The New York Rangers suffered a heartbreaker on Sunday afternoon: after coming back from 2-0 and 4-2 deficits and having a power play with just over two minutes remaining, the Colorado Avalanche scored a game-winner with 16.4 seconds left to end New York's 10-game point streak.
Regardless, New York has started off 2025 red-hot: the Rangers have a record of 8-2-3 in the new year and have catapulted themselves up the Eastern Conference standings, giving themselves a chance for a playoff spot.
Tuesday night, the Blueshirts have another tough matchup, this time with a Metropolitan Division opponent in the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina made major headlines this week after trading for Colorado superstar Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks; both of these moves make the Hurricanes a much more dangerous team. New York is 0-2 against Carolina this season.
The Rangers faced former Hurricanes Martin Necas and Jack Drury -- both of whom played well on Sunday -- and now they get the former Av in a Carolina sweater. Here's three matchups to watch.
1. Mikko Rantanen vs everyone?
Rantanen is the NHL's biggest headline right now. It's not often that a top-10 forward gets traded mid-season.
Dating back to the 2017-18 season, Rantanen has been over a point-per-game player. He had over 100 points in his last two full seasons and looks like he's going to for a third; the forward has 64 points in 49 games this season.
The Rangers will have to find ways to contain him whenever he is on the ice. This is especially true if the Hurricanes and Rangers meet again down the road.
2. Igor Shesterkin vs the Carolina offense
For years, the Hurricanes have been known as a team that throws pucks on net from everywhere on the ice. This season, they lead the league in total shots with 1,600.
Though Shesterkin gave up five goals on Sunday afternoon, his play since coming back from the injured reserve has been his best on the season. Once again, he'll be counted on to make some big saves during the Tuesday matchup.
3. Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere vs Rod Brind'Amour's defense
In big games, whether this one or the rest of the season, New York needs to rely on its stars. The Blueshirts' best line is still Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere, and they need to be key performers every night.
Sunday afternoon against Colorado, both Panarin and Trocheck had a goal and Lafreniere had an assist. But, in the two games against Carolina this season, they are scoreless. That has to change tonight.