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So much for the regular season: Hurricanes 3, Rangers 2

By Scott Esposito

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 01: Vincent Trocheck #16 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a short-handed goal by Martin Necas #88 (not shown) against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers at 10:51 of the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 1, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Hurricanes defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 01: Vincent Trocheck #16 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a short-handed goal by Martin Necas #88 (not shown) against Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers at 10:51 of the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 1, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Hurricanes defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images) /
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Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes the second period save  (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images)
Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers makes the second period save  (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images) /

Notes on the game

The Rangers announced that Shesterkin is officially day-to-day and did not rule out him starting Game Two on Monday.

Lundqvist (3-0, 2.33 GAA, .940 SV% versus Carolina in 2019-20) played well. He probably should’ve had the first goal, but the other two were not on him. He made several good stops, including one on Jake Gardiner’s one-timer from just outside the crease off a cross-ice feed to keep it 2-1 Carolina with 14 minutes remaining in regulation.

  • “The King” also stoned Warren Foegele on a breakaway at 5:38 of the second period after defenseman Brendan Smith collided with an official. “I thought Hank had a good night,” Quinn said.

    • Quinn said he knew Shesterkin couldn’t go and told Lundqvist he’d start on Friday night. “I approached this camp to be ready for anything,” Lundqvist said. “Whatever they ask me to do I’ll be ready for it.”

  • Kakko, Filip Chytil, and former Hurricane Julien Gauthier were solid. Kakko led the Rangers with five shots on goal and Gauthier had two shots and two hits. “Those guys earned their ice time, they earned their opportunity,” Quinn said. “Good to see those guys, in their first playoff game, play the way they did.”

    • Quinn on his team’s impotent power play: “We were just too slow. I mean, I’m not gonna sit here and talk about some seam pass we could’ve made or one guy should’ve gone here, should’ve gone there. We were just too slow.”

    The Rangers out hit the Canes 40-28.

    Carolina won 54 percent of the game’s draws.

    While the Rangers were outshot 21-15, Carolina had 42 shot attempts to New York’s 27 and had a 8-5 edge in high danger scoring chances.

    My three stars of the game

    1. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina. Had a goal (hist first ever in the playoffs) and an assist to take charge of the blue line in the absence of standout defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce, neither of whom played.
    2. Sebastian Aho, Carolina. Goal and an assist.
    3. Kaapo Kakko, Rangers. Led the Rangers with five shots and was one of the few Blueshirts who played with any jam.

    Related Story. Postseason rookies. light

    Up next

    Game Two is scheduled for Monday at noon.  Consider it a must-win.

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