NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 20, 2026

by | Apr 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 20, 2026

The Avalanche, Canadiens, Sabres, and Golden Knights win the opening games of their first-round series, plus the latest on the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl, the Ducks’ Lukas Dostal, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF SUNDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION

NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky scored in overtime to complete his first NHL playoff hat trick in a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 1 of their best-of-seven first-round series. Josh Anderson also scored while Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield each collected two assists for the Canadiens. Brandon Hagel tallied twice, and Jake Guentzel had three assists for the Lightning. Game 2 is Tuesday in Tampa Bay at 7 pm ET.

Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Slafkovsky became the first player in Canadiens history to score three power-play goals in a postseason game.

This was a hard-hitting, fast-paced contest, resulting in both clubs taking costly penalties. Following this game, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper blamed his team’s “stupidity” for taking four penalties in the offensive zone.

The Buffalo Sabres overcame a 2-0 deficit late in the third period to defeat the Boston Bruins 4-3 in Game 1 of their first-round series. Tage Thompson scored the first two goals, Mattias Samuelsson put the Sabres up 3-2, and Alex Tuch’s empty-netter proved to be the game-winner. David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists for the Bruins. Game 2 is in Buffalo on Tuesday at 7:30 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was the first playoff game in Buffalo since 2011, and to say Sabres fans were excited would be an understatement. They had little to cheer about for most of this game as the Bruins were doing a good job containing the Sabres’ offense until Thompson finally broke through, opening the floodgates for the comeback win.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves for a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of their opening-round series. Artturi Lehkonen and Logan O’Connor were the goal scorers for the Avalanche. Kings winger Artemi Panarin scored late in the third period while teammate Anton Forsberg stopped 28 of 30 shots. Game 2 is Tuesday in Denver at 10 pm ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings employed a tight-checking, physical defensive style to hamper the Avalanche’s potent scoring punch, but the latter’s depth made the difference to go up 2-0, a lead they held until Panarin scored to make it interesting.

Three unanswered third-period goals by Mark Stone, Nic Dowd, and Ivan Barbashev lifted the Vegas Golden Knights over the Utah Mammoth in Game 1 of their first-round series. Logan Cooley and Kevin Stenlund gave the Mammoth a 2-1 lead heading into the third, but they were unable to stem the Golden Knights’ offence in the final frame. Game 2 is Tuesday in Las Vegas at 9:30 ET.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Mammoth gave a good account of themselves in their first playoff game in their short franchise history, but the Golden Knights’ postseason experience made the difference. Stone set the Golden Knights’ record for most postseason goals with 37, surpassing former teammate Jonathan Marchessault.

HEADLINES

NHL.COM: Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl could be ready to return to action in Game 1 of their opening-round series against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. Draisaitl missed the last 14 games of the regular season with a knee injury.

THE ATHLETIC: Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal is looking forward to his first-ever NHL playoff game when his club faces off against the Oilers in Edmonton on Monday.

THE ORANGE COUNTRY REGISTER: Speaking of the Ducks, they signed prospect Roger McQueen to a three-year entry-level contract on Saturday. The 19-year-old center was chosen 10th overall in last year’s NHL Draft.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars will need a better effort from winger Mikko Rantanen if they hope to win Game 2 of their first-round series with the Minnesota Wild. Rantanen was held off the scoresheet as the Stars were thumped 6-1 by the Wild in Game 1.

Rantanen had only eight points in 11 games after returning from an injury suffered during the Olympics in February. Before that, he had 20 goals and 69 points in 54 games. Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan insisted that Rantanen is now at 100 percent.

OTTAWA SUN: The Senators offered no update on the status of Artem Zub after the big-minute defenseman was injured in Game 1 of their series with the Carolina Hurricanes.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Senators called up six players from their AHL affiliate on Sunday, with young defenseman Carter Yakemchuk among them. He’ll likely replace Zub if the latter remains sidelined for Game 2.

THE WINNIPEG SUN: The Jets signed forward Cole Koepke to a two-year contract extension

NHLPA: If the NHL expands again, over 34 percent of NHL players polled would like to see a franchise in Houston. 16.9 percent chose Quebec City, 9.8 percent chose Atlanta, 8.9 percent selected Scottsdale, and 5 percent picked Austin.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 4, 2026

by | Apr 4, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 4, 2026

The Flyers and Blues move closer to wild-card berths, Sharks center Macklin Celebrini deserves Hart Trophy consideration, Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns will reach a notable career milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPPING FRIDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov had a goal and two assists as the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New York Islanders 4-1. Alex Bump and Travis Sanheim each had a goal and an assist while Dan Vladar made 21 saves for the 38-26-12 Flyers, who are in a four-way tie for the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 88 points. Jean-Gabriel Pageau replied for the Islanders (42-30-5), who cling to third place in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Matvei Michkov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The playoff race in the East has gotten even more interesting. The Flyers join the Ottawa Senators (39-26-10), Detroit Red Wings (40-27-8), and the Columbus Blue Jackets (38-26-12). The Senators currently hold that wild card with 33 regulation wins and a game in hand.

The St. Louis Blues kept their playoff hopes alive with a 6-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Dylan Holloway tallied two power-play goals while Robert Thomas had a goal and two assists for the 32-31-12 Blues (76 points), who sit three points behind the San Jose Sharks for the final Western Conference wild-card spot. Ryan Poehling had a goal and an assist for the Ducks (41-30-5), who slipped to second place in the Pacific Division with 87 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Ducks are 0-3-1 in their last four. They have the same amount of points as the Edmonton Oilers, but the latter now holds first place with 30 regulation wins.

Speaking of the Ducks, they signed 2025 first-round pick Roger McQueen to an amateur tryout contract earlier this week.

HEADLINES

THE ATHLETIC: Eric Stephens makes the case for San Jose Sharks Macklin Celebrini to receive consideration for the Hart Memorial Trophy as this season’s most valuable player to his team. The 19-year-old sophomore center has carried the rebuilding Sharks into playoff contention while establishing himself among the league’s elite players.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini is my choice for the Hart. The Sharks have a roster of up-and-coming talent, but he’s the main reason they’ve exceeded expectations this season. A glance at their stats is all you need to make the case. Without Celebrini, they’d be closer to the bottom of the standings than they would be to a wild-card berth.

NHL.COM: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns will play in his 1,000th consecutive regular-season game on Saturday against the Dallas Stars.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Phil Kessel holds the “Ironman” record for consecutive regular-season games with 1,064. Burns, 41, could overtake Kessel if he plays in 2026-27. Given his performance this season, it’s a good bet that he will.

TSN: Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk was fined $2,500 by the NHL’s department of player safety for unsportsmanlike conduct towards an opponent while on the bench during Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres.

OTTAWA SUN: Speaking of the Senators, sidelined defenseman Jake Sanderson could return to action this weekend. Meanwhile, rookie blueliner Carter Yakemchuk was placed in concussion protocol after being elbowed in the head by Noah Gregor of the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

The Senators agreed to a 12-year contract extension with Bell Media for their English and French broadcast rights.

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson is done for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery on Apr. 2.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones underwent season-ending shoulder surgery this week.

TSN: Former NHL superstar Jaromir Jagr hasn’t officially retired, but he no longer sees himself continuing the grind of professional hockey. The 54-year-old future Hall of Famer’s final NHL season was in 2017-18 with the Calgary Flames. He’s since been playing for the Kladno Knights in Czechia.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jagr appeared in only six games for Kladno this season. After 38 years of pro hockey, he could finally hang up his skates. He may not have officially retired, but that announcement could come later this year.

HOCKEY 24/7: Michigan Wolverines forward T.J. Hughes, Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs winger Max Plante, and Denver Pioneers defenseman Eric Pohlkamp are the finalists for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award.

THE TENNESSEAN: The Nashville Predators and FanDuel Sports Network will officially part ways at the end of this season.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 3, 2025

by | Aug 3, 2025

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 3, 2025

A theory behind the lack of offer sheets this summer, Lane Hutson reportedly passed over for Team USA’s Olympic orientation camp, the Maple Leafs avoid arbitration with Nick Robertson, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RG.ORG: James Murphy examined the lack of offer sheets thus far for this summer’s restricted free agents.

The rise in the salary cap to $95.5 million for 2025-26 left several clubs flush with cap space. Factor in the St. Louis Blues signing away Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers last summer, and there was anticipation of more offer sheet signings this year.

However, one NHL player agent theorized that some team owners may be reluctant to drive up the market value by overpaying players with expensive offer sheets. Another factor is that there are clubs with plenty of cap room that can easily match any offer for one of their restricted free agents.

Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish? (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: PuckPedia indicates 10 teams have over $10 million in cap space for 2025-26. Some of those teams, like the Carolina Hurricanes, could target another team’s RFAs to bolster their roster for a future Stanley Cup run.

However, there are also teams with the cap room to match an offer sheet. For example, Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks is frequently mentioned as a possible target, but the Ducks have over $21 million in cap space. It’s a waste of time to target McTavish when his club can quickly and easily match it.

It’s been suggested that teams should test that theory by offering McTavish a contract with a cap hit of $9 million or more. However, all that accomplishes is driving up the value of comparable players, which is great for them, but not for the teams that have to pay them.

The compensation for signing a player like McTavish to a grossly inflated cap hit is also costly to the team making that signing. Anything between $9.36 million and $11.7 million costs two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and a third-round pick. Anything over $11.7 million is four first-rounders.

McTavish, 22, is a very good player with considerable upside, but he’s not worth over $9.3 million annually, nor is he worth the cost in futures a club would have to pay for a successful signing.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: cited a report by Tony Marinaro of “The Sick Podcast” claiming Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson will not be invited to attend Team USA’s Olympic orientation camp.

Hutson, 21, won the Calder Memorial Trophy last season as NHL Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Canadien to do so since Ken Dryden in 1971-72. However, the Americans already have a defenseman of comparable size and skills in Vancouver Canuck captain Quinn Hughes, who also has more NHL experience than Hutson.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Hutson will get more opportunities to represent his country on the international stage in future tournaments, including the 2030 Winter Olympics. The Americans already have a deep, experienced defense core with Hughes, Zach Werenski, Brock Faber, Adam Fox, Jaccob Slavin, Charlie McAvoy, Noah Hanifin, and Jake Sanderson. Most of those blueliners were part of Team USA in February’s 4 Nations’ Face-Off.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs avoided salary arbitration with winger Nick Robertson. Both sides agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.85 million on Saturday.

The Robertson camp sought $2.25 million while the Leafs offered $1.25 million.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That concludes this summer’s arbitration period. The 11 players who filed and the two who were to be taken to arbitration ultimately agreed to new contracts before their scheduled hearings.

BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Center James Hagens looks forward to starting his NHL career with the Bruins as soon as possible. However, it appears he’s committed to returning to Boston College this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins selected Hagens with the seventh-overall pick in this year’s draft. It’ll do the 18-year-old center good to spend at least one more season in the NCAA to develop his skills before making the jump to the pro ranks.

RDS.CA: Anaheim Ducks prospect Roger McQueen is reportedly leaving Canadian junior hockey to join the NCAA’s ranks this season. Rather than return to the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, the 18-year-old center is expected to join Providence College.

McQueen was chosen 10th overall by the Ducks in this year’s draft. He’ll join Chicago Blackhawks prospect center Julius Sumpf, who has also joined Providence after spending the last two seasons with the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats.