Igor Shesterkin holds the key for Rangers vs. Canes

On paper, Carolina should roll New York over but if goaltender Igor Shesterkin can maintain the form that dragged the Rangers past the Penguins in Round 1, they have a chance at a Stanley Cup upset.

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JULIAN MCKENZIE: So we're down to the Rangers and the Carolina Hurricanes. I'm actually picking the Rangers to do it in seven.

OMAR: Yes.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: I liked how the Rangers--

OMAR: Same. Yes.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: --came back with all the resiliency in the world in that series against Pittsburgh. And hey, look, if it wasn't for that overturned goalie interference call in game one, I still think this is a completely different series, and the Rangers might still win that. They still have the likely Vezina winner in Igor Shesterkin. You're talking about how Vasilevskiy might not look human-- might little human in round two. I'm kind of counting on Igor Shesterkin to pick up his game in the second round. So I'm going to pick the Rangers to beat the Carolina Hurricanes. We're very good defensively.

But I think the Rangers might have what it takes to kind of get a bit of an upset here, just because the Rangers are still kind of far back, and the Canes are still a little bit higher in the hierarchy of competing teams. I think the Rangers might have a bit of a surprise in this one. This could go the distance as well. Omar, who are you picking?

OMAR: Yes, I'm team Rangers all the way, 100%. I love that team. That was like-- the Rangers are the one team that I have, like, some emotional investment towards. And it was nice to see them win after my team didn't. But, yeah, I think, again, the offensive weapons are there. Igor Shesterkin, I think, will be a key player there.

But yeah, man, I just-- there's-- all, I guess, logic will tell you that it's the Hurricanes, because of the system and the way that they play. And they deserve that reputation. They are a amazing team, a well-coached team.

But there's-- the Rangers, man, they have that Disney magic. There's always a team every year that has some Disney magic. I see Troy Bolton in the locker room saying-- giving the speech--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: You're always using "High School Musical" as the reference.

OMAR: Yes. Yes, I do. Yes, I do.

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: The one film that me watched.

OMAR: And you know what? Yes, I do. What team? Wildcats. And I think the Rangers are going to take this one. I think it'll be close, though. There will have to be some battle back. So I'll say Rangers in seven.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Before we get to Avry and Cuthbert's pick, Omar, rank all three "High School Musical" movies from best to worse.

OMAR: 1, 3, 2.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: That was very quick.

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: No hesitation.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: No hesitation at all.

OMAR: Well, I may or may not have had this debate once, twice, a couple times.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Well, for what it's worth, the original actually still is the best of all three. All the other ones are just a bunch of extra fluff. There's nothing that captures the original of seeing Troy, Gabriella do their thing, even though in the original they barely use Zac Efron's actual singing voice, which is a crime, because he can actually sing.

OMAR: Yeah.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: They should have actually used them.

OMAR: Yep.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Anyway--

OMAR: It's an interesting debate--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: --go ahead.

OMAR: --for sure.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Yes. But before this turns to the "High School Musical" podcast, Cuth, give us your prediction.

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: Well, I'm reminded I'm old every time we do this show. And we were-- I did-- or I was earlier with, 31 years ago, Battle of Alberta. And I am with "High School Musical" every time, because it precedes my childhood. Or my childhood, rather, precedes "High School Musical."

JULIAN MCKENZIE: You weren't even up on "Sponge Bob."

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: That's how wild you are.

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: What?

OMAR: [LAUGHS]

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: Exactly. I have no idea what you guys are talking about--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: He has no idea.

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: --because I was definitely--

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: Wow.

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: --not watching "High School Musical when I was-- what, 25 when it came out? Anyway, Carolina romped.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: That's not true. You were not 25--

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: You guys are wrong.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: --when "High School-- no, you were not 25 when "High School Musical came out.

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: I don't know when it came out. But I was definitely too old to be watching.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: It was 2006. You were maybe 15.

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: OK, maybe. Carolina romps.

OMAR: Yes.

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: Carolina is the better team. If you're looking at, like, the difference in terms of, like, how these teams match up analytically, it's not even close. We saw the flaws in New York when Shesterkin wasn't Shesterkin. If he is Shesterkin, it's close. If he's not, Carolina crushes them.

I guess to pick them in five, they got to start winning on the road, and they haven't done that yet. But I'll pick them to pretty comfortably win this game, or win this series, because I just think they're-- they might be the best team in the Eastern Conference. But I think they're better than New York, pretty easily.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Avry.

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: You know, that's a good point, Justin, meaning that winning on the road is going to be tough for the Rangers. They haven't done that yet. But I am going to go the New York Rangers in this series--

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: Wow.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Wow.

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: --in seven.

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: On an island here.

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: In seven.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Wow.

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: If you look at Shesterkin, if he's on point, it is going to be a battle. It's going to be a fun series. And you know, I love Adam Fox. I love Chris Kreider. The 52-goal season, out of nowhere, who had him putting on 52 goals. I am--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Not me.

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: --loving what they're doing. I think New York finds a way to win this series. And you know what? Hey, how much fun would it be once again to see Madison Square Garden on full display in a possible cup final if they do get past-- if they do make it all the way? I mean, I would love to see Madison Square Garden on display in a cup final series. That'll be fun to watch, so New York--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Sam Rosen.

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: --in seven.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Sam Rosen, calling the Artemi Panarin an OT winner, that was a really fun call to hear, one of the more underrated play-by-play guys in our game. Seeing him on a lengthy playoff run for the New York Rangers, that would be really awesome to see. I did not expect as many people to pick the Rangers.

JUSTIN CUTHBERT: I know. Since I'm on an Island, if the Rangers win, I'll watch Omar's choice of "High School Musical" movie as punishment.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Oh.

OMAR: Wait, as punishment?

[LAUGHTER]

I--

AVRY LEWIS-MCDOUGALL: How does that song go again? (SINGING) We're all in this--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: (SINGING) --this together.

OMAR: What I will say, as a slight little, thing--

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Go ahead.

OMAR: And not going to turn this into a huge debate, because maybe you should make a "High School Musical" time-- I don't know. They did make the same movie three times.