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

[Darkstone42]

I still get to chant 1908.

As for the Penguins, I'm not worried about their overall game, but I am concerned that they might not solve Lundqvist again. The Rangers are a deep and talented team, and it's tough to dominate them beginning to end, but if the Pens can't figure out how to beat King Henrik, they'll have to control play and possession all game just to have a chance.

The defense hasn't been all that bad, nor has the neutral zone play, but the Rangers have so much better finish right now. The Pens probably generated more quality chances overall than the Rangers yesterday, but they failed to convert, while the Rangers took advantage of their opportunities, and that was the difference.

Fleury has been alright, not great, but alright the last couple games. There's no way, though, he can match Lundqvist. The Pens have to take the pressure off Fleury and insulate him with sustained pressure in the Rangers' end all game. I'm talking doubling up puck possession and shots and chances. Lundqvist and the Rangers' defense has that big of an advantage on the Penguins' group right now.

 

[dare2be]

Lundqvist and the Rangers' defense has that big of an advantage on the Penguins' group right now.

Lundqvist aside, that just shouldn't be. The Pens have too much talent for that to be the case. The mitigating factor is the team mindset/system/teamwork/adjustability. That all falls on the coaching.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Lundqvist aside, that just shouldn't be. The Pens have too much talent for that to be the case. The mitigating factor is the team mindset/system/teamwork/adjustability. That all falls on the coaching.

Yep - I said before the series, as long as the Penguins don't have their heads up their ass they should win this series - apparently they have their heads up their ass now and if they don't get it out before tomorrow it's over - and the thing is, all of those attributes you mentioned, they had it in 2-4 and then just lost it

 

[sbb122]

I want the Pens to lose tomorrow for 2 reasons.

1. One Plan Dan and possibly Shero get shown the door.

2. I really don't want to spend $275 a game on Eastern Conference Finals tickets just to see the B's embarrass these gutless pukes.

(I'm still bitter about the shitshow playoffs of 2013)

 

[forty_three]

Lundqvist aside, that just shouldn't be. The Pens have too much talent for that to be the case. The mitigating factor is the team mindset/system/teamwork/adjustability. That all falls on the coaching.

I understand that the coach is going to shake things up by putting Malkin and Crosby together on the same line.

 

[pixburgher66]

I want the Pens to lose tomorrow for 2 reasons.

1. One Plan Dan and possibly Shero get shown the door.

2. I really don't want to spend $275 a game on Eastern Conference Finals tickets just to see the B's embarrass these gutless pukes.

(I'm still bitter about the shitshow playoffs of 2013)

Dear God no. The man isn't blameless, and the Scuds deal looks pretty awful right now, but just no. I think his moves this trade deadline were great, and that he learned from last years' deadline.

 

[Darkstone42]

Dear God no. The man isn't blameless, and the Scuds deal looks pretty awful right now, but just no. I think his moves this trade deadline were great, and that he learned from last years' deadline.

Agreed, Shero should stay. He's put the talent together. Bylsma's misused it every year. I mean, why wouldn't Iginla be on Crosby's right wing last year? That's where he's comfortable. Why put him on the left wing, where he isn't? Why waste a talent like that by taking him out of his comfort zone?

And of course the continued insistence on playing Scuderi and Adams even when better options were available this year. Lineup optimization should honestly be the easiest part of the job, and he still screws that up.

Shero got Crosby, Malkin, and Neal signed to good deals, has accumulated a lot of good blue line talent (which, for whatever reason, we never bother to use), and has assembled a pretty decent core of complimentary players. We're actually pretty deep, but whatever system Bylsma is using doesn't work for this team or against our opponents.

 

[Darkstone42]

Also, anyone who calls last night's loss a lack of heart or desire is off base. We weren't beating Lundqvist, and not scoring is not always associated with a lack of desire. In fact, the Pens did exactly what they should have done, crashed the net, got in his face, tried to score on screens, deflections, and rebounds. But he's got the offense figured out, and that means the offense needs to adjust. I think he's selling out on a lot of plays because the Penguins have become predictable, and that's allowing him to take away what would otherwise be sure goals for them.

The coaching staff should be spending a nontrivial amount of time specifically studying Lundqvist to see if he's leaning on certain plays. That could be exploited.

 

[thedddd]

Also, anyone who calls last night's loss a lack of heart or desire is off base. We weren't beating Lundqvist, and not scoring is not always associated with a lack of desire. In fact, the Pens did exactly what they should have done, crashed the net, got in his face, tried to score on screens, deflections, and rebounds. But he's got the offense figured out, and that means the offense needs to adjust. I think he's selling out on a lot of plays because the Penguins have become predictable, and that's allowing him to take away what would otherwise be sure goals for them.

The coaching staff should be spending a nontrivial amount of time specifically studying Lundqvist to see if he's leaning on certain plays. That could be exploited.

Totally agree with the first statement Lundqvist is playing great.

As for the second part the issue seemed the Penguins tried to become to fancy at times as a way to beat Lundqvist. That isn't going to work when every team fully expects your team to do that due to the talent level on the Penguins.

 

[Darkstone42]

Totally agree with the first statement Lundqvist is playing great.

As for the second part the issue seemed the Penguins tried to become to fancy at times as a way to beat Lundqvist. That isn't going to work when every team fully expects your team to do that due to the talent level on the Penguins.

I think he's guessing on the extra pass. A quick fake and a short-side wrister might beat him. We have to hit the net, though.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Hank has been fined 5K for his dumping of water. No fine for Crosby's spear, so typical. All good though, 5K is chump change to Hank.

 

[mattola]

Hank has been fined 5K for his dumping of water. No fine for Crosby's spear, so typical. All good though, 5K is chump change to Hank.

so let me get this straight

$2800 for Thorton DURING ACTUAL GAME PLAY

$5000 after the play is stopped



yep makes sense...

oh nhl

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

so let me get this straight

$2800 for Thorton DURING ACTUAL GAME PLAY

$5000 after the play is stopped



yep makes sense...

oh nhl

#NHLLogic you knew they wouldn't let a Ranger get away with it.

 

[dash]

Maybe the fine is directly proportional to the volume of water sprayed/dumped

 

[forty_three]

so let me get this straight

$2800 for Thorton DURING ACTUAL GAME PLAY

$5000 after the play is stopped



yep makes sense...

oh nhl

Dammit. I just sent my tinfoil hat out for service.

 

[Dacks]

so let me get this straight

$2800 for Thorton DURING ACTUAL GAME PLAY

$5000 after the play is stopped



yep makes sense...

oh nhl

I'm pretty sure the fines are both maximum allowable as a proportion of their salary. Henrik's is higher because his salary is higher, not because the act was worse.

 

[forty_three]

I'm pretty sure the fines are both maximum allowable as a proportion of their salary. Henrik's is higher because his salary is higher, not because the act was worse.

You take your logic and you get out of here.

 

[dare2be]

The logic shall set you free. Or something like that.

 

[pixburgher66]

Regardless, the fact that the most fined thing this postseason has been squirting a guy with water, and I've seen countless headshots, is disturbing. Don't squirt guys with water, but please slew foot, headshot, and board away!

 

[forty_three]

Regardless, the fact that the most fined thing this postseason has been squirting a guy with water, and I've seen countless headshots, is disturbing. Don't squirt guys with water, but please slew foot, headshot, and board away!