The Streaks Are Over After Carolina Scores Late To Finally Beat The Blueshirts

Josh Lavallee. Getty Images.

The streaks are over.

16 straight penalties killed - done.

30 straight playoff games allowing 3 goals or less by Shesterkin - done.

7 straight postseason wins - done.

No big deal. At least not yet. This tilt could've been over early after the Hurricanes absolutely dominated the first period & built themselves a 3-1 cushion. It'd have been easy for the Blueshirts to pack it in knowing they still have a 3-1 series stranglehold headed back to MSG. Not these Rangers though. No quit. They rang a shit ton of posts and Lindgren missed a wide-open shorthanded net in the second before Barclay Goodrow cut the two-goal deficit in half. And if the ice tilting didn't make the Canes nervous enough, Freddie Andersen booted in the equalizer from behind his net early in the third. The opportunistic Rangers were just a goal away from the ECF and brutally ending Carolina's season.

Looked like we might be headed to a third straight OT...until a bouncing puck caught the Blueshirts off-guard and forced Lindgren into a tripping penalty with under four minutes to play. Kinda felt like the Canes powerplay was due and that's exactly what happened. Naturally, a former Ranger lit the lamp against them after Brady Skjei let a bomb fly that went bar down past Shesterkin and kept Carolina's slim hopes alive.

CANES TAKE THE LEAD WITH 3 MINUTES TO GO! pic.twitter.com/OAOHEr9zqd

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 12, 2024

No reason to be negative. New York showed a lot of pushback in making this a contest that came down to the final minutes. Let's not forget how good of a squad the Hurricanes have. All the games have been tight. They finally got one at home after almost giving it away. So what? We'd all have signed up instantly for a 3-1 series lead headed to a Game 5 on Broadway and that's exactly what we got. Take it to 'em Monday night and let the home crowd celebrate a second trip to the Conference Final in three years.

Piece of cake.

VIVA LA BLUESHIRTS!!!