Rangers-Hurricanes predictions: An Eastern Conference executive, player and coach weigh in

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The betting sites and the data modelers like the Carolina Hurricanes in their second-round matchup with the New York Rangers. The data, as is usual when it comes to Carolina, is on the Canes' side. Despite winning the Presidents' Trophy and dispatching the inferior Washington Capitals in four games in the opening round, the Rangers are not analytical darlings this season.

We wanted to know what some NHL insiders think. So, same as we did in Round 1, we've assembled an executive, a coach and a player from three different Eastern Conference teams to give us their views on what they agree should be an excellent matchup.

How even is this matchup?

The executive: Both teams' first-round series went about as I expected, though I was surprised that a team with as little juice as Washington has was able to tilt the ice at times against the Rangers. There were stretches in the first round when (Igor) Shesterkin had to be great, and he was. That's a big advantage for the Rangers in this series — Freddie Andersen is a great story, but I just don't see him being able to match what Shesterkin can do when he's locked in like this.

If what we've seen through the regular season and first round of the playoffs holds, the Hurricanes will have the puck a lot more, they'll generate more shots, more offensive zone time and more chances than New York, but that won't be enough for them to win. The Rangers don't need the volume of shot attempts and opportunities that the Hurricanes do to score. If Carolina is going to make this a series, its top offensive guys are going to have to be very good and better than they have been against the Rangers.

The coach: The first-round numbers for both teams were pretty similar, they were both good on the power play (the Rangers were 6-for-16, 37.5 percent, against the Caps and the Hurricanes were 5-for-15, 33.3 percent, against the Islanders) but the Canes' penalty kill wasn't as good against the Islanders as it was in the regular season (Carolina was 8-for-11 on the PK, 72.7 percent). Discipline is going to be crucial in this series because both power plays can bite you if you start taking penalties, the Rangers probably more than Carolina.

I'd say both teams need to take a step up after the first round. If the Rangers play the same as they did five-on-five against Washington, Carolina will kill them. They could get away with things against the Caps, but that isn't happening here. Probably give the Rangers the edge in net and they have better skill guys, but the key for me is how does the Rangers D react to what Carolina does? Carolina will rim pucks in all day long, their D will pinch to keep plays alive and then they want to beat you down low. Carolina will make plays in the neutral zone if they're there but is happy to rim and chip pucks in and go to work. The Rangers have that 1-3-1 (neutral-zone system), but can it hold when Carolina's flying around?

The player: I'm curious to see how the teams hold up in the D zone. The Rangers have that five-on-a-dice style and it works for them. When you have to see Carolina in a seven-game series you'd think (the Hurricanes) could wear you down with the way they attack every spot on the forecheck. The Hurricanes have played that man-to-man on D for a long time and it's brought them a lot of success, but not over the hump — you can break them down at times because once they lose a guy, it can be a bit of a scramble. And the Rangers have some skilled players who could force the issue there.

The Rangers are going to need Adam Fox in Round 2. (Danny Wild / USA Today)

What will be the difference in the series?

The executive: If Adam Fox isn't 100 percent that could be a big spot for the Rangers because they'll need him — they always do, of course — to skate out of trouble and counter Carolina's aggression. But for me, the Canes were in a similar position two years ago and they couldn't put the Rangers away. Vincent Trocheck was on that Carolina team and now he's probably been the Rangers' best forward in the first round. The Rangers may not have the puck much, but I don't think it will matter. Rangers in six.

The coach: It's the special teams for me. The Rangers have the guys to neutralize Carolina's power play, starting with the guy in net (Shesterkin). Carolina obviously added (Jake) Guentzel, and its two best guys against the Islanders were (Seth) Jarvis and (Andrei) Svechnikov, but it's going to need (a) big series from the big guys, like (Sebastian) Aho. The Rangers' big guys can get to that higher level. Not sure Carolina's can. We went around our coaches' room before the playoffs started to pick a champion; I chose the Rangers. Can't change now.

The player: I think this is as much of a toss-up as you can get. Different styles, a lot of skill everywhere, they both do things well but kind of do them differently to get to the result. The Rangers defend well, I don't think they get enough credit for that, but I think it's going to come down to goaltending. Freddie's been great for (Carolina), but he hasn't exactly held up the last few playoffs, so he's got to not just be good, but stay healthy. I also wonder what a Carolina loss might do. This will be what, six straight years of making the second round without getting to a Final? This might be the last go for that core. Not sure if that helps them or puts too much pressure on (them). I honestly can't pick a winner.

(Photo: Jaylynn Nash / Getty Images)