*Photo from the San Diego Union Tribune*
Carolina leads series 2-0
This was a game of defense, but the most goals always wins the game. Brendan Smith scored the game winning goal, Sebastian Aho scored, and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Rangers with a 2-0 shutout victory on Friday night in Raleigh.
Dating back to game 7 of the first round, it's the 3rd straight win of the playoffs for the Hurricanes, each of which have come on home ice. They've won all of their games to date this postseason on home ice. Thanks to Smith's goal and Aho's one goal, one assist night, the Hurricanes opened up a 2-0 series lead on the Rangers.
Smith said of his middle frame goal that "Teravainen makes great plays and he can chip it into space, where I saw Aho moving. I tried to get going as fast as I could and find the lane. Aho is an elite passer, and he put it right on the money, so I can't take too much credit, but it was a good read by a lot of players."
With the first period going by scoreless, the second period started off 0-0 as well. It stayed that way until, at the 15:54 mark of the period, while shorthanded, Smith got the Hurricanes on the board, making it 1-0 on his first goal of the playoffs, assisted by Aho and Teravainen.
It remained a 1-0 game until almost the end of regulation. With just two seconds left on the clock in regulation time, Aho buried an empty net goal to double the Hurricanes lead, making it 2-0 unassisted style, his 4th goal of the playoffs.
Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour said of the shutout win that "We have a good defense. We have a really solid group back there. You're going to have to earn your chances against us for the most part. Both teams, we're not getting much going the other way either. Both teams are fighting for every inch out there. It's playoff hockey, and both teams are laying it on the line."
Getting his 8th start this postseason for the Hurricanes was Antti Raanta, who continued his strong play this postseason. Raanta stopped all 21 shots that he was tested with, recording his first career playoff shutout in his 8th career playoff start, all this postseason.
For the Rangers, they started Igor Shesterkin, who was once again brilliant in goal. Shesterkin almost matched Raanta save for save, stopping all but one of the 21 shots on goal he was faced with, posting a .952 save percentage in his second straight loss.
Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said that "You get your team prepared to play, you play as hard as you can and you hope you win these hockey games. I'm happy with the way we performed overall. I wish we would have got one of these two games, we probably could have. That's the way it goes. Play well, play hard, we'll find a way to get another win."
Up next, the series shifts to Manhattan and New York City for games 3 and 4, with game 3 taking place on Sunday. There, the Hurricanes will look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead, while the Rangers look to get on the board in the series and force a game 5.
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