Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The Penguins are one win away...how do they close this out for good?

Episode Date: May 11, 2022

The Pittsburgh Penguins are one win away from their first playoff series win in four years and they'll have a shot to earn that on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. Hunter is joined by Rachel Nones again on the show as she discusses what's been going on for the Rangers. Is there any matchup that works against the Sidney Crosby line? How are the Rangers going to come out on Wednesday? The two also discuss how the Rangers can get back into this series and send it back to Pittsburgh for Game 6 on Friday night. Hunter then touches on how the Penguins can end this series and what they need to do to make it happen. They also talk about the Rangers' big-ticket players not being themselves and credit Mike Sullivan's system for doing a great job with his forwards and defense away from the puck. All that, plus much more on Igor Shesterkin and Louie Domingue on this episode of the 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.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.Athletic GreensAthletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/NHLNETWORK. 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 and happy Tuesday evening to you all. I'm fresh off watching the Toronto Maple Leafs take a three to two series lead. Could this be the year that they win their first playoff series in almost two decades? Probably not, but the theater in that series is absolutely spectacular. For today's episode, I'm bringing back Rachel Knowns of the hockey writers to discuss the series. And yes, it is not a game recad episode. So again, I am pulling out. all of the stops for the Penguins to hopefully win this series.

I picked against them. Going into this, I said Rangers 7, yes, it is possible. Yes, I still think it very well could happen. Right now, the Penguins are up three games to one. I'm bringing on Rachel, not after a game recap. Usually when that happens, the Rangers win. Again, I am a very superstitious person. That is how I roll.

I'm going to wear the same outfit for tomorrow night as I did for game four and as I did for game three. That is me. And, you know, the playoff period, starting to come back in a little bit of form. But for today's episode, again, Rachel Noons, talking to Justin's for Game 5 and everything in between right after this drop. Your Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network.

Your team every day. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. You're going to follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter. at L.R.R. Sport Penguins. And joining me now again is Rachel Knowns of the Hockey Writers. And as I said in my intro this time, it is not a game recap episode.

I am trying to pull out all the stops here and be very superstitious for the penguins to potentially win this series on Wednesday night. You know, Rachel, we'll just get right into it. This series, you know, I said before this, I did not take the penguins. I thought they were going, they were cooked going into this. They did not have their legs. All of a sudden, you know, they win game. one, they drop game two, and then they just activate a kill switch, basically these next two games, and they're playing like the 2016 and 2017 Penguins, and like they're shot out of

the cannon. They chase the Sturk in both games, 10 goals in three periods, very peccarine-like from 2017 for everyone that, of course, that watched at Stanley Cup final. You know, what has been, you know, the big deciding factor for you so far in this series between these two teams? Because I don't think anyone saw it going the way it has so far through four games. I think the Rangers just are really having a hard time finding the consistency that they need. And when you're a playoff team, there's a lot of things that are going to need to stay consistent. So from game one, you kind of knew that they needed to play a full game, a full 60 minutes, and obviously they didn't do that.

So when you don't like the result from game one, you definitely need to change things going into game too, but from the first game, they just needed to keep it simple, and they just weren't doing that. So they're still passing way too much, and, you know, they're at a point where it's just like it's too simple. Like, they're not doing any of the right things. And, you know, it was hard for them to do the right things to begin with, and they're just, they've dropped so much. I mean, things as basic as the physicality. Now you compare that last game to the first game. There's no physicality from the Rangers anymore. And I don't know if it's a matter of injury or they're just scared with the officiating and how that's going to go, what kind of bounce they're going to get.

But you don't need that in a playoff series. You can't, I mean, injury aside, you can't let officiating or things like that. I don't know if it's a stamina thing. I mean, a lot of people aren't really giving credit to this team. I don't think they're completely backing down. But it's also their first time that they're in a playoff series. You have a lot of guys. It's their first time in a playoff series, especially Igor Shisterkin. And he's not playing horrible, but he's not getting the help that he needs either from the defense. And they're just not doing any of the right things that they need to do. And it's not only are the Rangers not playing as well, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are just playing good. They're playing really solid. They're playing a

full 60-minute effort, and the Rangers just aren't doing that. Yeah, I definitely think, you know, Shistercun obviously is going to win the Vesnam. Should be top four to five in every person's her trophy ballot. Yes, I understand I'm probably going to get a lot of Igor comments on my YouTube page up for this episode, as I have been for the previous two days. I fully respect all of you all. Please, for the love of God, do not post the clip of him doing this to Mark Friedman and all the penguins, mouthing off and all that. Keep that in your back pocket. The Penguins win the series, you know, then you can go all bollics and out there. I don't need to see everyone being overconfident here. But, you know, I mainly

think, Rachel, it's the team defense that is really letting him down. um they're they're the penguins forecheck is dismantling them in ways that yeah i haven't really seen the penguins forecheck this good in probably four to five years you know adam fox i think is having a little bit of a rough series which i didn't really expect um patrick nemath i think is the rangers version of jack johnson i don't know why he's being iced at this point and the ryan lingran injury has definitely been a bit rough justin brawn i don't really think is that good you know Schneider. He's a rookie. You don't really know what you're going to expect with him. It's mainly, I think, it's been the Rangers defense is getting bullied.

And when Shisterkin is not playing God mode, which he has been most of the year when he was at 940, potentially almost 950 most nights, this is what happens. When he's not Jesus Christ himself and when the Rangers are getting outplayed and he he's getting all this traffic, you know, it's a perfect storm for the penguins to, you know, I shouldn't say exploit, you know, hand, but just exploit some bad team defense. And I think that also goes hand in hand with the Rangers, just not having the puck enough in this series. Now, the Penguins, they're taking the puck below the goal line and they're bleeding like 40 to 50 seconds of the clock at the time and cycling and going low to high and getting deflections, which is what they did a lot in game

four. I think that's been one of the main differences in this series for me is that, you know, they've been able to change up some of their offensive tactics from the regular season, and I don't think Delon has adjusted to it or, you know, does he even want to adjust to it at this point? So the tough thing with the lines and the matchups on the ice is that they've just been so uneven. I mean, you have a defense who's not really pitching in defensively, and then your forwards aren't pitching defensively. I mean, I don't think Artemio Paneran's been great with the puck defensively, this entire series. Mika Zabanajad, who's usually pretty good defensively. It haven't really seen

or can remember of any great play that he's made recently defensively. So, you know, when you had guys that you could put up in a regular season against the SID line and all of a sudden, they're just not helping whatsoever

defense or forwards. It's just, it's tough and I don't know, this is a pretty interesting situation for Glant to coach such a young team in the postseason. Obviously, he has a postseason experience. But Pittsburgh is a tough playoff team. I mean, they have all that experience.

And I think this is definitely a challenge for Glant. I don't want to say he was really gifted in Vegas, but he kind of was because they weren't like all these young players. You know, they did have some experience. But that's just, it's so hard to compare Galant, Vegas, Gland, to what he's with now. So it's just tough. You know, you mentioned Nemeth, and he's obviously having a very rough series.

but the issue is that you have these replacements for him. You know, when Ryan McGrin went out, you know, we have other guys that can step up, and yet we're constantly seeing Nemith. I thought for sure last night he was going to be benched and then to see him out there. It's just, it's frustrating already. But the Rangers have the luxury of not really having to worry about the defense. I mean, they've been pretty solid. They didn't really have injuries.

We didn't miss Ryan Langren during the season. So, you know, he and Adam Fox were pretty much. secured and we don't have to worry about that and then you know with barcicadro out um it was nice to see dryden hunt back in the lineup i thought he actually played really well when he wasn't of course he's not in anymore so when you're missing bartha goodro who was acquired for this and you're not really replacing him with somebody who's going to bring that physicality right there that already gives you a disadvantage so i kind of questioned a lot of the things that gluing uh without even you know know the line matchups with what was actually happening during the game.

So in that aspect, I think a lot of people are calling for him to be fired. And I don't see that being impossible in the next two or three seasons. Yeah, I mean, I don't probably think the line, he probably shouldn't, I mean, he's not going to be fired after this. I mean, they, you know, they exceed the expectations. They got to the playoffs. You know, they all have people expected them to win this series. And, you know, they still very well made. the series is not close to over.

You know, the Penguins have a grand opportunity in front of them on Wednesday to close the series out in five games. But I do agree. He's definitely not doing enough. And, you know, that's going to be the first thing, you know, we touch on in the next segment, especially with regards to, you know, matching up against the Sydney Crosby line. But before we get to that, our partners, our partners at bet online continue to be the number one source for all of your betting needs and sports info.

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That is been online where the game starts. All right, we're back here on 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 this show is Twitter at LO underscore Penguins. Quick note, I'm just want to shout everyone out who, you know, new listeners, long-time listeners, The show is number six overall in the United States today on Charitable,

right up there with the big boys, a spit and chicklets, 32 thoughts, Jeff Merrick's show. I just can't thank everyone enough for supporting this podcast and, you know, just, you know, bringing it up all the way there. I know, I know it's playoff time, you know, maybe some of the views will go down once the penguins potentially get eliminated or, you know, just even if they win the Stanley Cup during the off season. But, you know, I just really wanted to shout you all out for continuing to support this podcast and always tuning in to listen to me.

just talk out of my ass for 30 minutes about this team. But Rachel, the Sydney Crosby line, you know, they have absolutely torched the Rangers. It really hasn't mattered what Gallant has thrown at them. I did see today that he's really not changing the lines, which is, I don't know if he wants to go down with his ship, you know, I don't know what it is. Maybe he's hoping that this day can win this game, which is a very distinct possible, very basic possibility. Hell, I think it's probably likely that they do win game five and then send it back

to Pittsburgh. But, you know, what matchup would you look for to do their best against Crosby? Because, you know, game four, 90% of the expected goals. He has nine points in four games. Jake Gensel is also over a point per game. Brian Rust is also killing them. I mean, this line is single-handedly willing the Penguins to be within 60 minutes of winning this series. If you're gallant, what do you do to slow them down, if anything? That's a great question. Um, honestly, I wouldn't even know. I couldn't even say confidently the top line would be the way to go because, like I said, like you have, you know, Kreider, who's, you know, he would bring the speed to things.

He would bring the physicality. He's a very strong player. Um, you have Zabanajad, who typically is good defensively, but even he's kind of dipped off. And then you have Frank Bertrano. So, you know, I would say. say that's your most evenly matched line, but even still that's scary to say. And I think that's going to have to be something to take into consideration when, you know, moves start happening and things like that because there's just no way that you can

enter another postseason series with this team. I mean, there's just no way. So that's my best bet, I would say. It seems to me like when Sullivan, just not to interrupt you, when Sullivan is like, I think he's matching Crosby against the Benajat, and he's just eating his lunch, I feel like. I mean, not to pick on poor Mika. I mean, he's definitely had a rough series, but it looks like he looks helpless out there against it. And I don't think the line is doing anything about it.

You know, he keeps saying, I think, you know, we outrun all four lines. You know, I don't really care who I put out against the Chrysman. Well, you honestly should care because when they're out there, they have the puck basically every time in the offensive zone. And it's just the Rangers, when that Mika line is out there, they're not really getting any offense. Right. And, you know, I don't know if it's an injury that Mika has that he's playing through or something like that. But I just, you know, he's definitely one of the guys that you can look for for that defensive pitch in.

But he's just not providing any of that. And I don't know. It's obvious it's just not good enough. It's good for the regular season as we've seen. but you get to a point where this just exposes a lot of weak areas that we didn't see in the regular season. And it's almost impossible to have poor seen when you're not really dealing with these things beforehand. So that's about as evenly as I can say. I mean, they don't obviously have a ton of options.

I don't think that the bottom six is good enough to be trusted that much, obviously. Obviously, depth's going to be super important to this team, but I just don't trust the bottom six. much. Doesn't matter how physical they are. What do you think of, you know, the kids line so far in this series? In my opinion, I think they've been the Rangers best line. I know they're going out against Jeff Carter, who, you know, let's just face it. He's not what he once was. Yes, he has a couple of goals in this series.

I'm going to look past that a little bit. He's not driving play when he's playing with Jason Zucker, when he has Brock McGinn there. And funny enough, I think that is their second. I think it's their third line, if I'm not mistaken, outside of the Panarin Strom cop line and the Mika Zabanajad, Chris Kreider line. It looked like in game four, they were playing with more passion, you know, more heart. And other than, you know, how do I want our faces? They were playing with all of those, you know, characteristics way more than the big ticket guys,

like Artemi Panarin and Mika Zabanajad and Chris Crider and Jacob Kruba. I think that's going to have to be the way to go for the Rangers to get back in this series. But I also think, Rachel, they got to have more out of those big ticket guys. Panarin has one goal in four games. I know he has four points, but to me, he doesn't look like himself yet. Knock on Wood. Zabenechat, he has not done that much so far either. Knock on Wood.

Same with Ryan Strom. Andrew Copp has a couple of goals. Kreider has gotten his, though they've neutralized him the best they can. and Frank Matrono, he has gotten his, but, you know, last game, he actually somehow did not score against the Penguins. You know, for them to get back in this series, would you say that the big-ticket guys

really have to get going here and somehow find a way through the Penguins' defensive structure? Yeah, I mean, people want to make that argument about lack of experience hurting the Rangers when, you know, maybe you can make that case for someone who has a role like Igor Shisirken, but when you see the kids show up like that and they kind of just have a short memory with their shifts,

I don't know if it's kind of a weird situation where it's like at that point the veterans could have something to learn from the kids and they're just coming out like you said with just like more passion. They just see him a lot more determined. I don't think they're as mentally beat up as the older guys. And, you know, I could understand that because it's like at this point in your career, you know, you're so close to making a shot at the cup.

I mean, again, they're ahead of schedule with how far they've gone this season, but it's like mentally, that's probably tough. But at the same time, you think that if they've made it this far in their career, they should have their mental game figured out a little bit more than the younger kids. But, no, I think they look really good. And it's just interesting. Obviously, you know, they needed to show up in order for the team to do well, but you need the veteran guys to show up too when you don't have Kreider

scoring on the power play, then it's not a good fun whatsoever, especially when they've been as good as they have been. So, yeah, I mean, they need everything working for them at this point. Like you said, I don't think that it's unreasonable that the Rangers could win this game. Five, so it would take everybody pitching in for sure. We already know Igor Shisterkin's going to start again, which I think is definitely the right call. But you need, I mean, even Jacob Truba on defense. So, you know, he's really the only veteran at that point. But you just need those guys to be in it. And I like what I've seen from, like, last year.

And Capo-Cocco, they look pretty good. Yeah, you know, the kids, you know, I was listening to Nick Serraris. He posted his latest episode, and he said, you know, honestly, they look like the only three players that were trying it. It looks like even when the game was out of reach at this point. So more to get to for this episode, for our final segment again. We're going to get into the last segment, what the Rangers have to do. to send this series back to the Berg for a game six

and then potentially back to Madison Square Guard and God help us if this series goes seven, I will not survive to say the least. And, you know, well, at that point, maybe Tristan Jari is ready to go, but I'd rather just hopefully Penguins can do it, save him until round two. But that's coming up right after this commercial break.

All right, we're back here on this episode of the Locktime Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter, L.O. L.O. underscore Penguins. So Rachel, I mean, you know, this is, you know, I know, since I know you, this is your first do-or-die elimination game. You know, I've said this on the show numerous times, and this holds true for any series. Fourth game is the hardest to win. The team is backing up against the wall. They're desperate. They're going to throw everything they

have at you to make sure they go down with that, with that fight. But, you know, I can't help but wonder, Rachel, you know, that loss, it just was so demoralizing, you know, how are the Rangers going to show up for that game? You know, I know the crowd is going to be there. Madison Square Garden has been very raucous in the first couple of games for numerous reasons that we don't have to get into for the show. But, you know, just how do they recover off a loss like that where you're not really changing up anything? how do you expect the team to come out on Wednesday? I think they come out pretty well. I think that they know, you know, it kind of stinks that they're in this position.

They've 100% caused it themselves, but maybe this is the wake-up call that they needed to finally get something going. You know, I said it from the beginning of the series. They needed to stay up. They needed to be opportunistic. And the pens aren't going to give them many chances, so they just have to kind of run with whatever they do give.

So, you know, for this game ahead, maybe the Penns come in a little lazy just because they do have that comfortable lead and maybe they underestimate the Rangers a little bit. I mean, that's kind of been like the whole tag line of the Rangers all year long, that they just kind of weren't taken so seriously and then they ended up second in the Metro. So I don't know. I mean, I know the Rangers definitely underestimated some teams this season.

So it's very possible that the pens could do that. If so, the Rangers need to just run with that and take as much as they can. You definitely need Frank Petrano to come out and school. You need Chris Kreider. Obviously, he took that puck last game, so I don't know what kind of shape he's necessarily in. But you just need them to kind of guide things like that. And last game, when you have left for near scoring first of the game and then first of the Rangers, too. That's something that you want to see.

So I would say they definitely need to score. first. It's not going to be the key to winning the game, but it's definitely going to help them. And they just need to pitch in front of Igor more. I mean, they can't leave him out to dry. The goals that he's facing or the goals

that he's giving up, there's the hardest to stop if you're a goaltender. So I know that they worked on that kind of stuff a lot during practice today. He worked with their goaltender coach. So, you know, just again, it's just going back to the basics and things like that. So I think that's really the best

that they're going to have. They need to stop passing. They need to just start shooting at the net more. So in terms of that, it'll be more like the train of out. Louis Doming is back there. It's not God here. You know, we're not, we're not having God in that. Just just say it. But it's so crazy. It's still crazy to me because look at how far he's gone this series and look at the shot that he's faced and who's shooting. I mean, these are not just, you know, young, in inexperienced guys. There's some good players on the Rangers and they know how to shoot. They know how to place the puck. And I don't think Louis Demang is getting enough credit.

I still don't think so. And I think that I don't know if the Rangers are kind of underestimating him, too. At this point, I think that's super unfair to do because look at how he's playing and look at the results. But, yeah, I mean, it's kind of like the rules are reversed between the two goaltenders. So it's just, you just need to help him out in every, in every opportunity that you can. Yeah, I mean, it is weird. You know, game four, 24 total shots, which is unheard of in a playoff.

game and you have one high danger chance against an AHL fringe NHL goaltender. What are we doing here? I mean, that's just, to me, that's unacceptable. You have to pepper him more. I will say credit to the penguins for playing a very good structure in front of them. They're not letting him see a lot of high danger chances in the series. That is the key from them. If Jiming can make the saves he's supposed to make, and the penguins can keep

finishing on their chances, then they will have a good chance of winning this game on Wednesday and closing out the series and not having it go back to Pittsburgh. You've kind of basically answered the last question I was going to ask you, Rachel, about what do the Rangers need to do to send this back to Pittsburgh? It was basically the same question of, you know, like, how are they going to come out on Wednesday? But, I mean, this should be, you know, a very interesting final one to three games. Um, this series has been very unpredictable so far. I am sure it has another surprise or two up its sleeve.

Um, believe me, um, on that. Do you have any other final thoughts on this series? Any other observations that you've seen so far going into game five? I haven't seen a lot of people actually talk about Alexander Georgiev, who's obviously come in the last two times that ego was yanked. And I thought he looked okay. I mean, you know, obviously, He didn't close out the rest of the game without any other goals.

Yeah, but I mean, that's, you know, it's Alexander Giorgi as still. But I thought he gave them a chance to at least kind of get some sort of a rebound, not necessarily tie the game up, but he put them in some sort of a position to kind of get any advantage that they could. And he definitely made some big saves. So I just thought that was interesting that Georgie comes in and he looks pretty decent. but especially when the pens are just, I mean, you have pens goals up and down the lineup

from defense from, you know, everyone. So for Giorgid to shut some of that down, that's huge. Yeah, yeah, I know some people were surprised that they're not going to Giorgiyev tomorrow. I mean, that's just waving the white flag to me. I mean, if you're going to start, Alexandria Giorgiyev, and he's fine, but you're not going to start your future Vezna winner

in a must-win elimination game. That is just galaxy-braining it. You are deranged. if you think they were going to start. Especially at the garden. Yeah. I mean, that's just, again, you're quitting on your best player this year. At the end of the day, they were not going to do that.

What they're going to do, they're going to try to extend this series. If they go down, if the captain goes down with the ship and they don't want to change the lines, that's their call. The Penguins, as Mike Sullivan's mantra is, they just play. And there's a chance work hard with Kel will be back tomorrow. He said he was contact today, but Mike Sullivan said he has not been cleared yet. I'm sure he'll be up the morning skate tomorrow. Maybe he's a game time decision. Maybe they hold him out. Who knows? But, you know, Trishinjari, he's continuing to progress

and skate. He took more shots from Andy Kyoto today, 45 to about a 50-minute workout on the ice before practice. They're working him back. Again, I poked around a little bit, hoping for game six if it's necessary back in Pittsburgh. And that will be a nice time to return if there is because you give your home crowd behind you. You don't have to go up in the garden for for a potential raucous game 7. Like I said, God forbid it gets that far. I'm going to knock on wood here. But, again, it's been a series full of surprises.

And we'll see the Penguins will have their first chance to win a series since 2018, Wednesday night at the Garden. That was the Penguins first game four win also since 2018 against Philadelphia Flyers. They ended up winning that series in six games. But Rachel, thank you so much for coming on. I am, you know, it's probably pretty likely. a post-series morton on, you know, whoever

win this series, whether the Rangers come back and win three in a row or the Penguins close this out Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday. You know, who knows? But, yeah, for the new people that are here, tell everyone where they can follow you

on social media and where they can read your work. So I cover the Rangers of the Hockey Writers. We have a great team of writers who cover all of the team. So, yeah, we do a lot of good Rangers content there. And then on Twitter, it's just at Rachel NHL. Yep, so go follow her content.

She also does a good job of live tweeting the games, and I'm sure she will be doing that again tomorrow in a must-win game for the Rangers. So, you know, right now, in the Metropolitan Division playoff bracket, Penguins up three games to one. Carolina, the Hurricanes up three games to two on the Bruins. Both teams, one went away from playing each other.

in the first round. But knowing the NHL, it will probably just be Rangers Bruins or Rangers games or something. But, you know, we'll see in the second round. That's still a few days away at this point. But thank you all so much for listening. I'll be back on Wednesday with a full game recap episode. If the Penguins win, yes, I will be having another beer or two live right after the game ends. I will not hesitate to do that.

I've done that a couple times. And again, yes, I have to wear the same outfit I wore in game four and game three. That's just, that's what we do here. That's, that's the superstitions here. But we'll see. Penguins have an opportunity to close us out. We'll see what this team is made of in terms of that killer instinct that we saw in 2016, 2017. Can't wait to see it.

Be back with another episode Wednesday evening and I'll talk to you all then.