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Nothing finer than the playoffs against Carolina (we hope)

By Scott Esposito

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers scores the game winning goal on the power-play at 19:35 of the third period against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on January 16, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. The Rangers defeated the Islanders 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers scores the game winning goal on the power-play at 19:35 of the third period against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on January 16, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. The Rangers defeated the Islanders 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Former Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Former Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Why the Rangers will lose

1. False positives

Seems every time something should’ve been relatively easy for the Rangers, they often found ways to make things difficult. Remember when the Rangers trashed the Devils during the 1994 regular season, winning all six meetings by a combined score of 24-9? As great as that was to bear witness, it meant diddly because when the two met in the Conference Finals that spring, the series took all seven matches and nearly 27 periods to decide. Point here is regular-season success doesn’t always guarantee playoff glory.

2. Brady busts out

Can’t you picture it now? Defenseman Brady Skjei goes end to end and pots the series-clincher in overtime. Skjei has every reason to try to emulate Bobby Orr in this series, having been traded by New York to Carolina last February for the No. 23 overall pick in this year’s Entry Draft. His first full season on Broadway saw him post 39 points (34 assists) in 80 games, but he followed with campaigns of 25, 25, and 24 points. Through 60 games this season, he had eight goals (matching a career season high) and 23 points. He tailed off after the trade, recording one assist in seven matches for Carolina. Many hockey pundits cannot believe New York was able to move his $5.25 million cap hit and acquire a first-rounder.

3. The offense dries up

As noted earlier, Panarin and Zibanejad were on fire leading into the pause. Panarin was having an MVP-type season, tied for third in the NHL in points (95, with Boston’s David Pastrnak) and second in assists (63, with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid). Zibanejad led the league in goals-per-game (0.72) while his goal total (a career-best 41) ranked fifth. DeAngelo ranked fourth among league defensemen with 53 points. His 15 goals were tied for the third-most among blueliners, while his 38 assists ranked among the top eight.

What’s your call?

Will the Rangers or Carolina prevail? Why? Drop us a line below!

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