Staple here, Zip in Pittsburgh, game a few minutes away... As Zip has noted, Lauri Korpikoski makes his playoff debut and Jason Strudwick stays on D in place of Christian Backman. Rangers have to stay out of the penalty box early, because the Pens will have a rabid crowd and a desire to put this one away early.
Trotting out the new live blog today... Keep the comments coming, but keep 'em clean.
2:01
NBC broadcast about to begin after watching Orel Hershiser play poker... Interesting. Game is a few minutes away.
2:18
Sorry, gang, some technical difficulties at HQ over here... Luckily, this was apparently a 2:30 start and no one told us. Off we go!
2:21
Good start there with a neutral zone turnover and two quick shots.
2:24
Exactly what the Rangers didn't want: Malkin's line matched with the Strudwick-Mara D pair. Good control in the Rangers zone, and an alert play by Lundqvist to stop the bank-shot try by Ryan Malone off Strudwick.
2:27
Both teams settling down a little. If Drury were a little bigger, he would've been whistled for obstructing Georges Laraque for sure. Pens are getting set up in the Rangers' zone well, though.
2:30
Jagr forced to play some D there and a fairly weak hooking call on No. 68... Rangers' PK has to be huge here.
2:34
Good anticipation by Lundqvist both on Malkin's one-timer and Malone's wrap try. Malone could've done more with that.
2:36
Nice shot by Korpikoski on his second shift. Kid knows you've got to throw pucks on net here, especially since the Rangers hadn't had a shot in several minutes.
2:42
Rangers' forwards are making sure to collapse down when Malkin or Crosby has the puck below the goal line. Each of them set up a goal that way in Game 1. And Ruutu took a dumb one there, taking his hand off the stick to grab Jagr. Borderline, but Ruutu doesn't get the benefit of the doubt.
2:45
Staal on the PP unit with Girardi, as Renney had in Game 4. Still don't love Girardi, and his confidence to shoot is iffy after making two gaffes to set up breakaways last game.
2:46
Ugly PP, and the Pens have the momentum with some chances at the close of their PK... See what happens out of this TV timeout.
2:50
Maybe some more frustration from the kid stars? Malkin takes a bone-headed penalty. Even if the Rangers' PP stinks, they're keeping the big guns of Pitt off the ice.
2:52
One of the biggest problems: Rangers don't have the D to manuever the PP from the top. They're not deft stick-handlers, so this is the result. And Dawes flipped one wide after the PP ended, wide open net. Rangers have now kept the Pens scoreless for four straight periods.
3:07
Couple minutes away from the second... Malkin and Crosby have made some plays, and the Pens are due for a PP opportunity, which would seem to be the way they're going to get on the board. If the Rangers can continue to frustrate the kid stars, Lundqvist especially, the Rangers can afford to be patient 5-on-5. Rangers PP needs an overhaul though.
3:13
Marian Hossa is a very good player, but seriously: If he'd buried half his chances this series, it'd be over already. Great play from Dupuis and Crosby, no finish from Hossa. And a great chance generated by Malkin there, and Drury is bloodied by Malone, with no call. Odd.
3:17
Amazing that they're chipping blood off the ice and not even a conference between the four officials. Pens taking advantage of Drury being out on faceoffs, Malkin misses a golden one there.
3:18
Here's the PP try for Pitt, with Jagr in for an offensive-zone trip of Malone. Bad play by the captain.
3:20
Great kill by the Rangers, and now they'll get the PP after a terrific effort by Strudwick draws a pretty weak slash call on Laraque. Good play with the extra attacker, maybe some momentum for the third PP.
3:25
Rangers probably wanted the penalty shot there with Malkin outworking Rozsival for the puck going on. Malkin doesn't like breakaways, remember? Another Pens PP, their third, and the Rangers PK (minus Drury, still getting stitched up) needs another huge kill.
3:27
Drury's back, the puck gets out of the zone right off the faceoff.
3:29
There it is. Too much scramble by the PK, with Hossa's great diving play (and Shanahan's ill-advised decision to try and rush out of the zone before the puck) keeping the puck in and Hossa burying a gimme from Malkin and Crosby... And Rozsival goes off again for a terrible decision to clearly pitch-fork Kennedy. Time out here?
3:33
Crucial kill if the Rangers have any chance of rallying. Only 1-0, but Pens have life after being shut down for over 100 minutes. Jagr needs a big shift here to get some offense going.
3:36
Lundqvist is doing his part, as is the goal post, which Crosby hits in tight. Rangers are being overwhelmed here.
3:38
Time to turn out the lights. Malkin just bulled Mara out of the way and rips a backhand behind Lundqvist. The kid stars of Pitt are no longer frustrated, and there is no stopping them today.
3:40
Another PP drawn by Jagr, but Tyutin and Girardi still at the points... Renney needs offense and puck movement, not caution anymore.
3:48
Penguins back on the PP courtesy of Rozsival, who is not making a good case for being re-signed. Rangers look gassed, mentally and physically, and Jagr is distracted by Ruutu and diving like he accused Crosby of doing.
3:51
Twenty minutes left in the Rangers' season... They are not the kind of team that can turn it around in such a short space of time here. Pressing will only lead to turnovers, and patience will only lead to soft wrist shots from the point that sail wide. Rangers fought hard, but it was the Penguins' power play, as predicted, that turned things around.
4:10
There's some fresh legs, and some life for the Rangers. Great rush by the kid, great shot, and a terribly passive play by Ryan Whitney to let Korpikoski get to the puck and fire it. Just what the Rangers needed. 2-1 Pitt.
4:14
Wow... Just, wow. Dawes makes his patented shootout move, between Fleury's legs, and the Rangers with two goals in less than 90 seconds by rookies ties the game. Didn't see this coming, eh?
4:19
Been a relentless six minutes before that stoppage... What a save by Lundqvist on Hossa on the doorstep. Mellon Arena seems awfully quiet now. Live blog is experiencing some technical difficulties -- maybe because it's so darn popular -- but I'm working on it!
4:25
Looks like the refs have put the whistles away, so this one will be won by effort. Right now, Rangers are winning that battle.
4:33
Another rare stoppage after a great drive to the net by Dawes and Callahan. Korpikoski with a brilliant rush earlier than ended with Tyutin missing the net as the trailer. Pens have gotten some play in the Rangers zone, but not with the speed they had in the second. Under three minutes left and the pace is fast, but determined, and the Rangers' young guys are driving the bus here, amazingly.
4:38
And the luck is not on the Rangers side today... Drury, cut by Malone earlier with no call, gets whistled for a 4-minute high stick when he cuts a Penguin I couldn't see on the bench. Even without a goal here in the final minute, Pens will start OT with a 2:41 PP... What a comeback, but the Rangers have to just fire pucks out to stave off the initial OT push by the Pens on the PP.
4:48
Sorry, gang, the new, exciting live blog is killing my computer... For OT, we'll stick with this. If the Rangers win, tomorrow night will be problem-free. For a lot of reasons, I'd say.
Predictions on the OT winner? Malkin or Crosby or Hossa for Pitt? Jagr, Gomez, Korpikoski for the Rangers? Who'd have thought I'd be typing Korpikoski? Desperation does some strange things.
4:57
Why would Marc Staal pass that shot up? Egad.
4:59
Huge, huge kill... But the Pens have the jump. Kennedy racing all over the zone, and the Rangers' D is tired. Big save by Lundqvist on Ruutu.
5:04
And that's all, folks... Crosby was out on that shift a while, but had the extra burst to get it into the zone past a tired Rangers' forward line, and the puck ricocheted right to Hossa, who buried it. Pens win the series, 4-1, even with a valiant comeback. The offseason begins now.
Comments (36)
We need to give Renney and Shanahan 10 year contract extension they are real winners.
Rozsival, what a defenseman. Rangers need to clean the house in the offseason.
All over but the tears.
Our only good player is Jager and he is leaving us.
Dawes is pathetic and Rosencrap is comical. Our youth blows !
Our youth "blows" because they don't get proper icetime from Renney and therefore lose confidence and don't have the freedom to be creative for fear of ending up back in AHL.
But our Vets really blow. Straka is innefective. Shanahan is garbage. Jagr is overrated. Rozsival is imploding. Gomez is invisible. Drury for such a "winner" he only got 5 points in 10 playoff games. Mara is average at best. Strudwick sucks.
Betts, take that, you ugly useless bastard.
How dumb do you feel Bob and JD ?? Way to give up on your team. Don't come back yapping later!
I feel smart, the young guys who I want to get more icetime produced.
Gill just got away with holding.
I wonder if Renney feels stupid for playing Betts for 3 seasons instead of somebody that can actually play and score as well as kill penalties.
scumbag selfish Shanahan made Korpikoski pass up a great opportunity.
Wow Drury, what an idiot, what an absolute moron.
Korpikoski looks terrific. I was very upset when we drafted him, now I am finally happy.
the refs didn't put their whistles away. they just made sure not to call anything against the Pens. sure enough, they saw an opportunity to call one against us and took full advantage of it. it's sickening that they've played a part in every game so far.
wahh wahhh wahhh the refs, wahh wahh crosby wahh wahhh
GOTTA LOVE PLAYOFF HOCKEY!!
Linda,
Got your congrats after the "live blog" closed... Your rangers gave us a good fight... looking forward to renewing the rivalry next year!
the non high stick call on Malone, cutting Drury
the 4 minute penalty on Drury cutting Malone
What more can be said other than that is the most horrendous officiating tragedy I have ever seen.
Absolutely unbelievable
Rangers stank in the 2nd period and it cost them. Renney is too soft on the vets and on the refs, but too critical and distrustful with the young players. The PP is a joke 3 years in a row.
"Why would Marc Staal pass that shot up? Egad."
that is what happens when a rookie learns from vets like Straka, Rozsival, etc. We need vets that are positive influence on young players, not those that teach them bad habits.
This team is toast. We blow donuts. We have no future. Lundquist was disgustingly bad.
#1, Gary, Anon and other aliases, You're right. There really is nothing better than playoff hockey. Especially when it flys right back in your face. The heart break of being eliminated in OT. Oh, wait a minute. I can hear it. That's the sound of your heart breaking. Now go back in your closet and cry yourself to sleep with your Hannah Montana doll.
Were the Pens offsides on that last play? Someone on NBC thought so.
If so, how appropriate.
Could the league make it any more obvious they wanted Cindy to win. The refs didn't even try to hide their bias this time. If the Rangers get Orpik and Hossa and play their games with no refs, they could actualy win something.
What a choke job by Lundquist. That last goal could of been saved by Charlie Brown
You guys are pathetic!!!!
And you actually write that stuff? Showing the hockey world how pathetic you really are.
Cry, Cry, Cry, The Refs are against us. Wah Wah Wah!!!!
How fitting. Cry in your Rags.
Kocur you are beyond embarassing yourself crying about calls.
Jagr dove every other play. The league would kill for NYC to be in the finals. Get a clue.
Pittsburgh Playoff Hockey ~ Is there anything better ????????
FOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The good news is now they can get the smell out of msg before the upcoming concert season. I mean it smells like cows in that dump.
Pittsburgh Playoff Hockey......Is there anything better ????
What CHOKE JOB by a team picked to win the cup. No heart!
All you non Ranger fans ....Go Away!
You are so useless here... not 1 intelligent thing to say all year... why do you waist your time?
What did Jagr do besides taking bad lazy hooking penalties?
Shanny... Please come back! You are a real stand up guy, well respected by all true hockey fans and we would really miss your leadership!
Quick impressions:
Shoot Roszival and Marshmalik.
Listen to Messier - exile Renney.
Hand Straka golf clubs, brochures on tropical golf for the fall.
Shanny - did someone say you can't have a player-coach? Figured if he say 20 or 30 and no PK, he might still have a little - at a low salary.
..and maybe, just maybe, this macho sport may have room for a Ranger named Laurie next year?
Ditch Hollweg. Desire is good. Talent is better.
And the Betts and Orrs can compete for slots.
Jagr at a good price is worth returning. Valley could cash in a few bucks. OK by me.
The Dawes, Callahans, Dubinsky, Staal, Girardis are the future. Tyutin MAY be. I'm not as sure any more.
Great effort in this final game. Pick up Oprik and Hossa and if Brian Campbell is available and he can fit under the cap, grab him.
No gain this season, damn shame.
remember when you guys made fun of the islanders for complaining about the refs in their series with buffalo last year?
Next season:
Dawes-Dubinsky-Drury
Prucha-Gomez-UFA
Avery-Anisimov-Callahan
Byers-Moore-Korpikoski
Sjostrom
Orr
Orpik-Staal
Girardi-Sauer
Tyutin-Sanguinetti
Baranka
Potter
Lundqvist
Leneveu
Get this straight STRANGER FANS. The ONLY reason your sorry team even made the playoffs is your goaltender.
Now stop the ref whining (Zipay, bob, especially leetchpic2, especially Dude, Randy, especially Kocur). Be men ( I know it's IMPOSSIBLE for a STRANGER fan to be a man tho') and just admit the better team won!
Cause 4 in a row and 19 in a row will always be the benchmark of New York City area hockey!
Something your STRANGER team will NEVER EVER accomplish!
playoff hockey - we made fun of the Isles fans throwing garbage on the ice not the players themselves. Guys like Smyth knew to get out while the going was good and not be associated with that fan base.
Shat - 26 yrs and counting. nothing like living in the present - 16 yrs and counting since your team has won a series.
To the people who were on the live blog today, I want to thank you for making this a little easier to take! It's been great reading your postings on Zips blog, and hopefully I can join you next season! For some reason, whenever I try to post, it doesn't work, so I'm trying this again.
to playoff hockey:
last year during the Isles/Sabres series, I posted on the Islander blog AGREEING with their fans about the officiating. I think the horrible officiating started to become pretty apparent with that series, and has gotten progressively worse. But as we're all coming to understand, nothing is going to be done about it and the players are going to have to overcome the bad calls and non calls on a nightly basis, and that's for EVERY team.
It's always good conversation to chat with fans of other teams when they arent being infantile. Arrogance and ignorance tend to ruin good banter, and that's a shame because fans of other teams can sometimes point out things we may not see.
lenny: I pray they buy out Hollweg. The guy is a catastrophe on ice. Tyutin and Roszival seemed to lapse this season, and it's doubtful Struds will be back, so a 'young veteran' defenseman would be nice to have to get the young guys in a better groove. Orpik, Hossa and Campbell, i think MOST teams are gonna go after those guys IF they don't resign with their current teams.
I try to not look at my team through blinders, and have complained about the power play for the past 2 seasons. Something needs to be done. Renney needs to trust the young guys, they want to prove themselves. Renney was loyal to a fault to certain guys on this team who should have been scratched a few games here and there. I just hope that Dubinsky doesn't become Prucha 08-09.
Thanks again guys, reading your comments on this blog have made it easier to get through the hockey season being down here in the south!