Madison Square Garden— Mika Zibanejad led the charge for the New York Rangers in their highly anticipated return to action after a week-long hiatus, propelling them to a crucial victory in the opening game of their second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. Zibanejad’s two goals and one assist, coupled with Artemi Panarin’s contribution, secured a 4-3 triumph for the Rangers on Sunday in Game 1.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Zibanejad highlighted the significance of a strong start, especially in front of their home crowd for Game 1 after a brief rest period. “Being off for a few days allowed us to rest, and I think that showed on the ice. The guys were fired up and ready to play, and capitalizing on our early chances really set the tone,” he remarked.
In goal, Igor Shesterkin continued his stellar postseason form, making 22 saves and becoming only the third goalie in franchise history to kick off a playoff campaign with five consecutive victories, joining the esteemed company of Dave Kerr (1937) and Mike Richter (1994).
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette commended his team’s efforts, particularly praising their strong start and sustained momentum throughout the game. Looking ahead to Game 2 of the best-of-seven series, Laviolette emphasized the importance of maintaining their level of play.
Despite the Hurricanes boasting one of the NHL’s most formidable power plays during the regular season, the Rangers effectively neutralized their opponents’ strengths, denying all five power-play opportunities. Conversely, New York capitalized on their own power-play chances, converting two out of two opportunities in lightning-fast fashion.
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour acknowledged his team’s solid effort but lamented missed opportunities on the penalty kill, which ultimately proved decisive in the outcome. “We played hard, but a couple of lapses on the penalty kill cost us. Credit to the Rangers for executing when it mattered,” Brind’Amour conceded.
The game witnessed several momentum swings, with Carolina narrowing the gap early in the third period through a goal from Martin Necas. However, Panarin’s timely strike restored the Rangers’ two-goal cushion, effectively quelling any hopes of a Hurricanes comeback.
As the clock wound down, Carolina intensified their offensive pressure, but Shesterkin’s heroics, including a crucial glove save late in the game, ensured the Rangers secured the victory.
The game also featured noteworthy individual performances, with Vincent Trocheck continuing his impressive playoff form with a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes, while Zibanejad extended his remarkable point streak to 11 games, further solidifying his status as a key offensive catalyst for the Rangers.
With the series heating up, both teams are gearing up for a highly anticipated Game 2 showdown, with the Hurricanes eager to bounce back and the Rangers aiming to maintain their winning momentum.
“We really wanted to have a good start, especially at home, Game 1,” Zibanejad said. “Been off for a few days and been able to rest, and I thought that was most noticeable. Guys were excited to play and when we’re able to score on our chances early on and get a little bit momentum, that was good.”
