Perfect special teams play against a special teams powerhouse led by the guards to a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday in Game 1 of their best-of-seven second-round series in the NHL playoffs.
Mika Zibanejad scored two goals in the first period and Vicente Trocheck It is Artemi Panarin also scored when the Blueshirts beat the Hurricanes in front of 18,006 at MSG. Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves to help lead the Rangers to 12-3 in their last 15 home playoff games.
If anyone was worried about the Rangers being stuck after a week without games following their win over the Capitals, well, there was obviously no reason to worry.
Key Takeaways
– The Rangers scored two first-period power play goals, one from Zibanejad and one from Trocheck, against the NHL’s No. 1 penalty kill during the regular season. The Hurricanes have killed 86.4% of their opponents’ power plays during the season. The Rangers also stifled No. 2-ranked Carolina’s power play, killing five penalties.
– The Hurricanes tend to generate a lot of shot volume – they ranked third in the NHL in shots on goal per game (33.3). But the Rangers suppressed Carolina’s shots in the first two periods, allowing just six in each frame. The Rangers had 17 blocks in the first two periods. Overall, Carolina had 25 shots on goal.
– With 17:12 left in the third, the Hurricanes were tied at one goal when Jordan Martinook stuck a pass to Martin Necas crossing through the middle and Necas broke the puck between Shesterkin’s legs.
– Panarin’s goal, which came with 11:39 left in the third, was his third of the playoffs and gave the Rangers a two-goal lead. Panarin has been dangerous thus far, after tallying just two assists in a first-round loss to the Devils last year.
– With 1:45 left and the goalie pulled for the sixth attacker, the Canes made it 4-3 on a chaotic goal from Seth Jarvis in front of the Ranger net, his fourth of the playoffs. Things got even more dangerous a minute later when Trocheck was whistled for delay of game for hitting the puck into the stands, meaning Carolina had a 6-on-4 lead. But it was brief because Andrey Svenchnikov was called for tripping just five seconds later and the Rangers held on.
– The first period was full of goals, with several scores and several scrums. The Rangers took a quick 1-0 lead with 17:14 remaining when Jack Roslovic skated behind the Carolina net and fed Zibanejad alone in front. But the Canes responded quickly, scoring just 62 seconds later when Jacob SlavinThe deflected shot went past Shesterkin.
– The Rangers took a 2-1 lead with 9:55 left in the first, in one of the most beautiful goals of the playoffs. After the local favorite Tony DeAngelo was whistled for violence with 10:02 left, the Rangers’ power play paid off. Trocheck passed to Chris Kreider in front and Kreider made an indirect, indirect pass to Zibanejad in Frederico Andersen‘s right and Zibanejad hit the puck. Zibanejad’s second goal of the game gave him his 16th career multi-point playoff game with the Rangers, tying him for third in club history with Rod Gilberto. Zibanejad also has multiple points in each of the last four playoff games and three total goals in those playoffs.
– With 3:46 left in the first, Evgeny Kuznetsov was penalized for cross-checking Adam Fox in your face, giving the Rangers another power play. Trocheck hit Andersen after Zibanejad made a try, giving the Rangers a 3-1 lead. It was Trocheck’s fourth goal of the playoffs.
Game MVP
Zibanejad. Mika May had an incredible start – Zibanejad had two goals and an assist and was the most dynamic player on the ice, continuing his great playoffs thus far.
Highlights
What is the next
The Rangers and Hurricanes return to MSG for Game 2 on Tuesday.
