Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Marshall Monday: Penguins make it four in a row with Saturday's win!

Episode Date: March 17, 2025

The Pittsburgh Penguins are on a four-game winning streak and Jesse Marshall is here to help break it all down! He's back with another edition of Marshall Monday as the three fellas break down this game against the Devils and discuss what the Penguins are doing right over the last week. Does it mean anything for the rest of the season? They then get Jesse's thoughts on Rutger McGroarty's game and how he continues to develop before he dives into Sergei Murashov and his play in WBS. Finally, Hunter and Pat go over some great individual performances from certain Penguins during Saturday's game against the Devils and take a quick look at the week ahead.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!FactorLooking to optimize your nutrition this year? Eat smart with Factor. Get started at FACTOR MEALS.com/FACTORPODCAST and use code FACTORPODCAST to get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.5-Hour ENERGYHead to 5-hourENERGY.com to find over 15 flavors to choose from, including Watermelon, Blue Raspberry, and Peach-Mango. Need one now? Grab a 5-hour ENERGY shot at your local grocery or convenience store—they’re everywhere! Stock up today and stay energized. UpworkVisit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free to connect with top talent and grow your business today!Wonderful PistachiosGet snackin’ and get crackin’ with the snack that packs a protein punch. Visit WonderfulPistachios.com to learn more! GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHLfor $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new FanDuel customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins! FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pittsburgh Penguins made it four straight wins over the weekend by blitzing the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Pat and I are going to recap that game, plus discuss the week ahead on this special Marshall Monday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. You're Locked-on Penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am one of your host, Hunter Hodes. you can follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, joined by my co-st, Patrick Damping and follow him on all social media platforms at Send him for Wet.

And ladies and gentlemen, the prodigal son has returned. Jesse Marshall is back for another Marshall Monday. Jesse, as always, man, thank you so much for taking time out of your very busy schedule on Mondays. We're going to have to probably move your weekly segment to another day because you've just been so busy lately. Yeah, and you said it. It's good to be back.

And I'm sad that you'll lose the alliteration abilities that you get out of Marshall Monday, but we'll make up new ones, right? Hey, we'll figure it out whatever day you want to do, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, whatever. But as always, thank you all so much for taking the time to listen to slash watch this episode. We are free and available on all platforms. And finally, this episode is brought to you by Monarch Money. Take control of your finances with Monarch Money.

use code locked on NHL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. So Jesse, the Penguins made it four in a row on Saturday by absolutely blitzing the Devils on Home Ice, 7 to 3. That is the Penguins' first home win over the Devils in nearly four years, and only their second win in their last 11 games against the Devils. They have been fought up owned by this team over the last few years, but it was nice seeing the Penguins get some payback. And I thought they came out like a house on fire.

That was the best start they've had since probably the game against Minnesota on that Sunday before. They really did not play that well against Vegas or St. Louis, but they got the finishing and they got the goal tening. And you had both of them in this game as well. The finishing was very much there. Tristan Jari wasn't as good as his last three starts, but he was still fairly good in net. But I felt like the process was more there in this win against the Devils than the previous three, at least in my opinion. And Jesse, I want to get your thoughts on this because I know, some people very much want this team to lose most of their games here down the stretch,

get the top five pick. But to me, I'm okay with them winning a little bit like this because you're never going to tell professional athletes to intentionally tank. If you go up to Cindy Crosby and say, hey, why don't you go and lose all these games? He's going to tell you to screw off. Like, that's not how he is. And they're, excuse me, Cindy Crosby is seven points away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's point per game record.

I think he's going to do it here. unless something weird happens. But by winning games like this, you still create that culture in your locker room that's needed for next season. The players are having fun out there. They're showing all this heart. They're showing all this fight.

And are they going to make the playoffs people? No, I even tweeted over the weekend. Do not look at the standings. Not look at the standings. They are going to drive you nuts if you do. But they're at least playing well. They're getting good goaltending.

They're finishing their chances. and they're having a blast out there, I'll always respect that, man. So what are your thoughts on this little winning street that they've gone over the last week plus? Don't care. I don't care. If they lose cool, if they win, fine.

This impacts nothing other than the standing and caliber player that you're going to get later on down the line when the draft comes here. I don't know that I agree that here's the thing. There's a misnomer. We have to discuss, I think, like, the open misnomer. The open misnomer and the discourse on Twitter and amongst, you know, all the Penguins fan bases, this act of like intentionality around tanking,

there's never going to be a situation where professional players who are playing for contracts, reputations, and livelihoods are going to not try. The mechanism of tanking, the action of tanking is one that's taken by a coach and general manager, and the lineup that you deploy. Right. So just so we're all clear on that, right? There's never been a documented case in the history of the national hockey league of a team intentionally losing games with good players, right?

You've seen teams manipulate their roster to be worse, right? And then organically let those players lose and do nothing about it. But like I see these conversations and it seems like everybody's like they need to not try as hard. that's ridiculous. That shouldn't even be, why are we, we shouldn't be having that conversation because it's just ridiculous

to discuss that. Now, if you want to criticize Kyle Dubus and Mike Sullivan for not, you know, calling up a bunch of young players, throwing them to the wolves

and, you know, eating a bunch of losses in a row, I guess I'll entertain that, right? Like, we could have that conversation. I just, like,

for me, this boat is listing in the ocean and being taken around by the waves, right? Sometimes the waves take it by a beautiful Oasis, right, where people are grilling and barbecuing and having fun.

And sometimes the waves take them and it knocks the boat over and fills it up with water and everybody starts choking on it. That's just the way it's going to be for the rest of the year, right? And they may win these games in a row and they might lose the next rest, every game for the rest of the year organically. Like, we're just along for the ride, right? That is what it is. I'm not going to get jammed up too much one way or another because unless you're

taking Matthew Schaefer or Michael Mesa in this draft. which means you have to be picking in the top two, right? And by the way, let me get this out there too. Finishing fourth worst, right? Yeah, I know people love Porter Martona. I'm partially responsible for that in the hype that I've generated it with them. But my point is, is you don't have as good of a chance to move up to one and two as you think you do. It doesn't.

The odds are genuinely against them with the way the NHL draft lottery is set up, that they're not going to get that top two pick, even if they have the worst record in the league because it's now intentionally set up because of the penguins, but we aren't going to talk about that. They're going to let the oilers off the hook here a little bit. Yeah, for as much success as the Oilers and Penguins have had over the last 40 years in stacking championships,

they also are a big reason the NHL draft lottery now exists, but I digress. Let's be specific. It was the Mark Andre Fleury trade. it did it, right? Because they didn't have the first overall pick that year. They traded to get it. And then that didn't count against them in future selection opportunities. So fair. All fairs. All just fair and tanking. But Jesse, you brought up the point that so many have brought up is that why aren't these young guys and Wilkes bear coming up? Why are they playing these veterans? Why didn't

they trade everybody away? And that's a whole other discussion for a whole other day. I think our listeners know where I stand where I said let these guys develop, let them win together, and then have them ready to play in the NHL. But player we got to talk about that Hunter and I have talked about quite a bit over the past couple of weeks. Before we do that, can I just, can I say that you're right? Can I just back up what you just said in being correct? Because I know not everyone watches the HL a lot, right?

Like, I get that. To paint a picture for you, like Hershey, okay, is really good. and trying to win and they've invested in winning. The penguins have done the same thing, but are behind Hershey in the process of that. Like, it wasn't really until Kyle Dubus got here that anyone cared about that at all, right? Wilkespares six points behind Hershey in the standings

for, like, number one overall in the Atlantic, right? Like, really great. That's good. And there's a special thing down there right now. Like, I think they have a lot of good things happening in multiple areas of the ice. Like, them going on a really deep Calder run, huge, right? Like, huge. And 10 times out of 10, I'll take Villay Covenin and McGrady, all those guys down there,

jelling together and having that experience overplaying up here with whatever this thing is, right? So, like, that just, I just want to. to back you up that like you're correct and I don't think people in general honestly appreciate how good Wilkes-Bare is right like they are that that's a good that's a good team that would be in second place in almost every single division in the American hockey league and look how much they're also having down there too like you can tell every time you know one of those guys scores a goal they all get amped especially on the bench on the ice like they're forming you know so many bonds down there.

And you did, for me personally, and I've been around for a long time, I haven't seen it like this since like the Colby Armstrong era of Wilkeshire. Okay. Right. Like that's the same vibe you had when it was like Eric Christensen, Colby Armstrong, Ryan Whitney, like all those really young players that you knew were going to be good one day and some effect, right? The Max Talbitts of the world.

Matt Murley's of the world. Like that, you know, that was back when they were filming basically like documentaries, right like office style documentaries and like having fun with it like i don't know that i've really like caught that vibe like from that point forward wilkes bear was a transitional win now like environment right where it was gutted everything was gone they were trying to get stanley cups the players who went there didn't spend a whole lot of time there right they didn't have that time to build that culture um so anyway i i cut you off but i i felt like your point was so important i needed to emphasize it had been that long.

We're going back to like 2005 now, like since we've, like I think you've had that sort of like same vibe. Yeah, no, I hear you. And not to steal Pat's Thunder there because we are bringing up Rucker McGority right now. He's been on fire as if we have. Jesse,

you were talking about it before we started recording. He's been great all season. You know, I've been trying to watch as many HL games as I can in Wilkesbury this year just because they are a ton of fun to watch. He just wasn't producing at the beginning of the season because the puck wasn't going into the back of the net. He's been driving play.

all year. But he's been especially rewarded over the last month. His last 15 games, eight goals, 17 points during that time. Billy Coyven, he's at around a point per game this year. He continues to be great. I think both these players are going to be on the Penguins roster as soon as next season and Jesse, we still got to bring him up to your son, Sergey Murashav. He continues to light up Wilkeshire right now. 9-0, 2.41 goals against average, 921 say percentage. He's now also tied Matt Murray for the longest winning. streak by a rookie goaltender in Wilkesbury Penguins history. Jesse, your thoughts on what these players are doing down at Wilkesbury this year. Yeah, I'm going to do an end of the year review

of Rucker McGority season. And when you watch, it'll probably be about 18 minutes along. And when you watch the first 14 minutes, you're going to want to pull your hair out of your head. And you're going to say, like, how now possible that he doesn't have more points? Like, what is going on? But that's like, that's the nature of the beast, man. Like, that's just the way hockey is. You know, regression comes and it goes and it hits people in a variety of ways. I think what's important for me, timing, I think his NHL timing has grown and has enhanced his ability to make quick reads, just push a puck off and a tick-tac-toe style play off a rush, you know, participate at a higher IQ level in the offensive zone off the chart. It's been really good this year. Individual chance

creation. Like what happens from the time Rucker McGarty first touches to the puck, touches the puck to the time he is done with it, whether that's via shot, goal, pass, whatever. Like, skill-treeing, for lack of a better word, has been so much better than it was. And it wasn't bad earlier in the year, right? It was raw. I don't know that, like, you saw him run a couple plays together

to gain possession and keep a puck alive, right? Like, he was sort of like a passenger at times, I think, at that level. And that's not the case right now. And that's discernibly changed. Foot speed, great. Like everyone wants to talk about skating. I do not have a concern. Like I want to be real clear.

Like not concerned about it. He is not fast. Like, okay, great. Like we got it. Like, but you know, the edge work, the stuff that happens inside of the phone booths to quote the Mike Lang phrase, right? That stuff that's meta, small space, right, from a stop. That's what's improved.

Right? His top speed, I don't think, is really tangibly. It's that agility and what happens in those first couple steps that it's. is the difference maker for me. And he looks really confident. He just looks like he knows he has size and he's functionally using it to his advantage now. The work that he's doing in the offensive zone

is not singular in focus. It's multifaceted stuff, right? Sometimes it's his hands. Sometimes it's his drive to the net. Sometimes it's his work on the boards and puck retrieval. Sometimes it's his playmaking and his vision. It's multifaceted. It's more of the bill of goods you were.

sold when he was prospect. Now, I'm not coming in here and saying that I think he's going to go up on the top line and score 30 next year. I think that there will be points next year when he does play in the NHO where there will be another adjustment. And then there will probably be a time where maybe he's got to get over that initial adrenaline rush anyway. You get that jump.

Everybody looks good on game one. You settle in and it comes a reality that adrenaline wears off. Like, I think there could be an adjustment there. But I think that he's a guy. You are very comfortable deploying, maybe on a second line. line as a wing, worst case scenario, third line as a wing right out of the gate, right? You want to deploy him as a wing. You want to give him easier minutes cool.

I think he could play in the top six. I've seen that level of IQ from him this year to make me comfortable with feeling that way. Like, I don't know that I would have said that after camp this year, right? So there's nobody should be complaining about anything. And I know, like, people are like, you know, living in this Braden Yeager world, right? I don't think Yeager's had a particularly impressive year. I don't think his scoring clip is that impressive when you consider his age

and I don't think he's going to play in the NHL next year. So at worst, and I'm not knocking Braden Yeager, I just think he is what he was when we traded him, which is a player who's not quite as good as Rucker McGority. And we got the player ultimately that's closer to the NHL. So I think Kyle Dubas, like both these teams will be fine. They're both going to have a player that will play in the NHL.

But I think like we're getting a little. too lost in the sauce on that commentary and discourse, considering these players are so far apart from each other and where they are in their development, right? Like, if we want to have that conversation, let's wait five years, then we'll do it. Right. But either way, I think they got what they wanted and at a bigger size-based prospect who can play in that penguin style of needing to, like, think quickly and be there with Sidney and Crosby and Malkin as they do these crazy things that they do. And somebody who's pretty close to the league. So I'm excited to get the video out there because again I think like it was out of sight of mind he wasn't scoring a lot people

I think assumed that I don't blame them for this that he wasn't playing well because the points weren't there he was playing pretty well and he's only gotten better and I'm glad that the regression wave like is hitting him you know now right because now he's going into the postseason hot right I'd rather that than the other way around where it comes into the HL lights the world on fire and then peters out at the end of the year you know regression comes for everyone folks it is an unescapable reality of life. I'd rather have it early and get it out of the way than be handcuffed in the playoffs. Before we get back to our wonderful conversation with Jesse Marshall for this edition of Marshall Monday, we have to tell you about a couple of our sponsors. The first one being

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after lighting up the ECHL in their win just yesterday on Sunday over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He improves to 9-0-0, 9th, consecutive win ties Matt Murray for the longest rookie winning streak. And we all have, we have gone over the numbers ad nauseum. They're unbelievable. But aside from the numbers, digging into him, what is it about Murashav that's making him so successful so far at both the ECHL and AHL level? Well, so number one is just raw speed and athleticism. That's like number one. That is what everything in his game is based on completely.

He is exceptionally fast, almost unbeatable, low, because his pad speed is so quick. I think he's got a great underrated blocker. He gets a lot of sticks on things from far out and in close. And then there's this sort of like bubble he's in, right, where like he is unaffected. by whatever is happening around him. You know, like the chaos, the more chaotic the situation is, the better he is. Like, I think he thrives in those situations because once things break down and you get to, like, second, third, fourth chances, methodology goes out the window and it becomes this instinctual,

like, survivalistic means of net minding where, like, you're not watching a man that, has like a book taught method you're watching somebody's just doing what comes naturally to them really fast and and and i think also processing speed and like being able to read plays and understand plays and keep his eye on pucks in unconventional like in unconventional situations it's just through the roof so i think these are situations where other goaltenders like they hate to be in those situations they struggle they flounder and he thrives um the stuff that he gets beat on is clean. Like, it's going to beat a lot.

It's going to beat everybody, you know? Like, it's not, like, there's, I haven't, you know, found, like, that deficiency that exists. I mean, it's rebound. I keep saying it. It's rebound control. But I'm, I told you guys before the show started, I am getting to the point where I no longer care. Like, I, if, understanding that he puts himself in a lot of bad scenarios with regards to his rebound control, it's not hurting him, right?

Like, he's not suffering as a result of that. this. So like, how long, how long am I going to cling to it as being a problem, I guess, is my question. I mean, it's definitely unrefined and he does kick stuff out. But like, at the same time, I can't, what are we going to begrudge him for making the save? Right. Like, part of the reason why it's kicking out is because it was a hard save. And his concern is, I need to make the save, not be paying necessarily attention to where this puck's going afterwards. And I, like, you kind of got to respect that. You know what I mean? So, yeah, that's it. Like, if you're looking for minuses, I don't have a lot to give you.

He's not very big. Don't care. Hasn't bothered him yet. Hasn't made a difference anywhere he's played. Like, you know, when you're as fast as he is, like, and you have good extremities, that height no longer really, like, makes that much of a difference, you know? And again, I, if I had a dime for every time I saw him get a stick on something, I'd have like a dollar 70 and that's not a lot but it's you know what I mean it's a lot when you think

about it like that's you don't these aren't things you see goaltenders do all the time so I this I you know I kind of like I'm at the point guy where I'm comfortable saying like there's no rug here right like I know it was like the tendency is like to wait for like what's to catch you don't have one I don't I'm not an expert on goal today I'll say that until the cows come home. Like, I don't know that. I am not a classically trained goal tentator. Like, I didn't even, like, playing goal for fun, you know,

then, like, pick up. Like, I didn't, like, it was, like, too much work. So I don't, you know, I'm speaking, like, just from my limited source of, like, reading and knowledge that I do have. But, like, I don't know. I don't, I don't, like, you know, how many times is this a coincidence, you know,

like, how long, like, I understand regression. Like, we just talked about it, and goalies get hot goalies, cool but like this has been all you don't you guys don't get hot all year across multiple leagues accidentally you know what I mean like and I it'll be one thing if like guys were shooting pucks off the back of his skull when he was slopping around on the ground but like no he's making saves right like guys are putting shots to where they think the open net is and then like what here he shows up out of nowhere like surprise you know so I don't view this as accidental that's my

point right I don't view this is like the boon of some good luck streak You know, because he's got a horseshoe in his pad. Like, it's just he's a good goalie and he's a fast goalie. And I think that I think if you're a shooter too, guys, like, seeing someone that small is like jarring. Right. I mean, I think like you see this net available to you, right? That are these spaces available to you that I think guys are shooting in unconventional ways against them just based off of like how compact he is. And that sort of feeds into what he wants.

Because if you go low post, you know, that's like the buzzing of flies to him, to quote Ghostbusters. Like, he does not care about that. So, yeah, I think it's, I think it's all in all is just a very interesting situation that, you know, I think if you were sitting at home wondering, like, should I get hype about this? Yes. Now's the time. Like, go ahead.

Green light for hype. Like, go for it. Like, you, like, jump on the train, plenty of room. And going off that, when do you think he could be ready? Halfway through next season, Jesse. Does he need another full season? in the ACHL before being ready? Just curious.

Yeah, that's a good question. Let's see how the playoffs go. Fair, yeah. I'm curious to see what he gets. Let's see how the quarter cup players says. Look, if he shows up next year and his lights out in camp has a great run, they don't even need to win the Calder Cup, has a good, solid run in the American Hockey League, shows up to camp and his lights out, you have a really difficult decision to make.

You have a really difficult decision to make because I get it. You don't want to derail it. Like that's really important. And we have seen goalies get derail. Like we have seen goalies go too early and get derail. Like, you know, the risk analysis will be insane on that, I'm sure. But I think you got to consider at least giving them a run, you know, giving them a look at least once or twice to see what you got. I mean, you know, that's not going to kill anybody.

right no I mean I don't think so and I look at it I look at it this way is I like we talked about a little bit in the first segment I am and so are you very pro like listen we don't need to spoil these guys yet because they got a good thing brewing in Wilkes bear they're playing well they're jelling together that's something that yeah it doesn't show up on the stat sheet but it shows up when they eventually come up to the NHL because they've done it together When I look at the goalies, I said the same thing in a way about Blumquist when he went back down. Everybody was like, oh, they're just trying to tank now. They're bringing Jarre back up.

It was like, no, there's no reason to leave Blumquist here because it's a poor defensive team. He's a highly touted goalted, goaltending prospect. Nothing is going to serve his development by playing behind a team like that. In fact, it'll probably spoil it. But like you said, they go on a solid run in the Calder Cup playoffs. don't even have to win, but they go on a solid run. He's the backbone of it, shows up to camp, does really well. The risk analysis to me has to be, does he have anything left to prove?

And if that run is as good as we think it is, the next thing to prove is, can you do it with the big club? Yeah. I'll say this too. If the takeaway from a hockey ops perspective is that he needs to improve his rebunk. control. That is not something that happens overnight, and I would be prepared to wait a little longer. Like, then, Hunter, we get into, I think, your time frame, like halfway three-quarter mark, you know, something strikes me, gentlemen, is one thinking that this goaltending situation therein is not going to solve itself overnight. So, honey, one, in the next year, we may be,

you know, still looking for solutions. And if that's the case, you know, they'll be looking within for them, just like they did this season. And I, yeah. especially Jesse not with Tristan Jari going 931. His last four starts remembering how to play goal again somehow, I guess. But I will, he turns into prime LeBron, as I've said in the last couple of shows. I will caution everyone there was a time not that long ago. In fact, ironically enough coincided with when Tristan Jari went down. When people on Twitter were saying, oh, wow, like, Ned looks really good right now and is playing out of his mind.

Maybe we should give him the net neck. Look what happened. he's breaking his stick off the glass and screaming into everyone after he's polo game because this is what these guys do right like this is the we are just on the thunderbolt right now and sometimes a thunderbolt goes up and sometimes it goes down and right now we're at the top it's going to go back down like you can enjoy it now if you want but this is not like you're not solved anything here this is like he didn't go down there and find himself as a goaltender like that's not what happened uh times was not pretty at all so i think like

You know, it's just, yeah. Well, next year is going to be really interesting with that whole situation because Philip Larson still exists. And I still think that Philip Larson's very good. I don't think that he is the pedigree and, like, I don't think he looks as good as Maryshov does. I'll be very clear about that. But who do you know, you don't even know where we have in that, right?

Like, what's going on there too? And, you know, all fun questions that we should hopefully get answers to soon. Yeah, I think they're going to take three goalies into the playoffs at this rate. I mean, they could in theory have Mershaw for the East. Hitchel playoffs. But as of right now, I mean they're just going to take three goalies in the playoffs. And that's probably their best move. Like Blumquist, he's shown an ability to play well for the most part down there. I know his last NH Olson didn't go that well, but he's still down there. Philip Larson has been outstanding this year, Jesse. Same with Murshov. So they will have no

short of options in the playoffs. I'm curious to see how the coaching staff. Yeah. What they do with that because it's going to be a tough call either way. Health will be a part of it too, right? Larson's been hurt at times this season, you know, like Blomquist. is obviously not playing now. So we'll have to see what the availability looks like, but there's going to be some difficult decisions to make for sure. Yeah, I 100% agree with that. But I think that I'll do it for this second segment

and this Marshall Monday two segments because Pat and I are going to fully recap this game against the Devils in the final segment and get you all set for the two games this week against the Islanders and the Blue Jackets. But, Jesse, before we get to break, do you have anything to plug coming up this week? Post it at Mixed Jake O'Brien today.

So that's out on YouTube now. It's got a lot of real poop your pants in it. If you like just danglefests, this is like Robb-Shrempe level dangle fest, but in real games. So you know, you get that. And then I have like, I'm, I lost my entire Anton Fondell. I have to start all over my screen editing software, ate it alive and spit it out in a 10 frame. for second. So Frundel part 2.0 will be out. And then the other one I got coming soon is Radame Merca. So I'm finishing that one up as well. I'm trying to go 32 mixtapes this year.

One for everybody in the first that I have as a first rounder. So stay tuned for that. Awesome. Well, we'll be waiting for those on social media and Jesse. Until next time, hopefully next week. Thank you so much for coming on. on pretty long episode today so far. Hopefully it's probably going to be around 40 to 45 minutes until Pat and I are done recapping this game to get the Devils and getting everyone set for this week. But Jesse, we appreciate it.

Thank you. Thanks, guys. All right. And again, that'll do it for the second segment of today's show. Coming up to end the show, Pat and I are finally going to fully recap this game against the Devils. We touched on it a little bit during that first segment, getting Jesse's thoughts on everything that's gone on this past weekend

and over the last week. But Pat and I are going to go into who really stood off in this game against the Devils. And then again, look at the week ahead. Before we get to that, we got to tell you all about our last sponsor, and that is Monarch Money. Ever check your bank account and wonder where the heck did all my money go between dining out, online shopping and entertainment. It's easy to lose track. And that's where Monarch Money comes in, your personal CFO giving you full visibility and control over your finances.

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Join my co-host, Patrick Dam. So, Pat, this is going to be pretty rapid fire here. I think our overlord is going to be upset with how long our episode already is at 31 minutes. But, hey, again, we're going to try to go as quick as we can with this recap of the devil's game. And I want to start here once again with Connor Timmons, another tremendous effort from him. If you look at his underlines from natural statuary, I have them in my notes today. Like, he continues to light it up. Very small sample, about 46 minutes of five-on-five ice time.

But when he is on the ice, the penguins have 60% of the shot attempts, six goals for, no goals against, 20 scoring chances for, 12 scoring chances against, seven high-danger chances for, four high-danger chances against, and a 66% expected goal share. He continues to not only drive offense. he is playing lights out in his own end, very much a Ben Lovejoy type of player. It is only four games,

but he's looking like a very great option right now heading into next year as someone who can eat up those third pair of Mets. I thought he was great. And you know what? Shout out to Connor Dewar as well. His underlying numbers coming into the Penguins were not good. He was honestly not having a good year counting stats. That's why is it with Toronto either.

But he's a feisty little fella. He loves going to the net. He foreshacks hard. and he's being rewarded in these last few games. I really like both of the new guys' efforts right now. Yeah, early returns are very good on both of them. I don't want to put the card ahead of the horse and say that Kyle Dubas won this deal and got some absolute gems

because very similar to what Jesse was saying in a different way about Rutger McGroarty in that kind of adrenaline rush of new team, new situation, all of that. that can that can wear off before you know it. And it's been four games, but in those four games, they have been very solid. And I think this is where something like

the analytics and the underlying numbers will provide us a little bit of a guide. It shows us that they can continue this, that the mechanics are there, that the process is there for them to continue this. Now, like all things, they could drop off, but Saturday was just another data,

a point in the fact that these two guys seem to be seamless fits. 100%. And, you know, going off that, another player who's been a great fit for a lot of this season, Philip Tomasino gets another goal in this game. You know, throwback to win Barry Trots basically gave him away for free as Kyle Dubas has just been slapping him in the face all year with all these trades that they've made. I don't know why Barry Trots continues to trade with Kyle Dubis. But hey, if I'm Kyle, I continue to call very because I don't think Barry is very good at this. Thomasino gets another goal. Ricard Raquel, Pat, gets his 31st goal. And Cindy Crosby, as I mentioned during the first segment, seven points away from breaking

Wayne Gretzky's point per game record. Seven more points. He will have 20 consecutive seasons of a point per game. And again, assuming nothing weird happens, he is going to get it. He continues to play really well. And Tristan Jari, man, another fantastic start. He's going to get the next start. on Tuesday against the Islanders. It wasn't as good as the previous three were, but he still made a lot of really big, timely saves throughout. Do you know what his cumulative say percentage is these last four games?

You, I believe, said it to Jesse. It's 934, if I'm correct. Very close. 931. And the penguin's shooting percentage these last four games, 20.5%. You know what? It's always good when you figure out how to finish your chances

and get good goaltending. Great recipe for success, isn't it? Yeah, and I agree. He wasn't as good as he has been recently in this fourth game against the Devils, but at the same time, very similarly to some of the other games in this stretch, there weren't any goals that you really went, oh, man, he's got to have that. Like, they were hard-earned goals by the Devils or they were on the power play. So you can't fully put them on the shoulders of the goaltender.

He was solid again. And as for Tomasino, man, one goal away from his career high of 11, which he had in 21, 22. Now he's not coming all that close to his career high in points, which was that same season when he had 32. But again, if this is what you're going to get out of him, 15-ish in that range kind of goals, you found yourself a good middle six forward for next to nothing. He's still pretty young. He's still only 23. so there is room to grow, but I've liked his game a whole hell of a lot since he became a penguin.

And the longer he plays, the more confidence he develops. I think Dubus, I feel a little more confident saying it about Tomasino. I think Dubus found himself a diamond in the rough. Yeah, I think so too. And I thought Eric Carlson was marvelous in this game. What a piss missile, by the way, to make it fire three and put the game away late in the third period. it looked like for a time. We were going to get a classic penguins last year.

Big lead. It gets too close. Eventually gets tied. Then the penguins end up losing either late in the third period or an overtime or a shootout. It wasn't the case with this one. Carlson with a big time power play goal. Again, what a shot there. But I will say, man, penalty kill.

It was rough once again. I even tweeted during those two double minors, I wasn't that mad about them because I want the PK to get work. like this unit badly needs work right now but they're just not executing even the simple things and it yeah i think it's i think it's it's still definitely a concern it's not fixed it's not even really getting better but i will give this point i'll put these two points up yeah they they went uh four for six in in kills the devils get two power play goals the problem is they get two power play goals that put them right back in the game.

So when you look at the the top line numbers, they didn't do half a bad job, but then you look at the context of it and they get a power play goal to make it four to two and then they get a power play goal to make it four to three. Those are two moments when you need your P.K. To step up and blunt that momentum from New Jersey and they didn't. Luckily, Carlson answers right back on the power play for the penguins. and then Connor Dewar gets the empty netter. Kevin Hayes gets an absolutely laughable goal to make it 7-3.

And I mean, at the end of the day, it's exactly what we have been saying about this team. They may not be very good. They may not be playoff bound, but damn it, they are fighting. Yeah, they're showing the heart. They're showing their pride. And it's nice seeing them go on this four-game winning streak. Again, I know some people out there want them just lose out. players aren't wired that way.

They never will be. And they're having some fun out there at least to end the season. I will say, Pat, it reminds me a little bit of what happened at the end of last season when they went on that pretty big run to almost get in the playoffs. But we're still not even close to where that was at least going into April because Pat, like they were just lighting everyone up at that time. Yeah, it's nice. They've won four in a row.

But as I tweeted people, do not check the standings. Do not check the standings. Oh, it may seem like they're a little bit closer to the point. playoff picture. Look at the games in hand. All these teams have that. The Rangers, blue jackets, heck, even the Islanders, for example, who are just ahead of them. You know, Montreal,

of course, Columbus, who the Penguins will see this week. The games in hand, that screws up that theory. So again, we'll talk, we'll talk more about the games themselves, because we're running long here. We'll talk about the week ahead probably tomorrow in our preview episode, but I'll just end with this.

Here's how we're going to tell if this is a mirage. which I think most of us believe, or if this team has maybe found a little bit of something, the next two weeks are going to be very difficult because Islanders, Columbus, Florida, Tampa, Sabers, and then Ottawa. Like, those are all pretty solid teams right now, or at the very least teams that are fighting to get into the playoffs. And if they can scratch and claw a few wins out, again, I'm not going to say they're back.

I'm not going to say things are figured out, but you scrape together some wins against them. We can have a little bit deeper of a conversation. I think that's fair. This week, the Penguins will see the Islanders on Tuesday. And then they'll end this five game homestand. They're already three and no on this five game homestand. But they'll end their homestand against the Blue Jackets, who, in my opinion, are the best story in the NHL this year.

And honestly, I do hope they make the playoffs because I think it would be an even greater story if they got in and played some really good hockey against probably the Washington capitals, if I had to guess. And one last thing before we end here, I am concerned about the devils for the rest of the season. They did not play well in that game. And I think they are going to be a quick out, especially without Jack Hughes. And if they don't get Dougie Hamilton back for the playoffs, he's going to be out for the rest of the regular season. But if he is not ready for the first round, I am deeply concerned about them.

Because I think it looks like right now that are going to be in that two, three matchup in the metro. I think Carolina, even though I don't trust the hurricanes in the playoffs, I think Carolina might boat race them. And it's just, yeah, Penguins kick the devil's butts in that game, which was nice to see. But Pat and I will be back with another show for you all on Tuesday to preview this game against the Islanders. It will be the fourth and final meeting against the Islanders. The Penguins look to play. Spoiler as the Islanders are still kind of stiffing around one of those wild card spots as well. Again, they're kind of like cockroaches.

They never die at this right. And then we'll recap that game for you all on Wednesday and then get you all set for Friday's game against the Blue Jacket. So for Patrick Damp, I'm Hunter. hoodies. Thank you all so much for tuning in. We appreciate it. We'll be back on Tuesday.