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In order for the New York Rangers to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second time in three years, the club is going to have to do something its never done before: beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs. The Rangers hope to strike first in this fifth postseason meeting between the franchises, as they visit Pittsburgh for Fridays Game 1 battle at CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins are 4-0 all-time in postseason series against the Blueshirts and boast a 16-4 record over those four playoff encounters. The only time New York was able to post more than one win in a series against the Pens was in the 1992 Division Finals, when Pittsburgh downed the Rangers in six games en route to its second straight Stanley Cup title. The most recent playoff encounter was in the 2008 conference semifinals when Pittsburgh ousted the Rangers in five games. New York, which made the conference finals in 2012, is in the second round for the third straight season after beating Philadelphia in seven games in the opening round. Home-ice advantage came in handy for the Blueshirts, as they claimed a 2-1 win at Madison Square Garden in the final test against the Flyers, improving to 6-0 all-time in Game 7s on home ice. In this round, however, the Rangers will have to prove they can win on the road against the Metropolitan Division champion Penguins. "Were battle-tested and ready for the next series," said Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault. "Philly was a real tough opponent, and you have to give them credit, it was a great series, but we know if you look on paper Pittsburgh is probably one of the best teams in the league. They were (13) points ahead of us in the regular season, so were going to have our hands full." The Pens and Rangers split four meetings during the 2013-14 campaign, with both teams recording 2-1-1 records. New York had lost five straight in Pittsburgh before ending that road slide with a 4-3 shootout win on Feb. 7. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday in the Steel City, while New York gets to host the third meeting on Monday. Fatigue could be an issue for the Rangers at the start of this series, as New York will have played five games in a span of seven days through Game 3 of this set. The Pens, on the other hand, had three full days of rest heading into Game 1. Pittsburgh is in the second round after beating Columbus in six games during the conference quarterfinals. The Pens are after a second straight trip to the East finals after getting swept by Boston in the penultimate playoff round last spring. A big topic of conversation in the middle of the first round was Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkins lack of goal-scoring. But, after Malkin turned in a hat trick to help Pittsburgh clinch the series in Game 6, that likely puts an end to the discussion for now. Malkin ended with seven points on three goals and four assists. Crosby failed to score a goal in six games, but with six assists to his credit its difficult to say he was unproductive. Still, Crosby, the odds-on favorite to win this seasons Hart Trophy, hasnt recorded a goal in his last 11 playoff games and if he goes long without scoring one in this series it could become an issue once again. Crosby and Chris Kunitz led Pittsburgh with six points apiece during the season series with New York, with the captain notching a goal and five assists and Kunitz delivering three goals and three helpers. Malkin only played in two of the four meetings and had a goal and an assist. When things go wrong for Pittsburgh, nobody gets criticized more than No. 1 goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Last spring, Fleury was replaced by Tomas Vokoun as the clubs starting goaltender after Game 4 of the opening round against the New York Islanders and did not start another game in the playoffs. Fleury struggled at times during the conference quarterfinals against Columbus, but not enough for head coach Dan Bylsma to make the switch to current backup Jeff Zatkoff. For the most part, Fleury was solid against the Blue Jackets in Round 1. He ended the series with a .908 save percentage and 2.81 goals against average. The 29-year-old is 49-36 with a .903 save percentage and .273 GAA throughout his playoff career. The biggest advantage New York has over the Penguins could be in net, where Rangers backstop Henrik Lundqvist is as steady as they come. The 32-year-old Swede posted a .919 save percentage and 2.11 GAA in the seven games against Philadelphia Lundqvist is a big reason the Rangers are so difficult to beat in a long series. With its win over Philly, the Blueshirts became the first team in NHL history to win a Game 7 in the first round in three consecutive postseasons. In five career Game 7s, Lundqvist is 4-1 with a 1.00 GAA, a .963 save percentage and has allowed two goals or fewer in all five games. The Rangers threw a balanced scoring attack at Philadelphia, with eight players tied for the team lead with two goals apiece and 17 skaters in all registered at least one point. Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards, both members of Tampa Bays 2004 Stanley Cup-winning team, led the way with six points on two goals and four assists, while fellow forwards Carl Hagelin, Benoit Pouliot and Mats Zuccarello each had two goals and two assists. Even physical forward Daniel Carcillo joined the fun, as the ex-Flyer scored two goals against his former team, including the first marker in Wednesdays 2-1 Game 7 victory. If there is one guy who needs to get going for New York its the clubs top offensive weapon Rick Nash. The big, talented winger led the team with 26 goals during the regular season, but he failed to score against the Flyers while notching four assists. Over 23 career playoff games, Nash only has managed two goals while recording 10 assists. Zuccarello posted two goals and four assists to lead the Rangers in scoring against the Pens during the season series. Both Fleury and Lundqvist started all four games in net. Pittsburghs No. 1 netminder had a 3.12 GAA in the season series, while Lundqvist was slightly better with a 2.88 GAA. Clayton Kershaw Jersey .Y. - Joe Johnson hit six 3-pointers in his 27 points, Mason Plumlee added 18 points, and the Brooklyn Nets won their 11th straight at home, beating the Boston Celtics 114-98 Friday night. Kirk Gibson Jersey . -- Phil Mickelson came to the St. http://www.ladodgersprostore.us/Chris-Taylor-dodgers-jersey/. Tony Parker had 33 points and nine assists and San Antonio never trailed in a resounding 116-92 victory over Portland, bullying the younger Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Fernando Valenzuela Jersey .com) - The Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics both entered Wednesday nights game riding lengthy losing streaks. Babe Herman Jersey . The 25-year-old Lu, a regular on the Japan LPGA Tour after giving up her LPGA Tour membership in 2010, shot an 8-under 64 in windy, wet conditions at Kintetsu Kashikojima.Arsene Wenger has dismissed suggestions Arsenal have already fallen behind Tottenham in North Londons balance of power and believes his young team will improve next season. The Gunners remain six points behind second-placed Spurs, albeit with a game in hand, and are widely considered to be out of the race for this seasons Premier League title. Arsene Wenger doesnt think Jack Wilshere is ready to play for Arsenal against Crystal Palace on Super Sunday The possibility of Spurs finishing higher than them in the league for the first time since Wengers appointment in 1996 is distinct. And given Spurs youth and the likelihood they will be strengthened further by qualifying for the Champions League, indications are that Wengers Arsenal may have finally fallen behind their bitter rivals.Wenger insisted he remains hopeful of catching them during their final six league fixtures of the season, however, and also implied that their respective records during the past 18 years mean one superior league campaign changes little.First of all, we are not behind yet, he said ahead of his sides Super Sunday game with Crystal Palace, live on Sky Sports.Tottenham have been 18 years behind us, they survived you know, so lets be realistic.If Leicester win on Sunday, it doesnt change the fact that we have absolutely to win our game. Lets prepare for that, no matter what the result of Leicester is. Alex Iwobi has impressed since breaking into the Gunners first team Leicester can still drop points on Sunday [at home to West Ham in the opening match of Super Sunday].During a disappointing second half of the season, Arsenal have been eliminated from the FA Cup and Champions Leaggue and fallen 13 points behind Leicester.ddddddddddddAlex Iwobi and January signing Mohamed Elneny have impressed in that time, though, and Wenger has revealed he expects his side to continue to develop.The manager believes strengthening his present squad will prove difficult and - despite being criticised for signing only Petr Cech last summer, and amid reports he intends to overhaul his team - he plans to retain Arsenals present core of players. You cannot dismiss the players. We spoke about Iwobi, hes 19 years of age, Elneny 23, [Francis] Coquelin 24 - they will be stronger, the Frenchman added.You need to keep a core of players and strengthen where we can, but the team is going the right way. Its at the moment difficult for us to accept were not completely there, but you have to accept that.If you look at the top three, youll see that the teams have not changed a lot.We have to strengthen, but it is not obvious, despite the money the English clubs will have, to find the players who will strengthen your squad.We will of course work very hard to do that and we are already working, but we have to find the players. Its not easy. Arsene Wenger thinks the Premier League have set a dangerous precedent by preventing Kevin Friend from refereeing Tottenhams next game I will judge (Elneny) at the end of the season, but for sure hes had a big impact, much bigger than expected because usually a guy comes in, it takes him a few months to adapt, and him and Iwobi had a big impact on the quality of our game.Watch Arsenal v Crystal Palace on Super Sunday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 HD at 3:30pm, after Leicester v West Ham. Also See: Sky Live: Arsenal v C Palace Wilshere not ready to return What must Arsenal change? Premier League table ' ' '