The New York Rangers took a commanding 3-0 series lead against the Carolina Hurricanes with a 3-2 overtime win, thanks to exceptional goaltending by Igor Shesterkin and dominant special teams, maintaining their perfect playoff record at 7-0.
Oh man, the New York Rangers pulled it off again on Thursday night. They edged out the Carolina Hurricanes in a nail-biter, winning 3-2 in overtime. This makes it their second straight win in such fashion. Now, they’re sitting pretty with a 3-0 series lead. And get this—they’re still unbeaten in the playoffs, boasting a perfect 7-0 record through the first two rounds.
Artemi Panarin was the hero of the hour, netting the game-winner just two minutes into overtime. Let’s dive into why the Rangers are on such a hot streak.
First up, Igor Shesterkin. This guy is a wall. Night after night, he’s the standout player on the ice. Goaltending is crucial in the playoffs, and Shesterkin? He’s in a league of his own right now. Thursday’s game marked his 30th consecutive playoff appearance where he’s let in three goals or fewer. Against the Hurricanes, he was a fortress, stopping 45 of 47 shots. That performance has bumped his postseason save percentage to .934. To put that in perspective, the NHL’s average save percentage over the last two seasons hovered around .905. Shesterkin isn’t just the best goalie in the league at the moment; he’s changing the game.
Now, let’s talk about the Rangers’ special teams. They might not always shine during regular five-on-five play. In fact, they’ve been outscored at even-strength this series. But their special teams? Absolutely dominant. They’ve turned the tide of the series with their performance.
In just the first three games, the Rangers have already bagged four power-play goals. Plus, they threw in a short-handed goal on Thursday night to tie the game in the second period. Talk about clutch.
