Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Evgeni Malkin became the hero when the Penguins needed it most!

Episode Date: March 27, 2023

This team can never win a game the easy way, huh? Hunter starts this episode with an ode to Evgeni Malkin as he delivered one of the goals of the season for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He analyzes how it was vintage Malkin when he wanted the puck at the end of the game and then made no mistake with it when he fired it blocker side. Hunter also looks at how terrible of a giveaway it was from Anthony Mantha and why you can't do that when an all-time great is on the ice. Hunter then touches on how loud PPG was since he was there to see it and why this felt like a playoff atmosphere for the first time all season. After that, Hunter brings up the depth scoring and why it came up super clutch on the first two goals since the big guns weren't able to finish their chances...yet. He praises Ryan Poehling for being one of the team's best depth players while also wondering where in the heck that version of Chad Ruhwedel has been all season. Hunter then brings up Jake Guentzel and why he continues to have a very underappreciated season before wondering why this team cannot hold a lead. Is it because they get too tight? Do they want to run and gun throughout every game? Finally, he discusses why this win was so big standings-wise before previewing what's to come on Tuesday when the Penguins play the Detroit Red Wings.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 “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.Athletic GreensTo make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1-year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORKFanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go to FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) 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.

So as everyone recovered from that ridiculous crazy game on Saturday against the Washington Capitals, I hope you are. It's been what? Close to 48 hours. I'd say right now 36 to 40 hours since the end of that game. I'm going to break it all down for you all to start this episode and how if Gennie Malkin, yes, Juno Machino saved the day with perhaps one of the biggest goals for the Pittsburgh Penguins this season that's coming up 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 and welcome back to another episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm, of course, your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow this show's Twitter at Eleanor Shepinons.

And of course, thank you so much for making this your first listen of the day. We are free and available on all platforms. So let's jump right into it. Penguins 4, Capitals 3 in the game that featured everything about this 2022, 2020, 2023-Pittsper Penguin season. This game was also a full summary of the Penguin season. Play well in the first period, no score. Jump out to a multi-told goal lead in the second period.

Take that end of the third. You make it a three-goal lead very early on the third period, and all hell breaks loose. You give up the lead. Capitals tie it with 244 left. You're thinking, oh yeah, here we go again, right? No. This was the ending I did not see coming. Gennie Malkin steals the puck from Anthony, Mantha,

and I have no idea what the heck he was doing. Goes blocker side on Darcy Kemper, buck 20 left, still a lot of time. That arena is going Gaga. I was in attendance for that game. It was the first Penns game I think I've gone to in a little over a month. Um, this had a playoff like feel to it, a playoff like atmosphere. Um, easily the loudest I have ever heard PBG Payne Serena in the games that I have been to.

There's the first, you know, playoff type of atmosphere that I've ever seen. Um, for those that don't know, maybe you're a little more newer to the show. You know, I was supposed to go to PBG for a playoff game in 2013 against the Boston Bruins. Um, they got swept. My mom came down after they got sweep. She had a couple tears running down her eyes and I just said, like, what's wrong? and she goes, well, we had tickets for you and all this stuff. I'm like, yeah, I mean, I kept asking for him, but she kept denying it, which was funny.

And that was the chance I was going to see a playoff game in Pittsburgh, because the school year was getting out earlier, but this was the closest I've ever, you know, seen to a playoff game. And it lived up to the hype. The crowd was into it. They were going nuts. I thought that, I thought the arena was honestly just going to call up with how loud it was. I was so very unfortunate that I was never able to make it up to Melan Arena to see the igloo. You know, perks of living in Virginia for 20, 20, 20 years of my life. I'll be 26 this year.

I wish I could have gotten there. I really, really do. But, you know, Afghani Malkin, the hero that the penguins needed, beautiful shot, gives the penguins the wind. They're able to defend the lead with a minute 20. I know people thought, oh, you know, there's too much time. And there was. The Capitals actually came close a couple of times to tying the game. But Evgeny Malkin became the hero when the Penguins needed him to.

You lose that game in overtime. I don't care. You lose the game in any shape or fashion. Regulation overtime shootout. You open up the door for the Capitals to come back into the playoff race. Say you go to overtime and you lose or shootout, you know, there are only three points up on them compared to six right now. say the capitals win that game in regulation. Only two points up on them right now with a game in hand,

but Washington all of a sudden is right back in the race. You needed to get a result there. They did. And you almost effectively eliminated the capitals from the race unless the capitals go on like a massive surge here in their final eight games and the penguins really struggle, which is possible. Anything is honestly possible this time of year.

But I would say it's more to the unlikely side because the capitals have a really daunting schedule while the penguins do not. And we'll get into that a little bit later. But, you know, Malkin, you know, he had the celebration of a lifetime. His wife, Anna, was going crazy. His son, Nikito, was right there next to her. That was just an amazing moment.

As, you know, the great Mike Lang, as always said, you have to be here to believe it. And I'm really glad I was able to, you know, secure tickets for that game. I took my cousin. And what a game to go to. You know, that's, I said on my Twitter, I'll say it now. a season saver for this team and we've i've probably said that a little too often this season because though they're in a situation they're never really in fighting just to get in the playoffs usually they have a spot locked up by now but that was a season saver if i've ever seen one if any malkin gets

the game winner penguins get out with a four three lead and basically just you know saluting the capitals hey goodbye you're probably out of the race now um you know at the end of the day malkin gets the last laugh after taking that really boneheaded penalty in the third period, which we'll get to in just a second. But, you know, that was such a special moment for Gino. You know, that kind of moment, that's one of the reasons why he came back. You know, forget, you know, the milestones that he'll hit off the ice stuff, you know, legacy.

Moments like these, that's why I think he decided to come back. Does Venge Trochex scored that goal for the penguins in this situation? No. Does Andrew Cops scored that goal in the situation? No. Oh, yeah. I'm going to keep harping that drum. for the people that wanted him gone.

You know, that's not, that goal isn't for those people. It's for people that, you know, wanted him to say because it made sense both financially and just fit on the ice for the penguins. You weren't going to get an upgrade over him. And with how much of a clutch player he has been throughout his career, and for as much as he nags you with the penalties

or some sloppy play in the defensive zone or being lazy at the point in the power play, you don't get that kind of moment. from probably anyone else in their free agent market last season if they're there in that in that situation if kenny malkin again he was the hero the penguins needed in that game especially after coughing up that lead late and for right now he he saved their season and there are three points up right now on the florida panthers for that final playoff spot in the eastern conference and it was just vintage malkin she sees mantha being a little too cute at the puck comes over swoops it

off his stick, comes in, he's gone, knows exactly where he is going to shoot that puck. Goes blocker's side past Kemper. It looks like he gave, it looked like Kemper gave him a little too much room there on the blocker side, at least when I'd watched it on replay a couple of times. But, you know, a all-time great player is going to make you pay every time that situation. I don't know what Mantha was doing there. That trade is aged like absolute milk for the capitals. And Malkin made no mistake.

and he brought the house down and he was able to help secure that win for the penguins, even though it shouldn't have come to that. They should be able to defend three goal leads in the third period. But with how they have defended this season, the conical, basically, you knew it was never over. Even after the Penguins went three nothing, even after it was three to one with seven minutes left in the period. You just knew something else was crazy was going to happen.

Sure enough, it did. But the Penguins are lucky. that Malkin was there to save the day. And he was all over the puck in that game, had plenty of quality chances. Again, took that really stupid penalty. And we'll just touch on that day while we're talking about Malkin.

You know, that penalty changed the course of the game. Because remember, Penguins got that power play. Up 3-0, I believe it was, what, 16 minutes left in the third period. You know, you're getting some chances. A little scrum ensues, and you can tell the capitals are baiting him. baiting him to push back to cross check roughing whatever and he did it was it was definitely a

roughing the score kind of call because the capitals are down 3-0 and the refs are trying to give the other team momentum there but i'll also say this you cannot give officials any reason to penalize you in that situation because they're always going to take the guy that retaliates especially when that team is up 3-0 you know you want to make it a more competitive game and that stuff i don't even think that's a conspiracy there in that's a conspiracy there That's just how NHL officiating is. It's like that, basically on a nightly basis. Yeah, in that situation, got to stay it away.

You have the power play. You kill off more time of the clock. That led to the Tom Wilson goal. Then the capitol started pushing a little bit more. Alex Lvechkin gets the goal to make it 3-2. Dylan Strome makes it 3-3 with 244 left. Just cannot take that penalty there in that situation. Aside of that, though, he was flying.

He's been, you know, he was a little bit cold coming into the game. We have, according to Bob Rope. he only had one goal in his last 11, 11, 12, 13 games, something like that. But he made sure to break that streak with this one with, you know, one of the biggest goals of the season for the Penguins, while also delivering a potential fatal knockout blow to one of the Penguins' biggest rivals. So I wanted to start off the show without shouting out of getting Malkin while also touching on the penalty just because it was a truly great moment for him and the rest of the Penguins.

But coming up after this commercial break, we're going to touch on other aspects from the game that I saw at PPJ P-PG Paints Arena from in-person, also to look at the stats. And then later on, we will preview what is to come for Tuesday and a little bit later this week is the Penguin's schedule, you know, softens up a little bit. I dare I say it, it does soften up. But before we get to that next segment, we have to touch on athletic gains. Our next partner has a product I usually every day. I start taking athletic games because I didn't really have time in the morning to work out. I want a better gut health and more energy, better optimized immune systems.

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We're back in this episode of the lockdown penguins podcast. I am, of course, your host. Hunter Hodes, want to follow me on Twitter on Twitter, Hunter Hodes, follow the shows Twitter and on North Shore Penguins. And of course, thank you so much for making this year first listen of the day. So other things I really took away from this game, Ryan Pailing, he has turned into a very solid depth piece for the team. You all know my thoughts.

I don't think the Penguins' Bottom Six is particularly any good. McCall Gramlin still stinks right now. Josh Ardwell really hasn't done anything since coming back. I don't really think his contracts can get renewed after the season. You know, Jeff Carter is Jeff Carter. That's half the guys right there. I know Nick Benino's out, which stinks. But, you know, a lot of these players are just not getting the job done.

The only two players, I think, down there that are at least adequate. Arjoo O'Connor and Ryan Pelling. And he put a beautiful move. I believe it was on Sandin, coming in a little bit of a mini-breakaway, and roofed it past R.C. Kemper. you could tell that goal meant a lot to him just because he's been really banged up this season. That is, you know, he's been dealing with that very much nagging injury for the last several months. But that was a beautiful goal.

Finally getting some depth scoring from this team. Really nice to see him get on the board. And then Chabra Whedl gets his first goal. And basically, you know, over a year, definitely his first goal of the season, roofed a wrist shot past R.C. Kemper's glove makes it 2-0. And I'm like, this is what we're getting? In this economy, a game with a goal from Ryan Paling and Chad Ruehdle, that is what we're getting, didn't think I'd ever see the day.

That was just incredible. And, you know, it's always nice when the big guns don't always have to factor in on every single goal, like, you know, for the most part that they have this easy. In games like this, and in games like you saw in Colorado, the depth stepped up. But in a lot of other games, that has not happened. and it's led to just the core really having to carry this team to, you know, the spot that they're in right now. They're three points up on a playoff spot.

But to see the depth step up in this one when they needed it most, that meant a lot. And it was really good to see. Hopefully the payments could have more of that in these final nine games. Jake Gensel, he gets on the board his 32nd of the season. I said it on Twitter, I'll say it again now. This is probably one of the most under the radar 30-goal campaigns I've ever seen. No. People are saying he's struggling.

No, it's not. just, you know, he hasn't, you know, maybe buried some of the chances that he normally does, but that's also hockey. The fact that he's still at 30 plus goals this season is a testament to how good he is and how if he was producing like he was last season, he'd probably be on his way to 50 right now. He's one of the best goals scores in the league. It does not take much. You saw what happened on that power play. It wasn't much there. Nothing was happening, but he gets behind the defense, those five whole one Kemper. It's all it takes. The slings. It's all it takes. limit of margins with him. You get him

even just a smidge of time, boom, you're gone. Game over, but, well, I shouldn't say game over, but, you know, your toast, puck's in the back of the net. Jake's done that to numerous goals he's over the years. You know, he may be at 32, he may be only at 30, you know,

32 goals right now, but I can promise you, you know, he's still having a pretty decent season, even though he's not on pace for 50, like a lot of us, um, thought that he was going to be. Okay. Goaltender. let's discuss it. Casey de Smith, a rock through two periods. He was making some outstanding saves. My wonderful German Shepherd Teddy is just going crazy at something downstairs. I don't know what it is.

But Casey de Smith makes a lot of, you know, great saves in those first two periods. Stops Alex Ovechkin breakaway also, which was just incredible in itself because usually when Alex Oveging comes in on a breakaway, it's game over for any goaltender. I don't care who it is, but he sticks his right. He sticks his, um, uh, uh, his left pad out, excuse me, when you look on the screen, it's his right pad, but it's his left pad when you're behind the net,

sticks out that pad and absolutely robs him. You know, he also robbed John Carlson from, you know, the left far circle when Ovechkin got the puck to him. That was also a beautiful save by DeSmith.

And it was looking like, oh, these first two peteries, it looks like he did maybe start more games moving forward. This is the guy. And then you saw what happened in the third period where he's just swimming in his crease. That first goal, Crystal Tang stunk there, he knows it. He slammed his stick coming off the ice.

He has to do a better job defending Tom Wilson. He can't allow him to get to the front of the net there. And even though DeSmith swam out of his net, you know, he was still able to get back a little bit where, you know, he should be able to make that say. But also, Let's Hang was bad there too. I think both of them were the main people out fault on that goal. But still, DeSmith, why are you even? going out of your crease there in that situation. You know, that's the thing that I really don't understand.

There's just no reason to, you know, bite so hard on the fake when there was, you know, no reason to there. I think, you know, that's, that's my thing. You know, he's done that, you know, a lot throughout his NHL career. And I just didn't really like that. The second goal, you maybe you want to save there, but it's also an outsider of Etchen, vintage slap shot from his spot. It wasn't that hard of a shot.

I feel like he maybe could have had it. But still, it's an abetching. I'm not going to go too hard. After that. But the Dylan Strom goal, again, he's swimming around in his grease. I feel like I want to save there with 244 to go. But that's Casey dismissed game. He'll wow you for a few moments, especially in those first two periods.

But then he'll have a period like in the third period where it's like, you know, how is this guy in the NHL? And honestly, it's been like that throughout his whole career. he'll give you some good games some good moments other times it'll be like what the heck how is this guy even up here that's just that's just that's just you know and that's i feel like sometimes that's you know backed up goalies in general but with him you know he just i think needs to work on that part of his game a little bit where he doesn't need to be so aggressive leaving his net in those situations like you can you can stay there it's okay you don't need to venture off on an you know just on on an expedition uh or anything like that

But still want to see him put together a full 60 minutes. I'm assuming Jari's going to go on Tuesday, but also would not be surprised if DeSmith does. But, you know, I think they're probably going to split most of these. I think DeSmith's going to get a few starts here down the stretch. I think they're going to give Jari a little bit of rest time overall. At 5 on 5, the Penguins were out attempted by the capitals. Squaring chances-wise, they also were out, you know, chanced.

High danger, the Penguins won that. 53% of those high-danger chances at expected goals. it was about 50-50. The Penguins, again, play well in the first couple periods. But in the third period, the Capitals really took over after they got that goal from Tom Wilson. You know, this game was a little bit chippy, as expected. You got to get into Q's Nets off going after Josh Archibald, I think, for some reason.

Then Archibald fought Raspus Sandine and just made him look like a fool. Tom Wilson doing Tom Wilson things. Look, I'm not surprised. I can sit here and talk about Tom Wilson for 10, 15 minutes, but that says not locked on cap. He just want to hear about Tom Wilson. Go check out Dan Holme. I've locked on caps.

He does a great job over there. But, you know, he's just, Tom Wilson does Tom Wilson things. I'm not really surprised at all. But overall, Penguins, they got the result. I think that they deserved in this one. They needed that win. They got it.

They're not six points up on the Capitol. Six points up on the savers. Three points up on the Panthers for that final wild card spot. And again, I liked a lot of what I saw. But I will say that POJ, Chris Tane pairing is not doing it for me right now. This team really means Marcus Pedersen back. No disrespect to POJ. I think he's been pretty decent this season, but they need Pedersen back on that pairing.

And it's unfortunate that he's probably going to be out for most, if not all, the remaining nine games of this regular season. Good news, though. Jeff Petrie looks like he's going to be coming back on Tuesday. I think he'll be a game time decision, participate in the full practice on Monday as it is traditionally. So I think both will be returning in that game. but they need reinforcements back on defense.

It's just you can't be playing with just a makeshift defensive core for, you know, during when the games really matter most, I would say. But that does it for this second segment. Coming up to end the show, how can the penguin strike back against the Red Wings and beat a team that is really down right now? I'm going to touch on that coming up. But first, let's get into Bill Bart.

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Now you can get them at your local Walmart or Sam's car. That's right. Head your nearest Walmart today. you can pick up a box of cookies and cream, double chocolate, or coconut puffs, or, you know, brownie batter and trough, you can thank me later when it comes to that. All right, we're back here in this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow this show's Twitter at Anwarst for Penguins. Of course, thank you so much for making this year first listen of the day.

So next up for the Penguins, game 74 out of 82 on Tuesday night, they will head to Little Caesars Arena to take on the Detroit Red Wings, a struggling Red Wings team, I should say. They've lost 12 of their last 15 games, three and 11 and one overall. And that's after they got back into the race. Remember, this Red Wings team was only four, I think three, four, five points out of the playoffs,

heading into the trade deadline. Since then, just flatline. They're done. They're 11 points back at the Penguins right now. They are cooked. They're not coming out of this. And this is another example. The Penguins need to get results here.

They've learned their lessons, I think. last couple weeks, losing to Montreal, blowing a two of a lead against them, losing to Ottawa, both in regulation and both at PBG Paints Arena, two teams who are below them in the standings. You have to play, you know, play at the level you did against those two teams,

but get the result. And also, I'll say, pay a little bit better defensively as well. Penguins didn't play well defensively in either of those two games, but I think they still play well enough to win because, you know, they out, you know, attempted those two teams, they outchance them,

high danger, expected goals, all that. but this is a Red Wings team that is there for the taken and they've gotten bad goal tending all season their special teams are middle to below average but make it sole players that can hurt you Joe Villan O'Larckin on their top line he has been awesome he just is coming off a contract extension where he's going to be making a lot of money it's over $8 million per season very deserved for a player who I believe is at trying to make sure I got this right I believe he's at 80 points right now

Just double check in here. No, sorry, 68.71 games. Still, point per game pace. Lucas Raymond, another very young player. Adam Ernie, Andrew Kopp, David Perron to round out their second line. Dominic Kubolik, Pius Seuter, Alex Chason, Jonathan Bergen, Austin, Sarznik, and Matt Luff to round out their fourth line. Defensively, Jake Wallman, Moritz, Cider,

Olimada, Robert Haig, and then Gustav Lindscham and Jordan, posterly, they are on their defense. and then goaltending-wise, Alex Nelkevich and Magnus Helberg. Right now, they're injured list. Dili Huso, he is day-to-day. So if he's not at the starter tomorrow, it's probably going to be Nadelcovich. Adam Ernie is also day-to-day,

Philip Zedina's day-to-day, Robbie Fabry, Ben Shalot, Mark Pisick, and Ryko Rasmussen. They have a bunch of players who are banged up right now. But again, these are two points that you need to have the Penguins. They were playing well against the Red Wings. The first time they were here, remember, they jumped out to that 4-0-0 lead. After the first period, they were just destroying the Red Wings.

And then like Clockwork, with how the Panos of Loan Leads all season, came back to bite them. I believe it was, what, 4-2 going into the third period? Red Wings were able to tie it and then win the game in overtime. And oh, yeah, they got grittyed on by Jake Wallman. Yes. They remember that game? They got grittyed on.

And it was very embarrassing to say the least. not get greeted much on the road, especially not at your home building. For the Penguins, you know, do what they did in the first period last time. You know, they lit up the Red Wings, goaltenders. But, you know, also just play better defensively. Do not let your foot off the gas pedal against this kind of team. The Red Wings, they're playing for pride at this point. Sure, they have not, they're not mathematically eliminated just yet, but they are still playing

like there's eases on the line. They're going to give you everything they have. You know, these bad teams, you know, they're not just, going to roll over and die and let you just steamroll them. That's just, you know, the Penguins have found out multiple times his last couple of weeks. It's not going to happen. You need to go in there and show that you are better than them and that you deserve to be in the playoffs.

This week is set up really nicely for the Penguins. You have the Red Wings. You have the Predators. Bruins, okay, that's whatever. Then you have the Flyers. Those are three games that you should be able to win. You win those games. Even if you drop that one against the players.

the ruins, which is fine. It's the Boston freaking Bruins. They're one of the best, this is one of the best teams in NHL history by points percentage. But you go three in one or three and one, maybe, going into those final five games of the regular season. Starts, though, with the Red Wings. You have to beat a bad team when they're out of it. They're not playing good hockey. They sold it to the debon, especially Tyler Bertuzzi. He's not there anymore. You need to beat these kind of teams when, you know, they're not going to make the playoffs. you know, it's a shame that it's really good to come down to this, but when teams like this come on your schedule,

you have to know what to do against them. And this week, I think, will really show everyone, is this team a true playoff team? Can you beat the teams below you in the standings? We're going to find that out this week, starting against the Red Wings here. You know, I want the power play, you know, specifically on the road to be better.

I want the penalty kill to be. better. Hopefully the goaltender, whoever starts is able to make the saves that need to be made. And I want to see the finishing ability really start to get going. You know, we saw against the capitals, especially through, you know, that first period, they were the better team of Penguins, but their lack of finishing ability was on display yet again. That can't be the case in this one against the Red Wings or, you know, a lot of these games here down the stretch. So that's what I'm really looking for in this one against the Red Wings, you know, forechecking hard, defending hard, Goal and needs to make the saves.

Special team, you got to win the special teams battle. You know, all the flaws that have been on, you know, to play for the Penguins. They need to go out the door in these remaining nine games. I also want to maybe see some depth scoring for the Penguins in this one. Last but not least, coming into this game, the Penguins, they're 6 and 0 in two in their last eight games against the Red Wings, points in eight straight.

They've also won three consecutive games at Little Caesars Arena. They're also nine and seven and five against the Atlantic Division. This season, for those to look out for, Rickell, 17 points in six. 15 games against the Red Wings. He also has points in four of his last five games. Against the Red Wings and Goldhender Trish-Njari. 2-0 with a 1.5-0 goals against Average and a 9-54, say percentage in two career starts versus the Red Wings.

If he gets a start, it could be good news because he's played well. Remember, DeSmith was in net when the Penguins blew that lead. Just a few months ago. It wasn't really his full fault that they lost, but he still wasn't good enough in those final couple of periods. But we'll have to see how this one goes. Penguins need a win here. You know, Panthers play the Senators tonight. That's a big result to look for.

The Sabres played tonight. We're scoreboard watching. We're looking at it. See what the Penguins can do. If the Sabres and both the Senators lose tonight, the Penguins can potentially build an even stronger lead on those two teams if they're able to win on Tuesday to potentially get their, I don't know what I'll say, potentially get their lead for that final water card spot up to five points.

And potentially leapfrog. New York Islanders who have a really nasty schedule down the stretch as well. So that will do it for this one. Thank you all so much for listening slash watching. I'll be back with another episode for you all on Tuesday evening, excuse me, where we'll recap that game against the Red Wings and look ahead to later on this week. So again, thank you also much for listening and watching, and I'll talk with you all on Tuesday.