Recaps of Monday’s games, the three stars of the week are revealed, and the latest on Alex Ovechkin, Jeff Skinner, Patrik Laine and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF MONDAY’S GAMES
NHL.COM: New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt had a goal and three assists in a 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers, handing the latter their sixth loss in their last seven games. Jack Hughes scored twice and picked up an assist while Jacob Markstrom kicked out 38 shots as the Devils (17-9-2) moved into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference with 36 points. Rangers winger Chris Kreider tallied his 10th goal of the season.
New Jersey Devils winger Jesper Bratt (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin lost his fifth straight game for the first time in his career. Teammate Brett Berard missed this game with an upper-body injury.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. Auston Matthews scored his first goal since returning from a nine-game absence with an undisclosed injury while teammate Mitch Marner collected two assists in his 600th NHL regular-season game. Lukas Reichel replied for the Blackhawks, who remain last in the overall standings with 18 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Leafs have won nine of their last 11 games (15-7-2) and took over sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division with 32 points.
Dallas Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith stopped 34 shots for a 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Evgenii Dadonov and Jamie Benn scored for the Stars as they picked up their third straight win. Nick Schmaltz scored for Utah.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game began, the Stars announced forward Tyler Seguin (lower body) was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 1.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes, and Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun were the league’s three stars for the week ending Dec. 1.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Celebrini was also the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November 2024.
TSN: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin skated by himself before his club’s practice on Monday as he works his way back from a broken left fibula suffered on Nov. 18. He’s expected to return to action by late December or early January.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers winger Jeff Skinner was fined $2,000.00 by the league’s department of player safety for embellishment during a recent game against the New York Rangers.
MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: The Canadiens sent winger Joshua Roy back to their AHL affiliate in Laval, which suggests Patrik Laine’s season debut could be imminent. The 26-year-old left winger has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during preseason play.
TSN: The Florida Panthers recalled goaltender Chris Driedger as starter Sergei Bobrovsky will miss their two-game road trip to be with his wife, who is expecting a baby.
DAILY FACEOFF: The Carolina Hurricanes signed goaltender Dustin Tokarski to a one-year, two-way contract. He was immediately placed on waivers for assignment to the AHL.
ROTOWIRE: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Oliver Kylington is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury. They also placed forward Ross Colton (lower body) on long-term injury reserve but he could return to action at some point during the Avalanche’s upcoming five-game road trip.
SPORTSNET: The Calgary Flames placed forward Justin Kirkland (lower body) on injured reserve.
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings called up goaltender Sebastian Cossa on an emergency basis with regular netminders Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon sidelined by lower-body injuries.
SPORTSNET: Canada released its camp roster for the upcoming 2025 World Junior Championship. Notable omissions include Ottawa Senators prospect Carter Yakemchuk, Utah Hockey Club’s Tij Iginla, and Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Anaheim Ducks winger Beckett Sennecke was also passed over. Four of the top nine picks in the 2024 NHL Draft were not selected for Canada’s roster.