Blue Line Station
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What the Rangers need to do to win Round 2

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on April 26, 2022 in New York City. The Hurrricanes defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save against the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on April 26, 2022 in New York City. The Hurrricanes defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 12: K’Andre Miller #79 of the New York Rangers celebrates his second period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during their game at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 12: K’Andre Miller #79 of the New York Rangers celebrates his second period goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during their game at Madison Square Garden on April 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Depth scoring

The Hurricanes basically shut down the bottom nine for the Bruins. Boston forwards scored 18 goals and the top line of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand had 10 of them.   What’s scary is that even that top line was shut down on the road scoring only three times in four games.

The Rangers do have an advantage over the Bruins with two elite lines.  Mika ZIbanejad has gotten hot and when he is on a streak he is unstoppable.  If Zibanejad is a constant threat, the Hurricanes will have focus on his line and that should mean more room for Artemi Panarin.

Because Zibanejad’s  scoring was missing early in the Pittsburgh series, the Pens were able to keep Panarin from being his usual offensive threat. That changed when Zibanejad got hot.  If Panarin is shut down in this round the Rangers are in trouble.

If the Kids Line can keep raising their level of play, it could be a big boost for the Rangers. As good as they were, the trio scored only four goals in seven games (should have been five).  If they can dent the twine more often, it could go a long way towards an upset.

Defense scoring

This should be a real advantage for the Blueshirts.  Fully half of the Hurricanes defense was rejected by the Rangers in favor of the squad that they have now.  Tony DeAngelo has been an offensive force and the power play quarterback.  He loves to score against his old team, but Ranger fans know about his defensive deficiencies.

Brady Skjei  and Brett Pesce are the top pair and Rod Brind’Amour leans on them heavily. They played almost 125 minutes in the seven games compared to 92 minutes for DeAngelo and Jaccob Slavin and only 69 minutes for Ian Cole and Brendan Smith.

The Rangers divide ice time equally between their top pairs and give sheltered minutes only to the third pair.  If the Blueshirts can wear down Pesce and Skjei it will force the Canes to use their other defensemen more and that can be a benefit for New York.

As for scoring, the DeAngelo-Slavin pair had three goals and 16 points in the seven games.  The other Hurricanes’ defensemen accounted for one goal and five points.

The Rangers defense boasts three pairs that can jump into the offense with scoring spread between all of them.

In the battle of elite defensemen, the Hurricanes have no one who can compare to Adam Fox when it comes to offensive ability along with defensive prowess.

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