Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Locked On Penguins Episode 4

Episode Date: October 6, 2019

Fresh off the Penguins' first win of the season, Hunter dives into the 7-2 shellacking of the Columbus Blue Jackets on this edition of the Locked On Penguins podcast. He touches on how the defensive effort was much better, the fourth line, Sidney Crosby's play, 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.

Hello and welcome to another edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes, and we are finally talking about a win for the Pittsburgh Penguins. I know, wow, second game in the season, and they get their first win, a 7-2 shalacking of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and everything that went wrong against the Sabres on opening night, a 3-1 loss, of course. It was all, it went right tonight. The Penguins righted the ship. They corrected their mistakes, and it was just a 16-minute complete domination of the Columbus Blue Jackets, putting up seven goals against their rookie goaltender who was making his NHL debut, in fact.

He had played in the KHL. I'll have to learn how to pronounce his name over the course of the season, because I'm sure he'll probably play again, or it could be El Corpusalo. But I think we'll just start with a defensive effort. This was a much better performance. They were getting the puck up the ice. They weren't being hemmed in their own zone. And also, I think the big thing, they coughed up the puck 17 times.

in the season open. Only two giveaways were credited to the penguins in this game. A much, much big, better improvement in that area of the game. It looked a little sloppy, I'd say, maybe at the start when the penguins got a power play. Boone Jenner got a semi-breakaway. But other than that, the Blue Jackets, they didn't really get a lot of big chances, I'd say, during the game.

Their first goal by Werenski, that was just a bunch of chaos in front of the net. Murray had no chance on it. But that was really it. Because the second goal, of course, by Gustav Nyquist came in garbage time. But just a much better defensive effort. They changed up the pairings, which was much needed. Dumlin Chris Latang were great this game after a really bad first game. First game, excuse me, Latang had a gold on the power play to make it five to one.

And they put Marcus Pedersen with Justin Schultz and it worked wonders. Justin Schultz usually struggles next to Jack Johnson. I mean, who doesn't, but they put Pedersen there, and Pedersen also had a goal tonight. He looked really good next to Schultz, and that pairing needs to stay the rest of the season. You can't keep separating those two.

They work well together. Johnson and his first, excuse me, Schultz, in his first period away from Jack Johnson, actually, his C4 was much better than his course he against. And it's usually the other way around when he's with Jack Johnson. If I have the numbers right here, yep, 8-4-4 against. His last game when he was with Jack Johnson against the Sabres, 12-4-26 against.

I know it was bad it looks like in the second period, 10-4-16 against, but it looks like it did rebound a bit. I'd have to look at the numbers for that. But still, much better game from Schultz. They need to keep that pairing going. And then the third pairing was Johnson and Good Branson. Yeah, just hearing that is a little bit scary, but they've played fine tonight. And speaking of Jack Johnson, as we're going to keep talking about him, we almost had a goal from him.

The first goal of the game was originally credited to Jack Johnson, which, of course, created a frenzy on Penguin's Twitter because, you know, Jack Johnson is upping that trade value a little bit in case he maybe gets dealt when Brian Russ comes back. But, yeah, he had a nice shot. But it was, then it was credited to Hornquist. But, you know, Jack Johnson actually played a fine game tonight. I, you know, give credit where credit is due. Johnson played fine tonight. Credited, it was a blowout during the second period.

So he didn't really have to do much in the third period, of course. But the first period, after I caught on, I was watching the Virginia Tech Miami game. In case you guys don't know, I go to Virginia Tech. They are my favorite program. so I was not watching at the original start of the game. I did catch up, though. But when I did tune in, I thought Johnson was fine tonight. I mean, low bar to cross, obviously,

was how some of his play was last year, well, most of it, I should say. And I really thought Eric Branson was fine. I thought it was a really good night for the defenseman. Just, you know, like I said, getting pucks up the ice, moving it, not being hemmed in their own zone, not making bad pinching decisions, no turnovers

and they also cut down on the two-on-one's allowed of course in the last episode I talked about how Mike Sullivan was very upset at the end of the preseason and of course at the end of the opening game because the Penguins just allowed so many odd man rushes and that was an issue that plagued them

in the series against the Islanders when they were just making all those decisions but they totally went away tonight it was a 60-minute performance and yeah that was just great by them. I think moving forward, I do if we want to

one of the things in the game that also happened was Sidney Crowley dropped the gloves. It's not a what's the word I'm looking for here? It's not too often that you see Crosby drop the gloves in a fight but he did Pierloch de Bois and Sid fought. It wasn't too big of a fight really. I mean they threw a couple

punches. I'd maybe say Sid got the better of him. But that was in response. to Dubois getting Gensel up high and Sid took, Sid did not take lightly to that. And this was at the end of the second period. And that's when Chris LaTang got the power play go towards the end when the Penguins got a power play towards the end of the five-minute major.

But yeah, it's not too often you see Crosby get into a fight. He stood up for Gensal. I did see a tweet from Ryan Wilson during the game. Shout out to him, he said, maybe this will make Jim Rutherford to spend his first round pick on another enforcer. I got a couple chuckles out of me. But yeah, that was interesting. Another thing, of course, there is a couple of, I think maybe could be one bad thing to come out of this game.

Evgeny Malkin took an awkward fall, I'd say. He was coming onto the ice, Crystal Teng was coming off, and he accidentally tripped over Lattang's skate. And it was just an awkward fall. kind of went into the boards and then was just walking very gingerly down the tunnel with the head trainer, Chris, yeah, Chris Stewart. And then apparently Chris Stewart came back out, spoke to Mike Sullivan and them. Gino did not return to the game. This was in the second period.

Yeah, I believe this was the second period. You know, maybe they didn't bring him in because the penguins were blowing them out. But hopefully this is not a serious injury. The penguins will need of getting Malkin each game. it would not be good if they would be without him for any length of time because he's just obviously one of the best players in the world and obviously one of the best players on the team. Another injury I think I saw towards the end of the game, Nick Bukestead.

I didn't really see what happened with him. Apparently Bob Barry on the broadcast was talking about how he was wincing after he apparently got hit, but he finished his shift, but he got to the bench was sitting there and then he got up and was followed by, I think, by Chris. Stewart and he didn't return. But also, this was when it was 6-7-1, so of course he wasn't going to come back in. We'll be reading updates, I'm sure, from Mike Sullivan very shortly, probably when I'm honestly

recording this. There could be some updates coming out. And, yeah, I think it was just, like I said, great game from the Penguin, 7-2 win. Good to get on the win, the winning column, one-in-one on the season before the third home game of the season. and I believe that's against the Vegas Golden Knights, if I'm not mistaken. I'm just double-checking here. No, not the Vegas Golden Knights.

I'm sorry. Actually, no, they have two more home games coming up. They start out the season with a four-game home standard. They'd be the Winnipeg Jets this Tuesday at PPG, followed by the Anaheim Ducks coming to town on Thursday. I think also one of the big things to come out of this game was the play of Sidney Crosby. I already talked about how he got into a fight I almost had a gaudy Cal Hatrick

But wow was he ever noticeable on this ice And I mean, we knew this was going to happen We knew he was going to bounce back after that poor out And he almost never has two bad games in a row I mean he only ever seldomly has that He had an absolutely disgusting past In the third period to Patrick Hornquist To make it 7-1 that's right

Yeah he kind of like he like went around the defender it was almost like almost like a no look pass and he just now I'm looking at the replay he puts the puck in between his legs and just passes it almost no look

behind the defense man Patrick Conquish just finishes it past the goal it was a pretty it was just a sexy play and just a peek Sydney Crosby play honestly because you know that that's that's what he does you knew he wasn't going to be quiet for another game and I thought Jake Gensel looked good. I know he didn't score, but I think it was another,

it was a good game for him. He'll get his goals. And also Patrick Hornquist, got two goals tonight. Almost had a hat trick towards the end of the game. The Penguins run the power play towards the end of the game. Hornquist got a shot in the slop, but fired it high above hitting the boards, of course. I don't know why I'm mixing up some of my words tonight for some reason. Maybe it's because I'm late and I'm tired, but whatever.

He had a great bounceback game, two nice goals from Hornquist. And yeah, I mean, I said going in this season, I think he's going to have a really good big bounce back season. He wasn't, he really wasn't that good in game one. I know he set that screen on Malkins goal. But still, I thought he was fast tonight. He was going to the net hard. He got a couple goals. And that's just the kind of player that he is.

When he's healthy, he's doing all these things. He's scoring like that. He's going to the net. He's doing all the things that he normally does. He's the menace that he is, and he looked great. And he also played on the third line tonight, which is a really good third line with Jared McCann and Nick Bukestead. I'll get to Jared McCann after this because he had a hell of a game too.

But that's, I think, where he belongs now in this point of his career. He's over 30. I don't think he's fast enough to keep up with Crosby. I thought Dominic Simone looked really good. up there. You still can't buy a goal. I'll get to him later. But it's just, that's just where Cornquist now belongs. You can't keep changing up that right wing spot. I know it'll probably be changed up at other points this season, but you can't keep putting Hornquist, excuse me, on the top line with Gensel and Crosby. I don't think it's too good of a fit anymore. It worked

good when Hornquist was a bit younger a few years ago. I just don't think it's a good fit there anymore. and it worked wonders tonight when Buchanan Bukestan Bukest that Hornquist line came out they were just dominant on every shift but getting chances firing pucks to the net and then I guess we'll just bring that into Jerry McCann now

because wow what a second game from Jared McCam two um excuse me two goals tonight one of them on a two on one just a gorgeous shot um went blocker side on Columbus's goalie and I just I love his celebrations too

he looked he looked really fired up and yeah I mean I thought I thought McCann was just he's showing that you know last season was not obviously any kind of a fluke or anything and yeah I mean he was just he looks he just looks really fast this season he looks good just all that stuff

I'm running out of basically things to say but I think he should stay He was moved to center I think a bit at this game because Malkin got her then Mewkestai got hurt He looked good there He can play center or wing

Honestly I think he looks better at wing But he can play out either position I don't think it's too big of a deal If you put him at center or wing Even though I would prefer him at wing But he just he looked He looked so fast out there

Tenacious as usual He can play The second power play in it He is good and even stragged He can play on the PK And yeah, I thought McCann was great. Another player who I thought was really good tonight was, yeah, I'll just say, Dominic Simone.

One of the goals actually came because Simone had that beautiful zone entry, which led to the Pedersen goal. Crosby fed Pedersen right above the left circle, and it leaked past the goaltender a little bit, but it was still a nice shot glove side. Pedersen gets his first goal and point of the season. And he looks like the real deal. I know last season, you know, a lot of games he played, played 84 games. I think that was the most games that he played of any NHL or last season. I think that ties the rookie record for the most games ever played by a rookie in a single NHL season.

I have to go double back and check that. But, you know, there were some questions going into this season. You know, is Pedersen ready to be a top four defense? man, is he ready to, can he produce the offense? At times not season, he was producing offense and other times he was just being good in his own zone. I think it's all finally starting to come together. He can be like, it's like, like stumbling on my words again here, of course, but it's all coming together. He's good in his own zone. He was good. His shot was great tonight. It's just, he keeps getting better and better, I would say, every game. And that's the thing

that he's going to keep doing. He's going to get minutes next to Justin Schultz. He needs to keep getting those minutes if they want to really see what they have in this player because it's only his second year, full year in the league. He signed a one-year contract. If he keeps up this play, he's going to be in line for a lot of cash next summer. And will the penguins have the money to afford that? We'll see.

Well, we'll see, considering all the penguins, free agents next summer that are going to, have to get contracts like Matt Murray. Again, he was spectacular tonight only two wheels allowed. He was bailing them out a little bit at the start of the game. I was seeing for some people on Penn's Twitter, but I'm another sensational performance

for Murray, keeping it up from the second half of last season and the preseason where he got a couple games of full action. Just a great game from him again. But of course, going back to Pedersen, very strong game for him after not so good game one, but also, I mean, who really played good in game one,

except for Havgeny Malkins line and him and Matt Murray. So kind of a low bar to cross, I'd say. But, yeah, I thought, yeah, he was outstanding. Also, tonight, I think, I would say, was good, was... I think Alex Gajaniuk, he was looking at, he was everywhere, I would say. He was getting really, really close to get, scoring his first goal as a penguin.

I think he had an assist tonight, if I'm not mistaken. I think maybe it was a secondary assist on one of the seven penguins' goals. But it was towards the end of the game. It was a chaos in the crease. And Chucky, he was trying to go between his legs a little bit, I would say. And then he just couldn't corral the puck and put it in the net. I think it was on edge, I think, and God God Chenna couldn't put it in. But, yeah, he's looked really good these first couple games as a penguin.

He looks good next to of Genie Malkin. I know Malkin, of course, exited with an injury. But even when Malkin went out, he still looked really good when I think McCann was filling in at center for him. And, yeah, I'm sure he's going to keep this up. I'm sure he's going to keep this up. If you see when he gets that first goal as a penguin and how many more that he gets, considering he was the main piece brought over in the Phil Kessel trade.

I also thought that, oh, this player is alluding me who also had a really good game. Well, now that I thought about Chris La Tang, big bounceback game from him, you knew that was coming. Number one defenseman. Now that I thought of it was the fourth line that I'm going to bring up next. But number one defenseman, you knew he was going to have a much better game, had a power play goal, rifled it past the goaltender. Also, it was really close to a second goal. He rifled it past the crossbar.

And this was in the late stages of the second period. Yeah, yeah, it was. I'll have asked the crossball. It could have been a lot worse for the Blue Jackets if he had made that and some of the other chances that the Penguins squandered a little bit. But yeah, great bounce back performance from him, as I said. The defense, as I said earlier, looked great. I also wanted to take the time to talk about the fourth line. This fourth line for the Penguins is probably the best one that they've had, like, skill-wise,

since the back-to-back Stanley Cups. And I say that because, I mean, obviously Teddy Bluger had his goal tonight. That was a nice wrist shot towards the late stages of the game. to put out the extra point for the penguins, but you can put him on the fourth line, Dominic Cahoon, who registered his first point as a penguin. I believe it was him that had the assist on that goal. Yeah, yeah, it was.

And Zach Gaston Rees, I thought he enjoyed a very strong game. They're just, they're like so ferocious. They're so tenacious. They're fast. And there's such a lot of skill on that line. And that's been lacking so much these last couple of seasons for the penguins because they employed players such as like a Garrett Wilson. Some people where I think were a little higher on him than they really should have been.

I didn't really think of them as much as more than a 13th forward. I didn't really think he deserved to play every game. There, of course, there was Ryan Reeves at times. But I mean, yeah, there's just so much skill that you can put on this fourth line because the penguins are just so deep at four this year. And especially when Brian Russ comes back, hopefully the Afghani Malcan injury is not serious, of course, are Nick Fugstadt.

When they're fully healthy with those 13 forwards, there are not many four groups in this league that I would rank better than the Penguins. I mean, I think, of course, Tampa's are really, really good. Boston's are really good. Toronto's are, I'd probably put Pittsburgh's over Toronto's, but Washington's are obviously really, really, really good, especially after signing Richard Pontic and gone in Halfaway, he's quick keeping Carl Hagelin.

But there are just not a lot of four groups in there. this league that are better than the penguins. And you saw it tonight, they were a difference maker. I think I would say they were seizing the momentum a bit when the Penguins were starting a bit slow during the game. They got some shifts in. They were getting some scoring chances. And I think obviously they're going to be rotating throughout the season.

When Russ comes back, they can move him down there, Tanna. But I think Tannad looks really good next to Malkins line. He was outstanding tonight. He was fast again. Got a couple chances. Didn't convert. but I think they'll be coming. Same with Dominic Simone,

obviously with the Crosby line. I kind of just feel bad for him at this point. Like, he's so good at zone entries. He's fast. He can rip it to the net. But, I mean, he had a goal, I think, stolen tonight from David Savard in the goal crease, I think.

He was about to go in and Savard just whacked it out. So I'm kind of starting to feel bad for this player, even though I am high on him. And, you know, there's a segment of the Penguins fan base that like they just they can't stand dominic smoke because he doesn't score and i mean it's understandable i mean for a longest time i'm one of those people that like i've i've been confused as to why brian duma land does not score it as much i really don't know why considering he's just so good in the defensive zone and he gets chances that he just he just doesn't score and that's why it's so

awesome whenever he scores because it's like holy crap he actually he's good at producing offense he can get those some of those assists like now it's time for him to just chip in a little bit. And that's the thing with Dominic Simone. He drives play, he drives possession. His own entries are great. He just can't buy stuff on the score street. It'll come. It's going to regress. It has to.

I mean, they can't go on this much longer. It's just a little sad. I'd keep him on the top line. Mike Sullivan had a quote the other day how much he loves him up there. I know that probably ticked off a lot of the Penguins fan base, well, a segment of them.

But you know what? Whatever. He drives play. He's good up there. Keep him. But I guess I'll have back to wrap things up with the fourth line. They were really good. I hope that fourth line stays intact. Teddy Bluger is going to be, I think, a really good fourth line center for this team. Wouldn't be really surprised if he chipped in maybe 10, 12 goals this year. I don't think that's out of the realm of possibility. This was also, I think, Dominic Cahoon's best game.

I know I talked about it in the last episode. He didn't really have a good training camp, apparently. His preseason also wasn't too kind. That first game was too kind. This game, he was looking much better. He's accumulating himself on the team. I know second game. We'll see how it goes.

But this was a stepping stone, I think, for him to, you know, establish himself as a good winger. And he can play. Of course, he can play anywhere in the lineup. But for right now, he's on the fourth line. And, yeah, I'll see how long they keep this fourth line together. I'd keep it together for a while, even when Rust comes back. And, of course, with Malkin and Bukstad.

As I said, coming up for the Penguins, they will be playing the Winnipeg Jets who had a big comeback against the Devils the other night I think they wanted a shoot after being down four goals they're still missing Dustin Bufflin who could potentially retire that's not good news for a defense that also lost Jacob Truba

The Winnipeg is an interesting team I'd say this year but they have Pittsburgh guys then coming up then of course like I said the ducks before I believe they go on the road Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, they go to Minnesota. They actually play Winnipeg five days later in Winnipeg, and then they come home to play the Avalanche and the Stars and the Golden Knights. So I think that'll wrap up this edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast.

Great to get a win, always great, especially against the Blue Jackets, the Penguins. I think they've won now, is that eight straight home games against the Columbus Blue Jackets? If I remember correctly, this is a team that they own a lot of the time. There's a reason why people call them the little brother of the Pittsburgh Penguins. And it'll be on Dickens's getting interesting season for the Blue Jacket's season. They did not look good tonight at all. They were definitely missing Panarin and Duchyne and all them, especially Sergey Barbrowski. He ain't walking out of those doors this year, folks.

I think it might be a long year in net for the Blue Jackets. Yep, that'll back things up, I think. This has been the Lockdown Penguins podcast. If you would like, please subscribe on Apple and Spotify. Outstanding. Follow my Twitter at Hunter Hodes. And there's also a Twitter account for the Locked on Penguins podcast. It is L-O-U-U-U-U-Square-Penguins is what it is. And I will be tweeting my thoughts about the games on that Twitter account as well as tweeting out the episode. So definitely give that a follow. You can also head to my Twitter account, my regular Twitter

account, at Hunter Hodes to follow it. And we'll be chatting with you guys tomorrow on the next episode. All right. Take care, guys.