Bantering Points: 5/3/24

Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

Mark Cannizarro notes that after something of a warm up round against the Capitals in the first round, the Blueshirts are set to gear up for a much more dangerous opponent in round two (NY Post)

Cannizarro also relays word that Adam Fox sat out of Thursday's practice session for what was termed as a maintenance day (NY Post)

Larry Brooks credits the more physical edge to K'Andre Miller's game that has allowed the young defenseman to take his play to another level in the postseason (NY Post)

Colin Stephenson examines how Vincent Trocheck's time with the Carolina Hurricanes from 2020-2022, including skating for them when Carolina and New York clashed in the 2022 playoffs, could be an asset for the Rangers (Newsday)

Neil Best reports that the Hurricanes will be limiting ticket sales to their home games in this series to residents of North Carolina and its surrounding states (Newsday)

Albert Bainbridge IV offers his take on how the Blueshirts stand in the betting market ahead of the second round (LoHud)

Tom Castro highlights the contributions from Trocheck and Artemiy Panarin, two free agent additions, as key factors in New York's accelerated rebuild (The Hockey Writers)

Around the NHL:

Adam Selvig recaps the Toronto Maple Leafs' Game 6 victory over the Boston Bruins, a 2-1 win to force a Game 7 on Saturday in Boston (Pension Plan Puppets)

Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis denied a report that his decision to fire Dave Hakstol as head coach came as a result of multiple players requesting the move to be made (TSN)

Frederik Andersen (CAR), Connor Ingram (ARZ/UT), and Oliver Kylington (CGY) have been named as finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Sportsnet)