Here we are again.
For the second straight season, the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers will square off in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Only this time a Rangers series win in five games will be harder to come by.
Scouting the Penguins
As lost as the Penguins looked for the first two months of the season, a December coaching change rejuvenated the team to the tune of the third-best record in the NHL by the end of the regular season. Sidney Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury look as deadly as ever, and the offense is finally running at the potent clip people expected before the season began. And the Penguins look healthy as the playoffs begin -- Fleury and defenseman Olli Maata are expected to play on Wednesday.
Scouting the Rangers
New York brings a lot of experience to this series. Henrik Lundqvist is coming off another brilliant season in net, and while Eric Staal hasn't dazzled since his acquisition at the trade deadline, his Stanley Cup pedigree shouldn't be discounted. The Rangers will be without captain Ryan McDonagh, who suffered a hand injury on April 4. Therefore rookie defenseman Brady Skjei will make his playoffs debut in only his eighth NHL game.
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins
8 p.m. | Game 1, Eastern Conference Round 1
Consol Energy Center | Pittsburgh, Penn.
Local: MSG, Root Sports | Nat'l: USA, CBC, TVA
Live stream at NBC Live Extra and Rogers GameCentre
More coverage: Penguins blog | Rangers blog
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