Post-Game Talk: Penguin III

[Wtp99]

I watched his last three playoff series. He looked old and average in all of them and embarrassed by the mediocre islanders and mediocre Canadiens.

That’s probably because they didn’t show the respect and knocked him around. He doesn’t like that.

 

[bl02]

Maybe Crosby just played worse in those series. He's had some terrible runs and some insanely good ones. The playoffs are inherently a small sample and most players are up and down. When he's on like this, you hope for the best.

I think the biggest problem sports fans have in general is that they completely disregard the fact that there's an opponent. Anything they do well is your team's fault.

The guy is closing in on 200 points in the playoffs in 177 games but it's just us who can't figure it out.

Unfortunately, in the recent playoffs it is just us.

That probably because they didn’t show the respect and knocked him around. He doesn’t like that.

There is something to that for sure.

 

[Wtp99]

Unfortunately, in the recent playoffs it is just us.


There is something to that for sure.

We need Graves to take care of the situation. But seriously he seems to lose focus when being played physically

 

[bl02]

We need Graves to take care of the situation. But seriously he seems to lose focus when being played physically

He definitely does and his buddy Malkin even more so.

 

[Kocur26]

I've said what I would do to help mitigate it.

"Zibanejad just needs to play better" isn't it. He's not a good enough player to even look in a hot Crosby's direction. Make peace with it.

Wait - Copp is only playing half the ice - why ?

 

[Machinehead]

Malkin will wilt, I'll give you that.

Crosby has nuts the size of melons and I can't believe we're telling ourselves otherwise after 16 years.

Time to take the L on the whole "Cindy" thing. He's tough.

Wait - Copp is only playing half the ice - why ?

Because he's not gonna do no job to Bret Hart brother

 

[Wtp99]

Malkin will wilt, I'll give you that.

Crosby has nuts the size of melons and I can't believe we're telling ourselves otherwise after 16 years.

Time to take the L on the whole "Cindy" thing. He's tough.


Because he's not gonna do no job to Bret Hart brother

Nobody was saying he isn’t tough, just that he loses his focus when he is being played physically. Also nobody said anything about Cindy
Malkin is just an immature turd and very easy to knock off his game when he gets play with some physicality

 

[Machinehead]

Nobody was saying he isn’t tough, just that he loses his focus when he is being played physically. Also nobody said anything about Cindy
Malkin is just an immature turd and very easy to knock off his game when he gets play with some physicality

Did you miss the goal he scored in game 2?

 

[Wtp99]

Did you miss the goal he scored in game 2?

don’t understand your comment or argument here
nobody said he isn’t tough

 

[Machinehead]

don’t understand your comment or argument here
nobody said he isn’t tough

You're moving the goalposts.

The point is that physical play will get him off his game. He has shown that to be demonstrably untrue.

 

[Wtp99]

You're moving the goalposts.

The point is that physical play will get him off his game. He has shown that to be demonstrably untrue.

I beg to differ but we are entitled to our opinions

 

[FUZfan]

I watched this game thinking "If we can win this game, with Igor benched after going down 4-1 in the first, the Pens will not recover from that loss".

Just so disappointed that it didn't happen.

I agree with those who've said, Igor was off. Yes, the Pens did get some very lucky bounces, but he just didn't look like himself out there. Especially on the goal that went between his legs with some help of his own. I think GG made the right choice in benching him.

Second was one of the best I have ever seen. Absolutely dominant.

Third, I think after expending a ton of energy in the second and not being successful on the power plays we got, we were gassed. Couldn't make or receive a pass, handle the puck or make any type of play. Georgie has got to make that save on the goal he gave up. He played well up until that point and I thought he might be on his game so that one hurt.

If we can win game 4 I think we win this series. If we don't, I don't like our chances.

Anyone think GG left the first unit out too long on the PP's in the third? I thought Mika, Kreider and Fox were absolutely gassed during both the end of those PP shifts and the second half of the period.

 

[GlasgowNewYorkRanger]

Mika Zibanejad has shown he can be a dominant C when he wants to be. Fans in here complaining about drafting Laf and Kakko and not a franchise C. Aho and Mika are very good 1C’s for their teams. Who is their 2? Trocheck? Let’s stop acting like we are living in the days of Stepan as 1C. Zibanejad has to step the **** up. Enough is enough. I know there’s certain guys nobody will ever criticize but come on.

Mika has long had disappearing stretches, before and after any issues he may have had to start last season. That line 5v5 looks a whole lot less dangerous with Buch now gone, despite Frank the Tank looking like a bargain pick-up.

I like Mika, but I think overall he isn't even near that franchise C level. I would take Aho everyday of the week.

 

[ohbaby]

If this was told to me before the playoffs started say a month or two ago I would say I'm ok with it but bottom line right now is that we are in a good position to make a little noise these playoffs. Things are fluid tho and we have a terrific chance to make this a very exciting month plus. Right here and now I would be disappointed losing this first round playing against a third string goalie.
Plus you never know next year Zibby and Igor could both be injured right before the playoffs start or Fox and Igor. Also very Possible we don't have Copp and Strome next year.

I concur with this view. We have to take advantage of our good fortune cause you never know what tomorrow might bring. We are in a good position to make a run for it. A good goalie, a strong core of veteran talent, improving youngsters on the edge of prominence and a commitment to play in your face hockey. I don't think anyone should look past this postseason. The time is now.

Hell, we might not even have to face Florida or Carolina moving forward.

 

[and 99 others]

There are 64 goalies in the league at any given time. If there were 64 forwards, guys like Vatrano and Copp wouldn't even make it to the AHL.

People are absolutely gobsmacked that a third string goalie is playing well and it's entirely normal.

Good goaltending is the easiest thing to find in sports. You should never spend money on it.

There's no way you can actually believe this. You are either:

1.) Too young of a fan to remember the Mike Dunham/Kevin Weekes years.

2.) Too naive to ignore that teams like the Golden Knights, Oilers, and hell even the Devils to some extent, would be contenders with a starting goalie like Shesterkin.

3.) Too inept at simple math to understand the difference between a league-leading save percentage like Shesterkin's .935 when compared to a league average .915, when applied over a 50 game season for starters, is a difference in 30 goals allowed. The Rangers won 22 one-goal games this season.

 

[Fitzy]

Not really sure what you are talking about. Fox is an outstanding PPQB. Everything runs through him. The guy wins so many puck battles along the wall, keeping pucks in the zone. The only thing you can say about him negatively is that he doesn't have a big shot, but he doesn't need to have one.

Yeah I reneged. Not my most sound argument.

There are some more traditional sorts of plays i associate with a true PPQB- using your skating to change angles in the offensive zone, providing long breakout passes, etc… that Fox doesn’t do the way a Cale Makar or ADA does.

But the numbers are overwhelming and it may just be That like other elements of his game, Fox is so damn efficient that he’s able to be great without appearing flashy.

 

[RangerBoy]

The Rangers are going to need Sheshterkin to play better. Goaltending was supposed to be the Rangers advantage over every team except TB in the east but Pittsburgh hasn't had any issues scoring goals. If Igor is tired after three playoff games, the Rangers will have a difficult time. He has never played so many games in his career.

 

[Machinehead]

There's no way you can actually believe this. You are either:

1.) Too young of a fan to remember the Mike Dunham/Kevin Weekes years.

2.) Too naive to ignore that teams like the Golden Knights, Oilers, and hell even the Devils to some extent, would be contenders with a starting goalie like Shesterkin.

3.) Too inept at simple math to understand the difference between a league-leading save percentage like Shesterkin's .935 when compared to a league average .915, when applied over a 50 game season for starters, is a difference in 30 goals allowed. The Rangers won 22 one-goal games this season.

1) Who cares?

2) Why would they be contenders with Shesterkin? The Rangers aren't.

3) Let me know when they start giving out the Cup for the regular season. In a short series, goaltending is random. If you need your goalie to win 22 games, get better.

 

[Fitzy]

Whether you’re in the camp that analyzes goaltenders over shorter stretches or not, all eyes are gonna be on Shesterkin tonight.

It’s gonna be a high pressure environment for him and it’ll give us a glimpse into his mental toughness.

Hank had bad games in the playoffs too, but he was usually really solid when we were trailing or on the brink of elimination.

Big thing as always with this group is transition play from the defense to the forwards. Some tinkering with the blue line would be welcome.

 

[Kravtsov420]

They better move their legs tonight or they’re in trouble none of this static passing bs.