toronto

[COOL MAN]

Looks like potential for an Ehrhoff return has been badly overstated.....from what I can glean, he's really not close to returning. But what I can't figure out is this talk last week about him being day-to-day; from today's Tweets, it sounds as though that he's quite some distance from playing. Makes me wonder if he took some contact during practice and came out much the worse for wear.....anyway, mucho talk today about his recovery having "flat-lined"

Meanwhile, nothing really new on Pouliot's status.....though it sounds as though he was on the ice today with Harrington, apparently indicating he's currently part of the 4th pairing (and I guess he was also taking some SOG solo with the coaching Staff). I guess that means he's not playing tonight.....or perhaps even Wednesday.....but maybe they're hoping for him by Game 5 in NY on Friday.



This post was edited on 4/20 2:37 PM by COOL MAN

 

[torontoeers]

Originally posted by COOL MAN:
Looks like potential for an Ehrhoff return has been badly overstated.....from what I can glean, he's really not close to returning. But what I can't figure out is this talk last week about him being day-to-day; from today's Tweets, it sounds as though that he's quite some distance from playing. Makes me wonder if he took some contact during practice and came out much the worse for wear.....anyway, mucho talk today about his recovery having "flat-lined"

Meanwhile, nothing really new on Pouliot's status.....though it sounds as though he was on the ice today with Harrington, apparently indicating he's currently part of the 4th pairing (and I guess he was also taking some SOG solo with the coaching Staff). I guess that means he's not playing tonight.....or perhaps even Wednesday.....but maybe they're hoping for him by Game 5 in NY on Friday.



This post was edited on 4/20 2:37 PM by COOL MAN

Uh oh...well at least as you mentioned the other day the call ups specifically Chorney al though not world beaters haven't looked terrible. They really competed on Sat night, and we hope for more of same. Also as you mention getting Martin off that 1st pp pairing would help greatly in giving him some rest...but I guess with this news we're going to see a consistent dose of him back there.

Heard on radio today, and actually looked up...Jets tickets for tonights game 3? A whopping $550 for end nosebleeds each! Lower bowl ends? $1550 each! If you wanted a single would run bout 900 bucks lol! Holy crap I think this is more than the average Winnipeg'er makes in a month!!! I'll definitely be flipping over round 8.30 to see what kind of madhouse MTS Centre is tonight....

Hopefully our crowd at home can be just as loud! Pens will need as much lift as possible to squeak out a win...Let's Go!!!

 

[COOL MAN]

Originally posted by torontoeers:

Uh oh...well at least as you mentioned the other day the call ups specifically Chorney al though not world beaters haven't looked terrible. They really competed on Sat night, and we hope for more of same. Also as you mention getting Martin off that 1st pp pairing would help greatly in giving him some rest...but I guess with this news we're going to see a consistent dose of him back there.

Heard on radio today, and actually looked up...Jets tickets for tonights game 3? A whopping $550 for end nosebleeds each! Lower bowl ends? $1550 each! If you wanted a single would run bout 900 bucks lol! Holy crap I think this is more than the average Winnipeg'er makes in a month!!! I'll definitely be flipping over round 8.30 to see what kind of madhouse MTS Centre is tonight....

Hopefully our crowd at home can be just as loud! Pens will need as much lift as possible to squeak out a win...Let's Go!!!

Speaking only for myself, I don't get any impression that a Penguins crowd even remotely meets the standards of one in one of the looney bins like Ottawa or Winnipeg (or established Original 6 places like Montreal or Toronto, for that matter). Then again, when your fans are hoping you you win......rather than expecting you to win.....the dynamic is fairly significantly different.

To that extent, this is the single most atypical Penguins home playoff game we've seen since Sid established himself in Pittsburgh. But while the Pens have earned at least some manner of respect even from the cement heads for the last 5 periods, most still figure this as no worse than a 5 (or maybe 6) game series in favor of the NYR. For that reason alone, tonight should (or at perhaps better) be the best crowd ever at Consol Energy Center.

Of course, we all know that good teams find a way to overcome this kind of thing all the time in the NHL playoffs; like the Canadiens did last night in Ottawa. But in any series which is 1-1, each successive game becomes the biggest (though Game 3 is always bigger for the underdog going home).

 

[torontoeers]

It is becoming BRUTALLY apparent we are also playing the refs...I figured we might get a call or two at home, nope....a love tap and coresponding dive earns you the box, yet hold up Sid from gaining the zone as much as you like...BS. I usually don't complain about the officiating but man alive!!!!

This post was edited on 4/20 7:33 PM by torontoeers

 

[COOL MAN]

Stripes simply aren't calling the basic holding (or interference) minors in this series; only stick fouls.

I haven't watched the others playoff series' as closely, but I do find myself wondering if every one is polluted with stick calls (or if the Pens simply get their sticks up more than anyone else). No question Cole cross-checked on his penalty; but you see far worse ones than that all the time. Of course, Subban picked up a major and a game for his chop on the Stone kid; makes me wonder if he's penalized identically during a regular season game ???

Meanwhile, NYR are a much different team tonight; but at least the Pens evened things up in the latter part of the period. But the Pens just can't seem to get a break; Hagelin takes the stretch pass perfectly and squeezes it through, while Sid cleanly beats Lundqvist far side and draws iron. Perron is in absolute slow motion; I'm starting to think he's playing hurt......and to me, Geno looks more hurt tonight than he has in the first two games.

It'd be nice to see Hornqvist actually do something, too......

 

[bEER_Nation13]

If I was the coach, I'd take my team off the ice. Send a message to this very biased terrible league.

LaPierre hooked like crazy on a breakaway. No call, then Rangers score. Unbelievable. I've never been so mad in my life. Just scummy officiating.

 

[torontoeers]

One thing I am wondering is if Nikki Hoplock is at the game tonight in The Peg?

 

[torontoeers]

Heck of an effort at the end...FINALLY, but too little too late. If those shots they also finally started taking from the point were by Letang or even Pouliot? They are BURIED! Damn....Also liked the jam that Horny showed in the third...nice to see him give Hagelin the face in the ice 'talking to' re: sparing with the Captain....

 

[COOL MAN]

Heck of an effort at the end...FINALLY, but too little too late. If those shots they also finally started taking from the point were by Letang or even Pouliot? They are BURIED! Damn....Also liked the jam that Horny showed in the third...nice to see him give Hagelin the face in the ice 'talking to' re: sparing with the Captain....

Still a good, close series......though last night may proven this particular Penguins team may not have enough to push itself over the hump over the course of 7 games (or less).

Rangers probably just have too much sheer talent for this team to overcome......as you quite accurately note.....the loss of Letang which we've probably been just a little too willing to dismiss (along with the fact Geno still appears miles from being full-strength). But like you, I'd sure like to see if Pouliot can make a difference, though; when your "best" offensive weapons at the blue line are Taylor Chorney, Ian Cole, and Ben Lovejoy, you know you have some serious issues.

Speaking of Ian Cole, he had a very bad game; took the cross-checking penalty......which wasn't a bad call when you know ahead of time the stripes are on the lookout for these exact kinds of infractions..... and was on the ice for both NYR goals (and was totally lost on Kreider's game winner). But man, why this team entire team spent two full periods trying to carry the puck through center ice against 3-4 Rangers defensemen is something hard to fathom (even for a guy like me who's never actually played the game).

Meanwhile, glad to see Hornqvist finally get energized though; he's a clear difference maker for this team......and light years more useful to the Penguins this time of year than a guy like James Neal who remains a poor man's Ovechkin and simply must find open ice (which shrinks dramatically this time of year) to be effective. Anyway, even with their current limitations, this series is far from over; and anyone on this team looking to feel sorry for himself should be deactivated.

FInally, I liked that scrum after the final horn; nothing wrong with a little bad blood coming to the surface for either team.

 

[Doctor Doom]

I'll end this debate now.

 

[COOL MAN]

Oh, and the latest rumor out of Pittsburgh early this morning is that GMJR is finished after this season.....supposedly owing to his mishandling of the cap.

The story is that he'll be asked (or perhaps instructed) to resign to avoid a perception the team canned two GM's in two years. I assume he has a multi-year deal which the team will pay off if he follows their instructions.

This same rumormonger (Pensblog) states his replacement will be Billy Guerin; though why they don't elevate Jason Botteril is something I wouldn't understand......that is, unless Mario doesn't view him as the long-term solution after all.

 

[torontoeers]

Wow! Guerin eh? He's certainly made a rather rapid rise through the ranks...I think Botteril should be given solid consideration as well...Since the experienced guy has already failed in some people's eyes, I suppose they wouldn't go that route? Personally I liked a lot of the things GMJR did this year, and a few minor things not so much. IMO he's been dealt some pretty severe cards, which were beyond his control, and think Botteril is likely doing what he can to assist him along the way with what are going to be rather onerous conditions soon...

Another reminder of the injury pain was the 2 or 3 camera shots of Dupuis up in the press box and skating in practice...gotta be killing him to be sitting and watching at this point!

 

[torontoeers]

Doom...I'll see your one...and raise you 5!

 

[COOL MAN]

Wow! Guerin eh? He's certainly made a rather rapid rise through the ranks...I think Botteril should be given solid consideration as well...Since the experienced guy has already failed in some people's eyes, I suppose they wouldn't go that route? Personally I liked a lot of the things GMJR did this year, and a few minor things not so much. IMO he's been dealt some pretty severe cards, which were beyond his control, and think Botteril is likely doing what he can to assist him along the way with what are going to be rather onerous conditions soon...Another reminder of the injury pain was the 2 or 3 camera shots of Dupuis up in the press box and skating in practice...gotta be killing him to be sitting and watching at this point!

It's been a rough couple days for GMJR; local scribe Rob Rossi wrote the following yesterday:

General manager Jim Rutherford lost his cool after the Penguins' 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Monday night to fall within two defeats of a first-round elimination in the Stanley Cup playoffs. After exiting a media elevator and while walking with other reporters to the Penguins' dressing room, Rutherford addressed this columnist, a frequent critic since his hiring last June, in an obscenity-laced diatribe.“Thanks for your support,” Rutherford said repeatedly.“You're a (expletive) jerk,” Rutherford said repeatedly. Rutherford followed the jerk comment with a suggestion to “go sell ice cream now,” then a challenge to look him in the eye, which I did while explaining my role as Trib Total Media's lead sports columnist.

This morning, Rossi's cohorts are still talking about it. But for the record, Dejan Kovavcevic.....a reputable local blogger with a history of covering the Pirates and Penguins as beat writer for Rossi's rag.....said this "explosion" by GMJR has been totally misreported by Rossi. Claimed on Twitter he was standing 5 feet away from the two of them and couldn't hear a thing. So, the entire story is up for grabs.

Of course, unless things turn around.....and fast......Rossi is in a position to keep piling on Rutherford until he, well, leaves (which we now know is rumored). Add to that the fact that Johnston is now being blamed for not going all-Michel Therrien on the stripes (and the League) over the officiating, and the couple-day holiday we enjoyed after Game 2 could be a distant memory by this time tomorrow......and the season gone before the weekend.

Like you, I liked a number of GMJR's moves (and didn't like others). Felt the same way about Ray Shero, too. As you know, his biggest problem is that he came into Pittsburgh viewed as having been fleeced by Shero in the Jordan Staal trade. And, he obviously didn't help himself with anyone after the Semin deal. That's given the locals room to go bananas over Despres-for-Lovejoy......which Rutherford later admitted publicly was not in the best interests of the team long-term....... and also claim he overpaid to get Winnik.

I still think most locally viewed the Perron trade as a good one at the time; though I don't think anyone (including yours truly) could have possibly envisioned their first rounder to end up as high as #16 (I myself expected it to be closer to #25). And, I also don't think anyone would have reasonably expected Perron.....who really started off quite nicely...... to fall off the side of the earth so completely in the final 1/3 of the season.

Anyway, while I still don't think anyone should expect the Penguins to win this series, I think most fans will be pretty unhappy if they lose their second in a row tonight at home......and then go out quietly in 5.

 

[Euell]

Doom...I'll see your one...and raise you 5!

Those ladies have a better chance of scoring than the Pens offense currently.