Stanley Cup Playoffs: Carolina Hurricanes Sweep New York Rangers

The Carolina Hurricanes advanced to the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, sweeping the New York Rangers in the Qualifying Round.

Game 3 would bring about a few changes for both the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers. Brendan Lemieux would re-enter the lineup after serving his two-game suspension, replacing Steven Fogarty, and goaltender Igor Shesterkin would make his first career playoff start for New York. For Carolina, goaltender James Reimer would replace Petr Mrazek, likely due to this being a rare back-to-back game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Hurricanes would look to continue the dominant play that had catapulted them to a 2-0 series lead, while the Rangers would turn to their young phenom Shesterkin, halting Lundqvist’s streak of 129-consecutive playoff starts.

First Period

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The first 20-minutes came and went without a goal, seeing the Rangers dominate the majority of play but failing to beat the Canes netminder. The Blueshirts outshot Carolina 14-6 but failed to convert on several high-quality chances, especially two in-tight chances by superstar Artemi Panarin.

Both power-play units failed to convert on their lone opportunity, as the penalty kills were able to keep the puck to the outside and limit high-danger scoring chances. It was by far the Rangers’ best period of the series, doing everything but converting in the first.

Reimer was the busier goaltender making 14 saves, but Shesterkin was up to the task as well, stopping the six pucks shot his way.

Second Period

Just 12-seconds into the middle frame, the Rangers would strike, grabbing their first lead of the Qualifying Round. Chris Kreider would take a pass from Jacob Trouba and explode by the Carolina defense, finishing on a breakaway for the 1-0 lead. Ryan Strome would grab the secondary assist, his second of the postseason.

Just 3:06 later, the Canes would capitalize on an extended shift and a lapse of intelligence by the Rangers, who failed to give a stick to Marc Staal after the defenseman’s twig broke. Teuvo Teravinen would score on a nifty backhander, with the assists going to Andrei Svechnikov and Haydn Fleury.

With the game still even at one apiece, it was Reimer who stole the show, making a fleury of saves to stonewall the Blueshirts, capping it off with a miraculous stick save on Filip Chytil who was staring at a yawning cage.

Both goaltenders cracked once but were superb throughout the second, with Reimer stopping 12 of the 13 shots he faced while Shesterkin stopped 13 of 14.

Third Period

The Canes came out of the gate with more legs in the third, jumping on the Rangers early. Shesterkin would make a brilliant save on a broken play, lunging out with the blocker and keeping the game tied.

Despite that huge save, the Rangers would fail to clear their zone yet again, leading to a point shot by Brady Skjei that would get tipped in by Warren Foegele. Martin Necas would get the secondary helper on the go-ahead goal, putting the Rangers on the brink of elimination.

Sebastian Aho would dig the Rangers’ grave deeper as he would strip Jacob Trouba of the puck and dangle his way past Tony DeAngelo and Shesterkin, putting the Canes up 3-1. The goal was unassisted at 10:26 of the third.

Aho would score his second of the game

Final Thoughts

The Carolina Hurricanes outclassed the Rangers in every aspect of play throughout this series. New York’s inexperience was on display in every game, and despite some flashes of skill, their star players remained silent throughout.

Carolina’s depth on defense and experience garnered by last seasons playoff run paid off, capitalizing on their opportunities and limiting chances against. When called upon, both Petr Mrazek and James Reimer made big saves, stimying the Rangers superb offense. It was a clean sweep for the Canes, as their season continues onto the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.