Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eastern Conference First Round Game 2 – April 18, 2015

The Pittsburgh Penguins showed that they were no pushovers. But they showed that through a handful of penalties and not through their ability to net goals in a 2-1 Game 1 loss. The top seed, New York Rangers, return to Madison Square Garden in an attempt to extend their series lead before they head to Pittsburgh for Game 3. Can the Rangers have another dominant outing in Game 2? Read on for our take on this blockbuster matchup.

Get the most off the Stanley Cup Playoffs’ red-hot Eastern matchups with our complete preview for the Red Wings vs. Lightning.
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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers Preview

Series Scores and Schedule

Game 1 — April 16, 7:00 PM ET, Pittsburgh Penguins 1, New York Rangers 2

Game 2 — April 18, 8:00 PM ET, Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers – view all NHL lines

Game 3 — April 20, 7:00 PM ET, New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins

Game 4 — April 22, 7:00 PM ET, New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins

Game 5 — April 24, Time TBD, Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers

Game 6 — April 26, Time TBD, New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins

Game 7 — April 28, Time TBD, Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers

Betting on the Pittsburgh Penguins

These Pittsburgh Penguins sure love to play rough. They finished the regular season leading the league in penalties in minutes (1,123) and penalties in minutes per game (13.70). The Pens proved their rough style of play by committing five minor penalties, that’s 10 minutes with the man disadvantage in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Playoff series against New York. But they were excellent on the penalty kill, allowing just one power play goal.

[sc:NHL240 ]Pittsburgh netminder Marc-Andre Fleury has to be mentioned for his stellar game. Fleury stopped 36-of-38 shots against the league’s third-best offense giving the Pens a fighting chance until the bitter end. The two goals he allowed came in the first period.

Pittsburgh’s goalie did so even with an injury-ravaged blue line. The Pens remained without defensemen Christian Ehrhoff, Olli Maatta and Derrick Pouliot for their postseason opener. But perhaps the biggest hit to the Pens’ upset bid was the continued absence of top defenseman Kris Letang, who’s as vital to Pittsburgh’s offense as he is on defense. Letang has the third-most points among the Pens behind Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.

Malkin and Crosby were left off the board in Game 1. Malkin managed just one shot, Crosby two. The Pens were outshot 38-23 in Game 1. Malkin has been left without a point since March 28, while Crosby has four points over his last six games dating back to the regular season.

Pittsburgh got on the board courtesy of backup left winger Blake Comeau. It was his third point in four games against the Rangers this season. Ben Lovejoy and Nick Spaling were credited with the assists.

But the Pens can’t seem to get past former Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist at New York. They have been limited to one goal or none at all in three of their last four visits to Madison Square Garden.

The total has gone under in three of the past four meetings at New York.

Betting on the New York Rangers

It didn’t take long for the Presidents’ Trophy winners to get themselves on the board. Derick Brassard stormed right through the gates to score a goal just 28 seconds into the game. Rick Nash and Dan Girardi had the assists. Ryan McDonagh doubled their advantage with a power-play goal about 15 minutes later off assists from Keith Yandle and Mats Zuccarello.

Another free-flowing attack from the Rangers should help them get past excellent goalkeeping from Pittsburgh’s Fleury. The Rangers’ ability to get any one of their players on the board is impressive—they have 10 players with double digit goals in the season and 15 with double digit assists. But their effort on defense may be what wins them this game, and eventually the series.

Dan Girardi led the Rangers with six blocked shots in Game 1. Marc Staal wasn’t far behind with four to help New York finish with 21 blocked shots. Having the Rangers’ blue line limiting wide open shots on goal should ease the pressure off their goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

Lundqvist is 4-1 with a 1.80 GAA in his last five games against the Penguins, including one shutout. He has saved 96 percent of Pittsburgh’s shots in the last three meetings at New York.

The Rangers could be even more ferocious in Game 2 with Nash possibly recovered from a flu that bothered him in the first game of the series. Nash had seven points in four games against Pittsburgh in the regular season.

The Rangers have now won four straight playoff games against Pittsburgh.

Writer’s Prediction

New York puts Pittsburgh in a 2-0 hole. Create a betting account now and join in on the chase for Lord Stanley’s Cup.
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