The Golden Knights are up 2-0 in the All-Star Series, the Flames will name Craig Conroy as their new general manager, World Series-injured Filip Chytil, and more headlines today’s NHL Morning Coffee.
NHL.COM: The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2 with an overtime goal from Chandler Stephenson to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference Final.
Vegas rallied from being 1-0 and 2-1 down to force the extra frame on goals from Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchesault while Aden Hill made 26 saves. Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson scored for the Stars while Jake Oettinger stopped 21 shots.
The series moves to Dallas for the next two games with Game 3 set to take place on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
SPECTATOR NOTE: The Stars had a better effort in this game than they did in Game 1 and were within minutes of a 2-1 win. However, a poor field goal attempt by Ryan Sutter late in the third period led to Marquessault’s tying goal, setting the stage for Stevenson’s game-winner.
For the second straight game, the Stars seemed unprepared for overtime. Stevenson’s goal came 1:12 into overtime while Brett Houdin’s winner in Game 1 came at 1:35.
TSN: Darren Dreger broke the news that the Calgary Flames are expected to name Craig Conroy as their new general manager later this week. Conroy has worked in the Flames’ front office since retiring as a player in 2011 and has been a GM assistant since 2014.
Spectator note: This news was well received by Flames critics such as the Calgary Sun’s Wes GilbertsonCalgary Hockey Now Steve McFarlane and Sportsnet’s Eric Francis. They cited his experience and knowledge of the front office, his great rapport with the club’s current prospects and his eye for future recruiting selections, and the potential for him to bring in former Flames captain Jarome Iginla in a front office role.
Conroy faces a busy schedule. He’ll have to find a new head coach, determine the futures of key players like Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifen who are a year away from unrestricted free agent status, and address their roster issues while working within the constraints of the salary cap.
New York Post: Rangers player Philip Shetel suffered a fractured cheekbone after sticking a stick in his face while playing for the Czech Republic against Kazakhstan on May 14 at the IIHF World Championships.
Rangers medical staff have been in touch with Shettle, who is now resting at home. They’re calling it an “upper body injury,” claiming it won’t affect his season or training camp in September.
Bystander’s Note: What’s the point of secrecy here? Rangers season is over. Disclosing the nature and severity of Chytil’s injury will not affect anything.
Detroit hockey nowRed Wings forward Joe Felino receives a five-game ban for kicking out of the World Series. Playing for Canada, Felino stepped hard with his skate on Swiss Nino Niederiter’s foot during Saturday’s match between the two clubs. The on-ice team officially missed the offense during the match and punished Nieddereiter for his response to Felino.
Niedereiter later said that Felino sought him out after the match to apologize. “He’s tried to apologize, but to do something like that…he has to grow up,” said the Winnipeg Jets winger.
Bystander note: There is no place in hockey for this dangerous tactic. Luckily for Felino he didn’t get a longer comment. As is clear, he will miss until the end of this tournament. The report states that Canada has a maximum of five matches to play.
daily face: Philadelphia Flyers associate coach Brad Shaw is competing for head coaching jobs with the Anaheim Ducks and Washington Capitals.