Don't forget I stopped by to congratulate yinz guys on Friday when you won. Fair is fair. Jan is a good writer and always a good read. I think its safe to say you are welcome on our blog as long as it stays respectable, which I think most Pens fans coming here usually abide by. If people coming here from our group act like douchebags, then by all mean let them have it.
- Emperor Filonius

As has been said here before w the Flyer fans. PEOPLE are jerkoffs, Ranger, Pens, Flyers, etc fans. There are morons in all walks of life. The team you root for makes no difference.

seriously why does the word class come up so often with the Pens fans?

their team has (easily) many of the least classy players in the league.

I have no problem with opposing fans in here unless they are a holes, playoffs or not. At my age now I welcome intelligent hockey talk, instead of Pens suck, Rangers suck...yawn.
- B2B76

I usually don't either, just a little too fired up right now, I just hope the Rangers come out and take advantage of the opportunities that they get. IMO they have to win these 2 games at home to win. Going back 2-2 or down 3-1 (obviously) isn't going to win them the series, its time for the NYR top end players to perform at home.

Its amazing how so many fans of the opposition show up in yet, when you read the Pens board rarely do you see fans from our team. We get it, Fleury can be so-so and still win bc you have a loaded roster. Fair enough. We get it, we are a softer version of the Columbus Blue Jackets with a better goaltender, we get it. Just bugs me that after the other team wins, in this case Pittsburgh, all of you like to pop in here for conversation, other than maybe one or two of you where were you after Friday night.

I'm fired up, it took me a little longer today but to hell with the Penguins. LGR!!!
- Blueshirts4ever

I am on my Ipad at home and since I have fingers the size of plantains I do must of my posting from my laptop at work.

the fact that this team, for so long, cannot find a way to extend a series lead is beyond heartbreaking. It's not the coaches, since this streak has existed since Renney. Its not about a Captain (or lack there of), because this happened under Drury, Callahan and now Captain by committee. Its not Hank, because he's the only player that shows up consistently enough to be free of blame.
We have players who have rings, individual hardware, a Conn Smythe and former captains ... how can this team lack the character to play up the required level.
I understand that sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the opposition, but far too often, this team just mails it in ...

Miller back in, don't know who's out yet

sounds like JT Miller in tonight, don't know who is sitting

Miller back in, don't know who's out yet
- cranford93

Last night was painful. Words cannot express my disgust over watching the Rangers play 'dump and not chase' on offense and the power play.

I would love to see Diaz in for Moore tonight. Give the 3rd and 4th line guys a shot on the PP. Dump 2 bodies in front of the net and let the other 3 guys just fire away.

Maybe it's just me: Richards playing the point on the PP seems to result in more chances against than it does for.

- jimbo83

I know AV is not Torts, but Dorsett deserves the pine for the stupid penalty last night ...

the fact that this team, for so long, cannot find a way to extend a series lead is beyond heartbreaking. It's not the coaches, since this streak has existed since Renney. Its not about a Captain (or lack there of), because this happened under Drury, Callahan and now Captain by committee. Its not Hank, because he's the only player that shows up consistently enough to be free of blame.
We have players who have rings, individual hardware, a Conn Smythe and former captains ... how can this team lack the character to play up the required level.
I understand that sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the opposition, but far too often, this team just mails it in ...
- JackBurton37

The streak of being 0 for 13 in their last 13 games trying to go up two in a series drives me nuts. It is almost inexplicable. But, looking at the current series in a vacuum, it is the Pittsburgh Penguins. They aren't only the favorite in this series, but they have been one of the premier teams in the league for the last several years. Can I really be that angry with the Rangers for getting a split in Pittsburgh, even given how poorly they played last night? I just really can't. They are in a tough series. They are the underdogs. Sometimes very good teams can make you look bad, which the Penguins did last night.

The Rangers are in Round 2 of the playoffs, and are in a tied series, which started on the road, with a top end NHL club. Do the Rangers have some issues? Yes. But, maybe we just need to cut them a little bit of slack here.

the fact that this team, for so long, cannot find a way to extend a series lead is beyond heartbreaking. It's not the coaches, since this streak has existed since Renney. Its not about a Captain (or lack there of), because this happened under Drury, Callahan and now Captain by committee. Its not Hank, because he's the only player that shows up consistently enough to be free of blame.
We have players who have rings, individual hardware, a Conn Smythe and former captains ... how can this team lack the character to play up the required level.
I understand that sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the opposition, but far too often, this team just mails it in ...
- JackBurton37

following up on my own point ... Since the lost season, the Rangers have played in 14 playoff series (including this one). they have led by 2 or more game in only 3 of those series, and lost one of them. Having to continually win in 7 to advance van't be good for the cardiology of the fan base ... it might b time to invest in stocks for cardiac technology.

NO KILLER INSTINCT. This has been the Rangers Motto for nearly a decade now and it shows in the stats with not closing teams out, not going up by 2 wins, etc... Don't understand it, new personel, new players, same lack of jumping on an opponent when you have the chance. Thats why the Powerplay is horrible too. The team just tends to relax and put in a 1/2 effort when it has an advantage and then watches the advantage fizzle away.

Dorsett needs to be benched tonight....Who knows if the Rangers would have been able to tie it up at 1 but the fact that he took a stupid penalty with 5 mins left in a huge playoff game down only one goal is terrible....It really showed just how little his head was in the game because there was zero point to even making contact on the play...

The streak of being 0 for 13 in their last 13 games trying to go up two in a series drives me nuts. It is almost inexplicable. But, looking at the current series in a vacuum, it is the Pittsburgh Penguins. They aren't only the favorite in this series, but they have been one of the premier teams in the league for the last several years. Can I really be that angry with the Rangers for getting a split in Pittsburgh, even given how poorly they played last night? I just really can't. They are in a tough series. They are the underdogs. Sometimes very good teams can make you look bad, which the Penguins did last night.

The Rangers are in Round 2 of the playoffs, and are in a tied series, which started on the road, with a top end NHL club. Do the Rangers have some issues? Yes. But, maybe we just need to cut them a little bit of slack here.
- Pete V

All credit due to the Pens for playing hard, but let's be honest, The Rangers did not play up to snuff yesterday. If they played well and lost, then oh well, at least we got the split. But this jeckyl and hyde routine is getting real old real fast.

Miller back in, don't know who's out yet
- cranford93

Kreider

I know AV is not Torts, but Dorsett deserves the pine for the stupid penalty last night ...
- JackBurton37

Definitely have to sit dorsett. put carcillo on 4th line and hope miller can help provide something offensively.

Tonight in my opinion is a must win, don't want to have to play them from behind in the series. May be too much to ask.

All credit due to the Pens for playing hard, but let's be honest, The Rangers did not play up to snuff yesterday. If they played well and lost, then oh well, at least we got the split. But this jeckyl and hyde routine is getting real old real fast.
- JackBurton37

This is exactly where my thought process is. Yes its great we got a split against one of the top teams in the east, but the effort last night was nonexistent, and we are in the 2nd round of the playoffs. How do you not get up for that. We saw it in the Philly series game 6. If they lose and the effort is there, I would have nothing but positive things to say about the team. But last night was brutal effort for a team in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Kreider
- TPC

I cant imagine what your day is going to be like when they announce he is back in the line up.

This is exactly where my thought process is. Yes its great we got a split against one of the top teams in the east, but the effort last night was nonexistent, and we are in the 2nd round of the playoffs. How do you not get up for that. We saw it in the Philly series game 6. If they lose and the effort is there, I would have nothing but positive things to say about the team. But last night was brutal effort for a team in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
- mdw7413

I remember there being an old sports saying that fatigue can make you look like a coward. It's there own fault for not closing at the Flyers series earlier, but I think they are fatigued, and it made them look real, real bad last night.

It all comes down to a lack of killer Instinct, no urgency from this team ever, 6 out of the first 10 minutes on the power play and you get 2 shots on goal, unacceptable anytime of the season, just magnified 1000% in the playoffs. We had an opportunity to put these mutts behind the eightball and whiffed big time.

I remember there being an old sports saying that fatigue can make you look like a coward. It's there own fault for not closing at the Flyers series earlier, but I think they are fatigued, and it made them look real, real bad last night.
- Pete V

Pete, I'm hoping that's the case, because the alternative to that is something that should piss every fan off. And I will give them the benefit of the doubt, because it has been a crazy schedule, and I think AV saying the team was not tired at all and ready to go, is a typical response for a coach to the media.

This is encouraging

I cant imagine what your day is going to be like when they announce he is back in the line up.
- mdw7413

It has got to be better then this right now

The Pens only had 1 more day off, i doubt that day was spent in a hyperbaric chamber, they're in the same boat, played last night and had to travel, if anything they would be more tired with the effort they put out last night, Rangers can't be tired when you failed to much of an effort
- cranford93

Pens had 2 days off before series started. Still no excuse. Both teams are palying their 3rd game in 4 nights tonight.
We need to take it to them tonight.