NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 8, 2017

by | Jan 8, 2017



NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 8, 2017

Winnipeg Jets rookie Patrik Laine (right) is rocked by Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe.

Game recaps, Patrik Laine and T.J. Oshie sidelined & more in your NHL morning coffee headlines. 

NHL.COM: The Buffalo Sabres rallied from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Winnipeg Jets 4-3, but their victory was overshadowed by Jets rookie star Patrik Laine being knocked out of the game by a clean open-ice hit from Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Jets are expected to provide an update later today on Laine’s condition, but he may have suffered a concussion. Jets coach Paul Maurice said he had no issue with the hit. This could be a significant setback for the Jets if Laine, their leading scorer, is sidelined for a lengthy period of time. 

Michael Grabner netted the game-winner late in the third period as the New York Rangers overcame a 4-1 deficit to edge the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4, handing the latter their second straight loss following their 16-game winning streak. Grabner and teammate Adam Clendening each scored twice for the Blueshirts. 

Playing with seven regulars out of the lineup didn’t prevent the Montreal Canadiens from beating the Toronto Maples for the 13th straight time, downing the Leafs 5-3. It was the 400th career NHL victory for Habs coach Michel Therrien. Alex Radulov, Shea Weber and Jeff Petry all collected two points for the Canadiens, while Leafs winger Mitch Marner had three assists. 

Braden Holtby made 30 saves, T.J. Oshie scored the only goal and Nicklas Backstrom collected his 500th career NHL assist as the Washington Capitals nipped the Ottawa Senators 1-0. Oshie later left the game with an upper-body injury and will be re-evaluated on Sunday. 

Joe Pavelski scored twice, including his 600th career NHL point, as the San Jose Sharks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Before the game, the Sharks honored the California Golden Seals, the first NHL team to play in the Bay Area. 

Tanner Pearson’s overtime goal lifted the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. Jeff Carter had a goal and two assists for the Kings, while teammates Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin each collected two points. Mikko Koivu also had a two-point performance for the Wild. 

Brad Marchand scored twice and Tuukka Rask turned in a 25-save shutout effort as the Boston Bruins blanked the Florida Panthers 4-0. 

Paul Stastny scored twice, including the winning goal, to give the St. Louis Blues a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars. 

Four second-period goals lifted the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-2 win over the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning, handing the latter their third straight defeat. Flyers goalie Michal Neuvirth made 24 saves in his return from a lower-body injury, snapping his club’s five-game winless streak. 

Mark Letestu’s overtime goal gave the Edmonton Oilers a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. It was the first time Devils winger Taylor Hall faced his former team but he was held scoreless. Earlier in the day, the Devils placed center Jacob Josefson (illness) on injured reserve. 

Chad Johnson turned in a 28-save effort to backstop the Calgary Flames to a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. 

Louis Domingue made 27 saves while Anthony Duclair and Radim Vrbata scored in a shootout as the Arizona Coyotes snapped a nine-game losing skid with a 2-1 win over the New York Islanders. 

NBC SPORTS:  The Nashville Predators placed winger James Neal on injured reserve. 










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 17, 2016

by | Dec 17, 2016



NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 17, 2016

Goaltender Carey Price shoots a glare down the Montreal Canadiens' bench after being pulled from their game against the San Jose Sharks on Friday.

Goaltender Carey Price shoots a glare down the Montreal Canadiens’ bench after being pulled from their game against the San Jose Sharks on Friday.

Game recaps, latest suspensions, injury updates and more in your NHL morning coffee headlines. 

NHL.com:  The San Jose Sharks doubled up the Montreal Canadiens 4-2, chasing goaltender Carey Price in the second period after he gave up four goals on 18 shots. Price wasn’t pleased, shooting an angry look down his team’s bench as he left the ice. Sharks rookie Timo Meier scored his first NHL goal. The Canadiens were without Andrew Shaw, who is sidelined for two games with concussion-like symptoms. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: None of the goals allowed by Price were his fault, as he was left hung out to dry by his teammates. However, his dirty look down the Habs bench as he left the game had talking heads in Montreal comparing it to Patrick Roy’s actions in his infamous final game with the Canadiens. There’s no comparison. Price didn’t make a scene or publicly proclaim he’s played his last game as a Hab. However, when the usually unflappable Price shows any sign of anger or frustration, it’s cause for chatter among some in the Montreal media. 

Rookie blueliner Zach Werenski collected two assists as the Columbus Blue Jackets picked up their eighth consecutive victory by defeating the Calgary Flames 4-1. Werenski now has 20 points this season. 

Tyler Toffoli scored in overtime and Peter Budaj made 39 saves to lead the Los Angeles Kings to a 1-0 blanking of the Pittsburgh Penguins, snapping the latter’s seven-game winning streak. 

Shootout goals by T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov gave the Washington Capitals a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Alex Ovechkin tallied his team-leading 14th goal of the season for the Capitals, while Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho each had two points for the Hurricanes. 

Alex Burrows scored and set up another and Ryan Miller made 25 saves as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2. The Canucks also inducted former defenseman Mattias Ohlund into their Ring of Honour. Ohlund played 11 of his 13 NHL seasons with the Canucks, followed by two with the Lightning. The Bolts were without forwards Nikita Kucherov (lower-body injury) and Ondrej Palat (undisclosed). 

Jason Demers had a goal and an assists and James Reimer made 30 saves to give the Florida Panthers a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. 

Rasmus Ristolainen’s overtime goal lifted the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders. 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: After leading the NHL last season with 46 goals, Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane is currently on pace for only 20. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane is tied for the Blackhawks’ point lead with 29. However, he’s currently on track for only 75 points, a considerable decline from his career-high of 106 last season. 

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars forward Cody Eakin received a four-game suspension for a “high, hard hit” on New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. 

THE MERCURY NEWS:  Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman received a two-game suspension for cross-checking San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture, while Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic was fined $5000.00 for dangerous use of his stick against Senators’ defenseman Erik Karlsson. The incidents occurred during the Sharks-Senators game two days ago. 

TORONTO SUN:  Maple Leafs defenseman Martin Marincin is on injured reserve four-to-six weeks with a lower-back injury. 

SPORTSNET:  A documentary on the California Golden Seals is expected to be released in January on ITunes.