Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Penguins Recall Sergei Murashov from WBS and Karlsson wins team MVP!

Episode Date: April 7, 2026

The Pittsburgh Penguins made it official on Tuesday morning that Sergei Murashov has been recalled from the AHL. Hunter and Patrick react to the news and discuss whether it means he's getting ready to start a game or if its precautionary. (1:00) They discuss an update on Stuart Skinner before getting into Rickard Rakell being named the NHL's First Star of the Week. (13:25) They dive into how he's been so effective over the last month and how he has really helped the Penguins get close to a playoff spot. Finally, they look at the slate of games on Tuesday and discuss Erik Karlsson winning the team MVP award! (24:30) Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! QuoMake this the year where no opportunity — and no customer — slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go tohttp://Quo.com/lockedonnhl. Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now new customers can bet just five dollars and get two-hundred and fifty dollars in bonus bets if your first bet wins. Visit https://FANDUEL.COMto get started — Play Your Game.   FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially recalled Sergey Murashaw from Wilkesbury, but will he play? Pat and I are going to discuss that right after this. You're Locked-on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Hunter Hodes. You can follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, joined by my host, Patrick Namp, You can follow him on all social media platforms at Sin and Furwet. You can also follow this show's Twitter at L.O underscore Penguins.

And you can find this on Instagram at Locked On underscore Penguins. Of course, thank you all so much for making us your first list of watch of the day. We are free and available on all platforms. Pat, the Penguins had their official team picture day on Tuesday. That's why they were practicing at PBG paints arena, though only a optional practice. The full practice will be on Wednesday up in Cranberry before the team flies out with Newark to try and clinch the playoff spot against the New Jersey Devils. But before that practice happened on Tuesday,

the Bengals announced that they had officially recalled Sergey Murshov from Wilkesbury-Skranton. He got to the game on Sunday after the game started. They were trying to get him there before, but again, Wilkesbury is about four to four and a half hours away from Pittsburgh, wheeling, only about an hour. So that's why they officially announced that Taylor Godier haven't recalled, but he is now being sent down to Wilkesbury, as Mershov is now up here in Pittsburgh. And Pat, all three goaltenders were out there at practice today,

Arda Shilov, Stuart Skinner, and Sergei Murashov. Taylor Haas of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports reported that his eye seemed a lot better. Josh O'Oe of the Athletic said the same thing, that he looked fine at practice. So that begs the question, what is going to happen this week?

My guess is one of Shilovs or Skinner will start on Thursday, TBD, if Marashov is going to be the backup. I think if they clinch on Thursday, there's a better chance that Marischov could stay and maybe get a start in a game where they're already clinch, especially Pat, if they get the second spot locked up too, because say the Flyers lose tonight in regulation of the Devils, all the Penguins need to do on Thursday is beat the Devils. Not only are they in, they have the number two seed locked up,

and they're not really playing for much else to end the season. You're already locked in your playoff spot. We all know Carolina is winning the Metropolitan Division. So at that point, you can maybe give Marischoff a start, one of the games against Washington, maybe the St. Louis game. But I don't think he is going to get this game on Thursday. It's going to be one of Shilov or Skinner. And I think one Skinner is fully good to go.

I think you're probably going to see Marischov. Go back down to Wilkesbury, get those playoff games. I kind of think right now he's more up as a precaution. But, hey, he's at least getting some reps. that's good. I just don't think he's going to get the start on Thursday, though I know some fans would probably want that. Right. I do think it's mostly precautionary at this point because with the reporting from both Haas and Yohe that Skinner's looking a lot better, I think that at this point, he's probably just here in case Skinner can't go. And I wouldn't be shocked to see him as just a backup

on Thursday if Skinner can't go. Because I started to get some pushback this weekend as well as this morning when it became official that he was recalled people saying oh you said they weren't going to do it you said they weren't going to do it listen i still stand behind what i said about this it's a house money season they are way further ahead and way better than anybody expected them to be but it's also not the middle of a contention window this isn't 2016 where mark andre flurry gets hurt ahead of the playoff and you think, oh, no, the only thing that could derail this potential championship run is not having a goaltender. But then you had Matt Murray in the AHL who was ready to come up and take the reins.

This is a team that is still in the middle of its retool on the fly, and they weren't supposed to be here. So you still have Artie Shilovs. You still have Stuart Skinner. And you let it ride. and you let Sergei Murashov continue to develop in the AHL. Now, this is obviously a little bit different. If one of those two get hurt or can't go, he is a good option and your best option to call up and have him on the roster.

But you want Sergey Murashav to be your goaltender for the next 10, 15, if not more years. And the best way to do that is to allow him to continue to develop in the American League. this year. Let him be that guy down there. Let him dominate down there. Let him finish the job down there. Even if it doesn't mean you win the Calder Cup, it just means he gets that experience of being the guy. His confidence increases. He gets better. And then he becomes ready to be a full-time NHO goaltender. You don't want to rush him. This, again, this isn't a team where you're thinking, oh, God, they need a goaltender to contend because I look at them and think their ceiling is a round or two. Now they've surprised us all year.

They could do better than that. But I don't think it hinges upon whether or not you have Sergei Murashov on the team or not. That's fair. And again, I think if both are good to go, Skinner and she loves that is for Thursday, I think you might see Maryshov go back down to Wilkesbury. They'll probably reassigned Gaudier back to Wheeling, even though Gabriel Degg has just been signed by Willing for the. rest of the season. So we'll have to see who gets the net for the Wheeling Nailers come the Kelly Cup playoffs.

But that is good news that Gabriel Digg is going to be spending the rest of the 25, 26 season with them. But again, I think if Mershaw v gets the net in any of these games, Pat, I think it's after they've hopefully clinched. You can get him in one of these games. Maybe he plays against Washington, as I said, maybe you get him in that game against St. Louis, where I think you'll see, especially if you're clinched by then, I think you're going to see multiple guys. set out. We got a question about, you know, could you sit out Ben Kindle for that game maybe in St. Louis? I can maybe see that considering how much he has played as of late in his first NHL season at 18 years old. Maybe a couple of the other veterans could sit out who are maybe playing through a little bit of injury. But at the very least, they have a good third option in Sergei Moroshov.

God forbid anything happens. He'll be right up back up here. Excuse me. And, you know, even if Skinner is not good to go on Thursday, I think Marischov is probably the backup to Sheelovs. I think they would start Shilov for a third straight game, especially with their playoff hopes on the line. You need a win to get in. Well, there's another Conjerk scenario. I'll get to a little bit later on in the show.

But you all heard what I said on Monday. You went on Thursday. You're in no matter what. If Skinner can't dress, I assume Murashov will. But again, Pat, the fact that he's looking okay, sounds like he practiced fine. I couldn't get down to the arena today. I'm going to get up to Cranberry tomorrow,

so I'll watch a little bit more in depth. I think Skinner is going to be fine here for at least the weekend, if not Thursday. And if that's the case, I think Miroshaal will probably go back down. But hey, he's getting in some reps. It gets everyone excited, rightfully so. He's had insane numbers this year for Wilkesbury. But again, I want to see what he can do for that Calder Cup run. God forbid anything happens, you can call him back up.

But he finishes this off. He's going to be on this team next year. So do I. And I also, I'll throw us all the way back to October when we were talking about the likes of Ben Kindle and Harrison Brunick and their chances to make the team. I also do think if this team clinches on Thursday and you keep Murshov around, you kind of hinted at it where those last few games, if you want to give them a start or two, don't think that's the worst idea because it's similar to what we said about Brunick and Kindle when we were still wondering whether or not they were going to make the team. and I know it's already happened with Mureshov this year, but it's also not the worst thing for his development to give him a taste, to give him a look, just to say almost a measuring stick.

Even like a reward for, hey, you're having a great season. We're in the playoffs, go out there, maybe start against Washington. I can see that, but also at the same time, that I can see them just reassigning him back to Wilkesbury, if both Skinner and She loves are going to go for Thursday. So I can see it. And I'm just saying, I don't think at the end of the day, if this team clinches on Thursday,

it's the same thing that goes with resting some players down the stretch is you give some of your HL guys a reward or a taste and you just let them see what they got to do, see how they stack up, see where they are developmentally, even though those games most likely, if it goes the way we want it to, aren't going to be your typical NHL games.

It's going to be teams that aren't in the playoffs, a team that's already in and is just playing out the thread. but it would not be the worst idea if you give him a taste in a little bit of a shot just to say, hey, you're playing really well down in the A. We're going to give you an opportunity to start here. Do your best. And then you're going to go and lead this team in the Calder Cup playoffs while we're going into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Yeah. At the end of the day, like him starting for Wilkesbury in the Calder Cup playoffs, that is probably 99% going to happen unless something unforeseen happens. on this end of things. But as I said too, if you want to give him a reward slash a small taste of the end of this season after they've hopefully clinched, I can see that. So we'll see what happens.

It's just exciting that, hey, he's getting some reps. And I'm sure he'll be a practice on Wednesday as well, up at Cranberry before the rest of the team as well, flies out to Newark to try and clinch that playoff spot in New Jersey. But that's going to do it for this first segment. Coming up in the second segment, Ricardo Raquel was named the NHL's first star of the week on Monday, and for good reason. Pat and I are going to talk about just how great he has been as of late coming up right after this.

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of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Hunter Hodes, joined by my co-coast, Patrick Ham. Pat, I'm rocking my Arsenal shirt today. It's the Champions League quarterfinal, leg one, Arsenal versus sporting, road game, got to get off to a good note. I'm hoping for just at least a draw, take these guys back to the Emirates and then hopefully finish them off next week, get to the semifinals. I love this competition, and they're also trying to win the Premier League. So, hopefully it's a good day to be an Arsenal fan and it's not been pretty though the last couple of weeks. I'm just sitting here wearing a Rocket City trash panda's minor league baseball hat because I thought it looked cool. So not as fun for me today, but up the Arsenal, whatever they say, I don't know the saying.

Sorry. I'm not even trying to be snarky. I'm just not a soccer guy. It's okay. Come on you gunners. I genuinely did not know it. It's okay. You don't follow soccer that much. but I'm loving it right now. They're still alive in two very big competitions, even though the last couple weeks they've been knocked out of two other competitions. Anyways, that's enough soccer talk for today.

I hope nobody tuned out of this episode. But let's get to Ricardo Kelpette. NHL's first star of the week, seven goals, eight points during that time, seven goals in his last five games as well, by the way. He now has 24 goals and 48 points in 57 games. If he had not missed several weeks earlier in the season with that broken hand, he would be over 30 goals right now.

He is playing the best hockey of his season right now, and he's doing it, Pat, by going back and forth a different positions, excuse me. He's been at wing, but lately he's also been at center, and he's been playing a lot better at center. I think he's been better at face-offs. He looks more comfortable being more of a distributor, even though his release is more of his bread and butter, in my opinion.

But he's looking more comfortable with his linemates. He's also playing well on the penalty kill. I am just really liking his overall game right now. Also has 11 goals in his last 10 games, 14 goals total since the NHL came back from the Olympics. If it wasn't for him and especially his Swedish teammate Eric Carlson, I don't know where this team would be right now, considering how much time Crosby and Malkin missed during the month of March.

Both of those players, but especially Raquel, really stepped up during the month of March. and Raquel, congratulations to him, very deserving of the NHL's first star of the week. The stats are nice. They're great. And it is a well-deserved honor for Rickel being the first star of the week. But you brought up the most impressive point of it is that he has not been on a set line in a set position for the most recent past. It has been games at wing, games at center, different line mates, up and down the top six. and he just continues to play really well.

And the thing that I have really enjoyed, and it's always been kind of an understated part of his game, is that he plays with an edge. He's not your traditional physical player. He's not laying the body all the time. He's not throwing massive hits, but he gets to the dirty areas. He does really well in the corners.

He's really good in front of the net. And when he plays with that little bit of a physical edge, his game goes to a different level. And we have seen that since the penguins have come back from the Olympic break. He has been just a hound on the puck in the offensive zone. And it kind of is a great personification of what has been an underrated part of this penguins team this year. Yeah, they're not the Florida Panthers. they're not the Tampa Bay Lightning. But this is a sneakily physical team.

They play a hard game. They are not afraid to go to the corners. They're not afraid to play a little physical. I don't remember. I'd have to probably go back to 16, 17, 18, and even a little bit in 19. This team has some sandpaper. And it's something that they have been missing for a while. But Kyle Dubus has done a good job of not falling into the Jim Rutherford trap of, oh, I just got to go get these big brutes who their only goal is to either throw fists or throw hits and just be big for nothing.

You look at guys like obviously, I know that Ricard Raquel was not a Dubus acquisition, but he is one of those players. Anthony Mantha, big dude, plays with a bit of an edge and look at him this year. Career highs. Igor Chinikov, bigger guy, plays fast, sneakily physical. Justin Brzo, massive human being, but still has some offensive upside. He has scored 17 goals, more than 30 points this year. Parker Watherspoon on the back end. He's been a really good stay-at-home defenseman, but look at how much he was in the Panthers' kitchen.

this past weekend and this season as a whole. Him and Matthew Gochuk aren't exchanging Christmas cards this year, that's for sure. And then look at a couple other guys. He hasn't played a lot since becoming a penguin, but when he's been in the lineup, Sloviyov, same deal, pretty physical player. Elmer Sauterblum, he ain't big for nothing. He's the biggest guy on the team,

but he still mixes it up. This is a team that when I look at the way they have been playing, the reason I said in the first segment that I see their ceiling is around or two victory is because this isn't a team that isn't built for the postseason. This is a team that if they play the way they have been playing, they're a team that's in the mix once they get into the Eastern Conference playoffs should they get in. Yeah.

And I still, they may need to clean up some of their play in their own zone. They're still giving up too many goals. I like to get some more saves, both from Artie and Stuart Skinner. But if both of those can stabilize versus slightly going into the playoffs, you know, I like their matchup.

Whoever they get in round one, assuming they finish us off, assuming they get in and potentially they get home ice. I like their odds against really anyone in that two, three. The one team that I'd have at the bottom, even though it's weird because they dominate them all year, are the Islanders. But that's mainly for historical purposes,

just because the Islanders have been the Penguins boogeyman since basically this team came into the NHL. I'd have the flyers more towards the top, Columbus a little below them, and then I'd have the Islanders below them. Again, it might be a weird order to some people, but I personally like the way they match up against the Flyers. I think they have what it takes to win that series.

I think they can also win a series against Columbus as well. The Islanders, I think they can beat them, but it's just like, again, I've seen the way a lot of these series have gone, and I don't like them. And then you have that X actor with Ilya Syroken. So that also scares me. If you want to throw Washington in there, Pat,

I'd have them third, behind Columbus, but above the islanders. I know. Might sound weird. That's my order. But Logan Thompson also scares me as the Capitol's goaltender. But I think they can definitely beat any of those teams. It gets trickier if you play Carolina in the second round where they can play with them. They showed that all year. I don't know if I would take the Penguins to win in a series right now against the hurricanes,

but I think they can definitely give them a series if it gets that far. So again, it's all going to come down to whether the defense stabilizes a little bit more. They're not giving up as many goals that the goaltending can give you, you know, some more saves overall. But this team, it's fun. It's been a magical season. The forward depth is especially great. But you mentioned something about, you know, going full Jim Rutherford. You know, Kyle Dubas has not had Tom Wilson break his brain.

Like Wilson broke Rutherford's brain after 2016-17, when he felt the need to go get tougher and heavier for just reasons that I still don't understand it. day and it's almost been a decade since then. But going back to Raquel for a second, I've also liked the way that he has played in his own zone. He's just playing really strong 200 feet foot hockey as a center. And even when he's been on the wing with Crosby and Rust, I have thought that he's been the best defensive player on that line. It used to be said, but you know, his defensive game has kind of gone downhill a little bit as he's got older, which that's fine. He's still elite offensively. You're going to sacrifice. some of that defensive work for how well you are offensively.

But I've noticed that Raquel is playing better in his own zone, breaking up plays with his stick. His board battles have especially been better as of late. That's another area of his game that I think is also getting better. So just an all-around great stretch of hockey for Ricard Raquel. That's why too when the news came out, especially with Sid being out and then Gino being suspended, that I wasn't all that worried about Raquel taking. over center duties. My only worry was in the face off circle, which as we know is very important,

but everything else around it, you said it. Raquel is pretty solid defensively. And if you're going to be a center in the NHL, unless you're one of the greatest of the greats who does nothing but score, you do have to have some defensive acumen. You know, I think of Gino and his prime. We weren't worried about of Guenny Malkin in the defensive center. We were worried about of Gennie Malkin, the guy who puts up 80, 90, 100 plus points so you could deal with the defensive deficiencies. With Raquel, he has a solid two-way game, so I was not all that concerned about him taking over center duties for the time being.

But overall, just it has been more than just a good week for Ricard Raquel. It has been a good month for Ricard Raquel. And you also said this. I wonder what would have happened this season. had he not been hurt because he definitely probably would have been chasing down 40 goals. Yeah, he'd be close. I think he'd be over 30 goals right now. I mean, again, that's only six more goals considering that he has 24 right now and 48 points.

He'd be well on his way to potentially another career year. Like, Pat, you look at what you did last year, 35 goals, 70 points, 81 games. He's already at 48 and 57. I think he'd be close if he stayed fully healthy for this season. But that's going to do it for the second segment. coming up to end the show. It's another big night around the league, even though the Penguins do not play,

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All right, we're back here on the Tuesday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am one of your host, Hunter Hodes, joined by my co-host, Patrick Damp, and Pat. We just got a little bit of breaking news. the Penguins have announced their team awards for today. And guess you the MVP for the season is Pat? Well, unfortunately, I also had this come across my computer. So it's not going to be a guessing game because if you weren't going to bring it up, I was going to bring it up.

But to the surprise of what should be nobody, team MVP is Eric Carlson. Yes, Eric Carlson, the team MVP, of course, 14 goals, 64 points. he has been a man on a mission ever since the season started. He was putting the Penguins on his back in the month of March. Yes, I did also save our card, Raquel, but don't forget about Eric Carlson. He was on bath salts, especially when Crosby was hurt, when Malkin was hurt. He was doing everything for this team in all three zones on the back end. I want to see playoff Carlson.

He's been awesome on the power play. Great at five on five. He's been going on the penalty kill. Literally any situation this year, he is excelled at. So very deserved. The players player, Pat, Sydney Crosby, really no surprise there. The unsung hero, cookie, Noel O'Chari. I'm honestly not too surprised because you see like when they hand out their helmet in the locker room, they love that guy.

You saw Eric Carlson's video when they were teasing O'Chi about, oh my God, 10 assists this year. It was hilarious. So that's great. Rookie of the year, Ben Kendall, no surprise, of course. Did I also just say this about the Ben. Ben Kindle Rookie of the Year award that he just got to all of our listeners. Please go to the Penguins website or their social media pages to look at the picture of Ben Kindle getting the award.

Because everybody, if you remember the video from their team charity event where he had the tie over the vest that he got chirped for, we've got another Ben Kindle wardrobe joke to make. He's still wearing his hockey gloves while receiving the award. and you look at every other picture. And oh, wait, no, I take that back. It's also Eric Carlson doing it. But it's just like he's, you watch the way he plays.

And you're like, this kid, he's not an 18 year old. He's a five to 10 year vet. He's been doing this for years. And then you see all the other stuff and you go, oh, yeah, that's an 18 year old kid. He's hilarious. Like, and you can just tell how much they love him. So much. Again, you go back to the,

you brought up the night of the assess. That was great. And then even here, just he's awesome, man. I love that guy so much. Blake Lazot, Ryan Shea, defensive players of the year. Not too surprised there.

Lazzat, he's been great in his own zone. He tries to drag this team into the fight when they need a spark at times. He's also been great on the PK. And what else is there to say about Ryan Shea? Career year, every which way you look at it, he's been steady in his own zone.

Not surprised that he also, against this award as well. And then Brian Russ Pat, the recipient of the Baz Bastion Memorial trophy. It also, this is the Media Good Guy Award. This is what I get for trying to read and talk at the same time on the podcast. But he is the Media Good Guy Award. It was presented by the Pittsburgh chapter of the professional hockey writers association to the player who the local media wants to acknowledge for his cooperation throughout the year. Not surprised by that either. He always will give great quotes. He's one of the top leaders on the team whenever the core three don't want to talk. Brian Russ is always like, hey, come on over here. I'll send a

message. Even though Patty doesn't have the A, he is still one of the top leaders on this team. So really no surprises here at all. No, all those awards are going to exactly who they should go to. The only one that I might add, I might, I might change as the dual winners of defensive player of the year. I'd keep Lazot, obviously, and I might swap out Shea for Watherspoon, but at that point, split in hairs. They both are having great years. It's an either or, either or and a both end for me. So yeah, all of this totally all the guys you would expect. Yeah, Pat's being a little nitpicky there with a Ryan Shea and Parker Walthor Spoon. But hey, I think both Shea and LaZot, very deserving. But okay, Pat, let's get to the madness for tonight. So a lot of big games on the

docket tonight. The Philadelphia Flyers play the Devils in Jersey, the Devils, fresh off the firing of General Manager Tom Fitzgerald. And I expect. Sheldon Keith to probably follow suit after the season. I'd be surprised if he survived all of this. So if the Flyers lose in regulation tonight to the Devils, not only do their playoff hopes take a bit of a hit. If you go on Moneypuck the swing if a win versus a loss is pretty crazy. It's that time of year where you get these crazy swings.

But if the Flyers lose in regulation, they can only get up to 98 points. Meaning if the Penguins win on Thursday, Pat, not only do they clinch a playoff spot, they would clinch the second spot in the Metro and home ice. They really can't go up from there. So that's why I think you would see the final three games. Some players getting rested, some call-ups, all that good stuff. They really wouldn't have much to play for those last three games. Now, also, huge game, Columbus, Detroit tonight.

That's really big for both teams. They both really need wins to try to stay alive in this playoff race. If the Red Wings are able to beat the jackets, especially in regulation, the jackets can no longer pass the Penguins. They can tie them, but as I said on Monday, the penguins have the tiebreaker. So that would mean the penguins would only need one point in their last four games to clinch a playoff spot or any type of loss from the Islanders.

Because the Islanders, they can only get up to 97 right now. So still, a win you're in, that so applies. But if Columbus does lose tonight, especially in regulation, the Penguins will only need one more loser point in their last four games to clinch a playoff spot. So those are the two big ones tonight. Boston Carolina. I mean, Boston really needs a win there for their playoff hopes. Tampa Bay, Ottawa, Ottawa really needs a win there. Otherwise, Pat, not much else on the docket, except for some big West games, but we're obviously

the Penguins are in the Eastern Conference. That's what we're focusing on for today. Yeah, this is a big night for the Penguins and where they want to go with their playoff hopes. If they can get some more scoreboard help, it really takes some pressure off of them for the final stretch of the season. And I know that this kind of runs contradictory to me saying you don't want to back in. But if you're able to know that you are in at this point, I do think they quelled a lot of our fears over the weekend against the Panthers, just putting the wood to them for two straight games, playing some really complete hockey.

I'm not as worried about backing in anymore. But if you know that you can wrap up a spot on Thursday, you can get your team a little bit healthier. You can get your team a little bit more rested over the last week and a half of the season. So that would be really big for them to go into the playoffs healthy and well rested and ready to go in the first round. The other thing that we got to get into real quick before we close out the show is you talked about these two things real quickly at the start of the segment. What a crazy couple of days for the Metropolitan Division. Patrick Waugh gets fired by the Islanders.

Tom Fitzgerald parts ways with the devils. Listen, I am here for this new world of the NHL where they're like where GMs and teams aren't waiting to pull the trigger on moves because this is a cutthroat all in business. If you're not doing everything you can to make your team better, what are you even doing here? and I look at the islanders, and I know that it was a bit of a desperation move, but at the same time, you knew that Pete DeBoer was not going to be on the market all summer and into next season. Somebody was going to come calling for him. And if you're the islanders, you have been really sliding lately. And if you can get Pete DeBoer and hope you get that bump the same way Vegas has gotten it with torts,

you pull that trigger. And as for the devils, I said this earlier. in the year about Fitzgerald, I do think he is just kind of the guy left holding the bag because I do think he put together a solid team on paper and then injuries and guys just not panning out, kind of hurt them. But that's the price you pay when your team doesn't perform in the NHL.

Yeah, I wasn't surprised by the Fitzgerald firing. I felt that was coming for a while just because they had fallen below expectations for this season, especially after such a great start. They were one of the top teams in the league after the first, you know, month and change. And then they really started sliding, didn't help it. They had injuries. They're playing better as of late.

They're 12, 5, and 1 in their last 18 games. So the Penguins are going to face a better Devils team on Thursday. They're going to be prepared for it. But that's still a team that's not going to the playoffs this year. They have fallen short of expectations. No surprise. The Patrick Waw won. That was really fascinating.

I thought I saw it all when Vegas decided to fire Bruce Cassi, who I still feel like is one of the top coaches in the league and hire Tortorella. But then you get this. And I do think part of it is for more of the long-term trajectory of the Islanders, but I also think part of it is Matthew Darsh trying to cover his own ass for this season, parting ways with valuable assets at the deadline for players that have simply not worked out. Andre Palada's not been very good there. Braden Shen, I also don't think has been that good there.

And he has a long contract still. So I think he's also trying to cover his butt there a little bit, trying to get the team in the playoffs because he paid a premium for some. of these players of the deadline, especially Shen. So, well, Darst said that as much about the hiring of DeBoer where basically he said, it wasn't so much them saying that they were out on Patrick Waugh totally. It was just the fact that they saw where their trajectory was going and they figured, hey, we got an opportunity to get Pete DeBore.

We might as well just do it now rather than wait and see what happens. So I do give him credit for that. But I also think you're right in the sense that Darsh has made. some moves on that roster that they make you scratch your head a little bit because at one point they looked good but then the fact they're not panning out it's also like well you got to do something yeah and you know remains to be seen if they can get in i still think that team is mostly carried by shafer and saroquin and i still like barsel i like horvath but their core is also aging a little bit as a whole but again big night tonight the penguins cannot clinch

before Thursday. I just want to remind everyone. I know people are going to ask us, can the Penguins clinch before they play on Thursday? No, they cannot. It can be a bit easier, especially if the Blue Jackets lose tonight to Detroit. Penguins would only need one point in their last four games to clinch or any type of Islanders' loss. But they cannot clinch

today or tomorrow. It would have to be on Thursday. So that's going to do it for the Tuesday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. Thank you all so much to take the time to listen to slash watch this one. Pat and I will be back with a fresh episode of you all on Wednesday, giving out our picks for Warrior Hummet Wednesday, going over some practice notes, and a whole bunch of other stuff regarding this team before we previewed the game on Thursday against the Devils, and then maybe we're celebrating a playoff berth on Friday, and then getting you all set for Penguins Capitals

a back-to-back this weekend. So for Patrick Damp, I am Hunts for Hodes. Thank you all so much tuning in. We appreciate it. We'll be back on Wednesday.