Well, tonight it starts. I’ll be at Rangers @ Pens.
Apparently, Fleury is in, he’ll be rusty so the team will have to be defensively sharp.
lines -
Kunitz-Crosby-Hornquist, these are the worst wingers Crosby has entered a post season with. Kunitz is his best winger and he’s seriously over the hill. Hornquist cannot handle the puck at all and is seriously poor at finishing (3rd in the league in high quality scoring chances, 68th in the league in goals). This is why Crosby and Letang have been a duo. Too often Crosby’s right defenseman is his only option to make a play. I expect this line to be shut down for scoring (when facing top defenses) except when Crosby goes god-mode for short stretches.
Haglin-Bonino-Kessel, this line is set up for sucess. Kessel runs this show and he’s a big game player. I expect great things.
Kunhackl - Cullen- Sheary, two fast kid wingers with wise old veteran Cullen. This has been a good line, a secret weapon BUT the Pens coaches in their infinate wisdom were practicing...Kunhackl-Cullen-Fehr. I think it still should be OK.
Sundqvist centering a rotation of Sestito/Bennett/Sheary for the fourth line - meh, better if they don’t see too much ice time. Another BUT...sometimes Crosby will be double shifted with these wingers and when he does they’ll be dangerous. (Crosby produces at a higher rate when away from his regular linemates.)
Rangers - My outside view of the Rags is that their best skater is injured and Lundquist isn’t at the top of his game. Who will they match Girardi against?
My guess, Pens win this series in six games.
Edit - Zackhoff starts for Pittsburgh, oh boy.