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News.com.au
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
This film star ruled the 80s, but you won't recognise him now
He was one of cinema's most iconic bullies – relentlessly terrorising Marty McFly – but these days the Back to the Future star looks more like your cool uncle than an 80s villain. The now 66-year-old actor Thomas F Wilson, who famously played the unforgettable Biff Tannen, was recently spotted out and about grabbing lunch with a friend. Thomas was seen wearing a dark navy blue T-shirt, dark grey cargo shorts, some blue sneakers and a black crossbody bag. But fans could be forgiven for walking right past him, because the clean-cut brunette Hollywood once knew has been replaced with a long white haired, laid-back family man. Talk about time travel, huh? Wilson was in his mid-20s when Back to the Future hit cinemas in 1985, launching him to instant global fame. His role as Biff, the growling schoolyard menace, quickly became one of the most memorable bullies in movie history, thanks to his snarling delivery of lines like, 'I'm gonna kick your ass!' It's a line Wilson revealed he actually hated at a Back to the Future reunion in Dallas, Texas earlier this year. 'I don't even like to say ass. I say A double scribble,' Wilson said. 'I never played a bully before. I didn't wanna play a bully. 'I've been pushed around by bullies my whole life … I was pushed around by everyone everywhere.' While Back to the Future remains Wilson's most iconic role, his career didn't stall after the DeLorean drove off. He also appeared in cult films like April Fool's Day, Action Jackson, High Strung and Camp Nowhere. And chances are you've heard him without even realising – he's voiced several characters in SpongeBob SquarePants, including the Tattletale Strangler, Flats the Flounder and Reg the Bouncer. In recent years, Wilson has quietly stepped away from the showbiz hustle. These days, he's more focused on stand-up comedy, painting (he's even done work for Disney theme parks), and dropping surprisingly wholesome YouTube videos. 'I make films when I can. I also make paintings, songs and stories. I went pro at arts and crafts,' his YouTube channel bio reads. Wilson, who has been married to his wife Caroline since 1985 – the same year Back to the Future premiered – has four children, who have largely been kept out of the limelight. The original film recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and Wilson reunited with the cast to reflect on the wild ride. 'They played the movie and the place went crazy,' he said of the original screening. 'Since that night, I have never seen a Hollywood screening go like this. The ovation lasted like five minutes.'
CNN
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Las Vegas aims to stem summertime slowdown with deals
(CNN) – So long as you're not made of wax, right now is a great time to visit Las Vegas. Part of this is on Mother Nature; summer temperatures can hit a beastly 115 in the Mojave Desert, a harsh reality that can literally fry an egg on Las Vegas Boulevard and historically has made July and August two of the quietest months of the year in Sin City. You can also thank the bean counters for Las Vegas being much cheaper to visit this summer. In response to recent slowdowns in overall visitation to the city, many overnight and day-trip destinations have rolled out bargain-basement deals on accommodations, parking, admissions and more. Add to these discounts several new attractions, diversions and restaurants around town, and there's certainly no shortage of things to do (indoors, with AC). Hotel deals started at the beginning of June. Downtown's Plaza Hotel & Casino, which starred as Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise in 'Back to the Future 2,' was first to the starting line when it unveiled an all-inclusive package that includes a room, two meals a day at participating restaurants and unlimited alcoholic beverages for $125 per person per night. The deal also includes a waived resort fee, which normally is a whopping $44 per night. Closer to the Strip, The Strat Hotel, Casino & Tower rolled out a package with rates of $49 per night on weeknights and $99 per night on weekends. This deal includes taxes and fees, a $25 daily dining credit and free admission to the 106th-floor Observation Deck — an additional savings of up to $36.95. Even casino resorts and attractions on the Las Vegas Strip have gotten in on the act. Resorts World Las Vegas, which comprises the brands Hilton, Conrad and Crockfords, recently unveiled an 'Escape to Summer' package that includes 40% off room rates and a $75 daily resort credit for dining, cocktails and cabanas. Resorts World also suspended its $18 per night parking fee through August 28. This means the property joins Treasure Island, Sahara and Casino Royale as the only casinos that don't charge for parking right now. What's more, Swingers, a popular adults-only indoor mini golf attraction inside Mandalay Bay Resort Casino, is now allowing kids before 6 p.m. daily through August 31. Pricing is $18 for kids under 21 and $30 for grownups; there's also a 'Kids Combo' that includes a round of golf, a kids' meal and a soft drink or juice for $35. Several resorts and other destinations have even unveiled special promotions aimed specifically at locals. Most of these deals are cataloged on Locals Unlocked Las Vegas, a new resource launched earlier in June by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. This page features everything from hotel discounts to deals on admission at local attractions such as the Sphere, Area 15 and the Las Vegas Monorail, to name a few. One hallmark of Las Vegas is that the destination is constantly reinventing itself, and several notable attractions and restaurants have opened in recent weeks. No. 1 on the list: the Hall of Excellence, a museum at Fontainebleau Las Vegas that comprises iconic memorabilia from the sports and entertainment industries over the last 100 years. Many of the items in the collection are on loan from former sports broadcaster Jim Gray and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady. Perhaps the museum's most impressive displays are the dirty jersey in which New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run in 2022, and a heptagonal case with all seven of Brady's championship rings. Another destination that just recently opened to the public: Grand Prix Plaza, the hub of activity during the city's annual Formula One race. Here, a new temporary attraction includes three fan-friendly activities: go-karting that takes riders through garage space and on a section of the actual track; an interactive museum; and race simulators. These activities will be open at Grand Prix Plaza until fall, when F1 officials begin preparing the facility for the third annual Las Vegas Grand Prix, which takes place November 20 to 22 this year. Elsewhere around town, new dining, drinking and partying hotspots have grabbed headlines as well. Venetian Las Vegas recently opened a sushi counter/speakeasy restaurant named Nomikai, and a lively food hall with an outpost of the legendary Florence sandwich shop All'Antico Vinaio. The former serves delicious sushi rolls with the option of freshly grated wasabi; the latter is famous for focaccia sandwiches with fixings such as prosciutto, spicy eggplant, and more. At the Flamingo Las Vegas, a partial overhaul of the pool area resulted in the Go Pool, a new pool area with several spacious cabanas, a thumping DJ booth, and the only swim-up bar on the Las Vegas Strip. The Go pool is free to both hotel guests and members of the public. In the burgeoning Arts District, Doberman Drawing Room, a taxidermy-adorned craft-cocktail bar, opened in May with a strong collection of drinks from mixologist Juyoung Kang. One drink, the Pillow Book, is made with vodka, nigori sake, strawberry, sumac, lemon and egg white. Another, the zero-proof Coffee Cheesecake, is a rich and creamy take on the classic espresso martini with a surprising twist: parmesan. Another recent addition to the Arts District is Bar Boheme, a modern French restaurant and the latest from Chef James Trees. During a break in service earlier this month, Trees boasted that entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and freedom of mind have helped him build a veritable armada of stellar restaurants around town. 'Vegas is never going to stop being Vegas,' he told CNN. 'That means we've got to keep doing what we do.' While the city's creative wheels are clearly turning, there are concerns: fewer people are visiting Las Vegas. The total number of visitors to Las Vegas in March dropped 7.8% compared to March 2024, the third consecutive month that year-over-year numbers have declined, according to statistics released recently by the visitors' bureau. The data also indicates the March decline followed an 11.9% year-over-year drop in February 2025, though the double-digit plunge could be deceiving because Las Vegas hosted the Super Bowl in February 2024, a month that included an extra day due to the leap year. The decline mirrors trends nationally, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office. Overall, tourism stats comparing visitor volume from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2024 indicate a drop of 6.9% to 9.7 million, and convention attendance was down 1.6% to 1.8 million. It's not easy to name all the factors driving these trends, but different people have different ideas. For Steve Hill, CEO and President of the city's tourism board, this downturn is in part seasonal, and a likely response to a sagging economy and government policies that have soured travelers from Canada, Mexico and other big feeder countries on the idea of vacationing in the United States. Other experts fear resorts on the Las Vegas Strip are just getting too greedy. Resort fees in Strip hotels now range from $20 to $55 per night, parking can run $20 to $45 per night, and guests are being nickel-and-dimed in other areas, too. At Bellagio Las Vegas, for instance, guests must fork over a $25 surcharge to receive room service orders with the traditional presentation of ceramic plating and metal silverware. Aria Las Vegas made headlines in June when a guest complained of paying $26 for a minibar bottle of water. The result of these fees and prices is a perception that a vacation in Las Vegas is just too expensive, according to local radio personality and social media influencer Heather Collins. 'We [need to] figure out how to make this city not only great for the high rollers of the world, but also for budget-friendly people,' said Collins, a Vegas native whose Instagram account, Raised in Vegas, has 225,000 followers. 'There needs to be a balance of both.' Better times for Las Vegas may be coming sooner rather than later. According to the visitors' bureau, convention bookings for the second half of 2025 and most of 2026 are nearly sold out — a strong showing that undoubtedly will bring more people into town. Big events also are expected to be solid draws. RISE, the world's largest sky lantern festival, takes place in the Jean Dry Lakebed south of town the first weekend of October, and the addition of a three-day music program this year has organizers planning for a huge crowd. Then, of course, there's the Formula One race, which is always a boon for international tourism and likely will have accessible and affordable options for locals, too. Hill described his perspective on the future as 'optimistic.' The slowdown in Sin City is in line with what's going on elsewhere, Hill said. 'When you start to see Las Vegas have a slowdown that is greater than slowdowns in other places, that's when you should pay attention,' he said. 'We're not even close to feeling that right now.'
CNN
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Las Vegas aims to stem summertime slowdown with deals
(CNN) – So long as you're not made of wax, right now is a great time to visit Las Vegas. Part of this is on Mother Nature; summer temperatures can hit a beastly 115 in the Mojave Desert, a harsh reality that can literally fry an egg on Las Vegas Boulevard and historically has made July and August two of the quietest months of the year in Sin City. You can also thank the bean counters for Las Vegas being much cheaper to visit this summer. In response to recent slowdowns in overall visitation to the city, many overnight and day-trip destinations have rolled out bargain-basement deals on accommodations, parking, admissions and more. Add to these discounts several new attractions, diversions and restaurants around town, and there's certainly no shortage of things to do (indoors, with AC). Hotel deals started at the beginning of June. Downtown's Plaza Hotel & Casino, which starred as Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise in 'Back to the Future 2,' was first to the starting line when it unveiled an all-inclusive package that includes a room, two meals a day at participating restaurants and unlimited alcoholic beverages for $125 per person per night. The deal also includes a waived resort fee, which normally is a whopping $44 per night. Closer to the Strip, The Strat Hotel, Casino & Tower rolled out a package with rates of $49 per night on weeknights and $99 per night on weekends. This deal includes taxes and fees, a $25 daily dining credit and free admission to the 106th-floor Observation Deck — an additional savings of up to $36.95. Even casino resorts and attractions on the Las Vegas Strip have gotten in on the act. Resorts World Las Vegas, which comprises the brands Hilton, Conrad and Crockfords, recently unveiled an 'Escape to Summer' package that includes 40% off room rates and a $75 daily resort credit for dining, cocktails and cabanas. Resorts World also suspended its $18 per night parking fee through August 28. This means the property joins Treasure Island, Sahara and Casino Royale as the only casinos that don't charge for parking right now. What's more, Swingers, a popular adults-only indoor mini golf attraction inside Mandalay Bay Resort Casino, is now allowing kids before 6 p.m. daily through August 31. Pricing is $18 for kids under 21 and $30 for grownups; there's also a 'Kids Combo' that includes a round of golf, a kids' meal and a soft drink or juice for $35. Several resorts and other destinations have even unveiled special promotions aimed specifically at locals. Most of these deals are cataloged on Locals Unlocked Las Vegas, a new resource launched earlier in June by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. This page features everything from hotel discounts to deals on admission at local attractions such as the Sphere, Area 15 and the Las Vegas Monorail, to name a few. One hallmark of Las Vegas is that the destination is constantly reinventing itself, and several notable attractions and restaurants have opened in recent weeks. No. 1 on the list: the Hall of Excellence, a museum at Fontainebleau Las Vegas that comprises iconic memorabilia from the sports and entertainment industries over the last 100 years. Many of the items in the collection are on loan from former sports broadcaster Jim Gray and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady. Perhaps the museum's most impressive displays are the dirty jersey in which New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run in 2022, and a heptagonal case with all seven of Brady's championship rings. Another destination that just recently opened to the public: Grand Prix Plaza, the hub of activity during the city's annual Formula One race. Here, a new temporary attraction includes three fan-friendly activities: go-karting that takes riders through garage space and on a section of the actual track; an interactive museum; and race simulators. These activities will be open at Grand Prix Plaza until fall, when F1 officials begin preparing the facility for the third annual Las Vegas Grand Prix, which takes place November 20 to 22 this year. Elsewhere around town, new dining, drinking and partying hotspots have grabbed headlines as well. Venetian Las Vegas recently opened a sushi counter/speakeasy restaurant named Nomikai, and a lively food hall with an outpost of the legendary Florence sandwich shop All'Antico Vinaio. The former serves delicious sushi rolls with the option of freshly grated wasabi; the latter is famous for focaccia sandwiches with fixings such as prosciutto, spicy eggplant, and more. At the Flamingo Las Vegas, a partial overhaul of the pool area resulted in the Go Pool, a new pool area with several spacious cabanas, a thumping DJ booth, and the only swim-up bar on the Las Vegas Strip. The Go pool is free to both hotel guests and members of the public. In the burgeoning Arts District, Doberman Drawing Room, a taxidermy-adorned craft-cocktail bar, opened in May with a strong collection of drinks from mixologist Juyoung Kang. One drink, the Pillow Book, is made with vodka, nigori sake, strawberry, sumac, lemon and egg white. Another, the zero-proof Coffee Cheesecake, is a rich and creamy take on the classic espresso martini with a surprising twist: parmesan. Another recent addition to the Arts District is Bar Boheme, a modern French restaurant and the latest from Chef James Trees. During a break in service earlier this month, Trees boasted that entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and freedom of mind have helped him build a veritable armada of stellar restaurants around town. 'Vegas is never going to stop being Vegas,' he told CNN. 'That means we've got to keep doing what we do.' While the city's creative wheels are clearly turning, there are concerns: fewer people are visiting Las Vegas. The total number of visitors to Las Vegas in March dropped 7.8% compared to March 2024, the third consecutive month that year-over-year numbers have declined, according to statistics released recently by the visitors' bureau. The data also indicates the March decline followed an 11.9% year-over-year drop in February 2025, though the double-digit plunge could be deceiving because Las Vegas hosted the Super Bowl in February 2024, a month that included an extra day due to the leap year. The decline mirrors trends nationally, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office. Overall, tourism stats comparing visitor volume from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2024 indicate a drop of 6.9% to 9.7 million, and convention attendance was down 1.6% to 1.8 million. It's not easy to name all the factors driving these trends, but different people have different ideas. For Steve Hill, CEO and President of the city's tourism board, this downturn is in part seasonal, and a likely response to a sagging economy and government policies that have soured travelers from Canada, Mexico and other big feeder countries on the idea of vacationing in the United States. Other experts fear resorts on the Las Vegas Strip are just getting too greedy. Resort fees in Strip hotels now range from $20 to $55 per night, parking can run $20 to $45 per night, and guests are being nickel-and-dimed in other areas, too. At Bellagio Las Vegas, for instance, guests must fork over a $25 surcharge to receive room service orders with the traditional presentation of ceramic plating and metal silverware. Aria Las Vegas made headlines in June when a guest complained of paying $26 for a minibar bottle of water. The result of these fees and prices is a perception that a vacation in Las Vegas is just too expensive, according to local radio personality and social media influencer Heather Collins. 'We [need to] figure out how to make this city not only great for the high rollers of the world, but also for budget-friendly people,' said Collins, a Vegas native whose Instagram account, Raised in Vegas, has 225,000 followers. 'There needs to be a balance of both.' Better times for Las Vegas may be coming sooner rather than later. According to the visitors' bureau, convention bookings for the second half of 2025 and most of 2026 are nearly sold out — a strong showing that undoubtedly will bring more people into town. Big events also are expected to be solid draws. RISE, the world's largest sky lantern festival, takes place in the Jean Dry Lakebed south of town the first weekend of October, and the addition of a three-day music program this year has organizers planning for a huge crowd. Then, of course, there's the Formula One race, which is always a boon for international tourism and likely will have accessible and affordable options for locals, too. Hill described his perspective on the future as 'optimistic.' The slowdown in Sin City is in line with what's going on elsewhere, Hill said. 'When you start to see Las Vegas have a slowdown that is greater than slowdowns in other places, that's when you should pay attention,' he said. 'We're not even close to feeling that right now.'
CNN
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Why now may be the best time all year to visit Las Vegas
(CNN) – So long as you're not made of wax, right now is a great time to visit Las Vegas. Part of this is on Mother Nature; summer temperatures can hit a beastly 115 in the Mojave Desert, a harsh reality that can literally fry an egg on Las Vegas Boulevard and historically has made July and August two of the quietest months of the year in Sin City. You can also thank the bean counters for Las Vegas being much cheaper to visit this summer. In response to recent slowdowns in overall visitation to the city, many overnight and day-trip destinations have rolled out bargain-basement deals on accommodations, parking, admissions and more. Add to these discounts several new attractions, diversions and restaurants around town, and there's certainly no shortage of things to do (indoors, with AC). Hotel deals started at the beginning of June. Downtown's Plaza Hotel & Casino, which starred as Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise in 'Back to the Future 2,' was first to the starting line when it unveiled an all-inclusive package that includes a room, two meals a day at participating restaurants and unlimited alcoholic beverages for $125 per person per night. The deal also includes a waived resort fee, which normally is a whopping $44 per night. Closer to the Strip, The Strat Hotel, Casino & Tower rolled out a package with rates of $49 per night on weeknights and $99 per night on weekends. This deal includes taxes and fees, a $25 daily dining credit and free admission to the 106th-floor Observation Deck — an additional savings of up to $36.95. Even casino resorts and attractions on the Las Vegas Strip have gotten in on the act. Resorts World Las Vegas, which comprises the brands Hilton, Conrad and Crockfords, recently unveiled an 'Escape to Summer' package that includes 40% off room rates and a $75 daily resort credit for dining, cocktails and cabanas. Resorts World also suspended its $18 per night parking fee through August 28. This means the property joins Treasure Island, Sahara and Casino Royale as the only casinos that don't charge for parking right now. What's more, Swingers, a popular adults-only indoor mini golf attraction inside Mandalay Bay Resort Casino, is now allowing kids before 6 p.m. daily through August 31. Pricing is $18 for kids under 21 and $30 for grownups; there's also a 'Kids Combo' that includes a round of golf, a kids' meal and a soft drink or juice for $35. Several resorts and other destinations have even unveiled special promotions aimed specifically at locals. Most of these deals are cataloged on Locals Unlocked Las Vegas, a new resource launched earlier in June by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. This page features everything from hotel discounts to deals on admission at local attractions such as the Sphere, Area 15 and the Las Vegas Monorail, to name a few. One hallmark of Las Vegas is that the destination is constantly reinventing itself, and several notable attractions and restaurants have opened in recent weeks. No. 1 on the list: the Hall of Excellence, a museum at Fontainebleau Las Vegas that comprises iconic memorabilia from the sports and entertainment industries over the last 100 years. Many of the items in the collection are on loan from former sports broadcaster Jim Gray and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady. Perhaps the museum's most impressive displays are the dirty jersey in which New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run in 2022, and a heptagonal case with all seven of Brady's championship rings. Another destination that just recently opened to the public: Grand Prix Plaza, the hub of activity during the city's annual Formula One race. Here, a new temporary attraction includes three fan-friendly activities: go-karting that takes riders through garage space and on a section of the actual track; an interactive museum; and race simulators. These activities will be open at Grand Prix Plaza until fall, when F1 officials begin preparing the facility for the third annual Las Vegas Grand Prix, which takes place November 20 to 22 this year. Elsewhere around town, new dining, drinking and partying hotspots have grabbed headlines as well. Venetian Las Vegas recently opened a sushi counter/speakeasy restaurant named Nomikai, and a lively food hall with an outpost of the legendary Florence sandwich shop All'Antico Vinaio. The former serves delicious sushi rolls with the option of freshly grated wasabi; the latter is famous for focaccia sandwiches with fixings such as prosciutto, spicy eggplant, and more. At the Flamingo Hotel & Spa, a partial overhaul of the pool area resulted in the Go pool, a new pool area with several spacious cabanas, a thumping DJ booth, and the only swim-up bar on the Las Vegas Strip. The Go pool is free to both hotel guests and members of the public. In the burgeoning Arts District, Doberman Drawing Room, a taxidermy-adorned craft-cocktail bar, opened in May with a strong collection of drinks from mixologist Juyoung Kang. One drink, the Pillow Book, is made with vodka, nigori sake, strawberry, sumac, lemon and egg white. Another, the zero-proof Coffee Cheesecake, is a rich and creamy take on the classic espresso martini with a surprising twist: parmesan. Another recent addition to the Arts District is Bar Boheme, a modern French restaurant and the latest from Chef James Trees. During a break in service earlier this month, Trees boasted that entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and freedom of mind have helped him build a veritable armada of stellar restaurants around town. 'Vegas is never going to stop being Vegas,' he told CNN. 'That means we've got to keep doing what we do.' While the city's creative wheels are clearly turning, there are concerns: fewer people are visiting Las Vegas. The total number of visitors to Las Vegas in March dropped 7.8% compared to March 2024, the third consecutive month that year-over-year numbers have declined, according to statistics released recently by the visitors' bureau. The data also indicates the March decline followed an 11.9% year-over-year drop in February 2025, though the double-digit plunge could be deceiving because Las Vegas hosted the Super Bowl in February 2024, a month that included an extra day due to the leap year. The decline mirrors trends nationally, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office. Overall, tourism stats comparing visitor volume from the first quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2024 indicate a drop of 6.9% to 9.7 million, and convention attendance was down 1.6% to 1.8 million. It's not easy to name all the factors driving these trends, but different people have different ideas. For Steve Hill, CEO and President of the city's tourism board, this downturn is in part seasonal, and a likely response to a sagging economy and government policies that have soured travelers from Canada, Mexico and other big feeder countries on the idea of vacationing in the United States. Other experts fear resorts on the Las Vegas Strip are just getting too greedy. Resort fees in Strip hotels now range from $20 to $55 per night, parking can run $20 to $45 per night, and guests are being nickel-and-dimed in other areas, too. At Bellagio Las Vegas, for instance, guests must fork over a $25 surcharge to receive room service orders with the traditional presentation of ceramic plating and metal silverware. Aria Las Vegas made headlines in June when a guest complained of paying $26 for a minibar bottle of water. The result of these fees and prices is a perception that a vacation in Las Vegas is just too expensive, according to local radio personality and social media influencer Heather Collins. 'We [need to] figure out how to make this city not only great for the high rollers of the world, but also for budget-friendly people,' said Collins, a Vegas native whose Instagram account, Raised in Vegas, has 225,000 followers. 'There needs to be a balance of both.' Better times for Las Vegas may be coming sooner rather than later. According to the visitors' bureau, convention bookings for the second half of 2025 and most of 2026 are nearly sold out — a strong showing that undoubtedly will bring more people into town. Big events also are expected to be solid draws. RISE, the world's largest sky lantern festival, takes place in the Jean Dry Lakebed south of town the first weekend of October, and the addition of a three-day music program this year has organizers planning for a huge crowd. Then, of course, there's the Formula One race, which is always a boon for international tourism and likely will have accessible and affordable options for locals, too. Hill described his perspective on the future as 'optimistic.' The slowdown in Sin City is in line with what's going on elsewhere, Hill said. 'When you start to see Las Vegas have a slowdown that is greater than slowdowns in other places, that's when you should pay attention,' he said. 'We're not even close to feeling that right now.'
New York Times
16-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Penguins — out of nowhere — have won four straight games: Yohe's 10 observations
PITTSBURGH — It was noted historian Biff Tannen who famously uttered in Back to the Future II, 'There's something very familiar about all this.' Look no further than one year ago. The Penguins were left for dead last season only to stage a dramatic, late-season surge that nearly led them to a remarkable playoff berth. Making the playoffs this season would be even more remarkable, unprecedented and downright miraculous. And yet, the standings are what they are. After the Penguins walloped the Devils, 7-3 on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena, they found themselves four points out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Advertisement By the end of the evening, they'll be six points out because of the reality that Columbus and the New York Rangers — both of whom entered Saturday tied for the final playoff spot — played in Columbus on Saturday night, meaning one will earn two points. And, yes, the entire East has games in hand on the Penguins. Nonetheless, the Penguins are indeed mathematically alive and they've won four straight games against high caliber competition. 'Anything can happen,' Mike Sullivan said. It almost did last season. The Penguins, in a similar situation, were 1o points out of a playoff spot last season and left for dead with only 13 games remaining. They then went on a 7-0-3 run that nearly propelled them to a playoff spot. Their run started on a March, Sunday afternoon when they earned a point against the Avalanche in Denver. This run started on a Sunday afternoon on the road against a playoff team in Minnesota. A victory against the Wild on Sunday was followed by wins against Vegas, St. Louis and the Devils. Three of those teams are firmly locked into playoff spots and the Blues are in contention. So, the Penguins haven't exactly been having their way with the bottom feeders of the NHL. And yet, they've won four in a row, behind jarringly impressive goaltending from Tristan Jarry, whose performance has been so bad this season that he's twice been exiled to the American Hockey League. He's been superb in his latest recall. So, too, has the Penguins' offensive output. They racked up seven goals against the Devils and their depth was on display as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin recorded only one point each. Of course, the Penguins' star power has been on display during this sudden run. Crosby has seven points in the past four games. 'It's nice coming to work every day when we're executing like this,' Kris Letang said. Advertisement The Penguins, realistically, can probably only lose a couple of games for the remainder of the season to have a realistic chance of actually qualifying for the postseason. They have 13 games remaining and there is precious little evidence that they're capable of such a run. Then again, there wasn't much evidence that they were capable of winning four games against high caliber competition. Up next for the Penguins, who have outscored their opponents 18-9 on their four-game winning streak, is a home game on Tuesday against the Islanders. • It feels silly writing about this, because I don't think anyone reading this really thinks the Penguins have a chance of making the playoffs, but the standings are what they are. More than anything, I think this is an indictment of just how bad the Eastern Conference is once you remove the Florida teams, Maple Leafs and Capitals. I can't ignore how similar this feels to what we witnessed last spring. The Penguins are suddenly scoring goals in bunches, getting contributions from young, newly acquired defensemen, and receiving good goaltending for the first time all season. Sounds kind of like last season, does it not? The parallels are there in a big way. • The Penguins are probably hurting their draft position right now. There's no other way to put it. They appeared on track for a top-five pick and, while that remains entirely possible, it becomes less likely every time the Penguins win a game. Blame Kyle Dubas for this if you want. I suppose he didn't have to recall Jarry, knowing full well that Joel Blomqvist was in over his head at the NHL level. And I suppose he could have traded Rickard Rakell, which would have badly wounded the current team. But don't blame Sullivan or the players. They're paid to coach, and paid to win hockey games. You can't tell a team or a coach to tank. It doesn't work that way and, frankly, I find it pretty admirable that this team is playing as hard as it is. Advertisement • Jarry is becoming some kind of a story. Is all of this fools' gold? Maybe. Does he deserve credit for how he's overcome the adversity to suddenly look like a good NHL goalie? Absolutely. Jarry wasn't quite as dominant against the Devils as he was in his previous three outings, but he was still plenty good. I'm struck by how calm he looks in net, how easy he's making it look. He's not doing too much, and not overplaying the puck. He almost looks to be in some kind of a zen mindset. Would I trust Jarry moving forward, no matter how he performs down the stretch this season? Nah, probably not. Sorry, but a lot of damage has been done and I don't think the Penguins can or will trust him with the organization's fortunes moving forward. But I mean that as no disrespect. This is a great story and he's playing wonderful hockey at the moment. Full credit to him. If it compels a general manager around the league to take a shot at him this summer, even better. • This marks the 12th time in Crosby's career in which he's accounted for at least 50 assists. That number would be even higher if not for concussions and NHL work stoppages. The dynamic duo is at it again! 👏 — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 15, 2025 He now has 73 points on the season. He missed two games in February, which means the magic number for Crosby is 80. Should he reach 80 points, he will have broken free of a tie with Wayne Gretzky, giving him 20 straight seasons of averaging a point per game or better. Crosby needs seven points in his past 13 games to break the mark. It's hard not to like his chances. • Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are both playing at a very high level. Malkin did take two awful penalties in this game, but still, his skating since the 4 Nations Face-Off has been noticeably better. Advertisement While Crosby only had one point in this game, he was buzzing all night. They're almost 40 and know they probably won't see the postseason this spring, but there has been no slowing down for either future Hall of Famer. • Connor Dewar scored two goals and has three in his past two games. What a nice first impression. DEWEY 👏 — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 15, 2025 He didn't record a goal all season with Toronto before being traded to the Penguins. He did, however, score 10 goals in 57 games the season before in Minnesota. Maybe this is merely a lucky hot streak. It's too early to say. But sometimes bottom-six players simply find a comfort level in certain systems. The Penguins are hoping that will be the case. He's done a very nice job so far. • Speaking of new guys, how about Conor Timmins? He scored a goal on Thursday in his third game with the Penguins. Against the Devils, he recorded two assists and was a plus-4. What I notice, more than anything, when watching him play is his poise. It's awfully early in his time with the Penguins, of course, but this has been a fairly solid NHL player in the past. He's only 26 and there's room for improvement. This isn't necessarily a player with a high ceiling, but could he be a good third-pairing option moving forward for the Penguins? I think so. • Erik Karlsson and Letang were both really good on Saturday. I've liked both of their games lately, for the most part. Karlsson scored his 10th goal of the season. EK65 WITH A 🚀 — Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 15, 2025 Repeat after me, class: The Penguins go as those two guys go. It's never changed. • The Devils will make the playoffs but they won't be around for long without Jack Hughes. • There were 3,000 empty seats, something you never see during the annual St. Patrick's Day weekend home game. This is a reflection on the season the Penguins have had and ticket prices. But I have to say, the fans who are showing up at games during the past few weeks have been fantastic. The real hockey fans are in the building right now, and the atmosphere has been outstanding.
