Three keys to taking down the Canes in Game 1

Key 1. Landing the first blow

As we have already eluded to, a fast start will be crucial in a Best-of-Five Series when three wins is all you need in order to advance through to the actual Stanley Cup Playoffs.

We have history to guide us on this point too, as illustrated by our Steve Paulus here, and it just illustrates the importance of winning Game 1.

Going back a few decades to when the NHL used a Best-of-Five series for the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between 1980 and 1986, the team who took Game 1 won 49 of the 56 series played.

Furthermore, only the 1985 New York Islanders lost the first two games of a Best-of-Five and and went on to win.

So, in a nutshell, the Rangers need to land the first big body blow in this series and they will need to set the tone from the first drop of the puck.

While there will be no fans in attendance, thanks again 2020, the pressure of such an occasion will still be very present and falling behind could be a crippling blow for a young roster such as the Blueshirts.

As a result, controlling play from the get-go, getting shots on net early and taking the game to the Hurricanes will be imperative if the Rangers want to seize control of the series and send an early message.

The Canes are known for their aggressive forechecking and creating turnovers that lead to scoring chances, so the Rangers will need to have a seamless transition game and be able to generate chances off the rush in order to combat their opponent’s biggest strength.

An ugly or dispiriting first game could deliver a huge mental blow that is hard to recover from in a short series, so the Blueshirts need to strike early in Game 1 and then they need to keep their foot on the gas.

History doesn’t lie after all and, while not all will be lost if the worst was to happen, the road to the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be a lot harder if the New York Rangers find themselves in a slumber and drop Game 1.