RIPPED off 3 in a row... we'll see how it affects them going foward. was suprised Bruins took Canes to 7. thats good for us.
How do you explain the Penguins? They outplayed the Rangers badly over long stretches, got just about every favorable call go their way and had leads in the final three games they couldn’t hold. I get their goaltending was shaky, but the Rangers weren’t taking lots of shots. Really surprising outcome.
Extremely surprising outcome. Rangers goaltending was better in the games that truly mattered? Not really sure how else to explain it
The Rangers were losing puck battles left and right and turning the puck over like it was in their game plan yesterday.
Gallant calling that timeout at the start of PP was amazing. Get the PP1 on the ice for the entire time and make sure they were rested ready to go. They knew this was it. I know all year the Rangers have been miserable winning faceoffs but Mika won 3 big ones at the end of the game. Everything after this is gravy, house money baby. Lets go.
and alllllllllllllll anyone wants to talk about is the helmet rule...foh. This constant bending over to the Pens has to end. I get the whole bankrupt franchise thing but that was how many years ago already? Enough. We ALL saw SEVERAL interference calls not called and Crosby was caught hitting late before his injury and no one batted an eye. FOH... fuk them and the Steelers...lol
Penguins fans and national media are bitching about the Penguins losing to a team that got lucky. Well guess what, having good to great goaltending allows you to win games when you're terrible offensively. Look at Dallas last night and that entire series vs. Calgary. The Stars had Calgary on ropes, losing a game 7 in OT solely because of their goaltending. Ottenginer did his best Lundqvist impersonation last night; 60+ saves compared to the 30 shots Dallas had. The Penguins got EVERY 50/50 call go their way. The goal in game 1, a goal in game 3, and the CLEAR fucking high stick last night.
The Rangers became the first team in NHL History to win a series six games to three. The had game one absolutely stolen from them, and had to win game seven TWICE after that BS goal off the high-stick.
Pens goalie was out for most of the series. Their best players were older and more likely to wear down over a long series. The outcome makes sense. I think if the Chytil goal stands and the Rangers win game one they probably win the series in 5. The goal didn't stand. Igor got worn out by the very long game and we almost lost the series as a result.
The biggest mistake the Penguins made was going into a defensive shell in the 3rd period up 3-2. I hate that strategy in hockey. Should have kept attacking to make it 4-2. All your opponent needs is one good look and Zibanejad found it. As someone cheering for the Rangers to win, yet not a Rangers fan, I was able to see that the Penguins were dominating for long stretches. It was annoying and surprising. That is how hockey goes sometimes. Especially in the playoffs. New York did just enough to hang around and find a way to win though, which is all you can ask for. They need to play much better in Carolina.
Igor was incredible in home games and in the third period. He didn’t allow a single goal in the 3rd period in the entire series. Igor saved every 3rd period shot he saw: Game 1 - 12/12 Game 2 - 16/16 Game 5 - 15/15 Game 6 - 8/8 Game 7 - 12/12 = 63/63 (Add 37/38 more if you include OT) Just don't do that same exercise for 2nd periods
Mika had 3 highquality sniper-goals in crunch time of games 6 and 7. Thats was some high level shit. We also had sme bounces - guys in front of goal- go our way. And Igor stood out in game 7 whereas he'd been below his established high standard for most of the series- whcih... for Pittsburgh, was extremely good fortune.
The realist in me says they won't win this series but the fan in me thinks they will. You can say the Rangers were fortunate to get by the Penguins but it's not like the Hurricanes breezed through the Bruins. Carolina can be beaten. Rangers in 6.
