Dan’s Daily: Penguins Lose, Lemieux Bites Tkachuk, Chaos in Montreal

It was one of the wildest Saturdays in recent memory. The Pittsburgh Penguins fired 50 shots and lost. Brendan Lemieux bit Brady Tkachuk, teams are trying to pull John Klingberg onto the NHL trade market, and there is absolute chaos in the Montreal Canadiens organization.

Also, the Ottawa Senators waived Matt Murray. And this could be the shocker of NHL trade rumor shockers: Larry Brooks reports an Eastern Conference team is interested in Evander Kane.

In my early days of radio, I worked at a station with an old dot matrix printer hooked to the AP Newsfeed. The high-pitched whirring sound harmoniously melded with the ever-present sound of paper rolling forwards like marching boots hitting the pavement. Saturday, that printer would have been in hyperdrive.

We’ll start with Montreal. Expect changes to rock the Canadiens today, even after they beat the Penguins.

Montreal: Get this–reports say GM Marc Bergevin found out on Twitter that (close Bergevin ally) assistant GM Scott Mellanby resigned, the owner is replacing Bergevin, and all hell broke loose in Montreal. 

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: On the ice, Montreal played one of their better games this season. The Penguins fired 50 shots on Canadiens goalie Jake Allen but didn’t crack him until the final two minutes. An eight-goal third period was a 6-3 Penguins loss.

PHN+: Get the Hows, Whys, and Pittsburgh Penguins player grades here. 

You can watch the PHN Postgame wrap from PPG here. 

And–you can bet $5 and win $200 today on the Pittsburgh Steelers. John Perrotto delivers the best Steelers betting lines, odds, and prediction.

NHL Trade Chatter, News & National Hockey Now:

San Jose: NHL trade rumors are buzzing–An Eastern Conference team is genuinely interested in Evander Kane?

Sportsnet: Under the radar because of the Saturday night insanity, the Carolina Hurricanes and others are calling the Dallas Stars about John Klingberg, but Dallas might be forced into it but is resisting putting Klingberg on the NHL trade block.

TSN: “Enjoy your suspension,” “Gutless,” “This guy is a joke…”  Brady Tkachuk went off after Brendan Lemieux bit him Saturday night.

And that was only the second most insane story of the night.

Ottawa Sun: The Ottawa Senators, as reported, waived Murray on Saturday. Bruce Garrioch reports he will report to Belleville of the AHL if he clears waivers Sunday at 2 p.m., though Murray isn’t pleased.

From Stanley Cups to the NHL trade block to the AHL. It’s been a ride for Matt Murray.

NYI: The New York Islanders had more players land in the COVID protocol, and the NHL paused their season until Nov. 30. 

Calgary: The Winnipeg Jets beat the Calgary Flames, and Milan Lucic was booted after he boarded Dylan DeMelo. A Lucic suspension coming?

Washington: Capitals center and really good third-liner Lars Eller had to quarantine in Anaheim after testing positive. I feel ya, brother, Eller said he did everything he could to stay sane, but it wasn’t easy. 

I’ve quarantined twice–two weeks ago after I tested positive, and 14 full days in a small Toronto bedroom before the 2020 NHL playoffs bubble. It ain’t easy!