Before Friday night, the Rangers hadn't allowed five goals in regulation since the infamous 6-5 overtime loss to Montreal on Feb. 19, a span of 20 regular-season and five playoff games.
So naturally, after watching video of the mistakes by a team defense that was "fragmented" and didn't play well without the puck, in Brendan Shanahan's words this afternoon, the message was: We've got to tighten up.
But we all figured that. The news is that Petr Prucha----who has played well against Pittsburgh, according to coach Tom Renney---could play in Game 2 on a line with Blair Betts and Fred Sjostrom, a trio that practiced together this morning.
When I asked Renney about Prucha, the coach said he was still contemplating that, but since there won't be another practice before tomorrow's matinee, I'm figuring he'll dress.
Prucha, who has yet to make a playoff appearance, had just one assist in seven games against the Pens this season, but certainly has speed, and "a touch", as Renney said. That would mean Ryan Hollweg and Colton Orr are scratched. Will Prucha be rusty? The Czech right wing has played in six games since Feb. 10.
Renney, by the way, declined to get in any back-and-forth about Therrien's comments on Crosby earlier, as I surmised.
Your thoughts?
More later....
Comments (15)
I dont think the Pens will have an answer to Petr Prucha being in the line up. Maybe if the Rangers can get up by four or five goals they might have a chance.
Why don't you mention the smack in the face that Avery gave Crosby with the stick while crosby was lying on the ice?
maybe because it wouldn't sit well with the hometown fans? or maybe because it would distrub the image you and Staple like to create of a "diving" #87?
Black N Gold,
That call was just plain missed. As we all saw with the phantom trip on Dubinsky and the weak call on Straka, the refs have been instructed to protect a guy that if he was as good as they say he is..ie "The Next One" (Which he ISNT), shouldn't need the protection. He's big, strong, an excellent player and probably the best player in the world, but HE ISN"T ANYTHING CLOSE TO WHAT WAYNE WAS. Quit crying.
Hey, I'm not crying... I'm celebrating... THE PENS WON!
I'm just sick and tired of hearing Rangers fans blame officiating for their losses and complain about players right up until the day they sign them in Free Agency.
Blueshirts could win in 27 years in a six team league... then after the league was flooded with expansion teams it took another 27 years to win your first championship, Now it's been 14 more years and you still have nothing to show for having one of the highest payrolls in the league.
LMAO
you must have really nothing better to do than picking on new york writers.. if the game was the other way around im sure we
would hear your crying all the way from pittsburgh..
and can someone answer why there wasnt a call on ruutu with the stick in rosy's face? last time i checked the national hippocrite league changed the rule book for situations like that...its things like this that make me wonder about the fairness of the officiating
and people complain about avery having respect for the game.. how is crosby any better with his embelishments? in my opinion, a goofball play by avery is the least of the nhl's problems when it comes to diving
i would love to see a zebra have the jewels to call a dive on cindy (that will never happen, cause he would be fired)
i know i sound like a whiner, but i thought id vent a little because the defense had a rare off game. i have full confidence in the boys and we will even it up tomorrow!
Hey Black and Gold.
what's worse, the Rangers signing free agents like every other team in the NHL does, or the league fixing it every 20 years so the Penguins get the best player for nothing, like Mario, like Sidney?
Right, the league caters to a small market franchise over it's largest market... tell that to the folks in Quebec City, Winnepeg, or Hartford.
Are you NY'ers really that stupid?
Grow a pair and just realize that your Rangers suck as bad as your Knicks.
Freak'n crybaby NY'ers... what a bunch of crying Beyochs
Dude...you have no life and I really feel bad for ya....btw, kleenex is having a buy 1 get 1 free at your local supermarket-sales ends tomorrow. ;-)
It was Hossa's stick that hit Cindy. Look at the re-play! Black stick belongs to Hossa!
that obviously was a fake Dude posting at 21:43
BLACK N GOLD: (I posted this for you in another room but it bears repeating) CIndy "Flounder" Crosby was down on the ice when Avery's stick grazed his face. Do you Pen's "fans" even watch the game or do you just tune in to get the post game wrap-up from the shills on Versus and the $h|tsburgh press? Granted, a player is responsible for his stick but its hard for a ref to call a penalty (despite Flounder's theatrics, even on that play) when Flounder's face was five inches off the ice.
Interesting that you pointed out its been 14 years since the Rangers last Cup win. Especially, since its been 16 years since the Penguins last Cup win. I am just going to have to assume you are pimple-faced, lonely teenager who is too young to even remember the last time his own team won a Cup.
Or, maybe you are just frustrated that no one in $h|tsburgh has figured out how to run a hockey franchise successfully. Maybe it bugs you that they have to threaten to sell the team, move the team or go out of business, every few years. Hey, maybe we can make a game out of this - guess how many years before the Pens go bankrupt again!
JOEYP: Totally agree with you on the Ruutu stick-to-face. Rosy should've taken a page out of Cindy "Flounder" Crosby's book, grabbed his own face and dropped to the ice like he was being murdered. Maybe then the refs would have done something.
I'm seriously enjoying this... you rangers fans are the ultimate "homers". When Avery WAVES his stick in Brodeurs face it's legal and smart move. When Ruutu uses a stanionary blade to screen Rosival (A former Pen who sucks) then it's a major crime.
Go back to your South Bronx slums and watch your Knicks. At least that's a sport you NY'ers might have a chance of knowing something about.
BLACK N GOLD: Just for the record most Ranger fans didn't think Avery's actions were 'Smart'. I actually expected the Devils to send their goons after Lundqvist, if the game wasn't so tight. BUT, it was Brodeur, Parise and Zajac (they play for the Devils, in case you are wondering) that referred to Avery's antics as "smart" and "creative" in post game interviews.
[I am not sure if you are capable but try to follow this] The point is, after Avery's actions, the NHL instituted a new 'unsportsmanlike conduct' (in case you weren't paying attention) penality to stop just that kind of behavior in the future. Ruutu, seemingly was doing the exact thing for which the NHL had created a new rule, less than two weeks ago. Hence, the displeasure among Ranger fans. See how that works?
Not sure if you are capable of comprehending this but your "South Bronx slums/Knicks" comment borders on racism - which is pretty much what I would expect from, what are you guys called, $h|tsburghian? $h|tsburger?
Do you actually follow hockey? Or is it just watch you do between Jets and Yankees seasons?
Since when does Rosival play goalie?
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: "An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty (Rule 75) will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make
a play."
Really, please do try and understand the rules before you open your big NY mouth.
As for being racist, I mention Knicks and you mention race. Are you implying that Basketball is a Black Sport? First you'd be wrong...and second, equating basketball to race is showing your racism. Again, I'd be careful before opening that rather large NY mouth...