Game Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins(1) vs. New York Rangers(2) | Round 2

[Jimmy_the_Tongue]

One Plan Dan may be saving his job after all...

It's just your jive talkin'
You're telling me lies, yeah
Jive talkin'
You wear a disguise

Jive talkin'
So misunderstood, yeah
Jive talkin'
You're really no good

Oh, my child, you'll never know
Just what you mean to me
Oh, my child, you got so much
You're gonna take away my energy

With all of your jive talkin'
You're telling me lies, yeah
Good lovin'
Still gets in my eyes

 

[postmaster]

Hey now, I was the remarkably level headed fan in that thread!

Not directed at you even though I quoted you.

 

[pixburgher66]

Nice hearing the garden "faithful" boo their team off the ice and boo Rick "no show" Nash every time he touches the puck.

The high priced players: Nash, Richards, St. Louis were complete no shows...no heart at all should have kept Callahan at least he had some balls....probably should have put this in the "nutcracker" thread

Not going to lie, I'm very happy to not have to face Cally. I still think Nash has looked pretty dangerous out there, but St. Louis has been an absolute non-factor. Barely notice him out there (and that's not a short joke). Honestly, the Rangers are a one line team with Zuccarello-Pouliot-Hagelin (is that the line? I know Zucc and Pouliot are a line). Hank has done good for the most part. He was unbelievable in game 2, stingy in game 3, and made some good saves tonight but that third goal was a painful one for them to give up (Staal deserving blame). What's most surprising to me has been the D. McDonaugh must be hurt, Staal has been too preoccupied with decapitating Crosby to play solid D (he got that penalty tonight because of what happened in game 3, guarantee you), just seem off.

 

[Gooch1034]

Hey now, I was the remarkably level headed fan in that thread!

I think he was directing it at me. I was not happy with the Pens after the 1st round as I am sure you remember. I didn't expect this Pens team to show up for round 2.

 

[postmaster]

I think he was directing it at me. I was not happy with the Pens after the 1st round as I am sure you remember. I didn't expect this Pens team to show up for round 2.

I don't think you were the only one so it was not really directed at anyone.

 

[dash]

Disco Dan or Tony Manero?

 

[pixburgher66]

Not directed at you even though I quoted you.

THANK YOU! Those were tumultuous times, those were.

 

[Gooch1034]

I don't think you were the only one.

No, I wasn't the only one. I wasn't confident they would step up. I hope they keep it up.

 

[DevilishWon]

Lemaire...Jacques Lemaire.



Seriously, again, his grubby finger prints are all over this squad right now. Their ability to limit shots and quality chances right now is something I haven't seen from a Pens team maybe ever.

Jacquesy Hockey isn't always the most exciting hockey....but it is winning hockey.

 

[Dacks]

Anyone else watching the CBC feed? I'm pretty sure Bob Cole thought this was an elimination game. He kept counting down to the "end of the Rangers' season" - I mean, you could almost hear the producer whisper in his ear that the series was 2-1 and he suddenly corrected himself. I guess it might be his swan song season but man, he's over the hill. Kept mistaking Vitale for Crosby last game too.

 

[pixburgher66]

I don't think you were the only one so it was not really directed at anyone.

You could've directed it at 98% of the fanbase honestly.

 

[Darkstone42]

Anyone else watching the CBC feed? I'm pretty sure Bob Cole thought this was an elimination game. He kept counting down to the "end of the Rangers' season" - I mean, you could almost hear the producer whisper in his ear that the series was 2-1 and he suddenly corrected himself. I guess it might be his swan song season but man, he's over the hill. Kept mistaking Vitale for Crosby last game too.

That's hard to do, especially if you pay attention to whether or not the puck is on the guy's stick, which is a pretty dead giveaway between those two.

 

[pixburgher66]

Jacquesy Hockey isn't always the most exciting hockey....but it is winning hockey.

When you add in some of the game breakers that the Pens roster provides, it's still got excitement enough for me Really though, it's a beautiful thing to watch when it's working well. You can just see the frustration building in the opponent when shot after shot is deflected, blocked, knocked down, and they're never allowed closer than 25 feet to the net.

 

[pixburgher66]

‏@DenisGorman 3m
Rick Nash was asked if this is the most frustrated he's ever been. His answer: "By far." #NHL #NYR #NYRangers #Rangers #StanleyCupPlayoffs

Wow. I'm not sure I've seen such transparency from a guy before a series ended.

 

[postmaster]

You could've directed it at 98% of the fanbase honestly.

I did respond directly to Gooch, I just looked at it. Here was my comment though:

Sid and Neal could get going. Malkin came alive. There is so much talent to write off the Pens just yet, They aren't playing to their potential and hats off to Columbus for keeping it that way.

 

[Cobiemonster]

‏@DenisGorman 3m
Rick Nash was asked if this is the most frustrated he's ever been. His answer: "By far." #NHL #NYR #NYRangers #Rangers #StanleyCupPlayoffs

Wow. I'm not sure I've seen such transparency from a guy before a series ended.

Rangers are mentally and physically weak - this is a trait of AV coached teams

Rangers have been making big trades the last few years with the idea of going for it all and it's come back to bite them - they could have had skilled, hard working guys like Cally, Dubi and Artie + 2 1st round picks but instead they trade for a player who is not a winner and another guy who quit on his team and has done nothing since coming over to the team - neither of those guys are leaders - they ripped the heart and soul out of the Rangers team when they traded Ryan Callahan - also, they gave up on a player in Marian Gaborik who scored 41 goals for them two years ago when they went to the conference finals - Brassard has been solid but John Moore has been inconsistent - the Rangers make one bad deal and it leads to another and another and it all started with the Rick Nash trade

They had to get Brassard because they traded Dubi and Artie, they had to get MSL because they traded Marian Gaborik - a bunch of bad deals for this team

 

[pixburgher66]

@jmarshfof 2m
Crosby now has the highest Corsi-For % of any player with at least five games played at 62.6%. The Pens avg 11.8% better with 87 on ice

That's insane.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Rangers are mentally and physically weak - this is a trait of AV coached teams

Rangers have been making big trades the last few years with the idea of going for it all and it's come back to bite them - they could have had skilled, hard working guys like Cally, Dubi and Artie + 2 1st round picks but instead they trade for a player who is not a winner and another guy who quit on his team and has done nothing since coming over to the team - neither of those guys are leaders - they ripped the heart and soul out of the Rangers team when they traded Ryan Callahan - also, they gave up on a player in Marian Gaborik who scored 41 goals for them two years ago when they went to the conference finals - Brassard has been solid but John Moore has been inconsistent - the Rangers make one bad deal and it leads to another and another and it all started with the Rick Nash trade

They had to get Brassard because they traded Dubi and Artie, they had to get MSL because they traded Marian Gaborik - a bunch of bad deals for this team

Wait...where is your team???? And who beat your team?

 

[postmaster]

Wait...where is your team????

Same as my team. Doesn't mean I can't say anything.

 

[pixburgher66]

Rangers are mentally and physically weak - this is a trait of AV coached teams

Rangers have been making big trades the last few years with the idea of going for it all and it's come back to bite them - they could have had skilled, hard working guys like Cally, Dubi and Artie + 2 1st round picks but instead they trade for a player who is not a winner and another guy who quit on his team and has done nothing since coming over to the team - neither of those guys are leaders - they ripped the heart and soul out of the Rangers team when they traded Ryan Callahan - also, they gave up on a player in Marian Gaborik who scored 41 goals for them two years ago when they went to the conference finals - Brassard has been solid but John Moore has been inconsistent - the Rangers make one bad deal and it leads to another and another and it all started with the Rick Nash trade

They had to get Brassard because they traded Dubi and Artie, they had to get MSL because they traded Marian Gaborik - a bunch of bad deals for this team

Generally speaking, I think "heart and soul" gets over used when it comes to pro sports. I mean, it's the easiest cliche there is. Game 1 of this series, 1st period, Pens were painfully outplayed, and everyone was going on and on about "heart" and "want". To me, that's lazy analysis (*stares directly at Milbury*). HOWEVER, they traded away their captain, and I think it's obvious that they need someone to step up and right the ship. Maybe it's Lundqvist, but how much can a goalie really say? He's done his part. He can't go out there and score goals or fix the PP. He can talk about doing it all he wants, but he's the goalie. He handles his business. For a group that has a lot of former captains, there seems to be a lack of leadership. Heck, maybe that's AV.