Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Time for the New Jersey Devils, plus who should the Penguins want to play in the playoffs?

Episode Date: February 12, 2022

Happy Friday! Evgeni Malkin is back again for the Penguins based on line rushes and that's where Hunter starts today's show. He goes into who was sent down and who is likely to come out of the lineup for him on Sunday. He then does a full preview of the Devils game on Sunday as their team is a bit banged up, especially in goal. He dives into their underlying numbers and how they look to be a bit better than some of the results they've gotten, plus knows how tough they usually play the Penguins. After that, Hunter gets into potential playoff opponents and who the best possible matchups are. Should the team rather face the Rangers or Capitals? Who would be the worst possible matchup? All that, plus a dive into Hockey at this year's Olympics, in this episode of Locked On Penguins.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.Primal Origin OilsStop the itch and make your beard look healthy & groomed. Check out PRIMALORIGINSOILS.COM to learn more about their full line of beard care products. Use the code “LOCKEDON” for a 20% discount at checkout.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello, happy Friday. So I know the Penguins don't play it for these next couple of days, but that doesn't mean there isn't stuff to talk about when it comes for this team. First, second, we're going to have a full game preview for the matchup against the Devils on Sunday afternoon, Super Bowl Sunday, of course, and go into their underlying numbers a bit more. Look at their lines, see where they're headed for the rest of this season. We're also going to do just, I think, you know, a nightmare playoff matchup

versus actual good playoff matchups for the Penguins, since they're basically all but locked in, I would say, at this point. And then we're also going to get to maybe some Olympic hockey touch on, I think, some of the men's and women's tournament. As you know, the women's team has been playing really well as of ways. So we'll get to all that starting 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, welcome to this Friday evening. Well, afternoon, such evening edition of the Locked on Penguins podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow this show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day.

Of course, me, the Penguins, got that big win on Thursday night against Ottawa A2-0-0-0-Shut-out of the center. Casey DeSmith continues to play his butt off, especially these last couple starts. I believe he has stopped 50, I saw, I saw a set to I believe he's 52 of the last 54 shots that he has faced. So, you know, he's just, he has been on one right now, to say the least. Some Penguins updates before we get into, you know, the full preview against the Devils. Evgeny Malkin was back at practice day, practicing in his normal second line center spot.

Mike Sullivan said that he is a game time decision, though, you know, with this practice day, and then tomorrow is a practice day before the team goes to Newark, excuse me, there is no doubt that he is playing. So big news there, he only had to miss two games. he did not have a big stint with COVID-19, thank God. He was one of the last players to get COVID on the team. But again, you know, luckily his symptoms were not too terrible. With that news, they also sent down Valtari Pustin and Michael Chapput back to Bokesbury. So neither player got to play in their first NHL action this year.

You know, I would have liked, I think, to see Pustin at least a little bit just because I think he would probably offer maybe a little bit more than what Dom Simone does. But I do think his time is eventually going to be coming. probably next season, you know, depending on what they do over the off season. But, you know, it's cool that, you know, he still got to come up here. And I just, you know, get a little taste of, I guess, some NHL. I shouldn't say get some taste of NHL action because he didn't play, but, you know, still get to be around the big league club and just see what happens on a day-to-day basis.

You know, maybe that'll be a little bit important to him. But those are the main updates from practice today. So, again, Malkin's back. A couple players sent down to Wokesbury. Drew O'Connor was back on ice. He looks like a game time. decision as well. With where the rosters right now, I think he would

maybe play over redeem Zahona, but I'm not really sure what Sully will do there. Honestly, either one, you can't go wrong. I think Zohorna has played really well in his limited stint this year. I'm expected goals for above 60%, possession-wise for shot attempts

above 55, 56%. And these are only, it's been a little below 100 minutes at 5E5 play. But, you know, he's definitely making a case to you know, stay on this roster for perhaps the rest of the season. You know, we'll have to see what the penguins do if they send them down to Wilkesbury, which they might do, I think, just because when healthy, this team is very crowded at forward.

But remember, this player is on a one-way deal next season. So, you know, he's going to have a big opportunity, I think, to make the team coming out of camp next year. Of course, you know, there's my slack, but, you know, that's not going to happen anymore. And I'm just going to mute the Discord as well, and we are going. Okay, perfect. I always forget to mute those every time I start my podcast. But, you know, anyways, that's good. That will not interfere for the next 15 to 20 minutes or anything like that.

But again, back to what I was saying, he will have definitely, I think, a big opportunity for himself to make the team out of camp for next season. Getting now to a full preview of the Dievels. So they've, you know, I always love going to natural strategy to just look at the team stats. So almost 2,400 minutes at 5E5 this year, the Devils have 51% of the shot attempts. So not terrible, scoring chance-wise. Well, if I can find the actual goals for goals allowed, they're basically almost minus 30 in that category. 43.4% of the actual goals at 5E-5. 51.2% of the expected goals for, that's not too bad.

They're just, they haven't been getting good goaltending this year. They have 51.8% of the scoring chances for. So, you know, it's, they're not, they have some okay underlying numbers. It's just, you know, you look at the talent that they have and, you know, they're not there. Again, it also doesn't help that their goalies as of right now, you know, Nico Dawes and John Gillies, you know, Bernier's been banged up a lot this year. Mackenzie Blackwood's been banged up a lot as well. As of right now, I don't think either one is going to be playing on Sunday. against the penguins.

So obviously that's going to be a big opportunity for Pittsburgh to win their third straight game. But again, New Jersey always likes to play the penguins like it is their Seward Bowl. Top line, Yesper Brat with Nico Heeshire and Yugors, Aaron Govich. You know, Heeshire, I've always respected in this league. Just because he's a, I wouldn't say he's a dominant two-way force, but he's a pretty good two-way center. You know, I think his offense is definitely underrated. But, you know, where he shines is his defense. I think it's not going to be long before he starts to get a lot of Selky love.

I'm not sitting here and saying the guy is going to be the next Patrice. Perjon, because he's not. But, you know, he's still, I think a pretty underrated player in the league. And, you know, the devils are not the same player when he's out. Remember last year, you know, when the devils, you know, they were, they were treading water a little bit. Jack Hughes was playing well. But it was the heeshire injury that really screwed them up. He was banged up a little bit this year.

He's been able to come back. And, you know, he's been pretty good. you know obviously the big injury right now for new jersey is no jack use does not look like he's going to play on sunday either i mean that's just that's a massive loss because you know i expected big things from him this year you know he got that massive contract from the devils because you know they see him as the franchise moving forward and i do think he is going to get to that superstar level um he's not there yet that's okay you know he's he's entering those peak years you know, you know, each 23, 24, 25, 26, you know, that's, you know, 27 to 28,

that's when you kind of start to exit your peak years. You're still in your prime, but it's those peak years that, you know, you want to take advantage of, you know, if you're a good and contending team, obviously New Jersey right now, they're not good and they're not contending, but they're going to want to, they're going to have to get this right with him if he's going to, you know, stay for the long haul. Again, I know he is signed for a long time, but, you know, what's going to happen if the team starts, if the team continues to stink year after year, because he's going to want out, you know, who knows.

Second line, Pavel Zaka, who has been getting some trade interest, according to Elliott Friedman, Jimmy V.C. Tomas Tatar. I spoke a lot about Tatar during, you know, the off season that I would have loved that the Penguins would have signed him and maybe move some salary out. You know, Tatar has actually played, you know, pretty decently for New Jersey this year. If I can pull up his hockey reference page real quick. I mean, nine goals, 18 points, 45 games. I mean, it's the devils, though.

I really think if you put him on an actual contending team, he probably would have 15 to 20 goals by now. You know, it was weird that Montreal decided not never to play him down the stretch last year. I will never understand that. And in the playoffs, especially because, you know, the talent is there. It's just, I think at times he is a little bit inconsistent. But he's on the second line, Jimmy V.C. He's burning the Penguins once this year.

Remember with that shorthand. goal in the first meeting, if I'm not mistaken. Jonson on the third line with Bill Quist and Mercer, and then McLeod on the fourth line with Bastion. And then defensively, Yonis Siegenthallor, former Washington Capital, Damon Severson, I've always found him to be super underrated. His underlying numbers are usually not bad. P.K. Suban with Ty Smith on the second pairing, I love Ty Smith. You know, he's really much blossomingy into a top four defenseman.

I think he's going to be a top pairing defenseman at the end of the day. You know, he really impressed me last season. And, you know, from the limited glimances that I've seen from New Jersey this year, he's impressed me as well, you know, especially against the Penguins, Ryan Graves, on the third pairing. Remember, he came over from Colorado in that trade, and I think they only gave up a pick or two or something like that. But, you know, this is still a matchup that the Penguins should win. This is the third out of the four meetings.

They'll play New Jersey one more time at PVEGP's Arena, later on down the line. But this is also a place Newark that is where the penguins have struggled. Again, as I said in my Thursday episode, is at the House of Horrors? No, but very rarely do they play there. They still win at times more often than they do in Boston. But even when they do win, they don't play super well. Even in the game, the one that they won in Newark right before that Christmas break

pause, I believe that was a three to one win. over the devils. They didn't really look that good. They just, they took advantage of the chance that they got and they're able to bury them. And Tristan, Tristan was able to have a pretty good game for that one. Or actually, that might have been dismissed that started. I think, I can actually double-check that here real quick to see who did start that thing. And the next matchup, so remember, it'll be February 24th against them.

That will be in Pittsburgh. And again, I can go scroll back up here to see. So, no, three to two matchup, excuse me. And it was Tristan. Only faced 19 shots in that matchup. 17 saves. And the goal scores for that one for Pittsburgh. Teddy Bluger, Dayton Hinen, and Mike Matheson.

So Penguins will go try to take two out of three from New Jersey for this one. 1.30 start time. You can see the game on ESPN Plus 18T Sports Network if you're in Pittsburgh. I don't think that's on NHL Network at all. Now, that wraps up with this first segment of the Lockman Penguins podcast. Coming up the second segment, we're going to get into, you know, the nightmare playoff matchups for the penguins in the first round compared to the matchups that I think would be best of them. Before we do that, though, this is the time of year that I've pretty much given up on all of my New Year's resolutions. But no, not this year.

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All right, while we're back here on this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast, I am your host, Hunter Hodes. You know to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow those shows Twitter at LO underscore Penguins. So in terms of the nightmare matchups versus the actual good matchup, so we look at the Metropolitan Division right now. I'm just going to pull up the standings for you all right here. So penguins are currently second place. They have one more game played than the Rangers.

It's fine. 66 points, 21, 11, and 8th. The playoffs started today. They would have home ice against the Rangers. This would be their first playoff matchup in six years. Thankfully, we've gotten a break. They are only one point behind Carolina, though the hurricanes also have three games in hand on them.

The penguins do play Carolina coming up. They play them three times, actually, in their final 30-plus games. Those matchups are going to be huge to determine who wins the Metropolitan Division. Now, the penguins are also five points up on the Capitals. Capitals also have a game in hand on them. It's looking like, as of right now, the Penguins are going to play one of those three teams in the first round. If they somehow collapse down to the eighth spot, it'll probably be the Atlantic winner. that's one of Florida or Tampa Bay.

Those would be the biggest nightmare matchups, at least for me. Tampa Bay is very good. I know they might be a little gas going into the playoffs, but they've also played less hockey than the penguins had to when they were going for their three-pee. Remember, you know, Tampa Bay had that break. You know, last year was a shortened season. They have not played nearly as much as the penguins have had going into their cup

run. So, you know, there is a real chance that they will do a three-peep here, but, you know, I still don't like that. match at as a right now just because of how deep Tampa is. I think Pittsburgh would give them a heck of a fight. And if Trishonjari plays up to par with Andre Vasselowski, they definitely have a chance. But in terms of a first-round matchup, I would pass on that, at least for me, same with Florida.

I hope those two teams play in the Atlantic Division so they can beat each other up. And only one of those teams moves on to the conference final. You know, the Panthers are just, they're deep, they're fast, they're getting great goal tending. They have superstar players that can take over a game in an instant. That's not a team that I would want to face in the first round. They're going to have Ekblod back healthy for the playoffs this time. Remember last year when he got hurt right before the playoffs and not just, that screwed them. I know a lot of people were looking forward to that series, me especially because it was the first Battle of Florida series, I think in their history, but without Ekblad

there, I don't think the Panthers had a shot. And you know, you saw that they lost in six games. Spencer Knight had to start. Chris Rieger had to start. You know, Brabrovsky played a little bit, but, you know, he wasn't that good. But how he's playing this year, you know, there's an opportunity, I think, that he could potentially steal on that series if he plays well. Now, in terms, I think another nightmare matchup in the first round, Carolina, I don't want to see that team in the first round.

I just think that's a bad match. It's just a bad matchup waiting to happen. I would want to see that matchup in the second round. I know the penguins can beat them. And I do want to see those two teams go at it because we haven't seen a playoff series in 13 years between the two. You know, Jordan Stahl Revenge Series. Rod Rindamore versus Mike Sullivan, they also have superstars that can take over a game in an instant. Their fan base down there is crazy.

Defensively, they're one of the best teams in hockey. You know, they're just a fun team to watch. I know a lot of people don't like them for their storm surge stuff. And, you know, obviously Tony D'Angelo is a stain. I will never root for that guy. But they're still a fun team to watch. And, you know, just they're such a skilled and fast team. And I think, you know, in the second round, that would be a great matchup.

And in terms of the first round, definitely not. Now, in terms of the best possible matchups, I actually think I would take Washington above all the other teams. And I'll tell you why. I know the Penguins have lost two out of three to Washington this year. You know, that may scare some people. But I also will say this. You know, the Penguins also beat them six out of eight times last year. Right now, Washington's goal ten.

is not that good. Their underlying numbers are pretty piss poor. Their power play going into, not last week, but the week before was five for their last 58. They have some of the worst special teams in the league. And again, you know, if they don't improve their goaltending by the deadline, they're not going to go anywhere. And I also don't think they're that deep. Even if you bring Anthony Mantha back and T.J. O'Shee, and they are both expected back this season, you look at that lineup and you know outside of their top six no one really else scares you mean Lars Eller I mean he's okay Daniel Sprong Carl Haglin garnett hathaway Nick Dowd I mean compared to other penguins you know Jeff Carter Teddy Bluger

Gantin Heine Evan Rodriguez Zach Austin Reese Reese brawreck McGinn I mean to me it's not close in my opinion no John Carlson since the new year he only has two points Tom Wilson since the new year he only has one goal in three points some of their players are nowhere to be found right now that are making a lot of the big bucks and you know I think outside of Alex Ovechkin having a ridiculous season for Washington

you know Nicholas Bactram has also picked it up a little bit as well because nuts off it's not been bad no it's it's definitely it's they're not the team that um I just they're not a team that scares me I don't think so I I would definitely take that at least Penguins-wise.

After that, I think it would be the Rangers. The Rangers also have some of the worst underlying numbers in hockey. Expected goals, their bottom five. Corsi shot attempts per 60, their bottom five. High danger chances, they're not very good there. They're very much a, you know, one-and-done kind of team in the offensive zone. They really can't put together three to four straight passes in the zone and actually cycle. they are their bread and butter is a egor shastorkin standing on his head and be their power play

just lighting you up with all their elite talent on there i know chris criter's been really good this year it's kind of came out of nowhere but you know he's doing a lot of this damage on the power play i know how good or temi panarin is i know how good adam fox is mika zabanajad outside of that that team i don't really think has anything i mean lefranier i think has been i wouldn't say a bus but he's not been that good capo caco's been a deaf I think a bust. No, their bottom six is not good. I mean, Lingren and, you know,

Kandre Miller aren't bad. But again, you know, outside of those players that I mentioned, and of course the goalie, you know, I think they're definitely an overrated team, and I don't see that team going on a cup run. I think the penguins would be able to take them in a series. Now, could Igor Shosturkin go full Ilya Sorokin and stand on his head?

Absolutely. It would not be surprised if he did. He's been far, by far and away, the best goaltender in hockey this year. It's so funny because Hendrick Lungwist retires. It's like, oh, wow, what are they going to do in goalie? They have another, basically mini-Henrik Lundquist, except this guy's Russian, comes in and plays exactly like him.

And the style of hockey that they play, it's, they make Shusurkin be another Lungquist and stand on his head night after night after night. So it's definitely going to be interesting to watch those two teams play this year. I'm going to have my eye just on how, if the penguins can outplay them pretty badly, in those games. The Penguins play, the Rangers coming up in a few weeks for the first time. But that will do it for the second segment of the podcast. Coming up in the third one, we're going to go into just some Olympic talk

and just, you know, my overall thoughts on the men's and women's hockey. But before we get to that, football might be over for this season. The basketball is in full steam from both pro and college hoops from all the latest odds, totals, player performance prompts to where the next fire coach is going to land. Benelline.comnet is the number one spot for all of your sports, needs, bet online remains the best spot for all of your sports scores, podcast, and news this season, and it's not just basketball. Ben online, not dot net, is your source for hockey, boxing, UFC, and right to your Olympic coverage and information. That is, bet online, where the game

starts. All right, we're back here on this episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. We're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. So in terms of the Olympic hockey stuff, you know, it is still a upsetting that, you know, we don't have NHL players there. You know, I remember the last time I got to watch Olympic hockey junior year of high, I believe, yeah, junior year of high school, not to watch the Canada, USA semi-final match during English class. I believe it was around 1 o'clock because they, you know, they were playing in Soshe. And, you know, I was just kind of pacing around back and forth just because it was, it was so crazy. I mean, the U.S. was playing well, but they just, they couldn't solve Canada.

You know, that was a year that, of course, that Canada won gold. But, you know, since then, you know, they didn't go in 2018 because the league is stupid. Obviously, this year with COVID-19. And I just, I haven't tuned into the men's stuff. I mean, it's not fun, I think, to watch. I mean, you know, I know the Olympics is supposed to be, you know, for amateurs and stuff like that. And a lot of these people that are in the other sports are actual professionals, which is perfect. But, you know, there are people out there, especially for hockey that don't want financial players to go because they want the, I guess, the young,

up and coming players to get a shot. And I mean, to me, it's that's, that's a bad take because I love watching NHL players, you know, play for their country because, you know, this means so much to them. And you could definitely tell that, you know, when the announcement came that they were pulling out of the Olympics, it just, it was met with so much negativity because they were promised it. You know, they're expected to go in 2026. They're expected to have a 20, World Cup of hockey maybe for 2024.

I think we've been just dying for more world class. international hockey because there's so much talent in the NHL right now. And I want to see these guys on the biggest stage. That's for sure. So the men's one, I haven't really tuned in. I don't really care as much because, you know, just a lot of players on the team USA, I don't really know. Now for the women's team, I mean, that's actually been a lot of fun to watch.

I know a lot of people don't watch women's hockey and, you know, that's their right. But, you know, I mean, those players are some of the most skilled players I've ever seen just watching the sport in my life. I mean, I was watching the U.S. Czech Republic game last night. It was the first time the Czech Republic women's team has ever been in the Olympics. They were playing them in the quarterfinal. And just watching the U.S. take them to town, even though the game was uncomfortably close, which is crazy.

I mean, this Czech Republic goaltender on Peslerova or something like that, I think that was her name, was just going full Patrick Waugh, you know, standing on her head, just making save after save after save, just giving her team a shot. And, you know, they took a one-nothing lead and it was like, okay, is the U.S. going to get eliminated here? You know, thankfully not. Hillary Knight was able to make it one to one before the U.S. broke the seal in the third period, scored three goals.

They're going on to the semifinals to play the winner of Finland, Japan. You know, that U.S. Canada matchup the night before the other night, that was just a treat to watch. And, you know, I can't wait to watch what likely will be the gold medal match between the U.S. and Canada. And, you know, I saw this weird take that people said that women's hockey shouldn't be in the Olympics. I don't listen to crap like that because, you know, it's so much fun to watch, you know,

these women go at it on the national stage. And for those people that think, well, it's a two-horse race. Look what the Czech Republic was doing through 40 minutes last night. It was tied one to one. And they were one period away from one of the, probably the biggest upset in women. men's Olympic hockey history. So the fact that people are saying like, well, you know, it's just everyone just, it's just the US and Canada dumping on teams.

You know, that's not necessarily the case because the US actually had to fight for that win. I know, you know, the shot attempts paying a different story and the shots on goal payment the same story. I get that. They badly outplay them. But, you know, the checks were in that game until the very end. They had about four or five power plays as well.

And it was just a fun game overall watch. And I'm looking forward to watching more of that, you know, as the tournament. concludes in the near future. I would want, I would recommend, you know, if you can stay up to watch this semi-final game, but more so the gold medal game that's just going to have so much skill involved between Canada and the U.S.

So I just wanted, you know, to send that message for the final segment for today's episode. Thank you all so much for listening to today's show. I always appreciate it. Remember, Penguins in Action, 1.30 p.m. on Sunday. They're back, and after that, they play Philadelphia. at home on Tuesday. Sidney Crosby goes for his 500th against the Devils.

I'm hoping he doesn't score that, but the Penguins still win, and then he's able to do it against Philadelphia team that he has owned his entire career. But again, thank you all so much for listening to this episode. Remember, follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes and the show you swear L-O-N-Square Penguins, and I'll be back with another episode on Monday.