The first-round series against the Capitals could’ve been a play-in round in comparison to the pace and intensity the Hurricanes brought into the second round, but the Rangers didn’t flinch.
No, the Blueshirts were braced and ready for the uptick in competition, welcoming the Game 1 challenge that saw the home team bookend the game with two strong periods in a tone-setting 4-3 win over Carolina Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.
Not a beat was missed by the Rangers, whose goalie, top six skaters and special teams all picked up right where they left off in Round 1.
Mika Zibanejad led the club with two goals, one on the power play and one at even strength, while Artemi Panarin netted a crucial score in the third period that stood as the game-winner.
The Rangers led 3-1 at the start of the final frame, thanks to a three-goal opening period and a scoreless second.
As was anticipated in this evenly matched series, however, the Hurricanes stayed right with them.
Less than three minutes into the final 20 of regulation, Martin Necas made it a one-goal game after taking a leading pass and beating goalie Igor Shesterkin one-on-one.
But Panarin, working to put his previous playoff no-shows in the past, sent a shot while speeding down the wing that trickled through Carolina netminder Frederik Andersen to regain the two-goal lead.
It was a grind to the finish line from there, with the Rangers giving up a six-on-five goal to Seth Jarvis with 1:45 left in regulation.
The equalizer never came.
Jack Roslovic, the Rangers’ last-minute trade-deadline acquisition this season, has significantly upped his game since the postseason began.
After tying Alexis Lafreniere for the third most points on the team with two goals and two assists in Round 1, Roslovic got the Rangers started in Round 2 when he aggressively drove around the Hurricanes net and dished to Zibanejad in front for the 1-0 lead.
Just over a minute later, however, Jaccob Slavin answered for the Canes with a long shot that bounced past Shesterkin.
It was a clear indicator that nothing would come easily in this series.
The Hurricanes had rung the puck off the post twice before ex-Ranger Tony DeAngelo, who was reminded what the MSG faithful think of him by the boo birds in attendance, trucked Will Cuylle over to send the Blueshirts on their first power play.
What came next was nothing short of one of the most gorgeous man-advantage sequences the NHL has seen this season, maybe in the last 10 seasons.
All it was, really, was a simple continuation of what the Rangers’ special teams have done all regular season and postseason.
The intention with which the Rangers worked the puck around the zone was unstoppable, fueled by the skilled hands that created it, as each skater touched the puck before Zibanejad buried it for the 2-1 lead.
Special teams were always going to play a major role in the series, considering the fact that both teams finished within the top three for both categories.
The Rangers flexed early, going 2-for-2 on the power play and fending off all of the Hurricanes’ five power plays, including a very brief 6-on-4 disadvantage in the final 40.5 seconds of the game.
Vincent Trocheck, who swapped jerseys since the last time these two clubs squared off in the playoffs in 2022, cleaned up a rebound on the Rangers’ second man-advantage opportunity to make it a 3-1 game.
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