Can't remember how many assists in there nor does it matter what happened last year, the question was if that is all Staal has in his bag of tricks then stopping the opposition guns may be difficult if he starts getting called out? Does he offer anything else? In the past games this year he hasn't had an impact (from memory), but you have still won. You haven't needed him yet, when you need him is when we'll find out I guess. Are you confident in his abilities I suppose is the biggest question??
- Aussiepenguin

The crosscheck to the head is not part of Staal's usual repertoire;
It happened once -he doesn't play that way. He's a master of the
Stick check and is tall and long enough to contain bigger forwards with
Positioning and reach.
Though it is part of every NHL defenseman's game to varying degrees to
shove and hammer the oppoisition near the net, Staal isn't a dirty player.

The crosscheck to the head is not part of Staal's usual repertoire;
It happened once -he doesn't play that way. He's a master of the
Stick check and is tall and long enough to contain bigger forwards with
Positioning and reach.
Though it is part of every NHL defenseman's game to varying degrees to
shove and hammer the oppoisition near the net, Staal isn't a dirty player.
- BobbySchmautz

Penguin fans complaining about Marc Staal but they use to love the way Ulf Samuelsson played. Maybe they should blame Ulfie for what Staal did to Crosby. Staal was never that nasty until Ulf started coaching our defensemen.

I'll go with ya
- jimbro83

Road trip!!!!!

Penguin fans complaining about Marc Staal but they use to love the way Ulf Samuelsson played. Maybe they should blame Ulfie for what Staal did to Crosby. Staal was never that nasty until Ulf started coaching our defensemen.
- jimbro83

They never complained about Matt Cooke until he started to cost them games.

Rangers Report ‏@rangersreport 14s14 seconds ago
J.T. Miller back in lineup, Glass has upper-body injury, per @PLeonardNYDN

Road trip!!!!!
- HankdaTank

ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP


- jimbro83

Penguin fans complaining about Marc Staal but they use to love the way Ulf Samuelsson played. Maybe they should blame Ulfie for what Staal did to Crosby. Staal was never that nasty until Ulf started coaching our defensemen.
- jimbro83

This is correct!!! However, Staal should have been suspended... "The cross check" to the back of Crosby's head was not a hockey play.... Rangers won the series fair and square but once again NHL discipline is incomprehensible.... 1) did the player get hurt 2) the situation (playoffs) 3) the name on the Jersey 4) and finally the intent of the player.... If you need further evidence look at Ovies hit on a defenseless Girardi a few years back...

Rangers Report ‏@rangersreport 14s14 seconds ago
J.T. Miller back in lineup, Glass has upper-body injury, per @PLeonardNYDN
- jimbro83

Good. Miller didn't deserve to sit anyway.

This is correct!!! However, Staal should have been suspended... "The cross check" to the back of Crosby's head was not a hockey play.... Rangers won the series fair and square but once again NHL discipline is incomprehensible.... 1) did the player get hurt 2) the situation (playoffs) 3) the name on the Jersey 4) and finally the intent of the player.... If you need further evidence look at Ovies hit on a defenseless Girardi a few years back...
- Brianandr1

To address your points:

A crosscheck is pretty intrinsic to hockey -though also considered
Illegal, it happens all the time.

In the case of that play, Crosby was down very low and took
A hit to the head that otherwise would have been to the shoulder.

I don't think Staal was even looking at him directly -he just knew
A player was there and was trying to impede him. Yes, illegally.

If you are referring to Staal's #, his record is pretty clean.

Could he have been suspended? Maybe but I think they looked
At the tape and concluded that contact w the head was not intentional
And was the result of a momentary size mismatch more than anything.

It seems like that one play has burned into the
Minds of some pens fans and they think have made Staal
Into Chris Pronger which almost couldn't be further from
The truth -he's just not a nasty player.

Good. Miller didn't deserve to sit anyway.
- tomburton99

I really like the way Miller has been playing. Was he sitting
Because of his horrible centering pass in the D zone vs Boston
or what?

To address your points:

A crosscheck is pretty intrinsic to hockey -though also considered
Illegal, it happens all the time.

In the case of that play, Crosby was down very low and took
A hit to the head that otherwise would have been to the shoulder.

I don't think Staal was even looking at him directly -he just knew
A player was there and was trying to impede him. Yes, illegally.

If you are referring to Staal's #, his record is pretty clean.

Could he have been suspended? Maybe but I think they looked
At the tape and concluded that contact w the head was not intentional
And was the result of a momentary size mismatch more than anything.

It seems like that one play has burned into the
Minds of some pens fans and they think have made Staal
Into Chris Pronger which almost couldn't be further from
The truth -he's just not a nasty player.
- BobbySchmautz

Not to the back of the neck!!!! and if Crosby was hurt the NHL would have suspended him for the rest of the series. This is not a stab at Ranger fans... its a commentary on how NHL discipline is incomprehensible... Staal is not Pronger, all good NHL d men are a little dirty sometimes... this is correct

Not to the back of the neck!!!! and if Crosby was hurt the NHL would have suspended him for the rest of the series. This is not a stab at Ranger fans... its a commentary on how NHL discipline is incomprehensible... Staal is not Pronger, all good NHL d men are a little dirty sometimes... this is correct
- Brianandr1

Not saying how you should feel as a Penguins fan, but honestly, if I was a Penquins fan I would have been more upset it wasn't called a penalty during the game. There was no way Staal was going to get suspended on a play like that as Bobby pointed out, Crosby was bent over and Staal is defending the net. Any defenseman is going to use the stick to keep position infront of the net.

Jimbro had a great point about the Marchand slew foot from the other night. Ref's are looking right at it, no penalty is called on the ice which would have given the Rangers a 5 on 3 at the time. The fact that the little rat faced bastard got suspended 2 games after the fact doesn't real mean poop. The call on the ice would have had way more impact than a suspension after the fact.

Not to the back of the neck!!!! and if Crosby was hurt the NHL would have suspended him for the rest of the series. This is not a stab at Ranger fans... its a commentary on how NHL discipline is incomprehensible... Staal is not Pronger, all good NHL d men are a little dirty sometimes... this is correct
- Brianandr1

For some reason I remember that happening once before, if that was worth 6 games it would have been even more egregious than the Graves suspension

Not saying how you should feel as a Penguins fan, but honestly, if I was a Penquins fan I would have been more upset it wasn't called a penalty during the game. There was no way Staal was going to get suspended on a play like that as Bobby pointed out, Crosby was bent over and Staal is defending the net. Any defenseman is going to use the stick to keep position infront of the net.

Jimbro had a great point about the Marchand slew foot from the other night. Ref's are looking right at it, no penalty is called on the ice which would have given the Rangers a 5 on 3 at the time. The fact that the little rat faced bastard got suspended 2 games after the fact doesn't real mean poop. The call on the ice would have had way more impact than a suspension after the fact.
- mdw7413

Would have been a 5 on 3, only reason they didn't call it, they didn't want to give it to us

Would have been a 5 on 3, only reason they didn't call it, they didn't want to give it to us
- HankdaTank

You know, I can't remember the last time a slew foot was actually called on the ice(against any team). I think refs are so (frank)ing busy looking for a stick that touches a hand, they miss a lot of other calls now.

For some reason I remember that happening once before, if that was worth 6 games it would have been even more egregious than the Graves suspension
- HankdaTank

Ironically I agree with you 100 percent... if Mario does not break a bone, graves is not suspended. I like Staal, and there are more then a few Pens fans that would love to have him. I agree he's not a dirty player. But again the point is that the NHL does not look at intention or even the play... they look at did the player get hurt.

Not to the back of the neck!!!! and if Crosby was hurt the NHL would have suspended him for the rest of the series. This is not a stab at Ranger fans... its a commentary on how NHL discipline is incomprehensible... Staal is not Pronger, all good NHL d men are a little dirty sometimes... this is correct
- Brianandr1

Cindy didn't learn well enough from Mario about how to act hurt. After all, Cindy could have come back and played with no pain for the rest of the series. Ala, mario

Cindy didn't learn well enough from Mario about how to act hurt. After all, Cindy could have come back and played with no pain for the rest of the series. Ala, mario
- DONMURDOCH14

To be fair... Graves broke two bones in Mario's wrist on a slash... If Samuelson did the same to Messier the punishment would have been the same.

To be fair... Graves broke two bones in Mario's wrist on a slash... If Samuelson did the same to Messier the punishment would have been the same.
- Brianandr1

Messier would have kicked Ulfie's ass, too. Mario said he had broken bones. I never believed it. Total Academy award winner.

Messier would have kicked Ulfie's ass, too. Mario said he had broken bones. I never believed it. Total Academy award winner.

- DONMURDOCH14

Really???? 1) he did not play the rest of the series 2) They were down... Rangers were up in the series... This is one of the most senseless things I ve read in awhile.

If you want an explanation of why the Rangers lost that series how about your goalie letting in shots from the redline.

Really???? 1) he did not play the rest of the series 2) They were down... Rangers were up in the series... This is one of the most senseless things I ve read in awhile.

If you want an explanation of why the Rangers lost that series how about your goalie letting in shots from the redline.
- Brianandr1

he did play the next series, those wee some fast healing bones

he did play the next series, those wee some fast healing bones
- HankdaTank

So the best player in the world at that time intentionally sat out the rest of a series the Pens were losing so Graves would be suspended?

So the best player in the world at that time intentionally sat out the rest of a series the Pens were losing so Graves would be suspended?
- Brianandr1

I don't know what he did but he sure as hell had some skeptically broken bones

Okay I'll say it: this game is HUGE