Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins 3/6- Crossover episode with Locked On Caps!

Episode Date: March 7, 2020

In this special crossover episode, Hunter is joined by Locked On Capitals Nikki Giordano to preview the massive game against the Washington Capitals tomorrow! They also go over the Capitals struggles as of late, plus how Dumoulin and Marino are making quite the difference for the Penguins, and 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.

This call is being recorded. Hi, welcome to a special crossover edition of the logged-on podcast. My name is Nikki. I am host of Locked-on Caps, and I'm here with Hunter Hodey's host of Locked-on Penguins. Yes, welcome to Locked-on Penguins. This is a great crossover with a big matchup tomorrow for the Penguins and the Capitals. I thought this would be a great idea to run for the podcast today, I'm always excited to be joined by Nicole here, who is someone that's very special.

So, yeah, these are always super fun, and these matchups are always a little bit crazy, especially for Hunter and I. So tomorrow's game is due to be very crazy, especially because of the magnitude of what this game means to both. teams. The Capitals and the Penguins have both been struggling a little bit. The Penguins now are up and ups. They've gotten back a lot of their injured players aren't playing a lot better. The Capitals we thought were on the ups, but they're kind of just right back to struggling, just like they have been since, you know, right before Christmas. So winning this game for the capitals means more than just, you know, getting a win on the schedule. It's just kind of a momentum Builder, we need that shift.

I thought that shift came when the Caps beat the last matchup. Obviously it didn't. So I think for Capitals fans and players, tomorrow's game is so much more than just a win against a rival team. It's

just something they need to get amped up because playoffs are coming really soon. It's less than a month away at this point to the end of the regular season. So there's no more time to waste and I for one am tired of watching this capital's team perform the way they are it's frustrating it's not enjoyable and no one likes to see a team not live up to their full potential and we have no excuses there's not you know big injuries you haven't really dealt with adversity

we're just not doing what we need to do so hunter what does this game mean to you as someone who you know covers the penguin but you know as a fan as well Yeah, this game basically starts off the gauntlet for the Penguins as their final 16 games. 14 of the 16 are against metropolitan teams. And about seven of those games are actually against Carolina and the Rangers. But, yeah, this is basically the gauntlet now for the Penguins. They have every opportunity to win the Metro because you've got to beat the division team. You know, I've had this game circled on the calendar for a while now because I figured by this point

the Penguins would have their injured players back. They definitely do with Doom 1 and Marines. coming back this week. Duke's dad made his return. Brandon Tannes came back from being six. Zach Asson-Rees is starting to skate. So this is by far the most healthy the Penguins have been.

This season, the fact that it came in game 66, nothing short of extraordinary. But, you know, I expect the Capitals to probably be awake for this game. Obviously, they're playing their biggest division rival. I think the Penguins is going to be a big measuring stick for them. They're able to be two pretty

bad teams in Ottawa and Buffalo coming off that six-game losing streak, but they needed those wins considering they were just not getting a lot of tough luck at all, and they just weren't scoring. So I'm going to be very curious to see how they come out against the caps. Penguins usually play well at home, which is a big bonus. I think for 23 wins are tied for first overall in the league for most home wins by a team. But yeah, these games always bring out the best in both of these teams. And I'm just, I'm really excited to watch, you know, just another showdown of Crosby and Ovechkin.

just everyone else on both these teams. I think you mentioned Crosby and Obatchewan. It's definitely interesting because the only player that's been consistent, in my opinion, for the past couple of months, has been Obetkin. That's not to say that other players on the Capitals team have not been playing well. That's not to say that everyone else has been playing poorly.

It's just he is consistent. And I think that he's the one player. And I have captains his job, but he's holding himself accountable, which is something that I want to see a lot of the other players do. And I know that I sound a little bit sinful for a team that's in first place. But it's just been really frustrating. So I obviously, you know, really hope that they all show up.

And I hope that it's not just, you know, OV on the ice showing down. I hope it's a little bit of everyone else because it's just, it's time for a full team effort. And something else I wanted to discuss with you, Hunter, is defense in general. I know that you and the penguins were struggling a little bit, well, not a little bit, a lot with defense as well. And, you know, both teams do have two great goaltenders. I know it's a little bit subjective because Holpe didn't have the best start to the season, but Holby's been playing well. Obviously, his wins aren't reflecting that, but I don't really think that's his fault.

So I think that, you know, both of us can relate to having goaltenders get disappointed by the defense in front of them. How have things changed for you now that you have more of a healthy roster back? It's changed quite a bit, you know? Just getting everyone back is just, it's so big because, you know, I don't think any, you know, personally me and any Penguin fan could go another game with watching Jack Johnson playing on the top pairing with Chris LaTang, you know, and just helping the goaltenders out just in their own end. I mean, just watching the past couple games with Brian Jumelan,

It's the simple plays that he makes that you just, you look at it and it's like, wow, like, they were missing this for the last three months, just retrieving, touching the moment, getting it to the Ford. The Sydney Crosby line is actually not getting hemmed in their own zone all the time because, oh, Jack Johnson's moved down the lineup. You know, it's still bad, but, you know, I guess that's just our daily Jack Johnson bashing. But, well, you know, anyway, you know, just same thing with Marino. It's just, it's there. you just you see it and then it just it helps out murray and jari and it's just i'm really glad that um it just i'm just really happy with how they're just playing well in their own end and that allows the goaltenders you know to like not have to like stand on to the head all the time

no i i agree um and i've seen that you know obviously i really don't like the pediglins but um just from you know talking to you and what i see when i do watch a game um you're a hundred percent right. And I think that the Capitol is just, I would love, I wish that we had some guys on the sidelines were in the comment and make that difference for our defense, but we just can't get things going. I think that's really, really frustrating. I don't know what it comes down to. I don't know if it's, you know, a coaching issue, a skill issue. I think it's a little bit of everything. I know a lot of Capitals fans are quick to go to coaching. I think sports fans in general are quick to blame on coaching, but I always think it's much more than that.

I don't necessarily think it's fair to rush to blame a head coach for issues. Obviously, when it gets to this point there is, but, you know, my biggest thing is that really the only detriment to this team is defense. Obviously, offense is not showing up as much as we'd like. Goaltending isn't as stellar as we'd like. Power play isn't where it should be. But those are all minor things. The reason we're losing so many games is our defense.

So, you know, it's just, it's a multitude of things. And I'm not, obviously, not a coach. I'm not, you know, expert on that aspect of the game. But it would just be nice to see an effort made to make changes. And I don't really think I've seen what. I think that a lot of fans are also disappointed, but the lack of utilization from Hershey. I think that there are some, you know,

there is some help in the Bears organization. And obviously what we have now isn't working. So why not try some new things out? I know people have been flabbergasted with the lack of use of Segan Foller, who's really been our only consistent defender this year. So just, you know, I'm jealous that your defense has gotten back into a group because I would really like to see that for us as well.

But I don't know if it's happening in this season. and kind of to go off topic a little bit of this matchup, which we'll get back to at the end. But I wanted to hear your thoughts on the Philadelphia Flyers. And now that they're in that mix of, it's not just the Caps and the Penguins fighting for that first spot. The Flyers are there. They're real.

They're a real threat. And I think they're a lot better than anyone kind of gave them credit for. So being, you know, a penguin fan and obviously having a huge rivalry with the Flyers as well. What are your thoughts on what they've done this season and kind of, you know, them battle in the both of our teams for that normal plot? Yeah, it's definitely interesting. Yeah, I said on my episode yesterday, I did not expect to see the Flyers to be up there towards this late in the season. Them winning eight in a row is pretty remarkable. I still think some of what they're doing is a little bit unsustainable. I think they've scored four plus goals in eight

games in row. You're going to have PGO regression coming sooner rather than later. I know they play the Sabres tomorrow, so that might make a nine in a row considering the Sabres are really bad. But yeah, if they win the Metro, it's most likely going to be Penguins' Caps in round one this time, that round two. And I'm not sure if those fan bases would want that.

I mean personally, I really would want to play someone else. But, you know, yeah, it's definitely, I definitely did not see them getting up to first. from the division. Like I said at this time of the year, they're playing really good hockey. They have a good goaltender in Carter-Heart. I think their defense, their defensive, offensive, defensive numbers from their defensemen. I think they lead the league and goals from their defensemen. I don't have to double-check on that, but I know it's top five.

Yeah, Kevin Hayes has been really good. I've gone Drew's been really good. I mean, it's been better as of late. You know, Boruch's still chugging along. But, yeah, they're just, that team is, it sucks to say. But, yeah. They may very well force penguin capitals in round one. And I think, obviously, for the sake of our relationship, don't want to see pets, pops in round one. And I feel like just for... We do not. We don't. We really don't.

No, we don't. But, you know, for just hockey in general, I think that there's some of my last couple episodes. I know I sound like a broken record at this point. But for hockey and growing the sport, you don't want to see two of the best teams. and a great rival in the first round. That's just not good for hockey.

So, you know, I'm hoping that that doesn't happen, but we don't always get what we ask for. So who knows? And I think, you know, it's kind of just going to be a wild few weeks and we'll have to just see what happens. Yeah. It's going to be fun. Yeah.

And if the caps keep playing like they're playing now, I mean, they're going to fall quite a bit. There's just they've used, up all of the momentum from the beginning to keep that number one spot. I mean, it's fading fast and they can't get away with, I think, what, they've only won, like two more games in Detroit since the All-Star Break or something. I don't know exactly what I saw, but I mean, just something absolutely assonized. So it's, they're not going to be able to get away with that.

If they can't play like this, they will lose that number one spot. And it's just, it's frustrating. I have a whole two-part series coming. This again, that's basically. me just ranting. So I will try not to rent as much on this episode. I did want to ask one last question about what are you hoping to see in tomorrow's game from your team as they prepare for a potential playoff matchup? You know, is there anything that you want to see your team really work on? Are there some things that you would like to not see from your team? And then, you know, in

the matchup in general are there some things that you hope for in a rivalry game? Yeah, I'm just, you know, I'm hoping for that same fight, you know, that we've seen the past couple games with this team. You know, they stopped the bleeding after that six-game losing streak, which was nice. I thought they played very, very well against the Capitals and the two games. Prior to this one, those both course were in D.C. They just, of course, in the last game, I thought they barked all over themselves in the defensive the zone. But yeah, I'm just, I'm looking for a better team defense this time. It should help

with doing one in the marino back. I probably sound like a broken record at this point with that. But, you know, I'm just, I'm looking for that, that intensity, that spark, you know, the offensive display, hopefully from the Penguins is the deepest group of forwards that they had a bit now. And this is without Jake Ansel, who's, of course, lost for the season. But, yeah, I'm really just looking for those things. I'm looking for potentially Matt Murray to have also a really good game. I expect him to start tomorrow. Mike Sullivan from the 1A1B, he kept alternating the goalies. He finally gave Murray a second start in the row.

Played well in Buffalo last night. I expect him to get to start on Saturday, though. I also could see Jari getting to start because he hasn't seen the Capitals yet, but that's just my opinion, though I think that Murray's going to go. But what are you looking to see from the Capitals perspective? Because, you know, we all know the team has struggled as of late, you know, with a team defense, with Brendan Dillon coming over from the sharks.

I'm just looking to see effort, and I know that sounds corny and a little bit lame, but I think that I'm a level-headed enough sports fan and analysts to see that I don't mind if my team's losing if they're giving their all, and I just don't think they have it. I don't know why. I think that's something I'm really looking for tomorrow,

It was just a level of effort. I want them to go out. I want them to play a full game. They need to show up on time. I'm sick of them playing catch up or them having a great first and then sleeping to the third. I want a full 60. I want more offense. I sound like a broker-backer talking about our defensive problems.

They are there, but offense needs to be there too. Not just Ovechian, he's our captain, but he shouldn't have to carry the team on his shoulders. it's ridiculous at this point that he's kind of the only one who's showing up. You know, him and Oshy, but Oshy always kind of is there to play. But everyone needs to be doing their part and just kind of playing a hell of a lot better than they are now.

So that's what I want to see. I want to see just some damn effort from these boys. And I want to see some fight. I want to see, you know, aggression and friction. And I'm hoping that this matchup and this rivalry is exactly what the conference. need to kind of snap them out of whatever the hell they're going through because, you know,

God knows they need it. Yeah, this game is going to be a lot of fun. Of course, they meet again, what, another week and a half or two weeks? Yeah, it's a full on Metro swing right now. I'm pretty ready for it, especially here at the charts tomorrow. You can't go wrong at this time of the year. You even said at the beginning, the playoffs start in, what, four to five weeks now? it's the best time of the year,

and I'm really excited to watch this game and see what happens. Yeah, I mean, I think it's great, you know, kind of getting us into gear for the playoff season, and, you know, that's the true holiday season, NHL playoffs. So I think, you know, I just kind of want to start getting excited instead of worrying about what on earth my team is doing. So I think that tomorrow's game is huge for a multitude of reasons,

and I really can't wait to watch, although I am a little nervous to watch the game. with you and my family for you guys who don't know obviously hudra and i are dating but my family are all like big flyers fans so they hate the penguin so it'll be an interesting um event for such as meeting my parents for the first time and watching a penguin's game so we will see how that goes yeah that is certainly going it's going to be an interesting experience that's sure but uh you know you got you got it's good it's good it's good it's good be a lot of fun yeah but yeah i mean that's you know really all all i have to say if i keep talking i'm just going to

keep trashing the caps which i do not want to do um capital's are still number one in the metro i don't think we have too too much to worry about but it is starting to get to that point where if something doesn't change we are going to worry um but this was so fun as always thank you hunter um looking forward to tomorrow's game hopefully there won't be too much arguing But thank you guys, as always, for tuning in on behalf of myself and for Hunter. I know there's two fanbases listening here. So sorry for all my Caps fans having to listen to this Penguins talk. But thanks, guys.

Thanks for tuning in. And until next time, bye.