Evan’s Daily: ESPN With Landeskog Update, Penguins Collapse Against Lowly Blackhawks

You have the term “Any Given Sunday” in the NFL, and I guess in the NHL, it’s just “Any Given Day,” because the lowly Chicago Blackhawks might have just sent Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins to the golf courses a little early with their win Tuesday.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan had an update on Gabriel Landeskog’s situation with some newer tidbits on what he’ll be up to this week.

All that and more in this Wednesday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

The Avalanche lost in overtime in a hard-fought game, but the point clinched them home-ice in the first round.

Bowen Byram wasn’t too happy with McDavid’s stick-work in overtime before he was called for a penalty. The Oilers ultimately won the game on that powerplay.

Lars Eller might have had his best game in an Avalanche uniform on Tuesday night.

Cale Makar was back on the ice Tuesday morning and looked to be moving well. Arturri Lehkonen also shed his non-contact jersey and is getting closer to returning.

Landeskog Update

I didn’t hear this live being up in the press box, but had people messaging me about it, so I watched the broadcast back after getting home. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan had a new update on Landeskog. Take a listen here.

Here is @emilymkaplan's report on Gabriel Landeskog from the game.

Landeskog has a "couple more appointments" this week and the Avalanche aren't sure when or if he will play in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/PuBRRJ0kPi

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) April 12, 2023

I’m hoping to follow-up with the Avalanche on this today after practice. A “couple more appointments” could mean anything, but none of it really sounds encouraging. When there are national broadcasts, those broadcasters usually get one-on-one time with players and the staff, and I’m sure that’s where this came out. Either way, the Avalanche don’t seem sure we’ll even see Landeskog playing at any point in the playoffs.

Around the NHL

Everything was set up for the Pittsburgh Penguins to waltz into the postseason. The Washington Capitals took out the New York Islanders the day before, putting all the power in the hands of the Penguins. The Chicago Blackhawks shouldn’t have been a problem, right? Wrong. After an embarrassing loss at home to the Blackhawks, the Penguins don’t deserve to make the playoffs.

The flip side of it all is that the Florida Panthers have now clinched a playoff spot. With his team making the postseason, is Matthew Tkachuk now worthy of Hart Trophy consideration?

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