Dan’s Daily: Swayman Spat Gets Juicy; Penguins Good & Bad Night

The Pittsburgh Penguins had a good night, beating the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 at Little Caesars Arena. A few players who will be part of the Penguins’ bottom six submitted good performances, as did goalie Joel Blomqvist. However, that’s also why it was a bad night for the Penguins, as Blomqvist was pressed into duty after Alex Nedeljkovic suffered a first-period injury. Elsewhere in the Daily, it’s getting testy between the Bruins and Jeremy Swayman after team president Cam Neely played dirty in a press conference. Then, a joke launched NHL trade rumors. Darren Dreger believes the Maple Leafs could trade a pair of grinders, and the son of Devils legend Martin Brodeur shined for the New Jersey Devils Monday night.

After much consternation and planning, I did not make the trip to Detroit for last night’s game. The fog and rain, combined with Monday Night Football in Detroit creating a lack of hotel rooms within 100 miles and the Penguins’ road roster, pulled me off of the trip. In fact, no Pittsburgh reporter attended. Instead, we have full player analysis on the website, and I made highlight videos (of the good and bad) since the game wasn’t on TV.

Not going to Detroit was the obvious smart play, but why do I feel so guilty about not going? We did all 82 last year, every practice and skate—the same as the year before when we were the only ones to do that—but it just felt wrong. Of course, there’s another game today, practice tomorrow, and games Thursday and Friday before the team finally takes a day off.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Let’s start with the game analysis. Other than the Detroit announcers calling him “Joel Bloomquist,” it was a very good night for Joel Blomqvist. For the record, the J in Joel is pronounced as a Y. He’s fine if you pronounce it YO-el or Yole. He made some acrobatic stops, and the Penguins played pretty well, except for a second-period race to the penalty box. With video highlights, here is the roster analysis, power play breakdown, and Penguins report card.

Unfortunately, later in the first period, bad news hit, and we found video from the moment it happened. Penguins starting goalie Alex Nedeljkovic left the game.

Perhaps the Penguins will undo their Monday demotion. The team sent goalie Sergei Murashov to the AHL training camp.

You just never know with goalie injuries. They’re bendy, so is it a few days to rest some soreness or a pull? Or is surgery to repair?

Detroit Hockey Now: It was a split squad night for Detroit–the NHL players stayed in Detroit for the game against the Penguins, and here’s the coverage from the other side–It was a power play failure for the Detroit Red Wings.

NHL Rumors, News & National Hockey Now

Boston Hockey Now: The juicy spat in Boston hit a new level Monday after team president Cam Neely used a press conference to play a cute word game to seemingly reveal the Bruins’ contract offer to Jeremy Swayman.

However, the day was just getting started, and Swayman’s agent blasted Neely and claimed there was no such Bruins’ offer.

Oh, but we’re not done yet! Paul Bissonette was suckered by a buddy’s joke (Keith Yandle) and sent the internet into a tizzy with Swayman trade rumors.

Leafs Nation: Start the NHL trade rumors. The Toronto Maple Leafs need to shed salary before the season and it’s become a guessing game who could be dealt. Darren Dreger offered up his two trade targets on TSN Radio.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Remember Martin Brodeur? Of course, you do. On Monday, the son of Brodeur helped the Devils beat the Rangers. Yep, another Brodeur stopped pucks for the New Jersey Devils.

NYI Hockey Now: The good and bad of the Fish Sticks. The Islanders are going to sink or swim (no pun intended) this season. They could be a playoff team or a lottery team, and I don’t know which. They outlasted the Flyers on Monday, and here’s how the New York Islanders did it.

TSN Video: Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri has some funny advice for players on the bubble. Hide!