Here we go, just settled in....
Feel free to join in the commentary...
I'm not sure first goal will be so significant; the second one will...
***
Oh man, mistake by Holstrom; a 5 on 4 turns into 4-on-4
***
Not a great shot by Datsyuk, good point by Emrick, lot of Wings' early shots going wide
And Olczyk, for pointing out the puck control by Detroit's fourth line
***
Closest call yet, Hossa barely stopped by Osgood. Love the up-and-down skating and backskating. Pens have survived first half of the first, a good sign for them.
***
First chance for Pens PP...watch out for Detroit shorthanded.
***
Another call against the Wings, Pens need more shots on Ozzy...
***
The lively boards almost put the Pens up 1-0, great glove save by Ozzy on Crosby...much more confidence on PP; Ozzy has been the difference with about four saves. Back to even strength
***
A stick under the pad of Fleury by Holstrom causes a Lidstrom goal from the circle to be waved off---and Holstrom draws a penalty. Looked lke a shaky call to me. If Pittsburgh scores on this PP, that's a huge turning point.
***
Olczyk agrees. A weak goaltender interference call. Mark that one down for later in the series when someone gets run and there's no call. Ohhh, wicked hit by Kronwall on Malone.
***
Versus needs better info on number of saves, where shots are coming from...Another effective PK with 2:25 to play in the first
***
Relentless down low play by Holstrom draws a penalty on Gill. This will be a matchup to watch as we roll on. PP for Wings.
***
Fleury's biggest save came right at the end. Fast-moving 20 minutes; edge to Detroit.
WINGS 0, PENS 0, END OF ONE.
***
Pens leading in breaks. Draper's rebound of Rafalski's shot hits post, rolls along crossbar and out. But Pens are getting opportunities, Malkin two, in fact, and have to be feeling confident that they can skate with the Wings so far nd have blocked shots in front. Fine save by Osgood on the Dupuis break-in.
***
Speed kills. Samuelsson takes advantage of a bad change by Pitt, lugs the puck in, goes down th left side and a wraparound kicks off Fleury's skate, 1-0 Wings, and now a hold against the Pens. A second goal here would give Detroit a huge boost. Pens PK will have to be sharp...
***
Datsyuk and Zetterberg slightly outplaying Crosby/Malkin and Wings are finishing mroe checks. What was that, 13-3 in shots by Detroit this period? Their speed in transition seems to surprise Pens, who need to sustain some offense.
****
Fleury, who really has grown admirably in the playoffs, is keeping this at 1-0...Pens using a lot of energy on defense...Uh-oh, Malkin penalty, a trip on Filipula. There will be 1:26 in PP time at the start of the third. 16-4 in shots. As predicted at the top of this missive, the second goal will be massive.
END OF TWO,WINGS 1, PENS 0.
****
Between periods, here's Messier's insight: Ruutu should have iced the puck on the Samuelsson goal.
Here at Chez Zipay, we're starting the third with some warm, homemade, yellow cupcakes with chocolate icing courtesy of my daughter, who arrived a while ago from her lifeguarding gig. Sweet.
Memo to the Pens: Kill this PP, then take some chances. The dump-ins aren't working. Skate hard and try to draw some penalties. All it takes is one shot. But they'll need a terrific third-period effort to steal this one, it appears.
***
Wings smelling blood. Rare blunder by Fleury, clearing in front, Malkin can't handle. Samuelsson swoops in for his second, 2-0, Wings.
***
Olczyk rightly credits Draper---a little late, no?---on the second Samuelsson goal. Versus needs more replays sooner to telestrate, same problem as in regular season telecasts.
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Ten minutes to go in regulation. Pens need a score quick.
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Wow. Two wonderful chances by Pens, Hossa rings the post, Crosby's putback bounces off Osgood and out, not in. Not Pens night. A goal there could have made this very, very interesting.
***
Pens simply cannot get shots on net against the quick, reactive Wings. Two in this period, with five minutes left. Four in the second period. Can't win that way.
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Did Therrien wait too long to load up with Hossa, Malkin, Crosby on a line? First shift, Lidstrom whistled to the box.
***
Dan Cleary hustles in, backhands in a shortsider shorthanded off the boards past Fleury, 3-0. Good night. Wings just too deep in this one. Motors don't stop running for Samuelsson, Cleary, Draper, Maltby, Stuart...
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Slash with 1:52 to go. Figures, it's Ruutu with a cheapie. Surprise. He'd better watch himself next game.
***
Pens getting frustrated, running around like the Flyers when they're losing. Bang. 4-0, Zetterberg, PP, upper corner.
Wings up, 1 game to none. Pens need to regroup. Pronto.
Comments (45)
Call it what it is not a weak goaltender interference call, BS it what it is and the league in the tank begins. Every game now the Wings will have to have a goal taken away and start the game minus 1. 3 PP and Pens still don't have the lead, and 1 goal waived off. Real hard to beat the Pens and the officials. If you waive the goal off there doesn't need to be a penalty on top of it. SO, the official felt that the Goaltender int was sl blantant that it deserved not only calling off a goal it also deserved giving Pens a PP. Wings are a very experienced team though and it appears that all this will do is increase their intensity. The NHL is really becoming the WWF and that is really unfortunate, the league is going to do anything to make sure that the Pens lift the Cup. I really thought it wouldn't be like that in the finals.
msg4ever,
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Do you ever wuit crying?
msg4ever,
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Do you ever quit crying?
marginal slash call against Sid... Part of the leagues conspiracy right msg4ever?
man up you wussy.
Caught to Pens on a bad line change... nice goal for the Wings
another ticky tacky holding call on the Pens... another part of the league conspiracy right Rangers fans?
Four straight penalties called on the Penguins... obviously another example of the great conspiracy.
Has anyone seen Malkin? Other than taking a bad penalty in the Ozone?
Black and Gold....I left a post for you on Glauber's blog about your Arnold bet.
Islander505,
Re" Malkin: He's playing with energy.. but non of the Pens are on the score sheet. Still, down 1-0 after two periods in Detroit... not a bad showing by a very young Pens team.
Islander505,
Yeah I saw it... I take a lot of crap for betting against my teams... but There's an important distinction between one's heart and one's head.
I'll root like crazy for my team, but sometimes you just have to realize that the odds are against you.
"Oh, and Malkin run off in front"
Samuellson scores....
The kids are being schooled.
Wings up 2-0... boy the league has really has the fix in so that the pens win the 'Cup right msg4ever?
The league definitely is throwing this 'Cup finals to the Pittsburgh Penguins... It's an obvious conspiracy...
Detroit 4 - Pittsburgh 0
Ruttu's "slash" looked more like a spear
Zetterberg's goal was a classic sniper shot.
He picked out the smallest spot in the upper corner.
Black N Gold, why in gods name are you on a RANGERS blog when your team is playing in the Stanley Cup finals? Are the journalists/fans THAT bad in pitt?
Who's insulting the Pens? They are a great young team and the Rangers should be battling them for many years. But really, why are Pens fans posting on this blog at this point? Islander fans is disguise?
Hey B&G even with the officiating assistance this was a blow out. Do you really think the Pens can play any better, seems to me that last night they played at the top of their game and hung around for 2 periods. Can Det play better I doubt it, so if both teams were as good as possible last night, tell me again where Pens can match up? This game seems to have gone just as I said last week. Det is more experienced, plays more physical and has a better defense under pressure. As to speed the teams are equal also as predicted. Question becomes is will Pens wilt under the pressure the Wings can continually place on them. You and everyone else knows the Goalie interference call was BS, yet if Pens can't score on the PP this won't even go 5 games. Wings score 2 at even strength (3 without BS call) 1 SH, 1 PP, can't do any better. Are the Pens experiencing a learning curve in the finals? Pens were the best of the East, yet the Best of the West is a notch better.
Pens mustered all of 4 shots on goal in 2nd period and 3 in 3rd, talk about your shut down defense. If Pens have any chance they need to score first, if Det scores first game is practically over the way they can play defense. Meanwhile Det managed 16 and 12 shots on goal in the 2nd and 3rd periods. Seems to be a bit dominant if you ask me. Loved the Pens bench at 1-0 they had that far away glazed look in their eyes. Imagine how they felt at 4-0.? Oh well, all they need to do is win 4 of 6, for mthe Wings, that won't be too hard.
"We're a different team than what they played before," Osgood said. "The Rangers would have been the closest to that. Ottawa dumps it quite a bit. Philly definitely does. And we possessed the puck. And I just think they hadn't seen it before. I think we do it better than any other team in the league and that's what makes our defense so good."
Thanks for the live play-by-play Stevie Z. Good job.
As a Ranger fan I have to say. I'm ashamed of some of my fellow fans. Is this how Long Island Ranger fans are? The Islander fans are rubbing off on you. I just moved here from Brooklyn a month ago and I have to tell you guys. You need bigger stones.
PLEASE STOP the Crying. It makes us look like cry babies. Stop blaming opposing fans like BnG for being an Islander fan. I'm sure Islander fans would have no problems admitting who they are just to bust our horns. That Islander505 guy seems fair and makes no bones about making it known he's an Islander fan.
Stop it. If someone whinned like that on my team we'd do a CODE Freakn RED on his a$$. If you don't know what that is. Please rent "A Few Good Men", because I don't have the time to explain it.
There is NO conspiracy for the Penguins to win. Stop blaming other teams' inability to beat the Pens as a conspiracy. You are embarrassing yourself, the NHL, the Rangers and other Ranger fans like myself. Did the Rangers lose 40 games because of officials this year? Yes I count OT losses as losses. They are a disgrace to the NHL. A loss is a loss is a loss.
The Pens got schooled last night. There were some borderline calls agains them too. Shuttie Please!!! A player that moaned about that kinda stuff would get benched on my team.
The Rangers were beat by a young but more skilled team. How the Pens got those players is pointless. Whether they tanked or not is non-relavent. 29 other teams could of tanked for Sid the Kid. Who cares? I just want to enjoy the cup finals without my fellow Blue Shirt Buddies crying and ragging about officials. If you watch enough games on Center Ice you'll see that a lot of bad calls are made. Refs are human, and they screw up. Some might even have a bias. Well that's been the NHL for ever. So ZIP IT.
Now to the game. I didn't see the game till the start of the 2nd period. I am not sure how much of the Pens' first period shots were of any quality, but I suspect their PP had a lot to do with it.
The Wings looks unstoppable.
Check in with you guys on Monday night if I'm home. Oh, and Happy Memorial Day to my fellow Vets and Honorable Men & Women KIA, POW and passed in peace. Lets not forget what Memorial Day is really about. It's not a 3 day weekend just so we can have ribs, burgers, beaches and BBQs. Raises a toast to those who served.
TJ,
Thank you.
That's exactly what I expect to hear from true Ranger fans. That's an attitude I admire. Take responsibility for your teams performance and quit whining about some NHL 'conspiracy'.
Reorganize and regroup in 2008-9. Just like my Pens will have to do after they get beat here in the SCF by a clearly superior team.
I have a lot of respect for you TJ. msg4ever, joke, dude and the others should take lessons from you on how to be a true fan.
The rest of the board should give you props. You've achieved what the rest couldn't. Now that at least one ranger fan has 'manned up', I'll quit posting. (Unless someone else wants to start taking more whiny pot shots).
Peace out Ranger fans.
Great blog Zipay.
BNG
I'm sure that BNG will quit posting because a "real" ranger fan "manned up" and not because it looks like his team is about to be embarrassed and he will have nothing to come and post about.
HOW WAS THAT CALAMARI LAST NIGHT BNG?? Looks like you didn't cook it enough and got a case of food poisoning. Talk about whining...look at each of your posts about the pens penalties. You say mediocre or ticky tack for each one. So the pens never take a real penalty huh? They are always ticky tack or border line...like Malone splitting Drury's cheekbone open with a high stick and no call right?
When I asked you about Malkin's slew foots and you said they were "stupid"...I already knew they were stupid, I was looking for you to rationalize or explain how there were no calls made.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed those shots of the cry baby Crosby sitting on the bench absolutely dumbfounded at not winning...he had to be wondering what was going on...how could this be possible...didn't the refs realize what was happening?? A combined 7 shots in two periods!!! The refs can only make bad calls to help, they can't pick up a stick and throw shots on net for you as well!!
Now when the Pens lose and Hossa goes elsewhere and then Malkin follows him out the door next year...how much will that trade haunt the team? How will the league save the pens again in two or three years when Crosby is floundering all alone?? Will the pens tank for another year to guarantee another top three pick in the draft? OH THE DRAMA!!!!!!!!!
Gotta love Ozzie given props to the rangers in his post game quotes!!! And how about versus still delivering a Crosby highlight package with three minutes left in a game in which Crosby did absolutely NOTHING!!!!!!! The leagues darlings even when they are being shut out...beautiful.
And BNG..what were you doing on a rangers blog while your team is in the finals?? That is more than a bit odd.
Excuse the long ranting post...it's just that my feelings are hurt because BNG doesn't respect me as a real fan.
BNG
OMG, just shut the hell up already
you take yourself waaaaaaaaaaaaay too seriously ya loser
have fun NOT winning the Cup this year
half your team leaving as free agents starting July 1st
and not having any draft picks on June 20th!
woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Dude and Joke, I find it rather coincidental that B&G has finally signed off. He obviously sees that the Pens are way outclassed and now he decides he will remove himself. That's OK because he should have removed himself after the Pens eliminated the Rangers, yet he couldn't help himself. Once Le'Canadiens lost there was no comp left and the Pens had to make the finals. That's great and I give the Pens there due, yet as i have said thoughout the Division finals the Wings were a notch above every other team. Now that the cat is out of the bage, there is nothing for the Pens lovers to say, they are outclassed and outmanned, so we will se them back if the Pens are able to win a game in this series but as usual they only appear if Pens are winning, they disappear when Pens are losing. They are bandwagon fans and I will take the Ranger true blue fans any day. Win or lose we are Ranger lifers and that is all that counts! I will go to war with Ranger lifers anyday.
well said TJ,, as usual.
I'm just enjoying the hockey...Zip is kind enough to provide a live blog during the games
love how blackened troll just proved that pens fans are fair weather ... he probably stops watching the series before it gets outta D...
msg4ever,
Just to suit you, I'll come back at the end of the series so you can take shots at me for how the Pens only made it to the SCF and lost against the lowly Detroit Red Wings.
(and as for being a fair weather fan... I haven't voluntarily missed a single minute of a Pens game in 25 years) - I also subscribe to versus, the NHL network, and Center Ice so that I can get to watch as much hockey as possible. You can call me a lot of things, but one thing you'll never get traction with is me being fairweather.
BtW, Pittsburgh has 350K residents, yesterday, 13K of them, or one out of every 25, was in the Igloo watching the game on the Jumbotron being broadcast from Detroit.
Yeah, Pittsburgh isn't a hockey town at all.
Detroit is fearsome. They belong at the top of the NHL. I'm proud of my boys for making it to SCF. I'm hoping they can steal a game or two.
Props again to good posters like Islander505 and TJ... they get it... it's about the great sport we call hockey... not about crying that you're the victim of some great conspiracy.
BNG
when you make major moves at the deadline and over half of your team is a UFA after the season, it's a failure when you don't win the Cup.
lots of people thought Dan Marino would make many more superbowl trips after his first one, didn't quite work out.
sorry to break it to you...
Joke,
must be another 'blurt'
Dude,
If Playing in the SCF is a 'failure', in 68 years, the Rangers have only had one 'successful' season.
I don't believe that, and neither do you.
It's been a wonderful run, for my Pens. And I've enjoyed every minute.
I'm one of the few fans that wishes Ray Shero had waited one more year to 'pull the trigger' because I believe the assets he traded for Hossa were appreciating and would have been worth even more next year. Maybe even enough to sustain two consecutive drives instead of one. But to make the comment you are by classifying the 2007-8 Pens as a failure really says a lot about how you must feel about your own team.
Why did I come here? I can't believe we are still complaining about officials. I've had time to reflect now that the dust has settled and TJ is right. We look bad complaining about officiating. Not to mention giving BnG more fuel to the fire. Ignore him and he'll disappear with his team. The Pens are a great team. Lets just say we got beat by a superior team and build a better team next season.
Looking at the Wings and Pens series gives me dejavu from the 83&84 cups. The young power house getting schooled by the dynastic power house. We may be seeing the Pens losing only to learn to win like Edmonton. Hey, it gives us hope. LOL! We'll raid the Pens in 10 years when their players are sick of Pittsburgh and want to play in a real city and then take the Cup once again. Joking fellas. We really just need to regroup. We have hope.
I'm not confident in the wishful thinking that Malone (Pitt native) and Malkin will be going anywhere. Pens are going into a new arena and are making money now. Also talk on TSN is that Hossa is warming up to Pittsburgh, and why would he want to leave a team that took him to the finals. As long as the price is right.
Chin up. We now know what we need to do to take it to the next level. Check back after the Wings sweep.
Props to Matt. Another true hockey fan.
Matt, I recognize that hockey careers are short, and many of these Penguins may opt for the big payday (who can blame them?).
This is the new NHL, and parity is the rule, not the exception.
There always seem to be a couple of teams that becaome "destination of choice" for players. Colorado is one, The Rangers are one, and Detroit is one. I can only hope some of these current Pens think of Pittsburgh in those terms.
None-the-less, I'm enjoying the SCF run.
Again, thanks for lending some sanity to Zipays excellent forum.
Queens:
Thanks!
Re: the 'Village'
Not that there's anything wrong with that.. :-)
I had to smile with you r comments when you consider your moniker.
:-)
It's just that I love hockey, even more than I love my Pens. When someone takes pot shots at my sports integrity. It really strikes a nerve with me.
The Red Wings are the dominate team in the league right now... I'll root for my team untilt the final horn sounds. When it's ov er, both teams will go to center ice to participate in the greatest show of sportsmanship in ANY sport. The traditional center ice handshake. Tehn both teams will prepare for their respective futures. No crying, no whining, no complaints about conspiracies.
All teams have good and bad fans. This blog has introduced me to some of the best, and worst, Rangers fans.
Good luck next year!
B and G...
DON'T GO ANYWHERE!!!
I kinda like having you around to take the abuse normally directed at me.
BTW....keep this in mind...as your Pen's go out in 4 this year.
This year's finals are a dead ringer for 1983. When the young Oilers were the talk of the league with Gretzky, Messier, Anderson, Coffey et.al. until they ran into an experienced cup winning team..THEY GOT WAXED...only to become one of the better teams in NHL history (notice I did NOT say dynasty--never won 4 in a row)..
You guys keep your squad relatively together over the summer and I am handing next year's Cup to ya, and a few more down the road....barring any major roster changes.
Just my opinion.
Blurt,
That post wasn't me...another "troll".
BNG is taking the bait hook, line and sinker from habs inside/ out.
Hey BNG,
all the posts praising you and your team are from a troll that is trying to send traffic to his lame habs inside/ out site. So don't get all hot in the panties about how ranger fans respect you. It's one person who is a troll and is trying to get you to give his site another few hits.
Here's the deal...you are passionate about your team and we are passionate about ours. Your team made it one more round then ours did and we both would have lost to the wings. The rangers beef with the refs is legit. There were too many bad calls, missed calls and "lets all fall in love with crosby" garbage to ignore. Did it cost us the series? Who knows...but we all feel like we were robbed of the opportunity to find out. The one play that sums up the whole rangers/ penguins series was the Malone high stick on Drury. It was right in front of the net, cut Drury from his ear to his mouth and yet every official missed the play?? Come on BNG, you have to admit that the pens were going to make the finals by hook or by crook. This takes nothing away from their youth or their skill, but you have to admit that from versus to NBC to Bettman...they all wanted Crosby in the finals.
Look at it this way...who was the better or superior team going into the super bowl? It was the patriots hands down. But who won the game? So should the refs and officials have made a bunch of BS calls just to make sure the Pats won? NO!!!! You give the other team a chance to make that Cinderella run and the rangers and flyers and anybody else the Pens ran up against were not given that chance. This is not to say that the Pens wouldn't have won anyway...but wouldn't it have been nice to watch your team truly beat out a worthy opponent? You cannot just simply say that all these fans are bitter or whining. There were simply too many missed calls etc to ignore.
Kudos for making it to the finals!!!! But admit that your team is only as good as it is because of high draft picks and Crosby falling into your lap. And because you have Crosby, the league is going to try it's hardest to not let the average fan see their leagues savior not doing well.
Joke,
First of all, your math is wrong. The Pens made it TWO rounds further than the Rangers.
Secondly, the Malone Drury call(s) - yes calls, plural, were horrible calls that should never have been made. But the Rangers lost the series 4 games to 1. You can't blame that on a missed high sticking call.
Hockey is the most difficult sport to officiate. The action is virtually non-stop and the speed at which the game is played should embarrass fans of other sports. Bad calls happen (See also: Brett Hull 1999 SCF against Buffalo)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VWAtMxXVCs
If that goal was called back, do you really think the Sabres had a chance of winning the series? No, they were totally outclassed by Dallas that year.
So quit blaming some "vast conspiracy" for your teams ineptitude.
Man up, congratulate the better team and move on.
Are you this much of a complainer in real life as well? God you must be insufferable to be around.
Queens,
Thanks for the tip, I'll check that site out!
Bad Officiating does not equal conspiracy.
I think reducing the amount of zebrae on the ice during a game would bring a better quality of officiating. The old system where linesmen acted as a backup calling the double minors or majors that are missed was much better.
It's a shame that the officiating is ruining the game, expansion has watered down the quality of the officiating and the requirement to have 2 ref's per game further dilutes the quality.
I understand that error is human but the league wants to make sure they get it right, then why not use some of that video reply to catch the missed majof calls? Slow down the game some, well maybe but to miss a 5 minute penalty definitely changes to complexion of a playoff game.
Thanks,
Martyd
BNG,
I don't feel like I am whining or complaining as much as I am trying to have a back and forth conversation about facts. You may be reading my posts in a whiny voice, that's on you.
We did indeed lose the series 4 -1. But we were also up by three goals in the first game and were absolutely in every game after that despite the fact that you had PP's handed to you at the beginning of just about each game. At no time were we blown out of the water and I don't believe there were any games where we only managed three shots in a period, could be wrong though.
But there were plenty of times where bad calls or missed calls made it near impossible to win the game. Take the Drury/ Malone incident. If that Malone call is made then the Rangers go on a four minute PP and who knows how the game changes. How about the goal scored after Henrik's stick is slashed out of his hand. How about the Malkin slew foots were he should have been suspended and therefor wouldn't have played a few games? The list goes on and on as far as how that series could have gone a million different ways...and I have already said that it may not have mattered. Maybe the Pens still win, but it is irritating when you are a fan of a team that seams to not be getting a fair shake at winning. Bad officiating is one thing and I understand that missed calls are part of the game. But two slew foots in one shift and a high stick that literally spills blood all over the ice? Those are more than missed calls. And as far as the leagues darlings...again all you have to do is listen to the way the slew foots were called by emerick. They were out and out slew foots...not "battling for the puck" or "almost a slew foot motion". Would you like me to post that link so you can see how the play was viewed by the commentators.
If I remember correctly it was game 5 where Mike Milbury of all people was wondering how in the world the officials were missing the calls. Milbury HATES the Rangers with a passion and yet was calling the officials on their apparent bias.
How many times do you want me to say that the pens are very skilled, very talented etc. It doesn't mean that they automatically make it to the finals. And you have yet to admit that the only reason your team is so good this year is because of a decades worth of high end picks and Crosby being given to you. The Rangers were dreadful for the end of the 90's but I don't believe they ever picked higher then top 15 or so unless they traded up. How many top 5 picks are currently on your team?
And as soon as I posted the last post I knew you were going to pick out the one more round thing, honest mistake on my part. But I could argue that you made it past one more round and then look as though you won't even make a showing in the finals. I think the Rangers could have done the same.
NO one is talking conspiracy, as for the Rangers they lost this season due to a VERY POOR PP and even the Pitt series saw the Rangers choke on the PP, and also blow a 3 goal lead. That is the bottom line, yet there is no doubt that the league is marketing driven and the baby Pens are their ideal market push. Therefore the small advantage of holding, hooking and certain embelished penalties leans towards them, is it a conspiracy? certainly not, yet if there is going to be a close call they are going to get the benefit of the doubt 100% of the time. That being said, it would appear that they can get as many PP as they like and Det is going to kill them off. Det is the real stellar franchise in this league right now, they draft really well, just look what number picks, Zet, Lids, Pavel were, and many others were late rd picks, they have a deep funnel of talent yet to be tapped and they play a style of hockey that is basically relentless, up tempo, puck control and still keep the puck out of their own net, plus they play this way for 82 games plus the playoffs. This has not been a win and done franchise, they are able to consistenly stay at the top and if any one wants to emulate a style this one would be it. The talk of the Pens and the future and the Dynasty potential is really rather premature and embarassing when you look at Det and what they are doing and what they have done. As a Ranger lifer, I really have to admire the Wings and if Slats and Renney want to copy anyone this should be the deal. ANd for the most part this blog has become an ISLES blog which is really rather distasteful, it appears that most of the Ranger fans will not return until nxt season. Well, maybe that is best anyway, a new season will allow the Isles fans to have the glimmer of hope that con't be dashed until they get to play their 82 and go home.
As to Pens fans in the Igloo for the gm one on jumbotron, it is called Cup fever. Way back in 78 I can remember sitting in the Felt forum watching the Rangers play Isles in semi-final rd of playoffs and there were 13,000 who paid 6$ then to watch Rangers as the Garden was sold out, so the theory that NY is a bd hockey town, and the yada yada yada about poulation and other BS is simply silly. NY has and always will be a strong hockey city, and the Ranger fans will always support the team whether they are winning or losing (which has been the case for the whole 68 years you love to bring up). The 3 gardens to date have all been filled to watch Rangers Hockey. So, please stop the BS about Pitt and the magnificent hockey town, as Versus even begun their telecast with how the city has gone from zero to hero in the lats 3 years. STOP, because it is total BS, the city was filled when Mario and Jags were chasing Cups, and it was empty until Crosby and company made the playoffs last season, even your marketeers at Versus tell you that. SO, you can take you 1 out 25 and stick it where the sun don't shine, because if this team is not in playoffs your wonderful fans DO NOT show up and there is a history of that!
Hey B&G, once again you fail a History test, as to the SCF, the Rangers were in finals in 72 against Bruins, lost in 6, in 78 Rangers played Canadiens lost in 5, in 94 obviously won the Cup, and if you take the overall Ranger history back from the beginning there are several more Cups and CUp final appearances, so the once in 68 is again WRONG. Yet you seem to have trouble when it comes to facts, not much when it comes to BS.
msg4ever,
Are you reading comprehension challenged?
Dude said that if the Pens don't win the 'Cup, their season is a failure.
Since 1941, your rangers have won ONE cup. 26 of those years, there were only SIX teams!
Nice try.