Pitt is playing the trap, the Rangers are too stupid to dump or lob it in and work the corners. LOL. Honestly, I've grown to expect nothing less than this team playing half ass games in the playoffs until they think they are in a lot of trouble. It's what they always do. Drag every series out to the point where one or two bounces can decide the series. They are quite thick like that.
They need to get past the Pres trophy ego trip and start acting like they're the underdog. And maybe show a hint of awareness covering around the net.
Like you said, this is what they do. I would have hoped they were over it, but I guess not. Outside of the Montreal series this team has been incapable of taking a two game lead in a series and the trend continued last night. I am sure it will be 2-2 coming back to NY. Hopefully we can win in 6 and not have to play a 7th game in a series we have no business needing a 7th game. Klein will be back soon (I think game 4). The Pens might get a dman or two back themselves. Hopefully Hayes gets comfortable in the playoffs, not going to get on him as a rookie playing his first two playoff games, just hope he gets through the nerves. And we need to adjust to the way they are playing D against us. Not allowing the stretch pass. Not giving us a lot of room. We need to adjust to that. Mostly everyone wanted the Pens, and I got it, but the scary thing about the Pens is they have a ton of playoff experience. Combined with two superstar studs. Combined with being able to play hockey with zero pressure this playoff season, which is 100% opposite from the tons of pressure they normally have on them in the playoffs. They can play loose, and we are seeing it. Now it is our turn to get it together and play Ranger hockey.
It shouldn't be that shocking that the Pens, with 2 of the best 5 players in the NHL are going to make this series competitive. Pitt has clearly adopted the shock and awe strategy of hitting the Rangers hard, illegally and often to slow them down, to say that the number of PP's shows the refs are doing their jobs is nonsense. Aside from the too many men penalty all the other calls on the Pens have been for legitimately dirty and dangerous plays, many more have gone uncalled. If the Rangers aren't going to make them pay on the PP expect more of the same. So far it appears that MSL lacks the same spark that drove the team last year, I think AV needs to cut his minutes starting with the PP. Boyle has been an absolute waste all year - his slow start and playoff ineptitude don't appear to be something he's going to work through. I'm not a big Hunwick fan but he deserves to play over Boyle when Klein's back. Too funny that in both game threads some are calling for Tanner Glass to have his 7.5 minutes of ice time cut even further to give CK, who's played like an absolute hump so far, more ice time. CK is one of the biggest guys out there but has registered one hit in 2 games - unacceptable, Glass deserves more of his ice time. The Rangers were hands down the best road team this year, hopefully they'll continue the trend in Pitt tomorrow.
Both Kreider and Nash have refused to use their size so far this series. They stay to the perimeter taking those weak outside shots that are easily saved. Obviously this needs to change.
Playoff losses use to destroy me. Now, I take them in stride. I thought this team was flawed earlier and I was very surprised they won this many games. I've learned to be confident with this team. Too much history. They could win the cup. They could lose in the first round. I said several times next year will be the best Rangers team when Hayes, Miller and Fast get more experience. St. Louis is a class act but he looks very old. I also believe the garden ice sucks. A big reason the Rangers play better on the road is because they are a speed team. I expected this series to go 6 or 7. Every Rangers series does.
Lamoriello called the Pens and told them the Rangers can't play against the trap. LOL Dump the damn puck in and pressure their D into mistakes.
It's the NHL playoffs dump, all the top teams could win the cup...OR lose in the 1st round...LOL. We are no different. This isn't the NBA playoffs where round 1 is a bye for the top teams. From game 1 on you need to be on your game or you will get bounced. Give the Pens credit, but at the same time to me we haven't played close to our top level. We are tied 1-1 and I feel pretty good overall and would be shocked if we didn't come home worst case 2-2, and then we go from there.
They do obviously miss Kleins presence over Hunwick, who's done a respectable job but you can't have playing too long here. Hopefully he's back by game 4.
Maybe winning President's trophy was not the best thing for this team going into the playoffs. I think the pens coach also has done a very good job so far making adjustments to negate rangers speed. Having said that I agree with chuck. We haven't played up to our level yet. As always, this team needs some kind of controversy to lit fire under certain players asses. Going on the road will help.
I don't want to hear about Klein missing as a big issue when the Pens are crushed by injuries on D. I also don't think Klein would help our awful PP, which has been the biggest issue IMO. I also don't think this has much to do with winning the Pres trophy. This is the same script we follow every single playoff series outside of the Montreal series. So this is par for the course IMO. And along those lines I would be shocked if we didn't play a much better game with a ton more effort in game 3. And if we do I am sure we will come out with less passion and fire in game 4. That is our MO, so I would expect nothing different after seeing us play last night. I would bet money on 2-2 back to NY, and we'll see how it goes from there.
4/19/15 | 5:30PM: Klein traveled with the team to Pittsburgh but won’t play in game three. (Zipay) I still think game 4. That would be six weeks from the original injury.
I repeat, I hate the Rangers being the one seed. Maybe it's me but Tampa, Montreal and the Islanders look like they are playing on a completely higher level that the Rangers. Hope that changes.
I think the Rangers are doing exactly what they have done in pretty much all their playoff rounds the past 3 years. I don't think being the one seed has much to do with it. This is their MO regardless of one seed or two seed or four seed. Ottawa, Wash, Devs, Flyers, Pens all the same. Win game 1, lose game 2 flatter than a pancake, and we'll see from there in this series. I am not surprised, but I am disappointed. I had hoped they were over the lay an egg when their backs aren't against the wall issue, but I guess not. Based on that, I fully expect this series to come back to NY tied at 2 into game 5 Friday night.
Rangers were better at home this year reg season than previous years but they have been a great road team past few years, starting on the road might have been better for them. Amazing they have not won the first 2 games as the better seed in a series since '94 but win tonight and they are in good shape for game 4. Going on the road might be just what they need.
71 I'm pretty sure the Rangers waived Weise and Vancouver picked him up. Then he was traded to MTL last year for Cameron Diaz
