One game after the Carolina Hurricanes’ Max Domi slashed Ryan Lindgren at the end of Game 3, the New York Rangers went toe-to-toe with the Canes in Game 4 on Tuesday night.
The result was much the same as the previous game with the Rangers skating off with a 4-1 win to tie the series, 2-2.
“Really you look at the four games,” Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said. “It’s not just the two at home but the four games have been pretty much one-goal games most of the way through. We are two teams that are close and battling. I just think it’s been outstanding hockey by both teams.”
Game 5 is in Raleigh on Thursday night.
Frank Vatrano and Adam Fox scored in the first period to give New York a 2-0 lead.
Igor Shesterkin made 30 saves in the Blueshirts win.
Vatrano scored off the power play.
The Hurricanes tried to egg the Rangers into a penalty exchange most of the night.
“You’ve got to keep getting the chances,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “I’m happy that we’re at least creating some offense. I mean, [Shesterkin] played well, you’ve got to give him tons of credit, but to me the start is what did it to us.”
New York’s Jacob Trouba ended in a fight with Carolina’s Steven Lorentz. The end result of was a fighting major to Trouba, and gaggle minutes to Lorentz including a 10-minute misconduct and a minor for instigating the fight.
Mika Zibanejad scored in the middle frame to extend the Rangers lead to 3-0.
“When you’re up 3-0, the other team is going to push a little, create chances, and they did that and we got the saves when we needed it,” Fox said. “But overall it seemed like every line was able to create chances, was able to give the team a spark if we needed it. I definitely say it was one of the more complete efforts we’ve had.”
In the third period, New York was guilty of spectating the game, it cost them.
“Just can’t take a penalty there,” Brind’Amour said. “We gave them the power play there and that got them going right away. We kind of did it to ourselves a little bit in the first. We got kind of playing again, but by then it’s too late. Give them two, it’s tough to come back.”
Carolina’s Teuvo Teravainen scored early in the final stanza to cut the Rangers advantage to 3-1.
“These [are] good teams at this time of the year, that’s what they have,” Brind’Amour said. “And then the power play [goal]. … So we’ve just got to find a way to fight through it, not take the unnecessary penalties. After the first, we played OK, but it’s too late because you spotted them a couple and then you’re just chasing the game.”
After a blistering admonishment from Gallant, the Rangers recovered and Andrew Copp scored just past the midway point of the period for the 4-1 final.
“I think we’ve played a pretty good series so far,” Copp said. “Just trying to build on some of this momentum we’ve created in these last two games. Guys are feeling a little bit better about themselves and we’ve got to ride this momentum into Carolina [for Game 5].”
The Rangers were 1-for-4 on the power play, Carolina was scoreless n three chances.
“I think they pushed hard and we were maybe a little bit on our toes in the third but getting that fourth goal to kind of alleviate a little bit of that pressure was huge for us,” Copp said. “But I think the never die mentality has been in this team from Day One. And I’ve kind of felt that from walking in a couple of months ago. I feel like the new guys have kind of fit right in with that mentality.”
Antti Raanta made 24 saves in the Carolina loss.
“We obviously wanted to come here and win some games,” Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal said. “Disappointing effort obviously, especially today but we’ll have to regroup tomorrow, figure out what we’re doing wrong and have a better effort and go win one at home.”
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