First Period:
- Martin Necas (4) Assists: Jordan Martinook (2), Dmitry Orlov (4)
Second Period:
- Seth Jarvis (5) (Power Play) Assists: Sebastian Aho (8), Andrei Svechnikov (8)
- Vincent Trocheck (6) Assists: Artemi Panarin (6)
- Sebastian Aho (4) Assists: Andrei Svechnikov (9), Jaccob Slavin (2)
Third Period:
- Chris Kreider (5) Assists: Mika Zibanejad (11), Jack Roslovic (4)
- Chris Kreider (6) (Power Play) Assists: Artemi Panarin (7), Vincent Trocheck (8)
- Chris Kreider (7) Assists: Ryan Lindgren (1), Jack Roslovic (5)
- Barclay Goodrow (3) (Empty Net) Assists: K’Andre Miller (2)
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- Wow. I mean. Wow. It seemed like it was over after two periods and we were heading to Game 7 on Saturday. The Rangers were out of sync, Carolina was very much in-sync, Carolina got that amazing stop at the goal line and it just seemed like we were heading to Game 7.
- Even when they cut it to 3-2 it seemed like we’d be taking the positive out of this game that they finally started to generate offense in the third period and they could take that into Game 7.
- But then the PP came through again and you could feel things starting to shift. All the sudden the Rangers were the team with confidence, the Rangers were the ones taking it to Carolina and then Chris Kreider scored again and an Igor Shesterkin save or two and a Barclay Goodrow empty netter sent the Rangers to the Conference Finals.
- What a third period from Chris Kreider. He took another brutal penalty to offset the Rangers early PP, but he led the charge in the third period. He stuffed in the second goal, deflected Artemi Panarin’s shot to tie it, and then buried Ryan Lindgren’s pass to win it. Someone had to take charge and he did it. He’s the longest-tenured Ranger, the last remaining player from the 2014 Stanley Cup and he came through in the biggest moment. A legendary performance no matter how far the Rangers get, but possibly one that sees him as the last #20 in Rangers history if they continue to play on.
- Igor Shesterkin didn’t look super comfortable for a lot of the game. He was still pretty good, but he didn’t look as sure as he normally does. But he made a few saves in the third period to keep the score where it was and then eventually led them to the win.
- It’s just a truly shocking, amazing 15 minutes or so from the Rangers. They were better than they were in Game 5, but it just felt like another Carolina night. They were getting the bounces early, they saved a goal on that ridiculous play and they were stifling the Rangers. But then the bounces started tilting toward the Rangers. Carolina hit a few posts, Freddy Andersen let in that second goal and while they should have gotten a PP off a delay of game from Brady Skjei, they got one when Jordan Staal hit Mika Zibanejad. I’m not sure it was a cross-check like they called it, but it sure seemed like a penalty and the Rangers took advantage to tie it and then win it.
- And so while beating Carolina feels, and is, a huge triumph…the Rangers are only halfway to the Stanley Cup. They await the winner of Florida and Boston and my guess is that we will see the Rangers and Panthers in the Conference Finals. It only gets tougher, but it sure feels like the Rangers have something going. If the PP can continue to produce, Shesterkin stays hot and Adam Fox gets a few days to rest, then there is no reason why this run can’t continue.