The Pittsburgh Penguins completed their Christmas shopping with a checklist of big moments Sunday. Finally get a shootout win. Check. Break an eight-game losing streak. Double check. Watch Sidney Crosby bring the house down with a record-setting point and surpass Mario Lemieux’s all-time mark. Big check.

We’ve got full analysis inside the room and from the game itself (the game also mattered quite a bit). Elsewhere in the daily, the NHL roster freeze is in effect, but that only means the NHL trade rumors are what could happen beginning next week, and Calgary Flames D-man Rasmus Andersson tossed some gasoline on his rumors. Changes are coming to the 2026 NHL Draft (thankfully), and Martin St. Louis called Crosby one of the top-five players of all-time.

But we already knew that, eh?

I’m curious about your thoughts on a matter, as I spend some time pondering and constantly evaluating my coverage as well as that of the market. In Penguins land, there is quite a bit of coverage leaning toward the emotional and personal side of the sport. What were you feeling when..? How do you feel about…?

I rarely ask those questions. If you noticed, that was me wrapping the Crosby media scrum with–What does a shootout win mean for the team? It was a softball, but I also knew I’d get some colorful answers (and did from Dan Muse).

Lord knows they’ve practiced shootouts over the last few weeks, and I wasn’t about to ask Crosby about using different moves, at least not last night. Instead, I try to get away from the media scrums and ask players as subtly as I can about the Xs and Os of the game–they seemed to do X, you seemed to do Y?

The million-dollar question is: What is it you really want to know on a day-to-day basis?

Now, if you’re in the Monroeville/Plum area, I’m off to do the Plum H.S. Make-a-Wish telethon. Drop a few beans if you can!

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Let’s start with the game recap because there were some details. Crosby. Arturs Silovs did not get enough credit for his performance. And a shootout win. The Penguins game recap.

Montreal Hockey Now: The flip side coverage. Even Montreal reporter Marc Dumont just gave Crosby flowers. It was Sid’s night, even for the Montreal Canadiens coverage.

The Penguins’ report card had the nuts and bolts of the game. Just what was different Sunday that finally put a bigger number in the Penguins’ column? I tackled that, a candid moment from coach Dan Muse, and the Penguins’ report card.

Muse’s quote, “It f*cking wears on you,” was said so earnestly that I had to listen back to make sure I heard it right. The calls for Muse’s job that are popping up on social media from geniuses who are merely setting themselves up to be right in three years might be the dumbest comments from some in a long, long–long time.

See, I’ve been saying…!

Now, let’s get to Crosby. You can watch the raw locker room video. Sidney Crosby was all smiles in the Penguins’ locker room.

And Shelly Anderson has been there since the beginning. She’s chronicled the journey as much as anyone. Here’s her story from Crosby’s record-breaking game.

Yeah, the Steelers had a game, too. It was wild. I was a little busy to see the end, but it’s all on Steelers Now.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

TSN Video: Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis called Mario Lemieux the best ever, but also called Crosby a top-five player.

Sportsnet: No one liked the 2025 NHL Draft. It took forever. It was awkward. And none of us got to party in Vegas. So, the NHL is making changes.

On Hockey Night in Canada After Dark, Rasmus Andersson put the ball in the Calgary Flames’ court regarding a new contract. Cue those trade rumors.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Guess who was back? The NJD finally got Jack Hughes back into the lineup and promptly deflated in a bad loss for the New Jersey Devils.

Since Hughes was back in the lineup, James Nichols could finally ask him for a reaction to the Quinn Hughes trade.

Philly Hockey Now: I think you’ll read Will James for decades to come. He’s going to be one of the good ones in this business (and he’s ours). In the latest mailbag, James confronts the big issues of lingering roster questions and some predictions of what comes next for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Detroit Hockey Now: Mom’s the word. A 2.0 next idea, it’s a detailed Mom’s trip for the Detroit Red Wings.

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