New York @ Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 8, 2019 ) Carolina 3, NY Rangers 0

Having ended a 16-game losing streak at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 8, the Carolina Hurricanes have a chance to halt an even longer drought against the New York Rangers when the teams collide Tuesday night in Raleigh, N.C. The Hurricanes have a chance to win a season series against New York for the first time since 2005-06 -- the year they hoisted the Stanley Cup.

Carolina has won three in a row and six of seven, including a 3-0 shutout at New York, to move within one point of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. "We don't talk about it, but everyone knows where we're at," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said in reference to the team not making the playoffs for the past nine seasons -- the longest active run in the NHL. Since winning three in a row in mid-January, the Rangers have leveled off and are 4-5-1 in their last 10 after a late comeback fell short in Sunday's 6-5 loss at Pittsburgh. "The way we battled deserves credit, the boys worked hard," rookie goaltender Alexandar Georgiev said. "That's going to help us going to the next game."

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

ABOUT THE RANGERS (25-25-8): New York's top line continues to produce en masse with Mats Zuccarello, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider combining for three goals and as many assists Sunday to lift the unit's totals to 58 points over the past 14 games. Zuccarello, who along with Kevin Hayes are rumored to be the top targets at the trade deadline, extended his point streak to four games and has 22 points over the past 14 contests. “It’s good to see because he’s played really hard, he’s played well, that line has been good, obviously,” coach David Quinn said. “It helps us win hockey games, that’s why it’s really good.”

ABOUT THE HURRICANES (31-22-6): Labeled a "bunch of jerks" by Hockey Night in Canada analyst Don Cherry for their audacious Storm Surge postgame celebrations, Carolina is taking the criticism to heart by marketing T-shirts emblazoned with Cherry's words. "It kind of (stinks) for people that don't like it if we keep winning games, so obviously we hope we keep winning games and give them some more shows," Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk said. The goaltending continues to shine as Curtis McElhinney allowed one goal apiece in back-to-back wins before Petr Mrazek recorded the team's third shutout in seven games.

OVERTIME

1. Hurricanes F Sebastian Aho has five assists during a four-game point streak but has just one point in three games versus the Rangers this season.

2. Rangers G Henrik Lundqvist dropped to 29-12-1 versus Carolina despite turning aside 30 of 31 shots earlier this month.

3. Carolina F Justin Williams has 10 points in the last eight games, including a four-game string.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 3, Rangers 2