Resilient Rangers Weather The Storm, Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead With Another OT Win Thanks To An Incredible Redirect By Artemi Panarin

Bruce Bennett. Getty Images.

This damn team simply cannot stop winning.

There was no doubt Carolina was gonna start this game in front of their home crowd with the gas pedal pinned and they did exactly that. Controlled a majority of the play and took a deserved 1-0 lead into intermission thanks to a Guentzel (who else?) tip from the slot. Still, despite a heavy possession advantage and 17-7 edge in shots, the scoring chances were even. High danger chances were even. Kotchetkov looked a little shaky. It wasn't a pretty 20 minutes for the Blueshirts but they took a haymaker from the Canes & were still only down 1. There was reason for optimism.

It was more of the same though for the second frame. The Hurricanes were throwing a ton at Shesterkin but again, like I said in the series preview, quantity ain't gonna beat him. It's gotta be quality. Yet despite over 5 powerplay minutes they couldn't muster much in terms of danger. Special teams has been their demise this series and it once again bit them in the ass. Bad enough they finished with their third consecutive 0-5 when up a man but the Rangers PK ended up evening the score on a big time play outta Zibanejad to Kreider. Shots were 37-18 after two. Score was 1-1 and quite frankly NY should've had the lead if not for missing on two more grade-A shorthanded opportunities.

Third period was a lot tighter. Chances were at a minimum, but the Blueshirts are one of the most opportunistic offenses in the league. During the regular season it was the trio of Panarin/Trocheck/Lafreniere who led the way in even strength offense and they came through in the clutch with a Lafreniere tally putting the Rangers ahead. The pesky Canes just wouldn't go away though. Svechnikov, who was probably their most noticeable forward all night, finished off a broken play with their goalie pulled and it was off to a second consecutive overtime.

That goal could've been a potential dagger. Rangers fans are all too familiar with how their last two postseasons have ended. A 2-0 series lead over the Devils stalled with a Game 3 OT loss that was the beginning of the end. A 2-0 ECF series lead over the Bolts the year before stalled with a Game 3 loss in the final seconds and New York never won again. This had all the makings of another Game 3 heartbreak…

…until Artemi Panarin announced loud & clear that this team is DIFFERENT:

Pure FILTH from Breadman 🍞 pic.twitter.com/Q5rGgYd9Ok

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 10, 2024

Monster goal. Monster 7-0 start to these playoffs. Monster 3-0 lead over a Carolina squad I was probably most afraid of. Shesterkin's streak of 3 goals against or less in the postseason reaches 30. The big guns are producing offensively every night. Special teams are rolling. Filip Chytil made his surprising return to the lineup, looked awesome and makes this team even deeper. If you were one of many who didn't think these Blueshirts were for real, think again.

The Rangers are a motherfucking MONSTER.

VIVA LA BLUESHIRTS!!!!