Don’t count out these New York Rangers. After waging a seven-game war against a resilient Philadelphia Flyers in Round 1 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Rangers are going to seven again, this time against the other team from Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Rangers were down 3-1 in the series after playing their worst hockey of the postseason in Game 4, but have stormed back with two strong wins in games 5 and 6 to force what should be an exceptional Game 7. Our overview of experts’ Stanley Cup predictions saw only one tap the Rangers to make the finals, but they are now just one game away from the brink.
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Game 7 Preview and Pick
Series Scores & Schedule
Game 1 – May 2, New York 3 at Pittsburgh 2 (OT)
Game 2 – May 4, New York 0 at Pittsburgh 3
Game 3 – May 5, Pittsburgh 2 at New York 0
Game 4 – May 7, Pittsburgh 4 at New York 2
Game 5 – May 9, New York 5 at Pittsburgh 1
Game 6 -May 11, Pittsburgh 1 at New York 3
Game 7 – May 13, 7PM ET – New York (+140) at Pittsburgh (-160); total 5.0 – view all NHL lines
Betting on the New York Rangers
Martin St. Louis is a playoff warhorse, but on Sunday, he did something special even by his standards.
A Cup winner and career point-per-game player in the playoffs, St. Louis lost his mother to a heart attack just days before Game 6, which was played on Mother’s Day. Three minutes into the game, St. Louis scored the first girl of the game and established a lead the Rangers would not relinquish. Here’s his postgame interview:
Who says sports can’t be a little meaningful?
St. Louis’ goal was an example of a trend New York has been setting on their way back into this series: strong starts. The Rangers scored twice early in Game 5 and never looked back, ditto for Game 6.
[sc:NHL240 ]All that said, Game 7 is a different beast. The Penguins will likely come out stronger in this one and the Rangers will need to continue the stout defensive play they brought in Games 5 and 6.
After allowing just under three goals a game through the first four matches of the series, the Rangers allowed just one per game behind the strong play of All-Star Henrik Lundqvist (2.07 G.A.A., .926 SV% in these playoffs).
If the Rangers can continue to dominate the first period as they have in the last two games, they are well worth a look at +140.
And there is lots of evidence to suggest they will: the Rangers have won their last four Game 7s, including their nail-biter 2-1 victory over the Flyers in round 1.
Betting on the Pittsburgh Penguins
Wherefore art thou, Crosby?
The Penguins’ Captain and 2014 Olympic gold medalist has been unusually quiet in these playoffs, having scored just once in the Penguins’ march for a second Stanley Cup under his watch. That said, it’s only a matter of time before Crosby makes his mark, after all his eight assists still have him at almost a point a game.
Evgeni Malkin, in the meantime, has not struggled – perhaps because teams simply cannot shutdown both of Pittsburgh’s dominant centers. Malkin has seven goals and 13 points, including six in this series.
The Penguins will need both of their big men down the middle if they want to avoid losing their second series in which they led 3-1 in the last four years. Pittsburgh was downed by another St. Louis-led team, the 2011 Tampa Bay Lightning, in seven, after taking a 3-1 series lead.
Pittsburgh will try and prove that home ice is indeed an advantage in this match up. The road team has won five of the last seven meetings between the two teams.
Writer’s Prediction
First and foremost, look for this to be a great game. With so many proven playoff performers certain to bring their A-games on Tuesday, go with the superior goaltending: Henrik Lundqvist remains the superior performer to Marc-Andre Fleury, and will prove why with a clutch Game 7 win.
