A potential replacement for Isaac Seumalo is now available for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Penguins’ loss in Las Vegas was compounded by Columbus’ result. Now they have to head to Utah.
Plus, the Robert Morris hockey team is set to open its Atlantic Hockey semifinal in Connecticut.
All that in Friday’s “First Call.”
If you want him, you got him
Earlier this week, it was originally reported that the Steelers had signed Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Brock Hoffman in the early stages of free agency.
The report proved untrue. In fact, the Steelers couldn’t have signed him when the report came out Wednesday because it was posted before Dallas had a chance to tender the free agent guard/center, since he is a restricted free agent.
However, as indicated at SteelersNow.com, Hoffman ended up getting non-tendered anyway. So now it appears that the Steelers could sign Hoffman if they wanted him.
Hoffman is 26 years old. He has been a C/OG swing player since coming into the NFL in 2022. While in Dallas, he played for new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy for three seasons.
Brock Hoffman did a lot of good things at RG this week. One of the most underrated finishers in the league. pic.twitter.com/2KWo9b0p14
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) November 25, 2024
The Virginia Tech product started six games at center and one game at left guard in 2025.
Vegas flu
After a 6-2 loss to Vegas on Thursday night, the Penguins are heading to Utah for a game Saturday at 9 p.m. Eastern time.
They have 79 points, tied with the New York Islanders for the second-most in the Metropolitan Division. The Isles are in Los Angeles on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Mammoth currently holds the Western Conference’s top wild card spot with 74 points. They just lost to Chicago on Thursday night, 3-2 in overtime. Connor Bedard scored the game-winner.
Connor Bedard. Third career NHL overtime winner. And another fan staredown! #Blackhawkspic.twitter.com/F3EV8PxBPR
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) March 13, 2026
The Mammoth has dropped three in a row. West Mifflin’s Logan Cooley has 29 points in 38 games this season.
Utah nipped the Penguins in Pittsburgh 5-4 earlier this season. Dylan Guenther had the overtime game-winner.
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Panthers help Pittsburgh
While the Penguins lost, they also lost some ground to the next-best team in the Metropolitan Division.
The Columbus Blue Jackets fell to the Florida Panthers 2-1. The game ended in overtime courtesy of a Sam Reinhart goal.
LET’S GO HOME ????
Sam Reinhart scores the Subway Canada OT winner against the Blue Jackets. pic.twitter.com/YMnIfp8qQf
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 13, 2026
But by getting the game to OT, the Blue Jackets earn a point. They now have 77. That’s two back of the Penguins and Islanders. Those teams own the final two automatic qualifier spots in the Metropolitan Division.
Detroit (79 points) and Boston (78) are currently the wild-card teams. Both of them reside in the Atlantic Division.
Nuthin’ is sacred
The Robert Morris men’s hockey team is looking to keep its 2025-26 season alive this weekend.
The Colonials are in the Atlantic Hockey semifinals against the Sacred Heart Pioneers. RMU (45 points) entered the postseason tournament as the No. 3 seed. SHU is the No. 2 seed with 48 points.
The Pioneers swept a two-game series from the Colonials early this season, beating RMU 5-2 and 3-1.
Game 1 of the series is Friday night at 7 p.m. in Fairfield. Ct. Game 2 and Game 3 (if necessary) are at 5 p.m.
The winner of this series plays either Bentley or Holy Cross in a one-game showdown next weekend. The winner of that contest claims the AHA regular season crown and an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.