The Anatomy of a Series: The Hurricanes Return in the Bubble by Sweeping New York
After a few months on the couch, the league returned to action in the playoff bubble, with the Canes making quick work of the Rangers in Toronto.
Game 1: Playoff Hockey in August?
With the warm-up games in the books, it was time for the real thing. With Game 1 taking place on August 1, the Hurricanes and Rangers became the first two teams to play an NHL game in August. Despite a slightly underwhelming performance during the regular season, Petr Mrazek earned the nod for the Canes. He'd just returned to the ice in what turned out to be the regular-season finale in March after leaving the David Ayres Game in the second period.
The decision in the net for the Rangers was a source of contention, with Igor Shesterkin expected to get the start over Henrik Lundqvist. Shestkerin, who only had 12 games of experience at this point, played in the Rangers' exhibition game but was listed as unavailable for Game 1. In his place, the Rangers still had a phenomenal goalie. Lundqvist's Hall of Fame career included countless unbelievable games against the Canes. During the 2019-20 season, Lundqvist had two 40+-save performances in wins over Carolina.
Almost immediately, the first impact moment of the series took place. Brady Skjei, who the Canes had acquired from the Rangers at the trade deadline in February, laid a massive open-ice hit on former teammate Jesper Fast. The hit knocked Fast out of the series while sending a message to the Rangers that the regular season doesn't matter once the playoffs begin.
The first August goal in league history came from the last person most would've expected. Just 61 seconds into the contest, Teuvo Teravainen found Jaccob Slavin sneaking down from the point, allowing the defenseman to snap one short-side on Lundqvist to take an immediate lead. It was Slavin's first career playoff goal after recording 11 points the year before in the postseason, all assists.
The lead would extend early in the second period after Andrei Svechnikov's slap pass found Sebastian Aho at the top of the crease for the redirection on the power play. The Rangers would get a redirection goal of their own late in the frame from Mika Zibanejad. A lucky bounce in the third period would help the Canes reclaim their two-goal lead. Martin Necas' one-timer was going well wide of the net, but the helpful skate of Marc Staal helped to change its course for the back of the net. Staal would get it back with a short-handed marker late in the game, but it was too late for the Rangers. The Canes took Game 1 3-2, becoming the first team to win an NHL game in August.
Game 2: Hats Off, Mr. Svechnikov
After strong performances from both netminders in Game 1, Petr Mrazek (24 saves) and Henrik Lundqvist (34 saves) were back between the pipes for the second game. Much like Game 1, the Canes found the early advantage, in a nearly identical fashion. Andrei Svechnikov found some daylight on the short side of Lundqvist to beat the Swedish goalie. The Rangers would get it back before the end of the period, as Artemi Panarin scored during a 5-on-3 to send the game into the second period tied.
The Canes' power play would strike again, with Svechnikov doubling down. The Russian sniper floated a one-timer over Lundqvist's shoulder, needing just three seconds to find the back of the net. It took 71 seconds for the lead to grow. Morgan Geekie fed Jordan Martinook, who lifted his shot into the net to make it 3-1. Geekie had an unreal beginning to his NHL career, making his NHL debut on March 8 with a two-goal, three-point performance against the Penguins. His three points were the most by a Hurricanes player in their debut. Two days later, he scored another goal in Detroit before the shutdown.
With the Canes dominating most of the game, the only thing left to determine in the third period was whether Svechnikov would get his hat trick. With a little over six minutes left, we got our answer. Sebastian Aho created a turnover, drawing two Rangers as he skated into the offensive zone. With little room to shoot, Aho opted to pass it to the trailing Svechnikov, who snapped it past the windmilling goalie to complete the first postseason hat trick in franchise history. It sealed an emphatic 4-1 victory for the team, putting them on the brink of advancing.
Game 3: Bring Out the Brooms
Needing a boost to stave off elimination, the Rangers turned the net over to Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers' fourth-round pick in 2014 saw his first action during the regular season, going 10-2-0 in 12 starts with a .932 save percentage. One of those wins came in a 5-2 New York victory over the Canes at PNC Arena in February, the night before the David Ayres Game.
The Canes also made a change in the net, sending James Reimer out to give Petr Mrazek a break as they looked to get both goalies going in the bubble. Reimer was making his first start since the Ayres Game in Toronto after getting some action during the warm-up game against the Capitals. It was also his first postseason start since 2013 when Reimer and the Maple Leafs blew a 4-1 lead to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the first round.
For the first time in the series, the Rangers struck first. After a scoreless first period, Chris Kreider broke the stalemate 12 seconds into the second by finding a seam through the defense before sliding one past Reimer. The Canes' response was swift. Sebastian Aho's well-timed stick lift allowed the puck to find Teuvo Teravainen, who backhanded his shot past Shesterkin to tie the game three minutes later.
Reimer stood on his head the rest of the way. The game's defining sequence came late in the second period, beginning with Reimer denying Brendan Lemieux's breakaway chance. After a scramble in the crease, the Rangers maintained possession of the puck. Seconds later, Reimer made a paddle stop on Filip Chytil with the net open to keep the game tied. Even the Rangers' television team was stunned.
In the third period, the Hurricanes got the job done. Known playoff performer Warren Foegele scored the series-clinching goal early in the third period, redirecting Brady Skjei's shot from the point. Sebastian Aho provided the dagger midway through the period by embarrassing Jacob Trouba and Tony DeAngelo. Aho's pressure forced Trouba to fumble the puck before he walked DeAngelo and buried his backhander. Aho added the empty netter in the closing seconds to ice it for good, sending the Canes to the first round with a 4-1 victory.
The Aftermath
The Hurricanes' fun in the bubble quickly disappeared in the first round when Carolina ran into a familiar foe, the Boston Bruins. For the second year in a row, the Bruins would end their season, winning in five games. The Canes' top line continued to carry the team, but it wasn't enough to exercise their Boston-sized demons. The exorcism would come in 2021 after the Canes beat the Bruins in seven games in the first round.
The Rangers' series loss turned out to be a blessing in disguise. With 24 teams playing in the postseason, only seven teams were locked into the draft lottery for the upcoming draft. The eight losing teams during the Qualifying Round would round out the lottery field. If one of those eight teams won the first phase of the lottery, a second phase would be initiated between those eight teams. The Rangers would win the second phase, earning them the top overall pick, using it to select forward Alexis Lafreniere.
This series would also mark the final NHL appearance of Henrik Lundqvist. With Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev establishing themselves in New York, the Rangers bought out the final year of Lundqvist's contract. Lundqvist would sign a one-year deal with the Capitals during free agency, but he'd never play in D.C, missing the 2020-21 season after needing open-heart surgery. After the season ended, Lundqvist officially retired, marking the end of his Hall of Fame career.
The Hurricanes and Rangers have crossed paths twice more in the postseason since Carolina's sweep in the bubble. In 2022, the Rangers prevailed in seven games, dominating the Canes in Game 7 to win the series in Raleigh. In 2024, New York did it again, this time getting out to a 3-0 series lead before needing a Chris Kreider hat trick in the third period to complete a comeback in Game 6 to win it in Raleigh for the second time in three years.