Post-Game Talk: Penguin III

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

This was the most aggravating game I've watched probably in my life. I don't even say this from a NYR fan perspective. Everything about this game was trash. Literally everything.

First you have the ref waving off the first goal. They talk about it, huddle up, and again confirm no goal.


THEN THEY DECIDE TO GO TO VIDEO AND f***ING CALL IT A GOAL?! YOU JUST SAID TWICE IT WAS NO f***ING GOAL HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU GONNA f***ING LOOK AT IT

Then the penalty call on Braun. My god, what a penalty call that was. It kicked off a sequence of events that lead to an absolute circus act from both teams. The Pens PP is garbage, PK1 does an awesome job. Their PP2 gets out there and gets not one but TWO flukey ass goals to take the lead. I don't even think they had a shot on either PP from their top unit until they scored.

Then. THEN. Schneider gets wiped by Boyle, they come back the other way and score. How in the ever living f*** are you gonna call Braun for that shit and then not call Boyle for tripping on Schneider. Leads directly to a call.

Just like.. the inconsistency, the bad officiating, the way the goals happened, everything about this game was infuriating to watch. Just bush league all around.

Then Igor gets pulled which I was in favor of because the game was essentially over and he needs the rest after that bullshit OT3 we had to play when we got jobbed on the Kakko goal. And I f***ing knew it. I knew that we were gonna tie it up, that he'd make a couple decent saves and then late in the third absolutely take a shit all over the crease. Texted someone exactly that before it even happened. And lo and behold, he's doing his stupid f***ing reverse VH bullshit that no NHL goalie has done for the last 10 years and lets a shot ON THE ICE slip 5 hole. A butterfly f***ing goalie getting beat underneath... in the NHL.. not from a lateral play.. from straight on.

The team was done after that. They'd had enough and they straight up quit. And our PP wasn't terrible, just didn't execute well.


We'll still win this series, Igor will come back in game 4 and blank them. Their PP sucks, their PK sucks, we just can't get out of our own f***ing way. We're beating ourselves more than the Pens are beating us. But holy shit was this game painful in so many ways

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Tough crowd in the PGT.

Definitely a disheartening game, but I don't think it was a disaster... The pens got some very weird goals off of bounces in the first.

We'll tie the series Monday. This was never likely to be a short series one way or the other: if Shesterkin wasn't God for four months this year, Pittsburgh easily finishes ahead of us and are the heavy favorites.

The Rangers haven't played their best hockey yet. They may not get there--and some of that is coaching, some of that is Zibanejad cutting out his Rick Nash impression--it might not come together. But OTOH, I don't think Pittsburgh has another gear and certainly they're due some bad luck of their own.

Shesterkin gets some extra rest and hopefully that helps him. The team loses 7-4, letting up 4 in a first period, and hopefully that helps them dial in. I think Vally was spot on. The Rangers have been successful playing a suffocating, low-event game.

A+ f***ing post my dude. Seriously.

Lmao

We’ve physically dominated the Pens this series. Your whole MO since joining this board has revolved around the idea that we’re a bunch of pansies who can’t handle physical, playoff hockey.

We’re actually doing quite alright with that area despite missing guys like Lindgren+Goodrow the last two games, plus Motte, Blais.

I know every team has injuries but not having these 4 guys in our lineup, who are all built for playoff hockey, really sucks.

Even with a full club — we’re still not there yet. Guys like Fox and Miller and the entire kid line need this experience before we can take the next step as a franchise.

As frustrated as we all are, we have to collectively admit this team took a HUGE step forward this year, regardless of what happens from here on out. That’s why I’m not that mad. We’re a couple of bounces from being up 3-0 here despite going up against one of the leagues (still) elite in Crosby.

Mika our #1 center. Even Strome been better.
5v5 play Vatrano is the driving force on that line. Lazy vets smh.

Who’s Mika been playing against? Right. A future hall of famer who still one of the very best in the league.

Who’s shutting that Crosby line down besides our top line? Nobody.

I get the frustration with Mika offensively, but he did a great job against Crosbys line tonight.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

This was the most aggravating game I've watched probably in my life.

You haven’t been watching Hockey for very long if this is true.

 

[17futurecap]

After too many alcohols because it was a Saturday, we are going to win this series.

Igor will respond, and we will put up 3-5 a game.

Love you all, sweet dreams.

 

[Anthony5967]

The most encouraging thing for me is how good Laf-Chytil-Kakko look shift to shift. They’ve been better 5v5 than Kreider and Zibanejad. That’s a problem.

 

[2014nyr]

sucks being down 2-1 when you could easily be up 3-0 but idno how you cant feel good going into game 4. literally every possible bounce and call went against us and we got back in it. i think the tank was emptied a bit climbing back and domingue standing on his head only to have the puck go down the ice, take a pens bounce, and georgiev give up a joke of a goal killed the team. georgiev did his job for the most part but he always lets in that backbreaking goal that has no business ending up in the net.

individually we need more from mika for sure, kreider has also been fairly uninvolved. i know hes scored a few but 5 on 5 kreider has not done anything to generate for the most part. that line has been driven primarily by vatrano and to a small degree mika but he cant hit the net. i woulda flipped kreider/laf in the 3rd esp at 5-4 the way laf was playing but i get thats a big call to make for gallant. defensively schneider, nemeth, braun were all poor - one has to sit for jones - he makes this team better and is quicker - we lost too many races in the corners.

all things considered the rangers were the far better team almost the entire game without getting a single bounce on the road with a very green roster. have to think going into game 4 that cant happen again and they should be very confident they should win. defensively we do need someone to step up, feels like when the puck comes up ice against theres no command of the play and in the zone its a firesale too frequently. trouba, fox, or kandre need to step up, primarily trouba who should be the guy taking charge in that sense as.a physical and commanding presence. and jones should jump in with fox if lindgren is out..braun and fox is far too slow a combo, neither is getting to pucks in our end and up ice. id consider dropping braun with braden and scratching nemeth who was awful tonight and not bringing any of the nastiness expected. regardless this is still a very winnable series

 

[McRanger92]

Experience hurt us in this one. Also it pains me to say that Igor was the reason we lost, but it’s true. The 5th goal was also a microcosm of Georgiev’s season; he gives up a softy at the worst possible time.

They aren’t playing the defense they should, but 4 goal/ against a 3rd string goalie should equal a win. Once again I expect a big response Monday and this series is def going 6 or 7

 

[Kocur26]

A+ f***ing post my dude. Seriously.

We’ve physically dominated the Pens this series. Your whole MO since joining this board has revolved around the idea that we’re a bunch of pansies who can’t handle physical, playoff hockey.

We’re actually doing quite alright with that area despite missing guys like Lindgren+Goodrow the last two games, plus Motte, Blais.

I know every team has injuries but not having these 4 guys in our lineup, who are all built for playoff hockey, really sucks.

Even with a full club — we’re still not there yet. Guys like Fox and Miller and the entire kid line need this experience before we can take the next step as a franchise.

As frustrated as we all are, we have to collectively admit this team took a HUGE step forward this year, regardless of what happens from here on out. That’s why I’m not that mad. We’re a couple of bounces from being up 3-0 here despite going up against one of the leagues (still) elite in Crosby.


Who’s Mika been playing against? Right. A future hall of famer who still one of the very best in the league.

Who’s shutting that Crosby line down besides our top line? Nobody.

I get the frustration with Mika offensively, but he did a great job against Crosbys line tonight.

Did we “ dominate “ Down 5-4 - 8:40 to play ?
Or did we get smothered

 

[PuckLuck3043]

The Rangers blew this game when they had 3 straight PP's and didn't score. I can't remember in my lifetime them having 3 straight PP's against this team. When they failed on those opportunities you just knew it was only a matter of time that Georgiev would allow a softy. It's just what he does.

 

[tomobson]

We really have no captain in our vets. The majority are shrinking in the playoffs and our TDL additions are the ones dragging us along in the playoffs. Mika and Kreider need to wake up. We're playing without a top line right now.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Geo cost us the game. f***ing idiot cant save the easiest shot of the game. Anyone shocked? Not if you watched the team all year

Vally was right, Hank was wrong.

 

[WojtekWolski86]

Did we “ dominate “ Down 5-4 - 8:40 to play ?
Or did we get smothered

They were demoralized by that terrible goal. It was less Pitt smothering and more mentally defeated.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Really disappointing outcome.

Not every day you see an epic choke job from Shesty and Georgiev in the same night.

Great comeback, really battled back. But just didn't have that extra edge. Hopefully something to build off of.

 

[bl02]

at least Brooks mentioned the incompetence of Nemeth in his article. Guy literally cost this team three plus goals tonight. played like a 50 year old not like a 30 year old.

 

[Chimpradamus]

I think I'll stay out of here until you've sobered up.

 

[TriFF51]

The Rangers blew this game when they had 3 straight PP's and didn't score. I can't remember in my lifetime them having 3 straight PP's against this team. When they failed on those opportunities you just knew it was only a matter of time that Georgiev would allow a softy. It's just what he does.

Yep, they were given every opportunity to win in the 3rd and couldn't get it done. After 3 straight failed powerplays im not gonna blame Georgiev for anything even if it was a shit goal. Then after that goal the team fell apart and could barely make a single play. I don't know how anyone could be confident going into Monday. Domingue is going toe to toe with Igor right now and they can't seem to keep the puck out of the net. Pittsburgh looked totally lost in the 2nd and still beat us...oh and this is all with Malkin looking like complete shit out there, imagine he has a decent game.

I still absolutely believe we're the better team, it's just a tough spot with both losses being tough ones to swallow. Defense has gotta step it up and hopefully Pittsburgh stops getting these bounces.

 

[2014nyr]

Did we “ dominate “ Down 5-4 - 8:40 to play ?
Or did we get smothered

i think that was more a combo of the team just running out of gas and that goal completely deflating the bench. team expended a lot digging outta that hole. and that goal was right after domingue had made a couple fantastic saves only to have the puck take a pens bounce off the boards and georgiev allow an absolutely horrendous goal.

that was just an uphill battle in every sense. the refs did ref things in the first - pens of course get the goal on the 50/50 play. they literally just invented the first penalty. the rangers had 2 excellent kills going before a seeing eye shot finds its way in on the first, and a bounce off the boards on a dump falls right onto a pens stick with a largely empty net on the 2nd. schneiders turnover was just egregious and cant happen but at least that goal had no acts of god involved. that was really the story the whole game - every single bounce fell their way. part of that is for a reason, they were better in front of their own net tying up sticks and we have a suddenly developed a terrible habit of getting two d collapsing towards the puck and it squeaking through to wide open guys down low...but part was also just sht luck. some days it happens.

the biggest gripes i took from this one is the horrific shooting and the lack of killer instinct. the amount of great chances we had that missed the net by 4 feet was should be embarrassing. pissed away so many great looks in the slot. if you cant shoot for sht at corners get em on the ice or just off and create some rebounds or maybe get a georgiev goal. and then the killer instinct has been an issue forever - it was awesome getting back to 4-4. you have them on their heels, the crowd is silenced, domingue had to be a bit rattled - and we took our foot off the pedal. thats where you gotta be pouring it on and take a lead. we were completely dominating and as soon as we tie it up the game changes. pitt obviously has some say in that but to me its a mental thing. thats where if you bear down you break them. once they got outta the 2nd its a new game. the beginning of the 3rd we pressed and the first whole pp did everything but score. the 2nd was lethargic though and again thats another step on their throat moment we wilted in. even with pretty much everything that coulda gone against us happening that game was there to be taken and we didnt have the killer instinct to finish it. other than georgiev who killed us dead with that doozy.

take game 4 and go from there. play zac jones.

 

[RangerBoy]

at least Brooks mentioned the incompetence of Nemeth in his article. Guy literally cost this team three plus goals tonight. played like a 50 year old not like a 30 year old.

The Rangers were looking for a veteran D at the trade deadline. Drury traded for Braun figuring Schneider would struggle and Braun would replace him on the right side. Schneider has been solid. A few hiccups along the way before the trade deadline against TB and Carolina.

The Rangers need a veteran LHD to replace Nemeth in this series. Lindgren is hurt. The Rangers don't have anyone better than Nemeth. Hajek never played this season. Lindgren has played hurt this season. He must be really hurt or injured. During game one, Lindgren was in and out of the game. MSG had a camera shot of Lindgren talking to Jim Ramsey at the Rangers bench about something. I wonder if they gave Lindgren a shot to freeze his injury and it takes time to work. Ryan McDonagh had that problem in the 2015 playoffs.

 

[Synergy27]

The Rangers were looking for a veteran D at the trade deadline. Drury traded for Braun figuring Schneider would struggle and Braun would replace him on the right side. Schneider has been solid. A few hiccups along the way before the trade deadline against TB and Carolina.

The Rangers need a veteran LHD to replace Nemeth in this series. Lindgren is hurt. The Rangers don't have anyone better than Nemeth. Hajek never played this season. Lindgren has played hurt this season. He must be really hurt or injured. During game one, Lindgren was in and out of the game. MSG had a camera shot of Lindgren talking to Jim Ramsey at the Rangers bench about something. I wonder if they gave Lindgren a shot to freeze his injury and it takes time to work. Ryan McDonagh had that problem in the 2015 playoffs.

I’d happily insert either Hajek or Jones for Nemeth moving forward. They both skate very well and the Penguins are not an overly physical club. I trust them both to be able to make the simple plays and to at least beat guys to the puck, if not win the battle once they get there. Nemeth does none of the above.

What we really need, though, is a legit bounce back game from Igor. A shutout or one GA game.

 

[IronBloodedLion]

Avalanche fans warned us about Nemeth. He was their weakest link in the playoffs too.

 

[The S5]

Who’s Mika been playing against? Right. A future hall of famer who still one of the very best in the league.

Who’s shutting that Crosby line down besides our top line? Nobody.

I get the frustration with Mika offensively, but he did a great job against Crosbys line tonight.

Not sure what game you watched, but Mika was f***ing brutal defensively. I was yelling at the television.
Seems like the guy is more interested in f***ing DJing and his hair then playing hockey.

 

[RangerBoy]

The Rangers blew this game when they had 3 straight PP's and didn't score. I can't remember in my lifetime them having 3 straight PP's against this team. When they failed on those opportunities you just knew it was only a matter of time that Georgiev would allow a softy. It's just what he does.

The vaunted Rangers PP is too predictable. The Rangers have 4 right-handed shots on their first unit. Everyone has scouted them. They know the tendencies. The lone lefty on the PP is stationed in front of the net. Brooks mentioned the PP letting the Rangers down in game three. I seem to recall Brooks waxing poetic about the Rangers having a special PP during one of the NY Post hockey Rangers podcasts a few months ago.

The Rangers did little on the man-advantage that bridged the second and third periods, the intermission having given the 30-year-old Domingue time to reset and regain his composure. Given another opportunity on a Evgeni Malkin hooking penalty at 2:19, the Blueshirts did apply pressure but were thwarted again, this time Domingue stopping Zibanejad twice from the left side.

Incredibly, the Blueshirts were awarded their third straight power play when Danton Heinen was sent off for a slash at 6:29. This time the Rangers were far too deliberate, the two minutes ending without a shot.

The unhappy recap: Three power plays within a span of 8:54, and no goals on a sum of three shots. The team’s greatest offensive strength had turned into a fatal weakness at the most inopportune time.

Power play lets down Rangers at worst possible time

After all of the chaos, after all of the mistakes, the Rangers had the game just where they wanted it. Then they didn’t.

nypost.com

The one-time shot from the right wing face-off circle is not an option for the Rangers. The seam pass across the box for an opportunity around the net is not available. The Rangers have a righty there. Brennan Othmann has scored so many goals being a lefty shot on the PP for Flint this season. Right-wing face-off circle.

Avalanche fans warned us about Nemeth. He was their weakest link in the playoffs too.

Trade his contract to Arizona. Nemeth will be retired and living in Sweden by the time Arizona is a playoff team.

 

[The S5]

Bottom line on that game was we need to bury our chances. We missed the net way too many times with shots. Those shots don't need to go in, but we need a chance at rebounds. I was laughing when Mika was 25 feet out, straight down the middle and missed the net by 5 feet. WTF!! Also, Kreids, please, please just get to the front of the net. The team doesn't need you handling the puck. Do what got you 50 plus goals.

Igor was not sharp, but that excuse is gone once we tied it up.
It's pretty clear we are missing Lindgren. Both Nemeth and Braun are dumpster fires. Trouba isn't too far behind.
Also, we need to put Sid on his ass. If we don't, the guy will kill you. He will always come away with the puck. We need to be in his face and frustrate him so he starts his crybaby routine. That's where he becomes ineffective.

I was more frustrated watching this game than game 1. We had moments where we looked like we were going get to our game and put them away, but it didn't happen. Some of our big guns need to pick it the f*** up.

 

[RGY]

Patrick Nemeth still sucks.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Two post seasons and Zibanejad hasn't shown up to either. I have doubts he's the guy you can win a Cup with.