nossagog

One word, DFB. Honestly, how can you come into an elimination game, and come up with a game plan to sit back, and just try to counter attack. The Rangers dictated play, and the Pens didn't change their game plan at all. They gave the Rangers life, when they had none the games before. Could turn the series, always dangerous to mail in a game in the playoffs.

Pol, I can take differing opinions, I enjoy them, it makes for great intelligent conversations, why else would be be on a site with mostly Flyers fans. (Please don't tell any of them this, but I actually enjoy conversing with, gulp, Flyers fans. Oh, I think I barfed there a little in my mouth. . . Wait, did I type that out loud, damn) But life's to short to interact with people who do nothing but attempt to bait other people. Its just not worth the effort.

By the way Polaris, just use your ignore filters, I do, and it make these threads much more bearable.

Sadly Doc, its the story of the Pens. They mailed this one in early, and just sat back until they were down by two goals. Not a lot of effort, and that's sad. Rags played a great game, and did what needed to get the win. You could see the added intensity in their game. Even on the Pens 5v3PP they didn't have much effort. Oh well, its not a longer series. Never let a team back up, never.

I'll agree with you about Fleury, but that's about it. I can't fathom how you can think that the Rangers are better at anything at this point. The tired thing don't work, they had a day off, and came out and put up 15, 15 shots on goal in an almost must win game. On the bright side, there was a goal scored on their power play last night, oh wait, it was the Pens who scored. What does that make them now, 0 for their last 36 or so Power Plays? Sure, it ain't over till its over, and they can over come this, especially the way that Lundqvist is playing. If not for him, last night would have been a huge laugher. But what bright spot do you take out of their two games at home?

Open invitation to Hockey Junkie, could you please start promoting our demise for game 5 as soon as you can. You're doing so well so far.

I don't know if I'd go that far. Paul Martin has had one HECK of a playoff season so far. Somewhere I read that after the first game of the Jackets series, he has not been on the ice for a 5v5 goal against. This is by far so far his best season as a Pen, and he's continuing that play into the playoffs.

I've been a little dissappointed in Scuds, I don't think he's brough back the same intensity and mindset this go around. He's making bad decisions and is weak on the puck. Funny thing is they are playing well in front of MAF without Orpik in the lineup. I said at the deadline that I would not mind seeing him go, and he's proving that he is not irreplacable. I can't see how they could take Bortuzzo out of the lineup at this point. But then again, you never know what DFB will do.

You mean the game where the Pens built a 2-0 lead and then went defensive to limit the chances that the other team had to outside perimeter shots? Yeah, that was the one that I watched. You did notice that they sat back on both Crosby's and Malkin's time in the third period(neither was close to their normal time, Sutter had like 3 mins more than either), and leaned hard on the third and fourth lines to shut down NY, right? Or are your glasses adjusted to see just the stats that you want to see? This game was one of the reasons that they brought in Jacques Martin onto the coaching staff. Get the lead, take the crowd out of the game, and make it a bore fest. Its not exciting hockey, but it wins playoff games. Yes, the Rags built a significant lead in shots on goal, partially due the 4 power play advantage that they had over the Pens. You would kind of figure that wouldn't you. NY has played the series completely on the outside perimeters of the offensive zone, and is not getting any scoring chancs. Is that the Pens defense or the Rags strategy? 0 for their last 30 power plays? Maybe that's part of the reason they are losing game.

Fleury has played great so far in round 2. Even in the OT loss, he was great. Two shutouts in a row, I think he's settling in.

Blame it on the MSG scheduling, but not an excuse. The Pens are playing better than the Rags. And if the Rags can't score on the PP with the way the refs have called this series so far, they're in trouble. Tonight was excruciating to watch with what they let go, and then call that weak call on Martin at the end, really? Whatever, a win is a win is a win. 6 down, 10 to go.

Not sure I'll be around to chat or watch the game tonight, golf night. But I think the Pens come out with the same intensity the did all game yesterday. If the Rags don't score early, I think the Pens have the same kind of game as yesterday.

Pol, the Pens look great, the Rags look slow. I have been screaming for interference all night. Finally got one on Girardi

Hey Polaris, we're wondering in chat how close you are to the guy with the annoying horn doing the Let's Go Pens tune.

Ah, good for you polaris, wish I were there too.

Well they could have called what looked like an obvious trip with the leg on McDonough while the pens were on a kill, but that goes un noticed sometimes. but the fact that Gibbons had the puck at the time, I was surprised.

And he looked totally different in the first period tonight. More energy, a couple of great chances with snap shots or hard backhanders. He's looking much more like himself.

Chat???? But the Carcillo head snap(like he got hit with a baseball bat, or the Girardi hit where he goes down like he's dead on a rub out on the boards, is this what the NHL has come to?

He did say that Miller would be a big difference maker for the Blues, he just didn't say in which way.

Its automatic now

Big lack of effort on two of thoso\e goals by the defense in front of Fleury. THe last goal, both Scuds and Kunitz made the soft crappy clearing attempts that have drove me nuts all year. THe fact that they almost won that game, there is loads to be optimistic about. But they better have some better effort.

Due to his consistency throughout the year and the state of the Pens injury depleted lineup for the whole season, I think Crosby will get it walking away. I'm going to go with Giroux then Getzlaf. Giroux may have made this close if he hadn't started so slowly.

Orpik the only regular out of the game day skate practice. lines were: Kunitz/Crosby/Stempniak Jokinen/Malkin/Neal Bennett/Sutter/Vitale Glass/Goc/Adams

Okay, first of all, I'm going to make a bold prediction. I'm going to guarantee you HF, that the Pens WILL win the Metropolitan division title this season. If you can find someone take that bet, I'll finance you on it. To the series, my feel is its going to be a low scoring one. The Rags don't score at a high rate, and will probably start the series in a defensive shell on the road. I'm hoping that the series will not degenerate into a clutch and trap fest in the neutral zone. Rags obviously have the advantage in goaltending, I hope the Pens duo of Crosby and Malkin can neutralize that early and often.

:blink: Were you just waiting for that one????? Was listening to NHL Network yesterday. One of the things that they were saying about Crosby is that many believe that he is dealing with a hand/wrist injury which has affected his shot such that he's currently not looking to shoot the puck. Hopefully if that is true, he's getting better. Big thing is going to be getting shots through to Lundqvist. He's hard enough to beat normally, when the Rags are blocking loads of shots, it makes it harder. I'm going to go with the Pens in 7, with Lundqvist holding the Rags in the series.