by Aleena Khan

For local fans, round one of the NHL playoffs have come to an end. The New York Rangers and Islanders tried their best to advance to the next round. Unfortunately for the New York Islanders, they were knocked out of the playoffs by the Caroline Hurricanes in five games. The New York Rangers will be advancing to the second round of the playoffs after they beat the Washington Capitals in a four game sweep. The Islanders and Rangers had a strong start to the playoff season and their hard work throughout the season showed. Congratulations to the New York Rangers for advancing to the second round, and hopefully the next season will be better for the Islanders. 

The New York Rangers and Hurricanes are predicted to have a hard-fought second round series. The last time they played each other in the playoffs was during the 2022 season when the Rangers won in seven games. Since then, both teams have seemingly improved which is why it is hard to predict the winner of this series. However, most people think that the Rangers won’t have an easy sweep like they did against the Capitals. The Rangers, though, might have different plans. They have taken the first two games of the series at home, including a double-overtime victory in Game 2. The Rangers seemingly have the upper hand after two games, but this series is far from over!