Dan’s Daily: Panthers Break Maple Leafs, Penguins Draft Lottery Day

Sure, who did not see the Florida Panthers taking a 3-0 lead on the Toronto Maple Leafs and likely advancing to the Eastern Conference Final? They only squeaked into the playoffs on the foibles of the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders, faced the greatest regular season team in history then the vibrant Maple Leafs riding a wave of momentum and destiny. It’s draft lottery day for the Penguins, and Dave Molinari dredged up some pretty good history of the Penguins and the lottery. There are also bad moons a rising for the Vegas Golden Knights.

And cue the NHL trade rumors in Boston.

No, I’m not in Edmonton. We would have liked to make the trek for Games 3 and 4 (and I like Edmonton), but the cost of getting up and back on short notice was extreme. So, in the last few days, we’ve hired a few more newspaper people for National Hockey Now (market No. 19 is coming. Release the Kraken), set up a few more interviews, and scheduled two meetings with venture capitalists/investor types.

It’s all happening, and you’re to blame thank!

Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates (Sports Now Group PGH)

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The wrap was a look back and look ahead to the future of the Penguins.

Monday is the NHL Draft Lottery. The Penguins could win (not likely) and elevate to the fourth overall pick. The last couple of times the Penguins were in the lottery worked out pretty well for them. Penguins draft picks.

Steelers Now:

Nick Farabaugh writes the Pittsburgh Steelers have a “YAC” problem. Steelers analysis.

Pffft. Colin Cowherd ranks the Steelers as the 9th-best AFC team. That seems pretty low. Steelers news.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

Yikes. Swept again and blown out. Toronto completed the three-game sweep, and the Pittsburgh Pirates lost again.

GM Ben Cherrington updated the status of Vince Velasquez.

PBN+: The Pirates staff sees the current beatdown as a growing opportunity. Here’s what the folks inside the Pittsburgh Pirates are saying.

NHL Trade Chatter, Playoffs, & National Hockey Now:

Boston Hockey Now: The NHL trade rumors will soon follow — Sources tell Jimmy Murphy that BIG changes are coming to the Boston Bruins.

Vegas Hockey Now: The series is tied 1-1. Game 3 is Monday in Edmonton, but bad moons are rising for the Vegas Golden Knights.

TSN: Seattle thumped Dallas in Game 3. I mean, they thumped ’em 7-2.

If only there were more Seattle coverage, you know?

Florida Hockey Now: Keep rollin’, rollin’, rollin’. Though the streams are swollen, keep them dogies rollin’ … An OT win, and the Florida Panthers have a 3-0 series lead.

Sportsnet: The Maple Leafs have fallen silent.

Does anybody want to camp outside the Pittsburgh airport? Must know what Kyle Dubas looks like. We’ll be accepting applications in the comments section.

Raleigh N&O: The New Jersey Devils delivered a statement win Sunday night. We’re not dead yet. They cracked the Hurricanes 6-1.

Detroit Hockey Now: One of my favorite young players — the future of Moritz Seider.

Colorado Hockey Now: Helping or hurting? Since it’s over, Evan Rawal returns to the NHL trade deadline to review the Avalanche trades.

Calgary Hockey Now: Things are a little salty in Calgary. Darryl Sutter is in the unemployment line, while Matthew Tkachuk is thriving.