RANGERS, BLACKHAWKS HOPE TO SET FINALS DATE
Columnist Kevin Allen sizes up the conference finals:
Eastern Conference
No. 1 New York Rangers vs. No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning
Goaltending: Henrik Lundqvist (8-4, 1.60 goals-against average, .944 save percentage) vs. Ben Bishop (8-5, 1.81, .931). Season series: 3-0 Lightning.
Key matchup: Rangers Ds Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh vs. Lightning C Tyler Johnson. Johnson is elusive and slippery.
Why the Rangers should win: 1. They were in the Stanley Cup Final 11 months ago. They understand how to climb this championship mountain. 2. The Rangers are playing gritty, onegoal hockey. 3. The Lightning have been inconsistent, and the Rangers have the speed to deal with the NHL’s top-scoring team.
Why the Lightning could
win: 1. This team is a threat to score five goals in a game. 2. The Lightning passed big tests against the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens. 3. Tampa Bay got its special teams rolling against Montreal.
Prediction: Lundqvist is 14-3 when facing elimination. Take the Rangers to win in six games.
Western Conference
No. 1 Anaheim Ducks vs. No. 3 Chicago Blackhawks
Goaltending: Frederik Andersen (8-1-1, 1.96, .925) vs. Corey Crawford (5-1, 2.60, .916).
Key matchup: Chicago’s Jonathan Toews vs. Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf. Both have the potential to be the series’ top player.
Season series: 2-1 Blackhawks.
Why the Blackhawks should win: 1. With 65 playoff wins since 2008, the Blackhawks have copyrighted the blueprint for postseason success. 2. Deep roster. Patrick Sharp plays on the third line. That says it all. 3. Duncan Keith leads an impressive multifaceted defense.
Why the Ducks could win: 1. Few teams have a center corps that matches up physically against Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler. 2. The Ducks’ scoring depth is impressive. Jakob Silfverberg has 11 points, and Matt Beleskey has five goals. 3. The Ducks have mental and physical toughness.
Forecast: The Blackhawks appear to be in the middle of their championship period. Take them to win in overtime in Game 7.