OTTAWA — The Rangers should feel good about themselves following their six-game victory over the Canadiens that represented as impressive a first-round victory as the team has recorded in this extended run that began in 2012.
Now, another voyage north of the border in a much less glamorous matchup against the Senators, marking the first time since 1937, when victories over the Maple Leafs and Montreal Maroons preceded a Cup final defeat to the Red Wings, that the Blueshirts have met two Canadian teams in the playoffs.
The matchups:
Goaltending
Craig Anderson is more than an inspirational figure as he and his wife, Nicholle, confront her cancer diagnosis and treatment that took precedence throughout much of the season. He is, in fact, an outstanding goaltender who has given the Rangers fits for years.
Anderson (1.94 goals against average, .921 save percentage in the six-game ouster of the Bruins) is quick and confident and has shown the ability to rise to the moment.
The planets are properly aligned and Henrik Lundqvist is back on top of the world following a first-round performance in which the King reached back into the not-so-distant past to outplay Carey Price. Lundqvist (1.70 GAA/.947 save percentage) was his passive-aggressive self against the crease-crashing Canadiens and was notably adept in his work in tight with pucks at his feet and with his stick (when he wasn’t losing it).
Edge: Rangers
Defense
The Rangers will have a game plan devised to mitigate the impact of Erik Karlsson, who has morphed into a mythic blend of Bobby Orr and Bobby Baun off a first round through which he played with a pair of hairline fractures in his left heel. Good luck to the Blueshirts in pulling it off against this skilled defender who can control the game at both ends of the ice. Marc Methot presents a physical counterpoint on Karlsson’s left side. Dion Phaneuf, who got 25:42 per against the Bruins, combines with Cody Ceci on a solid second pair that might have trouble with New York’s speed and quickness.
With big-hitter Mark Borowiecki expected to miss at least Game 1, the Blueshirts might be able to exploit the Chris Wideman-Ben Harpur third pair.
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The Blueshirts’ defense emerged from the Montreal series in as solid a state as it has been in all season. Ryan McDonagh displayed unprecedented ferocity, Dan Girardi conducted a revival meeting, Marc Staal played with effective toughness, Brendan Smith emerged as a leader of the hit parade, Brady Skjei had a series of high moments and Nick Holden bounced back from his Game 3 scratch with a solid performance. Reads will be important for this group against an Ottawa unit that features skill off the transition.
Edge: Even
Forwards
The Senators are not a flashy team, but they present an array of forwards who can skate and snipers who can score from the circles in addition to the requisite number of blue-collar laborers. Bobby Ryan seems reborn playing on a line with Derick Brassard and Clarke MacArthur, who returned late in the year after missing almost two full seasons with post-concussion symptoms and scored the Game 6 OT winner against the Bruins to seal the first-round victory.
Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman are dangerous shooters flanking Jean-Gabriel Pageau while Kyle Turris always presents a threat out of what is now the third-center hole with antagonist Alexandre Burrows (April 1, 2015 in Vancouver vs. McDonagh) and Ryan Dzingel on the wings. The fourth line features former Ranger Viktor Stalberg. Chris Neil was a scratch from the Boston series.
The Rangers’ depth was as vaunted in Round 1 as previously advertised, and that was with Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller both failing to score (or play well).
Coach Alain Vigneault’s line juggling produced a third line of Miller, Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello that will present matchup problems for Ottawa’s Guy Boucher. Rick Nash is coming off his most assertive playoff round as a Ranger while freshman Jimmy Vesey looked like he’s been doing this for years. Mika Zibanejad, who will be under the Ottawa spotlight, improved steadily as Round 1 evolved and looked comfortable with Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich, who himself impressed with his poise after he joined the lineup in Game 4.
The Oscar Lindberg-Jesper Fast-Michael Grabner fourth line was especially effective. More production is required from Derek Stepan.
Edge: Rangers
Special teams
Karlsson and Brassard run the Ottawa power play that went 5-for-23 against the B’s. Phaneuf and Ceci generally get the top penalty-kill assignment on the back end for the patient Senators, who allowed three PPG’s in 16 times short in Round 1.
The Rangers’ power play actually looked better than the 1-for-15 it put up against the Habs, but looking good while not scoring won’t be good enough as the tournament progresses. The PK unit grew stronger throughout the series, turning in several key kills late in games when the Blueshirts were tied or held a one-goal lead.
Edge: Even
Coaching
Guy Boucher did an outstanding job in enforcing a disciplined and at times exaggerated 1-3-1 trap that can suck the life out of opponents (and games) while also keeping his team focused through extreme adversity.
Vigneault was a maestro against Montreal, his every move paying dividends as the Rangers rallied from 2-1 down and the adversity of the Game 3 debacle of a defeat at the Garden.
Edge: Rangers
Prediction
The Blueshirts are deeper, more versatile and more experienced. If they maintain their patience, discipline and structure, they should advance to the conference finals.
Rangers in six