Well, it wasn’t the prettiest win, but we’ll take it.
In a thrilling game, the New York Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in a shootout. The Rangers have won six out of their last seven, and they maintain their five point lead in the Metropolitan Division. Here is your full recap:
FIRST PERIOD
The Rangers did not get off to the start they wanted. Just 2:01 into the game, after receiving a pass from Victor Rask, Elias Lindholm took a slap shot from just out side the circle. Cam Talbot looked like he had it, but it squeaked past him and gave the Canes a 1-0 lead. Not much offense was created at all during the first period, as both teams looked like they didn’t want to make a mistake. However, when the chances were there, the two tenders made good saves. At the end of one, Carolina was up 1-0 and were up in shots 8-7.
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SECOND PERIOD
Finally, in the second period, the Rangers found their legs. After an offensive zone face-off win by Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello threw the puck towards the net, and it just so happened that J.T. Miller was driving by. Miller deflected the puck, but he tried to control it. Nevertheless, it slipped behind Anton Khudobin and into the net to tie the game at one (3:39). For almost the rest of the period, the Rangers were all over the Hurricanes. Then, they struck again. After Keith Yandle wound the puck around the defensive zone boards and past everyone, Kevin Hayes picked up the puck in the offensive zone. He waited, then feathered a pass to Jesper Fast, who caught the pass on his backhand, turned, and sniped it past Khudobin for a 2-1 lead (12:59). A few good shifts by each team ended the period, but the score remained 2-1.
Eyes On Isles
THIRD PERIOD
The third period turned into a clinic put on by the Hurricanes, as they seemed to be skating circles around the Rangers. They made Rangers’ fans start to sweat, and Talbot was brilliant throughout the majority of the period, stopping everything the Canes threw at him. Then, at the 14:27 mark, panic started to set in. While Carolina was on the power play, John-Michael Liles got the puck and circled around the net. He gave it back to the point, and Ryan Murphy wound up and ripped a slap shot. There were about four bodies in front of Talbot, and he got a piece of it, but not enough to keep it from going into the net. Game tied 2-2, and that’s where it would stay until the end of regulation.
OVERTIME
There were plenty of chances in the overtime, but both goaltenders stopped everything the opposing team threw at them, and even got a little help from their posts.
SHOOTOUT
Mats Zuccarello was the only one to score in the shootout, dekeing out Khudobin and putting the puck passed him on the short side. Khudobin did stop Kevin Hayes, while Talbot stopped Elias Lindholm, Riley Nash, and Jeff Skinner.
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