What is it about the New York Rangers that gets under the Penguins skin? Last season despite dominating an admittedly weak Metropolitan Division, Pittsburgh found it tough to beat the Rangers. All that seemed to be forgotten about when the Pens took a 3-1 series lead, however, with one foot in the Conference Finals Pittsburgh somehow threw away the series to an inferior opponent, that lead to coach Dan Bylsma and GM Ray Shero losing their jobs. Going into this game the Penguins had won seven in a row, allowing eight goals, and had killed off 37 consecutive power plays. Zuccarello, St. Louis and Klein scored 6:24 apart to give New York a 3-0 lead at 14:47 of the first period. Defensive-zone turnovers by the Penguins led to each of the three goals, but they were turnovers forced by aggressive pressure from the Rangers. Johnston admitted the pressure from the Rangers was problematic for the Penguins, but he also blamed his players for not competing hard enough on loose pucks. Brassard's goal, which gave New York a 4-0 lead, was the first power-play goal the Penguins allowed since Oct. 16, when Tyler Seguin scored with 2.9 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win. Pittsburgh extended their penalty-kill streak to 39 before Brassard beat Fleury with a hard wrist shot from the left circle that went over Fleury's glove and into the top-right corner of the net. Not only did the Rangers solve the Penguins penalty kill, they stymied Pittsburgh's League-best power play. The Penguins, who entered the game with a power play clicking at 37.5 percent, were 0-for-3 and allowed Nash's shorthanded goal. It was Nash's goal, which put the Rangers up 5-0, that finally allowed Lundqvist to feel like the lead was safe and the game was in hand. He was worried about the Penguins’ quick-strike ability. A quick decision from forward Tanner Glass sparked the Rangers early in the game. Pittsburgh was inches away from taking a 1-0 lead 58 seconds before Zuccarello scored the first New York goal when Spaling's shot from above the left circle squeezed through Lundqvist. Glass came back, reached out his stick and cleared the puck off the goal line. The odious Derick Brassard was called for roughing with Patric Hornqvist at 5:37 of the second, with John Moore and Steve Downie also getting called at 9:15 of the same period.
The media in New York is notoriously fierce, biased and arrogant towards their sports teams. The Rangers as an organisation, as well as their fans, are much the same. Why? god only knows. During the 'Original Six' era the Rangers were the least successful franchise, winning only three Stanley Cups, when they only had five opponents. Compare that to Montreal's 15 championships during that same era, or Toronto's 13, and the they should feel embarrassed. The most successful American team during that time were the Detroit Red Wings, with 7. Ironically, their cross-city rivals the Islanders, were able to have a golden era throughout the early 1980s, making five-straight Stanley Cup Finals appearances, winning four of them. That sort of Dynasty was something the Rangers can only dream about. So given those stats, the Rangers historically have never been a 'big team'. Why do they assume the mantle of one then?
This is a team that couldn't win even when they had the 'Great one' in their team. This is a team that collected super stars like they were going out of fashion, but could not forge a winning team. This is a team that missed the play-offs for eight, yes eight! straight seasons. All the time the media, the organisation, the fans all arrogantly believed they could win more championships, Wrong!
As a Pens fan it goes without saying I despise the Flyers and Capitals. The Islanders are not far behind either given their goon tactics of 2011. But the Rangers are fast joining that list of teams. Every time a match-up between the two looms, my skin crawls, in only a way that a Newcastle United v 5under1and derby game does. With each defeat the anger at losing to this vile franchise, builds. When the Pens finally do find a way to solve them, boy its going to feel so good.
The Penguins and Rangers play again Saturday, this time at Consol Energy Center. At least that means Pittsburgh don't have to deal with the Vile New York Fans.
Pens Quotes
Mike Johnston: "I think it was preparation. It's from the coaches to the players. We had to be a lot better prepared in the first 10 minutes than we were. I thought the second part of it was our response. Once we saw the level they were coming out with and how they were playing we had to respond, and I think it took us just way too long to respond. You have to engage when you're going for those loose pucks, and I didn't think we had the same level of intensity that we've normally had."
Opposition View
This section has been intentionally left blank as nothing the Rangers players have to say is worthy of making it onto this blog. To quote the late great Brian Clough, 'I don't talk to cheating bastards'
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