Official Discussion Thread - Round 2 - Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers

[RGM81]

One game. Winner take all. I think if you said to both teams at the start of the series this would be the outcome, probably only one would be happy about accepting it.

The narrative on the talk shows has it that if the Penguins lose tonight, major changes will be coming.

[centrehice]

Year in and year out, when games get to #7, do teams actually think that they are going to just have a series handed to them?

Look at the Sharks with a 3-0 lead, and the Rangers in games 2,3, and 4, and the Pens in the past 2 games. All teams teams just stopped playing Hockey at some point? How is that possible?

Boston yesterday? What on Earth are you thinking? The NHL needs a Playoff Team to perhaps only lose 1-2 games total in 4-4 game series for other teams to get the message. Somebody needs to run the table.

I have watched the NHL faithfully for 53 years, and had season's tickets in 3 NHL cities, and I am dumbfounded at the ineptitude that I have seen at specific times in this year's playoffs. Gobsmacked at the inability of teams to get the message.

[spuds1961]

Year in and year out, when games get to #7, do teams actually think that they are going to just have a series handed to them?

Look at the Sharks with a 3-0 lead, and the Rangers in games 2,3, and 4, and the Pens in the past 2 games. All teams teams just stopped playing Hockey at some point? How is that possible?

Boston yesterday? What on Earth are you thinking? The NHL needs a Playoff Team to perhaps only lose 1-2 games total in 4-4 game series for other teams to get the message. Somebody needs to run the table.

I have watched the NHL faithfully for 53 years, and had season's tickets in 3 NHL cities, and I am dumbfounded at the ineptitude that I have seen at specific times in this year's playoffs. Gobsmacked at the inability of teams to get the message.

Trust me I agree with you wholeheartedly, but the NHL is enjoying all these teams ineptitude to close out series as fast as they should, more money in the cash register and more exposure for the game.

[RGM81]

I don't know what it's like for every arena, but each additional home playoff game in Montreal is approximately $3M in revenue. That's big money.

I do agree that there has yet to be a team in these playoffs that can string it together consistently. Games 5 and 6 of the Habs/Bruins series were polar opposites.

I'm pulling for the Rangers tonight - should be a dandy!

[mooneyes]

The parity...or inconsistency is very strange, the Kings are the poster team of this, 3 horrible losses, 6 straight wins...and now 3 more L's to the Ducks!?? There is a possibility of 4 game 7's! The only thing earned by the teams finishing higher in reg season is all would have home ice for game 7, big adv. On the other hand the games will be played very tight, and the whole thing could be decided by a single lucky goal. It is exciting...but can you say one team is significantly better than the other after all that??

On a funny note, Sutter said Gibson is the best goalie he has EVER seen! Not sure if he is trying to put pressure on the kid, or motivate Quick!

[centrehice]

Oh I have not missed the economic windfall that a long series brings. That is a given,

But in a 7 game series if you are trying your guts out, you aren't losing 4-0, 4-1, etc. They are all going near, or into OT.

[mooneyes]

Conspiracy theorists could have a field day with this, especially if all 4 homes teams win game 7...............................

[RGM81]

[QUOTE=mooneyes;13390725]The parity...or inconsistency is very strange, the Kings are the poster team of this, 3 horrible losses, 6 straight wins...and now 3 more L's to the Ducks!?? There is a possibility of 4 game 7's! The only thing earned by the teams finishing higher in reg season is all would have home ice for game 7, big adv. On the other hand the games will be played very tight, and the whole thing could be decided by a single lucky goal. It is exciting...but can you say one team is significantly better than the other after all that??

On a funny note, Sutter said Gibson is the best goalie he has EVER seen! Not sure if he is trying to put pressure on the kid, or motivate Quick![/QUOTE]

I'd wager a Sutter Face or two that he's ribbing mighty mighty hard when he says that. I think he followed up saying that they were so lucky and surprised to even get one by him.

[centrehice]

Sutter just expanded his vocabulary to 304 words this, by adding 4 new words this week:

Best
Has
Ever
Seen

I wonder if he takes his false teeth out, if he can pull his mouth, or lower lip over the back of his entire haed?

[centrehice]

C'mon Rags. You have to give 100% on every shift if you want to win. Lundqvist with a huge save as I am typing.