TORONTO — The heartbreak of the Blue Jays seeped into the fabric of the city as gray hues replaced the blue skies and the Pittsburgh Penguins raced to a 3-0 second-period lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Then the hockey gods didn’t merely turn the tables on the Penguins, they flipped it over. The Toronto crowd, still reeling from a terrible week, began to make noise like it mattered as Toronto completed the comeback win and the Penguins completed the three-goal blown lead. We’ve got full coverage and analysis from the barn, though the Maple Leafs were more angry at themselves than satisfied after the game.

Elsewhere in the Daily, Toronto media debated who was tougher to play against, Sidney Crosby or Auston Matthews? The Dallas Stars will host an outdoor game. Craig Button bounced the Edmonton Oilers. And an ex-girlfriend has accused Ottawa Senators winger Arthur Kaliyev of scamming her to pay gambling debts.

Hockey rink, train station, hotel, airport, hockey rink, hotel, airport, hotel, hockey rink, hotel, airport, hotel, hockey rink … and the cycle continues.

It was a nice roadie, but I can’t say I had a great meal worth sharing. I really enjoy the lager at Gambit Brewing in St. Paul, which is still recovering but on its way. St. Paul really does remind me of Pittsburgh in many of the best ways.

I had way too many lagers at Brown’s Social in Winnipeg watching Games 6 and 7, but I had to ask if they were non-alcoholic because I felt no effects that night or the next day. Instead, my wallet and I shared the country’s heartbreak.

And I’m back at an airport before 5 a.m. the morning after a late-starting game … again.

Also, my big story with some pretty awesome quotes from Blake Lizotte and Noel Acciari is pending Acciari’s health update tomorrow.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: It was Ben Kindel’s night. And then the Penguins ruined it with a no-show performance in the third. The come-from-ahead loss really stung. Here’s the Penguins recap.

Truth? The Penguins looked too good in the second period. There were only two ways the game could go–the Penguins destroy Toronto in the third period or they meltdown. I don’t know why that is, but thems the rules. And the Penguins melted. So, we had to issue the game analysis, player grades, and we got a few more interesting quotes from Erik Karlsson in the Penguins report card.

Steelers Now: The black and gold rediscovered their secret sauce and again created turnovers. Here’s the secret to the Steelers’ success.

Sportsnaut

NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now

NY Post: Wow. An ex-girlfriend kept the receipts and claims former LA Kings now Ottawa Senators winger Arthur Kaliyev scammed her out of 50k to pay off gambling debts.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Trade? There is an unexpected problem on the Swamp Monster Blue Line, and James Nichols writes that the answer might just be a Devils trade.

Sportsnet: The Toronto Leafs and their coach weren’t happy with their comeback. No, they were angry that they were so bad that the Penguins boatraced them in the second period.

TSN Video: The panel debates who is tougher to play against–Auston Matthews or Sidney Crosby? And I debate why they had to debate that.

Analysts on both sports networks up here have been hammering on the Maple Leafs. Craig Button expanded the beatdown to include the Edmonton Oilers and why they have serious gaps in their lineup.

In such cases as Toronto and Edmonton, I’m a big fan of Jim Rutherford’s philosophy to get something done at mid-season so the player and team have time to jell.

NHL.com: The Dallas Stars will host a pretty spectacular outdoor game at the Cowboys’ stadium in 2027. It looks like it will be epic.

Boston Hockey Now: Uh oh. Things have gone from bad to worse as the results came back on Elias Lindholm’s MRI. The Boston Bruins news isn’t good.

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