Shesterkin Saves 54 Shots as Rangers Top Hurricanes in Game Two with Trocheck’s Double OT Winner
On Tuesday night, the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes resumed their second-round series at MSG. After going two-for-two on the power play and five-for-five on the penalty kill in their 4-3 win in Game One, the Rangers looked to maintain their outstanding special teams play moving into Game Two. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, wanted to avoid losing the first two games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and return home with a split. With a combined total of 96 shots on goal, both teams would keep the opposing goaltenders busy in Game Two. Ultimately, the Rangers would win 4-3 to take the series' opening two games thanks to a 54-save performance from Igor Shesterkin and a double-overtime winner from Vincent Trocheck.
The Hurricanes would get off to a strong start in the game's first ten minutes, outshooting the Rangers 8-6. However, the Rangers would be the first to score at 10:53, as K'Andre Miller's shot from the top of the blue line deflected off goalie Frederik Andersen's pads. Alexis Lafreniere was there to score his first goal of the playoffs, burying the puck over Andersen's right shoulder on the rebound shot and into the net to give New York a 1-0 lead. The Hurricanes would tie the game at one with 4:53 remaining in the first period when Sebastian Aho's shot from the top of the crease rebounded off Jake Guentzel's stick and into the goal, beating Shesterkin. With five seconds remaining in a late-period four-on-four, Brady Skjei's shot from the top of the zone deflected off Dmitry Orlov's stick and beat Shesterkin's left side for Carolina's second deflected goal of the game, giving the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead going into the second period.
At 7:32 in the second period, Lafreniere scored his second goal of the contest to even the score at two goals apiece. Lafreniere did this by tipping in an Adam Fox shot near the front of the net that deflected off Andersen's right skate and into the goal. With 1:42 remaining in the second frame, Guentzel scored his second goal of the game, giving the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead. Aho had passed the puck to him along the boards at the bottom of the zone, and Guentzel one-timed it under Shesterkin's left pad and into the net. The Rangers would go on their fourth power play of the game in the third period after Orlov was given a tripping penalty. With 13:53 left in regulation, Trocheck shot the puck close to the right side of the net; Andersen tried to cover the loose puck but was unable to find it, allowing Chris Kreider to shoot it into the open net, tying the game at 3-3 just 45 seconds into the man-advantage.
After Skjei was penalized for tripping with 1:38 remaining in regulation, the Rangers would go on their sixth power play of the game, but the score would remain tied at three, sending the game into overtime. After 20 minutes of extra hockey, the score remained knotted at three. Carolina had taken 51 shots overall in the game as they advanced to a second overtime session, while both teams had combined for 16 shots on goal during that time. After Skjei was given a cross-checking penalty in the second overtime, the Rangers would go on the power play for the eighth time at about the seven-minute mark. At 7:22, just 47 seconds into the power play, Trocheck corralled a rebound shot from Mika Zibanejad and beat Andersen five-hole as the puck squeaked between his pads and into the net for the double-overtime winner. The Rangers lead the series 2-0 as they head to Carolina for Games Three and Four.
