Could the Carolina Hurricanes be eliminated in the play-in round?
The 24-team Stanley Cup Playoffs format has officially been implemented. For the first time in NHL history, 24 teams will be making the postseason. It’s good for some teams, like the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, who will get a chance to do something in the playoffs. But it’s not good for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Entering the season’s hiatus, the Hurricanes were the first wild card team in the Eastern Conference with 81 points in 68 games. This would have put them against a familiar foe in the Washington Capitals, who are the lesser of the two Eastern Conference division champions.
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Instead, the Hurricanes must face a team they have historically and recently struggled against – the New York Rangers. In 148 games against the Rangers (including the Canes’ days as the Hartford Whalers), they have just 56 wins with a .432% point percentage.
This year, the Rangers have been the Hurricanes’ kryptonite. The blue shirts have gone 4-0-0 against the Canes this season and have outscored them 17-9 in those four games. They’ve scored at least four three goals against the Hurricanes in each of those four games as well, while allowing more than two just once.
Furthermore, the Rangers have been red hot as of late, though it is worth noting the hiatus has likely stopped their momentum. Since the start of February, the Rangers have the eight-best record in the NHL. Meanwhile, the Canes have the league’s 12th-best record during the same span.
The Rangers are not a good matchup for the Hurricanes. The Canes have struggled to stop Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and the rest of the Rangers offense. Additionally, no matter who has been in net for the Rangers, the Hurricanes have struggled to beat them.
Henrik Lundqvist has haunted Carolina’s nightmares for most of his career. Just this season, he has three wins against them, allowing seven goals in the process while posting an impressive .947% save percentage, which is his third-highest mark against any team.
In 46 career games against the Hurricanes, Lundqvist has been nearly impossible to beat, winning 33 of those games. Furthermore, he has just two regulation losses against them since the start of the 2016-17 season.
However, Lundqvist might not be the starter anymore. In fact, he’s probably not the starter. That job belongs to Igor Shesterkin, who has posted a 10-2-0 record in 12 games this season with a .932% save percentage. He beat the Hurricanes in his lone appearance against them this season.
The Hurricanes voted no on the playoff format. When you consider who they’re facing in the play-in round, it’s easy to see why they had concerns.