PHILADELPHIA — Wednesday is a Pittsburgh Penguins offday, but we’re en route to Minneapolis through Chicago, and we will finish the Daily somewhere between here and there. The Penguins salvaged a point Tuesday, or more specifically, the Arty Party Arturs Silovs stole a point from the Philadelphia Flyers in a wild game. We’ve got full coverage and analysis from the barn.

Elsewhere, there are a couple of big-name centers making waves on the NHL trade market, even as their teams posture against trading them. J.T. Miller got his Vancouver homecoming. And with all 32 teams in action, we’ve got plenty of material to fill a daily, including Connor Bedard’s first hatty, a late Canadiens comeback, and the end of the New Jersey Devils eight-game winning streak.

I’m not sure if it’s a sugar rush, six cups of coffee, or just the natural high of this job, but I’ve had a total of about five hours of sleep in the last two days, and I’m just fine, though I can tell that my language and word selection are slipping a bit.

My only real thought today is that Burger King has the best breakfast sandwich … by a mile. The soft croissant, slightly spicier sausage kick, and fluffier egg are the sweet spot when you hit the airport at 4:15 a.m., especially the morning after a game.

But the Traveling Wilburys are stuck in my head. What can I say, I’m overexposed and commercialized, so handle me with care.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: While one rookie defenseman struggles, another is getting his second chance. After kicking tires on the NHL trade market, the Penguins recalled Owen Pickering.

It was a deep sleep. The slumber lasted most of 40 minutes before the Penguins woke up. In the meantime, their rookie goalie Arturs Silovs stole the show. The Penguins lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in a shootout, but here’s the full Penguins recap.

I can tell the Penguins lost. Penguins fans don’t bother with reading anything, which is the exact opposite of Steelers fans, who don’t read when they win. Go figure. One defenseman logged nearly 32 minutes, coach Dan Muse accurately broke down the team’s game for our analysis section, and we dished out some player grades in the Penguins report card.

Here’s the flip side–dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria! Goals in OT were waved off, fights, misconducts, and here’s who stood out amidst the Philadelphia Flyers’ chaotic win.

Hey, regardless of how the casual fans behave, when I do a report card, I’m putting everything I’ve got into it. I already see that I and a good chunk of Penguins fans are going to have a problem by the end of the road trip. Still, the day I bend my coverage to appease fans is the same day I’m just mailing it in. Never going to happen. Agree, disagree, ponder, or argue, you’re getting it straight from me.

It is pretty funny, I’m really smart when I agree with you, and when I don’t, I’m not watching the game. Ha, I love you just the same.

NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

TSN Insiders: Nazem Kadri in Calgary and Pavel Zacha in Boston Centers are always tough to acquire, and their teams are receiving calls, but will one or both be on the move?

Credit our old friend Jimmy Murphy for being first on the Zacha calls, last week.

Forever Blueshirts: Welcome back, J.T. Miller. The New York Rangers took away all time and space from the Vancouver Canucks, and the Canucks honored their former leader, who returned for the first time. It was a complete Rangers win.

A bit of good old-fashioned trade rumors:

New Jersey Hockey Now: Markstrom flopped. The PK caved. It was the end of the New Jersey Devils winning streak.

Chicago Hockey Now: Go ahead and watch it here–the slick stick and wicked wristas that led to the first hat trick for Connor Bedard.

Montreal Hockey Now: Good gosh, he is going to have one of THOSE seasons There’s no stopping him; there’s only delaying the inevitable A big Montreal Canadiens comeback led by Cole Caufield.

Sportsnet: Yes, it’s early, but Rory Boylen has one note for every team in his weekly NHL column.

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