Rangers push Hurricanes to brink of elimination with Game 3 overtime win

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes’ season has come down to one game, taken to the brink by the New York Rangers.

The Rangers, who have not lost in the Stanley Cup playoffs, made it three straight over the Hurricanes in the second-round series with a 3-2 overtime victory Thursday at PNC Arena.

Artemi Panarin’s goal at 1:43 of overtime was the winner. After a turnover in the Carolina zone by Dmitry Orlov, Panarin took a pass from Vincent Trocheck and tipped the puck between his legs and past goalie Pyotr Kochetkov.

The Canes pulled Kochetkov, who made his first start of the playoffs, for a sixth attacker with 2:25 left in regulation and Andrei Svechnikov scored with 1:36 left in regulation for a 2-2 tie.

Kochetkov then saved the Canes, pokechecking the puck away from Rangers forward Chris Kreider on a breakaway with 30 seconds left to send the game to overtime.

Alexis Lafreniere’s goal with 13:35 left in regulation gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. It came on a set play on a rush into the Carolina zone. Trocheck made a pass off the wall to Panarin, who found LaFreniere open in the slot for the shot.

Jake Guentzel scored in the first period for Carolina, redirecting a shot by Orlov past goalie Igor Shesterkin. But Kreider’s short-handed goal in the second period made it 1-1 after two as the Rangers continued to dominate special teams play in the series.

The Canes made a goaltender change for Game 3, giving Kochetkov his first start of the playoffs. The Rangers were buoyed by the return of forward Filip Chytil, who had been sidelined with concussion issues.

The Canes lost Game 2 in double overtime Tuesday to fall behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Now it’s 0-3.