The Ducks and Wild advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
RECAPS OF THURSDAY’S PLAYOFF ACTION
NHL.COM: The Edmonton Oilers won’t be making a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, falling to the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 in Game 6 of their best-of-seven first-round series, winning this series in six games.
Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, and Chris Kreider each had a goal and two assists, Cutter Gauthier had a goal and an assist, and Lukas Dostal stopped 25 shots for the Ducks, who took this series in six games and will face the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights-Utah Mammoth series. Connor Murphy and Vasily Podkolzin replied for the Oilers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This is the first series win for the Ducks since 2017. Their victory over the Oilers is an upset, but it was clear as this series unfolded that they were the better club. Several of the Oilers’ key players, including team captain Connor McDavid, were dealing with injuries, but even he admitted that they were an average team throughout this season.
The Oilers’ early postseason exit is already sparking conjecture about their offseason plans. I’ll have more in today’s Rumor Mill.
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes scored twice and collected an assist to lead his club over the Dallas Stars 4-2 to win their first-round series in six games. Matt Boldy tallied two empty-net goals for the Wild, who won their first playoff series since 2015 and will face the Colorado Avalanche in the second round. Wyatt Johnson and Mavrik Bourque briefly gave the Stars a 2-1 lead before Vladimir Tarasenko tied the score and Hughes netted the winning goal.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: This was a terrific series between two well-matched opponents. This loss is a bit of a setback for the Stars, who reached the Western Conference Final in each of the last three years. I’ll be taking a look at what they face in the offseason in today’s Rumor Mill.
The Wild won this series without defenseman Jonas Brodin, who missed this game with a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. Stars defenseman Tyler Myers was a healthy scratch from this contest.
HEADLINES
NHL.COM: Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield, Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar, and Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson are this year’s finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. The award is given annually to the player voted best to combine sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct, and ability as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: All three are worthy candidates, with Kopitar having won it three times. With the Kings’ captain retiring, he’ll likely be the sentimental choice for the voters.
NHL.COM: Game 1 of the second-round series between the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers will be on Saturday, May 2, at 8 pm ET in Carolina.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW: Bruins winger Viktor Arvidsson is expected to miss Game 6 of his club’s first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres. He’s been sidelined since Game 4 with a suspected shoulder injury.
NESN: Bruins rookie forward James Hagens is expected to be a healthy scratch for the third straight game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Bruins are trailing the Sabres three games to two and hope to avoid elimination in Game 6 on Friday in Boston.
BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Speaking of the Sabres, defenseman Logan Stanley is questionable for Game 6 due to an illness.
TSN: Winnipeg Jets defenseman Elias Salomonsson underwent shoulder surgery and will be sidelined for six months.
THE PROVINCE: Calgary Flames assistant general manager Brad Pascall and Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Jeff Tambellini are among the candidates to become the next general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.
Other candidates include Boston Bruins assistant general managers Evan Gold and Jamie Langenbrunner, Florida Panthers assistant GM Brent Peterson, NHL front office executive Patrick Burke, former Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams, Toronto Maple Leafs executive Shane Doan, and Canucks assistant GM Ryan Johnson.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks appear to be casting a wider net in their search for a new general manager than the Toronto Maple Leafs, who seem to be putting more of an emphasis on “data-driven” candidates.
THE SEATTLE TIMES: Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell is leaving the club to explore other opportunities as her contract expires. She was the first woman to become an assistant coach in NHL history. The door remains open if she wishes to return to the Kraken.