New York Rangers vs Carolina Hurricanes Picks and Predictions December 22nd 2024

Rangers Look to Build Momentum Against Hurricanes

After navigating a turbulent stretch, the New York Rangers aim for back-to-back wins as they host the Carolina Hurricanes, who are seeking to end their road struggles.

Rangers Seek Stability Amid Turmoil

The New York Rangers (4-11-0 in their past 15 games) have endured a difficult stretch, marked by trades, speculation, and inconsistent play. This slump has pushed them far from contention in the Metropolitan Division.

Amidst the upheaval, the Rangers traded captain Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko, sparking questions about the direction of the team and the leadership of GM Chris Drury. Despite the noise, the Rangers earned a much-needed 3-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Friday, breaking a three-game losing streak.

Goaltender Igor Shesterkin was the hero of the night, making 41 saves, including 21 during seven Dallas power plays. A gritty penalty kill played a significant role, highlighted by a short-handed goal from Reilly Smith and an even-strength tally from Vincent Trocheck.

“We need to win games,” Trocheck said. “We’re not thinking about yesterday; we’re just moving forward, taking it one game at a time. Tonight was a good step in the right direction.”

The Rangers hope to carry this momentum into Sunday’s matchup against a familiar foe.

Hurricanes Look to End Road Skid

The Carolina Hurricanes (4-6-0 in their last 10) are also experiencing struggles, particularly on the road, where they’ve dropped five straight games (0-4-1). Despite this, the Hurricanes remain competitive and hold a better position in the division standings than their New York counterparts.

Carolina’s last meeting with the Rangers on Nov. 27 ended in a 4-3 victory for the Hurricanes. Since then, they’ve shown flashes of brilliance, including back-to-back blowout wins against the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders.

However, their current four-game road trip began on a sour note with a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday. Carolina gave up costly goals in the final minute of the first and second periods and managed just 25 shots on goal. Their lone tally came from Seth Jarvis, assisted by Sebastian Aho, midway through the third period.

“Those are brutal,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said about the late-period goals. “You go back into the locker room, and it’s not a good taste in your mouth. At the end of the day, that was the game.”

Who’s taking the top spot? Dive into NHL Metropolitan Division Odds & Predictions!

Key Matchup

This game pits two teams looking to find consistency as the midpoint of the season approaches. For the Rangers, a strong performance from Shesterkin and continued success on the penalty kill will be crucial. Carolina, on the other hand, must clean up their late-period lapses and find ways to generate more offensive pressure on the road.

The Hurricanes will look to key players like Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis to spark their attack, while the Rangers hope Trocheck and Smith can continue their contributions alongside strong defensive play.