The number to keep in mind is 3:06 in elapsed time.
That’s how much clock time the New York Rangers held a lead in three games.
They didn’t win a period, they won 3:06 in time.
“We came back through training camp trying to climb back to that feeling we had before the break,” Rangers Mika Zibanejad said. “We worked hard, tried to prepare ourselves as best we could, and honestly it just [stinks] that it’s done. Just an empty feeling right now. I don’t have that many words to put together.”
On Tuesday night, Chris Kreider potted a goal 12 seconds into the middle frame for a 1-0 lead.
“First time in the three games that we started playing hockey,” Kreider said. “We actually looked like the Rangers in the first period.”
James Reimer got the start for the Canes and made 38 saves for the series-clinching win.
“I’ve just been preparing for four months,” Reimer said. “It’s been a long grind. Obviously, this virus isn’t what anybody wanted. Just worked hard, tried to take care of myself and prepare. It was a fun game. We probably didn’t play the way we wanted to at the start, but obviously they came hard as we expected, with their backs against the wall. As a goalie, just trying to hold the fort as long as you can, and the boys battled. We really came alive in the third.”
Teuvo Teravainen ended the Rangers’ lead time when he tied the game in the middle frame at 3:18.
“It’s a special group we have,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We need everyone, and they understand that, and everyone’s contributing right now. And that’s why we’re still playing.”
The Carolina Hurricanes responded with four goals and dispatched the Rangers in three games from the qualifying round.
“Our goalie kept us in this game,” Brind’Amour said. “‘Reims’ was phenomenal. Eventually we got into the fight, eventually we got into our game. But if it wasn’t for Reims, obviously, the game would have been over.”
Sebastian Aho scored the final two goals (one empty net) of the game to drive the point home
Warren Foegele put the Canes up 2-1 at 5:07 of the third period.
[WATCH: All Hurricanes vs. Rangers highlights]
Igor Shesterkin got the start for the Rangers and made 27 saves in the loss.
“This hurts,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “We’re all disappointed with how we played. We come up here and basically we played two good periods out of nine. It’s certainly isn’t anything we envisioned happening and certainly isn’t anything that we’re proud of.”
If there are not repercussions for this series performance then there is something seriously wrong with the leadership of the franchise.
“It just was a laundry list of mistakes,” Quinn said. “We don’t get it out. We’re running around in our own end. We don’t box out. [Staal] loses his stick, we don’t give him a stick. Just mistake after mistake, and it’s 1-1. We weren’t able to ride any momentum after getting our lead.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.