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<\/p>\nRALEIGH, N.C. \u2014 Send for the captain ashore, let me go home. The Pittsburgh Penguins concluded their five-game run through the NHL\u2019s best Wednesday night and did so with a historically wild third period that earned them a point, but for the 16th time in 21 OT games that went past regulation, they lost. We\u2019ve got the locker room aftermath and in-depth analysis as the chip on the Penguins\u2019 shoulder for Carolina got a little bigger. <\/p>\n
Elsewhere in the Daily, NHL trade rumors might run through Minnesota this summer as general manager Bill Guerin goes on safari again, looking for more big game. Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill said Dallas is making re-signing Jason Robertson a priority (sorry, Penguins fans), and a Kyle Dubas-signed defenseman in Toronto may unexpectedly hit the free agent market via a buyout. <\/p>\n
I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve been more ready for a roadie to end than this one. Game, travel, game travel, game travel\u2026 The extra day in Las Vegas was nice, but only a small bennie. The other not so small bennie on this road trip was Carolina\u2019s chocolate cake. Media meals are not free, and I usually regret the $15 or $20 cost (so, I overeat to balance the financial scales while tilting my bathroom scale). However, Carolina always feeds us pretty well. <\/p>\n
Wednesday night, they outdid themselves with slices of chocolate cake that resembled Brucey\u2019s snack in Matilda. The photo is not altered. <\/p>\n
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I\u2019m still full. <\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Sidney Crosby. The Penguins\u2019 captain returned Wednesday night. He was sluggish at first, but also scored the first Penguins goal. Here\u2019s the wild and woolly recap of only the fourth game in NHL history in which the teams combined to lose four leads in one period. Eventually, the Penguins lost in OT<\/a>.<\/p>\n That third period was fun to watch. It was not fun to write about on a deadline. <\/p>\n Let\u2019s dig into the game analysis and grades. Beyond the basic headlines of Crosby and the score, there were some real standout performances, and some real stinkers. We explained what the Penguins did and didn\u2019t do in the Penguins report card<\/a>.<\/p>\n My goodness, Erik Karlsson was spectacular. Kris Letang was not. <\/p>\n NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now<\/p>\n Ottawa Sun: The only game with an actual effect on the Penguins\u2019 playoff hopes was between the Ottawa Senators and the Washington Capitals. Ottawa is making a valiant charge to make up lost ground, but they suffered a devastating loss to Washington<\/a>.<\/p>\n There was a spat at the GM meetings in Florida. The GM who is rumored to have drawn the ire of and taken on Gary Bettman, both on headshots and then goaltender interference, is Carolina\u2019s Eric Tulsky. <\/p>\n Tulsky is the most mild-mannered, approachable GM in the league, but he and the Commish went toe to toe:<\/p>\n Hearing there was a heated exchange between Gary and a NHL GM during the GM meetings. The GM said to Gary that it appears the league has relaxed its standards on head shots. Gary was irate with the question and blasted the GM. <\/p>\n This GM has my vote for GM of the Year.<\/p>\n \u2014 Allan Walsh\ud83c\udfd2 (@walsha) March 18, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n The league needs a lot more Tulsky and less George Parros, Colin Campbell, Gary Bettman\u2026<\/p>\n The Athletic ($): The NHL trade chatter will wait until the summer, but when Michael Russo reports on Bill Guerin, it usually comes from a good place. Russo reports Guerin is going big-game hunting again this summer. It could be Brady Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, or every other player who might make you spit out your coffee<\/a>.<\/p>\n NHLtraderumors.me: Nick Kypreos is floating a bombshell idea because the trade market for Morgan Reilly has collapsed. A buyout? Kyle Dubas inked Reilly to an eight-year contract extension, which now seems to be yet another move from the Toronto management team, including Brendan Shanahan, that didn\u2019t work in Toronto<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dallas Morning News: GM Jim Nill was definitive. The Dallas Stars are trying and will try to re-sign Jason Robertson. He is their top priority<\/a>. <\/p>\n Cleveland.com: The five stats that show the Columbus Blue Jackets are a different team under coach Rick Bowness<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sportsnet: The story is probably over. Jack Hughes has changed his tune and called the display \u201can honor\u201d after the Hockey Hall of Fame told the American hero to get lost. He can\u2019t have the Golden Puck, and will have to settle for the Team USA gold medal<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: Gary Bettman<\/a> nhl trade<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> <\/p>\n Categorized:Links<\/a> NHL Trade Rumors<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t