Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins 3/10- A major step in the right direction

Episode Date: March 11, 2020

In this episode of Locked On Penguins, Hunter is joined by Cameron Easton again to recap the Penguins win against the Devils. They discuss Evgeni Malkin's monster game, Kris Letang's struggles, Sidney Crosby not being himself still, plus 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 Tuesday late evening episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm your host Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. Fresh off the Penguins 5 and 2 big win over the New Jersey Devils tonight. Just a monster win for the Penguins. They bank points 85 and 86. Move to within three points of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Just a lot went down. But we're also joined for tonight. He's been on this podcast many times. he wanted to come back. I obliged because I'm very nice and he's one of my very, very good friends and we do this a lot and he's really, really good at it. So, Cameron Easton, not that fair

on Twitter. He joins the podcast again, it seems, Cam, what's going on? Yes, I am back and I am finally back. Yeah, Penn's finally getting that win. It's been a struggle since I've been

last on this show. Last time, I remember they were in first place. That seems like a whole dream right now. You had a sound clip for that, and then you had the sound clip now. Very, very good sound clips as usual. You have plenty of them on your PC, but that was really, really good. It's good to have you back on, man.

The Penguins needed this win. They got it. I guess we'll start off with Epgeny Malkin-Cam. Played like God tonight, two goals, basically said, you know what? I'm going to go into full 2011-2012 mode and carry this team to a win tonight, try to carry this team into the playoffs, and that's exactly what he did. Yeah, that was vintage Malkin tonight, and, you know, I'm going into this game, he had a couple big points these past couple games, even though the Penguins weren't working

in their traditional Penguins way. Yeah, that's one way to put it. Yeah, it's, I think, like, the third straight game that he's had a goal. Yeah, I mean, when you see that Malkin fist pump after a goal, you know it's getting real. Yeah, that's one way to put it up. Had that first goal came in the third period, Latang actually set that up. Blackwood, he kind of got a piece of it, you know, though not all of it. And then on the second goal, just a beautiful wrist shot, Blackwood really had no chance on it.

That was the dagger right there to go up four to two, and Malkin did his, you said, his vintage fist pump. Yeah, you know it's a big game when the Gany Malkin plays like that. He was by far, I think, the best player on the ice for either team, you know, especially for the penguins. And, you know, they're going to need that down the stretch here. A lot of these metro games, you know, keep coming up. This stretch is never ending for the metro teams. But, yeah, Cam, I was, you know, when Gennie Malkin takes a game over like that,

there probably aren't five players in the league who are better than him. I still have said, you know, when he's on his prime, there, you can make the argument that he potentially is the best. player in hockey, you know, when he is on and just doing his thing. Because he's been that way before. We've seen it, of course, in 2011-12. We've seen it during the 2015-16 season at times, the next season after, when he was just all going off in the playoffs.

You know, this is the Evgeny Malkin. A little bit of a redemption tour, I should say, after a not as good of a season last year, but what a season he's having. That's 11 points in his last five games now. Just incredible stuff. Yeah, I mean, when Malkin is on his game and like that, I mean, he's the most dominant player on the ice. There's no question about it. And, you know, after all the questioning about his game over this past off season, he's definitely answering the bell right now.

And Bob Erie mentioned it during the game, which I thought was really amazing, that this is the first time in his career right now up to this point in the season where he is, his face-off percentage is winning face-off percentage for the first time in his career on the good side, good side of things. And, you know, when you look at that aspect of his game, along with the points of production compared to last season, he's definitely, you know, he's going to carry this team to the playoffs, I think. And, you know, Sid looks a little off his game right now. and I know he had that, you know, he said after a post game, a couple games,

that he needs to really step up, but he had a couple games these past couple games, a couple of goals this past couple games. And, um, but tonight it just looked a little off for me. I don't know if he thought the same thing. That's what I was going to get to next, actually. Yeah, it seemed, I don't know what's going on with Cindy Crosby right now. Um, I think we, like you said, we both know that this is not the Cindy Crosby. we've been accustomed to seeing.

I don't think he's 100%. I think he's still playing a little bit hurt from those, that hernia injury. And that injury must, I don't think it's, that's no joke. Those hernia injuries, it looks like, just are no-bueno. He just, he's not, he's not shooting in prime schooling chances. He's trying to make that extra pass. I counted probably at least two to three times tonight. Or Crosby had golden chances to shoot, you know, where he would if he were 100% healthy,

and he's just passing these chances off, you know. he's not winning as many puck battles as he normally has. I know he made Carolina on Sunday look foolish at times. We, you know, behind the net, but, you know, I think he can do that, you know, when he's even maybe 20% healthy because he's just that good behind the net. But, yeah, I don't really know what's going on with him. It needs to be fixed soon. But, yeah, it's definitely a little bit of concern.

I think he's hopefully going to pry his way out of it. He usually does. Hopefully he'll get more healthy as the seat. as we get closer to the playoffs. But yeah, I came. You hit the nail on the head. They definitely need more from their captain right now. Yeah, I think the biggest thing I've noticed over this little down period for him is just the zone entries.

And I think he's just, I know it's stupid of me to say, but, I mean, it kind of just seems like he's doing a little too much right now. You know what I mean? Making that one pass he shouldn't be making. I mean, there was, even when you're looking on the power play, and their power play is, power play's been abysmal to say the least. It's one word for it. Yeah, and I just, you know, it's Sidney Crosby. You know what I mean?

And he's going to find his game. And obviously something's bothering him. And you alluded to, you know, possibly being that injury. And that could be the case. Very well be the case. But, you know, when this is Sidney Crosby's team. But when you have Malkin play. like that and he's on your team,

you're going to do fine. And I think they just need the rest of the lineup to step up to the plate as well. Yeah, no. Yeah. They did that tonight. And, you know, there's some other things I want to touch on, like, the third defensive pairing, but, you know, I mean, the third line tonight looked really good. Evan Rodriguez, finally getting his first goal as a penguin, looked great.

You know, I even like that fourth line. And personally, and going back to Crosby, and I know Dominic Simone got a little hate, but I think Crosby's missing Simone right now, just from my perspective of things. I think, you know, the Sherry trade was, I think, good in some eyes to the fans. But I think Sherry should be on the third line. And when Simone comes back,

that should be a bringing back on the top line that's going to be interesting to see what they do yeah i think he does potentially miss simone a little bit you know simon's very crafty with the puck a little more than sherry um i still do think that sid likes playing with sherry a lot um they they click a lot but yeah um you hit it too with everyone arriguez that was a rocket of a shot um past blackwood our top shelf too maybe i think it was what went bar under bar under um yeah he could he put his head up and looking at the scene like, oh my God. Yeah, really? Yeah, that was good.

They got some depth scoring tonight, which is, you know, something they've been lacking a little bit in recent games. But just, yeah, just great to get that goal. You know, we're going to have more coming up after this break, you know, including the player of Chris LaTang, which is where they need more from him is one way to put it. All right. So, yeah, I alluded to it before the break. Chris LaTang can.

Tonight he had this really, just really careless penalty, just slaps the stick out of one of the Devils players' hands. I'm trying to remember who it was. I'm not to go back and watch it, but just, yeah, Chris LaTang has not been Chris LaTang these past four to five games. It's inexcusable. That penalty was inexcusable. The Devils had a five on three for almost a full two minutes.

The Penguins were very lucky that they did not give up a goal there. The Devil's Power Play. You know, that's probably one of the only power plays that would fail to score in a five-on-three for a minute, 42 seconds, considering the devils are not good. But, you know, I think the Penguins peak hares and Matt Murray probably deserved 10 steak dinners after that effort because it was a really good effort. They were sacrificing their body and everything. But to go back to Crystal Tang Cam, you know, I tweeted this during the game. Besides goaltending down the stretch and we'll get to the goaltending later in this episode as Matt Murray was absolutely spectacular tonight outside of the first goal. they're going to need Chris LaTang back to being the Chris LaTang that we all know

because they will not go far if Chris LaTang is taking penalties like this you know making some bad decisions with the Pock and you know people you know I'm not I'm not a Chris LaTang hater you know for anyone that listens to this podcast I'm a major fan of Chris LaTang I think he's obviously easily the best overall defenseman I think no no you're part of the Latang Colt yes there is yeah the Latang And Colt is in full, full swing, especially on Twitter, you know, but, you know, we won't speak of Penguins Chronicles on this episode until now.

But you know what? We're not going to go roast him. But anyways, yeah, I think he's their best overall defenseman. No, I don't think he needs healthy scratched. I saw some of those people talking about that. They're going to playoff race. But they need to fine, they need to fine tune his game. Yeah, and you know, it's interesting.

It's right when Brian Dumlin came back, where I, I've noticed that his game is kind of taking a little bit of a dip. Right. And I don't know if it's because he's adjusting to not playing with Jack Johnson. But, you know, but, yeah, I mean, those types of penalties you just do not take. And Malkin is a prime example of some of the stuff he's done in the past. They just, he can't be taking those penalties. And, you know, they definitely need this one tonight, but I'm, if when it comes to a playoff series and Lutang does that, then I'll all be mad.

You know what I mean? But I'm fine with it tonight, you know. There was a little frustration with Luton, probably with how he's been playing. And, you know, but hey, it's Chris Lattang, you know. And despite some criticisms, he's going to find his game. and when the time is right, he is going to be, you know, the prime defenseman that he is. Yeah. But, and Duman has been lights out.

Well, yeah, he's been playing spectacular. I mean, it's, it's night and day from what Jack Johnson was on the top pairing. And he was light and day away from Jack Johnson, but, you know. Yeah. Speaking of Jack Johnson, Cam, did you see the penalty that he had in the first period tonight when he put the puck over the glass for basically no reason? Yeah. Jack Johnson, he's out of again. I tweeted about that, and it was just like,

and that was when Matt Murray lay in that goal. That was not good. And, you know, you can blame Murray for that bad goal, but it's like, okay, Jack Johnson put him in that 5 on 4, and, you know, and it's just, I don't know, Justin Shultz and Jack Johnson are not a great pairing at all. And because when you have Justin Schultz pinch in the offensive zone and then you're leaving Jack Johnson stranded for a two-on-one, you're just, you're creating disaster. And I see that too often.

And it's more way to put it. And it was interesting watching the pregame with Mike Rupp and the Penguins pregame for the show. I mean, they were showing some defensive mishaps over the past couple games. and I kid you not like all but like one video clip was Schultz and Johnson and it was just careless mistakes and creating two on ones, three on twos that just like it was just like really you know and but you know it was good to see Schultz finally get that goal tonight too. Yeah Justin Schultz was he was great tonight. That was, you know, he was good defensively, and he, of course, had that goal to go up to 1. That was a vintage Justin Schultz game, and Penguins are going to be much more of that down the stretch. He's just been mostly, of course, a disaster, you know.

I thought hell froze over when he had that shift when he scored the goal and had a good defensive play before that, and it looks like it did. But, yeah, that's what's going to get to next. Penguins, they really need that version of Justin Schultz down the stretch. They're probably not going to get the version that they saw in 2016-17, that's pushing it. think a little too far, but if you can just be adequate on the third pairing, I think that'll be perfectly fine. You get the nail on the head. I just want recall on the third pairing.

I wish. I mean, that's all I want. And I just, there has to be something that's keeping Johnson on that third pairing, like, in the lineup, because I, I, something the defensive, or not the defense, but the head coach, Mike Sullivan sees. Because Jim Rutherford likes him. Right. I don't know.

He's a good guy. He's just tired. You know. He's tired. He's tired. He just, he just had a kid. Yeah.

You know, yeah, I guess. But hey, no, and for real, congrats to Jack Johnson and his family.

Yes. That's very good. As much brief we give him. There's no jokes on that. No jokes on that. Congratulations. But, yeah.

In all seriousness. That's one way to put it. Yeah, so also came on Matt Murray tonight. We'll get to him now. bad first goal I mean it goes off his glove and in you know I saw all the tweets oh my god

glove side glove side I knew those would be out in full sore force you know if I probably drank a shot after seeing all of them I'd probably be gone in five milliseconds but you know after that save in the second period towards the end sprawling out to make the save on Kyle Palmieri on a wrap around

I think that's probably his best save of the season or it's up there it's definitely in his top five just absolutely a spectacular save and then was really good the third period. I know he gave up the goal to Miles Wood, but you know what? Gino was able to take it from there, but still, mostly overall a good performance from Matt Murray, despite that first goal that he allowed. Oh, for sure. And I think this is when you need to start just working with Matt Murray as your

number one goalie and start working him towards playoffs. I just personally think they need to stop to flip-flopping now at this time of the year and just stick with one goalie, as great as Jari. has been, I think, you know, there just needs a little bit of consistency in the lineup. And I don't know, maybe that can change a little bit for the players and their morale, just having that goalie back there that they know on a consistent basis. And it's like, oh, it's going to be this guy tonight. Or, I don't know, maybe they feel like they have to play different for a different goalie.

You know what I mean? I don't know. It's just stuff like that. But I think Murray is definitely the number one goalie. And when he plays like this tonight, despite that first goal, he's our number one goal. Yeah, they've given him every opportunity to seize the net back. I think we all know what the Penguins coaching staff preference is.

Going into the playoffs to start, you know, they want Matt Murray to be the guy. You know, they don't, I want to have to go to someone who's, of course, unproven in playoffs. He's never, and Tristan Jari's never started, you know, even though he's play, Charlie's play has dropped a bit lately. I think they still want Murray to be the starter. I think he's probably going to be the starter in Columbus, which is going to be the next game for the Penguins on Thursday. More on that game in the next segment,

as well as talking about the power play, which you alluded to during a little bit in this segment, which was a mixed bag tonight, which is nothing out of the ordinary. All right, Cam, so the power play tonight, they had really good movement on one of those They had the, on one of the powerplays, they just had the devil's gas for two minutes. I think the first unit was on the ice for basically the full two minutes,

peppering away at Blackwood, passing was crisp, the shots were nice. Then then another power play, and it just, it was just a turd sandwich, as I'd probably like to call it. This power play is just, it's so painfully average. It's a lot of times it's bad. The personnel sometimes is strange by putting Justin Schultz on the first powerplay unit, so not Chris LaTang. I don't really understand that. I liked it that they had Jason Zucker and Patrick Hornquist on there tonight.

Excuse me. But just of course for the two net front presences. But yeah, it's just this power play. I don't know what you do with it. It's just it's bad right now. Yeah. I mean, it's frustrating. And they've done this in the past where they go on these streaks where it's just like you just have to slam something.

you're just that mad and um zone entries just are very bad and and you know just passing it too much and i think this goes back to crosbie and how he's not on his game right now because when crosbie's on his game that power play is just spectacular you know what i mean and um a lot of people on twitter i see are alluding to mark reckey um with the power play but you know I really don't know how to look at it. Personally, I just think it's a collective team thing right now where everyone's just not on their game right now and things aren't clicking.

Mark Recky's part of it, I would say. The personnel management is kind of a joke. I talked about this yesterday. But I wouldn't put that all on him, though. Yeah. These are star players. You know what I mean? It's...

I don't know. It's just... I hear you. it's, it's Crosby and Malkin on the powerplay. And like you said, having Schultz on the first line just doesn't make a lot of sense. I know it wasn't clicking to begin with, with Lattang, but you have Crosby, Lutang, and Malkin on that powerplay. You know what I mean? It's just, I think that's a given when you have those players on your team.

Yeah, it's definitely weird, you know, and we know, course, Latang has struggled, but, you know, if you want him to get him out of it, I think a part of it is removing Schultz and getting Lattang. back on the top part of because, you know, you have Hornquist in Zucker who are good to net front presidents. You can put Brian Rust on there. I think those three guys are almost interchangeable. You know, I know Hornquist has been, of course, really good this season. He's been rejuvenated. He's almost on 20 goals again this season. Just remarkable.

But, yeah, I just, I think it's on a reckey a bit. I think it's on some of the players a bit for not shooting as much. I think they're trying to find a perfect player. Personally, I have a little bit of, I might get a little, you know, yeah. Hot takey here. Hot takey here, yep. But I just didn't, I haven't liked Brian Russ on the power play, personally.

And I know how great of his seasons he's been having, but it's like, I don't know. I did like Zucker on the power play tonight. I think that was a better fit for, for. He just works hard. He's good. He's been outstanding. He can take the passes, I think, a lot better than Rust. Personally, even though he hasn't been as acquainted to the lineup compared to Russ, but

they're definitely, we've said it before, they're definitely missing Gensel right now. I mean, this team would be really good right now with Gensel. Yeah, that's, I think everyone probably in the fan base definitely misses Jake Gensel, especially on the play where he's so good on there. Yeah, I mean, it's like, we can wish and hope for whatever, but, you know, you can play with what you got. I do like Zucker on the first power play for sure.

Yeah, and also Cam, another person who had another perfect game tonight, John Marino, you know, ho-ho-hoom, because he's just awesome. Looking at a,

Matt, I just actually went on Natural Statrick right now. Played about almost 13 minutes of even strength ice time. I'm looking at it right now. Shot attempts 4, 15, shot attempts against three,

scoring chances for 9 to 2. for nine two against um yeah uh ho hum for john marino uh he's just he's spectacular uh he's been great ever since coming back and i think he's probably going to get that full shield um off pretty soon i always like going on natural stratrick and looking at um the stats for how the team played after because the penguins do good i think with the expected goal share as well their possession was really really good tonight um and just looking at john marino's numbers again um just just outstanding and he's a rookie you know what i mean And, you know, going back to the first podcast I was on here, I remember how much you were talking about John Marino and how big you were on John Marino.

And I'll admit, I wasn't sold on John Marino because, hey, he's a rookie. But this dude is going to be legit later down the line for the Penguins. I mean, it's... He's an absolute stud. Yeah. I mean, he's had one or two, sorry for my language, what, piss poor games. but for the most part, I mean, he is a consistent top four defenseman. And he moves the puck well.

I mean, his first game back score, and I was like, man, this is definitely what they needed. You know, I mean, not offensively, but just that the energy and back in the lineup, and especially with Doom one, too. I mean, that's, I like that top four, even though Lusang's off his game right now. you know, Pedersen had his moments a couple games ago, but I think this is a consistent top four that can... It's a championship caliber top four, I think, in my opinion. Yeah, and Pedersen's been much better

ever since Marino came back to him, and, you know, he's not playing with Justin Shultz, who's been mostly pretty bad for the season, outside of tonight. But Cam, look to look forward a little bit. The Penguins have another big game on Thursday. They play the Columbus Blue Jackets, which looks like the game is going to be going,

going as scheduled amidst the coronavirus concerns. I know the governor of Ohio has had some stuff to say about this. Haven't really talked about the coronavirus too much on the podcast. You know, there's been a lot of talk about it, of course, on Twitter and all that stuff. But, you know, there's potential that a lot of colleges could close down and whatnot. But yeah, there's also potential can for that game that it might not be a lot of fans in attendance there, considering that the blue jackets are basically just telling the governor of Ohio to piss off because they're just going to continue the game as schedule.

But still, with that, it's going to be a big game for the Penguins. And, of course, they have Carolina and the Islanders. So, yeah, these are three, you know, you beat the Devils, which is good. You're supposed to beat that team, but now you play three teams that are directly chasing you. Yeah, just to touch on it real quick with the coronavirus. I live here in Virginia Beach, and we just got our first two confirmed cases today. So it's definitely starting to get concerns, and I can see why the NHL and other leagues are taking notice on it.

But yeah, going towards the Columbus game, it's going to be an entertaining game. We've said it so many times on this podcast every time I've been on, but this month is so important to the Penguins. because it's just it's it's basically all metro teams and um you know those this past week on was really important for the pens and to see them struggle it was that's what hurt a lot of people because it's just like man those were they needed at least one of the two if you know and so they really need this win against Columbus tomorrow even though tonight was an important win I think the Columbus game is more important.

They're going to get even more important. Each game just gets more important, you know, especially with that game. Carolina, three more times. They play the Islanders one more time, who are also right now on the Western Canada swing. So I'm going to root for that. Also, the Flyers lost tonight.

That's good news for the Penguins. Three points out of second place now. Four points out of first place from the Washington Capitol. So, you know, there's still room for the penguins to potentially make a run of the Metro, you know they are running a bit out of time. So this was a big step in the right direction for Pittsburgh. They were able to get the win.

5-2. You know, we're going to hopefully play even better defensively against Columbus on Thursday. We'll have it all broken down for you. We'll have another episode coming tomorrow. But I can't thank you so much for coming on this episode of Lockdown Penguins. It really does mean a lot. And, you know, we're definitely going to have you on.

I'm sure again, you know, probably many more times. Yeah, thanks, man. I just want to touch real quick on Nick Bukstad, too. I feel so bad for this, you know, here in week to week now. And, you know, there was those rumors that they would potentially trade them at the deadline. And I thought it was so great to see him come back in the lineup and to have this happen. It's definitely heartbreaking to see. So I wish for a speedy recovery for Nick Bukstad and potentially having them in the playoffs.

So just look forward to that. But other than that, thank you for having me on the podcast again. I look forward to it. thank you to all the listeners. So, yeah. I hope for this win against Columbus. Yeah, that would be the big. And yeah, hopefully, yes, Nick Bukstad, excuse me, does have a speedy recovery.

That sucks that, you know, he's almost turning into Bo Bennett in front of our very eyes. That's actually sad to say, but that was a low blow. Sorry, Nick Bukes said. Just please don't turn into, we don't want to have the, well, do that again? Yeah, there it is, yeah. Cam and his Soundboard His sound bites on his PC

Are just too good I need to get Mike laying on here Yeah We just got we gotta have He's gonna have We just got to do like a whole episode One time where it's just Cam and his sound bites

The appropriate ones I'm the soundboard DJ Yeah the appropriate ones Not the inappropriate ones Yeah But for all that being said Thank you guys so much for listening To this episode

One another episode coming tomorrow and we will talk to you all that. Oh, wait. Actually, you know what? I forgot one thing. You know what? Just my bad, my bad. Please, you know, be sure to check out our locked-on fantasy hockey podcast. People over there that do it just doing an outstanding job.

You know, they do that weekly. Just really good stuff for fantasy hockey-wise, you know, if you're still doing good in the playoffs and whatnot, as you make your run, basically. So, yeah, please check that out. We will be back tomorrow with another episode. I just forgot how to add that at the end. And we will talk to you all.

all that.