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Dan’s Daily: Crazy Leafs Comeback, Trade Talk, & My Penguins Flip

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Pittsburgh Penguins reverseal, NHL trade rumors, and the Maple Leafs wild comeback

The Toronto Maple Leafs staged an extraordinary comeback Monday late in the third period. It had the same destiny-breaking, cosmos-changing feel as breaking des the 2004 Boston Red Sox comeback over the New York Yankees. The New Jersey Devils swiped another in MSG as visiting teams have won 11 games in a row in the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. We talked some Pittsburgh Penguins on WPXI and get ready for a summer of NHL trade rumors of Pierre-Luc Dubois going to the Montreal Canadiens.

The games were shocking and incredible Monday. That leads me to the Penguins talk on Final Word. You can watch it below.

Can I tell you about my day? Too bad, I will anyway. We’ve been having problems in two markets filling vacancies because there isn’t a bench of talent. However, Monday, I signed four new writers and four new cities. I was told by one, “My hand is shaking. I’m so excited.”

It’s pretty crazy. We’re expanding our footprint rapidly. Recently, a couple of ex-NHN folks made a concerted effort to bash me publicly. OK, whatevs. I knew the truth, but moving on. They shone a spotlight on us, and experienced, professional writers saw through the criticism and reached out to us for jobs. We hired a couple. Maybe more soon. There’s no such thing as bad press, I suppose.

Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: It’s not Penguins specific, but Dave Molinari writes — Get on with the game! It’s time for the NHL to shorten these reviews.

PHN Video: Watch yours truly on WXPI Final Word. That show really is fun, but I’ll tell you some inside dirt. We had to stop taping Sunday when one of my jokes was flagged by censors. Here’s the Final Word, which airs Sundays at 11:30 p.m. on Channel 11, and my reversal on my own Penguins analysis.

And — FanDuel is offering a $150 instant bonus for new accounts which make NHL bets.

Steelers Now:

The coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan press conference departed from the cliche-ridden stonewalling Tomlin is known for. It really sounds like the No. 32 pick is Steelers trade bait.

Tomlin surprisingly bristled that Joey Porter Jr.’s relationship with the Steelers could factor into the Steelers draft.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

Our Pirates site is growing by leaps and bounds. The traffic DOUBLED last week alone. Prospects coverage. Game coverage. Analysis and coverage from the best in the biz, John Perrotto, and two young and interesting writers, Danny Demillo and Cody “Mr. Potanko Head” Potanko.

From JP: One lineup switch has softened the blow of losing Oneil Cruz. Pirates analysis.

Johan Oviedo, with a 2.22 ERA, will get a stiff test tonight against the LA Dodgers. Pirates preview.

Hey, I didn’t think up that Potanko nickname, but here’s the picture:

 

NHL Trade Talk, Stanley Cup Playoffs, & National Hockey Now:

Montreal Hockey Now: Before we get to the wild playoff games, here’s the coming freight train in the NHL trade rumors: Pierre-Luc Dubois to Montreal. It sounds like Dubois was expecting an offer sheet two years ago, but it fell apart. Here’s the full Montreal Canadiens story.

Colorado Hockey Now: What the heck, Colorado? The defending Stanley Cup champs are having trouble getting out of second gear. It hasn’t been their day, their week, their month, or even their year. Seattle wins Game 4, and it’s 2-2. Colorado Avalanche recap.

Rapid reaction in Colorado–hello, depth forwards? Anyone home? Anyone? Avalanche analysis.

Sportsnet: They can’t contain themselves in Toronto. Down 4-1 late in the third, they tied it and won in OT. Very much in the same ways they lost Game 7 to the Boston Bruins in 2013. Toronto has a 3-1 series lead over Tampa Bay, and the city is ready to explode. Alex Kerfoot scored the winner, and Sheldon Keefe’s prophecy came true.

That’s the actual headline in Toronto. A prophecy. I told you, that city is about to come unglued like the 2013 Pirates wild card game. I’ve got $20 on tears in the stands if they FINALLY win a first-round series.

Vegas Hockey Now: The Golden Knights are also one win away from punching their ticket to Round 2. Jack Eichel is finding his stride, and the Vegas Golden Knights handled Winnipeg for a 3-1 series lead.

NHL.com: Geez, someone should have more New Jersey coverage. Hmmm. Anyway — the Devils took both games at MSG, including a 3-1 decision in Game 4. New York fumbled their chance to put away the young Devils. Now it’s a series, 2-2.

Boston Hockey Now: The Bruins could end the Panthers in Game 5. Patrice Bergeron is likely, but there’s good and bad news on the Boston Bruins injury front.

Here’s my favorite non-playoff story today: Our Bob Duff talked to young Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider, who doesn’t mind a clean hit. He said he wouldn’t demand a fight afterward if you caught him cleanly. Go ahead, make his day. The Detroit Red Wings story.