Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The Pittsburgh Penguins are finally back in action, plus thoughts on a small goaltending debate...

Episode Date: April 21, 2022

The five-day break is about to be over! The Pittsburgh Penguins are finally going to be back in action on Thursday night when they host the Boston Bruins. Hunter previews that game to start the show and what the Penguins need to do differently in order to get the result. He goes over Boston's lines and looks to see if there are going to be different looks while also touching on how fresh the legs could be for this matchup. After that, Hunter addresses some fan concerns about the goaltending and why it's not right to be mad at Ron Hextall for not getting a backup at the trade deadline. HOWEVER, he does argue that it was still wrong to not add a goaltender during the offseason since this was always going to be a risky decision to ride back both Jarry and DeSmith. To wrap up the show, Hunter gets into that playoff feel as the weather starts to get warmer and the playoff highlight video watching is in full swing. He also again gets into these last five games and how they look is going to be the big indicator heading into May.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!HelloFreshGo to HelloFresh.com/lockedon16 and use code lockedon16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts.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.Shady RaysEXCLUSIVELY FOR OUR LISTENERS, HEAD TO SHADYRAYS.COM AND USE CODE LOCKEDON TO GET FIFTY PERCENT OFF TWO OR MORE PAIRS OF POLARIZED SUNGLASSES.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, everybody. Happy Wednesday. In today's episode, we're going to preview the Penguins game on Thursday. The Penguins will finally return to action after our five-day break, a break that they definitely, I think, have needed. I would not be surprised if they come out flying in that one. At least, we're also going to go over this goaltending conundrum that I've been seeing on social media a little bit lately

and a couple other things I have planned as well. So look for all that coming up right after this drop. You're 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.

Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. You can also follow the shows, Twitter, at L.O. honors where penguins. I was wearing my Nationals hat here, but they won two in a row, and then they obviously just, they fell to the Diamondbacks night. So we're going to wear it backwards. I don't need to show that. There's sex and eight right now.

They also just lost three out of four to the pirates. So for all the you that listen to the show that are Pirates fans, and maybe you guys all listen to Ethan at Lockdown Pirates, he does a great job. Definitely, I think a little embarrassing there from my Nats that they lost a series to the Pirates, to say the least. Anyways, you all want to check out the Pirates.

Go check out Ethan Smith of Lockdown Pirates. He does a tremendous job over there with that show, especially with a team that's probably not going to be that good this year. But anyway, so Penguins, Brewins, Part 3A, very mini home-in-home series and you know it ends on Thursday I'm trying to make sure my dog does not start whining and is he going to lay down yes he will um Thron is just he somehow sometimes wakes up and whenever I'm recording and you know I guess that's right now anyways again back to my overall point I've no idea that's like the third time I've been

sidetracked including this one whatever we'll just get right into it um so the They obviously fell on Saturday, two to one in Boston, in TD Garden. Usually it's a building that's not kind to them, though funny enough, they had one two in a row going into that time. But, you know, the penguins, in order for them, I think, to win this game, you know, they have to just play the way they did for those final 57 and 58 minutes. I know it was a very low event game. The penguins were held to 24 shots as usually not the norm. This year, the penguins are usually one of the best, you know, volume shooting teams in the league.

And it's funny, you know, I say that. But yeah, there are so many times where they do overpass, so they could have a lot more shots for a game than what they have right now. But, you know, still, you know, sometimes they'll just want a Harlem Globe Trotter, or not shoot on two-on-ones and stuff like that. But those final 57 to 58 minutes, from what I was able to watch back, I really thought the Penguins played a very sound defensive game. They got some quality chances.

Danton Hine was able to make it two to one. In the second period, there were still plenty of time for that rest of that game, but they just couldn't find the bounce. I credit Jeremy Swimming. he played really well. I assume that he is going to get the start. And this one, Linus Olmark is still hurt Hamas Linholm. He's also not going to be in the lineup.

David Posernock. And as I go on left wing lock right here, Olmark has been ruled out through Friday. At least, Tomas Nosek may also not be playing as well. I believe he was in the game. He was in the lineup on Saturday, but was not in the lineup the other night. I don't think against the,

St. Louis Vu's, the Bruins were able to win that game. A rematch of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final 3 to 2, Charlie McAvoy, got the game winner. You know, this is still a pretty dangerous Boston team. I mean, again, Marshawn with Bergeron on the top line, Jake DeBrusk is having a really good year. After, it was weird that he signed a contract extension for a player that had requested a trade out of Boston to then say, yeah, I'm going to be signed with them. But his agent also said, yeah, the trade request still stands. So I'm like, I guess that's maybe something they're going to.

figure out in the offseason to say the least. So don't really know what's going on with that, but that's still a pretty good top line. Taylor Hall, he's always very dangerous, excuse me, don't know what the heck I just said with that first word. Eric Hall is a good second line center. Charlie Coyle, Craig Smith, a player that I've long loved. I've wanted probably Craig Smith to be a penguin like 5,000 times. I think he was on the block a couple of times at the deadline.

I remember when he was a free agent. that was about a year, year and a half ago, I'm pretty sure. I was advocating on my Twitter account for the Penguins to go after him. I then saw the Boston Bruins signed him to. He was like three years, nine point something million total.

He's only getting like three million a year. And I'm just like, the Penguins really couldn't do that for one of the best volume shooters in the league for a team. At that point, you know, they were not putting up as many shots

as they are right now. Definitely, I think, a little bit puzzling. I guess it was just because of their salary cap situation. But man, you know, he is. is a very good bottom six-winger to have. Trent Frederick, he opened the scoring that last game.

You know, he's always a good bottom-line winger. Nick Folino, McLaughlin on the fourth line, Charlie McAvoy, of course, Matt Grisly, Mike Riley defensively, Brandon Carlo, it looks like he's going to be back. You know, again, this is a damn good Bruins team. I would not be surprised that they were to win a round or two in the playoffs. But again, you know, for the Penguins to win this game,

you know, just they have to, I think they do have to forecheck a bit, better than what they did overall. And, like, I was sitting on my phone there. You know, I liked what they did, those final 57 to 558 minutes, but I feel like they could have done a lot better. And, you know, they're coming off a five-day break. Their legs are going to be refreshed. You got five more games left before the games really start to matter.

This was a perfect time, I think, for a break, even though Tristan Jari is still heard, and, you know, I'll get to an update on that a little later on in this episode. But, you know, it just, I think this plays into the Penguins. advantage because the Bruins, you know, they've been continuing to play. I shouldn't say a brutal schedule, but, you know, their legs aren't going to be as fresh as the penguins' legs are for this game. So I like the Penguins in that category. I also like how the penguins usually have played the Bruins at home over the years. They have a much better record against them at home compared to on the road. Last year, I think was one of their first,

the Bruins beat them a regulation for like one of the first times, I think. in a few years, if I'm not mistaken. So this is going to be a tough game. I would not be surprised if it goes in an extra session. But again, you know, the Penguins, they also can't start out the game against Boston the way they did on Saturday. They did not have their legs, those first couple of minutes. Boston jumps on them.

It's 2-0. And, you know, now you have to play from behind the final 50 minutes. If you only give up a goal there, you know, that game is probably going to overtime where it's a true 50-50. and who knows what happens there to say the least. So, you know, they just, they cannot play sloppy defensively in those opening minutes. They got to get a better, they got to get some saves, I think, from Casey to Smith, when they need them.

I know he played a lot better down the stretch there, those final 57 to 58 minutes. I will praise him for that. Shout out to him. But, you know, I think that first goal, he definitely could have had back. The second one, I think was just a bad bounce. You know, I said, on my up at one of my episodes this week. When the penguins are playing a little sloppier than normal,

sometimes you need your goal week to bail you out. And he wasn't able to do that after those first couple of minutes. If he was able to do that, that's probably a completely different game. So I'm definitely going to be watching that for the penguins on Thursday at home. And, you know, I just, again, I said this on my Tuesday episode, in case you all did not listen. I want to see me these last five games, especially this one, is the process there, you know, is it going to yield the results that the team, you know,

deserves or is it going to yield a result that the team does not deserve? You know, I think that's more important than, you know, getting all mad about, oh, my God, they're going to play this team in the playoffs. Oh, my God, they're going to play this other team. I don't want to play this team and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You know, you have a 33.3% chance of getting it right between the Rangers, the hurricanes, and the Panthers are going to have to go through good teams in order to make a run. Even if Nitchristenjari is not ready for the start of this.

like a finals but stand like a playoffs excuse me that is the reality of the situation i am more curious to see overall how they're playing how do the numbers look what is the eye test telling me and you know let's see you know it's important to play good hockey going into the playoffs these last five games i'm not going to say it's a full cupcake schedule but it is a favorable schedule for the penguins you know this game is the toughest of the mall this is a boston team that you know they're right there in the standings all Only two points ahead of the Penguins. A regulation win for this game ties them.

I know Boston has a game in hand, but that's still a big deal. If the Penguins were to slide down only to the top wild card spot, I know they would get Carolina, but they would also not have to slide down the second wild card spot and play the floor panthers, even though, in my opinion, that is a better matchup for the Penguins than playing the Carolina hurricanes.

But that is my preview for the game on Thursday. Starting out faster, the vibe check is going to be very important for checking much more aggressively, getting more shots to just also you know getting to the high danger areas you know in that game on Saturday I didn't really notice the penguins doing that a lot even though when they were down two to one after danton hiding got his 17th goal um just a very dull rest of the game I know again I know Raquel had a couple glorious chances but you know when the game got tight it really tight excuse me in the third period the penguins just you know they weren't there um I don't think

or they weren't you know just getting gaining a lot of offensive pressure um as I've seen in the past from them in those situations. So curious to see how that turns out as well. And defensively, you know, with the new pairs, how is that going to be? Is Brian Jumlin going to play better with Crystal Tang? That's a million-dollar question. We'll see if John Marino can turn it around a little bit with his usual partner, Marcus Bowders, and then the map that's in Ruedle is always a very reliable third pairing.

So those are my thoughts on, excuse me, the preview for the game against the Bruins. Now, let's get to Hello Fresh. You can get farm fresh seasonal produce and easy-to-make recipes. delivered right to your door every week. Ingredients travel from the farm to your doorstep in underweek so they always arrive fresh, all without a trip to the grocery store or a farmer's market. Hello Fresh chefs really know how to diversify the menu and with seasonal recipes like salmon limoan and pasta prima vera.

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I'm just typing something in here on my PC. Now, there was an interesting debate that I saw today on Penguins' Twitter, and it was just about, you know, the goaltending conundrum. Well, you know, some fans are just freaking out just the Penguins didn't do enough in the goaltending position. And, you know, my take on that is, you know, it's tough because in January and February, I was definitely arguing for the team to go out and get a backup goaltender. I thought that was the biggest need at the time over a top six-winger.

Then Casey DeSmith actually started using. sharing his season around. He had some really nice starts, was looking like the Casey to Smith that we saw last year that was right around a league average to a little bit of an above league average goaltender. And then that kind of went down a little bit. And the Penguins made their move with the deadline. They went on and got Ricard Raquel for a couple of bottom six forwards, a prospect in a second round pick. And, you know, and now some people are already saying, well, that that wasn't enough. Why didn't the Penguins prepare for something like this with Trishon Jari going down? Now they have to go to Casey to Smith. And I'm like, okay, I think you can

kind of missed me a little bit with the trade deadline thing because, you know, personally, I changed my tune after I saw DeSmith, you know, turn his game around. And also, there weren't a lot of goaltenders available at the deadline for the Penguins to pursue. I mean, Mark Andre Fleury was, you know, was mainly the only one that got moved. Well, I guess Scott Wedge would too. I would have been fine with the Penguins getting him, but they trusted Casey DeSmith a bit more at the time. That's fair. He'd been playing pretty good, I think. during then he's been, I think, mostly fine for this last month as well. But, I mean, I don't really think anyone could have predicted this coming.

I mean, he was basically almost played a fully healthy season. The playoffs were two weeks away. I mean, it was just a freak accident with what happened with Anders Lee and Chris Lange right in front of them. Have that not happen, you know, he'd be fully healthy right now and he'd be ready to really write this redemption story. But at the end of the day, you know, they're just, again, there wasn't really a lot of goaltending options available from the Penguins at the deadline. and, you know, with what they were working on with the Ricard Raquel trade, they just did not have the assets to also go out and get a goaltending, another goaltender.

Now, if you would have wanted to argue with me that they should have gone out and gotten someone to back up Tristan during the offseason, I will gladly listen to that argument. I always said, you know, during the off season going into this year, that it was going to be very risky to run this tandem back. You know, Tristan, you know, I guess I understood at the time because his value was at an all-time low, but I felt like they needed to go out and get a veteran that can just be a stopgop option because Casey DeSmith, you know, for as decent as he was last year, again, league average, maybe a little bit above league average goaltender.

It was a relatively small sample size. And for the first half, almost maybe a little over first half of the year, he was not good. I know he was able to turn it around and, you know, maybe work on some things with the goaltending coach. But, you know, he was looking like a bad bet. I should say at the time, you know, there were plenty of goals. attending options available over the off season that they could have gone out and gotten, you know, Peter Morazek. I mean, Toronto had to pay a little more term that I think I would have liked. They weren't

going to go out and sign Philip Grubeauer. I mean, Darcy Kemper would have been nice, but I mean, do they have a Connor Timmons available to trade for him? No, they do not. But, you know, they probably could have signed someone or even traded for someone. That's a little bit cheap. I think if you wanted to single out or call out Ron Hextall for not doing that, in my opinion, that's totally fair. But I do think it's a little unfair as of right now with Hal Casey DeSmith has played down the stretch, excuse me, and with how Tristan has mostly played this year, to say that, well, the Penguins, they didn't prepare for this at the trade deadline.

They should have gone out and gone him and not Raquel or gotten a goaltender, plus for Ricardo Raquel when the Penguins probably just didn't have the assets to do it. And, you know, just at the time the Penguins' goaltending was humming along pretty well. that was before Tristan's numbers started to dip a little bit. And it was also around the time when I think DeSmith was really saving his job, at least in my opinion. So I'm not going to harp on Hextall too much for this. Though, again, I do think if you want to harp on them a little bit after what happened

in the off season with not going on and getting a reliable backup for Tristan, I think that's a little more fair, at least to me, that's how I see it. I am currently checking the score for the Capitals. Vegas Gold and Knights game because it was 1-1 last I checked. It is now 2-1, Washington, and of course, Ovechkin got his 49th goal of the year. Vegas is basically on life support right now. Hopefully they can somehow pull this off.

But, you know, those are my thoughts on that little goaltending, you know, conundrum that I've been seeing on Penguins Twitter. You know, again, at the end of the day, do I have confidence in Casey just being playing a playoff series? no. I don't think anyone in this fan base probably does. I saw a couple of takes on, you know, social media today. For those that are not on it, I'll say here that, you know, Casey was playing better than Tristan down the stretch. I don't think that's true at all. I mean, I think Casey's been fine. But I think, you know, Tristan's also been mostly pretty good. I know his numbers have gone down a little bit. I think it's mainly to him being gassed. Wasn't making the saves that he normally was at the first half of the year. But I still think he was playing at a higher level than Tristan. I'll say that. that that's for sure so you know again at you know at the end of the day here you know what are you going to do you know this is the hand that penguins have been dealt it's just it's really shitty timing to say the least and you know for an update on tris and joy the penguins have their team

photo today and speaking of that if any of you all clicked that team photo brian burke and ron hextall were definitely photoshopped into their graphic whoever runs their graphic design team kudos to you shout bounce. Brian Burke is apparently wearing a tie in that photo. Brian Burke does not wear ties. That was the most obvious Photoshop. I think I have ever seen in my life. Cudos to you all, whoever. If some of you all listen to this show, just know that I love you. And that was a perfect little Photoshop. There is no way Brian Burke is taking a picture with a tie that is actually tied. I'm to say the least. But Dave O'Nare was reporting this morning that Tristan had to be

pushed onto the ice in a chair with a cast on his foot. And then I think people were seeing him right off in a scooter. So, yeah, again, this confirms he has a broken foot. It doesn't sound good. I know Mike Sullivan threw some cold water. Dr. Smith is definitely going to be the starter come playoff time. I mean, that's just coach big people. I mean, what do you want here?

I mean, he's not going to come out and say, oh, yeah. I mean, you know, Tristan Jari has no shot of coming back. He's blah, blah, blah. I mean, they have a timeline of week to week. they're going to say to that even though it doesn't look good right now. We'll have to see. If he gets back onto the ice before game one, I'll be a little more optimistic.

But until that happens, in my opinion, I just don't think he's going to be playing it. Or I don't think he's going to be ready to say the least. But still a little more to get to this episode of the Locktime Penguins podcast. But before we get to that, have you tried the puffs? If you haven't, you're missing out of one of Bill Pard's best tasting bars. Puffs are the first ever protein-infused marshmallow. They're fluffy.

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So all this shows, Twitter at L-N-Squil Penguins. I am keeping tabs on this Washington Vegas game. If Washington wins tonight, they'll be tied in games played, and they will be one point up on the penguin. So this is going to be something. We'll have to see if Vegas can somehow pull something out of their butts here. I'm going to say the least on this Vegas team is, I mean, I think they're cooked at this point. So again, I'm really eager to see the team finally coming off this five-day break.

You know, the playoffs are, I'm so giddy for this time of year, man. I mean, I was watching some of the videos from old playoff series this morning while I was working. And, you know, just seeing the igloo so loud and, you know, game three, Crystal Tangs overtime winner. I was watching highlights. I've watched this game so many times before. Penguins Red Wings, game three and four at the Aikulu. And just seeing that atmosphere there is second to none. And knowing that that hopefully that kind of atmosphere is going to be back at PPG

in just a little under two weeks is so exciting. I love the playoffs. I've always loved them. And hopefully the Penguins can somehow pull something out here and have a special run. I don't want another first one exit. That's for sure. at least in my opinion. So, you know, it all starts for these last five games.

You know, they're important even though, well, they don't mean too much, but they're still important with that you want to see the team at least playing well and getting some results. You know, some of these teams that they're playing, you know, they're basically packing again, again, like the Detroit Red Wings, they're not good, the Philadelphia Flyers. They're basically openly tanking at this point. The Columbus Woojackets are eliminated.

You know, you have the Edmonton Oilers who are a player. team they're going to get in. I still like the Penguins can win that game. And, you know, even for this Bruins game, I still think the penguins can definitely do something here. But overall, you know, I'm just, I'm curious to see all aspects of the team. You know, how can the penalty, can the penalty kill also continue to build off its momentum? It's one of the three best penalty kills, all your credit to Mike Volucci. I was really sour on him after last year because the PK was one of the worst units in the league. He made some adjustments over this offseason and, you know, shout-outs at him because, you know,

I was almost ready to cut ties with him if this wasn't going to get better to say the least. I want to see if the power play can also get out of the funk. I think when Evgeny Malcon comes back after that game on Thursday, that's going to be a huge help, at least, you know, at least in my opinion, it's been just a barely been scoring any power play goals lately. And, you know, again, that just goes to show how important of Gany Malcon is just on that right hash. So, you know, very exciting time of year. I hope you all continue to listen to the show.

I have a full game recap coming up on Thursday for Penguins, and then Friday we're going to preview the two games over the weekend between the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers and also touch on a couple of other things that I have planned for that episode. So thank you all so much for listening to this episode. I know the third segment was a little all over the place. Still wanted to touch on a few things that I have planned. I'm glad I was able to do that.

But thank you all so much for listening. again and I will be back on Thursday.