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

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Jersey Girl said:
Honestly I don't understand all the butt-hurt around the schedule for this round. First of all, both teams have to play the same schedule, and if it gives the winner (hopefully us) more time to rest before the ECF, that's certainly a positive.

And for this round, I think the schedule can actually work to our advantage.

1. Even though the Penguins played one less game, the Penguins-Blue Jackets series was infinitely more physical than Rangers-Flyers, so hopefully that took a toll that Pittsburgh isn't even disclosing. Packing the Penguins with more games early could certainly be a positive for us.

2. Crosby is playing like he's hurt. His energy level is not the same (partly thanks to Brandon Dubinsky), but it's not just that. He seems to be indecisive at times and making bad decisions at other times. Very un-Crosby like. The less rest for Crosby the better. McDonagh seems to be kinda going through the same thing, but if two players wind up being less than 100% because of the schedule and it's Crosby and McDonagh (or Crosby and anyone) advantage us.

4. Kris Letang is coming back from a stroke, and he played horribly in the Blue Jackets series. While I hope Letang lives a long and healthy life, as far as hockey goes the more the games keep coming without rest for Letang, the better.

5. Brooks Orpik is said to be hurt too. The less rest for Orpik, the better.

6. Not sure about Pittsburgh, but we did just fine in back to back games this year. Advantage us.
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Interesting positives to take, why not.

But the difference is Pittsburgh will play Game 1 off of 3 days rest. The Rangers will play Game 1 after just playing 3 games in 4 nights. That really compounds quickly. It may not become too much of an issue as the series goes on, as you suggest, but the first 3 games the Rangers are at a disadvantage. Its ridiculous to expect the Rangers to be at the top of their game playing 7 playoff games in 11 nights. Game 3 they are going to be completely gassed, watch. They need to get some bounces early.

You said butt-hurt. lol
 
Personally I'd rather get right back at it than sit around for three days. It's probably not enough time for the Pens to get rusty but it may get them out of sync a little. Where hopefully we can pick up right where we left off.
 
Jersey Girl said:
Honestly I don't understand all the butt-hurt around the schedule for this round. First of all, both teams have to play the same schedule, and if it gives the winner (hopefully us) more time to rest before the ECF, that's certainly a positive.

And for this round, I think the schedule can actually work to our advantage.

1. Even though the Penguins played one less game, the Penguins-Blue Jackets series was infinitely more physical than Rangers-Flyers, so hopefully that took a toll that Pittsburgh isn't even disclosing. Packing the Penguins with more games early could certainly be a positive for us.

2. Crosby is playing like he's hurt. His energy level is not the same (partly thanks to Brandon Dubinsky), but it's not just that. He seems to be indecisive at times and making bad decisions at other times. Very un-Crosby like. The less rest for Crosby the better. McDonagh seems to be kinda going through the same thing, but if two players wind up being less than 100% because of the schedule and it's Crosby and McDonagh (or Crosby and anyone) advantage us.

4. Kris Letang is coming back from a stroke, and he played horribly in the Blue Jackets series. While I hope Letang lives a long and healthy life, as far as hockey goes the more the games keep coming without rest for Letang, the better.

5. Brooks Orpik is said to be hurt too. The less rest for Orpik, the better.

6. Not sure about Pittsburgh, but we did just fine in back to back games this year. Advantage us.
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I agree with this. They also lost Sutter and Vitale in Game 6. Not sure their status?
I still think that creating a schedule where a playoff team is asked to play 6 games in 9 days is crazy, but that was not an overly taxing 7 game series. For all the Flyers after the whistle nonsense, it was not overly physical and there were no OT games.
Every time I watched CBJ they were physically pounding Pittsburgh.
 
SingnBluesOnBroadway said:
Dominic Moore. The only issue there is you're going to have your fourth line on the ice more than you want to.
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Which will become an issue. I think that Moore should see a good amount of Crosby, but he cannot match him for ice time. Eventually it will fall to Girardi/MCD/Stall to bear responsibility for quieting Crosby & Malkin.
 
Yesterday:

Brooks Orpik is the only player missing from #Pens practice. Vitale, Sutter, and Gibbons all present. @penguins
 
They pretty easily neutered the Dubinsky effect by icing Malkin and Crosby on the same line. The only silver lining there is that Bylsma is a horrible tactician and took forever to make the adjustment.

Both teams play the same style, but the Pens play it better.
 
Trxjw said:
They pretty easily neutered the Dubinsky effect by icing Malkin and Crosby on the same line. The only silver lining there is that Bylsma is a horrible tactician and took forever to make the adjustment.

Both teams play the same style, but the Pens play it better.
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Agreed. I dont think theres an answer when it comes to matching up forwards against a Crosby, Malkin combo -- they'll have to lean heavily on the D and Lundqvist.

The team will also have to channel Torts at times.
 
I hate ****tsburgh. I hate them with every fiber of my being. I hate their bandwagon fans, I hate their players, I hate their coaches, but more than anything, I hate their whining ***** of an owner. Lepoo is a disgrace to hockey. He was willing to let every player on his team get the crap kicked out of them at his expense. He was a coward. Forget all of the sickness he overcame, the guy is a first class a-hole and is a disgrace to the game just like crysby. Vanquish this trash to hell boys.
 
Crosby said after round one that he wasn't thinking about the forwards he was playing against but the D pairings...let's make sure either McD or Staal will always be out against him and Malkin
 
NYRCSKA said:
I hate ****tsburgh. I hate them with every fiber of my being. I hate their bandwagon fans, I hate their players, I hate their coaches, but more than anything, I hate their whining ***** of an owner. Lepoo is a disgrace to hockey. He was willing to let every player on his team get the crap kicked out of them at his expense. He was a coward. Forget all of the sickness he overcame, the guy is a first class a-hole and is a disgrace to the game just like crysby. Vanquish this trash to hell boys.
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You left out the legion of devils fans who will now be wearing Crosby jerseys
 
someone stole hank said:
Crosby said after round one that he wasn't thinking about the forwards he was playing against but the D pairings...let's make sure either McD or Staal will always be out against him and Malkin
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The thing is, it will take more than just a good defensive pairing out there. The Rangers only have one very good defensive line; the 4th.
 
As much as I think MAF is an absolute joke and we have the potential to smoke him, if we played like we did vs philly, we will be out in 5. The PP cant gain the zone, the pk has not been very solid, and were about to face a top PP team. Also, we havent been able to finish. The pens wont take as many penalties for sure. The bottom line is we have the better goalie and better defense.....the question is will special teams kill us?
 
If Godqvist shows up this series, we will win. If Godqvist doesn't show up this series then we need the Nashty Nash to show up to win. They better start getting thirsty with a thirst that can only be quenched by drinking from the holiest of grails. I saw that fire a little bit last night.
 
Giglio NYR15 said:
As much as I think MAF is an absolute joke and we have the potential to smoke him, if we played like we did vs philly, we will be out in 5. The PP cant gain the zone, the pk has not been very solid, and were about to face a top PP team. Also, we havent been able to finish. The pens wont take as many penalties for sure. The bottom line is we have the better goalie and better defense.....the question is will special teams kill us?
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We can't smoke him, he smokes himself.

MAF is a great goaltender who can steal a game... putting more shots on him won't make him crumble. He just chooses random times to choke.

We just kind of have to hope he chokes at the right times.
 
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