Dan’s Daily Links: Toronto Meltdown, Full Penguins Coverage

The Toronto Maple Leafs again experienced a playoff meltdown, we evaluated the big changes Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan can make for Game 4, the Calgary Flames didn’t waste time ending the Winnipeg Jets, and we’ve got some hockey practical jokes.

Hello again from Toronto, where my keyboard is attached to my fingers and I swear the walls are getting smaller. The Penguins need a wakeup call. Sullivan has three realistic changes, and we evaluated each. This is for our subscribers (PHN+)

I put the offer out there on Twitter–if you’re not following me, cmon (@theDanKingerski) — I offered the secret Friends and Family discount, but we can’t make that page public, so you have to DM me or email me dan@pghhockeynow.com. That’s a full year of PHN+ for half off, just $13.99.

Our offer expires at puck drop today.

If the Penguins lose, Monday night will be breathless for Penguins fans. The Alexis Lafreniere sweepstakes (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

THIS is a MUST read. If you spent a moment on Twitter, there was tons of blame. And a lot of it was irrational or flat wrong. We break down the Montreal goals and assigned blame, step by step. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

In 2013, they partied in the nearby Toronto park until the collapse. The Toronto Maples Leafs led the Boston Bruins 4-1 with 10 minutes remaining of Game 7, Round One. Boston won.

It was eerily similar last night as Pierre-Luc Dubios, who received a public John Tortorella tongue lashing on the bench in Game 2, scored a third period hat trick. The Columbus Blue Jackets won and the meltdown in Toronto didn’t take long. (Sportsnet)

Imagine if the Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs lose, AND are in the draft lottery?? Maybe we didn’t think this through.

The first handshake line was a fist-bump line. Calgary ended the Winnipeg Jets season. For Winnipeg, now its complete emptiness (Sportsnet)

National Hockey Now

Our Sheng Peng in San Jose is crushing it. Without hockey, he’s manufacturing interesting stories like a machine. Jamie Baker is a former San Jose Sharks forward and the new AHL coach got to telling stories…including a pretty good practical joke (San Jose Sharks)

Florida Panthers coach Joel Quenneville juggled the lines for Game 3. His changes got results. *ahem Mike Sullivan? (Florida Hockey Now)

Watch out for Colorado. They’re so good. Adrian Dater may be in Edmonton for a while. He dished Avalanche grades (Colorado Hockey Now)

The Boston Bruins scrapped with the Tampa Bay Lightning. A late goal decided it. IF the Pittsburgh Penguins rally against Montreal, it looks like Boston. Here are five takeaways from the Bruins loss (Boston Hockey Now)

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz will make lineup changes for Game 4. *Ahem Mike Sullivan. There’s a “high probability” (NYI Hockey Now)