NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 22, 2025

by | Dec 22, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – December 22, 2025

Sidney Crosby surpasses Mario Lemieux as the Penguins’ all-time points leader, Oilers captain Connor McDavid overtakes Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for the lead in the scoring race, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Sidney Crosby scored and collected an assist to surpass Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ all-time points leader (1,724) in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Rickard Rakell also had a goal and an assist and tallied the game-winner as the Penguins (15-11-9) ended an eight-game winless skid (0-4-4). Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, and Juraj Slafkovsky each had two points for the 19-12-5 Canadiens.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Crosby also moved past Lemieux into eighth place among the NHL’s all-time points leaders. He needs 32 points to surpass Steve Yzerman (1,755) for seventh. Crosby now needs 46 goals to break Lemieux’s all-time franchise goals record of 690.

Lemieux applauded Crosby’s achievement in a 30-second video message that was played later in the first period. Crosby was humble after the game, praising Lemieux for what he’s done for the Penguins. “I don’t think you can put a stat line or a number on what he means to this team and to hockey, so yeah, in my mind, he’s No. 1,” Crosby said.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens announced goaltender Sam Montembeault will rejoin the roster ahead of next Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Montembeault was loaned to the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Laval last week on a conditioning stint.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored for the fourth straight game and collected two assists as his club held off the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 4-3. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tallied twice and collected an assist, and Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman each had two points for the 18-13-6 Oilers, who’ve won seven of their last 10 games. Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin each had three points for the Golden Knights (16-8-10), who are winless in their last three games (0-2-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid has overtaken Nathan MacKinnon, sitting in first place in the scoring race with 62 points, one ahead of the Colorado Avalanche center.

Oilers forward Trent Frederic was a healthy scratch from this game. The club also announced that goaltender Tristan Jarry will be out for two weeks with an injury, and activated winger Jack Roslovic from long-term injury reserve.

Speaking of MacKinnon, he scored twice to become the first player to reach 30 goals this season in a 5-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. Cale Makar and Brock Nelson each had a goal and two assists for the 26-2-7 Avalanche, who’ve won five straight games and remain in first place in the overall standings with 59 points. Ryan Hartman replied for the Wild (22-10-5) as their seven-game win streak ended.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon had led the points race for weeks and seemed poised to run away with the Art Ross Trophy. McDavid’s surge in recent weeks indicates this could be an exciting race over the second half of the season.

An overtime goal by Moritz Seider lifted the Detroit Red Wings over the Washington Capitals 3-2. Cam Talbot made 31 saves for the Red Wings (21-13-3), as they hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 45 points. Ethen Frank scored both goals for the 19-12-5 Capitals, who have two wins in their last seven contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings forward Patrick Kane missed his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss Tuesday’s match against the Dallas Stars. Meanwhile, the Wings removed Mason Appleton from injured reserve after a 10-game absence.

The Ottawa Senators defeated the Boston Bruins 6-2. Fabian Zetterlund scored two goals and picked up an assist while Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens each had a goal and two assists for the Senators (18-13-4), as they collected their fourth straight win. David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha tallied for the 20-16-1 Bruins, who are 1-3-1 in their last five contests.

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 26 shots as his club extended its win streak to six games with a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Josh Norris, Zach Benson, and Peyton Krebs scored for the 17-14-4 Sabres. Jack Hughes scored for the Devils (20-15-1).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was Hughes’ first game since missing 18 games with an injured hand. Speaking of the Sabres, it has been confirmed that they’ve added Marc Bergevin as associate general manager and Josh Flynn as assistant GM.

Nashville Predators winger Filip Forsberg scored to extend his points streak to eight games as his club nipped the New York Rangers 2-1. Steven Stamkos also scored for the Predators (15-16-4), who have won five of their last seven contests. Jonny Brodzinski replied for the 18-16-4 Rangers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Rangers were without team captain J.T. Miller, who is considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

The Dallas Stars picked up their fourth straight win by downing the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1. Jake Oettinger made 27 saves, and Jamie Benn had a goal and an assist for the 25-7-5 Stars. Scott Laughton scored for the Maple Leafs (15-15-5), who have lost four of their last five games.

An overtime goal by Clayton Keller gave the Utah Mammoth a 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Keller and Mikhail Sergachev each finished with two points for the Mammoth, who improved to 18-17-3. Kyle Connor scored two goals for the (15-17-3) Jets, who have three wins in their last 16 games.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 5, 2025

by | Aug 5, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 5, 2025

Check out the latest on Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk, Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, Islanders prospect Matthew Schaefer, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: On Monday, the NHL announced that Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk will be on the cover of EA Sports’ NHL26 videogame.

Tkachuk is the second Panther to be on the cover of EA Sports’ hockey game. Goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck graced the cover of NHL97, following Florida’s surprise run to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Follow this link to see the complete list of every EA Sports NHL cover star.

NHL.COM: Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen said he’s fully recovered from his knee injury and is looking forward to the coming season.

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (NHL Images).

“I’m 100 percent back to normal after the surgery,” Heiskanen said. “I’ve been able to practice all summer as usual.”

The 26-year-old defenseman said his knee got some rest following last season, adding that his confidence has returned to where it used to be now that he can practice as he used to.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As the article suggests, that’s good news for the Stars and Finland’s 2026 Men’s Olympic hockey team. Heiskanen is currently participating in Finland’s Olympic orientation camp.

DAILY FACEOFF: New York Islanders prospect Matthew Schaefer signed his three-year entry-level contract on Monday. The 17-year-old defenseman was chosen first overall by the Isles in the 2025 NHL Draft.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: cited a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman indicating the bid by a group led by Mario Lemieux to repurchase the Pittsburgh Penguins is well below what the current ownership group wants.

Lemieux and his business partners sold the Penguins in 2021 to Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for a reported $900 million. Friedman speculates their asking price would be around $1.8 billion.

TSN: Former NHL forward Jimmy Vesey signed a two-year contract with Geneve-Surette HC in Switzerland.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was reported last week that Vesey was considering offers from several teams in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. The 32-year-old forward spent last season split between the New York Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche. He has 101 goals and 194 points in 626 NHL regular-season games.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks signed 23-year-old forward Sam Colangelo to a two-year contract extension. It’s a two-way deal for the coming season and a one-way deal in 2026-27 with an average annual value of $850,000.

NEW YORK POST: Seattle Kraken forward John Hayden and team mascot Buoy were filming a promotional video while fishing in Alaska when a grizzly bear charged them and the film crew.

“I want to blame it on Buoy,” joked Hayden. “They (the bears) were pretty interested in his whole look. We got out of it OK, but it was a close call.”

THE SEATTLE TIMES: Speaking of the Kraken, they announced the hiring of Ryan Jankowski as their new assistant general manager. Jankowski has spent several years with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Utah Mammoth in various front-office roles, including four seasons as assistant GM with the Islanders.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: recently reported that the Sabres hope to stage an outdoor game at Highmark Stadium. One date they could consider is Jan. 1, 2028, which would be the 20th anniversary of the first NHL Winter Classic, held at what was then Ralph Wilson Stadium between the Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 29, 2025

by | Jul 29, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 29, 2025

The latest on Mario Lemieux’s attempt to repurchase the Penguins, an update on Jets defenseman Dylan Samberg’s arbitration filing, the Canadiens avoid arbitration with Jayden Struble, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe provides more details behind the attempt to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins by a group led by Mario Lemieux.

Lemieux was co-owner of the franchise with partners Ron Burkle and David Morehouse from 1999 until 2021, when they sold the majority stake to Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for $900 million.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins captain and co-owner Mario Lemieux (NHL.com).

The Lemieux group has not yet made an offer or discussed one with FSG. Yohe anticipates those talks could be coming soon.

FSG is reportedly only seeking a minority investor to join in its ownership of the Penguins. However, the Lemieux group prefers a majority stake in the team.

According to Yohe, expansion is one reason behind the Lemieux group’s interest in buying back the Penguins. The NHL is expected to add two new teams within the next couple of years, with Houston and Atlanta mentioned as potential destinations. Each team could pay as much as $2 billion in expansion fees, which would be evenly split among the existing 32 franchises.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe anticipates FSG’s asking price for the Penguins will be much higher than the $900 million they paid for the franchise.

Sportico had the Penguins’ value at $1.47 billion last October. Statistica has its current value at $1.75 billion.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported Dylan Samberg and the Jets have filed their arbitration numbers for the 2025-26 season.

The Samberg camp set their number at $6 million, while the Jets settled at $2.5 million. His arbitration hearing is set for Wednesday, July 30.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That’s a significant gap between the two sides. Nevertheless, they could reach an agreement before Wednesday’s hearing.

Samberg completed a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.4 million. If this goes before an arbitrator, he will receive a one-year contract, making him eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens avoided arbitration with defenseman Jayden Struble as the two sides agreed to a two-year, one-way contract worth an AAV of $1.412 million. Struble, 23, was slated to have an arbitration hearing on August 3.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Samberg and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson are the only players with scheduled arbitration hearings. Robertson’s is slated for August 2.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Aaron Ekblad remains pleased that he and the Panthers were able to get a contract extension done. The 28-year-old defenseman was eligible to become a UFA on July 1, but the two sides agreed to an eight-year, $48.8 million extension on June 30.

Some insiders reported there was a sense that Ekblad and the Panthers were far apart in contract negotiations, sparking speculation he’d end up on the open market. He admitted the signing was a huge weight off his shoulders that he’d been carrying last season, but he wasn’t close to leaving the Panthers.

“It was always Florida,” Ekblad said. “I don’t think you guys understand; Florida is home.” He added that it meant the world to him to spend his entire NHL career with one team, adding that he has a lot of pride and expectations for his career over the next eight years.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekblad has been the linchpin of the Panthers’ defense corps. His contract could become burdensome to their salary cap over the final years of the deal, as could those of Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand, who the Panthers also re-signed.

Nevertheless, the Panthers felt it was worthwhile to keep their Stanley Cup window open, especially with the salary cap projected to rise significantly in the next several years.

RG.ORG: Anaheim Ducks prospect forward Beckett Sennecke had a big season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. Chosen third overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, he had 86 points in 56 regular-season games in 2024-25, followed by 32 points in 18 playoff games as the Generals reached the OHL Finals.

The Ducks have maintained close contact with Sennecke, helping him improve his strength and puck protection. He will remain patient, saying he’s open to whatever path they believe is best for his development.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sennecke, 19, could make the jump this season if he has a strong training camp and preseason.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 15, 2025

by | Jul 15, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 15, 2025

The 2025-26 season-opener is released, the Sabres avoid arbitration with Bowen Byram, an ownership group led by Mario Lemieux is interested in buying the Penguins, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The 2025-26 regular season will kick off with a triple-header starting Tuesday, Oct. 7.

The first game of the season features the Florida Panthers raising their 2024-25 Stanley Cup banner at home as they host the Chicago Blackhawks.

The second game sees the New York Rangers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the evening concludes with the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Los Angeles Kings.

The full regular-season schedule will be released on Wednesday, July 16.

THE BUFFALO NEWS: The Sabres avoided arbitration with defenseman Bowen Byram as the two sides agreed to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $6.25 million.

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Byram, 24, will be eligible for unrestricted free-agent status at the end of this contract. He was the subject of frequent trade speculation since last season. The Sabres could still move him, but for now, he’s part of their plans for this season.

The signing leaves the Sabres with over $7.3 million in cap space. Restricted free agents Devon Levi and Conor Timmins remain unsigned, with the latter awaiting the date for his arbitration hearing.

THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe reports that a group led by former NHL owner and superstar Mario Lemieux remains very interested in purchasing the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Lemieux spent his entire 17-season NHL career with the Penguins. He co-owned the club from 1999 to 2021.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG) released a statement earlier this year indicating they have no interest in selling the Penguins. Nevertheless, the Lemieux group is considering its financial options and avenues to regain control of the club at some point.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe’s source also stated that the Lemieux group expects the NHL will add two expansion teams over the next several years, resulting in a significant windfall for the existing 32 clubs.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: As the 2024-25 Panthers have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup (many for the second straight year), columnist Alan Greenberg reflected on his 17 seasons covering the team, and how far they’ve come from the first 12 years that he followed them.

During that period, they were among the league’s bottom feeders. Ownership didn’t provide the funds to add top free-agent talent, and the franchise was generally not a desirable place to play. The arena was less than half full for most games, media coverage was scarce, and there were rumors of relocating the franchise to Quebec City.

Things began to turn around when the Viola family took over in 2013. Former general manager Dale Tallon drafted core players like Aleksander Barkov and Aaron Ekblad, and signed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Bill Zito, Tallon’s successor, built up the franchise by acquiring notable players like Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Carter Verhaeghe and Gustav Forsling, and hiring head coach Paul Maurice.

Today, the Panthers sell out their home arena, receive more local and national coverage, and merchandise sales are booming. The players form a close-knit group, fostering a positive atmosphere within the team.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: From 1993-94 to 2019-20, the Panthers reached the playoffs six times over those 26 years. Since 2020-21, they’ve been a perennial playoff team, reaching the Stanley Cup Final three straight times and winning back-to-back championships since 2023-24.

The rise of the Panthers is primarily attributed to Zito’s appointment as general manager. In five years, he built upon the foundation left by Tallon, turning a laughingstock into a dominant franchise poised to become the first true Stanley Cup dynasty (three consecutive championships) since the 1980-82 New York Islanders.

THE ATHLETIC’s Kevin Kurz reports Philadelphia Flyers winger Tyson Foerster continues to rehab an injured tendon near his elbow. He will undergo an MRI next week to check on the infection that developed following the injury.

The Flyers hope Foerster will be ready to start the season, but plenty of uncertainty remains.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets avoided arbitration with RFA forward Morgan Barron, signing him to a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.85 million.

Negotiations continue between Jets management and winger Gabriel Vilardi and defenseman Dylan Samberg. Like Barron, they filed for salary arbitration on July 5.

NYI HOCKEY NOW: The Islanders signed forward Victor Eklund to a three-year entry-level contract. Eklund was chosen 16th overall in last month’s NHL Draft and was one of three first-rounders by the Isles.

SPORTSNET: The Edmonton Oilers have shifted Paul Coffey from an assistant coach to an advisory role in the front office. They added Paul McFarland as power-play coach, Peter Aubry as their goaltending coach, and Connor Allen as a skills development coach.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 12, 2025

by | Jun 12, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 12, 2025

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar wins the Norris Trophy, an update on the Rangers’ efforts to trade Chris Kreider to the Ducks, the latest on the Panthers and Oilers on the eve of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Cale Makar is the winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman for 2024-25. It’s the second time the 26-year-old Colorado Avalanche blueliner has taken home this award, having won in 2021-22.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Makar has been the NHL’s dominant defenseman since 2020-21. In addition to winning the Norris twice, he’s been a finalist three times (2020-21, 2022-23, 2023-24). He joins Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins as the only active multiple Norris Trophy winner.

Since Makar’s NHL debut in 2019-20, he leads all defensemen with 428 points and 24 game-winning goals, sits fourth in takeaways (295) and sixth in 5v5 puck possession (55.5 percent shot attempt percentage) among defensemen with 300-plus games played.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks reports the Rangers have an agreement in principle on a trade that would send winger Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks. Now, they await his blessing.

Anaheim is on Kreider’s 15-team no-trade list, but his camp permitted the Rangers to hold trade discussions with the Ducks. As of Tuesday night, the 33-year-old winger hadn’t signed off on the deal, but Brooks cited an Anaheim source saying it was a fait accompli.

Should the deal go through as expected, it will be a straightforward salary dump by the Rangers. The Ducks will take on Kreider’s full $6.5 million average annual value through 2026-27, while the Rangers would receive prospect Carey Terrance.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s rumored the Rangers could also receive a third or fourth-round pick in the deal.

**UPDATE**

Kreider approved the trade. The Rangers send him and a 2025 third-round pick to the Ducks for Terrance and a 2025 fourth-rounder.

Brooks believes Rangers forward Miko Zibanejad could be amenable to waiving his no-movement clause if Kreider is traded, pointing out that the pair are close friends.

Moving Zibanejad might not be as easy as trading Kreider. He has five years remaining on his contract with an average annual value of $8.5 million.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Florida Panthers host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Leading the best-of-seven series 2-1, the Panthers have an opportunity to take a commanding 3-1 lead with a win.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch isn’t expected to reveal his starting goaltender for Game 4 until Thursday morning. Starter Stuart Skinner has a perfect 6-0 record in his previous Game 4s, while backup Calvin Pickard is a perfect 6-0 in this postseason.

NHL.COM: The Oilers could replace defenseman John Klingberg with Troy Stecher for Game 4. Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury. He had the same status in Game 3, but played 15:34 in that contest.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Game 4 is the pivotal contest. An Edmonton win ties the series, turning it into a best-of-three with the Oilers holding home-ice advantage if it goes the distance. A Panthers victory puts them in a position to win their second straight Stanley Cup in Game 5.

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the NHL and NHL Players’ Association are getting closer to a CBA extension.

They’ve been meeting in Florida during the Stanley Cup Final and, while issues remain, it’s expected a deal could be completed soon. LeBrun speculates it could be done in time to present to the Board of Governors meeting on June 25.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: If it reaches that stage, the CBA extension could supersede the current agreement, slated to expire in September 2026. James Mirtle of The Athletic suggested the deal would run to September 2030.

Reports suggest there would be few significant changes in the next CBA. The most notable would be adjusting the long-term injury reserve (LTIR) rules to address the issue of playoff contenders using LTIR to bolster their rosters at the trade deadline.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Former Penguins owners Mario Lemieux, Ron Burkle and David Morehouse are reportedly interested in purchasing a minority stake in the franchise. They sold the club to Fenway Sports Group in 2021 for $900 million.

It was initially reported that the Lemieux group was investigating the possibility of buying back the Penguins. Still, FSG reiterated that they’re only interested in selling a minority share to raise capital as they develop the property around PPG Paints Arena.

THE SCORE: An Atlanta group eyeing NHL expansion has received agreements from the Forsyth County Commission for a $3 billion project that includes the construction of an NHL-ready arena.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rumors have swirled suggesting the NHL could soon return to Atlanta. The league has played coy on the matter, and building a new arena doesn’t guarantee the arrival of an NHL franchise. Nevertheless, it’s only a matter of time.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators revealed a new-look third jersey for 2025-26. It will be themed in red with metallic black and gold striping.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 2, 2021

by | Apr 2, 2021

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 2, 2021

A five-point performance by the Islanders Mathew Barzal, three more Canucks games are postponed by COVID-19 protocols, division stars and rookie of the month for March are announced, Nathan MacKinnon fined, and more in today’s NHL morning coffee headlines

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Mathew Barzal’s hat trick carried the New York Islanders to an 8-4 romp over the Washington Capitals. Barzal finished with five points while teammate Jordan Eberle scored twice. John Carlson tallied twice for the Capitals, who lost goaltender Ilya Samsonov early in the first period following an accidental collision with teammate T.J. Oshie. The Islanders are tied with the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins with 50 points but the Capitals remain in first place in the MassMutual East Division on the basis of a game in hand.

New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (NHL Images).

The Penguins, meanwhile, rode a 30-save performance by goaltender Casey DeSmith to a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins. Pittsburgh forward Branden Tanev returned to the lineup after missing six games and picked up an assist. The Penguins have won five straight but sit in third place behind the Islanders as the latter has two more regulation wins. Boston defenseman Brandon Carlo left the game with an upper-body injury. The Bruins sit fourth in the vision with 41 points, three ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers.

Speaking of the Rangers, they edged the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 on an overtime goal by Mika Zibanejad. Artemi Panarin collected two assists for the Blueshirts while Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski kicked out 44 shots. The Rangers are tied with the Flyers with 38 points but the latter holds fifth place with a game in hand.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The East division is getting quite interesting. The Penguins have surged to jockey with the Capitals and Islanders for first place, the Bruins are clinging to fourth place but are being threatened by the Rangers, who could soon surpass the struggling Flyers.

Third-period goals by Ross Colton and Brayden Point 66 seconds apart lifted the Tampa Bay Lightning past the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 to snap a three-game losing streak. Point had two goals on the night while Andrei Vasilevskiy turned aside 36 shots. Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist for the Jackets. With 52 points, the Lightning holds onto first place in the Discover Central Division. The Jackets (36 points) remain in sixth place in the division, three points back of the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks.

An overtime goal by Alex Wennberg gave the Florida Panthers a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Frank Vatrano scored the tying goal and collected an assist on Wennberg’s winner. The Panthers also have 52 points but remain in second place in the Central as the Lightning hold a game in hand.

The Carolina Hurricanes got a late goal by Jesper Fast to nip Chicago 4-3 and sit one point behind the Lightning and Panthers. Warren Foegele tallied twice for the Hurricanes. The Blackhawks remain tied with Nashville with 39 points but the latter holds fourth place in the Central on the basis of regulation wins.

As for the Predators, they missed an opportunity to open a lead over the Blackhawks as their six-game win streak ended in a 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Joe Pavelski collected two assists for the Stars (34 points), who sit five behind the Predators and Blackhawks.

A shootout goal by Kevin Fiala lifted the Minnesota Wild past the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 3-2. Cam Talbot had a 35-save performance while Kirill Kapizov had a goal and an assist for the Wild (46 points), who moved within four points of second-place Vegas in the Honda West Division. The Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche each have 50 points but the latter holds first place because of regulation wins.

The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-1 as Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault each had a goal and an assist. Jake Allen made 23 saves for the Habs, who hold a six-point lead for fourth place over the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks with 41 points.

HEADLINES

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is the star of the month for March in the Discover Central Division. Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer is the Honda West star of the month. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby took home the honor for the MassMutual East Division while Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is the Scotia North Division star for March.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was named the NHL’s rookie of the month for March 2021.

The Vancouver Canucks have had three additional games postponed as forwards Adam Gaudette and Travis Hamonic and a member of the coaching staff were placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list earlier this week.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gaudette and his wife faced some flak on social media by several folks alleging they failed to properly protect themselves from COVID-19. In fact, the couple followed all guidelines and were informed they did nothing wrong by the team and health officials. The Gaudettes have no idea how they caught the coronavirus and don’t deserve being hounded by some ill-informed fans.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon received a $5,000.00 fine from the NHL department of player safety for unsportsmanlike conduct against Arizona Coyotes winger Conor Garland on Wednesday.

Vegas Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson received a three-game suspension for elbowing Los Angeles Kings defenseman Tobias Bjornfot on Wednesday.

NEW YORK POST: Brendan Lemieux requested a trade from the Rangers prior to their dealing him last week to the Los Angeles Kings for a fourth-round pick. Lemieux made the request as he wanted to play for a team where he’d have a more meaningful role. He’d been seeing fourth-line duty this season with the Rangers.

THE SCORE: Roberto Luongo is expected to be named general manager of Team Canada’s 2021 World Championship team.

SPORTSNET: Wisconsin forward Cole Caufield, Minnesota State goaltender Dryden McKay and North Dakota forward Shane Pinto are this year’s finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. Caufield recently signed an entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens while Pinto inked a similar deal with the Ottawa Senators.