About the game
It was an even game into the second period. The team played solid, cautious hockey in the first period though both teams had their chances. Nino Niederreiter rang one off the post in the Hurricanes’ best chance. The Rangers had to kill two penalties and Igor Shesterkin was outstanding in the first one stopping a flurry of four shots.
The injury bug hit the Rangers in the second period and that’s when the Canes got on the board at 7:05. Vincent Trocheck scored after a series of miscues that left K’Andre Miller without a stick and Trocheck unchecked.
Jordan Martinook added to the lead at 13:48, deflecting a Derek Stepan shot past Shesterkin. Stepan was unchecked in the slot and he took the one-timer off a pass from Martin Necas
Three minutes later, at 16:56, the Rangers cut the lead to one when Chris Kreider notched goal number 52 on a two-on-one and a nice shuffle pass from Frank Vatrano.
KREIDER gets 52 off a one-handed feed from Vatrano pic.twitter.com/u1BuRew2b1
— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) April 27, 2022
The goal came on a delayed penalty. It was a relief to get a puck past rookie goalie Pyotr Kochetkov who looked unbeatable up to that point.
It didn’t last long as Teuvo Teravainen scored his 21st goal, off a turnover in center ice. Braden Schneider tried a headman pass from the Rangers’ zone, but Teravainen intercepted and the Carolina transition game took over as he sped past Schneider and put the puck over Shesterkin.
The goal, coming with just under two minutes left in the period was a crusher, but things went from bad to worse when Sebastian Aho scored just 32 seconds into the third period. The Rangers backcheck by the Zibanejad line was non-existent and the Hurricanes just walked in and scored. It was pretty awful and the game looked like it was over at 4-1.
The never say die Rangers didn’t quit and put some excellent shots on Kochetkov including one sequence when he lost his stick and the Rangers couldn’t score into an open net.
They finally got their second goal when after a rush into the Hurricanes zone, Jaco Trouba scored on a shot from the blue line.
Right on target. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/JJcPnNqCG7
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 27, 2022
It was a simple play with Trouba just throwing the puck on net and it deflected off Jesper Fast into the net. The goal, at 13:12 gave the Rangers ever more life.
New York pulled Shesterkin with over two minutes left in the game and they were able get some excellent shots on Kochetkov. After controlled the puck in the Canes zone after a faceoff, Chris Kreider fed Alexis Lafreniere who was all alone in front of the net and he put the one-timer into the net.
Alexis Lafreniere blasts home Kreider's feed to bring the Rangers within one late!#NYR pic.twitter.com/sFkAZGNn9i
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 27, 2022
The score was 4-3 with 62 seconds left.
The Blueshirts were unable to get another good scoring chance and that’s how the game ended.
Here is a full video recap of the game: