2022 Stanley Cup playoffs - X factors, predictions for New York Rangers-Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames-Dallas Stars Game 7s

We've made it to the final two games of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs to determine which two clubs will advance and which two will get their summers started a little early.

To help get you ready for Sunday's NHL Game 7s — Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET, TNT) and Dallas Stars at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) — we're breaking down a path to victory for each team, identifying the X factors in both contests and predicting the final scores.

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7 p.m. ET (TNT) | Watch live on ESPN

Leading scorers: Sidney Crosby (2 G | 7 A) and Jake Guentzel (7 G | 2 A), Penguins;Adam Fox (3 G | 6 A), Rangers

Path to victory for Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh might not know well ahead of time whether Sidney Crosby or Tristan Jarry will be available in Game 7. But a team can hope (for both).

Regardless of who's in the lineup, the Penguins should lean on what has generated success for them to date, and that's throwing off Rangers netminder Igor Shesterkin. The Vezina Trophy finalist was average at best through the series' first five games, and the Penguins created plenty of traffic and scoring opportunities to make that the case. Crosby was a primary factor in much of Pittsburgh's offensive success before being knocked out of Game 5, but the formula is there for the taking regardless of who's dressed in black and gold.

Shesterkin has unquestionably been New York's MVP all season. So while slowing down the likes of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin is helpful, the way through for Pittsburgh is recognizing that, for whatever reason, Shesterkin is not impenetrable. That's the Penguins' open window to break through. — Shilton

Path to victory for New York: The easiest path to