New York Rangers Fall to Carolina Hurricanes in Overtime

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

ROUND TWO

GAME ONE
Rangers      1

Hurricanes  2

FINAL/OT

Here we go again ...

Carolina clearly did not play at their best during the first forty minutes.  The Rangers had numerous quality scoring opportunities.  Filip Chytil gave the Rangers an early lead.  But Antti Raanta absolutely kept Carolina within striking distance.  By the second intermission, I believed the Hurricanes were making the Rangers look good rather than the other way around.

That all changed in the third period.  Everyone in a Ranger jersey not named K'Andre Miller was severely outplayed.  Then, sure enough, Sabastian Aho cleaned up his own rebound and scored the tying goal with 2:23 left in regulation.  In overtime, the Hurricanes picked up where they left off, and at the 3:12 mark, Ian Cole launched a shot from the top of the right circle that was tipped by Ryan Lindgren and found its way through Igor Shesterkin.

The Kid Line, against a new opponent, continued playing well together.  Kaapo Kakko is skating well, but he's been erratic with his passes and shots throughout the playoffs.  He missed a completely open net at the 6:46 mark of the third period - he's probably riddled with anxiety.  Alexis LaFreniere and Chytil appear far more comfortable in their skin.  Both teams, including LaFreniere, clanked pucks off the post.

K'Andre Miller wiped out Seth Jarvis on a potential breakaway in the second period.  What a great play!  The man has been flawless through eight games.

The only two penalties of the game essentially offset.  Otherwise, many infractions by both sides went uncalled.  The Rangers effectively lost this game at even strength.

Coach Gallant stubbornly rolled out his four lines through the first six games against Pittsburgh.  Not till game seven did he mix up the lines and wrangle with matchups, or not.  The coach said matchups mean little to him.  This series is as much about Gallant and Rod Brind'Amour trying to four-line each other as it is, as it was, the Rangers forwards doing more.

Antti Raanta was indeed the hero of game one.

Ryan Lindgren gets credit for the winning goal ...

Igor Shesterkin deserves better.