Lost in their two games in Raleigh, the New York Rangers served their own medicine to the Carolina Hurricanes, winning both duels in Madison Square Garden. On Tuesday, they evened the odds in the series by winning 4-1.
The home team thus took the honors from each game, a trend that had been present since the start of the playoffs for Rod Brind’Amour’s men, who had also seen the crowd favorites triumph in their own amphitheater in each of seven games in the first round, against the Boston Bruins.
In the duel of the day, the Rangers quickly took control, shaking the strings twice in the first twenty. Frank Vatrano, on the power play, and Adam Fox, with the help of a deflection, allowed their team to retreat to the locker room with a two-goal priority after 20 minutes.
Mika Zibanejad extended that lead to three goals in the second period, while Andrew Copp was the other skater to beat Antti Raanta, who saved 24 of 28 pucks aimed at him.
At the other end of the rink, Teuvo Teravainen netted the visitors’ only goal. The Hurricanes rubbed shoulders with an Igor Shesterkin in full possession of his means. The Russian blocked 30 pucks in the win.
Robust game
Both teams had set the table for the fourth duel at the end of the third. “Blueshirts” head coach Gerard Gallant had also exchanged a few words with “Canes” defender Tony DeAngelo.
Jacob Trouba set the tone for Game 4 on a physical level. In the middle of the first period, he applied a check to Max Domi, while the latter tried to avoid him. The blow was thus initiated to the head and a skirmish ensued. It was not Trouba, however, but Steven Lorentz, who was punished for instigating the fight.
Late in the game, Domi again found himself at the center of a skirmish, this time trading sticks with Ryan Reaves.
Both teams will look to take a 3-2 series lead on Thursday in Raleigh.
