Penguins Soft Landing; Rangers Talk Blockbuster; Flyers Scenario

WASHINGTON D.C. — After the long day Sunday, PHN stayed behind in D.C. The Pittsburgh Penguins lost a game in which they should have blown out the Washington Capitals. Somehow, the hockey gods kept the puck out of the net. We’ve got full coverage from D.C., including Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin talking about the longtime rivalry with the (sure seems like retiring) Alex Ovechkin. As well as the important takeaways from the game that was not important to the Penguins.

Elsewhere in the Daily, the New York Rangers are eyeing up a blockbuster trade that would send shockwaves through hockey if they can pull it off, and are staring down a pair of American gold medalists to make it happen. The Philadelphia Flyers can clinch the third seed in the Metro Division with a win over the Carolina Hurricanes Monday. And Luke Fox wrote an absolutely scathing and hilarious game recap of the tanking contest between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The nighttime monument walk was a bit disappointing as the mall and the WWII monument are under heavy construction. I cut it short, but only after a perfect dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill. A bacon-horseradish glazed meatloaf with whipped potatoes, Swiss chard, and bordelaise.

I also saw Marine One for the first time. I didn’t realize the President was having a presser as I walked by. Heck, maybe I should have tried to join in? And a completely anti-political take after my walk around town: If your view of this country depends on the politician sitting in our house on Pennsylvania Ave., you’re feeding the wrong wolf.

Walking by George’s monument never fails to inspire and impress.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: If you want the injury updates and the game recap, you can go to the homepage. Not surprisingly, the postgame recap–despite my flowery writeup of the Ovechkin-Crosby rivalry and the game–was the least read postgame of the season. I suppose you don’t need me waxing poetic about the greatest rivalry in NHL history.

The report card contains some nuggets that, if you want to know what’s going on with this week and preparations for Game One, you’ll want to check out. They sneaked in a nice zone entry wrinkle as well as player analysis of those who don’t usually get ice time but will be important to the future. It’s a concise Penguins report card.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: First place?! Yep, our Buccos don’t suck, but they blew a five-run lead Sunday. Danny Demilio has the series takeaways, including more on Oneil Cruz’s start. It’s some meaty Pirates coverage.

NHL Trade Rumors, News, & National Hockey Now

The Athletic ($): It was an unintentional tank by the New York Rangers. Big name head coach. Star players. But tons of losses. Former Norris Trophy winning defenseman Adam Fox may not want to stick around for a retool. But GM Chris Drury is also stalking bombshell trades; Brady Tkachuk and Auston Matthews are the names the Athletic is floating.

I don’t think the Rangers have the horses to get either done, unless they part with a top five pick this June … and Adam Fox.

Philly Hockey Now: It’s not very complicated. Win and they are in. But what if they lose to the Carolina Hurricanes? Will James has us covered on the Flyers playoff scenarios.

Sportsnet: Colleagues told me–no, no, Alex Ovechkin is coming back. See, Evgeni Malkin said so! Well, he didn’t quite say that, and after the postgame goodbye, I’m more convinced that Ovechkin is done, “I’ll think about one more year.”

Yeah, kind of like your parents saying they’ll “think about it.” Here’s the Ovechkin’s postgame goodbye.

TSN Video: Craig Button believes both the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens are potential Stanley Cup winners. Given the Edmonton Oilers wonky season, they’re the great Canadian hopes this year.

Detroit Hockey Now: Seven years of the Yzer-plan. No playoff appearances and a big step back this season as the Detroit Red Wings collapsed in the second-half after being one of the best teams in the first half. The fans are NOT happy and booed the team off the ice in the Red Wings home finale.

Yzerman is a “measure three times and maybe cut once” kind of GM. Very similar to Ron Francis, at least in my eyes. For a team that needed some offensive punch, to acquire only David Perron (and defenseman Justin Faulk), at the end of his career, was a brutal whiff. I could envision scenarios in which Dylan Larkin exerts public pressure, much more so than last year.

Tags: New York Rangers NHL Trade Rumors Philadelphia flyers Pittsburgh Penguins