Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - This team continues to be SO MADDENING...

Episode Date: March 23, 2023

Where in the HECK did that come from? Hunter thinks it HAS TO be that he saw Steel Panthers as the Pittsburgh Penguins ROLLED the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night. He first discusses Sidney Crosby and how he's doing vintage things well into his 30s. He analyzes how Sid was able to take Sam Girard's lunch money with that move and why the Captain has the best backhand in the sport. He also discusses how Crosby put the team on his back in that game and showed everyone why they're not dead...at least not yet. After that, Hunter compliments Jeff Carter...yes, you read that right. He analyzes how he played his finest game of the year and ponders if there's a small chance that it could be a sign of things to come. He also shouts out Tristan Jarry for his best performance since returning and praises Drew O'Connor for his continued excellence in the bottom six. After that, Hunter does a small preview of the game against the Dallas Stars and how the Penguins can shock the world against them as the injuries seem to be mounting.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 “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.Athletic GreensTo make it easy, Athletic 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/NHLNETWORKFanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go to FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable free bets that expire in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) 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.

So I think I need to go to every Steel Panther concert throughout the rest of their world torn out, right? Is that how this works? Because they were on a four game losing streak while I was at my house. But then the second I go away, they win, right? Is that how this works? I think it might have you how it works. But it also is just for this episode. I was able to fully rewatch the game on ESPN, just with my subscription.

We're getting into my thoughts on how the penguins played. Plus how they can continue that as they have another massive matchup tonight against the Dallas starts still coming up right after. they're locked on penguins your daily podcast on the pittsburgh penguins part of the locked on podcast network your team every day hello welcome back to another episode of locked on penguins podcast i'm of course your host hunter hodies remember follow me on twitter at hunter hodies follow the shows twitter at nrarsar penguins and of course thank you all so much for making this your first listen to the day we're feeling available on all platforms. Penguins 5, Avalanche 2. I was at the Steel Panther concert, as I've said,

about 10,000 times now on the show, you probably also can tired of me saying it. But yeah, I'm going to go follow them on tour now. I'm just going to get up here and I'm just messing around. But no, I'm back home. I was able to rewatch the game. Wow. That's all I can say. You know, I will gladly put the L right on top of my forehead. I should honestly just, if I had a pen right here, I would just draw it right here on my forehead. Capital L. right there um i said going into this back to back they'd be lucky to even get a point they have already made me look like a fool and that kind of game is why this team is so maddening truly they can sweep the avalanche and this is a good avalanche team i don't care how banged up

they are they were playing really good coming into this game they had won like 14 of their last 18 19 games they were on our role they were starting to we rediscovered the magic they had last year in and they're in the attention to the central. The way the Penguins are able to dominate most of that game, it's so maddening. They can beat them twice. They can beat the lightning three times, combined five and O against them.

But you can't beat the Canadians once, the Senators two out of three times. You don't even beat the Islanders? So weird. So freaking weird. And of course we have to start this segment. With Sidney, Patrick Crosby. what a performance from the Penguins captain.

That move that he put on Sam Gerard, he sent him to the shadow realm. That is literally what he did. He had that beautiful crossover, put the stick in the puck, right over Gerard's stick, went right around him and unleashed that vicious backhand. I think he has the best backhand of the sport.

That's honestly not even close. What he did to Gerard there at 35 years of age is not fair. it's it's not it's not even close to fair and he put the team on his back last night he's on pace for 100 points he does he does not want this team missing the playoffs they made the playoffs 16 straight two seasons he's trying to make it 17 in a row here it's the longest streak in the nchal he wants playoff hockey and again i i've said it earlier this week i'll keep saying it now if he and the rest of core able to drag the rest of this roster to the playoffs, it's going to be one of their greatest feats of this era.

He was on another level last night. That goal, just vintage, Crosby. Please, please, I don't care if you are Penguins fan listening to the show or if you are a neutral fan listening to this show slash watching the show. Just never take your eye off the captain. Do not take also any of this for granted. He's 35 now. not going to be seeing this for too much longer considering aging curves in the NHL and the fact

that he's just not going to be here forever because he's already 35 cherish these kinds of moments he is one of the five greatest players to ever step foot onto an ice rink and you saw that last night he willed them to victory we'll get to jeff carter and a couple other things in just a moment but last night was about the captain he was everywhere being a menace for checking playing while defensively, getting into shooting lanes, playmaking, scoring. His 11th 30-goal season ties Mario Lemieux for the most in franchise history. If he gets another one next year, he will stand alone at the top

in terms of the most 30-goal seasons in Pittsburgh Penguins' franchise history. He was awesome. He was the reason why they won that game. The main reason, I should say. tremendous stuff from the Penguins captain. I really can't say much more about him. He's had some games this year where it hasn't been there. But, you know, that's the thing for every star player.

Every player that's this good has those. But when he's on, there are still not five better players than him in this sport. Nick Zaraas came on the show. Last week, remember we're talking about how he's one of the best grinders in the game. It's very similar to, you know, LeBron James of the NBA. I mean, I know LeBron is considered arguably the goat with Michael Jordan. You can even argue that he is better than Michael Jordan. I will glad to your argument for it.

P.S., I think he is, if you look at his numbers. But, you know, sit here. I'm not saying he's better or you can make a case that he's, you know, better than Wayne Gretzky. But in terms of, you know, the all-time grades in the sport, there are not five better players who have ever set foot on the rank. it is a pleasure to watch him night in and night out and you know considering where this team was going into that game last night right down three to four of your best defenseman number one

goalie's been playing like garbage you just got embarrassed on home ice by the centers well shouldn't say embarrassed that's probably a bad word you just lost a game that you should have won against center same thing with Montreal but you're losing to teams you should be in the standings teams looking cooked to the GM's still taking a lot of heat

but to come out there and put the team on your back like that that's what an all-time great does and you have you saw that last night I wouldn't be surprised if you tried to do it again tonight in Dallas and that's going to be another very tough game for the Penguins to win

I thought going to that game it was going to be a scheduled loss but as soon as you saw the captain with his blazing speed it was honestly right from the drop to be honest when I was rewatching it. Right from the drop of the puck, he was everywhere.

I know Nathan McKinnon was playing well. He was getting a couple of really glorious chance in the first period, but look what Sid was doing. There's a reason why Nate has Sid as his idol. You saw that on display on Wednesday night. Just tremendous stuff from him. And again, I can't say enough good things about the captain.

That's how I think I'll end this first segment coming up in the second segment we get into a couple of other observations I had about the game. And yes, I will give some praise to Jeff Carter for that performance. That's coming up right after this commercial break. But before we get to that, you know, no matter how the last game went, anytime you take the feel you've got a shot at greatness. Give your team the best shot of winning by recruiting more MVP's with Indeed. If you're hiring, you need Indeed, because Indeed is the hiring partner where you can

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Again, that is indeed.com slash locked on. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire. You need indeed. All right. We're back here in this episode of the Lockdown, Hanglons podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. You want to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes?

Follow the shows, Twitter, L.O.Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. So, Jeff Carter comes out of the woodwork here. I know. I know. Two goals in this game, two goals in the span of 20 minutes after having, what, five in the last 40, whatever the number is. It's close to there.

Just explodes. And you know what? Not going to crap on them on this episode. I won't. I'll tell you why. It's very unlikely. It is. But the Penguins can somehow,

some way, even if it's a 1% chance, get that level from Carter with the rest of these last 10 games, and if they make the end of the playoffs, if they make the playoffs, they might be cooking with a little more gas here. Again,

it's unlikely, but I will give him his flowers. He turned in a very solid performance on Wednesday night. That first goal, very wicked release, nice deflection on the second goal with a point shot from Brian Dumlin, I might add. And he really helped the Penguins win that game. You all know it.

I have dumped on Carter a lot on this show, on social media. A lot of the other reporters have as well. It pales in comparison do I think a lot of you think about Carter. You know, some people have said, even more nasty stuff, I obviously have to keep it G-Slas PG because I cover the team and I don't want to just look like a total idiot. But, you know, a lot of that criticism at times has been warranted. But for this game, it's not. He helped them win, and you will take that when you can get it.

Two massive goals, especially on the power play. After the abs cut it to two to one, he gets that power play goal to make a three-one. And then after Devon Taves cuts it to 3-2 on a goal that I didn't really like that Jari Aloud. Thought it was a little weak, in my opinion. Jeff Carter comes back, makes it 4-2, basically puts the game out of reach at that point. And bang, bang, boom, penguins get two massive points. Again, I know it's unlikely. But if the Penguins can get that level from Carter for the rest of the season and into the playoffs,

that would be that would obviously be massive especially because he's taking a lot of heat this season. You know, it's easy to forget that Carter was once a very, very good player. Obviously, he is not bad anymore. He is very washed, all that stuff.

But, you know, my money, I'm not putting my money on him having some sort of massive breakthrough, but strange things have happened. That's all I'm going to say. I'm not going back on my criticisms and stuff of the past and how he's been really bad this season.

I'm just saying that, you know, hey, even though it's a 1% chance that he turns it around, it was so nice to see the depth really come up and have all four lines contribute. Really nice stuff from number 77. You know, it's also a little funny, I will say, that he finally talks to the media after he scored the two goals. He's been basically dodging them for the whole season. You know, I know he put the quote out there that he couldn't care less of people say slash right about him. You know, any player is going to say that. I don't like here.

But, you know, I will say it is kind of funny. that he'll only talk when he plays well in like his first good game in like 40 plus games but hey yeah change your things have happened maybe this will be the catalyst for him turning around the final 10 games in the playoffs it's kind of pretty expectations but you know i will say that that was a very strong performance from him and hopefully you know he can keep those going into thursday night against stout stars other um things that i noticed tristan jari round of applause to the penguin starting netminder very good performance from him um he made some very timely saves in the first period i don't know what that noise is um or not what that glare was on my

screen there was weird must have been my phone or something like that or maybe it was on my laptop i don't know but i was just on the video screen you know thought he made some very time anyways thought he made some very timely saves in the first period i made him mcinnon i think hit a post or two from what i recall watching the game back, but he made a couple of, you know, massive days in the second period when the Avalanche pushed a little bit. That was, I think, his best performance

since coming back from injury. And the Patriots won't need that here down the stretch. And they may even need him on Thursday night. We'll get to that into a second. And Drew O'Connor, what a menace he was on the puck. He had a couple of glorious chances

that Alexander Georgi, a former goaltender of New York Rangers stoned him on. You know, if he wasn't on his game in that one in Giorgi, played well, you know, O'Connor potentially has at least one goal, if not two. He's really coming to his own in the second half of the season. Really happy that he's a regular right now on this team.

I thought he played excellent in that game. I thought Brian Dumlin, plus two. I don't look at plus minus very much, but hey, it's something to, you know, smile out when he's on the ice for two goals for and not as many against. So I'll take that. Jake Gensel, he gets another goal. Really nice to fetch him that he had, by the way. he made it look so easy on that five on three.

We got given an assist with any Malkin there. Powerplay looked actually pretty good. A game on the road with more than one power play goal, even one power play goal. That is interesting to say the least because the power play is usually not good on the road. It's less than 10% the season, which is one of the worst marks in the league. But the Adelage penalty kill was not good in this one.

That also helps matters for the penguins there. But overall, very sound performance from this team. And this wasn't a fluke. This wasn't just, oh, they got lucky. Oh, they don't get killed in the next game. They might get killed in the next game because it's a back-to-back, but there was nothing lucky or fluky about this. The Penguins control things at 5E-5.

If you look at natural satric, they had 56% of the shot attempts, 55% of the scoring chances and 53% of the high danger chances, and they had 55% of the expected goals at 5-on-5. If we take that to all situations, Penguins at 55% of the shot attempts, 53% of the scoring chances, 53% of the high danger chances,

and 64% of the expected goals. 64% to almost 35, 36 for the avalanche. That is a job well done against one of the best teams in the league. I will take that any day of the week, if you're asking me. All four lines contributed, all four defensive pairings, all three defensive pairings you seem to contribute. The starting goaltender played well. And I'll say it again.

You can see the basis for a good team in this kind of game. Top six is producing. The depth finally producers. The defense is playing. very well, getting their sticks into the shooting lanes, also blocking shots. Goaltender makes some really big saves. Their four-checking wrestling, the forwards that is. You can see it.

Since the All-Star break, this team is fifth in expected goals. They've been the better team in most of these games. What's held them back? Special teams and goaltending and probably some bad depth scoring. That obviously falls on the GM because a lot of these players can't score. But, you know, usually the other things are fixable. At least the special teams are, I felt what I feel like. But, you know, the power play I think is what it is at this point.

The penalty kill is what really needs to be fixed. But you can see the pieces for a good team is there. The process is there. The results just haven't been. But I was stunned by this one. I'll say that. We'll have to see if they can continue it on Thursday night against Dallas Stars. We will preview that game coming up right after this commercial break.

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Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the shows Twitter at NWRRow. Thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. So Penguin stars tonight, 9 o'clock start time. ESPN is the cable provider, so it's not going to be on your local network. And there's some big injury updates for this game. Earlier today, Dustin Tokarski and Philip Hollander were recalled an emergency basis. Hollander means there's going to be not one, but two forwards out. My guess is that's Jake Genson and Jason Zulker.

They both returned last night, but they both also blocked shots. You know, maybe some swelling heated up, and it's not big of a turnaround because it's the night after. we'll have to see. It's not one or both of them, then someone is sick, or two players are sick, because two players are coming out while. Alex Nealander is going to be coming in for someone, and then Hollander will be coming in for somebody as well. We'll have to see when Mike Sullivan speaks to the media, or I believe he'll be speaking at 7 p.m. Eastern time. And as for Justin Tokarski, one of the goal he's not going to be able to suit up tonight. My educated guess is that Tristan Jari is going to start, and Tokarski will back up. Casey Disman has been dealing with an illness. He backed up

last night, but maybe something happened. Though it could be Tristan Jari has heard. That's very plausible. I didn't see anything wrong with him after the game on Wednesday night. His movement seemed to be fine. He was striking the puck very well. Maybe he's out, though. We'll have to see.

I don't know. Again, if I had to make a prediction, though, I think Tristan goes again tonight, but I could be just dead wrong on that. But, you know, it's Penguin Stars tonight down in the Big V, Dallas, Texas. another very, very, very strong team. Dallas Stars are a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, and it is not hard to see why.

Jason Robertson is an MVP candidate, well, Hart Trophy finalist candidate, I should say. That's going to be going to be going to Connor McDavid. But Robertson has almost 90 points this season. He's going to get over 100. He is one of the best players this sport has to offer. Have your eyes clue to him. He is fantastic.

He plays in the line with Rupé Hince, the goal score in the last matchup against the stars with Joe Pad. who has found the fountain of youth. Jamie Ben, who never goes down with Wyatt Johnson and Afghani Denonov on the second line. Looks like Tyler Sagan is returning tonight. Peter DeBoer said he's a game time decision. He's missed the last six games.

He'll be playing with Ty DeLondria and with Max Domi. And then Yuel Kiti Ranta with Rodak Faxa and Luke Lindeni around the other forwards. Defensively, Miro Haskinen, Colin Miller, S. S.a Lindel, Yanni, Hakenpa, Ryan Suter, and Niels Lundquist. And then Jake Ottinger will be starting in that tonight. Mason Marchman's day to day doesn't look like he's playing.

But this is still a very strong stars team. I think, you know, they forecheck well, they defend hard, and oh yeah, they have one of the best young goaltenders in the sport. What Jake Onger almost did to the flames last season was nothing short of ridiculous. He almost willed that team to a series win. He is the real deal. And this is a classic Peter Moore coach team. And usually in his first year. or two, he gets the most out of his teams, and then they tend to just, you know, go back a little bit.

This year, you're seeing that firsthand, the stars right now tied for first place in the Central Division, 38 and 19 and 14. The 38 and 33 overall, they have 14 overtime losses. This is actually the worst team in the league in terms of three-on-three. They cannot win an overtime game to save their life. It's way worse than Penguins. I'll say that. But, you know, another game where the Penguins desperately probably need a result.

It's going to be very hard, though. Not only, you know, it's a back-to-back. You're down half your defensive core. You're going to be down two more forwards tonight. Who knows if you're starting goaltender is playing? This is going to be a very hard game to win. You know, I was very stunned that they even got, you know, a point, let alone two out of the avalanche game.

I'll be even more stunned if they get a point, let alone win this game in Dallas. Really curious to see how this one goes. Panthers played tonight. believe the islanders do not play, believe the Panthers play the Maple Leafs at home. We'll also be supposed to watch in the scoreboard with that. Now, penguins are in control of their own destiny. They have their one point up on the Panthers right now. It's kind of a 3-team race for the last two spots.

So we'll have to see what happens with that. Again, 9 p.m. start time. I really want to see from the Penguins tonight. You know, play the same defensively. Want to see the goalie if it's just and Jari. Play the same way he played last night. Want to see the power play be consistent if they get the same amount of power plays. You know, also want to see them,

Fordrick the way they did last night. You know, keep things simple. Don't take too many, you know, aggressive chances, you know, slash being too aggressive pinching in the zone. Dallas is rested for this game. They're one of the best teams in the league. They can hurt you at any chance. Penguins have to be unaware for them, especially because their top six is loaded.

Penguins played the stars very well in the first matchup. I believe that was a two-one final. I was there for that game. I was there for that game. I've got any more than a minute left in regulation. that one's going to be a lot of fun to watch, say the least. But that will do it for this episode of the Logged on Penguins Podcast of a full recap of this game against the stars coming up on Friday.

Then we'll also preview the game on Saturday against the Washington Capitals. A little bit of a shorter one today. Just want to get this content out there for you. And also, we hit 1,000 subscribers on the YouTube channel. I am super happy about that. Thank you all so much for supporting that channel and just continue to support the show, whether it's audio and especially, as I'm talking right now, video. So again, I'll back with another episode for you all on Friday.

I'll see what this team can do tonight if they can steal another one. At least steal a point considering the circumstances right now, and let alone get a win. We'll see what happens. Again, talk to you all on Friday.