Do the Golden Knights have enough cap room to re-sign Jonathan Marchessault? Could the Bruins pursue Patrick Kane this summer? Check out the latest in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
CAN THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS AFFORD JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT?
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Danny Webster reports the Golden Knights have approximately $7.59 million in salary-cap space for 2024-25 after signing Noah Hanifin to a contract extension yesterday. That’s assuming goaltender Robin Lehner remains on long-term injury reserve.
That doesn’t leave much room for the Golden Knights to bring back some of their free agents, the most notable being winger Jonathan Marchessault. The reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner has 41 goals in his contract year.
Their other unrestricted free agents include center Chandler Stephenson, wingers William Carrier, Anthony Mantha and Michael Amadio and defenseman Alec Martinez. Hanifin’s signing suggests Martinez might not be back while their acquisition last month of Tomas Hertl could mean Stephenson is on his way out.
Vegas Golden Knights winger Jonathan Marchessault (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hanifin and Hertl are on expensive long-term contracts and will play key roles as core players for the Golden Knights. Their additions almost certainly mean Martinez and Stephenson won’t be back.
VEGAS HOCKEY NOW: Kevin Allen also wondered what the future holds for Marchessault. The 33-year-old winger can’t expect a long-term deal at this stage but he’s a durable player who’s netted 99 goals (and counting) over the past three seasons.
Marchessault is coming off a contract with an annual cap hit of $5 million. Allen speculates a contender seeking a scorer could pay a bigger number on a short-term deal.
The Golden Knights must shed a salary or two if they intend to re-sign Marchessault.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights aren’t a team that allows sentimentality to enter the equation when maintaining their roster. Popular players such as Marc-Andre Fleury and Reilly Smith have been shipped out to make room for other talent. They could let Marchessault walk on July 1 rather than re-sign him.
If they intend to keep him, they’ll have no choice but to make a cost-cutting trade or two. That could mean peddling 31-year-old forward William Karlsson, who has three more years remaining with an AAV of $5.9 million and a 10-team no-trade clause.
Murphy claims there were rumors last summer that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney was interested in signing Kane. “If he doesn’t come to terms on a new contract with winger Jake DeBrusk, could Sweeney look to the more experienced three-time Stanley Cup champion?”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think Sweeney is more interested in someone younger such as Vancouver Canucks two-way center Elias Lindholm.
Sweeny was also said to be interested in Noah Hanifin but that’s not possible after his re-signing with the Golden Knights. He could shift his focus toward Brady Skjei or Brett Pesce. Both Carolina Hurricanes blueliners are slated to become UFAs on July 1.
Two scoring milestones for Sidney Crosby as his Penguins regain the Eastern wildcard spot, the Kings clinch a postseason berth, the Golden Knights re-sign Noah Hanifin, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby collected his 1,000th career NHL assist as his club nipped the Detroit Red Wings 6-5 on an overtime goal by Erik Karlsson. Crosby and Bryan Rust each had a goal and an assist for the 37-30-12 Penguins, who regained the final Eastern Conference wildcard berth with 86 points. Lucas Raymond tallied a hat trick and Alex DeBrincat picked up three assists for the Red Wings (38-32-9) as they sit one point back of the Penguins.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby also took supplanted Phil Esposito for 10th overall with 1,591 points. He’s 50 points behind ninth-place Joe Sakic and 132 behind eighth-place Mario Lemieux. Meanwhile, the Penguins announced defenseman Ryan Graves (concussion) has been moved to injured reserve. He could return to action if the Penguins reach the first round of the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Kings clinched a playoff berth by defeating the Calgary Flames 4-1. Viktor Arvidsson tallied twice for the Kings, who improved to 42-26-11 and sit third in the Pacific Division with 95 points. Jonathan Huberdeau replied for the Flames.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The final wildcard berth is the only playoff spot available in the West. The Golden Knights (92 points) hold that spot with a three-point lead over the St. Louis Blues.
Returning to the Eastern wildcard race, the Washington Capitals dropped a 4-2 decision to the Buffalo Sabres. Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson scored for the Capitals (37-31-11) as they sit one point behind the Penguins. Alex Tuch netted his 22nd goal of the season for the Sabres.
An overtime goal by Kyle Palmieri lifted the New York Islanders over the Montreal Canadiens 3-2. The Islanders (37-27-15) sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points, three points up on the Penguins. Cole Caufield tallied his 25th goal of the season for the Canadiens.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson left this game in the first period with an upper-body injury. It’s unclear how long he might be sidelined.
The Philadelphia Flyers kept their playoff hopes alive by upsetting the New York Rangers 4-1, snapping an eight-game winless skid. Travis Konecny had a goal and an assist and Samuel Ersson stopped 24 shots for the 37-32-11 Flyers, who sit one point behind the Penguins for that final wildcard berth. Artemi Panarin scored his 47th of the season for the 53-23-4 Rangers, who have lost two straight but remain first in the overall standings with 110 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Third place in the Metro and the final Eastern wildcard are the only playoff spots still up for grabs in the Eastern Conference. Four points separate the Islanders from the Flyers with the Penguins, Capitals and Red Wings between them.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Laurent Brossoit turned in a 24-save shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Dallas Stars. Nikolaj Ehlers, David Gustafsson and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets (49-24-6), who’ve won five straight games and moved into seventh overall with 104 points. Jake Oettinger turned aside 21 shots for the 50-21-9 Stars as they remain one point behind the league-leading Rangers.
The New Jersey Devils upset the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5. Jesper Bratt snapped a 5-5 time with 1:14 remaining in the third period for the Devils. Bratt and Timo Meier finished each finished with two goals and an assist. Auston Matthews scored two goals to move with two of the 70-goal plateau for the Leafs (46-24-9), who sit tenth in the overall standings with 101 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews also reached a notable milestone, becoming the first player to score 50 even-strength goals in a season since Teemu Selanne in 1992-93. As for the Devils, their elimination from playoff contention earlier this week means their 2024 second-round pick belongs to the San Jose Sharks. It was the remaining condition of their acquisition of Meier last year.
Florida Panthers netminder Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 shots to shut out the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0. Sam Reinhart scored his 54th goal of the season for the 50-24-6 Panthers, who sit fifth overall with 106 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets winger Johnny Gaudreau and defenseman Zach Werenski intend to suit up for Team USA at the 2024 World Championships in Czechia from May 10-26.
The Ottawa Senators upset the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 on a shootout goal by Brady Tkachuk, who also had a goal and an assist in regulation play. Nikita Kucherov collected two assists to extend his lead in the scoring race to 141 points as the Lightning (44-27-8) hold the first Eastern wildcard with 96 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov holds a four-point lead over Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon in the race for the Art Ross Trophy. MacKinnon’s next game is Saturday against the Jets while Kucherov and his Lightning face off against the Capitals.
San Jose Sharks goalie Devin Cooley kicked out 49 shots to down the Seattle Kraken 3-1.
HEADLINES
SPORTSNET: The Vegas Golden Knights signed Noah Hanifin to an eight-year, $58.8 million contract extension. They acquired the 27-year-old defenseman from the Calgary Flames two days before the March 8 trade deadline. The average annual value is $7.35 million.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hanifin is completing a six-year contract with an AAV of $4.95 million. His new deal is similar in term and dollars to what he was reportedly close to signing with the Flames last fall before their negotiations derailed. However, he’ll keep more of that because of the lower taxes in Nevada.
It’s a good move by the Golden Knights. Alex Pietrangelo and Brayden McNabb are in their mid-thirties and Alec Martinez isn’t expected to be re-signed. Hanifin has fit in well since joining them and will take on a greater role on their blueline in the coming years.
The signing also raises questions about Jonathan Marchessault’s future in Vegas. The 33-year-old winger is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. I’ll have more in today’s Rumors update.
ARIZONA SPORTS: Coyotes head coach Andre Tourigny said the news of a possible relocation of his team to Salt Lake City is having a “huge impact” on his players because they love playing in Phoenix.
Tourigny also voiced concern for the club’s 31 staff members without contracts for next season. He noted the effect it could have on their families and personal lives.
TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL continues to work behind the scenes trying to find a solution for what deputy commissioner Bill Daly called a “difficult and challenging situation.”
In terms of a timeline of a possible sale of the Coyotes and a move to Salt Lake City, LeBrun noted the sale and relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg in 2011 took place in late May. However, he cited a source suggesting it wouldn’t take that long but could require some time to get done.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some reports suggest it could happen as early as April 18, the end of the regular season schedule. LeBrun doubted that it would take place that quickly. He also cautioned that this isn’t a fait accompli as the deal still might not take place. As he observed, this remains a delicate situation.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Anaheim Ducks winger Jakob Silfverberg announced his retirement from the NHL at the end of this season. Silfverberg, 33, began his 12-year NHL career with the Ottawa Senators but spent the past 11 seasons with the Ducks. He’s returning to his native Sweden where it’s believed he’ll finish his playing career where it began, with Brynas IF in his hometown of Gavle.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Silfverberg currently sits fifth among Ducks players in games played (769) and goals (158), eighth in assists with 196 and seventh in points with 354. He also has 16 goals and 41 points in 57 career playoff games.
The Islanders, Penguins and Sabres keep their playoff hopes alive, David Pastrnak reaches a Bruins’ scoring milestone, the three stars and rookie of the month for March are announced, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Third-period goals by Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom gave the New York Islanders a 2-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The goal was Horvat’s 31st of the season for the 33-27-15 Islanders (81 points) as they moved to within one point of Washington Capitals for the final Eastern Conference wildcard berth. Petr Mrazek made 27 saves for the 22-48-5 Blackhawks.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each tallied twice as the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied for five goals in the third period to defeat the New Jersey Devils 6-3. The Penguins improved to 34-30-11 (79 points) and sit three points behind the Capitals. Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt each scored their 25th goal of the season for the Devils as they fell to 36-35-4 and dropped six points back of the Capitals.
Speaking of the Capitals, they dropped a 6-2 decision to the Buffalo Sabres. JJ Peterka scored twice and collected an assist while Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin and Alex Tuch each had a goal and two assists for the Sabres, who moved to 36-35-4 (77 points) and are five points behind Washington. Dylan Strome netted his 26th goal of the season for the 36-28-10 Capitals.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres winger Jeff Skinner played his 1,000th NHL game. Teammate Jordan Greenway missed this game with an upper-body injury.
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (NHL Images).
Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark turned in a 31-save shutout to blank the Nashville Predators 3-0. David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist for the Bruins (44-17-15), who sit third in the overall standings with 103 points. Juuse Saros turned aside 29 shots for the 43-28-4 Predators, who hold the first Western Conference wildcard spot (90 points) but have lost three straight games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pastrnak became the first Bruin since Adam Oates in 1992-93 to have at least 35 multi-point games in a season. With 46 goals, he’s also on pace to become the third player in franchise history with multiple 50-goal seasons, joining Phil Esposito (five) and Cam Neely (three).
The Vegas Golden Knights rode a four-goal first period to a 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, extending their points streak to seven games. Jonathan Marchessault tallied his 41st goal of the season and picked up two assists as the Golden Knights improved to 42-25-8. With 92 points, they’re third in the Pacific Division. Quinn Hughes scored two goals for the Canucks (46-21-8), who sit fifth overall with 100 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov was ejected from this game for boarding Vegas forward Brett Howden during the first period.
Speaking of the Golden Knights, trade deadline acquisition Tomas Hertl joined practice on Tuesday as a full participant. The 30-year-old center is recovering from knee surgery. Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy hinted he might return to action for Friday’s game against the Arizona Coyotes.
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki scored twice to reach the 70-point plateau for the first time in a 5-3 upset of the Florida Panthers. Sam Montembeault kicked out 37 shots for the 29-33-12 Canadiens, who’ve won four of their last five games. Anton Lundell had a goal and an assist for the slumping Panthers (47-24-5), who’ve won two of their last 10 games and sit seventh overall with 99 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad left this game with an undisclosed injury. The Panthers played without forwards Matthew Tkachuk (illness) and Carter Verhaeghe (upper-body injury). Verhaeghe is week-to-week and is expected to be ready for the playoffs.
The Minnesota Wild nipped the Ottawa Senators 3-2. Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves and Vinni Lettieri snapped a 2-2 tie for the 36-29-9 Wild (81 points) as they’re six points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final Western wildcard. Drake Batherson netted his 27th goal of the season for the 33-37-4 Senators.
Anaheim Ducks winger Alex Killorn scored twice in a 5-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. Troy Terry and Olen Zellweger each had three points for the 25-47-4 Ducks. Andrei Kuzmenko potted two goals for the 34-35-5 Flames.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon and Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg are the league’s three stars for March 2024. Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard was named Rookie of the Month for March 2024.
STLTODAY.COM: Blues top prospect Jimmy Snuggerud will return to the University of Minnesota’s Golden Gophers for his junior year. The 19-year-old winger has scored 42 goals in 79 NCAA games. He had 21 goals and 13 assists this season for the Golden Gophers and was named first-team All-Big Ten.
SPORTSNET: The ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers franchise had its membership terminated by the league’s board of governors.
The Growlers were the Toronto Maple Leafs’ ECHL affiliate. Deacon Sports and Entertainment, the majority owners of the Growlers and ECHL club Trois Rivieres Lions, had proposed a sale of both teams but only the Lions were saved.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports Saturday that there had been a lengthy battle behind the scenes over payments to cities and some NHL teams.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sports media insider Jonah Sigel reports Rogers Communications could sell TV rights to its Monday night games (including playoff games) to Amazon over the final two years of its contract.
Sigel believes Amazon’s interest in getting a foothold in NHL broadcasting suggests it could be part of a broader strategy.
Rogers Communications’ current broadcasting agreement with the NHL has two years to go. The league could prioritize streaming services in its next TV deal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some readers wondered what effect the end of Rogers’ TV contract two years from now might have on the NHL’s hockey-related revenue (HRR). It could be a lucrative deal with Amazon or another streaming service. If so, there would be no negative impact on HRR.
The Avalanche and Canucks clinch playoffs berths, it’s now a three-player race for the Art Ross Trophy, the Leafs’ Auston Matthews hits 60 goals and Jonathan Quick set a record for US-born goaltenders. Get the details on these and other stories in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and set up two others as the Colorado Avalanche overcame 3-1 and 4-2 deficits to defeat the Nashville Predators 7-4 and clinch a playoff berth. Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar each had three points for the 47-21-6 Avalanche, who sit fifth in the overall standings with 100 points. Gustav Nyquist had two points for the Predators (43-27-4), who hold the first Western Conference wildcard berth with 90 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon holds first place in the race for the Art Ross Trophy with 127 points…A match penalty to Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh in the second period for an illegal hit to the head of Avalanche forward Ross Colton was the turning point in the game. McDonagh’s ejection left the Preds with just five blueliners for the rest of the game…Avs defenseman Sean Walker missed the third period with an upper-body injury.
An overtime goal by Jonathan Marchessault into an empty net gave the Vegas Golden Knights a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. It was Marchessault’s 40th goal of the season as the Golden Knights (41-25-8) hold third place in the Pacific Division with 90 points. Kirill Kaprizov scored his 37th goal for the 35-28-10 Wild (80 points) as they sit seven points out of the final Western wildcard.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild head coach John Hynes opted to pull his goaltender to go for the win in the hope of keeping their fading playoff hopes alive. He gambled and lost. Because of that tactic, the Wild don’t get a point for reaching the overtime period…Before the game, it was reported that Wild forward Marcus Foligno will undergo season-ending surgery to address his lower-body injury…Golden Knights center Jack Eichel could face supplemental discipline after he was ejected during the second period for spearing Kaprizov.
San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made 35 saves to shut out the St. Louis Blues 4-0. Filip Zadina, Mikael Granlund, Luke Kunin and Jan Rutta scored for the 17-48-8 Sharks, who snapped a nine-game winless skid. The loss leaves the Blues (39-31-4) sitting five points out of the final Western wildcard with 82 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The losses by the Blues and Wild clinched a postseason berth for the idle Vancouver Canucks (45-20-8), who sit seventh in the overall standings with 98 points…The Canucks and Avalanche join the New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers among the teams that have secured their spots in the 2024 playoffs.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored two goals and collected an assist in a 6-1 drubbing of the Anaheim Ducks. Mattias Ekholm had a goal and two assists for the 45-23-4 Oilers, who hold second place in the Pacific Division with 94 points. Alex Killorn scored for the 24-46-4 Ducks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid briefly held the lead in the Art Ross Trophy race with 125 points before MacKinnon and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov overtook him. On Nov. 12, a struggling McDavid sat 112th among NHL scorers. He’s turned this into a three-man race for the scoring title with less than three weeks remaining in the season.
Speaking of Kucherov, he picked up two assists as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Islanders 4-1. Steven Stamkos tallied his 30th goal of the season and Anthony Cirelli scored twice and collected an assist for the Lightning, who improved to 41-25-7 and hold the first Eastern Conference wildcard berth with 89 points. Kyle Palmieri scored for the Islanders, who dropped to 31-27-15 (77 points) and sit five points out of the final Eastern wildcard spot.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov sits second in the Art Ross Trophy race with 126 points. Erik Cernak was a healthy scratch for the Lightning after missing a team meeting.
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews reached the 60-goal plateau for the second time in a 3-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Ilya Samsonov turned in a 34-save shutout for the 42-22-9 Leafs, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 93 points. The Sabres slipped to 35-35-5.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews leads the goalscoring race, eight goals ahead of Oilers winger Zach Hyman. Before this game, the Leafs placed winger Mitch Marner (ankle) on long-term injury reserve retroactive to March 7, though he could return to the roster later this week.
The New York Rangers defeated the Arizona Coyotes 8-5. Jonathan Quick made 27 saves to set the record for most wins by an American-born NHL goaltender with 392. Alexis Lafreniere had a hat trick and collected two assists while Chris Kreider scored his 300th career regular-season goal for the Rangers. They’re the first team to reach 50 wins this season (50-20-4) and sit first overall with 104 points. Clayton Keller tallied his 32nd goal of the season for the 31-38-5 Coyotes.
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov scored twice and Sam Reinhart scored in a shootout in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Panthers (47-22-5) sit sixth in the overall standings with 99 points. Dylan Larkin scored to tie the game late in the third period for the 36-30-8 Red Wings, who sit two points out of the final Eastern wildcard.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Larkin had a brief injury scare when he was struck by a shot on his left leg early in the game. He returned to action in the second period and finished the game.
A shootout goal by Kevin Shattenkirk lifted the Boston Bruins over the Washington Capitals 3-2. Jeremy Swayman made 18 saves in regulation and overtime for the Bruins, who improved to 43-17-15 and sit fourth in the overall standings with 101 points. Playing in his 1,000th career regular-season game, John Carlson scored the tying goal for the Capitals (36-27-10), who vaulted over the Philadelphia Flyers into third place in the Metropolitan Division with 82 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin missed this game with a lower-body injury.
Speaking of the Flyers (36-29-10), they lost their fourth straight game as they dropped into the final Eastern wildcard with 82 points following a 5-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Philipp Kurashev, Lukas Reichel and Joey Anderson each had a goal and an assist for the 22-47-5 Blackhawks. Tyson Foerster replied for the Flyers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers head coach John Tortorella hopes this loss to the lowly Blackhawks serves as a wakeup call for his slumping club. “I think we hit the bottom tonight here,” he said. “Maybe that needs to happen for us to get back into it.”
The Dallas Stars set a franchise record with their seventh straight win by blanking the Seattle Kraken 3-0. Jake Oettinger made 17 saves for the shutout while Wyatt Johnston, Joe Pavelski and Roope Hintz scored for the Stars (47-19-9), who sit second overall with 103 points. Joey Daccord turned aside 27 shots for the 30-30-13 Stars.
Speaking of 3-0 shutouts, Pyotr Kochetkov kicked out 26 shots to backstop the Carolina Hurricanes over the Montreal Canadiens. Jordan Staal, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis were the goalscorers as the Hurricanes improved to 47-21-7 and sit third in the overall standings with 101 points. Sam Montembeault made 27 saves for the 28-33-12 Canadiens.
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk scored late in the third period as his club upset the Winnipeg Jets 3-2. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 28 shots for the 33-36-4 Senators. Jets goalie Connor Hellebucyk made 24 saves in his 500th career NHL regular-season game in a losing cause as his club sits third in the Central Division with 94 points but slipped to 44-24-6.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets’ slump continues as they’ve won three of their last 10 games.
The Calgary Flames surprised the Los Angeles Kings with a 4-2 win. Nazem Kadri led the way with a goal and an assist for the 34-34-5 Flames. Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe scored for the Kings (38-24-11) as they hold the final Western wildcard with 87 points.
A shootout goal by Damon Severson gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist and Elvis Merzlikins turned aside 30 shots for the 24-38-12 Blue Jackets. Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist for the 32-30-11 Penguins.
Four more teams clinch playoff berths, Oilers captain Connor McDavid narrows the gap in the scoring race, and Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon’s home points streak is over. Get the details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars clinched a playoff berth by defeating the Vancouver Canucks 3-1. Jamie Benn snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period and Roope Hintz had a goal and two assists for the Stars (46-19-9), who won their sixth straight game and sit second in the overall standings with 101 points. J.T. Miller replied for the 45-20-8 Canucks as they slipped to fifth overall with 98 points.
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen turned in a 24-save shutout to blank the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 as his club also secured a playoff spot. Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each had a goal and two assists for the 46-21-7 Hurricanes as they hold third place in the overall standings with 99 points. James Reimer stopped 29 shots for the Red Wings (36-30-7) as they remain two points out of the final Eastern Conference wildcard berth with 79 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wings forwards Patrick Kane and Austin Czarnik missed this game due to illness.
The Florida Panthers dropped a 3-2 decision to the New York Islanders but still clinched a postseason spot. Semyon Varlamov turned aside 26 shots while Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s tie-breaker in the second period was the game-winner. Vladimir Tarasenko and Aleksander Barkov scored for the 46-22-5 Panthers, who dropped to seventh overall with 97 points. The Islanders (31-26-15) kept their playoff hopes alive as they’re four points out of the final Eastern wildcard with 77 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers head coach Paul Maurice expressed displeasure with his team’s performance following this game. They’ve dropped six of their last seven contests. They did have some good news as defenseman Aaron Ekblad returned to action after being sidelined for the last six games.
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki reached the 30-goal plateau for the first time in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Juraj Slafkovsky extended his points streak to nine games for the Canadiens (28-32-12) as they won three straight games for the first time this season. Owen Tippett matched his career high of 27 goals for the 36-28-10 Flyers, who cling to third place in the Metropolitan Division with 82 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens’ win enabled the idle Boston Bruins (42-17-15) to clinch a playoff berth. The Bruins sit fourth in the overall standings with 99 points. Speaking of the Flyers, Ivan Fedotov had his KHL contract terminated, potentially opening the door for the 27-year-old goaltender to come to Philadelphia to begin his NHL career.
Meanwhile, the New York Rangers downed the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on a shootout goal by Vincent Trocheck. Igor Shesterkin kicked out 39 shots for the Rangers (49-20-4) as they lead the league with 102 points. Nathan MacKinnon’s home points streak ended at 35 games as the 46-21-6 Avalanche hold sixth place in the overall standings with 98 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren returned to action after missing four games with a lower-body injury.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists to lead his club over the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 4-1. Leon Draisaitl collected three assists as the Oilers improved to 44-23-4 and sit second in the Pacific Division with 92 points. Arthur Kaliyev scored for the Kings (38-23-11) as they tumbled into the final Western wildcard berth with 87 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid reached the 120-point mark for the third straight season, becoming the seventh player in NHL history to achieve this milestone. With 122 points, he’s just two points behind league leader Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning and one behind MacKinnon.
The Vegas Golden Knights got two goals from Ivan Barbashev and a 39-save effort from Logan Thompson for a 4-1 victory over the slumping Winnipeg Jets. The Golden Knights (40-25-8) vaulted over the Kings into third place in the Pacific with 88 points. Sean Monahan scored for the 44-23-6 Jets, who are winless in their last five games (0-4-1) but still hold third place in the Central Division with 94 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is starting to look like a rerun of last season where the Jets played well through most of the season only to stumble down the stretch. They’re not in danger of missing the playoffs (yet) but their recent struggles are becoming a concern for Jets followers, or at least for those in the Winnipeg media.
A hat trick by Logan Cooley carried the Arizona Coyotes to an 8-4 upset of the Nashville Predators, snapping the latter’s 18-game points streak. Clayton Keller had a goal and three assists and rookie Josh Doan collected two assists for the 31-37-5 Coyotes. Jason Zucker tallied twice for the Predators (43-26-4) as they hold the first Western wildcard with 90 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doan joined Brian Mullen and Dale Hawerchuk as the third player in franchise history with at least four points in their first two games. His father, Shane, had three points.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice to beat the Washington Capitals 5-1. Mark Giordano scored in his return to the Leafs lineup since being sidelined by a concussion on Feb. 29. The Leafs (41-22-9) hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 91 points. Nic Dowd scored for the 36-27-9 Capitals (81 points) as they still hold the final Eastern wildcard.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Following the game, the 40-year-old Giordano dedicated his goal to his father, who passed away on Feb. 15th. He’s also the second-oldest defenseman in Leafs history to score a goal. Speaking of Leafs defenseman, Timothy Liljegren missed this game with an upper-body injury and is expected to be sidelined for several more games.
The St. Louis Blues remain in the Western playoff chase with a 5-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. Pavel Buchnevich scored two goals while Jordan Binnington made 25 saves and picked up two assists for the 39-30-4 Blues (82 points) as they sit five points behind the Kings. Andrei Kuzmenko tallied twice for the Flames (33-34-5).
Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek scored his 30th goal of the season and Matt Boldy had two points to defeat the San Jose Sharks 3-1. The win kept the Wild’s fading playoff hopes alive as they improved to 35-28-9 but sit eight points behind the Kings with 79 points. The 16-48-8 Sharks have won just once in their last 10 games. They played without winger Alexander Barabanov, who is listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin scored twice and Sidney Crosby had two assists to nip the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. The Penguins (32-30-10) have won two straight. Cole Sillinger had a goal and an assist for the 23-38-12 Blue Jackets.
The Ottawa Senators got a 19-save shutout from Anton Forsberg in a 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Claude Giroux and Parker Kelly were the goalscorers for the 32-36-4 Senators. Petr Mrazek stopped 32 shots for the 21-47-5 Blackhawks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot missed this game with a lower-body injury but he’s not expected to be sidelined for long.
Three straight third-period goals lifted the Seattle Kraken over the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Jared McCann picked up three assists for the 30-29-13 Kraken. Jakob Silfverberg had a goal and an assist for the 24-45-4 Ducks.
Kings captain Anze Kopitar reaches an assist milestone, the three stars of the week are announced, Martin St. Louis returns to the Canadiens’ bench, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist as his club held off the Vancouver Canucks 3-2. Kopitar reached the 40-assist mark for the 14th time, tying Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby for the most among active players. Sam Lafferty and Brock Boeser replied for the Canucks, who slipped to 45-19-8 and dropped to second overall with 98 points. The Kings (38-22-11) sit in third place in the Pacific Division with 87 points, one behind the second-place Edmonton Oilers.
Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks missed an opportunity to become the first team to reach 100 points and clinch a playoff berth this season. Canucks center Elias Lindholm missed this game for what is believed to be a hand or wrist injury. He’s listed as day-to-day.
An overtime goal by Jonathan Marchessault lifted the Vegas Golden Knights to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Logan Thompson stopped 32 shots for the Golden Knights (39-25-7), who hold a five-point lead over the Blues for the final Western Conference wildcard berth with 85 points. Brandon Saad scored and Jordan Binnington made 32 saves for the 38-30-4 Blues.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist left this game in the second period favoring his right leg following a hit by Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid are the league’s three stars for the week ending March 24, 2024.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis has returned to the club following a two-week leave of absence to take care of a family-related matter. His son, Mason, suffered complications from an injury sustained while playing hockey in Connecticut requiring hospitalization. His condition has stabilized and he’s now recovering at home.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Anthony Duclair has been on fire since joining the Tampa Bay Lightning in a trade from the San Jose Sharks earlier this month. He has points in all seven of his games with the Lightning.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of the Sharks, winger Mike Hoffman has been sidelined since March 9 recovering from a concussion following a hit from Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk. Meanwhile, rookie defenseman Ty Emberson’s season may be over due to a lower-body laceration suffered on Feb. 29.
ARIZONA SPORTS: The Coyotes recalled forward Josh Doan from their AHL affiliate. The 22-year-old is the son of former Coyotes star Shane Doan.
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Jaromir Jagr bobblehead dolls stolen on their way to Pittsburgh have been recovered. The 18,000 dolls were to be handed out during a game on March 14 at PPG Paints Arena. Fans who received vouchers for the dolls can redeem them during a drive-through event at the arena on Apr. 6.
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