2024 Postseason: 2nd Round, Game 6: Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers

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 (11) & Jack Roslovic (4))

NYR (11:54)- Chris Kreider (6) PP (assisted by Artemi Panarin (7) & Vincent Trocheck (8))

NYR (15:41)- Chris Kreider (7) (assisted by Ryan Lindgren (1) & Jack Roslovic (5))

NYR (19:11)- Barclay Goodrow (3) EN (assisted by K'Andre Miller (2))

My Thoughts

Just when I'd told myself that I didn't care when the season ended after falling behind 3-0 in the series, the Hurricanes made me believe again, only to yank the rug out from under me. I'd quite literally given up on the Canes winning the series when Artemi Panarin scored in overtime in Game 3. When the Canes won in Game 4, I was just grateful they weren't going to get swept and would likely lose at Madison Square Garden. When that didn't happen, I started to have a glimmer of hope. After they went up 3-1 tonight, I was all-in on the Canes winning this series in seven games. I probably should've tempered my expectations a little because that third period was about as upsetting a period as I've watched all season. It was indicative of their series as a whole. New York outworked them in the third, earning the right to fight for a chance to represent the conference in the Stanley Cup Final.

After Chris Kreider scored his greasy goal to make it 3-2, it felt like only a matter of time before the dam broke. Then, Kreider scored on the power play to tie it, and that was the moment I knew the season was over. The hat trick goal was purely to rub salt in the wound. My hatred for the Rangers runs deep, but even I knew the end was near once Frederik Andersen allowed that soft goal. It has been Achilles' heel the entire series, and tonight it was especially costly. The Canes were able to overcome the bad goal Andersen allowed in Game 4, but three of the four losses in the series featured at least one weak goal allowed by the Canes' netminder. Igor Shesterkin didn't allow those types of goals. While he was bailed out by the iron three times tonight, he also made a huge stop on Jordan Staal when the game was 3-2 to allow the comeback to commence. 

I'd been very negative about tonight's game, but the fact is that 40 minutes of it were very good. New York had the puck a lot in the first period, though the Canes only allowed three shots and scored the only goal. The second period was much more dominant. The power play scored for the second time in the series early in the frame, and even after the Rangers scored, the big guns got the two-goal lead back shortly after. The Aho line had an amazing series overall. All three guys produced at a high level, carrying much of the offense. Tonight, I thought the Drury was the team's best line. Martin Necas and Jordan Martinook connected on the team's first goal. Martinook and Jack Drury each hit the iron. It felt like Necas was all over the ice early in the game. It was a good showcase for them to finish the series.

To conclude the night and the season, I have an urgent plea for the Caniacs who might stumble across this. First, hello and welcome. Second, don't do anything crazy or overreact to what you've just witnessed. The first 24 hours are going to be the toughest, but the sting of this loss is going to leave eventually. At the end of the day, it's just a game and only one team is going to earn the honor of lifting Lord Stanley's Cup. Many will claim that the Hurricanes' window has closed, but I genuinely don't agree. Sure, the team has a lot that needs to be figured out this offseason, with several big names set to hit the market. Despite some people's sentiments toward the front office, I've liked what I've seen from them over the last few months, so I think we're in for a very interesting offseason. I know we all want to see the Hurricanes climb to the top of the mountain, but clearly, this wasn't their year. No matter what happens what happens this offseason, I'll be right back here in October, ready to begin another journey to capture the franchise's second Stanley Cup. 

My Three Stars of the Game

3rd Star- Andrei Svechnikov- 2 assist

While he didn't find the back of the net much this postseason, Svechnikov's playmaking abilities were on full display. He finished second on the team with six points during this series, capped off by a two-assist night tonight. Svechnikov did have a golden opportunity to tie the game in the final minutes, but Shesterkin's blocker fended off his shot.

2nd Star- Sebastian Aho- 1 goal, 1 assist

If I'm being completely honest, I didn't think the Aho line had a great night, though they were great in the series overall. Despite that, Aho still managed to find the scoresheet twice tonight. His nine points were better than any player in the series, recording points in five of the six games. His goal in the second period looked to be a dagger, but we know how that ended. 

1st Star- Jordan Martinook- 1 assist, 1 defensive play of the year

As I said earlier, the Drury line was the Canes' best tonight. Martinook was at the forefront of the effort. He got it going late in the first period by making a great pass from below the goal line to set up Necas for the opening goal. The moment that went viral tonight was his goal-line save on Lindgren in the second period. If he were a split second later to that puck, the Rangers would've been back in the game a lot sooner.

Next Game- Sometime in October, I guess (yes, they'll play games before then, but the ones that count begin in October).