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

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Fatigue for games 2 and 3 are now real concerns. How could the league do this terrible of a job with scheduling? Gt get Uncle Gar-Gar's Pens any advantage they can I guess. Thankfully the Flyers didn't really beat the Rangers up physically. Any 7 game series is going to take a toll but there wasn't massive heat like in some other series. There were only a few big hits and Philly barely showed up to play for game 7. The Rangers barely showed up to play game 6 so that's two games with very little physical beating taken considering 6 & 7....division rivalry....very well could have been a blood bath.

Pitt isn't exactly a cupcake squad, Bylsma always coaches them to play like absolute scum and the refs always allow it. This team should turn itself into a heat seeking missle for game 1. Act like animals. take penalties, throw nasty hits, finish checks, get under their skin and physically abuse them. If game 1 ends up being a 6-3 loss then so be it it's worth it to get in their head and rough them up a bit.

Guys like Carcillo, Moore, Dorsett, even Zucc seems to actually like getting under opponents skin and that's needed here. Nash needs to come out like he did in game 7 and against Clb. Hopefully Hags decides to show up and play for awhile. Stepan needs to be a factor. Maybe we'll even get Kreider back by game 5

 

[RangerBoy]

Fatigue for games 2 and 3 are now real concerns. How could the league do this terrible of a job with scheduling? Gt get Uncle Gar-Gar's Pens any advantage they can I guess. Thankfully the Flyers didn't really beat the Rangers up physically. Any 7 game series is going to take a toll but there wasn't massive heat like in some other series. There were only a few big hits and Philly barely showed up to play for game 7. The Rangers barely showed up to play game 6 so that's two games with very little physical beating taken considering 6 & 7....division rivalry....very well could have been a blood bath.

Pitt isn't exactly a cupcake squad, Bylsma always coaches them to play like absolute scum and the refs always allow it. This team should turn itself into a heat seeking missle for game 1. Act like animals. take penalties, throw nasty hits, finish checks, get under their skin and physically abuse them. If game 1 ends up being a 6-3 loss then so be it it's worth it to get in their head and rough them up a bit.

Guys like Carcillo, Moore, Dorsett, even Zucc seems to actually like getting under opponents skin and that's needed here. Nash needs to come out like he did in game 7 and against Clb. Hopefully Hags decides to show up and play for awhile. Stepan needs to be a factor. Maybe we'll even get Kreider back by game 5

The Rangers aren't built to play smash mouth hockey. The Flyers wanted to play that style with the Rangers but the Rangers ignored them. The Rangers want to skate which allows Pittsburgh to skate. Philly gets underneath the Penguins skin and they lose their composure. The Rangers aren't built that way. Neal is a hot head. Which Ranger is making Neal lose his mind? None of them. The Rangers have a small team. Playing so many games will wear down the smaller players. MSL is 38 years old and small.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Whatever goes down, I hope you guys know. We are in for the biggest gongshow of officiating ever. Book it.

We got screwed in the 1st round. We will be gangbanged in the 2nd round by the officials.

 

[Bertie]

Whatever goes down, I hope you guys know. We are in for the biggest gongshow of officiating ever. Book it.

We got screwed in the 1st round. We will be gangbanged in the 2nd round by the officials.

I did not see that in the first round at all. I thought the officiating was decent for both sides. As a Canucks fan I appreciate the paranoia though

I think if the Rangers keep playing their present style and don't pick up any (more) injuries they will match up pretty well.

 

[Zil]

The Rangers aren't built to play smash mouth hockey. The Flyers wanted to play that style with the Rangers but the Rangers ignored them. The Rangers want to skate which allows Pittsburgh to skate. Philly gets underneath the Penguins skin and they lose their composure. The Rangers aren't built that way. Neal is a hot head. Which Ranger is making Neal lose his mind? None of them. The Rangers have a small team. Playing so many games will wear down the smaller players. MSL is 38 years old and small.

What? The Philly-Pittsburgh games are track meets. All their matches go fast and loose skating up and down the ice while playing absolutely zero defense.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

Really? I was really confident that the Rangers would beat the Flyers. Sure, they had me worried there for a minute after game 6, but overall, I would've been disappointed had they lost to them. I thought they were the better team.

We were the better team, but the Flyers are a better team defensively and physically than the Pens. I feel like this will be a less demanding round in certain ways but they have those two guys that can dismantle you singlehandedly so we'll need to be very solid defensively.

The Rangers aren't built to play smash mouth hockey. The Flyers wanted to play that style with the Rangers but the Rangers ignored them. The Rangers want to skate which allows Pittsburgh to skate. Philly gets underneath the Penguins skin and they lose their composure. The Rangers aren't built that way. Neal is a hot head. Which Ranger is making Neal lose his mind? None of them. The Rangers have a small team. Playing so many games will wear down the smaller players. MSL is 38 years old and small.

Carcillo, Dorsett, Zuccarello, to name a few, they are pesky. Are you trying to say that the Pens are a tougher team than Philly? If the first round proved anything it was that for being the weakest team of midgets ever assembled the Rangers handle the physical stuff just fine.

 

[NewLife]

They know they were going to beat Philly in the end that's why they gave bad looks on the PP after game 1 so Pens (or Jackets) can't video trash is when we really needs it.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

The Rangers aren't built to play smash mouth hockey. The Flyers wanted to play that style with the Rangers but the Rangers ignored them. The Rangers want to skate which allows Pittsburgh to skate. Philly gets underneath the Penguins skin and they lose their composure. The Rangers aren't built that way. Neal is a hot head. Which Ranger is making Neal lose his mind? None of them. The Rangers have a small team. Playing so many games will wear down the smaller players. MSL is 38 years old and small.

I don't know if that's how it works... but ok.

 

[eco's bones]

There are players I expect to improve--1. Lundqvist was pretty good but he can be better. 2. and 3. McDonagh and Girardi struggled throughout the series with the Flyers--particularly McDonagh who showed very little offense. They were outplayed by the Staal and Stralman tandem. If #'s 27 and 5 get back to the level they usually play and 18 and 6 maintain and Lundqvist picks up his game the Pens will have a very difficult time scoring 5 on 5. Rangers will need a good pk.

Conversely Fleury can be a train wreck at times. His defense is not as good and I think the Rangers have better depth at forward--even if there is a talent gap at the top. Our chances can only improve if Kreider can come back and play to form which would give us three scoring lines and a real good 4th checking line.

Rangers are not a very physical team. It's okay if Dorsett and Carcillo do their usual thing but turning this into a war of attrition would be playing with dynamite for us.

I think the Penguins are very beatable but the Rangers are going to have to be smart and play to their strengths and not try to beat the Penguins at their own game. It's like two boxers--one has more power than the other--if you want to win you don't try to slug it out with him.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

This schedule actually looks a little advantageous to me.

On first glance, it can be a little infuriating that we have not only a really quick turnaround, but another back to back away-home series, for games 2-3.

Side note, we are again the only series that has to go through a back to back... for no reason.

But I digress. We're also done the 13th. Bruins done the 14th. Hawks done the 15th. Kings done the 16th.

Even if we go the full 7 games, all the other series' have the same potential to go 7 as well (maybe besides the Hawks Wild). We'd have at least 4 days off before the ECF began, if we made it that far.

And, while this team has shown no signs of a killer instinct, I think there is the potential for Pitt to be a much quicker matchup - one way or another.

Hopefully we can get 5-6 days off so that our key players can rest a little. I'm not even sure that they'll be worn out if this goes the distance, either. AV evenly distributes time, much better than Torts. The Rangers lost steam in the middle of the ECF going 7 games when Torts was here, rolling our top lines 25-27 minutes a game. In stark contrast - McDonagh is probably averaging 22 minutes a game in this series, as opposed to about 26 under Torts. Girardi probably averaging around 20, as opposed to 27 to Torts. No player on offense played more than 21 minutes last night, and only 2 played more than 19.

And this series versus the Flyers was not the most passionate, or taxing in terms of energy spent. The team lost game 2 because they coasted. They lost game 6 because they lost their discipline and after going down 3-0, they coasted. I think they'll be just fine, in terms of fatigue, and that this board is overblowing it.

 

[haohmaru]

The Rangers aren't built to play smash mouth hockey. The Flyers wanted to play that style with the Rangers but the Rangers ignored them. The Rangers want to skate which allows Pittsburgh to skate. Philly gets underneath the Penguins skin and they lose their composure. The Rangers aren't built that way. Neal is a hot head. Which Ranger is making Neal lose his mind? None of them. The Rangers have a small team. Playing so many games will wear down the smaller players. MSL is 38 years old and small.

More gloom and doom from RB.

This organization is in its 7th playoff round in the last three years. They have more of a chance against the Pens than you think.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Personally, I'm super excited for Kreider to come back because he will balance our lines out again.

I hope AV isn't stubborn and is reluctant to separate our first line. They've been dead since game 3.

Kreider-Stepan-MSL
Hagelin-Richards-Nash
Poo-Brassard-Zucc

 

[NYRFANMANI]

I did not see that in the first round at all. I thought the officiating was decent for both sides. As a Canucks fan I appreciate the paranoia though

I think if the Rangers keep playing their present style and don't pick up any (more) injuries they will match up pretty well.

After watching couple of the games between BJ and Pitt, I agree. We won't go down easily. This will be a fight. We have the better depth.

Again, unfortunately, the refs ... that's my opinion, will decide this series. Anyhow I am very much looking forward to this.

LGR !!!!

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

After watching couple of the games between BJ and Pitt, I agree. We won't go down easily. This will be a fight. We have the better depth.

Again, unfortunately, the refs ... that's my opinion, will decide this series. Anyhow I am very much looking forward to this.

LGR !!!!

Normally, I'd agree about the refs deciding the outcome of the series. But I'd imagine the calls will be up to par with how the refs called up for 7 straight games against Giroux and the rest of the Flyers.

There were some terrible calls, and yet we still prevailed.

 

[Miller Time NYR]

For ****s sake are we in some kind of rush to get this series over with or what, I know all the guys on the nbc and tsn panel would love to get off to Crosby for a while when the series is over but 3 games ahead of everyone else... Assuming this is NBC trying to suck every dollar and viewer out of this game I think it's time for the NHL to stop letting them dictate the schedule, because there's no way this is an NHL decision.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Several areas of improvement I think we'll see in this series.

1) Depth of the lines. Kreider is likely under a week away. We should have depth soon. That makes us more dangerous offensively.
2) Nash. Maybe the criticism finally got to him. He's expected to score, not rack up secondary assists. I expect more energy from him, more engagement. Hopefully last night was a catalyst for a turn for the better.
3) The refs. Believe it or not, there shouldn't be much room for them to get worse. Worst case scenario, they remain the same, in which case we've seen that we can get over their untimely calls.
4) The penalty kill. It also cannot get worse than what it was. And not only do I think this will improve, I think it will improve -significantly. McD and Girardi were horrendous, as a unit, on the powerplay. If last night was a sign of things to come, McD and Girardi are back as a dominant pair. McD looked like the defender he's been all year, rather than a substitute fill in that was overwhelmed with his work load.
5) The power play. Again, it can't get worse...
6) Brassard. He was invisible. I feel like he plays better against Pitt, too. With the balancing of the lines, means more mismatches. And that's what made Brassard's line so effective in the first place. Expect more from Brass. In that same regard, Zucc. Poo's output should remain about the same (although it could get worse).
7) Richards and Stepan. Both invisible for most of the series. That won't remain constant.

We won despite all these flaws, against the Flyers. I expect major improvements in at least half that list, with the remaining part at the very worst staying the same level of bad.

edit: Oh and Hank has another level. We saw it last night. If he finds that for every game this series, that's also a major major improvement.

 

[z1co80]

We'll outshoot them in most games and We'll make Fleury look like Hasek.

We wont get many PP's but when we do our PP will suck ass.

All borderline calls will go to the Bettman's

Pens in 6

 

[JCrusher*]

Several areas of improvement I think we'll see in this series.

1) Depth of the lines. Kreider is likely under a week away. We should have depth soon. That makes us more dangerous offensively.
2) Nash. Maybe the criticism finally got to him. He's expected to score, not rack up secondary assists. I expect more energy from him, more engagement. Hopefully last night was a catalyst for a turn for the better.
3) The refs. Believe it or not, there shouldn't be much room for them to get worse. Worst case scenario, they remain the same, in which case we've seen that we can get over their untimely calls.
4) The penalty kill. It also cannot get worse than what it was. And not only do I think this will improve, I think it will improve -significantly. McD and Girardi were horrendous, as a unit, on the powerplay. If last night was a sign of things to come, McD and Girardi are back as a dominant pair. McD looked like the defender he's been all year, rather than a substitute fill in that was overwhelmed with his work load.
5) The power play. Again, it can't get worse...
6) Brassard. He was invisible. I feel like he plays better against Pitt, too. With the balancing of the lines, means more mismatches. And that's what made Brassard's line so effective in the first place. Expect more from Brass. In that same regard, Zucc. Poo's output should remain about the same (although it could get worse).
7) Richards and Stepan. Both invisible for most of the series. That won't remain constant.

We won despite all these flaws, against the Flyers. I expect major improvements in at least half that list, with the remaining part at the very worst staying the same level of bad.

edit: Oh and Hank has another level. We saw it last night. If he finds that for every game this series, that's also a major major improvement.

Good Points. I do expect Nash to finally break out because Mason simply had his number. Macdonagh and Girardi were prtety terrible which is unlike them so i expect them to be better. The good news for Kreider is that he has been skating for weeks the bad news is that he has only started taking soft shots so hopefully by this weekend he can start puck handling and shootign a bit more

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Uh, yeah I do actually.

Pens are not a strong possession team and their best defenseman is Paul Martin. Fluery is either Hasek or a third string back-up. The only reason the Pens have a chance every year is because they have the two best centers and players in the world. Sutter was their first round MVP imo. He's basically a better Dominic Moore.

Keys to winning:

No dumb penalties for obvious reasons.
McD-Girardi and Staal-Stralman need to make life hell for Skidney and co.
Test Fluery the same way they tested Mason last night. Pucks on the net and get in his head.

AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD FIX THE ****ING ABYSMAL POWER PLAY.

If the PP was clicking they probably beat Philly in 5, definitely in 6.

I am typically a big time cynic but this is good analysis. The Rangers have a good shot here.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Carcillo, Dorsett, Zuccarello, to name a few, they are pesky. Are you trying to say that the Pens are a tougher team than Philly? If the first round proved anything it was that for being the weakest team of midgets ever assembled the Rangers handle the physical stuff just fine.

Getting a bit OT but completely disagree with this. The one game that was decided in front of the 2 nets (Game 6) the Rangers got steamrolled. They showed that when they can play their game - open ice and puck movement off the rush, keep opponents to the perimeter in the dzone - they can win a series.

And I expect a Pitt series to be much more the latter than the former which gives them a chance.

 

[Cobra Jack*]

Rangers in 1

I don't see us winning this series in 1. I'd say Rangers in 3.

 

[NCRanger]

This schedule is the most compacted second round in the history of the modern NHL (since the 1968 expansion).

Even when the first round was five games, and they scheduled the 5 in 7 nights, the second round had one day between each game.

Even if they have to go back to back Sunday/Monday, I don't understand why they wouldn't play Sunday afternoon. I guess because the Chicago Blackhawks are now NBC's baby...

This is bull**** for BOTH the Rangers and Pittsburgh.

 

[NCRanger]

3) The refs. Believe it or not, there shouldn't be much room for them to get worse. Worst case scenario, they remain the same, in which case we've seen that we can get over their untimely calls.

Every time the Rangers play Pittsburgh, the minute a puck hits Fleury, the refs blow the whistle.

Not that Hank is really good at stopping play, but the whistle almost never blows until Hank's been whacked a good three to four times.

Expect a Ranger goal or two to be wiped out, and Pittsburgh score a goal or two that should have been blown dead.

 

[Ail]

The Rangers aren't built to play smash mouth hockey. The Flyers wanted to play that style with the Rangers but the Rangers ignored them. The Rangers want to skate which allows Pittsburgh to skate. Philly gets underneath the Penguins skin and they lose their composure. The Rangers aren't built that way. Neal is a hot head. Which Ranger is making Neal lose his mind? None of them. The Rangers have a small team. Playing so many games will wear down the smaller players. MSL is 38 years old and small.

Lololol yeah keep peddling that small team myth. The two smallest players were their two best forwards against a physical team. Seriously hahaha, great analysis. Small players wear down faster than big ones because too many games. Looooooolllll

 

[silverfish]

It's a good thing our PP is struggling since we'll never see it