On game days, Armstrong usually does the Penguins Live pregame show on the Penguins Radio Network, then switches over to Penguins Postgame on AT&T SportsNet. But on Thursday and Friday, Armstrong filled in for Penguins Radio Network color analyst Phil Bourque, who had tested negative for COVID-19 but stepped away for the Ottawa and Columbus games out of an abundance of caution following close contact with the virus.
"I didn't even know if it was real when I got the call," Armstrong said with a laugh. "There was a lot of flipping around, but I jumped at the opportunity. I was like heck yeah, let's go, I would love to do that! I've done a lot of really cool things in my short time (doing broadcasting). Hockey Night in Canada, NBC, playoff games, some radio stuff, but I never got to actually do the games. It happened fast, it was a whirlwind, but I had a blast."
After working the 6-4 win over the Senators on Thursday at PPG Paints Arena, Armstrong - who lives in Pittsburgh with his wife Melissa and their four kids - left just after 1 PM on Friday to drive to Columbus with plenty of time to spare ahead of the team's 5-2 victory over the Blue Jackets.
"When this situation popped up, to have Columbus so close, I think we're fairly lucky," Armstrong said before adding with a laugh, "Who knows who else might have came off the broadcasting taxi squad. I haven't been in a visiting rink to take in a game day in a while, since we don't travel. The whole experience of this, doing a home game and then being able to do a road game - to see what it's actually like in the booths - it's great."
The biggest adjustment for Armstrong was just the amount of description required, since radio broadcasters have to paint more of a picture for listeners who can't see what's happening on the ice. But other than that, it felt pretty instinctual for Armstrong, a first-round pick of the Penguins in 2001 who played 11 professional seasons in the NHL and AHL before finishing his career in Sweden.
"I think I've gotten a Harvard degree of hockey for my life and career, and I think it's the same thing for Bourquie," Armstrong said. "That's kind of what we know. So some of the finer details and the little things that you notice, you can apply. But it's just commenting on the fly live in the game instead of commenting later and going, 'Here's what I saw.' So it's definitely more active and front of mind as you're seeing it. It's really cool."
He credited Penguins Radio Network play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff for making him feel comfortable and helping him get into a rhythm of knowing when he could chip in with his thoughts.
"When we knew Bourquie wasn't going to be able to do the games, it was like, Colby Armstrong. Nobody had another person even in mind, because we knew he could jump in and do it," Getzoff said. "He knows the game so well, he's always been so good at communicating and is charismatic on the air, so I don't think there was any doubt that he was going to step in and be awesome."
Armstrong is just grateful that he had the chance to be part of such a great team that includes Getzoff, Bourque and the legendary Mike Lange, saying you really get a true appreciation for how smooth they all are when you step into their shoes for a night (or two, in this case).
"We've been spoiled here in Pittsburgh for a number of years," Armstrong said.
