NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 29, 2026

by | Mar 29, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 29, 2026

Check out the recaps from a 15-game Saturday night in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: A hat-trick performance by Owen Tippett carried the Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Tippett finished with four points, and Dan Vladar made 32 saves for the 35-24-12 Flyers (82 points), who are five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Patrick Kane and Moritz Seider each had two assists for the Red Wings (39-25-8), who are one point out of that wild card with 86 points.

Philadelphia Flyers winger Owen Tippett (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers have been hot of late, with a record of 7-1-1 in their last nine games.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg had a goal and two assists as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to double up the Ottawa Senators 4-2. Brandon Hagel and Charle-Edouard D’Astous each had a goal and an assist for the 45-21-6 Lightning, who sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 96 points. Dylan Cozens and Jordan Spence scored for the Senators (38-25-10), who sit one point out of the final Eastern wild-card with 86 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Lightning forwards Nikita Kucherov and Nick Paul missed this game due to illness.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield sniped his 45th goal of the season in a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. The Canadiens’ second line of Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, and Alex Newhook each had a goal and an assist as the Habs (41-21-10) picked up their fourth straight win and sit third in the Atlantic Division with 91 points. Zachary L’Heureux scored for the 34-30-9 Predators, who cling to the final Western wild card with 77 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson collected an assist to become the third defenseman in NHL history to record multiple 60-assist seasons before the age of 23, joining Hall of Famers Paul Coffey (three seasons) and Bobby Orr (two seasons).

The Winnipeg Jets are getting closer to a Western Conference wild-card spot with a 4-2 upset of the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. Cole Perfetti snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period while Gabriel Vilardi had a goal and an assist for the 31-30-12 Jets (74 points), who moved within three points of the Predators. Brock Nelson and Parker Kelly replied for the 48-14-10 Avalanche (106 points).

A five-goal second period vaulted the New York Islanders over the Florida Panthers by a score of 5-2. Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists for the Islanders (42-27-5) as they moved into second place in the Metropolitan Division with 89 points. Matthew Tkachuk scored both goals for the 35-34-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Panthers center Sam Bennett missed this game with an undisclosed injury.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid had a goal and two assists as his club held off the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Zach Hyman had a goal and an assist while Jack Roslovic tallied his 20th goal of the season for the 37-28-9 Oilers, who hold second place in the Pacific Division with 83 points. Beckett Sennecke and Cutter Gauthier tallied for the Ducks (41-28-4), who hold first place in that division with 86 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ducks winger Troy Terry returned to the lineup after missing one game with a lower-body injury. Teammates Radko Gudas and Pavel Mintyukov missed this contest with lower-body injuries.

Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist after missing 15 games with a lower-body injury in a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Mavrik Bourque scored twice and picked up an assist, and Jason Robertson had a goal and an assist for the Stars (44-18-11), who remain in second place in the overall standings with 99 points. Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist for the 36-21-16 Penguins, who are clinging to third place in the Metropolitan Division with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Penguins played without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as both are day-to-day with injuries.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak collected two assists to extend his points streak to 12 games to help his club beat the Minnesota Wild 6-3. Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm each tallied twice for the 41-24-8 Bruins, who hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 90 points. Mats Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman each had a goal and an assist for the Wild (41-21-12), who sit third in the Central Division with 94 points.

The Carolina Hurricanes scored five straight goals in a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils. Nikolaj Ehlers and Shayne Gostisbehere each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (46-20-6), who hold first place in the Eastern Conference with 98 points. Timo Meier and Evgenii Dadonov replied for the 37-33-2 Devils.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gostisbehere returned from a nine-game absence with a lower-body injury.

San Jose Sharks rookie winger Igor Chernyshov scored twice (including the game-winner) for his first NHL multi-point game to nip the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist for the 33-31-7 Sharks (74 points), who snapped a six-game skid to sit four points out of the final Western wild card. Denton Mateychuk and Cole Sillinger scored while Elvis Merzlikins stopped 33 shots for the Blue Jackets (38-24-11), who slipped into the final Eastern wild card with 87 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov left this game after the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Buffalo Sabres overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Seattle Kraken 3-2 on a shootout goal by Tage Thompson. Rasmus Dahlin scored his 100th career NHL regular-season goal while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned aside 32 shots for the 45-21-8 Sabres, who remain in first place in the Atlantic Division with 98 points. Chandler Stephenson and Bobby McMann each had a goal and an assist for the Kraken (32-29-11) as they sit two points out of the final Western wild card with 75 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sabres rookie Noah Ostlund could be sidelined longer than expected with an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, Kraken center Shane Wright left this game in the first period with an undisclosed ailment.

Utah Mammoth forwards Alexander Kerfoot and Logan Cooley each tallied two goals to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 6-2. Mikhail Sergachev collected four assists as the Mammoth (37-30-6) remains in the first Western wild card with 80 points. Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe scored for the 29-25-18 Kings (76 points), who are one point out of the final Western wild-card berth.

The Washington Capitals blew a 3-0 lead but rallied from a 4-3 deficit for a 5-4 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Dylan Strome scored the tying goal and the winner in the shootout for the 36-28-9 Capitals. Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists for the Golden Knights (32-26-16), who have lost six of their last seven games but remain third in the Pacific Division with 79 points.

St. Louis Blues winger Dylan Holloway had a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jordan Kyrou and Jake Neighbours each had two assists for the 31-30-11 Blues (73 points), who sit four points out of the Western wild-card spot. Jake McCabe replied for the 31-30-13 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blues center Robert Thomas returned to action after missing one game with an upper-body injury.

The Calgary Flames pounded the Vancouver Canucks 7-3. Matt Coronato and Morgan Frost each had a goal and two assists for the 30-34-8 Flames. Center Elias Pettersson picked up two assists for the 21-42-8 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flames defenseman Joel Hanley’s season is over as he suffered an undisclosed injury on Thursday against the Anaheim Ducks.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 22, 2026

by | Mar 22, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 22, 2026

Lighting winger Nikita Kucherov takes over the scoring lead, a five-point night for Canadiens winger Cole Caufield, the Predators move into a playoff berth, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov scored two goals and collected two assists in a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Anthony Cirelli tallied twice for the 43-21-4 Lightning, who sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with 90 points. Oilers captain Connor McDavid netted his 399th career regular-season goal as his club sits in second place in the Pacific Division with a record of 34-28-9 (77 points).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 118 points, Kucherov surpassed McDavid for the lead in this season’s scoring race. Speaking of McDavid, he acknowledged that his struggling club is fortunate to be playing in the weak Pacific Division. “It’s a bit of a pillow fight right now,” he said.

Meanwhile, sidelined Oilers star Leon Draisaitl has returned to his native Germany to receive treatment for his lower-body injury from renowned sports doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt. Draisaitl hopes to be healthy in time for the postseason.

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield (NHL Images).

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield had a hat trick and two assists as his club pulled away from the New York Islanders by a score of 7-3. Nick Suzuki had four assists, Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice and set up two others, and Kaiden Guhle had a goal and two assists for the Canadiens (38-21-10), who hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 86 points. Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer scored his 22nd goal of the season for the Islanders (39-26-5), who are one point out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 83 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 43 goals, Caufield sits two behind Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for this season’s goal-scoring lead. Meanwhile, Schaefer needs one goal to tie Hall of Famer Brian Leetch for the most goals by a rookie defenseman.

The Nashville Predators hold the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference after a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Steven Stamkos led the way with two goals and an assist while goaltender Justus Annunen kicked out 39 shots for the 32-28-9 Predators (73 points). Shea Theodore replied for the Golden Knights (31-25-14), who sit one point behind the Oilers in third place in the Pacific Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Predators have come a long way from being dead-last in the Western Conference on Dec. 1. Stamkos regaining his scoring touch has played a big part in their resurgence. After finishing last season with 27 goals in 82 games, the 36-year-old sniper has 33 goals in 69 games.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski collected three first-period assists as his club defeated the Seattle Kraken 5-2, extending their points streak to 12 games (8-0-4). Cole Sillinger had a goal and two assists for the 37-21-11 Blue Jackets, who sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 85 points. Kaapo Kakko had a goal and an assist for the Kraken (31-29-9), who sit two points back of the Predators for that final Western wild card.

The Buffalo Sabres picked up their fourth straight victory with a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Zach Benson had a goal and an assist while Tage Thompson tallied his 36th goal of the season for the 44-20-6 Sabres, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 94 points. Artemi Panarin scored for the Kings (28-25-16), who’ve dropped four of their last six games to sit one point behind the Predators.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes in points, but the latter holds first place in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand.

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 41 saves to backstop his club over the Detroit Red Wings 4-2. Morgan Geekie collected three assists while David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm each had a goal and an assist for the Bruins (39-23-8) as they hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 86 points. Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat scored for the 38-24-8 Red Wings, who cling to the final Eastern wild card with 84 points.

A shootout goal by Sidney Crosby lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Erik Karlsson tallied twice for the Penguins (35-18-16) as they hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 86 points. Brad Lambert had a goal and an assist for the 28-29-12 Jets (68 points), who sit five points out of the final Western wild-card berth.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins defenseman Samuel Girard returned to the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury. Jets blueliner Neal Pionk was back in action after being sidelined for 23 games with a lower-body injury.

The Minnesota Wild nipped the Dallas Stars 2-1 on an overtime goal by Vladimir Tarasenko. Bobby Brink scored in regulation and assisted on Tarasenko’s goal for the 40-19-12 Wild, who sit third in the Western Conference with 92 points. Jason Robertson tallied for the Stars (43-15-11), who sit second in the West with 97 points.

Third-period goals by Michael Amadio and Ridly Greig enabled the Ottawa Senators to hold off the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 5-2. Tim Stutzle netted his 32nd goal of the season for the Senators (34-24-9) as they sit three points back of the Red Wings for the final Eastern wild card with 81 points. John Tavares and Easton Cowan replied for the 29-29-13 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was struck in the throat by a high shot from teammate William Nylander during warm-ups. He was taken to a hospital for precautionary reasons. The Leafs also played without defenseman Morgan Rielly, who suffered a lower-body injury on Friday against the Hurricanes.

The Philadelphia Flyers picked up their seventh straight road win with a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Three unanswered third-period goals by Christian Dvorak, Travis Sanheim, and Noah Cates sealed the deal for the 34-23-12 Flyers (80 points), who sit four points out of the final Eastern wild-card berth. Dmitry Orlov scored for the Sharks (32-30-6), who’ve lost four in a row and sit three points out of the final Western wild card.

St. Louis Blues winger Pavel Buchnevich had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Defenseman Logan Mailloux picked up two assists for the 28-30-11 Blues. Filip Hronek scored for the 21-40-8 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Blues announced that defenseman Tyler Tucker is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The Canuck activated defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph off injured reserve, but he didn’t play in this game.

IN OTHER NEWS…

CALGARY SUN: Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer faces a disciplinary hearing for boarding Flames forward Connor Zary on Friday. Greer was given a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct. Zary left the game with an upper-body injury and did not return. There was no update on Zary’s condition, but head coach Ryan Huska said after the game that he was moving around.

NEW YORK POST: Rangers center Noah Laba (lower-body injury) and defenseman Urho Vaakanainen (upper body) are listed as week-to-week. Both players were sidelined during Wednesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils.

SI.COM: Chicago Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell could make his NHL debut this week after his Swedish team (Djurgardens IF) had its season end with a 3-1 loss to Malmo. Frondell was chosen third overall by the Blackhawks in the 2025 NHL Draft.










NHL Rumor Mill – March 20, 2026

by | Mar 20, 2026

NHL Rumor Mill – March 20, 2026

Check out the latest on Rangers center Vincent Trocheck, Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies, Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, Sabres winger Alex Tuch, and more in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

THE LATEST “32 THOUGHTS” RUMOR TIDBITS

SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports the lack of depth in this summer’s unrestricted free-agent market could generate more activity in this summer’s trade market. That’s one of the reasons the New York Rangers didn’t move Vincent Trocheck at the March 6 trade deadline. Teams reluctant to meet the Rangers’ asking price at the deadline could be more open to doing so in the offseason.

New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (NHL Images)

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers (including me) questioned the Rangers’ decision not to move Trocheck at the deadline when his trade value was perceived to be at its peak. A more active summer trade market would give them a good chance of finding a trade partner willing to meet their asking price. 

Friedman reports the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and Utah Mammoth showed serious interest in Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies before the recent trade deadline.

Everyone has denied that the Canadiens “went far down the road” pursuing Knies, but Friedman seems skeptical, saying “we’ll see”. There were rumors linking the Habs to a defenseman, or something else they could revisit this summer. He also noted that they “definitely explored moving money.” There were talks of shipping Patrik Laine to the Philadelphia Flyers or Toronto Maple Leafs, but nothing came of it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens and Mammoth were also believed to have been interested in St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. The Habs also had an interest in Blues winger Jordan Kyrou last summer.

As for the Canadiens attempting to move money, Laine was likely the player they were trying to move. He’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and he no longer fits into their plans.

It’s believed Sergei Bobrovsky’s camp at one point sought a contract comparable to what Brad Marchand signed with the Florida Panthers (six years, $5.25 million AAV). Bobrovsky is 37, the same age Marchand was when he inked that deal last year. However, the Panthers weren’t willing to do it.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bobrovsky is finishing a seven-year deal with an AAV of $10 million. He’s obviously not getting anything similar to that again. The Panthers are probably objecting to the length of the deal, but they could find the $5.25 million AAV acceptable. Maybe they get something done on a two or three-year contract.

A big playoff performance by Alex Tuch could force the Buffalo Sabres’ hand in contract negotiations with the 28-year-old power forward.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tuch has put up good numbers during the last four seasons. The last time he was in the postseason was in 2020-21 with the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s rumored that he’s seeking a deal comparable to the eight-year, $85 million contract that Adrian Kempe signed with the Los Angeles Kings last fall ($10.625 million AAV). Helping the Sabres stage a deep playoff run would probably go a long way toward convincing management that he’s worthy of a similar deal.

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said he’ll discuss Rick Bowness’ future with the coach after this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Blue Jackets hired Bowness on an interim basis in mid-January, and the players have responded well. When the hiring was made on Jan. 12, they were last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19-19-7 for 45 points. They’ve surged up the standings since then, moving into third place in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 36-21-11 for 83 points.

If Bowness wants the job full-time, it’s his for the taking.

It wasn’t a certainty that the Minnesota Wild would include prospect forward Charlie Stramel in a package deal. That’s not to say they wouldn’t have done so, but the return would have to be significant. The same goes for the Carolina Hurricanes with young defenseman Alexander Nikishin.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 20, 2026

by | Mar 20, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 20, 2026

The Blue Jackets ride an 11-game points streak into a playoff berth, Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is challenging for the scoring title, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews undergoes knee surgery, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: The Columbus Blue Jackets extended their points streak to 11 games (7-0-4) and moved into third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Adam Fantilli scored two goals while Zach Werenski collected three assists for the 36-21-11 Blue Jackets (83 points). Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (28-33-8), who have dropped three straight games.

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (NHL Images)

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk scored with 13 seconds left in the third period to nip the New York Islanders 3-2. Shane Pinto and Warren Foegele also scored for the 35-24-9 Senators (79 points), who are five points out of the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth. Matthew Schaefer and Brayden Schenn tallied for the Islanders (39-25-5), who dropped one point behind the Blue Jackets, and out of a playoff berth with 83 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to score 50 points in a season. With 21 goals, he’s two shy of tying Brian Leetch for the most goals by a rookie blueliner.

Speaking of the Islanders, their AHL affiliate will move from Bridgeport, Conn., to Hamilton, Ontario in 2026-27.

Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli each had a goal and two assists in a 6-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Darren Raddysh and Brandon Hagel each had a goal and an assist for the Lightning (42-21-4), who hold second place in the Atlantic Division with 88 points. Marco Rossi collected two assists for the 21-39-8 Canucks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov’s three-point performance moved him within one point of Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid for the scoring title. McDavid has 115 points while Kucherov has 114. The Lightning winger won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s scoring champion in each of the last two seasons. He also won the award in 2018-19. Kucherov hopes to join McDavid, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Phil Esposito, Jaromir Jagr, and Stan Mikita as the only players to win the Art Ross Trophy four times.

Speaking of McDavid, he and his Oilers were blanked 4-0 by the Florida Panthers. Sergei Bobrovsky turned in a 21-save shutout while Cole Reinhardt, A.J. Greer, Anton Lundell, and Carter Verhaeghe scored for the 34-31-3 Panthers. Connor Ingram stopped 19 of 23 shots for the Oilers (34-27-9, 77 points), who are one point behind the first-place Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Oilers placed Leon Draisaitl (lower body) on long-term injury reserve and recalled forward Roby Jarventie from their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.

Buffalo Sabres goalie Alex Lyon made 23 saves to shut out the San Jose Sharks 5-0. Sam Carrick tallied twice, and Rasmus Dahlin had a goal and an assist for the 43-20-6 Sabres, who have won 11 of their last 12 games to sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with 92 points. Alex Nedeljkovic gave up five goals on 16 shots as the Sharks (32-29-6, 70 points) dropped their third straight game. They are two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Sabres are tied with the Carolina Hurricanes, but the latter holds the conference lead with a game in hand.

Speaking of shutouts, Utah Mammoth netminder Karel Vejmelka turned aside 28 shots in a 4-0 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Clayton Keller scored two goals for the Mammoth (36-27-6), who hold the first Western wild card with 78 points. Adin Hill got the hook after giving up three goals on his first three shots as the Golden Knights (31-24-14) sit third in the Pacific Division with 76 points.

Detroit Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat scored the winning goal and collected two assists in a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, handing the latter their third loss in their last four games. John Gibson made 32 saves for the 38-23-8 Red Wings, who hold the final Eastern Conference wild-card berth with 84 points. Juraj Slafkovsky scored his 25th goal of the season for the Canadiens (37-21-10) as they cling to third place in the Atlantic Division with 84 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Red Wings center Andrew Copp also scored as he returned to action following a three-game absence with a lower-body injury. Canadiens winger Josh Anderson missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

The Boston Bruins thumped the Winnipeg Jets 6-1. David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist to extend his points streak to eight games while Pavel Zacha, Viktor Arvidsson, and Lukas Reichel also had a goal and an assist each for the Bruins (38-23-8), who hold the first Eastern wild card with 84 points. Jonathan Toews scored for the 28-29-11 Jets.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens hold third place in the Atlantic over the Bruins and Red Wings because they have a game in hand. However, they could soon find themselves outside the playoff picture if they continue to stumble.

A shootout goal by Trevor Zegras gave the Philadelphia Flyers a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Noah Cates and Matvei Michkov each had two points for the 33-23-12 Flyers. Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist for the Kings (28-24-16), who picked up a point to move one point ahead of the Seattle Kraken into the final Western wild card with 72 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers got the win without Sean Couturier, Luke Glendening, and Denver Barkey, who were sidelined by injuries.

Speaking of the Kraken, they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Nashville Predators. Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists while Justus Annunen kicked out 26 shots for the Predators (31-28-9), who are one point behind the Kings in the race for that Western wild-card berth. Frederick Gaudreau replied for the 31-28-9 Kraken, who’ve lost six of their last eight games.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Predators starting goalie Juuse Saros missed this game as he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

The Chicago Blackhawks upset the Minnesota Wild 2-1. Spencer Knight made 28 saves while Ilya Mikheyev and Connor Bedard scored for the 26-30-12 Blackhawks. Nico Sturm tallied for the Wild (39-19-12), who hold third place in the Central Division with 90 points, but have lost four of their last five contests.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov missed this game with a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day.

HEADLINES

TORONTO SUN: Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews underwent a successful repair surgery for his torn left MCL. His recovery time is 12 weeks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Matthews was injured last week by a deliberate knee-on-knee hit by Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas, who received a five-game suspension for his actions. While Matthews’ season is over, Gudas could return to action as early as next Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The punishment really doesn’t fit the crime, does it?

HOCKEY 24/7: Frank Seravalli reports sources indicate the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery will be held on May 5.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The league hasn’t officially confirmed this, but it would be in line with last year’s lottery, which was also held on May 5. The New York Islanders won that lottery, going on to select Matthew Schaefer with the first-overall pick during the draft the following month.

DAILY FACEOFF: Ryan Johansen announced his retirement after a 13-season NHL career with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, and the Colorado Avalanche from 2011-12 to 2023-24.

Johansen had 202 goals and 376 assists for 578 points in 905 regular-season games. He also had 19 goals and 35 assists for 54 points in 67 playoff games.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 18, 2026

by | Mar 18, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 18, 2026

Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov has a five-point game, Oilers center Leon Draisaitl is out for the rest of the regular season, Canadiens winger Cole Caufield tallied his 40th goal of the season, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

RECAPS OF TUESDAY’S GAMES

NHL.COM: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov scored a hat trick and collected two assists in a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Brandon Hagel had a goal and two assists for the Lightning (41-21-4), who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 86 points. Bobby McMann and Jared McCann replied for the 31-27-9 Kraken, who hold the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 71 points.

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images).

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov overtook Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for second place in the scoring race with 111 points, sitting four points behind Edmonton Oilers captain Nathan MacKinnon.

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-3. Max Jones scored the tie-breaker, and Zach Hyman netted the insurance goal for the 34-26-9 Oilers, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 77 points. Kiefer Sherwood and Dmitry Orlov each had a goal and an assist for the Sharks (32-28-6), who sit one point behind the Kraken.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Oilers announced that center Leon Draisaitl will miss the remainder of the regular season with a lower-body injury. Draisaitl sits second among Oilers scorers with 97 points and fourth among NHL scorers, so his absence will be a significant test for the Oilers as they attempt to nail down a playoff berth in the Western Conference.

An overtime goal by Cole Caufield lifted the Montreal Canadiens over the Boston Bruins 3-2. Caufield and Nick Suzuki each finished with a goal and an assist, while Jakub Dobes stopped 26 shots for the Canadiens (37-20-10) as they continue to hold third place in the Atlantic Division with 84 points. Pavel Zacha scored both goals for the 37-23-8 Bruins, who hold the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 82 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first time that Caufield has reached the 40-goal plateau, making him the first Canadien to do so since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94. Caufield also holds second place among NHL goal scorers this season, five goals behind Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon.

Before this game, the Canadiens announced that winger Kirby Dach would be sidelined for two to four weeks with an upper-body injury.

The Columbus Blue Jackets pushed their points streak to 10 games with a 5-1 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. Charlie Coyle had a goal and three assists while Jet Greaves turned aside 27 shots for the red-hot Blue Jackets, who improved to 35-21-11 and sit one point behind the Bruins and the idle Detroit Red Wings in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. Andrei Svechnikov scored for the Hurricanes (42-19-6) as they cling to first place in the East.

Speaking of red-hot teams, the Buffalo Sabres blanked the Vegas Golden Knights 2-0 to pick up their 10th win in their last 11 games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 28 saves for his first shutout of the season while Josh Doan and Josh Norris were the goal scorers as the Sabres (42-20-6) remain in second place in the Eastern Conference with 90 points. Adin Hill stopped 23 of 24 shots for the 31-23-14 Golden Knights, who hold third place in the Pacific Division with 76 points.

The Minnesota Wild blew a 3-1 lead before downing the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 on an overtime goal by Mats Zuccarello. Marcus Johansson had a goal and two assists, and Brock Faber picked up three assists for the 39-18-12 Wild, who are in third place in the Central Division with 90 points. Frank Nazar and Louis Crevier each had a goal and an assist while Connor Bedard collected two assists for the 25-30-12 Blackhawks.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek missed this game with a lower-body injury and is expected to remain sidelined for at least two more games.

New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal had three assists while Calum Ritchie had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Brayden Schenn scored his first goal since being acquired by the Islanders (39-24-5) at the trade deadline. The Isles sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 83 points. Steven Lorentz replied for the 29-28-12 Maple Leafs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game, the Islanders announced the signing of defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson to a three-year entry-level contract. Aitcheson, 19, was chosen 17th overall by the Islanders in last year’s draft. He has 70 points in 54 games with the OHL’s Barrie Colts. The New York Post reports he’ll likely only play for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport once his junior season ends.

The Nashville Predators got a 36-save performance from goalie Juuse Saros to nip the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 on a shootout goal by Ryan O’Reilly. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist for the 30-28-9 Predators (69 points), who sit two points behind the Kraken for the final Western wild-card spot. Kyle Connor had three assists for the Jets (28-28-11), who are four points back of the Kraken.

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson tallied twice to snap a 20-game goalless drought in a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Marco Rossi and Brock Boeser each had three points for the 21-38-8 Canucks. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett replied for the 33-31-3 Panthers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson also reached the 200-goal milestone in this game.

HEADLINES

TORONTO STAR: Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews’ season-ending knee injury has NHL stars such as Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Matthews’ teammate John Tavares pushing for change in the NHL’s department of player safety.

Matthews was injured following a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas. A repeat offender, Gudas received a five-game suspension from the league, which Matthews’ agent called “laughable and preposterous”.

Department head George Parros defended his staff on Tuesday. He stood by the five-game suspension, expressing confidence in the hard work his staff puts in to reach their decisions.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: That doesn’t excuse the fact that the DOPS got it wrong, very wrong, by handing Gudas what amounted to a slap on the wrist for ending Matthews’ season with a blatant cheapshot.

The on-ice officials made the right call by handing Gudas a major penalty and a game misconduct. However, Parros and his group made the latest in a long series of confusing decisions that have amounted to growing frustration and calls for change around the league. Whether anything will come of it remains to be seen.

ESPN.COM: New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes wants the Hockey Hall of Fame to give him back the puck from his gold-medal-winning overtime goal for Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“I’m trying to get it. Like, that’s bulls**t that the Hockey Hall of Fame has it, in my opinion. Why would they have that puck?” Hughes said, adding that he wants to give the puck to his father.

The Hockey Hall of Fame has begun displaying Hughes’ “golden goal” puck and that of Megan Keller, whose overtime goal won gold for Team USA’s Women’s hockey team. “I don’t see why Megan Keller or I shouldn’t have those pucks,” Hughes said.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Not a good look for Hughes. Those pucks represent two great moments in hockey history and are on display for all hockey fans to enjoy.

Keller hasn’t made a similar comment, leading one to assume that she has no issue with her golden goal being displayed in the Hall.

Sidney Crosby’s “golden goal” from the 2010 Winter Olympics has been on display in the HHoF for years. Crosby has never asked for it to be returned to him.

TSN: Ottawa Senators defenseman Nick Jensen will undergo season-ending knee surgery.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins forward Blake Lizotte will miss the last four weeks of the Penguins’ season with an upper-body injury.

PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: The Flyers signed prospect center Cole Knuble to an entry-level contract. The 21-year-old is the son of former NHL forward Mike Knuble.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 15, 2026

by | Mar 15, 2026

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 15, 2026

Anze Kopitar is the Kings’ all-time points leader, the Stars tie their franchise points streak record, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour reaches a coaching milestone, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar scored twice to become the franchise points leader in a 6-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils. Kopitar passed Marcel Dionne with his 1,308th career NHL regular-season point.

Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar (NHL Images).

Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists, and Brandt Clarke had three assists for the 27-24-15 Kings (69 points), who slipped one point out of the final Western Conference wild-card berth. Nico Hischier scored twice and set up two others for the Devils (33-31-2).

The Dallas Stars blew a 2-0 lead, but Thomas Harley’s overtime goal gave them a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings to tie their franchise-record points streak of 15 games. Wyatt Johnston had a goal and an assist, while Michael Bunting scored his first goal since being acquired by the Stars at the March 6 trade deadline. Simon Edvinsson and Lucas Raymond replied for the 36-23-8 Red Wings, who cling to the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 80 points. Meanwhile, the Stars (42-14-10) hold second place in the Western Conference with 94 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Red Wings activated winger David Perron off injured reserve for this game. He’d been recovering from a sports hernia since Jan. 20. The Wing acquired Perron from the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline.

Carolina Hurricanes forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho each had a goal and an assist to double up the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in Rod Brind’Amour’s 600th career NHL regular-season game as a head coach. Jordan Martinook tallied the winning goal for the 42-18-6 Hurricanes as they sit atop the Eastern Conference with 90 points. Yanni Gourde and Charle-Edouard D’Astous scored for the 40-21-4 Lightning, who sit second in the Atlantic Division with 84 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before the game, the Lightning announced that defenseman Declan Carlile will miss the next four to five weeks with a lower-body injury.

Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor had a goal and an assist to reach the 30-goal plateau for the eighth time in his career in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Mark Scheifele collected two assists, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 28 shots for the 27-28-10 Jets. Martin Necas scored for the Avalanche (44-12-9), who sit first in the overall standings with 97 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns played in his 990th consecutive NHL regular-season game, moving into second place on the league’s Ironman rankings. Phil Kessel leads with 1,064.

The Buffalo Sabres got the game-tying goal from Jack Quinn, who also scored the shootout winner to nip the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Owen Power also scored in regulation for the 41-20-6 Sabres, who hold first place in the Atlantic Division with 88 points. Dakota Joshua and Max Domi scored for the 28-27-12 Maple Leafs.

Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev tallied twice and collected an assist as his club blanked the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0. Adin Hill turned in a 21-save shutout while Mitch Marner and Mark Stone each had two assists for the Golden Knights (31-22-14), who regained first place in the Pacific Division with 76 points. Spencer Knight stopped 28 of 32 shots for the 25-30-11 Blackhawks.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin kicked out 46 shots in a 4-2 upset of the Minnesota Wild. Vladislav Gavrikov had a goal and two assists for the 28-30-8 Rangers. Matt Boldy and Danila Yurov scored for the Wild (38-17-12), who sit third in the Central Division with 88 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Wild captain Jared Spurgeon played in his 1,000th career NHL regular-season game. He’s spent his entire 16-season NHL career with the Wild. Meanwhile, the Rangers activated team captain J.T. Miller off injured reserve for this game.

The San Jose Sharks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-2. Macklin Celebrini had two goals and an assist, and Collin Graf had a goal and two assists for the Sharks (32-26-6), as they regained the final Western Conference wild-card berth with 70 points. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki replied for the 36-19-10 Canadiens, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 82 points.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sharks forward Igor Chernyshov left the game in the first period when his face struck the ice following a hit from Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation and travelled with the club to Ottawa following the game for their Sunday game against the Ottawa Senators.

Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher was a healthy scratch for the first time in his 14-season NHL career. He’s expected to return to the lineup for Sunday’s matchup with the Anaheim Ducks.

Speaking of the Senators and Ducks, Linus Ullmark had a 23-save shutout to give Ottawa a 2-0 win over Anaheim. Michael Amadio and Thomas Chabot scored for the Senators (33-23-9). Ville Husso stopped 27 of 29 shots for the 36-27-3 Ducks, who sit second in the Pacific Division with 75 points.

A shootout goal by Fraser Minten gave the Boston Bruins a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Charlie McAvoy tallied twice for the 37-23-6 Bruins, who moved into the first Eastern wild-card spot with 80 points. Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin replied for the Capitals (33-27-8).

New York Islanders forward Simon Holmstrom scored twice as his club held off the Calgary Flames 3-2. Casey Czikas also scored while David Rittich turned aside 30 shots for the Islanders (38-24-5), who remain in third place in the Metropolitan Division with 81 points. Mikael Backlund and Blake Coleman scored for the 26-33-7 Flames.

The Pittsburgh Penguins downed the Utah Mammoth 4-3. Noel Acciari broke a 3-3 tie while Anthony Mantha had a goal and an assist for the 33-18-15 Penguins, who hold second place in the Metropolitan Division with 81 points. Dylan Guenther scored two goals for the Mammoth (34-27-6) as they hold the first Western wild card with 74 points.

Bobby McMann scored twice and picked up an assist in his debut with the Seattle Kraken in a 5-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. McMann was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline. Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle each had three points for the Kraken (30-26-9) as they ended a four-game losing skid and sit one point behind the Sharks for the final Western wild-card berth. Evander Kane and Marco Rossi replied for the 20-38-8 Canucks.

The Columbus Blue Jackets pushed their points streak to nine games with a 2-1 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Kirill Marchenko scored in regulation and also tallied the game-winner for the 34-21-11 Blue Jackets, who are one point behind the Red Wings for the final Eastern wild card. Alex Bump replied for the 31-23-12 Flyers.