Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins 12/9- Weekend Sweep, Tristan Jarry, Matt Murray, Plus Dominik Simon Talk

Episode Date: December 10, 2019

In this episode of Locked On Penguins, Hunter goes through the Penguins weekend sweep of the Arizona Coyotes and the Detroit Red Wings. He talks about Trista Jarry's performance, how the Wings game was a step in the right direction for Murray, and so much more! 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 a late Monday night edition of the Locked On Penguins podcast. I am of course your host Hunter Hodes. Follow the show on Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. And the Penguins had two games this past weekend, of course, and they won both of them. They now are on a three-game winning streak. Let's just, I guess let's just get into the first wave. They play the Arizona Coyotes.

Phil Kessel made his return. I just want to say about Phil Castle, great job to everyone that went. I had a lot of friends that go to the game, a lot of people I saw. You know, great standing ovation to give Phil Kessel. It looked like he was about to cry and look a couple times. And he is not the kind of player that shows, I think, a lot of big time emotion on the ice, especially like when he scores and whatnot. I've seen it only a few times.

But great job Penguins fans. That was a great video that the Penguins made for him. The nice guy tries hard and at the end loves the game. So many great highlights over the years when Kessel was here. The Penguins do not have both of those Stanley Cussle. Cups if it wasn't for his services and how much he did in those two Stanley Cup runs. And I thought that was a great tribute. I thought it was a great video.

And his comments after the game, he even said he loved it. He loves the city. He absolutely loves the fans in Pittsburgh. And that made me really happy to see. But in terms of the overall game, the Penguins did a good job on Kessel. He did have a couple chances. But we'll just get into Tristan Jari. I mean, wow.

Tristan Jari, folks. just keeps getting better and better. That leg save that he had late, I think this was in the third period. He basically kicks the puck up over the net and it hits the glass. It was going in, and Tristan Jorai was one of the saves of the season, I thought. And, you know, there's still not, I'm not going to go as far as to say there's a goalie controversy. This is just a case where, you know, Jesse Marshall wrote this in his piece of The Athletic when he talked about the goalie situation.

And I agree with him. You know, it's basically you ride the hot hand, and that's what you're doing right now. When you have a good backup that's playing really well and your starter is still struggling, you just ride the backup until you ultimately will regress a little bit, and then you can put your starter back in and have him carry the workload, okay? And in this day and age, you don't really need your starter playing 65, 60 games, you know, maybe 50, 55 is probably okay. And it looks like at this point, that's what Matt Murray is on track to do, which is good.

But Jari, he was seeing the puck well all night. There was a few surges in the game from Arizona where Jari was just on his game. And, yeah, that was back-to-back shutouts for him. I think that was the first time since Mark Andre Fleury did back-to-back shutouts, if I'm not mistaken. I don't think – well, if we're talking overall, playoff-wise, it was Matt Murray game five, game six of the Stanley Cup final against Nashville. But regular season-wise, I believe this was the first time since Mark Andre Fleury did it a few seasons. I have to go double back and check, but I know it was not my mark on the three.

Matt Murray did not do it. I have to double check on what your games it was. But still, very impressive that Trish and Jari was able to do that. Just, you know, he's seeing the park really right right now. And you know what? That's awesome. You know, especially, you know, when your backup goal is playing like this, your stacking points with more play with players out. You need your goalie to be good. And that's exactly what Trishon Jari has been.

It's just, it's been a welcome surprise. I thought Auntie Rons also had a really good game for the coyotes. The Penguins had a lot of chances. They were lucky that game was, I think, blown open a little more. But the Penguins, they did enough to get the win. I mean, you know, of course, it was the goal.

Malkin had the goal to give the Penguins the lead. It was kind of a little bit of a boring game, I thought, throughout the first couple periods. You know, there wasn't a lot going on. Sure, there were some teams getting some chances, but, I mean, there just wasn't, like, it was just a lot more boring than I thought this game was going to be. considering how good the coyotes have been.

But credit to the Penguins defensively. They shut down Arizona that game. Arizona did not have a lot of grade A chances, I think I would say. I mean, I know Jari had 33 saves, but I mean, the Penguins, they kept a lot of that to the outside. And like I said, you know, credit to the Penguins defense because, you know, they've been one of the NHL stingiest defensive teams this season. They're not as good as the Islanders, but, you know, when you're playing that well defensively

and when you're limiting shots, it does wonders for the backup goaltender. And even though it does do wonders of the backup goaltender, I still will not take away just how good Tristan Jari has been. But Malkin was kind of a harmless play for his goal. He just pokes the puck five hole. It looked like a broken play. And Malkin's a celebration, folks. Wow.

He was really excited about that goal. I mean, who could blame him? You know, he came into this season really, you know, really wanted to prove people that, you know, last season was kind of a mirage for him that he struggled. And he's doing this. that so far right now, folks. Without Evgeny Malte, without Cindy Crosby in the lineup, it's been 14 games,

Malkin, six goals, 16 assists, has 51 shots on goal, 80 shot attempts. Penguins, shots on goal with him on the ice, they're up 18 to 11 with him, well, they outscore teams, 18, 11 with him with him on the ice, and the Penguins have gone 8 and 3 in 3 in these 14 games. This is all according to Dmitri Filipovich. V Yahoo, ESPN, shout to him. a great follow for all you hockey fan people. If you're on Twitter,

please give Demetri your follow. He does a lot of good work for many sites. And I thought that was very interesting. You know, Malkin, you know, he's just been on another level. And you know what? That's part for the course for him when Cindy Crosby goes out of the lineup, you know? And, you know, also, he also gets the team's best winger, Jake Gensel. Jake Gensel has been phenomenal this season.

You know, of course, he also steps out when Cindy Crosby's out. He steps up with Sidney Crosby is out, of course, my mistake. But, you know, know, it also helps when you have the team's best winger and the team's best goal score this season in J. Cancel. So, you know, not to take anything away from that, but, you know, he's just, he's been outstanding and, you know, the Penguins have really needed him too as the penguins continue to bank points. Also, Brandon Tanna had a goal. He had the empty net goal. He looked like Teddy was good. He could have shot. He would have added the empty net goal, but he preferred

to give it to Brandon Tanna, who continues to excel in his game. I can't say enough about how good Brandon Tanev has been this season. That's another goal for him. Yeah, I just, I thought this game, that was a really, really well-played game by the Penguins. I know at times they were hemmed in the Roan Zone a little bit, but I still defensively, I thought they didn't give up as many chances as they sometimes do. They kept Arizona to the perimeter.

Tristan Jari, just absolutely outstanding play from him. And he's probably going to get the start tomorrow night against Montreal, folks. I think that's what they're going to keep doing, even though Matt Murray did get a win on the game. Sunday against the Red Wings and we'll be getting to that coming up pretty shortly. But yeah, I think that's probably what's going to be the planet goalie. And, of course, I'm getting him all in, Brandon Tanev. I'm trying to see if I missed anyone else from that game.

I don't think I really, really did. I mean, Gensel, I know I had an assist. I don't really think I missed anyone from the game. But, yeah, just a really great game for the Penguins to win. They won two in a row. And then, of course, we'll get to the Detroit game very shortly. So, of course, the Penguins had their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. I had a friend at the game.

Adam Rickert, shout out to you, buddy. I don't think I've talked about you on this podcast before, but if it wasn't for us doing Top Shelp Hockey when I was about 15, 16 years old, and you're about 1920 with Rob Kirk and Brian Bobo. I don't think I'd be in this position that I am today getting to host this Lockdown Penguins podcast every day. So I thank you every day for all the hockey that we talked and all the hockey that we talked, especially on the top shelf hockey podcast. That was for e-draft.

That was back when I was a kid. I don't sound like how I used to on that podcast. You guys want to go check that out. I sound like a completely different person. It's probably way obnoxious back then than I am now, especially on Twitter. I'm not like that anymore. Thank God.

But Adam, shout up to you, buddy. I love you. I hope you had a great time in the game. He was texting me about it during the time. A lot of empty seats down at Little Caesar to Green and the lower bowl. But apparently Adam said that's what it always happens because apparently it's a lot of corporate companies buy those seats, but they also don't sell them to people.

And it doesn't help that the Red Wings, I've been very, very bad this season. The Red Wings have been the worst team in the league. After that game, they've now lost 11 games in a row. Just not good. That team is bad. And, you know, I feel bad for Stevie Eisenman because, I mean, he's going to get them out of it.

He's too good of a general manager not to. But I think they're going to have to make a crucial. coaching change and Jeff Blaschell. I don't really think they're listening to him. He's been there for the last few seasons ever since. He took over for Mike Babcock, who went to Toronto, then, of course, was fired. But I think they're going to have to make coaching agents. They just don't have enough talent.

That's just a bad team. Their defense, I don't think I recognized one defenseman on that team. Yeah, I literally don't think I recognized any defenseman on the Red Wings Washer. That's how bad it was. And, you know, they have Dylan Larkin. I think of the CEO. I know Mantha is out for a little bit. I think apparently Adam said he's been out all season.

I did not know that. I mean, they still have some good young boys. They have Philips Zedina, you know, but he's on the third line with Darren Helm for some reason. Don't really get that coaching decision. But anyways, let's go back to the game. I thought the Penguins played a pretty good game. You know, I mean, I wouldn't say, I'll take that back a little bit.

I wouldn't say pretty, pretty good. But, I mean, they did enough to get the way. And they could have played a lot better. But, you know, they're on a back. to back to back. They're playing one of the worst teams in the league. I know it's a hard game to get up for sometimes, especially considering that they're just, they're so bad, and you play the night before. I got a little bit of an emotional win against the coyotes with Phil Castle returning,

but you got up, you got the win, the Penguins jumped out to a two-nothing lead against Detroit. Chad Ruehedo got his first goal this season. That was a bomb of a shot. I mean, oh my, oh my goodness. That was absolutely beautiful. folks, Dominic Cahoon, I think it was Cahoon, I believe, that did open the scoring for the game. I haven't actually to go double check. But he did have a gorgeous goal.

Just, you know, it comes in, you know, just a beautiful shot. And, you know, Dominic Cahoon guys, you know, just keeps on getting better and better. What a trade this has turned out to be. I think now that's eight goals and 17 assists for Cahoon this season in 29 games. He's played in almost every game. You know, this is the player that it looks like that they scouted in Chicago. It looked like, I mean, probably for the first eight to ten games, the penguins were probably like puzzled. Like, what the hell is going on?

Why is this guy not producing? Like we saw he did in Chicago when he was getting top six minutes and producing it even straight. Well, now he is. You know, sometimes it takes a player a little longer to adjust than some others, but he is fully on now. Like I said, eight goals, 17 points, 29 games. You can play him anywhere in the lineup. He has a great shot. He's fast.

He's tenacious. He does everything well on the ice. He's the kind of player, like I said, that the Penguins need to start acquiring. Hey, it's almost as if when you get someone like Tom Wilson out of Jim Rutherford's head. And for some reason, he was in his head for so long, you go back and start making moves that, hey, one of you back to back Stanley Cups, like acquiring Dominic Cahoon. It's almost as if, wow, that plan worked, you should never have went away from it in the first place. And now that you're back to it, let's keep the train going. You don't need to go back to going getting hofer, getting heavier, whatnot.

You know, just a great goal. Also, of Gennie Malkinsk scored again. He had three points, Jake Gensel, also had a goal in that game with two assists. And then John Marino had the empty netter to seal it. Penguins, you know, they were in control of this game for basically the whole way through. It was 4-1 for a while. It was 4-1. Well, really, it was mostly just 4-1.

Yeah, yeah, it was 3-1 after the second period after, I believe, Malkin got the third goal. Yeah, it was Malkin. Then the Penguins made it 4-1 in the third period. And the Red Wings, they did score a couple goals towards the end of the third period. I thought Matt Murray would, it was a step in the right direction for him. I'll say that, you know. To the goals, he really didn't have too much of a chance on, I don't think. They were kind of, you know, plays the Cucks out.

I don't think any goal he would stop. The third goal I do have a problem with. Larkin shot that right, right, too. There was no screen in front. That puck can't go through Murray's five hole. That's just a weak goal to allow. You saw it the whole way. You can't let that in.

It's just soft. But then a few minutes later, the Red Wings were actually pressuring the penguins in. Got some really good changes off. Larkin had one of them in Murray. Stonewalled Aldham. I thought Murray had some really nice saves in this game. I know the stat sheets not going to look pretty. 983, 8.93 save percentage, 25 saves.

out of 28 shots. But, you know, he did enough to get the penguins to win. You know, the penguins, they were reeling a little bit towards the end of the game, of course, since they probably didn't have their legs a lot. Like I said, I know it's sometimes hard to get up to play a team like the Red Wings who have just been so bad. But the Penguins, they were able to, I believe also, folks, this snapped a four-game on way losing streak against the Red Wings.

I don't think they, they don't win too often at Little Caesar's Arena and whatnot. But Penguins, they were able to get the win. Like I said, Matt Murray, like I said, step in the right direction. He got the win. I think a win can do a little bit of wonders for his confidence. I think it can get him more confident. I don't think he just, he needs to be more square two of the shooters, I think. He needs to play bigger in net.

You know, because when he's doing that, man, there are just, there are not many goalies in this league that are better than Matt. I really, really believe that. But like I said, and I'll say it again, step in the right direction. Not even close to me all the way back yet. He's going to continue to get starts. I wouldn't be too surprised if he did get the start against Montreal tomorrow since he did get the win. But also, I would expect Jari to get that star considering he has back-to-back shutouts going on right now. I think more likely could be he plays the Kings on Saturday night, considering the Kings have been really, really bad this season.

Or he could also play Columbus. The Penguins do play Columbus this week on Thursday. The Penguins don't have a back-to-back until next weekend when they have the Western Canada road trip. But still, they're probably going to alternate starts, I think, between Murray and Jari. That's basically the way you can do. Or, like I said, you just keep riding Jari, give Murray some starts in between there, whatever. But yeah, you know, this win gets the Penguins now to 17 and 9 and 4. You know, the second place through fourth or fifth place, not a lot of big margin for error right now, folks.

especially with the Flyers keep winning. I think the Flyers are now, just a couple points up on the Penguins. They're also playing some military hockey. The Islanders are still playing some really good hockey. It's going to be a dog fight for those two through three, three, four, five, so that's still Carolina down there. It's going to be a dog because we all know.

I think Washington's going to win the Metropolitan Division. I mean, they do it every season. It's one of the things you can basically bank on. I've always never understood why people don't pick the capitals to win the Metropolitan Division. I think it's kind of funny because they've, basically won the Metro, like every season that the Metropolitan Division has been there. So I kind of find it funny.

But, yeah, it's going to be a dogfight. The Henging is to keep stacking points, and they'll have another chance to, when they take on the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow night. And we'll preview that game a little bit in the next segment here. As well as well, I'll talk about that too. I have another something that came up today. that when I was scrolling through Twitter seeing some Penguins fans talk about

Dominic Simone, because of course he always is talked about it on Penguins' Twitter for good or evil. So like I said, so for the road ahead for the Penguins this week, in case you guys did not know, I mean, I just talked about it, obviously, but for this week, folks, they play the Montreal Canadiens tomorrow night at home.

Then they play the Columbus Blue Jocgets at home at PPG Patero on Thursday night, and then Saturday night they host the LA Kings. before starting a four-game road trip on Tuesday, December 17th, which goes through December 27th, where they have the Western Canada road trip, and then they go to Nashville to play the Predators, and that would be a home-at-home series, actually, the 27th and 28th.

So right after Christmas, right after the little holiday break, they will have a home-in-home. But anyways, folks, they play Montreal tomorrow night. Montreal. They've been reeling a bit lately. They had just lost. I think what was it, like a one-term? 2, 3, 4, 5.

I'm counting this right now, Fire Zone 6, 7, 8. They had an 8 game losing streak. They finally broke that on December 3rd against the Islanders, so they had out of the 9th. Then they lost the avalanche on the 5th, and they beat the Rangers. So, yeah, this is a team that is just,

they're just, they're not playing well right now. They've lost 9 out of the last 11 games to fall kind of out of the, well, they're still kind of in the playoff picture. They're only two, yeah, they basically are. They're 13, 11 and 6. I know they've lost 8 out of 10, 9, 11, but still, there are only two points out of third place in the

division of the Buffalo Sabres, who have been playing a little bit better lately. The Atlantic is kind of a, excuse me, pardon my French, my homework language, but it's kind of a shit show this season. Besides the Bruins who are just a buzz saw that. I mean, after that, literally from second place all the way down to six place in the division, It is separated by four points.

The lightning, you know, the lightning may have a big run coming, even though they've not been good this season. You never know with Toronto. They've been playing a little bit better lately, but still, they've been struggling. I don't know what's going to happen in the Atlantic. It's pretty odd. So from Montreal, of course, you have the usual customers.

Shea Weber is there. Brendan Gallagher, Jonathan, I think Jonathan Duran actually might still be hurt from that hit. Yeah, yeah, he is. He is still out. Of course, like I said, Brendan Gallagher. Max Domi's still there, Thomas Tatar. Lacking in, Nick Suzuki is there, Jordan Wheel, Nick Cousins. Of course, on defense besides Shoebber.

Jeff Petrie, he's one of my favorites. I used to love. Jeff Peach, I won the Penguins to Requirement, one of the trade deadlines. When he went to Montreal, then, of course, they signed him. Ben Shara, Brett Kulak, and then, of course, in goal, Corey, Carrie Price. He will be a in the start. He's one of the best goaltenders.

in the league. He has been for quite some time, you know. He's gone down just a little bit, but I think this is the game of Penguins. You can definitely win. Trying to extend their win streak to four in a row without Sidney Crosby in the lineup, of course, with Nick Fuey, Justin Schultz, and Patrick Hornquist, Lowell still be out for a little bit. It doesn't look like they're any closer to returning. But, yeah, I was just a little low short preview of the Canadians. You know, they're still without Jonathan Dewein, like I said, but they still have some good players. Like I say, Gallagher, Tatar.

Shui Weber, Petrie, Carrie Price and Nat. So this will be a good challenge, I think, for the Penguins defensively. But also, I wanted to get into before we end today's episode. There was a lot of talk today about Dominic Simone. I saw Jeff a pen's blog was arguing with who is this guy. Basically, it's like Penguin, the Penguins Nation Jake from Twitter. And I don't really under, like, it was like basically, it was an argument about why Dominic has just been useless lately he's not scoring and it's like like and basically like the whole

argument is like well you know if he's not scoring like he just sucks well it's like not not really he's driving possession he's creating scoring chances like yes obviously he's been missing the net a lot lately it's been his biggest problem you know if goal scoring was easy everyone would do it you know if goal scoring was easy everyone will just be like alex ovechkin who's the greatest goal scorer to ever live i mean or wayne gretsky whoever it is yeah i mean whoever you think it is in my opinion it's Alex Levitics, and then there's the argument, though, you know, analytics are irrelevant to winning hockey games. Like, that's just, that's a stupid take. Jay, come on, man, that's just, you know, the hang was literally I have an analytics guru in the front office and, um, in San Ventura. He's the director of hockey

research of England and he reports directly to, I think, like, the assistant general manager, like, the Carmanos, who literally reports to Jim Rutherford and he's, like, the head of the analytics. So, I mean, like, I, you know, the capitals also use analytics in their front of, office and hey it got them a cup just a couple seasons ago. I just never understand why having so much information as you can is just considered bad. It's just kind of a boomer take

if you ask me. Like I said, I've never understood the insight into why people love to bash on Dominic Simone. I guess he's just not well you know he hasn't I guess scored as much and you know that is a problem. It definitely is

a problem but I mean if you're going to like compare it to like, well, you know, like, you've got himoking and all that. It's like, come on, man. Like, that's just not. Like, there's plenty of other players in this league. I mean, that Jeff mentioned in the argument, you know, Stamco has three, five, B five points, and he's not,

he's one of the best players in the league. Johnny Goodrow has been really bad in five-by-five. His last 17 games, like Dominic Simone has two. I mean, are they bad players, or are they just going through a rut, just like Dominic Simone is in? Yes, I know. Dominic Simone is not close to as good as any of those players, but, you know, those, those,

are all still really, really good players that are going through the same thing he is. So I really don't understand why people have to, you know, he's just, people have to keep dying on the hill that Dom Samoa is a bad player. There's so much evidence to suggest that he's not a bad player. You're objectively wrong if you think he is considering he drives his action. The team literally creates scoring chances almost every time he's on the ice. He drives possession on any line he plays on it. And Mike Sullivan has said that constantly.

The results are going to come, I would say, with Simone. But I just want to get that off my chest a little bit. We'll have another episode coming tomorrow. I think it will be after the Penguins Montreal game to recap it and see what we saw a bit. Until then, guys, thank you all so much for listening. And we'll talk to you guys soon.