*************************************************
FORWARDS:
Ottawa’s known as a skill and finesse team, and that is certainly true of its first line. Jason Spezza scored 34-50-84, Milan Michalek had 35-25-60, and captain Daniel Alfredsson (who has scored more points — 1,082 — than any active player who hasn’t won the Stanley Cup, according to the Sporting News) had 27-32-59. But that doesn’t mean the Senators play a soft game. They certainly have plenty of grit in forwards like Nick Foligno, aggravating Chris Neil, Zack Smith and, if he plays, Zenon Konopka — who has fought Brandon Prust about 1,000 times.
The Rangers’ No. 1 line was really good in March and carried the offense as the team drove to the No. 1 seed in the East. Brad Richards (25-41-66) and Marian Gaborik (41-35-76) were each signed for moments such as these, and to make the power play go (more on that later). They play with speedy rookie Carl Hagelin, and they will get the attention of the Senators’ checkers, just as the Spezza line will see plenty of Brian Boyle with some combination of Brandon Dubinsky, Ruslan Fedotenko, Brandon Prust or others. Boyle probably deserves consideration for the Selke (best defensive forward) Trophy. The Rangers will need secondary scoring, and hope that can come from Artem Anisimov, Derek Stepan and captain Ryan Callahan (29-25-54). Richards and Callahan each had nine game-winners, Gaborik seven and Stepan four. Ottawa is more top-heavy. The Rangers should be deeper.
Edge: Rangers.
*************************************************
DEFENSEMEN:
The Rangers’ top six is inexperienced and young, but boy did they (and others, as the unit fought injuries all year) get it done. Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh will get the shut-down assignment. Marc Staal and Michael Del Zotto sometimes play together, but often anchor the second and third pairs with Anton Stralman and Stu Bickel, who both improved as the season went on. It’s a very solid, sturdy and workmanlike corps. Staal’s performance will be critical.
Ottawa’s is built differently, with Norris Trophy favorite and budding superstar Erik Karlsson (19-59-78), former Norris candidate Sergei Gonchar (5-32-37) and puck-movers like Filip Kuba and ex-Ranger Matt Gilroy, along with veteran Chris Phillips, the most solid of the group. They can pass it, they can skate and they can shoot it. Their fortitude will be tested by the Rangers forwards, but their explosiveness is dangerous.
Edge: Even.
*************************************************
GOALIES:
Henrik Lundqvist, unless the NHL’s GMs mess it up, will be a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, if not the favorite, in a wonderful season (39-18-5, eight shutouts, 1.97 goals-against, 930 save percentage). Craig Anderson allowed nearly a goal more per game while going 33-22-6, three shutouts, 2.84 GAA, .914 save pct.).
Edge: Rangers.
*************************************************
SPECIAL TEAMS:
There’s little doubt that with Karlsson, Gonchar and Gilroy on the points, and the Spezza line up front, Ottawa’s power play was much better than the Rangers’ all season long. But the Rangers PP came on late, with Stepan and Del Zotto manning the points and Richards moving up to the half boards, and the puck/feet movement improving dramatically in the final weeks. It will have to be at least decent.
The Rangers penalty killers are excellent because they play the same way at even strength — blocking shots, aggressive, sticks in passing lanes, and smart. They will be tested. They will have to be good, too.
Edge: Senators.
*************************************************
COACHES, SYSTEMS, EXPERIENCE:
John Tortorella won a Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay, and has been as responsible as anybody for what the Rangers have become. They play a straight-ahead, no-nonsense, all-for-one style that would seem suited for the playoffs. And now they have a lot of players who’ve at least been in the playoffs, plus Richards and Fedotenko, who won with Tampa, and Mike Rupp, who won with Fedotenko in Pittsburgh.
Paul MacLean won plenty as an assistant to Mike Babcock in Detroit for six years, including a Cup and another Cup final, and reached the final as an assistant in Anaheim before that. But whether MacLean can get this Senators team to play with the requisite grit to survive the playoff grind remains to be seen.
Edge: Rangers.
*************************************************
How the Rangers could win this series:
By doing what they do, and have done, all season … playing a business-like, straight-ahead, battle-for-every-inch game that is simple but requires full buy-in. They’ve essentially been playing playoff style hockey for two seasons. And, of course, by Lundqvist simply outplaying Anderson.
How the Senators could win this series:
If the Rangers take a lot of penalties — as they occasionally have done — and give Ottawa’s power play chances, they will be hurt. Also, the Rangers have had a few (few being the operative word) games where the Rangers didn’t take care of the puck, or allowed teams to overwhelm them with odd-man rushes. Ottawa, Buffalo, Montreal and Chicago all did it at times.
*************************************************
PREDICTION: Rangers in five.
525 Comments
Whoop!
My playoff predictions (I know, nobody cares):
First round winners: Rangers vs. Devils, Bruins vs. Penguins, Canucks vs. Sharks, Coyotes vs. Predators.
Conference Finals: Rangers vs. Bruins, Predators vs. Sharks
Stanley Cup Final: Predators beat Rangers
BANJ, how you feelin’ bud? why were you asking about Chief Ryan earlier today?
i care, Spider.
Go Jagr’s!
reminder i have an extra pair that my buddy trying to get rid of for game 5 sat april 21st 7pm few rows ahead of me. section 330.
150 per tix 300 for pair. face is 109 this is what hes asking for. prices more on stubhub.
email me baum27@aol.com if interested
Pittsburgh Penguins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRufEawvb78
wings preds on cnbc at 8pm. i will have to search cablevision for cnbc.
It’s a shame that one of Pit-Phi series has to win.
Doesn’t mean that the winner can’t limp away from the series though….
And the Flyers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6ZQwFwmiPI
Nothing but playoff hockey for the next 5-6 hours. Awesome!
Carp, I posted a picture from Twitter. They were sewing Kreider’s name on his new sweater and on the sewing machine it said “Dennis Ryan Memorial”. I wasn’t sure of Cheif Ryan’s first name.
http://instagr.am/p/JSbp3UvdFx/
CNBC channel finder: http://www.cnbc.com/id/40419133
i before e
This guy singing is terrible
Thanks to Orr for pointing out a good reason to cheer for the Flyers: Jagr!
John Amirante much better :))))
That guy singing sounded Canadian. Hoser.
Wow, Jagr even got back on ‘d’.
Why did Doc say “the first playoff start for Ilya Bryzgalov”? Apparently, Phoenix no longer exists.
Is Jim Cramer doing play by play on CNBC?
“Around the roulette wheel.”
I think he meant for the Flyers, Spider.
1-0 Pens
god damn it
Cindy flops all over the ice. But pretty goal.
Dear lord. Can’t wait for these headlines.
1-0 Crosby
Chris Pronger, Grossman ain’t
Bettman has a stiffie
Gross.
geez
Ref’s last game tonite. The prissy Pitt fans wanted a ‘too many men’ call. They didn’t get it. He’s out.
Do the Flyers have goalie problems?
BANJ, yeah, it was Dennis. He was an absolute legend, and all the people behind the scenes loved him. That’s why it says that in the trainer’s room. Wow. His son Bernie still works the home team penalty box at the Garden, you see him on TV all the time.
Quick story, I can’t remember who the players were, or maybe it was the coaches, going at it between the benches in Buffalo. Chief Ryan stepped in and I think it was Jeanerette on TV who said they were separated by “some guy the size of the Statue of Liberty.” We called him Lady Liberty for a while, but quickly stopped because he didn’t like it. Awesome guy.
2-0
It’s fairly obvious that this would be Bryzgalov’s first playoff start for the Flyers. I think he just screwed up.
Better yet: NBC Sports channel finder: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/46907840/ns/sports-nhl/
For some reason, NBC using their number two team against their number one, with Strader/Engblom in Nashville. And Forslund/Hayward in Vancouver.
PIGMAN!
Goalie?
game over series over pens in 4
Paging Bobby Boucher.
Kennedy really needs a nosejob.
nice effort by Jags there. I didn’t realize he retired again.
Kennedy should have done the salute.
Until the Flyers get a goalie, they will never go anywhere.
The Pens have blown two goal leads against the Flyers at home twice this season. This one’s far from over.
Yeah, Jagr just stopped skating there. I think he was at the end of a shift though.
http://www.google.com/search?q=cornelius+evazan&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari
Tyler Kennedy
Is anyone else getting some crap on NBCSN about the ‘72 Summit Series instead of the Pens/Flyers?
lol Carp. well if the Flyers play like this it will be over in 4. btw CNBC is channel 24 on cablevision for me here in Brooklyn.
Dammit! C’mon, Jags!
Bryzgalov was too worried about the alignment of the stars to see the puck whiz by him like a comet
Is it really 2-0 already? I just came home. Holy carcillo! Is Universe showing why he was worth a 9 year deal yet?
Carp
Kreider!
Just wanted to make sure you saw enough of his last name just in case you feel you didn’t. By the way, how did he look at practice? I wasn’t able to participate in the chat this afternoon.
I don’t understand how you get into a scrum and realize you’re mug-to-mug with that piece of carcillo Cooke and you don’t at least give him a face full of smelly glove palm.
joe in de
prob blacked out for you due to flyer country. check comcast prob on with local guys
Good evening, Carp!
flyers look like kids amongst men
The fact that the Flyers have wasted a ton of cap space on Bryz is a positive for the east.
he didn’t look out of place, czech. Excellent skater as we know. Big kid. Polite, smart, a little nervous. Hard to tell much during drills, though.
Good evening, Sally!
I doubt MSG will be this sustained loudness tomorrow.
Bryzgalov looks like he just saw a bear in the forest.
Simmonds suspended for life.
Could be me, but Jagr looks like he’s laboring.
Hartnell suspended for life.
If they go up 2-0, it may, Carp
I’m sensing yet another Cup for the great city of Pittsburgh… home of the great Stanley Cup parade.
Jagr’s looked like that to me since 1992.
Flyers really laying the body on the penguins the last two or three shifts.
Carp, that’s a great point. MSG hasn’t been sustained loudness for years now. Even with rivalry teams
Woah, I think that NBC just put their commercials on hold to show a scrum. Carp, have you been talking to anyone?
when ticket prices went up and the blue section went away, the noise level went with it.
“I doubt MSG will be this sustained loudness tomorrow.”
Is Emrick not doing the game?
Does the Quibids girl have a big mouth, or what? She looks like the Joker…
Is this the “joe” who started posting the other day or is he still “joe”?
ilb – What’s your handle on Twitter?
It’s like I told Coach Tortorella the other day: that mouth will cost you a lot, chum.
It’s like that for the Flyers, who’ve been popping off their pie holes all week.
Tsk tsk.
I noticed that, Latona. Amazing.
I think we might have to bust out a shinebox tonight.
Tortorella was right, jackwagon.
Latona – Yeah, they have stepped it up!
A jackwagon AND a blasphemer. It can’t get any worse!
LW, isn’t it 2 am in your Europansy land? You better be fresh for tomorrow’s tilt.
Shoot the Messenger, Carp.
wow we should be honored that crosbyisgod is on this blog during a series that has nothing to do with us!
man, those drop back passes are just great.
so now you think you’re better than me?
SausageLipsisGod.
Same as here, Spider….
The atmosphere at the Consol… simply electric!
That was a great anecdote Carp. To me he looked like a guy you shouldn’t mess with. I bet he had a heart of gold though.
P.S. That’s appropriate, as it’s a power company the building’s named after…
Ref’s don’t have to make any calls against Philly at this point. They’ll bank them for when they need them. Game is not close. No need to waste them.
Rinaldo looks ready to take a dumb penalty. Maybe a double minor.
I need a timeout. I have to go take a cooke.
Man, Jagr still has flashes of brilliance. Too bad he hasn’t converted as of yet.
Lord Crosby Shall Reign
No worries, you won’t find the idiot the moment his team lets a couple in
3-0!
Oh, Universe.
LOL Bryzgalov SUCKS.
3-0 Philly might as well start hitting…
just end this series this is making me nauseous
Coburn looks absolutely lost out there….
Unreal. Time to goon it up Phlyers.
SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, Flyers. Game over, Start checking. Wear em out.
Bryzgalov is a fortress
3-0
And the Kid does it again—what a set-up!
I love these announcers by the way… fair and unbiased as always.
Comcast doesn’t even know how to air the games. Seems like they blacked out the national broadcast on NBCSN everywhere. And they own the Flyers! Jackwagons.
Hahahahaha…carp went to go drop a Cooke….
Bettman drinking champagne.
onto cnbc now for wings preds
Well, its April and the stars are not in their proper alighnment . No goalie, no chance.
Easy as
1
2
3
I have a feeling Bob will get a few games in this series!
Yes, 3-0 and obviously, it’s only because the Pens have been gifted all the calls, right?
LordOscarMayerLips.
Welcome, Lord Crosby—welcome to the number one Pens board on the ‘net!
“Lord Crosby” eh? Obviously great minds think alike.
1-0 Preds
told u we should have got gaustad
first goal and faceoffs lol
you asshats better have your fun now, because I’m going to be giving you the trapdoor in a little bit. But thanks for driving the traffic here at the world’s best hockey blog. too bad there are no blogs in Pittsburgh. Guess they’d have to be able to read. and have teeth.
What were they chanting in Nashville?
take sids knees out
Sounded like they were chanting “Taylor Swift”
Wow, that Flyers / Pens game looks like it’s in fast-forward. Damn.
Welcome to you also CrosbyisGod.
Sounded like “hey you suck” after the goal.
You’re not bringing that trash into my house.
Pull the plug now, Carp.
i need a beer after watching that first per.
That could be a suspension
Why thank you, LordCrosby.
Lovely night for hockey, eh?
You are welcome CrosbyisGod.
It is a beautiful night for hockey.
All smiles in these parts.
Wow! Two puss…er Penguin fans, (sorry Carp) trolling around Looking for a rise out of Ra.gets fans. Should you clowns be trolling flyers blogs? Or could it be that you think you are on a Flyer blog?
There’s a Pens fan not paying any attention to their team playing a game? When did I get transported back to 2004?
You know LordCrosby, I love these kinds of games when we’re up so big, I can watch the game AND watch the computer, too!
The idiot is talking to himself on two different devices. I think we should leave him do just that….
I like these games as well.
A game like this keeps the team fresh for a deep playoff run.
Orpik go shot…
Top 4 Reasons Nashville Should Not Be Allowed to Win the NHL Championship:
Reason #4: It’s a music, not a hockey town
Reason #3: You can’t win a championship with a ‘Pekka Rinee’
Reason #2: They look like a bunch of baffled bumble bees in those stupid black and yellow uniforms
......and….
Reason #1: You can’t win a championship with a coach that looks like a box of cereal with an apple head on top.
hopefully orpik has a concussion
Got shot…
And Orprik dives too
Orpik is dogging it to get the penalty.
Tsk tsk… oh what a cheap shot.
Into the sin bin with ye…
That was dirty.
I’m rooting for the Preds. Fugg the Wings!
Did you see that save, LordCrosby?
Fleury!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Briere 3-1
That’s one
momentum shift
Claude Giroux gets suspended for the rest of the playoffs and all of next year. Flyers have to give all of their picks fpr the next 2 years to Pissburgh…..Brendan Shanahan.
Floppy Fleury
come on dig deep flyers.
by the way 4 pen on wings in 1st per already
Mattyboy – LOL
Briere scored before Orpik could chop his legs out from under him. Fleury looked like Bryzgalov on that one.
Go Flyers!
Still doesn’t feel right saying that..
I like both the Wings and the Preds, so that series won’t bother me either way.
Fleury…elite
That was tough for Fleury.
A skillful finish by Briere.
I think Fleury’s been hanging out with his uncle Theo.
The Kreider = ELITE
wings will be real happy down 1-0 end of 1.
killed off 130 of 5 on 3
But not anywhere near as skillful as Lord Cyndy
Wow, the first call in the sad history of the Penguins to go the other way.
Clearly offsides on the goal.
Now where is that Rangers fan ref complaining crew? Strangely nowhere to be found or outraged right now.
orr why rooting for nashville?
I hate to say it, but Fluery is a heck of a goalie.
I want a Jagr hat trick, finishing them off in OT!
Has either Cindi or attempted a slew-foot yet?
I just don’t want the Wings to win, Lev. But of all the teams in the West, I’m rooting for the Blues.
yes, attempted several, Miami.
No worries, LordCrosby—obviously should still be 3-0. They can only score on blown calls.
Is that Chandler Byng coaching the Penguins?
Howdie folks, any good knee on knee action?
still pissed the rangers blew a 3-0 in pitt in game 1 of conf semis few years back. the league gave the pens a pp win 2 min left in reg malkin scored.
Stupid Rinaldo!
Rinaldo is contributing today, eh…..To Pittsburgh.
Or as Coach Tort would say “Pittsburgh gets ALL the calls.”
Wait a minute—whoops!
Eric ..still pissed…no way!
rinaldo is a clown. all hes good for his pen
For me if it cant be the Rangers i want it to be Detroit. I want Lidstrom to get one more cup. Datsyuk too.
CrosbyisGod—-
The game is comfortably in our grasp. Do not worry friend.
Yeah, it was a trip on Crosby. Looked like a borderline dive.
Jagr hit the post in the final seconds. I remember it like it was yesterday. Frustrating series. Then in game two, down by one, Straka scored, but the goal was waived off. BS call. Then of course game three, I think they were down 2-0, then came back, until Hollywood Hollweg screw them with a boarding penalty.
I remember that, eric. It was one of the softest hooking calls I’ve seen on one of my favorite Rangers, Marty Straka.
I wish we kept him around in some capacity. I love that man. Anyone remember the PK shift where he blocked three shots in a row? And the Chara slapshot?
Crosbyites- make yourselves useful and go lick the pigeon crap off the Lemieux statue.
And don’t forget that Game 5 overtime offsides on Dupuis, ORR.
LOL!
http://twitpic.com/98okn6
Can’t believe I’m a healthy scratch tonight.
Latona, I didn’t know he was offsides. I turned the game off once Hossa put the puck in the net. Then I broke a few things.
yeah broke his wrist didnt he
lmao, Rinaldo doesn’t even have enough brain cells to form a Black Aces unit.
staal missed then net on a 2 on 1 early in ot in game 5 moments before hossa scored. we in that no doubt it would go 7
Yeah, he was offside on that goal.
I really miss Straka though. What a player and guy. Not saying he would be of any use on the ice now, but I just loved everything about him. I think he owns the team he plays for in the Czech league.
Sooooo now we’re pissed at Rinaldo for taking penalties?? Come on we need a 7-1 game so he starts taking knees out. Hope He keeps up the good work
When asked about Philly’s illegally-allowed goal, Coach Tort stuck both fingers in his ears and chanted “la la la la, I can’t hear you, la la la la!”
Was that series winning goal blown dead for offside?
I loved Straka. I also loved how, every time someone would thank him for the interview, he would say “yeah”. LOL!
Eric, I think Stahl tried to pass on that play. I don’t think he tried to shoot. I could be wrong though.
Thanks for those not-exactly-necessary-but-nonetheless-appreciated words of comfort, LordCrosby. It’s so good you could be here with me on our blog message board.
Universe’s been better this period…
Not enough hitting to my liking…On both parts. They need to take it up a notch….Whoever wins should be well conditioned to face the Bruins.
No Straka reminiscences from our Penguins friends?
LW, remember that Straka played for the Penguins in the same time period that these Pittsburgh fans are from.
if this is strictly a hockey series the flyers have no shot. they need mean nasty edgy blood
You are welcome CrosbyisGod.
We are tidying up this neat little message board.
Crosby only missed the net by 1’3”.... That should count as a good goal!.. What is the matter with these refs?
Yes, and ignore the Straka baiting from our bitter friends here…
Need more hitting. I wanna see the word “TILT” in Cindy’s eyes before this series is over.
Zetterburger scores. 1-1
zetterberg 1-1 pp goal
Oh, they will, Eric….It’s just a beginning.
Of course I shall ignore.
Our glorious history does all the talking.
all i hear is wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
No, I was serious. No baiting. What is your favourite memory of Straka’s time as a Penguin?
Anyone drink any of that Times square Stanley cup water? And if so are you reading this from the head?
Nashville=Ugly uniforms
LW, like most Pissy fans, they don’t remember the past. After all, they didn’t support the team when they were last place 3 years in a row, either.
Matty… My 1yr old had an excrement that looked like that…
Pekka Rinne sounds like a muscular disorder
I thought these were the Preds’ third jerseys.
They should be their retired jerseys.
For NY FiOS subscribers, CNBC is on channel 602 in HD.
carp
i will come see you at end of the 2nd tom. keep me off the ledge
All right, LW3H, as you seem sincere, I’ll deign to respond. Without a doubt it’s the steal off Gonchar that dumped the rotten Capitals out of the playoffs like so much garbage.
All kidding aside, these are two very skilled teams.
Philly defense is too slow afraid to punch in.
Penguins defense can be exposed.
How about Sauer for Vorachek
6 pen on wings already
6 pack in Izzy already.
Flyers would never trade Voracek for Sour
I like this NBC coverage. Hope the ratings are ok for them.
what a bounce for the goal
Wow, interesting goal
Disappointing Izzy… We need 12
Deflection
LordCrosby I am reminded of an old hockey saying: “there are two kinds of people in the world—Penguins fans, and those that wish they were.”
I look for a pain free final 20 minutes.
I like that saying.
Did Super Mario enlighten the world with that saying?
Cindy being Cindy
There’s a third kind. The commissioner of the NHL.
How many PP did Flyers get so far?
no, Talbot wasn’t tripped there.
Almost a great assist by Coburn
Is Super Mario still borrowing money from the league to pay the electric bills because Penguins fans only show up when the team has tanked for years to get a few good players?
eric, end of second not very good for me … gotta be writing at that point … could jump out to say Hi, but won’t be able to talk you down.
do flyers have a pp in this game no right?
You go, Carp! Spot on.
Not a single penalty taken by the Pens
Eric, that’s because they are the cleanest team out there. That trip on Talbot? Well, he actually got in the way of Adams stick. How dare he?
No Carp, but word is Super Mario WILL be hosting a telethon to pay all of Coach Tort’s future fines for his outrageously wrongheaded comments.
Do not get sucked into the fray CrosbyisGod.
Super Mario demands respect from his organization and his fans.
No LordCrosby, actually I devised that saying—though I take no credit for stating the obvious.
Too late
The refs have been pretty fair, in my opinion.
Yes LordCrosby, from here on in I will heed your wise advice…
No Carp, but word is Super Mario WILL be hosting a telethon to pay all of Coach Tort’s future fines for his outrageously wrongheaded comments.
At least try to be a little funny
I give you credit CrosbyisGod. A perfect saying from a perfect fan for a perfect organization.
I like the way the Flyers are skating. This is a series. They could win a game or two. I just wish they’d check more and harder.
paul guastad or john mitchell ?
PRESS RELEASE: The Penguins have just been declared the last place team. They will be taking the first round draft pick from the Edmonton Oilers. Effective immediately.
Damn good save by Fleury.
nice save
Eric, Paul Gaustad or first round pick?
3-2! Briere!!
Uh-oh!
wooooooo!!!
All of a sudden it is a game again.
letang looks like a dirtbag
lets go briere playoff performer
Ouch, that’s two…We got a game. And a series.
Right over cindy’s stick. Great ‘D”, Cyndy-boy
we decided on drury and gomez at least gomer got us mac and gaborik
Fugg! So close!
Flyers have been coming back all year.
Mario was one of the top 10 or 12 players I’ve seen in the past 20 years. And the whiniest until his sausage-lipped protege and house guest showed up.
Coach Torts spoke the truth.
buckle up
Are you nervous CrosbyisGod?
I am.
Flyers PP!
yessirree.
Just got home – damned meetings! – looks like I missed a lot – Flys goaltending is letting them down again, though?
Whine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
again freaking orpik hope freaking get beat to a pope
Even Emerick is surprised by this one. How dare they check the princely ones.
it was 3-0 before you could say Crosby is a whiner, jimbo.
Carp why bother?
Not at all, LordCrosby. Pens will prevail.
I don’t know, cup. Boredom?
still nuts all ranger fans on here rooting hard for the flyers. come on jags
Isn’t this the number one PK in the league?
3-3!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow!! Thanks, Carp – some things never change!!
Tie Game!!
ding
Schenn!
scoreeeeeeeee
i hope Jagr scored the Game 7 winner in OT in Armpittsburgh. TIE GAMEEEEEEEEEEEE
Beautiful play by Jagr!
Hello there! 3-3. Get it to overtime
This came out of nowhere.
Penguins must respond.
stuff a sock in it, lord!
Rooting for the Flys makes me feel dirty. Karen Silkwood dirty.
Great play by Hartnell too
Hahahahahahah LOL!!!!!!!
Penguins suck!!!!!
Hahahahahahaaahanaaa
i can’t believe i am just screamed when they score.
I hate them.
This is some playoff hockey!
No penalty mayhem in this game so far?
no doubt pens get late pp
All I’m rooting for is a triple overtime game. That’s all. Don’t care who wins. Flyers have proven they can beat this team already.
That was great point play on the PP by Giroux. How many times did he keep in?
All I know is that the sausage lip virtual twins are proof of how bush-league (apologies to Miami) Pens fans really are. I know I’d have better things to be doing while the Rangers are playing.
Don’t know Lord-God Sausage lips, might be time for a little sweat…
gotta admit this is pretty exciting. go flyers go.
Lets see who dives first, Evelyn or Cyndy “Botox Lips”. Bets anyone?
ot has started
Bryz has played the best I can remember a Flyer goalie in the last decade these last two periods.
Lev you go to wash your mouth after that. lol
Then again, swiss cheese, he ain’t
Cup94 – I did the same thing. Almost smacked myself.
shhhhh dont mention bryz dont jinx him
What’s the matter? Someone outplayed Crosby? 2-game suspension for Briere
Matty, is Malkinstein even playing? or Fleury?
somebody left the gate opened and im not talking about universe…
The Ranger game tomorrow better not be this open.
Really, Carp.
Flyers showing a lot of heart here.
I desire a goal in the final minute by the Penguins.
wow
What a way to open the playoffs. Great game.
perfect watch end of wings before ot
Woah. I missed what happened to Helm. Anybody know?
Does this mean both teams get a point?
Helm got a skate up in his face. Wasn’t bleeding all over the ice though.
Time for some Penguins’ overtime magic.
OT. Perfect.
someone tell florida there is no point anymore
These 4-5 pairings in the playoffs are simple awesome. This is great hockey!
@CrosbyisGod….I know your hands were quivering when you typed that one! Yea, try to sound confident, buddy. Your team just blew a 3 goal lead….at home!!! Be confident.
someone tell the refs in nashville the playoffs began. geez pp after pp
The Rangers better not leave the gate open.
(I got to the rock I really wanted.)
LOL at Suter casually skating off the ice with his head turn after making that breakaway pass to Kostitsyn.
turned*
great pass
Wow! Fugg happened there?
I want a Jagr OT goal.
LMAO, both teams getting a point, Spider.
How ironic if Pitt loses on a bad officiating call.
any way you look at it the Flyers got into their head. That makes for a fun series. A win in OT is a bonus. If they lose, they still got to them.
Damn, Hartnell had room there to put it in!
I wonder if Babcock will be fined for his in game interview commets on the refs.
NUBBED
Carp, why wouldn’t the Flyers game plan have them checking harder in regulation?
Radulov helping on defense? Must be the playoffs.
Crosby about 5 feet offside
FLYERS WIN!!!!!!!!
VORACEK!
wowowoeo
Wow! Flys!!
yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
The infallible Penguins are no match for the dreaded three goal lead.
malkin standing right there
YES!!!!!! TAKE THAT!!!
First blood, Flyers!
Hahahahahahahaha!!!!! Where is the jackwagon?
Woot!
staal
Ooops.
Sadly, that’s a play Marc Staal would also make.
Is Buttman panicking yet!?
Wonder if Crosby was on the ice for that goal against? Emrick failed to bring it up….
Oh….Lordy…Lordy….whhooohoo!!
Strange that all 3 are good teams, but the Rangers own the Flyers, the Flyers own the Pens, and the Pens (at least lately) own the Rangers.
Overhyped Staal just standing there, enjoying the view.
manny, Staal and Malkin were
Preds up 3-1 with five to go. Wings with a PP
The puck slowly roled between four different Pens. Thank you very much, said Voracek
not admitting the Penns ‘own’ the Rangers. We used our back up and also played without our captain one game, backup the other. not convinced there, JB
Letang and the Pen defense stinks.
They treat the puck like a hand grenade in their own zone.
If Andre doesn’t play over his head the flyers score at least 6 goals in regulation
Bad penalty by Suter. 5 on 3
THere should be a Barry Trots award for the ugliest player in the NHL each year.
Difficult loss to stomach.
Not to worry, LC, the boys will take the next one. Pens in 6.
Well, Lordy, there’s always Friday>
Pierre McGuire should be put on suicide watch after this one. And I’m only half kidding! Maybe Bettman as well…
Love it!
Pen’s in 7!
Wings score! 3-2
Uh-oh. 3-2!
Don’t ever count Detroit out. Ever.
Mattyboy, I think Tyler Kennedy would win the ugly contest every year. No real challengers.
CrosbyisGod We blew a 3 goal lead. I am anxious to see how the Penguins respond.
If they expand entries to coaches, too, Trots is IN!!!!
Huge save by Howard. Wow!
Check it out.
We were talking ticket prices.
NYR #1
http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/ticket_price_comparison_for_the_first_round_games/
I’m not feeling the Rangers get beaten by any of these teams. They might find these ugly yellow and black uniforms distracting, but the could still beat them.
Wings PP!
gaustad or mitchell?
Holy hartnell! Have to catch up with thread later….but omg! Great night with Tony and Rose from AZ…..bunch of crybaby fans in town tonight. Hahahaha. Oh, I hate that my life has been lowered to being glad for filth….
Gaustad or first round pick?
Gotta give the asshats credit for sticking around even after the loss.
Letang was brutal in this game, Malkin was a no-show, and you’re right Chris F, that is a play Marc would also make.
Okay, if the NHL is serious about head injuries, Weber needs to be gone for a while.
Hmm! Wonder if Suter gets suspended for that.
And go Preds!!!!
Light up the Empire State Building.
How does Weber not get suspended for that? That was insane.
What the hell was Weber doing there!?
Go Kings!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen one player simply shove another player’s head into the glass like that. As a result of a hit, yes, but not just a “grab & smash” play!
And the US national anthem in Vancouver has been sponsored by the NHL’s “You can play” initiative
...the fish iPad is dying…..byfuglien..later all!! LGR!!
Weber should be suspended for that. That was disgusting.
Gotta love the Flyers coming back against the Pens. Loved seeing all those moron Pens fans looking so sad after the OT winner. After their team blew a 3-0 lead.
Now we KNOW Pierre is crying about how his great Penguins could possibly blow a game like this. We KNOW Bettman is upset about it. His beloved Pens coughing up a huge lead.
What is gonna be HYSTERICAL is how we are all gonna hear the Pens fans whining and crying over the next 48 hours about how Briere’s goal should have been off-side and that’s the only reason they lost the game.
How the refs screwed THEM!
As a Rangers fan, that was fun to watch. :-)
And yeah, it is funny when you think about the Rangers, Pens and Flyers. Three of the top teams in the league…and the Pens own us, we own the Flyers and the Flyers own the Pens.
Kinda funny when you think about it.
All right…can’t wait for tomorrow. Pumped for playoff hockey!!!
Go Kings!
Have to admit that the Canadian national anthem in Vancouver is pretty cool. Wish Americans could sing it like that…
WOW the Nucks anthem singer lost 172 pounds apparently. I thought he looked slimmer…
A series is not decided in one game.
A painful loss.
Glad you liked it Carp.
1-0 Nucks
Shoulda been goalie interference
goal should have been waived off
Dusty Brownstein!
Kings look really dangerous, IMO.
But don’t you see, CJP, this game totally blows all the conspiracy-theory garbage the haters have leaned on all these years? You know, the one that goes, the NHL is out to see the Pens (and Crosby) win, so they’ll always get the benefit of the calls come playoffs time. Boy did THAT little conspiracy fantasy get flushed down the toilet tonight!
You see, by losing thanks to an illegally allowed goal, it shows there is no such thing as “the Pens getting all the calls, all the time.” Clearly the refs went against the Pens—something you haters claim is impossible. It was just like the guy here who predicted “no doubt pens get late pp” towards the end of the game—but funny, no Pens pp ever happened.
So in gloating, you’re actually losing—as it shows the Pens DID win all those games all these years without the help of some alleged “conspiracy” by the NHL. Because there never HAS been some conspiracy in the first place.
You see—and I love it, ha ha!—you’ve won the battle tonight, but lost the war. Tonight, every big Penguins win has been legitimized!
There was nothing wrong with the overtime goal.
And to suggest the entire game would have played out exactly the same if the offside had been whistled is ludicrous.
Kings are putting themselves in a big hole here..
DFTT
How did the Sedins end up on the same team? And are they both playing or is one still scrambled?
He’s stuck around, Jimbo, so we might as well.
And saying “DFTT” legitimizes his presence just as much as responding to him does.
One is still out with the concussion.
So hold your head high, LordCrosby, for tonight the conspiracy-theory hogwash has been laid to rest forever! Yes, the haters’ attempts to explain away every big Pens’ win with the standard “the NHL wants them to win” have been discredited forever. For tonight, the Penguins have been robbed. And if the Pens can be robbed in a playoff game, then the NHL clearly is not—not ever has been—out to give the Pens extra help. If anything, clearly the league “wanted” the Flyers to win tonight.
Far from whining about the blown-call fueled loss however, I for one am celebrating! Dead is the conspiracy theory forever! Long live the Pens’ and their many (now proven!) legitimate wins! And sorry haters, tin-foil hat time is over.
Burke had the first overall pick, and traded for the 2nd overall pick, I believe. He used the top two picks on the freaky twins.
There never was any conspiracy.
Conspiracy theorists are nutcases.
I would not take conspiracy theorists seriously CrosbyisGod.
Higgins delay of game. 5 on 3!
Hahahahahaha! This is the best time of year!
I was kinda shocked, as were the AZ pals, at how few penalties were called …. Hmmm…..
Richards! 1-1
1-1 richards
Another delay of game. Another 5 on 3! LOL!
Another 5 on 3!
But don’t you see what a watershed moment this is tonight, LordCrosby? For years the haters have claimed that the NHL “wants” the Pens to win. Well what do they say now? Because if the league truly DID want the Pens to win, they sure have a strange way of showing it.
So what’s up now, all you guys here who claim the league “wants” the Pens to win? What do you have to say now?
Huge win for Philly. Love to see the Malk-Andre Crosby’s choke in game 1. Hopefully that gives Philly some momentum and get them game 2 as well although I’d still be shocked if the Flyers win this series.
btw Weber better be suspended for that. I don’t care that he is a star player, it would be a travesty if he is playing in game 2….
My guess is that since Zetterberg wasn’t injured, Weber doesn’t get suspended…
Weber doesn’t have a history of cheap shots, if I’m not mistaken. That’s another thing to take into consideration. I think he’ll get fined.
oleo,
It doesn’t really have anything to do with Zetterberg’s injury. The NHL is a joke, so Weber doesn’t get suspended.
CrosbyisGod
you seem to be forgetting how you got Crosby in the first place. Granted, us New Yorkers were gifted Ewing in the same “fair” lottery, but everyone knows that Ewing was given the Knicks and that Crosby was given to Mario to keep your team in Pittsburgh…
CrosbyisGod—-
Tonight does nothing to shed any such notion.
Theorists are always going to see what they want to see so that their theories remain intact.
Wow.. pretty puck movement there by LA.
Oh puhleeze…..enough of your nonsense :) I have the world’s creepiest guy sitting near me on train…shudder!!!!! LGR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i lost a lot of respect for Weber on that play. wth was he thinking? Zetterberg didnt look hurt, so that’s good.
Mama DON’T make eye contact!!!
What do I have to say?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Go whine somewhere else. Wah, wah, Wah, the NHL doesn’t love us anymore, Briere was offsides.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Way to blow a three goal lead! Now I hope you guys beat them in the next game. And that it takes you, oh, 3 over times to do it. In fact, I don’t even care which of you two miserable wretched scum sucking teams comes out of it alive, or if neither of you do. I just hope it goes seven triple overtime games and when you’re done, if we get by Ottawa, we get to face new jersey and the winner of your series will get to play the Stanley cup champion bruins next.
Philly and Pittsburgh cannot lose enough or badly enough to please me. Except now, when I hope all of their games are excruciatingly well contested!!!!
oleo—you said it all with “Granted, us New Yorkers were gifted Ewing in the same “fair” lottery…” No need to go on any further.
But what I’m asking is for the whole “NHL wants Pittsburgh to win” crowd to explain tonight’s game. I mean, if that were true, do they really allow such a blatant offsides goal? Well, if the NHL is so on the Penguins’ side, then how do you explain tonight?
Kind of turns your whole world upside down, huh?
Wtf? Don’t these rednecks from Pissburgh have nowhere else to go to scratch their fecal tongues? BEAT IT!
GO FLYS!
What about the Pens goal that came off an incorrectly waved off icing?
LOL! Zach Kassian takes the penalty and NBC shows Cody Hodgson’s picture.
Great start. Pittsburgh loses at home as the Flyers get a goal that is 2 feet offsides, then tie the game on a penalty afyer an Orpik cheap shot. Who will Bettman fine for this disaster?
Who brought the manure into the blog?? Someone clean it up. PRONTO!
GO FLYERS!!
(Ok, I threw up a little saying that, but still!)
Been busy all day so I missed everything on the blog, but I am sure you were all awesome :)
CrosbyisGod
well you need to understand that is part of the reason why everyone hates Crosby. He is the best player since Gretzky and he was unfairly given to one team. Not only that but you got a once in a decade player in Malkin the year before. A lot of it is jealously that you lucked into those picks, but another part of it is that Crosby dives and whines (or at least he did up to his injury) and for a team that stacked, its even more annoying to see him falling down when he barely gets touched or running to the refs after every stoppage. Granted, the whining is not as bad as it used to be, but he still hasn’t stopped diving.
Now the NHL absolutely wants Pittsburgh to advance as far as possible. All pro sports teams want their best players in the finals. Although what my fellow Rangers fans, fail to grasp is that the NHL wants the Rangers there just as bad (if not more). The NHL would love nothing more than a rematch of 94 or at least an original six finals.
Referees COULD CARE LESS WHO WINS. Fans think they get orders from the league to do things but that’s ridiculous. However, I truly believe that in the winter classic, the referees subconsciously wanted that game to go into overtime b/c of the special event and it caused them to unintentionally slant the game to Philly in the last 5 minutes. Same with the linesman in game 7 of 94. Its human nature and it happens.
Yeah, something stinks, Mickey. Smells like a pile of cooke.
Hahahahaha! 4-3 in OT. Hahahahaha.
Ria, home safe…thanks…I’ve been around the block a few times….no worries…..: but seriously! ewwwwww….he had a wedding ring on too….lord help whoever said yes….
by the way, isn’t it a bit, um, unmanly to use names like crosbyisgod and lord crosby?
besides, I thought Avery was god.
MickeyM——
You asked who brought the manure into the blog.
Who brought you into the blog?
Woah, woah, woah.
Nobody insults Mickey like that.
Brain Hayward sounds a lot like Micheletti.
A little birdie told me that we would be seeing Doc/Chico…I mean Pierre… at the Bruins/Caps game tomorrow. No Beninati?!
I have been cordial all night.
A line must be drawn somewhere.
Goodbye, little pansyman Lord Crosby.
Can’t stand the pansificatipn in the nucks game! And I really hate it if you snow the goalie and it is a penalty. No way the Kessler or kassian penalties should have been called IMHO.
How about the blown briere offsides in the pens game?
Weber suspension anyone?
So we are watching the nucks game and during the Canadian anthem mrs wicky asks if the guy singing only gets half a paycheck because the crowd sings half the anthem for him!! LMFAO!
Been around the block a few times myself Mama LOL & I always made it home safe!!!
WTG Carpy was it the backdoor or the trapdoor ? Doesn’t matter just so long as it hit them in the assasn on the way out really hard ♥ for you Carp
Five minute PP for the Kings.
the Nucks are begging to lose this game
Bite me, jackwagon.
t
Carp= ♥
And a thank you to Latona for the last night hatty :)
And the Kings are trying not to win it.
Anytime, Mick!
How did that not go in?!?
2-1 Kings
Finally.
Willie Mitchell scored. Where’s wicky??!
‘Atta boy, Willie Mitchell!!
Huge goal! 2-2
Wow. Fail, Kings, Fail
I knew Vancouver was gonna score there.
Unnecessary icings. Sigh.
Ok, much as I’d like to hang for the 3rd and OT, I have way too much work to do tomorrow. Night gang. See you for the game!
Is the game tomorrow on MSG? For some reason it is not listed there.
I mean the game later on tonight not tomorrow.
Night, Mick.
I have it listed on mine, CCCP.
Yes, it’s on MSG.
CCCP all of the 1st round games are on msg. The Rangers that is ;-)
Oh and theres a “blue carpet” pre-game starting at 6:00
Oh no! Not the blue carpet again!
ria, do you know what that is by any chance? I noticed it on the program listing but I hadn’t heard anything about it.
i really hope LA ends this in regulation. i want to sleep!
Yeah, me too!
Thanks kids!
LET’S RANGERS!
I always want overtime during the playoffs – unless it’s the Rangers playing.
LETS GO RANGERS* that is….
Time for bed…
TSNBobMcKenzie At this point, there has been no mention to NSH about disciplinary hearing for Shea Weber pushing Zetterberg’s head into boards/glass.
Is it my imagination, or are these announcers kissing Luongo’s assen in extreme excess!?
Latona I think it might be something along the line of what they did for the Rangers home opener this season. Probably have past players & celebrities that we never see at the games.
Bad penalty – weak, weak call….
Niters all….ah, byfuglien hartnelling nhl….(but yay weber)....sorry….ack! I hate this all! LGR!!!!!!!
‘Night, Mama!
Night, Mama.
Thanks, ria!
Hate those “slashing the stick” penalties – pansification of the game, due to weak construction of these new sticks..
Jimbo I have the game on mute right now but in the 2nd that’s the impression i got.
3-2 KINGS!!
Hahaha!!!
KINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lev, it’s like they’re trying to “pump him up” for some reason – I don’t know why, though.
Let’s see if the Kings can hold on now.
Let’s see if there’s an obligatory “save the Canadian team” penalty before the game ends…
Flyers win! I gotta admit, I’ve only ever rooted for then when they play the Devils or Islanders before. Sometimes I’ve even rooted for the Islanders to beat them. But here, they have my blessing to do the Flyers dirty!
You mean do the Pens dirty, don’t you, DJK?
Jimbo, Nucks arent going anywhere with Luongo in goal….if they were smart they’d make Schneider their #1.
^do the Malkincrosbies dirty, I mean!
Anyone else notice the blue collars on the linesmen? I’d never noticed that before.
They can’t, Lev – they have too much invested in Luongo…
OK, DJK – that’s what I thought!
Gettin’ nasty!
Richards getting Burrows’s skin!
WooHooo!
under*
4-2! Hell yeah!
Richards hit on Burrows = ♥
ball game over. kings win. daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa kings win!
Good night from Vancouver!
Let’s hope the President’s Trophy curse keeps working!
Correct, ORR – that was some hit by Richards!
It would be very cool if the Kings eliminate the Canucks, and the NYRs eliminate the Sens – those homers up north will be crying in their Molsons…
Hattie!
Riots in Vanuckland yet?
Rupp won a Cup with the Devils, not the Penguins.
LGR !!!
I’m soooo excited for tonights game.
Our first playoff game at MSG since 1981
Is there a game tonight ?
Who’s in goal tonight ?