Unfiltered: Tim Benz and Mark Madden discuss Sidney Crosby health, Penguins playoff hopes, more

Tim Benz and Mark Madden return for another edition of “Unfiltered” on TribLive’s Facebook page to preview the NHL playoffs and more.

Now that Major League Baseball has started without fans in the seats, Benz and Madden discuss how hockey will look without fans in the arena. Madden think baseball looks worse, but he has deeper problems with the game: he said that it’s an incredibly slow game and different strategies are not helping.

Madden said that not having the crowd at baseball games takes the adrenaline out and makes it seem even slower. He also shares some thought on the local club, the Pirates. He has very little hope for that team.

Benz liked the crowd noise at baseball games, especially on the radio broadcast, though he doesn’t think it adds to hockey which already has lots of action noises. Madden thinks the crowd noises make the games seem more normal.

Onto the actual hockey games Madden and Benz discuss the Sidney Crosby’s status as the Penguins head to Toronto to start games next week.

Madden believes Crosby is combating soreness associated with the core surgery he had earlier in the season. But no one can be sure because of league rules during the coronavirus pandemic. Madden questions why the team can’t be more straight-forward on his injury.

And since the team isn’t saying more, Madden said that the vibe he gets is that Crosby could be questionable for Game 1. That may seem absurd but Madden says maybe it’s not. And what would that mean for the Penguins in the first round and going forward?

Benz and Madden look at the teams in the Eastern Conference. Madden said that Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Penguins are the only teams that can win the conference. Benz wonders if the Philadelphia Flyers have a shot.

Madden said that the Penguins are the best team in the east, but the format works against them.

Benz and Madden also talk about Le’Veon Bell’s latest comments about a teammate forcing a trade, Mike Ditka’s comments on players kneeling, and how NFL managed to pull off its return to play agreement.

They also respond to some reader comments.

Also, the guys announce their new “Hockey in the Hub” post game show which will air on Facebook Live following the playoff games in Toronto.

Watch the show here: