Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
The news was overwhelmingly positive for the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday, except for one big slice of Uh Oh. The Penguins got some help in their chase for a Stanley Cup Playoffs berth. They helped themselves by beating the Ottawa Senators, and they showed a little bit of shootout prowess. However, they also lost captain Sidney Crosby to a lower-body injury in the first period. Crosby showed no visible limp as he exited the ice or left the locker room after the game.
Elsewhere in the Daily, the monstrous NHL trade rumors, or more specifically worries, are already percolating around a pair of the biggest names in the game: Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. The Montreal Canadiens gave the Penguins some help in Columbus, though the Dallas Stars failed to help the cause on Long Island. And the Tkachuk brothers used their podcast to logically call out the NHL’s very awkward 2028 World Cup locations.
I’m a little bit sheepish today. I brushed aside the very detailed questions I had in the cue for the Penguins because they won in a shootout. The room was bubbly. Stuart Skinner jumped into the media scrum for Ben Kindel, who lobbed praise for his big goalie, who returned the favor, and so I tossed some softballs about shootout practices and such. Sometimes, even I can “read the room,” as they say.
The Report Card was both effusive and sharply critical. As I discussed with a colleague after the game, I’m very aware of and thus leery of confirmation bias, especially with negative issues, but when there are almost neon flashing lights, I have to follow. Believe me now and hear me later, I double check and reexamine my premises frequently.
And shortly begins the drive home from Brockville. The Penguins canceled practice today, so perhaps I’ll stop in Buffalo for a Weck and Wings lunch. Or, there’s a little diner in the middle of nowhere just off I-81. It has a real Bates Motel sort of vibe because there’s any cars there and it just sort of sits unto itself with a gravel parking lot in the middle of rolling upstate New York fields. There’s no sign, only red letters D-I-N-E-R on the side of the building.
You know me … if there’s an adventure, experience, or something weird, I’m going. We’ll see at what time I pass by.
Pittsburgh Penguins
We’ll dispense with the news. Sidney Crosby was injured in the first period. He tried to play in the second but didn’t last a full shift. And the Penguins recalled Avery Hayes and Joona Koppanen Thursday morning.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The facts and stats and details came fast and furious. In an emotional see-saw battle, a shootout decided it, and the Penguins actually won, vaulting back into second place in the Metro Division. The Penguins’ Swedish stars carried the team, accounting for all the goals and primary assists. Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell were at their very best. I also liked my headline for the Penguins recap.
So, let’s dig into the game. The tactical back and forth. The effervescent performances and the Oh Boy submittals. Also, a good explanation of the goalie interference challenge in the Penguins Report Card.
In fairness to the NHL, the goalie interference was not easily detectable on the replays, especially the overhead, but when Skinner explained, it made good sense. It was something you’d expect the experts in the NHL room to see. Whether they didn’t see it or disagreed, who can say?
PHN+: Inside the Penguins’ playoff chase. With some help from guys in the room, we dug into the Xs and Os challenges they face and the emotions in the Penguins room.
Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Nightmare in New York. It doesn’t happen often, or ever, but Paul Skenes was rocked. Here are the details for Pirates opening day.
NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now
Let’s go rapid fire from here.
Edmonton Journal: How long is Connor McDavid going to stick it out and stay with the Edmonton Oilers? It seems no one is expecting Edmonton to make a playoff run. Will this season’s stumble be the last straw, and he says no more?
Sportsnet: The Tkachuk Bros. podcast made a very good point, and they are two players who could be affected by a decision to which few of us paid attention. The 2028 World Cup will be in Prague and Calgary. Uh, NHL players are going to fly to Prague for a week, fly from Eastern Europe to the Western US and immediately play games? Then immediately resume NHL games?
Hard to argue that’s an extraordinary ask that looks like a lack of realization. Imagine 38-year-old Erik Karlsson and 34-year-old Rickard Rakell leaving the day after the last NHL game, wherever it may be, flying all the way to Prague, playing a few games, then the 12-hour flight to Calgary for the semis and final. Then, back to Pittsburgh. Ouch. No, and hell no, will I be covering all of that!
Forever Blueshirts: It’s over in New York. Officially eliminated. Here’s how the head coach and the team reacted to the New York Rangers‘ elimination.
NHLtraderumors.me: Not all the coming changes will be controlled by the Toronto Maple Leafs’ management. Players could ask out. Players could make demands. It’s been ugly in Toronto, and there are wonderings about what Auston Matthews and others will say in their exit interviews.
TSN Video: The sports network is reporting that one-on-one meetings between the Maple Leafs president and CEO Scott Pelley and various staff.
NHL.com: It’s a bad break for the Ottawa Senators. Defenseman Thomas Chabot needed surgery for a broken arm after he received a cross-check earlier this week from Rangers forward J.T. Miller. He could miss the playoffs, too.
Montreal Hockey Now: The Penguins might want to say thank you. The Columbus Blue Jackets lost, and the Montreal Canadiens won.
The New York Islanders beat the Dallas Stars, so NYI kept pace. The gaggle of teams is still grouped together like the last lap at the Daytona 500.
Florida Hockey Now: It’s over. The players know it. But that doesn’t mean they are going to quit or take it easy. Nope, the Florida Panthers are going down swinging.
And what do we think of this hit?
Tom Wilson ABSOLUTELY LEVELLED Jack McBain 😵💥
The hit was reviewed for a major but was called a 2-minute interference minor. pic.twitter.com/ApPTOMvfRb
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 27, 2026
Tags: Penguins news Pittsburgh Penguins
Categorized:Links NHL Trade Rumors