Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - I am once again asking for a timely save...
Episode Date: February 9, 2021The Penguins dropped another heartbreaker, and again, were the better team in their second straight loss. Hunter gets into all of it for this episode and talks about Tristan Jarry's failed attempt to ...make a timely save the most. It's only 11 games, but this team just hasn't gotten one big save when they need it most, especially as they're closing in on at least a point. He also touches on Cody Ceci's continued strong play, plus breaks down Matheson and Letang as they had horrific showings. In the final segment, he gets to the listener takeaways and also touches on if the team should acquire a goaltender soon.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.
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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 Monday evening episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast.
I'm your host, Hunter Hodes.
Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes.
Follow this show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins.
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So in this episode, we're going to be talking about the Penguins versus Islanders game on Saturday.
When I woke up this morning, of course, that's Monday, I was 95% sure that there was a game tonight
because I was like, oh, they do the couplets things.
And then, of course, I remember that the Penguins were off on Tuesday because the Devil's game got postponed.
And I think the Devils are going to be off for another week.
We saw the announcement today.
I think the Wilder are going to be off for a week.
The Angel has a major COVID issue right now.
It's just, it's bad.
I don't even think it got this bad in the NFL,
and they just were able to finish their season with Tom Brady,
of course, winning his seventh Super Bowl ring.
I wish I could vomit after saying that,
but that's just not going to happen.
But, yeah, there's just a major COVID issue going on right now.
But, you know, the point of this was I was 95% sure the Penguins were playing tonight
because they always play every other night.
And then I just saw that they're playing the Islanders on Thursday.
So that's some weird scheduling.
I guess they were going to go back to New Jersey originally tomorrow,
and then just go back to the Coliseum on Thursday.
So, weird scheduling.
I mean, they should have just played the game tonight,
and then the devil's game was going to be tomorrow.
I know three games and four nights stinks.
But, you know, at least this gives some time for some more injured players to come back.
I would expect Zach Aston Reese to be back on Thursday.
Skated today at practice with the OG Astin-Reezboogartanav line.
That will be the Penguins' third line, I think, moving forward.
And, you know, he's a player that this team has really missed.
I know he doesn't provide a lot of offense, and people harp on him for that.
And I understand that.
Trust me, I do.
But, I mean, really good defensive player.
And his line with Teddy Bluger and Brandon Tanna is, I think, one of the best third, fourth lines in hockey.
So it's going to be really nice to see that line reunited.
The fourth line, though, they're going to have to jumble some players together.
Jared McCann was not a practice today being evaluated for a lower body injury, if I'm not mistaken.
And then Mike Matheson gets injured again in practice.
He's being evaluated.
We have no idea what his status in.
So he comes back for one game, gets hurt again.
And I guess we'll just start there.
for the Iowner game and get some of the negative out of the way.
Well, there's going to be, a lot of this is going to be negative.
We'll just get some of it out of the way now.
Mike Matheson stinks.
He has not been good in the small sample size that he has shown this season.
He moves the puck well up the ice, but defensively, he's just a tire fire.
I mean, we know that was his big issue down in Florida.
But, I mean, he just makes the wrong read every time, I think, in the defensive zone.
I just really don't know what he's doing out there.
And, you know, I tweeted this out during the game, guys.
I mean, once this team gets fully healthy, God willing, I think at some point.
You know, they get all their defensemen back and Mike Matheson's healthy.
I don't see a spot for him on the team.
I mean, you're obviously going to go Duma and the Tang.
Do you go P.O. Joseph with John Marino?
That's a very good case for that to be made.
And then you could put Marcus Pedersen, Chabar-Reedle.
I mean, Cody C.C. again is playing well.
We're going to get to C.C. later on in this episode,
just forget to get some of his underlying numbers.
But I just don't see a spot in the lineup for Mathis.
and that's going to be a very interesting question that,
well, a very interesting situation
that the new GM is going to have to monitor.
You know, he signed for a millennia at this point.
What is it?
Six, seven years at four point five, four point eight million per.
Jim Rutherford really screw the penguins up with that trade.
You know, the capitan trade continues to look good.
We're going to touch on him later.
The Kessel trade continues to look good.
You know, he's nailed some of these trades the last couple of years,
but this Hornquish trade just continues to look worse
and worse. I mean, Colton Severe,
he's not even in the lineup right now.
Is he hurt right now? I honestly totally forgot that he's a penguin.
I know he scored a couple goals this year, but, I mean, he's just, he's hardly done anything.
It's just that trade is just looking terrible.
And Matheson, I don't know, you know.
Like I said, guys, it's a small sample size.
Maybe he can turn it around when he plays on Thursday, assuming, I mean, he definitely will and he's healthy.
But, you know, if he's out for more time, I just, I don't know what's going to happen there.
I mean, P.O. Joseph, if he's not going back down to Wilkesbury, I mean, that's just
not happening. He's going to stay on this active roster. They have a very interesting dilemma.
I talked about it before. Will they trademark as Pedersen with his newly signed extension?
Me personally, I wouldn't do it. But I can easily see the new GM coming in and be like,
hey, we need some forward help. We need to create a spot for PO Joseph in the lineup. We're going to
trademark as Pedersen for just a top nine forward or something like that. But I hope that's not the
case and that they can somehow find a way to get Matheson off the team just because this fresh start
for him is not working right now.
Other players on the defensive side, Chris Latang, you guys know me and know where I stand
on Chris LaTang.
This is your first episode.
I think he's one of the best defensive in the league.
I've loved watching him ever since he came into the league with Pittsburgh.
I am not one of the Latang haters.
I know I'll never really call for him to be traded.
You know, the longtime listeners will know that.
But he's not right right now, and I will criticize his play.
He's been absolute dog shit these last few games.
and honestly in most of their games this season.
I mean, at other times you can see the vintage Latang moments,
you know, just with his way he, the way he skates the puck up the ice,
the way he just creates chances in the offensive zone.
Then you have stuff from the other night.
It was the tying goal halfway through the third period.
The penguins are just destroying the islanders.
They're up three to two.
You know, it looks like if they get another goal, which it looked like it was coming,
you know, it's game over, just with the way the penguins were just swarming them.
And then basically just a harmless chip right around the board is a dump and chase.
I originally blamed Pio Joseph for it.
I still don't like some of his positioning on the play.
But then when I went back and watched it a couple times,
it's mainly on Crystal Tang because he continued to skate back.
Pio Joseph was kind of already there,
and then he just leaves Calcutterbuck wide open from the net,
and then Jari has no chance on that.
And it's just like, I mean,
I know that probably doesn't happen with Brian Dumlin on the ice.
Maybe Pio Joseph and Crystal Tang are feeling each other out a bit.
But it's just like he never makes those kind of mistakes.
It's just like you see those kind of mistakes.
from an HL defenseman.
You see that kind of mistake
from like a Jack Johnson
and Mike Mathis and sometimes
even Cody Cici,
but he's just not on his game right now
and it's very concerning for this scene.
I mean, we obviously saw Gany Malkin woke up
or going to touch on him in the next segment.
But, you know, they're not going to go anywhere
with Latang playing like this.
He's your number one defenseman.
He's still signed for a couple more years.
We all know you're not going to win
without him in the lineup.
I know they won the Stanley Cup in 2017,
but they were very much better equipped.
to win that Stanley Cup than they are right now.
I mean, if they were to go in the playoffs right now with all their defensemen healthy,
except Chris LaTang and all their forwards like they did in 2017,
they would not win the Stanley Cup.
You know, lightning will not strike twice like that.
So, yeah, you know, one of the biggest priorities for this team is getting Chris LaTang back
to the Chris LaTang that we all know and love.
I know he's a very polarizing figure in the Penguin Sandbase.
I get it.
Some of his mistakes drive you crazy.
You know, some of his mistakes the other night were driving me crazy, too.
He's just not on his game right now, but you know what you do with these.
kind of players, you stick with them through it.
You know, you don't ask for him to be traded.
Guy still one of the best defensemen in the league.
You just, you kind of hope that he gets through.
And if he doesn't, you know, get out of it, then, then, you know, maybe you can discuss
trading him after the season or something like that.
But right now, he's my guy.
He should be your guy as well.
And I hope that you guys stick with him as he goes through this rough patch, however long
it may be.
Other stuff about the game, I mean, just overall, I thought this was the best 60-minute
effort for the Penguins this season.
I 100% will stand by that.
In the first period, they were better.
The second period, they were even better in the first period.
And in the third period, they flat out dominated the Islanders.
It was, I was stunned if they did not win that game.
I was stunned that they didn't even get a point under that game.
I mean, that was just a clinic by the Penguins.
I've never really seen the Islanders look that bad defensively under Barry Trots.
And yes, I know Barry Trots hockey is very boring.
It's dull.
It's straight out of the 1999 Devils where they just, it's just watching your water boil for pasta.
It's watching paint try.
I mean, it's a terrible product, but, you know, that's just that's how their team wins.
And I know they're not that good this year.
Coming into that game, I think they had 19 goals and nine games, which is like two goals per game.
And, of course, the Penguins give up four goals because that's just, that's Penguins hockey this year, guys.
They just, they kinking out of their own way defensively.
Goaltending was bad again.
And, you know, we're going to touch on the goaltending coming out after this commercial break
because I'm starting to get really sick and tired of Tristan Jari and Casey DeSmith.
more so Tristan Jari this season.
But yeah, I mean, I just, I couldn't believe that the Penguins did not get at least a point out of that game and they didn't win the game.
I mean, after the Gensel goal, they just kept coming at the Islanders and waves.
I mean, Cindy Crosby probably had five to ten high danger chances for that game.
Every time he was stepping onto the ice, his line had a scoring chance.
I think they controlled, what, 65% of the expected goals, I think.
I mean, it might have been close to 70%.
I have to go double-check it, but, you know, his line with Gensel and Rust is just posting some elite numbers right now.
and I would expect that to continue on Thursday.
I mean, and even for Gennie Malkin,
I thought he played a great game too, Cody Cicc,
Jason Zulker, Kisperi, Calf,
and you know, we have a lot more to get to
on this episode, including listener takeaways.
I absolutely love that segment
that, of course, is the third segment for this podcast.
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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 this show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins.
So, guys, let's talk about some goaltending.
It's bad.
I think that's the best way to say it.
The Penguins' goaltending right now is atrocious.
It's pathetic.
It's whatever bad word you want to call it.
I think they have the worst five-on-five, even the strength,
goaltending in the league this season.
I think Tristan Jari right now is at 8-5.
55 or something.
I mean, that's just not going to cut it.
I said before the season, all you need is average goal tending.
I mean, imagine if they were getting 9-10 goal-tending right now.
I mean, they'd probably be in second place for the division.
I mean, that's just how, you know, I know they've kind of taken some periods off,
but with the way they've been coming back,
if they can just get a timely save at least once during a big moment for a game,
I mean, you're talking about a different season here,
potentially for the Penguins right now,
not a 5-and-5-1 record where you're just barely holding on to a playoff spot
as of this recording.
It's just, I just, I don't get it.
You know, I didn't expect the goaltending this season to be as bad as it was last year.
I mean, and I know Jari was good for large stretches of last year, but I was mainly
talking about Matt Murray.
And, you know, Murray got a lot of hate from people, but I don't see the same people
hitting on Tristan Jari the way they hated on Matt Murray.
I always will say this, guys, the way that Matt Murray got treated by this fan base was
nothing short of disgusting.
And, you know, it's not going to happen right now because everyone loves Tristan Jari.
but I mean, I'm going to be objective.
Tristan Jari has stunked this year.
I mean, I know he got that three-year deal,
three and a half million per.
I mean, it was basically like flipping a coin
going into this season,
but between which goal way to take.
And I thought he was going to play much better than this.
Again, I'm wrong.
But it's just this team's inability to get a timely save
during a big moment, whether it's late in the game,
second period, first period after you tied the game,
took the lead.
It's just, it's extraordinary to me.
It really,
is. I've never seen anything like this before. I mean, you saw it during the game against the
Islanders. I mean, Teddy Bluger takes that really stupid penalty. I mean, sometimes, you know,
you gotta have the old hockey cliche take a hit to make a play. That's what he should have done there.
Just chip the puck out. There's no reason to flip the puck out. I always will hate the delay of
game penalty. I think it is the stupidest penalty in the league. You're getting a penalty for shooting
it out of play on an accident. I mean, I think that's a stupid call, but, you know, I'm not
the NFL rules expert here. But anyways, getting back to the original.
point. Your team is downed man. The goaltender has a clear vision. I think it was what, Polick taking
the shot, Pelik? I think it was Pollock. There is nobody in front of Trish and Jari and just lets the
puck leak through and then Andres Lee, one of the best nut front presences in the league, just pokes
at home and then we all go home sad. I mean, it's just like Jari, like you have to make a save there.
Like I'm never going to be the guy all the time. It's like, oh my God, the goalie stinks. Oh my God,
please for the love of God always make a save but at that moment when you're that close to getting a point
there's two minutes basically remaining in the game you have a real good opportunity to still win the game
you have to give the team a timely save when they need it and you know i'm not going to absolve the
penguin's penalty kill there either it was a garbage effort the pk has been terrible this year um i don't
really know why it's gotten so bad i think they're maybe being too aggressive with stuff but like
didn't even clear the puck there and try to help jarring which was terrible but i mean
He just, he has to make that safe.
You cannot let that puck lead through like that, especially with Andres Lee right there.
No one is taking him away.
Why is that happening?
I have no idea.
Crystal Tang was honestly just kind of standing right there watching Ander's Lee score.
But the Islanders just had no business winning that game.
And, you know, they just needed a timely save.
And he did make some good stays in the second period where the Penguins were attempting
to comeback.
Some couple really big 10-dell saves, I should say.
But at that moment, you have to make that save.
There is no one in front of you.
You're not getting screened.
You have a clear sight to the puck with the shooter, make a save.
That's all I'm going to say on that.
Hopefully he does it next game.
I also would not be surprised, though, if Casey DeSmith starts next game.
But the goaltending is just really hurting this team right now.
It's just, it's bad.
I mean, like I said, guys, you have one of the worst 5-5 goaltending in the league.
You're not going to go anywhere.
The team is 5-5-1 right now because of that.
I mean, for stars are starting to produce more.
I mean, it was great to see Jake Gensel get on the scoreboard,
another 5-5 goal for him.
And just the way he was able to just slowly, like, get himself open.
Great pass from Sid, by the way.
You just, you don't teach that stuff with Gensel.
He just fired it past Varlamov like it was nothing.
Also, you know, Casperi Kappanin continues to look great.
I think he has six points in the team's eight games this season.
Well, six points in his eight games this season.
Excuse me, of course, he had to miss a couple games.
But he's been one of their best players.
This trade continues to look better and better.
I will give kudos to Jim Rutherford for that.
But he's just flying every time he comes on.
I just, I'm really like him what I'm seeing right now.
He just creates scoring chances every time he's out there.
He looks like a great fit with Gino in Zucker.
And, you know, everyone talked about Kisbury Kaepernick could be on Cindy Crosby's line.
You know, Gino said, you know, the hell with that.
I'm just going to take him away from you, said.
And speaking of Gino, great to see him get on the board.
I think that was his first 5-5 goal for the Penguins this season.
You know, we'll do a little bit of a golf clap right now.
I don't know if you guys can hear it, but we're doing a golf clap for him.
I thought that was one of his best games of the season
was skating with authority,
creating chances in the offensive zone,
wasn't forcing anything too much,
and I thought defensively he was all right too.
So, you know, we're making some progress with Epgeny Malkin,
which is the important part.
Great start from him.
We'll see if that can continue on Thursday.
And, you know, let's get to some Cody C.C. talk
because it is crazy to me how he continually plays well.
And I was asking Jesse Marshall about this,
who writes for the Athletic,
about the, for the Penguins, of course.
You know, I don't know who's going to win that number six job between Chad Ruehdle and Cody Cici.
I mean, before the season, I was all on Chowbrito.
I still kind of am.
But just with the way that Cici's been playing, he's not making any mistakes.
Definitely not nearly as bad as Jack Johnson was.
I mean, that's for sure.
But, you know, you look at some of the underlying numbers.
He had 10-19 even-strength time on ice, I think, going into the third period.
He had 63% of the shot attempt share, 61% of the expected goal share.
That all comes via natural stat trick.
He's just been that good offensively.
No one saw this coming from Cody C.C.
I mean, a couple of my buddies kind of told me, hey, don't sleep on him.
He's going to be good.
You know, I'll be wrong on that.
But, you know, I'm kind of in the majority of being wrong right now.
But, I mean, it's just this is going to be a hell of a competition.
I'm really curious to see if C.C. keeps this up and there's a good chance that he will,
that's going to be a very big roster battle between Chatterweedle and Cody Cici,
because I really think Roodle has been steady as well.
And you really may not go wrong with either decision.
So yeah, I know.
Who saw that coming coming into this season, guys?
I don't really think.
Most people didn't, of course, like I just said.
So I don't even know why I'm repeating myself.
But let's see.
You know, other stuff to come out of this game.
Brandon Tannib continues to look awesome.
That's just my daily reminder to you all that
Brandon Tannov looks great.
Mark Jankalski has been really bad
ever since those first couple of games in Philadelphia.
I think I saw on Danny's Twitter,
Shire Irving of the Penn's vlog.
I think he's like ones above replacement as like 40 something percent or something like that.
He's been one of the worst skaters this season.
I know he only makes 700K, but you know, this team's going to need another floor just because he's not doing anything offensively.
And that was the big concern for him.
You know, are you going to get the Jankelski that we saw the two seasons prior to the last one?
Or are you going to get the Jankelski from last season?
He only had five goals and seven points in like 50-something games.
It looks like right now you're going to get that Jankelski, last year's version of him,
and not the two seasons prior to that.
So it's definitely been a big struggle for Jankalsky, that's for sure.
You know, another great game from P.O. Joseph, he's playing 25, 26 minutes a night,
he's just looking flawless.
And, oh, yeah, he got to score his first NHL goal.
Just a beautiful shot over Varlamov, great pass from Gensl.
And, you know, he's going to be on this team for a long time.
I'm really liking what I'm seeing from him right now.
I know I say this about a lot of players on the team, but just his vision on the ice,
he's skating ability
getting the puck out of the defensive zone with ease
just in the offensive zone
creating chances
he's just he's awesome
and I still I can't for the life
and we understand how he was on the taxi squad
to begin this season just with the way
that he's playing right now I mean I just
you know why did Jim Rutherford have to go out
and get Mike Matheson I mean Pio Joseph was ready
before the season he's ready now
and he's not going to come out of the lineup guys
he's just he's not I think that's basically it
for this game before I get to the listener
takeaways. I mean, they just kind of start finding some results, man. I mean, if you're not
going to, if none of these goalies are going to make saves, you got to go out and trade for someone
that will, because I'm tired of watching these guys just not get a timely save from one of their
goalies, just have one of the worst save percentages in the league. Maybe you can go out and trade
for Darcy Kemper, because Antimanta, I think, is the starter out in Arizona. It would probably
take a lot to get him, but, you know, you may not have a choice at this point. Other options on
the market, there's just really not a lot out there. So we're going to have to see, we have to wait
to see who is hired to be the general manager
so that they can get like a pulse on the team, I guess, is what I'm saying.
But yeah, I mean, there was obviously a lot to like
about this game for the Penguins great at 5E5,
but just got to cut down on the defensive breakdowns.
You got to get a save.
And just, you know, if the Penguins play the way they played on Saturday,
on Thursday against the Islanders, they'll win that game,
just minus, of course, getting the defensive breakdowns
and just getting more saves.
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All right, welcome back to this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast.
I'm your host, Hunter Hodes.
So let's get into the listener takeaways.
I really appreciate you guys sending all these in, as always.
Let's start with Gilbert to go.
Very unfortunate loss.
Pitchford just keeps finding ways to these games that they deserve to win.
The Crosby line looked great as well as Gino.
Yep, I agree with you so far, man.
I thought the Sib line was just dominant.
Gino looked finely good.
Mike Matheson is awful.
He continues.
I can't wait for Pedersen to come back.
Dory was okay, I guess.
still needs to improve if Pittsburgh wants to make a run.
I mean, yeah, Gilbert, like I said, man,
they just need to have average goal tending,
and they'll be fine. But both goalways
have shown this year that they're not going to give them that.
So, I mean, you kind of have to hope Jari turns it around.
Is it going to happen? Probably not.
But if it doesn't, you know, you go out and trade
for a veteran backup. You know, you're probably,
I floated Darcy Kemper out there, but, you know,
you're probably not going to be able to get him just because Arizona's
going to want a lot for him.
Gilbert also says I'm honestly starting to get worried about our chances of the playoffs
I know it's only been 11 games with points only being gained in our division it's concerning
yeah man like I understand what you're saying with that I mean the penguins it was always kind of a coin flip for this team to make the playoffs this year I know I had them at second but
with this division you're gonna have at least one really good team missed the playoffs right now I think that's the islanders
but you know could it be the fires could it be the capitals who knows you know they're both also off to really good start so who knows what that
Anson Piper says, the more games I watch, the more I realize that Penzine to focus on bringing up younger prospects may help to motivate the veterans.
I'm sick of watching our, this is a great saying, Anson.
Thank you for saying this.
He goes, I'm sick of watching our paralysis of analysis power play.
Perfect way to say it for the power play, though.
Anson, the Penguins did not get a power play in that game.
So we didn't get to see what their little new looks that they're going to have on the power play have.
A mess for bringing up the younger prospects, I mean, I'm not really sure who you would want them to bring up.
I mean, obviously PO Jokes have been great.
Drew O'Connor, he's okay right now, but who else would you call up?
I mean, Sam Militech, I mean, a couple other people down in Wilkesbury.
I mean, they don't have a lot of players that are NHL ready yet.
I mean, going into the season, you know, some people thought that P.O. Joseph was in
inch already.
I mean, we've obviously found out right away that he is.
But, you know, just other than that, and then, you know, Drew O'Connor, who impressed
in training camp, there's just not a lot of younger talent in the system right now that I think is
NH already.
So I think it's going to be a while that, you know, that if they're going to bring up
younger prospects into the system, I would say.
I don't even really care for Sam Lafferty that much.
True North Penn Sam says, I know it's late, but I usually watch the games in the morning.
Things were looking up here in two done penalties to the last two games that caused the regulation loss.
Those ones hurt.
I hate the rule, but it's a rule.
Of course, he's talking about the delay of game.
Yeah, man, I mean, I hate it.
I think it's one of the stupidest calls and are only in hockey, but in all of sports.
But, you know, that's just what happens.
He also says too much time to think about these losses, though.
Yeah, I mean, the Rangers one, they were really close there too.
I mean, they could have taken that game to overtime.
Again, it was a late power play goal in the third period.
That cost them just because the penalty killer right now is atrocious.
They're just too aggressive.
Mike Belucci's unit needs to dial back on some of the pressuring.
They just got to start getting pucks out.
I mean, that's really what it boils down to at this point.
Friday Times says the two returning defensemen didn't seem to help.
All the whole penalty by Blue Gerger.
Jari just has to be better if he wants to be the number one.
Nice to see the top six looking better.
Again, man, I agree with everything you're saying.
If Jari's not going to play like this, they're just going to give the Smith more starts,
or they're just traded for someone, like I said.
I mean, Latang was terrible.
You said it.
Matheson was bad.
Blugher just needs to take a hit to make a play there.
And I agree, man.
The top six looked great in that game.
Sid was on fire.
Rust has created chances every night now.
Gensel's looking better.
And then the Gino Capon and Zucker one continues to excel as well.
Ryan Howell says Jari Eagle is not great.
And the PK is awful.
Again, I mean, he's basically agreeing with everyone in the shreds so far.
Yeah, I mean, both P.K. and Tristan Jari have to be better if the Penguins are going to win games and make the playoffs.
Mr. Nodal says two bad teams going at it and it makes a competitive game.
Just saying, I mean, I wouldn't call these two teams bad per se.
I think they're mainly average right now.
I mean, obviously the Islanders are not playing that well.
But, you know, I think it's basically just two average teams going out of it.
But I do think the Penguins were much better of the play in the game.
But he also says, if I were coach, I'd be worried about being unemployed when the new GM is hired.
Something needs to change.
There's too much talent to be this bad.
I mean, I do understand where some people are coming from with making a change with Mike Sullivan.
I personally wouldn't do it since I think he's a top five coach.
But, you know, could his message be going still?
The new GM will be in.
It won't be his coach that he hired.
You know, if the team continues to struggle and they fall out of the playoff race,
I would not be surprised if the GM, whether it's Ron Hextall, Chris McFarlane, someone like that,
just pulls the trigger on the coaching chains and hires someone like Gerard Goulon or something like that.
You know, I've seen Bruce Boudreau's name flowing around.
Hard pass from me.
I don't know why some people are so stuck up on Bruce Bredo.
Guy hasn't won shit in the playoffs,
even though he's been done decent in the regular season.
But I really appreciate you guys sending in those listener takeaways.
I'm going to continue to do them for each game,
as it's just a hell of a lot of fun.
But that'll do it for this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast.
Tomorrow we'll probably have some GAM search updates.
It sounds like Ron Hextall.
Got his second interview today, Monday, with the Penguins.
So he's probably going to be one of the finals.
We'll also see if Rob Ross,
or Josh, you know, we have any updates on the athletic with the search.
So we'll have another episode tomorrow, and I will talk to you all that.
I hope you all have a great rest of your day.
