Matt Clement

Their team defense is awful.

Their goaltending, in a related matter, is awful.

What are you reading into last night's game, into the state of the Penguins right now headed into Ottawa?

What's the story here, Bob?

I think what they experienced in the last two days is a hard thing to experience is in your face, basically, that you're not a real contender.

So they have to contend with that.

But they still can be a real playoff team.

You know what I mean?

That's a tough pill to swallow.

The Steelers a few years back, when they opened with the 49ers, I agreed with Chris Hoke that year.

Remember when the 49ers just came in here in the Kenny Pickett year and kicked their you-know-what's all over the field?

Man, it's tough when you realize, oh, so we have no chance to win at all.

Like, that's why you play, and we have zero chance.

I think the Penguins kind of got a wake-up call in that direction in these last two games, but that's okay.

They can still salvage it.

They can still get to the playoffs.

And Bob, the best way there, in my not-so-humble opinion...

Is to stave off the Islanders and maybe even the Flyers, but definitely the Islanders and just cling, cling to that third spot in the Metro.

They have a game in hand on the Islanders.

They're a point up and they have the tiebreaker and the Islanders have lost three of four in regulation here.