Current:Home > MarketsChris Kreider hat trick rallies Rangers past Hurricanes, into Eastern Conference finals -AlphaFinance Experts
Chris Kreider hat trick rallies Rangers past Hurricanes, into Eastern Conference finals
View
Date:2025-04-18 20:31:23
The Presidents' Trophy jinx is temporarily on hold.
The Carolina Hurricanes were looking like they would force a Game 7 after losing the first three games of the series. But Chris Kreider scored a third-period hat trick to give the No. 1 overall New York Rangers a 5-3 victory Thursday night to earn a trip to the Eastern Conference final.
He's the third player in Rangers history to record a playoff hat trick in a single period, joining Mark Messier (1994) and Wayne Gretzky (1997).
"That is just a monster third period," Rangers coach Peter Laviolette told reporters. "He put it on his back and he really delivered. It was more than him, but at the end of the day, we needed to score goals and this is what he does."
The Hurricanes had built a 3-1 lead through two periods on goals by Martin Necas, Seth Jarvis (with Carolina's second power-play goal of the series) and Sebastian Aho.
Then Kreider turned it around in the third period. He tucked in a rebound, scored on a power play deflection with Selke Trophy finalist Jordan Staal in the penalty box and put New York up 4-3 with a shot from in front after he took a pass from Ryan Lindgren. Barclay Goodrow added an empty-net goal.
"It means we get to play more hockey," said Kreider, the Rangers' all-time leader with 47 playoff goals.
The Hurricanes, who finished three points behind the Rangers in the regular season, hit several posts in the third period and Staal was robbed by Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin. He finished with 33 saves.
"We look back on those first three games where we lost by a goal and in overtime," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour told reporters. "There’s a play here or there and everything’s different and we just didn’t find it. Even tonight, another goal puts the game to a different story and we had opportunities."
Only eight teams have won the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same year and the Boston Bruins, last year's winner, blew a 3-1 series lead in the first round. The Rangers won the Cup in 1994 and got to the conference final in 2015 the last two times they led the regular season in points.
What's next for the New York Rangers?
They'll face the winner of the Bruins-Florida Panthers series, which Florida leads three games to two. Game 6 is Friday night in Boston and Bruins captain Brad Marchand might be available after a Game 3 injury.
BRAD MARCHAND: Part of playoff hockey is trying to hurt opponents
The Rangers will have home-ice advantage as the Presidents' Trophy winners. They went 3-0 against Boston and 1-2 against Florida during the regular season.
What's next for the Carolina Hurricanes?
The biggest priority is a new contract for Brind'Amour, who is in the final year of his deal. It's expected to get done. If not, there are five NHL teams with openings that probably could be making a call.
Another decision is on trade deadline acquisition Jake Guentzel, a pending unrestricted free agent. The Hurricanes gave up Michael Bunting, three prospects and a second-round pick (it would have been a first if they reached the Stanley Cup Final). He did his part with 25 points in 17 regular-season games and nine points in 11 playoff games.
The list of pending UFAs includes defensemen Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce, Jalen Chatfield and Tony DeAngelo, plus forwards Teuvo Teravainen, Jordan Martinook and Stefan Noesen.
Martinook looked to be the star of Thursday's game before Kreider's hat trick, picking up a nice assist and preventing a goal with a diving play.
Restricted free agents Necas and Jarvis are up for big raises.
This Hurricanes team could look vastly different next season.
"We'd love to roll it back with these guys, but who knows how that's all going to shake out?" Brind'Amour said.
Canucks 3, Oilers 2
J.T. Miller scored the tiebreaking goal with 32.6 seconds remaining to give the host Vancouver Canucks a 3-2 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday and put them one win away from reaching the Western Conference finals.
Carson Soucy and Phillip Di Giuseppe also scored for the Canucks, who lead the best-of-seven conference semifinal set 3-2. Vancouver goaltender Arturs Silovs stopped 21 shots.
The Canucks will try to close out the series on Saturday in Edmonton.
With overtime looming, the Canucks rushed up ice in a last-ditch attempt to claim victory. Elias Lindholm's sharp-angled shot ricocheted off the skate of teammate Elias Pettersson and rang off the post, and Miller was on the spot to bury the loose puck for his third goal of the playoffs.
Evander Kane and Mattias Janmark scored for the Oilers, who twice surrendered leads in the clash. Goalie Calvin Pickard stopped 32 shots. — Field Level Media
veryGood! (9573)
Related
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- The movement to legalize psychedelics comes with high hopes, and even higher costs
- North Carolina governor candidate Mark Robinson sues CNN over report about posts on porn site
- Congress made overturning elections harder, but there are still loopholes | The Excerpt
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Human Head Found in Box on Chicago Sidewalk
- Kelly Ripa Jokes About Wanting a Gray Divorce From Mark Consuelos
- Daddy of Em' All: the changing world of rodeo
- Clay Aiken's son Parker, 15, makes his TV debut, looks like his father's twin
- Sean “Diddy” Combs Accused of Sexual Assault and Rape in Series of New Civil Suits
Ranking
- The GOP and Kansas’ Democratic governor ousted targeted lawmakers in the state’s primary
- Woman was left with 'permanent scarring' from bedbugs in Vegas hotel, suit claims
- Mountain West adds Hawaii as full-time member, bringing conference to NCAA minimum of 8
- Real Housewives of Orange County's Tamra Judge Shares She’s on Autism Spectrum
- Eva Mendes Shares Message of Gratitude to Olympics for Keeping Her and Ryan Gosling's Kids Private
- Columbus Blue Jackets memorialize Johnny Gaudreau, hoist '13' banner
- Ricky Pearsall returns to the 49ers practice for the first time since shooting
- Dylan Sprouse Proves He's Wife Barbara Palvin's Biggest Cheerleader Ahead of Victoria's Secret Show
Recommendation
Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
Simu Liu Calls Out Boba Tea Company Over Cultural Appropriation Concerns
Drone footage shows destruction left by tornado ripping through Florida solar farm before Milton
Kanye West Allegedly Told Wife Bianca Censori He Wanted to Have Sex With Her Mom While She Watched
Illinois governor calls for resignation of sheriff whose deputy fatally shot Black woman in her home
Biden admin to provide $750 million to North Carolina-based Wolfspeed for advanced computer chips
The Pumpkin Spice Tax: To savor the flavor of fall, you will have to pay
Simu Liu Calls Out Boba Tea Company Over Cultural Appropriation Concerns