January 19, 2026 • 33 mins
Mark delivers his annual I Have A Dream Speech. An early edition of the Hockey Night Show as the Pens and the Kraken play today at 5
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Mark as Played
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I am happy to join you today in what will
go down in history as one of the greatest demonstrations
of sports talk prowess ever in our city. Nineteen years ago,
a football coach in whose ruins we stand today was
hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers. We thought it was a
joyous daybreak, a great beacon of light, a continuation of
(00:24):
a successful.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Era, and for a while it was. But now, nearly two.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Decades later, that promise has not been kept. Nine years
without a playoff win, five consecutive double digit postseason losses,
a revolving door of recycled old men and failed draft picks.
We have come here today to dramatize this shameful condition.
(00:51):
In a sense, it's time to cash a check. When
you signed to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers, you sign a
promisory note to.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Win which each of you stands air.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
But after nearly a decade of failure, that check has
come back marked in sufficient funds. But I refuse to
believe that the Bank of Rooney is bankrupt. I refuse
to believe that the Steeler's future is marked in sufficient funds.
But a new man must cast his check a new
(01:26):
endoor ce we have also come together today to consider
the urgency of now, and also the fallacy of now,
the lunacy of immediate, when that's not possible, a demonstration
by going all in with a bunch of senior citizens
for an eighteen week war of attrition. The draft is coming,
(01:49):
the heat of summer is coming. A franchise quarterback will
not be coming, not now, our next year, because why
would one want to to throw to the fat kid.
Discontent will continue, it will echo. This isn't about blowing
off steam followed by a calm.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
This is about patience of process.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Except the Steelers don't get that, so there will be
no rest, no tranquility, no postseason wins. So we wait
with a reason, but not without hope. But that hope
is misguided and will go unfulfilled. Even as you tailgate
and buy merchandise and draft Dk Metcalf for your fantasy
(02:29):
team and bet on the over and lose, there will
come a time when you sell your tickets to the
Ravens game, and you sell them to Ravens fans, and
that will lead to distrust, distrust of the ruinees, of
the con artist, of the new coach, of your own
instincts and traditions, not with somebody else's team, not with
(02:55):
somebody else's leaders, not with somebody else's culture, but with
a new beginning.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
But we cannot give up.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
We must be impregnated with new hope and new thoughts
and a new playbook that can't possibly be worse than
the old one. And we will not be satisfied. We
will not be satisfied until we give birth to a
new way, give birth to a new method, give birth
to the league's method, scoring more and faster a franchise
quarterback and beating Joe Burrow at his own game. I repeat,
(03:30):
not with somebody else's team leaders and culture, but with
a new beginning. And the reason we can do that
without knowing who the new coach is is because the
new coach is not the old coach. We reside in
the slums and ghettos of ten and seven, over and
over again, from the narrow jail cells of playoff defeats,
(03:53):
and even though we wallow into despair of today and
the uncertainty of tomorrow, I have dream. It is a
dream deeply rooted in a stairway to seven, even though
that's hackneyed and clicheted.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
And can't be climbed.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
I have a dream that one day we will live
out the true meaning of our creed. The standard is
the standard which has been lost a long time ago.
I have a dream that short drives will supersede long ones,
that seven points will replace three, that rock fights will
be replaced by entertainment, and that arch Manning won't refuse
(04:33):
to come here. I have a dream that your children
will one day become Steeler fans who won't settle, who
won't glamorize trivialities like no losing seasons and no meaningless games,
who will want the best, demand the best, and see
a legitimate return. I have a dream today. I have
(04:53):
a dream that one day we will have a legit
number two wide out, and that Pat Friarmouth will again
be target, and that Roman Wilson will get a helmet
and Caleb Johnson will get the ball, and that someday
somebody vandalizes that stupid draft comp down clock. That is
my hope, and that is my faith. I speak to
(05:16):
you with today, and with this faith, the right coach
will be Howard. With this faith, a franchise quarterback will
ultimately arrive. With this faith, we will finally see the
value of foreign thirteen and go for in thirteen and
reap the benefits of foreign thirteen, and then cast Will
Howard aside like an old shoe, and the bum that
(05:38):
will Howard is. When that happens, it will enable us,
transform us. The beautiful symphony of renegade will ring out
once again. The jig is up, the news is out,
and we will finally find the birth of a new dynasty,
and not the bastard child that is the mushy media.
The terrible tile will fly on Mount Washington, and not
(06:01):
the fact tight end.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I'm talking about the real Mount Washington.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
It will fly at the site of the immaculate Reception,
except the ball won't be trapped this time. It will
fly in hazel Wood. It will fly in Mount Lebanon.
It will fly in Reserve Township. It will fly in
Westmoreland County. It will be weighed by Brett Michaels and
Joe Manganello and Sally Wigan and Turn Angle and Bill Hillgrove.
(06:25):
And all this can happen because Mike Tomlin is gone
and a new day is gone, and the forest will
echo not only with laughter, but after nineteen years the
cry that.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
We've waited so long for free at last, Free at last.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
As long as it's not Mike McCarthy, we are free
at last.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
One five nine the X.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's the Woody Show weekday morning, six to ten on
the X.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
From the one nine the X traffic session is Mark
Madden of two Chip Draft bringing the duckstate type of affairs.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
What they're gonna make us play a wildcard game.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
It's not fair.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
It's not fair.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
It's not fair.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
The X at one five nine, it's time for calls
on the fifteens, which I forgot to flog at the
end of the last same because I was too busy
trying to unite the people.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Reaction to my eye have a dream speech or just
sports talk in general. Dial eight three three four one
two w XDX. That's a three to three four one
two w XDX.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
I have no feeling or emotion for the National Championship
Game tonight. I feel like their season lasts too long,
being caught in the middle of the NFL playoffs. Take
some bite out of it being on a Monday night,
Take some bite out of it. I just I'm not psyched,
(07:55):
and now be honest too, I think Indian.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Is a great story.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I respect the Hoosiers, the coach Kurt Signetti for coming
out of nowhere to be this mega power in college football,
but they're not a brand name.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
It feels like this game tonight.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Is between one non brand name in Indiana and a
brand name in Miami. This passed his prime and certainly
they deserve to be there. And I'm just a casual
college football fan, if that anymore since they fed up
all the conferences in the transfer portal and nil, so
point being, I'm just not that interested, and I don't
(08:39):
suspect many of you are either. I am a nurest
in the Penguins. Penguins continued to be a mixed bag
and really frustrating. We're gonna have a Hockey night show
at three point thirty. My guess's gonna be Jonathan Bomb
Bully of the Trip. That's in advance of the Penguins
Network pregame show four, and then the Penguins versus Seattle
(09:03):
at five o'clock. Because if there's one thing MLK dreamed of,
it was daytime hockey on the holiday that celebrates his legacy.
But the Penguins, they have the second fewest regulation losses
in the Eastern Conference, and they're nine to one and
three against the Metro Division, and yet they're barely in
(09:25):
the playoff spot. And they lost another shootout to Columbus
on Saturday. They're one and seven on shootouts. Shilloffs lost
another shootout. He's won and six in shootouts. He a
lot two goals on four tries. On Saturday he's a
lot thirteen goals on twenty attempts, and sid is won
for eight on shootouts. So shootouts are going to be
(09:46):
why the Penguins miss the playoffs. And then of course
we got the Steeler coaching search, which is all they're
talking about NonStop every place else in town. I just
think whoever they get to coach will not engineer an
immediate turnaround because it's tough to do an immediate turnaround.
(10:06):
They won't do what it takes to do any kind
of turnaround, which is go four and thirteen. And again,
by way of evidence, I point out that Denver is
in the AFC Championship three years ago, they went five
and twelve. New England's in the AFC Championship two years
ago they went four and thirteen. The La Rams in
(10:28):
the NFC championship. Three years ago, they went five and twelve.
Chicago and Houston lost over the weekend, but they won
in the wild card round. Houston was three thirteen and
one three years ago, Chicago was three and fourteen three
years ago. They went out and well, I mean, Chicago
(10:49):
drafted the quarterback. Denver drafted a quarterback. New England drafted
the quarterback. Houston drafted a quarterback, albeit one who's played
terribly these past two years, but they certainly built a defense.
The La Rams kept their same quarterback. The Steelers are
just happy with ten and seven or nine and eight
and losing in the wildcard round. And since they do
nothing to really change that, you can presume that they're
(11:12):
happy with it. You watch who they hire, You watch
you the quarterback's going to be next year. They're happy
with the mushy middle, even though Art's desperate for a
playoff win, but he wants it immediately. Like I just
said in my in my I have a dream speech,
don't get caught up in now, don't get caught up
in immediacy. Look at Houston, New England, Denver, Chicago, the Rams,
(11:35):
and they did it pretty quick, but not immediately.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Let's go to Zach. Zach, you're on with Mark. Good day, Sir,
I said, good day.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, Hey, you made a good point there about the
you know, not the looking at the immediate, and I
know in your opening segment about Sean McDermott.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
It makes sense.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
My question is would he even want to come here
for that turnaround?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
I thought, Oh no, I I wouldn't bring mcdert in.
I just wouldn't. I don't want to.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
I mean, like, I don't want to recycled guy. I
want an offensive guy, you know what I mean. I
know it's their tradition to get a young defensive guy.
I want to get a young offensive guy. The guy
i'd pick right now with Shieldhouse the passing game coordinator
for the Rams, and I know like nothing about him,
but I just want an offensive guy.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
I understand.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, thank you for thank you. Let's go to Dino
Velvet Dino.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
You're on, Hey, Mark, you let me take your money,
but you will let me take.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Your picture, depends how much money. What's going on?
Speaker 5 (12:34):
Hey, So you know Tom was here for nineteen years,
and you know he had a good relationship with national media.
Do you think it's odd he had to give it
a press conference since he's retired or stepped.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Out in light of what in light of his personal circumstances. No,
I'm not surprised at all because then something to that
end might get asked. But but yeah, I'm surprised he
hasn't done like a setup farewell interview with like one
of his guys like Jay Glazer and Rich Eisen that
I am a bit surprised about. I think that will
come eventually, and I don't think it'll come. I don't
(13:07):
think it'll come between now and the Super Bowl. I
think it'll come after, and that's if it comes at all.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
Do you think it's kind of flapping the face to
the Rudies and Steeler fans that he didn't say goodbye.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Again I'm tired of the tap dancing.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
No, given the circumstances, Dino, I am not at all surprised.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Thank you for the call.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
It's not a slap at anybody, although there is a
slap involved.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Let's go to Harry. Harry, you're only double m.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
I'm sorry, but I totally disagree with you.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
I think a lot of people are in the National
Championship Game, and I think the betting will show that.
I mean I just think that.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Betting an interest are two different things.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Oh, I think most people will be watching this.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I will see the ratings, don't lie. Maybe you're right.
I'm just not at all interested. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I like the fact there's no Essays teams in it.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Oh, that's the best part of that's the best part
of it. That this game shoves it up the SEC's backside.
I think that's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Yep. And I think I like having a basketball school
gets an old villain in football.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Like depend Harry, You're making many good points. There's plenty
of story lines here. They're just not don't get a
big head. They're just not enough to peak my interest
in And surely you must agree that having it on
the Monday after the divisional playoff games that we're all
great in the NFL, and coupling it with it being
(14:31):
a Monday night, which is not when college football should
be played, that wipes away a lot of loster.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Thank you for the call. The a good call. Hey,
if you're ready for that game tonight.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
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(15:43):
Night Show is next. We're gonna talk to Jonathan Bumbulli
of the Trip one oh five to ninety X.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
It's Travis every weekday at ten am, starting your workday
commercial free on one oh five D. The latest Misjudus
Hunt for a New Genius, Mark Madden and miss Gravit talk.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Just stand the man gable that Ravata. How you doing Mark,
I'm doing good. The X at one five nine.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Peng was visiting Seattle, game time five pm locally, but
the games that I'm confusing myself. The game's at Seattle
five pm Eastern time right here on the X.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Joining me now to talk about it.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
From The trib It's assistant sports editor, Jonathan Bomboli, jab,
It's an old discussion, but you can't just keep losing
every shootout. They're one and seven in the shootout, what
should they do well?
Speaker 3 (16:32):
I mean, first of all, I'm not I'm one of
these shootouts kind of a coin flip guys like I don't.
I don't. I don't know that there's such a thing
as a I mean, the thing that makes me question
what's coming out of my mouth is she lobs because
he's consistently bad. But in terms of shooters like Crosby
(16:53):
and the and the slump that he's in in the shootout,
I just think Tucks aren't going in for him. I mean,
there have been times in his career when he's been
like out in the shootout, and I don't think the
shootout skill is something that necessarily goes away with age.
So I think there's a lot First of all, there's
a lot of luck involved in shootouts. Now the question
is what do you do about it? Well, I mean,
I don't know. You do you know, you try to
(17:15):
maximize your lineup, so you know, like Shinakov, who's shown
an aptitude for it, he has to be one ear three.
That's one thing you do. The idea of changing goalies
before the shootout, it it would take a It takes
a real special goalie to be able to succeed in that.
I'm talking about the goalie comes in, not the goalie
comes out. Skinner in this case, it takes a real
(17:38):
certain kind of guy to be able to come into
a shootout and be successful like that. So you know
that you'd have to you'd have to ask Skinner if
that's the kind of thing he could do. Like, I
think that's the kind of thing that Marc Andre Fleury
would have been good at. But I don't know that
most goalies can do that. So it's a tough situation. Yeah,
than shilloffs right, Yeah, so your bar is pretty low, right,
(18:00):
I understand that, But I mean, you know, you'd have
to talk to the guy and see if he's comfortable
with the situation. I'll tell you one thing I'm not
going to do. I mean, I'm I know this is
sort of anesthetical to what we do in the sports
journalism business, but I'm not gonna sit here and tell
Sidney Crosby how to take a shootout attempt. I mean
to me, that's like, you know, come on now.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
I mean, okay, but but I am going to say this,
but I wouldn't say.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
We're going to do it.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
I'm gonna do it. Mark Well, okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
He does the same move every time, and I know,
and he never goes to his backhand, even though he's
the best player in the game's history on his backhand.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
His backhand is legendary. Yeah, I mean, you're right, and
from the outside you look at it and say, he
does the thing where he comes in slow and tries
to pick a spot and it doesn't work. But I
mean he knows that too, So I mean, like you know,
and I do think I've always thought, I've always had
this opinion about NHL players in general. It lead NHL players,
(18:55):
especially in the shootout, they don't want to look bad,
so they they sort of they limit their creativity because
if you try some kind of triple deck, you know
where you're going to try to backhand shelf and you
just it just rolls off your stick like that looks
bad and the whole crowd groans. But if you pick
a spot and the goalie makes a save, you you
know it's a save, but you don't look bad. So
(19:17):
I do think there's that element of they don't want
to embarrass themselves in the shootout. But I would think
if you've lost a bunch of shootouts, eventually you'd be like, well,
I'll embarrass myself, like I'll put whatever. You know. It's
like like shooting free throws underhanded. At some point you're
so bad over the top that you say, screw it.
I don't care how bad I look. I got it.
I gotta get these to go in.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Well, the thing is about doing the same thing every time.
For some guys that works, like Eric Christensen almost always.
You know, did that little bit of a deek there's
four hand under the blocker and it went in like
what forty percent of the time. But still if it
doesn't work and you do the same thing, that's a
different story. The other thing I hate, JB. Is it
(19:54):
has become such a thing to come in slow now,
and I just don't see where that hell help. I
would come in with speed.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
And I understand what you're saying. I tend to agree
with you. When I think of Christensen, I think of
him using that forstbird move because he's so Whenever he
did that, that move was just so awesome. It makes
it he.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Rarely did it, though he almost always went to the forehand.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Sure he was great at it, but you're right that
when these guys come in slow and try to pick
a spot, it feels like it doesn't work. But I just,
like I said, I'm just a little icky on the
idea of telling Sidney Crosby how to take a shoot
out of tempt. He'll work his way out of it.
I mean, one of the things that the hallmark of
Sidney Crosby's career is if he has a weakness, he
strengthens it. So, you know, but like the clock's tickings got.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Into Jonathan Bumboy the trip here on the Hockey Night
Show JB. Let's stay with China Kough. Besides the shoot out,
he has three goals in nine games, and I think
he's looked pretty good. And I think not that Gino
was playing poorly, because he wasn't, but he even seems
to have rejuvenated Gino a bit.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
That Russian thing.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
I feel like they've been trying to find a little
Russian buddy for Gino for like two decades, and maybe
they found one. So many tools with this kid, like
you know, you just you're just waiting for him to
put it together. If he can put it together, he
could be like a really dynamic player because his shot
is awesome and his skating is awesome. So like, I mean,
that's way more than half the battle. And you know,
(21:18):
I'm a little like I am one of those guys
that's like, hey, you know, the the Brazo and Mantha
and Malcolm worked really well together as a line, So like,
how about we go back to that. I do feel
that way, but I mean, you know, Chinacov could could
change my mind. I mean, just the tools are so impressive,
and you know that he's one of these guys that
(21:40):
just couldn't put it together. In Columbus, he ended up
with a coach that didn't like him, So that's gonna
be who got fired, which is probably huge indication for
that kid. But like you know, you're just waiting for
him to to he's got the tools. You're waiting for
him to come up with the toolbox, and if he does,
you may have you know, whether he plays with malcol
(22:01):
or whether he plays with somebody else. I mean, the
bottom line is super talented.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Kid Kendall hasn't scored in sixteen games, and I think
he's still playing well JB.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
But does he need a game off at eighteen?
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Maybe? Yeah, maybe. I mean you do expect a sort
of up and downs with an eighteen year old kid.
You don't look if an eighteen year old comes in
and scores consistently. I mean, there have been about a
handful of guys in the history of hockey that can
do that, So you expect, you know, your highs and
your lows with an eighteen year old kid. I'm a
little concerned that the youth has left this forward lineup, Oh,
(22:36):
no question.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
I'm concerned that it's left the team. I think it's
become too veterany because they have the send of the
playoffs in their nostrils.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah, and I don't think it was a coincidence that
they had the good start that they had when they
were playing some of these kids more. I definitely don't
think it's a coincidence because I'm a big believer in
and Sid said this, not me. Getting younger doesn't mean
getting worse. So I think there should be a concerted
effort to get McGroarty in the lineup, get coyven in
(23:04):
the lineup. At some point Sheinicov's the young guy, so
that's that's a good step. I get a little concerned
about that because I really, honestly believe that the youth
was a huge part of the reason they got and.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
The just not just good PLAYJB, but the energy in
in the dressing room too.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
More so more so energy than good play really, I
mean it just it's just a different vibe. And so,
you know, would you give Kendall a night off shore?
But not many? Because I want I want to maximize
the young guys in the lineup. I want to get
you know, I mean, you talk about she loves struggles.
I want to get. I wouldn't mind if he had
a you know, fictional hamstring injury at some point. Get
one of the kids in there, Get mersha of in there,
(23:43):
get Blonquist in there. I want to see you know,
Pickering when he's ready, like to me. But here's the thing,
I don't think that is anathetical with making the playoffs.
I think it goes hand in hand with making the playoffs.
I mean, we're not talking about a full scale play
all the kids ex Generation Rico add on a poster.
That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about just
get a couple of the younger guys in there to
(24:05):
inject that energy into the lineup. So I'd be very
wary of that heading forward. That that that because coaches
do this, I mean, and you know, we don't know
Mews is going to do it, but every coach in
the world does, and it's they lean on their veterans
as they get closer to the playoffs. And so I'd
be wary of that. But I mean, look that comes
from I'm always been to play the kids guy, So
I'm sort of biased in that sense.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
But I think it's important me too because it works
and was working. Uh well, Tang is playing better with
Carlson not. Why does that always seem to happen?
Speaker 3 (24:34):
That's interesting, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Like he's been I mean, he know was sid back
when too.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Yeah, I mean, can you could sort of understand from
a La Tang sense that I mean, he played, you know,
like practically thirty minutes a game is like almost his
whole career until he started playing a little bit less
in the last year. Maybe I mean not even much
more than that, So there could have been an adjustment there.
And now that he's getting more ice time, he's he's
a little more comfortable. Maybe playing you know, with the
(25:00):
top line as opposed to the second line is something
that helps him out a little bit. I'm in fact,
there's no question that would help him out a little bit.
I mean, the chemistry that Crosby and Latang have is good.
The chemistry that Crosby and Carlson have is good too.
I mean, any offensive defenseman is going to want to
play behind Crosby's line. I think that goes without saying.
But I also think that you know, like when you
(25:21):
look at the numbers Latang, Latang's not bleeding goals against.
He wasn't even when he was playing at his worst,
he wasn't really bleeding goals against. He's just you know,
you see a few more turnovers and you see a
few more mistakes in his game. But you know, I
don't think he came from the bottom to the top
when Carlson went out. He just kind of his gang
got a little better, and he got a little better
(25:43):
quality of teammates on the ice, got a little more
ice time, and it just sort of ticked up a
little bit to a level where you're like, yeah, that's
that's what Crystal Thank's capable of.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
I will say about these Penguins, JB. They don't quit.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
In the last seven games, they have scored three goals
with the goalie pulled. That's a pretty amazing record, and
that'll get your points.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
It is, and it's it's a I mean a lot
of that's a testament to Crosby because I mean he's
doesn't it feel like he's sort of orchestrating things when
it's six on five.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Even more than he usually does.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Right, Absolutely, And it's you know, like the last game
is a perfect example. I mean, you know, Latang's always
looking for that shot pass deflection and you know, you
hit it and it was perfect. I think that we
the flip side of all the shootout problems is that
those one points that they're getting for for you know,
(26:36):
somethings are valuable. I mean, if you look at the
way that this playoff race is going to come down,
I think it's pretty clear it's going to be a
matter of a couple of points, you know, less than
a handful in terms of making the playoffs and not
make the playoffs. So if you're looking glass half empty,
you can say, yeah, they've blown seven chances in the
shootout to gain that extra point. But if you're looking
(26:58):
glass half full, they've tied some game six on five
to get that point. So those points are gonna matter.
I mean, if the shootout loss points matter, then the
the the you know, tying it up in regulation points,
they matter just as much. I mean you look at
the bottom, like let's say the race for like second
and third in the Metropolitan Division, Like I think there's
(27:18):
that's gonna be bunched up all year. I don't see
anybody pull if you think the Islanders, the Capitals, the Penguins,
you think anybody is capable of No.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
No, no, I don't.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
But that's the kind of shame of where the Penguins
are in the standings, because they have the second fewest
regulation losses in the conference. They're nine to one in
three against the division, but they're just barely in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
And a lot of that has to do with all
the shootout losses. Without a doubt. I mean, you know,
you had three or four more points and it looks
a lot better, and that they're they're they're knocking on
the door first place if you had three or four
more points. But again, like I said, the shootout loss
points are points. I mean, you know if those you
take those seven shootout losses and say they don't past
regulation and subtracts seven points. Now at the back end
(28:03):
of the standings, you can do it both ways. I know,
I know, I don't know if optimism is in your nature, Mark,
but if you were, you could say, hey, let's shoot
out lost points or are pivotal.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
No, no, every point is pivotal in this race. I
just would like to see things easier and more more
nailed on, which which was never going to be at
this point in the season. But but things could be better,
uh is said the best defender deflector best deflector the puck. Ever,
we're getting back to that tying goal against Columbus. He's
got it down to an absolute science. He's so exact
(28:32):
with it.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Yeah, because it's not like what the first name that
pops into my head when you said when you say
deflection goals. And this probably has to do with my age,
because it's a sweet spot for me. Tim Kerr is
the first name that comes to mind.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
For you.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
See, I always say Philsposito some I'm a little older
than you.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Okay, yeah, okay, But that Tim Kurr, that rotten bastard.
He must have scored against the Penguins like every time
they played the Fires, and I don't think he ever
took a shot like a wrist shot. It like it
would hit his skater or his shin, PADDs butt or
his stick, and he just I remember him like when
I was a kid, that guy drove me freaking crazy.
But what Sid does is different. I mean, you know,
(29:09):
he's not just sort of like a big dumb animal
who parks himself in front of the net and lets
pucks bounce off him.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
Right.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
He's orchestrating deflections. He's he's setting himself up and and
you know what else that I think is effective is
when he's sort of camping out, like you know, along
the goal line to in the goaltender's peripheral vision, but
goalie has to know he's there, right. I mean, I
wonder how many goals are scored on shots from the
(29:34):
outside because the goaltender is concerned about where sid is
and the punches goes in on him. Like I saw
an example of that. I don't remember which game it was,
but Malcolm was standing right at the post and seeing that.
The goaltender was like, what's this, what's Malcolm doing here?
And then a shot went in from the point. I mean,
if you saw Crosby lurking over there to your left
and you're a goaltender, you're it's gonna get your attention.
(29:56):
So that makes that makes the offense better for everybody.
I mean, I'm you know Eric Carlson could score a
goal that way. Well, everybody benefits from the way said
deflex the puck. Jjo Pavelski is another name that just
popped in my head.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
There I go all the way back to ESPO big
number seven for Boston, seventy seven for the Rangers.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
JB. Great stuff. As always, I appreciate you taking the time.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Yeah, go to talk to you, Mark.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
That's Jonathan Bumboli on the Hockey Night show. I'm Mark Madden.
More hockey taught. Next John the Home of the Penguin
one oh five to nine.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
It's the miss Mark Madden.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
This is one of the two Chip Straft bringing the
duck taste type of affairs.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
What's not gonna make us play a womper game. It's
not fair, it's not far, it's not fair. The exit
one O five nine Hockey coming up. Just throw on
the corner.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Penguins Network pregame next, after that the Penguin in Seattle
Puck drops at five pm. UH got a SoundBite from
the former goaltender Devin dub Nick on the NHL Network
talking about the top six defenseman of the last thirty years,
and he leaves out Eric Carlson.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
We do forget about e K a little bit. Carlson.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
I mean his his numbers a little bit earlier on
in skill level are.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Really through the roof.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
So I would say, maybe Carlson.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
You could sneak in there because of the greatness he's
had offensively, although Drew has won a lot of stuff too.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
I mean that's why it's hard to make it to
six exactly. We get all this greatness around us. Yeah,
leaving off.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
Drew Dowdy, as you might have ascertained from the sound bite. Okay,
Dumnick's list was Lindstrom, Pronger, Niedermeyer, mccarr, Chara, and Quinn Ughes.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
I'd put Carlson over Chara.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Char is pretty good, but to me he was mostly
big six foot nine, but he did win.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Carlson has not. It's too early for quinn Us on
that kind of list.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Mccarr. I think he's a bit overrated. He's like Carlson
on speed, but he's real good. It's a solid list.
But what's weird is Carlson has only missed a few
games and the Penguins haven't really missed him because Latang
has picked up his game. So, like JB and I
(32:04):
were just talking about, it's odd how that works. Penguins
against Seattle out west in just a little over an hour,
Seattle ay and all that good early game on Martin
Luther King day, just as doctor King envisioned when he
had a dream. Again, I keep saying they should pull
(32:28):
shill Us for the shootouts. Won't have to today if
it comes that skinnering goal, but Muse won't. He was
very adamant about that when I asked him it his
press conference a couple of games ago. I think they
should play Skinner more period. Skinner is the better goaltender.
The Penguins are four and eleven. When the game is
(32:49):
tied after sixty minutes, they ain't gonna cut it. They're
not playing bad, but they're not playing good enough to
pull away from the pack. And when you don't pull
away from the pack given chance, you're generally ultimately in
trouble when it comes to make it in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
That's that's one thing.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Like I know when they lose a shootout, like JB
made a good point, the points they're getting by tying
games late, like they've scored three times with the goalieat
in the last seven games to get points, that's important too.
But when every point counts, the surprise points don't make
up for the point lost. And even though the peng
(33:32):
was missed the plass by a great deal last year,
we shouldn't forget how close to margin was two and
three years ago. Hop Next, it's the Penguins Network pregame show.
I'm Mark Madden one oh five ninety.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
X ready to bring the inside out at Sedgewick, Lamb
and lamb. We bring the beauty of nature to
I am happy to join you today in what will
go down in history as one of the greatest demonstrations
of sports talk prowess ever in our city. Nineteen years ago,
a football coach in whose ruins we stand today was
hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers. We thought it was a
joyous daybreak, a great beacon of light, a continuation of
(00:24):
a successful.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Era, and for a while it was. But now, nearly two.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Decades later, that promise has not been kept. Nine years
without a playoff win, five consecutive double digit postseason losses,
a revolving door of recycled old men and failed draft picks.
We have come here today to dramatize this shameful condition.
(00:51):
In a sense, it's time to cash a check. When
you signed to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers, you sign a
promisory note to.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Win which each of you stands air.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
But after nearly a decade of failure, that check has
come back marked in sufficient funds. But I refuse to
believe that the Bank of Rooney is bankrupt. I refuse
to believe that the Steeler's future is marked in sufficient funds.
But a new man must cast his check a new
(01:26):
endoor ce we have also come together today to consider
the urgency of now, and also the fallacy of now,
the lunacy of immediate, when that's not possible, a demonstration
by going all in with a bunch of senior citizens
for an eighteen week war of attrition. The draft is coming,
(01:49):
the heat of summer is coming. A franchise quarterback will
not be coming, not now, our next year, because why
would one want to to throw to the fat kid.
Discontent will continue, it will echo. This isn't about blowing
off steam followed by a calm.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
This is about patience of process.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Except the Steelers don't get that, so there will be
no rest, no tranquility, no postseason wins. So we wait
with a reason, but not without hope. But that hope
is misguided and will go unfulfilled. Even as you tailgate
and buy merchandise and draft Dk Metcalf for your fantasy
(02:29):
team and bet on the over and lose, there will
come a time when you sell your tickets to the
Ravens game, and you sell them to Ravens fans, and
that will lead to distrust, distrust of the ruinees, of
the con artist, of the new coach, of your own
instincts and traditions, not with somebody else's team, not with
(02:55):
somebody else's leaders, not with somebody else's culture, but with
a new beginning.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
But we cannot give up.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
We must be impregnated with new hope and new thoughts
and a new playbook that can't possibly be worse than
the old one. And we will not be satisfied. We
will not be satisfied until we give birth to a
new way, give birth to a new method, give birth
to the league's method, scoring more and faster a franchise
quarterback and beating Joe Burrow at his own game. I repeat,
(03:30):
not with somebody else's team leaders and culture, but with
a new beginning. And the reason we can do that
without knowing who the new coach is is because the
new coach is not the old coach. We reside in
the slums and ghettos of ten and seven, over and
over again, from the narrow jail cells of playoff defeats,
(03:53):
and even though we wallow into despair of today and
the uncertainty of tomorrow, I have dream. It is a
dream deeply rooted in a stairway to seven, even though
that's hackneyed and clicheted.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
And can't be climbed.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
I have a dream that one day we will live
out the true meaning of our creed. The standard is
the standard which has been lost a long time ago.
I have a dream that short drives will supersede long ones,
that seven points will replace three, that rock fights will
be replaced by entertainment, and that arch Manning won't refuse
(04:33):
to come here. I have a dream that your children
will one day become Steeler fans who won't settle, who
won't glamorize trivialities like no losing seasons and no meaningless games,
who will want the best, demand the best, and see
a legitimate return. I have a dream today. I have
(04:53):
a dream that one day we will have a legit
number two wide out, and that Pat Friarmouth will again
be target, and that Roman Wilson will get a helmet
and Caleb Johnson will get the ball, and that someday
somebody vandalizes that stupid draft comp down clock. That is
my hope, and that is my faith. I speak to
(05:16):
you with today, and with this faith, the right coach
will be Howard. With this faith, a franchise quarterback will
ultimately arrive. With this faith, we will finally see the
value of foreign thirteen and go for in thirteen and
reap the benefits of foreign thirteen, and then cast Will
Howard aside like an old shoe, and the bum that
(05:38):
will Howard is. When that happens, it will enable us,
transform us. The beautiful symphony of renegade will ring out
once again. The jig is up, the news is out,
and we will finally find the birth of a new dynasty,
and not the bastard child that is the mushy media.
The terrible tile will fly on Mount Washington, and not
(06:01):
the fact tight end.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I'm talking about the real Mount Washington.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
It will fly at the site of the immaculate Reception,
except the ball won't be trapped this time. It will
fly in hazel Wood. It will fly in Mount Lebanon.
It will fly in Reserve Township. It will fly in
Westmoreland County. It will be weighed by Brett Michaels and
Joe Manganello and Sally Wigan and Turn Angle and Bill Hillgrove.
(06:25):
And all this can happen because Mike Tomlin is gone
and a new day is gone, and the forest will
echo not only with laughter, but after nineteen years the
cry that.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
We've waited so long for free at last, Free at last.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
As long as it's not Mike McCarthy, we are free
at last.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
One five nine the X.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's the Woody Show weekday morning, six to ten on
the X.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
From the one nine the X traffic session is Mark
Madden of two Chip Draft bringing the duckstate type of affairs.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
What they're gonna make us play a wildcard game.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
It's not fair.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
It's not fair.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
It's not fair.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
The X at one five nine, it's time for calls
on the fifteens, which I forgot to flog at the
end of the last same because I was too busy
trying to unite the people.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Reaction to my eye have a dream speech or just
sports talk in general. Dial eight three three four one
two w XDX. That's a three to three four one
two w XDX.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
I have no feeling or emotion for the National Championship
Game tonight. I feel like their season lasts too long,
being caught in the middle of the NFL playoffs. Take
some bite out of it being on a Monday night,
Take some bite out of it. I just I'm not psyched,
(07:55):
and now be honest too, I think Indian.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Is a great story.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I respect the Hoosiers, the coach Kurt Signetti for coming
out of nowhere to be this mega power in college football,
but they're not a brand name.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
It feels like this game tonight.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Is between one non brand name in Indiana and a
brand name in Miami. This passed his prime and certainly
they deserve to be there. And I'm just a casual
college football fan, if that anymore since they fed up
all the conferences in the transfer portal and nil, so
point being, I'm just not that interested, and I don't
(08:39):
suspect many of you are either. I am a nurest
in the Penguins. Penguins continued to be a mixed bag
and really frustrating. We're gonna have a Hockey night show
at three point thirty. My guess's gonna be Jonathan Bomb
Bully of the Trip. That's in advance of the Penguins
Network pregame show four, and then the Penguins versus Seattle
(09:03):
at five o'clock. Because if there's one thing MLK dreamed of,
it was daytime hockey on the holiday that celebrates his legacy.
But the Penguins, they have the second fewest regulation losses
in the Eastern Conference, and they're nine to one and
three against the Metro Division, and yet they're barely in
(09:25):
the playoff spot. And they lost another shootout to Columbus
on Saturday. They're one and seven on shootouts. Shilloffs lost
another shootout. He's won and six in shootouts. He a
lot two goals on four tries. On Saturday he's a
lot thirteen goals on twenty attempts, and sid is won
for eight on shootouts. So shootouts are going to be
(09:46):
why the Penguins miss the playoffs. And then of course
we got the Steeler coaching search, which is all they're
talking about NonStop every place else in town. I just
think whoever they get to coach will not engineer an
immediate turnaround because it's tough to do an immediate turnaround.
(10:06):
They won't do what it takes to do any kind
of turnaround, which is go four and thirteen. And again,
by way of evidence, I point out that Denver is
in the AFC Championship three years ago, they went five
and twelve. New England's in the AFC Championship two years
ago they went four and thirteen. The La Rams in
(10:28):
the NFC championship. Three years ago, they went five and twelve.
Chicago and Houston lost over the weekend, but they won
in the wild card round. Houston was three thirteen and
one three years ago, Chicago was three and fourteen three
years ago. They went out and well, I mean, Chicago
(10:49):
drafted the quarterback. Denver drafted a quarterback. New England drafted
the quarterback. Houston drafted a quarterback, albeit one who's played
terribly these past two years, but they certainly built a defense.
The La Rams kept their same quarterback. The Steelers are
just happy with ten and seven or nine and eight
and losing in the wildcard round. And since they do
nothing to really change that, you can presume that they're
(11:12):
happy with it. You watch who they hire, You watch
you the quarterback's going to be next year. They're happy
with the mushy middle, even though Art's desperate for a
playoff win, but he wants it immediately. Like I just
said in my in my I have a dream speech,
don't get caught up in now, don't get caught up
in immediacy. Look at Houston, New England, Denver, Chicago, the Rams,
(11:35):
and they did it pretty quick, but not immediately.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Let's go to Zach. Zach, you're on with Mark. Good day, Sir,
I said, good day.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, Hey, you made a good point there about the
you know, not the looking at the immediate, and I
know in your opening segment about Sean McDermott.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
It makes sense.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
My question is would he even want to come here
for that turnaround?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
I thought, Oh no, I I wouldn't bring mcdert in.
I just wouldn't. I don't want to.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
I mean, like, I don't want to recycled guy. I
want an offensive guy, you know what I mean. I
know it's their tradition to get a young defensive guy.
I want to get a young offensive guy. The guy
i'd pick right now with Shieldhouse the passing game coordinator
for the Rams, and I know like nothing about him,
but I just want an offensive guy.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
I understand.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, thank you for thank you. Let's go to Dino
Velvet Dino.
Speaker 5 (12:26):
You're on, Hey, Mark, you let me take your money,
but you will let me take.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
Your picture, depends how much money. What's going on?
Speaker 5 (12:34):
Hey, So you know Tom was here for nineteen years,
and you know he had a good relationship with national media.
Do you think it's odd he had to give it
a press conference since he's retired or stepped.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Out in light of what in light of his personal circumstances. No,
I'm not surprised at all because then something to that
end might get asked. But but yeah, I'm surprised he
hasn't done like a setup farewell interview with like one
of his guys like Jay Glazer and Rich Eisen that
I am a bit surprised about. I think that will
come eventually, and I don't think it'll come. I don't
(13:07):
think it'll come between now and the Super Bowl. I
think it'll come after, and that's if it comes at all.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
Do you think it's kind of flapping the face to
the Rudies and Steeler fans that he didn't say goodbye.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Again I'm tired of the tap dancing.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
No, given the circumstances, Dino, I am not at all surprised.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Thank you for the call.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
It's not a slap at anybody, although there is a
slap involved.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Let's go to Harry. Harry, you're only double m.
Speaker 5 (13:34):
I'm sorry, but I totally disagree with you.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
I think a lot of people are in the National
Championship Game, and I think the betting will show that.
I mean I just think that.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Betting an interest are two different things.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Oh, I think most people will be watching this.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I will see the ratings, don't lie. Maybe you're right.
I'm just not at all interested. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
I like the fact there's no Essays teams in it.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Oh, that's the best part of that's the best part
of it. That this game shoves it up the SEC's backside.
I think that's wonderful.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Yep. And I think I like having a basketball school
gets an old villain in football.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Like depend Harry, You're making many good points. There's plenty
of story lines here. They're just not don't get a
big head. They're just not enough to peak my interest
in And surely you must agree that having it on
the Monday after the divisional playoff games that we're all
great in the NFL, and coupling it with it being
(14:31):
a Monday night, which is not when college football should
be played, that wipes away a lot of loster.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Thank you for the call. The a good call. Hey,
if you're ready for that game tonight.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
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Speaker 1 (15:22):
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a gambling problem called one eight hundred Gambler. The Hockey
(15:43):
Night Show is next. We're gonna talk to Jonathan Bumbulli
of the Trip one oh five to ninety X.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
It's Travis every weekday at ten am, starting your workday
commercial free on one oh five D. The latest Misjudus
Hunt for a New Genius, Mark Madden and miss Gravit talk.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Just stand the man gable that Ravata. How you doing Mark,
I'm doing good. The X at one five nine.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Peng was visiting Seattle, game time five pm locally, but
the games that I'm confusing myself. The game's at Seattle
five pm Eastern time right here on the X.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Joining me now to talk about it.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
From The trib It's assistant sports editor, Jonathan Bomboli, jab,
It's an old discussion, but you can't just keep losing
every shootout. They're one and seven in the shootout, what
should they do well?
Speaker 3 (16:32):
I mean, first of all, I'm not I'm one of
these shootouts kind of a coin flip guys like I don't.
I don't. I don't know that there's such a thing
as a I mean, the thing that makes me question
what's coming out of my mouth is she lobs because
he's consistently bad. But in terms of shooters like Crosby
(16:53):
and the and the slump that he's in in the shootout,
I just think Tucks aren't going in for him. I mean,
there have been times in his career when he's been
like out in the shootout, and I don't think the
shootout skill is something that necessarily goes away with age.
So I think there's a lot First of all, there's
a lot of luck involved in shootouts. Now the question
is what do you do about it? Well, I mean,
I don't know. You do you know, you try to
(17:15):
maximize your lineup, so you know, like Shinakov, who's shown
an aptitude for it, he has to be one ear three.
That's one thing you do. The idea of changing goalies
before the shootout, it it would take a It takes
a real special goalie to be able to succeed in that.
I'm talking about the goalie comes in, not the goalie
comes out. Skinner in this case, it takes a real
(17:38):
certain kind of guy to be able to come into
a shootout and be successful like that. So you know
that you'd have to you'd have to ask Skinner if
that's the kind of thing he could do. Like, I
think that's the kind of thing that Marc Andre Fleury
would have been good at. But I don't know that
most goalies can do that. So it's a tough situation. Yeah,
than shilloffs right, Yeah, so your bar is pretty low, right,
(18:00):
I understand that, But I mean, you know, you'd have
to talk to the guy and see if he's comfortable
with the situation. I'll tell you one thing I'm not
going to do. I mean, I'm I know this is
sort of anesthetical to what we do in the sports
journalism business, but I'm not gonna sit here and tell
Sidney Crosby how to take a shootout attempt. I mean
to me, that's like, you know, come on now.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
I mean, okay, but but I am going to say this,
but I wouldn't say.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
We're going to do it.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
I'm gonna do it. Mark Well, okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
He does the same move every time, and I know,
and he never goes to his backhand, even though he's
the best player in the game's history on his backhand.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
His backhand is legendary. Yeah, I mean, you're right, and
from the outside you look at it and say, he
does the thing where he comes in slow and tries
to pick a spot and it doesn't work. But I
mean he knows that too, So I mean, like you know,
and I do think I've always thought, I've always had
this opinion about NHL players in general. It lead NHL players,
(18:55):
especially in the shootout, they don't want to look bad,
so they they sort of they limit their creativity because
if you try some kind of triple deck, you know
where you're going to try to backhand shelf and you
just it just rolls off your stick like that looks
bad and the whole crowd groans. But if you pick
a spot and the goalie makes a save, you you
know it's a save, but you don't look bad. So
(19:17):
I do think there's that element of they don't want
to embarrass themselves in the shootout. But I would think
if you've lost a bunch of shootouts, eventually you'd be like, well,
I'll embarrass myself, like I'll put whatever. You know. It's
like like shooting free throws underhanded. At some point you're
so bad over the top that you say, screw it.
I don't care how bad I look. I got it.
I gotta get these to go in.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Well, the thing is about doing the same thing every time.
For some guys that works, like Eric Christensen almost always.
You know, did that little bit of a deek there's
four hand under the blocker and it went in like
what forty percent of the time. But still if it
doesn't work and you do the same thing, that's a
different story. The other thing I hate, JB. Is it
(19:54):
has become such a thing to come in slow now,
and I just don't see where that hell help. I
would come in with speed.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
And I understand what you're saying. I tend to agree
with you. When I think of Christensen, I think of
him using that forstbird move because he's so Whenever he
did that, that move was just so awesome. It makes
it he.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Rarely did it, though he almost always went to the forehand.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
Sure he was great at it, but you're right that
when these guys come in slow and try to pick
a spot, it feels like it doesn't work. But I just,
like I said, I'm just a little icky on the
idea of telling Sidney Crosby how to take a shoot
out of tempt. He'll work his way out of it.
I mean, one of the things that the hallmark of
Sidney Crosby's career is if he has a weakness, he
strengthens it. So, you know, but like the clock's tickings got.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Into Jonathan Bumboy the trip here on the Hockey Night
Show JB. Let's stay with China Kough. Besides the shoot out,
he has three goals in nine games, and I think
he's looked pretty good. And I think not that Gino
was playing poorly, because he wasn't, but he even seems
to have rejuvenated Gino a bit.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
That Russian thing.
Speaker 3 (20:55):
I feel like they've been trying to find a little
Russian buddy for Gino for like two decades, and maybe
they found one. So many tools with this kid, like
you know, you just you're just waiting for him to
put it together. If he can put it together, he
could be like a really dynamic player because his shot
is awesome and his skating is awesome. So like, I mean,
that's way more than half the battle. And you know,
(21:18):
I'm a little like I am one of those guys
that's like, hey, you know, the the Brazo and Mantha
and Malcolm worked really well together as a line, So like,
how about we go back to that. I do feel
that way, but I mean, you know, Chinacov could could
change my mind. I mean, just the tools are so impressive,
and you know that he's one of these guys that
(21:40):
just couldn't put it together. In Columbus, he ended up
with a coach that didn't like him, So that's gonna
be who got fired, which is probably huge indication for
that kid. But like you know, you're just waiting for
him to to he's got the tools. You're waiting for
him to come up with the toolbox, and if he does,
you may have you know, whether he plays with malcol
(22:01):
or whether he plays with somebody else. I mean, the
bottom line is super talented.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Kid Kendall hasn't scored in sixteen games, and I think
he's still playing well JB.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
But does he need a game off at eighteen?
Speaker 3 (22:11):
Maybe? Yeah, maybe. I mean you do expect a sort
of up and downs with an eighteen year old kid.
You don't look if an eighteen year old comes in
and scores consistently. I mean, there have been about a
handful of guys in the history of hockey that can
do that, So you expect, you know, your highs and
your lows with an eighteen year old kid. I'm a
little concerned that the youth has left this forward lineup, Oh,
(22:36):
no question.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
I'm concerned that it's left the team. I think it's
become too veterany because they have the send of the
playoffs in their nostrils.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah, and I don't think it was a coincidence that
they had the good start that they had when they
were playing some of these kids more. I definitely don't
think it's a coincidence because I'm a big believer in
and Sid said this, not me. Getting younger doesn't mean
getting worse. So I think there should be a concerted
effort to get McGroarty in the lineup, get coyven in
(23:04):
the lineup. At some point Sheinicov's the young guy, so
that's that's a good step. I get a little concerned
about that because I really, honestly believe that the youth
was a huge part of the reason they got and.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
The just not just good PLAYJB, but the energy in
in the dressing room too.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
More so more so energy than good play really, I
mean it just it's just a different vibe. And so,
you know, would you give Kendall a night off shore?
But not many? Because I want I want to maximize
the young guys in the lineup. I want to get
you know, I mean, you talk about she loves struggles.
I want to get. I wouldn't mind if he had
a you know, fictional hamstring injury at some point. Get
one of the kids in there, Get mersha of in there,
(23:43):
get Blonquist in there. I want to see you know,
Pickering when he's ready, like to me. But here's the thing,
I don't think that is anathetical with making the playoffs.
I think it goes hand in hand with making the playoffs.
I mean, we're not talking about a full scale play
all the kids ex Generation Rico add on a poster.
That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about just
get a couple of the younger guys in there to
(24:05):
inject that energy into the lineup. So I'd be very
wary of that heading forward. That that that because coaches
do this, I mean, and you know, we don't know
Mews is going to do it, but every coach in
the world does, and it's they lean on their veterans
as they get closer to the playoffs. And so I'd
be wary of that. But I mean, look that comes
from I'm always been to play the kids guy, So
I'm sort of biased in that sense.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
But I think it's important me too because it works
and was working. Uh well, Tang is playing better with
Carlson not. Why does that always seem to happen?
Speaker 3 (24:34):
That's interesting, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Like he's been I mean, he know was sid back
when too.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Yeah, I mean, can you could sort of understand from
a La Tang sense that I mean, he played, you know,
like practically thirty minutes a game is like almost his
whole career until he started playing a little bit less
in the last year. Maybe I mean not even much
more than that, So there could have been an adjustment there.
And now that he's getting more ice time, he's he's
a little more comfortable. Maybe playing you know, with the
(25:00):
top line as opposed to the second line is something
that helps him out a little bit. I'm in fact,
there's no question that would help him out a little bit.
I mean, the chemistry that Crosby and Latang have is good.
The chemistry that Crosby and Carlson have is good too.
I mean, any offensive defenseman is going to want to
play behind Crosby's line. I think that goes without saying.
But I also think that you know, like when you
(25:21):
look at the numbers Latang, Latang's not bleeding goals against.
He wasn't even when he was playing at his worst,
he wasn't really bleeding goals against. He's just you know,
you see a few more turnovers and you see a
few more mistakes in his game. But you know, I
don't think he came from the bottom to the top
when Carlson went out. He just kind of his gang
got a little better, and he got a little better
(25:43):
quality of teammates on the ice, got a little more
ice time, and it just sort of ticked up a
little bit to a level where you're like, yeah, that's
that's what Crystal Thank's capable of.
Speaker 2 (25:53):
I will say about these Penguins, JB. They don't quit.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
In the last seven games, they have scored three goals
with the goalie pulled. That's a pretty amazing record, and
that'll get your points.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
It is, and it's it's a I mean a lot
of that's a testament to Crosby because I mean he's
doesn't it feel like he's sort of orchestrating things when
it's six on five.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Even more than he usually does.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Right, Absolutely, And it's you know, like the last game
is a perfect example. I mean, you know, Latang's always
looking for that shot pass deflection and you know, you
hit it and it was perfect. I think that we
the flip side of all the shootout problems is that
those one points that they're getting for for you know,
(26:36):
somethings are valuable. I mean, if you look at the
way that this playoff race is going to come down,
I think it's pretty clear it's going to be a
matter of a couple of points, you know, less than
a handful in terms of making the playoffs and not
make the playoffs. So if you're looking glass half empty,
you can say, yeah, they've blown seven chances in the
shootout to gain that extra point. But if you're looking
(26:58):
glass half full, they've tied some game six on five
to get that point. So those points are gonna matter.
I mean, if the shootout loss points matter, then the
the the you know, tying it up in regulation points,
they matter just as much. I mean you look at
the bottom, like let's say the race for like second
and third in the Metropolitan Division, Like I think there's
(27:18):
that's gonna be bunched up all year. I don't see
anybody pull if you think the Islanders, the Capitals, the Penguins,
you think anybody is capable of No.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
No, no, I don't.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
But that's the kind of shame of where the Penguins
are in the standings, because they have the second fewest
regulation losses in the conference. They're nine to one in
three against the division, but they're just barely in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (27:41):
And a lot of that has to do with all
the shootout losses. Without a doubt. I mean, you know,
you had three or four more points and it looks
a lot better, and that they're they're they're knocking on
the door first place if you had three or four
more points. But again, like I said, the shootout loss
points are points. I mean, you know if those you
take those seven shootout losses and say they don't past
regulation and subtracts seven points. Now at the back end
(28:03):
of the standings, you can do it both ways. I know,
I know, I don't know if optimism is in your nature, Mark,
but if you were, you could say, hey, let's shoot
out lost points or are pivotal.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
No, no, every point is pivotal in this race. I
just would like to see things easier and more more
nailed on, which which was never going to be at
this point in the season. But but things could be better,
uh is said the best defender deflector best deflector the puck. Ever,
we're getting back to that tying goal against Columbus. He's
got it down to an absolute science. He's so exact
(28:32):
with it.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Yeah, because it's not like what the first name that
pops into my head when you said when you say
deflection goals. And this probably has to do with my age,
because it's a sweet spot for me. Tim Kerr is
the first name that comes to mind.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
For you.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
See, I always say Philsposito some I'm a little older
than you.
Speaker 3 (28:46):
Okay, yeah, okay, But that Tim Kurr, that rotten bastard.
He must have scored against the Penguins like every time
they played the Fires, and I don't think he ever
took a shot like a wrist shot. It like it
would hit his skater or his shin, PADDs butt or
his stick, and he just I remember him like when
I was a kid, that guy drove me freaking crazy.
But what Sid does is different. I mean, you know,
(29:09):
he's not just sort of like a big dumb animal
who parks himself in front of the net and lets
pucks bounce off him.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
Right.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
He's orchestrating deflections. He's he's setting himself up and and
you know what else that I think is effective is
when he's sort of camping out, like you know, along
the goal line to in the goaltender's peripheral vision, but
goalie has to know he's there, right. I mean, I
wonder how many goals are scored on shots from the
(29:34):
outside because the goaltender is concerned about where sid is
and the punches goes in on him. Like I saw
an example of that. I don't remember which game it was,
but Malcolm was standing right at the post and seeing that.
The goaltender was like, what's this, what's Malcolm doing here?
And then a shot went in from the point. I mean,
if you saw Crosby lurking over there to your left
and you're a goaltender, you're it's gonna get your attention.
(29:56):
So that makes that makes the offense better for everybody.
I mean, I'm you know Eric Carlson could score a
goal that way. Well, everybody benefits from the way said
deflex the puck. Jjo Pavelski is another name that just
popped in my head.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
There I go all the way back to ESPO big
number seven for Boston, seventy seven for the Rangers.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
JB. Great stuff. As always, I appreciate you taking the time.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
Yeah, go to talk to you, Mark.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
That's Jonathan Bumboli on the Hockey Night show. I'm Mark Madden.
More hockey taught. Next John the Home of the Penguin
one oh five to nine.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
It's the miss Mark Madden.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
This is one of the two Chip Straft bringing the
duck taste type of affairs.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
What's not gonna make us play a womper game. It's
not fair, it's not far, it's not fair. The exit
one O five nine Hockey coming up. Just throw on
the corner.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
Penguins Network pregame next, after that the Penguin in Seattle
Puck drops at five pm. UH got a SoundBite from
the former goaltender Devin dub Nick on the NHL Network
talking about the top six defenseman of the last thirty years,
and he leaves out Eric Carlson.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
We do forget about e K a little bit. Carlson.
Speaker 4 (30:59):
I mean his his numbers a little bit earlier on
in skill level are.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Really through the roof.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
So I would say, maybe Carlson.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
You could sneak in there because of the greatness he's
had offensively, although Drew has won a lot of stuff too.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
I mean that's why it's hard to make it to
six exactly. We get all this greatness around us. Yeah,
leaving off.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
Drew Dowdy, as you might have ascertained from the sound bite. Okay,
Dumnick's list was Lindstrom, Pronger, Niedermeyer, mccarr, Chara, and Quinn Ughes.
Speaker 2 (31:32):
I'd put Carlson over Chara.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
Char is pretty good, but to me he was mostly
big six foot nine, but he did win.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Carlson has not. It's too early for quinn Us on
that kind of list.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
Mccarr. I think he's a bit overrated. He's like Carlson
on speed, but he's real good. It's a solid list.
But what's weird is Carlson has only missed a few
games and the Penguins haven't really missed him because Latang
has picked up his game. So, like JB and I
(32:04):
were just talking about, it's odd how that works. Penguins
against Seattle out west in just a little over an hour,
Seattle ay and all that good early game on Martin
Luther King day, just as doctor King envisioned when he
had a dream. Again, I keep saying they should pull
(32:28):
shill Us for the shootouts. Won't have to today if
it comes that skinnering goal, but Muse won't. He was
very adamant about that when I asked him it his
press conference a couple of games ago. I think they
should play Skinner more period. Skinner is the better goaltender.
The Penguins are four and eleven. When the game is
(32:49):
tied after sixty minutes, they ain't gonna cut it. They're
not playing bad, but they're not playing good enough to
pull away from the pack. And when you don't pull
away from the pack given chance, you're generally ultimately in
trouble when it comes to make it in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
That's that's one thing.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Like I know when they lose a shootout, like JB
made a good point, the points they're getting by tying
games late, like they've scored three times with the goalieat
in the last seven games to get points, that's important too.
But when every point counts, the surprise points don't make
up for the point lost. And even though the peng
(33:32):
was missed the plass by a great deal last year,
we shouldn't forget how close to margin was two and
three years ago. Hop Next, it's the Penguins Network pregame show.
I'm Mark Madden one oh five ninety.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
X ready to bring the inside out at Sedgewick, Lamb
and lamb. We bring the beauty of nature to
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