The Rangers and Hurricanes had strong special teams during the regular season. Carolina was second on the power play and first on the penalty kill, while New York ranked third in both.
In the series opener, the Rangers won 4-3 with help from their special teams. As they prepare for Game 2 on Tuesday night, the Hurricanes know they need to improve.
“We have to be better in all areas,” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour. “They have a strong team. They made high-quality plays on the goals… We need to step up our game.”
The Rangers scored quickly in the game, and then capitalized on two power plays in the first period to take a two-goal lead.
The Rangers’ power plays were short, lasting only 23 seconds total. They scored in just 9 seconds on the first one, with Mika Zibanejad getting the goal. Then, Vincent Trocheck scored 14 seconds later.
“Our penalty kill relies on pressure, but they managed to make quick passes and get good chances,” said Carolina forward Jordan Staal. “We’ll adapt and look for ways to pressure more, create chances, and improve.”
The Hurricanes went 0 for 5 on power plays in the game and only managed five shots on goal. “We had opportunities, but couldn’t score,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s the difference. We need to create more chances and get better execution.”
On the other hand, the Rangers were satisfied with their performance on both offense and defense, knowing it’s crucial for the series against a strong Hurricanes team.
“For our power play, we were aggressive and tried to score,” Zibanejad said. “Their penalty kill is tough, so we need to execute well… We need to maintain this level to succeed against them.”
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette praised the team’s efficient power play and credited the penalty kill for its performance, but acknowledged areas for improvement. “When you’re a player down, there’s a lot of pressure,” Laviolette said. “We need to work on certain aspects.”
