Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers has a record-setting game, the Hurricanes extend their win streak, Alex Ovechkin continues his march toward the all-time goal record, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAPS
NHL.COM: Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers became the highest-scoring Danish player in league history as his club overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-4. Ehlers had a goal and an assist to pass Frans Nielsen with 474 career regular-season points. Mark Scheifele, Cole Perfetti and Vladislav Namestnikov also had a goal and an assist each for the league-leading Jets (11-1-0, 22 points). Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist.
Winnipeg Jets winger Nikolaj Ehlers (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Jets winger Kyle Connor picked up an assist to extend his franchise-record season-opening points streak to 12 games.
The Lightning also lost center Brayden Point as he left the game midway through the first period with an undisclosed injury. There was no postgame update on his condition.
The Carolina Hurricanes got two goals from Dmitry Orlov in a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Martin Necas had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes, which extended their win streak to six games. Alex Ovechkin scored to extend his goal streak to four games and Charlie Lindgren made 41 saves as the Capitals’ win streak ended at three games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ovechkin has seven goals in 11 games and 860 for his career. He needs 35 to break Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894.
New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin stopped 35 shots and Artemi Panarin tallied twice to defeat the New York Islanders 5-2. Mika Zibanejad collected three assists as the Rangers (8-2-1) took over first place from the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division with 18 points. Isles netminder Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves in a losing cause as his club has dropped five of its last seven contests.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Islanders iced an injury-ravaged lineup with Mathew Barzal, Adam Pelech, Alexander Romanov and Mike Reilly sidelined. Meanwhile, there’s growing speculation the Isles are in the trade market for a defenseman. I’ll have more in today’s Rumors update.
The Boston Bruins picked up their second straight shutout by blanking the Seattle Kraken 2-0. Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves for the win while Justin Brazeau and Charlie Coyle scored the game’s only goals. Joey Daccord turned aside 31 shots for the Kraken as they lost their third straight.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Eyebrows were raised when Bruins winger David Pastrnak was benched for the third period. Head coach Jim Montgomery refused to explain why he parked his leading scorer in the final frame.
The Bruins honored former NESN broadcaster Jack Edwards in a pregame ceremony. Edwards was the play-by-play man for Bruins games on NESN from 2005 until his retirement at the end of last season.
The Edmonton Oilers won the latest game in the Battle of Alberta with a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames. Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists and Zach Hyman snapped a 2-2 tie in the third period as the Oilers won their second straight game. Anthony Mantha and Yegor Sherangovich replied for the Flames, who’ve dropped five of their last six.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With Oilers captain Connor McDavid sidelined by an ankle injury, Draisaitl has stepped up to fill the leadership void. He has three goals and six points in his last two games.
An overtime goal by Matt Boldy lifted the Minnesota Wild to a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ryan Hartman also scored and Jared Spurgeon collected two assists as the Wild picked up their third straight victory and seventh in the last eight games. William Nylander scored and Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves for the Leafs as they’ve gone 3-4-2 in their last nine games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kaprizov was held off the score sheet, ending his points streak at seven games.
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard collected three assists to lead his team over the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Arvid Soderblom kicked out 37 shots and Taylor Hall had two helpers for the Blackhawks. Brock McGinn and Mason McTavish replied for the Ducks, who’ve lost five of their last seven.
IN OTHER NEWS…
FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: The Panthers aren’t suffering a Stanley Cup hangover as they’re off to one of the best starts in franchise history. With a 9-3-1 record, they sit atop the Eastern Conference with 19 points.
THE SCORE: The injury-ravaged Colorado Avalanche are getting a much-needed reinforcement to their forward lines as they activated Artturi Lehkonen off injured reserve on Sunday. He’d been recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
DAILY FACEOFF: New Jersey Devils winger Nathan Bastian will miss several weeks with a jaw injury during a fight with Calgary Flames forward Ryan Lomberg during their game on Friday.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson is expected to only miss a week after suffering a lower-body injury during Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the Bruins.
OTTAWA SUN: Senators forward Adam Gaudette is making the most of his second chance in the NHL. After spending the last two seasons in the AHL, the 28-year-old forward is tied for second with Tim Stutzle among Senators scorers with six goals in 11 games.