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Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 05.05.22
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Matt Vensel
12:07
Good afternoon, Penguins fans. Looking forward to talking hockey with you again. The chat will start at 1. But you can go ahead and submit your questions now. Talk to you in a bit!
1:00
We'll get going in a few minutes, folks. Get your questions in now.
GPT
1:10
Are you a spicy pork and broccoli or beef and broccoli kind of guy?
Matt Vensel
1:12
I'd lean beef and broccoli. Maybe that's why I never became an NHL goalie? Anyway, what a story Louis Domingue is and he'll get a chance to keep it going tonight. Casey DeSmith is out. Domingue will start Game 2. And it looks like there is a good chance he will be in net for Game 3, as well.
Go Pens
1:13
Game 1 a fluke or can the Penguins win more?
Matt Vensel
1:15
Game 1 was no fluke. They were the better team from the second period on, especially at 5-on-5. They would have had five or six goals on a typical goalie. Igor Shesterkin was spectacular. Best goalie in the NHL right now.
Joe
1:15
Can Domingue survive being run by the Rangers tonight? Will we see D’orio at any point in this series?
Matt Vensel
1:20
Well, given the team's injury luck this season, that is certainly possible. Pretty wild that the Penguins are down to the third and fifth goalies on the depth chart. Logic says they will lose this series as a result given how good the goalie is at the other end. But as we know here in Pittsburgh, crazy things can happen with a relative unknown between the pipes.
Big John
1:20
Hi Matt. Great job! Any up to date news on Rakell, Zucker yet?
Matt Vensel
1:21
Rickard Rakell is out for Game 2. He didn't skate yesterday or today, so we may be looking at multiple games missed by him. Mike Sullivan called Jason Zucker a game-time decision, which typically means they play. The question becomes whether he can make it through the game.
Guest
1:22
desmith out 2 games only?  little scary thinking his injury could cot them the series
Matt Vensel
1:25
I'm guessing that two games missed is the minimum. There was a report from Daily Faceoff that suggested DeSmith could miss the entire series. If so, it will be up to Domingue to keep the Penguins alive. Because Tristan Jarry still hasn't been on the ice yet.
Mike Bullard
1:25
Hey Matt, if the Pens loose the next four with goalie #3 in ner, is it to be consiered another first round exit - like yeats past?
Matt Vensel
1:26
By definition, yes.
Joe
1:26
Friedman said on NHL radio today that Letang and Malkin and the front office are not close on contract terms. What, if anything, are you hearing and who cares if they want 3-5 year terms and the front office wants less? They’re not doing better in free agency
Matt Vensel
1:29
Joe, we've heard the same, that things haven't heated up yet. I don't blame the front office for being patient and taking a hard line initially on the contract terms. For decisions like those, with 35-year-old players, you should gather as much information as possible in regards to projecting their future performance, especially in the case of Malkin and his knee. It's going to be fascinating to see how this plays out. Malkin and Letang are proud guys who still feel like they have more left in the tank.
Scorekeeper
1:31
Just a comment, but It seems as if it is business as usual in the NHL as the league, once again, refuses to take these lethal hits out of the game. It happened to Rakell without any consequences and another hit last night in Carolina. Watching these players try and get up from these hits only to wabble back down on the ice is sickening. Which Penguin will intentionally be concussed tonight? Crosby? Malkin? Letang? Guentzel? Rust? Go for it. The NHL encourages it.
Matt Vensel
1:35
I know this might not go over well with Penguins fans, but I didn't think the hit from Ryan Lindgren was egregious. Unfortunate no doubt, and you hope that Rakell is back to feeling like himself soon. But to me, Rakell got funneled by a Rangers forward right into Lindgren, who was simply standing his ground. Anyway, I agree with your overall point about head shots and the inconsistency of discipline when it comes to some of these hits.
ZO
1:36
Other than the obvious (Goalies), whose performance Tuesday Night surprised you the most?
Matt Vensel
1:38
It was Kasperi Kapanen, without a doubt. He was so much more noticeable than he has been, though you wonder if that was simply because he players were getting tired as the game went on. He has become an X-factor for the Penguins with Rakell going down.
GPT
1:38
How can the Pens not give Letang whatever contract term he is seeking (5 years or whatever)? You can't replace him in free agency and the Pens are going to stink like it's 2003 once Sid retires, so who cares about the term on the back end?
Matt Vensel
1:39
The dude played close to 50 minutes in Game 1 and was still one of the best skaters on the ice at the end. I'd be nervous about going beyond a couple of years with Geno, but not with Letang. If anything, he can make the case that he actually deserves a raise.
Lord of Carson
1:39
Hi Matt.  So many great performances the other night. Wow. But Domoulin looks completely shot.  Any idea of what has happened to his game ?
Matt Vensel
1:41
It's been a rocky year for Brian Dumoulin by his standard, for sure. You wonder if injuries over the years have taken a toll. He looks uncharacteristically clumsy at times.
Jason
1:41
I personally can’t wait to have the penguins wave bye bye when we take the series!
Matt Vensel
1:44
We shall see, Jason. What happens tonight may very well decide who wins the series. If the Penguins put them in a 0-2 hole, I think the inexperienced Rangers will have a hard time figuring out how to climb out of it. And if the Rangers win and relieve some of the pressure, there is a good chance their edge in goal would win out over what would essentially be a five-game series going forward, with all due respect to the legend, Louis Domingue.
Matt Vensel
1:45
All right, that will do it for today's chat, folks. Thanks for the questions. Some really good ones today. We will do this again Monday afternoon before Game 4. Enjoy the game tonight.
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