Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins 11/15-Devils Game Live Talk, Plus Thoughts on Toronto Maple Leafs

Episode Date: November 16, 2019

In this episode of Locked On Penguins, Hunter does something a little bit different when he talks about the Penguins-Devils game while recording the podcast. He talks about Matt Murray being strong, the penalty kill still being good, and does get a little bit frustrated when the struggles against the Devils come back. He also talks about the struggles of the Maple Leafs this year since the Penguins host them tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. 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 the latest edition of the Locked on Penguins podcast for the November 15th, my birthday day, 22 for me. Somehow, I've made it to 22. 2019, I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. I'm going to do a little something different, I think, for this episode. I thought about it actually today while I was just doing a couple things. Before that, follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show on Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. Today I'm actually going to be, during this episode, we're going to just be watching the

game. I can give my live thoughts about what I'm seeing. I feel like that would be like a really cool thing to do, honestly. So far, the Penguins have had a power play this game. Actually, the Power Play actually looked pretty good. The Nick Buxtad was stoned by Mackenzie Blackwood off of a Malken shot. Bukestad had the rebound. A couple other chances. Both units actually had a really good power play. Penguins now in an 0 for one slump after going 0 of 28. Of course, you know, before the Rangers goal where they finally broke the O for 20. Slump. But so far, no score in the first period here. 1326 left. The Penguins have actually played pretty well this game so far. For some reason, the Penguins have always struggled against

the Devils the last couple of years. I don't know what it is, but the Devils have been really bad this year. Their last place in the Metropolitan Division, they're going to probably be selling by the deadline. I think the big thing with them is what are they going to do with Taylor Hall? I've talked about this on the podcast a lot. That's a big, it's a tricky situation. And of course, well, of course, the Devils just scored. Who was it? Was that Palmyri or Zayt? Now was Zajak, it looks like.

And right on cue, folks. The Penguins give up a goal to the Devils. Yeah, it was Zajak, I believe, who got the goal. So, yeah, the Penguins struggles against the Devils have continued. We're not even seven minutes into this game. What kind of bounce was that? It looked like it was like a rolling puck, and then Zajak, it looked like just, did he just tap it in past Matt Murray?

That looks like a weird, that looks like a weird bounce of a goal. That puck was bouncing all over the place, but the Penguins now find themselves down. One-nothing in the first period. The Penguins, like I said, they're putting together a really good period, too. But I don't know, like I said, I don't know how I understand why the Penguins struggle against the Devils. Even last season when the Devils were so bad, I think the Penguins lost three of the four games. They didn't beat them until the final time they played them. And wow, Matt Murray, just another, Matt Monarch.

Monster saved there. It's just ridiculous. The devil's just come flying up the ice. I think that was Hall that did that, but like, good gracious, man. I mean, come on, Pittsburgh. Like, let's go here. I figure this would be kind of a just, like I said, like a neat idea to do. But the Penguins, they're just going to have to, like, bank these points. You know, the Devils are a team that they should beat at least three times a season. I think over the last two seasons, actually, they've lost six out of eight to New Jersey. I think the one season before when the Pengals were coming up back-to-back Stanley Cups, actually, when the Devils made the playoffs with Taylor Hall,

which, of course, after the famous Hall for Larson deal, the Devils made the playoffs that year and Crosby had that unbelievable, just, what's that? He just, what's the word I'm looking for, basically, where he just, he swatted his stick,

the puck in the nut with a stick. That was just unbelievable. One of the goals of the year, one of his best goals of his career. But, I just don't know what it is with the Devils, but going back to the Devils, they really struggled this year, and they were hyped up a lot going into this season, and I just, for some reason, I really did not see it with them.

You know, sure, yeah, they traded for P.K. Suban, really good defense, but I think he's falling off a little bit. Sure, they have Taylor Hall, but again, he may not be back next year, but considering the Elliott Freeman's reporting with the talks, it doesn't look like they're anywhere close to a contract, and it doesn't look like he's going to sign them. I think, I mean, if I were Taylor Hall, I would at least see what other teams have to offer, like John Tavares in. I mean, I know Tavares did go through the other than Italy, but still, if I were him, I would set a list of teams that I would want to talk to, talk to those teams, still have the devils in mind maybe, and if you want to go back to New Jersey, then do it. But if not, I mean, that's just, you know, this is like the biggest, the decision of your life. And New Jersey has just not been a good team lately.

I know they made the past, like I said, a couple years ago, but they're really just not. good for a long time. They have not been at the top of the league in a very long time, not since their cup years, but since Broder was there. And also, their goaltending has really sunk them again this season. Corey Schneider, you know, there was a time when he was a top 10 goaltender in the league. And honestly, I was seeing people argue that he was a top five goaltender. And for a while, he was playing like that top five, top 10, goaltender. Then, of course, the injuries happened. Just not very good at all. I mean, you know, he came back from the. then he played really bad.

He came back last year. It was playing okay, but then this year he's been bad. And now McKenzie Blackwood is the backed-up goaltender to Schneider, and he really has not been all that good either. But I know they have Jack Hughes. They got him at the draft this year. He's been pretty good so far. Nico Heeshier is still there, though I think he's battled little injury problems this season.

Kyle Palmerie, he's been a player that has been one of the more underrated players, I think, in the league. over the past four, five, six years. He's always been like that steady 20, 25 goals score, even about a 30 goal score for the Devils. You don't really see him talked about a lot by people around the NHL,

but he's been, he's very sneaky good, I think, is a good word for him. Zajak's been there for a while. He's been there, I think, for about a decade, I think, or something like that, but I may still have a, I think they still have Severson there, yep.

They did sign Wayne Simmons, and at the time, you know, a lot of people laughed about that contract, and, you know, I mean, I did too, but he's been pretty good this year, actually, for the Devils. A lot better than he was down in Nashville. Also, really big, nice save there for Murray off of them. I think that was actually off Simmons. Um, Murray is, of course, locked in tonight, folks. I felt like that goal that he allowed was not really his fault. I'm just a weird, just a, like I said, a weird balance, but I've liked the Penguins game so far. It's about 745 left. Um, this is a nice offensive zone. Well, no, not offensive zone anymore because they just cleared it. And then, of course,

slow Jack Johnson is there to get the puck back I just I hate playing the devil's I have such a big distaste for them because of what they did with the trap and I mean one of my favorite of course my earliest memories of like I remember my mom would tell me that I watched this game with her because she had me on her lap was when 1999 the devil's penguin series

when Yarramir Yager I mean basically saved the franchise well wait on Jake Gensel shoot that puck oh he didn't score that? Never mind. I thought he almost had that. But that was a nice two-on-one there. Gensel shot at McKenzie Blackwood had a nice save there on Jake. Marcus Pedersen, I don't know what that was, man.

Dude, did you just clear it to, like, the opposite end or something? All right. 6-51 left. Anyways, it was game, game six, of course the goal, and then game seven, where he basically, like I said, he saved the team. When they were down in that game, he tied it. and then they won it in overtime. You can make a very strong compelling argument that the penguins are not here today

if Yager did not win that series for them because the penguins are really struggling financially with the bankruptcy stuff. They couldn't even, like if I remember correctly, I don't even think they could pay their players all their salary because it was so bad. I might have to go back and check and just read up on that again. But it was just a really, really bad time. And yeah, I mean, you know, a course a couple years later than Darius Casperides had this big moment. But yeah, that was one of my first time they watched the animals.

And I think a lot, I know a lot of Penguins fans were, of course, you know, myself included happy because, you know, they beat the trap. And the trap was one of the worst things in this sport. I know a lot of people liked it at a time because, oh, well, you know, good defense, but it is just so boring to watch. Even a couple years ago, I mean, Guy Bouchet had his, had his trap. Even the offender is basically trapped. And it was just so boring to watch. watch. And yeah, of course, now what the devils have a power play? Oh, nice.

Zach Gashemise, I don't know what that hit was, dude. Like, why would you, why are you checking him to that? They're going to call that every time. I mean, the good part of this special team is for the Penguins is actually really, really good. They're second in the league in power play. I think they've killed off 17 straight penalties now. It's somewhere around there.

And that's a short hand of chance. Oh, I thought on Brandon Tann had almost scored. And shout out to Jeff, who writes for Pennswell. We wrote a great article about Brandon Tana. If he's been everything the Penguins have asked for, this year. He almost had a goal there short-handedly. That's a nice pass, and Tanna just misses the hole in Blackwood. Blackwood really came out of his crease there to get the puck. All right, so we're back. We're still watching the game of this first period. Six minutes left. The Devils have a minute, 38 left on the power play. Looks like the Penguins are still threatening short-handed here. This is a really nice shift for them. Jack Johnson just throws the puck and hits a devil body, though. So that's the end of that.

I do forget that the Devils They do have What's his face They got Nikita Gusev from Vegas I always I forgot about that trade Considering in Vegas They gave him away basically

Yeah they do have Saverson Miles Wood is still there Pavel Zaka He's been there Andy Green he's been there forever He really had Blake Coleman Will Butcher He was that defense from that they signed

A couple years ago Jesper Brat I mean it's just I mean It's just not a good team at all. I don't really know. But anyways, back to the game here. So the devils have a minute left on their powerplay. I can't say good enough things about the Penguins power play.

Power play. Of course, the penalty kill. That just goes to show how often we've talked about how good the Penguins Powerplay has been and just how bad that it's been this year. But the Penguins PKK, I can't say enough how good they've been. Another great clear vetted by Blugher and Tanev. That one-two duo on the PK is, I think it's one of the best, probably one of the best PK duos in the league. They're fast, they can play even strength in.

You know, I've always been of the opinion. Almost anyone can kill a penalty. I really, it's not like this select skill that you have. I mean, it's not, you know, you play even, you don't need like a PK specialist on your team that sucks everywhere else on the ice, i.e. Craig Adams. You know, Penguins thought for a long time. Oh my God. But yeah, this guy was a PK specialist. There were people on Penguins' Twitter that would once argue about it.

I'm not going to name names, but they were like, you can't cut him from the team or Joe Vettel, your Tiener Glass. Because, you know, they're PK specialists. It's like, no, it is not a select skill to kill a penalty. You just have to be good at even strength. You're fast. You have good stick skills. You're fine. It's not this big skill that you need.

And the Penguins have been doing this for a couple years now when they have a really good PK, a great save there by Murray on Taylor Hall, fighting through traffic. And Wayne Simmons, who's been one of the best net front presences in the NHL. But, yeah, a lot of credit has to go to Jacques Martin. He's been the P.K. coach, I think, since what, 2015, 2016? I think, honestly, yeah, I think it's basically, excuse me, it's around 2014, 15, 2015, 16 when he came on. he's been the PK coach he coached the defenseman I know some people don't like him too much but

great save there by Murray again on Palm Mary that time yeah Hall shot in Palmary had a rebound really nice save by Murray with 440 left and 12 seconds off in the Devils Powerpoint but just a great job by him the unit is good every single year they're usually top five top 10

league like you said they're number two right now and you know what It's great to have a really good PK. The Penguins penalty kill at times that struggled last year, but down the stretch, you know, in the playoffs, it's usually one of the best units in the league.

It's just, it's very, very good. It looks like, I don't know why there was no penalty there considering one lost their stick or was he slapped. Nice chop block there by Teddy Bluger. And then another big monster saved by Murray again. This time, I think,

Wayne Simmons, Ashton Reese is out of the box. I'm not really doing anything there. You know, he can't really be taking penalties like that, you know, especially when the team eventually does become fully healthy. Well, if they ever do. You know, like I said, it's going to be interesting to see what decisions that penguins make. And, of course, the buck goes out of play when the penguins are trying to get a shift going in the offensive zone. So that's lovely.

But as they go to a commercial break here, Teddy Bluger looks like he's hurting a little bit on that shot blocking. I think on his foot. Yeah, it looks like he's hurt a little bit. Anyways, the penguins, they also play tomorrow night. You guys are living under a rock. They play the Toronto Maple Leafs. I think it's a much bigger game for the Lees than the Penguins at this point. Consider, the Lees have really, really, really struggled this year.

They've just kind of been mediocre at best. Right now, well, they're tied with the Penguins for the second wildcars. The Penguins have a tiebreaker now since they've played out two fewer games. It'll be one after tonight. But there's been a lot of turmoil going up in Toronto. You know, Austin Matthews, John Tiberis. I've seen, you know, people ditching on Mitch Marner a little bit even, sometimes on William Neelander. The best part about people dunking on the Maple Leafs this year is Cody C.C.

I know they wanted out of the Zytecf contract because, I mean, he was just awful. He was bad. But they took back Cody C.C. from the Senators, and he has been nothing but brutal. And you know what? They're actually playing him, I think, in the top four. If I'm not mistaken, they've been playing him in the top four all year. and Lee fans have been just like, come on Babcock, get him off the top pair or the second pair. And even Kyle Dubus is actually coming to the defense.

And he's one of the more analytically minded GMs in the league. He uses analytics quite often when he's making his moves. And he came to the defense of Cici a little bit. And, you know, there were some not so friendly comments out of the Toronto Maple Leafs fan base. And you know what? it's really funny when you see Leafs fans getting all riled up about that stuff. You know, they'll probably just as riled up when they potentially have to play Boston yet again in the first round of the playoffs.

I think this would be the fourth year in a row. And I think for the Maple Leafs, before we get back to the Penguins game, and I love tweeting, a lot talking my thoughts about it, I think this is going to make it a break-year from Mike Babcock. You know, I've not been a big Mike Babcock fan the last couple seasons. I think he's one of the most overrated coaches in the league, if not the most overrated coach. You know, people say, well, you know, he won that Stanley Cup with that Red Wings team.

He's won all these gold medals with Canada. Congratulations. You won a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings team with the best possession team, I think, of the Stanley, of the salary cap era. That is probably the best team of the salary cap era, that 2007-198 team. It is a miracle that the Penguins took that series to six games. It should have been over in four or five. That's how good that team was. and then almost that same entire team returned next season and the penguins beat you

and you haven't won a playoff series in almost what like what is it now guys a decade or something it's been that long and you know what i mean this would be the fourth consecutive year i think you would be out of the first round and you know what that's unacceptable and really you know it really really especially you know high expectations of toronto this is the um what the second year now of Tavaros and Matthews, but you know this team is built to win. You have Marner, Tavaris,

Matthews, Nealander, so much more. You have Freddie Anderson, he's one of the best goaltenders in hockey. You know, you have Morton Riley, he's one of the best defensemen in the league. I mean, Tyson Barry, you acquired him from the Colorado Avalanche because they basically

didn't even need him anymore with Cal McCarr coming up. But it's just, it's interesting. You know, they've struggled a lot this season. Like I say, you know, this is, this is the make-and-a-break-a-year for Toronto. But, yeah, yeah, it's just, I'll be curious to watch that game. The Penguins and Leaks always play good games. It sucks, though, that Sidney Crosby's going to be out for that game. And, of course, for the next six weeks, as he did undergo surgery for the sports hernia, that's the right move by Crosby. He'll be back by Christmas,

New Year's, and the Penguins will be ready to roll. And as always, folks, here on Mark and HL, we talk about player performance. But that's not. But that's not. the only performance that might be on your mind right now. If you want to avoid awkward doctor's office visits when you're looking up to your game, check out bluechew.com. Bluechew is the first chewable with the same FDA approved active ingredients as Viagra and Seattle, so you'll be ready to play a full 60, and maybe even overtime or shootout. And because it's jubble, Blue Chew works fast, so you'll never have to worry about being ready to go. Made in the United States, blue chew is prescribed online and shipped straight to your door in discrete packaging,

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Gino actually just made a really nice defensive play on, Was that Hall close to it? Yeah, I think it was something like that. But, yeah, just a really nice defensive play there by Gino. He actually came back and, you know, stripped the puck from him, which is really good. You know, the Penguins are going to need, especially now with his injury from Crosby, they are going to need Gino to really step up now. And, you know, he had that awesome quote yesterday.

You know, I need to be fire in this Russian accent that, you know, only he can do. I know I'm not really good at a Russian accent. I have a couple other good accents, but not that one. And where did that puck just go? Okay, I went all the way back to the blue line. But 1.45 left in the period. For the most part, I mean, if the penguins don't score here, it's still only 1-0. But, I mean, he would have liked to gotten a goal on that power play.

There's a good, potentially 2-1-2 coming here. Well, the Devils also have numbers back, which is unfortunate. Looks like the fourth line is out there right now, Blue Garston, Reese, and Ries and Tanneth. I really, really, really like that fourth line for the penguins. I think when it's healthy, when the team is healthy, I think, You can definitely make a case to keep Ashton Reese down there when the team has all their forwards healthy. You can move someone else down there. But keeping Bluger and Tanaf together, that's definitely a must.

So you can move Tannab up and down the lineup. He's been really, really good. Like I said, since coming over from Winnipeg this season. He hasn't scored enough, I don't think. But, I mean, I think it's going to be well worth. It looks like a minute to go here. All right. I just feel so comfortable, most more comfortable when Matt Murray goes out and plays the puck behind the net.

It's not like an adventure with Mark Andre Fleury. But hey guys, Matt Murray doesn't smile like Mark Andre Fleury, right? He doesn't smile. He doesn't have that smiles per 60s act that all the Flurry fanboys love on Twitter. That's one of my favorite parts of Penguins Twitter, where some of these people that, like, Chad actually retweets some of these people that make me laugh my ass off because they're just like, oh my God, Matt Marie's glove sign. It sucks.

Flurry was so much better. He's a Hall of Fame goalie and all that. There were actual people that said like he smiles more and it's like get out Like please stop. It's just it's enough already but okay final 37 seconds here Okay dumping the puck in all right. All these devil's bins actually need to sit down because that is one of the worst things So when you're when you're watching the game and that was actually a complaint I had about Joe Lewis arena It would be the worst when you could, I think it was the Red Wings broadcast or I think it was either broadcast where it was like so high up and people would stand up during play and you could not see play it because Joe Luzrin was built so long ago so it's not like built like a modern NHRA. We know like some of the other ones are today and you could not see any of the field of play.

It was it was so bad. I'm glad that place is gone. Little Caesars looks so much. much better. I know the Joe is an icon, but, you know, it's just, I don't know why people felt the need to do that, especially, you know, when, like, the game is, like, in the first period. But, okay, final 27 seconds. See if the Penguins can get a nice shot out. That's a nice shot from the point. Saved by Blackwood with 24 seconds left. Boy, the final few seconds in period are ticking away. The Penguins are into the offensive zone or nothing really doing here.

Final 10 seconds. Malkin just got rushed shoved off the puck. See if the Penguins. All right, And Shultz fire that puck. That's a really nice save by a Blackwell's going in the net. I don't know why that was not a penalty there. Gino is pretty upset with P.K. Suban. Of course, P.K. Suban is doing something that is borderline. You know, P.K. is just, you know, great player, but he has a lot of, I think, a lot of borderline plays that he gets away with. Hesha, I remember during the Cup Final against Nashville, he kind of, with Gensel, is that a, I mean, that's a, yeah, that's kind of a trip.

And then he just kind of mouthwashes him against him. I didn't really like that. P.K. is just kind of a, like I say, he's a borderline player that he gets away with a lot of crap. But, yeah, I thought this was a little bit of a different way to shake it up. If you guys didn't like it, please let me know and I will stop doing it. There will be no hard feelings. I know I talked the whole time. You know, that was fun.

And, you know, all that good stuff. I really like doing it. But all right, guys, we'll have an episode starting next week. we'll preview the recap this game against the Devils recap the game against Jerome Maple Leafs tomorrow night and all the Penguins news that comes out of it

All right guys, talk to you guys.