RALEIGH, N.C. — Round 2 is Rangers vs. Hurricanes.
Also.
The Hurricanes defeated the Islanders 6-3 in Game 5 of their first-round series on Tuesday night, setting up a second-round rematch in 2022, where the Rangers defeated Carolina in seven innings.
This series was the only game in which the Rangers and Hurricanes faced off in a true playoff setting, with the 2020 qualifying round in the Toronto bubble marking the first postseason game between the two.
That season, the Hurricanes dominated the Rangers in three games, but whether that would be considered a playoff series is debatable.
Carolina is the early betting favorite between the two teams this year, but the Rangers have home ice advantage and had the better record in the regular season.
The Rangers won two of three regular-season games against the Canes, with a 6-1 loss at the Garden in January being the most lopsided game in either direction.
The Rangers had an easier time than Carolina in the first round, outperforming the Capitals in every aspect and winning four straight for the first time since 2007.
Although the Hurricanes ultimately defeated the Islanders without breaking a sweat, they were pushed in individual games throughout the series and were probably a little lucky to avoid a close game longer than six games.
This battle for Metropolitan Division supremacy presents the first potential hurdle for the Rangers, who have come through the regular season to win, and anything but their first championship in 30 years will be a disappointment.
This is the A-plot of a series that comes with a number of interesting B-plots.
Former Rangers from the Carolina stable (Brady Skjei, Tony DeAngelo, Brendan Lemieux) and Jack Drury face the side built by his uncle Chris.
Filip Sztil, who was ruled out for the season after struggling to recover from a suspected concussion, could make a dramatic return to the ice.
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette faced off against the franchise he led to the 2006 Stanley Cup, and Vincent Trocheck returned to Raleigh as the villain.
Matt Lempe will be back in another series, and he’s sure to be at the center of the conversation.
This will be a tight battle decided by close margins and should be a much tougher test than both teams faced in the first round.
