Dan’s Daily: Laine War of Words in Columbus; Penguins Figure it Out

The Pittsburgh Penguins were great and terrible, and then they were in lockdown defense mode in what should have been a crowd-pleasing 7-3 win over the hated Philadelphia Flyers. Yet the team still heard boos despite a four-goal first period. The report card and the postgame video gets into the real aspects of the game, Sidney Crosby’s dominance, but also address the imprenatrably angry fans. Elsewhere in the Daily, some hot drama in Columbus, where former Blue Jackets winger Patrick Laine ripped the Blue Jackets, and then fans and former teammates let him have it. The New York Rangers keep getting worse and worse, and the pressure cooker is burning another star. Lastly, the Buffalo Sabres finally … FINALLY … won a game.

I hope today is the start of a great holiday for everyone. Whether you light the candles or put the presents under the tree, it really is a special time of the year. Even I’ll be treating myself today … half off Rusty shakes!

I wish I had time to put up a tree and decorate (or had the desire). The inconvenient road trips this month kept me on my back foot. Then again, as a kid, I struggled with the tale of the season, remarking when I was five, “Whoever believes that a fat man in a sled can fly is crazy.” My parents will attest that I did indeed say this to a nun. Though I may have figured out that adults were mortified (and bemused) by my incredulity, so I played along for a while. I certainly chose the right profession, eh?

We’ll be providing some really in-depth Penguins content over the next few days. I had a good conversation with Penguins assistant GM Jason Spezza about all of the new things the organization is doing to develop prospects. We’ve also got some locker room chatter and some friendships that are rising tides in the room. Oh, and some analysis, too.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Let’s start with the always-jolly Dave Molinari’s postgame. The Penguins sleepwalked through the second period and nearly gave away the game until they woke up and put an end to the festivities in the third period. Crosby had four points and was pretty great. Here is the Penguins game recap.

Earlier in the day, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan updated the injury statuses of Owen Pickering and Marcus Pettersson. Sullivan also opened up about coaching against his good friend and some of the challenges, such as the cat-and-mouse games they play within the game. It was a good Penguins notebook.

And the vaunted, celebrated, beloved, can’t-miss, must-read, illuminating, educating, and insightful report card. I got deep without too many words—the tactical plan the Penguins executed in the first period that allowed them to dominate and what they did well in the third period (which still goes against their nature) to clamp down and win: The Penguins report card.

PHN Video: And I learned something new–if I post the postgame video here, the ads don’t run, and I don’t get paid! So–here’s the original YouTube link. The breakdown of the game, from Crosby to the game plan, to the boos–the Five-Minute Penguins Postgame.

And my snazzy Don Cherry-esque jacket is a must-see.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Sportsnet: Earlier Monday, comments appeared in the Athletic in which Patrik Laine ripped his former team. Said they were too comfortable losing and didn’t care, so he had to get out. Well…the Columbus Blue Jackets got their say during the game and after. The boos for Laine cascaded from the rafters, and Zach Werenski had a few things to say after the game.

I think athletes worry too much about what people think. Good on Laine for sharing a genuine opinion. Good on Werenski for being mad. Guess what? Both men lived! Both teams will survive this travesty of etiquette, and the fans will have a lot of engagement in the process.

Yes, I can assure you the players have real opinions and real lives, but they’re ever cognizant of citizen journalists with cell phone cameras and media headlines.

TSN YouTube: Bruce Boudreau let rip on the New York Rangers, “it’s getting worse and worse.” Coach Peter Laviolette scratched Chris Kreider Monday, and Boudreau teed ’em up. The scratched Kaapo Kakko and traded him. Can they ditch Kreider on the NHL trade block, too?

Boston Hockey Now: The Bruins have scuffled this season. They haven’t excelled when everyone expected them to be among the best in the Atlantic. However, they did the Penguins a solid on Monday and passed a big test by beating the Washington Capitals. It was indeed a big win for the Boston Bruins.

ESPN: 13 games. The Buffalo Sabres haven’t won a game in forever, plus a day, but they also did the Penguins a solid and blasted the New York Islanders to lift a pretty heavy weight off their shoulders.

NYI Hockey Now: Indignation! The Sabres won and it was the New York Islanders who lost.