NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 15, 2019
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 15, 2019
Game recaps, stars of the week, bye week schedule released, Ducks trade Andrew Cogliano to the Stars, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: Goaltender Frederik Andersen’s return from a groin injury couldn’t prevent the Toronto Maple Leafs from dropping a 6-3 decision to the Colorado Avalanche. Carl Soderberg led the way for the Avs with a hat trick. The Leafs have lost four of their last six. Defenseman Jake Gardiner was the target of unhappy Toronto boo-birds, prompting his teammates to come to his defense in post-game interviews.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gardiner didn’t have a good game but that loss wasn’t solely his fault. The Leafs didn’t play well in this game and haven’t looked good in most of their last six contests.
A four-point performance by Patrick Kane couldn’t prevent the Chicago Blackhawks from falling 8-5 to the New Jersey Devils. Kyle Palmieri and Blake Coleman each scored twice and Travis Zajac collected three points for the Devils, handing the Blackhawks their fourth straight loss.

James van Riemsdyk’s hat trick carried the Philadelphia Flyers to a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Wild (Photo via NHL Images).
James van Riemsdyk tallied a hat trick as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Minnesota Wild 7-4. Wayne Simmonds and Nolan Patrick each scored twice for the Flyers.
The St. Louis Blues got their first three-game win streak of the season by downing the Washington Capitals 4-1. Blues winger David Perron scored a goal to extend his points streak to 11 games. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin netted his league-leading 33rd goal while teammate Brooks Orpik played his 1,000th career NHL game.
Jeff Petry potted the game-winner in overtime as the Montreal Canadiens edged the Boston Bruins 3-2. Canadiens goalie Carey Price kicked out 41 shots.
Edmonton Oilers forwards Zach Kassian and Milan Lucic each scored twice in a 7-2 beatdown of the Buffalo Sabres. Oilers netminder Mikko Koskinen made 41 stops.
Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano, St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington, and Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jake Guentzel are the NHL’s three stars for the week ending Jan. 13.
The NHL also released its bye week schedule.
THE SCORE: Details have emerged over the incident that resulted in the Columbus Blue Jackets withholding goalie Sergei Bobrovsky from last Thursday’s game against Nashville. After being pulled during Tuesday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Bobrovsky went straight to the dressing room, removed his equipment, showered and changed into street clothes rather than return to the bench. Following the game, several players pulled Bobrovsky aside and spoke with him before the team’s flight.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report indicates Jackets coach John Tortorella was furious with Bobrovsky, as his antics left the club without a backup for Joonas Korpisalo in case he had to exit the game. It’s been a frustrating season for Bobrovsky but that doesn’t excuse his actions. Following a team meeting on Friday, Bobrovsky apologized and claimed he and the team put the incident behind them.
TSN: The Anaheim Ducks traded winger Andrew Cogliano to the Dallas Stars for center Devin Shore.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With the Ducks having dropped 11 straight games, general manager Bob Murray has decided to shake up his roster a bit rather than fire head coach Bob Murray. They’ve dealt away experience and durability in Cogliano for a younger, faster and less expensive forward in Shore, who has just 17 points in 42 games. The Stars will look to Cogliano to provide a boost to a leadership core that recently came under criticism from team CEO Jim Lites.
NBC SPORTS: The San Jose Sharks re-signed winger Marcus Sorensen to a two-year contract worth an annual average value of $1.5 million.
SPORTSNET: The Nashville Predators and New York Rangers made a minor-league swap, with the Predators sending forward Connor Brickley to the Rangers for Cole Schneider.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: Former NHL defenseman Josh Gorges announced his retirement. He spent 13 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens, and Buffalo Sabres. He had 124 points in 783 regular season games and nine points in 68 postseason contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gorges spent over seven seasons with the Canadiens and became one of the league’s better defensive blueliners during that time.