Dan’s Daily: Devils Want Top-Six Winger, Buffalo Catching the Penguins

WASHINGTON, D.C. — I persuaded the Pittsburgh Penguins to call off practice today so that I could do the monument walk (I had no hand in the decision, but I’ll take full credit). The Penguins salvaged a point from the Washington Capitals Thursday, and remarkably they have a six-game points streak despite losing three of those games. In the Daily, the New Jersey Devils are hunting for a top-six winger with term on the NHL trade market. It was a wild fight night in Minnesota, with three scraps in 17 seconds between the Flyers and Wild. And the surging Buffalo Sabres have essentially caught the Penguins in the East.

It seems that I warned of the Sabers while watching a game from the bar under the Green Monster at Fenway only a few weeks ago. They caught up much faster than anticipated.

Of course, the Penguins have made it easy. The Penguins are salvaging points while the Sabres are winning. More on this developing story…

Pittsburgh Penguins:

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Capitals won in a shootout, 3-2. Here’s Dave Molinari’s Penguins recap

This may enrage some of you, but the Penguins’ locker room was somewhat upbeat, especially Casey DeSmith, who seemed to have a weight lifted off his shoulders by stopping 43 of 45 shots. Get the reaction from inside the Penguins locker room.

PHN+: The Penguins did get a point. Another loser point. They never led, and they really didn’t have sustained offensive pressure, despite some momentum in the second and third periods. I went sharp on the Penguins in this one — the seven Pittsburgh Penguins takeaways.

NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now:

NHL.com: Five straight wins and a damn good team. The Buffalo Sabres are two points behind the Penguins and three behind the Capitals after beating Winnipeg.

It is a fun time to be a Sabres fan. Finally.

TSN Insiders: More “great” news for the Penguins playoff push and the Metro Division. The New Jersey Devils want a top-six winger with contract term. That is what GM Tom Fitzgerald is looking for at the NHL trade deadline, and he will have plenty of options.

Philly Hockey Now: Now that’s a heavyweight fight. Does anyone really care that the Wild beat the Flyers? Nah. Ryan Reaves vs. Nicolas Deslauriers highlighted a three-fight period. Fight night with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Sportsnet: No, the Penguins do not make the list, but Sportsnet compiled the NHL trade rumors of teams who are/should be interested in Ryan O’Reilly.

Montreal Hockey Now: Gotta see it — Kirby Dach is becoming a fan fav in Montreal. He’s scoring, and Thursday, he dropped the gloves for the Montreal Canadiens.

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings won. That seems moot unless they can reel off a long streak and get back into the playoff chase. One issue which will begin to dog Steve Yzerman is the contract status of Mr. Dylan Larkin,

Boston Hockey Now: Apparently, fights broke out everywhere except between the Penguins and Capitals. Tampa Bay did the unthinkable and beat the Bruins in Boston, 3-2. However, Corey Perry elbowed Connor Clifton then Clifton proceeded to pummel him. Take a look — Boston Bruins “highlights.”

San Jose Hockey Now: Timo Meier is becoming the belle of the NHL trade ball in the Eastern Conference. What can the Rangers, Devils, and Sabres offer the Sharks?