Rangers vs. Hurricanes: 3 things to watch for in Stanley Cup Playoffs rematch
Six months after a scintillating Game 6 of their second-round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes face off against Wednesday night at Lenovo Center in Raleigh.
The Rangers went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in that dramatic 5-3 win on May 16. They eliminated the Hurricanes after it appeared for sure the series was headed back to Madison Square Garden for a deciding Game 7. Chris Kreider famously scored a natural hat trick to rescue the Rangers from a 3-1 deficit in the third period, and a third straight loss in the series.
Perhaps some of that magic can rub off on the Rangers here on Thanksgiving Eve. The Rangers (12-7-1) are on a season-long three-game losing streak and just 7-7-0 in their past 14 games following a 5-2 home-ice loss to the St. Louis Blues on Monday.
Coach Peter Laviolette is clearly annoyed with the mediocre play, and Rangers trade rumors are running rampant. So, what a perfect time to face one of their biggest rivals.
The Hurricanes (15-5-1) are second in the Metropolitan Division with 31 points, one behind the first-place New Jersey Devils and six ahead of the fourth-place Rangers. Carolina is just 1-1-1 in its past three games after a three-game winning streak, each with third-string goalie Spencer Martin in goal.
Martin has allowed 13 goals in that span, with Frederik Andersen out 8-12 weeks following knee surgery and Pyotr Kochetkov sidelined with a concussion.
So maybe the Rangers are catching the Hurricanes at just the right time.
Related: Jacob Trouba opens up on Rangers trade rumors: ‘It’s part of the game’
3 things to watch for when Rangers visit Hurricanes
1. Metro clash
Despite their struggles, the Rangers are right in the thick of the Metropolitan Division race a quarter of the way through the season. That, of course, was expected heading into the season. But it also shows that no one is pulling away yet even if the Rangers’ play has been unexpectedly sub-par.
A win Wednesday by the Rangers tightens things even more, which is why there’s no panic on their end right now. They need a better sense of urgency. But there’s no panic.
The Rangers have played just three games within the division, — they’re 2-1-0 — none since a 5-2 win against the Islanders on Nov. 3 which feels like a lifetime ago. The Hurricanes were a perfect 6-0-0 against division rivals to begin the season, but lost in regulation to the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 21 and in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
New York was 2-1-0 in the 2023-24 regular season against Carolina, including one of their best wins of the year, 1-0 in Raleigh on March 12.
2. Get ready for more shots
The Rangers have allowed 40 or more shots in each of their past three games, including a season-high 49 in a 3-2 loss to the Calgary Flames last week. They’ve surrendered 40+ shots five times this season, so in 25 percent of their games.
Could be more of the same Wednesday because the Hurricanes are a notoriously high shot-volume team. They again lead the NHL averaging 33.7 shots per game. But that doesn’t have to be a detrimental thing for the Rangers. Carolina got its shots in the playoffs last spring, but New York did a pretty good job of keeping those shots to the outside and not from dangerous areas. It was a key for the Rangers in their series win and will be again Wednesday.
3. Stop Martin Necas
Guess who’s tied with Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon for the NHL scoring lead? Connor McDavid? Nikita Kucherov? Jack Eichel? Nope. Nope. And nope.
It’s Martin Necas.
The Hurricanes forward has 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 21 games after regressing to 53 points last season and then asking for a trade. He wasn’t dealt and instead landed a new contract and earned a bigger role following the departures of free agents Jake Guentzel and Teuvo Teravainen.
Necas is tied for third in assists and tied for second with four game-winning goal (with Kreider, among others). He has points in 16 of his past 17 games and been held off the score sheet twice this season. The 25-year-old forward has 11 multi-point games, including two four-point performances.
It’ll be interesting to see how — on the road without the final change — Laviolette chooses to defend Necas on Wednesday.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Zibanejad – Berard
Edstrom – Kakko – Smith
Vesey – Carrick – Brodzinski
Miller – Fox
Lindgren – Trouba
Jones – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Hurricanes: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
When: Wednesday Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Lenovo Center
How to Watch: MSG
Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results
More About:New York Rangers News
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