NEW YORK | In the first round, Rangers endured the difficult tenure of having to win three games in a row with their backs to the wall. For them, there was no question of reliving the same scenario against the Hurricanes.
Tuesday evening, at Madison Square Garden, Alexis Lafrenière and his teammates applied pressure and displayed a fighting spirit that was difficult to sustain. Goals from Frank Vatrano, Adam Fox, Mika Zibanejad and Andrew Copp gave New York a 4-1 win, tying the series at two wins apiece.
The Rangers also owe a debt of gratitude to Igor Shesterkin, who, since the end of the first round, has regained his regular season composure, the one that allowed him to be a finalist for the Hart and Vezina trophies.
Over the past seven games, the 26-year-old goalie is 5-2 with a 1.98 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. Well, we are not yet in the category of Andrei Vasilevskiy, but this outfit is still worth mentioning.
Back at home
What is also worth pointing out is that Rod Brind’Amour’s squad has still not savored victory over opposing rinks (0-5) since the start of the spring tournament.
The good news, in her case, is that two of the last three games of this clash will be held at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, where she has still not suffered a defeat (6-0).
Nevertheless, the Hurricanes will have to find a way to score on the power play. Despite some modifications made by Brind’Amour, their massive attack was shut out on two occasions. She hasn’t scored since Game 6 against the Boston Bruins, going 0 for 9 in four games against the Rangers.
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adam fox
The fullback was part of every important action for Rangers Used for 26:46, he scored a goal, collected an assist and caused three turnovers
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Steven Lorentz
The intention was noble and certainly showed good team spirit, but by taking on Jacob Trouba, Lorentz allowed the massive Rangers attack to open the scoring
First period
1-NYR: Frank Vatrano (3) (Copp, Fox)AN-13:31
2-NYR: Adam Fox (4) (Lindgren, Copp)15:42
Penalties: Jarvis (Car) 4:25, Lorentz (Car) 11:38, Trouba (NYR) (shift) 11:38, Lorentz (Car) (shift and min) 11:38
Second period
3-NYR: Mika Zibanejad (5) (Lindgren, Vatrano)16:48
Penalties: Lindgren (NYR) 9:29, Smith (Car) 17:59
Third period
4-Car: Teuvo Teravainen (3) (Aho)6:33
5-NYR: Andrew Copp (5) (Strome)11:10
Penalties: Lafreniere (NYR) 3:24, Svechnikov (Car) 12:35
Shoot to the net
Carolina 8 – 12 – 11 – 31 NY Rangers 12 – 8 – 8 – 28
Guardians:
Coach: Antti Raanta (P, 5-4) NYR: Igor Shesterkin (G, 6-4)
Numerical advantages:
Car: 0 in 2, NYR: 1 in 4
Referees:
Eric Furlatt, Wes McCauley
Linesmen:
Devin Berg, Brad Kovachik
ASSISTANCE:
18,006
From homers
Like the Hurricanes, the Rangers are having success at home, while struggling away from home. By winning on Tuesday, the “Blueshirts” increased their winning streak in their arena to five. They tied a team mark set in 1940 and repeated four times. The only setback at Madison–Square Garden was the one they suffered in the third period of overtime in Game 1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ah the leader
By collecting an assist on Teuvo Teravainen’s goal, Sebastian Aho put his name in the record books of the Hurricanes and the Hartford Whalers. And this, twice rather than once. He beat Eric Staal to the franchise’s top scorer in the playoffs (44 points) and edged Ron Francis to the top of the smugglers (26 assists).
$6.1M on the bench
Jesperi Kotkaniemi has struggled to contribute to the success of the Carolina club since the start of the playoffs. In 11 games, he has only collected one assist. On Tuesday, however, he offered a whole clinic in face-off circles (8 of 9, 89%). It must be said that as the center of the fourth line, Kotkaniemi touches the ice only sporadically. Max Domi (10 min 17 s) and him (11 min 37 s) are the two players least used by coach Rod Brind’Amour.
Andersen in training
Frederik Andersen practiced with his teammates Monday for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury April 16 in Colorado. He also took part in the morning session, sharing the net with auxiliary goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov.