Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - A regulation win in this economy??

Episode Date: January 25, 2021

The Penguins have now won four in a row and with that, scored their first regulation win! Hunter is here to break it all down as Jake Guentzel got the game-winner with less than 2 minutes remaining in the third period. Hunter talks about that, plus how it was a better performance defensively for Pittsburgh (outside the second pairing). Is it also time to fully panic on Malkin? Hunter breaks down which of his issues have gotten worse as he continues to look lost. Tristan Jarry also bounced back again nicely, plus Hunter gets to the listener takeaways from the game. Finally, Hunter previews the two games against Boston as the Pens haven't won in Boston since 2014.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 “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. 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, everyone. Welcome to this Monday afternoon edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hoadies. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins.

And today's show is brought to you by Bill Barr. You can go to Billbar.com and use promo code locked-on. You'll get 20% off. your next order. So the penguins get their fourth straight win. They are now four and two on the season. One point out of first place in the East Division. It is crazy that we are saying that now after how the Penguins started the season. But the Capitals are the only team that is in front of them at 3 and 0 and 3. I think their three losses have all come via a shootout. Well, no, that's right. They lost an overtime to the Penguins. And the other two losses, I think, came via a shootout

one to Buffalo and one to the penguins. But as in terms of last night's game, guys, I really think the penguins played much better than they did on Friday. I thought that defensively, they were much better at protecting their own end of the ice. They were making good decisions with the puck. The Rangers, they were getting some quality looks, but, you know, not as many high danger chances, I don't think, as they were getting on Friday.

And overall, I just thought the defensive performance was just, you know, it looks like they cleared up some issues that were present in the Friday. game. And Duma and Letang, I thought this was a much better game for them. Just going to go through the whole defense because we'll talk about Marino and C.C. And a lot of people were calling Latang washed after Friday night's game. And I will agree, he did not look good. I made some really careless plays with the puck. I think there was one in the third period. Less than five minutes remaining. He just plainly gave it away. And the Rangers, I think, had a high danger chance, like just a few seconds later.

And LeTang had a lot of time to get the puck out too. But still, a couple careless plays then. But last night, he set up the game winning goal with Jake Gensel. That was just a gorgeous pass right to Jake. I mean, you don't teach those kind of passes. There are many other defensemen in this league that can make that kind of pass just with his skating ability and how he was skating with the puck. That is vintage Chris LaTang and that is what fans will be missing when Chris LaTang eventually is somehow traded or walks away from the Penguins and retires. Dumlin, you know, he bounced back also from that rough Friday night. I thought he was better defensively. He was contributing more to the offensive zone. P.O. Joseph,

again, looks solid. You didn't really notice him, but I think that's totally fine for someone making his second career start in the lineup. I mean, you don't need to be flashy every game when you're making your debut. I thought he was solid. And, you know, if he does keep this up, there will be a case to be made for him to stay in the lineup long term, even when, you know, Mike Matheson gets healthy. So Ricola and Marcus Pedersen, because I think he's looked pretty good through these first couple games.

Chabar-Reedle, steady as always. I mean, you know what you're going to get out of him. He doesn't need to see the bench ever again. Then he gets to the second pairing. John Marino, I thought he kind of looked a little washed last night. That's probably the first and only time I'll criticize John Marino this season, but not a good game from him. Same with Cody Cici.

They don't work well together as a pair. I mean, you're putting Marino on his offside. It's never a good idea. And Cici, you know, had a couple good games start the season, but these last couple, you know, as he's playing top four minutes now, you're going to see how he gets exposed. And he's been getting exposed a lot more in these last two games. I think last night was one of the main reason.

why the Rangers got that second goal. He was just way out of position there. You have to shelter that kind of player, and it stinks that the penguins are having all these injuries to their defense of the corpse right now, because if they were fully healthy at that position, he's probably not in the lineup. But, you know, he's in the lineup right now,

playing top four minutes, and we'll see how long that's going to last. Maybe they'll elevate P.O. Joseph up there with Marino if he continues to play well, and they can put Ruehiel and C.C. on the bottom bearing. I think that's what Mike Sullivan should do, honestly, right now, but I think they want to see more of P.O. Joseph.

playing some third-braining minutes and doing well at that spot before they move them up in the lineup. As for the goals, the Rangers got out to that one-nothing lead, pretty play by the Rangers to get that goal. Jari didn't really have a chance. Penguins were able to tie it up, though. Just a gorgeous feed from Cindy Crosby to Brian Russ. He potted his second goal of the season, a goal in his second straight game, I might add. And it's great to see Russ really turning it up after a slow star. I think he had 11 shots in that game on Friday was their best skater in that game.

And I thought he was probably their best skater yesterday, too. he was flying all over the ice. Had a breakaway earlier in the second period, if I'm not mistaken, too. Went forehand, backhand for it. Shesterkin shut that down. He decided, hey, you know what? I'm going to try something different for this one, and he went five-hole. And Chesterkin really didn't have a chance on it.

That release was just so quick. But make no mistake. If you haven't seen that Sidney Crosby feed to Russ, please go watch it. Put it right in between Pavel Bucenevitz and Brendan Smith. I'm just right on his stick, too. I mean, we've been seeing Sid make plays like that for his whole career here in the 15 years that he's been with the Pets. Penguins and it never gets sold.

So what a pass by Sade for that. And then I think the Rangers made it two to one with Ryan Strom again. Jari didn't really have any chance on that. Just a bad defensive breakdown there from C.C. Of course, McCann gets a goal in his second straight game. Just a freaking floater from the left boards. You know, when you go goalless for 25 straight games, you need a little bit of luck to get yourself going. And that's what Jared McCann got right there.

You know, I'm sure he's not going to apologize for that. Two straight games for McCann. and I thought he's looked good this season so far. And he's just, he's on a line with two good defensive players. And I wasn't as sold on him playing on the wing as I was at center, but he's making me eat my words a little bit right now. I just, I think he looks really comfortable there as the third line winger. And it's nice to see him getting rewarded with another goal this season.

And then the third period comes, well, I should say later on in the third period, the penguin score with less than two minutes remaining Jake Gensel gets the game winner off of a wonderful feed from Krista Tang, which I already talked about. earlier on in the episode. But, now, that was just a huge win for the Penguins. You know, I put it out this tweet right before that happened. I think it was two-minute difference.

You know, Penguins win in Regulation Challenge with a few question marks. And, of course, right on cue, Le Tang does his thing. And Jake Gensel gets another goal for this season. And the Penguins were able to win that game three to two and sweep that little couplet series with the Rangers to get to four and two on the season. There's still areas of the Penguins game that I want to see fix. I still think at times defensively, they need some work. they still need to stop coming from behind in every freaking game that they start out with them.

You know, they need to play 60-fold minutes of hockey. I know I sound like a broken record with that, but until they do that, I'm going to keep saying it. This team needs to play 64 minutes, and they actually need to have a lead. I only think the Penguins have had a lead this season of all combined of their six games. It's probably been like, what, 20 minutes combined? It's not very long at all, just because they've been trailing for virtually every single game that they've been in for almost the entirety of the game. I want to see how many minutes they've been tied for in their games, too. That would be an interesting stat as well.

I have to look that up for tomorrow's episode or for later in this episode, but they need to give their goalies a bit of a cushion. They still have not gone up to nothing in a game this season. You know, when have we ever said that? Six games going into a season for the Penguins. It's not very often at all that this happens. Hell, you know, I just want another one-nothing lead for the Penguins. If we can get that, I think we've really only seen in two of their games,

they've gone up one to nothing in spot of the. their goaltender a little bit of a cushion. We'll talk about Tristan Jari a bit more in the next segment, but I will say I thought this was his best game of the season, and he's really turned it on these last couple of games, 920% of it. Like I said, we'll talk about that going into the next segment. We'll also talk about Againy Malkin in the next segment. Still not there yet.

I thought he was maybe turning up a corner when he got that goal against Washington. I think he's looked worse and worse since then. We'll look at just what the issues seem to be for Gino. And whatnot. We'll also talk about Mike Sullivan with his lines because he's loved to have Evan Rodriguez on the top line, though I don't think we'll be seeing Evan Rodriguez on the top line for the foreseeable future,

because it looks like he's day-to-day with a lower body injury. As he was not at practice today for the Penguins, I think Brian West was taking Rodriguez's spot on the top line, and honestly, Ross should just stay there forever, in my opinion. And actually, you know, as I'm recording this, it looks like Evan Rodriguez will be out longer-term recording to Mike Sullivan Joshi, who had a tweet about it. So 2021 has not changed the penguin's injury bug

three six games. Pedersen's out a few weeks. Ricola, Matheson, and Rodriguez are all out longer term. So you know what, guys? Let's just, you know, who else is going to get hurt? It's almost like a bingo card at this point for the Penguins just because of what they deal with with injuries every single year. I mean, I'm glad it's not

any of the core players, but it still stinks that all these players are hurt because Ricola was playing well, Pedersen was playing good. And I know Rodriguez was not that good on the top line, but I still think he's like solid depth piece for the Penguins, and I will think he will get a roster spot once he does come back somewhere in the bottom six, I do think.

But before we do get to the next segment, it's time to talk about betonline.ag. There's only one place that has you covered in one place we trust. That is bet online. You can sign up today for a free count and use that promo code locked on for your 50% off welcome bonus. You have the Super Bowl coming up in two weeks. You want to bet on that. All the hockey games, we're going to get to some odds later on in the week about

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Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the shows Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. So let's just get into it with Gino. Just, you know, six games, not really been good for him. Two points in those six games. Danny of Shari Irving of the Penn's blog put out a great tweet just with how much he's struggling. His 5B5 course he share,

46.3%, basically his possession numbers are tanking. His 5B5 expected goal share, 36.5%. That is just unheard of for the Russian bear for his career. And his 5-on-5 on ice goals, 24-5 against. The data comes from evolving hockey, but Danny had a great chart about it. But it's just, yeah, I mean,

there's nothing good about Gino's game right now. I really did think that we were going to see a big breakout from him. After that game against Washington, we fired that puck past Vanichek last week in the comeback. But it's just, you know, ever since then, it's just gone south. He's just looked hesitant a lot of times, refusing to shoot the puck. I mean, we still see him knife through guys, and it looks like it's coming close with him, but it just makes poor decisions with the puck. We're not used to seeing that regular burst on an every-night basis.

I mean, I'm getting to the point now where I am. pretty concerned about Gino. And I've already seen some people say, oh my God, he's sucked for three straight years now. Guys, that's just flat out not true. I mean, he's averaged over a point per game the last few years. I think he had almost a 100-point season, just a couple of seasons ago.

Last season, averaged well over a point per game. I think it was, what, 74 points in 55 games or something like that? I mean, he's been a great player these last few years. I don't know why people are saying that he's stumped the last few years. That is just simply not true. I don't know where you're getting it from. A lot of those minutes came with Jack Johnson on the ice, and of course he's going to tank his numbers.

I mean, he tanks Cindy Crosby numbers. If you want proof of that, go check out Dom's article in the Athletic, this Penguin season preview where I think Sid's expected goal share was like 45, 46% with Johnson on the ice. That's exactly what it was, I think, with Gino too. So he was still playing good. These last few years just to spend this year,

he has actually stunk. And like I said, he's hesitant with the puck. He's just, he's not, that same burst is just not there. He's never really been a good defensive player for the Penguins, but this year it's just been worse than normal. And they're just getting outshot and outchanced every time he's on the ice. And like I said, it's just, it's almost unheard of with Gino struggling like this. And I've been saying it on this podcast before the season. Guys, if guys are new here, this team will not go anywhere unless Gino wakes up.

You know, they need him to play at the level that he's displayed at the last few seasons or this team is not going to compete for his Stanley Cup championship this year. We all know how great Cindy Crosby has been. Brian Russ has woken up. Jake Gensel has arrived as well. Jason Zucker is the goals are going to come for him. Chris LaTang has been mostly good. Brian Dumwin is starting to play a bit better. Christian Jari had a couple really good games.

We're going to get to Jari after this. But like I said, Gino has to stop getting out chance. The team has to stop getting outscored when he's on the ice. They just, they need him to be the Afghani Malcon involved. I mean, maybe he needs to shoot the puck more. He needs to create more chances for himself. But I just, I don't think his legs are, there either. And I don't think the legs are there for most of the players on this team, but it's

especially true for Gino. But that's really what I've noticed with his game so far through six games. It's just everything that makes of Genni Malkin, who he is, is just, it's not there. And, you know, hopefully it comes sooner rather than later. And who knows, maybe it'll start this week in Boston when the Penguins play two games starting on Tuesday against the Bruins. But moving on, Tristan Jari, another great start. I think he was 920 last night for the Penguins, was one of the biggest reasons why they won that game. He made some pretty big saves when needed to be. The two goals that he held out, not even close to his fault.

It's just, I think he had a great quote after the game. I think one of the Penguins reporters asked him, hey, Tristan, what's changed for you these last couple games? I'm stopping the puck. He said, yeah, it's just a perfect answer. I mean, that's really all he's doing. You know, I mean, what else is he going to say? Yeah, I mean, I'm not letting in garbage goals.

He's stopping the puck. He's been much better. And this team, I've said it before, guys, they need average goal tenure to compete for a Stanley Cup championship as well as a couple of. other things like Evigani Malkin, which I just touched on. But, you know, the biggest thing is all they need is average goaltending. You saw what they got last night. 920 is more than good enough for this team.

That is the Tristan Jari that we saw from November, December, and January of last year. If he keeps it up, the Penguins are going to win a lot of games for those regular seasons. So great to see Jari playing well these last couple games. It looks like he's worked some kinks out in his game, and I would expect him to get the start on Tuesday against the Bruins. Other players already touched on Cindy Crosby. Thought he had another great game. I think he had just one assist last night.

That was the one that came on Ryan Ruskold, which eventually tied the game. And actually, excuse me, he had two assists. I think he had the secondary assist on the Gensel goal, which came with less than two minutes remaining. But, you know, Danny put out a great chart from him on natural stat trick. His 5B5 course he shared last night, 64.8%. His expected goal share 74.6% in 5-on-5 ice goals, two nothing. He was an absolute rock for Pittsburgh last night, and he's just, he's Sidney Crosby. This is what he's going to do every single game, so don't even be surprised by it.

Let's see. Other stuff from the game. Let's talk about Mike Sullivan here. I really don't understand what his fascination has been with Evan Rodriguez on the top line. I know he's going to be out longer term, but just really weird coaching decisions by him. I mean, I understand Kispera Kappan just got here, but you should have just moved Brian Rust up there in the first place if you're going to continue to play Kappin in the bottom six. Captain right now, he's been skating with Zucker and Malkin.

I think at today's practice, so Kappenna Nato. to Sid's line yet as they bumped Rust up to the top line with Gensel and Sid. But I just, I don't know what Sullivan saw on Rodriguez. I mean, he was just tanking Crosby's line. I mean, just every time that he was on there. And Jesse Marshall had this great stat last night after the game just with how well Gensel and Sid did after Rodriguez came off the top line. Well, he basically got injured on that hit with Philippeitel. The combination of Gensel, Crosby, and Rust, they control 65% of the shot attempts and 68% of the expected goals and the time they spend together. Is that elite guys? Yeah, I mean, research does seem to back that up. Those are elite numbers.

I would stick with that line next game and I would probably stick with it for a lot of this season if Rodriguez is going to be a longer term. You can move Captain and Rust up and down these first two lines. It doesn't really matter to me. I think Capon will be a good fit on the Geno line. And I think Captain had another good game for Pittsburgh last night. His skating was really evident again. He was getting some chances. going to be long until he does bury his first goal this season with the team. I really like what I've seen from Cap. And if they can get that for a full season, I'll look at that trade a little more differently

than I did originally when it happened a few months ago. But I think that's basically it for this segment and the next segment. I'll be reading some of your guys' reactions to the game, what you guys took away from it, as I always do from the Locked-on Penguins Twitter account. I mean, otherwise, there really isn't much to talk about Rumman. The first period was honestly probably the most boring period of the penguin season. and nothing really happened. That was just better talk about it.

And I guess the last thing I should say, hopefully the team stops overpassing and actually shoots the puck a bit more often. I mean, you don't need to be the Harlem Globe Chudders out there. So, you know, just enough with the overpassing. But before we do get to the next segment, it is time to talk about Bail Bar, 18 amazing flavors, six new ones.

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You can go to Bilbar.com and use promo code locked on right now, and you'll get a 20% off your next order. That's promo code locked on for 20% off that next order at Bilbar.com. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Locked On Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. follow the show's Twitter at L-O onus War Penguins. So as I normally do on the Lockdown Penguins account, I ask what you guys, some of your takeaways are after the game.

We got a few for this one, not as much as the last one, but still, you know, enough that it's always going to be a segment on this show. Alan T. Yoder is still confused about what to think about this team. Happy with the regulation win, finally, not happy with sloppiness and playing catch-up again. A win is a win, but still a lot to be desired with them, in my opinion. Yeah, man, I honestly do agree with that. I still don't know what to think about this team either. I still think they kind of look like the Steelers from their regular season where the Steelers won 11 and no.

Their deficiencies were being masked by winning. And then as the games got, you know, tighter, more, just bigger, honestly. Just the mistakes were raised. Their issues really came out, as you saw in the Cleveland Browns game, when it was just a disaster in that first quarter. I'm also really happy with the regulation win. You can't keep giving away points and winning every game in overtime, especially as this is an all-division schedule.

I mean, you just can't give away points like that. Again, you're right with the sloppiness. I thought there wasn't as much sloppiness in that game. I thought some of their defensive issues were cleaned up. Still, there were a couple there, like the one on the Cody C. Cigel, where it was like, what the hell are you doing? You got to clean that up a bit. And yeah, playing catch up, I do agree.

They need to actually jump out to a 2-0 lead. A multi-goal lead would be great for this team. Jesse Malecki, Penguins showed long stretches of solid play, but bad stretches are bad news, bear is bad. I keep telling myself those will stop at how many games until we might have to think that's how they're going to play for now. I will stay optimistic with the four-game winning streak with less than best effort. Yeah, Jesse, I think you really hit the nail on the head there.

I keep telling myself that those will stop, too. We'll see if that happens in the Bruins game, if they can maybe build on this performance in the Rangers game. That would be pretty, pretty good. It's still a four-game winning streak. It's nothing to scoff about. And then lastly, from Gilbert the Goat, not one, not two, not three, but four in a row. Yes, you know, four in a row.

It does feel pretty good. He says, Jari is looking like his old selfie game, which is great to see. I 100% agree, man. All they need is average goaltending, 910, 915, and they will win a lot of games. If they get 920, they will win even more games than that. They got a start game is better, though.

Coming from behind every game isn't a recipe for success. Yep, I completely agree, man. They got to stop giving up the opening goal. You know, it seems like when they give up the opening goal, they just seem to win, and they just, they play better from then on now. But still, it would be nice if the hangings could get at least a 1-0 lead in a lot of these games, or maybe even a 2-0-0 lead to spot their goaltenders. I mean, that would be great.

Finally got that regulation window. He finishes off his point. Yeah, man, you know, that was a big monkey to get out the Penguins back. They don't have to win another game in an overtime or a shootout, though it did look like that. It was coming yesterday. On this week, though, guys, the Penguins, two games against the Boston Bruins on the road.

Then I believe they go to Buffalo to play the Sabres. But as for Boston, the Penguins have not won a game in Boston since 2014, according to Jeff from the Penn's blog. It was a 3-2 overtime win in November of 2014. They picked up exactly one point since that win in Boston, overtime loss in November of 2018. David Posternak was back at practice for the Bruins today, though. I don't think he's going to be making his debut until the weekends of the Penguins

will be missing out on him. But Marshaun, Linhom and DeBrusk on the top line, Richie with Craycheek, Posternach on the second line for now. Coyle, Craig Smith on the third line, Corali, Wagner, and Bjork on the fourth line. And then they still, of course, Charlie McAvoy, who is one of the best defenseman in the league. Clifton, Brandon Carlo, and then Tuka Rask in net, I believe.

I don't think Bergeron will be playing tomorrow. We'll see, though. He wasn't at practice today, so I'm not to have to check for a Bruins update. Let me just see here real quick. Let me go to the Bruins Twitter. Oh, here's the updates from Bruce Cassidy. Maintenance day for Bergeron is expected to play Tuesday. Okay, so he will be in the lineup tomorrow.

So he's probably just battling a couple little injuries, but he will be good to go. And Andre Kase is out for the Bruins. I think he's been injured for a little while now. But, you know, we'll see if the Penguins can get their first win in Boston in seven years as they take on the Bruins. Tuesday night at 7 p.m. I think that game is 18T Sports Network. I don't think that's the NBCSN game. It should be interesting to see. I think that will do it for this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. The next episode will be tomorrow after the game for a post game. We'll see if the Penguins can get their fifth win in a row and then potentially their sixth win in a row when they play them on Thursday. So thank you guys so much for listening to this episode.

And I will talk to you all on Tuesday evening.