This will by no means be an easy series but I find it interesting how people seem to fear Florida more than Carolina. It’s almost like we’re just assuming since it’s the next round that it will get tougher. Kind of like how in fictional universes there’s always a tougher enemy than the antagonist at the time.
Carolina was maybe the hottest team in the league after the trade deadline. They also had one of the most successful acquisitions at the TDL. Florida was pretty mediocre leading into the playoffs.
Carolina is better on special teams than Florida. They were dominant on both the PK and PP. On paper this was never an advantage for the Rangers - they just turned it into one.
Carolina plays a much more suffocating, dominating style of hockey than Florida.
Florida has the obvious goaltending advantage but goaltending is what it is. Sometimes you’re hot, sometimes you’re not.
The physicality is being overplayed. Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett are tough but they’re not going to dominate us physically. When the Rangers want they can overpower a lot of teams physically. The Rangers have proven that physicality isn’t a deterrent for them.
Carolina was a massive hump. The toughest second round matchup the Rangers could have possibly gotten. They will be ready.
For one, Carolina has routinely blown it in the playoffs. I'd have been more confident against the Leafs than the Lightning in Rd1 even tho the former was the better team. Florida is the reigning East Champs, and unlike last year, they're not riding adrenaline to get here, they're a calm, confident group.
They're also much more dynamic than the Hurricanes. They present just as aggressive and suffocating a opponent, but top-end talent that can not just go toe-to-toe with us, but might grade out even better. Their goalie isn't a sieve. They've got the best player in the series by a mile frankly, and may have the second best one too.
And I also don't agree one bit with the idea that the Canes play a more dominating style of hockey. The Panthers are even more aggressive and their blueline can make plays rather than just pinch and hold lines. They get to the net on everybody. They control the puck for whole games it can seem like. Boston had 8 shots going into the back half of the third period in game 3 I think it was.
I don't know how to handicap this one, but I think Florida is a much more formidable opponent than the Hurricanes. I'd love to be wrong.
