Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Please change up the third pairing...

Episode Date: August 3, 2020

Hunter is back on this brand new episode of Locked On Penguins and he breaks down the Pittsburgh Penguins loss against the Montreal Canadiens in Game One. He shares his thoughts on how the Penguins played very well despite the result, especially rookie sensation John Marino who continues to be stellar. He also touches on Matt Murray, who was very good and will get the start tonight for the Penguins. He then goes into who needs to be benched for Game Two, and what other lineup changes he would make. Also, what changes should come to the power play? That, plus much more on this episode of Locked On Penguins. 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, welcome back to another episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow this show's Twitter at L-I-W-1 to Square Penguins. Happy Monday to you all. Happy game today as the Spurred Penguins will look to even up their series against the Montreal Canadiens after dropping game one by a score of three to two in overtime. As always, this show is brought to you by rock auto.com.

Amazing selection, reliably low prices, all the parts of your car were ever needs. So in this first step, you know what we're going to be talking about game one. just my overall thoughts basically the next section we're going to be talking about maybe some lineup changes they could make and then in the last basically section of this episode we're just going to be previewing the game two tonight so what i really liked about the penguins in game one let's just get right into it um i liked the way they came out especially you know those first five 10 minutes they were just firing everything in their mother at carry price carry price is just basically bailing out the canadians the entire period Especially that first five to ten minutes. Some people like to say that Kerry Price stole that game for the Canadians. I 100% disagree. I thought Carrie Price played really, really well.

He played a lot better than I thought he was going to, but I do not think he stole that game. He basically stole those first five to ten minutes because the Penguins just came out, guns of blazing, firing everything at him. The Canadians had no answer for it. And the funniest thing, I saw it coming during Twitter. You know the Canadians were going to take a one-zero lead in this game by some fluky dumb goal, and that's exactly what happened is.

Of course, Jack Johnson's on the ice, basically pushes down. I think it was cocky-neemie, and then the puck goes off his glove, and it just a very fluky bounce. Matt Murray was not at fault there. But yeah, sure enough, it happened, and then the Canadians were able to win the game partly because of that goal. But, you know, overall, I just, I thought the Penguins played a really, really good game. They controlled 65% of the expected goals compared to the 35% of Montreal.

Most nights guys, that win you a game, I mean that most nights, that will win you a game. It did not happen that night. You know, you just have to continue to trust the process. They also were 60% in the course the Fenwick percentage because it's compared to 40% from Montreal. Winning the possession battle and winning the expected goals percentage. Like I said, that usually wins you each game.

But you know what? Didn't happen in game one. They're going to look to continue that process in game two tonight and come away with the win. Other impressions, John Marino. I really just cannot say enough about Marino at this point. Every time he touched. the puck with his stake, he was making a difference.

There were so many times where a Canadian player was coming up one-on-one against him, or there was a two-on-two. Reno puts his stick in there, puck's gone, and then it's going the other way. Plenty of instances one-on-one as well. He's only defensive back. A Montreal forward's coming in. He just plays the player in the puck just so beautifully, and the scoring chance is nullified in nilloseconds.

I cannot stress enough how good John Marino is going to be. This is just unbelievable what he's able to do at this point. I mean, for God's sake, he's just a rookie, but I mean, he was looking like a season veteran. You know, those kind of games just make me really, really excited for his future in this organization. He is going to be getting paid in a couple years, a very, very handsome raise. And it just, it builds my confidence in that I know he's going to be the number one defenseman on this team when Chris LaTang retires or is somehow traded, even though I really don't think Chris LaTang is going to get traded, but still John Marino. What a game he had.

Look for that to continue tonight. He was just outstanding. everywhere he was on the ice. Let's get to the goaltending, you know, kind of, I guess the elephant in the room, people love to talk about it. I thought Matt Murray played his ass off in game one. And the first goal, you know,

fluky goal. The second one, I think he may want back, but I'm going to pin that more on Brian Dumlin. It was a very bad pinch that he made right at the blue line. I think there was two Canadian players there. It looked very, very similar to a play that happened in the Islander series last year. And boom, two on one the other way. Nick Suzuki comes in, fires it,

Where else? High Glove side on Matt Murray. Everyone's going to complain about that. Oh, yeah, that's the scouting report on Matt Murray. He gave up a goal to the glove sign. And it's just like, maybe it was just a nice shot for once. And not just, you know, just, oh, it went glove side. People just love to harp on the glove side stuff.

Every goaltender gives up so many goals to their glove side. It's not rocket science. It's not, there's nothing about Matt Murray. Oh, he's the only one that gives up all the goals to his glove side. It's just, it really just grinds my gears when people just. continue to spiel nonsense like that. After that, he made a lot of very big 10-bell saves to keep the penguins in it, especially for they were to come back and tie it.

I know the overtime goal. People were trying to pin it on him. That was not on Matt Murray. That's on Jack Johnson and Justin Chultz, which I will get to in a second. And we will talk about them in the next segment as well for what lineup changes I would make for this game. But it's very, very hard to stop that third goal, especially when Zach Aston-Reece is basically being used as a lot.

a screen for Jeff Petrie. I mean, Ashton Rees has to get that block. He has to block that shot. And, you know, it went right through his legs, and then Matt Murray couldn't even see it. So that ended up being the game winner. It was on a broken play, a three on five, and who else but Jack Johnson and Justin Schultz on the ice.

And I guess we'll just get to that right here for the last few minutes before we go to commercial break. What a dumpster fire repairing. I mean, we all knew one of the biggest shortcomings of this team is the third pairing. And I've also seen some people say after this game, oh yeah man Mike Sullivan could be on the hot seat Mike Sullivan this

Mike Sullivan that and it's like are we really firing Mike Sullivan over a shit third pairing that I mean he didn't sign Jack Johnson Justin

he didn't realize that Justin Schultz was going to be a tire fire toward the late stages of his career and it's just like I mean we're really firing

Mike Sullivan right now or no okay but I will say this he is in control of the lineup card he can choose to scratch him or play him he plays him and you know what this is the result you get jack johnson was just absolutely pathetic in that game one that's the word i will use for his performance pathetic um that first goal

i was talking about earlier basically cross-checks a canadian player you know you can't get that grit anywhere else guys the puck goes in the net right off the player's glove one-nothing lead and then later in the game you know basically gives jonathan drew ann a penalty shot because he's too slow to keep up with him thank god jonathan drewan was so bad on that penalty shot and the ice was just so bad that he didn't even get a shot on Matt Murray to basically bail him out. I had a friend over during that sequence, and I literally turned to her and I said, I think Jack Johnson probably just cost them in the game. But luckily, you know, he didn't there, but he did partly cost them the game towards

the end. This sequence was just so stupid. So six minutes to go in overtime, Montreal has a three on five going into the Penguins zone. It's like, okay, you know, the Penguins were able to take care of this. It's the Zach Aston-Ree's Teddy Blugher, Brandon Tanev line. No, Jack Johnson and Justin Schultz are so far behind the net, and then Jeff Petrie basically just has an open lane with Zach Ashton Reese as a screen, fires the puck between his legs, past Matt Murray, and it's in. And it's like, wow, I mean, you really just can't make it up that Jack Johnson and Justin Schultz were so out of position on that play. And it's just a joke. I mean, you cannot continue to play these guys. I know I'm going to touch on this a lot more in the next segment, but it's just you cannot continue to play. Jack Johnson on this team. if you want to win a Stanley Cup.

I'm just going to keep saying this until Jack Johnson is thrown to the sun, thrown to the Grand Canyon, thrown into the Mariana Trench. I don't know. It's just very, very annoying that he continues to play meaningful minutes. And, you know, I know he's getting sheltered. I get it. He played the least amount of minutes of any penguin defenseman in that game, and he still was responsible for two of the three Montreal goals.

That is pathetic. It is absolutely pathetic. It's awful. It's every bad word you can. could use in the English dictionary. I just, I cannot put into words just how bad he was that game. Oh, yeah, one more thing before we do, go to the commercial, but I got totally forgot about this to know.

The power play. You know, I tweeted this after the game. You know, when you go one for seven on the power play, especially when you have a five on three in the third period for a minute 32 in a tied game where if you score there, you most likely win the game with how bad the Canadian's offense was for a lot of that game. You know what? You deserve to lose if you go one for seven on the power play, especially with that five on three.

Sorry, you do. You cannot, what the talent this team has on the top power play unit with Cindy Crosby, Fgeny, Falkin, Chris LaTang, Jake Gensel, and whoever else you want to put out there, Brian Ross, Patrick Forkowitz, Jared McCann, whatever. You cannot go one for seven on the power play against a Canadian's team that is just not good. And the Canadians were really not doing anything on their PK that was special. You know, the Penguins were just being very sloppy with the puck. The zone entries were a mess.

They weren't like shooting the puck a lot on net and creating these juicy rebounds. That's the way you beat Kerry Price. You don't need to look for the perfect play to beat Kerry Price. Just throw pucks at him, get some rebounds, and then cash in. But it was just so terrible to watch it. And like just the personnel that are on the power play. I mean, you're having like, Evgeny Malkin playing like one of like the walls. And it's just like, no, like he works much better on the point.

You know, Sidney Crosby works perfect down low. Put Jake Gensel in front of the net. Put Patrick Hornquist there. put Brian Rust in the slot. You know, they need to move some of these players around so that it actually looks like a functioning power play. Sidney Crosby does not work well on the powerplay on, you know, the left wall or the right wall or whatever.

He works, I think, the best, download the powerplay where he's just reading everything, seeing everything, and then they're just getting some greasy goals or whatnot. But, you know, it's just very, very frustrating. They have to fix this. Mark Recky, man. If you don't get this fixed, there's going to be a lot more people calling for your head after this series and there already are a lot of people calling for his head right now. I'm just about there, guys.

I'm very close to wanting him fired. He has just been done a terrible job with the Penguin PowerPlay. So those are basically my thoughts on Game 1 for the Penguins. You know, Matt Murray, John Marino were just outstanding. I thought the Penguins play was really, really good. Like I said, with a 65, controlling 65% of the expected goals and 60% possession. Jack Johnson stinks. Justin Schultz stinks.

The Power Play stinks. And yeah, they'll go with Matt Marie tonight. which is the right call. But coming up right after this, we are going to talk about some lineup decisions that I think they should make going into this game two for against Montreal. All right, so we're back here on this episode

of the Lockdown Penguins podcast, and I'm just going to be very, very curious to see if Mike Sullivan decides to make some lineup changes for tonight. We already know Matt Murray is going in game two. For people that are mad about it, you know what? Tough shit. Matt Murray was not the reason they lost game one. Sure, maybe had a little bit of a soft goal

quotation marks because it went gloveside and that was also a really, really nice shot. And oh yeah, Brian Dumlin was the main reason as to why that two-on-one happened. But you know what? Matt Murray deserves to go game too. He was really, really good for a lot of that game. And I'm sure he's going to be good again tonight. But with that said, so let's just start defensively. Jack Johnson needs to come out of the lineup.

We talked about this in the first segment. He just needs to come out. I don't know why the coaching staff hates you so Riegelaw a lot. His underlying numbers are good. his on-ice play is good. He passes the eye test if you don't even look at advanced stats. I really do not understand why Mike Sullivan does not try a Usorekola Justin Schultz that are pairing.

I think it would be passable. I think it would be fine. You can shelter them. Jack Johnson will not have to cover for Justin Schultz's mistakes. Justin Schultz will not also have to cover for Jack Johnson's mistake. I think Uso Ricola would not make nearly as many of mistakes as those other two have. And hell, if you wanted to go really bold, you could do a Uso Ricola Chagueru. Roodle third pairing, because I honestly think Chad Roodle is better than some other people think he is.

I think he's perfectly serviceable as a third pairing right-handed shot. He can move the puck off the ice. I think he suppressed his shots pretty well. His annoying numbers, I think, are okay. But, I mean, with how Justin Schultz has been playing ever since, you know, he got her in 2017-18, you know, he might potentially need out of the lineup, too. Though what I would do, I would try, first, I would try Uso-Rigla Justin Schultz for this game. I mean, why not?

You just, you cannot continue to play Jack Johnson any meaningful minutes on this hockey team. You just can't. You really, really can't. It is year two of this five-year dumpster fire of a contract, and he is already so much worse than I think anyone could have imagined. And you just cannot play him in a playoff game anymore. You saw how bad he was against the New York Islanders who, I mean, really aren't that skilled of a team, but still they just, they harassed him all series long.

The Canadians were harassing him all game one long. and it's just you can't do this anymore. Take him out of the lineup, put Yus O'Recla in. Like I said, I have no idea why the coaching staff has decided not to play him and trust him. But, you know, I think the biggest thing is the payments just don't know what they have in Yusel Reacle. I think he's a free agent after this year. This is the perfect time to find out. He's an upgrade over Johnson.

Let's just see it. I really don't see what the big deal is. But you know what? Mike Sullivan's going to be like, yeah, I like how this pairing's playing. I like Jack Johnson on the PK. I like Jack Johnson this. I like Justin Schultz on the second power play, blah, blah, blah, and it's just the same old vomit that we saw yesterday when Mike Sullivan was talking about it.

But, I mean, what is Mike Sullivan going to do? He's not going to badmouth them to the media. I mean, that just takes away the decision-making. You know, I've also been seeing some potential forward swaps. I will agree with people that I saw on Twitter. Patrick Marlow really did not stand out in that game one. He looked a little slow. But I also think that third line was just really, really clunky.

know, Jared McCam wasn't really doing anything. Patrick Hornquist really wasn't doing anything. It's just a very, very weird third line because, you know, you have your top line with Cindy Crosby, Jake Ansel, and Connor Sherry. I did think Connor Sherry struggled in game one. When you have a penalty shot with three minutes to go, you need to bury that. I know the puck went wide and the ice is really, really dog shit. But, you know, when you have your puck on your stick like that, you have to convert.

And I also really didn't like some of his game in game one. But I think that line works really, really good together. You know what you have in Jason Zuckler with. Evgeny Malkin and Brian Russ. Evigny Malkin has to be a lot better tonight. I do not like his game in game one at all. And then we all know you have the Zach Ashton, Reeves, Teddy Blurie, and Braynettin-Tan. So the third line is basically just a bunch of spare parts.

So I've seen some people say, oh, you could put Sam Lafferty in. I get it, you know, Sam Lafferty. He plays this Mike Sullivan system do a T. He's defensively responsible. He can also chip in. I would not mind Sam Lafferty in, but who are you taking out? Are you taking out Patrick Marlowe? I mean, are you going to healthy scratch Jared McCann?

You're not going to help these scraps, Patrick, that's for sure. So I've seen some people say you could put Evan Rodriguez in for one of those players, too. It's just, I mean, you're spitting hairs here, basically, guys. That's just my take on it. I mean, I think maybe I would give that third line another game. But if that third line struggles again, even in a win for the Penguins, because I do think the Penguins will win game two tonight, I think Mike Sullivan will definitely have some changes to make that third line going into game three,

which is Wednesday, I believe. So, yeah, so yeah, that's just, that's the big other area of focus that I'm going to be looking at tonight. I'm not there yet for a third line change. I want to see more of Patrick Marla. I want to see if that was just like a one game thing for him. Because I honestly thought before the pause happened, Marlowe was looking really, really good as a penguin. And I know four months changes a lot. But still, you know, I thought that he was playing really, really good for the penguins.

And, you know, Jared McCann, he needs to step it up or he, I think is going to be a healthy screen. You know, you can put Rodriguez in there for him. Lafferty's a winger, so I don't really think he would work there as a senator. But I mean, Evan Rodriguez, he's going to be ready to go. I thought he looked really, really good in training camp. But if Jerry McCann does not start stepping it up, you know, I could really see him becoming a healthy scratch. It's just unacceptable for him to be feeling at this level. He just hasn't been the same ever since kind of like the new year started with that really back goalish streak.

So, you know, we'll see what happens with McCann tonight. Maybe he'll step up. Maybe he won't. But if he doesn't, you know, I think Evan Rodriguez could be right there waiting to come in. So that's all I think I have with lineup changes. Of course, you know, if Matt Murray really struggles tonight, which I don't expect him doing, expect Tristan Jari to go in game three. I don't know why people seem to be so mad that Tristan Jari is not starting tonight. The Penguins did not lose game one because Matt Murray was bad because Matt Murray was actually really good in game one.

So I never really understood that take from the Penguins fan base. But with that said, it is now time to talk about rockadoado.com. Rockado.com is a family business serving auto park, cost, is online for 20 years. You can go to rockouto.com to shop for auto and body parts from hundreds of manufacturers. The catalog is unique and remarkably easy to navigate. You can quickly see all the parts available for your vehicle and choose the brand, specifications, and prices you prefer. You can go to rockado.com right now and see all the parts available for your car or truck.

And then you'll write locked on in there, how did you hear from us so that they know we sent you. Amazing selection, reliability low prices, all the parts your car wherever needed. That is rock auto.com. All right, so we're back here on this episode of Locked On Penguins. We're just going to talk about some keys to victory tonight for the Penguins in game two. You know, just coming off of this first period, just come up the same way you did in game one, but continue that for that entire period. That first five, ten minutes, the Penguins are just blitzing the Habs in their own zone.

They were just coming at them at well. Carrie Price was having to come up with a lot of saves. Just keep having him do that tonight. Keep having him play just like he did in game one. Just see if he can get up to that level again. I really don't know if he will. We all know goalies or voodoo, but that's the start. that I want to see from the Penguins tonight.

Of course, another key. Get the power play going. I mean, for God's sakes, you can't go one for seven again on the power play with all this talent that you have at your disposal. You know, one of my best friends, Nick, who's a die-hard Rangers fan, he was just texting during the game,

basically when the Penguins were on the power play, hey, you guys done playing with your feud yet? You guys are going to win this game? He said another, you guys done playing with your feud yet again. It was just comical, and it's like, man, I don't know what to say to you because the unit was just so bad, you know, worked on this zone entry,

For God's sakes, stop the stupid drop, pass every time you pass the center line. You don't need it. It's just really, really bad. Have the zone entries be good. Just set it up right, put Cindy Crosby of Guine Malcon in positions to succeed on that union. You know, Cindy Crosby below the goal line, put up Ganyi Malkin, you know at the point, and then go to work, get a lot of pucks to the net, create some rebounds, create havoc in front of Cary Price, put Patrick Hornquist and Jake Gensel in front of them.

And you know what? Chances are you'll be able to cash in on a goal or two for a power play. tonight. You know, they had a power play in overtime of that game one. They didn't get anything out of it. They hardly even got any shots on net. That's unacceptable. They need to be a lot better on the power play tonight. So here's to hoping that they will be. Also, you know, this last one, you know, just play better team defense. I mean, Brian Dumlin, I thought really, really struggling in game one. That was a very, very off night for him. I would not expect Brian Dumlin do struggle like that tonight for game two. I know the ice is pretty dog shit. It's an eight o'clock game.

The ice already looks really, really bad right now as I'm recording this. I'm watching the Capitol's Lightning Round Robin game. The ice is just absolutely dreadful. It's just pathetic. So, I mean, you knew the ice was going to be a problem going into this return to play. It's August. It's hot. But, you know, navigate through it.

Just do the best you can with it. And like I said, I do expect Brian Dumond to play better tonight. He can't have those dumb pitches like you had in game one, which led to that 2-0 goal for the Canadians. I thought Chris LaTang looked fine, you know, have him continue to play well. John Reno, Marcus Pedersen, and you know, whoever is on the third pairing, just play so much better. Stop getting hemmed in your own zone. It's not making bad decisions with the puck. Stop being a step slow to the Canadian players.

And, you know, I think that will be really, really big for the penguins. I know it's pretty basic, but we all know the defensive issues have been well documented for the penguins with their third pairing. Just have it be serviceable and passable. That's all you need. We all know after the season the penguins are going to most likely remake their entire third pairing. Justin Schultz is going to walk. He is not going to be coming back here. I think there's a good chance that Jack Johnson might be traded after this

because of concerns. We all know the cap is going to be around $81.5 million for next season, so I think it's the same as the season. So they're going to have to remake it. You can't spend almost $9 million on your third pairing. Just have it be serviceable. Put Yuso Ricola in. If you're feeling more bold, put Chad Ruido in as well

and have a Ricolo Ruudel third pairing. I honestly think that would please a lot of this fan. based considering Justin Shult and Jack Johnson have just not been good. But I think that'll be it for this episode of Locked on Penguins. Game starts in a few hours. Hope you guys listen to this beforehand. We'll be back tomorrow with another episode, breaking it down game two. No, will the Penguins be tied up 1-1 in this series,

or will they be facing elimination in game three being down 02 to the Canadian? So we will see. Thank you guys so much for listening to this episode, and I will talk to you guys tomorrow.