It’s been a while between posts due to an unfortunately timed hail storm of technical difficulties.

 Since the Gary Roberts’ Game, a brilliant 4-0 win to launch what could be a long post season run, the Penguins have won 5 consecutive playoff games en-route to dispatching the Ottawa Senators in a redemptive first round sweep and taking a 2-0 lead on the New York Rangers in the Conference semi’s.

The series returns to New York tonight, with the Rangers hoping to rally behind a rabid crowd at MSG.  The New York media and a large portion of the Rangers fan base seems intent on overshadowing outstanding play by the young Penguins with talk of diving, NHL conspiracies, and poor officiating.  No need to rehash any of that now. 

At the conclusion of game two, Sean Avery and Marc Andre Fleury exchanged love taps, in the crease as time expired, nearly resulting in a bench-clearing brawl. The animosity will be tangible tonight. 

The Penguins have done a great job of ignoring Avery, but  the classless, racial slur spouting winger will be even more fired up tonight at the Garden.

Fellow Penguin Wire-er, Rich, brought up a good point: Gary Roberts absence in the series could be due to the bad blood between him and Avery. Not to take Roberts’ name in vein, but if he winds up literally killing Sean Avery and getting suspended, and or tossed from the game, it would leave the Pens short-handed. Adam Hall has filled in admirably while Roberts recovers from a groin injury. 

Roberts is a healthy scratch for tonight’s game. I guess you go with the hot hand in Adam Hall, and maybe Rich’s theory is a factor,  but Roberts’ presence in the lineup for what will be the Penguins toughest test of the playoffs, in a hostile environment would surely benefit the team.  I don’t know who you’d scratch if it not Hall.  My sister has a theory that Hall should just take one for the team and be the sacrificial lamb who ends Sean Avery’s career. I don’t advocate that kind of thing, but if it has to happen it is good to know Roberts could take Hall’s spot if he were suspended.   Therrien did say he had a plan to take care of Avery, or something along those lines, when he was asked about Avery slashing Crosby behind the play in game 2.

Adam Hall wins faceoffs.

Ryan Whitney has been taking a lot of criticism lately, but I thought he played a great game in game 2. I suppose when a team posts a shutout no defenseman had an atrocious game, but with all the talk of scratching Whitney fro Sydor it was nice to see a solid performance from #19.  He didn’t stand out and I suppose that’s what you want from a defenseman, who has been struggling somewhat in his own end. 

If it weren’t for Henrik Lundqvist the Rangers would be dead in the water. However, the allegedly clear-cut goaltending advantage the Rangers hold was not enough to steal a win in Pittsburgh.  Fleury and the Pens defense is quietly stifling the Rangers. 

If the Rangers fall behind early and have to open it up, it could get messy. The Penguins had a ridiculous number of high quality scoring chances on Sunday, and with all their offensive talent it’s only a matter of time before they go off again as they did in game 1.

 Expect a fight early in the game,

Go Penguins.