Rangers return home with chance to end Hurricanes in Game 5

The New York Rangers could not change the NHL history books by becoming the first team to sweep the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the format changed to a Best-of-7 in 1987. By losing 4-3 on Saturday to the Carolina Hurricanes in this Eastern Conference Second Round battle, the scene now shifts back to Broadway.

Carolina was able to hold off another Rangers’ comeback after being up 3-1 after the first period. Former Ranger, Brady Skjei, broke a 3-3 tie with the Hurricanes’ first power-play goal in this series late in the third period to force Game 5.

“We take the confidence that when we play our game, we play pretty well,” captain Jacob Trouba explained. “You’ve got to keep your confidence for sure. You’re probably not going to win all of them in a row. It’s a good team and we’ve played four really close games. Turn our attention to Game 5 and try to close them out.”

The Blueshirts played Game 4 without Filip Chytil, who felt ill after Game 3 coming back after missing six-months due to a suspected concussion. However, there was positive news on Sunday regarding the 24-year-old forward.

Dan Rosen of NHL.com reported that Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said Chytil was “feeling better and hopes he can be an option in Game 5” on Monday at Madison Square Garden.

New York will be looking to end this series at home and avoid a trip back to Raleigh, North Carolina for Game 6. Of course, that will be easier said than done.

“All I want to say is, it’s going to be a dog fight [Monday],” stated Hurricanes forward Evgeny Kuznetsov. “There is one bowl of food and two dogs are going to compete with each other. They know they don’t want to come back (to Carolina). They know it’s going to be hell here.”

Here’s today’s game and broadcast info:

New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes (GAME 5)
Date/Time: May 13, 2024 @ 7:00 PM ET
Arena: Madison Square Garden,
TV: ESPN
Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Series: 3-1 NYR

Note: Subject to change, updated for each game

Related: Filip Chytil feeling better, possible for Game 5

New York Rangers projected lineup

Here’s the expected lineup:

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

Lindgren – Fox
Gustafsson – Trouba
Miller – Schneider

Shesterkin
Quick

Note: Matt Rempe in per pregame line rushes.

New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes (Round 2)

Rangers leading playoff scorers:

Goals – Trocheck (5)
Assists – Zibanejad (10)
Points – Zibanejad (13)

Rangers playoff goalie stats:

Igor Shesterkin: 7-1, 2.25 GAA, .927 SV%

Notes:

This is the third time the Rangers have played the Hurricanes in the playoffs. They have a 1-1 series record, losing the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers and winning in the second round in 2022. This is the second time the teams have played a best-of-7 series.

The Rangers are just the sixth Presidents’ Trophy winner to sweep their first-round opponent.

Matt Rempe became the first Rangers’ player to score a goal in his NHL Playoffs debut since defenseman Matt Gilroy scored in Game 1 of the 2011 Conference Quarterfinals against the Capitals.

Including the regular season and playoffs, when the Rangers score four or more goals in a game, they are 39-0-1.

New York tied a franchise record set in 1994 with their seventh straight win to open the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Rangers are 11-11 all-time in Game 5s at MSG.

Upcoming Rangers Milestones

• The next Rangers playoff shutout will be the first since Henrik Lundqvist beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-0 on 4/12/17 (R1, G1).

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More must-reads:

• Rangers fail to close out Hurricanes again in 4-1 Game 5 defeat
• Winning special teams battle among 3 Rangers keys in Game 5 vs. Hurricanes
• Rangers fail to sweep, drop Game 4 to Hurricanes 4-3