Series Thread: Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 - Rangers vs. Penguins

[elocomotive]

BOOOYA KUZNETSOV!!!!

I fucking love this kid!

 

[apachef4]

You'll have to forgive eloco for posting in the wrong thread. He's excited.

 

[pixburgher66]

You do know the Rangers were tied with the Isles for 2nd in goals scored this season, right?

Sure, and this series they have nine goals in four games. As I mentioned, things are fluid from one series to another, but considering what the Rangers have been able to produce thus far (beyond goals, SOG), I'd lean toward either of those other teams. All it'd take is St. Louis or Nash waking up a bit. St. Louis created the GWG last night, with an assist from Lovejoy's sad attempt at defense, and Nash hasn't been invisible...but they've been for the most part shut down. If the Pens JV defense can do that, I can see other teams having just as much success.

 

[pixburgher66]

You'll have to forgive eloco for posting in the wrong thread. He's excited.

BOOOYA KUZNETSOV!!!!

I fucking love this kid!

The first one I thought "oh that loco, all jammed up." The second one has me laughing.

 

[elocomotive]

You'll have to forgive eloco for posting in the wrong thread. He's excited.

Hahahahaha. LMAO! I didn't even notice. I think I was just looking and we scored.

 

[RangersReds03]

You'll have to forgive eloco for posting in the wrong thread. He's excited.

In his defense we've played each other so much recently it's an easy mistake to make.

 

[RangersReds03]

Sure, and this series they have nine goals in four games. As I mentioned, things are fluid from one series to another, but considering what the Rangers have been able to produce thus far (beyond goals, SOG), I'd lean toward either of those other teams. All it'd take is St. Louis or Nash waking up a bit. St. Louis created the GWG last night, with an assist from Lovejoy's sad attempt at defense, and Nash hasn't been invisible...but they've been for the most part shut down. If the Pens JV defense can do that, I can see other teams having just as much success.

Our offense can get cold at times it's true, we had a run similar to that against teams like Buffalo and Florida and then scored 7 against the Ducks. And with our D and Lundy in net sometimes 2 goals is all we need. Basically I'm not concerned just yet.

 

[pixburgher66]

Our offense can get cold at times it's true, we had a run similar to that against teams like Buffalo and Florida and then scored 7 against the Ducks. And with our D and Lundy in net sometimes 2 goals is all we need. Basically I'm not concerned just yet.

Hell, your team is up 3-1 in the series, don't blame you. More of a feeling I have based on how "my" team has played down the stretch and not expecting this series to be what it has been.

 

[RangersReds03]

Hell, your team is up 3-1 in the series, don't blame you. More of a feeling I have based on how "my" team has played down the stretch and not expecting this series to be what it has been.

I think a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that the first time in a long time the Pens are the underdogs and because of their injuries and play down the stretch had no expectations of advancing. Plus Fleury has been really good which I don't think he's gotten enough credit for.

 

[pixburgher66]

I think a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that the first time in a long time the Pens are the underdogs and because of their injuries and play down the stretch had no expectations of advancing. Plus Fleury has been really good which I don't think he's gotten enough credit for.

And he never will. The guy nearly won the Pens a Cup on his own in 2008 (best stretch of his career ever), won them one in 2009, has one horrible postseason, a scattering of questionable goals, and he's forever tainted. He nearly won them the first game. Really, outside of the first goal of the series, he's been locked in. Heck, last night he saved both goals, but the D couldn't clear the crease. Even winning another Cup probably won't bury the demons.

 

[Darkstone42]

BOOOYA KUZNETSOV!!!!

I fucking love this kid!

Go home, eloco. You are drunk.

 

[elocomotive]

Go home, eloco. You are drunk.

Sadly, I was not.

Just tired.

 

[GenJac]

What's the difference between Spaling, Winnik, and Adams? Answer nothing. The Pens problem this year is that they have a ton of the same types of players who can kill penalties and forecheck well but do nothing else.

When all of your scoring has to come from Crosby, Hornqvist, Malkin, and occasionally Perron when he isn't going through his well known slumping streaks you got major problems. Now take two of those players in Malkin who is now injured and has been rendered ineffective and Perron who is slumping at the wrong time and is basically useless right now and you have a perfect recipe for failure. This offseason the following changes need to be made. One let Martin (5 mil a year) and Ehrhoff (4 mil a year) walk away in free agency. You see Martin last night stand in front of the net and do absolutely nothing while Kevin Hayes stood right next to him punching a rebound in for the game winning goal? Paul Martin sees the writing on the wall and for well over a month now is simply trying to avoid injury at all costs to cash out in free agency this offseason.

The fact is that its time for the young D-men in the Penguins system who also happen to play on entry level deals to step up next year. Two get rid of Scuderi (3.75 mil a year) and Kunitz (3.85 mil a year) one way or the other even if it means using the standard buy outs and paying them not to play on the team and absorbing slightly lower cap hits for the next x number of years. Three cut even more dead weight contracts off the books by trading single role players like Spaling (2.2 mil a year) who at 1 mil a year would be a good player to have but at 2.2 mil a year is just another example of this Pens team overpaying for marginal talent.

The cap room is there its simply been spent on the wrong players because of previous and current management mistakes.

 

[scoutyjones2]

The Pens will rise again when Dupuis comes back healthy!

 

[pixburgher66]

What's the difference between Spaling, Winnik, and Adams? Answer nothing. The Pens problem this year is that they have a ton of the same types of players who can kill penalties and forecheck well but do nothing else.

When all of your scoring has to come from Crosby, Hornqvist, Malkin, and occasionally Perron when he isn't going through his well known slumping streaks you got major problems. Now take two of those players in Malkin who is now injured and has been rendered ineffective and Perron who is slumping at the wrong time and is basically useless right now and you have a perfect recipe for failure. This offseason the following changes need to be made. One let Martin (5 mil a year) and Ehrhoff (4 mil a year) walk away in free agency. You see Martin last night stand in front of the net and do absolutely nothing while Kevin Hayes stood right next to him punching a rebound in for the game winning goal? Paul Martin sees the writing on the wall and for well over a month now is simply trying to avoid injury at all costs to cash out in free agency this offseason.

The fact is that its time for the young D-men in the Penguins system who also happen to play on entry level deals to step up next year. Two get rid of Scuderi (3.75 mil a year) and Kunitz (3.85 mil a year) one way or the other even if it means using the standard buy outs and paying them not to play on the team and absorbing slightly lower cap hits for the next x number of years. Three cut even more dead weight contracts off the books by trading single role players like Spaling (2.2 mil a year) who at 1 mil a year would be a good player to have but at 2.2 mil a year is just another example of this Pens team overpaying for marginal talent.

The cap room is there its simply been spent on the wrong players because of previous and current management mistakes.

You're pretty much right on. I'll disagree about Winnik though, if he could be had cheap-ish, I'd keep him. He's good at his role, which is the same as Adams' but he's competent at it. Heck, honestly, there were points in this series where the fourth line was our best with Spaling-Lappierre-Winnik out there. They cycled, mucked, hit, kept the puck in the offensive zone. As far as the D, I'm pretty sure the young D are going to take over, and that they sort of would've this year had injuries not happened. Again, the beauty of it for the Pens is that they have a lot of contracts coming off the books next year, and if healthy, the D should be nearly set. I agree about Scuds though...they have to find a way to move that contract.

 

[thedddd]

Hahahahaha. LMAO! I didn't even notice. I think I was just looking and we scored.

Just admit your a closeted penguin fan....

 

[dare2be]

The Pens will rise again if Dupuis comes back healthy!

Fixed.

 

[thedddd]

You're pretty much right on. I'll disagree about Winnik though, if he could be had cheap-ish, I'd keep him. He's good at his role, which is the same as Adams' but he's competent at it. Heck, honestly, there were points in this series where the fourth line was our best with Spaling-Lappierre-Winnik out there. They cycled, mucked, hit, kept the puck in the offensive zone. As far as the D, I'm pretty sure the young D are going to take over, and that they sort of would've this year had injuries not happened. Again, the beauty of it for the Pens is that they have a lot of contracts coming off the books next year, and if healthy, the D should be nearly set. I agree about Scuds though...they have to find a way to move that contract.

I totally agree all the same player and yeah Winnik if cheap is work keeping due to his size and ability on the PK. As a fourth liner he is worth it.

Shame is no one will take on Scuderi's and Kunitz contracts but when they fall off their money will replaced with the non-entry level deals for the young d-men.

I agree with Scouty normally about Dupuis but I still worried his age and health will catch up to him.

 

[scoutyjones2]

Oh, I worry about Duper that he will ever be back...clots 2 times in a row! Yowza

 

[3riverbabe]

I think a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that the first time in a long time the Pens are the underdogs and because of their injuries and play down the stretch had no expectations of advancing. Plus Fleury has been really good which I don't think he's gotten enough credit for.

Fleury is probably the only reason we haven't been swept.

I'm trying to remain optimistic about tonight, but it's hard. Of course, I may not last the whole game...went to see the Who last night & I'm dragging!