Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Who exactly are these Pittsburgh Penguins?

Episode Date: January 20, 2021

A late-night postgame podcast here and what a wild game it was for the Penguins. Hunter breaks down the Penguins second consecutive win after they sweep the Capitals in their first two games of the season. He goes all in to the goals that were scored, including the Penguins first 3-on-5 goal since Matt Cooke did it to Philadelphia. He also talks about Guentzel's OT winner and how he was the main reason they won the game in that period. Kasperi Kapanen also made his debut tonight and showed just how quick he is as he was the team's best forward. Also touched on: Will TJ Oshie face discipline for his hit on Pettersson? Who starts moving forward? Also, why Geno's goal will finally get him going FULLY.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 “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order. 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.

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 episode of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes. Follow the show's Twitter at LO-W-1-N-Square Penguins.

And what a hockey game we just watched. We are going to get all into it in this episode. all the positives, all the negatives, because there were a lot of negatives that came out of this game. So this episode might be a bit of a jumbled mess, but, you know, we're just going to go through it as quickly as we can. Well, I shouldn't say that. We'll go in depth about a bunch of stuff as well. But, you know, let's just start with the negative, guys. Not the start of the Penguins wanted again. That's probably the worst start of the first four games that I think we've seen. Just the defensive breakdowns were there, Casey DeSmith allowing a couple bad goals.

I'm glad they didn't pull him. You know, they didn't need to put Tristan Jari in. yet I think Jari will get the start on Friday against the New York Rangers. But, I mean, I'm glad that Sullivan did not do a panic move and pull to Smith because he was making some good saves. But then, you know, he had a couple of bit of stinkers. But just in the first period, guys, the penguins just did not have their legs. Not at all. And they were just, I don't think they had a shot on goal until like the, what, the 13, 15 minute

mark of the period. If you any Malkin looked lost. Just the team looked slow. The only player that looked good in that period was Casperi Captain. and we're going to touch a lot on Kisbury Kaepinan later in this episode because he was a force tonight. You know, you look at the underlying numbers and you have the eye test as well. He was probably their best player on the ice, but just nothing was working for them. They allowed three goals in that first period.

I think overall for the first period this year, guys, the Penguins have been outscored on a 10 to 5 basis. I think that's correct. They just have not started games well at all. If they can just start the game on time and not look like they're sleepwalking, and actually get some saves, this team is going to win a lot of hockey games. I mean, the team, they play better as the game goes on, but for God's sakes, if they can just start the game on a good note and stop up with all these defensive breakdowns and get some saves, they're going to win a lot of hockey games.

I mean, you saw Tom Wilson had a couple goals. McGenie Kuznetsov also scored. Lars Eller scored. I think Eller actually opened the scoring for Washington. I think it was a four-on-two play. Riegola had a shot in the offensive zone. I think it was blocked, took a crazy bounce in the case. Caps are just gone the other way.

Just a bad effort all around there. The Penguins were able to tie the game, though, relatively quickly after that. I think it was Colton Xavier that got the goal, but make no mistake, that goal was caused by Caspary Cappinan just flying in the offensive zone. You know, if you guys had listened to this podcast in the all season, I talked about the biggest thing with Cappinin's game is his speed. He's one of the fastest players in the league. He came into the zone with authority.

The Capitol's goaltender, who I'm totally going to mispronounce his last name. Vannecach, rookie 833. save percentage tonight. I just didn't play cleanly and Colton Severe and Teddy Blugher. They were there to clean up the garbage and Severe was able to get that goal, his second goal of the season. Then, you know, the caps come right back. I think it was like 10 seconds later Tom Wilson gets a goal.

And then I think Wilson scored the next goal as well, if I'm not mistaken, to go up 3 to 1. Originally, I thought it was Dumlin that made a bad play. Thank you to Darren D. Nasty, 02 from Penguin's Twitter. Shout out to him. He actually, you know, had me go back and watch the really. play. It was Marcus Pedersen that had the terrible play on that goal. Basically, signaled for him to come off and then Doomlin had to come on and then Wilson was just

shrieking down with no one right there. And there's such a perfect pass to get him for the goal. Doomlin had no chance there. I had a tweet that I was blaming Dumlin. You know, Ali Crow on that. I didn't give it a chance to see what happened fully. That one was on Pedersen. And I'm sure her learned from that. After that, the Penguins were able to get back in the game again. Jake Gensel had a great power play goal on that five on three. Powerplay was looking bad on the five on four. But then, you know, the Capitals took another powerplay. It was like, oh, my God, if the Penguins don't score a goal in the powerplay here,

just Fire Tire reared it in that whole unit into the sun. They were able to get it, though, beautiful pass from Rust against him who had a wide open net. I mean, that was a slam dunk play. He'll hit that 10 out of 10 times. And then, you know, Capitals come right back, score again. And then, you know, the second period, from the six-minute mark on, I would say, it was just all penguins the rest of the way. You know, great to see Teddy Blugher get the very rare three.

three on five goal. I could not believe that we saw that. Just a gorgeous pass, though, from Casey DeSmith to spring him. I mean, you're not going to get that from Mark Andre Fleury. You're definitely not going to get that from Matt Murray. And we all talk about how Tristan Jari's puck handling abilities are great. You might get that from him, but just what a pass from to Smith to spring him there. Beliger was just all alone past the capitals and he just went forehand, backhand, tucked it in five hole in Vanichek to make it a four or three. And, you know, the game kind of changed right there. That was where it was like, okay, I can definitely see the Penguins winning this game now. There's a lot of more wild stuff to happen in the rest of that

game. Evgeny Malkin finally wakes up from being on Pluto, had a gorgeous slapper that went past Vanacek. I'm on the power play. He needed that because the rest of the game guys, Fegni Malkin was the Hvgeny Malkin. He was flying through in the offensive zone, getting to loose pucks with authority, just knifing through guys like we've seen him do throughout his career. I think that was the goal that will really give him the jolt that he needs for the rest of the season. And, you know, going back to that Teddy Bluger goal, that is the first three-on-five goal, the Penguins have scored since 2012, if you want to look it up, and see the replay. Matt Cook did it to the Philadelphia Flyers, and then gave Cape Kimo teaming and then a big death stare and basically

talk some shit as he was coming off the ice. So definitely a goal that you guys should go back and watch. I remembered it briefly. I wasn't sure, though, until I looked it up. I was only 14 at the time somehow. But still, you know, what a, what a memory that was. And still, what a play for bluer to get that goal to put the Penguins right back into the game. And then, you know, we had the Afghani Malkin goal to make it full for going into the third period. Like I said, beautiful slapper. Then the third period comes.

That was, again, a dominant performance by the Pittsburgh Penguins in that third period. I don't think I can recall one capital's good chance in that period. I mean, the Penguins had the puck, I think, virtually the whole time. And that's the second consecutive game that this has happened. And it's something to build on. They just need to start out games better. They are suppressing shots at a very high level, once the third period hits, especially in these last two games. And I thought the Penguins were going to win this game in regulation.

I know it sucks that they had to win in overtime and give the Capitals another point. But, you know, I think it was Gensel that had those two chances with about two and a half minutes left. I think it had a deflection, which was saved. And then as Gensel was trying to put in the rebound, what a save by Ivana check of the Capitals. I thought Gensel had the game winner right there because I don't think the Capitals were going to score on an empty number. net. That would have been a hell of a goal for Gensel to cap off his night. He was sensational. We're going to get to him coming up in the next segment. And then, you know, the overtime goal, Cindy Crosby does Cindy Crosby things and the Penguins walk out with two points, getting a two

and two on the season. I thought it was another strong night for Cindy Crosby. I mean, he plays virtually well, I think, in every game. But I think especially tonight, this was probably his best game of the season, I would say. The Capitals just had no answer for him every time he touched the puck. I mean, I think I saw him dart around Zendano Chara, and Chara can actually still play. You know, he was bumping guys off the puck left and right, but when Crosby was on the ice against him, Charra just had no answer for him.

He just could not keep up. I don't think anyone can keep up with Cindy Crosby doing his thing with his backhand. I thought Sid was close to another backhand goal in the second period. I think it was a two-on-one-one with Gensel. Had a pass there but decided to shoot, which I think was the right call with Cindy Crosby's backhand history. It's one of the best in the league. And Vannecich somehow got a piece of that.

And that's not an easy shot to save, but believe me, he's made goalies look pretty helpless throughout his career with his backhand. But, you know, this team is something else. You know, they really are. They make you scratch your eyeballs out, but then they come back and they just, it isn't matter. They're 3-1, 4-2. They keep fighting and they get to four points and, you know, they're right back in the thick of things with 52 games to play in the Rangers coming to town.

But still, a lot more to get to about this game. We still have to go over what happened with T.J. O'Shee. So I have to go over, but just go more in depth about the overtime goal I tweeted about it on my Twitter account. I'm going to talk about it on here. As you know, this was just one wild game between the penguins and the capitals. But before we do get to all that, it is time to talk about rockado.com. It's a family business serving auto park customers online for 20 years.

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of the locked on penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Remember to follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L.O. underscore Penguins. I did have a lot of fun live tweeting a little bit from the locked on penguins' Twitter account. I don't do that as much since I just have my regular Twitter account open onto my laptop and then my other one on my phone. But I'm going to start doing that a lot more often. It's fun to talk to you guys through the Twitter account during the game and just live tweeted. I absolutely love doing it.

I'm going to keep doing it. Other stuff about this game. Let's just get into the T.J. Oshy incident. That's a garbage hit. And I said this on my own Twitter account. T.J. Oshy is a sneaky dirty player. I don't care if Caps fans will disagree with that. He has done that crap

constantly to the Penguins throughout these Penguins' Capitals games ever since he came to Washington. He is just, like I said, he is a sneaky dirty player. Caps fans will never admit to it because, I mean, why wouldn't they? But, you know, that's just the kind of garbage that you'll expect from Oshy. I thought it was Bush League.

That the Redford originally called a five-minute major. Then they reviewed it and they were like, oh, it's just a two-minute interference call. I mean, that's just so chicken shit, in my opinion. Those are the kind of hits you want to get out of the game. Yes, I understand it is not a head shot that the primary point of contact was not the head, but it was still a late hit and Pedersen did not return to the game. I'm not really sure what the injury is. Sullivan did say after the game that he is being evaluated for an upper body injury. There is no update at this time left to see if he

he practices. But, you know, that was at least a good one to two seconds after that puck was gone from Pedersen stick. And you know, the people that will defend it will go, well, he's just finishing his check. He's just finishing his check. No, he's not finishing his. check. That is a garbage hit that has got to get out of this game right now. We've been saying it for years. I mean, this is not 1984 anymore. Those hits are not acceptable in this league for 2021. I'm sorry. If that were a penguin player, I would say the same thing. I mean, you know, we tolerated Matt Cook's garbage throughout so many years when he was just headshotting people left and right and doing those similar kind of hits as well, which were interference hits, but should

have been five-minute major hits. You know, it's just like those are the hits that need to get out of the game. Again, you know, T.J. Oshy doing T.J. O'Shee things. Tom Wilson actually had a hit in this game. People were going to call it dirty. It was clean. You know, I'm the last person that's going to defend Tom Wilson. But, you know, I thought it was a clean hit. I think it was on TANF in the second period or something like that.

But for the love of God, please get those kind of hits that O'Shee put on Pedersen out of the game. I don't care what team it is. I don't care if a penguin player does it. I don't care if someone on the Vancouver Canucks does it. That kind of hit has no place in the game. No, it's not finishing your check. I've played the game.

I've watched the game for so many years. I'm not a dinosaur like some of these other people are. I love a good body check. I love a good clean hit. But, you know, there's just kind of hits. They're not acceptable in 2021 in the NHL anymore. So we'll see if there's any discipline for O'Shea. Maybe he'll get a fine.

He's not going to get suspended for the DOPS. Or in other words, the Department of Player Safety. You know, they stink at their job. So they'll probably just give him a fine like they gave to Jared McCann for his hit on the Sandheim. But moving on to other things, let's talk about the goaltending a little bit. I mean, I thought Casey Smith was. okay for this game, but still two stinkers that he can't let up.

I think it was right after the Penguins tied it. It was the second goal that a capital score. I think that was one from Tom Wilson. It goes off his shoulder in the net. That's basically a goal that you see from like NHL 21 every time you play an online versus game. I've, I have

lost count of how many times I played what NHL 18 or NHL 17 and that was the exact goal that was given up in games that I was playing against people. It's just to say that DeSmith needs to He makes it nine out of ten times. It's such a stinker to let up, especially after the Penguins, just tied the game after a great shift from Kasperi Kappan.

And we're actually going to get to Captain right after this. I think it was then the fourth goal. I think that was Kuznetsov's goal. Penguins had just made it 3-2 off of Gensel's goal. And then just a terrible rebound control. And then DeSmith has no chance with a rebound. It's like, man, like you got to make a timely save when the team needs it. You know, I'm going to say this for Tristan Jari, too.

If the penguins continue to get this kind of goal tending, winning like this is not going to last. I mean, this is not a recipe for a success. Yes, they're two and two. Yes, they've won in spite of their goaltending. But sooner or later, your goalies are going to have to make saves. They're going to have to build the team out when they're having a defensive breakdown. And you got to make the easy ones too, especially with dismiss rebound control there. I mean, you can't put it to the only place where it can't go where Tuesdays is just standing right there and then just has an easy tap in.

I mean, you got to do better than that. That wasn't even on the defense there. They're actually all back and all playing their men. But just to Smith has to be a lot better there. But as for moving forward, I think you're going to see Jari get the start on Friday against the New York Rangers. I think Sullivan talked about it at the media day this morning. You know, just want to work out some kinks in his game, get him, get his confidence back, and then they're going to start him again on Friday.

I just, I don't think they're going to start to Smith again. I know he got the win, but, you know, I think they kind of won in spite of him tonight. I know when he came in on the game on Sunday He had some big saves that Jari hasn't made all season But for this game I said man they won in spite of him You know the offense woke up the capitals had some bad defensive breakdowns And that was the main reason why they won the game

But you know let's just get to Casperi Kappan And what a debut he had guys I mean he was just flying every time he came onto the ice I don't know why Sullivan was a little too hesitant To put him on the top line after five minutes in I mean he had that first shift that he went on I mean they created a scoring chance I mean that was just how good he was

was. I mean, another great tweet from Danny of the Penns blog, Shiree Irving, with how good captain was tonight. You look at his underlying numbers from Natural Statrick. He played 10 minutes at 5E5, 14 shot attempts for, three shot attempts against, had 95% of the expected goal share. He basically did all of the work when he was on the ice. He was a great fit on that fourth line. I would expect captain to get full top line minutes for the next game. I mean, he was, He has only had one practice with the team, and yet he looked better than basically every other penguin skater tonight. You know, that's just, that's hilarious to me.

I'm really excited to see how he does moving forward, because he was just creating chances every time he was on the ice tonight for Pittsburgh. Defensively, I'll talk about it again on this segment. I can't say enough about how great the defense was, especially late in the game when Ricola and Pedersen were out. I really don't know what happened with Pedersen toward, I mean, not Pedersen, um, Rikula towards the late stages of the game.

I don't remember seeing him get hit high, hit low, or anything, and having being hobbled off the ice. Sullivan did say after the game that it is an upper body injury for him. He's getting evaluated. You know, that's just his typical stuff that he says after a game. But if one of those guys is out longer term, if one of those guys just has to miss a game or two, P.O. Joseph will likely make his NHL debut.

And that will be an exciting moment, I think, for a lot of people in this fan base, because he is well regarded in the Penguin system as their best defensive prospect as of right now. And after reading a lot of beat reporters articles after training camp, a lot of people are saying that he's NH already. So he'll be curious to see if he does get his chance to get in the lineup full time. Obviously, you don't want another defenseman of her. But I'd be curious to see how P.O. Joseph would do. But I think that's it for this segment.

We're still going to discuss the overtime goal in depth coming up in the next segment and a couple other things going into the next game. But before that, it's time to talk about Bet Online. There's only one place that has you covered and one place we trust. that is betonline.ag. You sign up today for a free account at that site and use that promo code locked on for your 50% off welcome bonus. Don't just sit on the sidelines anymore, guys.

Get it on the action. Don't forget to use that promo code locked on to receive a 50% off welcome bonus with your first deposit. That's bet online, your online sports book experts. All right, welcome back to this episode of the Lockdown Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodey. So about that overtime goal,

what a play by Gensold? just basically chip it to himself. I think it was around Dmitri Orlov, if I'm not mistaken, and then just gives it back to the point where Lutang just fires in a net, and then just Sid does his thing and just tucks in the rebound like he always does. And another big play on that overtime goal, it was right before that, I think 10 to 15 seconds before it. Marino made a motion for Lattain to come onto the ice because he was gas.

He saw that I think there was a play to be made. Comes off the ice. Chris Lattain comes right on, fires the puck that eventually goes to Sidney Crosby with the rebound. That is a heads-up play by. Marino, not a lot of second year players know how to make that play. And he also 1vichkin going down the right side in the third period, won that battle. You know, had that tweet, don't mind me, just watching John Marino winning a 1v1 against

the best pure goals score in Hitchell history. He is just something else. I know he had a bad play in that goal on Sunday where he was basically just puck watching, but he redeemed himself and then some tonight with two very heads-up plays, one with you know, 1v1 in Obetkin, taking the puck away from him. and then signaling for Lattang to come on the ice as there is a potential scoring chance coming. And a lot of people have said in the past, Jake Gensel is a product of Cindy Crosby.

Jake Gensel only produces because of Cindy Crosby. You know, not with plays like that. He's just such a smart player. And then just the chip to himself just did it all. You know, I just stood up right as he did that. And I just might jaw drop because I was like, wow. I mean, he's just, he amazes me every time he steps foot onto the ice. It was great to see him get out of that.

the goals are going to start coming for Jake he's one of the best pure goal scorers in the league right now and you can only keep a guy like that snake bitten for so long so it was great to see him get not only get on the score sheet but you know just indirectly set up the game winning goal for pittsburgh to win the game five to four um let's see other stuff um i did have a tweet on the locked on penguin's twitter account you know give me some of your thoughts to share on the show um a couple here gilbert the goat says the pens win the hockey game yes they sure did wow did malkin and gensel very wake up after that first period. Cappenden looked great today and boy, oh boy,

Sid the kids show why he's still one of the best players in the world. Yeah, I mean, I think Sid did show that he is still the best player in the world. I would still take him over anyone in the league. Sorry Nathan McKinnon. Sorry, Connor McDavid. I'm still writing with 87. And yeah, man, Evgeny Malkin did wake up. After he got that goal, it was just so much different than that third period from Gino,

was knifeing through guys left and right, was just a menace on the puck in the offensive zone. when he gets rolling, they're basically no one can get the puck off him. Otherwise, though, in that first period, just looked very sluggish. Even into some of the second period was looking sluggish, but I really do think that goal is going to do a lot for him this season.

I think that will get him out of his song. Yeah, Gensel, you know, he woke up too, just talked about that. Captain looked awesome. I can't wait to see how he looks on the top line in the next game against the New York Rangers. Maybe they'll put out Jack Johnson against the top line. Wouldn't that be something, Gilbert? From Alan T. Yoder, Blugher's goal is going to be.

be a play of the year candidate. Yeah, I think so. You know, it's, it's a cold day in hell when you see a three on five goal around the league. Bad start, but still a heck of a game, he said. Yep, absolutely agree. Impressive deformance with four defensemen. Hope Pedersen is okay. That should have been a five-minute penalty. Way to fight back and get the win. Yeah, I still think it should have been a five-minute major. And to your point, Alan, they did one hell of a job in the third period defending with four defensemen. Like I said, man, the Capitals, I don't think they had one good scoring chance in that third period and the Penguins were playing two defensive pairs that entire time. I think it was mostly Duma and Latang and I think Ruby Do it with Marino, but I did

see Latang with Marino out there a bunch. They just, they all looked great and just didn't give the capitals anything. So big kudos to the defense for getting through that. And then the lastly, I apologize if I mispronounce your name. Man, um, Philip Sautchuk or Felipe Sautchuk. I am so sorry, buddy. But thank you for the tweet. What are your thoughts on captain for me? He played really well and could be on the first line on Friday, and of course, what a great win. Yeah, man, Caperman was their best player on the ice tonight. He was making a play on the offensive zone every time it came onto the ice. You saw his underlying numbers from what Danny of the Penn's blog said.

He was a menace with the puck, and you can just see how fast he is when he gets going. It's just, it's hard to get the puck off his stick when he's just bolting into the offensive zone. And I do hope that he is on the first line on Friday as well. And, yeah, what a great win. You know, the Penguins get to two in two on the season. and you know with a jack johnson reunion coming up we'll see if the penguins get to three and two on friday night when they play the rangers lastly though before i do end this episode i do want to say it is always fun bantering you know with some capitals friends in a couple of group chats namely um if you guys ever listen to this dean Aaron Nathan

a couple of my other friends um Hannah one and Hannah two know they're just they're both named Hannah but they're two of my very best friends it's just is always fun bantering during those games and you know we'll see if we'll get penguin Capital is in the playoffs again, though I don't know how both fan bases will feel about each team playing each other 15 times for the season. But that'll be it for this episode of the Locked on Penguins podcast. Just had a shout out a few people out. And thank you guys so much for live tweeting with me on the Locked on Penguins' Twitter account and continuing to listen. This past week, Locked on Penguins podcast was one of the five most listened to NHL

podcasts on the network. I cannot thank all of you enough that, you know, continue listening or have only tuned done for one episode. I very much appreciate it. and we're going to have a lot more content coming this week. I think tomorrow I'm going to try to have Nick from Rangers Twitter on, Nick Zarius, who was a well-known Jack Johnson supporter, by the way. No, I'm just messing around.

I feel bad that he has to watch that guy play every night. I think I'm going to have him on tomorrow. And then Thursday, we're going to have John Check from Locked on Rangers on. We'll do a crossover preview for the game. And then Friday, we'll have a post-game episode where we'll break it all down for you all. But still, thank you guys so much for listening to this episode. And I will talk to you all next time. time.