Pens Fall to Rangers 3-0, Take First Loss of Playoffs

by FrankD on May 1, 2008 9:55 PM EDT in News

Jagr cries, wishing he were back in Pitt

Let me first admit - I prematurely broomjaculated. My apologies.

It wasn't exactly Pittsburgh's strongest game offensively, but then again you can't knock it so much. I've always been one to give credit when credit is due, and with that I have to say that Henrik Lundqvist is the reason why the two teams are heading back to Pittsburgh.

So the Penguins are heading back to Pittsburgh for Game 5 and Rangers fans couldn't be anymore optimistic. If this were Game 1, I'd say they have every right to be. But when you consider the Rangers are still down 3-1 they'll need more than just luck.

Marc-Andre Fleury didn't play a bad game either. Gonchar screened him on first Jagr goal which was without a doubt a pretty goal. Then he got a bad beat on Dubinsky's spin-around a la Kennedy goal that pretty much sealed the deal for the Rangers.

The dump and run game works for the Rangers, but it's clearly not the style for the Pens. Pittsburgh is more of a gun and run team. The fact they allowed for a slow paced game really put it into the hands of New York. And, again, Lundqvist couldn't have played a better game.

Malkin and Crosby just didn't look into it tonight. Next to Jordan Staal's shot attempt earlier in the season, Malkin let loose with quite possibly one of the most disgusting looking penalty shots I've seen in a while. He's not one for shootouts and penalty shots anyways, but that was downright ugly.

Kudos to the Rangers defense as well. They single-handedly shutdown Crosby throughout the night, limiting his shots and doing it all in clean hockey fashion. They also played a well-disciplined game that kept the Pens off their deadly power play and forced 5-on-5 play. Then again, Pitt certainly took their share of penalties as well, putting New York in the driver's seat.

So we see our second shutout of the series, this time unfortunately to the disadvantage of the Pens. Both teams head back to Pittsburgh for Game 5, Sunday at 2 p.m. Put away the brooms and bust out the towels.

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The penalties

were not good tonight, some of them were flat out undiscipined. The PK still looked good (minus the one goal) and even though I like seeing Jordan Staal excel, I don't want to see him out there on the PK quite so often.

CBC was going on about how they didn't pull Fleury earlier (before the last penalty) anyone get any insight on that from a different broadcast? It seemed really odd to me, the Pens were deep in the offensive zone, and Fleury was just standing there with 1:40 left. Not that I think it was make or break for the game, just an odd choice.

by Dayna on May 2, 2008 12:43 AM EDT reply actions

The VS feed

didn't really argue with it. I don't know what they were waiting for, but if I remember correctly they really didn't have any possession of the puck. Perhaps Therrien was waited for the offense to get settled down before pulling the plug on Fleury.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on May 2, 2008 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Hank

he's the reason they are headed back to Pittsburgh, and if the Rangers are going to bring the series back to New York it's going to be up to him as well.

by Eric the Rangers Fan on May 2, 2008 10:10 AM EDT reply actions

No doubt

Normally two goals isn't enough to beat the Pens. But they were able to do get away with it because of his solid play in net. He'll have to do it for the next three if the Rangers want to take this thing. Do you think he can do it?`

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on May 2, 2008 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I have to

I'm a Rangers fan, I have to beleive that he can. If the Rangers can get it back to the Garden, they have hope. One game at a time.

by Eric the Rangers Fan on May 2, 2008 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Valid point

But also keep in mind the Penguins have yet to lose a home game in the playoffs. While the winless record at MSG had something going for it at the time, the Penguins' record at home has already been a proven playoff fact.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on May 2, 2008 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha, "broomjaculated"

You'll have to excuse the late post, I only watched the game this morning.

I also thought it was a little weird that Fleury was in the net until so late, not that I minded. The game definitely belonged to King Henry.

Even though it isn't the first game, it's not over 'till it's over. I'd like to think that we broke the bad momentum, but we'll see. I hope Jagr can keep his Pampers empty long enough to get through the "Jaaaaaagrrrrrr, Jaaaaaagrrrrrr..." taunting that we all know gets to him.

Despite being a Rangers fan, I'm glad that Avery isn't playing. Maybe I'm a little late to the party, but that guy really is a prick. I always have a soft spot in my heart for the "creative" hockey players, but I'm just tired of his d-bag additude. The only exception is his dancing in front of Brodeur. That is fully acceptable (and encouraged).

Anyway, I'm psyched to watch some good hockey. I'm never bored when these two teams play each other.

yay! a link to an appropriate cartoon.

by Christine @ PensBurgh on May 2, 2008 12:41 PM EDT reply actions