The Canadiens and Sabres prepare for Game 6, Matthew Schaefer garners praise from several Hall of Fame defensemen, the latest on the Golden Knights, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: The Montreal Canadiens hope to advance to the Eastern Conference Final on home ice in Game 6 against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. The Canadiens hold a 3-2 series lead following their 6-3 victory over the Sabres in Game 5 on Thursday.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis understands that eliminating an opponent will be difficult. He pointed out that he believed his team played their best game of this postseason in their Game 6 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on home ice in the first round.
“So, you know, it probably takes your best. And more,” St. Louis said.
BUFFALO HOCKEY BEAT: Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said his players will likely stay at their hotel on Saturday morning and not hold a pregame skate so they can save their energy for Game 6.
Ruff stressed that his club has responded well to every challenge they’ve faced this season, rising from last place in the Eastern Conference in early December to finishing first in the Atlantic Division and eliminating the Boston Bruins in the first round.
The Sabres need more from their top-six forwards. Power forward Alex Tuch has been held scoreless in this series. Center Tage Thompson has only scored twice against the Canadiens and may be playing injured.
New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Carolina Hurricanes await the winner of this series in the Eastern Conference Final. If the Canadiens win tonight, Game 1 of the Conference Final starts on Tuesday, May 19, in Carolina. If it goes seven games (which would be held on Monday, May 18), the winner will face the Hurricanes in Carolina on Thursday, May 21.
THE ATHLETIC: New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer earned praise from several Hall of Fame blueliners after he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year.
Raymond Bourque believes Schaefer has “a great chance” to become a generational player. Chris Pronger pointed out his positive impact on the Islanders since his debut, and Nicklas Lidstrom lauded the 18-year-old’s speed and heads-up performance.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Schaefer’s rookie performance took some of the sting out of the Islanders’ failure to make the playoffs. He is now their franchise player, and management will do all it can to build a contender around him.
TSN: Mitch Marner “feels great” after advancing to the Conference Finals for the first time in his NHL career. Nevertheless, he and his Vegas Golden Knights’ teammates are keeping their focus on winning the Stanley Cup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Marner leads all scorers in his postseason with 18 points. He must be considered among the favorites to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL: Speaking of the Golden Knights, they must forfeit a second-round pick and were fined $100,000 for not speaking to the media postgame at Honda Center following their series-clinching win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
The Golden Knights will have a chance to appeal the punishment to league commissioner Gary Bettman in New York next week.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Golden Knights didn’t open their dressing room for interviews, but rather in an adjacent room. Shea Theodore spoke briefly in that room, while forwards Mitch Marner and Brett Howden both spoke at the podium for less than five minutes.
The collective bargaining agreement requires players and coaches to be made available for interviews daily during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
ESPN.COM: Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek revealed that they were unable to play in their club’s second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche because of broken bones in their feet. The Avalanche took that series in five games.
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Anaheim Ducks winger Cutter Gauthier revealed he broke the L1 and L2 vertebrae in his back against the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 30. He praised the Ducks’ medical staff for helping him return to action sooner than expected.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gauthier played in all 12 playoff games for the Ducks with a team-leading 12 points.
NBC SPORTS PHILADELPHIA: The Flyers signed goaltender Aleksei Kolosov to a one-year, $850,000 contract extension.
CALGARY SUN: Flames defenseman Daniil Miromanov has reportedly signed with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg. The 28-year-old blueliner spent most of this season playing for the Flames’ AHL affiliate.