Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho sets a franchise record, shutout victories for the Leafs, Sabres and Kraken, injury updates and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho set a franchise record for game-winning goals in a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Aho netted his 58th career game-winner, surpassing Ron Francis for the most in team history. He and teammate Jalen Chatfield each finished with two points as the Hurricanes (14-4-0) took over first place in the Eastern Conference with 28 points. Ryan Poehling replied for the Flyers.
Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (NHL Images).
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll turned in a 31-save performance to shut out the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0. Rookie forward Fraser Minten opened the scoring with his first career NHL goal. William Nylander and Pontus Holmberg also scored for the Leafs and Mitch Marner collected two assists. Adin Hill stopped 23 shots for the Golden Knights.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It was a costly win for the Leafs as forward Matthew Knies left the game in the second period following a high hit from Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud. There was no postgame update regarding Knies’ condition. Whitecloud was initially assessed a five-minute major but that was rescinded upon review. Instead, he got a two-minute penalty for roughing Leafs defenseman Samuel Benoit in the ensuing scrum.
Speaking of injuries, the Leafs placed forward Max Domi (lower body) on injured reserve.
The Buffalo Sabres blanked the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 as Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned in a 24-save shutout. Jason Zucker scored the only goal. Kings netminder David Rittich turned aside 18 shots.
Seattle Kraken goalie Joey Daccord kicked out 24 shots in a 3-0 shutout of the Nashville Predators. Daniel Sprong, Brandon Montour and Yanni Gourde were the goalscorers and Chandler Stephenson collected three assists. Juuse Saros stopped 33 shots for the Predators, who received a bench minor penalty 43 seconds into the game for submitting an incorrect starting lineup to officials.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is just another symptom of a season that’s going horribly wrong for the Predators. Meanwhile, the Kraken completed their six-game homestand with a record of 5-1-0. Speaking of the Kraken, rookie forward Shane Wright was a healthy scratch for the second straight game after netting two points in 18 games.
The Dallas Stars defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-2. Jason Robertson had a goal and two assists while Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who’ve won four of their last five games. Mikael Granlund had a goal and an assist for the Sharks.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stars defensemen Ilya Lyubushkin, Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist left the game with injuries. Lyubushkin and Harley returned to action but Lundkvist did not.
HEADLINES
BLEACHER NATION: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones will be sidelined with an injured foot for four weeks.
TSN: Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine skated with his teammate in practice for the first time since being sidelined by a sprained left knee during a preseason game in September. Laine wore a non-contact jersey and left the ice after 15 minutes. He’s expected to make his season debut with the Canadiens sometime in December.
RG.ORG: Speaking of the Canadiens, don’t expect to see promising prospect Ivan Demidov make his NHL debut later this season. His KHL team, SKA St. Petersburg, has no intention of terminating the 18-year-old winger’s contract if their season ends before the Canadiens’.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Demidov’s KHL contract won’t expire until May 31. Canadiens fans will have to wait for next season to potentially get their first look at the Russian winger in a Habs jersey.
DAILY FACEOFF: Utah Hockey Club goaltender Connor Ingram is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. They’ve recalled netminder Jaxson Stauber from the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners on an emergency basis.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom underwent minor back surgery to address a herniated lumbar disc. He and the club remain hopeful he’ll return to action with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. The Blue Jackets chose Lindstrom fourth overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.
DAILY FACEOFF: Speaking of the Blue Jackets, they sent defenseman David Jiricek to their AHL affiliate in Cleveland to make room for center Kent Johnson to be activated from injured reserve.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jiricek’s demotion has made him the subject of trade speculation. I’ll have more about that in today’s Rumors update.