Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - One win away from home ice...

Episode Date: May 7, 2021

Is everyone ready to stop harping on Jeff Carter? He had his first four-goal game of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night as they inched closer to getting at least one round of ho...me ice. Hunter recaps the game and first touches on Carter, who's been the best Penguins third line center since Nick Bonino. Does he do everything that he used to? Or Jordan Staal? He also discusses Tristan Jarry's performance and how he'll likely shake this off going into the playoffs. Also: How dominant were the underlying numbers for this performance? He also assesses the play of Jared McCann and looks at how the Penguins can clinch the division with one game left.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.

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Starting point is 00:00:02 Your Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Welcome to this late Thursday evening episode 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-Hundersquare-Penguins.
Starting point is 00:00:31 Today's episode is brought to you by Rock Auto. Amazing selection. Reliable of Prices, all the parts of Carver ever need. and visit rockado.com until them locked on sent you. So Pittsburgh Penguins get their second win in a row, as they only have now one game remaining in the regular season. This season has just flown by so quick. They get 0.74 and 75, and a 8 to 4 win against the Buffalo Sabres.
Starting point is 00:00:53 Yes, they gave up four goals to Buffalo, but I think Pittsburgh controlled the pace of this game. Pretty efficiently, you know, I go to Natural Statrick, and this is just complete domination by the Penguins. 64% of the shot attempts, 11 to 3 in high danger 26 to 13 scoring chances 4 scoring chances against this is all at 5E5
Starting point is 00:01:12 And Buffalo's expected goals for was only 1.03 Trishanjari definitely had an off game This is definitely not something you want to see from him Towards the end of the regular season And with Buffalo being so bad Giving up four goals is not the greatest The first one I didn't really think was I think that was the softest when he gave up all night
Starting point is 00:01:32 There's really not a lot of room to shoot for on the short side, and the player was able to still put it through there. I mean, I'm reluctant to say nice shot, but Jari should be able to close that off a little bit more. I think one of the other goals, he was basically just flopping around like a fish. Another one, I think it was the second one, just bad defensive effort there by the Penguins. I think that was the one. No, the first one was the turnover from Mark Friedman. That's a play I don't think Mike Matheson makes.
Starting point is 00:01:58 But the second one, just bad defensive awareness in the defensive zone by the penguins. I'm not going to blame Jari for that one, but the third one, just way out of his net. You know, it looked like for a split second, it was potentially going to be a little bit of goaltender interference. But, you know, after watching the replay couple times, I was like, no, that's just not going to happen. I know Jeff Skinner was able to score on the power play to make it 7 to 4 for a brief time period. But the game was over at that point. I mean, that goal, I'm not really going to blame on Tristan Jari. Like I said, the game was a blowout.
Starting point is 00:02:27 They were not going to give up three more goals there in that period and have something happen, al-a-New Jersey. But overall, this game gets the Penguins to six and one on the year versus the Buffalo Sabres. One more game. Three o'clock on Saturday. It's on NBC. Well, there's two games on NBC. Depending on where you are, you will get the Boston game, I think, or the Pittsburgh. Of course, the Pittsburgh Buffalo game.
Starting point is 00:02:53 I'm not really sure who Boston is playing that day, but let me look it up here just real quick on the NHL app. Actually, no, excuse me, not Sunday Saturday. Yeah, so the Rangers and the Bruins will play Saturday on NBC. Depending on where you are with your local region, you'll either get that game or Buffalo, Pittsburgh. I think for Pittsburgh, John Foresland is calling that game. And then for the Rangers Bruins one, I think it's Kenny Albert, but don't quote me on that. But overall, I mean, we got to start with the big positive Jeff Carter four goals tonight. I think that's his first four-goal game ever in a single game.
Starting point is 00:03:28 He's had hat-tricks before. I think he had some in Philadelphia, obviously had some. with the Kings, but, you know, this was his first four-goal game ever, and what a player he has been ever since coming over to the Penguins from Los Angeles Kings. I tweeted this out earlier tonight. You know, my big thing was that the Penguins haven't had a good third-line center like this since Nick Benino left. You know, Jim Rutherford spent so many years trying to find that perfect third-line center
Starting point is 00:03:53 to do what Nick Benino did. And, you know, years before that with Ray Shiro, do what Jordan Stahl did. Great in the defensive zone. usually one of the best two-way forwards in the game. You know, Nick Menino, I mean, I wouldn't say he was one of the best two-way forwards in the game, but he was one of the better two-way centers, I think, of the game, and provides a really good offensive scoring touch. That is exactly what Jeff Carter has been ever since coming over from the Kings.
Starting point is 00:04:17 I think for scoring chances for, I think there I have 54% of the scoring chances when he's on the ice, 54% of the shot attempts as well. That is now eight goals in 13 games for Carter since. coming over from the Kings. Like I said, he has been everything the Penguins have needed and more. And, you know, you can have the two great lines, you know, of course, of Gensel, Krosby, Rodman, and Zulker, I thought had a really nice game tonight. I'm getting to get to him in just a second.
Starting point is 00:04:45 But if you do not have a third line and you want to be a cup contender, you know, you're just really not going to be a cup contender if you don't have a third line. Now that the Penguins do have a third line, it just makes them that much more of a threat to not only come out of the East Division in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but if you're to potentially get to the Stanley Cup final and then win their fourth Stanley Cup in the Cindy Crosby of getting a market era the duo of mccann and Carter on that third line is deadly you saw mccann also get a goal tonight i think that's what his 13th 14th goal of the season i will be a proponent here as well please extend jared mccan he has been everything this team has needed this season plus much more caspari captain also got on the score sheet tonight awesome to see that i mean he's just been amazing all season and freda gudrow i know he didn't score tonight but three assists i think on all the first three penguin goals tonight. Awesome to see.
Starting point is 00:05:34 I'll say it again. If he's your 12th forward, come playoff time, and Evan Rodriguez for some reason is not ready. I know he's making some progress off the ice, but he's not skating yet. I mean, he's probably not going to start skating until next week at the earliest, I think, just because the Penguins only have one game left.
Starting point is 00:05:47 I'm perfectly fine with it. I mean, Brandon Tanef is going to be back for game one. I'm perfectly fine with them not playing him tonight and Saturday, because what's the rush? I mean, I know you're just trying to clinch Halmise and clinch the division, but I don't think you need Br, Manden F to do that against a bad Buffalo team that you've gone six and one against this season.
Starting point is 00:06:05 So you really don't need a rush Prandentana. Like I said, if Freddie Godroger, 12th forward, come game one of the playoffs, that's perfectly fine with me. I think he has now nine points in 18 games this season for Pittsburgh. So basically averaging half a point per game with Pittsburgh thus far, which is just awesome. Now, I will say this before I do get to Jason Zucker. I felt really bad for Michael Hauser tonight.
Starting point is 00:06:27 He had his first two starts in the NHL. They beat the Islanders. I think in one of the matchups, he made 45 saves. The other one, he made like 36, 37. I think he came into this with a very good 940 percentage, but two-game sample size, which is that's nothing when it comes to goalies, gives up eight goals tonight. It was just, they lit him up like a Christmas tree.
Starting point is 00:06:49 And the biggest reason I feel bad from him, in case anyone did not know this, he is from Youngstown, Ohio, which is an hour away from Pittsburgh. I think he played for like the Pittsburgh Hornets. I heard from the broadcast. I've had about 20 friends and family at the game. So they got to watch him get roasted by the team that he rooted for growing up eight goals. So I do feel bad for him in that way.
Starting point is 00:07:12 But congratulations to him on a long journey to the NHL. He's 28 years old. He's been through a lot, I think, in his life. So congratulations to him. And congratulations to winning his first two starts as well. Beating the Islanders in back-to-back games is no small feat with how obviously good they were in the bubble last year and how good they've been for most of this year, though. They haven't been as good as of late.
Starting point is 00:07:33 They only have five wins in their last 14 games, especially after losing tonight to the New Jersey Devils who have gone five out of six wins to end their season. But yeah, I just felt bad for him. He made some nice saves early on. And for a moment there, I was like, well, you know, maybe we might see a make-name goalie stand on his head against the penguins.
Starting point is 00:07:53 We saw Dustin Tukarski did a couple times this season. Alex Lyon was doing it the other night with regards to the... Flyers against Pittsburgh, but tonight it was not to be. This poor guy gives up eight goals. And here's another fun fact. I did read this about him on Twitter. He was at the game in 2008, Game 6 against the Red Wings when Detroit won the game and won
Starting point is 00:08:12 the Stanley Cup, excuse me, at Mellon Arena. So he had a little bit of a sour taste in his mouth for that one, but he did say he used to go to a bunch of Penguins games growing up. So it's really nice that it got to come full circle for him playing in PPG-Paints arena and playing against probably his idols and Cindy Crosby and Nick Vanney Malkin, because, of course, they were on the ice during the 2008 series against the Red Wings where they lost four games too. But enough talking about that.
Starting point is 00:08:35 As it comes to Jason Zucker, I really think he's now backed from the dead, as I think a way people said on Twitter tonight. I understand that he's kind of been the whipping boy amongst the fan base, but he was skating hard, I thought, last night. If you put on the third line, you know, Zucker and Carter, and if you want to put Gujarro on there, you want to put Rodriguez on. there. They're good enough. They're wheels to, you can allow Brandon Tanna to come back with Bluger and Zach Ashton Reese to just dominate shot suppression.
Starting point is 00:09:06 And I'm going to say this right now. This is going to be the deepest Penguins lineup that we have seen since 2017. It is going to give them fits. And, you know, Zucker, like I said, great game from him tonight. I know he didn't score, but he had a lot of good, high-quality chances, has goals in back-to-back games before tonight. And also, I really liked his defensive game as well. So he's really come around these last three to four games. I think people can ease up on hating him. And it's like, wow, everyone, it's almost like, as my buddy Jeff said from Penguins Twitter, Radim Zohorna is his ad.
Starting point is 00:09:35 It's almost like, wow, if you bring Evgeny Malkin back into the fold, who he has played with for basically this entire season until Gino got hurt for 23 games, it's like, yeah, he's going to be really good as Gino is coming back. So I'm really excited about that line. And yeah, I'm also just really excited for Zulker with Carter and whoever they want to do with Goudreau and Rodriguez. But we have a lot more to get to with regards to this. this game and what it means for the standings is now the Penguins have taken back first place
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Starting point is 00:10:38 Go to Wealthfront.com slash locked-on NHL. That is Wealthfront.com to grow your savings. Remember that's Wealthfront.com slash locked on NHL and get started today. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodies. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter. Hodes follow the show, Twitter at LO underscore Penguins. I did see a very funny tweet tonight from CK-404 response code, Tired, and then with a colon, Hall gave the Bruins a second line that can score,
Starting point is 00:11:10 Wired, Carter gave the Penguins, a third line that can score, and yes, that basically sums it up. All the deadline acquisitions have been really good for teams in the East Division, outside of Palmerie and Zajak. In case anyone wants to know how bad they have been, Kyle Palmeri has a goal in three points in, like, 15 games, and Travis Zajek is just basically fighting to stay in the line.
Starting point is 00:11:28 So really nice trade there, Lou Lamarillo. You basically did nothing to improve your team. While Taylor Hall is lighting up with the Bruins, Jeff Carter is lighting up with the Penguins, Anthony Manta, has been really good with Washington. I was also looking at the Money Puck line of the McCann Carter-Gudrow wine, 88% of the expected goals tonight. That's obviously not sustainable.
Starting point is 00:11:49 That is not going to continue every single game in the playoffs for the Penguins. But if they can maintain like 54 to 55% or even close to 60%, they are going to make a lot of teams very unhappy, I should say, if they go on a run here. But that just goes to show how well McCann and Carter have been playing for Pittsburgh this season. I'm going to touch on a couple more things here before I get to a couple listener takeaways. I thought Chris LaTang had an awesome game. There was a vintage Latang moment. I think halfway through the second period had a shift for the ages.
Starting point is 00:12:24 It reminded me of that one in 2019 against Dallas, where, He was just carrying the puck for about 30 seconds, did a couple of spinarama moves it looked like, just went around a couple of stars defenders and then bent a puck home, and that's probably one of the goals of his career. It looked like that was going to happen again tonight, but LaTang shot it just high of Hauser.
Starting point is 00:12:43 I really think I would have brought the house down at PPG Bainz Arena if he was able to pull that off. I mean, like I said, that's just a vintage Latang shift, and you can tell he's really feeling it when he's pulling stuff like that off. Brian Duhlman, I thought it was really nice game from hand. Marcus Pedersen was perfectly fine. I've said it before on the podcast.
Starting point is 00:12:59 I know he's been a whipping boy, at least defensively, for a lot of fans this season. But, you know, when he's paired with John Marino, they're going to be your best shutdown pair. And they've been just that for about a few weeks now. I mean, I know he had that goal the other night against Philadelphia to open the scoring. He's not going to score a lot. But, you know, I think his defense, when he's on his game, more than makes up for it. And yes, speaking of Brian Dumlin, we get another Brian Dumlin goal. What is that now?
Starting point is 00:13:23 His third or fourth goal of the season, I think I even tweeted out that I'm going to go get some a bourbon and coke because this second period was off the rails. I mean, there was basically, what, four to five goals scored in two to three minutes? This was just ridiculous. You know, the Penguins would score. Then the Penguins would score. Then the Sabers would answer. And then Pittsburgh was scored again.
Starting point is 00:13:41 And then they can finally broke it open a little bit to make it five to three, which ended up being the game winning goal. And then I was able to relax it and be like, okay, you know, the game is basically over here. But like I said, this was a very dominant performance by the Penguins. If we go to the all situations here on natural stat trick, 58% of the shot attempts for the penguins, 70% of the high danger chances, and they're expected goals for 2.72 compared to 1.84 for the expected goals for all situations.
Starting point is 00:14:09 If you go to 5B5, excuse me, 2.47 expected goals for Pittsburgh, 1.03. Other stuff to come out of this game, I thought Cody Cici was perfectly fine. Jake Ansel was feeling it all night. I was surprised he actually did not score tonight. Usually when the Penguins score a goal, you figure that Jake Gensel factors into about two. Usually he can guess, well, I shouldn't say two.
Starting point is 00:14:34 He usually has at least one, if not two, in that game. But tonight he did not score at all. But, I mean, he really didn't need to as Jeff Carter had his first four-goal game of his career. Oh, I didn't touch on this. Cindy Crosby was able to get another goal. Another point he's now passed Ovechkin for most points all time. I know Vetchkin has missed quite a few games recently, but Cindy Crosby now has more points all time than Alex Ovechkin,
Starting point is 00:14:55 and I think about 150 less games played. So if you want to know who the better player is, even though it's pretty shitty to compare those two players, since they're completely different players, I guess I just give you that to think about. Though I will say that Ovechkin is the greatest goal score we've ever seen. I just think Cindy Crosby is the best playmaker of this generation. But okay, let's get to a couple listener takeaways here.
Starting point is 00:15:17 Alan Teotter says, first start of the game, so many Jeff Carter chants and F. Tom Wilson once. Yeah, that. That is perfect. I love that there were a lot of Fock Tom Wilson chants there. And yeah, Alan, I'm glad you got to see that game as well. And yes, he did send me a video from his Twitter account that Jeff Carter was the first star of the game. And how could you not give him the first star of the game, people?
Starting point is 00:15:36 Four goals is fitting into this team. So much better that I think anyone anticipated. You know, shout out to Danny Shari Irving. It's the daily podcast shout out to him. I know he's eating a lot of crow right now, but I also don't think he gives too much of a shit. because, I mean, why would you not want to be wrong on something like that? I mean, hell, I'm eating so much crow on Cody Cici. It's not even funny.
Starting point is 00:15:57 I was so happy I was wrong about him because I actually want him to be extended now. Hell, I'm eating a lot of crow on Mike Matheson right now because even though he's missed the last couple of games, I thought for the last four to six weeks he had been playing his best hockey and making that Hornquist for Matheson swap look a hell of a lot better than it was the first couple months of the season. So anytime me or someone like Danny or someone like, you know, Jeff from the Pennsblogger, Jesse Marshall, or whoever else from Penguin's Twitter has a take that makes them ecro. I really don't think anyone is going to care because it just means that they're playing well and they're helping the team win the game.
Starting point is 00:16:33 As you see right now in Jeff Carter and Cody C's seeing him. A couple other things. Gilbert that goes says four goals is that good? Pretty sure I haven't seen Matthews do that this season. Yes, Gilbert, I can confirm that is good. So hashtag confirmed on that. As for Austin Matthews, I can actually look that up for you really. quick as I get to a couple other of the listener takeaways.
Starting point is 00:16:54 I do want to see if he has had a four-goal game this season. Let me just take a look here. Hat tricks. No, he has not had a four-gold game this season. He had a four-goal game in his opening. I think it was in his debut game that he scored four goals against the senators, but they lost. He had a hat-trick against the generals, 7-4 in 2020.
Starting point is 00:17:18 And then he did have a hat-trick this year. against Ottawa, a 6 to 5 win for Toronto. So only three goals for him, but Jeff Carter was able to do something that not even Austin Matthews did this season. And he has 39 goals and 63 points in 43 games. Big Red says, I'm going to use this as a place for fan reaction. Penn's fans might be upset that four goals got made in tonight. You got to keep in mind that the savers have nothing to lose and we'll send all five skaters
Starting point is 00:17:41 in on the four check. And I do 100% agree with you, Big Red. The savers are playing loose. And Zach Ash and Reese even said today, I think, to the media, these are the kind of teams that a team like the Penguins hates playing because you said it best they have nothing to lose they're playing loose
Starting point is 00:17:56 and they'll just do whatever they want because their season's just about over and they have nothing to play for so yeah they're just going to send five skaters in and you're right that teams don't practice against that kind of stuff so sometimes it's a bit harder to prepare for that being said they only have one more game
Starting point is 00:18:13 against this team coming up on Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern but yes I understand that people are going to be a little bit upset that they did give up four goals in this game, and I know Tristan Jari had a bit of an off game, but I wouldn't expect him to have an off game on Saturday if he starts. I'm going to actually touch on that coming up in the next segment if he should start on Saturday, and if I see potentially the Penguins resting a few players. But yeah, I do agree with you on that. Irish, AJ says, it wins Saturday and the caps lose one game in regulation over the last three
Starting point is 00:18:41 should let us win the East correct, even if Boston wins out. I believe you would be correct, AJ. You said it best Penn said 77, 77, 77 for the caps and Bruins. Yes, I believe the Penguins, if they win on Saturday, they get to 77 points, if they lose one in regulation to the flyers,
Starting point is 00:19:00 the capital said it is, then they beat the flyers and say they, I don't know, say they beat the Bruins because remember, Boston plays the Bruins. So yeah, I think you would account Boston beating Washington and them winning out, and I think that's the way
Starting point is 00:19:17 that all three teams would tie for first, which is a very real possibility here. I mean, let's be real. But I think in that scenario, AJ, if I have this right, let me just look at this right now. I'm just looking at this ending. So if Washington beats Philly ones,
Starting point is 00:19:31 they get to 75 and tie them. If Philly beats them in regulation, they're still tied with one game to go. If Pittsburgh wins on Saturday, they get to 77, and then say, Washington beats Boston in regulation, I still believe the penguins would have the tiebreaker over them.
Starting point is 00:19:50 Don't quote me on that, but I believe they would. Now, let's say Washington wins both games versus the Flyers, which is probably going to happen. Penguins win on Saturday, and then Washington loses to Boston regulation for their last game of the season, and Boston wins their other couple of games. They have the Rangers, I think, for one more, and then the Islanders are also something right now.
Starting point is 00:20:08 So say the Bruins went out and the Penguins went out, but Washington loses that came to Boston. So you would be right. I believe 77 points, all around the board, and I do think the penguins would clinch the division in that scenario, which would have them play the New York Islanders in the first round, and would have Washington and Boston go out of, which is what I do want to happen. I mean, I really don't want any part of the ruins in the first round with how they're playing right now, but yes, I appreciate it. I believe
Starting point is 00:20:32 you had that right. I apologize if it was a bit weird explaining on the podcast, but I do believe that is correct. So thank you all for sending in those listener takeaways, especially as it comes to the standings. We have a couple more things to talk about coming up in the next segment, including if the Penguins will maybe wrestle and players on Saturday. Before we do get to that, though, it's time to talk about that online the fastest and easiest way of basketball. Baseball season is in full swing and you can track all the action at Ben Online, get all the latest news, odds, and info for all your sporting needs, including MLB, NBA, NHL, and all your UFC action.
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Starting point is 00:22:08 podcast I'm your host hunter hoodies you're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes for the show's Soter at L.O. Humbergreens. So just to get to a couple more things before I called an episode and come back to you all tomorrow
Starting point is 00:22:19 and wish I will also thank everyone for another wonderful season of covering this team on the podcast. It has been a total blast to do this for another regular season and I can't wait to see what comes with this podcast in the playoffs.
Starting point is 00:22:31 I have a lot of exciting stuff coming up with some guests coming. Thank you all truly like as regards to resting players on Saturday. Here's my thoughts. I'm going to take a pause here. I think Brandon Tanev will be ready to go for that game. This is the second or third consecutive practice that he has been full contact.
Starting point is 00:22:50 But I do not think Mike Sullivan will play him, nor should he. What is the point in playing him in that game against Buffalo? Yes, I understand you are still trying to win the division, but playing against Buffalo, you should be able to take care of them. They are going to be starting their six-string goal again. You're six-and-one against him this season. There is really no point to play Brandon Tav in this game. He will just be ready for game one.
Starting point is 00:23:12 in the Stanley Cup playoffs, no questions ask. I think as for Sending Crosby, he'll probably play him, but he may maybe manage his minutes. I'm sure Gino will play. Chris La Teng will go. As for the goalie situation, I was asked us on my locker room tonight. I would start Tristan Jari,
Starting point is 00:23:27 but if it gets to be a potential blowout, maybe you put in the backup goalie in to see how he does. I know he'll be a little bit ice cold, and this will be his first in-h-chal action ever, if I'm not mistaken, but I would still go to Tristan Jari. Yes, I understand there's a little bit of a risk for injury, but I do not foresee him getting hurt.
Starting point is 00:23:44 And with the division on the line, I can't see Sullivan not starting Jari for that game. So those are my thoughts on that with resting starters. Maybe you see a player like Freddie Goodrow get rested. Maybe you see a player like Teddy Bluger get rested or Zach Asson Reese or a couple other players. Demolite. Maybe even Cody Cici gets resting. You bring Chad Ruehdle in or something like that.
Starting point is 00:24:03 But otherwise, expect the stars to play. Expect Jari to start. And I think that's basically what's going to happen on Saturday. Remember 3 p.m. face off at N. BC. As for what happened with that Rangers Capitol shit show on Wednesday, I'll just say this before I go. That was embarrassing to the league. I think people realized right away what the Rangers were trying to do, which is really embarrassed the league. And I think they did because George Peros is so bad at his job. Props to the Rangers for releasing that statement, you know,
Starting point is 00:24:31 boo-hoo Gary Bettman, sorry, you know, of course you had to find the Rangers $250,000. Sorry you got your feelings hurt for an organization telling you and George Peros the truth that, yes, he does suck so terribly at his job and he's so inconsistent. The only reason they're doing suspensions right now is because they were called out for their bullshit by the Rangers and that's why Shane Gospherer was suspended and why Pavel Buchenevich was suspended as well. As for what happened, I mean, you know, the opening fights, you know, whatever, the three fights off the rip.
Starting point is 00:25:00 I mean, that's very similar to the Rangers Devils in 2011 when Pete DeBore and John Tortore were there. But as for what happened after that, that's just a joke, man. I'm kind of tired of seeing fighting in hockey anyway. I understand that's part of the sport, but I mean, if you're always watching hockey to see fighting, this probably isn't the sport for you. In my opinion, I'd rather watch Connor McDavid do what he's doing. And, you know, he's probably going to get 100 points in a 56 game season, which I don't know if anyone knew this. That's basically 140 points pace for an 82 game season, which has not, there's not been a 140 point pace for that kind of season since Mary Louie Mew had won in the 2000-2001 season.
Starting point is 00:25:38 But those are my overall thoughts last night. it was just a total shit show. And I think that is how I will end this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. You know, the league, they brought this upon themselves. They enable this shit. That's just what they do. And overall, great win for the Penguins tonight. One more game before it becomes even more real as the Stanley Cup playoffs get ever so close.
Starting point is 00:25:57 One more win on Saturday, and the Penguins will clinch home ice for at least a round. And for them to win the division, they need to not only win that game, but have the Capitals lose one of the remaining three games, even if Boston wins out and may tie both Washington and Pittsburgh in the standings, or just Pittsburgh in the standings, I believe Pittsburgh would have the regulation overtime winner tiebreaker, which would allow the Penguins to have their first division title since 2014. But if I'll do it for this episode, hope you all liked listening to this one, and I'll be back tomorrow to preview the game on Saturday and talk about a lot of other things regarding the Penguins as well. So stick around for that.
Starting point is 00:26:31 Hope you all great rest of your night, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

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