Second Round, Game 4: Hurricanes at New York Rangers (Carolina leads 2-1)

The Rangers cut into the Canes' series lead on Sunday afternoon with a 3-1 win, so we know for sure the series is heading back to Raleigh. Now it comes down to whether they'll need to go ahead and book a return flight to New York. However, today is a new day and the Canes are looking to come one win closer to a date with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final and making an appearance for the second time in four seasons. Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider came alive in the series, each scoring in New York's win. They'd been held to nothing in Games 1 and 2, so seeing them get going wasn't a welcome sight. Igor Shesterkin had an answer for almost everything the Canes threw at it, the only exception being a backhand shot from Nino Niederreiter in the second period that snuck under his arm. It was the first time in the series that Shesterkin outplayed Antti Raanta, who played well in Game 3 despite the loss. The Canes' struggles on the road continued as they moved to 0-4 this postseason despite being 6-0 at home. This is not a "must-win" game for the Canes, but it really does feel like a "would strongly recommend winning" game. The lineups appear to be the same for each squad heading into this important battle, so the bad blood should be out in full force to begin the game. I have no doubts that the Canes can break out of their road slump tonight. A chance to close out the Rangers at home on Thursday would be a fun way to end things.

1st Period

Scoring

(NYR) 13:31- Frank Vatrano (3) PP (assisted by Andrew Copp (4) & Adam Fox (9))

(NYR) 15:42- Adam Fox (4) (assisted by Ryan Lindgren (2) & Andrew Copp (5))

Thoughts

This was easily their worst period of the season and might be in contention for their worst of the postseason thus far. The Rangers are on the board twice late in the period and it doesn't feel like the Canes have been remotely competitive. Pesce had an amazing chance with most of the net open, but Shesterkin got back to make a good glove save. The play we'll all be talking about will be the Trouba hit on Domi and the subsequent fight with Lorentz getting an additional two for instigating and a ten-minute misconduct. I won't argue that Trouba should've gotten more time since all the rules go out the window when a player starts to lose their edge during a hit, but for Lorentz to get 12 more minutes in penalties is ridiculous. Instigator rules in the NHL are stupid and that's what I have to say about that. To make a bad situation worse, the Rangers scored on the subsequent power play and added another on a deflection by Fox. New York dominated from top-to-bottom and I'm not going to lie, I'm already thinking we're going to be back here for Game 6. I won't say I've completely thrown this game out, but it's hard to be motivated when it doesn't feel like the guys on the ice are. 

2nd Period

Scoring

(NYR) 16:48- Mika Zibanejad (5) (assisted by Ryan Lindgren (3) & Frank Vatrano (4))

Thoughts

The Canes played considerably better in the second period, yet find themselves down even more than when the period started. I'm not quite sure how to diagnose it other than the bounces just aren't going the Canes' way. Shesterkin made an excellent save on a Teravainen chance that was set up by Jarvis. Necas rang the post on the power play, then misses a wide-open net on a one-timer. Raanta made a great save with the Rangers coming in transition, but it leaked through him for Zibanejad to slide it in to make it 3-0. I mentioned the power play earlier and even with them making a slight personnel change, the Rangers still had the best chance with Raanta making a great save on Zibanejad. We're coming back to New York for Game 6. Let's just see what happens in the third because I think this one is over. 

3rd Period

Scoring

(CAR) 6:33- Teuvo Teravainen (3) (assisted by Sebastian Aho (5))

(NYR) 11:10- Andrew Copp (5) (assisted by Ryan Strome (6))

Thoughts

The only real bright spot of the game came when Teravainen broke the shutout with a great shot upstairs on Shesterkin. It got Aho his road point of the postseason and moved him past Eric Staal on the franchise's postseason points chart with his 44th point. The Rangers got the goal back in less than five minutes to regain a three-goal lead and that was all she wrote. I don't know how to process this loss other than it was just a bad game all around for the Canes. Only a few guys looked like they showed up to play and you can't win like that in the postseason. The series is tied and we're right back where we were a week ago when the series started. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

I've opted not to give stars tonight because the only people I can think is deserving of one would be Teuvo Teravainen, the only goal-scorer for the Canes, and Brett Pesce, who had five blocked shots. I don't have the energy to dig through who I think really deserves them because this loss took a lot out of me. 

Final Thoughts

When the series went to 2-2 against Boston, I felt confident the Canes could win the series because of how they'd looked in Games 1 and 2 when they dominated the Bruins. With the series now 2-2 against the Rangers, my confidence level is surprisingly low for someone that has all the faith in the world that this team can win. Boston had two inexperienced goalies while New York has the Vezina-winner between the pipes. Maybe we just need to keep hoping the home team wins so that the Canes can advance. I don't know what's happening, but I don't remember feeling this way after Games 3 and 4 in Boston. The thing I've seen a lot of Canes fans talk about on social media tonight has been the officiating. While the officials didn't lose this game for the Canes, they were bad tonight. I think they mishandled the Lorentz situation in the first period and then should've given Lafreniere a penalty when they sent Svechnikov off in the third. I think it's time to get Derek Stepan back into the lineup and it should probably be for Lorentz. As much as I appreciate Lorentz stepping up for Domi, he spent more time in the box than he did on the ice tonight (7:00 TOI) and I think Stepan could bring more to the group. I'm curious to see if Frederik Andersen might be an option for Thursday night. I don't want to rush him back, but there has been a lot of buzz surrounding him lately, so it leads me to think he's close. I want this team to succeed so bad that it hurts sometimes. Performances like this make me worried a lot and that might be because I know who looms if they win this series. I expect a more spirited effort in Raleigh on Thursday night because if they go back to New York down 3-2, it might be over.