In Raleigh, the New York Rangers took the back half of a home-and-home series with the Hurricanes on Thursday night.
Despite being outshot for the game, 30-16, the Rangers played a better game than the 3-2 loss on Tuesday night on Broadway.
Adam Fox scored at :01 of the third period to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.
It was Fox’s first goal in 25 games.
Fox and cheated in from the right point and Artemi Panarin hit with a pass for a wrist shot from inside the right circle.
“I found [Panarin] and I was able to be up there as the fourth guy,” Fox said. “He found me, and I was able to put it in.”
Igor Shesterkin, who seems to have regained his form, made 29 saves in the New York win.
“‘Shesky’ kept us in that hockey game,” New York coach Gerard Gallant said. “We found a way to battle back and get into it. For two periods, I didn’t like the way we played.”
The Rangers improved to 42-20-10, and put a little more distance between themselves in the third spot in the Metro Division and the chase crews behind in the wild card in the Eastern Conference.
The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a strike by Sebastian Aho, after the Canes had killed off a 5-on-3 power play of the Ranges.
“That was a big kill at the time,” Aho said. “Freddie in the pipes made some huge saves there. We took that momentum to 5-on-5, and we were better the rest of that first period.”
Carolina dropped to 46-16-8, but clinched a playoff spot when the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Florida Panthers, 6-2, on Thursday.
“Their goalie made some real big saves,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “So, tip your hat. Obviously, we know that’s how that team goes. Great, talented team, and they’ve got a good goalie.”
Panarin scored in the second period on a pass from Mika Zibanejad for the tying goal.
New York is six points back of the first place Hurricanes.
“I don’t think everything works yet, but we’re trying to find a way to score in every game and don’t give up goals,” the Rangers Vladimir Tarasenko said. “I think we’re making progress, but I don’t think it’s the best we can do.”
Frederik Andersen made 14 saves in the Canes loss.
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