New York Rangers vs Hurricanes: Game Four

Previous Game

• Rangers are coming off a 3-1 win on home ice to make the series 2-1 in Carolina’s favor
• Mika Zibanejad opened the goal scoring while Chris Kreider scored the game-winning goal. Tyler Motte got his first goal as a New York Ranger by adding the empty net
• Igor Shesterkin made 43 saves on 44 shots. Shesterkin has allowed just one goal in regulation in each of the three games vs the Hurricanes
• After the game, Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant and former Ranger Tony DeAngelo were barking at each other. The Hurricanes made it feisty after the final horn.
• “I wasn’t happy with the bullshit at the end of the game that they initiated,” Gallant said postgame. “We didn’t do that when the games were close. They want to put their guys on, that’s fine. If they want to play like that, we got the guys that can match that.”

Game Four

• It will be interesting to see the physicality level of game four following the conclusion of game three. Keep an eye on Ryan Reaves who led the Rangers in hits during the regular season
• Sammy Blais has been practicing in a non-contact jersey. Gallant hasn’t rule him out for a return in this series.
• Barclay Goodrow has a fracture and is in a boot. He also wasn’t ruled out to return this series but they certainly can’t count on him
• Rangers need more out of their second line. Artemi Panarin has just two points since game-six against the Penguins. Ryan Strome and Andrew Copp have yet to record a point against the Hurricanes.
• Lines are not expected to be set in stone. Gallant used a set of lines to create offense in the first two periods while going back to the original lines to protect the lead
• No lineup personnel changes are expected for the Rangers
• Rangers defense has done a good job limiting the quality scoring opportunities of the Hurricanes top players
• Andrei Svechnikov, Martin Necas, and Tony DeAngelo are just some Hurricanes players who haven’t recorded a point
• The Blueshirts have also done a good job not allowing Carolina to get into that dominating rhythm they are accustomed to playing in. To this point, the Rangers deserve some credit for not allowing Carolina to play at their highest level
• The Hurricanes have yet to win a game in the playoffs away from home ice. The Rangers are 4-0-1 at Madison Square Garden in the playoffs
• Frederik Andersen has resumed skating and taking shots but Anti Raanta will start game four
• Raanta vs Shesterkin

Eastern Conference Final Opponent

• The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers series came to a shocking end on Monday. Tampa Bay swept the President’s Trophy winning Panthers
• Florida never got their high-octane offense rolling and the Lightning proved why they are back-to-back winners of the Stanley Cup
• The winner of the Rangers vs Hurricanes series will meet the Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final
• The Lightning will get plenty of rest and open the series on the road