The Pittsburgh Penguins earned an impressive win, their third impressive win in four games, and are now on the verge of qualifying for the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but everyone will have to wait a few days before the clinching moment. We’ve got the list of games to keep your eyes on Sunday. We’ve got full coverage of the Penguins’ resounding win over the Florida Panthers from PPG.
Elsewhere in the Daily, the Nashville Predators are holding in-person interviews for their open GM position, and they tried to swipe an employed GM. They will also talk to a former Johnstown Chief. The Philadelphia Flyers have risen from the hockey dead to be in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot. And there’s awkward speculation about Brady Tkachuk’s future that is boomeranging from his dad’s comments on the Tkachuk Bros. podcast.
*Sigh. Arturs Silovs wasn’t good Saturday, but the reactions were over the top. If the Penguins can clinch quickly, perhaps Sergei Murashov gets a few NHL games. Perhaps not. Like most people, including those on the inside, I’m not a goalie expert, but I know organizational thinking. And I keep things in perspective. That’s why I’m holding the line against this swell of emotion that Murashov should be the Penguins’ playoff goalie.
It would be pretty cool if Murashov played next weekend in Washington to send off Alex Ovechkin, but that’s a fan/media thing, not a decision anyone running a hockey team would make. But the heart wants what the heart wants, except that jerk Kingerski always explaining things.
Happy Easter. Happy Passover.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Vince Comunale rode shotgun Saturday. He had a LOT of writing to do as the Penguins almost hung a 10-spot on the Florida Panthers, Evgeni Malkin had a hat trick and surpassed one big milestone while Sidney Crosby also set another high water mark, as the Penguins won 9-4. Here is the Penguins recap.
Now then, let us dig into what the Penguins did well. How are they so thoroughly dominating several recent games? From the “nuts and bolts” of the game, Evgeni Malkin locker room video, to the player grades, it’s always in our Penguins report card.
Some good prospect news: Harrison Brunicke is on his way back.
Unfortunately, we’ll all be denied the immediate gratification of the Penguins clinching a playoff spot today as the New York Islanders don’t play again until Thursday (What is going on with this schedule?! We exhaust ourselves racing across the country for an entire month, then they take five days off just one week before the end of the season, which then includes another week off?!)
The Penguins have a five point lead over the New York Islanders and six over the logjam of four teams. Five games to go.
The Philadelphia Flyers have the inside lane on third place now. They are among the four teams with 88 points fighting for the second wild card/Metro Division spot, but have one fewer game played.
The Boston Bruins visit the Philadelphia Flyers at 3:30 p.m.
The Washington Capitals visit the New York Rangers at 7 p.m.
The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Ottawa Senators at 5 p.m.
The Minnesota Wild visit the Detroit Red Wings at 1 p.m.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are also off until Tuesday, when they face Detroit. Two teams enter, one team leaves.
NHL Rumors, News, & NHN
Spector’s Hockey: The Nashville Predators GM spot–reports from the local paper and Elliotte Friedman report that in-person interviews have begun and some names are surfacing, including former Johnstown Chiefs defenseman and current Florida Panthers AGM Brett Peterson. Chubs! Spector’s has both reports.
Friedman also reported on Hockey Night in Canada that Nashville asked to speak with Carolina GM Eric Tulsky but was turned down. That’s a bit presumptuous, isn’t it?
Toronto Hockey Now: How much would it cost to get Matthew Knies? Here’s the reported trade cost.
Here’s a palate cleanser. Max Comtois is apparently not well liked by his KHL team. Or the refs. Or his coach. Or the opponents. This video is something else. Basically, everyone is throwing Max under the bus.
One player managed to piss off the referee, his own head coach and players from not just the opposing team but his own team. Max Comtois actually pulled it off pic.twitter.com/kia9zXBPp2
— Uggg (@Uggg_uggg) April 4, 2026
And here’s Mike Rupp matter-of-factly stating that Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk will not finish their contracts with their current teams. The noise around Tkachuk is a little bit out of sync, and now seems an odd time, but his father’s mangled comments about the Florida Panthers this week only brought negative focus.
“Brady Tkachuk is not going to finish his contract in Ottawa. Auston Matthews, in my opinion, will not be a Toronto Maple Leaf for his entire career.” 👀@Rupper17 drops his takes on a couple of captains 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/rjENSNJA9V
— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) April 3, 2026
Do a podcast at your own risk. Lord knows, I’ve deleted a few segments and restarted my pods a few times because I knew I’d gone too far.
Detroit Hockey Now: So close, yet so unable to claim their spot. The Detroit Red Wings confound again.
Philly Hockey Now: The cataclysmic shift has been the Flyers getting back in the race and claiming the catbird seat. They did it by beating the Islanders, and they were led by the embattled sophomore Matvei Michkov.
Tags: nhl rumors Pittsburgh Penguins
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