NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 27, 2016

Recapping a busy day in the playoff race in today’s collection of notable NHL headlines.  NHL Playoff Race. SUN-SENTINEL.COM: Jaromir Jagr had a goal and an assist and Roberto Luongo made 33 saves as the Florida Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 to regain first place in the Atlantic Division. Jagr reached the 25-goal mark […]

Coyotes’ Doan leaves game after being sandwiched into boards by Gudas

Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan headed straight to the dressing room during the third period of Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers after being hit into the boards by defenseman Radko Gudas.

While carrying the puck into the Flyers' zone, Gudas knocked Doan down and sandwiched the Coyotes forward's head into the boards, leaving him stunned on the ice.

Doan's immediate reaction was especially worrisome, as it appears he may have suffered a head injury.

Gudas, who was recently suspended three games for an illegal check on Ottawa Senators forward Mika Zibanejad, wasn't penalized on the play.

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Treliving confident Flames will sign 2012 1st-rounder Jankowski

Mark Jankowski's college career ended in double overtime Friday, as his Providence Friars lost to the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, and the 21-year-old will now be eyeing his first pro contract.

Jankowski was a first-round draft pick of the Calgary Flames in 2012, and general manager Brad Treliving is optimistic a deal will get done with the promising young forward.

"He's a young player who has taken considerable steps in the last four years," Treliving said, according to Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Herald. "We'd like to get him signed, and I'm confident we'll do that."

The Flames GM says the Hamilton, Ontario, native has gained around 30 pounds since being drafted, and his game has grown over the past four years as well. The center led the Friars in scoring this season with 15 goals and 25 assists in 38 games after winning an NCAA title in 2015.

Jankowski could choose not to sign with the Flames, and instead become an unrestricted free agent in August.

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Babcock says refs must have been told to let infractions against Kadri slide

Mike Babcock doesn't get it.

The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach was incensed after his club dropped a 3-1 decision to the Boston Bruins on Saturday, wondering why there was no penalty called for an apparent cross-check on Nazem Kadri late in the third period.

Toronto was down 2-1 at the time, and Babcock figured his club was going to go on the power play and have an opportunity to tie the game. Instead, the Bruins iced the game with an empty-net goal 20 seconds later.

After the game, Babcock said the officials must have received a memo about Kadri four games ago, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston, asking them not to call penalties on infractions against the Maple Leafs forward, who opposing teams love to hate.

Kadri agreed with his head coach.

"I don't know how we didn't draw one there," he said, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "That was the definition, I thought, of a cross-check."

"You'd have to ask (the officials), but I wasn't very hungry," Kadri added. "I didn't want to eat the (boards) there."

After missing the call, Babcock hopes the shenanigans are done.

"It's got to be over with now," he said. "Let's get on with it. If it's a penalty, let's call a penalty."

Kadri's one of the league's best players at drawing penalties, but that doesn't exactly give him the best reputation among his fellow NHLers. And perhaps the referees.

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Oilers’ McDavid scores, extends point streak to 7 games

Edmonton Oilers rookie Connor McDavid extended his current point streak to seven games - matching his career-best run set in October - by scoring his first goal since March 10, poke-checking the puck off Vincent Lecavalier's stick and in against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

The goal marks McDavid's 44th point of the season, passing Dylan Larkin for fourth in rookie scoring despite playing over 30 games less than any others in the top five.

Rookie scoring leaders

Player GP G A P
Artemi Panarin 73 25 39 64
Jack Eichel 74 23 27 50
Max Domi 74 18 29 47
Connor McDavid 41 15 29 44
Dylan Larkin 73 21 22 43

The 19-year-old's tally was one of four scored in the first 11 minutes of the game, with Jordan Eberle, Tyler Toffoli, and Jeff Carter also finding the net to lock the teams in a 2-2 tie.

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