from Rory Boylen of Sportsnet,

In a playoff season that had its share of upsets, improbable goalie performances, overtimes and Game 7s we end up with a terrific matchup between the defending Stanley Cup champions and a first-time finalist.

The Penguins survived the Eastern Conference with plenty of injury problems, including starting the playoffs without both their top defenceman and No. 1 goalie. Most teams couldn’t survive a hit like that. But with a sum-of-its-parts defence and a couple of superstars up front, Pittsburgh found a way to eliminate Columbus in five games, and Washington and Ottawa in seven.

The Predators broke through for the first time as the eighth seed in the West and the No. 16 seed overall with their 94 points. But don’t mistake them as some fluke. Pekka Rinne has been excellent, sure, but the Predators’ biggest strength is Pittsburgh’s biggest weakness, their defence. With a collection of blue-liners that can do everything at both ends of the ice, Nashville upset Chicago in a shocking sweep and then got past St. Louis and Anaheim in six games each.

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