Round 1: Rangers (M1) vs. Penguins (W2)

[CarltonTheBear]

Pens were down by a goal and they didn't put the two-headed monster together for a single shift until they pulled their goalie. That was basically Bylsma's trump card in those situations. Could have made a big difference, especially since both Crosby and Malkin were largely neutered by their own ineffective linemates tonight.

 

[L K]

Pens were down by a goal and they didn't put the two-headed monster together for a single shift until they pulled their goalie. That was basically Bylsma's trump card in those situations. Could have made a big difference, especially since both Crosby and Malkin were largely neutered by their own ineffective linemates tonight.

Crosby has 1 goal and 9 points in his last 19 playoff games. He needs to start ignoring his brutal linemates and just start trying to score single-handedly. 

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Malkin-Crosby-Winnick should be their goto when they need a goal, Winnick can open up space for those two and he's defensively responsible enough to allow the other two to do their thing.

 

[rdowdall]

I don't think the Rangers have the best defense in the league or anything but from a name recognition standpoint it might be right at the top.

Kinda like the Leafs defence in 92-93, or the Hurricanes defence when they won the cup.

 

[Kin]

I don't think the Rangers have the best defense in the league or anything but from a name recognition standpoint it might be right at the top.

Kinda like the Leafs defence in 92-93, or the Hurricanes defence when they won the cup.

I...no?

 

[rdowdall]

I don't think the Rangers have the best defense in the league or anything but from a name recognition standpoint it might be right at the top.

Kinda like the Leafs defence in 92-93, or the Hurricanes defence when they won the cup.

I...no?

I always thought the Leafs defence from the 92-93 season was pretty unheralded but a really strong top 6.  Ellett, Gill, Lefebvre, Rouse, Macoun, Mironov.  It could have had more to do with Burns coaching.

The Hurricanes defence was probably a miss, although they seemed solid, if not flashy.

 

[rdowdall]

I don't think the Rangers have the best defense in the league or anything but from a name recognition standpoint it might be right at the top.

Kinda like the Leafs defence in 92-93, or the Hurricanes defence when they won the cup.

I...no?

Sorry, forget that. I totally misread that.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Malkin-Crosby-Winnick should be their goto when they need a goal, Winnick can open up space  for those two and he's defensively responsible enough to allow the other two to do their thing.

The Pens, who, by the way were the league's most penalized team, carried that effect over in Game 1, which according to Pittsburgh's coach Mike Johnston, 'hampered' his ability to fully utilize Crosby (& Malkin) better:

...and those penalties, ..." Penguins coach Mike Johnston said. "It took a lot of momentum away from our team. Key players couldn't get on the ice, so certainly that was a key factor in the start of the game."


Source:  NHL.com

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I guess Crosby's back to being the best player in the game.

 

[hockeyfan1]

I guess Crosby's back to being the best player in the game.

The difference in this Game 2 was that Pittsburgh went 2 fer 4 on the power play, while the Rangers went 1 for 7.    And of course, Crosby supplied the firepower for the Pens.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Jeff Marek hosting the intermission show for this game with two analysts whose names I still don't know. Unsurprisingly it was actually pretty decent. Marek is insanely underutilized over there. He should be Daren Millard's spot.

 

[Peter D.]

Jeff Marek hosting the intermission show for this game with two analysts whose names I still don't know. Unsurprisingly it was actually pretty decent. Marek is insanely underutilized over there. He should be Daren Millard's spot.

I'll take it one step further. He should be in Strombo's spot.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'll take it one step further. He should be in Strombo's spot.

Oh, I definitely agree with that, just trying to be a little realistic hah! He and Elliotte Friedman are the two most talented people on that staff.

 

[hockeyfan1]

NYRangers 2  Pittsburgh 1  OT  NYRangers lead series 3 games to 1.

As they had done on Sunday in Game 3, the Rangers once again defeated Pittsburgh by an identical score of 2-1 only this time in Game 4, they needed overtime to get the job done.
And who but rookie Kevin Hayes to tip it in during a scramble in front of the Pittsburgh net.

Looks like desperation will need to be the buzzword for the Penguins as they face elimination.  Of course it's no secret that their opponents simply were (and still are) the best road team in the league.

"We need to make sure that we're desperate," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "Really the only thing you can do is go out there, be desperate and get it back here."

We'll see to that.

Game 5 goes Friday in New York at 8PM.

Source:  Sportsnet, NHL.com

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

There go the Pens in round 1.

 

[ZBBM]

Note to Oilers: Even with a Megasuperstar, it's not so easy to win Stanley Cups.

 

[Andy007]

Well at least this one can't be blamed on Fleury. 2.12 GAA .927 SV%

 

[hockeyfan1]

NYRangers 2  Pittsburgh 1  OT  NYRangers win series 4 games to 1.

As Pittsburgh captain Sydney Crosby had previously mentioned after Pittsburgh's loss the other night in Game 4, the Penguins needed to play "desperate" in the hopes of staving off elimination to their Eastern rivals the Rangers.

Well, not a lofty goal for Pittsburgh but definitely a tough one to follow, as the Penguins tried valiantly, tying the game on Crosby's marker and forcing overtime, as happened in Game 4 (in which the Rangers won in OT 2-1).

Both team's netminders were superb -- Pittsburgh's Marc-Andr? Fleury and New York's Henrik Lundqvist, each making one save after another in keeping their respective teams in the game.  Until...

...overtime.  Carl Hagelin shot a wrister past Fleury as the Rangers effectively eliminated any hopes the Penguins may have had.

It hadn't been a great finish for the Penguins leading to this playoff round, what with key injuries that beset the club, plus the fact that Pittsburgh's big guns namely Crosby & Malkin were relatively quiet. Pittsburgh struggled against the Rangers yet the Blueshirts themselves needed to make quite an effort to stymie the Pens.  Goes to show just how tough a team the Penguins were even with all their on-ice troubles.

More here:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/hagelin-rangers-eliminate-penguins-with-ot-win/

 

[hockeyfan1]

Malkin says it best:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/malkin-penguins-not-good-enough/