NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 5, 2025
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 5, 2025
Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky for the most regular-season goals in league history, Patrick Kane sets a scoring record for American-born players, injury updates, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF FRIDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored twice to tie Wayne Gretzky for the most regular-season goals in league history (894) in a 5-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. John Carlson collected three assists and Dylan Strome had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (107 points), who moved within one point of the league-leading Winnipeg Jets in the overall standings. Blackhawks rookies Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore and Landon Slaggert each had two points.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a stellar game for Ovechkin, who tied the record with Gretzky in attendance. The Washington captain tallied his 894th goal in his 1,486th regular-season game, one game fewer than when Gretzky concluded his 20-season NHL career in 1999. His next opportunity to break the record is Sunday against the New York Islanders.
Ovechkin also set the record for the most 40-goal seasons (14) and the most career game-winning goals with 136, moving past Jaromir Jagr. The 39-year-old Capitals superstar is the second-oldest player to score 40 goals in a season. Gordie Howe holds that record, doing so at age 40 in 1968-69.
Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson missed this game with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss at least the next two games.
The Detroit Red Wings kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3. Patrick Kane scored his 20th goal of the season while Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin each had two points. Jaccob Slavin picked up two assists for the Hurricanes, whose three-game win streak ended. The Wings (77 points) are four points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth while the Hurricanes sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 96 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane reached the 20-goal plateau for the 17th time, passing Mike Modano for the most 20-goal seasons by an American-born NHL player. Meanwhile, Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov missed this game with an undisclosed injury.
New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, snapping a six-game winless skid (0-4-2). Ilya Sorokin stopped 27 shots for the Islanders (76 points), who moved within five points of the Canadiens in the wild-card race. Mats Zuccarello replied for the Wild, who’ve dropped four straight (0-2-2) but remain in the final Western Conference wild card with 89 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Wild are five points ahead of the Calgary Flames but they’ve been slumping for weeks, causing them to slide in the standings. They’re in danger of being overtaken by the Flames before the end of the regular season (April 17).
HEADLINES
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers star Leon Draisaitl will miss Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings with a lower-body injury. He’s expected to be sidelined short term but there’s no timetable for his return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers are also without captain Connor McDavid, defenseman Mattias Ekholm, and starting goaltender Stuart Skinner.
THE WINNIPEG SUN: On Thursday, Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers suffered a lower-body injury against the Vegas Golden Knights. However, he could return to action on Saturday against the Utah Hockey Club.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars head coach Pete DeBoer listed team captain Jamie Benn (undisclosed) as doubtful for Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
STLTODAY.COM: St. Louis Blues winger Dylan Holloway is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Holloway played a crucial role in the Blues’ recent surge in the standings. He should be ready to return before the playoffs start on April 19.
SPORTSNET: Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kampf and Jake McCabe will miss Saturday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with injuries.
SAN JOSE HOCKEY NOW: Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky will be the bench boss for Team USA at the 2025 World Championships.