NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 4, 2025

by | Mar 4, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 4, 2025

Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week are revealed, plus the latest on Matthew Tkachuk, Gabriel Landeskog and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Montreal Canadiens recovered from blowing a 3-0 lead with an overtime goal by Mike Matheson for a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki had a goal and three assists and Cole Caufield reached the 30-goal plateau for the first time. Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin replied for the Sabres.

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens (65 points) have won five straight games, sitting one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson became the fastest rookie blueliner in franchise history to reach the 50-point plateau, accomplishing that feat in 63 games.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin stopped 21 shots to shut out the New York Islanders 4-0. J.T. Miller, Artemi Panarin and Will Cuylle each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (66 points), who sit behind the Red Wings in the wild-card race. Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin stopped 22 shots as his club remains five points behind the Wings.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Islanders center Brock Nelson became the fifth player in franchise history to reach the 900-game milestone, but he might not have many more games left with them. The 33-year-old center is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and there’s no indication a contract extension is imminent. Nelson could be moved by Friday’s trade deadline.

The Rangers held winger Reilly Smith out of the lineup for the second straight game for “roster management”, suggesting they’re attempting to trade him before the Friday deadline.

The Washington Capitals blew a 3-0 and 4-3 leads before defeating the Ottawa Senators 5-4 on a shootout goal by Dylan Strome. Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and two assists while Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (86 points), moving within two points of the first-overall Winnipeg Jets. Shane Pinto scored twice and Jake Sanderson collected three assists for the Senators, who sit one point out of the final Eastern wild card.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals signed goaltender Charlie Lindgren before this game to a three-year, $9 million contract extension. Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven missed this game with an undisclosed mid-body ailment and is expected to be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov scored two second-period goals as his club held off the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1, ending the latter’s eight-game win streak. The win leaves the Panthers second in the Atlantic Division with 79 points. Brandon Hagel replied for the Lightning, who sit third in the division with 74 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk could miss the rest of the regular season with a lower-body injury. General manager Bill Zito said they hope the 27-year-old winger will return for the playoffs. Tkachuk was placed on long-term injury reserve on Sunday to enable the Panthers to call up goaltender Chris Driedger, giving them $8.7 million in additional cap space if they wish to add to their roster before Friday’s trade deadline.

The San Jose Sharks overcame a 2-0 deficit to upset the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on a shootout goal by Fabian Zetterlund. Jack Thompson and Tyler Toffoli scored for the Sharks to end an eight-game winless skid. John Tavares and Matthew Knies opened the scoring for the Leafs, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 79 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Toronto holds first place over Florida because they hold a game in hand. Leafs forward Calle Jarnkrok made his season debut after being sidelined by an injury in training camp, followed by groin/sports hernia surgery in November. Meanwhile, the Sharks placed defenseman Henry Thrun (undisclosed) on injured reserve.

Goaltender Spencer Knight kicked out 41 shots in his debut with the Chicago Blackhawks for a 5-1 upset over the Los Angeles Kings. Ryan Donato and Ilya Mikheyev each had a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks. Anze Kopitar replied for the Kings, who sit third in the Pacific Division with 70 points but have dropped three straight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blackhawks acquired Knight on Saturday from the Panthers in the Seth Jones trade. Jones played over 22 minutes in his debut with the Panthers against the Lightning. The Blackhawks placed forward Philipp Kurashev on IR with an injured hand.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz, and Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki are the league’s three stars for the week ending March 2.

THE DENVER POST: Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland indicated his club doesn’t expect team captain Gabriel Landeskog to return to the lineup this regular season. The 32-year-old winger is attempting to return from knee surgeries that have sidelined him for the past two seasons. MacFarland said there’s a chance Landeskog could return in the 2025 playoffs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A postseason return for Landeskog seems as likely as his return during the regular season.

DAILY FACEOFF: Jeff Marek reports the Dallas Stars are working on an eight-year contract extension with forward Wyatt Johnston. The 21-year-old forward is in the final season of his entry-level contract. Marek believes Johnston could see a raise to between $8 million and $8.5 million annually on his next deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Johnston has steadily grown into a reliable offensive star, tallying 41 points as a rookie in 2022-23 and 65 points as a sophomore in 2023-24. He has 55 points in 60 games this season, putting him on pace to exceed last season’s output.

TSN: The Utah Hockey Club signed defenseman Olli Maatta to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3.5 million. The 30-year-old Maatta was UFA-eligible on July 1.

THE ATHLETIC: Aaron Portzline reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are closing in on a contract extension with scrappy winger Mathieu Olivier. It’s believed to be a multi-year deal, likely four years or more.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov could return this week after missing 39 games with a back injury.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: The Penguins recalled goalie Tristan Jarry from their AHL affiliate and placed defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph on injured reserve.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2025

by | Jan 31, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – January 31, 2025

Are the Blue Jackets interested in Canucks center Elias Pettersson? Which teams might pursue free-agent winger Brandon Saad? What next for the Flyers following their multi-player trade with the Flames? All this and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

BLUE JACKETS TALKING TO CANUCKS ABOUT PETTERSSON

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Columbus Blue Jackets are among the clubs talking to the Buffalo Sabres about Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson.

The Jackets have the same question as other interested parties like the Buffalo Sabres: “Who is Elias Pettersson right now?” Is the 26-year-old center the one who warranted a massive contract extension last season or the one who’s been struggling this season?

LeBrun believes teams are waiting to see if the Canucks will lower their asking prices for Pettersson (and J.T. Miller) before engaging more fully in contract talks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets were linked to Pettersson earlier this month but Aaron Portzline (The Athletic’s Blue Jackets beat writer) cited a team source claiming no trade discussions had taken place. Maybe the situation has now changed. It’s worth pointing out that Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell attempted to acquire Pettersson last season while GM of the Carolina Hurricanes.

THE LATEST ON BRANDON SAAD

TSN: Chris Johnston reported winger Brandon Saad will become an unrestricted free agent on Friday afternoon following the mutual termination of his contract with the St. Louis Blues.

Former St. Louis Blues winger Brandon Saad (NHL Images).

Johnston believes the Toronto Maple Leafs will be among the suitors. They’re in the market for a center but are interested in seeing if Saad might be a fit as a potential wing option. The cost of signing him will be a determining factor. He walked away from the $5 million remaining on his contract with the Blues and might not necessarily be a cheap signing.

Darren Dreger believes the Leafs have a moderate interest in Saad, who played for head coach Craig Berube during the latter’s tenure in St. Louis. They’re interested in secondary scoring but the 32-year-old winger had difficulty filling that need for the Blues this season. The Leafs also have other needs to fill at center and on the blueline.

DAILY FACEOFF: Frank Seravalli suggested the Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning as teams to watch regarding Saad.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Saad won’t be a UFA for long. He could accept a cheap, prorated one-year deal with a playoff club, hoping that a strong performance with them could elevate his stock in this summer’s free-agent market.

FLYERS MIGHT NOT BE DONE IN THE TRADE MARKET

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz looked at what could be in store for the Philadelphia Flyers after trading former first-rounders Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee to the Calgary Flames on Thursday for Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier.

Flyers GM Daniel Briere sees value in Pelletier and in the 2025 second-round pick he received from the Flames. That gives them seven picks in the first two rounds of this year’s draft, including four in the second round. Kurz speculates Briere could attempt to package some of those picks for a high-end asset. Shedding Farabee’s $5 million annual cap hit creates room to add a player with a significant salary and term.

Kurz also believes this move set the bar high for younger players like Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Bobby Brink, Jamie Drysdale or Noah Cates if they wish to remain with the Flyers for the long term.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kuzmenko is a UFA this summer. Briere could flip him for a draft pick before the March 7 trade deadline, perhaps for another second-rounder if the 28-year-old winger regains his scoring touch with the Flyers.

CAPITALS TALKING CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH CHARLIE LINDGREN

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber cited ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports the Washington Capitals are exploring a contract extension for goaltender Charlie Lindgren with an AAV in the range of $3.5 million and $4 million.

Lindgren, 31, is UFA-eligible on July 1. He’s in the final year of a $3.3 million deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Capitals re-signed goalie Logan Thompson earlier this week to a six-year extension with an AAV of $5.85 million.

KINGS NOT PEDDLING BRANDT CLARKE

TSN: Chris Johnston noted an undercurrent of speculation regarding Brandt Clarke when the 21-year-old Los Angeles defenseman was scratched from their lineup to make way for the return of Drew Doughty.

Johnston stated Clarke was “not in play,” adding the scratch was merely a recharge for the promising young blueliner.

UPDATE ON THE CANADIENS

TSN: Pierre LeBrun reports the Montreal Canadiens won’t search for a rental defenseman before the March 7 trade deadline to replace Kaiden Guhle. The 23-year-old blueliner is sidelined indefinitely following surgery to repair a lacerated quadricep.

LeBrun indicated the trade discussions the Canadiens have had with other teams involve players who will help them beyond this season. They could retain their pending UFAs as “own rentals” if they remain in the playoff chase leading up to the deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have cooled from the hot streak that had them briefly holding the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Nevertheless, management remains focused on their long-term picture. It’s not about quick fixes. Any additions via trades will be players carrying term on their contracts, like their acquisition of Alexandre Carrier last month from Nashville.

SALARY CAP SPECULATION

TSN: Darren Dreger reports it’s expected the NHL will reveal its updated salary cap projection for 2025-26 during the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off (Feb. 10-21). He said he’s been told that it is “very unlikely” to rise beyond $96 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Last month, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman projected the cap could reach $92.4 million but didn’t rule out a higher number. It could end up between $94.5 and $96 million. Any amount over $92.4 million will be welcomed by most NHL general managers, especially those with expensive players to re-sign or those looking to add to their rosters for next season.










NHL Rumor Mill – January 1, 2025

by | Jan 1, 2025

NHL Rumor Mill – January 1, 2025

Welcome in the New Year with the latest on the Rangers and Capitals plus an update on Bruins forward Trent Frederic in the NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST RANGERS SPECULATION

SPORTSNET: In Monday’s “32 Thoughts: The Podcast”, Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas discussed the plight of the struggling New York Rangers.

Friedman believes more changes are coming after reading Larry Brooks’ Sunday column in the New York Post, in which Brooks speculated that head coach Peter Laviolette could be fired. He wondered if management might focus on center Mika Zibanejad.

New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (NHL Images).

The 31-year-old Zibanejad is signed through 2029-30 with an average annual value of $8.5 million. Friedman pointed out he carries a full no-movement clause.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Zibanejad might be open to a move if the pressure of playing with the Rangers becomes too much to handle. However, his cap hit makes an in-season trade difficult to pull off unless the Rangers retain up to half of it. They might not be keen to carry dead cap space for the next five seasons even with the salary cap projected to rise substantially over that period.

Friedman also thinks there will be plenty of interest in Vincent Trocheck if the Rangers make him available in the trade market.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I mentioned Friedman’s remarks about Trocheck earlier this week. He’s under contract until the end of 2028-29 with a more affordable AAV of $5.625 million. The 31-year-old center also carries a full NMC this season but it becomes a 12-team no-trade list on July 1. Shopping Trocheck could be an offseason move.

IS TRENT FREDERIC’S TRADE VALUE DROPPING?

THE ATHLETIC: Fluto Shinzawa recently reported Trent Frederic’s production has dropped off The gritty 26-year-old Boston Bruins forward hasn’t dented the score sheet since Dec. 7. That could adversely affect his value in the trade market if the Bruins decide to shop the pending UFA before the March 7 trade deadline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Playoff contenders will still be interested in the 6’3”, 221-pound Frederic if he hits the trade block before March 7. However, the Bruins won’t get as much in return if his scoring slump continues. 

CAPITALS INTEND TO KEEP THEIR GOALIE TANDEM INTACT

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Sammi Silber cites Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reporting the Washington Capitals have informed teams that they won’t be shopping goaltenders Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson at the trade deadline.

Lindgren and Thompson are due to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. However, they’ve fared well playing for the Capitals this season. Their efforts have the club jockeying for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Silber notes that it’s unclear whether Lindgren and Thompson have futures in Washington beyond this season. Nevertheless, the Capitals will stick with what’s working for them this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindgren’s cap hit this season is $1.1 million while Thompson’s is over $766K. Both are in line for substantial raises but it shouldn’t break the bank for the Capitals to retain both.

The Capitals have over $28.8 million in projected cap space for 2025-26 assuming the cap rises by $4.5 million. Jakob Chychrun is their most notable pending UFA while all their rising young talent are under contract for next season. The Caps should have enough to re-sign both goalies and keep Chychrun in the fold while looking at adding to their roster.










NHL Rumor Mill – October 21, 2024

by | Oct 21, 2024

NHL Rumor Mill – October 21, 2024

More suggested goalie options for the Avalanche and more proposed trade destinations for Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE DENVER POST: Corey Masisak recently examined the Colorado Avalanche’s goalie woes.

Masisak thinks starter Alexandar Georgiev still has enough of a track record to sort out his inconsistent play. Their internal options aren’t great if Georgiev doesn’t improve. Backup Justus Annunen is a wild card and it would be risky to make him the starter for more than a short period. Kaapo Kahkonen has never proven to be a No. 1 goalie for a significant period.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (NHL Images).

Options in this season’s trade market could include pending unrestricted free agents like Washington’s Logan Thompson or Charlie Lindgren, Detroit’s Alex Lyon, Calgary’s Dan Vladar, San Jose’s Mackenzie Blackwood or Vitek Vanecek, and Utah’s Karel Vejmelka. The latter four would require salary retention to fit them within the Avs’ limited cap space.

Masisak also looked ahead toward this summer’s free-agent market where the pickings are slim assuming the New York Rangers re-sign netminder Igor Shesterkin.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It’s also been suggested the Avs attempt to acquire John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks assuming the Ducks retain half of his $6.4 million cap hit through 2026-27 and also accept Georgiev in return.

The Avs are in a bind with no immediate solutions given their cap constraints and the lack of suitable options in the trade market this early in the season.

SPORTSNET: David Morassutti proposed several trade destinations for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Timothy Liljegren following his season debut against the Los Angeles Kings last week.

Liljegren’s future has been a topic of speculation after sliding down the Leafs’ blueline depth chart. His $3 million annual average value through 2025-26 could also create a salary-cap headache for management.

Morassutti suggested the Utah Hockey Club, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets as potential destinations for Lilejegren.

Utah’s blueline got thin with Sean Durzi and John Marino sidelined by injuries. The Stars’ defense could use more depth on the right side. The Blackhawks and Ducks are rebuilding teams that could benefit from a veteran rearguard in his mid-twenties. The Penguins need to bolster their defense and the struggling Blue Jackets have the cap space to add to their blueline.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs reportedly aren’t rushing to move Liljegren partly because of the uncertain health of their own defense corps. That could change as the season advances but it’s difficult to find suitable trade partners for a defenseman carrying a $3 million cap hit if he’s spending most of his time in the press box.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 31, 2024

by | Jul 31, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 31, 2024

Eric Staal retires as a Hurricane, the Rangers avoid arbitration with Ryan Lindgren, the Canadiens re-sign two defensemen, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

TSN: The Carolina Hurricanes announced Tuesday that Eric Staal signed a one-day contract to retire with the team that drafted him second overall in the 2003 NHL Draft. They will also retire his No. 12 later thishttps://www.tsn.ca/nhl/carolina-hurricanes-to-retire-eric-staal-s-no-12-1.2155886 season.

Former Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal (NHL.com).

Staal spent 12 of his 18 NHL seasons with the Hurricanes, sitting second among their franchise leaders with 332 goals and 453 assists for 775 points, and third in games played with 909. He led all playoff scorers in 2006 with 28 points in 25 games during the Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run.

Traded to the New York Rangers in 2016, Staal also played for the Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers. From 2003-04 to 2022-23, he scored 455 goals and 608 assists for 1,063 points in 1,365 games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Staal is the Hurricanes’ all-time leading scorer since the franchise relocated from Hartford. He appeared in six All-Star Games and was a Second Team All-Star in 2005-06. His most productive seasons were with the Hurricanes from 2005-06 to 2011-12 where he enjoyed seven straight 70-plus point seasons, including a career-high 100 points in ’05-’06. He also won a Gold Medal as a member of Canada’s 2010 Men’s Olympic hockey team.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers avoided salary arbitration with Ryan Lindgren, signing the 26-year-old defenseman to a one-year, $4.5 million contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lindgren plays the shutdown role alongside Adam Fox on their top defense pairing. He is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He and the Rangers can begin contract extension talks in January but that could depend on his performance and the club’s by that point.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens signed restricted free-agent defensemen Arber Xhekaj and Justin Barron to two-year contracts. Xhekaj’s is worth $2.6 million ($1.3 million average annual value) and Barron’s is $2.3 million ($1.15 million AAV).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Xhekaj, 23, thrilled Canadiens fans with his physical style and offensive contributions from the blueline. However, he’s also undergone surgeries on both shoulders over the past two seasons. Xhekaj said he won’t change his style but intends to play smarter and take fewer penalties.

The 22-year-old Barron split the past two seasons between the Canadiens and their AHL affiliate in Laval. He’s a puck-moving blueliner who has struggled to find consistency at the NHL level but is still young enough to develop his game.

TSN: The New Jersey Devils signed goaltender Nico Daws to a two-year, $1.6 million contract with an AAV of $812,500 at the NHL level. The first season is a two-way deal and the second year is one-way.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Daws, 23, showed some promise as a call-up behind a porous Devils defense corps last season. He’ll be their third-string netminder behind Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen this season but could become Markstrom’s backup during the second year of his contract.

CALGARY SUN: The Flames signed goaltender Dustin Wolf to a two-year, $1.7 million contract with an AAV of $850K at the NHL level. It’s a two-way deal for 2024-25 and one-way for 2025-26.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wolf is expected to challenge for the starter’s job with the rebuilding Flames this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 27, 2024

by | Jan 27, 2024

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 27, 2024

Nathan MacKinnon regains the lead in the scoring race, Jonathan Marchessault sets a Golden Knights record, Zach Parise signs with the Avalanche, Brendan Gallagher receives a five-game suspension, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

GAME RECAPS

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist to regain the NHL scoring lead (84 points) in a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Logan O’Connor scored two goals and Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves for the 32-14-3 Avalanche, who hold first place in the Central Division with 67 points and sit third in the overall standings. Kevin Fiala scored for the struggling Kings (22-15-9), who’ve won just twice in their last 15 games and cling to the first Western Conference wild-card berth with 53 points.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: MacKinnon also extended his home points streak to 25 games, tying Bobby Orr for the second-longest home points streak to start a season. Wayne Gretzky holds the record with 40 games.

Speaking of the Avalanche, they signed free-agent winger Zach Parise to a one-year, prorated contract worth $825K with no performance bonuses. The 39-year-old Parise spent the last two seasons with the New York Islanders, tallying 21 goals in 2022-23. He’s considered an affordable short-term replacement for Tomas Tatar, who was traded last month to the Seattle Kraken after struggling offensively with the Avs.

Kings center Quinton Byfield missed the game due to an illness.

A hat-trick performance by Jonathan Marchessault powered the Vegas Golden Knights to a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers. Marchessault set a franchise record for most hat tricks with four. Adin Hill kicked out 36 shots for the 29-14-6 Golden Knights, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 64 points. Blake Wheeler had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (29-16-3) as they remain in first place in the Metropolitan Division with 61 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a difficult day for the Rangers. Defenseman Ryan Lindgren left this game with an upper-body injury in the first period. Center Filip Chytil suffered a setback in his recovery from a concussion when he suffered an upper-body injury in practice. Forward Nick Bonino cleared waivers and is expected to be sent to their AHL affiliate in Hartford following the All-Star break.

The Florida Panthers nipped the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on a shootout goal by Sam Reinhart, who also scored in regulation to push his points streak to 12 games. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 35 shots while Evan Rodrigues also scored for the 30-14-4 Panthers, who sit in second place in the Atlantic Division standings. Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin replied for the Penguins (21-17-7), who’ve won just three of their last 10 contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Reinhart now has 36 goals on the season. He sits second in the league goal-scoring race, three behind Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews.

An overtime goal by Pavel Buchnevich completed a three-goal comeback by the St. Louis Blues in a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Buchnevich finished the night with two goals and an assist while Robert Thomas and Brayden Schenn each collected two points for the 25-20-2 Blues (52 points). They’ve won four straight and sit one point out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Oliver Bjorkstrand had a goal and an assist for the Kraken (28-18-10), who are three points out of that wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kraken forward Matty Beniers returned to action after missing five games with an upper-body injury.

HEADLINES

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher received a five-game suspension from the NHL department of player safety for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech on Thursday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I like Gallagher’s gritty style of play but that hit on Pelech was such an egregious cheap shot that I was surprised he received a telephone hearing, which guaranteed that he’d receive no more than five games. That should’ve been at least 10 games. There’s been no update on Pelech, who was helped from the ice and didn’t return.

EDMONTON JOURNAL: Corey Perry will make his debut with the Oilers tonight against the Nashville Predators. Earlier in the week, he signed a one-year, $775K prorated deal with the Oilers.

TSN: Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele will miss tonight’s game with the Maple Leafs as he’s not ready yet to return to action from a lower-body injury.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed winger Owen Tippett to an eight-year, $49.6 million contract extension. They also signed forward Ryan Poehling to a two-year, $3.8 million extension.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Worthwhile signings by the Flyers. Tippett’s annual average value is $6.2 million while Poehling’s is $1.9 million. Both have fit in well on this rebuilding club that has exceeded expectations this season.

After struggling to earn a roster spot with the Florida Panthers earlier in his career, Tippett is reaching his potential as a top-six forward with the Flyers. The 24-year-old winger is second among the Flyers with 18 goals and tied for third with 30 points in 46 games. He has the potential to become a consistent 30-plus goal scorer.

Poehling, 25, has found a home in Philadelphia as a checking-line forward after failing to stick with the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: The Carolina Hurricanes activated goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov off injured reserve. He’d been sidelined since Jan. 11 after receiving a blow to the head against the Anaheim Ducks.

CBS SPORTS: Buffalo Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Bobby McCann (undisclosed) on injured reserve and are awaiting word on the status of forward Calle Jarnkrok, who injured his hand during practice on Friday.

NHL.COM: The department of player safety fined Arizona Coyotes defenseman Michael Kesselring $2,408.85 for cross-checking Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Maxwell Crozier.

DAILY FACEOFF: The Nashville Predator signed defenseman Kevin Gravel to a two-year, two-way contract extension worth $775K per season at the NHL level.

TORONTO SUN: Former Maple Leafs forward Wayne Simmonds hasn’t officially retired as an NHL player but is moving on with his life. “I had a great career. It was the best time I’ve ever had in my life,” said the 35-year-old Simmonds. “Right now, it’s family time.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Simmonds played 15 seasons with the Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils. In 1,037 games, he scored 263 goals and collected 263 assists for 526 points. He also had 22 points in 53 playoff contests.

A physical two-way winger, Simmonds’ best seasons were the eight he spent with the Flyers, scoring 20-plus goals six times (including two 30-plus goal campaigns) and exceeding 50 points four times.