First Period:
Second Period:
- K’Andre Miller (7) Assists: Frank Vatrano (13), Mika Zibanejad (48)
- Andrei Svechnikov (29) Assists: Sebastian Aho (40), Seth Jarvis (19)
Third Period:
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- Seth Jarvis (14) Assists: Brady Skjei (23), Sebastian Aho (41)
- Chris Kreider (50) Assists: Adam Fox (58), Andrew Copp (30)
Stats:
- The Hurricanes got a lot better as the game went on and the last part of the second period and then almost all of the third looked like the previous two games against Carolina. The Rangers had a really good first period and the second period was pretty even, but in the third Carolina just took over. Whether it was their style of play, experience, or whatever, the Rangers couldn’t really match up in the third.
- The Rangers had their chances in this game, especially with two power plays in the first, but they only got the one goal, from K’Andre Miller, before their push with the empty net and Chris Kreider netting his 50th. Freddy Andersen had a strong game and had to make some big saves, but the Rangers didn’t get a ton of chances after the middle of the second period.
- A win and a tie for first place would have been great, but I don’t think this loss is that bad of a thing for the Rangers. This was basically a playoff game, and a possible second-round match-up, and the Rangers need to play from behind, they need to battle back and learn how to play in those situations and against teams like this because they are going to be faced with that when the playoffs start.
- It’s sort of interesting that Chris Kreider nets his 50th in the same year when the Rangers end a playoff drought because Jaromir Jagr did the same in 2005-06. That team was swept in the first round, but in the other two seasons where Rangers had players score 50, Adam Graves in 1994 and Vic Hadfield in 1971-72, they went to the Stanley Cup final.
- Kreider has had a phenomenal season and he has a very good chance at tying and possibly breaking Jaromir Jagr’s record of 54.
- Frank Vatrano had a really strong game and so did K’Andre Miller. In Miller’s case that is something that doesn’t really have to be mentioned anymore, it’s just sort of expected.
- First place isn’t out of the reach, especially if the Rangers can keep it close and then beat the Hurricanes in their final meeting of the season, but second place seems like where the Ranger will end up. The Penguins have battled back against the Islanders, but the Caps are right there and have two games in hand. So much focus has been on a Rangers/Pens match-up, but it’s certainly not out of the question that Tom Wilson shows up as a first-round opponent.
- The Rangers head to Philly tomorrow, have a couple of days off, and then a Saturday afternoon game against Detroit.