First RoundN.Y. Rangers should be able defeat Ottawa Senators
By Tim Wharnsby
Posted: Sunday, April 8, 2012 | 10:43 AM
Categories: First Round, NYR VS OTT
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Ryan McDonagh and Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers hope to share a lot of celebrations like this during the playoffs. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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No. 1 N.Y. Rangers (51-24-7--109 pts) vs. No. 8 Ottawa Senators (41-31-10--92 pts)
Three storylines
1. For whatever reason, the Senators have had the number of Rangers all-world goalie Henrik Lundqvist in the past two seasons. They beat him in two of his three starts this year, and beat the Swede two more times in 2010-11. Can this success continue in the post-season? Lundqvist also has advanced past the first round only twice in his career.
2. Can the Senators become the latest eighth seed to topple a No. 1? It has happened three times since the 2004-05 lockout and almost a fourth time last spring when the Chicago Blackhawks came within a goal of upsetting the Vancouver Canucks. The three eighth-seed teams to score a first-round upset were the Edmonton Oilers over the Detroit Red Wings in 2006, the Anaheim Ducks over the San Jose Sharks in 2009, and the Montreal Canadiens upending the Washington Capitals in 2010.
3. The way Ottawa 39-year-old captain Daniel Alfredsson played this season with 27 goals in 74 games, he likely will be back for at least another year. But you never know. This may be the final season for the popular Senators forward. He has been a big playoff performer with 45 goals in 107 career Stanley Cup playoff games and Ottawa will need his production if it has designs on an upset.
Season series - Senators 3-1-0.
Oct. 29 - Senators 5-4 (SO) at N.Y. Rangers
Nov. 09 - N.Y. Rangers 3-2 at Ottawa
Jan. 12 - Senators 3-0 at N.Y. Rangers
March 08 - Senators 4-1 at Ottawa
Prediction - Rangers in six.
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About the Author
Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
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