Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - On the cusp of the division title

Episode Date: May 3, 2021

The Pittsburgh Penguins swept the Washington Capitals over the weekend which now has them close to their first division title in seven years. Hunter breaks down the impressive performance by the Penguins, especially when it comes to Bryan Rust, His two goals get him to 22 overall and Hunter goes into his overall game and what's changed since he made his debut as he kind of seemed like a mini Bobby Farnham. After that, he goes into Jeff Carter and how he continues to prove the haters wrong before touching on how the Capitals should want no part of the Penguins in the playoffs. He also previews the two-game series against the Flyers before taking some mailbag questions which include: Who outside the East gives the Penguins their toughest challenge?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.WealthfrontTo get your first $5,000 managed for FREE, for life, go to wealthfront.com/LockedOnNHL. 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. Everyone, welcome to this Monday afternoon episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes.

Follow this show's Twitter at LO-Hunders. Today's episode is brought to by Bilbar. And go to Bilbar.com and use promo code Locked 15 and you'll get 15% off your more. next order or so we finally made it the last week of the regular season for most of the NHL teams i know Vancouver has to play i think well into the week of like what May 16th may 17th or something like that but for all of the united states teams i believe this is the last full official week of the regular season the penguins will play tonight obviously

against philadelphia flyers they will play a tuesday against the flyers before coming home and playing the buffalo sabers uh Thursday and Saturday as the penguins look to clinch home ice not just for the first round of the playoffs, but for the second round as well as they try to win the division title. They have not won a division title since 2014, which was the inaugural season of the Metropolitan Division. Since then, like I said, they have not won any of their division titles. They finished second in quite a few years,

but they have not gotten back up to first since 2014. I think that they will this year. They have the schedule to do it. The Flyers basically just want to get to the end of the season and then make their changes in Buffalo, I think is the same way. you know, both those teams, you know, if they had a choice to probably end their season this past weekend, I think they probably would have taken out with how both of their years have gone. But for this episode, we're going to recap the Penguins' outstanding win on Sunday against the Washington Capitol,

a 3-0 shutout before previewing tonight's game against the Flyers. And yes, everyone, I can confirm. Well, the Penguins confirmed it for me. Evgeny Malkin will be returning tonight for the Penguins after missing 23 games. Brandon Tannov, though, will be missing another game. Maybe he goes tomorrow, but the safe bet is probably Thursday or Saturday. against Buffalo to at least play a game or two before on the playoff start, which will probably still be in another week.

We also have some mailbag questions to get to, and a whole bunch of other stuff for this episode of Locked-on Penguins podcast. So let's get into it. What a performance it was for the Penguins on Sunday. He finished six and two against the Capitals. This season, Brian Russ with two goals. And both of those goals just show how far he's come as a player since making his debut in the 2015-2016 season.

You remember when he first came in, You know, he was All-speed kind of reminded me of like a mini Bobby Farnham. You know, he was so quick to the puck, but didn't have any moves. You know, his shot wasn't that good. His playmaking ability wasn't good. I didn't really think anything of him in the defensive zone. But, you know, since then, and over these last five years, he has developed into, I think, one of the best wingers in hockey. And I will say it again, his contract at $3.5 million per is probably the best bargain deal in the league for the production that he has put up this year.

It is his second consecutive 20-goal season. Again, he would probably gotten well over 30 goals last year if the Penguins went and be able to finish that year. And yes, he now has 100 goals for his career in his first five seasons in the league. So congrats to Russ with that. Overall, though, 41 points in 52 games this year, 22 of those goals. If this were an 82-game season, I believe Russ would be on pace for 36 to 37 goals. If I'm not mistaken, last year he was obviously on pace for over a 40-goal.

season, but he really has turned into something ever since he made his debut in 2016. And, you know, whenever it's a big game, Brian Rust is well right there. You know, big game, Brian, you can call him Mr. Elimination, Mr. Game 7. I know it's a little bit stealing content from Justin Williams, but maybe Justin Williams is Mr. Game 7, but Brian Rust is Mr. Elimination, and we can also call him Big Game, Brian, because, like I said, whenever there's a huge game, you saw this with Sunday, he's there to score. He was 2016 Eastern Conference Final Game 7. He scores that one, 2017 game seven against Washington.

He's there to score the big clinching goal against the Capitals and so many more as well. And I'm honestly at the point now where I hope Brian Russ retires as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins just because of how great that he's been these last few years. And that first one, I know obviously he took advantage of Garnett Hathaway going down. You hate to see a great player like Garnett Hathaway screw up. I really don't even understand what he does for the Capitals and why he gets ice time on the fourth line. because he really doesn't do anything on a nightly basis. So, like I said, thanks to Hathaway for that,

and Brian Russ was able to beat Samsona coming down the left side. His second goal, though, was much more impressive. Beats Orlov to the puck kind of just shrugs him off like it's nothing. And then goes backhand forehand, excuse me, to beat Samsona. That goal reminded me a lot of that clinching goal in game six in 2016. When the Penguins were, they were clinging to that three-two lead. Tampa was kind of pushing. And then Russ makes it four to two with about two minutes.

meeting in the third period to send it to a game seven. And this one, now I understand it wasn't, you know, during the third period with two minutes left. It was just such a huge moment in the game because I thought the capitals were starting to push play, I mean, a little bit more, even though I thought the Penguins were in control of that game, but it was still huge for him to make it to nothing and to really show how far he has come as a player. Again, Jeff Carter, he's been nothing short of extraordinary.

He got his fourth goal with the Penguins on Sunday. And he just, he continues to be a revelation. This stat comes courtesy of Danny Shirey Irving of the Pends Block, if I can find that here on my Twitter. So his first 10 games with the Penguins since coming over from Los Angeles, 6.38 shot attempts on the ice at 5E5. He's been on the ice for nine goals, four, four goals against, 57% of the expected goal share and 57% of the shot attempt share. So he has been absolutely killing it for Pittsburgh.

And I hope that everyone that shot on that trade at the time is eating a lot. more crow. He is the perfect fit for this team down the middle, especially now that they have Malkin back for tonight. You can just ease Carter down the lineup a little bit more, and they're going to have Jared McCann with him. I mean, that's, that duo is going to be nasty for whoever they play in the playoffs. That is a matchup nightmare waiting to happen, whether it's the Bruins, whether it's the Capitals, and whether it's the Islanders, just because I don't think they have a good line or a good pairing that can really go out there and match up against that McCann Carter line with how they've been playing lately. And, you know, Mike Sullivan as a coach,

he loves to have these duos and then plug in a third player to round out that line. He kind of works in duos with his lines. And what do I mean by that? You know, Genssel and Crosby, obviously they work so well together. So Mike is not going to break them up. And they've been awesome ever since 2016, 2017. You can plug whoever you want there. This season's been Brian Russ.

The results have been really good. Malkin and Kappin. They moved Kappin up to playing with Malkin after he played some bottom six minutes to open up his season. It worked wonders from him. and even away from Malkin this year, Captain's numbers have been damn good, but still playing with Malkin is what Saldon prefers, and then he can just put whoever he wants next to Gino.

Right now, it looks like it's going to be Jason Zucker on Monday Night against Philadelphia, and hopefully that can get Zulker going. I thought he again had another good game on Sunday, and I think the damage is going to break really soon for him. I just, this can't keep going on forever. He's getting so many quality chances per game. He's just not capitalizing on it.

It almost reminds me a little bit of Dom Simone, except, you know, Simone makes a lot less money at the time than Zucker does right now. So I think that's honestly my perfect comparison for it. And then, you know, McCann Carter, Sullivan really likes them together. Obviously, tonight you're going to see Freddie Goodrow next to them. I think that's totally fine until Rodriguez comes back. Because when Rodriguez comes back for the playoffs, and it looks like he probably will be, he's still day-to-day right now with that lower-body injury,

I think they're going to go McCann, Carter, Rodriguez. And then Sullivan also loves Astroo and Bluette together. just reunite TANib on that line and they can be that shutdown suppression line that they were last season. So that's why I think the lineup is going to be when they're fully healthy and why Sullivan loves the pairs with his line. So then he can just match them with a player that he knows will do good with the duo that he already has on each line. So I just wanted to share that with you all. But like said, just great games from both of them. Cody C.C. continues to be awesome. Chris LaTang had another really good game made up for that blunder the other night where they gave the capitals a point.

and honestly just watching that game I was actually on the road back with my girlfriend I was seeing some family in Richmond during the day just watching that game I think the Capitals they do not want to play Pittsburgh in the playoffs at all

I think it is a major matchup problem for them I just obviously the Capitals are a bigger team they play more physical I mean they're still fast but they're not nearly as fast as the Penguins are and I like Pittsburgh's depth over them a hell of a lot more I mean Pittsburgh's bottom six I think blows Washington's bottom six out of the water.

I mean, you know, sure, their top sixes can trade punches with each other. Ovechkin with Baxter and Oshie is awesome. You know, you can have Wilson with Kuznetsov and Manta. I mean, that top six is just as good as, you know, Gensel-Crosby Rust, and, you know, with Malk and Captain and whoever they want to put up there next to them. But then the bottom six for Pittsburgh, you know, McCann with Carter and Rodriguez, Asperings, Blugert, Tanev. I mean, you have them going up against, I mean, Garnett, Hathaway.

Lars Eller is decent, but, I mean, I don't think he's better. and Jeff Carter or Jared McCann down there. Sure, Daniel Sprung's all right. Connor Sherry's actually been having a really nice year for the Capitals. Nick Dowd, I think, still plays for them. But overall, I like Pittsburgh's depth. Defensively for Washington, it's just they do not want to play against the Penguins forwards. I mean, there's too fast for them.

The Capitals defense is a bit older. I know Justin Shultz is having a better year, but do you really trust him in a seven-game series? And Dano Chara, no, he's still turning back the clock, but he's also old. I know John Carlson didn't play, and he's obviously their best defensive, but he can't carry them on a nightly basis. I know Orlov is good. Brendan Dillon continues to be weird whenever he plays the penguins. I guess he can't shake the penguins out of his head when the penguins just owned him when he was on the sharks five years ago,

when they were just making him look like a fool every time he stepped onto the ice. I don't know why he decided to ask Teddy Blugger to fight. He kind of just mauled him when Blugher's gloves weren't even off yet. And, you know, last but not least, getting to the goaltending, I trust Tristan Jariah have a lot more than Vitech and Ilyos. so enough on Pittsburgh, handled both of those goalies really well this year. So if the penguins do meet the cap rolls, whether it's in the first round, though it looks unlikely right now or the second round, which is more likely, I think the penguins can definitely take down the capitals in a seven-game series.

I'm leaning potentially penguins in six right now, but it probably will go to seven games just because those series are always 50-50 coin tosses. But I had thought that the penguins were the better team going into this series, but I wanted to make sure when they play these two games. I was thinking it was going to be a split, but I didn't expect the penguins to really dominate in the way that they did in these two games, especially the one on Sunday.

I mean, the Cavils really had nothing going that entire game. And, you know, like I said, I understand that John Carlson and Alex O'Betchkin were hurt, but despite that, the Penguins locked them down defensively and didn't give Washington anything to work with except with like two to three minutes left in the second period where the Cowboys were definitely pushing a bit, but Jari was there to slam the door shut on them.

A couple more things before. do get to this commercial break out Tom Wilson doing Tom Wilson things it's hard to believe that we're in the year 2021 and people are still simping for Tom Wilson I get it you know caps fans are never going to admit it when anything he does wrong I live in the DC area it's how it's always been for as long as Tom Wilson has been here you know they'll get sick of it at some point you know we we all got sick of Matt Cook after a while when he just continued to do headshot after headshot forkin ended Mark Sabard's career I mean like I said I definitely got sick at Matt Cook especially after that. I was kind of done with him.

But, you know, their fans and their media, honestly, it's mainly their fans that will just never shut up about him and they'll just think, well, you know, if you're just dumping on Tom Wilson, you hate him. But, I mean, we just see reality in that he's just, you know, he can never help himself. Like I said, that crotch deck on

Teddy Blugher, when you're down 3-0 with like what, two minutes left, what's the point that, Tom? I mean, you're just going to piss off people and make yourself look like an idiot after all the dirty crap that he's gotten away with throughout his career. And You know, I saw people in my DMs or people in my mentions. Well, you know, that play happens like 5,000 times a game.

Who gives a shit? It's like, okay, so yeah, the refs do not want to call that a penalty each game because they just don't care. That is a penalty. That's a play that needs to get out of the sport. And Capitals fans can think that Penguins fans are obsessed over Tom Wilson and that Tom Wilson lives rent-free in their heads or same with Bruins fans with regards to him or Flyers fans. The reality is to that fan base. No, he doesn't.

we just don't like when he does stupid shit on a nightly basis when we play his team because that is just who he is he plays to injure people he is a good player i will 1,000% admit that but he plays to injure people he has vontes burfect 2.0 the sooner that fan base understands that the better it will be for everyone involved but they probably will never understand it because they always have to send for tom willison and just say he's a changed player you don't watch him on a a nightly basis like we do. And, you know, maybe I don't watch Tom Wilson on a nightly basis, but when he does something stupid, he's never going to get the benefit of the doubt, even if it's borderline.

So those are my thoughts on that after I saw what Wilson did at the end of the game. The blue girl, you know, it's coward shit. And, you know, the best, I said this a few weeks ago when people brought up the deterrence thing, the best thing to do when someone like Tom Wilson does stupid shit like that, you go up to him in the handshake line when you beat his team in a playoff series and you say, hey Tom, Thanks for being a fucking idiot. You really cost you your team the series there. You shake his hand and you move on.

So I just wanted to share my thoughts on that. But overall, this is definitely a matchup that I would love if I were the Penguins going into the playoffs. And in case there was not any doubt that Tristan Jari would be the playoff starter, you all need to seek help if you think that Jari is not going to be the game one starter because that shout out on Sunday proves that he is Mike Sullivan's guy. And ever since that six goal thumping in the third period against New Jersey, he has been lights out for Pittsburgh. So he got over that really quick.

That's the sign of a really good goaltender, and I can't wait to see what he does in the playoffs for Pittsburgh. But overall, very impressive performance by the Penguins as he finished six and two against the Capitals this season. Coming up in the next segment, we're going to talk some other stuff. We're on the Penguins, including Mark Friedman, getting into the lineup tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers, as I will update you all on Mike Matheson status and a couple other things.

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Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow this show is Twitter at L-O underscore Penguins. So going to do a quick preview of tonight's matchup for the Penguins. It will be one of their final two games against the Flyers this season. Hopefully let's get some Crosby's Sucks Chan in the crowd in Philadelphia, though. You probably won't be able to see a lot of Flyers fans, though, because I think their fan base has basically checked out of this season. I mean, they have just been a tire fire ever since early March.

I think I've talked about this before. It was the weekend my girlfriend went away. It was at March 4th, March 6th. It was that three-game series against the Flyers. All three games were in Pittsburgh. They had just blew that three-goal lead on Thursday, that Saturday game, turned their season around. in a way that, you know, we may remember for a long time

because since then, I think they've won 23 of their last 30, 31 games, something like that. And it was all because they had that comeback late in the second period. They had that go-ahead goal from Jared McCann. It was because Ashley went away that the Penguins started their comeback this season. I'm going to start dying on that hill, to be honest with you all. But so to look at the Flyers line combinations, just looking here, Drew with Peturier and Boracek, Joel Farabee, Kevin Hayes,

Travis Keneckney, Van Reeves died with Patrick and Abbey Kubel, Oscar Limbaugh, Scott Lawton, and Wade Allison, defensively, ProVrov Brons, Sanheim, Gossesbair, Robert Hague, and Philip Myers. For goaltenders, I think it's probably going to be Brian Elliott tonight and that Alex Lyon tomorrow. I don't have a confirmation on that, but for Pittsburgh, Casey DeSmith will be starting for the Penguins tonight, and then Tristan Jari will go on Tuesday.

I have gotten some questions in the last couple of days as to what the Penguins' goalie rotation will be, for these final four games. So we already know what it will be for these first two. I think if they have the division locked up by Saturday, if they win these next three games, which is very possible for the Penguins. I do think you see Casey DeSmithko on Saturday, Jari, on Thursday,

and they rest some of the key players. Though I also think that Brandon Tanniv is going to make his return in one of the games on Thursday, just to get a couple games. And yes, everyone for the second time, Evgeny Malkin will be playing for the Penguins tonight that he must the last 23 games with that right knee. injury, Penguins overall finished 16 and 5 and 2 without him in the lineup and know everyone

the Penguins do not need to trade if any Malkin. As for some other injury news, Mike Matheson, it's a soul for a soul with this team. It's been like that this whole season. The injury list is now him, Rodriguez and Brandon Tanev still. Matheson is considered week to week with an upper body injury. I'm no doctor, but after watching what happened in the Sunday game with taking the puck to the face, you know, Tristan Jari had that little bit of a friendly fire there. I would have to guess that it's a broken cheekbone for Matheson.

Remember, John Marino had that injury last season for the Penguins before they had to go on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And I think Marino was back in two to three weeks fully healed, if I'm not mistaken, but he also had to wear the full face mask. So that's probably what you'll see with Matheson when he comes back. I think he'll be ready for the start of the playoffs because after this Saturday, the Penguins will not play for at least a week until game one, whoever they're going to play. against him, and I think that'll be just about two weeks since his injury. So there's a chance that he'll be ready for game one, but if he is not, look for one of Mark Freeman or P.O. Joseph to play in game one for the Penguins. I know Mark Friedman is getting the start tonight with Cody Cici on the second pairing. Pedersen-Marino for the other one,

Dumont-Latang. It's a decision that I totally understand. I mean, I kind of don't get why Yuso O'Reclay is in the dockhouse for Mike Sullivan, that contract that Jim Rutherford signed before this season before he resigned, just really made no sense because he's basically the number nine or number 10 a defense from the chart. But I thought Freeman was playing really well prior to him prior to him getting hurt. And we'll get to see a little bit more of a sample size for him in these next four games. I'm really excited to see how he does. I think in the expected goal share, during that very small sample size, I think his expected goal share was around 72 to 77 percent or something like that. So obviously that's very unsustainable. But I'm curious to see how he plays

in these four games, especially against his former team tonight. I thought when he played, though, before he was moving the puck well, was good in his own zone. And, you know, like I said, I'm curious to see how he does next to C.C. Other injury news, Evan Rodriguez is day-to-day. I'm sure he'll be ready for the playoffs, and Brandon Tanev took full contact today, but he will not be playing tonight. Probably won't play tomorrow night either. Like I said, Thursday or Saturday, I think, is the time to get him back.

But overall, this should be a very winnable game for the Penguins, the Flyers, have basically checked out. They just came off a four-game series against the New Jersey Devils, and in pretty pathetic fashion, they lost three out of four games against them. Probably should have been all four, since the Devils blew a 3-1 lead with less than two minutes remaining in the one of the Flyers won. And that was a Devils team that was coming off a nine-game losing streak. So I think they are just ready for this season to be over.

I would not be surprised if Pittsburgh absolutely kills them in these two matchups. But Penguins have kind of played down a little bit to the Flyers this year. And I don't know why. For whatever reason, they just have not played Philadelphia as well. this season in comparison to other years against them, and in comparison to other teams in their division. This is, you know, like the Islanders and the Capos, who they both win six and two against,

and the Rangers, who they also win six and two against as well. But, you know, should still be fun. The Battle of Pennsylvania is always one you get up for, even though the Flyers are not that good this year. And they're heading for a pretty interesting off season. I'm going to be curious to see if they make some pretty big moves. Jacob Vorichick, I'm sure, is going to be on the trade blog. James Ann Reeves-Deg.

I wonder if they maybe move Kevin Hayes. If they look at, I doubt they'll move Proveron, or Drew or, you know, Couturier, I mean, could they look at maybe moving Travis Kineckney? I mean, that's pretty interesting, but just not a good year for the Flyers, and it really went downhill after they lost that game against the Penguins

March 6th. That was when the Penguin season took off, and that was when the Flyers season basically went down like the Titanic did all those years ago. But we still have a little more to get to for this podcast coming up in the next everyone. I'm going to get to some mailbag questions. Have not done that in a little bit. Thank you all to all the listeners who sent some in. Can we

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Of course, I'm your host, Honcho Hodes. In order to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. follow the show's Twitter at L.O. Orn's Hingwood. So let's get to a few listener questions here as I teased in the last segment. Thank you all so much for sending these in. Alan T. Yoder asks, based on topic from last week, do you ease Malkin back and put it by putting him on the second power play for right now or put him directly on the first power play unit?

To answer your question, Alan, it looks like we already know the answer to that. Personally, I think I'm leaning towards giving him a second unit, but it looks like they are going to be putting him back on his own unit. As soon as tonight, it looks like he is taking the place of Jared McCann. I personally am not a fan of that. I would have taken Brian Rust off that top unit and put it again, Malkin on there because I think McCann was playing really well on that first unit. I mean, obviously McCann is probably not going to be too upset over it

because a future Hall of Famer is taking his place. The good news is that McCann will be able to still play well on the second unit, especially with the season that he's having. But it looks like right now, to answer your question now, he is going to be back on the first unit. I get it. They always love to team up. Crosby and Malkin on the scene unit.

You can put Lutang on there, Jake Gensel, Brian Rust. It's one of the best power play units in the league, but with how McCann was playing, I personally would have brought Brian Rost off and then put Malkin on there, their team up with Jared McCann, because his shot first mentality was really helping that unit,

as he was just getting a ton of goals also while playing up there with all the scoring chances that he was getting. I'm going to a couple others before we end this podcast episode. Nick Berlanski of the tip of the tip of, the Iceberg podcast. If you were not listening to the tip of the Iceberg podcast with Nick and Nick as your host, you were just doing yourself a disservice. They do an outstanding job, giving out Penguins content twice a week with that show. He asks, how big of concern are the injuries to Matheson and Rodriguez to me? Rodriguez, not as much because Guadro was playing, I mean, Gujarro has been playing

really well this year, I think, for Pittsburgh. It does suck for Rodriguez, though, because he was playing his best hockey of the season these last three to four weeks, and I think he's the perfect depth forward that this team has needed for the last few seasons, especially as you're 12th forward. I mean, you can do a hell of a lot worse than Evan Rodriguez. As for Matheson, I think that one's a bit more bigger with my concern just because Matheson was playing his best hockey of the season for the last four to six weeks. I was really liking the level that he was playing.

I was actually starting to form the opinion that the trade overall with Hornquist was not looking as bad just because of how Matheson has been able to elevate. his game ever since honestly the start of April the end of March and he was not making the same mistakes that he was making earlier on in the season we all know that he is a high event a full chaos kind of player but defensively there weren't a lot of lapses there I thought I'm starting from the end of March till now and offensively he was really starting to find his stride with moving the puck just contributing on a nightly basis for the team so I'm definitely a bit bummed about it I know it's only week to week, but hopefully he will be ready for the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

They actually will need him to win the Stanley Cup this year, and I will die on that hill. Thomas Nevin asked, who do you see is the biggest threat in the playoffs outside of the East Division? That's a good question, Thomas. Thank you for asking me out. I'm going to say Colorado. Tampa, they're really good, but they're also missing Stam Coast right now in Kutrov. I understand. I think they're going to get both back for the playoffs.

But, I mean, can they get past Carolina with how good Carolina is? this year. That's a good question. I think I would take Tampa over them, but I think Carolina would give them one hell of a fight, same with Florida. But it just doesn't compare with Colorado because of how they play this year. The Rampson and Landis Cog-McKinnon line, I think, is the best line in hockey. Mason McKinnon is a top three player in hockey. And I just would love to see Colorado and Pittsburgh go at it anyway. But you just, you look at Colorado's depth and they can go at you in waves. I mean, their first line's incredible. Their second line is awesome.

Their third line is one of the best third lines in hockey. Their fourth line is so good. And then you go to their defense with Sam Gerard and Cam McCarr, who's going to be a top-five defenseman in the league in the next couple of years. Bow and Byram is going to be there full-time very soon. Their goaltending, if Philip Grubauer is healthy, is really good.

They're well-coached. This team is in win-now mode, and they're going to be in win-now mode for the very foreseeable future. And they have just dumped on their competition this year. I do want to see how Vegas goes up against them, especially in the second round if both of those teams do win their respective playoff matchups. But overall, for me, it's Colorado. I think that's the team that can give the Penguins their biggest fits. I would say after that, it's Tampa and Vegas. But overall, I think it's Colorado with the depth they had, how great

their defense is and how, when healthy, I think their goaltending can really turn it on as well. He also asks us a follow, but the Penguins were to face Colorado in the playoffs, how would that series panning out. Honestly, Thomas, it pains me to say it. I'd take Colorado in six to seven games over Pittsburgh. I just think they're too good this year, and I think that this is their year to finally win. They sound like that cop. I mean, there's definitely a way for the Penguins to win that series. I mean, you know, got to shut down their super wine, that is Landis, the Cagan and Ranton in, and you've got to shut down Camel McCar. You got, I hope that Philip Grubauer has an off series or, you know, potentially they have goalie issues, injuries-wise, because they've had a lot

of injuries to their goaltaining in the last couple of years, which has sidetracked them. But Overall, I would see Colorado beating this team, as I think they're only one of three to four teams overall in the league that can beat the Penguins in a best of seven. Actually, I should say that three to four to five teams in the league that can beat the Penguins in a Best of Seven series overall. But I'll wrap up this segment of the mailbag questions. Thank you all so much for sending those in. I'll be back with another episode tomorrow morning, tomorrow, early afternoon, as I will recap a Penguins Flyers game for you all and see if the Penguins can get that. not much closer to their first division championship since 2014 in securing home ice for at least the first two rounds

of the Stanley Cup playoffs here. So I hope you all enjoy this episode, and I will talk to you all tomorrow.