Saturday, May 4th, 2024
The New York Rangers are no strangers to the difficulties that Presidents' Trophy recipients often face in the Stanley Cup playoffs, yet they are determined not to get bogged down by history. Despite the fact that the only team to clinch the title after being awarded the Trophy since 2013 were the Rangers themselves in 2015, they're gearing up to tackle current challenges head-on.
Jacob Trouba, captain of the Rangers, has made it clear that the team is keeping their sights set firmly on their own path, paying no mind to historical data or patterns. Their ambition is to forge a distinct legacy, against any odds.
As they progress into the second round series, the Rangers go up against the Carolina Hurricanes, tagged as the most likely to win the Stanley Cup. With the Rangers amassing 114 points and the Hurricanes 111 during the regular season, they stand as the premier teams under the NHL's playoff structure.
Rod Brind'Amour, coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, acknowledges the stiff competition looming but maintains that facing top teams is an inevitable part of the championship journey.
Despite advancing to the Eastern Conference final and marking their sixth consecutive appearance in the postseason, the Hurricanes find themselves without the home-ice advantage for the first time since 2019.
Throughout the season, both teams have demonstrated solid road performances, with the Rangers notably leading in home victories.
The upcoming series will also feature players confronting their former teams: Vincent Trocheck links back to two seasons with Carolina, while Brady Skjei and Tony DeAngelo are ex-Rangers.
On the scoring front, the Rangers and Hurricanes are on an even keel, boasting robust offensive lineups. Carolina has seen 12 different players score in the playoffs, with the Rangers not far behind at 10.
In the goaltending department, both Frederik Andersen for
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