
Dallas Stars winger Patrick Sharp scores one of his two goals against NY Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist on Tuesday night.
Game recaps, Islanders to speak with Gerard Gallant & more in your NHL morning coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: The Dallas Stars scored seven goals on New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and hung on for a 7-6 win. The Rangers rallied back from a 7-3 deficit, but Kari Lehtonen replaced Antti Niemi (who gave up six Rangers goals) in the third period to ensure the Stars’ victory. Lundqvist was pulled in favor of Magnus Hellberg to start the third.
Patrick Sharp scored twice while Jamie Benn and Patrick Eaves each had a goal and two assists for the Stars. Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello each had three points for the Rangers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There’s growing concern among Rangers’ followers over Lundqvist’s declining play this season. The usually reliable “King Henrik” has given up 16 goals on 76 shots over his last seven periods of play. His 2.89 goals-against average and .902 save percentage this season are well off his career totals (2.31, .920). Age (34) and his heavy workload over the last 11 seasons could be catching up with him.
Ryan Miller made 30 saves and Henrik Sedin scored the only goal as the Vancouver Canucks edged the Nashville Predators 1-0. The goal was Sedin’s 999th career NHL point.
The Toronto Maple Leafs overcame a 2-0 deficit to down the Buffalo Sabres 4-3. It was a costly win for the Leafs, as defenseman Morgan Rielly left the game in the first period with an injury to his right leg. Rielly will be reevaluated later today.
Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman each scored twice to give the Ottawa Senators a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Earlier in the day, the Blues learned defenseman Brad Hunt was claimed off waivers by the Nashville Predators.
Chicago Blackhawks rookies Vinnie Hinostroza and Tanner Kero each scored two goals to give their club a 6-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Matt Duchene scored twice for the Avs.
Mikael Backlund and Mark Giordano had three-point performances to lead the Calgary Flames to a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers.
After missing the last three games to illness, Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 24 saves to backstop his club to a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Brandon Dubinsky scored twice for the Jackets.
Rickard Rakell’s overtime goal gave the Anaheim Ducks a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Beau Bennett’s late third-period goal lifted the New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild, extending the Devils win streak to three games.
YAHOO SPORTS: Various reports claim the New York Islanders have permission to speak with former Florida Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant. The Islanders yesterday fired coach Jack Capuano and replaced him on an interim basis with assistant general manager Doug Weight. There’s no indication if they’re close to hiring a permanent replacement.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: If Gallant is interested in taking over as the Islanders bench boss, GM Garth Snow shouldn’t waste any time hiring him. The former Panthers coach was a finalist last season for the Jack Adams Award. He’s bound to attract interest from other NHL clubs in the offseason.
WINNIPEG SUN: With the goalie tandem of Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson struggling, the Winnipeg Jets recalled former starter Ondrej Pavelec from the minors.
MLIVE.COM: Detroit Red Wings winger Tomas Tatar’s been managing a nagging shoulder ailment since last season. He will probably require offseason surgery to fix the problem.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tatar claims it’s not affecting his shooting, but this would explain the decline in his scoring since his career-best 29-goal, 56-point performance in 2014-15.
TRIBLIVE.COM: Pittsburgh Penguins center Matt Cullen could miss three-to-four weeks with a foot injury.
THE MERCURY NEWS: The San Jose Sharks placed forward Joonas Donskoi (upper-body injury) on injured reserve.
IIHF.COM: Former NHL stars Joe Sakic, Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu are among those to be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Hall of Fame this year.