Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Sidney Crosby gets his 500th, plus the Penguins win!

Episode Date: February 16, 2022

Well, it was poetic! Sidney Crosby scored his 500th career NHL goal on Tuesday night and of course, it was against the Philadelphia Flyers. That's where Hunter starts today's show as he walks everyone through the goal and how it was so vintage. It came from his spot, in his house, against the team he's hated for almost two decades. Hunter also explains why it couldn't have been scripted better while also going into how much he continues to mean to this organization. How many goals does Sid have left? Hunter also weighs that question before getting to Kris Letang's OT winner. He explains how it was a great hockey IQ play that a lot of other players wouldn't have done in that situation and how he was the best player on the ice. He then goes into Casey DeSmith's continued struggles and why the team HAS to go get a goalie, plus how the comeback was fully started. All that, plus much more on this episode of Locked On Penguins.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.Primal Origin OilsStop the itch and make your beard look healthy & groomed. Check out PRIMALORIGINSOILS.COM to learn more about their full line of beard care products. Use the code “LOCKEDON” for a 20% discount at checkout.BetOnlineBetOnline..net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you. 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.

Well, that was a very wild game for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They get that five to four comeback victory over the Philadelphia Flyers to beat them for the third straight time. The season, fourth straight time overall, these teams will play again in late April. I have a full game recap episode coming up for you all right after this drop. We'll obviously start with Sydney Crosby, Chris Letang, Heroics, Casey to Smith, and a whole lot more. You're locked on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day.

Hello, welcome to another episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. You know to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. You can also follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. Again, one more time. If there are any audio issues, just let me know. This is the second time I'm using my brand-new microphone that I just got in the mail on Sunday.

And again, leave a comment on YouTube if there's any issues or anything like that. But Pittsburgh Penguins are able to get that five to four win tonight against Philly. But you know where we're starting. Cindy Crosby gets his 500th career goal against Philadelphia. Everyone I think in the fan base, everyone that covers the team, you know, including me with this podcast, knew that this was probably going to happen against the Flyers. Even Flyers fans, I think, knew that it was going to happen against them. And, you know, it was poetic.

Now he gets his 500th career goal. He's now tied for 45th all time for the most goals scored in in Hitchell history with Lanny McDonald. He's only a couple of tying Joe Mullen. Jean Bellabue is at 507, Jeremy Roenix at 513, Dale Harrowchuk at 38. You know, he's probably going to get close to the top 30, I would say, by the end of his career, probably will be higher than that. Hopefully, we'll see if he can get a, make a push for 600, though.

That's going to be tough with where he is right now. Obviously, you're a betchaun is way past that and for a good reason. But, you know, it was just a vintage Sid goal because of where it happened, right? It's on the power play. It's a pass from McGinie Malkin. Sid's in his office down low. Carter Hart, no shot. Just take your bags off the ice, you know, go to the gulag or something.

No goalie, including him, was probably going to stop that. That is just that that is how good Sid is down low. And I wish I could put it into words, you know, how much Sidney Crosby has meant to me. And, you know, some of the other, I think, you know, fans of, you know, near or a little above my age for, you know, just, you know, these new generation of fans who just didn't grow up, I would say, in the early 90s with Mario and Yager. I mean, you know, obviously I'm on the younger side of things. I totally get that. I'm not trying to say that I was there for Mario's greatness because I was not.

And I wish I was. but you know what he has done for this team and this city ever since coming into the league is it's really second and none and i hope everyone cherishes she's cherishes excuse me these moments because i do not think we are going to see another player of his caliber you know come through this time i know people say that with say that with mariel amew and you know some of them were proved wrong just because it is you know close to that level i wouldn't say he was better than murillo obviously you know he's still one of the five best players to ever play the game But, you know, he was still able to come through and, you know, just be so awesome.

But I still don't think that, you know, we are going to see another player of his caliber. And, you know, I just, I want everyone to remember where you were, you know, just for this sort of milestone. And, you know, just thinking about it overall, I know we've seen him do so much for this city that all the Stanley Cups, the Conn Smyth's, that, you know, the scoring titles, the Hart Trophy titles, all the All-Star Burst, you know, everything. But, you know, the way that he's been able to, you know, remodel his game the last few years and still hit 500 goals is also such a great accomplishment just because he was never known for, you know, being a defensive player. But, you know, he's been able to be one of the best defensive centers, excuse me, in the league, while also still doing his staying playmaking and goal scoring wise. It's why, again, I don't think there are five better players in the league history than Cindy Crosby. And again, you know, I just, I wish I could put everything in towards. You know, what a talent.

Just, this was, this was his night. And I'm so glad the team was able to get the win for him because if they would have lost this game, it definitely would have left me. And I think a lot of the other fans with just, you know, a sour taste in their mouths. But it's just, you know, thank you, Cindy Crosby. I should say for everything he's done for this team and, you know, for your, just for everything, you know, for the city. and all that.

And, you know, he also was able to secure, I believe, his 1,370th, um, tonight if that, yeah, 1,370 points, which moves into 26th place all-time scoring history. Obviously, it's been remembered for something else, but he's now inching upwards now to the top 25 for the all-time scoring race. I figured I would throw that stat out there for you all as well. And, of course, this happened to occur on Yard. Amir, Yager's birthday. Happy 50th birthday. Yarramir, one of the greatest players to ever play in this

franchise history as well. I hope he was smiling a little bit if he was able to watch the end of that game as Sydney Crosby was able to get the win. And then, of course, the goal before then. I love the standing ovation that the crowd gave him. He started off with Mary Lemieux, giving him a beautiful little speech. And then, you know, just his mom and dad were coming to tears. Kathy Lutner, his girlfriend was at the game. I was surprised she was there just because you never see her at any games. I think Sid just lives a very quiet personal life. That's just always how he is.

But, you know, this was just like it was too poetic, I think. And, you know, I can't thank Cindy Crosby enough for everything he's done for this team. And, you know, here's to 500 more goals. Probably won't happen. I'm hoping for at least 100 more, if not, you know, hopefully more than that as well. But we obviously had to start there in his office. I hope everyone took that on Fanduil, draft kings, wherever you're betting.

It was an easy cash. I'm glad I was able to get a little bit of cash myself. I also did have the bet where he was going to be the first Penguin's goal score. It just sucks that Dominic Simone was able to score first, and then Sid got his goal. If it were reversed, I probably would have walked away with over $150. I had the $10 bet. I was going to win $110.

if Sid was the first goal score for the Penguins, I just missed it by that much. I'm still getting a little mad about that just because, you know, I should have had my parlay in the Super Bowl. I would have gotten home with $180, but Joe Burrow didn't, you know, get nine more rushing yards and I ended up losing that. But anyways, you know, getting back to the original point, you know, just a very emotional night.

And, you know, I was glad that the Penguins are obviously able to get the win on Sydney Crosby Special. I know. This will not be the last special occasion when it takes. come to Cindy Crosby, there is so much more ahead. But I just wanted to take the time to, you know, tell you all how much he's meant to me, just growing up and, you know, watching him for basically almost my entire life now. You know, his rookie season, I was only eight years old.

I'm 24 now. I'll be 25 later this year. It's crazy that, you know, he's been playing in the league for two-thirds of the time that I've been on this planet. And again, you know, I just, I can't, I try to put it into words. It's just, it's so hard. But thank you, Sid, you know, just for everything. And that goal tonight was strictly sensational.

But that'll do it for this first segment of the Locked on Penguins podcast. Coming up in the next segment, we're going to go into Crystal Tang's Heroics, the third period. Obviously, we're going to get to Casey DeSmith later on in the show. Excuse me, Jake Gensel scoring, of course. and Dominic Simone, you know, he was able to finally show a pulse as well. But before we do that, got beard, get primal. And yes, you heard me right.

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I've been trying to convince them to get primal, but you know, we'll see if he does just because I think his beard is starting to get a little out of control. Remember, the code locked on gets you 20% off at primal origin oils.com. Use the code lock on at checkout for 20% off at primal originoils.com. All right, we're back here on this episode of the locked on penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. I'm going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the shows, Twitter. Excuse me, at L.O. 1S4 Penguins. I have no idea.

time I try to record these shows. I just get this weird cough. I don't have COVID or anything, but I just, I don't get it. But getting back to, of course, the Penguins and Flyers recap. Chris LaTang, we got to get to him now. He was probably the best player on the ice tonight. Just strictly awesome, both ends of the ring, breaking up odd man rushes like it was nothing, making some beautiful passes in the offensive zone.

And, you know, when the Penguins need him most, when the game was tied, early on into overtime. I loved what he did on that two-on-one. Go back and watch it because he has the puck. He's looking at Sid just like, I see you over there, but if I pass it, I think it's going to be intercepted.

But he saw it wasn't going to happen, and he fired it on net, barely even looking at it. That's the crazy thing. It was hardly even looking out of the puck or even looking at Carter Hart, fires at Glove, not Gloveside, fires it through the pads and you know penguins are going home with that five-four victory and here is a very cool

stat for you all chrysla tang now has the most overtime points by a defenseman in initial history with 30 so more history tonight for the pittsper penguins that stack comes courtesy of penguins PR so thank you for putting that out there um but you know i would love for them to sign him to a lifetime extension already i've been harping on that you know for the last few years weeks to a month or something like that. He was just awesome on the ice. And for all his critics out there, they'll like to say that he doesn't do anything.

Well, I don't know how you can say that just, you know, based on this goal and based on his play tonight and based on everything he has done, this is easy. This is probably one of the five best games that I've seen him play this year. And, you know, just the hug that him and Sid shared after that goal, you know, they, and just the look they gave each other. It's just a look of relief just because, you know,

what's saying he kind of came in right as Sadin Gino, you know, we're making their NHL debuts. We're a little bit after, but it's been mainly these three, you know, for, you know, the last, you know, 13, 14, 15 years. And, you know, what better way to celebrate that, you know, him getting the overtime winner after Sidney Crosby, you know, makes a little bit of history himself.

But I just, I loved that goal because it showed, you know, just, you know, how good Crystal Tang is and how his hockey IQ is as well. Because a lot of other players in that situation, they would have made the pass because it is Sidney Crosby Special Night. He's flanking the other side. He's on his strong side for a one-timer. But Le Tang said, you know what?

Screw that. I'm going to shoot at five whole past Carter Hart. And I'm going to go win the game in the Penguins. They did just that with that goal. So good job to Tanger. He continues his awesome season. And I'm just waiting for the contract announcement at this point. Jake Gensel, he was able to get another goal tonight.

And that was a goal that really changed the outlook of this game. Because before then, you know, the Penguins, that, you know, they got that power play with eight minutes left. But those prior 12 minutes, nothing was happening. They had two shots on net. They were not forechecking well. Defensively, they looked a little sloppy. Casey to Smith was, you know, making a couple of saves.

But he wasn't really too busy because the Flyers were content on sitting back. And they were doing a pretty good job. They weren't really letting the Penguins too much about it. But once they got that power play, it was game over the pop movement. It was superb. You know, and Le Tang's play on that goal, I should have mentioned it, you know, a couple seconds ago, I don't know why I didn't.

Another great hockey IQ play by Tanger. It wasn't even a shot at Carter Hart. It was a shot slash pass looking for a rebound because he saw Jake right there. And in front of the net, of course. that is. And we all know how good Jake is in front of the net. I wouldn't say, you know, he's like a prime Patril Hornquist or Thomas Holmstrom, but he is still pretty good in that area. And Latang was able to whack it off a hard pad and then it ended up sitting there right in the blue pink for Jake. And he's able to bury that goal for three, 18 seconds later. I believe it was

Hein that had the pass to Chad Ruehl. He gets a very rare goal. If my memory serves me right, and I can actually look at this right now if I can find this here real quick. Yeah, this was, I believe, only his second goal of the season. This is a player that he doesn't score much, but he also doesn't need to score that much just because of how great overall, just defensively, I should say he is. And I'm actually going to look that up here real quick on my phone. I was going to do that on my PC.

But I wanted to make sure that this was his second goal of the year. forgive me for just this really actually no excuse me that was only his first goal of the year i thought he had scored one one earlier in the season i apologize for that it's good that i double check it because i didn't want to publish this podcast and you know leave you all with a flawed stat or something like that so first goal of the year for chad and it couldn't have come at a bigger time two goals and 18 seconds for the penguins and then you know de smith was able to redeem himself i'm going to get to that in just a second but you know getting that power play really turned the tide for the especially with that Gensel goal because they were buzzing after that,

which of course led to Rewito getting his first of the season. So just much better last, I should say, eight minutes of the third period compared to those first 12 overall. And, you know, Casey DeSmith, I got to say it. I mean, I don't know why some people were defending him on social media, and a couple of other places. He doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt. I saw some people saying that he'd only give him.

up one bad goal. I couldn't disagree more. I know the Jeru one, people are going to say, I mean, that one I think was a nice shot. The second one, Brian Rust, I know, gave to, was it Scott Law on a silver platter. DeSmith, I think, could have come up with a save on that, though. The third one was really bad. You can't allow a goal from, you know, 50 to 55 feet with hardly any traffic in front of you. That's unacceptable. The fourth one, I know it went off Marcus Pederson, but it also, he was swimming in the net for that entire sequence. He needs to, you know, be a little more aggressive in that situation and, you know, not flop all over himself because if he wasn't flopping all over himself, as I just said, he probably would have come up

with that save and it wouldn't have gone off Marcus Pedersen. And, you know, kudos to him for stepping up in those final seven minutes because the flyers definitely threatened more than once on that late power play that they got in a couple of other times. Then on after, you know, he made a great glove save towards the late stages on that power play. And then, you know, he was able to get it to overtime. I don't think I saw a lot of people on social media talking about that during the game when I was live tweeting. I wish there was. I know he stunk and all that.

But, you know, he was one of the main reasons why the game did get to overtime after the Penguins tied the game. Because he easily could have crumbled and given up a goal. Heck, I was almost expecting him to give up. a bad goal just because of how bad he was tonight. But, you know, he clamped down. He made a couple really big saves. The Penguins were able to secure at least a point before Crystal Teng did his magic. That said, you know, I still think this team needs to go out and get a competent backup

goaltender. And I will die on that hill. I know he had two good starts coming into this. I understood why Mike Sullivan wanted to start to Smith because the flyers are not that good. I totally get that. It's kind of a low-risk game. I know there's history on the line with Cindy Crosby, but with how bad the Flyers have been lately,

I believe Steve Mearsen on the broadcast, they've lost 15 of their last 17 coming in. This has not been a good hockey team. This was potentially the last game that Cindy Crosby will play against Claude-Jrew, Flyers Penguins-wise. But, you know, that said, this was a step back for him.

And, you know, it's been like that best season. It's one step forward, two steps back. And again, this was one of those times where it was two steps back and I still want the team to go out and, you know, get some insurance for the Vesna caliber goaltender because he can't start every game. I mean, you're just going to, he's just going to be burned out. And, you know, if he, God forbid, I'm going to knock on one, God forbid he gets hurt or something happens. This team is done in the playoffs without him starting or without him playing at the level that he is playing out right now. This was not good enough

from Casey to Smith. And I think a lot of the fans realize that. I just, I don't want people to defend him for no reason. I saw some of that tonight. I didn't like it. I completely disagree with all those takes. And I understand the team was playing sloppy defensively. That definitely contributed to some of the goals that were given up.

But DeSmith needs to bail out some of those, you know, sloppy moments. And he did not do that tonight. So he definitely gets a really bad negative grade in my book. Still a little more to get to for this episode of Lockedom, England's podcast. Of course, you know, we've got to get into Dominic Simone's going, how awesome that deflection was. More Casperi Kappinant's hot because, you know, I'm never done roasting him. You know, he's definitely going to get roasted coming up here in the following seven. And, of course, I think a couple of other things as well. But before we do get to that,

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Hunter Hode. You're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodeus all this shows Twitter at Hello, Arsopengen's, sorry, I haven't hit in my eye there. Dominic Simone's goal. You know, it's basically once in a blue moon that he scores, you know, he was able to get, if I believe, I have this right. I'm going to make sure I get this right. This was only his third goal of the, remember he scored his first one in the first game with the season

against Tampa Lightning, and then he scored another one about, man, the fact that I can't even remember that second goal, just goes to show that he just doesn't score. a lot. But, you know, what a deflection that he had past Carter Hart. Just did not know where that came from, was able to tie the game right after Drew scored. And, you know, that, you know, that also brought new life into, into, excuse me, the building. And, you know, he continues to play. No, not too terribly. I mean, he's, he's kind of just been there. His playmaking ability has always been fine. Defensively, he's all right.

You know, it's always just been his goal scoring, you know, has just never been there for his career. hasn't changed to this season. I know they were giving him a second chance by coming back and all that. But still, you know, really nice goal for him tonight. He's obviously going to keep playing until this team gets a little more healthy. Gisbury Capon, again, I'd be a rich man if I, every time he walked into the offensive zone and just button hooked back and just laid a stupid pass. If he did that, every time, I'd probably make $500 a game.

I don't really know what's going on. Again, his confidence is not there. And he's still not shooting the puck when he comes in flying. He's always doing these drop passes. I counted at least three to four tonight from him with that in that regard. And I don't understand it. I don't know what's going through his head when he plays. I got to think, again, it's 90% it's confidence.

But, you know, Caponin was demoted and rightfully so throughout that game. You can definitely see that Mike Sullivan has had enough with this player. And as I said on my Monday episode, for those that did not listen, if he were traded at the deadline, I really do not care. I really would not care, excuse me, because this team needs a competent score in their top nine. He is basically a black hole right now. And, you know, he's quickly approaching.

I wouldn't say the unplayable category, but, you know, he's approaching where if Sullivan were to healthy, scratch him by a chance, I don't think a lot of people, myself included, in the fan base or people that cover the team, you know, wouldn't care that much because I think it would be warranted. He just, he has not been good this year. And tonight, his struggles continued.

And, you know, as D.K. of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports said, he better not take the ice in that three-on-three overtime, especially with what happened last time against the Washington Capitals, when he wasn't one of the main reasons, you know, they lost because he turned the puck over the blue line and the Penguins never saw the puck again in those last 45 seconds until Demetri Orlov's game winner. So I'm glad that, you know, So the three players of Gensel, let's hang in Crosby,

they all stayed on the overtime shift for, what was it, 30 seconds, if that, and no one else had to come on overall. So, you know, I think I'm running out of things to say when it comes to Cappy. I just, I want him to turn it around because I like him, but I just, I don't see it happening at this point. Overall, game-wise, the Penguins did have the better of the play. If I go to Natural Statrick here, 55% of the shot attempts at 5B5, 54% of those schooling chances.

They led in high danger 6 to 5. 57% of the expected goals for. They were out chance for. For actual goals for, the Flyers had been beat 4 to 2 at 5B5, but of course the Penguins were able to get those two power play goals. If we go to all situations here, 54% of the shot attempts for the Penguins, 55% of the scoring chances and 64% of the high danger chances.

The Penguins actually only allowed Philadelphia to have two combined high danger chances in both the first and third periods. It was that second period where they were just playing a little sloppy. And I definitely thought in the first part of the third period as well, they were a bit sloppy. And it was kind of like, okay, I mean, you guys do realize this is one of the worst teams in hockey, right? The Penguins are able to wake up just because the Flyers team defense is that bad and they were able to tie it. And then win that game five to four, you know, they keep pace. in the Metropolitan Division, they are still in first place.

As of right now, if I go to the standings, the Penguins are three points up on the Hurricanes. Remember, Hurricanes do have four games in hand. The Rangers, they were also able to win tonight, so the Penguins keep that four-point lead over them, as the Rangers also have some games in hand as well, too, that is. I don't think I miss anything for the show tonight. At least I don't think so.

I was just going through I was just going through my timeline to make sure if I hit on everything with my notes Brock McGinn Thank God that was not a broken hand or a broken wrist

I flinched when I was watching that because it was almost like think about if you didn't have a glove on it's like a bare puck hitting your hand without any protection and usually nine out of ten times excuse me that's probably a broken hand slash wrist

he was able to somehow come back into the game and look pretty good. I hope it's not another situation where he finishes the game and is out for four to six weeks because we've seen that so many times with the Penguins. But it looks like as of right now, he is okay. Last but not least, shout out to you, Pittsburgh, for all the fans that went to the game at PPG Paints Arena. based on the TV with how loud it was in my house, that was probably the loudest I have heard PPG in two years.

And I know obviously last year, you know, with COVID and everything, you know, no one could really go to the games. But, you know, Pittsburgh brought it tonight, you know, the fans that were there. I know Alan T. Yoder, you're a frequent listener of this podcast. You are there tonight. You sent me a video. It's awesome that you got to be there. Thank you for sending me that.

And, you know, I'm glad that you were one of the fans. that were there to just really support the team because, you know, that was a playoff like atmosphere with what I was looking in. You know, if the fan base can continue to do that throughout the rest of the season, it's going to be huge because I really think this team is special and they can go on a deep run. But at the end of the day, of course, Penguins get that win. Five to four, they'll get their back in action on Thursday against the Toronto Maple East. That'll be the third and final meeting.

The Penguins have taken the first two meetings, one in Toronto and one in Pittsburgh. I have a full game recap, full game preview, excuse me, for Wednesday's episode. And, of course, touch on a couple of other things. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening to this episode of Locked on Pengless podcast. And I will be back on Wednesday for a new episode. I'll talk to you all then.