Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins 1/31-The bye week is over! Plus Nicole Giordano joins for Caps-Pens!

Episode Date: February 1, 2020

In this episode of Locked On Penguins, Hunter recaps the Penguins win over the Flyers as Sidney Crosby reminded Philadelphia that he's still their mayor. Later, Nicole Giordano from Locked On Capitals joins the show to preview Pens-Caps! 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 this very, very, very late-night edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm, of course, your host, Hunter Hodes, follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter. At L-O-Henkers. And wow, what a game. The Penguins, we are finally back in business after a week and a half off. You know, I just can't believe. You know, that felt like basically it was two months. But, you know, the Penguins got back in action, and they got a big win against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, 4-3.

in overtime courtesy of Sidney Crosby, who to this day, you know, 15 years later, still owns the Philadelphia Flyers. You know, they can take those Crosby sucks chance and they can just, you know, get bent with them because Cindy Crosby is still the mayor of Philadelphia and he proved it once again tonight. I will say with this performance, I guess I'll just start off with Tristan Jari. He put them in the Penguins in a position to win this game. I know he gave up three goals again. And that has been a trend lately with Tristan Jari. But of all the three goals that he give up, I really don't think any three of them were stoppable.

The first one, you know, way out of position, but also Jack Johnson had a turnover on the flyer's power play goal. Second one, that was a bad attempt for Latang to get it out of the zone. He can't go up in the middle of the ice like that. He has to just get it off the boards or something. I didn't really like that play from him. And the third, and then Pitt Lake just sniped it right over his glove. That was just a really nice shot.

And the third goal, the puck. The puck literally, Kevin Hayes literally threaded between three players, basically went off three players right to Scott Lawton Stick, who had a wide open empty net to tie the game at three. But, you know, he made some monstrous saves in the third period when they needed to. You know, Kevin Hayes had a semi-breakaway. There was just, Van Reeves Day had a really good chance on the pass from Jeru. He was there when he was needed to, and the Penguins, he was the biggest reason why they won tonight, if not the biggest reason, even though Cindy Crosby and of Gennie Malkin, did have some really, really, really good games. But, man, Jari, you know, all that, you know,

I mean, it is true. He has given up three goals lately in a lot of his starts. But, you know, man, you know, with the way these two goalies are playing right now with Murray and Jari, you know, you got to feel awfully comfortable with the Penguins' goaltending situation. You know, it's just going to make it that much harder to decide who starts game one of the playoffs. But all in all, though, you're going to need both of these goalies in the playoffs.

You know, it was said basically in 2016-17, when Flory won half the games and then Murray went on the rest in the way to win basically the rest. The second half the other games so you know they're going to need both and you really can't go wrong with starting either one in game one. Both of them are just playing really, really good right now.

Wouldn't be surprised if either one started against the capitals though I'd maybe lean jari a little bit considering this performance is really good but I also could see Sullivan going to Murray and just being like, you know what? You played really good against Boston before the break now as you're here, now's a chance go up against the capitals who are the league's best team right now and they got a win against

the Ottawa Senators tonight and you know they put him a beg up against them but still um there's a really good performance from Tristan Jari again it's just it just keeps on going and what a story that he has been just the whole season he's just been absolutely outstanding but um I thought the uh the first period in this game was um pretty woof I tweeted it uh that was probably 45 minutes of my life that I will not get back uh That's one way to put it. I think combined through the first period, there was five shots on net. I think it was three to two in favor of the, I actually know it was like, it's not five.

I think it was six shots. Three to three, the shots were tied. So the only goal, of course, was scored by Borchuk with less than a minute to play on the power play. But yeah, that was, that period looked like two teams that were off for a week and a half and were just thrown into a game when they were had so much time off. That's what it looked like. And, yeah, that's going to happen when you're offered, you're both off for, I think, 10 days, especially for the Penguins, who, you know, they, you know, they were gas going into the prior game against Philadelphia.

Then the second period, they woke up. That was a really, really strong second period. Malkin was able to tie the game. I don't know what Brian Elliott was doing on that goal. And then the second goal, Brian Rust, to his 22nd of the season. What an absolute freight train that he is right now. I just can't say enough words about how he just keeps doing what he's doing. He almost, I tweeted this during the game. Almost brought the house down in overtime at PPJ Pates Arena. He basically passed it to himself, split the two Flyers players,

and I think that shot went off the post, or it was saved by Elliot, or it was one of the two. Oh, my God. That would have been one of the goals of the year for the Penguins if Ross was able to score there, and I thought he was considering the season he's having him. Whenever he just, he has the puck, it's just downright scary what he can do. It's just nuts just how good of a season he's had. Matt Chad 4-1-2, a guest of him.

this podcast and we'll have them on soon had a great tweet. Brian Russ at 3.75 million has 22 goals and for the flyers, Drew and Voracek, who makes 16 million per year between the two combined. So combined 16 million per year have 23 goals to Brian Russ 22 and he makes not even half of that salary, probably just a quarter of it. So it just goes to show. I thought that was really funny. I had to share that.

And then Chris LaTang had a goal. Chris Lattang was able to get that. a goal before he had his egregious error on the Tyler Pitlick goal. He beat Brian Elliott from almost an impossible angle. Brian Elliott was really bad tonight. That was the more of the Brian Elliott that we're used to seeing, not the Brian Elliott that shut out the penguins in the game prior to the All-Star break. And then, of course, Sidney Crosby was able to win it in overtime as Sean Couturee had a

really just a bad turnover before. And then the Flyers just never saw the puck again because, you know, Right after that rush chance, Crosby got the puck from Letang, and he fired it from the right-wing circle, and he beat Elliot Stickside, and that's all she wrote, that the Penguins beat the Flyers. So that's two of the three that they've beaten them this year. They will next play them. I believe it's March 29th in Philadelphia. I believe that is a Sunday. I believe that's an afternoon game.

I have to double check, but I'm sure it'll be on national TV. These games are always on, it seems like they're always on national TV. And, you know, that was just a really good win for the Penguins. I don't think they deserved it. I think that's one way to put it, especially with that third period. That was atrocious. That third period was absolutely awful. The penguins were giving up.

Way, way too many chances, especially after limiting the Flyers to just 13 shots on net for the first two periods. I think the Flyers had almost 20 in the third period. The Penguins definitely let their foot off the gas paddle. The Flyers were taking it to the Penguins in that period. And Tristan Jari was able to bail them out. He was able to keep the game tied after the first. Scott Lawton tied it up because the Penguins really didn't have any chances

towards the rest of that period. I think they had a two-on-one-one. For some reason, Brandon Tannab didn't shoot it when there was an open lane to. He tried to throw the pass to the other side. I think it was to Aston Reese or Bluiger. I have a double-check which one it was. Just take the shot in those situations, man.

You have a better chance from scoring on Elliot who had been really bad up until that point instead of passing it to Blugher or Austin Reese. Just take the shot in that situation. But yeah, I just, you know, it was the penguins looked gas in that third period, but you know that overtime, it was going to end one

of two ways. Either they were going to give up a stupid goal on like a two on one or whatever, a two on O, or Sydney Crosse, we were just going to be like, hey, I'm going to take it in my own hands and remind everyone in Philadelphia why I own their team and I take up so much real estate in their fans' heads. So great for the penguins to get the wind.

That moves them to six points ahead of the islanders now. There's still six points behind the capitals. and what a game that is going to be on Sunday against the Capitals. I'm very, very excited to watch that game nationally televised. This is their first meeting. So think of this as kind of the appetizer, and the main course on Sunday afternoon is going to be at Penguins Capitals.

We'll be getting into more of that coming up after the break as we'll have actually a very special guest who joins the show who's actually going to be here watching the game. All right. So for this, these last couple segments actually have Locked on Penguins, we are joined by the host of Locked on Capitals. Nicole Giordano, ESPS. She is my girlfriend. So I think everyone probably knows that by now. If you probably didn't, I guess you probably haven't not paid attention on Twitter or whatever or Instagram if you follow me or whatever. So Nicole, thank you so much for joining the podcast. Yeah, thanks for having me. So it is finally here, 52 games into the season, and we finally have a Penguins Capitals game, 1230 on NBC, Doc Emrick, Brian Boucher, and so Pierre McGuire, which is nice, and Eddie Olshek will be calling the game. These will be the first game of Penguins Caps, and then they'll play again, and it'll be in Washington before the two games after that will be in Pittsburgh.

Yeah, so I'm extremely excited. This is, you know, the games that I have marked on my calendar from the beginning. honestly more excited about this game than I am the Super Bowl, which is probably a bad take. But I'm just really excited. These two teams could not be in a better place in the standings for their first matchup. It is so tight right now. Although with the Caps win tonight, the Caps are six points ahead. But it's still Cops could lose a few.

Tons can win a few. It's just, it's very tight. So I think that we'll just add on to this rivalry. I think both teams are always apt to play each other. So it's always a really aggressive game. And I can't wait. I think it's going to be a great one in Washington. Yeah, it's the main course.

You know, it's probably a bad take that you think it's going to be better than the Super Bowl. Not better. We'll let it pass because the Super Bowl is going to be really good between the Chiefs and the 49ers. P.S., I have the 49ers winning the Super Bowl this year. I think hopefully my stepdad will probably be partying after the game since him and his family are massive 49ers fans. So, you know, shout out to him. But yeah, this game is going to be awesome. You know, it's the first – I've probably been on a broken record.

I keep saying that it's the first matchup. And, you know, you'd always know Krosby, you know, that's going to awake for these matchups. You know, Benny Malkin, of course, you know. But, you know, the Capitals, they're one of the league's best teams for a reason. They have a lot of high caliber players up front. Their depth is pretty good. I'm not really sure what goaltender they're going to start in that game because Braden Holpey's numbers lately have been, well, most for most of the season, have not been pretty.

Nicole, I still can't fathom as to how he was kind of at the All-Star game this year with his numbers. But, and I would be curious to see if they'd go to Samsonov for this game. Yeah, so it's kind of been highly talked about among Capps fans and Caps media of who's going to start Sunday's game. Honestly, I would like Samson off. and I think that Reardon is going to go with Sampsonoff. He was talking to Samantha Pell of the Washington Post today, and he said that he is aware now as well that the caps show up way more in front of Sampsonoff. They're more comfortable.

They play a better game. So I think that statement after practice was very telling. I think that's who Reardon and the Capitals feel comfortable with for these big games. I just Hopi is doing what Holp is. he does. He's slumping, although his slump has lasted most of the season. He shows up sometimes in games, and I think a big issue is that his team's just not comfortable with him in net right now. So even during games where it's not all his fault, for whatever a variety of reasons, the team is just not showing up in front of him. So I hope Sampsonoff gets the start. I think

Sampsonoff will get the start, but I think that will be very, very, telling if he does, it will kind of shift the tides of in Sampsonoff, our starter. But I would like to see him in that. I think he's highly skilled. I covered the Hershey Bears member of the media last season. It was up there a lot, really got to watch and develop. So I'm just really happy for him. I think he's had a hell of a year.

And I think he's the future of caps coaltending. Yeah, he definitely is. And you bring up that very interesting point about how they feel comfortable with him in net. You know, some of the media has actually asked Mike Sullivan about that, you know, with Murray and Jari since they've gone back and forth a lot. Both goaltenders are playing really good right now, as I've said. And, you know, the players of all just said, they feel comfortable with both in that.

You know, they play kind of the same, they just, they play the same style. The Penguins, of course, are one of the best defensive teams in the league, you know, shot attempts against, scoring chances against, goals against. They're in the top five, top ten in the league, which is a credit to all, a big credit to, you know, the buy-in from the players with Mike Sullivan. And I said in the segment before, I'm not really sure who's going to start this next game. I wouldn't be shocked if it's just Injari, considering how he willed the Penguins to at least a point. And then Cindy Crosby, of course, took over.

But it also wouldn't shock me if Murray started, who has won his last five starts, six of seven. His numbers are improving. But I just know I'm going to support either goalie that plays. But, yeah, it has been a weird season for Braden Holphy. You know, of course, his contract is expiring. We all know probably that he's not going to be back in Washington next year. I've always been of the belief that you don't pay a goaltender like that, the money that he's looking for because it can screw up your cap situation moving forward.

And, you know, the goalie position is a lot of voodoo. And when you have a younger, cheaper option in net who is putting up better numbers, you tend to go with that. And that's what the Penguins did, of course, with Mark Andre Flutter at the expansion draft. They led to go to Murray. And now the capitals, I think, should follow suit. And, you know, go let Brayden Holpey get paid because it only takes one team to overpay for a goalie like him.

And it's going to happen. I'm just going to laugh when it happens. And I can't wait. But Nicole, just, you know, give a little bit of a Caps overview for the listeners here. You know, just like somehow some players are doing. We all know Jacob Rana has had a big breakout season. I still remember the time where Barry Trott somehow scratched him in the playoffs. against the penguins for some reason, and I couldn't fathom that at the time, and I still can

with how well he's playing. Yeah, don't get me started with Barry Trots. That's for a whole other episode. But, no, I think that all of the caps right now are really playing well, except for, like you were saying, except for Holpey. One player that I am really impressed with this season is Jonas Seganthaler. He is also, you know, come up in the cap system, has been incredible. he's worked really hard to get this solid because it's consistent position in the Caps lineup.

And I think that he is a crucial part of this team. He is really just consistent. He's solid. He's dependable. And he's kind of one of the guys that not many people talk about, not many people think of, especially if they're not Caps faithful. So that's someone that I think is doing really well. Obviously, Dick O'Grana, like you said, he is the future of the Capitals.

he's so young, so talented, so fast. I think that he's also a little bit underrated, maybe underrated in the sense that people who aren't really super hockey fanics are just the average hockey fan. It's not a name that they might recognize or realize how talented he is. But, you know, obviously, O'Budgeon is just absolutely on fire. He's 10 goals in the last five games, I think it is, in his last five games.

Of course, he set out the game for the punishment. for skipping the All-Star break, but all-star game. But, yeah, I think all the capitals are playing really well. There's really not anyone that I would like to see do better, except for Holpey, but our goal-tending, you know, we have so many other options that I'm not too concerned. And yeah, absolutely, yeah, just, you know, it's going to be really great to watch this game and just to see how, you know, those players do. And, you know, just remember, guys, for the advertisers, if you've been a lot,

listener of this podcast. I'm sure you've heard all the great advertisers working with Lockdown to reach sports fans, but you may not have locked on penguins. It's a great way for your local business to reach passionate Penguins fans just like you. Unlike any other podcast, Lockdown the unique ability to reach local podcast listeners, not just any podcast listener, a locked on podcast listener. If your company wants to connect with Penguins fans that is well educated with disposable income, then let's put your company right here on this Lockdown podcast. Local fans love to support local businesses. Text the word advertising to 3.3. 777 or visit locked on podcast.com

slash advertising and let us know who you are. We'll get our team to help your team achieve locked on advertising success. Once again, text the word advertising to 33777 or visit locked on podcast.com slash advertising. All right. So, Nicole, with this, you know, with the first of four games with the penguins and the capitals, you know, I thought it'd be cool. You know, I just, I think this is, these four games are potentially going to decide.

the Metropolitan Division. We all know it's penguins are six points behind the Capitals right now. But, you know, if the Penguins miraculously somehow sweep the season series, which I'm sure probably won't happen, neither a team ever sweeps each other in the regular season series. But if by some miracle they did, I think the Penguins will be in just a really good position to win the Metropolitan Division. It's usually not that close.

Usually the Capitals will run away with it. But it's just these four games coming up, but it's really going to decide first place, because I really don't see the penguins sliding out of that second place, well, since the Islanders have kind of slumped a little bit lately. God, no, I agree. I think these four games are going to be incredible. I know a lot there was a lot of hate,

and people were upset that the Caps weren't playing the pens until so late in the season, but I think that now, I mean, I for one, I'm pretty excited because all these games mean even more than they usually do. So obviously, four games with a team, that are fighting for first and second place, they're going to mean a lot. It could be a total swing. And I really don't see any teams sleeping the series,

not these two. They play each other too rough. I don't know. I wouldn't be shocked if it goes a split. I don't know why I'm sensing that each team is going to win in their own city. They probably will. That's usually how it always goes with them, in their own caps games.

Um, so that's just, that's kind of the vibe that I'm getting. I'm sure they'll be, um, one of the weird super high scoring games. Like there always is another like seven to six. There's always one during the same series, which is like that. Then the rest are like some like three, two, four three games. Which I prefer. Yeah, me too. I feel like when it gets into like those seven, six, eight, seven games, it's just, they're fun.

They're fun. But they get a little frustrating because it does come down to a lot of officiating towards the end and who gets that, you know, lucky balancer, who gets the extra power play? I leave those games feeling if I don't win really annoyed. I think I don't know what it is for me personally losing like a seven to six. Like you get six goals and you still lose the worst feeling. So, but I think they're all going to be great. I think they're all going to be close, either high score or low score.

Absolutely. I think it's going to be within a goal or two. They usually always are. None of these teams aren't going to blow out one another. They're too evenly matched up. So I just, I really can't wait. I know earlier I said, I don't think it would be better than the Super Bowl. I think I'm more excited personally for this matchup.

Oh, yeah. So, yeah, I just can't wait. And I'm excited that we have four of these to go in the second half of the season. Yeah, absolutely. It's just, it's really exciting. And, of course, we have a couple of them in March. The Penguins, I think, play the Capitals late a couple weeks after this game, back in Washington. And then the Penguins will host the Capitals.

Two games in March, I think one of them is another 12-30 game, or it's a nighttime game. I'm not really sure I have to check the schedule. But coming up after this game, the Penguins will go back on the road again. They have the Florida trip, which always happens every season. I'm surprised this time it's not a back-to-back. Like it's always been, they'll go to play Tampa Bay, who has been absolutely red-hot lately, getting up to second place in the Atlantic. It would surprise me if I actually unseat Boston for first,

and they will go play the Panthers for the third and final time this season as well. before we're coming back and playing five to their next six home games. Five for their six next games will be at PBG Pants Arena, where the Penguins have been one of the best teams at home this season. So I think that's going to do it for this episode of Locked on Penguins. I apologize that it's so late, but I wanted to do it after the game and when Nicole is here. So I hope you guys enjoyed this.

Enjoy Penguins Capitals this weekend. I'll have another episode coming Monday. We'll recap the game. See how the Penguins did. Preview the week ahead. And who knows, that next week could be the week where Jim Rutherford finally makes his trade. You know, the deadline is just about three weeks away. He always likes to strike a few days before the deadline.

So it really could happen at some point next week. Me and Jeff were also talking yesterday. So also go back and watch that episode. It was really good to have Jeff on. So thank you guys so much for listening to this episode of Lockdown Penguins. And we will talk to you all soon.