DK's Daily Shot of Penguins: OK, everyone apologize to the Penguins' Rickard Rakell
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Dan Kovach of DK Pittsburgh Sports delivers a passionate defense of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell, reversing his earlier criticism and declaring that Rakell has earned a public apology from fans who dismissed him during a scoring slump. Kovach highlights Rakell's recent surge—seven goals in seven games on just 18 shots—as evidence of a statistical correction after a low shooting percentage, emphasizing that Rakell has consistently created chances and that his current form is a natural rebound. He contrasts this with the team's quiet confidence throughout the season, noting that despite being picked to finish last by pundits, the Penguins have played with calm assurance, never treating their success as a fluke. Kovach reflects on the unique tone of this season—less about shock and awe, more about sustained excellence—and credits the team’s internal belief and front office stability for their resilience. He closes with a call to listeners to tune in for a live double shot of Penguins coverage from Tampa.
Rickard Rakell’s recent scoring streak (7 goals in 7 games) is a statistical correction after a low shooting percentage, not a sudden breakout.
Creating high-quality chances is more important than scoring in the moment; Rakell has consistently done this, even when goals weren’t coming.
The Penguins have played with quiet confidence all season, avoiding the 'upstart' narrative despite being underdogs.
Team culture and internal belief—especially post-summer roster stability—have driven their sustained success.
Fans should apologize to Rakell for prematurely writing him off during his slump.
Opening: The Daily Shot of Penguins
Dan Kovach introduces the Daily Shot of Penguins podcast, setting the tone with humor and a focus on early-season Penguins coverage, including their upcoming game in Tampa.
The NHL’s Three Stars & Hidden Talent
Kovach discusses the NHL’s monthly three stars, briefly mentioning Nikita Kucherov and Eric Carlson, then pivots to spotlighting underappreciated players like Rickard Rakell.
Rakell’s Redemption: From Criticized to Crucial
“Take the Ls, all you Raquel doubters. We'll even call them Raquel Ls, or would that be Raquel? Back at J1Q.”
The Quiet Confidence of the Penguins
“They made it seem like when they'd have some big win... they would just say, you know, there were some parts of our game that weren't there. We weren't really feeling it. We'll be better than this.”
Fan Perception vs. Team Reality
“Those guys didn't go anywhere. But from there, seeing them just continue to keep their noses down, and continue to get better game after game, week after week.”
“Take the Ls, all you Raquel doubters. We'll even call them Raquel Ls, or would that be Raquel? Back at J1Q.”
“They made it seem like when they'd have some big win... they would just say, you know, there were some parts of our game that weren't there. We weren't really feeling it. We'll be better than this.”
“You don't punish somebody for getting chances. You don't knock them for it either. What you do is wait because they're coming.”
Host
Guest
pittsburgh penguins
other
rickard rakell
person
dan kovach
person
tampa bay lightning
other
j1q
other
sidney crosby
person
olympic break
other
taylor haas
person
chuck busatich
person
nikita kucherov
person
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