It all boils down to this.
The Rangers and Hurricanes will play to keep their seasons — and their pursuit of the Stanley Cup — alive Monday night (8 p.m. ET, ESPN, SN, TVAS) at the PNC Arena in Raleigh for Game 7 of their second-round playoff series. the Eastern Conference.
The winner will face the two-time defending Lightning Cup champion, while the loser can start making tee times and start their off-season training programs.
For both teams, this is Game 7 of their 2022 playoffs: Carolina edged the Bruins to earn their spot in the second round, while the Rangers bounced back from a 3-1 deficit in series to dominate the Penguins.
The home team has won every game in the series, the 22nd time in NHL history that occurs before Game 7.
Pre-match warm-ups
• Brooks: Rangers ignore outside noise as Game 7 v Hurricanes looms
• Rangers-Hurricanes Game 7 betting preview
• Vaccaro: Rangers-Hurricanes Game 7 means someone will be remembered forever