Bantering Points: 4/24/17

With the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs now in the books, there are only eight teams left standing in the chase for the greatest trophy in sports. After knocking out the Boston Bruins yesterday afternoon, the Ottawa Senators earned the right to host the Rangers in the Atlantic Division Finals. Although New York and Ottawa haven't met in the playoffs since 2012, the teams should have no problems finding the motivation to leave it all out on the ice with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line. Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Brett Cyrgalis previews New York's upcoming series against the Ottawa Senators (NY Post)
• Larry Brooks remarks that Ryan McDonagh has reached a new level as of late (NY Post)
• The full schedule for the second round of the playoffs has been released, and the Rangers and Senators are set to begin their series on Thursday night (Newsday)
• Justin Tasch realizes that whenever the Blueshirts need a vintage performance our of Henrik Lundqvist, the franchise icon will deliver (NY Daily News)
• Jim Cerny points out that now that the stakes have risen for the Rangers, so have the expectations (The Hockey Writers)
• Jess Rubenstein delivers another prospect update, with bits on Sergei Zborovskiy and Ryan Gropp (Blueshirt Bulletin)
• Robby Sabo noticed that New York Jets' players Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson were at the Garden on Saturday night, as they watched the Rangers clinch their first round series (Elite Sports NY)
• Brandon Cohen reflects on the team's Game 6 victory and their chances of moving deeper into the playoffs (Blue Line Station)
• John Williams believes that the Rangers have finally figured out how to win at home in the playoffs (Blue Line Station)/

Around the NHL:

• The winds of change could be blowing through San Jose this summer, as both Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau may have played their last games in teal and black (Sportsnet)
• Ken Campbell questions who the Washington Capitals are, and their chances of embarking on a deep playoff run (The Hockey News)
• Scott Cullen breaks down how the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs met their respective playoff fates (TSN)
• Josh Cooper reports that the Los Angeles Kings have hired former assistant coach John Stevens to succeed Darryl Sutter as the franchise's next head coach (Puck Daddy)/