For the third time in as many seasons, the Rangers and Penguins will meet in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
In the 2013-14 postseason, New York overcame a 3-1 series deficit to win in seven games. Last year, the Blueshirts knocked off their division rivals in five games. In that playoff series, Carl Hagelin scored the game-winning, series-clinching overtime goal for New York, but this year, he'll suit up for Pittsburgh.
There are several injuries heading into this series, as the Penguins remain without Evgeni Malkin, but may get returns from goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and Olli Maatta. If Fleury can't go, Jeff Zatkoff is expected to be the Penguins' counter to Henrik Lundqvist.
"We've done a great job. Our training staff, I have to thank them a lot," Maatta said per NHL.com. "I'm happy I'm here now and I'm close to playing. It's exciting."
The Rangers are without captain Ryan McDonagh for likely most of the series, which is a big loss to their already inconsistent blue line.
Pittsburgh won 48 games and notched 104 points this season, notching its 10th straight trip to the postseason. New York is in the postseason for its sixth consecutive season and has made it to the Eastern Conference Finals twice and Stanley Cup Final once since 2012.
Alain Vigneault expects his former assistant Mike Sullivan to have Fleury in the crease for Game 1.
"He's practiced the last couple of days and he was on the ice this morning," Vigneault said via NHL.com. "So, unless someone tells us otherwise, he's the goaltender that we're getting ready for tonight."
Mats Zuccarello (61) led the Rangers in points and Derek Brassard (27) paced the team in goals, while Sidney Crosby carried the Penguins with 36 goals and 85 points.
Game Preview & Live Stream
Details: Rangers at Penguins Game 1
Venue: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Radio: New York (101.9 WEPN); Pittsburgh (105.9 WXDX)
Prediction: Our predictions for this series can be found here.
Betting Odds: The latest betting odds can be found here.
Watch Online: This game can be live streamed for free here.
