Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins 10/24- Panthers & Lightning Game Recaps

Episode Date: October 25, 2019

In this episode of Locked On Penguins, Hunter dissects the penguins back-to-back losses this week against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. He talks about the positives out of the games such as Dominik Simon, Patric Hornqvist, and Brandon Tanev, but also touches on the atrocious pairing of Jack Johnson and Erik Gudbranson as well. 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.

Hello and welcome to another edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm, of course, your host, Hunter Hodes. And my apologies, again, for not posting up an episode yesterday. Just another long day. I've also been coming down with a little bit of a cold. First, it was my throat, but then that went away, and then, of course, it's spread to my nose. So now it's just my nose that's been really stuffy. So if my voice sounds different, that's why.

But this episode will come out tonight, and then there will be another one tomorrow. But, yeah, so the Penguins, two games, like I said, this. week both unfortunate very disappointing losses but before we get into both of those losses um that drop the penguins to six and five um please follow me on twitter at hunter hodes follow the show on twitter at l.0 underscore penguins uh keep subscribing on spotify apple i just go to podcast on your iPhone or wherever you get your podcast i keep giving me reviews um all that good stuff but i guess let's just start with the game against the panthers and that was i think um i wasn't watching that game i was i watched the highlights

of it. That was definitely, I think, a frustrating game, but I think the Tampa game was a lot more frustrating for Pittsburgh. Florida, that weird first, I think that was a weird first goal by Murray that was allowed, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, it was. I think it, like, bounced off hit Murray's blocker, then, like, bounced off his

back and in or something. I think Murray after the game called it basically a fluke goal, but still, he has to save it. Usually, Murray is pretty hard on himself, but, I mean, that's good, though, that's good that he is, considering he's very good when he's on. I thought he played fine after going through some of the highlights. The goals that he gave up, I don't really think were too, too bad, but I mean,

the Penguins did come back to tie the game right after that goal. I think, yeah, Teddy Blugher had his first goal of the season. Was that Teddy's first goal of the season? I believe it was. Oh, no, sorry, my mistake, folks. His first goal came against Columbus, but this was Bluger's second goal this season. Nice passing play, Bobrovsky had no chance on. It was just a nice pass to Blugger who tied it up.

Panthers, of course, took the league two to one. and then 3-1, the Penguins got a goal back. Patrick Horquist notched another goal for him. He's been really good to start the season. That's a really big step for Hornquist. Obviously, you want him to be way better than he was last season. I've lost track on how many times I could say that. I think that was, yeah, his fifth goal this season.

They cut it up to 3-2, and then the Panthers put an empty-knock goal to make it 4-2. Penguins, they're really feeling. injuries right now. That five game winning streak saved a lot. Those were 12, I mean, those were 10 massive points that Pittsburgh gave, I don't know why I'm starting. 10 massive points that the Penguins got in the early parts of the season with all those forwards out. They are going to be getting some reinforcements back, I think, for the Starz game with Bukstad and Rust. I know Rust is eligible to come off the IR that game. That was his target game this past week. I think Bukstad has a chance to play that game.

But still, they're really feeling the effects. I thought Sergis, He said a really nice game against the penguins. And you don't really say that too often. And when you think of Sergey Bobrovsky and a good game against the penguins, considering he gives up an average of like three to four goals per game when he plays the penguins. I think that was the only time, one of the only times, excuse me, that where I've seen him give up two goals against the penguins, two or fewer goals. It does not come around very often.

So that was kudos to him. He played very well. I thought Barkov had a strong game for Florida. but you're always going to get that from him. I was Andrew Barkoff, one of the most underrated players in the league. Who got their goals? Jonathan Hubertow, yep, I said going in with my preview, I thought Huberto is going to be a big factor.

He's one of their best players. Dennis Malgan, who I saw some tweets during the game. The guy who someone had a funny tweet, I'm trying to think of it, it was basically like the guy who tries to call himself of getting Malkin. It's Malkin, not Malkin. Noah Chari had a goal, and of course Frank Matrono. scored as well. Also, the Panthers were also missing.

I did not say my preview. Aaron Ekblod was out with the game. I think it was an illness, but they were missing their top defensemen and their second line center with Vincent Trotrick, but still, they got the win. They got to four and two and three. And, yeah, that pushed the Penguins to two losses in a row. I said there really isn't too much more to take out of this game. They just, the Penguins need to get healthy, man.

It just, it needs to happen. And, you know, and I'm going to talk about that with a Tampa game. And I saw a lot more of that Tampa game, considering I was following it a lot more on Twitter than I was on the game before since that was game one of the World Series. I was out with my friends. Game two, I was following a lot more. During game two, I was following the game a lot more, considering the Nationals that already taken home field.

But I still got to watch some highlights. But, Cindy Crosby, you know, he still had a fine game, I thought. But, you know, you're always going to get that from Crosby. And Jared McCann – yeah, Jerry McCann made his return to the lineup that night, which is big. You know, it's big that he is coming back. You know, Brandon Tanev is playing fine. Jake Ansel had a very strong game, two assists on both Penguins' goals. Yeah, he's just – he had four shots on goal.

He's – he's awesome, folks. I don't know what more else more needs to be said about Jake. Especially that goal against Tampa, but we'll get to that in a few seconds. But yeah, just this loss, it's just like whatever loss. I thought the Penguins, for the most part, played okay. But you know what? It's just, it's hard to really evaluate this team when there's so many banged up. And also, of course, folks, Brian Duhl missed this game.

And you cannot underestimate how much he means to Pittsburgh. You can see it these last two games. You can really see it. It's just the way he plays with a little tang, the way he plays in the defensive zone. I know he doesn't bring a lot of offense to the table, because he doesn't score a lot, but, you know, he still pinches very well. He can keep the puck in the zone. He's really good defensively.

John Marino, I like all respect to him. He's played better with next to the day. Not top parent defensemen, folks. Like, that's saying, yeah, I mean, he's just not. And, you know, and of course that forces, you know, Jack Johnson, Eric Good Branson to play more, which is never good. And we'll get to them in the next segment because I have a, a lot to say about that in that game last night considering I saw all those highlights about

that game but yeah just in whatever loss um I figured after the game I still thought Trishinjari would get the start against Tampa and uh yeah that's probably what I'm going to lead off of with the uh with the next segment so yeah all right so the penguins uh they play Wednesday night hockey in Tampa Bay against the lightning and they put I thought they put on a very strong performance I actually went back I watched a lot more of the game um I think um my friend sent it to me a site or something. I went back. I watched a lot of it. I liked a lot from what I saw from the Penguins. I know they got hemmed in their own zone a lot. At times, a little like a Tampa power plate even strength. But wow, they really brought it, especially when the Penguins went

down in that final minute. They brought it. Of course, you know, let's get into that review of the goal. I was at Sharkey's a Bar in Blacksburg when I saw the replay. I was looking at it. I can see why people think it's a goal, but folks, I just, I don't see it. I just, I don't know if it's conclusive enough to overturn that. I don't know if that puck is all the way across the line. I think that's a little bit of a lucky save by Vazolevsky. Still a good save. I mean, don't get me wrong.

He got gloved it. But I think Latang, I literally said after the game, I think he basically echoed what I just said. Like, yeah, he got lucky. I shot it right into his glove. I think he was exactly what goes, I need to roof that. I mean, he's right. But, I mean, what do you do in that situation?

There's so many bodies around the net. So, yeah, I thought it looked like the Penguins almost sent back in him back to overtime. And man, did they need that point? It looked like they were going to get that point. But, you know, Tim Peel, you know, this all loves to call the whistles in the final five minutes. He gave the lightning two power plays. I thought the first call was a good call.

I thought the second call was a little weak, especially, I mean, really two and a half minutes left. I mean, actually, I think it was like two. Yeah, 2205 left, actually. If it was, what if I'm not mistaken. And I remember I tweeted, I was at the bar. I was like, The Penguins are totally going to give up a last-minute goal without getting a massive point, right?

Yeah, they definitely did. I saw that coming from a mile away. I got a couple responses like saying, L-O-L. I'm like, yeah, I knew it. Because, you know, they do that sometimes. But, you know, don't take a credit away, you know, from Tristan Jarni. He was spectacular. I saw some of the saves when I was watching that game back.

Wow. I think the Lightning put up, what, almost 50 shots on goal. I think he had 45 saves out of 48 shots, if I remember correctly. Penguins gave up way too many shots that game. They were trading chances a lot with the lightning. But then Penguins also put up around 36 to 38 of their own. Vasilevsky played really good. But, yeah, Jari, he kept them in the game.

He almost stole a point out of that game. He should have stole a point out of that game if it wasn't for Jack Johnson and Eric and Branson. Let's just get right into it. I mean, come on. The Penguins are up to 1 going into the third period. I mean, we'll get to that branded. I mean, off of that brand, I'll just get to it now.

The Brandon Tanev goal. to tie it, I mean, wow, that might have been Brandon Tannett's goal of his career. He circles the net, basically, trying to find a pass, and he cuts it in that, roost it top cheese over Basilewski. That was one of the sickest backhands I think I've ever seen from a penguin play. That looked like Cindy Crosby's backhand right there. I mean, and that's high praise, considering Crosby is one of the best backhands in the league. And then I hope the, I hope you Simone haters are loving that,

are loving that what he did in that game because, wow, that's not, that's going to not make them pretty happy because he had this beautiful basketball crossy falling. I think he looked like he got tripped, passed it to Crosby, who fed a gorgeous past against him, so boom, two, one, going to the third period, the penguins are putting in a hell of an effort. And then, like I said, I know I got off a little track. Let's get to the third period.

Jack Johnson, what the heck are you doing going for a hit behind the net there, man? I mean, you know, the hits are just one of the most overrated stats in all the hockey. I know, well, you know, he got to believe hits in a game. Who cares? That usually means, like, you don't have, that means you don't have the puck. He just had such an awful game, and he played 24 freaking minutes. He led all Penguins defense in an ice time. I do not understand why this is happening.

Like, here's what also I'll say. He seems like a nice human, too. Great person off the ice. Great teammate looks like, but God, is he bad at this sport? He's just so bad on the ice. I cringe when I watch and play because he makes the most boneheaded decisions I've ever seen. It's just, like I saw a tweet from Jason, JAS. I remember his ad.

Shout up to you, buddy. You're one of my favorite penguins follow. on Twitter. Basically what he said, I mean, the Penguins deserve every amount of, every amount of this, because they made, like, unenforced errors by getting this player and Eric Ranssen. And you know what? They did. Like, he's just, why would you go for a hit there and then give McDonough basically a wide open, like a wide open lane to shoot the puck and tie the game? It just, it does not make any bit of sense to me why he did that. And I just, oh, it's, It just, it boggles my mind.

And then, and then Eric Granson, I mean, why is he trying to fight? I think it was Maroon in the game. I think he, like, mistaken Maroon. And Maroon didn't want to fight you, man. I think he lost his glove in. Like, I think he, like, lost his stick or something or his glove. And Grubenson dropped the gloves, and he got a penalty. It's like, oh, my God.

And then they're icing them at the same time on the same pairing. It's like, you deserve every negative result that you get if you keep icing this. And don't get me wrong. I love Mike Sullivan. I think he's a top five coach in hockey. What he's done so far with the roster this year with the injuries is nothing short of remarkable. They're still six and five. They're over 500.

They face a bad Dallas Stars team on, I think it's tomorrow night. That is not good to say the least. They've had a really bad season. But, I mean, man, you got to stop icing these guys like that match minutes. You cannot have Jack Johnson, Eric and Branson, especially Jack Johnson, have more minutes of Chrysland Day. And Eric McBrandson have almost as many minutes as Chris. Tang does. Like that is, that is unacceptable and an insult to just how good Chris LaTang is. It's just, it boggles my mind, man. I just, I don't get it. And then on the, on the, the power play

goal, with a minute, with a minute left, of course, they're like the lightning you're cycling it. John Johnson's basically just streaming Jari in front. Jari can't even see the puck. It was a rolling puck off of, um, headman that went in. I don't think really Jari had too much of a chance on that. Like I said, played a brilliant game. He did not deserve to live. lose that game. He looked like he was frustrated after that. Johnson, just standing there not even getting a man. It's like, what are you doing, man? What is your purpose on the penalty kill? And I know I've said, I mean, I'm part of the opinion that I think most players can't pee on the PK. I don't think it's some selective skill that a player needs to have. Oh, congratulations, you can block a shot.

Congratulations, you can clear the puck. Like, there is, I don't think there's such thing as a PK specialist in this league. You play players out there that are fast, that can get the park, just dump, just get it out of the zone. You don't need a slow pile on like Johnson in there who like blocks the occasional assault, but is so slow at like just doing everything else, including like just guarding a player on the ice. It just, I don't know what he's doing there. He had such a bad game. It was almost as bad as that game against Vegas where he went around the net and literally made his own two on oh. It was it was nuts. I know I know I sound like a broken record, but man, just watching that back made me so mad again.

that he's on this team still. It just makes you want to, like, it just makes you want to just, like, not watch them sometimes because he's so bad. I mean, of course, you know, we'll all still keep watching because, I mean, Sidney Crosby and I've been any Moll. Sydney Crosby, I've got any Malk and Jake N.

But, yeah, that's a game. I think the Penguins should have at least had a point. That would have been such a monster point against a really stacked lightning team. They played them hard. They played them tough. I know they gave up a lot of shots, but, man,

frustrating loss because I think the penguins almost had that and yeah that that just that that sucks but let's get back to some of the positive here um yeah like I said keep Simone on the top line I've already said it on this podcast already that play to Crosby was sensational um he's gonna have that kind of season where he scores like like like eight goals and like 30 assists and people are still going to be mad but you know he's nervous place on there that pass is evidence as to why um um I know people world like a little mad like oh well he missed that chance against uh florida but you know what literally anton stralman blocked the shot with his stick it hit his stick fellas like it like i know it looked like an empty net but it hit strongman's stick was a really nice play by him though people just

see what they want to believe i don't understand but um sydney crosby like oh geez man he's that pass was who was who that was gorgeous to gansel who is like i said on fire on start the season he's gonna make a pace to 50 goals this season, and I cannot wait to see the reaction if we get another 50 goal score in this league. Someone else needs to try to, you know, compete with Alex O'Evechkin. I mean, probably won't be, you know, I mean, no one, Robbie Will, considering Obetchkin is probably the greatest goal score to ever live. I mean, I know I say that as a Penguins fan, but also a hockey fan who has a lot of respect

for him as a player. Greatest goal score of all time. I don't only think that's up for much debate. but yeah that was just a very just a frustrating loss for Pittsburgh man oh I'm just watching the game back I saw some of the chances that they missed and it was just like ah but you know what they'll be back in action tomorrow night against the stars uh so yeah for the last time I guess we'll preview that game a little bit the Penguins of course beat Dallas last week in Pittsburgh and yeah man the stars are off to a really really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really bad start to this season.

They actually finally got to win, but still in their first 11 games, they've lost 8 of 11. I think the betting for the first coach fired has got to be Jim Montgomery. He's up there for sure. I know who am I blanking on the devil's other head coach? Oh, my God. Coach in Wilkesbury. I can't believe I'm blanking on now. that right now. It'll come back to me. But yeah, the stars, they got to win again slowly,

Ottawa on Monday. Two to one, of course. The senators are just at, if not, they're way worse, honestly, than the stars. They lost seven of their first eight games. But, yeah, the stars have just had a really bad start to the season. Rupa Hins, though, he's been on fire. I think he had like five goals after the Penguins game. He's been their best player. They need Jamie Ben and Tyler Sagan and Alexander Radgelov and especially Joe Povellsky to start stepping up. They signed Povilski to that big contract over the offseason, just a short-term deal,

but they gave him a ton of cash. He finally got a goal last night. That's big for the stars. And if they're going, like I said, if they're going to turn this around, you know, they need the big guns to, you know, to carry them because they have a bit of depth. They have a little bit of depth.

They mean a little more than last year, but they still really reliant on their top players. Chong Klingberg is, he's awesome. He had a goal. that game in Pittsburgh. He's one of the best defensemen in the league. I think Cory Perry also, since then, and notched his first goal in a Star's uniform.

And one player that I really, really, really, really like for the Stars is Mira Heiskin. That guy is a baller, man. He is going to be so good in the next couple seasons. I love watching MoMA Ice. I love the offensive instinct that he has, the way he plays in his own zone. they need to play him with Klingberg a lot because those are their two best defensemen. You can't put S.L. Lindell up there. I mean, come on.

I mean, Jamie Lexiak, of course, Jamie Alexiak, excuse me, former Penguin. He's got a bit better. I'll be curious to see who starts this game for the stars. Houdobin started it. Last time for the Stars and the Penguins, I got a few goals on him. He was playing really well until now was the game, of course, where Chris LaTang had that disgustingly sick goal around. Two stars defenders, and he beat them.

He just, that was shades of 2016 game six against Sanders there. I've said that so many times, and I'm probably going to keep saying that until the day I die. But Plydomen, he was really good against the senators on Monday, a 957 percentage, but only, the stars only allowed 20 shots on goal by the senators. That just speaks to also how bad the senators are. The only goal was by Vladislav Nemestikov, who came over from the New York Rangers in a trade. The stars actually play tonight against the Anaheim ducks at home. That'll be a really interesting game.

So this is actually a four-game homestand for the Stars. Of course, after this game, they'll play Pittsburgh on Saturday. Actually, no, the game is on Saturday. Did I keep saying it was on Friday? Whoops, yeah, the game is on Saturday. Then they'll play Tuesday against the Minnesota Wilde, who are also very bad. I would not be surprised if Bruce Voodroke gets out of there pretty quick.

I saw some reports about Billy Garon potentially making some. trades this first year, though. So we'll see about that. But yeah, the stars, this is a very winnable game for the Penguins. I'd expect Matt Murray to start it. This is not a back-to-back situation, thankfully. So they can have a day off the next day. And the game after that for Pittsburgh, after

they come home, will be against the in-state Philadelphia Flyers, who are off to an okay start. And then, of course, and then they'll actually have a four-day break, and then they play the Edmonton Oilers to kick off their November slate before going to Boston and New York later in the month. I'm not going to dive into this

schedule here. They actually, I don't know. I'm looking at it. They play on my birthday, November 15th, I'll be 22 that day. They play the New Jersey Devils. But, yeah, like I said, winnable game for the Penguins. This is a really big game to get back on track, get to seven and five on the season. They really needed that point against Tampa.

They were so close to getting it, Tristan Jari. He definitely, just to wrap things up. He definitely belongs here, I think, folks. This is a player, this is a goalie that I think is unseated Casey to Smith. You can see why, especially with. the backup job, but now that you've seen him play in a couple games, he definitely deserves his position right now. I know small sample size, he may have some bad games, but you know what right now,

he's definitely showing that he's a very capable backup goaltender in this league, and I'm sure he'll be getting more starts on back-to-back, because they will, excuse me, they won't have to ride Matt Murray to the grave on every start. So yeah, I think that wraps up this episode of Lockdown Penguins. Always be sure to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show on Twitter at L0-U-U-Sore penguins. I know I probably complained a lot about Jack Johnson this episode, but that really set me off a little bit last night.

That was really annoying. But we'll see. We probably won't play any better going forward. But thank you guys so much for listening, folks.