We’ve got a fight on our hands. A full-blown brawl, in fact.
Looking every bit our equal, the Nashville Predators—fueled by a lethal combination of timely scoring and clutch goaltending—toppled our Penguins, 4-1, in Game Four to even the Stanley Cup Final series at 2-2.
So much for those victory parade plans, at least for the near future.
Out to impress an amped-up, adoring throng at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville drew first blood at 14:51 of the first period on a classic, playoff-style goal. Taking full advantage of a botched black-and-gold clearing attempt, the Preds followed the time-honored recipe of getting bodies and pucks to the net. Matt Murray stopped Austin Watson’s initial shot from point-blank range, but Calle Jarnkrok rambled to the net and buried the rebound.
Thanks to a brilliant individual effort by Sidney Crosby, the Pens wasted no time in answering. Sixty-six seconds after Jarnkrok’s tally, Sid slipped behind Preds defender Ryan Ellis and picked up a beautiful outlet pass from Brian Dumoulin at the Nashville line.
Turning on the jets, No. 87 burst in alone on Pekka Rinne, faked a shot and deftly switched from forehand to backhand. With Rinne sprawled on the ice, Crosby slipped the puck home with a two-cushion bank shot off the post and the goalie’s skate blade.
Unfortunately, Sid’s super goal proved to be the highlight of an otherwise disappointing evening.
It wasn’t for a lack of opportunities or effort. With the score knotted at 1-1, Rinne robbed Jake Guentzel early in the second period, the first in a series of game-saving stops by the rangy netminder. At 3:27, Phil Kessel sprang Chris Kunitz on a breakaway. In perhaps the pivotal moment of the game, “Kuny” attempted to slip the puck through Rinne’s exposed five-hole, but chipped it into his stick instead.
On the ensuing rush, Preds rookie Frederick Gaudreau appeared to score on a wraparound. Play continued for another 35 seconds until the horn blared, indicating the play was under review. Video clearly showed the puck had crossed the line.
Still, the Pens had a golden chance to knot the score on a wild flurry near the nine-minute mark. Crosby swept in on a partial breakaway, but couldn’t beat Rinne with a backhander. During the ensuing scramble, Bryan Rust swatted the puck toward a yawning net, only to be thwarted by the stick of a diving Roman Josi. Guentzel pounced on the rubber, still loose, but shoved it into Rinne, who slid across the crease at the last millisecond.
The Pens kept firing (57 shot attempts in all). But the goalmouth barrage represented their last and best chance to even the score. A short time later speedy Viktor Arvidsson streaked in and beat Murray with a sizzling glove-side wrister. Backed by Rinne’s 10 third-period saves, the Preds made the 3-1 lead stand up until Filip Forsberg struck for an empty-netter in the waning minutes.
My take?
A ghastly 16 giveaways aside, I thought we gave a good account of ourselves. Following Crosby’s inspired example, we skated hard, played with passion and crashed the net whenever possible. Although the Pens failed to cash in with the man-advantage, the power play was much improved. While hardly airtight, Murray made a number of big saves, especially in the third period.
Perhaps that’s what I find most disturbing. We gave it our best shot and came up short. Well short. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear the teams had switched uniforms. It was the Preds who scored the big goals at crucial junctures, much like our Pens usually do. And Rinne outshone Murray for the second game in a row.
Nashville even usurped our trademark resilience by bouncing back from a 0-2 series deficit.
Now the Pens face an uphill climb against an emboldened, high-energy foe—not to mention what for all intents and purposes is a must-win Game Five in the ‘Burgh on Thursday night—if they’re to repeat as Cup champions.
The optimist in me wants to believe. The realist in me can’t ignore what he sees.
Wish I felt better about our chances.
Puckpourri
The Penguins held the edge in most statistical categories, including shot attempts (57-50), faceoffs (37-29), hits (32-28) and blocked shots (18-15). Nashville had a slight advantage in shots on goal (26-24).
Crosby paced the Pens with four shots on goal. He led all black-and-gold forwards with 22:15 of ice time, second behind Dumoulin (22:57).
Nick Bonino missed his second-straight game with an ankle injury. Josh Archibald (5:11 TOI) replaced Scott Wilson in the Pens’ lineup. The gritty Alberta native was on the ice for the first Predators goal, along with linemates Carter Rowney (6:36 TOI) and Conor Sheary.
With the exception of Crosby-Guentzel-Rust line and defensemen Dumoulin and Ron Hainsey, each Penguin finished the game a minus.
Plain and simple everyone..we need to win Thurs.
1. Shoot the puck even more and keep it low, Pekka gives up rebounds.
2. I hate Phil but we need him to get a goal or two.
3. maybe start Sesito?? over Sheary
Hey p4e,
I agree. Especially about inserting Sesito.
I like Archibald and his speed and energy
but if they only play him 6 minutes a game
you would be better off with playing Sesito
6 minutes a game and get physical.
Cheers
Ok, I think what this place needs is a feminine touch. So before I start doing the dishes, I have few words for you boys:
STOP YOUR FUSSING, OR YOU’RE ALL GOING TO YOUR ROOMS WITHOUT DINNER
Guessing that got your attention.
Ok, now you guys listen to me. The series is tied 2-2, with 2 of the final 3 games to be played on our ice. We have a coach who has not disappointed us since he went behind the bench midway last year. We have a goalie who is rock solid, with nerves of steel, and who has never been part of a losing Stanley Cup series. Our top two lines are centered by two of the best players in the world, players who hate losing more than anything.
Relax guys … we got this.
I hope. 😉
GO PENS!
Jayelene
lol “I hope”
A girl’s gotta hedge a little, Phil … 😉
Jim,
Sweet …. 🙂
Hey Jayelene,
We can always use a woman’s opinion, especially yours … 🙂
I only wish I felt as confident as you. Unfortunately, what I saw in Game Three and, to a greater extent in Game Four, was a team straining to its limits to keep pace and not being able to.
I really think the Pens may need some sort of external spark to carry them over the hump, kind of like when the Rangers rallied around Martin St. Louis when his mom passed away back in ’15. And I think it may come through Sullivan making a goaltending change.
For the record, I’m a Murray guy. And I honestly don’t think he played that badly in Game Four. In fact, I thought he made some really tough saves in the third period to keep us in the game.
Having said that, I do think Nashville’s solved his glove hand to an extent. When that happened last season, he began cheating ever so slightly, which opened up a second hole to the stick side.
To Murray’s credit, he battled through it and helped win us a Cup. Still, if Sully senses his guys need a psychological reset or an extra boost, I think he’ll consider a goalie switch for Game Five.
Rick
Hi Rick,
Thanks, you know by now that I’m not averse to sticking my nose in, whether it belongs or not. 😉
FWIW, I agree with you – the Pens need a spark, and a goalie change seems to be about the only option. It’s an unfortunate reality about hockey that this weight often falls on the goalie. In this instance, you’re right, Muzz hasn’t played poorly at all. Maybe the Preds have figured something out, maybe they haven’t. But the problem for us is they THINK they have, which gives them even more confidence. Putting MAF back in now would seem to be the perfect move. Not only is he a talented goalie, but the change just might get into the Preds’ heads.
And while we’re on the subject of messing with their heads, what would you think about throwing Sprong in there. We’re not talking about a ton of ice time (Archibald had what? 6 minutes?), and the wild card factor just might work. And who knows, maybe he could pull a Guenzler on them.
Anyway, just a thought.
GO PENS!
Jayelene
PS – I love reading you guys, and your thoughts … I never miss a post! I hope to read here after 3 more games, with the last one being a huge celebration!)
Ok let’s get something straight right now, this is not last year’s Pittsburgh Penguins. Last years team was slick, fast and most importantly a healthy bunch.This team is beat down, tired, and hurt but they are far from done. They seem to feed off the words of these naysayers. Each and every time they get dumped on they reach down and win. When they lose a man the next one steps up and the team helps him carry the load. Is it always pretty… no, but hey they don’t give style points in the NHL. Resilient doesn’t even begin to describe this current incarnation. Now here we stand on the precipice of a 3 game series for all the marbles, and all you read and hear is that the Pens are done and this Preds team is just to much for them to handle. To that I say…not so fast my friends. Have they looked like the better team in this series? No… but did they look like the better team against Washington… no but they won. Did they look like the better team against Ottawa… no but they won. How did this happen? Because whether or not you look better is irrelevant the outcome is the only thing that matters. This team has an amazing amount of talent that will take the ice this Thursday and I believe will again prove the naysayers wrong. but please by all means keep doubting this team because it just feeds the beast.
I like to think of us more as over analyzers than doubters. More as trying to fix a problem than vacillating over whether the Pens can or will win the cup. Awesome pump up speech though! Sort of John Blutarsky-ish! Let’s go Pens!
Hey Anonymous,
Very impassioned comments, and for the most part I agree.
We are decidedly not the team that rolled through the playoffs last season while pretty much dominating everyone in sight. For all the reasons you mention and then some.
I don’t think words can truly express how much we miss Kris Letang and his 25-30 minutes of physical, gap closing, puck-moving defense. That’s basically half a game of altered zone time—both offensively and defensively—that we’re dealing with. It’s truly remarkable that we’ve compensated as well as we have.
I do take exception to being chided for expressing some doubt. While I love our Pens dearly, I’m not a pollyanna fan. I call ‘em as I see ‘em. And frankly, we struggled during the two games in Nashville. We especially struggled to gain time and space in the offensive zone, especially around the net. It took a superhuman effort from Crosby to be effective in Game Four. Fellow big guns Malkin and Kessel were virtually nonexistent.
Add to that the fact that the Preds seem to have solved Murray by shooting glove side, and appear to have more gas left in the tank…
Yeah, I’m concerned.
Rick
Hi Anonymous,
Your comments are well noted. In terms of team resiliency you are quite correct.It has been amazing to see this group play hockey for the past 18 month’s since Coach Sullivan took over. In terms of effort and the will to win our Penguins do not have to take a back seat to anyone and for that I and others admire them greatly.
The heart of a Champion beats inside everyone of them.
As for being a naysayer, I respectfully have to disagree with you. Rick Buker, Phil Krundle, the Other Rick, pens 4 ever, 55 on point and recently Jaylene are some of the most knowledgeable and passionate fans I have ever had the pleasure to talk with,and I live in a Country where by the mail man, the grocery clerk,the bus driver, your neighbor next door all have opinions about who will win the Stanley Cup and they are not shy about sharing them with you.So for someone to read our posts for a day or two you really can not understand how much WE all love our Penguins and everyone of us want nothing more than to see us have another parade to celebrate in 2017.
Having said that,please consider these facts.
1. Chicago and Washington were favored to play for the Cup in 2017.That was not a criticism of our Pens, but a honest assessment of the talent levels on all teams.The Caps made several changes to improve their team over the 2016 Caps team. We did not because we lacked the cap space to do so.
2. Nashville predators beat some very, very good hockey teams on their way to the finals. It was no fluke that they are in the finals in 2017. They have a very young,very fast,well coached and talented hockey club and no one should take them lightly. You may not like it, but yes they DO have the talent to beat us 2 more games because of all our injuries. I am worried about that.
3. For 10 of the 12 periods of hockey we have played against them, the Preds have been the better team. In the past 2 games they have scored 9 goals on us. They have made several adjustments where we have not.
Shoot the puck on Murray Glove side. 10 of the goals scored against us were in that location. Yes I think they have found his weak spot.
Two sub issues I find frustrating. First, we try to bring the puck up the outside and we are getting picked off.Second, we dump the puck into the Preds zone and our forwards can not keep the puck in.The Preds d man takes the puck and makes a 60 foot lateral pass to his partner and out it goes. So predictable !
4.Watching the last 2 games it has become apparent that the Preds are comfortable playing against us. We have no surprises for them. Sid and Geno have been neutralized. Remember the out burst of emotions and penalties in game 3 ? Both of them in the penalty box at the same time.
Plus our depth scoring is not there now. We are counting on a 22 year old rookie to lead us to the promise land. ??
5. Yes we are a hurting team. That has had an affect on our game. I really wish we had a healthy team, but we have to play the cards we were dealt.
So my point Anonymous has been we need to change the game plan because what we have been doing is NOT working. Let them bring the game to us and pick our spots to attack.
Thanks for your opinion and we all want a win tonight.
Cheers
Hey Rick,
The Pens played hard, but not sure the Pens gave it their best shot, it is definitely a series now.
I’m just going to throw this out there, Sullivan has been out coached the last two games. The main sore spot for me is that the Pens only seem to pass it up the boards coming out of the zone. Jim also pointed that out. The defense need to skate and look. If they can’t take a look, flip the puck out.
Laviolette is king of the match-ups. Dumoulin & Hainsey struggled with long periods of time in their own end against Nashville’s first line, but persevered with just a few scary plays.
Because of Laviolette’s matchups, in Nashville the Pens should have their first line Crosby/Guentzel/Wilson and the third line be Sheary & Kunitz + Bonino or whoever centering and switch Crosby back and forth to play havoc with the matchups. Double shift Crosby as needed.
Maybe you didn’t notice Rust in the picture I drew above. His two assists in the last 10 games on the top line makes him movable. Rust enjoyed great success on a line with Malkin & Kessel for large periods of the season. Put him back there.
The Penguins gave Guentzel the game in his hands.
Kunitz has been fantastic as front and center guy on the powerplay, why did they take him out of there?
It’s time to face it, Bonino is hugely important. I think he will be back next game, he just has a really bad bruise/swelling.
Jim suggested shortening the bench. This is the only thing he wrote below that I am of the opposite school of thought. Nashville really only plays two sets of defense most of the game. Penguins can tire them out and really take advantage of them later in the game by using all four lines and proved it the first two games with flurries of scores later in the games.
Speaking of flurries, I haven’t even mentioned the goaltending. I don’t have an answer, so here are the if’s and but’s:
1) The positive, Murray has been very solid in net and the games have been won and lost by the defense, not him. At the same time the negative, even though Murray has been very solid in net, the games have been won and lost by the defense, not him.
2) Fleury is the #15 in all time NHL wins. If Fleury was in net the last two games, Murray would be playing the next game.
3) I’m a tiny bit concerned that Nashville has found a second chink in Murray’s armor.
4) I think the Penguins stand the same chance with either in net.
Hey Phil,
Agree with you on quite a few points.
Murray was not the problem in Game Four. In fact, he made a bunch of really tough saves in the third period to keep us within striking distance. However, the Preds do seem to be zeroing in on his glove hand, with a certain degree of success.
Going to Fleury certainly would be a gamble, especially at such a critical juncture. But it might shake us out of the doldrums and force the Preds to reset a little. A calculated risk.
Spot on about the Pens almost exclusively trying to move the puck along the wall. It’s part of the reason the Blue Jackets and Caps had so much success pinning us in own our end…they just sat on those little chips and outlets along the boards.
We changed it up in Game Seven against the Caps and used the middle of the ice to great effect, not to mention the lob pass. I also think it helped our defense get more involved in the offense against Ottawa. However, as you noted, we seem to have fallen back into old habits against the Preds.
Also agree about not shortening the bench. I was dismayed to see Archibald and Rowney receive so little ice time…especially given how tired we appear at times.
We definitely need all hands (legs) on deck.
Rick
PS–A mild criticism of Sullivan … I’d like to see him ferret out his most successful combinations and stick with them. He seems to juggle lines at the drop of a hat a la Michel Therrien.
Hey Phil
Good points you raise.
I agree about being out coached, but I was to timid to say that, after all the praising of Sullivan I did in earlier posts.The Pred’s have made some adjustments and have exploited the Pens on their tendency to dump the puck in only to have the quicker Preds defense scoop up the puck and pass it out again. Very frustrating to watch.
I really think now is the time to go to MAF for game 5 then come back with Murray in game 6 if we lose.If we win then MAF is the guy for game 6 too.
With last change we should be able to exploit the third line and get Sid away from PK and company easier.
I appreciate your position on the 4 lines and if Bonino is okay to play then do it , but if he is walking wounded, I would double shift Crosby and shorten the bench.
You are right….We have a heck of a series now….
Plus Kessel is way over due !!
Jim
Hi Rick,
4 games have been played so far. We are not the dominant team in this series.
Even at home, with exception of about 20 minutes of 5 on 5 play, the Nashville Predators have been the better team. What has concerned me the most is that as the series moves on the Predators have been getting smarter in their executions and also in their belief that they are going to win. Because of the different conferences the Preds and Pens really did not play each other that often and it took a few games for each team to learn each others weaknesses.
So far the Preds have found ours and we unfortunately have not found theirs.
( Our d men are hurt, our forwards can not contain the puck in the offensive zone and when you pressure them the throw the puck away,and shoot the puck to the glove side of Murray)…Predictable !!
They Preds play 4 d men for over 50 minutes of the game and everything keys off of them. We simply do not have the 230# -240# 6’4″ monster forwards that can stand up and exert their will on them. We talk about our skilled College kids we brought up from the AHL and how good they are but in reality they are all to small when they get pressed into a team like Nashville. I have never seen the Pen’s lose so many puck battles along the boards. They can not keep a cycle going and when we pinch our d men in they get caught and the speedy Preds forward streaks into our zone and our Goalie has to save the day.
Some will argue with me , and that is okay, but for me this is not a 3 game series ….It is a ONE GAME series and we must find away to win in game 5.
We do not win game 5, there is little chance there will be a game 7 !!
So here are my arm chair suggestions : 1. Start MAF ! ( I can not believe I would ever have to say that.) Change it up because the Preds have Murray’s number. 2. Shorten the bench and play 3 lines. Crosby, Malkin and Cullen. If Bonino is not 100% ,and I do not believe he is ,rest him for game 6 or 7.
3. Play rope a dope. Just like in the Cap’s game seven. Do not chase them. Let them come to us. We are getting beat on to many odd man rushes and breakaways. We can not skate with these guys in a 60 minute, physical contest with all our injuries. We have to pick our spots.
4. Finally we need to force the play up the middle of the ice and not to the sides. We are getting creamed on the outsides because our injured d corps can not contain the faster Preds.
If we were 100% healthy I would scrap what I just said and tell the guys to work harder and execute better, but with all the injuries it is not possible to do.
Last night was our best game to date of the 4 game series and I am deeply afraid that we can not do much better, so a change in strategy is needed if we want to win.
One last question? Where is Phil Kessel ?.
Good article Rick… Keep the faith…. 🙂
Hey Jim and Rick,
I couldn’t agree more on all points. Further, I hope it is as unsettling to everyone in the Pens organization as it has been for me/us to understand that they have spent this entire playoff run adjusting, fiddling and strategizing to adapt to the other team’s game. It has to be the other way around. This team is a havoc reeking, major, hide-in-the-basement, run-for-your-life storm, when they dictate the game. Aside from a few games, we haven’t taken the game – our game – to anyone.
I understand the number of games played in these two seasons, the never ending injuries, and general wear and tear are the major reasons for what’s going on, but the fact remains this team is too small. It’s obvious at this point that their assets have been beaten out of them because of that lack of size. Also, I feel it’s safe to say, as we have seen in this post season that the “just play” mantra becomes a game of diminishing returns if you can’t, or won’t, push back. That, too, has been most unsettling. I cringe now every time the puck goes to the boards. JR and MS should be cringing, too.
This team can prevail, but it’s going to take a whole lotta things going right, from some puck luck, to maybe getting a call once in a while, even though the PP has been dismal. Jim, and Rick, you’ve nicely covered the relevant points, so I’ll simply add, GO PENS!
And, finally, I heard JR, after an Ottawa game, mention seeking some size and snarl in the off season. I don’t know if that was simply an angry reaction to the constant pounding being heaped on Sid, et.al., or if he’s actually thinking that. I hope for the latter.
Hey 55,
I sure hope what you heard about JR seeking some size/toughness in the upcoming offseason is true.
We really have had our assets beaten out of us, as you so duly noted, especially the way the games are being called this postseason (brushing a guy with your free hand=obstruction penalty; felony assault=no penalty).
I, too, cringe every time one of our guys gets taken hard into the boards. Opponents know they have absolutely nothing to fear.
Rick
Agree 100% with the rope a dope. It is boring hockey but there are 3 games left and it is for a Stanley Cup. Just do it!
Hi Rick,
I think our guys are worn down, unable to match the desire, intensity and the “want it” displayed by Nashville. Even though the Pens won the first two, it’s been a pretty woeful series for them. Nashville’s speed and desire has further exposed the glaring weaknesses of the Pen’s D, and the guy the Pens need to depend on at this very moment, Matt Murray. If Sullivan sticks with his favorite, Murray, which is most obvious by now, and I suspect will be the call come game five, I think this series will end in Nashville, Sunday evening, and it won’t be the good guys hoisting the Cup.
Yes, it is time to make the switch – and in 20/20 hindsight wonder why a switch was made to begin with. Time to stop ignoring one of the primary reasons they’re in this final, and not hanging in the bar at Nevillewood with Mario: Marc Andre Fluery, a bona fide game-stealer with a solid glove hand, which Murray isn’t, at least not yet. What other changes, and/or adjustments are left in the bag? Ruhwedel, Streit, Guance, Kuhnhackl? I don’t see Sundquist, or anyone else “new” either skating in game five, or at this point, being a difference maker. They need CPR and they need it now and the only doctor left on call is #29. He’s the last straw.
While they played better last night, the fact still remains that through 240 minutes of this series, they’ve owned, perhaps, 45, give or take a few. And it’s been a recurring theme throughout this playoff run. The major difference between the wins and losses has been between the pipes. Yes, there are other reasons, for sure, but the most glaring one, aside from serial terrible puck handling, has been who’s in net. And among the other reasons are they’re being bested by a team playing Hockey 101 right out of the 2017 edition of Hockey for Dummies: Sticks on ice; Move your feet; Shoot the puck, always; Mind your gaps; Take the play in front of you; Find the open man…
Who knows what will happen? Anything can, and usually does, but the only guy left who could lift this team has ridden the bench for six games. His turn has come around again and hopefully someone who makes those decisions is paying attention to the task at hand and not the gold stars he plasters on foreheads.
– 55
Hey Jim and 55,
Great observations, guys. I pretty much agree with you right down the line.
If I were Sullivan, I’d go back to Fleury for Game Five (and I’m a Murray guy). I think Sully needs to make the switch for the same underlying reason he went to Murray in the first place…to get the guys to refocus. Also to give the Preds a different look.
It could backfire, for sure. But it also could provide a much-needed spark. Then there’s the matter of karma. I truly believe if we win the Cup, Fleury’s going to be the central figure.
I continue to lament our lack of functional size. How I wish we had a couple of guys like Austin Watson and Mattias Ekholm of the Preds, who’ve really made their presence felt along the boards and in front of the net.
Hindsight’s always 20/20. But in retrospect it’s foolhardy for our management to expect guys like Hornqvist and Kunitz–warriors though they are–to carry the toughness mantle. While I’m pleased that Dumoulin has added a bit of a physical element to his game, we need more guys with size who can bang. There’s simply no substitute for brawn.
Back to the series. I think it’s going to take all the wizardry Sullivan and the coaching staff can muster to coax two more wins out of this tired, banged-up crew. If they somehow pull it off, it truly will be an achievement for the ages.
Let’s hope we succeed!
Rick
PS–Another shout-out for Nick Bonino. Lord only knows how seriously he’s hurt…I guess he went through practice the other day and grimaced the whole time. Talk about guts. I really hope we win for guys like him.
Hey 55 ! ☺ Great analysis of our situation.
You see it too.We are tired bunch of players right now.
They need CPR..Good anology.
What we really need is a healthy Letang, Schultz and Daley to put us on an even playing field. Unfortunately that is not going to happen so we have to change our approach to game 5 if we hope to win.
Start MAF. Shorten the bench.Forget dump and chase because we can never keep puck posession longer than 10 seconds in the Preds zone.Let them come to us. Pray for PP opportunities. I remain cautiously optimistic.
If Phil Kessel ever needed a big game, tommorrow is the one.
Let Go Pen’s.
Hey 55,
I never subscribed to the worn down theory. They theory that because they played in the cup last year they must be tired this year. I think teams just play with less heart the next year because they have already won the cup.
I am with you though that the Pens look worn down. Whether it be from injury or whatever, they look slow. Nashville is not that far of a plane ride. I was wondering if the Pens should charter a plane to arrive the day of the game. Something that doesn’t get talked about much is how fans find players hotels and pull fire alarms and make a ruckus all night to screw with the players.
I also have another theory that Nashville is leaving there ice soft to even the skill playing field. The puck bounces yesterday really hurt the Pens.
I don’t have a horse in the Fleury/Murray race. What I can tell you is that Sullivan can’t look bad putting in Fleury, if they lose it just looks like the defense is real bad. With Murray he can either look like a genius or an idiot depending on the outcome.
Hey Phil,
The puck, indeed, seemed to be bouncing and rolling in Nashville.
Rick
Hey Phil,
I’m with you on the soft ice. It’s like in football when teams doctor their fields. They call it gamesmanship, which is a 75 cent word for cheating that no one is supposed to notice.
— 55