Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Can I interest anyone in Dustin Brown?

Episode Date: April 1, 2021

It's a late-night one but that's par for the course for the Locked On Pittsburgh Penguins podcast. Hunter talks about a multitude of topics in this latest episode, including Brian Burke's comments to Mike DeFabo earlier today. Is Ron Hextall going to go through with those plans? Do the Penguins actually need to get bigger and more physical? Hunter also lays out another trade target that can actually play and contribute that's a big body if the Pens want to go after him. He then touches on a preview against the Bruins before also starting the #SidForSelke campaign. All that, plus much more on this episode of Locked On Penguins.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Your Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hello and welcome to a Wednesday evening episode, and yes, this is indeed a Wednesday evening episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes.

In order to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the shows Twitter at L. I want to score Penguins. A reminder today's episode is brought to you by Lockroom, download the app and join me this week on Thursday tomorrow to get in on the action. Lockroom changing the way we talk sports. And speaking of that, before we do get in today's show, yes, the locker room will be tomorrow night after the Penguins game in Boston.

I was thinking about doing the one on Saturday, but I might be doing some other stuff for work, and I'm also maybe sitting time with my girlfriend that day watching the game, so I don't really want to do a locker room after that game, even though it's a 1 o'clock game. So I think I'm just going to do it Thursday evening like I did last week when the Penguins beat. Was it the Buffalo Sabres, I think. But still, a lot to get to for today's show. Have some injury updates for you all in case you guys do not see on Penguins Twitter or check their Facebook page or Instagram or whatnot. Got some interesting comments from Brian Burke.

We're going to get into that. And we're also going to preview the matchup against the Boston Bruins. A big series against the Bruins this Thursday and Saturday. They ended up coming back last night. I thought they were going to lose again to New Jersey. Going into that game, I think the Bruins is. were one in four against the Devils this season, and they were down, I think, three to one, four, two, something like that in the third period, but they were to come back and not only

take it to overtime and a shootout, but win these shootouts. So big two points there for Boston, if they are seven points back at Pittsburgh with four games in hand. So if they won those four games, they would be just one point ahead of Pittsburgh. If Penguins can just get a split in these two games, I think they would be pretty a-okay with two more games remaining against the Bruins, both of those. will be in this row. We'll have more on that matchup coming up in a later segment.

First, let's just get to some injury talk. Brandon Tanev was back at practice today. That is huge news. Most of the injury news, honestly, was good news today. The only bad news, Trish and Jari likely will not be playing tomorrow and probably not on Saturday either. He was done at practice. Sullivan did confirm it as an upper body injury that he is day-to-day.

So the good news is with that, it's not week-to-week like if any Malkins or Kasperi Kappanins or even Teddy Blue. Luger's, though Bluger might be back sooner than Malkin or Kaffin. He was also back at practice day in a no-contact jersey, so he's probably still a little bit away, but I would assume if he's already back in practice wearing no contact, he's probably going to be cleared for contact if everything goes well. I would guess in the next few days and he'll probably be back for game action next week. I would be pretty surprised if he did not come on this road trip with the penguins. I would

assume also that Brayden and Tanef will be back in the lineup on Thursday against the Ruin, so that'll be two of the top nine forwards back in action. Of course, they were without Blugher, Kappan, and Malkin. Still no update on Malkin and Kappaninin, they're doing their off-ice rehab. I do not think Gino has started skating just yet. But, you know, going back to the goalie thing, you know, it is good news that it's day-to-day,

but, you know, we also said that about Brandon Tanev when he mysteriously missed a game, and then now he's missed the last, what, five to six games, something like that. So hopefully it's not another situation like that. I do think if it's a very short-term injury, the Penguins can get by just fine with how Casey DeSmith has played the season.

I've already talked about it. a lot on the podcast the last couple weeks. He's been one of the best goaltenders in the league. He's saving, I think, seven to half goals save above expected this season. If you look at an underlying number with goaltending, that is top 10 league-wide among all goaltenders, and he's doing that as a backup. So I know it's a small sample size, but he has been elite this season, a completely different goal than what we saw in 2018, 2019, when he just looked small in the net, was allowing

a lot of bad goals and bad angles. He's cleaned up a lot of that. this season and he has just been as consistent as ever. I'm really confident in him starting moving forward if Jari does have to miss a little bit more time, but obviously you want to have that rotation or you know you want to have both goalies back and playing at a high level in a perfect world. But I would assume for now, like I said, it is going to be Casey to Smith and you can just hope that he continues to play at the high level that we've seen from early February from him.

Other stuff I practice today, this is probably a little funny to talk about. I don't really bring this kind of stuff up that often. But Chris LaTang is now sporting a mustache, and it just, it looks like my mustache that I had back as a 16-year-old in high school. It is something that I don't think the world needs to see anymore. He probably should just shave it so we can see that beautiful flow that he has. I mean, there are not many people in the world that have better hair than Crystal Teng. And yes, I just called Crystal Tang's hair gorgeous on a Locked on Penguins episode. If that brings you away from my podcast, I 10010%.

understand. But, you know, going back to the actual lines for practice, I'm just trying to find them here. If I can just find them from Penn's Inside Scoop, excuse me, Gensel Crosby-Russ, obviously they're not going to touch that. Zulker-McChan-Rodriguez, they're not going to touch that either until Malkin comes back. Aston Reese with Goudreau and Tannov. Obviously, Guadro is a place holder until Teddy Blugher comes back. So that is a pretty good indication that Brandon Tanev will be back for Thursday evening's game against the Boston Roins. And then the fourth line, Laford Dian So we've seen some improvement.

Now, with two of the five forwards back, their lines are not one good line and then three AHL lines. At least with the top line, obviously you know that's good. The second line, it's not bad on probably a lot of teams. It's a third line. Ashton-Rees-Gudrow-Tenev on a lot of teams, that's a fourth line. And then I know Lafferty Jane Kalski-Angelo is probably a fourth line. Well, probably a first line on a lot of AHL teams, excuse me.

So they really only have one AHL line going right now. So like I said, a lot of improvement from the last week. where they were playing basically three AHL lines outside of a super line. So those are the lines for forge. Defense to save the same, Duleleman-Latang, Matheson, C, C, C, Pedersen, Marino. That's going to continue until a defense potentially gets hurt. You know, but we're going to cross our fingers that that does not happen. One more thing to get to before I do get to the commercial break.

I'm missing a lot of mid-season NHL awards from a lot of people. You know, Jayfresh hockey did his. He actually had Sidney Crosby as a final. for the Selke trophy and it's like, wow. Like, I don't know why so many people that vote for this award do not have Cindy Crosby as a finalist. I'm glad that Jayfresh does because, you know, he uses a lot of analytics to go into the makings of his ballots.

I think he has Adam Fox winning the Norris. What in my mad? He's been an offensive force this year, excuse me. I know defensively he hasn't been the best and his metrics aren't as great in that department, but he's one of the best offensive defensemen in the league and he's only going to continue you get better. He's, I don't say this very often when it comes to rival team, but a player like Adam Fox is going to torture the Penguins for years to come. Penguins fans need to start getting used to that name because of how good he already is and how good he's still going to be. But, you know,

getting back to my Sydney Crosby-Selke trophy talk, he's just become a complete 200-foot player around the league. I'm sure some of you all are aware that the Patrick Lonnie article that came out from Columbus yesterday, that they're trying to turn him into a 200-foot player. I mean, that just doesn't work for a pure sniper, a pure goal score like that. It works for players, such as Sidney Crosby, who, you know, obviously his best asset with his game is his playmaking ability. I mean, we all know he's a great scorer, but I mean, is he on the level of Alex Ovechkin or David Posternock or, you know, even Jake Gensel? Probably not. No, but, you know, his playmaking ability, like I said, is obviously the best attribute of his game, but over the years he's really turned

into one of the best defensive centers in the league. I mean, I'm not saying he rivals Sean Couturee or Patrice Bergeron or, you know, even a prime on Zay Kopitar. But for the work that he has done this season, he's still over a point per game, and the effort that you see night in and night out making all these little defensive plays that sometimes you don't see on a stat sheet,

he's been snubbed for this award, I think, the last couple of years. I think his best placement is fourth. I really think this is the year that he is a finalist for, and I really hope that a lot of the members of the PHWA reward him for his great play in both zones. And just looking at the numbers overall for Sid this season, 547 minutes, his possessions around 52%. Goals for goals allowed 22 to 15.

Last year, it was only 30 to 30. So obviously he's not going to get a lot of Selky trophy for that year. But I think in 2018, 19, when he finished fourth, it was, I think that was the year he actually did finish fourth. He had 82 goals for 43 against. I mean, he's not on pace to do that this season. But it's no wonder he finished fourth in the Selke that year with how good he was defensively. His goals 4 percentage, 59.4%. His expected goals percentage is 52.5%. Scoring chances for,

scoring chances allowed against, 251 to 212. Last year was only 300 to 295. In the year that he finished 4th, I believe, 653 to 510, which is just sensational. His scoring chances for percentages. All comes from natural statrick, by the way, 54.2%. And look at his high danger so far this year. He's only been on the ice for 92 high danger chances allowed against. And all the game, he played in 41 games last year. He had 120. He's always only played in 35 this year, but he's not going to get to 120, I don't think, at the 41 game mark this season. And then in 2018, 19, 23 to 207 and high danger goals for 13 to 11 this year.

So he is excelling, like I said, at both ends of the rank. And I will be very mad online if Sid does not get to. be a finalist for that award. I am all aboard the train of Sid for Selke finalists this year. I don't think he's going to win it, and I don't think he deserves to win it, but I 1,000% think that he should be a finalist for it. And if he continues to play the way that he is, especially offensively,

I could see him being a dark horse for the Hart Trophy as a finalist. I don't think he'll win that. You have a hard time convinced me that it's not going to be one of Connor McDavid or Leon Dreisle, especially McDavid. The guy has like 62 points in 35 games, which is like what, 1.5. Guys, that's almost two points for game at this point. It would not be surprised if he somehow breaks 100 points this season. No, I am not joking whatsoever when I say that.

But that'll do it for this segment. I just had to get my thoughts out on that situation. Coming up in the next one, we're going to get to some comments from Brian Burke that came out earlier today and just my thoughts on that and what kind of player they could be target. Another trade target for you all that I have not really discussed on the podcast before. Hint Hint, he is a Los Angeles king. So I will leave you all with that. that. But before we do get to the next segment, it is time to talk about, firstly, locker room.

It's the perfect place to start or join conversations around the league. You'll find fans just like you on locker room for watch parties, debates, postgame breakdowns, and of course, reacting to some big news or rumors. You'll have a chance to chat with me and other people and even have a chance to be featured on the Locked-on Penguins podcast through our locker room conversations. Like I said, be sure to join me tomorrow night. I'll be hosting a room, probably after the game, like 9.30, 10 o'clock, something like that. And go to download the free locker room app right now. It's currently available on all iOS devices. They have not released something for Android just yet, but I think that is coming. Be sure to create a profile.

Link your Twitter, enjoy the NHL group for the latest league updates. Follow me at Hunter Hodes to be notified when my room goes live. I know you won't want to miss it. I'm planning to be live. like I said, this week, Thursday at around 9.30 p.m. Eastern Time. I can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts on the Penguins and see you there. Locker Room changing the way we talk sports. We also cannot forget about the Bill Bar March Madness Championship. And yes, I am a little mad online because cookie dough chunk somehow got to the National Championship and beat cookies and cream. For whoever voted on cookie dough chunk, you should feel ashamed of yourself. It is not nearly as good as cookies and cream. and I question a lot of these people's life choices overall with the fact that they voted for cookie dough chunk that they'll just vote for other stupid crap.

But in the other matchup we have today, mint brownie versus coconut brownie chunk, mint brownie should win that. And then I honestly would probably vote mint brownie to win the national championship. But like I said, cookie dough chunk not being there is a 100% total scam. And, you know, you just hate to see it for that.

But, you know, you can go to billupor.com or bar underscore bill on Twitter. to vote right now. Remember to use the promo code locked 15 to get 15% off your next order. That is locked 15 to get 15% off your next order at billboard.com and you can check back to see who won today's match and who will become the best tasting protein bar. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at

Hunter Hodes follow this show's Twitter at L-O underscore Penguins. So I know, I'm sure as some of you that listen to this podcast, you've probably already seen the article that came. out with Brian Burke talking to was it Mike DeFabo or was it Matt Vensel, excuse me, let me just double check this real quick. It was Mike DeFabo, excuse me, so Mike DeFabo, great

story talking to Brian Burr, just get his thoughts on the trade deadline. Go follow him at Mike DeFabo on Twitter. So this was the quote that Brian Burke, a couple of them that he said. He says, I'm a big fan of not going to a gun fight with a knife. So basically what

he's saying, for those that don't, are not aware, he wants to bring in more toughness to lineup and so he wants to basically, you know, have a gun to a gun fight. So, Solly and I will have to thrash that out at some point. I agree with him in general that you should hurt a team on the scoreboard, but I also think there are times when it helps to have those types of players dressed in the lineup. Here is my sentiment. I talked about this last week.

I am all for bringing a player in that is a big body, gritty, you know, hard nose can be a bit physical, you know, maybe throws a hit at Tom Wilson just to send a mess or something like that. I'm all fine with that. as long as the player can actually play. And the thing is, there are not a lot of those players either available for trade or just in free agency that you can sign. Like, for example, Matthew Kachuk. I would love for the Penguins to go out and get someone like that.

But are the flames going to trade him despite Calgary really struggling this year? No, absolutely not. And shout out to Jess Belmosto of Locked on Flames. Don't know how she does it watching Daryl Sutter hockey every single night. But no, they're not going to trade Matthew Kuch because he's one of their best playdraft. at 5E5 in all situations, and he's also, like I said, a hard-nosed, gritty player who can get in people's faces. So you're not going to get him. You're not going to get a player like Tom Wilson, obviously less dirty. These players are all locked up to extensions because they're great offensively.

A Blake Coleman situation, too. You think Tampa's going to give a player like that up? I still don't know why New Jersey gave up a player like Blake Coleman, and they really didn't even get a lot back for him. That's the thing. I honestly think Tampa kind of fleeced them in that deal. so there's a couple options out there. I'm going to get to that in just a second. Burke also said, I think people know how Brian Burke teams play. Yeah, Brian, they play like shit. Sorry, I had to throw out there just because in the last, like, decade, decade and a half that he's been president of hockey operations or has been a GM of the team.

You know, he's president of hockey ops, I think, in Calgary. And then in Toronto, I think he was the GM, president of hockey office, one of the two. They've won like two playoff series and been to the playoffs just a couple of times. in Calgary when he was president of hockey ops. The Flames won one playoff series, if I want to recall correctly, and then didn't do anything after that, as long

as he was there working with Brad Trilling. But, you know, the good part from that article was that he did say Ron is the GM, he makes the calls, he makes the final decisions, and I will support him almost no matter what. So that made me happy. Hopefully Ron does not listen and goes out and gets a body

like Milan lute sheets or something like that. That's the kind of player I want the Penguins to stay away from. Society has grown past the need to have a Milan Loochitz kind of player in your lineup, excuse me, every night, just taking runs at players and not contributing anything

at either end of the ice. You don't need it. And I'm sure Mike Sullivan would agree. You all remember when Jim Rutherford went out and acquired Ryan Reeves. Mike Solomon, you know, he talked it up at the draft because, I mean, what's he going to do? Shet on his general manager?

Absolutely not. I mean, basically just asking to get. fired if you do that. But as the season went along, he started scratching him. And then they ended up trading him not even a year later because Sullivan even admitted when the trade happened. I think Rutherford said the same thing too. He wasn't going to play in the playoffs when the team was fully healthy.

So Sullivan does not care for that kind of player. And I also side with Mike Sullivan where, yes, it's better to hurt them on the scoreboard. I said this last week in case you all did not hear as well. Wouldn't it be awesome if a player like Tom Wilson or someone like Brad Marshall or someone on Islanders, Matt Martin, Calcutterbub, they take a stupid penalty. It's the clinching game, right? They hit a penguin player, a pilot. Let's say it's Sidney Crosby. And it's a five-minute major. The score is tied in the third period. You're up. Three games or two or it's game seven. You score a couple of goals on the PowerPoint, or even if it's a two-minute minor, and it's a

stupid hit, dumb penalty by a player. And you score on that powerplay, and you ended up winning the game with that game-winning goal. You can go up to that player in the post-game when you shake their hands and say, hey man, I really appreciate you costing your team the game. Thanks for being such an idiot on the ice and trying to be physical for no apparent reason. And you can just laugh at him. That's the best medicine for combating this physicality issue. It's, they don't need any more big muscle or whatever. You know, I saw the Islanders had like 50 something hits on Monday night when the Penguins last play. They lost the game. Like, does anyone really care that the Islanders had 50 something hits? It didn't impede the Penguins at all. Yes, there could have

been calls that went for the Penguins when they were up two to one, but they still won the game and they played probably their best defensive period of the season in the third period as Islanders really only had one good 90-second zone shift. So, I mean, it didn't really do anything at all. We all know Brian Burke's big thing, it's Truckellins, but I'm really hoping that Ron Hextall, you know, maybe he uses his analytic team to his advantage here. I also said this today with Wesley Euler on the afternoon drive on ESPN. Pittsburgh. Brian Burke is

kind of that guy from Rocky 5. Have any of you all seen the Rocky movies? From Rocky 5, there's that guy. I can't remember his character. He's trying to get Rocky and his student, Tommy Gunn or whatever, to fight at the end of the movie, because that was coming down to because Rocky was training him. That's the kind

of person that Brian Burke is. He's a promoter for this. He's like a Pat from the Dying Alive podcast. He does stuff for KDA. He described it good today, too. He's basically like a W-W-E promoter, you know, I took it a set further and said he's kind of like that promoter from the Rocky

5 movie because he's just trying to get two people in the ring, he's trying to see fights and all that way. There's really no need to say, and he's kind of like the PR voice right now sometimes for the Penguins because Ron Hextall doesn't do a lot of media. Though I will say Hextall did say

on the GM show with Josh Getsoff he said he's looking for a big physical forward to add if he can find one for the right place before the deadline. You all know my thoughts on Anthony Mantha. He makes a lot of sense. His underlying numbers offensively are outstanding. I've talked about that on the podcast a couple weeks ago.

You can look at his numbers on hockey viz, evolving hockey, all that. His defensive metrics are also elite. Another player that I think they should go after him probably will not cost a lot before we do get to the next segment, Dustin Brown. He's enjoying a very good season with the Los Angeles Kings, even if you don't even look at the underlying numbers. And I'll get to that in just a second. I'm just going to his regular stats here from hockey reference.

But 14 goals, 21 points in 31 games. It also helps that his shooting percentage this year, everyone, is almost 16%. He's a career 10% shooter. Last year was his average. He shot 10%. He had 17 goals, 35 points in 66 games. The year before that, 22 goals, 28 goals. So this is a player that makes a lot of sense for the Penguins if they want to go out and get a big body.

He's 6 foot, 210 pounds. I know he's 36 years. old. His numbers have gone down a little bit over the years, but this is still a good player. I mean, he's only a few years removed from a 61-point season in 2017-18. Yes, he had 28 goals that matched his second most for his career, excuse me, with goals. And then if you go to his underlying numbers, if you look at his isolated 5E5 impact, you know, it's a minus 0.3% expected goals for for Micah's chart. Last year it was a bit worse

at minus 1.8 just because he finished with 17 goals in 35 points in 66 games but this year in already 31 games he has 14 goals. So he's still on pace to shatter that with about 25, what is it,

20, 25 games to go, something like that. His defensive metrics, not the greatest, you know, plus 4.5 and expected goals allowed. There's a lot of red on his chart around

the slot areas a bit to the right side of the net. It's better than it was last year, though. It was basically 6.1% expected goals for, but, you know, Brown is also a player that's playing a lot of minutes with the Kings. If the Penguins could just stick him on a third line, maybe you could honestly run a third line of Jason Zucker, and I'm just spitballing here, everyone. They could honestly run Jason Zucker, Jared McCann, and Dustin Brown, and that would be a pretty good line. Obviously, you have the Gensel Crosby, Russ line, and then on the top, on the second line, Malkin, Capinen,

and I don't know, Evan Rodriguez or something like that, or, you know, they can just put Dustin Brown with Evgeny Malkin or something like that, but I think he works best as a third line right winger. I mean, so his underlines, they're not terrible, but that they're also not nearly as good as they used to be. I mean, speaking of that 2017-18 season, which was insanely good forebound with that 28-goal,

61-point season, his expected goals for that year was 6.9% plus, his defensive metrics minus 3.1. If he can somehow get back to that for the penguins down the stretch. And I think, I'm not sure, I'm wondering if he is under contract again for the next season. Let me just research that real quick here from Cat Friendly. So yes, he has one more year left, 21, 2021, 2022. So this makes a lot of sense for the penguins to go after a player like Dustin Brown. And like I said, I don't really think the Kings are going to ask like for a hall for him.

And they'll get something back from him, but they're not going to ask for something to, And, you know, to end this segment, Brian Burke did say that Ron Hextall has said he will not be trading their second round pick in 2021 for this year because, you know, obvious reasons they want to at least have a little bit of hope for the future. And they're not going to trade the core or anything like that. But he did also say that they are open for hockey deals where players get moved and not so much prospects or picks. So I did want to end with that before going to the next segment we're going to preview the series against the Bruins a little bit, just about three, four minute preview, something like that. But before we do that, it is time to talk

about bet online the fastest and easiest way to bet on all your sports action football might be over but the NBA college basketball and the NHL in full swing. Better online even covers awards, TV shows from reality TV and get real-time updated odds and props on almost anything you can imagine. Beton line has you covered for all the news, scores, and odds is the best way to place your bets, and it's free to sign up for. You can head to the website or use your mobile device to send up today and receive your 50% off. Welcome bonus on your first deposit. That's bet online, your online sportsbook experts with the promo code locked on. All right, welcome back to this of the Locked-on Penguins podcast.

I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes and follow the show's Twitter at L.O underscore Penguins. So, yes, the Penguins do indeed. I've said it probably five million times already. They have the Boston Bruins on Thursday and then on Saturday.

I do not believe that Tuka Rask is going to be playing for the Bruins. Let me just do a quick Google search here. I'm just trying to see if he was at practice today. Apparently, yeah, he remained out on Tuesday from Boston Hockey now. Apparently they are not expecting Rass back at all this week.

So they're probably going to get a lot of... They're probably going to get Yarsov Halak in both of the games. It's not a back-to-back. So we're not going to see Darth Vader. I don't think start for the Bruins in either one of the games. So yes, old hero or old enemy, I should say Yarsop Halak will likely

get the two starts. And then Casey to Smith will likely go for the Penguins and both of those as well. Obviously with the Bruins, the big thing to stop is their super line with Brad Marshawn, Bratrice Bergeron, and David Posternach. That line needs no introduction. They have one of the best goals scores in the league.

You also have one of the best two-way centers in the league, and then, of course, you have one of the best playmakers in the league and Brad Marchand. So, like I said, that line needs no introduction. David Craigach is their second line center with Craig Smith, who, yes, the Penguins still should have signed this offseason with Nick Ritchie. Their third line, Charlie Coyle, Anders Bjork, and then I'd no idea who the send,

Sensian, I think that's how you pronounce his name. I have no idea who he is. And then Frederick is on their fourth line with Kuhlman, and then some other player. It looks like a mega name play. It looks like a version of Mark Dong. Defensively, it starts with Charlie McAvoy. Everyone that knows the league

and follows Elis the Bruins a little bit, knows how good Charlie McAvoy is. He would be my number one player on my Norris ballot. I think he 100% deserves it this year with how great he has been, both offensively and defensively he's playing with Jeremy Lausanne. Matt Grizzlik is on the second pairing with Brandon Carlo.

This is the thing with the Bruins. They have two good defensemen, and then the rest are just a replacement level. Like Brandon Carlo, he's okay. He's nothing special. Connor Clifton's not that good. Lausanne's not that good, and Zaborl is really not that good either. So the Bruins, they don't have a lot of forward depth like we're used to seeing. Like, yeah, it's good that Charlie Coil is their third line center.

You know, Bjork's a good player. Frederick is not bad. Coleman's okay. But outside of that top line, There are three other lines, I think they're mainly third lines on like a really good stack team. I guess maybe Richie, Craig, Cheek, and Smith is a second line on some contending teams, but on a lot of other contending teams, I would say that that is a team's third line. So this is definitely not, you know, one of the deeper Bruins teams that we've seen in the past

is obviously the losses of Tori Krug's and Dan O'Chara and a couple others have really heard them, but especially those two. I'm not having both of those players on their back end, especially Krug, with how great he is on the power play. It's just really hurt them, I think, this year. But like I said, the penguins can go one in one on this split. That would be incredible. And yes, everyone, this Buffalo Sabres nightmare is over.

Their losing streak will officially come into an end. They have beaten the Philadelphia Flyers. Six to one. They gave up two empty-neck goals. So I think that will be it for the Philadelphia Flyers. You absolutely hate to see it. I don't know what the Flyers are going to do the rest of this season. They're probably going to make some check.

changes now. Losing 6 to 1 to a team that lost, what was it 18, 19, I think it's 19 in a row now. It's pathetic, and if there isn't some changes being made there, don't know what's going on. But congratulations to the Sabres on breaking that 18 game winless streak. The Flyers also lost 11 of 17 games in the month of March. It has absolutely killed their season. And it wasn't just goaltending as well.

I know this is not the Locked on Flyers podcast, but I have to dog on them at least a little bit, you know, but just Carter Hart, you know, Tristan Jari will always be better than him. I will die on that hill for the rest of my life. But just watching the Flyers, they looked dead inside for a lot of their games, and, you know, they're definitely not going to make the playoffs, at least, in my opinion. But I think that'll do it for this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I really appreciate all of you listening for the month of March.

The listenership went up 31.6%. Thank you all so much. We're taking 28, 30 minutes, sometimes even less than that out of your day to listen to me, blabber about this team with all my freezing cold takes and all my mishaps of just stuttering and everything like that. I really do appreciate it from the bottom of my heart, whether this is your first episode or you've been listening for all 255, however many episodes I have done. Like I said, from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you. I intend to crush April. Hopefully we can get potentially plus 50% viewership or higher over the podcast. is in great hands right now and I you know this is it's only going to go up from here you know I'm not going to settle for anything less than that but for the next episode it's either going to be after the game tomorrow or it's going to be on Friday to recap the game making some rooms remember I will have the locker room after the game tomorrow so come chat with me on the locker room map on any of your iOS devices so that's all for this one and I'll talk to you all in a day or so