More shots, more traffic, more energy, and less penalties.
That's what Captain Sidney Crosby wants to see in game three from the Penguins as they look to go up 2-1 in their best-of-seven National Hockey League playoff series with the New York Rangers.
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The Penguins say every time they take the ice they hope for a minimum of 35 shots. In two playoff games against the Rangers, the Penguins have put up a total of just 47 shots -- 25 in game one and just 22 in a game two win.
Crosby collected two goals in Game 2 of the series by going hard to the net. That must continue tonight in Game 3.
"That's playoff hockey. You got to go to the net, if (Henrik Lundqvist) see's it, he's probably going to stop it," Crosby said. "So just make sure we get those second and third opportunities and find ways to create that way."
Energy was an issue for the Penguins at the start of Game 1 of the series, but it hasn't been since, and the Penguins should have an abundance of extra energy playing tonight at home in the Consol Energy Center.
"The boys have told me that the fans really getting jumping in here for the playoffs," defensman Ian Cole said. "I'm really excited to see it first hand."
The shots, traffic and energy may not matter if the Penguins don't cut down on the amount of penalties they are taking against the Rangers.
In just two games, the Rangers have been on the man-advantage 12 times. The Penguins have done a good job of not allowing them to score much on the power play. New York has two goals with the extra man, but the Penguins know that type of careless play does nothing but hurt them.
"Game 2, we got away with taking some more penalties. That's definitely the big thing we want to take away from our game," forward David Perron said. " We want to cut those penalties down to zero if possible."
Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy believes the games have been called fairly and that the Penguins have done a good of keeping their composure.
"It's a huge part of what we do and we have done a very good job of that," Lovejoy said. "We just need to limit our stick penalties."
The Penguins will host the Rangers tonight at 7 p.m. at the Consol Energy Center.
WPXI
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