The Panthers advance to the Stanley Cup Final, Stars captain Jimmy Bean is suspended for two games, the finalists for General Manager of the Year are revealed, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COMThe Florida Panthers are heading into the Stanley Cup Final after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final. Matthew Tkachuk scored twice, including the winning goal with 4.3 seconds left in the game. Sergey Bobrovsky stopped 36 shots as the Panthers won the Prince of Wales Trophy for the first time since 1996.
Hurricanes defender Jacob Slavin Quit the game early in the first period with an apparent concussion after a slam dunk by Panthers forward Sam Bennett behind the Hurricanes net. He was sidelined for the remainder of the game with a concussion. After the match, Slavin said the hit was clean.
Slaven’s teammate Stefan Nuessen suffered an upper body injury in the first period. He returned in the second half, but was not benched for the third.
The Panthers are waiting for the winner of the Western Conference Final. The Vegas Golden Knights are 3-0 ahead of the Dallas Stars and can end the series with a win tonight in Game 4.
SPECTATOR NOTE: The Panthers deservedly won both in this game and in a series where every game was closely contested and decided by one goal. Bobrovsky and Tkachuk were dominant players but this outsmarting a tough opponent was definitely a team effort. Captain Alexander Barkov tied with Tkachuk for the club’s lead in points (five) in this series, while forwards Anthony Duclair, Carter Verhaghe, Sam Reinhart and Bennett each got three points.
This was the third time, dating back to 2009, that the Hurricanes had been swept in the Conference Final. However, this is perhaps more harmful. Coach Rod Brind believes Amour They deserve better And he has a point. The Hurricanes took control of the play but were thwarted by point guard Bobrovsky. Losing Slavin in Game 4 was a huge blow to their country.
Dallas Morning News: Stars captain Jimmy Bean received a two-game suspension for checking cross-checking with Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals series.
Bean’s teammate was Max Dumy He was fined $5,000.00 To break the stone in the third period of that game.
Evgeny Dadonov is questionable in the fourth game. The star ward suffered from a Lower body injury In game 3 and they didn’t come back.
sportscent: Stars president and CEO Brad Alberts issued an apology to the Golden Knights after debris littered the ice late in the second period of Game 3.
SPECTATOR NOTE: The fallout from the Stars’ terrible performance in Game 3 will have consequences for tonight’s game against the Golden Knights. They must now try to avoid elimination without their leader, whose undisciplined behavior took him out of the chain at a critical time when he needed his leadership and experience the most.
NHL.COM: The All-Stars’ Jim Neal, Boston Bruins’ Don Sweeney and Florida Panthers’ Bill Zito are all season finalists for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.
Spectator’s note: This award, like all individual NHL awards except the Conn Smythe Trophy, is based on regular season performance. Thus, I believe Sweeney will win the title due to his club record performance of 65 wins and 135 points.
WGR 550The Buffalo Sabers announced that Kyle Okposo has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract extension. Okposo, 34, served as captain for the Sabers last season. In 75 games, he scored 11 goals and 27 points.
Okposo was also awarded the Rick Martin Memorial Award, “presented to the player who fans believe best exemplifies what it means to be a saber through on-ice excellence, resilience, and dedication to the community.”
Washington hockey now: Rasmus Sandin is listed as a defender for Capitals Kalium with a lower body injury. Playing for Sweden at the IIHF World Championships, Sandin was injured after being hit in the knee by Team USA’s Michael Esimont, who was ejected from the game.
Bystander note: Capitals is probably breathing a sigh of relief because it was so much worse. Sandin is expected to play a big role among the top four defensemen next season.