Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - A Penguins shootout win? Is that allowed?

Episode Date: November 12, 2021

A shootout win for the Penguins? Yep! The Pittsburgh Penguins got a ginormous win on Thursday night and they now have 6/8 points in their last 4 games. Hunter recaps the game and starts with his biggest storyline which is...well Tristan Jarry. He's been the team MVP this season and put it all together in this one to stop 3 out of 4 in the shootout. He also goes into Evan Rodrigues and how folks continue to eat crow on him as he's been stellar as ever. What's been driving that? He also discusses Kris Letang's outstanding play on Blueger's opening goal, and what it should remind the fanbase of. Also, discussed: When will some reinforcements return? What was better about the PP? Should this be the last shootout the team plays? What's the road ahead?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.ShopifyGo to Shopify.com/lockedonnhl for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Your Locked-on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello, welcome to this Thursday evening episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Honour Hodes. You know to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the shows, Twitter, at L.O.S. And thank you all so much for making the Lockdown Penguins podcast your first listen of the day, your Pittsburgh Penguins finally get back on the winning side of things, a three to two. Shootout victory, yes, you heard me right.

A shootout victory for the first time. Actually, no, is this the first time? Yeah, I think it is the first time this season that the Penguins have won a shootout. I almost thought that the game against the Flyers was a shootout until I remember that Crystal Tang won it in overtime. But this was their first shootout victory of the season, a victory that they badly needed. That is now in their last. four games I want to say they've gotten six out of eight points if I believe that sounds right yeah it is yeah because the wins against the flyers and the Panthers and then they drop the two

games to Minnesota which you know they should have won a regulation on the one to Chicago in a shootout as well so six out of eight points they're they're treading water which is exactly what you want them to do as you know reinforcements are still coming I mean the islanders just dropped a four-nothing game to the devils tonight and the islanders I believe are place in the Metropolitan Division right now. So probably a ways away to start worrying about them. You know, they always tend to heat up, you know, December, January. So, you know, I'm sure their fans are just as fine as well. But so this was a big victory. I think my number one storyline tonight. Again, you know, the play of Tristan Jari, he was just magnificent yet again.

And this time it carried over to the shootout. He saved three out of four attempts on the Panthers. I believe the only one that scored was Jonathan Huberdow. Just, you know, when the Penguins needed him most tonight he delivered and I hope that's the start of him you know turning some more people to his side because again you know overall even going into this shootout he was ridiculous 29 saves on 31 shots the expected goals against was 2.07 for him he had a 935 say percentage all seven high danger shots he faced were all saves medium shots against he had nine saves on 11 so only gave up two goals there then low danger saved all 12 of those as well so he's was just awesome tonight and continues to be really great for the penguins this season.

There's actually a stat I just saw here. So Jari has played 10 games for the team this season. He's only given up more than two goals three times in six of those 10 games. He's 9.30 or better. He's only given up 23 total goals in 10 games. He has eighth in goals against average. 929% percent of which is also eighth in the league. And goals saved above expected, I believe he is close to the top 10 if not in.

the top 10. Just what a performance that he has put up so far. Again, I know a lot of it has to probably do with Andy Kyoto, with being a different goalie coach, but he's just been more aggressive. His movement has been much better. He's still not playing as deep in the crease as he normally has. I still have noticed it a bit at times. But overall, I think he's been arguably their best player this season. You can easily make an argument that he has been their best player.

And, you know, I would not bat an eye to it. I think, you know, Chris Lutang has definitely a same. with that. I think Marcus Pedersen has also been arguably their best player. Jeff Carter's been really good. But, you know, if you probably were asking me if I had to pick one of those guys, I would say Tristan Jari. And, you know, if he continues to play like this, if this team ever does get fully healthy, I'm going to keep saying this. They're going to be a really scary team. You know, come January, come February, come March, come April. Obviously, you know, all lives are going to be on him if this team does make the playoffs because that's where the real redemption.

is, but so far this season where what, about a full month into it, he has been their best player and one of the best goaltenders in the league as well. So just another great game from him. Chris LaTangue tonight, I mean, what more are you can you say? He did kind of that spinorama move to set up Teddy Bluger for the game's opening goal. Kind of reminded me of that 2016 play against the sharks in game six where he just basically owned all five sharks players on the ice, which led to the Penguins winning the cup with that game winning goal. I know this time he was setting up Teddy Blooker. I know Latang was able to score that goal in 2016,

but it was just vintage Latang. I don't know how he continues to be this good, but, you know, it's Chris LaTang. I guess he gets better with age, and he put together another magnificent performance, I thought as well. I think another big takeaway tonight. I am so sick and tired.

You know, this is nothing to do with the payments. I think this is everything to do with the league. I am so sick and tired of watching shootouts. I mean, I think it's a BS way. to decide a game, I think you should probably play five, not five on five, three on three for another five minutes to see what happens. I understand some players may be gas, but it's so much better than just having the game be decided by a freaking skills competition.

I'd rather just bring back a freaking tie than just watch, you know, the same players over and over game just come down on a little breakaway and decide a game through that way. You know, I think a lot of that, well, I shouldn't say a lot of it. You know, I definitely think a bit of it is luck, but, you know, I think hockey of the four major sports is the most luck-driven of those four sports. But I'm tired of seeing all these three-on-threes go to shootouts. And this has definitely, I think, been an outlier this season because especially with the penguins, you know, they don't usually play many shootouts.

You know, I remember there's a couple articles, I think, from the beat reporters the last couple of years that talked about how, you know, the penguins don't practice a shoot-out much because they don't play in it. Well, I think they're going to have to keep practicing the shootout a lot more, considering this is the third freaking straight game that they've played in the shoot. I believe this was their, if I'm not mistaken, their fourth shootout of the year already. We are, what, 11 games in?

You're telling me four out of the 11 I've gone to shootouts. I think last year, did they even have four games go to shootouts? I know it was not above six. I'll have to double check that number, but there were not many of their games that went past the three-on-three overtime. Just because I will also say this, the Penguins were so good at winning in the three-on-three because they had, you know, Cindy Crosby go out there all the time.

They had Gino and he was healthy. they had their full complement of players this year you know Sid's only played one game Gino hasn't played yet you know Jake Gensel's been hurt for a bunch Brian Russ has been hurt for a bunch they haven't been able to put out you know those same threes that you saw

last year due to the injuries and due to the COVID so I think that is also playing you know a bit of a part into it where why you're seeing a lot of these games go to shootouts I personally I know I hate it I know a lot of people in the fan base hate it I think almost everyone should hate

the game going to do shootout. I think it's a BS way to decide the game. I know there's going to be some people out there that like to shootout. You know, again, hard pass for me. But I wanted to nail that point home in this first segment of today's episode because I am really sick and tired of seeing these games be decided by just a fucking skillless competition. I love three on three. I think, you know, I love to dump on the NHL for many things. I think it's a terribly run league with, you know, just a whole bunch of garbage. But, you know, I think the biggest thing that they did get right was implementing the three on three from four on four you know and i liked four on four you know a lot of the games were decided by that but with three on three the ice is just so much

more open you saw there were some good chances tonight but also you know the penguins have been dumbing it down a little bit that's expected just because of who's out but you know i'm just i really if i didn't see another shootout for the rest of the season i would celebrate a whole lot so i'm just i'm kind of sick and tired of that that's for sure um one one one one more big point I wanted to nail home before we do get into our next commercial break or the first commercial break I should say ever Rodriguez he gets the second goal of the game tonight what a performance that he has turned in this season I believe that was his fourth goal and you know I tweeted this during the game when I was watching it had a lot of weirdos come at me during last

season and the offseason saying hunter you know Evan Rodriguez sucks he's nothing more than a 13th forward he's not going to do anything for this team blah blah blah blah blah blah blah it's just like, well, I hope that crow is tasting pretty good. You know, I've already seen Mad Chad from the Chad and Eddie show of DK. Pittsburgh Sports come out and say he's eating crow. You know, Chad, if you're listening to this episode, welcome to the resistance. He was not in my mentions for the people that I am talking about. You know, I honestly think Chad is one of the best hockey minds out there.

Also, go listen to his show after you finish mine if you do like that show. But overall, you know, he's been really good defensively, and you're seeing how good offensively he is as well. Just a great shot that he's. He beat Bobrovsky on there on a little mini breakaway when I believe, what, below the glove. If I remember correctly, I don't even know why I'm saying if I remember correctly. I mean, I watched the freaking clip. So, yeah, just a great shot there.

And you can see how much that meant to him just because of the celebration that he had. So, and also that made up for what he did earlier, which basically sprung the Panthers on a 210 just because there was a turnover, I think, close to the blue line on the powerplay. The Penguins actually had a pretty good power play for most of the night. It's just they're not finishing these chances. I know a lot of it has to do with the stars being out, but I also talked about on my last episode where I think that they were not getting high-quality chances due to the shots that they were taken.

That was definitely changed, I thought, a bit tonight. I'll go into that a little bit coming up here in this next segment, but I wanted to shout out Evan Rodriguez for another really strong performance, and I think when this team, excuse me, if this team does get healthy, he should be the 12th forward. He's been really good to start the season,

and he also now is tied for the team leading goals with four along with Tent and Hinen. If you are saying that was going to be the case before the season started, you are lying. Point blank, you are a liar. So again, just shout out to him. Another great performance, and I can't wait to see what he does moving forward. Overall, just a huge win for Pittsburgh tonight. I talked about on my last episode as well. They have to start banging points.

I know there are so many players, you know, just with COVID, with Pittsburgh, injuries, but, you know, they were able to get a couple back tonight. Well, at least for a little bit, Chabar Whedle comes back. Marcus Pedersen does come back, and then he leaves the game in the first period due to an injury, and then he doesn't return. So hopefully that's not too serious. He didn't, again, he didn't return. Todd Reardon didn't say he's getting evaluated.

So we'll have to see what happens on that front. So another soul-for-a-soul kind of thing with the penguins there. But that's also, again, six out of eight points, these last four games, you easily could make the argument that they should be on a four-game winning streak right now. should have at least seven out of these eight points, in my opinion. But they're doing what they need to do in order to get, you know, the big guys back. They're staying in it. I believe they're only, what, two points out of the playoffs about right now?

I know the metro is really tight right now. It's expected just because it's the first month in, but as the season progresses, you're going to start to see the top teams separate themselves from the pack. Again, I touched on this a few minutes ago. The New York Islanders are in last place right now. It is a month in. Does anyone expect that to be the case when the season ends? No, they will more than likely be a playoff team.

Barry Chauts is a great coach. He will have that team ready to go and same when Mike Sullivan comes back from COVID and hopefully Cindy Crosby and Evgeny Malcon come back here sooner rather than later. I will also have an update on that coming up in the next segment as well as going over what I saw in the shootout. So a lot more to get to for today's episode of Locktime Penguins. Before we do that, though. Bet Online is back and better than ever. They have a new web interface for the start of the basketball season, and that means more prompts.

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write to your favorite Vegas casino games. Don't wait to take advantage of all the amazing offers available for the 2021 season. Ben-O-Line is the fastest and easiest way to build. bet on all your favorite sports that has been online where the game starts. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hoadies. You want to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes.

Follow the show's Twitter at and I want to score Penguins. And again, you know, I didn't want to say this as well before I get further into it. I apologize, you know, for, you know, breaking that streak of having, you know, three three straight weeks of all everyday episodes. It has just been a very hectic week with a new job and everything. I promise you that is not going to be the norm going forward. I'll have another episode tomorrow. We will be back to fully daily episodes.

The rest of the season, I'm not going to be missing an episode unless something, you know, drastic happens. So I wanted to touch on that. You know, I don't want to lose any of you all or anything like that. I love doing this. I love talking about this team with you all. And I especially love, you know, when you all tweet at me on both Twitter accounts, it just means the world to me that you all just want to talk hockey with this just insane hockey team. But overall, so we get to the shootout.

Not going to lie. I was expecting a loss. I saw some people on Penguin's Twitter. Already congratulating the Panthers on the win. I hope those tweets were deleted or they're just going to be used for all takes exposed. I think the big thing is, you know, with Gensel and Latang, obviously shootouts go out the window in the postseason. So who get really gives a crap right. But I kind of would have wished Todd Reardon went with someone else to start.

I know it all worked out in the end, but, you know, Jake Gensel is just not feeling it right now, I guess, in the shootout. Chris LaTang really only has that vaunted move. And then, you know, they were able to get two big goals from Ryan Russ and Jeff Carter. Fun fact, Brian Russ is 4-4 in shoot-out-tenths. So why not just start with him? First, you know, whenever Mike Sullivan comes back and this team goes to another show, God willing, they don't. I think he should be the one to start. I mean, that's just, I think, too easy at this point.

He knows what he's doing in that. You know, Latang has not been too good in shootouts this season. I know Gensel is able, I think, to score one goal in the shootout. But overall, I just think he's been kind of not doing what he normally does in that situation. And I love what Jeff Carter did. Just a beautiful backhand forehand move on Bobrovsky. He fooled him so bad. It wasn't even funny.

He took his lunch money. Just an awesome play there. And then, you know, Trish and Jari, you know, myself included. I know everyone else was feeling this as well. I thought he was going to give up at least two out of three goals. The fact that he made three out of four saves. It's just awesome. He was really tracking the puck well.

I saw, especially on Bar. Barkoff. He stayed right with him, was able to make a key save there. And then the last one, I'm trying to remember who it was. Was it what Lindell, Littl, something like that? The first thing that popped to my mind was Esa Lindell, but I also know he's on the Panthers. He's on the Dallas Stars, but he has a very similar name to Esa Lindel. But that was just a huge save there. I remember, you know, when I saw Carter scored, I'm like, okay, this is when Jari is just going to be the same thing as Minnesota with Cabrillo Caprisaw coming in and is tying it, and then the Penguins lose another round after that. Nope, Tristan Jari slams the door shut. You can

You saw he had a nice, decent celebration there. He was fired up just because I know he had that kind of that bad quote to the media. You know, the player or the shooter has the advantage, you know, just because you're going up against the best players in the world. Yes, Tristan, I understand you are going up against the best players in the world, but you are allowed to make a save. He did exactly that tonight. And now, if I'm not mistaken, he is, if I do my math correctly here,

it is 8 out of 14 for shootout attempts this season. So allowed eight and has saved six. Still pretty bad numbers, but progress is progress. That was big for him. And he got the Penguins at extra point and has been their MVP to date. I thought that overtime, the penalty that you saw on Jake Gensel, they're going to call that every time. You know, he definitely, I think, Rand Brabrovsky, I know some people are not going to like it. It's probably, you know, a bit of a weird rule.

But, you know, that's how the league is going to call it every single time. I was not surprised. But, you know, another magnificent job in the penalty kill. I believe that was three for three tonight against one of the better power plays in the league. Pittsburgh's PK is still number one overall in the league. It has just been a night and day difference from last year compared to this year where, you know, the unit was really bad. They weren't getting clears. They weren't blocking some shots.

And also the goalie wasn't mailing them out. Now you have them getting a lot of clears, getting, you know, sticks and bodies into shooting liens. And the goalie is also making a lot of saves. that just goes such a long way with how good your penalty kill can be. So that I think has been a huge difference this season for Pittsburgh with why they've been able to stay in so many games because they've only given up. I believe the number is two or three power play goals through 11 games. It's one of those two.

I'm pretty sure it's three. It's not more than three. I can say that. But just another wonderful drop in the Penguins PKK this season, especially in that four on three and overtime. Anthropos put out, you know, Barkov and Huberto and Ekblad and Ryan Har, you know, they can put out a lot of talent out there in the way the Penguins were able to kill that off.

It was nothing short of awesome. Patrick Hornquist's video, Sanamoney Tonight. I won't lie. You know, I came very close to tearing up a little bit just when I watched it. One of the best players to ever play for this team during the Sidon Geno era. Also one of the most important players to ever play for this team during that era. You can tell. He really appreciated it just because PBG gave him a thunderous over.

rightfully so. He did so much for this team while he was there, you know, the overtime winner against Washington, the Stanley Cup clincher against Nashville, his former team, so many other big goals. And just he was always a menace to play against, especially in the front of the net. I always know he would piss off Capitol fans and everyone of that nature. I will always say, I have no idea why Jim Rutherford decided to make that deal. It was just, I think, making a trade for the sake of making a trade. And I remember the funniest part about that.

deal was that I'm laughing while I'm talking about it. Rutherberg comes out to the media and says, yeah, we save salary on that. I'm like, Jim, you added like almost close to a million in salary. And he was basically just like, oh. He literally had no idea why he made the trade. And then he didn't even calculate the math part into it. It was just a tire fire of a press conference and just again goes to show that he really had no idea what he was. doing after this team won those back-to-back Stanley Cups. It's just a total moron.

But hey, you know, he's not here anymore, but I just wanted to shout out, Patrick Winquist. What a player he was for this organization. And I'm really glad that PPG gave him quite the ovation in his return to Pittsburgh. I also will say this. It looks like we will get some reinforcements back at some point this weekend. I think Cindy Crosby and Brian Dumlin are expected to be off the COVID protocol by Saturday. And I think Mike Sullivan potentially will be by then as well. So that is what I will leave you all with going in to this last segment of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. We'll still have a little more to get to, so stick with me through this next commercial break. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locked-on Penguins

podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. I'm going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow this show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. So I know I said I would briefly touch on the special teams aspect, well, PowerPlay, at least if I want to be more specific. I really liked what I saw tonight, you know, from the first union, especially I thought the puck movement was really crisp. They were actually getting to, you know, the high danger areas. Bobrovsky was up, equally up to the task. He was making a lot of, again, 10 bell saves on that power, on those power plays. And, you know, it was just something that the Penguins had not been doing a lot, just these last few games. And again, I've said this so many times on my last few episodes.

I've expected the power play to not be that good when they can't ice the same quintet that they normally do, but I still expect the power play to get a goal here or there, but they just haven't done that now in, what, close to over a week or something like that, and they just, a big reason for that, they haven't been getting to those high danger scoring areas, you know, that slot area right in front of the net off also, and I also think the puck movement has also not been great either, you know, they haven't been able to set it up well. I thought tonight, everything was much better, they just couldn't find the back to the net. If they continue to do this

while the big guns are out, I think eventually they will start to score a goal or two on the power play. There's some pretty good talent that can be on this unit with Jake Ansel and Crystal Tank, Kisperi Kaptan, Brian Russ, and you can throw out Mike Matheson there

if you want, John Marino if he wants to run that unit, but he usually runs the second unit as well. But there is some serious talent that the penguins can trot out onto their main advantage. It's just, you know, they haven't been making teams pay for it just yet. Obviously, this percentage is going to go up a lot higher when of Gennie Malkin and Cindy Crosby come back.

So we'll have to see what happens there. I know I touched on it a little bit earlier. No really big update on Marcus Pedersen just yet. Tar Reardon said that he is being evaluated as we speak. I think the team practices tomorrow. Penguins do have a big road trip this weekend. I believe 11 other next 14 games are on the road. Saturday, they will be in all.

Ottawa. Ottawa has a huge COVID outbreak going on right now. I believe eight or nine players have tested positive. One of them, I believe, is Matt Murray, so he will not be playing in that game if that game has played at all. I also think a coach is out for them. Definitely not the team that the Penguins want to play. Just because they're just hopefully finishing up their outbreak,

you know, knock on wood, which is what I just did, there has not been another positive test since last week when Mike Sullivan went on the COVID list. and player-wise there's not been a positive test than Zdumlin and Crosby were confirmed positives so hopefully the penguins are out of this but you know the last thing I want to see is them going to Ottawa and then

over half the team test positive that just would be the worst nightmare I think in the world and then Sunday they will host they will not host they will go to Washington to play B Capitals I believe that is an evening game funny thing is

I was potentially going to go to that game But I will be in Pittsburgh to go to the Steelers game that day. So if the Penguins were actually playing Washington in Pittsburgh, I probably would have opted to go to that game just because the Steelers are playing the 0 and 8 Lions. And suffering through that is going to be something just because I feel like, you know, there's about 500 horror attacks with the Steelers game. But I will say at some point I am hoping to come up for one to two Penguins games. This season, you know, if tickets aren't too bad or anything like that, but, you know, they're really not that pricey right now. I'm trying to think of other things that I have here on my notes that I did not discuss. If we look at the overall underlying numbers tonight, the Penguins only had 41.8% of the shot of attempts at 5V5.

Only 43.7% of the scoring chances for high danger. They did lead the way with 52.9% of those. The total expected goals for 43.3 for Pittsburgh, 56.6 for Florida. expected goals for 2.07 for Florida, 1.59. So a little close there. Overall, the Panthers did have the better of the play at 5V5. All situations, it got a little bit better, 46.2% of the shot attempts for the Penguins.

Scoring chances for 51.4 for Florida, 48.5% for the Penguins. They did lead in high danger, though, with 60% of the higher danger chances. Expected goals for 2.88 for the penguin 3.36 for Florida. this game was setting up to kind of be a track meet, especially in that first period, because I didn't think both teams were playing good defensively at all. I mean, the Penguins were giving up quite a few automated rushes. The Panthers were giving up quite a few automobin rushes.

I was honestly surprised that it was not like three to two at like the halfway point of the first period just because of how both teams were playing. It was just like a total track meet. Defense was optional. It was almost like watching the Edmonton Oilers play themselves just because there's never any defense when that team plays, you know, whoever they play. I should say. So again, overall, big win for this team.

They get two crucial points in the standings, and hopefully we'll get some more reinforcements as the weekend gets closer. Ron Hextel went on the GM show with Josh Ketzov, offering to the podcast, of course, and he did confirm that it sounds like Dumlin and Crosby will be out of the COVID protocol by Saturday.

I would expect them to hopefully start skating tomorrow. Best case scenario, if they're back of practice, that would be great. Saturday though for sure if they're not on that road trip I'm sure they will be skating back in Pittsburgh I'm not sure when they're going to play I know Rorito and Pedersen they got to play right away I'm sure Sid is going to want to just jump back right into the action whenever he can and I'm sure Brian Duman feels the same as well I will have another episode for you all on Friday it will preview the weekend games against the senators and the

capitals will catch up with both those opponents see how they've done this season and other capitals are off to a pretty decent start despite being banged up senators have been okay but you know we'll dive into those two preview matchups for Friday's episode and some other practice notes and nuggets as well so again thank you so much for listening to this one and we will have another episode for you all on Friday