Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins-11/11- Blackhawks Game Recap, Plus More Injuries

Episode Date: November 11, 2019

In this episode of Locked On Penguins, Hunter recaps the Penguins first win over the Blackhawks in five years. He talks about how Matt Murray had a strong game, as well as Bryan Rust's amazing hot streak, plus much more! He also touches on another injury to the Penguins as Sidney Crosby left the game. He then talks about what the plan is for the Chicago Blackhawks as they look like a team just stuck in the mud. 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 Lockdown Penguins podcast for November 11th, 2019. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. A couple things first before we get into everything. Happy Veterans Day to everyone out there. I always like, I love this holiday. I think all the schools and should be off today, even though I don't think I ever had off for high school on Veterans Day. And of course, colleges, some colleges don't have off.

But I know a lot of my friends have off work, but I still think a lot of the schools and colleges should be off. but that's just my opinion. Also, tomorrow's episode is going to be a little bit different. We're going to be doing a crossover episode with the Locked-on Rangers host, John Chick. We've been going back and forth. I think we're going to be recording this tomorrow morning. It'll be a preview of the Penguins Rangers game, which is tomorrow night. The Penguins will be at Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena,

to take on the Rangers who had a pretty crazy game against the Panthers yesterday. I saw the time it was five to five, but the Panthers ended up with. winning the game in a shootout 6 to 5. But before we get into this episode, I'll follow my Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. And we're talking about another win for the Penguins this past Saturday night. They beat the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time in five years. And I don't know if you guys saw this tweet on Twitter, but Seth Rohrabah, great writer

for the Penguins, tweeted out the lineup the last time the Penguins beat the Blackhawks before this game. It was, I believe, March 30th, 2014. You should go check that out because it's a very, very bad roster. Cindy Carlsby, of course, is on there. UC Okina, Lee Steffianak, James Neal is still on there, Brian Gibbons, Jason Magna, Craig Adams is on there, Joe Vitale, I think Rob Skidari is on there, Derek England, Matt Niskin, who he was actually doing pretty good at the time.

That's when Matt Niskin, right before he made his big bucks out of Washington. It's a pretty bad line of though, except of course Chris Kuninson. Indy Crosby, Yoken, and James Neal, but there was no Evgeny Malkin in that game. Mark Ronde-Athe-Ferre was starting, but, yeah, that lineup just gives me PTSD every time I see it because there's just so many bad players on that team. It's kind of a miracle that that Penguins team not only made the playoffs that season, but they had haul ice for the first two rounds of that. And that was the year that, of course, Ray Shiro and Dan Malsma were finally let go after another

failure in the playoffs after losing three games to one to the new. Rangers, who of course the Penguins will play tomorrow night. But to get back to this game, did not start out well for the Penguins. I thought they were playing well, but they weren't getting the results. They went down 2-0 to the Bacchox. Dominic Kubolick opened up the scoring for the Bacchawks on a shot. I don't really think Murray had too much of a shot on. And then Patrick Cain scored just a little bit later.

I think that was kind of a laser shot. I think Murray would maybe want that back, but Kane more than made up for his awful whiff on the power play. The Blocock's at a five on three for about a minute and a half. Kane has a wide open net and he just shanked it like I've never seen before. You don't really see that out of Patrick Kane is one of the best players in the world. So he definitely got that back. But after that, you know, the Penguins, they started getting the better of the play. They got a goal before the second period ended from Jake Gensel.

Shout out to of getting Malkin from that gorgeous pass, right to Gensel. Kind of a really bit of a tight window. It was like he didn't look like it didn't hit a skate or anything. And Gensel just goes bar down on to Crawford. And Gordon Crawford was actually getting a little bit mad online during this game, I think, from, who was it that got him mad during this game? I think it was maybe Gautenuk that got under his skin, and he was getting a little mad at him for getting into his crease a little bit.

But Hengen's got one before the end of the second period. And then the third period, they were getting the best. better the play. They were getting some looks on Crawford. For a while, it didn't really look like it was going anywhere. And just for a while, Corey Crawford was just really having a great game. He's not the same goaltender as it used to be considering. I know he's had

a lot of concussion problems, unfortunately. But for a while, was easily, I think, a top six to top five, top ten goaltender in the league a few years ago. But the Penguins finally got the tying goal late in the period. Just a great cross-ice pass from Reno to

Ryan Russ, and he made no mistake and buried it. And folks, Brian Russ, this is the best hockey that he's played since the back-to-back up runs. That's another goal now for him this season. It's now five goals and six games, seven points overall in those six games. His stock is going really high. I know there's been some takes out there. Well, you know, they could trade him for a really good defenseman or a really good

rental forward. I really don't think he's the kind of player that I would want to give up in a trade right now. I know obviously he is going to regress. It happens to all the players. You're not going to keep up this five goals and six games pace up all year because Ryan Russ has been a very stricgy score throughout its crew. I've said that so many times. It sounds like a broken record. He is going to go into another little bit of a goal to shot. Hopefully it's not like 20 to 25 games, but right now he's playing very, very good hockey and the Penguins that desperately need that, especially with another injury coming on. And let's just get right to that. Another injury

The Penguins, and this is a really bad one, Cindy Crosby. He looks like he had a little bit of an awkward play. As he was going into the zone, it looked like it was a weird, awkward hit. His like foot or knee bent a weird way. And then he took a shot off of his foot. He went right down the runway. Hopefully it's not too big of a deal. He's not a practice, though, today.

So that's not really good news for his status, potentially playing tomorrow. So for that game against the majors, they could be without Patrick Hornquist, Chris LaTang, and Sidney Crosby. The injury bug lasted all about one game. The penguin's injury bug just never, ever goes away. But I really liked the fight that the Penguins showed after Crosby got hurt of Gennie Malkin, I thought had another good game. He's trending in the right direction. He's not all the way I don't think back to that level yet that we're used to seeing.

But I think he is going to get there. But just a really good win for the Penguins. Obviously, let's get to the overtime. Both teams had chances back and forth. I mean, it was kind of a little bit of a... It was not the most exciting three-on-three. I don't know how I could even say that, but I just didn't really feel like all the excitement that I should on a three-on-three

because usually three-on-three is so amazingly exciting. Then, of course, it goes to a shoot-out. Jake Gensel gets a shoot-out goal for the Penguins. Jared McCann wins it. The only shoot-out goal that Matt Murray led up was Patrick Kane, because Patrick McCain comes in so fast and then stops to a hole and goes about one mile per hour, and then he just belts the puck five.

Patrick Cain does that on everyone, but the Penguins won it with McCann right after that, and then Murray got a save. And this is, folks, another really, really good game from Matt Murray. I know he had a little bit of an ugly start to the Islanders game, but rebounded very nicely, and that continued into this Blackhawks game. He stopped 29 saves on 31 shots, a 935 save percentage. He's had a really, really good start to the season with a 916 save percentage this year, 2.35 goals against average.

I'm looking at the stats right now That's top 10 among starters But for some reason people like to Crap on him Even though he's had a really, really good strong Start season despite a couple of not so good games lately But there's a great win for the Penguins to get They're now 10 and 6 and 1

They remained third place in the Metropolitan Division Going into their game against the Rangers Hopefully the injury to Cindy Crosby Is not serious But it's definitely not the not the way you want to see another injured player get heard, especially kind of an awkward play like that with Cindy Crosby. But of course, folks, don't forget for tomorrow that for the next episode,

I know I'm probably repeating myself, but it'll be a crossover with me and the Lockdown Rangers. I'm really looking forward to this, just to pick his brain about the Rangers and how they've been looking this year. I haven't really been watched the Rangers a lot this year. I kind of want to see how Henry Blunkwis is doing, Panera, and I know he's off to a really good star, but just pick his brain and just going into the matchup,

I think that would be a lot of fun for tomorrow's episode. All right, so because we'll just keep talking about the Blackhawks game a little bit. One thing I really didn't like to see, I didn't like from that game was the way Justin Schultz played. He was trending in the really high, just trending up a lot lately because he's been playing really, really good, but that game was one of his worst games I think I've ever seen from him. He's constantly making bad decisions,

pinching at the wrong time, giving up Oddman Rush, I think the first goal was because of an on-man rush was a three-on-one, if I'm not mistaken, because Justin Schultz made a really bad pinch play. That was just a really bad game from him. I think the Penguins overall, after the season, they're going to have to let someone else pay him because I still think he's going to want too much money than the Penguins are willing to give him. I think what is he making so far, what, $5.5 million per season? I know he's probably going to want a bump in the race, maybe about what, a million?

I mean, I don't think anyone's going to give him $7 million per that. that, my friends, would be absolutely ridiculous to give him that much money. But I think he's going to want at least a $500,000 raised about a million, especially with the Penguins cap problems coming next season with Matt Murray, extension coming, Jared McCann, Marcus Pedersen is getting an imminent extension, according to Elliot Freeman on January 1st. Apparently it's all the locked up. It's going to be a long-term extension.

I think you're going to have to have someone else pay him because he just hasn't shown that level that we've, been accustomed to during that 2015-16 season where he was pretty good. Then of course 2016-17 where he just broke out, had a 50-point season, was playing really, really good on the top hearing. Just ever since then, it's just been a little bit of a decline though.

Like I said, I do think he was playing some good hockey this season, but man, that game was just bad to watch him. I thought Pedersen though was doing, has had a really strong outing. I thought he was good. Brian Jimlin's keeping it up. And of course, John Marino, I mean, wow. I mean, like I said, that passed to Rod.

just to get through all those bodies, just that cross-creased pass, just a really, really nice pass to get it to Rust. And, of course, Russ is going to bury that goal every time considering he had a wide open net on Crawford. And that was right before that was when the Penguins were just buzzing in the offensive zone. Crawford had to come up with a couple big saves. One of them, though, before that, I think one went wider than that. But still, Crawford had a really, really strong game. And to get that win was really, really good. But aside from Justin Schultz and the play of the Penguins,

I do want to take time to talk a little bit about the Blackhawks. I tweet about this during the game. I don't really know what direction the Chicago Blackhawks want to go into. I know this is so about the Penguins, but of course they play the opponent that, I mean, I'm really confused as to what direction that they're going in. They're not really contending. Like, are they rebuilding? Are they just want to be a middling team? Do they just want to barely make the playoffs and then just get swept by what, Nashville, St. Louis, who else?

whoever else comes out of the Central with Dallas is starting to actually play really well, though I don't think they're in the playoff picture yet. But still, I just don't know what the plan is in Chicago. They've been doing this for three straight years now. They've missed the playoffs the last couple of seasons. They fired Joe Quendell last year. Placed him with a coach who I really don't think is that good. They're off to a really, really bad start this year now.

They're at 5 and 7 and 4. That's just 14 points in your first 16 games. I mean, that's just it's not good enough. And they really, like, if you look down their lineup, they just, they only really have, what, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Teaves and Alex DeBrinke. There's just, there's not a lot there for Chicago at all. And their defensive corpse is just, yeah, it's just to show up their former selves. Duncan Keith has fallen off a cliff a little bit. Brent Seabrook is not nearly close to where he used to be as one of the games best defensemen.

That contract extension that he signed just a few seasons ago was just a really, really, really, that decision by Stan Bowman. I do not know why he decided to do that. I guess loyalty. But I do that thing, another good thing they have going for them, besides Cain, Taves, and De Brinket. Of course, they have Brandon Sodd, who they were reacquired from Woodjackets. But Robin Lennar, he's been really, really good to start the season.

I think he needs to be their number one after this season. I think Crawford, his contract is up after this season. And you know what? I would sign Robin Lennar to a long-term deal. by her in Blackhawks. I think he's a better option at this point. I don't really know how much Cory Crawford has left. It doesn't really look like it's too much. But he's getting up there in age. He's had a lot of concussion problems. I like that they sign Leonard because of the concussion problems and just how he just hasn't been able to stay healthy. His numbers have kind of

gone down a bit. But I think that's one big bright spot for the Blackhawks this season. But I think they need to have an identity. They need to know what they want to do because they can keep doing the same thing every season. It's just, it's really confusing as to what they want. I know Kane and Taves aren't getting any younger, but you've won three cups out of them. Like, if you're going to rebuild, rebuild, go for it. If you're going to contend, shed some salary, and go out and get some more big-name players to go help with De Brinket saw on Taves and Kane.

Because other than that, there really is just not much there. And Robin Lanner can win you games. Like with the Islanders last season, he had his best season of his career, posting over a 9-30-sabres percentage. And he's been really good to start this year, too. So, I mean, I think he actually even called out the Blackhawks defensive group last week. I mean, well, he kind of threw some shade at the Sabres defensive group, considering they were bad. So he basically, he's like, yeah, this is nothing. Like, it's fine because I've played on way worse defensive teams.

So that was pretty funny to see that Robin Leonard said that earlier this week before the game. But, yeah, I just wanted to throw it out there while I was watching the game. I just, I don't really know what the Black Hawk's plan is. And the sooner their fans and the front office figure it out out, I think it'll be for the better because I don't really think you can keep trying to finish 18th in the league every season, just missing the playoffs. Like if you're just going to keep doing that, I mean, like why even have an organization, in my opinion? But I just wanted to talk about that for a little bit outside this game. I thought the Black Hawks played an all right game.

For some reason, they give the Penguins fits. I have never understood why, despite them being so bad the past couple of seasons. Maybe now the Penguins will start a win streak of their own against them. That's one. They'll play the Chicago later this year in Chicago at the United Center. So maybe they'll get it to two. We'll just have to see. I thought a lot of players had really strong performances for this game, like I said, including Brian Russ, Malkin, Matt Murray, and Jake Gensel.

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Well, I mean, he'll probably be the second line center, but still, that's interesting to me. Dominic Simone with Evgeny Malkin and Brian Rust. I think that's going to be a pretty good line. I don't mind Simone with Malkin. But I'm curious to see how he plays with Gino compared to Crosby. Cahoon will be with Bukstad and Lafferty. It's good that Sam Lafferty is back up.

He'll be getting some more time. I've really wanted to see more, I think, of Sam Lafferty, considering on, of course, when the penguins are fully healthy. I just don't know if there is a spot in the lineup for him, though. Potentially, Zach Ashton Rees, I'm not really too thrilled with him, though. I mean, he has been playing a bit better lately, I would say. But let's see, the fourth line, Astin Rees with Blugher and Tannett. Tannett, I mean, like I said, you can play him anywhere in the lineup.

I still think he's playing well. In a lot of ways, he's exactly what the penguins needed, despite, you know, the albatross of a contract of six years. but he hasn't been lining up the goal sheet lately, but still he's been really fast to bucks. He's tenacious. He hasn't been drawing as many penalties lately, but I think that'll come back. I knew that was figured to regress a little bit,

but, I mean, it'll come. And, of course, the defensive pairings, the same as they were, Dumblin with Marino, Marino getting top pairing minutes with Chris La Tang out. Hopefully, it was announced, of course, that Chris LaTang is week to week with a lower body injury. That's not good.

And there's been a lot of weird takes on Twitter lately about, oh, well, no, the Penguins do have a winning record with Chris Lutang out of the lineup. Who cares? Like, he makes the team so much better. He's a number one defenseman. He's a top 10 defenseman in this league.

If you can't see that, I can't help you. That's just, that's just not an opinion. Those are facts. He's very, very good at what he does. Enough with the, you know, oh, he has a winning record with him out and praising Jack Johnson. It's not how it goes, people.

Pedersen-Schultz is the second pairing, of course, and then Johnson, with rotating Ricola and Ru-Eidel, rotating, it'll probably be Ricola that gets in the lineup. Port-Shad Ru-Roodle. Signs always a contract extension, but they can never get in the lineup. Penguins Power Play, with apparently according to Taylor-Hase, with No-Crosby or Latangor Hornquist.

It'll be Calchenyuk with Schultz, Bukstad, Malkin, against a lot. I think Bukstad on the top powerplay. That's something I don't think I ever thought I would see on the Penguins, but here we are with all the freaking injuries. But yeah, it's just these are too many injuries that keep happening. Hopefully the Hornquist one. He'll be back a little sooner rather than later.

I know it was long term. And of course, hopefully the Sydney Crosby one is not bad. Saw some tweets yesterday. Apparently people at the Stiers games in media were basically hearing that. The Crosby injury is not that serious, but still, looks like he's going to have to miss a game out of it since he's not practicing today. I doubt he's going to be at the morning skate tomorrow. So, yeah, it's just, I've run out of words to describe the Penguins injury,

because they've lost so many man games to injury. The fact that they're 10 and 6 and 1 in a playoffs right now, especially third place in the Metropolitan Vision is nothing short of a miracle. They're going to need all these players back. Obviously, they're going to get these players back, I would think. Krista 10 usually always misses about 10 games season with some sort of injury. As long as it's that at a maximum, I think the team will be okay. Patrick Hornquist will be back in the lineup.

Cindy Rondman, I mean, he's been really healthy the last few years too. So to see him injured is something that has not happened too often lately. Ever since his concussions, he just hasn't really been an injured player too much. He's been really reliable, which is awesome, considering what he went through about nine years ago with all those concussions from Victor Hedman, of course, and David Stuckoole, Winter Classic. But, yeah, thank you guys so much for listening to today's episode. Well, like I said, we'll have a crossover episode with Lockdown Rangers tomorrow to preview the gaming. against the Rangers.

See all the Penguins stack up against them. The Penguins have played the Rangers really, really good over the last few years. I know that I believe that the series was tied last season. I think both teams beat each other twice. But before that, the Penguins have won the season series of each of the last couple of seasons prior to last season. So the Penguins really know how to get up to play the Rangers. They play them very well at Madison Square Garden.

And, yeah, so I think it will be a really interesting matchup against the Rangers, considering the Rangers are not in a win-now mode. They're kind of still rebuilding. tooling for the next year or two since they don't really have the full pieces yet to contend for a playlist, in my opinion. But I'm looking forward to tomorrow's episode. It'll be great. And we'll talk to you guys soon.

Thank you guys so much for listening.