A couple of weeks ago a friend reminded me that over the course of a season there are teams that you are supposed to beat and you have to be happy when you do, no matter how you went about doing it. I guess that means that we are supposed to be happy after tonight's 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins ... he never said it would be easy.
The game was a choppy battle between two teams to see who cared less and Pittsburgh won. The Penguins were horrifically bad, and it is of little wonder that Cole Harbour Crybaby Cindy Crosby is in a frustrated funk. His team sucked. While we were celebrating the two Ranger power play goals, Penguin fans had to be regretting the decision to let Ty Conklin go in the offseason. Both shots - one that was deflected and the other through a smattering of traffic - were intensely savable. Where Marc-Andre Fleury couldn't make the big stop, Henrik Lundqvist made the key save early on - a beautiful kick save on Cindy. After that, the Pens barely challenged him and let him get away with his first shutout of the season. As my buddy Mr. X from the Blue Seats said, it was a terrible game but at least it was entertaining.
What it comes down to is that this Ranger win was a small-but-positive step towards regaining some credibility and some momentum heading into the stretch run. Wednesday's match-up against the Canadiens will be the true test ... but before then, some ice chips from tonight:
*Isn't hockey a wonderful game of inches? I counted five saves by the iron tonight, two of which were behind Hank early in the first period. If either one went in?? Different game.
*If Cindy Crosby had some decent linemates? Different game. He was so much fun to watch - getting kicked out of faceoff circles, making bad passes, crying to the refs, taking bad penalties, diving, getting marginalized by Dmitri Kalinin ... and the Ranger crowd chanting "Crosby Sucks" and "Croooooooossssssssbbbbbbbbyyyyy, Croooooooossssssssbbbbbbbbyyyyy?" Priceless! *Quick Off Topic Question: Why didn't the linesmen jump in on Crosby's "fight" against Florida's Brett McLean? McLean clearly didn't want to fight and was instantly disadvantaged with the jersey over his head. Oh yeah, that's right, because Cindy gets the benefit of the doubt when it comes to officiating.
*But back to the chants at the Garden on this evening, there were fans near me chanting "MVP" for Nigel Dawes by the end of the game. While I think that was
*Sadly that doesn't include Lauri Koprikoski, who was seemingly scratched for no reason. His replacement Aaron Voros didn't do much bad, but he didn't do much good. Where Prucha came out of the gates after his scratches like a bat outta hell, Voros stepped back on the ice and lumbered around, missed some hits and was generally invisible.
*Also wearing the invisibility cloak was Markus Naslund. The only time that I noticed the former Swedish superstar was in the third period when Max Talbot attempted to provoke him with a few cross checks and jabs. Nazzy is a guy who was supposed to be a key cog in the offense and he seems to be spinning off on his own of late.
*Nik Zherdev on the other hand, seems to be playing himself into oblivion. Every game he makes some move - a quick burst of speed, a sidestep around a defender, a pretty deke, something - that proves that he has the talent. He is just proving the Columbus folks right by showing he doesn't have the desire ...
*Interesting sequence late in the third period: Colton Orr hits Cindy, Brooks Orpik chases after him and gives him a big open ice elbow that Orr shakes off. No call and the play continues so when they came back down the ice again, Orr gives Orpik an elbow and the Penguin defenseman snaps his head back like he was shot. Orr gets a penalty. Then, to top it off, Michal Therrien has nothing better to do than to time the end of the penalty so his goon, Eric Goddard, can be at the door to challenge Orr. Orr then proceeds to go all Joey Kocur on him, delivering haymaker after haymaker to Goddard's helmet. His poor knuckles. *While Orrsie was in the box, Therrien gambled by pulling Fleury to get a 6-on-4 as his team was down by three goals with three and a half minutes left. It was a ballsie move that backfired as Scott Gomez was finally able to use his speed (and tendency to cherry pick and not play defense) for good to beat everyone down ice and pot the charity shot. Gomez, who got an assist by winning the faceoff to Paul Mara earlier in the game, had a nice effort on paper but in reality was little better than he has been of late. It is so frustrating to see him skate into traffic only to dump the puck into the corner or make a pass that puts his linemate (whoever it is on that given shift) in a poor position. While we can't give up on him, here is a suggestion: the power play would be better served having him as the distributor working from the point rather than on the midboards. He doesn't have Jagr's strength (or vision) and he gets caught in coverage there, dragging down his whole unit.
*It is hard to get a good gauge as to how the Ranger blueline played when their opponents were so bad. The Pens had trouble connecting on passes, passed up on good shooting positions and rarely went hard to the net. I mean, Rozy looked like he continued his slow improvement back into a NHL defender, Marc Staal and Dan Girardi both looked ok, Mara scored, Redden didn't do anything to screw up and Dmitri Kalinin hit the crossbar with a shot.
*And, while Freddie Sjostrom and Blair Betts will never be mistaken for Detroit's Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper, they are proving to be a fantastic penalty killing tandem. If only they could generate a little more offense at regular strength ...
*PHW Three Stars3-Nigel Dawes - one goal and one assist.
2-Paul Mara - one goal and one assist.
1-Henrik Lundqvist - 27 save shutout.
Scotty Hockey Three Stars
3-Hank - A shutout is a shutout and kudos to the King, even if he ruled over a decimated, punchless foe.
2-Pru - I would say that the way he is playing, Tom Renney couldn't possibly put him back on the bench but the clueless coach has done dumber things so anything goes.
1-Dawsie - Yes, the shot he took on the power play was deflected but his game was so much more than his early goal. He seems to have taken a page from Cally's book and started physically forechecking and it has served him quite well. That, combined with a new willingness to shoot, has resulted in the player we were hoping for last season.
24-14-3: Picking On The Passionless Pens
In the world of sports, rivalries are the lifeblood that adds excitement and drama to the games we love. In the NHL, few rivalries have been as intense and storied as the battles between the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Over the years, these two teams have clashed in epic contests that have defined eras, sparked feuds, and thrilled fans. In this article, we delve into the history of this rivalry, some of its most memorable moments, and what makes it so special.
I. Origins of the Rivalry
1991 and Beyond: The modern rivalry between the Rangers and the Penguins took shape in the early 1990s when the Penguins, led by Mario Lemieux, and the Rangers, with Mark Messier at the helm, were among the NHL's top teams.
Stanley Cup Faceoffs: The rivalry truly heated up during the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs when the teams faced each other in the postseason in back-to-back years.
II. Iconic Moments
The "Guarantee": In Game 6 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, Mark Messier famously guaranteed a victory against the New Jersey Devils. He delivered on that promise, and the Rangers went on to win the Stanley Cup. This moment remains etched in Rangers lore.
1992 Patrick Division Final: The Rangers and Penguins faced off in the playoffs, with the Penguins winning a seven-game series. This was a precursor to their intense matchups in the following years.
III. Key Players in the Rivalry
Mark Messier (Rangers): Messier, the Rangers' captain, was a driving force in the rivalry during his time in New York. His leadership and performances in key moments defined the era.
Mario Lemieux (Penguins): Lemieux, often regarded as one of the greatest players in NHL history, was the face of the Penguins and a constant threat to the Rangers.
IV. Recent Renewal
2008 and 2015 Playoffs: The rivalry was reignited in the 2008 and 2015 playoffs when the Rangers and Penguins faced each other multiple times. These series added new chapters to their storied history.
Crosby vs. Lundqvist: The individual duel between Sidney Crosby, the Penguins' captain, and Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers' star goaltender, has been a highlight of recent matchups.
V. What Makes This Rivalry Special
High-Scoring Affairs: The games between these two teams have often been high-scoring affairs, with star players on both sides lighting up the scoreboard.
Playoff Drama: Many of the most memorable moments in this rivalry have occurred in the playoffs, where the intensity and stakes are at their highest.
Shared Success: Both the Rangers and Penguins have enjoyed success in the form of Stanley Cup championships, adding to the competitive nature of their rivalry.
FAQs about the Rangers-Penguins Rivalry
Q1: How many times have the Rangers and Penguins faced each other in the playoffs?
A1: The Rangers and Penguins have met in the playoffs numerous times, with memorable matchups in the 1990s and more recent series in the 2000s and 2010s.
Q2: Who holds the record for the most goals scored in Rangers-Penguins matchups?
A2: Mario Lemieux and Mark Messier, two of the NHL's all-time greats, have both scored a significant number of goals in Rangers-Penguins games.
Q3: What is the most memorable playoff series between these two teams?
A3: The 1992 Patrick Division Final stands out as one of the most memorable playoff series between the Rangers and Penguins.
The rivalry between the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins is a testament to the passion and excitement that hockey brings to fans. From the heroics of Mark Messier to the brilliance of Mario Lemieux, this rivalry has seen some of the NHL's greatest players and moments. Whether in the regular season or the playoffs, games between these two teams are guaranteed to be thrilling and fiercely competitive, making this rivalry one of the most cherished in the world of sports.
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