Alex Ovechkin on standing ovation during possible final game in Pittsburgh Saturday

Alex Ovechkin appreciates standing ovation during possible final game in Pittsburgh Saturday

WELCOME INSIDE PPG PAINTS ARENA ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. WE’RE TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT THE ICE RIGHT NOW. WE’RE COMING UP IN AN HOUR. THE PENGUINS WILL PLAY THEIR FINAL HOME GAME OF THE REGULAR SEASON, HOSTING THEIR BITTER RIVALS, THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS. YOU’LL SEE THAT GAME THIS AFTERNOON EXCLUSIVELY ON WTAE TV, CHANNEL FOUR. AND WITH THAT, WE SAY GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO PPG PAINTS ARENA AND WELCOME TO PENGUINS ON FOR PREGAME. I’M ANDREW AND I’M ASHLEY AIXA DIAZ AND ANDREW. WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING JOINED BY FORMER PENGUIN ERIC TANGRADI. ERIC THANKS FOR COMING. WE’RE SO EXCITED TO TALK TO YOU. YEAH, PLAYOFF HOCKEY IS IN THE AIR. I’M EXCITED TO BE JOINING YOU GUYS. AND LET’S HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON. YEAH PLAYOFF HOCKEY. YOU SAID IT. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT LATEST PLAYOFF PICTURE. HERE WE GO. AFTER MISSING OUT THE LAST THREE YEARS THE PENGUINS HAVE CLINCHED A SPOT IN THE POSTSEASON. AGAIN THEY ARE GUARANTEED THE TWO SEED IN THE METROPOLITAN DIVISION AND WILL HAVE HOME ICE ADVANTAGE IN ROUND ONE. SEVEN TEAMS ARE IN THE HUNT FOR THE REMAINING THREE SPOTS IN THE EAST, INCLUDING FOUR TEAMS IN THE METRO DIVISION. THE FLIERS, ISLANDERS BLUE JACKETS AND TODAY’S OPPONENT, THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS, ALL STILL TRYING TO CLINCH. ERIC, LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PENGUINS SITUATION NOW HAVING CLINCHED A PLAYOFF SPOT. YOU KNOW WHEN THE SEASON BEGAN, I THINK EVEN THE MOST OPTIMISTIC PENGUINS FAN WOULD HAVE SAID, OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS A TEAM THAT’S RETOOLING A LOT OF YOUNG PLAYERS. SOME OF THEIR STARS ARE GETTING OLDER. THE PLAYOFFS WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE, BUT MANY PEOPLE DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN. BUT HERE WE ARE, THE SECOND SEED IN THE DIVISION, AND THEY’RE GOING IN THE POSTSEASON WITH HOME ICE. IT’S AN AMAZING STORY. YEAH IT IS. I THINK LIKE LIKE YOU SAID, IT’S, YOU KNOW, EXCEEDING EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS. I LOVE THAT THEY’VE KIND OF WORN THIS. LIKE WHY NOT US US AGAINST THE WORLD TYPE MENTALITY. AND I MEAN, I THINK WHAT YOU NEED IS YOU NEED GUYS TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS. AND THEN YOU NEED SOME OF THOSE YOUNGER PLAYERS TO FILL IN AND TAKE BIGGER ROLES. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LINEUP, THE TOP, TOP FOUR LINES, DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS, THEY’VE ALL DONE A GREAT JOB AND HAVE EARNED THIS OPPORTUNITY. NOW LET’S JUST SEE, YOU KNOW, PLAYOFFS GETTING IN IS ONE THING, BUT LET’S SEE IF WE CAN MAKE SOME NOISE WHILE WE’RE THERE. YEAH. LITTLE CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER. I THINK AS YOU MENTIONED, OF COURSE THE PENGUINS HAD TO CLINCH A PLAYOFF SPOT TO MAKE SURE THEY DID HAVE THE TWO SPOT IN THE METROPOLITAN DIVISION. AND THEY DID THAT THURSDAY NIGHT IN NEW JERSEY AGAINST THE DEVILS. LET’S TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THAT HOCKEY GAME WITH THE PENGUINS DID CLINCH THAT PLAYOFF SPOT. AND THE PENGUINS AND DEVILS. IT WAS A TIGHT GAME, BUT PITTSBURGH BROKE IT OPEN IN THE SECOND PERIOD. CHECK OUT RYAN SHEA’S PASS DOWN THE ICE TO A WIDE OPEN IGOR SCHENNIKOV THE BACKHAND. HE SCORES! THE PENGUINS SCORED TWO GOALS IN THE SECOND PERIOD IN THE SPACE OF NINE SECONDS. THEY LED 3 TO 1. THE DEVILS CUT THAT DEFICIT TO THREE TWO BEFORE THE PENGUINS BIG PICK TWO PUT IT AWAY. SIDNEY CROSBY GETS THE PUCK. CAN’T GET IT IN THE NET. BUT THE TRAILING EVGENI MALKIN CAN. THE PENGUINS TAKE A42 LEAD. AND THEN HE WOULD ICE THE CONTEST WITH THE EMPTY NETTER. THE DEVILS PULLED THEIR GOALTENDER WITH ABOUT THREE MINUTES TO PLAY. PITTSBURGH OFF THE FACE. OFF THE PUCK GOES TO ERIK KARLSSON FROM HIS OWN FACE OFF CIRCLE. OH MONEY. THAT’S THE DAGGER. THE PENGUINS WIN THE CONTEST BY A SCORE OF 5 TO 2, CLINCHING A PLAYOFF SPOT, THEIR FIRST ONE SINCE 2022. AFTER THE GAME, WE HEARD FROM PENGUIN CAPTAIN SIDNEY CROSBY. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK IN THE POSTSEASON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2022? YEAH, IT’S EXCITING. THAT’S WHY YOU PLAY. THAT’S THE BEST TIME OF YEAR. SO TO TO KNOW THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE THERE TO SET OUT TO DO THAT. AND OBVIOUSLY EVEN MORE. YEAH, IT’S IT’S NICE TO GET REWARDED. EVERYBODY HAS HAD A PART IN THIS. OBVIOUSLY IT’S A TEAM GAME, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH THIS GROUP, YOU KNOW, WITH THE INJURIES AND ALL THE DIFFERENT GUYS IN AND OUT, YOU KNOW EVERYBODY’S CONTRIBUTED IN THERE. AT WHAT POINT DO YOU START LOOKING AT THE STANDINGS IN THE OUT OF TOWN SCORES AND START THINKING ABOUT YOUR FIRST ROUND OPPONENT? YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK YOU JUST YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON FINISHING THE SEASON STRONG. THAT’S THE BIG THING. AND THEN KIND OF LET THAT, YOU KNOW, SORT ITSELF OUT. BUT YEAH, I’M SURE WE’LL BE WATCHING CLOSELY. AND OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO PREPARE AND MAKE SURE WE’RE READY. SO WITH THE WAY THE LAST COUPLE SEASONS HAVE GONE BEFORE THIS YEAR, DID YOU EVER GET TO DID YOU EVER GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU DIDN’T WEREN’T SURE YOU WERE GOING TO GET BACK TO THE PLAYOFFS? I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS. YOU KNOW, I THINK I UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME SOME TOUGH ONES WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT CAME DOWN TO THE LAST DAY AND WE DIDN’T GET IN. AND YOU DON’T EVER KNOW. BUT I THOUGHT YOU KNOW, RIGHT FROM CAMP WE’VE WE’VE HAD THOSE INTENTIONS AND HAD THAT BELIEF. AND OUR START WAS A GOOD, YOU KNOW, A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT. SO YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE BELIEF WAS THERE, BUT YOU KNOW, IT TAKES EVERYBODY. AND YOU KNOW, WE’VE WE’VE GOT A GREAT GROUP HERE AND JUST REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT WE’RE GOING BACK THERE. DID YOU SEE THEM ABOUT, YOU KNOW. I WAS JUST TRYING TO DIG THE PUCK OUT. I MEAN I MADE THE MOVE, LOST IT, TRIED TO BANK IT OFF HIM AND THEN SAW IT LAYING THERE AND SAW, YOU KNOW, COME IN OUT OF NOWHERE. SO I WAS HAPPY TO SEE HIM PUT THAT IN. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOUGH ONE TO NOT SEE GO IN. SO YEAH, THAT WAS THAT WAS A HUGE GOAL TO GIVE US THAT CUSHION. THAT WAS PENGUIN CAPTAIN SIDNEY CROSBY AFTER THE CLINCHING GAME AGAINST THE DEVILS, A52 FINAL AND ASHLEY CROSBY HEADING TO THE 17TH POSTSEASON OF HIS HALL OF FAME CAREER. HE SURE IS. AND THAT WAS REALLY A CONVINCING WIN AGAINST A TEAM THEY SHOULD BEAT, RIGHT? YEAH. NO, I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST FOUR WEEKS, THEY’VE PLAYED IN SOME BIG GAMES, GAMES THAT THEY NEEDED TO WIN AND HAD TO WIN AND THEY WERE ABLE TO COME OUT ON TOP. NOW I THINK THE BIG QUESTION MOVING FORWARD IS NOW WHEN WE START PLAYING SOME PLAYOFF TYPE HOCKEY TEAMS, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO RESPOND? MEANTIME, THE OTHER STORY OF THIS HOCKEY GAME TODAY WAS A HISTORIC ONE. SIDNEY CROSBY, ALEXANDER OVECHKIN, ONE OF THE GREATEST RIVALRIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE TODAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MEETING NUMBER 100. BUT ACTUALLY THINGS HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE PENGUINS SITUATION. YEAH, WE GOT THE ALERT. YOU KNOW, CAME DOWN. I FIRST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT ON X, JUST OF ALL THESE GUYS WHO ARE SITTING OUT TODAY. HERE IS THE LIST. SIDNEY CROSBY, BEN KENDALL, EVGENI MALKIN, BRIAN RUST, ERIK KARLSSON, KRIS LETANG, PARKER WEATHERSPOON ALL TECHNICALLY CONSIDERED A DAY TO DAY WITH VARIOUS INJURIES. THEY HAVE THE TWO SEED AND HOME ICE IS NOW LOCKED UP. IT KIND OF STINKS TO DO THIS ON FAN APPRECIATION DAY, BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO RISK THESE GUYS GETTING HURT. BUT DAN HUGHES DID SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN’T REST. THEY’RE BANGED UP. YEAH. LIKE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. I THINK THEY’VE BEEN PLAYING PLAYOFF HOCKEY FOR THE LAST FOUR 4 TO 6 WEEKS. AND ANY OPPORTUNITY YOU CAN TO GO IN A LITTLE BIT HEALTHIER. THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO PLAY BIGGER MINUTES AND PLAY BIG MINUTES ALL YEAR. BUT EVEN BIGGER MINUTES IN THE NEXT TWO THREE WEEKS. SO HOPEFULLY IT’S JUST SOMETHING MINOR, MORE OF A MAINTENANCE TYPE THING. BUT LIKE I SAID, THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS, HOPEFULLY EIGHT, 12 WEEKS IS GOING TO BE VERY GRUELING. SO THIS COULD BE HELPFUL. ERIC, THE PRESSING QUESTION NOW IS, DO YOU HAVE YOUR SKATES WITH YOU? AND CAN YOU PLAY TODAY? WE WERE JUST TALKING BEFORE THE AIR THAT YOU’RE READY TO ROCK AND ROLL. SO I DO NOT THEY DON’T NEED ME. BUT OF COURSE YOU’RE WONDERING, OKAY, IF THESE GUYS ARE OUT, ALL EIGHT OF THEM, WHO’S GOING TO PUT ON THE PENGUIN SWEATER THIS AFTERNOON? YEAH, A COUPLE GUYS COMING UP. SO FORWARD JONAH KOPONEN GOT RUCKER MCGROARTY COMING IN. KOIVUNEN ALL CAUGHT UP FROM THE BABY. PENS FOR THIS AFTERNOON’S GAME. ERIC WHAT DOES AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS. WE’RE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU KNOW, HOW EXCITING THIS COULD BE FOR SOME OF THOSE GUYS. YEAH. I MEAN IT KIND OF BRINGS ME BACK TO, YOU KNOW, NOT TO GO INTO THE DEPTHS OF MY JOURNEY, BUT I REMEMBER BEING CALLED UP LATE IN A GAME LATE IN THE YEAR TO IN ATLANTA AND PLAYED A REALLY GOOD GAME AND TURNS OUT FIRST ROUND AGAINST TAMPA BAY, THERE WAS A SUSPENSION, AND THAT WAS KIND OF MY AUDITION TO GET IN. SO THAT ONE GAME WAS MY OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE TO MANAGEMENT, TO THE COACHING STAFF, THAT I WAS READY TO GO COMPETE IN A PLAYOFF GAME. SO I LOOK AT IT AS A OPPORTUNITY FOR THE OTHER GUYS TO GET BIGGER MINUTES, BIGGER ROLE GETS THE CONFIDENCE GOING IN THE PLAYOFFS, BUT THEN FOR THESE YOUNGER PLAYERS TO SAY TO MANAGEMENT, THE COACHING STAFF, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT I WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT GOING INTO THE POSTSEASON. NOW, THERE WILL BE ONE SUPERSTAR ON THE ICE HERE AT PPG PAINTS ARENA THIS AFTERNOON, THAT BEING ALEXANDER OVECHKIN. OF COURSE, THE BIG QUESTION NOW IS THIS IT? WILL THIS BE THE LAST TIME WE SEE OVECHKIN? LAST YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT? HE DID SAY EARLIER THIS WEEK HE IS GOING TO THINK ABOUT HIS CAREER DURING THE SUMMER. SO, ERIC, THE QUESTION FOR YOU, FOR ME TO YOU IS ALEXANDER OVECHKIN. I MEAN, IF HE DOES HANGING UP, WHAT IS HIS LEGACY? WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ALEXANDER OVECHKIN, WHAT WILL WE THINK ABOUT? I MEAN, I IT’S HARD TO DENY JUST THE RED LIGHT, RIGHT? THE GOALS. HE’S BEEN A SCORING MACHINE SINCE HE ENTERED THE LEAGUE. HIS ENERGY, HIS PASSION. I THINK HE’S ONE OF THE PIONEERS TO MAKING HOCKEY THE LEVEL THAT IT IS WITH THESE TV DEALS. I MEAN, HE WAS FLASHY BEFORE ITS TIME. THE CELEBRATIONS, ALL THE ENERGY. WHAT HE’S GIVEN TO THE GAME OF HOCKEY HAS BEEN SO SPECIAL. AND AS MUCH AS YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT HIS AGE AND ON PAPER, HE’S STILL HAVING A FANTASTIC SEASON. SO I’M REALLY HOPEFUL THAT HE’LL GIVE IT ONE MORE YEAR. AND THEN THE LAST THING IS PITTSBURGH IS JUST KNOWN FOR GREATNESS. AND I THINK THE ONE THING I’VE APPRECIATED ABOUT LIVING IN PITTSBURGH IN MY IN MY RETIREMENT DAYS IS THEY APPRECIATE GREATNESS EVEN ON THE OTHER SIDE. THIS RIVALRY HAS GONE BACK FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. AND I’M SURE THE THE TOWN WILL HONOR WHAT HE’S DONE FOR THE GAME OF HOCKEY AND THE LEVEL OF RESPECT, WHICH IS HOPEFULLY NOT HIS LAST GAME. BUT YOU KNOW, I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE OVECHKIN STUFF. I THINK HE’S BEEN SO GOOD FOR THE GAME AND OF THE NHL, AND JUST HIS PASSION AND ENERGY IS IS ADMIRABLE. IT’S GOING TO BE WEIRD NOT SEEING OVI OUT THERE. IF THIS IS INDEED HIS LAST TIME ON THE ICE, WE’LL SEE AS THE OFF SEASON UNFOLDS. MEANTIME, LET’S TALK ABOUT THE CAPITAL SITUATION. RIGHT NOW. WASHINGTON IS ONE OF FOUR TEAMS THAT HAS A SHOT OF BEING THE PENGUINS OPPONENT IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS. YOU KNOW, THE CAPITALS ALWAYS A PESKY TEAM. AND TODAY THEY GOT SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR. YEAH. YOU KNOW THEY THEY DO HAVE SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR. AND THEY’RE NOT THE, THE CAPITALS OF OF OLD. RIGHT. ERIC. I MEAN IT’S NOT T.J. OSHIE AND NIKLAS BACKSTRÖM ANYWHERE. YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY HAVE PLENTY OF CAPABLE GUYS. WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY DO? WELL, THAT STILL RIGHT NOW, AS OF TODAY HAS THEM IN PLAYOFF DISCUSSION. YEAH. I THINK THEY PLAY A VERY BLUE COLLAR GAME. I THINK PLAYOFF HOCKEY HAS ALWAYS BEEN BUILT ON A VERY DIRECT NORTH SOUTH HOCKEY. AND SOME OF THE NAMES YOU MENTIONED LIKE VERY HIGH END SKILL GUYS. BUT I THINK THEY’VE HAD TO RELY ON THEIR BLUE COLLAR TYPE PLAY. YOU KNOW, YOU JUST THINK OUT LOUD. TOM WILSON BUT CONNOR MCMICHAEL, THEY HAVE A LOT OF PLAYERS THROUGHOUT THEIR LINEUP THAT JUST PLAY THE GAME THE RIGHT WAY. AND I EXPECT THIS TO BE A GREAT TEST. WHETHER THE LINEUP IS WHAT IT IS WITH SOME OF THESE GUYS SITTING THERE, THEY PLAY PLAYOFF HOCKEY. THEY’RE GRITTY. THEY BETWEEN THE DOTS. THEY MAKE YOU EARN EVERYTHING. SO I THINK IT’LL BE A GREAT MATCHUP FOR THE PLAYERS THAT ARE PLAYING FOR THE PENGUINS TONIGHT. FANS MEANTIME FILING INTO PPG PAINTS ARENA FOR THIS FINAL REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME. AND WE LOOK AT THE PENGUINS SITUATION. OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE THE TWO SEED NOW. THEY HAVE HOME ICE FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS. BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THEY GOT TO THE WINNING SECOND PLACE, CLINCHING IT, 16 OF THEIR 98 POINTS WERE WHAT THEY REFER TO AS AS LOSER POINTS. YEAH. YOU KNOW IT’S TIED AT THE END OF REGULATION BUT UNABLE TO WIN THE GAME IN OVERTIME OR IN A SHOOTOUT. WE KNOW THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY’VE HAD WITH SHOOTOUTS. ERIC. THAT DOESN’T REALLY BODE WELL FOR THE PLAYERS. THEY’VE SCORED A LOT LATELY, BUT THEY’VE THEY’VE STRUGGLED AGAINST TEAMS LIKE TAMPA, LIKE DALLAS AND CAROLINA. ARE THE PENGUINS A PLAYOFF THREAT OR JUST A PLAYOFF TEAM IN YOUR MIND? I THINK THAT WILL BE TO BE SEEN, RIGHT. I THINK THAT THEY HAVE SHOWN SIGNS THAT THEY CAN SCORE. THEY’RE DEFINITELY HIGH RISK, HIGH REWARD AT THIS POINT. AND YES, I THINK WHEN YOU MAKE MISTAKES AGAINST A TAMPA BAY OR CAROLINA, LIKE THEY, THEY, THEY BITE AT YOU RIGHT, RIGHT AWAY. SO I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE GAMES HAVING SOME MEANING BECAUSE I THINK THIS WAS THE PERFECT OPPONENT FOR THE PENGUINS TO PREPARE. BUT TIME WILL TELL. I JUST THINK THEY GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE BLUE LINES AND THEY HAVE TO SIMPLIFY BECAUSE IF YOU’RE GOING TO TRADE CHANCES WITH THOSE TYPES OF TEAMS, IT’S GOING TO BE A LONG NIGHT. YOU KNOW, I THINK ACTUALLY THESE GAMES COULD MEAN SOMETHING BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE PENGUINS ARE GOING TO MAKE ANY KIND OF RUN IN THE POSTSEASON. IT CAN’T BE JUST CROSBY. IT CAN’T BE JUST MALKIN. THEY NEED COMPLEMENTARY SCORING. SO AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOME OF THESE OTHER PLAYERS STEP UP AND SHOW WHAT THEY CAN DO GOING INTO THE POSTSEASON. YEAH. BRIAN RUST ANTHONY MANTHA IS A BIG ONE TOO. WE’LL HEAR FROM HIM A LITTLE BIT LATER ON, BUT AS FAR AS MANTHA GOES, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN OUT OF HIM THAT HE’S BEEN ABLE TO SUCCEED? SO I MEAN, HE PLAYED 13 GAMES LAST YEAR, TORE HIS ACL, AND NOW HE’S LEADING A BRAND NEW TEAM WITH GOALS. YEAH. AND I’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY. I PLAYED WITH ANTHONY MANTHA IN HIS ROOKIE YEAR IN GRAND RAPIDS WITH THE DETROIT ORGANIZATION. SO YOU KNOW THE SCOUTING REPORT ON HIM WAS BIG, BIG STRONG KID THAT CAN SHOOT THE PUCK AND SKATE. AND WHAT I’VE SEEN OF HIM THIS YEAR IS HIS ABILITY TO BECOME A POWER FORWARD. IN YEARS PAST. I THINK HE WENT TO, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. HE KIND OF LOOKED AT, I HAVE TO CARRY THE LOAD. WHERE WHAT MAKES PITTSBURGH SO REFRESHING IS YOU CAN BE A COMPLEMENTARY PLAYER AND STILL BE SUPER EFFECTIVE. SO HE’S DEFINITELY USING HIS SKATING. BUT FOR ME, IT’S THAT POWER FORWARD MINDSET. HE’S BEEN GETTING TO THE NET FRONT. HE’S BEEN GETTING BETWEEN THE DOTS. HE’S USING THAT BODY. AND FOR ME, HE’S KIND OF BEEN THAT COMEBACK PLAYER, REESTABLISHING HIMSELF WITH WHO HE NEEDS TO BE AS A HOCKEY PLAYER. AND IT’S BEEN IMPRESSIVE TO WATCH ANOTHER GUY WHO COULD BE A GAME CHANGER. EVEN A GAME WRECKER IS RICKARD RAKELL TEN GOALS ARE THE MOST IN THE LEAGUE SINCE MARCH 22ND. HE WAS THE NHL’S NUMBER ONE STAR OF THE WEEK. IT’S GOOD TO SEE HIS GAME, YOU KNOW, RAMPING UP, BE THIS STRONG GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS. YEAH I THINK HE’S HE’S A GAMER RIGHT. AND THAT’S THE TYPE OF PLAYERS THAT YOU NEED. HE SEEMS TO SCORE BIG GOALS AND BIG MOMENTS. AND THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF UNSUNG HEROES THAT YOU’RE GOING TO NEED. LIKE WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT SHOOT OUTS. WE DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT ANYMORE IN THE POSTSEASON. BUT YOU KNOW, IF THEY DO GET IN OVERTIME, IF THEY DO GET INTO OVERTIME GAMES LIKE HE, HE’S THE ONE, YOU KNOW, THE UNDERDOG DARK HORSE WHO YOU LOOK AT TO SCORE THAT BIG GOAL. BUT HE’S VERY MUCH TAKING ON A ROLE OF NOT JUST, YOU KNOW BEING A COMPLEMENTARY PLAYER. HE’S KIND OF CARRIED THIS TEAM AT TIMES WITH MOMENTUM AND REALLY IMPRESSED WITH HOW FAR HE’S COME THIS YEAR. HOPEFULLY NOT TOO MANY OVERTIME GAMES BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW LONG THOSE CAN GO IN THE POSTSEASON. YEAH THREE FOUR COFFEES. YEAH. HEY WE’RE GOING TO TAKE OUR FIRST TIME OUT ON THIS HOCKEY DAY IN PITTSBURGH ON WTAE IN OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS. COMING UP ASHLEY, YOU HAD A CHANCE TO GO ONE ON ONE WITH SOMEBODY. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT ANTHONY MANTHA. YEAH. TAKE A LISTEN. YOU KNOW, WASHINGTON’S GOING TO COME OUT STRONG. THEY’RE THEY’RE STILL TRYING FOR THAT PUSH. AND WE NEED TO BE READY FOR IT. MY PHONE INTERVIEW RIGHT THERE WITH ANTHONY MANTHA. WHEN PENGUINS ON FOR PREGAME RETURNS LIVE FROM PPG PAINTS ARENA. WELCOME BACK TO PENS ON FOR PREGAME STREAMING LIVE FOR YOU HERE ON THE WTAE PLATFORM. SO YOU’RE TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT SOME BRAVE CAPITAL FANS WHO HAVE MADE THE TRIP TO PITTSBURGH. OF COURSE, PENGUIN FANS HOPING WE SEND THEM HOME UNHAPPY IN THIS FINAL HOME REGULAR SEASON GAME FOR THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS. OF COURSE, THEIR SEASON IS NOT GOING TO END AFTER THIS WEEK BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THEY’RE PLAYOFF BOUND AS THEY GET READY FOR THE RETURN TO THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS. AND WITH THAT, WELCOME BACK INSIDE PPG PAINTS ARENA. ANDREW STOCKEY ASHLEY DOUGHERTY AND FORMER PENGUIN ERIC TANGRADI. SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANTHONY MANTHA. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM EARLIER AND JUST HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT HE HAS MADE. BUT YOU KNOW, HIS IMPACT. HE’S BEEN HERE FOR ONE SEASON, ALMOST A FULL SEASON HERE. HE HAS PLAYED FOR THE CAPITALS. SO HE KNOWS THIS TEAM. HE KNOWS HOW OVECHKIN PLAYS. BUT LAST YEAR HE ONLY PLAYED 13 GAMES UP IN CALGARY. HE TORE HIS ACL AND NOW HE’S ON A BRAND NEW TEAM LEADING THAT TEAM WITH 31 GOALS AND HE’S BEEN ABLE TO DO IT. HE TELLS ME WITH A LOT OF MENTAL WORK AS WELL, I WAS ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH HIM JUST A LITTLE BIT AGO BEFORE THE GAME. TAKE A LISTEN. ALL RIGHT, ANTHONY, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU GUYS CLINCH THE PLAYOFFS. YOU’RE NEW TO THIS TEAM YOU KNOW AS OF THIS YEAR. SO IS DAN. YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS DIFFERENT PIECES INSIDE THAT LOCKER ROOM. WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS THE KEY TO GETTING INTO THE PLAYOFFS WITH ALL OF THAT NEWNESS HERE THIS YEAR? I THINK HOW LOW THE EXPECTATION ON OUR TEAM WAS WAS KIND OF OUR MOTIVATION. OBVIOUSLY, EVERYONE TALKED ABOUT IT ALREADY. THAT WAS REALLY WHAT WE STRONGLY BELIEVED WAS GOING TO PUSH US. IT WAS MESSAGE FROM TRAINING CAMP UP TO THIS DAY AND OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING NEEDS TO FALL IN PLACE FOR IT TO HAPPEN, BUT EVERYONE KIND OF BONDED TOGETHER AND COACHING STAFF DID A GOOD JOB AND PLAYERS DID A GREAT JOB OF STEPPING UP. AND HERE WE ARE TODAY. YOU ARE SUCH A COMEBACK STORY. LAST YEAR YOU PLAYED 13 GAMES WITH CALGARY, TORE YOUR ACL, MADE IT BACK. YOU’RE NOW LEADING A BRAND NEW TEAM WITH 31 GOALS, WHICH IS A CAREER HIGH FOR YOU AS WELL. HOW DID YOU KIND OF GET BACK TO THIS POINT AND COME BACK EVEN STRONGER? I THINK IT’S ALL THE MENTAL WORK I’VE WORKED WITH A MENTAL COACH FOR, FOR, FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS SO FAR. SO WHEN I DID GET MY SURGERY LAST YEAR, THE THE KEY FOR ME WAS TO BE THE MOST TALKED ABOUT PLAYER THIS UPCOMING SEASON. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I FOCUSED ON. AND HERE WE ARE, CAREER HIGH IN POINTS, GOALS. OBVIOUSLY STAYED WITH THIS NEW TEAM FOR THE PUSH AND NOW WE’RE CLENCHING. SO IT’S BEEN ALL POSITIVE. OBVIOUSLY IT’S NOT OVER. HAVE A LOT TO PROVE. STILL. I WANT TO HAVE HUGE PLAYOFFS AND GO FROM THERE. YOU GUYS HAVE CLINCHED. YOU HAVE A COUPLE MORE GAMES LEFT THIS SEASON AS FAR AS STAYING SAFE, STAYING HEALTHY, INJURY FREE, THESE FINAL FEW GAMES, GETTING INTO THE PLAYOFFS, HOW DO YOU KIND OF BALANCE THAT WHILE ALSO STAYING COMPETITIVE? DO YOU TALK ABOUT RESTING GUYS AT ALL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? YEAH, I MEAN, THAT’S THE COACHING STYLE THAT’S GOING TO TAKE THOSE DECISIONS FOR THE GUYS PLAYING IN THE GAMES. I MEAN I THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL OBVIOUSLY AT ALL TIMES. BUT YEAH, YOU CAN’T PLAY THAT EASYGOING GAME BECAUSE THAT’S WHEN MAYBE YOU’RE GOING TO GET HIT OR TWISTED ANKLE OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. SO I THINK THE GUYS NEED TO BE READY, NEED TO PLAY HARD, MAYBE TAKE A LITTLE EDGE OFF, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO PLAY THOSE GAMES LIKE THEY DO MATTER. AND OBVIOUSLY THEY’RE THERE. YOU KNOW, WASHINGTON’S GOING TO COME OUT STRONG. THEY’RE THEY’RE STILL TRYING FOR THAT PUSH. AND WE NEED TO BE READY FOR IT. YOU KNOW THE COACHING STAFF MAKING THOSE DECISIONS. I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THAT RIGHT BEFORE THOSE DECISIONS CAME DOWN. AGAIN. DAN HUGHES NOT SAYING THAT THEY’RE RESTING GUYS, BUT A LOT OF THOSE GUYS SITTING OUT TODAY. BUT HOW ABOUT ANTHONY MANTHA 31 GOALS 30 ASSISTS. HE’S A PLUS 12. HE HASN’T MISSED A GAME ALL YEAR. WHAT A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH HE IS ERIC. YEAH I MEAN THAT INTERVIEW WAS GREAT. I MEAN JUST TO HEAR ABOUT SOMETIMES AS AN ATHLETE YOU IT TAKES SOME REJECTION AND ADVERSITY AND TO GET YOURSELF OUT OF IT FOR, YOU KNOW, THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO YOU. AND JUST TO HEAR HIM SAY, LIKE, I WENT THROUGH ONE OF THE LOWEST POINTS IN MY CAREER, I RELIED ON THE MENTAL PART OF THE GAME, AND I WANTED TO PROVE PEOPLE WRONG AND BE THE MOST TALKED ABOUT PLAYER NEXT SEASON. AND HERE WE ARE, RIGHT? YEAH. WHAT AN AWESOME STORY. AND IT’S GREAT TO SEE HIM HAVING THE TYPE OF SUCCESS HE’S HAVING. JUST A GREAT STORY OF THIS ENTIRE PENGUIN HOCKEY TEAM. OF COURSE, THERE ARE NOW THREE REGULAR SEASON GAMES LEFT TO PLAY FOR PITTSBURGH. WE’VE GOT THE GAME TODAY, OF COURSE, AND THEN TOMORROW WILL BE A HOME AND HOME AS THEY GO TO WASHINGTON TO PLAY THE CAPITALS. AND THEY’LL CLOSE OUT THE SEASON IN SAINT LOUIS. AND AFTER THAT THE PLAYOFFS BEGIN. OF COURSE, THE BIG QUESTION WHO WILL THE PENGUINS PLAY IN ROUND ONE OF THEIR RETURN TO THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS? WHY DON’T WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE POSSIBLE MATCHUPS? AND IF THE SEASON ENDED RIGHT NOW, AT THIS MOMENT, THE TURNPIKE SERIES WOULD BE BACK. THE FLIERS AND THE PENGUINS. AND WHO WOULDN’T LOVE THAT MATCHUP? BUT IT COULD ALSO BE THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS WHO, FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, FIRED THEIR HEAD COACH BEFORE GAMES TO PLAY. GO FIGURE. OR THE COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS, WHO WON ONLY TWO OF THEIR LAST TEN GAMES. THEN WE COULD BE WATCHING A PLAYOFF MATCHUP HERE THIS AFTERNOON AS THE PENGUINS AND THE CAPITALS FACE OFF. THAT COULD HAPPEN IF THE CAPITALS WIN OUT AND GET A LITTLE BIT OF HELP. THEY COULD BE THE PENGUINS FIRST ROUND OPPONENT. SO A LOT OF GREAT POSSIBILITIES. LOT OF INTRIGUING SERIES AND SERIES. THEY’RE THEY’RE VERY INTERESTING. YEAH. I’M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT HERE. ARE YOU READY. WHO WOULD BE THE BEST FIRST ROUND OPPONENT FOR THE PENGUINS DO YOU THINK? WOW. LOOKING AT THAT LIST IT’S ALMOST LIKE HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. AND YOU LOOK AT THE PENGUINS WITH DAN BYLSMA COMING IN, COACHING CHANGE. BOOM. FRESH START. SAME THING WITH COLUMBUS. SO I’M SITTING THERE THINKING TEAMS ARE MAKING COACHING CHANGES. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THAT HAPPENED IN PITTSBURGH? SOME STANLEY CUP RUNS. SO I’M LEANING TOWARDS COLUMBUS. I JUST DON’T THINK THEY HAVE THE TYPE OF DEPTH AS THE ISLANDERS DO. SO I THINK COLUMBUS WOULD BE A GOOD MATCHUP. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULDN’T BE OVERLY OF THE PHYSICAL SERIES AS IT MAY BE A PHILADELPHIA OR NEW YORK WOULD BE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, PLAYOFF HOCKEY BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN EVERYBODY. SO I DON’T EVER WANT TO SAY BEST CASE. I THINK YOU JUST GOT TO BE PREPARED TO BRING YOUR BEST STUFF AND HOPE THAT IT’S ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH ALL FOUR SERIES WINNABLE FOR PITTSBURGH, WOULD YOU SAY? YEAH, I THINK THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. IF THEY PLAY THE TYPE OF HOCKEY THEY PLAY DOWN THE STRETCH OUTSIDE OF A COUPLE LEARNING CURVES WITH TAMPA AND CAROLINA, THEY PLAY THEIR BEST. THEY GET A LITTLE MORE OUT OF SOME GUYS THAT THEY DIDN’T SEE COMING. I THINK THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE FIRST ROUND. I WANTED TO ASK TOO. I JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE COACHING CHANGES IN NEW YORK. I MEAN, IT’S SHOCKED A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THIS POINT. WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION TO THAT? YEAH, I MEAN AROUND THE LEAGUE, THESE CHANGES WITH, YOU KNOW, EIGHT GAMES IN VEGAS WITH TORTORELLA AND THEN PATRICK WALKER. I THINK THAT IT’S JUST A RESULTS ORIENTED BUSINESS THAT HOCKEY IS. AND IF THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOCKER ROOM TO GET A QUICK BUMP AND SOME RESURGENCE OF POSITIVITY OR ENERGY, YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO DO THAT. BUT VERY MUCH SHOCKED. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES. SOME OF THOSE MANAGERS, GENERAL MANAGERS AND TEAMS THAT HAD THOSE CHANGES ARE VERY STRONG WILLED GENERAL MANAGERS. BUT I LOOK AT IT AS LEADERSHIP DRIVEN. SO WHENEVER THERE’S BIG COACHING CHANGES, IT KIND OF REIGNITES LEADERSHIP GROUP AND DOES SEEM TO KIND OF GIVE A SPARK TO A TEAM. BUT IT’S CERTAINLY SHOCKING BECAUSE FROM A STRUCTURAL STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, WE STAND HERE IN APRIL, A COACH HAS IMPLEMENTED SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURE AND THE TYPE OF HOCKEY YOU WANT TO PLAY. AND YOU REALLY CAN’T CHANGE A WHOLE LOT GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS. SO TO BE SEEN WHAT THAT’S GOING TO SPARK JUMPS, ESPECIALLY SAME THING IN COLUMBUS A WHILE AGO. BUT WE SAW THAT TEAM KIND OF SURGE UP AFTER THE SAME SITUATION. BUT COULD THE INVERSE HAPPEN AS WELL? I MEAN YOU HAVE A STRUCTURE. YOU YOU’VE HAD A SYSTEM USED ALL SEASON LONG. YOU BOND AS A GROUP. SUDDENLY YOUR LEADER IS OUT THE DOOR AND YOU’VE GOT TO FIND A YOU HAVE A NEW LEADER WHO YOU DON’T KNOW AND YOU’RE NOT REALLY SURE WHERE THIS IS GOING. YEAH, YEAH, 100%. AND LIKE I SAID, WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT A PHILOSOPHY, A CULTURE AND THEN BOOM, THERE’S A CHANGE, THE LINEUP CHANGES, THE POWER PLAY CHANGES. THERE’S JUST A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY WHERE YOU’RE RIGHT, IT COULD BE A NEGATIVE THING. AND WITH WITH COLUMBUS, THEY DID HAVE THAT HUGE WINNING STREAK. AND THEN THEY KIND OF LEVELED OUT TOWARDS THE END. SO TO BE SEEN. BUT I MEAN I’M NOT A GENERAL MANAGER, BUT I DON’T I WOULDN’T WANT TO MAKE THAT TYPE OF CHANGE A WEEK BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON. WELL, NO MATTER WHO THE PENGUINS PLAY IN ROUND ONE, THE PLAYOFFS, THE FIRST TWO GAMES WILL BE HERE IN PITTSBURGH. SO ERIC HOME ICE EVERYBODY FIGHTS FOR IT ALL SEASON LONG. WHY DOES IT MATTER? LAST CHANGE. THAT’S WHAT I ALWAYS COME DOWN TO. MATCHUPS AND CHANGES. I THINK THE PENGUINS HAVE THE TYPE OF DEPTH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU WANT TO BE GETTING CROSBY OUT THERE, YOU KNOW IN A FAVORABLE MATCHUP, ESPECIALLY AT HOME AND HOME ICE IS SO BIG BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET TO PLAY IN YOUR OWN BUILDING, YOU’RE IN, YOU’RE SLEEPING IN YOUR OWN BED. THAT STUFF’S IMPORTANT, BUT YOU GET TO SET A TONE IN A SERIES. AND I THINK THAT’S THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME IS GAME ONE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET A TONE OF WHAT TYPE OF TEAM IS GOING TO BE HERE FOR, YOU KNOW, 4 OR 5, MAYBE SEVEN GAMES AND HAVE THAT START AT HOME, I THINK IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS TEAM AND THE MATCHUPS AND TO PUT UP AGAINST THEIR TOP GUYS. SO I THINK IT MEANS A LOT, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF OUR TOP PLAYERS, THE PENGUINS TOP PLAYERS BEING IN A LITTLE BIT OLDER, IT WILL GIVE THEM A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO MATCH LINES. ALSO, ALL THOSE FANS THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW, HOME ICE MEANS A LOUD BUILDING. AND YOU KNOW PENGUINS FANS DURING THE POSTSEASON. IT’S A DIFFERENT ANIMAL HERE. YEAH, YEAH WE’LL SEE. PROBABLY TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE OUTSIDE AS THERE ARE IN HERE. SOME SLEEPING BAGS, SOME LAWN CHAIRS, SOME HOPEFULLY SOME LATE NIGHTS BECAUSE I LOVE PLAYOFF HOCKEY. I LOVE OVERTIME HOCKEY. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT. BUT YEAH, THE ENERGY IN PITTSBURGH AROUND PLAYOFFS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS CITY CRAVES. AND IT’S NICE TO HAVE IT BACK. BACK IN PPG. YEAH, I LOVE THAT. IT’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES GROWING UP. JUST GOING OUTSIDE WATCHING THE BIG SCREEN. THE WEATHER GETS NICE. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE WARM WEATHER, PLAYOFF HOCKEY. WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT PLAYOFF HOCKEY IN A MOMENT. BUT WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT TIMEOUT. AND WHEN WE COME BACK WE’RE GOING TO HEAR FROM HEAD COACH DAN HUGHES, WHO MADE A LOT OF GREAT SCRATCHES IN THIS GAME. WE’RE GONNA FIND OUT THE REASON WHY. I MEAN, I THINK EVERYBODY’S SEEN JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN AND GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN. AND WITH THAT COMES, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT THEY’RE DEALING WITH. THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH DAN HUGHES. WHEN PENGUINS ON FOR PREGAME CONTINUES LIVE FROM INSIDE PPG PAINTS ARENA. ALL RIGHT. WELCOME BACK TO PENGUINS. ON FOR PREGAME LIVE FROM PPG PAINTS ARENA. AS YOU SEE THE FANS ARE FILING IN BECAUSE IN ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR ACTUALLY LESS THAN A HALF HOUR, IT’S THE PENGUINS AND THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS, THE HOME REGULAR SEASON FINALE. AND YOU’LL SEE IT LIVE ON WTAE-TV CHANNEL FOUR ONCE AGAIN, COMING UP AT 3:00. WE’RE JUST WAITING FOR THE PENGUINS TO HIT THE ICE FOR PREGAME WARM UPS. MEANTIME, THE BIG NEWS COMING TO THIS CONTEST, IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT HEARD, WE WERE EXPECTING TO SEE SIDNEY CROSBY AND ALEXANDER OVECHKIN MEET FOR THE 100TH TIME THIS AFTERNOON, BUT THE PENGUINS NOT THERE IN THE PLAYOFFS AND REALLY DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO PLAY FOR. THEY’RE SITTING ALL THE BIG NAMES. TAKE A LOOK WHO’S OUT TODAY. SIDNEY CROSBY, BEN KENDALL, EVGENI MALKIN, BRIAN RUST, ERIK KARLSSON, KRIS LETANG, PARKER WEATHERSPOON ALL DAY TO DAY WITH VARIOUS INJURIES. ONCE AGAIN, THEY HAVE THE TWO SEED LOCKED UP. AND AS I’M JOINED BY OUR ANALYST, FORMER PENGUIN ERIC TANGRADI. ERIC, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE BECAUSE PENGUINS HAVE NOTHING TO PLAY FOR. THEY GOT SOME TIME, I GUESS, TO GET HEALTHY AND GET READY. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK HEALTH IS IS HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH COME POSTSEASON, RIGHT. SO HAVING A HEALTHY, HEALTHIER LINEUP, WHETHER IT’S SOMETHING MINOR OR MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE MAJOR BECAUSE THEY’VE BEEN PLAYING PLAYOFF HOCKEY FOR A WHILE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO GET THOSE EXTRA DAYS. AND THE BIGGEST THING IS GOING TO BE THE OPPORTUNITY, THESE YOUNG GUYS TO COME IN AND PROVE THEMSELVES GOING INTO THE POSTSEASON IS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING, OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE FANS, OF COURSE, BUT THEN AGAIN, YOU WANT YOUR TEAM TO BE AS HEALTHY AND READY TO GO AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, SIDNEY CROSBY SAID TO US EARLIER, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU DON’T ALWAYS GET THIS OPPORTUNITY. HE’S LEARNED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. IT’S IF YOU IT’S TOUGH TO GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS. YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK HE’S HIS INTERVIEW WAS VERY, VERY RAW AND ORGANIC ABOUT HIS APPRECIATION FOR THE JOURNEY AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK FROM 2009 TO 2020, THIS TEAM HAS HAD A TON OF SUCCESS. AND THEN THAT MINOR SETBACK. SO I THINK THEY’RE ALL VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY. I THINK THE PENGUINS FANS, THE STAGE OBVIOUSLY WITH THE CAPITALS IS IMPORTANT AND IT’S EXCITING IN THE BUILDING. BUT YOU WANT THOSE GUYS AS CLOSE TO 100% AS THEY CAN BE WHEN IT MATTERS MOST. SO PENGUINS HAVE SOME OPENINGS IN THEIR LINEUP, BUT SADLY, ERIC TANGRADI IS NOT GOING TO PLAY TODAY. HE WOULD IF HE WAS ASKED, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THE ICE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, BUT HERE ARE SOME OF THE COPS IN WILKES-BARRE THAT WILL BE TAKING PART. FORWARDS JONIKAUPPINEN RUCKER, MCGROARTY AND BILL KOVANEN ALL COVERED UP FROM THE BABY PENGUINS JUST FOR THIS AFTERNOON TO PLAY IN THIS CONTEST AND THIS LATE IN THE SEASON, EVEN THOUGH THERE’S NOTHING AT STAKE. ERIC, IT REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE YOUNG PLAYERS TO PLAY IN SOME MEANINGFUL HOCKEY LATE IN THE YEAR. ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, I LOOK AT COVID-19, MCGORTY, THOSE ARE GUYS WHO HAD OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A REGULAR, EVERYDAY NHL PLAYER AND A CALL UP IS CONSISTENCY. SO I THINK THAT THIS IS THEIR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW MANAGEMENT AND THE COACHING STAFF THAT IF AN INJURY ARISES THAT LIKE, THEY’RE READY TO STEP IN AND MAKE AN IMPACT. SO EACH ONE OF THOSE GUYS OFFER SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I MEAN, I THINK IF YOU HAVE A TOP SIX INJURY, THAT’S WHERE JOE BIDEN COMES IN AND CAN PLAY ON THE POWER PLAY. IF YOU HAVE A BOTTOM SIX POWER FORWARD TYPE PLAYER, THAT’S WHERE MCGORTY HAS SHOWN SIGNS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO I THINK THEY ALL OFFER A LITTLE BIT SOMETHING DIFFERENT WHERE THEY CAN FIT INTO THE LINEUP. AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE HOW THEY PLAY TONIGHT. WE CERTAINLY ARE. MEANTIME, OUR ASHLEY DOUGHERTY HAS LEFT THE DESK. SHE’S DOWN AT ICE LEVEL AS THE PENGUINS ARE GETTING READY TO TAKE THE ICE AND WARM UP FOR TODAY’S HOCKEY GAME, AND PENGUINS HEAD COACH DAN MUSE A POSSIBLE, I WOULD THINK, HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE, WAS SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA JUST BEFORE THE GAME. HERE’S WHAT COACH MUSE HAD TO SAY BEFORE TODAY’S FACE OFF. DAN JUST WANTS TO. SHE LOST HER NUMBER OF PLAYERS, THE TEAM ANNOUNCED WOULD BE SCRATCHED TODAY. DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT BEING THE PLAN FOR THE NEXT TWO GAMES AS WELL? SO WE’RE GOING TO GET THROUGH GET THROUGH TODAY’S GAME. I’LL HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR OUR MEDICAL STAFF AND WE’LL MAKE DETERMINATIONS GOING INTO TOMORROW. JAKE, ANY POSSIBILITY HE PLAYS TODAY OR ANY OF THESE NEXT TWO GAMES AT ALL OR HE WILL NOT. NO, HE WON’T BE HERE TODAY. HE WON’T BE PLAYING TODAY. YEAH, HE’S JUST TRAVELING EVERYTHING ELSE. AND SO THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE. HE’S GETTING RIGHT NOW. IT’S FOR HIM. IT’S ABOUT HIM JUST GETTING IN, YOU KNOW, GET SETTLED, BE AROUND THE GROUP. AND IN TERMS OF ANYTHING MOVING FORWARD, WE’RE WE’LL MAKE THOSE DECISIONS LATER ON. SO YEAH. AND HOW MUCH OF THIS IS INJURY BASED RATHER THAN MAYBE RESTING GUYS A LITTLE BIT. WELL GUYS ARE YOU KNOW IT’S GUYS I THINK YOU’VE SEEN OVER EVEN OVER JUST THE LAST STRETCH. I MEAN A NUMBER OF GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING IN AND OUT GUYS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN FOR THIS FOR THIS TEAM. AND SO AND THEY’VE BEEN WE HAVE A LOT OF GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN PLAYING THROUGH A LOT AND THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY’RE BANGED UP AND THEY’RE YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW IT’S THEIR DAY TO DAY. AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE AND MAKE DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD. BUT I MEAN I THINK EVERYBODY’S SEEN JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN AND GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN. AND WITH THAT COMES, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT THEY’RE DEALING WITH, ANY CONCERN FOR ANY OF THEM FOR PLAYOFFS NEXT WEEK. I MEAN I THINK, YOU KNOW WE HAVE SOME GUYS THAT WERE LISTED, YOU KNOW, THAT AREN’T DAY TO DAY THAT ARE LISTED WEEK TO WEEK. AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO KIND OF EVALUATE THOSE GUYS. BUT I THINK THOSE GUYS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND SO NO, IT’S JUST A LUXURY. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REST GUYS BECAUSE YOU’RE LOCKED INTO KIND OF YOUR SPOT. NOT LOOKING AT THIS AS RESTING GUYS. THESE GUYS ARE OUT OF THE LINEUP. THESE GUYS HAVE GOT GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH STUFF. AND SO THAT’S YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW THEIR DAY TO DAY. THAT’S THE STATUS. I’M JUST SAYING IF YOU WERE STILL FIGHTING FOR A SPOT HERE, MAYBE IT WOULD HAVE HAD DIFFERENT DECISIONS. OR I’M GOING OFF OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE OUR GUYS ARE AT RIGHT NOW. WHEN YOU DO HAVE SECOND PLACE LOCKED UP AND YOU HAVE THREE GAMES LEFT, WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT IN THE FOCUS FOR THE GROUP? THESE LAST THREE GAMES WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO THERE’S THERE’S PARTS OF OUR GAME THAT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY CONTINUE TO GET BETTER AT. AND SO THAT’S THAT. WE COME IN TODAY. THERE’S A THERE’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO GET TWO POINTS. AND WE WANT TO KEEP PUSHING. WE WANT TO KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. WE WANT TO KEEP MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND SO ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IN PLAY. THERE’S NOTHING, YOU KNOW, EVERY GAME, EVERY TIME WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE AND PLAY, IT’S WE’RE GOING TO PLAY IT WITH IMPORTANCE AND WE’RE GOING TO PLAY TO WIN. AS BLAKE LIZOTTE STILL SCRATCH FOR YOU OR UNAVAILABLE FOR YOU RIGHT NOW? YEAH HE’S STILL HE’S STILL OUT. HE’S HE’S PROGRESSING BUT HE’S STILL OUT. REMEMBER THE GUYS THAT MAY BE IN THE LINEUP. GUYS LIKE THE OF RYAN GRAVES. THEY HAVEN’T PLAYED FOR A FEW WEEKS ACTUALLY. I MEAN HOW IMPORTANT IS IT JUST TO GET THEM SOME GAMES JUST TO SHAKE OFF SOME RUST. WELL I MEAN IT WAS WITH GUYS BEING OUT THERE WITH SOME NEW GUYS. THERE’S GUYS COMING IN OBVIOUSLY, AND SOME OF THOSE GUYS HAVEN’T PLAYED A LITTLE BIT. BUT YEAH, IT’S AS I’VE SAID ALL YEAR, WHEN GUYS COME IN GET GET THAT IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY. AND SO FOR THEM, IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE. AND YEAH, AND HELP THIS TEAM WIN AND FAN APPRECIATION DAY SHIRTS OFF THEIR BACKS. I WOULD IMAGINE A LOT OF THOSE GUYS WHO AREN’T PLAYING TODAY WILL STILL BE OUT THERE FOR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE FAN STUFF AS WELL. YEAH, I THINK THE GUYS WILL BE THERE TODAY. OKAY. THAT’S HEAD COACH DAN HUGHES BEFORE TODAY’S GAME. AND JUST BEHIND US RIGHT NOW THE PENGUINS ARE ON THE ICE FOR THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS WARMING UP FOR THIS HOCKEY GAME. BY THE WAY ERIC ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT DAN MENTIONED WHO IS WEEK TO WEEK WHO WE DIDN’T GET A CHANCE TO MENTION IS CONNOR DEWAR. NOW WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AS YOU’RE WATCHING THE PENGUINS WARM UP. AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU THIS, ERIC, REALLY? ALL AFTERNOON, DAN HUGHES, HE SEEMS TO BE THE ONE GUY I THINK THAT WE’RE NOT TALKING ENOUGH ABOUT. ROOKIE HEAD COACH. OBVIOUSLY, WE DIDN’T KNOW A LOT ABOUT HIM WHEN HE CAME HERE. HE’S KIND OF VERY EVEN KEELED. DOESN’T GET TOO HIGH, TOO LOW. AND HE HAS PUT TOGETHER A TEAM THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN’T THINK WOULD MAKE THE PLAYOFFS AND PUT THEM IN THE PLAYOFFS. DO YOU THINK HE’S A COACH OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE? ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THIS TEAM LOOKED LIKE LAST YEAR AND EVEN THE YEAR PRIOR, THERE IS AN EXCITEMENT AND A NEW TYPE OF CULTURE AND IDENTITY IN THAT LOCKER ROOM. AND I THINK WHEN YOU BRING IN ANY NEW COACH, ESPECIALLY A YOUNGER COACH, YOU ALWAYS HAVE FEARS OF HOW HE’S GOING TO INTERACT WITH THAT OLDER LEADERSHIP GROUP. AND I MEAN, HOLY SMOKES, WHAT A WHAT A GREAT CONTRIBUTION HE’S BEEN TO THE TEAM IN THE LOCKER ROOM AND INTO THE TO THE SEASON SO FAR. SO FOR ME I THINK HE’S THE NUMBER ONE. HE’S COACH OF THE YEAR IN MY OPINION JUST BASED OFF OF PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS AND WHERE THEY ARE NOW. OKAY. WE’RE LOOKING AT RUCKER MCGROARTY. HE’S ON THE ICE RIGHT NOW. ONE OF THE PLAYERS CALLED UP FROM WILKES-BARRE. YOU’VE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF RUTGERS GAME. WHAT’S YOUR IMPRESSION OF THIS YOUNG MAN IN THE TIME HE HAS SPENT HERE IN PITTSBURGH? YEAH, I MEAN DEFINITELY THERE’S BEEN SOME UPS AND DOWNS. BUT HE SHOWED FLASHES EARLY IN THE YEAR OF WHAT TYPE OF PLAYER HE IS. AND AND LIKE I SAID, THE HARDEST PART OF BEING AN EVERYDAY NHL IS JUST THE CONSISTENCY EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. YOU KNOW THERE’S GOING TO BE GOOD DAYS. THERE’S GOING TO BE BAD DAYS. I MEAN, YOU JUST WATCHED ANTHONY MANTHA TALK ABOUT HIM GOING THROUGH HIS MENTAL STRUGGLES AS A TEN YEAR VETERAN IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. SO HE’S A STRAIGHT LINE PLAYER NORTH SOUTH. WHEN HE’S PLAYING WITH SPEED AND HE’S PLAYING NORTH SOUTH GAME AND HE’S PHYSICAL, THAT’S WHEN HE BRINGS THE MOST TO THE GAME. I THINK THIS YEAR AND IN YEARS PAST, HE’S PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HIMSELF TO CONTRIBUTE JUST OFFENSIVELY ON THE SCORE SHEET. BUT I THINK TO HIS CORE, HIS DNA IS IDENTITY HAS GOT TO BE A NORTH SOUTH PLAYER THAT PLAYS A LITTLE BIT GRITTY. WE SAW A MOMENT AGO, ONCE AGAIN, THE PENGUIN JUST KIND OF WARMING UP AND GETTING READY FOR TODAY’S GAME. ONE THING I DO WANT TO ASK ABOUT IS THESE THESE COPS IN WILKES-BARRE, THEY’VE MADE SOME CONTRIBUTIONS. I MEAN, AVERY HAYS, FOR INSTANCE, WHAT A START. HE HAD JUST SURPRISED YOU. THEY’RE ABLE TO COME UP AND SO QUICKLY MAKE THEIR PRESENCE FELT IN TODAY’S NHL. TODAY’S GAME. NO, I MEAN THESE KIDS HAVE SUCH CONFIDENCE AND SWAGGER ABOUT THEM THAT THEY JUST SEEM TO JUST STEP INTO EVERY BIG MOMENT AND PERFORM. SO IT IS KIND OF REFRESHING TO SEE THE NEW NHL OF THE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENTS AND LET THESE KIDS EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND BE FREE VERSUS MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THAT HIERARCHY OF THE OLD GAME WHERE YOU’RE JUST RESPECT THE OLDER PLAYERS AND DO THE RIGHT THING. SO VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE CALL UPS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT I THINK THAT THEY HAVE THIS SENSE OF FREEDOM THAT’S BUILT THROUGH THAT CULTURE. WE TALKED ABOUT WITH MUSE AND CROSBY AND THE MANAGEMENT STAFF, THAT THEY TRIED TO MAKE IT MORE OF A FAMILY WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. AND TODAY, THOSE YOUNG KIDS ARE GOING TO GET A TASTE OF MAYBE PLAYOFF HOCKEY BECAUSE THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS, THIS IS A MUST WIN FOR THEM IF THEY HOPE TO MAKE THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS. MEANTIME, OTIS ONCE AGAIN IS DOWN TO ICE LEVEL, AND SHE BUMPED INTO A FAMILIAR FACE TO ALL OF YOU. THE OLD TWO NINER COOLBAUGH THREE YEARS FELT LIKE 13 YEARS. IT FELT FOREVER SINCE WE’VE BEEN IN THE PLAYOFFS. SO YEAH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THERE IS A BUZZ. YOU THINK FOR THE POSTSEASON AND THE PLAYOFFS AS SHE GOES ONE ON ONE WITH THE PENGUIN COLOR ANALYST AND FORMER STAR WITH PITTSBURGH’S CONTINUE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ON FOUR, CONTINUES LIVE FROM PPG PAINTS ARENA. AS WE COUNT YOU DOWN TO FACE OFF. AND WELCOME BACK TO PENGUINS ON FOR PREGAME LIVE FROM INSIDE PPG PAINTS ARENA. YOU SEE THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ON THE ICE FOR THEIR FINAL REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME, AND THEY ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS, AS YOU KNOW. AND THEY’VE ALREADY CLINCHED SECOND PLACE IN THE DIVISION. AND THAT MEANS ANOTHER OF THEIR PLAYERS WILL NOT BE PLAYING TODAY. THEY’RE GOING TO HEAL AND GET HEALTHY FOR THE PLAYOFFS. ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT IS ON THE ICE AS YOU SEE. MEANTIME THE PENGUINS RIGHT NOW ARE GETTING READY FOR TAKE ON THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS. 3:00 RIGHT HERE ON TV CHANNEL FOR SIDNEY CROSBY OUT TODAY IF JENNY MALKIN OUT TODAY. BUT IGOR CHINAKHOV IS GOING TO PLAY. HE HAD A BIG GOAL IN THEIR CLINCHING CONTEST THURSDAY AGAINST THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS. AND LOOK FOR HIM TO MAKE SOME NOISE AGAINST THE CAPITAL TEAM THAT HAS TO WIN THIS GAME. IF THEY HAVE ANY HOPES OF COMPETING IN THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS. AND ONCE AGAIN, THE OTHER BIG STORY IS ALEXANDER OVECHKIN. MAYBE THE LAST TIME WE’LL SEE HIM IN PITTSBURGH. WE’LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. HE’LL MAKE THAT DECISION IN THE OFF SEASON. ANDREW STOCKEY JOINED BY ERIC TANGRADI, THE FORMER PENGUIN. WE’RE GOING TO TELL YOU NOW ABOUT SOME BIG AWARDS THAT WERE DISCUSSED THIS WEEK. FIRST OF ALL, THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE ANNOUNCING ITS NOMINEES FROM EACH OF THE 32 TEAMS FOR THIS YEAR’S KING CLANCY MEMORIAL TROPHY, AND FOR THE PENGUINS REPRESENTATIVE IS BRIAN RUST. NOW, THE KING CLANCY AWARD GOES TO THE PLAYER WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES LEADERSHIP ON AND OFF THE ICE, AND HAS MADE NOTEWORTHY HUMANITARIAN CONTRIBUTIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE WINNER GETS THE TROPHY, OF COURSE, AND A $25,000 DONATION TO THE CHARITY OF THEIR CHOICE. WE WISH BRIAN RUST ALL THE BEST. AND OF COURSE, ALEX OVECHKIN IS THE CAPITALS NOMINEE. MEANTIME, THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ANNOUNCED THEIR TEAM AWARDS THIS WEEK. THE MVP GOES TO ERIK KARLSSON, AND WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR HAS MADE FOR HIM. MEANTIME, THE PLAYER’S PLAYER IS SIDNEY CROSBY. NOLAN TORI THE TEAM’S UNSUNG HERO AWARD. 18 YEAR OLD BEN KENDALL NAMED THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, AND HE CAN’T EVEN CELEBRATE THAT BECAUSE HE’S NOT OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE A BEER. THE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. IT’S A SPLIT THIS YEAR. BLAKE LIZOTTE AND RYAN SHEA AND THE MEDIA GOOD GUY AWARD IS BRIAN RUST AND WE THANK BRIAN FOR ALWAYS BEING GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME, WHETHER HE HAD A GOOD GAME OR A BAD GAME. AND ONE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, ERIC, TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT ERIK KARLSSON. HE’S THE FIRST PENGUIN IN SIX YEARS NOT NAMED SIDNEY CROSBY TO BE NAMED TEAM MVP. TALK ABOUT THE YEAR THAT HE’S HAD AND THE TURNAROUND HE’S MADE ON THE ICE. YEAH, I MEAN HIS RESURGENCE THIS YEAR TO COME BACK AND BE LOOKED AT AS AN ELITE, TOP LEVEL DEFENSEMAN IN THIS LEAGUE. HE’S BEEN DOING IT ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. HIS ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, MANAGE SPECIAL TEAMS, PLAYING FIVE ON FIVE, FIVE, FIVE ON FOUR, FOUR ON FIVE. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME THERE’S A BIG MOMENT, HE’S ON THE ICE AND HIS CONFIDENCE HAS JUST CONTINUED TO SHOW HIS POISE, HIS ABILITY TO BREAK F1 ON THE BREAKOUT, HE’S JUST SEEMED TO DO IT ALL AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE’S HAVING A LOT OF FUN AGAIN. SO THAT TO ME IS A GOOD SIGN OF WHERE HE IS WITH HIS MENTAL STATE. BUT YEAH, NOT BEING CROSBY, NOT BEING MALKIN, RIGHT. I THINK IT’S IT SHOWS WHAT TYPE OF HOCKEY HE’S PLAYING TO GET THIS TEAM TO THIS YEAR. OKAY, WE’RE GONNA HEAD NOW DOWN TO ICE LEVEL WHERE OUR OWN ASHLEY DOUGHERTY HAS FOUND A PLACE ALONG THE BOARDS TO JOIN US. AND, ASHLEY, HOW’S IT LOOKING DOWN THERE FOR THIS FINAL REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME? HEY, GUYS. YEAH. I CAN’T BELIEVE IT IS THE FINAL REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME. THE GUYS OUT HERE ON THE ICE, WE’RE IN KIND OF THE FAMILY ZONE AS WELL. GUYS COMING OVER. IT’S ALWAYS COOL TO BE RIGHT NEAR THE GLASS MEETING SOME OF THOSE GUYS JUST GETTING A LITTLE CLOSE ACTION THERE AS THEY GET SET FOR WARM UPS. OF COURSE, A LOT GOING ON HERE AT THE ARENA TODAY. I KNOW A LOT OF FANS ARE PROBABLY A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY SAW THAT INITIAL LIST COME DOWN. OF ALL THOSE STARS WHO WILL NOT BE PLAYING TODAY, BUT RIGHT AFTER THAT NEWS BROKE. AFTER WE SPOKE TO DAN HUGHES, I CAUGHT UP WITH PHIL BOURQUE JUST TO GET HIS TAKE ON THAT AND HOW THIS SEASON HAS GONE FOR THE PENGUINS. A LOT OF GUYS NOT PLAYING TODAY. WHAT DO YOU TAKE THAT AS WE JUST HEARD FROM DAN HUGHES SAYING YOU KNOW, HE’S NOT LOOKING AT IT AS RESTING GUYS AS INJURIES. BUT WHAT’S YOUR TAKE THERE. OH IT’S OBVIOUS. I MEAN THE PENGUINS HAVE LOCKED UP A SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS AND LOCKED UP HOME ICE ADVANTAGE. IF THERE’S A TIME TO DO IT, THEY DO IT NOW. I THINK IT PROBABLY ALSO TELLS US THAT A LOT OF GUYS ARE A LOT MORE BANGED UP THAN WE THOUGHT, AND THEY WERE PLAYING THROUGH THINGS. AND IF YOU DO HAVE THAT LUXURY AND OF COURSE, DAN HUGHES IN HIS COMMENTS WAS VERY GUARDED AS HE SHOULD BE THIS TIME OF YEAR. IT’S ALL BUSINESS AND I THINK IT’S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE NEXT MAN UP MENTALITY. THEY’VE GOT SOME GUYS THAT HAVEN’T PLAYED IN A WHILE. IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM. DO YOU THINK WE SEE ANY OF THEM BEFORE PLAYOFFS? I THINK I WOULD I. THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE YOU KIND OF GO BOTH WAYS RIGHT. YOU WANT TO BE 100% FOR THE PLAYOFFS. BUT YOU KNOW AS A PLAYER YOU DON’T WANT TOO MUCH TIME OFF, REST AND REST, RIGHT? THAT YOU DON’T WANT TOO MUCH OF A GAP BEFORE YOU HAVE TO REALLY GET ON THAT TREADMILL AT MAXIMUM SPEED FOR THE PLAYOFFS. SO MAYBE THE SAINT LOUIS GAME, I THINK MAYBE THE SAINT LOUIS GAME, WHICH WOULD BE GAME NUMBER 82 NEXT TUESDAY. I THINK IF I WAS A PLAYER I’D WANT TO GET ONE MORE IN. YEAH. BECAUSE ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK. THEN BEFORE THINGS START UP NEXT WEEKEND, SHE LOVES IN NET TONIGHT. HIS NUMBERS ARE PRETTY SIMILAR TO SKINNERS. I KNOW THEY’RE YOU KNOW SKINNER WASN’T ON THE THE LIST THERE. OF COURSE NOT. BUT WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN OUT OF HIM. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TONIGHT? AND DO YOU THINK WE SEE SKINNER TOMORROW. WHAT DO YOU THINK AS FAR AS HIS WEEK GOES AS WELL. I THINK IN THE BACK TO BACK. I THINK IT WILL BE SKINNER TOMORROW IN WASHINGTON. THAT’S USUALLY THE WAY IT GOES. AND DAN HAS LIKED GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE GOALTENDERS. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO SPECULATE AND JUST SAY, OH, SKINNER, TWO STANLEY CUP FINALS. HE’S YOUR STARTING GOALTENDER. WELL, YEAH, WE DIDN’T THINK THAT ARCHER WAS GOING TO BE THE STARTING GOALTENDER IN NEW YORK AGAINST THE RANGERS ON OPENING NIGHT. AND SO DAN HUGHES HAS THIS ABILITY TO KEEP US ALL, MYSELF INCLUDED, TO KEEP US ALL KIND OF OFF BALANCE. AND WE TRY TO GUESS ON WHO’S GOING TO BE UP NEXT. AND I THINK THAT WAIT AND SEE, BECAUSE ARCHER, SHE LOVES NUMBERS HAVE BEEN GOOD. HE’S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TRACTION NOW. AND THE ONE THAT YOU ASKED ME LIKE, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM HIM? HIS — OFF IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ARCHER. SHE LOVES FIRST TIME IN A FEW YEARS. PENS BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS. HAVE YOU FELT THE ENERGY SHIFT? YOU KNOW, AROUND TOWN? WHAT’S THE VIBE YOU’RE GETTING NOW THAT YOU KNOW THEY’VE CLINCHED? THEY’RE GETTING BACK BECAUSE WE WERE IN FOR SO LONG. ASHLYN, YOU KIND OF YOU DIDN’T THINK LIKE, OH, ARE WE GOING TO GET IN? IT WAS LIKE, HOW LONG CAN WE GO RIGHT. AND NOW TO GO THREE YEARS. THREE YEARS FELT LIKE 13 YEARS. IT FELT FOREVER SINCE WE’VE BEEN IN THE PLAYOFFS. SO YEAH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THERE IS A BUZZ. THERE’S THIS ANTICIPATION. AND THE OTHER PART IS PEOPLE LIKE THIS TEAM, THEY LIKE THE WAY THEY WIN. THEY LIKE THE WAY THEY COMPETE. THEY LIKE THE CAST OF CHARACTERS. THEY CAN CONNECT TO THEM. AND A LOT OF THEM ARE PITTSBURGH GUYS, RIGHT? THE WAY THEY THEY GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. THERE’S NOT I MEAN, YEAH, YOU HAVE YOUR STAR PLAYERS, BUT AFTER THAT YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT ARE BLUE COLLAR LUNCH PAIL GUYS. THAT’S WHAT WE ARE, RIGHT? THAT’S WHAT WE ARE IN PITTSBURGH. AND SO THERE’S THAT CONNECTION THERE. AND THERE’S AN ANTICIPATION OF WOW, IT FEELS LIKE IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE’VE BEEN IN THE PLAYOFFS IN THREE YEARS FOR THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS. DOES FEEL LIKE A LONG TIME. AND FINALLY, JUST TO WRAP UP, HOW IMPRESSED WERE YOU WITH WHAT KYLE WAS ABLE TO DO IN THE OFF SEASON AND DURING THE SEASON? AND THEN DAN MUSE COMING IN HIS FIRST YEAR, BEING ABLE TO GET THIS OUT OF HIS GUYS, WHETHER THEY WERE TRANSPLANTS OR, YOU KNOW, GUYS LIKE BEN KENDALL, HE JUST DEVELOPED STRAIGHT AWAY. IT’S A GREAT POINT. I MEAN, WHEN PEOPLE WHEN BEN KENDALL WAS DRAFTED, A LOT OF PEOPLE WENT, WHAT, WHAT? I THOUGHT WE WANTED TO GET BIGGER. I WANT TO GET TOUGHER, GET GET STRONGER. BUT THIS KID’S DIFFERENT, RIGHT? AND HE’S 18 YEARS OF, OF AGE AND HE’S UNFAZED BY WHATEVER IT IS. AND AS YOU MENTIONED, I DON’T WANT TO SAY MISFITS, YOU KNOW, BUT THERE ARE CASTOFFS OF OTHER TEAMS, EVEN IGOR CHERNIKOV, RIGHT? DIVISIONAL OPPONENT. RIGHT. COLUMBUS SAYS, OH, LISTEN, THIS IS HOW LITTLE WE THINK OF IGOR TINKOV PITTSBURGH. YOU CAN HAVE HIM, YOU CAN TAKE HIM. RIGHT. AND SO THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF THAT. AND THE THING I’LL SAY ABOUT KYLE DUBAS IS, YEAH, HE’S HE’S MADE SOME MOVES THAT HAVE RAISED YOUR EYEBROWS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE’S DONE HIS HOMEWORK ON GUYS THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DID NOT. AND IT’S NOT ALWAYS THE BEST PLAYER. IT’S THE RIGHT PLAYER. AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT HE’S BROUGHT IN, IS A LOT OF THE RIGHT PLAYERS THAT NEED A FRESH SHEET OF ICE, A NEW HEAD COACH WITH A FRESH VOICE, FRESH IDEAS AND THEY’VE ALL KIND OF LOCKED ARMS, PUT THEIR OARS DEEPER IN THE WATER, AND THEY’VE COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND THEY’RE A BAND OF BROTHERS, BROTHERS, AND THEY’RE REALLY LOVING EACH OTHER. AND THAT’S A POWERFUL THING THIS TIME OF YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE AGAINST YOU. SO EARLY ON BEFORE THE SEASON STARTS. GREAT. THAT’S A GREAT WAY TO LOOK AT IT, THAT THERE IS A A LITTLE CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER, AND IT’S WELL EARNED AND WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. WE’RE TALKING THERE ABOUT THE BROTHERHOOD THIS TEAM HAS. AND YOU KNOW IT REALLY STARTED BACK IN TRAINING CAMP WHEN THEY FIGURED OUT THIS IS A TEAM THAT THEY LIKE THAT COULD MAKE THIS PLAYOFF RUN. AND THAT CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER HAS BEEN THERE SINCE DAY ONE, WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE COUNTING THEM OUT. AND HERE THEY ARE CLINCHING THE PLAYOFFS LAST. YOU GUYS GETTING OFF THE ICE NOW GETTING SET FOR THAT PUCK DROP AGAIN. WE ARE MISSING A FEW GUYS. CROSBY, KENDALL, MALKIN, REESE WITHERSPOON, KARLSSON, LETANG AND DUA WILL NOT PLAY TODAY. GUYS. ALL RIGHT ASHLEY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND QUICKLY ONE THING THAT PHILIP TALKED ABOUT WAS THE GOALTENDERS. WE REALLY HAVEN’T TALKED ABOUT THE ONE TWO COMBINATION. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SHEILA AND SKINNER. YEAH. I MEAN I THINK THEY’VE DONE WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO GET THE TEAM TO THIS POINT. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, WINNING TEAMS ARE KIND OF HAVE THE MINDSET OF YOU GOT TO HAVE A GUY THE NUMBER ONE. BUT I THINK IT’S REALLY NICE TO HAVE TWO GUYS THAT YOU CAN PUT IN THERE TO SHIFT MOMENTUM WHEN NECESSARY. SO REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE RESURGENCE OF STUART SKINNER. AND THEN SHE HAS COME IN AND MADE SOME BIG SAVES IN BIG GAMES AND IS PROVING THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HE’S A NUMBER ONE TOO. SO I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE COMPETITION FROM WITHIN, THAT ALWAYS BRINGS STRENGTH AT THE END. AND I THINK THAT THEY HAVE THIS GREAT RELATIONSHIP FRIENDSHIP OFF THE ICE, BUT ALSO THAT COMPETITIVE NATURE ON IS PUSHING THEM BOTH FURTHER. OKAY, WE GOT LESS THAN TEN MINUTES UNTIL THE PENGUINS AND CAPITALS DO BATTLE HERE AT PPG PAINTS ARENA. LET’S TALK ABOUT OUR KEYS TO THE GAME. AND ERIC, YOU HAVE A FEW KEYS FOR US IF THE PENGUINS ARE GOING TO COME OUT VICTORIOUS JUST TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING HERE. YEAH. I MEAN THE FIRST ONE FOR ME IS THEY HAVE TO WIN THE TRENCHES, RIGHT? THE CAPITALS ARE PLAYING FOR THEY’RE A VERY GRITTY BLUE COLLAR TEAM. THEY LIKE TO GET TO THE HARD AREA OF THE ICE AND THEY LIKE TO PLAY IN THE MUD. SO FOR ME, THE PENGUINS HAVE TO BE THE AGGRESSOR AND PUSH FIRST. AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT THESE NEW PLAYERS IN THE LINEUP, WHAT A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO GET USED TO PLAYOFF HOCKEY. THE OTHER ONE KIND OF BUILDING OFF OF WHAT I JUST MENTIONED IS TEAM CONTRIBUTIONS. GUYS ARE GOING TO PLAY BIGGER ROLES. MAYBE, YOU KNOW, TOMMY NOVAK IS GOING TO PLAY CLOSE TO 18, 19 MINUTES A NIGHT, WHICH IS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THERE’S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT GUYS PUT INTO SITUATIONS. WE’RE GOING TO NEED A TEAM CONTRIBUTION TONIGHT BECAUSE AGAINST A TEAM LIKE WASHINGTON WHO’S PLAYING FOR THEIR LIVES AND HEALTHY, IT’S GOING TO TAKE IT’S GOING TO TAKE AN ARMY. AND THE LAST ONE IS JUST GETTING THE PLAYOFF MINDSET. IT’S SOMETIMES IT HURTS TO WIN. YOU GOT TO CONTINUE TO BLOCK SHOTS, HITS WIN THE SPECIAL TEAMS BATTLE. AND FOR ME TAKE CARE OF THE BLUE LINE. SO WE DON’T WANT TO RUN AND GUN HOCKEY GAME TONIGHT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PENGUINS KEEP THE GAME SIMPLE. SO THAT’S GETTING IN THAT PLAYOFF MINDSET. OKAY THAT’S ERIC’S VIEW FROM UP HERE AT THE DESK. LET’S HEAD BACK DOWN TO ICE LEVEL AND CHECK IN WITH ASHLEY AND ASHLEY. WHAT ARE YOUR KEYS TO A PENGUIN VICTORY THIS AFTERNOON AGAINST THE CAPITALS? YEAH, WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT ALL SHOW LONG. THEIR STARS ARE OUT. BUT YOU KNOW WHO’S NOT OUT THERE. GOALTENDERS. THEY DON’T QUITE GET THE LUXURY. AND THANKFULLY IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE THEY’RE TOO BANGED UP. ALTHOUGH WE DID SEE THAT EYE INJURY THAT STUART SKINNER HAS BEEN DEALING WITH. ALTHOUGH HE WAS BACK AND HAD A PRETTY GOOD GAME, STILL RECOVERING FROM THAT JUST A BIT THOUGH. BUT IT WILL BE ARTHUR SHIELDS IN NETS THIS AFTERNOON AND HIS NUMBERS ARE QUITE SIMILAR. 37 GAMES PLAYED, A 2.99 GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE AND AN 8.91 SAVE PERCENTAGE. NOW SECOND KEY TO THE GAME THAT VETERAN LEADERSHIP AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE VETERANS NOT PLAYING TODAY. BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE AND HOW TO LEAD THIS TEAM INTO THE PLAYOFFS, HOW THEY’RE GOING TO APPROACH THESE FINAL FEW GAMES OF THE REGULAR SEASON HEADING INTO THAT PLAYOFF RUN, HOW TO STAY HEALTHY, HOW TO STAY INJURY FREE. YOU’RE GOING TO LEAN ON GUYS LIKE SID, GENO TANGER, HOW TO APPROACH THIS FINAL WEEK AND LEAD THIS TEAM AND GUYS WHO HAVEN’T BEEN TO THE PLAYOFFS, GUYS LIKE BEN KENDALL INTO THIS NEXT CHAPTER. FINALLY, THEY NEED TO KEEP THEIR POISE AND STAY HEALTHY. WE’RE GOING TO BE SAYING THIS UNTIL THEIR FINAL GAME OF THE SEASON LATER THIS WEEK. DON’T MAKE ANY DUMB DECISIONS. THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS HAVE ONE OF YOUR GUYS GET INJURED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO KEEP YOUR POISE, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE. THE NEXT TWO GAMES ARE AGAINST THE CAPS. WE KNOW GUYS ON THAT TEAM CAN GET PHYSICAL. THEY NEED TO STAY HEALTHY THROUGH THIS STRETCH SINCE THEY HAVE ALREADY CLINCHED THAT PLAYOFF SPOT. GUYS. ASHLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INSIGHT. AND ALSO THANKS TO THOSE GREAT INTERVIEWS DOWN THERE OUTSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM. AND ERIC, I DO WANT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT OF COURSE TODAY FOLLOWING THIS HOME FINALE OF THE REGULAR SEASON, THE SHIRTS OFF THE BACK PROMOTION THE PENGUINS HAVE DONE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS WILL CONTINUE. THE FANS GETTING THE JERSEYS FROM THE PLAYERS AFTER THE GAME, THE PLAYERS SIGNING THOSE, THOSE JERSEYS FOR THE FANS, THE FANS OBVIOUSLY VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. BUT AS A PLAYER, IS IT SPECIAL FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO TO MEET THE FANS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE SEASON AND HAVE THAT MOMENT WITH THEM? ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THERE’S THERE’S CERTAIN OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHERE YOU TRULY GET TO GIVE BACK TO THE FANS AND THE COMMUNITY. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT ONE OF THOSE CORPORATE FUNCTIONS OR BIG EVENTS GALAS. IT’S JUST, YOU KNOW, LUCK OF THE DRAW. YOU DON’T KNOW WHO YOU’RE GOING TO MEET AT THE END OF THE SEASON. AND I THINK THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE PLAYERS TO KIND OF HAVE THAT ONE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU. AND I KNOW WE JOKED BEFORE THE AIR, BUT I’M SURE THERE’S A LOT OF FANS UP THERE SUPER EXCITED. AND I’LL NEVER FORGET GOING TO A FAN AND SAYING, I’M SORRY YOU DIDN’T GET SYD WHEN, WHEN THEY GOT MINE AT THE END OF THE SEASON. SO IT’S GOING TO BE A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR SOMEBODY TONIGHT. BUT NO, ALL JOKES ASIDE, I THINK IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FANS TO GET, YOU KNOW, SHOWING THEIR APPRECIATION FOR FOR THE YEAR THAT WE HAD. I MEAN, IT’S THE TEAM IS DONE EXCEPTIONAL, BUT WE ALWAYS SAY LIKE THE CITY IS WHAT RALLIES BEHIND THE TEAM. AND I THINK THAT’S THEY HAVE THEY HAVE A LOT TO BE APPRECIATED FOR FOR THIS PLAYOFF RUN COMING UP. AND YOU’LL SEE PORTIONS OF THAT FOLLOWING TODAY’S GAME WHEN YOU JOIN US FOR PENGUINS ON FOR POST-GAME ABOVE LIVE POST GAME COVERAGE OF COURSE INTERVIEWS HIGHLIGHTS AND SOME OF THAT CEREMONY COMING YOUR WAY AFTER THE CONTEST. WE DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR PENGUINS ON FOR PREGAME. AND DON’T FORGET, IT’S THE PENGUINS AND THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS AT 3:00 OVER ON WTAE-TV CHANNEL FOUR FOR ERIC TANGRADI AND ASHLEY DOUGHERTY. I’M ANDREW STOCKEY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. AND ONCE AGAIN, WE’LL SEE YOU FOR PENGUINS ON FOR POSTGAME FOLLOWING THE PENGUINS AND THE CAPITALS. IT START

Alex Ovechkin appreciates standing ovation during possible final game in Pittsburgh Saturday

Updated: 5:49 PM EDT Apr 12, 2026

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The 100th career matchup between generational stars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin never materialized during the Washington Capitals 6-3 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.RELATED VIDEO: Pens on 4 pregame special, April 11, 2026But that didn’t stop the crowd from showing its appreciation for Ovechkin in what could be his final game in Pittsburgh.The Penguins opted to sit Crosby and several other regulars after securing a playoff berth for the first time since the 2021-22 season and home ice advantage throughout the first round.During a television timeout in the second period, the Penguins showed a video tribute honoring Ovechkin and his longstanding rivalry with Crosby.“It was nice,” Ovechkin said. “It was a show of respect for all the time we spent in the rivalry … playoffs, regular season … it shows respect.”Ovechkin received a standing ovation from the crowd in Pittsburgh, as the Capitals’ captain stood up from the bench and waved while players tapped their sticks on the ice in appreciation.“You could feel in that moment what (Ovechkin) has meant to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ fans and this city, that even though they hate the Washington Capitals, they appreciate what has gone on over the last 21 seasons,” Capitals’ coach Spencer Carbery said. “You can tell there’s a genuine appreciation from the city.”Ovechkin is the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, while Crosby is the only player in league history to average a point per game for 21 straight seasons.While the 38-year-old Crosby is signed through next year, the 40-year-old Ovechkin said he’s waiting until after the season to decide whether he’s calling it a career.“I don’t care who’s playing, we just have to get two points,” Ovechkin said. “We’re still in it and that’s a good thing.”Crosby and the Penguins are 56-39-4 through the first 99 head-to-head matchups against Ovechkin. It’s unclear if No. 100 will come on Sunday afternoon when the teams face each other for the final time in the regular season.The two have combined for five Hart Trophies, four Stanley Cup championships and more than 3,400 points. The winner of their four head-to-head series went on to win the Stanley Cup each time, Crosby in 2009, ’16 and ’17, while Ovechkin followed in 2018.“They’re two legends,” Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. “I think it’s awesome to see the Pittsburgh crowd give him that respect. Hopefully he keeps playing, but if not, it’s been a heck of a front-row seat from my perspective.”

PITTSBURGH —

The 100th career matchup between generational stars Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin never materialized during the Washington Capitals 6-3 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

RELATED VIDEO: Pens on 4 pregame special, April 11, 2026

But that didn’t stop the crowd from showing its appreciation for Ovechkin in what could be his final game in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins opted to sit Crosby and several other regulars after securing a playoff berth for the first time since the 2021-22 season and home ice advantage throughout the first round.

During a television timeout in the second period, the Penguins showed a video tribute honoring Ovechkin and his longstanding rivalry with Crosby.

“It was nice,” Ovechkin said. “It was a show of respect for all the time we spent in the rivalry … playoffs, regular season … it shows respect.”

Ovechkin received a standing ovation from the crowd in Pittsburgh, as the Capitals’ captain stood up from the bench and waved while players tapped their sticks on the ice in appreciation.

“You could feel in that moment what (Ovechkin) has meant to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ fans and this city, that even though they hate the Washington Capitals, they appreciate what has gone on over the last 21 seasons,” Capitals’ coach Spencer Carbery said. “You can tell there’s a genuine appreciation from the city.”

Ovechkin is the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, while Crosby is the only player in league history to average a point per game for 21 straight seasons.

While the 38-year-old Crosby is signed through next year, the 40-year-old Ovechkin said he’s waiting until after the season to decide whether he’s calling it a career.

“I don’t care who’s playing, we just have to get two points,” Ovechkin said. “We’re still in it and that’s a good thing.”

Crosby and the Penguins are 56-39-4 through the first 99 head-to-head matchups against Ovechkin. It’s unclear if No. 100 will come on Sunday afternoon when the teams face each other for the final time in the regular season.

The two have combined for five Hart Trophies, four Stanley Cup championships and more than 3,400 points. The winner of their four head-to-head series went on to win the Stanley Cup each time, Crosby in 2009, ’16 and ’17, while Ovechkin followed in 2018.

“They’re two legends,” Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. “I think it’s awesome to see the Pittsburgh crowd give him that respect. Hopefully he keeps playing, but if not, it’s been a heck of a front-row seat from my perspective.”