2024 Playoffs: Second Round, New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes Game 3 Open Thread

Two games of the Metropolitan Division finals are in the books, and the scene has shifted from Manhattan to Raleigh, North Carolina for Game 3 between the Rangers and Hurricanes. Vincent Trocheck delivered a dagger to his former team two nights ago, scoring the game winning goal midway through double overtime to give the Rangers a 2-0 series lead and put the Hurricanes in a bind ahead of tonight's contest.

The 2-0 series lead the Blueshirts currently hold is their fourth consecutive in postseason play dating back to the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals. Peter Laviolette's squad took full advantage of a Carolina team that has struggled away from home in the playoffs, but will now have to contend with the lethal home version that has gone 15-4 at PNC Arena over the last three postseasons. Carolina won three of their four contests played in Raleigh in the 2022 meeting between these two teams, but New York's lone victory came in the decisive Game 7.

Player to Watch: Jacob Trouba

The Rangers' captain did not exactly cover himself in glory during Game 2. Trouba made not one, not two, but three trips to the penalty box, one of which came during overtime, and had a ghastly neutral zone turnover that resulted in Carolina scoring shortly thereafter. That rough showing came in the friendly confines of Madison Square Garden where the Rangers get the last change, allowing Laviolette to shelter his captain as much as possible. Rod Brind'Amour's Hurricanes will get the last change now, so keep an eye on Trouba in the event Carolina targets him as the weak link in New York's defense and how he handles such actions.

Enjoy the game!