, 2026

The Flyers eliminate the Penguins, the Canadiens and Golden Knights are on the verge of advancing to the second round, the Vezina Trophy candidates are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING WEDNESDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Cam York gave the Philadelphia Flyers a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 to win their best-of-seven first-round series four games to two. Dan Vladar kicked out 42 shots for the shutout. Arturs Silovs made 31 saves for the Penguins. The Flyers will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Cam York (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: York was so excited about scoring the series-winning goal that he hurled his stick into the crowd. After the game, he told reporters he didn’t realize what he’d done with his stick until well after he scored. York said he hoped no one was hurt in the stands. Fortunately, the fan who caught the stick wasn’t injured and was quite happy to have a memorable souvenir.

The Penguins dominated overtime but couldn’t solve Vladar. The loss raises questions about the future of long-time Penguins stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. Crosby has a year remaining on his contract, Letang has two years, and Malkin is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden scored a shorthanded goal in double overtime to defeat the Utah Mammoth 5-4 in Game 5 of their first-round series. Pavel Dorofeyev tallied a hat trick while Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore each had two points for the Golden Knights, who hold a 3-2 series lead. Clayton Keller had two points for the Mammoth. The series returns to Utah for Game 6 on Friday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth were on the verge of winning this game until Dorofeyev completed his hat trick at 19:07 of the third period, setting the stage for Howden’s game-winner. The Golden Knights’ special teams made the difference in this one, going 1 for 5 on the power play while killing off five penalties and netting a shorthanded goal.

Mammoth forward Barrett Hayton made his series debut as he returned from an upper-body injury suffered on March 24.

The Montreal Canadiens nipped the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 in Game 5 of their first-round series. Alexandre Texier snapped a 2-2 tie early in the third period, Brendan Gallagher scored in his series debut, Kirby Dach got his second goal of the series, and Jakub Dobes stopped 38 shots for the Canadiens, who hold a 3-2 lead in the series. Dominic James and Jake Guentzel replied for the Lightning. The series returns to Montreal for Game 6 on Friday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gallagher was a healthy scratch for the first four games, but got into this contest as Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis shook up his forward lines after a disappointing loss in Game 4. This win was a team effort by the Habs, who are getting production throughout their lineup as their top scorers have been largely neutralized.

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun pointed out that Lightning stars Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Andrei Vasilevskiy have not been at their best in this series. Kucherov seems frustrated. Point may still be hampered by the knee injury he suffered in January, while the veteran Vasilevskiy has not outperformed the inexperienced Dobes in the battle of the goaltenders.

Speaking of the Lightning, center Nick Paul missed this game with an illness.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders, Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning are this year’s finalists for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top goaltender as voted by NHL general managers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Vasilevskiy will likely get the nod. Among goalies with 30 games played this season, the Lightning netminder is first in wins with 39, second in goals-against average (2.31), and third in save percentage (.912).

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: With their season on the line, the Stars need more from winger Mikko Rantanen. He single-handedly carried them into the second round last season, but has only one goal and six points against the Minnesota Wild in this series, none of them at 5 on 5.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Stars, team captain Jamie Benn was fined $2,604.17 by the league’s department of player safety for cross-checking Wild forward Ryan Hartman in Game 5 of their first-round series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild hold a 3-2 lead in this series, with Game 6 on Thursday in Minnesota.

DAILY FACEOFF: Los Angeles Kings center Quinton Byfield played through two torn oblique muscles this season. He tore the right obliques just after the Olympic break ended. Once that healed, he tore the left oblique, which he played through for the remainder of the regular season and the Kings’ first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That would explain why Byfield finished with 49 points in the regular season and was held to just two assists as the Kings were swept by the Avalanche.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres center Noah Ostlund will be sidelined for “a period of time” after suffering a lower-body injury in Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of their first-round series. Josh Norris will likely replace Ostlund for Game 6 on Thursday in Boston. The Sabres lead the series 3-2.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering a concussion during Game 4 of their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. He sported a yellow non-contact jersey and could return to action for the Hurricanes’ second-round series against the Flyers.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 28, 2026

by | Apr 28, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 28, 2026

The Penguins beat the Flyers to avoid elimination again, the Golden Knights tie their series with the Mammoth, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING MONDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: The Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination again by nipping the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in Game 5 of their best-of-seven first-round series. A flukey second-period goal by Kris Letang gave the Penguins the win after the Flyers overcame a 2-0 deficit to tie the game on goals by Alex Bump and Travis Sanheim. Elmer Soderblom and Connor Dewar scored for the Penguins. The series returns to Philadelphia for Game 6 on Wednesday with the Flyers holding a 3-2 lead.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins remain on the verge of elimination, but two straight victories have put them back in this series. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic believes the pressure of playoff hockey may be getting to the younger Flyers players, who haven’t faced this level of postseason competition before, especially against a veteran-laden team with considerable playoff experience.

The Flyers can allay that concern with a win in Game 6, but if the Penguins take that game, all bets are off.

An overtime goal by Shea Theodore lifted the Vegas Golden Knights to a 5-4 victory over the Utah Mammoth, tying their series at two games apiece. The Golden Knights had a 3-0 lead, but the Mammoth rallied with four straight goals before Brett Howden made it 4-4 midway through the third period. Howden finished with two goals and an assist, while Jack Eichel had three assists. Mikhail Sergachev also had three assists, and Nick Schmaltz tallied a goal and an assist for the Mammoth. The series returns to Las Vegas for Game 5 on Wednesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was a wild one with the Golden Knights seemingly in control through the first period and the early minutes of the second. The Mammoth stormed back and seemed on the verge of taking a 3-1 series lead until Howden’s tying goal set the stage for Theodore’s winner. The Golden Knights seemed to have won it midway through overtime on a goal by Pavel Dorofeyev, but it was overturned on review as Eichel was offside on the play.

HEADLINES

SPORTSNET: Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot revealed that he played their series against the Carolina Hurricanes despite his broken forearm not being fully healed. He suffered the injury on March 23 and underwent surgery soon afterward. He said his arm is still three weeks away from being fully healed. Chabot played with a cast on his arm to prevent further damage.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Chabot’s early return to help his teammates is commendable and a testament to his toughness, but it made him largely ineffective in the series against the Hurricanes.

Senators forward Claude Giroux intends to take some time to assess the club’s early postseason exit and his future. Giroux, 38, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. If he does return for another season, he said it would be only with the Senators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Giroux was an effective two-way player for the Senators during the regular season with 49 points in 82 games, but his production has steadily declined over the past four seasons. He played well defensively for the Senators against the Hurricanes, but was held scoreless in that series.

TSN: Senators captain Brady Tkachuk skipped the end-of-season media availability as his wife had given birth to their second child.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Speculation about Tkachuk’s future with the Senators emerged soon after the Hurricanes eliminated them. I’ll have more about that in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

CBS SPORTS: Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello (upper body) practices with his teammates on Monday, but remains questionable for Game 5 against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Zuccarello missed the last three games of this series. The series is knotted at two games apiece.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist has been ruled out for Game 5 of their series against the Minnesota Wild as he recovers from a facial injury suffered in Game 4.

BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres center Josh Norris could return to action for Game 5 of their first-round series with the Boston Bruins. Norris missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury. The Sabres lead the series 3-1 and could eliminate the Bruins with a win on Tuesday in Buffalo.

NHL.COM: Speaking of the Bruins, defenseman Nikita Zadorov was fined $5,000 by the league’s department of player safety for cross-checking Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during Game 4 of their series on Sunday.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Sidelined Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson (upper body) skated on his own yesterday, working on puck-handling drills. He’s slated to be reevaluated on Tuesday. The Canadiens will head to Tampa Bay for Game 5 of their series with the Lightning, which takes place on Wednesday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dobson was the Canadiens best all-around defenseman this season. He was sixth among his teammates in regular-season points (47) while sitting second in the league in blocked shots with 188. If cleared to return to action, Dobson would provide a boost to their blueline against the Lightning.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The only big question facing Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch is whether to start Connor Ingram or Tristan Jarry in goal for Game 5 of their series against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Both goalies have had a difficult time in this series, with the Ducks holding a commanding 3-1 lead.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the Oilers on the brink of elimination, it’ll be interesting to see who Knoblauch goes with for Game 5.

TSN: Canada will have several notable players on their roster for the upcoming 2026 IIHF World Championship. They include San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele, New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal, and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly.

Penn State forward Gavin McKenna, who is projected to be this year’s top prospect in the NHL Draft, will also play for Canada. So will Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Islanders forwards Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman will play for Sweden in the World Championship.

TSN: The Washington Capitals have parted ways with assistant coach Kirk Muller.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 26, 2026

by | Apr 26, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 26, 2026

The Hurricanes eliminate the Senators, the Penguins stave off elimination, the Wild tie their series with the Stars, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING SATURDAY’S ACTION

NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-2 to sweep their best-of-seven series. Logan Stankoven scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, Sebastian Aho tallied twice, and Frederik Andersen made 25 saves for the Hurricanes. Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens replied for the Senators, who got a 26-save performance from goalie Linus Ullmark.

Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven (NHL Images)

The Hurricanes await the winner of the Pittsburgh Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers series.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This game was another close-checking affair, but both clubs ramped up the physical play. The flashpoint was a devastating (but clean) hit by Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven on Hurricanes blueliner Alexander Nikitin, knocking the latter out of the game with a suspected concussion.

The Senators gave everything they had to avoid elimination. Ullmark silenced his critics with his outstanding play while the injury-depleted blueline did its best despite the absence of Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub. However, their offense struggled against Andersen’s solid goaltending and the Hurricanes’ suffocating defense. Team captain Brady Tkachuk was a physical presence in this game, but was held scoreless throughout this series.

Carolina’s second line of Stankoven, Tayler Hall, and Jackson Blake was a factor in this game and throughout this series. Stankoven was the star of this series with four goals, including three game-openers. The Hurricanes got the win without winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who missed this game with a lower-body injury.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist as his club avoided elimination with a 4-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Kris Letang netted the game winner, Rickard Rakell also had a goal and an assist, and Arturs Silovs stopped 28 shots in his series debut for the Penguins. Denver Barkey and Travis Konecny replied for the Flyers, who hold a 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven series. Game 5 is in Pittsburgh on Monday at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby finally broke through offensively after being held to an assist through the first three games. The Penguins still had their issues defensively, but were bailed out by Silovs, whose performance in this game should earn him the start in Game 5.

An overtime goal by Matt Boldy lifted the Minnesota Wild to a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars, tying their first-round series at two games apiece. Brock Faber had a goal and an assist while Jesper Wallstedt kicked out 43 shots for the Wild. Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen scored, Matt Duchene and Mikko Rantanen collected two assists each, and Jake Oettinger stopped 40 shots for the Stars. This series returns to Dallas for Game 5 on Tuesday at 8 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild winger Mats Zuccarello missed his third straight game in this series with an upper-body injury. Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist left this game in the second period after being struck in the face by the skate blade of Wild forward Michael McCarron. Following the game, Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said Lundkvist suffered a deep facial cut. He will be reexamined in Dallas.

HEADLINES

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont listed his top-three reasons why the Canadiens hold a 2-1 lead in their first-round series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. They include high-danger scoring chances and the Canadiens’ secondary scoring.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis isn’t concerned over the lack of scoring from first-line forwards Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. He pointed out that they’re always a big part of the club’s success, whether they’re on the scoresheet or not. “They’re going to be fine,” St. Louis said.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: The Oilers have struggled against the Anaheim Ducks in their first-round series, which the Ducks lead two games to one. Their top players have been invisible, they’ve given up 13 goals in their last two games, goaltender Connor Ingram has a save percentage of .849, and their penalty killing is the worst among the 16 playoff clubs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As the headline suggests, the Oilers must find a way to address these issues, or this will be a short series.

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres are shaking up their power play ahead of Game 4 of their series with the Boston Bruins, which is Sunday at 2 pm ET. They’re hoping the addition of Noah Ostlund to their top unit will help them snap a 0-for-36 funk with the man advantage.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Bruins are making a change to their third line, replacing rookie James Hagens with winger Lukas Reichel. Hagens struggled with the Sabres’ physical play through the previous two games.

THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson is considered unlikely to play in Game 4 on Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings. Manson suffered an upper-body injury in Game 3 of this series, in which the Avalanche holds a 3-0 lead.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: The Vegas Golden Knights need their top players to get going if they’re to overcome a 2-1 series deficit to the Utah Mammoth. Team captain Mark Stone has scored two power-play goals but none at even strength. Ivan Barbashev has two, but one was an empty-netter. Jack Eichel has one goal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mitch Marner has two assists, and Tomas Hertl has one. Puck-moving defensemen Shea Theodore and Rasmus Andersson have no points through three games.

Meanwhile, the Mammoth are getting production from their best players, including Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley, who each have two goals and an assist, while winger Lawson Crouse has two goals.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 25, 2026

by | Apr 25, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 25, 2026

The Canadiens, Mammoth, and Ducks take 2-1 leads in their respective series, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Lane Hutson lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series. Kirby Dach and Alexandre Texier each had a goal and an assist for the Canadiens, who outshot the Tampa Bay 29-17. Brandon Hagel tallied his fourth goal in this series, and Brayden Point netted his first for the Lightning. Game 4 is on Sunday in Montreal at 7 pm ET.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (NHL Images).

SPECTORS’ NOTE: The Canadiens were the better team in this game, while Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper considered it his team’s worst. It would’ve been a more lopsided score for the Habs if not for the solid play of Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Bolts struggled to contain the Habs’ speed. Canadiens forwards Ivan Demidov, Cole Caufield, and Josh Anderson had breakaways but failed to capitalize.

This game was redemption for Dach, Texier, and linemate Zach Bolduc, who faced criticism for their performances in the first two games. This trio was the Canadiens’ best line in this contest. Both teams dialled back on the scrums that dominated the first half of Game 2, though there were a couple of moments in this one.

The Utah Mammoth picked up their first playoff home victory as they doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2. Lawson Crouse tallied twice, MacKenzie Weegar got his first of the series, and Dylan Guenther had his second goal as the Mammoth took a 2-1 series lead. Jack Eichel and Nic Dowd replied for the Golden Knights. Game 4 is Monday in Utah.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka stopped 30 shots in this one. Speaking of the Mammoth, they will host the Colorado Avalanche in the 2027 Discover NHL Winter Classic on Dec. 31, 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

A four-goal third period gave the Anaheim Ducks a 7-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Mikael Granlund had a goal and three assists while Jackson LaCombe and Leo Carlsson each had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who go up 2-1 in this series. Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard each collected their first two points of this series for the Oilers. Game 4 goes Sunday in Anaheim at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anaheim dominated Edmonton in the first period, outshooting them 20-7. If not for Oilers goalie Connor Ingram, the Ducks’ lead would’ve been more than 2-1 in that period. The Oilers rallied to make it 3-2, but they couldn’t handle the Ducks’ speed, who tied the game 3-3 in the second period and ran away with it in the third.

McDavid got on the scoreboard at last, but he hasn’t been the dominant player we expected to see in this series. He downplayed an ankle injury suffered in Game 2, but one has to wonder if it affected him in this contest. The Oilers’ overall defensive game has been dreadful over the last two games. If it doesn’t improve, their hopes of a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final will be dashed.

HEADLINES

OTTAWA CITIZEN: Senators head coach Travis Green confirmed that defenseman Jake Sanderson suffered a concussion in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. Sanderson was hit in the head by a check from Hurricanes winger Taylor Hall and will not play in Game 4 on Saturday. Hall did not receive supplemental discipline for the incident.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senator owner Michael Andlauer wasn’t pleased, blasting the on-ice officials for only assessing Hall with a minor penalty. Sanderson’s absence couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Senators, who are down 3-0 in the best-of-seven series and face elimination in Game 4.

THE ATHLETIC: Speaking of the Hurricanes, Julian McKenzie breaks down why their second line of Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake has dominated the Senators in this series.

NESN: Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak believes his club’s power play must improve against the Buffalo Sabres. The Bruins failed to score with five man-advantage opportunities during Game 3 of their first-round series.

NHL.COM: Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar will be a game-time decision for Game 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. He appeared to suffer an injury to his right arm during Game 3 on Wednesday. Vladar didn’t practice on Thursday, and the Flyers had an off-day on Friday. The Flyers lead the series 3-0.

Minnesota Wild winger Mats Zuccarello will be a game-time decision for Game 4 against the Dallas Stars. Zuccarello missed the last two games with an upper-body injury. Wild forward Yakov Trenin (upper body) will not play in Game 4, which goes on Saturday in Minnesota.

COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson was still being evaluated on Friday for an upper-body injury suffered during Game 3 against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. The Avalanche lead the series 3-0 with Game 4 on Saturday in Los Angeles.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: The Blue Jackets announced that assistant coaches Mike Haviland and Scott Ford, and video coach Aron Augustitus, will not be returning with the club next season.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The New York Islanders relieved assistant coach Benoit Desrosiers of his duties.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2026

by | Apr 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 22, 2026

The Avalanche take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series, the Lightning, Bruins, and Mammoth tie their respective series, and much more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING TUESDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES

NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Nicolas Roy lifted the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series. Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal while Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves, including one on a penalty shot by Los Angeles center Quinton Byfield. Artemi Panarin opened the scoring for the Kings, who got a 34-save effort from goaltender Anton Forsberg.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The game was delayed following Wedgewood’s save on Byfield to replace a pane of glass behind the Kings’ bench that shattered from the force of excited Avalanche fans pounding on it.

This series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4, with Game 3 on Thursday at 10 pm ET. If those games are anything like the first two, we can expect them to be physical, close-checking, low-scoring affairs. The Kings must find a way to generate more offense without sacrificing their defensive play in Game 3, or they’ll be facing elimination this weekend.

The Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a 2-1 deficit to nip the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on an overtime goal by JJ Moser, tying their first-round series at a game apiece. Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov also scored for the Lightning, while Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson tallied for the Canadiens.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The first half of this game was a greasy physical affair with numerous scrums, including a fight that saw Hagel drop Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky. Once the shenanigans were over, the game settled into a close-checking contest in which the Lightning’s experience made the difference, with Kucherov’s tying goal the result of a blueline turnover by Slafkovsky. The Canadiens were tentative in overtime, failing to generate a shot while the Lightning peppered Habs goalie Jakub Dobes with nine shots.

Speaking of the Lightning, they announced that team captain Victor Hedman is doubtful to play in this series, which moves to Montreal for Games 3 and 4. The third game will be on Friday at 7 pm ET.

Boston Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson tallied twice as his club doubled up the Buffalo Sabres 4-2, tying their series at one game apiece. Jeremy Swayman made 34 saves while David Pastrnak collected two assists for the Bruins. Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs replied for the Sabres. This series shifts to Boston for the next two games, with Game 3 on Thursday at 7 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres fell too far behind to stage another rally as they did in the first game. It was a disastrous outing for Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, giving up four goals on 19 shots, including a backhander from center ice by Bruins winger Morgan Geekie that bounced past him. Alex Lyon replaced Luukkonen after Arvidsson made it 4-0, and Sabres coach Lindy Ruff hinted that Lyon might get the start in Game 3.

Utah Mammoth center Logan Cooley (NHL Images).

The Utah Mammoth got their first playoff win since relocating from Arizona by defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2, squaring their first-round series at a game apiece. Logan Cooley snapped a 2-2 tie while Dylan Guenther had a goal and an assist for the Mammoth. Mark Stone and Ivan Barbshev scored for the Golden Knights. This series moves to Utah for Games 3 and 4, with Game 3 on Friday at 9:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The speedy Mammoth out-played and out-shot the Golden Knights as this game went along. Led by young stars such as Cooley and Guenther, they’re proving to be a handful for the veteran-laden Golden Knights.

HEADLINES

DAILY FACEOFF: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league has no plans to change its regular-season points system.

The issue arose as the Los Angeles Kings made the playoffs despite tying for the second-fewest regulation wins this season, playing in a record 33 overtime games. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers clinched third place in the Metropolitan Division despite winning 10 fewer regulation games than the Washington Capitals, while the New York Islanders won 43 games but missed the playoffs with five overtime/shootout points.

Bettman also said that future league expansion fees could exceed $1 billion. He based it on the growth of league revenue and other factors. Atlanta and Houston have been rumored as potential destinations for future expansion franchises.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan said sidelined center Roope Hintz didn’t travel with the team to Minnesota for the next two games of their first-round series. A lower-body injury has sidelined Hintz since March 6.

Gulutzan was unfazed over comments by Minnesota forward Marcus Foligno that the Stars “couldn’t hang” with the Wild in even-strength situations. Two of the goals the Stars scored in their 4-2 victory over the Wild in Game 2 came on the power play.

SPORTSNET: Speaking of the Wild, winger Mats Zuccarello is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Edmonton Oilers forward Adam Henrique will miss Game 2 of their series with the Anaheim Ducks after suffering a lower-body injury in the first game.

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae will miss Game 3 of his club’s series with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

THE ATHLETIC: The Vancouver Canucks have requested permission to speak with former Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams about their vacant GM position.

NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: New Devils GM Sunny Mehta said everything is under evaluation from the coaching staff to new contracts for Nico Hischier and Simon Nemec. He also indicated that the Devils will be spending to the salary cap.

Mehta spent three seasons as an assistant general manager with the Florida Panthers before taking over as Devils GM last week.

TSN: Former NHL superstar Ilya Kovalchuk was named president of KHL club Shanghai Dragons.