PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He’s been in elimination games with the Pens. He’s played with and won with the Big 3. Tyler Kennedy tells Cook and Joe he’s concerned about Tuesday night’s game with Chicago.
“I don’t have a great feeling going into tonight’s game,” Kennedy told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan. “I’m not 100% confident in the Penguins right now.”
As much as he won with the Pens, Kennedy also has been on teams with nothing to play for, like Chicago on Tuesday and Columbus on Thursday. He said often when you reach the last couple of games, teams out of the playoffs will have a strong final push. The Blackhawks were up on Minnesota in the third period Monday night.
“When you reach the last two games you almost play better because you are so loose,” Kennedy said on 93.7 The Fan.
“You want to go out on a good note. You’ve got nothing to lose. You take more chances and sometimes they work out.”
“I think it’s going to be a very exciting game. I don’t think they will have the game handed to them. I think it’s going to be a tough-fought game.”
Kennedy still couldn’t believe what happened to the Islanders on Monday. He called it a ‘huge, huge mistake’ at the Capitals. They gave up a couple of goals in the first minute and had to play catch-up the rest of the game. He fears that happening to the Penguins Tuesday.
“Let’s hope the coaching staff reminded them of what happened to the Islanders and they are ready to play tonight,” Kennedy told the Cook and Joe Show. “This is 100% on them the next two games, they are both beatable teams. Let’s see what team shows up. Everyone expects the right team to show up, but you never know. You can’t take anyone lightly.”
Many eyes will be on goalie Tristan Jarry. The 27-year-old will be a free agent after the season and has stepped up in the last two games stopping 46 of his last 48 shots in wins over Minnesota and Detroit.
“You want to talk about a guy playing for a big contract,” Kennedy told 93.7 The Fan. “How bad does he want it? these next two games, if he stands on his head, you know he’s worth the money. These are two big games, doesn’t matter if he’s hurt or not. He’s got to play and he’s got to play well.”
Kennedy said the matchup for the Pens is better with Boston than Carolina if they would make the post-season. Even with the historic year, the Bruins games have all been one goal and one loss coming in overtime. Whoever they play, the Pens would be formidable.
“I do think if they sneak in, they’ve been playing playoff hockey where the other teams aren’t,” Kennedy told The Cook and Joe Show. “I think it does give you an advantage. I do think they will excel in that second chance getting in.”
A win tonight and they move ahead of the Islanders and tie Florida with a game to play. A loss tonight, the Panthers are in and it’s hoping the Islanders lose at home to Montreal on Wednesday.