NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – April 15, 2017

Montreal Canadiens winger Alexander Radulov scores in overtime against the New York Rangers in Game 2 of their opening-round series.

Game recaps, injury updates, regular-season TV rating down in the U.S. & more in your NHL morning coffee headlines. 

NHL.COM: Alexander Radulov’s overtime goal lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers, tying their best-of-seven opening-round series at a game apiece. The Canadiens were down 3-2 when Tomas Plekanec tied the game with 18 seconds left in the game. Radulov also collected two assists for the Habs, while Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made a career-high 54 saves in a losing cause. 

Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets to take a 2-0 lead in their series. Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside 39 shots. Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert could face supplemental discipline for his high cross-check on Penguins forward Tom Kuhnhackl, breaking his stick in the process. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Very chippy move by Calvert late in a game in which the outcome was long decided. It’ll be interesting to see what the league decides. 

Shorthanded goals by Zack Kassian and Connor McDavid powered the Edmonton Oilers to a 2-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks to even their series at a game apiece. Cam Talbot made 16 saves for the shutout. Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom left the game in the third after blocking a Patrick Marleau shot. No word as to his status for Game 3. 

Jaden Schwartz tallied the game winner late in the third period to give the St. Louis Blues a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild. The Blues take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven matchup. 

OTTAWA CITIZEN:  Senators captain Erik Karlsson remains hobbled by a nagging foot injury. The Sens face the Boston Bruins tonight in Game 2 of their opening-round series. 

BOSTON GLOBE: Bruins center David Krejci and defenseman Colin Miller aren’t expected to play in today’s game. 

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Both clubs have banged-up bluelines but Karlsson’s injury could become a factor in the outcome of this series. He was the Sens’ leading scorer this season. His injury could become a factor in the outcome of this series. 

DETROIT FREE PRESS:  Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader hopes to avoid arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, as he intends to play for Team USA in next month’s World Championships. 

SPORTS MEDIA WATCH: The 2016-17 NHL regular season hit a low on NBC and NBCSN. The broadcasts “averaged 467,000 viewers across NBC and NBCSN, down 7% from last year (503K) and down 5% from 2015 (503K). That does not include streaming, which boosted the average to 475,000 — down 6% from last year (505K).”

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Peter Friesen, the Carolina Hurricanes longtime head athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach, won’t be back with the team. After 21 seasons, the club has not renewed his contract.