An absolutely incredible game became a wild night in Milan with more viral moments from one event than anything we\u2019ve ever seen. From the wonderful tribute to Johnny Gaudreau to the consternation over the head of the FBI chugging beers in the locker room, to Mike Sullivan singing along with the boys to Toby Keith, to the angry dejection of Nathan MacKinnon looking at that stupid little stuffed animal. And the last thing I saw last night was the US boys hoisting Mike Eruzione on their shoulders as all involved emptied a case of beer. Yeah, it was that kind of night, and I\u2019ll link below to as much as I could find. <\/p>\n
Connor Hellebuyck. WOW. USA!<\/p>\n
Elsewhere in the Daily, the NHL trade chatter, or un-trade chatter, is in Columbus, where GM Don Waddell wants to hang onto pending free agents. The Pittsburgh Penguins locker room reacted to the joy of the US winning and the pain they felt for Sidney Crosby, who offered up the most selfless act by not playing Sunday because he wasn\u2019t healthy enough. And Dan Muse is also ready to turn the page and get back to the Penguins\u2019 season. <\/p>\n
There\u2019s a ton to get to, so let\u2019s not waste too much time. A new No Pucks Given 49a (actually Ep 50, but I miscounted as I always do) is on the way today. I had to edit some things. Let\u2019s just say the number of celebrities claiming to be embarrassed to be Americans got under my skin, and the gold medal might have uncorked a few sentences I needed to edit. I\u2019m pretty sure 90% of people would have agreed or at least been cool with what I said. It wasn\u2019t political, but not being political becomes political in 2026, doesn\u2019t it? So, I edited. <\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: From Penguins practice\u2013the boys reacted. Kris Letang had a good line about Crosby\u2019s character and competitive drive, and Dan Muse is done with the break. It\u2019s all from the Penguins locker room<\/a>.<\/p>\n There was only one story yesterday, and I mean that in a meta sense. Like, what am I going to ask Muse about\u2013the Devils on Thursday?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a modified postgame of the victory, the goals, the save, Crosby handling dejection like a leader<\/a>. <\/p>\n TSN: Sidney Crosby discussed his decision to give up his spot for a healthy player. It was agonizing for one of the greatest ever<\/a>.<\/p>\n Steelers Now: I don\u2019t mind this. I know a lot of fans do. It\u2019s looking increasingly likely that Aaron Rodgers will play one more year with the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Look, maybe if Will Howard were healthy last year and the team had some sense of his progress, it might be different. The best QBs will be out of their reach in the draft, so what else ya got? Keep him upright and get a second WR. <\/p>\n NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now<\/p>\n OK, we\u2019ll start with the trade stuff, then \u2026 Olympics, baby!<\/p>\n The Athletic ($): The Columbus Blue Jackets have a handful of attractive unrestricted free agents, but Mr. Aaron Portzline reports that GM Don Waddell is not planning to move his UFAs because CBJ \u201chas something here.\u201d But they\u2019re out of a playoff spot. So, what\u2019s Columbus going to do<\/a>?<\/p>\n NHL.com: America\u2019s got talent. The HELLA-SAVE (I\u2019m coining that term for Hellebuyck\u2019s save on Devon Toews. Use it!). The goal. Jack Hughes, draped in the American flag, smiled through missing teeth. It was perhaps the best sporting event we\u2019ll see in decades. Here\u2019s NHL.com\u2019s coverage and photos from the game<\/a>.<\/p>\n We\u2019re going to depart from the usual format for the special occasion to memorialize many of the viral moments. <\/p>\n Jack Hughes postgame interview after losing some chiclets and scoring the second most famous goal in US hockey history, \u201cI love this country!\u201d<\/p>\n Let me tell you, no one did more to rewrite their narrative and reputation in the Olympics than J. Hughes. <\/p>\n Proud to be an American. \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/t6LzvTPNU5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n From Quinn Hughes\u2019 Instagram\u2013he was going live\u2013a lot\u2013in the celebration. <\/p>\n Mike Eruzione. The captain and the hero of 1980. It was 46 years to the day since he and the entire US team swarmed the podium for the national anthem. Sunday night in Milan, the boys embraced their heritage, and Mr. Eruzione was having a good time. <\/p>\n This\u2026I just love. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a baaaad night to be a beer in Milan \ud83c\udf7b pic.twitter.com\/BFWbYrzA7v<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) February 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n After seeing the poor Canadian women get their stuffed animals following their receipt of the very disappointing silver medal, this writer tweeted, \u201cSorry you lost, here\u2019s your stuffed animal.\u201d Well, the organizers also awarded the men the stuffies well after receiving their medals. What were they thinking?! Nathan MacKinnon\u2019s reaction\u2013yeah, about how any of us would feel:<\/p>\n MacKinnon thinking what we are all thinking. pic.twitter.com\/VDE5aUkIx7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Gerry Dee (@gerrydee) February 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n It looks like Kash Patel is friendly with most of the Team USA locker room. I mean, I could do without the head of the FBI being doused in beer and chugging like it\u2019s homecoming weekend and your fraternity brothers just passed the hat for six more cases, but he loves hockey. So, that part is cool. As long as no laws were broken\u2026<\/p>\n Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude- what it takes to be the best in the world. These men live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you for representing the greatest country on earth, in the greatest game ever created.\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/hBG987pxM2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kash Patel (@Kash_Patel) February 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n I don\u2019t know how many times they sang Courtesy of the Red White and Blue, but I\u2019ve also seen a video of Sullivan joining in. Sullivan was soaking wet for his postgame presser, and I\u2019m sure it wasn\u2019t water. <\/p>\n A source, eh? I\u2019m pretty sure half the players tweeted or Instagrammed this, too.<\/p>\n A source sent me this video of FBI Director Kash Patel partying with the US Men’s Olympic Hockey team. pic.twitter.com\/egjmdhOAF6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 William Turton (@WilliamTurton) February 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n It\u2019s a shame NBC hogged the video and then made it absolutely impossible to find. They did a great job of broadcasting the Olympic Games, and a genuinely terrible job of print and media coverage. So, from Sportsnet reporter Luke Fox, Dylan Larkin uncorked a few beauties, including this all-timer about the Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. <\/p>\n Dylan Larkin: “Johnny and Matty should be here\u2026. Somehow they put a spell around our net where that puck didn’t go in. Ironic, because it’s on the defensive side. He would never have been back there. We miss him, and we love him, and we love his family.” pic.twitter.com\/JNNbUVcEkC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) February 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n And I suppose we\u2019ll end on this one. <\/p>\n Just an absolutely perfect gesture and tribute for Johnny Gaudreau. I\u2019ll post two because I\u2019m sure when NBC sees the first one, they\u2019ll have it taken down. <\/p>\n Full video of Johnny Gaudreau\u2019s kids honored on the ice #USA<\/a> #USAHockey<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VH78hivgn7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ben Rice Foundation (@Parmsisreal) February 22, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n And from the seats: What an amazing day. Hughes. Hughes. Hellebuyck, the Hella-Save. And the tribute. It seems the result was meant to be. <\/p>\n From Victoria S, who had a front row seat:<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: nhl trade<\/a> Olympics<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> Team USA<\/a> <\/p>\n Categorized:Links<\/a> NHL Trade Rumors<\/a> Olympics<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t