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Frank Doyle
Pittsburgh Penguins – New York Rangers Preview, Pick, Scores, Results
Sidney Crosby is in the spotlight tonight as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the New York Rangers in Game 1.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers
Odds: Pittsburgh Penguins -167, New York Rangers +140
Odds move: Penguins -154, Rangers +135 (May 2)
New York Rangers:
The Rangers head to Pittsburgh after pushing aside the Flyers in Game 7. That series appeared a lot closer than it actually was. New York held control of the play for long stretches and dominated puck possession throughout. A couple of defensive lapses and an impotent power play stretched the series longer than it had to be, but it looks as though the Rangers are getting it together at the right time. With Benoit Pouliot, Mats Zuccarello, Derrick Brassard, and Dominic Moore supporting Martin St. Louis, Derek Stepan, Brad Richards and Rick Nash, the Rangers are extremely deep up front. One worry on the blue line is Ryan McDonagh’s health, but if he can keep playing big minutes, Henrik Lundqvist will be happy. A happy Hank is a dominant Hank and that’s exactly what he’ll have to be against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.
SERIES PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS:
Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild
Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks
Pittsburgh Penguins:
You run down Pittsburgh’s lineup and it’s pretty easy to see why the Pens are favored here. Pittsburgh can fill the net when its big guns are going and are lethal on the power play. Crosby didn’t score a goal in the six-game victory over the Blue Jackets, but he’ll break out eventually. While goals for won’t be an issue for Pittsburgh, goals against certainly could be. The Penguins have issues on the blue line. Olympian Brooks Orpik is questionable for Game 1 and Kris Letang is still rounding into form after his medical concerns earlier this year. That leaves Paul Martin to shoulder a major load along with rookie Olli Maata, which is concerning when you don’t know what you’re going to get from goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury from one game to the next.
Key factor:
Sidney Crosby. He’s the one player in the game that can take over a series by himself. If the Rangers can hold him to a point per game, they’ll be in good shape. If Crosby gets on a roll, he could carry the Penguins to the Eastern Conference finals.
Prediction:
I’m going with depth over star power here and taking the Rangers to score the upset. I still have major concerns about Fleury and Pittsburgh’s defence and this could be the series we see Rick Nash break out just as much as Crosby. If the Rangers stay disciplined and managed to chip in a power play goal or two, they’re moving on.
Pick: New York Rangers in six games.
Results:
Game 1:
