Canes top Rangers in OT to take Game 1
Canes #Canes
The Carolina Hurricanes were on the brink of losing at home on Wednesday night in Game 1 of their second-round matchup with the New York Rangers.
Sebastian Aho wouldn’t let them. Ian Cole finished them off in overtime.
Aho’s goal with 2:23 left in the third period tied the game and Cole’s overtime goal won it 2-1 for the Canes.
It was a night of firsts for the Canes. First overtime game of the playoffs and first time they have trailed at home. Carolina won all four games on its home ice in the opening round in defeating Boston in seven games.
Cole scored just 3:12 into the extra period to give the Canes the Game 1 win.
It looked bleak for much of Wednesday night at PNC Arena. Filip Chytil scored at 7:07 in the first period and it was nearly all the Rangers needed to take Game 1 until Aho popped a rebound by New York goalie Igor Shersterkin.
Goalie Antti Raanta made sure the Canes stayed in the game. He made 27 saves, at least two of the spectacular variety, in regulation.
Alexis Lafreniere turned a Tony DeAngelo giveaway in the neutral zone into New York’s first goal. Lafreniere set up Chytil for the one-time goal and the early lead.
Raanta robbed Chytil with 5:18 left in the period with an incredible kick save to keep the score at 1-0. The Canes goalie stopped point-blank offerings from Ryan Reaves in the final minute to top his outstanding first period.
Shesterkin led the NHL in goals against average and save percentage during the regular season but got roughed up for a combined 14 goals in Game 3 and 4 losses to Pittsburgh.
Shesterkin was good on Wednesday but the Canes were not as crisp as they normally are and have been on home ice.
The Canes, coming off of a 3-2 win over Boston in Game 7 of the first-round series on Saturday, were a half-step slow and slightly off with their passing in the first period.
The Canes’ passes, especially early, were sloppy. DeAngelo tried to pass back to Jaccob Slavin in the neutral zone when Lafreniere stepped in front of it and then set up Chytil for the goal.