The set-up: The 15-7-1 New York Rangers will attempt to halt a four-game skid (0-3-1) at home when they host the 9-8-4 Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night. If one just looked at the standings, the Rangers are clearly the better team but right now, the Hurricanes may be the team playing better hockey.

Carolina: The suddenly resurgent Hurricanes are 6-2-0 in their last eight games, after snapping a two-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Florida on Sunday. Carolina has not allowed more than two goals in any of its past eight games, with the team's two losses coming by 2-1 scores. Cam Ward, who has permitted just nine goals in his last seven starts, will be back in net Tuesday after a rare night off.

NY Rangers: The Rangers were nearly invincible at Madison Square Garden for the first 3 1/2 weeks of the season but now seeming can't win. New York tries tonight to halt its four-game home skid after getting shut out at home for the first time this year, 2-0 by the Senators this past Sunday. The Rangers whiffed on four man-advantage chances against Ottawa and are 1-for-15 on the power-play in their last six contests. "We needed to strike on the power play," captain Ryan McDonagh told reporters. "Our tic-tac-toes, or seam plays, come off shooting first and getting them running around out of position, and we've got to find a way to get back to it. Win a draw and in the first five or six seconds, get the puck to the net and go from there."

The pick: The Hurricanes are clearly the ‘hotter' team and won the first between these two teams 3-2 at home back on Oct. 28. However, the Rangers are clearly the better team! New York's 85 goals are 15 more the second-highest scoring team and the Rangers' differential is plus-28, nine better than Montreal, which owns the NHL's best record. In comparison, Carolina has scored 52 goals (33 less than NY) with a minus-4 differential. The Rangers are an 8* play.