Rangers push Hurricanes to the brink of elimination with Game 3 overtime win in Raleigh

The Carolina Hurricanes’ season has come down to one game, taken to the brink by the New York Rangers.

The Rangers, who have not lost in the Stanley Cup playoffs, made it three straight over the Hurricanes in the second-round series with a 3-2 overtime victory Thursday at PNC Arena.

Artemi Panarin’s goal at 1:43 of overtime was the winner. After a turnover in the Carolina zone by Dmitry Orlov, Panarin took a pass from Vincent Trocheck and tipped the puck between his legs and past goalie Pyotr Kochetkov.

The Canes pulled Kochetkov, who made his first start of the playoffs, for a sixth attacker with 2:25 left in regulation and Andrei Svechnikov scored with 1:36 left in regulation for a 2-2 tie.

Kochetkov then saved the Canes, pokechecking the puck away from Rangers forward Chris Kreider on a breakaway with 30 seconds left to send the game to overtime.

Alexis Lafreniere’s goal with 13:35 left in regulation gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. It came on a set play on a rush into the Carolina zone. Trocheck made a pass off the wall to Panarin, who found LaFreniere open in the slot for the shot.

Jake Guentzel scored in the first period for Carolina, redirecting a shot by Orlov past goalie Igor Shesterkin. But Kreider’s shorthanded goal in the second period made it 1-1 after two as the Rangers continued to dominate special teams play in the series.

The Canes made a goaltender change for Game 3, giving Kochetkov his first start of the playoffs. The Rangers were buoyed by the return of forward Filip Chytil, who had been sidelined with concussion issues.

The Canes lost Game 2 in double overtime Tuesday to fall behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Now it’s 0-3.

Through two periods: 1-1

Chris Kreider’s shorthanded goal in the second period has pulled the Rangers into a 1-1 tie with the Canes after the second period of Game 3.

Kreider took a pass from Mika Zibanejad and won a footrace against defenseman Brent Burns to score at 8:30 of the second period. Moments later, it took another save by goalie Pyotr Kochetkov on Vincent Trocheck’s shorthanded breakaway to keep it 1-1.

The Rangers’ shorthanded flurry came after defenseman Adam Fox was called for a tripping penalty against Jake Guentzel, who scored the Canes’ goal in the first period.

Kreider later had another shorthanded attempt hit the post after a Tony DeAngelo turnover as the Canes’ power-play struggles continued -- they’re 0-for-14 at this point in the series.

The Canes had a 37-19 shooting edge through two periods although only an 11-9 edge in scoring chances.

First period: Guentzel, Svechnikov shine

Guentzel’s third goal in the past two games has given the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead over the Rangers in the first period of Game 3 Thursday at PNC Arena.

After a heavy shift in the Rangers zone, with winger Andrei Svechnikov making three body checks, Guentzel redirected a Dmitry Orlov shot past Igor Shesterkin. Orlov and Svechnikov earned the assists on the goal at 10:14.

Things turned chippy soon after the Canes goal. On one sequence, the Rangers’ Barclay Goodrow got too close to goalie Pyotr Kochetkov and a melee broke out. The Rangers’ Jimmy Vesey hit Martin Necas and Jesperi Kotkaniemi went after Vesey.

Goodrow continued to chase Necas in front of the Carolina bench before order was restored.

Canes forward Jordan Martinook was hit by a puck near the ear during the period and taken to the locker room.

The Canes outshot the Rangers 17-8 in the period and killed off the only Rangers power play. Svechnikov was credited with five hits in the period and was the most active player on the ice.

Kochetkov gets the start

Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Thursday Kochetkov would replace Frederik Andersen as the starting goalie. Andersen has started all seven games in the playoffs — the first five in a series win over the New York Islanders.

Brind’Amour also said veteran center Evgeny Kuznetsov, a healthy scratch in Game 2, would be back in the lineup Thursday. Kuznetsov was replaced by forward Max Comtois in Game 2, which the Canes lost 4-3 in double overtime in New York.

Kochetkov, 24, has not played since April 14, in the Canes’ next-to-last game of the regular season.

Andersen missed 49 games during the season with a blood clotting issue. Since his return, he has given the Canes a string of quality starts and solid play, but the playoffs presented a different challenge for the 34-year-old goalie.

“I think Freddie has played really well but he’s also played a lot,” Brind’Amour said. “I think giving him a little rest is the best thing.”

Brind’Amour noted there is a difference in the two goalies, both in technique and their demeanor on the ice.

“Freddie is really calm and cool and ‘Kooch’ is more passionate and wears his emotions on his sleeve,” he said. “They’re both pretty good goalies.”

Kochetkov was 23-13-4 in the regular season with a 2.33 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. He has appeared in five playoff games — four in 2022 — but has one start, a year ago.

Practice or no practice?

The Hurricanes, after the double-overtime game Tuesday, did not have a team practice Wednesday or hold a morning skate Thursday at PNC Arena before Game 3.

“Tough game the other night, a little more rest,” Brind’Amour said of the decision. “I mean, the morning skate, I don’t know what you get out of it. We had our meetings and (discussed) where we can get a little better.”

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, asked about balancing rest and practice, said, “In managing the players’ energy level, coaches do it different ways. … I do think it’s important the players have the energy that they need.

“A double-overtime game, you don’t necessarily know that’s going to happen, and you have to deal with it at the time and try to recover from that.”

Keeping it simple

Sometimes, simpler is better.

Listening to Canes forward Jordan Martinook on Thursday, it sounds as if everyone is taking a simple approach to Game 3.

Down 0-2 in the best-of-seven series?

“They did their job. They won their two at home. Now it’s our turn to do ours and it starts with tonight. You win your two at home and then it goes to best-of-three.

“It’s not like they completely outplayed us in the two games. They did their job at home. Now, it’s our job to respond.”

What needs to change for the Canes?

“We’re down two, so you need to push as hard as you can. I don’t think any of us are going to change the way we’re playing.

“We need to find maybe that little bit more. We’re up for it.”