Rangers force Game 7 with 5-2 win over Hurricanes

May 28, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) waves to the crowd after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in game six of the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Igor Shesterkin shines in 5-2 win over Hurricanes; Rangers force Game 7

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 5/28/22

On Friday night, the New York Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-2, forcing a decisive Game 7 in their conference semifinal series.

GAME
SEVEN
BOUND #NOQUITINNY pic.twitter.com/R5LRe30YeS
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 29, 2022

Despite being outshot by the Hurricanes 39-25, the Rangers came away with the win in large part to goaltender Igor Shesterkin.

Shesterkin not only did his job between the pipes, stopping 37 of 39 shots against him on Friday night, but he also added two assists. The 26-year-old netminder became just the fifth goaltender in NHL history to record two assists in a playoff game and the first since Nashville Predators' Pekka Rinne in 2017.

Igor Shesterkin is one of three @NYRangers players with multiple points.

You read that right... Shesterkin (0-2—2) is the first goalie to record multiple assists while facing elimination & fifth to do so in any playoff game. #StanleyCup #NHLStats: https://t.co/QFwhaYvZlT pic.twitter.com/sQvEbcs9xn
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 29, 2022

The Rangers took control of Game 6 early in front of a raucous crowd at Madison Square Garden. Tyler Motte opened the scoring 7:22 into the first period before Mika Zibanejad made it 2-0 Rangers only 10 minutes into the game.

Filip Chytil scored two period goals in the second period, and Artemi Panarin tallied a power-play goal in the third for the Rangers.

Brady Skjei and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Hurricanes.

Carolina starting goaltender Antti Raanta was pulled 3:24 into the first period after allowing three goals on just 13 shots. Backup Pyotr Kochetkov entered in relief, allowing two goals off of 10 Rangers' shots.

Carolina will host Game 7 Monday at 8 p.m. The winner will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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