GDT [RS] (#72) Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins — Black & Gold Gonna Fold

[Phil]

REGULAR SEASON GAME #72 — 4/7/22

vs.

Location: Madison Square Garden — New York, NY
Time: 7:00 PM
TV: ESPN+, HULU, SNE, SNW, SNP
Radio: 98.7 FM, 107.1 FM, 710 AM, Sirius XM

USEFUL LINKS:

Coverage: @NYP_Brooksie • @StapeAthletic • @ColinSNewsday • @vzmercogliano

Team Official: @NYRangers • NYR on Instagram

Official Team Websites: nhl.com/rangers • nhl.com/penguins

 

GameCenter - here

 

---

Standings:

RECORD:

POSITION:

ROW:

P%:

HOME:

AWAY:

S/O:

LAST 10:

STREAK:

45-20-6 (96 Points)

2nd — Metropolitan

41

.676

22-7-4

23-13-2

4-3

7-2-1

W1

Team Statistics:

DIFF:

GF/GP:

GA/GP:

PP%:

PK%:

Corsi For (CF)%:

+31 (T-10th)

3.00 (18th)

2.58 (3rd)

26.8% (2nd)

81.3% (9th)

46.7% (25th)

Team Leaders:

Goals:

Assists:

Points:

+/-:

PIM:

TOI/G (D):

TOI/G (F):

Chris Kreider (47)

Artemi Panarin (65)

Artemi Panarin (84)

Mika Zibanejad (+26)

Jacob Trouba (80)

Adam Fox (24:04)

Mika Zibanejad (19:41)

Starting Lineup:^

Chris Kreider A  / Mika Zibanejad A  / Frank Vatrano
Artemi Panarin A  /  Ryan Strome A  / Andrew Copp 
Alexis Lafrenière  / Filip Chytil  / Barclay Goodrow A 
 Tyler Motte  / Jonny Brodzinski  / Dryden Hunt 

Ryan Lindgren / Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller / Jacob Trouba A
Justin Braun  / Braden Schneider

^Subject to change

Starting Goaltender:

Igor Shesterkin
 

GS:

REC:

SV%:

GAA:

SO:

45

32-10-4

.933

2.14

3

Healthy Scratches:

Ryan Reaves , Patrik Nemeth , Greg McKegg , Julien Gauthier

Injuries, Suspensions, Misc:

Sammy Blais [IR] — Knee surgery; Out for season

Kaapo Kakko [IR] — Upper-body injury

Kevin Rooney [IR] — Upper-body injury

 

Libor Hajek [DTD] — Suffering from a severe case of Stinky-19

 

---

Standings:

RECORD:

POSITION:

ROW:

P%:

HOME:

AWAY:

S/O:

LAST 10:

STREAK:

41-20-10 (92 Points)

3rd — Metropolitan

38

.648

19-11-5

22-9-5

3-6

5-4-1

L2

Team Statistics:

DIFF:

GF/GP:

GA/GP:

PP%:

PK%:

Corsi For (CF)%:

+43 (7th)

3.30 (11th)

2.65 (4th)

21.8 (15th)

85.8 (2nd)

52.4 (9th)

Team Leaders:

Goals:

Assists:

Points:

+/-:

PIM:

TOI/G (D):

TOI/G (F):

Jake Guentzel (33)

Kris Letang (53)

Sidney Crosby (72)

Brian Dumoulin (+21)

Kris Letang (45)

Kris Letang (25:43)

Jake Guentzel (19:45)

Starting Lineup:^

Jake Guentzel / Sidney Crosby C / Bryan Rust
Rickard Rakell / Evgeni Malkin A / Jeff Carter
Evan Rodrigues / Teddy Blueger / Kasperi Kapanen
Danton Heinen / Brian Boyle / Anthony Angello

 

Brian Dumoulin / Kris Letang A
Michael Matheson / John Marino
Mark Friedman / Chad Ruhwedel

^Subject to change

Starting Goaltender:

Tristan Jarry
 

GS:

REC:

SV%:

GAA:

SO:

53

33-16-6

.920

2.39

4

Healthy Scratches:

Radim Zohorna, Marcus Pettersson

Injuries, Suspensions, Misc:

Brock McGinn [IR] — Upper-body injury
Nathan Beaulieu [IR] — Lower-body injury

 

Jason Zucker [DTD] — Lower-body injury; Could play versus Rangers

 

---

QUOTE(S) TO NOTE:

“Even just to separate us even more in the standings, it’s a four-point game. There’s a decent chance we end up playing them [in the first round]. There’s definitely some tone-setting, I wouldn’t say it’s just your average regular-season game.”

— Jacob Trouba

GIF to LOL :

[Ozzy]

Greg Louganis for Trivia ....Only guy who can dive better than Sid!

[Phil]

Pascal Dupuis for trivia.

[Pete]

Bryan Trottier for Trivia. 

[RichieNextel305]

Give this team more doubt about facing us. In 3 games, they’ve only scored 4 goals on Igor. We’ve gone stretches across the 3 games where we have flat out dominated play; can’t say they’ve done that to us yet. When this all begins for real, chances are that winds up playing the Rangers. Make them afraid of that idea, and blow them out of the water again. Let’s fucking go!

[RichieNextel305]

If we win tonight and the Islanders lose tomorrow night in regulation, I believe we officially clinch a playoff spot.

[Karan]

23 minutes ago, RichieNextel305 said:

Give this team more doubt about facing us. In 3 games, they’ve only scored 4 goals on Igor. We’ve gone stretches across the 3 games where we have flat out dominated play; can’t say they’ve done that to us yet. When this all begins for real, chances are that winds up playing the Rangers. Make them afraid of that idea, and blow them out of the water again. Let’s fucking go!

 

This. The last 2 games were big markers laid down by the Rangers ahead of a potential playoff series. Now PIT is a pretty experienced/mature team so I don't expect them to get too rattled by that. But all professional sports teams go through self-doubt so let's rinse and repeat tonight and completely shatter their souls and any remaining confidence they may have about facing us in the 1st round!

[Phil]

33 minutes ago, RichieNextel305 said:

Give this team more doubt about facing us. In 3 games, they’ve only scored 4 goals on Igor. We’ve gone stretches across the 3 games where we have flat out dominated play; can’t say they’ve done that to us yet. When this all begins for real, chances are that winds up playing the Rangers. Make them afraid of that idea, and blow them out of the water again. Let’s fucking go!

 

Playoffs are a different animal. The Rangers owned the Hurricanes during the regular season ahead of the bubble (which I know isn't perfectly analogous). They got snuffed in it/out of it.

 

I don't expressly fear the Penguins either, but I'm not so puffed up on the regular season record that I think it's going to be some kind of cakewalk, either. The Pens are a battle-tested team with hundreds of playoff games worth of experience. The Rangers aren't. I think the Rangers can win, but I'm sure as hell not counting my chickens before they hatch.

[RichieNextel305]

29 minutes ago, Phil said:

 

Playoffs are a different animal. The Rangers owned the Hurricanes during the regular season ahead of the bubble (which I know isn't perfectly analogous). They got snuffed in it/out of it.

 

I don't expressly fear the Penguins either, but I'm not so puffed up on the regular season record that I think it's going to be some kind of cakewalk, either. The Pens are a battle-tested team with hundreds of playoff games worth of experience. The Rangers aren't. I think the Rangers can win, but I'm sure as hell not counting my chickens before they hatch.

Big difference here.

 

That Carolina team had a system in place that was essentially that Ranger teams kryptonite. And a lot of their players were young and up and coming.

 

This Penguins team is, quite frankly, at the end of their run just about. They’re not ancient, but they’re not a team I think can keep pace with a quick team like the Rangers. Obviously a lot of big time talent is there still to be concerned with. 

But there’s a big difference in this Ranger team playing this Penguins team now, and that Rangers team coming off a hiatus and playing that Carolina team that finally at that point seemed to find their way and buy into the system.

 

Playoffs are playoffs, and they’re weird and anything can happen, I agree there. And I’m certainly not counting on anything. That being said, this is the matchup I think would be best for the Rangers. I think we matchup well with them up and down the lineup. And I think for this group, there would be a boost of confidence long term knowing they took out this long-time formidable rival in a playoff series.

Edited April 7, 2022 by RichieNextel305

[Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc]

I think its more important for our teams confidence than it is about putting fear og doubt in the Penguins squad. They’ve been there and done that many times, they won’t be rattled by a couple regular season losses, but it will mean a lot for our team to know that they can beat them.

[Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc]

Marty St louis for trivia and pens win 3-1 btw.

[Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc]

Game #500 for Panarin

[Ozzy]

I'm all for taking this one game at a time.  I agree with @Phil, I think there's a lot of battle tested scar tissue on the Pens, and no matter who we play, it's going to be a war.  I'm extremely happy with the progress the Rangers made this season, and I really would love to see them oust whomever it is we play.  But make no mistake, playoff experience and confidence I think, goes a long way in the NHL....especially at this juncture of the season.

[Keirik]

[RJWantsTheCup]

Martin Straka for trivia

[Flynn]

Trivia Answer - Kevin Stevens coke dealer

[CBrowningPI]

Rangers  2-1. Shesty in God mode. 

[Sod16]

15 minutes ago, CBrowningPI said:

Rangers  2-1. Shesty in God mode. 

Sheshty gives up early stoppable one, but then goes into God mode and we win.

 

Pierre Larouche for quiz.

[Cr00zng]

2 hours ago, Keirik said:

 Yeah, but.... If that's Sid the Kid, the Rangers will get two minutes penalty for roughing, five minutes major and ten minutes game misconduct....

 

Keep it clean, this game is for home field advantage in the first round playoff...

[Kick save and a beauty]

They will be desperate to win tonight and maybe we are not quite so desperate.  No way they want to lose three in a row to their most likely first round opponent.

 

A win also leaves us six points ahead of them with exactly ten games remaining.

 

There is also an outside chance of catching Carolina since they have come off the boil a bit and we still have two games remaining against them.  Who woulda thunk it?

 

Fun times

[The Dude]

832 times is the trivia answer to how many times does/did Keven Hatcher blink a minute.

 

Sam talks to Joe about his anal leakage problem on air. Joe asks Sam to show the people in TV land. We then proceed to see Sam's gaping ass cave and know exactly why he has anal leakage. Bob Pages old microphone is seen laying sideways inside of said ass cave.

 

Hajek gets credit for an assist despite not being in the game. 

[Keirik]

 

[Karan]

Let's fucking do this!

[josh]

Shesterkin goal night 

[Zuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuc]

LOL could hear Guentzel "wtf are you doing"