Sidney Crosby Returns: Could Today Be a Preview of the Eastern Conference Final?

When the NHL drew up the schedule for the 2011-12 season, March 15, 2012 appeared to be just another game between Atlantic Division rivals, but could it be a preview of this year's Eastern Conference final?

The New York Rangers emerged as the clear favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup final due to their dominating record this year against the past two Eastern Conference champions. The Rangers are 3-0 against the Boston Bruins and are 5-0 against the Philadelphia Flyers this season.

With this level of dominance and no clear contenders in sight it seemed logical.

Fast forward to today and the Pittsburgh Penguins, undefeated in their last nine games, are six points behind the Broadway Blueshirts and have Sidney Crosby back in their ranks.

With Crosby back, the Penguins are considered to be the best team in the league. Even Glen Sather, general manager of the Rangers, has no problem admitting it.

"

Glen Sather calls the Penguins the best team in the NHL. My blog today setting up Thursday's game, es.pn/xpoFvD

— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) March 14, 2012"

While this may be an attempt at gamesmanship in order to make the Rangers an underdog team once again, it is a strong possibility that the Penguins and Rangers could face off in the conference final.

Right now the Rangers and Penguins respectively occupy the No. 1 and No. 4 positions in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the No. 1 seed squares off with No. 8 and the No. 4 seed squares off with No. 5.

After the first round is over, the remaining teams are reseeded. The only way the Rangers would face the Penguins in the semifinal would be if each top seed (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4) win their matchup.

While this is a possibility, the way the Bruins have played lately and the fact that the Florida Panthers, Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals have changed leads in their division suggests that there could be a first-round upset.

Operating from the premise that there will be a first-round upset, there is a great chance the Rangers will face the Penguins in the Eastern Conference final.

Both teams have strengths and weaknesses but how do they match up? It comes down to offense vs. defense and goaltending.

Offense:

Pittsburgh

- Evgeni Malkin

- James Neal

- Sidney Crosby

- Kris Letang

- Jordan Staal

The Penguins are an offense-first team led by Art Ross favorite Evgeni Malkin and James Neal. The two forwards have really shouldered the load in Crosby's absence, while Staal has provided secondary scoring and Kris Letang remains a blue-line threat on the power play and at even strength.

Adding Crosby to the mix only sways the advantage in Pittsburgh's favor.

New York

- Marian Gaborik

- Brad Richards

- Ryan Callahan

- Michael Del Zotto

- Derek Stepan

The Rangers have a top sniper in Marian Gaborik and top playmaker in Brad Richards, with secondary scoring from Callahan and Stepan with Del Zotto on the blue line. The latest surge of offense from the Carl Hagelin-Brad Richards-Marian Gaborik line has been nice, but they can't out-gun Pittsburgh.  

Edge: Pittsburgh

Defense and Goaltending: 

Pittsburgh

- Kris Letang

- Brooks Orpik

- Zbynek Michalek

- Paul Martin

- Marc-Andre Fleury

Pittsburgh has a top-notch goaltender in Marc-Andre Fleury. He has won a Stanley Cup and is consistent in the postseason. However, when you look at the Penguins defense and Fleury's numbers, they are blown out of the water by New York's. 

New York

- Ryan McDonagh

- Dan Girardi

- Michael Del Zotto

- Marc Staal

- Henrik Lundqvist

The Rangers have been a defense-oriented team all year long. This is reflected in the team's ability to prevent goals by blocking shots, playing physical and having top-notch goaltending.

The Rangers are second in overall goals allowed (150) and average amount of goals surrendered per game (2.10). These numbers are a true testament not only to Henrik Lundqvist but to Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Del Zotto and Marc Staal.

These core four defenders have led the way while others like Stu Bickel, Anton Stralman, Steve Eminger and various others have filled in on the bottom pairing.

The Rangers also block a lot of shots, which helps to cut down on scoring chances. The Rangers are fourth overall with 1,128 total blocked shots and have two defenders—Ryan McDonagh (No. 2) and Dan Girardi (No. 6)—on the NHL's top shot-blocker list.

The Rangers play a very physical game that is reinforced by their defensemen. The Blueshirts lead the league with 2,047 total hits.

In the crease, Henrik Lundqvist is on pace to finish with a stat sheet of 38-16-5 with nine shutouts, a 1.88 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. Marc Andre Fleury is having a great season himself, but Lundqvist is on the verge of setting records.   

Edge: New York

Is It Destiny?

It seems that this matchup is destined to happen. The Penguins are an offense-first team with multiple weapons and the Rangers are a team led by defense and goaltending.

Each team's strength is equally combated by the other's weakness. While we can look at the statistics today, there is no guarantee what could happen in the playoffs. 

In a low-scoring atmosphere where hot goaltending is key, if the two teams were to square off, there is no clear-cut favorite. What we do know is that tonight's game is going to be a must-see event and the winner will gain serious momentum as the season continues on.

If the Rangers win, their divisional lead extends to eight points, but if they lose their lead will be cut to four points.

Will this game be a preview for a future Eastern Conference final? At this point only time will tell.

Tom Urtz is an NHL Featured Columnist.

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