It’s Go Time!

Eastern Conference Second Round, Game 3

RANGERS at HURRICANES

7 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, CBC

New York leads best-of-7 series 2-0

The shortest explanation for the Rangers’ dominance is goaltender Igor Shesterkin. He’s done everything the Rangers have asked of him thus far, posting a 6-0 record, 2.01 GAA and .929 save percentage through six playoff contests. The 28-year-old was especially important in Game 2 on Tuesday, stopping 54 of 57 shots en route to a 4-3 double-overtime victory.

Additionally, the Rangers have an xGA/60 of 3.10 in the playoffs, which suggests the defense has actually been rather poor. Any indications to the contrary are largely thanks to Shesterkin picking up the slack when those in front of him falter.

Among Rangers players, Shesterkin would be their frontrunner for the Conn Smythe Trophy, but it’s true he’s also gotten great offensive support. Alexis Lafreniere came into his own during the regular season with career highs in goals (28) and points (57), and the 22-year-old has kept that going into the playoffs, supplying seven points in six outings, including two goals Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the usual suspects of Mika Zibanejad (three goals, 11 points), Vincent Trocheck (five goals, 10 points), Artemi Panarin (three goals, seven points), and Chris Kreider (three goals, six points) have all done their part in the playoffs this year.

When a team is firing on all cylinders like this, finding a flaw comes down to nitpicking, but ultimately, the reason the Rangers might lose has more to do with Carolina’s strength than any issue with New York.

With a victory tonight, the Rangers will have matched their longest playoff winning streak for a single year, which they set at seven when they won the Stanley Cup back in 1994.

*Kochetkov to start for Hurricanes in Game 3

Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jack Roslovic

Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trocheck -- Alexis Lafreniere

Will Cuylle -- Alex Wennberg -- Kaapo Kakko

Jimmy Vesey -- Barclay Goodrow -- Matt Rempe

Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox

K'Andre Miller -- Braden Schneider

Erik Gustafsson -- Jacob Trouba

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

Scratched: Zac Jones, Chad Ruhwedel, Jonny Brodzinski, Louis Domingue, Adam Edstrom, Filip Chytil

Injured: Blake Wheeler (lower body)