Rangers 4, Penguins 0: Penguins drop fifth straight as tension builds

by FrankD on Jan 5, 2009 9:46 PM EST in Game Recaps Comment 15 comments

It's bad enough the Penguins skated into this game having not won a single game in all of 2009 - but a shutout - well, that just stings even more.

One minute into this game said it all - goal, Rangers.

Not much has changed since the team held their players-only meeting. The power play is still coming up short (0-for-8 tonight, including two 5-on-3), the offense can't generate anything (see also: the goose egg) and Michel Therrien is starting to show signs of frustration with each and every goal that whizzes past a defenseless Fleury and/or Sabourin..

Yes, not much has changed.

But if you look beyond the surface it's an entirely different story. There's a tension, a frustration, a pensive attitude that asks, "what's next?"

Could the Thrashers game pose as Michel Therrien's last stand? Is Ray Shero at his wits' end, looking for a replacement/promotion/resolution to the team's current dilemma? Sad to say, but this is all a wait-and-see game.

Let's talk offense. The Penguins have scored eight goals over the last give games. That's just a little over 1.5 goals per game. Definition: miserable.

The chances were there tonight against the Rangers but Henrik Lundqvist wasn't having any of it. He was solid as can be between the pipes.

Godard dropped the mitts on principle alone. There was no way to rally the team at that point and it definitely wasn't going to keep Orr off Malkin and Crosby, but at least we can walk away from this one knowing Orr will think twice about punching a helmet next time.

And what of that final Rangers power play? Slick move by head coach Tom Renney. Hey Tom, if you're trying to make a statement by sending out your top power play with under a minute remaining in a 4-0 lead you just did - you're a complete idiot.

The good: At least they generated chances...right?

The bad: That first goal was demoralizing

The ugly: Penguins power play went 0-for-8

The ugliest: Tom Renney's classless display. That'll come back to haunt you. Ask the Flyers.

Next game: Tuesday. Thrashers. 7:00.

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Speechless

IMO, Every day that goes by that Thierrien is still the coach shows that management is fine with the state of the team.

by digital_cable on Jan 5, 2009 9:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Do you really think they’re happy with the current state of affairs? I think that if they fire Therien there aren’t many healthy options out there. They’ll most likely keep with him for the remainder of the season and give him a chance to turn things around, but just as much of this is on the players as it is the coaching.

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by FrankD on Jan 5, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough. I just think that shuffling lines isn’t gonna cut it to get this team out of this funk. With the talent on this team one could argue that is more the players fault then the coaching but what are you gonna do? Maybe Crosby becomes a healthy scratch? That might open a few eyes.

by digital_cable on Jan 6, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Therrien has ADD when it comes to making up his lines. What he announces before the game is merely an act of formality. It isn’t long before he and his assistants are pulling names out of hats.

I think scratching Sid would send a negative message to him and the team imho. Plus you’ve seen how the media had a field day with his ‘fight,’ no reason to give them more fuel for the fire.

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by FrankD on Jan 6, 2009 10:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe I’m putting too much thought into this and just need to hope that this losing streak and standings slide is in itself enough to motivate these guys to come together as a team.

by digital_cable on Jan 6, 2009 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Damn right. And let’s just hope that happens against the Thrashers tonight.

I mean come on – they’re the Thrashers. Right?

…sigh

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by FrankD on Jan 6, 2009 11:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I admittedly haven’t seen any of the games of this slump, but from the outside all of these storylines have read like a team about to fire its coach (Underachieving team, always-questionable coach even amid success, player meeting with no effect, coach questioning goaltending (and leadership?), flat 4-0 loss, etc.)

If that happens, this will be such a critical hire. The Pens, with where their stars are, need their Bowman/Arbour (Boudreau-type?), not a Murray/Hartsburg.

Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.

by Dominik on Jan 5, 2009 10:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

“Hey Tom, if you’re trying to make a statement by sending out your top power play with under a minute remaining in a 4-0 lead you just did – you’re a complete idiot.”

classless display? dubinsky-zherdev-voros aren’t even the rangers’ top power play unit. who’s the idiot?

by chrtat on Jan 6, 2009 12:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The announcers said top power play unit and I wasn’t about ready to refute them. I do recall seeing Drury on the ice when the clock ticked down, but who knows – I’m just an idiot anyway.

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by FrankD on Jan 6, 2009 12:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yea the announcers did say that it was their top unit

and the announcers said they liked the move… It didn’t really bother me though…

by Stros Bro on Jan 6, 2009 12:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Flyers did it last year when they whooped the Pens 7 or 8-2. I don’t know why the announcers said they liked it. I don’t know what else you have to prove at that point, but whatever – let them have their glory.

“Vengeance is ours” read the signs in the crowd. Too bad they can’t back it up in the playoffs.

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by FrankD on Jan 6, 2009 12:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

…Too bad the Penguins can’t make it to the playoffs.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent if you have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Jan 6, 2009 1:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Right – because that’s definite this time of year.

Leave it to a Flyer troll to make a stupid statement. Next.

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by FrankD on Jan 6, 2009 5:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What's Next.

Well, my family is starting to get the flu. Myself and my mother are the only remaining survivors. I have to say, watching this game, I was scarred to death I was starting to get it. Luckily, as this is being said many hours after the game, my flu like symptoms have worn and now I’m just left pulling for a charge for this team….and to not catch the flu.

Seriously hope, come February when I get to see the Pens for my first time when they play in Chicago, that they have something for them by then. Otherwise, this really is a set back season that readies any of the younger Pens, who’ve had to step up for all the injuries and losses in the offseason due to free agency or trades, and builds for next season. You never like that as a fan, but in terms of depth it does help long haul. Just hope they could get more out of this team, because they can. Just given this division, let alone the conference, it’s just not looking too great.

by Lavender on Jan 6, 2009 2:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If the Pens don’t slip into the playoffs this season I’d be very surprised. Unlike our Flyers friend who commented above, I feel this season is long from over and anything can happen. The Pens made a strong run last season without their captain and a back-up goalie in net. It’s far from over.

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by FrankD on Jan 6, 2009 5:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs