The New York Rangers had the NHL's best regular-season record. The Carolina Hurricanes finished directly in their rearview mirror, three points back -- and objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.
"The Rangers were the best team, and we were on their heels all year," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "You gotta get through the best at some point, so might as well have at it now."
They meet in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, after the Rangers swept the Washington Capitals and the Hurricanes eliminated the New York Islanders in five games.