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Chris Kreider's Hat Trick Propels the Blueshirts to Eastern Conference Finals with 5-3 Victory Over the Hurricanes

On May 16, 2024, the New York Rangers secured a thrilling 5-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Second Round, thanks to a spectacular third-period hat trick by Chris Kreider. This comeback win at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, advances the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals.

By Gianni Maltese

New York Rangers v Carolina Hurricanes - Game Six
New York Rangers v Carolina Hurricanes - Game Six / Grant Halverson/GettyImages
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Rangers vs. Hurricanes: Game 6 Highlights

First Period:

  • Carolina Strikes First: The Hurricanes took an early lead with Martin Necas scoring at 18:38, assisted by Jordan Martinook and Dmitry Orlov, putting Carolina ahead 1-0.

Second Period:

  • Power Play Goal for Carolina: Seth Jarvis extended the lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 4:38, assisted by Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov.
  • Rangers Respond: Vincent Trocheck answered quickly for the Rangers at 5:29, tipping in a pass from Artemi Panarin, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
  • Aho Adds Another for Carolina: Sebastian Aho scored at 9:23, with assists from Andrei Svechnikov and Jaccob Slavin, making it 3-1 for the Hurricanes.

Third Period:

  • Kreider’s Natural Hat Trick: Chris Kreider took over the game in the third period, scoring three consecutive goals. His first came at 6:43 on a backhand shot, assisted by Mika Zibanejad and Jack Roslovic. Kreider tied the game 3-3 with a power-play goal at 11:54, assisted by Panarin and Trocheck. He then completed the hat trick at 15:41 with a snap shot, assisted by Ryan Lindgren and Roslovic, giving the Rangers a 4-3 lead.
  • Goodrow Seals the Win: Barclay Goodrow added an empty-net goal at 19:11, assisted by K'Andre Miller, finalizing the score at 5-3.

Key Performances

  • Chris Kreider: The standout performer of the night, Kreider's hat trick in the third period was crucial in turning the game around for the Rangers.
  • Sebastian Aho: Despite the loss, Aho had a strong performance for the Hurricanes with a goal and an assist.
  • Vincent Trocheck: Contributed significantly with a goal and an assist for the Rangers.

Game Statistics

  • Shots on Goal: Rangers - 24, Hurricanes - 36
  • Faceoff Win Percentage: Both teams at 50%
  • Power-Play Efficiency: Rangers 1/2, Hurricanes 1/1
  • Hits: Rangers - 36, Hurricanes - 22
  • Blocked Shots: Rangers - 13, Hurricanes - 17

Series Recap

  • The Rangers won the series 4-2, overcoming the Hurricanes' strong performance in earlier games. Notably, the series included a dramatic double-overtime win for the Rangers in Game 2 and an overtime victory in Game 3.

Looking Ahead

The New York Rangers now advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will face the Florida Panthers. The Rangers will look to continue their momentum, driven by the stellar play of Kreider and the team's resilience.

For full coverage of the New York Rangers' playoff journey and more updates on their quest for the Stanley Cup, stay tuned to our comprehensive NHL coverage.

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