On Friday, the Boston College Eagles watched the Rangers practice. For 40 minutes on Saturday afternoon, the Rangers played like a college team.
Alain Vingeault had spoken about the importance of urgency and execution to tip the scales in a league where any team could win on a given night.
But the Rangers (17-8-1) were a mess through two periods.
The Hurricanes had 25 shots, and the Rangers managed just 11 on veteran Michael Leighton, making just his second start of the year after spending last season in the AHL, before former Eagle Chris Kreider scored twice in the third for a 4-2 win at Madison Square Garden.