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Penguins: Playoff Schedule, Predictions

By Rich Donahue

Jan 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate a power play goal by Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) against the New York Islanders during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate a power play goal by Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) against the New York Islanders during the second period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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The dates and times have been announced for the Penguins vs Rangers series.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will host to the New York Rangers to begin the 2016 playoffs.  The Rangers were desperately trying to avoid the Penguins, but the New York Islanders ruined that plan.  The Islanders made sure they would avoid the Penguins by getting creamed in the season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Here is the first round schedule for the Penguins and Rangers:

Game 1: Wednesday, April 13 8 pm Consol Energy Center USA Network

Game 2: Saturday, April 16 3 pm Consol Energy Center NBC

Game 3: Tuesday, April 19 7 pm Madison Square Garden USA Network

Game 4: Thursday, April 21 TBD Madison Square Garden Sportsnet

Game 5: Saturday, April 23 TBD Consol Energy Center TBD *if necessary

Game 6: Monday, April 25 TBD Madison Square Garden TBD *if necessary

Game 7: Wednesday, April 27 TBD Consol Energy Center TBD *if necessary

What is great about this series is there are only two games in the first six day of the series.  That will serve Penguins well, especially Marc-Andre Fleury and Evgeni Malkin.  Fleury is coming off his concussion which comes just in time with Matt Murray now banged up.  If by some miracle, Malkin could be back by Game 5.  But believing how this series will play out, the Penguins might not even need him.

The Penguins can lock up this series in five or six games without a problem.  The Rangers want nothing to do without the Penguins at this point.  For the first time in years, the Penguins are the hunters and the Rangers are the hunted.

Next: Pens: Peaking at the Right Time

I predict the Penguins take the first two games of this series and a split the games in New York.  The Rangers will steal Game 5, but the Penguins were run them out of the  Garden in Game 6, clinching the series.

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