Dan’s Daily: Penguins Shrug, Ovechkin Injured, Montreal’s Tearful Tribute to Lafleur

The Pittsburgh Penguins energy level was more Sunday afternoon nap than desperation. The Washington Capitals gained a point and full control of third place in the Metro Division, but Alex Ovechkin was injured in the shootout loss. The Vegas Golden Knights lost a must-have game and do not control their playoff fate. And the Montreal Canadiens and the city of Montreal paid a tearful tribute to all-time great Guy Lafluer.

We’re going to start with Montreal. Perhaps the NHL broadcast partner could have paid a little more attention.

Montreal Hockey Now: All players wore No. 10 in warmups. The Bell Centre removed all ads on the dasher boards replaced by a tribute to Guy Lafleur. Everything was about Guy, and then the fans got their say. A standing ovation…a 10-MINUTE standing ovation. The crowd chanted “Guy” in every TV timeout.  The Montreal Canadiens tribute.

Well done Montreal. Perhaps TNT should be commended for not subjecting hockey viewers to the game’s history and unseemly outpouring. The hockey world needed a fake laugh more than ever.

Yes, the last two sentences are scathing sarcasm.

Pittsburgh Penguins…

You know the rule. No one reads the recap after a loss. Noooo one. On Saturday, over 1900 people on Facebook liked and shared the victory post. After the Penguins lost to Philadelphia…40 people liked or shared it. I get ya…

PHN+: The Penguins players again took the positives from the game. Head coach Mike Sullivan did not. Sullivan had the right tone. The Players did not. There’s a lot of inference and implication here. Pittsburgh Penguins ignoring problems?

The Masteron nomination is no small thing. It honors a player who showed perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

The 2022 Pittsburgh Penguins nominee could win it. It is…Brian Boyle.

The Metro:

Philly: The flip side of the Penguins’ loss–the Flyers win. They were as shocked as you. Philadelphia Flyers win?!

Washington: The Caps lost in a shootout. That’s a missed chance to tie the Penguins in the Metro, but worse Alex Ovechkin was injured.

Washington trails by one point with one game in hand. They have three games left, the Penguins have two. I assert third place is important. If you think the Rangers are good, just wait until you see Florida. Do you think Patric Hornqvist will be polite to Chad Ruhwedel or Marcus Pettersson near the net?

NHL News & National Hockey Now:

Boston: Patrice Bergeron shined in the Bruins 5-3 win over Montreal. Even Bergeron was overcome by the emotion of the game and channeled it. His father’s favorite player was Lafleur and so he paid tribute in his own way.

Jimmy Murphy writes–its time for Boston to appreciate Bergeron…or lose him this summer? Boston Bruins drama.

Florida: The Penguins’ possible Round One opponent, the Florida Panthers finally lost. Their 13-game win streak was snapped by their cross-state rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Get the gory details in the 8-4 stomping. Florida Panthers postgame.

Colorado: The Colorado Avalanche nominee for the Masteron Trophy is…(trigger warning): Jack Johnson.

Vegas: If they won, they would control their playoff destiny. But, they didn’t. Now they need help to make the playoffs. Fans are getting pretty upset, too. The Vegas Golden Knights let a big one slip away.