New York @ Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 19, 2019 ) NY Rangers 2, Carolina 1

The Carolina Hurricanes look to put an end to their second losing streak of the season and resume their success on home ice when they host the New York Rangers for a Metropolitan Division battle Thursday night. The Hurricanes had won three in a row before what coach Rod Brind’Amour characterized as an “emotionally dead” performance in a 5-3 loss to New Jersey and a dropping a 4-1 decision at Philadelphia on Tuesday.

“We’re trying to score some goals and make plays, but we’re just a little bit off,” Carolina center Jordan Staal told reporters after the Hurricanes gave up three unanswered goals in the third period Tuesday. “We’re going to have to get back to our style of play.” Carolina is 6-2-0 at home despite losing to New Jersey on Saturday, but the Rangers have had some success with three victories in their past four trips to Raleigh, N.C. - including a 2-1 triumph in the last matchup Feb. 19. New York comes in off an improved effort as it scored three times in the second period and rolled to a 5-1 victory over Detroit on Wednesday, getting multiple points from four players including leading scorer Artemi Panarin. The 28-year-old Russian forward has scored three times while setting up five other goals during his six-game point streak and recorded five points in four contests against the Hurricanes in 2018-19.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), FS Carolinas

ABOUT THE RANGERS (6-6-1): Center Ryan Strome also registered a goal and an assist Wednesday to push his season total to 13 points - one behind linemate Panarin, who has scored a club-high seven times. Defenseman Tony DeAngelo scored once and set up another to tie injured center Mika Zibanejad (upper body, day-to-day) for third on the team with 11 points, and forward Pavel Buchnevich added two assists to reach double figures in points (10). Veteran Henrik Lundqvist made 35 saves against Detroit for his 452nd career victory, so Alexandar Georgiev (3-3-1, .913 save percentage) will likely get the start Thursday.

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (9-5-1): Carolina is likely to be without leading goal scorer Erik Haula (eight), who is day-to-day while struggling with a nagging knee injury that kept him out of Tuesday’s contest. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton still leads the team with 16 points - one more than 19-year-old Russian forward Andrei Svechnikov, who was kept off the scoresheet Tuesday after recording seven points in the previous four games. No. 1 goaltender Petr Mrazek (7-2-1, 2.50 goals-against average, .909 SP) is likely to get the start and is 3-1-0 in his career against the Rangers.

OVERTIME

1. New York rookie RW Kaapo Kakko scored two of his three goals in the last four games, but owns a team-worst minus-11 rating overall.

2. Carolina recalled former second-round pick F Eetu Luostarinen on Wednesday and he could make his NHL debut against the Rangers.

3. The Hurricanes are 5-for-15 on the power play over the last five contests and New York was 2-for-3 with the man advantage Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 5, Rangers 3