Rangers outplayed the Pens in Game 2 ..... there was a 5-6 minute stretch in the 2nd period where the Pens went to sleep and the Rangers scored 3 goals ..... and I thought the Rangers outplayed the Pens a lot of the game.
A few thoughts ........
The Rangers were outhitting us, winning the battles on the boards, and had much better puck possession then the Pens.
The Pens turned the puck over way too many times leading to Ranger scoring chances.
The Pens seemed not to use their speed as much and couldn't get a forechecking game going.
Pens breakouts were subpar.
Maatta and Daley had bad games ..... Maatta was playing to get more defense into the game for the Pens and yet he gave up 3 breakaways and generally was poor in his own end as was Daley.
Malkin played for the 1st time in awhile and played well on the power play and looked ok playing with Rust and Sheery as well as taking some shifts with Crosby ..... I personally think we'll need Geno to play well to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Lundqvist stopping Rust on the breakaway was big for the Rangers.
Zatkoff played great in game 1 but Lundqvist was the somewhat better goalie in game 2 ...... Zatkoff did make some excellent saves in game 2 and the Pens hung him out to dry a number of times. If you analyze the Rangers four goals in game 2 from the standpoint of could Zatkoff have played them somewhat better .... the answer is yes on a couple of them but overall he played well as all the Ranger scores were on good scoring chances.
However, we are going to need a healthy Fleury back soon IMO.
I'd like to see Schultz back in the lineup ..... if Sullivan wants to dress Maatta then maybe we should dress 7 defensemen (to get Schultz in the lineup) as we did in game 1.... I generally don't like to do this though.
Let's get back to using our speed going north and south and get in the Rangers zone and into their faces.
Regarding assessing Zatkoff on the Rangers goals in game 2 (and I'm in no way saying Zatkoff cost us the game as he played overall well !!! .... just analyzing the goals from a goalie standpoint) .......
Goal #1 - A Ranger had the puck near the goal line to the left of Zatkoff .... Zatkoff went down in a butterfly position on the post directly facing the puck carrier (90 degree angle to the post) so that when the puck was passed through the low slot to a NYR in the low far circle, Zatkoff could not directly power push out and across as he had to turn, get his left skate away from the post and angled so he could push across .... this took too much time and he did not get across in time .... if he was paddle down on the post with his left skate on the post and right leg at a 45 degree or less angle to the goal line, he would have been in perfect position to immediately power push out and across off the post and I think he gets there in time to have a good chance of making the save ...... a technique and positioning mistake.
Goal #2 - Maatta lets the puck get by him in the neutral zone and a NYR gets an off angle/off center breakaway (which technically are played differently by the goalie then a straight on/down the center breakaway) ..... the puck carrier comes to the top of the right circle and angles toward the hash marks ultimately taking the shot from just inside the circle and just below the hash mark in the low slot...... Zatkoff was in good position until the shooter angled in just before the shot ..... Zatkoff needed to shuffle 6-8"s to his right and out to be at the best angle and position to make the save ..... he didn't and when the shooter took the shot, Zatkoff was a little off angle (the puck was on an angle that went through his right pad instead of between his legs) and the shooter had some open net to Zatkoff's right side ..... he shot and the puck was a few inches outside his blocker ..... if Zatkoff shuffles as I said, he is in perfect position and the shot hits his blocker and is the difference between a save and a goal ...... it may sound over critical but that is what was needed to make the save and could have been done ..... in these high scoring chances, if you aren't precise in your angles and positioning these guys put it in the net..... obviously Maatta was the bigger problem on the play and made it a high scoring chance for the Rangers and a tough play for Zatkoff.
Goal #3 - The puck is in the Pens end and the Rangers are making a change but one Ranger gets the puck against 3 Pens and ultimately there is a pass across ice through the slot to a Ranger in the low, inner circle..... there is a screener in front of Zatkoff and he didn't see the pass across very well, reacted just a little late and didn't get a real good push off to try and get across ...... I doubt Zatkoff makes the save even if he reacts a little earlier and gets a better push off as the shot was perfect .... high and just inside the near post..... I don't think anyone makes that save..... good goal IMO.
Goal #4 - Daley tried to clear a puck just outside the Pens crease and hits a Ranger in the circle who recovers the puck and takes a quick shot from the hash mark ..... Zatkoff is behind the play and off angle but trying to recover ..... the shot deflects off Daley changes direction and Zatkoff has no real chance for the save .... good goal.
A few thoughts ........
The Rangers were outhitting us, winning the battles on the boards, and had much better puck possession then the Pens.
The Pens turned the puck over way too many times leading to Ranger scoring chances.
The Pens seemed not to use their speed as much and couldn't get a forechecking game going.
Pens breakouts were subpar.
Maatta and Daley had bad games ..... Maatta was playing to get more defense into the game for the Pens and yet he gave up 3 breakaways and generally was poor in his own end as was Daley.
Malkin played for the 1st time in awhile and played well on the power play and looked ok playing with Rust and Sheery as well as taking some shifts with Crosby ..... I personally think we'll need Geno to play well to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Lundqvist stopping Rust on the breakaway was big for the Rangers.
Zatkoff played great in game 1 but Lundqvist was the somewhat better goalie in game 2 ...... Zatkoff did make some excellent saves in game 2 and the Pens hung him out to dry a number of times. If you analyze the Rangers four goals in game 2 from the standpoint of could Zatkoff have played them somewhat better .... the answer is yes on a couple of them but overall he played well as all the Ranger scores were on good scoring chances.
However, we are going to need a healthy Fleury back soon IMO.
I'd like to see Schultz back in the lineup ..... if Sullivan wants to dress Maatta then maybe we should dress 7 defensemen (to get Schultz in the lineup) as we did in game 1.... I generally don't like to do this though.
Let's get back to using our speed going north and south and get in the Rangers zone and into their faces.
Regarding assessing Zatkoff on the Rangers goals in game 2 (and I'm in no way saying Zatkoff cost us the game as he played overall well !!! .... just analyzing the goals from a goalie standpoint) .......
Goal #1 - A Ranger had the puck near the goal line to the left of Zatkoff .... Zatkoff went down in a butterfly position on the post directly facing the puck carrier (90 degree angle to the post) so that when the puck was passed through the low slot to a NYR in the low far circle, Zatkoff could not directly power push out and across as he had to turn, get his left skate away from the post and angled so he could push across .... this took too much time and he did not get across in time .... if he was paddle down on the post with his left skate on the post and right leg at a 45 degree or less angle to the goal line, he would have been in perfect position to immediately power push out and across off the post and I think he gets there in time to have a good chance of making the save ...... a technique and positioning mistake.
Goal #2 - Maatta lets the puck get by him in the neutral zone and a NYR gets an off angle/off center breakaway (which technically are played differently by the goalie then a straight on/down the center breakaway) ..... the puck carrier comes to the top of the right circle and angles toward the hash marks ultimately taking the shot from just inside the circle and just below the hash mark in the low slot...... Zatkoff was in good position until the shooter angled in just before the shot ..... Zatkoff needed to shuffle 6-8"s to his right and out to be at the best angle and position to make the save ..... he didn't and when the shooter took the shot, Zatkoff was a little off angle (the puck was on an angle that went through his right pad instead of between his legs) and the shooter had some open net to Zatkoff's right side ..... he shot and the puck was a few inches outside his blocker ..... if Zatkoff shuffles as I said, he is in perfect position and the shot hits his blocker and is the difference between a save and a goal ...... it may sound over critical but that is what was needed to make the save and could have been done ..... in these high scoring chances, if you aren't precise in your angles and positioning these guys put it in the net..... obviously Maatta was the bigger problem on the play and made it a high scoring chance for the Rangers and a tough play for Zatkoff.
Goal #3 - The puck is in the Pens end and the Rangers are making a change but one Ranger gets the puck against 3 Pens and ultimately there is a pass across ice through the slot to a Ranger in the low, inner circle..... there is a screener in front of Zatkoff and he didn't see the pass across very well, reacted just a little late and didn't get a real good push off to try and get across ...... I doubt Zatkoff makes the save even if he reacts a little earlier and gets a better push off as the shot was perfect .... high and just inside the near post..... I don't think anyone makes that save..... good goal IMO.
Goal #4 - Daley tried to clear a puck just outside the Pens crease and hits a Ranger in the circle who recovers the puck and takes a quick shot from the hash mark ..... Zatkoff is behind the play and off angle but trying to recover ..... the shot deflects off Daley changes direction and Zatkoff has no real chance for the save .... good goal.
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