Dan’s Daily: Bettman Beatdown on Bruins, the Penguins Can’t Buy a Win

The Pittsburgh Penguins are searching for answers and a way to win a game, but their path won’t get easier in the next week with the Capitals and a Canadian swing through Toronto. The Penguins lost their seventh straight when they were short against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night. It’s the longest winless streak of Mike Sullivan’s tenure. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman laid the smackdown on the Boston Bruins for signing Mitchell Miller, who was found guilty in juvenile court of extreme bullying of a developmentally challenged classmate. The Vancouver Canucks free fall continues. Conversely, the Vegas Golden Knights are red hot, and all hell broke lose between the Kings and Panthers, including a goalie-player fight.

Hey, usually, a goalie and a player trading punches would lead the Dan’s Daily, but that’s where we are.

Believe me when I tell you, there’s no sense of panic but no immediate answers in the Penguins’ room, either.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dave Molinari’s near-famous postgame Penguins recap.

Kris Letang asserted belief in the guys around him to fix this.

PHN+: Finding answers as the spiral continues. The analysis, chalkboard, and player grades. Penguins report card.

PHN Video: From ice level — my boys at PPG liked the sport coat. It’s hung in my closet for a year or more without getting the call. The five-minute postgame delved into the locker room, what is going wrong, and the Penguins‘ bewilderment.

More PHN Video on our YouTube page — the raw video of Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, and Mike Sullivan postgame.

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Oh, I almost forgot — the 900th assist, and sixth fastest to get there in NHL history for Sidney Crosby.

NHL News & National Hockey Now:

Boston Hockey Now: Some of you are just catching up. The Bruins signed 2020 Arizona Coyotes fourth-round pick Mitchell Miller, whom the Coyotes renounced after it became known that he bullied a developmentally challenged classmate. It was extreme bullying, including wiping a lollipop in a urinal, but it hardly ended there. There’s been widespread condemnation for the Bruins, who apparently “investigated” Miller but didn’t talk to the victim or family. On Saturday — in an unusual move — Gary Bettman laid the smackdown on the Boston Bruins.

I believe in second and third chances, but you have to earn them. An Instagram apology isn’t going to cut it.

And a little fun after that slime. Matthew Tkachuk and Jonathan Quick went at it at the final horn. Chaos ensued.

After the Penguins and Bruins news, I thought a little hockey scrapping might cheer you up.

Philly Hockey Now: Instant Karma gonna get you. The Ottawa Senators beat the Flyers 2-1, and the first goal of the game was by former Flyers’ leader against his old mates. It was Claude Giroux and 300th career goal.

Washington Hockey Now: Nicolas Aube-Kubel hit waivers on Friday. On Saturday, the Washington Capitals snapped him up.

Watch THE goal — Alex Ovechkin passed Gordie how for most goals with one team.

And, stop me if you’ve heard this before: a veteran team laden with talent can’t hold a third period lead. The Capitals lost again, too. The old rivals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals can’t get it together.

NYI: The Islanders’ five-game winning streak was snapped in Detroit, the slightest good news for the Penguins. The New York Islanders‘ motor stalled.

Sportsnet: Vancouver is heading east, hoping to salvage their season.

Dallas Hockey Now: Hello, Jamie Benn. Hat trick. Beat Connor McDavid and the Oilers. It was a pretty, pretty good night for the Dallas Stars.

Vegas Hockey Now: A dirty hit and a strong fourth line. That’s seven wins in a row for the Vegas Golden Knights.

San Jose Hockey Now: Apologize? Trevor Zegras wants to apologize to Matt Benning for a cheap shot.