Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The Penguins are back on Tuesday against the Bruins!

Episode Date: February 8, 2022

The All-Star Break is over which means the Pittsburgh Penguins are back. Hunter starts the show off with the unfortunate news about Evgeni Malkin as he's now in COVID protocol. How long will he likely be out? Who will take his place in the lineup? He then ponders the thought of rookie Valtteri Puustinen a legit shot in the lineup. Hunter explains how it can't hurt due to how the team knows what it has in Dominik Simon, plus Zohorna hasn't impressed THAT much this season. He breaks down Puustinen's game a bit before doing a full preview against the Bruins. Is this team being overlooked? Before last year, when was the last time the team won in Boston? How can the Penguins break them down? 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. 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, we're back. Penguins hockey is officially on for this week. Tuesday, they have a big matchup against the Boston Ruins. Thursday, they go to Ottawa, take on the Senators for the final time this season. I have a big preview episode coming up right after this drop where the Penguins can hopefully get their first win in almost a decade against the Boston Ruins. Look for that coming up right after this. You're locked on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked Don Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello, welcome to this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. You're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L.O. Arnold's Penguins.

This episode is brought to you by Bet Online. Betonline has you covered this season with more props, odds, and lines than I before. That's BetOnline, where the game starts. So Penguins, as I said in my little opening monologue, they're back. in action this week. They'll take on the Boston Ruins on Tuesday. I have a full preview for this game. Coming up a little later on, on today's episode, we're also going to go into some potential lineup changes where it looks like that's going to happen tomorrow. And then, a couple other things as well. First off, though, you know, the big news of the day on Monday,

McGinie Malkin has been placed in COVID protocol. He was one of the only players on the team that did not have COVID this year. There have been multiple players that have tested positive twice. I'm pretty sure Zach Ashton Reese is one of them. But Malkin was one of, I think only one or two, three players that had not tested positive yet. You can scratch him off now. He was experiencing mild symptoms per Mike Sullivan on Monday, self-reported to trainer Chris Stewart, and then he tested positive. So he was out until those symptoms go away.

It does not look like this is an asymptomatic case. So I would say at this point, you know, probably be out for maybe. be a week, but perhaps a bit more. Hopefully his symptoms aren't too too bad. But, you know, it really sucks for Gino because I thought he was getting better and better from each game. He's averaging already a point per game since coming back from his injury about a month ago. So, you know, but, you know, the Penguins have played without Malkin a lot this year.

So they're experienced in that regard. I think, honestly, they're fine. But, you know, they do face a big test in the Bruins. Again, I'm going to get to that later on. But there are also a couple players back at practice. practiced on Monday, Danton Hine, and he was a full participant

after missing those two games before the All-Star break with a lower body injury. Mike Sullivan classified him as a game-time decision. In my opinion, he is going to play. You know,

Sully even said after practice, he was a full participant. He was participating in regular line rushes. Excuse me. So he is, you know, he will be playing. As for those lines,

Jake Gensel, Sidney, Crosby, Brian Rust on the top line, that's not changing. Rock McGinn with Jeff Carter and Kisbury Capnin. Dan Hinden with Evan Rodriguez and Radim Zahorna. Zach Ashton, Ray's Brian Boyle and Dominic Simone, and then Drew O'Connor was skating on the Wilkesbury line.

He was back at practice today as well. He will not be playing tomorrow. He was a limited participant practice, but it's still good that he's progressing back from his injury. Defense, of course, those were the same. June Miltang, Pedersen, Marino, Matheson Rueh. I saw some people on social media and a couple other places to say, and like, you know, it's big that Friedman is also skating on the second pairing. I really wouldn't read too much into that because I don't think Mike is going to scratch John Marino.

Unless he truly does struggle at both ends of the break. I know I have talked about, you know, this on the podcast numerous times this year, but I still think until, you know, more of his metrics start to go down a bit more, I don't think he's going to come out of the lineup. You know, Sullivan has always been a fan of him. I just can't see it, at least in my opinion. But there were two big call-ups that we saw today from Wilkesbury on Michael Sheput and Valteri Pustinen. So Pustin by many is said to be the best prospect down there.

And he's played pretty good. I should say, if I can get to the stats this year on Wilkesbury's website, if I can do that here. if I can do that here. Let me see here where Proustinen is at. So he this year, he actually has 13 goals and 27 points in 40 games. That leads Wilkesbury. He was a great player at training camp from what I saw highlights-wise and from a lot of reporters that were at Cranberry at PPG-Painzorina saw.

If I were the Mike Sullivan, I would play him and here's why. We all know what Dom Simone brings to the lineup. He's fine possession-wise, he's decent playmaker. Defensively, he's fine, but he's not going to score for you. You know, it's just at this point in his career, you know, if it didn't happen a few years ago, you know, it's not going to happen now and it hasn't happened. Hussonan, he is a score. As I just said, 13 goals in 40 games this year, he'll Wilkesbury.

and, you know, he's one of those young guns that, you know, he can make an impact if he comes into the lineup. You know, I don't truly think this is a Mark Dong situation. I know a lot of people outside of Pittsburgh will say that. But, you know, again, he is well regarded as perhaps the top prospect in the penguin system outside of POJ. And I know that's not saying much. Trust me, I get it. Penguins do not have a good farm system. It's ranked in the bottom five of the NHL.

Year after year, that's the price you pay with winning three Stanley Cubs with Sydney Crosby. Anna Vigna Malkin, but I do want to see what this kid can do. I know he wasn't skating on one of the four lines in practice today. But again, as I just said, Simone, you know what he can do. Boyle, I think I guess I would keep him in line up. He's been fine. Radim Zornah, I want to see what he can do as well. Though if you honestly scratch the Horn of Four Proustin,

I don't really think a lot of people would care that much. That's just at least my opinion. But he's always had a heck of a shot. he's really fast, good two-way game, good playmaker. Why not, I think, at this one? You're on a four-game losing streak. You know, you should honestly try to, you know, bring out all the shots to end that losing streak. I know the team is basically a lot to get in the playoffs per money puck this morning.

It was like 99.6%. I mean, unless there's a team that goes on a massive run that's below them, they will be in the playoffs come late April, early May. But, you know, I'm still pretty intrigued. and excited by this player. I really hope Mike potentially, you know, puts him into a game for as long as he's up here because, you know, Malkins probably, as I just said, he's only going to be out for a week, probably less than 10 days.

But they still have, you know, a few games during that span. You know, they should put him in, have him make his NHO debut and see what the kid can do. Sheput, I mean, I don't really know too much about him this year if I can find his stats here. So, yeah, three goals, 12 points in 25 games. So he hasn't done too, too much for Wilkesbury this season, but he was just one of the other callups. I don't think he's going to get into a game. If Mike were to put him in the lineup over Pustinan, I think there will be a problem.

That's for sure. But, you know, I want to see some more younger energy into this lineup. I know that sounds weird to say just because of how good this team has been this year. But, you know, he's a player that I think, you know, a lot of people in the fan base are intrigued about, especially. King Clarkie, a penguin's Twitter, who's always in my DMs about him, just sending me highlights and all this stuff. So, you know, I definitely know that would make at least one Penguins fan happy,

but probably a whole bunch of others as well. I know he will probably only get third, fourth, most likely four-flying minutes, I should say. But, you know, at the end of the day, you know, I think at this way he's a better option than a couple of the fours that are going to be in the lineup tomorrow night. So we'll have to see if Sullivan goes. against the practice lineup that we saw today, but as of right now,

it's looking like the lineup that I just read out is going to be your lineup against the ruins. And of course, you know, Tristan Jari is likely going to start that game. It's good that he had a week off. I know he had to play in the All-Star game. He played pretty well, honestly, you know, overall, I think in that last game or the two games combined 14 out of 15 shots he faced, 14 saves. So, or that might have been just the last game, I believe is what it was. So he was one of the best goals of the All-Star game. You know, I saw these weird takes over the weekend from other fan bases say

and that Tristan didn't deserve to be there. Shisterkin should have. And, you know, I understand that. I get Shisterkin's probably going to win the Vesna this year. But he was not the Rangers representative. That went to Chris Kreider, who was having a Rocket Richard type season. And I get that he didn't, you know, Shasturkin didn't get in, you know, during like the fan voting and, you know, the while the last couple of players in and all that.

but Tristan still deserved to be there. He's been one of the 10 best goals in hockey this year. One of it, one of definitely the three best goals he's in the Eastern Conference, at least in my opinion. So, you know, to see this weird nonsense from other fan bases, just ignore it. You know, people will move the goalposts. You know, I try not to get myself suckered into it too much,

though, you know, some people definitely try to get me to do that, that's for sure. But coming up in the next segment, we're going to do a full preview for the game against Boston on Tuesday, going to their lines. This is a game that I really think it's just going to be a tough one away just because the penguins, for whatever reason, they stink up at Titi Garden.

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That's promo code lock 15 for 15% off at belt.com. Welcome back to this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Honore. You're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hoey's. You're also follow this show's Twitter at L0 underscore Penguins. So again, Penguins will be playing the Boston Rubens for the first time this season. Of course, you know, it is a TD Garden. And I'm trying to find here the last time the penguins barely, I'm just trying to figure this out here.

Well, I'll do this in a second. There is good news, at least for the penguins. with this, there will be no Tuka Rask. Yeah. So he will be out all week, according to Bruce Cassidy. Definitely something that I didn't see coming. I thought he was back healthy, but it will be Jeremy Swayman for the Bruins on Tuesday. It would not be Linus Allmark. So that's, you know, again, that's a big deal. Swamon's been good this year. Don't get me wrong. But, you know, it's still not having to face Tuka Rask is a pretty big, you know, in my opinion.

As for the lines, you know, Bergeron with Marchand and Craig Smith, it is weird that they're not icing, you know, the so-called best line of hockey, which I think it is, you know, Marshawn, Bergeron Posternak, that are putting Posternak on the second line with Tomas Nosek and Taylor Hall.

I think if they're struggling in this game, they'll just flip-Flock Craig Smith and David Posternock. They will have no problem doing that. Jake DeResk with Charlie Coyle on the third line. Curtis Lazor on the fourth line defensively. Charlie McAvoy with Matt Gris. I think that's one of the better top pairs in hockey. I love watching McAvoy play the way he moves the puck.

He's just so methodical with it and he can fake you out. An instant has a bomb of a shot from a point. Great playmaking ability. And oh yeah, I mean, he's also ridiculously good in his own zone. Mike Riley with Brandon Carlo. I really think the Bruins missed Carlin. a lot last year. Remember, you know, he didn't play too much in the playoffs or towards the end of the regular season. You know, I think he had some concussion issues. I think one of them was due to a

massive hit by Tom Wilson. You know, this is a player that, you know, he means more to them that I think, you know, some people, you know, say. So glad to see him back in the lineup. And I also will say this. That is my mistake. They actually beat the Bruins in Boston. earlier last in April of last year. It was 4 to 1. That was their first win in Boston since 2013, 2014. If I recall correctly, Lee Steffianak had the game winning goal in that game. There's a nice little throwback for you all right there.

Lee Frick and Stephanie, of course, who was acquired by Ray Shiro in my, I believe that was my junior year of high school. That was the year they beat Columbus in the first round and then blew the 3-1 lead to the Rangers in the second round. I'll always say, you know, that's one of the biggest what-ifs right there in Pagan's history. If they go on to win that series, you know, who knows what happens with this team? You know, again, that's a discussion, I think, for another day. Derek Forbert is on their bottom pairing. As for their underlying numbers, they have 56% of the expected goals this year per money, pucked 49.7% of the actual goals.

So they're not finishing their chances as well. That also goes show with their goal differential minus one this year. So definitely not as good as in years past. They have 53% of the shot attempts at 5V5, scoring on over a little bit more per money puck. So goals 4 per 60, 2.4. Their goals against per 60, 2.43. So pretty similar in that regard,

though, their expected goals for per 60 is 2.55. So their actual goals against, they're outperforming that. Actually, no, excuse me. Their expected goals for is 2.55. Their goals for is 2.5. So they're underperforming there, but, you know, they're also underperforming, I think, with their goals against 2.4 or 3, but their expected goals against is 2.05.

This has always been a strong defensive team. But, you know, I think the biggest thing with Boston is, you know, I like their lineup, but can they go toe to toe with a team like Tampa or Florida? And I just don't think they can. I mean, we all saw last year, remember, you know, they crushed the Washington Capitals in the first round, right? But then the Islanders just, you know, fly out, bully them in the second round, beat them in, what, five or six games. And I know the Bruins kind of outplayed them. It was a little similar to how the Penguins did. I would say the Penguins outplayed the Islanders a lot more,

just looking at the underlying numbers in that series. But that was still, I think, a series that the Bruins should have won. I thought Tuka Rasque played as well as he could have. I know he was battling an injury. It was just, you know, Islanders' gold-hending was, that was, I think, the main difference again. And they were also getting scoring from all over the lineup. But, you know, As I looked at the standings today, the Bruins come into this game, 26 and 14 and 3, so 55 points. They're 8 points behind. The Maple Leafs, they're 11 points behind the Lightning, 14 points behind the Panthers. So, you know, it's looking very likely, I should say, that they're going to finish fourth in the Atlantic,

and they will probably draw Florida in the first round. That's just, that's not good. I mean, I know they have a lot of firepower. David Postonix is getting really hot. I love Patrice Burgeoning. He's one of the best players. of this generation. Brad Marshawn, I mean, he's ridiculous. Taylor Hall can turn it on in an instant Charlie McAvoy. If Tukarast stays healthy, who knows what can happen. But I think at this time,

they're one of the lower fringe contenders. And it's going to be unfortunate when, you know, likely, I mean, if I get old takes as opposed to, I get old takes of spose, you know, it's going to be, you know, unfortunate when, you know, Burjorn probably retires with only one Stanley Cup. And same with Marchon's day. You know, I think it's too early to say with Posternak because they drafted him while Bergeron and Marshawn were in their primes. But, you know, it's still unfortunate just because, you know, they've always been a friend of contender, you know, for a long time. But, you know, the Bruins also have three games in hand on the Penguins, though.

That said the Penguins are seven points ahead of them. But I always love when these two teams play, especially, you know, even if it's in TV garden, you know, the games are always fun. Again, I apologize for being, you know, definitely a bit wrong about, you know, the Penguins breaking their win-less. streak in Moss. And I thought that was still ongoing. I thought that 4-to-1 win was in Pittsburgh. Turns out, you know, I don't get everything right. I'm not a genius all the time. I am. I try to be, you know, the best expert. I can be with this team, you know, sometimes, you know, I fall flat on my face and I look like a

complete moron as I did just there. So overall, though, excited to watch this one. And, you know, we will see what the Penguins can do. You know, you know, the vibe check, as Jesse Marshall says, let's see how they come out in four-checking the first five of ten minutes. If the penguins are forechecking with authority and they're playing sound defense to hockey, 90% of the time, you know, you know which way that's going to go. It's going to go in their favor. Now, if they come out and don't look good and, you know, they're getting bullied, you know, up and down the rank, you know, then I'm definitely going to be a little concerned moving forward for the rest of that game. But that will do it for this segment.

Before we get to our next segment, Benelman has you covered this season with more props, odds, and lines than Edward 4. as football continues its march through the playoffs, right to the big game in a couple of weeks. Betterline.net remains the best spot for all of your sports scores, podcasts, and news this season, and it's not just football. Betterline is up to the minute info on the pro and college hoop scene.

NHL, boxing, UFC, along with live, real-time updates of current games. Don't wait to stay available to all be new amazing offers available for the 2022 season. That is, Ben Online, where the game starts. All right, welcome back here to this episode of the Locked-on Penguin. one's podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes.

Merta follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the shows to our L.A.O. underscore Penguins. A couple quick all-star game thoughts. You know, I didn't, you know, talk about the all-star game just in general after watching it just because, you know, that game was the day on the weekend. Of course, I don't do shows on Saturdays. But, you know, it was fun to see just the players having a good time there. Jake Gensel had a couple really gorgeous feeds during that game.

You know, Claude Drew also had a heck of a feed to Jake Gensel. And, you know, maybe I'll get a little heat for this. I tweeted this on my Twitter. If you don't follow me on Twitter, I'll say it here for you all as well. Wouldn't it be kind of chaotic and fun if Claude Jureau was threading passes to Jake Gensel about a month and a half from now? Yes, I understand. That's probably not going to happen. I don't think Ron Hextall is going to trade with this former team.

These two teams hardly ever trade with each other. The only one that they did that I can remember was the Mark Strite one in 2017, where Hextall, who was the the Flyers team at the time, he traded straight to Tampa, who then had to trade him to Pittsburgh, because they were not going to do that trade together. It's like, you know, the Steelers and the Ravens or something agreeing to a trader or the Steelers

and the Browns. It's just, it's not going to happen, but, you know, my sick, chaotic mind would love nothing more than to see Claude Jureug threading passage to Jake Hansel on the Penguins. I'm just injected into my veins. It would make a bunch of Flyers fans so mad online. And, you know,

just watching the reaction, I think, from Penguins fans as well. Just give it to me. Hopefully that is the highlight of this episode of this podcast. But I loved what Jake was doing. You know, just again, hit some really nice goals, some great passes as well. Jari was making a lot of, well, pretty good.

I shouldn't even say pretty good say because the effort in these all-star games is really, I shouldn't say it's non-existent because there definitely is some effort there. but it is, you know, there's a little bit of effort, I should say. You know, he was actually making, you know, at least a half effort to make some saves. And I thought he played pretty well in the three on three overtime again. I'm not going to get into people saying that he didn't deserve to be there. That should have a bunch of hogwash to me. And, you know, this got me thinking, you know, after watching the Pro Bowl on Sunday a little bit of it,

which, you know, I would rather watch my water boil for pasta than watch the Pro Bowl. You know, I was thinking about this, you know, just ranking the top all-star games among the four major sports. The NFL was obviously at last. I mean, that was basically two-hand touch. That's how big of a joke it was watching that game. And no one even takes it seriously. You see guys taking selfies on the sideline. I mean, they're not playing to, you know, hit stick anyone.

And obviously, you know, back in the day, it was a little bit different when Sean Taylor, you know, may he rest in peace, was just decking people in the Pro Bowl. everything, he laid out some massive hits, you know, when he was doing his thing. I would probably have the NBA at third. There's used to be, I think, top two, but with how their dunk contest has gone down recently and, you know, their game, I don't really think it's, you know, deserving of being in the top two. I would have the NHLs at number two.

So for as much as this sport gets wrong, league-wise, I guess I should say, you know, they definitely get the All-Star game right. And the move to three-on-three, I think we would. saved it because, I mean, did anyone really watch when the, when the game was, you know, four on four or five on five or whatever? No, I mean, it was kind of boring because you didn't see as much scoring. Now with these where you see, you know, two, you know, 10 to 20 minute periods and the games are over pretty quickly, you know, it's up and down action and there's a two one one, basically every freaking shift. I mean, that's what's going to hook a casual fan into the

game of hockey. No, no one wants to see you trap in the all-star game or see, you know, more skaters on the ice. They want to see the best of the best, go at it, three on three, just like you do in overtime in the regular season. And I'm glad the NHL made that change when they did six years ago. Baseball, I would have it number one. The best thing they did was, you know, whoever won the game would get home field advantage in the World Series, that's how you, you know, you get some incentive into the All-Stuary game where some players try harder than others. again compared to the pro bon stuff because you know the team you know for players that are on that team that know that the regular team is in the playoff chase you're chasing a pen and all that

you want to get the best record so you can have home i home home home field for the world series if the nchel did something like that for home ice um in the stand like a final no matter what happens it would be a little interesting but i also think it would kind of deem the regular season a little irrelevant, but, you know, baseball, you know, they were doing it for so long. And I think they still do it, or they did it last time I checked. I might have changed it. But, you know, the home run derby, they knocked that out of the park. And again, you know, the game is like actually, it's competitive.

You know, sure, there's some players joking around and all that stuff. But I would say it's the most competitive of all of the four major sports, all-star games. NHL is right behind that. So just wanted to spend a little bit of my last segment. touching on that just because, you know, I was thinking about that, you know, watching some of the Pro Bowl, and then, of course, I'll watch in the All-Star game this past Saturday. But that'll do it for this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I really appreciate all of you listening to this one.

I'll be back on Tuesday evening for a full game recap for the Penguins versus the Bruins, and then you'll have a full preview for the game on Thursday and all that was. So hope you have a great rest of your evening, and if you're listening to this on Tuesday afternoon or Tuesday morning, I will see you all. in a few hours for a full game recap for the Penguins Bruins matchup.