If case you haven't read it, Pens coach Michel Therrien can't help but react to the Rangers. At his presser yesterday in Pittsburgh, which I covered, the gamesmanship rolled on...
Here's my story from today's editions:
BY STEVE ZIPAY | steve.zipay@newsday.com
April 29, 2008
PITTSBURGH - Sniping and gamesmanship don't have a day off during an increasingly testy Eastern Conference semifinal series in which the verbal sparring began before the puck was dropped.
Penguins coach Michel Therrien laughed aloud when told yesterday that after Game 2, Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist said the pressure was on Pittsburgh to win Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden. After composing himself, Therrien suggested that Lundqvist was attempting to take the onus off the Rangers, who are down two games to none in the best-of-seven series, which resumes tonight.
"You know what? Pressure? They got pressure, we got pressure. If a team doesn't want to take the pressure, that's up to them," Therrien said after the Penguins' practice at Mellon Arena. "They want to win and we want to win. I'm not buying into those things -- they got the pressure or we got the pressure. Hey, c'mon, this is playoffs. This is something more for the fans and the media to take away the pressure [from them]. I know our team will be ready and I know the Rangers will be ready, but please ..."
Therrien had said he was "disappointed" in Rangers coach Tom Renney and players for raising the issue of alleged embellishment by Sidney Crosby to draw penalties and declared "enough is enough." Yesterday he brought another element into the fray: crease-crashing.
During his short media session, Therrien revealed that he had spoken to referees after the first period about Brendan Shanahan and other Rangers obstructing Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.
At one point in the first period, Shanahan briefly appeared to back into the left side of the crease and raise his stick to block Fleury's view - while facing the play - but no contact appeared to be made. Late in the game, Sean Avery was buried in front by defenseman Hal Gill, who received a crosschecking penalty. And Fleury admitted to smacking Avery in the legs to keep him out of the crease.
"They tried to put pressure on Marc-Andre, they tried to get in the crease, and we discussed it with the referees; they're not supposed to stand there and if there's a goal, it's not a goal," Therrien said. "It's tough to give penalties if they're really close to the crease, but if Fleury's in the crease and he can't play the puck, it's no goal. This is what the referees told us.
"I noticed what Shanahan did. Guys with experience, they try to find that line, and I addressed it with the referees. They were saying that they were going to pay attention, there's no doubt, you can't obstruct the goalies."
Therrien said the Penguins, who lost three games at the Garden in regulation in the regular season, didn't play well at the Garden until the fourth game, a 2-1 overtime loss March 31.
"I thought we played a really good game the last time," Therrien said. "It could've gone both ways with the overtime. I liked the way we competed that last game. But regular season and playoffs are a quite different atmosphere."
The Penguins are undefeated in the postseason but aren't bragging. "Six-and-oh doesn't really mean anything," said Crosby, who received an earful from Jaromir Jagr during one stoppage in Game 2 and sensed the animosity growing. "We know it doesn't get any easier. They'll feed off their crowd and they're going to be more intense."
Just as Jagr is booed mercilessly here, Crosby fully expects the same treatment in New York. "I wouldn't be surprised," he said.
****
So there you have it. I'm leaving for the morning skate. Check back here for possible lineup changes/shuffling, then a pre-game report from the Garden.
Comments (13)
Instead of booing Cindy, I think we should get a bit more creative and do the baby-cry every time he touches the puck. How hilarious and original would that be?!!
What a great idea. A big Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh every time he touches the puck. That would be awsome!
Wonder why Renney isn't working the refs? Oh, that's right, he's a bad coach.
i vaguely remember the Shanahan in the crease thing, can anyone help me out to what happened. from what i remember, his back was to Fleury and he was calling for the puck with his stick, and apparently fleury got pissed complaining he was being screen.... right?
also, for all you nay sayers, its just like last year with buffalo. they just need to come out and pressure the hell out of the penguins. rangers will take games 3 and 4 and this time win game 5 and game 6
It took 80 games to make the playoffs and all the wins against the devils could have went either way. This team is not that good. Certainly not championship calibur, yet. They could get lucky and beat the Penguins but from what we have seen so far it will take a miracle. Win or lose they need new coaching. They need to say goodbye to Jagr, Shanahan, Straka, Hollweg, Betts, shoestring, Malik, Mara, Roszival, Backman and Strudwick. Whatever holes can't be filled from within can be filled through free agency. A REAL sniper. A PP quarterback. A crease clearing D man. Certainly not imposible. I look forward to next year. I don't look forward to the rest of the playoffs with this Jekyl and Hyde team.
Therrien must be on crack! Now you're not allowed to screen in hockey???? I guess he wasn't watching when his team scored with, not one, but TWO PLAYERS infront of Hank on the PP. Maybe I'm confused, but I was pretty sure that in the late 90s they took out the crease rule, to say thay as long as you didn't tocuh the goalie, you could have your feet or skates anywhere. Am I missing something? I can only imagine the kind of BS that would be flying around if Therrien was coaching the Devils when Cally collided with Brodeur 5-10 feet out from the top of the crease.
Yeah, Shannys feet were in the crease. I don't recall him ever making contact with Fleury, and if he did it was bc he was behind the Pens D who kept backing into him, and i wouldnt be suprised if that was strategy to try to get the ref to call interfernce on Shanny.
Therrien is single handedly making a mockery of this sport, he's playing right into Gary Bettman's agenda, and if the Pens win, or even reach the finals, I'm giving up on the NHL.
Love tha Waaaaahhhh!! idea.
Fans are going to have to be a big part of the game tonight. I hope the build is shaking and I hope people get on Cindy right from the bigging and keep it loud throughout the game.
I hope people show up early and start hounding Cindy right from the pre-game warmups.
Wow! It turns our Michelle is a bigger whiner than even his captain.
Would Love to hear a "Meee-shell" chant at some point during the game as well.
Therrien can blow it out his @$$
Why is he on crack? He know the refs are calling things his way.
He knows that the refs are listening to him. He knows they'll take every bit of what he says and apply it on the ice. Crack? I think your on crack because you can't see the forest for the trees.
Send the message...
All fans! Attention... the Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah every time Cindy touches the puck tonite!!! spread to all sites and posts!! Or "You're a baby" chant.....
sux. why is he getting so much ice time? he is horrible.
I would not say WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH to loud because than Avery wil think it is his Tanning Salon telling him to flip over and get his back tan. Who does his nails ??
DING DONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG ....... AVON AVERY CALLING
Why did he not drop the gloves vs. Laraque?
CHICKENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Why does Cindy dive?
Why does Michelle whine?
Why do Pens fans boo a guy without whom they haven't won a Cup?
That's what they do and they are good at it.