from Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,

Tanner Glass has a pretty good grasp of how lousy the New York Rangers might feel after the coming weekend.

“For me, the back-to-back games, that's when you feel it,” the Penguins' most physical forward was saying Thursday at Consol Energy Center. “I mean, practice is one thing, but hockey — no, playoff hockey — that's another level. Guys have trouble sleeping after a playoff game. You're still all jacked up, way after the game ends. And then you have to get out of bed and go right at it again the next day … it's tough, man.”

Now, extrapolate that to reflect the Rangers' ridiculous schedule issued by the NHL for this second round of Stanley Cup playoffs that opens Friday night at Consol, goes again Sunday, then flips Monday to Madison Square Garden. That'll be five games in seven days for the Rangers, who eliminated Philadelphia in Game 7 on Wednesday. It'll also be six games in nine days, not to mention four travel days and all the requisite bumps, bruises and bloody knuckles that come with facing the Flyers.

“A quick exhale” was how the Rangers' Brad Richards described the 45 free hours they'll get.

Sure sets up well for the home team, doesn't it?

And no, not just because the Penguins have enjoyed three full days of rest since Game 6 in Columbus. There are all kinds of favorable elements falling into place:

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