Rangers and Hurricanes clash as storm brews in Carolina

NHL: New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Rangers are ready for a huge clash when they face the Carolina Hurricanes on the road Tuesday night.

After defeating the New Jersey Devils by a 3-1 score at the Garden on Monday, the Blueshirts are up four points on the second-place Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division. A win will increase that margin or a loss will make the race for the top seed in the Metro extremely tight.

,Goals by Mika Zibanejad, Erik Gustafsson, and Vincent Trocheck were enough to get by a struggling Devils squad. However, the Canes will likely have their big trade deadline acquisition, Jake Guentzel, in the lineup making his Carolina debut.

It’s going to be an all hands on deck contest for the Rangers, who are without Matt Rempe after he was suspended four games Tuesday for elbowing Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in the head.

The Rangers also remain without defenseman Jacob Trouba, who’s sidelined 2-3 weeks with a lower-body injury.

Here’s today’s game and broadcast info:

New York Rangers (42-18-4) vs Carolina Hurricanes (39-19-6)
Date/Time: March 12, 2024 @ 7:00 PM ET
Arena: PNC Arena
TV: MSG
Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM

Note: Subject to change, updated for each game

Related: Mark Messier is ‘all in’ on Matt Rempe

New York Rangers projected lineup

NHL: New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s the expected lineup:

Kreider – Zibanejad – Roslovic
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Wennberg – Kakko
Vesey – Goodrow – Brodzinski

Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Schneider
Jones – Gustafsson

Shesterkin
Quick

Update: Rangers coach Peter Laviolette confirmed Jonny Brodzinski will replace the suspended Matt Rempe in the lineup Tuesday.

New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes

The Rangers and Hurricanes are locked in a heated battle for first-place in the Metropolitan Division. Currently, New York has 88 points and are four points behind the Florida Panthers for the Presidents’ Trophy with a game in hand. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are surging, 5-1-0 in their past six games, and have with 84 points.

This season, the Blueshirts are 19-10-4 away from the Garden, but have lost their last two road games (0-1-1). Igor Shesterkin will start after Jonathan Quick’s sharp performance against the Devils on Monday.

Since the month of February, for goalies that have played more than five games, Shesterkin leads the NHL with a spectacular .948 save percentage. He’s also 8-1-1 with a stunning 1.80 goals-against average.

New York is 1-1-0 versus the Hurricanes and this is the final meeting for the two teams in the regular season. Needless to say, the ramification of this game could be felt long after the final buzzer sounds.

“There’s another big game against Carolina,” Zibanejad said after scoring his first 5-on5 goal since Dec. 23rd. “A team we’re battling with for the top spot. It’s going to be a challenge.”

Upcoming Rangers Milestones

  • K’Andre Miller is 1 point away from 100 career points
  • Artemi Panarin is 3 assists from 500 career helpers
  • Chris Kreider is 3 goals aways from 300 in his career
Anthony Scultore is the founder of Forever Blueshirts and has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL ... More about Anthony Scultore
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