Blue Line Station
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Nothing finer than the playoffs against Carolina (we hope)

By Scott Esposito

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers scores the game winning goal on the power-play at 19:35 of the third period against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on January 16, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. The Rangers defeated the Islanders 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - JANUARY 16: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers scores the game winning goal on the power-play at 19:35 of the third period against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on January 16, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. The Rangers defeated the Islanders 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The New York Rangers will face the Carolina Hurricanes in a playoff play-in series the NHL hopes to hold late this summer. If recent history is any indication, the Blueshirts may breeze to victory and into the first round.

James Dolan doesn’t own two NHL teams. It just seems that way given his New York Rangers’ dominance of the Carolina Hurricanes over the last 14 years. That’s how long it’s been since Carolina won a season series against the Blueshirts. Since then, New York’s won the season series nine times and tied the other five.

However, this will be the first playoff series between the franchises (including the Canes’ 18 seasons as the Hartford Whalers before moving to North Carolina). And, as you know, one or two hot players can be the difference. Especially in a short series like the best-of-five play-in looming between the two.

Here are three reasons the Rangers will win the series — and three why they won’t.

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