EASTERN CONFERENCE

WASHINGTON 55-19-8, 118 1st Round: def. Toronto, 4-2. PITTSBURGH 50-22-11, 111 1st Round: def. Columbus, 4-1.

Power play: Season — Capitals 23.1% (4th); Penguins 23.1% (3rd). Playoffs — Capitals 29.4% (3rd); Penguins 33.3% (2nd).

Penalty killing: Season — Capitals 83.8% (7th); Penguins 79.8% (20th). Playoffs — Capitals 83.3% (8th); Penguins 83.3% (6th).

Top scorers: Season — Capitals, Nicklas Backstrom 23-63—86; Penguins, Sidney Crosby 44-45—89. Playoffs — Capitals, T.J. Oshie 3-4—7; Penguins, Evgeni Malkin 2-9—11.

Outlook: A marquee matchup of the NHL’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams and superstars Alex Ovechkin and Crosby. The Penguins have won eight of the teams’ nine playoff series, including a second-round series last spring. The Penguins lost elite defenseman Kris Letang, forward Carl Hagelin and goalie Matt Murray to injuries, but goalie Marc-Andre Fleury responded well, rookie Jake Guentzel has a playoffleading five goals, and Malkin is the playoff scoring leader. The Capitals’ depth is impressive, and Oshie and Justin Williams (three goals, six points) have a knack for timely goals. The Capitals must tighten up in front of Braden Holtby (2.36, .925).

Pick: Capitals in seven.

OTTAWA 44-28-10, 98 1st Round: def. Boston, 4-2. N.Y. RANGERS 48-26-6, 102 1st Round: def. Montreal, 4-2.

Power play: Season — Senators 17.0% (23rd); Rangers 20.2% (11th). Playoffs — Senators 21.7% (6th); Rangers 6.7% (16th).

Penalty killing: Season — Senators 79.7% (22nd); Rangers 79.8% (19th). Playoffs — Senators 81.3% (9th); Rangers 85.0% (5th).

Top scorers: Season — Senators, Erik Karlsson 17-54—71; Rangers, Mats Zuccarello 15-44—59. Playoffs — Senators, Derick Brassard 2-6—8; Rangers, Mika Zibanejad 1-3—4.

Outlook: Here’s an oddity — each team’s top playoff scorer was traded for the other last summer. The Senators went to overtime four times against Boston, but goalie Craig Anderson (1.94, .921) faced an average of only 27.5 shots per game, second-lowest in postseason play. Karlsson averaged a playoff-leading 30:23 ice time per game despite being hampered by two hairline fractures in his heel. Winger Bobby Ryan contributed four goals, two of them game winners. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (1.70, .947) shrugged off an inconsistent season to excel against Montreal. The Rangers have good balance and more scoring depth than the Senators.

Pick: Rangers in six.