Why the Rangers should be favored over the Panthers in this Eastern Conference Final matchup.
You can go absolutely nuts reading the predictions, forecasts, figures and assorted analytics that will tell you who will win the Rangers-Panthers series.
By puck drop tomorrow approximately 4,297 variations of theories will tell you who will win this delicious tournament.
Guaranteed, someone in New Hebrides will toss in Einstein's Theory on Relativity to show why Florida will win.
Frankly, that's where I believe that the Vegas brainstormers get their information. But more power to them since I am on record that it will be New York's entry – exactly 30 years since The Big Apple has seen Stanley.
While Vegas, the Panther and Rangers use all sorts of analytics to prove their points, The Maven relies on his gut. Naturally, it tells me that Vegas is wrong.
Furthermore, my gut is unanimous that the Rangers are winners in every category except "Number of Palm Trees Outside The Arena."
My anti-analytics series X-Ray – I promise you – will not contain a single number.
GOAL: Igor Shesterkin is younger and faster. Sergei Bobrovsky is older, slower but a much better interview. Cup-winner Jonathan Quick is much better than his opposite, Anthony Stolarz. Advantage: Rangers except for interviews.
DEFENSE; I'm a big Aaron Ekblad fan and a little less big Gus Forsling booster. Plus, I've always leaned toward fellas with hyphenated names so you know how I feel about Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
But when it comes to massive doses of quality, it's no contest. Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, K'Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba offer variety and quality. Braden Schneider is coming along nicely. Erik Gustafsson, not! Rangers win on having more goodies.
FORWARDS: No contest. The Cats get away from the gate like GangBusters with Tkachuk, Tarasenko, Barkov, Reinhart, Verhaeghe and Lundell. Then, the drop-off is steep. Very Steep. By contrast, the Rangers follow their "Murderer's Row" with deep third and fourth lines, now bolstered by Fiery Fil Chytil on the third line Granted, Wennberg could use a daily, month-long wake-up call.
THE SLEEPERS: Jumpin' Jack Roslovic has been one helluva good pickup; fast enough to make the first line. Sam Bennett could be a game-turner but I like Rosie's overall game better than Benny's.
COACHES: Two of the best. Both run a solid bench. Each is a master of the post-game schmooze. Conclusion: Vegas can like the Panthers. Maven knows that the Rangers will beat 'em!