Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview: New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

(Ed. Note: There are five Canadian teams in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, trying their hardest to recapture Lord Stanley’s Cup and return it to the Great White North after it’s been in the grimy, unworthy hands of American teams since 1994. Here is Puck Daddy’s Playoff Preview for the first round, complete with a celebration of their Canadian elements.)

The New York Rangers won the President’s Trophy after making the Stanley Cup Final last season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated by the Rangers last year, fired their coach, fired their GM and needed a win on the last day of the regular season just to get back to the playoffs.

So, uh, they’re sorta trending in opposite directions.

Forwards

The Rick Nash that scored three goals in 25 playoff games last year is a distant memory, after his 42-goal campaign this season. But the fact remains that the Rangers’ top goal producer has only produced five goals in 41 playoff games. He skates with Derrick Brassard (60 points) and Mats Zuccarello, the Hobbit Wizard who conjured 49 points this season.

Derek Stepan (16-39=55) anchors the second line, with Chris Kreider’s human goalie wrecking ball (21 goals) and J.T. Miller (10 goals), last seen getting crushed by the full weight of Dustin Byfuglien.

Carl Hagelin’s line with Kevin Hayes and Marty St. Louis (52 points) brings speed and sniping to a third scoring line, which the Tanner Glass/Dominic Moore/Jesper Fast checking line is obviously the weakest of the lot.

A down year for Sidney Crosby is apparently 84 points in 77 games, but there you go. He’s been skating with Patric Honrqvist (25-26=51) and Daniel Winnik.

Evgeni Malkin had 70 points in 69 games this season, and has inherited Crosby’s former wing man Chris Kunitz, who quietly had a strong season (17 goals). David Perron (12 goals) flanks the other wing.

The Penguins can really use further contributions from the unit of Beau Bennett and Brandon Sutter, the hero of the team’s clinching game against Buffalo. Bennett has just 12 points in 49 games, while Sutter was strong with a 21-goal campaign.

Steve Downie brings his particular brand of whimsy to the bottom six. Craig Adams, Blake Comeau and Max Lapierre round out a group that simply doesn’t generate enough offense or positive possession for the Pens.

ADVANTAGE: Rangers

Defensemen

The Rangers’ defense is insanely deep. Ryan McDonagh (33 points) and Dan Girardi remain one of the most effective shutdown pairs in the NHL, while Marc Staal and Dan Boyle form a solid second pairing, with Staal having had a strong season. Keith Yandle, the big deadline coup, was 11 points in 21 games playing on a pairing with Kevin Klein, a revelation this season for the Rangers who will miss the start of this series. Matt Hunwick fills in.

The Penguins’ defense is dynamic on paper. Unfortunately, that paper also lists injured reserve, which is where we can find Kris Letang, by far their best D-man, Olli Maata, their brilliant young puck-mover, and Christian Ehrhoff, who unlike the other two will likely play in this series.

Paul Martin is the active ice time leader (22:47) will likely skate with Ben Lovejoy. Veteran Rob Scuderi, Ian Cole (8 points, 20 games) and promising Derrick Pouliot fill out the group.

ADVANTAGE: Rangers

Sidney Crosby unleashes his inner Tyler Durden.

Glass, jaw.

Goaltending

The Rangers lost Henrik Lundqvist for a good portion of the season. They plugged in Cam Talbot and … didn’t miss a beat.

That said, Lundqvist is still an all-world goalie: 30-13-3, .922 save percentage. And a hunger to get back to the Final and finally add a Stanley Cup ring to his trophy case.

Marc-Andre Fluery probably has to pitch 16 shutouts and win the Stanley Cup in order to buck the notion that he’s a postseason choker, but the fact is that Fleury’s played well since his two years in playoff hell. He was 34-20-9 in the regular season with a .920 save percentage. One assumes he won’t be the reason the Pens lose the series; can he be the reason they win it?

ADVANTAGE: Rangers

Rangers: 11. That’s hardly a reason to have a Tim Horton’s in Manhattan.

Penguins: 14, although we might as well make that 42 with the Sidney Crosby multiplier.

Coaches

Alain Vigneault cracked the code on this roster pretty quickly, and now has the Rangers able to beat you by playing several different styles. Simply one of the best coaches in the NHL, and has the playoff record to prove it.

Mike Johnston’s done what he can to get the Penguins playing a more effective style of “playoff hockey,” but it’s been subverted a bit by the injuries and underwhelming performances. Mike Babcock will determine if he’s one and done.

ADVANTAGE: Rangers

Special Teams

The Rangers were No. 21 on the power play in the regular season at 16.8 percent. They were No. 6 on the kill at 84.3 percent.

The Penguins were No. 10 on the power play in the regular season at 19.3 percent. They were No. 3 on the kill at 84.8 percent.

ADVANTAGE: Penguins

Rangers:

That would be Martin St. Louis, or as he’s known in Canada MAR-TAN SAN-LOOEE.

Penguins: Marc-Andre Fleury’s nickname is Flower. And grown men refer to him as such.

Players To Watch

Chris Kreider has 22 points in 41 playoff games, including 13 in 15 last season. He’s a big spot guy who can change a game with his physicality.

For the Penguins … hate the play the chalk like this, but the team flies or fails on Sidney Crosby.

Prediction

Rangers in five. Full marks to the Penguins for making the cut and avoiding what’s happening in Boston, but this injury-riddled disjointed team should be no match for the Rangers, who have rightfully been positioned as an Eastern Conference favorite.