Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - What a weekend for the Penguins, huh?

Episode Date: March 13, 2023

The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to string together wins...despite some dips in play at times. To start the show, Hunter goes over his impressions from Sunday's win over the New York Rangers and how i...t looked a lot like what we saw in the playoffs last season (except that they lost the series). Still, Hunter analyzes how the process to beat them hasn't changed and how the Penguins were able to stick with it despite how nasty this game got. He goes over Jason Zucker continuing to stay hot while Rickard Rakell has quietly scored in back-to-back games after being quiet for a bit. He also analyzes Tristan Jarry's play and why this was a small step in the right direction, even though he still has a ways to go. After that, Hunter does discuss the officiating and why nobody should be surprised by the inconsistency. He goes over how it was almost fate that Chris Kreider would score after a controversial no-call since the Penguins had 3 power plays in the first period. He then discusses the latest with Jacob Trouba and why he has no problem with the hit. What does he have a problem with, though? He answers that before finishing the show with a few thoughts on the Flyers game. How did the Penguins take over that game in the third? Is that period the blueprint for how to play in that period going forward? And, should Alex Nylander be given a full shot here, even if the injured forwards are ready to come back by the playoffs? All of that, plus much more is on 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 “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.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Well, I hope all of yins are happy about this weekend. Four out of four points. Penguins are 7.1 and 1 their last nine. Things are looking up. They do have some problems, but they got something cooking here to start today's episode and they get into everything that went on in the Rangers game
Starting point is 00:00:16 and how the Penguins were able to make the Rangers look like a pee-wee team for the first two periods where the Rangers really push back. That's coming up to start this episode right after this trial. 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
Starting point is 00:00:54 of the Locked-on Penguins podcast I'm of course your host Hunter Hodes and follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes follow the shows Twitter at Elisor Penguins and of course thank you so much for making this your first listen to the day for those who are watching on YouTube
Starting point is 00:01:05 please let me know it out on the comments give me a thumbs up and send me a DM this is the first episode with a brand new webcam. I spent a decent amount of money on it. Let me know. Is it look clear? Is the quality a lot better? Let me know.
Starting point is 00:01:20 I mean, noticing a difference right away. Me personally, let me know how it looks like for you down the comments or you can send me a DM on any of my social medias. Just want to put that out there. Now, let's get into a penguin's four out of four points this weekend. I am fired up. You all should be fired up to. Great weekend for the last.
Starting point is 00:01:39 local hockey team, and we'll get to the Flyers game a little later on in the show. But we have to start with the Rangers game, a three-two overtime win for the Penguins over the Rangers and a game that was basically a carbon copy of the playoff series, except this one with the Penguins way. They're controlling the play, their dominating possession, scoring chances, high danger chances. But as always, the Rangers are getting, even with Igor Shosturkin, not in Neckon. They're getting good goaltending from Halak. You never know what's going to have the O'Hari.
Starting point is 00:02:12 They're keeping it close. They can strike in any point. That happened in the third period. But Penguins were able to win the game in overtime, thanks to Artania and Tripini-Penny-Mulkin and Crystal Tang had the last loft in overtime. But had a lot of the same things that we saw where the penguins were just skating circles around them. Rangers were really atrocious in their defensive zone.
Starting point is 00:02:33 And penguins were able to score a couple of goals that, again, you know, were pretty reminiscent of what happened in the playoffs. They got a little bit of lucky with the Jason Zucker one. They got the 5 on 3 one. Really nice setup with Ricard Raquel. But even at 5E5, I thought the Penguins really delivered a decent beatdown when it comes that they were better in scoring chances, better in high danger chances, better than expected goals, lost a little bit of the battle and shot attempts.
Starting point is 00:03:00 Honestly, shot attempts were about 50-50. But they were better in all the other areas, again, swan chances, high-danger chances, and expected goals. It got a little closer. in the third period because that's when the Penguins really played like crap. And, you know, a lot of times, I don't want to say this. You know, it's hard to consistently play for 60 minutes every game in this league. You're going to have lapses.
Starting point is 00:03:20 But the Penguins have been having problems for a while now in terms of third periods that I still want to see that cleaned up. But they're able to, you know, withstand that. Tristan Jardy came up with some big saves. He let in one goal, but that really wasn't his fault. I'll get to that in just a second. But, you know, they were able to get the win, get six points. Two points closer, well, one point closer, I should say, to the Rangers. And, you know, they're now seven and one and one in their last nine games.
Starting point is 00:03:44 So this game, playoff field to it. Very nasty. You know, I have come to hate, honestly, when these two teams play. And it's just because, you know, the rivalries go in circles. Penguins Flyers in 2012 was a war zone. Late 2010s with Penguins Capitals was a war zone. Now you're seeing it play out with the Penguins and Rangers on social media and Reddit and stuff. like that. It is exhausting. Just people from both sides. You got all the smooth brains up in New York,
Starting point is 00:04:16 these two zero IQ people just spewing off nonsense. Then you have even people in this city doing the same stuff, zero IQ nonsense. It's just like, please. Like, can we just focus on hockey and stop taking personal shots and just that all fan basis? Like, let's just focus on the game. Like, it is so frustrating when these two teams play because of that. And it started in the playoffs. series. It's not going to get any better this week when World War III comes around with these two teams playing at the Garden on Thursday and Saturday. But, you know, I've just come to loaf these games. They're just super frustrating. You know, I loved how the Penguins came out, though, in this one. They were fire out.
Starting point is 00:04:58 That's the best I've seen them come out in the second half of the back-to-back all year. You knew that this man of locks them. You know, they definitely have this one circled on the calendar. I know they played them once before. a couple months ago, right? But, you know, this one, they're playing well. You're getting a little bit closer to them in the standings. So you knew they were going to get up for this one. And, you know, they sure did.
Starting point is 00:05:21 Again, they skated circles around the Rangers. They got that power play goal to open the game. I knew something was going to come back to bite them after Raquel scored because the Penguins at three-shaped power plays. Sure enough, it did when Chris Kreider eaten the game in the third period with that whole Vince Trojik of getting Malkin crap. that is textbook NHL officiating. If you are surprised by this,
Starting point is 00:05:42 you have not been paying attention to the NHL. That is how this works. Team gets three straight power plays, but because they don't want to get any more than it, the reps don't want to give any more of an advantage to that team. They are not going to call an obvious penalty. When one happens, they also let a lot of stuff go from both teams. That's the standard they said.
Starting point is 00:06:02 It's garbage. I get it. But that is the standard that this has. set really, honestly. You know, Jason Zarker was able to stay hot. He has been phenomenal as of late. I mean, that's nine goals and eight games now. Continues to, you know, basically continues to say to everyone here, yeah, I need to be
Starting point is 00:06:26 resigned. And at this point, yeah, I mean, I would love to give him a three or four year term. A.A.V, I would probably not give him five million. I would maybe give him a little lower. I don't think he's worth 5.5 at this. point in his career, even though he's having a good season. It's just a very tough contract to navigate, I think. And then, obviously, the O-T winner, beautiful four-on-three set up.
Starting point is 00:06:47 Nice that the payments called that timeout. Sid won the face off back a little too deep. They had to carry it into the zone. I thought they were going to have a little bit trouble with zone entry, but no, Crosby and Malkin, Letang plays some catch. Letang buries it. And, you know, he, I believe, is now the league leader this year in terms of overtime goals.
Starting point is 00:07:04 He has been electric for this team. had another really strong game. Hope everyone chronicled that one, and that was two more massive points for this team. The better team won in this one. They outskated them for the first 40 minutes. Not like how they play them in the third period, but sometimes that happens.
Starting point is 00:07:19 The other team is going to go on a little bit of a run when they have momentum. That's hockey. In the end, the Penguins were able to get the win, and they will at least get a season split with the Rangers. The Penguins have been playing a little bit, well, I shouldn't say that.
Starting point is 00:07:32 You know, they have won three of the last four against the Metro after a, what, eight, nine game losing streak that they had against Metro teams? That's the worst in quite a long time. So they're playing against the division a little bit better as of late, but really nice to see them get this win. I thought, just overall, great team effort. Alex Neelander, what more can you say about him? You know, he is, he definitely deserves a shot with what I am seeing.
Starting point is 00:08:00 We're going to go into that a lot later in today's episode, but wow, has he been awesome this season? Tristan Jari thought he had a solid start. I'm not really going to pin those two goals on him. First one, I think Jeff Petrie kind of just went for a hit along the boards when he didn't mean to them. The net front coverage really bad. And then really nice pass to get it to Criter.
Starting point is 00:08:21 I forget that was along the boards. But nice pass to Spring Crider there who was not going to, he will bury that 10 out of 10 times. Crapy play. That penalty didn't get called on Trojek, but that's an initial officiating for you. But they were able to get the win, and they look damn good in the process. That's a very strong win.
Starting point is 00:08:40 And there are now six points back at the Rangers heading into Tuesdays game against the Montreal Canadiens. And the best part is, we get to do all this again on Thursday and Saturday. My favorite type of games, a home and home against the team you just played us playoff series with. And, oh, yeah, the two fan bases absolutely can't stand each other with what I've seen on social media and stuff. There are some really bad things that people are saying. It is like people chill out. It is a sports game. It is not that deep.
Starting point is 00:09:10 But we'll get into that. A lot of other things coming up in the second segment, we're going to get into the Jacob Truba stuff and why I honestly don't think what he did is that big of a deal. We're actually getting into what I have more of a problem of with that kind of play coming up right after this commercial break. Plus thoughts on the Flyers game as well. But before we get into that,
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Starting point is 00:10:56 I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. We're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the shows, Twitter at Eleanor OurSop Penguins. And, of course, thank you all so much for making this, your first listen of the day. So let us get into the latest surrounding the Jacob Trubot's course, because everyone loves talking about that. I'm only going to spend a few minutes on it. I'll move on other things. Second period, Truba hits Alex Neelander.
Starting point is 00:11:19 Basically, Sony's been a career at Jolla for his career. At the moment, it looks like one of your standard chicken wing hits. Go through the replay, though. No. Shoulder, clean. I don't have a problem with it. No. Fans at the arena, they're going to say Truba sucks and all that.
Starting point is 00:11:34 you know, fans are going to be fans. You know, I'm not a Jacob Truba fan. I have never been a fan of his. I think he's a dirty player. What he did was Sidney Crawsvilles-Bus Bush League. You know, that's last year, though. You know, passes in the past. This, I don't really have a problem with the hit because it was clean.
Starting point is 00:11:52 Well, I do have a problem with, I understand that you want to stick up for your team in that situation. But if you're getting Munkin, you know, where you want to really get Truba back is on the scoreboard. And they did that at the end. of the game. Who was on the ice, drawn the PK, trying to kill off that penalty when all the big guns are out there. Oh yeah, Jacob frickin' frupe. So in that situation, when you use Crystal Teng scores, you can literally just laugh at them going off the ice saying, yeah, nice job, bozo, something like that.
Starting point is 00:12:20 I don't know. Just like, just laugh at him. You know, you lost. Like, whatever, right? I just don't have, I just don't like when someone like of Gunny Malkin has to be the kind of player that goes in there and delivers a cross tag. And, you know, he did. He knew what he was doing. He was sticking up for his teammate. I know a lot of fans like that, but, you know, I just, I don't like when it's after a clean hit.
Starting point is 00:12:43 You want to do that after like a dirty hit or something like that, be my guessing. And I've had this opinion for the last number of years now. If people are going to disagree, I totally get that. But in my opinion, I just don't feel the need. I just don't see the need to do it. It was a clean hit. you know, blind squirrel finds a nut for this player, whatever. You know, he was on the ice for the power play goal against.
Starting point is 00:13:09 Trubber should have been called for a cross check. I think it was to Zucker who was on the ice. He wasn't, you're always, the refs will always get the guy that retaliates first. If they're not going to penalize Trubber for the hit, which you don't need to, it was clean. They're not going to, they're not probably not going to notice him deliver a cross check to Zucker after he was confronted at it. That is how I didn't show officiating.
Starting point is 00:13:29 X-edar people. That's how it is. So in the end of the day, I don't really have too much a problem with it. The rest let it get to that point. It was a total clown show by Dan O'Rourke and Chris Rooney. NHL fish shating stinks. There's no, oh, the Rangers get all the calls or the penguins get all the calls. I will say this until I am blue in their face.
Starting point is 00:13:49 If anyone else out there believes in conspiracy theories like that that another team in this league gets more calls or the other, I am sorry. you are wrong, you have no statistical or factual evidence to back that up. Initial officials are bad at their jobs. Point blank, case closed. You saw it on display today. For both teams, there is no favoritism.
Starting point is 00:14:12 There never has been. It's such a stupid narrative. I hate talking about it. People that say this, they don't, especially from other teams, they do not know anything about the sport. That is what I will say about that. people that think like that, they don't argue with logic or reason. They're just spewing off takes into the void.
Starting point is 00:14:35 It's garbage. It's whatever. That's all I'm going to say about this, though. It was such a small moment in the game. Just one has been a few minutes on it. But, you know, overall again, I really like the effort from the Penguins in this game. Jason Zucker, as always was awesome. I thought the core players were great.
Starting point is 00:14:53 The bottom six stepped up. I'm really liking the new third line that the Penguins have out there. right now with Drew O'Connor, McIle-Granlund, and Brian Ruff, he's almost screwed that up, and Brian Rust. Actually, no, Brian Rust, Jesus Christ. Rickel, I apologize about that. They moved Rust up to the top line.
Starting point is 00:15:11 It seems like any line where Kel touches just goes from crap to beautiful. I mean, that was on display in the Flyers game, and in tonight's game, you know, at 5'5, they were on the ice for 50% of the shot attempts, also on the ice for 57% of the sphoyant chances and 66% of the high danger chances. That line is playing very good. It's a small sample, but I like what Raquel is bringing to Grainlin and O'Connor.
Starting point is 00:15:38 I was a bit skeptical at first because Raquel is not really, you know, I guess too much, I don't want to say this. You know, you're just adding another playmaker to, you know, play with Granlin. You know, Greenland is a playmaker himself. You're not really adding like another true finisher. But so far, you know, I'm eating a little bit of crow with that. I'm really liking what I'm seeing with it. And I really want to see that line's dick.
Starting point is 00:16:00 That's for sure. I think the fourth line, even with, I like that Mike Sullivan, finally put Jeff Carter on the fourth line. That's, in my opinion, that's, I think, the last straw until he gets scratched. And I'm not expecting him to get scratched. They love him for some reason. But I think it's probably the last straw, you know, if he keeps playing. I don't want to like.
Starting point is 00:16:25 hundred myself you know if he has like some really really really bad games in real i think they could send him down and like hey you know this was our line this was our last straw we're going to put you on the bench you know all that stuff but you know i think they finally see that he's not driving play on the third line and he's better suited for fourth line or all this right now he mike solomon did it for patril hornquist in 2017 he can do it now and especially with holenquist in 2017 he was much better of a player than carter is at this point you know if you can do it for him I think you can do it for Carter, and I'm glad that they are, at least for right now. So I think that really wraps up my thoughts about the Ranger game.
Starting point is 00:17:02 To be honest, there's really not much else to discuss. Again, I liked how Tristan Jari played. He doesn't look too comfortable sometimes in the net. He got very lucky that Crider didn't score on the power play. I believe that was in the second period. He had a wide open net to shot right back into him. Yon Ruda made a couple of nice defensive plays there to keep the puck from going out of the net. something just doesn't seem right with his game.
Starting point is 00:17:25 Marcus Pedersen, though, he's been playing the best hockey of his life. Chris LaTang was awesome these last few games, especially against the Rangers, gets the OT winner. Jeff Petrie, not too big of a fan. He had his worst game score of the season in this one. Brian Dumlin, but top six, they are driving the bus. As usual, we all saw it. The death has stepped up a little bit these last couple of games, too,
Starting point is 00:17:51 but they're winning games because the top six has been driving the play, and they will not go anywhere unless the top six play as well. That wraps up my thoughts on the Ringer game. Overall, coming up to end the show, we're going to get into the Flyer game, and why, yes, why Alex Nealander fully deserves a shot in the full-time lineup, even though Nick Benino and Ryan Peeling will stir hurt right now, but I'm going to tell you why he definitely deserves a full shot,
Starting point is 00:18:19 even once the playoffs are around, because I do think it's getting more likely that this team is going to get in. But before we get to that, if you're looking for a delicious treat but don't want all the fat and calories, then you've got to try a bill bar. We just got through the holidays. I know my goal is to eat a little healthier this year. If you're like me where you want to eat healthier but don't want to compromise taste, then I've got this thing for you.
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Starting point is 00:18:51 get cookies and cream, a box of chocolate, coconut puffs, all that good stuff. If you're, you know, it's, trust me, it is all awesome. Any one of those flavors will do, and you can thank me later when it comes to that. All right, I'm back in this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast.
Starting point is 00:19:10 I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. We're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at Loverst for Penguins. And of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen to the day. We are free and available on all platforms. And yes, of course, there was another game this fast weekend, the Penguins blitz the Flyers 5 to 1 in the game that was, you know,
Starting point is 00:19:26 a lot closer than the final score indicated. Penguins win five to one. And, you know, the Penguins, again, this was a very close game against the Flyers. So the Flyer, you know, they should have been blowing this team out well before they got all their goals later in the third period. They lost the battle, shot attempts, even strength. Heck, but they did win the battle in scoring chances and high danger chances. And they had they won the battle.
Starting point is 00:19:51 and expected the goals. I thought the penguins kind of slept, walked a little bit in the first period, second period as well, even after they got that goal to make a two, one. The third period, though, I think they really turned it up. That was probably some of the best hockey I've seen them play while defendingly. They were very active, very on their toes, not really turtling. It was kind of the opposite from what we saw against the Rangers on Sunday,
Starting point is 00:20:14 where the Rangers really turned it on in the third period, and the Penguins were just flat-footed. You know, maybe it was partly due to, them playing on Saturday, not having as much of their legs, but the Rangers also played the night before, and they had their legs for that period, so I'm not really going to buy into that too too much. But they still defend a net lead very well.
Starting point is 00:20:33 We'll get the insurance goal, make a 3-1, and then got the engine editor, and then Macaule Gramlin scored. This is what you were supposed to do against the bad teams. Penguins, they have an advantage with their schedule here down the stretch where they are going to play some teams. They are currently out of the playoff positioning, and it all starts on Tuesday against the,
Starting point is 00:20:51 Canadians. They play them. They play the senators who are also, as of this recording right now, if I can find the score. They're down 4 to 1, the second intermission. That's going to be other help to the Penguins. You play them who are out of the playoff race. It will play at Washington, Detroit, Nashville, Philadelphia, again, Detroit, Chicago, and Columbus. So in total, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Penguins have six, six, seven, eight. Penguins have 16 games left. Half of those games are against teams outside the playoff positioning. You have to win those games. You have no excuse. You have below you in the standings. You are fighting for something more than they are. And there are no excuses to not show up in those
Starting point is 00:21:37 games. We saw that in this one. No excuses. They're able to get, they find their game in the third period. The Flyers are not a good offensive team. They didn't really get any offensive zone time in the third period like they did in the first. That was very weird to see the Penguins were not playing well defensively at all in the first period. Casey to Smith probably led him one of the worst goals I've ever seen them let in. He even said the same thing after the game. He said that's probably the worst goal I've ever led in his league.
Starting point is 00:22:02 Credit to him though, he bounced back, made some crucial, crucial saves for this team to stay, you know, at 1-1, even after the Penguins made it 2 to 1. going into the third period Flyerset a couple of power plays just made a couple of beautiful saves on those power plays I think one of them was on Tippet when a lunge should stick out like that
Starting point is 00:22:27 towards the right side of the net really nice save from the backup netminder we were all we were all crucifying him on social media rightfully so was very inconsistent he's just been a very inconsistent goalie excuse me this season but when needed to you know
Starting point is 00:22:40 crawl back out of that hole that he went in after that allowing goal and he played some of the finest hockey that he's played all year. Shout out to him. Nice job. But, you know, just a really, just a solid third period to beat a team that you are supposed to be. Jason Zucker also scored in that game. Again, where would they be without him? He has been electric this season, 23 goals now on the season. He's going to, he might hit 30 by the end of the season, which will in fact be, I think one of my in bowl predictions will hit, I said he was going to score 25 to 30 this season.
Starting point is 00:23:21 I think we're going to get that. So I'll take the W on that. Sidney Crosby, any time goal against the Flyers, you all know how that works. Anytime they play the Flyers, you can just go on to your Fandul account or whatever betting app you have. We obviously have Fandual here for locked on. Go on there, place, any time goal score. You'll come away with at least a little bit of cash.
Starting point is 00:23:41 My Kyle Gremlin, nice to see him get on the score sheet. Really nice shot to make it 5 to 1. They can get more out of him like that down the stretch. That's going to ease the concerns that I and a lot of other people had regarding the trade. Again, overall, really liked what I saw in those final 20 minutes. Honestly, the last 25 to 30 minutes. I thought the Penguins were the much better team. The Flyers just sprang nothing offensively.
Starting point is 00:24:06 The only goal they scored was one that probably does not even go in an ECHL goalies. So outside of that, they didn't really threaten offensively. Good to get that win in a really solid weekend for this team. Seven and one in one their last nine games. They are playing some very, very good hockey. But to end the show, Alex Nealander, welcome to the big club. You should be staying here for the rest of the season. I am not some big, again, I said this last week.
Starting point is 00:24:34 I'm not, you know, this big massive Alex Nealander sent or anything like that. But the more I watch him, the more I'm like, wow. He really couldn't be playing over Brock McGinn and Kasperi Captain, based on what he's done so far. I mean, I know he hasn't scored. But, you know, he looks like a natural next to Evgeny Malkin and Jason Zulker. This is the finest hockey. I think he's ever played in his career.
Starting point is 00:24:57 And he's been in the minor leagues for most of his career. You know, when he was in the H.L. And H.L. Excuse me. Played for a couple really bad teams, especially in Chicago, who are also really poorly coached. Now he's in a good system. He's finding his game, especially down in Wilkesbury with J.D.
Starting point is 00:25:10 Forrest. Now he comes up to the big. club playing top six minutes has gotten some really quality chances he just hasn't put one in the back of the net yet but even outside of that he's his passing has been beautiful his defensive work has been really solid i really like the way he is playing right now and he deserves to get his shot for the rest of the regular season you know nick minino is week to week right now with a kidney laceration you know my thoughts go out to him that is a very scary sounding injury right impaling we don't know what he's going to be back he's on lTIR right now but he continues to skate
Starting point is 00:25:41 But I really like what I am seeing from this kid. His speed jumps out real quickly, goes to the net front areas. I thought he scored his first one today against the Rangers when Jason Zulcher took the shot from the point, but it went off Mika Zabinajad. But still, look what happens when you stand in front of the net and you screen the goalie. Good things happen because Yarsov-Halak didn't even see the puck there. You know, goes to front of the net, blazing speed hit back two on one. one late in regulation against the Rangers today. Keandre Miller caught flat-footed.
Starting point is 00:26:16 Knee-rander comes in, tries to go high-glove on Hulak. He makes a really nice save. You know, he scored, they score that with, what, 35, 40 seconds up. The thing was when that game in regulation. There are five points back in the Rangers right now.
Starting point is 00:26:31 Almost, but he's getting his chances. I think he's going to get a goal very, very soon. I really like this kid and how he's playing right now. He deserves to get his shot for the rest of the regos. see if he can maybe stick on a line heading into the playoffs. You know, if this team does get fully healthy, if Nick Menlo and Ryan Hilling do come back for the playoffs. Will he play in a playoff game?
Starting point is 00:26:53 Probably not knowing this coaching staff, knowing who the top 12 forwards, you know, remember when he got sent down the first time. But give him a shot. He's earned that at least, right? And he's definitely taking it right now. He's playing very, very strong hockey. but that would do it for this episode
Starting point is 00:27:14 of the Locktime Penguins podcast. Really appreciate all of you listening to this one. I'll have another episode for you all on Tuesday. We'll be previewing the game against the Montreal Canadiens. A big one for this team. Penguins will try to get to 8-1-1 in the last 10 games. And slowly but surely, this team has really found something
Starting point is 00:27:33 ever since that gross loss to the Oilers, the fire hex doll chance. I mean, I was one of the people that said, you know, I don't really know they were going to make the playoffs because the math was not looking as good. They were out of the playoff picture at the time. But, you know, this latest run has saved their season. I didn't think they had it in them.
Starting point is 00:27:52 They were looking cooked. But, you know, 15 out of the possible 18 points in these last nine games, puts them five points up on the last wild card spot right now. Two points up on the Islanders. Still with two games in hand. You win that game on Tuesday. The Rangers losing regulation to Washington. There are four points back.
Starting point is 00:28:11 the Rangers going to the garden on Thursday Saturday with a chance to tie them in the standings if they get two regulation wins, maybe a little more wishful thinking, but, you know, never say never, right? Very quietly, they're playing some of their finest hockey of the season, even when, even when we're all complaining about them. Because yeah, does this team have issues? Absolutely. Absolutely.
Starting point is 00:28:36 But they're winning games. They're staying in the playoff race. They keep this up. they will be going back to the playoffs for another season. So that's how I win this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. Really appreciate all of you listening and watching. Again, let me know if you're watching on YouTube. How does the new webcam look?
Starting point is 00:28:55 Spend a good chunk of money on it. I think it looks really good. I think the setup for the room looks nice as well. Can I add some stuff back here? Really excited about this. This is one of the last things I want to do invest in for the show to make it look like, you know, one of the best out there, which I think, you know, my show is, but I'm also a little bit biased, right?
Starting point is 00:29:12 But yeah, thank you so much for listening. Really appreciate it. I'll talk with you all on Tuesday, and based on right now, I think I will be there for that game. So again, talk to you all on Tuesday.

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