Matt Cooke Penalty Costs Pens the Game: Rangers Win 5-2
by FrankD on Mar 20, 2011 3:11 PM EDT
in Game Recaps
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PrintA lot can be said about momentum in hockey. Often times the spark is centered on one particular play or, in today's case, a penalty.
Prior to Matt Cooke connecting his elbow to Ryan McDonagh's chin, both teams were tied up at one apiece. Granted Chris Kunitz was quick to add a shorthanded goal, but the five-minute power play still provided the Rangers' with plenty of time to turn things around on their own. Combine that with another four minutes for a Matt Niskanen high stick on Ryan Callahan, and it came as no surprise to see New York shift momentum in their favor with two goals, taking a 3-2 lead. At that point it all went to hell, as Derek Stepan added another and Brandon Dubinsky closed it out with an empty netter to finish the Pens off.
As if Cooke needs another reason to get under the skin of Rangers fans. There was of course that hit on Artem Anisimov from two years back that resulted in a two-game suspension. Now we have to sit and wonder not only how long Cooke will likely serve for this one, but also if his actions will result in him being made an example of under the new head shot rules.
Once again the power-play is a major cause of concern for the Pens, as it was held scoreless on three attempts today. And while we're on the topic of special teams, the penalty kill was burned on two of three chances today.
Yet despite all that, the Rangers remain the team in this matchup that is still fighting for a playoff position. In head-to-head play this regular season, the Penguins finished 2-3-1 against New York. Perhaps this isn't the last time the two see each other in 2010-11.
If you kept an ice on James Neal today you'd have seen yet another game where his play his not measured on the score sheet. Sure, it would be validated a bit more, but he put some solid shots on Henrik Lundqvist, delivered some nice hits and even made a tremendous diving play on a bouncing put to set up a prime scoring chance for Kris Letang in the slot.
This game also stands as evidence to the void left behind by Brooks Orpik. The Rangers had way too many chances in front of Marc-Andre Fleury. Zbynek Michalek and Paul Martin may be defensive-defensemen, but they are not "tough guys" along the likes of Orpik. Then again, not many men are.
Pens are back at it again Monday night against the Red Wings at 7 p.m. on Versus. Two more points would be nice.
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Rangers**
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Can’t wait. Especially when you consider how well received many Pens fans are from this site over at Blueshirt Bulletin.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com, twitter and now on the official Pensburgh Facebook page
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We’re recommending our guys stay away as much as possible.
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by George E. Ays on Mar 20, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Does anyone really know for sure?
i might be an idiot.
by PopRocks on Mar 20, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
THANK. YOU.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Obviously I guarantee nothing, but after the last s-storm, it’s probably best we don’t go all Hatfield & McCoy again.
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Tracking the Rangers - Numbers don't lie. They just don't agree with you.
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by George E. Ays on Mar 20, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
I just hope they don’t come over to talk about Cooke.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know why you’re thanking him. We don’t mind people who disagree with us over here, unlike some of the people over at BSB. I hesitate to say cowards knowing how much whining that would cause over there…
And if Ranger fans want to talk about how their team is overrated due to a good goalie and won’t make it past the first round of the playoffs, what is wrong with that?
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
I’m not even going to attempt to reply to this comment, since it was more of a major (but accurate) dig and a s*** starter than anything else.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Not sure what you mean by “boring”
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Sidney Crosby?
Remember him? =P
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
And, besides, this is “go time” for hockey fans in general. Every game matters, playoffs are around the corner. Nothing “boring” about that.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
this
if anything, it has been irritating with no games in 5 days, but definitely not boring.
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Other than Crosby coming back, things have been quiet. And we all know the Penguins are making the playoffs (though Cooke might have something to say about that), so the only question is what the Flyers do right now.
Of course hockey isn’t boring, but we’re not teetering on the brink of a playoff spot or not. I doubt Vancouver fans are biting their nails 24/7…
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
No, but I don’t think we’re all just Pens fans. In fact, I’d say that’s very few of us.
If you’re a hockey fan and like watching hockey even when the Pens aren’t playing, right now is certainly not boring. It’s a very exciting time and there shouldn’t be much argument there.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
i don’t give a damn if they come over to talk hockey… But it’s all that trolling that I’m expecting. We already agreed that Cooke’s hit was dirty & someone should throw the book at him. Not much to talk about beyond that.
If Hell freezes over, I'll play hockey there too.
We already agreed that Cooke’s hit was dirty & someone should throw the book at him. Not much to talk about beyond that.
Exactly, thus the commentors are being encouraged to rant about him at home base.
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by George E. Ays on Mar 20, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Normally I’d agree with you, but after the start we got off to in the game thread … his actions are worthy of thanks.
i might be an idiot.
Tough result
The Pens didn’t play all that bad today IMO and they did have a 2-1 lead before Cooke and Niskanen took 9 minutes of penalties.
I’m hoping for a better result from the WBS Penguins, game against the Checkers just underway.
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That was a heartbreaker....
Ugh, here’s to hoping that we can finish our next few games.
And that Matt Cooke elbow was ridiculous. I’m trying to love the guy, but when he takes a pointless 5 minute penalty at the end of a game…..well, you know.
I keep trying to stand up for him, but there no excuses on this elbow. Possibly a loss tonight, and a 1-2 game suspension. Bad decision Cookie….
I’m really tired of Matt Cooke doing stuff like this. It’s his job to be an agitator, but I believe Ray Shero when he says they’ve been talking to Cooke about changing his game. The team does not want Matt Cooke to hit people in the head, and he doesn’t need to hit people in the head in order to be effective or to keep his spot in the lineup. It’s completely unnecessary, and all it does is hurt our team.
At this point, the Penguins need to figure out how to actually force Cooke to stop doing this, because talking to him didn’t help. People saying “if Mario were serious he’d get rid of Cooke” are missing the point — it’s not Mario’s job to deal with this directly, and shipping him elsewhere doesn’t solve anything.
But we’re in a situation where Shero has asked Cooke to stop doing this crap, and Cooke keeps doing it. That is something the team needs to deal with, just like they would need to deal with any other player who was disregarding the coaches’ instructions and hurting the team. I think they have to be talking about a punitive approach. I know that Cooke does a lot of great things, and he is even considered a leader on the team — but giving him the “A” and never benching him is the wrong way to deal with a player who has been told to stop doing something and does it anyway.
I believe in Geno.
by Cari on Mar 20, 2011 3:22 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Note to Rangers fans...
we’re all as fed up with Cooke as you guys are, so save it.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Save it? No.
Maybe you are fed up, because you represent the informed fans who write on smart blogs.
Well boo-hoo, but there’s no reason to “save it.” The chickens should have come home to roost a long time ago.
But this isn’t just Rangers fans talking, the entire Eastern Conference thinks Matt Cooke is a predator and, every night, strives to injure and punish players on the other team. I’m a Devils fan, so I have a stake in the matter for the Division. But if you ask a Habs or Bruins fans, they’ll say the same thing.
The NHL, through their incompetence, has still failed to address the matter fully and Matt Cooke has gotten away with too much. Per this Isles FanShot… a quick review of his history of violence.
That Pens fans like you and gogalor have finally realized this about your boy is insulting and belittling to those who have been making the point for ages now, but some Pens fans embrace him and the Pens announcers are homerish apologetics as well.
Now, finally, on NBC on Sunday against the New York God-Blessed American Rangers your boy finally went to far.
And because he’s gotten away with so much, the punishment will be too little, too late.
I would actually sit down & talk about the implications of his hit & how the league should handle this. I’ve no problems talking hockey, real hockey with any member of any fan base.
I think what we’re fighting are the idiots who take this as an opportunity to come here & sling rhetoric about how Matt Cooke’s a lousy human being & that we Pens fans are dumber than soil to be behind a player like that. We’ve all already agreed that Cookie screwed up. The smarter ones among us are already calling for someone to throw the book at him.
But every fanbase will have its share of homers who will defend the guy. You also tend to forget that every team has someone like Cookie. The Rags have Sean Avery for christ’s sake.
We all need to be smarter fans. Us sitting down & talking hockey will always be a good thing but not where there are elements in the individual fanbases who resort to just trolling without thinking of what they are really saying. Same issue applies to the Sid haters too..
If Hell freezes over, I'll play hockey there too.
by Alighieri on Mar 21, 2011 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This reminds me of the Islanders fans supporting Matt Martin and Gilles. Then supporting Gilles again after his next suspension.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Mar 21, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
I think that discussion is happening, sort of, and I understand now that it was the anonymous, petty, sniping trolls who are the concern.
As to Crosby, I am not a hater. He is a great player and commands the respect of the league, the players, etc. Take, for example, the CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada player poll. Crosby won a bunch of categories for hockey smarts, skills, and non-hockey personableness. Dan Bylsma also got some laurels and the team looked really cool on HBO.
The only thing I hate is that the Pens won the Mario Lemieux sweepstakes AND the Sidney Crosby sweepstakes. As a Devils fan, I know the Devs could have thrown the season away to get Lemieux. It is alleged/ widely believed that the Pens did that to get Lemieux. Of course to Crosby they got the lucky ping-pong ball based on their recent record. The Devs had a better record of late, so didn’t have as many ping-pong balls for the Crosby sweepstakes.
On the other hand, I don’t want the Pens to disappear as a franchise, so if the Crosby sweepstakes and the new arena make them stick around, then that’s good.
Just because something is alleged or widely believed does not mean it’s true
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
Right, because statements by a coach decades after something happened, when he has every incentive and motive to lie to either drum up a story or get back in the spotlight, should be given unqualified support.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
This coming from a fan of a team who employs Sean Avery. The irony is dripping…
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
I think Alan mentioned he is a Devils fan, so the correct reply would have been “and this from someone who no doubt cheered wildly for Claude Lemieux”.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Mar 21, 2011 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice catch…also, the Devils ruined hockey so he has that on his conscience as well.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
Soul destroying devils
Hey Alan hope you read this; you come here with your holier than thou crap and support the Devils? The team that nearly ruined the game AND employed the biggest head hunter of all time Scott Stevens! That dude was cheap shot personified but you he’s a hero no doubt. I’ve been down on Cooke’s antics for some time but your sanctimonious crap us nauseating.
by Dutch71 on Mar 21, 2011 12:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'll respond to these together.
It’s a fair point about Claude Lemieux, who was perhaps more like Cooke than Avery. Lemieux and Cooke have more size and are more known for devastating hits than Avery’s pesty annoyingness.
However, Lemieux left the Devils in the Fall after the Devils’ first Stanley Cup. It was in Colorado that Lemieux’s real problems with head-shots started, in particular the Colorado-Detroit problems over Kris Draper. I think he bit a finger when he played for the Habs.
Stevens was more known for blind-side hits at the blue line, which were not penalties at the time whether they were head-shots or not. That is, Stevens was hitting offensemen trying to gain the zone. Typically, Stevens lowered the shoulder and finished the check. Yes, sometimes he caught them with an elbow as well. But, he was not so well known for extending his elbow AT the head of the attacker. A YouTube review will likely confirm that Stevens’ big hits were as I described.
Lemieux and Stevens were playing 1990s hockey and, to be sure, they were very aggressive with their competitors. But, that was the 1990s and I was a teenager – too young to understand what even the NHL failed to understand about head shots, elbowing, fair play, etc. Under the modern rules, neither Lemieux nor Stevens would get away with a lot of that stuff.
I won’t apologize for them or try to explain it away. That all happened 10-15 years ago in a very different context.
As to the Devils’ style of play: blah blah blah. More griping about the neutral-zone trap, etc. The NHL tried to address this during the lockout by now enforcing every restraint penalty and by eliminating prohibition of the two-line pass. Also, they enacted the trapezoid to counteract Brodeur’s puck-handling skills, which were stifling the dump-and-chase style which tried to get around the NZT. We don’t have to re-litigate the NZT here because it has been covered extensively elsewhere.
Also, the argument is petty. You PLAY TO WIN THE CUP, not to please Penguins fans.
If you want the Pens to move to the Swedish torpedo offense, go ahead. That’s your team. If you want them to play a heavy forecheck and fight in the corners, fine. That’s your team. You can’t gripe the Devils into abandoning the style they have become known for and succeed at. Look what happened when they tried the offense-first push with John Maclean: total abject failure.
Nobody complains that the Steelers, Bears, or Giants play hard-nose, grid-iron football based on defense and running the ball, rather than running the West Coast offense which is arguably more exciting.
That Pens fans like you and gogalor have finally realized this about your boy is insulting and belittling to those who have been making the point for ages now, but some Pens fans embrace him and the Pens announcers are homerish apologetics as well.
I have never defended Matt Cooke. I watch 82 Pens games a year, so I have to see the stunts he pulls. His act got old over a year ago (before the Savard incident).
Now, finally, on NBC on Sunday against the New York God-Blessed American Rangers your boy finally went to far.
If you think just now is when he’s gone “too far,” then you’re about a year late, my friend.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 21, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
I am not going to review every post you, gogolor, and others have made on this site. But, I have little doubt that there is a long list of excuses, explanations, clarifications, and rationalizations about the excesses of his behavior. How far back do the excuses go? I don’t know. Quite a ways, I bet.
That said, I do understand that you, Allie, may not be the person making those excuses, etc.
In terms of “going too far,” I wasn’t referring to my personal opinion, which goes back some time also. Rather, that Matt Cooke went too far for the league or even Pens fans generally not to notice.
For Pens fans, though, there is a more fundamental problem with them only now admitting that Cooke has gone to far: because this time it was obviously a head-shot with the extended elbow; it was on national TV; it was against the Yankee Doodle Rangers; and most importantly, it turned the game and the Pens collapsed.
If Cooke’s hit invigorated the team and sparked a comeback… would Pens fans really be so quick to slam him? It’s possible, but that result is counter-intuitive to how hockey blindness works.
Your opinion
Well we’re never going to be able to quantify what % of Pens fans are down on Matt Cooke’s questionable hits as well as when that occurred. But you insinuate this particular hit pushed a lot of Cooke defenders over the edge. Well consider that he had a spot light on him and the Pens organization was at the fore front of being against hits to the head this obvious elbow to the head would create a stir.
You conveniently dismiss Lemieux and Stevens as being products of a different age, Ok I’ll go along with that but you seem to ignore that when Cooke hit Savard (exact same hit as Richards on Booth) just last season it was also considered a legal hit. This Renaissance in thinking hasn’t come out in the last 15 years it’s come about in the last 15 months
by Dutch71 on Mar 21, 2011 6:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I accept that the new rule on blind side hits is a new rule. But, head shots have been Cooke’s stock in trade for years. Penalizable or not, head shots are dirty play.
His second behavior is kneeing. That has been penalizable and is considered dirty for some time, yet Cooke’s favorite is to make it appear accidental/ incdental. There is a long video record of his kneeing.
So while the new rule and new concern about blind side head shots is a culture change, Cooke’s dirty play is old news which merits criticism under the earlier rules as well.
Again, the video evidence demonstrates Cooke’s pattern and practice of dirty hits.
by Alan Wright on Mar 22, 2011 7:34 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Did Kovalev play today? Because I don’t really remember his name being called. What’s up with that, Kovy?
i might be an idiot.
It’s nothing new…
Let’s get it going, Kovy.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
What?????
Nifty play by Kovy here.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 1:33 PM EDT reply actions
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s one play, dude. One play where he knocked the puck out of the air and passed it. That doesn’t mean he had a good game or anything.
Yeesh.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
understood
but it is so like us to start looking elsewhere when it was Cook (followed by Nisky) that the focus should remain on. Outside of wasting a nice performance by Flower, and great efforts by Kunitz and Staal, no one should be thinking they had a “good” game.
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Some guys had good games for sure, but this is about the team.
However, this is a blog—not the Pens locker room. PopRocks made a comment about Kovy being invisible and I concurred. Not a big deal.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Haha do you mix up Neal and Nisky too? I thought I was the only one.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
no, actually i meant to put Neal in and somehow typed Staal, but I’ll let Staal stand.
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
and honestly...
…how do we get outhit 39-24 AND lose the blocked shots 16-8?
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Out hit? I don’t know. The Rags are a physical team, but that doesn’t excuse it.
We took a lot more shots than they did, so that might explain it.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
…how do we get outhit 39-24 AND lose the blocked shots 16-8?
Oh that’s an easy one.
Because we have the puck most of the time. Hits and blocked shots are a bit overated. You can only do it when the other team has possesion. So if you carry the play it stands to reason that the other team has more opportunities to hit and block shots thus getting more hits and blocked shots.
Just take at look at Detroit, they’re the quintessential “puck possesion” team. They rank 22nd in hits and 29th in blocked shots.
So, like I said- hits & blocked shots are over-rated. Don’t put to much stock in those stats because if you’re at the top – you’re probably chasing the puck too much.
I am "The STIG"!
Hey guys, hows my blog homies? Just checking in to see what you guys think about Cooke. I say Pens should think about if he fits our team’s future goals. He is really dragging us down and hurting us at bad points in the season. I 10000000% think something on top of the suspension should be done by management. Thoughts?
Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll!
Knee Jerk Reaction #1: Matt Cooke wasn’t, and isn’t worth his salary. He’s too much of a liability.
Knee Jerk Reaction #2: We just lost the division today.
Hockey Blogger at Pensburgh.com
not necessarily. We are down 6 points, yes. But we play the Flyers twice here down the stretch and two wins there and its a 2 pt race
Just launched my new blog: HIGHLAND PARK HOCKEY
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We just lost the division today.
I’m more worried about home ice advantage at this point.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Especially given how the SE shakes out. We don’t play well in TB and the Verizon Center is a tough place to play.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Mar 20, 2011 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions
What makes you say we don’t play well in Tampa? Yes, we lost our game there this year, but we won our other two games against TB by a fairly decisive margin (if I remember correctly). My sense is that we will be in good shape against TBL regardless of home ice advantage.
It can be more important in tougher series. Although I’ve heard players (and others) say that it’s often better to be away for a Game 7, what with all the extra distractions that get thrown at the home team guys in the hours leading up to the 7th game.
i might be an idiot.
For as long as I can remember, the Pens play worse in Florida than anywhere else. I remember Errey saying it had to do with the temps in Florida preventing the ice in the arenas from freezing as well as they do in the north. As I have to say with everything, I have not been able to watch the Penguins for the past 2 years, so this might not be an issue anymore. I definitely remember it being an issue in the past though.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Mar 20, 2011 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Got it. Thanks for the explanation. I don’t have quite the same history with the Pens as you may have, but I think this year the Pens are in good shape for a TBL match-up.
i might be an idiot.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer playing the Lightning over the Caps in the first round, just want home ice advantage for that series.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Mar 20, 2011 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions
off topic
You’re no idiot, whether you’re a girl or…..? lol
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
I’m always a glass half-full kind of guy, but now we should be more concerned with holding onto 4th. 6 points down to Philly (which is really 7 because of the new tiebreaker) and they have a game in hand on us. They need to quickly forget about today’s game. Luck for them they get to play tomorrow, though it’s against Detroit which won’t be easy.
by StripesForLife on Mar 20, 2011 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions
...
Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89
Hard work always beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.
ARE YOU F#$%ING KIDDING ME!!!! ADAMS!!! JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST YOU HAD 24 SQUARE FEET AND YOU MISSED IT ALL!! - OlenWhitaker
Went away to Leafland for a day. It was nice, even though they lost. And I became a Certified Grabbo Lover.
I hate to rain on your parade wg, but those look like fruits (banana, grapes, strawberries, cherries, ect.) and not vegetables. There is a distinct difference you know?
I am "The STIG"!
Sure, but I doubt that Cookie Monster’s attitude towards vegetables is any different…
Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89
Hard work always beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.
ARE YOU F#$%ING KIDDING ME!!!! ADAMS!!! JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST YOU HAD 24 SQUARE FEET AND YOU MISSED IT ALL!! - OlenWhitaker
Went away to Leafland for a day. It was nice, even though they lost. And I became a Certified Grabbo Lover.
DUDE.
PICTURE.
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
"I'm glad we've got the best fans in the league." - Tomas Kaberle on Leaf fans
Yeah, yeah, okay. Grrr.
Who’s the dude in the pic anyway?
Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89
Hard work always beats talent if talent doesn't work hard.
ARE YOU F#$%ING KIDDING ME!!!! ADAMS!!! JESUS TAPDANCING CHRIST YOU HAD 24 SQUARE FEET AND YOU MISSED IT ALL!! - OlenWhitaker
Went away to Leafland for a day. It was nice, even though they lost. And I became a Certified Grabbo Lover.
LUKE!
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
"I'm glad we've got the best fans in the league." - Tomas Kaberle on Leaf fans
dumb dumb dumb dumb…..I bet this latest act will be 4 games minimum….
"Micheal Micheal Motorcycle".....Mike Lange
Minimum, yes. He’s already been suspended for 4 games this season, and while that was for a slightly different offense, I’m guessing he’ll get an increase on that.
i might be an idiot.
Going by the Gillies formula (out 9 games, come back and do something stupid, go out for 10 games), Cooke should get 5 games for this.
by PensAreYourDaddy on Mar 20, 2011 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I watched this game on NBC….Pens could have easily won but a 3 minute momentum swing by New York nullfied the fact that it was a pretty even game. We cant complain about their two big power plays because we scored shorthanded on one……
And yes, New York is out first round no matter who they play, including us.
I,too am weary of Cooke’s antics. I do not know why he just can not play clean. He is so effective when he focuses.
Ah well, this week is going to be tough for us….but I can almost hear Sid saying quietly “Dont worry,guys, Im coming back and they will pay”
"Have you ever seen such finesse?"
We’ve gotta stop this giving up a bunch of goals in a short period of time thing. It’s not conducive to winning in the playoffs, Crosby or no.
Agreed with the general point, but the situation was difficult today. The Rangers got a very long 5 on 3 due to the Cooke major (plus a double minor on the kill), give an NHL team that much time on 5v3 and it’s not going to end well. That tipped the balance when they were able to score on the power play twice quickly (even if the second one was 5v4)
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
yes
the Nisky penalty was just an accident, pure bad luck. But the Cookie lunacy started the swing. If the Pens only had to kill the 4 minute 5 on 4, they may have given up one goal over the whole four minutes.
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
that is simply concentration
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Ehh
The first power play goal should’ve been waved off. Goalie interference.
I found a typo!
/proud
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
"I'm glad we've got the best fans in the league." - Tomas Kaberle on Leaf fans
Hey 18, why no response to my answer form your question up in the thread?
: how do we get outhit 39-24 AND lose the blocked shots 16-8?I took the time to give you a very good answer, you could at least give me the respect I deserve with some kind of response. Not even an acknowledgment, Sheesh! ;)
I am "The STIG"!
that time of the month, eh?
Thank you. Made perfect sense right up until you mentioned Detroit, then I got woozy and couldn’t focus on the screen. Still, the disparity is high, even with your reasoning.
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
well they did score 5 goals...
..so a few more blocks would have been helpful. granted, 2 were EN’s
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions
…And 2 others on the pp (with one a 5-on-3) so basically one goal against 5-on-5 which btw, I’ll take any day. But I do understand your frustration about today.
But remember these two things:
a)Blocked shots and hits are misleading stats.
2) If the Penguins fail in the playoffs it probably won’t have anything to do with any type a defensive liability (i.e. blocked shots). Defense is just hardwork and the Pens are very seldomly outworked. Thier demise will be because they lack finishers. This is why we need Sir Sid. How many times in th last few months have we seen great plays only to be shot wide or right into the goalies crest. This is the biggest problem right now, not Matt Cooke , and certainly not blocked shots and hits.
I am "The STIG"!
You have to find it :)
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
"I'm glad we've got the best fans in the league." - Tomas Kaberle on Leaf fans
Hide and seek, eh? i love this game! :)
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions
haha it’s not that hard to find :P
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
"I'm glad we've got the best fans in the league." - Tomas Kaberle on Leaf fans
here
Prior to Matt Cooke connecting his elbow to Ryan McDonagh’s chin, both teams were tied up at one apiece. Granted Chris Kunitz was quick to add a shothanded goal, but the five-minute power play still provided the Rangers’ with plenty of time to turn things around on their own.
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
"I'm glad we've got the best fans in the league." - Tomas Kaberle on Leaf fans
holy sh…say it ain’t so!
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com, twitter and now on the official Pensburgh Facebook page
tsk tsk, Frank. I’m so disappointed.
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
"I'm glad we've got the best fans in the league." - Tomas Kaberle on Leaf fans
no wonder
I was looking in the comments. it never occured to me to think that Frank would commit such an egregious error!
by 18-19-21 lineofthecentury on Mar 20, 2011 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions
87!
Come back, Sid
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
"I'm glad we've got the best fans in the league." - Tomas Kaberle on Leaf fans
Dumb play costs the game bad call doesn't help!
Don’t even want to belabor the Cooke lapse in judgement(again) that turned the tide or the third time (at least) that the Pens gave up two goals in a matter of 10-15 seconds. Cooke should sit extra time beyond his inevitable suspension. Those plays hurt the team in games and it’s time RS and 66 send him a message! The tying goal was garbage. Dubinsky camped out in the crease so long I was looking for a tent! Bad miss by the Refs. Goalie interference call remains horribly inconsistent in this league. Embarrassingly so.
Oh well move on see if the Pens can’t pick up two vs. The hated wings! Go Pens Go!
by Dutch71 on Mar 20, 2011 9:21 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Agree with you Carl. Also as I posted in the game thread all of the following:
!) Adams giveaway in the defensive zone in the first goal.
2)Nisky dumb penalty.
3) As you pointed out the goalle interference, no call.
4)Terrible PP
Matt Cooke deserves the book thrown at him. Very bad, intentional penalty.
The Hockey Dr.
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