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DailyFaceoff Morning Report — 03/04/22

Nick Szeman
Nick Szeman
Mar 4, 2022, 07:09 ESTUpdated: Mar 4, 2022, 07:11 EST
DailyFaceoff Morning Report — 03/04/22
Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The DailyFaceoff Morning Report will be released on weekdays, recapping the key news and events from the day before.

We will highlight injuries that will affect today’s games, hot streaks, cold streaks, and anything relevant for everyone from the casual hockey fan to the Fantasy Hockey grinder.

Panthers dominate Senators

Anton Forsberg had an incredible game, stopping 45 of 48 shots, but didn’t get any help as the Ottawa Senators could only muster 18 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Florida Panthers. Forsberg falls to 11-9-2 on the season but remains one of only two goalies, along with Ilya Sorokin, to own a winning record on a losing team.

Sergei Bobrovsky had been inconsistent lately with only three quality starts in his past nine games (6-3-0) but made 18 saves on Thursday for his second shutout of the season. Mason Marchment scored a goal and an assist to bring him to 30 points (12G / 18A) in 29 games.

Red-hot Flames topped by red-hot Habs

Ben Chiarot scored his second goal of the game in overtime to give the Montreal Canadiens their sixth win in their past seven games (6-1-0). Chiarot is listed at No. 4 on Frank Seravalli’s trade targets list and should only see his stock grow after his performance on Thursday night.

Jeff Petry, who has had an extremely disappointing season and ranks 18th on the same trade list, had a goal in the game and now has seven points (3G / 4A) in his last eight games, coinciding directly with the Canadiens’ string of hot play.

Malkin leads the way; Tempers flare for Tampa Bay

Evgeni Malkin had three points (1G / 2A) and has only been held pointless once in his past 17 games (8G / 13A / 21PTS).

The Tampa Bay Lightning had a night to forget. Brayden Point saw a seven-game point streak come to an end (5G / 6A / 11PTS). Andrei Vasilevskiy allowed more than four goals for only the second time this season, the first time in almost five months. And to cap it off, Jon Cooper was ejected from the game, the first time a coach has been ejected since 2020. The man who got tossed that time: also Cooper.

Vanecek returns in a big way

Vitek Vanecek made 36 saves for a shutout in his first start since being injured six minutes into a game on Feb. 1. The last full game Vanecek played was also a shutout. In the 10 games between those shutouts, the Washington Capitals went 4-6-0 and allowed 3.4 goals per game.

Alex Ovechkin scored his signature power-play goal, his 33rd goal this season. It was only his seventh point (4G / 3A) in his last 12 games.

Wild win despite Talbot’s troubles

Kevin Hayes is set to return soon for the Philadelphia Flyers but with long-term injuries to him and Sean Couturier, the Flyers have received some unlikely production from Scott Laughton. Laughton had a goal and an assist in the loss and has racked up 11 points (5G / 6A) in his past 12 games while averaging more than 18 minutes per night.

Cam Talbot recorded his first win in five games (1-4-0) but also a fifth consecutive game allowing four or more goals. Ryan Hartman scored two goals in the win, only the second time he has scored a goal in his last 16 games (3G / 4A / 7PTS).

Canucks defeat Islanders 4-3

Noah Dobson continued to torment goalies from the blueline as he opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season. He leads all defensemen since December 5th with 10 goals. Semyon Varlamov allowed four goals on 38 shots and has now lost five consecutive starts (0-5-0). The playoff hopes for the New York Islanders fade more each day but, with Varlamov’s 3-11-1 record, expect Ilya Sorokin to continue to see the majority of starts.

Thatcher Demko made 24 saves on 27 shots and improved to 6-1-0 in his past seven games. It was only the fourth time Demko has recorded a win this season when posting a sub-.900 SV%.

Oilers fall to 2-3-1 in loss to Blackhawks

Connor McDavid (0G / 2A) and Leon Draisaitl (1G / 1A) both had two-point nights and connected on a beautiful goal that showed why they are top two in league scoring.

Patrick Kane had two points (1G / 1A) and has turned up his production lately, with 19 points (8G / 11A) in his last 13 games.

Mikko Koskinen fell to 7-1-1 and his streak of eight starts allowing three goals or fewer came to an end, but he could hardly be blamed for the scrambly overtime game-winner by Alex DeBrincat.

First place Avalanche lose to last-place Coyotes…again

Karel Vejmelka had a superhero performance and made 42 saves to keep the Colorado Avalanche to only one goal in the 2-1 win for the Arizona Coyotes. Vejmelka has three wins this season when saving more than 40 shots, all while allowing one goal or fewer in those games. The Coyotes only have 34 points on the season but have accumulated five of those points (2-1-1) against the Avalanche, more than they have against any other opponent this season.

Swayman season continues for Boston; beat Golden Knights 5-2

The Boston Bruins are getting quality goaltending and scoring from all over the lineup. Thursday night, Craig Smith was the latest Bruin to contribute by scoring a hat-trick to give him six points (3G / 3A) in his last five games. David Pastrnak scored the other two goals in the game and is now on a seven-game point streak (7G / 4A / 11PTS). Pastrnak is expected to contribute, but it’s linemate Erik Haula that has been turning heads with his production lately. Haula assisted on each Pastrnak goal and has been extremely effective while playing alongside him. If you factor out the six games they were separated while Brad Marchand was suspended, Haula has 19 points (6G / 13A) in 20 games and only five points (1G / 4A) in the 31 games they have been apart.

Swayman improved to 6-0-1 in his last seven starts and leads the league with a 1.95 GAA, albeit having only played in 25 games this season. Swayman saved 34 of 36 shots in the victory.

Jack Eichel scored his second goal of the season but the Vegas Golden Knights fell to 2-4-1 since he has joined the team.

Other News and Notes

Injury Report

  • Josh Norris (OTT) played his first game since January 27th.
  • Jonathan Toews (CHI) and Tyler Johnson played their first games in five weeks and four months respectively.
  • Anthony Mantha (WSH) played his first game since early Novemeber.
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