(Raleigh) Artemi Panarin scored 1:43 into overtime and the New York Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Thursday, taking a 3-0 lead in their second-round series.
Panarin played the hero by deflecting a delivery from Vincent Trocheck to the front of the net behind the goal line. The Hurricanes had previously forced an overtime period with 96 seconds remaining in the third period.
“It’s a resilient group that has been in this situation before,” commented Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette, about the state of mind of his squad before overtime.
The Rangers won their first seven playoff games for the first time since 1994, when they last won the Stanley Cup.
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The fourth game of the series will be presented Saturday in Raleigh.
Chris Kreider and Alexis Lafrenière scored in regulation for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin stopped 45 shots.
Jake Guentzel and Andrei Svechnikov responded for the Hurricanes. Pyotr Kochetkov made 25 saves, playing his first game in the playoffs this spring.
PHOTO JAMES GUILLORY, USA TODAY SPORTS
Pyotr Kochetkov was in net for the Carolina Hurricanes for the third game of the series.
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said the goaltendero 1 Frederik Andersen needed a rest. Andersen allowed 8 goals on 62 shots in the first two games of the series against the Rangers. The 34-year-old Dane has played 17 games since returning to action in March after suffering blood clots. Kochetkov, who is still a rookie despite being 24 years old, had not played since April 14.
His compatriot Evgeny Kuznetsov was also back in action after being scratched from the starting lineup in match no 2.
In the Rangers camp, Filip Chytil played his first match since November 2 due to a head injury. Colossus Matt Rempe was left out.
In action
Guentzel opened the scoring 10:14 into the game, deflecting a Dmitry Orlov shot into the goal.
The action heated up late in the first period, after Barclay Goodrow touched Kochetkov’s glove, which was covering the puck. Jesperi Kotkaniemi even threw down the gloves in front of Jimmy Vesey.
We got back to playing hockey in the second period and the Rangers had the best chances to score.
Panarin just missed the target on a breakaway after more than four minutes of play, when he had just left the penalty box.
Kreider tied the game 1-1 at 8:30, while the Rangers were shorthanded. He deflected a pass from Mika Zibanejad behind Kochetkov.
The Rangers threatened again during the same penalty kill. Kochetkov closed the opening between his pads and frustrated Trocheck, who had escaped.
Kreider came back to attack during another Rangers penalty kill later in the period. His shot during a two-on-one attack, however, hit the post.
Lafrenière finally gave the Rangers the lead 6:25 into the third period. He beat Kochetkov with a one-timer from the glove side, following a pass from Panarin.
Svechnikov brought everyone back to square one with 1:36 left, while Kochetkov had been replaced by an extra attacker. He took advantage of a return to the slot to beat Shesterkin.
Panarin quickly broke the deadlock in overtime.
The Hurricanes’ last eight playoff losses have been decided by a single-goal margin. Five of them came in overtime.
“History repeats itself,” lamented Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal.
Contributing from Aaron Beard of the Associated Press