Thoughts From My Couch

The Hurricanes have managed to stave off elimination twice. Now, they aim to do it for a third time as the series returns to Raleigh for Game 6. After allowing a short-handed goal in the second period, the Canes scored four goals in the third period to win 4-1 and force the return back to PNC Arena. The pressure seems to be on New York as they try to avoid a third-straight loss and a possible Game 7 back at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. With the two sides splitting Games 3 and 4 in Raleigh earlier in the series, Game 6 feels like a toss-up.  Scoring Summary 1st Period CAR (18:38)- Martin Necas (4) (assisted by Jordan Martinook (2) & Dmitry Orlov (4)) 2nd Period CAR (4:38)- Seth Jarvis (5) PP (assisted by Sebastian Aho (8) & Andrei Svechnikov (8)) NYR (5:29)- Vincent Trocheck (6) (assisted by Artemi Panarin (6)) CAR (9:23)- Sebastian Aho (4) (assisted by Andrei Svechnikov (9) & Jaccob Slavin (2)) 3rd Period NYR (6:43)- Chris Kreider (5) (assisted by Mika Zibanejad (...

The Hurricanes survived another day by getting a late goal on the power play on Saturday night to win Game 4 4-3. Brady Skjei's blast from the point beat Igor Shesterkin with less than four minutes left to keep the season going for at least one more game. The Canes dominated the early portion of the game, leading 3-1 before the Rangers came back to tie it, forcing the Canes' power play to come up with its first goal of the series. The Rangers now have a chance to end things in front of their fans at Madison Square Garden, while the Hurricanes aim to get the series back to Raleigh with more momentum. Scoring Summary 1st Period None 2nd Period NYR (6:23)- Jacob Trouba (1) SH (unassisted) 3rd Period CAR (3:33)- Jordan Staal (1) (assisted by Dmitry Orlov (3)) CAR (6:39)- Evgeny Kuznetsov (4) (assisted by Brady Skjei (8) & Jesperi Kotkaniemi (1)) CAR (9:56)- Jordan Martinook (2) (assisted by Jack Drury (3) & Martin Necas (5)) CAR (16:31)- Martin Necas (3) EN (assisted by Jac...

After a second straight overtime loss for the Carolina Hurricanes, their season was placed in the balance going into Game 4. Artemi Panarin's goal early in overtime helped the Rangers stun the Caniacs, giving them a 3-0 lead in the series and putting them on the verge of making it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in three years. There's no doubt that this is a very upsetting position for the Canes to be in after being lauded as one of the favorites for the Stanley Cup. Only four teams have ever come back from a 3-0 deficit. If the Canes want to advance, they need to win Game 4 to get it started. Scoring Summary 1st Period CAR (1:51)- Evgeny Kuznetsov (3) (unassisted) CAR (6:33)- Stefan Noesen (4) (assisted by Teuvo Teravainen (3) & Tony DeAngelo (2)) NYR (8:06)- Will Cuylle (1) (assisted by Kaapo Kakko (1) & Erik Gustafsson (3)) CAR (15:29)- Sebastian Aho (3) (assisted by Jake Guentzel (5) & Brent Burns (3)) 2nd Period NYR (12:43)- Barclay Goodro...

The Rangers held serve in Game 2, winning in double overtime on a Vincent Trocheck power-play goal to help New York take a 2-0 lead in the series. Tonight, the series moves to PNC Arena for the first of two games at PNC Arena. The Hurricanes need to get back into the series, making this a must-win game for Carolina. The Canes opted to change it up in the net, turning to Pyotr Kochetkov for the first time this postseason. After a heart-wrenching loss on Tuesday, the change in scenery could be massive for the Canes' hopes.  Scoring Summary 1st Period CAR (10:14)- Jake Guentzel (4) (assisted by Dmitry Orlov (2) & Andrei Svechnikov (6)) 2nd Period NYR (8:30)- Chris Kreider (4) SH (assisted by Mika Zibanejad (9)) 3rd Period NYR (6:25)- Alexis Lafreniere (3) (assisted by Artemi Panarin (5) & Vincent Trocheck (6)) CAR (18:36)- Andrei Svechnikov (2) (assisted by Sebastian Aho (7) & Brady Skjei (7)) Overtime NYR (1:43)- Artemi Panarin (4) (assisted by Vincent Trocheck (7)) My Th...

Game 1 was decided on special teams as the Rangers struck twice on the power play in the first period while holding the Hurricanes scoreless in five attempts. At 5-on-5, the game was a little closer, but Igor Shesterkin prevented the Canes from completing another comeback, winning 4-3 to open the series. Mika Zibanejad scored two goals and added an assist in the first period, and Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck also finished with multiple points, while Sebastian Aho was the lone Hurricane with two points. Scoring Summary 1st Period NYR (10:53)- Alexis Lafreniere (1) (assisted by K'Andre Miller (1) & Alex Wenneberg (1)) CAR (15:07)- Jake Guentzel (2) (assisted by Sebastian Aho (4) & Andrei Svechnikov (5)) CAR (19:54)- Dmitry Orlov (2) (assisted by Brady Skjei (6) & Sebastian Aho (5)) 2nd Period NYR (7:32)- Alexis Lafreniere (2) (assisted by Adam Fox (4) & Artemi Panarin (2)) CAR (18:18)- Jake Guentzel (3) (assisted by Sebastian Aho (6) & Tony DeAngelo (1)) 3rd...

After both teams played a relatively quick series in the 1st Round, the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers began their 2nd Round series at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Both squads are well-rested after downing the Islanders in five games and the Capitals in four games, respectively. New York owned the slight edge during the regular season, winning two of the three meetings and winning the division by three points. With a pair of high-powered offenses, sturdy defenses, and goalies playing out of their minds, this is going to be an incredible series, beginning with Game 1 tonight. Scoring Summary 1st Period NYR (2:46)- Mika Zibanejad (2) (assisted by Jack Roslovic (3) & Adam Fox (3)) CAR (3:48)- Jaccob Slavin (1) (assisted by Sebastian Aho (2) & Jake Guentzel (4)) NYR (10:05)- Mika Zibanejad (3) PP (assisted by Chris Kreider (2) & Vincent Trocheck (4)) NYR (16:28)- Vincent Trocheck (4) PP (assisted by Mika Zibanejad (7) & Chris Kreider (3)) 2nd Period None 3...

Many expected the Hurricanes to get the job done against the New York Islanders in the 1st Round of the playoffs. While I had the Canes winning in six games, they got it done in five. The Canes handled business at home to open the series. Game 1 was tied at one going into the third period before Stefan Noesen gave the Canes the lead early in the period of what became a 3-1 win. The Islanders looked poised to even it up in Game 2, taking a 3-0 lead early in the second period. The Canes rattled off five unanswered goals, including the tying and winning goals eight seconds apart in the final three minutes to win 5-3 before moving to Long Island. Game 3 was won early as Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov staked the Canes to a 2-0 lead. With some heroics by Frederik Andersen, the series lead moved to 3-0 with a 3-2 win for Carolina. The Islanders' lone win came in Game 4, coming in double overtime on a Mathew Barzal redirection to send the series back to Raleigh. It wasn't easy, but the C...