Rangers live to play another game with 5-2 Game 6 win

This New York Rangers team just doesn’t quit.  They won their fourth elimination game this postseason, the most by far of any team in the playoffs. It was a rollicking night at the Garden as the team was spurred on by a hometown crowd.  It was the combination of a lethal power play , another stellar performance by Igor Shesterkin, a clutch penalty kill and some mediocre Carolina goaltending.

It was a closer game than the score and the Rangers had to kill off a couple key penalties in the second period.  The penalties came after the Hurricanes had scored twice shortly after the Rangers had opened up three goal leads.

This came after an early onslaught that needed Igor Shesterkin to be at his best. He made a number of key stops as the Canes outshot the Rangers 15-12 in the first period.

The key for the Rangers was taking the early lead as they scored first and never looked back.

For Coach Gerard Gallant, the result was what he expected. “It didn’t surprise me. We knew we’d come out hard and play well. It was a competitive game. We jumped on them early and got a couple goal leads and that was key, but again, Shesty made some key saves in the first period to keep it 2-0 for us.”

There was a lot of be happy about.  The Rangers got an insurance power play goal from Artemi Panarin with an assist to Chris Kreider.

Mika Zibanejad scored in his fourth straight game, joining Brendan Shanahan and Alex Kovalev who accomplished the feat before him.

Adam Fox added two assists and now leads Cale Makar by three points for the scoring lead among defensemen.  And Filip Chytil was the offensive star of the game.

The MVP

Filip Chytil has been maligned by many for most of the season and he took it upon himself to play probably the best game of his career this night. After scoring only eight goals in 67 regular season games, he has four goals (really five, one was disallowed) in 13 playoff games.

Chytil’s first goal was on his second straight odd man rush on the same shift.  He missed on the first shot, but didn’t on the second. On the first with Alexis Lafreniere, Chytil explained, “He made a nice pass and I missed the net, I just try to keep shooting every time there is a chance.”  Chytil stressed the importance of taking shots as it leads to more puck possession.

His second goal was a display of his improved play and confidence as he came out from the boards and put a backhander past Pyotr Kochetkov.

Shesterkin’s big night

Igor Shesterkin had his version of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick with two assists, a penalty and 37 saves.  His two assists tied the record for the by a goalie in a playoff game, tying him with Grant Fuhr, Tom Barrasso, Jose Theodore and Pekka Rinne.  He did become the first NHL goalie in history with two power play assists in the same playoff game.

Shesterkin said through an interpreter that “Honestly, it was mostly the guys who did the work. I just left them the puck and they delivered. ”

He delivered early, stopping Sebastian Aho on a breakaway with Tyler Motte scoring just 17 seconds later.

He admitted that the penalty was not a good one as he interfered with Seth Jarvis.  It came at a crucial point in the game when the Blueshirts had just finished killing off  Kreider hooking penalty.

The Goodrow factor

Barclay Goodrow made an unexpected return to the lineup after sustaining a lower body injury early in the first game of the playoffs.  His presence was felt and Gallant explained his value. “What’s he done the last couple of years with the Stanley Cups, a leader, a character guy on our team. His overall play, kills penalties, the whole works. He’s huge for our club.”

Goodrow played 13 minutes on the fourth line with Tyler Motte and Ryan Reaves, plus on the penalty kill. On  a night when the Hurricanes won over 60% of the draws, Goodrow was at 50%, winning seven of 14.

Two different teams

This is the perplexing issue facing both the Rangers and the Hurricanes.  Carolina has won all seven home games this postseason and the Rangers have been able to win only once on the road.  The fact that that win came in a crucial Game Six versus the Penguins has to mean something.

So, who will turn up in Game Seven on both sides.  Will it be the dominant Hurricanes squad that choked the Rangers offense and held them 17 relatively harmless shots on Thursday?  Will it be the Rangers team that was fast to the puck and quick to shoot that we will see on Monday?

The simple fact is the Rangers had the first game of this series won, but gave up a late goal and a lucky goal in overtime.  The second game could have been won by either team.  The only really bad outing for the Rangers on the road was Game Five.

The scoring disparity has been bizarre.  Discounting empty net goals, the Hurricanes have outscored the Rangers 6-2 in Raleigh.  While in New York , the Rangers have an 11-4 edge.

That’s what the Rangers have to overcome to win this series.   When asked what the difference was between the Rangers in the last game and this one, Artemi Panarin had a simple answer. “I honestly think we just wanted to win. That was it.”

Chytil said that there is a simple goal.  “We have to play how we play at home…in the first series we found a way to win In Pittsburgh.  It’s a game seven, we have to find a way to win.  We have to play hard, play our game and don’t focus on other things, just the game.”

It sounds like an easy answer and the Hurricanes will certainly have something to say about that.  But all of the pressure has shifted to Carolina.  See everyone at 8pm on Monday.