Kreider has given you a boost. However, this is more to me a byproduct of Pittsburgh being disinterested in playing. Sorry, you don't go from dominating three games like they did in game 2,3,4 to this horrid play without suffering from a case of disinterest. The Rags have upped the urgency without question, but if the Pens were to match this intensity instead of showing a lack of interest, hand shakes would have occurred already.
- Oneonta Penguin

It's like a chicken and the egg thing. Are the Rangers playing so much better because the Pens have stunk, or are did the Rangers really start playing well, so the Pens folded like a broken tent?

It's like a chicken and the egg thing. Are the Rangers playing so much better because the Pens have stunk, or are did the Rangers really start playing well, so the Pens folded like a broken tent?
- rival22

So, the Pens fold like a broken tent at the opening face-off? That is what has happened. It's all about matching the intensity. The Rags are at 120%, the Pens 65%. That is a major problem. It's almost like the Pens never expected the Rags to show any intensity or urgency.

What else has changed? The addition of Chris Kreider to the Ranger lineup. Sometimes it takes only one more straw. Not unusual for any fan base to focus on their own players performance when things go wrong. Lord knows we did it after Game 4.
- TJ

Kreider has helped the Rangers, however the Pens decision to stop skating anywhere near full-speed and utter refusal to backcheck for the first ~3 seconds of Rangers possession time in the Pens zone has been just as big of a factor in the shift of momentum and who looks like the better team.

This team seems to have zero ability to play desperate hockey. I don't know if it is the coaching or the types of players that are employed but it seems that this team cannot play hockey when their back is again the wall.

When they are down 2 goals going into the third period, I have zero faith that they will be able to come back. Outside of Malkin the skill players have been invisible. And the heart and soul players that the Penguins have aren't good enough to make a difference.

On the flipside if this team is up 2 goals going into the third period. I have complete faith that they will blow it.

For game 7, I just want to see some hard work, hustle and desperation. If we witness another performance like last night then I just don't know.

No 6 or 7 year deals either. 4 max. I'd actually be more comfortable with 3. Probably deal killers for him.
- madmike71

I don't think 3-4 would be much of a deal killer for him if the money is right. His lackluster PO performance may hurt his UFA value and he's stated (from what I've read) that he's already thinking post-hockey-career interests. That makes me think he may be ready to sign a mid-term contract before possibly retiring.

It's depressing that most have already packed it in. Fact is Pens earned the right to play a game 7 at home. Last 2 performances haven't been good but they are in the past. I believe they will come out and play a great game tomorrow. However that doesn't mean they will win the series. As Ryan pointed out a bad bounce or Hank being Hank can send us home early.

Same posts from you. I'm very curious to what do you think Neal gets in return. What is the going rate for a "one trick pony" as you refer him as. Just curious. I assume you will be asking for the moon, but a one trick pony with as many flaws as you seem to think really lands you 50 cents on the dollar.

We are not a match for Kesler. I wish people would understand that. We don't have the assets. If we did, Kesler would be on our roster right now.

You are all about trading everyone or letting them walk on the roster. Trades need to happen without question. Simple question again, trade Kunitz, Neal and everyone else you want, what do you get in return because your comments basically devalue their return.
- Oneonta Penguin

Where did I type "trade all of these people"? How do you get that I want to trade everyone out of my post? They are just odds of each individual being moved.

Yup I hate Neal. You seem to endorse him. I know a playoff performer when I see one. I know a guy you can win with when I see one. He aint that guy.

Don't have time to type out trade scenarios for all of the above so I'll focus on Neal.

Neal will be moved in one of 2 ways:

1. As part of a package deal (something involving him and/or Despres or one of the younger d-men). This is most likely IMO. They will get back a forward player with some grit and skill. Yup, like a Kesler type player.

2. For a younger winger prospect to basically free up the cap space so they can target someone they like more. So, they would in essence get back a young wing prospect plus a FA winger. Nets you 2 players for him.

One more thing about Neal...look up his career stats.

Everyone calls him a 40 goal scorer. How many 40 goals seasons do you see? Hell, how many 30 goals seasons do you see?

I see one very good year and a whole bunch of decent ones.

Then, you want the true story? Look at his playoff stats. 37 games, 11 goals. He has only scored goals in 7 of his 37 playoff games in a Pens uni.

You want that dude on your team come playoff time? If you say Yes, I want to be the coach playing your team.

crosby is the biggest baby on ice i have ever seen... what an exhibit last game!

malkin is easily the best player on the penguins (and currently in the nhl) right now.

The thing that's so maddening about this team is that they have it within them to be absolutely dominant. We've seen it for stretches in each series. Its like they are schizophrenic.
- Emperor Filonius

It's not so much schizophrenic as much as that they are allergic to doing hard work on a consistent basis. They just don't have the motivation for some reason to work hard because they've essentially become the team that is talented, knows its talented and doesn't feel like it needs to work hard to win. Like the genius kid that just doesn't do his homework because it's too much work. This is a team unwilling to eat its vegetables and do its homework.

This team seems to have zero ability to play desperate hockey. I don't know if it is the coaching or the types of players that are employed but it seems that this team cannot play hockey when their back is again the wall.

When they are down 2 goals going into the third period, I have zero faith that they will be able to come back. Outside of Malkin the skill players have been invisible. And the heart and soul players that the Penguins have aren't good enough to make a difference.

On the flipside if this team is up 2 goals going into the third period. I have complete faith that they will blow it.

For game 7, I just want to see some hard work, hustle and desperation. If we witness another performance like last night then I just don't know.
- Ben37

They won 3 games in round one when trailing by 2 goals

It's depressing that most have already packed it in. Fact is Pens earned the right to play a game 7 at home. Last 2 performances haven't been good but they are in the past. I believe they will come out and play a great game tomorrow. However that doesn't mean they will win the series. As Ryan pointed out a bad bounce or Hank being Hank can send us home early.
- dbell646

I haven't packed it in, but the truth is whoever wins this series is going to be the steak that's thrown into the Lions cage anyway.

crosby is the biggest baby on ice i have ever seen... what an exhibit last game!

malkin is easily the best player on the penguins (and currently in the nhl) right now.
- MrBigglesworth

I've missed you.

I haven't packed it in, but the truth is whoever wins this series is going to be the steak that's thrown into the Lions cage anyway.
- canadianpenfan

I don't count Montreal out. I thought they could have won that series by now.

I haven't packed it in, but the truth is whoever wins this series is going to be the steak that's thrown into the Lions cage anyway.
- canadianpenfan

I don't even necessarily believe that. I'm not optimistic, but this team has a very high ceiling and there's no telling when the might actually show up. Just need to win on Tuesday and let the chips fall as they may.

It's depressing that most have already packed it in. Fact is Pens earned the right to play a game 7 at home. Last 2 performances haven't been good but they are in the past. I believe they will come out and play a great game tomorrow. However that doesn't mean they will win the series. As Ryan pointed out a bad bounce or Hank being Hank can send us home early.
- dbell646

I think first goal wins. Simple as that.

Both teams have proven to be mentally fragile. So whoever scores first gets the accompanying confidence boost and mojo.

I don't even necessarily believe that. I'm not optimistic, but this team has a very high ceiling and there's no telling when the might actually show up. Just need to win on Tuesday and let the chips fall as they may.
- Emperor Filonius

Will it happen, though? Pens seemed EXTREMELY flustered by the end of last game and that water spray by Hank to Crosby sure didn't help. Crosby needs to step up 2-3 fold for Game 7 I think for the Pens to take this.

crosby is the biggest baby on ice i have ever seen... what an exhibit last game!

malkin is easily the best player on the penguins (and currently in the nhl) right now.
- MrBigglesworth

I'd take that baby on my team any day of the week.

It's like a chicken and the egg thing. Are the Rangers playing so much better because the Pens have stunk, or are did the Rangers really start playing well, so the Pens folded like a broken tent?
- rival22

I don't think its anywhere near a chicken and egg. Yes, the Rangers got desperate. And even tho the Pens KNEW the Rangers would be desperate, they decided to start phoning it in because the odds & their experience say that they can win 1 out of the remaining 3 games on talent alone.

(the logic that it's easier to play 3 games at a half-assed energy level instead of 1 at a high energy level makes no sense to me, but apparently it does to the Pens)

I don't even necessarily believe that. I'm not optimistic, but this team has a very high ceiling and there's no telling when the might actually show up. Just need to win on Tuesday and let the chips fall as they may.
- Emperor Filonius

If the Rangers can get under their skin this badly they have no chance. Optimism be damned, that's reality.

They would have to play every game the way they played game 3 to have any chance. How optimistic are you that they can do that based on recent history?

I mean, I know they can do it, I just have no reason to believe they will.

I think first goal wins. Simple as that.

Both teams have proven to be mentally fragile. So whoever scores first gets the accompanying confidence boost and mojo.
- 87_71_11_29

I don't think NYR is fragile right now. They're rolling, and you know MSL is going to keep them up. Pens, on the other hand...yeah, 1 GA might do them in.

Kreider has given you a boost. However, this is more to me a byproduct of Pittsburgh being disinterested in playing. Sorry, you don't go from dominating three games like they did in game 2,3,4 to this horrid play without suffering from a case of disinterest. The Rags have upped the urgency without question, but if the Pens were to match this intensity instead of showing a lack of interest, hand shakes would have occurred already. You are giving the Kris Kreider file too much credit.
- Oneonta Penguin

When I see nearly team wide "disinterest" or individual poor play that is not addressed on the spot, to set the tone, I look to the boss behind the bench. I was screaming at the TV for AV to staple Mc Donagh's butt to the bench in game 4 and he did not. The kid comes back in game 5 and plays great. So, maybe he communicated in a different way. What do I know? If Mario has to sit with Sid personally after game 6, one could speculate that Dan and Sid may not agree on who the boss should be. Not promising for Dan.

When I see nearly team wide "disinterest" or individual poor play that is not addressed on the spot, to set the tone, I look to the boss behind the bench. I was screaming at the TV for AV to staple Mc Donagh's butt to the bench in game 4 and he did not. The kid comes back in game 5 and plays great. So, maybe he communicated in a different way. What do I know? If Mario has to sit with Sid personally after game 6, one could speculate that Dan and Sid may not agree on who the boss should be. Not promising for Dan.
- TJ

He forgot McDonagh doesn't speak French. I hear he changed it to sign language before Game 5.

I haven't packed it in, but the truth is whoever wins this series is going to be the steak that's thrown into the Lions cage anyway.
- canadianpenfan

Hamburger!

I don't think NYR is fragile right now. They're rolling, and you know MSL is going to keep them up. Pens, on the other hand...yeah, 1 GA might do them in.
- jmatchett383

Completely agree... Rangers have all of the confidence right now, and after being down 3-1 can almost feel like they are playing with house money.

Pens on the other hand feel like a house of cards, where a stiff breeze might blow then over.

The rangers are scoring "playoff goals" and the Pens continue to be fascinated with the east-west pass. My definition of "play off" goals...they are earned in the front of the net and are not always pretty, but they are goals. Pens want the pretty ones.