Podcast appearances and mentions of Kris Letang

On this episode of Tip of the Ice-Burgh, Nick Belsky looks ahead to Year Two of Dan Muse and discusses the biggest challenge facing the Penguins head coach. He also unveils his Top Five Moments of Sidney Crosby's career on the eve of the Captain's 39th birthday, and answers questions on Sergei Murashov, Kris Letang, and more in part one of the August TOTIB Mailbag—Tune in!   Check out our latest episodes

Spring Cleaning – Washington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals entered the 2025-26 season expecting some regression after nearly winning the Presidents' Trophy the year before. That concern proved justified as declining production, injuries, weaker special teams, and uncertainty surrounding Alex Ovechkin's future left Washington outside the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine why the Capitals could not recreate the magic of their previous season and the major fork in the road facing General Manager Chris Patrick this summer.IN THIS EPISODE:[00:00:00] The Capitals are eliminated from playoff contention on April 13 after entering the season with expectations of taking a step backward from their Eastern Conference-leading 2024-25 campaign.[00:00:25] Neil and Vic revisit Washington's late-season decline from the previous year. The Capitals were 32 games above .500 on March 23, 2025, but finished the regular season 4-7-1 as the pursuit of Alex Ovechkin's scoring record became the team's central focus.[00:00:55] Washington still won the Eastern Conference and defeated Montreal in five games, but looked noticeably slower than Carolina during its second-round playoff elimination.[00:01:15] Eight Capitals players produced career seasons in 2024-25, making it difficult to expect the same level of performance one year later.[00:01:35] Neil believes the attention surrounding Ovechkin's record chase disrupted the team's rhythm. Once the record was secured, Washington never fully regained the form it displayed earlier in the season.[00:02:00] A quiet offseason provides little reinforcement, and the Capitals pace toward only 90 points through their first 72 games before finishing the season with an 8-2-0 run.[00:02:20] Several important players experience major declines in production. Dylan Strome falls from 82 points to 58, while Aliaksei Protas drops from 66 points to 52.[00:02:45] Connor McMichael also regresses, falling from 26 goals and 57 points to 14 goals and 46 points. Neil and Vic discuss how only a few additional goals could have changed several close games and kept Washington in the playoff race.[00:03:00] Pierre-Luc Dubois becomes one of the team's most significant losses. After playing all 82 games and producing career highs with 46 assists and 66 points the previous season, Dubois is limited to only 29 games.[00:03:30] Tom Wilson, Jakob Chychrun, and Logan Thompson remain dependable, while Ryan Leonard takes an encouraging step with 20 goals and 45 points.[00:03:50] Justin Sourdif contributes 15 goals and 35 points after arriving from Florida, while Aliaksei Protas' younger brother, Ilya Protas, positions himself for a full-time role next season.[00:04:10] Washington's special teams also regress. The power play falls from 14th to 25th, while the penalty kill drops from fourth to 15th.[00:04:35] Neil explains that even moderate declines become costly in a league where so many games are decided by one goal.[00:04:55] The Capitals also remain one of the NHL's older teams, and the unified effort that produced so many career seasons in 2024-25 does not carry over.[00:05:10] Alex Ovechkin's future becomes the defining offseason question. He has not yet decided whether he will return for another season or retire.[00:05:30] General Manager Chris Patrick enters the 2026 NHL Draft with five selections, including two first-round picks.[00:05:50] Washington owns its original first-round selection and Anaheim's pick acquired in the John Carlson trade.[00:06:05] The Capitals do not own a second-round pick after the Justin Sourdif trade, a third-round pick following the Jakob Chychrun deal, or a sixth-round selection after acquiring David Kämpf.[00:06:25] Washington projects to have approximately $4.4 million in cap space, leaving Patrick with limited flexibility before additional offseason moves.[00:06:45] Unrestricted free agents include Ovechkin, Brandon Duhaime, David Kämpf, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Timothy Liljegren.[00:07:00] Restricted free agents Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre also require new contracts as management evaluates which younger players belong in the next version of the team.[00:07:20] Neil believes ownership and management must first learn Ovechkin's intentions before deciding whether to retool or begin a more significant rebuild.[00:07:40] If Ovechkin returns, Washington is unlikely to dismantle the roster around him. The organization may instead attempt one more playoff push during the final chapter of his career.[00:08:00] If Ovechkin retires, the Capitals could accept several difficult seasons in order to acquire higher draft picks and inject more youth into the lineup.[00:08:20] Vic argues that Washington still possesses enough useful pieces to avoid tearing the roster down completely. A retool may be more appropriate than a total rebuild.[00:08:40] Neil compares the possible approach with Pittsburgh's successful strategy of adding several complementary veterans around Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.[00:09:00] The episode concludes with Washington standing at a clear organizational crossroads. Every major offseason decision—from free agency to roster construction—will depend on whether Ovechkin chooses to return for one more season.

The Dubas Cube 07/31/26 Per The Athletic's Josh Yohe, the Pittsburgh Penguins' 2026-2027 season holds the promise of … not much! PIT's GM, Kyle Dubas wasn't all that impressed with what he saw when he went free-agency-shopping, or the pieces he coveted were simply out of his league, for lack of a better turn of phrase. Jordan and Jeff talk Malkin, Kuzmenko, Murashov, Silovs, Chinakov, and… now wait JUST a minute… are the Penguins “Turning Russian” — more than a little like an Eastern European version of a racy early 80's pop song? Very special thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh's finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:https://espressoamano.com/ Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton LETS GO PENS. JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor Original theme and outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor Mark Guiliana played drums, Ashley Taylor sang. Interested in becoming a sponsor of our podcast? Email Fly Penguins Fly Podcast at: penspod@gmail.com Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork. Hire Shane: shanetaylordesigns@gmail.com This episode includes portions of the following musical selections: Fly Penguins Fly Theme composed and produced by Jeff Taylor Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Spring Cleaning – Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins entered the 2025-26 season with low expectations, an unproven head coach, and widespread speculation that the franchise might finally begin dismantling its aging core. Instead, rookie head coach Dan Muse engineered one of the NHL's biggest surprises, guiding Pittsburgh to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division before a first-round loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Neil Smith and Vic Morren revisit how badly they underestimated the Penguins, the remarkable resurgence of Erik Karlsson, and the difficult offseason decisions now facing General Manager Kyle Dubas.IN THIS EPISODE:[00:00:00] The Penguins finish second in the Metropolitan Division before being eliminated by Philadelphia in the opening round. Neil and Vic revisit the extremely low expectations surrounding Pittsburgh entering the season under first-year head coach Dan Muse.[00:00:40] Questions existed about whether Sidney Crosby would remain with the team through the trade deadline, whether Erik Karlsson would be dealt, and whether the collection of veteran depth additions could keep Pittsburgh competitive.[00:01:00] Dan Muse exceeds every expectation and quickly gets the roster to buy into his system. Pittsburgh becomes a more difficult, responsible, and consistent team than it had been the previous season.[00:01:20] Erik Karlsson's transformation becomes one of Muse's greatest accomplishments. After a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, Karlsson plays responsibly at both ends of the ice and reestablishes himself as a major contributor.[00:01:45] Neil and Vic admit they completely misjudged the Penguins during their preseason analysis. Muse becomes a Jack Adams Award finalist after leading a team expected to miss the playoffs to one of the strongest records in the Metropolitan Division.[00:02:00] Pittsburgh improves dramatically on offense, increasing its goal total from 243 to 293. The club's goal differential rises by 75 goals, moving from minus-50 to plus-25.[00:02:20] The Penguins receive scoring throughout the lineup, with 12 players reaching double digits in goals and five surpassing 20. Anthony Mantha delivers a career-best season after signing a one-year contract.[00:02:45] Yegor Chinakhov scores 21 goals after arriving from Columbus, while Justin Brazeau, Connor Dewar, Tommy Novak, and Noel Acciari all contribute career-best or near-career-best production.[00:03:00] Karlsson improves from 53 points and a minus-24 rating to 66 points and a plus-eight. Rookie Ben Kindel also makes an immediate impact with 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games.[00:03:30] The coaching comparison becomes impossible to ignore. Mike Sullivan leaves Pittsburgh for the New York Rangers, while Muse departs the Rangers' staff and immediately delivers a far more successful season with the Penguins.[00:04:00] Pittsburgh also makes major defensive progress. Its goals-against average drops from 3.46 to 3.09, supported by improved structure and a productive overhaul in goal.[00:04:20] The trade sending Tristan Jarry to Edmonton for Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak becomes one of the season's most successful moves. Pittsburgh escapes Jarry's long-term contract while adding a more dependable starting goaltender.[00:04:45] Kulak is later moved to Colorado for Samuel Girard, giving the Penguins another useful defenseman. Artūrs Šilovs also provides reliable goaltending depth behind Skinner.[00:05:30] Neil explains why the season felt almost like a championship for Pittsburgh when compared to the expectations entering the year. Nearly every major move worked, and several veterans delivered unexpected career seasons.[00:06:00] The offseason presents a complicated challenge for Kyle Dubas. Pittsburgh enters the 2026 NHL Draft with five selections, including two second-round picks, but no choices in the fourth, fifth, or seventh rounds.[00:06:30] The Penguins project to have approximately $10.2 million in salary-cap space before the July 1 reset. Their unrestricted free agents include Evgeni Malkin, Kevin Hayes, Anthony Mantha, Noel Acciari, Connor Dewar, Connor Clifton, Ryan Shea, Ilya Solovyov, and Stuart Skinner.[00:07:00] Restricted free agents Yegor Chinakhov and Artūrs Šilovs also need new contracts. Neil expects a busy summer with the possibility of significant turnover if Dubas cannot retain several of the players who helped drive this year's success.[00:07:20] Malkin wants to return, and Crosby has publicly expressed support for keeping his longtime teammate. Mantha's career year creates a more difficult decision because another team may offer him a larger contract in free agency.[00:08:00] The Penguins' unique challenge is that they are still building around one of the NHL's oldest cores. Malkin turns 40, Crosby turns 39, Kris Letang is already 39, Erik Karlsson turns 36, and Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are also well into their 30s.[00:08:40] Neil and Vic compare Pittsburgh's position to the previous season's Washington Capitals. Washington received career years from multiple veterans before injuries and regression caused the team to miss the playoffs one year later.[00:09:00] The Penguins could face the same danger if their older stars decline and the supporting players cannot repeat their career seasons. Pittsburgh must continue adding younger talent rather than assuming this year's formula will work again.[00:09:30] Dan Muse receives enormous credit for creating belief, accountability, and structure throughout the lineup. His ability to get the players to buy into his approach becomes the defining reason behind Pittsburgh's unexpected success.[00:10:00] The episode concludes with Neil and Vic admitting their preseason prediction was completely wrong. The Penguins earn an A-plus for the season, but sustaining that success will require a smart, aggressive, and carefully managed offseason.

Spring Cleaning – Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers made a surprising return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026, finishing third in the Metropolitan Division and reaching the postseason for the first time since the 2020 bubble. After defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, Philadelphia was swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine Rick Tocchet's impact, the late-season surge that changed the Flyers' trajectory, and the offseason decisions facing Danny Brière and Keith Jones as the organization attempts to build on a major step forward.IN THIS EPISODE:[00:00:00] The Flyers complete a surprise playoff run after finishing third in the Metropolitan Division. Philadelphia defeats Pittsburgh in the opening round before Carolina ends the season with a four-game sweep.[00:00:40] Neil and Vic revisit the modest expectations surrounding the Flyers entering the season. While few predicted a playoff berth, Neil believed Philadelphia could remain in the Wild Card race if Rick Tocchet could get the roster to overachieve.[00:01:20] The Flyers' young foundation already included Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, Jamie Drysdale, and Cam York. Veterans Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Travis Sanheim provided leadership, while Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, and Dan Vladař were added during the offseason.[00:02:00] Tocchet receives significant credit for producing immediate results. Zegras finds new life after leaving Anaheim, while Vladař stabilizes a goaltending position that has troubled the Flyers for years.[00:02:40] Owen Tippett's injury after the first round becomes a major loss against Carolina. Neil reflects on how Tippett developed into an important return from the trade that sent longtime captain Claude Giroux to Florida.[00:03:15] On February 26, the Flyers sit four games above .500 and eight points outside the final Wild Card position. Philadelphia responds with an 18-6-1 finish, including multiple five-game winning streaks, to force its way into the playoffs.[00:04:00] The late-season surge reveals a clear identity. The Flyers become difficult to play against in every zone, applying pressure on the forecheck, maintaining tighter defensive gaps, and fully embracing Tocchet's demanding system.[00:04:30] Neil compares the team's style to the traditional Philadelphia identity of physical, relentless hockey. Opponents once again understand that playing the Flyers will require a difficult, exhausting night.[00:05:00] Philadelphia's first-round victory over Pittsburgh becomes a defining achievement. The Flyers eliminate a Penguins team led by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson before running into a deeper and more experienced Carolina club.[00:05:30] Dan Vladař emerges as the clear number-one goaltender, with Samuel Ersson serving as the backup. Ivan Fedotov is traded to Columbus before the season, ending another uncertain chapter in Philadelphia's ongoing search for stability in net.[00:06:00] Rasmus Ristolainen misses much of the first half while recovering from triceps surgery. The Flyers also receive a major late-season boost from Porter Martone, who produces 10 points in his first nine NHL games.[00:06:30] Despite the team's progress, the power play remains the NHL's worst for another season. The relationship between Tocchet and Matvei Michkov also becomes a concern after the young forward is scratched twice during the playoffs.[00:07:00] Neil questions how Philadelphia handled Michkov's arrival, arguing that the organization presented him as a franchise savior before he had earned that status. Both John Tortorella and Tocchet have since challenged his defensive play and willingness to follow the team's structure.[00:08:00] Michkov remains one year away from restricted free agency. Neil believes the Flyers are unlikely to trade him immediately, but his future could become uncertain if his relationship with the coaching staff does not improve before his next contract.[00:08:30] Philadelphia still lacks a true game-breaking scorer and goes a second consecutive season without a 30-goal player. However, the organization's prospect pipeline includes Martone, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, Jett Luchanko, and Oliver Bonk.[00:09:00] The Flyers enter the 2026 NHL Draft with only five selections and no picks in the fourth or fifth rounds. They project to have more than $7 million in cap space before the July 1 reset.[00:09:30] Unrestricted free agents include Carl Grundström, Rodrigo Ābols, Luke Glendening, and Noah Juulsen. Restricted free agents include Zegras, Grebenkin, Drysdale, Emil Andrae, and Ersson.[00:10:00] Neil identifies Zegras and Drysdale as the two most important players to re-sign. The organization must also continue adding young talent through the draft and determine which depth veterans still fit Tocchet's system.[00:10:30] With available cap space and a suddenly more attractive competitive environment, Neil expects the Flyers to pursue at least one meaningful free agent who can improve the current roster without compromising the long-term plan.[00:11:00] The episode concludes with optimism surrounding Philadelphia's direction. The Flyers now possess a defined identity, a respected head coach, a reliable starting goaltender, and an improving young core that has made the franchise an appealing destination once again.

Josh Yohe joins the program to discuss the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jesse and Victor ask about pros Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust, Egor Chinakhov, Rickard Rakell, Justin Brazeau, Tommy Novak, Elmer Soderblom, Ben Kindel, Rutger McGroarty, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang,  Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov, and Joel Blomqvist. In Cat's instincts, Cat Silverman of InGoal magazine joins to discuss prospect goalies Sergei Murashov, Joel Blomqvist, and Gabriel D'Aigle. In the dynasty dig, we break down William Horcoff, Harrison Brunicke, and Joona Vaisanen with the help of reports from FHL lead scout Tony and polls from NHL Rank King Mason Black.Have a listen! Our show is part of the Dobber Podcast Network and sponsored by Fantrax.com. Email fantasyhockeylife@gmail.com and ask to join our free discord. Join our Patreon at Patreon.com/fantasyhockeylife for rankings, bonus podcasts, in-depth prospect reports with video, show notes and more. Check our Facebook and Instagram pages. View our YouTube for more prospect videos at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQPYVXp3foOcvh7344fjKmA. Listen and subscribe wherever podcasts are posted - and give us 5 stars! We want to be your best place to talk about the game of dynasty fantasy hockey

The Rest Of Your Days 06/26/26 Here we go! Jeff Taylor and Jordan DeFigio are back with yinz - for another exciting Pittsburgh Penguins off-season. Thanks to ALL our listeners, both new-and-returning, for listening in as we gear up for one of the more exciting times of the pro hockey calendar year. On tap over the next week you've got: The NHL Draft! Free Agency! July 4th fireworks! Check out the A.I.-generated chapters / timecodes below, for descriptions of what was discussed on this installment of Fly Penguins Fly Podcast. We look forward to having you all along for the ride as the summer unfolds and we inch ever-closer to that which we more or less LIVE for: PENGUINS HOCKEY. Link to the Instagram video of newly-minted Pittsburgh Penguin centerman, Hendrix LaPierre, revving up the Washington Capitals locker room with an all-time reading of their lineup card: (Credit to friend of the pod Anthony Vincent Jardine for hipping us to it...)https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzbrxTzBurt/ Very special thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh's finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:https://espressoamano.com/ Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton LETS GO PENS. JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor Original theme and outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor Mark Guiliana played drums, Ashley Taylor sang. Interested in becoming a sponsor of our podcast? Email the Fly Penguins Fly Podcast at: penspod@gmail.com Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork. Hire Shane: shanetaylordesigns@gmail.com This episode includes portions of the following musical selections: Fly Penguins Fly Theme composed and produced by Jeff Taylor Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Hour 1: Poni thinks he found proof in last night's Pirates game that Don Kelly is not a good manager. Should Paul Skenes not be an All-Star this year? And Tyler Kennedy joins the show to preview the Penguins' upcoming offseason moves.

Hour 1: Poni thinks he found proof in last night's Pirates game that Don Kelly is not a good manager. Should Paul Skenes not be an All-Star this year? And Tyler Kennedy joins the show to preview the Penguins' upcoming offseason moves. Hour 2: Poni and Dom argue over Ben Roethlisberger and Terry Bradshaw's all-time quarterback rank. Is it possible the Steelers don't extend Joey Porter Jr.? And Mike Florio joins the show to break down the Brendan Sorsby situation. Hour 3: Aditi Kinkhabwala joins the show to weigh in on the Brendan Sorsby situation. Is there going to be an alien invasion at a World Cup game tonight? And Dianna Russini's salary at The Athletic has been released, and Dom has thoughts. Hour 4: Poni and Dom debate who the greatest quarterback in Steelers history is. Dom has a trip to Cedar Point on Friday, but wonders if he'll be allowed in the park. And an ESPN analyst was involved in a car crash earlier this week.

Tyler Kennedy joins the show to talk about possible trades the Penguins could make in the upcoming weeks, if the Pens would have to give up Ben Kindel in a blockbuster move, what direction Mario Lemieux will want the Penguins to take, and more!

It is nothing short of remarkable to see Jordan Staal, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang still playing at a high level. Staal became the oldest player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe. Carolina won the Stanley Cup. Carolina won with a journeyman goaltender and don't have a generational star player but are a great team. Paul Skenes is not a big part of the Pirates problems, but he's not helping. Do you have jumper cables in your car? 

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: It is nothing short of remarkable to see Jordan Staal, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang still playing at a high level. Staal became the oldest player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe. Do you have jumper cables in your car? Is it time to move on from Marcell Ozuna? Does Henry Davis need to go to AAA?

On this episode of Tip of the Ice-Burgh, Nick Belsky recaps a tough season for Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and discusses what's next for one of the Pens' 'Big Three.' He also talks about Sidney Crosby walking away empty-handed from World Championships, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins falling behind to Toronto, and previews the 2026 Stanley Cup Final between the Hurricanes and Golden Knights. Tune in! Check out our latest episodes

Paul Steigerwald joins to discuss the pros and cons of bringing Malkin back, what the Pens should do at goalie, Kris Letang's future, if Anthony Mantha will be back, some young players who could break through next season, how the rest of the NHL playoffs have shaken out, what Dubas will say tomorrow. 

Tee Time For Pittsburgh 05/06/26 The Pittsburgh Penguins' 2025-26 campaign has come to an end. Eliminated in an overtime, Game 6 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pens overachieved and bowed out early. No harm, no foul. We all got extra hockey, the organization generated some playoff revenue from tickets, concessions, and merch, and after a slow start, we were all treated to some thrilling hockey in Games three through six. Jeff and Jordan recap the season that was, discussing - among other things - Evgeni Malkin's future with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Very special thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh's finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:https://espressoamano.com/ Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton LETS GO PENS. JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor Original theme and outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor Mark Guiliana played drums, Ashley Taylor sang. Interested in becoming a sponsor of our podcast? Email the Fly Penguins Fly Podcast at: penspod@gmail.com Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork. Hire Shane: shanetaylordesigns@gmail.com This episode includes portions of the following musical selections: Fly Penguins Fly Theme composed and produced by Jeff Taylor Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: Bubba Chandler's command has not been good and the walks have driven his pitch count up. Bob thinks Chandler tries to do too much and needs to take a breath. Bob said he was uptight on the mound and needed to make it simpler. Bob questions how good the offense actually is and thinks that Henry Davis needs to AT LEAST hit .215. Evgeni Malkin said it seems like Kyle Dubas wants "new blood" with the Penguins. Malkin wants one more year in the NHL. We hear from Kris Letang.

Could Evgeni Malkin play in Washington? We hear from Kris Letang.

The Philadelphia Flyers closed out the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 OT, capping a surprisingly solid “bridge year” for Pittsburgh’s aging core, with Evgeni Malkin expressing interest in returning at 40 and Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang also expected back. Philly, meanwhile, nearly let a 3–0 series slip but got a great performance from goalie Dan Vladar leading to Cam York’s eventual winner, though a tough matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes awaits. The Montreal Canadiens moved within one win of eliminating the Tampa Bay Lightning thanks to Alex Texier’s Game 5 winner and stellar goaltending from Jakub Dobes, while Brendan Gallagher made an immediate impact in his playoff debut, setting up a raucous Game 6 at the Bell Centre. Out West, Brett Howden scored a shorthanded double-OT winner to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 3–2 edge over Utah in a series where goaltending has been uncertain at best, and at times, chaotic. The Edmonton Oilers face elimination on the road against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6, needing early pressure on Dostal, but also the consistency they’ve lacked all season. The Minnesota Wild have an opportunity at home to eliminate the Dallas Stars behind Jesper Wallstedt and their heavy-minute defenders, who are proving to be a difficult matchup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison and sports columnist Noah Hiles break down the team's season-ending Game 6 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers from Xfinity Mobile Arena and look at where the team goes from here. This show is presented by FanDuel. Why didn't the Penguins emerge victorious in a game when they played well? Did Arturs Silovs cement himself as the Penguins' goalie of the future? Were they undone by resting key players down the stretch? Would the series have turned out differently if they played like that the whole time? And what is next for the team's Big Three of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang? Our duo tackles those topics and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. The Penguins truly believed they were going to win Wednesday and play Game 7 that the emotions were very difficult. Jeff thinks the series was lost in the second period of Game 3.  The Penguins resting players, plus Rick Tocchet's coaching, all played a factor in the Penguins losing and not finding their game. Jeff Hathhorn anticipates Kris Letang to be back. "Malkin has some people in the organization that love him and some people that would like to go in a different direction."

Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson discuss whether or not the Penguins have won enough in the era of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.

Joe Yerdon from Noted Hockey & Bleacher Report joins the show, even while under the weather, to break down the Sabres as they prepare for Boston & game 6 on Friday.

Full Show Broadcast: The Hall of Famer Don Stevens stops by (in studio) to talk about his illustrious Amerks broadcasting career. Thank You Don Stevens! Joe Yerdon from Bleacher Report & Noted Hockey joins the show to preview Sabres-Bruins game 6 on Friday. Plus Gene has Shots, Last Call & top NFL news & headlines. Timmy shares his bad take.

Full Hour 2 in The Sports Bar. Gene begins the second hour with shots & sports headlines. Yes, there is gossip included. Noted Jerk Joe Yerdon stops in to help preview Sabres-Bruins game 6 from Boston. What is the latest with the Sabres? Plus Gene has Last Call for you.

93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Jeff was battling the noise in Philly as the Penguins are getting set for Game 6 against the Flyers. Jeff doesn't have a ton of doubt in Arturs Silovs after back-to-back winning performances. Jeff reacted to Kris Letang turning his game around at the right time. Jeff thinks the Penguins resurgence is absolutely a thanks to Sidney Crosby and his demeanor. Jeff thinks Anthony Mantha steps up tonight and has a big early goal. Jeff thinks we see a Game 7.

Game Six: Balboa Penguins Force Philly Return 04/29/26 No one saw any of this coming, so each shift we behold - with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang together in the Stanley Cup Playoffs - is a gift to Penguins fans around the world. And yet we find ourselves riveted by the drama, as number eighty-seven and his scrappy, resilient team pushes through the reedy swamp of the most unlikely of comebacks. The Flyers, after jumping out to a three games to none lead, have stumbled while the Pens have surged. Former Calder Cup MVP and Penguins net minder Arturs Silovs stood tall in games four and five, and heretofore absent elements to the Penguins' postseason game: Depth scoring, Superstars getting going, just to name a couple, have arrived at either just the right moment …or a little bit too late. Either way, we're being treated to a classic. A Keystone State Battle to write home about. Tonight the Penguins visit Philadelphia for what will either be their storybook season's final tilt or, as some die-hard Penguins fans assert and hope: one more salvo in the name of a reverse sweep. Make no mistake: The Flyers faithful are sweating this game. Enjoy the podcast - Jeff and Jordan are back with you for some spirited Penguins hockey talk. Also, special thanks to Hunter and Jacob, a couple of newly minted hockey fans who came in through the ‘Heated Rivalry' side-entrance. Jeff met them at a local coffee shop, spotting them in some crisp, new Rakell / Crosby jerseys and simply had to ask them for a quick chat. Very special thanks to Espresso A Mano, Pittsburgh's finest coffee roasters and cafe, for partnering with Fly Penguins Fly podcast. Visit an Espresso A Mano location near you:https://espressoamano.com/ Thank you for listening!! Follow the podcast on X/Twitter: @penspod Jeff Taylor: @penspod_JT // Jordan DeFigio: @fidgenewton LETS GO PENS. JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO Fly Penguins Fly Podcast is produced by Jeff Taylor Original theme and outro music composed and recorded by Jeff Taylor Mark Guiliana played drums, Ashley Taylor sang. Interested in becoming a sponsor of our podcast? Email the Fly Penguins Fly Podcast at: penspod@gmail.com Shane Taylor designed and delivered our artwork. Hire Shane: shanetaylordesigns@gmail.com This episode includes portions of the following musical selections: Fly Penguins Fly Theme composed and produced by Jeff Taylor Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Hugh Douglas and Joe Giglio evaluate the Philadelphia Flyers' narrowing playoff lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins. They discuss the physical intensity of the series and the performance of goalie Dan Vladar. The conversation also includes postgame audio from Rick Tocchet and reactions from concerned listeners. 01:00 - Flyers Penguins Series Recap 05:36 - Postgame Reactions 12:08 - Listener Feedback and Nerves 20:44 - Debating The Jinx Allegations 24:38 - Phillies Game Night Preview

The Midday Show reacts to the breaking news of the Philadelphia Phillies firing manager Rob Thompson and appointing Don Mattingly as the interim replacement through 2026. Hugh Douglas and Joe Giglio also analyze the Flyers' recent struggles against the Penguins and debate whether Porter Martone should have fought Kris Letang. Additionally, they discuss Jeff Stoutland's comments on the Eagles' offensive execution and the Sixers' looming elimination game. 01:50 - Midday Show Introduction 02:09 - Flyers Physical Play Debate 03:27 - Flyers Penguins Series Analysis 06:06 - Postgame Audio Reactions 09:46 - Controlling Playoff Momentum 13:45 - Hockey Rules Learning 27:24 - Initial Phillies Frustrations 32:21 - Hugh's Playing Days 40:31 - Breaking News Thompson Fired 50:06 - Phillies Managerial Statement 57:59 - Lineup Construction Ideas 01:07:45 - Alex Cora Rumors 01:24:36 - Roster Execution Concerns 01:32:46 - Turning Season Around 01:50:57 - Cora Rejection Analysis 02:06:25 - Dombrowski Presser Preview 02:17:40 - Upcoming Schedule Breakdown 02:38:11 - Stoutland On Execution 02:50:43 - Jalen Hurts Evolution 03:14:47 - Nick Nurse Pressure

The Penguins won Game 5 with a 3-2 win and the series is 3-2 Philadelphia. Joe thinks this young Philadelphia team is starting to worry and look different. The Penguins have more energy and playing THEIR game. Joe thinks Sidney Crosby and the Penguins hosting Game 7 against the Flyers would be one of the greatest achievements of his career. Kris Letang has played much better.

The Penguins energy has been better and has taken advantage of their opportunities. Arturs Silovs was good again. Jay thinks the leadership in the room took over and the Penguins having their backs against the wall has been a key reason they've won two games. Kris Letang has played better the last two games and the Penguins are practically playing with only five defensemen. The Penguins scored the first goal in Game 4 and Game 5 but Jay thinks the Penguins can still win Game 6 even if they don't score first.

Kris Letang and crew say they are looking forward to getting to Philly for Game 3. Can the Pens win tonight and win the series? Crowley thinks the first 10 mins will tell the story tonight. The Flyers aren't even trying to score unless the Pens make a mistake. If the Pens play with the lead, the Flyers will have to change. Is Sid hurt? Crowley is expecting a Pens bounce-back effort tonight. Bryan Rust could be the guy tonight. Callers chime in. Cutch did not sound too happy in his comments about the Pirates. It sounds like poor communication by the Pirates. How should Pirates fans feel after hearing this? It seems like Cutch was initially expecting to return. This relationship could be ruined for a long time. How does it compare to Terry Bradshaw's relationship with the Steelers after his career ended? Crowley runs through various Steelers draft mocks. There's no consensus at all. A caller wants the Pirates to potentially trade for Cutch this summer. 

Kris Letang and crew say they are looking forward to getting to Philly for Game 3. Can the Pens win tonight and win the series? Crowley thinks the first 10 mins will tell the story tonight. The Flyers aren't even trying to score unless the Pens make a mistake. If the Pens play with the lead, the Flyers will have to change. Is Sid hurt? 

Kris Letang and crew say they are looking forward to getting to Philly for Game 3. Can the Pens win tonight and win the series? Crowley thinks the first 10 mins will tell the story tonight. The Flyers aren't even trying to score unless the Pens make a mistake. If the Pens play with the lead, the Flyers will have to change. Is Sid hurt? Crowley is expecting a Pens bounce-back effort tonight. Bryan Rust could be the guy tonight. Callers chime in. Cutch did not sound too happy in his comments about the Pirates. It sounds like poor communication by the Pirates. How should Pirates fans feel after hearing this? It seems like Cutch was initially expecting to return. This relationship could be ruined for a long time. How does it compare to Terry Bradshaw's relationship with the Steelers after his career ended? Crowley runs through various Steelers draft mocks. There's no consensus at all. A caller wants the Pirates to potentially trade for Cutch this summer. Art Rooney expects a Rodgers answer soon "one way or another'. Does the owner really not know the decision still? Is plan B Will Howard and a draftee? Dorin doesn't think he would retire. Why couldn't the team just give him a hard deadline? Mike McCarthy continues to talk up Will Howard. Art Rooney II sounds petty towards Ravens fans at the draft. A caller is done with Rodgers. What are the other options at this point? Mock Draft Mayhem! Could the Steelers take another offensive tackle? The update on Broderick Jones has not been good. Would the Steelers really add another edge? Christina Cassotis from the Airport Authority joins to discuss the big changes at the airport. Ray Fittipaldo joins to discuss his Steelers mock draft pick, what they could do on the Oline, could a tight end be the choice. Adding another weapon at WR could help the Steelers develop the next QB. A listener thought Callas was much older than he is. Crowley predicts a Pens win tonight. Dorin calls for a Mantha breakout effort. Producer refuses to wave down Maurkice Pouncey at the airport. A caller takes Mike Vrabel to task. Bryan Dietz of the Airport Authority stops by discuss the new additions at the airport and adding a unique flavor of Pittsburgh. Doug Whaley joins to discuss how a GM feels right before the draft, what the war room is like. Callas defends Crowley for his athletic endeavors in high school. Can the Steelers develop a raw offensive lineman? How a GM reacts when there's a surprise pick in the first round. Omar Khan talked up Makai Lemon, Doug Whaley pulls back the curtain on why NFL teams lie, could the Eagles trade for Alex HIghsmith or Nick Herbig? Crowley and Dorin are getting myraid photo requests. Doug Whaley makes his call for who he'd draft for the Steelers, and he thinks Tomlin will be good on TV.

The Rangers topped the Pirates last night, but the biggest story didn't come from the game. Instead, it was from the comments made by Andrew McCutchen following it. Cutch is still clearly salty following his Pirates departure. Would the Pirates be better off with him instead of Marcell Ozuna or Billy Cook? 2/3 of the show thinks Cutch needs to stop crying and be happy he got his 3-year reunion in Pittsburgh. Of course, a year when the Pirates look like a good team, the rest of the NL Central is great. How do fans feel about the Andrew McCutchen comments? Former Penguin Tyler Kennedy joined the show. Does Tyler like what Dan Muse is doing right now? TK said the Penguins need to adapt and match the style Philly is throwing at them. What is going on with Kris Letang right now? It looks like Justin Brazeau is back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in the first 2 games. Tyler believes in the Russian connection between Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov, so he was speechless to find out they aren't on the same line tonight. Tyler thinks the Penguins bounce back tonight and Sidney Crosby will have a big game to shut up the building in Philadelphia.

Former Penguin Tyler Kennedy joined the show. Does Tyler like what Dan Muse is doing right now? TK said the Penguins need to adapt and match the style Philly is throwing at them. What is going on with Kris Letang right now? It looks like Justin Brazeau is back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch in the first 2 games. Tyler believes in the Russian connection between Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov, so he was speechless to find out they aren't on the same line tonight. Tyler thinks the Penguins bounce back tonight and Sidney Crosby will have a big game to shut up the building in Philadelphia.

Betting Expert PJ Glasser gives us his best bets & insights for the NFL Draft, NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup Playoffs, MLB & Golf.

Full Hour 2: Tim Schneider starts hour 2 with his hot take of the day. Gene shares shots & big headlines. Plus betting expert PJ Glasser joins the show to give you his best bets.... & don't forget last call.

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison welcomes Noah Hiles to discuss the team's disastrous first two games of the Stanley Cup playoffs and wonder whether they have any shot at a comeback against the Philadelphia Flyers. This show is presented by FanDuel. What has gone wrong for the Penguins, and why didn't they fix it in between Games 1 and 2? Do the Penguins look old, buoyed by stars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson? How are the Flyers so much more physical and faster to the puck? What does this series outlook say about the future of the team? Do they have any answer for Porter Martone? Do the Penguins stand any chance of making a comeback? King and Noah tackle those topics, plus take a look at the most disappointing Penguins of the first two games and the few players who have shown up. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Penguins power play has been poor and even was a motivation generator for the Flyers. Steigy would play Kevin Hayes on Wednesday and take Ben Kindel out. He would shift lines around. 40% of the goals that Dan Vladar allowed this season was from below the goal line and behind the net. Steigy said Kris Letang and Sam Girard aren't coming out of the Penguins lineup.

Hour 2 with Joe Starkey: Nick Farabaugh thinks Aaron Rodgers will be back and is a matter of time. "They are taking a mid-round quarterback in this class, it just depends on when." If the Steelers trade up for one player, Nick Farabaugh thinks it's Makai Lemon. Kris Letang and Sam Girard have been bad and Anthony Mantha and Tommy Novak have been non-factors. The games have gotten pretty chippy.

Who's in hot water, presented by Mr. Waterheater. Kris Letang and Sam Girard have been bad and Anthony Mantha and Tommy Novak have been non-factors. The games have gotten pretty chippy, but not with the Penguins being physical. Joe would put Avery Hayes and Brazeau in the lineup. Steve Kerr is expected to walk away from the Warriors.

Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson discuss the Penguins' struggles on the power play against the Philadelphia Flyers in the series, and they discuss just how much more they think D Kris Letang can give considering many of the mistakes he has been making in critical moments.

Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson assess some of the struggles from the Penguins' defenders in the Game 1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison reports from New Jersey after the team clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2022. This show is presented by FanDuel. How were the Penguins able to defy all expectations and give Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang one more run at a Stanley Cup? How was Dan Muse able to instill his identity into the team after just one season as coach? How much credit does GM Kyle Dubas deserve for smart acquisitions such as Egor Chinakhov and Anthony Mantha? And how far can they go? King tackles those topics and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is what may be one last playoff ride with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang all together worth the Penguins potentially losing out on drafting another generational talent? Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson discuss!

Is it a failure of a season if the Penguins proceed to miss the playoffs after all of this? Another lopsided loss at home last night has them clinging to the final playoff spot in the Metro with the wild card race starting to look very messy. Missing the playoffs would be the fourth straight year of no postseason. There are individual success stories like Ben Kindel and the turnaround of Erik Karlsson, along with what we saw from Dan Muse in his first season on the bench. But finishing in the middle does nothing for this team and organization. Poni was surprised that Joe was outnumbered during the midday show thinking that this season would be a downer if they miss the playoffs. It doesn't sound like Dan Muse is wavering on his confidence as the Penguins' season enters the final stretch. On the midday show, Pomp gave the Penguins a 50/50 shot to make it. Former Penguin Tyler Kennedy joined the show. Are we starting to near the end for Kris Letang? TK thinks Letang still has some left, but he has to adapt his game a little bit. Tyler credited Erik Karlsson for letting the game come to him. TK said Letang and Karlsson are competitive to a point that both of them want to be the top dog. Tyler said the season is a failure if the Penguins miss the playoffs, regardless of what the preseason expectations were. Even though he's a hockey guy, TK predicted what the Pirates will do in 2026.

The Penguins were handled by the Hurricanes yesterday, in a 5-1 loss at PPG Paints Arena. Is it fair to have some big concerns with this team as we get into crunch time on the NHL schedule? The Pens have to figure out the goalie situation fast, a shared deal between Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner. The guys are really concerned about the play of Kris Letang, who is having a rough season. Was yesterday's game just kind of an outlier in their season? There was acknowledgement to one of the moves Kyle Dubas has been unable to right – Ryan Graves.

The Penguins were handled by the Hurricanes yesterday, in a 5-1 loss at PPG Paints Arena. Is it fair to have some big concerns with this team as we get into crunch time on the NHL schedule? The Pens have to figure out the goalie situation fast, a shared deal between Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner. The guys are really concerned about the play of Kris Letang, who is having a rough season. Was yesterday's game just kind of an outlier in their season? There was acknowledgement to one of the moves Kyle Dubas has been unable to right – Ryan Graves. BREAKING: Travis Kelce is signing a 3-year extension with the Chiefs. Poni questioned the Kelce marriage with Taylor Swift. College Basketball Minute – A Robert Morris transfer was a hero yesterday. We also discovered another kid with a Pittsburgh connection making his name in the NCAA Tournament.

Award-winning columnist Dejan Kovacevic, a lifelong veteran of the Pittsburgh sports scene, delivers 'Daily Shot' show each weekday morning, covering the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates! It's available bright and early, and timed to match your commute, never longer than 20 minutes! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison breaks down Sidney Crosby's return to the lineup, Erik Karlsson's success as of late and the team's very real Kris Letang problem. This show is presented by FanDuel. How did Sidney Crosby look in his return to the lineup after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury? Did the Penguins show anything in their crazy 6-5 OT loss to the Carolina Hurricanes? Or just another example of how that team is better? How is Erik Karlsson meeting the moment with his play? And what can the Penguins do about Kris Letang? King tackles those topics and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.