Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - A special wild-card crossover with Gil Martin and Armando Velez: How will this all shake out?

Starting point is 00:00:02 And welcome into this special Eastern Conference Wild Card edition of the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast, Locked on Pittsburgh Penguins, and Locked on New York Islanders podcast. We are all part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, where it's your team every day. Thank you for making each of our Lockdown podcast your first listen of the day. Let me introduce myself. My name is Armando Velaz, the host of Lockdown Panthers. And you can follow me on Twitter at Monom Man 12. and very thankful to be doing this crossover edition

Starting point is 00:00:33 with the two hosts of Locked-on Penguins and Locked-on Islanders. Start off with Hunter Hodes of Lockedonged. Penguins, you could follow him at Hunter Hodes. You could follow Gilmartin of Locked-on Islanders at Ice Wars, NYR, VS, NYU. And gentlemen, great to be getting together with you two. Great to be with you too, Armando.

Starting point is 00:00:59 Yeah, it's great to be here. and it's about to begin a whole lot more stressful this week. Oh, yeah, because each, I said it on my Sunday show. I had a previous recording prior to this roundtable that each and every day for the next four days starting on Monday, even when each of our individual teams aren't playing, we all have a game to pay attention to it, even when our team isn't in action. Of course, Monday will be, the New York Islanders and the Florida Panthers will be in action while the penguins are idle and not all game 82 for each and every team is going to be fall on

Starting point is 00:01:36 the same day but let's start off this wild card roundtable edition of the show let's start with the team just on the outside looking in in the pittsburgh penguin penguin and this is where we turn to you hunter tell us about tell us about the pittsburgh penguin season the ups and downs the floor is yours yeah i mean it's been pretty pretty much a roller coaster to be a honest, you know, 80 games, you really haven't been able to figure them out. Team is just average, honestly, you know, you look at the record 40, 30 and 10, 40 and 40 overall. That's as mid as you can get, as, you know, some of the younger generation people like to say. But, you know, they shouldn't even really be in this position right now considering the games they've dropped, you know, a couple games to Gil's Islanders.

Starting point is 00:02:25 They probably should have had in the bag. they dropped one of regulation of the senators, they dropped one of the Canadians, they dropped one of the Red Wings. Heck, if they had just beaten the Islanders in their last game against them, they actually would be one point up on the Islanders right now, and they would be in the driver's seat.

Starting point is 00:02:43 All they would need to do is win their last two games and they would be in, but they need help right now. It's just, you know, the top six has carried the load the entire way. Jake Gensel is 35 goals. Cindy Crosby just hit 1,500 points. Evgeny Malkin has 82 points. Ricardo, Rakel, Jason, Zucker at around 30 goals. Brian Rust has over 20.

Starting point is 00:03:02 If you have told me that all that would have happened and they would be on the outside looking in, I would have thought you were crazy. But their special teams have stunk. Their goal-tending hasn't been that good. They have a lot of debt players who really aren't doing the job. And it's just been just up and down, Jekyll and Hyde, as I like to call it.

Starting point is 00:03:21 They finally turned it up these last couple of games. They just haven't gotten the help. but they're going to need to get some sort of help this week if they want to get in someone. One of these two teams is going to have to lose a game while the penguins have to win out. You talked a little bit about the goaltending. Tristan Jerry has been injured at times, but sometimes he looks great and sometimes he just doesn't seem to have it. Where is he now and what has his impact been on this team over the course of the season? Yeah, I mean, he looks to what I think have turned a little bit of a corner.

Starting point is 00:03:57 These last couple of games, I think he's played really well against the Wild. I think he's played really well against the Red Wings. That start against New Jersey, I think everyone was rotten, to be honest. But over this last week, we can change. I think he's slowly started to get back to the level that we saw from him in the first half of this season. He's definitely battled his numerous injuries the season. One was the groin. I heard the last one was the back, I think, or I'm speculating that he's had a shot.

Starting point is 00:04:24 in his back, which is that they can play a bit better. But he's definitely been turning around, which is nice. It stinks that he was really inconsistent during a good portion of the season because, you know, it's no secret that the penguins play better in front of them than they do in front of to Smith. You know, the data backs that up in terms of expected goals against per 60, scoring chances against per 60. They play tighter in front of their starter versus their backup.

Starting point is 00:04:50 You figure it would be the other way around, but for some reason. season. They play better in front of, they play more tighter in front of the number one. But, you know, it's also unfortunate that Ms. Smith has had to play more games this season than Jari. You usually that's not the case when you have a starter versus a backup. I think if Jari had been healthy, maybe they're not in this situation, but it's definitely been a big point of contention. It's gotten to a point where you don't really know if he's going to come back next year, but also the free agent market's not that good. you know they need him to play really well these last two games obviously get some help but

Starting point is 00:05:27 he's done his job these last two i said a week and a half ago you got to ride him until the end he's your starter he's giving you decent goal tending at least right now you got to continue that these last couple of games and then especially if they do make the playoffs he's obviously going to start and and hunter it's funny because right before right before doing this round table i was looking up some of the stats, natural stat trick for the pens. And their goal differential is just a little bit above zero at plus two. But then I look at how statistically average they are in almost every single category. I mean, 49 power play goals at five on four and five shorthanded goals given up.

Starting point is 00:06:11 Also, it's the same exact thing flipped around with five shorthanded goals for the penguin, and then 49 power play goals against for their opposition. So it basically evens out also on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the on the Pek as well for the for the Pittsburgh Penguins in that front as far as as as far as bottom six scoring because that is that is the key for the the the the pens but also there's injuries as as as well there's Dmitra Kulikov there is Nick Benino there's Marcus Pedersen as well on the on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Starting point is 00:06:50 Who is that guy who you believe needs to step up for the Pittsburgh Penguins? That's a good question in terms of stepping up. I wish I could say the entire bottom six because it's been mostly a tire fire this, this entire season. I would like to see Michael Grambling step up and show a little bit of a pulse. The Penguins paid a second round pick for him and I think Ron Hextall got cleaned out pretty badly by David Poil, a guy who's retiring at the end of this season. I don't know why they made that trade. He really hasn't done much since coming over from Nashville.

Starting point is 00:07:24 It would be nice to see him step up these final two games and at least look the part of being acquired for a second round pick. It's funny, you know, we've kind of gone at them all year. Jeff Carter is actually shown a little bit of a poll these last few games. I guess it's just that time of year during the late stages of the regular season and into the playoffs. I guess when he plays his best hockey, maybe he saved it for the end. um but you know as a whole i think it's the bottom six in general needs to step up the top six

Starting point is 00:07:50 has carried the load all year um i keep saying on my show if the penguins are able to squeak in here i think it's probably one of the greatest accomplishments of this era is getting this rare very flawed roster into the playoffs because the gm had a very easy job after bringing back the core at very discounted rates may i add and this lick salary cap space on fire and went out and got players who really have not fit the mold that well. So, you know, I'm definitely looking at Grandland. I'm looking at the other players in the bottom six. It'd be nice if Pedersen comes back on Tuesday.

Starting point is 00:08:24 I've heard that's when they're target. He's targeted to come back on Tuesday against the Blackhawks. He's been their best defensive defenseman all year. You can make an argument that he has been their best overall defenseman this year, even head of Crystal Tang, who is awesome, of course. But that's what I'm only looking at here, especially if they make the playoffs because, you know, You need depth scoring to win.

Starting point is 00:08:44 They've had that in 2009, had that in 2016, and they had that in 2017. So that's going to need to change in a big way if they're lucky enough to get in here. It's going to be a tight race. And looking forward to seeing, it should be an exciting week for all three of our teams. No question about that. We are going to break down the New York Islanders next in this special three-way wild card preview. you. So, but first we're going to talk a little bit about Fandul. Grand slams, no hitters, and double plays are back, and there's no better place to get in on

Starting point is 00:09:26 the MLB action than Fandul, America's number one sportsbook. That's because right now new customers can step up to the plate with a no sweat first bet, up to $1,000. Just go to fandul.com slash locked on, sign up, place your first bet, and get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets if you don't win. And baseball season now been going on for a week. Check out the odds for your favorite team on the Fandual app. So don't miss a chance to get a no sweat first bet up to $1,000 when you join Fandul today. Just go to fandual.com slash locked on to sign up. Fandul official partner of Major League Baseball. And we are back here on this special roundtable edition of the Lockdown, Florida Panthers, Lockdown, Pittsburgh, Pan.

Starting point is 00:10:18 and Locked-on, New York Islanders podcast. We are part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Thank you for making all of our podcasts your first listen of the day. Now we turn our attention to Gil Martin and the New York Islanders. So, Gil, Lula Amarella kicked off the trade deadline. 40 days? 30, 40 days somewhere around there before the actual deadline. And, of course, that was the chain reaction to every other team,

Starting point is 00:10:47 making their necessary moves for the trade deadline. Of course we spoke about in the first segment about Mikhail Grandlin Demetri Kulikov and all for Hunter's side of things. But there was the big one, big acquisition in Bo Horvatt for the New York

Starting point is 00:11:03 Islanders. And of course, signing that long term deal with them, he said yesterday about how the environment's better than Vancouver, so already, parting shots already for his former team. But the the biggest question that I that I have for the New York Islanders is their power play since Matthew Barzell has gone down the I was looking at the span since and the New York

Starting point is 00:11:31 Islander's power play is has a 10% conversion rate since he's gone down what do you what do you think is has been the issue with with Barzell not being there and and being the inability to score? Well, I mean, first of all, the power play wasn't that great even when Barzal was healthy. And Barzal was the guy who really skated the puck into the zone and set things up. And him not being there is, you know, cutting down their ability to get established in the offensive zone and set up their attack. Now, I've been saying this on my show for most of the season.

Starting point is 00:12:16 When you're on the power play, you have to do one of two things. You either have to pass the puck around quickly to try to tire out the penalty killers and find the open man. And or you've got to move without the puck and make the penalty killers chase you and try to get open. The Islanders don't seem to do either one of those things. So when you add the fact that they're not getting the puck into the zone as cleanly without Barzal, and they're not passing the puck quickly, and they're not moving without the puck. I mean, they're giving up almost as many short-handed chances

Starting point is 00:12:54 as they're creating with their power play right now, and it's a real problem. And if they do make the playoffs, it'll be a really big problem if they can't straighten this out. Oh, that seems familiar with where the penguins are with their power play, which is just insane in itself. But, you know, Gil, Ilya Sorokan, he's, you know, I think me and everyone else here,

Starting point is 00:13:15 in this wonderful city, he learned who he was very quickly, just a couple of years ago when he came onto the scene and just showed everyone why he's one of the best foldtenders in the league. How much has he truly meant to the islanders this season? Because honestly, I don't think they would be

Starting point is 00:13:31 anywhere close to where they are right now without his level of play. And honestly, you know, he could very well win the Vezna with this form right now. Yeah, I mean, he, without E. I think Elyos Seroquin, and this is no disrespect to Semyon Varlamov, who I think is a quality backup, and probably could start for a few teams in this league right now, even at this point in this career.

Starting point is 00:13:55 But without Ilya, Serocha, and the New York Islanders are fighting for a lottery spot. I mean, this is not a great offensive team. They don't have a lot of gifted goal scores. We know we've already talked about their power play. Sorokin keeps them in games. They have no business being in. And then if you can get that magic number, three goals or more in one game, you've got a great chance of winning if Ilya Sorokin is playing even halfway decently. And going back to that span of when Barzo went down, Ilya Sorokin in that span is third in the NHO and wins.

Starting point is 00:14:35 And there are nine goalies in that span who have 10 wins. Ilya Sorokin is second in safe percentage during that. fan only behind Lena Salmark and Linus Allmark has started less games of course the Boston Bruins just clinched the president's trophy a few days ago they just clinched the all-time wins record or right before this recording and he hasn't been starting as much they can let their foot off the gas pedal but it's impressive really how Ilyosuroken is putting this team on his back and carrying them through but one positive acquisition that I'm seeing at least from the New Islanders is Pierre Invol for for them he's I think he's been a little bit of a bright spot and

Starting point is 00:15:18 we spoke last season about how Kyle Palmerie has been a disappointment for the New York Islanders but in the stretch I yeah I know I know the depth as far as scoring isn't the best for for New York but Kyle Palmerie has also been been stepping up in clutch as well if you want to allow them what they brought to the table well you know it's related the two of them because they are on the same line with Brock Nelson, and that line has been the Islanders most productive since they put it together about two, maybe three weeks ago. Engval really adds speed.

Starting point is 00:15:55 And when they traded Anthony Bavillier in the Bo Horvatt deal, the Islanders lost probably other than Barzal, there are only other speedy forward. So Engval, he comes in, he adds that speedy element, and he's also not afraid to shoot the puck, which, again, the Islanders don't have a lot of shoot first guys. So when you add those two elements together and there has been good chemistry between Rock Nelson, Kyle Palmeri and Engval, I mean, that's been the offensive line that has carried this team, especially since Barzal got hurt because up until two or three games ago, Bo Horvatt has been invisible offensively. He does other things well, wins faceoffs.

Starting point is 00:16:40 provides leadership, you know, et cetera. But offensively, that line has carried the team. Pierre Engball is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. Lou Lamarillo has to find a way to resign him because he really has been quietly a very solid addition to this team. Go ahead, Hunter. No, and I was just speaking of, you know, just I think I noticed it a few weeks ago. I think a couple Islanders fans that I actually follow on social media pointed out,

Starting point is 00:17:09 you know, the Islanders were struggling. a little bit. It might have been going into that game against Pittsburgh, that last one where the Penguins blew the 3-1 lead with about six minutes left. But since then, I feel like the honors, they've gotten back to being that a little annoying pesky team to play against. You know, we all know where Lane Lambert comes from, the Barry Trots coaching tree. It looked like they weren't playing that kind of system for a majority of this season. And then all of a sudden, late in the year, or the final third of the season, they just flip that switch and they're just like oh we're just going to go back to playing that style of hockey

Starting point is 00:17:42 and you know lord and behold it's paid some dividends so far have you noticed that they've been i guess getting to that part of their game and you know having you know those two one three two games that you know they like playing i know obviously a lot of fans don't like it just because of where the sport is now with offense offense offense but you know have you noticed that the have kind of boarded down a little bit again. Yeah, no, they've gotten back to basics. And I think the Barzal injury sort of forced Lane Lambert to say, you know what, we're not winning four, three or six, five.

Starting point is 00:18:18 We've got to, we've got to play the defense first style. Earlier in the season, Lane Lambert tried to have the defenseman step up and take some more chances and get more involved in the attack. And it did cost them. I think that losing Barzal forced them to go back to the older system. And then I think the fact that although he's hurt right now, Alexander Romanov sort of got more comfortable in the Islander's system, played smarter and better in his own zone.

Starting point is 00:18:50 And those two factors combined sort of help the team's defense solidify itself. And, you know, keep it simple, stupid, right? The old KISS system, it's working. it's worked for the islanders over the last few weeks. Yeah, and of course, Alexander Romanov, a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, this past off season as part of that stay-at-home defensemen, of course, the New York Islanders resigning Noah Dobson on that blue line as well as part of their moves or lack thereof during the summer, which the Florida Panthers are in a similar position

Starting point is 00:19:26 of not making moves, but just not in the same period. of time as well. And that's a good opportunity for us to transition over to our third and final segment where we're going to be discussing the Florida Panthers and the state that they are currently in. We'll be talking about that next on this special Wild Card, Eastern Conference Wildcard edition of the Lockdown Florida Panthers podcast and Lockdown Penguins and Islanders. Welcome back to this special roundtable edition of the Lockdown Florida.

Starting point is 00:20:03 Florida Panthers, Locked on Florida Panthers, Penguins, and Islanders podcast on this special roundtable edition of the show. And now flipping the script to you guys on and putting me on the floor as far as answering anything you guys have about the Florida Panthers. Armando, where in the heck did Alex Lyon come from? And why is he doing this at the end of the season? Funny enough, it all started with their loss against the Ottawa Senators. Actually, before that, rewind a little bit.

Starting point is 00:20:44 It all started with their road win on March 20th in Detroit, where Panthers knew that they only had two sets of back-to-backs left. Okay, that win against Detroit, put them in the first wildcard spot to begin with. Okay, cool. Everything's okay. You can rest Sergey Brabowski for a little bit for that game against Philadelphia, and you'll probably have Alex Lyons start one more. And we were looking ahead and thinking, okay, that second end of a back-to-back in Toronto and Montreal,

Starting point is 00:21:19 Panthers lose four straight, go to Ottawa, give up three power play goals, and then the very next day, excuse me, two days later, when they go against Toronto, as the month is ending, Alex Lyon has announced the starter, Sergey Robowski's non-COVID illness, and here we are, six games later, six wins later for the Panthers. But Alex Lyon did start earlier in the season towards late January. Actually, one of those games included was against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seven to six overtime loss.

Starting point is 00:21:53 That was the second of a back-to-back. Yep, Le Teng's game winner there. And just, crazy to think that we're just thinking Alex Lion is only going to start two games after March 20th. Nope. Alex Lion has taken

Starting point is 00:22:11 the crease. He hasn't, as far as the last game against Washington and then one against Columbus, he wasn't really busy around the net. But the Toronto game is where it all started for Alex Lyon as well. And of course, the game against the home game

Starting point is 00:22:27 against the Ottawa Senators where he saved 56 shots. One shy of a franchise record, which was set by Roberto Luongo back in 2002. But that one was in a loss against the Detroit Red Wings back in 2002. But Alex Line is the reason why this, along with Matthew Kachuk and Carter Hagee are the reasons why the Florida Panthers are currently on a six-game winning street and holding the first wild card spot. And a little bit about his resume, he won the Calder Cup last year with the Chicago Wolves. And he was just facing against Charlie Lindgren, just on Saturday, who was on the other side of that Calder Cup championship with the Springfield

Starting point is 00:23:05 Thunderbirds, the affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. So crazy how it's all been full circle just in a whole year of hockey. You know, the Panthers won the president's trophy last year, but there were a lot of changes on the roster during the offseason. And they seem to have been inconsistent for most of the season. But now down the stretch, they have gelled. What do you think was the catalyst for this team sort of finally clicking at this late point in the season?

Starting point is 00:23:41 Health. And yeah, they're currently without Sam Bennett at the moment. But the day that the Florida Panthers were somewhat at their healthiest was actually, was actually three games before the trade deadline when they, when Anthony Duclair came back against the Buffalo Sabres. In that game, there's no bark-off, there's no Bennett. Pick up a big win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the 28th, lose at home against the national predators,

Starting point is 00:24:12 a very close game. But then trade deadline comes, and Bill Zito doesn't make a single move during the trade deadline. But I kind of see how as when you trade for so much the year before, and you don't have a first round pick until 2026, and you are right there on the bubble, then, and you don't have a first round pick, does it make sense to sell?

Starting point is 00:24:36 Not necessarily. There's no benefit for the Panthers to tank. Zero, zero benefit for them. But there also isn't worth trading so much draft capital that you don't already have, neither. And actually, the first game that the Panthers were mostly healthy

Starting point is 00:24:54 was that home game on March 4th against Pittsburgh too. Alexander Barkoff came back in that game. Sam Bennett came back. Ancy Duclair was in the lineup and look what happens. A 4-1 win for the Panthers at the time. I didn't know what, I didn't really think too much of how importance that game would have been until now, but we're seeing it. But the Panthers, before, before early February, they did not have a single three-game winning streak all season. So it was this win, loss, Two win, one win, two losses, one win. It was just so up and down.

Starting point is 00:25:32 Through 41 games, this team was 18, 19, and 4 through 41 games. And if you're trying to look at the Panther schedule of when that is, it was January 8th against the Dallas Stars, blown out of the building on the road, on January 8th. But a comeback win against the Boston Bruins at home where Alexander Barkoff scores nearly at the buzzer to beat the Bruins right before the All-Star break was the start of one major turnaround for this Panthers team.

Starting point is 00:26:01 And that was an Alex Lyons start too. Funny enough, back in January. And then the second biggest win of the season was another Alex Lyons start. The game against Toronto just last week, last Wednesday, or two Wednesdays ago almost. But it just happens to do with being healthy at the right time.

Starting point is 00:26:22 Sam Bennett, maybe he might come back Monday. Maybe they'll wait until Thursday against Carolina, but he's one step closer to coming back for the Panthers. And the Panthers, their power play has been clicking too. Just in the last six games alone, they're scoring at a rate of 34% on the power play, and they're killing 91% of their penalties. They still take a lot of penalties.

Starting point is 00:26:46 And I was looking up a stat as far as Paul Marisa's tenure in Winnipeg. the team that has has the most penalty in fraction minutes throughout 2014 to 2022, funny enough is the Pittsburgh Penguins. So that's not an indication of, that's not always an indication of how bad your team is or how well you are at killing penalties. I mean, Pittsburgh has two cups in that span, despite taking so many penalties. Tampa Bay takes a lot of penalties too, and they won, they've made three straight Eastern Conference appearances.

Starting point is 00:27:16 But the Panthers, before that stretch, they were not only going to the box, but they were not keeping pucks out of their own net. And now it's flipped for this team with this current stretch. They're starting to kill penalties. The Panthers, for the first time in their history, outside of Pavel Burr have a 40-goal score. Alexander Barkoff has been struggling with injuries most of his career and hasn't had a 40-gold season. and the Panthers have two on their team this year in Matthew Kachuk and Carter Hage. And Carter Hage was for free for the Panthers because the Tampa Bay Lightning didn't give him a qualifying offer. And there's other players that Bill Zito has gotten for free as far as bargain signings of picking up Gus Forzing on waivers,

Starting point is 00:28:02 Josh Mahura on waivers as well. That's another one. And of course, trading for the unicorn that we call Matthew Kachuk here in South Florida. And it's just been a treat. He's passed his career high in points. and if you saw any of the highlights of Saturdays game against the Washington Capitals where he scores with a minute left and the celly that he had, you knew that was big and that you knew that that goal meant a lot for this Panthers team.

Starting point is 00:28:29 Yeah, no, I was, you know, I had both games on just because, you know, the Penguins won yesterday and I got to, you know, see that one firsthand. But, you know, Amanda, you know, talk about these final two games coming up. You know, I think these were the ones that I think both of our teams have circled, the Penguins and the Outers, they've circled, especially the Penguins because they they're behind right now. You know, everyone's circled these two coming up, the Leafs and the hurricanes. How much do they actually have to play for?

Starting point is 00:28:54 Toronto, I think, has to play their full team because they don't have any salary cap space to call players from the Marleys. The hurricanes, I'm not really sure how much they're going to have to play for. If they lose tomorrow and the Devils win, you know, the Metropolitan Division will still be up for grabs, but still could be up for grabs by Thursday. you know how are you feeling you know going into these final two against two of the top teams in the east because you know the penguins and islanders you know they end with two of the worst teams in the conference slash the league while the panthers you know they're going to even though they're ahead of the penguins right now and they're tired of the islanders i think

Starting point is 00:29:30 there if there's one team that's going to really have to earn it this week i think it's that absolutely no doubt the um and i i spoke about it on my sunday uh show where the Toronto Maple Leafs gave Calli Yarn Crook, Morgan Riley, and T.J. Brody rest, but it doesn't mean that they're going to do it all around the lineup. And you made a great point about salary cap space, about the Marley's, which Toronto just signed one of their big prospects in Matthew Nyes from the University of Minnesota.

Starting point is 00:30:00 So that's a big name to watch for the Maple Leafs in the future. But they have the toughest schedule of the three. There's no way around it for this. Panthers team. And they did beat Toronto on the on the road a few weeks ago in a in a in a environment that's really hard to play. And that was their first win in Toronto in over three years. And since since before COVID hit to give you an idea of their last win in Toronto. This one's at home at FLLA Leverina. You, the last time you hosted the Leafs, you got steamrolled all over in, in your last in your last matchup. The Florida

Starting point is 00:30:36 Panthers playing with a sense of urgency. I don't know about the players. the ones who do dress how much they're going to exert as far as energy about preventing an injury or not, we can't tell. We're not the ones getting on the ice and playing, so we don't know. But it is, it's a nervous feeling for the Panthers. And of course, for me, myself, wanting to see a win. But it's funny because the Panthers do have a clinching scenario on Monday night. is if the Panthers get a non-shoot win, New York Islanders get a regulation loss, the Panthers will be in a postseason spot no matter what.

Starting point is 00:31:16 Because if the Islanders win on Thursday, Panthers in regulation and the Panthers lose in regulation on Thursday, down to third tiebreaker for total win. on Monday for the Panthers. Magic number is still three. Paul Marie spoke about how you that the other teams are going to drop games, especially Pittsburgh.

Starting point is 00:31:45 I don't expect the character of the two games against the two teams who are literally neck and neck for the Connor Bedard. And in New York, they're going to be facing up against the Washington Capitals team who is likely going to address this Saturday against the Panthers. There's probably no Alexander OVecchio and it might have in the lottery as well. So it is a tall, tall task.

Starting point is 00:32:12 I'm not, for me, I'm not worried about it. I just can't look that far ahead. Yeah, they're fighting for the division. Yeah, they, they go well. New Jersey had a chance to go to on them in the division. so Carolina will still have much, but Thursday, Thursday against Carolina, I'll put that a little bit on the back burner for now. Fourth and final matchup, you have an opportunity to tie the season series and an lynching scenario on Monday night for the Panthers. It's going to be an exciting final week of the season for all three of these teams, and I'm eager to see how this one ends

Starting point is 00:33:00 up playing out. I want to thank everyone for making this special crossover episode, your first listen today. Now make your second listen game to game NHL every moment, every top performance, every result. Locked on game to game covers every contest from across the national hockey league with local analysis that only locked on can deliver. Follow game to game on Locked on NHL available on the Odyssey app, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcast. Gentlemen, this has been great. Always a pleasure to talk hockey with you, and two of these three teams are going to be in the postseason, most likely.

Starting point is 00:33:36 The question is, which too? And it should be a great week for fans of all of these teams to see this go down to what I'm sure is going to be the last game of the season. Can't wait until then, and hopefully from my end. it's the team that I can all we can all say that yeah it's going to be a lot of fun you all have the double screens going on Monday because the penguins are off until Tuesday so that's going to be a lot of fun to see if Tuesday could be an elimination game for the penguins potentially all right well thank you everybody for tuning in and for listening to this special episode of locked on panthers

Starting point is 00:34:16 locked on penguins and locked on islanders

Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - A special wild-card crossover with Gil Martin and Armando Velez: How will this all shake out?

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.