Rangers look to extend their lead in Metropolitan Division against Hurricanes
Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin battles for the puck against Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield in the first period of an NHL game at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 2. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
RALEIGH, N.C. – The race for the Metropolitan Division title is a close one between the first-place Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes, who faced off Tuesday night at PNC Arena for the final time this season.
But as far as coach Peter Laviolette is concerned, this is not the time for the Rangers to send any messages to their challenger. With 18 games to go before Tuesday’s game, the Rangers’ task was simply to get two points every night, regardless of the opponent.
“It's about two points for us,’’ Laviolette said in his pre-game media briefing. “At the end of the day, you can send all the messages you want, [but if] you don't get the two points, you're going to leave here feeling like you didn't get done what you wanted to get done. We need to win a hockey game.
“They're playing extremely well,’’ he said of Carolina. “For the record that we've posted for the last month and 10 days [13-2-1 since Jan. 27], they posted just about the same record [14-4-1 since Jan. 24]. We really haven't gained anything.’’
The Rangers (42-18-4, 88 points) held a four-point lead over Carolina (39-19-6, 84) entering the game, which was the first of a three-game road trip that continues Thursday in Tampa Bay and Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Carolina’s big-name trade deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel – the one who got away from the Rangers – was activated off injured reserve and expected to be in the lineup. He likely was to play on the same line as their other deadline pickup – center Evgeny Kuznetsov – and Martin Necas.
“We go over their lineup,’’ Laviolette said when asked about the Hurricanes getting Guentzel in their lineup. “We go over their systems and lineup, and everything that we need to do to prepare. But at the end of the day, it's what we do. I think we played some pretty good hockey the last couple of games and look to build off of that.’’
The Rangers’ two primary trade deadline pickups, forwards Jack Roslovic and Alex Wennberg, were set to play their third game with the team. Both had positive impacts in the games they had already played, wins over St. Louis Saturday and the Devils Monday, according to Laviolette.
“They had a lot of chances [Monday] night,’’ Laviolette said of his team’s newcomers. “It seems like we're getting some production from all four lines. And so that's been a real positive.’’
Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren said the way the team has played in the two games since the trade deadline is the way it wants to be playing heading into the playoffs, which are still nearly six weeks away.
Playing without their captain, defenseman Jacob Trouba, the Rangers had still managed to tighten up their defense, cutting down the number of odd-man rushes they gave up.
“Everyone was coming back, just helping [the goaltenders] out as much as we can. So that's the way we want to play,’’ Lindgren said. “After the deadline, it kind of seems like it's kind of the final stretch, the final push. So we want to get geared up here and play the best hockey we can.’’
The Rangers had to play without rookie enforcer Matt Rempe, who just before the game learned that he would be serving a four-game suspension for his elbow against Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, which resulted in a five-minute penalty and game misconduct.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
