The good news for the Carolina Hurricanes: no more of that home/road talk. The bad news: it’s because the Rangers just eliminated them from the playoffs, in Carolina, beating the Hurricanes 6-2 in Game 7.
With that result, the Rangers face a well-rested Tampa Bay Lightning team in the 2022 Eastern Conference Final. Game 1 (8 p.m. ET) will take place at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
Over their previous seven home playoff games, Carolina gave up just eight goals. In Game 7 against the Rangers, the Hurricanes yielded six. (Take out the empty-netter, and it remains stunning.)
Igor Shesterkin didn’t get a shutout, yet he was a huge difference-maker early on, never really letting the Canes in this one.
Rangers add to Game 7 history, the wrong patterns break for Hurricanes
The Rangers handed the Hurricanes their first Game 7 loss since moving to North Carolina. Previously, the Hurricanes won their last six Game 7s; the Rangers have now won eight of their last nine Game 7s.
Many of the wrong type of patterns ended for the Canes.
They were the first team in NHL postseason history to begin the playoffs with the home team winning the first 13 playoff games. At the most inopportune time, that run ended.
Speaking of patterns not breaking the Hurricanes’ way in Game 7, the Rangers continue to be a devil to eliminate. New York rallied from a 3-1 series deficit against the Penguins in the First Round, and were down 3-2 to Carolina in this series.
Rangers get off to a hot start against Hurricanes in Game 7
Sometimes, you’re lucky to get a power play or two for an entire Game 7. You know, when officials “let them play” (*whispers* let them cheat).
Game 7 of Hurricanes - Rangers did not begin that way. Both teams received two power-play opportunities, and each enjoyed very different results.
Continuing talk of patterns maintaining mainly when it was bad for the Hurricanes, Adam Fox scored in the dying stages of an early power play, making it five straight games where the Rangers scored a first-period PPG.
Adam Fox (@foxyclean) strikes first in #Game7! #StanleyCup
— NHL (@NHL) May 31, 2022
🇺🇸: @espn ➡️ https://t.co/OLGxAS72rg
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/tHFScCeOKX pic.twitter.com/bJMRqgssP0
It wouldn’t be the only Rangers power-play goal from the opening frame.
In a key sequence, Seth Jarvis ended up injured by a hard Jacob Trouba hit. He would not be able to return. Jarvis struggled to get off the ice, and the Hurricanes ended up taking a too many men on the ice penalty. Trouba wasn’t penalized, so the Rangers went on another power play.
They did not take log to cash in, as Chris Kreider deftly deflected a great Mika Zibanejad shot-pass.
Chris Kreider's power play goal adds to the Rangers' lead. 2-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/rF89acixYE
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 31, 2022
Things never really got better for Carolina in second or third
Once the smoke cleared on the second period, the Rangers were the only team who scored.
To make matters even worse, the Rangers scored that goal ... one of the two shots Pyotr Kochetkov faced. That’s right, the Hurricanes’ goalie injuries continued, as Antti Raanta left Game 7 late in the second. Raanta would not return.
Antti Raanta's down and hurting. Talk about awful injury luck. pic.twitter.com/R450Od4ptH
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 31, 2022
It’s fair to note that the Rangers faced the Penguins, who were eventually without both Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith. One round later, Frederik Andersen never played, and Raanta’s dealt with some issues.
(Tip to Lightning: encase Andrei Vasilevskiy in bubble wrap.)
A few minutes into the third period of Game 7, the Hurricanes couldn’t really get much of a rally going. ESPN’s telecast noted that Carolina only rallied from one 3+ goal deficit during the regular season.
As Carolina was pressing, Frank Vatrano broke out Chris Kreider for a splendid 4-0 breakaway goal.
Chris Kreider turns on the speed, nets his second goal of the game. That's his eighth of the postseason, 15th when facing elimination. 4-0, #NYR pic.twitter.com/JnLlJsah0C
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) May 31, 2022
From the “too little, too late” file, the Hurricanes scored a power-play goal 8:11 through the third. To really hammer home how faint that push was, Filip Chytil made it 5-1 just 40 seconds later.
In the late stages, Max Domi scored a garbage goal, and Andrew Copp made it 6-2 to wrap everything up.
An overview of the Rangers - Hurricanes series as it reaches Game 7
- In Game 1, Ian Cole lifted Carolina in overtime. [Score: Hurricanes 2, Rangers 1 (OT)]
- The Hurricanes’ defense really showed in Game 2, as the Rangers couldn’t manage a goal. [Score: Hurricanes 2, Rangers 0]
- Did you hear that the Hurricanes keep winning at home, but losing on the road? Those away troubles continued in Game 3. Gerard Gallant ended up unhappy with some late-game antics. [Score: Rangers 3, Hurricanes 1]
- Part of the story was the Rangers tying the series 2-2. Another big Jacob Trouba hit was also part of the focus of Game 4. [Score: Rangers 4, Hurricanes 1]
- A lot of patterns continued in Game 5, including the Hurricanes winning at home. They did, however, finally connect on the power play, and found the net for a power-play goal. [Score: Hurricanes 3, Rangers 1]
- In Game 6, Igor Shesterkin looked like the sort of goalie who could threaten for the Hart Trophy, not just the Vezina. Mika Zibanejad, Filip Chytil, and other Rangers made up the rest of the difference.
- Naturally, that all took us to Game 7 of the Hurricanes - Rangers series, pitting two teams who’ve been incredibly successful in similar situations.
2022 NHL playoff schedule: Eastern Conference Final
NEW YORK RANGERS v. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Game 1 - June 1: Lightning at Rangers, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Game 2 - June 3: Lightning at Rangers, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Game 3 - June 5: Rangers at Lightning, 3 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
Game 4 - June 7: Rangers at Lightning, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
*Game 5 - June 9: Lightning at Rangers, 8 p.m. ET, (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
*Game 6 - June 11: Rangers at Lightning, 8 p.m. ET, (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
*Game 7 - June 14: Lightning at Rangers, 8 p.m. ET, (ESPN, SN, CBC, TVAS)
* If necessary
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James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.