The New York Rangers knew they needed to start their game better if they were going to stay alive in the playoffs. Although their effort was much better, the Blueshirts fell to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 and were eliminated from the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.
New York has been slow to start in both games in Toronto, producing only seven shots on goal in the first period of Game 2 (and seven shots in the final period).
Head coach David Quinn knew that his team had to step up their effort. “You’ve got to outskate people. You’ve got to outhit them,” Quinn said. “We’re not doing those things enough.”
That effort showed when the Rangers were the first score as Chris Kreider put a shot past James Reimer with just twelve seconds gone in the second period, which also was the fastest goal from the start of any playoff period in franchise history.
However, that was the only goal the Rangers would get as Carolina scored the next four goals. Sebastian Aho scored twice in the third period while James Reimer was strong in net to help the Hurricanes to the victory. Warren Foegele scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period for the Hurricanes and Teuvo Teravainen also scored for Carolina.
Igor Shesterkin made his first playoff start and finished with 27 saves in his postseason debut after being unavailable in the series’ first two games.
A dejected Mika Zibanejad said after the game that “We didn’t really play as a five-man unit out there and ultimately they deserved to win the series.”
Kreider took responsibility for a lot of the teams issues. In the post-game media availability, he said that “We thought the playoffs were bloodsport, running around out there and hitting instead of playing the puck possession style that we play, and a big part of that is on me.”
With the loss, the Blueshirts are the first team eliminated from the NHL’s expanded playoff rounds but are also in the running to claim the No. 1 overall draft pick in Monday’s second draft lottery. One of the eight eliminated playoff teams will claim the chance to select Quebec junior Alexis Lafreniere, who is the projected top pick.