New York Rangers veteran center Chris Kreider led his team to the Eastern Conference Finals in a miraculous third-period, come-from-behind victory in Game 6 over the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-3.
The Rangers were trailing 3-1 heading into the third period on the road, and all signs pointed to the Hurricanes fighting back from a 3-0 series deficit to a Game 7. The only remedy for the Rangers was to be brave around of the net and find a way (any way) to get the puck into the net.
Kreider has made his living in the NHL by scoring tough goals and stepped up when his team needed it, scoring three of them to give the Rangers the lead late in the third period.
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Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers moves the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period of game six of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 16, 2024 in Raleigh, Carolina North. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Yes, he scored a hat trick in one period. A legendary performance from a great franchise.
The first of Kreider's three goals in the period came at the 6:43 mark of the wildest 20 minutes of this second-round series. Mika Zibanejad just threw the puck toward Hurricanes goalie Freddie Anderson as he was spinning around his net, and it got stuck in Anderson's left skate.
Kreider, who was charging toward the crease, saw the puck and simply hit it with his stick before Anderson could lower his glove to ice it. That made the score 3-2, and the Rangers began to smell some life despite a difficult first and second periods in which Carolina dominated.
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Then, with 10:58 left in the period, Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal committed a costly penalty, leaving the Hurricanes with four men on the ice and needing to negate a penalty to maintain their one-goal lead.
Carolina put a lot of pressure on the Rangers early, but the Blueshirts picked up speed once they settled into the zone. Vincente Trocheck passed to Artemi Panarin, who shot past Kreider and into the net.
Mission accomplished.
The Rangers rejoiced because the game was tied at three goals apiece, and there was a chance they could complete the comeback to advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
With all the momentum on their side, the Rangers had a fantastic forecheck with just under five minutes left in the period. After a couple of shots failed to find the back of the net, Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren recovered the puck, slid behind the net and, except for Kreider, was in perfect position for a quick pass to the forehead.
He wasted no time passing Anderson, and the Canes faithful were left completely stunned as the Rangers celebrated their assistant captain's hat trick.
However, they knew the work was not finished. There was plenty of time left on the clock, and with 2:48 left, head coach Rod Brind'Amour decided to pull the goaltender, giving the Canes an extra man on the ice.
Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers celebrates a goal by Chris Kreider #20 against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period of game six of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs at PNC Arena on May 16, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. . (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
And boy, did the Hurricanes ever have a chance to put energy back into the building when Andrei Svechnikov saw a pinball puck bounce right in front of him with only Rangers goalie Igor Shesterskin to beat.
Shesterskin, who had 33 saves that night, made the most important one when he shot with his right foot to deflect Svechnikov's quick wrist shot and keep New York's lead intact.
After multiple ices, assistant captain Barclay Goodrow was finally able to flick the puck down the ice and into an empty net to end the game with 48 seconds left to play.
The Hurricanes certainly came out swinging, but the Rangers saw one of their most reliable players for over a decade answer the call to action.
Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period of game six of the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 16, 2024 in Raleigh, Carolina North. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
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Now, New York will return home and certainly turn on their televisions to watch Friday night's Game 6 showdown between the Florida Panthers and the Boston Bruins, as one of those teams will be their opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals. Florida currently leads the series, 3-2.
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