re: 2017 NHL Playoff Thread: PENGUINS WIN THE CUP, Crosby robs Malkin of the Conn Smythe

Wow, I can't believe Shattenkirk gets the game winner. He was abysmal all night and has been all playoffs. Hell yes!

Oh my god the Caps aren't dead... yet

NO CHOKE OUT! NO CHOKE OUT!

Lmaoooooo at the salty bitch Pittsburgh reporter asking Trotz about what is an what isn't a "hockey play"

Back to doubleheaders tomorrow.

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Lmaoooooo at the salty bitch Pittsburgh reporter asking Trotz about what is an what isn't a "hockey play"

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Yeah, no joke. I loved Trotzy's response. He didn't try to defend Ovi's slash and just pointed out how many other dirty plays there were in the game. Then told the reporter that defending those types of plays isn't his job.

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Blues coach Mike Yeo on the Predators: Coming into this series, one of my concerns was we really didn't hate this team. I think we've gotten to the point we're over that now

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Well, that was certainly a game. The Caps played their worst game of the series by a large margin, and they won. Maybe that's the secret. Play poorly and just get lucky, like a shot that bounces off the goalie, off a defender, and then in the goal. Or have a forward make a save with the shaft of his stick.

Caps have been one of the worst teams in the league when defending against an open net, and it showed last night, giving up two goals, neither from inside the circles, and one from the blueline. That simply can't happen. Total defensive breakdown. But it was good to see the team respond in overtime, and not have a hangover. Shattenkirk has been beyond terrible all series long, so he's not off the hook, but he at least earns a slight reprieve for the game winner.

And to give Trotz credit, his plan to dress 7D seemed insane, but it paid off once Niskanen got a game misconduct. He still had full three pairs all game long, and Alzner just slid into the Niskanen slot. And for 58 minutes, they played excellent defense.

Of course the big story is the hit on Crosby, and I hope he's okay. We don't need a player of his caliber in the press box. That was a scary moment when he was lying on the ice. The refs gave Niskanen the major and game misconduct they wouldn't give Kadri in the Leafs series, which was harsh, but probably the right decision (cross checking doesn't have an intent component, even for a major, so whether Niskanen meant to hit Crosby in the head is irrelevant, the ref may give a major, per the rules, at his own discretion).

And then the Penguins lost their ever-lovin' minds. Instead of using an all-you-can-eat 5 minute power play to, ya know, score goals and win, they futzed about and squandered the chance (partly thanks to Malkin being stupid and covering the puck with his hand). And for the rest of the game, the Pens seemed more intent on throwing hits and trying to get payback than actually winning the game.

Hornqvist threw an elbow at Eller, who spun away, and ended up knocking Sheary out of the game. Malkin threw an incredibly illegal hit at Winnick of all people (which then Wilson doubled down on the stupidity and hit Malkin instead of taking the power play). Kunitz threw headshots at Backstrom and Oshie. Maata's crosscheck on Burakovsky got away from him and everyone is lucky Bura was able to walk away from his board collision. It was a bad hit.

So instead of trying to hurt the Caps where it counts, the scoreboard, they got stupid and tried to literally hurt the Caps. They were trying to even the score, which is just rank stupidity. The Pens simply forgot there was a game going on, and let the Caps back in the series. So... thanks, I guess?

But Game 4 is gonna be dirty as hell. It's so bad that reporters from the two cities are taking swipes at one another, much less the players and fans.

Two bits of fall out:

ONE. Niskanen will not have a hearing from the league, and will not have any supplemental discipline.

TWO. The Penguins officially announce that Crosby has a concussion and is out for Game 4. They will re-evaluate him later in the week.