Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins 4/30- Let's take a trip down memory lane with Super Mario

Episode Date: May 1, 2020

In this episode of Locked On Penguins, Hunter starts off by talking about a new NHL playoff format that could be used if the season returns as it was reported yesterday by Sportsnet's Mark Spector. He shares his thoughts on the format and why it isn't good, plus starts the best moments in franchise history segment. Mario Lemieux makes an appearance not once, but twice, and you don't want to miss Mike Lange's goal calls. Finally, he ends the episode by talking about rewatching Game 2 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final against the Predators and how the Penguins were able to blow the doors off them in the third period. 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.

Hello, welcome to this Thursday evening episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L-O-Hundersk. Welcome back as well. Today is the last day of April. We move into May tomorrow if you're listening to this tomorrow. Yeah, so we will hit the fifth month of this dreaded, God-versaken year that is 2020 with everything that has happened.

And yeah, so with one more month, yeah, great math here. We are halfway through 2020. So we're just about, I mean, right now we'll be, like I said, five out of 12. So almost six out of 12. Wow. So you see, guys, great math by yours truly here. You guys can totally see why I was a math major at Virginia Tech. But yeah, it's just so crazy that, you know, we're all, we're just about into May.

And, yeah, this year has just flown by, you know, with so much shit that's happened. And, you know, for this first segment, we are going to be. there were some NHL news that came out yesterday. They are going to be extending the phase one of the self-quarantine for all players until mid to late May. Apparently, that's when they want to hopefully go into phase two, which is small groups at practice facilities. I know a couple states are opening back up a little bit tomorrow on May 1st. I think Georgia, South Carolina might be Texas, I think, is opening back up a little bit. So we can start to potentially see more as we get further into May.

But the very most interesting thing that came out of the NHL yesterday was Mark Specter, excuse me, of the Sportsnet, basically talked about this very, very interesting idea yesterday in his column. And basically what it says, you know, assuming no regular season games get played, we go straight to the playoffs. he's reporting that the most popular playoff scenario is this, though. Greg Wazinski was later able to say that he talked to a couple sources and said that this is just an option.

But in Marks, Hector's article here, basically what they told him, which was later a little rebuffed by Wazinski was the top six teams from each division meet in one city. They would open with the best of three series between the number one and the number two seeds in the division.

So this would decide the division winner, while the number three team meets the number six team and the number four meets the number five team for the right to keep playing. So under this scenario, folks, under this stupid, really, really bad format that would just be peak NHL if that were to somehow happen.

And the fact that it's being basically talked about, it very well could happen because like I said, the NHL is very, very stupid. But so for this format, you would have the Buffalo Sabres and the Anaheim Ducks would be in the H.L playoffs. Well, the New York Rangers would not. Yes, the New York freaking Rangers who had, oh, a better point percentage than both of those two teams, a better record than both of those two teams, and we're playing some damn good hockey before the hiatus came about, would not be in the playoffs because they would be seventh place in the metropolitan division,

while teams like the Buffalo Sabres who were just awful for basically this entire season and the Anaheim Ducks who were also really, really bad would be playoff teams. So these are the top six teams. So we can look at other teams that would be in the playoffs if that are really, really bad and the Rangers wouldn't be. So we would also have, oh, the Montreal Canadians. They're 31 and 31 and 9. So, wow, I mean, we almost could have had the senators in the playoffs.

And they were only six points back behind the sabers. Good lot. And then, so the poor of the poor islanders, they would actually get. The Rangers would be literally be missing out on the playoffs by a point because the Islanders have 80. The Blue Jackets have 81 right above them. And then, so then you go over to the west. Nashville gets in, okay, whatever.

Minnesota actually is able to get in. And you know what, though? That's respectable. Minnesota, I think, does deserve a chance to get into the playoffs. They were playing actually some pretty good hockey after Bidreau got fired. And before the hiatus, they were winning seven or the last 10 games. So you know what? I could see that.

But then, so now you go to the Pacific. So then, yeah, so like I said, you have a team like the ducks at 29 and 33 and 9. The Arizona coyotes would get in. They were honestly not playing that good. They were on a two-game losing streak. Heck, the Kings were almost able to make a run. They were only three points behind the, uh, the ducks and the sharks in last place were only four points behind the ducks.

So yes, one of the California teams would still be able to get into the playoffs in this scenario. Now, like I say, Greg Wysinski did do his own reporting. He said that this is basically, he was told by an initial source, that most popular is not exactly the label that they would use for this plan, but it is under consideration. Those are his exact words in his tweet. Thank God, because this scenario would be an utter disaster. like I said, this would be so NHL that they would come up with an idea like this,

that they would actually make it real. They would actually put this into effect because, you know, they already have this ungodawful playoffal format with, oh, yeah, we need more rivalries. You know, I don't know if I've talked about that a lot on this podcast before, but just so everyone knows, I hate this current playoff format. I hope they change and go back to one versus eight. Hell, I think another cool idea would be letting the top teams pick who they play in the first round.

That would be really, really funny. I'm tired of playing the same team three to four years in a row in the first round. I got tired of playing the Rangers four years in a row, basically. I've gotten tired of playing the capitals in the playoffs. You know, it's just repetitive. And I like, I like just, I like playing new teams. You know, that's just, you know, it was good to play the Islanders, you know, until we got until the Penguins got embarrassed.

That was a rivalry that was kind of, I think, reunited by that playoff series. But, you know, it's just, you don't. need these little NHL rivalries, especially when two of these teams sometimes are top five teams in the league. Remember when the Penguins play the Blue Jackets in the first round 2016-2017? Literally

two top five teams. One of them was out in the first round. Again, not fair. I'm sorry, you know, but whatever. I'm sorry I admitted to rant about that playoff format, but I am glad, though, that this one is not the most popular. Love Dom's comment

underneath, you know, thank God, you know, a lot of people, there's a lot a good funny tweets, you know, as a Ducks fan, I echo these sentiments, as a Sabres fan, we do not deserve this. It's all for a really funny tweet. I already put a Stanley Cup final patch on my Eichel jersey, so that sucks that we can't get the Sabres in the playoffs. You know, that would be so funny if this would be the year that Buffalo is able to get in

the playoffs because of this god-awful playoff tournament that they're thinking about using. But any cases, this likely going to happen. No, just start it with maybe 20 teams like I've been saying all along. do a couple few playing in series best of three you know with the um seven versus ten eight versus nine you know you don't need to go any more than that I think that's perfectly fine for um yeah that's just like I said that's what you know um 24 teams yeah perfectly fine you get a seven versus 10 you get a eight versus nine

two teams that they get they get to go out it and they can challenge the um and then you know you play the number two seed you play the number one seed you know I I lost my words a little bit there, but, you know, that's how I would do it. You know, but, you know, we'll see. This is still a long ways away. There's also reports that the day and shell is prepared to start the season back up in December. So, really don't know how that's going to work. I don't know how you're going to play an 82 game season.

I was reading with Elliott Friedman yesterday, basically saying the players really want to go back to the Olympics. I'm pretty sure every fan also wants them to go back to the Olympics. So how will that factor into next season, considering it's the season right before? the Olympics, I actually can't believe that. So next season for the 2021 season, 2020-2020 season, that'll be the season right before 2021, 2021, 2022, and the players go to the Olympics. That's actually pretty crazy. So hopefully they're able to work something else for that.

But, yeah, my thoughts on this, guys, this format probably not going to happen. And, you know, we're a long ways away from this, any format coming into fruition. We've got to get the players back on the guys. We got to keep making progress. And, you know, we just keep making progress. That's the first and most important thing in this. So for this segment, we'll be doing this for tomorrow as well. It might be next week as well.

We're doing, you know, some of the greatest moments in franchise history. So many to choose from for the Penguins for today's episode. And I might do another, honestly, I might do another one because this one, the short clip, but still, you know, this is easy. I think one of the greatest moments in franchise history. You see the statue of it outside of PBG paints arena. One of the greatest goals I think ever scored in Penguins history. One of the great goals of Mario Lemieux's career.

You know, you came again in the Stanley Cup final against the Minnesota North Starves. I'm sure if you all listen to this podcast and you are a diehard Penguins fan like me, you have seen this goal probably more times than you can remember. And I will play it for you guys right here, though. Just in case you guys want to hear it again, because I definitely do as well. Had to be good to stop Farisad. Here's Louvre. The center penalty coming up.

Look at the bill. Oh, my hobbies. What a goal. What a move. The new. Oh, baby. Yeah, it's just, I still cannot believe how Mario just ramps up his speed just like that. He's able to split both of the defense.

And then he just makes Casey, the star, the star's netminder, look like a complete buffoon and just goes to back inside and deeks him while falling. He just puts the puck between. the legs of the other stars defender after pass to the other one. And, you know, I always love from that first broadcast, and we'll get to the Mike Lang call right after this, you know, him against the world, I should say, you know,

the quote, you know, him against the world, and he deeks the whole world, you know, I just, I've always just, I have that in the back of my mind every time I hear this goal, you know, the fact that I basically almost mess this up, it's pretty pathetic. But, um, yeah, just the way he was able would you just do that and just I can't get enough of it. Okay, we're going to hear this goal again. This time, though, it's

going to be from Mike Lang. So here this is for you guys. This is the great, the goat, not the great, the goat, Mike Lang in his element here. Man, you know, hearing Mike Lang call that, you know, his signature, you know, hey, I'm not even going to try to

imitate it because I just, I can. You know, I was, I was, I was, the penguins have been doing all the goal calls from Mike Ling when they rewatch the Cup finals from 2009, 2016, 2017, and you know it's still, it's so great to hear, you know, Mike Lang just

do his thing, you know, that he was doing back in the 90s and just all throughout the time that he's called Penguin Games because he really is a national treasure. I think he's the best hockey announcer of all time. I don't really think that's a debate. Yes, I might be biased, but there are not many that can do what he does. I know Bob Cole

is awesome. I love Doc Emrick. I wish Gary Thorne would come back and announce, but man, just hearing Mike, just let her rip on that. Man, it's, it's going to be a sad day in this town when he retires because he is just, he's an icon, man. He always has been. That goal, though, is just one of the best in Penguin's history. Like I said, it's one of the best moments in franchise history right there, you know.

You see the statue every time you walk into PPJ Paints Arena. I don't care, like what side you're on, you have to pass it. If you don't pass it on your walk to, the arena, I think you're doing something wrong, in my opinion. I honestly, you know, I make it a point to always go by the statue. I don't care which entrance I'm going in. If I'm going down to a different entrance or that entrance there, you know, I always make it a point to just see the statue outside of the arena because Mario just,

he's a legend. Best player of all time. I will always die on the hill. You know, I remember when Chad and Joshi came on here and, you know, I agreed with them, you know, Wayne Gretzky may have the best overall career. achievements, but in terms of pure talent and skill, I'm taking Mario Lemieux any day of the week. I will always say it. I think Mario Lemieux would shatter Wayne Gretzky's records if he would have been healthy without all his back injuries, the Hodgkins lymphoma, just everything that

derailed his career in one way or the other. I think he wouldn't be Gretzky's records. But, yeah, that was, like I said, he's usually one of the best moments in franchise history. But, you know, I'm feeling generous, so I'm going to give you guys one more, one of the greatest moments. I think in franchise history, you know. March 26, 1996, Mario Lemieux again, because of course, you know, we always have to have more greatest moments with Mario Lemieux, the greatest player to ever play. This was the day after the birth of his son, Austin. They're playing the St. Louis Blues.

Hell, they're blown them out. I mean, they blew them out in this game. But, you know, the hero of this game who just stole the show was Mario. Five goals in this game right after Austin was born. and I will play his fifth goal for you guys right here. Mike Lang goal call because, you know, we always have to play Mike Lane goal calls. My goaltender, Reagan, here comes Lemieux. Left time passing to Francis Chalfa.

Lemieux in front there, yeah. That's just, yeah. So that was his third career, five-goal game. And, oh, yeah, guys, that was his 63rd goal of the season. That's just nuts. And, like I said, you know, doing it after the day of his son is born. It doesn't get better than that. And just the way he was able to just score those goals.

You know, one came from a bad angle. You know, one was kind of the half-empty net. One was basically, it was like a two-on. The one that he scored his fifth goal was like a two-on-two, almost many two-on-one where he gets the puck back, fires it in for his fifth goal of the night. One of them goes five-hold, and the other one was on a breakaway where he just made, you know,

the St. Louis Blues goaltender at the time just looked like a complete buffering because Mario just blew the puck past him. He blew past the blues defenseman. And, yeah, these just two of the, I think, the greatest moments in franchise history. You know, to do that goal with the statue against the North Stars in the Stanley Cup final, just absolutely magnificent. And then to score five goals in the game right after your son is born,

you just, that's sports for you, man. You just, you can't make it up. Mariel Lemieux is the goat. And that was really, really fun to bring you guys those moments and just play those classic. Mike Lang goal calls because, you know, I just, I love hearing him Ripett after all these years. He's such a great broadcaster with his knowledge of the game and just his cliches and his references and everything like that. He's just, he's one of a kind, man. And, you know, these two goals were just magnificent.

And like I said, we're going to have more coming for you guys tomorrow when we have some of the more greatest moments in franchise history as well. So for this last little segment of the Locktime Penguins podcast, I figured we would talk about the Penguins are replaying the game two against Nashville last night, one Wednesday night to go up to nothing in this series. You know, I was watching that game back a little bit. You know, I was also back and forth with my sister's birthday. She's somehow 20 now. I'm getting old, but yeah, it's just watching that game back, you know,

it's crazy that the Penguins were able to still, to this day, just blitz the Predators out of this game, not even five minutes into the third period. Right after that fourth goal was scored, the game was over, the Pittsburgh was going up to nothing, there was not a prayer for Nashville in the world. Matt Murray was again, very, very good that game, but, you know, basically the shot passed to open the third period. The Penguins, they scored 90, they didn't even go 15 seconds in. I'm sorry I started there, but it wasn't even 15 seconds into the third period,

and they were already up to one because Jake Gensel is a legend. What do you have? What was that? Like his 19th, his 20th point or something like that. I mean, I know for a fact, I mean, he's tied for his, the NHL record for the most points by rookie in a playoff year with Vili Lano, the Philadelphia Flyers of 2009, 2010, and Dino Cicerelli, 14 goals, seven assists, 21 points.

So, yeah, I mean, Jake Gensel was just a monster, that entire run for the Pagwoods. And like I said, you know, just scoring that early and then they were able to score again just a couple of minutes later with Scott. with Scott Wilson make it three to one and then not even 30 seconds later of Gany Malkin comes down on a 2-1 blast it past Pecorini with a wrist shot you know over right there boom done

and it's just it's crazy how like the Predators just what's the word I'm looking for like they just they looked like shocked I think on the bench like they were just like what the hell just happened and it's just watching that back you know like I said Matt Murray was just outstanding

Cindy Crosby had another really really good game you know of Gany Malkin, you know, with that goal he was possessed. Jake Gensel, you know, two goals in that game. You know, he had the one to tie it up after the Predators went up, one-nothing. Late in the third period, the Penguins were able to tie it, like I said, with Gensel. Sneaking that puck past Rane. I still don't even know how that puck went in.

And then, you know, the shot pass from, who was it, Brian Rust, I think it was. It was shot off the pad right to Jake Gensel with basically half an net empty. He buries it. Then Scott Wilson is able to get a nice bounce to make a three-run, then of Gennie Malkin. does his work there also. But, you know, just what a game that was, you know, I loved how the Penguins, like I said, were tuning out the goal clips,

not from Doc Emrick himself, but it was Mike Lang because, you know, everyone knows he does the radio at this point for the Penguins. He hasn't been on TV for a while. But, you know, he was, he had his greatest moment, you know, I've said it so much on this episode already, on the fourth goal with the Afghani-Malkin goal. And he does, he let it rip for a while.

And, you know, his signature, me a milkshake, Malkin goal call. Just too good, man. It's just, I love hearing those goal calls. I know I sound like a broken record at this point. But, you know, it's just, it's too good. I mean, you know, I also thought the Hengland's defense was pretty good for the most part that night. Just watching that night, I don't really feel like they were that badly outplayed by Nashville.

I know in games three and four, they were very, very badly outplayed. Just because Nashville is so good at home. I think that was a quote after the game, you know, I think, I'm just trying to think, might be Justin Schultz that said this, but, you know, knowing how good that, it was like knowing that how good that they are in their building, you know, we hadn't win this game and go up too well. And, you know, that ended up proven true because the Penguins after dropping games three in games four in Nashville, they were able to go crush them in game five and another blowout

at home and then go on to win game six in pretty awesome fashion. That game was actually on NBC Sports Network this past weekend. And, you know, seeing the intent to blow again for like the 100 of time. not get old. It truly, guys, it does not get old. Just seeing all those Nashville fans very mad online, you know. I know if I myself was a National Predators fan, I probably would not let that moment go for an eternity. I can understand why they probably still have not let it go. But you know what? They ended up losing. You know, you look forward. You know, you don't need to, you know, always look back at it. You know, I still remember always reading the takes, you know. Oh, my God,

the League has it out for the Predators. Oh, my God. The League is biased in favor of the penguins the penguins get all the calls and it's just like but okay I'm not going to get into random about that but um so thank you guys a lot for listening to this episode of locked on penguins you know we'll have more um some of the greatest moments in franchise history coming for you guys tomorrow um I'll have to come up um there's a couple more that I have in mine I can probably spend almost a whole podcast talking about some of the greatest moments in franchise history but um yeah we'll have that tomorrow we'll have some other stuff I think as well so um thank you guys so much for

listening to this episode of Locked on Penguins, you know, follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L0 underscore Penguins. Also, I do actually want to shout out one of our sponsors, we got built, built bar, excuse me, one of our new sponsors, you know, they were able to be kind enough and send us all here on the network. Taste of their products, their protein bars, I'm happy to say that they are very good. So if you guys are looking to potentially get some of it. protein bars. I would very much recommend the

built bar ones because they are pretty good. So that's all I wanted to say. Thank you guys so much for listening to this podcast. Well, this episode of this podcast, Good, La Rav. Yeah, I just, I need to go to bed, folks, because I am just, I am losing it right now. So thank you guys so much, and we will talk to you all tomorrow.