Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - It's time for Sidney Crosby to get some Hart Trophy love...

Episode Date: December 7, 2022

The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to stay hot! They took down the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, 4-1 and they have won eight of their last ten games now. Hunter starts out the show by discussing Sidney Crosby and how he continues to play at an elite level. He goes into what he's projected to hit points and goals-wise and tells everyone why it's time for him to start getting some MVP buzz and more national media attention since he's doing all of this at age 35. After that, he discusses the power play and what it's been doing right over the last week. He looks into the mistakes that have been corrected and why it's really come down to a couple of simple things that they could've been doing all along, but were choosing not to. After that, he analyzes the play of Tristan Jarry and looks at how Bryan Rust might be going on a heater now that he's back to playing strong two-way hockey. Finally, Hunter discusses how this team has another gear to get to even though they continue to rattle off win after win. 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!SimpliSafeWith Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnNHL to learn more.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.

Pins for Penguins just keep on winning, right? Good Tuesday evening to you all. I'm, of course, Hunter Hodes, the host of the Locked-on Penguins podcast, comes every day, Monday through Friday, whether it's in the morning, afternoon or in the evening. A lot of days when it is game day it comes to you, you know, towards the late stages of the night so you all can listen to on Wednesday. Then I'll, of course, have my other episode on Wednesday.

We're going to fully recap this game against the Penguins' this episode. On this episode, we will fully recap the game against the bootjacket. It's a 4-1 win for the Penguins. They've now won 15 straight home games against the jacket, 17 out of their last 21 against them, and also 16 of their last 18 against them. It wasn't the best performance, but it got the job done against one of the bad teams in the league.

For today's episode, we're going to get into Sydney Crosby and how he is having a wonderful season, why he should be getting a lot more national media attention right now, alongside Jason Robertson for the Hart Trophy. Also going to get into Trishon Jari and his performance. We're going to touch on the powerful. play, why it's really starting to turn, why things are trying to really turn around a bit and so much more.

So stick around for that coming up right after this drop. 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. of Hodes, you want to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes.

We're also following the shows, Twitter at Eleanor Saur Penguins. And of course, thank you also much for making this your first listen of the day. So your Pittsburgh Penguins get the 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. I sent my preview. They kind of just have to show up for this one. And, you know, they did do a degree. I think they kind of took some parts of the periods off because it was just, you know, it's early December Tuesday night game against one of the worst teams in the league.

You're not going to be really fully fired up for it. But at the end of Penguins were able to only surrender one goal to. the jackets that came just a minute into the first period the rest of the time the final 59 minutes the penguins did not surrender any more goals and they're able to quickly you know come back after that down first period have a really strong second and then the third period you know kind of eh you know they're playing with a lead they're playing a bad team they're kind of like okay we're just going to coast here and you know it worked against Columbus maybe wouldn't work against one of the better teams in the league but you know when you're playing the jackets which is the pigman's little brother

at this point um you know it worked at that point and um Also, I do apologize if I sound a little weird. Again, I am battling a small cold. It's funny. I moved to Pittsburgh last week, and I already have a cold. And this is the first time I've gotten sick multiple times in a year, probably for about a decade. So very weird that I'm feeling this way. But one of the, like you want to know if you miss them on this episode, that I am battling a little bit of a cold right now alongside my girlfriend.

But we're going to start out this segment with, Sidney Crosby continues to lead the league in points at 5.5. I know recently I've been saying he's top three to top five. I know he is number one now in terms of five on five points among all NHL players. He continues to just tear it up. He is almost on a 50 goal pace well over a point per game. Top five in the league in points right now. He is a man on a mission.

And I think it's time people start realizing he is a serious hard trophy contender. You look at the main players who, you know, are in the point totals right now. You know, David Posternak, you know, he's obviously up there. Connor McDavid, he's obviously his 48 points. The undri-sadles been great. Jason Robertson, in my opinion, I think he is the top player to beat for the hard trophy. Kuthran has been great. Posternak, I already said.

But, you know, outside of them. You know, Sid, 2.9 tonight, he's tied for fifth with Posternock, and he's 35 years old, and he's playing like this. You know, the goal that he had tonight, or the two goals that he scored, just vintage Crosby goals, one, just diving for a rebound. I mean, that's just beautiful stuff. The other one, some people thought it was goal tender interference, but the big thing, why it wasn't, I'll explain to you all right here. the puck actually went over the pad so when merzleekins was going to the sign it's not going interference because it went over the pad and said he has no way of stopping himself there now if it went around the pad i think that would have been out a better a better case for goal interference

but the fact that it went over around or even under um you know they're not going to call that i thought that was kind of a silly challenge from columbus i mean saying oh mary you shoot your shot with it but at the end of the day i don't think they were ever going to win that And that was the goal that made it three to one for the penguins. He just continues to tear it up this season. And, you know, I said this on my Twitter. I'll keep saying it. Now, why is he not getting the national media attention that he usually gets?

Can someone answer me that, please? We'd love to know. I understand Jason Robertson's playing amazing. He is on a steal-the-contract with the Dallas Stars. I think he's the Hart Trophy favorite right now. I understand Connor McDavid almost has 50 points, and we're not even at Christmas yet. Iron St. Leon Drya Settel is almost there too.

I get Dave Raston Ruck is on a goal swing machine, and the Boston Bruins are an absolute wrecking ball this season, but the Penguins would not be where they are right now. Winners have ate their last 10, winners of their last 14 without the play of their captain. Point blank, case closed. And he had a little bit of a slow streak a few weeks ago where some people were a little concerned.

I'm like, guys, it's saying. I even talked about it on my show. I said, you know, he's going to pull himself out of it. He always does. He was playing well before that. Sure enough, he has a few bad games, comes out, and it's just a house on fire. And he continues to be the heart and soul of this team, as he always is. So I hope that he starts getting more national attention for the heart, for the Ted Lindsay, for other rewards,

because right now he is playing some of the best hockey I think I've ever seen him play. And as far as, you know, this team will go as far as. You know, he takes it. Crystal Tang takes him when he comes back, and of course, they're not going to go anywhere without the three-court players, and they're obviously led by Crosby. Power play, he's been better. Five-on-five, he's been a wrecking ball.

Doesn't matter what situation he is in. He's continuing to play elite-level hockey, and it's time more people start noticing it. I just get wowed by him on a nightly basis at this point. The fact that, you know, he's halfway through his 30s, and he's playing like this, 35-point. points in what, 26 games? I mean, that's just crazy. You know, he already has, if I go to the goal leaders here real quick. Sid came into this game. 13 goals, right? He's now tied

for eighth with Miko Ranton and actually tied for seventh, excuse me, with Miko Ranton and Andre Fetchner Cobb. He's only eight off the lead from Jason Roberts and Connor McDavid's after bat. Bo Horbat, drives out of Posternach. He's actually only two goals away from being fourth in the league and goals among all NHL players. Again, he is on a 45 goal pace right now. Just excellent stuff from the Penguins captain. And I'm just super thrilled at the level that he's playing right now.

That's why I really wanted to lead off the show. We're talking about today because he was everywhere on the ice night, gets those two goals. You know, is great on the power play defensively. He was breaking up some key plays. Columbus was coming down the rush. He is on top of it right now, and it's really a joy to see. So, one, a shout out, Sid, great performance yet again. I'm sure that's going to continue. And hopefully that does start more people talking about him. I know I've said that about 5,000 times in the last, what, eight minutes that I've been

talking about Cindy Rosby at this point, but I really do think it needed to be said. So another excellent performance from the captain, and he'll have a chance to up those totals. when the Penguins go to Buffalo on Friday, and then they come home to play their Sabres on Saturday. So that wraps up this segment of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. Coming up, the next segment, we're going to get into the power play and how it's really starting to turn things around,

things that I'm noticing with it, and some other player performances that I really noticed tonight. But before we get to that, at Longtime Penguins, we believe homes should be where you and your family feel safest, especially over the holidays. This season, give yourself and your family the gift of peace and protection with the number one rated home security system.

Simply Safe. And right now, Simply Save is offering Locked on Penguins listeners, you all, 40% off a new security system, but do not put this off. Simply Save was named the best home security system of 2022 by U.S. News and Rule Report. That is a 30 in a row. In an emergency, 24-7 professional monitoring agents, use fast protect technology exclusively from Simply Save to capture critical evidence and verify the threat is real so you can get higher priority police response. It is whole home security with advanced sensors for every room, window, and door.

You also have HD security cameras from inside and out. There are smarter ways to detect motion that alert you only win a threat is real. And there's even hazard sensors that detect fires, floods and other threats to your home. Do not miss your chance to say big on my favorite security system. You can get 40% off any new system at Simplysafe.com slash locked on NHL today. Again, simplysafe.com slash lock on NHL. There is no safe. like simply safe. All right, we're back here on this episode, the Locktown Penguins podcast.

I am your host, Hunter Hoddes, Murdo's. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at Eleanor Square Penguins. And of course, thank you so much for making this show first listen of the day.

I swear, man. I forget so many times you drink my water for this show. And, you know, it really does make a difference because I don't sound like a complete moron most of the time. Anyways, power play.

Over the last week, you know, it's been really starting to go on. I guess a small heater they've been getting at least one power play goal and each of their last few games they got one against Vegas last week, got one tonight against the jackets, believe they got one against the blues as well.

So the last few games they played, starting to see the powerful heat up. And I think it's a combination of factors. You're finally starting to see them not go backwards to go forwards. They're kind of cutting out that drop pass at least a little bit. The zone entries have also been a lot more flawless. I think that the top players,

they're not being forced to the perimeter of the ice near the boards where, you know, the penalty kill units, they were just watching tape on it and like, oh, we all know how bad their zone entries are. We're just going to force them to the edge, and we're going to get the puck from them. We're just going to keep clearing it down or potentially get shorthanded opportunities. So far, these last few games, that has not really happened. Penguins have been a lot more careful, I think, with the puck. They've been getting the zone with ease. They've been ripping it around the net to the point where Jeff Petrie has been, and he's been getting it over to Malcon, which we've really set some things up.

Who gets it to Crosby, who's kind of at that right circle to below the net, and then the cycle really starts at that point. I also do like that Petrie's really starting to shoot the puck a lot more at the point. I understand that some people don't like Crystal Tang when he's hesitant to shoot from there. I think he was starting to shoot a bit more before he had that stroke. At least that's just how I saw it. But honestly, I could say everyone else out of Petrie is really starting to shoot it more. And I hate being one of those people that's always like, shoot it, shoot it,

and all this other garbage. I just, you know, I hate that part of any, any fan base in hockey. I think it's just an annoying thing to hear when you're at the games and stuff. They're like, shoot it. It's like, don't you think they're trying to set up with the shooting lanes and stuff? But, you know, it really is kind of as simple as that at times where, you know, they were overpassing when they were struggling and looked like a dead unit. Now they're not overpassing as much and they're able to, you know,

see the clear shooting lanes and they're getting the puck to the net. And some of the other players are there to clean up the garbage. So, you know, and case and point tonight with the Penguins' part-play goal, you know, the puck gets to the front of the net. Sid is right there in Merzleekins' blue paint. Puck goes off him and in. The Penguins make it 3 to 1. Those are the kind of dirty garbage goals that the Penguins have been lacking, I think,

on the main advantage. There's not getting enough trapping in front of the net, no matter who they're going up against. And I think so far, these last few games, you're starting to see that more heck is very cap-in-in-it. He was doing that in the last couple of games when he had four goals in those games. You know, Brian Rust, he's been doing it as well. He had another goal tonight.

I'm going to get to that in just a second. But, you know, I do think that's another big part of it is that, you know, they're going to the net. They're creating havoc, traffic, whatever you want to call it. And it's making, you know, life on the opposition a lot tougher. Again, the overpassing, I think, is starting to go down a little bit. I already talked about the shooting. The zone injuries have been better.

And, you know, when you combine all of that, And when the players are getting the looks that they can get, you know, it's a more cohesive unit. And it was funny, I touched on an episode last week for those that, you know, that did not listen. Jake Ensel spoke after the gaming in Vegas. I believe he spoke to Josh Yewy of the athletic, and he said they were looking into some analytics about the power play and how last season they were top five in the league and, you know, just screens and net front traffic. But this year, their analytics are telling them that they've been in the bottom half of the league. He thinks that was one of the main reasons why they were.

the unit was struggling. Sure enough, two more games later, you're seeing them get more traffic, you're seeing them get at least one power play goal per game against the blues, the knights, and now the blue jackets. So, you know, I think that definitely is a big part of it. And, you know, I'm really impressed with how that unit is looking right now. I think it would be the same. Whenever Latang decides to come back and speaking of Tang, great to see him back on the ice day, full equipment and everything. I do not know how he is skating just a week after he had a stroke, and especially in full equipment, ripping shots in the net, but that just shows how dedicated he is to this board.

I do think that he's going to come back at some point. This season. Don't know when. He's out indefinitely, but you just want to pass that along to you all in case some of you aren't on social media. But, again, even if when Latang comes back and Raquel is on that unit,

you know, I think you're going to see the same kind of results at this point. I think Latang is the better power play quarterback than Petrie. Yes, Petrie is getting the puck a lot more to the net. But again, I think Latang was starting to do that before. you know, he had his situation. So really good stuff, I think, from the power play lately. Just been really impressed with it as a whole. Brian Rust, another player that really took out to me tonight.

He gets another goal goals in back-to-back games now for the Penguins. And someone who has badly needed to get off the snob, you know, or the, you all know what I'm trying to say. I just totally butcher that statement. but you know what it's 10.30 at night here. So, you know, I'm going to let it go. You know, someone who's just been bad, you know, badly trying to, you know, get out of some poor play that has really played him this season.

And, you know, he's been in this situation before, you know, he's gone goalless in a lot of games, comes back, scores eight goals in the next 10 games, eight goals in six games, something like that. So would not be surprised if you see him go on a heater, hear, hear goals in back back games for him. He tends to do that as a player, but, you know, really nice goal to open the scoring in the second period,

the time of the game before the Penguins were able to blitz Merzleekins a little bit in those next couple of minutes to make it a three-to-one game, and then the Penguins would obviously eventually win the game four to one. Teddy Bliger, he gets the empty-net goal. That was hilarious how it went, to be honest. Merzleekins is getting pulled. Bob Berry is having, it's just his Labrador retriever brain is just going crazy. Like, well, they got to pull him now and all this stuff.

I'm like Bob, we get it, man. You said it about 10,000 times. Bob, we love you. You're a national treasure on those broadcasts, but I think we get it, man. He's just, he's a character, telling them to pull the goalie. They eventually do.

Penguins get the puck out. Merslickens is not able to get a say on the first one. Bluer is able to get the rebound, and Merslegan dives across, not able to get it, and the Penguins skate out with the 4-1 victory. And speaking of that, that came as,

I believe that counts as a short-handed goal. if I recall correctly. Really nice job by the Penguins on the penalty kill tonight. They held the jackets to what, 04, 04, 04, 5 really solid job, I think, by them. You know, the PK is starting to turn some things around a little bit after a bad game against Vegas. Heck, they were already playing well heading into that game, so they're just getting back to how they used to be. I think I should clarify myself on that. But, you know, the prior, you know, five, six, seven games, you know, Vegas has a very good power play,

and they're going to do that to a lot of teams. But the last couple of games, the PK has just been a lot better, which is good to see. Tristan jarring, I think that first goal, nice shot by Goodrow, but I think one that, you know, Tristan should have. I think it came from an area of the ice that, you know,

I don't think a goal scorer should be scoring. I understand that Johnny Goodro, he has a wicked release. So I think that's one he has to have. Outside of that, though, played really well throughout the remainder of the game, made some 10-bell saves, a couple of which were on Patrick Loning, especially late in the third period and in the second period. I think there was one situation where Jeff Carter just gave the puck to Lone for no reason. And Lane went between the legs with his stick, sheets it,

and D'Rae was able to make a really nice save. They didn't have to move that much, wasn't playing too deep in his net, and that really nice job by him. And overall, I think a stellar performance from him outside of that goal. I want that kind of wacky goal to just cut out of his game a little bit, but overall, another strong performance. you know he's starting to really turn some things around as well those are the main player performances that i thought really stood out to me uh tonight of guinea malkin i thought was galloping as

well what he did to just drag rossilich on the on the uh right half wall on the power play which led to the second carlsby goal just dangled him inside and out i'm like who okay gino he just sent him into the shadow realm on that one that was really so he got the puck to the point puck's able to go to do that he's able to go to to across. Do you make it three to one before the jackets failed their goal to goaltending, goaltint interference challenge. I thought he was galloping all night.

Could have had a goal or two. He's playing at a very high level right now. As well, there was a scary injury situation. Jake Gensel went into the boards pretty hard with his shoulder, looked eerily similar to the one, to the injury that he suffered. Remember, 2019, going into 20, 23 years ago, that was the COVID-chorten season when, funny enough I was there for that game, he scores the goal, shoulder goes right.

into the boards. He comes up clutching it. I'm like, well, that's his call around. Sure enough. He was out for the remainder of the season before he came back in August and we all know what happened there. Thankfully, the injury, it's nothing, it's nothing close to that series. He was able to come back, come out on the power play. He's fine at this point. So those are the main individual player performances that I thought really stood out to me. Coming up in the final segment, we're going to get into what the numbers said for this game and why, you know, I do think the Penguins have another, you know, gear to get to in terms of their play overall for the remainder of the season. So stick around for that coming up after these messages.

All right. I'm not here on this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hoddes. We're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the shows, Twitter, L or LR's for Penguins. And of course, thank you so much for making this your first listen of the day. So, pardon me. Tonight the Penguins overall, ne'er first period. I thought the jaggies really took it to them. to be honest, and that was, you know, made very clear by the shot attempts. 65% of them at 55 were from the jackets. High danger, they had four high danger chances to one for the penguins.

Scoring chances were even, but they did have 56% of the expected goals overall. But then after that, the penguins took it to them in the second. Third period, they kind of slacked off a bit when they had the lead. So, you know, two kind of mad periods. and the fact that they still won the game of 401 just goes to show how good that they're playing right now. The jacket's at 55 though. They did control 55% of the shot attempts,

but the Penguins did control 54% of the scoring chances. High danger, it was close to even, but they also did control 55% of the expected goals. So the Jackets and more of the attempts at 55, but the Penguins had the better of the chances and the better of the expected goals, which is good. If you go to all situations,

Penguins, the Jackets had 56% of the shot attempts. at all situations, scoring chances, the Penguins led 51.5%. High danger, the Jackets led, but the Penguins did lead in expected goals. 52 to 48. So, tail of two stats, kind of the jackets were leading in, you know, shot attempts to high danger, but the Penguins are leading in scoring chances and expected goals. Overall, I think this was a fine performance. You know, I don't think they wowed me, but you're 4-0-1.

You got two more massive points. You're tied for third right now in the Metropolitan Division because the Islanders lost 6 to 4 to the Blues tonight. And speaking of, I just got an alert that Shane Wright got his first initial goals. So congratulations to him. And the Penguins actually leapfroved the Islanders because they have a game in hand on them. So 14-8-4 versus 16 and 11. Penguins also one point behind the Carolina Hurricanes for second place in the Metro.

So, you know, really strong stuff yet again. But again, I do think this team has another gear to get to. Yes, they've been playing great hockey lately. They've won eight of their last 10. They've won 10 or the last 14. But, you know, and they haven't had that, you know, truly spectacular 60-minute performance, you know, in a couple of weeks. I would say this one. I mean, St. Louis was close enough, I would say, but tonight definitely wasn't.

I think the Vegas game, you know, I thought they took it to them for the most part, but I did think Vegas had a couple of times that they really did push back for, you know, more than just a few minutes. But I'm still waiting for the Penguins to go on, you know, a bigger heater here where they're really controlling play and, you know, beating teams down for 64 minutes. I don't think they've gotten there just yet. But I'm still really encouraged with what I'm saying right now. And every end of the day, the results are what matters. You know, even though they're not playing their best, best hockey right now, they're still getting the results and, you know, they're still playing like a good team. And, you know, watch what they

can do on Friday when they will take on the Buffalo Sabres. That is when, you know, I think they could really take it to a team like that. The Sabres have no. been good this season. The Penguins, they did play them once. They had that three to one lead coming into the third period. That's when they allowed five-un-ins or goals in lost to Buffalo, but so far this season, the Sabres. Their eight points out of the final playoff spot. They're 11 and 13 and one overall. Their goaltending stinks. Their defense is okay. Their top six is fine, but they have no forward depth outside of that. I think that's a back-to-back-to-back. I think it's a back-to-back to back-to-back. But we all know the penguins have had a lot of trouble with their back-to-backs

this year, they're one in four and one on the second half of the back-to-back. But we'll have to see. I'm going to preview both of those games a little later on this week for you all. So, you know, fine performance. Don't think it was anything special, but at the end of the day, wins are all that matter, and the Penguins are in third place right now, and I do think they're going to reach that next level here. Pretty soon. The demise of this team was greatly exaggerated.

They are playing some good hockey, and, you know, I think it's only a matter of time before that, you know, gets even better for this team. And the Penguins also 4-0-1 versus Metro-V-Metrovis Division teams playing their division very well. So far, points. They have 9 out of 10 points in those games. But that will do it for this one for the Lockdown Penguins podcast. Really appreciate all of you listening to it.

Don't think I missed anything else from this game. At least not for my notes here. No, no. I think I've said everything I needed to say for this one. If I did miss anything, you know, let me know in the comments on YouTube. you can send me a DM on social media and all that stuff. But again, thank you all so much so much for listening. I'll have another episode for you all on Wednesday.

We'll talk about other things relating to the team. Then Thursday, we will preview the game against the Sabres and then Friday, all the full game recap for you all. So again, thank you all so much for listening, and I'll talk with you all on Wednesday.