The New York Rangers have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes after a thrilling 4-3 double-overtime victory on Tuesday night. Vincent Trocheck scored the game-winning goal on the power play with 12:36 remaining in the second overtime period, while Alexis Lafrenière tallied two goals in regulation to lead the Rangers’ offensive charge.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading goals throughout regulation. Chris Kreider scored a crucial game-tying goal in the third period for the Rangers, while Jake Guentzel, a key acquisition at the trade deadline, scored twice for the Hurricanes. Igor Shesterkin was outstanding in goal for the Rangers, making 54 saves against a relentless Carolina attack.
Goaltenders Shine in High-Stakes Battle
Both goaltenders were the stars of the show in this high-stakes playoff battle. Igor Shesterkin, in particular, was spectacular for the Rangers, making numerous high-danger saves throughout the night as the Hurricanes consistently generated pressure in the offensive zone. The Canes outshot the Rangers 17-9 in the third period alone, but Shesterkin stood tall, making several sprawling saves to keep his team in the game.
One of Shesterkin’s most impressive sequences came late in regulation when the Hurricanes were pressuring shorthanded. He made multiple quality saves, including one where he sprawled out to make the stop, leaving the puck momentarily in the crease before a defender could clear it away. In the first overtime period, Shesterkin continued his dominance, denying Sebastian Aho on two excellent scoring chances.
At the other end of the ice, Frederik Andersen was equally impressive for the Hurricanes, making 35 saves in the loss. He made a couple of fantastic saves in the first overtime period, including one on Rangers’ star Mika Zibanejad, to keep his team’s hopes alive.
Rangers’ Penalty Kill Continues to Excel
The Rangers’ penalty-killing unit has been a major storyline in this series, and they continued their dominance in Game 2. The Blueshirts successfully killed off all five of Carolina’s power-play opportunities, extending their perfect streak to 10-for-10 in the series.
The Rangers’ ability to shut down the Hurricanes’ power play has been a significant factor in their success thus far. By denying Carolina the chance to generate offense with the man advantage, the Rangers have been able to maintain control of the game’s momentum and keep the pressure on their opponents.
Lafrenière, Guentzel Trade Goals in Regulation
Alexis Lafrenière, the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, had a breakout performance for the Rangers in Game 2, scoring two goals in regulation. His first tally came with 9:07 remaining in the first period, giving the Rangers an early 1-0 lead. K’Andre Miller and Alex Wennberg were credited with assists on the play.
However, the Hurricanes quickly responded, with trade deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel tying the game just over four minutes later. Guentzel’s goal, a tip-in off assists from Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, highlighted his importance to the Hurricanes’ offense.
The Canes took their first lead of the game with just 5.4 seconds remaining in the first period, thanks to a goal by Dmitry Orlov. The teams were playing 4-on-4 at the time due to offsetting penalties to Barclay Goodrow and Stefan Noesen. Orlov’s tally was assisted by Brady Skjei and Aho.
Physical Play Leads to Heated Moments
The intensity and physicality of playoff hockey were on full display in Game 2, particularly in the first period. At one point, Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov knocked Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin over behind the New York net, drawing a penalty in the process.
The play sparked a heated confrontation between the teams, with every Ranger on the ice rushing over to confront Svechnikov. Even Shesterkin, visibly frustrated, skated over to join the scrum. The officials reviewed the play to assess its severity but ultimately only assessed a minor penalty to Svechnikov.
While the Rangers were unable to capitalize on the ensuing power play, they did generate one excellent scoring chance. Chris Kreider made a fantastic pass to Mika Zibanejad, who was positioned just outside the crease, but Frederik Andersen made a spectacular save to deny the opportunity.
Late Goals Continue to Haunt Hurricanes
One concerning trend for the Hurricanes in this series has been their tendency to surrender late goals in periods. In Game 2, Carolina allowed the Rangers to score with just 5.4 seconds remaining in the first period, a goal that gave New York a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission.
The Canes found themselves on the opposite end of a late-period goal in the second, as Alexis Lafrenière scored his second of the game with 12:28 remaining to put the Rangers ahead 3-2. Adam Fox made a brilliant play to set up the goal, skating down the right side and drawing the defense before making a perfect pass to Lafrenière, who was positioned on the opposite side of the crease.
However, the Hurricanes once again fell victim to a late goal, as Jake Guentzel scored with just 1:42 left in the second period to give Carolina a 3-2 lead. Sebastian Aho made a crisp pass to Guentzel in front, who quickly shot the puck between Shesterkin’s legs.
Kreider Ties It, Trocheck Wins It
The Rangers refused to go away quietly, and Chris Kreider played the role of hero in the third period. With Carolina leading 3-2 and 13:53 remaining in regulation, Kreider scored a power-play goal to tie the game at 3-3. Vincent Trocheck’s initial shot was stopped by Andersen, but Kreider was perfectly positioned to bat the rebound out of midair and into the net.
The game remained deadlocked through the end of regulation and the first overtime period, setting the stage for a dramatic finish in double overtime. And it was Vincent Trocheck who played the role of hero for the Rangers, scoring the game-winning goal on the power play with 12:36 remaining in the second extra frame.
Trocheck’s goal was his fifth straight game with a tally, matching a Rangers franchise record set by Cecil Dillon in 1933. His clutch performance has been a major reason why the Rangers find themselves in control of the series heading back to Carolina.
Looking Ahead to Game 3
With the series shifting to Raleigh for Games 3 and 4, the pressure is squarely on the Hurricanes to respond. Falling behind 3-0 in the series would be a daunting task to overcome, especially against a Rangers team that has been firing on all cylinders.
For Carolina, the key will be finding a way to generate more offense at even strength. While the Canes have had their moments in this series, they have struggled to consistently create high-danger scoring chances against the Rangers’ structured defensive system.
The Rangers, meanwhile, will look to continue riding the hot hand of goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who has been nothing short of sensational in the first two games of the series. If Shesterkin can continue to frustrate the Hurricanes’ shooters, it could be a short series.
Game 3 is set for Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. ET in Raleigh. With the Hurricanes facing a must-win situation, expect a desperate and determined effort from the home team. But if the Rangers can continue to execute their game plan and get timely scoring from their top players, they could be well on their way to a stunning upset of the Metropolitan Division champions.
Key Takeaways
- The Rangers have taken a 2-0 series lead over the Hurricanes thanks to a 4-3 double-overtime victory in Game 2.
- Goaltenders Igor Shesterkin and Frederik Andersen both delivered outstanding performances, with Shesterkin making 54 saves in the win.
- The Rangers’ penalty kill has been perfect in the series, going 10-for-10 through two games.
- Alexis Lafrenière scored two goals for the Rangers, while Jake Guentzel tallied twice for the Hurricanes.
- Vincent Trocheck scored the game-winning goal in double overtime, his fifth straight game with a goal.
