PENS TRY TO SLOW DOWN RANGERS AT MSG

The Stanley Cup playoffs begin for the Penguins tonight in New York, and the first game of the Eastern Conference series against the Rangers may mark the start of the final ride of the Penguins “Big Three” core of Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Evgeni Malkin.  Letang and Malkin are in the final year of their contracts and with first-round playoff exits for the last three seasons, this may be their last chance at another Stanley Cup.

For now, though, the focus is on the Rangers, who finished second in the Metro Division behind Carolina, and ahead of the Penguins and Capitals.  The Pens beat New York the first time they played them this season, but lost the other three games, struggling to keep up with the Rangers’ young legs and solve stubborn goaltender Igor Shesterkin.

Shesterkin was 3-1 with a 1.01 goals-against-average against the Penguins this year and a .960 save percentage.  He will match up against the Penguins Casey DeSmith, who makes his first playoff start ever with All-Star Tristan Jarry still sidelined by a foot injury.

Sullivan says the Rangers are following the same scheme the Penguins did to win Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017…use superior speed, especially in the transition game.

Sullivan says the Penguins are confident and experienced.

Left wing Jake Guentzel said yesterday that he and winger Bryan Rust need to step up their games in the series.  He says the Pens have plenty of experience and know what it takes to win the Cup.

Veteran forward Jeff Carter says the Penguins need to get scoring from all four lines to beat the Rangers.

DeSmith says it will be a thrill to get his first playoff experience in Madison Square Garden.

Forward Jason Zucker returned to the ice yesterday, and Sullivan says the timeline for his return to the lineup may be moved up.  Zucker was injured last Tuesday against Edmonton.  He skated before the team took the ice for practice.

Away from the ice, the Penguins yesterday announced the signing of 2020 5^th round draft choice Raivis Ansons, a 20-year-old from Teddy Blueger’s hometown of Riga, Latvia.  Ansons has 18 goals and 42 assists and is a plus-29 for Saint John in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey league Airtime for Game 1 of the series on 92.5 FM U92 and the U92 Sportschannel is 6 o’clock.