Penguins – Rangers Series Buzz
The New York Rangers coming off a convincing 4-2 win in Game 2 now have what should be momentum with the series shifting to Madison Square Garden tonight for Game 3.
Whether momentum actually exists in a series this early is up for debate.
The pressure, though, is not on Pittsburgh tonight, it’s on New York to hold serve at home as a best-of-seven series is now a best-of-five with New York having home-ice advantage.
A Rangers Game 3 win still won’t have them taking control of the series but the noise will start to be quite loud in Penguin circles that the team could be headed towards another early round exit.
Post-Stanley Cup, the Penguins’ have had in trouble of handling the status of being a favorite in a playoff series in the Sidney Crosby era. Since the 2010 playoffs, there’s only been one series where the Penguins were an underdog in and that was last season vs the President Trophy winning Rangers.
Despite only three points separating the Penguins and Rangers this season, not to mention New York winning 25 playoff games to Pittsburgh’s 9 since the 2014 post-season, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault has gone out of his way multiple times so far in the series of talking the Penguins up as a heavy favorite in this series.
He was at it again on Monday, even indicating that if Mike Sullivan had been the coach all season, the Penguins might have been where the Capitals were. Quite the endorsement for former coach Mike Johnston.
“Going down 2-0 would not have been a good idea. That sort of raised urgency, emotion. Our guys have to understand by now we’re playing against the best team in the league since Christmas and if Mike [Sullivan] would have been their [coach] since Day 1, there’s a chance they would have challenged Washington for the top spot. They have four lines and group of defenseman who are quite a challenge.”
The key area for the Penguins to watch tonight is imposing their will 5 v 5. The longer this series plays outs with the Rangers dictating the pace at even strength and forcing the Penguins into an east-west game that is limiting the Penguin stars’ time and space, the greater the chances are of Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers upsetting the Penguins.
Why type of adjustments need to happen for the Penguins tonight?
A big emphasis from the Penguins’ coaching staff is having the ‘D’ get to pucks quicker in the defensive zone to avoid the Rangers’ first wave on the forecheck. It will be interesting if the Penguins ‘D’ play a bit deeper tonight with lower support down low from the forwards to beat that first wave.
The Penguins have been so much more dangerous under Mike Sullivan because of how high the forwards now play but the Penguins’ hands could be forced here in the forwards needing to play a bit lower in the defensive zone so the ‘D’ can make a quick chip or pass to allude the F1.
“We gotta get back to pucks quicker,” Sullivan said after Monday’s practice. “We might have to simplify our execution coming of out the zone. For me, I think when our team’s at its best, we don’t have to go back for as many pucks because our team defense starts in the offensive zone by controlling territory, by a puck pursuit game that’s relentless in forcing teams to have to come through four or five of us to get to us. I think that’s an area of our game where we have to improve in this series. I think we were decent in Game 1. I don’t think we were as good in Game 2. That’s an area where we have to improve. I think it will take some pressure of our defensemen if we can establish that game.”
What Sullivan alluded to Monday is the Penguins are playing an East-West game, something that doesn’t suit their personnel or style. That can seen with the Penguins struggles through the neutral zone.
“We played a lot more [of an] east-west game,” Sullivan said. [hide] “I think when we’re at our best, we play a faster game coming through the neutral zone. We’d obviously like to have it [puck] and keep it, but if we can’t, we’ve got to make sure we get pucks behind them and force them to play goal line to goal line. That’s when this team is at its best. The last game, I thought we tried to do a little bit too much with the puck, especially when they had numbers back, and it’s difficult to carry through two-three layers of sticks with any kind of speed.”[/hide]
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WC started yet ?
World Cup isn’t until August, dude. Pay attention – what – you’re not a big hockey guy?
last i checked world championship starts in the beginning of May
Sam didn’t know when they were playing the World Cup, guys. #SamKnew
Same is clown drool over may WC hot dog cart
Here you go, “hockey fan” http://www.nhl.com/ice/eventhome.htm?location=/worldcup/2016
Trade chubby, sam.
Golden State won without Curry last night, i guess they should trade him eh Samantha?
Curry is the best player of the NBA right now .where your malkin is no where near that since the 09 season his career has been nothing but on the decline side but its okay lets keep him long untill his value drops more
this bum shouldve been shipped last year but thanks to mario and the selling the museum rumors extended his life in pittsburgh a bit longer
all in all the sooner they get rid of this cancer the sooner this teams future will be better
What about 2012 when he won the Hart? You fat moron. PS – chubby traded yet?
Just a couple seasons ago only Crosby out paced Malkin in PPG… had he played all 82 he would have had 98 points, just behind Sids 104 you dolt.
Rumour mill… Holtby collided with a teammate in practice, seen leaving the ice favouring his right leg
Make that the knee
Holtby walked through dressing room with a smile. No limp
He is fine.
Good to see that Murray is close, just need to split in NYC and all good heading back to Pit
Fleury out tonight. Murray may play
Says who? Heard Murray was breaking a new glove in today… thats about it lol
Stick with zatkoff. He’s hot. And play Sestito.
Who’s the first forward off?
Schultz and Pouliot still on for extra work.
Zatkoff first goalie off.
This doesn’t tell me all that much. Fleury was the first goalie off before Game 1.
Fleury was the first goalie off in game 1 no?
No MAF at game day skate. If they have to continue with Zatkoff, it was a good season, shame injuries keep doing this team in.
Injuries didn’t do this – poor decision making by the coach did this. Zatkoff playing over Murray at this point is all on him.
Still a mind blowing mistake from a guy that really seemed to be on top of everything. My only question is what was he told about MAFs status and did that play a role?
Agreed Murray should never have played against the Flyers. JZ was sitting for a long time and could have used a start. Murray never would have gained any playoff experience from that game.
Def makes it a ton tougher. I just dont trust the guy when its all said and done. If the pens play a lack luster game, the goalie can be the difference maker. Do you feel JZ will out play HL?
If pens don’t win tonight it will pretty much sum it up their series what direction they are going
Or it’ll be one loss, and will sum up nothing if they win next game. Chubbs.
We should all just be thankful that the panthers loaned is zatkoff back for the playoffs.
Very rare that npl and stan are not here and this make it very rare this place is in peace
Trade chubby sam.
you forgot to put thumbs down to everyone on this page except for yourself and npl you guys thumbs up each other
I don’t think I can give myself a thumb’s down sam.
Saying they’ve had struggles when playing as the favorite isn’t wrong but they didn’t do so well as the underdog last year either.
acutally they were impressive as underdogs no one expected them to have low scoring game and 1 goal diffrent
most people were expecting 4-0 sweap by the rags and blow out games
if pens make the first round they have chance to go finals but winning the cup its a little impossible when you have western teams playing the hard checking game
“can make a quick chip and or pass to allude the F1 on the forecheck.” once again, d alludes to the fact that the english language eludes him.
I thought DePaoli was going to break down the diagram on the dry erase board for us.
Stan what happened to you fellow american last night I heard your buddy npl was exited to see him at 36sec mark how he was positioned
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twpX25aVKUs
Chubby traded yet?
again what does nationality have to do with anything at all?…your only knowledge of hockey is where are they from, that proves your idioracy
“The Penguins’ have had in trouble of handling the status of being a favourite” – Jesus Christ, I am not sure what to make of this. Sam… is that you?
Can’t call it