Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins will look to finish their West Coast swing with a winning record tonight when they take on the San Jose Sharks! Patrick Damp begins the Wednesday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by taking a look at tonight's opponent, the San Jose Sharks. The young, talented team is having a bit of a slow start, as they're finding themselves unable to defend, and unable to outscore their defensive woes. Patrick also talks about how tonight's performance could dictate what the rest of the season looks like in terms of trades, roster construction, and other big decisions. (0:00...

It's a question being asked by many fans and analysts after a tough start to the 2026-27 season: What is the direction of the Pittsburgh Penguins? Patrick Damp is back for the Tuesday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast, and today, he's joined by The Hockey News's Kelsey Surmacz! Patrick and Kelsey dedicate the first segment of the show to answering the question: "What is the direction of the Penguins?" They analyze the offseason, the trades, and much more to give you a clearer picture of what Kyle Dubas and company are doing. (0:00) Then, with so many clamoring...

The Penguins got a win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, but dropped their Sunday night matchup to the Anaheim Ducks, both by a score of 5-2. Patrick is flying solo this week on the Locked On Penguins Podcast as Hunter is off on his honeymoon! Patrick begins the show by recapping the Penguins' 5-2 win over the LA Kings on Saturday night, gives Sidney Crosby his flowers for moving into sixth all-time in NHL scoring, and a discussion about Tommy Novak and the value he brings to the Penguins, and potentially, another team. He also gives out...

The Penguins suffered a 6-2 loss to the Boston Bruins, and a lot went wrong. Hunter and Patrick begin the Friday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by recapping the Penguins' horrific loss to the Bruins on Thursday night. (1:00) They talk about a lack of pushback, mental mistakes, and the same defensive miscues that have haunted them all season long. Then, they discuss whether or not the Penguins can turn this season around, or if they’re destined for a high draft pick come this summer. (12:00) Finally, the Penguins hit the road for a three-game California swing, which wi...

The Penguins will welcome one of the best teams in the National Hockey League tonight when the Boston Bruins come to town. Patrick and Hunter begin the Locked On Penguins Podcast by taking a look at Thursday night's opponent, the Boston Bruins. The Bruins come to Pittsburgh as the best team in the Atlantic Division, and they have few weaknesses. Whether it's a deep group of forwards, a good defensive corps, or an elite goaltender, the Penguins have their hands full. (0:00) Then, they talk about a couple of lineup changes for the Penguins going into Thursday's game. Evgeni Malkin...

The Penguins blew another lead, gave up a late goal, and came away from Tuesday night's game against Vegas with zero points. Hunter and Patrick begin the Wednesday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by breaking down another infuriating loss by the Penguins, this time to the Vegas Golden Knights. They start with the failures on special teams, which saw the Penguins go 0-for-6 on the power play and 2-for-4 on the penalty kill. (0:00) Then, they discuss head coach Dan Muse's comments defending Declan Carlile despite his recent stretch of poor play. Is this a coach protecting a...

The Penguins officially debut their Hometown Remix jerseys tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights! Patrick and Hunter kick off the Tuesday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by looking at tonight’s opponent, the Vegas Golden Knights. (1:00) Despite being one of the best teams in the West, they have struggled lately and are on the second night of a back-to-back with travel, so the Penguins have a big opportunity to get back in the win column. They then give their keys to victory, along with lineup and injury updates. (12:25) Evgeni Malkin will not play on Tuesday, but it ap...

The Penguins battled back in Montreal, but the comeback fell short as the same defensive woes continued to plague them. Hunter and Patrick begin the Monday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by breaking down the Halloween loss the Penguins suffered at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens. They talk about how Sergei Murashov was able to recover from a tough start, how Sidney Crosby finally looked like himself again, and how a lot of the same defensive problems continued to show up. (0:00) Then, the Penguins have a challenging week ahead when they'll welcome two formidable opponents to...

The Penguins were one second away from stealing a victory against the Mammoth, but couldn’t hold on. Patrick and Hunter begin the Friday edition by recapping what was a disastrous loss against Utah in overtime on Thursday night. (1:10) They take a deep-dive look at the shift that led to the tying goal and how a puzzling series of decisions by defenseman Declan Carlile led to the hometown hero Logan Cooley being able to complete the hat trick to send the game to overtime. Then, they discuss the play of Sidney Crosby, who has not been very Sidney Crosby-like to...

The Penguins announced that Arturs Silovs will get his fourth straight start in net with Utah in town, but what does this mean for Sergei Murashov? Hunter and Patrick kick off the Thursday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by looking at tonight’s matchup against the Utah Mammoth. They break down Utah’s roster and discuss a few players, including Ben Kindel, who will be returning for the Penguins. Then, with Silovs set to start his fourth straight game, when will we see Sergei Murashov again? They delve into whether or not this is the right strategy for...

The Penguins are starting to get healthy at forward, and that means some tough decisions are coming for Dan Muse and his staff. Patrick and Hunter begin the Wednesday edition by taking a look at what line configurations were together at practice, what these lines mean for this week's games, and who might be coming out of the lineup or going back to the AHL. (0:00) Then, with the team getting healthier, tough decisions are coming for Dan Muse and the coaching staff. Patrick and Hunter put their coaching hats on and come up with their ideal, healthy Penguins lineup. (11:43...

More than a week after his medical episode on the team plane left him in the hospital, Ben Kindel was back at Penguins practice! Hunter and Patrick discuss Ben Kindel’s return and promotion at Penguins practice on Tuesday, some of the line combinations, and a couple of players who will need to step it up soon. (1:00) Then, with leaks of nearly every Hometown Remix jersey dropping this week, they take a look at the potential Penguins jersey, give their takes, and look at some others from around the league. (11:30) Finally, reports have been floating that the Penguins have an...

The Penguins won their second straight game, beating the Nashville Predators in OT thanks to Ville Koviunen's extra-frame goal! Patrick and Hunter begin the Monday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by breaking down the Penguins' 3-2 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators. They give Juuse Saros his props for trying his best to steal points for the Preds, and equally give kudos to Arturs Silvos, who also played well, and talk about the moments that swung the game. (0:00) Then, they give their three stars of the game, and have a discussion about how Ville Koivunen has quietly...

**EPISODE NOTE: Apologies for the audio. We had some technical difficulties on Friday; it will be fixed on Monday!**

The Penguins played maybe their most complete game of the season so far, getting a 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers! Patrick Damp is once again flying solo on this victory Friday. He recaps the 4-0 win over the Panthers, which was thanks to another solid performance from Nick Robertson, two points from Hendrix Lapierre, and another shutout for Arturs Silovs. He also gives his three stars of the game! (0:00) Then, the Nashville Predators come to town on...

Penguins GM Kyle Dubas provided an update on the status of forward Ben Kindel on Thursday, saying he has been released from the hospital and is back in Pittsburgh. Patrick Damp begins the Thursday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast discussing Kyle Dubas's update on Ben Kindel, breaking down what he had to say about the status of Ben Kindel, as well as talking about some other injuries and lineup notes from the day. (0:00) Then, the Florida Panthers are in town tonight, and while the Penguins are going up against another formidable opponent, they will have an opportunity...

The Penguins announced on Tuesday evening that forward Ben Kindel had to be taken to the hospital following a "medical episode" on the team plane. Patrick and Hunter begin the Wednesday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by discussing the breaking news that Ben Kindel had to be taken to a Utah hospital shortly after the team's plane took off from Salt Lake City. They go over the facts that are already known, and then talk about what this means for the lineup moving forward. (0:00) Then, they take a look at the farm system. Both the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton...

The Penguins tried to mount a comeback against the Mammoth on Monday, but ultimately fell short. Hunter and Patrick begin the Tuesday edition of the Locked On Penguins podcast by going over what went wrong in a 5-4 loss to the Utah Mammoth. (00:30) They take a look at the defense, who have been subpar for the most part, and how a lot of the problems stem from poor defensive zone play. They then discuss some positives from the game, including players like Rickard Rakell and Egor Chinakhov breaking through and scoring goals. (10:50) They also talk about how the Penguins...

The Penguins had a nightmare weekend, losing by multiple-goal margins to both Colorado and Vegas. Patrick and Hunter begin the Monday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by recapping Friday night's loss against the Colorado Avalanche. While the Penguins got off to a good start, it didn't last long. Whether it was defensive miscues or the puck not going in, the Avalanche looked like Stanley Cup contenders while the Penguins did not. (0:00) Then, they move the discussion to Saturday night's loss to Vegas, where the Penguins were toyed with by the Golden Knights for 60 minutes. On Saturday, the...

The Penguins will play two bona fide Stanley Cup contenders this weekend when they head to Colorado and then Vegas. Hunter and Patrick begin the Friday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by discussing Friday night's matchup in Denver against the red-hot Colorado Avalanche. While the Avs are one of the top-scoring teams in the NHL, they haven't been great at goal prevention, so does that provide the Penguins an opening? (0:00) Then, for all their troubles on Friday, the Penguins will head to Vegas to take on the defending Western Conference champs, who are the top-scoring team in...

It’s been a slow start for Penguins forward Rickard Rakell, so would he benefit from being moved down the lineup? Patrick and Hunter begin the show by looking at some lineup changes the Penguins made in practice on Thursday (00:40), but Rickard Rakell wasn't among them. He remains on the top line with Bryan Rust and Sidney Crosby, but how long should that last? Then, they react to some comments from GM Kyle Dubas about young players, trades, and much more. (12:35) Finally, it’s time to take a look around the Metropolitan Division and get a sense of what the...

The Penguins dropped their first game of the 4-game western swing to the Chicago Blackhawks, and special teams were a big reason why. Hunter and Patrick begin the Wednesday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by discussing the Penguins' 5-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night. They talk about how the penalty kill had a rough night, and it was the first subpar start for young goaltender Sergei Murashov. (0:00) Then, they discuss the special teams failures against the Blackhawks. Whether it was the PK going 1-for-2 or the PP going 0-for-4, they diagnose what went wrong...

The Penguins begin a four-game swing through the Western Conference in Chicago against the Blackhawks. Patrick and Hunter kick off the Tuesday edition of Locked On Penguins by looking at the Chicago Blackhawks, who are off to a woeful start to the 2026-27 season, but will welcome back young superstar Connor Bedard. (00:40) Then, they go over the lines and defense pairings for the Penguins and discuss how the Penguins can get a win to start this Western swing. (13:30) Finally, the Penguins made a small trade on Monday, acquiring defenseman Ryan Johnson from the Buffalo Sabres. (26:00)

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Despite a bad effort against Columbus and a stalemate against Dallas, the Penguins took three of four points thanks in large part to the goalies. Hunter and Patrick begin the Monday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by recapping one of the worst efforts in recent memory in Columbus. The Penguins looked completely disinterested in playing on Friday night against the Blue Jackets, but despite the poor effort, Sergei Murashov kept the Penguins in the hunt all game, leading to the team stealing a point with a shootout loss. They go over why the effort was so poor...

The Penguins have their first back-to-back of the season this weekend, starting Friday against the Blue Jackets! (00:45) Patrick and Hunter start the Friday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by previewing Friday night’s showdown in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. They break down their keys to victory and how the Penguins can stop this small skid. Then, the Penguins return home on Saturday night and welcome a Western Conference contender in the Dallas Stars. (13:35) While the Penguins may not be among the NHL’s contenders, they can measure themselves against a Dallas team with few weaknesses. Finally, it’s...

The Penguins had another sloppy start on Wednesday against the Capitals, and it cost them. Hunter and Patrick begin the Thursday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by recapping a 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals, which turned into a tale of two games. (00:45) The Penguins started slow and played sloppily through the first 30 minutes, but a solid effort in the final 30 minutes wasn't enough to mount a full comeback. They then discuss whether they’re starting to get worried after the last 7 periods. (12:00) While it is still early in the season, some recurring mistakes have begun to cr...

Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin only have a guaranteed four more meetings, and tonight, they'll meet in Washington, D.C. Patrick and Hunter begin the show discussing the trade of Filip Hallander to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Spencer Stastney. They then preview tonight's matchup against the Washington Capitals. After a pretty active summer, the Caps look like one of the East's best clubs, and it will be a big early test for the Penguins. (0:00) Then, they wax poetic about the Sidney Crosby-Alex Ovechkin/Penguins-Capitals rivalry. Both Crosby and Ovechkin had extremely high expectations placed upon them...

The Penguins were handed their first loss of the season by the Winnipeg Jets, and they didn't look particularly good while losing, either. Hunter and Patrick begin the Tuesday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by recapping Monday night's sleepy and sloppy loss to the Winnipeg Jets. They go over some of the key plays that led to the Penguins' loss, some players who actually weren't terrible, and a look at Sergei Murashov's season debut. (0:00) Then, they go over some players who didn't have the best nights, including defenseman Erik Karlsson. Karlsson's performance on Monday night was among...

The Penguins got a 6-5 overtime win over the Habs in the first home game of their 60th season! Patrick and Hunter begin the Monday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by recapping a wild game between the Penguins and Canadiens. (1:30) The game featured a 5-1 lead, a blown 4-goal lead, and an overtime winner by Tommy Novak. Then, they discuss the offside challenge that led to a disallowed goal for the Penguins. (12:40) They go over why it was called, whether they agree, and the spirit of the rule. They also hand out their three stars of the...

As the Penguins prepare for the home opener against the Montreal Canadiens, the team is starting to get healthier. Hunter and Patrick begin the Friday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by taking a look at the line combinations from practice, which saw the return of Ben Kindel and Andrei Kuzmenko. They discuss where they slotted in the lineup, what the expectations are, and who could come out of the lineup ahead of Saturday's game. (0:00) Then, they keep the discussion going in the second segment by previewing what will be a challenging home opener. The young, talented Montreal...

The Penguins started the season with a dominant 7-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers! Patrick and Hunter begin the Thursday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by recapping the Penguins’ absolute drubbing of the Flyers. (1:50) They break down some of the key moments, plays, and goals, as well as talk about the overall effort from the Penguins. Then, they discuss changes Dan Muse and the coaching staff made to the system to better counter what the Flyers were trying to do. (13:00) Finally, it's time for a new segment! Patrick and Hunter give their Three Stars of the Game, an...

The Penguins' 2026-27 season begins where the 2025-26 season ended: in Philadelphia against the Flyers! Hunter and Patrick are officially back in regular-season mode, and they are getting you set for the first of 84 games by taking a look at the season opener, which is tonight in Philadelphia. They go over how the Penguins' season begins with their biggest rival, what an opening-night victory would mean, and look at a daunting October schedule. (0:00) Then, they break down some of the changes for both clubs this offseason, and how it will impact tonight's matchup. (11:47) Finally, they give their keys to...

Pittsburgh Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas had a lot to say on Monday, and to start the Tuesday show, Hunter and Patrick react to it. (2:30) They discuss what Dubas meant by his Geno quote and how blunt he was in discussing the battle between Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist. They also discuss a few of his other quotes before getting into the practice notes. (14:30) Is Blake Lizotte set to return on Wednesday? What are the lines looking like? Finally, they make their Stanley Cup picks for the 2026-27 season! (25:00)

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Training camp has officially come to a close, but the injury bug is already biting the Penguins. Hunter and Patrick begin the Monday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast discussing the Penguins’ 3-1 win in the “dress rehearsal” game against the Sabres. The team looked like it was starting to find its form as many of the regulars suited up for the finale. Then, the Penguins made a slew of roster moves over the weekend, including placing a few key pieces on injured reserve ahead of the season opener in Philadelphia. Finally, Hunter and Patrick give their BOLD predic...

The Penguins dropped a snoozer of a preseason game, but that is immaterial because now the time is running out for some players to make the team. Patrick and Hunter begin the Friday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by recapping the absolute snoozefest of a preseason game against the Blue Jackets. While the game itself was tough, there were a couple of standouts, including a line of forwards who are making a case to be on the opening night roster. (0:00) Then, between injuries and the tragic loss of Andrei Kuzmenko's father, the Penguins suddenly have a few...

The Penguins made their first cuts of training camp, and while there were no surprises, time is running out for those battling for a spot. Patrick and Hunter begin the Thursday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by going over the Penguins' first round of roster cuts in the 2026 training camp. While most of the players were either sent back to juniors, the minors, or overseas clubs, some of those who remain are getting a longer look than expected. (0:00) Then, the Penguins will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight in their third preseason game, and it will...

The Penguins dropped their second preseason game 7-4 to the Detroit Red Wings, and the play in net was not encouraging. Hunter and Patrick begin the Wednesday edition by talking about goaltender Arturs Silovs’s forgettable night. (1:10) While it is preseason and he didn’t have a full NHL defense in front of him, some of his issues are the same ones he’s been struggling with for a while. So, is it time to worry, or was he just knocking off the rust? Then, despite the loss on Tuesday night, there were plenty of positives to take away from t...

The Penguins' 4-1 win over the Sabres in the preseason opener was not without a cost, as the team now has a mounting list of injuries. Patrick and Hunter begin the Tuesday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by discussing the injuries to Ben Kindel, Justin Brazeau, and now, Ville Koivunen. They talk about what these injuries mean for the latter two and how they impact their chances to make the team, and then they go over some of the standouts from the preseason premiere. (0:00) Then, they continue recapping the game, discussing the play of both goaltenders, Sergei...

The first of four preseason games takes place Monday night against the Buffalo Sabres, and we’re making sure you’re set with the latest news! Hunter and Patrick kick off the Monday show by looking at the lineup for the Penguins’ preseason opener against the Sabres. (1:15) They break down the lines, who they’re most excited to see, and who will have the chance to make their biggest impression in game action. Then they talk about how the Penguins will split the goaltenders in tonight’s matchup, and how the battle between Sergei Murashov and Joel Blomqvist has been one o...

The Russian superstar spoke at length after practice on Friday, and he didn’t completely shut the door on playing more than one more year. Patrick and Hunter kick off the Friday edition of Locked On Penguins with their observations from day two of training camp, including standout goaltending performances, some AHL players getting a look with NHLers, and a new duo finding chemistry early. (1:40) Then, Evgeni Malkin spoke for quite some time, and part of his comments made it clear that this might not be the farewell tour we all think it is. So, is it worth keeping hi...

The first day of training camp is in the books, and with it comes a lot of storylines to follow, including the battle between the young netminders. Hunter and Patrick begin the Thursday edition of the Locked On Penguins Podcast by talking about the battle between Joel Blomqvist and Sergei Murashov, as the two are battling to take the second spot on the roster behind Arturs Silovs. Hunter gives his observations of how the two goalies performed while facing some serious competition. (0:00) Then, they discuss some of the other big headlines from day one, including newly acquired forward Nick...