The Avalanche take a commanding series lead over the Wild, Shane Doan parts ways with the Maple Leafs, the Sedins to move up in the Canucks’ front office, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Colorado Avalanche have taken a 3-1 lead in their second-round series with the Minnesota Wild following a 5-2 victory in Game 4 on Tuesday. Parker Kelly broke a 2-2 tie, goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made 19 saves in his first start in this postseason, and Nazem Kadri scored to extend his points streak to five games.
Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri (NHL Images).
Danila Yurov and Nico Sturm scored while Jesper Wallstedt stopped 29 of 32 shots for the Wild.
The Avalanche can wrap up this series in Game 5 on Wednesday in Colorado.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was an ugly moment during the first period when Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson butt-ended Wild forward Michael McCarron in the left side of his face as the two scuffled on the ice. Manson received a double-minor, resulting in Yurov’s game-opening goal.
McCarron was still furious about the incident during his between-period interview with ESPN’s P.K. Subban, calling Manson a dirty player. After the game, Manson claimed he wasn’t trying to butt-end McCarron but was attempting to punch him.
Manson had returned to action after missing several games with an upper-body injury. He and forward Joel Kiviranta’s return couldn’t have come at a better time for the Avalanche, as forward Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski missed this game with upper-body injuries.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: Shane Doan and the Toronto Maple Leafs have mutually agreed to part company. Doan joined the Maple Leafs in 2023 as a special advisor to the general manager. With John Chayka taking over that role, Doan’s contract will not be renewed.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Doan and Chayka have an unpleasant history from their days when the former was captain of the Arizona Coyotes and the latter was the club’s GM. In 2017, Chayka told Doan that the Coyotes no longer required his services, giving the club’s long-time star no proper send-off or ceremony to honor his tenure.
Doan has been connected to the Vancouver Canucks as they reshape their front office. He could also land with the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators.
THE PROVINCE: Speaking of the Canucks, franchise icons Daniel and Henrik Sedin have reportedly accepted larger roles within the club’s hockey operations department. They’ve spent the past five seasons with the Canucks in a player development role.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: It remains to be seen what the Sedins’ new roles will be, but it won’t be as general managers. The Canucks are reportedly narrowing down their list of prospective candidates for that job.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard may have suffered a concussion during Game 1 of the first-round series with the Anaheim Ducks. Bouchard finished that game and played in the remainder of that series, which the Ducks won in six games.
THE HOCKEY NEWS: New York Islanders rookie star Matthew Schaefer is teaming up with Northwell Health to create a child support center in honor of his mother, Jennifer, who passed away from breast cancer in 2024.
TSN: Buffalo Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj were fined by the league for their actions in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series on Sunday.
Malenstyn was fined over $3,500 for goaltender interference when he deliberately ran Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes. Xhekaj was fined over $3,300 for roughing Sabres forward Sam Carrick when he sucker-punched the latter in the dying seconds of the game.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: We’ll see if those fines serve as a warning to both teams to dial back the chippy play and after-the-whistle antics that were prevalent in Game 3.
BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: Despite two ugly losses in Games 2 and 3, Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff remains confident in his group as they attempt to reset for Game 4 in Montreal on Tuesday.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens dominated the Sabres in those two contests. Another lopsided loss in Game 4 could be demoralizing for the Sabres while giving the Habs a commanding lead in the series.
TVA SPORTS: The Canadiens have recalled forwards Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj and defensemen David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom after their AHL affiliate in Laval was eliminated from the Calder Cup playoffs. The foursome will skate with the Canadiens in practice and will be available as reserve players.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Golden Knights’ head coach John Tortorella hopes Tomas Hertl’s late goal in Game 4 of their series against the Anaheim Ducks helps the veteran forward regain his scoring touch. It was his first goal since March 4.
TSN: The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Mark Jankowski to a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $1.85 million.
NEW JERSEY HOCKEY NOW: Devils general manager Sunny Mehta hired Braden Birch as his new assistant general manager. Birch is the former Florida Panthers director of hockey operations and salary cap management.