Artemi Panarin scored at 1:43 of overtime to give the New York Rangers a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.
The Rangers hold a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and can eliminate the Hurricanes with a victory in Game 4 in Raleigh on Saturday.
New York is a perfect 7-0 in the postseason, having swept the Washington Capitals in the first round.
After double overtime was required in Game 2, the Rangers struck early in Thursday’s OT period. Carolina defenseman Dmitry Orlov couldn’t control a loose puck around the boards, and Vincent Trocheck’s pass found Panarin for the redirection.
“Up and down the lineup right now, we’re getting contributions from everybody,” Trocheck said. “I like our depth, [it’s] been phenomenal, so you’re going to keep that going deep into the playoffs.”
Panarin also had an assist in the game, and Trocheck had two assists. Chris Kreider and Alexis Lafreniere provided New York’s other goals.
Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin was again spectacular, stopping 45 of 47 shots in an encore to his 54-save outing in Game 2. Shesterskin has allowed three or fewer goals in 30 consecutive playoff games, the second-longest such streak in NHL history.
“He’s world-class, he’s done a great job,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “When they do have their breakdowns or whatever and we get to him, he’s been sharp.”
Andrei Svechnikov had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, and Jake Guentzel scored Carolina’s other goal.
Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 22 of 25 shots in his first game of the postseason. Frederik Andersen started Carolina’s first seven playoff games, but his underwhelming .871 save percentage in the first two games against the Rangers inspired the Hurricanes to start Kochetkov in Game 3.
The Hurricanes outshot the Rangers by a 47-25 margin, the fifth-highest postseason shot total in Hartford/Carolina franchise history.
The Rangers’ penalty-kill unit was a perfect 5-for-5 for the third straight game. A new wrinkle to this dominance came with Kreider’s short-handed goal in the second period.
“We’re not executing very well,” Brind’Amour said. “We gave up that shorty and got away from what we were originally trying to do. That’s three games in a row, the same story.”
Kreider’s tally at 8:30 evened the score after a dominant first period from the Hurricanes, which included Guentzel’s goal at the 10:14 mark.
“We’re trying to limit their chances in the middle of the ice,” Trocheck said of the Rangers’ penalty kill. “They’re doing a good job of spreading us out a little bit, but as long as we can be aggressive, and limit their entries, get our clears whenever we have chances. I think we’ve been doing a pretty good job of that so far.”
Lafreniere, who scored New York’s first two goals in Game 2, continued his breakout series by putting the Rangers ahead at 6:25 of the third period. Svechnikov equalized with 96 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.
–Field Level Media
