Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - What's your favorite past Penguins game from the holiday's?

Episode Date: December 24, 2021

The holidays are right around the corner and that means it's time to touch on the Penguins' best holiday videos. Hunter goes into what the Penguins did for this year's version, plus ponders which video they've done in years past. Did some players in today's video imitate a few players from the past? He also goes into some bold predictions for players for the last 50 games, and those players include Tristan Jarry, Kasperi Kapanen, Sidney Crosby, and many more. Finally, Hunter touches on his favorite past games for the Penguins around the holidays: Where does the NYE game in late 2016 rank? What about the one from 2015? Or the one from right after Thanksgiving?Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.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.StatHeroStatHero is the first of its kind Daily Fantasy Sports platform where it’s YOU vs. the HOUSE in head to head fantasy matchups - winner take all. Sign up for FREE - RIGHT NOW - at StatHero.com/HOCKEY and use promo code HOCKEY for a One Hundred Percent Deposit Match. 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.

You're Locked-on Penguins. Your daily podcast on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Part of the Locked-on Podcast Network. Your team every day. Well, I hope part of the intro did not just get screwed up there because it kind of paused for a second, and then it totally came back. So I'm not to look at that when I edit this,

but welcome to this Thursday edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast, Christmas Eve, Eve. As all the kids say, I am your host, Honored Hodeon. in order to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hobees. You can also follow the shows Twitter at L.O. and, of course, thank you all so much for making this your first listen of the day. I'm going to be a different show today.

We're going to go into some bold predictions for the first segment, what I expect, you know, just with some players this year, with the rest of the season, I should say. We're going to get into the holiday video that the Penguins released today because that was absolutely hilarious. And then go into my top games that I've watched over the holidays, Penguins-related. I know they don't play too much usually around Christmas,

but they did play, well, if I say the one that I'm going to say, it's just going to be spoiled. So there's definitely two or three that I have in mind. I'm going to bring up just because of how epic they were. But start us off some bold predictions for the last 50 or so games for the Penguins. Number one, Tristan Jari. Is this really bold? I think it kind of could be still because no one really thought that this was even going to be a thought

coming into this season. And there's still a few goaltenders who people would rank ahead of them. But I think Tristan Jari will be named a Des and the finalist at the end of the season. The year that he is having right now is just flat out ridiculous. Again, he's top five in goals saved to have expected. His save percentage is getting closer to 940. And it's around what 930, 932 right now. And he's given the chance, he's given the team, excuse me, a chance to win on an every night basis. And just, you know, I would have been fine with him being average this year, 915, 920, but he has exceeded that and then some. I've said it many times a lot of credit could go to Andy Kyoto,

but a fair bit of the credit should go to Jari himself for coming back and playing like the goaltender that some thought he could be after that awesome showing in 2019-20. Then he also had that great playoff game against Montreal. Obviously we all know what happened against the Islanders. But if he can keep that up for this year, this team is going to be a really just a big tough out, I think is the way to say it. So that's my number one bowl prediction. My second one, I think Dan Hinen is going to score 25 goals by the end of the season.

He's already at 9 right now. 16 more than 50 games. I think that's doable with how he's playing right now. You could still stick him on the third line. Heck, you can put him on Gino's line when Malkin is ready to go if that's next week or the week after New Year's. but from what I've seen so far, my second bowl prediction is that Hinen will score 25 this year. I don't know if that's going to happen.

You know, it's just, again, that's a bold prediction for a reason, just because, you know, it has the word bold in it, but it wouldn't shock me if he did because he is on another level right now. I think he'll for sure get to 20. You know, 25 is where I'm thinking he'll end up right now. I think Chris LaTang is going to come close to being in Norris. I think you're going to see him score 55 to 60 points at the end of the season. Is that really bold considering what he's done throughout his career?

I'm not too sure, but, you know, with how much older he's gotten overall, I still think it should be a bit of a bold prediction just because, you know, I don't think anyone has expected him to continue to play at this level this season. And I know he was awesome last year, but, you know, he's taking it, you know, again, to a whole new completely level this year. So I think I will classify that as, I guess not as bold as the Heinen or Jari one, especially I think not the Heinen one. But I still think Latang will get to 55 to 60 points by the end of this. And then scoring by the end of the season.

Bank on it right now. I know he's far behind a lot of the top scores. But, you know, Sid has this tendency to really wake up, you know, once he's been practicing for a while, once he's been playing for a while. I think by the end of this season, excuse me, you will. see Sid with all those top players in the top 10 of the initial scoring now is he going to win the art Ross absolutely not you know it's looking like one of the on dry siddle car mcdavidavit aloxovetch and a couple others are one of those one of those players is probably going to win the art Ross but i would i would still expect sid to be i shouldn't say in the

conversation but you know behind those players a little bit where it's like okay we're used to seeing sidney crosbie they're right um i definitely think he will be at that point by the time, you know, the season ends. I got one for Caspari Captain. I think in a bit of a way, he will rediscover some old magic from last season while playing with Afghani Malkin. That probably seems like the one that's not going to come to fruition the most. But I am still a bit of a believer in him.

I know he's been really bad this year. I've talked a lot about it on this podcast before. But, you know, him and Gino had a strong chemistry last season. And I really think you will see that carryover once Malcolm comes back in a week or two. So that's my prediction right now. I'm not saying he's going to score 40 points like he did last season. It was what was it 10 goals, 30 points, if I'm not mistaken, was what it was. But I will say that I do think he is going to turn his season around in a big way

and produce a lot more than what he has been recently. I know the underlying numbers are really good. I touched on it on my last episode. If you haven't listened to that, I've touched on it multiple times start the last week and a half to two weeks. But I do think that he will, again, finish on a strong note. Exact number. If I had to give one right now, I think I'm going to say half a point per game.

I think he can get to 40 points. It's going to be really tough, though, because he would have to do 40 points in 50 games. But, you know, these are bold predictions for a reason. Not all of them are going to pay out. but, you know, again, there's real chemistry with Gino, and I think you will see that once, you know, Evgeny Malcolm comes back. As for what, it's not going to be on the defense.

I think they're going to go out and potentially get another forward. It wouldn't be surprising if they go out and get a top nine forward, though, do they really need one right now? That's the serious question. You can certainly make an argument that they don't, But with how this season is shaping up to be, this could be the last big run for this core group of players, especially with how many players need to be re-signed

or free agents after this season, I do think you will see Ron try to go as all in as possible to get Sid Gino and Latang that fourth Stanley Cup. I do think he will strike for a trade. I mean, remember what his logic was for the Jeff Carter one last season, right? He came out to the media and he said, I wanted to reward the team with a team. deal because of the way they were playing down the stretch.

They were really impressing me with their hot play and all that. I think you will see something similar here, especially if they keep up this amazing winning streak that they're on right now. They're the hottest team in the league. I know the season's pause, but you know, well, whatever at this point. But I still think you will see Hextel go out and make a trade. As for who, I'm not really sure. I'm not going to go out here and say a player.

That's probably not going to happen. I wish I could say J.T. Miller, because that would be a slam dunk for so many reasons. But at this point, I don't see that happening. I think he's probably going to go to a different team. Or, you know, Vancouver could try to make a run like they are doing right now under Bruce Bredo. And, you know, they could just hold on to him. So we'll have to see what happens on that one.

I'm trying to think of one to two more now. I was going to say one for Jason Zucker, but I'm also not too confident in it. I also think he will turn his season around a little bit. I did say 25 goals for the season. That's looking like a bit too unrealistic right now. you know the team is probably going to put him back with chino and see what they he can do um with him and cap and i'm not ready to give up on him just yet even though you know the cost to get him um is looking like an overpayment right now but um the time is now for him to get

going um he needs to start putting the fuck in the back of the net i know he's hit a lot of posts i know he's had a lot of cross bars but you know what i mean these excuses can only continue for so long i know his play making bode he's been really good but you know the pay Penguins got this player because he's a really good score. And he's had a 30-goal season before. He's had multiple 20-goal seasons. I think a lot of people, including myself, were expecting him to be back to 20 goals this season,

and he hasn't been in close so far. So he needs to be more consistent. I think you will see some consistency from him down the stretch as well. Other bowl predictions, I think that might... Actually, no, when Jake Kensal comes back, and I do think that's going to be after Christmas break against Boston. I think that's going to happen. He will finish top 10 and overall goals scored this season,

potentially even top five. He was on track to be close to the Rocket Richard race before he got hurt. Obviously, it stunk that he did. The fact that he's already back skating with the team shows that the injury was not too serious. A lot of people that were the case. But I think you will see him finish in the top five and top 10 in a Rocket Richard race by the end of this season. But those are all my bold predictions for the Penguins for the rest of the 50 games.

Let me know what your bold predictions are for the rest of the season, as the season is expected to continue early next week with a game against those Boston ruins. It'll be the first time Pittsburgh and Boston have squared off since last season where the Penguins lost five of eight, if I recall correctly. But there'll be in the next segment. We're going to go into the Penguins holiday video that they released and go into what, you know, my favorite holiday video was just because it's a lot. kind of time of year, right? I mean, I've watched all the holiday videos. The one today that they made

was hilarious, even though it was just kind of the mix. If you haven't seen it, you can go on the Penguin social media pages, or I try to put a link to it in the description box on the YouTube page. It was just, it was great. But overall, no one plays daily fantasy sports to lose. Winning feels so much better, but traditional fantasy sports are a long-term losing proposition because you never know who or what you are up against. Stagnor is the first of its kind, Daily Fantasy Sports Platform where it's you versus the house and head-to-head fantasy matchups, winner take all. And here is the crazy part.

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promo code hockey terms and conditions apply. All right, welcome back to this episode of the lockdown Penguins podcast. I am your host, Honor Hoadies. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at L.O. OrnSquare Penguins. So the Penguins holiday video today was nothing, but it was just hilarious. I mean, they basically, they like to make their own version of a Christmas movie, you know, Home Alone, Grinch.

I think one of your, they close to the Gremlins or something like. that. But this year they decided to combine all the ones that they have done into a single video. You have Evgeny Malking out here just screaming bingo every five seconds. Like all the Penguins fans use the Jif on social media or message boards or, you know, wherever you see it on. That was great. You had Sidney Crosby rekindling his hello. Because it was about a few years ago, they did the first Home Alone movie during the holidays. And I think it was Josh Gets off narrating it. and Sid is, you know, Kevin on the ground because, you know, in the movie Home Alone, he shoots Marv,

who's trying to cut through the dog entry. And this is just like, hello. And then he just shoots whoever it was in the head in the video. I'm like blanking on the name. But you saw Casey DeSmith getting his headlit on fire during the Home Alone thing as a tribute to Phil Kessel, because that was a meme that was going all around Penguin's Messersch. message boards and social media. When they released that video, I want to say that was about four to five years ago.

Absolutely hilarious. And, you know, you had, I didn't realize how jacked John Marino was because you look at that dude and he looks like just a skinny little hockey player. That dude is jacked. I think he was playing Bruce Willis, I believe, from Die Hard in the video they released today, which was awesome. It's just the penguins always crush these holiday videos. I'm not surprised anymore.

You know, the Home Alone one is probably my favorite. It's probably my favorite over the other ones. Dan Potash being Kevin's mom is absolutely hilarious as well. He always does a great job with that. I mean, Brock McGinn is in the video, just laughing around. I even made a joke to Kaspari Kappanin. In one of the videos, they also did a joke with Brandon Tanev in the video. in the video today.

And I love that the Penguins even had some gifs out there. They even said Phil would be proud as Casey Dissnit was getting his head on fire. Best actor went to Casperi Capnin because he was being hilarious. Letang was playing The Grinch and he basically had a line of, well, this is messing up my hair because he has grown his hair out again. And yes, what does this podcast come to everyone? I am sitting here talking to you all on a segment about the Penguins holiday videos because this league is on a pause right now.

I understand it's probably not the best topic that some want to hear about, but I find it funny, and I hope a lot of you that listen to this podcast are finding it at least a little bit funny as well if you haven't listened to it. If you could tell me what your favorite holiday videos are, that would be great. Just tweet me at Hunter Hodes. You can tweet the show at Locked on underscore Penguins.

so sorry I'm something popped up on my laptop as I'm reporting of course my girlfriend is trying to call me as I'm doing this so I'm actually just sending this text okay and then we're done with that that's the first time since I've had the YouTube channel that that's happened but you know what you learn and you live from it as one of my buddies likes to say and we're back to talking about the holiday videos the Grinch one again that was awesome um and Don Marino saying one of the gifts can I still say yippity ki Yipiti Yves as that saying from the movie that he's playing goes. Again, you know, Gino is saying bingo because that's just who he is at this point.

But yeah, again, my favorite video is Home Alone. The Grinch one was also pretty decent as well when they did that. I do want them to do Die Hard Again at some point. Or if they've actually, now that I think about it, I don't think they've ever done that. They've done quite a few movies, but I do not think they've. ever done dark hurt i mean it's also been a movie that that's pretty highly debated if it is a christmas movie my opinion i think it is so i think the penguin should totally and flat out do the movie for one year but um i overall liked the holiday video it was a lot of fun to just

to tweet out there you know everyone is just laughing on john marino's muscles because no one expected him you know to be that big you know the tank off that he's wearing is hilarious but want to spend a little bit of a second to touch on something a little more lighthearted for the podcast and just go into, you know, the holiday video and whatnot. Coming up in the third setting, we're going to go into my favorite holiday games or that the penguins have played in throughout the years that I've been a fan. I'm going to go into my top two or three and explain why I have them up there as my top ones. But before we do that, Ben Online has recovered this holiday season that with more props, odds,

and minds than ever before as the football continues, it's March through the college bowl season and the NFL playoffs in a few weeks. Then Align remains your number one spot for all the sports action this season. You can head to the website or use a mobile device to sign up today and receive a 50% off welcome bonus on your first deposit. You just use our permanent code locked on to receive that bonus. For basketball, football, NHL boxing, write your favorite Vegas casino games. Don't wait to take advantage of all the amazing offers available for the 2021 season.

Beneline is the fastest and easiest way to bet on all your favorite sports. So don't wait to take advantage of all those new amazing offers available for. to you that has been online where the game starts. All right, welcome back to this episode of The Locked on Penguin Podcast. I am your host, Hunter Hoadies. You're going to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the shows Twitter at L.O underscore Penguins. So my favorite game around the holidays, this is probably my top one.

This actually occurred during Thanksgiving. I know it's with Christmas coming up. You know, the Penguins, obviously everyone's going to look for a Christmas game, but I'm also going to include one that happened after Christmas after this one I talk on. But my favorite one around any holiday season was the game against Vancouver two years ago, November 27, 2019. It was that wild one where Pittsburgh was down four to two going into the third period. They were even down six to three in the third period alone with about 10 minutes left. And all of a sudden, the penguins just go on a tear.

These were six goals overall in that period. Gino has a five-point night with two goals. Jake Gensel scores two goals as well. Brian Russ, Krista Tang score. Ashton Rees was the one, I believe, that tie the game. Dominic Cahoon scored. Crystal Tang actually scored the winner in that game. If I recall correctly, that winner was scored with only one to two minutes left,

and the Penguins were able to ice it with an empty netter just about 30 seconds no minute later to win that game 8 to 6. Just a tremendous performance, I thought, because it looked like it was all but over. But then the Penguins launched one. one of the best comebacks that I'd ever seen. So for all the holiday seasons, that one, they always usually have a game of your team. The one that is usually the best around this time of year,

it came 2016-2017 season, so the second of the back-to-back cups. The Penguins are playing Montreal, December 31st, 2016. Pittsburgh takes an early lead. Montreal is able to come back and tie it. It's back and forth a little bit, so the game goes to overtime. And that was the game where it was a four on three power play.

And again, Malkin blast the game winner at about 9.30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. And he basically, you know, just puts his stick up and he has his face going all crazy. And I think there was even a meme made of him saying, it'll come to me. But basically like, you know, can you feel me now or something like that? No, no, no, not that one. I've got it finally. Are you not entertained?

I have to find that picture. I'm pretty sure I still have that on my phone, to be honest. But that was another one of my favorite games from the holiday season. There's another one a couple years before that against the Red Wings. That was a close game for a little bit. And then Pittsburgh was able to blow them out in the third period. I want to say that came in 2015 or 2016, something like that. And they won that game. I want to say it was five to two.

I'm pretty sure that was one of the games that a lot of the Penguins fans circled on the calendar. Yeah, it was the 2015-16 season because the Penguins were kind of playing up and down hockey up until that point under Mike Sullivan. But that was the win where people were like, okay, if they can build off that win. And again, that happened New Year's Eve, 2015, going into 2016, the first half of the back-to-backs. If they can build off that win, this team could be really something. and they did that and then some, obviously, after that game, just for the rest of that season, just because of how hot they got for the 2016 season.

But that was one of my favorite holiday games ever. The Black Friday games, they don't usually do too well in those. I remember they played Boston about a few years ago, played well in a few stretches, but then kind of just got blown out in the third period. I mean, the Penguins have also lost the Bruins every year at TD Garden. that's going back to I think it's 2014

they have not won in that building in the last 70 you have won at the United Center in close to if not over a decade at this point for whatever reason the Penguins just cannot win in those buildings I don't get it other holiday games that I can think of I know those were more recent

but they still just you know they met a lot just because of how great the team played in those games and how much, you know, it fueled them for those back-to-backups. Obviously, the one in 2019 with the Canucks was a bit different that happened right after Thanksgiving. But, you know, it was still a fun game to watch. It was probably the game of the year considering what happened in the playoffs for the Penguins against the Islanders. But, you know, with the holiday season coming up, just wanted to go into, you know, my top

three games around, well, with the holiday season, it started around Thanksgiving. It's now fully here with Christmas in New Year's. to go into my top three holiday games overall for the Penguins towards the late stages of the year just you know going to why they meant so much to me and you know I think why they should mean so much to Penguin Sands as a whole as well but I hope you all enjoy this episode of the locked on Penguins podcast excuse me I know we're getting you know there's not much content out there these days because the team is they're not doing anything they're not allowed to do anything with a pause until early next week but you know this is why you come to my show right you want to be

You want good topics to hear me touch on. You know, I try my best to provide the best content in the city, no matter if it's writing, podcasting, you know, video, and whatnot. You know, I'm not going to come to a show and just not be prepared. You know, that just looks poorly on me, looks poorly on the people that hired me. And, you know, that would probably be the last time. I think I would have some listeners of the show. That's just that's something I can't do.

But I appreciate everyone that listens to this episode. It will be an end of this podcast as a whole. There will be an episode coming out tomorrow on Christmas Eve for you all. So look for that then. And then I hope you all have a wonderful Merry Christmas on the weekend on Saturday. We will be back with five episodes next week as well as the team will be back in action. I'm excited. I wish the team was playing tonight so I could give you all a full game recap.

But, you know, COVID gets in the way. Hopefully this is the only pies that we see this season. But again, thank you all so much for listening to this episode. And I will talk to you all on Friday. Thank you.