Here are today’s news and links:

Rangers News:

• Mollie Walker argues the time is now for the third line trio of Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko to step up their games (NY Post)
• Larry Brooks notes that if the Blueshirts overly rely on their goaltending advantage over Pittsburgh, they’ll be in for a short, painful series (NY Post)
• Colin Stephenson heard from Chris Kreider about his excitement to be back in front of a raucous, playoff ready crowd at Madison Square Garden (Newsday)
• Stephenson also saw Alexis Lafreniere get some work as a net front option on the power play at New York’s practice yesterday (Newsday)
• Vincent Mercogliano previews the clash between the Rangers and Penguins (LoHud)
• Tom Castro highlights the Blueshirts’ defense corps as the key to toppling Pittsburgh (The Hockey Writers)
• Brian Abate sees the possibility of a playoff run as a chance for the team’s pending free agents to make a statement about themselves before heading to market (The Hockey Writers)/

Around the NHL:

• James O’Brien recaps the action from the opening night of the playoffs (NBC Sports)
• Iain MacIntyre reports that Vancouver Canucks’ head coach Bruce Boudreau expects to be back with the team next season (Sportsnet)/