RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes have been able to settle into a comfortable groove in the Stanley Cup playoffs the past few years.

The first two games of a playoff series have been played at home. PNC Arena roared. “Make Them Hear You” would appear on the scoreboard before the Canes took the ice just before the games, and Canes fans did that.

The New York Rangers changed that this year.

The Rangers, not the Hurricanes, won the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers, not the Canes, are the top seeds in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers are the ones hosting the first two games of the second-round series with Carolina, presenting a different challenge for the Canes.

The Rangers had the best record in the league, winning the Presidents’ Trophy. The Canes had the NHL’s third-best record. Under the NHL’s playoff setup, they must play now, not later.

Game 1 is Sunday in Madison Square Garden. Game time: 4 p.m.

“It’s a tough building to play in, too,” Canes captain Jordan Staal said Friday.

Too tough for Carolina in the 2022 playoffs, the last time the two teams faced off in the postseason. The Canes lost all three games at the Garden in their second-round series, losing their focus and at times their poise as the Rangers surged to victories and eventually decided the series with a Game 7 win in Raleigh.

“It’s a big challenge,” Staal said. “We know we’re going to go through some ups and downs up there and we have to find a way to stay as even keel as we can. And dummy down our game even more, and be more simple.

“Just find ways to sneak out a win.”

...continued

©2024 The News & Observer. Visit at newsobserver.com. Distributed at Tribune Content Agency, LLC.