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

[pixburgher66]

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

Just say Crosby sucks and Stempy is puke and he'll let you speak.

 

[Comeds]

I don't care who wins, but I'm glad Fleury is playing well. I think he's a cool guy.

 

[Cobiemonster]

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

If Steve Mason didn't get knocked out of commission by one of your players the Flyers would still be playing now

And I've actually given the Penguins some props in this series, I said before the series as long as their head isn't stuck up their ass they should win this series, Rangers are not that great and people hyped them up and they're going nowhere this year - they made over reactionary trades that will come back to bite them in the future

 

[dare2be]

I was one who was pretty critical and pessimistic last round. For good reason. The last two playoff series the Pens played, they were giving up 3-1 leads late, not playing solid fundamental hockey for very long stretches, only scoring in spurts when they felt like it. The series before that, they were even more talent-loaded and we all know how they did scoring 2 goals in a 4-game sweep. Disco Dan had much to prove on his coaching abilities before I would shut up about it. This series is starting to turn things around, but the jury's still out in my mind. Next round will be the true test.

 

[Jimmy_the_Tongue]

I don't care who wins, but I'm glad Fleury is playing well. I think he's a cool guy.

Comeds, what's up!?, I think he's cool too...I wouldn't mind listening to a John Mayer album with him....

 

[postmaster]

Just say Crosby sucks and Stempy is puke and he'll let you speak.

I say something similar about the old Aves when the Wings Aves were probably the biggest rivalry in the league. Do all agree, no. This is probably biased, but it seemed like every trade they made or trades they made resulting in players not re-signing, Drury, Deadmarsh, Foote, etc. were Red Wing killers. They made huge splashes to win every year while giving up too many pieces for the long term. They never lost their identity, but I feel they had a better core with Sakic, Forsberg, Roy!!!!!! than Yzerman, Federov and plug in the goalie for the Wings. The difference was how the two teams managed the roster. Say what you want, but Colorado ended up in the tank to replenish but now look promising again.

 

[Cobiemonster]

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.

Exactly what I'm thinking about Henrik Lundqvist - he might be the main leader on this team now and he's the goalie, that's not good - he shouldn't have to worry about leading, he needs to be able to stop pucks

None of these guys are leaders and that's why guys like Rick Nash don't play hard enough because Rick Nash has nobody to look up to for leadership

Part of it is definitely AV but management is just as stupid for not realizing how important leadership is - and before people tell me that Ryan Callahan did nothing to help Tampa, they got swept because of inadequate goaltending from their backup, it's not his fault - Rangers had a bunch of muckers and grinders and guys who would go to bat for each other and that's how they got to the conference finals two years ago - they've lost a lot of those muckers and grinders now

Rangers had trouble putting away teams in the playoffs in the past, especially in the Flyers series and it's come back to bite them

 

[Dacks]

@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.

This is why I've ignored all the questions about Crosby. He had some giveaways and is snake bitten wrt goals, but the ice had been heavily tilted in the Penguins favour whenever get steps on the ice.

 

[dare2be]

Cobie, just ignore that one. Every fanbase has one.

 

[dare2be]

Jimmy, did you see my PM?

 

[Gooch1034]

I was one who was pretty critical and pessimistic last round. For good reason. The last two playoff series the Pens played, they were giving up 3-1 leads late, not playing solid fundamental hockey for very long stretches, only scoring in spurts when they felt like it. The series before that, they were even more talent-loaded and we all know how they did scoring 2 goals in a 4-game sweep. Disco Dan had much to prove on his coaching abilities before I would shut up about it. This series is starting to turn things around, but the jury's still out in my mind. Next round will be the true test.

This!^^^

Until this team could give me a reason to be confident in them, I wasn't going to set myself up again. It started pre-Olympics. I didn't expect this team to play like they have the last 3 games. I am glad they have stepped up this series. I hope it continues.

 

[postmaster]

This!^^^

Until this team could give me a reason to be confident in them, I wasn't going to set myself up again. It started pre-Olympics. I didn't expect this team to play like they have the last 3 games. I am glad they have stepped up this series. I hope it continues.

I don't count out the Pens like people don't count out the Wings. Even with Osgood, we heard it so much that we were too old, Osgood sucks and is inconsistent. Put together a good series with the talent you have and anything can happen. I will struggle favoring the Pens next series if they win this one but you never know. The talent is there.

 

[pixburgher66]

You guys were perfectly allowed to be pessimistic, and you weren't the worst of the fanbase. I was just getting sick of the end of the world attitude that accompanied the first round.

 

[pixburgher66]

Exactly what I'm thinking about Henrik Lundqvist - he might be the main leader on this team now and he's the goalie, that's not good - he shouldn't have to worry about leading, he needs to be able to stop pucks

None of these guys are leaders and that's why guys like Rick Nash don't play hard enough because Rick Nash has nobody to look up to for leadership

Part of it is definitely AV but management is just as stupid for not realizing how important leadership is - and before people tell me that Ryan Callahan did nothing to help Tampa, they got swept because of inadequate goaltending from their backup, it's not his fault - Rangers had a bunch of muckers and grinders and guys who would go to bat for each other and that's how they got to the conference finals two years ago - they've lost a lot of those muckers and grinders now

Rangers had trouble putting away teams in the playoffs in the past, especially in the Flyers series and it's come back to bite them

I agree for the most part about their moves. They've always looked for the big name guy in FA or trade deadline, and that doesn't work out too often. That's on Sather...always wants to throw money at another city's star. When you think about their teams in the mid 90s-2000's, it was generally riddled with guys that will be remembered for being on a different team. Their team now is an example of that. Richards (TBL prob), Nash (Cbus), and St. Louis (TBL). In the past it was a guy like Ulf Samuellson, Gretzky, Bure, Kovalev, Jagr, Drury, Gomez, Naslund. Long list. The team right now has some home grown talent, they need to focus on that.

 

[pixburgher66]

This is why I've ignored all the questions about Crosby. He had some giveaways and is snake bitten wrt goals, but the ice had been heavily tilted in the Penguins favour whenever get steps on the ice.

His corsi has been solid all postseason, and has gotten better this series. Even still with 1 goal, he's a force out there.

 

[Gooch1034]

I don't count out the Pens like people don't count out the Wings. Even with Osgood, we heard it so much that we were too old, Osgood sucks and is inconsistent. Put together a good series with the talent you have and anything can happen. I will struggle favoring the Pens next series if they win this one but you never know. The talent is there.

Knowing the talent is there but not getting the results is what really has frustrated me. The effort the Pens gave against the CBJs wasn't going to cut it this series or beyond. I gave them maybe a 20% chance of getting past the 2nd round after round 1. I am just glad they have played better this series and I do have hope but I am not totally sold after 3 well played games.

 

[Gooch1034]

You guys were perfectly allowed to be pessimistic, and you weren't the worst of the fanbase. I was just getting sick of the end of the world attitude that accompanied the first round.

I think that's totally fair and can understand completely. I was more pissed than usual after round 1 for reasons unrelated to the Pens and that didn't help. Hell, I am still in a bit of shock they are 1 win away from the ECF again!

 

[DragonfromTO]

Exactly what I'm thinking about Henrik Lundqvist - he might be the main leader on this team now and he's the goalie, that's not good - he shouldn't have to worry about leading, he needs to be able to stop pucks

None of these guys are leaders and that's why guys like Rick Nash don't play hard enough because Rick Nash has nobody to look up to for leadership

Part of it is definitely AV but management is just as stupid for not realizing how important leadership is - and before people tell me that Ryan Callahan did nothing to help Tampa, they got swept because of inadequate goaltending from their backup, it's not his fault - Rangers had a bunch of muckers and grinders and guys who would go to bat for each other and that's how they got to the conference finals two years ago - they've lost a lot of those muckers and grinders now

Rangers had trouble putting away teams in the playoffs in the past, especially in the Flyers series and it's come back to bite them

Yep this is the obvious problem, he needs to raise his compete level!

Do you work for Randy Carlyle by chance?

 

[Cobiemonster]

Yep this is the obvious problem, he needs to raise his compete level!

Do you work for Randy Carlyle by chance?

If he played hard enough then he'd be going into the dirty areas to try and score goals instead of being a perimeter player - you have to want it, he doesn't want it enough - if he wanted it enough he'd have more goals by now

 

[DragonfromTO]

If he played hard enough then he'd be going into the dirty areas to try and score goals instead of being a perimeter player - you have to want it, he doesn't want it enough - if he wanted it enough he'd have more goals by now

Would you ever consider that there might be reasons (which may still be bad reasons) he's not doing the things that you think he should be doing that have nothing to do with his effort?