New York Rangers return home to face Carolina, look for 6th straight win
On Thursday night, the New York Rangers will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes after returning home from the longest road trip of the season. During this five game tour of Seattle and western Canada, the Rangers went a perfect 5-0-0. This was the first time in franchise history that the team had swept a road trip of five or more games. With a win against Carolina, the Rangers will have won eight of their first ten games for just the second time in franchise history. The last time the feat was accomplished was in the 1983-1984 season.
It is important that the Blueshirts do not let their guard down now that they have returned home. “This is a really good test for us coming back off a five game road trip,” Vincent Trocheck explained. “These are sometimes games that teams tend to relax a little bit. When you come back and get a team like these guys, you have no time to relax.”
Carolina comes into tonight’s matchup just two points behind the Rangers in the Metropolitan division. They are currently riding a three game win streak. The games between these two teams are always fast and physical. This will be no exception. Last season, the Rangers played well against Carolina, winning three of the four matchups. In the last five meetings, they hold a 3-2-0 record.
Here’s tonight’s game and broadcast info:
New York Rangers (7-2-0) vs Carolina Hurricanes (6-4-0)
Date/Time: November 2, 2023 @ 7:00 PM ET
Arena: Madison Square Garden
TV: MSG, MSGSN
Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Note: Subject to change, updated for each game
New York Rangers projected lineup
The Rangers lineup has remained intact for roughly ten games now. It is expected to be the same once again versus Carolina.
Kreider – Zibanejad – Kakko
Panarin – Chytil – Lafreniere
Cuylle – Trocheck – Wheeler
Goodrow – Bonino – Vesey
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Trouba
Gustafsson – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Note: The Rangers will have a pre-game skate scheduled for 10:30 AM ET at the MSG Training Center. Check back in for updates.
New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes
The Rangers will finally hit the ice at Madison Square Garden in what could potentially be their 6th straight victory. It is crucial that they do not let the relaxation of being back home cause a slow start against a fast team in Carolina.
In order to stop some of Carolina’s top offensive threats, the Rangers will need to continue playing their best defensive hockey. “From a defensive standpoint, I do think the guys have made a commitment to coming back and making it difficult to play through the neutral zone and even more to the point, in our end,” head coach Peter Laviolette explained.
Carolina is a talented team with multiple offensive threats that will need to be accounted for. Jesperi Kotkaniemi leads the team with ten points, followed by Teuvo Teravainen, Martin Necas, and Seth Jarvis with nine each. Andrei Svechnikov has also returned from an ACL and is looking to get back into form. On defense, Brent Burns, Brady Skjei, and Jacob Slavin have been solid.
In goal, the Hurricanes have split their nine games between Frederik Andersen, Antti Raanta, and Pyotr Kochetkov. It will most likely be Andersen who gets the nod, but a starting goalie has yet to be confirmed.
In order to win against Carolina, the Rangers will continue to look toward Artemi Panarin, who is set to play in his 600th NHL game. Through game number 599, he has earned himself 676 points. He currently has 15 points on the season and is on pace to smash the 100 point mark. Something he has yet to accomplish in his career. He will look to keep his nine game point streak alive against the Hurricanes. In his career, Panarin has 24 points against Carolina in 24 games played.
Coach Laviolette will once again deploy the lineup that has earned a 7-2-0 record thus far. “At the end of the day, we’re here to win games and be successful. I think the fact that we’ve been able to play good defense and find ways to win on a tough road trip, that’s all positive. I think all of that leads you to a little bit more patience,” the head coach mentioned. “Had it gone the other way, it’s unlikely we would have kept everything the same.”
It will be a real test when the puck drops at Madison Square Garden. Albeit still early in the season, this will be a good benchmark for the Rangers. Carolina sits two points back in the division, making this game carry significant importance. A victory here will be a statement win for the Rangers, who will look to give the Garden faithful a good show in their return home.
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