Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network joins me for our weekly hockey chat.
During this week’s Essey Tire podcast, we solve all the world’s problems.
Who am I kidding? We complain about the state of affairs we are all dealing with in this coronavirus-shut-in-addled existence we are all muddling through.
We couldn’t find any answers to the wide topics of curing the biggest pandemic in modern history, while at the same time trying to prevent economic collapse around the globe.
Instead, we take on a different task: How the heck can hockey be saved?
Is Atlanta a candidate to join the theoretical “bubble destinations” of the hockey world? We explain why it may be thrown into the mix.
We also get into how commissioners, owners and players’ unions within the various sports leagues are especially susceptible to political scrutiny when making decisions about how to come out of the lockdown. That could slow the process of sports, in general, coming back. Not just the NHL.
On a lighter note, AT&T SportsNet replayed Game 4 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final Monday night. Metz and I talk about how that 3-1 win for the Penguins was essentially the “forgotten” game of that series.
It didn’t have the electricity of Game 1. Or the overtime drama of Games 2 or 3.
Game 5 was the huge disappointment of losing the potential Cup clincher in Pittsburgh with a massive party ready to be staged. And Game 6 was the Cup raising.
But Game 4 sorta gets lost in the shuffle.
Well, unless you are Eric Fehr.
START FRYING THE JUMBO, HOMER!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 21, 2020
EXTRA CRISPY, PLEASE!
The Penguins capture the 3-1 lead thanks to a goal from @EricFehr. Hagelin and Maatta earn the assists. pic.twitter.com/6Kvysk3YSg
That was his first goal in 13 games and third of the playoffs. And it clinched the contest at 3-1 with 2:02 left on the clock.
Metzer and I relive that moment and some disappointments from Penguins playoffs past, too.
Hey, if this shutdown continues, at some point we are going to run out of Stanley Cup wins.
At this rate, even the Montreal Canadiens might!
Listen: Tim Benz and Brian Metzer discuss how to get hockey back amid the coronavirus outbreak
