{"id":549593,"date":"2026-04-10T14:24:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T14:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/549593\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T14:24:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T14:24:36","slug":"penguins-punch-ticket-gm-searches-chaos-below","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/549593\/","title":{"rendered":"Penguins Punch Ticket; GM Searches; Chaos Below"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEWARK \u2014 The symbolism was perfect as Evgeni Malkin leaped over the bench and raced toward the net. Egor Chinakhov set the play in motion, Sidney Crosby stormed the net, and Malkin finished it for the backbreaking goal. The Penguins\u2019 stars and goaltending powered a 5-2 win at the Prudential Center, which earned them a ticket to the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It is the Penguins\u2019 first appearance in four years, and with the chaos below them in the standings, they also clinched second place in the Metro Division. We\u2019ve got full coverage from Newark, and our postgame video. <\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the Daily, to rebuild or to retool? The Vancouver Canucks seem ready to try Kyle Dubas\u2019s hybrid approach, which has Vancouver media running for the exits. The few open GM searches are moving forward, and favorites are emerging. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m holding my breath, fearful of a playoff series on Long Island. I know Islanders fans treat Penguins fans well, much better than your cross-state rivals whose grandmas flip off Sidney Crobsy, but getting there and back for a Game 6, or spending four days training back and forth to Belmont\/Elmont would be Dante\u2019s eighth circle of hell. <\/p>\n

However, I must thank you tremendously for your generous support on Buy Me a Coffee. I haven\u2019t publicized it in a few days because I thought we had taken care of Round One expenses, but with Long Island back in play, I\u2019m not sure. Because of the craziness of this schedule, I have indeed been funding travel out of pocket for a bit\u2013If you\u2019d like to keep this little engine that could on the road, you can buy me a coffee here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t make it into the city for lunch (you should have seen the hotel check in), and I couldn\u2019t get my car late last night to drive over myself, but I splurged on UberEATS for the Penguins\u2019 victory. <\/p>\n

$22 delivered?! Oh well. Excuse me while I kiss the sky. pic.twitter.com\/vCv5GOKdEI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) April 10, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Penguins<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: It was a wild game. The New Jersey Devils were all over the Penguins, yet mustered just 21 shots on goal. But too many were high danger. And Stuart Skinner stood on his head. The Penguins won. The Penguins clinched. Here\u2019s the Penguins game recap<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Avery Hayes played last night. Connor Dewar is out with an upper-body injury. <\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get to the report card. The wild. The good. And the cleanups on Aisle 7. Ultimately, the mistakes mattered not, and the Penguins handed the usher their ticket for the postseason dance. This writer tried to weave the big picture storylines into the season-long narratives with locker room reactions from the players, coach, and the joyous results of the Penguins win<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I apologize. It looks like Autocorrect got me on a few notes in the story, but I spotted them this morning with another read-through. It changed PennDOT to pundit, and I didn\u2019t notice. Pundit?! The joke is much better with PennDOT, I promise. <\/p>\n

And the postgame video. These have become surprisingly well viewed this season. Hey, if you watch, I\u2019ll keep doing them!<\/p>\n

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NHL Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now<\/p>\n

Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together\u2026 MASS HYSTERIA!<\/p>\n

Philly Hockey Now: A chance to put the dagger in the Red Wings, a chance to solidify their hold on third place, and \u2026 the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a> blew it.<\/p>\n

NHL.com: The Islanders were the tired dog playing out the string as a playoff spot slipped away, but no longer. They pounded the Toronto Maple Leafs. At one point, the shots were 40-9. And the Islanders looked good under their new head coach<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Columbus Dispatch: Technically, it is not over, but in honor of my Newark hosts, they\u2019re being fitted for cement shoes and taking a ride to the swamp. The Buffalo Sabres beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are now two points out with three games to go. Six reasons they fell short<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Detroit Hockey Now: Alive in the wild card. Dylan Larkin rose to the occasion, beat the Flyers, and the Detroit Red Wings<\/a> have a glimmer of hope. <\/p>\n

TSN: Matthew Schaefer has been a god-send for the Islanders. Thursday, he tied an all-time rookie goals record<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Daily Face-Off: There is a search firm running the Toronto GM search, and they also represent several candidates. Gee, what could go wrong? DFO ranks the candidates, known and assumed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils have received permission to interview a red-hot GM candidate. They may get in Toronto\u2019s way because Sonny Mehtra is from Jersey. Here\u2019s what James Nichols knows about the Devils GM search<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NHLtraderumors.me: The Vancouver Canucks are in all sorts of chaos. A report indicates Vancouver won\u2019t go through a full rebuild, but will try \u201cThe Dubas\u201d and look for young players to snag. Vancouver media is not amused<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sportsnet: So, how do teams decide between a rebuild and a retool? To conclude the Daily, Mark Spector has a pretty interesting story<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Seriously, I\u2019ll be covering playoff hockey. Didn\u2019t see this coming. It felt possible in January, probable in February, then was an \u201cabsolutely not\u201d after they got rolled by Carolina (twice), Colorado, and Dallas and fell out of the playoff seeds.<\/p>\n

The Penguins absolutely have to return to their structure and forecheck. They\u2019re a bit in love with scoring goals right now, but if the next three games don\u2019t knock that out of them, a loss in Game 1 will. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: GM searches<\/a> nhl rumors<\/a> penguins playoffs<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> <\/p>\n

Categorized:Links<\/a> NHL Trade Rumors<\/a><\/p>\n

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