NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 9, 2025
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – May 9, 2025
The Oilers take a two-game lead over the Golden Knights, the Capitals tie their series with the Hurricanes, the first six players of the Quarter-Century Team are announced, the Ducks name Joel Quenneville as their new coach, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S PLAYOFF GAMES
NHL.COM: An overtime goal by Leon Draisaitl lifted the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-4 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of their best-of-seven second-round series.

Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (NHL Images).
The Oilers held a 4-2 lead early in the third period, but the Golden Knights got goals from Victor Olofsson and Alex Pietrangelo to force the extra frame. Connor McDavid collected the assist on Draisaitl’s winning goal while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Viktor Arvidsson and Vasily Podkolzin each collected two points. Olofsson finished with two goals and an assist and Jack Eichel had three helpers for the Golden Knights.
This series moves to Edmonton for the next two games, with the Oilers holding a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 is on Saturday, May 10, at 9 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Edmonton’s depth made the difference in this game, getting goals from Podkolzin, Jake Walman, Darnell Nurse and Evander Kane.
The Oilers have won six straight playoff games, all of them comeback victories. Those wins came with goaltender Calvin Pickard between the pipes. He’s 6-0 in this postseason.
Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy was upset that Arvidsson wasn’t penalized for shoving Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb into the boards moments before Draisaitl’s goal, leaving McNabb with an injured left arm.
Earlier in the period, Golden Knights forward Nicolas Roy received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking Oilers forward Trent Frederic in the face. The Oilers failed to score on the ensuing power play.
Vegas winger Pavel Dorofeyev missed his second straight game in this series with an undisclosed injury. He also missed his club’s series-clinching victory against the Minnesota Wild.
Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson stopped 27 shots (including 16 in the third period) in a 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, tying their second-round series at a game apiece.
Connor McMichael, John Carlson and Tom Wilson scored for the Capitals, with Wilson collecting an assist on Carlson’s goal. Shayne Gostisbehere replied for the Hurricanes.
The series shifts to Carolina for the next two games, with Game 3 on Saturday at 6 pm ET.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A better team effort by the Capitals in this game, though at times they were hanging on for dear life in the third period. Thompson was solid again for the Capitals and has been their most valuable player thus far in this postseason.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: The first six skaters named to the league’s Quarter-Century Team were unveiled on Thursday. The group was made up of players who debuted before 2000.
They are defenseman Zdeno Chara, winger Jarome Iginla, defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, center Joe Sakic, winger Teemu Selanne, and center Joe Thornton.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Four of them (Iginla, Lidstrom, Sakic and Selanne) are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Chara and Thornton will be joining them soon.
The next seven skaters will be revealed on Friday, May 9, and will be comprised of players who debuted between 2000 and 2010. It’s safe to assume Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will be on that list.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Ducks named Joel Quenneville their new head coach.
Quenneville is second in career wins by an NHL coach (969) and won three Stanley Cups as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. However, he stepped down as head coach of the Florida Panthers in 2021 for his role in failing to adequately address sexual allegations by Chicago player Kyle Beach against the Blackhawks’ video coach in 2010. The league banned Quenneville from coaching for three years.
Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek told reporters that the club had conducted its due diligence into the efforts Quenneville made during his banishment to atone for his actions, which included working with groups that deal with sexual assault and helping survivors. Quenneville expressed remorse for his actions and took full responsibility.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers believe Quenneville should never coach in the NHL again. Others think he’s paid the price for his actions and should be given a second chance.
It was inevitable that Quenneville would land another NHL coaching job after former Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman (who also received a three-year ban from the league for his role in the coverup) was named GM of the Oilers last summer.
I’m curious about Beach’s reaction to this news. When the Oilers hired Bowman, he said he contacted Beach beforehand, claiming he had an “encouraging conversation” with the former player.
Time will tell if Quenneville can coach the rebuilding Ducks into becoming a playoff contender. Despite his impressive coaching resume, it’s been four years since he was last behind an NHL bench.
TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz did not travel with his teammates to Florida for Games 3 and 4 of their second-round series with the Panthers. Stolarz suffered a head injury following a Game 1 collision with Panthers center Sam Bennett. The Leafs hold a 2-0 series lead.
TSN: On Thursday, Winnipeg Jets defensemen Josh Morrissey and Logan Stanley participated in the club’s optional skate. They are game-time decisions for Game 2 on Friday against the Dallas Stars, who hold a 1-0 lead in their second-round series.
STLTODAY.COM: Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington and center Brayden Schenn have joined Canada’s roster for the upcoming IIHF World Championship in Sweden and Denmark.
DAILY FACEOFF: New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic underwent knee surgery on Thursday and won’t be ready for training camp in September.
Former Vancouver Canucks goaltender Frank Caprice died on Thursday at age 63. He spent six seasons with the Canucks from 1982-83 to 1987-88, with a record of 31 wins, 46 losses and 11 ties in 102 games with a 4.20 goals-against average, a save percentage of .859, and one shutout.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Caprice’s family, friends, former teammates and the Canucks organization.