Jan Levine: Game 15: NYR 5 PIT 1, Lundqvist Early, Offense Late the Keys, Reunion Thurs
Strong overall effort in win, off to Columbus on Thursday

First back to back during this good stretch, winning the back ends of these was a staple two years ago and it had to do with conditioning and the fact defense in sports tends to travel, its probably going to take a tight checking and opportunistic game...at the very least get a loser point...

Solid win.

Pens took the night off. And on Rivalry Night.

Henrik was real good.

Solid win.

Pens took the night off. And on Rivalry Night.

Henrik was real good.
- Doogs

On the contrary i think that the Rangers and Hank took the initial punch, got their legs and answered back, they held Crosby in check

Back to .500 tonight

Solid win.

Pens took the night off. And on Rivalry Night.

Henrik was real good.
- Doogs

Ahhh...no. Did you even watch the game? They were simply beaten; like the Rangers were against the Ducks on Monday. Pens D last night couldn't take the Rangers speed at all. Malkin looks a tad lost and starting this season rather slowly (is he hurt...he never took the puck to the net), and Crosby was shut-down.

When the Ranger D and Hank are on, you're simply not getting many goals, if any at all.

Ahhh...no. Did you even watch the game? They were simply beaten; like the Rangers were against the Ducks on Monday. Pens D last night couldn't take the Rangers speed at all. Malkin looks a tad lost and starting this season rather slowly (is he hurt...he never took the puck to the net), and Crosby was shut-down.

When the Ranger D and Hank are on, you're simply not getting many goals, if any at all.
- mames11

and the Pens took the night off

Ahhh...no. Did you even watch the game? They were simply beaten; like the Rangers were against the Ducks on Monday. Pens D last night couldn't take the Rangers speed at all. Malkin looks a tad lost and starting this season rather slowly (is he hurt...he never took the puck to the net), and Crosby was shut-down.

When the Ranger D and Hank are on, you're simply not getting many goals, if any at all.
- mames11

Yeah I was thinking the same thing, he is always buzzing around Hank, missing Neal hurts him, ice closes up by himself

and the Pens took the night off
- Cptmjl

Islanders should take note, that's how you beat the Penguins.

So with Brooksie stating that Nash is skating on his own.. can we put to rest all the arguments about that guy who tweeted he was and everyone shot him down?

Look i miss Nash as much as everyone, hell i'm probably going to lose my double or nothing bet of him scoring 50 points this season i have with a friend (we prorated it to 29 points last year with the lockout) but truthfully, this is whats best for him. Look at how Staal was handled and how he's shown no ill-effects from his major concussion. Same thing even with Crosby sitting. No longer is it the days of just shake it off, take the concussion serious (especially smaller ones in succession) and let the brain heal. I honestly see Nash being back by January but if he misses the stadium games, no biggie, a 100% healthy Nash down the stretch is worth more than him now, especially with how well the teams been playing

So with Brooksie stating that Nash is skating on his own.. can we put to rest all the arguments about that guy who tweeted he was and everyone shot him down?

Look i miss Nash as much as everyone, hell i'm probably going to lose my double or nothing bet of him scoring 50 points this season i have with a friend (we prorated it to 29 points last year with the lockout) but truthfully, this is whats best for him. Look at how Staal was handled and how he's shown no ill-effects from his major concussion. Same thing even with Crosby sitting. No longer is it the days of just shake it off, take the concussion serious (especially smaller ones in succession) and let the brain heal. I honestly see Nash being back by January but if he misses the stadium games, no biggie, a 100% healthy Nash down the stretch is worth more than him now, especially with how well the teams been playing
- MeltingPlastic

Could be that great 'Trade' acquisition for the strech run.

So with Brooksie stating that Nash is skating on his own.. can we put to rest all the arguments about that guy who tweeted he was and everyone shot him down?

Look i miss Nash as much as everyone, hell i'm probably going to lose my double or nothing bet of him scoring 50 points this season i have with a friend (we prorated it to 29 points last year with the lockout) but truthfully, this is whats best for him. Look at how Staal was handled and how he's shown no ill-effects from his major concussion. Same thing even with Crosby sitting. No longer is it the days of just shake it off, take the concussion serious (especially smaller ones in succession) and let the brain heal. I honestly see Nash being back by January but if he misses the stadium games, no biggie, a 100% healthy Nash down the stretch is worth more than him now, especially with how well the teams been playing
- MeltingPlastic

What I am mainly worried about is that the shot he took a few weeks ago wasn't much of a shot. Sure he took it on the chin, but it surely wasn't a Scott-to-Eriksson-type of elbow hit...and Eriksson is about to return; if he hasn't already.

Alas, the Lindros comparrison with the head injury.

Islanders should take note, that's how you beat the Penguins.
- cranford93

We beat them last game and they showed up too play.

I am very happy with the win. I think the Rangers are playing much better as a team recently. It is nice to see some chemistry with several lines now.
In my opinion, the Pens are going to make an adjustment next time they play. Most of the great scoring chances by the Pens were on low shots. I see them roofing some of them next time. Of course I still like the Rangers wining the next time they meet.

So with Brooksie stating that Nash is skating on his own.. can we put to rest all the arguments about that guy who tweeted he was and everyone shot him down?

Look i miss Nash as much as everyone, hell i'm probably going to lose my double or nothing bet of him scoring 50 points this season i have with a friend (we prorated it to 29 points last year with the lockout) but truthfully, this is whats best for him. Look at how Staal was handled and how he's shown no ill-effects from his major concussion. Same thing even with Crosby sitting. No longer is it the days of just shake it off, take the concussion serious (especially smaller ones in succession) and let the brain heal. I honestly see Nash being back by January but if he misses the stadium games, no biggie, a 100% healthy Nash down the stretch is worth more than him now, especially with how well the teams been playing
- MeltingPlastic

yea darren millard is not one to post bogus information. only posts what he hears from credible sources. glad to see the tweet was true

on kreider, the kid now has confidence and a new level of hockey IQ. he used to make the simple pass right when he got the puck that would be like 5 feet away from him, but now i'm noticing that when he gets the puck, he carries it a bit around a defender into open space and then dishes it off to a trailer or cross-ice. he didn't have that "vision" before, or he did but didn't trust himself to make those passes.

now, he seems to be utilizing his speed better than ever before, ripping shots, getting involved in the game, and it's all thanks to self-confidence. he's no longer afraid to make a mistake.

btw the pic for this blog is great

on kreider, the kid now has confidence and a new level of hockey IQ. he used to make the simple pass right when he got the puck that would be like 5 feet away from him, but now i'm noticing that when he gets the puck, he carries it a bit around a defender into open space and then dishes it off to a trailer or cross-ice. he didn't have that "vision" before, or he did but didn't trust himself to make those passes.

now, he seems to be utilizing his speed better than ever before, ripping shots, getting involved in the game, and it's all thanks to self-confidence. he's no longer afraid to make a mistake.

btw the pic for this blog is great
- rangerdanger94

I don't think there is anything new about this kid's hockey IQ.

Confidence is paramount, for any professional athlete, it separates the mediocre from the good and the good from the great.

Kreider always had the physical tools, to be a top six type forward in this league, it was always just a matter of gaining the necessary confidence to succeed at this level.

Under Tortorella, it seemed he was destined to be a whipping boy. But with a clean slate, Kreider seems to be destined to become the player we all hoped he would be.

Kid looks absolutely awesome out there; to boot, he got under the skin of the Penguins, especially Crosby.

Solid win.

Pens took the night off. And on Rivalry Night.

Henrik was real good.
- Doogs

Good job of insulting the Rangers and complimenting them at the same time.

What I am mainly worried about is that the shot he took a few weeks ago wasn't much of a shot. Sure he took it on the chin, but it surely wasn't a Scott-to-Eriksson-type of elbow hit...and Eriksson is about to return; if he hasn't already.

Alas, the Lindros comparrison with the head injury.
- mames11

I need to go watch the archive on the game, but the game before he was injured, i remember nash taking a big hit and being like crap, how is he okay from that... and then a small hit finished him off. I honestly think he was hiding it and trying to just play through it. I'm not too concerned yet

Good job of insulting the Rangers and complimenting them at the same time.
- MidnightMarauder

the Penguins didn't take the night off, if that was so, Crosby wouldn't have been running around like a little female dog all night

on kreider, the kid now has confidence and a new level of hockey IQ. he used to make the simple pass right when he got the puck that would be like 5 feet away from him, but now i'm noticing that when he gets the puck, he carries it a bit around a defender into open space and then dishes it off to a trailer or cross-ice. he didn't have that "vision" before, or he did but didn't trust himself to make those passes.

now, he seems to be utilizing his speed better than ever before, ripping shots, getting involved in the game, and it's all thanks to self-confidence. he's no longer afraid to make a mistake.

btw the pic for this blog is great
- rangerdanger94

hope the content was as well

the Penguins didn't take the night off, if that was so, Crosby wouldn't have been running around like a little female dog all night
- jimbro83

It's convenient for a fan of a so-called elite team to make excuses for losing to a so-called lesser team.

The Penguins started out strong, tested Hank early, Hank held the fort, the Rangers got their legs and exposed a very average goaltender.

That sounds like more of an accurate description than the Penguins just not showing up.

Crosby and various other Penguins ran around like girls once the Rangers established their lead.

It doesn't change where each team stands, as of now, but the Rangers were the better team last night, end of story.

hope the content was as well
- airjan23

eh, it was okay

by the way, brooks said that best-case scenario is nash is playing in 2-3 weeks. it's a best case scenario and nothing "official" from the team, but it's nice to have a little timetable in our minds.

It's convenient for a fan of a so-called elite team to make excuses for losing to a so-called lesser team.

The Penguins started out strong, tested Hank early, Hank held the fort, the Rangers got their legs and exposed a very average goaltender.

That sounds like more of an accurate description than the Penguins just not showing up.

Crosby and various other Penguins ran around like girls once the Rangers established their lead.

It doesn't change where each team stands, as of now, but the Rangers were the better team last night, end of story.
- MidnightMarauder

Crosby is such a little weasel I swear

he is a dirty lil bastard, throws around his little cheap shots skates away

It's why i have such a hard time respecting him and his talent. he has that face you just wanna punch.

He reminds me of Gregg Jefferies in the late 80's when he came up with the Mets. Just has that face that makes your hand clench.

Dreger says Yakupov is playing tonight, was hoping to hear he was scratched.

Good job of insulting the Rangers and complimenting them at the same time.
- MidnightMarauder

Don't you love how hockey fans do that