Penguins
Dan’s Daily: Tocchet Barks at Miller; Trade Deadline Watch List

The Pittsburgh Penguins got the Lambeau Leap from their goaltender Friday night as Alex Nedeljkovic made history by not only scoring a goal but doing something no other goalie has done. The Penguins also earned a win in large part because of a few power-play goals and a dazzler by Nedeljkovic. We’ve got plenty of Penguins coverage. Elsewhere in the Daily, the Vancouver Canucks drama now includes coach Rick Tocchet who marched down the bench to yell at J.T. Miller, who promptly scooted to the end of the bench. Sportsnet has the seven teams to watch ahead of the NHL trade deadline, and the Four Nations Face-Off might be a big-time flop.
I haven’t slept yet, but I’m enjoying the gauntlet. The challenge invigorates me. It was also pretty cool to see Nedeljkovic just beaming after the game. I mean, the guy was a kid on Christmas morning after getting a Red Rider BB gun, a pony, and a hug from Santa Claus. He’s a good human and has paid his dues.
Podcast recommendation: I finished a brilliant podcast called The Clearing. It was a little bit of a slow starter, but by the end, it was a Stephen King novel come to life. An investigator teamed up with a serial killer’s daughter to connect her father to more murders. It’s as jaw-dropping as it sounds, and they effectively do work, several times getting ahead of the police, who weren’t always thrilled to be upstaged.
Ok, to the hockey…
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: We’ve got some pretty good locker room quotes, the Nedeljkovic locker room video, and the goal highlight. For your pleasure, the Nedeljkovic goalie goal.
If you’d like to go through the details of the 5-2 win over Buffalo, here is the Penguins recap.
Here’s our signature analysis piece—more from the room on the actual game (though it was tough to get questions about the actual hockey), what the Penguins did well, and what they decidedly did NOT do. Nedeljkovic grabbed the net and grabbed his team. Here is the Penguins report card.
PHN+: One guy is playing pretty well and enjoying a career change. Another guy is playing well and upping his trade value. And probably his contract value, too. We had a few honest conversations in the room over the last few days. P.O Joseph is starting to enjoy his flip, and I’ll make you subscribe to find out who the other guy is. Go inside the Penguins locker room.
NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now
TSN Insiders: Teams are calling the Chicago Blackhawks about defenseman Seth Jones and his $9.5 million contract. Also, would you like to go to the Four Nations Face-Off? Plenty of good tickets are still available. Ouch. Are we headed for a giant flop?
I’m a pretty good judge of what’s working and what’s not. I see the backend numbers on stories when we write about the coming tournament, and I can tell you that in the U.S., almost no one gives a rat’s … tail.
Sportsnet TV: Tocchet and Miller had a little dust-up on the Canucks bench as the LA Kings were putting the boots to them. Tocchet marched over and let Miller have it for a moment. Uh oh. Here’s the video and fallout.
NYI Hockey Now: The unknown is approaching. Can you imagine a day when the Islanders don’t have Brock Nelson to torture the Penguins? It looks like the day is rapidly approaching. What is that going to look like for the New York Islanders?
Why did the Blackhawks put this out?! I really like Joe Rogan (You don’t have to, that’s cool). We need more independent thinkers and people who question everything. But moon landing truthers are in tin foil hat territory. No, not you, Connor Bedard?!
connor bedard does NOT❌ think the moon landing was real pic.twitter.com/dHnv8FDIJE
— holly (@KORCHINSK14) January 18, 2025
Cmon, we literally have the rocks. News from TikTok is like drinking water from the sewer.
Oilers Nation: Welcome back, John Klingberg. The defenseman who has been on the beach for a couple of years wants another go at the NHL.
Detroit Hockey Now: Mom was on hand for an NHL debut. Mom had tears. Check out this goodness with the Detroit Red Wing.