Pre-Game Talk: Metro Division Final: (2) Rangers vs. (1) Penguins

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

You know, I think having to deal with Giroux and Mason's diving antics, and the ref's support of that, really has prepared us to face Crosby and Co.

NHL loves you guys. Maybe not O'Halloran but in general, the calls tend to fall your way.

Having said that, I've never seen a more lopsided officiating job done, than our series against the Flyers. All 7 games with terrible calls against us. And to be honest, I rarely complain about the refs because if they're bad they're usually bad both ways.

Good test for what is to come for us in this series.

Penguins are the masters of the flopping, took that title when Marie Lemieux came into the league. Crybaby has learned from the best on flopping and whining. Still remember last time we played them in PO's, Jagr was all over Crybaby about his diving and constant whining to the refs. The pengirls will definitely get some gift calls by Betteman's minions in this series, though it is comical when you hear pengirl fans complain about some refs hating them.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Why is this an advantage for Pittsburgh?

Yeah, I don't see it, either.

 

[Hire Sather]

Gunna need NBC to give a fair warning before showing any Game 1 highlights from 2008.

 

[Shady Machine]

Hey guys Pen's fan here. I'm not trying to confrontational but I have seen a fair amount of talking about the refs and favoring the Pen's heavily (Penrefs and all). All fans have their biases, myself included, so I didn't want to just blindly disagree with it. So I took a look at PP opportunities for and times shorthanded by both teams over the last 6 regular seasons (didn't do head to head matchups because it would take too long to find data and playoffs don't have same number of games). It's not a perfect analysis by any stretch, but was interesting to look at.

Anyway, over the past 6 regular seasons, the Pens have had 100 more PP opportunities than the Rangers and have been shorthanded 145 times more. So in terms of differential, the Penguins have a -45 compared to the Rangers. To me, this says 2 things: 1.) The Pens are less disciplined than the Rangers and 2.) The Pens get more PP's because they have the puck more and their star players draw a fair amount of penalties.

I'm sure the argument on the other side is the Pen's are divers and fakers and that's how they draw more penalties. Even if true, I think the -45 differential indicates that there isn't some clear ref bias going for the Penguins.

Anyway, just wanted to share what I found. Good luck this series. Regardless of outcome I hope it's a hard fought, entertaining series!

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

You're joking, right?!?

That SOB absofrigginlutely hates us.



... That said, Pens in 6

Right, there isn't a league official or ref in the league that doesn't bow to Marie Lemieux and Cindy. Saying a certain ref hates you is like a billionaire complaining about the price for a gallon of milk. The pengirls have everything from the league and the officials and you complain about one ref. Whats his problem he didn't give Cindy a hug?

 

[TheTakedown]

For me it's mostly the prospect of missing out on three 1st rounders in a row. Winning now is great but I also want a steady supply of young talent to keep us competitive for years to come. Yeah the college FAs help but it's rarer to find real NHL talent there. And it's not that I don't want to make it to the ECF, I'm just not that confident we could make it out and a loss there would feel like a double loss to me.

But I'll root for the Rangers regardless. Not going to root against the team just because Sather traded a pick I wanted. And I think we DO stand a chance against Pittsburgh if our big guys show up. MAF looked shakier than ever for parts of that first round.

MAF has a save % of .908 this playoffs and a GAA of 2.81... That includes both the lights-out play in the first 4 games and then the total-****-up mode he went into for the last 3.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

MAF has a save % of .908 this playoffs and a GAA of 2.81... That includes both the lights-out play in the first 4 games and then the total-****-up mode he went into for the last 3.

There is no other goalie where scoring early on is near as important. I'd love to see them make MAF crack under pressure as he is known to do.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

Hey guys Pen's fan here. I'm not trying to confrontational but I have seen a fair amount of talking about the refs and favoring the Pen's heavily (Penrefs and all). All fans have their biases, myself included, so I didn't want to just blindly disagree with it. So I took a look at PP opportunities for and times shorthanded by both teams over the last 6 regular seasons (didn't do head to head matchups because it would take too long to find data and playoffs don't have same number of games). It's not a perfect analysis by any stretch, but was interesting to look at.

Anyway, over the past 6 regular seasons, the Pens have had 100 more PP opportunities than the Rangers and have been shorthanded 145 times more. So in terms of differential, the Penguins have a -45 compared to the Rangers. To me, this says 2 things: 1.) The Pens are less disciplined than the Rangers and 2.) The Pens get more PP's because they have the puck more and their star players draw a fair amount of penalties.

I'm sure the argument on the other side is the Pen's are divers and fakers and that's how they draw more penalties. Even if true, I think the -45 differential indicates that there isn't some clear ref bias going for the Penguins.

Anyway, just wanted to share what I found. Good luck this series. Regardless of outcome I hope it's a hard fought, entertaining series!

It was point #2 that you made, on the pengirls DRAWING penalties, and that would be the constant DIVING and WHINING after EVERY play

 

[Nanaki]

Hey guys Pen's fan here. I'm not trying to confrontational but I have seen a fair amount of talking about the refs and favoring the Pen's heavily (Penrefs and all). All fans have their biases, myself included, so I didn't want to just blindly disagree with it. So I took a look at PP opportunities for and times shorthanded by both teams over the last 6 regular seasons (didn't do head to head matchups because it would take too long to find data and playoffs don't have same number of games). It's not a perfect analysis by any stretch, but was interesting to look at.

Anyway, over the past 6 regular seasons, the Pens have had 100 more PP opportunities than the Rangers and have been shorthanded 145 times more. So in terms of differential, the Penguins have a -45 compared to the Rangers. To me, this says 2 things: 1.) The Pens are less disciplined than the Rangers and 2.) The Pens get more PP's because they have the puck more and their star players draw a fair amount of penalties.

I'm sure the argument on the other side is the Pen's are divers and fakers and that's how they draw more penalties. Even if true, I think the -45 differential indicates that there isn't some clear ref bias going for the Penguins.

Anyway, just wanted to share what I found. Good luck this series. Regardless of outcome I hope it's a hard fought, entertaining series!

A lot of it comes from the timing of the penalties. I've seen it happen time and time again. If the Penguins are down by a goal in the third they always almost get gifted a powerplay on some ridiculously questionable call.

 

[Shady Machine]

It was point #2 that you made, on the pengirls DRAWING penalties, and that would be the constant DIVING and WHINING after EVERY play

So why call so many penalties against the Pens if the refs are biased? Is that only to try to cover up the bias?

 

[Shady Machine]

A lot of it comes from the timing of the penalties. I've seen it happen time and time again. If the Penguins are down by a goal in the third they always almost get gifted a powerplay on some ridiculously questionable call.

Fair enough. I mean you can't prove that and I can't prove you wrong. I didn't come in here to start an argument so I will just have to accept your opinion on that. I was just curious of the PP's for vs SH against ratios for the two teams. Maybe it means something, maybe it doesn't.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

So why call so many penalties against the Pens if the refs are biased? Is that only to try to cover up the bias?

Just reporting what I see with my own eyes, and this has been happening ever since Marie came into the league. He started the whining and tried to hold the league with his "I'm going to retire, unless the other players play nice with me". Your Cindy has learned well from his owner

 

[Ola]

I think that Ulfie has had a big impact on the defensemen.

I loved when he got the draw moves outside the zone after Giroux shot that was caught in the net. He went nuts when everyone, including the refs, started to lineup in our end... Good call.

 

[Shady Machine]

Just reporting what I see with my own eyes, and this has been happening ever since Marie came into the league. He started the whining and tried to hold the league with his "I'm going to retire, unless the other players play nice with me". Your Cindy has learned well from his owner

Fair enough. Good luck to your team.

 

[NYRCSKA*]

He's a hockey legend, both on the ice and in the front office.

And also, there aren't many bandwagon fans in Pittsburgh. I'm sure you're quite well aware of our success in many sports. We're not fair weather fans. Yeah, the Pens aren't an original six team like the Rangers, but they've been around since '67. They've been selling out arenas since '84. It's a pretty decent hockey town now.

The Rangers are like the 4th or 5th most popular team in the NY area, at least.

He's legendary at being a piece of trash. ****tsburgh has only fair weather and band wagon fans. And the Sheelers and Pirates are lol. A rapist is the face of your football team. Pretty much the epitome of that city right there.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I loved when he got the draw moves outside the zone after Giroux shot that was caught in the net. He went nuts when everyone, including the refs, started to lineup in our end... Good call.

I thought Ulfie was going to jump into the ice and spear the ref.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

It was point #2 that you made, on the pengirls DRAWING penalties, and that would be the constant DIVING and WHINING after EVERY play

****, Pengirls would have been better than PenRefs. Damn it.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I think the Rangers have been burned with bad calls all year to be honest. Mainly on goals. Hopefully it evens out. But its not like theyve done much with the PPs as of late.

As far as the Pens go - I dont think they are penalized any more or less then the rest of the league. But certain players get special treatment no matter what team they play for. And thats a fact. Crosby is one of them. the league should protect its best players, within reason.

Of course Rangers fans are biased when it comes to Pittsburgh. We've been burned several times by questionable or bad calls for some years now with this team. But the Rangers have gotten away with their fare share of crap too. It goes both ways. I think this series will be officiated the same way all of them have been. Subpar. Its a difficult game to officiate, bottom line.

Its more about the grey areas and subjectivity in the rule book (especially concerning goals and discipline) that drives me nuts than the favoritism or conspiracy crap that fans will try and convince you of.

 

[Fanned On It]

I don't think the series will be a sweep or even a short one but not one bone in my body thinks we'll win 4 games.

 

[MagnumForce2]

We need 1 more team for our NHL GM League...if anyone is interested PM me....teams left to choose from are... the Wild, Flyers, Rangers, Jets, Hurricanes, Devils, Predators and Leafs. Message me for a link if you are interested.

 

[Fanned On It]

He's legendary at being a piece of trash. ****tsburgh has only fair weather and band wagon fans. And the Sheelers and Pirates are lol. A rapist is the face of your football team. Pretty much the epitome of that city right there.

Dude this is a little too serious lol jesus... Like NYC doesn't have any rapists? Come on, now.

 

[offdacrossbar]

pittsburgh games are by far the most frustrating to watch. they get alot of calls and they dive. alot.

on top of it all, they have a dangerous pp with an allstar team type 5 man unit. they will get pp chances.

add to that the trend of having all of our goals reviewed and many overturned by the clowns in headquarters.

no doubt this will be an entertaining series. i like their offense and pp personel alot more. i like our defense alot more and i like our goalie way more.

this will go 7 games.

i wish we had game 7 at msg as i think that may be the determining factor.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

Dude this is a little too serious lol jesus... Like NYC doesn't have any rapists? Come on, now.

But is he the face of the Giants/Jets ?

 

[KingWantsCup]

I'm rooting for the fleury choke. I really think we can beat Pittsburgh regardless though. Crosby is honestly nothing amazing in the playoffs but you really have to focus on Malkin. Limiting Malkin is key to this series.

 

[Loff]

Rewatched the 2008 series last summer. Hoping our present team won't cut themselves when we get scored on.
The '08 team looked deflated and stunned every time when things didn't go right, all the way from the choke job in Game 1 until the end. Game 4 was the only dominant game we had.

Gotta be mentally strong against these mofos because off all the BS that will happen.