Rangers expecting fight from host Hurricanes in Game 3

The New York Rangers hit the road for the next two games looking to take a commanding lead in their Eastern Conference Second Round best-of-7 series against the Carolina Hurricanes.

On Tuesday night, Igor Shesterkin turned aside 54 of 57 shots to set up Vincent Trocheck’s dramatic double-overtime goal . It was an amazing performance that included multiple game-saving stops in the closing minutes of the third period and both overtime sessions.

“When your goaltender is making those saves in overtime – when you do it in the second period, you have half the game to fight back,” coach Peter Laviolette praised Shesterkin . “But in overtime, those saves have to be made and he was fantastic.”

The Rangers coach also has compared this series to a heavyweight fight, where neither opponent was going to just punch away to a lopsided win. With the scene shifting from Broadway to Raleigh, his charges need to continue bobbing-and-weaving in order to wisely find openings for a knockout punch.

“You’re going to get punched, and you’re going to have to punch back,” Laviolette said on Wednesday . “To me, [Game 2] wasn’t a miraculous knockout in the 15th round, it just went back and forth … I do think there’s been games we didn’t play well and we found a way to come back. This was more going blow for blow with a really good team. We were able to hang in there and get one punch in double overtime.”

Aside from Laviolette’s boxing analogy, Game 2 had several heated moments that included both goalies being run over and a monstrous near-miss hit attempt. Rangers captain Jacob Trouba almost demolished Hurricanes forward Martin Necas, but instead went flying over him head first into the boards.

“Elbow me in the head, I guess,” Necas accused . “Maybe he was protecting himself from going into the boards, but he knows. He knows. Everyone knows what kind of player he is. I mean good for him. Nothing happened. We’re all good and I’m excited for the next game.”

At the end of the day, a fight is on tap at PNC Arena whether actual fists fly or not. New York has a chance to take a 3-0 stranglehold on this series, and the Hurricanes will be desperate to avoid that scenario.

Here’s today’s game and broadcast info:

New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes (GAME 3)
Date/Time: May 9, 2024 @ 7:00 PM ET
Arena: PNC Arena
TV: TNT
Radio: ESPN 98.7 FM
Series: 2-0 NYR

Note: Subject to change, updated for each game

Related: Hurricanes will remain without key defenseman for Game 3

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: The Rangers will hold a morning skate at 11:30 A.M. ET. Coach Peter Laviolette will address the media at that time. Check back here for updates.

New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes (Round 2)

Rangers leading playoff scorers:

Goals – Trocheck (5)
Assists – Zibanejad (8)
Points – Zibanejad (11)

Rangers playoff goalie stats:

Igor Shesterkin: 6-0, 2.01 GAA, .929 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.

Igor Shesterkin has not allowed more than three goals in 29 consecutive playoff games.

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).

Subscribe now on YouTube and be part of a community where passion for the New York Rankers knows no bounds!

More must-reads:

• Vincent Trocheck’s 2-OT goal lifts Rangers to 4-3 win against Hurricanes in epic Game 2
• Rangers look to keep momentum against Hurricanes in Game 2
• Rangers win Game 1 thriller, defeat Hurricanes 4-3