Raleigh, NC (My Sportsbook) - Mark Messier and Petr Nedved scored two goals apiece to lead the New York Rangers to a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in the season-opener for both teams at the RBC Center.

Mike Richter made 20 saves and the Rangers shut out Carolina on nine power- play chances to give Bryan Trottier a victory in his head coaching debut. Eric Lindros, Brian Leetch and Tom Poti each collected two assists in the victory.

Rod Brind'Amour scored a late goal for the Hurricanes, who raised their Southeast Division and Eastern Conference championship banners, but had little else to celebrate. Arturs Irbe absorbed the loss after turning aside 24-of-28 shots.

After both teams were shut out in the first period, Messier opened the scoring 7:24 into the second stanza. Leetch controlled the puck and passed across the ice to Poti at the right circle. Poti then centered to a streaking Leetch in the slot. Leetch let the puck go through his legs to a wide-open Messier, who was camped at the left post and one-timed the puck past Irbe.

Francis had a chance to even the score soon after on the Hurricanes' sixth power-play chance, but his shot from the slot whistled over the net.

Messier lit the lamp again at the 10:25 mark, this time on the power play. Poti controlled the puck at the blue line and passed to Lindros, who was taking up room in the slot. The puck caromed off Lindros to Messier at the right side of the net. Messier directed the puck off his skate to his forehand, and lifted a sharp-angle shot over Irbe for a 2-0 lead.

Leetch then kept Carolina scoreless by breaking up a three-on-one rush, as he deflected a cross-ice pass in the middle of the slot.

Nedved extended the Rangers' advantage to three goals on a goal off a deflection with 3:14 remaining in the period. Sandy McCarthy took a pass from Leetch and skated the puck up ice along the right boards. McCarthy then dropped a pass to Nedved, who fired a shot from outside the circle, which ricocheted off the shaft of Bret Hedican's stick and past Irbe.

Nedved scored again at the 5:42 mark of the third period off a nifty pass from Lindros. Lindros skated across the blue line along the right side of the ice, then cut toward the middle. Lindros flipped a pass to Nedved, who fired a wrist shot and beat Irbe to the right side of the net.

The Hurricanes held a 5-on-3 advantage and managed just one shot, but finally got on the scoreboard 27 seconds later.

Bates Battaglia poked a loose puck away from three Rangers to a wide-open Brind'Amour, who stick-handled in front of the net to set up a shot. Richter dove to make the save, but could not stop the puck from going into the net and spoiling the shutout. Brind'Amour paid the price for the goal as he tangled with Matthew Barnaby in a long fight just after the tally.