Hurricanes-Rangers Game 2: Carolina beats New York, 2-0, on Raanta shutout

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The Carolina Hurricanes are back at it against the New York Rangers in Game 2 of their second-round NHL playoff series Friday night at PNC Arena after posting a 2-1 overtime win in Game 1 on Wednesday.

The series moves to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Sunday (3:30 p.m.) and Game 4 on Tuesday (7 p.m.).

The News & Observer’s Chip Alexander, Luke DeCock and Justin Pelletier are PNC Arena and will have live observations from the scene, along with photographer Robert Willett.

Hurricanes need their star players to perform against the Rangers, in Game 2 and beyond

How to watch

Friday’s game — and the rest of the series — is available only on ESPN (Sean McDonough, Ray Ferraro, Emily Kaplan). Bally Sports South will broadcast Hurricanes-focused pre- and post-game shows featuring Abby Labar and Shane Willis. Mike Maniscalco and Willis have the call on the Hurricanes Radio Network (WCMC-99.9 in the Triangle).

Third period

Even play throughout: Neither team able to generate solid chances. Raanta has made a few solid saves, and the Rangers got a few looks in the Canes zone with scrambles in front, but the Hurricanes’ defensive accountability has been solid.

Canes not pressing: The Canes are playing controlled hockey, but the Rangers have had the better of offensive zone time and chanced here in the third. Canes have only one shot on goal through 8.5 minutes of the third, to the Rangers’ 3. It feels like more for New York. Update: As that post was sending, Canes picked up a pair of dcent shots against Shesterkin. 3-3 are the shots now in the third.

Skjei hobbled?:Among the more valuable people on the Canes roster in these playoffs has been Brady Skjei. To start the third period, Skjei took a quick shift and appeared to be in some discomfort. He’s still playing, but it bears watching. Update here: He hasn’t missed a shift.

Second period

Rangers kill both penalties: The Canes possessed the puck well again on the power play, but had a hard time finding seams through which to pass the puck, and were content to instead pass around the perimeter.

And another: New York whistled for a slach on the PK, Chris Kreider the guilty party. 1:10 of 4-on-3 time coming for the Canes.

Penalty to New York: With 23 second left on Skjei’s double minor, the Canes draw a boarding penalty on Kevin Rooney. Canes to an abbreviated PP.

Canes strike first: The power kill is back. Nearing the end of the third minute of the penalty kill with Brady Skjei in the box, Brendan Smith redirected a feed from Sebastian Aho past Igor Shesterkin and brought the house down.

Rangers get some pressure: The Rangers caught the Canes on a bad change and an icing, and pinned them deep for a while, and then drew a contentious high sticking penalty to Brady Skjei. They went to review, and confirmed a 4-minute penalty, though Skjei’s stick barely grazed Alexis Lafreniere.

First PP for Carolina: Hurricanes will go on the power play after Chris Kreider is whistled for slashing after he gets into it along his defensive half wall with a Jaccob Slavin, catching the Canes’ defenseman in the knee in retaliation for a clean hit. Update: Canes spent almost the entire time in the Rangers’ zone. Got one shot. No goal.

Hemmed in: The Hurricanes aren;t letting the Rangers breathe here early in the second. All of the Canes lines have given the Rangers a hard time and thwarted almost every breakout attempt. The lone shot through nearly 5 minutes for the Rangers was a long-distance effort from just inside the blue line more on a keep-in. Canes have two on net, but have been relentless on the forecheck.

Quick chance for Fast: On the forecheck early in the second, the Staal line pinned the Kreider line deep and Staal dug out a puck from behind the net and found Jesper Fast, who shoveled it on net. Shesterkin with a nice save.

First period

Good chances late: Seth Jarvis had a 15-foot chance on a feed from the right boards in the final minute of play for the Canes who, despite some in-zone time in the final five minutes, couldn’t muster much in the way of shots on goal. The final seconds ticked off the clock in the first with the teams remaining scoreless.

Huge save Raanta: Nearly a full split by Raanta to rob Ryan Strome in the low slot. On the same play, Tony DeAngelo called for a slash, and the Rangers get their second opportunity on the power play, first full 5-on-4. Update: On a forecheck on the “power kill,” Sebastian Aho races to the left corner and feed Teuvo Teravainen in the slot. Teravainen rings a shot off the post glove side. Penalty ultimately killed.

First PP to New York: Sebastian Aho to the box for a high stick in his own zone on a 4-on-4, and the Rangers get a 4-on-3, which turns into a 5-on-4. Update: Penalty killed. Crowd roars its approval.

More scrummy: On his next shift after coming out of the box, Brendan Smith is headed back in. After a good bodycheck to Filip Chytil, the young Rangers forward got up and shoved Smith back. Both players jawed and swung at each other, and both were assessed minor penalties. Back to 4-on-4 hockey.

Getting “scrummy” early: The Canes and Rangers come together in front of Antti Raanta early, as well, with some after-whistle pleasantries. Brendan Smith and Kevin Rooney given matching minors, and we’re 4-on-4 hockey for two minutes.

Far better start: The Hurricanes have engaged earlier in this game than in Game 1, with a couple of early shots and some offensive zone time against the Rangers in the first few minutes.

Morning update

No changes are expected to the Hurricanes’ lineup, although Frederik Andersen had his most significant solo practice yet Friday morning before the team’s morning skate.

Kelly Sutherland and Jon McIsaac are the referees. McIsaac worked Game 5 of the first-round series against Boston. Jonny Murray and Ryan Gibbons are the linesmen.

A win Friday night would break the franchise record for consecutive home victories in a postseason (five, 2006 and 2019).

Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is handling the pregame warning siren. Former N.C. State quarterback Mike Glennon and former N.C. State basketball player Kiara Leslie are scheduled for the first and second intermissions.

‘These moments are special’: Canes’ Brendan Smith, other vets feel Cup clock ticking

Pregame reading

• DeCock: Hurricanes need their star players to perform against the Rangers, in Game 2 and beyond

• ‘These moments are special’: Canes’ Brendan Smith, other vets feel Cup clock ticking

• With the Canes in the playoffs, Hamilton is cleared to report for ‘lucky pig’ duty

• DeCock: Hurricanes courted disaster against Rangers, rescued themselves before it was too late

• Hurricanes beat Rangers thanks to Ian Cole’s special moment. Here’s how it happened

• Hurricanes surge past Rangers in overtime take 1-0 Stanley Cup playoff series lead

• Hurricanes defenseman Slavin again a finalist for Lady Byng Trophy

• DeCock: Why the Hurricanes’ recipe for a victory over the Rangers sings a familiar refrain

• There has been some jersey-swapping since Hurricanes, Rangers last met in postseason

• Can’t buy Canes-Rangers playoff tickets to PNC Arena? Check your address.

• DeCock: A tale of two Domis: A Game 7 hero and a famous father jumping on Hurricanes bandwagon

• Rangers, Hurricanes head coaches have differing memories of their time at PNC Arena

• DeCock: ‘It felt like it was our time’: Hurricanes’ continue on Stanley Cup path, ousting Bruins

• Hurricanes beat Bruins in Game 7 of first round behind unlikely hero Max Domi’s 2 goals

• Carolina Hurricanes’ Antti Raanta turns Game 7 victory over Bruins into family affair

• Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour sets priorities before Game 7 against the Bruins

• DeCock: In role reversal, Hurricanes’ Svechnikov mentoring Kochetkov, who’s 9 months older

• Carolina Hurricanes built a consistent, winning culture by ‘trying to be like Boston’

• DeCock: Carolina Hurricanes owner, NHL commissioner push for arena upgrades — and it’s about time