PLAYOFF PREVIEWS: DET | NYI | WSH | MON

Schedule/TV (All times ET; * — if necessary)

Rangers lead series 3-1

April 16: Rangers 2, Penguins 1 April 18, Penguins 4, Rangers 3 April 20, Rangers 2, Penguins 1 April 22, Rangers 2, Penguins 1 OT April 24, at Rangers, 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports 2, ROOT, MSG *April 26, at Pittsburgh, TBD *April 28, at Rangers, TBD *

NEED PLAYOFF TICKETS? Get them from VividSeats.com

Season series: 3-0-1 Rangers.

Injuries: Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist is nursing an injury to his left knee suffered in the team’s penultimate game against the Senators. He’ll be fine to play, but will he be 100 percent? Rick Nash and defenseman Marc Staal also missed the team’s last two games with mystery injuries. Nash is expected back for Game 1, but Staal figures to miss more time.

Penguins defenseman and Norris Trophy candidate Kris Letang has been ruled out for the playoffs because of a concussion. With Olli Maatta already out since January, the imminent returns of Christian Ehrhoff and Derrick Pouliot will loom large. Pouliot is expected back for Game 1 but Ehrhoff’s injury could take a few more games. 

MORE: First-round schedule | Sabres fire coach Nolan | Soldier surprises family at Coyotes game

Key players: Pittsburgh points leaders Sidney Crosby (84 points) and Evgeni Malkin (70) are the obvious ones here, but the Pens will need scoring from others if they’re going to advance. Nash was the Rangers’ leading scorer but red-hot Derek Stepan finished the season with six points in seven games and will be a factor going forward.

Goalie matchup: Lundqvist (30-13-3, 2.25 goals-against average, .922 save percentage) vs. Pittsburgh’s Marc Andre-Fleury (34-20-9, 2.32, .920). With a .950 save percentage and 1.69 goals-against average, Lundqvist was lights-out against the Pens this season, a trend in line with his career. Fleury played better last year but is known for letting his team down in the postseason of late. Lundqvist bested Fleury and the Penguins in seven games in the second round last season.

Prediction: Rangers in 5