Hurricanes-Rangers fantasy pool preview, picks

NHL.com's fantasy hockey staff makes picks for playoff pools counting the entire 24-team tournament and predictions for each Stanley Cup Qualifiers series. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the NHL Fantasy on Ice podcast.

MORE SERIES PICKS: PIT-MTL | EDM-CHI | NSH-ARI | VAN-MIN

CGY-WPG | Mock draft results, analysis | Fantasy pool cheat sheet

MVP FOR EACH TEAM:

NOTE: Below is each team's highest-ranked player by NHL.com for Stanley Cup pools.

Carolina Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho, C

New York Rangers: Artemi Panarin, LW

PAST PLAYOFF PERFORMERS:

Hurricanes: Justin Williams, RW

-Has 101 points (40 goals, 61 assists) in 155 career postseason games. He's tied for 10th among active players with eight playoff game-winning goals.

Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist, G

-Has a .922 save percentage in 128 career postseason games. Lundqvist's 10 playoff shutouts rank second among active goalies behind Marc-Andre Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights (15).

NOTE: Lundqvist is a part of a three-goalie rotation with rookie Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev.

SLEEPER PICKS:

Hurricanes: Sami Vatanen, D

Rangers: Kaapo Kakko, RW

Read: Fantasy sleeper candidates for Stanley Cup pools

SERIES X-FACTORS:

Hurricanes: Dougie Hamilton, D

Rangers: Chris Kreider, LW

NOTE: Kreider has been a fixture on a line with elite center Mika Zibanejad this season when healthy.

Read: Fantasy X-factors | Bounce-back candidates

PREDICTIONS FOR FIVE-GAME SERIES:

Pete Jensen: Rangers in 5

Rob Reese: Rangers in 4

David Satriano: Hurricanes in 4

Listen: NHL Fantasy on Ice podcast