Eastern Conference Quarterfinal

 

Season Series (New York 6-1-1)

 

Leading Scorers
  • C Sergei Fedorov (81 GP, 18 G, 56 A, 74 PTS)
  • LW Ryan Smyth (80 GP, 35 G, 38 A, 73 PTS)
  • LW Ladislav Nagy (82 GP, 24 G, 47 A, 71 PTS)
  • RW Todd Bertuzzi (76 GP, 23 G, 43 A, 66 PTS)
  • RW Mike Johnson (81 GP, 25 G, 39 A, 64 PTS)
  • RW Martin St. Louis (82 GP, 30 G, 58 A, 88 PTS)
  • C Todd Marchant (80 GP, 34 G, 45 A, 79 PTS)
  • C Brad Richards (82 GP, 29 G, 47 A, 76 PTS)
  • LW Simon Gagne (82 GP, 28 G, 43 A, 71 PTS)
  • RW Jeff O'Neill (81 GP, 25 G, 44 A, 69 PTS)

 

Special Teams
  • Power Play - 16.2 % (12th in NsHL)
  • Penalty Kill - 85.0% (t-12th in NsHL)
  • Power Play - 12.5 % (29th in NsHL)
  • Penalty Kill - 85.0% (t-12th in NsHL)

 

Keys to the Series

NEW YORK RANGERS

  • As with all other teams, goaltending is a huge key for the Rangers. Henrik Lundqvist had a mediocre season for New York, and he wasn't stellar in the playoffs a year ago. There's no doubting the talent in the young Swede, but he has an awful lot of pressure on him. He does have the benefit of playing behind a very deep, experienced group. Having Zdeno Chara on the ice for 25 or so minutes a game will help. Henrik doesn't have to carry the Rangers for them to make a deep playoff run, but he does have to play well.
  • K.I.S.S. Everyone in the NsHL world knows the Rangers have a ton of skill in their lineup, and the playoffs aren't the time to get cute. The Rangers can play a very physical, aggresive style of puck. They will need to bring the lunch pales and get dirty, especially in this series.
  • Third line production. The Flyers also have a deep team, especially up front. The Peca line will be called upon to shut down the Flyers, but if they can establish the forecheck and maybe pop in a goal or two, the Rangers will be tough to beat.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

  • Evgeni Nabokov. We could include goalies in the list for every team, but Nabokov's play will be the biggest factor in who wins this series. The Rangers have a lot of offensive punch, but Nabokov was acquired for a reason.
  • Defensive zone coverage. The Flyers have a lot of skill themselves, but they do tend to chase a little too much in their own end. If they can keep the Rangers to the perimeter and keep guys out of Nabokov's lap, they will have a great chance to steal this series. Don't take chances and get the puck out of the zone when the chance presents itself.
  • Power play. General manager Jack Dagnese picked up Todd Marchant and Jeff O'Neill prior to the trade deadline, and they will need to help the Philly power play get going. The Flyers speed up front will get them chances, and they will need to capitalize on those chances to move on. Brad Richards will be the key in this regard. However, he can't do it himself.

 

And the winner is...

While we don't like to put TOO much stock into the season series, it's hard to ignore this one. The Rangers had their way with the Flyers all year. That said, we are expecting a long, grueling series. The Rangers and Flyers both have skill to spare up front and big time talents in the pipes. The biggest key, in our mind, is the Philadelphia power play. If they can find a way to get it going with the man advantage, they could very well take the series. So what do we think?

Rangers in seven games.