Here’s the full schedule:

Game 1: Friday 4/25 at the Igloo 7 p.m.

Game 2: Sunday 4/27 at the Igloo 2 p.m. Game on NBC

Game 3: Tuesday 4/29 at the Garden 7 p.m.

Game 4: Thursday 5/1 at the Garden 7 p.m.

Game 5*: Sunday 5/4 at the Igloo 2 p.m. Game on NBC

Game 6*: Monday 5/5 at the Garden 7 p.m.

Game 7 *: Wednesday 5/7 at the Igloo TBD

*if necessary

The Rangers went 5-3 this year against the Pens. 4-0 at the Garden and 1-3 in Pittsburgh. Two of the Ranger wins were in overtime, including the one win in Pittsburgh and Marc Andre Fleury went 3-2 against the Blueshirts.

They will have to face the star power of Crosby, Malkin and Hossa. and it will be interesting to see if Tom Renney dresses Colton Orr for this matchup, since the fourth line of Betts, Hollweg and Orr did a great job against Crosby this season.

Should be a fun matchup.

I won’t be around for the first few games – getting married this weekend, but I will be watching from afar and checking in from the blackberry or on my laptop. Full reports from here and NYSD return next week.

Game 1 – Wednesday 4/9 at 7 p.m in Newark

Game 2 – Friday 4/11 at 7 p.m in Newark

Game 3 – Sunday 4/13 at the Garden

Game 4 – Wednesday 4/16 at the Garden

Game 5 – Friday 4/18* at Newark

Game 6 – Sunday 4/20* at the Garden

Game 7 – Tuesday 4/22* at Newark

*if necessary

We will be firing up this blog full time come Wednesday and will be covering the Rangers in the playoffs for as long as the postseason lasts.

As a side note, I will be away at the end of the month to get married, but will have replacements on the beat during that time. [it will be at the beginning of the second round].

Now the Rangers face elimination in Game 6, rather than looking to win it. But they will be at home, so my guy says there will be a Game 7.

As Vin Scully said in 1986: “It’s a shame someone has to lose.”

But someone will. The Question is will the Rangers force Game 7 on Sunday?

And the only thing missing here is some sort of guarantee. But that could happen tomorrow.

It’s funny, I was sitting in front of my TV just hoping it would not go into overtime. Not because it would end at 2 a.m., but because the reporter in me came out.

Everyone wants to see the miracle ending and yes, it’s much easier to cover a winning locker room compared to a losing one, but the last second comeback makes every reporter rip up a story and start anew.

I remember doing that last year for Game 7 of the NLCS, where I had a nice story written about Endy Chavez – called “Leaving Us Breathless” [Yes, only I can compare baseball to a girly song by the Corrs] – to tearing it up and penning “The Tears of Shea Stadium” [Unlike the daily guys, I have to write my own headlines and usually they come up bad]. It’s not fun. And sometimes your best work goes on the cutting room floor. Nobody wants that.

Anyway, no one wants to do twice the amount of work, so the miracle comeback is not conducive to easy journalism, especially for the daily guys who are on tight deadlines. That’s why Game 3 at the Garden was such a joy to cover.

Ok on to more pressing matters, like the ECSF. The Rangers open up on Wednesday in Buffalo. Here are the keys to the series for the Rangers:

1) Great goaltending: Yes, Henrik needs to outplay Ryan Miller. He needs to be as sharp as he was in the first round and may have to cover up defensive a mistake or two, which didn’t happen against the Thrashers.

2) Stay out of the box: Let’s face it, Atlanta’s power play was terrible, and even though, Buffalo’s isn’t that much better [They are ranked 17^th]. Their fast attack is not going to be conducive to the Rangers penalty kills. On the other hand, the Blueshirts can take advantage of the Sabres a man down, since Buffalo was ranked only 20^th on the penalty kill.

3) The third and fourth lines are key: Buffalo can roll four lines at even strength. Not saying the Rangers can match that, but with a pretty good third one with Matt Cullen, Petr Prucha and Ryan Callahan, the checking line of Blair Betts, Jed Ortmeyer and either Colton Orr or Ryan Hollweg will come into play. If they can get meaningful and productive minutes and not burn the top two lines, the Rangers have a chance.

Oh and I promised a prediction:

Rangers in 7

Game 1: Wednesday 4/25 at Buffalo 7 p.m.
Game 2: Friday 4/27 at Buffalo 7 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday 4/29 at MSG 2 p.m.
Game 4: Tuesday 5/1 at MSG 7 p.m.
Game 5: Friday 5/4 at Buffalo 7 p.m.
Game 6: Sunday 5/6 at MSG 2 p.m.
Game 7: Tuesday 5/8 at Buffalo 7 p.m. 

Makes sense, since both teams were off for the longest periods. I don’t know if I am going to be in Buffalo myself for the first two games – I have some obligations I may not be able to postpone on Friday, but will be there if the series goes long.

And for those who care, the Devils will open up thier series on Thursday at 7 and Game 2 will be Saturday at 8 p.m. due to a figure skating match in the afternoon.