If you ask most hockey fans what the outcome will be of the Pens-Isles playoff series, you’ll get a variety of responses, and most end with the predictions of a very short series ending after 4 or 5 games. Most people cite Iginla, and Malkin, and Morrow, and Neal, and Letang and blah blah blah…

Here’s how this writer thinks it will go down.

John Tavares, who has had a Hart-worthy season, will be in the post season for the very first time in his young career. He and his Islander team mates have absolutely nothing to lose. And Tavares is looking forward to having the spotlight directly on him.

Nothing would please coach Jack Capuano’s upstart squad more than to take out the mighty Penguins.

Here’s the rub. The Pens acquired Jarome Iginla late in the season, and he might just become the new Ray Bourque. And then there’s the possibility of Sid Crosby coming back from injury. Then there’s all those other names that would be franchise players any place else in the league.

All those names cannot make up for the biggest question the Pens have, and that’s the guy in goal. Which Marc-Andre Fleury will show up this post season? Will it be the one that back stopped the Pens to a Stanley Cup in 2009? Or will it be the sieve that showed up in last season’s first round barn burning loss to the Philadelphia Flyers?

The guy in the net across from Fleury is no peach, either. Evgeni Nabokov has a lot to prove. The San Jose Sharks cast him off after years of post season failure following stellar regular season performances. No one expected Nabby to play as well as he has, and likewise, no expected the Isles to get into the post season. Will Nabokov continue his solid play, or will he live up to the futility of post-seasons long past.

Expect the Isles defense to push hard in front of Nabokov. But, how much will this young group, anchored by Mark Streit, Travis Hamonic, Lubomir Visnovsky, and Andrew McDonald, be able to stop the apparent onslaught of this high octane Pens forward corps?

Will the Pens intimidate these upstarts? As I said before, the Isles have nothing to lose, and Tavares could be a game changer. Look for Matt Moulson, Brad Boyes, and Josh Bailey to make meaningful contribution.

The aforementioned Streit is an interesting case, as he is playing for a contract. One has to wonder if his performance in this series won’t determine how long, and how rich, a contract he gets offered by the Isles.

These Penguins have a lot of the playoff spotlight, adding big names at the deadline to shore up their depth, and, as a result, had a lot of people planning another parade in Pittsburgh. Don’t etch the names into the cup, yet, boys and girls.

Even when Fleury folds like a cheap house of cards in a stiff wind (and he will), the Pens will still prevail in the end. But, rest assured, the Isles will give these Penguins a good scare before the end. Penguins in 7.

Here’s what some of our other writers think:

Mitch Tierney: Penguins in 4 – While it is nice to see the Isles making some progress they will be swept aside my a hungry Penguins team.

Ben Kerr: Pittsburgh in 5. The Pens are just too strong for the Islanders, and will take them out. We’ll give the Isles a game though.

Max Vasilyev: John Tavares has pulled the Islanders into the playoffs with an MVP type season, but he is only one man. Penguins in five.

(See what I mean?)

Schedule:

Wednesday, May 1 7:30 p.m. NY Islanders at Pittsburgh NBC Sports Network, TSN

Friday, May 3 7 p.m. NY Islanders at Pittsburgh NBC Sports Network, TSN

Sunday, May 5 Noon Pittsburgh at NY Islanders NBC, TSN

Tuesday, May 7 7 p.m. Pittsburgh at NY Islanders NBC Sports Network, TSN

*Thursday, May 9 7 p.m. NY Islanders at Pittsburgh TSN

*Saturday, May 11 TBD Pittsburgh at NY Islanders TSN

*Sunday, May 12 TBD NY Islanders at Pittsburgh TSN

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