Dan’s Daily: Penguins Break, NHL Trade Talks Get Hot

A good first period turned into a yapping, chippy blowout. The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t push back until it was way too late and still didn’t get one on the board in a 6-0 thumpin’ by the LA Kings. Sidney Crosby was ejected, the officials missed a few crucial calls, and Dave Molinari has everything from LA. The NHL trade talks are getting red hot in Arizona over Jakob Chychrun and heating up in San Jose over Erik Karlsson, and Montreal and Calgary helped the Penguins’ playoff hopes.

I do hate not being at games. It’s impossible to be at all 82 and still have time to write, and I have to let the guy who’s the best in the biz take his share of the road games, but I certainly would have liked to work the locker room Saturday night. I have questions about how things got away from the team. Oh, and I absolutely love San Francisco (though I hear it’s worsening. I killed a day at Haight Ashbury during the 2016 Cup Final and shockingly found a way to fit in without covering myself in tie-dye).

I have warned Dave they frown on trying to drink from the chocolate mixers at Giardelli.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now:

From Dave Molinari, Sidney Crosby got the heave-ho, the Penguins collapsed, and it got ugly. The Pittsburgh Penguins recap.

Dave is also handling the analysis and observations — there were a LOT of storylines. Due to the time difference, Dave and I are writing simultaneously. Check the homepage for the story.

LA Hockey Now: After the beatdown, go inside the LA Kings locker room.

The game didn’t start until after 11 p.m. ET because the Kings honored and unveiled the statue of Dustin Brown.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

Boston Hockey Now: The Coyotes scratched Jakob Chychrun for “trade-related” reasons. Sportsnet reports the Oilers and Maple Leafs are OUT. Frank Seravalli tweeted the signs point to the Kings. Our Jimmy Murphy recently reported the Kings were hot on the trail, but sources told Jimmy on Saturday that the Boston Bruins haven’t given up.

San Jose Hockey Now: It looks like the Oilers are in on Erik Karlsson but want a 40% salary retention. The NHL trade talk around Karlsson is getting hot. Here’s the full story on the San Jose Sharks trade talk.

32 Thoughts / HNIC: Additional info on Chychrun, trade calls on Tyler Bertuzzi, Jesse Puljujarvi’s future, and more.

Now to the on-ice hockey.

Metro Division / Penguins Playoff Race:

Calgary Hockey Now: Down goes Buffalo. The Calgary Flames helped the Penguins by beating Buffalo 7-2.

NYI Hockey Now: The Montreal Canadiens surged, and the New York Islanders crumbled in an OT loss.

Montreal Hockey Now: The flip side — former Penguins d-man Mike Matheson scored the winner in the Montreal Canadiens win.

Washington Hockey Now: The Penguins lost a little ground above — Here are the insights as the Washington Capitals delivered Boston’s fourth loss in five games.

Florida Hockey Now: Colorado snapped the sunshine win streak and beat the Florida Panthers.

Colorado Hockey Now: I think Evan Rawal is building a new fanbase — readers are enjoying his Plus/Minus analysis. Here’s the takedown of the Colorado Avalanche win.