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“In Good Hands” TBL@PIT 02/26/23

In St. Louis yesterday afternoon, the Penguins managed to steal an overtime win, despite surrendering another late-game lead. New father, Marcus Pettersson scored a dad-strength goal in the third period before the Pens allowed a Justin Faulk equalizer with less than three minutes remaining in the third frame. Like the Pens, the Lightning are coming into tonight’s matchup having played a game yesterday, so we figure to see a battle of backup goalies. To follow up yesterday’s victory with one on their home ice would be a much-needed boost for this backsliding Pittsburgh squad, no doubt. Jordan and Jeff wax on the merits of doom-think - if that’s a thing - and the episode kicks off with a fantastic goal call from friend-of-the-show, the Penguins Radio Network’s Josh Getzoff.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly

Enjoy tonight's Penguins home game versus the Bolts … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“GM On Fire” PIT@STL 02/25/23

Your Penguins take on the Blues this afternoon, Jeff is flying solo in the studio today, Kapanen clears waivers, Jan Rutta returns, Brian Boucher is acting like a silly man, Jordan will be back tomorrow. Let’s. Go. Pens.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Blues … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“The Point Of No Return: A Conversation With Jay Caufield” EDM@PIT 02/23/23

A two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the ’91 and ’92 Pittsburgh Penguins, Jay Caufield sits down with Jeff and Jordan for a full conversation. Ahead of tonight’s tilt against the Edmonton Oilers, we learn about Jay’s early hockey career, and how a phone call from Craig Patrick changed his life forever. He received other phone calls of great consequence, one of which came in the summer of 2000 when his old teammate, a fella named Mario Lemieux rang Jay up about a crazy idea he was having. To wrap it up, we all weigh in on the current Penguins squad and what we think about their path down the stretch of the 2022-2023 NHL campaign.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly

Enjoy tonight's Penguins home game versus the Devil … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“The Penguins Need A Win” NYI@PIT 02/20/23

Jeff Taylor and Jordan DeFigio get together and talk Penguins Hockey on the day Tristan Jarry returns to the crease at PPG Paints Arena. You could say the Pens ‘need’ to win in regulation tonight. It’s a four point game, so to speak, with the Islanders looking to spoil PIT’s bid to hold onto the top WC spot in the Eastern Conference. We ponder a world without us, singer-songwriters as we both are, and Jordan draws a line in the sand re: holding out hope for the Penguins to reach a 17th consecutive post season.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, and on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly

Enjoy tonight's Penguins home game versus the Islanders … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“You’re Gonna See It Again Soon” NJD@PIT 02/18/23

As will become immediately clear when you hit play on this episode, (Jeff and Jordan) are not happy-camper Penguins fans today. In fact, we’re both feeling pretty down in the dumps after the Pens lost, 5-4 in regulation time, to the Islanders, PIT’s arch nemesis of recent playoff defeats. Things don’t get any easier today, as the Penguins head into the back half of a back-to-back, albeit on home ice. For the puck shall drop on this season’s Black History Month Game, EARLY: 5:37pm EST to be exact, as the red-hot New Jersey Devils look to twist the scalding knife in the Pens’ open wound.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly

Enjoy tonight's Penguins home game versus the Devil … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR + JORDAN DEFIGIO

“Jesse Marshall Drops In: Trade Deadline Talk” PIT@NYI 02/17/23

On today’s episode, hosts Jeff Taylor and Jordan DeFigio welcome freelance analyst with McKeen’s Hockey and The Athletic, Jesse Marshall! It’s not exaggeration to say that Jesse dropped some BOMBS in our chat, including some juicy trade deadline thoughts/predictions AND his two cents on how the top two lines could be reshuffled, should the Penguins manage to bring in a *certain* San Jose Shark. Trigger Warning: There may or may not be man-eating domestic cats featured in today’s episode.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly.

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Isles … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

“Hands Tied Behind Their Back” PIT@SJS 02/14/23

Rob Rossi, a senior writer with The Athletic, joins Jeff and Jordan for a frank discussion regarding the Penguins’ current …situation. It’s perhaps a more precarious position than this Pittsburgh team has found itself in, since the inception of the Crosby Era. Get real with us - Enjoy the episode!

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Sharks … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“A Conversation With Harold Ochs” PIT@LAK 02/11/23

Harold Ochs is a retired pro hockey player with the Johnstown Chiefs, and former head coach of the men’s hockey team at University of Pittsburgh. I’ve been privileged to train with him on the ice, as I learn the fundamentals of hockey and skating. Today’s episode features a full sit-down conversation, in which Harold shares the story of how he got into hockey as a young kid, and of course  how he made his way through the ranks and into his role as a defenseman for the Chiefs.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Kings … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“DeFigio + Taylor: Midnight Espresso Run” PIT@ANA 02/10/23

The Pens are on the Left Coast, folks. That means coffee, after coffee, after coffee, after coffee, after coffee, after coffee, after coffee, after coffee, after coffee. Oh, too many coffees, you say? Then perhaps you haven’t had enough coffee. Jordan and Jeff talk trade possibilities. They talk Allegheny County windstorms. And of course, they seriously discuss the position the Penguins are in re: preparing themselves for a tough stretch run, which, it feels as tonight’s puck drop approaches, begins here and now, at the Honda Center.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus Quack. Quack. Qyack … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“Welcoming New Co-Host: Jordan DeFigio! Special Guest: Josh Yohe” COL@PIT 02/07/23

It’s an E-Rod night in Pittsburgh, and to celebrate it, we’ve got BIG NEWS: Please welcome our new co-host, Jordan DeFigio!! We’re both pleased to welcome to today’s episode, Senior Writer from The Athletic, our good friend, Josh Yohe.

Josh on Twitter: @JoshYohe_PGH ... 

Jeff on Twitter: @penspod_JT ... 

Jordan on Twitter: @fidgenewton

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins home game versus the Avalanche … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!
 

JEFF TAYLOR

“Gap Control (In The Standings)” PIT@WSH 01/26/22
 

It’s that time again: Sid versus Ovi, eighty-seven versus eight, Penguins versus the Capitals. It’s ALWAYS exciting, isn’t it? And these two teams seem to perennially compete for a playoff spot, destined to at least ‘brush past’ one another en route to a playoff run. In the case of PIT against WSH, the ‘brush-by’ in question is typically of the less-gentle variety, and tempers tend to flare. It’s DeSmith in net tonight and, at least of late, that hasn’t meant wonderful things for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Number one from Rochester, NH looks to steady his side-to-side rocking ship, to stop pucks, to Get A Win. Casey needs a clean W for himself and for his Penguins who, whether due to injury bugs, bad bounces, or off-ice misfortune, have for some time looked a long way off from the back-to-back champs they once were. Rather, the Pens have fairly remade themselves as the club who takes their sweet time establishing a collective identity - until pretty darned deep into each NHL campaign.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Capitals … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“Tanger’s Return (Again)?” FLA@PIT 01-24-23

We may see the return of the return of the return tonight in Pittsburgh. Kris Letang’s personal and physical travails are the stuff of legend, especially this season. He’s really gotten the business end of whatever cosmic decision-making process occurs, out there in the aether of space and time. Injury. Recurring stroke. Another injury. Death of his father. And yet, like one of those water-weighted boxing-dummies that ALWAYS springs backup, ready for more, Letting is once again good to go, cleared for game action by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ coaching staff. It should be a thrilling thing to witness tonight, as 58 (probably?) lines up for the National Anthem at PPG Paints Arena for a tilt against Aleksander Barkov and the Florida Panthers.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins home game versus the Florida Panthers … AND of COURSE

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“Jimmy Dragged Gabby Through The Mud” PIT@NJD 01/22/23

Your Pens are on the road to take on the Devils at THE ROCK. Honestly, as a New Jersey native, I must say that the Prudential Center is a KILLER venue for NHL hockey. It’s also a TOUGH place to watch your team get beat. That said, the last Penguins road game I witnessed, as a resident of the Garden State was a W over the Devils. Let’s hope that Tristan Jarry, newly reinserted into PIT’s lineup and fresh off a clean, impressive, 44-save victory at home against Ottawa on Friday, can resume his All Star-caliber play. Moreover, the Penguins will need to ‘have-their-backstop’s-back,’ doing everything they can to contain the speedy Jersey squad. I start the episode with some tape from former Vancouver Canucks head coach, Bruce Boudreau. IMO, “Gabby” was fairly disrespected by GM Jim Rutherford, with the story of his impending firing leaking as early as November. What an awkward position to be in, no? And then to be unceremoniously dismissed as soon as the front office could get its chess pieces in place. Suppose that’s just the way the The Show works. Best wishes to Brucey and his family, he’s by all accounts a good person and a passionate hockey guy.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast
 

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Devils … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“Return Of The Barley Farmer” OTT@PIT 01/20/23

It’s the back half of a home-and-home, with the Senators coming off their OT win at home in Ottawa, having defeating the visiting Penguins, backstopped by backup goalie Casey DeSmith and riddled with injuries as they were. The Joseph siblings, P.O. and his brother Mathieu, will enjoy their first-ever head-to-head matchup as NHL’ers. Their family will be in attendance, and that sub-plot should make for good sporting theater.
 

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!
 

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Sens … AND of COURSE:
 

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“Put On The Damned Jersey” PIT@OTT 01/18/23

Tristan Jarry took shots at team practice this morning in Ottawa, which is a big deal. Mathieu Joseph is a healthy scratch for the Sens on the day he and his brother, P.O., would’ve faced off against one another for the first time in their respective NHL careers. I give my two cents on the Ivan Provorov / Pride Night situation, from last night in Philadelphia.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Senators … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

“Mighty Tankers of Anaheim” ANA@PIT 01/16/23

The Ducks are tanking for Bedard, the Penguins need points, and Jonathan Gruden gets his first ever NHL call-up.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Ducks … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“Dust-in Case” WPG@PIT 01/13/23

The Pens welcome the Winnipeg Jets for a home tilt on Pittsburgh ice, hoping to make it a ‘streak,’ after besting the Yotes and ‘Nucks over the past week. I stayed up late last night, watching the January 12, 1985 matchup of EDM@PIT, live from Civic Arena. It was Mario’s first time going up against Gretzky’s Oilers, and let me tell you: Apart from Lemieux scoring on his first shift, putting the Penguins up 1-0, the game used to be a HECK of a lot crazier back then. Obscene, uncalled violations of practically every sequence. So as much as we (I’m no exception) complain about, “Ref, how can you NOT call that,” trust me: The game we watch today is a WHOLE hell-of-a-lot more civilized than what was happening in the mid-eighties. Mark Friedman is back up with the NHL club, Pittsburgh Penguin Taylor Fedun will be wearing a suit and enjoying the game from the Mike Lange Media Level, and Andrew McCutchen is/was/is a Pirate. I also share an excerpt of a certain former-Penguin's memoire, one which I'm currently devouring... (Hint: It's Bryan Trottier's new book, 'All Roads Home')

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins home game versus the Winnipeg Jets … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“There (Whale) Blows!” VAN@PIT 01/10/23

A feel-good win in the desert, a heartfelt (unscheduled) trip to Montreal, and a WBS goalie call-up: You could say the Penguins’ latest road trip was a humdinger. Welp, they’re home, are the Pens, and tonight they get a visit from the Skating Orcas of British Columbia Province. Allegheny County’s own, J.T. Miller is set to play hockey on a fresh sheet at PPG Paints Arena tonight, with the Penguins - still short Kris Letang, Tristan Jarry, Ryan Poehling, Josh Archibald, and Jeff Petry, looking to keep things in the win column.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins home game versus the Canucks … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“Rossi, DeFigio, And Me” PIT@ARI 01/08/23”

It’s a hockey night in Arizona, folks. Your Penguins will play to less than 8K fans tonight as they dress and tape their sticks in the makeshift visitors locker room at Mullet Arena. The Coyotes like playing in their new-old, NCAA hockey rink, though, so the Pengweenos better come out flying, flightless as they’ve been of late. I’m joined today by Penguins beat writer, The Athletic’s own Rob Rossi (@real_rossi on Twitter) as well as by born-and-raised Yinzer, die hard Pens fan and host of the Helmet Hair podcast, Jordan DeFigio (@fidgenewton on Twitter) … We three discuss: The state of the Pens …Hallmark Movies …and the end of the NFL regular season.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!
Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Yotes … AND of COURSE

LETS GO PENS!!

JEFF TAYLOR

“Classic Winter Backslide” PIT@VGK 01/05/23

Your Penguins are in Las Vegas to take on the best in the west, the Golden Knights. Last time these two teams met up, the Pens got the better of the Knights, in a thrilling come-from-behind victory on home ice. Can PIT rally behind interim starting goalie Casey DeSmith and stop their backslide of 5-straight losses? Jake Guentzel is feeling the weight of his recent shortcomings - I talk a little about Josh Yohe’s piece (The Athletic) on just that matter.

Thank you for listening!! Follow us on Twitter @penspod, on Instagram at @flypenguinsfly, and subscribe to the Fly Penguins Fly YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3fw0IWt for video editions of select conversations you’ll hear on this podcast!

Enjoy tonight's Penguins road game versus the Knights … AND of COURSE:

LETS GO PENS!

JEFF TAYLOR