Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - The Pittsburgh Penguins now take a 3-1 series lead! It's not over yet though...

Episode Date: May 10, 2022

The Pittsburgh Penguins DOMINATED the New York Rangers again on Monday night and are now one win away from winning the series. They'll look to close it out on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. Hunter starts the show by reminding everyone that this series is NOT CLOSE to being over. He touches on how the fourth game is always the hardest one to win in this series and how the Penguins will likely get the Rangers' best at Madison Square Garden. He then touches on everything that went right in this game, especially the Sidney Crosby line continuing to torch the Rangers. Is there anything Gallant can do against this line? He also touches on the chess match between Mike Sullivan and Gallant and how Sullivan is coaching circles around him right now. After that, he goes into how the Penguins have been able to have success at Igor Shesterkin the last two games and what the recipe will be on Wednesday. He also brings up the depth scoring and how that's been a big turning point for the Penguins in this series, especially these last two games. After that, he shouts out the other players who impressed him tonight and how Sidney Crosby isn't going down without a fight.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 there. Pittsburgh Penguins, three games to one series lead over the New York Rangers. They have a chance to end it once and for all Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. If that doesn't happen, I'll have a chance to end it on Friday night at PBJ Payne's Arena. And yes, I may have started to look for tickets for that game just to see if maybe, you know, I have off work that day. You know, maybe I'm thinking about it to come up. But we have a full game recap episode for you all coming up right after this drop. We're going to go into everything that went right for the Penguins and everything that went wrong for the Rangers.

That's all 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 a Monday 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 shows Twitter at L-O-Nors for Penguins.

As usual, today's episode is brought to you by Ben-Online. Ben-O-L-Line is covered all this season with more props, odds, and lines than every four. That has been online where the game starts. So, as I said in my intro, the Pittsburgh Penguins are one-win away from their first series victory since 2018, and they took out the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. I put this on my social media account for those that listen or watched the show on YouTube and do not follow me on there. If you would have told me that four games into this series

that they would have had no contributions from Tristan Frickinjari, who played at a Vesna level for most of this season, and they had three wins that consisted of Casey DeSmith and Louis DeMinganet, I would have slapped y'all silly. just everyone that would have told me that I would have slapped you all across the face. I am stunned that this is where we are at in this series. I said going into this, they look cooked, the legs don't look to be there. Right now, I look like a complete and utter, excuse me, language, dumbass.

That is what I look like right now. And I want to stress this to everyone. There is a long way to go in this series. I'm going to keep being a little pessimistic because, remember, I pick the Rangers in seven to win my series prediction on the preview. I'm going to stick with that because, you know, I'm very superstitious. And also, again, this is stone on over. They beat the Penguins three times in a row in the regular season. The fourth game is always, always the hardest to win.

You know you're going to get their best in each of these last three games, if it does get to a game seven, especially on Wednesday. I know the Rangers stunk tonight, but they are going to come out pissed off on Wednesday. They're in front of their home fans. They don't want to play like that at Madison Square Garden, to say the least. This series is far from over. Believe me, I just want to put that out there right now. You know, keep all those.

I understand that people probably have the Igor Giff ready to go with him barking at the penguins and all that. I know those bulletin board material. Keep all this stuff. Obviously, you're a penguin's fans listen to this podcast. Keep all that stuff in your draft. Don't celebrate yet. This is not over. I understand the Penguins have won most of their series

when they go up three games to one in the Scindegrozzavit era. The only one they did not win? 2014 against New York Rangers. They lit up Henrik Lundquist for four games. He then went on to Omeilowl three goals in the next three games. It's possible. That's all I'm going to say. I know Shasturkin looks very broken right now.

He finally looks human. Goaltending is very volatile. Who knows if he can go back to his god tier phone? I'm just saying penguins are going to have to play it. They're very best if they want to eliminate the Rangers in one of these next three games. It's very nice that they are giving Tristan Jari more time to come back. He probably will not be ready for game five, but you may also not need him for that game. Maybe he's ready for game six.

That's the word that I poked around a little bit today. That's the word I got that I'm really hoping that he can be back for game six if necessary. Definitely game seven if necessary if the series goes back to Madison Square Garden on Sunday. day, which would be the final game. But that's the word I got. But, you know, it's just everything that could go right tonight did for the penguins. And you want numbers. Oh, I am giving you all the data.

Penguins have 53% of the shot attempts at 5B5, 65% of the scoring chances. You want to know high danger chances? Here you go. 20 high danger chances for the penguins. One high danger chance against. I've been watching this sport for almost 20 years now. I know that's not that long. I know I have listeners of this podcast,

I've been watching this for way longer. I get that. Trust me. I have never seen a team have 95% of the high danger chances in the game, especially in the playoffs. That was just a dominant level performance by the Penguins, 80% of the expected goals. And oh, I am not done when it comes to data here.

I'm going to refresh. I have all my tweets ready to go for you all right here. 5E5 expected goals. This was a per evolving hockey. I'm on a natural stat trick, so a little bit different. 84%. That is the most lot-sided playoff game by that metric since 2007, 2008, once all of that became available.

And you all want more? I will gladly keep going with these numbers tonight. the Sydney Crosby line, which has been disgusting. Gerard Golan has no matchup that he can really throw out there. That's really sharing them down. 12 minutes of 5.5 ice time. 63% of the shot of attempts, 93% of the expected goals. They outchance the Rangers 10 to 2 when he was on the ice.

I mean, this is vintage level stuff from Sydney Crosby. 9 points in the first four games. He now has 200 points. Only the fifth ever player to record that many points. Actually, no, excuse me, only the sixth ever player to ever record 200 playoff points for his career. He actually tied Yarmier Yager, excuse me, for fifth all time in playoff points tonight. Just a remarkable achievement for him.

What the level we are seeing at right now from Sid is someone that is pissed. He's not happy with how these last three years has gone. He knows he's been shut down. He knows his line also has been shut down. He knows that the team has not won a playoff series since 2018. And he is willing them to try and win this series. Tonight really was the Sydney Crosby show. I know it's been the Sidney Crosby show for this entire series.

But tonight especially it has, it was this show. Jake Gensel, he gets back on the score sheet. Again, he has also been tremendous. Where are the takes from these? weird yinzers last year when the penguins lost to the islanders that said man i would trade jake ensul for a bag of puck's this guy is soft as michel terrian likes to say i would trade him for matthew kuchuck and all this nonsense and you know i just where are these people now again since he came into the league in 2017 only breeden point and alex ovechkin have more playoff goals than him

that is how good this player is and he is just absolutely torching whoever Gerard Galant decides to put out there against him. There is no matchup right now that Gerard Galant can put out there against the Crosby line

and have it worked. He is going to have to really dig deep to find some kind of line combination that can slow down and say because what we are seeing from Crosse right now, he is determined to have one last playoff run in this era with Evgeny Malkin and Crystal Tang. That is the main thing

from what I am seeing. Yes, it was going, obviously great to chase Igor Shusirken. I love seeing all the Jinsers chant Igor. You know, I was, again, I was against this in game three because, you know, he played well in this series. He was at a 9.50 save percentage. They did it to Holti a lot in the past.

It really didn't work. I'm like, stop chanting his name, you bunch of cowards. But, you know, he definitely, this was Pecoranay level stuff we saw in game three and four. He had no answer to what the penguins were throwing at him. I think I'm not going to put most. of the blame on him. I honestly think the Rangers have just done a horrific job of defending in front of him. He is being left out to dry on a lot of these goals. Credit to the penguins,

they have found another gear and they're getting traffic in front of them and the Rangers are not being able to get the bodies out of the way. But at the end of the day, you know, a lot of these goals really can't be blamed on him just because the Rangers team defense is atrocious. I mean, for God's sake, they have Patrick Nemeth out there, who's basically their version of Jack Johnson. Jacob Truba is not good. Adam Fox is obviously awesome, but he's having a series that he probably would want to forget at this point, especially on Monday night. He was absolutely terrible. They haven't had Ryan Lindgren for three of the games. I would imagine he'll be back for game five. We'll see.

Keondre Miller, he's been fine, but you know, Braden Schneider, he's a rookie. You don't really know what you have in him. You know, Justin Braun is not any good. the Rangers defense in their defensive zone have stunk. That is a massive talking point in the series. Nick Zararst who has been on this show numerous times. You talk today on the operable jam podcast, touching on just that has been the main thing in the series outside of the Sydney Crosby line dominating them, was that the Rangers just, they have that, their defense has had no answer to what

the penguins are throwing at them. And I'll have more on that coming up in the second segment where I talk about the Mike Sullivan Gerard Gillianne's storyline. But before I get into that, if my dog wants to stop, I have no idea what he's doing with the towel over here. I think he's just excited that I'm also excited. But our partners at BetOnline continue to be the number one source

for all of your betting needs and sports info. You can find all the latest odds, news and sports developments, including this year's basketball playoffs, Major League Baseball scores, fights, and even next seasons, NLF futures. Bet Online is your continued source for all of your sports wasting information from live betting to playoffs, e-sports and more.

You can head to the website today or use your mobile device on remote web of trends in action that has been online where the game starts. All right, we're back here on this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I am your host, Honour Hodes.

Remember to follow me on Twitter, Hunter Hodes, follow this show his Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. So, as promised, I will say this, Mike Sullivan is taking Gerard Galance lunch money,

spending it, and not even deciding to pay him back. He is badly out coaching him in this series. Galant has made basically no adjustments through these four games. It's almost like he's accepted his fate even though again this series is not close

to over anything is possible in the Stanley Cup playoffs. I've seen numerous teams come back from 3-1 down, but the lackey, he really was not making he just hasn't made any adjustment so far in this series. And Mike Sullivan, he has adjusted big time to the Rangers

attack. The Rangers run a rushed base offense. They go from defense to offense really quickly, and they try to catch teams off guard. And Mike Sullivan has had his defenseman back a lot sooner to make sure that they're not caught off guard. And in turn, the Penguins are not giving up a lot of the chances that they gave up in the regular season against this team. They've been able to shut down their offense a lot more. And for example, Mika Zabinojad, through four games, knock on wood, he has, he was a no-show. Going into game five, I don't know what it is that Penguins have done a master. masterful job on Zabbenachat.

Artemey Pineri, he has one goal in the four games. They have also done a very good job on him. Vertrano's obviously going to get his. Chris Kreider is going to get his. They're two very good players. But honestly, the Rangers' best line to me has been the Ketal-Kakko-Lafrinier line, the kids line as they like to call. They're actually being able to generate chances.

It's the other lines that, you know, they probably have more to give. And again, I would not be surprised if they do turn it on for game five. but, you know, Sullivan has gone a lot in hell right now. And this just goes to show at least right now in this series that Mike Sullivan is one of the five best coaches in the league. I've been told by so many people, I shouldn't say so many people about some people in the family base. Mike Sullivan can't adjust.

He's not a good coach just because he lost a couple series to Barry freaking Schroats who is his equal. I will 100% die on that hill. Those are probably outside of John Cooper. those are the two best coaches in this league. And somehow Barry Trots got fired today. That is his equal because he has a great game plan to how to shut down the Penguins offense. So far, the Rangers have not been able to do that because Goa Long has not been able to adjust.

And again, you know, the Pink, Mike Sullivan is having his way with matchups. You know, last change tonight, you know, he was deploying the Crosby line against whoever he wanted. That's obviously going to change because the Rangers will now have last change on Wednesday night. but it is crazy. I have no idea what Thrawn is doing over here as I am trying to talk. Hey, buddy, I'm trying to record right now. You can, it's time to go to bed, bud, bud.

Yes, I'm just talking to my dog while I'm doing this podcast, whatever. Again, if that is noisy on the podcast, I am so sorry. But again, it is crazy how Mike Sullivan has just had his way in the series because, you know, in the regular season series, the Rangers had their number.

I mean, again, they owned them. That was the biggest reason why so many people did not want the penguins to play them. And, you know, myself included, I thought, you know, Shusurkin was going to be a lot. The penguins have beaten him three times already. So if I get that fourth wind, then everyone can come out and have some fun on social media and all that stuff. But, you know, it's everything is trending the right way right now. Sidney Crosby was able to tie the game tonight. I already touched on his great performance.

I saw Rangers fans, some people tweeting that that was a 50-50 call. It looked like it at first. but that last angle you could clearly see the puck was over the line. I'm not going to entertain the ref stuff. It's just a boring tired narrative at this point. And then from then on, I mean, Mark Freeman of all people, gets goals. That was his first career, he didn't make a playoff goal. Dayton Hinen, he gets his second playoff goal of the year.

Jeff Carter, you know, he's getting onto the score sheet. Mike Matheson, who's having an atrocious series, he gets on the score sheet. Another big talking point in this series, has been the Penguins' depth scoring coming to life. I said after this team lost game two. You need to be able to run four lines and get production from your bottom six

and your defense at times. They were a one-line team through two games, but Mike Sullivan must have, you know, again, he made some adjustments, some of the debt players started to step up. You know, Brock McGinn in game three, Jeff Carter, Evan Rodriguez, Dayton Hinen again tonight,

Mike Matheson, Mark Freeman, Denton Hinen, Jeff Carter, you know, all these guys contributing to scoring goals. You know, that's the big thing here for the penguins. They're getting contributions from all the lineup. That is how you win in the playoffs and you go deep into potentially making a cup run. You have to get scoring from all four your lines.

I mean, that's just that is how it goes. If you don't, you're going to be up a creek. And so far with the Rangers, a lot of their offense has been from, you know, some of their top players, their depth, I think, has really killed them so far in this series. I have no idea why he is whining over here, but you know what? You know, we're just, again, we're going with it. The content really never sleeps, as some of the other people like to say. But it's just, I mean, again, I just, I really am stunned by what I have seen from the penguins in this series.

You know, again, I touched on the Jake Gensel goal of getting Malkin-Roofs won. over Alexander Giorgiyev. I mean, that was just a ridiculous shot. What a pass also by Kisthirikapinen. I mean, he's been playing a lot better in these playoffs. He doesn't have the goal just yet. He's had a couple really nice chances that he hasn't finished on. Maybe if he could save one for game three,

a game five, excuse me, that would be much appreciated. That's for sure. But, you know, it's just been a total team effort tonight by the, it was a total team effort tonight by the Penguins. Galant in the post game saying we played soft, we were soft all over the ice. That's the biggest difference. We were soft all over the ice. So he went full Michelle Tarian, though he was not happy.

And again, I was very surprised to see that level of performance from the Rangers. They looked disinterested right after the Penguins made a three to four to one. Louis Deming didn't even have to make a save after that. The only other goal he allowed was just a bad bounce off Mike Mathis and skate. He was fine. And I love what Louis said after the game. game. I tweeted this on my, my Twitter. I was like, yeah, I didn't know I have to do anything in this game tonight once they went up

up three to four to one. I'm like, that's a perfect response. But, you know, the fact that the Penguins are one, one away from winning this series and potentially five games with Louis freaking dimming in that, that's just, that's crazy. I just, I never would have thought this. That's for sure. Still more to get to. Coming up in the final segment, we're getting to get to the special teams battle and by the Penguins continue to turn around. turn it around there, excuse me, to go over some other performances that I thought were really big tonight. But before we get to that, summer is coming. And with summer, you're going to need some food on the go.

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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 the show's Twitter at L.O. HonorSquare Penguins. So touching on a couple other performances that I thought were much better again tonight. You know, Marcus Pedersen, he continues to have a really good series. I don't think enough people are talking about it. He is top 10 in expected goals for among defensemen.

He and Marino are doing the Lord's work right now. John Marino is actually number one among all defensive. defenseman expected goals for the level of play that he is at right now. Best hockey I've seen him play since his rookie year. Shout out to John. Just tremendous hockey. I know I picked on him a lot during the othergo season because he was not playing well. But he has reverted back to rookie form.

And, you know, maybe those hits from Ryan Reeves sparked something in him. But, you know, him and Patterson on that pairing, they continue to just be lights out together. Jason Zucker tonight, he had another good game, Brian Rust. he's playing a bit better. Even Brian Boyle got onto the scoreboard as well. You know, the Penguins might be able to get through a series with Brian Boyle playing. Though, Ricardo Cal, I think, is getting closer to a returning, participated in the morning skate on Monday.

No contact. I would assume if the Penguins practice tomorrow, he will be there again. All eyes that will be on Tristan Jari, took shots for the first time before practice. Will he be ready to go at some point in this series? and will the Penguins even need him if they can close up this series? If he doesn't play on Wednesday and the Penguins win that game, he will get more rest going into round two where he will deserve a lead. I'll be the starter.

I don't know where these takes are coming from from people that are saying at the Penguins advance that Louis Deming should be the starter. No, I am writing with a guy who played out of Vesnik-A-Callel or level all season. I understand he's had playoff struggles in the past, but this will be his time to write his redemption story. and he is a much more polished NHL goaltender, to say the least. So again, don't really know where that stuff is coming from. I think it's just some hot take artist and that stuff.

According to Money Puck tonight, the deserved to win meter, 98% for the Penguins, only 2% for the Rangers. That has to be a record on that website. Through two periods, I think this probably was updated. Penguins had six players with an expected goal share, of 90% or higher. Evan Rodriguez, Teddy Bluger, Brian Rust, Brian Boyle,

Jake Genssel and Sidney Crosby. A few of those players you would expect, like your top line, but the fact that Rodriguez, Bluger, and Brian Boyle had a 92% expected goal share or higher through two periods, that is absolutely ridiculous

from the Penguins. And again, you know, speaking of Sydney Crosby, I've touched on a lot this episode, had six points in his last 14 playoff games or the last three post seasons, nine points in more games. I'll repeat that again. Six points in the last 14 games these last three years,

that risk surgery must have done something because nine goals, I mean, nine points in his last four games. And I will close out with this. What the Penguins have done in this series, Tishurkin, is very similar to what they did in 2016 when the Rangers had Henry Lundquist, another world-class goaltender who I personally think is a top-five goal of all time.

And they've gotten traffic in front of them. They've broken him at PPG Paints Arena. Obviously, it's going to be a different thing playing back at Madison Square Garden where his home crowd will be around him. But how does he respond from getting those drubbings these last two games? Can the Penguins continue to exploit him and just use that regular season as bullets in the board material? Because the Penguins, they only scored one 5-E-5 goal against the Rangers in full regular

season games and they they there are well over 10 now in these four games they i believe they have 20 goals in yeah 20 goals in four games in this series and almost all of them have come against just certain it's crazy how this series um has totally flipped uh to say at least from where we were in the regular season but i think that'll do it for this episode of the locked on penguins podcast oh i did um get a One listener tweeted this to me about how should Mark Freeman's line up for Brian Boyle.

And in my opinion, I personally think I would be down for that, but the problem is who are you going to take out? Pedersen and Rooney know are playing at a very high level. Mike Matheson is still at a really good year,

but he can't be playing with Crystal Tang. Chiber Whedle's been great. Mark Freeman is playing well, yes, but Brian Dunwin is just he's needed for that top pair. if one of the other defense was struggling, I would say yes. But right now, I still think this team is better when Dumo is on the top pairing with Latang. They need to get Mike Matheson off that pair because he has been atrocious in these last two games.

It's a miracle that the Penguins are up three games to one with him playing at the level that he is right now. And shout out to Chris Lattang have a much better performance in game four, as I expected he won. He's not going to follow up a disaster performance in game three despite the team winning with another god-awful performance. I will say that. But that'll do it for this one. Thank you all so much for listening to this episode of the Locked on Penguins Podcast. We'll do another one of these on Tuesday to get touch on game five and what adjustments

the Rangers could make and what the Penguins should be prepared for going into that elimination game. It's exciting time. The Penguins have a chance to have handshakes in this one. And I apologize for fun, obsessively whining in the background. But you know what? That's puppies for it. He's very excited for what the Penguins are doing.

But again, thank you all so much for listening. We'll see if the penguins can close it out on Wednesday. We'll be back with another one of these on Tuesday.