Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes play the Rangers

New York Rangers (41-20-10, third in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (46-15-8, first in the Metropolitan Division)

Raleigh, North Carolina; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Rangers play the top-ranked team in the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes.

Carolina is 18-5-1 against the Metropolitan Division and 46-15-8 overall. The Hurricanes have a 19-2-6 record in games decided by a goal.

New York has gone 41-20-10 overall with an 11-8-2 record in Metropolitan Division games. The Rangers have a +45 scoring differential, with 237 total goals scored and 192 allowed.

The teams match up Thursday for the fourth time this season. The Rangers won the previous matchup 5-3.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brent Burns has 12 goals and 40 assists for the Hurricanes. Sebastian Aho has scored five goals and added one assist over the past 10 games.

Mika Zibanejad has 37 goals and 40 assists for the Rangers. Chris Kreider has scored six goals over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 7-3-0, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.1 assists, 2.8 penalties and 6.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.

Rangers: 6-3-1, averaging 3.6 goals, 6.5 assists, 3.1 penalties and 6.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.

INJURIES: Hurricanes: Antti Raanta: day to day (lower body), Ondrej Kase: out (concussion), Jake Gardiner: out (hip/back), Max Pacioretty: out (achilles), Andrei Svechnikov: out for season (knee).

Rangers: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.