T.M. Selection: Carolina Hurricanes.

I like the Carolina Hurricanes to win this game against the New York Rangers on Wednesday. The Hurricanes looked good in their previous series against the Bruins, they didn't win any of their road games in that series but they did win all of their home games in a dominant fashion. I think the Hurricanes are going to dominate another game on their home ice here and I expect the Rangers to struggle against them here. The Rangers didn't play great in their road games against the Penguins in their previous series. They ended up stealing a road game back in game 6 after dropping a home game early in the series but their 1st 2 road games in that series were pathetic and they gave up 7 goals in both games, Shesterkin getting pulled in both games. Shesterkin was a great goalie this year, 1 of the best in the league, but he has already shown that he can fall apart here in the playoffs, specifically in road games, and I think there is a good possibility it happens here too. The Hurricanes were a much better team all year, finishing in 1st place in their division, but they played their best games on home ice and they showed that in their previous series when they blew out the Bruins in most of those home games. The Hurricanes also won a majority of their games against the Rangers this year during the regular season, and I don't see that script being any different here in this series. The Hurricanes can score a lot of goals on home ice and if the Rangers give up some early goals here doing down early in the game like they have been doing lately, I don't think they will be able to come back. I like the Hurricanes to win this game.

T.M. Prediction: 3-1 Hurricanes.