New York at Boston

Aside from a disasterous performance at home vs. the Flyers, the Rangers have played excellent hockey in their last 11 games. All three games they dropped were decided by either overtime or a shootout, so they have won every game or been in it down to the last minute. Boston is by far not as strong as they were a year ago, especially at home where they were almost an automatic winner. The Bruins in early January have already surpassed the losses they suffered at home last season. New York has done their best work against the Northeast where they are 8-2 in their last 10. Meanwhile the Bruins nemesis has been the Atlantic where they are just 1-6 in their last seven. The Rangers have controlled this series at 13-5 in the last 18 meetings, and I'll ride with New York here.