A lot of Pittsburgh Penguins fans seem to have sympathy for the club even though it blew a 3-1 series lead to the New York Rangers. Sunday’s 4-3 overtime result in favor of New York finished off the series comeback for the Blueshirts and ended the Penguins’ season.
After all, the Penguins played part (or all) of the series without the likes of Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Brian Dumoulin, Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith.
But Mark Madden of 105.9 The X isn’t in the mood to cut the team much of a break.
“The Penguins got exactly what they deserve,” Madden said during this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast. “Despite the injuries. Despite whatever excuses you want to make … the Penguins blew it. Choked is too strong of a word. Or maybe it’s not.”
A big reason why Madden wants to avoid handing out benefit of the doubt to the Pens is because of how many leads they blew along the way.
“They were up three games to one. They led by two goals in Game 5. They led by two goals in Game 6. They led by a goal twice in Game 7. And they gave up the tying goal with less than six minutes in regulation. So you can’t say they deserve better,” Madden insisted.
As for Jarry specifically, Madden is a bit more willing to cut the goalie a break because he hadn’t played for about a month due to an injured foot. So he was thrown into an incredibly difficult circumstance, having to start cold in an elimination game in Madison Square Garden.
“I didn’t think he was bad in Game 7. I don’t think he was particularly sharp either,” Madden said. “Definitely a little deep in his net. I don’t think any of the goals were bad. But I’m wondering if he could’ve played Game 6. If he was able to play Game 6 — and I don’t see what gets that much better in a couple of days — he would’ve been that much sharper for Game 7.”
So what comes next for the Penguins?
Lots of changes, probably. For months, we’ve been discussing the likelihood of Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust moving elsewhere in free agency.
“You’ve got to overhaul the team,” Madden continued. “And I’m not saying burn it down and rebuild with youth and try to tank for the first-round draft pick. Because Fenway Sports isn’t going to do that. Nor is Fenway Sports Group going to bring back people for sentimental reasons, that they have no sentiment toward. That they have no ties to.”
Madden thinks a facelift may happen in the front office first.
“I expect both (general manager Ron) Hextall and (president of hockey operations Brian) Burke will be gone if not sooner then certainly later,” Madden predicted. “In fact, I’ve been told Burke is not coming back next year, for sure. And I doubt if Hextall will be here for the long haul or even the short run. Because the first thing Fenway Sports group does when they get a team is bring in the best management possible. Burke and Hextall do not come under the heading of best management possible.”
Madden and I also spend time dissecting what remains of the NHL playoff bracket heading into Round 2. We mix in some Steelers talk as we look at the schedule. Mark basks in the soccer glory of Liverpool. And we laugh at how the Pirates managed to win a game … without getting a hit.
Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden talk what’s next for the Penguins
