1 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: I want the Flyers, give him to me, bring him 2 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: to me right now. I want them in the first round, 3 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: and it looks like the table is getting set for 4 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: just that to happen. Flyers Penguins Round one, with the 5 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: Penguins having home ice advantage that I can't wait. 6 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 2: I'm the licking my chops. 7 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 3: I couldn't have scripted a better opponent, I don't think 8 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 3: for the Penguin's first trip back to the playoffs in 9 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 3: oh So law Tom off from an info Mark Madden today. 10 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 3: I'm back from paternity leave, two weeks off. No Mark 11 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 3: when I returned, extremely disappointing, but he'll be back tomorrow 12 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 3: and we will be reunited. 13 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: Until then, you got me and I have heard from. 14 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 3: People that, you know, the Flyers are the hottest team 15 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 3: in the NHL right now, arguably what a push they've 16 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:05,759 Speaker 3: made at the late part of the season to get 17 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 3: into the playoff picture. I don't know if I want 18 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 3: any part of that. And if we were to lose, 19 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 3: that would just be too devastating. That would just be 20 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 3: the knife just going into my back and twisting and twisting. 21 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,399 Speaker 3: If you were to lose to those disgusting orange and 22 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 3: black clad idiots from across the state. But A that 23 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 3: ain't gonna happen. Penguin's gonna beat them. And B that's 24 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 3: why we do this, right, to get that rivalry go in. 25 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 3: And as I just said, I don't think I could 26 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,679 Speaker 3: pick a better opponent to get back into the playoffs 27 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 3: against then Philadelphia. The only one maybe be in Washington 28 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 3: and Novechkin and having one more run of Sidinov in 29 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 3: the playoffs. But that's just not gonna happen. Washington didn't oblige. 30 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 3: Not good enough this year, Sorry Capitals. But give me 31 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 3: the Flyers. That's the matchup I want. And I think 32 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 3: if you're a Pittsburgh Penguin fan, if you bleed that 33 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 3: black and yellow, why wouldn't you want the Philadelphia Flyers? 34 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 3: Colin and tell me right now eight three, three, four, 35 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 3: one two nine thirty nine, why don't you want to 36 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 3: play the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the playoffs. 37 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 3: I think it's a no brainer. 38 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 4: You know. 39 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 3: I don't even want to talk about match up this 40 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 3: and all that other real tangible stuff that could dictate 41 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 3: the series. I just want the story, baby, I just 42 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 3: want the fun. I just want the roller coaster. 43 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: Ride. 44 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: So give me the Flyers in round one, and I 45 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 2: think you're getting that. 46 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 3: At least, what I'm pretty damn sure we're getting is 47 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 3: some Penguins home hockey in game one, in Game two 48 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 3: of the first round of the playoffs, that second seed 49 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 3: in the Metro is all but wrapped up. Figure it 50 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 3: takes about a win against the Devil on Thursday and 51 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 3: you're looking at home ice in the first round. And 52 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 3: it's truly remarkable that a team at the beginning of 53 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:10,440 Speaker 3: the year, who was thought to be at this point 54 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 3: maybe moving around their position in the draft lottery to 55 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 3: try to land a top five pick, to try to 56 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 3: maybe even land the whale in Gavin McKenna, is now 57 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 3: on the precipice of clinching second in the Metro. 58 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 2: With games to spare. 59 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 3: You might see sid and Carlson and Malkin all sitting 60 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 3: in the press box and more Thursday, or excuse me, 61 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 3: next Tuesday against the Blues. It's truly an incredible one 62 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 3: point eighty from what most people thought this season was 63 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 3: going to be and how this season actually played out 64 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 3: for the Penguins. And earlier today the team introduced the 65 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 3: twenty twenty five twenty six team awards. Most Valuable Player 66 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 3: went to Eric Carlson. Been talking about that a lot 67 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 3: on this show. Mark has brought it up for weeks 68 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 3: that he should be the team MVP. In fact, that 69 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 3: conversation started with him saying he should be the team MVP, 70 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 3: especially with Sid being out, and there was always kind 71 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 3: of that caveat. But then as Carlson's play just continued 72 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 3: to be so overwhelmingly dominant, you threw that caveat out 73 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 3: and said forget the whole asterisk of Well, since Sid's 74 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 3: not playing and since Sid miss time, it's just Carlson, period. 75 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 3: So I think that was correctly awarded. Team MVP going 76 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 3: to Eric Carlson. The Player's Player Award goes to Sidney Crosby. 77 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 3: You gotta give Crosby a little piece of hardware, you. 78 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 2: Just have to. 79 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 3: Unsung Hero goes to Nola Chari. I think that's appropriately given. 80 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 3: I think there's a lot of people that could have 81 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 3: stepped up and been that unsung hero for the Penguins. 82 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 3: I think Parker Watherspoon had a really big say in 83 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,359 Speaker 3: that he's adds He's added just the right amount of 84 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 3: grit to this team, just the right amount of sand 85 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 3: to this team. You saw what he did Dickachuck over 86 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 3: the weekend, and his pairing with Carlson has just been immaculate. 87 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 3: Don't want to overlook that Carlson has been driving the 88 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 3: bus for the Penguins, but Watherspoon's contributions have been big 89 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 3: time as well. 90 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 2: Rookie of the Year is Ben Kendall. I mean that 91 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 2: one was the easiest one. 92 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 3: I think that one awarded itself, and in fact, if 93 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 3: this wasn't a season where you're just witnessing one of 94 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 3: the greatest rookie of the years ever in Matthew Schaeffer 95 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 3: on the Island in New York, I think Ben Kendall 96 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 3: would get serious consideration for NHL Rookie of the Year. 97 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 3: But that's gonna go to Matt Schaffer in rightfully so 98 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 3: Defensive Player of the Year went to TJ. 99 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 2: Watt. 100 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:47,679 Speaker 3: I mean, sorry, Blake Lazotte and Ryan shay Little shared award. 101 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 3: There a forward and a defenseman. Blake Lazatte has missed. 102 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 3: We're gonna get into this sum in just a little bit. 103 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 3: But the goaltending has let the team down a bit lately. 104 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 3: So is the blue line, and so has their defensive 105 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 3: structure in general, they're just giving up way too many 106 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 3: goals and I think Blake Loszot's right at the heart 107 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 3: of that. And then the Basbasian Memorial Trophy, the Media 108 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 3: Good Guy Award went to Brian Rust this year. So 109 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 3: there's your Penguins Awards for the twenty twenty five twenty 110 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 3: six season. A team that has defied all odds and 111 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 3: gone from what was it like a seven percent chance 112 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 3: at the beginning of the year, if even that to 113 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 3: making the playoffs to now as we sit here today 114 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 3: April seventh, just four games away from the season wrapping up, 115 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 3: they got about a ninety nine point four percent chance 116 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:45,479 Speaker 3: of getting in Pirates last night shut out at the 117 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 3: hands of the Padres. That's okay, I ain't sweating it 118 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 3: that much. You know, this team in years past, when 119 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 3: they haven't had any talent really to speak of at all, 120 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 3: they've gone off to the occasional hot start, a little 121 00:06:58,279 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 3: bit of a four and one here. There are a 122 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 3: couple years ago that they were relevant up until the 123 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 3: trade deadline, and they kind of botched that and then went. 124 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 2: Into the tank at the end of the year. But 125 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 2: it just is noticeably different this year. 126 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 3: I mean, they got dudes in this lineup, they got 127 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 3: professional hitters now, and even last night getting shut out, 128 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 3: I mean that's not good, don't get me wrong, But 129 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 3: it wasn't like you just were completely not like you 130 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 3: are those games for the past how many years that 131 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 3: you'd look at the box scoring and'd be like, they 132 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:32,239 Speaker 3: got two hits, really and they just had nothing doing 133 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 3: last night they didn't have much doing with two outs, 134 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 3: and they were one for ten with runners in scoring position. 135 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 3: But you know, you had Cruise get another hit. You 136 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 3: had lou Get on base twice hitting a walk. Reynolds 137 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 3: same thing, Ahearn, same thing. Horwitz had a great game 138 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 3: at the plate, two hits in a walk, and Zala's 139 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 3: got a hit. You know, seven hits, five walks. You 140 00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 3: only struck out six times. Embarrassing effort. Just didn't get 141 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 3: those clutch hits. 142 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 2: Couldn't get this two out knocks. 143 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 3: And that's what really plagued them last night against the Padres. 144 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 3: Tonight though the big dogs on the hill. Paul Skeens. 145 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 3: He was obviously not great against the Mets on opening 146 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 3: Day in his first start, although he had no help 147 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 3: from his center fielder in O'Neil Cruz and quite frankly, 148 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 3: I don't think that's going to be a thing that 149 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 3: changes when it comes to the outfield in general for 150 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 3: the Pirates this year, as Bubba Chandler found that out 151 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,679 Speaker 3: with Brian Reynolds not helping him out last night at all. 152 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 3: But despite that, you know, botch job from Cruise on 153 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 3: back to back place schemes was not great. He was 154 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 3: not his dominant self much better against the Reds. Very 155 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 3: good performance. Give it a B plus. It's get an 156 00:08:49,559 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 3: A plus tonight, though, let's shove it's got like a 157 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 3: one hit over six inning type of performance. Let's strike 158 00:08:56,000 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 3: out nine and for the love of God, no free 159 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 3: passes or at least let's limit it to like two. 160 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 3: They're just walking way too many pat batters second most 161 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 3: walks in the league over all by the Pirates pitchers, 162 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 3: and Bubba Chandler you saw last night problem with command. 163 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 3: That's just gonna be a thing for him and for 164 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 3: the Pirates, it seems so, at least so far this year. 165 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 3: Hopefully the rest of the rotation can adjudicate that four 166 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 3: walks for Taydler last night, to go along with his 167 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,839 Speaker 3: four k's very hard on himself after the game, very 168 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 3: hard on himself. 169 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 2: I liked that. 170 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 3: I liked owning that that's what starting pitchers do at 171 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 3: this level. Eight through three, four one, two, ninety nine, 172 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 3: thirty nine is the number to call. I don't think 173 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 3: the Pens can win the Cup, or can they? I 174 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 3: see people starting to at least entertain that that might 175 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 3: be on the table, as this isn't just some you know, 176 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 3: fluky team that while a lot of things are going right, Sure, 177 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 3: this isn't exactly that perfect storm type of scenario for them, 178 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 3: but there is a lot of elements to a perfect 179 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 3: storm to it. And Mantha scoring like he has and 180 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 3: Ben Kendall coming on like he did, and Eric Carlson 181 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 3: all of a sudden waking up. There's just a lot 182 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 3: of things that are going right for the Penguins. But 183 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,960 Speaker 3: beyond that, this is just a pretty damn good hockey team. 184 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 2: So can they win the Cup? Probably not, But. 185 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:23,439 Speaker 3: I'll tell you what they absolutely have to do if 186 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 3: you want to at least have those delusions of grandeur 187 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 3: and have a little bit of basis in reality when 188 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 3: it comes to them. It's tom Off from an Infra mark. 189 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 3: It's one O five ninety X for over forty five 190 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 3: expanded coverage of the Mark Madden Shows, back by the 191 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 3: personal injury Expert, Shinderovit, shanderow It's and Fisherman. 192 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 2: They've got your back, knocked your wallet. 193 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 3: Tom Offerman back today after two weeks off Mark Madden 194 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 3: not here though, so I will be in for the 195 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 3: entirety of the show up until six o'clock with you. 196 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 3: Last night, the Pirates with runners in scoring position and 197 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 3: two outs. O'Hearn didn't get it done, left two runners 198 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 3: in scoring position. That was clumsily worded by me. Runners 199 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 3: left in score in position by two out, So Hern 200 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 3: had two, Griffin won, Ozuna one, Horwitz one, and Brian 201 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 3: Reynolds one as well. Just weren't clutch. And we're gonna 202 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 3: get to some Pirates talk a little bit later in 203 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 3: the trifecta. Some things that have been a little disappointing 204 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 3: as far as I'm concerned, but here is an appetizer 205 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 3: as far as that's concerned. Ozuna has just been awful 206 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 3: at the plate and don't know the lineup yet, but 207 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 3: wouldn't be surprised if he's taking a seat tonight against 208 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,959 Speaker 3: the Padres with Paul skins on the mound. We're talking 209 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 3: Penguins now starting to see people start to wonder if 210 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 3: this team can go on a run in the playoffs 211 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 3: and can they get to the Cup final and push 212 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:50,319 Speaker 3: for another Stanley Cup, a franchise's sixth Stanley Cup, giving 213 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 3: sid and Gino and Tanger four And I'm not there yet. 214 00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 3: I don't think that they can do that yet. Tampa 215 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 3: in Buffalo, the Buffalo is inexperienced when it comes to this, 216 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 3: Not to say that there's not players on that team 217 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 3: that haven't been in the playoffs before, but just them 218 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:14,599 Speaker 3: in general inexperienced and a lot of just feeling. I 219 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 3: think of accomplishment already achieved in Buffalo this year by 220 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 3: ending that playoff drought and now they get playoff hockey 221 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:22,360 Speaker 3: that I wouldn't be surprised if there's a little bit 222 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 3: of an exhale when it comes to them. But I 223 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 3: could be wrong, and they do seem like a better 224 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 3: team than the Penguins. But Tampa appears to be rounding 225 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 3: into the class of the East. We all know what 226 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 3: the problem the Penguins have with the Hurricanes, but winning 227 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 3: around is now. I think the expectation for the Penguins, 228 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:46,559 Speaker 3: and if they get past Carolina, which I don't think 229 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:50,000 Speaker 3: is an impossible task, you're in the East Final. 230 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 2: You could get to the Cops. 231 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,439 Speaker 3: So I can see why there are people starting to 232 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 3: kind of connect those thoughts now, especially when you're gonna 233 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 3: be favored to win in that first round no matter 234 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 3: who your opponent is, even though it's gonna be the Flyers. 235 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 3: So I understand that the question has to be asked, 236 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,320 Speaker 3: Can the Penguins win the Cup and know they cannot? 237 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 2: Is the correct answer to that question. 238 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 3: The only way that you can even I think generate 239 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 3: slight odds that you can do that and go on 240 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:28,199 Speaker 3: some kind of miracle run here in the playoffs, and 241 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 3: I mean they're gonna be in second in the Metro. 242 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 3: Miracle run may have been a little bit of a stretch, 243 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 3: but you have to hit the Mushoff switch. And the 244 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 3: kid was here today practice with the team. Didn't think 245 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 3: that this door would open up for the Penguins, or 246 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 3: they would open this door until injury dictated. So well, 247 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 3: now injury dictated, so Stuart Skinner wore one on the bench, 248 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 3: got a black eye. 249 00:13:55,800 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 2: Nice little shiner. Had to call on Mushoff. Now don't know. 250 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,440 Speaker 2: Looked like Skinner was better today at practice. Don't know. 251 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 3: If mershav is just gonna practice a couple times and 252 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 3: then that's it, that's all they'll need from him. 253 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 2: Skinner will be good to go come Thursday. 254 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 3: But I say just give the kid the start Thursday, 255 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 3: because if you're going to talk yourself into them getting 256 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 3: to the Eastern Conference Final, maybe getting into the Cup, 257 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 3: they're gonna need better goaltending. 258 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 2: That's non negotiable. 259 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'll hear you if you want to call in 260 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 3: eight through three, four, nine, thirty nine and say, hey, 261 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 3: it's not like the defense has been spectacular in front 262 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 3: of this goaltending. You're right about that, but the goaltending 263 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 3: is by far the weakest link when it comes to 264 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 3: this Penguins team heading into the playoffs. By far just 265 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 3: not good enough. And I know Skinner got to the 266 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 3: final the past couple of years with the Oilers. My 267 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 3: knee jerk reaction is to saybe well, the Penguins don't 268 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 3: have the firepower like that. 269 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 2: Oh, really, well, they have the second most goals in 270 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 2: the league, So. 271 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 3: You'll Devil's advocate me and say, you know, Stuart Skinner 272 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 3: can probably be okay, and he's done it before, But 273 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 3: I just think you have to flip that switch and 274 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 3: go to Murshov if you really want to have any 275 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 3: chance of not just winning around, but then moving through 276 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 3: the Eastern Conference bracket and flirting with getting back to 277 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 3: the Cup. Marcus said so many times that the goalies 278 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 3: just don't steal a game anymore. 279 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 2: You haven't seen it in a long time. 280 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 3: Sure, they do a good job and make big saves 281 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 3: and team moments she loves at skinner, But when's the 282 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 3: last time that they've just absolutely stolen a game for 283 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 3: the Penguins. Mrshov has the potential to do that on 284 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 3: a pretty consistent basis, and that, in fact, what he's 285 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 3: supposed to become in his career is a goaltender that 286 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 3: consistently does that. I think that Kyle Dubis and the 287 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 3: Penguins have pretty much flipped every correct switch this year 288 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 3: so far. 289 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 2: They have pushed every right button. 290 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 3: The only one that I might say I don't know 291 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 3: is trading Kulak for Girard. But Gerard seems to be 292 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 3: starting to get his feet under him a little bit more, 293 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 3: and you got younger and you got a draft pick 294 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 3: out of it. So I can't even fully say that 295 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 3: that was a bad move. But and again, this would 296 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 3: be a bad move, but their unwillingness to perhaps make 297 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 3: that move to go to Murshov is going to be 298 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 3: one button that they left unpushed that they could potentially regret. 299 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 2: Eight three, three, four. 300 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 3: Nine is the number to call. We'll get Brian Metzer's 301 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 3: thoughts on all of this when he joins us next. 302 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 3: It's Tom Off from an Infra Mark one to five 303 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 3: ninety X. Penn's currently enjoying a few days off before 304 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 3: they head to New Jersey to take on the Devils. 305 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 3: Just four games remaining for your Pittsburgh Penguins. Joining me 306 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 3: now to discuss you hear him on the Penguins Radio network. 307 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 2: He is Brian Metz or Mets. 308 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,120 Speaker 3: This Penguins team that is closing in on not only 309 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 3: a playoff spot, but home ice in the first round 310 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 3: of the playoffs wasn't expected to do much this year, 311 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 3: but now the expectation is they probably should win a 312 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 3: first round matchup, no matter who that opponent is. 313 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 4: I would agree, Tom, Thanks for having me. Great to 314 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,360 Speaker 4: catch up with you here, But you're right, I mean, 315 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 4: this season is I don't even know if we can 316 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 4: call it playing with house money, because they were far 317 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 4: better than expected from the earliest moments of the season, 318 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 4: and aside from that one stretch of bad losing right 319 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 4: around December, they've really been good throughout. So they do 320 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:55,919 Speaker 4: look like a team that should be able to win 321 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 4: a first round matchup and maybe if things break right 322 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 4: for them in the East, maybe even make a little 323 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:03,399 Speaker 4: bit more noise than that. So it's been a a 324 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:05,440 Speaker 4: breadth of fresh air based on what we had seen 325 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 4: the last few seasons. You're getting the big contributions from 326 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:11,399 Speaker 4: up top, the depth is there, everybody chipping in. The 327 00:18:11,400 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 4: free agents have chipped in, and it's made for a 328 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 4: really entertaining Pittsburgh Penguin season, that's for sure. 329 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 3: And no matter who they draw in that two to 330 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 3: three matchup in the Metro, they're going to be the favorite, 331 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:22,879 Speaker 3: but it certainly seems like it's going to be the 332 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,959 Speaker 3: Flyers that's on the table. Do you welcome that challenge 333 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 3: from the rival? Is there stuff about that that makes 334 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 3: you a little bit uneasy? I know they're the hottest 335 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 3: team right now, and you don't want to play that 336 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,360 Speaker 3: proverbial hot team going into the playoffs. But I don't 337 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:38,159 Speaker 3: know Matt's it's been so long since we've done this 338 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 3: playoff dance. 339 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 2: That seems like such a perfect partner. 340 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 4: Well yeah, I mean everybody loves the cross state hate 341 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 4: and it's always the battle. Pa brings the lather really 342 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,040 Speaker 4: to a thick past, if you will. 343 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 2: And I don't know what to make of it. 344 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 4: I mean the Flyers, as you just said, they have 345 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 4: played so well lately. They are getting good goaltending, which 346 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 4: scares me a little bit because we have all seen 347 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 4: the Penguins get afflicted with hot goalie syndrome in the past, 348 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,959 Speaker 4: and in a playoff series if they're unable to score, 349 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 4: that could be a problem, even though they have so 350 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 4: many different weapons that could really help the cause. I 351 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:15,160 Speaker 4: said to Stag the other night, I'm afraid of a 352 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,280 Speaker 4: first round matchup with the Flyers simply because of the 353 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 4: Gong showed nature that it could turn into. It could 354 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 4: really be something like we saw in twenty twelve, if 355 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 4: the tempers rise and things get a little bit heated, 356 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 4: and maybe you get a scenario like that. However, I 357 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 4: think it would be a great entertaining series for all involved. 358 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 2: Rick Pocket behind the. 359 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 4: Bench on that side, what really seemed to get the 360 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 4: Flyers going is they have so many young players making 361 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,679 Speaker 4: a contribution this year, guys that have just joined them 362 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,719 Speaker 4: late in the season. And that's not even counting Porter Marton, 363 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 4: who just got there scored a big overtime winner the 364 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,240 Speaker 4: other night, really having a nice coming out party for 365 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,679 Speaker 4: himself after finishing his season at Michigan State. So I 366 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 4: think that it's interesting because their scenario is not all 367 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 4: that dissimilar to what the Penguins have done. People weren't 368 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,560 Speaker 4: necessarily anticipating a great year from them, and it still 369 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:07,199 Speaker 4: hasn't been what would be considered a great year. However, 370 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 4: they've turned it on at the right time of the year. 371 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 4: They's seven to three and zero in their last ten, 372 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 4: they won two in a row. They have that young 373 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 4: talent bubbling to the surface. They're teetering on the edge 374 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 4: of forty wins right now, and I think it would 375 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 4: be one of the most one of the top most 376 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 4: watched series of the first round if it ends up 377 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:26,920 Speaker 4: being Penguins Flyers, because we all know it makes for 378 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 4: great theater. I just I get a little tight about it, 379 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 4: just based on what we saw back in twenty twelve. 380 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,399 Speaker 4: With the Flyers beating a Penguins team that really should 381 00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:35,719 Speaker 4: have been able to beat them easily. 382 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 3: Well, you mentioned the good goaltending that the Flyers have 383 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 3: been getting lately. That is not the case for the Penguins. 384 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:42,879 Speaker 3: They've been scoring a ton of goals but just not 385 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 3: getting it from their goalkeepers. And the fan base is 386 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 3: now clamoring for Roshov. He's here practiced today with the team. 387 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 3: I really only thought that they would, you know, entertain 388 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:55,439 Speaker 3: that option if an injury happened to one or the 389 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 3: other two. Well, enter the injury to Skinner's eye. Although 390 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 3: he did look better today at practice. Could you see 391 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 3: him taking the net for the playoffs morrishav or maybe 392 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 3: let's take baby steps here first. 393 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 2: Could you see him on Thursday getting the start in 394 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:08,399 Speaker 2: New Jersey? 395 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 4: Well, my first question, Tom, is is there any truth 396 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 4: to the rumor that Mark Madden chucked the puck from 397 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 4: the press box at Stuart Skinner's eye to create this 398 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 4: call up for morishaw You know, birring minds want to know. 399 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 3: I barely saw it, and then you saw that Skinner 400 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:24,000 Speaker 3: just pops up and he couldn't play in the back 401 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 3: to back I was wonder if someone take like a 402 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 3: bag of oranges and just you know, touch him around 403 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 3: the corner like he was on Jackass or something. 404 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, that was my first thought, but based on how 405 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 4: good the eye looked today, I just saw a picture 406 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 4: of it, you know, up close, it looked like the 407 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 4: swellings down. If he's able to go, I wouldn't be 408 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 4: surprised if if they just stick with the guys that 409 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 4: were here. However, you did officially make the news of 410 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,719 Speaker 4: the call up official today, even though Moorshaw has been 411 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 4: around the team since this weekend, So it almost makes 412 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 4: me think they want to have the option of having 413 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 4: him available to play. And maybe Dan Hues, who's played 414 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 4: such misdirection lately with not announcing the lineup, not announcing 415 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 4: the starting goaltender as he pretty much did all season long. 416 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 4: We know Skinner was starting to kind of slide into 417 00:22:12,119 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 4: the to the pole position of being the top goaltender 418 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 4: because he played four or five before Silos took the 419 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:20,920 Speaker 4: net this weekend, So I think he might keep those 420 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 4: cards close to his vest. If you were going to 421 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:26,960 Speaker 4: put Sergei Mirshov into a game just to see how 422 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 4: he fares, it wouldn't be a terrible situation to give 423 00:22:30,320 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 4: him a chance to play on the road in Newark. 424 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 4: They just fired the GM out there the former Penguin's 425 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:39,640 Speaker 4: property in Tom Fitzgerald. And yeah, they've heated up lately. 426 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,880 Speaker 4: They're six to three and one. However, you know it's 427 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 4: not a terrible matchup. It's a non playoff team. Their 428 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,919 Speaker 4: goal differentials of minus sixteen. Yeah, you've seen Jack Hughes 429 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 4: on fire lately, but maybe that's a good spot to 430 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 4: get him a start, to give you a chance to 431 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 4: assess where he is compared to where he was earlier 432 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 4: in the season when he was up here, where his 433 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:02,159 Speaker 4: say percentage wasn't really all that much better than the 434 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 4: goaltenders you had with that play in front of him, 435 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,239 Speaker 4: So I would consider it. I don't know that it's 436 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 4: a foregone conclusion that he will play, but I certainly 437 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,679 Speaker 4: could see Dan Muse giving it some thought and potentially 438 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 4: throwing him out there just because it's not a bad 439 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 4: matchup to to give him a start, just to assess 440 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 4: where he is. 441 00:23:19,119 --> 00:23:21,159 Speaker 2: How great has Ricard rack Hel been lately. 442 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 3: He is really starting to settle into that center role 443 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 3: now where now I'm really excited to see him center 444 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 3: the second line as we head into the playoffs, and 445 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:31,679 Speaker 3: he's just started to find that goal scoring touch that 446 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 3: we know him for. 447 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean he's, you know, right there, one of 448 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 4: the guys here and on the edge of making a 449 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:40,600 Speaker 4: run of thirty goals again here and based on where 450 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 4: he was earlier this season, I was sitting there screening and. 451 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 2: I'll call myself out. Why didn't they just trade him 452 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 2: last year? 453 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 4: You could have gotten a big, you know, a truckload 454 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 4: of assets. Well, we're seeing why they didn't trade him, 455 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 4: because he's got one of the best scoring touches on 456 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:56,680 Speaker 4: the team. He can score in such a variety of ways. 457 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:00,200 Speaker 4: He showed that off with the death little backhand slip 458 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 4: into the top of the net the other night. He 459 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:05,200 Speaker 4: scores on one timers. He's got a lethal rist shot, 460 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 4: just such a crafty player. And having him here tom 461 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 4: it gave them a nice offset piece when Sid and 462 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 4: Gino were out of the lineup, because, yes, his face 463 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,239 Speaker 4: off work still, you know, could use help. He's not 464 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 4: been great there, but he's really taken to the center 465 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 4: position and his line right now, you have three guys 466 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 4: capable of probably taking a face off doing the center 467 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,360 Speaker 4: responsibilities if need be, Raquel has just been a breath 468 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,200 Speaker 4: of fresh air for them in terms of the way 469 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 4: that he has really recaptured the magic of last year 470 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:36,679 Speaker 4: right at the time of this season where they needed 471 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 4: it to be. They needed him to be who he 472 00:24:39,040 --> 00:24:42,120 Speaker 4: was down the stretch, offsetting the losses that they had, 473 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 4: and credit to Kyle Dubas for holding him to take 474 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,120 Speaker 4: advantage of keeping that asset in house and realizing how 475 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 4: important he has been because he has been that, he's 476 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 4: been one of their best players in all aspects of 477 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:58,000 Speaker 4: their game. And right now, I don't know that there's 478 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 4: anybody hotter. I mean, eleven goals in his last ten games. 479 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 4: He pretty much scores one every night now, and it's 480 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:06,199 Speaker 4: just a nice feather in the cap when you do 481 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:08,320 Speaker 4: go into a playoff series to have a guy like 482 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 4: that it can score. So if sid or Gino or 483 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:14,919 Speaker 4: one of the other big guns on your team get 484 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 4: gets shut down, you have him available to go out 485 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 4: and score a big goal for you, and that gives 486 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,440 Speaker 4: you another asset in terms of standing next to Anthony Manta, 487 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:25,399 Speaker 4: who scored so many goals this year, and all the 488 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,880 Speaker 4: other guys that have chipped in so I'm really thrilled 489 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 4: for them to have been patient and not making a 490 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 4: knee jerk reaction to his under productivity earlier this season, 491 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:38,920 Speaker 4: or even just pulling the trigger last year. Dubus knew 492 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:40,920 Speaker 4: what he had and Raquel and he held it and 493 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:42,400 Speaker 4: we're seeing the proof in the pudding now. 494 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 2: Based on his first couple of years in Pittsburgh. 495 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:46,679 Speaker 3: If you would have said at the beginning of the 496 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 3: season that Eric Carlson was going to be named on 497 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 3: April seventh, the team MVP for the Pittsburgh Penguins, I 498 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 3: think a lot of people would have looked at you crazy. 499 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 3: But it is deserved that he was named team MVP. 500 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 3: Mets and I really don't think they'd be in this 501 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 3: playoff position, especially with the time that Sid missed, without 502 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 3: Carlson playing the way that he is shooting. Even with Sid, 503 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 3: I don't know if they'd be, you know, comfortably in 504 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 3: second place without Carlson at this level. 505 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 2: I couldn't agree more. 506 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:20,199 Speaker 4: He just looks like one hundred point Carlson from the 507 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,359 Speaker 4: San Jose Shark days, where his offensive game was just 508 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 4: you know, over the moon has stood out to me though, 509 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 4: tom Above and beyond the offense which we should mention 510 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:32,399 Speaker 4: since the return to play after the Olympics. Carlson is 511 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:34,159 Speaker 4: not just in the month of March, as everybody was 512 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 4: saying it, but even right at that tail end of 513 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 4: February with the game that they played there. Across the league, 514 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:42,200 Speaker 4: he is the fourth leading scorer in the NHL right now, 515 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 4: behind only Jack Hughes, Kusharov, and Suzuki. So the offensive 516 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:48,920 Speaker 4: game is just top of the pops ten goals in 517 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 4: that span, but his overall game is just light years 518 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:54,919 Speaker 4: better than it was in his first two seasons as 519 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 4: a Pittsburgh Penguin. 520 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 2: And I don't know that we can credit. 521 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 4: Anybody else other than Dan Muse for unlocking it, because 522 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 4: clearly there was some sort of disconnect with Carlson and 523 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 4: Mike Sullivan. Dan Mues earned the respect of Eric Carlson 524 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 4: early in the season and vice versa when he allowed 525 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 4: him to go out and kill penalties, played him in 526 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 4: all situations, had him go out there and be a 527 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 4: minute munching defenseman as he's been across the course of 528 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 4: his entire career, and the Penguins have been the beneficiaries 529 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:25,359 Speaker 4: of a guy that has really been as good as 530 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 4: he's ever been offensively but also showing the defensive side 531 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 4: of his game, which he's never really gotten credit for 532 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 4: because everybody just knows the offense there. But this is 533 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,439 Speaker 4: a Norris Trophy winning defenseman from the past, or at 534 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,520 Speaker 4: least a perennial candidate for it. He comes out now 535 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:41,679 Speaker 4: and looks like he'll garner votes again based on his 536 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,640 Speaker 4: play this year. And thank God for his presence because 537 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 4: when you had all those guys go down with injury, 538 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:50,000 Speaker 4: and even from the start of the season up through now, 539 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 4: he has just been a guy that has done whatever 540 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 4: he's been asked to do tom and it's really helped 541 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 4: the Penguins get to where they are right now, which 542 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,360 Speaker 4: is one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, 543 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 4: which has just been a remarkable turn of events. Should 544 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 4: also mention that Eric Carlson is just it's when you 545 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:10,399 Speaker 4: watch him, it's just amazing to look at his skill level. 546 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:12,439 Speaker 4: I mean, the plays that he's making now are just 547 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:15,160 Speaker 4: hard working plays on top of the skill. I mean, 548 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 4: look at the play he made about a week and 549 00:28:16,720 --> 00:28:18,879 Speaker 4: a half ago to keep a pucking at the point 550 00:28:18,880 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 4: where he used his skate to make a kick save, 551 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 4: kick it down, pull the puck around Sebastianajo get into 552 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:27,639 Speaker 4: a shooting area and score the goal. We wouldn't have 553 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:30,160 Speaker 4: seen that two years ago or even last year. This 554 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:32,200 Speaker 4: is a guy that they should also be very thrilled 555 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:35,160 Speaker 4: that they didn't trade, because there was so much speculation 556 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:37,960 Speaker 4: in the offseason that Kyle Dubis would be looking to 557 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 4: unload him. I bet he's thrilled that he didn't now 558 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 4: and I wouldn't be shocked. And I think others in 559 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,520 Speaker 4: the city have said this as well, if they think 560 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:49,120 Speaker 4: contract extension with Eric Carlson, because he really could now 561 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 4: lead the charge of that veteran group with you know, 562 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 4: Sid and Gino and whoever else you end up having, 563 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:56,880 Speaker 4: with all the young guys that are set to join in, 564 00:28:56,920 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 4: and he's been a very good mentor for that group, 565 00:28:59,320 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 4: says and does all the right things in the room 566 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:03,600 Speaker 4: and off the ice hasn't been a problem in that regard, 567 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 4: has actually been a big asset. So I don't think 568 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 4: anybody would have you saw him as the MVP as 569 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 4: you pointed to, but for me, he is certainly that 570 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 4: he's been the Penguin's MVP almost wire to wire. 571 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 3: And on top of all of what you just said, 572 00:29:17,400 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 3: which is all more than true, and I completely agree 573 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:22,560 Speaker 3: with He's got a fantastic partner right now. And that 574 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 3: top pair of Watherspoon and Carlson is arguably one of 575 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 3: the best pairing in the NHL, and you need that 576 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 3: heading into the playoffs, and boy, Watherspoon just brings that 577 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:33,720 Speaker 3: sand to the lineup that the Penguins have been missing, 578 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 3: that little bit of grit. What he did to Kachuck 579 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 3: over the weekend, He's been doing that all year. He 580 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 3: hits hard, and he just compliments Carlson's game so perfectly. 581 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 2: Couldn't agree more. Just the way he can move the 582 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:46,320 Speaker 2: puck too. 583 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 4: He has a little bit of offense in his game, 584 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 4: which is just the perfect amount to compliment a guy 585 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 4: like Carlson. But he is bringing that little bit of 586 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 4: physical presence, that sand paper that you mentioned. He's number 587 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 4: two on the team and hits, which actually the stat 588 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 4: that makes me laugh is he has got one hundred 589 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,760 Speaker 4: and sixty hits in seventy eight games. Clifton leads this 590 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 4: team Tom with one seventy five and just forty seven 591 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 4: games to tell you how he plays. But it's good 592 00:30:12,360 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 4: to see a guy stick up for his teammates. I 593 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 4: mean you saw that right away the other night when 594 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 4: Connor Doer got cross checked down. He goes right at 595 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 4: Kit Chuck. You know they're they're throwing the mits a 596 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 4: little bit. He's not shy about fighting, He's not shy 597 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 4: about jumping into the play. He is also not shy 598 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 4: about being the guy back to allow Carlson to do 599 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 4: what he does best. And that's another such a shrewd 600 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 4: signing by Kyle Dubis. I mean when they brought him in, 601 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 4: I think everybody was just like, oh, okay, I mean 602 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 4: he was kind. 603 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 2: Of just a guy in Boston. 604 00:30:42,760 --> 00:30:45,280 Speaker 4: Well he's been way more than that here, averaging over 605 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 4: twenty minutes a game, just a little bit over twenty 606 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:49,880 Speaker 4: minutes a game, but just a huge benefit to the 607 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:53,200 Speaker 4: Pittsburgh Penguins. And it's made for a great top pair, 608 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,200 Speaker 4: as you said, one of the best, especially in the 609 00:30:55,240 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 4: second half of the season in the entire National Hockey League, 610 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:00,400 Speaker 4: which has allowed the pressure to come off guys like 611 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 4: Chris Latang and Sam Gerard and others to take time 612 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 4: to get acclimated to playing together, and even their bottom 613 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 4: pair to do what they can do while that big 614 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:12,320 Speaker 4: pair up top can eight minutes as needed while still 615 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 4: allowing those guys to go out and play their games. 616 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 4: So it's been a great addition. 617 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 2: Finally, Matt's what's your gut saying? 618 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 3: Is it gonna be Penguins Flyers in that first round 619 00:31:20,960 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 3: or do you think the Islanders or the Blue Jackets 620 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 3: or shoot, I guess maybe even the Capitols are gonna 621 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 3: have one last gasp at. 622 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:31,480 Speaker 4: This anything can happen, just based on the nature of 623 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:33,600 Speaker 4: the race. I mean, the Flyers are sitting at ninety 624 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:37,280 Speaker 4: points with seventy seven games played. Columbus has just two 625 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 4: less at eighty eight with seventy seven games played. The 626 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 4: Caps a little bit more tenuous with seventy eight played 627 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:42,680 Speaker 4: so far. 628 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:44,240 Speaker 2: So the Blue Jackets, if. 629 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:45,960 Speaker 4: They were to heat up again, they could make a 630 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:49,240 Speaker 4: run at this, but with over a fifty percent chance 631 00:31:49,280 --> 00:31:52,000 Speaker 4: of it being Philadelphia, I just think they're playing too 632 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 4: well right now. Rick Hackett is feeling pretty good about 633 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 4: his situation there. I mean, he was under fire early 634 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 4: in the season for the treatment of Mitch Kobb and 635 00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,000 Speaker 4: people were calling for his head, et cetera. Well, I 636 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,480 Speaker 4: don't think anybody's doing that now because mitchcov seems to 637 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:08,680 Speaker 4: be performing well for them. They have all those other 638 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:11,480 Speaker 4: young players doing well and talk at Rocket there on 639 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 4: the back end taking care of business. So I just 640 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,760 Speaker 4: think that it seems to be lining up, and you know, 641 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,000 Speaker 4: could you write a better narrative here then the Pittsburgh 642 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:24,000 Speaker 4: Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers doing the cross state hate thing 643 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:27,240 Speaker 4: that they've done so many times before. It's usually always 644 00:32:27,280 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 4: just such a fun series for the league. They have 645 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,200 Speaker 4: to be licking their chops for the TV ratings in 646 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:35,360 Speaker 4: this region and beyond tom based on that potential, you know, 647 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:38,600 Speaker 4: setting itself up. So I'm kind of feeling it's going 648 00:32:38,640 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 4: to be Flyers, but I wouldn't be shocked if somebody 649 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 4: just shocked this here. I left the Islanders out of 650 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 4: this conversation as well, but they seem to be in 651 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 4: free fall. We'll see if the boor can get enough 652 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 4: out of them to get them up into the situation. 653 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:51,600 Speaker 4: But I think Flyers Pens. 654 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 3: Is probably on tap as always really appreciate the time. 655 00:32:54,560 --> 00:32:56,440 Speaker 3: That's we'll talk to you as soon for sure as 656 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 3: the Penguins are back in the playoffs. 657 00:32:58,200 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 2: Can't believe it. 658 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:02,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's gonna be a fun stretch drive here. Through 659 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 4: the last couple of weeks and into the playoffs. But 660 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:04,760 Speaker 4: thanks for this. 661 00:33:04,800 --> 00:33:06,080 Speaker 2: Is always Tom love talking with you. 662 00:33:06,280 --> 00:33:08,520 Speaker 3: Brian Metzer from the Penguins Radio Network. You can hear 663 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 3: him intermissions post games Penguins Live Weekly that airs right 664 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 3: here on one f five to nine the X every 665 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 3: Saturday morning at nine a m. We'll hit the Trifecta 666 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 3: when we come back. It's Tom Opferman in from Mark 667 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 3: Madden one five ninety X. It is now time for 668 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:26,960 Speaker 3: the Trifecta today. That's brought to you by Danny's Pizza 669 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:30,360 Speaker 3: and Hogi's family owned and operated since nineteen sixty Route 670 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 3: eighty eight Bethel Park. Tom Opferman in for Mark Madden 671 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 3: for the entire show, so I will not be exiting 672 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 3: after the pregame show portion like I usually do. You'll 673 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 3: have me all the way up until six. Today's trifecta. 674 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 2: Though. 675 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 3: Look, if you're a Pirates fan, and I am a 676 00:33:45,440 --> 00:33:48,800 Speaker 3: Pirates fan, I don't know how you can't be pleased 677 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:50,719 Speaker 3: with the team start to the season. 678 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:53,520 Speaker 2: It really has gone great. 679 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 3: I mean there's some areas that you would want better 680 00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 3: out of them in and that's exactly what the theme is. 681 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:03,520 Speaker 3: This trifecta is despite how fun and good the start 682 00:34:03,520 --> 00:34:05,520 Speaker 3: has been, these are the three things that have been 683 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:07,600 Speaker 3: pretty disappointing and the three things that I got a 684 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 3: little bit of a worry about when it comes to 685 00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:12,399 Speaker 3: your old battle in Buccos so far and number three 686 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:15,440 Speaker 3: call out an individual person and Marcelo Zuna, and I'm 687 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:19,719 Speaker 3: not gonna put Connor Griffin on this list for his struggles. 688 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:22,799 Speaker 3: We'll get to that in a little bit on the 689 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:27,600 Speaker 3: show today. But nineteen years old, you know, I expected 690 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:33,239 Speaker 3: him to have a pretty decent adjustment to the major 691 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:35,560 Speaker 3: league level of hitting, you know, just because he was 692 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:37,239 Speaker 3: great and single A and then double A and it 693 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 3: was like, oh, this kid, no matter where you drop him, 694 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:42,120 Speaker 3: he just starts hitting. It's just a completely different thing 695 00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:43,439 Speaker 3: once you get to the big league level. 696 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:45,239 Speaker 2: If you thought that he. 697 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:48,040 Speaker 3: Was going to be, you know, prime a Rod, prime 698 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:50,840 Speaker 3: Griffy Junior, the second he stepped out of the field, 699 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:53,279 Speaker 3: that was your own fault for having those kind of 700 00:34:53,320 --> 00:34:58,040 Speaker 3: expectations for him. But boy, Azuna is just really struggling, 701 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:00,080 Speaker 3: and it seems like he's always coming up in some 702 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:03,720 Speaker 3: really key spots with runners on and runners in scoring 703 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 3: position and just not getting even anything remotely going at 704 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:10,400 Speaker 3: the dish. 705 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:11,880 Speaker 2: What's he at like point zero six to. 706 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:15,879 Speaker 3: Three now as far as his average is concerned, I mean, 707 00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:20,720 Speaker 3: it's not good. And I know that Pirates fans point 708 00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 3: to Andrew McCutchen and what he's doing in Texas and say, 709 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:25,959 Speaker 3: ah see, we told you they should have had a cutch. 710 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:30,240 Speaker 2: I hate that, to be honest with you. It's April seventh. 711 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:34,440 Speaker 3: They've played just two or excuse me, three series total 712 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:35,759 Speaker 3: on the season so far. 713 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:38,399 Speaker 2: Let's wait and see how things play out. 714 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:41,600 Speaker 3: And I am optimistic that Ozuna can break through and 715 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:43,799 Speaker 3: we're gonna have a stretch in June or July where 716 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:47,239 Speaker 3: maybe he's carrying this offense. But it's rough right now 717 00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:49,279 Speaker 3: at the plate for him. So he has been a 718 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:51,680 Speaker 3: very big disappointment to start the season. And everybody else 719 00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:54,319 Speaker 3: so they brought in for the lineup has been fantastic. 720 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:57,880 Speaker 3: I mean, Lao's kind of settling into what Brandon Low does, 721 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:03,280 Speaker 3: hits around two forty, lot of pop, and O'Hearn's been 722 00:36:03,560 --> 00:36:05,520 Speaker 3: I mean, by far, I think the best hitter in 723 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:08,560 Speaker 3: the lineup. Sure, some of you out there will say 724 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,359 Speaker 3: Cruise cru has been fine, more than fine. 725 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 2: Actually, but I don't know. I just got I got 726 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:16,960 Speaker 2: a crush on O'Hearn. I'm not gonna lie. 727 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:19,080 Speaker 3: That guy is a professional hitter and it is fun 728 00:36:19,120 --> 00:36:21,239 Speaker 3: to watch him play. They got guys that are fun 729 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:24,360 Speaker 3: to watch have at bats now in that lineup, but 730 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:26,319 Speaker 3: Ozuna is the only one that's kind of lagging behind 731 00:36:26,400 --> 00:36:28,399 Speaker 3: right now, and hopefully he can wake that up. 732 00:36:28,840 --> 00:36:30,080 Speaker 2: Number two. Worry that I have. 733 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:34,200 Speaker 3: Though of the Pirates that defense is not gonna get 734 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:37,400 Speaker 3: better this year, and it's gonna be a problem for 735 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:42,560 Speaker 3: this team. Probably their biggest obstacle is in the field, 736 00:36:42,960 --> 00:36:47,200 Speaker 3: and more specifically speaking in that outfield, because the infield 737 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:50,880 Speaker 3: I think is actually okay. O'Hearn and Horowitz, whoever's at 738 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 3: first base, is very good. Low's okay at second base, 739 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:57,680 Speaker 3: Griffin's been smooth at shortstop at least so far, and 740 00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:00,960 Speaker 3: Ain'tterill is a good defensive third basement when he's healthy. 741 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,279 Speaker 3: Gonzales I don't know if he can play third, but 742 00:37:03,320 --> 00:37:07,880 Speaker 3: he's fine. That outfield is rough. In fact, the guy 743 00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:11,200 Speaker 3: who is playing in the outfield really for the first 744 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:14,440 Speaker 3: time in his career O'Hearn playing in right field for 745 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:16,480 Speaker 3: a lot of the time to start the season primarily 746 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:19,480 Speaker 3: a first basement up until this point, he seems to 747 00:37:19,520 --> 00:37:21,040 Speaker 3: be the one that's taking it to it the best, 748 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:24,040 Speaker 3: although it's not that he's without his flaws either out there, 749 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:28,359 Speaker 3: but Reynolds had a gaff yesterday. Cruise has just been 750 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:30,640 Speaker 3: a nightmare as we kind of expected him to be. 751 00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:33,880 Speaker 3: That's a big problem for the Pirates and one that 752 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:37,280 Speaker 3: I just I don't know how they fix that. Maybe 753 00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:39,920 Speaker 3: if Ozuna continues to struggle, you do move Cruise to 754 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:43,240 Speaker 3: DH and Mangum takes over in centerfield and he adds 755 00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:47,640 Speaker 3: some defensive stability out there. But then it's a pretty 756 00:37:47,640 --> 00:37:49,640 Speaker 3: big problem that one of your biggest guns that you 757 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:52,239 Speaker 3: hired in the offseason didn't pan out where you have 758 00:37:52,280 --> 00:37:54,160 Speaker 3: to now move him off of the everyday DH roll. 759 00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:57,520 Speaker 3: But the number one thing that's worrying me right now 760 00:37:57,520 --> 00:37:59,600 Speaker 3: to wrap up this trifecta when it comes to the 761 00:37:59,680 --> 00:38:02,719 Speaker 3: Pirates and the start to our season is the staff 762 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:07,919 Speaker 3: and the pitchers in general lack of control. If fourth 763 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:12,080 Speaker 3: most walks in Major League Baseball, the Pirates pitchers overall 764 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:16,799 Speaker 3: have and even you know, Mitch Keller and his last 765 00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:20,320 Speaker 3: start pitched well and pitched around it, but was struggling 766 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:23,360 Speaker 3: with command and was struggling with walks, and that's just 767 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 3: been a big problem so far for the Buckos to 768 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:28,960 Speaker 3: start the season is the starting pitching just has not 769 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:32,040 Speaker 3: been as efficient in the strike zone as you would 770 00:38:32,040 --> 00:38:35,960 Speaker 3: like them to be. But I have optimism that all 771 00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:38,000 Speaker 3: of these things, except for the defense in the outfield, 772 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:42,319 Speaker 3: is going to bounce back in some way and when 773 00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:44,759 Speaker 3: it comes to the pitching staff, hopefully in a big way. 774 00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:48,480 Speaker 3: And I hope it starts tonight with Paul Skeins on 775 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:52,360 Speaker 3: the bump and no walks. Why not, let's get greedy, 776 00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:55,640 Speaker 3: but in all actuality, just walk one or two batters. 777 00:38:55,960 --> 00:38:58,279 Speaker 3: It can't be having these four or five walk outings. 778 00:38:58,480 --> 00:39:03,040 Speaker 3: It's just creating too much strain, too much to have 779 00:39:03,080 --> 00:39:10,759 Speaker 3: to pitch around. Pitch count gets way too inflated. That's 780 00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:12,920 Speaker 3: the trifecta brought to you by Danny' Pizza and Hogies 781 00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:16,200 Speaker 3: Bucko theme Trifecta. We get back into some Penguins talk 782 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:18,839 Speaker 3: when we come back. We got Pierre Maguire joining us 783 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:22,319 Speaker 3: a little bit later in the three o'clock hour, but 784 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:24,640 Speaker 3: up next we'll talk about just how the Penguins did 785 00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:27,120 Speaker 3: that one point eighty from where everybody thought they would 786 00:39:27,160 --> 00:39:29,040 Speaker 3: be at the beginning of the season to where they 787 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:31,200 Speaker 3: are now. On April seventh, it's tom Off from an 788 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:32,640 Speaker 3: Infra Mark one of five ninety X. 789 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:35,320 Speaker 2: I'm done right. You've got most of the things handled