What do you need to know about last night's big stories? Joe McDonald gives us his take on the biggest and best. This is where we say, "Morning, Joe."
No big deal: So, Florida Panthers veteran winger Jaromir Jagr tied Mark Messier for second all time with 1,887 career points. Honestly, what's the big deal? Jagr is 44 and is no doubt a future Hall of Famer, but in today's game, fans are much more focused on the accomplishments of younger players such as the Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid, the Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews and the Winnipeg Jets' Patrik Laine. No one else matters. Jagr, as great as is his, is holding on to a career. It's not so much about what he has accomplished, it's about what people view him as and how much attention he brings to the game. There were 12 games Tuesday, and most were much more exciting than a 4-3 Florida Panthers shootout win over the lowly Buffalo Sabres.
Crosby leads the way: Now, the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby is definitely something to talk about. He scored his 22nd goal of the season during a 7-2 win over the New York Rangers on Tuesday and now has 36 points in 27 games. Crosby is a high-stakes player and his teammates are feeding off his dynamic energy. If there's a team that can repeat as Stanley Cup champions, it's this team. The Penguins have the goaltending, the depth and the best player in the world to make it happen. Forget the so-called Stanley Cup hangover, because it doesn't exist in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are focused. From top to bottom they are determined to win. It starts with the captain and everyone else falls into place. Jagr must miss Pittsburgh.
Don't sleep on the Wild: The Minnesota Wild's eighth consecutive victory -- a 2-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday -- proves this team is legit. The Wild wouldn't be a playoff team without the work of goalie Devan Dubnyk, who is 7-0-0 in his past seven starts. On a night when there are so many games -- which also included the Columbus Blue Jackets winning their 10th straight -- it's tough to ignore the incredible race in the Central Division. The Wild, even among the Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators, are poised for a Stanley Cup playoff berth.
