Series Thread: 1st Round: New York Rangers vs Pittsburgh Penguins

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

New York Rangers
Team Record: 46-27-9 (101 points)
Home Record: 27-10-4
Road Record: 19-17-5
Last 10: 6-3-1
Streak: +1
GFA: 2.84
GAA: 2.62
Projected lineup: NHL Starting Goalies and Line Combinations | DailyFaceoff.com

Pittsburgh Penguins
Team Record: 48-26-8 (104 points)
Home Record: 26-11-4
Road Record: 22-15-4
Last 10: 8-2-0
Streak:-1
GFA: 2.94
GAA:2.43
Projected lineup: NHL Starting Goalies and Line Combinations | DailyFaceoff.com

Series Notes
All-Time Season Series: Rangers lead series 124-107-12 with 23 ties
All-Time Playoffs: Pens lead 4-2
This Season: Pens won series 3-1-0
Last meeting: 3/27/2016 @ Madison Square Garden, Pens won 3-2 in OT

Doob's Take
What were once our doormats in the playoffs have become our recent tormentors. The past couple seasons have been very disappointing for us Penguin fans, although not unexpected. Our Penguin squads were severely lacking under Dan Bylsma his final season with us as well as with Mike Johnston. Mike Sullivan brings a whole new attitude and this team has something those Penguin squads did not have:speed. It will be interesting to see how this undersized Pens team handles itself in the playoffs when things tend to get physical, but I have a more optimistic view heading to the playoffs this year than I have in about 3 seasons. Let's hope we could get past the Rangers and get healthy, so we could have a memorable playoff run.

LET'S GO PENS!

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Playoff schedule...

 

[old1r1sh]

Boys....I'm nervous

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Boys....I'm nervous

That's good, it means you fear losing instead of expecting to lose like we did last year.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

IDK about the rest of you, but I feel a healthy rush of confidence as well as nervousness. The kind that makes you believe in yourself, but not so much that you overlook the other team.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Our acquisition of the year...

Hope he has a HUGE series against his former team...

 

[evolver115]

They made it. I knew they would. There were quite a few who doubted this team at the beginning of the season, but after the coaching change and the mid-season infusion of guys like Trevor Daley and Hagelin, the switch was flipped and these guys came together as a team that turned into a very tough hockey club to beat.

This might be my favorite stat from the regular season: The Pens went 19-9-2 in the Metropolitan division after going 9-17-4 in the division last season.

That turned out to be crucial going down the stretch with so many metro teams jockeying for playoff position. The damage the Pens dealt against their rivals was the push they needed to secure a 2nd place finish and locks in home ice in the first round.

 

[scoutyjones2]

The team turned when Sid decided to show up

 

[Ewa PGH Fan]

Let's Go Pens!!!

 

[Cyder]

Boys....I'm nervous

Don't be. McDonagh has a broken hand, Girardi is injured and now Marc Staal is injured. Boyle is worthless and this team stopped playing defense in game 25. Henrik might steal a game or 2 but with the walking wounded on D or a bunch of kids filling in they won't be able to handle an offense of this magnitude.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Don't be. McDonagh has a broken hand, Girardi is injured and now Marc Staal is injured. Boyle is worthless and this team stopped playing defense in game 25. Henrik might steal a game or 2 but with the walking wounded on D or a bunch of kids filling in they won't be able to handle an offense of this magnitude.

Yikes, those are tough losses for the team, but I thought Boyle was playing well down the stretch (at least offensively).

 

[Cyder]

Yikes, those are tough losses for the team, but I thought Boyle was playing well down the stretch (at least offensively).

He's been ok offensively but it doesn't make up for the atrocities he commits on defense.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

He's been ok offensively but it doesn't make up for the atrocities he commits on defense.

I'll admit I haven't paid attention to his defense. Just saw his goals against the Blue Jackets & the Red Wings & based my opinion off that.

 

[thedddd]

That's good, it means you fear losing instead of expecting to lose like we did last year.

LOL...yeah that is the huge difference this year and the fact I think the Penguins can win this series, finally getting to Henrik in the playoffs due to the Rangers D being decimated.

Now if Zatkoff has to start then the Penguins are done.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

LOL...yeah that is the huge difference this year and the fact I think the Penguins can win this series, finally getting to Henrik in the playoffs due to the Rangers D being decimated.

Now if Zatkoff has to start then the Penguins are done.

I remember lying on a beach in Costa Rica when the Pens got eliminated last season, didn't even give it a 2nd thought. This year, there's no beach, no fruity drinks, it's all business!

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Just played Pens & Rangers in NHL 16. They took an early 1-0 lead with a goal from Chris Kreider. I tied it up with a goal from Sheary in the 2nd. Then he dominated the 3rd but MAF didn't give up any goals. Then with 27 seconds left, Sid picked up the loose puck in the corner, did a spin move to get in front of the net, & sniped the game winner short side, over Lundqvist's glove. It was sweet!

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Hopefully a good sign...
Fleury back at practice for Penguins

 

[Ewa PGH Fan]

Hopefully a good sign...
Fleury back at practice for Penguins

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Hopefully a good sign...
Fleury back at practice for Penguins

Perfect timing