Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Looking ahead to Game 4 and a potential Islander goalie change...

Episode Date: May 21, 2021

In this special episode of Locked On Penguins, Hunter brings on a couple of special guests, Nick Horwat and Nick Brlansky of the Tip of The Iceburgh podcast. The three talk more in-depth about the age last night, including that wild third period. What were their thoughts on the Islanders starting up some scrums? Was that Kelly Sutherland's worst officiating job of his career? After that, they get into Brandon Tanev's goal and how he's been a man on a mission since his comeback. Is this Kris Letang's best play since the 2016 postseason? Could he be a Conn Smythe candidate if the Penguins go deep into the playoffs. They also preview Game 4 on Saturday as the Islanders are considering a goalie change. Is Sorokin going to give them some life? 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, welcome to this Friday afternoon edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes

Follow the show's Twitter at L-O-1-Square Penguins. Today's episode is brought to you by a locker room. Download the app and join me this week. I know I didn't do it last night because of the Creates Z game. I'm going to try to do one tonight around maybe 8.39 o'clock whenever my girlfriend goes to bed. Download to get in on the action. Locker room changing the way we talk sports. Today I have two very special guests who have not been on the Lockdown Penguins podcast before,

but they run a podcast of their own if you are not subscribed to the tip of the iceberg podcast. I really don't know what you are doing with your life. I call up the Nick and Nick show because, you know, almost like Mike and Mike in the morning with ESPN with what they used to do, I'm going to start calling it. I've just been adopted the name of the Nick and Nick show because they do a great job covering the team, have a lot of great guests on that, you know, maybe try to steal a couple of them at some point. But whichever one of you go on is to go first, how are both of you doing today? I'll lead it off because Mike and Mike in the morning is a hell of a throwback.

I used to listen to that almost every morning on the car ride to elementary school. back when I used to be able to find ESPN radio in Pittsburgh, but yeah, we're doing good here. It's a little balmy in my new apartment right now. The sun is finally out. It is 86 degrees, and the AC is really loud, so I cannot turn it on. But we're here.

We're surviving this series as much as we can because, like we will discuss, that game three was a wild one. It was a wild one for sure. Yes. I will take your 86 degrees, and I'll raise you to 95 down here in Virginia. Also, no AC because of how loud the unit is. But we're here to have a great time and talk penguins

because that game was insane on Thursday night. So I think that's the best way to just lead into it. Let's get talking. I'm excited. Yeah, let's just get right into it. A crazy wild 5-4 fair. And yes, Nick, it is 91 degrees here in Tyson's Corner. And I'm also in Northern Virginia where my girlfriend lives.

So it is hot. But yeah, let's just get right back into it, as I was saying, five to four crazy game. You know, it didn't look like it was going to get that way going into the third period. You know, I mean, he was just like, okay, lockdown defense like the Penguins did in the second period, in the third period, excuse me, of game two, put an end to this. Then the Anders had some other ideas. You know, yet Scott Mayfield going around looking like a moron.

Matt Martin, basically showing all Penguins fans that he needs to be sent to the gulag and more zone of call of duty. You have Cowell Clutterbuck throwing down on some people. just what did you make of that wild third period whichever one of you wants to go first I made of it it was shades of that 2011 situation but not to the severity

or extent I think because it was in the same building it was the same teams but different names for the most part you know I mean Trevor Gillies wasn't standing over downed oh who was it I forget who it was that was down.

Eric Goddard's not hopping off the bench. I mean, it's two new teams almost. So you had that vibe of it. Plus, I mean, it wasn't that bad. It wasn't guys, you know, straight up meleeing every other minute. It was post-wistle scrums that would break out. That was kind of the difference there. But still not the idea of way to play hockey, let alone try and stay in a game

when it led to that many penalty minutes as well. it was funny because for a couple minutes it looked like it was just going to be straight brawling for the entire time i mean we have how often do we get to say that we saw all five pittsburgh penguins that are in the starting lineup gets into the box simultaneously and jake gensel got two minors because he also took a slashing at the end of that so we had that then we had some more penalties right after that there was a while there where it was kind of reminiscent of what we saw between the rangers and the capitals at the end of the regular season there's a lot of bad blood between the Penguins and the Islanders now because we're three games into this, both teams, and I believe it was Brayn and Tannav after the game that said it, they hate each other. They're not fond of each other. And that's definitely shown through three games now. These franchises have hated each other for years. I mean, we obviously know what happened in 1993.

Don't want to speak about that. I wasn't even alive, but I know how bad that altered the franchise a little bit because they should have won it all that year. But yeah, these franchises just, they've never gotten along. And, you know, I said this on my episode yesterday. You know, when the Islanders are down like that, they have the personnel where they'll just want to goon it up if they want to. And that's what they try to do. You know, the teams have tried to get the Penguins off their game for so many years. You know, if this were under Dan Balsma, don't even really want to know how that game would have ended.

But Mike Sullivan, he just has completely complete control, excuse me, of this team. And, you know, the weird part about that sequence, Kelly Sutherland was embarrassing there as the headed referee. the fact that the Islanders got a power play out of that and basically a gift goal out of that too considering two of the Penguins' best penalty killers were in the box during it and that just goes to show that they had no idea what they're doing with it.

I mean, they totally miss Scott Mayfield throwing two haymakers at Brian Dumlin's head. They miss Matt Martin, basically, cross-checking him in the head. I think Mayfield did it to Crosby right before during that scrum as well. And they just decided to take everyone, but the problem with doing that is you've got to go to replay or even better yet after the game.

Make these officials available to the media. You know, Seth Rorba of the Tribune Review has said that many times on his Twitter. And I completely agree with him. I mean, it's just they're not going to like say anything because, you know, they're not made available to the media. But if you do make them available, now they'll actually have to double down on their decisions and, you know, to speak to as of what happened. But, you know, there was a while there, guys that I did not think they were going to

to win that game, especially when the islanders tied it up with Beauvilliers. I loved the response from Carter, but especially when Clutterbuck scored at 4-4, I was like, this has late regulation loss, ran all over it, or an OT loss for the Nassau Coliseum is going to go nuts. It's funny, because I wrote, sorry to cut you off, Wharrow, but I wrote an article that came out today just titled, this team is different. And the main sticking point of that is game three last year against the Canadian's, Penguins had a 3-1 lead, 3-3 tie.

all of a sudden they were deflated. They gave up an early third period goal and they lost the game four to three. That spelled the end of their season last year. This year, same thing. Three one lead, only this time we took a three one lead into the third period. Everything that we saw happens, three three game and they come back, what, two minutes later with the Jeff Carter goal. It is a different team. It is a built different team.

And the resiliency is at another level this year. Definitely different than last years. And I would even say a different team than what we've ever seen in the Crosby-Bunkin era. And Hunter, I can agree with you in saying that it didn't feel like we were going to win because, and it wasn't so much because of the bad play of the skaters or the amount of bad penalties are being taken on both sides. It was that it felt like Tristan Jari wasn't in it anymore. It felt like he wasn't going to be able to make a save. I mean, Sidney Crosby saved his space there. It's, you know, he had to be the one that stepped in to make the same.

save, whereas we saw Jari kind of going after the player rather than the puck on the Kyle Cudder puck goal. It was not a game where I felt, toward the end at least, I felt very confident in our goalie. And to be fair, maybe that was just nerves, me saying that I'm not confident in any Penguins goalie in the playoffs. Matt Murray's syndrome from the last couple years. Yeah, I just assume every puck is going in against our goalie. So maybe that's kind of what it was, but that's where I felt the worst at. I felt whenever the Islanders were attacking and they were setting

something up, I felt every shot was going to go in. It felt just off. Whereas if this is regular season, maybe I'm thinking, so what? Maybe he'll stop a couple. Whereas playoffs, I mean, every save is so important. And they were getting good

opportunities the Islander. So that was kind of my step back for the game, whereas I really did think we weren't going to pull it out either. And I think we're jarring. I think he definitely wants a couple of those back. The third one, I did not like at all. Can't leave the five hole open. They really don't know what he's doing with his stick.

I think the second and the fourth goals, he really had no chance on. One was just really off deflections. The first one, I also think, double-screened, I think, in front. I really just didn't like the third one. I know he gave up for it's not what you're looking for, but he also, I think, made a lot of really nice

saves when the Islanders were really pushing late first period, and then for a lot of the second. I mean, when you knew there was going to be a lot of push, But, or I definitely know where you're coming from. You know, as I said, it's a little bit of Matt Murray syndrome from the last couple of years. But overall, I still think he played an all right game, but, you know, not to the level of game two where he was really, really good. And I also will say this, you know, before we do get to a commercial break, the Penguins defensive effort during those last five minutes was atrocious, did not really like what they were giving up.

I know the Islanders were obviously pushing. They were ended it because they were on the half side of the arena where all. all the fans are crammed in, or as I like to say, the vaccinated side as the other side was just, there was hardly anyone there because that was the unvaccinated side, which is an odd setup to begin with. But going back to, I just didn't like the Penguins' defensive effort towards the end of the game. They'll have to clean that up for game four, which just because it's going to be raucous inside the Coliseum there as well. Do you have anything more to add about the period in general before we switch gears a little bit to our folk hero, Brandon Tanniv? Well, I just have one other thing.

I mean, Sydney Crosby now leads the league in postseason save percentage at a 1,000 with his save in game two and his saving game three. Yes, that was, that saved the game, I think is the best way to say it. That is a wide open net. Brock Nelson, Penguins Killer over these last few years. He scores there. I'll say it now. I don't think they win that game. I really do not think they win that.

and for some reason my AirPods were disconnected there for some reason. They're mine, okay, we're good now. But yeah, like I said, they do not win that game. I don't think if Brock Nelson scores there. But that would do it for this segment. We have a lot more to get to for this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast,

including the Marvel, the magnificence, excuse me, of Chris LaTang. And yes, folk hero, Brandon Tanneth, who is now my lock screen on my iPhone with that picture from the other night. But before we do that, and it's time to talk about Bilbar. Did you know that Billet Bar has nine delicious

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That's promo code Locked 15 for 15% off your first order at Billbar.com. 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 the shows Twitter at L.O. Orn's Square Penguins. So let's just start with The Man, The Myth, The Legend, the man with the beautiful hair, Brandon Tana, getting the game winner last night,

especially after the video comes out the night before where it looks like he's just on crack cocaine during every single game. I mean, the guy drinks Red Bulls before warm-ups. What did you all think of that game winner and especially the celebration? Let's be real, he politely sips Red Bulls. That was probably the calmest part of the entire.

video and everything from then on was mass mayhem and I feel like because of the I don't how to put it just the aura that has surrounded him all season with you know the headshot coming out of him looking you know a thousand miles into space with the the new haircut the long flowing hair I feel like the media has been really paying attention to him that's kind of how these great, you know, celebration photos have come about because there's a lot more focus on him as a player. It's kind of how, you know, there'd be always just cameras on Crosby. Well, now there's always a camera on Tanna, it seems just because of this, like I said, there's aura that is surrounding him. And it's quite amazing. And it's, you know, obviously given us some great

talking points, some great moments. And obviously now all these memes are going to fly out about it, not to mention the whole mustard thing, which I remember when someone a couple years ago, a photo or a video came out of him eating a packet of mustard on the bench. I didn't realize how common that was in the NHL. That guys just do that, I guess I'm assuming for a little calorie or protein or something like that. And mustard seems like a good choice because it can jack up your sinuses if you get the right kind, so you can breathe a little easier.

It's like smelling salts, but without the... smelling salts on it. Yeah, that was, that's just that whole video was something else, you know, imitating the guy from the bike, Mike, from Finding Nemo. Darlanski, what were your thoughts on Brandon Tanev's game yesterday with the game winner and just him overall in these playoffs? Because you look at the underlying numbers, I think this comes courtesy of Danny from Penn's blog, controlling 69% of the shot attempts, nice, by the way.

The course he share is well above 60%. the expected goals is almost around 70. He has been everything the Penguins have needed and so much more since coming back. The man is a freaking enigma for this team. I mean, he is a leader that is a fourth liner. You don't see it very often, and he doesn't need lead by the normal fourth line leader standards

where he goes out and he pummels someone. Yeah, he lays the big hits like he did in game two on Brock Nelson. Yeah, he's a talker, which is great, but he also goes out there and leads by example. The guy, his nickname is Terrible. for a reason. He has an engine that just doesn't quit, and he's shown that in all three games. I'm glad you mentioned the underlying numbers, because those are numbers that I had highlighted, too, from Danny as well. And just the way that he has played, and that whole line has played

this season to be able to get that offense to come with it, too. I know he was on pace to have a career season as far as goals scored. And, of course, injuries in a shortened season because of COVID heard that. But he's had a great season. He's had a fantastic postseason. And I think Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh's just in love with them. And there's good reason for it, too. Zach Aspen Reese said last night that when all that crap happened, the one voice that was louder than everybody else's was Brandon Tannav saying, keep calm, which, again, that's a very weird oxymoron of Brandon Tanna of telling people

to keep calm. But he was that steadying presence for the Pittsburgh Penguins on the bench. And then on the ice, he was the exact opposite. He was a complete and utter menace. And it just is perfect that he was able to go and put a. game-winning goal up there for the Penns. Would you call it the identity line by chance? I would not because it's awful.

Hey, hey, you know, the Islander fans like to say that they have the best fourth line in hockey, hard pass. Maybe like three years ago. Yeah, you know, Calcutterbuck and Matt Martin, you know, for as physical as they are, all they really do is hit. You know, sure Calderback had a couple goals last night, but I'm pretty sure the Asthma's Blue Your Tanna Line has better underlying numbers in this series so far. Oh, yeah, and by the way, Brandon Taneff has, he's outproducing everyone so far, and, you know, Zach Astromese is also playing awesome defensively.

So I'll definitely take the Penguins' Fourth Line over the Islanders one every day. Switching gears a little bit. What about Crystal Tank, fellas? I mean, this is just magnificent hockey from him. I'll keep saying it. He's the best defenseman in this franchise's history. No disrespect to Paul Coffey being here for four years. But in terms of a franchise defenseman,

It's been there's no one better that's been better for this franchise, like Crystal Tang. And his play at both ends of the rink has been nothing short of spectacular through these first of the games. Yeah, he's been absolutely phenomenal. And it's, yeah, you mentioned the franchise defense, but I mean, we've all been saying that for a long time now. I think his longevity has really helped out along.

Fighting through injuries and, you know, his stroke from a long time ago. He's fought through everything to stay in this league and stay on this team. So it hurts he's getting older, but he's, you know, getting older, but playing his best hockey right now, it seems. He's really geared his game into being the best he can be, especially with a slow start to the beginning of the season that was very criticized by a lot of people and not just the one man that we all know and love. But, yeah, I'm sure Blanesey has more on it.

But, yeah, it's just taken from here. Chris Lentang has just been all-time great for us. You mentioned the beginning of the season, and that first month it looked like Chris Lattang was aging like old cottage cheese, but it since has been aging like a fine wine. He's had a great season. He's been able to stay healthy, knock on wood, and then in this postseason, he's just taking it up to another level.

I mean, three points in Thursday nights win. He is leading the Pittsburgh Penguins defense, who, for the most part, has had pretty much a very successful first couple of games against the islanders. I think a big reason why Barzell has struggled offensively is because of the Penguins' fourth line going up against them. But, you know, kudos to the defense, too. They played pretty well.

There's been stretches where they've struggled. Like you mentioned, the last five minutes of game three was something not to behold, and hopefully that's something they leave behind them in game three. But Chris LaTang, for what it's worth, has been one of the top players in the postseason defensively for any team, not just the Pittsburgh. Penguins. He has been something that has been a revelation, and you said it earlier in the episode, Hunter, like 2016, Chris LaTang, which was something that was the main reason, one of the main reasons

the Penguins won a Stanley Cup. So if Latang can keep this up, it bodes well for Pittsburgh. It's the best hockey I've ever seen him play was during those playoffs. He was in my Con Smyth ballot if I had one, that's for sure. And he's rivaling how good he was there. And he's five years older than he was at that point, which is just nothing short of spectacular. I just, I really liked his game and, you know, to add on your thing with Bauerzel, you know, he was starting to cook a little bit more last night, not as much as we thought he would.

The underline numbers were starting to flip towards him a little bit as he gone down against the Penguins 4th line, but it's still not enough where he's producing on a more full-time basis. You know, where's that analytic equation, Pierre McGuire. But we still have a little more to get to. We'll get to this last commercial break here before I get your thoughts on Game 4 and the rest of the series. and yes, we will talk a little bit about Peter McGuire because that's probably the worst game I've ever heard of a call last night, and I've been

listened to Pierre McGuire talk or call games ever since I think when I was in fifth grade when they went to the final for the first time when I was alive. So, yeah, but anyways, before we do get to that next segment, it's time to talk about. Bet Online, the fastest and easiest way it's been on your sports action. Baseball season is in full swing, and you can track all the action

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I'm your host, Hunter Hoadis. I know to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodesol. follow this show's Twitter at L0 underscore Penguin. So only have about probably 5, 10 minutes left here for this episode before we head to the weekend. But I want to get your thoughts. We're just going to preview game four a little bit here. Obviously, this is a must win for the Islanders. This could be the last ever game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale.

Hashtag cancel the Coliseum from Wesley Euler and yours truly on Twitter. We started that hashtag on his show just a couple of days ago. are now bringing in into full force as the penguins tried to send that building out with a bang that it truly deserves because I just don't like that building. But overall, to both of you, it sounds like Barry Trots might be thinking of a goalie change tomorrow. And it shouldn't be surprising, I don't think, because Semyon Varlamov has not played well against Pittsburgh this year outside of that good effort in game two. If you looked at his overall save percentage against them coming into the playoffs, it was 898.

even with that good performance in game two and last night what happened there it's probably still around 898 900 for the year is it the right move to go back to Sorokin in this game I mean it almost just seems like I'm not going to really say just yet you know

is the captain going down with his ship you know I mean obviously it's still only two games to one anything can happen but I think Troth is just looking for anything to spark his team as you know this actually still could be the last game at the Coliseum the goal of the goal to any situation is weird for them because

I said it before on our show, you don't want to go back and forth and start a carousel. That's not what you're looking for. Because that doesn't put a lot of confidence in either of your goalies really because the coach just making changes like that because

it's such an important position and they're such mental players that if you decide all of the starts are flipping back and forth, it's going to take away from the mentality somewhere. So in the in scheme of things in that sort of situation, it's not good to be, you know, flipping back and forth, but especially whenever they're both healthy. It's not like one of them's hurt. I know one of them

came back from injury, but still, it's not how you want to look at this. So, I mean, if I were trots, I would just hold your confidence in something. I mean, it's interesting. It is a hard situation, but, I mean, I guess you just, I guess he's the coach for a reason who makes those decisions. So, but if I was him, I mean, I'd say, stick with your guy because you know you're going to have Sorokin for a long time. That's one of your safe assumptions, right? Whereas Barlamov is older.

I don't know, the contract situation's there, but, you know. He's made a good amount of money, I think, for the next few years. Yeah, so it's all interesting. But, yeah, you just don't want to start the carousel. You don't want to start something like that up because it will take away from the mentality both of the guys because he's not giving his confidence. confident somewhere. I feel like with the way that he has handled it so far, of course,

Varlamov being injured for game one, so Sorokin plays. And Sorokin had a good game in game one. The goals that he allowed were okay. They were okay goals. But at the same time, he made a lot of big saves, even though they didn't need to be big saves. It was pretty routine saves that he made, I call him, flurieisms, where he made it look more difficult than it was.

But then you go to Varlamov when he comes back, and it makes sense because he went with Varlamov six out of the eight games during the regular season. So you knew that's where he was going to go as soon as Varlamov was healthy. Now in back-to-back games, getting back-to-back losses and trailing in the series, you look at those two guys' numbers over the regular season in total. They were pretty even. And it's not like there is such a dichotomy between the two of them. I think it makes sense to go back to Sorokin for game four. But beyond that, I agree with Horwight. You don't want to keep, you know, if Sorokin loses in game four, you don't go back to our Lamaov in game five and just say, all right, save us.

We lost confidence in you in game four, but save us now down three to one on the road. So if you're going to make the switch, you got to stick to it the rest of the series. But Barry Trots does what Barry Trots wants it. And he is a great coach. So far be it for me to tell him what to do. But I would think if you go with Sorokin in game four, then for game five, you've got to stick with them as well. Yeah. And you bring up a great point.

If the penguins do win tomorrow, potentially close up a Coliseum for good, you probably, you have to stick with Sorokin. you're not just going to do this flip-flop thing. I know Mike Sullivan only did it once in the 2016 playoffs when he started Floree, then went back to Murray, but then Murray earned the rest of the playoffs just because of how good he played. And you know, you weren't just going to give that back the net. But I do agree, overall, what are you guys looking forward to with this game?

Do you foresee Trots making other lineup decisions? I know Travis Zajek is a healthy scratch. I don't even really know why they acquired him in the first place. Just is cooked kind of now. What do you think is just mainly going to have? happen with tomorrow's matchup, just with the Islanders. I mean, I'm sure they're obviously going to be juiced up. The old barn, they want to try to send it out with the bang.

The crowd is going to be really up for it. And they're going to be desperate, I think, is the big thing tomorrow. They don't want to go back to Pittsburgh down 3-1 with how Pittsburgh is now. If you combine it with the playoffs, 23 and 4-2 at home. And that's very hard to win there. So just what are your thoughts on the overall outlook for the game tomorrow, both of you? It'll be a difficult fight for sure. I mean, it's, we already heard people talking excited on radio about is there going to be carryover from that third period on into the next game?

Is there going to be some more melee, basically? It's going to be a hard-fought game. And I don't know if it'll get to the same score that it did because it's probably going to be. to turn into whoever scores first is going to try and immediately shut it down and win it, you know, two nothing, two to one, one nothing even. So whoever scores first, that's going to be an important one. So penguins will have to hop on that and hold on to something because we saw the penguins try and shut it down last game. You know, it's, we don't do it as well as they do, obviously, but we're able to hop on it, score first, and really hold it down and maybe pick up

an insurance, fighting through whatever they decided to throw at us too, because that's going to be the big question mark. Is it going to carry over? I think what you're going to see in game four is a lot of what you saw in game three to start out. You're going to see the islanders come out. Guns ablaze and they're going to be hitting everything that moves for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and they're going to make it tough for the penguins to find any, you know, room to breathe in the offensive zone. I think we see an opposite of what we saw in game three. I think it's going to be a very low-scoring affair.

I predict two to one. I still think Jake Gensel has a goal in him. He's all around the place with it, but hasn't been able to put one in the back of the net. So I think Jake Gensel gets a goal, and I think the penguins come out two to one. But irregardless, I think it's going to be a low-scoring event. I think it's going to be really chippy as well, just from the get-go, especially being in long on long island i should say in long island no don't don't say that but yeah i think the islanders you know i was listening to what the locked on is guy gil

martin was saying you know he just talked about you know they haven't gotten to their game yet and we all know what the islanders game is you know they trap it down they play boring hockey i mean but you know all these games are just going to be fights just because they're well coached they have a lot of playoff experience i mean you know i i was listening to people like early in the week of previewing the series, they were like, oh, yeah, the Penguins are going to run all over this team. And, you know, I think the Penguins have obviously been the better team. It's showing through these first three games that I definitely think they are the better

team and that, you know, one of the reasons that the Islanders was ordered to some violence last night was because, you know, they're probably getting frustrated that what they're doing is not working. But, you know, it's still going to be a fight these last three to four games. They are going to give it everything they have, especially tomorrow. I do agree. I think it's going to be more low scoring. These two teams just don't play fight.

four games. It really... Not very often. And the big thing also, the last thing I want to say really quickly is the islanders haven't been able to get to their game because the penguins haven't allowed them to have a lead. The penguins have had the lead going to the third period in every single game. And that stifles what the islanders want to do. So as long as the penguins can continue to play with the lead, they'll be fine in this series.

I believe, if I'm correct, the islanders, I don't think have led for more than 10 minutes overall in the series. It was in game one, that was it. Game one, game two, oh no, yeah, game one they led for a couple minutes and then Freddie tied it. Then Brock scored and then they, 30 seconds later. So I really only think it's kind of a little bit of shades from 2019, except, you know, it's a taste of your own medicine a little bit where the Penguins only led for, I think, not even five minutes in those four games. And I think it's been like that with the Islanders so far. And that's been, I think, the biggest

difference with this series is that Pittsburgh. Like you said, they're not letting them trap it down and, you know, play like mud in the neutral zone because Pittsburgh has jumped all over them from the start and the Islanders have been chasing and they're not built to do that. You know, the 2017 Ottawa Senators were the same way. You know, they play that one-three-one. They're not built to come behind every single game. It's the same with the Islanders, but they got to continue to shut down Barzell.

They've done a great job on him. Eberley, the same. I mean, usually that guy scores 600 goals against them every single game. knock on wood, that continues. No, I didn't. No one rang the doorbell, Teddy. Sorry, just talking to my dog here. But yeah, I'm excited for it.

Though, before we do go, just one more minute, does Jeff Carter score tomorrow? You know, I feel like it's almost a guarantee, but not quite. Oh, man, that's a hard one. Has anyone compared his number since the trade to Taylor Halls, by the way?

It's close. I think they're right around the same production. Some people were comparing this trade to Phil Kessel with his playoff production and overall regular season production. It's like, yeah, I mean, it's been something. 12 goals and 17 games. That's not three playoff goals in two games. Three playoff goals in three games, excuse me,

basically being a point for game player at this point. I say they let him rest. I say they let him just do what he does on the defensive side of the puck. And somebody else scores a goal. Maybe McCann, but I definitely have Gensel. I don't think Carter adds on to it. But if he does, it's hard to deny what Ron Hextall was doing. Would not surprise me in the slightest.

I don't think I doubt he'll score tomorrow, but every time I say I doubt he scores, he will score. And, you know, just poor Danny from Pence Blug because, you know, he just gets it with his mentions every single night. But I do want to thank both of you coming on this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I really appreciate it. We'll definitely have to do this.

down the road if they do make a deeper run as it looks like we could be seeing if all goes according to plan Penguins Bruins for the first time since 2013 when I was a freshman in high school and I was supposed to have tickets to game five and then cried myself to sleep after game four and I was very upset

but where can everyone find you guys on Twitter? You know how to do it the best but you can follow us on Twitter at Iceberg Podcast. We're also on Instagram at Iceberg Podcast, YouTube and Facebook at the tip of the iceberg podcast. You can follow me personally at Nick underscore Berlanski.

I know it's hard to spell that last name, but if you go to Hunter's Twitter and just put people that he follows and type in BR, it should be one of the first names that come up. You can follow Horwatt at Nick Horwatt 41 on Twitter. All of our takes are our own, obviously, and we have shows that come out every Monday and

Thursday anywhere you get your podcast from. Thank you, Hunter, for having us on. I know we've been excited to jump on, and I'm happy we got to do this. Yeah, absolutely. I really wanted you guys to come on, especially after such a huge win for the Penguins. And fun fact, this was the same score as Game 3 when the Coliseum from 2013, when Chris Cunits had the overtime winning goal to make Job Capuano, an old friend from the Coliseum go mad off the ice.

But I figured I would just throw that in there as well. But that'll do it for this episode, Walkdown Penguins podcast. I want to thank both Knicks for coming on. here. And please go check out their podcast, the tip of the iceberg podcast is they do a great job with their content and they have a lot of special guests on. I have not even brought on myself. And maybe at some point I will. But like I said, they do great work and you should go listen to them twice a week. But anyways, that will do it for this episode. I hope you all enjoy listening to it and we'll do another one of these on Monday.