Madden Monday: Penguins ‘don’t have a playoff-style team anymore’

Yet again, the Pittsburgh Penguins are finding it difficult to score goals in the postseason. It’s been that way since they eliminated the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 2018 playoffs.

It looked like they may have figured things out offensively against the New York Islanders in a 5-4 win on Long Island in Game 3, only to trudge through a 4-1 defeat in Game 4.

In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive doesn’t mince words about the big-picture problem for the Pens once the calendar flips from the regular season.

“I just don’t think the Penguins have a playoff-style team anymore,” Madden said. “And I think they think they do. I think they think it is 2017. I think that they think everything is going to be OK. I think that they feel that if they just stay the course, eventually things will work out.

“But if they go one and done in this year, you won’t recognize the roster at training camp.”

Does that include goalie Tristan Jarry?

“I think they need a new goalie,” Madden continued. “I’ve seen enough of him to see that he is not good enough. And if you are waiting for him to develop into that, how long are you going to wait for him to develop into that?”

Madden also reiterated his belief that the Penguins need to shake up the line combinations in this series against New York. And he wants to see that happen for Game 5 Monday night at PPG Paints Arena.

He wants to see Jeff Carter move from third-line center to top-line right wing with Sidney Crosby. And he would prefer to see Bryan Rust dropped down to the third line with Jared McCann and Evan Rodrigues.

“Sid’s line is being overwhelmed physically by the Islanders,” Madden said. “I want to get Sid a 6-foot-3 guy who can open up space for him and (Jake) Guentzel. And who’s a great finisher who is red hot.”

Madden found some static when he advanced that opinion.

“I’ve had it said on Twitter, ‘Why would you want to get Carter out of his rhythm?’ I don’t think anyone has ever been taken out of his rhythm by playing with Sidney Crosby,” Madden added.

Mark and I also get into some memories of the 1991 Stanley Cup as the 30th anniversary approaches on Tuesday. Roster concerns for the Steelers. The recent slide of the Pirates. And silly unwritten rules in both hockey and baseball.

We’ll have plenty more conversation in this week’s “Madden-Benz: Unfiltered” at 9:30 a.m. Monday morning.

Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss the Penguins’ playoffs series versus the Islanders