The Carolina Hurricanes' issues in the Eastern Conference Finals are well-documented. However, the only thing that the Canes fear more than seeing the Panthers in the conference finals is facing the New York Rangers in the second round. The middle of the week will feature all three of Carolina's losses in the second round, including another future appearance from the Rangers.
In 2021-22, the Hurricanes celebrated their most successful regular season, setting franchise records for wins (54) and points (116) as they won their first Metropolitan Division crown. The Rangers weren't far behind, finishing six points behind the Canes for the division crown. The sides also were first and second in goals allowed, setting up a big-time defensive battle.
One of the most important stories of the Canes' season was the late-season loss of Frederik Andersen. While Igor Shesterkin ran away with the Vezina Trophy, Andersen was one of the three other goalies also to receive a first-place vote. He was a huge loss for the Canes, especially in a series that was relatively tight early. Maybe he makes the difference at the end of the round.
#29: A hot start for Carolina fizzled out in the unfriendly confies of MSG
Game 1 was a solid indication of what we would expect from the series. The game was decided at five-on-five, with the only two penalties coming in the opening two minutes. Filip Chytil scored the series-opening goal, capitalizing on a brutal turnover by Tony DeAngelo. The longer the game went, the more it felt like Shesterkin and the Rangers were barreling toward a Game 1 shutout.
We have ABC's Sean McDonough to thank for the announcer's jinx. After mentioning the potential shutout, Sebastian Aho put a rebound into the net, forcing overtime with 2:24 left after hitting the post about 20 seconds earlier. After staring a shutout in the face for most of regulation, the Canes turned it around and stole the opener when Ian Cole scored early in overtime to take Game 1.
Things were a little chippier in Game 2, and the offenses remained in check. It wasn't until former Ranger Brendan Smith scored a short-handed goal late in the second period that the ice was finally broken, sending the Caniacs into a frenzy. Antti Raanta was perfect, stopping all 21 shots he faced, and Aho scored into the empty net to give the Canes a 2-0 win and series lead heading to New York.
Long a barn of horrors for the Canes, Games 3 and 4 proved no different. Mika Zibanejad scored on the power play to open it, and Chris Kreider doubled it in the second period. Nino Niederreiter snuck a backhand through Shesterkin to cut it in half, but the Rangers held on for a 3-1 win. Game 4 was worse. New York ran away with a 4-1 victory to even the series behind Shesterkin's 30 stops.
When the Canes took the ice for Game 5, they were right back in the driver's seat. Vincent Trocheck scored with the Canes down a man. New York tied it on the power play before the end of the first. Teuvo Teravainen put the Canes back in front on the power play, and Andrei Svechnikov finished it with a breakaway. Carolina was one win away from advancing, but another trip to New York loomed.
The Hurricanes failed to exercise their New York demons
The reason this series falls as low as it does lies in how poorly the final two games played out, even when compared to others that saw the Canes eliminated more quickly. I can't pinpoint what exactly led to their downfall and whether it was how poorly they played or how well the Rangers operated offensively. Regardless, it was a massive disappointment.
Tyler Motte's opening goal in Game 6 was a tough one, and it snowballed from there. Mika Zibanejad scored in his fourth straight contest. Chytil added another goal early in the second, pushing the Rangers ahead by three. Brady Skjei got one back, but Chytil's second of the night restored the three-goal lead for New York.
When Trocheck scored before the end of the middle frame, it felt like they might've built some momentum heading into the third down by two goals. Instead, the Rangers shut it down. In fact, Artemi Panarin scored on the power play, extending the lead for good, sending the series back to Raleigh for a winner-take-all Game 7.
I remember how excited I was for this game. I actually bought tickets and was in the building for my first playoff game since Game 7 against Edmonton in 2006. It's safe to say the night didn't end the way I hoped it would. New York's power play scored twice in the first period, and the end of the season felt closer than it had ever been.
Adding insult to injury, literally, Raanta left late in the second period, bringing Pyotr Kochetkov into the contest. Ryan Strome scored seconds later, effectively putting the game out of reach. The Canes didn't go quietly, with Trocheck and Max Domi scoring in the third, but New York trounced the Canes in Raleigh, 6-2, to bring Carolina's historic season to an abrupt and upsetting end.
The league's best defense looked nothing like it during the final two games. Game 7 was particularly bad. It felt like the group was aware of where things stood and phoned it in. A lot of that should be attributed to New York figuring things out. Their scoring was spread pretty evenly throughout the team. In fairness, Carolina's was, too, but not nearly at the same level.
Again, I understand that putting a seven-game series here might be a bit too low. However, the sour taste left in the Caniacs' mouths after Game 7 was a sting that was almost usurped by what happened two years later, though I still don't think that was as bad. It borders on the most demoralizing loss in franchise history after what was such a good series to start.
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