Second Round, Game 6: Hurricanes at New York Rangers (Carolina leads 3-2)

Just like in the first round, the Canes are playing the last road game of the series with a chance to advance. This time there is more on the line with a trip to the Eastern Conference Final on the horizon. The Rangers and 60 minutes are all that stand in the way of the Canes. It's a big task, especially for a team that has been night and day depending on the venue. At PNC Arena, the Canes are perfect, but they've yet to win a game on the road between their two series, starting 0-5 and being outplayed in each. Their special teams have been a major sore spot in those road games. The Canes earned their 3-2 series lead with a 3-1 victory in Raleigh on Thursday night. Vincent Trocheck, Teuvo Teravainen, and Andrei Svechnikov scored the goals for the Canes, each scoring at a different strength, while Artemi Panarin scored the lone goal for the Rangers on the power play as Antti Ranta continued to play like a brick wall at home. The lineups will look the same for both teams, as the same two goalies will face each other for the sixth straight game. The big news for the Canes is that Frederik Andersen appears to be the backup tonight after missing the end of the regular season and the postseason to this point. While it probably doesn't mean anything in hindsight, it's an exciting prospect for the Canes should they advance past this round. Tonight would be a great night to win their first road game of the postseason. They need to start hot, play the same way on defense they have while at home, and keep the New York faithful out of it to earn a date with Tampa Bay beginning on Wednesday.

1st Period

Scoring

(NYR) 7:22- Tyler Motte (2) (unassisted)

(NYR) 9:51- Mika Zibanejad (7) PP (assisted by Adam Fox (11) & Igor Shesterkin (2))

Thoughts

You'd have to think that isn't exactly how they drew up the start of that period. Neither goal was a good one for Raanta to allow. Motte's didn't look like it was screened that much and it squeaked through his arm. The Zibanejad goal on the power play started with a nice entry into the zone, but he shot it right through Raanta's legs and it looked like he was moving in slow motion as he tried to close the five-hole. That being said, the Canes actually got the better of the play in the period. The best chance came on the breakaway for Aho that was stopped by Shesterkin. Along with being perfect on the 15 shots he faced, he added an assist on the goal from Zibanejad, proving that he can do it all. I was hoping they'd get something at the end of the period, especially on their power play, but they couldn't. They'll need a fast start to the second period to get back into it if they want to make a comeback. 

2nd Period

Scoring

(NYR) 3:24- Filip Chytil (3) (assisted by Adam Fox (12))

(CAR) 5:05- Brady Skjei (1) (assisted by Sebastian Aho (6) & Seth Jarvis (5))

(NYR) 6:47- Filip Chytil (4) (assisted by Alexis Lafreniere (4) & Igor Shesterkin (3))

(CAR) 12:47- Vincent Trocheck (5) (assisted by Martin Necas (5) & Brady Skjei (2))

Thoughts

After all that excitement, we're right back where we started. Instead of the Canes getting off to the hot start, the Rangers scored on a 2-on-1 to force Brind'Amour to pull Raanta. Brady Skjei got one back to make us all feel good, but Chytil picked up this second of the night on a long backhand on Pyotr Kochetkov. Vincent Trocheck pulled the Canes back within two with his second in as many games. The power play failed to convert twice at the end of the period, so it could've been closer if they were clicking well at all. I'm cautiously optimistic that the Canes can come back and end this series. They've been the better team for long stretches of this game, but it has been hard to keep the Rangers out of the net. If Kochetkov can hold down the fort and the offense continues to push, the third period could be interesting. 

3rd Period

Scoring

(NYR) 7:43- Artemi Panarin (4) PP (assisted by Chris Kreider (3) & Ryan Strome (7))

Thoughts

So the cycle continues as the Rangers force Game 7 with a dagger on the power play early in the period and they couldn't stay out of the box long enough to get anything going on offense that was meaningful enough to strike a comeback. There were a lot of bad things that happened from a composure standpoint in the third period that I really hope doesn't carry into Game 7 because it just wasn't fun to watch down the stretch. It's all going to come down to one game against the Vezina winner for this season after they couldn't get the job done again tonight. I don't have many words to describe it.

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Brady Skjei had two points. Vincent Trocheck scored for the second game in a row. Otherwise, this was a game to forget for the Canes where no one stood out. 

Final Thoughts

The Rangers set the tone from the start tonight and I can't say I was that surprised. They were the team that had to win tonight, though it really felt like both teams really needed a victory. I can't put my finger on why the Canes are playing so poorly on the road. They can't kill penalties. They can't score goals. They can't seem to stay out of the box. It's just a comedy of problems. This doesn't feel the same as it did when Boston forced Game 7 two weeks ago. This feels different and not in a good way. Maybe it's because the games at home have been a lot closer in this round than in the first. Maybe it's because we've seen the Rangers more times this season and those games were also close. It might just be because they played poorly tonight in all honesty. I just don't know how to feel about the game on Monday night. I've booked my tickets for it, so I'll be in attendance for what could either be the final game of the season or the game that sends the Rangers packing for the summer. I'm would imagine Rod Brind'Amour goes with Antti Raanta again for Game 7 since he's been lights out at home, but I have no clue. Whoever it is, the Canes better show up and play like they have in front of their fans all season because it is officially do-or-die.