Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - How does the goalie situation shake itself out for this weekend?

Episode Date: January 13, 2023

The Pittsburgh Penguins have another back-to-back situation this weekend as they're set to play the Winnipeg Jets and the Carolina Hurricanes. Hunter starts the show by reviewing some practice notes from Thursday and giving yinz some small scoops on a couple of the injury situations. After that, he previews Friday's game against the Jets and what's made them so successful this season when not many saw it coming. He analyzes the roster while still not believing in them and goes into what they do well and how the Penguins can counter it, just like they did back in November. After that, Hunter gives his take on the goalie situation and why Dustin Tokarski should start on Friday since he had the hot hand in the Vancouver game. He then pivots to Casey DeSmith and why he would get the chance to get his game back together on Saturday, even though the Penguins would be a bit gassed. Finally, Hunter does a small preview for that game against the Hurricanes and looks at how the Penguins can finally get a result against them. All that, plus much more, on this episode of Locked On Penguins.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds, and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Athletic GreensTo make it easy, Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK 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.

What's up Penguins fans? Happy Thursday, January 12th, another off day for your Pittsburgh Penguins. For today's episode, we're going to preview the game against the Winnipeg Jets on Fridays. The Penguins will be at home second of two meetings against the Jets. We'll also do a small preview for the game against the Hurricanes on Saturday. And we will also look at some of the lines that you'll probably see from both teams, what goalie rotations I would do, and plus get updates on some of the injured players, a couple of small scoops that I heard recently regarding Jeff Petrie and a couple others. So all of that, plus a little bit more for today's episode of the Locked On Penguins podcast.

Your Locked on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes, and order to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at Illinois Store Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this show.

your first listen of the day. Today's episode is brought to you by Bet Online, has you covered this season with more props and odds and lines than ever before. That is, but online where the game starts. So before we get underway, I just wanted to shout out Taylor from shopyens.com. Beautiful hat here. If you have not gotten yours yet, it's definitely worth it.

He also has shirts that he sells. I'm probably going to be wearing those. At some point during my episode, he does a very good job and you can go to S-H-O-P-Y-I-N-Z dot com. Shop-Y-Ns dot-com. Just at a Z to the end of the first Z for Y-Ns. And there you all go. Again, this is the hat.

For those that are watching on YouTube, it is very good. And I'll be walking the shirt a bunch as well. But Taylor, thank you so much. You know, you do a great job with everything. But, all right, let's get into it. So first off, practice uptake. today a lot. Well, kind of.

I mean, they practice today, but not a lot of the injured players, you know, came back in practice out. Jeff Petrie. Still out, Crystal Tang is still in Montreal. Mike Sullivan said that his lower body injury, when he comes back from Montreal, because of course he's grieving the death of his father, it will still need to be dealt with. So I think he is still a little bit banged up.

Ryan Paling, not a practice. Josh Archibald, not a practice. Taylor Fadoon was very. we called today from Wilkesbury. I don't really know why. I guess they just want an extra defenseman up here. I also think they may want Mark Friedman to play down on Wilkesbury. I think, you know, if he's just sitting out games up here, they think that's maybe just not good for him. Freeman, you know, he's been adequate since coming in this season. I think he's been better than Chad Riedel, in my opinion. But, you know, that's not the way Mike Sullivan sees it, obviously.

And, you know, I think they want to give Ty Smith some more work. And, you know, there's nothing wrong with that. I mean, Ty Smith's been, you know, he's been awesome to see. Well, he's been, well, I won't say awesome, but I think he's been pretty good so far. You know, the lines have been, you know, mostly the same, you know, top six is going to remain the same. Jeff Carter's going to remain third line center. Teddy Blue is going to remain down there. Tristan Jarro was also not a practice day. I can tell you that a Jeff Petrie is getting close. I know he did not practice today, so he's probably not going to play on Friday and Saturday. What I've been told is I think he's about a week to 10 days away.

that's what I've heard at least. Maybe, you know, maybe two weeks at the very most, but I would say within the next week to 10 days, I think you can see Petrie back with the team. I think it's getting close. Yeah, obviously he has to return to practice and have some of those in, of course, but, you know, I think that's coming very, very soon. No real update on Ryan Paling, Josh Alchibald, you know, status quo,

Trishon Jari. I've heard that's a groin injury from what I've been told by a couple people close to the team. Those can always be tricky, of course, with goaltenders. He's been out for a little over, it's been about 10 days now. Skated a couple times. I think he's still probably at least a couple weeks away, guys. So those are the full updates I have for you all with that. Now, previewing Friday's game against the Winnipeg Jets and the Penguins, I will say,

they got a bit lucky in this game because the Jets tonight, they are in Buffalo taking on the savers, I think they are making sure they are. Yes, they are in Buffalo taking on the Sabres. Right now, as at this recording, they are up two to one at the second intermission. And they are starting Connor Hellebuck tonight. So that means it's probably going to be David Riddick against the Penguins.

That is a big deal. Hellow Buck is one of the three to five best quarter tenders in the league. He carries Winnipeg basically every single season. The fact that the Penguins will not see him in that game is massive. I can 100% tell you it is huge. say percentage well over 920 again this season as well as against average is light goals stayed above expected very good again he is awesome and the fact that the penguins will not see him that you know they're catching a big break there lines wise in the penguins um the last time

the penguins played the jets they beat them three nothing that was a very close game remember that you know that was a zero zero game after two periods i believe this was at the end that first game was at the end of I believe it was at the end of October if I recall correctly I don't think it was at the end of November I believe it was at the end of October right before I believe they had that really bad

losing streak I'm just going to make sure of this real quick here if I can go back up and take a look it should be or was it at the end of November I'm going to just double check here It was one of the two. I don't know why this is just being ridiculous right now

because they won the game on the road. The fact that I can't even remember this right now is, yeah, I apologize. No, mid to late November 3 November 19th. I apologize on that. But no score gain through the first two periods. Jason Zucker makes it 1-0 in the first period, in the third period, excuse me, and then the Penguins,

they made Connor Halebuck. look foolish a little later on in the period where he comes out of his net and it's basically just a wide open net Penguins make it 2-0 and then the jet and then they end up scoring an empty netter in that game. That was the game that, um, yeah, it was, I believe it was Gensel that, no, no, sorry, it was Russ that had that 2-0-0 gold and Gensel, who's Mr. Empty Net. He got the empty-netter to win 3-0. The Jets, you know what you're going to get with them.

They are a defense first team, but they also do have a lot of players. who can hurt you. Kyle Connor, he's one of the best goals scores in the league. Nikolai Ehlers is also awesome. He was hurt the last time these two teams played. His presence will be felt this time.

He is very, very good. Pure look, Dubois. I don't think he's a first line center in this league, but he's a very good second line center. He can do it all in all zones. He's probably not going to be in Winnipeg after the next year or two because I think he's passed, as I said,

on Montreal, to be honest. But Dubois is a very good player. Second line, Mark Schifley, who's been there forever. Wheeler, Cole Perfetti. That's a solid top six. I know the Jets have been pretty decent this season. If you go to the standings right now, the Jets are in second place in the Central Division.

They're actually three points out of first behind Dallas, Winnipeg this year, 26 and 14 and 1. The thing is, what the Jetsians, I'm not fully sold on them. I understand Connor Hellebuck is awesome. I like their top six, but you go past that. Their bottom six is really bad. You know, Adam Lowry, I know he's been there for a bit. Sam Gagne, but, you know, Axel Johnson Fialbi, Kevin Stunlin, Carson Coolman, Saku, you know, Menelainen.

I mean, a lot of unknowns in that bottom six. Again, great top six with Kyle Connor and Nikolai Eilers on the top line, two of the best goal scores in this league, Dubois, Schifley, Wheeler, and Schifley, Wheeler, and what they used to be. But they can still contribute on a nightly basis. But their defense, I don't think is that good. Dylan Sandberg, Nate Schmidt, Neil Pionk, Brendan Dillon, Josh Morrissey, Dylan, I like Morrissey.

I think he's turned into a really solid top-for defenseman, but, you know, I don't think Morrissey is, you know, is he a top pairing defender every night? I don't really know. I think the defense is a bit weak, in my opinion. And again, and obviously, Hellebuck is awesome. You know, Riddick, that's just a regular backup. Injuries-wise for the Jets, they're missing.

David Gustafson, Logan, Stanley. Mason Appleton is on IR. Villi, Hanola, and then Morgan Barron, they're both day to day. With this team, you have to be very patient.

I think that's what the Penguins are going to have to do in this game against the Jets. You obviously don't want to give up too many scoring chances to their top lines, but, you know, the Jets again, they play a very defense-first oriented game,

and the Penguins, you know, they're going to have to realize that. You know, they can't just run and gun against this team. I think Again, the Jets are very well coached this season. They're a good team for a reason, even though I'm not fully high on them. But, you know, they win games their way, and you have to respect that. So the Penguins in this game, they just got to, you know, take what the Jets give them.

You're going up against a backup cold tender most likely. I don't think Helibuck is going to go in this one. And, you know, special teams have to be good. Continue that forecheck. You know, the Penguins. They started out that first game against the Jets kind of a bit weak. remember, I thought penguins, you know, and the Jets had some of the better schooling chance in the first period, but Conor Helibupe was making some good saves.

Second period, I thought the Penguins really started to turn it around a bit. Hellebub was making some more great saves in the third period. He finally broke down because the Penguins were actually starting to, you know, really push the play in that period. You know, the Penguins, that was, I think, one of their best defensive teams of the season. If I go up here, I'm in find the stats. You know, Tristan, 32 out of 32 with shots on goal in saves. Penguins, you know, if they can limit the Jets to around that number, in this one, I think they

should be fine. So, you know, this will be a fun one. You know, the Jets have been very good this season. I think they're going to make the playoffs, but I still think this is a team that can be had. The Penguins know how to play against a team like that, especially one that, you know, it's kind of their kind of built similar forward-wise to the Penguins where all their talents in the top six and their bottom six is kind of where, you know, the puck goes to die. So Penguins can just neutralize the Jets' top six.

I like their chances to come out and win this game to make it three in a row. Coming up in the second segment, we are going to get into the goalie dilemma for this weekend and who I would start on Friday versus who I would start on Saturday. But before we get to that, Ben Online is your number one source for sports betting info, stats, news, and analysis. You need the latest odds and trends for every professional amateur league out there from pro football to college bowl season to basketball.

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follow me on Twitter at Hander Hodeon. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. So, you know, the goalie dilemma will be the big topic of discussion. Well, one of the big topics of discussion. Heading into this weekend, you know, it's the first time they played a back-to-back. year in quite a long time, I should say, without Tristan Jari. I know he was hurt a bit last season towards the end of the season, but the Penguins really didn't have a lot of back-to-backs back then, at least that season.

But this weekend, they will have to deal with it, playing at home against the Jets on Friday, and then traveling to Raleigh the next night to take on the hurricane, the team that, you know, has had the Penguins number of the season three, very close, one-sided game, one-score games, the Penguins have just not been able to come out on the right side. if it were up to me, I would go Dustin Tokarski on Friday, ride that hot hand, and go with DeSmith on Saturday. And that's no slight to DeSmith, I don't think.

I think Mike Sullivan should just go with the guy who played a bit better on Tuesday. Because, you know, you don't really have the luxury at this point to just, you know, go with your guy and all that stuff. You know, your number one goalie is hurt. He has a groin injury. it's going to be probably at least a couple more weeks until he comes back. You've got to go with the person who gives you the best chance to win. And right now for this game, if you want to beg two points against a team that is playing tonight, Thursday night, when I'm recording this right now, you go with Dustin Tokarski.

Did his movement look a bit shaky in the last game against the Canucks? Sure. Okay. Yeah. He came in ice cold. What do you expect? But, you know, I also thought he made some very good timely saves, one of which came with the blocker where his glove hand. I mean, his hand was basically out of his glove and, you know, the ref didn't see it.

Usually they have to stop play in those instances, but, you know, that didn't happen for this one. But, you know, he was still able to make that save. He made saves through traffic. I thought his movement after he was settled in was also really solid. You know, the penguins, you know, I think it would be who of them, especially Mike Sullivan, to go with. Tokarski in this one. You want to bank the points in the first night of the back-to-back because why? You all know why.

How bad have the Penguins been on the second half of back-to-back's the season? It's bad. You know, my numbers are right here. My notes, they've won one game on the second half of a back-to-back, and I think that game came against Chicago, one of the worst teams in the league. You know, Penguins are obviously going to be very tired for that game on Saturday. That's not the best time to take on the Hurricanes. what is a good time to take on the hurricanes.

But for this one, you have to go with Tokarski. And maybe if DeSmith played better on Tuesday, I would have my mind changed. I would maybe go Tokarski on Saturday against the Canucks. So with how he played after he came in and gave the team a spark and the Penguins really stayed with it. I mean, I just don't see how you don't go with Tokarski on Friday. He's been one of the best goaltenders in the HAL.

The season, his numbers, back it up. He also has a lot of NHL games under his plate. Do you all remember when he took the Montreal Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Final in 2014? You all probably don't. Remember when Carrie Price was her? That was when Chris Kreider took him out and there's still some controversy to that to this day. Rangers Canadians, Dustin took the Rangers to six games in that series. I'm not joking.

I'm sure some of you remember that. I'm sure some of you forgot it until now. But he's been in this game a long time. down from the NHL to the HL. And he's also played great at PBJ Payne Serino, his last couple of starts. He saved 63 out of 65 shots in his last three starts at PBG, whether it's with Buffalo or it's with Pittsburgh.

So that is another reason I would start to Karski in this one. Again, the Penguins, they need the points right now. They've won two in a row, which is good. They banks a few points this week. But in a game where you need to bank points going into Saturday in Raleigh where the Penguins have just not playing. well on the last couple of seasons, especially this season against the hurricanes, you know, you, it would be who of you to start the guy who had played a bit better.

And to Smith, you know, he'll have a chance to redeem himself on Saturday. Yeah, will the team be a bit banged up or tired? Sure. But, you know, we've seen goalies plenty of times each and every season. Steel points for you when you don't have your best and when you're on a back-to-back. So maybe that happens with the Smith. in this one. But that's what I would do with the goalies and maybe you can give

to submit that chance to be a little more aggressive. He can see the puck a bit better, not be so small in his neck. Come out of his crease because when he's not confident, he's just playing way too deep in his crease, his movement is not that good. I want to see that changed in Saturday on Saturday, excuse me, against the hurricane.

So that wraps up this segment, getting into the goalie dilemma for this week. And coming up in the final second, we're going to do a short little preview for the game against the hurricanes. Look at how they've been doing as of late and all that stuff. But before we get to that, if you're looking for a delicious treat but don't want all the fat and calories, then you've got to try a bill bar. We just got through the holidays. I know my goal is to eat a little healthier this year. If you're like me, or you want to eat a bit

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guys head to your nearest walmart today grocery store wherever walk to the pharmacy section and grab yourself a box of bill bars you can pick up a four box of cookies and cream double chocolate or coconut puck or whatever your heart desires and if you're close to a sam's club run in and grab a 13 bar box with our hit flavors brownie batter and churro you can thank me later all right we're back in this episode of the locked on penguins podcast i am your host hoddy hoddy's run to follow me on twitter at hounder hoddy's all the shows twitter at l-n or so penguins and of course thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. So Penguins Hurricanes on Saturday, the fourth and final meeting this year. Previously meetings, the Penguins have just not gotten the bounces. They're

0-1 and 2. Basically 0-3. They've gotten two points in those three games. They probably could have two wins. They've had a lead in all three of those games. But the hurricanes have bounced back time after time against them, and the Penguins have just not been able to punch back. The last game against the Hurricanes, I thought the Penguins should have won. I thought they played well enough to win. They just decided to ice Brian Duman with only a few minutes remaining in the third period, and it cost them in an overtime. Mike Sullivan got spooked, putting up Malkin against Jordan Stahl because he didn't want sit out there.

And, you know, they made them pay because we don't know what happened. You know, Jacob Slavin, who never scores. Great defenseman, but never scores. He gets the overtime winner just not even 30 seconds into overtime. You know, the hurricanes came into tonight. Losers of four in a row. You know, they're up 3-1 right now on the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets absolutely stink.

but there are the hurricanes, you know, they're 25 and 9 and 7. This is still a very good team. And, oh, yeah, oh yeah, they are basically fully healthy now. Remember who was out in those matchups? Sebastian O'ho and Max Paterretti? Oh, yeah, they're back now. So the Penguins who had their hands full against this team three previous times, they're going to even have, you know, more of their hands full now.

I will say Patcher Reddy did leave Thursday his game with an injury that's not related to do the Achilles, the Hurricane's announced it. Not sure what his status will be for Saturday's game. We'll have to see if he is at practice on Friday. But he could be out again, potentially. But last couple of weeks, this team has gotten a lot healthier. Aho is back. He will be playing in that game.

Seth Jarvis is healthy. Marty Nietzsche, Marty Nech. Gee, I always mispronounce his last name. Marty Nitchas. Paul Stasney, Andre Svetichnikov. Jordan Stahl, Yesper Fas, Jordan, Martin Rup, Teobo, Tarvina, and Yisper, Y, Kalkini, and Stephen Nason.

it's one of the deepest teams of the league. I mean, this is a deep team. It's, they're this good. You know, they played that game against New Jersey the other night. Lost. So they'll put up 62 shots. Not shot attempts. Shots.

This is also a team that made UC Soros make over 60-something saves just a couple weeks ago. Soros put the necrout, the predators on his back, and carried them to that win. Leaf is actually almost 70 shots. I'm not mistaken. This is a team. They have an identity. They stick to it. And damn, are they good at it?

They fire everything to the net. They're fast. They forechecked ferociously. Everything about them is good. I mean, this is outside of the Bruins, I think this is the best team in the conference. They really do not have many weaknesses. They really don't defensively. Slavin with Burns, Shea and Pessie, Chatfield with Coglin.

They have all three of their goalies back now. Freddie Anderson was activated off by R. Auntie Ronces up there. I think they sent down Klochekov, the young goaltender down from their HL team, but he's probably going to come back up pretty soon. We'd have to imagine they go with Freddie Anderson. And that came out would be the first time the Penguins have seen Freddie Anderson. For as long as he's been on the hurricanes,

the Penguins did not see Freddie Anderson last year. And they have not seen him in the previous three. games this year because he's been hurt. And Anderson was very good last year. He was one of the best goal he was in the lead before he got hurt right before the playoffs. That's been his biggest problem. He's just been really banged up. I thought of square, but you know, the penguins, they're really going to have their hands full trying to win this game, especially coming off a back-to-back. You know, if they lose that game to Winnipeg on Friday, they will be up a creek trying to win that game down in Raleigh. You know, I think best case scenario for this back-to-back is a split.

I would be a bit stunned if they won both games. In typical penguin's fashion, it would actually kind of be hilarious if they did lose on Friday and then they beat Carolina and Carolina that that would just be like the total biggest Penguins thing but again I would kind of be shocked if they took both those games I wouldn't be shocked if they beat Winnipeg and lose to Carolina but if they win both that would be obviously awesome for them in standings wise but it would also stun me quite a bit which would be awesome but that's just a small preview of what you expect you know their penalty kill is obviously great their power play's not that I go the Penguins have been very good against their power play this season.

The Penguins, they just got to stop the bleeding against that kind of team. They got to not get outskated by them. I know that's going to be easier to have been done, you know, especially on a back-to-back. But, you know, just try not to look like you're all a bunch of old men out there. I know the hurricanes are very quick, but, you know, they got to, you know, play up a little bit better for me. I know they're probably not the greatest matchup for the Penguins. But, you know, you got to beat this team at some point. You can't get swept by them.

You know, the penguins, I haven't seen them get swept four times in a row by a team in the same division in a long, in a long time. It is very rare when they lose all four games to a divisional team. To me, I don't think that's ever happened in the Mike Sullivan era. I don't have that stat in front of me, but if you all, if one of you does, let me know. But I do not think they've ever been swept by a team in their division for as long as Mike Sullivan's been the coach. He's being at least every team in his division once every year. So they'll have that chance on Saturday and, you know, it comes against one of the best teams in the league. But that will do it for this episode.

I really appreciate all of you listening to this one. Friday, we'll have a full game recap episode for the game against the Winnipeg Jets. It's going to be a lot of fun. I was looking at tickets. Probably not going to get this one. Maybe to the game on Monday. Not sure yet. I was going to go on Tuesday, but I had a couple things come on my anxiety week, which is really bad.

But I am going to try to get to the game at a game at some point. late on Monday or something like that. But again, thank you all so much for listening. Really appreciate it. I'll holler at you guys on Friday evening to recap this game against the Jets. Talk to you all that.