Cardiac Cane
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Carolina Hurricanes: Keys for Metro Success

By Jeb Bohn

RALEIGH, NC - MAY 14: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes leaves the ice following warmups prior to Game Three of the Eastern Conference Third Round against the Boston Bruins during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 14, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MAY 14: Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes leaves the ice following warmups prior to Game Three of the Eastern Conference Third Round against the Boston Bruins during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 14, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Kaapo Kakko of the New York Rangers
TRAVERSE CITY, MI – SEPTEMBER 09: Kaapo Kakko #45 of the New York Rangers skates in warm-ups during Day-4 of the NHL Prospects Tournament game against the Minnesota Wild at Centre Ice Arena on September 9, 2019 in Traverse City, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /

New York Rangers

The last 2 seasons haven’t been kind to the Rangers.  After losing to the Ottawa Senators in the second round back in 2017, the Blueshirts put up 77 points in 2017-18 and 78 points last season.

The Rangers entered a soft rebuild during this time, parting with Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, J.T. Miller, Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Hayes, and Kevin Shattenkirk, among others.  The summer of 2019 gave that rebuild a boost with the acquisitions of Jacob Trouba, Adam Fox, and Artemi Panarin.  To top it off, the Rangers held the second overall pick at the draft, which they used to select Kaapo Kakko.

While those additions will help boost their 23rd-ranked offense, the focus shifts to preventing goals. The Rangers allowed the 9th fewest goals (267) in 2018-19 despite franchise mainstay Henrik Lundqvist having a subpar season (18W; 3.07GAA; .907SV%; 0SO).  There’s no taking away from what the Swedish goalie has meant to his team but, at 37, you have to begin to wonder how much gas he has left in the tank.

Twenty-three-year-old Alexandar Georgiev has looked good in 43 appearances over 2 seasons (18W; 2.96GAA; .915SV%; 2SO) behind some bad Ranger teams.  23-year-old Igor Shesterkin is also in the pipeline.

https://twitter.com/sportingnews/status/1094800925133340672

Keys for the Hurricanes:

  • Use speed to draw penalties – The Rangers finished 18-19 with the 5th worst penalty kill (78.2%) in the NHL.  Carolina has the speed to cross defenders up and draw penalties and, if Haula, Dzingel, and Gardiner can help right the Carolina Hurricanes’ power play, these matchups could play a big role.
  • Stay out of the box – Despite their offensive woes, the Rangers power play was in the middle of the pack at 19.38%.  Panarin, Kakko, and Trouba will undoubtedly help raise that number.  The Hurricanes need to make sure that they’re not helping the Rangers out.
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