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2015 Stanley Cup playoffs

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Cosmo, Apr 14, 2015.

Page 7 of 34
  1. bigpern23

    bigpern23 Well-Known Member

    I like Vigneault a lot. This team is so much more fun to watch than it was under Tortorella.
     
    bigpern23, Apr 23, 2015
    #73
  2. mjp1542

    mjp1542 Member

    And everyone forgets Olli Maatta, who missed the entire year for the most part with shoulder issues and thyroid cancer. Him, Letang and Ehrhoff are the top three puck movers on the back line. The coaches have had to change their entire breakout because the defensemen they're using right now just can't do it the way they want them to. It's basic stuff now, which requires the forwards to track back more and play a longer game.

    Give the Penguins their full health (Malkin included, because he's going about 60 percent now), and this series might be flipped around. Might. Because the Rangers would probably be playing better if that was the case, too. It at least would be more interesting. But they don't base Cups on what-ifs.

    And spare me the Fleury average stuff. He's been very good since the start of last season. He's far from a problem. He's been their best playoff player the past two seasons, with ONE hiccup last year in Columbus. Otherwise, fantastic.
     
    mjp1542, Apr 23, 2015
    #74
  3. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    @mjp1542 , I think you are smart to say might. Put those defensemen back in and have the Pens trying to play a game of breakout passes and the forwards breaking up the ice and I think the Rangers would have eaten them up. In fact, healthy, I can't see how the Pens would have tried that.

    That was the Rangers bread and butter all year. Teams trying to play straight up with them, and the Rangers turning the tables on them doing it even better. Quick breakout passes and forwards streaking -- and they are faster than almost every team, and have some defensemen who are really good at those breakout passes -- even better now than they were early in the season, because of the addition of Keith Yandle.

    That is NOT a game I think the Penguins could / would have win / won against the Rangers. The fact that they were saddled with this defense has actually worked to their advantage, in a weird way, I think. It has basically been a game-long neutral zone trap and they have done it really well and kept the games close that way.
     
    The Big Ragu, Apr 23, 2015
    #75
  4. JC

    JC Well-Known Member

    @mjp1542

    Spare me the fan boy Fleury stuff, they had Vokun starting playoff games not long ago. He's had a good year, no doubt but someone called him a superstar, not remotely close.
     
    JC, Apr 23, 2015
    #76
  5. JC

    JC Well-Known Member

    Ragu, the Pens wouldn't have changed their game one bit, they just wod have had better defensemangetting the puck to Malkin and Crosby.

    It's ridiculous to say the injuries have benefited them. It's an odd argument to make considering who they are missing. They are a far better possession team with those guys.
     
    JC, Apr 23, 2015
    #77
  6. The Big Ragu

    The Big Ragu Moderator Staff Member

    I was responding to the posts saying that without the injuries the Pens are ahead in this series.

    We can't know, because they are playing the hand they have.

    But I was saying that it looks to me like the injuries forced them to play the exact type of game that was about the only hope the Penguins had--with or without the injured defensemen--of keeping the games close.

    If you are playing a neutral-zone trap all game and your defensemen haven't been pinching a lot--what has worked for Pittsburgh, and the reason these games have been close--it takes away what Christian Erhoff and Kris Letang would have brought to the table. If you have Erhoff trying to skate the puck up the ice or going deep into the offensive zone--and that is what he does--these are way more wide open games, and games I am guessing aren't as close because it plays to the Rangers strengths. If Pittsburgh was playing that way, I think it would work to their detriment.

    So at best, they'd have some more skilled defensemen in the lineup, but enough coaching smarts to put handcuffs on them -- stay at home and don't pinch. The thing is, their replacements have done a really good job of that. That's why I just don't see how that is the difference in this series.
     
    The Big Ragu, Apr 23, 2015
    #78
  7. JC

    JC Well-Known Member

    I think you are really overthinking this Ragu.

    I have no idea if they'd be winning but those players make their Offense so much better.

    The first pass is so important and it's not just on the breakout, it's mainting possession.

    Rangers are far deeper and have superior coaching. The X factor is always Crosby and Malkin and they are better players with the d they are missing.
     
    JC, Apr 23, 2015
    #79
  8. 93Devil

    93Devil Well-Known Member

    Tom Barrasso was one of the greatest passing goalies I have ever seen, and his name is on the Cup twice. He was decent, at best, at stopping pucks, but, man, could he pass.

    Zubov and Coffey and others never seem to play on bad teams.
     
    93Devil, Apr 23, 2015
    #80
  9. Liut

    Liut Well-Known Member

    Reminds somewhat of Clint Malarchuk.

    As it is, Q is expected to name his Game 6 starter when he meets with reporters at 1:30 central.
     
    Liut, Apr 24, 2015
    #81
  10. da man

    da man Well-Known Member

    Maybe he'll name 007 the starter.
     
    da man, Apr 24, 2015
    #82
    Liut and I Should Coco like this.
  11. Liut

    Liut Well-Known Member

    LOL! I set myself up nicely for that, didn't I?
     
    Liut, Apr 24, 2015
    #83
  12. da man

    da man Well-Known Member

    Put yourself right in the crosshairs.

    [​IMG]
     
    da man, Apr 24, 2015
    #84
    Liut likes this.
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