Rangers outlast Hurricanes in double OT, take 2-0 series edge

Field Level Media|published: Tue 7th May, 23:41 2024

May 7, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) fights for the puck against New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) and goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) during the second period of game two of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. credits: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Vincent Trocheck scored a power-play goal 7:24 into double overtime as the host New York Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 on Tuesday night in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Less than a minute after Trocheck drew a cross-checking penalty on Carolina defenseman Brady Skjei in the offensive zone, the former Hurricanes forward won the four-plus-hour marathon by going to the crease and redirecting a cross-ice pass from Mika Zibanejad past goaltender Frederik Andersen.

It was Trocheck's fifth goal of the playoffs.

Alexis Lafreniere scored twice for the Rangers, and Chris Kreider scored the game-tying goal on a power play 6:07 into the third. Artemi Panarin collected three assists as New York took a 2-0 series lead and improved to 6-0 in the postseason.

Carolina's Jake Guentzel scored twice for his eighth career multi-goal playoff game, three of which have come against the Rangers. Dmitry Orlov also tallied for the Hurricanes, while Sebastian Aho matched a playoff career high with three assists.

New York goalie Igor Shesterkin made 54 saves, including seven on Aho.

Andersen made 35 saves.

The Rangers went ahead with 9:07 left in the first following a miscue in the corner by Andersen, who lost the puck to New York center Alex Wennberg. After K'Andre Miller had his shot blocked, Lafreniere gained possession in the left circle and lifted a shot over Andersen's left arm.

The Rangers held the lead until Guentzel deflected a point shot by Aho over Shesterkin's pad with 4:53 left in the first. Carolina took a 2-1 lead with six seconds left in the period during a four-on-four when Orlov tipped in a shot from the point by Skjei.

New York tied it with 12:28 left in the second after withstanding an early Carolina barrage. Panarin made a drop pass to Adam Fox, Fox cut to the left circle and Lafreniere sent the cross-ice pass by Andersen.

Shortly after a neutral-zone turnover, the Hurricanes got the puck deep into their offensive zone, and Guentzel snapped a 2-2 tie at 18:18 of the second by getting between the circles and sending a one-timer past Shesterkin while his left knee hit the ice.

—Field Level Media

Latest