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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 26: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the first period save on Nino Niederreiter #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on April 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the first period save on Nino Niederreiter #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on April 26, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Igor needs to be Igor

After a brilliant but debilitating performance in Game One, it took a few games for Igor Shesterkin to get back top form.  He was certainly there for Game Seven and he needs to be at the top of his game if the Rangers can hope for a series win.

The big question for the Hurricanes is in net. Frederik Andersen missed the entire first round but was ably replaced by Antti Raanta and rookie Pyotr Kochetkov.  Ranger fans are well aware of how good Raanta is from his days as a Blueshirt.  In this case it’s not like the Louis Domingue situation in Round One.  Raanta is a very good NHL goalie and was the number one goalie for Arizona.

The Penguins rushed Tristan Jarry back into action in Game Seven and it might have cost them.  You can be sure, based on Raanta’s play, that they won’t be rushing Andersen back unless things go south for Carolina.

Conclusion

The good thing about the early playoff rounds is that there are no mysteries when it comes to the teams.  The Rangers played the Hurricanes four times in the last 41 games and they know what to expect.

The fact that it took the Canes seven games to eliminate the Bruins is a positive for the Rangers.  All of the pressure in this series will be on Carolina to advance after they were eliminated in the Second Round last year and in the First Round the year before. Another early departure could make for some uneasy feelings in Carolina.

By making it to the Second Round, the Rangers have already validated their fantastic season and anything else that they can do this year is gravy.   Not only that, but there is no doubt that they were not at their best against the Penguins.  If they can pick up their play for a full 60  minutes and knowing that they relish the underdog role, anything can happen in the playoffs.

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