EASTERN CONFERENCE
N.Y. RANGERS 53-22-7, 113
Season series: Rangers, 3-0-1
PITTSBURGH 43-27-12, 98
Power play: Rangers 16.8% (21st); Penguins 19.3% (10th).
Penalty killing: Rangers 84.3% (sixth); Penguins 84.4% (third).
Top scorers: Rangers, Rick Nash 42-27—69; Penguins, Sidney Crosby 28-56—84.
Outlook: The Rangers — who lost last season’s Stanley Cup Final to the Kings in five games — didn’t miss a beat while goalie Henrik Lundqvist (2.25, .922) recovered from a vascular injury, and they easily secured the overall No. 1 seed. Defenseman Kevin Klein (broken arm) might return to bolster a deep corps. Left wing Nash (career-high 42 goals) helped the team to a leaguebest +60 goal differential. The Penguins likely will be without vital defenseman Kris Letang (concussion). They nearly slipped out of a playoff spot by losing seven of their last 10 games. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (2.32, .920) had an exceptional season, but his playoff history is spotty.
Pick: Rangers in five. Gm 1 Thursday at New York, 4 Gm 2 Saturday at New York, 5 Gm 3 Monday at Pittsburgh, 4 Gm 4 April 22 at Pittsburgh, 4 Gm 5 April 24 at New York, TBD Gm 6 April 26 at Pittsburgh, TBD Gm 7 April 28 at New York, TBD
Games 5-7 if necessary; times PDT
MONTREAL 50-22-10, 110
Season series: Ottawa, 3-1
OTTAWA 43-26-13, 99
Power play: Canadiens 16.5% (23rd); Senators 16.8% (22nd).
Penalty killing: Canadiens 83.7% (seventh); Senators 82.9% (11th).
Top scorers: Canadiens, Max Pacioretty 37-30—67; Senators, Erik Karlsson 21-45—66.
Outlook: Montreal goalie Carey Price (1.96, .933, 44 wins) shared the Jennings Trophy (team allowing fewest goals) and likely will add the Hart (MVP) and Vezina (top goalie). But against Ottawa he was 1-1 with a 3.02 goals-against average and .887 save percentage. Team scoring leader Pacioretty, the NHL’s plus/minus leader at +38, is questionable because of an upper-body injury. Ottawa was 14 points out of a playoff spot in early February but went on a 23-4-4 roll. Goalie Andrew “Hamburglar” Hammond (1.79, .941 in 24 games) has been astonishing, but he has no NHL playoff experience.
Pick: Price will make difference. Canadiens in seven. Gm 1 Wed. at Montreal, 4 Gm 2 Fri. at Montreal, 4 Gm 3 Sun. at Ottawa, 4 Gm 4 April 22 at Ottawa, 4 Gm 5 April 24 at Montreal, TBD Gm 6 April 26 at Ottawa, TBD Gm 7 April 28 at Montreal, TBD
Games 5-7 if necessary; times PDT
WASHINGTON 45-26-11, 101
Season series: Wash., 2-0-2
N.Y. ISLANDERS 47-28-7, 101
Power play: Capitals 25.3% (first); Islanders 18.7% (16th).
Penalty killing: Capitals 81.2% (14th); Islanders 78% (26th).
Top scorers: Capitals, Alex Ovechkin 53-28—81; Islanders, John Tavares 38-48—86.
Outlook: Ovechkin scored 25 of his league-leading 53 goals on the power play, which could do serious damage against the Islanders’ weak penalty killing. Center Nicklas Backstrom went from -20 defensively last season to +5, with a league-high 60 assists. A key will be how goalie Braden Holtby (2.22, .923) holds up after making a leagueleading 73 regular-season appearances. The Islanders sagged late, going 4-8-3 in last 15 and losing home-ice advantage in their final season at Nassau Coliseum. Goalie Jaroslav Halak, fifth in the NHL with 38 wins, solved a longstanding problem. Center Tavares finished second in the scoring race.
Pick: Capitals in six. Gm 1 Wed. at Washington, 4 Gm 2 Friday at Washington, 4 Gm 3 Sunday at New York, 9 a.m. Gm 4 April 21 at New York, 4:30 Gm 5 April 23 at Wash., TBD Gm 6 April 25 at New York, TBD Gm 7 April 27 at Wash., TBD
Games 5-7 if necessary; times PDT
TAMPA BAY 50-24-8, 108
Season series: Tampa Bay, 3-1
DETROIT 43-25-14, 100
Power play: Lightning 18.8% (14th); Red Wings 23.7% (second).
Penalty killing: Lightning 83.7% (ninth); Red Wings 80.9% (17th).
Top scorers: Lightning, Steven Stamkos 43-29—72; Red Wings, Henrik Zetterberg 17-49—66.
Outlook: The Lightning led the NHL in goals (262) and home wins (32) while setting club records for wins and points. Stamkos is the marquee player, but watch second-line center Tyler Johnson, undrafted mainly because he’s only 5-foot-9 but enormously talented and productive alongside Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat. Detroit battled injuries to finish third in the Atlantic Division and make its 24th straight playoff appearance. Goaltending is an issue, and it looks like rookie Petr Mrazek will start instead of faltering veteran Jimmy Howard. Tampa Bay, with a healthy Ben Bishop in goal, appears deeper.
Pick: Lightning in six. Gm 1 Thu. at Tampa Bay, 4:30 Gm 2 Sat. at Tampa Bay, noon Gm 3 April 21 at Detroit, 4 Gm 4 April 23 at Detroit, 4 Gm 5 April 25 at Tampa Bay, TBD Gm 6 April 27 at Detroit, TBD Gm 7 April 29 at Tampa Bay, TBD
Games 5-7 if necessary; times PDT