Hurricanes vs. Rangers Tuesday NHL injury report, odds: Carolina likely starting third-string goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov in attempt to clinch Metropolitan Division
Carolina can clinch the Metropolitan Division title tonight.
loading...
loading...
Every playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference has been clinched, but not all of the seeding has been wrapped up. The Carolina Hurricanes would win the Metropolitan Division and guarantee themselves home-ice advantage in at least the first two rounds of the East playoffs with a win of any kind (i.e. regulation, OT, shootout) at the New York Rangers tonight. However, the Canes are short underdogs at Caesars Sportsbook because they likely will have to use third-string goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov.
Carolina has 112 points, second-most in the East, and it can't catch Atlantic Division champion Florida for No. 1. The Rangers are second with 108 points but have a game in hand. New York would have to win out – it hosts Montreal on Wednesday and Washington on Friday – and the Hurricanes to not win their finale Thursday vs. New Jersey (which the Canes probably do win) to capture the Metropolitan.
The Hurricanes' top goaltender Frederik Andersen is out injured and his status for the start of the playoffs is TBA. Backup Antti Raanta left Saturday's game against the Islanders with a lower-body injury so it likely will be Kochetkov in this one. The 22-year-old Russian got his first NHL start Saturday in New Jersey and allowed two goals in a win and then relieved Raanta on Sunday at the Islanders and gave up one goal in 27 minutes.
New York should start expected Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shesterkin (36-12-4, 2.03 GAA, .936 SV) in net but forwards Andrew Copp, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko are all game-time decisions after missing at least Saturday's loss in Boston. They all practiced Monday, but Coach Gerard Gallant has said it's more important to ensure they are healthy for the postseason than to rush them back.
The Rangers and Hurricanes have both given up 194 goals this season, tied for the fewest in the league. The Canes have a league-best +46 goal differential in the third period. Carolina is 2-1 vs. New York.
So who wins the Kentucky Derby? And which enormous long shot is a must-back? Join SportsLine now to see the top picks for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 7, all from the expert who nailed last year's winner on Derby Day.