When it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ recent efforts to salvage their season, Mark Madden from 105.9 The X and TribLive points to one main reason.
“This is all Sid,” Madden said during this week’s Madden Monday podcast. “All the usual suspects would say, ‘This is a team sport.’ Even Sid would say that, right? Well, they’re full of (garbage) and so is he. This is, like, 95% Sid.”
Indeed, Sidney Crosby has been excellent of late. The Penguins captain already has five goals and an assist for six points in just four games in April. He has 16 points during the Penguins’ eight-game points streak. During that time, they have gone 6-0-2 since March 24.
“It would be, in an abstract sense, one of Crosby’s greatest accomplishments,” Madden said of Crosby potentially pushing the Penguins into the postseason. “Because this team ain’t good. And he might drag them across the finish line or to a playoff berth — if not single handedly, then (darn) close.”
As of Monday morning, the Pens are just a point behind Detroit for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. And Madden acknowledges that there have been others who have buoyed the Pens’ recent postseason press. However, he insists that most of the turnaround is the result of Crosby’s efforts.
Two players Madden highlighted were Evgeni Malkin and Michael Bunting. Malkin has nine points in the last six games. And, since being acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes in the Jake Guentzel trade, Bunting has five goals for the Penguins.
That’s the same amount as Guentzel has in Carolina.
“Geno (Malkin) has picked it up,” Madden said. “Bunting on his line has been a godsend. But, really, they have, maybe, three top-six forwards. Sid, Geno, Bryan Rust. Who else are you going to go with as a legit top six? Not (Drew) O’Connor. Not Bunting. Certainly not (Rickard) Rakell. This is Sid. He has been amazing, and his energy has trickled down to the rest of the team.”
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But how about the goaltending? Alex Nedeljkovic — not usual starter Tristan Jarry — has been the goalie of record in every game throughout the eight-game points streak. Should he supplant Jarry the rest of the way? Or is he due for a break?
“Well, he started the last eight games,” Madden said of Nedeljkovic. “So he’s 6-0-2, just like they are, right? But he’s not playing as well as 6-0-2.”
During this stretch, Nedeljkovic has a 2.50 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.
“He’s playing winning hockey. (But) look at the game against Tampa when they blew the 4-1 lead in the third. He was crap in the third. But then he made some big saves after Bunting scored. He won the game and that matters. And I don’t know if I (can) imagine Jarry doing that over the last eight games like Nedeljkovic has,” Madden explained.
However, Madden suggests that it may be time for head coach Mike Sullivan to give Jarry a shot between the pipes on Monday night in Toronto given what may be a fatigue factor for Nedeljkovic.
“I would play him against Toronto. Here’s my fear, though. That (Jarry) beats Toronto. And Sully (thinks), ‘We’ve got our No. 1 guy back. He’s ready,’” Madden said. “If you are asking me what I would do, I would probably start Jarry in Toronto.”
Also, in the podcast, Madden and I discuss the Pirates’ 8-2 start, the NCAA women’s finals, Matt Rempe hysteria in the NHL, and the idea of college football under NFL management.
