And you think, the Rangers would want the Penguins....they knocked them out of the playoffs two straight years now.

The makeup of this Pens team is almost entirely different from past years. They are deeper from top to bottom than they have been in years, and have a coach who decided to let them maximize their strengths. Plus, the Rangers aren't nearly as good as they were for a short stretch.

Both teams are very different from the last two years. I think the Panthers slap the Rags around too.
- madmike71

Totally agree....but these are professionals....the playoffs are a different animal....Rangers should have confidence against the Pens....the Pens are the ones that need to get over the Rangers hump. I thought the Rangers had the "best goalie in the world." That was my point.

And you think, the Rangers would want the Penguins....they knocked them out of the playoffs two straight years now.

The makeup of this Pens team is almost entirely different from past years. They are deeper from top to bottom than they have been in years, and have a coach who decided to let them maximize their strengths. Plus, the Rangers aren't nearly as good as they were for a short stretch.
- Emperor Filonius

Agree.....but what does it tell you about the Rangers coaches confidence in their team...when you do stuff like this...it ends up being bad karma.

The Flyers could have done this in 2014 and chose not to.

Totally agree....but these are professionals....the playoffs are a different animal....Rangers should have confidence against the Pens....the Pens are the ones that need to get over the Rangers hump. I thought the Rangers had the "best goalie in the world." That was my point.
- ClutchFlyer

I think the Pens got over that hump with Henrik as soon as they got him so torqued up that he did this in a game.

Hey...it is what it is....if you want to make the playoffs then you have to win games like today and tomorrow....it's like golf...always expect your appponent to make the putt.....expect the Bruins and Redwings to win...but take care of your own business.

They had their shot against Detroit and the Marlies and chocked.....now they have a second chance....get it done.

As a Islanders fan, i approve this bolded part of the message. Good luck to your boys today.
- latorrem1

Thanks!

Great write up Bill, but you did the unspeakable! You mentioned the season that is not to be named

That season is why I started posting here BTW. I heard Bundy between periods on a radio feed where they thought the mic were off saying that hockeybuzz was a site where disgruntled fans went to vent. I thought, well this season is as good as any to vent and so it was.
- coffee junkie

Bundy is MJL confirmed.

Speaking from the heart here and not as a journalist -- although some of it seeped into the game preview in a toned-down way -- I am angry about the Rangers mailing it in on Thursday and Vigneault dressing a lineup today that sends a message that the team is afraid to play Pittsburgh.

Who knows? The Rangers could end up winning today, anyway, even in regulation. Hockey works that way sometimes. Even with a downgraded lineup, the Rangers players will be loose but also not wanting to be embarrassed in front of the home crowd, as they were on Thursday. Detroit is playing for its season and was awful against Boston after shutting out the Flyers.

Two seasons ago, the Flyers had a playoff spot locked up and could have tanked the final two games to avoid a first-round matchup with the Rangers. They didn't. They went all-out -- lost Mason to a concussion in the process -- to clinch and then even staged a comeback from a 4-1 deficit to take a regulation point in a meaningless regular season finale with Cal Heeter in goal against Carolina.

So to see the Rangers making no real effort to try to edge out the Islanders for third in the division -- most likely because they want to avoid Pittsburgh in round one -- yeah, it makes me a little angry.

Florida is certainly capable of taking out the Rangers in round one and, if not, New York very easily could run into the Penguins -- or the Capitals -- in round two anyway. So itself of trying to pick your poison, go all out, play to win and let the chips fall where they may.
- bmeltzer

To be honest they out shot the isles and controlled play for a large chunk of the game. The game was lost in the final 6 minutes of the 2nd period when the isles scored 3 goals. Griess was the reason the isles got 2 points. Curious did you watch the game or just going off final score?

Speaking from the heart here and not as a journalist -- although some of it seeped into the game preview in a toned-down way -- I am angry about the Rangers mailing it in on Thursday and Vigneault dressing a lineup today that sends a message that the team is afraid to play Pittsburgh.

Who knows? The Rangers could end up winning today, anyway, even in regulation. Hockey works that way sometimes. Even with a downgraded lineup, the Rangers players will be loose but also not wanting to be embarrassed in front of the home crowd, as they were on Thursday. Detroit is playing for its season and was awful against Boston after shutting out the Flyers.

Two seasons ago, the Flyers had a playoff spot locked up and could have tanked the final two games to avoid a first-round matchup with the Rangers. They didn't. They went all-out -- lost Mason to a concussion in the process -- to clinch and then even staged a comeback from a 4-1 deficit to take a regulation point in a meaningless regular season finale with Cal Heeter in goal against Carolina.

So to see the Rangers making no real effort to try to edge out the Islanders for third in the division -- most likely because they want to avoid Pittsburgh in round one -- yeah, it makes me a little angry.

Florida is certainly capable of taking out the Rangers in round one and, if not, New York very easily could run into the Penguins -- or the Capitals -- in round two anyway. So itself of trying to pick your poison, go all out, play to win and let the chips fall where they may.
- bmeltzer

Not if they finish in the 1st wild card. That spot stays in the Atlantic division bracket after rd 1

Not trolling because I'm rooting for you guys to get in and play the caps because I think it wil be a great series but you can't whine about other teams Bill for their lineup decisions down the stretch when you lose two games at home down the stretch to teams like the Hurricanes & Maple Leafs especially the Leafs. Plenty of chances to take care of business on their own without anybody else's help and they didn't.

I don't care about the Rangers right now. I care about finally winning against the Pens today!!

It's going to be a great afternoon for channel surfing.

When I watch the Flyers play against the Pens this year, it eerily reminds me of how they looked against the Rags 2 or 3 years back. They have problems containing the opponents speed, lack back pressure from the forwards on the back check and show an overall impatience in waiting for the other team to make a mistake. Flyers will have to play a great disciplined team game for them to win this game (and any PO games for that matter). I'll be looking to see how they control the neutral zone w/gap control w/Dmen and back pressure by fwds to get an early clue on outcome.

Go Flyers!!! Good luck today...and if you win today, I'm sure we'll help you tomorrow night...

Not trolling because I'm rooting for you guys to get in and play the caps because I think it wil be a great series but you can't whine about other teams Bill for their lineup decisions down the stretch when you lose two games at home down the stretch to teams like the Hurricanes & Maple Leafs especially the Leafs. Plenty of chances to take care of business on their own without anybody else's help and they didn't.
- Vukota

holy run on sentence, batman!

Not trolling because I'm rooting for you guys to get in and play the caps because I think it wil be a great series but you can't whine about other teams Bill for their lineup decisions down the stretch when you lose two games at home down the stretch to teams like the Hurricanes & Maple Leafs especially the Leafs. Plenty of chances to take care of business on their own without anybody else's help and they didn't.
- Vukota

No man that's totally true. If we had beat Columbus the other week, arizona, and toronto, things may look much different than they are right now. That's obviously the difference between a cup contender, and a pretty good team. Give them another year or two, and they're flying through teams/games like those.

holy run on sentence, batman!
- BulliesPhan87

C'mon dude its saturday morning on Hockeybuzz

No man that's totally true. If we had beat Columbus the other week, arizona, and toronto, things may look much different than they are right now. That's obviously the difference between a cup contender, and a pretty good team. Give them another year or two, and they're flying through teams/games like those.
- benjichronic

I agree the Metro is going to be nasty for a long time

The bottom line is, while the rivalry is still there, I don't think the hate is. The pens roster, including coaches, has turned over so much that the instigators, that would get things going in matt cooke, Derek englund, james Neal etc r long gone. The hits, by both teams, aren't as violent. A lot less trash talking, I guess it's lost a bit of its luster!

LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!

- ob18

According to the signs to Go is big is to go home.....

According to the signs to Go is big is to go home.....
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!



LET'S GO FLYERS!!! CLAP! ~ CLAP! ~ CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!!!
- ggunky

It's the pessimist in me, fully expect a Detroit and Boston win coupled with a Flyers loss. I would give up almost anything to have it be the other way around.