Dan’s Daily: Fleury Loses ‘Hawks Debut, Ovechkin Roars, Penguins Updates

You just knew Marc-Andre Fleury was in for a bad night when the Colorado Avalanche scored the game’s first goal. Let me rephrase that–when defenseman Jack Johnson scored the first goal of the Avalanche season. Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals steamrolled the New York Rangers, and we’ve got all of the Pittsburgh Penguins news you want, including some cold water for NHL trade rumors.

And some you don’t want.

I will forever enjoy the hate some fans have for Jack Johnson. Sorry, it’s amusing, like when wrestling fans get overheated at characters or NASCAR fans get angry when Kyle Busch wins. I had a quick late-night sandwich at my favorite little corner spot, with only nine bar seats. The Blackhawks-Avalanche game was on, and the reaction to Johnson scoring on Fleury was glorious.

Colorado: It was an impressive opening night win for Jack Johnson, er, the Colorado Avalanche, 4-2 over Fleury-led Chicago. 

Oh, by the way, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be paying Johnson for a few more years.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Updates on Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Zach Aston-Reese, and…Mark Friedman is feeling the flow. 

The Penguins recalled P.O. Joseph.

Penguins President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke was on with our buddy Chris Mack as part of the 93-7 the Fan Morning Show. Burke put the Penguins goalie situation in perspective, including NHL trade rumors. 

NHL News & National Hockey Now:

Florida: It’s the Penguins vs. the Florida Panthers on Thursday. A good read here from George Richards in Florida–it’s time for the Panthers to show us what they’ve got. 

Washington: The New York Rangers didn’t look any more formidable. It looked like the same old same old. Ovechkin scores, passes Marcel Dionne on the goals list. Capitals go crazy, the Rangers wilt. Film at 11. 

It will be the greatest chase we’ll see in hockey for a long, long time. No one will ever catch Wayne Gretzky’s point record–not in this game and this era of coaching, parity, and goalies with a clue. However, Ovechkin set about his quest to catch Gretzky’s goal record–and you know he wants it badly.

Montreal: The Montreal Canadiens had chances, including a 5v3 power play for nearly two minutes. Only Jonathan Drouin scored for the Habs, and the Canadiens lost to Toronto, 2-1. 

Toronto: On the flip side, the Toronto Maple Leafs PK was awesome, and goalie Jack Campbell stood tall. The Maple Leafs won 2-1.

Calgary: 6/7 defenseman Oliver Killington has been a fan favorite as he fights for a spot in the top-six (again). On Wednesday, Daryl Sutter had him at fourth-line wing, and outrage followed. 

How cool is it that we now have Montreal AND Toronto and Calgary in the mix? The Canadian passion brings so many more stories to life.

Every year, it takes me a month, or two, to remember all of the roster moves and players in new spots. “Oh, he’s there–I forgot!”  Sportsnet has a little helper for people like us:

Boston: Somewhat breaking news–the Boston Bruins and Charlie McAvoy will finalize a contract extension “in short order.”

NYI: Chief Pittsburgh Penguins antagonist–the New York Islanders have agreed to an eight-year extension with defenseman Ryan Pulock. Scratch him off the NHL trade watchlist. 

Sportsnet: And last, but not least, Elliotte Friedman’s 32 Thoughts were full of little tidbits for the NHL trade watchers, an Eichel update, more on Brady Tkachuk’s holdout, and more.