2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview: Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers
The Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers are facing off for the second time in three years. Despite it only being the second round, this tilt could be one of the best we see in all of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. As always, we are back with another preview here at Vendetta Sports Media. If their seven-game war two years ago is anything to go by, we should have a lot of fun here. Let’s not waste anymore time seeing how these two teams stack up.
Recent History
2022 was a classic between these two teams. For the first six games, the home team prevailed each time, and it was not pretty. A number of players have suited up for both the Rangers and Canes in recent years. Names like Brady Skjei, Tony DeAngelo, and Jesper Fast are all examples. With former teammates going to battle, and the long history list, there was bad blood. Both on the ice and online, the two groups did not like each other. Everything is built up for a cataclysmic Game 7. One that the Rangers came out of with a 6-2 win on the road. They bucked the trend and deflated the Hurricanes in a historic win.
That series win in 2022 avenged a sweep in the 2020 Qualifying Round in the Toronto Bubble. During the pandemic, Carolina knocked the Rangers out in a 3-0 final from a five-game series. At that time, the Blueshirts were still in the process of completing their rebuild in year one of Artemi Panarin. On the other hand, the Canes were all in after making the Eastern Conference Finals the year prior. The cores are similar on both sides but the expectations are as high as they’ve ever been.
Why Carolina Wins
At their highest level, you could argue that there is no better team in the playoffs than these Hurricanes. We were not able to see a whole lot of that in their first-round win over the Islanders. However, they did not have to be at their best. Even at 75 percent, Carolina dispatched a hungry Isles squad in only five games. They got punched a couple of times. However, their counterpunch was deadly. There is literally nothing this team can’t do: score, pass, forecheck, backcheck, dominate. They roll four lines and each one has equal levels of bite and danger.
Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour jumbled his lines on occasion throughout the first round. If he can strike gold and find the best combinations, then the sky is the limit for this team. They didn’t get a whole lot from Jake Guentzel, so he could be the key to this series. If he plays the way we’ve seen him play in Pittsburgh, then they will be really tough to beat. He was the best player available at the deadline and the Rangers reportedly wanted him as well. All in all, they know the stakes of this series and you can bet the house on them being ready to play.
Why New York Wins
As was the case in 2022, home ice is gonna play a factor here. Whether on the court or on the ice, the playoff atmosphere at Madison Square Garden is arguably the best in sports. Rangers fans need to make their barn a tough place to play. Assuming it reaches a Game 7 again, having it on home ice is a big lift. Their archrival in the Islanders showed them that Carolina has some soft spots; it now becomes a matter of whether they have the horses to make them hurt.
Look no further than special teams. Carolina will want to keep the play at five-on-five but if they are not disciplined that will lead to their downfall. The Rangers’ powerplay is alien levels of good. Everyone knows where each other is at all times and all five players can score. They also have a solid penalty kill that could build momentum.
The Rangers will also have the better players on the ice. Even though Carolina is balanced and efficient, New York will have the best forward and best defenseman available. The aforementioned Panarin has put in a stellar season and clearly wants to cap it with a Stanley Cup. Despite dealing with injuries, Adam Fox has returned to Norris-level status and will be an X-Factor once again.
Goaltending is crucial here. If Igor Shesterkin can be the best goalie in this series, that alone might be enough to put them over the finish line. Freddie Andersen has been solid for the Canes but he has holes. You need to get in his head and find a way to beat him quickly.
The Pick
This has the potential to be an even better series than the Stanley Cup Final. Coming into the playoffs, a lot of people had one of these two teams going all the way. It is gonna be a war, but the road team holds all the cards as of now. If someone is able to take a game off the home team before Game 7 then all bets are off. However, I just think this is the Rangers’ year. They won it all 30 years ago. Unfortunately, I think right now is their best shot at doing it again for a long time. It just feels like they are due to break through.
Prediction: Rangers In 7
