NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – June 22, 2024
The Oilers defeat the Panthers to force Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final, injury updates on Dylan Larkin, Roope Hintz and Chris Tanev, Andrew Cogliano retires, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
GAME RECAP
NHL.COM: There will be a seventh and deciding game in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final as the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Florida Panthers 5-1, tying the series at three games apiece.
Zach Hyman scored his 16th goal in this postseason, Warren Foegele had a goal and an assist, Adam Henrique tallied what proved to be the winning goal, and Stuart Skinner made 20 saves for the win. Hyman leads all active NHL players for the most goals in one playoff year. The record is 19 held by Reggie Leach and Jari Kurri.
Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman (NHL Images).
Florida captain Aleksander Barkov scored in the second period to cut Edmonton’s lead to 2-1. However, the goal was overturned as offside following a coach’s challenge by Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch, much to the fury of Panthers bench boss Paul Maurice.
“I have no idea (if they got it right),” said Maurice in his postgame press conference. “It may well have been offside. The lines person informed me that it was the last clip that they got where they made the decision that shows it’s offside. I don’t have those.” He went on to explain he was upset based on the video he saw at the bench.
The call was a game-changer. Hyman made it 3-0 later in the period for Edmonton. Barkov got the Panthers on the board early in the third but the Oilers managed to hang on, putting the game away on empty-net goals by Ryan McLeod and Darnell Nurse, with Skinner getting an assist on the final goal.
Game 7 is in Florida on Monday, June 24 at 8 pm EDT.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Oilers made history by becoming the first team since the 1945 Toronto Maple Leafs to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the Stanley Cup Final to tie the series. That occurred just three years after the 1942 Leafs did the same thing and went on to win the Cup.
History didn’t repeat for the ’45 Leafs as they lost Game 7 to the Detroit Red Wings. The Oilers, however, have a golden opportunity to become just the second team since the ’42 Leafs to overcome a 3-0 deficit to win the Cup.
Robert Tychowski of the Edmonton Journal points out the Oilers have gone 11-2 throughout Games 4, 5, 6, and 7 of this postseason. “When the money is on the table, they find an extra gear that nobody has been able to match.”
The Panthers look nothing like the dominant force that rolled through the first three rounds and had the Oilers on the ropes after Game 3 of this series. Edmonton’s defense has neutralized Florida’s offense, especially on the power play. After outscoring Edmonton 11-4 in the first three games, they’ve been outscored 18-5 over the past three contests.
Florida did manage to shut down Connor McDavid for the first time since Game 1. However, the Oilers didn’t need their captain to carry them as he had in the last two games. That’s a bad sign for the Panthers heading into Game 7. Keeping McDavid contained no longer assures victory in this series.
HEADLINES
DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin recently underwent surgery to repair an upper-body injury. The procedure should not interfere with his readiness for 2024-25.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Stars general manager Jim Nill confirmed Roope Hintz, Chris Tanev, Tyler Seguin and Jani Hakanpaa battled injuries during their run to the Western Conference Final. Fortunately, none of them will require offseason surgery.
TSN: The Columbus Blue Jackets signed forward Yegor Chinakhov to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.1 million. The 23-year-old was slated to become a restricted free agent on July 1. He scored 16 goals and 29 points in 53 games this season.
COLORADO HOCKEY NOW: Forward Andrew Cogliano announced his retirement on Friday and is joining the Avalanche’s front office in a player development role. Cogliano, 37, spent 17 seasons in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks and the Avalanche, helping the latter win the Stanley Cup in 2021-22. He has 494 points in 1,294 regular-season games and 40 points in 131 postseason contests.
TSN: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano hopes to continue his playing career for a few more seasons. The 40-year-old blueliner is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. The former Norris Trophy winner has 577 points in 1,148 career regular-season games. He’s completing a two-year, $1.8 million contract with the Leafs.
ARIZONA SPORTS: The Arizona Coyotes released a statement on Friday indicating they will explore all their legal options after the state canceled a land auction they expected to win for a new arena.
This could be the final blow for Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo’s efforts to bring back an NHL franchise to Arizona. The club was relocated to Utah following its sale to Utah Jazz owners Ryan and Ashley Smith in April.
97 put oil on back. Now it is theirs to lose. Did not see that coming. But kudos to Oil regardless of outcome. Great hockey
It’s not just 97 bruin fan.
97 is 97 , but watch the games , he’s getting plenty of help . All great players , great leaders drive the bus , like Mcdavid is doing .
But without the play of skinner , the rock solid PK , the depth , the third line of brown janmark Henrique has been flat out fantastic . Bouchard and ekholm horses. And last but not least knoblauch deserves flowers , he has made countless lineup and line combo decisions and really has the pulse of the team . Mcdavid deserves a tonne of credit , but this is taking a full team effort , not 1 or 2 guys.
That narrative is officially cooked .
A few things stood-out to me while watching last night:
1) Draisaitl’s pass was sick and it wasn’t an easy shot by Foegele. Nice start to the game.
2) Ekholm is stone cold. His presence seems to let the rest of the team play a little more relaxed. And he’s clearly driving the panthers nuts.
3) I disagree with Bieksa’s comment that the coaches’ challenge was a risk. The oiler’s penalty kill is operating at more than 100% efficiency. It allows the team to play loose and relaxed. I don’t think they worry about taking a penalty at all. And I would argue that’s probably why McDavid took that penalty on a sure scoring opportunity by Barkov: it’s strategic and they can manage just fine on the PK.
4) If you have to call a goal back by scrutinizing millimetres than the offside wouldn’t have made a difference and the goal should stand. That said, if there was ever a job for AI, offside video review would be it. Why leave this decision up to humans?
Why do guys like Giordano continue to play well past their prime?I thought Joe Thornton and guys like that were embarrassed in their later years like being healthy scratches and playing limited minutes! Take a lesson from Andrew Cogliano and if you want to stay in the game,do so as a scout or work in the several other jobs that hockey has to offer!
They play because they luv it Sr, it’s not like they don’t know they’re past their prime. Its not like their delusional.
If nobody thinks their worth a contract, then they won’t.
Can’t blame them, I would play as long as I could too. Who wouldn’t want to play in the NHL?
At his age and with what should be his career earnings I would be playing on the golf course! No checking there,unless you lose your match!!!
Your buds sound like my buds Sr.
All summer and the rest of his life to play golf I guess.
So, how do Oilers fans find a way to get into the rink on Monday and then put on their Oilers jerseys once they’re there?
That crowd last night – unbelievable!
And it’s also incredible that a league that has a playoff schedule designed, seemingly, to drive hockey fans away ends up (thanks to the Oilers) with the best Stanley Cup Final I can remember – flukes count.
Hope Edmonton comes all the way back.
They wear their jerseys to work on game days BCLeafFan, whether they are going to the game or not.
They will, BCLeaf Fan. As I posted a few days ago
“Edmonton will win at home Friday – maybe 5-2 – setting up a winner-take-all game 7 in Sunrise where ALL the pressure will be on Bobrovsky and those in front of him who will likely be concentrating more on NOT giving up the first goal than playing their “normal” game.”
I missed my prediction by about an inch on that called-back Panthers goal.
Just watching the faces on the Florida bench when the camera panned over them in the previous clobbering, you could see the same sort of tension and doubt expressions that are evident on the faces of almost every team witnessing their dream fading away right before their eyes. And that applied to Paul Maurice as well.
Monday it will become evident early on in spite of all the bravado chatter from the book of cliches over the next few days. In order for Florida to get the cup it will have to be a Bobrovsky-dominant close, low-scoring game like 3-2.
But it won’t – at least from this observer. Game 7 – Edmonton 6-2.
And yeah, I know 2 of the Oilers goals were empty-netters, but they still put 3 behind Bobrovsky on just 19 shots.
When you’re playing as tightly wound-up as are the Panthers you don’t “bounce back.”
Hear we come for game 7….
I Wonder if the Panthers Come back and Start Spomgebob Again….. Or do they start Anthony
Stolarz ….❓
Oilers have 18 Goals in the last 3 games….👏
Panthers Scored 5 Goals in the last 3 games…👀
Kris Knoblauch really has his team going,
An other Great performance from young d/man
smoth skating d/man Philip Broberg & Hollywood
Stu Skinner played Great in Goal again, Skinner moves to 10-0 in Games 4-7 this postseason with a .940 save percentage.👌
All the big guns played well, McDavid playing more d last night…… 🤔
Foegele had an other Strong game last night
I think Giordano would make for an interesting player/assistant coach in the AHL. That would help whatever team he’s with develop their young defensemen while at the same time help him transition into a possible hockey ops position later on.
Absolutely I thought he should have transitioned when he was embarrassingly left unprotected and taken by Seattle in the expansion draft!
Sr they did that for cap reasons not that he was ineffective. Gio is exactly the kind of player you want on your team. The late bloomer is past his best by date and like many of us past our best before dates, believe we still have much to offer.
Maybe when you get to his age, you’ll understand.
Gio is a fierce competitor. He has enough left for a couple more kicks at it.
He certainly won’t hurt you on the 3rd pairing, or as the 7th guy.
You’d have to pull me away from the game kicking and screaming.
I play with several alumni and every one of them would have loved to prolong their Pro careers.
Europe is nice, but it ain’t the Show.
Don’t forget that the older we get, the better we were.
I’d rather have him as the 7th D in Ottawa than Hamonic, that’s for sure.
Ron I m 69 yrs old! Speaking from experience as a retired teacher/coach!
Reminder that Knoblauch was the head coach for Rangers AHL club. Was passed over last off season for their head coaching job. Got the opportunity in Edmonton and has done pretty well. Congrats. I think Florida wakes up and plays 1 more good game. Panthers win game 7.
May be they “wake up”, but they had games 5 and 6 to “wake up”.
In game 7 is more pressure on the Oilers but not as much as on the Panthers. What a collapse/comeback that would be.
Great get by Holland with Knoblauch, fits this team like a glove. Dude is calm, unflappable, and fearless when making changes. Just focuses on the task at hand. Good ole’ small town Sask boy! I’ve been to a lot of small towns in Sask, but never Imperial.
Pressure on both teams next game, it’s game 7 of the SCF! Question is do the Panthers have the confidence required to execute after getting it handed to them for 3 games? Will the Oil feel it when they have a chance to win it? They say getting that 4th win is the hardest, Panthers likely agree. Oil gonna find out. All I know is it is must TV!
That 1st goal will be huge.
The Skinny Lady was singing??
Well, got what I was hoping for. Game 7 Stanley Cup final. Nothing more exciting.
To Andrew Cogliano
Congrats on your career and retirement (playing). I’m sure you will continue successfully in a non player roll.
Giordano. My fingers are ready to type a similar comment for you. Expecting to play a couple more years ? You’re soon to be 41. You’ve had quite a career. But you are not Chelios.
Are you following the Blackburn/Young lyrics to “My My, Hey Hey”
“It’s better to burn out than fade away”
“Out of the blue and into the black”
???
Florida is playing brutal.
Guys have all of sudden disappeared.
If Florida was scoring on their PP, Edmonton doesn’t challenge.
Paul Maurice has the most coached games without a Stanley Cup. Oooh boy, if he loses to a rookie coach without a full season under his belt.
Monday game 7 and the refs put the whistle away, advantage Florida.
Florida has more to lose then Edmonton, simply because you’re not suppose to lose if your up 3-0
If the Oilers win they win for Edmonton and their Fans.
Bobrovsky vs Skinner
It’s not that Florida is playing Bad….
The Oilers are just simply playing better than them…..
SpongeBob V Skinner
Young Skinner has just out played him that’s all….
Them 18 goals against
Us, 5 goals against
you know to me, this the strangest SC Final i think i ever watched: like 2 different series? the 1st 3 dominated by Florida & the last 3 by Edmonton. the Panther’s just not effective and the Oilers keep coming at them. it is something to watch, never expected this kind of a series. really thought Florida had a virtual lock on it. Just goes to show you anything is possible. the Oilers have my complete respect. i didn’t think they had it in them . i knew thy were good but in a 3-0 hole, i thought no way!!!!but i was wrong. now, it’s up for grabs and they might just complete the comback? Even if they lose, they are a resilient bunch. this is one for the ages.
Hey tommy boy, the Oilers feel like they had the better of the paly in games 1 & 3. I agree with that, especially game 1, they dominated chances. They got goalie’d. Stu kept them in game 5 when the Oil got outplayed.
Oil have the momentum, if there is from game to game, Florida is at home for game 7.
Maybe the Panthers just say fuq it, and go for it? Or the Oil just come in with confidence and keep it rolling?
I sure don’t know, should be a classic!
One of these two goalies have a chance to be a hero.
I sure hope the Oilers do it and while it has been mentioned before it’s a shame that these finals were set up to not give us a Saturday night finish.