Dan’s Daily: Avalanche Dramatic Win, Penguins Should Flip Script

For the second time in these NHL playoffs, just as everyone exhaled at the end of regulation and began to settle in for a playoff OT, someone beat the buzzer. On Friday night, Darren Helm scored with less than five seconds remaining to finally, FINALLY, send this Colorado Avalanche crew to the Western Conference Final. Connor McDavid awaits. Also in the Daily, NHL rumors, Brad Marchand is out months, the Vancouver Canucks can afford Brock Boeser, and this guy wrote the Pittsburgh Penguins should flip the script to keep Kris Letang.

What an absolute treat Colorado vs. Edmonton is going to be.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Everyone is coming at the Kris Letang UFA contract from the wrong angle. “Should they keep him,” is the wrong question. The real question is–who else should stay? Pittsburgh Penguins analysis.

NHL News & National Hockey Now

Colorado: Adrian Dater is a fun guy. Excitable, too. The Avalanche are winners! Darren Helm’s miracle goal send-up from Dater. The Colorado Avalanche win in 6.

The series wrap-up and look ahead–to the Western Conference Final.

Vancouver Hockey Now: First, the National Hockey Now family sends our condolences to the Boeser family after the untimely passing of Mr. Boeser. To hockey, Jim Rutherford says, yes, the Vancouver Canucks can afford Brock Boeser next season.

Montreal: The NHL trade rumors aren’t yet in full swing as we await free-agent decisions and the NHL draft, but one team to keep an eye on for the Pittsburgh Penguins hopes is the Canadiens. Not only could Jeff Petry become a RHD option, but look in the middle–Christian Dvorak is rumored to be available. Montreal Canadiens chatter.

Boston: The Bruins’ offseason is not off to a good start. Uncertainty surrounding Patrice Bergeron. Now, Brad Marchand is out six months after a significant hip surgery. Boston Bruins news.

Philly: Mama, I’m coming home? The Calgary Flames season is over, and Johnny Gaudreau will be a UFA. There is enough chatter to reasonably ask if the southern NJ native–and childhood Flyers fan–will come home to the Philadelphia Flyers?

Washington: Damn the torpedoes! I really think the Capitals are in a bad way headed into the offseason. Our Sammi Silber writers–yes, a big offseason splash is needed to reverse course for these Washington Capitals.

Detroit: I’m putting this in the Daily because I think it speaks to the coming free-agent market and the human element people don’t factor. The Capitals and Red Wings flipped Jakub Vrana (and picks) for Anthony Mantha. It was a shocker. Get the full story–but Vrana wasn’t so happy to be a Detroit Red Wing.