Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Do the Penguins have a problem against the top teams?

Episode Date: February 22, 2022

The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped another game on Sunday and Hunter is back to recap it all! He's joined by Doug Glattke to recap it and they first touch on if the team has a problem of playing top teams. Hunter compares the Penguins record against playoff teams to some other teams and how it's similar, while also going into Brian Dumoulin's struggles. What went wrong for him against Carolina? Hunter and Doug discuss that plus how Tristan Jarry deserved about 10 steak dinners about how he kept the team in the game, plus how Kris Letang bounced back in a massive way. Other topics discussed: More trade proposals, how important Teddy Blueger is, plus some Brian Boyle talk.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!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.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!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.

Hey everyone, we got a jam-packed show today for the Locked on Penguins podcast. It's going to be recapping the 4-2-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Penguins have now lost two straight. We're also going to be welcoming Doug Glacky from the Four-checking TV to get his insight on that game. And then, of course, you know, going to some more trade targets because we are officially a month away from the trade deadline. And, of course, you know, preview what's to come for the Penguins later this week. So we'll get to the episode right after this drop. You're Locked on Penguins.

Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello, welcome to this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. You know to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. You can also follow the show's Twitter at Lerunas for Penguins. I am upstairs today. My girlfriend is downstairs playing Xbox with her friends using my Xbox, actually. So if I was going to do my normal setup or my new one, everyone would see her.

in the background, just screaming and raging. And I don't need that on the podcast here. Blugby makes for some great theater. That's just not going to fly here. But today's episode is brought to you by Bet Online. Ben Align as you cover this season with more props, odds, and lines that ever before. That is Bit Online, where the game starts.

Now, joining me today, as I said in my intro, is Doug Glacky, if I put him on right here. There he is. Doug, how are you doing today, man? Thanks for coming on. I'm doing pretty good, man. Thanks for having me on. I appreciate it.

Yeah, of course, man. I figured I would get you on with officially a month to the trade deadline. We're about four weeks now, and we've already seen a couple trades last couple of days as the Maple Leafs and Coyotes like to, I guess, go around with each other. I don't know if Kyle Dubis has, you know, Arizona's BM on speed dial. But, you know, it definitely looks like he does. But, you know, obviously this is a penguin-centric podcast. Penguins fall four to three to the Hurricanes, Doug.

In a game that I think was kind of a tale of two halves, I thought Carolina was the better team in the first 25 to 30 minutes. I thought Pittsburgh then made a big push after that. And you know, you get a result that, you know, it was 50-50. The hurricanes came out on top. I think, you know, the fissiating kind of played a little bit of a part late in that game with that horrendous call on Crystal Tang. That is a slash that goes uncalled 9.9 out of 10.5.

other times, but they decided to call it there. Al Hoag makes it forward to two. The Penguins are able to make a late push in the third as well. But Cindy Crosby was doing it a couple of times at the buzzer. Doug, what did you mainly take away from that game? Because I think some of the Jensers are now out in full force saying that, well, the Penguins can't play with a team like this and blah, blah, blah, blah, even though Adam Grets had a great article this morning showing that the penguins are

eight and eight and four against playoff teams this year, which is considered. the rest of the conference, pretty good. Yeah, you know, it's funny, right? Like, you get to this point in the year, like, after, like, football's over and all that, and you get, like, one or two big games, and they either don't show up or they're not able to play a complete game, and everybody just thinks that the world's ending, which, in my opinion, is not really the case. I think that it's a very good sign that they're not.

were able to come back and at least make that game a game, given how it looked early on. And really, you could say they at least take it into overtime if they don't play lackadaisical to start periods, two and three, which, you know, that's something that will probably get ironed out. But at the same time, it is very irritating to see that, especially because of the fact that it's like, okay, if they are able to just tighten up for the first shift of each period, they most likely win that game. Yeah, the stall one, I think, was the most unfortunate goal.

That was given up. Tristan Jor, I really had no chance on it. And the Penguins were attempting to clear it, it basically goes off his skate and then into the net, no kicking motion, or I believe I was off his skate, off some body part of his and, you know, again, wasn't able to corral it. And that's just bad luck.

You know, that happens a lot for hockey. You know, I always say it's the devil sport. And, you know, the second one in the third period was one that I think that really irritated me because Brian Duhlin royally screwed up on that. And he actually had a pretty bad game. That was, I think, his worst game of the season, in my opinion, man. Just was a step slowed, I think, to every pub. And on that third goal, which wasn't the game winner, but, you know, it still gave the hurricanes at the edge at the time.

His back is basically, like he's kind of looking sideways, not looking at the puck, and is not realizing that, you know, Yaspur Foss is coming down the right side. And then by the time he gets the puck, he's already beaten. And he was just way out of position there. Krista Tang had his man. The Ford, who was on ice, I believe that was Sid, had his man. it was just, I think, just a total screw-up in, you know, on the fourth goal, you know, he was also a step slow with getting his stick in the way, just a really brutal game, I thought, from him.

And, you know, I think that's two in a row where it's kind of like, okay, I don't want his early season form to be coming back. But I definitely think he has more to give moving forward. Yeah, that's a really good point in the sense of he needs to just step. it up and stay consistent because like you said, early on in the year, I mean, we thought that Doomlin was cooked.

We thought that there was going to be no chance that he'd regain this form and luckily he did. And you would absolutely hate to see him potentially revert back to that going into this massive stretch

of games they have for pretty much the rest of the year. You know? and like that's the biggest thing is they're at their best when LaTang and Doom winner in sync. He's the perfect. So they need them to get back. I really do think that, you know, they just, they work so well together. Obviously, it wasn't working out against Carolina.

I think they were kind of just, I wouldn't say exploiting him, but just, you know, just he had a bad game. Those happen. But, you know, he still needs to be a lot better if the penguins are going to compete with that, team. And, you know, again, I kind of got tired of the takes I saw on social media and a couple other places by, you know, some people in the fan day saying that, you know, the Penguins can't play with this team and all that. I mean, as I said in the intro, the Penguins dominated. I thought those last 25 to 30 minutes. They were, they came at them in full force. And I put this on my Twitter

after the game. If the Penguins can play like that and how they played in December for a full 60 minutes, they can take the hurricanes in a playoff series. I mean, I want to see these two teams go at it. I think that the two best in the division. Right now, it's looking like Carolina will probably get the one-see. They won again today. They still have, I believe, one game in hand on Pittsburgh could be a six-point lead by the time everything is all even, which means the Penguins will play the Rangers. But, I mean, this is still a playoff series that I think would take a lot of lives. I think a lot of years off our lives would be some incredible hockey with so many great storylines. I want more of those games and, you know, it would be great.

You know, what do you think? I totally agree. And, you know, speaking of playoff series is shedding years off of our lives. I mean, I was thinking about it just like looking at it from a long-term perspective. If they're going to do it, man, the road to get there might honest to God put me in an are. Maybe a lot. Because like you got to think like Rangers round one, hurricanes potentially round two. And then round three, you're getting whoever the hell wins the Super Bowl between the Panthers on the light.

And that's just, dude, it's, I'm so excited for it. Obviously, it's very early. I hope they don't grab the bed in like round one because we're going to get some really, really good hockey if they're able to keep rolling. Yeah. No, I agree. And I'm kind of already having nightmares that Igor Shosturkin is going to steal a series like Elias Sorokin did. Just because the Rangers underlying numbers are so pathetic this year, they have a good top

six. The rest of their depth is bad. They have a Norse caliber defenseman, and then they have basically Henrik Lungkiss clone in that. Just when you thought he was retired, he basically came out of retirement, and he's just a younger dude at this point. and with how it's just to reckon has been. So that is what's giving me nightmares.

One more thing about this game before we go into our next segment, you know, touch on a couple other storylines from it. I thought Chris LaTang was magnificent. Struggled a lot in Toronto. I'll say that. You know, one thing about, you know, me with the show, you know, you know this, Doug. I'll criticize any player and I'll also praise any player. And, you know, it was a complete 180 from what we saw in Toronto.

know he was directly responsible for the first goal, especially that the way he was able to keep the puck in. That was just unlike anything I've ever seen him do. Ross is able to get another one. And, you know, the second goal, you know, Sid was able to come down and just fire a slapper that I want him to see, you know, I want him to do a lot more, excuse me, but, you know, Tang was also great defensively, was winning a lot of puck battles, not really having a lot of turnovers in the defensive zone.

He even beat out Ajo, Terabine, and Setschnikov to a lot of loose pucks and everything. And when he's playing like this, there's not many defensemen that can do what he does. So just was loving when he was doing it. The people that were blaming Latang for the second goal, no, the third goal that was given up. No, I think those people need to either get some glasses or rewatch the play because that was mainly all Ryan Duven right there. I'm just, but what a performance from La Tang. Yeah. And the cool thing about the Rust Bowl was, you know, it was one of those moments where

the moment LaTang held the puck in, you're, you're just sitting there watching and thinking, okay, like they're going to do something here. It's just a matter of which, which players can get rewarded on the guys. Yeah. I know, I agree with that for sure. And, you know, again, that keeping at the blue line where it looked like, he basically almost like batted it down and then was able to shoot. get the puck, shoot it from the point, and then Russ is able to bury a rebound five-full.

And, you know, if that doesn't happen, who knows what happens for the rest of that game. But, you know, I was loving what he was doing. And, you know, just, again, hope he can really keep this up for the rest of the season. Before we get to our next segment, this is the time of year that I've pretty much given up on all of my New Year's resolutions, but not this year. I'm sticking to my resolution to eat right. Thanks to Bill Bart. Almost feels like it's not really a resolution because I actually enjoy eating.

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Bilt.com, use Prone Code Locked 15 and get 15% off your order. That's Prone Code Locked 15 for 15% off at Bilt.com. All right, we're back here on this episode of the Lockdown Penguins Podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hode. I'm going to follow me. on Twitter at Hunter Hodeys follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore penguins. You know, another day, another amazing start from Tristan Jare, Doug. It's just ridiculous what we're seeing from him right now. It was pretty evident that I think the team needed to buy him at least 10 steak dinners after he was basically keeping them in the game, you know, stopping Sashnikov, I'm pretty sure, to break away. I think Ajo also came in on a mini one. He was making a lot

of great high danger saves and just the level that he is playing at. I probably sound like a broken record at this point. You know, it's Vezna Calibur. He's still top five in goals saved above expected. Though I will say this, Doug, they are going to have to find a reliable backup for him. Casey DeSmith is not that. But what another great performance from Tristan. He gave the team a shot as he's done all year, and that's all you can really ask for him

from him. exactly and you know one thing i want to touch on is um up until the point that we had that russ scored if jari's not in net they're down by four or five goals potentially more um you know and i think we're getting to the point now like like you said we need to that ron hextall needs to go out and reward tristan with a reliable backup goaltender that is not casey de smith or louis demig um You know, we need, they need to go out and get a guy that's capable of starting a stretch of games and not, you know, having a lackluster start or having a moment where he's caught with his pants down. You know, and that's something that the penguins currently do not have in house. And if they were going to give up assets for anything on March 28th or near the March 28th trade deadline, it should be that.

to go get Tristan Jari reliable backup. Yeah, and there's going to be options. You know, there was, Braden Holpe was thrown around today, I believe, from Pagnod of the fourth period. I think Frank Cerrodele also had him as well. You know, that would be, I think, a full Yinser experience, Doug, just because, you know, for all of the Penguins fans that go to games, and for some reason they have to do the Holpey chant,

when A, he either has not given up a goal, or B, he's only given up one goal. And it's just like, okay, I get it. He played for the Capitals all these years, but you're really only supposed to do a goalie chant when you light him up like a Christmas tree. Like Henrik Longquist, Game 5, 2016, you pop five or six past him. All right, now you can do a little champ because it's actually funny.

But I would love to see what those same people would do if they acquired someone like that. Another one I saw today, Doug, James Reimer from San Jose. That team is not going anywhere. he's had a pretty decent season. Pretty affordable, I would think. I think he's another option that the team should definitely have looked at. What do you think about that?

I'm all about it. And with Rimer, you got to think if they retain like, I think he's under contract for this year and next. And if you retain, if you get San Jose to retain like 500 to 700K on him, he can be your backup for next year and fit into next year's plans. which with the way he's played and he's turned back the clock, that would be rather huge. He had a great start to the year up until the point where the penguins just absolutely

beat his face in and scored like six or seven on him. And that Sunday afternoon game where Rust and Erod had the dueling hat tricks. But that's exactly what I'm looking for whenever I say a guy who can, can start a stretch of games is like a James Reimer or a Braden Holby or a Yaroslav Halak, who would, with getting Halak, would also be hilarious because of how much of a bad memory he's put in the back of all of our minds from what he did 12 years ago with the Canadians in that playoff series that shut down Mellon Arena. Yeah, Halak, that would also be, again, another full-circle thing.

And it also piss a lot of Capitals fans off, which would, I think, be another added bonus. Though I think he may not want to move. Last I checked, I think he wants to stay in Vancouver. He doesn't want to waive his no trade clause. At least that's what is being reported out of there. Though, could that change? Absolutely, the deadline is still a month away. You know, maybe he does want to go play for a playoff contender since Vancouver's not going anywhere this year.

But as of right now, he might be off the table. but I do agree they need to go out and get a backup. Maybe it's a package deal with a backup and a forward. I had this in my mind saying maybe if the stars wanted to trade Joe Pavelski and Braden Holphy, I mean, that's a nice little package deal, and I would probably just collapse if they got Joe Pavelsky. He can still bring it at this age. Now, do I think they trade Pavelski?

Probably not. Dallas is still in the Western Conference playoff race. But if they do fall out in the next month, you know, That would be pretty enticing. You know, it's another forward for the top six. I personally think, Doug, the team needs another floor because Capon is not getting it done. Zucker's going to come back, which is fine. Bluger's also going to come back, which is huge.

And we're going to get to him in a little bit, but I still think they're a forward short. I do too, you know, and I mean, I still think they're a forward short without even exploring the idea of, trying to upgrade on Casperi Cabinet with how he's played this year. And, you know, that's going to be a big storyline over the next month is, are they going to address the forward spot? And how are they going to address it? Because I'm not really going to buy into a lot of the rumors that are out there right now, just simply because, you know, last year we were all bought into several different guys.

and then out of nowhere, you know, he go, Ron Hextall goes and trades for Jeff Carter, which was not on anybody's radar at all. And he ended up completely lighting it up and really hasn't looked back since. Yeah, I mean, and the reasoning for that trade, you know, he wanted to reward the team for playing well. I got to think he's going to do the same in some capacity here again.

You know, that would be my ultimate dream one as Doug, I think is either that's had a soda or he's just chugging a beer while we're recording the podcast, which is all big Jeff Carter-esque as we just. So, um, anyways, yeah, that would be huge. And there's other forwards out there, Doug. Um, Brock Besser, Connor Garland. Um, I've seen rumors about Phil Kessel making a return. I don't really know about that because I don't think he has at this point, though, I think he's kept it, if they can get Arizona to retain a little bit, um, that would be pretty intriguing. I like Nick Paul. What we're not going to go for here is Calcutterbuck. This is not a Cal Clutterbuck stand podcast. And that's all I'm going to say on that. I think Doug would agree there. Who else

stands out to you, you think? Before we get into that, I just wanted to say, I was looking forward to coming on here and cutting a WWE promo about how they need a big strong man to punch someone in the face and get cratered in the defensive zone. I was ready for it, man. But, um, no, um, you know, I saw that they were, there were reports out about Ricard Raquel, which I find interesting. Um, you know, I think that that's somebody who could come in and play both wings, um, at any, in any spot in the top nine and still be a contributor. And somebody that I really have my eye on is, um, especially with all the situations going

to the summer in terms of like, needing to sign guys and cap money being, you know, ever so of an essence going into the summer is Brandon Hagel from Chicago. He signed for this year and then the next two years after that at $1.5 million. And he's on pace for about a 50 point scoring a 50 point clip. And I think that he'd be a perfect addition into the Penguins top nine. and it would be especially big going into next season, knowing that you have a guy with the cost certainty of Brandon Hagel to be able to slot in anywhere in your top nine.

Obviously, it will be a fairly hefty price given in that... He's only 23. Given that, yeah, he's only 23. And you have that luxury of him being so cheap for the next several years. you know, I'd be willing to pay it because, in my opinion, it's pretty much the equivalent of what happened when the Lightning traded for Blake Coleman. Yeah. You know, I think that it's in that caliber.

The top. And they gave up whatever they needed to. And that's the last thing I think I'll say on that, Doug. This team needs to, you know, they're still in win now. You have a really great chance. I think it's going before this year. Excuse me. You need to do whatever it takes to go do.

that and I would put the first time pick and play. I would put a couple of the best prospects in play. I think you do whatever it takes at this point. The future be damned. For me, the team's going to stink no matter what. If you feel like you have a good enough team, and I know the penguins do, you go out and you make a deal. And I'll be curious to see if Haxall does that. I think Hagell would make sense if you want to pay with any Malkin. I think they definitely needs someone that can go on his line and actually produce because he's just had a mix and mash and line mates and all this other stuff but um yeah yeah if you're gonna say if you were gonna say something go right ahead honestly i'm just going to piggyback off of what you said if it gets

the core another stanley cup to solidify their legacy or it extends the window an extra two to three years on what we already think it can, however long we think it can last, take the cupboard and burn it to the ground. Yeah. Like that basically is, you know. Yeah. I mean, because here's the thing, everybody will be upset if they end up training Sam Pullen, but odds are by the time Brandon Hagel's contract could expire, Sam,

um, Sam Pullen may not even be in the NIH. trail. So there's no sense in it. And, you know, what's, what's another late 20s pick going to do for them anyway? And really, what has it done for them the last 15 years? Nothing really. That's basically, yeah. I mean, there's nothing really, it's been done for them. You know, they haven't really used their first rounder anyway. What's one more, I guess. But still a little more to get to for this episode. We're going to get into some Teddy Bluger talk coming up in the next segment. And also what's ahead for the Penguins is they have Quite a bit of a break here until late in the week.

But before we do that, football might be over for this season, but basketball isn't full steam for both pro and college hoops. Benadeline remains the best spot for all of your sports scores, podcasts, and news this season, and it's not just basketball. Betelmine.com. Net is your source for hockey, boxing, and UFC, right to your Olympic coverage and information. You can head to the website today or to use your mobile device to learn more about the trends and the action. That is Benonline, where the game starts.

All right, we're back here on this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hon. Hodeys. We're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L.O. Arniscore Penguins. So, you know, I had this thought yesterday while watching, and, you know, I think CK-4-R-Response Code on Penguins Twitter, you know, put the tweet out there as well. I think people are really undervaluing Teddy Blugher's importance to the team. I'm not going to go out here and say he's a 50-to-60-point center.

I mean, that's just not accurate. but he, I think, is the one that makes that line go with Ashton Reese and McGinn. And if you take him away, Ashton Reese, I think, becomes a little less effective. McGinn definitely becomes less effective. They're on other lines, and they're not doing their main duties that they do with Teddy. So I think that's just, it's really hard into the team a little bit. And, you know, it's that the Penguins can't rely on that line to go out there against best competition, And, you know, like they did for most of the last season when Brandon Tanna was there.

And then for a lot of this season with Brock McGinn, would you agree with that? And I mean, because personally, I can't wait for when he comes back. Yeah, I'm with you. I'm really itching for Teddy to come back because not only does it impact the entire lineup, it greatly impacts the penalty kill due to how good him and Brock McGinn are together as a PK unit. That might be one of the better PKs. units. I've seen the penguins put over the, put over the boards and onto the ice throughout the entirety of the Crosby-Malkan era. Like, for whatever reason, they just work well together.

And, you know, that fourth line's very explosive defensively. And the biggest thing with Beluga, in my opinion, getting him back is you can get away with letting Brian Boyle run around out there when you're playing Philly, Buffalo, and New Jersey every other night. And, And now with them playing legitimate contenders, I'm genuinely afraid that Brian Boyle is going to get exposed and get absolutely cooked out there in moments where the penguins need him to be stout defensively and be a force out there on the ice. Yeah, I did say on the pod last week, I wouldn't mind if he does get playoff minutes. Though after watching the game against Carolina, I'm walking it back just a little bit because he kind of did get it. exposed in that game. Carolina's great in transition. They're faster than the penguins, which is very weird to say because I think the penguins are one of the fastest teams in the

league. But I think you could definitely tell that he was out of this element and that one. And for as good as he has been this season, and he, you know, he's been great. I think, you know, he definitely will get exposed in the seven game series. They need Teddy and, you know, Jason Zucker out there. I know, it's the easy thing to do is pick on him. And trust me, you know,

I've talked about how wrong I've been on him throughout his tenure here. But I still think when he is in the lineup, he is a good player and he can make a difference. If it's not scoring, it's playmaking. So, you know,

he also will, you know, go to the dirty areas along the boards and win those puck battles and all that. Where I think Boyle, you know, long reach, big guy, but I think that's just,

it's not his game. at this point. So I definitely agree with you on that. I think Bluegar is hopefully getting close to coming back here within the next week or two. They badly need him. That's for sure. Go ahead. Everything that you were saying about Boyle there, in my opinion, is a very good endorsement. Obviously not to keep harping on trade stuff. But that's a good endorsement to go trade for Nick Paul for depth purposes. you know, let him be your extra center and be the guy that steps in if Belugur were to go down because he has really good defensive zone impacts. I think he's more known as a defensive specialist at this point. And that would be a very welcomed addition if they were to make a move like that, just knowing that you have a proven defense, another proven defensive center that's capable of playing somewhat of a speed game

or can at least keep up against teams like Carolina and Florida. Yeah, I agree. You know, I am a big Nick Paul fan. I think, you know, what he's done in Ottawa this year has been pretty good, even though Ottawa is not a good team. I would definitely give up, you know, at least some assets for him. His underlings aren't terrible, better than I thought. But, you know, if the team can do better, I'm not going to say, you know,

go get someone else. You know, they definitely should, at least in my opinion, but, you know, Paul will be on the team's radar. Looking ahead a little bit, Doug, the penguins are off these next couple of days. They don't play until Thursday. Get the New Jersey Devils for the fourth and the final time. The Penguins have won the previous two meetings. They've won two out of the three this year.

They then get the Rangers. And then, man, they got a, as I've said probably a thousand times on this show lately. They're going to have to run the gauntlet. If they want to get home ice, they basically almost locked into a playoffs, the islanders. Can't do anything that they're so far ahead of the Red Wings. at this point. They only dropped one point to the Red Wings before anyway.

But this schedule is about to turn nasty. We're about to find out just how good this team is and see how they play against good teams. I know it hasn't been the best start with how they lost to Toronto, which was a stinker in the Carolina, which was basically 50-50. But the Penguins will have an opportunity here to win some games on home ice, which has usually been kind to them, though,

they have been a better road team this year. What are your thoughts on the immediate schedule moving forward for for the next week? it's going to be a lot of fun to watch. That is for certain. Because like you said, like it is an absolute gauntlet until that third weekend in March when they have the coyotes. You know, you got, I mean, you got Tampa, you got Carolina. Again, you got Florida and Vegas, Carolina. And then Nashville and St. Louis, who are two very underrated.

teams out in the West. And I mean, we saw with that first St. Louis game whenever they played at home and came back and won how difficult they are to play against. And that's going to be another big one for them. But yeah, it's going to be exciting. You know, hopefully, honestly, like we said earlier, hopefully Teddy Bluer's back sooner than later because they're going to need them for that stretch of games or need them to need them to at least rejoin the team at some point that stretch of kids. Yeah, and there's just there's a ton of metro games coming up here. I forgot almost. They may have Columbus coming up on the 27th and then they have a little bit of a break. Start March, they go to Tampa Bay and then they go to Carolina the next night. Good luck.

I mean, that's probably all I can say with that stretch. Then they have Columbus. I actually know. I'm sorry. Then they have Florida, Vegas, Carolina, Nashville, St. Louis, as you said, Arizona, Columbus and Buffalo. So they get a little bit of a break after March 17th. But, you know, this is just a really tough stretch of games. We'll see how the Penguins do. Again, they're 18 points clear of the ninth spot Red Wings right now. The Red Wings only have 30 games left. That way it would have to be a monumental collapse for the Penguins to somehow miss the playoffs at this point.

All that matter is the team getting healthy, continuing to play well and seeing what matchup they get in the first round. but no Doug I think that basically does it for this episode I'll have a full game preview either Tuesday or Wednesday for the game against New Jersey and then obviously a full game recap for that game on Thursday I also go over some practice notes as well see if Teddy Bluger is back and you know buy some miracle to hang on make a trade

I will also have that here as well but you know Doug thank you so much for coming on where can the new listeners find you if they have never listened to you before all right so follow me on Twitter at Doug underscore Glacki, obviously put a lot of good stuff out there. And I feel like things are starting to pick up now as we're getting deeper into the season. And then be sure to check out my podcast for checking TV.

Follow us on Twitter at For Checking TV. And as for what's coming up there, I'm really going to try and record an episode tomorrow. It's been difficult lately because Scotty and Peyton and myself have all been busy with, whether it be work or doing broadcasting stuff on the side. And we really haven't had time to really sit down and chat about a lot of things. So next time we'll be able to get one out. It's going to be a good one because we haven't really talked in a while. So there's that.

Yeah, check out his show, guys. He really does do a great job with his co-hosts, as he just said. So thank you all so much for listening to this episode of Lockdown Penguins. And I'll be back with you all on Tuesday. Have a great night. Thank you.