Alright. Who cares who is better in the playoffs or who will have better production with the Rags vs the Yotes. If the Rags don't win the Cup this year with *THIS* roster, you will not hear the end of it. Ever!

I have no expectations for the Pens. But I hope they at least will give the Rags a good series. I will definitely be pulling for anyone but Rags if/when the Pens get eliminated.

Is it Thursday yet?
- chimpira

wait, why, you guys have AWESOME corsi. It's just AWESOME

Even with his recent struggles, Crosby remains 7th in all time playoff points per game. Care to try again?
- Emperor Filonius

A lot of those stats were built up during the 2008 & 2009 finals runs. I also never stated he sucked; the last three playoff appearances he has been lacking.

Care to prove me wrong on that?

A lot of those stats were built up during the 2008 & 2009 finals runs. I also never stated he sucked; the last three playoff appearances he has been lacking.

Care to prove me wrong on that?
- MidnightMarauder

No. Who are you anyhow?

That was a very slight dig at the "Crosby had zero to do with it" crowd.
- jmatchett383

well not really what I intended to say. Crosby upped his production a bit, but Kunitz was a solid player and very effective on the forecheck playing the role Crosby needed.

he was a solid player apart from Sid as well. I just think he's done, i'm not even sure he's an effective 3rd liner anymore...especially not at $3.8m

Crosby hasn't been the same player since the concussions. And also, he can't pull the team by himself. Who else has had a set of revolving mediocre linemates like he has in the last 5 years?
- chimpira

Fair enough but to bring up concussion issues for Crosby but omit that excuse, as to why Nash sucked last postseason, is dismissive.

Crosby was hurt in the 2012, 2013 and 2014 postseason?

I wasn't discussing 2011 in which he couldn't participate due to his concussion. Memory serves me correct Crosby played in all six games against Philly, was there to get swept by Boston in 2013 and was on the handshake line, against the Rangers last year.
- MidnightMarauder

It's a team effort man. Nothing Sid can do about the problem with forward depth.

No. Who are you anyhow?
- chimpira

Just an opinionated hockey fan, like yourself, and many of your brethren.

Just an opinionated hockey fan, like yourself, and many of your brethren.
- MidnightMarauder

Injuries and turdy linemates is the reason his production has been lacking. All stemming from poor team management by the Leadership Team.

Fair enough but to bring up concussion issues for Crosby but omit that excuse, as to why Nash sucked last postseason, is dismissive.
- MidnightMarauder

It absolutely is dismissive. They are 2 separate issues, but so is the reason as to why Crosby's numbers have fallen and Nash has become "snake bitten" if we care to be nice. Saying, "Crosby's been bad lately" to combat Nash's magical disappearing act (goal-wise) is equally dismissive.

Graphs and charts don't mean anything....sad to say but just put up a chart with all Rangers stats and how they will destroy Pittsburgh first round....I love my penguins but they don't stand a chance...another early exit is what I'm expecting but I am hoping I am wrong

Injuries and turdy linemates is the reason his production has been lacking. All stemming from poor team management by the Leadership Team.
- chimpira

But I thought Rick Nash was a more of a scoring threat than Crosby in the playoffs?

It's a team effort man. Nothing Sid can do about the problem with forward depth.
- PensMalkin71

Absolutely, but to be honest Malkin worries me the most, coming into this series. Crosby has been handled pretty well, by the Rangers, as of late. Malkin is always a huge threat against them.

A lot of those stats were built up during the 2008 & 2009 finals runs. I also never stated he sucked; the last three playoff appearances he has been lacking.

Care to prove me wrong on that?
- MidnightMarauder

2011-12 - 8 points in 6 games
2012-13 - 15 points in 14 games
2013-14 - 9 points in 13 games

I wouldn't really call that lacking? 32 points in 33 games? Just under a point per game? Most players could only wish they could be that productive in the playoffs..

Absolutely, but to be honest Malkin worries me the most, coming into this series. Crosby has been handled pretty well, by the Rangers, as of late. Malkin is always a huge threat against them.
- MidnightMarauder

think Crosby has a bigger impact IMO. Geno isn't 100% yet. Like I said, only chance Pens win is if Fleury can outduel Lundqvist and steal a few games, other than that, Rags in 6.

2011-12 - 8 points in 6 games
2012-13 - 15 points in 14 games
2013-14 - 9 points in 13 games

I wouldn't really call that lacking? 32 points in 33 games? Just under a point per game? Most players could only wish they could be that productive in the playoffs..
- j.boyd919

Ok, so you have proven me wrong. Inconsistent form one round to the next, especially last season.

A lot of those stats were built up during the 2008 & 2009 finals runs. I also never stated he sucked; the last three playoff appearances he has been lacking.

Care to prove me wrong on that?
- MidnightMarauder

Moron, Crosby's worst postseason (last year) was still better than Nash's best postseason.

Absolutely, but to be honest Malkin worries me the most, coming into this series. Crosby has been handled pretty well, by the Rangers, as of late. Malkin is always a huge threat against them.
- MidnightMarauder

Malkin is playing hurt for sure. I just can't wait to see what the GMJR's playoff-experienced players like Max Lapierre and Ben Lovejoy bring come Thursday. My expectation - not much.

Rags should win the series handily. But anything can happen in the playoffs.

Zero bottom 10 puck possession teams have won the SC since tracking the metrics (since 2005). If it meant nothing, bottom 10 puck possession teams would win the SC as often as top 10 puck possession teams.
- jfkst1

Well then, it's good thing the Rangers aren't a bottom 10 possession team isn't it?

Well then, it's good thing the Rangers aren't a bottom 10 possession team isn't it?
- JohnnyNYR27

They aren't. Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver are.

This wasn't about the teams, somebody isolated Nash and I find that to be remiss from a fan base whose best player has been just as absent in the playoffs since 2009.
- MidnightMarauder

That's a pretty huge stretch considering Crosby has 24 points in his last 27 playoff games (that would be the past 2 years) and in more than half of those games he was playing with a broken jaw. Crosby has traditionally produced at such a high level, that any dip in his production gets scrutinized to the nth degree.

Nash hasn't done diddly squat that even bears comparison. Just do everyone a solid and admit you were talking out of your ass without any basis in fact and we'll call it even.

A lot of those stats were built up during the 2008 & 2009 finals runs. I also never stated he sucked; the last three playoff appearances he has been lacking.

Care to prove me wrong on that?
- MidnightMarauder

See various posts, including mine directly above. I think I pretty much just did. You know nothing, MM.

Malkin is playing hurt for sure. I just can't wait to see what the GMJR's playoff-experienced players like Max Lapierre and Ben Lovejoy bring come Thursday. My expectation - not much.

Rags should win the series handily. But anything can happen in the playoffs.
- chimpira

Yeah, we'll see. Upsets happen, like you said. Not taking the Pens for granted and I hope the Rangers aren't either. New season.

Ryan, puck possession has been an issue a good portion of the year for New York. They have been a team that wins despite those struggles. A good portion of Rangers' fans wish they were better in the advanced metrics, but as long as they continue to win- as they have to date - that weakness will be tolerated. I doubt they will change their style with the postseason upon us.
- airjan23

What is the old saying, offence wins money, defense wins championships. I can remember when the Pens won their first cup they did a lot of sitting back and waiting to pounce on a mistake the other team made.

When the Pens won in 1992 they were down 3-1 to Washington, Mario went to Scotty Bowman and said let's play a 1-4 delay and from that point on they went 15-2. I want to see good offensive hockey as much as the next guy but championships are won with defense.

Yeah, we'll see. Upsets happen, like you said. Not taking the Pens for granted and I hope the Rangers aren't either. New season.
- JohnnyNYR27

#PensIn7

edit: ^ maybe need a new hashtag, that looks like "penis"

#PensIn7

edit: ^ maybe need a new hashtag, that looks like "penis"
- YouMeAndDupuis9

It didn't, UNTIL YOUR BROUGHT IT UP!!!