After dispatching of the Pittsburgh Penguins to win their first playoff series since 2017, the New York Rangers have made it to the Metropolitan Division Finals. In a matchup most of Rangerstown expected to happen, the Blueshirts will square off against the division champion Carolina Hurricanes with a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals on the line.
The Hurricanes looked like they would run away with that division title and the home ice advantage it will provide them in this series, but the Rangers made a late season push to close the standings gap.