Dan’s Daily: Penguins Done, Ovi Thanks Flyers, End of Coyotes

The Pittsburgh Penguins season will end Wednesday against the New York Islanders. There will be no postseason chance at greater rewards. Dave Molinari appropriately roasted the team and organization in his column Tuesday night. To the very end, the Penguins were clinging to hope. The Washington Capitals won in the final minutes as Alex Ovechkin thanked the Flyers for pulling their goalie in a tie game (they had to), the Detroit Red Wings rallied again in the final seconds, and all hope was lost.

Elsewhere in the Daily, today is the end of the Arizona Coyotes, and the small but betrayed fanbase is coming to grips with losing their team. The Buffalo Sabres broomed their coach, and the NHL business is BOOMING.

I didn’t write anything other than the playoff scenarios Tuesday. What else mattered? I walked about eight or nine miles around New York Tuesday. That might have been a mistake, but the weather was absolutely perfect.

From St. Patrick’s Cathedral to Strawberry Fields, compared to my nightmarish experience last time in Flushing, I will NEVER stay on Long Island again. A little tip: when you go to Strawberry Fields in Central Park, put down your phone for a few minutes, and don’t step on the logo like this chooch!

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Molinari said it best and did so without sugar. The Penguins season is over and they got exactly what they deserved. Read the unvarnished Penguins opinion.

I’ll take you back to the Penguins locker room with raw video Monday night. Evgeni Malkin said it correctly, “We waited too long, probably,” but you could see the hope in Sidney Crosby.

Sportsnet: I don’t intend to twist the knife. But if you’re the kind of person who likes horror movies, in the locker room Tuesday night, Alex Ovechkin jokingly thanked the Philadelphia Flyers. Ouch.

Also, Kelly Sutherland made a bad call early in the game. He lost sight of the puck as it was high in the air. He thought Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren had it and blew the whistle. The puck landed behind Lindgren and bounced into the net, but it was ruled no goal. Oh, that could have changed things for the Flyers AND Penguins.

Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers Funeral and empty-net goal. Midnight came a second too soon for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings had a playoff spot firmly in their grasp, but their collapse in March opened the door for everyone else. They missed the playoffs for the eighth straight season. What happens now for the Detroit Red Wings?

NHL News & National Hockey Now

Buffalo Hockey Now: The Sabres fired coach Don Granato and are now looking for a head coach with NHL experience.

Sportsnet: Mark Spector is there for the end of the Coyotes, an unceremonious and ignominious end for the franchise that never truly was. It’s been 30 years, and it never truly took hold. They land-grabbed and couch-surfed, but they were largely unloved except for the group of rabid fans who feel absolutely betrayed and lied to.

The NHL would be foolish to try again. I feel the same way about Atlanta unless there’s been a significant change in the city since the last time it failed so badly.

Florida Hockey Now: There will be some real Round One battles. However, the biggest collision will be the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers.

AP: Lastly, I suppose this is very good news. The hockey business is raking in dollars, Canadian dollars, and USD, and the NHL’s business is booming.