Dan’s Daily: Trade Rumors, Changes to OT, & Sidney Crosby Unstoppable

The Pittsburgh Penguins seemed headed for defeat. Turnovers and defensive gaffes plagued the team until the Nova Scotian Superman saved the day. Sidney Crosby potted a hat trick and willed his team past the Columbus Blue Jackets. Just one of those nights became one of those Crosby nights. We have all of the Penguins news and locker room reaction from Columbus. Also in the Daily, the Calgary Flames are ready to hang a shingle on the NHL trade market, and several or more players could be available. British police made an arrest in the death of Adam Johnson, and NHL GMs are considering changes to the overtime format.

I decided to spend the night in Columbus so we could put out a bit more content, including this Daily. I did have a little bit of time to kill yesterday afternoon and decided to visit one of the best toy shops in the country.

There’s an unassuming little storefront on the north end of High St. that looks like just a little card shop or just some odds and ends. When you walk in, it’s nerdvana. It’s floor-to-ceiling vintage G.I Joe, Star Wars, He-Man, Turtles, WWE, and everything else on the 1970s and ’80s kids’ wishlist.

The original Millennium Falcons hanging from the ceiling and wrestling dolls are worth the visit. I decided to add Mean Gene to the soon-to-re-open PHN video/podcast studio. (I also bought a weird little Edgar Allan Poe bobblehead, but I didn’t think you’d find that as fun).

Well, let me tell you something, Mean Gene!

To the hockey…

Pittsburgh Penguins News

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: British authorities are not messing around. I cannot comment because I just can’t watch the video, but some of you have insisted it was beyond reckless. They arrested Matt Petgrave on suspicion of Manslaughter stemming from the incident that killed Adam Johnson.

On the ice, the Penguins flirted with disaster. If not for a difference-maker who has done that many, the Penguins would have surely lost. However, Sidney Crosby netted the hatty, and the Penguins won in Columbus. Get the full Penguins recap.

It was a tough report card to pen. What I saw wasn’t what the Penguins felt. It took a while to digest it all, but I think they knew they didn’t have their best but were happy they did enough to win. Get the player grades; some were pretty bad, and a few were really good in the Penguins’ report card.

Or, you can watch the 5-minute Penguins postgame.

And you can get the raw video from inside the Penguins locker room.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

TSN Insiders: The Calgary Flames might have more than Nikita Zadorov on the NHL trade block. Nazem Kadri and others might be headed out of town, too. It might get rough in Calgary.

Sportsnet: Could the NHL tinker with overtime rules? They are beginning the process to do just that. GMs discussed it yesterday, and now they want more input from coaches before discussing it again in a few months. A shot clock? An over-and-back rule? All on the table.

I really like the potential over-and-back rule. A shot clock? Guys will learn to “shoot” without shooting so they maintain possession.

Florida Hockey Now: Patrick Kane and his agent are speaking with many teams this week. There are a handful of serious pursuers, but the Florida Panthers could be the one.

Times Herald: The Buffalo Sabres not only lost another game, but their season is now in trouble. Tage Thompson is going to be out for “significant time” after suffering an injury on Tuesday night.

If Buffalo falls out of the playoff race, some intriguing veteran assets could be, or should be, on the NHL trade block. I wouldn’t say that Buffalo did a great job fortifying their lineup this summer, and they’re about to pay the price, I think.

Metro Division

NYI Hockey Now: One of the teams the Penguins are overtaking with their five-game winning streak is stumbling and bumbling through November. The New York Islanders began their roadie in the worst way possible.

Philly Hockey Now: I know you’re not keen on the Flyers, but I do enjoy John Tortorella and his scrappy teams. Jonathan Bailey delivers an update on Carter Hart as well as the serious Flyers injuries.

Washington Hockey Now: Charlie Lindgren stood on his head. After a brutal start to the season, the old lions are roaring in D.C., too. The Washington Capitals escaped Vegas.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Jack Hughes was to be out for weeks. It looks like one of the best players on the planet right now might be a quick healer and return much sooner than anticipated. Here’s the New Jersey Devils news.