Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Penguins' Swedes STEP UP for another MASSIVE shootout win!

Starting point is 00:00:00 The future and the present collided on Thursday night when the Pittsburgh Penguins looked like they were dead. Then Eric Carlson, Igor Chinikov, and Ben Kindle all rode to the rescue for the Pittsburgh Penguins. We're going to break down that game and a whole heck of a lot more on a brand new locked on penguins. You're locked on penguins, your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins, part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Welcome in to the Friday edition, a victory Friday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am one of your hosts, Patrick Damp. You can follow me across all social media platforms at Synonym 4Wet. Joined as always by the one and only Hunter Hodes.

Starting point is 00:00:53 You can follow him on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. You can give our show's account a follow at L.O. underscore Penguins. You can find us on Instagram at Locked-on underscore Penguins, as well as TikTok at Locked-on Penguins. Of course, as always, we appreciate you making us part of your daily routine. Don't forget, we are free and available wherever you get your podcast as well as YouTube. And if you're following us on YouTube, which you should be, make sure you've hit the notification button. That way you can be among the first to know when we drop our daily Monday through Friday episodes before we jump into quite.

Starting point is 00:01:34 a bit on a jam-packed Friday episode of Locked-on Penguins. This episode is brought to you by Fandul. During the tournament, Fandle is offering $300 back in bonus bets every day for 10 days. Head to Fandul.com to get started more on that offer later. The Pittsburgh Penguins, ladies and gentlemen, well, they have done it again. They have once again won a shootout, four to three over the Ottawa senators in what was the biggest game of the year and it was a jam-packed game. We're going to recap that game. We're also going to talk about SIDS injury, get you ready for the Dallas game this weekend,

Starting point is 00:02:17 and of course, hear from you, the audience in another fan take Friday. But let's start with where I began. This team, you can talk about their defensive deficiencies. You can talk about their injuries. You can talk about how the goaltending has regressed. You can talk about all of that. But you simply have to talk about more than anything, the heart, the battle, the compete level that this penguin's team has. Because Ottawa, much like Raleigh, has become a place where this team, for whatever reason, cannot win. They struggle there. The Ottawa senators have continued to give to give them fits. And there were multiple moments last night against this Ottawa team

Starting point is 00:03:05 where it looked like it could have just been not their night. And you would not have been all that. You would have been upset that they lost, but there would have been moments where you went, you know what? Wasn't their night. They dominate the second period. And they only come out of it tied two to two.

Starting point is 00:03:21 Ricard Raquel scores on a beautiful one-timer to make it three to two on the power play in the third period, only for the senators to come right back and tie the game. Then you have a wild overtime, missed opportunities, big saves, chaos abounds, and then it goes to a shootout and you think, damn it, this team can't win in shootouts. But Igor Chinikov, Ben Kindle, ride to the rescue, and the penguins get two points. And as we record this on Friday afternoon, they are once again second in the Metropolitan Division. I love the way the Penguins played in this game.

Starting point is 00:04:00 That was a deserved win. That's the best. I've also seen them play against the Ottawa Senators and quite some time. I thought the first period went very well. I know the score didn't indicate that just because it was a tied game after the first period. But outside the penalty kill, I thought they were the better team in that period. They poured it on in the second period. Linus O'Mark was the only reason why that was a tied game going into the third period.

Starting point is 00:04:28 That could have been a five to two game going into the third period. He was standing on his head making grade A save after grade A save. I went on Money Puck after because I wanted to see what his goals say above expected was. It was below two, which I found very hard to believe. I thought it was going to be higher than that, considering the amount of grade A chances he robbed in the first 40 minutes. But those first two periods, that's the best I've seen the Penguins play since that game in Denver when the Penguins won 7 to 2. everything was so simple in their own zone. And yeah, there were a couple of times when they were out to lunch.

Starting point is 00:05:04 You also saw that a little bit in the third period. But for the most part, they played a much cleaner game in their own zone. Their cycle game was working. They were forechecking really well, which has been a problem against the Senator's team because Ottawa, it's not quite to Carolina's level, but they are very content with clogging things up, putting three players of the blue line, and kind of dare you to forecheck. And the penguins, they were able to beat that.

Starting point is 00:05:28 get a lot of high quality grade A chances against the Senator's team. Again, I just love the way they played in the first 40 minutes. Even in the third period, the first 10 minutes I liked, Ottawa was really pushing in the back half of that period, but the Penguins were able to secure the point before having that crazy overtime period. I mean, that was one of the best, better overtime periods that I have watched this season. And then Ben Kendall and Igor Chinochinov rescued him in the shootout and Stewart Skinner makes some big saves.

Starting point is 00:05:58 more on him in a little bit, but I want to shout out the two Swedes right now. Eric Carlson once again puts the team on his back, scores his first ever goal against the senators, by the way. That keep at the blue line also before Raquel scored his first was a thing of beauty. Again, he is playing elite level hockey right now, just really putting the team on his back. He is the Penguins MVP. By a mile. He has been.

Starting point is 00:06:28 has been their best player and he deserves so much credit for more more than anything his leadership. He said after the game basically when Sid goes down, we have two options. We can hang our heads, feel sorry for ourselves, or we can pick it up and pick up the slack ourselves and battle our asses off. And that's what they did. And he led the charge on that. Again, I can only say it so many times. yeah, he's going to get the headlines for the offense because his offense since the since coming back from the break, he is second only to Nikita Kuturov, who is having a historic season. So probably going to win the heart trophy, by the way.

Starting point is 00:07:13 Exactly. And but the other part of all of this is that he's playing well defensively. He's playing well in the neutral zone. He's doing everything right in this look. exactly like the Eric Carlson that we were hoping to get when he was acquired a couple of years ago. And again, I don't want to revisit this too much, but man, it's just a bad look on the former head coach when you see Eric Carlson play like this man. Like, man, you are handicapping him this much.

Starting point is 00:07:44 Just look at the level he's playing at. Man, like this is 2017 level Eric Carlson, what we're seeing right now. I also want to shout out Rickard Raquel because a couple of weeks ago I came on here saying I wanted him to be a little bit more consistent. I wasn't super unhappy with him, but I was like, okay, let's see more of that consistency. Oh, Pat, he has brought it ever since. And over his last 11 games, he has 14 points for the month of March, seven goals and 15 points. Two great goals against the senators last night.

Starting point is 00:08:16 He was trying to go one on two, one on three at times, trying to make dazzling moves in the offensive zone. And they were working at times. But he was so good for the penguins. last night. And over the last couple of weeks, especially, he has really turned up his game. I am thrilled with the way that he is playing. Wanted to make sure we shout him out because he was one of the best players on the ice. Eor Kinnikov. Yeah, he was dazzling once again. I don't know how Olmark made some of these saves on him considering how fast the puck comes off Chinokov stick. But Raquel, man, have a night, my friend. Huge night by him. Huge night by Chinikov. Only scoring in the

Starting point is 00:08:52 shootout, though, but hit multiple posts. Omar robbed him multiple times. It's genuinely stunning that Chinikov did not get on the score sheet last night until the shootout because he was playing some kind of hockey. I continue to be impressed with how good that kid is. And I mean, ways to go here. But, I mean, he genuinely feels like a star in the making because everything he touches is turn into gold. And it's been quite a few, a couple of months now.

Starting point is 00:09:25 You know, this isn't, we're no longer in short sample size territory. He just keeps doing it. And eventually it stops being a sample size and just starts being who this player is. So he was great. The top line numbers aren't going to look great overall for Stuart Skinner. But I do think on the whole, when you look at his performance last night, he finishes the game with a sub 900 save percentage, but not by much.

Starting point is 00:09:57 I think I liked his performance more than anything late in the third period and into overtime. He made a lot of key saves when they needed to be made, which we talked about it for the last two seasons. That was maybe the most glaring thing that the penguins had been missing was it wasn't that their goaltending was just straight up bad because there were moments where it was straight up bad. but what was the true issue was when they needed saves, they wouldn't get them. They would lose games in high leverage moments because of soft goals. Skinner made the saves he needed to make when he needed to make them.

Starting point is 00:10:37 He kept the minute. He kept them fighting. He definitely kept the minute in overtime. And aside from one squeaker in the shootout, he did the job he needed to do. Big game from him, and I'll say it, it'll be a good transition to get us into the Dallas game. He should probably start on Saturday.

Starting point is 00:10:58 100%. He'll 1,000% I will go that far, should start in this game. If I want to nitpick, I didn't like the third goal as much. I felt he could have done a bit better with that rebound, but I also did not like the way the Penguins were defending in front of him there. That was one of the rare occurrences last night where I was like, okay, guys, Lee, you got to defend a bit better in yourself. because for the most part, I did like the way they responded and defended it in their own zone for most of that game.

Starting point is 00:11:25 That was one of the moments sort of was like, all right, guys, come on. Also, the penalty kill where they just, you know, left a wide open net. Skinner's not going to make that save. But still, the third goal, he could have been a bit better. But down the stretch in the final half of that third made a lot of very key saves and stopped multiple breakaways in overtime. He was stupendous. And the shootout goal that he allowed, kind of lucky. Pat, he made the save.

Starting point is 00:11:49 the puck just trickled in. You saw him after he was like, are you serious? I read him the whole way. I made the same with my pad. The puck just trickled in barely by literally. It felt like an inch or two. So I thought he was great down the stretch.

Starting point is 00:12:01 I would give him another start on Saturday. And if he plays ball air against the stars, start him again on Monday against the Islanders. Because, you know, we just said that this game against Senators was their biggest game in two years. We're going to say that again on Monday, just with how close the standings are, the way the Islanders are playing,

Starting point is 00:12:17 the way this team is playing, the way both teams, again, are only separated by one point right now. That's your biggest game of the season. Skinner plays well on Saturday. I give him the net on Monday. Really nice game from him. And if you weren't pacing around last night, getting all amped up, then what are you doing? Like, that was a playoff game, and I absolutely loved it.

Starting point is 00:12:40 God, this is so fun. I'm glad I didn't have this on during the game because I definitely would have gotten an alert about my heart rate because I could feel my heart rate spiking during that game. It also, real quick, before we had to break here and get you ready for Dallas, we do have to mention the captain does leave the game early in the second period with what's being described as a lower body injury. We were hoping to get an update today, but the Penguins ultimately canceled practice,

Starting point is 00:13:08 so there were no updates on 87 status. We're going to have to wait until before the game against Dallas on Saturday. there have been no further updates. Yohe did report that he didn't seem to have a brace on or walking with any visible limp. So at the very least, that's kind of hopeful. But we will see what happens with the captain. We'll see what happens with Evgeny Malkin and everybody else.

Starting point is 00:13:35 The closer we get to game time on Saturday against the Dallas stars. And we do have to get to previewing that game, which we will do when we come back right after this. But first, we've got a couple of sponsors to get to starting with our friends at Indeed. Workplace chaos, deadline stacking up, your inbox overflowing, and that one position, you have to fill still sitting open. When the pressure's on and need the right hire, this is a job for Indeed sponsored jobs. Indeed, sponsored jobs help you reach the right people who actually fit what you're looking for,

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Starting point is 00:17:03 because the Dallas stars are coming to town on Saturday. And I just had to make that reference. I got nothing against Texas. time I've been there. Pretty fantastic place, especially Dallas. Dallas absolutely rules. Elite barbecue, my friend. Going to Dallas, Fort Worth, my uncle used to live there. He actually just moved back back there a couple weeks ago. He's closing on a house. Just elite barbecue in the Fort Worth area. I can't wait to go back and try it again. It's awesome. Yeah, it's an awesome place. But here's the thing. We talked about this a couple of

Starting point is 00:17:35 weeks ago when we were getting ready for this hectic stretch of games. And we said one of the biggest challenges is going to be the Dallas stars. And while that remains true, they've been stumbling a little bit lately. They are on a four-game losing streak. They have lost to the Islanders, the Devils, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Minnesota Wild. They beat Colorado. They lost to Utah. So they are struggling a little bit here down the stretch.

Starting point is 00:18:02 They had an opportunity to catch Colorado, which that's slowly but surely slipping away. but even with that struggle, this is not at all a team that you can take lightly. The penguins did lose to them earlier this year back in December, three to two. If you can believe it, in a shootout. So that was something we had come to expect at that point. But you just look at this lineup. It is loaded. Jason Robertson, 85 points.

Starting point is 00:18:33 Wyatt Johnston, 78 points. Miko Rantan, who could potentially, return. He is out with injury right now, but there is a potential for him to return on Saturday. 69 points. Nice. Rupa Hintz has 15 goals. Dushane, 36 points. He's still chugging along, but they do have some injuries, like I mentioned, Miko Ranton, Tyler Sagan, unfortunately, out for the year. You hate to see that. Rupé Hince also hurt. This is a team that's banged up, but there is still a ton of talent. And in net, of course, one of the best goalies in the league. Jake Ottinger, 901, save percentage this season up to this point to

Starting point is 00:19:14 shutouts, 29, 11, and 6. It is going to be a challenge, even though this team is struggling a little bit. Well, especially if the Penguins are potentially without both Crosby and Malkin tomorrow, we have to see the update that DMUs will give before the game. That's probably going to come out around 3 o'clock Eastern time tomorrow unless Penguins PR tweets it out a little bit before. Sometimes they have done that. But they canceled practice today. As Pat said, said, not going to have an update today. We'll have something at least tomorrow, but we'll see if Sid is able to go or if Gino is able to go.

Starting point is 00:19:45 He hasn't practiced since that hand injury that he suffered. Well, I think it was a hand injury. He blocked a shot with his hand. They haven't specified, but that's the assumption that I'm going on. But he hasn't practiced since he got hurt. I'll just say that. So time will tell. It's going to be even harder for this team to beat the stars without one, but especially both

Starting point is 00:20:05 of those two players. The stars have that 14-0-0-1. run going and it looked like they were potentially going to catch the abs. I mean, we're talking about that last week, going into this week. But as the abs have gotten hot again, the stars have cooled down. They're nine points back. Very likely now going to be Dallas, Minnesota in the first round. I mean, we've kind of penciled that in as a series since November.

Starting point is 00:20:28 As Dallas was starting to catch Colorado, it was like, okay, maybe there's a chance of Colorado slides down. But I think Colorado is now running away with the division. I don't think you're making up a nine point deficit with 20 days left in the regular season. I would be very surprised. So the stars, they've been kind of, you know, chelaxing a little bit.

Starting point is 00:20:45 But if you're a team like this, you don't want to go into the playoffs, you know, on a bad note. So they're going to try to really get back on a winning note tomorrow in Pittsburgh. You mentioned some of the injuries they had. Miko Ranson, this, I was reading earlier this week. This was the target date.

Starting point is 00:21:00 They wanted for him to come back. Of course, it would happen against the Penguins if he does come back. But that would obviously be a huge boost to the lineup, considering how Great Ransan has been, 20 goals and 69 points, 54 games. You brought up Wyatt Johnston, who's a 40-goal score. Jason Robertson is one goal away from a 40-goal season. He's probably going to finish the year with over 90 points.

Starting point is 00:21:19 Mero Haskinen has been fantastic. Rupé Hince is banged up right now. That's a big loss for them, considering how great he is as a two-way player. Mack Dushane is the ageless wonder. Thomas Harley, when he's healthy, he is also so much fun to watch. You have, you know, Maverick Fork, Jamie Ben. team, they can run four lines with anyone out there. They got three solid pairs.

Starting point is 00:21:42 Their top 10 league and goals four at five on five. They're expected goal share a little above league average. It's right around where the Penguins are, 12th to 13th per money puck at five on five. But they also defend really well. Their goals against per 60 is among the best in the NHO this year in terms of defending. So the Penguins, they're going to have to really work for some offense in this game against the Stars team that is, again, you. usually very strong defensively.

Starting point is 00:22:08 And they know, yeah, they have Jake Ottinger. I will say they have a back-to-back this begin because they're going across the state to play the Flyers who have gone a bit hot as of late on Sunday. I think it's going to be Ottinger on Saturday because they'll be playing them against the better team. But maybe they surprise and they start more penguin Casey to Smith against his own team.

Starting point is 00:22:26 But if I had to guess, I think it's going to be Ottinger. And we always bring up special teams. Pat the Stars power play. Very, very good. this year. Second in the league only behind the Edmonton Oilers, 28.8%. This will be a big test for a penguin's penalty killing unit that has given up five goals in their last three games. I did not like the way they played that first one last night. And they got a little bit better as the game went along, especially after the goalie interference challenge, which we didn't really bring up just

Starting point is 00:22:57 because we had so much to talk about, but, you know, ho-hum, whatever. But I want to see a bit more from the PK. I get it, man. Blake Lazzat. He's your best penalty killer. He's the heartbeat of that unit, but he's also only one guy. You've got to be able to replace him on that unit. And there's just not enough clears, not enough people who are understanding their assignments. And I think that's the main reason why you've seen more goals against over the last few games. Sure, the goal tending could be better on the PK. But I think the biggest problem is just the defending in their own zone and they've just been a little too passive for my liking without Lazotte. So that needs to be cleaned up for this game.

Starting point is 00:23:37 Saras Penalalalalalty Killing Unit. Top 10 in the NHL is going to be a tough test for the Penguins Power Play. But we're getting to the end of this gauntlet schedule. That's huge. You're 6 and 5 and 3 in the month of March so far. And yeah, I know you combine it. You're 6 and 8. But you've got a point in a lot, at least a point in a lot of games this month.

Starting point is 00:23:56 You've been able to stay in a playoff spot going into the end of this month. If you can get, obviously I would love to win this game. But even if you get a point out of this one, Pat, I think overall for this week, that is a success. Three out of six against some really tough opponents going into next week where you have your biggest game of the season again on Monday against the Islanders. Another huge game on Tuesday ends the Red Wings. And then, oh yeah, you play Tampa Bay to end that week.

Starting point is 00:24:20 And after that, on paper at least, your schedule really opens up. You've got to go out there and win those games. But your schedule really softens for the final six games. of the season. They just got to get through the next week overall. But this is going to be a tough one, man. I know the stars are struggling as of late, but that's a team that can turn it on really whenever they choose to.

Starting point is 00:24:42 And, you know, the Penguins, they played them well earlier this season. I felt they deserved a better fate in that game. The reason why they lost, fourth line was trapped out there. You remember, you remember we came on here and talked about that, where the fourth line, they were caught for too long. Credit to the Stars coaching staff,

Starting point is 00:24:58 they caught that. They pulled the goalie, and they scored literally right. after that. So that was one of the Penguins' best games of the season. I thought they played a very strong 58 and a half minutes before the stars tied it. So if they bring that type of game plan here, they'll have a good, they'll be a shot at winning this one. It's got to be a very patient game by the Penguins. You brought up their goals against their goals four per game, their eighth in the league and goals four with just a shade over three. And then goals against per game, their second in the league with just a shade over two and a half. So this is a team that can score.

Starting point is 00:25:30 a team that can prevent goals. So this is the kind of game when you're a team in an organization like the penguins who love offense. Let's not kid ourselves. We know what this organization is, was, and always will be. You have to play a patient game against Dallas. You have to stick to the plan. You got to stick to your system.

Starting point is 00:25:51 The second you start trying to stray from it is the second you open the door for a really talented Dallas team to step through, which is what we, saw at the end of the last meeting like you brought up, they played a very solid, very disciplined game for about 58 and a half minutes. And then that last 90 seconds, they got themselves caught. Dallas took advantage. You can't have that kind of mistake on Saturday. But that game, 5 o'clock at PPG Paints Arena, Penguins, and Stars.

Starting point is 00:26:24 It will be on Sportsnet Pittsburgh if you're in Pittsburgh. I'll be there for it. I'm hoping to break my curse. this year. I'll admit this year. I'm winless at PPG this year. This has never happened for as long as I've lived here in this city. I'm O and Fora Games. Please, let's change that. We got to lift that curse from you, Hunter, against the Dallas stars. But we are not done here on the locked on Penguins podcast. It's Friday. That means it's fan take Friday. We put out a poll called for your questions and hot takes. We will get to those when we come back right after this. But we got one more sponsor to get to, and that is our friends at Fandul. The tournament is here, and it's one of the best times of the year. Brackets, buzzer beaders, upsets, it's nonstop action from tip to final cut down. And right now, Fandle is giving new customers a way to stay in the action

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Starting point is 00:27:58 Closing out the Friday edition of Locked On Penguins, I'm Patrick Damp right along, side Hunter Hodes on another fan take Friday. We put out a poll on our YouTube as well as called for your questions, comments, hot takes, and everything else. So let's start with the poll. Basically the same one we had last week, just worded a little bit differently. 10 games remain. The penguins are in second in the Metro.

Starting point is 00:28:25 Are they still making it to the Stanley Cup playoffs? Out of 102 votes, 75%. Say they're going back to the playoffs. 25% say they're not convinced. So it's kind of where I stand to 75, 25. I feel pretty good at their chances of making the Stanley Cup playoffs, but I'm not going to put a lock on it yet because a lot can happen over the next 10 games and a couple of weeks. But right now, I like the position they're in.

Starting point is 00:28:55 I like the heart that they have. I like how hard they have been working. And speaking of that, I want to start with a really good question. slash kind of take that we got from Austin in the comments. He says, did Sullivan have it right when he thought they were closer to a winning window? Or does this credit go more toward the work of Dubus? This season came more of a surprise to everybody in my mind. I'm going to go twofold on this.

Starting point is 00:29:25 One, I think Sully was right, but he was just not the right guy anymore. You looked at the makeup of the organization at the end of last year. It hasn't changed all that much. They've gotten some better prospects in the system. They drafted really well. Ben Kindle is pretty much of the big one. And I don't think as much as this podcast and our listenership is going to hate me saying it, I don't think Sullivan would have buried him because the way he has played, the way, the value he's brought to the roster,

Starting point is 00:29:59 you can't deny him. And you can look at Sullivan's history. He plays young players if they're valuable. When they struggle, he doesn't. And I'm not going to say everybody's least favorite phrase that I always say, but you know what kind of players he had at his disposal the last few years. But it was just time, as Hunter and I said a million times. Sullivan, still a great coach.

Starting point is 00:30:26 Now he's in basically the same situation he was in in, in Pittsburgh up with the Rangers. But you look at the way the penguins play now. It is not entirely dissimilar to how they played in 2016 in 2017. There's some tweaks on the margins with the system, but they're not playing that differently than they did when they first got Sullivan. They just needed to open the windows and get some fresh air. I think that's fair.

Starting point is 00:30:54 And I think a small part Sullivan was kind of right, because as long as you have Sid, Gino, there's always, you know, at least a bit of a chance that you could potentially, you know, catch lightning in a bottle. I just didn't think it was actually going to happen when I saw the moves that Kyle Dubus made over the off-season. In terms of just, you know, trades and free agency-wise, the draft, obviously Ben Kindle changed so much a player that is now an everyday guy, someone who is going to be on this team for quite a while, and someone who's also going to get even better. This kid is still only 18 years old, but I think he changed a lot. The Igor Chinakov trade has also changed a lot.

Starting point is 00:31:35 That's why I do personally give more credit to Kyle Dubus just for the way that he has done everything over the last year plus. Again, they make the playoffs here. He wins GM of the year. I don't really think anyone else is going to win. And my dogs are also going crazy about it downstairs. I also want to add this. I do think,

Starting point is 00:31:57 that Sullivan understood, respected, and liked a lot of what Kyle Dubus wanted to do. Like, I think that played a role in it. I think Sullivan believed in the vision. I think Sullivan believed in what he wanted to do. And that really helped in Sullivan believing, hey, this team's closer to a winning window than most people realized because he knew what Dubus wanted to do. And as we're seeing this year, it's starting to work. Yeah, I agree with you on that.

Starting point is 00:32:26 But again, just everything that he has done over the last calendar year, you know, the drafting, you know, trading. Obviously, again, the Chinacov trade has changed so much, you know, Parker Watherspoon being a lot better than I think any of us expected. Ben Kindle, who, you know, we thought, okay, he's going to be on this team, maybe a couple years down the line, coming in, being an everyday player. He's the third line center for this foreseeable future. He's probably going to be in the top six pretty soon after as well. He's probably going to finish the year with 20 goals the way that he's been going. Just everything has worked so perfectly this year. Obviously the Jari trade was huge, getting Skinner back, who again, last night, he was really good.

Starting point is 00:33:04 And he has performed better than Jari since the trade, Archer Shilov. And I know down the stretch, he hasn't been as good as of late. But I would say for the season, he's been better than not in a good chunk of this arts, at least in my opinion. Oh, absolutely. So, again, I do think a lot of this is on the GM, but I do think, a small part of me is like, okay, like, Solie was a little bit right just because there was always at least a small

Starting point is 00:33:32 chance that you could catch lightning in a bottle. But now that Dan Muse is here, he has unlocked more in this team. They're playing usually a smarter, more simple brand of hockey. And he's going to get Jack Adams votes at the end of the season, especially if this team does make the playoffs. I just felt it was the absolute perfect time to make a change. I didn't think it was going to happen just because I felt that Sullivan and Dubbo, were on good terms until we saw at the end of the press conference where, you know,

Starting point is 00:34:00 I don't think that was the case. I don't think they were seeing eye to eye. It felt like towards the end of last season. Yeah. It didn't feel like it was, it was contentious. But it just felt like there was too much, there ended up being too much of a divergent. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:34:16 And that's what led to it. But you bring it up Muse is a good place to keep it because we can transition over to this next one that we got from Harrison Baldwin because it is something that we got to push back on a little bit. He says, Mews needs to deploy better down the stretch. Why is Kendall 7th and ice time in a game where Sid goes down? Why are we still using the Latang Girard pairing?

Starting point is 00:34:37 Why does it take 70 injuries to put your best shooter in Chinikov on PowerPlay 1? I need Dan Mews to lock in during the stretch run. A little bit, a little bit. I will say that. I don't mean to cut you off there. I don't like the Latang Girard pair. I will say that right here. I think you agree with me on that.

Starting point is 00:34:54 The Kindle time on ice is fascinating a little bit. I would probably play him a little bit more, but I think it also shows that Dan is pretty comfortable running four lines even with their current injury curse situation right now. The Chinokov situation, I'm not going to push back on as much just because he has been one of their best players since he was acquired. And for a powerful unit that has been struggling, I personally would not mind him on my top unit.

Starting point is 00:35:23 That's just me, though. Yeah, the Chinakov part, I'm not pushing back on that. He should be on PowerPlay 1. His shot alone should get him time. But you got to think about it this way as well from the Kindle perspective. He was probably going to get third line minutes if Sid doesn't get hurt. But then you only have three centers and you're kind of leaning on putting together lines that work. So he's actually going to be spreading out more ice time.

Starting point is 00:35:53 when you have that injury go down because it would actually not do well for the team as a whole for you just to cycle Novak, Kindle, and Dewar through every line in almost double shifting all of them. So he kind of, I think he probably would have gotten a little bit more ice time had Sid stayed healthy just because it would have been easier to roll four lines instead of throwing everything into a blender. So that probably led more to it. And here's what I'm I'll say about the Latang Girard thing. I agree it's not a good pairing. It's not working.

Starting point is 00:36:30 The problem is their top pairing is really good. And a lot of the combos they've used on their third pairing have also been pretty good. So it's just a matter of this is what's left. Like, what I would say instead is because I don't think you're going to break them up. I would say put them as your third pairing and deploy them less just because you like those other two pairings, at least most of the combinations you've had for the third pairing, and you're definitely going to keep deploying Carlson and Watherspoon together. So you probably just need to decrease their ice time and put them in less high leverage moments.

Starting point is 00:37:13 I mean, it's weird because like they seem to really like the Gerard-Latang pair, even though, you know, watching the games, there's really not much to like. but I think they're just committed to making this thing work one way or another. I still, I was still want to see Gerard and Solov for a little bit more. It was a very, very small sample, but I like those minutes, and then you can have Chey and Lettang.

Starting point is 00:37:34 I still think the defense has a bit more balanced when you have Carlson, Lettang, and Gerard on their separate pairs. Now, will they do that down the stretch here? We'll have to see. They must see something that we don't see in Gerard, let's hang that pair. Again, I don't care for it. are a couple of things that I'm not going to push back on too much there.

Starting point is 00:37:54 This is a good one from that rotten egg. Do you think we'll see any collegiate prospects make their way to the organization soon? By the way, Wheeling should clinch their spot in the Kelly Cup playoffs this weekend. Yes, Pat, Wheeling is almost going back to the Kelly Cup playoffs. So congratulations to them. They are very close to making it. As for the collegiate players, I do think Cruz Lucius probably should be inking his ELC here at some point. I was listening to the GM show with Kyle Dubus about a week or two ago,

Starting point is 00:38:21 and they had met with him, and I think they've made him an offer. I think he's probably just considering everything. But I think he's going to sign at some point here before the end of the season, had a really good year, Arizona State, 15 goals, 46 points in 36 games. He was mostly healthy this year. So really good stuff from him. I would expect him to sign, and I think turn pro for next season. I know people are going to ask about Will Horkov.

Starting point is 00:38:42 I think he goes back to school for another year. He's still only a freshman here. This was his first full season. with Michigan. And for as good as his regular season was, and by the way, he is playing tonight and his regional because Michigan is in the NCAA tournament and has a really good chance of getting to the Frozen Four. For as good as he played, his goal scoring kind of dried up a little bit down the stretch again, not trying to go after him or anything like that. But I just think he could benefit for at least one more year at Michigan, in my opinion.

Starting point is 00:39:12 Yeah, it's, I've said it before on the show about Horcough. Doing it once is good. doing it twice is real. Yeah, you want to see how he adjusts when the NCAA adjusts to him. I don't expect him to suddenly double up or do even better, but if he can do similar in his sophomore season, it shows the growth, it shows that it's real,

Starting point is 00:39:36 because teams are going to get tape on him. Teams are going to adapt to him. The Big Ten is going to adapt to him. So he's got to do that. I also misread this question. I thought it was more about the collegiate free agents that you often see sign with teams at the end of the year. And I was just going to say, that's usually the teams near the bottom of the standings because those guys know that they'll get playing time. Probably won't really happen here.

Starting point is 00:40:00 But yeah, I think Lucius is the one that you will see come to the organization. Let's finish with this one because we're running long. We got a lot of really good ones. We got to get this wrapped up here so you guys can go enjoy your weekend and get ready for Penguin Stars. This is from Landon. Hypothetically, let's say the Penguins end up in Wild Card 1. How do you feel about a potential playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres? I think we can give them a run for our money based on our playoff experience compared to theirs.

Starting point is 00:40:29 Maybe we'll see another Darius Casperitis moment since we all know that's what happened last time they met in the playoffs. I don't know what to make of the Buffalo Sabres. Like it's similar to what I said about Chinikov earlier in the show. we're way past small sample size time. This is just who they are. They're good. But they're still very young. They're still very exciting.

Starting point is 00:40:55 And while I do want to say the whole, well, you know, that young team, they got to get, they got to learn. Not always. Sometimes the young team just doesn't know any better and doesn't know any better. But I do think that we've seen it over the past couple of years. Buffalo and Pittsburgh get to.

Starting point is 00:41:15 together, even when the sabres were bad and the penguins were good, the penguins were bad, the sabers were bad. They've had some firework matchups. So if that's a possibility, I can't say I would be upset about it. It would be fun. Like the entertainment factor would be through the roof. Also, I think a lot of Penguins fans would try to show up there just because Pittsburgh to Buffalo, not that long.

Starting point is 00:41:39 Go to Erie and turn right. Literally, yeah, drive up to Erie, straight shot right from there. I don't know if I would pick the penguins to win that series. I think if you were to ask you right now, I would take Buffalo just because of the way they've been playing. And you brought up that experience factor. They played Tampa Bay a couple of weeks ago in that crazy matchup up in Buffalo where Tampa Bay was trying to show them, hey, you're not ready for this yet. But Buffalo said, screw that. Yes, we are.

Starting point is 00:42:08 We can play with you guys. And we can beat you guys. And I think they sent a message to them in that game. Yeah, I know. It's still a regular season game. the playoffs are still a different animal. But I think Buffalo is ready for the Stanley Cup playoffs. That is a team that is firing on all cylinders right now.

Starting point is 00:42:23 I think the penguins would give them a series because the penguins have played well against them this year outside of that final game where Evgeny Malkin decided to just lose his absolute mind on Rasmus Dally. The other two games, I felt the penguins played them really well. The first game, though, was when Buffalo was not very good. I think the penguins would win a couple of games. I don't know if they beat that team. four times. I would take the Sabres to beat them right now in a seven game series. But again,

Starting point is 00:42:50 would be a lot of fun to watch. In terms of the Metro matchups, I've said it here real quick. As weird as it sounds, I'd rather play Columbus than the Islanders. Columbus, very hot team, very fun to watch. A lot of fun, young, skilled players. But, you know, got that big brother, little brother rivalry there. Penguins know how to play against them. So I would rather play Columbus than the Islanders because the Islanders always just rip this franchise's hearts out. And then they just literally lift it up in the air and they're like, ha ha, we got it again. So I think, again, in terms of playoff, potential playoff opponents, you know, I probably have Columbus number one. But again, that's not me saying they're bad or anything like that.

Starting point is 00:43:36 It's just compared to the other options. It's like that might be the one where they're the most likely to win, which, Sounds weird considering how great Columbus has been, but I think it's true. Yeah, you and I are an agreement on that one with who I'd rather see in the Metro. And I said it before, I'll say it again. Might as well just double down on it just because why not? Stand on business. I don't know if I believe in the Blue Jackets goaltending yet.

Starting point is 00:44:03 It could very well be for real, but I know all about the Islanders goaltending. And that actually scares me. So we will see. but thank you so much for hanging with us on a jam-packed Locked-on Penguins, a supersized edition of Locked-on Penguins. Hunter and I will be back on Monday to recap this game against the stars, as well as get you set for the week ahead. But for now, for Hunter Hodes, I am Patrick Damp.

Starting point is 00:44:32 Thank you, as always, for tuning in, and we will be back on Monday.

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