The Hurricanes lead 2-0 in the Devils series while the finalists for the Jack Adams Award are announced. Details and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee headlines.
NHL.COM: The Carolina Hurricanes beat the New Jersey Devils 6-1 to take a 2-0 series lead in the second round’s best-of-seven series. Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored twice to lead the Hurricanes 4-0 at halftime while Fredrik Andersen made the win with 28 saves. The series moves to New Jersey for Game 3 on Sunday.
Spectator’s note: The Hurricanes dominated this series, outscoring New Jersey 11-2 in the first two games and outscoring them in every aspect. After the second game, Devils captain said Nico Hischer He and his teammates must have been “upset” at how poorly they were doing. This feeling wouldn’t mean much if they didn’t find a way to get back into the series.
Devils winger Timo Meyer He returned to work In this competition after missing game one due to an upper body injury he sustained during Game 7 of his club’s first-round series with the New Jersey Devils.
Dave Huxtol of the Seattle Kraken, Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins, and Lady Ruff of the Devils are all finalists for the Jack Adams Award As the NHL Coach of the Year in 2022-23.
Florida hockey now: Panthers forward Sam Bennett was fined $5,000.00 by the NHL’s player safety department for a cross-check on the neck of Toronto Maple Leafs winger Michael Bunting Thursday.
Toronto Sun: Bennett went unpunished for a hit that hit Leafs rookie forward Matthew Kniss in the same game. Knies will miss Games 3 and 4 and could be sidelined for the rest of the series if it goes past Game 4. The Panthers lead 2 games to none.
SPECTATOR NOTE: Bennett gets a fine for a serious blow to the neck of an opponent and nothing for hitting another with ice. The league wonders why fans and pundits are so despised by the so-called “player safety” department.
SPORTSNET: Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Drisette left practice early yesterday after he was attacked by a puck. It was “a little bit of a make-up, I think he might have had one or two stitches. He’ll be fine,” said head coach Guy Woodcroft.
Tampa Bay TimesThe Lightning signed Mikey Eyssimont to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $800,000.
YardparkerDallas Stars player Leanne Bichil has undergone surgery to repair an ankle fracture. His recovery time is six to eight weeks. He was training in preparation to play for Switzerland in the upcoming IIHF World Championships.
Ottawa Sun: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman thinks it would be best for the Senators to have a Hollywood celebrity as part of their potential new ownership group. However, he believes bids should be based on their own merits. Actor Ryan Reynolds and rapper Snoop Dogg are part of two rival groups vying for ownership of the Senators. The deadline for submitting binding bids is May 15th.