Entering Thursday's Game 5 in Raleigh, the Carolina Hurricanes were undefeated at home. On the flip side, they remain winless on the road. Carrying all of the momentum into a possible swing game in the series, the Rangers looked to change that narrative and head back home with a series lead.
Early in the game, Carolina carried most of the momentum outshooting New York 11-5 in the first period. Ironically, both goals in the first came via Hurricanes' penalties.
Following an Andrei Svechnikov penalty, Vincent Trochek notched a shorthanded goal for the home team on a beautiful rainbow sauce pass from Jordan Staal. The two-on-one rush materialized on a zone entry turnover from Jacob Trouba.
-
Defenseman Ian Cole took light cross-checking penalty on Jacob Trouba, giving the Rangers another powerplay. The Canes bench and home crowd were quite displease about the call on the ice.
-
On the ensuing man advantage, Mika Zibanejad sent a one-timer past Antti Raanta.
-
Ryan Strome appeared to have put the Blueshirts up 2-1 in the second period, before Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour challenged for offside. The goal was overturned and the game remained even at one a piece.
-
Igor Shesterkin did not wait long to make his presence felt in the game. The Vezina finalist robbed Jordan Martinook with a flashy glove save on a deflection.
-
Following the Rangers' first penalty of the game (hooking - Frank Vatrano), Teuvo Teravainen scored on the man advantage, putting the Canes up 2-1.
-
On the defensive end, Canes' rookie Seth Jarvis reminded everyone of the sacrifice that playoff hockey sometimes requires. He took a follow through stick to the face, and left the game bleeding from his mouth (he returned minutes later).
-
Late in the third period, Svechnikov added an insurance goal for the Caniacs on a breakaway, tucking it five hole on Shesterkin.
-
The Hurricanes streak of home wins continues with seven. Perhaps we are just destined to have a seven-game series with their inability to win a road game this year. The Canes have never lost a best-of-7 series after leading 3-2. Game 6 will be at Madison Square Garden Saturday night. The Rangers hope to bounce back and even the series once again. Can they force a decisive Game 7?
