Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The Penguins can CLINCH a playoff spot TONIGHT!

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Pittsburgh Penguins can officially clinch their way into the Stanley Cup playoffs tonight, and Pat and I are going to get you all set for Thursday's game against the devils coming up 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 to the Thursday edition 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 coast Patrick Damp, you can follow him on all social media platforms at

Starting point is 00:00:40 Sendingham for Wet. You can also follow this show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins, and you can find this on Instagram at Lockdown underscore Penguins. Of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen slash watch of the day. We are free and available on our platforms. And finally, today's episode is brought to you by Fanduel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $250 in bonus bets. If your first pet wins, head to fayondool.com to get started. Pat, we have made it, my friend.

Starting point is 00:01:11 The Pittsburgh Penguins can officially clinch their spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs tonight via three scenarios. Number one, it's the most obvious one. It's the easiest one, I think, for them. You win and you're in. Put together 60 really strong minutes. You win the game. You are officially going to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 21, 22 season. Here are the other two scenarios.

Starting point is 00:01:33 If the penguins get one point against the Devils, whether it's an OT or a shootout loss, and the Sabres beat the Blue Jackets in any fashion, the Penguins also clinched their way in. But if the Penguins lose in regulation, they can still get in. The Maple Leafs would have to defeat the Islanders in any fashion, and the Sabers would have to beat the Blue Jackets in regulation for that one to happen. Again, easiest way, just win the damn game, and you're going to the playoffs. Take care of your own business, and you'll be totally fine. but I just can't believe we're here, man.

Starting point is 00:02:04 Like this is, it's awesome. They've had a few days off. And this team is hopefully fired up going into tonight where they can officially get into the best tournament in sports. You beat me to it. I can't believe that we're sitting here on April 9th talking about how the penguins can clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I don't want to say it was inconceivable because,

Starting point is 00:02:31 you remember my hot take from the start of the season. I said that they were going to be competitive until around the last two weeks of the season, maybe not long after the trade deadline, just because I figured they were going to be fine. They weren't going to be this good. They were probably going to be a team that hangs around. Because even though they aren't what they once were, when you still have 87, 71, 58, and 65, you're going to have a puncher's chance.

Starting point is 00:03:04 Those guys are too good. We set it on the show a lot. The more you have those guys, the less likely it is you're going to outright tank. So I kind of figured some of the reclamation projects, some of the second chance guys, some of the younger prospects, they'd have an impact. They'd hang around. they'd play some interesting hockey. And then at this point, by this time,

Starting point is 00:03:29 you and I would be preparing for the draft lottery and talking about do they have a chance to move up, who do we like, what did we think about this season as a whole? Instead, they have consistently been for the majority of this season, one of the better teams in the league. Are they among the elite? No, but a team that I look at and think, they could make a little noise in the postseason,

Starting point is 00:03:53 absolutely. So it's really nuts that we have a chance. I shouldn't say we were not the one suiting up tonight. They have a chance in Newark to bank two points and get themselves into the playoffs. It goes to show how magical this season really has been, you know, outside of that stretch in December where they just couldn't hold a lead to save their lives. They've been very consistent this season. They've been one of the better teams in the league. I still think, you know, when you look at their possible round one opponents, assuming they finish this off over the next week, I think they have what it takes to win a round. Now, for a second round, it could depend on the right matchup, for example, but they definitely have

Starting point is 00:04:40 what it takes to at least, I think, get to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. So, again, it's been a magical season. I never thought that we would, you know, be in this position where you and I were talking about this this late in the season. But again, they have proven just about everyone wrong. And that's a testament to how good this team has been, how awesome the coaching staff has been. And of course, Kyle Dubas and the rest of the front office as well. Now, Pat, we finally do have a goaltender update for today.

Starting point is 00:05:08 You obviously have it in the rundown for the show on YouTube for those that are listening on audio. Pat literally just writes, finally, a goalie update. And there is one. So Sergei Moroshov and Archer, she loves. were both on the ice for a very optional morning escape. There were some players out there, but someone like Sidney Crosby was not one of them. And I think some people were a little confused

Starting point is 00:05:28 when Murashaw was their first goalie off, even though Stuart Skinner was not taking the option today. I think some people are wondering, oh, could Damues be surprising everyone and starting Sergei Murasov? That is not the case. It will be Stuart Skinner starting for the Penguins tonight. He is all good coming off his eye injury scare

Starting point is 00:05:45 that happened during Saturdays. He had to miss his start on Sunday. due to the injury, but after a few days off, swelling has gone down. His eye looks like it's totally fine. He was totally good in practice these last couple days, especially on Wednesday when I was up there in Cranberry. He will get the start tonight. Archer Shilov will be the backup.

Starting point is 00:06:04 And Pat, Sergei Muroshov will be meeting Wilkesbury and Bridgeport for the game between Wilkesbury and Bridgeport tonight. Yeah, this is kind of, I don't want to say it's what I expected, but I think it's where we figured it was trending. I guess is the best way to say. Because you said it, pretty much every reporter said it. Skinner seemed like he was on the road to recovery. It didn't seem like this was going to be a long-term thing.

Starting point is 00:06:32 It didn't seem like he was really struggling. But obviously, eye injury, goaltenders, more so than most, you need both your eyes as a goaltender. So having Murashav up here as a precaution in case his eye injury was worse than expected was about the right move. So I also think this does give us a bit of a window into what they're thinking about what they might do should they get into the postseason because we kind of broached this yesterday.

Starting point is 00:07:06 I thought if Shilovs went tonight, that would give him kind of an audition for what they're going to do in the playoffs, but they're going with Skinner. And right now, even though. I think Sheelves had a really good bounce back on Sunday against the Panthers. Right now, Skinner is the number, the number one goalie in the sense that he's the one who is playing slightly better right now. Yeah, Skinner to me is more of the 1A right now. And I feel like I've been saying that for the last week to 10 days as he's been better ever so slightly over Sheelovs. And the fact that he's also starting tonight in a game where the Penguins could clinch.

Starting point is 00:07:46 I think that also tells me that the coaching staff kind of agrees with that sentiment. I still think if the playoffs were to start this weekend or even next weekend, he would be the starter in game one. Now, will his leash be long? I don't think so, but I think he is in pole position right now to get that gig. So he will start tonight. It will be Arthur Shilov backing him up. And then, of course, Sergey Marashov will be going back to Wilkesbury.

Starting point is 00:08:14 Again, he'll be in bridge for tonight because Wilkesbury, has a big game out there. But that's going to do it for this first segment. Coming up in the second segment, Pat and I are going to break down the devil's roster, who you have to watch out for, and then a bit later on in the show, we're going to give some keys to victory for the Penguins. That's all coming up right after this. But before we get to that, we have to tell you all about one of our sponsors, which is indeed. Workplace chaos, deadline stacking up, inbox is overflowing in the one position you have to fill that is still sitting open. When the pressure's on and you need the right higher, this is a job.

Starting point is 00:08:49 job for Indeed's sponsored jobs. Indeed, sponsored jobs help you reach the people who actually fit what you're looking for, skills, experience location, so you're not just hoping the right candidate stumbles across your post. And here's a stat that says it all. In the minute that I've been talking to you, companies like yours have made 27 hires on Indeed, according to Indeed data worldwide. So if you're hiring, spend less time searching and more time interviewing candidates who check all your boxes with Indeed's sponsored jobs and listeners of the show, you will get a $75 sponsor for job credit to help get your job post the premium status it deserves at Indeed.com slash podcast.

Starting point is 00:09:25 Just go to Indeed.com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. That's Indeed.com slash podcast. Terms and conditions apply need to hire. This is a job for Indeed's sponsored jobs. And we're not done. We still got to tell you all about one more sponsor, which is Quo. Spring is a natural reset point.

Starting point is 00:09:47 and if there's one thing that can quietly cost business money, it's messy communication. Miss calls, scattered texts, no clear threat of who said what. That's why today's episode is brought to you by Quo, spelled QUO, the smarter way to run your business communications. Quo is the number one rated business phone system on G2 with over 3,000 reviews trusted by more than 90,000 businesses. It lets your entire team share one business number so you never miss a call, a text, or an opportunity. Part I love, everything lives in one clean thread, calls, text, voicemails, the whole system, sees the conversation so nothing falls through their cracks.

Starting point is 00:10:25 It just makes your business feel more organized and more responsive. Make this the season, no opportunity and no customer slips away. Try quo free and get 20% off your first six months at quo.com slash locked on NHL. That's quo.com slash locked on NHL. That's quo, no missed calls and no missed customers. All right, we're back here on the Thursday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Hunter Hodes, joined by my co-st, Patrick Damp and Pat. This will be the fourth and final meeting between the Penguins and the Devils this season.

Starting point is 00:11:01 In terms of open play goals against, the Penguins have only allowed three goals against to the Devils this season. I know there was that two-to-one shootout loss, but you take that shootout loss away. They only allowed one goal in 65 minutes. And then you allow only two combined goals in the next two games against the Devils. So that's where I'm getting from three open play goals against the team that has a lot of firepower. But it has been a miserable season for this team. A lot of injuries.

Starting point is 00:11:28 The coaching hasn't been very good. The GM just got fired. I know, Pat, they said parted ways. He got fired. Let's be real here. They have not lived up to expectations this year. And I honestly think Sheldon Keev is probably next this off season once they figure out who their next GM is going to be. They were just eliminated from playoff contention on Tuesday after a really,

Starting point is 00:11:47 bad showing against the Flyers. They got beat 5-1. It looked like they were already in Cancun for the off-season. I know they have four games left, but, you know, didn't look like they wanted to be there on Tuesday. And, you know, that's something that I want the Penguins to bring out tonight. I want them to make the Devils honestly not even want to be there for this game. 60 minutes, you know, pedal to the medal here.

Starting point is 00:12:08 Show why they are not making playoffs this year. However, this is still a Devils team that has some good firepower. Jack Hughes has been red-hot as of late. points in his last four games has 25 goals, 72 points in 57 games. He can impact the game. Anytime he is out there, he has a blistering shot, he escapes through the roof. He's a really good playmaker, has eyes in the back of his head. He's awesome.

Starting point is 00:12:32 You all saw it during the Winter Olympics. Yes, but Rat has also been really good this year, 20 goals and 68 points in 78 games. Nico Heesh year with 26 goals and 62 points. He's a really strong two-way center. They still have Tim O. Meyer, Connor Brown, and Dawson, Rester are really solid depth scores. Dawson-Nercer was someone that I was looking at at the trade deadline in terms of someone that the Penguins could go after in terms of a change of scenery.

Starting point is 00:12:55 Maybe that's an off-season thing. Former Penguin Cody Glass has 18 goals this season. So, Pat, they still have some solid depth on this team that you have to watch out for, but the big ones obviously are their high-end players. But one area that I hope the Penguins can really take advantage of, and something similar to what I said a couple weeks ago when they were in Ottawa, when Otto was down to their best defensemen. It's the same thing tonight.

Starting point is 00:13:20 No Brett Peschi, no Luke Hughes. Hughes is done for this season. Pesci is considered questionable for the rest of the season, but I personally don't think he's going to go in any of these games. If you're the Penguins, you got to take advantage of that. Pesci is one of their, I think he is probably their best pure shutdown defenseman. Hughes can bring it offensively. He didn't have that good of a year, but I think he's better than what he has shown overall.

Starting point is 00:13:44 But those are still two big losses. that I want the penguins who try and exploit tonight. This is a fascinating devil's team to me. I'm genuinely baffled by where this devil's team is because I'll start with what you said about the coaching. It does kind of feel like Sheldon Keefe is on probation more than he is on the hot seat. It almost feels like they want to see what this team does for the last few games, almost as an audition and it hasn't been pretty.

Starting point is 00:14:15 But I don't think Keith's a bad coach. He's an incredible regular season coach. His record in the regular season is one of the best going right now. But between Toronto and now missing the playoffs with Devils, you get to the postseason, it's not very pretty. I also, if I'm a GM or a president or whatever they're going for, this is probably one of the best open jobs coming up this summer. Their prospect pull is fine.

Starting point is 00:14:44 It's middle of the pack. It's kind of, I guess, I don't want to say it's in a similar spot to the penguins, but it's kind of in that same range where there's a lot of very intriguing players in their system, but there's not yet a superstar in the waiting. But between that, you're going to have some flexibility this summer. Their cap space isn't all that high, but you know that they're going to make some changes. so you're going to open up cap space.

Starting point is 00:15:14 And there is a lot of really good talent on this team. You went up and down the lineup. And that's what makes this so confounding this year for the devils because you've obviously got the Hughes brothers. You got Yesper Brought. Nico Heeshire is one of the better two-way centers in the league. Timo Meyer is still a solid player. So is Dawson Mercer.

Starting point is 00:15:35 And I just, I look at this lineup and I think, what is the problem? I do think what the big problem is, and this is going to be the challenge for the next general manager or president, is they're a little too top heavy. Obviously, Jack Hughes, fantastic, brought, fantastic. Heeshire, great. Meyer, great. But then it kind of falls off from there. So if you have an injury or two, there's really nobody there to step in and fill the void, at least not as much as you would want. So if you're the Penguins tonight, because this is a Penguins podcast, that's more than enough of me pontificating about the New Jersey Devils, you said it.

Starting point is 00:16:17 This is a team that's checked out. The GM got fired and not just a few days later. They play against a Philadelphia team that is still very much in the hunt. It is in their division and they could have played spoiler. And I don't want to say they no-showed because they did push back in a few moments, but they had the opportunity to take that game over at the end of the first period and into the second and they just kind of quit. So you've got to have a full 60 if you're the Penguins and just put this team down.

Starting point is 00:16:50 One of the challenges, quote unquote, will be that Jake Allen is in the net. He is one in a long list of this era of penguins who, when they play against him, he turns into prime Dominic Hossack. but when he plays everybody else, he's mid, so got to get your shots to the net.

Starting point is 00:17:11 And like I said, it's a team that's mostly checked out. So if you're the penguins and you get up early on this team, they're probably going to quit. So one or two early goals and hopefully you can cruise your way to a playoff spot.

Starting point is 00:17:28 You know, it's funny you say that about Jake Allen because I had this for my show notes today. He is six and seven and two in 15 games against the penguins. 8, 87% of the 8%. Would you believe me if I told you that? Because, yeah, there are times when he has gone off,

Starting point is 00:17:42 but his 8% is still below 900. So you'll take that. He has been the better of the two New Jersey goalies, though, this season. He was really good against them in that shootout win earlier this season. He was like 970, I'm pretty sure. And that came made a lot of really big saves in the third period in the overtime as well where the penguins got some quality chances. Really good there.

Starting point is 00:18:04 So, you know, between him and Markstrom, he's been the better goalie. Yeah, maybe it was just my recency bias from that game this year. But I also, I don't know what it is. Just something in my brain was like, why is it every time we see Alan, he turns into Megatron? But maybe I'm just thinking back to the start of this year. So that's on me. There were a couple of stars. There was another one a couple years ago when he was 947 against them.

Starting point is 00:18:29 But, you know, three of the last five, he's been below 900. So that has been good, at least. So they've gotten to them a few times. You're going to have to do it again here tonight. It's funny. The Devils, their special teams are fine. 13th in power play, 16th in penalty kill. You know, their 17th and expected goal share.

Starting point is 00:18:45 But Pat, per money puck at five on five, they rank 31st in actual goals at 43%. Only the Vancouver Canucks are lower than them. And in terms of goals for per game, they are also near the bottom of the league, 27th in the league at 2.7. six. So their biggest problem this year, even though they have some high-end guys, Pat, they just haven't been able to score consistently throughout the season. And I think that's something that whoever they bring in as the GM is going to have to really address this off season because that's been their biggest problem. So if the Penguins, they've done a good

Starting point is 00:19:20 job limiting the devils to the outside, not allowing them to have a lot of high danger chances. Again, they've only given up three open play goals to them in three previous matchups this season. If they bring back strategy into this game, they'll have a really good shot at winning this one. Yeah. And that's kind of one of the more confounding things, though, is you also do, you look at Money Puck for the Devils, and their PDO is the lowest in the league according to MoneyPuck. So it kind of tells you that this is a team, the talent is there, the chances are there. they're just not going in. Like this is for the most part,

Starting point is 00:19:59 now that we're this deep into the season, they haven't regressed to the around 100, because if you're uninitiated, basically the stat PDO is luck. It's your shooting percentage and your save percentage combined. And all of the team, most teams in the league eventually hover around 100, which means you're,

Starting point is 00:20:23 that's your luck. You stay right in the middle. They're down at 97.1 under Vancouver, which means they're just the puck isn't going in. They may not be getting the most saves, but for some reason, they just can't score. And as I said, you look at this roster, there's a good bit of talent on it. So honestly, whoever comes in next doesn't have that heavy of a lift ahead of them. You just got to find a little bit of depth and you've got to hope that next season, they start to score. Because what have we said the last couple years about the New Jersey Devils? It's not the 90s in the 2000s down anymore.

Starting point is 00:21:03 They're not playing slow, boring trap hockey. Hell, the last few years, the Penguins have struggled to keep up with the Devils because they've gotten so fast. So if you can fill out the depth a little bit more and the puck start going in, wouldn't shock me if this team is right back next year. I would agree with that. Hell, I will say this year they've done a really good job against the devil's speed. They've beaten them two out of three times. They split with them last year.

Starting point is 00:21:27 The Penguins also 4-0-1 in their last five against New Jersey. So they've been playing the Devils fairly well going back to the end of last season, and they'll try to continue that tonight in their biggest game of the year yet because they have a chance to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs. But that's going to do it for the second segment. Coming up to end the show, Pat and I are going to get into the projected lineup for tonight, plus discuss a couple other keys to victory for the Penguins. That's coming up right after this.

Starting point is 00:21:58 But before we get to that, we have to tell you all about our final sponsor, which is Fandall. The NBA playoffs are here where every possession matters, every matchup is magnified, and every game can swing a series. And right now, Fandall is giving new customers a great way to get in on the action. Here's what I like about it. You can bet just $5 and get $250 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. The app makes it easy to follow the action of players. trends and matchups all in one place and during the playoffs,

Starting point is 00:22:26 that extra insight really matters when you're looking at stars, role players, and key moments. It just makes the entire playoff experience more engaging from start to finish. Head to fandle.com to get started, and that is fandle play your game. All right, we're back here on the Thursday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm one of your host, Hunter Hodes, joined by my host, Patrick Gamp, and Pat, I think we're probably going to see the same exact lineup that we're saw from over the weekend unless Avery Hayes gets back in for someone. I've seen some of that

Starting point is 00:22:59 conjecture from a couple of the reporters on social media. I have to see because it sounds like he was off the ice of the morning skate, the optional one that is when some of the other regulators were. So maybe he comes back in. Maybe Damienes is playing some mind games with people. But right now, I'm under the assumption that they're going with the same lines, which are Igor Chinochinov with Cindy Crosby and Brian Rust, Tommy Novak with Ricardo Raquel and Evgeny Malkin, Anthony Mampa, with Ben Kindle and Justin Brzeau, and then Soder Blom with Doer and Achari, defensive pairs, you all know them,

Starting point is 00:23:30 Parker Watherspoon, Eric Carlson, Sam Girard, Chris LaTang, and then Ryan Shea and Connor Clifton with Stewart Skinner starting. I still don't think you're going to see Blake Lazotte for the rest of the regular season. I saw, I thought somewhere that he had started to skate, but I got there pretty early on Wednesday

Starting point is 00:23:46 he wasn't skating out there. So, in my opinion, Pat, I don't think he's playing the rest of the regular season. I don't think they want to risk it. I think the earliest you would see. him is game one of the playoffs. And when he does come back, he's going to be right back in the lineup. I hope everyone is fully aware of that, considering how important he is to the penalty

Starting point is 00:24:02 kill, how he'll drag this team into the fight sometimes on the fourth line. There's just no way they're going to help you scratch him. But really no surprises with the projected lineup. You know, I'm seeing Chinokov start to garner more chemistry with Crosby. You saw Sid Pat have a really strong weekend against the Panthers. That's one of my other big keys for tonight. He started to come out of his shell a little bit this past weekend. Get back to the vintage Crosby that you and I are both used to just because he hadn't

Starting point is 00:24:32 not been playing the same since returning from the MCL, it just had not looked like that he was 100%. Those two games against the Panthers, that was the closest I have seen him do 100% since before he suffered the injury. He continues that path tonight. They're going to have a good shot to win this one too. I have been waiting for a while to make this reference. So I'm going to make it now.

Starting point is 00:24:53 now with a playoff spot on the line with a chance to clinch. I want Sidney Crosby to go full John Wick. I want him to look up at the devils and go, yeah, I'm thinking I'm back because we know how much he wants to get back to the Stanley Cup playoffs. And if there was ever a night for 87 to just put the cape on and say, follow me boys, we're going back. It's tonight. The other thing I agree with you is, and it's another check in the box for Igor Chinikov,

Starting point is 00:25:32 is that I've liked his chemistry from the start with Sidney Crosby. He kind of knows how to play the game at Sidney Crosby's speed, which I'm a broken record on this. But that is the hardest thing and something that I think is a talent in and of itself. Playing with elite talent is a talent. And the fact that Chinikov has really good chemistry with Hvgeny Malkin, and now he's starting to build some really solid chemistry with Sidney Crosby, that is only another positive for him because if he can be up and down the first two lines, suddenly you have got a dull threat that teams are really going to have to try to figure out,

Starting point is 00:26:16 and that is only a positive for the Penguins. and not to turn this episode into another episode of goalie talk, but I want a strong start from Stuart Skinner. It is well past time for one of these two to just grab the starting job and take it. Now, I'm not expecting Stuart Skinner to turn into a Vezna candidate. I'm not expecting him to become one of the best goalies in the world, but show us another solid start, especially in a high leverage game, because that really is the only real concern that I have about this Penguins team going into a potential

Starting point is 00:26:55 playoff run is I don't need them to have elite goaltending. I just need them to have steady goaltending in one of these two eventually has to provide that. Yeah, I'm with you. And, you know, the issue is twofold for me. Again, I love the forwards, but I want at least average goaltending. I like to see the defensive. miscues cleaned up in their own zone where I feel like they're just giving up too many high danger chances, too many goals against. And again, not all of it is on both goaltenders. I think

Starting point is 00:27:26 that's, you know, missing the forest for the trees. I think it's also on a lot of the defensive miscues from, you know, the forwards, the defensemen. It's just, it's been a little too sloppy. Again, I know they won four out of five this week. They put themselves a great position. It's just still a couple more things to clean up before hopefully this team gets into the playoffs. So I want to see that cleaned up. But again, if you play the way you have in the first three meetings against New Jersey, you bring that here where you do a really good job, limiting their scoring chances, keeping them to the outside, not allowing Jack Hughes to see the middle of the ice very often.

Starting point is 00:27:58 I think you're going to have a really good shot at getting the two points here and getting in the playoffs. And then also, just want to point this out, you win tonight and the Flyers losing regulation. You will have the second spot in the Metro locked up. Those last three games, last two against Washington, the other one against St. Louis. those are meaningless games, Pat, which would allow you to finally rest some players, like maybe Sid, because you and I have talked about him probably not being 100%. Maybe you give him a game off.

Starting point is 00:28:24 Evgeny Malkin, you know, he was battling and he took off that shot off his hand, he was battling the shoulder injury. Maybe you give him a game off. Ben Kindle, love the kid. He's had an excellent rookie season. Maybe you give him a game off, for example. You call up Sergey Muroshoff again, potentially for that game against St. Louis. Again, I'm going to spitball in.

Starting point is 00:28:43 options. But at the end of the day, it will allow you to rest some of your better players in games that simply just won't matter if you do clinch tonight and you get home ice tonight to do. For sure. And my final key to victory, it's got nothing to do with the game on the ice. My fellow locked on fans here, remember, they ain't going to clinch it in the first five minutes, the second five minutes or the second period, but by the end of the third period. So if you are like me and you are like Hunter and you have missed meaningful hockey

Starting point is 00:29:21 the last couple of years, just remember, breathe. If you got to take a lap around the house, take a lap around the house because this is the best, the absolute best time of year. And we're a little out of practice. deep breaths.

Starting point is 00:29:41 You don't got to live and die with every single moment. But man, this is so much fun. Hell, I'd recommend listening to the jam siren, basically for the next few hours before puck drop. If you really wants you, you can listen to some of the old playoff intros, go watch some old games, get yourself fired up for this one.

Starting point is 00:30:01 Huge game tonight at the Rock in New York. Penguins going for a playoff berth. And they say PSA to everyone out there. The Penguins win tonight. Pat and I are recording right after the game, and we're dropping a midnight episode for everyone. If they don't, we'll go a normal time tomorrow on Friday, 3. 3.30 p.m. But if they do clinch tonight, we are going, not going live, but we're recording right after we're dropping the episode at midnight. So all of you all can be fired up with us if they do clinch tonight. But that's going to do it for the Thursday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. Thank you all so much for taking the time to listen to slash watch this one. Pat and I will be back on Friday to break this game down against the Devils, hopefully with this team clinching a playoff spot and getting you all set for a back-to-back, not all. Well, not a home back-to-back against the Panthers,

Starting point is 00:30:51 but a regular back-to-back that is against the Washington Capitals. They'll play here on Saturday. They'll then go to D.C. on Sunday. So again, thank you all so much for tuning in. We appreciate it. We'll be back on Friday.

Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The Penguins can CLINCH a playoff spot TONIGHT!

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.