New York Rangers looking to surge as Carolina Hurricanes visit – NHL Preview
New York Rangers are quite confident and strong when it comes to playing on their home ice. The proof of this claim is their recent performance in which they lost three road games and managed to snap that skid when they returned home.
Fortunately for Rangers, their next six games are scheduled on their home ice that will certainly give them an upper hand over opponents.
They are already leading National Hockey League (NHL) Eastern Conference and can take a shot at President’s Trophy by securing more victories.
Rangers are going to host Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York.
Hurricanes are on a five-game road trip and have 13 more games to play in the regular season. They are out of the comfort zone and it will take a marvellous performance from Hurricanes coupled with good fortune if they want to qualify for the playoffs.
Here is a look at both teams.
Rangers
After losing three road games, Rangers finally managed to snap their skid by defeating New York Islanders in the last game.
Rangers and Islanders scored apiece in the first period, and the latter got two in the second while conceding one.
Rangers equalised in the final period and sent the game to overtime where they scored another goal and got the victory.
Rangers’ coach, John Tortorella, said after the game:
"The thing I like most about it is the way we won. You don't want to draw it up that way, but the things that we're going through as a team -- even through this game with some of the bounces -- just to keep a hold of ourselves and stay with it. We needed
every last second to finally win the game."
Rangers are leading the Eastern Conference with 93 points after 68 games.
Hurricanes
They have played six games this month and have lost four.
Their recent defeat came against Florida Panthers who scored a goal in the second and third period respectively without conceding any goal.
Hurricanes’ goaltender, Cam Ward, said after the game:
"I knew it was going to be another tough match tonight. The way the standings are shaping up this was an important game for our team. I believe we threw everything we had at them."
Hurricanes are ranked at 13th spot in the Eastern Conference with 67 points after 69 games.
Predictions
Rangers have an upper hand.
The sum of goals scored by both teams might exceed six.
If Hurricanes win, the winning margin will be less than two goals.
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