The Rangers are primed to make another long playoff run, and they’re my pick to hoist the Stanley Cup in June. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.

In this podcast, I discuss my 2015 Stanley Cup Playoff Bracket and discuss the first round matchups, my thoughts, and who I think will advance.

I chose the New York Rangers to hoist the Stanley Cup come June. This is one of the deepest and most complete Rangers teams that we have seen in years, and it’s hard to find another team with the forward depth and defensive talent the Rangers have, on top of an elite goalie in Henrik Lundqvist.

I have the Rangers defeating the Nashville Predators in the Finals, a surprise showing from the Western Conference team, making their first appearance in both the Western Conference Finals and Cup Finals in franchise history. They’re a sleeper pick, with a potential for home ice through the first three rounds, with a star goalie and a great defensive core.

This year’s playoffs is set to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, so listen to what I expect to go down in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, starting April 15^th.

Below are images of my bracket so you can follow along to the podcast and get a visual for the matchups that I chose.

The first round sees a few upsets in my bracket, most notable the Minnesota Wild over the St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Islanders and Capitals will battle for seven games, with the Islanders slightly edging Ovechkin and the Capitals. Winnipeg will create some noise, but fall short to the experienced Anaheim Ducks.

In a battle of goaltending, the Pekka Rinne and the Preds will outduel Minnesota and Devan Dubnyk. Vancouver’s line of the Sedin twins and Radim Vrabata will be too much for the Ducks’ questionable goaltending. The Lightning’s explosive offense will take down a Canadiens team that is way too reliant on Carey Price. And the Rangers will edge the Islanders in a hard fought series in The Battle for New York.

The Predators will have just enough forward depth, combined with their defensive production to spoil the Canucks chances of getting back to the Finals since 2011, and the Preds will make their first appearance to the Finals in franchise history. The Rangers defensive depth and experience will help them edge a mostly inexperienced Lightning team in a lengthy series, making their second appearance to the finals in as many years.

In the Stanley Cup Finals, the Rangers scoring will prove too much for Nashville to handle, giving the Rangers their first Stanley Cup title since the magical run of 1993-94.

Agree? Disagree? Tell me why in the comment section below.

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