Dan’s Daily: Near Goalie Fight, Manipulating Refs, Grading Jarry

Every day it seems like a new crazy comeback or story in the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs. The Edmonton Oilers rallied from 3-0 and 4-3 in Game 4, coaches in the Toronto-Tampa Bay series are sniping about Jon Cooper manipulating the refs, and without their top two centers, the Boston Bruins are still laying waste to the Florida Panthers. Also, we put Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry under the microscope for some revealing analysis.

You’ll see the video when we post it later today on Channel 11’s Final Word; I changed my longstanding opinion that the Penguins could have challenged their Round One opponent. After watching these series, it is painfully obvious how far away the Penguins genuinely are. They could neither keep up with nor defend the top teams. In wrestling, they’d call it a squash match.

On the plus side, the Pittsburgh Penguins organization is a blank slate, and the overhaul might be completed by … well, never mind.

Pittsburgh Penguins / Steelers, Pirates

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Tristan Jarry. The analysis, the injuries, the deep stats, and where he truly ranked among goalies. I started with one opinion and finished with another. I think it’s worth a read. The Tristan Jarry grade.

PHN+: I’ll post this again — I think it’s a valuable read. The things Mike Sullivan got right and got wrong this season. Grading Mike Sullivan.

From Dave Molinari: Who the Penguins will pick in the first round of the draft isn’t the only question dogging the Penguins.

Steelers Now:

It’s NFL Draft week. Here’s a possible look at the Steelers’ draft board.

Matt Miller says Darnell Wright to the Pittsburgh Steelers, ‘Has to happen.”

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:

Our crew CRUSHED it this weekend:

Vince Velasquez pitched a gem. The Pirates — yes, the Pittsburgh Pirates have won seven in a row.

The Pirates’ starting pitches are showing a trend. It’s working.

And here’s your feel-good story of the day. Read it! Pirates career minor leaguer Drew Maggi finally got the call.

John Perrotto: A new contract. Derek Shelton got what he deserved.

A few Pirates prospects are impressing scouts, too.

NHL Playoffs, News & National Hockey Now:

Sportsnet: First, it was fight night in Tampa Bay. Steven Stamkos and Austin Matthews scrapped, reportedly the first fight between 60-goal scorers in NHL history. And then the chirping began. Sheldon Keefe is accusing Jon Cooper of manipulating the refs.

I love when coaches actually speak, even if it’s gamesmanship. If I have to hear another coach say, “There were things we liked about tonight,” one more time…

NYI Hockey Now: It was another crushing defeat for the Islanders. In most playoff series, there comes a moment of inevitability when both sides, deep down, know the outcome. The Carolina Hurricanes dominated the Islanders for a 3-1 series lead. Was that the moment of the New York Islanders inevitability?

LA Hockey Now: What happened, LA?? My upset pick in the series (and Western Conference) had a commanding lead. And a late lead. But the Edmonton Oilers rallied again and beat the LA Kings in OT.

Boston Hockey Now: The Bruins are thumping Florida. The Boston Bruins tamed the undisciplined Panthers 6-2.

And Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark was feeling a little cagey as he challenged Matthew Tkachuk to a fight. Boston Bruins highlights.

Florida Hockey Now: From the B side, Colby Guy laments the missed opportunity against the injury-ravaged Bruins. No Bergeron, no Krejci, no problem? The Florida Panthers whiffed.

Montreal Hockey Now: That Canadiens trade for Sean Monahan trade might haunt Calgary.

Could the Canadiens put one of their goalies on the NHL trade market?

Colorado Hockey Now: It was a breakout of sorts. Sidney Crosby’s Nova Scotia compatriot and buddy Nathan MacKinnon had a game Saturday. It was the game the Colorado Avalanche knew was coming.

NHL.com: So they don’t feel left out, the Dallas Stars evened their series, 2-2 with Minnesota.