Tim Benz, Mark Madden: Stumbling Penguins, Steelers questions, Pirates disinterest

So much for the Penguins getting back on track.

That was the hope after the Pens won back-to-back games against the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres last week. Those victories stopped the bleeding of a six-game losing streak.

However, any hope that the team had found its footing for a run through March and into the playoffs wobbled this weekend. The Washington Capitals blew through PPG Paints Arena with a 5-2 victory Saturday. Then the Carolina Hurricanes ran away with a 6-2 win on Sunday afternoon.

In recent weeks, the conversation within the Penguins fan base had been about the team positioning itself for the Metro Division title. Now there’s just as much talk about making sure they make the playoffs at all.

At the conclusion of play Sunday night, the Pens found themselves just five points clear of ninth place — the position at which they’d just miss the playoffs. They are also five points behind the Capitals and Flyers for the Metro lead.

Mark Madden joins me for this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, and we try to figure out what’s going wrong with this group that has now lost 8-of-10. The power play is a problem, even though it’s getting goals. So is the goaltending. Turnovers have been brutal of late. And, on Sunday, even consistently solid players such as John Marino struggled.

Of those problems, Mark tells us which ones he thinks can be fixed.

We also tackle the debate about the coronavirus and how it is impacting the sports world. There’s caution, and then there is overreaction. There is intelligent protection, and there is placating the mob by paying lip service to avoid liability and preening for positive headlines.

Mark and I debate where those lines have been blurred.

We also get into some looming Steelers questions, concerns about Pirates ticket sales, Liverpool soccer, and Led Zeppelin tribute bands.

Listen: Tim Benz and Mark Madden look at what is going wrong with the Penguins in their slump