You did own the puck a lot in the 3rd, but you have to recognize that the Rangers shelling down to focus on playing good D trying to hold the lead is different than the Pens down by 1, and still getting dominated and can't get the puck out of their zone. The desperation changes. Rangers aren't trying to steal the puck, its more like a Penalty Kill situation. They are collapsing and focusing on trying to make the good defensive play in the 3rd. The Pens are trying to turnover the puck and breakout to a scoring play in the 1st. It causes you to do things differently.
- xcheckmajor

I didn't get that feeling at all. The Rangers were scrambling and weren't in control at all. They weren't holding out for a 2-1 win, they were being out-hustled and out-battled consistently by all four of the Penguins' lines.

The Penguins showed me a lot last night, my confidence in their ability to win this series has increased.

The Rangers' depth is overrated.

So, yeah....if they lose Game 2, I say bring on the Kapanen.
- jmatchett383

Bring him on now. I'd give a shot ahead of Bennett or Spaling. We need someone that can score a goal.

Well.... The Pens owned possession in the 3rd.
- madmike71

Yeah, maybe. The Rangers third period possession numbers this season were among the league's worst.

Going 36-0-1 this season, last night included, when they take a lead into the third period might have something to do with that.

I didn't get that feeling at all. The Rangers were scrambling and weren't in control at all. They weren't holding out for a 2-1 win, they were being out-hustled and out-battled consistently by all four of the Penguins' lines.

The Penguins showed me a lot last night, my confidence in their ability to win this series has increased.

The Rangers' depth is overrated.
- hardnosed

While I wont agree with you that their depth is overrated I agree with everything else you said. The Pens are capable of beating these frankers even with the injuries. No honest Rangers fan can feel that good about the win last night. Yes obviously happy their team won but that was way to close for comfort for a series that was supposed to be a calkwalk sweep.

I will say the final minute of every period we should have Geno-Sid-Horny out there.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

And the last shift before a TV timeout, when possible

I didn't get that feeling at all. The Rangers were scrambling and weren't in control at all. They weren't holding out for a 2-1 win, they were being out-hustled and out-battled consistently by all four of the Penguins' lines.

The Penguins showed me a lot last night, my confidence in their ability to win this series has increased.

The Rangers' depth is overrated.
- hardnosed

We had 1 forechecker after the 5 min mark in your zone. And our depth is overrated? We have the most spread out scoring in the league. Our 3rd line Center had almost a 50pt season and our 4th line gave you guys the most consistent trouble. Our 3rd defensive pairing is Keith Yandle and our 2nd line defense has Staal who is a 1st pairing Dman. How do you get any more depth than that?

While I wont agree with you that their depth is overrated I agree with everything else you said. The Pens are capable of beating these frankers even with the injuries. No honest Rangers fan can feel that good about the win last night. Yes obviously happy their team won but that was way to close for comfort for a series that was supposed to be a calkwalk sweep.
- MattStrat

Agreed, we are all criticizing the way they played last night. Nash is become passive again, Boyle is a liability in his own end, our PP (even though it scored on a random McDonagh shot) is sapping the life out of our team everytime it goes out there, and when JT Miller and your 4th line have the most consistent effort out there, yes they definitely didn't play up to their abilty last night. Not happy at all with the performance. But that said, Fleury was great, he did stop everything after the Pens calmed down. And he stopped them without leaving 2nd chances.

We had 1 forechecker after the 5 min mark in your zone. And our depth is overrated? We have the most spread out scoring in the league. Our 3rd line Center had almost a 50pt season and our 4th line gave you guys the most consistent trouble. Our 3rd defensive pairing is Keith Yandle and our 2nd line defense has Staal who is a 1st pairing Dman. How do you get any more depth than that?
- xcheckmajor

But do you have Ben Lovejoy!!??!

But do you have Ben Lovejoy!!??!
- Willaged

I will always remember the image of his puffy face in 24/7....

While I wont agree with you that their depth is overrated I agree with everything else you said. The Pens are capable of beating these frankers even with the injuries. No honest Rangers fan can feel that good about the win last night. Yes obviously happy their team won but that was way to close for comfort for a series that was supposed to be a calkwalk sweep.
- MattStrat

I can easily admit that last night's win left a ton to be desired.

While I wont agree with you that their depth is overrated I agree with everything else you said. The Pens are capable of beating these frankers even with the injuries. No honest Rangers fan can feel that good about the win last night. Yes obviously happy their team won but that was way to close for comfort for a series that was supposed to be a calkwalk sweep.
- MattStrat

Anybody that expected a cakewalk was being foolish. The parity in the NHL is high and any team can beat any team on any night.

With that said, the Rangers played far from their potential and still got the W so I'm content with the win. I'd like to see the Rangers pick up their play though.

You're right, he's only 7th all time in ppg in the playoffs
- willi

1 goal in his last 19 playoff games!

I will always remember the image of his puffy face in 24/7....
- xcheckmajor

#WARRIOR... Haha but yeah, in all seriousness I wish we had NYR's depth. I think had our D been Healthy we close that gap sizablely.. But being down Erhoff, Letang, Mattaa, and Pouliot takes a huge bite out of our D core, and one of our strengths... Puck moving D.

I will say the final minute of every period we should have Geno-Sid-Horny out there.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Everyone here realizes that Sid and Geno have no clue how to play with Horny right?

In a perfect world, 87/71 would be playing off Horny's net drives, using the open space it creates, and get pucks to the net. Basic. Simple. Effective. Playoff hockey as the kids call it these days.

In reality, 87/71 are looking to make tic-tac-toe plays. When they look up and see no one to make a pretty pass to ('cause Hornys driving the net), they typically either lose the puck or throw it to the point.

No wonder we cant f-ing score.

1 goal in his last 19 playoff games!
- TheUltimateJet

But what a beauty it was!

I didn't get that feeling at all. The Rangers were scrambling and weren't in control at all. They weren't holding out for a 2-1 win, they were being out-hustled and out-battled consistently by all four of the Penguins' lines.

The Penguins showed me a lot last night, my confidence in their ability to win this series has increased.

The Rangers' depth is overrated.
- hardnosed

Rangers controlled the game for good portions of the night. Pittsburgh really didn't get a lot of quality scoring chances. Penguins fans should feel good about last night, to an extent, but keep a little perspective.

Anybody that expected a cakewalk was being foolish. The parity in the NHL is high and any team can beat any team on any night.

With that said, the Rangers played far from their potential and still got the W so I'm content with the win. I'd like to see the Rangers pick up their play though.
- rangerdanger94

If the Pens continue to give up the quality scoring chances you guys has last night, this wont go beyond 4-5 games. MAF was very good, borderline spectacular, juicy rebound on goal #1 aside.

Unless 87/71 start producing goals, we have no shot.

If the Pens continue to give up the quality scoring chances you guys has last night, this wont go beyond 4-5 games. MAF was very good, borderline spectacular, juicy rebound on goal #1 aside.

Unless 87/71 start producing goals, we have no shot.
- 87_71_11_29

Asking 87/71 to produce goals with this lineup is like asking me to make lemonade out of rotten tomatoes. This team can not even execute a 10 foot pass on the breakout.

I didn't get that feeling at all. The Rangers were scrambling and weren't in control at all. They weren't holding out for a 2-1 win, they were being out-hustled and out-battled consistently by all four of the Penguins' lines.

The Penguins showed me a lot last night, my confidence in their ability to win this series has increased.

The Rangers' depth is overrated.
- hardnosed

I agree the Pens showed good fight. But, aren't you supposed to go balls to the wall in the playoffs? Why give credit for something that's to be expected?

Also, I don't agree at all with the bolded points you make. Watching the game, I never had the feeling the Rangers were loosing their grasp on the game one time. Even though the score was 2-1, it felt like we were down 2 goals.

Asking 87/71 to produce goals with this lineup is like asking me to make lemonade out of rotten tomatoes. This team can not even execute a 10 foot pass on the breakout.
- Tiogadog

I think its excuse making. They gotta do better. 87 specifically.

If 71 plays every game like he did last night, he'll get some points.

If you cant rely on your $9.5 and $8.7 million dollar guys to produce, what the hell are you paying them that money for then?

I think its excuse making. They gotta do better. 87 specifically.

If 71 plays every game like he did last night, he'll get some points.
If you cant rely on your $9.5 and $8.7 million dollar guys to produce, what the hell are you paying them that money for then?
- 87_71_11_29

You keep throwing around how much money they make and that they don't earn it but you seem to be OK with a defenseman who makes first pairing money and gets beat clean on the first shift of the game. Why the double standard?

You keep throwing around how much money they make and that they don't earn it but you seem to be OK with a defenseman who makes first pairing money and gets beat clean on the first shift of the game. Why the double standard?
- Thunderbolt

No I aint OK with that. I'm the #1 Paul Mart Mall Cop basher on this board. I believe he is completely overrated. I posted on RW's previous blog about 7 giving up yet another playoff goal and looking bad in the process.

But, at the end of the day, we lost 2-1. Past few years, D hasn't been the issue. Goal scoring has been this teams undoing.

87 and 71 get paid to produce goals.

They aren't doing their job. P Mart is doing his job way better than either of those 2.

Asking 87/71 to produce goals with this lineup is like asking me to make lemonade out of rotten tomatoes. This team can not even execute a 10 foot pass on the breakout.
- Tiogadog

Want to know why? You can't ice a full team with 25mil + tied up between three players. ESPECIALLY when we have no players on ELC deals that can make a difference, and are bare bones on draft picks.

We're stuck, either keep trading picks for rental type of guys and pray that works or trade one of the core for a nice return and pray that works.

No I aint OK with that. I'm the #1 Paul Mart Mall Cop basher on this board. I believe he is completely overrated. I posted on RW's previous blog about 7 giving up yet another playoff goal and looking bad in the process.

But, at the end of the day, we lost 2-1. Past few years, D hasn't been the issue. Goal scoring has been this teams undoing.

87 and 71 get paid to produce goals.

They aren't doing their job. P Mart is doing his job way better than either of those 2.
- 87_71_11_29

Overrated and overpaid, I don't see where every time money is brought up he gets a pass. He has been paid #1 defenseman for five years and it seems everyone is fine with him playing like a #2 or #3.

Pretty sure the site would break again if the poop penalties were called 5-1 in the Pens favor.

Anyway, aside from the poor first and questionable calls they showed they can hang with the "greatest team ever to lace up skates".

The Rags are sooo over rated it's disgusting. A healthy Pens team wrecks that bandwagon.