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Dan’s Daily: Angry Rangers Trade Talk; Capitals Own-Goal; Penguins Win?!
It’s been a minute since the Pittsburgh Penguins won a game. Not since they beat the San Jose Sharks at PPG Paints Arena has the team been able to smile about the result in the locker room. We’ll just sweep the nearly blown four-goal lead under the rug for the day. We’ve got the locker room coverage and full analysis. And don’t look now, but coach Mike Sullivan made sweeping changes to the lineup, too. Elsewhere in the Daily, the NHL trade rumors are swirling around the New York Rangers as there is tension and trade rumors, and should Marc-Andre Fleury get some Team Canada love?
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. And thanks for the few clicks today. It’s been a banner month for Pittsburgh Hockey Now, and we’re on pace to have our best of 2024. It’s been a brutal slog since the multi-colored tech giant decided to attack independent publishers and then lost control of their AI-driven algorithm in some kind of science fiction nightmare that’s played out in real life. But we survived. This year, I’m most thankful for that fact and for you making it possible.
Now then, there’s an opinion I want to share without writing a giant column about it: The atmosphere at PPG. It’s been one of the least enthusiastic in the league for many years running, even going back to the Cup years. From the somber Anthem sing-along that has the pep of 7 a.m. mass on a Thursday morning to the near silence during games and beat the traffic folks who bounce with 10 minutes to go regardless of the score, the attending fans haven’t built a good culture. So, as the last of the “be seen ” crowd shuffles off because the team is no longer great, take the opportunity to rebuild. Inject some life without waiting for a giant stuffed animal to bang a drum or the scoreboard to offer you ice cream to dance.
Hate the opponents beyond just the smattering of boos during warmup. Chant Sidney Crosby’s name as much as you can, even without reason (because you won’t be able to forever). Chant for Evgeni Malkin or, heck, Ryan Shea just because you can. It just takes one person–see also: “Where is Rutger?” chants in Winnipeg. Go nuts. Have some fun. Pittsburgh sports were built on crazy fans like Franco’s Italian Army, Gerela’s Gorillas, and silly polkas even before Super Bowl trophies arrived. The Penguins’ fanbase was built on someone dressing up as Elvis, an usher ripping off his shirt, and absolutely shaking that old arena to the foundation. Now that tickets on the aftermarket are getting pretty cheap make the place YOURS. Once that fire starts, it spreads. I know you can do it.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Here’s the game recap from start to finish. A 1-1 game fairly quickly became a 5-1 game, but also just as quickly became a 5-4 game with a high pucker factor. Here are the full details of the Penguins win.
And the report card. It has some nuggets in there about how/why the Penguins looked just a bit different on Wednesday. We break down the key differences and the reasons the “scarred” Penguins looked like a competent hockey team for most of the game in the Penguins report card.
And more on the sweeping changes that coach Mike Sullivan is bringing to the Penguins lineup.
Oh by the way, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas was scouting the Calgary Flames vs, Detroit Red Wings game last night. In addition to several visits to Montreal (which doesn’t have an easy flight to and from), Dubas had also checked out Nashville Predators games. Hello, Philip Tomasino.
NHL Trade Talk, News & National Hockey Now
TSN: Tension, angst and anger. Oh, let’s add a good dash of some trade rumors, too. A lot is going on, and the New York Rangers veterans are both admitting it and acknowledging that they’re probably available on the market.
Ohhhhhh, Charlie isn’t going to live this one down for a while. The Capitals goalie dunked the punk in his own net.
CHARLIE LINDGREN JUST SHOT THE PUCK INTO HIS OWN NET 😳 pic.twitter.com/TW3XkKrxqy
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 28, 2024
The Capitals rallied to beat Tampa Bay and laughed it off afterward. Here’s the Capitals’ postgame locker room.
Sportsnet: Wow, Adam Vinigan has the receipts on just how bad the Penguins have been this season. They’ve allowed a goal within 10 seconds of a turnover 36 times?! The responses, the analytics, and a deep dive into the awfulness of the Penguins’ first 23 games.
TSN Video: Jordan Binnington and Adin Hill seem to lock in as the first two goalies for Team Canada in the Four Nations Face-Off, but what about the third? And should more people be pushing for Marc-Andre Fleury to be that guy?
Uh, yes.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Despite a pretty good season so far, coach Sheldon Keefe isn’t letting the boys get comfy. After a bad loss to St. Louis, Keefe unapologetically ripped his New Jersey Devils.
Florida Hockey Now: Florida is as good as they want to be. Lose a few games in a row? The head coach jumps on the grenade, and no one seems to worry. Wednesday, it was back to business as usual. The red-hot Toronto Maple Leafs came to town, and the Florida Panthers simply squashed them.
Detroit Hockey Now: That dreaded Thanksgiving playoff curse. If your team is out of the playoffs today, then they have only a 25% chance of making it to Lord Stanley’s Ball. After years of rebuilding, it’s time for Motown to start making the playoffs. They’re also outside the playoff seeds, but the Detroit Red Wings scoff.
Happy Thanksgiving. You have got to place most of the blame on the penguins entertainment management for the lack of organic hockey enthusiasm. The only opportunity for fan involvement is when the puck is in play. Every second of the rest of the time is like being at a rave. There is the ear splitting volume of the DJ playing electronica so loud that children in attendance need to wear ear protection. Then there is the pump up MC whose job is to pump up the interest for the promotions and not the team. The only chance to talk to… Read more »
Totally agree. I was at the game with my son last night and said (sorry screamed over the Emcee guy during a break) the same thing to him. Did not feel like I was at a hockey game last night.
Marketing 101: When the main product is this bad, the goal is to put the focus on everything EXCEPT the main product.
Canadian here. It’s the same in Canadian NHL arenas. Also, I go to Guelph Storm and Kitchener Rangers OHL junior games. It’s the same deafening music during breaks in the action. It’s almost as if they don’t want people to discuss the game. Or anything. It’s quite obnoxious, actually. I’m curious what the ambiance is like at NCAA games.
Dan, couldn’t agree more regarding the atmosphere at PPG, it sucks. Its partly understandable these last couple seasons because the team has been so uninspiring (despite 87’s presence), however much of the fan base is so spoiled now that it just can’t enjoy anything other than dominance. Not sure when it became acceptable to only support this franchise when they’re good, but its noticeable and pathetic when one thinks about how many incredible teams/memories that this franchise has provided over the last almost 40 years.
I was at the game yesterday and couldn’t believe the number of people who left with time left to beat the traffic .. it’s crazy and embarrassing … I wonder what the players think . where does everyone need to get too 🙃. I Park in town and walk and there’s no traffic .
It’s today’s society, it’s not a personal thing about the Pens. Today’s society is just in a hurry. For what who knows, maybe they need to go home to check their investments, you know it’s all about self greed these days.
The article from Sportsnet sums up the season and is even more shocking.
Happy Thanksgiving all. It was nice to see the Pens score some goals for a change, but I was not encouraged by the defense that is still subpar in allowing the Canucks back into it. At 5-1, the game should’ve been over. But thanks to Sullivan’s mantra of always being on the attack, they nearly blew another multi-goal lead. When they get up that much they need to lock it down and finish the game. There was nothing left to prove at 5-1. Instead, they have to settle for 5-4. A win is a win, but too many times it’s… Read more »
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!
Thanks, Happy Turkey Day to you also and may your Holiday season be grand and the New Year be healthy.
Dan, I think the Pens have priced themselves out of the more vocal fan base, if you want more “fun” fans lower ticket prices.
Aftermarket prices are at rock bottom. Lots of folks are going to games for under $40
Dan–I haven’t been to a live game in a while but at $40 and with the cost of beer and snacks, that is over $100 if you bring a guest!!
That’s a lot of money for a night of bad hockey (and whatever parking costs).
5-6 years ago I could get upper deck seats for $12 a piece in CAR. It was a great way to see other teams and meet other fan bases (TOR on particular).