Opening Faceoff: Rangers at Hurricanes 11/22/17

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Following two consecutive losses, the Rangers defeated the new and improved Ottawa Senators on Sunday by a decisive score of 3-0. In that game, the Rangers put on a clinic with their sound defensive play and crisp passes. The Blueshirts hope to do the same as they face the 9-6-4 Carolina Hurricanes on Thanksgiving Eve.

Keys to Victory

Get Pucks To The Net: The Carolina Hurricanes are second in the NHL in shots per game, averaging 35.4. The Rangers rank 12th in the same category with 32.4 shots per game. However, the Blueshirts will have a difficult time getting shots on goal as the Hurricanes hold their opponents to an average of 29.2 shots a game, good enough for third best in the league.

Special Teams: The Rangers PP, which has struggled over the last few games going 0/9, will be facing a PK unit that has given up a PPG in three of the last four games. The Hurricanes penalty kill ranks just behind the Rangers at 80.8%. As for the Hurricanes PP, they are near the bottom of the NHL at a measly 15.4%, ranking them 27th in the league. The Blueshirts PK has been shaky of late but is coming off of a great performance, killing a five-minute major penalty to Brendan Smith while defending a two-goal third-period lead.

Players to Watch

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Mats Zuccarello: Much like last season, Mats Zuccarello has struggled to find the back of the net to start the year. But that hasn’t taken away the Norwegian’s ability to produce points. Zuccarello has sixteen points in 21 games this season (3G, 13A) including five assists in his last four games.

Kevin Hayes: Kevin Hayes has really seemed to hit his stride in the last couple of weeks. He’s picked up three points in his last four games including the game winner vs. the Senators: For more on his expanded role: click here.

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Carolina Hurricanes
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Teuvo Teräväinen: Teräväinen has five goals and five assists for ten points in his last four games. The young forward was named the NHL’s first star of the week following a hat-trick and a four point performance in a 5-1 victory against the Dallas Stars, and then five more points in his next three games.

Sebastian Aho: Sebastian Aho has four goals and five assists for ten points over the last four games.

Other Notes:

New York Rangers first-line defenseman Ryan McDonagh will not make the trip to Carolina as he has an abdominal strain. For more on this click here.

Rangers defenseman Steven Kampfer is set to replace McDonagh.

Puck drops at 7!

LETS GO RANGERS!

I am a New York Rangers journalist, avid Blueshirt fan, and a long-time hockey player born and raised in... More about Noah Weiss

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