A pair of recently traded Pittsburgh Penguins will face off in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

PITTSBURGH – While there is still a Game 7 to be played in the Western Conference, a pair of former Pittsburgh Penguins are set to kick off the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jake Guentzel and Chad Ruhwedel headlined the Penguins trade deadline, as their new teams will face off in hopes of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.

Guentzel’s Carolina Hurricanes made easy work of the first round, defeating the New York Islanders in five games. Guentzel himself had a goal and three assists for four points. The Hurricanes jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before seeing their lone loss coming in a double overtime thriller on Long Island.

Guentzel did not appear in the second overtime, as he and three other players took roughing penalties when the first extra frame came to a close. Islanders’ forward Mat Barzal barely deflected a shot from former Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo for the game-winning goal just under a minute and a half into the second overtime.

Despite not completing the sweep, the Hurricanes advanced to take on the NHL’s other New York squad.

Ruhwedel is yet to appear in a postseason game with the New York Rangers, but he didn’t get much opportunity in the first round. The President’s Trophy-winning Rangers handled the Washington Capitals in a four-game sweep, and it wasn’t even a close fight.

The Rangers outscored the Capitals 15-7 and held future Hall of Famer Alex Ovechkin to not points through the whole series.

Both teams are well-rested, with nearly a week off since either squad’s last game. We’ll have to wait and see if Ruhwedel makes his Rangers playoff debut, but Guentzel will surely be a focus throughout the entire series.

Former Penguins Jordan Staal and Stefan Noesen are also suiting up for the Hurricanes.

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